Thursday, November 27, 2008

Haunted Spouse by Heather Allison


Book Around The States Reading Challenge/Pick a Continent

Haunted Spouse by Heather Allison

3 stars


Elizabeth Wilcox of Elizabeth Wilcox Architects builds the best haunted houses in Dallas Texas. Accordingly October is the busiest time of the year for her. To her surprise she receives a phone call from the most unlikely person, her ex-husband. Jared Rutledge is an architect who thinks if you are not designing buildings worthy of being featured in Architectural Digest then you wasting your talents. His views and constant sarcastic remarks are the reasons why they’re divorced.


So it was a shocked when he told her the reason why he was calling was because he needed help with the haunted house he was building. Once she gets involve she realizes that he hasn’t changed how he feels about what she does. He took on the haunted house project thinking ‘how hard could it be’. Wanting to prove to him how successful she has become despite what he thought she agrees to help him though she knows she really doesn’t have the time. While revising and reconstructing the project the two learn about themselves, the past relationship and what they really want for their future.


As a whole it gave me what most romance novels do. What I didn’t like about the book was how easy she was willing to drop everything to go run to his aid. Though at the end he came to understand how much designing haunted house meant to her, I still felt as though he still looked down on it as a profession. Lastly the book ended with the typical happy ending with the two deciding to have a commuter marriage. It was just too quick, too sappy, and so predictable.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A to Z Challenge 09



A to Z Challenge 09
http://atozchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/07/sign-up-here.html
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

**A, An, The etc does not count. **Ex: (title) "The Most Beautiful" would be listed under the letter "M" not "T"
Option A: Read authors A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option C: Read both authors A to Z and titles A to Z (52 books; this is the challenge Joy created)
Option D: Read internationally A to Z (books representing 26 different countries) (The books could be from international authors (writers from that country); however, it's fine if a book is only set in that country. If need be, instead of countries one could use cities, states, regions, etc. The idea is to use proper place names. If you'd like you could even use a few fictional countries.)
Option E: Read 26 Alphabet books. Embrace your inner child and go visit the children's section!

I am going to try to do options B & D
by Title:
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

by Country:
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

RoRBC's Winter 08 Challenge

RoRBC's Winter 08 Challenge
Reader of Romance Book Challenge (a group on Shelfari) is having a Winter 08 Challenge. You can go to their group to participate.
Then once you have your own post over there, it wouldn't take much put a quick copy and past to post your list here too. We would love to see how you progress during challenge.

Now Here Is RoRBC's Challenge Info
December 1 - February 28

NOW FOR THE LIST...
1. Reader’s Choice Place any book here
2. Book that was read and Reviewed in the Fall Challenge
3. Read a book that has a “D” word in it for December
4. Read a book that has an arranged marriage or Marriage of Convenience (AAR Special Titles could be a big help!)
5. For Valentines Day, read a book that has love, kiss or heart in the title
6. Read a book by Lisa Kleypas
7. A book that makes you think about Christmas
8. A title that has 4 words in it
9. Read a story that has a military or civil servant (firefighter/cop/fbi/clan chief/commander) in it –can be any genre
10. Read a book that has a Viking or Pirate in it!
11. Pick a book that was first published in 2008
12. Read a series (Harlequin or Sillehoutte)
13. Read a book that the author has 3 names (ie Susan Elizabeth Phillips/ Karen Marie Moning)
14. For the New Year-Pick a book that has been in your TBR pile for a long time --Out w/ the old in w/ the new!
15. Read a book that has a “W” word for Winter
**AAR is All About Romance.com

Here's my draft for that challenge
1. Reader’s Choice Place any book here
~~~Daddy Clock by Judy Markey
2. Book that was read and Reviewed in the Fall Challenge
3. Read a book that has a “D” word in it for December

~~~The Diva Diaries by Karen Anders; Detective...Daddy by Jane Toombs; A Most Desirable M.D. by Anne Marie Winston
4. Read a book that has an arranged marriage or Marriage of Convenience (AAR Special Titles could be a big help!)
~~~Marriage at His Convenience by Jacqueline Baird; The Marriage Scheme by Kathleen Elliott; Unwanted Wife by Rachel Lindsay
5. For Valentines Day, read a book that has love, kiss or heart in the title
~~~Love at First Sight by B.J. Daniels; Stolen Kisses by Julie Kenner; Love Match by Maggie MacKeener
6. Read a book by Lisa Kleypas
7. A book that makes you think about Christmas
~~~The Billionaire Who Brought Christmas by Barbara Dunlop; The Boss's Christmas Baby by Trish Morey; Christmas in His Royal Bed by Heidi Betts; Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly
8. A title that has 4 words in it
~~~The Devil To Payby ; The Billionaire's Captive Bride by Emma Darcy; The Executive's Surpise Baby by Catherine Mann
9. Read a story that has a military or civil servant (firefighter/cop/fbi/clan chief/commander) in it –can be any genre
~~~Cop and Calamity Jane by Elane Osborn; Detective Daddy
10. Read a book that has a Viking or Pirate in it!
11. Pick a book that was first published in 2008
12. Read a series (Harlequin or Sillehoutte)

~~~If The Slipper Fits by Elizabeth Harbison
13. Read a book that the author has 3 names (ie Susan Elizabeth Phillips/ Karen Marie Moning)
~~~Sleeping Arrangements by Amy Jo Cousins; Whose Baby by Janice Kay Johnson
14. For the New Year-Pick a book that has been in your TBR pile for a long time --Out w/ the old in w/ the new!
15. Read a book that has a “W” word for Winter

~~~Wrong Kind of Man by Hammond

What's In a Name - 2 Challenge



What's In a Name - 2 Challenge
For more information go to:
http://whatsinaname-2.blogspot.com/2008/10/welcome.html
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

Dates: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009
The Challenge:
Choose one book from each of the following categories.
1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian
2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time
4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness
5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower
6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

*You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category.

My draft for this challenge
1) A Most Desirable M.D. Cop and Calamity Jane Detective...Daddy Lifeguard Spy
2)Eleventh Hour Fright Night Heat of the Night Morning Noon & Night All Night Long
3)My Husband My Baby The Calhouns Daddy Unknown
4)Bright Eyes, In Over His Head
5)Hospital Vineyard
6)

The Winter Holiday Reading Challenge

The Winter Holiday Reading Challenge
will last from November 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009.http://bookinhand.blogspot.com/2008/10/winter-holiday-reading-challenge.html
The theme for this challenge is Winter Holidays. The books that you choose to read must have a storyline that includes celebrating a winter holiday, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, etc. (However, the holidays are not limited to just these examples.)
You choose the number of books you wish to read.

My List:

5 POINT TASKS

3. If The Slipper Fits by Elizabeth Harbison

8. The Boss's Christmas Baby by Trish Morey

25 POINT TASKS

2.Sweetpea's Secret

Final Score
35 points

What an Animal Reading Challenge



What an Animal Reading Challenge

I found this challenge on one of the blogs I keep a tab on and found it interesting so I signed to join in.. this is the link and the rules ..
http://passionforthepage.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-animal-reading-challenge.html

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

The rules are simple:
1. Read at least 6 books that have any of these requirements:a. an animal in the title of the bookb. an animal on the cover of the bookc. an animal that plays a major role in the bookd. a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like ;])).
2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea...
3. Challenge runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. You can still sign up after July 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by June 30th ;]).
4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.
5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.
6. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).
7. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.

The Olympic Challenge: London 2012



The Olympic Challenge: London 2012 http://katrinasreads.blogspot.com/2008/09/olympic-challenge-london-2012.html http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about Here's the rules for the challenge This is a challenge is through Bookcrossing. There's no prizes etc, its just a chance to challenge yourself and broadern your reading and knowledge of the world. The goal is to read one author's work from the 202 participating countries. The only requirement is the author must be a citizen of that country (or was if deceased). Aim to complete it by the winter olympics or London 2012 To find a list of countries go to http://katrinasreads.blogspot.com/2008/09/olympic-challenge-london-2012.html

ANOCA AFRICA ALG Algeria ANG Angola BEN Benin BOT Botswana BUR Burkina Faso BDI Burundi CMR Cameroon CPV Cape Verde CAF Central African Republic CHA Chad COM Comoros CGO Congo CIV Côte d'Ivoire COD Democratic Republic of the Congo DJI Djibouti

EGY Egypt GEQ Equatorial Guinea ERI Eritrea ETH Ethiopia GAB Gabon GAM Gambia GHA Ghana GUI Guinea GBS Guinea-Bissau KEN Kenya LES Lesotho LBR Liberia LBA Libyan Arab Jamahiriya MAD Madagascar MAW Malawi MLI Mali MTN Mauritania MRI Mauritius MAR Morocco MOZ Mozambique NAM Namibia NIG Niger NGR Nigeria RWA Rwanda STP Sao Tome and Principe SEN Senegal SEY Seychelles SLE Sierra Leone SOM Somalia RSA South Africa SUD Sudan SWZ Swaziland TOG Togo TUN Tunisia UGA Uganda TAN United Republic of Tanzania ZAM Zambia ZIM Zimbabwe ONOC OCEANA ASA American Samoa AUS Australia COK Cook Islands FSM Federated States of Micronesia FIJ Fiji GUM Guam KIR Kiribati MHL Marshall Islands NRU Nauru NZL New Zealand PLW Palau PNG Papua New Guinea SAM Samoa SOL Solomon Islands TGA Tonga TUV Tuvalu VAN Vanuatu OCA ASIA AFG Afghanistan BRN Bahrain BAN Bangladesh BHU Bhutan BRU Brunei Darussalam CAM Cambodia TPE Chinese Taipei PRK Democratic People's Republic of Korea HKG Hong-Kong IND India INA Indonesia IRQ Iraq IRI Islamic Republic of Iran JPN Japan

JOR Jordan KAZ Kazakhstan KOR Korea KUW Kuwait KGZ Kyrgyzstan LAO Lao People's Democratic Republic LIB Lebanon MAS Malaysia MDV Maldives MGL Mongolia NEP Nepal PAK Pakistan PLE Palestine CHN People's Republic of China PHI Philippines QAT Qatar KSA Saudi Arabia SIN Singapore SRI Sri Lanka SYR Syrian Arab Republic TJK Tadjikistan THA Thailand TLS Timor-Leste TKM Turkmenistan UAE United Arab Emirates UZB Uzbekistan VIE Viet Nam YEM Yemen EOC EUROPE ALB Albania AND Andorra ARM Armenia AUT Austria AZE Azerbaijan BLR Belarus BEL Belgium BIH Bosnia and Herzegovina BUL Bulgaria CRO Croatia CYP Cyprus CZE Czech Republic Metamorphosis, Kafka DEN Denmark EST Estonia FIN Finland MKD Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia FRA France GEO Georgia GER Germany GBR Great Britain - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 02/02/2011 GRE Greece HUN Hungary ISL Iceland IRL Ireland ISR Israel ITA Italy LAT Latvia LIE Liechtenstein LTU Lithuania LUX Luxembourg MLT Malta MNE Montenegro NED Netherlands NOR Norway POL Poland POR Portugal MDA Republic of Moldova ROM Romania RUS Russian Federation SMR San Marino SRB Serbia SVK Slovakia SLO Slovenia ESP Spain SWE Sweden SUI Switzerland TUR Turkey UKR Ukraine PASO AMERICA ANT Antigua and Barbuda ARG Argentina ARU Aruba BAH Bahamas BAR Barbados BIZ Belize BER Bermuda BOL Bolivia BRA Brazil The Valkyries, Coelho (12/09/08) IVB British Virgin Islands CAN Canada CAY Cayman Islands CHI Chile COL Colombia CRC Costa Rica CUB Cuba DMA Dominica DOM Dominican Rhythm Republic ECU Ecuador ESA El Salvador GRN Grenada GUA Guatemala GUY Guyana HAI Haiti HON Honduras JAM Jamaica MEX Mexico AHO Netherlands Antilles NCA Nicaragua PAN Panama - Wild Fire by Christine Feehan 04/14/2011 PAR Paraguay PER Peru PUR Puerto Rico SKN Saint Kitts and Nevis LCA Saint Lucia VIN Saint Vincent and the Grenadines SUR Suriname TRI Trinidad and Tobago USA United States of America - Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz URU Uruguay VEN Venezuela ISV Virgin Islands

Pick A Continent Reading Challenge

Pick A Continent Reading Challenge

I got the idea for this challenge from http://tukopamoja.wordpress.com/africa-reading-challenge/orginally called African Reading Challenge

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

Here is how the orginal rules worked Africa Reading Challenge.
Participants commit to read - in the course of 2008 - six books that either were written by African writers, take place in Africa, or deal significantly with Africans and African issues. (Read more if you like!)
You can read whatever you want, but of the six books, I recommend a mixture of genres. For example, you might select books from each of the following:
Fiction (novels, short stories, poetry, drama) Memoir / autobiography History and current events I also recommend reading books from at least 3 different countries.
Rules for this site:
Set your own start date and your end date will be one year later.Pick Any Continent then follow the rules above rules replacing Africa with your chosen continent
The Seven Continents are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

My list:

Asia
Africa
North America

United States of America
South America
Antarctica
Europe
Australia

***

Round the World Passage

Round the World Passage

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

This idea is a combination of the 7 continents / Olympic challenges and Round the World Tickets (real tickets you can purchase to travel round the world).

Read a book (or more if you’d like to) that is located in certain city / country or by an author of that city / country. You decide which city / country you’d like to ‘visit’ however the following conditions (similar to the RTW ticket’s) apply:
1. Maximum Mileage: 40,000 miles* (Unlimited stops – see how generous I am) with a minimum of 20,000 miles (5 stops)
2. The start and end of the journey have to be located in the same country
3. Choose a direction you’d like to take (East or West only) mainly when jumping continents, you can go north & south when you're within a continent
4. One crossing each of the Atlantic and Pacific must be included in the itinerary (but only one crossing allowed over each oceans)
5. Try not to backtrack within a continent - I know this was really hard
*To help you in calculating your mileage, the below site may be useful:http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm
I haven't set any dates because I think it should be flexible (at least for the first time around anyway, who knows if people enjoy it, I'll put it up again next year with a more strict time frame)

My list will be posted soon!

Debut Novel Challenge

Debut Novel Challenge

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

This is idea was sent to me by member Paula S. I have added to it so that you can choose to do one of the two or both.

You can overlap books with other challenges.

Jan 1 09 - June 30 09
Options
A: choose a genreread 6 debut novels from authors in that genre
Jan 1 09 - Dec 31 09Option
B: (this one will take some time and is really a challenge!)read a debut novel of any 12 authors but they have to be from at least 4 different genres two of those have to be Mystery fiction and Fable, Fairy tale, or Folklore
use of Shelfari tags are permissible in determining what genre your book falls into
*sub-genres are allowed

For a list of the different type of literary genres go to the following link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_genre#List_of_literary_genres

My list will be posted soon!

Serial Readers Challenge 2009



Serial Readers Challenge 2009

It’s really simple! And for the purpose of this challenge a series is defined as at least 3 related books. I typically read romance but for this challenge any genre is welcome. So this can be done in conjunction with any other challenge. AllAboutRomance.com and Fantasticfiction.com are good resources for finding series!

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

1. Read books in series/trilogies/related by author. (Julie Garwood’s Lion’s Lady, Castles, The Gift are related.) For a series to count you must read each one during this calendar year. (Rereads and audio books welcome!) If you started a series previously only the titles read after 01/01/09 will count for this challenge. In a perfect world we would all start and finish each book series after 01/01/09.
2. The Challenge will begin January 1st and last until December 31st 2009.
3. Post your list on your blog and link it back to this post: (http://justyouraveragecarpoolqueen.blogspot.com/2008/11/serial-readers-challenge-2009-as-many.html)Please comment to this post when your link is up. Your list is not something, you need to decide in advance. Please add as you go!
4. Please rate and review each title on your blog or in this discussion. When you do so, please label it SRC or Serial Readers Challenge so we can all read your reviews and maybe be inspired to try a new series for ourselves.
5. There will be prizes! Woo Hoo! Some of the prizes may be simple online trophies, and some will be book give-aways. (Titles to be determined) Prizes will be given for most books read, most # series read, most pages read, and some maybe at random! (my favorite kind!! Yay!)
6. To wrap up the challenge next winter, comment to this post linking your wrap-up post by December 31! Prizes will be awarded January 2010!

My list will be posted soon!

In their Shoes Reading Challenge



In their Shoes Reading Challenge


January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009


http://shoesreading.blogspot.com/
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about


The rules:
Pick the number of books that you want to read. Pick the books you read.
They just have to be either a memoir, autobiography, or biography.
A memoir is a book dealing with a specific period in the author's life. A biography deals with another person's life from birth to death and an autobiography is written by someone that deals with their life from birth until near-death.
You can cross challenge books from other challenges with this one and you can also re-read books.
(original time frame was Jan08 to Dec08)

My list will be posted soon!

TBR Reading Challenge

TBR Reading Challenge

http://tbrchallenge.blogspot.com/2007/12/round-2-in-2008-its-here.html
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

** Pick 12 books - one for each month of 2009 - that you've been wanting to read (that have been on your "To Be Read" list) for 6 months or longer, but haven't gotten around to.
** OPTIONAL: Create a list of 12 "Alternates" (books you could substitute for your challenge books, given that a particular one doesn't grab you at the time)
** Then, starting January 1, 2009, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31, 2009. :o)
(orginal time frame was Jan08 to Dec08)

This will be easy since most of my tbr has been six months or longer. This will definitely overlap with other challenges.

My list will be posted soon!

999 Reading Challenge

999 Reading Challenge


http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/999-challenge.html

http://the999challenge.blogspot.com/

http://www.librarything.com/groups/999challenge#forums

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

The Rules
1. Challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2009.
2. Choose 9 categories of your own that you would like to read 9 books EACH in.
3. You will be allowed 9 overlaps, for a total of 72 unique book titles.
4. You may overlap these 72 titles with any other challenge.
5. You may change your list or your categories at any time

My list

1) Has a number in its title

  • 16 Lighthouse Road
  • 204 Rosewood Lane
  • Just 4 Play
  • Second Chance
  • 3 Wishes
  • Sex on the 2nd Floor
  • Love on a Two Way Street
  • 5 minutes and 42 seconds
  • Five Days In Paris

2) Romance

  • Only You
  • 3 Wishes
  • The Billionaire who Brought Christmas
  • The Perfect Man
  • Hummingbird
  • Love Killers
  • The Duke
  • The Secrets of the Heart
  • Heart of the Sea

3) Paranormal

  • Wild Rain
  • The Secret Circle
  • Spellbound in Seattle

4) Urban/Street Lit

  • Candy Licker
  • Thong on Fire
  • The Sisters of APF
  • Little Ghetto Girl
  • Street Vengeance
  • Thug Matrimony
  • Drama Queen
  • Sweet Pea
  • Baby Momma Drama

5) Memoirs/Bios/Autobios

6) Crime Fiction/Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers

  • Scorpia
  • 4 Blind Mice
  • Metro Girl
  • The Concrete Blonde
  • The Cradle Will Fall
  • Point Blank
  • Eleventh Hour
  • Double Take
  • Jinxed

7) Has the word baby or child in its title

  • Baby Love
  • My Husband, My Babies
  • Nathian's Child
  • The Boss's Christmas Baby
  • The Executive's Surprise Baby
  • The Pastor's Baby Momma
  • Whose Baby?
  • Baby Momma Drama
  • Expecting His Royal Baby

8) Has an animal in its title

  • Black Sheep Billionaire
  • 4 Blind Mice
  • Hood Rat
  • Hummingbird
  • In Sheep's Clothing
  • Eyes of the Dragon
  • Stork Alert
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
  • Tame A Wild Stallion

9) Has a royal title in its title

  • Drama Queen
  • The Duke
  • The Countess
  • The Last Princess
  • The Princess Bride
  • Taming the Prince
  • Always a Knight
  • Princess Sister
  • Protecting the Princess

The Themed Reading Challenge

  • The Themed Reading Challenge
http://www.caribousmom.com/2008/11/16/themed-reading-challenge-2009-info-sign-ups/

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

The Themed Reading Challenge is a six month challenge designed to help readers clear books from their to-be-read stacks which center around a common theme or themes.

Here are the “rules”:

  • Books should be chosen from the reader’s TBR pile (this may be an actual physical pile or a virtual pile).
  • The goal is to read 4 to 6 books linked by theme.
  • Overlaps with other challenges are allowed.
  • Readers may change their list of books at any time.
  • Readers may choose three different levels of participation:
  • Read at least 4 books with the same theme.
  • Read at least 5 books that share at least TWO themes.
  • Read at least 6 books that share MORE than two themes.

Themes can be geographic, genre, author, subject matter, or anything in between!
Last year’s themes were wonderfully creative and varied and included such things as: books about books, books set in New England, books with a color in the title, books about vampires, books with the word ‘lady’ in the title, Gothic classics, fairy tales retold for adults, highschool classics, Asian culture, feathered friends, WWII, Canada, books in translation, and Beverly Cleary. There were many others I have not listed here!

I not doing a set timeframe for this challenge.
My list will be posted soon!

Themed Groups

books that make you think of a fairy tale:

  • If The Slipper Fits by Elizabeth Harbison

Enlighten And Better Me Reading Challenge

Enlighten And Better Me Reading Challenge

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

Yes! Another I Love Reading Challenges exclusive.
This challenge is simple. Read 4 Self-Help, Inspirational, or Religious books of your choosing.
Then write a review and/or rate each book you have read including what if anything you have learned about yourself after reading the book.

Challenge runs from Jan 1 09 and Dec 31 09

My list will be posted soon

Freedom Fighters Reading Challenge

Here's another I Love Reading Challenge group exclusive!

Freedom Fighters Reading Challenge

http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about

Nearly every country at some point has had people who were bold and brave enough to stand up and fight for their freedom as well as the freedom of others.
The challenge is to read at least 12 books about 12 different Freedom Fighters.
Challenge runs Jan 1 09 to Dec 31 09
overlapping with other challenges is ok I think this challenge may work well with the 999 Challenge, In Their Shoes, Pick a Continent, Olympic Challenge and Exploration: Latin America and probably others.

My list will be posted soon!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Book Around The States Reading Challenge




Book Around The States Reading Challenge


I got this challenge from http://bookaroundthestates.blogspot.com/2007/07/50-states-of-mind.html


http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about



The United States is a union of 50 states. Let's "book around the states" and find at least one excellent book for each state of the union. The book should help us learn something ABOUT that state and not just be one written by somebody who lives there.


Ex: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is in Alabama


I personalized this challenge so that for me is has no start or end date.


My list will hopefully consist of books where the culture of the state is ingrained in the book. However, I suspect many will be novels that take place in said state. This list will also overlap with other challenges.



  • AL = ALABAMA

  • AK = ALASKA

  • AZ = ARIZONA

  • AR = ARKANSAS

  • CA = CALIFORNIA ***The Cop and Calamity Jane (San Francisco)

  • CO = COLORADO

  • CT = CONNECTICUT

  • DE = DELAWARE

  • FL = FLORIDA

  • GA = GEORGIA

  • HI = HAWAII

  • ID = IDAHO

  • IL = ILLINOIS

  • IN = INDIANA

  • IA = IOWA

  • KS = KANSAS

  • KY = KENTUCKY

  • LA = LOUISIANA ***No Love Lost by Eleanor Woods (New Orleans)

  • ME = MAINE

  • MD = MARYLAND

  • MA = MASSACHUSETTS

  • MI = MICHIGAN

  • MN = MINNESOTA

  • MS = MISSISSIPPI

  • MO = MISSOURI

  • MT = MONTANA ***Love at First Sight by B.J. Daniels (Missoula)

  • NE = NEBRASKA

  • NV = NEVADA

  • NH = NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • NJ = NEW JERSEY

  • NM = NEW MEXICO

  • NY = NEW YORK ***If The Slipper Fits by Elizabeth Harbison

  • NC = NORTH CAROLINA

  • ND = NORTH DAKOTA

  • OH = OHIO

  • OK = OKLAHOMA

  • OR = OREGON

  • PA = PENNSYLVANIA

  • RI = RHODE ISLAND

  • SC = SOUTH CAROLINA

  • SD = SOUTH DAKOTA ***Black Hills by Nora Roberts 01/25/2011

  • TN = TENNESSEE

  • TX = TEXAS ***Haunted Spouse by Heather Allison (Dallas, Houston)

  • UT = UTAH

  • VT = VERMONT

  • VA = VIRGINIA

  • WA = WASHINGTON

  • WV = WEST VIRGINIA

  • WI = WISCONSIN

  • WY = WYOMING

  • DC = DISTRICT of COLUMBIA

So many reading challenges so little time

I love reading challenges. I have so many books I would like to get through, reading challenges make it a fun goal to try to complete. Follow my travels through the wonderful world of books. I have a group at Shelfari.com called I Love Reading Challenges as well as another blog http://www.freewebs.com/worthreading.
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/30828/about
Happy Reading

No Lovel Lost by Eleanor Woods



No Love Lost by Eleanor Woods
my rating 3 stars
It was easier to believe that lightning would strike the same place twice than that Jude Morrow would walk back into Stephanie's life on the eve of her daughter Katie's nineteenth birthday.
Nineteen years ago Stephanie had been a golden-haired girl, so madly in love she'd refused Jude nothing. Then he'd vanished. Boldly she defied her parents, insisted on keeping her baby. All alone, she'd come to New Orleans, met Matthew Lane, married, and established a successful career. Now Matt was dead, Katie was grown, and, without warning, Jude stood before her. Wealthy, powerful, more attractive than she remembered, his presence filled her with desire--and resentful fury. How could she agree--or refuse--to share their daughter? How could she resist him when he took her in his arms, determined to prove that between them the love that was newly found had never been truly lost.
The synopsis basically tells most of it. Stephanie was expecting meet the uncle of her daughter, Katie's fiancee, Eric instead she got a shock when she saw that is was Jude. At first she wanted to break the young couple a part believing that they were cousins but she is shocked for the second time that night by learning that Eric is actually adopted and therefore is of no blood relation to Katie.
Both Stephanie and Jude are bitter about what happened in the past. They soon find out that others namely Stephanie parents conspired to keep them apart. She finds out that he sent her letters. He finds out that her parents disowned her and their child. Use to hating Jude for his abandonment of her during a time when she needed his love she can't easily let go of the gurdge she'd nursing all those years. Jude is determined man and decides that he will have what was so unfairly denied to him years ago. He makes it his mission to have the only woman he ever really loved to himself.
Ratings 1 star=hated it 2 stars=didn't like it 3 stars=good 4 stars=really good 5 stars=loved it
C=Classic DC=Destined to be a classic Fav=one of my favorites
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