Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Ten on Tuesday





Ten On Tuesday

10 New Year’s Resolutions
1 Lose weight (always the big one)
2 Get organized at my computer desk
3 Be consistant in my Blogging
4 Clean up the back patio
5 Rearrange Living Room
6 Exercise more
7 Work on the Family Genealogy
8 Get a new job (at least a permanent one – been temping since July 2006)
9 Cross stitch more
10 Take more pictures and post them.

2009 YA Challenge





January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 YA Challenge to read 12 YA novels during the challenge period. Anyone is welcome to join - you do not need a blog to participate.

Sign ups and more information are on the post about the challenge.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Winter Reading Challenge 2009




December 21, 2008 - March 20, 2009

Robin from My Two Blessings. is hosting the Winter Reading Challenge.

Robin writes:
December 21st marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. As the days grow shorter and colder, the nights longer, it is a perfect time to curl up by the fire with a hot cup of tea and a good book. I have so many books in my To Be Read pile that I decided to continue on with a seasonal challenge.

The rules are flexible:
1. Choose any number of books you would like to read and post them on your blog.
2. Books may be fiction and/or nonfiction including e-books and audiobooks
3. Books may overlap with other challenges.

To sign up, visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky.

Childhood Favorites Reading Challenge


December 21, 2008 - June 21, 2009

Lynda from Lynda's Book Blog is hosting the Childhood Favourites Challenge. She's given the challenge its own dedicated blog.

Here are the rules:
1. Read a minimum of 5 books which you loved as a child. Anything from Dr.Seuss and Beatrix Potter to Water Scott - you choose your favourites.
2. They must be books you read as a child, not new children's books
3. Cross overs with other challenges, audio books, eBooks all acceptable.


To join and learn more, visit the dedicated blog for the challenge.

Here's my list. I have to check my books at home to complete.

1 Hop on Pop by Dr. Suess
2 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess
3 The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
4 Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5

GIVEAWAY - Brad Meltzer Audio Book Giveaways

Here is another one with Brad Meltzer Audio Books books

The Book of Lies
The Tenth Justice
Dead Even

Book Review - Danger After Dark by Ellie McDonald





Title: Danger After Dark (Creative Girls Club)
Author: Ellie McDonald
Genre: Young Adult
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days, From the Stacks 2008, The Naming Conventions Challenge

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 120
Published: 2007


Bacl Cover:
The abandoned mansion loomed above them in the dark night. Wait! Did she just see a flicker of light coming from a window? Who could be lurking inside the mansion in the middle of the night? Someone looking for the lost treasure on the estate?
Mine:
What a neat story of investigation. These girls know how to figure things out by just thinking.
It was easy for them to find the “hidden treasure” before the many adults that were looking.
Would read more from this series again.

Book Review - Curious George Tadpole Trouble by Margaret Rey





Title: Curious George Tadpole Trouble
Author: Margaret Rey
Genre: Children’s
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days, PB&J Challenge, What An Animal Challenge

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 24
Published: 2007


Inside Cover:
Curious George's friend Bill has put him in charge of several tadpoles. George sends the tadpoles for a nice swim in the lagoon, but to his dismay, the tadpoles don't return! Each time he goes back to the lake he tries to find the tadpoles, but he finds only tadpole-like creatures without tails...and with legs. A trip to the museum teaches George about the development of tadpoles into frogs, and he and Bill are happy to make the acquaintance of their new froggy friends!
Mine:
What a great way to teach about the cycle of life. It doesn’t hurt that is has my favorite animal in it frogs.

This allowed me to finish the What An Animal challenge

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Chick Lit Challenge 2





January 1 - December 31, 2009

Twiga at Books and Life is hosting the second Installation of the Chick Lit Challenge.

The rules are:

1. Read at least 10 chick lit books.
2. Books can overlap with other challenges.
3. You can change your list at any time.

To sign up, visit Twiga and leave her a comment on the post about the challenge.

2009 Second Chances




January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 Seconds Challenge.

The rules are:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need to have a blog to participate.
2. Read 12 books by authors that you have only read once. It doesn't have to be a series.
3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009. Don't start reading until January.
4. You may list your chosen books any time during the year. Change the list if needed.

To read more and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Book Review - I'm Your Santa




Title: I'm Your Santa
Author: Lori Foster, Karen Kelley, Dianne Castell
Genre: Romance
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days, Winter Holiday Reading, From the Stacks 2008

Rating: 5/5
No. of Pages: 304
Published: 2008


Back Cover:
He's making a list, he's checking it twice--and he's hoping you're more naughty than nice. He's your own personal Saint Nick--sans beard, belly, and red suit--and he's coming special delivery in this sizzling collection...

Lori Foster
The Christmas Present
When Beth Monroe catches her fiancé fooling around, she's out for revenge...and the sweetest kind comes courtesy of Levi, the cheater's best friend. But when their one-hour tryst stretches to an entire weekend, holiday cheer takes on a whole new meaning...

Karen Kelley
It's a Wonderful Life
Hollywood hottie Jeremy Hunter needs to get serious about his acting career, and that means Christmas spent researching his upcoming role. But going incognito as a preacher in a tiny Texas town soon brings wicked temptation in the form of beautiful Bailey Tanner...

Dianne Castell
Home for Christmas
A philandering boyfriend plus an empty wallet add up to LuLu Cahill's worst Christmas ever, until she heads home to O'Fallon's Landing and crosses paths with jilted groom Sebastian Moore. Sebastian is determined to go through with his pre-wedding holiday bash. All he needs is LuLu to fill in for the bride

Mine:
Lori Foster
The Christmas Present
Beth can seem to keep her hands off Levi and it’s a good thing, because he certainly seems like a hunk. Good thing she’s getting over her old fiancé.

Karen Kelley
It's a Wonderful Life
Jeremy strolls into a small town in Texas and never wants to leave. He’s studying for a new movie part, but actually the part doesn’t fit him like Bailey does. He does end up winning an Oscar for his part.

Dianne Castell
Home for Christmas
What more could happen to LuLu as she tries to go home and like her wounds and try to earn money for the baby that her ex-boyfriend is going to leave her with. She meets Sebastian and sparks fly…

Book Review - Foul Play by Janet Evanovich





Title: Foul Play
Author: Janet Evanovich
Genre: ChickLit/Romance
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days, Winter Holiday Reading, From the Stacks 2008

Rating: 5/5
No. of Pages: 228
Published: 2008


Inside Cover:
Amy Klasse, who has been playing a clown named Lulu on her own TV show for children, is suddenly fired because the new station manager thinks that a show about a dancing rooster would do better in that time slot. Jake Elliott is the local much-beloved veterinarian, who also just happens to be very handsome and sexy. He sees Amy in a grocery store, and for him, it's love at first sight. He begins a stealthy campaign to get her to the altar. Of course, romance never proceeds smoothly and the upstart rooster goes missing and Amy is accused of being his kidnapper and worse….
Mine:
Amy can’t seem to stay out of trouble with Jake in tow. And it’s all over a rooster that Jake and Amy fall in love. I just love her slap stick romances

Book Review: Froggy Rides a Bike by Jonathan London



Title: Froggy Rides a Bike
Author: Jonathan London
Genre: Children’s
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days, PB&J Challenge, What An Animal Challeng

Rating: 5/5
No. of Pages: 32
Published: 2006


Inside Cover:
Froggy just got his very first bike, and it's exactly what he wanted. Almost. Finishing touches like a bell and a horn have to be added before Froggy is ready to ride. Then, surrounded by cheering friends, Froggy starts to pedal. Oops! He falls off. He tries again. Oops! Riding a bike is hard! After a long day, and a few bumps and bruises, Froggy finally learns to ride—and once he does he can't wait to go again.
Froggy Rides a Bike is a reassuring reminder that practice makes perfect— and it's sure to make kids eager to learn to ride on their own.
Mine:
What an appropriate book for the time. My nephew is getting a bike for Christmas and he will be just like Froggy the first several times and be all wobbly. I guess that is why we are starting him out on training wheels

Reading: Danger After Dark by Ellie McDonald
Listening to:

Sue

Thursday, December 11, 2008

World Citizen Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009


Eva at A Striped Armchair is hosting the World Citizen Challenge. She writes:

There are a ton of challenges focused on almost every aspect of fiction imaginable, but not very many on non-fiction. So, hopefully all of those with ‘inner bookworms’ (as Bybee calls it) guilt-tripping you for not reading enough non-fiction will be interested. And, of course, all of you who love non-fiction should be perking up too!

I struggled with what to call this challenge, but I finally decided on World Citizen. That’s because, in this day and age, it’s important for all of us to know something about the world around us.
Eva has set up several participation levels:

The Prospie Level - This is for those of you with no time to read another book, but who still want to do something. There will be a different mini-challenge each month of the challenge, and all you have to do to be a prospie is say you want to participate in at least one of them. There will be prizes!

The Auditor Level - For this level, you just need to declare your interest in the challenge. Anything else you might want to do: the mini-challenges, making a list of potential books, participating in the discussions, etc. is completely up to you. Maybe you want to commit to reading a newspaper or magazine instead of a book-go for it.

The World Citizenship 101 Level - For this level, you need to commit to one book.
The Minor Level - For this level, you need to commit to three books, from at least two different categories (listed on the post about the challenge).

The Major Level - For this level, you need to commit to five books, from at least three different categories.

The Postgraduate Level - For this level, you need to commit to seven books, including one book from each category.

There is a lot more information on the post about the challenge - and Eva is setting up a dedicated blog as well.

20 Books in 2009






January 1 - December 31, 2009

Lynn is hosting the 20 Books in 2009 Challenge where participants are asked to read a total of 20 books in 2009. The rules are:

• You must create a progress page, which will be updated each time you complete one of your 20 books.
• You can read as many books as you want by an author or in the same series.
• If the book is a re-read, it must be from a year ago.
• If you begin the book in 2008 and finish it in 2009, it does count for this challenge.
• The following do not count: comics, catalogs, manga, journals.
• You must link back to this challenge with one of the buttons provided or one that you make for your own personal use.
• If you intend to participate, leave a comment on the main entry stating so. You will then be added to the participants list.
• Everyone who successfully completes the 20 in 2009 challenge will win a small award graphic to display on their website

To read more and sign up, visit the dedicated blog for the challenge.

Read Your Name Challenge 2009





January 1 - December 31, 2009


Victoria from My 50 Book Challenge is hosting the 2009 Read Your Name Challenge. The rules are:

Using your first name, or blogger name, or your pets name, or even your favorite literary character's name; whichever you like, choose books with first title letters that spell out your name.
Bloggers and non-bloggers alike are free to join. If you do not have a blog and would like to post your reviews/titles that spelled your name somewhere, you may do so at the group blog. Just send Victoria an e-mail (phantombibliophile [at] gmail [dot] com), or leave a comment on the group blog letting her know you'd like to join.
If you have your own blog, go back to the group blog every month and leave a comment containing the link to your challenge page containing the books you've read or each review you've written for books that count for this challenge. (Crossovers with other challenges are okay.)

You may join at any time.

To sign up and learn more, visit the group blog.

Trying to catch Up

I'm trying to catch up so here are my entries for the week.

Mailbox Monday





My winning book Life After Genius which I won from A Novel Menagerie

Tuesday Teaser



Fowl Play by Janet Evanovich (Pg 61)
Everything about her was normal. Normal kitchen table. Normal kitchen light. Normal kitchen clock. She slouched into a chair. “Hmm” she didn’t feel normal. She felt agitated. She needed exercise. The soles of her feet fairly buzzed with the need to move.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Ten on Tuesday





Ten On Tuesday

'10 Favorite Holiday Songs'
Wow this is a hard one – just 10 huh? And I must be an old fuddy duddy, since I like the traditional versions ( It probably doesn’t hurt that they all used to have Christmas specials on TV every year) They are in no particular order
1. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) – Nat King Cole
2. A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
3. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams
4. Little Saint Nick – Beach Boys
5. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland
7. Christmas Time Is Here – Tony Bennett
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Burl Ives
9. There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays – Perry Como
10. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Friday, December 5, 2008

Friday Fill-ins #101



#101
And...here we go!

1. Snow flake.

2. I'm looking forward to holiday shutdown at work.

3. Disneyland is the best vacation spot ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is Magnum PI (Tom Selleck was such a cutie).

5. I'm done with Christmas Shopping.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is watching the excitement in my nephews eyes.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing and stitching, tomorrow my plans include drive through the park with the Christmas lights and Sunday, I want to catch up on the computer!

Mrs. Claus Giveaway



A BookBlogger's Diary

is having a giveaway of Mrs. Claus Explains It All. It looks like a very cute book and I would love to win a copy.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

5 for Favorites - Booking Thru Thursday



Booking Thru Thursday can be found here.

1. Do you have a favorite author? I tend to like cozy mysteries – Laura Childs, Leslie Meier, etc.
2. Have you read everything he or she has written? No not yet
3. Did you LIKE everything? usually
4. How about a least favorite author? I’ll try anyone once, so haven’t really found one I don’t like
5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t? Tolstoy

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Series Challenge Season 3

December 1, 2008 - November 30, 2009 (signed up 12/2/08)

Kathrin at Crazy Cozy Murders is hosting The Series Challenge Season 3.

1. Pick a couple series you already started and now want to finish (meaning, you'll be all up to date with the series when it ends).
2. Read at least 4 books, more are also okay, of course!
3. Post your review of the books on your blog or in the comment section of the post about the challenge, no matter how long. If you post the review on your blog, Kathrin requests that you post a link to the review in the comment section of the post about the challenge so that everyone else can check out your review.

To sign up, use Mr. Linky on the sticky post about the challenge.

The Numbers Challenge 2009




January 1 - August 1, 2009 (signed up 12/2/08)


Callista is once again hosting The Numbers Challenge. Sign ups have started for the 2009 Challenge

Here are the guidelines for 2009:


Read 5 books with numbers in the title.
You can choose up to three that are on lists for other challenges. So two of the choices must not be on any list.
You can re-read books but all books must NOT be read until January 1, 2009.
To learn more and to sign up (or join the blog), visit the post about the 2009 Numbers Challenge which is located on the dedicated blog for this challenge.

2009 Audiobook Challenge





January 1 - December 31, 2009 (signed up 12/2/08)

J. Kaye is hosting the 2009 Audiobook Challenge which encourages participants to listen to books. The guidelines are:
• Do not start the challenge prior to January 1st - although sign ups begin now.
• Listen to 12 books.
• You do not need to make a list ahead of time; lists can change at any time.
For sign ups, visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky to link directly to your post about the challenge.