Barbara's 2015 Reading List & Challenges

[Barbara ★]

All Through the Year Quarterly Challenge
Duration: December 15, 2014 - March 14, 2015

READ: 36/36

Published in
January ~ The Monstrumologist - Rick Yancey 1/8
February ~ Lucky Stiff - Deborah Coonts 2/16
March ~ Dead Case in Deadwood - Ann Charles 2/8
April ~ Heart of the Wolf - Terry Spear 2/13
May ~ Optical Delusions in Deadwood - Ann Charles 1/1
June ~ Red Seas Under Red Skies - Scott Lynch 1/11
July ~ White Trash Zombie Apocalypse - Diana Rowland 2/25
August ~ Absolution - Susannah Sandlin 2/5
September ~ Ritual Magic - Eileen Wilks 3/11
October ~ Broken Soul - Faith Hunter 1/3
November ~ Her Sky Cowboy - Beth Ciotta 2/13
December ~ Clean Sweep - Ilona Andrews 1/6


Birthstones: Read a book with a cover matching the birthstone color. Alternately, you may read a book that relates to the meaning of the birthstone.

✔January: Garnet (deep red color) - A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one's safe travel and speedy homecoming. So you may also read a book involving a journey of some sort.
The Horse Goddess - Morgan Llywelyn 1/4

✔February: Amethyst (purple) - The gift of Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the power to overcome difficulty. You may also read a book where a main character had to overcome a difficulty.
Light My Fire - G.A. Aiken 1/5

✔March: Aquamarine (pale blue) - A gift of Aquamarine symbolizes both safety and security, especially within long standing relationships. So you can also read a book involving an already married/mated couple.
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins 1/19

✔April: Diamond (white, clear) - A gift of a Diamond is symbolic of everlasting love. You could also read a book featuring an immortal character.
Magic Breaks - Ilona Andrews 1/15

✔May: Emerald (deep green) - Some people believe that wearing an Emerald brings wisdom, growth, and patience. So you may also pick a book where a MC experiences growth of character or gains wisdom. Or one character teaches another.
Moloka'i - Alan Brennert 1/18

✔June: Pearl (white) - Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry. You can also choose a book that involves royalty.
77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz 1/9

✔July: Ruby (red) - It has been said that the Ruby's red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished. You may also read a steamy book or one with a hot guy on the cover.
Bombshell - Catherine Coulter 1/16

✔August: Peridot (yellow green; yellow and/or green on cover) - It signifies strength, both individual and within a relationship, as well as the promise of new growth in years ahead. So you may also read a book that includes family, children or pregnancy.
A Bone to Pick - Charlaine Harris 1/11

✔September: Sapphire (deep blue) - Sapphires have long been a favorite among priests and kings, who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity. You can read a book with a virginal character.
Archer's Voice - Mia Sheridan 1/6

✔October: Opal (multi-colored, a cover with at least 4 distinct colors) - A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence. As friendship should include both faithfulness and confidence, you can read a book that involves good friends.
Daylighters - Rachel Caine 2/11

✔November: Citrine (yellow gold) - A gift of Citrine is symbolic for hope and strength. You may also choose a book that features a character whose strength is tested, either physically or emotionally.
Blood of Tyrants - Naomi Novik 1/24

✔December: Blue Topaz (blue) - A gift of Blue Topaz is symbolic of love and fidelity. So you could read a book where a character pledges their love and fidelity with either a proposal or marriage, or the equivalent of those.
Restless In The Grave - Dana Stabenow 1/28

Birth Month Flowers: Read a book that has the specific flower for each month on the cover, is set during that month or that matches the meaning of the birth month flower.

✔January: Carnation - Love, Pride, Beauty, Purity, Distinction, Fascination, and Loyal. You can read a book with a prideful character.
Much Ado About Vampires - Katie MacAlister 2/15

✔February: Violet - Faithfulness, Wisdom and Hope. You may select a book with a wise character.
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkein 2/26

✔March: Daffodil - Spring, Rebirth, Domestic Happiness, Respect, Regard and Friendship. You could pick a book with a happy character.
A Tale Of Two Dragons - G.A. Aiken 2/2

✔April: Daisy - Love, Youth, Purity. So you can read a book that features an innocent character.
Captured by the Pirate Laird - Amy Jarecki 2/25

✔May: Lily of the Valley - Humility, Chastity, and Sweetness. You may choose a book that has a sweet character.
SEAL of Honor - Tonya Burrows 3/10

✔June: Rose - Love and Appreciation. You can select a book with a romantic character.
Chilled - Kendra Elliot 1/21

✔July: Larkspur - Levity and Lightness. You could read a book with a funny character.
A Tale Of Two Dragons - G.A. Aiken 2/2

✔August: Gladiolus - Strength, Moral Integrity, Remembrance, Infatuation. You may select a book that has a character who demonstrates moral integrity by doing the right thing.
Master of Craving - Karen Tabke 1/29

✔September: Aster - Love, Faith, Wisdom and symbolizes Valor. You can read a book that has a brave character.
Hidden Currents - Christine Feehan 2/21

✔October: Marigold - Warm, Fierce. They exemplify elegance and devotion. You may pick a book with an elegant character.
If You Give a Rake a Ruby - Shana Galen 2/22

✔November: Chrysanthemum - Compassion, Friendship, Joy. You can choose a book that has a compassionate character.
Water Bound - Christine Feehan 2/16

✔December: Poinsettia - Good Cheer, Success. You can read a book with a successful character.
Festive in Death - J.D. Robb 2/16

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

[Barbara ★]

Let's Set The Mood....A Settings Challenge
Duration: March 15 - June 14, 2015

READ: 13/20

1. Small Town ~ Wild Child - Molly O'Keefe 4/26
2. City ~ Archangel's Blade - Nalini Singh (NYC) 3/26
3. Farm/Ranch ~ Baby - J.K. Accinni 5/3
4. Jungle or Rain forest ~
5. Desert or Mountain Range ~
6. College ~ Asylum - Madeleine Roux 5/5
7. Hotel or Apartment ~
8. Mansion or House ~ The Fall - Bethany Griffin 5/10
9. Ship/Boat ~
10 Tropical/Island ~ Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs (Hawaii) 3/22


11 U.S.A. ~ Texas Gothic - Rosemary Clement-Moore (Texas) 5/9
12 Cental/So America ~
13 Ireland ~ Last Stand of Dead Men - Derek Landy 3/16
14 Italy ~
15 England ~ Unmade - Sarah Rees Brennan 3/25
16 Australia ~ Shadowglass - Erica Hayes 5/18
17 Canada ~ Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs 6/9
18 Asia ~ Endsinger - Jay Kristoff (Japan) 3/18
19 Scotland ~ Warrior's Redemption - Melissa Mayhue 3/22
20 France ~


BONUS - COVERS

READ: 4/5

1. Building/Dwelling ~ If He's Wild - Hannah Howell 3/31
2. Water or Boat ~ West of Want - Laura Kaye 3/21
3. Mountains ~ Night Broken - Patricia Briggs 3/30
4. Grass or Trees ~ Mind Fuck - Manna Francis 3/21
5. Sand or Snow ~

[Barbara ★]

The Royalty of Rock Quarterly Challenge
Duration: June 15 - September 14, 2015

READ: 24/20

Read a book for each song that fits the theme or one in which a word from the song title can be found in the title of the book, disregarding articles.

✔Jailhouse Rock - Exposed - Alex Kava (heroine is FBI) 6/24
✔Blue Suede Shoes - Forbidden - Jacquelyn Frank (blue cover) 7/31
✔Love Me Tender - Can't Hurry Love - Molly O'Keefe (romance) 7/27
✔Heartbreak Hotel - Wild Fire - Christine Feehan (second chance) 7/15
✔Viva Las Vegas - Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh (secrets) 8/2


✔A Little Less Conversation -Dark Heir - Faith Hunter (action packed) 7/4
✔Hound Dog - Hunger Untamed - Pamela Palmer (cougar shifter) 7/9
✔Return to Sender - Blaze of Memory - Nalini Singh (psy-net) 8/31
✔Don't Be Cruel - Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland - Melinda DuChamp (BDSM) 7/9
✔In the Ghetto - Rev It Up - Julie Ann Walker (bad boy hero) 6/16


✔Suspicious Minds - The Darkest Touch - Gena Showalter (enemies to lovers) 7/12
✔Burning Love - Voracious - V.K. Forrest (erotic) 7/19
✔All Shook Up - Fifty Shades of Alice Through the Looking Glass - Melinda DuChamp (crazy, mixed up) 7/10
✔Little Sister - Then Came You - Jill Shalvis (both H/H siblings are part of story) 7/29
✔Blue Hawaii -Dead in the Water - Stuart Woods (on a Caribbean island) 8/1


✔Kentucky Rain - Revenant - Phaedra Weldon (set in Atlanta) 7/13
✔Hard Headed Woman - Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor (secrets) 7/22
✔Don't Cry Daddy - Big Sky River - Linda Lael Miller (child/children in the story) 7/10
✔GI Blues - Forgotten Sins - Rebecca Zanetti (spec ops) 6/7


Bonus - To be a Total Groupie, use these songs and come up with your own theme! Or find five Elvis songs of your own to use. You can even mix and match!

✔Are You Lonesome Tonight ~ Kiss of the Betrayer - Boone Brux (single guy on cover) 7/8

✔Can't Help Falling in Love ~ It Happened One Wedding - Julie James 6/27
(commitment-phobic hero can't help falling in love with jaded heroine)

✔A Big Hunk o' Love - Warrior Reborn - Melissa Mayhue 7/20

✔Promised Land - Geist - Phaedra Weldon (Land in author's name =phAeDra weLdoN) 8/26



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

[Barbara ★]

July Word Hunt

10/10 Found

✔ability/ies - If He's Tempted - Hannah Howell 7/5
(and with it her ability to tell him to stay), p119
✔blindfold - Dark Heir - Faith Hunter 7/4
(and even blindfolded), p110
✔brand - Dark Heir - Faith Hunter 7/4
(I'd cauterized a wound, like a brand), p205
✔coddle - Thrill Ride - Julie Ann Walker 7/11
(that situation completely coddled his balls), p163
✔destroy - If He's Tempted - Hannah Howell 7/5
(allow his mother to destroy yet another), p14
✔diabolic/al - The Darkest Touch - Gena Showalter 7/12
(the diabolical warrior), p70
✔reverse - If He's Tempted - Hannah Howell 7/5
(so how did he reverse all the decisions made), p253
✔sound - HIDE Omnibus - Jax Spenser 7/6
(there's no sound coming out of my homeroom), p169
✔sparkle - Dark Heir - Faith Hunter 7/4
(as the gem sparkled and danced), p110
✔violence - Trail of Kisses - Merry Farmer 7/5
(for someone who's been threated with violence), p24



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

[Barbara ★]

August Word Hunt

9/10 FOUND

combat - Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh 8/2
~ (at close-contact combat), p3

disease - Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh 8/2
~ (it's not a disease), p29

drink - The Will of the Empress - Tamora Pierce 8/5
~ (we may not want to drink), p73

federal - Deadtown - Nancy Holzner 8/11
~ (legal equality at the federal level), p25

forest - Alone - Kendra Elliot 8/2
~ (and knows this forest inside and out), p14

joyride -
~ (), p

loophole - Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh 8/2
~ (Bill Smith thinks he found a loophole), p118

snake - Caught Read-Handed - Terrie Farley Moran 8/3
~ (when I am so worried about the snake), p39

sunrise - The Will of the Empress - Tamora Pierce 8/5
~ (before you ride off at sunrise), p233

twelve - The Will of the Empress - Tamora Pierce 8/5
~ (but in twelve more miles), p73

[Barbara ★]

September Word Hunt

10/10 FOUND

abandon ~ Hope Flames - Jaci Burton 9/4
(who would abandon you), p15

absorb ~ Obsidian - Jennifer Armentrout 9/2
(when we absorb your powers), p188

bad ~ Crossfire - Joann Ross 9/4
(that was bad), p14

chaotic ~ The Raider - Monica McCarty 9/3
(the already chaotic and crowded fair), p39

downward ~ Trouble in Spades - Heather Webber 9/6
(Kit nodded downward), p241

guilt ~ Obsidian - Jennifer Armentrout 9/2
(she was harboring guilt), p79

insect ~ Savage Nature - Christine Feehan 9/5
(frogs and insects going silent), p3

modern ~ Savage Nature - Christine Feehan 9/5
(more victorian rather than modern), p253

recluse ~ Hope Flames - Jaci Burton 9/4
(so he doesn't become a recluse), p57

worm ~ Trouble in Spades - Heather Webber 9/6
(inching closer like a worm), p227



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

[Barbara ★]

Back to School Quarterly Challenge
Duration: September 15 - December 14, 2015

READ: 22/20

✔Math - Read a book with a number in title or on the cover.
Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo 11/27

✔English- Read a book featuring a writer/journalist. Or read a book that shows a book on the cover.
Fever-Hot Dreams - Jaci Burton/Sherri King/Samantha Winston (author and poet) 10/10

✔History - Read a Historical Romance or a story with Time Travel.
Three Nights with a Scoundrel - Tessa Dare 9/21

✔Government - Read a book dealing with politics or with any government employee including military or police.
Ruthless Game - Christine Feehan (black ops) 10/29

✔Civics/Current Events - Read a Contemporary Romance or Romantic Suspense.
The Heart of a Hero - Janet Chapman 10/25

✔Social Studies- Read a book set in a place you would like to visit.
X Marks the Scot - Victoria Roberts (Scotland) 10/23

✔Foreign Language - Read a book set in a location where the primary language is different from yours.
Don't Cry, Tai Lake - Xiaolong Qui (set in China, I live in USA) 11/28

✔Physics - Read a book with a geek/nerd character or one with eyeglasses on the cover.
Night Resurrected - Joss Ware 11/30

✔Chemistry - Read a book with an embrace or kiss on cover or any romance.
Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch 9/19

✔BotanyEarth Science - Read a book with a florist or gardener character or a book with flowers or plants on cover.
Simply Magic - Mary Balogh 11/12

✔Home EC - Read a book featuring a chef or restaurant. Or read a book with food on cover.
Luscious - Amanda Usen 10/2

✔Wood/Metal Shop - Read a book with a construction worker or mechanic or a book with a shirtless man on cover.
Flames of Arousal - Ruth Kerce 11/2

✔Agricultural Studies - Read a western or a book with a farmer or rancher.
Big Sky Wedding - Linda Lael Miller 11/8

✔Photography/Fashion Design - Read a book featuring a photographer or model. Or a book with a smiling person or colorful clothing on the cover.
Waking the Dead - Kylie Brant 11/17

✔Business - Read a book with a wealthy character or one with a character that works in an office.
Obsession in Death - J.D. Robb (hero a billionaire) 10/8

✔Theater - Read a book with an actor in the story, one where a character using an alias, or an angsty story.
Street Game - Christine Feehan 9/14

✔Music/Dance - Read a book featuring a musician or dancer or where either music or dance is an important aspect of the story.
Leopard's Prey - Christine Feehan (heroine musician) 9/26




**
Extra Credit: These are going to be individualized to you and might be repeats of some required courses.

✔Favorite Subject - History - Read a Historical Romance or a story with Time Travel.
The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy - Julia Quinn 10/11

✔Best Subject - Social Studies- Read a book set in a place you would like to visit.
The Dairy Queen - Allison Rushby (Australia) 9/22

✔Favorite Teacher's Class - BotanyEarth Science - Read a book with a florist or gardener character or a book with flowers or plants on cover.
The Highlander Next Door - Janet Chapman 12/2

✔Least Favorite Class - Physical Education - Read a sports romance or one with a character who exercises regularly.
Knock Me Off My Feet - Susan Donovan (semi-pro soccer player) 11/27

✔Major/Career/Life Choice - Chemistry - Read a book with an embrace or kiss on cover or any romance.
Pleasure Island - Lorie O'Clare 11/29



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

[Barbara ★]

October Word Hunt

9/10 FOUND

✔absent ~ Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay 10/23
(the problem of the absent passenger), p105

✔anywhere ~ Magic Shifts - Ilona Andrews 10/9
(you're trapped and not going anywhere), p12

✔awesome/ness ~ Wulfe Untamed - Pamela Palmer 10/4
(but she's awesome), p73

✔bang ~ Luscious - Amanda Usen 10/2
(flew open with a bang), p93

✔bitter/ness ~ Luscious - Amanda Usen 10/2
(tasted bitter in her mouth), p1

✔contagious ~ The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy - Julia Quinn 10/11
(lack of movement was a contagious thing), p310

✔filter ~ SEVEN-X - Mike Wech 10/24
(bypass the filters of our reasoning), loc259

opposition ~
(), p

✔rust ~ Fingersmith - Sarah Waters 10/8
(the rust was traced about with lines of chalk), p493

✔wolf/wolves ~ Wulfe Untamed - Pamela Palmer 10/4
(turned into a huge wolf), p2

[Barbara ★]

November Word Hunt

9/10 FOUND

✔abrasive ~ Kiss of Snow - Nalini Singh 11/13
(her cheek pressed against the abrasive stubble), p243

✔alienate ~ Dead Head - Rosemary Harris 11/6
(burning bridges or alienating my biggest customer), p17

✔black ~ Waking the Dead - Kylie Brant 11/17
(I'd guess black cats), p150

✔brick ~ Edge of Dawn - Lara Adrian 11/3
(against the brick exterior wall), p15

✔bully ~ Aunt Dimity Goes West - Nancy Atherton 11/3
(because a local bully taunted him), p68

✔cross ~ Stuck on You - Patti Berg 11/1
(it didn't cross my mind), p287

✔elephant ~ Aunt Dimity Goes West - Nancy Atherton 11/3
(you got elephant ears today), p87

guru ~
(), p

✔leather ~ Stuck on You - Patti Berg 11/1
(she pressed her hand against the leather jacket), p75

✔proposal ~ Night of Cake & Puppets - Laini Taylor 11/8
(then why haven't you accepted his proposal), p

[Barbara ★]

December Word Hunt

10/10 FOUND

✔buzz - The Grove - Jean Johnson 12/8
(with barely even a gnat to buzz by), p28

✔birthday - Circle of Fire - Keri Arthur 12/3
(he'd received for his birthday), p15

✔force - The Grove - Jean Johnson 12/8
(they can only force open the doorway), p45

✔muscular - Waterborne - Katherine Irons 12/5
(wide shoulders and muscular thighs), p22

✔pill - The Highlander Next Door - Janet Chapman 12/2
(they hadn't invented a pill that could put her to sleep), p100

✔raspberry - The Red Hotel - Graham Masterton 12/5
(a raspberry-colored coat), p134

✔social - Big Bad Beast - Shelly Laurenston 12/6
(takes them to social services), p45

✔southern - The Red Hotel - Graham Masterton 12/5
(plush southern boudoir), p29

✔sticky - Waterborne - Katherine Irons 12/5
(she felt sticky), p91

✔winter - Circle of Fire - Keri Arthur 12/3
(while an early winter storm raged), p 3



CHALLENGE COMPLETE