April 2009 Reading Challenge

[The Flooze]

Nichole wrote: "Oh, can I join your dictatorship?
It's only been like, two months and I'm already ready to re-read A Rush of Wings..."

And look! Supporters!

And future followers too!

The Dictatorship will thrive!

"What do you want to do tonight, Brain?"
"Tryyyyy to take overrr THE WORLD!"

Muahhhhahahaha...

[The Flooze]

Stav wrote: "Rush of Wings looks good...I might replace one of the other books on the list with that..."

YOOOOUUU will love it, with your fascination with the dark and murky and all the tortured little Goth souls.

My review isn't spoilery so you can read it.

But man, the description on the back of that book does not do it justice. It makes it sound so mundane.

[The Flooze]

Jessie wrote: "It is getting such praise how can we resist???"

You can't! Resistance is futile!

[Kristina]

this is my first challenge. i dont think it will be that hard since i only work weekends and tend to read at least 2 books a day. i lead a sad boring life. :( but the books keep me entertained

[Michelle]

This sounds like fun! This is the first time I'll be doing this challenge... Here's my list! Can't wait!

1. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7) - JR Ward
2.Tempting the Beast (Breed Series, #1) - Leigh, Lora 4-5
3.The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1) - Showalter, Gena 4-4
4.A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #2) Cole, Kresley 4-2
5.Pleasure Unbound (Demonica Series, Book 1) Ione, Larissa
6.Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) Frost, Jeaniene
7.Hunters: The Beginning (Hunters #1 & 2) Walker, Shiloh
8.You Slay Me (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 1) Katie MacAlister*
9.Dark Protector (Paladins of Darkness, Book 1) Alexis Morgan

[Stav]

Michelle M. wrote: "Stav wrote: "Rush of Wings looks good...I might replace one of the other books on the list with that..."

YOOOOUUU will love it, with your fascination with the dark and murky and all the tortured..."

yes...i love me some tortured goth souls...can't help it...that's it...its going to replace that Faerie book on my list!

[Gail]

Okay. Here are the books I know about so far (because they're on my Sony reader which I have with me at work).

1. Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh (#1 Angel's series)
2. Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre (#2, whatever her series is)
3. Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn (#5, I think, of Kitty the Werewolf)
4. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (this is the new one right? I don't have it but I want it.)

And we'll see where I go from there...

[Jennifer]

Alrighty...I'm finally ready for my first challenge.

I'm a serial series reader (say that 5 times fast), so this challenge is right up my alley. I was already planning to read three new releases in April, so this should be easy to accomplish.

1. Passion Unleashed -- Larissa Ione -- FINISHED
2. Immortal Hunter -- Lynsay Sands -- FINISHED
3. Secret Life of a Vampire -- Kerrelyn Sparks -- FINISHED
4. Accidentally Dead -- Dakota Cassidy -- FINISHED
5. Frostbite -- Richelle Mead -- FINISHED
6. Master of Wolves -- Angela Knight
7. Riding the Storm -- Sydney Croft
8. I'm the Vampire, That's Why -- Michele Bardsley
9. Glass Houses -- Rachel Caine
10. Bitten -- Kelley Armstrong

[Lisa]

Ooh, juicy. I love series books. My first-ever chapter book was a Bobbsey Twins and I've been reading series ever since.

I can't do the full challenge (too busy writing), but I'm going to pick a book or two from someone else's list and dive into a new series.

[The Flooze]

Bobbsey Twins! My obsessions were Sweet Valley Twins and Nancy Drew. Oh, and the books where Nancy worked with the Hardy Boys were great!

Ah, youth.

[Lisa]

Never liked Nancy. Loved the Hardys, though. Sweet Valley came way later than my childhood, I fear (like 20 years too late).

I think I'll glom onto Angie Fox's The Accidental Demon Slayer . Para, but fun -- and the second book (The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers) is out at the end of April, so I can work in two in the same series in one month. Cool!

[[deleted user]]

Okey, I think this is the first challenge of its kind that I've tried out, so here goes (is it ok if they're already on my TBR list? Let me know if not):

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
If Angels Burn A Novel of the Darkyn by Lynn Viehl
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
Blood Ties Book One The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Evermore The Immortals, Book 1 by Alyson Noel

[Yz the Whyz]

Welcome to all the first-timers in our monthly challenge. Hope you will enjoy it.

Moss,
The main goal of the challenge is to make a dent in our ever-increasing TBR pile. Unfortunately, sometimes it does the opposite..you read one book and you added three..LOL...almost like a losing battle...LOL

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Yz wrote

The main goal of the challenge is to make a dent in our ever-increasing TBR pile. Unfortunately, sometimes it does the opposite..you read one book and you added three..LOL...almost like a losing battle...LOL

sigh, what 3 more--some of these series are up to 22 or more books. At this rate, I'm going to have to live to be about 1000 to keep up. And even then, I'll probably STILL have books on my tbr pile, since I keep adding to it.

Still, its a FUN battle to lose. But, by reading all these books we are winning the war. The war being boredom, depression, lack of motivation for anything (hey,having the goal of reading all the books on your tbr pile is a good motive, right?)

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Ann wrote: " sigh, what 3 more--some of these series are up to 22 or more books. At this rate, I'm going to have to live to be about 1000 to keep up. And even then, I'll probably STILL have books on my tbr pile, since I keep adding to it.

Yes, I'm afraid this is sort of an exponential problem... I think if you lived to be a 1000 you might actually have a BILLION books on your TBR. It would not ever end.

Still, its a FUN battle to lose. But, by reading all these books we are winning the war. The war being boredom, depression, lack of motivation for anything (hey,having the goal of reading all the books on your tbr pile is a good motive, right?)"

Totally!!!

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

Michelle wrote: "This sounds like fun! This is the first time I'll be doing this challenge... Here's my list! Can't wait!

1. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7) - JR Ward
2.Tempting the Beast (Breed S..."

you are going to like Pleasure Unbound...I am reading the Second Book in the series for my challenge

[Yz the Whyz]

Yz's April Challenge List
(Subject to Changes..depending on books' availability)

1. IronKissed by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson series Book 3)
2. Stray by Rachel Vincent (Werecat Series Book 1)
3. Bitten by Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Underworld Book 1)
4. Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister (Aisling Grey Series Book 2)
5. Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance (Cassie Palmer Series Book 2)
6. Wild Rain by Christine Feehan (Leopard Series Book 2)
7. At Grave's End by Jeaninie Frost (Nighthuntress Series Book 3)
8. Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair (Dock Five Universe Series Book 2)
9. Lover Avenged by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 7)

[Jessie]

UPDATED

1. White Witch, Black Curse ~ Kim Harrison
2. From Dead to Worse ~ Charlain Harris
3. Blood Bound ~ Patricia Brigss
4. Shadow if the Moon ~ Rebecca York
5. Full Moon Rising ~ Keri Arthur
6. Bitten ~ Kelley Armstrong
7. A Rush Of Wings ~ Adrian Phoenix
8. Beyond Control ~ Rebecca York
9. Tempting Danger ~ Eileen Wilkes

I figured out I only read the first Mercy Thompson book and forgot I have Beyond Control on my bookshelf waiting to be read. No need buying one I don't need to yet. :)

[Kristen]

Here's what I think I will read... maybe. I may change it depending on what I have left from March. There's no way I'm reading 5 romances in the next week.

1. Valiant A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black (#2)

2. Witch Fire by Anya Bast (Elemental Witches, Book 1)

3. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld, Book 1)

4. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega, Book 1)

5. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)

6. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments, Book 3)

7. Goddess of the Rose by P.C. Cast (If I don't finish it this month)

8. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr (if its out by the end of April.. says it will be.. not sure when the library will get it in)

9. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

Michelle M. wrote: "Nichole wrote: "Oh, can I join your dictatorship?
It's only been like, two months and I'm already ready to re-read A Rush of Wings..."

And look! Supporters!

And future followers too!

..."

Adrian is certainly getting some love in April. A whole new batch of soon-to-be Dante (and Lucien, and Von...) converts! Woohoo!

[[deleted user]]

DarkHeart wrote: "Adrian is certainly getting some love in April. A whole new batch of soon-to-be Dante (and Lucien, and Von...) converts! Woohoo!
."

Yes I'm on board the LA train after all the evangelizing. I can't wait, it sounds so intriguing. I'm also really looking forward to Kelly Armstrong, have heard terrific things about her.

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

Moss wrote: "Yes I'm on board the LA train after all the evangelizing. I can't wait, it sounds so intriguing. I'm also really looking forward to Kelly Armstrong, have heard terrific things about her."

Ooh, love Kelley Armstrong. Are you reading Bitten? You'll love Elena and fall for Clay - it's impossible not to! ;)

And I see that you're going to try Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires. I read the first one at the end of February and immediately went out and bought the rest of the series and devoured it. I'm now impatiently waiting for Carpe Corpus. So good!

[Michelle]

I'm getting excited for April's challenge. I haven't read 9 different authors one after another. I've been stuck reading series straight so this should be interesting!! I was so tempted to start since I have my books sitting on my night stand! ARGH! I'll keep re-reading BDB until April 1st!

[Jessie]

Forgive my stupidity, but what the heck is "BDB". I keep seeing it mentioned...am I missing something I should know???

[Lori]

BDB stands for Black Dagger Brotherhood, a series of books by J.R. Ward. They are fabulous! Here's the reading order in case you too want to become a BDB addict. It's the drug of choice for all the cool kids don't ya know...

J.R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood series:
1. Dark Lover (Wrath)
2. Lover Eternal (Rhage)
3. Lover Awakened (Zsadist)
4. Lover Revealed (Butch)
5. Lover Unbound (Vishous)
6. Lover Enshrined (Phury)
7. Lover Avenged - May 5th

[Jessie]

AHHHHHHHH....Got it. I was trying to figure out the title of a book that BDB could possibly stand for. It all makes sense now. Thank you for un-stupifying me, Lori. I will def add to my TBR list :)

[Gail]

I may try the Adrian Phoenix book, since so many of y'all are raving over it.

Oh! The new Nina Bangs shapeshifter book is going to be out!! I gave Nina my snail address when I saw her last week, because I raved about the first one so much and she was going to see if her pub would send me an ARC, but I'm going to buy one anyway. I really like these shapeshifters. I'm a shapeshifter gal, more than vampires (though her vampires are good too.) Eternal Craving is the new one...

[Diane]

Here is my list. I can't wait to start.

1.Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny (Monere Children of the Moon Series Book 1)

2.Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur (Damask Circle Series Book 1)

3.Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series Book 1)

4.Kitty and The Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville Series Book 1)

5.Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn (Sisters of the Moon Series Book 1)

6.Wages of Sin by Jenna Macaine (Cin Craven Series Book 1)

7.Dragonborn by Jade Lee (Ragona Series Book 1)

8.Hunter's Moon by Lori Handeland (Nightcreatures Series Book 2)

9.Dime Store Magic by Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Book 3)

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Good luck with Witchling, Diane! We read it as a monthly group read in the "Who's Your Author" group last month and most of us didn't get through it...

Maybe you'll love it and you can get the rest of us convinced!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Karen--its really a more mystery than romance.

Diane, Wages of Sin is a really GREAT book. I actually had the good luck (or possibly BAD, considering how long I had to WAIT) to find and buy it while it was still basically "self" published. I think I had to wait about 3 years for the SECOND book to finally come out. But I was a good loyal fan and re-bought the one you are reading, just to make SURE that Jenna's new publisher would be happy with her sales. Then I pre-ordered the second book (Wages of Sin.) I think I devoured the second book in about 3 hours.

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

DarkHeart wrote: "Moss wrote: "Yes I'm on board the LA train after all the evangelizing. I can't wait, it sounds so intriguing. I'm also really looking forward to Kelly Armstrong, have heard terrific things about he..."

I just finished Bitten. I love Elena and Clay. There were time where I was come on get over it already, but other times I just could not put it down. I am now reading Kelly's second book Stolen. Can't wait to see what is in store for Clay and Elena now

[[deleted user]]

DarkHeart wrote: "Moss wrote: "Yes I'm on board the LA train after all the evangelizing. I can't wait, it sounds so intriguing. I'm also really looking forward to Kelly Armstrong, have heard terrific things about he..."


Yep am gonna start with Bitten, and luckily my library has quite a lot of Kelly Armstrong. I hear you guys talking about Clay and Elena all the time and want in!

Oh and I read an excerpt of the Morganville Vamps in some anthology and was utterly captivated by even that small taste. It looks pretty dark to be YA, which is great. Love the dark vampy stuff.

[Melinda]

Yes, now this is a challenge I can kick some butt in!


1. Lover Avenged {BDB 7} by JR Ward
2. Passion Unleashed {Demonica 3} by Larissa Ione
3. Blood Bound {Mercy Thompson 2} by Patricia Briggs
4. Hostage to Pleasure {Psy/Changling 5} by Nalini Singh
5. Succubus On Top {Georgia Kincaid 2} by Richelle Mead
6. Noah {Nightwalkers 5} by Jacqueline Frank
7. TBD
8. TBD
9. TBD

[Lauren]

Lori wrote: "BDB stands for Black Dagger Brotherhood, a series of books by J.R. Ward. They are fabulous! Here's the reading order in case you too want to become a BDB addict. It's the drug of choice for all ..."


I have to say i have become addicted also im on Lover Awakened (Zsadist) right now. I can't seem to get enough of these guys

[Melody]

Wheeee!!!

1. Sex & the Immortal Bad Boy (Immortally Sexy, Book 4) - Stephanie Rowe
2. Blood Bound (Mercedes Thompson, Book 2) - Patricia Briggs
3. Eternal Pleasure (Gods of the Night, Book 1) - Nina Bangs
4. Stray (Werecats, Book 1) - Rachel Vincent
5. Demon's Fire (Tales of the Demon World, Book 3) - Emma Holly
6. Primal Needs (Prime, Book 7) - Suzan Sizemore
7. Jacob (Nightwalkers, Book 1) - Jacquelyn Frank
8. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) - J.R. Ward
9. The Pagan Stone (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 3) - Nora Roberts

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[[deleted user]]

Melody, you are so organised, finding all those covers. They look great! And how jealous am I that you're reading Dark Lover for the first time? Ahh..Wrath...

[Jacalyn]

Wow that's cool you got all the covers down!

[Kristen]

Lady Ozma, when you use the add book/author link, you can choose to click the "cover" instead of a link. So you can make your pretty covers appear too! :)

[[deleted user]]

I've got most of my challenge books ready and waiting on my bedside table. It is KILLING me not being able to read them but I will stay strong. Can't wait..I think I'm going to lunge for Kresley Cole first. Yay!

[Melody]

Moss wrote: "Melody, you are so organised, finding all those covers. They look great! And how jealous am I that you're reading Dark Lover for the first time? Ahh..Wrath..."

:O) Gotta love the preview function!

And I'm really looking forward to beginning the Ward series. I've been putting it off for awhile, but with everyone around here seemingly entranced...I bow to peer pressure!

[Dawn]

Melody I love the book covers.

Can I share April cannot come fast enough I am just twiddling my thumbs

[Gail]

Is A Rush of Wings the first one in the Phoenix series?

Okay, I'm ready to finalize my list:

1. Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh (Guild Hungers #1)
2. Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty the Werewolf # 6)
3. Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre (Jax #2)
4. The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey (500 Kingdoms #4)
5. The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe (Dragon thing #1)
6. Night Huntress by Yasmine Galenorn (#5 in the Fae Sisters)
7. The Warlord's Daughter by Susan Grant (#5 or so in her SF series)
8. Echoes in the Dark by Robin D. Owens (#5 of Lladrana series (although #4 was actually #'s 4-6 crammed into one book, and this one is #7 or thereabouts...))
9. Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh. (Okay, that one's not PNR, but it's part of a series and I want to read it.)

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[Anna]

Yz wrote: "I can't believe March is almost over until someone mentioned when will the April Challenge list come out.

After discovering new authors last February and trying out new sub-genres this month, I'..."

Once again we are allowed to crossover books for challenges. is that correct or do i have to pick 9 completely different books and are historical paranormals allowed?

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Gail wrote: "Is A Rush of Wings the first one in the Phoenix series?"

Yes! A Rush of Wings is first, and In The Blood is second. Book 3 doesn't come out til next year, and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make it.
This post needs extra exlamation points because I love this series!!!!

[Yz the Whyz]

Anna wrote: "Yz wrote: "I can't believe March is almost over until someone mentioned when will the April Challenge list come out.

After discovering new authors last February and trying out new sub-genres this ..."

Anna,

Crossovers with other challenges are fine.

Historical paranormals are more than okay. We are not strict at all with genre, as long as it has some kind of paranormal element.

[Nicole]

Huh! I can think of three books from three different series that I read this month that I'd like to read the next book. (I know, that sentence was nigh-incoherent. It's late. I'm sure you know what I meant.) I'm just not sure I can commit to reading nine books again this month. Then again, some of the books I read this past month were just grim slogs, so!

[Anna]

April
1. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast(House of Night series Book 1)
2. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Book 1 in Black Dagger Brotherhood)
3. Tithe by Holly Black( A Modern Faerie Tale Series Book 1)
4. After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros(Cabot series Book 1)
5. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole(Immortals After Dark Book 2)
6. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter( Lords Of The Underworld Book 1)
7. Hunter’s Moon by C.J. Adams and Cathy Clamp (A Tale of The Sazi Book 1)
8. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione( Demonica Series Book 1)
9. My Immortal by Erin McCarthy (Seven Deadly Sins Book 1)

I can't wait to start reading!! :)

[Jessie]

I know...I have my first book calling to me...I want to start now!!!!!

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

I am with you on that....
two days and counting

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

Hehe, I hear you. I've got a stack of 15 books for various challenges, just waiting for me to dive in.