Friday, January 11, 2013

2013 Amish Fiction Challenge




2013 Amish Fiction Challenge
 

This challenge will begin on January 1st, 2013 and end December 31, 2013.    On January 1, 2014 I'll choose three lucky participants who will receive a special selection of Amish items from here in Ohio's Amish country.  This may include a new Amish novel,  cookbook, a jar of jam/jelly, and/or whatever else I may find on my various trips to Amish country!

Here are the challenge details: 

 1. This challenge will begin on January 1st, 2013 and end December 31, 2013. 

 2. Books for this challenge can be from any genre and may include print books as well as e-books and audio books.

Choose a Level:
  • Inspired     6 books
  • Smitten    12 books
  • Devoted   24 books
 3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

 4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up on the monthly review posts or leave a comment with a link to your review.

 5. I will create a new post each month with a link-up for your reviews.

 6. To sign-up use the link below. If you are a blogger, create a sign-up post and link back to this post. If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining.



Join the 2013 Amish Fiction Challenge!  The Amish Fiction Challenge is being hosted by Amish Fiction Reviews.  Be sure to sign up here.

I always enjoy reading Amish books so was excited to see this Amish Fiction Challenge and be able to sign up.

I will sign up for :

Smitten    12 books

I will see how I go and how many Amish books I am able to find and may have to increase this to Devoted as the year goes by.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

2013 Book To Movie Challenge



2013 Book To Movie Challenge is being hosted by Doing Dewey.
Alright folks! Today we have another exciting new first for Doing Dewey! I will be hosting my first ever reading challenge, the 2013 Book to Movie Challenge. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to review books and the movies which they’ve been made into. It’s a tough job, but someone has to let us book lovers know which movies are going to fulfill our dreams of watching our favorite books come to life and which movies are going to ruthlessly shatter those dreams!
To enter, just click through to the linky at the bottom of this post and link to a post on your blog mentioning the challenge and the challenge level you’re attempting. You can change challenge levels at any time and the challenge levels are as follows:
Movie Fan - read 3 books and watch their movies

Movie Devotee - read 6 books and watch their movies

Movie Lover - read 9 books and watch their movies
Movie Aficionado - read 12 books and watch their movies

Click here to enter your link and view this Inlinkz list (feel free to type n/a instead of actually leaving your e-mail)…

I have a few books on my TBR list that I would like to read this year and then watch the movie.  
I am going to sign up for.....
Movie Fan read 3 books and watch their movies
I will see how I go and may increase this is Movie Devotee later in the year.  
Top of my list as the movie Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks is due to be released in Australia on 14 February I will read the book first and then watch the movie.

2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge


2013 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Reading Challenge Details:
  • Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime.  Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
  • The goal is to read or re-read as many Nicholas Sparks novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
  • Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
  • You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.
  • Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
  • Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Levels:

     First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Going Steady – Read 5–8 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Engaged – Read 9–12 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Married – Read 13–16 Nicholas Sparks novels


List of Nicholas Sparks novels:

     The Notebook
     Message in a Bottle
     A Walk to Remember
     The Rescue
     A Bend in the Road
     Nights in Rodanthe
     The Wedding
     The Guardian
     Three Weeks With My Brother
     True Believer (read this before At First Sight)
     At First Sight (read this after True Believer)
     The Choice
     Dear John
     The Lucky One
     The Last Song
     Safe Haven
     The Best of Me

Have just been thinking about reading a couple of Nicholas Sparks books so this challenge will work in well with my TBR list.

With the Safe Haven movie due to be released in Australia on 14 February I might start with reading Safe Haven first.  I will also be able to include this in the Book To Movie challenge I have also signed up to participate in.

I am going to sign up for...

First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

2013 Library Books Reading Challenge


We love visiting our library every week and always like to borrow lots of books, dvds etc... In this day and age with some many readers using ebook readers, phones etc to read books and be able to borrow online and instantly download would hate to think that the libraries we visit would ever be at risk of having to close due to the numbers decreasing of people visiting and borrowing books from their local libraries.  My library has a great selection of books to choose from and my list of books I would like to read keeps getting added to all the time.  This is ideal when I just don't have the money to be able to buy all the books that I would love to read, not to mention the storage to be able to store them all.

Just came across a 2013 Library Books Reading Challenge so had to sign up to participate.  Gina at Book Dragons Lair is hosting this challenge so be sure to check it out and sign up to participate here.

I am signing up for just insert IV - 50.  This should be easy to achieve.


Library Books
Reading Challenge
2013


hosted by Gina at Book Dragon's Lair

Sign- up here

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but we also need space to keep them. I've started using the library (again) but couldn't find a challenge to help me. Here it is. There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

 Requirements:

  • choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
  • check books out of the library
  • books may overlap with other challenges
  • any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
  • reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is.
  • a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in

Levels:

  • board book - 3
  • picture book - 6
  • early reader - 9
  • chapter book - 12
  • middle grades - 18
  • Young adult - 24
  • adult - 36
  • just insert IV - 50 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

2013 Outside The Box Book Challenge


  

Outside The Box Book Challenge is being hosted by Musings Of A Book Lover.

Okay – for something a little different and a little fun! I hope that you will join me on this excursion through the literary genres! Choose your level, post with us at the end of the month about your experiences, and we will have a winner at the end of the year for a $50 GC from that great book place in the Ethernet!  Each posting will get your name in the hat for a chance to win! So, post monthly and your chances increase!  I hope you enjoy the categories I have created… it was fun doing it!

Choose your level – just how far out of the box do you want to go?

I’m a little Scared: 3-4 categories
It’s not so bad out here!:  5-7 categories
Look at me, outside my comfort zone!:  8-10 categories
No Box can Contain Me!: ALL 13!

Guidelines:

This challenge will run from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013.   
Grand Prize Drawing will be 7 January 2014!

1. Sign up any time. Though, it’s best to do it by the 31st of December, 2012 – that way you will have more chances to WIN! (However, sign-ups will close 1 December 2013)

2. You cannot use any books or reading material that was read before 1 January 2013 (except for #9 – but you DO have to REREAD that one to count!)

3. At the End of each month, you must post a link to your review for it to count! If you don’t have a blog, be sure to link up the review you did in GoodReads, Amazon, Library Thing, etc. We need to read your review! (There will be a one week grace period to get in the review. i.e. January 31st rolls around and the linky will be up, but you have until 6th of February to get your linky in!) Each review will get you a ‘token’!

4. Share the Love (PLEASE!?!) – Write your intentions on your blog, link back to this post, have the button on a side bar, so others will know what fun you are having, and they can have it too!

5.  Overlaps are okay, but the purpose of this is to try other books, not grabbing ONE book to fit four categories! You only get ONE token in for each review, so the more the merrier.

6. Comment below with how comfortable you are of climbing out of your literary box!  BUT, don’t feel you have to be tied to that level! You are shy and want to start slowly but love the feeling of the air outside of where you are…go for it!  You thought you could be a book sphere, but the box is warm and comfy, that’s okay too!

7. Be encouraging!  Sometimes it’s a little frightening coming out of your comfort zone. Go to the other participants’ sites and give them words to help free them. Offer suggestions on the best ways to climb out of the box – give them a ladder that they can use!

8. Optional – share books.  Be willing to swap books with other participants (unless they are library books, or books that are not yours, then you might find yourself in a whole other type of box, and I can’t help you then!)

9. Make sure you post your reviews every month.  Who knows, I just might have a surprise giveaway that month!

Now… to the categories!


#1   To the Screen
Read a book that was adapted to the screen.  Try to read the book first, then see the movie – how did they compare?

#2   Another Voice
Do you typically read books that focus on a Female Character? Try a male protagonist. A male point of view usually? See what it’s like from a woman’s perspective.

#3   Opposites Attract
 Are you always reading young adult or historical fiction? Try something that would be opposite – a contemporary read for those stuck in the past, for instance.

#4   5 Star Day
Is there a book you’ve seen featured on another blog and everyone raves about it? Even if it isn’t your cup of tea – give it a try to see what the hype is all about.

#5   XyZ pdQ
You’ve seen them – ABC book challenges – well this one is light! Grab a book that has either an X, Z or Q in the title!  Too tough? Try going for the author’s name!

#6   It’s my Birthday!
So, have a party! Read a book that was published in either your birth month or birth year!

#7   From one place…
It’s neat to read a book that was first published outside of the United States (or your country – we won’t hold it against you if you don’t live in the Good Ol’ USofA).  Make sure to pull up a slang dictionary of that country, though, otherwise you will always wonder why they put the ‘kettle on the hob’ (and, no, it has nothing to do with short hairy guys with big hairy feet!)

#8   It’s All About ME!
It seems that everyone has written a memoir of one kind or another – or someone wrote about their favorite person.  Read about their life and know that yours is still marvelous, even though you didn’t climb Mt. Everest by the age of 2!

#9   Visit an Old Friend
Do you have one of those books that you tell everyone is your favorite, because of the fond memories you have when you read it eons ago?  Read it again, just to make sure it still is your Favorite!

#10  Look at the pretty pictures!
It seems that Graphic Novels are all the rage.  Check on out and see for yourself! If you have read the original, how did the graphic novel compare?

#11  She made me do it!
You read about the book on another site.  It wasn’t necessarily something that everyone raves about, but this person spoke so well of the book, you just had too! (I know, it’s kind of like #4 – but this one is special, you were moved by the blogger’s recount of the story, you just had to!) Don’t’ forget to mention who made you grab that cookie from the jar!

#12  I couldn’t help myself!
We all do it! We walk through the book store (or even one of those super stores) and it strikes you! You stop in your tracks and you have instant Cover Love! Grab it, buy it, and READ IT! Well, was it worth it?

#13  To be or Not to be…
Time to break in to that section that very few of us fear to tread! Read a play, memorize a poem and analyze it since it’s rolling around in your head!  Give the Bard (whoever she may be!) a chance!

This sounds like a interesting challenge to participate in so I am going to sign up for....

It’s not so bad out here!:  5-7 categories

If you would like to participate then you can sign up here.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Books Read In 2012


BOOKS READ IN 2012

01  -  A Lasting Impression - Tamera Alexandra
02  -  Hannah's Journey - Anna Schmidt
03  - An Amish Christmas - Cynthia Keller
04  -  The Measure Of Katie Calloway - Serena Miller
05  - Jacob's List - Stephanie Grace Whitson
06  - A Man's Heart - Lori Copeland
07  - Night Fever - Diana Palmer
08  - In Bed With The Devil - Susan Mallery
09  - Doctor In Petticoats - Mary Connealy
10  - Wrangler In Petticoats - Mary Connealy
11  -  Sharpshooter In Petticoats - Mary Connealy
12  -  Matchmaker, Matchmaker - Anna Schmidt
13  -  To Win Her Heart - Karen Witemeyer
14  -  Her Best Friend's Wedding - Abby Gaines
15  -  Homespun Bride - Jillian Hart
16  -  Montana Dawn - Caroline Fyffe
17  -  Hidden Summit - Robyn Carr
18  -  Beguiled - Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand
19  -  An Amish Wedding
         A Perfect Secret - Kelly Long
         A Perfect Match - Kathleen Fuller
         A Perfect Plan - Beth Wiseman
20  -  Along Wooded Paths - Tricia Goyer
21  -  Almost Forever - Deborah Raney
22  -  Forever After - Deborah Raney
23  -  A Bride Most Begrduging - Deeanne Gist
24  -  Courting Trouble - Deeanne Gist
25  -  Firefighter Under The Mistletoe - Melissa McClone
26  -  Deep In The Heart Of Trouble - Deanne Gist
27  -  The Best Of Me - Nicholas Sparks
28  -  Where The Wind Blows - Caroline Fyffe
29  -  Home Front - Kristin Hannah
30  -  Sarah's Christmas Miracle - Mary Ellis
31  -  The Choice - Suzanne Woods Fisher
32  -  The Waiting - Suzanne Woods Fisher
33  -  The Search - Suzanne Woods Fisher
34  -  Redwood Bend - Robyn Carr
35  -  Simple Secrets - Nancy Mehl
36  -  Simple Deceit - Nancy Mehl
37  -  Simple Choices - Nancy Mehl
38  -  House of Secrets - Tracie Peterson
39  -  Leaving Yesterday - Karen Kingsbury
40  -  Paradise Valley - Dale Cramer
41  -  The Captive Heart - Dale Cramer
42  -  The Help - Kathryn Stockett
43  -  It Happens Every Spring - Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman
44  -  Summer Breeze - Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman
45  -  Falling For You Again - Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman
46  -  Winter Turns To Spring - Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman
47  -  Barefoot Season - Susan Mallery
48  -  A Life of Joy - Amy Clipston
49  -  The Fiddler - Beverly Lewis
50  -  Seek Me With All Your Heart - Beth Wiseman
51  -  The Wonder Of Your Love - Beth Wiseman
52  -  Love Finds You In Victory Heights - Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
53  -  Sunrise Point - Robyn Carr
54  -  Wanted Perfect Partner - Debbie Macomber
55  -  Beyond Hopes Valley - Tricia Goyer
56  -  The Protector - Shelley Shepard Gray
57  -  The Good Father - Diane Chamberlain
58  -  A Heart Divided - Kathleen Morgan
59  -  The Survivor - Shelley Shepard Gray
60  -  A Town Called Valentine - Emma Cane
61  -  Need You Now - Beth Wiseman
62  -  Murder In Plain Sight - Marta Perry
63  -  Vanish In Plain Sight - Marta Perry
64  -  Attic Treasures
         Grandmas Doll - Wanda Brunstetter
         Fishing For Love - Tammy Shuttlesworth
         This Prairie - Janet Spaeth 
         Seeking The Lost - Pamela Kaye Tracy
65  -  Living With Max - Chloe Maxwell
66  -  Father Of The Bride - Barbara Delinsky
67  -  Missing - Shelley Shepard Gray
68  -  The Search - Shelley Shepard Gray
69  -  Sworn To Silence - Linda Castillo
70  -  Pray For Silence - Linda Castillo
71  -  Breaking Silence - Linda Castillo
72  -  Gone Missing - Linda Castillo
73  -  A Texan's Promise - Shelley Gray
74  -  Almost Amish - Kathryn Cushman
75  -  Love Finds You In Martha's Vineyard - Melody Carlson
76  -  First, Best And Only - Barbara Delinsky
77  -  Distant Shores - Kristin Hannah
78  -  A Place Called Home - Jo Goodman
79  -  The Amish Nanny - Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
80  -  Summer Breeze - Nancy Thayer
81  -  The Inn At Rose Harbor - Debbie Macomber
82  - Julia's Hope - Leisha Kelly
83  - Whispers Down the Lane - Beverly Lewis
84  -  Emma's Gift - Leisha Kelly
85  -  Katies Dream - Leisha Kelly
86  -  Small Change - Sheila Roberts
87  -  Secret In The Willows - Beverly Lewis
88  -  Catch A Falling Star - Beverly Lewis
89  -  Night Of The Fireflies - Beverly Lewis
90  -  A Cry In The Dark - Beverly Lewis
91  -  House Of Secrets - Beverly Lewis
92  -  Echoes In The Wind - Beverly Lewis
93  -  Praying Circles Around Your Children - Mark Batterson
94  -  Hide Behind The Moon - Beverly Lewis
95  -  Windows On The Hill - Beverly Lewis
96  -  Shows Beyond The Gate - Beverly Lewis
97  -  Love Anthony - Lisa Genova
98  -  The Boy Under The Table - Nicole Trope
99  -  The Summer I Dared - Barbara Delinsky
100 - The Bridesmain - Beverly Lewis
101 - Taken - Barbara Freethy
102 - Played - Barbara Freethy
103 - The Christmas Bus - Melody Carlson
104 - Best Friend, Worst Enemy - Beverly Lewis
105 - Double Take - Melody Carlson
106 - The Christmas Dog - Melody Carlson
107 - Friends Forever - Danielle Steel
108 - One Summer - David Baldacci
109 - A Time To Dance - Karen Kingsbury
110 - A Time To Embrace - Karen Kingsbury
111 - Angels At The Table - Debbie Macomber
112 - Redemption - Karen Kingsbury
113 - Remember - Karen Kingsbury
114 - Return - Karen Kingsbury
115 - Rejoice - Karen Kingsbury
116 - Reunion - Karen Kingsbury
117 - The Goodbye Quilt - Susan Wiggs
118 - Twas The Night Before - Jerry B. Jenkins
119 - Lost December - Richard Paul Evans
120 - The Snow Globe - Sheila Roberts
121 - The Christmas Box - Richard Paul Evans
122 - The Gift Of Christmas Present - Melody Carlson
123 - The Goodenoughs Get In Sync - Carol Kranowitz
124 - Sage Creek - Jill Gregory
125 - The Christmas Pony - Melody Carlson