2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

Here's a new one for me. Though I like reading all kinds of romance, I'll be doing this one even though  only contemporary romance is allowed.  Will try to find other challenges for other kinds of romance. For this, I'll pick Level one for now, but may go up.   Sign up at Book Vixen for this one.  

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge was originally created and hosted by Pearl’s World of Romance, then was passed on to Fatin atRomance Book Maven, and is now hosted by The Book Vixen.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many Contemporary Romance books as you’d like. Books that qualify for this challenge can be young adult, new adult, or adult. Books can be M/F, M/M, or F/F. Books must be a work of fiction (sorry, nonfiction does not qualify for this challenge). Romances with the following elements do not qualify for this reading challenge: paranormal, historical, time-travel, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery/suspense/thriller. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challengeyourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join this challenge, grab the 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

• 1st Base: read 1 – 5 books
• 2nd Base: read 6 – 10 books
• 3rd Base: read 11 – 15 books
• Home Run: read 16 – 20 books
• Grand Slam: read 21+ books

Here is what I am reading:

1. The Elizabeth Berg Collection
2. Shopaholic to the Stars--Sophie Kinsella
3. Letting Go--Maya Banks
4. Ruby's Slippers--Leanna Ellis
5. Bridget Jones's Diary--Helen Fielding
6. Hero at Large--Janet Evanovich
7. Big Girl Panties--Stephanie Evanovich
8. The DUFF--Kody Keplinger
9. Big Little Lies--Liane Moriarty
10. The Cupcake Queen--Heather Hepler
11. Not Another Bad Date--Rachel Gibson
12. One Day--David Nicholls
13. Little Bitty Lies--Mary Kay Andrews
14. Bet Me--Jennifer Crusie
15. Don't Look Back--Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
16. Art Geeks and Prom Queens--Alyson Noel
17. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul--Deborah Rodriguez
18. Light of the Moon--Luanne Rice
19. Blue Ridge Reunion--Mia Ross
20. Hot Pursuit--Kathryn Jensen
21. Austenland--Shannon Hale
22. Pink Ice--Susanna Carr
23. Laguna Cove--Alyson Noel
24. Second Chance Summer--Morgan Matson
25. Paper Towns--John Green
26. Daddy's Little Girl--Mary Higgins Clark
27. Summer Days--Lisa Jackson
28. Sea Glass Winter--Joann Ross
29. The Sweet Spot--Stephanie Evanovich
30. Sunset in St. Tropez--Danielle Steel
31. Grey--E.L. James
32. Revenge Wears Prada--Lauren Weisberger
33. Leaving Time--Jodi Picoult
34. The Dark Garden--Eden Bradley
35. Shopaholic to the Rescue--Sophie Kinsella
36. The Girls of Mischief Bay--Susan Mallery
37. After You--Jojo Moyes
38. Cozy Christmas--Valerie Hansen
39. The Tea House on Mulberry Street--Sharon Owens

Challenge completed on December 24

2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

This was a reading challenge I did for the first time this year.  I decided to do it again next year.  There is something new, however, for the upcoming year--levels.  Since there are  levels now, I'll go with the first one for now, then see I find more to read.  Go to the Book Vixen blog for this one.  Read below:

Do you enjoy reading romance but also crave a bit of mystery and suspense? Then this is the reading challenge for you! 

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many romantic suspense novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challenge yourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join the challenge, grab the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Here is what I'll be reading:

1. All He Ever Wanted--Anita Shreve
2. Perfect--Judith McNaught
3. Big Little Lies--Liane Moriarty
4. The Girl on the Train--Paula Hawkins
5. Little Bitty Lies--Mary Kay Andrews
6. Don't Look Back--Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
7. Hot Pursuit--Kathryn Jensen
8. Daddy's Little Girl--Mary Higgins Clark

Calling this complete as of November 3, even though I haven't read any books for this challenge since July.  It's getting time to wrap up challenges and I don't see myself having time to read anymore for this one. 

Reading Challenge Addicts 2015

I definitely have to say I'm addicted to reading challenges.   So once again I'm doing the Reading Challenges Addict challenge, and again at the 16 or more level, because there will be more to come in the next two months.  Sign up here.  Details below:

Link up here to declare your addiction to that beautiful thing: The Reading Challenge.  Reading Challenges of all sorts and sizes.  Those that require you to read certain genres. Those that want colors or animals or certain kinds of words in the title.  Those that help you tackle your TBR piles and those that seem to encourage you to add more to the stacks.  You got 'em we want to know about 'em.  Help us feed our Reading Challenge mania and join in to offer support and encouragement along the way.  

Check out the "About" page to see what levels of addiction we support and to help you design a sign-up post.

Let us know who you are (Go on, say it with us: "Hi, my name is Bev, and I'm a Reading Challenge Addict." There, see, not too hard.), a link to your sign-up post, and an email address (so I can contact you about any challenge prizes along the way) in the Linky below. New challengers welcome until November 2014.


Challenges I've completed: 

1. Pre-Printing Press 1/10
2. Poetry in 2015 1/18
3. What's in a Name?  2/18
4. Play On   4/2
5. #ReadingMyLibraryChallenge  4/30
6. Gentle Spectrums (Part B: Gentle Subjects) 5/19
7. Southern Literature Reading Challenge  6/6
8. Eclectic Reader Challenge  6/13
9. Mental Illness Awareness   calling this complete as of 6/14; the host blog was deleted several months ago
10. Curvy Heroine Reading Challenge calling this complete as of 6/14; the blog has deleted the link to the challenge
11. Bookish Bingo: Ready for Spring 6/24
12. Semi-Charmed Summer 2015 Book Challenge 6/27
13. Books N' Tunes Challenge 7/14
14. The Rainbow Connection (Goodreads) 8/4
15. Color-Coded Reading Challenge 8/27
16. Book Riot Read Harder Challenge  9/15
17. Back to the Classics  9/20
18. Banned Books Challenge 10/1
19. Graphic Novels/Manga Challenge 10/1
20. Full House Reading Challenge 10/4
21. Lucky 15 Reading Challenge 10/4
22. Reading Bites Reading Challenge 10/17
23. Feminism Reading Challenge 10/18
24. Witches and Witchcraft 10/24
25. Halloween Reading 10/24
26. Mount TBR Challenge 10/26
27. (Fairytales) Retold Challenge 10/29
28. Literary Pickers Reading Challenge 10/31
29. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (Goodreads) 10/31
30. Newbery Reading Challenge 11/2
31. LGBT Reading Challenge 11/3
32. Romantic Suspense Challenge calling this one complete on 11/3
33. Erotic Romance Reading Challenge  11/12
34. Finish the Series Challenge 11/25
35. Dystopia Reading Challenge calling this one complete on 11/25
36. Popsugar Reading Challenge 2015 12/2
37. Nonfiction Reading Challenge 12/2
38. What An Animal  12/2
39. Audiobook Challenge 12/2
40. Monthly Keyword Challenge 12/5
41. I Love Picture Books Challenge 12/5
42. Monthly Motif Challenge 12/8
43. Cloak and Dagger Mystery Reading Challenge calling this one complete on 12/11; link has been deleted
44. Diversity on the Shelf calling this one complete as of 12/13
45. Cruising Thru the Cozies calling this one done on 12/14
46. Historical Romance calling this one complete on 12/14
47. Reading Through Time 12/15
48. Flights of Fantasy calling this once complete on 12/18
49. Ethereal calling this one complete on 12/18
50. My Kind of Mystery calling this one complete on 12/18
51. Semi-Charmed Winter Reading Challenge 12/19
52. Christmas Reading Challenge 12/19
53. Book to Movie Challenge 12/21
54. Everything YA Challenge 12/21
55. Foodies Read 12/24
56. Contemporary Romance 12/24
57. I Love Library Books Challenge 12/30
58. Gentle Spectrums Part A 12/30

Last challenges completed on December 30

Quiz: What "Hunger Games" Character Are You?

You Are Peeta

You are a gentle, compassionate, and introspective person. You love to take care of people. You are good at anticipating what others around you need before they even know that they need it. You are sensitive that way. You may be underestimated at times. People don't know how tough you are until you're pushed to your limits. You prefer peace, but you will fight for what's right ... especially when it concerns those that you love.

What Hunger Games Character Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Quiz: What is Your "Hunger Games" Name?

Your Hunger Games Name Is: Tania Meadowlace

May the odds be ever in your favor.

What's Your Hunger Games Name?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

The Eclectic Reader Challenge 2015

Here is the Eclectic Reader Challenge for 2015.  This is always a fun one.  I'll be doing this one again.  See the blog here to sign up for this one.  Details below:

In it’s fourth year, the aim of The Eclectic Reader Challenge is to push you outside your comfort zone by reading up to 12 books during the year from 12 different categories.

Join in:

• The challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2015. Participants may join at any time up until December 1st 2015

• Create a blog post committing to  your participation in this challenge.

*  If you don’t have a blog you are still welcome to sign up. You can create a shelf for the challenge at Goodreads or LibraryThing or a similar site Just include your name and a link to your shelf.

• Post your name, blog name, and the direct link to your challenge post in the Linky using the link below:

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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

• Select, read and review a book from each category listed below during the year for a total of 12 books. A book may be in print, electronic or audio format.

*  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advance. You may combine this challenge with others if you wish.

*  Where a book is identified by more than one genre eg historical romance, it may only count for either the historical fiction or romantic fiction genres – not both.

*  You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 31st 2015 to be eligible for the prize drawing.

Bookmark the Eclectic Reader Challenge Page for future reference

Categories

1. Retellings (of fairytale, legends or myth)
2.  A book set in a country starting with the letter S (eg. Sweden, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Slovakia)
3.  PI Crime (fiction featuring a private investigator)
4.  A novel published before you were born
5. Contemporary romance
6. Fiction for foodies (fiction featuring food/food related business)
7. Microhistory (Non Fiction)
8. Science Fiction set in space
9. Sports (Fiction or Non fiction)
10. Featuring diversity
11. Epistolary Fiction (fiction written in the format of letters/emails/diary entries)
12. Middle Grade/YA Adventure

If you need some ideas for what to read in the above categories I suggest you search Library Booklists or  Listopia at Goodreads

• Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement  and /or the challenge image badge to the post. If you tweet use the tag #eclecticreader or @bookdout
• Share your review with other challenge participants by posting your name/blog name and title of the book with a direct link to your review in the Linky.

Here is what I'll be reading for this:

1. Retellings:  Ruby's Slippers--Leanna Ellis  
2.  A book set in a country starting with the letter S:  Outlander--Diana Gabaldon
3.  PI Crime:  Maigret and the Loner--Georges Simenon
4.  A novel published before you were born:  Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen
5. Contemporary romance:  Shopaholic to the Stars--Sophie Kinsella
6. Fiction for foodies:  Candy Apple Dead--Sammi Carter
7. Microhistory:  For God, Country and Coca-Cola--Mark Pendergrast
8. Science Fiction set in space:  The Martian--Andy Weir
9. Sports:  Not Another Bad Date--Rachel Gibson
10. Featuring diversity:  The Color Purple--Alice Walker
11. Epistolary Fiction:  Bridget Jones's Diary--Helen Fielding
12. Middle Grade/YA Adventure:  Ice Kissed--Amanda Hocking

.... Challenge Completed on June 13 .....

What's in a Name? 2015

Here is another, one I tried for the first time this year.  I'm doing it again. to sign up go to the Wormhole's blog here.  Details below:

This is the sign-up post for the eighth annual What’s In A Name challenge, originally started by Annie, handed to Beth Fish Reads, and now continued here at The Worm Hole. Information in other languages: Português

The basics

The challenge runs from January to December. During this time you choose a book to read from each of the following categories (examples of books you could choose are in brackets):

• A word including ‘ing’ in it (The Time Of Singing, Dancing To The Flute, Lex Trent Fighting With Fire) My examples are verbs but you can of course use other words.
• A colour (The Red Queen, White Truffles In Winter, On Gold Mountain)
• A familial relation (Daughter Of Smoke And Bone, Dombey And Son, My Cousin Rachel) By all means include in-laws, step, and halves.
• A body of water (The River Of No Return, Black Lake, Beside The Sea)
• A city (Barcelona Shadows, Shanghai Girls, Under The Tripoli Sky)
• An animal (Black Swan Rising, The Leopard Unleashed, The Horse And His Boy)

Remember the titles I’ve given here are only examples, you can by all means use them if you want to but it’s not necessary. There are plenty of other books that will fit the categories and you may have some in mind already or even some on your shelves you can read.

Extra information

• Books can be any format (print, audio, ebook).
• It’s preferred that the books don’t overlap with other challenges, but not a requirement at all.
• Books cannot overlap categories (for instance my example of Black Swan Rising for ‘an animal’ could be used for the ‘colour’ category or ‘animal’ category, but not both).
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
• You don’t have to make your list of books beforehand, you can choose them as you go.
• You don’t have to read your chosen books in any particular order.

Here is what I am reading for this one:

• A word including ‘ing’ in it:  Letting Go--Maya Banks
• A color:  The Color Purple--Alice Walker
• A familial relation: My Sister's Keeper--Jodi Picoult
• A body of water:  Sea Glass--Anita Shreve
• A city:  The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963--Christopher Paul Curtis
• An animal:  How to Moon a Cat--Rebecca M. Hale

Challenge completed on February 18