2020 January Pick-It-For-Me Challenge

[LaurLa]

Fran - I haven't forgotten you - I'll be doing picks in the morning!

[Sonja]

Hey Chaos! At last I made it to your list and got my picks done! Whew, what a whirlwind couple days travelling and the holidays! Hope yours was good too!

1. Food/Beverage related:
TBR: Finger Lickin' Fifteen (food industry)
NEW: Listen to Me (MC works with food) Loved this book and not sure why I haven’t kept up with the series! Also love the author’s writing style!


2. Outdoor Sports:
TBR: The Lineup (sports romance)
NEW: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (sports romance) - LOVED this book!


3. Collecting:
TBR: The Year We Hid Away (6-book series)
NEW/TBR: Pucked (6+Book series) - Saw it on your list, but thought I’d move it up the list as well.


4. Genealogy:
TBR: Half Truths (family)
NEW: Butterface (Family) - such a fun read and a cute story!


5. Games/Puzzles:
TBR: Co-Wrecker (nerdy character)
NEW: Geekerella (nerdy character) - I can’t even with this book! It appealed to all my dorky, geeky, nerdy tendencies! Loved the characters, the conflict and the ingenious nod to the classic Cinderella story!


6. Travel:
TBR: Trial by Fae (another world counts as another country!)
TBR: The Aussie Next Door (Australia)


7. Photography:
TBR: Lies (striking cover)
NEW: Shacking Up (Striking cover - I mean come on! Look at all that flesh!) - Same author as Pucked, but I enjoyed this one way better!


8. Gardening:
TBR: The Pool Boy (outdoor scene) I’m told there’s an outdoor scene there somewhere…. LOL!
NEW: The One In My Heart (outdoor scene)


Bonus category – Reading:
Idol - Basically anything I’ve read by Kristen Callihan hits me in all the right places. I read Idol before I realized it was the same author as another one of my faves Firelight. Also, I recommended a book by Kylie Scott earlier, that I haven’t read (and now plan to!), but I definitely want to add the Stage Dive series, starting with Lick!

[Sonja]

MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you find something to love in January!

1..."

These look awesome, MKat! Thank you so much! Trying to finish up a few of my December picks so I can get to these ones! Thank you! Enjoy your cozy (quiet) place!

[Jamie - The Bookish Attitude]

Sonja wrote: "Hey Chaos! At last I made it to your list and got my picks done! Whew, what a whirlwind couple days travelling and the holidays! Hope yours was good too!


1. Food/Beverage related:

TBR: [book..."

Thankyou heaps for your picks babe! I'm lookong forward to getting to attempt them all. 😍

[Allie]

Gabriella, I will be working on your picks now. So sorry for the delay. I've been quite busy this week.

[Allie]

Here you go Gabriella I hope that you find something to enjoy on here!

1. Food and Beverage:
TBR: Savor the Moment - Wedding cake baker. This is the series that originally got me hooked on romance.
New: Bittersweet - a romance that takes place on an apple orchard.



2. Outdoor Sports:
TBR: Crown of Midnight - I'd consider her job athletic in nature
New: Kulti - professional soccer player



3. Collecting
TBR: Big Jack - This series has a million books. I think this is next for you. if I messed up feel free to substitute.
New: To Kill A Warlock maybe you want to start a new longer series. This series has 11 books in it currently, the 12th is being released next month.



4. Genealogy
TBR: The Return of Rafe MacKade - Each book in this series features another family member.
New: In Bed with a Highlander - a historical series with a close knit family.



5. Games/Puzzles
TBR: Daughter of Smoke & Bone - very smart character.
New: Mr. Perfect one of my favorite romantic suspense books



6. Travel
TBR: Outlander - takes place in Scotland, both past and present
New: The Darkest Night - Takes place in Budapest



7. Photography
TBR: Dark Witch
New: Bringing Down the Duke



8. Gardening
TBR: Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married - outdoors on the cover
New: Instant Attraction - The series forcuses on an outdoor adventures company



Bonus Reading:
I'm going with my favorite book of 2019
Circe

[Allie]

Nancy H wrote: "Hi Allie,
Here are the picks for you. If you don't see anything you like, please let me know and I will add more.

Food/beverage - Two hots guys as main characters- [book:Criminal Confections|222..."

Thank you for the great picks Nancy! I am looking forward to diving into quite a few of these next month!

[Fran, Moderator]

LaurLa wrote: "Fran - I haven't forgotten you - I'll be doing picks in the morning!"

Thanks LaurLa! No problem and no rush!

[Gabriella]

Allie wrote: "Here you go Gabriella I hope that you find something to enjoy on here!

1. Food and Beverage:
TBR: Savor the Moment - Wedding cake baker. This is the series that originally got me ho..."

Thanks for the great picks, Allie! I'm looking forward to reading them next month.

[Carrie]

KathyD, it's been a crazy week and I'm only this morning going through my notifications ( haven't looked at them since Monday) I'm going to my dads for a few hours this afternoon/evening but I'll work on your pairs tonight so they will be there tonight or in the morning. So sorry for your wait.

[LaurLa]

For Fran! ~ Hope you find some good reads from this list :-D Sorry for being last minute!


1. Food/Beverage related
🔹TBR: Food for Thought ~ Amy Lane ~ cooking
🔹NEW: The Last Letter ~ Rebecca Yarros ~ hospitality


2. Outdoor Sports
🔹TBR: Ice Games ~ Jessica Clare ~ athlete
🔹NEW: Seducing Cinderella ~ Gina L. Maxwell ~ athlete


3. Collecting
🔹TBR: The Embattled Road ~ J.M. Madden ~ one of my favorite series
🔹NEW: Full Measures ~ Rebecca Yarros ~ great series, not quite complete


4. Genealogy
🔹TBR: Family Camp ~ Eli Easton ~ chosen family
🔹NEW: Now That You Mention It ~ Kristan Higgins ~ family


5. Games/Puzzles
🔹TBR: Impact ~ Tiffinie Helmer ~ a bit of suspense
🔹NEW: Crazy for Her ~ Sandra Owens ~ suspense


6. Travel
🔹TBR: Uncivilized ~ Sawyer Bennett ~ set in the US and Amazon jungle
🔹NEW: What Remains ~ Garrett Leigh ~ set in England


7. Photography
🔹TBR: To Have ~ Alessandra Torre ~ striking cover
🔹NEW: The Unimaginable ~ Dana Silver ~ also beautiful/striking cover


8. Gardening
🔹TBR: Overnight Love ~ Nicole Edwards ~ outdoor job/scene
🔹NEW: Archer's Voice ~ Mia Sheridan ~ outdoorsy


Bonus category – Reading
🔹TBR: Delayed Satisfaction ~ Lauren Blakely ~ autobuy author
🔹NEW: Year One ~ Nora Roberts ~ autobuy!

[Carrie]

KathyD, sorry for your wait. I hope you like one of these :)

1. Food/Beverage related (Cooking/Baking, Beer or Winemaking, Mixology, etc.):

TBR: (It has food in the title)

New: (food industry)


2. Outdoor Sports (Swimming/Skiing/Hiking/Rock Climbing/Running/Skateboarding, etc.)

TBR: (looks fit to me)

New: (cyclist)

3. Collecting (Coins, Stamps, Birdwatching, Foraging, etc.)

TBR: (much more then 5)

New: (not really new but not on that shelf, and more then 5 books)

4. Genealogy:

TBR: (sisters)

New: (siblings)

5. Games/Puzzles:

TBR: (smart)

New: (smart)

6. Travel

TBR: (country I don't live in)

New: country I don't live in)

7. Photography:

TBR: (sweet cover, not beautiful but sweet)

New: (I love this cover)

8. Gardening:

TBR: (out door cover)

New: (outdoors)

Bonus category – Reading

TBR: (auto buy)

New: (all time favorites)

[Carina]

Courtney,

Here are your picks. Happy reading!

1. Food/Beverage related (Cooking/Baking, Beer or Winemaking, Mixology, etc.):

TBR -

2. Outdoor Sports (Swimming/Skiing/Hiking/Rock Climbing/Running/Skateboarding, etc.):

TBR -
New -

3. Collecting (Coins, Stamps, Birdwatching, Foraging, etc.):

TBR -
New -

4. Genealogy:

TBR -
New -

5. Games/Puzzles:

TBR -
New -

6. Travel:

TBR -
New -

7. Photography:

TBR -
New -

8. Gardening:

TBR -
New -

Bonus category – Reading (You really didn’t think I’d leave it out, did you?):

New -
New -

[Carrie]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Carrie

Wow, your TBR is seriously impressive. I've only read a couple of the books on your Current TBR, so I hope you enjoy these picks.

1. Food/Beverage related: Hotels are hospitality, so we ha..."


Thank you so much for your picks. :)

[Fran, Moderator]

Thank you LaurLa for the great picks!! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Hey LaurLa!

Since we've reached the picking deadline and you don't have your picks yet, I'll have our latecomer Susan do picks for you.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Hi Susan!

Here are your picks. I hope you find some that interest you...several from your shelf just might have made it onto my wishlist. 😉

1. Food/Beverage related (Cooking/Baking, Beer or Winemaking, Mixology, etc.): Recommend a book that is in some way connected to the food or hospitality industry, or a book that has a character that just enjoys food and drink (preparing and/or consuming).
TBR: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
New: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

2. Outdoor Sports (Swimming/Skiing/Hiking/Rock Climbing/Running/Skateboarding, etc.): Recommend a sports romance or a book with an athletic character, or with a character who is trying to improve their physical health. Or you can recommend a book with a very fit looking body on the cover.
TBR: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
New: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

3. Collecting (Coins, Stamps, Birdwatching, Foraging, etc.): Recommend a book that is part of a series containing at least 5 books. You can also recommend a book from a series with less than 5 books if the series isn’t complete (at least one more book planned but not yet released).
TBR: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
New: Cake by J. Bengtsson

4. Genealogy: Recommend a book in which family (by blood or by choice) plays an important role.
TBR: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
New: The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak

5. Games/Puzzles: Recommend a book with a mystery or suspense element, or a book with a very smart or geeky character.
TBR: The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton
New: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

6. Travel: Recommend a book that is set in more than one location, or that is set in a country other than where you live.
TBR: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
New: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

7. Photography: Recommend a book with a cover that you consider very beautiful or otherwise striking.
TBR: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
New: Fisher's Light by Tara Sivec

8. Gardening: Recommend a book with a character that has an outdoor job or otherwise spends a lot of time outside, or a book that has an outdoor scene on the cover.
TBR: The Simple Wild K.A. Tucker
New: The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

Bonus category – Reading (You really didn’t think I’d leave it out, did you?): Recommend a book that is among your all-time favorites, or that is written by an author that you consider an auto-buy.
Well, a couple of my auto-buy authors are already mentioned above (Jill Shalvis and J.D. Robb), and the only other author that I would truly consider an auto-buy is Pamela Clare. I first discovered her I-Team series, which is Romantic Suspense and starts with Extreme Exposure, but if you're more interested in straight contemporary Barely Breathing is the first book in her Colorado High Country series. She also has a couple of Historical trilogies, my favorite of which starts with Surrender. One other option is not an auto-buy author but definitely an auto-buy series...Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series, which starts with Slave to Sensation.

Happy Reading!

[Suzanne]

Hey LaurLa, I'm working on your picks now! I'll have them posted soon!

[Suzanne]

Hi Laurla! I hope you enjoy yours picks this month, let me know if I need to redo any. Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

1. Food/Beverage related (Cooking/Baking, Beer or Winemaking, Mixology, etc.):
- Food Industry: Under the Table by Stephanie Evanovich - **NEW**
- Enjoys Food: Bone Appetit by Carolyn Haines



2. Outdoor Sports (Swimming/Skiing/Hiking/Rock Climbing/Running/Skateboarding, etc.):
- Sports Romance: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams - **NEW**
- Fit Bod on Cover: The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann



3. Collecting (Coins, Stamps, Birdwatching, Foraging, etc.):
- Part of a Series (> 5 Books): On Thin Ice by Cherry Adair
- Part of a Series (< 5 Books): An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris - **NEW**



4. Genealogy:
- Family Plays an Important Role: Welcome Back to Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand



5. Games/Puzzles:
- Mystery: 3rd Degree by James Patterson
- Smart/Geeky CHaracter: Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper - **NEW**



6. Travel:
- Set in more than one location: Lothaire by Kresley Cole
- Set other than USA: Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts (Ireland)



7. Photography:
- Beautiful Cover: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - **NEW**



8. Gardening:
- Spends time outside: Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr - **NEW**
- Outdoor Scene: Hidden Gifts by Elena Aitken



Bonus category – Reading (You really didn’t think I’d leave it out, did you?):
- The Trouble with Twelfth Grave by Darynda Jones

[Nancy H]

Chaos Book Reviews. wrote: " Nancy
I believe your list has gotten longer since the last time I picked for you, but that okay cause this time round finding you suitable, or at least I hope suitable, picks was really easy 😂

F..."

Hi Chaos Book Reviews,
Thank you for the list. There are several that I want to start with, but I guess I will just have to pick one for my first read - lol. There are a couple on there that I have already read, and I am not sure why they are not appearing on my 'Read' list, but you have chosen plenty of others for me to read, so no worries.
Thank you!

[Jamie - The Bookish Attitude]

Nancy H wrote: "Chaos Book Reviews. wrote: " Nancy
I believe your list has gotten longer since the last time I picked for you, but that okay cause this time round finding you suitable, or at least I hope suitable..."

If you wanna shoot me a message with the ones you've already read I can repick them for you if you'd like?

[☘KathyD☘]

Carrie wrote: "KathyD, sorry for your wait. I hope you like one of these :)

1. Food/Beverage related (Cooking/Baking, Beer or Winemaking, Mixology, etc.):

TBR: [bookcover:Peas, Carrots and an Aston Martin|47538..."

No worries Carrie! It is a busy time of year. . .these are great picks. . .thank you much! =)

[Susan]

I'm going to look at your books right now LaurLa

[Suzanne]

☘KathyD☘ wrote: "Merry Christmas Suzanne! (or Happy Holidays if you don’t celebrate)! Here are your picks to start the new year. I had a difficult time finding books that were not on your list, so I hope you find a..."

I just finished The Professional by Kresley Cole and it was pretty good! Thank you for the recommendation!

[Fran, Moderator]

LaurLa wrote: "For Fran! ~ Hope you find some good reads from this list :-D Sorry for being last minute!."

Hi LaurLa!

I finished from your list. Thanks so much for the rec- it worked for the Bachelor Challenge too, so bonus! I hope to get to a few more this month, hopefully I can make it work for the BC again :)

[Nancy H]

Hi Chaos Book Reviews,
I have read 3 of your picks for me and have started on a 4th one. They have been really good, and I needed the nudge to get these read, especially the first one, which I loved!

I read:
The Silver Linings Playbook
California Girls
A Strange Scottish Shore

Thanks for the good picks!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Hi Courtney,

I've finished one book so far, but also bought one of the ones your recommended. Thanks!

finished: - 1/5/20
purchased:

[Trip]

Thank you Carmen for the pick of i enjoyed it a lot! Planning to read also i finished shortly after posted as had started already but i will possibly read next in series soon as was great xx

[Sonja]

Hey ya'll!
Just sharing the link for February's PIFM! I'm hosting and we got a fun topic in works! :D
February 2020 PIFM Challenge

[Sonja]

MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you find something to love in January!

1..."

Hey MKat! So far I've read two from your list: Brazen and the Beast and The One Real Thing I'm listening to Getting Played on audiobook now and OMG the narrator voicing Dean.... *SWOOOOOOON* All deep n gravelly and come-get-me.... whew! LOL!

Hoping to get to Silver Sparks. Wanderlust or Over Easy as well, but if not, they'll be on my Feb PIFM list! :D

[Gabriella]

Hi, Allie! Checking in, as I'm pretty sure I won't be able to read any more books of this challenge :)

I managed to read three books and liked pretty much all of them: Savor the Moment and Dark Witch by Nora Roberts, my favorite author; and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, that is not my favorite genre, but somehow the series got me hooked for this long. Thanks for the great picks!

[Nancy H]

Hi Chaos Book Reviews,
I managed to finish a 4th book and it was really good: Lemonade and Lies .

I don't think I will get any more read this month, and it's good I got some read earlier in the month, because last week my mother just fell and broke her hip, so we are quite busy with all that has entailed. She is doing well, fortunately, but not something any of us wanted to have to deal with, especially her!

Thanks for the good picks this month!

[Suzanne]

I finished and thought it was pretty good. The last quarter of the book was kind of hard to get through, since it's so long, but I'll going to follow up and watch the movie now.

[Jamie - The Bookish Attitude]

Nancy H wrote: "Hi Chaos Book Reviews,
I managed to finish a 4th book and it was really good: Lemonade and Lies .

I don't think I will get any more read th..."

You Go Girl!
I'm really glad your enjoying your pickd for this month!

[Sonja]

MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you find something to love in January!

1..."

OMG KarenH! I got through 7 of your picks this month (9 books total for January)!!! And that with football playoffs, traveling and generally trying to recover from the holidays! I'm floored!
I got to 2 of your new recommendations, Getting Played and The One Real Thing and I have Wanderlust on my Feb reading list!
Technically I'm not done with Over Easy yet, but I'm close enough that I'm counting it! :D

Thanks for the excellent picks!

[Jamie - The Bookish Attitude]

Sonja wrote: "Hey Chaos! At last I made it to your list and got my picks done! Whew, what a whirlwind couple days travelling and the holidays! Hope yours was good too! ..."

I managed to do seven of your picks for this month, five I completed; Finger Lickin' Fifteen, The Lineup, Pucked, The Aussie Next Door and Lies
Two I couldn't get past the first few chapters Geekerella and The One In My Heart. I'm not sure if reading these when I tried to was the issue or if it was the book itself, either way I'm glad I at least tried two new to me authors.
and I found one that my Kindle has marked as read but it's not on my GR list Butterface 🤦‍♀️

I'm currently reading The Year We Hid Away.

Again, Thankyou for your picks. It's been an interesting book month 😊

[LaurLa]

Hey Suzanne - thanks for the picks! I think I forgot to say that earlier in the month! Sorry for not acknowledging them :-)

I read 2 from your picks and added a third to my TBR - so hopefully I'll get that one read sooner than later this year ;-)

2. Outdoor Sports
🔹TBR ~ The Unsung Hero ~ Suzanne Brockmann ~ Fit Bod ~ 01.10 ★★★★


5. Games/Puzzles
🔹NEW ~ Better Homes and Hauntings ~ Molly Harper ~ Geeky Character ADDED TO TBR


6. Travel
🔹TBR ~ Jewels of the Sun ~ Nora Roberts ~ Ireland ~ 01.23 ★★★★

[Mary-Megan]

Hi Laura!
Thanks for my picks. I managed to read one completely this month - Inn at Last Chance. I am almost done with The Weight of Silence (I have like four tracks left on the audiobook). I also just started another of your picks - The Cottingley Secret. So thanks for all of your choices.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Sonja wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you find something to love in January!

1..."

OMG KarenH! I got through 7 of your picks this month (9 books total for January)!!!"

Hey Sonja! I know Kat and I say we share a brain when it comes to books (and a lot of other things), but I can't take credit for her picks! 🤣🤣🤣

[MountainKat, Moderator]

~KarenH~ wrote: "Hey Sonja! I know Kat and I say we share a brain when it comes to books (and a lot of other things), but I can't take credit for her picks! 🤣🤣🤣 "

Though chances are high you would have made the same ones! 😂😂

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Sonja wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you find something to..."

I'm glad you enjoyed your picks and had a good reading month!! 😊

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Hi Fran! I was able to read three of my picks this month!

Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan 1.9.2020 - I didn't like this as much as I usually like her books, but I'm glad I read it!

The Billionaire's Voice by J.S Scott 1.14.2020 - Enjoyed it so much, I read the next one too!

Submission is Not Enough by Lexi Blake 1.23.2020 - Loved this one!!

Thank you for the picks!!

[Sonja]

~KarenH~ wrote: "Sonja wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Hi Sonja! The family left yesterday and I'm not going anywhere with nearly a foot of snow on the ground! So I finally sat down to make your picks. 😊 I hope you fin..."

OMG how did I do that! LOL!!! Oops! Sorry MKat and Karen! In my defense, Friday was a little hectic and I was updating at the last second! Thanks for being chill about it though! and thank you for the picks MKat!!! I finished Over Easy yesterday morning!

[Carrie]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Carrie

Wow, your TBR is seriously impressive. I've only read a couple of the books on your Current TBR, so I hope you enjoy these picks.

1. Food/Beverage related: Hotels are hospitality, so we ha..."


I only managed one book, but it was a 5 star so that's a win and it's another off the shelf. The lucky winner was . I did however purchase one of the new to me books for kindle . So thank you.

[☘KathyD☘]

Carrie. . .thank you for all the great picks! I was able to knock off a few and add to my TBR list. =)

⚽ Outdoor Sports
All About the D, Lex Martin & Leslie McAdams – 1/24/20 – ✮✮✮✮✰

⌚ Collecting
Where Winter Finds You, J.R. Ward – 12/30/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
Magic Slays, Ilona Andrews – 1/3/20 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — new

👪 Genealogy
Lucky in Love, Jill Shalvis – 1/9/20 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

💥 Bonus Category — Reading
First Drop of Crimson, Jeaniene Frost – 1/2/20 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

[Carrie]

Nice!