Feeling Like Summer

Hello, I haven't been on the blog for almost two moths now, so I decided to post something--at least one thing--for this soon-to-be ending month.  It's really bright and sunny today making it feel like summer is upon us, which of course it is. Still only doing temporary work and hoping for more work as the year goes on.  No other plans for the summer as of yet.  I have several fans on right now as I don't have air conditioning.  It can get really hot.

What does everyone have planned for this summer?  Can't believe it's already here--well most people consider Memorial Day weekend as the start of summer.

Erotic Romance Challenge 2014

Ok, this one now too.  Will be going for level one, since this is a bit new to me.  I have a few lined up already. Sign up for this one here.




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

The goal is to read at least 12 Erotic Romances in 2014! 

• Level 1--12 erotic romances
• Level 2--18 erotic romances
• Level 3--24 erotic romances
• Level 4--30-60 erotic romances

Added a couple extra levels for yall super readers ;)

• Level 5--61-80 erotic romances
• Level 6-- 81-100+ erotic 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 for those that would like to use that-- ex- BDSM, menage, dark erotica/romance, etc.

What counts!

• Every erotic romance you read and review in 2014
• They can be any type of erotica-- paranormal, historical, m/m, contemporary, etc
• All erotic 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 Erotic Romance Reading Challenge shelf 
• Link your blog starting post/page or your Goodreads/etc challenge shelf in the linky below. 
• We also have a closed FB group for the challenge. To join click HERE

Sign Up HERE! Just include your Name and link to your challenge post/shelf. 

Here is what I am reading for this one:

1. Tangled--Emma Chase
2. A Touch of Crimson--Sylvia Day
3. Switch--Megan Hart
4. Deeper--Megan Hart
5. Suicide Blonde--Darcey Steinke
6. Bared to You--Sylvia Day

2014 Newberry Reading Challenge

Ok, I'm doing another one.  I've finished one already, and so why not another?  Some I haven't made any progress yet, but there are still nine months left in the year.    I'd pondered this one for a while now, and I've already read some that will fit this one I'm now entering. and have a few more sych books planned as well.

The Newberry Reading Challenge is  hosted by Smiling Shelves.  The levels in this one are achieved by points, rather than a number of books.   I'll be doing the first level.  Sign up at the link above.  Details below, copied from Smiling Shelves:

It’s been a goal of mine for quite awhile to read all of the Newbery Award winners. I'm sure I read some as a kid, but I also know I only touched the tip of the iceberg. I needed a way to inspire myself to focus on this goal. What better way than a reading challenge?

I'm so excited about hosting this reading challenge that I may have made it a bit more complicated than it needed to be. But I didn't want to leave out the Newbery Honor Books. Are they any less of a good book just because they didn't win the Medal? Certainly not. So here's my compromise:

Each book you read is worth points. You get:

• 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
• 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
• 1 point for a Caldecott Medal Winner (Gotta give the picture books some love, too.)

In addition to that, you pick a level to aim for:

• L'Engle: 15 - 29 points
• Spinelli: 30 - 44 points
• Avi: 45 - 59 points
• Lowry: 60 - 74 points
• Konigsburg: 75+ points

You can get to this level with any combination of points you want. You can read all Newbery Medal winners. You can throw in a few Honor Books. If you want, you can even read 75 Caldecott Medal winners! How you get to your point level is totally up to you.

(And just to make it extra fun, every couple of months I'll give you a mini-challenge. You can earn bonus points by completing mini-challenges!)

List of Newbery Medal Winners & Honor Books
List of Caldecott Medal Winners

Challenge Guidelines:

• Rereads count (because you were probably a kid when you read it last, and your perspective on the story just might have changed since then).
• Audiobooks and ebooks count.
• And paper books count, too. :)
• All books must be read between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014. Books begun before January 1 don’t count.
• Books can be used for other challenges as well.
• You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can link up reviews from Amazon, Goodreads, etc., or just hang out with us in the comments!
• Reviews are encouraged, but not necessary. There will be a monthly post for you to link up your reviews if you want to share your thoughts.
• Choose your point level. You can always aim for a higher point level, but you can't move to a lower one.

To join the Newbery Reading Challenge:

• Write a post (or a comment) stating your intention to join. Choose your point level. You can find the challenge button below to use in your post.
• Add your link to the Linky at the bottom of this post. Make sure you include the link to yoursign-up post, not just your homepage.

Here is my progress below:

1. Number the Stars--Lois Lowry   3 points
2. A Wrinkle in Time--Madeleine L'Engle 3 points
3. The Giver--Lois Lowry  3 points
4. Jacob Have I Loved--Katherine Paterson 3 points
5. Al Capone Does My Shirts--Gennifer Choldenko  2 points
6. Hatchet--Gary Paulsen   2 points
7. Where the Wild Things Are--Maurice Sendak  1 point
8. Because of Winn-Dixie--Kate DiCamillo   2 points
9. My Friend Rabbit--Eric Rohmann  1 point
10. Rapunzel--Paul O. Zelinsky  1 point
11. Ella Enchanted--Gail Carson Levine  2 points
12. A Single Shard--Linda Sue Park  3 points
13. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch--Jean Lee Latham  3 points

What I've Been Doing

Besides reading, as per all the challenges listed on my blog.  It's been so long since I actually wrote a post like this on the blog.

 I am now awaiting the drug test results for the job I interviewed for last week.  They said they wanted to off it to me, and Now I have to wait for the drug test results to see when I'll begin.  Oh, and it was with a swab that you stick in your mouth and saturate with your saliva.  Much better than how many people do drug tests--I think you know what I  mean :-)   Can't wait to hear from this.  Will be glad to have a regular job once again, even if it's only part-time. Since December I've been a temp at a local agency after months without a job.

Also been attending activities through the county mental health department's center as well as going to therapy.  Been doing that since December.

And I can't believe it's already March.   The year seems to be going by fast.  Waiting to see how the rest of the year goes.

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