Dhestiny's 2011 Reading Log

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

This is where I'll keep track of my 2011 Reading Lists and long term challenges.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

My New Years Resolution Challenge -

-I will only buy new books that are part of a series I am already following.

-I will only buy new books that are a spinoff of a series I'm already following.

- I will only buy used books from library sales that are under .50 cents for paperbacks or $1 for hardcovers.

- I can buy up to 10 books during April, my birthday month.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

My All Things Winter Challenge-



ALL THINGS WINTER 7/7 - Need 1 more Secret Santa book.

Read at least 5 books that I already own, with some sort of winter theme. Snow on the cover, etc... with 2 being books my Secret Santa gave me.

1.Christmas Mischief-read 12/21 -12/23 - 3 Christmas stories. Christmas is in Winter.
2.Naughty and Nice -read 12/21 - 12/22 - 4 Christmas stories. Christmas is in Winter.
3.Thunder and Roses- Secret Santa - has the word "Thunder" in the title. Thunder storms remind me of Winter.
4.Flowers from the Storm - Secret Santa - The word "Storm" is in the title and storms remind me of Winter. - read 1/7-1/9
5. Twas The Night - The story takes place during a snow storm while the Santa Brigade travels by bus to homeless shelters giving away presents. The snow storm, the Santas, the goodwill all remind me of winter - read 12/23-12/26
6. Anchor and Storm - Kate Poole - "Storm" - read 1/1-1/2
7. Storming the Castle: An Original Short Story with Bonus Content- Eloisa James - "Storming" - read 1/9
8. Fires of Winter - Johanna Lindsey - "Winter"
9. Black Ice - Anne Stuart -"Ice" is frozen.
10. Against the Wind - Kat Martin - This book opens with the heroine having a flat tire in the middle of a freak May snowstorm in Wyoming. Even though it's May, the snowstorm reminds me of winter. --read 1/3-1/5

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

My Spell the Month Challenges

January 2011

January will be reminding me of heat, because I'll be reading 7 books about Highlanders! And as long as the title has at least one word starting with the letter I need, I can count it. Or the author's name.

M. Moning, Karen Marie -Beyond the Highland Mist
A.
N.

H. Highland Destiny
E.
A.
T. The Highlander's Touchby KMM

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Dhes' January's Build Your Own Challege -

I will read at least 5 books that I already own. Including at least 1 book from my Secret Santa.

1.Christmas Mischief-read 12/21 -12/23 - 3 Christmas stories. Christmas is in Winter.
2.Naughty and Nice -read 12/21 - 12/22 - 4 Christmas stories. Christmas is in Winter.
3.Thunder and Roses- Secret Santa - has the word "Thunder" in the title. Thunder storms remind me of Winter.
4.Flowers from the Storm - Secret Santa - The word "Storm" is in the title and storms remind me of Winter.
5. Twas The Night - The story takes place during a snow storm while the Santa Brigade travels by bus to homeless shelters giving away presents. The snow storm, the Santas, the goodwill all remind me of winter - read 12/23-12/26
6. Anchor and Storm - Kate Poole - "Storm" - read 1/1-1/2
7. Storming the Castle: An Original Short Story with Bonus Content- Eloisa James - "Storming"
8. Fires of Winter - Johanna Lindsey - "Winter"

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

All Romance's Top 100 for 2010 - Books I Have Not Read.



~~2. Dreaming of You Lisa Kleypas Eur Hist 1994
11. Mr. Impossible Loretta Chase Eur Hist 2005
~~13. Paradise Judith McNaught Contemporary 1991
14. Lord Perfect Loretta Chase Eur Hist 2006
~~15. It Had To Be You Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 1994
16. Bet Me Jennifer Crusie Contemporary 2004
~~18. Not Quite A Husband Sherry Thomas Hist Rom 2009
~~20. The Spymaster's Lady Joanna Bourne Eur Hist 2008
22. Heaven, Texas Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 1995
~~24. Naked In Death J.D. Robb Futuristic 1995
~~25. Blue-Eyed Devil Lisa Kleypas Contemporary 2005
28. Nobody's Baby But Mine Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 1997
~~29. Almost Heaven Judith McNaught Eur Hist 1990
~~31. MacKenzie's Mountain Linda Howard Series/Category 1989
~~32. A Summer To Remember Mary Balogh Eur Hist 2002
~~34. Smooth Talking Stranger Lisa Kleypas Contemporary 2009
35. Persuasion Jane Austen Classic 1818
36. Welcome to Temptation Jennifer Crusie Contemporary 2000
37. Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte Classic 1847
40. This Heart of Mine Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 2001
41. The Secret Pearl Mary Balogh Eur Hist 1991
42. Match Me If You Can Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 2005
43. Kiss An Angel Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 1996
~~45. Perfect Judith McNaught Contemporary 1993
46. Ravished Amanda Quick Eur Hist 1992
~~47. Dream Man Linda Howard Romantic Suspense 1995
~~48. As You Desire Connie Brockway Historical 1997
~~49. Private Arrangements Sherry Thomas Eur Historical 2008
50. See Jane Score Rachel Gibson Contemporary 2003
~~51. Slave To Sensation Nalini Singh Paranormal 2006
~~52. Sugar Daddy Lisa Kleypas Women's Fiction 2007
53. Dream A Little Dream Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 1998
~~54. Then Came You Lisa Kleypas Eur Hist 1993
~~55. After The Night Linda Howard Contemporary 1995
~~58. Devil's Bride Stephanie Laurens Eur Hist 1998
59. Morning Glory Lavryle Spencer Amer Hist 1990
60. To Have and To Hold Patricia Gaffney Eur Hist 1995
~~62. Something Wonderful Judith McNaught Eur Hist 1988
~~63. The Proposition Judith Ivory Eur Hist 1999
~~66. The Last Hellion Loretta Chase Eur Hist 1998
~~68. To Beguile A Beast Elizabeth Hoyt Eur Hist 2009
~~69. Where Dreams Begin Lisa Kleypas Eur Hist 2000
70. Devil's Cub Georgette Heyer Classic 1932
~~71. A Knight in Shining Armor Jude Deveraux Time-Travel 1989
~~72. Once and Always Judith McNaught Eur Hist 1987
73. Natural Born Charmer Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 2007
74. Sea Swept Nora Roberts Contemporary 1998
~~77. A Hunger Like No Other Kresley Cole Paranormal 2006
78. More Than A Mistress Mary Balogh Eur Hist 2000
~~79. What Happens in London Julia Quinn Eur Hist 2009
~~80. Cry No More Linda Howard Rom Suspense 2003
~~82. Open Season Linda Howard Contemporary 2001
~~83. The Shadow and The Star Laura Kinsale Historical 1991
~~86. My Dearest Enemy Connie Brockway Eur Hist 1998
87. Ain't She Sweet Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary 2004
~~88. Thunder and Roses Mary Jo Putney Eur Hist 1993
89. To Die For Linda Howard Contemporary 2005
~~90. All Through The Night Connie Brockway Eur Hist 1997
91. The Rake Mary Jo Putney Eur Hist 1998
93. Voyager Diana Gabaldon Time-Travel 1994
95. Untie My Heart Judith Ivory Eur Hist 2002
~~96. Bound by Your Touch Meredith Duran Eur Hist 2008
~~99. And Then He Kissed Her Laura Lee Guhrke Eur Hist 2007

~~ Indicates I own this book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

You have some good books to look forward to, D!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I own quite a few of them, and with my book buying ban, I might actually get to read them! LOL

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

So something good is coming out of it, then. I am so proud of you taking such a vow. I couldn't do it myself!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Thanks, Danielle. I hope I can stick to it. *sigh*

I've been on a book buying frenzy these past couple weeks. I'm already twitchy.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I know what you mean. You can do it!!!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

From my Secret Santa


I am concentrating on clearing out your "own-must-read" pile. They are all from the HR genre as I have limited experience of the other genres that you read.

Ruthless by Anne Stuart. I had a lot of fun with this one. It is based in 18thC Paris and there is a real sense of decadence and the build towards the events of the French revolution. Ms Stuart doesn't pull any punches in letting us see what a tough time the heroine has had and there is a tremendous build of tension between the two leads. Poverty, syphilis, long lost heirs, secondary romance.

Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran Based in Victorian London there is a real feel of a collision in two different worlds. There is a wonderful intensity between the two main characters and the heroine is crotchety and difficult instead of sweet and good. Egyptology, the industrial world, the British museum, gin, opium, boating sheds!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Gosh- where to start with this epic- it is based in 1740s Scotland. There is a time travel element, a hint of the mystique, a fair bit of violence including the after effects of a very violent male rape. Kilts, red hair, horrible food, brutal 18thC medicine, French abbey, Scottish clans.

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. Based in 19thC England it is about a quaker who nurses a stroke victim back to health. He is dissolute, a brilliant mathematician and holder of a complex estate. You will be on the edge of your seat for the whole of the second half of the novel as they try to come through a complex legal tangle. Complex finances/revolting mental institutions/family machinations/conflict of religion against worldiness.

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas How can you not have read this yet? Lily is probably the best of LK's heroines- give her some slack at the beginning of the novel as she is coping with a very difficult situation. Kidnappings/gambling/country house parties/wild heroine.

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. The follow up to Then Came You. A very vibrant cockney hero from the streets and an authoress from the country. Gambling dens/street violence/19thc bling/wild parties.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn. A lot of people didn't like this as much as me but I love a good highwayman story. Rogue hero, poor companion, love at first sight, based in the English countryside and Ireland. A good example of JQ's light and witty writing. Grand ducal piles/inherited learning difficulty/Irish warmth/crusty old grandmother/an artistic education.

The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase. This is a glorious read that felt almost like restoration England but is based in 19th C London. Feisty main characters- female journalist, end of the line aristocrat who prefers the low life. Many of the books scenes where based out on the streets of London which made for a great atmosphere. Unfortunately the plot falls apart in the last third of the book but I can excuse that for the wonderful characters. East End ruffians/cross dressing/curricle races/pubs and gambling houses.

Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson. Based on Texas in the 1860s and the end of the Comanche independence. The heroine spends most of the book living in a Comanche village and there is a lot of lovely visual impression of the suroundings in the book. Bride price/horses/Indian customs/Texas farm life/friction between settlers and the Comanche/more horses.

Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney. Based in 19th C Wales and London about the romance between the local preacher's daughter and the lord of the manor. The hero was betrayed by his father, his wife and his best friend so is a touch cynical. Mining/gypsys/penguins/whip fights/billiards tables/fire/flood/cave in.

Bonus Books from my heavily recommended list- these are both old fashioned romances written in the 1950s.

Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye. This is about the Indian Mutiny of 1858 and is mostly based in India. It is more of a historical than a romance although there is a lovely subtle romance that builds through the book. Wonderful build up and tension to the revolt, a certain amount of violence, fascinating characters, both English and Indian. Weird rituals/Indian colour/British army/secret hiding place/horses/clash of cultures.

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer. A fun comedy romance based in 19th C London about a family and the long lost cousin who comes to stay with them. Hilarious cast and an almost farcical tone with all of the plots ends perfectly tied off at the end. Monkeys/poets/chickens/dashing heroine/upright hero/men in uniform/plenty of secondary romances.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Dangerous Heroes Addict Support Group Mega Challenge 2011

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

Tier I: Rank Your Bad Boys/Dangerous Heroes: Read 10 books -

Dangerous Hero Scale -

10:Completely lethal - seemingly remorseless, has no problem killing to get the job done, or killing as the job. Killing someone doesn't phase him. It's either him or them and don't let someone be after someone he loves. More or less amoral-except when it comes to things that have true value to him (like his heroine or his family). The mission is all that matters to him (at least until he falls for his heroine).

9:Not the guy to mess with. He has few boundaries he won't cross.

8:He can be ruthless. Not above doing almost anything for self-promotion. Has and will betray those close to him if needed. He has a code, but it's his own code--not necessarily in line with established laws, rules, or mores.

7:Most people would probably consider him insane or crazy, or just kinda whacked in the head. A scary guy.

6:Ruthless to get the job done, or to get what he wants/needs/or to protect others.

5:A hero who still has the aura of a bad boy, but is more laid back and open and not necessarily quite as ruthless. Any hero who has stalkerific tendencies is automatically a 5. He's not the type that is completely unpredictable.

4:He has shown that those who mistake him for a ordinary, nice guy are wrong. He'll surprise you!

3:He will do 'bad' things for reasons he feels is necessary, and not feel too much regret about it. He has no problem claiming, kidnapping, or taking his heroine when the situation calls for it.

2: Most of the time he is very well behaved, you just don't want to get him riled up!

1:mild-mannered most of the time, but when his fuse gets lit, watch out. He becomes the most dangerous man in the room.

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Tier II-How Well Do You Know Your Dangerous Hero Types? Read 19 books


Types of Dangerous Heroes/Bad Boys -

1.Assassin
2.Modern Soldier
3.Seducer/Heartbreaker/Womanizer
4.Stalkerific Hero
5.Tortured Hero
6.Criminal
7.Law Enforcement
8.Gunslinger/Outlaw/Pirate
9.Historical Warrior
10.Spy
11.White Collar Raider
12.Blue Collar
13.Fireman/Dangerous Job-holder
14.Paranormally Lethal/Immortal Warriors
15.Cowboy/Rancher/Rodeo
16.Bodyguards/Protectors
17.Sportsmen/Athletes/Bikers
18.Rakehell/Rake
19.Emperors/Kings/Dukes/Other

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Tier III: Bad Boys Around the World. Read 50 Books in 50 different geographic locations with some kind of dangerous hero/bad-boy type. The locations can be in the same country, but must be in a different state or city.

[Alycia]

Hey Dhes, not sure where/whom to ask.., I was wondering if the 2012 yearly reading log section was going to be created soon? Just wanting to stay organized, thanks!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I haven't done it yet, Alycia, I'm sorry!! I'll take care of it now.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...

There you go, love!

[Alycia]

No problem! I didn't know if I just didn't see it, thanks Love!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

You're welcome... I've just been so caught up in so many things, I had forgotten about this folder.

[Alycia]

No problem. It's a busy time right now.