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!)

Monday, November 28, 2016

Hosting Strictly Print Reading Challenge

Strictly Print
Reading Challenge
2017

Hosted by me, here at The Lair!

Twitter: #StrictlyPrintRC

I read more ebooks than print books during 2016 but continued to buy print books! This challenge is for me to whittle down my print book tbr pile as well as re-read some favorites. As I was thinking about it, I wondered if I was the only one that needed this.

Guidelines are pretty simple. You'll have all year to read your books so go ahead and stretch yourself.

1. Choose a Level
  • Chapter Books: 52 (basically one a week)
  • Middle Grade: 78
  • Teen: 104 (basically two a week)
  • Young Adult: 156 (basically three a week)
  • Adult: 208 or more (basically four or more a week)
2. You may move up a level but not down.
3. You don’t need a blog to participate. Feel free to link to a Goodreads shelf or another public profile where everyone can see your books.
4. Reviews are not necessary but a list of books is. There will be a link up for reviews if you wish to post them. Edit: a list of books read ;-) You can make a list of books you want to read and change them if you'd like.
5. All formats allowed as long as the book has an isbn or equivalent and can be purchased/borrowed, the book counts.
6. Individual short stories in a collection and individual books of the Bible do not count.
7. Crossovers from other challenges count
8. Books started before January 1st, 2016 2017 don’t count.

Want to join me?


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Happy Monday




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

These are non-library books that showed up at my house last week. Today's mail (Night School!) will show up next week.


~ The newest review book in my house ~



~ The newest books in my house ~
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
gay romance, 2007, paperback

High school senior Liza, who falls in deeply love with Annie, whose school is as rough as Liza's is sheltered. Not only does Liza have to come to terms with her own feelings, but she also has to deal with the reactions of her parents and her school's administration.






Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Teen Fiction, 2011, paperback

Nights have always been Auden’s time, her chance to escape everything that’s going on around her.

Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.

Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen. . .


Cut by Patricia McCormick
Teen/Mental Health, 2011, paperback

A tingle arced across my scalp. The floor tipped up at me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next.

Callie cuts herself. Never too deep, never enough to die. But enough to feel the pain. Enough to feel the scream inside.

Now she's at Sea Pines, a "residential treatment facility" filled with girls struggling with problems of their own. Callie doesn't want to have anything to do with them. She doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone. She won't even speak.

But Callie can only stay silent for so long....



Endgame by Nancy Garden
teens, 2012, paperback (bulling, school shooting)

A new town, a new school, a new start.

That's what fourteen-year-old Gray Wilton believes as he chants, It's gonna be better, gonna be better her. But it doesn't take long for Gray to realize nothing's going to change-there are bullies everywhere, and for some reason they latch on to him his very first week of high school.

The teachers turn their heads; the students laugh; even Gray's father is unsympathetic as Gray is attacked relentlessly. One by one, Gray's only joys are taken away . . . first his beloved drums, then his dog, and finally his only friend.

As the brutal words, physical abuse, and emotional torture escalate, Gray feels trapped in a world where he has no control, no support systems, and no way out.

Until the fateful day when he enters the halls of Greenford High School with his father's semiautomatic in hand.


The Cat of Christmas Past by Kathi Daley
Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery, 2015, ebook

It's Christmas on Madrona Island and Cait and friends have plans to embrace the magic of the season. The only dark spot on their celebration is the fact that a miserly old landlord is set on evicting an apartment building full of tenants just days before Christmas. Cait makes it her mission to save the old building and is aided by a cat named Ebenezer as they try to convince the old man to change his mind. Things look hopeless when she realizes that an unsolved mystery may be behind the man's gruff exterior. Cait vows to solve the mystery as a means of softening the man's heart and saving the apartments. An impossible task? Maybe. But Cait knows that miracles are real and anything can happen at Christmas.

Note for mystery purists: This story involves a cold case mystery which is linked to a modern day problem but does not contain a present day murder.


Virtuous by Marie Force writing as M.S. Force
Quantum, 2015, ebook

He’s a sexual dominant. She’s sworn off sex. There’s no way they can make a relationship work—or can they?

Natalie Bryant has worked for years to reinvent herself into the woman she is today—a happy teacher fresh out of college and enjoying her first winter in New York City with her faithful dog, Fluff. Natalie isn’t expecting her life to change completely during a routine stroll through Greenwich Village on a blustery January day. But when Fluff breaks loose and charges into a park, Natalie gives chase and crashes into her destiny. Only after Fluff bites and draws blood from the man who accidentally knocked Natalie down does she realize Fluff has bitten the biggest movie star in the world.

He has no business being enthralled by the gorgeous, young, innocent teacher… Natalie captivates Flynn Godfrey the moment their eyes meet. And the only thing he knows for certain is if he lets Natalie get away, he’ll regret it for the rest of his life. But can he turn his back on the lifestyle that has defined him? And most of all, can he keep his truth hidden from her long enough to have forever with her? From Hollywood to Las Vegas, Flynn and Natalie’s whirlwind love affair has it all— romance, passion, steamy hot sex, relentless paparazzi and a murder that could be their undoing. Flynn is a dirty-talking hero who puts it all on the line for the women he loves, who leaves no desire unfulfilled, who will do anything it takes to protect what’s his…


Hunters in the Night by Ramsey Isler
Nightcrafters, 2016, ebook

Real magic can only be done in the dark. That's the very first lesson in the long, dangerous education of a nightcrafter. Kal Kai, a seemingly ordinary man in New York City, was once a promising nightcrafter-in-training until he discovered the truth of the dark art -- there are monsters in the shadows.

Magic lures these fearsome creatures like moths to a flame, and though they pose no dangers to the nightcrafters, ordinary people have no defense against them. For years, Kal has struggled to find a way to put an end to the threat that unrestrained magic poses to unsuspecting citizens.

But a chance encounter with a powerful government agent finally gives him the opportunity he's been waiting for. And a brilliant young engineer shows Kal that science can counter and enhance magic beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Now Kal and his partners have a chance to stop the reckless use of magic for good. But the masters of the dark will not give up their power without a fight.


~*~*~*~*~




What are you Reading?


A weekly Monday meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Post what you read last week and what you're planning to read this week then link to Shelia's post. Then visit others and be prepared to add to your TBR pile!




Finished:
Let it Snow by Heidi Cullinan
Sleigh Ride by Heidi Cullinan
Winter Wonderland by Heidi Cullinan
Santa Baby by Heidi Cullinan
Screw Santa by Joyee Flynn
Hell's Bells by Joyee Flynn
Stupid Mistletoe by Joyee Flynn
Holy Stockings by Joyee Flynn
Down with the Tunes by Joyee Flynn
Frosty Melt by Joyee Flynn
Shove Your Tree by Joyee Flynn
Stripe My Pole by Joyee Flynn
Bite My Cookies by Joyee Flynn
Flush the Twinkles by Joyee Flynn
Hanging Antlers by Joyee Flynn
Wrap It Up by Joyee Flynn



Happy Reading!


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon Wrap Up

I've still got 1.5 hours of reading time but don't believe I'll finish another Christmas book in that time.


Christmas Spirit
2016 Readathon
Wrap Up

Hosted here (over until next year!)

Twitter: #CSreadathon


Number of Pages Read - 2,841
Number of Books Read - 16
How Many were Christmas related - 16
How many were re-reads - 15


Books Read -

1st four were the Minnesota Christmas series by Heidi Cullinan
1 - Let It Snow: Frankie gets lost driving home from his parent's home at Thanksgiving, going North instead of South and getting caught in a snow storm that just gets worse. Running off the road he starts walking and end up at a cabin. The cabin belongs to the three lumberjacks he saw at the diner - the ones he was afraid was going to pound his very gay self into mush!

As the northwinds blow and guards come down, Frankie and Marcus find they have a lot more in common than they don’t. Could the man who won’t live in the country and the man who won’t go back to the city truly find a home together? Because the longer it snows, the deeper they fall in love, and all they want for Christmas is each other.

2 - Sleigh Ride: The other two lumberjacks are, ahem, F-buddies. Living together but not boyfriends. Paul spends the year watching Frankie and Marcus and decides that's what he wants. If Arthur can't, or won't, give it to him, he's moving out.

Arthur's mother is trying to get him together with the town's librarian. When the mill closes for the rest of the year, Arthur suddenly has time to restore a sleigh. A sleigh his mom uses for a library fundraiser. A sleigh Arthur drives as Santa with a reluctant librarian elf.

As their fiery arguments strike hotter sparks, two men who insist they don’t date wind up doing an awful lot of dating. And it looks like the sleigh they both tried not to board could send them jingling all the way to happily ever after.

3 - Winter Wonderland: Paul is the only one of the three left. The one that wanted a relationship. To top it off, someone is making large penis sculptures in his yard. Well, his half of the yard. Too bad is neighbor isn't as thrilled with the additions.

Kyle grew up but people seem to have forgotten that he's twenty-five now. Last year's library fundraiser has grown into the Winter Wonderland festival. Kyle and Paul are both working on it but Paul's family is really having trouble dealing with a gay man in the family. When their anti-LGBT crusade spills beyond managing Paul’s love life and threatens the holiday festival, Kyle and Paul must fight for everyone’s happily ever after, including their own.

4 - Santa Baby: Twin Cities developer Dale Davidson has come to Logan, Minnesota, to turn it into Christmas Town. His attraction to the librarian Gabriel and Arthur complicates things but should be manageable until Arthur starts flirting back and Gabriel discovers he's not just gay, he's polyamorous.

Together the three of them light a fire hot enough to boil Lake Superior in January, and one night of fun becomes an extended engagement as Dale puts down some tentative roots in his new hometown. Everyone loves Dale, Logan’s own Santa Claus, and somehow no one knows what wild times are happening right underneath their noses. No one knows, either, the complicated ways they’re falling in love with one another.

But a shadow from Dale’s past emerges, an abuser threatening him with violence and shame. Ronny doesn’t want a happy ever after for Dale, only to draw him back into a consuming darkness. It will take the love of not only Gabriel and Arthur but all of Logan to convince their Santa he has nothing to be ashamed of—and that he will always have a home in their hearts.



The other 12 were the Who Needs Christmas? series by Joyee Flynn
A group of twelve elves who found each other after leaving the North Pole at different times have been living together, as brothers, for decades. They are comfortable with their new way of life away from the Christmas atmosphere they despise. The only things missing for these serious gamers are their human mates.

All the elves are immortal, wealthy, gay and kinky. They live in a huge home with their gaming equipment set up in the ballroom. There is a huge media room for movies and a "playroom" for kinky sexy times.

In each book, one of the brothers finds his mate. Something goes wrong. We find out how he got his name, why he left the North Pole, and just what it is about Christmas that he hates. There are werecats, werewolves, vampires, witches, honorable criminals, and stalkers. They help catch a serial killer that has crossed state lines and solve one case of human trafficking. Their mates also help to overcome their hatred of part of Christmas.


~ Books Read ~

Let it Snow by Heidi Cullinan - re-read
Sleigh Ride by Heidi Cullinan - re-read
Winter Wonderland by Heidi Cullinan - re-read
Santa Baby by Heidi Cullinan - new (book 4/end of series)
Screw Santa by Joyee Flynn - whole series is a re-read 
Hell's Bells by Joyee Flynn
Stupid Mistletoe by Joyee Flynn
Holy Stockings by Joyee Flynn
Down with the Tunes by Joyee Flynn
Frosty Melt by Joyee Flynn
Shove Your Tree by Joyee Flynn
Stripe My Pole by Joyee Flynn
Bite My Cookies by Joyee Flynn
Flush the Twinkles by Joyee Flynn
Hanging Antlers by Joyee Flynn
 ~ ended here on Sat at 10 p.m. - one more book left in the series! ~
and . . . Wrap It Up by Joyee Flynn

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Taking a Break

Just a heads up that I'll, hopefully, be off-line for much of the rest of the year. I've got a ton of stuff to do that doesn't involve my lap top and I'm going to try and get them all done before the end of the year.

I won't be doing the weekly posts that I've started doing :-( except Thursday. I've got some great cats for December so I'll be here for that. Plus I can schedule them ahead of time.

There may be reading challenge posts too but I'm hoping to do those in January.

 . . . crossing fingers that I can get my stuff done and stay away from you guys!

See you next year! Okay, maybe in a couple of weeks ;-)

edit: One of my cats isn't doing so well, so now I'm even wondering if I'll get my stuff done :-(

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

List of Books Read: December


You Read How Many Books?

Pages Read
One Million Pages Read 
Main page, here
I'll list pages and title/author for my books read.



~ Books Read: December ~ 
Pages read to Nov 30: 41,531
  1. 249 - My Heart to Keep by Bailey Bradford
  2. 133 - Harey Situation by Bailey Bradford
  3. 32 - William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
  4. 32 - Not Every Princess by Jeffrey Bone and Lisa Bone
  5. 32 - King and King by Linda de Haan
  6. 32 - King and King and Family by Linda de Haan
  7. 225 - The Wedding Date by Sean Ashcroft
  8. 45 - Under One Roof by Diana DeRicci
  9. 32 - The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus 
  10. 136 - Defrosting Jack by Susan Laine 
  11. 125 - Wolfe and His Bunny by Susan Laine 
  12. 40 - Leger's Winter by Lacey Dearie
  13. 81 - Leger's Gift by Lacey Dearie 
  14. 363 - Home at Last by Tymber Dalton 
  15. 466 - Safe Harbor by Tymber Dalton 
  16. 174 - Hot Mess by Stormy Glenn 
  17. 156 - Hot Mess 2 by Stormy Glenn 
  18. 164 - Hot Mess 3 by Stormy Glenn 
  19. 237 - Dangerous Curves Ahead by Tymber Dalton 
  20. 175 - The Hunter's Wolf by A.M. Halford 
  21. 220 - Full Moon Mating by Stormy Glenn
  22. 127 - Midnight Romance by A.M. Halford 
  23. 40 - Gertrude and Toby Meet the Wolf by Shari Tharp 
  24. 300 - Lock and Key by Z. Allora (3,616)
  25. 114 - Chocolate Cupcakes and Mythical Creatures by DeShaun Walker
  26. 95 - Dragon Ours by Joyee Flynn 
  27. 120 - Their Dragon by Joyee Flynn
  28. 74 - The Lion's Baby Bunnies by Lorelei Li 
  29. 89 - Puppy, Car, and Snow by Amy Lane 
  30. 244 - Michael and Sean by K.C. Wells 
  31. 143 - Two Fangs and a Hoof by Joyee Flynn 
  32. 242 - Sweet Inspiration by Penny Watson 
  33. 161 - Myth and Mischief by Gabrielle Evans 
  34. 158 - Fang and Fur by Stormy Glenn 
  35. 163 - Fantasy, Legend, and the Guardian by Gabrielle Evans  (5,219)
  36. 143 - White Paws and a Dream by Stormy Glenn 
  37. 146 - Spells and Bananas by Joyee Flynn 
  38. 144 - Fur and Flightless by Joyee Flynn 
  39. 149 - Officer and a Gardener by Joyee Flynn 
  40. 143 - Two Wiggles and some Fur by Joyee Flynn 
  41. 154 - Leader and the Writer by Joyee Flynn 
  42. 143 - Spits and Bellows by Joyee Flynn 
  43. 152 - Hot and Cold by Gabrielle Evans

 ~ Pages Read - December: 6,393 ~ 
 ~ Pages Read for the Year: 47,924 ~


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Purrsday












just a place to share the cute/funny/weird pictures I find while surfing....when I should be doing a whole range of things ;) Don't forget to head over to The True Book Addict because Michele has a meme going. With links and everything!
~*~*~*~*~


MINE!



Oh, yeah, that was good



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

WWW Wednesday


Welcome to WWW Wednesday!

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived at Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.

(Scheduled ahead of time, but only by a couple of days)




What are you currently reading?
Night School by Lee Child
Jack Reacher, book 21

It’s 1996, and Reacher is still in the army. In the morning they give him a medal, and in the afternoon they send him back to school. That night he’s off the grid. Out of sight, out of mind.

Two other men are in the classroom—an FBI agent and a CIA analyst. Each is a first-rate operator, each is fresh off a big win, and each is wondering what the hell they are doing there.

Then they find out: A Jihadist sleeper cell in Hamburg, Germany, has received an unexpected visitor—a Saudi courier, seeking safe haven while waiting to rendezvous with persons unknown. A CIA asset, undercover inside the cell, has overheard the courier whisper a chilling message: “The American wants a hundred million dollars.”

For what? And who from? Reacher and his two new friends are told to find the American. Reacher recruits the best soldier he has ever worked with: Sergeant Frances Neagley. Their mission heats up in more ways than one, while always keeping their eyes on the prize: If they don’t get their man, the world will suffer an epic act of terrorism.


What did you just finish?
My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis (twitter)
picture book

Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He's a Princess Boy.

Inspired by the author's son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this is a heart-warming book about unconditional love and one remarkable family. It is also a call for tolerance and an end to bullying and judgments. The world is a brighter place when we accept everyone for who they are.


What do you think you'll read next?
Something Christmas-y for the Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon/Reading Challenge
These are just the newest but I forgot about "A Holiday Yarn" by Sally Goldenbaum. I searched "Christmas" in my order history at amazon and came up with 218 titles! Granted, I've read a lot of them but who doesn't like to re-read Christmas books? Plus there's one series that is so funny, I re-read it any time!

Twelve of Santa's Elves grow up and hate Christmas. They come to earth, find each other, live together, start businesses, help people, find their mates, and in the process deal with witches, wolves and other paranormals plus one of the fathers comes calling. Great series, just a heads up . . .  it's gay erotica.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Monday, November 21, 2016

Happy Monday




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

These are non-library books that showed up at my house last week. Today's mail (Night School!) will show up next week.


~ The newest review book in my house ~



~ The newest books in my house ~
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove by Karice Bolton
Island County, 2015, ebook

Nothing like walking straight into the bedroom to see your fiancé in bed with another woman, but that's okay... Tori's a strong woman who didn't need love in the first place. She's above it all and can't wait to go home to Fireweed Island to escape the drama for the summer. She's thrilled to teach summer school and remodel her family home in peace and quiet.

So why is it that if Tori is so over love, she notices the hot owner of the construction company? Okay, she doesn't just notice him. She lets him sneak right into her fantasies where he does amazing things to her.

It isn't until Mason shows her how a real man is supposed to be that she allows herself to believe in love again. But will the pain from her past ever let her truly experience a happily-ever-after?


Creature of Habit by Angel Lawson (tumblr because her website is down)
Creature of Habit, 2015, ebook

The summer after college, Amelia Chase lands a coveted position as the personal assistant for the brilliant, yet reclusive, Grant Palmer. Grant’s aloof nature and obsessive-compulsive behavior leads Amelia to rethink her position until Grant steps in to rescue her during a bizarre kidnapping attempt. She soon realizes Grant is a man of many secrets, all hidden behind an elaborate façade of self-discipline and control.

Grant Palmer spends his days in an expensive suit and tie, funding charitable works for his family’s Foundation. His nights are reserved for patrolling the small city of Asheville and the bordering mountainside in an effort to protect residents from rogue vampires. Why? He has his own collection of kills to atone for from his own days as a rebellious, blood thirsty killer.

Amelia and Grant’s professional relationship turns personal, distracting Grant from his duties. As the number of victims rise, it becomes apparent that a predator in the hills of North Carolina has a vendetta against Grant. Aware of Grant’s increasing interest, possessing Amelia is one way for this killer to enact his twisted revenge.




I tried Amazon's Prime Pantry. Would you believe the Lay's Potato Chips shipped great? Besides the chips, I had three boxes of pasta, two brownie mixes, a bag of butterfinger minis, three cans of spaghetti sauce, and nine cans of soup. Yeah, the box was heavy but it was only half full!
~*~*~*~*~




What are you Reading?


A weekly Monday meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Post what you read last week and what you're planning to read this week then link to Shelia's post. Then visit others and be prepared to add to your TBR pile!




Finished:
Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson
The Reluctant Wolf by Lisa Oliver

Happy Reading!


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Color Coded Reading Challenge

Color Coded
Reading Challenge
2017

Hosted at My Reader's Block
For more information or to sign up, click here


Once again the categories will be more open--the color may either be named in the title or it may appear as the dominant color for the cover of the book. For "implies color" the image implying color should dominate the cover--for instance a large rainbow, a field of flowers, or the image of a painter. Get ready for a rainbow of reading in 2017.

Basically, read colors ;-)

Requirements:
Read one book for each category, nine books total
  1. Blue: Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc
  2. Red: Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc
  3. Yellow: Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc
  4. Green: Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc
  5. Brown: Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc
  6. Black: Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc
  7. White: Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc
  8. Any other color: Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc
  9. An implied color: Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc


Books Read:
  1. Blue  - Borrowing Blue by Lucy Lennox
  2. Red  - 
  3. Yellow  -  The Adventure of the Yellow Face by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  4. Green  - Green the Whole Year 'Round by Rowan McAllister 
  5. Brown  - 
  6. Black  - 
  7. White  - The Pearl Necklace by Shea Balik 
  8. any other color  - 
  9. implied  - The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Possibilities:


Cozy Mysteries Reading Challenge(s)

A couple of sites to find out what a cozy is or to find more! 

#1 Craving for Cozies

Hosted at Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
For more information or to sign up, click here

Basically read cozy mysteries. I think I have enough unread cozies to go for Starving but with all the other books I'm reading, let's go with Peckish and read 1-10 books.





#2 Crusin' thru the Cozies

Hosted at Socrates' Book Reviews
For more information or to sign up, click here

Things changed! There are still levels but there are categories too! I'm going for Snoop and will need to read 10 books. One from each sub-genre!

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 British cozy mysteries (example: Belinda Lawrence series)
- 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!)



~ Books Read ~
  1. culinary - 
  2. animal - 
  3. craft - 
  4. paranormal - 
  5. British - 
  6. career-based - 
  7. holiday - 
  8. travel - 
  9. historical - 
  10. your choice - 
  11.  
  12.  





copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Saturday, November 19, 2016

How Many Books and Pages Read Reading Challenges

You Read 
How Many Books?
2017
hosted here at The Lair
Level 3 - 200 books

Pages Read
2017
hosted here at The Lair
Apple Tree - Read 47,000 pages (changed)


One Million Pages 
Perpetual Challenge
a Goodreads Group





Monthly totals here plus a link to where I'm keeping the list - most links broken for now.


January - list 
# books:
# pages:

February - list
# books:
# pages: 
 
March - list
# books:
# pages:

April - list
# books:
# pages: 

May - list
# books:
# pages:

June - list 
# books:
# pages: 

July - list
# books:
# pages:

August - list 
# books:
# pages:

September - list
# books:
# pages:

October - list 
# books:
# pages:

November - lis
# books:
# pages:

December - list 
# books:
# pages:

~ Quarterly Totals ~
Jan-Mar
Books:
Pages:


Apr-Jun
Books:
Pages:  


Jul-Sep
Books:
Pages: 


Oct-Dec
Books:
Pages:  


~ 2017 Totals ~
Books:
Pages Read:


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Hosting - Pages Read


Pages Read
2017

Hosted here at The Lair

How many pages can you read this year?

This challenge isn't about how many books you read but rather how many pages. After all, it isn't fair that I might read 4 titles and another might read 2 titles but we've read the same number of pages!

I'll work on getting a html code for the challenge button.


Levels
Bonsai - Read 12,000 pages
Shrub - Read 24,000 pages
Dwarf Peach - Read 36,000 pages
Apple Tree - Read  48,000 pages
Oak - Read 60,000 pages
Douglas Fir - Read 72,000 pages
Sequoia - Read 84,000 pages
Redwood - Read 84,001+ pages


Join us?


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Hosting You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge


You Read How
Many Books?
2017

hosted by me, here at The Lair

Brittany's getting married! I've had my break and she'll be busy so the challenge is back at The Lair.

Guidelines are pretty simple. You'll have all year to read your books so go ahead and stretch yourself.

1. Choose a Level
  • Level 1: 100 minimum
  • Level 2: 150
  • Level 3: 200
  • Level 4: 250 or more
2. You may move up a level but not down.
3. You don’t need a blog to participate. Feel free to link to a Goodreads shelf or another public profile where everyone can see your books.
4. Reviews are not necessary but a list of books is. There will be a link up for reviews if you wish to post them.
5. All formats allowed as long as the book has an isbn or equivalent and can be purchased/borrowed, the book counts.
6. Individual short stories in a collection and individual books of the Bible do not count.
7. Crossovers from other challenges count - they’d have too!
8. Books started before January 1st, 2016 2017 don’t count.

Sign up below with the link to where you will be keeping up with your books (not your homepage) please!


A LINK UP FOR REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND . . . HERE

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge


 LGBTQIA
Reading Challenge
2017


Hosted by me!
For more information or to sign up, click here

I read a lot of gay books but most of them fall under erotica. I've got several mainstream books that I want to read. I'd like to read the first four books on my list.

~ Books Read ~
Put a Ring on It by K. A. Mitchell
Buried Passions by Aiden Bates
Adrenaline Rush by Aiden Bates
Screw Santa by Joyee Flynn
Hell's Bells by Joyee Flynn
Stupid Mistletoe by Joyee Flynn
Borrowing Blue by Lucy Lennox
The Road Home by Elsa Winters, Brad Vance
Dare You To by Riley Hart
series: Resistant Omegas by Joyee Flynn - 11 books!
A Taste of Love by Andrew Grey
Mighty Men with Weapons by Addison Avery
Shiny! by Amy Lane
Clear Water by Amy Lane
Omega's Kiss by Aiden Bates
A Solid Core of Alpha by Amy Lane



Possibilities
Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg - purchased Oct 2014
Geography Club by Brent Hartinger (The Russel Middle Brook series) - purchased Feb 2015
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg (Openly Straight series) - purchased Aug 2015
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - purchased Jun 2015
Also, the Pern series has gay characters but they're not as noticeable (own most, maybe all)

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis (picture book, library, re-read)
10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert (picture book, library, re-read)
The Different Dragon by Jennifer Bryan - purchased Jan 2009 (re-read)
King and King by Linda de Haan (picture book, library, re-read) - not worth re-reading
King and King and Family by Linda de Haan (picture book, library, re-read) - not worth re-reading
author Mark A. Roeder's books in order - click here






Hosting LGBTQIA Reading Challenge


 LGBTQIA
Reading Challenge
2017

(Lesbian Gay Bi Trans 
Queer Intersexual Asexual)


This is a no stress challenge so there aren't any levels, just one guideline and one requirement.

Guideline: Read one book of at least 100 pages.

Requirement: Book should have a main character or significant secondary character that fits one of the LGBTQI or A requirements.

Not sure what I'm talking about? That's okay, I looked it up. I knew the LGBT part - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. The QIA part I didn't know - Queer, Intersex and Asexual. I thought Q was questioning but I read that many people who don't "adhere to sexual and/or gender norms use" Queer in a positive light. Intersex is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. And someone who identifies as Asexual is without sexual feelings or associations.

Want to join me . . .


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Banned/Challenged Reading Challenge



Banned/Challenged Books
Reading Challenge
2017

Hosted by me so I'd better sign up!
For more information or to sign up, click here

Basically read books that have been banned or challenged. Or you could read non-fiction books about censorship and/or banning books.

There are four levels and I should go for uncontrolled because of my passion about the subject. Maybe I can read, or re-read, the 13+ children's books ;-) There are 130 books on the frequently challenged children's books list at ala.org!

I'm going for creeping and hope to read 2-6 books. With reviews!

~ Books Read ~




Possibilities
~ Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
~ And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (re-read)
~ The Hunger Games, trilogy by Suzanne Collins
~ Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
~ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
~ The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
~ Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen (re-read)
~ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
~ His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak (re-read)
King & King, by Linda deHaan
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous (re-read)
~ Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
~ Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
~ Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton
~ Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor

Wow. A quick list of the ones I'd like to read sooner than the others and the ones (~) I already own. Plus I still want to go through the children's books that are on the list and read the picture books.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Hosting - Banned/Challenged Books Reading Challenge



Banned/Challenged Books
Reading Challenge
2017

Hosted here!

Basics: Read books that have been banned or challenged. Or you could read non-fiction books about censorship and/or banning books.

Details: There are different type of fires and stages within those fires so that's what I'm using for levels.

Reviews would be amazing, even if it's just telling someone about the book you read. Or if you're like me and most don't want to hear about another book, just write something up on GoodReads or LibraryThing. Or, you know, write a review for your blog ;-) Either way, I'll have a linky set up for your thoughts. Not sure if it will be monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

Checking the books out of the library shows them that these books matter and they should continue to buy banned/challenged books for the library. Buying the books shows the publishers that they're worth publishing and tells the author thanks. Whichever way to do it, just read.

Levels:
  • Read 1 book. You are an Ember. You're small but mighty just waiting to burn the structure down.
  • Read 2-6 books. You are Creeping. You're burning with a low flame and spreading slowly.
  • Read 7-12 books. You are a Blow-up fire. Sudden increase in fire intensity strong enough to upset control plans
  • Read 13+ books. You are Uncontrolled. Any fire which threatens to destroy life, property, or natural resources.


Why: Censorship has been going on for a long time and it is alive and well in this day and age. I believe in watching what my children read (when they're young) but I'm not going to tell you what your child can read and I'm not going to allow you to tell me what my child can read.

It has been reported that parents will ask to have a book taken off their child's classroom reading list when they haven't even read the book!

Where do I find out if a book has been banned: The American Library Association has lists. Lots of lists. I'm sure other countries do as well but I haven't looked them up yet. The ala does has a Banned Books Week every year so we'll do a read-a-thon in September at the same time.

What is the difference between banned and challenged? A simplified answer: A book must be challenged before it can be banned. A challenged book goes through the process but it left on the shelves or in the classroom. A banned book is removed. The American Library Association (ala.org) has Top Ten list per year of the report they receive. Most of the children's books challenged are because they are "unsuited for age group". I personally feel they make the parent uncomfortable.

Join us?

I'm working on getting you code to use for the challenge button


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Friday, November 18, 2016

Finally Friday

And I'm going to start having a couple of memes on Friday. To start, just the one but I hope to add Fitness Friday/Real Life stuff too. Friday 56 will be first so you can skip the other stuff if you want to. ;-)

The Friday 56
hosted at Freda's Voice

#Friday56

Rules:
  • Grab a book, any book.
  • Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
  • Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
  • Post it.
  • Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It's that simple.





The tall man said, "The way of the world is to bargain. But we're not buying camels. So our answer is simple." 

The messenger inclined his head again, and turned it a little, as if presenting his ear.

The tall man said, "Tell the American we will pay his price."

Night School by Lee Child
 - just started so I haven't read 56 yet plus it's the end of the chapter.
Maybe if I tell it's a Jack Reacher novel this will make more sense ;-)

edit: whoa, on page 22 is says that the American wants one hundred million!

~*~*~
I'm not even sure what week I need to tell you about. The week after the cruise? Laundry, some cleaning, didn't make my mileage goals.

I started this week less than a 5k (3.1 miles) away from my next hundred mile goal. Husband was going out of town so I figured I could knock out the 5k on the first day and get two more in on the next two days.

Except, I didn't go Monday. Then Tuesday morning I waited until after he left and my knee hurt a bit. No bigger. I'll take it easy today and be right as rain tomorrow.

Nope. Wednesday saw me hobbling around and in more pain.

Thursday I was still hobbling but I got a dinner invitation from my MIL so I went. My SIL and a niece were there too! Then a trip to the library and Target before heading home. Gosh, I even went to bed before Midnight! Husband made it home okay.

I woke up in tears sometime Friday morning and couldn't get comfortable. It was the potty stop that did me in. The 90 degree angle had me wanting to scream.

Son was up so he took me to ER. The Doc was able to rule out some stuff, including any kind of crack/break after xrays. I've got crutches, a knee brace and pain meds O_o plus an appointment with orthopedic in December.

My planned December break may happen sooner because of pain. Or not at all because I can't walk around!

Have a great week!



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Classic Horror Reading Challenge

Classic Horror
Reading Challenge
2017

hosted by  Making Sense of the Stars

for more information, click here - sign up post coming Nov 30

Twitter: #classichorror2017


This is a "this is the book for the month, lets discuss it on Twitter" type challenge. Good news, because I don't have to pick a book. Bad news, what if I don't like it? Well, I tweet so I guess why I didn't finish it would be my part of the discussion!
  • January: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - started, unfinished
  • February: The Tell-tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
  • March: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • April: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
  • May: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
  • June: Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • July: The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells
  • August: The Monkey's Paw by WW Jacobs
  • September: The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft
  • October: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
  • November: ​Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
  • December: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
More good news, some of these are on my tbr list and three are on my shelves!

~ Books Read ~
  • January:  started, unfinished
  • February:
  • March: 
  • April: 
  • May: 
  • June: 
  • July: 
  • August: 
  • September: 
  • October: 
  • November: ​
  • December: 


Wired into Sci-Fi Reading Challenge

Wired into Sci-Fi
Reading Challenge
2017

hosted by Sci-Fi and Scary

for more information, click here - you'll also find info on a second Sci-Fi challenge

There are three levels, I'm going for Dabbler and hope to read 10 books off the list. If I make it to 33% and still can't finish the book, it counts but only twice.

I'm really hoping I can re-read and have it count because Hitchhiker's is almost within reach of my laptop and I was going to re-read it anyways.

~ List to Choose From - date read ~
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (living room)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (box 53)
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (box 12)
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Ringworld by Larry Niven
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
1984 by George Orwell (office)
Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
Ring Around the Sun by Cliffard D. Simak
The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
When Worlds Collide by Philip Wylie
The Death of Grass by John Christopher
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
Make Room! Make Room! by Henry Harrison
Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (box 78)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
The Female Man by Joanna Russ
Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Life by Gwyneth Jones


Okay, I guess I can only remember reading four of them, it's just that six others are in my library already. And wow, challenge complete ;-)

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Mental Illness Advocacy (MIA) Reading Challenge

Mental Illness Advocacy
(MIA)
Reading Challenge
2017

hosted at Opinions of a Wolf
for more information or to sign up, click here

Twitter: #miarc

There are two ways to do this and 3 levels. I'm going with Annually (calendar year) and Acquainted. I hope to read 4 books that count during 2017.


~ Books Read ~
1. A Solid Core of Alpha by Amy Lane*
2.
3.
4.

*erotic, m/m, sci-fi, main character is traveling in a shuttle for 10 years - all by himself. As his learns holodeck programing he projects part of himself onto each "person", even to the point of feeling like a murderer when he must delete them because of fuel concerns. Then he spends time in a center because the four that became like his family are now voices in his head. If you're okay with m/m erotica, this was a fantastic book.



Possible Books
Still Alice by Lisa Genova - own
600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster - own
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - own
Stuff by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee - own
Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - on tbr list
Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard - get ebook
something related to Sleep Disorders or Bipolar Disorder
Speak by Laurie Haise Anderson - own
Cut by Patricia McCormick - own
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen . . . - own


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Purrsday (just cats)












just a place to share the cute/funny/weird pictures I find while surfing....when I should be doing a whole range of things ;) Don't forget to head over to The True Book Addict because Michele has a meme going. With links and everything!

~*~*~*~*~




copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016
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.