Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#45 HeartSick by Chelsea Cain

From the jacket:

Damaged Portland Detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him. Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now has been locked away for the rest of her life, while Archie is in a prison of another kind--addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his old life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week, saying that only he can get her to confess as to the whereabouts of more of her victims.

This was ok. I didn't like the ending.

 

[Momof3dogs]

I can't remember what the last book was that I updated so I'll start where I think I left off...

17/50
Hopeless---Colleen Hoover

From Goodreads:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

**I thought this book was very good. It's a quick read, but tons of information and a very good plot. I definitely recommend it.

18/50
Losing Hope---Colleen Hoover

From Goodreads...

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

This is basically the same book, just told from Holder's perspective. It was also a quick read, mostly because I had just read the first book. It seems like more authors are doing this and I don't know that it's the best idea out there. It can be fun though.

19/50 Faith in the Duck Blind---Jase Robertson
I know a lot of people find problems with this family, but I love them. This book had a lot of personal information in it. I love that this family is so willing to share with their fans.

20/50
the Trouble with Paradise
from goodreads:
When Dorie Anderson meets a cute guy, she becomes a huge klutz. But one phone call has turned her dead-end dating life into an adventure: she's won a trip on a singles' cruise to Fiji. On board, she soon meets pro baseball player Andy, and the ship's hunky French doctor. She's sure she'll fall head-over-heels in no time. Unfortunately, she's right: soon, she trips over her luggage right in front of them. Mortifying. But a bigger disaster is just on the horizon: Dorie finds a man murdered in his bunk the same night a storm wrecks the ship, stranding everyone on a deserted shore. It would be a perfect setting for romance -- if it weren't for the fact that there's a killer among them

**I love this author and highly recommend her books. She is funny and her books aren't just "fluff". She's a quick read with lots of detail and fun/mystery.

I'm at 20 for the year and my tracker on Shelfari.com is telling me that I'm behind pace for my goal of 50. Ugh!

 

[jenny105]

Is anyone else addicted to the Pretty Little Liars series or is it just me? LOL. It's a guilty pleasure. I just downloaded the new book that came out today.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#46 The Duck Commander Family by Willie & Korie Robertson

"Part redneck logic, part humorous family stories, combined with family business tips and faith, this book is the inside sneak peek for everything you wanted to know about being a Robertson."

I really enjoyed this one!

 

[Momof3dogs]

Is anyone else addicted to the Pretty Little Liars series or is it just me? LOL. It's a guilty pleasure. I just downloaded the new book that came out today.

Love the show!! My younger cousins got me addicted last year. Now we have pajama viewing parties at my house! I think I'm going to start that entire series of books over the winter!! That show throws so many twists that I am beginning to think that I am A!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books
Book #17 - The Girls Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate

From Goodreads: Hannah Sugarman seems to have it all. She works for an influential think tank in Washington, D.C., lives in a swanky apartment with her high-achieving boyfriend, and is poised for an academic career just like her parents. The only problem is that Hannah doesn’t want any of it. What she wants is much simpler: to cook.

When her relationship collapses, Hannah seizes the chance to do what she’s always loved and launches an underground supper club out of her new landlord’s town house. Though her delicious dishes become the talk of the town, her secret venture is highly problematic, given that it is not, technically speaking, legal. She also conveniently forgets to tell her landlord she has been using his place while he is out of town.

On top of that, Hannah faces various romantic prospects that leave her guessing and confused, parents who don’t support cooking as a career, and her own fears of taking a risk and charting her own path. A charming romantic comedy, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a story about finding yourself, fulfilling your dreams, and falling in love along the way.

My review: this was an enjoyable read. Nothing too heavy or thought provoking, but it was fun, nonetheless! I enjoyed most of the characters, and even though the plot was somewhat predictable, it was a nice way to spend a couple of afternoons by the lake.

Next up: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

 

[jenny105]

Love the show!! My younger cousins got me addicted last year. Now we have pajama viewing parties at my house! I think I'm going to start that entire series of books over the winter!! That show throws so many twists that I am beginning to think that I am A!

Prepare yourself - the series is long and just as crazy as the show. It was 8 books at first but she's extended it to 16! Number 15 came out yesterday and I'm already a third of the way through. I love the show too. So excited it's coming back next week!

 

[Simba's Mom]

#26-Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas. Contemporary Romance. It was book 3 in a series, and it's been a while since I read the first two books. I gave it 4 stars, but if I'd read the previous books more recently, I probably would have given it 5. I love the author!

 

[xlsm]

Finished 29 of 45...another kid's book read aloud with my boys...debated whether or not to put it on my list, but I read it so...

29) Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Furious Fry. Yes, that's the real title. Yes, it was hilarious and my 8 and 10 year old boys liked it.

When I read aloud to them I do voices. This is an AWESOME book for fun voices.

I'd recommend this for ages 6+

 

[Pig Pen]

#17 of 25 - Reconstructing Amelia

High powered attorney Kate Baron receives a call from her daughter Amelia's school. "Please come immediately, Amelia has been suspended." By the time Kate arrives at the school, the situation has spiraled out of control and a school suspension is the least of her worries.

Using texts, emails, and other bits of information, Kate reconstructs the past few months of Amelia's life to piece together what really happened.

It was an easy read but kind of like an afterschool special on cyber-bullying. A few twists but lots of clichés.

Twelve Years A Slave just came off hold at my e-library so that's next.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 32 of 50
The Undead Heart (#1 in the Blood Thirst Series) by Stephanie Jackson

From Goodreads:
Rebecca Stockdale had enough issues in her life; parents that hated her for the strange abilities that she had been born with, she was about to move away from her sister and only friend, Bev, and she had had a really bad date that would change her forever.
Just when she was about to escape the drama that she had always lived in, Richard, a vampyre, walked into her life and shattered her reality with one request; travel back in time to 1888 to stop a psychopathic vampyre bent on revenge and save the family she never knew she had.
She would be joined on her journey by a band of vampyre hunters. Hunters who, centuries ago, had vowed to slay all vampyres. A vow they set aside to protect the family that they had come to love, knowing that the outcome of that decision would be an eventual battle. A battle of decapitation and blood; a battle they may not survive.
She was leaving a life she would kill to get away from for a family she would gladly die to protect, but could she do it? Could she make it back alive? Did she possess the strength and courage it would take to change the past and save their future?
She was about to find out.

 

[cousinbb]

I just finished book 4/13! It title was The Queens Choice by Kayla Kluver. It the first the Chior Chronicles. A really good big book! It was difficult to put it down. It's a fantasy book with faries, pirates, and rulers.

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #18 - The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

From Goodreads: No stranger to the injustice of racial hatred, five-year-old Peekay learns the hard way the first secret of survival and self-preservation - the power of one. An encounter with amateur boxer Hoppie Groenewald inspires in Peekay a fiery ambition - to be welterweight champion of the world.


My review: This is the book our book club chose for this month. I wasn't too keen on reading it, but I'm really glad that I did. This was a great read! I loved the character of Peekay, and felt that this was a beautifully told story. Highly recommended.

Next up: The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #22 - The Back Road by Rachel Abbott

A girl lies close to death in a dark, deserted lane.
A driver drags her body to the side of the road.
A shadowy figure hides in the trees, watching and waiting.

The small community of Little Melham is in shock.

For Ellie Saunders, last night’s hit and run on the back road could destroy everything she has. She was out that night, but if she reveals where she was and why, her family will be torn apart. She is living on a knife-edge, knowing that her every move is being observed.

Ellie’s new neighbour, former Detective Chief Inspector Tom Douglas has moved to the village for some well-deserved peace and quiet, but as he is drawn into the web of deceit his every instinct tells him that what happened that night was more than a tragic accident.

As past and present collide, best-kept secrets are revealed and lives are devastated. Only one person knows the whole story. And that person will protect the truth no matter what the cost.

This was a whodunit crossed with a bit of a family saga. I read another book by this author just recently and enjoyed it. Although I didn't like this quite as much, it was one of those that drew you in the more you read. By the time I was 3/4 of the way through, I was just desperate to know how it was going to end. And, yet again, I failed to guess the ending - I must be losing my touch An enjoyable read but not one of my favourites this year.

 

[Pig Pen]

Goal - 70 books

Book #18 - The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

From Goodreads: No stranger to the injustice of racial hatred, five-year-old Peekay learns the hard way the first secret of survival and self-preservation - the power of one. An encounter with amateur boxer Hoppie Groenewald inspires in Peekay a fiery ambition - to be welterweight champion of the world.


My review: This is the book our book club chose for this month. I wasn't too keen on reading it, but I'm really glad that I did. This was a great read! I loved the character of Peekay, and felt that this was a beautifully told story. Highly recommended.

Next up: The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

I loved "Power of One." It was one of the first non-thriller type books I read.

 

[jenny105]

Finished the 15th PLL book "Toxic" yesterday. Book 18/30

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#47 The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo

Very moving true story.

From back cover:
'Rebecca never felt safe as a child. In 1969, her father, Robert Nichols, moved with his family to Sellerstown, NC, to serve as a pastor. There he found a small community eager to welcome him...with one exception. Glaring at him from pew number seven was a man obsessed with controlling the church and determined to get rid of anyone who stood in his way.
The first time the Nichols family received a harassing phone call, they dismissed it. The same went for the anonymous letter that threatended they'd leave "crawling or walking...dead or alive." But what they couldn't ignore was the strategy of terrror their tormentor unleashed, more devastating and violent than they could ever imagine. Refusing to be driven away, Rebecca's father stood his ground until one night when when an armed man walked into the family's kitchen and Rebecca's life was shattered.'

 

[Glynis]

Goal 70 books
Book #19 "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" by Edward Kelsey Moore

From Goodreads: Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat diner in Plainview, Indiana is home away from home for Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean. Dubbed "The Supremes" by high school pals in the tumultuous 1960s, they’ve weathered life’s storms for over four decades and counseled one another through marriage and children, happiness and the blues.

Now, however, they’re about to face their most challenging year yet. Proud, talented Clarice is struggling to keep up appearances as she deals with her husband’s humiliating infidelities; beautiful Barbara Jean is rocked by the tragic reverberations of a youthful love affair; and fearless Odette is about to embark on the most terrifying battle of her life. With wit, style and sublime talent, Edward Kelsey Moore brings together three devoted allies in a warmhearted novel that celebrates female friendship and second chances.

My review: this was a fun, easy to read book. Very predictable, but the characters were people I liked, and it was easy to relate to them. Definitely a good summer read.

Next up: "The Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

 

[wilma-bride]

Goal 72

#47 The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo

Very moving true story.

From back cover:
'Rebecca never felt safe as a child. In 1969, her father, Robert Nichols, moved with his family to Sellerstown, NC, to serve as a pastor. There he found a small community eager to welcome him...with one exception. Glaring at him from pew number seven was a man obsessed with controlling the church and determined to get rid of anyone who stood in his way.
The first time the Nichols family received a harassing phone call, they dismissed it. The same went for the anonymous letter that threatended they'd leave "crawling or walking...dead or alive." But what they couldn't ignore was the strategy of terrror their tormentor unleashed, more devastating and violent than they could ever imagine. Refusing to be driven away, Rebecca's father stood his ground until one night when when an armed man walked into the family's kitchen and Rebecca's life was shattered.'

I'm intrigued by this so have added it to my 'to read' list, thank you for the recommendation.

 

[Momof3dogs]

21/50
Don't Call Me Baby---Gwendolyn Heasley

From Goodreads:
All her life, Imogene has been known as the girl on THAT blog.

Imogene's mother has been writing an incredibly embarrassing, and incredibly popular, blog about her since before she was born. Hundreds of thousands of perfect strangers knew when Imogene had her first period. Imogene's crush saw her "before and after" orthodontia photos. But Imogene is fifteen now, and her mother is still blogging about her, in gruesome detail, against her will.

When a mandatory school project compels Imogene to start her own blog, Imogene is reluctant to expose even more of her life online...until she realizes that the project is the opportunity she's been waiting for to tell the truth about her life under the virtual microscope and to define herself for the first time.

Don't Call Me Baby is a sharply observed and irrepressibly charming story about mothers and daughters, best friends and first crushes, and the surface-level identities we show the world online and the truth you can see only in real life

*****
I honestly don't know what made me pick up this book other than I've been reading a lot of YA books lately. It was a quick, easy read. I plowed through it in a day.