2012 E-Book Reading Challenge Hosted by Bumps in the Road

From January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012


Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.  Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below. (can be reached by clicking the button up there)

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.

--The "Fun Size" E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.

--The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.

--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.

3. No Audio or Print books.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.

I am going for 

--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.

Being that I finally have an eReader, I can't wait to take part!

Here is my list.

1.  
   

New Author Challenge 2012 Hosted by Literary Escapism

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before, not necessarily ones that are debuting.  They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new.  You never know what you’re going to like until you try it.  If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Challenge pages.  With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.
Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels.  Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  For me, I want to say I’m going to do another 50 new authors, but with two kids, I didn’t made my goal in 2011, so I’m going to be smarter and say 25.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop.  Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.  We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.  Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list.  Introduce us all to whoever you find.  Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

I am going to shoot for 25 since i have almost that many either on my shelves or on my TBR list.  Here is my list.

1.  

2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many novels that feature men in inform as you’d like. It can be a policeman, firefighter, paramedic, doctor, veterinarian,  Army, Navy, Marine Corp., etc. – As long as the leading man wears some sort of uniform, it counts. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• 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 could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:
     Sergeant – Read 1–5 men in uniform novels  
     Lieutenant – Read 6–10 men in uniform novels  
     Captain – Read 11–15 men in uniform novels    
     Chief – Read 16+ men in uniform novels

My List (Just call me Chief)

1.  

2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

I have decided to join in a bunch of reading challenges for 2012. Here be the first of many.....

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• 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 could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:
     Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
     Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
     Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
     I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

Well, I am going to cheat and point you to my Goodreads button for the list of book for this challenge, since reading atleast 16 more books in 2012 than I am reading in 2011 (Cause I wanna be ON FIRE!!) is going to put me close to reading like 275 books, and I'm just too lazy to list them all, TYVM.

Feel free to join me, The Book Vixen and everyone else by clicking on the above icon.

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

  Question of the Week: If you could dress-up a favorite book character for Halloween, who would it be & what would they wear?

 

For my first fashion victims I choose Joe Morelli and Stephanie Plum.  And this is what I would have them wear... Now I'm sure Stephanie would probably hate this look, but I know she'd rock it.

 

   

Next up would be John from the BDB, Roarke from the In Death series, and Julian from the Dark-Hunter series.  And for these gorgeous specimens, I think less might definitely be more...yum.

      

 

  And last, but definitely not least, I leave you these two costumes...    I give you my personal permission to fill these designer wonders with whomever your heart desires. Maybe Jericho or V'lane from the Fever series, hmmm?        Trick or TreatKiwi

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award from Gini Koch

Thanks to the awesome Gini Koch and Team Hook... I have the honor of nominating 5 other bloggers for the above

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award"

  Without further ado... I nominate (in no particular order) Tigris Eden's Garden of Books

 Hanging with Bells Dren's B-Spot
The Book Vixen
Limecello
Because these guys are awesome...and they also give good Tweet...lol. Check it out HERE!! 

Tweetcha Later,Kiwi

“Serendipity."

"Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”  Lawrence Block


She used to be a good girl.......
Faith Harrington, like any other rich girl, was born with the proverbial silver spoon between her lips.  Unlike any other rich girl, her world was torn apart when her father was caught running a Ponzi scheme and she lost it all.  This included her husband, whom she found out only wanted her for her name, and was sleeping with his paralegal.   

He makes them good girls go bad......

Ex-military man and successful weapons software developer Ethan Barron still carries the label "Bad Boy".  No one has plans to forget or forgive him for his part in the scandal that was his reason for leaving town 10 years prior, especially his younger brothers.

Surprise!!  It's A ...... Sister??? 

Both Faith and Ethan have come home to Serendipity, NY, souls wounded, hoping for a chance to start over.  Neither are exactly welcomed home with a parade.  Just when the two of them rekindle their past flame, Ethan is gifted with a foul-mouthed, pot smoking, teenaged half-sister, a product of his traveling salesman father's affair with his secretary.  Now Ethan must team up with his brothers who still hate him, and a gun shy Faith, to save Tess from the same fate that Ethan himself suffered way back when.

Love conquers all.
And in this book, it really does.


Carly Phillips and her books sometimes make my world go round, they really do.  Today was a 2 tequila kinda day, and winding down with Serendipity was exactly what I needed. A bit of Matthew McConaughey never hurts either.

Great start to a new series, and I can't wait to read Destiny when is comes out.

I give it 5 out of 5 *something-or-others* <sigh>  What should I give out people?? Kiwis would be lame.  Fruit salads? Seeds?  How about apples?? Hmmmmm.....maybe pineapples...

G'nite all
Kiwi

Prego.....It's In There.

Or maybe it isn't.

.............................................................

Having trouble coming up with a quirky title for this review.

Just finished reading New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb.  And it was good.  Too good.

Guess I'm having trouble coming up with some quirky things to say as well.  Ok, well......

I found this to be the best In Death book so far by miles.  Miles and miles.  And it's really hard to pinpoint the reason(s).  This one has all the drama, love, death, sex, pain, tears (some were mine), frustration and sweet victory that they all have had, but it is so different.

But why??

Wait.... I think I just came upon it..... It's not what's in there, it's what isn't.  Since this books mostly takes place in Dallas, TX, there's no "New York."  No Peabody, McNab, Feeney.  No Summerset, Mavis, Nadine, Mira.  Hell, there isn't even any Baxter, Trueheart, Louise, Charles, etc. etc. None of Eve's bad driving, vending machine traumas, and candy bar thefts.  None of Roarke's "shenanigans," foreign travel or world domination.  And seriously this list goes on and on.  In short, there is no relief, comic or otherwise.  No shopping trips, no concerts, parties.  You  know, that stuff that usually makes Eve's skin crawl, but ends up doing her a world of good.  And we all love her for it.  But there isn't any time to breathe, for the characters or the readers.  I literally finished this book in hours.  Like 3.5 hours.  Okay, okay, maybe like 4 hours.

But, I don't know that I missed the "New York" in this book.  I don't know that it needs it.  (And there's the light bulb for the blog title.)

I admit I have this freakish habit of making the characters real people in my mind's eye.  And Eve and Roarke are 2 of my most favorite people in there.  So when I had to leave this book just when Eve and Roarke discover the true identity of the partner, it seriously left me in a bad mood.  I had to play mom for a bit and drive the youngest to preschool, then go grocery shopping of all things, and for 2.5 hours all I wanted to do was get home and finish the damn book.  I mean, how dare real life intervene just when the gettin' is good??? :)
Needless to say, I bow down to the greatness that is Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.  I don't have any idea how she can just keep popping them out, book after book, and have them all still be awesome.

So I give this book 5 out of 5 *whatchamacallits*.  (Still working on that rating system.)

Kiwi

PS I know a few people who aren't as into these books as I am.  I think I will suggest they have a go at this one, might change their minds a bit.

And the Winner Is....

                 Lucky #7
                Camille

A great big thanks to all who answered my pleas for comments....you all are the bestest!!! 
Stay tuned for more reviews and possibly more giveaways.  Hey, you never know.

 Maybe now is time for bed.  Or not.
Kiwi