Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

With the year almost ending, most of us have started looking forward to the new year and have some reading goals we really want to reach.

On that note, I put this idea together of a Create-Your-Own Reading Challenge, based on Flib's suggestion of a personal challenge.

I've used the acronym SMART to explain how you can put yours together.

SPECIFIC - Sure we have goals and resolutions, but for this challenge you need to be specific on what you will read. Are you going for all classics, books of a specific author, books you already own, etc? You set the parameters, but make sure there is one.

MEASURABLE - Please don't say as many as I can read, please :). Knowing the titles in advance is not required, but you need to put a number of books as your goal. This is a requirement to participate in this challenge.

ATTAINABLE - Be realistic for this challenge. I know how we can go overboard, but you know, how many hours you read in a day. Do not set yourself up to fail. On this note, you are only allowed to have one Create-Your-Own Reading Challenge entry.

REWARDING - A tenet I follow everytime I create and/or join a challenge, is that it should be fun. This is not a punishment, but an activity that you really want to do. You get a better chance of completing it, if you are enjoying yourself.

TIME-BOUND - This challenge is good for the whole year. If you want to set a different start and end date, its up to you, but make sure I can see the duration period of your challenge.

Here is the suggested format:

Challenge Title:
Duration:
Number of Books:
Challenge Description:
List of Books: (you can post it in advanced or post as you complete them)

There is it, everyone. Anyone can sign up anytime, although I hope you'll all wait for the first of the year to begin.

Yay! I actually have two personal challenges that I was going to attempt in 2010, so I will combine them into one for this challenge that Yz created...

2010 Classics & Georgette Heyer Challenge
GOAL: To read 12 classics & 24 Georgette Heyer books

Challenge Duration: 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010
Total Books to Read: 36

Challenge Description:
I have been a bad girl and have watched movie versions of classics more than read them. ( I love a good period movie!) Anyway, I feel guilty in some cases that I haven't actually read the real thing. Goal is to read one a month, but I'm not going to punish myself if I read more than one in a month or don't get to one in a month. Also, I want to read 24 Georgette Heyer books. I have a gazillion of her books sitting in my house, and I want to get to reading them. Same with the classics, I am aiming to read 2 a month, but I won't punish myself for reading more/less in a given month.

I'll post the books as a I read them.

Classics:
1. Jane Eyre - 01/18/10
2. Sense and Sensibility - 01/25/10
3. Emma - 02/10/10
4. Persuasion - 02/17/10
5. Mansfield Park - 02/26/10
6. Maurice - 03/06/10
7. Northanger Abbey - 04/05/10
8. The Annotated Pride & Prejudice - 04/26/10
9. Wives and Daughters - 7/20/10
10. North and South - 8/9/10
11.
12

Georgette Heyer Books:
1. April Lady - 01/08/10
2. Lady of Quality - 01/31/10
3. Cotillion - 03/12/10
4. These Old Shades - 04/09/10
5. Devil's Cub - 5/16/10
6. The Grand Sophy - 8/30/10
7. Bath Tangle - 9/24/10
8.
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11.
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13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

Make Space For New Books

Description: I have created a list of 50 books that are currently sat on my bookcase at the top of the stairs. They are all authors I have never read before and have been sat there for a while.

Rules: I must start all these books and can't change the list I've posted. However I am allowed to not finish 5 books in case there are some that I can't get past the first 50 pages because I am not enjoying it.

1 – How To Marry A Millionarie Vampire – Kerrelyn Sparks - Feb 28
2 – The Turning – Jennifer Armintrout - Feb 11
3 – Desire After Dark – Amanda Ashley - Feb 5
4 – I'm The Vampire, That's Why – Michele Bardsley - April 12
5 – Real Vampires Have Curves – Gerry Bartlett - Jan 2
6 – Beneath A Blood Red Moon – Shannon Drake
7 – The Rest Falls Away – Colleen Gleason - Feb 4
8 – Tall, Dark and Dead – Tate Hallaway
9 – Forbidden Magic – Cheyenne McCray - Jan 21
10 – Bitten and Smitten – Michelle Rowen - Feb 3
11 – The Dark One – Ronda Thompson
12 – Vampire Kisses – Ellen Schreiber - April 23
13 – Sea Witch – Virginia Kantra
14 – Touched By Darkness – Catherine Spangler - April 17
15 – The Accidental Demon Slayer – Angie Fox - Jan 17
16 – Touch A Dark Wolf – Jennifer St Giles - Jan 19
17 – A Brother's Price – Wen Spencer
18 – Happy Hour At Casa Dracula – Marta Costa
19 – The Sun Witch – Linda Winstead Jones
20 – Come To Me – Lisa Cach - March 15
21 – The Legend of Banzai Maguire – Susan Grant - April 10
22 – A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court – Marianne Mancusi - April 19
23 – Starlight, Starbright – Saranne Dawson - Jan 9
24 – Breath Of Magic – Theresa Mederios
25 – Demon Angel – Meljean Brook
26 – Cast In Shadow – Michelle Sagara
27 – Kushiel's Dart – Jacqueline Carey
28 – Tempt Me With Darkness – Shayla Black
29 – I Want You To Want Me – Kathy Love - Feb 14
30 – Blood Red – Heather Graham
31 – Blue Moon – Lori Handeland
32 – Vampire's Seduction – Raven Hart
33 – Dragon Heat – Allyson James
34 – Dark Seduction – Brenda Joyce - Jan 7
35 – Way of the Wolf – EE Knight
36 – Megan's Mark – Lora Leigh - March 29
37 – Maximum Ride – James Patterson - Feb 12
38 – Dead End Dating – Kimberly Raye - Not Finished
39 – Blood Moon – Dawn Thompson
40 – Finders Keepers – Linnea Sinclair - March 21
41 – Dragon's Lair – Denise Lynn
42 – Night Life – Caitlin Kittredge
43 – Firethorn – Sarah Micklem
44 – Don of the Dead – Casey Daniels
45 – The Fairy Godmother – Mercedes Lackey - Feb 1
46 – Betrayed – Jamie Leigh Hansen - March 18
47 – Nightkeepers – Jessica Andersen - Jan 15
48 – Dragon Actually – G.A. Aiken
49 – Blood Is The New Black – Valerie Stivers - March 9
50 – Be Mine Tonight – Kathryn Smith - March 26

Great ideas, everyone.

Based on your posts, I'm going to edit my instructions on the first post. Just fine-tuning some things.

I'm in, as always! I love Angie's idea and have been thinking about all my (too many to name) 1st-in-a-series books I have to start. I typically get started with a series, devour whatever's out there and forget about all the other (new2me) series' I have to read. So ... my personal challenge in 2010 will be to read book 1 (at least) in 50 (again ... copycattin' Angie) new2me series. I'll make my list, check it twice and post my self-set rules & list soon. •<|:) Thanks, Yz, another perfect challenge, as always!

Challenge Title: Male Protags
Duration: January 1, 2010-December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 20
Challenge Description: Read 20 PNR or Urban Fantasy books with a male protagonist.

MALE PROTAGS

1. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
2. Nightlife by Rob Thurman
3. Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green
4. Dog Days by John Levitt
5. Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco
6. Dead To Me by Anton Strout
7. Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis
8. A Kiss Before the Apocalypse A Remy Chandler Novel by Thomas E. Sniegoski
9. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
10. Already Dead by Charlie Huston
11. Bloodlist by P.N. Elrod
12. The Devil You Know by Mike Carey
13. Staked by J.F. Lewis
14. Melusine by Sarah Monette
15. Blood Blade by Marcus Pelegrimas
16. The Man With the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green
17. The Legacy Book One of the Custodes Noctis by Muffy Morrigan
18. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo
19. Hunter's Moon by David Devereux
20. Webmage by Kelly McCullough
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Alternates:

Sandman Slim A Novel by Richard Kadrey


I was going to do 100, but I couldn't find that many DX

I'm of course down for this challenge! Here's my info to date:

Challenge Title: Books I Own Cleanup
Duration: January 6, 2010 to January 6, 2011
Number of Books: 44
Challenge Description: These are all books that have been sitting on my shelves forever, well not forever, but long enough. Some are previous challenge books that I was unable to complete, but of course I still want to read, and some are just must-haves I haven't read just yet. I want to REALLY put a serious dent in my TBR pile, so that I can make room for all the other great releases due out in 2010!
List of Books: I'm going to post my list as I complete them.

Progress: 13 of 44 Complete

1. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs --Read 01/07
2. On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance, Sunny --Read 02/09
3. Embrace the Night by Karen Chance --Read 02/15
4. Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon --Read 02/23
5. Inked by Karen Chance,Marjorie M. Liu,Yasmine Galenorn,Eileen Wilks --Read 03/06
6. Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward --Read 03/11
7. The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward --Read 03/18
8. Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward --Read 04/11
9. Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris --Read 04/25
10. Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris --Read 04/25
11. My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent --Read 04/29
12. Hunter Kiss by Marjorie M. Liu --Read 05/26
13. Lean on Me by Cherise Sinclair --Read 06/01

Challenge Title: My 2010 New2Me Series Challenge
Duration: 01/01/10 - 12/31/10
Challenge Description:
⇢ Read book #1 in 50 different "new2me" series
⇢ Pick from the books listed here
⇢ No books maybe in current challenges; Future 2010 challenges ok

Total Read: 48/50

January 2010 (15)


February 2010 (5)


March 2010 (5)


Apr 2010 (1)


May 2010 (5)


June 2010 (4)


July 2010 (9)


August 2010 (4)


September 2010 (#)

This sounds fun.

Through out the years I have been given lots of books, either as gifts or bags of books that others have read then they have past them down to me etc. Now these books I personally might not have picked out for my self to read. So that's what my challenge will be this year.

Challenge Title: Here have a book.
Duration: January 1 2010 to Dec 31 2010
Number of Books: 20
Challenge Description: Read the books that have been given to me, ones that I have not bought/picked out my self.
List of Books: None at the moment, I have yet to go through the shelf :D

I've only chose to do 20, with all the other challenges I'm trying to do next year 20 seemed like a reasonable number.

This is my first year challenge

Challenge Title:Broadening Challenge
Duration:January 1st-December 31st 2010
Number of Books:120
Challenge Description:20 non-fiction/history books within the challenge and spread the rest of the books across the genres.

List of Books:
I will be posting my list in a separate post here. It is too long and I want it to fit in two posts that will be together.

I already had a personal challenge planned for 2010, so this is a perfect opportunity for me…

Challenge title: A Book a Day (Keeps the Doctor Away)
Duration: January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 365
Challenge Description: Read (at least) a book a day throughout the year. Read books in romance category (no "regular" fiction or non-fiction books).
List of Books: TBA

26/100 completed

Challenge Title:Books I Had to Buy Because Goodreads Said So
Duration:January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Number of Books:100
Challenge Description: Over the past two years, I have bought so many books that I have yet to read. At least half of these books were purchased based only on the recommendations of my fellow readers here on Goodreads. My personal challenge should be to read all of the books I own, but Yz said to keep it real, so I chose 100 books that I bought because of all the hype.

Lara Adrian
Kiss of Midnight
Kiss of Crimson
Midnight Awakening
Midnight Rising
Veil of Midnight

Kelley Armstrong
Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon

Jenna Black
The Devil Inside * * *
The Devil You Know * * *
The Devil's Due * *

P.C. Cast
Marked *
Betrayed
Chosen
Untamed

Karen Chance
Touch the Dark * * * * *
Claimed by Shadow * * * * *
Embrace the Night * * * * *
Curse the Dawn * * * * *

Kresley Cole
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs At Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King

Jacquelyn Frank
Jacob * * * * *
Gideon * * * * *
Elijah * * * * *
Damien
Noah

Caitlin Kittredge
Night Life * * *
Pure Blood * *
Second Skin

Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy * * * *
Frostbite
Shadow Kiss

Vicki Pettersson
The Scent of Shadows
The Taste of Night
The Touch of Twilight

Jennifer Rardin
Once Bitten, Twice Shy * * * *
Another One Bites the Dust * * *
Biting the Bullet * *
Bitten to Death * * *
One More Bite * * * *

Gena Showalter
Heart Of The Dragon * * * *
Jewel of Atlantis
The Nymph King
The Vampire's Bride

The Darkest Night
The Darkest Kiss
The Darkest Pleasure
The Darkest Whisper

Nalini Singh
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Caressed By Ice
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure

Kathryn Smith
Be Mine Tonight
Night of the Huntress
Taken by the Night
Let the Night Begin
Night After Night

Jeanne C. Stein
The Becoming * * *
Blood Drive
The Watcher
Legacy

Carrie Vaughn
Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Kitty Goes to Washington
Kitty Takes a Holiday
Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
Kitty Raises Hell

Lynn Viehl
If Angels Burn * * *
Private Demon * * *
Dark Need * * *
Night Lost * * *
Evermore
Twilight Fall
Stay the Night

Rachel Vincent
Stray
Rogue
Pride

J.R. Ward
Dark Lover * * *
Lover Eternal
Lover Awakened
Lover Revealed
Lover Unbound
Lover Enshrined

Christine Warren
Wolf at the Door
She's No Faerie Princess
The Demon You Know
Howl at the Moon
Walk on the Wild Side
One Bite With A Stranger
You're So Vein

*grins*

Yes, Melissa...let us keep it real...as much as we can.

You have a lot of fun reads on that list. I'm sure you'll enjoy this challenge.

Michelle's Serial Clean up! 1/1/10-31/12/10

Number of books- 52 minimum

Challenge Description- The aim is for me to read one book a week (give or take) from one of my existing series! I have so many ongoing Series and I really want to get up-to-date with a lot of them. Leaving me time to pursue some new author's and/or series. I'm not going to punish myself for reading 10 in a month or 2. As long as I read 52 throughout the duration. I am including new releases in this aswell!

List of books
1.Blood Noir
2.Skin Trade
3.Big Bad Wolf
4.Redeemed in Darkness
5.Noah

I'm going to have to think about the book I have, I want to put a dent in my own books without buyinig too many!

Steph wrote: "Challenge Title: My 2010 New2Me Series Challenge

Challenge Description:
⇢ Read book #1 in 50 "new2me" series
⇢ Must pick from the 60 books listed below
⇢ Unable to make change..."

Nice to know there's someone in the same boat as me. However, I'm going to end or with more books than I read as I'll end up having to get the rest of the series! So my challenge for 2011 will be to finish all those series that I start this year. :)

I'm in....here goes!




Series Completion Challenge - Part I
Duration: Jan 1, 2010 - Dec 31, 2010
Number of Books:150
Description:I am currently in the middle of at least 32 different series. My goal is to complete as many of those series as I can (through publication).
List: Will post as I go.

Bakery Sisters/Susan Mallery - Series Completed 03/31/10
1. Sweet Spot 01.08.10
2. Sweet Trouble 03.31.10

Knight Miscellany/Gaelen Foley - Series Completed 05.02.10
3. Devil Takes a Bride 01.23.10
4. One Night of Sin 03.07.10
5. His Wicked Kiss 05.02.10

Mercenary Trilogy/Lucy Monroe - Series Completed 01/04/10
6. Willing 01.03.10
7. and Able 01.04.10

I-Team/Pamela Clare - Series Completed thru Publication 04.01.10
8. Unlawful Contact 01.05.10
9. Naked Edge 04.01.10

Black Daggar Brotherhood/J.R. Ward - Series Completed thru Publication 07.06.10
10. Lover Enshrined 01.11.10
11. Lover Avenged 06.02.10
12. Lover Mine 07.06.10

Highland Pleasures/Jennifer Ashley - Series Completed thru Publication 07.10.10
13. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage 07.10.10

Hold Trilogy/Stephanie Tyler - Series Completed 03/22/10
14. Too Hot to Hold 03.16.10
15. Hold On Tight 03.22.10

Neville Family/Liz Carlyle - Series Completed 06/11/10
16. Never Deceive a Duke 01.14.10
17. Never Romance a Rake 06.11.10

Chesapeake Bay Saga/Nora Roberts - Series Completed 05/21/10
18. Inner Harbor 01.13.10
19. Chesapeake Blue 05.21.10

The Bridgerton's/Julia Quinn
20. The Viscount Who Loved Me 01.17.10
21. An Offer From a Gentleman 06.13.10
22. Romancing Mister Bridgerton 06.22.10
23. To Sir Phillip, With Love 06.25.10
24. When He Was Wicked 07.06.10
25. It's In His Kiss 07.16.10
26. On the Way to the Wedding

Bodyguard/Cindy Gerard
27. To the Limit 04.16.10
28. To the Brink 04.26.10
29. Over the Line 05.28.10
30. Under the Wire 06.04.10
31. Into the Dark

Goddard Project Trilogy/Lucy Monroe
32. Satisfaction Guaranteed 05.22.10
33. Deal With This 06.27.10
34. The Spy Who Wants Me

Temptation Brothers/Lori Foster - Series Completed 04.29.10
35. Never Too Much 04.29.10

Tall, Dark & Dangerous by Suzanne Brockmann
36. Forever Blue 03.11.10
37. Frisco's Kid 04.18.10
38. Everyday, Average Jones 05.13.10
39. Harvard's Education 05.16.10
40. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 05.18.10
41. The Admiral's Bride 05.19.10
42. Identity: Unknown 06.18.10
43. Get Lucky 07.11.10
44. Taylor's Temptation
45. Night Watch

Firefigher/Jill Shalvis
46. Blue Flame 07.14.10
47. Seeing Red

Wilder/Jill Shalvis
48. Instant Temptation

Luxe/Anna Godbersen - Series Completed 07/13/10
49. Envy 03.02.10
50. Splendor 07.13.10

Oh, like I could resist this one! ;O)

I'm thinking at least 12 "classics" from any genre and at least 12 "non-fiction" from any category.

I'll call this challenge: You think you're so Smart!

Titles posted as I go.

Angie wrote: "Nice to know there's someone in the same boat as me. However, I'm going to end or with more books than I read as I'll end up having to get the rest of the series! So my challenge for 2011 will be to finish all those series that I start this year. :)"

Angie,
I'm in both boats with ya! LOL Actually straddling the two without much luck. I have so many series I'm already reading (and haven't finished) I don't know why I'm (possibly) shooting myself in the foot by starting 50 more, but what the hell, might find something I like better.

I'd like to think I can finish reading my existing series' addictions while starting these new ones, but I do believe I've thought that for quite a while. We'll see what 2010 brings.

I'm in! What a great idea!

Challenge Title: Read the Damn Books Already Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010
Number of Books: minimum 54
Challenge Description: I have a shelf strictly for newly published books which I want to read immediately but unfortunately other books have gotten in the way. They are almost all series books so my goal is to read my way through this shelf. I was gonna add "and not buy anymore" but that is so not happening. LOL

STATUS: 19/54 complete

List of Books:
Acts of Mercy - Mariah Stewart
Bad Moon Rising - Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Becoming - Jeanne Stein 5/19 ★☆☇☈
Bed of Roses - Nora Roberts
Beg for Mercy - Toni Andrews
Be Still My Vampire Heart - Kerrilyn Sparks
Bloodring - Faith Hunter
Born of Fire - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Born of Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Born of Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bound by your Touch - Meredith Duran 3/29 ★★★
Breaking Midnight - Emma Holly
Breath of Fire - Tammy Kane 6/21 ★☆☇☈☉
Burning Alive - Shannon Butcher
Burning Wild - Christine Feehan 5/28 ★☆☇
Covet - J.R. Ward
Dark Hunger - Rita Herron
Dark Slayer - Christine Feehan
The Darkest Whisper - Gena Showalter ★☆☇☈☉
Dawnbreaker - Jocelyn Drake
The Demon You Know - Christine Warren
Desire Untamed - Pamela Palmer ★☆☇☈☉
Destiny - Alex Archer 8/31 ★☆☇☈
Hot as Sin - Belle Andre 2/6 ★☆☇
Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs 6/30 ★☆☇☈☉
If He's Wicked - Hannah Howell
The Immortal Hunter - Lynsay Sands
In Over Her Head - Judi Fennell 1/17 ★☆☇☈
Lord of Legends - Susan Krinard
Lord of Sin - Susan Krinard
Lord of the Highlands - Veronica Wolff 7/18 ★☆☇☈☉
Lover Avenged - J.R. Ward 4/9 ★☆☇☈☉
Obsession Untamed - Pamela Palmer
Passion Untamed - Pamela Palmer
Possess Me at Midnight - Shayla Black
The Renegade Hunter - Lynsay Sands
Scottish Companion - Karen Ranney 8/30 ★☆
A Scotsman in Love - Karen Ranney
Sealed with a Promise - Mary-Margaret Daughtridge 7/16 ★☆☇
Sea Lord - Virginia Kantra
Seduce Me in Shadow - Shayla Black
Shifting Plains - Jean Johnson
Skin Trade - Laurell K. Hamilton
Skykeepers - Jessica Andersen
Slave to Senation - Nalini Singh 2/23 ★☆☇☈☉
Sold to a Laird - Karen Ranney
So Still the Night - Kim Lenox
Soul Magic - Jennifer Lyon 2/19 ★☆☇☈☉
Storm Born - Richelle Mead
Storm of Shadows - Christina Dodd
Storm of Visions - Christina Dodd
Unclean Spirits - M.L.N. Hanover 8/28 ★☆☇☈☉
Undead Next Door - Kerrilyn Sparks
Underground - Kat Richardson 7/30 ★☆☇
Vamps and the City - Kerrilyn Sparks
Walk on the Wild Side - Christine Warren
Wild Blue Under - Judi Fennell 10/24 ★☆☇

God help me but this is less than half of what's on this triple deep shelf.

READ:

Yz, I love it. You're awesome, as always.

Challenge Title: "Feed Your Head"
Duration: 1/1/10 - 12/31/10
Number of Books: 18
Challenge Description: I have been rotting my brain with all the fun to read but not super challenging PNR, UF, and m/m I've been reading the last year or so. I need to be break out of the box and start challenging myself a little bit, so of my 18 books, 15 will be literary fiction, whether classics or contemporary. Special bonus points to myself if they're on the "1001 Books to Read Before You Die" list. The other 3 will be non-fiction, noted with a *.

List of Books:

1. Angels of Destruction: A Novel by Keith Donohue 2/2
2. The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball 2/11
3. What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn 3/1
4. All the Living: A Novel by C.E. Morgan 3/15
5. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 5/19 - 1001 book!
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Nichole wrote: "Yz, I love it. You're awesome, as always.

Challenge Title: "Feed Your Head"
Duration: 1/1/10 - 12/31/10
Number of Books: 15
Challenge Description: I have been rotting my brain with all the fu..."

LOL...I love it, Nichole. I'm working on that "1001 Books to Read Before You Die" list as well. Good luck on this "Feed Your Head" challenge as well as the "1001" list.

Challenge Title: Clean off the Category Romances On Your Shelf
Duration: 1/1/2010-12/31/2010
Number of Books: 60 (minimum)
Challenge Description: Read at least five category romances on my bookshelf a month. I have a backlog of category romances that I have accumulated over the years. They must be books that I owned as of January 1, 2010. Any category romances I read that are new will not count towards my challenge goal.

I really liked your challenge, Ahrcadia, as I love male protag urban fantasy. I hope to keep up with what you are reading, and get some ideas! Everyone's challenges are good.

Challenge Title: 2010 Non-Fiction Challenge
Duration: January 1,2010 to December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 12 books
Description of Challenge: To read 1 non-fiction book (from any category) a month.
Adding a fail safe: If I miss 1 month can make up during another month, but no more than 2 books a month for this challenge.

I'll post my list as I go.

1. Oval Office Occult: Tales of White House Wierdness 1/11/10
2. It Ain't All About the Cookin' 2/28/10
3. Blue Yonder: Kentucky: The United State of Basketball 3/26/10
4. A New Dawn: Your Favorite Authors on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series 4/30/10
5. The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasure of Obituaries 6/18/10
6. Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon 6/25/10
7. Bluegrass: A True Story of Murder in Kentucky 8/1/10
8.Tuesdays with Morrie 9/3/10
9.
10.
11.
12.

OKay, it took me awhile to come up with mine. Because I'm reading so many books to fit categories, I have neglected other genre of books I like that don't necessarily fit challenges. Based on my Goodreads virtual shelves...

2010 Create Your Own Challenge

Challenge Title: Reading by 5's
Duration: January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 50
Challenge Description: Read 5 books in 10 different categories. Books can be cross-challenged into other challenges. Substitutions to list are allowed. Strongly encouraged to finish books listed as currently reading that I havn't touched in months that I barely cracked open! (Listed with an *) To reduce the amount of books owned but not read, re-reads only allowed if I havn't read the book for at least 20 years. (Listed as #) No novella's or short stories.

List of Books:

5 General Fiction:
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
2. The Food Taster by Peter Elbling
3. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (Mitford #1)
4. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

5 Non-Fiction:
1. * New Europe by Michael Palin
2. * Divided by a Common Language A Guide to British and American English by Christopher Davies
3. * The Good, the Bad and the Irritating - A Practical Approach for Parents of Children who are Attention Seeking by Nigel Mellor
4. * Wine for Dummies by Ed McCarthy
5. * Born to Be Riled by Jeremy Clarkson

5 Classics:
1. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
2. Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
3. The Agony and the Ecstasy - A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo by Irving Stone
4. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Case of Identity by Arthur Conan Doyle

5 Cookbooks:
1. * Diners, Drive-ins and Dives An All-American Road Trip . . . with Recipes! by Guy Fieri
2. * Good Eats - The Early Years by Alton Brown
3. # Bentley Farm Cookbook by Virginia Williams Bentley
4. Grandma's Wartime Baking Book World War II and the Way We Baked by Joanne Lamb Hayes
5. How to Cook Without a Book Recipes and Techniques Every Cook Should Know by Heart by Pam Anderson

5 Biographies/Memoirs/Letters:
1. Dear Charlie by Christopher Kimball
2. Actors Life by Charlton Heston
3. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed - And Other Things I've Learned by Alan Alda
4. Diaries - The Python Years, 1969-1979 by Michael Palin
5. A Charmed Life - Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle by Liza Campbell

5 Books Made into Movies:
1. Searching for Bobby Fischer - The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess by Fred Waitzkin
2. Forrest Gump by Winston Groom
3. Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean
4. Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
5. Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake

5 Young Adult:
1. James Potter and the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert {Released Jan 1,2010 - a chapter a day}
2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
3. Runaway by Meg Cabot {Released April 10, 2010}
4. Gettin' Hooked by Nyomi Scott (Teen Harlequin)
5. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

5 Mysteries:
1. Crewel World by Monica Ferris (Needlework Mysteries)
2. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett (Booktown Mysteries)
3. Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton (Aunt Dimity Mysteries) {Released Feb 18, 2010}
4. * Assault and Pepper by Tamar Myers (Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries)
5. The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom (Mobile Library Mysteries)

5 Western/Sci-Fi/Fantasy:
1. # Another Fine Myth (Myth Adventures #1) by Robert Lynn Asprin
2. # Myth Conceptions (Myth Adventures #2) by Robert Lynn Asprin
3. # Myth Directions (Myth Adventures #3) by Robert Lynn Asprin
4. # The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold
5. Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith

5 Free Books (Books I've won or sent for review.):
1. Truly, Madly A Novel by Heather Webber (First Reads)
2. Lethal Legacy A Novel by Linda Fairstein (First Reads)
3. Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Teen Harlequin) - {Pre-release copy, due out April 1, 2010}
4. Intertwined by Gena Showalter (Teen Harlequin)
5. A Weaver Wedding by Allison Leigh (Tell Harlequin)

Having such a large TBR and not wanting to go without purchasing or swapping any books I've come up with the following challenge.

Challenge Title: Read & Reward
Duration: January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010
Number of books: 100
Challenge Description:For every 5 books read, can swap or purchase used book. Exception: For book clubs currently in if cannot find the book used or on swap sites, can purchase the book new.

Challenge Title: New-To-Me Author Challenge
Duration: 1/1/10 - 12/31/10
Number of Books: 24
Challenge Description: Read two books by a new-to-me author each month. It's okay to count two books by the same author, as long as they are read in the same month.
List: will post as I go.

Challenge Title: Clear Off the GR TBR
Duration: 1/1/10 to 12/31/10
Number of Books: 10
Challenge Description: Read the 10 oldest books on my GR TBR list.
List of Books:
The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase (10/6)
Longing by Mary Balogh (7/15)
Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood (8/5)
The Wedding Bargain by Emily French
The Wildest Shore by Lisa Cach (4/13)
Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (1/17)
Night Storm by Catherine Coulter (9/21)
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (3/21)
Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney (9/27)
Fire and Rain by Kathleen Eagle (6/21)

This isn't a lot compared to some lists I see here, but considering my slow reading speed and the amount of other challenges I'm participating in, it's realistic for me.

20/20 Done

Challenge Title: Try some different authors
Duration: 1/1/10 - 12/31/10
Number of Books: 20
Challenge Description: Since I find that I tend to follow certain authors my challenge is to read one book each by 20 authors who's work I've never read.

I'll post my list as I go
1. Eve of Darkness by S.J. Day 1/2
2. The Better to Hold You by Alisa Sheckley 1/6
3. The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay 1/9
4. Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe 1/16
5. Red Mandarine Dress by Qui Xianolong 1/22
6. Blood Confessions by Alisa Libby 1/25
7. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 1/30
8. Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells 2/2
9. The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks 2/10
10. Souless by Gail Carriger 2/21
11. Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler 2/16
12. Spider's Bite by jennifer Estep 2/26
13. Mister B. Gone by Clive barker 3/12
14. Deadtown by nancy Holzner 3/21
15. Need by Carrie Jones 3/23
16. Dont Kill the Messenger by Eileen Redhal 4/4
17. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 4/10
18. Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost 4/12
19. Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles 4/17
20. The Xibalba Murder by Lyn Hamilton 4/30

Oh very nice.
I am going to have a two category one.

Challenge Title:Here try this...Oh this looks good...
Duration:January 1-December 31
Number of Books:45
Challenge Description: I would like to read 30 books recommended to me by fellow readers. As well as 15 books that are "impulse buys". I can already have the book on my shelf, but I must know which category they are.
List:I will post as I go.

Here try this...
Wicked Ties by Shayla Black****1/2 (January 3)
Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

Oh this looks good...

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "


I really liked your challenge, Ahrcadia, as I love male protag urban fantasy. I hope to keep up with what you are reading, and get some ideas! Everyone's challenges are good.
"

Thanks! The sad part is that I wanted to do 100, but I couldn't even find 30. I'll add more as I go, like the sequels to the series that I like, and hopefully I can reach the magic number. I'd be happy to get to 50, though.

ok I am in but will post my challenge when I get back from the UK

Okay, here is mine.

Challenge Title: Read the Books I Own Challenge
Challenge Duration: Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010
Goal: 24 books
Challenge Description: Read 2 books each month that I personally owned. This is to cure my tendency to prioritize library books all the time, while my personal TBR shelf grows out-of-proportion.

Will post titles as I go.

Challenge title: Seriously, finish it! Series completion challenge
Duration: Jan 1st to December 31st 2010
Challenge Description: My most important reading goal for 2010 is finish a series. I choose to start with The Breeds by Lora Leigh. Will post another series once completed.

Breeds
Bk1:Tempting the Beast 12-09
Bk2:The Man Within 10-09
Bk3:Elizabeth's Wolf[tbr:]
Bk4:Kiss of Heat 10-09
Bk5:Soul Deep[tbr:]
Bk6:The Breed Next Door[hotspell antho.:][tbr:]
Bk7:Megan's Mark[tbr:]
Bk8:Harmony's Way[tbr:]
Bk9:Tanner's Scheme[tbr:]
Bk10:Wolf's Hope[tbr:]
Bk11:Jacob's Faith
Bk12:Aiden's Charity
Bk13:In a wolf's embrace
Bk14]dawn's awakening
bk15]A jaguar's kiss
bk16]Mercury's War
bk17Christmas Heat[magical christmas cat antho.:][tbr:]
bk18]coyote's mate[tbr:]
bk19]bengal's heart[tbr:]
bk20]a christmas Kiss[hot for the holidays antho.:][tbr:]
bk21]lion's heat

Can't remember if I've added mine:

I'm trying to read 100 books or more in a year. I don't have a specific list, but I have a huge pile of to be read books in my office closet waiting for me. THis challenge started for me on Dec. 16 (with my mom's group), so I've read three so far, and 97 to go!

Cleaning the TBR pile seem to be a popular theme!

Challenge Title: Sarah's 2010 TBR "Serial Killer" Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 14
Challenge Description: I'm bad about getting an entire series and only reading the first book. The remaining books seem to sit on my TBR pile, begging for me to come back to them. My goal with this challenge is to pick two of those series and read all the books currently in print. The two I've most been thinking about are the "Dirk & Steele" series by Marjorie M. Liu and the "Midnight Breed" series by Lara Adrian.

Completed: 4/14
List of Books:

Dirk & Steele
2. Shadow Touch 2/4
3. The Red Heart of Jade
4. Dark Dreamers
5. Eye of Heaven
6. Soul Song
7. The Last Twilight
8. The Wild Road
9. The Fire King

Midnight Breed
2. Kiss of Crimson 1/4
3. Midnight Awakening 3/22
4. Midnight Rising 7/25
5. Veil of Midnight
6. Ashes of Midnight
7. Shades of Midnight

I'm taking inspiration from Julie's idea.

Challenge Title: Mary's "Stir the Dust" Challenge
Duration: 01/01/10 - 12/31/10
How many?: 0/12 completed
Description: Read twelve books that have been sitting on my GR TBR shelf for at least a year.

List of Books
Incubus Dreams by L.K. Hamilton
The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
The War of Mists by Robert Fanney
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Sabriel by Garth Nix

Ok, here's mine. Not as exciting as others but it will be good for me

Challenge title: Count-down-the-difference
Duration: Jan 1st 2010 - Dec 31st 2010
Number of books: 67+
Description: I have been neglecting other genres since starting PNR so my TBR mountain has only grown and I've neglected HEAPS of new books so this is to make sure I read a variety. Rules - can cross-post with other challenges but NOT within this challenge. Each category must be filled with a different title.


TEN of my oldest books on Mt. TBR...
1. Last Kiss Goodbye - Rita Herron (mine)
2. To Die for - Linda Howard

NINE paranormals/urban fantasy ...
1. Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs

EIGHT romantic suspense...

SEVEN young adult...

SIX historical romance...
1. Wild and Wicked in Scotland - Melody Thomas


FIVE contemporary romance...
1. Simply Sinful (my own)

FOUR new authors...
1. Karen Chance - Touch the dark
2. Deb Stover - The gift

THREE trilogies...
1. Circle trilogy - Nora Roberts
finished 31/01/10

TWO complete series (from start to the most recent title)...
1. Fever series


ONE auto/biography...


I will post as I go. =)

new rule (for me) - no using re-reads to fill the categories. Must be new reads.

WOW LibraryLass, now that is what I call a challenge! Talk about making dents! Sounds pretty exciting to me, you are much braver than I am with my piddly lil 12 books LOL! You go, girl! Good luck! :)

Thanks Mary, hopefully I haven't bitten off more than I can chew hahahaha!

What a great challenge LibraryLass!! I think I'm going to have to steal some of your ideas!

Here is my list...

Challenge Title: Val's stolen from LibraryLass & tweaked challenge!
Duration: Jan 1, 2010 thru Dec 31, 2010
Number of Books: 67+
Description: Books that I just need to finish already! Thank you again LibraryLass for the challenge idea!!!

Ten books from my TBR mountain of books
Nine Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books
Eight books that complete 1 or more series that I started and didn't finish
Seven Mystery/Cozy Mystery books
Six Harlequin Romance books
Five Romantic Suspense books
Four New Authors
Three Young Adult books
Two Chick-Lit/Contemporary books
One Complete Series (from start to most recent title)

Challenge Title: Paranormal Overload
Challenge Duration: Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010
Goal: 60 books
Challenge Description: Read 10 books each where a main character is one of the following paranormal creatures.

Vampires
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Were/Shifters
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Fae
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Demons/Angels
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

God/Goddess
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Other and Strange Paranormal Creatures {ie. this category is for not the usual paranormal creature such as psy, monere, shadowdwellers, valkyrie, etc}
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Valorie wrote: "What a great challenge LibraryLass!! I think I'm going to have to steal some of your ideas!

Here is my list...

Challenge Title: Val's stolen from LibraryLass & tweaked challenge!
Duration: Jan 1,..."

Wahoo, Valorie! Welcome to the madness. Aren't we in for some fun? =)

Challenge Title: Read My Own Books
Duration: January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Number of Books: 50
Challenge Description: I tend to go overboard in checking books out from the library and never read my own books. I think I may have read 10 books that I own in 2009. My goal is to read at least 50 books that I own in 2010.

I will post my list as I go.

LibraryLass wrote: "Valorie wrote: "What a great challenge LibraryLass!! I think I'm going to have to steal some of your ideas!

Here is my list...

Challenge Title: Val's stolen from LibraryLass & tweaked challenge!..."

I'm so excited! Cant wait to start!

Year long challenge
Challenge title: Romance through history
Duration: Jan 1st 2010 - Dec 31st 2010
Number of books: 12
Description: I am going to read 12 romance titles that helped shape the genre through history. I might read one a month or read them all in December :)
*This list was hard to put together! So I am going to say that this is "subject to change". I think this is the list I am going to stick with but if I come across something else that belongs on the list I might add to it or substitute.*

1/12 read

1. Pamela Or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson 1740
*bonus* Parody of Pamela Joseph Andrews/Shamela by Henry Fielding 1741
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin 1813
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 1847
4. Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope 1861
5. Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson 1884
6. A Room With a View by E.M. Forster 1908
7. The Sheik by E.M. Hull 1919
8. The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer 1929
9. Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart 1955
10. The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss 1972 01/21
11. Playing The Odds by Nora Roberts 1985
12. Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz 1986
*bonus*A Natural History of the Romance Novel by Pamela Regis

Shazzy -- hehehehe. I have that problem with putting books by my bed to be read. Unfortunately, the pile gets so big at times that they start to fall behind the end-table. WOops! ;)

You have Feast of Fools twice, Shazzy, as 22 and 26.

Here is my list...

Challenge Title: Val's stolen from LibraryLass & tweaked challenge!
Duration: Jan 1, 2010 thru Dec 31, 2010
Number of Books: 0/62
Description: Books that I just need to finish already! Thank you again LibraryLass for the challenge idea!!!

Ten books from my TBR mountain of books
1. Legend of the Jade Dragon by Yasmine Galenorn
2. Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank
3. Rapture by Jacquelyn Frank
4. The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter
5. Taken by Sin by Jaci Burton
6. In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell
7. Red Fire by Deidre Knight
8. Lord of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff
9. Eyes of Fire by C.J. England
10. Elijah by Jacquelyn Frank

Nine Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books
1. Eve of Chaos by S.J. Day
2. Torn by Julie Kenner
3. Turned by Julie Kenner
4. Dark Nights, Dark Dreams by Savannah Russe
5. Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank
6. Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy
7. Bled Dry by Erin McCarthy
8. Sucker Bet by Erin McCarthy
9. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

Eight books that complete 1 or more series that I started and didn't finish
1. Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl
2. Stay The Night by Lynn Viehl
3. Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian
4. Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian
5. Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian
6. Ashes of Midnight by Lara Adrian
7. Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian
8. Lord of the Night by Robin T. Popp

Seven Mystery/Cozy Mystery books
1. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt
2. Just Desserts by G.A. McKevett
3. The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner
4. Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn
5. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
6. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
7. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

Six Harlequin Romance books
1. Guardians:Eternally by Maureen Child
2. Vow to Protect by Ann Voss Peterson
3.
4.
5.
6.

Five Romantic Suspense books
1. Shoot to Thrill by Nina Bruhns
2. Thrill Me to Death by Roxanne St. Claire
3. Intimate Danger by Amy J. Fetzer
4. Spy Games by Gina Robinson
5. Hidden Agendas by Lora Leigh

Four New Authors
1. Tracey O'Hara - Nights Cold Kiss
2. Kelly Meading - Three Days to Dead
3. Juliet Blackwell - Secondhand Spirits
4. Jessa Slade - Seduced in Shadows
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Three Young Adult books
1. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
2. Wake by Lisa McMann
3. Fade by Lisa McMann
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Two Chick-Lit/Contemporary books
1. The Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter
2. A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur's Court by Marianne Mancusi

One Complete Series (from start to most recent title)
1. Wolf Tales 1-8 by Kate Douglas

Good series, huh? I just started the most recent book, Fade Out.