Bout of Books Read-a-thon (2019)

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 24 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

I'm so excited to sign up and participate in the upcoming Bout of Books Read-a-thon!  This is one of my favorite read-a-thons to participate in, and is a great way to jump start my year of reading in 2019!  I'm not great about participating in the daily challenges per se but I do enjoy the extra push to read, read, read!  

My goals for this read-a-thon are to read at least two books!  I'm going to be working a TON of overtime next week so I can't see myself being able to finish more than that but you never know.  The kids also start back up to school next week so back to the busy schedules we go!  I'm looking forward to it though (I'm weird like that) and also really looking forward to using this read-a-thon to push me to read more!  I'm not sure what I'm planning on reading.  I have a huge stack of books that I would "like" to read this month so I'm sure that I will choose from those and my current library stack.  Here are the two library books that are currently calling my name the loudest though so they are strong possibilities:

I'll keep you posted as I'm sure this will all change (as my reading moods do) by the time the read-a-thon actually begins.  Are any of you planning on participating with the Bout of Books read-a-thon as well?  Let me know so that we can cheer each other on!!

Happy Reading!

Reading Plans 2018 (Bout of Books, 2018 Reading, and Winter's Respite)

The next Bout of Books read-a-thon is coming up and I'm super excited to join in on the fun.  I think that I've participated in this read-a-thon the last three years in a row at least.  It is always a good way to get my reading started off right in the new year!  If you haven't yet had the chance to participate in Bout of Books before now, here are the rules:

 "The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

I would love to finish at least two books for this challenge.  Since I'm writing this post a bit earlier than usual, I'm not really for sure what I plan on reading yet.  These two are definite possibilities though as I'm hoping to read both of them this month:

It will all depend on what I actually finish reading this first week of the new year - I'll post updates on Litsy and Twitter of what books I actually end up reading during this read-a-thon.  I'm really looking forward to it though and cannot wait to begin!

I've previously talked about my TBR challenge that I'm doing in 2018 which is a personal challenge.  I'm also planning on a 2018 releases challenge (which will also be personal).  The plan is I have a list of 30 books being published in 2018 that I want to read.  For every book that I read off of this list, I'll add a new release in it's place.  Participating in both of these personal challenges will help to give my 2018 reading a variety of backlist reads along with new releases.  The best of both worlds if I do say so myself!  I will also be creating a page to list out all of my 2018 releases that I'm wanting to read if you are interested.

The final change to my 2018 reading that I'm hoping to put into place is really stretching my reading limits.  I read a TON of mysteries and thrillers last year.  I would say that the majority of the books that I read were books that were part of a series.  I'm fine with both of those things alone but I also really want to stretch myself as a reader.  I want to expand my reading horizons and that means trying new things.  It means reading more nonfiction (in 2017 I finished 3 nonfiction reads which is a pretty low number; but also a really great number for me considering there were many years where I didn't read any nonfiction books).  It also means participating in read-alongs, focusing on reading books featuring diverse characters or written by diverse authors, and just picking up books that I normally might not.  Reading different genres is also something that I want to do more of!  In the spirit of all of this, I have signed up for a read-along of the following book on Litsy:

I know absolutely nothing about this book other than it was one of the choices for the Book of the Month club.  I went ahead and put it on hold at the library anyways because this is the year where I'm going to try something different.  And for me, this is definitely outside of what I would normally read.  I'll keep you updated with the different books that I read but I'm hoping to become a much more well-rounded reader in 2018!

Finally, I'm also signing up to participate in the Winter's Respite read-a-thon which goes through the entire month of January.  There are no rules to participating besides read, read, read.  I'm planning on using this read-a-thon to help me get some quality reading done in January while also making progress on the #COYER Winter Switch challenge that I'm participating in.  I'm really hoping that month long read-a-thon will start my 2018 reading year off on the right foot with tons of great books!

Enough rambling, I'm off to get some quality reading done but let me know what your reading plans/goals are for 2018!

When Reading Plans Go Awry....

or your reading mood changes completely and this book feels like a MUST read right now.  You just have to go with it.  I'll be back to my January reading plans after this (or at least I think I will be- ha!).

I've also decided to participate in the week long, A Winter's Respite read-a-thon, that begins today.  Cruel and Unusual will be my first book for it and then I will see where my reading mood takes me.  I've participated in this read-a-thon multiple times and it is always fun.  My goal will be to finish two books this week.  

Happy Monday and Happy Reading!

Reading and Exercise (Or Winter Plans/Goals)

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team"
  
What better way to kick off the new year than with a week long read-a-thon?  I've participated in the Bout of Books read-a-thon quite a few times now and it is always a fun experience.  It also usually really helps me to prioritize getting some extra reading time in.  I'm hoping this will get my 2016 reading year off to a really great start.  I'm going to need the boost as the kids go back to school this week AND it is my first full week back to work after the holidays.  Blah!  I'm also going to use this read-a-thon to help me boost up my numbers for #COYER.  A win/win scenario if I do say so myself.  

I don't have any set goals other than I would like to finish at least two books.  I will be choosing from the books in my January reading pile.  If one of those isn't calling my name then I will just switch it out with something different from my kindle.  It isn't like I don't have plenty of books just waiting to be read.

#FitReaders hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About.

I'm also planning on participating this year with #FitReaders.  I thought that I would share my goals for January with all of you (even though I find this quite scary....what if I don't meet them?)  I haven't always been the most motivated person but I have taken running back up since last year.  It was a year of running and then not running with huge gaps in between.  This year I would like to really focus and run more consistently throughout the entire year.  Besides my running partner and I have a personal goals to run a half marathon this year so I need to get more serious about it!

For the month of January my exercise goals are the following:

• Do Jillian Michael's 30 day shred video every day.

• Run minimum 30 miles over the entire month of January.

These both seem pretty doable to me but I always have great intentions and then things fall to the wayside.  I don't run on the treadmill very well (I despise it to be honest) so it will be a challenge to motivate myself to run distances on it.  Hopefully the weather will allow me to get outside and run once in awhile.  I have made it past the 2nd workout on the shred video but the 3rd workout really kicked my butt.  I really, really want to finish and do all thirty days of it.  Only time will tell though. 

I've got lots of plans for the new year so I need to get my butt in gear!  Are any of you also participating in either of these events?  Let me know so we can cheer each other on!!  Trust me when I say that I can ALWAYS use the extra motivation when it comes to working out :)

#COYER Scavenger Hunt...I'm In!!

I've participated in previous #COYER events and have always had a good time.  Add that to the fact that I get a little extra reading in thanks to these challenge and of course I am going to sign up once again!  I've been reading at a pretty good pace considering how busy we have been lately.  I could always stand to get more ahead though especially as I have had a serious addiction to NetGalley lately.  Ugh, why do I do this to myself?  So many books that I want to read right now so what better way to get them read but by challenging myself with other readers!?!

They have lots of fun things planned including read-a-thons, scavenger hunts and Twitter chats to name a few.  Any book that you own qualifies but I would really like to focus mainly on review books and books on my kindle.  I have entirely too many unread NetGalley/Edelweiss books that definitely need my attention.  Goals for this challenge?  Read as much as I possibly can!!  Simple as that.  Here are just a few of the many books that I might choose to read for this challenge:

So many GREAT sounding books here!  I absolutely cannot wait to begin!  Still on a pretty good thriller/suspense kick which I think that my pool of books reflect but as summer begins I have also been craving some summer romance.  Any other review book on my kindle or in print will also be considered as a possibility for this challenge.  I am so excited I just cannot wait to begin!  Bring on the reading!!

Are you participating in this upcoming #COYER reading event?  What books are you hoping to get read?  Do share!

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 9.0

 "The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

It's back!  I love week long read-a-thons so of course I'm joining in with the Bout of Books Read-a-thon.  And besides, didn't you guys see my crazy reading plans for January?  I'm still shaking my head over that one even if I'm on to book two.  Considering that this is going to be my first full week of work in over three weeks (I love PTO), I'm keeping my goals for this read-a-thon pretty darn simple.  I'm hoping to finish two books even though more would be AMAZING (and impossible).  I'm also hoping to find some new to me blogs to follow so I will attempt to visit as many of the participants as I can.  Sounds good, doesn't it?  I'm currently reading Magic Burns which I just started last night so that will be my first book for this read-a-thon.  Then I will be moving on to Forbidden which is for a TLC Book Tour.  If I somehow mange to finish both of these I will be pulling another book from my January reading plans list. 

I'm going to be one busy girl!  Good luck to all of the other read-a-thon participants and Happy Sunday!

High Summer Read-a-thon and other Reading Ramblings

Yay for week long read-a-thons!!!  They are the only ones that I have a real chance of succeeding at.  LOL!  I was just thinking the other day that I hadn't participated in a read-a-thon lately and then I came across a post for this one.  Serendipity! 

I don't have any set goals for this read-a-thon but I'm hoping to finish the three books that I'm currently reading.  Yep, somehow I find myself in the midst of three books.  I hate when I do that because then I end up reading less than usual somehow (don't ask me why but it is true).  Since my reader died I picked up The Last Victim from the library to finish.  Unfortunately it is just not the book for me.  If I wasn't 3/4th's of the way through it I would probably already have set it aside.  (And if you are wondering it didn't get really weird/uncomfortable until this point)  I was going to just call it quits but I can't help but wondering if the end will make up for everything.  I highly doubt it but I have to find out.  I'm also hoping to finish Vanish With the Rose by Barbara Michaels and Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis.

 So these are my goals/reading plans for the High Summer Read-a-thon.  I'm also looking forward to participating in a Twitter chat or two and hopefully meeting some new bloggy friends :)  In other reading news last week was a bit more quiet for me reading wise.  I only finished one book (in large part to the reading blahs I got from Robard's book).  I finished reading:

 Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery was a fun contemporary romance that was cute.  It wasn't an outstanding read but I did like it enough to gobble it down in a couple of days.  I'm eager to see how the other books in this series compare because sometimes the first book can be one of the weaker ones.  I'll definitely be reading more about Fool's Gold!

I stood strong on my book buying ban this week which is a good thing for my shelves.  I did bring home a few from the library but I'll share about those in a library loot post.  I'm hoping to start back on a running/walking schedule again this week.  I've let myself get a bit lazy but it is beyond time to get my butt back in gear!  And I've also got the urge to pop out some book reviews.  Considering how behind I am I'm going to go with it.  I might end up posting a bunch this week so be warned :)  That's definitely enough rambling out of me for one Sunday. 

Happy Reading and Happy Sunday!

Reading Plans and a Read-a-thon (or Random Ramblings)

I have big plans for my reading in the month of May!  Last month I focused on getting some of my NetGalley books read (thanks to Staci) and I managed to finish up two.  Not as many as I had hoped but considering how slow I can be when it comes to reading on my reader I was pretty happy.  This month I'm focusing on reading some of my ARC's in general.  I have TOO many of these books sitting of my shelves waiting to be read.  I'm officially joining in with the month long Clean Sweep ARC Challenge to get some of these books read.  I'm hoping to read both print and e-copies which will help me make a dent in my pile. 

Last month I came up with a list of books to choose from and I think that I will do the same for this month.  I mainly enjoyed just coming up with the list of books but I actually did stay on track and pick from the books I listed.  Here are some of the books that I'm hoping to get through for this challenge:

I feel like this is a good mix of print books and e-copies.  I didn't include the books that I'm already reading that fit in for this challenge because that would have been too easy.  And I need a wide variety of books to fit my readerly moods.  It would be AMAZING if I could at least read half of these books in May but I will definitely settle with just a few.  Goals, I have them!

Because I've decided to set my sights high when it comes to reading, I'm joining in officially with the Bout of Books Read-a-thon.  It's a week long event (my favorite) and even though I failed spectacularly at the last one I'm ready to redeem myself this time.  It starts officially on Monday but I'm starting unofficially this weekend.  I'm more than ready and think that this will be an easy way to get some of these ARC's finished up!

If you are interested in joining, here is the official word from the hosts:

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

Good stuff, right?  I'm excited!  And I've got lots of plans for the month of May.  Now enough talking....it's time to get to reading!  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?? (April 22nd)

It's Monday! is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and states:

"Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!"

Last week was a really solid week for me because I was able to finish up two books.  This week I'm hoping to do the same (or maybe even read more) thanks to the upcoming read-a-thons.  First up I'm joining in the week long Spring Into Horror Read-a-thon.  I've participated before in these week long events and they are always lots of fun!  Plus, I usually manage to read more than on an average week.  I'm looking forward to knocking some books off of my TBR list!  Then next weekend is Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon.  I usually have to work whatever weekend this falls on but not this weekend!  I'm super excited and I'm planning to sign up as a cheerleader again.  I'll read (unofficially) but there is no way that I will find the time to read for a full 24 hours so cheerleading it is.  It's going to be lots of fun and I'm really looking forward to it!  So that's the plan for this week but first let me show you what I read last week.  Last week I read the following two books:

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs was a reread but was just as enjoyable as the first time that I read it!  I'm a huge fan of this series so I really liked going back to the beginning where we first meet Mercy.  I'm going to reread the next couple of books before I continue on with the series where I left off.  I highly recommend this series and will write up my thoughts on the reread later this week.

If You Hear Her by Shiloh Walker was a really solid romantic suspense which is what I have been in the mood for as of recently.  This book was unexpected at times but I really wish I had the second part of this trilogy in my hands RIGHT NOW (I'm sure if you've read this book already then you understand).  I'm going to try and write up my thoughts on this one too at some point this week.

I'm currently reading the following books:

I'm hoping to make really good progress with all three of these books thanks to the read-a-thon.  Maybe I will even be able to finish the first two books.  Beautiful Creatures is quite the chunkster but you never know.  I've got lots of good reading ahead of me so I'm going to wrap this up and get some reading done.  Happy Monday!

The Sunday Salon: Rambles

Good morning!  I'm getting a late start this morning since it seems everyone decided to sleep in.  This happens so rarely that I am in the best mood (all from a little extra sleep).  LOL!  And a three day weekend which is even better.  But I have lots of bookish randomness to talk about so let me begin.

This week begins A Winter's Respite Read-a-thon and I'm officially signing up to participate.  It doesn't start until tomorrow but I'm unofficially beginning today.  My reading has been pretty slow going in January (which I would like to blame the new job for but really it is probably just me) so I thought I would join and get some quality reading time.  Plus, I just love participating in read-a-thons!  I'll try to post some pics of the books that I want to read during the week but realistically I just want to get one or two books read.  I can totally do that!  So here is to reading and having fun while I'm at it :)  And if you want to participate as well click here.

I'm also officially signing up for the group read of The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley hosted by the lovely Christine.  I went to the library last week and snatched up all kinds of books that I still need to tell you about.  But one of the books that I grabbed was this one and I cannot wait to begin reading it.  Some of my favorite bloggers rave about her books and this will be my first by her.  This will be my first read-a-long of the year as well but next month is The Shining by King.  AAAHHH!  I'm so creeped out by this book that just thinking about it...I'm crazy but I HAVE to join in and read this one with others.  But enough on that until later.  If you want to join in on the group read for The Winter Sea click here.

Finally, in reading news I'm currently reading The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon.  It is SO GOOD!  How have I never read this author before now????  I must remedy this and have added almost all of her books to my TBR list.   I'm reading this book as part of a TLC book tour so you should be able to read my review on Tuesday.  And if I keep this up I will be two for two on writing my reviews right after I finish (and not two months later).  I knocked out a few more of my 2012 reads that I have left to review last week but expect a few more mini review posts to finish that all up.  And that's about it for me except for one more thing.  I want to wish my Pickle baby the best 3rd birthday!  Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!!!!