2017 End-of-Year Challenge Updates ~ All My 2018 Challenge Sign Ups

I dedicated these last two months of 2017 to finishing up series I was behind in by 1 or 2 books - #TravelingtotheTerminus. 

I managed to complete the following series:

Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

Games Series by Nyrae Dawn

New Camelot Series by Sierra Simone

Tempest Series by Michelle Mankin

I almost completed these series:

The Mageri Series by Dannika Dark

Blackcreek Series by Riley Hart

Pushing the Limits Series by Katie McGarry

That's not very many considering the list is like 42 series long but I did a re-read of the first two in Day's Crossfire series so that put me behind. At any rate, I'll be working at this goal again in 2018.

***2017 Challenges End-of-Year Updates***

#2017 Bookish Resolutions
Y'all can click here for a list of my resolutions for 2017 but in the end, I still managed to accomplish some and fail at others. Again, I looked at these resolutions as goals which means I didn't really fail. *grins* Laura and Michelle are hosting this challenge again in 2018 but I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to participate...

#2017HW Report Card for Quarter One

My goal was to read 1 book a month. Again, I read 3 books in the first and second quarters of 2017 so that means I got A's!!! However, I received an F in the third and fourth quarters because I only read ONE single book from my list read. Hopefully next year will go better. :)

#2017NewRelease - 46 books
I totally hit my goal of New Release Pro this year - 31-60 books - so I'm happy with that. Lexxie is once again hosting the New Release Challenge and I plan to participate.

#Audiobook Challenge - 26 listens 
I didn't quite make my goal of 30 books but I'm proud of what I accomplished. I plan to join in this challenge again in 2018.

#authorluv - 1 book
Yep, kinda failed at showing CoHo some love. But I *DO* love her so and I plan to get more read in 2018.

#BloggerShame - 10 books
I failed to reach my goal of 20 books but 10 is better than none so I'm considering that a win. :) I'll work at it more in 2018.

Read All the Books - 11 books
I still have quite a bit of Sabrina Jeffries' backlist to tackle but I'll get there. This is an ongoing challenge so I'll be working at it again in 2018.

#ShelfLove - 85 books 
I *nailed* this challenge goal of 51+ books! Woohoo! I might be most proud of having made this goal because that was my aim - to read more of the books I own! Even though the lovely ladies at Chapter Break and Second Run Reviews aren't hosting this challenge in 2018, I plan to continue showing my shelves lots of love.

***CHALLENGES FOR 2018***

I've decided to cut down on the number of challenges I'm doing in 2018. I'm having issues keeping up with all of them all! ;) 

I'm once again participating in the Audiobook Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and Hot Listens. My goal for 2018 is Binge Listener or 20-30 books. :)

I'm once again joining in the Blogger Shame Challenge hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup. (click the button for all the details) I really am working at reading all those ARCs I requested from Netgalley. *winks* I'm aiming to read 20 books. That ought to help my rating. :)

I'm once again participating in the New Release Challenge hosted by Lexxie @(un)ConventionalBookViews. You can click the button above for all the details but I'm challenging myself to New Release Pro level again in 2018 because I *still* want to read books I already own. :) So that means I'll aim for 31-60 new releases.

Sabrina Jeffries is my author of choice for this challenge. So far, I've finished 11 of her books. :) If you want in on this challenge, click the button for details.

I'm once again participating in the Reading Assignment Challenge hosted by Berls & Michelle @BecauseReading. I'm committing to reading 1 book a month. You can click the button above for details on the challenge. One of the *big* changes they made to the challenge this year is that you only have to create a list for January to June and then in June, create a list for July to December. Yay! Hopefully this will help me stick to my list. My first half of 2018 Reading List is:

#OctobeRecFest Wrap Up ~ #TravelingtotheTerminus ~ Challenges Updates ~ Other Various Updates

My 4th Annual OctobeRecFest has come to an end. I didn't get quite as many books read as I'd have liked BUT I did read FOUR from the list I'd created and that also means I moved a little further into those series. :) I also read 3 not from the list for a total of 7...7 series I moved forward in. I may or may not get one last review posted tomorrow. It depends on how much reading I get done today and chances aren't looking good since it's our State Marching Band finals so I'll be away from home today, helping move pit equipment for the band.

Anyway, here are the books I managed to read this month:

Y'all know this year I've made it a goal to catch up in series. The last few years, I've dedicated November and December to #TravelingtotheTerminus. Once again, I'm going to tweak how I usually do things. This year, I'm focusing on series that I'm only behind by 1 or 2 books. There are ~45 series that fall into this category for me. There is no way I can read that many books, but at least I'll be able to cross a few series off my list. *grins* 

2017 Challenges

#2017 Bookish Resolutions
Y'all can click here for a list of my resolutions for this year but I just wanted to give a quick general update...and that is, I'm accomplishing some and failing at others. Luckily, I look at these resolutions as goals which means I'm not really failing. I simply need to refocus and get back to work at them. *grins*

#2017HW Report Card for Quarter One

My goal is 1 book a month. I read 3 books in the first and second quarters of 2017 so that means I got A's!!! However, I received an
F in the third quarter because I didn't get a single book from my list read. And my fourth quarter didn't start off well...nothing for October. But I still have November and December so we'll see. :D

#2017NewRelease - 34 books

#Audiobook Challenge - 21 listens
#authorluv - none yet

#BloggerShame - 10 books

Read All the Books - 11 books

#ShelfLove - 73 books

General Updates

As y'all probably know, I was MIA for quite a few months. I really appreciate all of y'all continuing to visit and/or comment on my posts while I was away. I know I owe y'all some raffle boxes and I have SIX already packed up. So look for those drawings over the next two months.

As for why I was MIA...if y'all follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen photos. At any rate, I did quite a LOT of traveling, following my oldest and youngest children while they toured for drum corps, took my middle on college visits, AND TO SEE HAMILTON!! I also traveled to be present for the wedding of one of my best friends. In all, I was in 17 STATES in 5 months. I like to travel y'all, but even though I had a blast, it was a bit too much for me. :D

Two last things... 1) I had a little accident with my laptop in August. I was opening it and it somehow jumped from the bar and ended up on the tile floor - on its lid - which did not do good things for my screen. So I'm having to share a laptop with James and since it's his, I get it when he doesn't need it. Therefore, my time online is somewhat limited. Santa is bringing me a new one though...so just a little longer. 2) I'm traveling again *sigh* this week. I'm headed to Texas to visit/check in on my grandma. I'll be online as much as I can.

I know this was A LOT. Thanks for reading!!!

Review ~ The Art of Sinning ~ Sabrina Jeffries #ReadAlltheBooks #ShelfLove

The Art of Sinning by Sabrina Jeffries
Sinful Suitors #1
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
American artist Jeremy Keane refuses to return home and take over his father's business. He'd much rather sample bevviews of beauties abroad, in search of a model for the provocative masterpiece he's driven to paint. When he meets lady Yvette Barlow at a London wedding, he realizes she's perfect for his work--and determines to capture the young heiress's defiant spirit and breathtaking sensuality on canvas.

No stranger to scandal, Yvette agrees to be Keane's subject--in exchange for his help gaining entry to the city's brothels he knows intimately, so she can track a missing woman and solve a family mystery. But when their practical partnership leads to lessons in the art of sinning, can they find a bold and lasting love?

So I started this series out-of-order - which was no big deal - and now in reading this installment, I realize I should have finished another series (The Duke's Men) first. But only because there are character crossovers. It didn't affect my enjoyment of The Art of Sinning at all - only ruffled my OCD in reading series in order. LOL

Anyway, Jeffries is adept at creating heroines who don't fit the mold, so to speak, and Yvette didn't let me down in any respect. She's tall and strong - not small and dainty - she speaks her mind, and, and, and...she contributes slang words to a sort of urban dictionary of the day. Words she uses occasionally in public, much to her brother's dismay. Needless to say, her marriage prospects are few. 

Enter Jeremy Keane. He's an artist and when he first sets eyes upon Yvette, he knows he's found his muse. Then he meets her brother. With some finagling he manages to get what he wants...access to Yvette for painting.

These two were quite fun. Their banter was spirited and their chemistry was electric. They were both, however, harboring secrets that threatened their budding romance.

The secondary cast added much to the dept of the story, introducing the characters who inhabit this series. I quite enjoyed them all - getting to know better the few I met already, having read book 3.

My only issue was with the guilt Jeremy carried over an incident from his past. I felt he made a little more of his perceived part in it then there actually was. Overall though, The Art of Sinning was exactly what I've come to expect from Jeffries and I'm eager to finish this series as well as The Duke's Men.

Oh, I must mention the art. I'm not very knowledgeable about art, but I enjoyed it as an element in this story - especially the thought that went into a particular piece of Jeremy's.

Review ~ Ten Reasons to Stay ~ Sabrina Jeffries #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affected my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
In "Ten Reasons to Stay," previously published in the anthology The School for Heiresses, lessons go far beyond etiquette and needlepoint. Eliza Crenshawe's lesson is to look before she leaps. But when she discovers that her new guardian plans to marry her off without so much as a Season, she forgets all that. She flees--on a horse she unwittingly steals (oops!)--from Colin Hunt, a newly minted earl who wants nothing more than for her to go home...or stay forever.

What a delightful read this was! I'm a sucker for both a feisty historical heroine and a broody hero - Ten Reasons to Stay delivered both! Even though things moved at lightning speed, I still fell for both Eliza and Colin.

These two meet under conspicuous circumstances. Eliza was intending to borrow a horse when Colin catches her. He was confounded by her appearance - she was dressed as a man - and even more so when she refused to tell him anything regarding who she was or her reasons for needing his horse. Oh but he has his ways of getting information.

Both Eliza and Colin have suffered losses. Colin has come to England from India, where he grew up. He's looking for peace. Eliza's looking for escape. But they might need one another to find what they're looking for.

I would have liked more time with these two. Time for me to get better acquainted with them and for them to become better acquainted with each other. But I did like them both. They're very spirited and fell hard and fast. The reason behind Eliza's escape attempt was solved a bit too easily for my tastes but this is a novella. And despite wanting more, I still had a good time with the story. Jeffries deftly creates engaging characters I adore spending time with as well as watching them get themselves out of situations...and always to find their HEA.

Audio Review ~ The Danger of Desire ~ Sabrina Jeffries

The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries
Sinful Suitors #3
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
Release Date: November 22, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
To root out the card cheat responsible for her brother's death, Miss Delia Trevor spends her evenings dancing her way through high society balls, and her late nights disguised as a young man gambling her way through London's gaming hells. Then one night, handsome Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, a notorious member of St. George's Club, recognizes her. When he threatens to reveal her secret, she's determined to keep him from ruining her plans, even if it means playing a cat-and-mouse game with the enigmatic rakehell.

Warren knows the danger of her game, and he refuses to watch her lose everything while gaining justice for her late brother. But when she starts to delve beneath his carefully crafted facade, can he keep her at arm's length while still protecting her? Or will their hot desires explode into a love that transcends the secrets of their pasts?

The Danger of Desire served as my introduction to this series. I can only assume some of these characters have appeared in the previous books but I can say I was never lost. In fact, I came to adore all these characters but especially Warren and Delia.

Delia and Warren meet because Warren's cousin, Clarissa, who is know for her matchmaking, asks Warren to keep an eye on Delia. There is some concern over some of Delia's behavior but despite his reluctance, Warren agrees. He is shocked when he witnesses Delia's antics and sets about discerning the why behind her actions as well as trying to put a stop to them.

Of course this means Delia and Warren spend time together and develop a mutual attraction. They are both witty and forthright but Warren really admires that in Delia. They're also both loyal and would go to great lengths to protect those they love. One thing I greatly enjoyed was Delia's realization that she was guilty of the same offenses she lodged at Warren.

The mystery element of the story is well done and brought Warren and Delia together - Warren wanting to help Delia find her answers while protecting her. Both were keeping secrets and seeing the trust built between them, where they finally felt they could share, was heartwarming.

I quite enjoyed The Danger of Desire and am eager to read/listen to the other books in this series. I'm curious about Clarissa's story and now want Brilliana's and Lord Margrave's as well. Sabrina Jeffries delivers an engaging and entertaining story with a fun cast of characters.

Beverley A. Crick made it to my favorite narrator list with this one listen. She's incredible! Her range was perfect for this cast, both male and female. And with her chuckles and sobs, when called for, this more a dramatization than a narration. Crick made the story that much more engaging and I will certainly look for more books with her narration.

2017 Reading/Blogging Challenge Signup Posts ~ All the Rest...

This challenge is hosted by Julie and Lynn @Chapter Break and Terri @Second Run Reviews. For complete details, click the graphic above. Here are the basics:

• Sign up
• Read books you already own (books procured prior to January 1, 2017) 
• Responsibly grow your TBR
• Participate in the discussion posts, quarterly this year

My goal for 2017 is 51+ Books or My Shelves and I Are Going Steady. To help me in achieving this goal, I'm challenging myself to read 8 books I own before reading a new release.

Lexxie @Unconventional Book Views and Stormi @Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! are co-hosting this challenge yet again in 2017. And they made some tweaks to make the challenge a bit more, well, challenging. ;)

Since I'm aiming to show my shelves some love in 2017 and read books I already own, I'm only aiming for the New Release Pro status or 31-60 books. We shall see how I do! ;)

Herding Cats & Burning Soup is hosting this challenge meant to 'shame' me into reading all those many, many ARCs I've collected but haven't read. ;)

Goal

I'm aiming for getting 20 Review Books read and reviewed. I'm setting this goal without looking to see how many of these *forgotten* books I have...but it seems like a good goal to start with. :D

This is another challenge being hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup and I like this one because there's no finish date...just the finish line whereby I'll have read all the books by a particular author. The first author I'm choosing is:

Sabrina Jeffries

I'll update the graphic when I can find the one for 2017 but I'm once again participating on the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I've successfully met this challenge the past 2 years. For 2017, I'm setting my goal a bit lower (only by 25) in order to reduce stress. :) So my goal for 2017 is:

125 books