Blogger Ramblings: The Fun of Reading Challenges...

This year, I have participated in multiple reading challenges, and still have several running. I've had an absolutely blast. I never really thought about how fun it is to have an ultimate goal, whether it be reading everything on a list, or trying to out-read someone else. So, since it's been a while since you've heard me ramble, I think I will talk on the challenges I've done this year.

SWON Teen Reading Challenge (February - April) - This is a library thing, and one I have participated in several years running. The goal? To read as many Teen/YA books as possible to get a better idea of books to suggest to interested readers, reluctant readers, etc. What I also enjoy about this challenge is that it doesn't just have to be YA books, it can also be adult books that are of interest to, and appropriate for, teens. Even better? Our library team is competing against other libraries - and boy, oh boy, can it get crazy.
       How many books I read for it: 87!

Library Staff Summer Reading Club (June 1 - August 15) - Another library challenge. This time, it was our library's different branches competing against one another for bragging rights (also for a pizza/food party, which is almost as important). This is a yearly thing that started two years ago. Anything YA or Adult counts, and we're terrible about goading each other on... Not to mention finding short cuts.
      How many books I read for it: 104!


Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge (All year) - This is something a bunch of library staffers found at the beginning of the year, and we jumped on it. We all work at the library because we love books and reading, and this Popsugar challenge got us reading out of our comfort zones. Though really, a lot of what I would have read anyways ended up counting, and I definitely had stuff I read for the above two challenges also count for this one. The full list of qualifications are HERE. I would definitely do it again next year if there is a different set of requirements.
      How many books I've read for it: 49! Only three more to go - and three months left to do it!

Goodreads 2015 Reading Challenge (All year) - This is my fourth year participating, and I'm amazing how I continue to beat my previous year's record each time! Though I'll admit, I aim low near the beginning of the year, and keep moving it up as I near my goal. I originally set this year's goal at 300, and now it's up to 400! Admittedly, some of these books are juvenile books, short stories, and such, so I'm sure the number of actual adult/YA books is a little lower..
      How many books I've read for it (so far): 380!

So I've read all these books (and more!), yet you don't see the reviews here. Why, you may ask? Because I really only review things I have been sent to review on this blog. If you want to know my honest opinion about everything I read, find me on Goodreads via the follow link on the side of this blog. My GR reviews are short and sweet, and I read a wide variety of things.

Lastly... it's not a reading challenge, but...

I found a list of books while browsing around one day, and realized I was very intrigued. After further investigation, I realized it was a Buzzfeed list of 27 books that will get you hot and bothered (find the list HERE). Sure, some of the books on there are definitely sexy, but I've found more than a few of them to be more emotional roller coasters than just all sexytimes.

But I was interested enough to make this my personal reading challenge. I want to read all the books on this list. I'm not setting an end date, just planning to work through them as I can. But I already discovered some amazing books through this list, and authors I have never heard of before.

   Examples!: "Archer's Voice" by Mia Sheridan, and "The Bride" by Julie Garwood. Okay, so I had heard of Garwood before, but I never would have picked up this book had it not been on the list - but it was absolutely fantastic.

I didn't find the list that long ago, so I've only done 7 of the 27 listed. But I will get there eventually. Slowly but surely!

So that's it for me today. What types of reading challenges have you done? Do you like being taken out of your reading comfort zone now and again?

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Whatcha Got Wednesday!

Aha! Another edition of Whatcha Got Wednesday! This is where I post about all the cool books I've gotten in the past week to read for fun, or to review. And I invite you all to comment and tell me your thoughts. Have you read any of these? What are your thoughts? Are you on the fence about buying one of them? Or maybe you just like the pretty covers.. Me too. =) So let's get right into it...

BOUGHT!
"The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa - Everyone raves about these.. and I had a gift card, so I figured I'd try them out! Or at least the first..
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins - LOVE this series. Bought this to make my Mom read it.
"Personal Demons" by Lisa Desrochers - There are wings on the cover. WINGS.
"Cowgirl Up and Ride" by Lorelei James - I've said it before, I LOVE this author. Now that I've read through most of her Rough Rides series, I'm working my way towards owning them all.
"The Countess" by Lynsay Sands - Another author I love. Whether it be her vampires or her historicals, she writes great, witty stories.
"The Fallen: Raziel" by Kristina Douglas - WINGS, I tell you!
"Ascension" by Caris Roane - If you don't know why by now...
"Bloodfever" by Karen Marie Moning - I already own book one, and everyone tells me I'm going to LOVE this series.. so I figured if it's that good, I better have the second book on hand.


TO REVIEW (For Romance Reviews Today)
"Halfway Hexed" by Kimberly Frost - Not an author I've read before, I'm a little excited
"Tainted by Temptation" by Katy Madison - Same. I do so love temptation. =)

That's it for me this week! But I think that's enough, right? Expect to see reviews of these books in the future, and please, please, please go enter my contest for FIVE copies of "Spiral X" - link in the upper righthand sidebar!

Did you get any cool goodies this week? Or is there anything coming out soon that you are totes excited about? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Whatcha Got Wednesday (Nothing edition!)

Well, I already admitted I didn't get anything since last Wednesday (though I'm hoping I'll get a nice package today!), so I bet you assumed this would be a short post. Got ya, it won't be! Because today I'm taking time to talk about all the books I have to read that are sitting in my TBR pile (or in some cases, a metaphorical TBR pile since they're ebooks). These are books that I want to read soooo much, but with due dates and time crunches, I can't get the reviews posted yet, or I haven't finished the book yet. So I'm going to give them a little free publicity until their time rolls around.

First up "Dark Diary II: The First" by Dawne Dominique. I cannot tell you how much I want to read this book. I read the first one, and really enjoyed it, and now I want to see how the second one compares, and where the story is going. Book one, "Eden's Hell I: The First," ended in a very intriguing way, not a cliffhanger, but it left some open-ended questions. This book is on my ebook reader, and I'm practically itchy with my desire to skip ahead in my TBR list and read it.

Next: "Toil and Trouble" by HP Mallory. A great gal, and a great series! I got book one to review, and she sent me a coupon for book two upon it's release. I want to know what happens to Rand, Sinjin, Jolie, and crew!

Thirdly: "The Mind Readers" by Lori Brighton. I got to read the first half of the book before it was released, and it was getting really good, I can't wait to see how it ends, or how it changed since then. This is author Lori Brighton's foray into the YA world, and it seemed to me that she was doing a pretty good job. I also have her historical romance "Wild Heart" to read. Another instance I wish I could just skip out on work and real life for a few days to just catch up.

Fourthly.. or Fifthly: "Lost Hero" and "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan. I loved loved loved the Percy Jackson series, and I know he won't disappoint with these two books. And despite knowing they will be quick reads, I still don't really have the free time to just pick them up and go, despite already owning them.

Last (for now): "Crave" by JR Ward. Not to mention her entire Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I haven't read them, can you believe it?? And as much as I want to, and even own almost all of them (I'm missing one of the later ones), I still haven't managed.

Fingers crossed that I can get to these books soon. I've been so eager to read them all, and I think it's so unfair and mean of me that I keep having to push them back.

Bah!

Anyways, I think that's enough for now. Until tomorrow, folks!
~!~ Amanda, aka Morning Glow ~!~

My TBR pile is growing!

Just a quick update post to show you all that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, and that there will be plenty of reviews coming to keep you all entertained. The books in my TBR pile, which is growing by the day, will all be reviewed, and you can expect one by tomorrow night, I promise!

Curious about what's coming up? Here we go!
"Soul Catcher" by Leigh Bridger (aka Deborah Smith)
"Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick (my first YA novel to review, yay!)
"Bad Moon Rising" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
"Dead Men's Boots" by Mike Carey
"Seduce Me" by Robyn DeHart
"Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange
and "Four Dukes and a Devil" by Cathy Maxwell, Elaine Fox, Jeaniene Frost, Sophia Nash, and Tracy Anne Warren

There are also a few more books coming my way.. But we'll worry about the ones I have for now, right?

Happy reading, everyone