MBS Best of 2014 Reading List

MBS Best of 2014 Reading List

I had 11 reads I rated as 5.0 out of the 156 read and reviewed. There were another 10 rated 4.75 so they are noted below also.

HERE ARE MY TOP FIVE PICKS:

1. Pure entertainment!

Audio Book Review: Dreamer's Pool: Blackthorn & Grim, Book 1 by Juliet Marillier; Fantasy; my rating: 5.0.

2. Edification and faith confirming.

Audio Book Review: The Divine Inspiration of the Bible by Arthur W. Pink; Nonficton/Religion; my rating 5.0. 

3. A surprising emotional and inspiring story.

Audio Review: Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin; Inspirational; my rating 5.0.

4. Inspiration and study.

Book Review: Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah; Inspirational, Spiritual; my rating 5.0.

5. Fascinating history/memoir narrative; told well.

Audio Book Review: Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet; Memoir; my rating 5.0. 

THESE ARE THE NEXT SIX 5.0 rated books in order of date read:

1. Timely interest - current events with Biblical connection.

Audible Review: The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret to America's Future by Jonathan Cahn; Christian Fiction; my rating 5.0.



2. Fiction Thriller.

Book Review: Sleeping Dogs by Tony Vanderwarker; Thriller; my rating 5.0.




3. Christian Fiction.

Book Review: Fair Play: a Novel by Deeanna Gist; Historical Romance, Inspirational; my rating 5.0. 




4. Contemporary Romance.

Book Review: Where Dreams Are Born (Angelo's Hearth) by M. L. Buchman; Contemporary  Romance; my rating 5.0.




5. Excellent ‘classic literature’ fiction.

Audible Book Review: Greenwillow by B.J. Chute; Classic Fiction; my rating 5.0.




6. Top in an entertaining series.

Audible Book Review: Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb; Crime Thriller, Mystery; my rating 5.0. 

More Wonderful Fiction Reading to Enjoy! - my 4.75 rated books:

1. Audible Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; Young Adult; my rating 4.75.

2. Audible Book Review: Conspiracy in Death, Book 8 by J.D. Robb; Mystery, Suspense; my rating 4.75.

3. Audio Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks; fantasy; my rating 4.75.

4. Audio Book Review: Night Broken: Mercy Thompson, Book 8 by Patricia Briggs; Urban Fantasy, Paranomral Romance; my rating 4.75.

5. Book Review: Issachar's Heirs by Brian Chilton;  Political Thriller, Christian Fiction; my rating 4.75. 

6. Audible Book Review: The Undead Pool: The Hollows Book 12 by Kim Harrison; Fantasy, Paranormal; my rating 4.75.

7. Book Review: Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals) by Ronie Kendig; Military Romance, Christian Fiction; my rating 4.75.

8. Book Review: The Escape (Survivor's Club) by Mary Balogh; Historical Romance; my rating 4.75.

9. Audible Book Review: Deadly Shores: Destroyermen Book 9 by Taylor Anderson; Science Fiction, Alternate World; my rating 4.75.  

10. Book Review: Priceless by Christina Dodd; Historical Romance; my rating 4.75.

2015 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge

Hosted by Escape with Dollycas Into A Good Book

Check rules and sign up HERE.

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.
You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below. For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.
I have inserted a couple of titles that I might use or not -- we'll see as the year progresses.

A      Accept This Dandelion by Brooke Williams
B      Betrayal in Death In Death, Book 12 by J. D. Robb
C      Cleansed by Fire by James R. Callan
D      Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
E      Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett
F      Finding Mr. Right by Emily Carmichael
G      Gabriel: Zero Point by Steve Umstead
H      Hawk by Ronie Keding
I       Immortality by Kevin Bohacz
J       Just In Time For a Highlander by Gwen Cready
K      Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed Series Book 1) Lara Adrian
L     Legendarium by Kevin G. Summers, Michael Bunker
M    Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason
N     Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart
O     Only Enchanting  by Mary Balogh
P      Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott
Q     Quitter by Jon Acuff
R      Resurrecting Home by A. American
S      Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw
T     Time and Again: Book 1 in the History Mystery Series by Deborah Heal
U    Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams
V    Virgin River by Robin Carr
W   What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling
X     Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen
Y   You're Never to Old to Laugh by Ed Fischer
Z    Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption by Imani Wisdom

2015 Netgalley Reading Challenge

2015 Netgalley Reading Challenge

hosted by Ariel at Fictively.com  

Rules and sign up can be found HERE.

Goal: You can continue to request galleys, or you can read the ones you already have. The point is to get your feedback ratio closer to the recommended 80%.
I actually stay close to 79-80% most of the time but this will help me stay on track and keep me reading some good review books.

I read 37 books from NetGalley in 2014 so the Challenge Level I chose for 2015 is 31-40 books or “Difficult”:

MBS 2015 NetGalley Challenge

JANUARY
1. Book Review: Only Enchanting, A Survivors' Club Novel by Mary Balogh; Historical Romance; my rating 4.75.
2. Book Review: Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett; Sci Fi Thriller;  my rating 4.25.
3. Book Review: 'Tis The Season: Under the Christmas Tree\Midnight Confessions\Backward Glance by Robyn Carr; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5. 
4. Book Review: Just in Time for a Highlander (Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands) by Gwyn Cready; Time Travel, Highlander; my rating 4.0. 
5. Book Review: Hawk (The Quiet Professionals, Book 2) by Ronie Kendig; Military Romance, Christian; my rating 4.25.
FEBRUARY
6. Book Review and Giveaways: What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling; Historic Romance; my rating 3.75. 
7. Book Review: Snow Angel Cove by RaeAnne Thayne; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5.
MARCH
8. Book Review: The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5.
9. Book Review: Monday’s Lie by Jamie Mason; Mystery; my rating 4.5.
10. Book Review: Echoes (A Harp Security Novel) by Laura K. Curtis; Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.5.
11. Book Review and Giveaways: A Kiss to Build a Dream On (A White Pine Novel) by Kim Amos; Contemporary Romance, Small town; my rating 3.5. 
12. Book Review and Giveaways: Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5. 
APRIL
13. Book Review: A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie; Historical Romance, WWI; my rating 4.25
14. Book Review: Shadow Study (Soulfinders) by Maria V. Snyder; Fantasy; my rating 4.5.
15. Book Review: The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig; Fantasy, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic; my rating 4.0.
16. Book Review and Giveaways: Fringe Benefits (The Ladies Who Lunch) by Sandy James; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 3.75.
17. Book Review and Giveaways: Sinfully Yours (The Hellions of High Street) by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.25. 
MAY
18. Book Review: The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series) by Layton Green; Mystery Suspense, Thriller, my rating 4.25.
19. Book Review: Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey; Historic Romance, Romance; my rating 4.5.
20. Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Once Upon a SEAL (Lucky Thirteen Book 5) by S.M. Butler; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.
21. Book Review: Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1) by Christi J. Whitney; Paranormal, YA; my rating 4.25.
22. Book Review and Giveaways: Passionately Yours (The Hellions of High Street) by Cara Elliott; Historical Romance; my rating 4.0.
JUNE
23. Book Review: Judas the Apostle by Van Mayhall Jr.; Biblical thriller; my rating 4.0.
24. Book Review and Giveaway: A New Hope (Thunder Point series) by Robyn Carr; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5.
JULY
25. Book Review and Blitz Giveaway: A Promise of Forever (A Tallgrass Novel Book 1) by Marilyn Pappano; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating 4.5. US and Canada; Ends 7/11/2015.
26. Book Review: SEAL Team Six: Hunt the Fox by Don Mann, Ralph Pezzullo; Military Thriller; my rating 4.25.
27. Book Review: A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris; Fantasy, Steampunk, Fairy Tale; my rating 4.5.
28. Book Review: Footsteps in the Sky by Greg Keyes; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.
AUGUST
29. Book Review: Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery (A Cajun Country Mystery) by Ellen Byron; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25.
30. Book Review: Dark Horse by Michelle Diener; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.
31. Book Review: A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2 by Justin Woolley; Science Fiction, Action Adventure; my rating 4.25.
32. Book Review: To Honor You Call Us (Man of War Book 1) by H. Paul Honsinger; Sci Fi Military, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.
33. Book Review: Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm (Once in a Lifetime) by Rebecca Raisin; Small Town, Contemporary Romance; my rating 3.75.
SEPTEMBER
34. Book Review: The Banished of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 1) by Jeff Wheeler; Fantasy; my rating 4.25.
35. Book Review: Death of the Blue Flower by Roxann Hill; Mystery, Crime Thriller; my rating 4.5.
36. Book Review (Plus Giveaway Link): The Last Chance Christmas Ball - Collection of Eight Wonderful Authors; Historical Romance, Holiday; my rating 4.5.
37. Book Review: Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders: A Novel by Julianna Baggott Women's Fiction; my rating 4.5.
38. Book Review: Children of the Comet by Donald Moffitt; Sci Fi, Fantasy; my rating 4.25.
OCTOBER
39. Book Review: Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Becky Wade; Contemporary Romance, Novella; my rating 4.5.
40. Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room (The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series Book 3) by Shelley Gray; Historical Romance, Inspirational, Mystery; my rating 5.0.
NOVEMBER
41. Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Steal Me (NYPD's Finest) by Lauren Layne ; Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.5.
42. Book Review: Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart; Sci Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian; my rating 4.0.
43. Book Review: Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays by Four Authors; Speculative Fiction; my rating 4.25.
DECEMBER
44. Book Review: The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection by 12 authors; Christian & Historical Romance; my rating 4.25+.

FULL HOUSE READING CHALLENGE 2015

FULL HOUSE READING CHALLENGE 2015

Hosted by Book Date

See rules and sign up post HERE.

Challenge = Complete the card below. You can do it in any order you wish. You are allowed "one free exchange", if there is something on the square you really dislike you may change it to something of your choice. Once you have played this free choice that is it. Mention the exchange in the final summary post.

This looks like fun and should overlap well with my TBR challenges. :-)

BY THE WAY - HERE IS A SHOUT OF "THANKS" to Kathryn at Book Date. I saw most (if not all) of the challenges I have chosen this year at her blog.

2015 Audiobook Challenge

2015 Audiobook Challenge

hosted by Hot Listens and The Book Nympho

Sign up and rules are found HERE.

The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2015 than you did in 2014. I listened to 63 audios in 2014 so my goal will be:

• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+