Aleksandra's Corner

"Waiting On" Wednesday #61: The Darkest Seduction & Forgiven!

2012-01-25T15:15:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Darkest Seduction

(Lords of the Underworld, book #9)

Gena Showalter

Publication date:

February 21st, 2012

Ok, I finally catched up with the series - I finished The Darkest Surrender just a few days ago & now of course I'm waiting for this one! Although not a big fan of Paris (at first I didn't like him, than for I think 2 of the books I felt sorry for him & I liked him, but than I just started disliking him more & more, but I know that Gena will make me like him again or at least to enjoy his & Sienna's story! I have to admit that The Darkest Surrender was the book I liked the least, so I'm hoping this one will be much better.

Summary:

At long last, New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter unveils the story of Paris, the darkest and most tormented Lord of the Underworld..

Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive - but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he'd thought was forever beyond his reach.until now.

Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet in Paris's arms, the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up.

Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally - or tear them apart?

Forgiven

(The Demon Trappers, book #3)

Jana Oliver

Publication date:

February 3rd, 2012

Ok, so far I've read only the 1st book in the series Forsaken (in USA The Demon Trapper's Daughter) almost a year ago & I enjoyed it a lot, but when the sequel was out, I kept postponing buying it & than I decided to wait for this one & than read all books again, including re-reading Forsaken & reading the prequel novella Retro Demonology, so I just picked up Forbidden (the 2nd book - I have the UK editions, in USA it's Soul Thief) from the post office yesterday & I've already pre-ordered Forgiven & I can't wait to get it so I can read the series :) I don't know if there are spoilers in the summary below - I didn't read it just in case there are, so If you haven't read the first 2 books, don't read it if you don't like spoilers ;)

Summary:

Jana Oliver's third spellbinding Demon Trappers novel - following The Demon Trapper's Daughter a.k.a Forsaken and Soul Thief a.k.a Forbidden - brings all new thrills, as Riley Blackthorne takes on demons, love... and the future of the human race.

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father's reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican's Demon Hunters that she's working with Hell. So now she's in hiding, at the top of everyone's most-wanted list.

But it's becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta. or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm's way. Riley thinks she might know who's behind it all, but who's going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming - and it may be closer than anyone thinks.

Top 5 Sundays: Series I Plan to Start in 2012!

2012-01-22T21:39:00.002+01:00

Ok, so although reading it regularly, I haven't participated until now in this meme, but now I finally am ;)

Anyway, if you don't know, Top 5 Sundays is a weekly feature with a different bookish theme hosted by Larissa at her blog Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life. You can join HERE!

So, this week's theme is Series I Plan to Start in 2012 & here's my list in no particular order:

Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent

One of the series I've been planning to finally read in 2012 is the Soul Screamers - I even signed up for The Soul Screamers Reading Challenge. I actually already started it this week & I already read the prequel novella My Soul to Lose & the 1st book My Soul to Take & I loved them, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

The Dark Tower by Stephen King

One more of the series I've been planning to read for years, so I signed up for The Dark Tower Reading Challenge for this one, too, so I will finally start & hopefully read the series this year, including the new book that should be published this year.

Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne

Katherine "Kitty" Katt by Gini Koch

Living with the Dead by Jesse Petersen

Of course, there are a lot more series I'm hoping & planning to finally read or start this year, so here are some special mentions:

Trylle by Amanda Hocking

Sirantha Jax by Ann Aguirre

Sabina Kane by Jaye Wells

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones

John Cleaver by Dan Wells

Dusty Reads #2: "Raven Stole the Moon" by Garth Stein!

2012-01-17T16:57:00.000+01:00

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted by Giselle @ Xpresso Reads, featuring a book that has been sitting unread on our home shelf for some time.

Books don't have to be 'x' years old. If you've had the book for a few months without reading it, it's dusty! ;)

In this haunting debut, Garth Stein brilliantly invokes his Native American heritage and its folklore to create an electrifying supernatural thriller. When a grieving mother returns to the remote Alaskan town where her young son drowned, she discovers that the truth about her son's death is shrouded in legend—and buried in a terrifying wrinkle between life and death.

When Jenna Rosen abandons her comfortable Seattle life to return to Wrangell, Alaska, it's a wrenching return to her past. Long ago the home of her Native American grandmother, Wrangell is located near the Thunder Bay resort, where Jenna's young son, Bobby, disappeared two years before. His body was never recovered, and Jenna is determined to lay to rest the aching mysterey of his death. But the spectacular town provides little comfort beyond the steady and tender affections of Eddie, a local fisherman. And then whispers of ancient legends begin to suggest a frightening new possibility about Bobby's fate. Soon, Jenna must sift thourgh the beliefs of her ancestors, the Tlingit— who still tell of powerful, menacing forces at work in the Alaskan wilderness.

There beliefs are shared by Dr. David Livingstone, a practicing shaman who had been hired to "cleanse" Thunder Bay of its resless spirits. The experience alsmost cost him his life, and he warns Jenna about the danger of disturbing the legendary kushtaka—soul-stealing predators that stalk a netherworld between land and sea, the living and the dead. But Jenna is desperate for answers, and she appeals to both Livingstone and Eddie to help her sort fact from myth, and face the unthinkable possibilities head-on. Armed with nothing but a mother's ferocious protective instincts, Jenna's quest for the truth about her son—and the strength of her beliefs—is about to pull her into a terrifying and life-changing abyss...

Coloring powerful legend with universal emotions, Garth Stein masterfully evokes our most primal dreams and fears. Remarkably vivid and relentlessly suspensful, Raven Stole the Moon marks the arrival of a stunningly imaginative new talent.

Teaser Tuesdays #43!

2012-01-17T16:50:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Kaia’s hands curled into fists, her sharpening nails cutting past skin. Warm - too warm - trickles of blood slid between her knuckles before dripping onto the floor."

- from The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter.

"The big guy who's pulled me into the crowd stepped forward and I realized he was human. That really pissed me off and I decided he would be the first to get shot."

- from They Call me Death by Missy Jane.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #70

2012-01-16T01:44:00.003+01:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is being hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This is a great weekly event where everyone can keep track of the books finished last week & the books planning to read this week!

Last week I read the following 3 books:

I'm still reading The Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. I enjoyed a lot both The Darkest Lie (Gideon & Scarlet are my fav LotU couple now) & The Darkest Secret & now I'm reading The Darkest Surrender - the last of the published books in the series & I'll finish it soon.

The Teacher's Tales of Terror & Traction City are actually 2-in-1 book. Traction City is a prequel (I think it's a prequel, I'm not sure - but it's a story set in that world) to the Mortal Engines series which I haven't read (I actually bought the book because I own the Tales of Terror series & wanted to have this one, too), but I definitely will read The Mortal Engines series, too, 'cause the steampunk world the author has created sounds really interesting interesting & The Teacher's Tales of Terror is small addition to the great Tales of Terror series with only 3 stories (although I actually count them as 4).

Again I've started so many books, but except for The Darkest Surrender - I don't know which of them I'll continue to read this week ;) As always, it all depends on my mood!

WWW Wednesdays #50!

2012-01-11T15:31:00.000+01:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
This weekly meme is being hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?

"Waiting On" Wednesday #60: Partials!

2012-01-11T15:26:00.001+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Partials

(Partials, book #1)

Dan Wells

Publication date:

February 28th, 2012

Summary:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

Teaser Tuesdays #42!

2012-01-10T11:10:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Eleven warriors stood at his sides, their eyes glowing bright red, their skin merely a mask that concealed the hideous monsters lurking underneath. Monsters with sharp-tipped horns knifing from their skulls, poisonous fangs jutting from their mouths, and oozing scales rather than peach-tinted flesh."

- from The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter.

Dusty Reads #1: "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon!

2012-01-10T10:57:00.000+01:00

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted by Giselle @ Xpresso Reads, featuring a book that has been sitting unread on our home shelf for some time.

Books don't have to be 'x' years old. If you've had the book for a few months without reading it, it's dusty! ;)

Barcelona, 1945—Just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes one day to find that he can no longer remember his mother’s face. To console his only child, Daniel’s widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona’s guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again.

Daniel’s father coaxes him to choose a book from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the book he selects, a novel called The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax’s work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last of Carax’s books in existence.

Before Daniel knows it, his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness, and doomed love, and before long he realizes that if he doesn’t find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.

This one was one of the books that was on my must-buy list for a few years & that I thought that when I'll buy it, I'll read it at once, but although I finally bought it over a year ago, still haven't read it, I just keep postponing, but I decided to (hopefully) read it this year ;)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #69

2012-01-09T01:08:00.001+01:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is being hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This is a great weekly event where everyone can keep track of the books finished last week & the books planning to read this week!

Last week I read / finished the following books:

I enjoyed all of these books, but Best Read of the Week was without a doubt The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper. It reminded me how much I love steampunk & I can't wait for the next book!!!

What I'll be reading this week?

I decided to catch up with two series: Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld & Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate, so that's what I'll be reading again this week!

Happy Reading & Have A Great Week!!!

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge!

2012-01-08T20:12:00.000+01:00

The 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge is hosted by Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila!

CLICK ME to see the entire 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List.

The Levels:

Level I - Read 5 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List

Level II - Read 10 books

Level III - Read 15 books

Level IV - Read 20 books

Level V - Read 20+ books

The Rules:
Challenge will run January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.
Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
Sign up with the MckLinky HERE. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page.
Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.
All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

For more detailed info & to sign up, go HERE!

I'll go with Level III & try to read these 15 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List!

My Reading List:

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
4. Paper Towns by John Green
5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
6. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
7. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
8. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
9. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
10. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
11. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
12. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
13. Fire by Kristin Cashore
14. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
15. I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

Read Me Baby, One More Time Challenge 2012!

2012-01-08T19:35:00.000+01:00

Kate @ Midnight Book Girl is hosting again the Read Me Baby, One More Time Challenge 2012!

The goal is to re-read books & starts January 1st 2012 & ends December 31st 2012!

The Levels:

Trip Down Memory Lane: 1-3 re-reads
Reliving the Past: 4-8 re-reads
Back To The Future: 9-12 re-reads
Groundhog Day Reader: 13-20 re-reads
You've Got a Serious Problem and Really Need to Go Book Shopping: 21+ re-reads

For more info & to sign up, CLICK ME!

I want to re-read quite a lot books this year (the Harry Potter books are some of them), so I decided to go with the Back To The Future level & re-read 9-12 books, although I might end up re-reading more ;)

I'll just list them as I read them!

My Reading List:

2nds Challenge 2012!

2012-01-07T16:48:00.001+01:00

Once again I'm signing up for the 2nd Challenge - this will be the 3rd time I'm participating, too.

This challenge is hosted by Katy @ A Few More Pages!

To sign up for this challenge, visit this post HERE at the challenge blog!

As always, the goal is to read books that are 2nd in a series or second time you’ve read an author between January 1st & December 31st, 2012.

There are four levels to choose from in this challenge:
Just a spoonful - Read 3 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
A few more bites - Read 6 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
A full plate - Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
All you can eat - Read 20 books (or more) that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.

This time I decided to list only books that are 2nd in a series.

I'll just list them as I read them!

I'll go with the A Full Plate level & read 12 books that are 2nd in a series!

My Reading List:

1st in a Series Challenge 2012!

2012-01-07T16:40:00.000+01:00

Although I didn't plan to sign up for this challenge again, I couldn't resist & decided to sign up again - I think this will be the 3rd time I'm participating.

This challenge is hosted by Katy @ A Few More Pages!

To sign up for this challenge, visit this post HERE at the challenge blog!

As always, the goal is to read books that are 1st in a series between January 1st & December 31st, 2012.

There are four levels for this challenge:

Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

As always, I'll go with the Series Fanatic level & read 20 books that are 1st in a series.

I'll just list them as I read them!

My Reading List:

1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (Clockwork Empire #1)
2. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers #1)

Clocks, Cogs and Mechanisms Reading Challenge 2012!

2012-01-07T16:25:00.000+01:00

So, who loves steampunk? I know I do, that's why I decided to sign up for the Clocks, Cogs and Mechanisms Reading Challenge 2012 hosted by SarcasticMuse at her blog!

To sign up, visit the post HERE!

This challenge runs from January 1st-December 31st.

The goal is to read steampunk books!

If you want some more information about steampunk follow the link for more information: Steampunk

What do I (SarcasticMuse) let count as steampunk?
You can count books like "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells and other books that are considered precursors to steampunk, I have no problem with you counting graphic novels like Full Metal Alchemist.

They do not have to be on a paper to count, your ebooks count as well.

You can also count these books towards other challenges.

There are 4 levels:
Brass Gears: Read 1-3 steampunk books
Flight Goggles: 4-6 books
Button-up Boots: 7-12 books
Clockwork Corset: 13+ books

I decided to go with the Flight Goggles level & read 4-6 steampubk books!
I'll just list them as I read them.

My Reading List:
1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper
2. Blameless by Gail Carriger
3. Heartless by Gail Carriger - reading
4.
5.
6.

12 Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic in 12 Months Reading Challenge!

2012-01-07T11:51:00.000+01:00

Rosey, Jenn & Evangeline @ Rosey's Review (now Rosey & Friends) are hosting the 12 Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic in 12 Months Reading Challenge!

Info:

*Goal is to read 12 books in a year. You can pick ANY 12 books you want and read. Starts Jan 1-Dec 31st.

*You can join at anytime.

*Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).

*You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. Some people have just a Goodreads page. You can keep track on there too!

*Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge. Please include a link back to this post so other readers can join the challenge too.

*You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so!!! If you do review books on your blog contact me because I would love to read them.

To sign up for this challenge, visit the challenge post HERE!

I love dystopians, but I found out that I'm more an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic girl, so this challenge is perfect for me, because I'll read them both! I'll try to read half dystopians & half post-apocalyptic books, but we will see ;) I'll just list the books as I read them!

My Reading List:

Reading Challenge Addict 2012!

2012-01-07T11:29:00.000+01:00

From the sign up post HERE:

Good day, Addicts!!!

It's that time of year where we finally admit to our addictions and try to do something about them. Some of us need to admit we have a bit of a problem. Some of us need to admit we have a huge problem. Some of us just really want to enjoy each other's pain and humiliation while completing challenges. (That's why CMash does this with me... so she can spend the year laughing uproariously at my futile attempts to cut back.)

Cheryl from CMash Loves to Read and Gina from Hott Books are two such people. We each can stand proudly and say,
I am a Reading Challenge Addict.

So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict.

We'll be giving away prizes and recognizing those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they've entered.

How addicted are you?
Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
Rules:
We're not making this a difficult challenge, actually, it's going to be very simple!
This challenge will begin on January 1, 2012 and end on December 31, 2012.
Write a starting post joining the challenge and outlining your challenges.
Track all of your challenge accomplishments - good & bad.
Stop by to join us in the mini-challenges, updates & extra giveaways throughout the year.

Easy, right? Who wants to be in on the fun? What else will we be doing? We'll have giveaways for our participants to enter and unannounced special drawings for commenters on the site so be sure to leave your email address with your comment! Are you ready?

Sign up here to enter:

Join us to stamp out our addictiveness to reading challenges -- or just help us find more & enjoy our obsessiveness.

Ok, I'm one big challenge addict, and this year although I decided to try & lower the number of challenges I'll sign up for, I failed & I already signed up for over 20 challenges & I got my eye on at least half that, but I'll try not to sign up for all of them ;)

Anyway, I'll go with the Out of This World level & 16+ Challenges! I'll just list them as I complete them!

My Challenge List:

Soul Screamers Reading Challenge!

2012-01-07T11:06:00.002+01:00

Rachel @ Fiktshun decided to host the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge!

The Soul Screamers Reading Challenge will begin on January 15, 2012 and end on June 14, 2012.

The Goal is to read (or re-read) and review (or post about) all five full-length books in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent between January 15 and June 14, 2012. In addition to the five books for the challenge, there will be extra entries for each of the three Soul Screamers novellas you read.

Books must be read and reviewed between January 15th and June 14th. You can read and review them at any time during the challenge, but each book you read and review during the scheduled month will give you an extra entry into the Before I Wake giveaway at the end of the challenge.

You can read the books in any format or edition you’d like – eBook, audiobook or even in print!

Each month, on the 15th, there will be a post in which you can link up your reviews or posts for THAT MONTH ONLY. You can leave more than one link if you’ve read and reviewed more than one of the books that month.

THE BOOKS

My Soul to Take

January 15-February 14, 2012

My Soul to Save

February 15-March 14, 2012

My Soul to Keep

March 15-April 14-2012

My Soul to Steal

April 15-May14, 2012

If I Die

May 15-June 14, 2012

THE NOVELLAS

My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers 0.5)

Reaper (Soul Screamers 3.5)

Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers 5.5)

For more detailed info about this challenge & to sign up, visit the challenge post HERE!

I still haven't started the series, although it's been on my reading list for at least a couple of years now, so when I saw this challenge, I thought it's a perfect opportunity to finally read them. I'm planning to read all the books & novellas! I'll just cross over them below as I read & review them.

My Reading List:

~~My Soul to Lose~~ - my review

~~My Soul to Take~~ - my review

My Soul to Save

My Soul to Keep

Reaper

My Soul to Steal

If I Die

Never to Sleep

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2012!

2012-01-05T19:08:00.001+01:00

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2012 is hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews!
Here are the rules guidelines:

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc. etc.)

2) It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky at my new blog for this challenge. Click here to sign up and go over there now, but make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge.

5) If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.

6) Any format of book counts - audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level....

Level 1 - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series.

I'll go with Level 3 & complete at list 3 series!

I'll list them as I read them!

1. Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger:
- Book #3: Blameless - read
- Book #4: Heartless - reading
- Book #5: Timeless - tbr

2. Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter:
- Book #5: The Darkest Passion - read
- Book #6: The Darkest Lie - read
- Book #7: The Darkest Secret - read
- Book #8: The Darkest Surrender - read
- Book #9: The Darkest Seduction - tbr

3. Morpheus Road by D. J. MacHale
- Book #3: The Blood - tbr

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Book Challenge 2012!

2012-01-05T18:59:00.001+01:00

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Book Challenge 2012 is hosted by Hanna @ Booking In Heels!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was a film released in 2003 based on a graphic novel by Alan Moore. The movie features various classic book characters who all form a League to stop various classic villians from taking over the world.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to read the original book featuring each of the main characters and post a review of each between 1st January 2012 and the 31st December.

Books to read to complete the challenge:
King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
Dracula by Bram Stoker
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

For more detailed info about this challenge & to sign up, go HERE!

2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!

2012-01-05T18:34:00.002+01:00

Welcome to 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!!!

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up...

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

Challenge guidelines:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.
You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!
Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Hosts:

Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

Wrap-up POST Schedule:
January - Donna (Theme: Let It Snow + Book Cover Challenge)
February - Nicole (Theme: Un-requited Love/Love Gone Wrong + Advice Column Challenge)
March - Rie (Theme: Green or Pinched + Green Cover Challenge)
April - Bonnie (Theme: Easter + Mini Challenge)
May - Christa (Theme: MayDay - Disaster Books! + Cover Disaster Challenge)
June - Jenna ( Theme: Camping + Sentence Challenge)
July - Rie (Theme: International Day + Cover Comparison Challenge)
August - Angel (Theme: Summer Memories + Send Your Fav Character On Vacation Challenge)
September - Nicole (Theme: Life Changing Books + Mini Challenge)
October - Caitlin (Theme: Thanksgiving Theme + Share-A-Book Challenge)
November - Vicky (Theme: Spooky Halloween + Book Puzzle Challenge)
December - Evie (Theme: Xmas Bliss + Book Bachelor Challenge)

Although I already know which books I'll probably read, I decided not to make a list, but I'll just list the books as I read them! I'll go with the 3rd level: A Sweet Kiss & try to read 21-30 books!

My Reading List:
1. Blameless by Gail Carriger
2. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

The Four Month Challenge - Part 8!

2012-01-05T18:17:00.002+01:00

The Four Month Challenge - Part 8 is hosted by MartinaCK @ Book Drunkard!

This challenge starts January 1st 2012 & ends April 30th 2012!

My Points: 30 of 250!

To sign up, visit this post HERE!

5 Point Challenges

~~Read a book by an author who’s first or last name starts with J~~ - Stuck With You by Trish Jensen
Read a book set in ancient Rome
Read a book that is a retelling of a fairy tale
Read a book by an author writing under another name
Read a book you’ve been meaning to read for ages

10 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author who’s first or last name starts with F
Read a book with the word ‘love’ in the title
Read a book with a flower in the title or on the cover
Read a book with a book on the cover
Read a book set in the wild west

20 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author who’s first or last name starts with M
Read a book set in ancient Egypt
Read a book about pirates or that is set on a boat
Read the 100th book on your shelf
Read a book you’ve read before

25 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author who’s first or last name starts with A
Read a Dystopian novel
~~Read a book by an author with 12 letters in their name (Combined)~~ - The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper
Read a book about a royal (fiction or non-fiction)
Read a book with an animal in the title or on the cover

Debut Author Challenge 2012!

2012-01-05T16:16:00.000+01:00

Once again Kristi @ The Story Siren is hosting the Debut Author Challenge!

For more details about this challenge & to sign up, visit these posts HERE & HERE!

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:

To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.*

*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.

Any advance reader copies you read from 2012 BEFORE the January 1st start date DO NOT count toward the challenge!
You can read twelve books in one month, or one book a month. It doesn’t matter as long as you have 12 read by the end of the year!

RULES & GUIDELINES:

You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads. Youtube Book Reviewers count too!
Your blog/video must be written in English.
Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:

Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE 2012 DAC, CAN BE FOUND HERE!

I'll just list the books as I read them!

My Reading List:
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2012 Books Won Challenge!

2012-01-05T15:00:00.000+01:00

Once again Teddy Rose @ So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is hosting the 2012 Books Won Challenge!

I participated last year, but didn't complete it :( but I'm glad she's hosting it again! This time I'll go with the Bronze level & read 4-6 books I won, although I hope I'll read a lot more! I'll just list the books as I read them!

The Levels are:
Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.
Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.
Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.
Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.

The Rules:
     1. You must write a review for each book that you read for it to count. If you do not have a blog you can write your reviews on a place like Amazon, Powell's, Chapters, Goodreads, etc.
     2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay and you can join this challenge anytime throughout the year.

     3. Audiobooks and ebooks count, as long as you won them.
     4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level.
     5. You don't have to make a list ahead of time for this challenge but you can if you want to.
For more info about this challenge & to sign up, visit the post HERE!

My Reading List:
1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper
2. They Call Me Death by Missy Jane
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The Dark Tower Reading Challenge 2012!

2012-01-05T14:47:00.000+01:00

I still haven't read the Dark Tower series, although it's been on my tbr list for years, so when I saw this challenge, I decided to sign up, so I'll finally read the series!

The Dark Tower Reading Challenge is hosted by Samantha @ Leighanne's Lit!

The books in the series are:
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982)
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004)
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012) - BONUS!
For more detailed info about this challenge & to sign up, visit this post HERE!

2012 Sports Romance Reading Challenge!

2012-01-05T14:36:00.001+01:00

Tena @ Crazy Book Slut is hosting the 2012 Sports Romance Reading Challenge & I decided to join!

Challenge starts January 1st 2012 & ends December 31st 2012!

Crossover's with other challenges are okay, ebooks are okay!

Levels:
Pee Wee: 1-3 books
Jr. Varsity: 4-7 books
Varsity: 8-11 books
Pro Baby: anything over 11 books

To sign up for this challenge, visit the post HERE!

I decided to go with Jr. Varsity level & read 4-7 sport romance books!

I'll just list the books as I read them!

My Reading List:
1. Time Out by Jill Shalvis
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The Doctor Reading Challenge 2012!

2012-01-05T14:16:00.001+01:00

When I saw this challenge, I couldn't resist! I'm big fan of the Doctor Who series & although I've read 5 or 6 Doctor Who books so far, I didn't read any in 2011, so this is a perfect year to read a few more!

The Doctor Reading Challenge 2012 is hosted by Jenn @ Simply Challenging & starts January 1st 2012 & ends December 31st 2012!

For more info about this challenge & to sign up, visit this post HERE!

There are 11 levels:

First Doctor - read 2 Doctor Who books
Second Doctor - read 5 Doctor Who books
Third Doctor - read 10 Doctor Who books
Fourth Doctor - read 15 Doctor Who books
Fifth Doctor - read 20 Doctor Who books
Sixth Doctor - read 25 Doctor Who books
Seventh Doctor - read 30 Doctor Who books
Eighth Doctor - read 40 Doctor Who books
Ninth Doctor - read 50 Doctor Who books
Tenth Doctor - read 75 Doctor Who books
Eleventh Doctor - read 100+ Doctor Who books

I decided to go with the Second Doctor level & read 5 Doctor Who books!
I'll just list them as I read them, although I'll try to read at least one book with the 9th, 10th & 11th Doctor!

My Reading List:

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2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge!

2012-01-05T12:35:00.000+01:00

The 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge is hosted by Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf!

To sign up for this challenge & for more detailed info about it, CLICK ME!

Challenge Rules:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012. I will be posting a place to link up a sign-up post (below), reviews and a wrap-up post. (Note: You do not have to review the books to participate, but only those who link up reviews will be entered for the prize)
Grab the reading challenge button (code & button below) and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate- you could track your progress and post reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.
Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction. However, they should not be reference books which are not read cover to cover-I will leave this to your discretion.
Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
Have some Witchy Good Fun !!!

The Levels:

Initiate: Read 1 - 5 Witchy Books

Maiden: Read 6 - 10 Witchy Books

Mother: Read 11 - 15 Witchy Books

Crone: Read 16 - 20 Witchy Books

I already planned to re-read the HP series this year & I have some other books with witches lined up, so this challenge is perfect & I decided to go with the Maiden level & read 6-10 Witchy books! I'll just list the books as I read them!

My Reading List!

Aleksandra's Corner

"Waiting On" Wednesday #61: The Darkest Seduction & Forgiven!

Top 5 Sundays: Series I Plan to Start in 2012!

Dusty Reads #2: "Raven Stole the Moon" by Garth Stein!

Teaser Tuesdays #43!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #70

WWW Wednesdays #50!

"Waiting On" Wednesday #60: Partials!

Teaser Tuesdays #42!

Dusty Reads #1: "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #69

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge!

Read Me Baby, One More Time Challenge 2012!

2nds Challenge 2012!

1st in a Series Challenge 2012!

Clocks, Cogs and Mechanisms Reading Challenge 2012!

12 Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic in 12 Months Reading Challenge!

Reading Challenge Addict 2012!

I am a Reading Challenge Addict.

How addicted are you?

Rules:

Soul Screamers Reading Challenge!

THE BOOKS

My Soul to Take

My Soul to Save

My Soul to Keep

My Soul to Steal

If I Die

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2012!

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2012 is hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Book Challenge 2012!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Book Challenge 2012 is hosted by Hanna @ Booking In Heels!

Books to read to complete the challenge:

King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard

Dracula by Bram Stoker

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!

The Four Month Challenge - Part 8!

Debut Author Challenge 2012!

2012 Books Won Challenge!

The Dark Tower Reading Challenge 2012!

2012 Sports Romance Reading Challenge!

The Doctor Reading Challenge 2012!

2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge!