Month in Review: July 2011

Posted by: The Book Vixen

Baby news: She gets the hiccups ALL the time! This little one is also swimming around in my belly like crazy. She seems to like to do summersaults and flips when I’m trying to go to sleep. If this is any indicator as to when she’ll be up and active, I'm in trouble! LOL I am counting down the days until my due date – 60 days today! – though I am hoping she decides to come early. And now that it’s August, I can officially say that ‘I’m due next month’.  

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is fast approaching! The BBAW Awards process has changed significantly this year from last year (no more self-nomination – thank goodness because that was a little weird having to nominate yourself) so be sure to read about the Awards Process. After you’ve read that, be sure to register. You’ll need a Twitter account or Google ID in order to do so and you’ll need to register before you can nominate your favorite books and book blogs. You have until August 13, 2011 to submit your nominations so don’t delay! There are a lot of categories to cast your vote in so be sure to do this when you have some time set aside. Short list voting will begin on September 5, 2011. And if you would like to help out with BBAW behind-the-scenes, you can volunteer.

Books Read/Reviewed:

1. Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill – 3 frogs
2. Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill – 4 frogs
3. Cover Me by Catherine Mann – 3 1/2 frogs
4. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey – 5 frogs
5. Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey – 4 frogs
6. Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey – 4 frogs
7. The Chase by Erin McCarthy – (review to come)
8. Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare – (review to come)
9. Something About You by Julie James – (review to come)
10. Only Mine by Susan Mallery – 3 1/2 frogs
11. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs – (review to come)
12. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs – (review to come)
13. The Best Laid Plans by Sarah Mayberry – 4 frogs
14. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs – (review to come)
15. Turn It Up by Inez Kelley – (review to come) 
16. Crux by Moira Rogers – (review to come)

Guest Posts:

• Q&A with debut author Avery Flynn (Part I)
• Q&A with debut author Avery Flynn (Part II)
• Deadly Sins by Kylie Brant excerpt

Misc:

• On My Wishlist (72)
• Monday Bites: Twilight Re-Read Along (Chapters 1-5)
• On My Wishlist (73)
• Monday Bites: Twilight Re-Read Along (Chapters 6-10)
• On My Wishlist (74)
• Monday Bites: Twilight Re-Read Along (Chapters 11-15)
• Resolutions: Mid-Year Update
• On My Wishlist (75)
• Monday Bites: Twilight Re-Read Along (Chapters 16-20)
• On My Wishlist (76)
• Monday Bites: Twilight Re-Read Along (Chapters 21-24 & Epilogue)
• Review link up posts for the month of August are up for the challenges I am hosting 
       ♦ YA of the 80s & 90s 
       ♦ Nicholas Sparks 
       ♦ Outdo Yourself 
       ♦ Men in Uniform

Current Giveaways:

• (2) print copy copies of Deadly Sins by Kylie Brant – ENDS 8/12 (International)

2011 Reading Challenges Status Report:

• YA of the 80s & 90s – 0/12 books (sign-up)
• Nicholas Sparks – 0/10 books (sign-up)
• Outdo Yourself – 69/102 books (sign-up)
• Men in Uniform – 11/6 books (sign-up) – COMPLETED
• eBook Challenge – 24/20 books – COMPLETED
• Romantic Suspense – 11/12 books
• Off the Shelf – 16/30 books
• Stephen King Challenge – 0/6 books
• Show Me the Free – 1/12 books
• Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge – 4/15 books
• Support Your Local Library – 13/30 books
• 100+ Challenge – 69/100 books
• YA Challenge – 19/20 books
• Contemporary Romance – 26/10 books – COMPLETED

I knew I was going a little overboard when I signed up for 10 reading challenges (in addition to the 4 that I’m hosting) this year. Okay, so call me crazy. I just couldn’t help myself; I thought it would be easy! I had a serious case of ‘my eyes are bigger than my stomach’ syndrome.

Completed:

1. Men in Uniform – Thanks goodness I was able to complete at least one of my own reading challenges.
2. eBook
3. Contemporary Romance – This one was easy as pie

Almost Completed:

1. Romantic Suspense – I’ve got this one in the bag! Just one more book to complete this challenge.
2. YA – Just one more book to complete this challenge too!

On Track to Complete:

1. Outdo Yourself
2. 100+

Probably Not Going to Complete:

1. YA of the 80s & 90s – Bummer because I really wanted to read some YA from that time period.
2. Nicholas Sparks – I was really hoping to read the 3 NS books that I haven’t read yet and re-read some of my favorites.
3. Off the Shelf – I was really hoping to slash my TBR pile.
4. Stephen King – I really hope I end up reading at least ONE of his books. What one book should I read???
5. Show Me the Free – I had really hope to make a dent in the free Kindle read stash I’ve been accumulating but I haven’t really had the chance.
6. Book Blogger Recommendations – I wish I was able to read more from this list; it’s a great list!
7. Support Your Local Library – I guess I just thought I read more from the library than I really do.

How was your July?