2014 Wrap Up!

I love books and reading. There is nothing better than getting lost in a good book. No matter what is going on in your life you can always get distracted or cheer up with a book. 2014 has been a wonderful year for me in many ways but especially since I had a wonderful reading year.
I read 205 books in 2014 with a total of 68,442 pages. Technically not all of them were actually read but a lot were audiobooks so listened to. I am happiest with the fact that 152 of the books were library books. My goal was to check out more books from the library and not spend so much money on books. I also completed  a few challenges this year.

What's In A Name 7
I just finished this challenge today on the last day of the year! I read The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon by Alex Kershaw to complete the a reference to time category. You can read about the other categories read in this post. Honestly this is a challenge I usually forget about and it just happens that I read books that fit into the categories. Hopefully next year I can purposely complete this challenge.

Thankful Reading
I had so much fun thankful reading this year. You can read all about it in here, here, here, here and here. I ended up completing five books and reading parts of two more for this challenge.

Empty Shelf Challenge
Jon Acuff challenged his followers to read more books in 2014. I will have to say this was the push I had to read more books than I have in the last few years. I have always been a huge reader but starting and owning my own business for the last few years had put reading on the back burner. I completed 211 books for this challenge as it started a little before the new year. I wasn't great about posting every book to the Empty Shelf Challenge Pinterest board but I tracked them all in Goodreads. Another great thing was discovering so many new books through the Pinterest board from what others were reading.

2015 Challenges
As of right now the challenges I am planning on participating in are
What's In a Name
2015 Mount TBR  (Pike Peak's Level-12 books)
Thankful Reading in November (of course).

Edited to add:
I have decided to do two more challenges in 2015: 26 Books and A Century Of Books.

It has been a wonderful 2014. Happy New Year and here's to a wonderful 2015! Thanks for reading!

Susan

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Wrap Up Post

Well it was another fun Thankfully Reading Weekend. I wish I could have participated more the last two days. But family and sick pets take precedence over reading. Shocking I know!
I ended up reading five books in total and parts of two other books. Out of those there was one Nook book, two audiobooks, four print books and one library book. I read 1,844 pages.
I would say it was successful. I read books that have been on my physical TBR pile for awhile. I enjoyed everything I read. I do wish I could have participated more in the challenges and on Twitter but I just ran out of time. I am already looking forward to next year!

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Sunday

8:30 pm

It has been another crazy day. So much for a relaxing weekend of reading. But I had a wonderful day with my family. I spent this morning with my sister and then the rest of the day at my Grandmothers house. I had a photo shoot with my baby cousin and then helped my sisters decorate Grandmas Christmas tree.

It was definitely a fun day. But then we ended up getting stopped in terrible traffic on the way back so I just got home. I am 186 pages into Frostbite and it is really getting good. Finally some action is happening. I also started a new audiobook The Wonderful Bed by Gertude Knevels. It is a children's adventure book that reminds me a little of Narnia except they are accessing a secret world through a bed and not a wardrobe. I have to prepare for a photo shoot tomorrow so hopefully I can get more reading done after I finish that. I will check in later. 

10:20 pm

I finished Frostbite. I was a little disappointed that most of the book just led up to one big scene and that was pretty much it. I did enjoy the new characters and fleshing out the main characters more. I don't think this series is a trilogy which makes it a little more palatable to have a slower book. I will still read the next one but won't jump to grab it.

I am 150 pages in to Deja Dead. This book is a little slower for me to get into because the subject matter is pretty grisly and I don't want to read it at night. So far I am not really getting sucked into the story or writing style. I will keep reading it after this weekend and hopefully it will pick up.

I will try to do a Thankfully Reading wrap up post this week. It has been a great weekend and I am really sad it is over. Don't forget to check me out on Twitter and Goodreads! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Saturday

2 pm

I managed to get some good reading in today despite the hours I have spent at the vet. My poor little kitty has been sick for over a week and not getting better. She was very unhappy at the vet today. She was literally climbing the walls. She is sleeping now so hopefully she will feel better soon.

I am about half way through Frostbite. It's a little slower than the first Vampire Academy book and a little annoying how she has three guys falling all over her. But I do love that they are in a ski lodge. I love any books written about people at ski lodges. I wish I was at one now in front of a big roaring fire. I haven't read any of Deja Dead today so I probably won't be finishing that one this weekend. I am on the last chapter of The Racketeer so I am trying to find another audiobook to read after that one. I am headed out on the road in a couple of hours so probably won't get any more reading done except by audiobook this weekend. 

11:30 pm

Just got back from an amazing Butch Walker concert. It was SO good. In my opinion he is one of the most talented singer/songwriters in music today. He went back to his hometown and had the show at the local theatre. The music was wonderful and it was just a perfect evening!

I finished The Racketeer. It was really good and I really didn't see the end coming. 

I am about halfway done with Frostbite. I will probably finish it tomorrow. I am headed to bed now but I can't wait to check in with everyone and see what you have been reading. 
Don't forget to check me out on Twitter and Goodreads! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Friday

Jenn asked us what book we are most thankful for this year. I would have to say that is To Kill a Mockingbird. I actually read it for the first time in July. I can't believe I have never read it before. Sometimes there are these books that are so hyped up that they end up disappointing you. This book did not. It was a wonderful, beautifully crafted story. It brought forth so many emotions. It was a beautiful book.

9 pm

Well today has pretty much been a bust reading wise between sick animals and other distractions. I did finish Cinder. I definitely enjoyed it. I really want to read the next one in the series.

I just have a few chapters left in The Racketeer audiobook. The one thing I don't like about audiobooks is that it is hard to go back and figure out who people are if you forget the names of characters. 

I started DeJa Dead by Kathy Reichs this afternoon. It is the first Temperance Brennan book. I love her YA adult series The Virals. This book has started out good but it is pretty graphic so I may have to switch to something else for night time reading. I have been known to have nightmares after reading scary/graphic/bloody books at night.

I just edited my Thanksgiving phtoos and put on Facebook. I know my family hates that I take so many photos at family celebrations but I think it is really important to document our time together. It is rarer than ever these days to all be in the same house. I got some good group photos this year. I know what everyone is getting for Christmas!

11 pm

Decided to take a break from the grisly Deja Dead and start Frostbite by Richelle Mead. And there is a massacre in the first 20 pages. So not a good choice either! I am just going to go ahead and expect nightmares tonight. I have had Frostbite on my Nook for a few months now. I love that I am getting a chance to clear off books that I have been neglecting on my TBR pile since I have been reading so many library books.
Don't forget to check me out on Twitter and Goodreads! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! What an amazing, fun filled day full of family and food. I ate way too much and laughed so much. It has been a busy and crazy day but so fun! I love my family and Thanksgiving really is one of my favorite holidays. This is just part of our amazing spread!

As far as reading goes I haven't been able to do much. I read a little of Cinder this morning and more tonight. I am really getting into this book. It feels a little different from a lot of books I have read lately and I am looking forward to seeing how it develops. I also love a good alternative twist to an old fairy tale. I have had lots of driving/cooking time to listen to the audiobook The Racketeer. I am definitely loving this book. I am already trying to predict the MCs next move and where this book is going and so far I haven't been able to figure it out. I can't wait to see what happens with this one. 

I am pretty tired from this day (food coma) so I think I will call it a night soon. But I am looking forward to tomorrow which will hopefully be a read all day kind of day. What books have you been enjoying on this Thanksgiving Day? 

Don't forget to check me out on Twitter and Goodreads! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Wednesday

I am excited to get started on Thankfully Reading weekend 2014! Technically, it doesn't start until tomorrow but I am starting today since I am off. I am really looking forward to reading some books that have been on my TBR pile. I will be updating this post periodically throughout the day and publishing it tonight. I will be updating Twitter and Goodreads throughout the day.  I would love to know what you are reading for Thankfully Reading.

10:30 am

Slow start this morning. The first book I am going to read is The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I have been looking forward to reading this book for awhile so I am excited to get into it. 

I am also planning on cooking most of my Thanksgiving dishes today so I am going to listen to The Racketeer by John Grisham on audiobook while cooking. I have set out my ingredients for cooking and that is about it. I can't seem to get started cooking. 

So far I am feeling as if I am getting nothing done. Maybe I should go back to bed and start again. Just kidding. 

2:00 pm

Well I just finished The Naturals and I really liked it. I really wanted to get to the end and see who the murderer was. I guessed it right before it was revealed. I definitely want to check the other book in the series. I am going to take a quick cooking break and listen to my audiobook before I start on my next print book. I will leave you with these two adorable photos of my dog cuddling in my lap. 

5 pm

Yay I am done cooking everything except green beans that I will cook tomorrow morning. I feel very triumphant. 

I started my second book earlier I Like You Just The Way I Am by Jenny Mollen. She is an actress and this book is comedic essays about her life. She does have some pretty funny stories but also some real cringe worthy moments. I was just in the mood for a silly memoir. It definitely is fitting the bill. And it is great paired with a nice peppermint ice cream!

9:00 pm 

Finished I Like You Just The Way I Am. It was ok. There were definitely a few laugh out loud funny parts. I am starting my third book Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I am really excited about this book. It is one I have been saving. Several people have recommended it to me. I am hoping it lives up to the hype!