reading challenge

Reading Challenge February Update

| Amy

2017-reading-challenge-fs

Whew! What a couple of weeks this has been but I’m happy to tell you that everyone in the house is now well, the dining room is completely painted (okay, almost), and I’m doing everything I can to get back in the groove of things.

First order of business…The 2017 Reading Challenge. I finished A Man Called Ove. Wonderful book! Thought provoking and sweet. Now to see what they do to it when they make it into a movie.

reading-challenge-2017-meme-2Now I’m starting on my RITA books. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Romance Writers of America host a big contest each year called the RITA. It’s a hush-hush-secret about which books are being read until the judging is complete, so the next six books I read can’t be counted in my Reading Challenge tally. But I’m still reading and a little out of my comfort zone as the judges don’t judge their own categories.

How did you do this month? Did you check anything off your reading list for the year? I’d love to hear from you. Anyone who leaves a comment will be put into a drawing for a surprise book. (Hint: this will not be one of my books, but a book to help you reach your 2017 reading challenge goals!)

Second order of business…It’s release day for More Than a Marriage! This is the third and final installment in the Quilting Circle series! Come see how Tess and Jacob work through their problems and find their way to love again!

marriage-meme

And as always, thanks for reading!!

amy-sig-4

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Reading Challenge 2017

| Amy

giveaway-closed

2017-reading-challenge

It’s that time again. A new year, the perfect time to set new goals, or even recommit to the ones from years before. I vow every year to lose weight, eat healthier, blog more consistently, and/or to not complain when I don’t get my way. Yeah, well…the best plain plans…

Anyway, one resolution that is easy to keep (at least easier) has to do with reading and books. Last year I posed a 10 book reading challenge. Now this isn’t a challenge like some. The point here is not to see how many books you can read in a year, but to stretch your reading legs and get out of your comfort zone a little. Try something new. That’s why there are only 10 challenge books. I couldn’t go the entire year without reading my favorite genre. And I don’t expect you to either. Just to push yourself out of your cozy spot 10 times this year and read something you might not normally read. I’ll be honest; there will be new books you love and new books you hate, but at least you’ll be able to say that you read something you might not have otherwise read.

Below is a list of 15 types of books to help you find new things to read. If you’d like to join me in this challenge, all you have to do is check in here once a month (the second Thursday of the month) and leave a comment. Let me know what you’ve been reading and where it falls on the list. Yes, there are 15 choices in a 10 book challenge. Pick your faves and start reading.

What am I reading right now? Well…I’m between books. But I’m about to start A Man Called Ove. I got it in a Christmas book exchange, and since it’s going to be made into a book soon, I’m calling it my #14.

I hope you’ll join in the challenge! Anyone who leaves a comment on this blog will be entered into a drawing to win a mystery book. And with any luck, it’ll be a book to help the winner read more and read differently in 2017.

Happy Reading!

Amy

Reading Challenge: Year End Update

| Amy

Well, I wish I could say that I met my challenge this year. Yes, I know there are a couple more weeks in the year, but it’s Christmas time, I have edits due, and I’m scheduled to finish a book by the New Year. Not sure I’m going to be able to read much in that short period of time. I’ve been reading certain books to work on a new proposal, but I don’t think any of them will count for this challenge.

So here’s where I stand.

1- #13 A book about another century 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee

2-#10 A Book published before I was born 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

3-#6 a genre I don’t normally read Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

4- #8 A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while True Grit by Charles Portis

5- #12 a book published this year Rescuing the Cowboy by Cathy McDavid

reading challenge

Yes! Half-way there! Well, at least I tried! What about you? How are you doing in your Reading Challenge? Remember, the goal is not to read as many books as you can, but to stretch yourself and your reading habits by reading books that you wouldn’t have read before.

If you need a refresher, here are the categories:

1o book reading challenge

  1. A book recommended by a book seller or librarian
  2. A book published in a different decade
  3. A book you’ve already read before
  4. A book you should have read in school
  5. A book that has been banned before
  6. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
  7. A book that intimidates you
  8. A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while
  9. A book you quit reading once before
  10. A book published before you were born
  11. A book recommended by someone close to you
  12. A book published this year
  13. A book about another century
  14. A book you’ve never heard of before
  15. A book recommended by amazon/internet/cyber friend

Hope you’ll check in! And get ready…we’re going to do this again next year!

Keep Reading!

amy-sig-4

Reading Challenge update–September

| Amy

Ah, September…my favorite month! Yeah, I’m partial. After all, this is my birthday month. But this is about the Reading Challenge. Have you been reading? I thought it might be a good idea for me to take inventory of my reading. Especially since everything I’ve read in the last few weeks I’ve written myself. Here’s where I stand:

1- #13 A book about another century 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee

2-#10 A Book published before I was born 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

3-#6 a genre I don’t normally read Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

4- #8 A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while True Grit by Charles Portis

I do believe it’s time to step it up or I won’t make the 10 book challenge. Just a reminder, here’s the list. And the object here is not how many books you can read, but to stretch a bit and read books that you might not normally read.

reading challenge

1o book reading challenge

  1. A book recommended by a book seller or librarian
  2. A book published in a different decade
  3. A book you’ve already read before
  4. A book you should have read in school
  5. A book that has been banned before
  6. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
  7. A book that intimidates you
  8. A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while
  9. A book you quit reading once before
  10. A book published before you were born
  11. A book recommended by someone close to you
  12. A book published this year
  13. A book about another century
  14. A book you’ve never heard of before
  15. A book recommended by amazon/internet/cyber friend

Right now, I’m editing the next two Wells Landing books, but after that… I’m going back to Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. What are you reading?

Reading Challenge Update: August

| Amy

I can’t believe it’s already August! It seems like every year goes by faster and faster. I would love to tell you how much I’ve gotten to read in the past month, but it wouldn’t be the truth. I’ve bought a lot of books these past four weeks, but I haven’t gotten around to reading any of them.

Yes, that’s right. I haven’t read a book in the last month. Yikes! Maybe because I’ve spent the last few weeks editing and traveling. But more on that later.

reading challenge

I did get a book started. My #3: a book I’ve read before, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I devoured this book years ago and I’m currently obsessed with the Starz series. My plan is to re-read the first book, read the second book as my #9 (Yes, I started Dragonfly in Amber, but never finished it. Long story. Maybe I’ll write a blog post about it. Hmmm…). And then read the third in the series before the third season of Outlander starts. Since these books are incredibly long, I’d better get busy! After all, I still have the reading challenge to finish!

What about you? How are you doing on the reading challenge? Remember the goal isn’t the number of books that you read, but reading with a new effort, a different goal in mind.

Can’t remember the types of books on the list? Here’s a refresher:

1o book reading challenge

  1. A book recommended by a book seller or librarian
  2. A book published in a different decade
  3. A book you’ve already read before
  4. A book you should have read in school
  5. A book that has been banned before
  6. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
  7. A book that intimidates you
  8. A book you’ve been meaning to read for a while
  9. A book you quit reading once before
  10. A book published before you were born
  11. A book recommended by someone close to you
  12. A book published this year
  13. A book about another century
  14. A book you’ve never heard of before
  15. A book recommended by amazon/internet/cyber friend

And as always, Happy Reading!

Amy