February 2018 Monthly Wrap Up

So during the month of February I managed to read 8 novels.  Not as good as last month but there were no novellas or graphic novels thrown in so I'm still pretty happy.  Although I have to admit it looks like it was kind of a "meh" month because I had more 3/5 reads than usual.  Here's the breakdown:

The Cruel Prince: Holly Black 3/5

The Doggist Puppies: Elias Weiss Friedman 5/5

Pawprints & Predicaments: Bethany Blake 5/5

Smoke City: Keith Rosson 4/5

The Ghost Notebooks: Ben Dolnick 3/5

The Love of a Lab: Jim Dratfield 5/5

The Plot is Murder: V.M. Burns 3/5

Elvis and the Tropical Double Trouble: Peggy Webb 3/5

My favorite read was definitely Pawprints & Predicaments and I need the next installment NOW!  My least favorite was probably The Plot is Murder - that darn book within a book did me in.

What was your favorite read this month?

January 2018 Monthly Wrap Up

So I think this is the last new graphic for a while.  I've pretty much changed them all but hey, I figured it was time with a new year and all.  The Top Ten Tuesday and Can't Wait Wednesday graphics will stay the same because who can mess with the perfection that is Booker T and Cassius?

I started January off pretty strong and ended up reading 11 items.  At least for now, Goodreads hasn't started mocking me yet.  I added a Widget so I can track my challenge progress so I sort of just want to give an overview from now on.  Here's an overview of what was read:

Two Girls Down: Louisa Luna 5/5

The Prey of Gods: Nicky Draden 5/5

Beneath the Sugar Sky: Seanan McGuire 3/5

A Treacherous Curse: Deanna Raybourn 5/5

The Chalk Man: C.J. Tudor 3/5

The October Faction Vol. 4: Steve Niles 3/5

Blood Sisters: Jane Corry 4/5

Ricochet Joe: Dean Koontz:4/5

Into the Black Nowhere: Meg Gardiner 5/5

Chew Major League Vol. 5: John Layman 3/5
Space Dumplins: Craig Thompson 4/5

I'd say my favorite read was A Treacherous Curse and my least favorite has to be The Chalk Man.  I still need to get reviews posted for The Prey of Gods and Into the Black Nowhere but you can see I loved them too. 

What book was your favorite read this month?  Did you read any of these?

November 2017 Wrap-Up

Well, it's that time again - time to look back at what I read during the past month and take stock of my challenge progress.  I participated in a Christmas reading challenge and also worked in a few library books as well.  All in all I'm pretty happy with how the month shaped up so here we go!

GOODREADS: 95/100 - almost there and at this point, I've already read one in December so I'm not real worried and believe I will meet my target.
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 40/26 (Twelve Slays of Christmas, A Christmas Peril, Death in the Stacks, Canal Day Calamity)
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 41/18 (The Rules of Magic, Rolling in the Deep)
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE: 42/15 (Gluttony Bay, The Truants, October Faction Vol. 4, Rolling in the Deep)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 24/20 (Canal Day Calamity)
2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 71/61 (Twelve Slays of Christmas, Gluttony Bay, The Truants, A Christmas Peril, The Rules of Magic, Death in the Stacks, Canal Day Calamity)
BLOGGER SHAME: 2

So I pretty much completed all of my challenges except Goodreads and as I write this, only have 3 1/2 books yet to read to nail it as well.  I'm happy with how things are going and am still having tons of fun.  I had 3 5-paw reads which is great, 4 4-paw reads, 1 3-paw read and a lonely DNF which is rare for me but I don't regret it one bit (Thanks Stormi for the encouragement to call it quits on The Truants).

So how did your month shape up???

October Wrap-Up

So I'm kind of sad to see October go.  I've really enjoyed reading tons of scary horror books but hey, I can do that all year round so I guess it's still good.  I will be switching gears and adding in some cozies as well as some Christmas reads (don't worry - there will be horror Christmas reads as well) in November and December but hey, as long as I'm enjoying what I'm reading, I'm not going to stress too much.  

I did manage to hit Bingo at least 2 different ways on my 2017 Halloween Bingo challenge.  I had tons of fun and am already looking forward to participating next year.  Here's what my card looked like at the end.

As for the rest of my challenges, all of them are going pretty good except for one.  And I'm okay with that.  So onto the actual books!

GOODREADS: 88/100 (still ahead so at least Goodreads hasn't been mocking me the past 2 months)

2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 36/26 (Princesses of the Night, Rituals)

2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 39/18 (The October Faction Vol. 1, The October Faction Vol. 2, The Witches of Auburn: Gifts of Our Mother, Rituals)

2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE: 33/15 (The Twilight Pariah, Dark Exodus, Alone, Princesses of the Night, Damned, The October Faction Vol. 1, The October Faction Vol. 2, Ultimate Sacrifice, The Witches of Auburn: Gifts of Our Mother, Rosemary's Baby)

2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 23/20 (Rituals)

2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 64/61(The Twilight Pariah, Dark Exodus, Alone, Princesses of the Night, Damned, Ultimate Sacrifice, The Witches of Auburn: Gifts of Our Mother, Rituals) DONE!!!!

BLOGGER SHAME: 2 (None)

Basically just my Goodreads challenge to complete.  The Blogger Shame was a set your own target so even though I didn't meet my personal goal, at least I did something. I had 2 5-paw reads, 6 4-paw reads, 2 3-paw read and 1 2-paw read for a total of 11 books in October.  Not too shabby!

How did you do in October?

August 2017 Wrap Up - So Summer's Ending Huh?

So I still can't believe that it's September!  And the first day of September here has brought rainy weather and 57 degree temps.  Although I know it's only temporary because of the remnants of Hurricane Harvey moving up the states.  I actually managed to read 12 things in August.  It really didn't seem like that much but then again, there were several graphic novels thrown in.  The challenges are moving right along (well, all except for one and I've pretty much thrown in the towel on that one).  At least the Goodreads dragon remained slayed!

GOODREADS: 70/100 (still 4 ahead)
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 31/25 (Spell Book of the Lost and Found, The Luster of Lost Things, The Thirteenth Gate)
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 34/18 (Stray Magic, Spell Book of the Lost and Found, Lumberjanes Vol. 3, Lumberjanes Vol. 4, Sabrina, Northwoods Magic, Descender Vol. 4, Ravina, Akata Witch, The Thirteenth Gate)
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE: 19/25 (Sabrina, Optical Delusion)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 19/20 (Stray Magic, The Luster of Lost Things)
2017 NEW RELEASE READING CHALLENGE: 49/61 (Stray Magic, Spell Book of the Lost and Found, Northwoods Magic, Akata Witch, Optical Delusion, The Luster of Lost Things. The Thirteenth Gate)
BLOGGER SHAME REVIEW CHALLENGE: 2/12
COYER SUMMER READING LIST: 23 TOTAL!  and all of this month's reads came from my COYER summer reading list.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER READ-A-THON: Technically not a challenge but I did read 2 dog books, Stray Magic - which I can't review yet and The Luster of Lost Things.  I participated in a dog tag, featured a Can't Wait Wednesday by Booker T and Cassius with dog books, and did a dog themed Top Ten Tuesday post.

I had 5 3-paw reads, 4 4-paw reads and 4 5-paw reads.  My favorites this month were Stray Magic (which I can't wait to review and reveal the cover) and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.  I also really enjoyed Akata Witch much more than I thought and can't wait for the second one.  Overall, I'm very pleased with my progress and anticipate knocking off 2 more challenges next month!  How was your month?

July 2017 Wrap Up - Take THAT Goodreads!!!

I was hoping since I was on vacation a week during the month of July that my reading would pick up.  Glad to see I was right.  I'm still really behind on one challenge but the rest of them are fairing pretty well.  Also, I am finally on top of my Goodreads challenge.  Most of the month I was either ahead or on track so I feel Goodreads no longer has the right to taunt me.  So let's review....

GOODREADS: 58/100 (why do I feel like I slayed a dragon?)
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 28/25 (Final Girls, Chew Vol. 4, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad) CHALLENGE COMPLETE😝😝😝
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 24/18 (Chew Vol. 4, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Lost Boy) CHALLENGE COMPLETE😅😅😅
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE:17/25 (Final Girls, Gwendy's Button Box, Lost Boy)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 17/20 (A New Leash on Love, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse)
2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 41/61 (A New Leash on Love, Final Girls, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad, Lost Boy)
BLOGGER SHAME REVIEW CHALLENGE: 2/12
COYER SUMMER READING LIST: 9 (A New Leash on Love, Final Girsl, Chew Vol. 4, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad, Lost Boy)

I had 1 2-paw read, 2 3-paw reads, 4 4-paw reads and 2 5-paw reads.  My favorite as Lost Boy closely followed by The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse.  My least favorite was Final Girls which is definitely not the popular opinion.

How did you month stack up???

June 2017 Wrap Up - Goodreads Is Out To Get Me!

June has been a decent reading month and I'm still trucking along with most of my challenges.  I'm failing epicly with one of them but at least I'm owning it.  And I can't forget to mention Goodreads.  I think it's taunting me.  For real, I could add a completed book and be caught up and then check again at noon and be one behind again.  That happened several times this month.  But I'm hot on your tail Goodreads so you better watch your back! Here's how things are shaping up.

GOODREADS: 49/100 (1 behind but I've already finished one for July so technically I'm caught up - probably for half a day or so)
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 23/25 (Elvis and the Memphis City Mambo, Chew Vol. 3, UNSUB, The Marsh King's Daughter, Snotgirl, UNSUB)
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 18/18 (Saga Vol. 6, Rise of the Sea Witch)
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE: 14/25 (Tales from the Darkside, Just Add Water, Mormama)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 14/20 (Elvis and the Memphis City Mambo, Rise of the Sea Witch, Just Add Water)
2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 34/61 (Tales from the Darkside, UNSUB, Rise of the Sea Witch, The Marsh King's Daughter, Just Add Water, Snotgirl Vol. 1, Mormama)
BLOGGER SHAME REVIEW CHALLENGE: 2/12
COYER SUMMER READING LIST: 3 (Rise of the Sea Witch, Saga Vol. 6, UNSUB)

I had 1 2-paw read, 8 4-paw reads and 1 5-paw reads.  Not too shabby.  I'd have to say my favorites of the month were Saga Vol. 6, Just Add Water and The Marsh King's Daughter.  I really couldn't stand Snotgirl, aka Bitch Girl.

So how are your challenges shaping up?  Are you meeting your personal reading goals?  Do you think we readers sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves?

May 2017 Wrap Up - I Barely Remember This Month at All!

So I did quite a bit of reading in May but looking at my Goodreads lists, it doesn't feel like the month of May happened at all.  I kept looking at books I read in April thinking they were May reads and vice versa.  Guess it's just been a hectic month and time is just going faster and faster.  Overall I read 9 things which I think is pretty good overall. Oh, and for a whole half a day I was meeting my Goodreads Challenge.  Didn't last long but at least I managed to catch up some.  Anyway, here's the breakdown.

GOODREADS: 40/100
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 17/25 (Bad to the Bone, You Were Here, The Well)
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 16/18 (Flame in the Mist, Blue's Prophecy, The Well, Memortality)
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE:  11/25 (Wytches, The Well)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE:   11/20 (Downward Dog, Bad to the Bone, Blue's Prophecy)
2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 27/61 (Bad to the Bone, Flame in the Mist, You Were Here, Downward Dog, Harley Quinn Rebirth Vol. 1, Blue's Prophecy, The Well, Memortality)
BLOGGER SHAME REVIEW CHALLENGE:  2/12

I had 1 DNF, 2 3-paw reads, 5 4-paw reads, and 1 5-paw read.  My faves were The Well, Downward Dog and Wytches.

So overall I'm OK with where my challenges stand.  Some could be better but hey, I'm having fun!  How are your challenges going???