Sunday, December 13, 2009

Romance Challenge 2010

I will also be joining the Romance Reading Challenge over at The Royal Reviews.  I love romance books but have ventured away from them some in the last year and I would like to go back so I am joining at the Obsessed level, which is 20 books.  For more information about the challenge and to sign up, visit The Royal Reviews blog.

Books to read/read (will be in bold when read)
  1.  Becoming Lucy by Martha Rogers
  2.  Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
  3. The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
  4. A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine
  5. Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater
  6. Portrait in Death by JD Robb
  7. Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason
  8. Secrets of the Playboy's Bride by Leanne Banks
  9. Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas
  10. Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase
  11. The Macgregor's Daughter by Dee Julian
  12. Unspeakable by Laura Griffin
  13. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
  14. The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
  15. A Change of Heart by Shari Mauer
  16. Freefall by Mindi Scott
  17. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
  18. Last to Die by Kate Brady
  19. Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
  20. Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
  21.  

Finish That Series Challenge 2010


The Finish That Series Challenge is being held at Royal Reviews.  This is a perfect challenge for me as I am trying to get several series I read up-to-date and this will make me do that.  I am going to join at the Addicted Level.  To sign up for the challenge head to The Royal Reviews website.  Here is more information about the challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Finish 2 series.

-- Fascinated – Finish 3 series.

-- Addicted – Finish 5 series.

-- Obsessed – Finish 10 series.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.


My List:
  1. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
  2. Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
  3. Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
  4. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
  5. Private series by Kate Brian
  6. Poseur series by Rachel Maude

Books read:

Private series by Kate Brian
  1. Private - read 1/7/2010
  2. Invitation Only - read 1/25/2010
  3. Untouchable - read 6/19/2010
  4. Confessions - read 6/19/2010
  5. Inner Circle - read 8/16/2010
  6. Legacy - read 8/18/2010

Poseur series by Rachel Maude
  1. Poseur - read 1/18/2010
Sookie Stackhouse series:
  1. Dead as a Doornail - read 1/31/2010
  2. Definitely Dead - read 9/22/2010
Stephanie Plum series:
  1. Hard Eight - read

    Take Another Chance Challenge

    I saw this challenge and just had to join.  I love joining in challenges and this one takes some thought, so I thought it would be perfect to do in the new year.  It is being hosted by Jenners at Find Your Next Book Here blog.  You can click on the banner above to find out and link up if you want to join.  I'm going with the A Moderate Gamble Level.  Here's the information for the challenge:

    • The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2010.
    • Here are the participation levels. Feel free to do whatever level you want. You can also switch up or down midway through the challenge.
    A Small Gamble: Complete any 3 of the 12 challenges described below.
    A Moderate Gamble: Complete any 6 of the 12 challenges described below.
    Gambling It All: Complete all 12 of the challenges described below.
    • Each challenge you complete and link up in the correct Mr. Linky spots (which will be posted on January 1, 2010) will earn you entries into a prize drawing at the end of the challenge. Some of the challenges are harder and will earn you more entries. If you complete all 12 challenges, you will earn 5 extra entries into the drawing.
    • The prize is a book of the winner's choice from Amazon (worth $25 or less).
    • Crossover books from other challenges is fine.
    So here are the 12 challenges for you to pick from. The "easier" challenges are listed first, followed by the harder challenges that are worth more entries into the prize drawing.

    The 12 Challenges

    Challenge 1: Read Your Doppelganger (worth 1 entry)
    Find an author who has either the same initials, the same first name, the same last name, or the exact same name as you. Read a book by this author and write a post about it. (If you try to keep your identity anonymous on your blog, you don't have to reveal what part of the author's name is the same as your name.)
    Example: If your name is Susan Kasischke, you might read a book by Stephen King (same initials), Susan Donovan (same first name), Laura Kasischke (same last name) or Susan Kasischke (same exact name).
    Challenge 2: Blogroll Roulette (worth 1 entry)
    Find a blogroll at either your book blog or a book blog you like that has at least 15 book blogs on it. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1 for the min. and 15 for the max. and then hit generate. Then find the blog that is that number on the blogroll you selected. (For example, if you get 10 at Random.org, then count down the list of blogs until you get to the tenth one). Go to that blog and pick a book to read from the books that they have reviewed on their blog. Read it and write a post about it. Be sure to link to the blog post you picked the book from!

    Challenge 3: 100 Best Book (worth 1 entry)
    Choose one of the lists below and go to the link provided. Choose a book to read from the list that you haven't read before. Read the book and write about it.
    Challenge 4: Prize Winner Book (worth 1 entry)
    Pick one of the major literary awards from the list below. Click on the link for the award you picked. You will find a brief description of the award and links to past winners. Pick one of the past winners, read the book and write about it.
    Challenge 5: Title Word Count (worth 1 entry)
    Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the numbers 1 for the min. and 5 for the max. and then hit generate. Find a book to read that has that number of words in the title. Read the book and write about it.
    Example: If you get 1 for your number, read a book that has a one word title. If you get 2, read a book that has a two word title and so on and so forth.
    Challenge 6: Genre Switch-Up (worth 1 entry)
    Go to this list of book genres and pick a genre that you have NEVER read before. Find a book from that genre, read it, and write about it. Note: If you seriously cannot find a genre that you have never read, then pick the genre that is as far away from what you normally read.

    Challenge 7: Break A Prejudice (worth 1 entry)
    We all have reading prejudices--authors we don't like, genres we don't like, or even publishers we don't like. For this challenge, think of a reading prejudice you have and then find a book that is an example of this type of book. Read the book and then write about the reading prejudice you had BEFORE you read the book and how reading the book either changed your prejudice or reinforced it.
    Examples: I always say I can't stand James Patterson; therefore, I might read a James Patterson book for this challenge. Or, if you sneer at "chick lit" books, you might read a "chick lit" book. Or, if you think books published by Harlequin are pure drivel, you might read a book published by Harlequin. If you turn up your nose at the Twilight books, then you might read one of the Twilight books.
    Challenge 8: Real and Inspired (worth 2 entries)
    Many authors or books inspire others to pay homage to them by writing another book inspired by the original work. For this challenge, read both an original work and a book inspired by that original work. Write about both books in one post. Note: This might require some research on your part and requires reading two books so it worth 2 entries.
    Examples: Christopher Moore's Fool is based on Shakespeare's play King Lear so I plan on reading both King Lear and Fool. Another example is Jane Austen, who inspired the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. For this challenge, you might read both Pride and Prejudice and the zombie version. (There are tons of other Austen-inspired books out there too.) Another idea would be a graphic novel version of a "standard" novel. The only real requirement is that the "inspired by" book must clearly state what original work inspired it.
    Challenge 9: Same Word, Different Book (worth 2 entries)
    Find two books that have the same word in the title. Read both books and write about them. (Worth 2 entries because you have to read two books).
    Example: If you pick the word "Love," you could read any two books that both have Love in the title. To help you find books that have the same word, you could go to Amazon.com, type a word into the Search box and see what books come up with that word.
    Challenge 10: Become A Character (worth 2 entries)
    For this challenge, you can read any book you want. However, you have to write about the book as one of the characters from the book. The character can comment on his/her treatment by the author, other characters, the "untold story," what happened next, and so forth. You could even have two characters interviewing each other! Your imagination is the only limit. Because of the difficulty level of this challenge, it is worth two entries.

    Challenge 11: All in the Family (worth 2 entries)
    The writing gene often runs in the family. For this challenge, you need to find two authors from the same family (either by blood or by marriage) and read a book by each of the authors and then write about both books. Because of the research involved and having to read two books, this challenge is worth two entries.
    Examples: The Bronte sisters; Stephen King and his wife Tabitha OR his son Joe Hill; Jonathan Kellerman (husband) and Faye Kellerman (wife); Michael Chabon (husband) and Ayelet Waldman (wife); Joan Didion (wife) and John Gregory Dunne (husband); Mary Higgins Clark (mother) and Carol Higgins Clark (daughter)
    Challenge 12: Author Anthology Pick (worth 2 entries)
    Find an anthology of your choice. Read at least 5 entries in the anthology. Of the 5 entries you've read, pick your favorite one and then find a book by that writer and read it. (If your first choice doesn't have a book, then pick your next favorite until you find a writer that has a book.) Write about the anthology, your favorite pick from the anthology, and the book you read by your favorite pick. Because of having to obtain and read two books, this challenge is worth two entries. Thanks to J.T. Oldfield at Bibliofreak who partially inspired this challenge.

    Example: If you choose a poetry anthology, you would at least 5 different poems, pick your favorite, and then seek out a book of poetry by that poet. If you read a short story anthology, you would read at least 5 different short stories, pick your favorite, and then seek out either a novel or another book of short stories by that writer.

    Winners


    It's time for another winner catch-up post.  With surgery and everything that has to be done before, I am slightly behind with the winners, but I should be caught up now.  I will announce my A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh winner tomorrow when my review posts. Congratulations to my winners, they have been emailed for addresses. Thanks to all for entering.  I will have more giveaways coming up in the next few weeks.  


    The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate:  Tamara


    The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate:  fredamans


    Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory:

    cqueen2

    Julie
    Sweet Vernal Zephyr

    Wanda

    Melissa