Steph’s Comments (group member since May 22, 2010)

Steph’s comments from the SOS: Serious Overload of Series group.

I read the first one last Dec and grabbed #2 when it was free in 2021. It's on my kindle for this year's holiday reading. I'll have to move it up on my list. And, I saw #3 came out this year :)

I'll get my review up soon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNG7Z4RY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ7HJ4VB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RJ11GC6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BCHQ5TG
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRJRFW1D

'Randomized Reads' Challenge
Goal: Read 52 books using the seven different randomizing ways listed
Length: 1 year from start date

'Randomized Reads' Challenge
Try out some unique random ways to choose your next book
You'll have to work for this one 😏

DURATION: 1 year from start date

GOAL: Tackle your long, ever-growing 'want-to-read' list @ Goodreads using each of the seven randomizers; reading a total of 52 books

RANDOMIZERS

⓵ Do the Goodreads Shuffle: Read 10 books
> Go to your 'want-to-read' list
> At the bottom middle of your list, under 'sort' choose 'random'
> Read 10 books from your list to read (you may randomize 10 times and choose 1 from each batch or once and chose 10 books or any # of shuffles you wish)

⓶ Ask Google to pick a color: Read 5 books
> Go to https://g.co/kgs/f7C96b3
> Pick a book featuring a cover in the color shown
> Refresh your search for a new color
> Read 5 different books, one in each of the five colors Google chose (majority of the cover in that color qualifies)

⓷ Tackle the TBR Machine: Read 10 books
> Go to https://thetbrmachine.com
> Click 'Randomize New TBR Challenge' button
> Read a book based on the prompt listed (you may randomize 10 times and choose 1 for each prompt or once and chose 10 books or any # combination you wish)

⓸ Publication Date Picker: Read 10 books
> Go to https://www.gigacalculator.com/random... (month picker)
> Enter 20## (you choose year) for start
> Enter 2024 for end
> Click 'Pick a Random Month'; repeat 10x
> Read a book published in each of the ten month/year combos you were given

*TIP: If you don't see publication listed on your ‘want-to-read’ list: click 'settings' at the top of your 'want-to-read' list; make sure 'date pub' and 'date pub (ed)' are checked

⓹ Name that Character: Read 2 books
> Go to https://randomgenerators.com/name/cha...
> Click 'female'
> Click 'first name'
> Click '20' for number of names
> Click 'random' for themes
> Click 'Generate Random Character Names'
> Read 1 book featuring a female character (main or side) whose name is listed
> Repeat for male character

⓺ Longest and Shortest: Read 10 books
> Go to your 'want-to-read' list
> At the bottom middle of your list, under 'sort' choose 'num pages'
> Choose # of the first 10 longest books listed to read (you may skip those book sets that have an extra large # of pages, instead skip down to the individual books)
> Reverse the sort, so the shortest books are listed first, then choose # of the first 10 shortest books listed to read (starting at 25pgs or more)
*Mix & Match: You are allowed to choose 10 long books, 10 short books or a mix of both as you wish

*TIP: If you don't see # of pages listed on your ‘want-to-read’ list: click 'settings' at the top of your 'want-to-read' list; make sure 'num pages' is checked

⓻ Highly Rated Reads: Read 5 books
> Go to your 'want-to-read' list
> At the bottom middle of your list, under 'sort' choose 'avg rating', select descending
> Choose 5 of the first 20 books with avg rating between 4-5 stars

*TIP: If you don't see avg ratings listed on your ‘want-to-read’ list: click 'settings' at the top of your 'want-to-read' list; make sure 'avg rating' is checked

Victoria wrote: "Oh wow, this is a great challenge!!!
I had to check if it was doable with the other challenges I have planned for the coming year... and it will be fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine! 😂"

🤣

😆 I’ll take it

GMTA I was just eyeballing my reminder to update my list. It’s changed since I last shared it … almost 14 yrs ago 😊 I’ll get to it soon.

Sandra’s a fan of Blain, Et al., too. I need to get reading some myself.

Who, me? Nah. (Insert evil cackling here) 😏

I’m so glad you’re enjoying them and glad to hear the challenge list is helpful. I’m working on more for the new year + we try to sprinkle in some shorter ones (aside from our mini mainstays) throughout.

Good luck with your 2025 challenges!

All good, LaurLa 😊

😊 WTG! Your request to stamp J/Jack-o-lantern has been approved; if you have any issues stamping your card, let me know. Once you’ve stamped your card, go to the Captain’s Log and share a link with us. Thx!

😊 WTG! Your request to stamp M/moon has been approved; if you have any issues stamping your card, let me know. Once you’ve stamped your card, go to the Captain’s Log and share a link with us. Thx!

Right!? I so enjoyed my re-read of this series (1-12) last year. I got caught up my re-read for this year (Guild Hunter) that I haven’t gotten to the remaining books in the series. But, I will cuz it’s sooooo good. And, I just can’t get enough of that couple. They’re so perfect for and with each other.

'To the Moon and Back' Challenge
Goal: Read 24 + 120 books based on categories listed for each phase of the moon (+ 1 bonus option)
Length: 1 year from start date

'To the Moon and Back' Challenge
No matter where we are in the world we can see the moon. It's a true constant in all our lives, as are our loooooong TBR lists 🌝

               

REF: https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-ph...
(The spoilers show more details on each phase)

DURATION: 1 year from start date

GOAL: Read 24 + 120 books based on categories listed for each phase of the moon (+ 1 bonus option)

                           


LEVELS: There are three types of lunar eclipses, which are determined by the position of the moon in Earth's shadow

◉ Total lunar eclipse: 120 books read (15 books read for each of the 8 categories)
(view spoiler)[ The moon passes completely through Earth's umbral shadow, the darker, narrower shadow cast directly behind Earth. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon often appears a deep red color. (hide spoiler)]

◒ Partial lunar eclipse: 56 books read (7 books read for each of the 8 categories)
(view spoiler)[ The moon passes through both Earth's penumbra and umbra, with only a small portion of the moon covered by the umbra. (hide spoiler)]

◎ Penumbral lunar eclipse: 24 books read (3 books read for each of the 8 categories)
(view spoiler)[ The moon only passes through Earth's penumbra, the larger, outer shadow cast at an angle away from Earth. Penumbral lunar eclipses are more difficult to observe. (hide spoiler)]

✪ BONUS: Read a book based on the category for the phase of the moon tonight (the night you choose to read your bonus book); Check the moon's phase @ https://www.moongiant.com/phase/today/


CATEGORIES:
🌑 New Moon: Read a book with a dark cover, a sun with a face on the cover or 'night' in the title or series name
(view spoiler)[ This is the invisible phase of the Moon, with the illuminated side of the Moon facing the Sun and the night side facing Earth. In this phase, the Moon is in the same part of the sky as the Sun and rises and sets with the Sun. Not only is the illuminated side facing away from the Earth, it’s also up during the day! Remember, in this phase, the Moon doesn’t usually pass directly between Earth and the Sun, due to the inclination of the Moon’s orbit. It only passes near the Sun from our perspective on Earth. (hide spoiler)]

🌒 Waxing Crescent: Read a book with a silver cover or silver writing on the cover, a short book (100pg or less), or "far" in the title, series or author's name ('far' as part of a word (ie: farthur, Farrell, etc) as well as full word qualify)
(view spoiler)[ This silver sliver of a Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the Moon faces mostly away from Earth, with only a tiny portion visible to us from our planet. It grows daily as the Moon’s orbit carries the Moon’s dayside farther into view. Every day, the Moon rises a little bit later. (hide spoiler)]

🌓 First Quarter: Read a book published in your birth month, a .5 book within a series or featuring a half-human, half-other (dhampir, nephilim, etc)
(view spoiler)[ The Moon is now a quarter of the way through its monthly journey and you see half of its illuminated side. People may casually call this a half moon, but remember, that’s not really what you’re witnessing in the sky. You’re seeing just a slice of the entire Moon ― half of the illuminated half. A first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. It’s high in the sky in the evening and makes for excellent viewing. (hide spoiler)]

🌔 Waxing Gibbous: Read a book with 'day' in the title, series or author's name, a brightly colored cover (https://coolors.co/palettes/trending/...), or a series finale
(view spoiler)[ Now most of the Moon’s dayside has come into view, and the Moon appears brighter in the sky. (hide spoiler)]

🌕 Full Moon: Read a book with a full moon on the cover, featuring a wolf shifter or witch, any character affected by the moon, or 'tides' in the title or series name
(view spoiler)[ This is as close as we come to seeing the Sun’s illumination of the entire day side of the Moon (so, technically, this would be the real half moon). The Moon is opposite the Sun, as viewed from Earth, revealing the Moon’s dayside. A full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise. The Moon will appear full for a couple of days before it moves into… (hide spoiler)]

🌖 Waning Gibbous: Read a book with 'light' in the title or series name, a sci-fi book or book told from dual perspectives
(view spoiler)[ As the Moon begins its journey back toward the Sun, the opposite side of the Moon now reflects the Moon’s light. The lighted side appears to shrink, but the Moon’s orbit is simply carrying it out of view from our perspective. The Moon rises later and later each night. (hide spoiler)]

🌗 Last Quarter: Read a book with 'half' in the title or series name, a cover with two distinctly different colors or the 4th book in a series
(view spoiler)[ The Moon looks like it’s half illuminated from the perspective of Earth, but really you’re seeing half of the half of the Moon that’s illuminated by the Sun ― or a quarter. A last quarter moon, also known as a third quarter moon, rises around midnight and sets around noon. (hide spoiler)]

🌘 Waning Crescent: Read a book with 'point' in the title or series name, a short story (50pgs or less) or one or more characters facing forward on the cover
(view spoiler)[ The Moon is nearly back to the point in its orbit where its dayside directly faces the Sun, and all that we see from our perspective is a thin curve. (hide spoiler)]

'TimBeR' Challenge
Goal: Read as many books from your existing TBR list as possible within 12 months
Length: 1 year from start date

TimBeR Challenge
For the next year, focus your reading on those books already nestled and rooted deep into your TBR list.

                            

Art credit: 'Timber!' by Leslie Falconer (Author), Chris Lensch (Author, Illustrator)

DURATION: 1 year from start date

GOAL: All books used in the challenge must be on your TBR list as of your start date. The goal is to read as many books from your existing TBR as possible throughout the year. You can aim for one of the levels below or leave your # goal open.

Here are some prompts to help you on your hunt for good wood books:
(these are suggestions only, not requirements)

➊ Read only books in a specific genre (UF, PNR, SFR, etc)
➋ Read books added to your list between 2020-2021
➌ Read only Kindle Unlimited loaners or otherwise gotten for free (gift, library, etc)
➍ Read books without people on the cover or vise versa
➎ Read books with only a female on the cover or only a male
➏ Read books by female authors only or by male authors only
➐ Read books from oldest to newest add date
➑ Read books with a verb or noun in the title or series name
➒ Read books with a question in the title
➓ Read book titles in order - A through Z, then back again

Levels:
✬ Cold-deck: 20 of books (~5 books a quarter)
A pile of stored logs, often around the base of a spar-tree.
✮ Cord: 52 of books (~1 book a week)
A standard unit of measurement for stacked wood, usually consisting of a pile 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, equaling 128 cubic feet.
★ Turn: 104 of books (~2 books a week)
A full truckload of logs.

😊 Thanks!

Moondance wrote: "Rating 5 stars (plus a bazillion)"

😍 Love this series, too!

Great 😊 welcome