Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Spotlight on: The Sixteen by Ali B.



Title: The Sixteen
Author: Ali B.
Series: Soul Jumpers

ISBN: 978-0988942219
Publisher: Dewey Larson Publishing LLC
Date: July 2014
206 pages
Middle Grade Fiction

Back of book:
What if you find yourself on the verge of death and your soul is not ready to die?

Iris Brave agrees to be the pawn in a risky scheme to free her father from his ruthless captors. In doing so, Iris jeopardizes her own freedom. She's a long way from home and is surrounded by people who she knows are not what they seem. Who can she trust when one mistake could cost her everything? 

About the series:
There are people out there who don't die with their bodies. Their souls live on in the bodies of others. Some good, some bad-they are soul jumpers.

Nothing in Iris Brave's world makes sense anymore. Her father, Micah, is still alive-his soul survives in the body of a teenage boy.

It is up to Iris and a rogue group of soul jumpers called the Sixteen to save Micah. To do so Iris must take on the unscrupulous leaders of the Council. Can she save her father? Will she survive? Who can she trust when one mistake could cost her everything?

Scared and running out of hope, Iris doesn't know what her next move should be but she knows she must act to save the people she loves. A long way from home and surrounded by people who she knows are not what they seem, Iris jeopardizes her own freedom. Her brave rescue forces her on the run and changes her into someone she could¹ve never imagined.

In the Soul Jumpers Series, Ali B. shares the message that we are more than the body we live in, everyone can be brave and while there is evil in the world, there is also infinite good.


internal use:
First contact: Aug 5
Rebecca Brown

print

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Read-a-Thon! Good Coffee/Good Books


Drink good Coffee
Read good Books a-thon

hosted at Must Read Faster

to sign up, click here

So I am slowly falling behind on my TBR stack, and well...that's never a good thing. (Doesn't help I keep BUYING new books, but anyhoodle!) So what's a gal to do? Well if you are a nerdlette like me, you make your own freaking read-a-thon!

So what if you do it by yourself! You gotta warm up your eye holes for the October thon anyways!

So starting now (3pm CST) until Midnight (ish) on Sunday, I will be risking my eye sight to cut down my TBR stack! Reading and drinking insane amounts of caffeine and nerding out! You CAN read with me, or you can just point and laugh as I slowly slip into a reading/caffeine induced insanity! Your call! 


I found out too late to start on the 26th but I've still got a couple of days! My tbr pile is huge but so is my review pile and the stack of books from the library I'm going to try for two books and see if I can get both of them read.

1. The Sixteen by Ali B.
2. Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton
3. Nightmares Can Be Murder by Mary Kennedy  (yes it's new but it got buried!)


Starting: 5:15 am PDT

Book 1:


FAIL mostly

I did get a spotlight post up so you know what The Sixteen is about. Should have done that with the others too.

I did get lots of reading in but it was on an online serial, no isbn, no count :-(

I hope Melissa decides to do this again.





copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Friday, September 26, 2014

Christmas Recipe Exchange!

Christmas Recipe Exchange

Hosted at Herding Cats and Burning Soup (full post)

To sign up, click here

Sign ups open to Nov 10
A twist on the traditional Christmas Card Exchange! This time we'll be sending recipes (in the mail) instead of just cards. Recipes that are old favorites, or special to your family. Maybe one you've seen and thought looked amazing but haven't had a chance to try yet. Snacks, main dishes, side dishes or desserts...

They can be on recipe cards, in handwriting or typed out, decorated or left plain and simple. Include notes on why you love it or just go for the straight recipe. It's really up to y'all however you'd like to make it special for your recipient. You can include a Christmas card as well or just send the recipe.

I love Christmas. And I love cooking! So figured I'd smoosh the two together and invite y'all to join in too! This is open to readers, authors and bloggers!

I know it's WAY early for Christmas but wanted to give people plenty of time to SIGN UP and join in. Sign up is open until Nov 10th! Yall will get your "people" to send recipes to shortly after :)


Off to decide on a recipe!

I've decided send out 5+ cards/recipes but you could just send 1 if you like.

edit: I tweeted about this and it was re-tweeted! Oops, to 6,029 followers!



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Monday, September 22, 2014

RC: Come Sit a Spell



Come Sit a Spell 
Sep 22 to Dec 20
hosted by me :-) 
for more information and to sign up, click here

This is a make it your own kind of reading challenge.

~ Plans ~
I have stack of review books, a couple of read-a-thons, a couple of short-term reading challenges and several that are "almost complete".

RC read-a-long/Sep - The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Review book - The Sixteen by Ali B.
Review book - Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton
RC read-a-long/Oct - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Review book - The Twyning by Terence Blacker
Review book - Touching His Robe: Reaching Past the Shame and Anger of Abuse by Leslie G. Nelson and Josh Weed
Review book - Vardin Village by Maggie Spence
Review book - Arlo's Epiphany by Jane Oldaker
Review book - The Hard Way by Cathi Stoler
Review book - In Mint Condition - 2013 (short stories)
reading challenge: A to Z: I, Q, X
reading challenge: Alphabet Soup: I, Q, V, X
reading challenge: Library Books: 22 (15 are in the house!)
reading challenge: Picture Books: 12, preferably re-reads
added: reading challenge: Monthly Mix-up Mania: Y, Y, Y

~ Books Read ~
You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang  PB new, Monthly Mania Mix-up Challenge
The Valentine's Day Disaster by Lori Wilde  print, Alphabet soup
The Christmas Wedding Ring by Susan Mallery  print
The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane
How to Raise an Honest Rabbit by Amy Lane



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Friday, September 19, 2014

Frightfall Read-a-Thon Sign-up!



Frightfall
Read-a-Thon
Sep 29 - Oct 5

hosted by Michelle of The True Book Addict
at Seasons of Reading

For more information and to sign up, click here

Twitter: #FrightFall

There are Rules ahem, Guidelines on the blog, just remember...the one main "rule" of FrightFall is that you must read ONE scary book (which can be a thriller, mystery, Gothic novel, or similar for those who are faint of heart).

(click the title please, my read more link still isn't working {head bang} 
if you know how to fix this, please let me know) 

You Read How Many Books?/One Million Pages Challenges page six


You Read How 
Many Books?
Reading Challenge
2014


Many thanks to Amy at My Overstuffed Bookshelf for hosting the 150+ challenge the last couple of years and allowing me to host it this year.

For more information and to sign up, click here but basically, choose a level and read to your heart's content :-) Anything with an ISBN or equivalent counts. I'm going for 200 and will count everything! 
 ~ Challenge Complete June 14 ~


One Million Pages
Reading Challenge
Perpetual

My main page for this is here but I'll keep track of pages read here and transfer over monthly totals.
 


Don't forget to add the mainstream books to GoodReads (they're the ones with the checkmark)




~ Books Read ~
with page count

continued from page five
~*~ 48,767 ~*~  
251. 145 - Cody's Eternal Sheriff by Alice Cain
252. 76 - Losing Sight Of The Target by T. A. Chase
253. 55 - Working to Win by Sean Michael
254. 86 - A Flight in Ice by Vivien Dean
255. 49 - Wanting it Raw by Hunter Raines
256. 68 - Project Snowflake by Heidi Champa
257. 51 - Silver Edges by Sean Michael
258. 70 - The Groom Wore Nothing by Hunter Raines
259. 53 - Royal Line by Sean Michael
260. 42 - Making Your Own Luck by Sean Michael
~*~ 49,462 ~*~ 
261. 130 - Dream Boy by Shawn Bailey
262. 81 - Nanny Dearest by Shawn Bailey
263. 97 - Don't Touch by Lisa Oliver
264. 326 - The Reluctant Wolf by Lisa Oliver
265. 381 - The Runaway Cat by Lisa Oliver
266. 402 - When No Doesn't Cut It by Lisa Oliver
267. 73 - Handcuffs and Leather by Kim Dare
268. 72 - Handcuffs and Glory Holes and Kim Dare
269. 55 - Breaking Cover by Sean Michael
270. 72 - Handcuffs and Headlocks by Kim Dare
~*~ 51,846 ~*~ 
271. 62 - Handcuffs and Trouble by Kim Dare
272. 148 - Called to Mate by Lynn Tyler
273. 144 - Micah’s Refuge by Lynn Tyler
274. 271 - The Wolf's Tiger by Lynn Tyler
275. 259 - Michael's Heart by Lynn Tyler
276. 158 - Ryland's Sacrifice by Kim Dare
277. 48 - Recipe for Love by Sean Michael
278. 23 - Santa Wishes by Amber Kell
279. 68 - Velvet Song by Sean Michael
280. 86 - The Dragon and the Wolf by Mandy Rosko
~*~ 55,497 ~*~ 
281. 130 - The Legend of the Werewolf by Mandy Rosko
282. 26 - A Valet's Duty by H. Lewis-Foster
283. 162 - Marrick's Promise by Kim Dare
284. 48 - Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf by Sean Michael
285. 26 - Can't be His by Shawn Lane
286. 92 - Birds of a Feather by G. R. Richards
287. 200 - Not His Kiss to Take by Finn Marlowe
√ 288. 32 - Richard Scarry's Best Lowly Worm Book Ever!
√ 289. 32 - Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
290. 138 - Texas and Tarantulas by Bailey Bradford
~*~ 60,034 ~*~ 
291. 103 - Elijah's Ghost by Amber Kell
292. 184 - Feline Persuasion by Cheyenne Meadows
293. 47 - Serving Mr. Right by Sean Michael
√ 394. 334 -Kiss of Fire by Deborah Cooke
√ 295. 32 - The Possible Police by Wylde Scott
√ 296. 392 - Kiss of Fury by Deborah Cooke
297. 157 - An Ace in the Tiebreak by T.A. Chase and Devon Rhodes
298. 250 - Living Again by Brynn Stein
299. 84 - Totally Covered by Sean Michael
300. 54 - Drawing Straws-Erik by Sean Michael
~*~ 66,208 ~*~

continued on page seven

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Sunday, September 14, 2014

This is Sneakers . . .


sometimes he crawls under the covers to nap with me. :-)

Just wanted to share


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Review: The Possible Police by Wylde Scott


The Possible Police
by Wylde Scott


Publisher: Wylde Press
ISBN 9780996031509
Release date: October 15, 2014
picture book
32 pages

author's website

What happens when you remove all obstacles to a child’s imagination? Anything is possible. Unless of course, you let The Possible Police stop you. They will do whatever it takes to stop children from believing. Wylde Scott believes that all children should live in a world of endless possibilities. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Wylde takes your child into his boundless imagination as he fights off the possible police. Join him as he inspires children to truly believe, and teaches them that no one can stop them from doing what they dream.

My Thoughts:

Just so you know, I love children's books, I am still purchasing them and my children are in their 20's. That being said, I really wanted to love this one but it was just okay for me. The illustrations are great, watercolor-like with a distinction between the police page and the dreamer page. Even when it is night where the dreamer is.


I was confused about the character wearing a nightgown at the beginning and being a grown man at the end.  And the author's name is used as the character's name.

What saves this book from being ho-hum are the illustrations and the spots of "can you really do this or just dream it" that may lead to real life discussions (astronauts). (wondering if you can teach elephants to dance)

I'm glad I read it but do not believe I will be purchasing it for any of my friend's children.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary electronic file of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of NetGalley and amazon.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Monday, September 8, 2014

Outdo Yourself, page four


Outdo Yourself
Reading Challenge
2014

hosted by Brianna at The Book Vixen

For more information and to sign-up, click here

Basic Requirements: Read more during 2014 than you did during 2013. Any format, any genre, but each "binding" must be over 100 pages. There are four levels to choose from and you can move up but not down.

I'm going for . . . Out of Breath . . . again. I hope to read 6 - 10 more books, over 100 pages, than I did in 2013.
. . . . Final total: 168.

Out of Breath: 10 more completed August 27. Now to move up a level to . . . I'm on Fire! . . . and read 16+ more than last year. This is really only 6+ more from where I'm at. Piece of cake ;-)

~ Books Read ~

continued from page three

11. The Wolf's Tiger by Lynn Tyler
12. Michael's Heart by Lynn Tyler
13. Ryland's Sacrifice by Kim Dare
14. Not His Kiss to Take by Finn Marlowe
15. Texas and Tarantulas by Bailey Bradford
16. Elijah's Ghost by Amber Kell
17. Feline Persuasion by Cheyenne Meadows
~ Challenge Complete, again ~
September 8

Yes it is a lot of books but all of them are over 100 pages, even if by only 2 pages. Now to keep track for next year's challenge ;-)
google.com 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

RC: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (last Third)


Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks
plus mini-challenges
2014

hosted here
for more information click here, and to sign up click here.

The goal is to read 52 books. How you get there is up to you.

Getting to 52 is not the problem, it is the one a week part that I sometimes have trouble with but that's what I'm going for this year. Again.

I'll also be doing two of the mini-challenges:
  1. Dusty Mini challenge: Limit buying new books for 1 - 4 months and read 4 to 12 or more books gathering dust on your shelves prior to 2013. (progress here)
  2. Chunky Mini Challenge -books more than 500 pages (progress here)
1st Third Progress
2nd Third Progress
Our book week starts on Sunday:
September
7 - Elijah's Ghost by Amber Kell
14 - To Love Again by Simone Anderson
21 -
28 - You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang
October
5 - The Valentine's Day Disaster by Lori Wilde
12 - The Christmas Wedding Ring by Susan Mallery
19 - The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane
26 - A Knitter in His Natural Habitat by Amy Lane
November
2 - Foster Family by Jaime Samms
9 - 'Tis the Season by Robyn Carr
16 -
23 -
30 - 

December
7 -
14 - Rule by Jay Crownover
21 -
28 -

Q: one a week?
Q: how many total?
Q: how many mini-challenge books?
Do a wrap-up post


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

RC: Gothic September


Gothic September
September 2014

hosted by Michelle of The True Book Addict
at Castle Macabre

for more information and to sign up, click here


I downloaded The House of Seven Gables for this challenge, have In Mint Condition 2013 on my review pile and will be checking The Haunting of Hill House out at the library for RIP

Three scary books is quite enough!

Why don't you join us?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Monday, September 1, 2014

Happy Monday - August edition

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Don't forget to link up your list

There was one review book received, 11 books listed as purchased and 29 books read during the month. Yikes, that's more titles read than July!

Lists, covers and book info after the jump
(click the title, I haven't figured out why the read more link isn't showing up yet)

Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.