It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (2)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme run by Sheila at Book Journey, where we share the books we read and/or reviewed last week and what's on deck for this week. Now Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts have started an offshoot for kidlit fans: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA. I just had to check it out!

Last week:

• I finished Jodi Meadows' Incarnate. I hate to admit it, but it didn't live up to the hype for me.
• I started, and abandoned, Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes. Don't get me wrong - it's a good book. I just don't have time to read such a long book right now.
• I started Kate Klimo's Daughter of the Centaurs. I'm not loving it.

Plans for this week:

• Read Hounded by Kevin Hearne.
  

  Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.


• Start Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.
  

  In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Kenneth Oppel, author of the best-selling Silverwing trilogy, creates an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

Yes, these are the same as last week. I didn't have as much time to read as I thought! I did start Hounded today, and so far it's amazing.

Mini-Reviews: Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries

Book: What Angels Fear

Author: C. S. Harris

Publisher: New American Library

Release date: November 1, 2005

Source: Borrowed from library

Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #1

Summary: (from Goodreads) In London, 1811, a young woman is brutally raped and murdered, her body left on the altar steps of an ancient church. The prime suspect: Sebastian St. Cyr, a brilliant young nobleman still haunted by his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars. Now he is running for his life, desperate to catch the killer and prove his innocence. Moving from Mayfair's glittering ballrooms to St. Giles's fetid back alleys, Sebastian is assisted by a band of unlikely allies and pursued by a Machiavellian powerbroker with ties to the Prince Regent himself. What Angels Fear seamlessly weaves an intimate knowledge of the period with a multi-layered and compelling story, and is the first of a series of novels featuring these characters.

Overall impressions: This is a terrific historical mystery with political intrigue and a dose of humor. Though its reliance on the historical setting led to a glacial pace, I appreciated the rich detail that completely transported me. If you like Regency London and an interesting murder mystery, this is your book.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, has a lonely and somewhat depressing life. He is the third and only living son of the Earl of Hendon, and as a young boy was devastated at the death of his mother and the realization that his father was disappointed that he is to be the sole heir. He also had the misfortune to fall in love with an actress, who broke his heart to prevent him from being disinherited. After running off to join the war against France, he returns a much changed man.

When he is framed for murder, Devlin is determined to find the real killer, not only to save his own hide but to correct the grave injustice suffered by the young victim. Devlin has a condition that provides him with extraordinary eyesight and hearing, which serve him well as he struggles to stay alive in his quest to track down a murderer. Full of twists and turns, gorgeous historical details, and vibrant characters, this is a gem of a book for historical mystery fans.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Click the stars for a description of my rating system

---

Book: When Gods Die

Author: C. S. Harris

Publisher: New American Library

Release date: November 7, 2007

Source: Borrowed from library

Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #2

Summary: (from Goodreads) Brighton, England, 1811. The beautiful wife of an aging Marquis is found dead in the arms of the Prince Regent. Draped around her neck lies an ancient necklace with mythic origins-and mysterious ties to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. Haunted by his past, Sebastian investigates both the Marchioness's death and his own possible connection to it-and discovers a complex pattern of lies and subterfuge. With the aid of his lover, Kat Boleyn, and a former street urchin now under his protection, Sebastian edges closer to the killer. And when one murder follows another, he confronts a conspiracy that threatens his own identity...and imperils the monarchy itself.

Overall impressions: Viscount Devlin is once again investigating the murder of a young woman in this second installment in the series. Having proved his outstanding potential as a detective in the first book, he is personally solicited to help in a touchy case of a murdered aristocrat found half-dressed in the Prince Regent's chamber during a party. The deeper he digs, the more things point to unrest, rebellion, and a possible overthrow of the monarchy.

This one was not nearly as intriguing as the first entry. Devlin is not as personally invested since his own life is not on the line, so it lacked the same urgency. The case is interesting, but revolved heavily around politics of the time, and as someone not as familiar with Regency England's political history, I felt like I was missing things at times.

I appreciated seeing my favorite characters back again - the Irish doctor performing autopsies, the actress and lover Kat Boleyn, and the adorably sweet street kid-turned-servant Tom. The setting and characters are so fully realized that I felt like I was stepping back in time. For these reasons, I will likely continue in the series, but hope that the future plots remain as interesting as the first one.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Click the stars for a description of my rating system

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Book: Every Other Day

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release date: December 27, 2011

Source: Received via NetGalley for review

Summary: (from Goodreads) Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . . She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive . . . and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

First impressions: We open on Kali hunting hellhounds, in an alternate history where Darwin discovered supernatural creatures and the modern day public is aware of their existence as a result. That premise alone hooked me from the start, aided by Kali's sparkling personality and exciting action.

Lasting impressions: This was a terrific idea executed well, but also aggravatingly confusing.

Conflicting impressions: Nothing is spelled out for you here. The world's history is never fully explained and the rules aren't articulated, which often leaves the reader in the dark.

Overall impressions: Kali is one heck of a cool protagonist. Every other day she transforms from an ordinary human into a super powered demon hunting machine. She tracks and kills all different varieties of other worldly creatures, and does so fearlessly as she can't feel pain and her body rapidly repairs itself. At dawn, she makes the switch back to human for the next 24 hours. And so on and so forth.

The story quickly kicks into high gear when Kali notices a classmate has been infected with a blood-sucking chupacabra. Her life is ruled by an instinct to protect humanity, and guessing that come morning when she transforms to her killer self she can annihilate the beast, she convinces Bethany to let her absorb the chupacabra instead. The plan doesn't quite pan out the way she thought, and Kali, Bethany, and new friend Skyler are pulled into a fight for their lives when it turns out the chupacabra was placed as part of an experiment.

The action is fast paced, so much so that at times I wasn't quite sure I was keeping up with the story. Kali gets enmeshed in the shadowy dealings of the corporation researching the chupacabra, which has ties to her dad and Bethany's dad. The more she learns about what's going on, the more questions are raised, until things rocket along to the final battle and what seemed like 100 new pieces of information were thrown at us in just a few pages. The whole thing really made my head spin.

An exciting and unique tale, to be sure, but due to my confusion it's not likely to be one I'll remember in the long run.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Click the stars for a description of my rating system

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (1)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme run by Sheila at Book Journey, where we share the books we read and/or reviewed last week and what's on deck for this week. Now Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts have started an offshoot for kidlit fans: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA. I just had to check it out!

Last week:

• I finally finished the second book in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, When Gods Die. I was only able to read in brief spurts, late at night, and the heavy details in this historical novel made it tough to keep my eyes open.
• I finished my first NetGalley book of the year, Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
• I started Incarnate by Jodi Meadows.
• I absolutely devoured Ann Aguirre's Enclave. I read it in two sittings this weekend.

Plans for this week:

• Read Hounded by Kevin Hearne.
  

  Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.




• Finish Incarnate.
  

  Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?




• Start Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.
  

  In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Kenneth Oppel, author of the best-selling Silverwing trilogy, creates an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

I'll get some good alone time this weekend to read, so I'm hoping to make up some ground on my reading. It's been a slow start in 2012, and some of these are library books due back at the end of the month. Read, Logan, read!

2012 Finishing the Series Challenge

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Finishing the Series Challenge
Hosts: Socrates' Book Reviews

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any books read and reviewed in 2012 that are part of a series you're trying to complete.
Levels: Three. I'm choosing Level 3: 3 or more series.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

Since it looks like the YA Series Challenge isn't happening, I wanted a challenge to help me keep track of series I read. Plus, since I started so many series last year, it'll feel good to catch up on some of my old favorites.

Some books I'm considering:

An Echo in the Bone
Goliath
River Marked
City of Fallen Angels

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 First in the Series Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 First in a Series Challenge
Hosts: A Few More Pages

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any books read and reviewed in 2012 that are the start of a series.
Levels: Four. I'm choosing the Series Expert level: 12 series.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

During the course of last year, I started quite a few new series. Since there are always new series coming out in YA fiction, and I still have a few I'd like to start, this challenge seemed appropriate.

Some books I'm considering:

Halfway to the Grave
Divergent
The Ivy
Personal Demons

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Book: Soulless

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Orbit

Release date: October 1, 2009

Source: Bought ebook from Amazon

Series: Parasol Protectorate #1

Summary from Goodreads: Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire—and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

First impressions: One of the first things I loved about this book was Alexia's voice. She's a stickler for etiquette, and her commentary on the manners of others, even in the most ridiculous of circumstances, is hilarious.

Lasting impressions: What a refreshing take on the paranormal and steampunk genres! I loved the mash-up of steam and clockwork technology with werewolves and vampires in Victorian society.

Conflicting impressions: The first third of the book moved pretty slowly. It wasn't until the last third that I got truly hooked on the story.

Overall impressions: I've been meaning to read this book for a long time, and I'm happy that I finally did. Although this is a steampunk novel, it's really more along the lines of "steampunk light." I think if I had read this a few years ago, when it first popped up on my radar, I would have had a much different idea of what constituted steampunk. There are some elements of steampunk to the story, but it's not nearly as integral to the story as, say, Leviathan. I definitely recommend this one for folks looking to ease in to the steampunk genre.

The paranormal elements are what make this book really shine. In Alexia's world, vampires and werewolves are a part of society, even if they still inspire some trepidation and fear. They pose no threat to Alexia, however, as she has no soul. As a preternatural, her touch returns supernatural beings to their human state - vampires lose their fangs, werewolves shift back. Alexia's abilities are known to select members of society, but she works to keep it away from friends and family.

Alexia is strong, stubborn, willful, and of course, proper. Yet her Italian heritage, abrasive (for the time) personality, and advancing age (I think she's 27) have resigned her to life as a spinster. If I have one complaint about the book, it's the incessant beating to the head we take on these three facets of Alexia's life. On almost every page, and certainly in every scene, we are reminded that Alexia is old, Italian, and not suitable as a mate. She constantly refers to herself as a spinster. Later in the book there are hints that this has been drilled into her by her family, but through most of the story it is simply presented as fact so I never felt bad for her. Since these descriptors didn't serve to elicit empathy, they just became annoying.

Lord Maccon is the best sort of love interest. He's a dashing alpha male who still respects and appreciates Alexia. He can be condescending and brusque, but all in good fun as he matches wits with the equally snappish Alexia. The verbal sparring between these two is lots of fun to witness, and were some of my favorite parts of the book.

The mystery and plot were not nearly as exciting as the characters and world, so the story seemed to drag at points. Still, the ending sets up a new chapter in Alexia's life that holds lots of promise and I'm eager to start the next book.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Click the stars for a description of my rating system

Book Bully Week at Ruby's Reads

Today I'm guest posting at Ruby's Reads as part of her Book Bully Week event. I hope you'll pop over and check out which book I'm trying to bully you into reading. Click the button to read on!

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme devoted to sharing the new books we've received, borrowed, or bought. For more information, visit IMM's fantastic host, The Story Siren. You can visit other blogs that are participating in this week’s IMM here.

I haven't done an IMM in months, but I recently grabbed some goodies through sales, trades, and the library. Here's the haul from the New Year:

Bought on sale:

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Tahereh Mafi tweeted a 50% off coupon for teen books through Barnes & Noble's website. How could I resist? I picked up some books I'd considered reading, but never got around to because I didn't want to pony up full price. Looking forward to these!

Received from trade with Ruby's Reads:

Vesper by Jeff Sampson
The Jewel and the Key by Louise Spiegler
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
The Native Star by M. K. Hobson
Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne
Under Attack by Hannah Jayne
Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Ruby is moving, and therefore trying to unload some books. This is a genius plan, and surely one I will copy when the time comes for a move of my own. I scored this shoebox full of books for the price of three hardcover pre-orders. Some of these I've read but didn't own copies, and some I hadn't even heard of but sounded cool. Full of win! Thanks Ruby!

Borrowed from the library:

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward
When Gods Die by C. S. Harris
History of a Suicide: My Sister's Unfinished Life by Jill Bialosky
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Hounded by Kevin Hearne

This was part of a set I checked out during my end of the year break, but still haven't managed to finish a single one. I always get overly ambitious at the library, but thank goodness for online renewals, amirite? I covered almost all of my bases, too - fantasy, romance, historical mystery, nonfiction, YA dystopian, steampunk, and YA urban fantasy/paranormal. Eclectic, much?

That's it for now. What books did you get recently?

2012 Dusty Volumes Reading Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Dusty Volumes Reading Challenge
Hosts: Midnyte Reader

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any books read and reviewed in 2012 that have a publishing date before 1960.
Levels: None. Set your own number.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

There are a lot of classics that I still haven't read, and this gives me a good excuse to read them.

Some books I'm considering:

Gone with the Wind
Pride & Prejudice
Brave New World
Wuthering Heights

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

Writing Wednesday - This is my year!

 
I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a good year for my writing. I've gathered up a healthy toolbox of knowledge and I'm ready to get to work. School is behind me, the hubs and I have stable jobs, and I just feel...settled. At ease. Reflective.

Even years seem to be better for me, and odd years not so great. I graduated college, moved to a new city, and got married in even numbered years. I lost my uncle, my grandmother, and my father in odd numbered years. This year I'm taking up the triathlon baton again, and have made a real (this time) commitment to my health and fitness. I'll have a new niece born this year - the first on my side of the family.

As for my writing life, I have four meetings left in my monthly YA Fiction workshop. This Friday I'm meeting with a new weekly YA writers' group that includes at least two published authors. And tonight I start my first work/study shift at my local writing studio. If these tools can't help me get my manuscript into a query-ready place, then I don't know what will.

I've struggled over the last few months with where to take my story. I think I need to give myself the freedom to play a little bit, and trust that with the guidance of this network I'm building I can get there eventually. This year will probably not be the year I get an agent or sell a book, but I think this will definitely be the year that I can get a manuscript finished and ready to start querying.

That's the goal for this year: finish my book and get it ready to sell - or get as close to this goal as possible. I'd like to be able to start querying within the next 12-18 months. I think that's a reasonable goal, and maybe if I keep saying it aloud I can make it happen. I no longer want to think about this as a hobby or a pastime, but as a professional goal that inspires me to take my work and myself seriously. I wouldn't have been asked to join a writers' group unless I had potential and it's time to start realizing it.

So you hear that, 2012? You're mine.

2012 Time Travel Reading Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Time Travel Reading Challenge
Hosts: Library of Clean Reads

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Books about time travel.
Levels: 4 levels ranging from 1-12 books. I'm choosing Surprise Trip: 1-3 books.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

Time travel! It's one of my favorite literary escapes. I had a hard time thinking up titles for this challenge, though, so I'm going the easy route and doing the lowest level.

Some books I'm considering:

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

Busting the Newbie Blues 2012

I am so happy to participate again in Small Review's amazing book blogging event: Busting the Newbie Blues! Last year I stumbled across Small's blog and this event and every single one of my fellow participants were added to my Google Reader. At the time, I was still firmly entrenched in the Wordpress camp (and may be on my way back there, but that's a story for a different day), so my entry link goes to a page that now has a different permalink. You can read my responses as a brand new blogger HERE.

But now, on to this year's older, wiser answers (snort):



When did you start your blog?

December 3, 2010. I can't believe it's been over a year already!

Do you ever still feel like a newbie?

Only all the freaking time! I don't think any of us will ever feel like we've finally figured out all of the answers. As soon as we think we learn how to get ARCs or the best way to format our blogs, something changes on us and we're back at square one. Whether it's moving to ebooks for ARC requests, or losing GFC, technology has a huge impact on the blog world. I find that most of the times I'm feeling like a newbie are because I haven't quite figured out how to use tech stuff to my advantage.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? Did you make any mistakes new bloggers can learn from?

Time management has been key. I tried writing reviews for every single book I read last year, and this pressure on top of the volume of books read really got to me. I kept up pretty well until the end of the year, when it all got to be too much and I had to take a giant leap back and recharge my batteries. Burnout will sneak up on you awfully hard unless you take the time to get organized and figure out how to keep the pressure off.

I think the biggest mistake I made was letting my lust for new releases get the best of me. I signed up for three or four different ARC tour sites, which led to a large influx of new books to read (that I really wanted to read!), but on a schedule over which I had no control. Books would just show up and I had to drop everything and read them RIGHT THEN, which eventually got to be too much. I now try to keep my requests under control, and think long and hard about how much I want to read a book ahead of time versus just waiting to see what other bloggers think before making my choice to read a book. I've found that a lot of times I'm just fine waiting and I don't need to read so many books as ARCs.

What did you find most discouraging about being a new blogger? How did you deal with this?

Not getting comments is always discouraging, no matter how long you've been in the game, but it can be particularly frustrating as a newbie. I always felt like I was an outsider trying to get into something that people had been doing for years and I'd never be able to carve my own niche or audience. The nice thing about Small's event is that it gave me a group of bloggers to mesh with that were on equal footing. I liked being around fellow newbies so we could share tips as we went along.

What do you find most encouraging?

My fellow bloggers! Just when you think no one is listening to what you have to say, someone will pop over and leave a comment that's just what you need to hear. This community is so supportive and fun and full of people who really love books. I wouldn't still be doing this if it weren't for the awesome friends I've made.

If you could go back in time and speak with your newbie self, what five bits of wisdom would you tell yourself?

1) When people don't respond to your comments, it's not because they don't like you. They just don't have time. Someday soon, you'll understand this.

2) Custom blog designs are worth the expense.

3) One meaningful follower is worth a hundred non-participating ones. Build those relationships!

4) Buy at least one new bookshelf. You're going to be getting a lot more books now.

5) Practice those HTML/CSS skills. Posting is a lot more fun the more creative you can be.

What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog?

I like blogs with interesting features and content. Don't get me wrong - I love memes. They're great for sharing quick bits of info with lots of others, and I rely on them for book recommendations. But the blogs I love reading are the ones that have unique viewpoints or entertaining thoughts about books and publishing. I'm not always the greatest at this, but I do try, and one of my goals for this year is to do more of it with more regular Writing Wednesday and discussion posts.

What do you dislike about blogs you’ve seen? Do you try to avoid this?

Short, one paragraph reviews rarely give me enough information and come across at times like they were written by someone who didn't care. When I started reviewing, my posts were only a couple of paragraphs broken out among my various "impressions" and now my overall impressions are a few paragraphs in that category alone. I've learned the value of well thought out reviews and that as a reader I want more than just a brief overview. A review is personal, yes, but it should also communicate something about the book to the audience. Otherwise, why write and publish it on a blog?

How did you bring your blog to the attention of so many people?

Networking through memes, mostly. Follow Friday is a great way to meet new people, and giveaway hops will draw a lot of new viewers to your blog, too. I don't ever make following a requirement for my giveaways, and you'd be surprised how many people will follow anyway. Try to do guest posts and events with high traffic blog and commenting always helps. I make a point to visit the blog of anyone who comments (even if it takes me a while to do so *gulp*), and I'm sure others do the same.

When and how did you get your first ARC (or first few ARCs)?

I'm pretty sure it was through NetGalley, which is the greatest thing ever. I love it, and the variety of books available on that site has kept me from needing to request paper copies. My first paper ARCs came from Shelf Awareness requests (click on the ads in the daily newsletter), and tour sites are other biggies for me. I was never crazy about needing ARCs, though. I really wanted them at first because I thought it was a status thing, but now I'm content filling my bookshelves with books I want to read rather than with books I need to review.

---

Thank you Small Review for hosting this fabulous event again this year! I can't wait to check out the other answers. If you'd like to get involved, or want to check out other folks' responses, Small has a post explaining it all.

2012 Graphic Novels Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Graphic Novels Challenge
Hosts: Back to Books

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Anything with a cartoon bubble, fiction or non-fiction.
Levels: One: Read 12 books.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I've become infatuated with graphic novels and comic books. This will give me a good excuse to share them on the blog.

Some books I'm considering:

Carbon Grey
Promethea
Captain Swing
Hatter M

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 Speculative Romance Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Speculative Romance Challenge
Hosts: Book Chick City

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Books (no audiobooks) in speculative romance genres (urban fantasy, steampunk, paranormal, sci-fi, etc.).
Levels: 4 levels of 6, 12, 18, or 24 books. I'm choosing Two Sexy Werewolves: 12 books.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I noticed that I got into speculative romance last year and I'd like to read some more of it.

Some books I'm considering:

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 "Books I Started But Didn't Finish" Reading Challenge

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 "Books I Started But Didn't Finish" Reading Challenge
Hosts: A Room of One's Own

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any books you started at some point prior to 2012, but never finished.
Levels: None specified - read as many as you like.
Prizes? Self-motivation encouraged! If I finish these, I get to buy a new hardcover.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I have a bunch of these that I'd like to finally get through.

Some books I'm considering:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore, which I put down to read time-sensitive books and desperately want to finish.
XVI by Julia Karr, which didn't hold my attention at the time.
Divergent by Veronica Roth, which also had to be put down in lieu of review books.
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which I put down to read fiction and never went back.

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 Outlander Reading Challenge Sign-Up

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**



Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Outlander Reading Challenge
Hosts: Literary Escapism

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any of the 7 Outlander series or 4 Lord John Grey series books by Diana Gabaldon.
Levels: None specified - read as many as you like. I know I won't get through all of the Outlander books again, but I'd like to catch up with book 7 and the Lord John Grey series.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

Everyone knows I love Outlander. There are going to be monthly chats about this beloved series as well! See the sign-up post for details.

Some books I'm considering:

An Echo in the Bone
Outlander (again)
All of the Lord John Grey series

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 Off the Shelf Challenge Sign-Up

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Off the Shelf Challenge
Hosts: Bookish Ardour

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Any books owned or acquired prior to 2012.
Levels: 7 levels ranging from 5-200 books. I'm choosing Making a Dint: 30 Books.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I tried really hard to get through older books last year, and it didn't work. Because of the blog, I also acquired a lot of new books last year that I'd like to...you know...actually read. So sign me up!

Some books I'm considering:

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 Get Steampunked! Challenge Sign-Up

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Get Steampunked! Challenge
Hosts: Bookish Ardour

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: Steampunk or Gaslight Fantasy books.
Levels: 7 levels ranging from 5-200 books. I'm choosing Cogged: 15 Books.
Prizes? None.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I really got introduced to steampunk last year, and I want to read so much more of it!

Some books I'm considering:

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 Why Buy the Cow? Challenge Sign-Up

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 Why Buy the Cow? Challenge f/k/a Show Me the Free Challenge
Hosts: The Unread Reader and Reading the Paranormal

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: FREE and LEGAL downloaded ebooks in any genre.
Levels: Three: Coupon Clipper (12 Books), Penny Pincher (24 Books), and Super Saver (30+ Books). I'm choosing Coupon Clipper: 12 Books.
Prizes? Monthly giveaways for participants who link up their reviews.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I love Missie, and I need this motivation to power through the free books I'm always tempted to load onto my Kindle. If I don't read them for this challenge, I doubt I ever will.

Some books I'm considering:

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear
Probably some classics from Project Gutenberg

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.

2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge Sign-Up

**I've swiped Small Review's format for these sign-up posts, because she is awesome and organized and I am lazy and harried**

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Hosts: YA Bliss

Starts: January 1, 2012
Ends: December 31, 2012
Eligible Books: YA or MG historical fiction; do not have to be 2012 releases.
Levels: Three: 5, 10, or 15 books. I'm choosing Level 2: 10 books.
Prizes? Giveaways for participants during the year.
Sign up here!

Why I'm Interested:

I love historical fiction, and I find lots of good reads through the link-ups.

Some books I'm considering:

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren
Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan
War Horse by Michael Marpurgo

Books completed:

Check my progress all year on the sidebar or on my 2012 Challenge Index.