2013 Challenges - Final update

It's time for a final post on how I did in the various challenges I joined. I don't think I did too bad but I think I won't join as many challenges in 2014. I want to catch up on the various series I am reading instead of focusing on themes or eras...

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Goal - 60 books
Books read - 71
I was afraid to aim to a high number of books but things did go well and this was probably my most successful challenge.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Goal  - 15 books
Books read - 7
This is a really bad result, especially for someone who used to read as much HF as I did. I'm afraid I just haven't been in the mood.

Regency Romance Reading Challenge
Goal - 2 books
Books read - 3
Another challenge that went well as I managed to complete 3 books and was aiming for 2.

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
Goal - 13 books
Books read - 13
Right on target with this one. It was the easiest challenge to complete.

TBR Challenge
Goal - 12 books
Books read - 8
I was hoping to do better but I completely fell off the wagon these past few months. It was a challenge that I really enjoyed though.

P&P Bicentenary Challenge
Goal - 4 books
Books read - 2
I feel really bad that I didn't manage to complete this challenge especially because I thought I would be able to watch some of the P&P related shows. But I never managed to find the time this one is a miss too.

Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal - 6 books
Books read - 4
I was definitely hoping to do better with this one. It was lack of time mostly that stopped me from reading more books., Looking at the final list of reviews there are several books I would like to read so I'm eager to start the 2014 challenge.

2013 Portuguese HF Challenge - The End & Giveaway winner

First of all I woul like to thank everyone who participated, I really enjoyed reading your reviews and finding new books for my TBR and wish lists. I hope you have enjoyed it too. This challenge will be back in 2014 (look for informations soon) and I hope you will join me again. Below is the final list of books reviewed.


Book list:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
25. O Navegador da Passagem by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Whitelady
26. A Mulher do Legionário by Carlos Vale Ferraz - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
27. Catarina de Bragança by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
28. Café República by Alvaro Guerra - Reviewed by Mady
29. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - Reviewed by Avid Series Reader
30. Codex 632 by Jose Rodrigues dos Santos - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives

Without further delay lets proceed to the giveaway. I mentioned at the beginning of this challenge that I would give away a Portuguese HF book to one of the participants who submited a review. I removed my entries so we had a total of of 26 entries eligible for the prize. I was thinking of choosing a title but finally decided to leave that choice to the winner. I used Random.org to find a winning number and so... the winner is nº8 - Susana Patricia Rosa

Please contact me so I can send you your book! Thanks again to all who participated and happy reading! If you do a wrap up post for this challenge do leave the link in comments so that I can go and visit you.

2013 Portuguese HF Challenge

A here is the final update of the Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge. The wrap up post will be published on December 15th with the final list of titles and the giveaway winner. I would like to host this challenge again next year, would you like to participate again?


Book list:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
25. O Navegador da Passagem by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Whitelady
26. A Mulher do Legionário by Carlos Vale Ferraz - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
27. Catarina de Bragança by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
28. Café República by Alvaro Guerra - Reviewed by Mady
29. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - Reviewed by Avid Series Reader
30. Codex 632 by Jose Rodrigues dos Santos - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the link on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject.

 Happy reading! 

2013 - Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge - update

This month flew by and there's only one book to add to our list. The next update with be in early December and it will be the last one since the challenge ends December 15th. On that day I'll be posting the final list of the books reviewed and who, on those that contributed to it, will win the Portuguese HF book I'm giving away.


Book list:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
25. O Navegador da Passagem by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Whitelady
26. A Mulher do Legionário by Carlos Vale Ferraz - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
27. Catarina de Bragança by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the link on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject.

 Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update!

Happy reading! Till next month!

2013 Reading Challenges - Update

The end of the year is getting closer and being without a computer made me miss the date of some of the reading challenges I'm involved in. Still, I don't think I'm doing too bad at keeping up. All's well with the Goodreads and the Regency Romance Challenges. Things are progressing nicely in the Romantic Suspense, TBR and Portuguese HF challenges and it's on the HF  and the P&P Bicentenary challenges that are giving me a bit more trouble. More due to lack of time than lack of interest but there's yet 2 a half months to go.

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Goal - 60 books
Books read - 67

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Goal  - 15 books
Books read - 6

Regency Romance Reading Challenge
Goal - 2 books
Books read - 3

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
Goal - 13 books
Books read - 12

TBR Challenge
Goal - 12 books
Books read - 8

P&P Bicentenary Challenge
Goal - 4 books
Books read - 1

Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal - 6 books
Books read - 4

All be back in December to check how I did with these!

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge - update

A bit delayed but here is October's update.  I was hoping to have more books read by now but I have had little time to read. When that happens I usually pick shorter books or lighter books that I can put down for a few hours or days and then pick up easily again.

Here is the list of books read and reviewed so far:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
25. O Navegador da Passagem by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Whitelady
26. A Mulher do Legionário by Carlos Vale Ferraz - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the link on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject.

 Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update!

Happy reading! Till next month!

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge - Update

Time for another update!  I was hoping to have more books reads by now but I have had little time to read and when that happens I usually pick shorter books or lighter books that I can put down for a few hours or days and then pick up easily again.

Here is the list of books read and reviewed so far:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the link on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject.

 Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update!

Happy reading! Till next month!

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge - Update

And it's the beginning of the month once more and it's time to check the progress made by the participants of the 2013 Portuguese Historical Challenge. With 20 books reviewed so far I think we are doing really well!

List of books read and reviewed so far:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.

I am happy to see Além Tejo appearing more than once as it was a book I enjoyed reading very much. And the same with A Small Death in Lisbon which I read last year. I continue to add books to my WL thanks to this challenge and that is always a good thing.

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the link on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject. Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update.

I've mentioned that I will giveaway a book of Portuguese historical fiction published in 2013 at the end of this challenge and I've been thinking that I should start to compile the list of possible prizes (which is also a list of future reads). Here's what I came up with so far:

Fina d'Armada - Beatriz, a Mulher que Liderou os Descobrimentos

Mercedes Balsemão - A Imperatriz que veio de Portugal

Diana de Cadaval - Mafalda de Saboia

Jorge Sousa Correia - O Mistério do Infante Santo

Mónica Cortesão Gonçalves - A Linha Ténue do Passado

Alice Lázaro - O Reinado do Amor

José Manuel Marques - O Reino

Sara Rodi - D Teresa de Távora, A Amante do Rei

Fell free to suggest more titles! If the winner is a English reader only you may choose some other title.

Happy reading! Till next month!

2013 Reading Challenges - Update

Time to check how I am doing in the several challenges I decided to join. I am doing better than I thought although I see to be paying more attention to some in detriment of others. Hopefully I'll correct that during the next few months.

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Goal - 60 books
Books read - 41

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Goal  - 15 books
Books read - 3

Regency Romance Reading Challenge
Goal - 2 books
Books read - 1

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
Goal - 13 books
Books read - 6

TBR Challenge
Goal - 12 books
Books read - 6

P&P Bicentenary Challenge
Goal - 4 books
Books read - 1


Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal - 6 books
Books read - 2

I wasn't sure if I was going to to be able to keep up with all these challenges but I have to say that I feel confident now. Reading is an excellent therapy!

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge - Update

Time for another update of this challenge. We are halfway though it and so far we have 13 books read. Actually I have read one more but I haven't had time to post the review yet. I hope everyone is enjoying their reads and finding new titles to add to their TBR piles. Hopefully we will have even more titles to list from now till December. :-)

You can find below the list of books read and reviewed so far:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Besides the reading suggestions that you can find following the lnk on the sidebar you can also check this Goodreads list on the same subject. Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update.

Portuguese HF Challenge - Update

Time for another update of this challenge. This month I added my first two reviews so we now have a total of 12 books read. Hopefully next month will bring more reviews to add to this list. I like the fact that although we don't have that many books, they cover very different periods in the history of Portugal. I have already added a few more books to my TBR pile. I'll be going on vacation for the next two weeks so I hope to make some progress.

You can find below the list of books read and reviewed so far.

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update.

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge Update

The computer is finally working again so it's time for another update on our list of books read for the Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge. I haven't posted my review yet because I lost it when the computer crashed (along with a few others) and I have to devote some time to write those again.

I'm really enjoying seeing the list of entries grow and I have been writing down the titles that I want to try. There are a lot of books that I hadn't heard of before and the reviews make them sound really interesting.

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update.

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge Update

I thought now would be a good time to post an update to the Portuguese HF fiction. I have finished my first book - I'll post my review in the next few days - and there are already a few other reviews entered for the challenge that I want to acknowledge. 

I'm considering doing these monthly updates to make easier to keep track of reads and give it more visibility. One of the goals of this challenge is to find more reading recomendations and it's easier to make them known if I list them regularly, this way you can do some blog hopping and check the reviews. So here are the current entries by the order they were added:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady

If you want to join the challenge  and/or add any reviews you can find the details here. Looking forward to see what other books will be joining these on my next update.

Challenges Update

I haven't had much time to read these past few weeks with the boys going into Day Care and then we all got the flu... So I thought I would check my progress in the Challenges I joined:

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Goal - 60 books
Books read - 15

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Goal  - 15 books
Books read - 0

Regency Romance Reading Challenge
Goal - 2 books
Books read - 0

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
Goal - 13 books
Books read - 3

TBR Challenge
Goal - 12 books
Books read - 2

P&P Bicentenary Challenge
Goal - 4 books
Books read - 1

Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal - 6 books
Books read - 0

I definitely could be doing better in some of them but, in my defence, I have to say I am currently reading books for the Portuguese HF Challenge, the TBR Challenge and the Regency Romance Challenge. I guess I should be doing these updates more often before I find that the year has ended and I missed all my goal...

Challenging Myself... Jane Austen Sequels Perpetual Challenge

A few years ago a couple of friends and I decided to compile a list of Jane Austen sequels. We wanted to start a challenge and read them all. The plan never went ahead but I kept the list. I've been adding some new titles and now I have decided to start reading them. This is the year of the P&P Bicentenary and so, a perfect excuse to all events Jane Austen related.

This will be an ongoing project as more titles will be added as I find them.

Pride & Prejudice

Helen Halstead - A Private Performance
Jan Austen – A Single Man, Good Fortune
Abigail Reynolds - A Pemberley Medley
Susan Adriani - Affinity and Affection
Pamela Aidan - An Assembly Such as This
Emma Tennant - An Unequal Marriage
C. Allyn Pierson – And This is Your Life
Kara Louise – Assumed Engagement
Elizabeth Newark- Consequence
Skylar Burris - Conviction
Linda Berdoll - Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley
Frances Morgan - Darcy and Elizabeth
Regina Jeffers – Darcy’s Dreams
Frances Morgan -Darcy's Pemberley
Janet Aylmer - Darcy's Story
Amada Grange - Dear Mr Darcy; a Retelling of Pride & Prejudice
Jane Gillespie -Deborah
Marie Hogstrom - Derbyshire
Ted and Marilyn Bader - Desire and Duty
Pamela Aidan - Duty and Desire
Juliette Shapiro - Excessively Diverted
Debra White Smith - First Impressions
Juliette Shapiro - Fitzwilliam Darcy's Memoirs
Genevieve Rose Wimer - Honour and Humility
Abigail Reynolds - Impulse and Inicitive
Paula Cohen - Jane Austen in Boca
Michael Thomas Ford – Jane Bites Back
Joan Aiken - Lady Catherine's Necklace
Jane Dawkins - Letters from Pemberley
Kate Fenton - Lions and Liquorice
Jane Odiwe - Lydia Bennet's Story
Alexandra Potter - Me and Mr Darcy
Joan Ellen Delman - Miss De Bourgh’s Adventure
Isobel Scott Moffatt – Misstress of Pemberley
Jane Dawkins - More Letters from Pemberley
Sharon Lathan – Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy
Helen Halstead - Mr. Darcy Presents His Bride
Linda Berdoll - Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife
Rebecca Ann Collins - Mr. Darcy's Daughter
Elizabeth Aston - Mr. Darcy's Daughters
Juliette Shapiro - Mr Darcy’s Decision
Amanda Grange - Mr. Darcy's Diary
Elizabeth Aston – Mr Darcy’s Dream
Diana Birchall - Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma
Anne Fafoutakis - Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy
Rebecca Ann Collins - My Cousin Caroline
Rebecca Ann Collins - Netherfield Park Revisited
Sybil G. Brinton - Old Friends and New Fancies
Kathryn L. Nelson - Pemberley
Anne Hampson - Pemberley Place
Dorothy Alice Bonavia-Hunt - Pemberley Shades
Emma Tennant - Pemberley
Mary Lydon Simonsen - Pemberley Remembered
Jan Austen – Pleasures of Youth
Rebecca Ann Collins - Postscript from Pemberley
Julia Barrett - Presumption
Seth Grahame- Smith – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Carrie Bebris - Pride and Prescience
Melissa Nathan - Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field
Rebecca Ann Collins- Recollections from Rosings
Jane Gillespie - Teverton Hall
Jan Austen – The Arts of Captivation
Linda Berdoll - The Bar Sinister (aka Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife)
Kate Warren - The Bennets
Mary Street - The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth Aston – The Darcy Connection
Phyllis Furley -The Darcys - Scenes from a Married Life
Marsha Altman – The Darcys and the Bigleys
Sharon Lathan - The Darcys at Year’s End
Elizabeth Newark - The Darcy's Give a Ball
Lily Adams Beck - The Darcys of Rosings
Marjorie Fasman - The Diary of Henry Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth Aston - The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy
Jan Hahn - The Jouney
Rebecca Ann Collins - The Ladies of Longbourn
Abigail Reynolds – The Last man in The World
Carrie Bebris - The Matters at Mansfield
Rebecca Ann Collins - The Pemberley Chronicles
Elizabeth Aston - The Second Mrs. Darcy
Elizabeth Aston - The True Darcy Spirit
Rebecca Ann Collins - The Women of Pemberley
Pamela Aidan - These Three Remain
Norma Gatje-Smith - Trust and Triumph
Kate Fenton – Vanity and Vexation
Ted and Marilyn Bader - Virtue and Vanity
Anne Russell, Arthur Russell - Wedding at Pemberley
Fitzwilliam Darcy - Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship: The Secrets of Seduction from Jane Austen’s Most Eligible Bachelor



Emma

Joan Austen-Leigh - A Visit To Highbury
Debra White Smith - Amanda
Brenda Finn - Anna Weston
Jane Gillespie - Aunt Celia
Emma Tennant - Emma In Love
Diana Birchall - In Defense of Mrs. Elton
Joan Aiken - Jane Fairfax
Naomi Royde Smith - Jane Fairfax
Joan Austen-Leigh - Later Days at Highbury
Joan Ellen Delman - Lovers'
Amanda Grange – Mr Knightley’s Diary
Diana Birchall - Mrs. Elton in America
Rachel Billington - Perfect Happiness
Reginald Hill - Poor Emma
Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern - Seven Years Later
Diana Birchall - The Courtship of Mrs. Elton
Charlotte Grey - The Journal of Jane


Sense & Sensibility

Imogen Stubbs - A Letter from Mrs. Lucy Ferrars to Mrs. Elinor Ferrars
Jane Gillespie - Brightsea
Emma Tennant - Elinor and Marianne
Joan Aiken - Eliza's Daughter
Mrs. Francis Brown - Margaret Dashwood or Interference
Debra White Smith - Reason and Romance
Carrie Bebris - Suspense and Sensibility
Rosie Rushton - The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love
Julia Barrett - The Third Sister



Persuasion

Amanda Grange – Captain Wentworth’s Diary
Susan Kaye – For You Alone
June Menzies - His Cunning or Hers
Susan Kaye - None but You
Melissa Nathan - Persuading Annie
Debra White Smith - Possibilities
Jane Gillespie - Sir Willy
Karen V. Siplin - Such a Girl
Grania Beckford - Virtues and Vices



Mansfield Park

Debra White Smith - Central Park
Memoir - Gambles and Gambols
Jane Gillespie - Ladysmead
Paula Atchia - Mansfield Letters
Willis Hall - Mansfield Park: A
Dorothy Allen and Ann Owen - Mansfield Park: An Alternative Ending
Joan Aiken - Mansfield Revisited
Victor Gordon - Mrs. Rushworth
G.B. Stern - Seven Years Later
Mrs. Francis Brown - Susan Price or Resolution
Joan Aiken - The Admiral's Lady
Jane Gillespie - The Reluctant Baronet
Joan Aiken - The Youngest Miss Ward
Judith Terry - Version and Diversion



Northanger Abbey

Debra White Smith - Northpointe Chalet
G.B. Stern - Seven Years Later
Jane Gillespie - Uninvited Guests



Lady Susan

Phyllis Ann Karr - Lady Susan



Sanditon

Julia Barrett - Charlotte
Jane Austen and another Lady - Sanditon
Anna Austen Lefroy - Sanditon
Juliette Shapir - Sanditon
Alice Cobbett - Somehow Lengthened



The Watsons

Joan Aiken - Emma Watson
Merryn Williams - The Watsons
John Coates - The Watsons
Jane Austen and another - The Watsons
Edith and Francis Brown - The Watsons
L. Oulton - The Watsons
Mrs. Catherine Hubback - The Younger Sister



Others

Jennifer Scott - After Jane
Shannon Hale - Austenland
Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones's Diary
Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Laurie Viera Rigler – Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
T. H. White - Darkness at Pemberley
Patrice Hannon - Dear Jane Austen
Laurel Ann Nattress (Ed.) - Jane Austen Made Me Do IT
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Genius of the Place
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Man of the Cloth
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Spoils of Stoneleigh
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Stillroom Maid
Stephanie Barron -Jane and the Unpleasantness at  Scargrave Manor
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Wandering Eye
Fay Weldon - Letters to Alice
Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern - More about Jane Austen
Helen Ashton - Parson Austen's Daughter
Arielle Eckstut, Dennis Ashton - Pride & Promiscuity
Karen Joy Fowler - The Jane Austen Book Club
Marianne Luban - The Jew of Bath
Lindsay Ashford - The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen
Syrie James - The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
Jack Caldwell - The Three Colonels; Jane Austen's Fighting Men
Jane Gillespie - Truth and Rumour


Non Fiction

Louise Allen - Walking Jane Austen's London
Deborah Yaffe - Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom 


I will post the links to my reviews as I read them. Feel free to join me if you feel like it and to suggest any titles I might have missed...

Challenges for 2013 - The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge 2013

Although I may be biting more than I can chew I really can't resist joining this Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge. I have quite a few P&P sequels and spin-offs around and every excuse is a good one to revisit the TV series.

Challenge Details

Time-line: The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge 2013 runs January 1, through December 31, 2013.

Levels of participation: Neophyte: 1 – 4 selections, Disciple: 5 – 8 selections, Aficionada: 9 – 12 selections.

Enrollment: Sign up’s are open until July 1, 2013. First, select your level of participation.  Second, copy the Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge 2013 graphic and include it in your blog post detailing the novels or movies that you commit to reading and watching in 2013. Third, leave a comment linking back to your blog post in the comments of this announcement post. If you do not have a blog you can still participate. Just leave your commitment to the challenge in the comments below.

Check Back Monthly: The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge 2013 officially begins on Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 with my review of the Naxos Audiobooks edition of Pride and Prejudice, read by Emilia Fox. Check back on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for my next review in the challenge.

Your Participation: Once the challenge starts, leave a comment including the book, movie, television, or web series that you finished and a link to your blog review. If you do not have a blog, just leave a comment about what you did read or view with a brief reaction or remark. It’s that easy.

I'm joining in at the Neophyte level and hope to read/watch at least 4 books/TV series. Here's a few of the books that I have in the TBR pile and that qualify for this challenge:

Mr Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll
Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliot
His Good Opinion: A Mr Darcy Novel by Nancy Kelley
A Pemberley Medley by Abigail Reynolds
Memoir of Jane Austen by James Edward Austen-Leigh
Charlotte - Pride and Prejudice Continues by Karen Aminadra
Behind Jane Austen's Door by Jennifer Forest

Books Read:
A Pemberley Medley by Abigail Reynolds
Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliot

2013 Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge

Last year I decided to start reading more Portuguese Historical Fiction and embarked on an informal challenge. This year I'm taking it to the next level and I have decided to organise a proper challenge devoted to Portuguese Historical Fiction. I hope more readers will join in and that together we may find new titles to enjoy and discuss.

Challenge details:

1.  The challenge runs from Jan 15th to Dec 15th 2013. You can join in at any time.
2. The books chosen for this challenge should be historical fiction written by a portuguese author or historical fiction set in Portugal. You can find a list of reading suggestions here 
3. Levels of participation: Curious About It - 1 to 3 books, What a Fun Idea - 4 to 6 books, Perfect for Me - 7 to 9 books
4. Leave a comment on this post to sign up. Please use the Mr Linky below for your reviews - put your name and the book title and link to your review post.
5. Reviews in portuguese are fine too.
6. If you don't have a blog you can link to your reviews on Goodreads or other sites where you post reviews.
7. Prize: At the end of the challenge I will giveaway one book of Portuguese Historical Fiction published in 2013 (feel free to suggest titles). Each review on Mr Linky counts as an entry for the giveaway
8. I think that's it but feel free to contact me for more details if you want!

This post will be up on my sidebar so you can easily find it and add new reviews and check the ones posted

Challenges for 2013 - The Regency Romance Reading Challenge

And I have yet another challenge for 2013 - the Regency Romance Reading Challenge - which is dedicated to author Candice Hern. I have read some of her books in the past but not those chosen for this challenge. I remember I didn't love the books I read by her but I keep hearing many good things about and I thought about giving her stories another go.

I was attracted to the fact that it is about regency reads but also because there's a reading schedule - from January to September - and we will be able to compare our views of the book with the other readers. I'm not sure that I will be able to join in every month so I'm choosing the Neophyte level of participation ( read 1 to 2 books & short stories).

You can find the challenge details at Laurel Ann's lovely blog Austenprose and I'm listing below the review schedule:

The Regency Romance Reading Challenge Review Schedule:

• Wed    Jan 23 – A Proper Companion
• Wed    Feb 27 – A Change of Heart
• Wed    Mar 27 – An Affair of Honor
• Wed    Apr 24 – A Garden Folly
• Wed    May 22 – The Best Intentions
• Wed    Jun 26 – “Desperate Measures”
• Wed    Jul 24 – Miss Lacey’s Last Fling
• Wed    Aug 28 – “Lady Ann’s Excellent Adventure”
• Wed    Sept 25 – TBA: New Candice Hern Traditional Regency Romance Novel

List of books read:

1. An Affair of Honor
2. Miss Lacey's Last Fling
3. Lady Ann's Excellent Adventure