2017 Mount TBR Challenge

I have been meaning to do this challenge for a number of years, but for some reason I haven't gotten around to it.  I am going to do Pike's Peak, which I aim to read 12 of my own books that I have own prior to January 2017.

If you want more information, you can find it here.

Pike's Peak:
1. Dietland by Sarai Walker
2. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

2017 Library Love Challenge

I like this challenge because it is very simple: read at least 12 books from the library in any format (print, e-book, audiobook) from any genre that is available at the library. As long as you checked it out from the library, it counts.

If you want more information, you can view the information here.    I am going for Thrifty Reader.

Books Read:
1.

Winter Stroll - Elin Hilderband

Title: Winter Stroll (Winter #2)
Author: Elin Hilderband
Pages: 263
Published: 2015
Genre: Christmas, Romance
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description:  Another Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn reflecting on the past year as he writes a holiday letter to friends and family. Though the year has had its share of misfortune and worry, the Quinns have much to celebrate. Kelley, now single, at least is on better terms with his first wife Margaret, who is using her celebrity to lure customers to the inn in record numbers. Their son Kevin has a beautiful new baby, Genevieve, with the Inn's French housekeeper, Isabelle; and their daughter, Ava, is finally dating a nice guy--her devoted colleague, Scott.

Now the Quinns are looking forward to celebrating Genevieve's baptism, welcoming Isabelle to the family, and enjoying the cheer of Nantucket's traditional Christmas Stroll. But just when a peaceful family gathering seems within reach, Kelley's estranged second wife, Mitzi, shows up on the island after souring on her relationship with the inn's former Santa Claus. Soon Kelley isn't the only Quinn entertaining a surprise guest from Christmases past as lovers old and new gather beneath the mistletoe. With jealousy, passion, and eggnog consumption at an all-time high, it's going to take a whole lot more than a Christmas miracle to get the Quinns--and the inn--through the holidays intact. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: I actually enjoyed this one a little more than Winter Street, which I thought was a little too schmaltzy, especially on a second read.   I think what I liked about is that it came off as being a little more real than the first book in the series and felt a little more enjoyable.  I liked that it was a fairly light read on a day that I was recovering from the festivities of New Years and a fairly long day.

I liked that the book moved the story of the Quinn family nicely along and was a nice and fairly easy read for me.

Bottom Line: A fairly light read and would appeal to those who need something a little lighter to read during the holiday season.  Recommended.

Rating: 4/5

First Book of the Year 2017

I realize that this is early, but due to the fact that I don't know how long I'll be sleeping for or what condition I will be in once I do wake up, I figure I will get it out of the way now.

So for my first book of the year, I will be reading Winter Storm by Elin Hilderbrand.  I tried to read it last New Year's, but due to working late on New Year's Eve, I was bone tired when I woke up. And so no reading didn't happen that day.

So I hope you all have a wonderful new year and happy reading!

Bout of Books 18

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I enjoy this read-a-thon and I hope that you will be able to join me.

Here are the books that I hope to read during the read-a-thon:

• Outlander by Diana Galbadon
• The Nest by Cythnia D'Aprix Sweeney
• Dietland by Sarai Walker

I don't know what else I am going to read, but these are the ones that I am going to concentrate on.

10th Canadian Book Challenge

Am joining this a little later than I was hoping to.  But this is my starting post for the challenge and where I will post my links.

If you wish to join, you can find the site here: http://www.bookmineset.com/2016/05/coming-soon-10th-canadian-book.html

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2017 Reading Plans

I can hardly believe it, but the year once again is at a close and plans for the coming year are being made, at least some plans.  I have some reading plans and non-reading plans, but I won't bore you with the non-reading plans because they are the usual one that most people make.

So I will let you know of the reading plans that I have.

Here is what I plan to do reading wise:

• try to read more diversely and read more authors that are non-white
• read outside of my usual genres.
• read the books that are taking up space in my bedroom and other places
• donate books that I know I am not going to read
• if I take out books from the library, if I haven't opened up the book in the 2-3 weeks that I have had it, I will take it back
• try to focus on one or two books at time.  I find that if I have more than 2 books going on, I seem to lose focus on one of them and it becomes hard to get back into that book.
• be more willing to not finish a book that I am not getting or is not gelling with.
• post reviews on blog again.  I stopped because it just got too much work to catch up with my reviews and my reading also slowed down.

I do have a couple of reading challenges that I will be taking part in, but am humming and hawing on a couple of others.  The ones that I have committed to are Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge and Litsy's A to Z challenge.

My aim is to read 50 books and about 20,000 pages.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year.