Looking back, I should have chosen lower reading levels. I know I had good intentions to read more historical and non-paranormal contemporary this past year, but I got more involved with a Goodreads Group challenge and end up reading more paranormal than anything else this year.

What: 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Jennifer (Reading for Tequila)
Rules: Based on the level you choose, read the required number of books from this list.

Level I – 5 books
The list below is not final (and obviously more than 5):

• Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) {6 Apr 11} ♥
• Touched by an Alien (Gini Koch) {30 Jun 11} ♥
• Mind Games (Carolyn Crane)
• Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Lisa Shearin) {21 May 11} ♥
• My Soul to Take (Rachel Vincent)
• Inside Out (Maria V. Snyder)
• The Iron King (Julie Kagawa)
• The Demon in Me (Michelle Rowen)
• Wings (Aprilynne Pike)
• Wicked Lovely (Melissa Marr)

~~ & ~~

What: 2011 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Romance Book Maven
Rules: Read 10 contemporary romance books. For details, go here.

A tentative list of authors I plan to read this year. It’s last year’s list, but without the book titles:

• Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {24 Jan 11}
• Just the Sexiest Man Alive (James, Julie) {2 Jun 11}
• Red Heat (Bruhns, Nina) {22 Jun 11}
• Cold as Ice (Stuart, Anne) {4 Jul 11}
• The Brain and the Beauty (Eliot, Betsy) {6 Oct 11}
• Risky Christmas (Anthology) {31 Dec 11}

~~ & ~~

What: 2011 Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Yvonne (Socrates’ Book Reviews)
Rules: Chose a level. Books can be any format (audio, paper, e-book). Up front list not required. For book ideas, visit Cozy-Mystery.com. For more details about the challenge, go here.

I’m doing Level 1 – Snoop (1-6). Here’s a tentative list:

• Donna Andrews – Murder with Puffins (Meg Langslow #2) {20 Sep 11}
• Ashley Gardner – A Regimental Murder (Captain Lacey #2) {27 Aug 11}
• Georgette Heyer – TBA
• Julie Hyzy – Buffalo West Wing (White House Chef #4) {16 Jan 11}
• Julie Hyzy – Grace Under Pressure (Manor House #1)
• Victoria Thompson – Murder in Washington Square (Gaslight #4)

~ & ~

What: 2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Yvonne (Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge)
Rules: Read a total of five books in twelve months. Below are the requirements for the challenge. For details, go here.

1. A relationship in the title (mother, father, brother, sister, etc.)
2. A weather condition in the title (rain, snow, storm, etc.) – Cold as Ice (Stuart, Anne) {4 Jul 11}
3. An occupation in the title (cop, nurse, doctor, etc.)
4. A book with the author’s first or last name beginning with “C” – Christine Merrill – Paying the Virgin’s Price {12 Mar 11}
5. A name in the title (Mary, Sam, etc.)

~ & ~

What: 2011 Historical Fiction Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Historical Tapestry
Rules: Pick a level and read the require number of books. For details and sign up, go here.

Note: all historical fiction is acceptable per the hostesses (fantasy, romance, young adult, mystery)

1. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books

01. The Painted Lady (Metzger, Barbara) {10 Jan 11}
02. The Lord and Wayward Lady (Allen, Louise) {30 Jan 11}
03. Paying the Virgin’s Price (Merrill, Christine) {12 Mar 11}
04. Sylvester (Heyer, Georgette) {10 Jul 11}
05. Heiress in Love (Brooke, Christina) {20 Aug 11}
06. A Regimental Murder (Gardner, Ashley) {27 Aug 11}
07. His Majesty’s Dragon (Novik, Naomi) {17 Sep 11}
08. Passions of a Wicked Earl (Heath, Lorraine) {24 Sep 11}
09. A Countess by Christmas (Burrows, Annie) {30 Dec 11}

~~ & ~~

What: 2011 Retold Fairy Tales & Enchanted Cousins Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2011
Who: Among the Muses
Rules: Pick a level. Read the required number of books.

Dreamer: 1 -3 retold fairy tale reads

• A Curse Dark as Gold (Elizabeth C. Bunce) — Rumplestilskin
• Before Midnight (Cameron Dokey) — Cinderella

The questionables:

• My Fair Godmother (Janette Rallison) — the book description states that the fairy godmother sends her charge “back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White”.
• The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson #2) — Greek mythology. I think it fits the “Enchanted Cousins” category.

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Countdown Challenge

Countdown Challenge
Duration: 10/10/10 – 11/11/11
Total to Read: 48/66 – (73%)

This is no surprise. The first Countdown challenge started 8 August 2008 (8-8-08) and I’ve yet to complete one. I’ve done better this year than the previous two years:

• 2008-2009 = 27 books out of 45 = 60%
• 2009-2010 = 22 books out of 55 = 40%
• 2010-2011 = 48 books of 66 = 73%

The years I read all requirements for:

• 2001 — This was the first year I read a book with a 2001 copyright date
• 2007 — This was the only year I completed “2007″
• 2010 — I made up for the dismal reading year
• 2011 — Oddly, this is the only year I completed the current year

Though I didn’t complete the challenge, I’m satisfied with the results and I’m not interested in continuing this challenge to 12-12-12. Three years is enough and I want to concentrate on the other personal challenges I established for myself in 2012.

The complete list of books for this challenge can be found here.

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When: 26 November 2010 – 6 January 2011
Who: Michelle (The True Book Addict)
Rules: Read Christmas-themed books. Copied directly from the Challenge blog:

• challenge will run from Friday, November 26, 2010 (Black Friday) through January 6, 2010 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
• cross overs with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
• These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore or a book of Christmas short stories (sorry, no children’s books, but YA novels are okay).

Michelle has established three reading levels:

• Candy Cane: read 1 book
• Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
• Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books

The first on-line reading challenge I ever participated in was holiday-themed, so I have special fondness for them.

• Regency Christmas Proposals (2010) — Gayle Wilson, Amanda McCabe, Carole Mortimer
• A Regency Christmas (2009) — Lyn stone, Carla Kelly, Gail Ranstrom
• One Candlelit Christmas (2008) — Julia Justiss, Annie Burrows, Terri Brisbin
• TBA
• TBA

~&~

So, how is it possible that one holiday-themed challenge was a success and the other was an incomplete — especially when they had the same reading list and ran almost concurrently?

Well, it was the “almost” part that tripped me up. You see, I started the only book I read for the two challenges before the start date of this challenge.  So, there you have it.

What: Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2010
Who: Pearl’s World of Romance
Rules: Go to the challenge website for the full list of rules. Here are a few highlights: Read ten books; must be contemporary without any fantasy or paranormal elements (including time-travel, magic, etc.) ; category romances are allowed; list can change at any time; crossovers with other challenges allowed.

• Untameable Rogue (Kelly Hunter) {9 Oct 10}
• Secretive Stranger (Jennifer Greene) {31 May 10}

~~ & ~~

I plan to sign up for this one again. I have the books, just need to read them.

What: 2010 Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2010
Who: Yvonne (Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge)
Rules: Read a total of six books in twelve months. Below are the requirements for the challenge. For details, go here.

1) A book with a weather condition in the title:
2) A person’s name in the title:
3) A book with a title in the title: The Hellhound King (Devoti, Lori) {26 Jan 10}
4) A book with a color in the title:
5) A book by an author whose last name starts with the letter “R”: an Elizabeth Rolls historical
6) A book with an element in the title (earth, air, fire, water, spirit):

~~ & ~~

This challenge was a victim of the move. I had books that fit the categories, I just didn’t get to read as many books as I normally do. Unlike the What’s in a Name? Challenge, I signed up for 2011.

What: What’s In a Name 3 Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2010
Who: Beth F (Beth Fish Reads)
Rules: Read six books, one from each of the categories, with a certain type of word in the title. No restrictions on genre, however, if a book fits in more than one category, it can only be counted in one of them. Go here for rules and sign-up.

1. A book with a food in the title: Eggsecutive Orders (Hyzy, Julie) {20 Jan 10}
2. A book with a body of water in the title: Bayou Moon (Andrews, Ilona) {31 Oct 10}
3. A book with a title in the title: The Hellhound King (Devoti, Lori) {26 Jan 10}
4. A book with a plant in the title:
5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title:
6. A book with a music term in the title:

~~ & ~~

I haven’t had much success with this challenge from the first. I never know what new books (that fit the criteria) might come my way during the course of the year, so I sign-up with good intentions. This being the case, I decided to approach the 2011 challenge differently. If I didn’t have at least one book, per category, on hand — or a must-read due to be published in the new year — then I wouldn’t sign up for it.

All three books that I read for this challenge are from authors/series that I’ve enjoyed.

What: 2010 New Author Challenge
When: 1 January – 31 December 2010
Who: Jackie (Literary Escapism)
Rules: To read as many new-to-you authors as you think you can in one year. Novels preferred, but anthologies are also acceptable. Go here to sign up.

My goal this year is 20:

• Rick Riordan — The Lightning Thief {24 Mar 10} (REVIEW)
• L. J. McDonald — The Battle Sylph {14 May 10} (REVIEW)
• Jennifer Greene — Secretive Stranger {31 May 10} (REVIEW)
• Rose Lerner — In For a Penny {21 Sep 10} (REVIEW)
• Nancy Butler — Prospero’s Daughter {9 Oct 10} (REVIEW)
• Patricia Briggs — Moon Called {17 Nov 10} (REVIEW)

~~ & ~~

My Favorite Discovery: Patricia Briggs
Honorable Mention: L. J. McDonald

If it hadn’t been for a featured author challenge, I wouldn’t have picked up Ms. Briggs novel this year. I will be continuing her Mercy Thompson series.  I have the second McDonald book and I’m really looking forward to reading it (interesting world-building), but with the changes that took place over at Dorchester, it will be awhile before I get to read anything else from the series.  I prefer mass market paperbacks,  followed by trade paperbacks, and (in some cases) hardbacks.   E-books are now the last resort for feature length novels — and then, only if I can get it from the library.

What: 2010 Year of the Historical Reading Challenge
When: January – December 2010
Who: KMont (Lurv a la Monde)
Rules: Copied from her post –

Want more specifics on the kinds of books this challenge can encompass? We’re talking straight historical (English, French, Ancient History – The Clan of Cave the Bear, etc.); and historical romance (Regency, Georgian, Medieval, American, paranormal historical…). If the book takes place in a notable, or even a more obscure, history in time, it’s game. These can be adult themed or young adult. They can be rereads or new-to-you authors. They can be ones you’re reading for other challenges too.

01. Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride (Banning, Lynna) {24 Feb 10}
02. A Wicked Liaison (Merrill, Christine) {3 May 10}
03. In For a Penny (Lerner, Rose) {21 Sep 10}
04. Prospero’s Daughter (Butler, Nancy) {9 Oct 10}
05. Regency Christmas Proposals (Anthology) {30 Nov 10}
06.
07.
08.
09.
10.
11.
12.

~~ & ~~

My favorite: A Wicked Liaison by Christine Merrill
Most Unusual Romance Heroine: Miranda Runyon (Prospero’s Daughter)

In For a Penny was the only non-category historical. I have high hopes of actually reading more, non-category, historical romances next year. I have better luck finding books I like when it comes to Harlequin category romances than I do with the non-category, so next year should be interesting.

Thanks, K., for hosting this. Love the graphic, by the way.

What: Countdown Challenge 2010
When: 9 September 2009 – 10 October 2010
Who: 3M (1morechapter.com)
Rules (copied from site):

1. The goal of this challenge is to read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. The total number of books required, therefore, is 55.
2. This challenge lasts from 9/9/09 through 10/10/10.

Due to the nature of this challenge, I’ve created a separate page to track my progress.

~~ & ~~

And so another challenge ends . . . incomplete. I only managed to read 22 books that counted toward this challenge. The goal was 55, so that’s about 40%.

I guess when you look at it that way, it’s not so bad. For Countdown 2009, I came in at 60% (10 less books required)

I don’t think the hostess is doing a 2011 challenge. Even so, I don’t think this is one I’d continue with anyway.

2010
01. Eggsecutive Orders (Hyzy, Julie) {20 Jan 10}
02. The Hellhound King (Devoti, Lori) {26 Jan 10}
03. Demonkeepers (Andersen, Jessica) {20 Apr 10}
04. The Battle Sylph (McDonald, L. J.) {14 May 10}
05. Magic Bleeds (Andrews, Ilona) {16 May 10}
06. Secretive Stranger (Greene, Jennifer) (31 May 10}
07. In For a Penny (Lerner, Rose) {21 Sep 10}
08. Untameable Rogue (Hunter, Kelly) {9 Oct 10}
09.
10.

2009
01. On the Edge (Andrews, Ilona) {30 Sep 09}
02. Kiss of Fate (Cooke, Deborah) {14 Oct 09}
03. For the Love of Pete (Harper, Julia) {24 Oct 09}
04. Scorched (Ashwood, Sharon) {9 Jan 10}
05. Demon Inside (Kane, Stacia) {15 Mar 10}
06. Winter Kiss (Cooke, Deborah) {3 Jun 10}
07.
08.
09.

2008
01. Line of Scrimmage (Force, Marie) {29 Sep 09}
02. Templar Knight, Forbidden Bride (Banning, Lynna) {24 Feb 10}
03. Darth Bane: Rule of Two (Karpyshyn, Drew) {10 Apr 10}
04.
05.
06.
07.
08.

2007
01. A Wicked Liaison (Merrill, Christine) {3 May 10}
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
07.

2006
01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.

2005
01. Three Bags Full (Swann, Leonie) {28 Oct 09}
02. The Lightning Thief (Riordan, Rick) {24 Mar 10}
03.
04.
05.

2004
01.
02.
03.
04.

2003
01. Prospero’s Daughter (Butler, Nancy) {9 Oct 10}
02.
03.

2002
01. Duel of Hearts (Farr, Diane) {21 Sep 09}
02.

2001
01.

Packing. Moving. Unpacking. And more unpacking. And even more unpacking.

Reading?

Officially . . . no.

However . . .

As I unpack the books, I’ve been known to stop and sometimes read a few pages (or more) of a book that’s caught my eye. I read the first two chapters of Georgette Heyer’s, Why Shoot a Butler?, and decided to take it to work and read it during lunch.

With all this non-reading going on, a couple of incomplete challenges ended this month. Instead of individual wrap-up posts, I’ll take care of that here:

What: Harry Potter Reading Challenge
When: 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2010
Who: Galleysmith
Rules: Read, or listen to, the seven books by the end of July 2010 (Harry’s Birthday!!). She’s giving away box sets of the books, plus other HP related stuff to be determined. Stop by her site and sign up using Mr. Linky.

I really did want to do this one. I could say that I “kinda-sorta” completed this challenge. My mother LOVES listening to these books on CD while she crochets or does needle work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Deathly Hollows in the last twelve months. Now that I’ve moved, I might have to invest in the set on CDs, just because I’ve lived with Jim Dale talking about Harry nearly ever night for the last two years. Thankfully, he has a nice voice.

~&~

What: Random Reading Challenge
When: 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2010
Who: Caribousmom
Rules: Randomly select books from TBR and assign a number. Using Random.org, pick a book to read. Visit her site for more precise instructions.

I’ll be doing LEVEL III – 12 Books

1. Duel of Hearts (Diane Farr) — Announced // Reviewed
2. Storm Born (Richelle Mead) — Announced //DNF
3. Secretive Stranger (Jennifer Greene)  — Reviewed

I thought this one would be any easy one to complete. Oh well.

~&~

Now, for some pictures of the progress I’m making with unpacking and setting up my library:

Stuff to the gills

The picture above: the hutch on the right is stuff with Harlequins (Nocturnes, Superromances, Bombshell, Historicals, etc.). All unread. I had my keepers in there initially, but I saw at once that I was running out of room. The all-purpose media rack (center) is the temporary holding area for keepers (less Star Wars novels) and Georgette Heyer trade paperbacks.

Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jane Austen

Above: Taller of the two cases house my read and un-read Star Wars novels. No attempt was made to put anything in order (other than the keepers stacked on the top). On the top of the shorter shelf is my Harry Potter books (minus the Deathly Hallows). I have two sets: hardcover and the young adult trade paperback. At the time, I hadn’t found either edition of Deathly Hallows. I also have two sets of Jane Austen’s six novels (the red books and the stack under them). When I took this picture, there were still too many unpacked boxes in the middle of the room, so I couldn’t get a decent shot of the shelf in the extreme left hand side of the picture. The case has four shelves, each crammed with three rows of 15 books each, plus what ever else could fit on the end. I have another bookcase (similar in size to the one the SW books are in) plus a small book shelf made by one of my brothers. Once I’ve done more unpacking, I’ll be able to place them with the ones pictured.

View from Across the Room

Above: After I took the middle picture, I turned and took the above picture (I may have had to step a little to the side to get past the boxes).

Since taking these pictures, I have emptied more boxes and moved stuff around. Once I’ve charged my camera, I’ll take some updated photos.