January Wrap Up Post!!

Sure is hard to believe we started another new year and now are already a month into that new year!!  My, my, how time flies!  I started my new year on the slower end of reading, but I was busy getting organized.  You know, that resolution of keeping more on top of everything instead of ahead then behind then just caught up and then ahead again.  My goal is to more evenly balance my jobs, reading, home life, and Scoutmaster duties.  So far I am accomplishing that quite well, if I do say so myself.  Even if that means a few books less in the reviewing department.  I now have tools needed to organize, the trick now is to use those tools right? 
 ;-)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND THOSE THAT STOP IN TO READ MY BLOG!!!  YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ME EVERY DAY!  


Here's what I have read in January: 6 Grand Total of  Books!!
You can click on the title of the book to get to my review of that book.  :-)

~ 1 Young Adult Fiction:
~Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

~ 5 Adult Fiction ( Paranormal Romance/ Mystery/  Fiction):
~Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
~High Five by Janet Evanovich
~Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
~Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
~Black Woods by Laura Wright Laroche

How are my Challenges looking as we gradually approach the finish line?
You can click on each challenge and you will go to my post for that challenge to see which books counted for each challenge or what each challenge entails.  As I complete challenges I will highlight them!  :-)

1.  Reading Challenge Addict Challenge 2014  Complete 11-15 of my reading challenges that I have signed up to do in 2014.

1/11 Completed

Wrap Up Post:  

2.  Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2014  Read 60 books that are in my TBR pile, but have been there BEFORE 2014.

6/60 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

3.  2014 What An Animal Reading Challenge VII  Read 7-12 books with animals either on the cover, as main characters, or in the title.  

0/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

4.  Monthly Key Word Challenge 2014  Read a book with a "key word" from each months list.  

1/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

5.  TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2014  Read 50+ books from my TBR pile that were put in that pile BEFORE 2014.

6/55 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

6.  Cruizin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014  Read 20+ cozy mysteries.

4/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

7.  Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2014  Finish two series.  I am counting by books in series for counts.

4/27 Books Read  0/2 Series Finished

Wrap Up Post:  

8.  Color Coded Reading Challenge 2014  Read books with colors in the title.  9 different colors in a year!

1/9 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

9.  Chill Baby Chill Reading Challenge 2014  Read six books in the time frame of December 21, 2013 to March 20, 2014.
6/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  Challenge Complete!!

10.  Lucky No. 14 Reading Challenge 2014 Read 14 books from the 14 different categories given.

2/14 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

11.  Foodies Reading Challenge 2014  Read 3 books involving food, fiction or non-fiction.

0/3 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

12.  eBook Reading Challenge 2014  Read 10 eBooks.

1/10 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

13.  Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2014  Read 1-5 more books than 2013.

0/5 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

14.  Full House Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book from all the "boxes" on the sheet to get a Full House and complete the challenge.  Each box has a different category.

4/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

15.  Eclectic Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book from the categories listed to read different books you may not have read.

1/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

16.  Reading Outside the Box Reading Challenge 2014  Read books from categories that may be outside your normal reading.  Try to do all the categories listed.

4/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

17.  Quirky A to Z Reading Challenge 2014  Read books from the A to Z guidelines given.  A new and exciting spin on just reading books titled from a to z!

3/26 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

18.  I Love Picture Books Reading Challenge 2014  Read 25 picture books in the year!

0/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

19.  You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014  Read 150 books in the year.  (Level 2).

6/150 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

20.  Quick Fix Challenge 2014  Read books that are under 300 pages long.  I picked the Gorilla Glue level of 30+ books.

2/35 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

21.  100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2014  Read 100 books in a year.

6/100 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

22.  Audiobook Challenge 2014  Listen to audiobooks.  I picked the Newbie level of listening to 1-5 books.

3/5 Books Listened To

Wrap Up Post:  

23.  Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge 2014  Read a different, set, genre every month.

1/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

24.  Dystopia Reading Challenge 2014  Read set number of distopian books in the year.  I chose the Rebel Level, Level 2 of reading 7-12 books.

0/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

25.  Rewind Challenge 2014  Read those books you couldn't wait to come out, but then never read.  I chose to try for 15 books.

6/15 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

26.  My Kind Of Mystery Reading Challenge 2014  Read mystery books!  I chose level of Lost Artifacts to read 31-40 mystery books.

0/40 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

27.  Freda's Voice 100+ Books Reading Challenge 2014  Read 100+ books in the year.  I am personally shooting for 105.

6/105 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

28.  Gentle Spectrums Challenge 2014  Read 10 books with titles containing color hues.  Read 10 books containing title words fitting in set categories.  

0/20 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

29.  Ethereal Challenge 2014  Read spiritual/paranormal books.  I picked Third Eye Level of 11-20 books.

0/20 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

30.  What's In A Name Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book with a title fitting in each of the name categories.

1/5 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

31.  Audio Book Challenge 2014  Listen to audio books.  I chose the Flirting level of 6 books.

3/6 Books Listened To

Wrap Up Post:  

32.  Book To Movie Challenge 2 2014 Read books that were made into movies, then watch the movie.  I chose the Movie Fan Level of 3 book/movies.

0/3 Books Read/Movies Watched

Wrap Up Post:  

33.  Diversity Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that have a main character or are written by a person of color.  I chose the First Shelf Level of 1-6 Books
0/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

34.  Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that are Witchy.  I chose the Maiden Level of 6-10 Books.
0/10 Books 
Wrap Up Post:  

35.  Shifter Challenge 2014 Read 10 books with a main character that is a Shifter.
0/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

36.  Vampire Challenge 2014 Read 10 books with a main character that is a Vampire.
1/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

37.  Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2014 Read a variety of books that start with all the letters of the alphabet to make up a nice soup of reading.
5/26 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

38.  Where Are You Reading Challenge 2014 Read books set in all of the 50 states!
3/50 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

39.  YA Mythology Reading Challenge 2014 Read 12 YA Mythology books.
1/12 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

40.  Fur and Fangs Reading Challenge 2014 Read books with Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires in.  I am shooting for 25!
1/25 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

41.  Ireland Reading Challenge 2014 Read books set in or about Ireland or that have Irish characters.  I am doing Shamrock Level of 4 books.
0/4 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

42.  Zombie Reading Challenge 2014 Read Zombie books.  I chose Infested Level of 1-3 books.
0/3 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

43.  Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge 2014 Read books in this series.  I chose level Detective in Training 4-6 Books.
0/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

44.  Erotic Romance Reading Challenge 2014 Read Erotic Books.  Level One 12 books.
0/12 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

45.  A to Z Mystery Author Challenge 2014 Read Mystery authors from A to Z using last names.
0/26 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

46.  In The Middle Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that are between 300 and 450 pages.  I am doing Cruising through the Pages level of 10 books.
0/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

47.  Witch's Reading Challenge 2014 Read books dealing with paranormal or witchcraft.  Initiate Level of 5-10 books.
0/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

Perpetual:

1.  Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post:  

2.  Kinsey Millhone Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post:   

3.  Read 1 Million Pages Challenge  Read 1 Million Pages.
Wrap Up Post:  

Chill Baby Chill Wrap Up Post

Cool as the pond a frog swims in.  That's my state of relaxation so far.  I laid back and just enjoyed my kick off to the new year with some great books.  In doing so I have now completed my first Reading Challenge of the new year, and it's only January!  Below is my original post, the books I read, and review links to those books for my Chill Baby Chill Reading Challenge.

Chill Baby, Chill

December 21, 2013

to 

March 20, 2014

hosted here at the Lair


Rules/Guidelines:

• Post about the challenge (blog, tweet, Pinterest, etc)
• Link up
• Read six books
• Just relax - read whatever you'd like or use this time to catch up on challenge books
• Do a wrap-up post at the end of March (I'll have a linky for that too)

Happy Reading!

Not my usual "all year" challenge, but thought I would give it a whirl.  :-)
1.  Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
2.  High Five by Janet Evanovich
3.  Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
4.  Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
5.  Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
6.  Black Woods by Laura Wright Laroche

Book Review: Black Woods

Title:  Black Woods
Author:  Laura Wright Laroche
Pages:  172
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  Kindle 
Genre:  Adult Fiction Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Avid mushroom hunters and volunteers with the local Search and Rescue Department, Laura and Julie, who are in their sixties, remember that first encounter in the woods years ago.

Four young men who are fun by nature, travel to the woods with high hopes of a hunt they won't forget.

A call to the Search and Rescue Department will bring them shockingly together in the....
Black Woods. "

My Review:
Laura and Julie are not just sisters, they are best friends and closer than any two people can be to each other.  They are in their sixties now and get the most thrills during mushroom hunting season.  They love it and they love the bounty from the hunt, always have.  They plan for ten months how to execute an even better mushroom hunt than the year before.  They also are part of a Search and Rescue Department in the area and they love it.  The part they don't love and do their best to avoid is the "Black Woods" area of the woods they mushroom hunt in and they search and rescue in.  There is just something about that section of the woods that makes people feel uneasy and unsafe.  For good reason too, there is something in that part of the woods, something sinister and evil that brings harm on all that enter its section of the woods.  Most people know enough to stay out of there, but visitors don't know the legend or of the beast that lives in the Black Woods.  Soon Laura and Julie are called in to help with a search and rescue of four young men who came to the area to hunt, but not knowing about the Black Woods section, may have entered into something way more dangerous than turkey hunting.  The four young men got separated and now are fighting for their lives trying to survive while they are hopelessly lost in the deep woods.  Julie and Laura only hope that they didn't enter the Black Woods, or they may not come out of the woods alive.  Can Julie and Laura find the boys in the deep woods?  Were they lucky enough to not cross the invisible lines into the Black Woods with the unknown beast?  If they do find them, will they get them out alive?  Why did they get lost in the first place?  What happened to them in the woods?  Sometimes you have to face personal fears to help someone, but are Julie and Laura strong enough to do that for some lost strangers?  

Well, I have to say this book is one that I am left thinking about even after I am done reading it.  I also am unsettled for how to rate this book.  I think the book has amazing potential and really has a great concept behind its plot that's for sure.  This book was very slow to start off.  I felt like I was in a horse race and my horse was lolly-gagging along while the others passed me twice.  In my opinion the first half of the book was too full of background and things that didn't really matter for the heart of the plot.  Yes, you have to get to know the characters, but this was overkill.  It also seemed a bit choppy to read, like there wasn't enough detail where there should have been and was too much where less would have been quite sufficient.  It was an easy read, thank goodness or I may have put it down when I was almost half done with the book and still didn't get to the "meat" of the book.  Now, my opinion of the book changed a little over half way through the book.  Why?  Because the book really took off when it did finally take off!  It changed into this amazing read that was so full of vivid details about what was going on that I could start to then see it playing out in my mind as I read on.  It just transformed into this wonderful read that made me wonder if it was still the same author as the first half of the book.  It became suspense filled and action packed.  The characters started to make sense and come together.  The story became one that I now couldn't put down, but just had to finish reading!  It became a book I enjoyed.  I was a bit disappointed in the fact that there was all this "fluff" in the beginning, yet nothing to really tell about the reason for the Black Woods and the creature that inhabits it.  It just is, that's it, no detail on why or how it came to be.  The ending really threw me for a loop!  I literally finished the book and had to just stare at my Kindle and say, What the heck just happened here.  I'm not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing to be honest with you.  There is another book after this one....will I read it?  I doubt it.  Yes the ending left me wondering, but the thought of having to go through another beginning of a book like I did in this one has me saying I really don't think I want to risk it.  Personally, I compared reading this book to eating vegetables for me.  I look at them and I think they don't look to bad, maybe they even look good.  However I know I don't really enjoy eating them, but think eh why not.  I start to eat them and think how horrible they are and how I really don't want to continue eating my serving, but I hope they start tasting better.  I then add some dip or some other things to them and they then start looking and tasting amazing and I am super glad I'm eating them.  Then the end comes and I think, ok they were good, but do I really want to eat them again.  I know, odd comparison, but it's what I was thinking when I was thinking if I really liked this book or not.  ;-)

3/5 Stars

Book Review: Glass Houses

Title:  Glass Houses
Author:  Rachel Caine
Pages:  239
Publication Date:  2006
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Paranormal 

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?"

My Review:
Claire is just a sixteen, errr almost seventeen...sort of, year old girl.  Teenage years can be rough, but Claire is finding them extra hard.  See, Claire has special circumstances, she may be only sixteen, but she is a freshman in college and trying to live on her own away from home for the first time ever.  Soon she is hating it because she loves school, but she is being bullied like crazy, some say hazed.  The difference?  Her attacker wants her to be gone forever, not just made miserable.  Claire soon finds herself in danger and decides the only way she will stand any chance of surviving her dorm life, is going to be leaving the dorm for other living arrangements.  Soon she finds a spooky looking house and some odd teens looking for a roommate.  Problem is, they are older and she is really young to be living with a bunch of 18 and ups.  Michael, the owner of the house, sees she is in real trouble though and offers her a place to crash, even if it's just for a few days or a week until she can figure something else out.  While living there though Claire learns more about Morganville, Texas and why things seem so strange around here.  There are deep and very dark secrets in Morganville, none of which certain people there want getting out.  So when Claire is too curious she puts herself in even more danger.  Will she figure the town out and all of it's secrets?  Will she survive trying to figure things out?  What secrets do her roommates have and why are they so scared and careful all the time when it gets dark out?  Legends are just that right?....Legends....none of them hold real truth to them do they?  One thing's for sure, Claire may have gained three great and new friends in Eve, Shane, and Michael, but she will probably regret the day she ever came to Morganville, Texas.

The back of this book didn't do it very much justice.  I realize now though, it is because too much more to it would have given some of the mystery away or made things sound way to confusing.  I was not sure about this read when I picked it up, but I got it free from a library book sale (along with many of the other books of this series) so I figured why not give it a go.  I am very glad I did!  This book was full of mystery, paranormal, drama, friendship, and much more!!  This was a vampire book that was done in a great way.  It wasn't all love and mush, but had some of those elements at times.  It wasn't all killing and vampire attacks either....though it has those moments too.  It was written in an easy to follow way and one that made you want to keep right on reading until you hit that last page. Then I found myself wanting to go to page one of the next book too.  Very well written with amazing descriptive words.  I felt like I was watching a movie while I was reading it, it was so vivid to me.  The characters were also something to "write home about"!  They are all so unique you can't wait to watch them develop as the book goes on and you learn more about them and their past.  Young Adult books can sometimes be a bit too young adult at times, but this one wasn't.  What do I mean by that?  I mean sometimes they just aren't enjoyable for us bit "older", maybe not so young adult, readers.  ;-)  There can be too much drama and no enough plot, but this book had a great plot with drama incorporated into it, not drama with a plot incorporated into it.  I very much recommend this book to any paranormal mystery reader young or old.  I plan to read on in this series in the months to come that's for sure.

5/5 Stars!!

Witch's Reading Challenge 2014

Welcome to the 3rd annual 2014 Witch's Reading Challenge!

Last year I received a complaint about the name change because it no longer contained the word "pagan". The challenge has been renamed from "pagan" simply to reflect my blog name change to avoid confusion. The focus on books (whether witchcraft or pagan) is up to you! You choose what books to focus on, not me!

The Rules:
This challenge will begin January 1, 2014 and end December 31, 2014.

Books that can be counted will include nonfiction books that are about spirituality, religion, magick, the occult, nature, myths, or the paranormal. They can be reference, how to, informative, encyclopedias, or memoir. Fictional books that can be counted are anything that has to do with the paranormal, magick, witchcraft, or have a distinctly pagan flavor to the story such as The Divine Sisters of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells.

You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks.

You may reread books.

Recipe style books, usually of spells or correspondences  are not usually read cover to cover so I will bend the rules here. You do not have to read the book from cover to cover, but you do have to look at EVERY page in the book.

You may change the level you choose at any time and go up or down.

The Levels:
Novice  Read 1 - 5 books
Initiate Read 5 -10 books
Beginner Read 11 - 15 books
Intermediate Read 16 - 20 books
Advanced Read 21 - 25 books
Adept Read 26 -30 books
High Priest/Priestess Read 31 - 35 books
Elder Read  Read 36 - 40 books
God/Goddess Read 41+ books

If you would like to share your level, please leave it in the comments. If you have any questions or comments you may leave leave them below or email me at thedomesticpagan@yahoo.com

If you could be so kind, please place the 2014 Pagan Reading Challenge banner on your blog to help spread the word!

Additional Challenges
Post reviews of all the books you read

Books on magick, the occult, and spirituality are not just meant to be read. Blog, tweet, or post statuses about the things you try from the books that you have read.

Read all that you can about your tradition

Read a book or two that are outside of your tradition. Way out if you dare. For example, if you are Gardnerian Wiccan read a book on shamanism or High Magick.

Read what the Bible has to say about magick and witchcraft or read books that speak against witchcraft and the occult. I double dog dare you.

Read books by authors you find controversial (such as Silver Ravenwolf)

If you are advanced or adept, read or reread books for beginners

Read about a skill you would like to develop such as tarot reading, Reiki, or communicating with the dead

Read about the history of Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism

Read about what really happened during The Burning Times

Make your own grimoire or book of shadows

Signing Up
Before signing up, please create a post or page where you will list all the books you have read and then use that link for your Mr. Linky. If you don't have a blog you can still sign up by using a link to your Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and so on.

I will be participating as well so you will be seeing book reviews, book recommendations, and blog posts on what I have read or heard about throughout the year!

I am going to go for the Initiate Read Level of 5-10 books.
1.  The White Aura by Felicia Tatum
2.  The Brown House by Christy Sloat
3.  The Crimson Key by Christy Sloat
4.  The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9.  
10.  

In The Middle Reading Challenge 2014

The In The Middle Reading Challenge 2014 Sign Ups

The In The Middle Reading Challenge is back for its second year. I'm so grateful to everybody that joined the challenge last year. I had so much fun watching the review list grow as readers achieved their goals to not let those books that are In The Middle be left out.

The major change for this year is that books up to 450 pages will count. I realized last year that books that were from 400 pages to 450 pages did not fit into any challenge. I hope this will help people read the books they want to and not just books that complete their reading challenge goals. 

Challenge Guidelines:

• This challenge will run from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014
• All books read in 2014 count that includes bound, ebook, and audiobooks
• All books must be from 300 to 450 pages in length
• For audiobooks: look up the page number on Amazon and use that number
• You do not need to be a blogger to participate although I would appreciate if you leave a comment to tell me what level you are aiming for and a link where I can track your progress. This could be a shelf on goodreads or shelfari or any other website you can think of. I would appreciate non bloggers putting their link in the linky if they can. 
• For bloggers, grab the button and make sure to post what level you are aiming for. Then be sure to link your post in the linky below
• You don't have to review books however if you do. I would be glad to read them. You can also link your reviews in the linky below
• Have Fun (as the quote in the button says "the pages we read transport us into a whole new world". Reading is about the experience and if you do not enjoy reading you will not get the full experience of the story) I want this challenge to create little stress in your mind. 

Levels:

Leafing through the Pages: 5 books

Cruising through the Pages: 10 books

Fly Through the Pages: 15 books

Never Stop Reading: 20 books

I am going to go for Cruising through the Pages Level of 10 books.

1.  The Brown House by Christy Sloat

2.  Right Click by Lisa Becker

3.  The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines

4.  Maze Runner by James Dashner

5.  Scorch Trials by James Dashner

6.  Death Cure by James Dashner

7.  

8.  

9.  

10.  

A to Z Mystery Author Challenge 2014

2014 A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Happy 2014 Everyone! 

I am doing this challenge again this year because I have a few of you out there who really love it. (Thanks Bev!) I will always strive to read as many mysteries and thrillers as I can. It is one of my favorite genres. Over the last few years my reading pace has slowed. I am listening to as many books as I am reading so last year's stats puts me at 6 new mysteries read. I only challenged myself to read 24 books so I think that's doing okay in my book!

I'm not going to do a linky this year. Please save this post and leave your review links in the comments below. As always, have fun and discover new authors or read those that you have been wanting to for too long!

I'm going to continue to explore and go from there. No goal. Just discover and go with it!

Rules:

• A-Z represents the LAST name of the author in the mystery, thriller, suspense, cozy, noir, etc. genre.
• Read as many or as little as you want.
• Post your links here for your Challenge post and your reviews!
• Challenge Runs January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
• Have fun!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

I am shooting for the stars here and going to try to read all the alphabet.  We shall see how that really goes.

A-  Anderson, John  Dakota Gold

B-  Brooks, Kathleen  Bluegrass Undercover 

C-  Coryell, Susan  A Red, Red, Rose

D-  Dashner, James  Maze Runner 

E-  Epperson, S.K.  Green Lake

F-  Franco, M.E.  Where Will You Run?

G-  George, Linda  Silver Lady 

H-  Henderson, Peggy L.  Yellowstone Heart Song 

I-  

J-  

K-  Kane, P.B.  The Rainbow Man

L-  

M-  

N-  

O-  

P-  

Q-  

R-  Robb, J.D.  Glory In Death

S-  Sloat, Christy  The Brown House 

T-  Tatum, Felicia  The White Aura 

U-  

V-  

W-  White, Betty  Betty White If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

X-  

Y-  Young, Luke  Friends With Partial Benefits

Z-