Connie N.’s Comments (group member since Sep 03, 2013)

Connie N.’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Circus & Carnival - Part 2

stIlts (6/6)
S - Author Shannon Stacey - Fully Ignited - 7/13/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean - 7/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - If the Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair - 9/26/16 ♥♥♥
L - L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad - 7/15/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs - Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café - 8/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Steal Me by Lauren Layne - 8/1/16 ♥♥♥♥

Juggler (7/7)
J - Author Jaci Burton - Hope Burns - 11/19/16 ♥♥♥♥
U - Unforgivable by Laura Griffin - 8/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
G - Author Anne George - Murder on a Bad Hair Day - 8/17/16 ♥♥♥
G - Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris - 8/28/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Author Lauren Blakely - Big Rock - 8/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Smokin' Seventeen - 9/21/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
R - Author Robyn Carr - What We Find - 7/8/16 ♥♥♥

Knife Thrower (12/12)
K - Author Coleen Kwan - Undercover in the CEO's Bed - 12/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
N - Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen - 10/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - I've Got Sand In All the Wrong Places by Lisa Scottoline - 12/1/16 ♥♥♥♥
F – Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones - 12/13/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elle Casey - Wrong Number, Right Guy - 10/2/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Touch & Go by Mira Lyn Kelly - 8/19/16 ♥♥♥♥
H - Hidden: A Novel of Suspense by Thomas Hall - 8/27/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Author Rececca Zanetti - Forgotten Sins - 7/17/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews - 10/19/16 ♥♥♥♥
W - Wanting It All by Christi Barth - 2/21/17 ♥♥♥♥
E - Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey - 11/15/16 ♥♥♥♥
R – Rules of Contact by Jaci Burton - 2/19/17 ♥♥♥♥

Lions (5/5)
L - Love the One You're With by Lauren Layne - 8/30/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - Intimate Strangers by Laura Taylor - 1/31/17 ♥♥♥
O - Origin in Death by J.D. Robb - 12/8/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
N - The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine - 11/29/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - The Seductive One by Susan Mallery - 8/4/16 ♥♥♥♥

Magician (8/8)
M - Miss Match by Laurelin McGee - 7/30/16 ♥♥♥♥
A - Author Ann Brashares - The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - 8/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
G - Author Gina Gordon - Reason to Believe - 10/22/16 ♥♥♥
I - Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb - 3/4/17 ♥♥♥♥♥
C - The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark - 6/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - It's in His Kiss by Jill Shalvis - 3/6/17 ♥♥♥♥
A - After the Kiss by Lauren Layne - 8/25/16 ♥♥♥♥
N - Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt - 11/1/16 ♥♥♥♥

Net (3/3)
N - Author Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity Digs In - 12/7/16 ♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Full Blast - 1/3/17 ♥♥♥♥
T - The Trouble with Love by Lauren Layne - 9/3/16 ♥♥♥♥

Orchestra (9/9)
O - Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis - 1/19/17 ♥♥♥♥
R - Author Al Roker - The Midnight Show Murders - 10/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
C – Cuff Me by Lauren Layne - 12/10/16 ♥♥♥♥
H - Hope Ignites by Jaci Burton - 9/16/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Erin McCarthy - Flat-Out Sexy - 11/30/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Author Jill Shalvis - Forever and a Day - 8/31/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Author Todd Burpo - Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back - 9/18/16 ♥♥♥
R - Author J.D. Robb - Divided in Death - 10/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
A - Author Annette Blair - Skirting The Grave - 10/16/16 ♥♥♥♥

Parade (6/6)
P - Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb - 8/19/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
A - Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M.C. Beaton - 10/27/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe - 10/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
A - Always on My Mind by Jill Shalvis - 10/28/16 ♥♥♥♥
D - Author Kathie DeNosky - His Marriage to Remember - 9/29/16 ♥♥♥
E - Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich - 1/4/17 ♥♥♥♥♥

eQuestrian (10/10)
E - Author Elle Kennedy - The Deal - 1/8/17 ♥♥♥♥♥
Q - Author Julia Quinn - The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy - 9/10/16 ♥♥♥♥
U - Undone by Karin Slaughter - 9/3/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elizabeth Hoyt - Scandalous Desires - 1/23/17 ♥♥♥♥
S - The Scarlet Slipper Mystery by Carolyn Keene - 10/13/16 ♥♥♥
T - Author Tim Conway - What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life - 10/12/16 ♥♥♥
R - Author J.D. Robb - Visions in Death - 10/18/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
I - It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder - 4/28/17 ♥♥♥
A - Author Agatha Christie - Hallowe'en Party - 11/3/16 ♥♥♥
N - Author Nalini Singh - Rock Addiction - 12/22/16 ♥♥♥♥

Here we go again--another spell-out challenge for me! Woohoo!

Circus & Carnival
Timeframe: 5/1/16 to 9/18/17
188/188
26/26 Words

Acrobat (7/7)
A - At The Blue Bell Inn by J.S. Fletcher - 5/17/16 ♥♥♥
C - Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill - 5/4/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - A Rose for Melinda by Lurlene McDaniel - 5/5/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - Off And Running by Philip Reed - 5/26/16 ♥♥♥
B - Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb - 6/6/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
A - About That Night by Julie James - 5/29/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - To the Hilt by Dick Francis - 6/1/16 ♥♥♥♥♥

Big Top (6/6)
B - Bound by Bliss by Lavinia Kent - 6/10/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - If You Ask Me by Betty White - 5/31/16 ♥♥♥♥
G - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - 5/15/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Tamed by Emma Chase - 6/26/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Off the Hook by Laura Drewry - 6/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
P - Author James Patterson - 15th Affair - 5/15/16 ♥♥♥♥

Calliope (8/8)
C - Author Carolyn Keene - The Witch Tree SymBol - 5/18/16 ♥♥♥
A - At Last by Jill Shalvis - 6/12/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 5/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis - 6/7/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
I - I Knew You Were Trouble by Soraya Lane - 7/12/16 ♥♥♥
O - Author Olivia Cunning - Double Time - 6/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
P - Author Patricia Kay - The Billionaire and His Boss - 5/22/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - The Chase - 5/2/16 ♥♥♥♥♥

Diversion (9/9)
D - Author Darynda Jones - Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet - 9/5/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris - 7/19/16 ♥♥♥♥
V - Vintage Dreams by Jannie Lund - 9/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Finger Lickin' Fifteen - 6/4/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
R - Author J.D. Robb - Judgment in Death - 5/7/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
S - The Sassy One by Susan Mallery - 5/10/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb - 9/16/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Author Charles Osgood - Funny Letters from Famous People - 9/13/16 ♥♥
N - No Weddings by Kat Bastion - 5/14/16 ♥♥♥

Elephant (8/8)
E - Author Janet Evanovich - The Job - 6/14/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Author Lisa Kleypas - Blue-Eyed Devil - 6/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Full Speed - 6/27/16 ♥♥♥♥
P - Purity in Death by J.D. Robb - 8/10/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
H - Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis - 5/23/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
A - Author Anna Sullivan - Hideaway Cove - 6/30/16 ♥♥♥
N - Author Marieke Nijkamp - This Is Where It Ends - 9/17/16 ♥♥♥♥
T - Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones - 7/16/16 ♥♥♥♥

Ferris Wheel (11/11)
F - A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn - 5/17/16 ♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Sizzling Sixteen - 7/21/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Ravishing Ruby by Lavinia Kent - 6/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb - 7/2/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
I - It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis - 9/24/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Author Shannon Stacey - Heat Exchange - 5/16/16 ♥♥♥♥
W - Welcome Home, Cowboy by Annie Rains - 5/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
H - Hope Flames by Jaci Burton - 6/20/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elizabeth Hoyt - Wicked Intentions - 8/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - The Scam - 8/29/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas - 6/18/16 ♥♥♥♥♥

Games (5/5)
G - Author Sue Grafton - K is for Killer - 7/27/16 ♥♥♥♥
A - Author Donna Andrews - We'll Always Have Parrots - 8/16/16 ♥♥♥♥
M - Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas - 5/20/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elizabeth EulBerg - Take a Bow - 9/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones - 5/28/16 ♥♥♥♥♥

Horses (6/6)
H - Author Sidney Halston - Stacked Up - 8/21/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - One Hot Summer by Melissa Cutler - 9/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Risking It All by Christi Barth - 7/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
S - Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb - 6/22/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Visions of Sugar Plums - 9/18/16 ♥♥♥
S - The Sound of Glass by Karen White - 7/10/16 ♥♥♥♥♥

I can never get enough spell-out challenges, so I'll choose that option.

Survive your own Apocalypse
Timeframe: 5/1/16 to 10/31/16

Step One (May) - Floods (6/6)
F - 15th Affair by James Patterson - 5/15/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 5/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - Off And Running by Philip Reed - 5/26/16 ♥♥♥
O - Off the Hook by Laura Drewry - 6/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
D - Author Darynda Jones - Second Grave on the Left - 5/28/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
S - The Sassy One by Susan Mallery - 5/10/16 ♥♥♥♥



Step Two (June) - College (7/7)
C - The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark - 6/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - Author Olivia Cunning - Double Time - 6/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Author Lavinia Kent - Bound by Bliss - 6/10/16 ♥♥♥♥
L - Author Lisa Kleypas - Blue-Eyed Devil - 6/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - The Job - 6/14/16 ♥♥♥♥
G - Author Sue Grafton - K is for Killer - 7/27/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Emma Chase - Tamed - 6/26/16 ♥♥♥♥♥



Step Three (July) – Roarke (6/6)
R - Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb - 7/2/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
O - Author Charles Osgood - Funny Letters from Famous People - 9/13/16 ♥♥
A - Author Kristen Ashley - Rock Chick - 8/12/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Risking It All by Christi Barth - 7/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
K - Author Karen White - The Sound of Glass - 7/10/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Sizzling Sixteen - 7/21/16 ♥♥♥♥



Step Four (August) – Mountains(10/10)
U - Unforgivable by Laura Griffin - 8/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
N - Author Marieke Nijkamp - This Is Where It Ends - 9/17/16 ♥♥♥♥
D - Author Donna Andrews - We'll Always Have Parrots - 8/16/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - The Scam - 8/29/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Author J.D. Robb - Purity in Death - 8/10/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
W - Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt - 8/7/16 ♥♥♥♥
A - Author Anne George - Murder on a Bad Hair Day - 8/17/16 ♥♥♥
T - Author Tilia Klebenov Jacobs - Second Helpings at the Serve You Right Café - 8/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elizabeth Eulberg - Take a Bow - 9/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Author J.D. Robb - Portrait in Death - 8/19/16 ♥♥♥♥♥



Step Five (September) - Precognition (12/12)
P - Author James Patterson - You've Been Warned - 11/9/16 ♥♥♥♥
R – Author J.D. Robb - Imitation in Death - 9/16/16 ♥♥♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Visions of Sugar Plums - 9/18/16 ♥♥♥
C - Cost of Life: A Thriller by Joshua Corin - 9/30/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - One Hot Summer by Melissa Cutler - 9/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
G - Author Gina Gordon - Reason to Believe - 10/22/16 ♥♥♥
N - Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen - 10/11/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - If the Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair - 9/26/16 ♥♥♥
T - The Trouble with Love by Lauren Layne - 9/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
I - It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis - 9/24/16 ♥♥♥♥
O - Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews - 10/19/16 ♥♥♥♥
N - Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt - 11/1/16 ♥♥♥♥



Step Six (October) - The Renewed (10/10)
T - Author David Taylor - Zoo Vet: Adventures Of A Wild Animal Doctor - 10/23/16 ♥♥♥♥
H - Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie - 11/3/16 ♥♥♥
E - Author Elle Casey - Wrong Number, Right Guy - 10/2/16 ♥♥♥♥
R - Author Al Roker - The Midnight Show Murders - 10/3/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Elin Hilderbrand - The Rumor - 11/18/16 ♥♥♥♥
N - The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine - 11/29/16 ♥♥♥♥
E - Author Erin McCarthy - Flat-Out Sexy - 11/30/16 ♥♥♥♥
W - What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life by Tim Conway - 10/12/16 ♥♥♥
E - Author Janet Evanovich - Full Blast - 1/3/17 ♥♥♥♥
D - Author Diane Chamberlain - The Midwife's Confession - 10/5/16 ♥♥♥♥

- 10/5/16 ♥♥♥♥

*****CHALLENGE COMPLETE 1/3/17******

I only read one book last month and added two! So I'm determined to get to more of them this time. I've set a realistic goal of 5 books for the month and hope to make a good dent.

NetGalley Challenge – May
Feedback ratio - 57%

On shelf 5/1/16 - Too many
Read: 5
Added: 4
On Shelf 5/31/16 - Still too many :)

Titles to read in May:


Read: Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill - 5/4/16 ♥♥♥♥
Review: Call Me Maybe Review


Read: Welcome Home, Cowboy by Annie Rains - 5/8/16 ♥♥♥♥
Review: Welcome Home, Cowboy Review


Read: No Weddings by Kat Bastion - 5/14/16 ♥♥♥
Review: No Weddings Review


Zack by Sawyer Bennett - 5/21/16 ♥♥♥♥
Review: Zack Review


Off And Running by Philip Reed - 5/26/16 ♥♥♥
Review: Off and Running Review

Amanda wrote: "I just finished . I really love this series! I broke my rule of requesting another book from Netgalley, but I HAD to get the next book in the series."

I know what you mean. Whenever a book comes up from a series I've read/enjoyed and/or a book from an author I've read/enjoyed, I still order it even though I'm behind.

You're making progress, Delitealex.

Yay, I *finally read and reviewed a NetGalley book this month!

Read: Icing by Kelly Jamieson - 4/27/16 ♥♥♥
Review: Icing Review


It took forever to read this one--18 days (unheard of for me). I just stalled and couldn't get going again. What a relief to be able to start fresh with something else. Hopefully I'll finish up another one before month-end.

Thanks, Kristie, for the links.

Lara wrote: "So, even though I've added at least as many books to my shelf as I've finished this month, I have finished 7 of the books originally on my list as well as another 3 that I added during the month. T..."

Those are great statistics, Lara! Hope you enjoyed your reads.

Emma wrote: "A little late to the convo, but when I DNF I put in why I didn't finish it but I also put what interested me about the book in the first place, usually it's not a bad book but just not my kind of t..."

Good point, Emma. I always try to take some time writing a review that is thoughtful, even if it's not positive. I try to offer constructive criticism, detailing what I liked or didn't like about a book. I figure that'll help both the authors and the publishers.

You're right, of course Marcelina, that "reading's the thing." And the fact that NetGalley (and the publisher) have offered me their books for my thoughts is a gift that I try not to squander. Although I'll admit to having gotten so far behind that I'm always playing catch-up and missing deadlines. Which is why this challenge is going to help me catch up and then be a responsible NetGalley reviewer.

Kazen wrote: "I just finished and wrote a review, putting me at 89%, huzzah! The review won't be up on Goodreads for anothe..."

Well done, Kazen!

Marcelina☮ wrote: "Also is anyone planning to use Dewey Readathon and the Earth Day Sprints to know out books from NetGalley this Saturday? My plan is to finish the 2 1/2 books that are still at my shelf to read. I t..."

What are those? I've haven't heard of either of them.

Margaret wrote: "Connie N. wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I am in kind of late but I'm in!
Number of books on shelf: 77 and climbing!
Number of books that I want to read for this month: since I am a bit late I will try ..."

Yes, Still Alice was my first Genova read, and I loved it! It was so readable and fascinating....and heartbreaking.

Margaret wrote: "I am in kind of late but I'm in!
Number of books on shelf: 77 and climbing!
Number of books that I want to read for this month: since I am a bit late I will try for three.....will be will:

[bookc..."

Oh, I want to read [bookcover:Inside the O'Briens|22716194]. I've been fascinated with her other books so far.

Sonia wrote: "Read & Reviewed another one!

- Review"

Great review, Sonia!

Karsyn wrote: "6 of my 7 reviews completed. :) Thought it was 8 I needed to do, but it was just 7. 6 are done, so YAY! :) Won't post the next review on here, since it's for an Artistic Nude photo book.

Updated ..."

Wow, I'm totally impressed, Karsyn. You're an inspiration!

Alison wrote: "Not entirely convinced this challenge is working for me. Am I the only one who is now spending even more time on NetGalley. I've posted 3 reviews so far but have added 4 books to my shelf and reque..."

LOL, Alison, that's the problem, isn't it? Perhaps this is the fatal flaw in this challenge!

Amanda wrote: "I'm going to pick out the shortest books I have and read them so I can get some done. :) "

I do the same thing! I keep my NetGalley books listed by # of pages so I can fit in some short ones while trying to keep up with the upcoming publish/archive dates.

Karsyn wrote: "Who all is going to be writing reviews for our "Review Weekend"?! How many books have you read that you need to review?"

I don't have any problem writing reviews as soon as I finish a book. I just have a hard time reading everything I've signed up for! My eyes are bigger than my allotted reading time. I really wish I didn't have to work for a living. It definitely takes up way too much of my day!

Myst wrote: "don't be embarrassed! quite a few of us have a large number of arc's tbr via netgalley!."

Thanks, Myst. That does make me feel better, but I'm still going to be mysterious until I have a somewhat less-embarrassing number of outstanding books to read.

I have Icing (Aces Hockey, #2) by Kelly Jamieson arc also haven't read it yet but my mom loved it & asked about more.

I've been reading this one for over a week and still haven't finished it and realized today that it was just published and I missed the deadline--darn. It started out good, but it was very put-downable, and I just haven't been inspired to pick it up again.