Mystery & Suspense Challenge 2011

This challenge is hosted by Book Chick City here.

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

Now, there are many different sub-genres of mystery and suspense - you can choose from the numerous sub-genres, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or romantic suspense written by the likes of Linda Howard, forensic crime such as those written by Kathy Reichs and even paranormal/supernatural suspense such as Kelley Armstrong. I'm sure this challenge will have something for everyone! :)

To help you figure out and decide, I have updated a sub-genre list - to view this list go HERE.

1. The Sex Club by L.J. Sellers
2. Lethal People by John Locke
3. The Woodcutter by Reginald Hill
4. Trapped by Jack Kilborn (J.A. Konrath)
5. Afraid by Jack Kilborn (J.A. Konrath)
6. The Glass Case: A Short Story by Kristin Hannah
7. Forgotten Soul by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Romance Reading Challenge 2011

Naida @ The Bookworm is hosting this challenge.

The Guidelines:

1. "Romance" isn't limited to steamy Harlequin novels. There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.

Here are a few suggestions:
-anything written by Jane Austen: classics/regency romance
-Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: historical romance
-Nicholas Sparks books: contemporary romance *have box of tissues handy*
-Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding: contemporary romance/humor
-Gena Showalter's books: contemporary romance/paranormal
-The Twilight series By Stephenie Meyer: YA Romance/paranormal
-Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti: contemporary romance
-The Princess Bride by William Goldman: fantasy/romance/humor
-Frederica by Georgette Heyer: regency romance
-Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: time travel romance
-The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss: historical romance
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: gothic romance/classics

Need more suggestions? Visit Best Romance Novels Today, Best Romance Stories and Romance Novels on Wikipedia.

2. Choose at least 5 novels to read. You can change your choices at any time. Crossovers between other challenges are fine.

3. Read them at your own pace in 2011 then post the link to your review(s). 


I'll go with the least number which is 5 and see from there.
My List :

1. Heart of Stone: A Novel (Irish Angel #1) by Jill Marie Landis
2. Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton
3. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. 
5. IOU Sex by Calista Fox

2011 A to Z Challenge

Becky is hosting this challenge here.



January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.

Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.

Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

How strict is the 26 or 52? I know it isn't always easy to find those difficult letters. The thought of finding the X's (for example) might scare folks away. It shouldn't! I'm a merciful host! (Ask anyone!)

If you want to give the X's a go... For authors, try to find an X in the first name, middle name, or last name. For titles, it doesn't have to be the starting word. Try to find an X somewhere in a title, and it'd count in my book.

Still can't find a book for the letter you need? I'll take your word for it. I've been there. I know. If your library doesn't see the need to order books just because it starts with an X, then I don't blame you for not wanting to special order a book that you may or may not enjoy. You gave it your best, don't feel bad. You can still make this challenge work for you.

For ideas on what to read, check out these former challenge sites: year one,year two, year three.

To share what you've been reading--go ahead and fill in the forms from 2010. 

So I'll be going with the "Titles" challenge.. I know I have participated before but never finished it.. That does not mean I won't try again.. And keep trying till I conquer it :)

This will be my list:

A - Magnum Tales ~ A is for Anal by J.M. Hadley

B - Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton

C - Consequences by Lissa Kasey

D - Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris

E - Eating Ice Cream on the Subway by Steve Nugent

F - Forgotten Soul by Natasha Duncan-Drake

G - The Glass Case: A Short Story by Kristin Hannah

H - Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain - Heart Of Stone by Jill Marie Landis

I - IOU Sex by Calista Fox

J - Jailhouse Rock by L.C. Chase

K - Kerri Gets Caught by Nikki Palmer

L - Lethal People by John Locke

M - Male Call by Denise A. Agnew

N - 

O - Overtime by Bad Penny Press

P - 

Q - 

R - Ride A Cock Horse by Severin Rossetti

S - Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern - The Sex Club by L.J. Sellers - Sex Stalker by Darren G. Burton

T - Trapped by Jack Kilborn (J.A. Konrath)

U - Unplugged by Savannah Reardon

V - 

W - Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen - The Woodcutter by Reginald Hill

X - 

Y - 

Z - 

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2011

This challenge is hosted by Yvonne here.


So, here are the rules...

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read 1-6 books
Level 2 - Investigator - Reading 7-12 books
Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books

2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011.

3. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

5. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

NOTE: If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that's fine. You don't have to have a blog, just post in the comments section as you finish books.


6. Take the button above, put it on your blog and post about the challenge. Then add your name to Mr. Linky below...Please use the link of challenge post, not the link to your home page.

Have fun!


I'm planning on going with the Snoop level so I'll try reading 1 to 6 books.. I'll add them as I read them or when I decide what exactly I plan to read.


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Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Yvonne here.


Guidelines:
1) Grab the button on top and put it on your blog and link to this challenge.

2) Sign up with the link below. Please make sure the url you use goes directly to your blog post about this challenge.

3) If you don't have a blog, that's okay. Just comment below that you want to join. Then come back to let us know which books you've read. For those with a blog and posting reviews, I will have a link for completed reviews.

4) Make a list of which books in the series you still have to read. Whether you are just beginning or up to #2, 3, 4, etc...that's how many books you have to read.

5) Books can be in any format (print, ebook, audio) and you can crossover to other challenges.

6) The challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.




I've got the last book in the series to read, plus any other books published in 2011 related to the series
Dead in the Family

Dead Reckoning (comes out in May 2011)

Books Won Challenge 2011

The main link for this challenge could be found here.

Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.

Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.

Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.

Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.

The Rules:

     1. You must write a review for each book that you read for it to count.  If you do not have a blog you can write your reviews on a place like Amazon, Powell's, Chapters, etc.

     2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay.

     3. Audiobooks and ebooks count, as long as you won them. 

     4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level.  

     5. You don't have to make a list ahead of time for this challenge but you can if you want to.

To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge , using Mr. Linky below.  Please leave a comment as well.

Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky.  Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post.  For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).  Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog.  Then please leave a comment. 

Let's have fun!

ARC Reading Challenge 2011

The main link for this challenge could be found here.

Note:  I use the term "ARC" loosely,any book a publisher or author gives you with the expectation that you review it, counts for this challenge.

The Levels

Level Bronze: .a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory b.

b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS  must read and review at least 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS

Level Gold: Read 25 ARCS

Level Platinum: Read 30 or more ARCS

Rules:

• To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge.  Please leave a comment as well.

• You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.

• If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like.  However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.

• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's.

• Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. 

• Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky.  Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post.  For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive
  
  
  Reading by Helen Reader).  Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog.  Then please leave a comment. 

•  HAVE FUN!

I'm not sure how many I will be able to read so I'm leaving it open!
1. The Harlot by Saskia Walker