2023 Reading Challenges

Source: PNGtree

Happy New Year! For those of you using the Gregorian calendar, welcome to the start of another year. I am lucky enough to have a four day weekend, and I'm getting some reading done. I've also decided to try reading challenges again. I took a break for a few years and I'm ready to try again. I picked four, all repeats except for the Thrifty Thursday. That's been a meme for several years and is now a challenge too. Click on the each challenge's name to go the sign up post, and get more information.

1) Library Love  I use my library a lot, both personally and professionally. I actually did this challenge in 2022 and ended up reading over 100, including books for my classroom. This year, I'm aiming for Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books. 

2) Thrifty Thursday Between sales and author newsletters, I get a lot of freebies every month. Which, more books + no money = AWESOME. But...they tend to languish on my Kindle. So I'm aiming to read and review one a month, more if I can manage it.

3) Mount TBR I'm sure it's no surprise that I have a large pile, virtual and physical, of unread books. I'm going for level 2, Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s. Books owned, requested, or ordered before today, January 1st, 2023, count. Also, rereads count, yay! But ideally, they'll be books I haven't read yet.

And finally the, Goodreads challenge. I do this one every year. Last year's goal was 250 and I almost doubled that. Note: I count all books I read in the classroom, and count rereads. Cuz toddlers love repetition. If they only want to listen to a book once, they don't like the book. This year's goal is 300. 

Are you doing any reading challenges this year? Tell me about them! And, good luck and have fun reading.

February Reading Challenge Wrap Up

This year I'm participating in 5 year-long challenges, and may do some short-term challenges throughout the year. Let's see how I did and you can share your accomplishments in the comments.

January Reading Challenge Wrap Up

This year I'm participating in 5 year-long challenges, and may do some short-term challenges throughout the year. Let's see how I did, and you can share your progress in the comments.

The 2017 Edition of The TBR Book Tag - How Many Books Are In My TBR Pile?

Image from author Mary Balogh on facebook

So this TBR pile meme has sort of become my yearly wrap up post. It's late this year; I usually post it during the last week of the year to which it applies. That didn't happen, so here's last year's post. :D

2018 Reading Challenges

This year, 2017, I only did 2 challenges, the Goodreads reading challenge and the Library Love Challenge. I had such a rough year in 2016 that I cut way back for this year. Now, though, I'm ready to take on more. So for 2018, I'm doing not only the Goodreads and Library Love challenges but also the Blogger Shame challenge and the Backlist Reader challenge.

2016 Edition of The TBR Book Tag - How Many Books Are In My TBR Pile?

I did this a couple years ago, missed it last year, and decided to do it again this year, even though I was nervous to compare facts and see how I've done since then. The short answer? Poorly. :D I am a book hoarder, there's no doubt. Books are my addiction. Luckily, it's not an expensive one as I've gotten good at acquiring books at a bargain price or for free.

First, a couple of housekeeping tasks. My definitions of a TBR, or To Be Read, pile differs from many other bloggers. For me, the TBR pile consists of books actually in my possession; I own them or have borrowed them, whether from the library or a friend. If it's a book I want to read but don't have in my possession, then it's a wish list book. My wish list is a mix of books I want to review, books I want to own, and books I want to read. I use it for "shopping" the library and for requesting books as well as for my personal shopping list.

The TBR Book Tag - How Many Books Are On My TBR Pile? (Too Darn Many!)

Image from author Mary Balogh on facebook

I saw this meme at On Starships & Dragonwings last month and thought it sounded like fun. It also seemed like a good post for the end of the year, a way to look at what I've got to read. It's always interesting to me to hear about other people's TBR piles and how they manage them. One thing I've noticed is that definitions of a TBR, or To Be Read, pile differ. For me, the TBR pile is books actually in my possession; I own them or have borrowed them, whether from the library or a friend. If it's a book I want to read but don't have in my possession, then it's a wish list book. So, my wish list is a mix of books I want to review, books I want to own, and books I want to read. I use it for "shopping" the library and for requesting books as well as my personal shopping list.

Goodreads Chat with romance author Laura Kaye!

Hot romance author Laura Kaye will be answering questions from Goodreads members in a special discussion group in celebration of her new book, Hard As It Gets, the first book in the new Hard Ink series.

Laure Kaye will be answering questions throughout the day on Thursday, December 5th, but you can ask your questions now. To ask a question or simply read the discussion, join the group! 

Related articles

• Review: Hard As It Gets: A Hard Ink Novel by Laura Kaye (readinginpajamas.wordpress.com)
• AS HARD AS IT GETS Cover Reveal! (fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com)
• Release Day Launch: HARD AS IT GETS - LAURA KAYE (louisasreviews.wordpress.com)

Debbie Macomber Video Chat on Goodreads Monday May 6th

Goodreads will be having a  live video chat with Debbie Macomber, a New York Times best selling romance author, on Monday, May 6th at 2pm ET/11am PT. They'll be discussing her latest book, Rose Harbor in Bloom, her successful career, and her life as a novelist.

To RSVP to the chat and receive a reminder email the day before the chat, click here and RSVP "Yes." To watch the chat or ask a question, click here.

Goodreads chat with Terry Brooks April 29th.

Are you a fan of Terry Brooks? Love his Shannara series? Head over to goodreads on Monday, April 29 at 2pm ET/11am PT for a live video chat with legendary fantasy author Terry Brooks. He'll be talking about his latest book, "The Bloodfire Quest", the second in his series The Dark Legacy of Shannara, as well as his previous work and his life as a writer. Don't miss your chance to ask a question of popular author.

RSVP here to get a reminder email the day before the chat.

Click here to watch the chat and join the discussion.

Goodreads Chat with Mystery Author J.A. Jance Monday 3/18

Photo from author website

 
Mystery author J.A. Jance will be answering questions on the Goodreads site from Goodreads members in a special one day only discussion group in celebration of her book Deadly Stakes (Ali Reynolds #8). 

J.A. Jance will answer questions throughout the day Monday, March 18th, but you can ask your question right now! To ask a question or simply read the discussion, join the group. 

Live Chat With PNR Author D.B. Reynolds! Saturday June 23rd

D.B. Reynolds writes the hot, sexy, Vampires in America series. Full of dangerous vampires, passionate males and females, intrigue, hot sex, and good stories, these books will keep you warm while you read.

Tomorrow, Saturday June 23rd, you can chat with D.B. for an hour, live at goodreads, at 2PM PST. The chat is being hosted by Chopin's Cafe and there will be a giveaway. Click on the link to RSVP, and I'll see you there!

Review of Betrayal Of Trust by J.A. Jance

Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Series: J.P. Beaumont #20
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from Amazon):
 

Seattle investigator J. P. Beaumont uncovers a dark and deadly conspiracy that reaches deep into the halls of state government, in this latest thriller from New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance.

At first glance, the video appears to be showing a childish game: a teenage girl with dark wavy hair smiles for the camera, a blue scarf tied around her neck. All of a sudden things turn murderous, and the girl ends up dead. 

It’s as bad as a snuff film can get, and what’s worse, the clip has been discovered on a phone that belongs to the grandson of Washington State’s governor. However, the boy, who has a troubled background, swears that he’s never seen the victim before.
Fortunately, the governor is able to turn to an old friend, J. P. Beaumont, for help. The Seattle private investigator has witnessed many horrific acts over the years, but this one ranks near the top. Even more shocking is that the crime’s multiple perpetrators could be minors.


SStatState’s governor. However, the boy, who has a troubled background, swears that he’s never seen the victim before.
Fortunately, the governor is able to turn to an old friend, J. P. Beaumont, for help. The Seattle private investigator has witnessed many horrific acts over the years, but this one ranks near the top. Even more shocking is that the crime’s multiple perpetrators could be minors.
State’s governor. However, the boy, who has a troubled background, swears that he’s never seen the victim before.
Fortunately, the governor is able to turn to an old friend, J. P. Beaumont, for help. The Seattle private investigator has witnessed many horrific acts over the years, but this one ranks near the top. Even more shocking is that the crime’s multiple perpetrators could be minors.
Along with Mel Soames, his partner in life as well as on the job, Beaumont soon determines that what initially appears to be a childish prank gone wrong has much deeper implications. But Mel and Beau must follow this path of corruption to its very end, before more innocent young lives are lost.

State’s governor. However, the boy, who has a troubled background, swears that he’s never seen the victim before. 

Fortunately, the governor is able to turn to an old friend, J. P. Beaumont, for help. The Seattle private investigator has witnessed many horrific acts over the years, but this one ranks near the top. Even more shocking is that the crime’s multiple perpetrators could be minors. 

Teaser:

We went back to the hotel. It wasn't that late, but it had been a long day, and my knees were killing me. I took some Aleve and went to bed. Mel was still at the desk in the corner checking her e-mail when I drifted off to never-never land, thinking about Gerry Willis's grandson, Josh Deeson.

Mel is more of a night owl than I am. That doesn't mean she's a slugabed in the morning, because she's able to function on far less sleep than I do. I went to bed early, she went to bed late, and we both got up at the same time.

Don't try to tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor, because S/He does. Just the morning before I had been pondering the joys of separate bathrooms. The next day dawned with us ensconced in the Olympia Red Lion with only a single bathroom in sight. And, in the world of bathroom use, men and women are definitely not created equal. Women win; men lose.

Reviewed By: Bea


My Thoughts:

I won this book quite a while ago in a giveaway on goodreads. I had read many of the books in a different series by Jance and when I saw this on goodreads, I entered. But then the book sat in my TBR pile and kept getting shoved to the bottom. Then recently, after reading urban fantasy for several months, I decided to switch genres and remembered that I had this, so I picked it up.

I was immediately sucked in and read the book in pretty much one sitting. Although it's the 20th book in the series, I had no trouble following along, despite not having read any of the previous books. Jance sprinkles in background throughout; there are a few times when she does some small info dumps but overall she works information and details into the story smoothly. I think it also helped that the main characters, J.P. and Mel, spend most of the book on special assignment outside of their usual district so only a few of the characters were recurring; most were new.

The story is complex and engrossing and very, very topical. Actually, the themes are a mix of topical (texting, online stalking, technology) and perennial (bullying, family dysfunction, responsibility) smoothly blended together. Jance doesn't get preachy nor does she resort to stereotypes. There's little in the story that's all good or all bad; instead we see the spectrum of behaviors and all of the characters are complex. J.P and Mel are likable and make a good pair, both professionally and personally. In addition to the main mystery, there's a secondary plot involving J.P.'s late father. It's mostly separate from the main plot but they parallel each other when it comes to family dysfunction and the choices that family members make for both for themselves and each other.

I really enjoyed this book and regret waiting so long to read it.

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

Live Video Chat with Authors Jael McHenry & Sarah McCoy

Goodreads is hosting a live video with Jael McHenry, author of the haunting book, "The Kitchen Daughter", and Sarah McCoy, author of "The Baker's Daughter". The chat is in honor of both books being released in paperback. Ask questions online and chat live with the authors. Don't miss out on your chance to talk to these talented authors and ask your burning questions. RSVP to the launch party now!

The authors will be found at this link at 2 pm ET/11 am PT on January 24, 2012: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/video_chat/21

To receive a reminder email the day before the chat, click here and RSVP "Yes!"

Live Video Chat with Becca Fitzpatrick, Author of the Hush, Hush Series!

Join Becca Fitzpatrick, internationally bestselling author of The Hush, Hush Saga, for a live video chat on Goodreads on Tuesday, January 10 at 7 pm Eastern, 4 pm Pacific Time. If you aren't a Goodreads member, it's easy, and free, to join.

To celebrate the long anticipated paperback release of Crescendo, book two in The Hush, Hush Saga, author Becca Fitzpatrick has a major announcement to make about book four!

SimonTeen is keeping quiet about the big announcement for now, but they did say that that Becca will be hosting a live Q&A session. Special guest Moira Young, author of Dust Lands, book one: Blood Red Road, will also be joining the chat all the way from York, England.

The Crescendo paperback, the only place where you can get an early first look at the fourth book in The Hush, Hush Saga, is on sale now. 

Click here to RSVP for the event.

Review of The Insider by Reece Hirsch

Publisher: Berkley

Release date: August 19, 2010

More Info: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from Goodreads):

First corporate attorney Will Connelly's colleague hurtles to his death outside his office window. Within days, Will is a prime suspect in a murder, the target of an S.E.C. insider trading investigation, and a pawn in a complex criminal scheme involving the Russian mafia and a ruthless terrorist plot. Now, to top things off, he must ensure a deadly enemy doesn't gain access to the nation's most sensitive and confidential information-that has the power to do incalculable, irrevocable harm.
 
My Thoughts:

The cover of this book has a blurb calling it "Gripping and gritty...". It is gritty but gripping...that was more erratic. It would hold my attention for a while then it would get dull and several times I dozed off. There are lots of twists and turns in the story though I guessed or predicted some some pretty quickly. To be honest, I figured out the identity of the person in the firm was who betrayed Will; Hirsch pushed us so hard in one direction that it was obvious to me that the guilty person was someone else. I think the story could have been trimmed a bit, tightened up, and that might have held my attention more.

Stylistically, the story is similar to John Grisham and James Patterson, but with more depth, and also to Michael Connelly. The plot is timely, with it's focus on technological privacy, mergers of giant corporations, and terrorist attacks. As I said, the story drags at times, but Will is likable. There are some implausibilities but some of them are due to Hirsch sticking with some of the thriller genre's standard tropes. However, unlike many mystery and thriller  protagonists, Will manages to stay calm most of the time and can think on his feet. He makes amateurish errors but they are, for the most part, in keeping with his character. He is smart enough to seek out a lawyer and ask for help when he needs it.

Overall, it's a well told story. If you like Grisham, Patterson, Connelly, then you should give this one a try.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Giveaway & Review of The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Release date: May 24, 2011

Series: #1 in Regency Rogues

More info: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from Goodreads):

Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for Lady Lucinda Grey. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot. To do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must use his devilish charm to seduce Lucinda and convince her he’s worthy of her attention. William never planned to become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or to lose his own heart in the bargain.


Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. She’s tempted by his sinfully sensuous mouth and piercing eyes, and finds it hard to resist the champion thoroughbred he offers her in exchange for the honor of courting her. Can she keep him at arm’s length when his touch begs her to let him so much closer?

My Thoughts:

This is Stefanie Sloane's debut novel and overall, it's good. It's a light historical romance with some cute moments, some funny moments), and some sweet moments. Both the character development and the romance could have used some more fleshing out. I won the ARC on Goodreads (I confess, it's been sitting in my TBR pile for a while). One thing I do not like about reading ARC's is the tendency to numerous typos and copy editing issues. This one was particularly egregious; I assume that the final copy was revised and cleaned up.

First, let's look at the obstacles to Lucinda and Will's relationship. The conflict is fairly simple: Will needs to court Lucinda in order to prevent her from being kidnapped. Rather than tell her the truth (it was never clear to me why he wasn't allowed to tell her though late in the story, he finally does), he tries to court her. She has no interest in courting or marriage, she's determined to be single, so they make a wager - if he fails to win her heart in three months, she will take ownership of his racing stallion. She badly wants that horse for her family's horse breeding program, so she agrees. Since this is a romance, they fall in love with each other but neither wants to admit it to the other. So, there's a kidnap plot to foil, and reluctant lovers.  

Will is supposed to be a rogue, with a history of debauchery, but we don't really get to see that. Supposedly, his reputation is so black that Lucinda runs the risk of ruining her reputation by allowing him to court her. Sloane tells us all of this, but doesn't show us. She does that a lot in the book. Lucinda has some modern beliefs about women and their roles in life, which I enjoyed. Her aunts, the Furies, provided a lot of comic relief. Although they are secondary, they greatly influence Lucinda and so I would have liked more development of their characters. Sloane does throw in the occasional historical detail which adds a little flavor to the story eg having Will step over "a steaming pile of horse dung". It's a small thing but it helps add to the atmosphere.

The romance happened pretty quickly, which didn't seem to jibe with their behaviors and personalities as Sloane described them. Both Lucinda and Will are quite likable, and their romance was enjoyable, it just happened faster than seemed plausible. I did enjoy watching them flirt, it was good, light-hearted fun.


"The Devil in Disguise" doesn't quite live up to it's name since the "devil", Will, is actually a decent man but the story is cute and a pleasant way to spend several hours.

I won this ARC in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

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Giveaway!!! 

I'm giving away my ARC of "The Devil in Disguise" by Stefanie Sloane.

The giveaway runs through Midnight EST this Saturday August 20th.

It's open to US residents only.

To enter, just leave a comment about what wager you might make with someone who wanted to court you. 

You don't need to be a follower to enter.

You need to leave a way to contact you, either in your comment or by using the contact form. Remember that you MUST leave a comment or you are not entered.

Please read my Giveaway Policy 

Good luck :)