October's Build Your Own Challenge - No Restrictions!

[BJ Rose]

Build-Your-Own Challenge -
October 1-31

I'm calling this my "Read At Least..." Challenge:

Read at least 3 new-to-me authors
1. Carrie Vaughn
2.
3.

Reread at least 2 favorites:
1. It Happened One Autumn
2.

Read at least one Big Book (500+ pp.)
1.

[Leah]

Okay, so I don't have a specific theme for my challenge, unless "Try to catch up on all these new damn books I keep buying even though I have ten new ones already sitting on my table" counts.

1. Highland Destiny by Laurie Hunsaker (Pre-pub ARC)
2. Delicious by Susan Mallery - 10/1
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

I'll add as I go along :D

[Mollie *scoutrmom*]

Katherine wrote: "Mollie, did you read ? If you did comes out the end of Oct. and would wor..."

No, not yet.

[Mollie *scoutrmom*]

Leah *~*Savitar's Surfer Girl*~* wrote: "Okay, so I don't have a specific theme for my challenge, unless "Try to catch up on all these new damn books I keep buying even though I have ten new ones already sitting on my table" counts..."

Yes, it does.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Leah, you get to design the challenge, so call it what you want to make it work for you. :)

[Leah]

LOL, okay, Dhes, then I'll go with my long-ass challenge name stated above :D

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

YaY!!! I like it. My New Years Resolution Challenge goes like this: "I won't buy any new books except for those that are part of a series I'm already reading, unless there's a spinoff of a series I'm reading, then I can buy those. Also, I'll only buy used books from the UBS if they are under 50 cents for paperback or $1 for hardcover." Mines a long-ass challenge name, too. LOL

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I'm only committed to 7, but I'm going to try for all 10.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*]

Catherine wrote: "No I have The Lover and The Lady's Tutor but haven't read either. I believe they were rec'ed to my by Rane as a "dark" romance she loves."

Catherine, I've read both books and I thought they were fantastic. I don't really read erotica unless there is a strong story as well. Robin Schone combines both for me although her books are quite dark in tone. You have to read 'Gabriel's Woman' as well which is a follow on from 'The Lover'.

[Cheryl]

Read 2 books that have been sitting on my shelf for quite some time.
1.
2.

Read 2 books that I have recently purchased.
1. -Currently Reading
2.

[D.G.]

I already started my first book for the challenge! Woohoo!

[Catherine]

Carol wrote: "Catherine wrote: "No I have The Lover and The Lady's Tutor but haven't read either. I believe they were rec'ed to my by Rane as a "dark" romance she loves."

Catherine, I've read both books and ..."

I didn't realize, thanks for letting me know! So you said it's erotica, someone else said it was sexy romance. Just clarify something for me please. These books do have satisfying happy endings, right?

[D.G.]

Yes, they have a HEA.

I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like either.

[Catherine]

D.G. wrote: "Yes, they have a HEA.

I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like either."

Do you not like her writing, or do you not like her characters/storylines? I've never read anything by her, so this will be my first.

[D.G.]

Oh and I have my New Years Resolution challenge: Each month read a certain % of books that have been on my TBR for more than a year. Most likely I'll start with 50% on January but change it month to month. :)

[D.G.]

Catherine wrote: "D.G. wrote: "Yes, they have a HEA.

I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like either."

Do you not like her writing, or do you not like her characters/storylines? I've never read an..."

I didn't like the characters or the storyline (can't remember anything about the writing.) Everything seemed seedy to me.

[Catherine]

Ah, gotcha. I'm curious to see whether I'll like it or not.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I like your NYR challenge, D.G. Very doable, and also productive! Nice!!!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

OK, ladies.... we're off an running with the new challenges. Good luck to everyone and happy reading!!!

[Leah]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "YaY!!! I like it. My New Years Resolution Challenge goes like this: "I won't buy any new books except for those that are part of a series I'm already reading, unless there's a spinoff of a series I..."

Dhes, this has to be the most kickass NYR I've ever seen, LOL

I, however, never make NYRs because I always break them withing a week, and if I had to make one about books...Christmas/New Year is the time of year I buy the most books!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Leah *~*Savitar's Surfer Girl*~* wrote: "Dhes, this has to be the most kickass NYR I've ever seen, LOL

I, however, never make NYRs because I always break them withing a week, and if I had to make one about books...Christmas/New Year is the time of year I buy the most books!
"

I totally get that!!! On the spur of the moment last year I decided my reso would be writing a review for every book I've read in 2010. So far, so good! AND, I've read 146 book so far, and my reviews are long winded! Now that I think about it, I'm pretty proud of myself! LOL ***pats self on back*** DAMN! I think I pulled a muscle!

[Catherine]

LOL UM!

[Leah]

LMAO! That's great, Dhes! Oh, and please try not to hurt yourself anymore, hon ;)

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

Congrats Dhestiny!! That's quite an accomplishment, and one I particularly appreciate. I know its hard to write a review for every book, but man, when i'm contemplating a book, reading my friend's reviews is really helpful. I like to know WHY you gave 4 stars. So THANK YOU!!!!!

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*]

Catherine wrote: "Carol wrote: "Catherine wrote: "No I have The Lover and The Lady's Tutor but haven't read either. I believe they were rec'ed to my by Rane as a "dark" romance she loves."

Catherine, I've read bot..."

Catherine, I would definitely class them as erotica. IMO the sex scenes are too graphic for the books to be classed as mainstream historical romance. I know that some people do not like 'The Lover' and ' Gabriel's Woman' but I urge you to read them and make your own mind up. Although both books have happy endings, the story lines in each are very dark and intense.

[Catherine]

Thanks Carol. I'll be sure to read them. I'm curious about what type of dark it is and how it agrees with me.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

LOL!! Leah, I'll try to be more careful! At 50 27 years old, you'd think I'd know to be more careful!!! LOL

Bekah, you're welcome!!! I know EXACTLY what you mean. My favorite reviews are the ones that tell me WHY they gave a book 2 stars, or 5. Even if I disagree with a review, I appreciate it the reviewer takes the time to explain the whys.

Catherine, I've heard those books are closer to erotica, too. I haven't read them, but I really want to. I'm trying to wait until I have enough $$ for Gabriel's Woman and The Lover. I have The Lady's Tutor, but I want the 3 before I start.

[Catherine]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Catherine, I've heard those books are closer to erotica, too. I haven't read them, but I really want to. I'm trying to wait until I have enough $$ for Gabriel's Woman and The Lover. I have The Lady's Tutor, but I want the 3 before I start. "

Are they part of a series? I know it was mentioned above that Gabriel's Woman follows The Lover, but I didn't realize The Lady's Tutor was connected.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

See, I don't know for sure. I've had some people say they are and some say they aren't. I THOUGHT I had them in ebook, but I can't find them anywhere on my computer :(

[Leah]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "LOL!! Leah, I'll try to be more careful! At 50 27 years old, you'd think I'd know to be more careful!!! LOL

Bekah, you're welcome!!! I know EXACTLY what you mean. My favorite reviews are the ones ..."

You'd think but some people...tsk, tsk, tsk ;)

I agree with you and Bekah, though, about appreciating when people write reviews to go with their rating. I want to know why you did or didn't like something so I can have a conversation with you about it, you know?

[Catherine]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "See, I don't know for sure. I've had some people say they are and some say they aren't. I THOUGHT I had them in ebook, but I can't find them anywhere on my computer :("

That sucks. :( I hope you find them soon! I got mine in paper form off of PBS.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I guess I feel like readers on Goodreads, and the authors who wrote a book, deserve more than a 1 star rating and an "OMG THIS SUCKED" review. Because maybe what made it suck to 1 person, another person would love.

Thanks, Catherine. I'm going to get busy looking again.

[Catherine]

I went to Robin Schone's site to get the reading order answered, UM!

Here's what she says in her FAQ area:

Should your books be read in any particular order?

Only two of my books are actual sequels, and yes, I would recommend that they be read in order:

The Lover

Gabriel's Woman

While my novella "A Man and A Woman" in the anthology Fascinated isn't a sequel per se, it does take up Muhamed's (Connor's) story from The Lady's Tutor. So while you don't have to read The Lady's Tutor before "A Man and A Woman," I would do so simply because I think it gives Muhamed/Connor a bit more depth.

[Leah]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "I guess I feel like readers on Goodreads, and the authors who wrote a book, deserve more than a 1 star rating and an "OMG THIS SUCKED" review. Because maybe what made it suck to 1 person, another p..."

I agree with you. While you might the think the book sucks, please tell me why so I can take it into consideration when deciding whether I want to read it.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Thanks, Catherine. I copied and pasted that into my Word doc.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Yes, Leah... where as this: "5 stars - OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE BEASTIALITY!!!!" Just those 4 extra words tell me that this is NOT the book for me. LOL

[D.G.]

I write a few reviews here and there but I don't have the time to write reviews for each book I read. Regardless, I usually don't read reviews - I've gotten a few spoilers - but I only trust reviews/recommendations from people that have similar taste to mine.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

DG, writing reviews can be time consuming and cause headaches! LOL I totally understand! My daughter is building a blog for me so I can put all my Goodreads reviews on the web, too. I mentioned that in January I don't have to write anymore. She got all sad on me and asked me to keep writing! LOL I didn't even know she read them all. Every now and then I'd see that she "liked" one, but other than those few, I had no idea.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Anja, I know what you mean!!! Those are tough. And some of the better 5 star, deeply emotional reads are hard for me because I always end up giving away too many details.

[Leah]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Yes, Leah... where as this: "5 stars - OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE BEASTIALITY!!!!" Just those 4 extra words tell me that this is NOT the book for me. LOL"

LMAO! Someone actually wrote that for a review?!


D.G., I understand what you mean about not having the time to do reviews for every book. I don't usually read reviews, either, until after I have read the book because I hate spoilers.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Leah *~*Savitar's Surfer Girl*~* wrote: "LMAO! Someone actually wrote that for a review?! "

Well, not exactly. I was just using that as an example. LOL

[Leah]

Ohh, LOL. Okay, gotcha. That's the same for me, though, too. Reviews can say a lot about a book.

I have a blog that I post all my GR reviews on, too. Sometimes I think it's stupid to have them in both places but then I remember that I love my blog, LOL.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

The thing about the blog is that it's accessible to those who, for God knows why, don't have Goodreads! Plus, it's prettier. My daughter is doing such a good job on it. Glad she's doing it. I'm lucky to remember how to log in. LOL

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

I think the easiest reviews to write are the ones for books you don't like, which sounds really awful, but sometimes I find it a lot easier to go on about what I didn't enjoy, rather then what I did!

[D.G.]

That's true for me, Suzanne. Most of the books I've written reviews for were books I didn't like. :)

[D.G.]

This is apropos of nothing but...I'm DYING to get a copy of Extreme Exposure. I'm #1 in the WL at PBS so I *think* I should be getting a copy soon...but this wait is killing me!! I want it now!!! And I can't request it at the library because I cannot request mass market paperbacks from the library system. Buahh!!!

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

Well at least you are next D.G. *fingers (and toes)* crossed that you get it soon! lol There is always ordering it off Amazon if PBS doesn't come through : )

[Catherine]

Suzanne wrote: "I think the easiest reviews to write are the ones for books you don't like, which sounds really awful, but sometimes I find it a lot easier to go on about what I didn't enjoy, rather then what I did!"

Totally agree because I can usually pinpoint exactly what bothered me, but sometimes it's really hard to describe the click you felt with a really good book.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

That's very true, it can be difficult to describe why a book has given you such a good feeling sometimes, especially when it isn't a book particually known for being a good read. But YOU always know what is bugging you about a book!

[Leah]

Dhes, I agree with you about the blog thing (and that people are crazy for not having GR). I don't really care so much about it being pretty, though. Mine is just plain. For me it's more about the reviews.

That's so true, Suzanne! It's so much easier to just go on and on and on about what I don't like in a book. And sometimes it really hard for me to put down on the proverbial paper what I have in my mind when I love a book.