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I can't believe I forgot to start this earlier. So, hurried responses please. :o)

1) Do we want to continue with the challenges. We seem to be down to only about 10 or so doing them any more.

2) I will at least do a January one, unless I get a lot of "no" answers. So, what would you like to do for January?

3) if you all DO want to continue, I need some reactions--which ones did you love and hate from years past. And not just THIS year, but from all of the past ones?

I am up for a January one

I am interested in continuing.

I will get back to you with like and dislike list

Let's see some of the ones I liked in past years....

Always like:
~ Alphabet (title, MC names)
~ 10 different Series
~ The Cover color (always a good one)
Also:
~ The Power of Three challenge
~ "New to me...�� November 2016 and
~ “Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books & Best Paranormal Romance Series�� Oct 2016 (other than it really added a lot more series to my TBR list. ) ;-)
~ I thought that the PNR Challenge Spellout with only titles was good, a little difficult, but in a good way.
Some others were:
~ Read with Friends challenge March 2016
~ Seasonal "Weather�� March 2017 was good
~ ~ October 2017 Favourite Monsters was cool, I did all 6 groups. Paranormal Creatures October from 2014 (I liked better than 2015) April 2016 worked or the Paranormal Character or Element from 2017. But I did not care for the November Cover version.
~ The God and Goddesses, from 2014, 2015, 2016 or 2017
~ “Let’s do the Time Warp Again�� April 2017 was a little challenging, but different, so fun.
~ January, Feb and March 2014, too long to post but they were all fun and different, a crazy mix of things that related to each month
I wasn't the biggest fan of "Always a Bridesmaid and..." June 2016 nor the Wedding Bells... June 2017, mainly because I could not find any Honeymoon books. It gets harder and harder for me each year, fewer books with weddings.

The December Clean up the TBR list is always an easy/practical choice.
Hope this is helpful

In answer to the first question is yes, yes, yes. Please!


So the ones I really love:
~paranormal creature/s;Jan 2010;2011; 2012
~10 different series; April 2010; 2011; 2012; 2013; Sept2014; Aug 2015; July 2016
~Colors Challenge; Oct2010;2011; 2012; April 2014; 2015; Jan 2016
~The Long and Short of a Challenge; Feb2012
~Out with the old, in with the new; Jan2013
~Have I Read This One Before?; Feb 2013; Nov 2015
~TBR Clean up

The ones that I liked:
~Cover Hunt Challenge; May 2010; March 2012; Nov 2012; Sept 2016
~Characters Alphabet Parade Challenge; Aug 2010;2011; September 2013; July 2014; 2015; may 2016
~Authors' Web Challenge Using the Literature Map ; Feb 2011
~The Power of Three; March 2011; may 2014; Aug 2016
~Count with May; May 2011
~The Challenge of a Name; July 2011
~Smorgasbord of Power; Sept 2011; Aug 2012
~Best Paranormal Romance Series; Oct 2016

I’m not a fan of the wedding or the time challenges, but I know that other like them.
I had fun going through all the old challenges. Hope this helps.

Hello, i'm new so I haven't had the chance to participate in a challenge and would love to join in :D.

I like doing the challenges. They are the only thing that helps me make a plan on what to read each month, even though I don't have a lot of time to get through to all the books.

top favs:
paranormal creatures
10 different series
Cover Hunt Challenge

Not so much:
wedding
time challenges

Ok, so far, a few of the suggestions are:



“Have I read this one before��?
1) Dark, Darkness or darker
2) Heat, Hot or Fire
3) Passion, Kiss or Desire
4) Magic, Spell or Witch
5) Night, Midnight or Wolf
6) Vampire, Blood or Bite
7) Shadow, Deadly or Hunger
8) Seduction, Lover or Mate
9) Hunter, Eternal or Heart
10) Angel, Demon or Dragon

It is OK to pluralize the word, but it has to be a separate, eg. Angel or Angels could be used but not Archangel

I enjoyed this one--and discovered that I actually had several books that were by different authors with the same names. So it was a fun one.


The always popular Cover Colour Challenge

1) Blue
2) Red
3) Purple
4) Orange
5) Silver/grey
6) Gold/yellow
7) Black
8) White
9) Green
10) Pink

The only problem with this one is if you use an E-reader, remembering to check out the cover is sometimes hard. And if you have to do it on a computer or table, it's even more annoying. I use an old school Nook (everything is in black and white), which is the reason for mentioning the second one. I don't know if any of you do the same thing, but thought I'd bring it up.


The Long And Short of it all

3 novellas of less than 150 pages
2 books with 151 to 250 pages
2 books with 251-350 pages
2 books with 351-500 pages
1 chunkster of over 501 pages
While someone said that they liked this one, it IS hard, especially if you read on either a Nook or a Kindle, since both do weird things with their page numbering. And having to look up the number of pages can be a real interest killer, don’t you all think? And finding that 500+ one in our particular reading preferences can be hard too. But, I put it in for you all to vote on, since someone did mention liking it.

Paranormal creatures
1) Vampires
Undead, different species, spawned by aliens, created by mad scientist even sparkly ones

2) Werewolves
Most popular of all weres, our lupine faves deserve their own separate category

3) Shifters
Anything except wolves

4) Gods/goddesses/immortals
Mythology inspiration doesn’t matter—Greek, Roman, Norse, Hindu, Native American whatever, just be aware if it's an obscure Being, you might have to defend your choice--and incidentally introduce the rest of us to a new Being.

5) Demons/angels
Demons, whether good or bad, angels, fallen or not, winged or not, any other denizen of heavenly or hellish persuasion

6) Witches/warlocks/sorcerers/mages
All of the aforementioned plus any other practitioners of magic you can think of

7) Fae/fairies
Elves, pictsies (forgive my homage to Sir Terry here, but it had to be done), fairies/faeries, seelie/unseelie whatever—they just have to be of the Fae-ish persuasion, and this includes all of those “evil�� ones—ogres, trolls etc.

8) Aliens/space cowboys/space adventurers/space mercenaries
Basically any story set on another planet/moon or a space ship of whatever make or model

9) Psychics/ghosts/humans with paranormal abilities
Telekinesis, telepathy, time travel, anything that does NOT involve magic

10) Hunters/warriors/slayers/guardians
Men or women who live to fight evil (or good).




Out with the Old and In with the new

Old

1) Read a book from one of your favourite authors
2) Read a book from a series that you are currently reading
3) Read an “old�� book in your TBR shelf or collecting dust in your bookshelf/ves at home
4) Read a book that was released before 2015
5) Read a “leftover�� book from a previous challenge. (You know that one that you just didn’t have time—or the inclination to read in a previous challenge.)
New
6) Read a book from a new-to-you author
7) Read book 1 in a new-to-you series
8) Read a recently released book. (Released in the last 6 months, to set a time limit)
9) Read the latest book you purchased or the latest book that you added to your TBR shelf/pile/mountain range.
10) Read a book that is considered popular or is highly recommended to you

The Power of Three challenge

1) The author must use 3 names (ex. Jane Ann Krentz)
2) The title must have 3 words in it (Ex. Sparrow Hill Road—The, And, An, A do not count if they are at the start of the title. Unless you really need them to.)
3) The book is part of a trilogy (and ONLY a trilogy—so no books from the BDB or Witch World, or the Dark series)

Any grouping of these 3 rules. So you could enjoy a binge of all Jane Ann Krentz if you wanted to. Or all trilogies or all 3 word titles.



Counting with May

1) Read 2 books with one word titles (Ex. Stray, Marked)
2) Read 2 books with 2 word titles (Ex. Burning Skies, Blood Law)
3) Read 2 books with 3 word titles (ex. Born of Shadows)
4) Read 2 books with 4 word titles (Ex. Ember From the Sun)
5) Read 2 books with 5 word titles (ex. Prince Charming Doesn’t Live Here)

I'll list some of the others later, but that's to get you all thinking for right now.

I've never participated in one, but I'm interested in giving it a shot.

Kimba, you can look at past challenges (while the early ones aren't on here, there are still a number of years worth) and see if any strike your fancy. If so, be sure to mention them.

And the challenge is again YOURSELF, rather than anyone else. Some of our group only manages to read 2 or 3--but figure that's 2 or 3 more than they've have read otherwise.

YES!!! We need to continue, I shop from everyone's list to add to mine!

I always liked the Reading With Friends challenge.

My main problem is I burned myself out on PNR and UF, so I struggle to find books for the challenges that interest me.

Charlotte--we include Sci-fi and Fantasy in our genre. (Plus the always tried and true time travel) In addition, you are allowed to read up to 3 books from non-genre books for each challenge.

There are also PN mysteries, which are always fun. I especially love the ones with ghosts as either the "senior" partner, or as the tag-along-and-bug-the-cr**-out-of-the-living-sleuth ones. Don of the Dead, Ghost of a Chance, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, Trouble in Mudbug (this one is especially interesting, because who DOESN'T want their dead mother-in-law coming back to bug the you-know-what out of them, right?) Those 4 different series each handle the mystery differently--from pretty forward mystery to "Oh God, I'm going to wet my pants from laughing so hard." And, everyone's favourite Sookie Stackhouse author Charlaine Harris has another PN series, the Harper Connelly series. Grave Sight is the first book in that series.

Thanks Ann, 3 non genre?? That’s gone up, thought it used to be 2 (but that was probably a LONG time ago).

I always like to see what the challenge is each month, then figure out if I have the books for it. I do seem to have a lot of sci fi and fantasy in the house - so hoping that I can crush some challenges in 2018.

Do we have a challenge with the them of finding a new to us series? I'm always looking to start a new series. It doesn't have to be the whole 10 books, but something where we can get caught up in.

Hey Monica, the group has a bookshelf you can go through to help you look for new material as well.

I've enjoyed and done all the challenges except the Wedding Bells one. It was hard to find books for that. I'll continue to participate.

I don't think we'll do the wedding bells one again--it was something different to try, and I didn't really think it would BE that hard. But it did turn out really difficult to find material. So, won't be doing it again.

And yes, Lynn, we've done the "new to you" challenges a couple of times in the past. I'm thinking maybe this year doing a "split" challenge--5 new to you series/authors and 5 "tried and true" authors/series that you love. Although I'll probably have to come up with a new description for that. That's just too bland, ya know?

You can also go to the group members and do a "compare reading lists" and see if your shared book ratings are similar. If they are you can check out some of their books and see if you like them.

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "I always liked the Reading With Friends challenge.

My main problem is I burned myself out on PNR and UF, so I struggle to find books for the challenges that interest me."

I fall into this category, too. I certainly will read UF/PNR this coming year, but really have a strong desire to go back to mystery/thriller and a bit of horror genres. Can we add either Serial Killers or just Murderers to the Creatures? ;D

Whatever you come up with, I will join in and try my best.

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "...Lynn, we've done the "new to you" challenges a couple of times in the past. I'm thinking maybe this year doing a "split" challenge--5 new to you series/authors and 5 "tried and true" authors/series that you love. Although I'll probably have to come up with a new description for that. That's just too bland, ya know?"

I like that idea!
I have always liked the new series or new author. But splitting it would be fun.
What about using it as the June. A play on the Wedding theme.
Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

So we could do:
4 old favorites (author, series, re-read)
4 new to us or borrowed (new author, new series, or borrowed from a friends list...)
and
2 blue (blue cover, "Blue" in the title or it makes us blue)

It is an idea.

I like that idea Alison--except why leave out the "Sixpense/penny" part? That can be colour too. Or maybe name--if we use the Penny part, hum, ARE there any author's who's first or last names are Penny, and if so, do they write in our genre?

Edit--and the answer is--yep. So that could stay in too.

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "I like that idea Alison--except why leave out the "Sixpense/penny" part? That can be colour too. Or maybe name--if we use the Penny part, hum, ARE there any author's who's first or last names are P..."

Ok!
Let me see what I can find.

I am only finding "Penny" in Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Mystery. But no PNR or SciFi.

However, we could go with Money on the cover, in the title or the author's name.
Let people see what they can find, in any currency.
Maybe do "one blue" and "one money".

I'm looking forward to the challenges!!

I'd like to continue. I can't always finish but I enjoy this groups challenges the most.

Make sure to head over so you can participate in the January 2018 monthly challenge.

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Make sure to head over so you can participate in the January 2018 monthly challenge."

Thank you Lady Coffin! from Good Queen Alice

Alice wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Make sure to head over so you can participate in the January 2018 monthly challenge."

Thank you Lady Coffin! from Good Queen Alice"

Very Welcome!
;-)

I’m interested in doing a challenge. I am always looking for new books to read and recomendations:-) I am also trying to write more reviews and challenge myself that way. I feel like I don’t write reviews often enough and end up writing a bunch all at once when I think about it. I want to get better at it.

I'm the same way Yoli! I think of things to say in a review and then never write them. I need to do better at leaving my reviews.

I haven't been able to read as much recently with grad school but I plan to FIND the time from now on, and I always loved the monthly challenges to help me plan out what books to read!

I've been thinking about the warriors thing and then about March. (My minds works in weird ways, what can I say.)

So any way--I was thinking about the whole "If March comes in like a lion, it leaves like a lamb and vice versa" thing.

How does:

5 books where there is some kind of physical conflict--any kind of physical conflict. There are enough UF's out there where the MC's battle everyone and everything--think Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson and Kat and Bones from the Night Huntress books as a couple of examples.

Or there is a lion (were or otherwise) that figures prominently in the story. Curran from Kate Daniels for an example, and there are plenty of other lions out there. Shelly Laurenston's very fun series has entire families of lions--and bears and tigers, oh my. And some very interesting hybrids too, like Bo (sigh, BO , who is a lion/polar bear hybrid. Since you saw my reaction to Bo (sigh) He would definitely count for this one.

For lambs straight romance without any major conflict other than between the 2 MCs. Of course, if you could find a lamb shifter story..... and if you do, be sure to share it with the rest of us, since I'm sure we'd all love a were-lamb.

I'm just trying to come up with different ideas this year, in an effort to keep people interested, and maybe to lure in a few new people to our challenges. I don't know about the rest of you, but I go book shopping based on these challenges. :o)

So, let everyone know what you think of this idea.

Sounds good to me. I think any UF books fits into the first grouping.

Sorry, I was thinking on it and then forgot to come back.
I like the general concept.

What exactly are you thinking on the breakdown?

The challenge for March sounds great.

I like the Lion / Lamb : Conflict / Romance idea

It'll be 5 of the Lion, 5 of the lamb. How you break those 2 categories down for your reading is up to you. (I'm thinking a re-read of Kate Daniels in preparation for that last book might be the way to go for this month. Gotta love that Curran.)

Ah, got it!

Yes got to love Kate and Curran. I started re-reading them last month to remind me of all I had forgotten from early in the series, before the next book.
:-)

Does anyone remember when we did the last Seasonal Challenge?
I know I made myself a list of books and authors, but can not seem to find it. Was thinking if I knew what year or month it would help, but also did not find it the last few years when I looked back.
:-\