New Year, New Goals!!!

I hope you all have a great holiday!  I will be taking some family time until January 2nd.  I will continue to read in the meantime and will be kicking off my New Year on the right foot with my challenges!  I promised I would return, but I also did say it would be baby steps....remember that?  :-)  So my goal for the first month of 2020 is simply to read 1 or 2 books.  Yes, that is it, but you need to understand I haven't even read ONE book in the last many months.  So accomplishing one or even two will be a huge step for me.  So....I will see you all in the new year and hope to have that first review up for you as soon as I can in January.  :-)

Challenges Signed Up For!

2020 Challenges I signed up for!  Click the name to see the sign up post and get details.  

1.  The 20 in 20 Challenge
2.  2020 Reading Challenge
3.  Calendar of Crime 2020
4.  2020 Literary Escapes Challenge
5.  2020 Mount TBR Challenge
6.  Virtual Mount TBR Challenge 2020
7.  2020 While I Was Reading Challenge
8.  What's In A Name 2020 Challenge
9.  Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Challenge 2020
10.  Cloak and Dagger Challenge 2020

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2020

Original Post by Host:  (My goal and progress will follow in red)

Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge 2020 - Sign Up

Welcome to the tenth annual Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge! Once again, I'm giving challengers two options - one is to read only sub-genres and the other is to read cozy mysteries of your choice.




To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

This year's cozy mystery reading challenge has two ways to participate and you can choose whichever suits you the best:

A) Read only cozy mysteries of your choice.

Or

B) Read one book from these sub-genres:

- One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
- One from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
- One from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
- One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
- One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))
- One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
- One holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
- One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
- One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
- One is your choice! (freebie!)

Here are the levels you can join for either A or B…

Level one (Snoop) -
A) Read 10 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read one book in each of the above cozy sub-genres (total of 10 books)

Level two (Investigator) -
A) Read 20 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read all the books in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 20)

Level three (Super Sleuth) -
A) Read 30 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B) Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 10 cozy books of your choice (total of 30 books)

Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -
A)Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice.
B)Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

Here are the rules...

1. The challenge runs from January 1, 2020 and ends December 31, 2020.

2. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

3. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

4. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

NOTE: If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that's fine. You don't have to have a blog, just post in the comments section as you finish books. If you belong to a site like Goodreads and review the books there, that's fine too. Just leave us the link. I also have a group for this challenge on Goodreads and you can sign up here.

5. If you do have a blog, take the button above, put it on your blog and post about the challenge. Then add your name to Mr. Linky below. Please use the link of your challenge post, not the link to your home page.

6. I'm going to have one link for signing up, one link for completed reviews and one link for your wrap up posts. I won't be having a monthly link, just one for all reviews read for this challenge.

I am going for Level 1 (Snoop).  I will be attempting to do the read 10 books, one from each sub-genre listed.  Books and review links will be posted along the way.  I will also highlight the review so you can see it seeing I listed the sub-genres already below.  :-)

1.  One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)  Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly

2.  One from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)  Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

3.  One from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)

4.  One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)

5.  One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))  The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan

6.  One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)  Killing Cupid by Laura Levine

7.  One holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)  Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier

8.  One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)

9.  One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)

10.  One is your choice! (freebie!)  The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha by JoAnna Carl

What's in a Name 2020 Challenge

Original Post by Host:  (My progress will follow in red)

What’s in a Name 2020 Challenge Sign Up

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Andrea

Welcome to the 13th annual What’s in a Name challenge! In years past, this challenge was hosted by Charlie at The Worm Hole. I took over for 2019 and I’m excited to host again this year!

The challenge runs from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates.

Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.

Don’t use the same book for more than one category.

Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!

You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.

Sign up using the Mr Linky below with a link to your WIAN challenge page/post, not your main blog URL. Feel free to save and use the graphic at the top of the page! Also, link back to this sign up page in your challenge post so others can join too.

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The categories below are links to each category sign up link.  Add your book review for each category so we can see what you’ve read and discover ideas as needed.

Here are the categories for 2020:

• An ampersand – & (ex. Blanca & Roja, Rot & Ruin)
• An antonym (ex. Big Little Lies, Wicked Saints)
• 4 letters or less (ex. Feed, Vox)
• A given/first name (ex. Tess of the Road, Flowers for Algernon)
• Reference to children (ex. Baby Proof, Children of Blood and Bone)
• One of the 4 natural elements – water, air, fire, earth (ex. The River at Night, The Name of the Wind)

Click the Mister Linky graphic above to enter your name and/or blog name (many people use this format: Andrea @ Carolina Book Nook) and the URL to your challenge post.  If you have any issues, email me through the Contact menu at the top of my blog and I’ll manually sign you up.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!  Thanks and happy reading!

I will post book and its review link below.  

1.  An Ampersand (&):  Thistle & Twigg by Mary Saums
2.  4 Letter or Less:  
3.  A Given First Name:  Norah's Ark by Judy Baer
4.  Reference to Children:  
5.  One of the 4 Natural Elements (water, air, fire, earth): 
6.  An Antonym:   Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

2020 While I Was Reading Challenge

Original Post by Host:  (My progress will follow in red)

2020 While I Was Reading Challenge Categories

1.  A book with an emotion in the title
2.  A young adult novel
3.  A book translated from another language
4.  A book that’s centered around a holiday
5.  A novel based on a true story
6.  A book with song lyrics in the title
7.  A book that’s been on your shelf for more than a year
8.  A book with a non-human narrator
9.  A book with a month in the title
10.  A book you heard about on TV/Radio/a podcast 
11.  A book set in the state you live in
12.  A romance novel

You can get a printable list of this year’s categories here.

There’s a Facebook Group and a Goodreads Group for participants to gather for discussion and brainstorming.

I can’t wait to hear from everyone who is planning to participate in 2020! I had planned to send out a monthly newsletter this year, but life got in the way so that’s my biggest goal for 2020. I’ll be in touch with category suggestions, and other reading related tips, and recommendations.

**And if you’re still working on the 2019 challenge, remember to send me your completed list no later than December 31, 2019. Everyone who submits a list will be entered in a drawing to win an Amazon gift card – That will give you a head start on buying titles for 2020!

I will fill in the number with the book fitting that category and its review link.  I will also write the category title behind it.

1.  Misery by Stephen King, Emotion in the title
2.  Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige, YA Novel
3.  Winter Grave by Helene Tursten, Translated from Swedish
4.  Killing Cupid by Laura Levine, Centered Around A Holiday
5.  I Will Find You by Detective Lt. Joe Kenda, True Story
6.  True Colors by Kristin Hannah, Song Title
7.  Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow, TBR Pile over a year
8.  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Non-Human Narrator
9.  November Road by Lou Berney, Month in the title
10.  Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline, Heard about on TV
11.  Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright, Set in WI
12.  Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis, Romance

2020 Virtual Mount TBR Challenge

Original Post by Host:  (My goal and progress will follow in red)

Virtual Mount TBR 2020

image credit--ST:The Next Generation holodeck with Capt. Picard

Last year I created the Virtual Mount TBR Reading Challenge for all those folks who had asked me why library books couldn't count for the Mount TBR Challenge. It has been such a success that I plan to keep it as a regular challenge feature here at the Block.

This challenge is for folks who have a long "wish-list" of TBRs who would like a chance to tackle those mountains as well. The strategy and general set-up is the same as for the regular Mount TBR--but you don't own the books. Heard about a great book from a friend, took note of the title, and then never got around to reading it? Saw a book online that you thought sounded intriguing but you keep putting off ordering it up from the library? You borrowed a book from somebody and need an extra push to read it and return it? This is the place for you!

Challenge levels:
Mount Rum Doodle: Read 12 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Munch: Read 36 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
White Plume Mountain: Read 48 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Stormness Head: Read 60 books from you Virtual TBR/Wish List Library
Mount Mindolluin: Read 75 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Seleya: Read 100 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Olympus: Read 150+ books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library

In keeping with the virtual nature of the challenge, all mountains are fictional (reference in comments below). How many do you recognize? The only one shared by both TBR challenges is Olympus--both fictional and on Mars. However, since I don't know actual heights, I have arbitrarily assigned levels.

The Rules:
~This challenge is only for books you do not own. They may be borrowed from the library, a friend, found on a free e-book site (like Project Gutenberg), or anywhere else that allows you to temporarily "checkout" the book. Also--unlike Mount TBR--there is no date limit on your wish list. If you see a book that strikes your fancy after January 1 and want to grab it from the library, etc. then go for it.

~Once you choose your challenge level you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find you are on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains carry over towards the new peak.

~Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2020. You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided you have 50% or more of the book to finish when January 1 rolled around. Exception: if you participated in the 2019 Virtual Mount TBR and did not finish a book in time to count it towards that challenge, then you may count it as your first step of 2020 regardless of how much you had left to read.

~Rereads may count if you have not yet counted it for a Virtual Mount TBR Challenge.

~You may count "Did Not Finish" books provided they meet your own standard for such things; you do not plan to ever finish it; and you move it off your virtual mountain.

~Books may be used for other challenges as well.

~There will be a year-end check point and prize drawing!

~A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog then please post a challenge sign-up and link that post (not your home page) in the form below. Non-blogger may skip that question on the form--OR, if you are a member of Goodreads, you may join the challenge there. Feel free to sign up HERE if that's where you want to participate.

~If you post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media about the challenge or books read, please use #VirtualMountTBR2020.

~The headquarters link in the left-hand side-bar will be fully updated at the beginning of January.

I will be climbing Mount Rum Doodle!  Read 12 books off my virtual wish list/library list.  Below will be books and review links.

1.  Norah's Ark by Judy Baer
2.  Killing Cupid by Laura Levine
3.  Beneath The Bonfire by Nickolas Butler
4.  Beach Season by Lisa Jackson
5.  Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
6.  The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan
7.  Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright
8.  I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie
9.  Thistle & Twigg by Mary Saums
10.  Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White
11.  Winter Grave by Helene Tursten
12.  Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

MOUNT RUM DOODLE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CLIMBED!!!!

2020 Mount TBR Challenge

Original Post by Host:  (My goal and progress will follow in red)

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2020

January 2020 kicks off the ninth year for the Mount TBR Reading Challenge and, despite climbing like mad and conquering Mount Everest on the regular each year, I still have mountain ranges to climb. And miles of bookcases to read before I sleep (or something like that). I just can't resist a good old fashioned used bookstore (though they are become rarer and rarer) or the community Hoosier Hills Food Bank Book Sale which adds to the mountains as fast as I knock books off.

So, once again, I plan to concentrate on reading primarily from my own books in the coming year. Perhaps this year I will actually plant a flag on Mount Olympus...but my declared goal will remain Mount Everest. Please join me in knocking out some of those books that have been waiting for attention for weeks...months...even years.

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancounver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

The Rules (a few minor adjustments from previous years indicated in green):
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. You are welcome to voyage further and conquer taller mountains after your commitment is met. All books from lower mountains carry over towards the next peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2020

*You may sign up at any time--no matter when you see this challenge. All qualifying books read after January 1st count.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2020--items requested or ordered prior to January 1, may count even if they arrive in the new year. No library books~. If you're looking for a library book challenge or one that counts books on your non-owned TBR list, then please see Mount TBR's sister challenge: the Virtual Mount TBR Challenge (click the link).
   ~The ONLY exception to the library rule: If you own the book in any form and have a reason to check out a version from the library instead, then you may count it. For example--if you own a hard copy, but are planning on taking a trip where listening to the audio version would be a great way to knock out a book while you drive, then by all means check out the audio version and have a wonderful trip! Please check with me if you have questions.

*Rules for Rereads: Any reread may count, regardless of how long you've owned it, provided you have not counted it for a previous Mount TBR Challenge.

*Audiobooks and E-books may count provided they are yours prior to January 1.

*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided you had 50% or more of the book left to finish when January 1 rolled around. I will trust you all on that. The only exception is if you have participated in Mount TBR in 2019 and were unable to finish the book in time for the final Check-in Post. Then--if you finish the book post-January 1, you may count it as your first step of the new challenge.

*You may count "Did Not Finish" books provided they meet your own standard for such things, you do not plan to ever finish it, and you move it off your mountain [give it away, sell it, remove from e-resources, etc.]. For example, my personal rule (unless it's a very short book) is to give it 100 pages. If I decide I just can't finish it and won't ever, then off the mountain it goes and I count it as a victory--the stack is smaller!

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance or to tally them as you climb.

*There will be a year-end check-in and prize drawing! 

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post about the challenge and link that post (not your home page) in the form below. My link provider has limited the number of link "parties" I can have open at a time--so I will be using Google forms for all my sign-up links this year. Non-bloggers may enter their names only without a blog link OR members of Goodreads are welcome to join the Goodreads group HERE. 

*If you post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media to log a book, please use #MountTBR2020.

* As I have in the past, I will have a headquarters link in the left hand side-bar which will offer links to this original post, monthly review links, and the final wrap-up.

Happy climbing!

I am going to hike up Pike's Peak!  Read 12 books from my TBR pile I own.  Below will be books and links to reviews for the books along the way.

1.  Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige
2.  Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly
3.  The Mother In-Law by Sally Hepworth
4.  I Will Find You by Detective Lt. Joe Kenda
5.  The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
6.  True Colors by Kristin Hannah
7.  Endangered by C.J. Box
8.  You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston
9.  Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis
10.  Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves
11.  Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow
12.

2020 Literary Escapes Challenge

Original Post by Host:  (My progress will follow in red)

 Add comments

Nov242019

2020 LITERARY ESCAPES CHALLENGE

I will actually complete the challenge this year. It has been a couple of years since I did that.

Challenge – Try to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia. (51 Points). If you complete the challenge you earn 50 Bonus Points. You also can earn Bonus Points for books set in Counties around the world. 1 Bonus Point for each country. (No repeats – only 1 point can be earned for each country.)

Your books can be fiction or non-fiction and can be in any format, print, digital, audio. 

So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)

2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

3.  If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.

The way you keep track is up to you. I like making the map to visualize where I have been and where I need to go but I also keep a list on Reading Challenges Page. Here are directions on how to create a map. – http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Google-Map. You do not have to just use Google Maps, you can use a map program you choose.

or just use this list

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

On my list, I link to the review posted on my blog, but this is not a requirement. In fact, you do not need to be a blogger to participate. You can keep your list anywhere. 

Bloggers please grab the graphic above and post about this challenge on your blog.

To sign up just fill out this form.

I have found people like to share and communicate about the challenge and their progress, so I have set up a Facebook Group for that purpose.

Literary Escapes Facebook Group

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

My list and progress will include books and review links.  A bit more that I think I can read, but I can't wait to see just how far I can "travel"!

Alabama:  Thistle & Twigg by Mary Saums

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California:  Killing Cupid by Laura Levine

Colorado:  I Will Find You by Detective Lt. Joe Kenda

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine:  Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier

Maryland

Massachusetts:  Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly

Michigan:  The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha by JoAnna Carl

Minnesota:  Norah's Ark by Judy Baer

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey:  Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

New Mexico

New York:  Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington:  True Colors by Kristin Hannah

West Virginia

Wisconsin:  Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

Wyoming:  Endangered by C.J. Box