Babbling Book Reviews » Completed Challenges http://www.babblingbookreviews.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1
research
news Connie Willis Mini Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/connie-willis-mini-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/connie-willis-mini-completed/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:29:01 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7932 Continue reading →]]>

What: Connie Willis Mini Challenge
When: 1 October 2010 – 30 November 2011
Who: Becky (Mini Challenges Hosted by Becky)
Rules: Read two books by the author. Confirmed that audiobooks are allowed.

I listened to:

  • Bellwether (AUDIO) { 16 – 19 Nov 10}
  • To Say Nothing of the Dog (AUDIO) {15 Feb – 11 Mar 11}

~ & ~

I held off posting this as completed because I had planned on listening to Doomsday Book — and not because I haven’t written a review for the audiobook of To Say Nothing of the Dog (which I absolutely love — in both forms).  I loved the experience of listening to these two books and I will listen to Doomsday Book — and if Passage is available at Audible.com, I will definitely add it to my wishlist.

I haven’t picked up her Blackout and All Clear, and I should probably add them to my wishlist as well.

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.
feed]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/connie-willis-mini-completed/feed/ 0 support 2011 2nd in Series Reading Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/2011-2nd-in-series-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/2011-2nd-in-series-challenge-completed/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:18:07 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7938 Continue reading →]]>

What: 2011 2nd in Series Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Katy (A Few Pages More)

A full plate – Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
01. Silk & Scandal 2: Paying the Virgin’s Price (Merrill, Christine) {12 Mar 11}
02. Witch Hunt 2: Persecuted (Childs, Lisa) {27 Mar 11}
03. Bigtime 2: Hot Mama (Estep, Jennifer) {15 Apr 11}
04. Psy/Changeling 2: Visions of Heat (Singh, Nalini) {12 May 11}
05. Ice #2: Cold as Ice (Stuart, Anne) {4 Jul 11}
06. Elder Races #2: Storm’s Heart (Harrison, Thea) {5 Aug 11}
07. Mercy Thompson #2: Blood Bound (Briggs, Patricia) {13 Aug 11}
08. Captain Lacey #2: A Regimental Murder (Gardner, Ashley) {27 Aug 11}
09. Midnight Breed #2: Kiss of Crimson (Adrian, Lara) {8 Sep 11}
10. Meg Langlow #2: Murder with Puffins (Andrews, Donna) {20 Sep 11}
11. Madeline Black #2: Black Night (Henry, Christina) {29 Oct 11}
12. The Hunger Games #2: Catching Fire (Collins, Suzanne) {26 Dec 11)

~ & ~

Completed, with less than a week to spare. I’m not signing up for this one in 2012. I would like to focus on catching up a few series, which means I probably have a backlog of 2nds in a Series come January 2013. I started several new series and I’m sure I’ll start several more in 2012.

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.
]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/12/31/2011-2nd-in-series-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 2011 “Pub” Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/27/2011-pub-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/27/2011-pub-challenge-completed/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:07 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7516 Continue reading →]]>

What: 2011 “Pub” Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Michelle (1morechapter)
Rules: Read a total of eleven books — first published in 2011 — in twelve months. For details and sign-up, go here.

01. Buffalo West Wing (Hyzy, Julie) {16 Jan 11}
02. Visions of Magic (Hastings, Regan) {24 Apr 11}
03. Darkfire Kiss (Cooke, Deborah) {29 May 11}
04. Magic Slays (Andrews, Ilona) {1 Jun 11}
05. Frostbound (Ashwood, Sharon) {13 Jun 11}
06. Red Heat (Bruhns, Nina) {22 Jun 11}
07. Dragon Bound (Harrison, Thea) {2 Jul 11}
08. Storm’s Heart (Harrison, Thea) {5 Aug 11}
09. Heiress in Love (Brooke, Christina) {20 Aug 11}
10. Kindling the Moon (Bennett, Jenn) {2 Sep 11}
11. Viper Moon (Roland, Lee) {29 Sep 11}

~~ & ~~

I got to a slow start with this challenge. A couple of rounds of bookshelf bingo and my efforts to read older books played a large part in this. Also, many of my favorite series had mid-year release dates, so I had to fit them between bingo books if they didn’t fit that week’s shelf. However, I’m making up for that slow start: I’ve read 3 more books since, and I have two more started that I plan to finish by the end of the month.

For 2012, I plan to do a self-challenge that will include reading a dozen “pub 2012″ books.

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.
]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/27/2011-pub-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 international 2011 Romance Reading Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/25/2011-romance-reading-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/25/2011-romance-reading-challenge-completed/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:21:04 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7503 Continue reading →]]> 2011 Romance Reading Challenge

What: 2011 Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Naida (The Bookworm)
Rules: Read a total of 5 books in twelve months. For details and sign up, go here.

Naida doesn’t set limits on what type of romance qualifies for her challenge. However, I like to add a little to the challenge for myself. This year, I’m striving to read as many new to me authors as I can (yeah, it will help with LE’s New Author challenge). This is what I’ve come up with for 2011:

  1. Paranormal Romance – Must be 1st in a series and from a new-to-me author. No young adult or category romance. – Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {31 Mar 11}
  2. Historical Romance - Must be a new-to-me author. Category romances acceptable. No fantasy elements or young adult. – Heiress in Love (Brooke, Christina) {20 Aug 11}
  3. Contemporary Romance – Must be a new-to-me author. Category romances acceptable. Can be romantic suspense. No fantasy elements or young adult. Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {24 Jan 11}
  4. Passions of a Wicked Earl (Heath, Lorraine) {24 Sep 11}
  5. The Semi-Wild Card – Must be a non-category book and new-to-me author. Any sub-genre acceptable. — Bound by Shadow (Windsor, Anna) {11 Apr 11}

~~ & ~~

Once again, I’m considering this a completed challenge for my own sense of accomplishment. I could have easily pick romances that I read and reviewed and substitute them for the non-reviewed ones listed, and make it official, but  I enjoyed coming up with the different requirements, so I’ll leave it “as is”.  This is one of the few challenges I would consider doing again.

All five books were written by new-to-me authors.  I’m pleased that I stuck with the criteria I picked, though I wish I had taken the time to read a YA romance (should have been #4).  Neither of the young adult books I’ve read fit that category.

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.
]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/25/2011-romance-reading-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 news 2011 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge – Complete http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/23/2011-men-in-uniform-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/23/2011-men-in-uniform-completed/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:51:16 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7494 Continue reading →]]>

What: Men in Uniform Reading Challenge 2011
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: The Book Vixen
Rules (copied from site): The goal is to read as many novels that involve men in inform as you’d like. It can be a policeman, firefighter, paramedic, Army, Navy, Marine Corp., etc. – Visit The Book Vixen’s blog for more information and to sign up.

Lieutenant – Read 6–10 men in uniform novels
01. Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {24 Jan 11} — hero is police chief
02. Unchained (Ashwood, Sharon) {26 Feb 11} — hero was a British Army officer and captain of the Guardsmen
03. Song of Scarabaeus (Creasy, Sara) {23 Ma 11} — Finn is a former soldier
04. Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {31 Mar 11} — hero’s a cop
05. Bound by Shadow (Windsor, Anna) {11 Apr 11} — hero is a cop/detective
06. Red Heat (Bruhns, Nina) {22 Jun 11} — hero is a Russian submarine captain
07. A Regimental Murder (Gardner, Ashley) {27 Aug 11} — Captain Gabriel Lacey is a former British Calvary officer
08. His Majesty’s Dragon (Novik, Naomi) {17 Sep 11} — Will Laurence is a British Naval officer; then an Aerial Corps Officer
09. Viper Moon (Roland, Lee) {29 Sep 11} — Hero’s a cop/detective
10. Bonds of Justice (Singh, Nalini) {23 Oct 11} — Hero’s a cop/detective

~&~

At the start of the year, I expected this list to feature more British officers than it does. I have plenty of category romances, including historicals, waiting for my attention.  I thought I’d get more of the shorter books in this year and it hasn’t happened.

The biggest surprise is the Russian submarine captain (Red Heat). I saw a review for the book, ordered it, and started to read it as soon as it arrived.

All in all, it was a fun challenge and I’m pleased how it turned out, even if it wasn’t the way I thought it would!

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.
feed]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/10/23/2011-men-in-uniform-completed/feed/ 0 support 2011 1st in a Series Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/27/2011-1st-in-a-series-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/27/2011-1st-in-a-series-challenge-completed/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:35:57 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7249 Continue reading →]]>

What: 2011 1st in Series Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Katy (A Few Pages More)

Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.

  1. Madeline Black 1: Black Wings (Henry, Christina) {4 Jan 11}
  2. Silk & Scandal 1: The Lord and Wayward Lady (Allen, Louise) {30 Jan 11}
  3. Shadow World 1: Queen of Shadows (Sylvan, Dianne) {14 Mar 11}
  4. Kitty Norville 1: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Vaughn, Carrie) {19 Mar 11}
  5. Scarabaeus 1: Song of Scarabaeus (Creasy, Sara) {23 Mar 11}
  6. Magic 1: Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {31 Mar 11}

~ & ~

This is another challenge that I finished the reading part of earlier this year. When I signed up for it, I had no idea I’d would ultimately end up reading so many 1st in a series.   Nearly half the books I’ve read so far this year were 1st in a series.

As for continuing the series listed above, I plan to continue with five of them. Of the five, one turned out to be only a duololgy — Song of Scarabaeus — so it’s not a hardship. The Kitty Norville series is the longest of the group, so I have some catching up to do. As for the series not listed, so far I plan to continue with those as well. I’ll do a follow-up at the end of the year, listing all the series I started.

I’ve already joined a slightly different type of “1st in a series” challenge on Good Reads, so I’m not really sure if I’ll do this one again next year. We’ll see.

]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/27/2011-1st-in-a-series-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 2011 New Author Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/26/2011-new-author-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/26/2011-new-author-challenge-completed/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 02:50:07 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7252 Continue reading →]]>

What: 2011 New Authors Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Jackie (Literary Escapism)
Rules: Authors must be new to you. Preferably from novels. Anthologies are fine, but only a third of authors can be from them. Pick one: 15, 25 or 50 new authors. Visit Literary Escapism for more details and sign up.

~&~

I completed the reading part of this challenge back in June. I figured I would go ahead and do a wrap up post now instead of waiting to the end of the year, when things are hectic.  I suppose I can also do an update — and see how many more new-to-me authors I’ve added after June 2nd.  At this time, I’ve read a dozen more!

I’m pretty satisfied with my choices.  I plan to read more from these authors — most of them, I should say.  The majority of the books were fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction – only three could be could be categorized as non-paranormal contemporary.  None of them were historical — though I’ve managed a few since then.

Though I’ve enjoyed this challenge, I’m not planning on joining next year, if Jackie hosts it again.  Since I’ve got such a huge TBR pile, there is no lack of new-to-me authors.  I’ll still keep track for end-of-year statistics.

My goal was  15:

  • Black Wings (Henry, Christina) {4 Jan 11}
  • Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {24 Jan 11}
  • Queen of Shadows (Sylvan, Dianne) {14 Mar 11}
  • Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Vaughn, Carrie) {19 Mar 11}
  • Song of Scarabaeus (Creasy, Sara) {23 Mar 11}
  • Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {31 Mar 11}
  • Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) {6 Apr 11}
  • Bound by Shadow (Windsor, Anna) {11 Apr 11}
  • Darkness Dawns (Duvall, Dianne) {17 Apr 11}
  • Visions of Magic (Hastings, Regan) {24 Apr 11}
  • Beyond the Night (Ware, Joss) {29 Apr 11}
  • Secret Society Girl (Peterfreund, Diana) {1 May 11}
  • Halfway to the Grave (Frost, Jeaniene) {9 May 11}
  • Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Shearin, Lisa) {21 May 11}
  • Just the Sexiest Man Alive (James, Julie) {2 Jun 11}

]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/26/2011-new-author-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 international 2011 Off the Shelf Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/20/2011-off-the-shelf-challenge-completed/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/20/2011-off-the-shelf-challenge-completed/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:57:34 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=7348 Continue reading →]]>
What: Off the Shelf Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Dutchie (Bookish Ardour)
Rules: Read books that you own, but haven’t gotten around to reading, for whatever reason. Only books you own prior to 1 January 2011 count toward the challenge. Go here for more details and sign up.

Level: Making A Dint — 30 books

~~ & ~~

Well, I did it. I completed this challenge. It’s not the first challenge I’ve completed this year, though it is the first one to get a wrap-up post.

I wasn’t sure I’d actually complete this challenge by the end of the year, let alone nearly 3 1/2 months early. What helped, as I’ve said several times in my monthly update reports, were the challenges on Good Reads. Plus, I’ve stopped worrying about reviews. This challenge doesn’t require them, so I’ve never felt I had to do them to feel I was successfully meeting the goals. If they get done, I add the links; if not, I’m satisfied.

Though I’ve met the goal of 30 books, I didn’t get to all sixteen books I’ve dubbed the “Sweet 16″. I’ve got a few months left in the year, so I still might get to them. I only need 6 more books to go to reach my goal.

Looking over the list below, the three oldest (in terms of shelf life) were Sylvester (Georgette Heyer), The Pained Lady (Barbara Metzger), and Murder with Puffins (Donna Andrews) — all added to the pile in 2006.  The two newest were Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil (Drew Karpyshyn) and Kiss of Crimson (Lara Adrian) — both late-2010 and both part of the “Sweet Sixteen”.  A special note regarding Sylvester:  the the edition I read was newer, I did have an older copy that I swapped out — I’m collecting her in trade paperback now.

Overall, I had fun with challenge and wouldn’t mind doesn’t something similar next year.

Explanation of the listing:
Title (Author) {m/y added to TBR pile} {Date finished}
(Limiting myself to books that purchased/received prior to Jul 2010 — prior to my move; exception – the 16 books at the bottom of the page.)

♥ = Part of the “Sweet 16″ – books I made a goal to read this year (see list at the bottom of page)

01. The Painted Lady (Metzger, Barbara) {9/06} {10 Jan 11}
02. Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {7/08} {24 Jan 11}
03. The Lord and the Wayward Lady (Allen, Louise) {5/10} {30 Jan 11}
04. Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil (Karpyshyn, Drew) {9/10} {6 Feb 11} ♥
05. Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Vaughn, Carrie) {1/08} {19 Mar 11}
06. Persecuted (Childs, Lisa) {7/07} {27 Mar 11}
07. A Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {6/09} {31 Mar 11}
08. Bound by Shadow (Windsor, Anna) {8/08} {11 Apr 11}
09. Hot Mama (Estep, Jennifer) {5/09} {15 Apr 11}
10. Beyond the Night (Ware, Joss) {1/10} {29 Apr 11}
11. Secret Society Girl (Peterfreund, Diana) {6/09} {1 May 11}
12. Halfway to the Grave (Frost, Jeaniene) {7/08} {9 May 11}
13. Visions of Heat (Singh, Nalini) {1/09} {12 May 11} ♥
14. Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Shearin, Lisa) {5/09} {21 May 11}
15. Caressed by Ice (Singh, Nalini) {1/09} {22 May 11} ♥
16. Mine to Possess (Singh, Nalini) {1/09} {24 May 11}
17. Just the Sexiest Man Alive (James, Julie) {11/09} {2 Jun 11}
18. Master of None (Bateman, Sonya) {4/10} {5 Jun 11}
19. Stormwalker (James, Allyson) {5/10} {13 Jun 11}
20. Touched by an Alien (Koch, Gini) {4/10} {30 Jun 11}
21. Cold as Ice (Stuart, Anne) {8/08} {4 Jul 11} ♥
22. Sylvester (Heyer, Georgette) {4/06} {10 Jul 11} ♥
23. Jedi Twilight (Coruscant Nights I) (Reaves, Michael {7/08} {17 Jul 11} ♥
24. Kiss of Midnight (Adrian, Lara) {2/08} {25 Jul 11} ♥
25. Marked (Naughton, Elisabeth) {5/10} {31 Jaul 11}
26. Hostage to Pleasure (Singh, Nalini) {1/09} {8 Aug 11}
27. Branded by Fire (Singh, Nalini) {4/09} {15 Aug 11}
28. A Regimental Murder (Gardner, Ashley) {8/07} {27 Aug 11} ♥
29. Kiss of Crimson (Adrian, Lara) {10/10} {8 Sep 11} ♥
30. Murder with Puffins (Andrews, Donna) {6/06} {20 Sep 11} ♥

List of potential reads

  • 2 Georgette Heyer novels ♥
  • 2 Star Wars novels ♥♥
  • 2 “In Death” (J. D. Robb) novels
  • 2 Midnight Breed (Lara Adrian) novels ♥♥
  • 2 Psy/Changeling (Nalini Singh) novels ♥♥
  • 2 Ghostwalkers (Christine Feehan) novels
  • 1 Gaslight Mystery (Victoria Thompson)
  • 1 Meg Langlow Mystery (Donna Andrews) ♥
  • 1 Captain Lacey Mystery (Ashely Gardner) ♥
  • 1 “Ice” novel (Anne Stuart) ♥

]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/09/20/2011-off-the-shelf-challenge-completed/feed/ 0 news 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge – Completed http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/01/21/2010-holiday-reading-complete/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/01/21/2010-holiday-reading-complete/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:43:20 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=5247 Continue reading →]]>

When: 15 November – 31 December 2010
Who: Nely (All About {n})
Rules: Read at least 1 to 5 holiday-related books — can read more if you want.

~&~

I originally intended to, at least, catch-up reading the Harlequin Regency Christmas anthologies. I didn’t even do that much. I only read one — there were three total.  Still, it’s a victory because it means I completed a challenge. Review is pending:

  • Regency Christmas Proposals (2010) — Gayle Wilson, Amanda McCabe, Carole Mortimer {30 Nov 10}

Regency Christmas Proposals

feed]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2011/01/21/2010-holiday-reading-complete/feed/ 0 support 2010 Romance Reading Challenge – Complete http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2010/12/31/2010-romance-reading-challenge-complete/ http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2010/12/31/2010-romance-reading-challenge-complete/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:01:21 +0000 Christina http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/?p=5099 Continue reading →]]>

What: 2010 Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2010
Who: Naida (The Bookworm)
Rules: Read five romances, of any subgenre, in 2010. List can change at any time. Go here to sign up.

Naida doesn’t put requirements on the type of books. To make things more interesting, I like to set the limits myself.

  • Untameable Rogue (Hunter, Kelly) {9 Oct 10} (REVIEW)
  • Regency Christmas Proposals (Anthology) {30 Nov 10} (REVIEW)
  • In For A Penny (Lerner, Rose) {21 Sep 10} (REVIEW)
  • Demonkeepers (Andersen, Jessica) {20 Apr 10} (REVIEW)
  • Secretive Stranger (Greene, Jennifer) {31 May 10} (REVIEW)

~~ & ~~

Feeling a bit sorry for myself, I lifted the self-imposed restrictions on what I would count toward this challenge.  This is one of my favorite challenges, and I’m glad that Naida’s hosting again for 2011.

Thanks Naida!

]]> http://www.babblingbookreviews.com/2010/12/31/2010-romance-reading-challenge-complete/feed/ 0