Thursday, 31 January 2019

Books From The Backlog-Tomorrow


Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf.  You might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Go to Carole's blog and add your blog post link in to join in the fun! Hosted by Carole at https://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.co.uk/

This seems like a fun feature and I have been planning to take part since Carole launched this so at last, here we go! I have a TON of unread books to choose from in various genres and I'm looking forward to sharing some of them with everybody. 


When Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip in the Australian bush, they find things hideously wrong — their families are gone. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the reality of the situation hits them, they must make a decision — run and hide, give themselves up and be with their families, or fight back. 

I read and loved the first two books in this series but life got in the way of me getting the rest of the series read so I really want to finish the series and the spin-off books. I wish they had turned this into a TV series rather than just doing one film!
 

Book Review Backlog Challenge Update 4



These are the books I read in 2018 but never got a review done for before the end of the year and I really do need to write them as I read some of these books back in August! I want to be no more than a few weeks behind, not half the year! I've written the date that I read them and when I finally review them I'll mark that too!

Progress update: I'm really happy to get so many book reviews done in two weeks! I'll be trying to get as many done in the second half of the month as I can.

1) Vivian Shaw-Strange Practice (read Aug) (reviewed Jan 19)
2) Cynthia Hand-My Lady Jane (read Aug) (reviewed Jan 19)
3) Rajan Khanna-Falling Sky (read Aug) (reviewed Jan 19)
4) Orlando A Sanchez-Tombyards & Butterflies (read Aug) (reviewed Jan 19)
5) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty's Big Trouble (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
6) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty Steals The Show (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
7) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty Rocks The House (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
8) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty In The Underworld (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
9) Carrie Vaughn-Low Midnight (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
10) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty Saves The World (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
11) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty's Greatest Hits (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
12) Martha Wells-Rogue Protocol (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
13) Martha Wells-Exit Strategy (read Nov) (reviewed Jan 19)
14) Michael Bray-Feed (read Sep) (reviewed Jan 19)
15) Rick Chesler-The Tank (read Sep)
16) Chris Jameson-Devil Sharks (read Sep)
17) Greig Beck-Fathomless (read Sep)
18) Jamie Hutchison-Black Spawn (read Sep)
19) Carolyn McCray-Shark Station Nyet (read Sep)
20) Carolyn McCray-The Shayu Situation (read Sep)
21) Curtis Richards-Halloween (read Oct) (reviewed Jan 19)
22) Russell James-Cavern of the Damned (read Oct)
23) Gerry Griffiths-Cryptid Zoo (read Oct)
24) Jeff Menapace-Wildlife 2 (read Oct)
25) Anne McCaffrey-Dinosaur Planet (read Nov) (reviewed Jan 19)
26) Anne McCaffrey-The Survivors (read Nov) (reviewed Jan 19)
27) Christopher Brookmyre-Bedlam (DNF Nov) (reviewed Jan 19)
28) Elizabeth Briggs-Future Threat (read Nov)
29) Elizabeth Briggs-Future Lost (read Nov)
30) William H Weber-Surviving America's Collapse (read Dec)
31) G Michael Hopf-The End (read Dec)
32) James Wesley Rawles-Patriots (DNF Dec) (reviewed Jan 19)
33) Valerie Anand-The House of Lanyon (DNF Dec) (reviewed Jan 19)
34) ML Brennan-Generation V (DNF Dec) (reviewed Jan 19)
35) Dean Koontz-Icebound (read Dec)
36) Sue Fortin-Sister Sister (read Dec)
37) Benjamin Percy-The Dark Web (DNF read) (reviewed Jan 19)
38) LD Goffigan-The Beast of London (read Dec)
39) Amie Kaufman-Illuminae (DNF Dec) (reviewed Jan 19)
40) Tom Harper-Zodiac Station (read Dec)

Reading Challenges Update 4


Progress update: This challenge is going really well! I hope to finish all these must reads in the next 7 days and fit in a week to ten days or so of mood reading before the month ends.

WORLD READS
1) Lee Murray-Into the Mist (New Zealand) (read-  star)
2) Lee Murray-Into The Sounds (New Zealand) (DNS)

ROYAL CHALLENGE/NON FICTION
1) Lady Colin Campbell-The Royal Marriages (read-4 star)

SERIES CATCHUP
1) Joelle Charbonneau-The Testing (re-read-5 star)
2) Joelle Charbonneau-Independent Study (read-4 star)
3) Joelle Charbonneau-Graduation Day (read-4 star)
4) George RR Martin-A Dance With Dragons pt 2 (read-5 star)

PAPERBACK PURGE
1) A American-Going Home (The Survivalist #1) (read-3 star)
2) CJ Tudor-The Chalk Man (read-4 star)
3) Annie Berdel-Alpha Farm (Prepper Chick #1) (DNF)

EBOOK ELIMINATOR
1) Bobby Akart-Axis of Evil (Lone Star #1) (DNF)
2) Bobby Akart-36 Hours (Blackout #1) (DNS)
3) Bobby Akart-The Loyal Nine (Boston Brahmin #1) (DNF)
4) WR Benton-Premonition of Death (Fall of America #1) (DNS)
5) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland (read-3 star) 
6) Diana E Anderson-The Farm (read-3.5 star)

EXTRA BOOKS READ: 
1) Jay J Falconer-Redfall (read-3 star)
2) Christopher Coleman-They came with the snow (read-2 star)
3) Chris Lowry-Flyover Zombie (read-3 star)
4) Kealan Patrick Burke-Jack and Jill (read-2 star)
5) Edward Chilvers-Curse of the forever rain (read-3 star)
6) Matthew Stott-66 (read-3.5 star)
7) Cheryl L Cholley-Survivalist by Circumstance (read-2 star)
8) Doug Kelly-Into the Darkness (read-3 star) 
9) DJ Molles-The Remaining (read-3 star)

Progress update: Isn't it typical that I've read 8 books so far and three of them begin with G??? Gameland, Going Home and Graduation Day!

A) A Dance With Dragons
B)
C) The Chalk Man
D)
E)
F) The Farm
G) Gameland
H)
I) Independent Study
J) Jack and Jill
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)
Q)
R) The Royal Marriages
S) 66
T) The Testing
U)
V)
W)
X)
Y)
Z)
 



Welcome to my ebook challenge! This year I plan to get as many books off the ereader and the tbr and free up space for other things. 

Here is my starting list of those I really want to deal with. I'll add to the list through the year.
Progress update: I've dealt with four of the ones I selected for this month so I'm happy! I should have the other three done before the end of January!

1) Bobby Akart-Axis of Evil (Lone Star #1) (DNF)
2) Bobby Akart-36 Hours (Blackout #1) (DNS)
3) Bobby Akart-The Loyal Nine (Boston Brahmin #1) (DNS)
4) WR Benton-Premonition of Death (Fall of America #1) (DNS)
5) Lee Murray-Into The Mist (read)
6) Lee Murray-Into The Sounds (DNS)
7) Donna Galanti-Joshua & The Lightning Road
8) Jeff VanderMeer-Annihilation
9) Meg Collett-Fear University
10) Alex Hughes-Clean (DNF)
11) Adam J Wright-Lost Soul (DNF)
12) Norman Christof-Destination Lost
13) Seth Skorkowsky-Damoren
14) Simone Pond-Exodus of Magic
15) Steve McHugh-Crimes Against Magic
16) Suzanne Lazerar-The Secret Life of Rock Stars
17) Michael F Haspil-Graveyard Shift
18) Lisa Blackwood-Betrayal's Price
19) Bobby Adair-Ebola K
20) Ania Ahlborn-The Shuddering
21) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland (read-3 star)
22) Hunter Shea-The Devil's Fingers


This year, I really need to get a pile of paperbacks off the tbr and bookshelf, and out to the charity shops! Every month I'll be trying to tackle a few that I'm not sure I'm going to like based on gut feelings, reading tastes or Goodreads reviews. On this list I'll indicate what I managed to read, what was DNFed and if any of them are keepers! I'll be adding to the list through the year and the challenge will end in December.
Progress update: I've read two out of the three set aside for the month so that is a success!

1) A American-Going Home (The Survivalist #1) (read-3 star)
2) Annie Berdel-Alpha Farm (Prepper Chick #1) (DNF)
3) Justin Somper-Allies & Assassins (Allies & Assassins #1)
4) Michael J Sullivan-The Crown Tower (Riyria Chronicles #1)
5) Candace Robinson-Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault (Glass Vault #1)
6) Candace Robinson-The Bride of Glass (Glass Vault #2)
7) Conn Iggulden-Darien (Empire of Salt #1)
8) RL King-Stone And A Hard Place
9) Stephen King-Revival
10) Joseph Nassise-Eyes To See
11) Joseph Nassise-By the Blood of Heroes
12) Boyd Craven-Breaking Point
13) Mary Kubika-Every Last Lie
14) CJ Tudor-The Chalk Man (read-3.5 star)
15) DB Thorne-Troll
16) Seth C Adams-If You Go Down to the Woods
17) Belinda Bauer-Snap
18) Terry Brooks-Running With The Demon
19) Thomas E Sniegoski-The Demonists


The idea is to read books with a royal theme ie Kings, Princesses, Queens, Dukes, Knights, Castles, Kingdoms, Quests etc. This challenge is hosted by Adriana Garcia over at https://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/ .

Here are the books from my tbr that I hope to get read this year for the challenge. I've picked 15 to try and get Queen status but if I do well, more may be added!

Progress update: I set aside one book to read this month and I did that last week so nothing has changed for this challenge.

1) David Baldwin-Henry's Last Love
2) Shrabani Basu-Victoria and Abdul
3) Jane Bingham-The Tudors
4) Lady Colin Campbell-The Royal Marriages (read-4 star)
5) Lady Colin Campbell-Diana in Private
6) Sharon Kay Penman-The Queen's Man
7) Dinah Lampitt-Pour The Dark Wine
8) E Knight-My Lady Viper
9) Elizabeth Fremantle-Sisters of Treason
10) Katherine Longshore-Tarnish
11) Laurien Gardner-Plain Jane
12) Margaret Campbell Barnes-My Lady of Cleves
13) Diane Haeger-The Queen's Mistake
14) Judith Arnopp-Intractable Heart
15) Kate Emerson-The Pleasure Palace



I'm intending to catch up on quite a few series this year, starting with a few of the shorter series that have been lurking on my shelves for a while! If I can clear them it will help in the battle to reduce the never-ending tbr! 

The Plan is to start this year with a few series that I really must finish or catch up with. Once I've done them all I'll extend the challenge by adding more series on until I run out of days in the year. The challenge will run all year.

Progress update: I read the first series of the year so that's a good start!

SERIES TO BE FULLY READ

1) DD BARANT-BLOODHOUND FILES
1-Dying Bites
2-Death Blows
3-Killing Rocks
4-Better Off Undead
5-Back From The Undead
6-Undead To The World

2) JAYE WELLS-SABINA KANE 
1-Red Headed Stepchild
2-The Mage In Black
3-Green Eyed Demon
4-Silver Tongued Devil
5-Blue Blooded Vamp
 -Violet Tendencies #2.5 
 -Rusted Veins #5.5

3) MLN HANOVER-BLACK SUN'S DAUGHTER 
1-Unclean Spirits
2-Darker Angels
3-Vicious Grace
4-Killing Rites
5-Graveyard Child 

4) CHRISTINA HENRY-BLACK WINGS
1-Black Wings
2-Black Night
3-Black Howl
4-Black Lament
5-Black City
6-Black Heart
7-Black Spring 

5) KELLY MEDING-DREG CITY 
1-Three Days to Dead
2-As Lie the Dead
3-Another Kind of Dead
4-Wrong Side of Dead
5-Requiem For the Dead
6-The Night Before Dead 

6) JOELLE CHARBONNEAU-THE TESTING 
1-The Testing (read-5 star)
2-Independent Study (read-4 star)
3-Graduation Day (read-4 star)
 

Tackling the TBR


In 2019 I'm making a big effort to reduce my TBR by buying less, getting stuff read and getting rid of the things that I just don't want to read from my bookshelves and my ereaders Maurice and Myrnin! I'll be doing this regular post to show my progress-what came into the house, what I read and DNFed and what was taken off the TBR.

The TBR total shown is the total number of books I own but have not read yet-wishlist books are NOT in my TBR! Re-reads have already been taken off the TBR when I first read them so don't count in reducing the pile but is just here as a note to help for end of year stats! The re-read total is the running total so far for the year, not what I've read each week.

BOOKS IN
-Books in refers to bought, downloaded or gifted THIS WEEK. 
-Books added are books I bought a while back but haven't yet added to my Goodreads TBR so they aren't newly bought, just newly added. Both of these categories together are my 'in' total. 

BOOKS OUT
-Books read and DNFed are obvious. 
-Deleted from the TBR are books I lost interest in reading, or sequels to DNFed books I no longer want to read and have been removed without starting to read them. These three categories added together are my books 'out'.

Sarah over at https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.blogspot.com/ is also trying to reduce her book pile and we hope to keep each other motivated! I'm posting my progress on the 7th, 14th, 21st and final day of the month and noting what is coming in and out of my house. Anyone else is welcome to join in. No rules, set up your your posts how you want and when you want just reduce the pile!

JANUARY 1st-7th

TBR Start Total: 1199 

BOOKS IN:
New Books In: 4
Old Books Added: 0

BOOKS OUT: 
Books Read: 6
Books DNF: 2
Others Deleted From TBR: 12
 
Re-reads: 1

New Total: 1183  
*******************************
JANUARY 8th-14th  

TBR Start Total: 1183

BOOKS IN: 
New Books In: 6
Old Books Added: 0

BOOKS OUT: 
Books Read: 2
Books DNF: 0
Others Deleted From TBR: 14

Re-Reads: 1

New Total: 1173
*********************************
JANUARY 15th-24th

TBR Start Total: 1173 

BOOKS IN: 
New Books In: 5
Old Books Added: 0

BOOKS OUT: 
Books Read: 6
Books DNF: 3
Others Deleted From TBR: 8

Rereads: 1

New Total: 1161

This week I wasn't online to post on the 21st so I'm posting now and will do a final post on the 31st as planned! Two books I read weren't on my Goodreads TBR hence the read numbers don't quite match my total!
********************************* 
JANUARY 25th-31st 

TBR Start Total: 1161 

BOOKS IN: 
New Books In: 0
Old Books Added: 6

BOOKS OUT: 
Books Read: 2
Books DNF: 2
Others Deleted From TBR: 13

Rereads:

New Total: 1150

Another good week! In the month of January I got 49 books off the TBR which is great and that total includes the books I bought and added! If I was to deal with 30 a month all year that would be 360 books off the pile not counting additions. Something to aim for!

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

Book Review: Feed by Michael Bray


Tyler Matthews is desperate for change. Sick of his life and plagued by alcoholism, he makes the decision to divorce his wife, sell everything he owns and travel the world to try and find focus and rid himself of his addiction. Eventually arriving on the sun drenched shores of Australia and still plagued by his demons, he has spent all his savings and is facing the prospect of having to return to his old life. It is here that he meets two men with an outlandish story about a horde of sunken drug money in an area known as the Devil’s Triangle – Australia’s answer to its Bermuda namesake and said to be the lair of a terrifying monster of the deep. Offered a share of the fortune if he helps retrieve it, Tyler agrees to go with the men to the location, sceptical and thinking only of prolonging his journey of self discovery.

He will learn, however, that this particular urban legend is real, and they encounter a giant of the seas, the previously thought to be extinct Megalodon which makes its home within the area of the Devil’s triangle.

Barely escaping with their lives, the three men wash up on an isolated island – no more than a rocky outcrop with no vegetation, fresh water of food sources. As desperation to survive intensifies, horrifying decisions will be made that will illustrate how man is sometimes the most violent predator on earth and when left with no option will do anything, even the unthinkable, in order to survive. 


My Review: 
Tyler is an alcoholic who has finally broken free of his dominating wife Amy and the life she chose for him and is bumming his way from place to place as his money runs out. Finding himself in Australia, a chance encounter with a couple of locals who want to look for legendary gold guarded by a giant shark, which others have gone missing searching for. Now the three men are on a mission to get the gold but the shark awaits them and a free dinner.

This was my first book by the author and it was a decent read. The MC Tyler has had a life run by his wife Amy, who got him a job with her brother that he didn't want, stopped him seeing his friends, then left him for another man. The book starts with Amy leaving the other man and trying to get Tyler to take her back and return to his job, but he is tired of her manipulations and wants to go travelling and enjoy himself until his money runs out. Two years later, he finds himself in Australia, enjoying the coastal resort of Devil's Island, drinking too much. It is here that he meets Scott and his brother Paul who are planning a dive for the gold.

Scott and his friend Karl heard the rumours about the gold and the shark that attacks anyone going for it. Scott does find a gold bar and decides not to tell Karl about it, instead telling his brother so they can claim all the gold for themselves. However, what they find instead is that the shark is real. Nash also has an encounter with the shark which he barely survives but nobody seems to believe his story. He decides to research and watch, waiting for evidence that the shark exists. He does find a gold bar in the water and realises that the legend is true. He and his son Liam decide to employ Tyler to help them get the gold despite the shark being there. Tyler is attracted by the payday but has no idea how badly planned this expedition is and what will happen to them.

I'm not a huge fan of alcoholic or drug addicted MCs in my books but Tyler was ok. Having being married to Amy you can understand why he has a drink problem. She is the manipulative bitch from hell and I'm so glad he didn't cave in to her and take her back. The secondary characters are ok, typical of the shark fodder that you get in these books but interesting enough for the plot. Of course I love the shark! There isn't a ton of action but there are a few good tense shark encounters. Things take a different turn when they get stranded on the island and it turns out that the shark is not the deadliest thing that Tyler needs to fear.  

I can never resist getting my hands on a scary shark adventure and this is an author that I really wanted to try. I mean, look at that amazing cover! If that doesn't make you want to grab the book then nothing will! Megalodons fascinate me because of the pure size of the beasts and who knows what could be lurking in the depths of these deep underwater trenches? The thought of this thing in the water makes me want to stay away from islands and boats forever! I have plans to try other horror books by the author and see what they are like. Overall it was a decent shark story for megalodon fans.

Read September 2018
3 stars.

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Top Ten Tuesday-Recent TBR Additions

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. 

These are some of my recent TBR Additions. I haven't actually bought many books this year so far so there aren't many to share!

1) Sarah Lyons Fleming-Mordacious
Carole at https://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.com/ is always talking about this author and her zombie books. I have the first book in both series now and look forward to trying her work.

2) Christopher Artinian-Rise of the Rams
I can never resist trying a new-to-me zombie series and the cover for this one was like a graphic novel and really caught my eye!

3) Lisa Jewell-Watching You
I like the plots that this author comes up with so I picked up two of her books recently. This sounds intriguing and I'm looking forward to trying a new author.

4) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland omnibus season 2
I started off the year finishing Gameland, a huge omnibus zombie novel-then I discovered a second omnibus so I just had to get it to complete the story.

5) Genevieve Taylor-Masterchef Street Food of the World
I love Masterchef and on the US, NZ and Canada versions I love the street food challenges from different countries and I wanted to try some recipes for myself!

6) Martha Wells-The Murderbot Diaries
I read these on e-book last year and decided to treat myself to the hardback set just for fun. They arrived in the last week and I need to introduce my dad to them!

7) Robert Boren-Bug Out California #13
I loved the original Bug Out series. This is the second spin-off series so I just had to grab the latest installment this month!

8) Terry Tyler-Tipping Point
I'm always a sucker for apocalypse reads and this one was on my wishlist for a while. I got this on Kindle for 99p on January 18th.

9) Anthony J Melchiorri-The Tide omnibus
The Tide has been on my tbr for over a year but when I saw the first four books in an omnibus for 99p it was a no-brainer to grab it!

10) Stan C Smith-Diffusion 
The story sounds interesting but I was in two minds about whether it would suit me-however when I saw the book free I just had to grab it.

Sunday, 27 January 2019

Chuckles Cover Love #110-Heather Blackwood


If there is one thing that makes a great book even better, it is when it has a cover that we love! The cover design is what catches the eye as we browse through a bookstore shelf or check out the Amazon or Goodreads recommendations. The right cover makes me look closer at a book, to read the blurb and maybe make a purchase. A poor cover might mean I never look at the blurb at all.

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.   

This Week! 

I love the artwork and the colours on these covers!

 



















 



















Friday, 25 January 2019

Chuckles Weekend Roundup


Welcome to my feature Chuckles Weekend Roundup where I will be looking at what books I've received, anything interesting I've done or bought or watched and other random stuff. I'll be taking a look back at what happened in my blogging world too, sort of like The Sunday Post that some of you do! 

Please note that I'll be visiting your STS/SP as normal, but I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow DISQUS to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I am the only one who does that on my social media! I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. Sometimes, I have problems leaving messages on blogs hosted by Wordpress-they try to block me because I deleted my account with them but I will persevere as it only happens the odd time!
****************
It was a stressful week with my internet breaking down last Saturday and it was a relief to get back online yesterday! I'm catching up with everything today which has gone quicker than I expected, so that is good! Being offline meant that I wasn't buying any books either which is a good thing I guess. I'm instead adding some books that have been on my e-reader for ages that I hadn't yet put on my official Goodreads TBR! On the bright side I did get focused on a lot of reading, some of them short stories, some books that had been lurking on my e-reader for a long time. It felt like the right time for a clearout! Hopefully the rest of the month will go much more smoothly.
 
DOWNLOADS 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chuckles Blogging World
This week was a shambles as I've only been online a small part of the week! I did get my regular posts done yesterday and caught up on comments and blog visits today which is a relief!
 
Book Reviews  
none this week
 
Regular Posts 
 I went Around the Blogs looking for good posts to share with you all. Cover Love looked at Jay Kristoff, Top Ten Tuesday was about what I watched over the festive period and Books From The Backlog featured The Dinosaur Lords.

Chuckles Cover Love

Around The Blogs With Chuckles
 
Top Ten Tuesday

Books From The Backlog
 
Discussion Posts 
 
Chuckles Chuntering

Book Challenges
 
Tackling the TBR
 
Reading Challenges Update 3

Special Posts
none this week
 
Film & TV 
I've mostly been watching episodes of Masterchef Canada, which I'm up to date with, and I'm going through season two of Masterchef US. Arrogant contestants, great judges and exciting challenges! Loving it!
 
Book Tags/Blog Awards 
none this week
 
Currently Reading/Up Next 
I've read a lot in the last week. I read five full length books which were The Chalk Man, The Farm, Into the Mist, Redfall and Battlefield Z. I DNFed a few books and read a few short stories-They came with the snow, Jack and Jill, Curse of the forever rain, 66 and Survivalist by circumstances. A productive week! Next up, I'll try and fit these guys in before the month ends.
 
 

Reading Challenges Update 3


Progress update: This challenge is going really well! I hope to finish all these must reads in the next 7 days and fit in a week to ten days or so of mood reading before the month ends.

WORLD READS
1) Lee Murray-Into the Mist (New Zealand) (read-  star)
2) Lee Murray-Into The Sounds (New Zealand) (DNS)

ROYAL CHALLENGE/NON FICTION
1) Lady Colin Campbell-The Royal Marriages (read-4 star)

SERIES CATCHUP
1) Joelle Charbonneau-The Testing (re-read-5 star)
2) Joelle Charbonneau-Independent Study (read-4 star)
3) Joelle Charbonneau-Graduation Day (read-4 star)
4) George RR Martin-A Dance With Dragons pt 2 (read-5 star)

PAPERBACK PURGE
1) A American-Going Home (The Survivalist #1) (read-3 star)
2) CJ Tudor-The Chalk Man (read-4 star)
3) Annie Berdel-Alpha Farm (Prepper Chick #1) (DNF)

EBOOK ELIMINATOR
1) Bobby Akart-Axis of Evil (Lone Star #1) (DNF)
2) Bobby Akart-36 Hours (Blackout #1) (DNS)
3) Bobby Akart-The Loyal Nine (Boston Brahmin #1) (DNF)
4) WR Benton-Premonition of Death (Fall of America #1) (DNS)
5) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland (read-3 star) 
6) Diana E Anderson-The Farm (read-3.5 star)

EXTRA BOOKS READ: 
1) Jay J Falconer-Redfall (read-3 star)
2) Christopher Coleman-They came with the snow (read-2 star)
3) Chris Lowry-Flyover Zombie (read-3 star)
4) Kealan Patrick Burke-Jack and Jill (read-2 star)
5) Edward Chilvers-Curse of the forever rain (read-3 star)
6) Matthew Stott-66 (read-3.5 star)
7) Cheryl L Cholley-Survivalist by Circumstance (read-2 star)

Progress update: Isn't it typical that I've read 8 books so far and three of them begin with G??? Gameland, Going Home and Graduation Day!

A) A Dance With Dragons
B)
C) The Chalk Man
D)
E)
F) The Farm
G) Gameland
H)
I) Independent Study
J) Jack and Jill
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)
Q)
R) The Royal Marriages
S) 66
T) The Testing
U)
V)
W)
X)
Y)
Z)
 



Welcome to my ebook challenge! This year I plan to get as many books off the ereader and the tbr and free up space for other things. 

Here is my starting list of those I really want to deal with. I'll add to the list through the year.
Progress update: I've dealt with four of the ones I selected for this month so I'm happy! I should have the other three done before the end of January!

1) Bobby Akart-Axis of Evil (Lone Star #1) (DNF)
2) Bobby Akart-36 Hours (Blackout #1) (DNS)
3) Bobby Akart-The Loyal Nine (Boston Brahmin #1) (DNS)
4) WR Benton-Premonition of Death (Fall of America #1) (DNS)
5) Lee Murray-Into The Mist (read)
6) Lee Murray-Into The Sounds (DNS)
7) Donna Galanti-Joshua & The Lightning Road
8) Jeff VanderMeer-Annihilation
9) Meg Collett-Fear University
10) Alex Hughes-Clean
11) Adam J Wright-Lost Soul (DNF)
12) Norman Christof-Destination Lost
13) Seth Skorkowsky-Damoren
14) Simone Pond-Exodus of Magic
15) Steve McHugh-Crimes Against Magic
16) Suzanne Lazerar-The Secret Life of Rock Stars
17) Michael F Haspil-Graveyard Shift
18) Lisa Blackwood-Betrayal's Price
19) Bobby Adair-Ebola K
20) Ania Ahlborn-The Shuddering
21) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland (read-3 star)
22) Hunter Shea-The Devil's Fingers


This year, I really need to get a pile of paperbacks off the tbr and bookshelf, and out to the charity shops! Every month I'll be trying to tackle a few that I'm not sure I'm going to like based on gut feelings, reading tastes or Goodreads reviews. On this list I'll indicate what I managed to read, what was DNFed and if any of them are keepers! I'll be adding to the list through the year and the challenge will end in December.
Progress update: I've read two out of the three set aside for the month so that is a success!

1) A American-Going Home (The Survivalist #1) (read-3 star)
2) Annie Berdel-Alpha Farm (Prepper Chick #1) (DNF)
3) Justin Somper-Allies & Assassins (Allies & Assassins #1)
4) Michael J Sullivan-The Crown Tower (Riyria Chronicles #1)
5) Candace Robinson-Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault (Glass Vault #1)
6) Candace Robinson-The Bride of Glass (Glass Vault #2)
7) Conn Iggulden-Darien (Empire of Salt #1)
8) RL King-Stone And A Hard Place
9) Stephen King-Revival
10) Joseph Nassise-Eyes To See
11) Joseph Nassise-By the Blood of Heroes
12) Boyd Craven-Breaking Point
13) Mary Kubika-Every Last Lie
14) CJ Tudor-The Chalk Man (read-3.5 star)
15) DB Thorne-Troll
16) Seth C Adams-If You Go Down to the Woods
17) Belinda Bauer-Snap
18) Terry Brooks-Running With The Demon
19) Thomas E Sniegoski-The Demonists


The idea is to read books with a royal theme ie Kings, Princesses, Queens, Dukes, Knights, Castles, Kingdoms, Quests etc. This challenge is hosted by Adriana Garcia over at https://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/ .

Here are the books from my tbr that I hope to get read this year for the challenge. I've picked 15 to try and get Queen status but if I do well, more may be added!

Progress update: I set aside one book to read this month and I did that last week so nothing has changed for this challenge.

1) David Baldwin-Henry's Last Love
2) Shrabani Basu-Victoria and Abdul
3) Jane Bingham-The Tudors
4) Lady Colin Campbell-The Royal Marriages (read-4 star)
5) Lady Colin Campbell-Diana in Private
6) Sharon Kay Penman-The Queen's Man
7) Dinah Lampitt-Pour The Dark Wine
8) E Knight-My Lady Viper
9) Elizabeth Fremantle-Sisters of Treason
10) Katherine Longshore-Tarnish
11) Laurien Gardner-Plain Jane
12) Margaret Campbell Barnes-My Lady of Cleves
13) Diane Haeger-The Queen's Mistake
14) Judith Arnopp-Intractable Heart
15) Kate Emerson-The Pleasure Palace



I'm intending to catch up on quite a few series this year, starting with a few of the shorter series that have been lurking on my shelves for a while! If I can clear them it will help in the battle to reduce the never-ending tbr! 

The Plan is to start this year with a few series that I really must finish or catch up with. Once I've done them all I'll extend the challenge by adding more series on until I run out of days in the year. The challenge will run all year.

Progress update: I read the first series of the year so that's a good start!

SERIES TO BE FULLY READ

1) DD BARANT-BLOODHOUND FILES
1-Dying Bites
2-Death Blows
3-Killing Rocks
4-Better Off Undead
5-Back From The Undead
6-Undead To The World

2) JAYE WELLS-SABINA KANE 
1-Red Headed Stepchild
2-The Mage In Black
3-Green Eyed Demon
4-Silver Tongued Devil
5-Blue Blooded Vamp
 -Violet Tendencies #2.5 
 -Rusted Veins #5.5

3) MLN HANOVER-BLACK SUN'S DAUGHTER 
1-Unclean Spirits
2-Darker Angels
3-Vicious Grace
4-Killing Rites
5-Graveyard Child 

4) CHRISTINA HENRY-BLACK WINGS
1-Black Wings
2-Black Night
3-Black Howl
4-Black Lament
5-Black City
6-Black Heart
7-Black Spring 

5) KELLY MEDING-DREG CITY 
1-Three Days to Dead
2-As Lie the Dead
3-Another Kind of Dead
4-Wrong Side of Dead
5-Requiem For the Dead
6-The Night Before Dead 

6) JOELLE CHARBONNEAU-THE TESTING 
1-The Testing (read-5 star)
2-Independent Study (read-4 star)
3-Graduation Day (read-4 star)