Books and Needlepoint

Read Aloud Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

Read Aloud Thursday is hosted at Hope is the Word. I forgot to add that last week!

Title: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Author: Virginia Lee Burton
Published: 1939

If I would have told my son that this book was published the year after his grandma was born, he probably would have thought I was crazy. After we read it, when I asked him what he liked the most about it, he started flipping through the book saying "this part, and this part, and this part" so I think he enjoyed it.

Mike has a steam shovel that he has named Mary Anne. He has worked with her for years and dug canals and helped build passages through mountains and airports. He has kept Mary Anne in really good condition. With the passage of time though comes innovation and soon there are gasoline, electric and Diesel shovels and no one wants to use Mary Anne anymore. They leave the city for the small town of Popperville, as they have heard they are building a new town hall. Mike makes them an offer that he and Mary Anne can dig the cellar in one day, and if they don't, then the town won't have to pay them.

Well, they don't think he can do it, so of course they take the bet. A little boy stops to watch and he invites more and more people throughout the day (because the more people are watching, the faster and better Mike and Mary Anne work). Now here comes my favorite part. They get the cellar built and here is the steam shovel and Mike down in the cellar - there is a good picture of this in the book - and my son says "How are they going to get out?" and I turn the page in the book and the little boy in the book says "How are they going to get out?" I looked at my son and asked him if he had heard this story before. He looked up with the childlike surprise and told me no. So I told him he must be the little boy in the story! (He liked that).

Well, rather than try to get Mary Anne out, they turn her into a furnace and Mike gets the job as janitor and they still get to spend every day together.

The book has some cute illustrations, also by Virginia Lee Burton. I especially like the sweet face on the steam shovel and some of her expressions!

Challenges: Excellence in Reading

Third Sentence Thursday: In Search of the Rose Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:19:00 +0000

Third Sentence Thursday is hosted by Proud Book Nerd - visit her site to see all the other entries!

Take the book you are currently reading, open it to a random page. Count three lines down and post it – it doesn’t even have to be a full sentence or anything. Just whatever’s on the third line. Feel free to share more (or a full sentence or two or three) if you’d prefer.
Share your thoughts on the sentence (or sentences).
Add a link to your blog post at Proud Book Nerd in the linky list.
Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentence(s).

Here's mine from In Search of the Rose Notes:

the poor stinking Toby. He already had enough problems that (p75)

I remember trying to pull my nostrils together using just my face muscles -- rather than my hands -- so as not to tip off the poor stinking Toby. He already had enough problems that he didn't need the girl sitting next to him holding her nose on top of it all.

YA Giveaway Hop (Jan 27th - 31st)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:33:00 +0000

I want to thank I am a Reader, Not a Writer for putting together this great blog hop. She is being helped out with this one by Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole.

I was going to give away one of the YA books that I have upstairs in our spare bedroom, but we have someone staying with us and she is already asleep, so I can't go up and pick one! I guess I will have to save those for the YA Paranormal Hop coming up in February! So, for this hop, I am going to giveaway any YA book up to $15 value (w/shipping if your country isn't a free ship country) from The Book Depository. This giveaway will be open to wherever Book Depository ships! So I think you guys definitely benefit from my house guest!

To enter the giveaway you will need to enter through the rafflecopter form below. Please be sure to check out my other rafflecopter giveaways while you are here! You can find them at the top of the blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Airel by Aaron Patterson (Book Review and Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:59:00 +0000

Title: Airel (The Airel Saga, Book 1)

Author: Aaron Patterson, Chris White
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink

About the book: All Airel ever wanted was to be normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like an incredible ability to heal. Then there s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous...and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything. Airel knew change would be an inevitable part of life. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?

My thoughts: Where to start? This was a very complex story - actually two stories. The book opens in the present day in Idaho. You begin to learn about a young girl named Airel, with all the typical teenage angst that is normal. What is not normal is that seemingly overnight Airel's appearance is changing. Her complexion is becoming flawless, her hair luxurious. Even though she sees the changes in the mirror, she still questions when the boy of her dreams, Michael, appears to be infatuated with her. When she discovers that she has the ability to heal quickly, she wonders who or what she really is.

The second storyline takes place in Arabia in 1250 B.C. Kreios, a fallen angel, has lost his wife right after the birth of his daughter and is on a journey to now save his daughter's life. In order to achieve this, he has to, quite literally, take flight. This flight attracts the unwanted attention of The Brotherhood. These are demons whose mission is to destroy all the angels who came to earth and married a mortal. The description of these demons, as well as the angels and the world they live in is told in great detail.

Even though the stories are thousands of years apart, they are eerily similar. You see, the demons are on the trail of Kreios in Arabia, and there is a killer on the loose in Idaho as well. Airel and Michael are kidnapped soon after Airel witnesses a killing while at the movies. They are taken to an unbelievable house seemingly buried in the forest. Airel doesn't know whether the killer has kidnapped her or saved her from being killed. What she does know is that she is falling in love with Michael and learning about who she really is.

I did enjoy this story, but felt like I kind of got bogged down in the center. The beginning grabbed me, but when it first flipped to Arabia, I kind of got lost. I stuck with it though and am glad that I did. The ending left me wide-eyed with - 'You can't stop there!' on my mind.

The second book in the series, Michael, is due out in May of this year.

~I received a complimentary ebook of Airel from StoneHouse Ink in exchange for my unbiased review.~

You can find out more about Airel on Facebook and Twitter.

Airel
Publisher/Publication Date: StoneHouse Ink, August 2011
ISBN: 978-0982607862
425 pages

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Challenges:
Speculative Fiction Reading
New Authors
Where Are You Reading?
A to Z Reading Challenge
YA Reading Challenge
Immortal Challenge
Paranormal challenge
Paranormal Romance
1st in a Series
ARC Reading Challenge (So Many Precious Books, So Little Time)
ARC Reading challenge (Eclectic Bookshelf)
E-Book Reading Challenge (Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge
Reading Romances Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge (the bookworm)
Speculative Romance Challenge

Library Loot (Jan 25 - Feb 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they've checked out from the library. If you'd like to participate, just write up your post - feel free to steal the button - and visit the above 2 blogs to see who has the Mr. Linky this week. Don't forget to check out what others are checking out!

Irises

by Francisco X. Stork

Kate is bound for college and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.

Then three young men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend, Simon, asks her to marry him, offering the girls some much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.

Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darkness in their sudden freedom. But it's their mother's life that might divide them for good -- the question of if she lives, and what's worth living for.

The Queen of Kentucky

by Alecia Whitaker

Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and fit in with the popular crowd at her small-town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes, and strikes up an unlikely flirtation with the freshman class's resident bad boy. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and neighbor, Luke, says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."

Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her.

After a serious incident on Luke's farm, Ricki Jo realizes that being a true friend is more important than being popular. . . and that the one boy who matters most has been next door all along.

Unearthly

by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place -- and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make -- between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Saving Zoe

by Alyson Noel

It's been on year since the brutal murder of her older sister, Zoe, and fifteen-year-old Echo is still reeling from the aftermath. Her parents are numb, her friends are moving on, and the awkward start to her freshman year proves she'll never live up to her sister's memory. Until Zoe's former boyfriend Marc shows up with Zoe's diary.

At first Echo's not interested, doubting there's anything in there she doesn't already know. But when curiosity prevails, she starts reading, becoming so immersed in her sister's secret world, their lives begin to blur, forcing Echo to uncover the truth behind Zoe's life so that she can start to rebuild her own.

Prepare to laugh your heart out and cry your eyes out in this highly addictive tale as Alyson Noel tackles the complicated relationship between two sisters and shows how the bond can endure long after one of them is gone.

Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster (Book Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:21:00 +0000

Title: Come Back to Me

Author: Melissa Foster
Publisher: Greenforge Books

About the Book: Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.

Tess struggles with the news of Beau’s death and tries to put her life back together. Alone and dealing with a pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations. When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

My thoughts: I pretty much read this book in one sitting, and that doesn't happen very often with me. I was very much caught up in the storyline and there were times when I was actually holding my breath, waiting to see what would happen. Tess, Beau, Alice, Kevin, Louie, Samira and her family - these are all real people, with real lives - not sugar-coated characters in a book. Life is messy. Relationships are messy. Sometimes we are not in control of what happens in our life, but somehow have to work with what is left when the dust settles. Melissa Foster makes her characters dig down deep, through the pain and the reality, and swim through it all back to the surface.

All through out the book, just the way that relationships were forming and situations were evolving, I knew that someone would probably be hurt in the end. I did not know how it could resolve itself so that everyone would be happy. Even coming to that conclusion, I definitely did not see this ending coming. My advice to you? Keep a box of kleenexes handy!

~I received a complimentary ebook from the author in exchange for my review.~

You can connect with Melissa in many places - on her blog, website, facebook, goodreads, and at WoMen's Literary Cafe.

Come Back to Me

Publisher/Publication Date: Greenforge Books, Nov 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0984716517

316 pages

Challenges:

Where Are You Reading?

A to Z Reading Challenge

ARC Reading Challenge (So Many Precious Books, So Little Time)

ARC Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)

Free Reads (Bookish Ardour)

Ebook Challenge (Workaday Reads)

E-book Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)

Find the Cover/Coversuch

Romance Reading Challenge (the bookworm)

Romance Reading Challenge (The Eclectic bookshelf)

A Winter's Respite Readathon (Jan 23 - 29) #WintersRespite

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:31:00 +0000

It's time for another Read-a-thon! A Winter's Respite Read-a-thon is being hosted by The True Book Addict and is starting tomorrow, Jan 23. It will run through next Sunday, Jan 29. Tomorrow is my full day of work so I am posting tonight with the hopes of being able to spend some time reading tomorrow night. She is going to have some mini-challenges and there will be a giveaway for everyone who signs in at the beginning and does a wrap up at the end - but mostly it will just be a week of laid back reading. You will already be reading right? So why not sign up!? Oh - and you don't need a blog to participate - you can sign up through Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. so go check it out!

I hope to read and/or finish the following books:
Family Storms by VC Andrews
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
In Search of Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault
Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster
Demi-Monde: Winter by Rod Rees

It's Monday! What are you reading? (Jan 23, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:31:00 +0000

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!

Currently reading:

Family Storms by V.C. Andrews

In Search of Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster

Books up this week:

Demi-Monde by Rod Rees

Archon: The Book of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West

Bathroom Book:

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Books finished since last post:

Airel by Aaron Patterson

More Than Words Can Say by Robert Barclay

Children's Books reviewed since last post:
Millions of Cats by Wanda Ga'g
Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian

Until next week ---- Ready - Set - Read!

Mailbox Monday! (Jan 23, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Mailbox Monday will be hosted in January by Alyce at At Home With Books. In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!

The Starboard Sea

by Amber Dermont

After the suicide of his friend and sailing partner, Jason Prosper transfers to a New England boarding school to finish his senior year. Here - amidst the stock market collapse of 1987, the abuses of class privilege, the mutability of sexual desire, and the risks of competitive sailing -- Jason must navigate the depths of his emotions, while finding his moral center, forgiving himself, and accepting the gift of love.

The Snow Child

by Eowyn Ivey

Homesteaders Jack and Mabel have carved out a quiet life of hard work and routine for themselves in the wilderness that is 1920s Alaska, both still deeply longing for the child it's now impossible for them to have. Yet their love for each other is strong, and in a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they play together, building a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone -- but a trail of tiny footsteps remains. For weeks following, they both catch glimpses of a blond little girl alone in the woods but neither dares mention it to the other, afraid that long-buried hopes have overruled common sense.

Then the little girl, who calls herself Faina, shows up on their doorstep. Small and fair, she seems truly magical: she hunts with a red fox at her side, she leaves blizzards in her wake, and somehow she manages to survive alone in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand Faina, they come to love her as their own. But in this beautiful, violent place, things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform them all.

Eowyn Ivey's enchanting, mesmerizing debut is the story of a couple whose longing for a child is so intense that they may have imagined her into existence. As dazzling as the snowy Alaskan landscape in which it is set, The Snow Child shines with imaginative power, immersing the reader in a place both faraway and familiar, a tale both universal and brilliantly unique.

Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef

by Gabrielle Hamilton

Before Gabrielle Hamilton opened her acclaimed New York restaurant Prune, she spent twenty hard-living years trying to find purpose and meaning in her life. Blood, Bones and Butter follows an unconventional journey through the many kitchens Hamilton has inhabited through the years: the rural kitchen of her childhood, where her adored mother stood over the six-burner with an oily wooden spoon in hand; the kitchens of France, Greece, and Turkey, where she was often fed by complete strangers and learned the essence of hospitality; Hamilton's own kitchen at Prune, with its many unexpected challenges; and the kitchen of her Italian mother-in-law, who serves as the link between Hamilton's idyllic past and her own future family -- the result of a prickly marriage that nonetheless yields lasting dividends. By turns epic and intimate, Gabrielle Hamilton's story is told with uncommon honesty, grit, humor, and passion.

What books came home to you this week?

American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar - Rafflecopter Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:21:00 +0000

American Dervish

by Ayad Akhtar

Hayat Shah is a young American in love for the first time. His normal life of school, baseball, and video games had previously been distinguished only by his Pakistani heritage and by the frequent chill between his parents, who fight over things he is too young to understand. Then Mina arrives, and everything changes.

Mina is Hayat's mother's oldest friend from Pakistan. She is independent, beautiful and intelligent, and arrives on the Shah's doorstep when her disastrous marriage in Pakistan disintegrates. Even Hayat's skeptical father can't deny the liveliness and happiness that accompanies Mina into their home. Her deep spirituality brings the family's Muslim faith to life in a way that resonates with Hayat as nothing has before. Studying the Quran by Mina's side and basking in the glow of her attention, he feels an entirely new purpose mingled with a growing infatuation for his teacher.

When Mina meets and begins dating a man, Hayat is confused by his feelings of betrayal. His growing passions, both spiritual and romantic, force him to question all that he has come to believe is true. Just as Mina finds happiness, Hayat is compelled to act -- with devastating consequences for all those he loves most.

American Dervish is a brilliantly written, nuanced, and emotionally forceful look inside the interplay of religion and modern life. Ayad Akhtar was raised in the Midwest himself, and through Hayat Shah he shows readers vividly the powerful forces at work on young men and women growing up Muslim in America. This is an intimate, personal first novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Thanks to Hachette Books I have 2 copies of American Dervish to giveaway! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only and will end on Feb 5, 2012. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read Aloud Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:15:00 +0000

I have been wanting to post for awhile about some of the books that my son and I read together, so when I found this meme I thought it would be perfect!

Title: Millions of Cats
Author: Wanda Ga'g
Literary Awards: Newberry Award (1929)
Towards challenge: Excellence in Reading
Yes, this is an oldie but a goodie. It is a cute story about an old man who goes looking for a cat for his wife. He can't choose a cat so ends up bringing "Hundreds of cats, Thousands of cats, Millions and trillions and billions of cats" home instead. His wife is a little appalled and sensibly says that they must pick one because if they try to keep them all they will eat them out of house and home. They can't choose so they ask the cats which one of them is the prettiest. All cats think they are prettiest, so a huge squabble ensues leaving only one scrawny little cat. This cat wasn't in the fight, because he knew that he wasn't the prettiest, but after a little food and some TLC, turns out he was wrong.

My son told me he liked this book because it had a lot of cats in it. I enjoyed it for the repetition of some of the phrases, the simple pictures and what I think is the subtle message about there being beauty inside of all of us.

At my son's school they read the Monarch Nominee books every fall and then they have an election in February to choose their favorite Monarch book. We have been reading some of the Monarch books here at home also and this week have read the following two.

Title: Never Smile at a Monkey
Author: Steve Jenkins
Literary Awards: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award for Non-fiction (2011)

I did not like this book much at all - if I was a kid, I think it would of kind of scared me and I was glad we hadn't read it before our trip to Florida last summer! It has all these animals in it that may not appear dangerous, but then goes on to tell what not to do to them or chances are you will die very quickly. Like box jellyfish and stingrays and cone shells. I didn't ask my son what he thought about it, because I didn't want him to think too hard about it! I'm not sure that this age group needs to be introduced to these animals yet and then again, maybe I am just over protective!

Title: Memoirs of a Goldfish
Author: Devin Scillian

This was a very cute book and I happen to know that it is currently my son's favorite of the Monarch nominees. The goldfish is keeping a diary that starts out with just him, alone, swimming around his fishbowl. By day four though, he starts to get some company, until he can't turn around without running into something or someone. Well, that doesn't sit too well with him and he is wishing for his solo fishbowl back again, until it actually happens. This is when the worry sets in that all of his friends need him and they won't be able to get along without him. Sort of a 'you don't know what you've got til it's gone' moment. Eventually he finds himself in a large aquarium back with all his friends. Oh, and this is written Day One, Day Two, Day Three, etc. The illustrator, Tim Bowers, also did a wonderful job with the pictures of the different sea life - very colorful and animated. I recommend this one!

Third Sentence Thursday: Demi-Monde

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Third Sentence Thursday is hosted by Proud Book Nerd - visit her site to see all the other entries!

Take the book you are currently reading and post the third sentence of the third chapter. Feel free to share one or two of the following sentences, if you’d like.
Share your thoughts on the sentence (or sentences).
Add a link to your blog post at Proud Book Nerd in the linky list.
Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentence(s).

"I'm sorry?"
"I asked, Miss Thomas, if you would like to earn a million dollars."
Ella took a deep breath as her natural suspicion kicked in. (from The Demi-Monde: Winter by Rod Rees.)

I chose to add the two sentences after the third as "I'm sorry?" wasn't much to go on. I can't offer any insights as to what is going on as I just started this book today! I am wondering what she would have to do though!

Winners of Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Please congratulate the winners of the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop!

First winner was entry #153 Mona G
Second winner was entry #102 Teressa O
Third winner was entry #24 Sara K

All winners have been notified (so check your emails!) and have 48 hours to get back to me or new winners will be chosen.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan 16, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:51:00 +0000

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!

Currently reading: Just further along in all of these.

Family Storms by V.C. Andrews

Airel by Aaron Patterson

More Than Words Can Say by Robert Barclay

Books up this week: Nothing has changed except that I am falling behind!

Demi-Monde by Rod Rees

Archon: The Book of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West

Bathroom Book:

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Books finished since last post:

What's gonna happen is I'm going to finish the four I am reading within a day or two of each other and then gonna have to write all the reviews!

Books reviewed since last post:

Nada

Until next week ---- Ready - Set - Read!

Mailbox Monday! (Jan 16, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:02:00 +0000

The Face Thief

by Eli Gottlieb

Gottlieb introduces the mystery of the charismatic Margot, a promising journalist who morphs -- with stunning panache -- from a high-achieving affluent twentysomething in to a grifter making her living preying on the weaknesses of men. Having studied the ancient Chinese art of face reading, she becomes an expert at reading people and is also able to rearrange her look and persona with uncanny skill to fit any social situation. She is an avenging angel, shattering marriages and draining bank accounts.

What drives her quest to deceive and disarm? Exploring this question, The Face Thief moves fluidly forward and back in time, drawing vivid portraits of Margot's rocky childhood and her adult victims: an amiable, newly married man enticed into a catastrophic fraud; an esteemed teacher outwitted by his most dangerous student; and a well-meaning New York City cop tripped up by his belief in redemption.

Ingeniously constructed and exquisitely written, The Face Thief swirls a hypnotic dance of predator and prey, creating a contemporary landscape where the educated are violent, the beautiful ugly, and the well-intentioned hapless. And yet we never give way to despair, because the protagonists of the book push back against the maelstrom and attempt tirelessly to right their toppled lives. Rich in suspense, psychological depth, and nuance, The Face Thief confirms Gottlieb's standing as "a master" (Denver Post) and, in the words of essayist Phillip Lopate, "an enthralling stylist who[se]. . . characters are shockingly, electrically alive."

Raylan

by Elmore Leonard

With the closing of the Harlan County, Kentucky, coal mines, marijuana has become the biggest cash crop in the state. A hundred pounds of it can gross $300,000, but that's chump change compared to the quarter million a human body can get you -- especially when it's sold off piece by piece.

So when Dickie and Coover Crowe, dope-dealing brothers known for sampling their own supply, decide to branch out into the body business, it's up to U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens to stop them. But Raylan isn't your average marshal; he's the laconic, Stetson-wearing, fastdrawing lawman who juggles dozens of cases at a time and always shoots to kill. But by the time Raylan finds out who's making the cuts, he's lying naked in a bathtub, with Layla, the cool transplant nurse, about to go for his kidneys.

The bad guys are mostly gals this time around: Layla, the nurse who collects kidneys and sells them for ten grand apiece; Carol Conlan, a hard-charging coal-mine executive not above ordering a cohort to shoot pointblank a man who's standing in her way; and Jackie Nevada, a beautiful sometime college student who can outplay anyone at the poker table and who suddenly finds herself being tracked by a handsome U.S. Marshal.

Dark and droll, Raylan is pure Elmore Leonard -- a page-turner filled with the sparkling dialogue and sly suspense that are the hallmarks of this modern master.

American Sniper:

The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

by Navy Seal Chris Kyle

with Scott McEvew and Jim DeFelice

He is the deadliest american sniper ever, called "the devil" by the enemies he hunted and "the legend" by his Navy SEAL brothers. . .

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyle's kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named him al-Shaitan ("the devil") and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle's masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

A native Texan who learned to shoot on childhood hunting trips with his father, Kyle was a champion saddle-bronc rider prior to joing the Navy. After 9/11, he was thrust onto the front lines of the War on Terror, and soon found his calling as a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad; in Fallujah, Kyle braved heavy fire to rescue a group of Marines trapped on a street; in Ramadi, he stared down insurgents with his pistol in close combat. Kyle talks honestly about the pain of war -- of twice being shot and experiencing the tragic deaths of two close friends.

American Sniper also honors Kyle's fellow warriors, who raised hell on and off the battlefield. And in moving first-person accounts throughout, Kyle's wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their marriage and children, as well as on Chris.

Adrenaline-charged and deeply personal, American Sniper is a thrilling eyewitness account of war that only one man could tell.

American Dervish

by Ayad Akhtar

Hayat Shah is a young American in love for the first time. His normal Midwestern life -- school, baseball, and video games -- previously was distinguished only by his Pakistani heritage and the frequent chill between his parents, who fight over things he is too young to understand. Then Mina arrives, and everything changes.

Mina is Hayat's mother's oldest friend from Pakistan. Independent, beautiful, and intelligent, she arrives on the Shahs' doorstep when her disastrous marriage in Pakistan disintegrates. Even Hayat's skeptical father can't deny the liveliness and happiness that accompany Mina into their home. Her deep spirituality brings the family's Muslim Faith to life in a way that resonates with Hayat as nothing has before. Studying the Quran at Mina's side and basking in the glow of her attention, he feels an entirely new purpose mingled with a growing infatuation for his teacher.

When Mina meets and begins dating a family friend, Hayat is confused by his feelings of betrayal. His growing passions, both spiritual and romantic, force him to question all that he has come to believe. Just as Mina finds happiness, Hayat is compelled to act -- with devastating consequences for all those he loves most.

American Dervish is a brilliantly written, nuanced, and emotionally forceful look at the interplay between religion and modern life. Ayad Akhtar was raised in the Midwest himself, and through Hayat Shah he shows us the powerful forces at work on young men and women growing up Muslim in America. This is an intimate, personal first novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Gods and Fathers

by James LePore

Matt DeMarco is an accomplished Manhattan attorney with more than his share of emotional baggage. His marriage ended disastrously, his ex-wife has pulled their son away from him, and her remarriage to a hugely successful Arab businessman has created complications for Matt on multiple levels. However, his life shifts from troubled to imperiled when two cops -- men he's known for a long time -- come into his home and arrest his son as the prime suspect in the murder of the boy's girlfriend.

Suddenly, the enmity between Matt and his only child is no longer relevant. Matt must do everything he can to clear his son, who he fully believes is innocent. Doing so will require him to quit his job and make enemies of former friends - and it will throw him up against forces he barely knew existed and can only begin to comprehend how to battle.

Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St.

by Peter Abrahams

One Magic Charm,

Two Cases of Arson,

and Four Seventh Graders

Who Want Justice Served!

Robbie Forester always knew life wasn't fair, but she never thought she could do anything about it. Until one day when a powerful charm comes into her possession, a charm that guides her, her three friends, and her dog Pendleton on the path to justice. But the charm doesn't seem to understand that the path has gotten dangerous, and Robbie and her friends find themselves in a menacing world of thievery, arson, big yachts, and even bigger bank accounts. Will Robyn and her band of thieves end up in more trouble than they ever could have imagined?

Master suspense novelist Peter Abrahams weaves a tale of action, adventure, danger, and magic that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, guessing at every turn.

I received the following books through Paperback Swap.

Fade

by Lisa McMann

Some nightmares never end. For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabel's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd even feared. . .

Southern Vampire Series (Books 2-7)

by Charlaine Harris

I had the first book in this series already and signed up for a Sookie Stackhouse challenge when I came across these on Paperback Swap. I was so excited to get them all!

What books arrived on your doorstep this week?

Sign up to be part of an iPad 2 Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Want to gain lots and lots of new followers AND get a chance to win an iPad 2?
Come join us in this iPad 2 Giveaway event!!!

Head over to this signup post for more details!
Please enter my blog's name, Books and Needlepoint, when asked for the blog who referred you!

This is not the actual giveaway yet.
This is for BLOGGERS who want to participate in this giveaway event. :)

Winners of last two giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:23:00 +0000

While getting the new blog hop ready tonight, I realized that I had never posted the winners of the LAST blog hop! So here are your latest winners. They have all been notified and claimed their prizes!

Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop -
First winner was Melissa H. and she choose The Kingdom of Heaven by Rebecca Coleman
Second winner was BJ G. and she choose The Night Sky by Maria Sutton

Switched by Amanda Hocking was won by Jude H.

Congrats winners!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop! (Jan 13 - Jan 18)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:15:00 +0000

I am participating in another giveaway hop hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Review's by Martha's Bookshelf. Thanks hosts!

I am giving away a variety of things for this hop and there will be three winners.

1st Giveaway is an audio book of Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

2nd giveaway is a hard cover copy of Good Graces by Lesley Kagen

Whistling in the Dark captivated readers with the story of ten-year-old Sally O'Malley and her sister, Troo, during Milwaukee's summer of 1959. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was named a Midwest Honor Award winner.

In Good Graces, it's one year later, and a heat wave has everyone in the close-knit Milwaukee neighborhood on edge. None more so than Sally O'Malley, who remains deeply traumatized by the sudden death of her daddy and her near escape from a murderer and molester the previous summer. Although outwardly she and her sister, Troo, are more secure, Sally's confidence in her own judgment and much of her faith have been whittled away. When a series of disquieting events unfold in the neighborhood-a string of home burglaries, the escape from reform school of a nemesis, and the mysterious disappearance of an orphan, crimes that may involve the increasingly rebellious Troo-Sally is called upon to rise above her inner demons. She made a deathbed promise to her daddy to keep Troo safe, a promise she can't break, even if her life depends on it. But when events reach a crisis point, will Sally have the courage and discernment to make the right choices? Or will her false assumptions lead her and those she loves into danger once again?

Lesley Kagen's gift for imbuing her child narrators with compelling authenticity shines as never before in Good Graces, a novel told with sensitivity, wit, and warmth.

3rd giveaway is an audio book of Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall

At a time when animal species are becoming extinct on every continent and we are confronted with bad news about the environment nearly every day, Jane Goodall, one of the world's most renowned scientists, brings us inspiring news about the future of the animal kingdom. With the insatiable curiosity and conversational prose that have made her a bestselling author, Goodall-along with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard-shares fascinating survival stories about the American Crocodile, the California Condor, the Black-Footed Ferret, and more; all formerly endangered species and species once on the verge of extinction whose populations are now being regenerated.

Interweaving her own first-hand experiences in the field with the compelling research of premier scientists, Goodall illuminates the heroic efforts of dedicated environmentalists and the truly critical need to protect the habitats of these beloved species. At once a celebration of the animal kingdom and a passionate call to arms, HOPE FOR ANIMALS THEIR WORLD presents an uplifting, hopeful message for the future of animal-human coexistence.

You can receive up to five entries for this giveaway - Please fill in the rafflecopter form below.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

There are over 200 other blogs hosting giveaways this week, so please go visit some of the other wonderful bloggers and see what they are giving away.

All Other Reading Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

This should be my last post for challenges - so that tomorrow I can READ!

Excellence in Reading hosted by Super Readers Book Club

Challenge Details:

Reading list to follow is below.
This is recommended for children K-3
Parents can read to children - this is what I will be doing

Aardema, Verna. Who's in Rabbit's House?.
Aesop. Fables.
Atwater, Richard and Florence. Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline.
Benchley, Nathaniel. Sam the Minuteman.
Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice.
Brown, Marcia. Stone Soup.
Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon.
Brunhoff, Jean de. The Story of Babar.
Burton, Virginia Lee. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.
Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the Motorcycle.
Collodi, Carlo. Adventures of Pinocchio.
Crews, Donald. Freight Train.
Daugherty, James. Andy and the Lion.
dePaola, Tomie. Strega Nona.
Flack, Marjorie. The Angus series.
Freeman, Don. Corduroy.
Fritz, Jean. The Cabin Faced West.
Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats.
Galdone, Paul. The Three Little Pigs.
Goble, Paul. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses.
Grahame, Kenneth. The Reluctant Dragon.
Gramatky, Hardie. Little Toot.
Hoban, Russell. Bedtime for Frances.
Johnson, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day
Kraus, Robert. Leo the Late Bloomer.
Krauss, Ruth. The Carrot Seed.
Leaf, Munro. The Story of Ferdinand.
Lear, Edward. A Book of Nonsense.
Levinson, Riki. Watch the Stars Come Out.
Lionni, Leo. Frederick.
Lobel, Arnold. Frog and Toad Are Friends.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Paul Revere's Ride.
Lopshire, Robert. Put Me in the Zoo.
Marshall, James. George and Martha.
McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings.
McDermott, Gerald. Anansi the Spider.
Milne, A.A. Winnie-the-Pooh.
Parish, Peggy. Amelia Bedelia
Piper, Watty. The Little Engine That Could.
Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Rey, H.A. Curious George.
Selden, George. The Cricket in Times Square.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.
Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat.
Slobodkina, Esphyr. Caps for Sale.
Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
Stevenson, Robert Louis. A Child’s Garden of Verses
Taylor, Sydney. All-of-a-Kind Family.
Thurber, James. Many Moons.
Udry, Janice May. A Tree is Nice.
Van Allsburg, Chris. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi.
Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Ward, Lynd. The Biggest Bear.
White, E.B. Charlotte’s Web.
Yashima, Taro. Crow Boy.
Zion, Gene. Harry the Dirty Dog.
Zolotow, Charlotte. William’s Doll.

Weekly linky will be posted at host site for sharing

Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Baffled Books

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Nosey: 3 novels
Excited: 6 novels (My Level)
Content: 12 novels
In Nirvana: 24 novels
Obsessed: 48 novels

No need to list books ahead of time
Do not need a blog to participate
Crossovers are okay
Any book format counts
Genres:

Science Fiction: hard/soft SF, cyberpunk, time travel, alternative history, space opera

Fantasy Fiction: dark fantasy, urban fantasy, magic realism, quest, mythical fantasy, steampunk

Horror Fiction: paranormal, gothic literature, splatterpunk

Supernatural Fiction

Superhero Fiction

Utopian and Dystopian Fiction

Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Books:

Airel by Aaron Patterson, Chris White

New Authors Reading Challenge hosted by Literary Escapism

Detail Challenges:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Crossovers are okay
Authors don't have to be debut authors, just new to you
Pick 15, 25 or 50 new authors
Must review and add to Mr. Linky at host site

I am choosing 15 new authors - Books:

Airel by Aaron Patterson, Chris White

Reading Challenges Centered Around the Library

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:45:00 +0000

For me, the majority of these books will be found at my local library, so that is why I am putting them together.

Dewey Decimal Challenge hosted by The Introverted Reader

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Dilettante: 1-5 non-fiction books (My level)
Explorer: 6-10 non-fiction books
Seeker: 11-15 non-fiction books
Master: 16-20 non-fiction books

Any non-fiction book, adult or young adult, counts
Do not need to be a blogger to join.

Books:

Non-Fiction (Non-Memoir) Reading Challenge hosted by My Book Retreat

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31,2012
Sign-ups until Nov 30, 2012
Levels:

Elementary: 5 non-fiction books (My Level)
Diploma: 10 non-fiction books
Bachelor's Degree: 15 non-fiction books
Master's Degree: 25 non-fiction books

Following books DO NOT count: Reference books, cookbooks and instruction manuals that are not meant to be read cover to cover; Essays and articles; How-to, self-help or travel books that are not read cover to cover; Memoirs, journals and autobiographies; Books written for children; Re-reads don't count since the point is to learn something new
Books can be any format
Crossovers are okay
Not necessary to list books ahead of time
Reviews are not required, but there will be quarterly link-up for those who do
A wrap-up post at year end is required to be considered for the giveaway

Books:

Library Challenge hosted by Jessica's Musings

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Goal is to read 1 book per month
There will be main challenges and mini challenges each month (these are to push you out of your comfort zone)
Books will be fiction and non-fiction
Crossovers are allowed
Must complete main monthly challenge; mini challenges are optional
Rereads are okay

Books:

Main Jan challenge - Read a book by an author you have never read before - Mini Challenge - Find a location in your main challenge book and pick a book about that place and read it

Around the Stack in How Many Ways? Challenge hosted by Dog Ear Discs

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Hiker: Read 5 genres
Backpacker: Read 5-10 genres (My Level)
Traveler: Read 10-15 genres
Palin-esque: Read 20+ genres

Read as many different genres as you can - list of genres can be found at host site.
Review copies are okay to use
Crossovers are okay
Blog not required

Books:

Location Specific Reading Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Where Are You Reading Challenge hosted by Book Journey

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Must set up a Map under Google Maps - see host site for details
Blog not necessary to participate
You can just list the states if you don't want to/can't figure out how to use Google Maps
Goal is to read a book set in each of the 50 states. Anyone who does will go in a drawing at the end of the year. Locations outside the 50 states are bonus and anyone reading from 10 or more locations will also go into a drawing.
Here is a link to my map.

Books:

Southern Literature Challenge hosted by The Introverted Reader

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

C'mon in the house - 1 book
Pull up a seat and stay awhile - 2 books
Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey - 3 books
Y'all come back now, y'hear? - 4 books (My Level)

Books can be any genre, but must be set in the South and written by a southern author

South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
North Carolina
Virginia
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Kentucky
West Virginia
Texas
Arkansas
Florida - as long as you find a book by a Florida author and/or set in Florida that feels Southern

Do not need a blog to participate
Host has listed some Reading suggestions - Goodreads - Best Southern Literature
Each review linked will get one entry into prize drawing

Books:

Reading the Winter Olympics hosted by GIRLxoxo

Challenge Details:

Timeline: March 1, 2010 - Feb 6, 2014
Levels:

Gold - Read a book from every country that won a medal
Silver - Read a book from every country that won a Gold medal
Bronze - Read a book from every country that won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals (My Level - this would be 15 books)

Book lists for other countries - BiblioTravel - Books Set In
Below is a List of the 26 Countries with Medals from the 2010 Winter Olympics(* means the country got gold, silver and bronze medals).
- Australia - Gold & Silver (no Bronze)
- Austria *
- Belarus *
- Canada *
- China *
- Croatia - Silver & Bronze (no Gold)
- Czech Republic - Gold & Bronze (no Silver)
- Estonia - Silver (no Gold or Bronze)
- Finland - Silver & Bronze (no Gold)
- France *
- Germany *
- Great Britain - Gold (no Silver or Bronze)
- Italy *
- Japan - Silver & Bronze (no Gold)
- Kazakhstan - Silver (no Gold or Bronze)
- Latvia - Silver (no Gold or Bronze)
- Netherlands *
- Norway *
- Poland *
- Russia *
- Slovakia *
- Slovenia - Silver & Bronze (no Gold)
- South Korea *
- Sweden *
- Switzerland - Gold & Bronze (no Silver)
- United States *

Books:

Reading Challenges - Specifics Based on Title or Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:38:00 +0000

All of these challenges have something specific that they are looking for in either the title of the book, or the cover. I like these kind of challenges because sometimes you have to hunt for just the right book!

What's In a Name 5 Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Read one book from each of the following categories: (books are just examples)

A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

Books can be any format
Crossovers are allowed
Must be a different book for each category
List not needed ahead of time
Blog not necessary and reviews are mandatory
There is a different post for each category with a link up for reviews

Books:

Find the Cover/Coversuch Challenge hosted by Martina Bookaholic

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
For every letter in the word "2012" (two thousand twelve) you should find something on the cover that starts with that letter.
Books can be from all genres
Crossovers are allowed
Can read in any order

Books:

"T"
"W"
"O"
"T"
"H" - Helicopter - Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster
"O"
"U"
"S"
"A"
"N"
"D"
"T"
"W"
"E"
"L"
"V"
"E"

Antonym Reading Challenge hosted by Book Obsessed

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Diploma: 6-10 books (My Level)
Bachelors: 12-20 books
Masters: 22-30 books
Doctorate: 32+

Read books by matching antonyms in the title (i.e. Hot Ice by Nora Roberts and Cold Fire by Dean Koontz)
Any genre and any format allowed
Rereads and crossovers allowed
Do not need to list books in advance
Blog not necessary to participate - see host site for details

Books:

The Color Coded Challenge hosted by My Reader's Block

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Sign up until Nov 30, 2012
Read nine books in the following categories:

A book with "Blue" in the title.
A book with "Red" in the title.
A book with "Yellow" in the title.
A book with "Green" in the title.
A book with "Brown" in the title.
A book with "Black" in the title.
A book with "White" in the title.
A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Turquoise, Pink, Magneta, etc.).
A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

Crossovers are okay
There is a review page to post links to reviews
Blog not necessary
Prize drawing for those completing the challenge

Books:

Read Your Name Challenge hosted by Victoria @ Erik is (so not) Dead

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2011
Spell out your name in book title first letters.
You can use your whole name, your first name, blogger name, nickname, pet's name, favorite literary character's name, etc.
Blog not necessary
If you do review, link your review to host site
Must use names only
Any book format okay
Crossovers are okay
Should read books in the order to spell out your name.

Books: My real name is Kristina, but I go by Kristi - so I am committing to Kristi and will add the "na" as a bonus.

Bonus books:

A to Z Reading Challenge hosted by Strawberry Splash Reviews

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Sign ups through May 31, 2012
Levels:

Authors: A-Z by last names (26 books)
Titles: A-Z by Titles (26 books)
Double Whammy: Do both authors and titles (52 books)

Crossovers are okay
Must review - books must be read by Dec 31, reviews completed by Jan 31, 2013.
Probably will be mini challenges and giveaways
X is tough so if you can't find an author or title beginning with X, having an X in the author's name or title is okay

Books:

A - Airel by Aaron Patterson, Chris White

C - Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster

Rainbow Reading Challenge hosted by Books Make Me Happy

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Colors per month:

January - Red (burgundy, claret, crimson, fuschia, garnet, magenta, maroon, ruby, scarlet, rose, cherry)
February - Purple (violet, lavendar, amethyst, lilac, plum, periwinkle)
March - Aquamarine (teal, turquoise)
April - Clear (transparent, translucent, crystal, diamond)
May - Green (emerald, jade, malachite, lime, pine, sage)
June - Black
July - Pink (blush, carnation, mauve)
August - Brown (chocolate, tan, bronze)
September - Blue (cobalt, cerulean, navy, indigo, sapphire)
October - white (snowy)
November - Orange (peach, salmon, coral, tangerine, copper)
December - Silver (sterling, platinum, chrome, gray)

Read a book each month with the assigned color in the title.
There will be a prize for EVERYONE who posts EACH MONTH and completes ALL COLORS.
One grand prize winner
Books must be at least 200 pages or ebook equivalent.

January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -

Reading Challenges - Books from Lists or Prizewinners

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

I am hoping that these challenges will add a little more "depth" to my reading.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Challenge hosted by Pub Writes

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Go to trials: 5 books from list (My level)
Made the Olympic team: 6-10 books from the list
Bronze Medal: 11-15 books from the list
Silver Medal: 16-20 books from the list
Gold Medal: 21+ books from the list

Must choose your level, but don't need to make a list ahead of time
Crossovers are acceptable
Do not need a blog to participate - see host site for details
Reviews not mandatory
Even if you don't own the book - can find a list here.
There will be a link up for those writing reviews
Prize for one participant at the end

Books:

Alex Awards Challenge hosted by The Story Girl

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

1 - read 1-3 books (My Level)
2 - read 4-6 books
3 - read 7-9 books
4 - read 10+ books

Alex Awards - The Alex Awards are given each year to books written/marketed to adults that have special appeal to young adults (age 12-18). They often feature teen protagonists. You can find lists here.

Books:

Reading the Awards Challenge hosted by Girlxoxo

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2011 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Bronze - Read 1-5 books (My Level)
Silver - Read 6-9 books
Gold - Read 10+ books

Read books that won a book award IN 2011.
Not necessary to list books in advance
Do not need blog to participate
Note that this challenge started Jan 1, 2011 - so books can have been read and reviewed in 2011 also.
Host site has links to list of major awards

Books:

That's What You Think Reading Challenge hosted by Blethering About Books

Challenge Details:

Timeline: ?? Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
From the host site: You may remember a few years ago that the BBC published a list of 100 books that they believed the majority of us have only read 6 off - personalty I think that the list is a little off as there are whole collections (e.g. The Complete Works of Shakespeare) listed and then individual works from the collection listed (obviously Hamlet isn't part of the Complete Works of Shakespeare :/). I for 1 hate being told what is expected of me (when it comes to this kind of thing) and slotted into a nice little box.
Read more than six books on the list which can be found at the host site.
There will be a monthly link up for reviews.

Books:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan 9, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:32:00 +0000

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too!

Currently reading:

Family Storms by V.C. Andrews - Still reading this one.

Airel by Aaron Patterson - I like this one, but was only in it about 20 pages and then took a little hiatus from reading - so started over and now about 1/4 of the way through - interested to see where this one will go!

More Than Words Can Say by Robert Barclay - This one grabbed me with the prologue!

Books up this week:

Demi-Monde by Rod Rees

Archon: The Book of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West

Bathroom Book:

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Books finished since last post:

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

Books reviewed since last post:

The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

Until next week ---- Ready - Set - Read!

Cozies, Mysteries and Suspense Reading Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:28:00 +0000

Believe it or not, I am getting choosier in my reading challenges - I originally had 8 challenges that fell into this category and I ended up with only these 3!

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Level 1 - Read 12 Mystery/Suspense Novels (My Level)
Level 2 - Read 24 Mystery/Suspense Novels

Can join at anytime
Monthly links at host site for reviews - but reviews are not mandatory
All formats EXCEPT audiobooks count
Crossovers are okay
Blog not necessary - see host site for details
You can choose from the numerous sub-genres of mystery and suspense, from cozies to hard-boiled, or romantic suspense to forensic crime. Paranormal/supernatural suspense are also eligible. Host has provided a sub-genre list here.
Not necessary to list books ahead of time.

Books:

Cozy Mystery Challenge hosted by Debbie's Book Bag

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Snooper - 1-3 Cozy Mysteries
Gumshoe - 4-6 Cozy Mysteries (My Level)
Private-Eye - 7-9 Cozy Mysteries
Super Sleuth - 10-12 Cozy Mysteries

Definition of a cozy can be found at host site
Can sign up until Feb 4, 2012
You do not have to be a blogger, but must post reviews somewhere
Any and all book formats count
Bi-monthly post for reviews at host site
Six mini-giveaways throughout the year - your review link will gain you entry
Other mini challenges throughout the year
One grand prize at year end for participants who meet the guidelines.

Books:

Cruisin thru the Cozies Reading Challenge hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews

Challenge Details:

Timeline: Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012
Levels:

Snoop - Read 6 Cozies (My Level)
Investigator - Read 7-12 Cozies
Super Sleuth - Read 13+ Cozies

Books can be in any format
Crossovers are okay
No need to create a list of books in advance
Reviews are not mandatory
Don't need a blog to participate - see host site for details
Check out cozy-mystery.com for defintion of a cozy. There is also a great list of books/authors there!

Books: