The Official Blurb:The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 6.0 team
Without further ado, here are My Goals:
TIME DEVOTED TO READING
I will be reading all week, especially Tuesday
morning as I am off from work. Every day this week I am committing to reading
at least two hours, if not more. This is a busy week for me, but I do feel this
is an obtainable goal.
MY GOALS
- Finish 5 books
- Attend Twitter chats whenever possible
- Continue visiting blogs as well as replying to at least one post on every blog I visit this week. Sharing the love is important to me!
- Continue to work on the Reading Challenges. I MUST stay on top of them!
- Write four or five book reviews this week
·
BOOKS TO READ
This list is by no means set in stone or
exclusive…we will see where the week takes me :-)
- A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley (Contemporary Fiction Challenge)
- Easy by Tammara Webber (Contemporary Fiction Challenge)
- Sinful Surrender by Beverley Kendall (First in a Series Challenge)
- The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens (First in a Series Challenge)
- Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (Young Adult Challenge)
- Cinder & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed (Young Adult Challenge)
CHALLENGES AND UPDATES:
Monday
Number of books I've read today: 4, including 3 picture books
Total number of books I've read: 4
Number of hours I've read today: 4
Total number of hours I've read: 4
Books: A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley; I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner; Read It Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr.
How many times have you read a book and wished that that character was your best friend or that guy was your boyfriend? Well, that is exactly what The Book Barbies’ Sharon and Racquel are asking us today as part of the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 6.0.
Monday
Number of books I've read today: 4, including 3 picture books
Total number of books I've read: 4
Number of hours I've read today: 4
Total number of hours I've read: 4
Books: A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley; I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner; Read It Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr.
How many times have you read a book and wished that that character was your best friend or that guy was your boyfriend? Well, that is exactly what The Book Barbies’ Sharon and Racquel are asking us today as part of the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 6.0.
Here are my choices:
My Best Friend Would Be:
From an adult novel: This was a struggle but one character that stands out is Amelia Cynster from On a Wicked Dawn by Stephanie Laurens. I like that she is meticulous, loyal and protective of her family. She knew what she wanted and was not afraid to pursue it…after she made sure she was sure. That is eerily like me so I think we would get along well.
From a YA novel: From Kody Keplinger’s Shut Out, I have selected Lissa. I am not sure why, but she stands out to me. I feel like we could relate to each other since we both had less than ideal childhoods and how to grow up quicker than some of our peers.
My Boyfriend Would Be:
From an adult novel: I have selected Devil Cynster, Duke of St. Ives from Stephanie Lauren’s Devil's Bride and the Cynster series as my boyfriend. One of favorites of all time, this is one of the books I reread (and will be for the Bingo Challenge).
From a YA novel: That is a tough one but I think I would pick Maxon from The Selection. I think if I had to put it into words, Maxon because he truly cares about his country.
Tuesday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 5
Number of hours I've read today: 3
Total number of hours I've read: 7
Books: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: partially through 1
Total number of books I've read: 7 + the partial amount
Number of hours I've read today: 3 hours
Total number of hours I've read: 10 hours
Books: currently reading The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens
General Note:
I have been sick this week and after spending a couple hours at the doctor's office today, I am just wiped out. Finished a review for A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley and I am currently working on one for Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins.
Thursday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 8
Number of hours I've read today: 5
Total number of hours I've read: 15
Books: finished The Lady Chosen and started A Gentleman's Honor, both by Stephanie Laurens
General Note:
Ugh, this darn flu is knocking me out this week. I was able to pop onto a few blogs today but that's about it. I had to alter my plans and read different books, mainly because of my mood. It is not what I planned, but at least I am getting some reading done. :)
Friday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 9
My Best Friend Would Be:
From an adult novel: This was a struggle but one character that stands out is Amelia Cynster from On a Wicked Dawn by Stephanie Laurens. I like that she is meticulous, loyal and protective of her family. She knew what she wanted and was not afraid to pursue it…after she made sure she was sure. That is eerily like me so I think we would get along well.
From a YA novel: From Kody Keplinger’s Shut Out, I have selected Lissa. I am not sure why, but she stands out to me. I feel like we could relate to each other since we both had less than ideal childhoods and how to grow up quicker than some of our peers.
My Boyfriend Would Be:
From an adult novel: I have selected Devil Cynster, Duke of St. Ives from Stephanie Lauren’s Devil's Bride and the Cynster series as my boyfriend. One of favorites of all time, this is one of the books I reread (and will be for the Bingo Challenge).
From a YA novel: That is a tough one but I think I would pick Maxon from The Selection. I think if I had to put it into words, Maxon because he truly cares about his country.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 5
Number of hours I've read today: 3
Total number of hours I've read: 7
Books: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: partially through 1
Total number of books I've read: 7 + the partial amount
Number of hours I've read today: 3 hours
Total number of hours I've read: 10 hours
Books: currently reading The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens
General Note:
I have been sick this week and after spending a couple hours at the doctor's office today, I am just wiped out. Finished a review for A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley and I am currently working on one for Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 8
Number of hours I've read today: 5
Total number of hours I've read: 15
Books: finished The Lady Chosen and started A Gentleman's Honor, both by Stephanie Laurens
General Note:
Ugh, this darn flu is knocking me out this week. I was able to pop onto a few blogs today but that's about it. I had to alter my plans and read different books, mainly because of my mood. It is not what I planned, but at least I am getting some reading done. :)
Friday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 9
Number of hours I've read today: 4
Total number of hours I've read: 19
Books: Finished A Gentleman's Honor by Stephanie Laurens
General Note:
I am working my way through Lauren's Bastion Club series this week. Easy, happy reading for me this week. :)
Saturday
Number of books I've read today: partially through one
Total number of books I've read: 9.5
Number of hours I've read today: 3
Total number of hours I've read: 22
Books: started A Lady of His Own by Stephanie Laurens.
Sunday
Number of books I've read today: finished 1 and a few chapters into another
Total number of books I've read: 10
Number of hours I've read today: 3
Total number of hours I've read: 25
Books: finished A Lady of His Own and I just started A Fine Passion
Wrap Up and Final Thoughts
Despite getting the flu this last week, I am thrilled with the amount of reading I got done. It definitely is not what I planned to get done but at least I got to read everyday. Honestly, with being home sick this past week, I probably got more reading time than I would have otherwise.
Looking at my goals I set for myself:
- I did manage to finish 5 books this week and actually, looking at the list I put up above, I finished three of the books I set out this week: A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley, Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins, The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens
- I was able to attend a Twitter Chat
- First part of the week I visited and commented on many blogs. I did not get to any Friday, Saturday or Sunday though
- I need to put in the books I've read into my Reading Challenges. We are almost half way through the first month, so I want to see where I am at with them and whether I am on track. :)
- Sadly, I only finished two reviews (In a Blink and A Long Way from You). I have a rough draft of Sweet Evil that I am hoping to finish today, in between catching up on the piles on my desk at work.
Overall, I am very pleased with my participation in Bout of Books 6.0. I definitely will be watching for the next Bout of Books so I can participate again.
Great idea splitting your challenge picks into adult and young adult! I haven't read any of those books yet, but from the sounds of those characters I need to soon.
ReplyDeleteMy bookish BFF and BF are here if you'd like a look :)
They are great books if you get a chance to read them. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Reading!
DeleteI hear Sweet Evil and Cinder are really good! Good luck with your reading goals!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sweet Evil was GREAT! I haven't read Cinder yet but I am looking forward to it. :) Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading to you. :)
DeleteSeeing your goals motivates me, they're very organized and I like how you separated them into challenges. This year I started out strong with my reviews and then I started neglecting them, hopefully I can write a few this week as well. Good luck with your challenges and I hope you enjoy the books you chose to read. :)
ReplyDeleteAwe, thanks! I am glad I can provide some motivation to someone. I am trying to stay organized with my challenges this year--I've jumped in head first with them so I am just trying not to sink. Writing out which challenge the book would go towards helps me to stay organized.
DeleteGood luck on your reviews and goals! Happy Reading. :)
I haven't read any of the books mentioned in your min-challenge but sounds like good choices! :) Good luck and congrats with your progress so far!
ReplyDeleteHere are my updates from Day 1
Lauren
Thank you! Thanks for stopping by. Happy Reading! :)
DeleteI was team Maxon too when reading The Selection. haha I hated how that book just ended in the middle. Good job with your goals so far.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say, I think Maxon is a great guy. :) Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading to you.
DeleteI really enjoyed Easy so I hope you do too! Ah I see Devil Cynster listed! <3 I just finished Devil's Bride a few days ago after swearing I'd read it and ah well finally did.
ReplyDeleteDid you like Devil's Bride? Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading to you. :)
DeleteCinders & Sapphires is on my TBR, lucky. You're doing great! Good luck with the rest of the Bout! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! The flu has caused me to alter my plans slightly but I am okay with that. That's the beauty of Bout of Books. :) Happy Reading to you.
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