2012 Fairy Tales Retold Challenge

Basics

• It goes from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2012

• To sign up, use the form at the end of this post!

• You can sign up any time from now until June-ish

• I would love you forever if you would follow me, and if you're interested in fairy tales, then you'd probably find my blog interesting anyway!


What Counts

Any retelling at all, or original fairy tales. When I say original fairy tales, I mean books that include many elements of many fairy tales, but aren't actually based on any fairy tales. Some examples are The Princess Bride by William Goldman or Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (BEST BOOK EVER!) Basically a book that should have a fairy tale based on it, but it's too late for it to be the other way around.


Participating

All you need is a desire to read fairy tales, and preferably a way to post reviews. Whether it be a blog, Goodreads, or Amazon, it doesn't matter.


Levels

3 books - Peasant
6 books - Fairy
9 Books - Witch
12 books - Princess
15 books - Dragon

2012 Self-Published Reading Challenge. hosted by http://www.workadayreads.com/2011/11/2012-self-published-reading-challenge.html

I have reviewed quite a few self-published books this year, so I am going to sign up for this challenge!

 

Here are the challenge details copied from Sarah's blog:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is self-published by the author.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the Self-Published Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Sentence - 5 books
2. Paragraph- 10 books
3. Page - 25 books
4. Chapter - 50 books
5. Short Story - 75 books
6. Novel - 100 books
7. Series - 150 books

2012 Self-Published Reading Challenge.

I have reviewed quite a few self-published books this year, so I am going to sign up for this challenge!

 

Here are the challenge details copied from Sarah's blog:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is self-published by the author.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the Self-Published Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Sentence - 5 books
2. Paragraph- 10 books
3. Page - 25 books
4. Chapter - 50 books
5. Short Story - 75 books
6. Novel - 100 books
7. Series - 150 books

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. If you forget, feel free to add your reviews in the following month. Any reviews submitted will be entered into the draw for that month.

Yes, there will be draws every month for participants. As long as you are signed up below, every review you add to the monthly roundups will get one entry into the giveaway for that month.

There will also be a grand giveaway at the end of the year for eveyone who achieves their goal level (or  higher). There may be different prizes for different levels, but that is not decided yet. If you are an author and want to contribute to the monthly or grand prizes, please contact me.

I am going to aim for PARAGRAPH (10 BOOKS).

The reading challenge offers you the chance to diversify your reading throughout the year.

Novels will be selected by various ethnic authors,genres, topics or subject matters.

The challenge is divided into Quarters.

Jan. - March

April - Jun

July - Sept.

Oct. - Dec.

Participates must read one book for each month in the quarter.

Your books must match the selected theme for the month

You can challenge yourself to complete 

One, Two, Three or Four quarters which will conclude the year.

You are free to skip a quarter and join another quarter,

Its up to you!!

I will make recommend reads for each month

but you are free to choose your own novels

Each month participates will link using the linky

The linky will be opened after the 10th of each month.
If possible please designate a page for the challenge.
Post only the page with your review not your blog home page.

Grab the challenge button for your blog if you wish.

(designed by Regina of Hott Book blog)

If you do not have a blog or website to link your review, no problem just email me your review provided in the Quarter One Challenge tab or post on Goodreads, Shelfari or others and provide the link.




PRIZES,  PRIZES  PRIZES

yes, I'm spiking the challenge with fun and mystery!
How to Win??
you will collect birthstones and other mystery ways to gain points monthly.  

So you must 
Stay tuned to the blog for details

This challenge is going to be full of fun and excitement!!!The reading challenge offers you the chance to diversify your reading throughout the year.

Novels will be selected by various ethnic authors,genres, topics or subject matters.

The challenge is divided into Quarters.

Jan. - March

April - Jun

July - Sept.

Oct. - Dec.

Participates must read one book for each month in the quarter.

Your books must match the selected theme for the month

You can challenge yourself to complete 

One, Two, Three or Four quarters which will conclude the year.

You are free to skip a quarter and join another quarter,

Its up to you!!

I will make recommend reads for each month

but you are free to choose your own novels

Each month participates will link using the linky

The linky will be opened after the 10th of each month.
If possible please designate a page for the challenge.
Post only the page with your review not your blog home page.

Grab the challenge button for your blog if you wish.

(designed by Regina of Hott Book blog)

If you do not have a blog or website to link your review, no problem just email me your review provided in the Quarter One Challenge tab or post on Goodreads, Shelfari or others and provide the link.




PRIZES,  PRIZES  PRIZES

yes, I'm spiking the challenge with fun and mystery!
How to Win??
you will collect birthstones and other mystery ways to gain points monthly.  

So you must 
Stay tuned to the blog for details

This challenge is going to be full of fun and excitement!!!

"Always You" book review

 "Always You" was a good book, if a fairly typical romance.  The twist coming in that these people had actually called it quits for give years because Alex broke Lyla's heart.  Actually he kept a secret that made her hate him, but now they have no choice but to stay really, really close.  Lyla is a bit of a whiner and needs a good shaking, but overall the story is clever and well written.

I give this one 4 of 5 clouds.

Book Cover and Synopsis

Book Title: Always You
Author: Shilpa Mudiganti
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Publication Date: March 6th 2012
Format: eBook, Paperback, Kindle
Book Synopsis:

Lyla has to move on. She’s been stuck in a rut since her heart was broken five years ago. Trying to decide about life with her fiancé, Nick, she resolves to finish one last project before moving to Spain and starting a new life. That is until she is face to face with the one man who broke her heart all those years ago, Alexander Knight.

Five years ago, when Alex and Lyla meet at his friend, Andrew’s grave, they fall deeply in love. But, Alex is hiding a secret that will destroy his relationship with Lyla and does. What Lyla doesn’t realize is that Alex has changed since their break-up, because of her love, only she still has hate in her heart towards him.

But now, fate has brought them together in such a way that they have no option but to remain dangerously close – dangerous enough for Lyla to fall in love with him again. How can she? Not after what she knows about Alex and what he did to Andrew.
It’s true that love can change people for the better. But is it enough? What will happen when two broken people with a past come together? Can they forgive and heal?

Author Bio

Shilpa Mudiganti Mirza grew up making up stories in her head. Starting with innocent babbling, genre of her stories changed with lessons growing up teaches us all. She thought life would be all about her stories until she completed her technical degree. Security of an IT job lured her leaving her stories to continue brew up in her head. Yet soon she had to fall in step with what fate had planned for her and she penned her first romance novella, Always You to be published by Inkspell Publishing. There has been no looking back since then. Juggling her day job as an IT geek, she has penned down her pet project, an exciting fantasy story of lions and wolves which, to her utter delight, is going to see the light of the day early next year. She says you would fall in love with her wonderful hero and heroine.
When she has time to breathe, she spends time blogging, connecting with her readers and spending time with her loving husband. She lives at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. You can connect with her at:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

And if you have time to spare, she would be delighted to have you on her blog.

What An Animal Reading Challenge V hosted by

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The What an Animal Reading Challenge IV ends at the end of this month on February 29th. Our new challenge will begin on March 1, 2012 and end on February 28, 2013. The rules are really simple...


1. Read at least 6 books that have any of the following requirements:


a. there is an animal in the title of the book

b. there is an animal on the cover of the book

c. an animal plays a major role in the book

d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...you get the idea...


3. Challenge runs from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013. That’s a full year to read at least 6 books (you can read more if you’d like). You can still sign up after March 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by February 28, 2013).


4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.


5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or you can just list them as you find them.


6. Book titles may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).


7. Crossovers with other challenges are permitted and encouraged.


8. You don't have to have a blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.
 If you don't have a blog, just post in the comment section that you'd like to join. You can post your books in there.

9. Books can be in any format of your choice (print, audio, ebooks)

A Touch of Magic Review

A Touch of Magic by Gregory Mahan

Summary:

In a world where magic is forbidden and the penalty is death, Randall Miller faces a difficult choice when he discovers his own budding power.

Tricked into apprenticeship by a powerful Mage, Randall is forced to live a life of deception until his mentor is killed. Tracked by Aiden, head of the secret police, Randall teams up with a trio of avaricious traders in his quest to reach the city of Port Medlin and set sail to the large continent of Salianca, where magic is accepted.

Review:

                This was a great book.  I loved the world that was created and the interaction between the main character and others.  I laughter, cried, and want to know what happens next.  That is what I call a good read. 

                I am always trying to find books that my kids, especially my son, will read and enjoy.  This is one that I can happily give my kids and know they will enjoy.  I give it 5 out of 5 clouds.