OMG it’s June and we are halfway through the year.  It’s been a slow year for reading/listening for me.  Once the COVID-19 hit and we where put into the stay-at-home order I went into a slump.  Some people didn’t and read more, but me I just couldn’t stick with anything.

I’m doing well on some of my challenges and others I’ve boomed so far this year.

How about you? How are you doing on your challenges? Did the COVID-19 affect your reading?

 
Take a look at my Mid-Year Updates:

My goal is Overdrive Junk 36+.  As you can see I’ve only done 11 out of my 36 and I’ve saved a total of $258.61 from Jan. to June.  I’m glad that my library has a wonderful online selection even though I haven’t been using it much this year. How much have you saved?  Want to join the challenge?  Check it out here!

1. Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
2. Kill The Queen by Jennifer Estep (Audio)
3. Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley (Audio)
4. Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost (Audio)
5. Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley (Audio)
6. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (Audio)
7. Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Audio)
8. Wolf Trouble by Paige Tyler (Audio)
9. Wild Cat by Jennifer Estep (Audio)
10. The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston (Audio)
11. Born of Darkness by Lara Adrian (Audio)

My goal is Bing Listener 20-30.  I’ve passed that goal and am now shooting for Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+.  Interested in joining the challenge?  Check out all the details here.

1. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
2. Kill The Queen by Jennifer Estep
3. Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
4. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
5. Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken (Re-listen)
6. About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken (Re-listen)
7. What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken (Re-listen)
8. Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley
9. Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley
10. Hard Mated by Jennifer Ashley
11. Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost
12. Everlasting Bad Boys
13. Night Broken by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
14. Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
15. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
16. Bodyguard by Jennifer Ashley
17. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
18. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
19. River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
20. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
21. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Re-listen)
22. Love and Other Wild Things by Molly Harper
23. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
24. Cold Days by Jim Butcher
25. Even Tree Nymphs Get The Blues by Molly Harper
26. Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurenston
27. Selkies are a Girl’s Best Friend by Molly Harper
28. Wolf Trouble by Paige Tayler
29. Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
30. The Main Event by Shelly Laurenston (Re-listen)
31. The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston (Re-listen)
32. Born of Darkness by Lara Adrian
33. Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie 

My goal is New Release Newbie 1-30. If you’re interested in this challenge you can get the details here.

1. Battle Bond by Lindsay Buroker
2. Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurentson
3. Of Flame and Fury by Cecy Robson
4. Suddenly Psychic by Elizabeth Hunter
5. Grave Magic Bounty by Shannon Mayer
6. Sinister Magic by Lindsay Buroker
7. Cloudy with a Chance of Witchcraft by Mandy M. Roth
8. Iron Master by Jennifer Ashley
9. Rescued by the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle
10. Pack of Lies by Hailey Edwards
11. How to Love Your Elf by Kerreyln Sparks
12. Blood & Ash by Deborah Wilde
13. Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews
14. Tangled Truths by Lindsay Buroker

My goal is 12 books on my shelf. I finally picked up 1 out of my goal of 12.  I own the physical book, but picked up the audio at my library.  For a list of the books on my shelf unread click here.  For the sign-up page and details click here.

1. Born of Darkness by Lara Adrian (Audio)

My goal is to finish all the reviews for books I read in 2019.  I’ve done 23 reviews so far.  For details on this challenge click here.

1. Sentinel (Galactic Gladiators; House Of Rone, #1)
2. Defender (Galactic Gladiators: House Of Rone, #2)
3. Hero (Galactic Gladiators, #3)
4. Protector (Galactic Gladiators, #4)
5. Champion (Galactic Gladiators, #5)
6. Barbarian (Galactic Gladiators, #6)
7. Beast (Galactic Gladiators, #7)
8. Rogue: Information Rogue / Desert Rogue (Galactic Gladiators, #8)
9. Guardian (Galactic Gladiators, #9)
10. Cyborg (Galactic Gladiators, #10)
11. Redeeming Zorus (Cyborg Seduction, #6)
12. Taunting Krell (Cyborg Seduction, #7)
13. Haunting Blackie (Cyborg Seduction, #8)
14. Loving Deviant (Cyborg Seduction, #9)
15. Claimed: Brides of the Kindred Book 1
16. Hunted (Brides of the Kindred, #2)
17. Melting Iron (Cyborg Seduction, #3)
18. Touching Ice (Cyborg Seduction, #4)
19. No Getting Over a Cowboy (Wrangler’s Creek, #2)
20. Just Like a Cowboy (Wrangler’s Creek, #2.5)
21. Branded as Trouble (Wrangler’s Creek, #3)
22. Pulled by the Tail: Celestial Mates (Tail and Claw #2)
23. Heat Exchange (Boston Fire, #1)
24. Star Witch (The Lazy Girl’s Guide To Magic, #2)
25. Controlled Burn (Boston Fire, #2)

My goal is Discussion Dabbler 1 – 10 discussions.  I’ve passed my goal of 10.  We will see how many more I do this year.  If you’r interested in this challenge you can check it out here.

1. Book Tag: 20 Questions
2. The Calendar Book Tag
3. TTT: What Do You Read In Winter?
4. The Valentine’s Day Book Tag
5. 25 Questions Tag – Facts About Me
6. TTT: Books I Bought Because They Were On Sale
7. Library Lovers Book Tag!
8. The #StayAtHome Diaries Tag!
9. Romance Reader Book Tag
10. The Burnish Bookish Questions: The Quarantine Edition
11. Lay out the Beach Towel – It’s Summer Book Tag!
12. TTT: Lines That Grabbed/Opening Lines
13. TTT: Books I’ve Added to my TBR and Forgotten Why

Angela 

I was born and raised in Northern Indiana. I’m an outdoor sun loving reader living near San Fransisco. I’m a mother, wife, dog owner, animal, and book lover. I’m the owner, reviewer, and mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. My favorite animals are horses & dogs. As for reading I love all things paranormal & urban fantasy. My favorite shifters are dragons!

It’s the end of 2019.  It’s time to showcase my Challenge’s and how well I did or didn’t do.  I picked challenges that would help me use my library or read the books I have sitting on my bookshelf and/or eReader.  The only one that focuses on New Releases is the New Releases Challenge.  I also put next to each challenge recommend or not.  Plus I’ll share with you the challenges I signed up to do in 2020 or plan to sign up for.

Recommend Challenge: First off is the Goodreads Reading Challenge. My goal is 150. Same goal I keep each year. I surpassed this goal and am still reading into the new year.

2019 Reading Challenge

Angela (Angel's Guilty Pleasures) has completed her goal of reading 150 books in 2019!

 

171 of 150 (100%)

view books

 

Recommend Challenge: The Audiobook Challenge I set my goal at Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15. I surpassed my goal and listened to 45 audiobooks in 2019. Challenge Page.

1. Light My Fire
2. Last Dragon Standing
3. The Dragon Who Loved Me
4. How To Drive a Dragon Crazy
5. Moonshadow
6. Smooth-Talking Cowboy
7. A Tale of Two Dragons
8. Feel the Burn
9. Untamed Cowboy
10. Hot and Badgered
11. Good Time Cowboy
12. Hard Riding Cowboy
13. Masques
14. Run to Ground
15. Snowed in with the Cowboy
16. On the Chase
17. Bring the Heat
18. Raor
19. Wolfsbane
20. Survive the Night
21. The Guardians
22. Sterling
23. Through the Fire
24. Lionheart
25. Sapphire Flames
26. Wolf Rain
27. Steal the Dragon
28. Sweep of the Blade
29. Trace of Magic
30. Between Jobs
31. Bite Me
32. Three Mages and a Margarita
33. Between Shifts
34. Archangel’s War
35. Wolf With Benefits
36. Those Texas Nights
37. No Getting Over A Cowboy
38. Branded As Trouble
39. Unbroken Cowboy
40. Lone Star Cowboy
41. Just Like a Cowboy
42. When Demons Walk
43. The Blacksmith Queen
44. Heat Exchange
45. Controlled Burn

Recommend Challenge: For The Backlist Reader Challenge all the books have to be published before 2018.  I set my goal at 30+ backlist books and I read 101, surpassing it by a lot.  For a full list of books read visit here.  

Not Recommend Challenge: For The Love Ebooks 2019 Reading Challenge this was a new challenge for me.  My goal is Phase 3: 21-30. I surpassed this one by a lot.  My total of eBooks read in 2019 is 103.  To see a list of all the eBooks I read visit here.  (I was looking for something to help me read the books I bought or picked up as freebies in eBooks, but this challenge didn’t help me focus on that. It’s all ebooks.)

Recommend Challenge: For the Library Love Challenge I did Overdrive Junkie 36+.  I read and/or listened to 43 books from my local library. Challenge Page.

1. Smooth-Talking Cowboy (Audio)
2. Untamed Cowboy (Audio)
3. Widow’s Web
4. Small Favor
5. Good Time Cowboy (Audio)
6. Hard Riding Cowboy
7. Burn Bright
8. Deadly Sting
9. Kiss of Venom
10. Midnight Wolf
11. Wake a Sleeping Tiger
12. Run to Ground (Audio)
13. Snowed in with the Cowboy (Audio)
14. Under Wraps
15. Mail Order Cowboy
16. On the Chase (Audio)
17. Roar (Audio)
18. Heart of Venom
19. Survive the Night (Audio)
20. Turn Coat
21. Chocolate a la Murder
22. Urban Enemies 
23. Broken Soul
24. Cowboy Wolf Trouble
25. The Spider
26. Through The Fire (Audio)
27. Dark Heir
28. Changes
29. Between Jobs (Audio)
30. Between Shifts (Audio)
31. Redeeming Zorus
32. Stealing Coal
33. Taunting Krell
34. Haunting Blackie 
35. Archangel’s War (Audio)
36. Those Texas Nights (Audio)
37. Melting Iron
38. Touching Ice
39. No getting Over a Cowboy (Audio)
40. Branded as Trouble (Audio)
41. Unbroken Cowboy (Audio)
42. Controlled Burn (Audio)
43. Heat Exchange (Audio)

Recommend Challenge: The New Release Challenge my goal is 1-30 books per year (New Release Newbie).  I read and/or listened to 27 new releases in 2019.  To see a full list of the 2019 New Releases I read visit here.

Not Recommend Challenge: The Print Only 2019 Reading Challenge is a new challenge for me.  My goal is 11-20 – 1st Edition and I added an additional challenge to myself for this one to read all the books on my bookshelf that I’ve bought or won, but haven’t read yet.  I read 14 physical books.  3 where on my bookshelf and the rest I borrowed from my library.  You can see a list of my books I had on my challenge to read and the ones I did read for this challenge by visiting here.

Last up is the Discussion Challenge:

Recommend Challenge: My goal for this challenge is 1-10 – Discussion Dabbler.  I did 37 posts for this challenge.  You can check them all out by visiting here.

2020 Challenges

For 2020 I’ll be doing the library love since I host.  I’ll be signing up for the goodreads reading challenge, audiobook challenge, new release challenge, and the discussion challenge.  Feel free to check out the challenges and join any or all. 

• 2020 Library Love Challenge Sign Up
• 2020 New Release Challenge Sign Up
• 2020 Discussion Challenge Sign Up

How did you do this year (2019) on your challenges?  What challenges are your favorites?  Which do you recommend?  I like challenges and keeping track of my reading.  It’s interesting to look back and see how I read; ebooks vs physical vs audio or what genres I like more or do I enjoy more New Releases to the Backlist Titles, etc…  What’s your thoughts?

April was a nice month. I got to spend more time outside. Which I truly love. My flower garden is doing spectacular this year too. I bought a bunch of new flowers to try out. My son helped me pick out the flowers. The blue flower plant is the one he really wanted, since blue is his favorite color. As you can see I got them planted and they are doing spectacular in the garden. My rose bush is also coming back to life thanks to the Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food I got to spray on my plants.

I also bought some set cushions for my plastic chairs outside. Now everyone has a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the backyard and garden.

April Surprise Email Subscriber Giveaway – Jerry M won a $5 Amazon GC
April Book of Choice Hop – Gaby N. picked eCopy of Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
Raining Romance Book Hop – Nikki picked paperback copy of Midnight Heat by Sarah Grimm

April is National Library Week. I do so love my library. Their where several great posts this month featuring libraries, apps, and more. I did a post over at Bea’s Book Nook for her Libraries Around The World feature! This Month, Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Millbrae, CA, stop on by and check it out.  

Their where also several great April Discussion Topics linked up and featured this month hosted by Feed your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight. My favorite ones are all the different Library posts. I hope you will hop on over and check out all the great discussions!

• Win one of two complete sets of Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock novels! Click Here
• Enter to win a Piper J Drake Gift Basket (print copies of Extreme Honor and Hidden Impact, sports bag, fun Piper J Drake and Corbin swag) Click Here
• Paperback of Blood Heart by Lexi C. Foss Click Here
• $10 Amazon GC, ECopy of Murder, She Knit Click Here
• $10 Amazon, an ecopy of both the books Click Here

• Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 4/30 – 5/4
• Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 4/23 – 4/27
• Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 4/16 – 4/20
• BBH: Fictional Towns You’d Love To Live In
• Book Tag: Book Blogger Confession
• Quarterly 2018 Library Savings
• TTT: Books I Liked, but Will Never Re-Read
• 2018 National Library Week April 8-14
• Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 4/9 – 4/13
• Randomness – AeroGarden
• Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 4/1 – 4/6
• April Book of Choice Giveaway Hop ~ 1st – 15th
• Raining Romance Books Giveaway Hop ~ April 1st – 14th

April Library Love

My Nook, Books, and More I won the March New Release Giveaway Hop and I picked Born of Darkness in paperback. I also won a $20 Amazon GC from Caffeinated Reviewer during the Diversity Hop & $30 Amazon GC from Author Dixie Lee Brown during the Blurb Blitz Tour for Heart of a SEAL, check out her book.

Review

Thank you to the publishers, tour hosts, and authors.

Author ARC’s: Sevan by Mandy M. Roth, Wyvern’s Mate by Deborah Cooke, Wicked Witchcraft by Ella Summers (Newsletter Novella), Twelve Dancing Angels by Ella Summers (Newsletter Novella), Fighting for Everyone by Laura Kay

Bought

Amazon Free – Rebel Cowboy, Sinful Intent, The Montana Bride, Witched At Birth, Serious Leigh, Accidental Leigh

Amazon Bought – Desert Roots ($.99c deal), Psychic’s Spell, Untitled Hidden Legacy Novella #1 (Pre-Order), Chocolate With A Side of Murder ($.99c deal), How to Break an Undead Heart, How to Claim an Undead Soul, How to Save an Undead Life, Rome’s Chance

Nook –  Planet Dragos (Pre-Order)

Audiobook – Silence Fallen (1 Credit), Magic Bleeds (1 Credit)

Movies – Thor: Dark World, Doctor Strange, Strictly Ballroom

Wild Invitation, Generation 18, Wild Embrace, Hot and Badgered, Silence Fallen, Soul Thing, How to Break an Undead Heart, Dragons Among Them, Newsletter Exclusives: Volume 1 by Nalini Singh, Heart of Obsidian, Reckless in Texas, Shield of Winter

Thank’s for stopping in and checking out April’s Monthly Wrap!

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Well it’s March and the TBR Take Control Challenge has started. If you would like to join or want more information then stop on by the Caffeinated Reviewer, Click Here,  to check it out.

MY GOAL

I deiced to go with books in my box of books or ones I picked up at the library to read for this challenge. I’m planning on listen to or read 10 books from my TBR pile, Goodreads TBR List!

Here are some books/audios I picked out on my list. 

1. The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter
2. Tempted & Taken by Rhenna Morgan
3. Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn
4. Hot Pursuit by Julie Ann Walker
5. Into The Fire by Jeaniene Frost
6. Fury On Fire by Sophie Jordan
7. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
8. Race The Darkness by Abbie Roads
9. Dragons Among Them by Kyra Jacobs
10. Runaway Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Now I might add others or not even get to these, but this is what I set up for my goal to get me started.

February has come and gone. The weather in California where I live has been mostly sun and in the mid 50’s, but we had one week of 70 degree weather for 5 days strait. It was so nice that I spent the time outside reading, working on the blog, and gardening. I bought some hanging planters and planted them. I also bought Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food and have been using it as instructed once a week. My plants haven’t looked this good in a while. My rosebush I didn’t think it would make it, it didn’t do well last year, but with the help of the plant food, it’s come back to life along with other plants in my garden.

Besides my garden I’ve got birds visiting daily. I’ve got a Mountain Blue Jay. Haven’t caught a picture of him, but he’s nice and have several other birds that stop by the bird feeder we put in last year.

What else have we been up too. We do soccer year round and my boy loves it. Kindergarten Celebrated their 100 days this month and they went on their first field trip. Unfortunately my son missed the field trip since he was sick. They sent home a notice on Friday of possible strep throat, that weekend my son got sick (no signs of strep throat), but he had a fever and coughing all weekend. Then Monday the field trip day and he’s still coughing, so I kept him home.

Pictures lead directly to the review for that title.

I started a new feature on the blog called Kid Corner:

• Review: The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

Pictures lead directly to the post.

Pictures lead directly to the post.

This area features everything else showcased on the blog; Discussion Topics, New Releases, Hops, and more….

I entered a giveaway on one of the blogs I follow and I was lucky enough to win Baby, I’m Howling For You by Christine Warren from St. Martin’s Paperbacks. I also won from Author Zoe Forward my pick of one of her books and I choose His Witch To Keep.

Review Books – Soul Thing (Currently $.99c), Promised to a Highland Laird by Sky Purington
Thank you to the publishers, tour hosts, and authors.

Borrowing – Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict has graciously lent me her Audio copy of Dead Heat. Can’t wait to to listen.

Bought

Amazon Free – Blades of Magic, Wanted and Wired, Treasured Find, Spirits Stilettos and a Silver Bustier, Rise of the Alpha: Wolves of Willow Bend 1-3, Kiss of Her Dragon, You’ve Got Tail

Amazon Bought – I grabbed some items that have been on my buy list for a while and all where on sale. The White Lily ($.99c), Ares ($.99c), Wolf in her Soul ($.99c), Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas ($1.99)

Audiobook – Magic Strikes, Slave to Sensation (Sale $4.95)

Movies – The Angry Birds Movie (Prime Video), Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2 (Prime Video), Thor: Ragnarok (Prime Video)

Here are all the books or audio listens I had in February; Heart on Fire, You’ve Got Tail, A Taste for a Mate, Can’t Let Go, How to Date a Dragon, The Unlikeable Demon Hunter: Crave, A Charming Crime, Can’t Hardly Breathe, Blaze of Memory, Blade Bound, Kiss of Pride, Lure of the Fox, The Harder You Fall, Magic Binds, Magic Stars, Magic Shifts, Fuel for Fire, Vampire’s Kiss

Thank’s for stopping in and checking out Feburary’s Monthly Wrap!

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