Another Update: Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

Here's my latest update for the Support Your Local Library Challenge. I'm not really good with doing reviews, so the links are just to where you can purchase the books. I have enjoyed those I've read, though!

Here's my updated list:

1. The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird
2. Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy
3. 7 x 9 = Trouble! by Claudia Mills
4. Out of Order by Betty Hicks
5. Science Fair by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
6. Triple Trouble by Lois Faye Dyer
7. Valentine Frankenstein by Maggie Twohill
8. His Brother's Secret by Debra Salonen
9. Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann
10.
11.
12.

I feel like I'm farther away from my goal, but I guess I'm pretty close. If I finish all of the books I have currently checked out (which I've had for longer than I should have taken), I'll be done and even over the quota!

Update on Support Your Local Library Challenge

Okay, so if you remember, I took on a couple of challenges regarding my reading habits as New Year's Resolutions. I decided to keep better track of the actual books I read in 2009. And I decided to join the Support Your Local Library Challenge as well.

It's been way too long since I updated my efforts, so I wanted to give a report. I have been tracking the books I've read (even though I haven't been posting them here). I will try to post a list when I figure out how to easily export it from the database I've been using to track them.

The main purpose of this post is to update the status of my Support Your Local Library Challenge. I've discovered that my local libraries are pretty small and have limited hours (out of the 3, none are open on Sundays). I have made a few trips and read some books, though! After browsing the adult section, I was drawn to the juvenile section, so a lot of these are more young adult/juvenile fiction books. Here's my updated list:

1. The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird
2. Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy
3. 7 x 9 = Trouble! by Claudia Mills
4. Out of Order by Betty Hicks
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

I'm not quite half-way there, but hopefully over the summer months I can catch up!

Support Your Local Library Challenge

This year, as one of my New Year's Resolutions, I've decided to keep better track of the actual books I read in 2009. I'm going to try to post which books I've read at the end of each month.

I've also decided to join the Support Your Local Library Challenge as well. Since I moved to Arizona, I haven't even applied for a library card which is really quite amazing for me since it's usually one of the first things I do when I move somewhere new. I think this challenge is a great way to get better acquainted with my local library!

Since things tend to get crazy quickly for me, I'm going to start off small and do the 12-book challenge. I'll post the books here on this post as I read them!

1. The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Holiday Contest: Win a Kindle!

In the spirit of the holiday season, Samhain Publishing is giving away lots of great prizes in a month-long contest! I love the holiday season and contests, and this combines two of my favorite things.

You can win some great prizes. They're giving away 2 Kindles, books (yes, Dad, more books that I have nowhere to put, I know), and lots of other cool stuff. Samhain is my favorite ebook publisher, so you know I'll be entering as much as I can :-)

Be sure to check out all the details over at Angie's blog by clicking here or on the picture below!




Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Thursday Thirteen #18: Favorite Romance Novels

Since today is Valentine's Day (oops, almost typed Valentime's Day...an inside joke with my dad:P), I decided to do this week's Thursday Thirteen on 13 of my favorite romance novels.

I'm not only a book-a-holic, I am also a romance book-a-holic. A majority of the books I own are romances. I have waaaaay more than 13 favorites which is why I have a second bedroom in my apartment just for my books. Really, I'm not kidding. Here are the first 13 to come to mind. I may post more of my favorites in a later TT.

Thirteen of Michelle B's Favorite Romance Novels 1. Ready by Lucy Monroe. I wasn't sure about this book when I first read the back cover copy, but Lucy is one of my favorites, so I decided to give it a try. I loved it and quickly couldn't wait to read the other 2 books in the trilogy (#s 2 and 3 below). 2. Willing by Lucy Monroe. I was so happy I had this book on hand as soon as I finished Ready! I think this is my favorite of this trilogy. 3. ...And Able by Lucy Monroe. I had to wait a few months for this book and it was torturous! I ended up buying it as a grad school graduation present for myself. Hotwire and Claire's story is a close second fave to Nitro and Josie (in Willing) 4. Jude's Law by Lori Foster. I've never really been into the fighting scene(boxing, MMA, wrestling, etc.), but this book turned me on to Lori's collection of stories on the SBC. It's definitely one of my favorite Lori Foster books. 5. Wildly Winston by Lori Foster (which actually includes 4 Winston brothers stories!) I first discovered Lori Foster by reading Tangled Sheets in a multi-author anthology, Hot Chocolate. I can't imagine a better first story of Lori's to read. I love those Winston brothers:D 6. My Best Friend's Lover by Shiloh Walker. This is the first of Shi's books I read. It not only hooked me on Shi's books, it hooked me on ebooks! 7. The Hunters: Eli and Sarel by Shiloh Walker. Eli and Sarel's story is my favorite of all the Hunters. I really went through the emotional wringer with both characters. To me, that makes it a great story! 8. The Hunters: Byron and Kit by Shiloh Walker. Though it's a shorter one, I love Byron and Kit's story. More emotional wringer stuff:) 9. Hunters: Heart & Soul by Shiloh Walker. Can you tell I love this series? Especially since we finally get to see Leandra and Mike as well as Mal and Kelsey get their HEAs. 10. Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann. I was late to join the Seal Team Ten TDD (Tall, Dark, & Dangerous) bandwagon. I started with the re-issue of Prince Joe and I was hooked. I still re-read this one from time to time. I can't wait until Suz is able to write another TDD book! 11. Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann. This is the second book in the TDD series. I love it just as much as the first one! 12. Thin Ice by Jaxine Daniels. This was the first of Jaxine Daniels' books I read. I had been in a bit of a reading slump, but once I picked this up from my electronic TBR mountain, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down! Shortly afterwards, I bought just about every other book I could find by Jaxine Daniels! 13. The Last Place You Look by Jaxine Daniels. This is the last book in a series about a team of PJs (Air Force Pararescue). Eric and Kit's story starts in the first four books in the series and ends this book centered on their story. It's my favorite in the series (even with a minor inconsistency!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Which 5 Books Would You Save?

Wow, being sick seems to prompt me to post a lot! I'm off to bed in a minute, but I wanted to post this to my blog after seeing Shi's post over at her blog.

She was pondering which books she'd choose if she was running out of the house because of a fire and could only save five (or six:P). I responded there on her blog, but as I'd already done a book themed meme today, I decided I'd post my response to her topic here as well.

As I mentioned there, I love all my books and wouldn't want to be without any of them. If I had to choose, though, I'd go by sentimental value.

Here are the 5 books I'd take with me first when fleeing a fire or other natural disaster that forced me to evacuate:

1. The Giant Who Liked Chocolate Cake by Estella Hitchcock Lane which belonged to my maternal grandparents. I remember them reading the stories in it to me and my sister when we visited as kids. It's sort of falling apart now, so I have to be very careful with it!
2. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. Another one that belonged to my grandparents. I've always loved Winnie the Pooh and I think that may have started with my grandparents:)
   
3. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. Yet another of my grandparents' books. I used this one for a book report in junior high. It's an illustrated edition with very nice watercolor type illustrations.
   
4. Choices by Shad Helmstetter. My dad gave me this book to read the summer after my 9th grade year. I needed a book to read in summer school (we had a required reading period), so I used this book. It has really shaped my outlook on life!
5. He's Got the Whole World in His Pants...and More Misheard Lyrics. I had a hard time choosing the fifth book. I ran out of sentimental faves, so I went with one that would make me laugh in such dire circumstances (losing all my books, house burning down, etc) I have 3 other misheard lyrics books, but I've read this one the most.

So which 5 books would you save?

Nearest Book Meme

I saw this meme over at Jill Shalvis' blog. Since I'm a book-a-holic, I thought it would be a fun meme that's also representative of me.

I hope to post again in the next couple of days as well as a Thursday Thirteen this week, but I'm fighting off a cold. I keep repeating to myself "I will not get sick .I will not get sick..."

Anyway, on to the meme!
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The directions:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open it at page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence/ phrase.
4. Blog the next four sentences/ phrases together with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig your shelves for that very special or intellectual book.
6. Pass it forward to six friends

The nearest book is Jim Butcher's Storm Front (Book One of the Dresden Files). Here's the bit I'm supposed to blog (I went with counting sentences):

She had a furry, velvety voice, something tactile. "Who's this?"

"My name is Harry Dresden. I was wondering if I could talk to you."

I won't tag anyone specifically. If it sounds interesting, just join in and let me know when you've posted it in the comments so I can hop over and check it out:)