I'm joining Bout of Books 27!  What is that, you ask?

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 27 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Check back right here for updates and progress!

Here is what I hope to read this Bout: 

Updates:
Day 1-
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier Spy
Began: Salt the Snow
Challenge: In Six Words
Stephanie: Dancer, Scientist, Gardener, Toddler Mom

Day 2-
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier Spy
Currently Reading: Salt the Snow- 50%
Challenge: 2020 Reading Goals
This year I would like to stay on top of my books for review as well as read more books outside of review deadlines that are just for fun!

Day 3-
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Currently Reading: Haskell Himself
Challenge:  Bookish Matchmaking
I'm looking for Fairy Tale Retellings that are more like historical fiction. 

Day 4: 
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Currently Reading: Haskell Himself
​Challenge: 

The Scene: Moscow, 1932, the red line

Day 5: 
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Currently Reading: Haskell Himself
​Challenge: The One With the Books in it

Day 6:
: Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Currently Reading: Haskell Himself

Challenge: ​Challenge:  If this, then that​
If you like fairy tale re-tellings with a dark twist try the Gaslight Gothic series by Kat Ross

Day 7: 
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Currently Reading: Haskell Himself
Challenge: Stretch Goal
I am going to finish Haskell Himself and write my review of Salt the Snow.

Wrap Up:
Books Completed: Josephine: Singer, Dancer, Soldier, Spy
Salt the Snow
Haskell Himself
​Pages Read: 944
Challenges Completed: 7

I will be joining the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge again this year!
Last year I read 49 Historical Fiction books.
I'll be going for the Ancient History Level again.
​
Here are the details and how to sign up:
Here are the Reading Challenge details:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• Everyone can participate! If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.
• Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please use the direct URL that will guide us directly to your review)
• Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)

During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link in Mr. Linky below or just leave a link to your blog if you are not yet ready to post about it yet. If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining, and link to your Facebook, Goodreads or other social media page where you will be sharing your reviews.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2019.

​I'm participating in COYER Summer Hunt!  What is COYER you ask?  Read on to find out and sign up for the fun!

It’s time to sign up for another Summer COYER. Summer COYER will run Saturday, June 1 – Saturday, August 31! Sign-ups will be open until Saturday, July 6th.
The Rules

1. You must create a sign-up post anytime between now and July 6th – on blog, goodreads, fb, google+, etc. Yes, that means you can sign up until July 6th! But don’t wait, you’ll miss most of the fun!
2. You must link to the sign-up linky below (don’t link to your blog, link to the sign-up post).
3. You must review books somewhere & link the reviews to the review linky to be eligible for one of the grand prize giveaways.
4. Have Fun!

Normally you’re only allowed to read eBooks that were less than $5 for COYER, but since this is Summer Vacation you can read whatever you want! To be clear, here are some questions you may be asking…

• Can I read a book that cost $10? Yes!
• Are Tour books and Author Review books ok? Yes! Yes!
• Can I read a paperback? An audio book? An eBook? Yes! Yes! Yes!

Getting the idea? There really are very few rules here. For those that just want to do your standard summero vacation, you can enter your reviews on the review linky and each entry on a linky will be worth 1 entry. So if you’ve added your link there, you’re in the first giveaway for your choice of a $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N. But if you want have to have some REAL fun… we have Treasure Hunt!

Check back on this post for updates and read-a-thon lists.  

Here are some of the books that I'd like to read this COYER:

Updates and Reading Log
The Storyteller's Secret- June 1st, Set in a Foreign Country, 2 points
The Impaler's Wife- June 3rd, Set in Medieval Era, 2 points
Dark Wood Dark Water- June 4th, Trees on Cover, 2 points
​Teeth in the Mist- June 8, Horror, 1 point
Severed Knot- June 24, Romance, 1 point
Abe & Ann- June 30, Historical Romance with period clothing, 5 points
Mighty Mary- July 4, Features an animal prominently, 4 points
A Bad Breed- July 6, retelling, 1 point
F is for Fairy- July 18, won in a giveaway, 4 points
Fool's Errand- July 19, more than 125 pgs, less than 215, 2 points
​No Woman's Land- July 21, based on a true story, 3 points
The Fire of Winter-July 24, weapon on cover, 1 point
The Undertaker's Assistant- August 2, POC main character, 1 point
Caitlin's Song- August 6, No living thing on cover, 3 points
Secrets by the Knoll- August 10, crime novel, 1 point
Pleased to Meet Me- August 15, non-autobiography nonfiction, 2 points
Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian- August 21, 1st in a series, 1 point
Lust (The Elite Seven)- August 22, blue cover, 1 point
Three Ways to Disappear- August 24, cat on cover, 1 point

​
Deserted Island Read-A-Thon Challenge List (5 steps):
The Countess- June 11, Labeled Erotica, 2 points
 The Chef's Secret- June 18, Male Protagonist, 2 points
An Unexpected Escapade- June 13, Talking Animal, 3 points
Private Pursuits- June 21, Small Town, 1 point

Sharknado Read-A-Thon Challenge  List (2 steps):
The Last Word- July 11, cover is gray, 1 point
Shrug- July 9, initials in title, 4 points

​I'm joining the Bout of Books Read-a-thon!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 26 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

Check back here for Challenges and Updates!

Bout of Books Day 1:
Challenge: In Six Words
Gardener, Hiker, Scientist, Mother, Dancer, Planner

Progress:
​Currently Reading: Julian Fox, Dream Guardian- 52%

Bout of Books Day 2:
Challenge: Adaptation Inspirations
The Last Word by Samantha Hastings
Lucinda Leavitt played by Chloe East
David Randall played by Tom Holland
​
Progress: 
Currently Reading: Lust- The Elite Seven Series
Completed: Julian Fox, Dream Guardian

Bout of Books Day 3:
Challenge: Recreate Your Favorite Book Cover

Progress:
​Currently Reading: Three Ways to Disappear
​Completed: Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series

Bout of Books Day 4:
Challenge:  If this, then that​
If you like fairy tale re-tellings with a dark twist try the Gaslight Gothic series by Kat Ross
​
Progress:
​Currently Reading: Three Ways to Disappear
​Completed: Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series

Bout of Books Day 5:
Challenge: I want this book!
I'd love to read Stranger Things as a book!

Progress:
Currently Reading: Pride-the Elite Seven Series
​Completed: 
Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series
Three Ways to Disappear

Bout of Books Day 6:
Challenge: Leave a Review
Review of Julian Fox, The Dream Guardian

Progress:
Currently Reading: Pride-the Elite Seven Series
​Completed: 
Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series
Three Ways to Disappear

Bout of Books Day 7:
Challenge: Stretch Goal
For my stretch goal I'm going to finish up Pride and fit in a graphic novel!

Progress:
Completed: 
Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series
Three Ways to Disappear
Pride- the Elite Seven Series

Bout of Books Wrap Up:
Books Read: 4.2

Books Completed:
Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian
​Lust-the Elite Seven Series
Three Ways to Disappear
Pride-the Elite Seven Series

Began: An Unexpected Exploit

Pages Read: 1,112

​Challenges Completed: 7

I'm participating in the Winter COYER challenge!
What is COYER?
COYER Winter 2018 will run from December 1, 2018 to March 2, 2019! Mark your calendars!
COYER rules:

1. Read Your E-Reads! Every book you read MUST be in an electronic format – meaning E-Book or Audiobook. It’s okay to start a book before December 1st, you must be less than half way for it to count then review it during COYER.
2. The books must be FREE or NEARLY FREE! This includes review books, tour books, NetGalley, Edelweiss, etc. What’s nearly free? No more than $2 for eBooks and no more than $5 for Audiobooks (or the equivalent in your currency). This does NOT include library books, borrowed books, or Kindle Unlimited books.
3. Announce your participation! This can be a blog post (or if you don’t have a blog – Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Booklikes, Goodreads, Shelfari, etc.) If you want to list books you would like to read, that’s great, but not necessary. The point is to let everyone know you’re committed to COYER, maybe share some goals, and help spread the word. Not sure how to do your post? Check out this example from a previous COYER.
4. Link up! Link that post (not just your blog homepage) to the linky below. (remember if you signed up before our site crashed we need you to sign up again)
5. Review & Link Reviews! Your review may be on your blog, Goodreads, Shelfari, Booklikes, etc. Link the review to the Review Linky (which will be available on the kick off post on December 1st).
6. We are giving away (2) $10 Gift Cards. One is for the review link and the other is for a goody type of giveaway. It will be for readathons, participating, visiting, etc. We will have all the info on the kick off post.
7. Visit Each Other, Chat & Have Fun!

Go here to sign up!

Here is what I would like to read this COYER:

Books Finished:
A Light of Her Own- 12/3/2018
​The War Between Us- 12/9/2018
From Across the Room- 12/12/2018
What Girls Are Good For-12/17/2018
Beneath The Lighthouse- 12/26/2018
BRAT and the Kids of Warriors- 12/28/2018
​A Murder by Any Name- 1/4/2019
​Reign Drops- 1/7/2019
​The Blue- 1/9/2019
Citadel- 1/12/2019
The Princess of Baker Street- 1/13/19
Pretty In Punxsutawney- 1/16/19
All Is Fair- 1/18/19
The Birds, the Bees and You and Me- 1/23/19
An Unexpected Adventure- 1/24/19
An Improbable Pairing- 1/28/19
The Warrior Maiden- 2/3/19
A Cobbler's Tale- 2/5/19
The Peddler of Wisdom- 2/8/19
Between Before & After- 2/13/19
Innocence Lost- 2/18/19

Read-a-Thon #2
It's Time to Read All the Books!
​1. Beneath the Lighthouse- 12/16/18
​2. BRAT and the Kids of Warriors- 12/28/18
3. A Murder By Any Name- 1/4/19
​4. Reign Drops- 1/7/19
5. The Blue- 1/9/19
6. Citadel- 1/12/19
​7. The Princess of Baker Street- 1/13/19

​Read-A-Thon #3
It's From Last Year
1. An Unexpected Adventure

Read- A Thon #4
It's All about Love
1. The Warrior Maiden
​2. The Peddler of Wisdom

I'll be participating in the 24 in 48 readathon!

How does it work?
If you’re new to 24in48, this is the basic gist: beginning at 12:01am (official timezone is EST) on Saturday morning and running through 11:59pm on Sunday night, participants read for 24 hours out of that 48-hour period.
You can split that up however you’d like: 20 hours on Saturday, four hours on Sunday; 12 hours each day; six four-hour sessions with four hour breaks in between. You can pause as much as you need, enjoy regularly scheduled weekend activities, nap, stop for dance breaks with your kids or pets or neighbors. Whatever works for you.
And that’s it. The format never changes but it’s always an adventure.
Have more questions? There’s an FAQ page for that. Also, just as we did in July, we’re still accepting donations to help us send more prizes out to international winners through the PayPal donate button on the sidebar (or you can go here; every dollar helps). And if you’d like to donate prizes directly, send us an email at 24in48readathonofficial@gmail.com.

Sign-up detailsReady to join? Fill out the form below (or if you’re having trouble, click through here) and feel free to list any and all of the places you’ll be hanging out online during the ‘thon. After you sign up, check out who else is participating. 

Day 1
Challenge: Introduce yourself in six words
Passionate scientist, dancer, gardener and mother
Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
​Began: The Blue

Day 2
Challenge: Character Dinner Party
This is a tough one and I thought very hard about my answers!
For my guest list:
Zee Mimms from I Am Mrs. Jesse James
Jenny Bell from Tiffany Blues
Agnes from All the Ever Afters
Lucy Callahan from The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
and
Laila Lawrence from She Regrets Nothing
On the Menu:
Make Your Own Taco Bar 
and 
Sundae Bar
Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
​The Blue
Began: Citadel

Day 3
Challenge:
Six Degrees of Separation
The Most Happy by Helen R. Davis
The Boleyn King by Laura Anderson
The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
The School of Night Colin Falconer
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
The Cottingly Secret by Hazel Gaynor

Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
The Blue
​Currently Reading: Citadel

Day 4
Challenge:
Synopsis Rewrite
Reign Drops from the view of the dragon:  The time has finally come to not be stuck inside an amulet inside of a wall.  The girl has been chosen and I can carve out a space of my own inside her mind.  With my help, the girl is completing her mission to save the tribe.  However, she is complicating matters by forming a relationship with the lohil- I'll have to take matters into my own hands.

Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
The Blue
Currently Reading: Citadel

Day 5
Challenge
If you like Philippa Gregory try Hazel Gaynor

Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
The Blue
Currently Reading: Citadel

Day 6
Challenge
Dream Cast for The Blue
Genevieve Planché-Saoirse RonanSir Gabriel Courtenay- Eric Von Detten
Thomas -Eddie Redmayne

Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
The Blue 
Citadel
Currently Reading: The Princess of Baker Street

Day 7
 Challenge
Stretch Goal
I'd like to finish The Princess of Baker Street and start Pretty in Punxsutawney

Progress:
Finished: Reign Drops
The Blue 
Citadel
The Princess of Baker Street
Began: Pretty in Punxsutawney

Wrap Up
Total Books Read: 4.2
​Total Pages Read: 1,142
Total Hours Read: about 11
Challenges Completed: 7

I've done really well with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge for 2017, so I am delighted to join the 2018 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.  This year, I will do the Ancient History Level again at 25 books.  Here are the rules and how to participate:

Here are the Reading Challenge details:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• Everyone can participate! If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.
• Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please use the direct URL that will guide us directly to your review)
• Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)

During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link in Mr. Linky below or just leave a link to your blog if you are not yet ready to post about it yet. If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining, and link to your Facebook, Goodreads or other social media page where you will be sharing your reviews.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2018.

 Please share about the Reading Challenge to your fellow friends and readers using the hashtag below!
#2018HistFicReadingChallenge
​
If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment on this post or email Amy at passagestothepast@gmail.com.

​1. The Promise of Tomorrow
​2. Stanley & Hazel
3. Madam Velvet's Cabaret of Oddities​
4. The Game of Hope
5. The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter
6. The Girl They Left Behind
​