Christian Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

So...

I never "officially" signed up for this challenge this year, although in hindsight, I obviously should have.  :o)  I think I have read more Christian Historical Fiction this year than any other year, and there have been some *fabulous* novels in this genre this year.  The challenge was to read 2 books per month, and well...I think I made it.  :o)

Books with links are for reviews posted here throughout the year.

1.  Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer
2.  The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
3.  Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer
4.  The Promise of Peace by Carol Umberger
5.  The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall
6.  Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes
7.  The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough
8.  Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith
9.  Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews
10.  Montana Rose by Mary Connealy
11.  Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot
12.  Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot
13.  Sweetwater Run by Jan Watson
14.  Still House Pond by Jan Watson
15.  More Than Words by Judith Miller
16.  The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
17.  A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer
18.  A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan
19.  Secrets of the Heart by Jillian Kent
20.  A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad
21.  Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis
22.  Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y'Barbo
23.  How Huge the Night by Lydia and Heather Munn
24.  Heartbreak Trail by Veralee Wiggins
25.  Two Brides Too Many by Mona Hodgson
26.  The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz
27.  Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson
28.  The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo
29.  To Die For by Sandra Byrd
30.  Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz
31.  The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz
32.  Wagered Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher
33.  Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
34.  The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
35.  Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer
36.  Havah by Tosca Lee
37.  Heiress by Susan May Warren
38.  Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
39.  Desired by Ginger Garrett
40.  The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller
41.  A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes
42.  A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch
43.  Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren
44.  A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell
45.  Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
46.  A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
47.  The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund
48.  Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander
49.  Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West

I'd like to make it to 50...think I can?  *wink* 

What about you?  Have you met your reading goals this year?

100 Books in 2010!

You better watch out cuz I'm on a roll!  :o)  Haha...just kidding!  I've been reading lately like there's no tomorrow which means that I've just finished up another reading challenge.  This one was for 100 books in 2010.  Woot woot...I did it, and 2010 isn't even over yet!  Seriously, this is the most books I've EVER read in 10-1/2 months time, and I can't wait to see how many more books I can add to that final number before the year's over.

Wanna see what I read?  Here's the list:

1. The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher--1/2/10
2. The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen--1/8/10
3. A Sinister Silence by Jane Peart--1/9/10
4. Outlaw Bride by Lori Copeland--1/10/10
5. A Shattered Life, An Amazing God by Madeline A. Spencer--1/15/10
6. Michal by Jill Eileen Smith--1/21/10
7. Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy--1/26/10
8. Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand--1/29/10
9. A Place Called Bliss by Ruth Glover--1/31/10
10. The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee--2/4/10
11. Texas Heat by Debra White Smith--2/6/10
12. A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland--2/11/10
13. Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith--2/20/2010
14. Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn--2/21/2010
15. The Parting by Beverly Lewis--2/22/2010
16. Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge--2/25/2010
17. Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher--3/2/2010
18. June Bug by Chris Fabry--3/6/2010
19. Torch Red by Melody Carlson--3/7/2010
20. Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti--3/8/2010
21. One Smooth Stone by Marcia Lee Laycock--3/12/2010
22. Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury--3/14/2010
23. Wind by Calvin Miller--3/16/2010
24. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson--3/19/2010
25. The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake--3/22/2010
26. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis--3/24/2010
27. Above All Things by Deborah Raney--3/26/2010
28. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson--4/2/2010
29. Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd--4/4/2010
30. The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake--4/8/2010
31. The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote--4/15/2010
32. Her Inheritance Forever by Lyn Cote--4/22/2010
33. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers--4/24/2010
34. A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper--4/24/2010
35. No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan--4/28/2010
36. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy--5/1/2010
37. Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy--5/3/2010
38. Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy--5/8/2010
39. Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot--5/10/2010
40. A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills--5/13/2010
41. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell--5/16/2010
42. One Perfect Gift by Kathleen Morgan--5/16/2010
43. Wanted by Shelley Shepard Gray--5/17/2010
44. Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson--5/22/2010
45. Almost Forever by Deborah Raney--5/27/2010
46. A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher--5/28/2010
47. The Winter Pearl by Molly Noble Bull--5/29/2010
48. The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis--6/1/2010
49. Deceit by Brandilyn Collins--6/3/2010
50. Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin--6/8/2010
51. Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James--6/14/2010
52. Through Thick and Thin by Sandra Byrd--6/16/2010
53. Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico by Lena Nelson Dooley--6/22/2010
54. Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart--6/27/2010
55. In a Heartbeat by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy--6/28/2010
56. The Gunsmith's Gallantry by Susan Page Davis--7/5/2010
57. The Sister Wife by Diane Noble--7/6/2010
58. A Rose for Melinda by Lurlene McDaniel--7/8/2010
59. The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell--7/8/2010
60. Angel's Den by Jamie Carie--7/11/2010
61. The Road Winds On by Francena Arnold--7/11/2010
62. Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon--7/13/2010
63. Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer--7/16/2010
64. Predator by Terri Blackstock--7/24/2010
65. Brink of Death by Brandilyn Collins--7/26/2010
66. The Gifted Sophmores by Terri Blackstock--7/30/2010
67. Adrienne by Judy Baer--8/1/2010
68. Light of My Heart by Ginny Aiken--8/2/2010
69. Adam by Ted Dekker--8/3/2010
70. Stain of Guilt by Brandilyn Collins--8/7/2010
71. Forgotten by Melody Carlson--8/8/2010
72. The Price of Freedom by Carol Umberger--8/9/2010
73. The Mark of Salvation by Carol Umberger--8/14/2010
74. Masquerade by Nancy Moser--8/20/2010
75. Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers--8/27/2010
76. Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss--8/27/2010
77. Jillian Dare by Melanie M. Jeschke--8/30/2010
78. Where My Heart Belongs by Tracie Peterson--9/3/2010
79. Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman and Ellen Vaughn--9/6/2010
80. The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris--9/7/2010
81. For Time and Eternity by Allison Pittman--9/9/2010
82. The Bride Blunder by Kelly Eileen Hake--9/13/2010
83. Fighting for Bread and Roses by Lynn A. Coleman--9/14/2010
84. Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad--9/20/2010
85. The Seeker by Ann Gabhart--9/27/2010
86. A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman--9/28/2010
87. Judgment Day by Wanda L. Dyson--9/29/2010
88. The Dead Rise First by Ragan/McLaughlin--9/30/2010
89. Weaving a Future by Susan Page Davis--10/01/2010
90. The Sunroom by Beverly Lewis--10/02/2010
91. Dated Jekyll, Married Hyde by Laura Jensen Walker--10/03/2010
92. The Lumberjack's Lady by Susan Page Davis--10/07/2010
93. Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus--10/09/2010
94. Over the Waters by Deborah Raney--10/09/2010
95. Hearts Twice Met by Freda Chrisman--10/09/2010
96. Sooner or Later by Vickie McDonough--10/10/2010
97. Banking on Love by Janice A. Thompson--10/10/2010
98. Mozart's Sister by Nancy Moser--10/10/2010
99. The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher--10/16/2010
100. I Am Nujood, Age 10, and Divorced by Nujood Ali--10/17/2010

I tell ya, what really saved my bacon was Dewey's Read-a-thon last weekend.  I read 4 books the day of the Read-a-thon, and then, 2 more the next day.  Another strange thing (at least to me)...I started off the year with Suzanne Woods Fisher's first book, and the second to last book that I finished for this challenge was her second book.  No, I didn't plan it that way.  :o)

What about you guys?  Been keeping up with how many books you've read?

Countdown 2010 Challenge Completed!

Wow...this was a toughie!!  I thought for a minute there that I wouldn't wrap this one up by the deadline, but at 11:45pm last night, I finished the Countdown 2010 Challenge on 10/10/2010!  If it hadn't been for Dewey's Read-a-thon that I did on Saturday, I really don't think I could've done it.


The goal of this challenge was to read so many books published in a certain year:  10 from 2010, 9 from 2009, and so on. 


Here's a recap of what I've read since 9/9/09 last year:


2010

1. The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher--1/2/10 (review)
2. Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy--1/26/10 (review)
3. Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand--1/29/10 (review)
4. The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee--2/4/10 (review)
5. Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith--2/20/2010 (review)
6. Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge--2/25/2010 (review)
7. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson--3/19/2010 (review)
8. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis--3/24/2010 (review)
9. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson--4/2/2010 (review)
10. Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd--4/4/2010 (review)

2009
1. Mohamed's Moon by Keith Clemons--9/10/09 (review)
2. In the Arms of Immortals by Ginger Garrett--9/21/09 (review)
3. Bo's Cafe by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch--9/23/09 (review)
4. The Red Siren by MaryLu Tyndall--10/3/09 (review)
5. Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart--10/7/09 (review)
6. If Only You Knew by Mags Storey--10/8/09
7. The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall--10/11/09 (review)
8. Love is a Battlefield by Annalisa Daughety--10/18/09 (review)
9. Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh--10/22/09 (review)

2008
1. A Cut Above by Ginny Aiken--9/13/09
2. In the Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett--9/16/09
3. Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray--10/24/09
4. Someday by Karen Kingsbury--10/28/09
5. The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again--12/10/09 (review)
6. Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl and April Henry--12/21/09 (review)
7. The Face by Angela Hunt--12/29/09 (review)
8. The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake--3/22/2010 (review)

2007
1. The Parting by Beverly Lewis--2/22/2010
2. One Smooth Stone by Marcia Lee Laycock--3/12/2010 (review)
3. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy--5/1/2010
4. The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell--7/8/2010 (review)
5. Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer--7/16/2010
6. Where My Heart Belongs by Tracie Peterson--9/3/2010 (review)
7. The Lumberjack's Lady by Susan Page Davis--10/07/2010

2006
1. The Soldier's Lady by Michael Phillips--10/18/09
2. Diamond Place by Robin Lee Hatcher--10/24/09
3. Abide with Me by Delia Parr--11/3/09 (review)
4. Weaving a Future by Susan Page Davis--10/01/2010
5. Banking on Love by Janice A. Thompson--10/10/2010
6. Mozart's Sister by Nancy Moser--10/10/2010

2005
1. Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn--2/21/2010
2. Fighting for Bread and Roses by Lynn A. Coleman--9/14/2010  (review)
3. Over the Waters by Deborah Raney--10/09/2010
4. Hearts Twice Met by Freda Chrisma--10/09/2010
5. Sooner or Later by Vickie McDonough--10/10/2010

2004
1. Torch Red by Melody Carlson--3/6/2010
2. The Winter Pearl by Molly Noble Bull--5/29/2010
3. Brink of Death by Brandilyn Collins--7/26/2010
4. Light of My Heart by Ginny Aiken--8/2/2010
5. Stain of Guilt by Brandilyn Collins--8/7/2010

2003
1. Babylon Rising by Tim Lahaye--11/10/2009
2. The Price of Freedom by Carol Umberger--8/9/2010
3. The Mark of Salvation by Carol Umberger--8/14/2010

2002
1. A Sinister Silence by Jane Peart--1/9/2010
2. Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury--3/14/2010

2001
1. Lady of Light by Kathleen Morgan--9/28/09 (review)

2010 Christian Historical Fiction Challenge Complete!

Yep, I did it! Didn't really expect that it would be too difficult considering my love of Christian historical fiction. In fact, I've read more of that so far this year than any other genre.

Wanna know what I managed to read? Here's the list for ya! :o) I've linked up the books to the reviews that I've written so far, if you're interested in checking those out, too.

1. The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen--1/8/10
2. A Sinister Silence by Jane Peart--1/9/10
3. Outlaw's Bride by Lori Copeland--1/10/10
4. Michal by Jill Eileen Smith--1/21/10
5. A Place Called Bliss by Ruth Glover--1/31/10
6. A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland--2/11/10
7. Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith--2/20/2010
8. Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher--3/2/2010
9. Wind by Calvin Miler--3/16/2010
10. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson--3/19/2010
11. The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake-3/22/2010
12. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis--3/24/2010
13. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson--4/2/2010
14. The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake--4/8/2010
15. The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote--4/15/2010
16. Her Inheritance Forever by Lyn Cote--4/22/2010
17. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers--4/24/2010
18. No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan--4/28/2010
19. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy--5/1/2010
20. Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy--5/3/2010
21. Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy--5/8/2010
22. Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot--5/10/2010
23. A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills--5/13/2010
24. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell--5/16/2010

Chunkster Challenge Completed!

Hooray!!! Another challenge completed!!! (Sarcasm coming...) If I keep this up, I might actually read some books! LOL! :o)

Here's what I managed to read for this challenge:

1. The Book of God by Walter Warengin, Jr. (633 pages)--10/06/09
2. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (480 pages)--5/13/09
3. A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman (480 pages)--5/20/09
4. A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman (480 pages)--5/27/09
5. Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall (451 pages)--6/13/09
6. The Justice Game by Randy Singer (494 pages)--7/12/09

I had initially only set a goal of three books, and I'm really proud that I doubled my original goal. Long books are just not easy for me; 300-page books are usually my average.

Now....on to finish another challenge.... :o)

Support Your Local Library Challenge Completed!

Hooray!! I finished my first challenge of the year!!

Seriously, I knew that I could do this one when I signed up for it. Since I live in a large city with a large library system, the amount of books to choose from is overwhelming. The Christian fiction they have to choose from is a little limited, but I've noticed an improvement in recent months. In addition to the public library, my church library is LOADED with Christian fiction, so needless to say, there's no shortage of books for me to choose from. :o)

Many thanks to J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog for hosting this wonderful challenge, as well as several others. I've got 2 more challenges left to finish up for the year--100+ Book Challenge and the Chunkster Challenge--and I think both of them are being hosted by her.

Here's a final listing of what I read:

1. Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy--1/5/09
2. A Bouquet of Love by Ginny Aiken/Ranee McCollum/Jeri Odell/Debra White Smith--1/10/09
3. Daring Bride by Jane Peart--1/22/09
4. Indigo Waters by Lisa Samson--2/10/09
5. End of State by Neesa Hart--5/18/09
6. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall--6/3/09
7. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory--6/20/09
8. A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory--7/13/09
9. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury--7/23/09
10. Priced to Move by Ginny Aiken--8/15/09
11. A Steal of a Deal by Ginny Aiken--9/4/09
12. Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark--9/6/09