Noumena12 Book Blog

2011 Reading Challenge Summary

2012-01-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed doing these challenges but they are time consuming. I’m wondering if that is why my overall reading count for the year was down.

For 2012, I’m only going to participate in three challenges:

Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge (Goal: 300 books)

Goodreads Romance Readers Monthly Reading Challenge

Goodreads Monthly Favorite Author Challenge

2012 RRRC's Books I Read for a Challenge CHALLENGE (300 books)

Goodreads Random Book List Challenge

Now to the results from 2011…

Goodreads Romance Readers Reading Challenges Monthly Challenges

Books Read Book Goal % Completed

10 10 100%

10 10 100%

10 10 100%

10 10 100%

5 10 50%

10 10 100%

10 10 100%

10 10 100%

11 11 100%

11 10 110%

6 10 60%

10 10 100%

Goodreads A-Z Romance Title Challenge
26 OF 26 COMPLETED

TheBookVixens: Outdo Yourself Challenge / Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge

2011 Reading Goal: 350 books
2010 Actual Books Read: 332 books (93,804 pages)

2011 Actual: 265 Books (80,003 pages)

TheBookVixen Men in Uniform Challenge

Stopped counting once I reached the highest level CHIEF having read 16+ books.

Goodreads Romance 101 Reading Challenge

GoodReads Reading Tournament – The Name Game Edition Challenge

Started this one…but it was just too difficult to keep track of.

Goodreads Romance 101 Reading Challenge

8 of 12 Completed

Goodreads 2011 December Monthly Challenge

2011-12-31T16:38:00.000-08:00

10 of 10 Completed

Goodreads Challenge Thread

1. 'D' is for December: Doing it Right by MaryJanice Davidson 12/21
Read a book that starts with 'D' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'D'.
2. Happy Birthday!: Happy Birthday Sho! Tangled Up in You (Writer Friends, #3) by Rachel Gibson 12/11
Read a book from a December birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose "day" falls on the same "day" as yours. If no one has the same day, choose someone with the closest day to yours. December Birthday List
3. Geography: One Summer in Italy by Lucy Gordon 12/23
Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Italy.
4. Christmas Theme: Her Montana Christmas Groom by Teresa Southwick 12/13
Read a book that has a "Christmas" word in its title (mistletoe, christmas, holiday, santa, reindeer, etc) or has a Christmas theme cover.
5. Walt Disney's Birthday: Strings Attached by Nick Nolan 12/31
Read a young adult book or a book that has been made into a family friendly movie.
6. Explore-A-Series: Baby, Don’t Go by Stephanie Bond 12/4
Start a new series or continue a series that you have wanted to get back to.
7. Pearl Harbor Day: Hot Zone (Elite Force) by Catherine Mann 12/21
Read a book that has war related theme or characters.
8. Fruitcake & Pumpkin Pies: Some Like It Hot by Louisa Edwards 12/3
Read a book that the character, the title or the cover is food related. (ie. Visions of Sugar Plums)
9. Holiday Clean-Up: Quade: The Irresistable One (Bronwyn Jameson) 12/12 or Zane: The Wild One by Bronwyn Jameson) 12/13 (Goodreads Romance A-Z Challenge)
Read a book that you need for another challenge. Be sure to say for which challenge. (Monthly or a Yearly Challenge)
10. Reader's Choice: Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor, #3) by Jill Shalvis 12/10
Read any book of your choice.

2012 Goodreads January Monthly Challenge

2011-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

This will be an interesting challenge to complete as I will be traveling to Cambodia for most of the month.

0 of 10 Completed
January Challenge Thread

1. 'J' is for January: Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Read a book that starts with 'J' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'J'.
2. Happy Birthday!: Happy Birthday A_Vichous_Fan!! Here to Stay by Debra Web
Read a book from a January birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose name/nickname starts with the same letter as yours. If no one has the same letter, choose someone with the closest letter to yours alphabetically. January Birthday List
3. Geography: The Shy Socialite by Lindsay Armstrong
Read a book whose author, character or setting is from South Africa.
4. First-in-Series: Riding Wild (Wild Riders, #1) by Jaci Burton
Read a book which is the first book in a series.
5. Friday the 13th:
Read a horror book or a book with monsters in it or the word 'monster' in the title.
6. Elementary, my dear Watson: The Sex Club (Detective Jackson Mystery, #1) by L.J. Sellers
Read a classic Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle or adaptations of the same or any mystery book.
7. Year of the Dragon: Love in the Time of Dragons (Light Dragons, #1) by Katie MacAlister
Read a book with dragon on the cover or on the title or a book with dragon-shifter.
8. Australia Day: Betting on Love by Patricia Kay
Read a book by an Australia author or set in Australia or a book with at least two of these colors: Blue, Red or White in the cover.
9. New Year : Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight or A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane
Read a book by a new-to-you author.
10. Reader's Choice:
Read any book of your choice.

Goodreads Romance A-Z Challenge

2011-12-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

A-Z Romance Title Challenge
26 OF 26 COMPLETED

A: Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis 2/6
B: The Bikini Diaries by Lacey Alexander 2/20
C: Compromising Positions by Jenna Bailey-Burke 1/2
D: Deadly Heat (Deadly, #2) by Cynthia Eden 2/8
E: Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force 2/13
F: The Fall by Marie Force 1/8
G: Guns and the Girl Next Door by HelenKay Dimon 2/21
H: How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn 1/19
I: Icebreaker (New York Blades, #9) by Deirdre Martin 2/5
J: Just My Type (Bradfords #3) by Erin Nicholas 1/6
K: Killing Time by Leslie Kelly 2/26
L: Love Me Tender by Alison Kent 1/9
M: Marked for Marriage by Jackie Merritt 1/3
N: Not Another Blind Date by Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison & JoAnn Ross 2/27
O: Off Kilter by Donna Kauffman 1/18
P: Playboy Prankster (Extreme Racing #1) by Pamela Britton 1/17
Q: Quade: The Irresistible One by Bronwyn Jameson 12/12
R: The Reluctant Vampire by Linsay Sands 6/3
S: Silver and Spice by Lori Greene 1/8
T: Then He Kissed Me by Christy Ridgway 1/8
U: Undertow by Cherry Adair 1/1
V: Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Spark 4/16
W: Wild Man Creek by Robyn Carr 1/27
X: X-Rated Bloodsuckers by Mario Acevedo 3/27
Y: Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye 1/2
Z: Zane: The Wild One by Bronwyn Jameson 12/13

Check out my books on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/profile/noumena12

GoodReads 2011 November Monthly Challenge

2011-11-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

6 of 10 Completed

Goodreads Challenge Thread

1. 'N' is for November: Night after Night by Janelle Denison 11/12
Read a book that starts with 'N' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'N'.
2. Happy Birthday!: Happy Brithday Emily! Fancy Pants (Wynette Texas, #1) by Susan Elisabeth Phillips 11/26
Read a book from a November birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose "day" falls on the same "day" as yours. If no one has the same day, choose someone with the closest day to yours. November Birthday List
3. Geography: The Hellion by LaVryle Spencer 11/12
Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Alabama
4. Chemistry Week: The Sex Solution by Kimberly Raye 11/5
Read a book with a character who is a scientist or a book that takes place within science field or a book with the word "chemistry" in title.
5. Young Readers Day (Nov 8): Either (a) If I Die Young by Talia Jager; (b) Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes; or (c) Eternal Eden (Eden Trilogy, #1) by Nicole Williams
Read a YA book.
6. Native American Heritage Month: Comanche Moon (Comanche #1) by Catherine Anderson
Read a book with Native American character or a Native American author
7. Red Planet Day (Nov 28): Hide from Evil by Jami Alden or Cheri on Top by Susan Donovan
Read a book with a Red cover or a book set in space or a futuristic/science-fiction book.
8. Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov 20): Long Way Home by Carolyn Gray
Read a LGBT book (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender)
9. Absurdity Day (Nov 20): Razer’s Edge (An Edge Novel) by Shannon Butcher 11/8
Read something spontaneous/absurd - a book with an absurd plot or use random.org to select a random book off your TBR or read a book from a new-to-you author or genre.
10. Reader's Choice: Night Moves: A Shadow Force Novel by Stephanie Tyler 11/2
Read any book of your choice.

#Readathon - Book 3 Completed

2011-10-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

A great dinner and a short quck read to get back in to readathon reading.

Title: A Very Vampy Christmas		Author Kerrelyn Sparks
Start: 21:15	End: 22:30	Pages: 100
Description: Maggie O'Brien is thrilled when she lands a starring role on the Digital Vampire Network's hottest soap opera, As the Vampire Turns. Doesn't hurt that her leading man is Don Orlando de Corazon, the greatest lover in the vampire world! But who is Don Orlando really? Nobody knows, not even Don Orlando. As the couple sets out in search of his mysterious past, "home for the holidays" takes on a new meaning when the recently-turned vamp discovers his own Christmas miracle.
Comments: A quick read from the Love At Stake series

Books Read	Pages Read
3	868

Title	Author	Start Hour	Finish Hour	Completed	Pages
Bad Boys Do	Victoria Dahl	8:00	14:00	Hour 6	384
Darn Good Cowboy Christmas	Carolyn Brown	14:18	20:20	Hour 13	384
A Very Vampy Christmas	Kerrelyn Sparks	21:15	22:30	Hour 15	100

#Readathon Mid Survey

2011-10-22T17:44:00.001-07:00

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Just finished my second book…not really sure what I’m going to start next
2. How many books have you read so far? 2
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Anything that will help me stay awake through the wee hours of the morning
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? I rescheduled my facial and manicure and took Monday off work
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Not this time – although I still feel like I got off to a slow start
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? Fewer of my bookfriends participating and less blogging…but that let’s me read more
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Some ideas…would love to discuss…really would have like to see the participants posted earlier so I could set up my rss feeds to see others blogs
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I think after 3 years…I’ve gotten it down…maybe recruit more friends
9. Are you getting tired yet? Not yet
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Pick books that are light, enjoyable reads…that helps me get through the long hours

#Readathon–Book 2 Completed

2011-10-22T17:35:00.001-07:00

We are just over half-way through the readathon and I just completed my second book. And John is in the process of cooking a meal that smells fabulous…something about apple stuffed grilled pork chops, grilled eggplant, and rice. And I believe that there is some Jeni’s Salty Caramel ice cream for dessert. Have I mentioned that I love my husband????

Now to decide what to start next…

Title: Darn Good Cowboy Christmas		Author Carolyn Brown
Start: 14:00	End: 20:24	Pages: 384
Description: Born and raised in a traveling carnival, all Liz Hanson ever wanted for Christmas was a home that didn't have wheels. After she was old enough to date she added one more item: a sexy cowboy. She's about given up on Santa ever bringing either one when her father dies and leaves her an ugly house and twenty acres in Texas. Then rancher Raylen O'Donnell walks onto her property...
Comments: I’ve loved Brown’s series of contemporary Cowboy romances. The O’Donnell family has been one of my favorites…and I’m looking forward to more.

Books Read	Pages Read
2	768

Title	Author	Start Hour	Finish Hour	Completed	Pages
Bad Boys Do	Victoria Dahl	8:00	14:00	Hour 6	384
Darn Good Cowboy Christmas	Carolyn Brown	14:18	20:20	Hour 13	384

#Readathon Hour 11 Update

2011-10-22T15:10:00.001-07:00

60% through my second book, Darn Good Cowboy Christmas by Carolyn Brown. Need a little snack to see me through to the dinner that John will be making… Checked in with Shaunesay, Reading in Texas, and DancingDog.

#Readathon–Book 1 Completed

2011-10-22T11:18:00.001-07:00

Wow…we are just starting Hour 6 and I JUST NOW finished my first book. It has been a slow start. But there is a lot more to do than just reading…I need to check up on what my Readathon friends are up to; do some cheerleading and provide some encouragement – like they do for me; update my blog; and, of course, read. Now to decide what to read next…

Title: Bad Boys Do		Author Victoria Dahl
Start: 08:00	End: 14:00	Pages: 384
Description: Olivia Bishop is no fun. That's what her ex-husband said. And that's what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She's going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid. Jamie Donovan doesn't mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it's time to grow up. He's even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?
Comments: This was a very good book. Dahl has done a great job developing and cultivating the characters and the family tensions. I read the first Donovan Brothers Brewery, Good Girls Don’t, earlier this month and the prequel is in The Guy Next Door (Donovan Brothers Brewery, #0.5). I’m looking forward to the next book, Real Men Will, coming out soon.

Title	Author	Start Hour	Finish Hour	Completed	Pages
Bad Boys Do	Victoria Dahl	8:00	14:00	Hour 6	384

#Readathon Hour 3 Update

2011-10-22T08:39:00.001-07:00

Taking a lunch break and a chance to check in. John *finally* delivered my coffee…something about xbox 360 shopping.

My reading seems to be going very slowly…I’m only half way through the book I started at 8am. I had cleared my calendar this morning on my normal activities so I could get a quick start…but no such luck. Hopefully, I’ll settle into a rhythm for the remaining 21 hours.

Off to check some other readathon blogs…

#Readathon Hour #1–Introduction Meme

2011-10-22T05:22:00.001-07:00

Now I’m singing the Blacked-Eyed Peas song…need to get reading…

1)Where are you reading from today? Dayton OH @ The Firefly Building
2)Three random facts about me… (a) I’ve been married for 27 years to a fabulous man who will “take care of me” for the next 24 hours…assuming he gets up and gets my coffee soon; (b) I have 4 cats who are big readathon fans because it means that I’m usually sitting in one position or at the computer…they really like when I do those things; and (c) I live in a really cool loft in Downtown Dayton
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? There are 75 samples on my kindle to choose from. I don’t pre-select.
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? Raise a little money for charity. I raised $300 last Spring and would like to exceed that. You can pledge/sponsor me at my blog site (http://noumena12books.blogspot.com)
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? Pick an engaging book for those overnight hours…they can be tough if it is NOT a good book

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon–And We’re Off

2011-10-22T04:57:00.000-07:00

I definitely don’t feel as prepared for this Readathon as I have in the past. I did get my pledge form up early…but sadly have not had any sponsors. It is NOT too late to pledge! I did get smarter this time and have taken Monday off as a day of recovery. I have also cleared my weekend including moving my usual Saturday morning appointments to Monday.

I am starting with a clean slate…a brand new book at 8am.

Bad Boys Do (Donovan Brothers Brewery, #2)

Make a Difference October 2011 #Readathon

2011-10-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am participating in the Dewey’s October 2011 Readathon October 22-23. And those of you who know me know that I can turn just about anything into a fundraiser. Last April, I committed to donate $25 per book read to both Project Read and to Room to Read and as a result raised $300. This time in addition to making my own commitment I’m asking for your support to get me through the 24 hours!

Please support me! This year I want to do more and I’m asking for your help! You can pledge by the book, by the hour, by the page, or just because I’m crazy enough to try to do this. If you pledge on my Room to Read page, I will match your donation locally with Project Read. Make your pledge below!

Fill out my Wufoo form!

Noumena12 Reading Summary

2011-10-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

I haven’t posted this for a long time…so here it goes…

My reading goal for 2011 was 350 books. I’ve read 197 books (56%) as of the end of September which puts me 65 books (18%) behind. Which means that I have to read 51 books each of the remaining months….doesn’t feel terribly likely since I’ve only been averaging 21 books a month.

Last year I completed 332 books and it doesn’t look like I will be repeating that milestone this year. I would need to average reading 45 books in the remaining 3 months.

On the page count front, it appears I’ve read 58,091 so far this year resulting in a average page count of 297 pages per book. Last year I read a total of 93,151 pages which is an average of 280 pages per book. So maybe I will end up reading move actual pages this year if I read 11,686 pages per month…Oh wait, that turns out to be ~39 books per month.

The good news is that my Monthly Reading Challenge success rate has been very good! April and May were the only 2 months that I didn’t successfully complete the challenge so far…

Of course, Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon is next weekend…so who knows what will happen!

GoodReads 2011 September Monthly Challenge

2011-10-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! I really took this one to the last minute. Finished up at 11:15pm on 9/30. I haven’t even planned October yet!

11 of 11 Completed

Challenge Thread

1. 'S' is for September: Snapped by Laura Griffin 9/19
Read a book that starts with 'S' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'S'.
2. Happy Birthday!: (Happy Birthday Monica!) Sweet Nothings(Kendrick/Coulter, #3) by Catherine Anderson 9/6
Read a book from a September birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose "day" falls on the same "day" as yours. If no one has the same day, choose someone with the closest day to yours. September Birthday List
3. Geography: Natural Born Charmer (Chicago Stars, #11) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips 9/28
Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Tennessee
4. Talk Like a Pirate Day: Riptide (Cutter Cay, #2) by Cherry Adair 9/2
Read a book with pirates or a book set in sea or high sea adventure book.
5. Tolkien Week: Must Love Vampires by Heidi Betts 9/30
Read a straight out fantasy book.
6. Business Women's Day: Sweet Justice (A Last Chance Novel, #7) by Christy Reece 9/13
Read a book with a working heroine or a chick-lit or a book with a strong, kick-ass heroine.
7. Read a Book Day: Serendipity by Carly Phillips (on my wish list since May) 9/10
Read a book that you have been meaning to read or a book that has been neglected in a series or a challenge or a random book that caught your fancy when you were browsing.
8. National Health and Physical Fitness Day: One Track Mind by Bethany Campbell 9/4
Read a book with sports as a central theme or a book with a sports related (coach, dietician etc) or a book with a character who works out a lot.
9. OcktoberFest: Under the Influence by Nancy Warren 9/1
Read a book set in Germany or whose author was born or residing in Germany or a character who is a bartender or owns a pub.
10. Reader's Choice: Only Yours (Fool’s Gold, #5) by Susan Mallery 9/2
Read any book of your choice.
11. National Preparedness Month: Return to Dawn: A Novel of Love and Loss by Madalyn Stevens 9/22
Read a book set in the aftermath of any natural disaster or a terrorist attack or books where the main characters are affected by any terrorist attack (Ex: 7/11 attacks) or a post-apocalyptic book.

August GoodReads Monthly Challenge

2011-08-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Challenge Thread

10 of 10 Completed

1. "A" is for August: Playing Dirty (Sisterhood Diaries, #3) by Susan Anderson 8/3
Read a book which title or authors name starts with "A".
2. Happy Birthday!: (Ren) Heaven Can’t Wait (I-Team, #1.5) by Pamela Clare 8/2
Read a book from a August birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose "day" falls on the same "day" as yours. If no one has the same day, choose someone with the closest day to yours.
(August Birthday Celebrant list)
3. Geography: By the Book by JoAnn Carter 8/15
Read a book whose author, character or setting is from New Jersey.
4. Kiss and Make up Day: Perfect Partners by Carly Phillips 8/5
Read a book with the word kiss in the title, with kissing on the cover or has a couple that spend the book making up.
5. National Thriftshop Day: Rescue Me by Sydney Allen 8/8
Read a book you bought at a thrift shop, got from the library or paid $1 or less for.
6. Frankenstein Day: Beg for Mercy (Trilogy, #1) by Jami Alden 8/21
Read a horror book or a book with a "monster" in it.
7. Lazy Day: Cowboys Like Us: Cowboys Like Us\Notorious by Vicki Lewis Thompson 8/9
Read a book that you have had on your reading list for some time or a book that you would be able to finish in a day (if you had all day to read it).
8. Back to School: Flat Out Love by Jessica Park 8/15
Read a book that takes place in school or a young adult book.
9. Romance Awareness Month: It Had To Be You (Chicago Stars, #1) Susan Elizabeth Phillips 8/3
Read a book from the first 8 pages of the
Popular Romance Books Shelf
10. Reader's Choice: Too Hot To Touch (Rising Star, #1) by Louisa Edwards 8/6
Read a book, any book. It is your call which one.

July Goodreads Monthly Challenge

2011-07-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

10 of 10 Completed

1. J is for July: One Summer: A Shelter Bay Novel by JoAnn Ross 7/13
Read a book that starts with "J." Or, read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "J."
2. Happy Birthday!: First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Chaseyro) 7/16
Read a book from a July birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose "day" falls on the same "day" as yours. If no one has the same day, choose someone with the closest day to yours.
Birthday List
3. Geography: Dating a Cougar (Never Too Late, #1) by Donna McDonald 7/16
Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Virginia.
4. USA Independence Day (July 4): Cover Me by Catherine Mann 7/8
Read a book with a red, white, or blue cover; or, read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about the American Revolution.
5. Bastille Day (July 14): A Wedding in Paris by Barbara Bretton, Marie Ferrarella, and Cindi Myers 7/19
Read a book set in France, or whose author was born in or resides in France; or, read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about the French Revolution.
6. Life's a Beach: Only Mine by Susan Mallery 7/28
Read a book that could be considered a "Beach Read." (Below are some lists to give you some ideas, but you're not required to choose from these lists.)
Chick Lit for the Beach
Great Beach Reads
Good Housekeeping: 10 Beach Reads
7. Parents' Day (July 24): Baby, Come Home by Stephanie Bond 7/6
Read a book in which the hero and/or heroine has children.
8. I Forgot Day (July 2): Ethan’s Chase by Bronwyn Storm 7/23
Read a book that has been on your TBR shelf for at least 90 days. If you don't have a TBR shelf, read a book you have been meaning to read.
9. International Joke Day (July 1): Going Cowboy Crazy (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #1) by Katie Lane 7/9
Read a book that makes you laugh.
10. Reader's Choice: Savor the Danger (Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #3) by Lori Foster 7/2
This one's up to you!

2011 June Reading Challenge

2011-06-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Goodread’s June Reading Challenge

Just got in under the wire…completed my last book at 10:41pm on 6/30!!!!

10/10 Completed

Looks like this one is easier than May’s challenge!

1. Repeat Repeat: Midnight Rain by Dee Davis 6/23

Read a book where the first letter of the author's name is the same (ex:Julie James) or the first letter(s) of the book's title is the same (ex: A Lot Like Love).

2. Birthday: (Ai) My Sunshine (Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan, #6) by Catherine Anderson 6/21

Read a book from an June B-day celebrant’s GR bookshelf whose “day” falls on the same “day” as yours. If no one has the exact same day, then go for the closest day.GR June Birthday List

3. Geography: Here to Stay (Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan, #10) by Catherine Anderson 6/22

Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Oregon.

4. U.F.O Day: My Favorite Earthling by Susan Grant m6/30

Read a book with space-travel or a sci-fi book.

5. Best Friends: Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods 6/13

Read a book where the H/h have some great friends instead of them being the Lone Girl/Man.

6. Summer Solstice: The Promise of Love by Lori Foster 6/17

Read a book with summer in title or takes place during Summer or with a bright cover using light blue or green or yellows or white color.

7. Graduation Month: Borrowed Stilettos by Rebecca J. Clark 6/1

Read a book whose character is a teacher/student.

8. Old Maid's Day: A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods 6/24

Read a book with an with an older Hero or heroine. As a point of reference, let the minimum age be mid-to-late thirties.

9. Yummy Yummy: Let’s Dish by Catherine Wade 6/12

Read a book where the H/h is a chef or a book predominantly with a food setting or book with a food cover.

10. Reader's Choice: The Reluctant Vampire (Argeneau, #15) by Lynsay Sands 6/3

Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

2011-06-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

I’ve been promoted to Chief!

TheBookVixen keeps enticing me into reading challenges. The latest is the Men in Uniform challenge.

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. – As long as the leading man wears some sort of uniform, it counts.

Current Level: Chief (16+ books)

16. Montana Lawman by Allison Leigh 6/7
15. Hot Pursuit (Hot Zone, #5) by Denise A. Agnew 5/25
14. Sheriff’s Runaway Witness by Kathleen Creighton 5/14
13. Sealed Forever by Mary-Margret Daughtridge 5/5
12. Any Man of Mine (Chinnoks Hockey, #6) by Rachel Gibson 4/29
11. Operation: Forbidden (Black Jacquar Squadron, #2) by Lindsay McKenna 4/25
10. Cowboy Deputy by Carla Cassidy 4/24
9. The Knitting Diaries: Return to Summer Island by Christina Skye 4/23
8. Navy Seal Security (Brothers in Arms) by Carol Ericson 4/17
7. Breaking the Rules, Troubleshooters #16 by Suzanne Brockmann 3/23
6. Flash Point, Holding Out for a Hero, #3 by Shelli Stevens 3/18
5. Becoming Miss Becky by Shannon Stacey 2/13
4. Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force 2/13 (So do pilots!)
3. Icebreaker by Deidre Martin 2/6 (Hockey players wear uniforms!)
2. Deadly Valentine: The February 14th Secret by Cindy Dees 2/6
1. SEALed with a Kiss by Jill Monroe 1/23

2011 Lori Foster’s Reader & Writer Get Together

2011-06-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a few years since we attended this event. Rhonda (Sanddanz) and I are here as hanger-oners. We aren’t actually attending the event but are here for the author booksigning. Really, it was a chance to visit with Rhonda. The number of people attending this event was overwhelming.

One of the great things about events like these is the opportunity to discover new authors. In addition, I found that some of my favorite authors have some books coming out that I didn’t know about. Books added to my Amazon wishlist: Bad Girl By Night: A H.O.T. Cops Novel (Lacey Alexander) and The Billionaire’s Borrowed Baby by Janice Maynard. I downloaded samples for Wicked Wonderland (LuAnn McLane, Janice Maynard, Susanna Carr); Carpe Bead ‘Em (Tonya Kappes); and Fool for Love (Marie Force).

Tonya Kappes has a cute book called Carpe Bead ‘Em that I’m looking forward to reading. And she has a new book called The Ladybug JInx – the promotional materials included a recipe for Hillbilly Punch. The promotional material for The Naked Hero blog includes a recipe for a Naked Lady cocktail. Definitely a woman after my own heart.

I had a chance to meet Marie Force who I discovered through Goodreads and I’ve been busy reading all of her books. Her Fatal romantic suspense series as well as her McCathy’s of Gansett Island contemporary romance series are two of my favorites. Marie is a self-published author and I wish her all the best in being successful and beating the publishing houses at their own game!

I had a chance to meet Cindy Spencer Pape. I have her Photographs & Phantoms book which I have not yet read. (Sorry about the photo!)

I had great conversations with author Kate Douglas and Rhonda in the bar. While I admit that I haven’t read Kate’s books, she was a wonderfully warm and entertaining conversationalist. If you enjoy paranormal erotica, I recommend checking out her books just based on meeting her.Kelsey Maxwell (All for Love series)

Other authors that I met that I hope to check out include: Leah Braemel, Sandy Sullivan, Tim Smith, Cat Shaffer (romantic suspense), Keri Stevens (paranormal romance), and more.

2011 Outdo Yourself Challenge: May Results

2011-06-01T06:02:00.001-07:00

TheBookVixens: Outdo Yourself Challenge - Read more books than you did the previous year.

YIKES! I’m 27 books behind!

2011 Reading Goal: 350 books
2010 Actual Books Read: 332 books (92,978 pages)

YEAR TO DATE (as of 6/1/2011)
2011 YTD Books Read: 117
2011 YTD Pages Read: 33913

May 2011 Books Read: 18
May 2011 Pages Read: 8997*
* Includes updated page counts for 20 ebooks read in 2011 that did not previously have page counts

April 2011 Books Read: 25
April 2011 Pages Read: 5096

March 2011 Books Read: 25
March 2010 Books Read: 5096

February 2011 Books Read: 27
February 2010 Books Read: 23

January 2011 Books Read: 22
January 2010 Books Read: 30

2011 May Reading Challenge

2011-06-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

Goodreads May Reading Challenge
Level 2: 3 Completed
Level 3: 2 Completed

Slow month of reading…plus this is a HARD challenge…

1. M is for May:

1.2 Read a book with a cover that makes you say, "Mmmmm!" and you have to post a link to that drool worthy cover so we all know what makes you drool. When You Dare (Men Who Walk on the Edge of Honor, #1) by Lori Foster 5/4

2. Birthday:

2.3. Read a book rated four or five stars with which you are completely unfamiliar from a May B-day celebrant’s GR bookshelf whose “day” falls on the same “day” as yours. If no one has the exact same day, then go for the closest date. (Alecia) Falling by Christopher Pike

3. Geography:

3.2. Read a book whose author, setting, AND characters are from India.The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal 5/22

4. Cinco de Mayo:

4.3. Read a book that has a recipe that calls for mayo. Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford 5/8

5. Mother May I:

5.3. Read a BDSM book. (After all, isn't BDSM all about one person following the commands of another person and trusting that they will get you where they want to go? So it's really like a full contact adult version of Mother May I.) Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair

6. "Mayday mayday mayday! We're going down!":

6.3. Read a book where the h/h are involved in a plane crash or a shipwreck (bonus points if they actually use the term "Mayday mayday mayday!") The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky

7. April showers bring May flowers (and what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims!):

7.2. Read a book about a religious colony. Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff by Christopher Moore
7.3. Read a book about a religious colony with a picture of flowers on the front cover.

8. Maybe if things had been different... Maybe things will change in the future.... The world is full of maybes, might bes, and might have beens:

8.3. Past alternative realities might be the toughest. What if something was different in the past? Steampunk? What if the Axis won WWII? Read a historical with an alternative reality. Photographs & Phantoms by Cindy Spencer Pape

9. Friday the 13th!:

9.2. Since the date has become associated with a certain mass murdering psychopath, read a book that would be considered HORROR or at least a scary book. Hush (Lodestone Trilogy, #1) by Cherry Adair 5/1
9.3. Read a horror book with a 'luck' title. Lady Luck by Jane Toombs

10. Reader's Choice: I'll let you pick your own three levels. Just remember to have an open mind and pick a good one.

10.3 Face of Danger (The Guardian Angelinos, #3) by Roxanne St. Claire 5/17

2011 Outdo Yourself Challenge: April Results

2011-05-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

TheBookVixens: Outdo Yourself Challenge - Read more books than you did the previous year.

2011 Reading Goal: 350 books
2010 Actual Books Read: 332 books (92,978 pages)

YEAR TO DATE (as of 5/1/2011)
2011 YTD Books Read: 74 99
2011 YTD Pages Read: 24916
# E-Books without Page Counts: 20

April 2011 Books Read: 25
April 2011 Pages Read: 5096

March 2011 Books Read: 25
March 2010 Books Read: 5096

February 2011 Books Read: 27
February 2010 Books Read: 23

January 2011 Books Read: 22
January 2010 Books Read: 30

Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

2011-04-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

I just got promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant!!!

TheBookVixen keeps enticing me into reading challenges. The latest is the Men in Uniform challenge.

Current Level: Lieutenant(6-10 books)

9. Cowboy Deputy by Carla Cassidy 4/24
8. The Knitting Diaries: Return to Summer Island by Christina Skye 4/23
7. Breaking the Rules, Troubleshooters #16 by Suzanne Brockmann 3/23
6. Flash Point, Holding Out for a Hero, #3 by Shelli Stevens 3/18
5. Becoming Miss Becky by Shannon Stacey 2/13
4. Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force 2/13 (So do pilots!)
3. Icebreaker by Deidre Martin 2/6 (Hockey players wear uniforms!)
2. Deadly Valentine: The February 14th Secret by Cindy Dees 2/6
1. SEALed with a Kiss by Jill Monroe 1/23

GoodReads Reading Tournament: The Name Game Edition

2011-04-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Since I’m reading anyway, I might as well play in another Challenge: GoodReads Reading Tournament – The Name Game Edition. Heck, they are getting me to branch out my reading some.

So this challenge runs from May 1 to October 30 (which will encompass the October 2011 24 Hour Readathon on October 22). The goal is to check off names on the list by reading books where these names are used for characters. You may check off a maximum of 4 names from one book.

Some of these names are pretty hard so if you have any suggestions for good books, PLEASE let me know.

Girls' Names	Boys' Names
Aaliyah	Aaron
Abby	Adam
Abigail	Adrian
Addison	Aiden
Adriana	Alex
Alana	Alexander
Alexa	Andrew
Alexandra	Anthony
Alexis	Austin
Allison	Benjamin
Alyssa	Blake
Amelia	Brady
Anna	Brandon
Annabelle	Brayden
Arianna	Brody
Ashlyn	Bryce
Aubrey	Caden
Audrey	Caleb
Ava	Cameron
Avery	Carson
Bailey	Carter
Bella	Charlie
Brianna	Chase
Brooke	Christian
Brooklyn	Christopher
Cadence	Cole
Camryn	Colin
Carly	Colton
Caroline	Connor
Charlotte	Cooper
Chloe	Daniel
Claire	David
Elizabeth	Devin
Ella	Dominic
Ellie	Dylan
Emily	Eli
Emma	Elijah
Eva	Ethan
Evelyn	Evan
Gabriella	Gabriel
Gianna	Gavin
Grace	Grayson
Gracie	Hayden
Hailey	Henry
Hannah	Hudson
Harper	Hunter
Isabella	Ian
Isabelle	Isaac
Jada	Isaiah
Jasmine	Jack
Jordyn	Jackson
Julia	Jacob
Juliana	Jake
Kaitlyn	James
Katherine	Jason
Kayla	Jayden
Kaylee	Jeremiah
Keira	John
Kendall	Jonathan
Kennedy	Jordan
Kylie	Joseph
Lauren	Joshua
Layla	Josiah
Leah	Julian
Lillian	Justin
Lily	Landon
Lucy	Levi
Lyla	Liam
Mackenzie	Logan
Madelyn	Lucas
Madison	Luke
Makayla	Mason
Makenna	Matthew
Maria	Max
Maya	Micah
Megan	Michael
Mia	Miles
Molly	Nathan
Morgan	Nathaniel
Natalie	Nicholas
Nevaeh	Noah
Nora	Nolan
Olivia	Oliver
Paige	Owen
Peyton	Parker
Reagan	Riley
Riley	Robert
Sadie	Ryan
Samantha	Ryder
Sarah	Sam
Savannah	Samuel
Scarlett	Sean
Sophia	Sebastian
Sophie	Thomas
Stella	Tristan
Sydney	Tyler
Taylor	William
Victoria	Wyatt
Violet	Xavier
Zoe	Zachary

That’s Amore by Erin McCarthy

2011-04-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

That's Amore by Erin McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paige has been in love with her best friend's brother, Jeff, since she was ten. But 3 years ago, he broke her heart. Now they are thrown back together when Gina leaves her son with Paige. Will Paige forgive him?

This book came as a recommendation for a friend on GoodReads. Erin McCarthy is an author I enjoy and the book was a great price, so how could I not purchase it. It is a quick an easy read that had me laughing out loud in public.

View all my reviews

Into the Night by Janelle Denison

2011-04-23T08:16:00.001-07:00

Into the Night by Janelle Denison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nathan Fox has his reasons for going after a missing girl. Nicole Hutton has her own personal reasons. Can the two work together to find justice for young girls who are being preyed upon?

While this book was predictable (you could see it coming for miles), it still kept me riveted wondering when it was going to turn REALLY ugly. I will still probably pick up the next installed of The Reliance Group...because we all really want to know what happens with Caleb and Valerie.

View all my reviews

Mountain Ranger Recon

2011-04-23T08:07:00.001-07:00

Mountain Ranger Recon by Carol Ericson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really, most of the books are better than the cheesy covers lead you to believe. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the Brothers In Arms series.

View all my reviews

2011 May Monthly Reading Challenge

2011-04-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

Goodread May Reading Challenge
Level 2: 0 of 6 Completed
Level 3: 0 0f 8 Completed
Okay, I have to admit that this is an interesting challenge…this is really going to stretch my boundaries.
1. M is for May:

1.2 Read a book with a cover that makes you say, "Mmmmm!" and you have to post a link to that drool worthy cover so we all know what makes you drool. When You Dare (Men Who Walk on the Edge of Honor, #1) by Lori Foster
1.3 Read a m/m romance where the one of the lead character's names start with M. A Realistic Romance by Andi Anderson

2. Birthday:

2.3. Read a book rated four or five stars with which you are completely unfamiliar from a May B-day celebrant’s GR bookshelf whose “day” falls on the same “day” as yours. If no one has the exact same day, then go for the closest date. (Alecia) Falling by Christopher Pike

3. Geography:

3.2. Read a book whose author, setting, AND characters are from India. The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
3.3. Read a book whose author, setting, and characters are from India in Hindi or some other native Indian dialect.

4. Cinco de Mayo:

4.2. Read a book that is the fifth in a series or has five words in the title. Breaking Point (I-Team, #5) by Pamela Clare
4.3. Read a book that has a recipe that calls for mayo. Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford

5. Mother May I:

5.3. Read a BDSM book. (After all, isn't BDSM all about one person following the commands of another person and trusting that they will get you where they want to go? So it's really like a full contact adult version of Mother May I.) Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair

6. "Mayday mayday mayday! We're going down!":

6.3. Read a book where the h/h are involved in a plane crash or a shipwreck (bonus points if they actually use the term "Mayday mayday mayday!") The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky

7. April showers bring May flowers (and what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims!):

7.2. Read a book about a religious colony. Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff by Christopher Moore
7.3. Read a book about a religious colony with a picture of flowers on the front cover.

8. Maybe if things had been different... Maybe things will change in the future.... The world is full of maybes, might bes, and might have beens:

8.3. Past alternative realities might be the toughest. What if something was different in the past? Steampunk? What if the Axis won WWII? Read a historical with an alternative reality. Photographs & Phantoms by Cindy Spencer Pape

9. Friday the 13th!:

9.2. Since the date has become associated with a certain mass murdering psychopath, read a book that would be considered HORROR or at least a scary book. Hush (Lodestone Trilogy, #1) by Cherry Adair
9.3. Read a horror book with a 'luck' title. Lady Luck by Jane Toombs

10. Reader's Choice: I'll let you pick your own three levels. Just remember to have an open mind and pick a good one.

Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire

2011-04-18T18:51:00.001-07:00

Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This had some twists that I wasn't expecting. Looking forward to more from the Angelinos!

View all my reviews

Navy Seal Security (Brothers in Arms, #1) by Carol Ericson

2011-04-17T13:09:00.001-07:00

Navy SEAL Security by Carol Ericson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Why oh why do I get sucked in to these stories? But alas, I know need to know what happens to Jack and the "Brothers In Arms."

View all my reviews

2011 April Monthly Reading Challenge

2011-04-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge

10 of 10 Complete Done already thanks to Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!!

1. April: Already Home by Susan Mallery 4/9
2. Birthday: (APretty5) Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Philips 4/11
3. Geography: Driftwood Cottage (Chesapeake Shores, #5) by Sherryl Woods 4/3
4. Fourth Month: The Chase (Fast Track, #4) by Erin McCarthy 4/8
5. The Royal Wedding: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins 4/10
6. April Fool's Day (February (5) Second Chances): The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor, #2) by Jill Shalvis 4/5
7. Find-A-Rainbow Day: All Through The Night (Troubleshooters, #12) by Suzanne Brockmann
8. Taxes are due in US (15 April): Love for Sale by Shelli Stevens 4/9
9. Pets Are Wonderful month (nodding also to Pet Owners Day, World Rat Day and National Hairball Awareness Day): Just Pretending (Montana Mavericks, #35) by Myrna Mackenzie 4/9
10. Reader's Choice: The Welcome Home Garden Club (Twilight, Texas #4) by Lori Wilde 4/10

All Through The Night by Suzanne Brockmann

2011-04-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this once before back when it was first released in 2007. I always loved Jules character and I'm thrilled that Brockmann wrote this story of trust, love, and commitment for these characters.

I re-read this book for the Goodreads 2011 April Monthly Challenge Find a Rainbow Day: Read an LGBT book, a book with at least 3 of the 7 colours of a rainbow on it's cover, or a book with a title that includes the word: dream/s, wish/es, or rainbow.

This book is SO much more than an LGBT book which is why I chose to read it. Published just as gay marriage was AGAIN coming under attack, this book serves as a great reminder that the sanctity of marriage is NOT just between a man and a woman but is about the value and commitment that two people (regardless of gender) have for each other.

View all my reviews

Get Lucky by Lorie O'Clare

2011-04-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Get Lucky by Lorie O'Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoying this series...and interesting backdrop of gamesmanship...wondering how much we'll see it play out. Enjoyed Marc's story....maybe Jake's is next???

View all my reviews

2011 April Monthly Reading Challenge

2011-04-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge

8 of 10 Complete

1. April: Already Home by Susan Mallery 4/9
2. Birthday: (APretty5) Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Philips
3. Geography: Driftwood Cottage (Chesapeake Shores, #5) by Sherryl Woods 4/3
4. Fourth Month: The Chase (Fast Track, #4) by Erin McCarthy 4/8
5. The Royal Wedding: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins 4/10
6. April Fool's Day (February (5) Second Chances): The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor, #2) by Jill Shalvis 4/5
7. Find-A-Rainbow Day: Read an LGBT book, a book with at least 3 of the 7 colours of a rainbow (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red) on it's cover, or a book with a title that includes the word: dream/s, wish/es, or rainbow.
8. Taxes are due in US (15 April): Love for Sale by Shelli Stevens 4/9
9. Pets Are Wonderful month (nodding also to Pet Owners Day, World Rat Day and National Hairball Awareness Day): Just Pretending (Montana Mavericks, #35) by Myrna Mackenzie 4/9
10. Reader's Choice: The Welcome Home Garden Club (Twilight, Texas #4) by Lori Wilde 4/10

April 2011 #Readathon: The End

2011-04-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Raised $300; Completed 6 books; Read 1785 pages

Yep, I made it…more or less…pretty sure there was some drifting on and off between 5:30am and 8:00am. I definitely wasn’t interested in staying up to make a final post. But it is noon and I’m not feeling too bad…although ask me later when I’m working on the list of things John wants to accomplish today. At least he has gone out in search of coffee for me.

But it was fun and worth it! I love to read and this is a great way to give reading back….locally and globally. It is so much fun to do something like this with a group of people…462 people signed up to participate. It was great following the blog posts, checking in to see what people were reading and how they were doing, and just being able to engage with others.

Next Dewey’s Readathon: October 2011
I plan to be there! I hope you’ll join me!

Title: The Welcome Home Garden Club (Twilight, Texas, #4)
Author: Lori Wilde
Number of Pages: 0 of 400 (0%)
Time Started: 4/10/2011 03:45
Time Completed: 4/10/2011
Description: Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn's world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.

Gideon had left town in the middle of night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changed since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an independent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.

He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there's a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

Comments: Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as Fourth Month: Read a book that is fourth in a series, or has four words in the title.

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 6
Number of Pages Read: 1785
Money Raised: $300
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 3am

2011-04-10T00:36:00.001-07:00

Yes, I’m still here! Spent some time reading and it got away from me. Off to check on others then start reading again.

JUST FINISHED

Title: My One and Only
Author: Kristan Higgins
Number of Pages: 385 of 385 (100%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011 19:41
Time Completed: 4/10/2011 03:27
Description: Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.

Comments: Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as The Royal Wedding book: Read a book with a royal character, a book centering on a wedding or a book with a predominantly blue cover.

NEXT UP

Title: The Welcome Home Garden Club (Twilight, Texas, #4)
Author: Lori Wilde
Number of Pages: 0 of 400 (0%)
Time Started: 4/10/2011 03:45
Time Completed:
Description: Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

Comments: Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as Fourth Month: Read a book that is fourth in a series, or has four words in the title.

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 5
Number of Pages Read: 1385
Money Raised: $250
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 12am

2011-04-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

Hmmm…some how I missed by 10pm post…and why is it that when I don’t want to stay up all night reading I do…and now that I want to stay up, I want a nap?

John brought be a cocktail to celebrate the midway point! What a great guy…plus he is working on cooking dinner. Here is the link to the Readathon Dinner (including recipes)

And my Kindle made it 12 hours before having to be recharged (that is with the wireless on the whole time).

CURRENTLY READIN G

Title: My One and Only
Author: Kristan Higgins
Number of Pages: 134 of 385 (35%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011 19:41
Time Completed:
Description: Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 4
Number of Pages Read: 1000
Money Raised: $200
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

2011 April #Readathon: 8pm

2011-04-09T17:02:00.001-07:00

It is the half way point…the day has gone very fast. And the new router was installed with no interruption in service. And I’ve finished 4 books and 1000 pages.

In my last post I neglected to post the Already Home menu recommended for book club discussions. It fit perfectly with Book Journey’s Book Club Recommendations Mini- Challenge where I recommended this book.

Here is the menu (found at Kindle Location 5470):

Drink: Margaritas
Appetizers: Jalapeno Poppers
Meal: Jenna’s Mocha Chili (recipe included)
Dessert: Apricot Fluff

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Just starting My One and Only by Kristan Higgins
2. How many books have you read so far? 4
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Not yet sure what I’ll be reading
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? I have something that I normally do on Saturday mornings (massage, pedicure) and during past readathons I’ve kept those appointments but I always felt like I was starting late. This year I rescheduled them. It was a good choice!
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Nope, for the first time no interruptions. My husband has been taking very good care of me.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I’m still trying to find the right balance or reading books, blogging, and reading others blogs. I feel like I ‘m doing the best I have ever done at this.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I will have to think some more on that.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Not sure yet…I’m pretty comfortable with the way things are going this year. I started out trying to post every hour but I’m backing it off to about every 2 hours unless I finish a book
9. Are you getting tired yet? Surprisingly not even though I woke up 2 hours earlier than planned; although eyes were a little tired there for a while.
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? For the first time I’m using Google Reader to follow others blog posts and it is working really well for me.

JUST FINISHED

Title: Love for Sale
Author: Shelli Stevens
Number of Pages: 120 of 120
Time Started: 4/9/2011 18:45
Time Completed: 4/9/2011 19:41
Description:
After her oversexed grandma talks her into signing up for the 'Buy a Dame' fundraiser, Jessica Davis gets a makeover and goes on the auction block. She never expected the roughly sexy man who'd buy her, or the plans he had in store. Josh Thomas came to Leaf Island after his grandpa died to do some hard core thinking. He hadn't planned on buying a woman for the weekend and then falling hard for her. She seems equally enamored, but will she still want him when she finds out the one thing he's been hiding?

Comments: Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as the Tax Day book; Taxes are due in US (15 April): Read a book with an accountant/book-keeper character, or due to a shortage of funds, read a free or borrowed (library, friend etc) book.

UP NEXT

Title: My One and Only
Author: Kristan Higgins
Number of Pages: 0 of 385
Time Started: 4/9/2011 19:41
Time Completed:
Description: Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 4
Number of Pages Read: 1000
Money Raised: $200
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 6pm

2011-04-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve been missing in action for several hours. I guess I should find a good mix of posting and reading. Five hours seems too long between checking in and posting.

I’m using Google Reader to keep up with the friends blogs during the Readathon. However, @notarevolution set up a Twitter List called “readathon0411” of everyone participating who is also tweeting. @Sanddanz has been using that to follow Readathon activity. I definitely prefer Google Reader...there have been 157 tweets since the last time I looked at it...no way am I going to spend time reading through all of them. Although I do like the idea of randomly clicking on the post of someone I'm not following on Google Reader.

Some of my favorite tweets since the last time I looked:

mjmbecky One Literature Nut

Went downstairs to get big glass of water & cat looked up at w/ sleepy, why-are-you-home-during-my-sleepy-time face. Leaving him alone now.

ewillse Elizabeth W

Good lord, is it hour 6 already! I thought I'd have read more!#readathon but I won a prize! woo! @readathon

Okay…off to see what everyone else has been doing for the last few hours. Hopefully, John is going to start dinner soon because I’m hungry again.

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Almost Home
Author: Susan Mallery
Number of Pages: of 368
Time Started: 4/9/2011 13:02
Time Completed: 4/9/2011 18:13
Description:
After nearly a decade as a sous chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She’s supported her ex-husband’s dreams for so long that she can’t even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents’ home and envisions her very own cooking store. Her crash course in business is aided by a street-wise store manager and Jenna’s adoptive mother. But just as she’s gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents – aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.
Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex’s latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love…

Comments: Okay…once we got past Aaron I really started to like Jenna. But in reality I feel in love with all of the characters in this very moving story which left me laughing and crying.

Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as the April book where the title or author’s name starts with “A.”

NEXT UP

Title: Love for Sale
Author: Susan Mallery
Number of Pages: of 368
Time Started: 4/9/2011 13:02
Time Completed: 4/9/2011 18:13
Description:
After her oversexed grandma talks her into signing up for the 'Buy a Dame' fundraiser, Jessica Davis gets a makeover and goes on the auction block. She never expected the roughly sexy man who'd buy her, or the plans he had in store. Josh Thomas came to Leaf Island after his grandpa died to do some hard core thinking. He hadn't planned on buying a woman for the weekend and then falling hard for her. She seems equally enamored, but will she still want him when she finds out the one thing he's been hiding?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 3
Number of Pages Read: 880
Money Raised: $150
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and toRoom to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 1pm

2011-04-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, I quick post update. I’m going to take a page from Shaunesay and not attempt to post EVERY hour.

Sometime today, I’m expecting our new router to be installed. At that point I’ll be relying on my DroidX to keep up the the Readathon goings-on.

Now off to visit some friends blogs before starting my next book.

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 256 of 256 (100%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011 08:45
Time Completed: 4/9/2011 13:00
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Storm Hunter's return to Whitehorn sent tremors through the town—and shock waves of desire through innocent Jasmine Kincaid Monroe. But then Storm discovered the Monroes might have had something to do with this brother's long-ago disappearance....

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

Now that the murder of Storm’s brother, Raven, has been resolved, I wonder what drama will be in store for Whitehorn in the May Montana Maverick releases.

NEXT UP

Title: Almost Home
Author: Susan Mallery
Number of Pages:
Time Started: 4/9/2011 13:02
Time Completed:
Description:
After nearly a decade as a sous chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She’s supported her ex-husband’s dreams for so long that she can’t even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents’ home and envisions her very own cooking store. Her crash course in business is aided by a street-wise store manager and Jenna’s adoptive mother. But just as she’s gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents – aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.
Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex’s latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love…

Comments: Reading this book for the Goodreads April Monthly Reading Challenge as the April book where the title or author’s name starts with “A.”

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 2
Number of Pages Read: 512
Money Raised: $100
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: Noon

2011-04-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Nachos and chocolate for lunch, thanks honey!

It feels like my reading is going EXTREMELY slowly but I’m having fun taking a little time each hour to check to see what others are posting. Google Reader has made it easier for me to follow several people blogging.

It is a dreary, cloudy day here in Dayton…making it a perfect day for doing nothing but reading.

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 184 of 256 (72%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011
Time Completed:
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 228
Money Raised: $50
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 11am

2011-04-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

While I’m diligently reading, John is finishing the taxes. Depressing to think about the checks we are about to write. So I’m going to stop thinking about that and go back to thinking about the Readathon.

Sending him out for food NOW!!! I need to eat!

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 117 of 256 (46%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011
Time Completed:
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 161
Money Raised: $50
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 10am

2011-04-09T07:10:00.001-07:00

Wow! How is another hour gone already?

Check out where the other Readathon participants are throughout the world: Where In The World Are You Reading?

And I thought I’d post pictures of my helpers:

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 64 of 256 (25%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011
Time Completed:
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 108
Money Raised: $50
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 9am

2011-04-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a good first hour…finished my first book…of course, I only had 44 pages to finish. I’ve been reading from the comfort of my Sleep Number adjustable bed. It provides full body support and lets me sit up, lay down, or find a position in between. Oh and the cats have been keeping me company and cheering me on…well if you consider sleeping cheering me on.

Where are you reading from today?
Dayton OH
Three random facts about me…

I thought I would be more mature at 51 than I feel
I love travel, food, and wine
I’ve been married for almost 26 years to the most amazing man who hasn’t expressed any concern about the fact that he will be taking care of everything today so that I can read

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
That is a hard question to answer. There are 36 samples on my kindle to choose from.
Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
I hope to make it the full 24 hours. I am also donating $50 for each book I read.
If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I find it hardest to manage the amount of time that I spend reading blogs and participating with actually reading. I try to limit the time that I spent on the blogging stuff to less than 15 minutes per hour. This year I’m using the alarm on my clock to help

FINISHED

Title: Just Pretending (Montana Mavericks, #35)
Author: Myrna Mackenzie
Number of Pages: 256 of 256 (100%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011 0800
Time Completed: 4/9/2011 0833
Description:
First they were partners. Then they were pretending to be engaged.

FBI Agent David Hannon's plans for a quiet vacation in his hometown were overturned by a murder investigation. And officer Gretchen Neal wasn't making his nights peaceful, either—especially as the case had them working very closely together....

Comments: I really enjoy the Montana Mavericks series. Set in and near Whitehorn Montana there is intrigue and a great cast of characters. I also love that the series is written and woven together by different authors.

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 10 of 256 (4%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011
Time Completed:
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 54
Money Raised: $50
For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

April 2011 #Readathon: 8am

2011-04-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

It is 8am…I’ve got my coffee and I’m ready to read!!! For each book that I read, I will be donating $25 to both Project Read and to Room to Read.

I’ve noticed many people have pre-picked books to read. I’m a read-what-appeals-to-me-at-the-time reader. However, I do HOPE to make a dent in some of the challenges that I am participating in:

2011 April Monthly Reading Challenge
Goodreads Romance 101 Reading Challenge
2011 Outdo Yourself Challenge
Men in Uniform Challenge
Goodreads Romance A-Z Reading Challenge

Browser pages are all set so I can cheer on my #readathon friends!!! Let’s go!!

CURRENTLY READING

Title: Just Pretending (Montana Mavericks, #35)
Author: Myrna Mackenzie
Number of Pages: 212 of 256 (83%)
Time Started: 4/9/2011 0800
Time Completed:
Description:
First they were partners. Then they were pretending to be engaged.

FBI Agent David Hannon's plans for a quiet vacation in his hometown were overturned by a murder investigation. And officer Gretchen Neal wasn't making his nights peaceful, etiher—especially as the case had them working very closely together....

Comments:

NEXT UP

Title: Storming Whitehorn (Montana Mavericks, #36)
Author: Christine Scott
Number of Pages: 256
Time Started: 4/9/2011
Time Completed:
Description:
If only he could stay away...

Comments: Yes, I need to read this IMMEDIATELY after completing the previous book in the series. And is it possible to come up with a cheesier looking cover?

24 HOUR RESULTS

Number of Books Read: 0
Number of Pages Read: 0

Goodreads Romance 101 Reading Challenge

2011-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

Romance 101 Reading Challenge
1/9 - 7/9/2011
8 of 12 Completed

1. Contemporary Romance: How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn 1/19
2. Historical Romance: Taming Eliza Jane by Shannon Stacey 2/13
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance: Deadly Heat (Deadly, #2) by Cynthia Eden 2/8
4. Paranormal Romance: Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #9) by J. R. Ward 3/31
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance:
6. Fantasy Romance:
7. Time-travel Romance:
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance:
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance:The Highest Bidder by Chanta Rand 2/20
10. Erotic Romance: The Bikini Diaries by Lacey Alexander 2/20
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc): Irresistible Stranger by Jennifer Greene (Silhouette) 2/1
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction (includes a love story as a major part of its storyline): Falling Home by Karen White 2/14

Making a Difference - April 2010 #Readathon

2011-04-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

One of my “book friends”, DancingDog, posted a great idea in her blog about donating money based on how much she reads during the Readathon. Last October, I had the idea to do it as a fundraiser but that failed for many reasons…mostly mine.

So this time I’m following DancingDog’s lead. For each book that I read, I will donate $25 per book read to both Project Read and to Room to Read. If you want to help by making a pledge based on how much I read, please let me know! I will let you specify which organization (or both) gets your donation.

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon is an opportunity to have fun while raising money to provide resources to organizations that promote literacy. Reading and education are key to breaking the cycle of poverty. 174 people participated in the October 2010 Read-A-Thon. If each person collected pledges totally $100, the result would have been $17,400 that could make a significant difference in the ability for a non-profit to make an impact on literacy. As of today, 318 people are signed up to participate in the April 2011 Readathon…think of the difference we could make.

Room to Read

Room to Read believes that "world change starts with educated children". We focus on countries whose lack of resources results in insufficient educational infrastructure. Rather than apply a short-term solution, Room to Read seeks to intervene early in a child's life and provide ongoing educational opportunities in their communities. We have developed a successful three-pronged approach to tackling the problem of education by:

Partnering with communities to build schools;
Enhancing educational facilities within schools, including establishing libraries, computers labs and language training centers; and
Providing scholarships for underprivileged young girls

Project Read

Project READ is a coalition of public and private organizations working together to build skilled workers, strong families, and healthy communities. Through Project READ, over 35 literacy and basic skills providers, 80 schools and tutoring sites in Montgomery, Greene, and Preble counties, and over 100 businesses and community partners are committed to building literacy in the Miami Valley. Project READ relies solely on grants and individual gifts for financial support.

It is NOT too late to join the fun! Sign up! And let me know where you will be blogging, I’ll stop by and visit!
Dewey’s Readathon
April 9, 2010
8am (EDT)

2011 Outdo Yourself Challenge: March Results

2011-03-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

TheBookVixens: Outdo Yourself Challenge - Read more books than you did the previous year.

2011 Reading Goal: 350 books
2010 Actual Books Read: 332 books (92,978 pages)

YEAR TO DATE (as of 3/31/2011)
2011 YTD Books Read: 74
2011 YTD Pages Read: 14,778
# E-Books without Page Counts: 18

March 2011 Books Read: 25
March 2010 Books Read:

February 2011 Books Read: 27
February 2010 Books Read: 23

January 2011 Books Read: 22
January 2010 Books Read: 30

2011 Goodreads March Reading Challenge

2011-03-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

March Reading Challenge

Whew! Barely made it!! Guess I shouldn’t leave a challenge book to the last 2 days of the month.

10/10

1. Starts with M: Marriage Maker by Christy Ridgway 3/6

2. Birthday (Alexis’s - 26th): Riding the Waves by Tawny Weber 3/9

3. South Carolina: We Interrupt This Date by L.C. Evans 3/14

4. Third Month: Deadly Games (Dead Trilogy, #3) by Cate Noble 3/2

5. March Off to War: Breaking the Rules (Troubleshooters, #16) by Suzanne Brockmann (3/22 Release)

6. Mardis Gras /New Orleans: The Perfect Stranger by Jenna Mills 3/16

7. St. Patrick’s Day / Ireland: Catch Me a Catch by Sally Clements 3/18

8. Doctor’s Day: Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward 3/31

9. Of Shelves and Lists: Love at First Flight by Marie Force 3/6

10. My Choice – Hidden Away (KGI, #3) by Maya Banks 3/12

Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

2011-03-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I just got promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant!!!

TheBookVixen keeps enticing me into reading challenges. The latest is the Men in Uniform challenge.

Current Level: Lieutenant(6-10 books)

7. Breaking the Rules, Troubleshooters #16 by Suzanne Brockmann 3/23
6. Flash Point, Holding Out for a Hero, #3 by Shelli Stevens 3/18
5. Becoming Miss Becky by Shannon Stacey 2/13
4. Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force 2/13 (So do pilots!)
3. Icebreaker by Deidre Martin 2/6 (Hockey players wear uniforms!)
2. Deadly Valentine: The February 14th Secret by Cindy Dees 2/6
1. SEALed with a Kiss by Jill Monroe 1/23

February Reading Challenge

2011-02-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

GoodReads February Reading Challenge

I'M DONE!!!
10/10 COMPLETED
1. Starts with F: Falling Home by Karen White 2/14
2. Birthday (Christine - 26th): Can't Say No by Jennifer Greene 2/4
3. Brazil: The Highest Bidder by Chanta Rand 2/20
4. Second Month: Deadly Heat (Deadly #2) by Cynthia Eden 2/8
5. Second Chance: Taming Eliza Jane by Shannon Stacey 2/13
6. Anthology: Manhunting by Lori Borrill 2/6
7. Valentine's Day: Deadly Valentine: Her Un-Valentine\The February 14th Secret by Justine Davis and Cindy Dees 2/6
8. African-American: Love Unexpected by Sheila Gross 2/22
9. Funny book: Lies I Told My Children by Karen McQuestion 2/3
10. My Choice – Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr 2/23

2011 Outdo Yourself Challenge: January Results

2011-02-12T12:28:00.001-08:00

Another of TheBookVixens challenges…this one is easy to participate in. The Outdo Yourself Challenge - Read more books than you did the previous year.

It doesn’t look like I’m off to a very good start…

2011 Reading Goal: 350 books
2010 Actual Books Read: 332 books (92,978 pages)

2011 YTD: 30 (as of 2/12/2011)

January 2011 Books Read: 22
January 2010 Books Read: 30

Dewey’s Read-a-Thon » April Read-A-Thon Date is Here

2011-01-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

Join me on April 9th for 24 hours of reading. I'd love to get a group together who would like to help turn this into an opportunity to raise money for a deserving literacy non-profit.

Dewey’s Read-a-Thon » April Read-A-Thon Date is Here

Romance 101 Reading Challenge (GoodReads)

2011-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Romance 101 Reading Challenge

0 of 12 Completed

1/9 - 7/9/2011

1. Contemporary Romance: How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn 1/19
2. Historical Romance:
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance:
4. Paranormal Romance:
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance:
6. Fantasy Romance:
7. Time-travel Romance:
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance:
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance:
10. Erotic Romance:
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc):
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction (includes a love story as a major part of its storyline):

2011 A-Z Romance Title Challenge (GoodReads)

2011-01-22T12:27:00.000-08:00

A-Z Romance Title Challenge
11 OF 26 COMPLETED

A:
B:
C: Compromising Positions by Jenna Bailey-Burke 1/2
D:
E:
F: The Fall by Marie Force 1/8
G:
H: How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn 1/19
I:
J: Just My Type (Bradfords #3) by Erin Nicholas 1/6
K:
L: Love Me Tender by Alison Kent 1/9
M: Marked for Marriage by Jackie Merritt 1/3
N:
O: Off Kilter by Donna Kauffman 1/18
P: Playboy Prankster (Extreme Racing #1) by Pamela Britton 1/17
Q:
R:
S: Silver and Spice by Lori Greene 1/8
T: Then He Kissed Me by Christy Ridgway 1/8
U: Undertow by Cherry Adair 1/1
V:
W:
X:
Y: Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye 1/2
Z:

Check out my books on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/profile/noumena12

2011 February Reading Challenge (Goodreads)

2011-01-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

February Reading Challenge

0/10

1. Starts with F: Falling Home by Karen White

2. Birthday (Christine - 26th): Can't Say No by Jennifer Greene OR To Seduce A Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

3. Brazil: Hot Rio Nights by Stella Price

4. Second Month: Deadly Heat (Deadly #2) by Cynthia Eden

5. Second Chance:

6. Anthology: Manhunting by Lori Borrill

7. Valentine's Day: Deadly Valentine: Her Un-Valentine\The February 14th Secret by Justine Davis and Cindy Dees

8. African-American: Perfect Fit by Brenda Jackson

9. Funny book: Lies I Told My Children by Karen McQuestion

10. My Choice -

Review: Just My Type

2011-01-07T15:40:00.001-08:00

Just My Type by Erin Nicholas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seemed to come to an abrupt end...maybe it was because I was enjoying the characters.

View all my reviews

2010 Reading Statistics

2011-01-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

Number of Books Read: 332

NOTE: New record beating my 2006 record of 323

Number of Pages Read: 92,859

NOTE: 2006 Record is 109,016; however, I read 33 ebooks that do not have page counts in 2010...even assuming 200 pages per book...that would get me to 99,459 and wouldn't break the record

2010 Books Read

My Bookshelf Now Shows which Kindle Books are Lendable

2010-12-30T11:17:00.001-08:00

Eligible Kindle books can now be lent to other readers with a kindle e-reader application installed (Kindle, smartphone, ipod, etc). (Learn more at Amazon) I've modified my Goodreads Bookshelf to reflect which of my ebooks are lendable. Check out my "lendable-ebooks" bookshelf. It also any bn ebooks that are lendable.

Review: Somewhere Along the Way

2010-12-30T07:21:00.001-08:00

Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Second book in the Harmony series. Looking forward to the next installment. Love the character development in this series.

View all my reviews

Review: Welcome to Harmony

2010-12-30T07:20:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first Jodi Thomas book that I've read and the first book in the Harmony series. This book has a great cast of characters that are nicely woven and integrated into several interesting stories. Looking forward to more.

View all my reviews

Review: Whisper Falls

2010-12-30T07:19:00.001-08:00

Whisper Falls by Toni Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really love this series and the characters! Highly recommend this book for the characters alone.

View all my reviews

Review: At Any Cost

2010-12-21T08:11:00.001-08:00

At Any Cost by Marisa Carroll

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Hour 24: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-10-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Lesson Learned: Having a big dinner and wine don't mix with a 24 hour readathon. Fell asleep at some point...probably not too long after I started reading again. Just woke up. *sigh*

Congrats to those who made it! I'll plan better next spring!!

Hour 14: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-10-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

OMG!! I just had the most amazing food and *cough* *several* bottles of wine. I am no longer confident of my ability to make it through the night this time. Anyway...I'm back and will be starting my next book.

Hour 9: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-10-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

First, I want to say THANKS to everyone who has stopped by the Noumena12 Book Blog to give encouragement and cheer me on! To my official cheerleaders, I will be offline for a while as I have a dinner party to attend. I'm not planning on letting amazing food and wine slow me down when I return! Off to cheer a few other on!

Book 2: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

2010-10-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Outlaw Marriage		Laurie Paige
Start: 20101009 13:11	End: 20101009 16:33	Pages: 256
Description: "What better way to conquer your opponent than to get extremely close to him?" Hope Baxter had teethed on stories of Kincaid family corruption. So when her ruthless father demanded his lawyer daughter wrench prime land from the Kincaids' grasp...she went in for the kill. But Hope underestimated her opponent--a dust-on-his-leather-chaps cowboy, Collin Kincaid. His weapon was his searing kiss, and Hope was defenseless against it. Collin unearthed Hope's vulnerability--her secret desire for a family. But following her dream would mean the ultimate defection. Could they forget their families' feuds and love simply as man and woman...husband and wife?
Comments: Crazy as it is…I'm engrossed in the Montana Mavericks characters. And they keep coming and coming and coming.

October 2010 Readathon Summary
Number of Books Read:	2
Total Pages Read:	404

Book 1: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

2010-10-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

My Give a Damn's Busted		Carolyn Brown
Start: 20101009 0800	End: 20101009 1236	Pages: 148
Description: You won't want to miss this boot scootin' contemporary full of sexy cowboys and sassy women. (The Romance Studio 20100924) The third tale in Brown's sassy contemporary romance series (I Love This Bar, 2010) set at the Honky Tonk continues her home-grown, humorous, country-music-themed stories, with Jo Dee Messina's popular song running throughout. (Lynn Welch Booklist ) Brown's wit and humor shine... [a] zany and fast-paced tale and lovable characters. (Sarah Eisenbraun RT Book Reviews ) Want a book filled with red-hot chemistry, a nasty antagonist, and a rollicking honky tonk? Then you need to read My Give a Damn's Busted. (The Long and Short of It )
Comments: I'm not really a fan of country music and honky tonks. Heck, I don't think I've ever been to a honky tonk. But I really enjoy these books!

October 2010 Readathon Summary
Number of Books Read:	1
Total Pages Read:	148

Hour 3: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-10-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

I always get off to a slow start. I have appointments Saturday mornings...while I can do some reading...I don't get a lot done. But I'm home now...and going to hunker down for the next few hours. Hoping DH is bringing lunch! :)

NOTE: "Hunker down?" Must be because of the book I'm reading! :)

It's Almost Time! Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-10-09T04:27:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it is time to start again!! I'm just getting myself set up and ready to go. Thanks to my bookfriend Shaunesay for helping me out with a new template this year.

I'm going to start by finishing the book that I am currently reading. I'm about 61% through 384 pages. So I'll get to count 149 pages in my total page count...but I won't count the book for the readathon.

I've also got a commitment tonight so I'll be missing in action for a few hours around 5:30pm EST. But I'll try to make up for it by reading longer than scheduled 24 hours.

Almost time to get started!

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon: October 2010

2010-09-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Once again I have signed up to participate in Dewey's Read-A-Thon on October 9. During the April Read-A-Thon, I read 4 books and 885 pages. This time I'm looking for pledges! $25 for every 500 pages? Per page donation??? Whatever you can afford to give!!! Pledge money collected will be donated to Project READ.

Project READ is a coalition of public and private organizations working together to build skilled workers, strong families, and healthy communities. Through Project READ, over 35 literacy and basic skills providers, 80 schools and tutoring sites in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties, and over 100 businesses and community partners are committed to building literacy in the Miami Valley.

Pledge by commenting here, emailing me, or posting on facebook! Giving a little can make a big difference!

Next 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

2010-04-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

October 9, 2010!!! Visit Dewey's Read-A-Thon to learn more

24 Hour Read-A-Thon: The Next Day

2010-04-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

#noumena12reads #readathon #noumena12_dining

So the phone rings at 10:30am this morning! Really?! Who wasn't paying attention yesterday!!

Hosting dinner tonight to recruit (what I think) is a really cool thing for the #Masquerage Red Ribbon Lounge. The Menu:
Fresh Corn Soup with Roasted Corn Guacamole
Pork Chops with Coconut Sauce
Jasmine Rice
Grilled Carrots
Grilled Pineapple with Butter-Rum Glaze, Marscapone, and Blueberries

I think I'm out of time for a nap!

24 Hour Read-A-Thon: 21 Hours

2010-04-11T02:08:00.001-07:00

#noumena12reads #readathon

Quick mini post
Just finished Shiloh Walker's Fragile and moving on to Broken. That should get me through until 8am!!!

I'll post a more complete update and follow-up summary after I get some sleep in the morning!

Books Read	Book Goal	% Completed
10	10	100%
10	10	100%
10	10	100%
10	10	100%
5	10	50%
10	10	100%
10	10	100%
10	10	100%
11	11	100%
11	10	110%
6	10	60%
10	10	100%