Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

I think I'm going to try level 2: Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books


I had hoped to read 100+ books this year(2010) and am not sure if I'm going to do it. I'm at 73 with not enough time left.

So here I am again trying to read 100 books.

Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge 2011

I'll start with this level: First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels and hopefully read more since he is one of my favorite authors.

I'll copy the whole list from Book Vixen, but I'm not sure which ones I'll read.

List of Nicholas Sparks novels:

The Notebook
Message in a Bottle
A Walk to Remember
The Rescue
A Bend in the Road
Nights in Rodanthe
The Wedding
The Guardian
Three Weeks With My Brother
True Believer (read this first, before At First Sight)
At First Sight (read this after True Believer)
The Choice
Dear John
The Lucky One
The Last Song
Safe Haven

Author Interview - Reflections of Light by Dr. Tiffany Brown

1)If people could take away one thing from your book, what would you want it to be?
Never give up on your goals in life but allow God to revise or tweak them into being aligned with his Will. Every failure is not a nightmare and every opportunity is not a blessing. Some failures can be blessings; some opportunities can be nightmares.

Allow God completely into your heart and watch your life begin to expand in the most amazing ways. I trust God in completely different way than before because I now have a testimony that I never had before. There is nothing like spectacular fall to truly give you a new relationship with God.

2) I love how you have included your life stories onto the pages and you are so relatable; what has been one of your biggest challenges in life and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was bouncing back from my failed mayoral bid that was a disappointment on a professional and emotional level. It was completely humiliating because I was marginalized and misunderstood throughout the campaign. I felt like people didn’t get me; they just stereotyped me.

There were many people that I had supported in the past that didn’t return the favor added to the humiliation. I was very disappointed in people that I had respected and loved in every facet of my life. It definitely changed the way I see the world.

I was able to overcome it all through forgiveness. God forgives us for all our transgressions and I was forced to do the same. All the inspirational stories I wrote are from perspective of a reader; I wrote what I needed to hear at those desperate, heart wrenching times in my life. I wrote to encourage myself and now decided to share it with others.

3) What have you learned about yourself throughout the process of writing your book?I learned not to take things so personally. Most decisions are based on individual personal ambition. Ambition is never right or wrong; it is the inner drive to have something more in your life. But sometimes your ambition can clash with others. You must not take it personally.

I also learned that having just me is enough because of God’s love. I now feel comfortable in my own skin; imperfections in all. I may not be perfect but I am attempting to be a best that I can. And that is enough as long as I try to stay aligned with God.

What Are You Reading Monday? #19

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)


Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)
Cooking Up Murder by Miranda Bliss
Big Girl by Danielle Steel (Audio)

Up Next:
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (audio)


Reviews posted this week:


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Blog Tour - Sybil Baker Guest Blog – Talisman (December 14)
Virtual Blog Tour -Andrewa Nepa Review -Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children's Story about Interracial Adoption (December 18)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Stick It! 99 DIY Duct Tape Projects
The Absent Author by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Bald Bandit by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Canary Caper by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House #2) by Mary Pope Osborne
Eddie Robinson by Denny Dressman
Indiana Caper by Dallas Relaford
Moon River and Me by Andy Williams (audio)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audio) by J.K. Rowling
Disney At Dawn (Kingdom Keepers #2) by Ridley Pearson
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
*Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman
*Corduroy by Dan Freeman
A Fatal Slip (Crime & Clay #3) by Melissa Glazer
Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (Audio)
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
*Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1001 Children’s Books)
Hero At Large by Janet Evanovich
Home: Memoir of my Early Years by Julie Andrews (Audio)
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd(Audio)
The Year Mom Won the Pennant by Matt Christopher (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (audio)
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts


Giveaways on the blog this week:
Harlequin Presents winners to be announce 11/6
Winners:
Desperate Measures by Sara Craven - CherylS22 (mailed 11/8)
Mischief and Marriage by Emma Darcy – Marjorie (mailed 11/8)
No Gentle Seduction by Helen Bianchin - Mystee
Reckless Conduct by Susan Napier - Shanee McFarland (mailed 11/8)

Chick Lit (ends 11/12)
Winners:
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns - Lynda Samayoa
Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich - Emma

Omnimystery News: Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, Ne...

Omnimystery News: Reviews of Mystery and Suspense Books for Kids, Ne...: "Book Trends, a review site for young adult and children books, published several new book reviews this past week. We're presenting here a su..."

Monday Link-ups

What Are You Reading Monday? #18

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)




Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)
Cooking Up Murder by Miranda Bliss
Big Girl by Danielle Steel (Audio)

Up Next:
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (audio)


Reviews posted this week:


Author Guest Posts/Interviews:
Blog Tour - The Reflections of Light for Daily Living: A Book of Affirmations for the Ambitious by Dr. Tiffany Brown Guest Blog (November 16)
Blog Tour - Sybil Baker Guest Blog – Talisman (December 14)
Virtual Blog Tour -Andrewa Nepa Review -Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children's Story about Interracial Adoption (December 18)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Stick It! 99 DIY Duct Tape Projects
The Absent Author by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Bald Bandit by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Canary Caper by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House #2) by Mary Pope Osborne
Eddie Robinson by Denny Dressman
Indiana Caper by Dallas Relaford
Moon River and Me by Andy Williams (audio)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audio) by J.K. Rowling
Disney At Dawn (Kingdom Keepers #2) by Ridley Pearson
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
*Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman
*Corduroy by Dan Freeman
A Fatal Slip (Crime & Clay #3) by Melissa Glazer
Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (Audio)
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
*Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1001 Children’s Books)
Hero At Large by Janet Evanovich
Home: Memoir of my Early Years by Julie Andrews (Audio)
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd(Audio)
The Year Mom Won the Pennant by Matt Christopher (my nephew likes me to read his books sometimes and then we discuss)
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (audio)
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts


Giveaways on the blog this week:
Harlequin Presents winners to be announce 11/6
Winners:
Desperate Measures by Sara Craven - CherylS22 (sent 11/8)
Mischief and Marriage by Emma Darcy - Marjorie (sent 11/8)
No Gentle Seduction by Helen Bianchin - Mystee
Reckless Conduct by Susan Napier - Shanee McFarland (sent 11/8

Chick Lit (ends 11/12)
Winners:
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich

Friday Blog Hop

Freebie Friday - Chick Lit (ends 11/12)

If the preacher's wife's petticoat showed, the ladies would make the talk last a week. But on July 5, 1906, things took a scandalous turn. That was the day E. Rucker Blakeslee, proprietor of the general store and barely three weeks a widower, eloped with Miss Love Simpson -- a woman half his age and, worse yet, a Yankee! On that day, fourteen-year-old Will Tweedy's adventures began and an unimpeachably pious, deliciously irreverent town came to life. Not since To Kill A Mockingbird has a novel so deftly captured the subtle crosscurrents of small-town Southern life. Olive Ann Burns classic bestseller brings to vivid life an era that will never exist again, exploring timeless issues of love, death, coming of age, and the ties that bind families and generations

WINNER
1.Lynda Samayoa



Mysterious and sexy, Maximillian Holt moves into Jamie Swift's life like a steamroller. She's the owner of a small town newspaper and he's a notorious, brilliant billionaire--what could they possibly have in common? Apparently quite a lot, for besides their mutual affection for Max's airhead sister Deedee and his investment in Jamie's struggling business, they share an explosive sexual chemistry. Unfortunately, Jamie's already engaged to be married. But when someone sprays her office with gunfire, only Max can save her. Now she'll have to rely on him to sort out the tangle of embezzlement, mayhem, and attempted murder that threatens her bucolic world of Beaumont, South Carolina. But if they unravel the mysteries and manage to stay alive, is there any hope for a shared future between a cosmopolitan guy committed to tracking down evil and a small-town girl who just wants a normal life?

WINNER
Emma

Thursday Link-ups

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Reading Challenge Update

Perpetual
To Be Continued…Challenge (October 20, 2008 - ???) (40 of 52)
COMPLETED - PB & J Challenge (October 20, 2008 - June 13, 2010) (58 or 52)
101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge(August 31, 2009 - April 8, 2012) (84 of 101)
The Naming Convention Challenge (October 20, 2008 - ???) (5 of 9)
Book Around the States Challenge (October 20, 2008 - ???) (21 of 50)
US Presidents Reading Project (November 5, 2008 - ???) (4 of 44)
Disney Literature Challenge (April 30, 2009 - ???) (1 of ???)
COMPLETED - What an Animal II (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) (15 of 6)
EXPIRED - Cat Sleuth Challenge (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) (0 of 12)
EXPIRED - Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2 (November 1, 2009 - January 31, 2010) (4 of 6)
EXPIRED - Monthly Mixer Mele (November 1, 2009 - November 2, 2010) (19 of 74)
EXPIRED - Four Month Challenge Part 2 (November 1, 2009 - February 28, 2010) (2 of ??)
EXPIRED - Revisit Your Childhood Favorites Challenge 2009/10 (October 2, 2009 - June 30, 2010) (0 of 5)
London 2012 Challenge ( - August 2012) (0 of 202)
EXPIRED - Winter Reading Challenge 2010 (December 1, 2009 - February 28, 2010) (2 of 6)
EXPIRED - Winter Words (December 21, 2009 - March 19, 2010) (1 of 3)
1001 Childrens book Before I Grow Up (June 1, 2010 - ???) (7 of 1001 )

2010 Challenges
Awesome Authors 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (0 of 10)
Read and Review Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (39 of 100)
Read Your Own Books 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (19 of 100)
TBR Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (19 of ???)
Reading From My Shelves Project 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (19 of ???)
COMPLETED - Young Readers Reading Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (15 of 12)2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (44 of 100)
100 + Reading Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (74 of 100+)
The Nancy Drew Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (0 of 56)
Young Adult Reading Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (11 of 25)
Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (6 of ???)
Flashback Reading Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (0 of 3)
YA Through the Decades (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (5 of 8 )
COMPLETED - Romance Reading Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (5 of 5)
COMPLETED - Audio Book Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (22 of 20)
COMPLETED - 1st In A Series (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (4 of 3)
COMPLETED - 2nd Chance Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (3 of 3)
Finish Up the Series Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (0 of 3)
COMPLETED - Romance Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (4 of 3)
Pages Read 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (12061 of 20000)
Every Month is a Holiday - 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (1 of 12)
Short Story Reading Challenge 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (0 of 10)
American Civil War Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (2 of 3)
Contemporary Romance Challenge in 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (4 of 10 )
COMPLETED - Buy One Book and Read It 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (3 of 1)
A to Z challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (26 of 52 )
COMPLETED - What An Animal III Challenge (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (13 of 12 )
Contemporary Romance Challenge in 2010 (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) (4 of 10 )

Wednesday Link-Ups

Blog Hops




GiveAway Links

October 2010 Wrap-up 74 down and 26+ to Go

Books Read and Reviewed(*):

Read:
Moon River and Me by Andy Williams (Audio)
February Friend (Calendar Mysteries #2) by Ron Roy
The Indiana Caper by Dallas Releford
The Absent Author by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House #2) by Mary Pope Osborne
The Bald Bandit by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Canary Caper by Ron Roy (Audio)
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber (Audio)

Reviewed
February Friend (Calendar Mysteries #2) by Ron Roy
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House #1) by Mary Pope Osborne
The Twenty One Balloons by William Pene Du Bois (Audio)
April Adventure by Rob Roy

Tuesday Link-Up

Monday Blog Hops