Challenges for 2013 - 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

I've read quite a few mysteries and thrillers in 2012 and since it is a genre I really enjoy I decided to join this challenge too. let's see if I'm not aiming for too much with all these challenges. ( And I'm considering a couple more...)

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime.Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read 13 romantic suspense novels in ‘13.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

List of books read:

1. No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose
2. Sense of Evil by Kay Hooper
3. Did you Miss Me by Karen Rose
4. The Last Victim by Karen Robards
5. Ice Storm by Anne Stuart
6. On Thin Ice by Anne Stuart
7. Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper
8. Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
9. Sleeping With Fear by Kay Hooper
10. Hotwire by Alex Kava
11. Unseen by Karin Slaughter
12. Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper
13. Amanda by Kay Hooper

...

Challenges for 2013 - The Historical Fiction Challenge

The Historical Fiction Challenge is hosted at Historical Tapestry for the third year in a row. HF is a genre I enjoy very much and I am looking forward to choose what to read for this challenge.

Here are the details:
Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)

• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels: 

20th century reader - 2 books

Victorian reader - 5 books

          Renaissance Reader - 10 books

          Medieval - 15 books

          Ancient History -25+ books

I want to do better than in 2012 when I read 10 books but I don't think I am up for the most advanced level. I'll be joining in at the Medieval level and hope to read 15 books. :-)

Books read:
The Seventh Etching by Judith K. White
Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro
Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo
D. Maria II - Isabel Stilwell
East Wind West Wind - Pearl Buck
Catarina de Bragança - Isabel Stilwell
Georgiana Darcy's Diary - Anna Elliott

Challenges for 2013 - TBR Challenge 2013

Other than family, books are what I turn to in moments of crisis. 2012 isn't ending on a good note and we don't know what 2013 will bring so I have been spending lots of time looking at the books in my TBR pile, writing down what I want to read next, reading reviews on Goodreads, etc, etc

I have also decided to join a few challenges and the first one will be The TBR Challenge hosted by Wendy at The Misadventures of a Super Librarian. She makes it sound so much fun and I'm sure I'll spend a good time searching my TBR pile for books that fit the theme so I'm in!

Here's what Wendy has to say about the challenge:

This will be my third year hosting the challenge, and it's really been oodles of fun.  I hope past participants have enjoyed it as much as I have and will think about signing up again for the new year.  For the uninitiated, just what is the TBR Challenge?  Well.....

Simply put, it's where readers pick up a long neglected book from their TBR pile, read it, and comment on that read on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.  The idea is to read those long neglected books that you just had to get your hands on at the time, but have been languishing in your pile, all lost and forgotten.

Commentary on your chosen TBR read can happen anywhere online (your blog, Facebook, GoodReads, Twitter, a message board etc.) just provide me with a link when you sign-up so interested readers can follow all the challengers!

This is a voluntary challenge and I want this to be fun.  Hey, life happens.  If you have to skip a month, there will be no ridicule.  Likewise, while there will be bragging rights for those that complete the challenge without skipping a single month - there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Since some readers like a little guidance, I will also be keeping with tradition and providing themes.  These themes are totally voluntary.  If you don't have anything in your TBR that fits, the theme doesn't appeal, or you just want to read something else - go for it! Again, this is meant to be a fun challenge.

Monthly Review Dates And Theme Suggestions (as written on Wendy's information page)

January 16 - We Love Short Shorts!  - Mischief and Mistletoe
February 20 - Recommended Read - The Secret Mistress
March 20 - Series Catch-Up  - Scarpetta
April 17 - New-To-You Author - The Seventh Etching
May 15 - More Than One (An author who has more than one book in your TBR pile). - Ruthless
June 19 - Lovely RITA (RWA RITA nominees OR winners.) - Seduced by a Pirate.
July 17 - The Classics - With This Ring
August 21 - Steamy reads (Erotic romance, erotica, something spicy!) - Lust Unleashed
September 18 - Western (Contemporary or historical)
October 16 - Paranormal or romantic suspense
November 20 - All About The Hype (a book that created such chatter that it was inescapable).
December 18 - Holiday themes (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, it's all good!) - 

I'll be adding my list of books read as I go along...