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2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


27 / 30 books. 90% done!

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


39 / 50 books. 78% done!

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona
- Arkansas (1)
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (1)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maine (4)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico
- New York (4)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee
- Texas (3)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (2)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*

International:

- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (2)
- England (21)
- Fiji (1)
- France (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Mexico (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)

My Progress:


34 / 51 states. 67% done!

2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


24 / 25 books. 96% done!

2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

My Progress:


29 / 50 books. 58% done!

Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


38 / 52 books. 73% done!

2026 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


34 / 52 books. 65% done!

2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


22 / 40 books. 55% done!

2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


24 / 51 books. 47% done!

2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge

2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


19 / 25 books. 76% done!

2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


44 / 52 books. 85% done!

Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)

My Progress:


54 / 65 books. 83% done!

2026 Countdown Reading Challenge

My Progress:


55 / 55 books. 100% done!

2026 Series Reading Challenge


23 / 36 books. 64% done!

Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo

Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo

My Progress:


70 / 125 books. 56% done!

2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge

My Progress:


9 / 9 books. 100% done!

2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)

My Progress:


36 / 60 books. 60% done!

2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge

2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge

My Progress:


10 / 40 books. 25% done!

European Reading Challenge 2026

My Progress:


7 / 50 books. 14% done!

2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)

My Progress:


67 / 125 books. 54% done!

2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge

My Progress:


4 / 5 challenges. 80% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


98 / 100 names. 98% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


76 / 80 skills. 95% done!
Friday, July 01, 2011

Books, Reviews & Recipes, Oh My!

(Image from book's website)

When I first heard about Christy Dorrity's idea to compile a cookbook pairing mini-reviews of her favorite books with scrumptious, complementary recipes, I thought it sounded fabulous. When she mentioned using quotes from other book bloggers' reviews of the books as well, I thought it sounded even more fabulous. When she decided to use several snippets from yours truly, well, I could hardly contain myself. I found the concept so fun that I just could not wait to see how the project turned out. And, you know what? It was worth the wait because, really, the cookbook is quite fabulous.

The Book Blogger's Cookbook begins with an intro from Dorrity and a Foreword by self-publishing phenom Amanda Hocking. It goes on to showcase 20 books, most of which are YA paranormals. Several book blogger quotes are given for each novel, as well as a recipe inspired in some way by the story. Although I haven't had a chance to try any of the recipes yet, all look scrumptious and easy enough for even novice cooks. Dorrity offers a nice variety of foods to try, ranging from a refreshing fruit smoothie to a creamy, layered dip to rich, chocolatey brownies. You'll be salivating just looking at the gorgeous photos.

My only real complaint with the cookbook is that it's only available in a digital format. You may have noticed my aversion to e-books - I just don't like them! However, I did read the cookbook on my computer and, while it wasn't that bad, I really would have preferred a hardcover, spiral-bound book. That's not too much to ask for, right?

All in all, I enjoyed The Book Blogger's Cookbook, from its inception to its very sweet author to the beautiful finished product. So. Much. Fun. You should probably just zip on over to Amazon and order yourself a copy - for only $2.99, it's a total steal. It's a great resource for readers, book clubs, reviewers, etc. So, why are you still here? Click over to Amazon already!

(Readalikes: I don't know of any other reading -related cookbook. Do you?)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: G

To the FTC, with love: I received a digital copy of The Book Blogger's Cookbook from the very generous Christy Dorrity. Thank you!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Accomplice: So Much Potential, So Little Follow-Through

(Image from Indiebound)
Ever since freshman year, best friends Finn Jacobs and Chloe Caffrey have been joining clubs, volunteering for committees, even raising goats - anything to make sure their well-roundedness stands out on college applications. So, when a guidance counselor suggests the usual paths to getting noticed by the Ivy League are no longer good enough, the girls are shocked into coming up with a new plan. A bold plan. A plan that will grab the attention of not only admissions officers, but also the entire state, maybe the whole country.
Staging a faux kidnapping (of Chloe), complete with a heroic rescue (by Finn) isn't an easy thing to do, even for two honor students. Almost as soon as Chloe gets situated in her nice, safe, junk food-stocked hidey hole, things start to go wrong. As committed as Finn is to the plan, she's getting tired of acting the part of the bereaved best friend, lying to Chloe's frantic family, and hanging out alone all the time. She wants to get into a good college, but she's starting to wonder if the brilliant plan she and Chloe cooked up isn't one big, stupid mistake. If only Finn could convince Chloe, maybe they could sto this thing they started. But Chloe's changing, their friendship's changing, everything is changing, and Finn doesn't know how to salvage it all. Can she stop the madness before someone really gets hurt? Can she risk Chloe's friendship and both of their reputations by confessing what they've done? Or is Finn brave enough to see the kidnapping through to the end? If she can just hold on, she gets to be a hero, someone everyone will notice. That's what she wants, after all, isn't it?
Yes, that's it. The complete plot summary. You'd think there would be more to it, wouldn't you? I totally thought so, too, but ... nope. That's it. Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan is a very straightforward story that doesn't take any of the twists and turns I thought - and dearly hoped - it would. Without that kind of surprise or subtlety, the novel just kind of sputters. It gets predictable, dull and not at all realistic. I could maybe have gotten behind the story's premise if the "heroines" had some kind of altruistic motive for creating this huge hoax, but they didn't. Characters with that kind of selfish immaturity aren't sympathetic, let alone likable or admirable. Fact of the matter is, I couldn't stand either Finn or Chloe. Or this book, really. It's a bummer, too, because it had a lot of potential to be a rich, gripping psychological thriller. If only.
(Readalikes: I'm sure there are other teens-come-up-with-a-dumb-plan-that-goes-horribly-wrong stories, but I can't think of any right off the top of my head. Can you?)
Grade: C-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs) and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Accomplice from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011

How to Find A Creepy-Good YA Novel in 4 Easy Steps

(Image from Indiebound)

Step One

Watch this:



Step Two
Read this:

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very peculiar photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photographs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

- From the front flap of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


Step Three

Beg, borrow or buy the book. Stealing it is not recommended.

Step Four

Read it. Love it. (Okay, that's two steps. Whatever.)

See how easy that was?

(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs) and scary images

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children from the generous folks at Quirk Books.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Provocative Jenna Fox Intriguing, Haunting, Fascinating and Lots of Other Great Adjectives

(Image from Indiebound)
When 17-year-old Jenna Fox wakes up from a year-long coma, she can't remember anything. Not even her name. No matter how much her parents tell her, no matter how many home videos she watches, no matter how hard she tries, her memories aren't coming back. Not all of them anyway. And the ones that have surfaced don't make any sense. Come to think of it, not much about her current situation does make sense. Why does Jenna live in California now when she grew up in Boston? Why won't her mother let her leave the house? And why does the grandmother who used to be Jenna's biggest confidant suddenly hate her?

The more questions Jenna asks them, the more convinced she becomes: Her family is lying to her. Something about the story they've told her - the car crash, the coma, her recovery - just doesn't add up. And then there are the whispers in her head, haunting voices that stir up chilling memories of the accident. As Jenna probes deeper into her fuzzy mind she comes to the startling realization that her parents' lies just might be the least of what's been done to her.

Mary E. Pearson's fascinating short novel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, is one of those books that's difficult to describe. Overexplaining will ruin it, underexplaining won't do it justice. So, I'll just say it's a contemporary story with a sci fi bent that makes it both unique and thought-provoking. Its fast-paced, suspenseful plot makes it even more intriguing. Although I consumed the book in a few hours, it's been on my mind ever since. It's that provocative. If you haven't read it yet, do (then pre-order the sequel - it comes out on August 30). I can't wait to discuss this one.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of Unwind by Neal Shusterman)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild language

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

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