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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Monthly Reflections (#24) ~ December

Posted by Melanie on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 with 1 comment
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Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

My goals for December were...

✓Read at least 16 books
✓Read a Q, X, and Y book to finish the A to Z Reading Challenge
✓Read Six Library Books/Audiobooks

Books read:

Favorite Read This Month:

I read a lot of great books this month, but my favorite was Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress, with No One to Trust (Hidden Identity Book #1): A Novel, A December Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella), Variant, and Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) being close behind. 

 Reviews:

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore
Wilderness Peril by Elizabeth Goddard
Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta
Dark Rule by D.I. Telbat
Nightmare City by Andrew Klavan
A December Bride by Denise Hunter
Yuletide Protector by Lisa Mondello
Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of the Pilgrim's Progress by Steven James

Special Posts:

Check out my "Remember 2013" post, "Best of 2013" post, and "2013 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up" post

My thoughts on December:

I'm so glad I was able to complete all of my reading goals for December! I also surpassed my Goodreads' Reading Challenge (I read 175 books in 2013 and my goal was 150).

Looking ahead:

 My goal for January:
  • Finish 14 books

 If you want to do your own Monthly Reflections, feel free to grab the button and post about it on your blog, then leave a comment with the URL - otherwise, please share your thoughts in a comment!

 Now it's your turn! What did you accomplish in December, what do you hope to accomplish in January?
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2013 is drawing to a close...My Wrap-Up Post For 2013 Reading Challenges!

Posted by Melanie on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 with 2 comments
With 2014 being only a few hours away, it's time to post how I did with my reading challenges for 2013. I signed up for 13 and completed 12 of them (the only one I didn't complete was the 50 States Challenge - that one is so tough!).

 Here they are:







☑Level 3: Complete 3 or more series.


1: The Homelanders Series (read books 3 &4) by Andrew Klavan
2: The Everard Legacy (read The Heiress's Homecoming by Regina Scott) by Regina Scott
3: The Dakota Diaries (read Under the Summer Sky) by Lori Copeland
4. Deadly Reunions (read When a Secret Kills) by Lynette Eason
5. Daughters of Fortune (read Duchess) by Susan May Warren
6. Ladies in Waiting (read Roses Have Thorns) by Sandra Byrd
7. The Solitary Tales (read Temptation and Hurt) by Travis Thrasher
8. The 7 Hours Series (read Whole Pieces by Ronie Kendig, All of Our Dreams by James Andrew Wilson, and The Last Night of Alton Webber by Robin Parrish).
9. Avenue of Dreams series (The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow & The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport)
10. The Daughters of Bainbridge House (A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes)
11. Grand Tour Series (Grave Consequences & Glittering Promises)
12. Divergent series (Allegiant) by Veronica Roth

2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

☑The goal is to read 13 romantic suspense novels in ‘13


☑Goal ~ 20 sequels:


20: Under the Summer Sky by Lori Copeland
21. Temptation by Travis Thrasher
22. Desecration by Jennifer Hartz
23. When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason
24. Duchess by Susan May Warren 
25. Storm by Evan Angler
26. Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd
27. Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
28. Whole Pieces by Ronie Kendig
29. Hurt by Travis Thrasher
30. The King by Steven James
31. Talon: Combat Tracking Team by Ronie Kendig
32. All of Our Dreams by James Andrew Wilson
33. The Last Night of Alton Webber by Robin Parrish
34. The Icing on the Cake by Janice Thompson
35. On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin
36. Whispers from the Shadows by Roseanna White
37. Trapped by Irene Hannon
38. The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport
39. Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz
40. SEAL Under Siege by Liz Johnson
41. Stranded by Dani Pettrey
42. Fired Up by Mary Connealy
43. A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes
44. Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay
45. Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren
46. Singularity by Steven James
47. A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano
48. A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano
49. Silent Night: A Rock Harbor Christmas Novella by Colleen Coble
50. Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher
51. Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher
52. Dark Rule (COIL #3) by D.I. Telbat
53. Allegiant by Veronica Roth


☑Level 3: DVD - 25 eBooks

27. A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer
28. All of Our Dreams by James Andrew Wilson
29. The Last Night of Alton Webber by Robin Parrish
30. Mistaken: First Impressions Are Never What They Seem by Karen Barnett
31. A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
32. Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
33. Bleeding Heart by Amber Stokes
34. The Remains by Vincent Zandri
35. Shiver (Prowl Trilogy, 0.5) by Amber Garza
36. Strangers in the Night by Patricia H. Rushford
37. Sweet Forever by Ramona K. Cecil
38. Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden
39. The Key on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson
40. The Soul of the Rose by Ruth Trippy
41. Waiting for Dawn: A Team Hope Novella (Team Hope .5) by Susan May Warren
42. Hook, Line And Sinker: A Deep Haven Novella by Susan May Warren
43. How Should I Live in This World? by R.C. Sproul
44. Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson
45. Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay
46. When the Clouds Roll By by Myra Johnson
47. Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman
48. Silent Night: A Rock Harbor Christmas Novella by Colleen Coble
49. Holy Night: An Aloha Reef Christmas Novella by Colleen Coble
50. For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
51. The Transfer (Divergent 0.1) by Veronica Roth
52. MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire by Debra Driza
53. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story by Veronica Roth
54. Dark Rule (COIL #3) by D.I. Telbat
55. A December Bride by Denise Hunter
56. The X-Mas Tree by Tess Marset



☑Level 5: Ancient History -25+ books. 

25: A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, & Mary Connealy
26. Small Town Girl by Ann H. Gabhart
27. A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer
28. Breathe by Lisa T. Bergren
29. Mistaken: First Impressions Are Never What They Seem by Karen Barnett
30. A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
31. Bleeding Heart by Amber Stokes
32. Merlin's Blade by Robert Treskillard
33. Strangers in the Night by Patricia H. Rushford
34. Sweet Forever by Ramona K. Cecil
35. On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin
36. Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden
37. Whispers from the Shadows by Roseanna White
38. Vanishing Act by Jennifer AlLee & Lisa Karon Richardson
39. The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport
40. Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz
41. The Key on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson
42. Fired Up by Mary Connealy
43. The Courting Campaign by Regina Scott
44. The Soul of the Rose by Ruth Trippy
45. Under a Blackberry Moon by Serena B. Miller 
46. Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley
47. A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes
48. Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay
49. Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren
50. When the Clouds Roll By by Myra Johnson
51. A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano
52. A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano
53. A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano
54. Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher
55. Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher
56. Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher
57. For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
58. Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

Book Obsessed
✗Visit the signup page here.

Alabama:
Connecticut:
Delaware:
Iowa:
Kansas: 
New Hampshire:
New Jersey:
New Mexico:
Oklahoma: 
South Dakota:
Utah: 
West Virginia:
Wisconsin:


Visit the signup page here.

☑Level two: Lady in Waiting: 4-6 books.
6: Golden (Once Upon A Time Fairytales) by Cameron Dokey
Visit the signup page here.

☑Level two: Vacationer: visit 10 countries

6: Austria / Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren
7. Italy / Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren
8. Barbados / Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall
9. Belgium / Duchess by Susan May Warren 
10. Germany / A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund
11. Sweden / Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd
12. Afghanistan / Whole Pieces by Ronie Kendig
13. Ireland / There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
14. India / The King by Steven James
15. Djibouti / Talon: Combat Tracking Team by Ronie Kendig
16. Russia / Talon: Combat Tracking Team by Ronie Kendig
17. Lybania / SEAL Under Siege by Liz Johnson
18. Turkey / Waiting for Dawn: A Team Hope Novella (Team Hope .5) by Susan May Warren
19. Philippines / Singularity by Steven James
20. Cuba / Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher
21. Scotland / For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Goodreads Challenges:



1) A book with a "girl's name" in the title- ie "Anne of Green Gables".

2)A book with a "color"in the title. ie- "The White Flower"

3) A book with a "number" in the title- ie "Three Fatal Blows" 

4) A book with a "one of the trinity" in the title -ie (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit)ie- "When Jesus Wept"

5) A book with a relative in the title(Brother, sister, mother, father) -ie- "This must be my brother"

6) A book with a direction in the title-(ie- up, down, below, above, across)ie- "It's uphill most of the way down".
~ Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel by Melody Carlson


☑Level: Sophomore/wise fool- 5-10

5. What Can I Do with My Guilt? by R.C. Sproul
6. Does Prayer Change Things? by R.C. Sproul
7. The Sacred Search: What If It's Not about Who You Marry, But Why? by Gary Thomas
8. How Should I Live in This World? by R.C. Sproul
9. Ever After: Life Lessons Learned in My Castle of Chaos by Vicki Courtney

☑Level: Young adult - 24 checkouts

5. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
6. Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason
7. A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason
8. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
9. Legend by Marie Lu
10. Entwined by Heather Dixon
11. Misery Loves Company by Rene Gutteridge
12. Matched by Ally Condie
13. The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry
14. A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano
15. The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
16. A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
17. Beastly by Alex Flinn
18. The Transfer (Divergent 0.1) by Veronica Roth
19. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story by Veronica Roth
20. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
21. Variant (Variant #1) by Robison Wells
22. Heart Failure by Richard L. Mabry
23. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
24. Golden (Once Upon A Time Fairytales) by Cameron Dokey

~☃~
While I had fun participating in these challenges, doing so many caused a lot of stress the last few months as I tried to fit certain books into my reading schedule just to complete some of the challenges. That's why, in 2014, I'll only be participating in one year-long reading challenge - 2014 Netgalley Reading Challenge. I've been really tempted the past couple days to sign up for a few others, but I've held back because I know I'll be glad I did later.

So, that's my wrap-up for 2013 Reading Challenges! Did you participate in any challenges? If so, how did you do? Please share in a comment. :)
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