Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[CallieMar]

I'd like to join! My goal is 50 books this year.

I finished my first book today: Changeless by Gail Carriger (#2 in the Parasol Protectorate Series).

From Goodreads:
Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Thoughts: This was a light, easy read with lots of witty dialogue. Steampunk is a fairly new genre for me and I don't think I could read all of these books in a row, but I enjoyed it.

Next up is Fifty Shades Freed. To me this series is kind of a train wreck but it's fun to indulge in some cheese once in a while.

 

[mumloveseeyore]

3 A modern witch by Debora Geary First in a series of light fun fantasy romances.
i enjoyed this It is a quick fluff read but enjoyable.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Wow do I feel slow I am only on book 3

Don't! It's only January 5!

I'm only 25% through book #2

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I loved the first 10 or so. Then they got old.

I agree, but I think I only made it to 9. I loved the first three or four.

 

[Glynis]

Yay! I finally finished my first book. "The Art Of Racing In The Rain". This is a book about a difficult time in a Seattle family's life, as told by their dog, Enzo.

I will admit this wasn't what I thought it would be like, and it was ok, but I don't think U'd recommend it. It was a bit plodding, and the ending was implausible.

Next up: "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

 

[willowsnn3]

Harlan Coben's books are all pretty good reads.

Yes they are! My last 2 books on 2013 challenge were by him & my first 2 of 2014 are also.

 

[kittengal13]

Finished book 1 of 60

The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson

Following the mystery of two women who were having an affair with a teacher who was found murdered twenty years ago. One of the girls was jailed for twenty years, one was found innocent. When the jailed girl is released, she is determined to prove that SHE is the innocent one.

Overall good read. Not as good as the first book I read by Koomson (The Woman He Loved Before which I 100% recommend). It was a bit of a let down after TWHLB.

It was one of those books I looked forward to reading the next part of, but in hindsight I think that was just because of the suspense. Dragged on a bit and I didn't really like one of the main characters which made it difficult when reading her parts of the story.

Overall rating- 3.5/5

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm amazed at people already being on book 3 or so. I consider myself a pretty avid reader (I thought 75 books a year was pretty good), yet I'm still on book 1, O*****uary. I'm really enjoying it, but those who don't like drinking and swearing might not. It's kind of Sophie Kinsella, but bad language in parts. Next up, "Bad Monkey" finally. I've heard such good things, I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[KGlo]

First book down! Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs. (This one was a reread.) Coyote shapeshifter Mercy Thompson finds herself in a pickle when the werewolf pack is abducted by government agents, and assassins are after her and her step daughter. Can Mercy rescue the pack- and herself?

I gave it a 5/5

I've started reading the Cain Project. It is about a boy who finds out that he is part of a secret government program that clones serial killers.



I loved I Hunt Killers and Game. I am eagerly awaiting the net one which come out later this year.

Every Day was also very good. He has a short story eBook called Every Other Day. If you like Every Day, you will like the short story.

I did see the ebook, I have about 100 pages left of Every Day and will read it after. Did you also see that he has a sequel slated to come out in 2015? It's supposed to be told from Rhiannon's POV.

 

[kittengal13]

I'm amazed at people already being on book 3 or so. I consider myself a pretty avid reader (I thought 75 books a year was pretty good), yet I'm still on book 1, O*****uary. I'm really enjoying it, but those who don't like drinking and swearing might not. It's kind of Sophie Kinsella, but bad language in parts. Next up, "Bad Monkey" finally. I've heard such good things, I'm really looking forward to it.

Oh what is the author called? I love Sophie Kinsella and I don't mind swearing

 

[rigs32]

Finished #3 - Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

It's a YA novel about a high school freshman. It was so true to teen angst I felt myself flashing back to my high school days. An entertaining read but I'm ready fir something with a bit more heft.

Next up - Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin

 

[3smithboys]

Finished books 1-3... all by Colleen Hoover

1) Hopeless
2) Losing Hope
3) Finding Cinderella

I've never read anything by her before, but since these books were recommended here (and 2 of them were free!!!) I thought I would go for it! They were enjoyable... but reading Hopeless and Losing Hope back to back was very repetitive since it was the same story from a different point of view. I could see if more time had passed maybe it would not have been as evident, but there were huge sections were the story was word for word the same...

Finding Cinderella was sweet... I enjoyed that, too...

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Halfway into my first Inspector Morse and so far I'm hooked! Granted I keep seeing the younger version in my head but let's blame the DVD's for that.

 

[phorsenuf]

Don't! It's only January 5!

I'm only 25% through book #2

I'm only about 7% through my second, but it's the first Dickens book so it's a bit slow going.

 

[Dahly]

2/75 - Black Water Rising by Attica Locke.

I like to peruse the library and pull books from the shelf based either on the title or book cover. This one caught my eye, and then I saw it was set in Houston (where I live) so had to give it a shot.

From Goodreads:
Writing in the tradition of Dennis Lehane and Greg Iles, Attica Locke, a powerful new voice in American fiction, delivers a brilliant debut thriller that readers will not soon forget.

Jay Porter is hardly the lawyer he set out to be. His most promising client is a low-rent call girl and he runs his fledgling law practice out of a dingy strip mall. But he's long since made peace with not living the American Dream and carefully tucked away his darkest sins: the guns, the FBI file, the trial that nearly destroyed him.

Houston, Texas, 1981. It is here that Jay believes he can make a fresh start. That is, until the night in a boat out on the bayou when he impulsively saves a woman from drowning—and opens a Pandora's box. Her secrets put Jay in danger, ensnaring him in a murder investigation that could cost him his practice, his family, and even his life. But before he can get to the bottom of a tangled mystery that reaches into the upper echelons of Houston's corporate power brokers, Jay must confront the demons of his past.

With pacing that captures the reader from the first scene through an exhilarating climax, Black Water Rising marks the arrival of an electrifying new talent

My thoughts - I like the book, a little slow in parts, but a good story overall.
Would read another by the author.

 

[wrestlingchick26]

Ok bare with me got a few to update here

1- the kissing season by Rachel johns- this was your typical fluffy romance short novel. Was good to just read and not have to think much. Wouldn't really recommend

2- flame tree hill- Mandy Margo- I really liked this one, was difficult to read at stages due to the main character having breast cancer which brought up lots of memories of my granny having it. A good read highly recommend.

3- driftwood- Mandy Margo- I was super excited to read this one as it featured one of my favourite country singers as a character. I really enjoyed this book was a good fast paced read, and had a few giggles through out- highly recommend.

4- Bush Christmas- Margaret Osborn- anther fluffy romance book. It didn't thrill me but I also didn't hate it. Wouldn't recommend.

5- the perfect hope- Nora Roberts- this was the final book in the inn boonsboro trilogy. I loved this book- was a great ending up the trilogy, I really enjoyed how everything went in a full circle and it really summed everything up. Can not recommend enough, but be sure to read the 1st two books.

6- home before subset- Barbara Hannay- this was one of the better Aussie romance books I have read- really enjoyed it and definitely recommend.

7. Roger Ascham and the kings lost girl- Matthew Reilly- this was a short story to introduce his readers to the tournament (his new book), I enjoyed this and am excited to read the new book- don't think I would recommend, you don't really need it to read the tournament.

8. Redstone station- Therese creed- another good Aussie country book- would recommend.

9. Girl in the yellow vest- Loretta hill- having loved the past 2 books by this author I was super excited for this book, I was very very very disappointed in this book, it was very slow there was no excitement. And the ending was pathetic, she could have done a lot with this book and set it up way better, felt like I was left hanging once it was finished.
I would only recommend if you haven't read her other 2 books

Now for book 10-13, I have a few on the go at once so it depends which one grabs me as to what I finish 1st.

 

[CupcakeKelly]

Finished book #3, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. I really liked the first one, this one, not so much. I was hoping that more questions would have been answered in this installment, but I'm still looking forward to the next book.

Reading now: The Death Cure by James Dashner

 

[rainydayplay]

2/30: Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Enjoyed this book. It's told from the point of view of a dog, so that was different. I had moments when I thought my brother might like it, when it explained the thrill of racing (cars!) At any rate, the dog Enzo tells of his life from puppyhood to the end and his undying loyalty to his owner/best friend.



Books on the list:

• Revealed (House of Night) by PC and Kristin Cast
• Teardrop by Lauren Kate
• Treasures of the North by Tracie Peterson
• War Brides by Helen Bryan
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Out of Control by Mary Connealy
• The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund
• A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
• Following Atticus by Tom Ryan
• Legend by Marie Lu
• Produgy by Marie Lu
• The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
• No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan
• The Secret's in the Sauce by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson
• Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
• Room by Emma Donoghue
• At Last by Jill Shalvis
• Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis
• Most of the Cedar Cove books by Debbie Macomber (I think I have all of them...I've read the first 4 or so)
• A couple of books by Fannie Flagg

Okay...I might make more than 30 this year...Hmm....

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #2- The Reptile Room: A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 2 by Lemony Snicket

I do get a kick out of these stories. Just when the kids find a relative they will enjoy living with, it gets messed up again. I hope Count Olaf gets his in the end.

Next book: The Whole Golden World

 

[kaytieeldr]

Finished number five: "Ultimate Guide to Soapmaking" by Amanda McCarthy. I wasnt going to count this because it's a how-to book, but it turned out to be really detailed and informative.