Historical Romance Challenge

Decided to give this one a go, too.  Going for Level 1 on this one. Sign up here.

Seriously addicted.  But I'm sure I can do them all.

Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014

The goal is to read at least 12 Historical Romance! 

• Level 1--12 historical romance
• Level 2--18 historical romances
• Level 3--24 historical romance
• Level 4--30-60 historical romances
• Level 5--61-80 historical romances
• Level 6--81-100 historical romances
• Level 7--101+ historical romances

**Note**You can change your level at any time. It's just a starting point :)

**Note** I'll be adding a check list of ideas (historical romance w/ arranged marriage, w/enemies to lovers, w/ older heroine, younger hero, etc for those that would like to use that.

What counts!

• Every historical romance you read and review in 2014
• Any time period prior to 1920 qualifies.
• They can be historical paranormal, historical erotica, m/m, f/f, etc.
• All historical romances over 100 pages in length--audio, ebook, print
• Re-reads, cross overs from other challenges

To Join! 

• Grab the challenge button and create a post or page on your blog to track progress.
• Non-bloggers you can use your Goodreads, LibraryThing, etc profiles. Just create a 2014 Historical Romance Reading Challenge shelf 
• Link your blog starting post/page or your Goodreads/etc challenge shelf in the linky below. 
• If you'd like to be part of the FB group for the challenge join HERE.

My books for this one:

1. The Night Circus--Erin Morgenstern
2. Through a Glass Darkly--Karleen Koen
3. The Paris Wife--Paula McLain
4. The Red Tent--Anita Diamant
5. The Wednesday Letters--Jason F. Wright
6. Dream Tide--Robin Lee Hatcher
7. The Black Opal--Victoria Holt
8. The Devil Wears Plaid--Teresa Medeiros
9. Mount Vernon Love Story--Mary Higgins Clark
10. The Sherbrooke Bride--Catherine Coulter 
11. The Hellion Bride--Catherine Coulter
12. The Heiress Bride--Catherine Coulter

Romantic Suspense Challenge 2014

Yes, another challenge.  But this is one genre I'm getting into now.  Sign up for this one here.  Details copied from the blog below:

My favorite romance sub-genre is romantic suspense. I can’t get enough of the genre and I’m always looking for new authors and books to read. And here’s your chance to join me.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014 (books read prior to 1/1/2014 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2014. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read 10 romantic suspense novels.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, 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 2014 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge button 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, Libib, etc., so as long as you have adedicated shelf for the 2014 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 are my books for this one:

1. Gone Girl--Gillian Flynn
2. Dying to Please/To Die For/Killing Time--Linda Howard
3. High Noon--Nora Roberts
4. Drop Dead Gorgeous--Linda Howard
5. The Cove--Catherine Coulter
6. Vanished--Karen Robards
7. All Night Long--Jayne Ann Krentz
8. And Then You Die--Iris Johansen
9. The Black Opal--Victoria Holt
10. Tangled Vines--Janet Dailey

In The Middle Reading Challenge 2014

Now this one too, since it's halfway between the Quick Fix and the Chunksters challenges. Trying to get the best of all worlds, and it should be quite challenging to find books over 300 pages but no more than 450.  Will go with five to start with and see if I can go over that number.  Sign for this challenge here.

The In The Middle Reading Challenge is back for its second year. I'm so grateful to everybody that joined the challenge last year. I had so much fun watching the review list grow as readers achieved their goals to not let those books that are In The Middle be left out.

The major change for this year is that books up to 450 pages will count. I realized last year that books that were from 400 pages to 450 pages did not fit into any challenge. I hope this will help people read the books they want to and not just books that complete their reading challenge goals. 

Challenge Guidelines:

• This challenge will run from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014
• All books read in 2014 count that includes bound, ebook, and audiobooks
• All books must be from 300 to 450 pages in length
• For audiobooks: look up the page number on Amazon and use that number
• You do not need to be a blogger to participate although I would appreciate if you leave a comment to tell me what level you are aiming for and a link where I can track your progress. This could be a shelf on goodreads or shelfari or any other website you can think of. I would appreciate non bloggers putting their link in the linky if they can. 
• For bloggers, grab the button and make sure to post what level you are aiming for. Then be sure to link your post in the linky below
• You don't have to review books however if you do. I would be glad to read them. You can also link your reviews in the linky below
• Have Fun (as the quote in the button says "the pages we read transport us into a whole new world". Reading is about the experience and if you do not enjoy reading you will not get the full experience of the story) I want this challenge to create little stress in your mind. 

Levels:

Leafing through the Pages: 5 books

Cruising through the Pages: 10 books

Fly Through the Pages: 15 books

Never Stop Reading: 20 books

The Linky will be below so please be sure to sign up. Thanks to everybody who joins. 

Here is what I'll be reading for this one:

1. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe--Fannie Flagg
2. The Year of the Intern--Robin Cook
3. Gone Girl--Gillian Flynn
4. Blueberry Muffin Murder--Joanne Fluke
5. Cherry Cheesecake Murder--Joanne Fluke
6. The Fault in Our Stars--John Green
7. The Night Circus--Erin Morgenstern
8. Destined--P.C. Cast
9. Hidden--P.C. Cast
10. Revealed--P.C. Cast
11. The Lemon Tree--Luanne Rice
12. The Paris Wife--Paula McLain
13. Just One Day--Gayle Forman
14. Of Poseidon--Anna Banks
15. Reconstructing Amelia--Kimberly McCreight
16. Selfish and Perverse--Bob Smith
17. Brownies and Broomsticks--Bailey Cates
18. He Loves Lucy--Susan Donovan
19. The Red Tent--Anita Diamant
20. Cinder--Marissa Meyer
21. Harlem Redux--Persia Walker
22. The Postmistress--Sarah Blake
23. Will Grayson, Will Grayson--John Green and David Levithan
24. Many Waters--Madeleine L'Engle
25. An Acceptable Time--Madeleine L'Engle
26. Orange is the New Black--Piper Kerman
27. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court--Mark Twain
28. Dream Tide--Robin Lee Hatcher
29. Fairest--Gail Carson Levine
30. Wild--Cheryl Strayed
31. This is Where I Leave You--Jonathan Tropper
32. Dark Places--Gillian Flynn
33. Bitter is the New Black--Jen Lancaster
34. The Maze Runner--James Dashner
35. Passion--Lauren Kate
36. Rapture--Lauren Kate
37. Top Secret Twenty-One--Janet Evanovich
38. And Then You Die--Iris Johansen
39. Love the One You're With--Emily Giffin
40. Julie and Julia--Julie Powell
41. Tangled Vines--Janet Dailey
42. Little White Lies--Gemma Townley
43. The Devil Wears Plaid--Teresa Medeiros
44. Blue Bloods--Melissa de la Cruz
45. Dead Ever After--Charlaine Harris
46. Dead End Dating--Kimberly Raye
47. Daddy--Danielle Steel
48. Mount Vernon Love Story--Mary Higgins Clark
49. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat--Sofie Kelly
50. Gingerbread Cookie Murder--Joanne Fluke
51. The Sherbrooke Bride--Catherine Coulter
52. The Hellion Bride--Catherine Coulter
53. The Heiress Bride--Catherine Coulter
54. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder--Joanne Fluke
55. Switch--Megan Hart
56. Deeper--Megan Hart
57. Bared to You--Sylvia Day
58. A Fatal Fleece--Sally Goldenbaum

New Author Challenge

Now I have to do this one for sure.  I know I'll be reading a lot of authors I have not previously read and have  already done so.  To participate in this one go to Literary Escapism.  I will pick 15 to start with, but may go over as I often think I will for most of my challenges.   Below are the details copied from the blog:

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from short stories/novellas or anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop. Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Twitter: If you tweet your review, make sure to include the hashtag #NewAuthorsRC2014!

Here is my progress on this one:

1. The Sugar Queen--Sarah Addison Allen
2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe--Fannie Flagg
3. The Gospel According to Larry--Janet Tashjian
4. The First Eagle--Tony Hillerman
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower--Stephen Chbosky
6. Gone Girl--Gillian Flynn
7. Divergent--Veronica Roth
8. Number the Stars--Lois Lowry
9. The Fault in Our Stars--John Green
10. The Night Circus--Erin Morgenstern
11. Heaven is For Real--Todd Burpo
12. The Lemon Orchard--Luanne Rice
13. Through a Glass Darkly--Karleen Koen
14. Gods in Alabama--Joshilyn Jackson
15. Jacob Have I Loved--Katherine Paterson
16. The Paris Wife--Paula McLain
17. Of Poseidon--Anna Banks (first book by author)
18. Witch Season: Summer and Fall--Jeff Mariotte
19. Reconstructing Amelia--Kimberly McCreight
20. Selfish and Perverse--Bob Smith
21. Dying to Please/To Die For/Killing Time--Linda Howard
22. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
23. Brownies and Broomsticks--Bailey Cates
24. He Loves Lucy--Susan Donovan
25. The Red Tent--Anita Diamant
26. Cinder--Marissa Meyer
27. Pomegranate Soup--Marsha Mehran
28. Harlem Redux--Persia Walker
29. The Wednesday Letters--Jason F. Wright
30. The Postmistress--Sarah Blake
31. Mystery of the Dark Tower--Evelyn Coleman
32. Orange is the New Black--Piper Kerman
33. Summer Kittens--Janice Bennett/Valerie King/Martha Kirkland
34. Hatchet--Gary Paulsen
35. Where the Wild Things Are--Maurice Sendak
36. Because of Winn-Dixie--Kate DiCamillo
37. My Friend Rabbit--Eric Rohmann
38. Rapunzel--Paul O. Zelinksy
39. Cinderella 2000--Mavis Jukes
40. Ella Enchanted--Gail Carson Levine
41. The Hundred-Foot Journey--Richard C. Morais
42. A Single Shard--Linda Sue Park
43. Made From Scratch: A Memoir--Sandra Lee
44. Dream Tide--Robin Lee Hatcher
45. Pardon My French--Catherine Hapka
46. Heart and Salsa--Suzanne Nelson
47. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch--Jean Lee Latham
48. Fallen--Lauren Kate
49. All Night Long--Jayne Ann Krentz
50. Wild--Cheryl Strayed
51. Cooked--Jeff Henderson
52. This is Where I Leave You--Jonathan Tropper
53. Bitter is the New Black--Jen Lancaster
54. The Maze Runner--James Dashner
55. And Then You Die--Iris Johansen
56. Tangled--Emma Chase
57. The Black Opal--Victoria Holt
58. Julie and Julia--Julie Powell
59. Tangled Vines--Janet Dailey
60. Little White Lies--Gemma Townley
61. A Touch of Crimson--Sylvia Day
62. The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams--Rhonda Hayter
63. The Gates to Witch World--Andre Norton
64. Three Tales of My Father's Dragon--Ruth Stiles Gannett
65. Blue Bloods--Melissa de la Cruz
66. Dead End Dating--Kimberly Raye
67. Magical Kittens--Donna Bell/Catherine Blair/Joy Reed
68. Daddy-Danielle Steel
69. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat--Sofie Kelly
70. Sprinkle With Murder--Jenn McKinlay
71. Fruit of All Evil--Paige Shelton
72. The Memory Quilt--T.D. Jakes
73. The Memory Keeper's Daughter--Kim Edwards
74. Switch--Megan Hart
75. Suicide Blonde--Darcey Steinke
76. Killer Crullers--Jessica Beck
77. Unbroken--Laura Hillenbrand
78. Fleece Navidad--Maggie Sefton
79. The Chocolate Castle Clue--Joanna Carl

2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge

Now I'm tempted to join this one, as it will be challenge to read such large books.  I will try for three, but as with other challenges, may just go over.  Three seems like good number to start with. There are no levels on this challenge.  To sign up visit here.

Welcome to the 2014 Chunkster Challenge! I’m your host, Vasilly. 

Wondering what’s a chunkster? A chunkster is an adult or YA book, non-fiction or fiction, that’s 450 pages or more. 

Rules for this challenge:

• Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest. 
• Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone can join.
• You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.
• Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the levels of participation that have always been a part of this challenge. This year we’re going to try something new: there won’t be any levels. 

Don’t get me wrong. This is still a reading challenge. Challenge yourself without being locked in to a certain number. If you didn’t read any chunksters in 2013 and want to change that in 2014, come up with a number and try to read that amount. 

I understand that chunksters can be a bit intimidating. My goal is to encourage as many people as possible to give chunksters a try. We all love short books because we can get through them in a sitting or a few days. It’s different with chunksters. With chunksters, you have to slow down and take your time. The Chunkster Challenge is all about having fun and reading good books. 

All I ask is that participants either write a post or leave a comment in the comments section letting the world know your goal. Mr. Linky is acting up so if you write a post, leave a link in the comment section.

 I’ll be right here to cheer you on. Happy reading.

Here is what I am reading for this one:

1. Divergent--Veronica Roth
2. Insurgent--Veronica Roth
3. Allegiant--Veronica Roth
4. Through a Glass Darkly--Karleen Koen
5. Witch Season: Summer and Fall--Jeff Mariotte
6. High Noon--Nora Roberts
7. Scarlet--Marissa Meyer
8. Fallen--Lauren Kate
9. Torment--Lauren Kate
10. City of Heavenly Fire--Cassandra Clare
11. The Gates to Witch World--Andre Norton
12. The One& Only--Emily Giffin
13. Unbroken--Laura Hillenbrand

Quick Fix Challenge 2014

Another challenge, yes, I am addicted!  Sign up for this one here.  I'll be gong for the first level, but may go over.  Details coped from the blog below.

I've decided to run the Quick Fix Challenge again for 2014!

So about the challenge?
I find that many times when a reading challenge has to do with a book's size it usually about reading bigger books. Sometimes, because I'm in between books, life is getting out of hand, or things are just getting in the way, there's just not enough time to read a big book. Who says bigger is better anyway? Sometimes things break and all you need is a little tape and it'll hold. So this is the "Quick fix Challenge" whether it's a love for smaller books, or just trying to squeeze in a quick read, or maybe times running out and you need to read in some more books quickly. This is a challenge about reading books with less than 300 pages.

Challenge Details:

• The challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
• Sign ups will be open until mid December.
• You don't have to be a blogger to participate. However, leave a comment and tell me what level  you're aiming for.
• For bloggers, post up a challenge sign up post saying what level you've signed up for. Be sure to sign-up with your sign-up post in the linky.
• You don't have to review the books you read however if you do, you will be able to post your links to your reviews here.
• Books have to have less than 300 pages to count.
• Books such as MG/YA, graphic novels/manga, audio, rereads, anthologies and short stories, can count toward your goal.
• Feel free to crossover the books you read for this challenge with other challenges.

(If you have any questions feel free to ask, I feel like I might be missing something here.)

Now the Levels/It will hold with:

String: 5 books

Paperclips: 15 books

Duck tape: 25 books

Gorilla glue: 30+ books

Here are my books for this one:

1. Serafina's Stories--Rudolfo Anaya
2. No Laughter Here--Rita Williams-Garcia
3. First Snow On Fuji--Yasanuri Kawabata
4. The Gospel According to Larry--Janet Tashjian
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower--Stephen Chbosky
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God--Zora Neale Hurston
7. A Summer to Die--Lois Lowry
8. Heaven is For Real--Todd Burpo
9. Awakened--P.C. Cast
10. Dragon's Oath--P.C. Cast
11. Gods in Alabama--Joshilyn Jackson
12. The Giver--Lois Lowry
13. Gathering Blue-Lois Lowry
14. Messenger--Lois Lowry
15. Jacob Have I Loved--Katherine Paterson
16. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
17. Pomegranate Soup--Marsha Mehran
18. Rosewater and Soda Bread--Marsha Mehran
19. The Wednesday Letters--Jason F. Wright
20. Mystery of the Dark Tower--Evelyn Coleman
21. Summer Kittens--Janice Bennett/Valerie King/Martha Kirkland
22. The Professor--Charlotte Bronte
23. Cinderella 2000--Mavis Jukes
24. Ella Enchanted--Gail Carson Levine
25. An Abundance of Katherines--John Green
26. The Hundred-Foot Journey--Richard C. Morais
27. Pardon My French--Catherine Hapka
28. Heart and Salsa--Suzanne Nelson
29. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch--Jean Lee Latham
30. Lost Lake--Sarah Addison Allen
31. How to Wash a Cat--Rebecca M. Hale
32. How to Tail a Cat--Rebecca M. Hale
33. Fallen in Love--Lauren Kate
34. Tangled--Emma Chase
35. The Black Opal--Victoria Holt
36. The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams--Rhonda Hayter
37. Magical Kittens--Donna Bell/Catherine Blair/Joy Reed
38. Sprinkle With Murder--Jenn McKinlay
39. Fruit of All Evil--Paige Shelton
40. Suicide Blonde--Darcey Steinke
41. Saving Zoe--Alyson Noel
42. Killer Crullers--Jessica Beck
43. Illegally Iced--Jessica Beck
44. Fleece Navidad--Maggie Sefton
45. The Chocolate Castle Clue-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10806976-the-chocolate-castle-clue-Joanna Carl

Reading Bingo Challenge 2014

Just had to challenge myself even more and this one seems hard to resist.   And I'm going to do both. Sign up here.

When facing a new year filled with so many possibilities for resolutions, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Do you want to challenge yourself to read more in the coming year? What about to read more widely? And where’s the motivation to stay on track?

Bingo—that’s where! Welcome to Retreat’s Reading Bingo Challenge 2014. We’ve created a printable bingo card with 24 reading challenges! Join us and challenge yourself to read more, to read more widely and to have fun doing it all!

You can approach the Reading Bingo card however you like: beginners, start by getting one line; if you’re more advanced, try the whole outside box on the card; experts, fill in the whole card!

We would recommend using one book per space, but if you read a book over 500 pages written by someone under 30, who are we to stop you from cover two squares with one read?

This year, for a little extra challenge, we’ve also created the Reading Bingo Card: YA Edition! We’ve come up with 24 challenges related specifically to books geared to teens. But you don’t have to be a teenager to participate!

Books for Reading Bingo

1. More than 500 Pages:  Through a Glass Darkly--Karleen Koen
2. Forgotten Classic:  The Professor--Charlotte Bronte
3. Became a Movie:  The Hundred-Foot Journey--Richard C. Morais
4. Published This Year:  Lost Lake--Sarah Addison Allen
5. Number in the Title:  Takedown Twenty--Janet Evanovich
6. Written By Someone Under 30:  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter--Carson McCullers
7. Non-Human Characters:  Summer Kittens--Janice Bennett/Valerie King/Martha Kirkland
8. Funny Book:  Selfish and Perverse--Bob Smith
9. Female Author:  The Sugar Queen--Sarah Addison Allen
10. Book With Mystery:  Harlem Redux--Persia Walker
11. One-Word Title:  Vanished--Karen Robards
12. Book of Short Stories:  The Early Stories of Louisa May Alcott
13. Free Square:  Reconstructing Amelia--Kimberly McCreight
14. Set on a Different Continent:  Rosewater and Soda Bread--Marsha Mehran
15. Book of Non-Fiction:  Miracles and Grace in an Unlikely Place--Charisse Tyson
16. 1st Book by Favorite Author:  Mount Vernon Love Story--Mary Higgins Clark
17. Book Heard about Online:  Tangled--Emma Chase
18. Best-Selling Book:  Orange is the New Black--Piper Kerman
19. Based on a True Story:  Heaven is For Real--Todd Burpo
20. Bottom of TBR PIle:  And Then You Die--Iris Johansen
21. Book Your Friend Loves:  Gods in Alabama--Joshilyn Jackson
22. Book That Scares You:   Gone Girl--Gillian Flynn
23. Book More Than 10 Years Old:  First Snow on Fuji--Yasanuri Kawabata
24. 2nd Book in a Series:  The Hellion Bride--Catherine Coulter
25. Blue Cover:   Blueberry Muffin Murder--Joanne Fluke

Books for YA Bingo:

1. Female Heroine:  Divergent--Veronica Roth
2. Set in a High School:  Blue Bloods--Melissa de la Cruz
3. Last Book in a Trilogy:  Allegiant--Veronica Roth
4. Book WIth a Color in the Title:  Gathering Blue--Lois Lowry
5. First Book in a Series:  Cinder--Marissa Meyer
6. Book Set in the Future:  Insurgent--Veronica Roth
7. Book With a Breakup:   An Abundance of Katherines--John Green
8. Book Without a Love Triangle: No Laughter Here--Rita Wiliams-Garcia
9. Book That Became a  Movie:   The Perks of Being a Wallflower--Stephen Chbosky
10. Book Set in Paris:   Just One Day--Gayle Forman
11. Book Set in the Past:  Their Eyes Were Watching God-- Zora Neale Hurston
12. Book With Magic:  The Night Circus--Erin Morgenstern
13. Free Square:  Fallen--Lauren Kate
14. Book Set in the Summer:  A Summer to Die--Lois Lowry
15. Book with a Dragon:   Three Tales of My Father's Dragon--Ruth Stiles Gannett
16. Book That Made You Cry:   The Fault in Our Stars--John Green
17. Graphic Novel: Fullmetal Alchemist (Vol 1-3)--Hiromu Arakawa
18. Book Based on a Myth:  Of Poseidon--Anna Banks
19. A "Classic" YA Book:   The Giver--Lois Lowry
20. A Lion, a Witch, or a Wardrobe:   Witch Season: Summer and Fall--Jeff Mariotte
21. Book With an Incredible Fight Scene:  A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court--Mark Twain
22. Book Heard About Online:  Will Grayson, Will Grayson--John Green and David Levithan
23. Book Set in Another World:  A Wrinkle in Time--Madeleine L'Engle
24. Book WIth an Epic Love Story:  Awakened--P.C. Cast
25. Book WIth Music:  Number the Stars--Lois Lowry