2015 reading by month

I thought I had achieved my Goodreads goal of 50 books until I noticed that a book that I'd read had been added twice, and the list on this blog had another title added incorrectly.

I ALMOST made it - 49 books read in 2015.

I'm such a visual person and I've used LibraryThing widgets for many years but not for a while in my posts.

Here is 2015 by month in visual (widget) form...

So not a bad reading year for the year I've had.

May 2016 be a great reading year for you!!

~Eleni

As 2015 comes to a close...

I'm limping to the finishing line of 2015 with 46 books read so far. My goal on Goodreads had been 50 books as 100 is way more than I have been able to achieve in recent years.

Can I make it to 50? Perhaps. I'll let you know in 2016 on how I do. Wish me luck!



I've recently finished:
The Road to Ruin by Bronwyn Stuart - 5 stars!
Deenie by Judy Blume (a blast from the past author)
The January Wish by Juliet Madison - 4.5 stars!
Vanished, vol 2: books 3 & 4 by Meg Cabot - 5 stars!










Primary book reading in print: 
Soul Screamers Vol 2 by Rachel Vincent



 Other print books still reading:
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)
Little Gems Anthology 2011 Garnet by Romance Writers of Australia
Change of Heart by Lilliana Rose *SARA





Primary reading in ebook form: 
Bloodlust Denied by Christina Phillips



Other e-books:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Twilight Guardians by Maggie Shayne






Graphic Novel reading:
The Gunslinger: The Gunslinger Born by Stephen King (GN) - I had grabbed the wrong version from the library, but now have borrowed the correct one. There are a few graphic novels for the first book in the series.





Audio book listening to:
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare







Next on the TBR list:
The Patterson Girls by Rachael Johns *RWAus



~Enjoy the holiday period. Great time to catch up on some reading.~

Neil Gaiman starts off the Eleni's Library Reading Quotes

Having my own library blog, you know I love to read. In honour of increasing my reading once again in the past month, I'll be starting a new feature - Reading Quotes

I had fun creating this with Canva and I see why the program is so popular. It is quick and easy to use.

Go forth and dream...

26 and a-counting

It's been a long time since I've posted in Eleni's Library. My reading went out the window with the passing of my father and I've only managed to get it back in the couple of weeks in particular.

I'm delighted that I'm able to concentrate again and that the change in my volunteering status has allowed me time to be able to once again feed the soul and my soul was in desperate need to be fed.

I've recently finished:
Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh - 5 stars!

The Darkest Night by Gena Showater

Crazy in the Blood by Lucienne Diver - 5 stars!

 

Primary book reading in print: 
Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast


Other print books still reading:
Poison Kissed by Erica Hayes *Darksider
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)


Primary reading in ebook form: 
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion


Other e-books:
The January Wish by Juliet Madison
The Man in the Blue Flowered Shorts by Susan Lodge *WoW


Graphic Novel reading:
The Gunslinger by Stephen King (GN version)


Audio book listening to:
Reckless by Amanda Quick



Next on the TBR shelf:
The Road to Ruin by Bronwyn Stuart *SARA



Happy reading all!

Past the 10 mark!

I'm past 10 number of books read - which considering that last year I read 25 books total, is really amazing. Huzzah!

Just finished reading: 

Keeping Your Business Organized: Time Management & Workflow by James Fischer

- didn't realise this was aimed at young adults who are starting a business, so a quick look at scheduling and organisation. Which really is perfect to get my head into time & business management again. Having CFS, some of these processes goes out the window. 

- This is also the first book of the year written by a male!

Primary book reading in print: 

Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh
- I'm over the half way point. It's a different take of time-slips and I feel a love triangle or triangles brewing. :) 

Other print books still reading:
Poison Kissed by Erica Hayes *Darksider
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)
Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast
The Darkest Night by Gena Showater

Primary reading in ebook form: 

Crazy in the Blood by Lucienne Diver

Other e-books:
Dragon Night by Stephanie Campbell

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Graphic Novel reading:

Percy Jackson & The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordon (adapted by Robert Venditti)

Audio book listening to:
Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris

Next on the TBR shelf:

The Road to Ruin by Bronwyn Stuart *SARA

The Man in the Blue Flowered Shorts by Susan Lodge *WoW

Yes this is a big list, but I listen to my mood and energy level when I go reading, so that dark gritty mystery isn't right for when I need or something lighter. I get more reading done this way, otherwise things languish not because they are not good books but because of me. 

~Happy Reading~

Six items read...

A good way to start the year is 6 books. If I go at this rate, I may just read my goal of 50 books. Obviously having short stories, novellas, and audio books help in this goal and I'm fine with that!

Just finished reading: Scary Kisses by Liz Grzyb (anthology)

Primary book reading in print: Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh


Others:
Poison Kissed by Erica Hayes
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)
Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast
The Darkest Night by Gena Showater


Primary reading in ebook form: Liminal by Maree Anderson


Others:
More Than Just One Night by Claire Baxter
Dressed to Slay by Harper Allen


Audio:
Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz



















What are you reading?


~yia~

The year that was 2014....

really sucked! I'm not going to mince my words. I ended up reading 25 books which is way under what I wanted but at least I read something.

To see how I did in 2014, you can go to the Past Challenges page.

Basically I pretty much didn't reach my goals but it was a lousy year, so I'm not going to beat myself up over it.

Now onto 2015 reading!!!


~Happy Reading~

2014 so far

It's been a year of reading in little bits. I love reading by the CFS doesn't always allow me to keep going into the night and read as my body once did. Hence I read in little bursts - when I go to bed, when I wake up, in waiting rooms, or waiting in general.

Instead of concentrating on what I can't do, let's have a look at what I have done so far in 2014.

19 books. It's the lowest I've read in years but at least I'm reading. :)

1. Rapture in Death (In Death #4) by J.D. Robb - audio
2. Paying the Forfeit by S.E. Gilchrist (short story)
3. Identity Shift by Mel Teshco (short story)
4. Temptation in a Bottle by Shona Husk (short story)
5. The Outcast Prince (Court of Annwyn #1) by Shona Husk 
6. Lord of the Hunt (Court of Annwyn #2) by Shona Husk
7. The Rebel King (Suddenly Royal #1) by Melissa James 
8. Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum #14) by Janet Evanovich - audio
9. The Killing Hour (Quince & Rainie #4) by Lisa Gardner
10. Fatal Voyage (Tempereance Brennan #4) by Kathy Reichs
11. The Blood She Betrayed by Cheryse Durrant
12. The Exile by Diana Gabaldon (Graphic Novel)
13. Bad Blood (Latter-Day Olympians #1) by Lucienne Diver
14. Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
15. All I Want for Christmas by Nora Roberts
16. The Heir by Johanna Lindsey
17. Dr No Commitment by Virginia Taylor
18. A Feast of Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) by George R. R. Martin
19. The Changeling Soldier (Court of Annwyn #2.5) by Shona Husk

Not only had I not keeping this blog updated but Goodreads hadn't been also. Though at least I'd listed some on there. so I've done a quick check in with all my reading there as well.

The blog has had a small cosmetic change to it's look - mainly background and text colours - fits more in line with my website and Eleni's Taverna blog.

Currently reading:

• Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur
• Time Thief by Anna Hackett

~Happy Reading!!

Abysmal reading

Yep, that says it all.

My lack of reading has indeed been abysmal but what is even worse is the fact that I haven't recorded what I have read for a while. With health and study and other projects I'm working on, the brain cells are not firing on all cylinders. I think because I've been reading ebooks on my iPhone lately, this has also made me tired. I need to mix it up a bit.

Now I have to think back to what I read - egads!

From 1st May, I'm going to make more of an effort with keeping everything in check.

I did write a couple of reviews on the SARA blog -

March Reading Adventures

February Reading Adventures


I'm currently reading - 

The Blood She Betrayed by Cheryse Durrant

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich



~Happy Reading!~

Series I am reading

I am currently in the midst of reading many series, and on the cusp of starting some new ones.

Here they are as they stand on this date (4th Jan) but I have created a page where it will change....

http://elenis-library.blogspot.com.au/p/series-reading.html


How about you - do you like series?

• Anne Gracie's The Devil Riders Series (book 2 on TBR)
• Nicole Murphy's Dream of Asarlai (book 2 on TBR)
• Rowena Cory Daniell's King Rolen's Kin (book 2 on TBR)
• Nalini Singh's  Psy/Changeling (up to book 4)
• Guild Hunter (book 2 on TBR)
• Shona Husk's The Shadowlands (book 2 on TBR)
• J.R. Ward's The Black Dagger Brotherhood (up to book 11)
• Fallen Angels (up to book 2)
• Nicola E. Sheridan's Magical series (book 2 on TBR)
• Meg Cabot Insatiable (up to book 2)
• The Heather Wells Mysteries  (up to book 2)
• Vanished  (up to vol 2
• Janni Nell's Allegra Fairweather Mysteries  (book 2 on TBR)
• John Scalzi's Old Man's War (up to book 3)
• Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate Series  (up to book 4)
• Kylie Griffin's The Light-Blade Novels (book 2 on TBR)
• Keri Arthur's Dark Angels (book 1 on TBR) * about to start *
• C.E. Murphy's The Old Races (book 3 on TBR)
• The Walker Papers (up to book 5)
• Stephen King's The Dark Tower (book 2 on TBR)
• Tara Moss's  Mak Vanderwall (up to book 2)
• Pandora English (up to book 2)
• Michelle Sagara's The Chronicles of Elantra (book 2 on TBR)
• Terry Pratchett's Discworld (up to book 3)
• Maggie Shayne's Wings in the Night (read book 4 & 5, going back to book 1 on TBR)
• Helene Young's sequel to Wings of Fear
• Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter (up to book 7)
• J.D. Robb's In Death (up to book 5)
• Kathy Reich's Temperance Brennan (up to book 4)
• George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (currently reading book 4)
• Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson (up to book 2)
• Jennifer Fallon's The Demon Child trilogy (up to book 2)
• Scott Westerfield's Leviathan (up to book 2)
• Shannay Jay's The Chronicles of Tenebrak (up to book 2)
• Mel Teshco's Winged and Dangerous (book 3 on TBR)
• Alien Hunger (book 2 on TBR)
• Maria V. Snyder The Study Books (book 2 on TBR)
• Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse (up to book 5)
• Lily Bard Mysteries (up to book 2)
• Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians (up to book 2)
• Gena Showalter Alien Huntress (book 2 on TBR)
• Laura Anne Gilman Retrievers (book 3 on TBR)
• Kylie Scott's Flesh (book 2 on TBR)
• Catherine Asaro's The Lost Continent (book 2 on TBR)
• Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files (up to book 3)
• Erica Hayes' Shadowfae Chronicles (book 3 on TBR)
• Diana Gabaldon's Outlander (book 7 on TBR)
• Lizzie T. Leaf's DEAD (book 2 on TBR)
• Sharon Ledwin's Atlantis (book 2 on TBR)
• Rachel Vincent's Soulscreamers (currently reading book 3)
• Sean William's Books of the Change (up to book 2)
• Troubletwisters (up to book 2)
• Denise Rossetti's The Four Sided Pentacle (book 3 on TBR)
• Kelly Meding's Dreg City (up to book 2)
• Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (up to Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
• Jenny Schwartz's Out of the Bottle trilogy (book 2 on TBR)
• Mercedes Lackey's The Five Hundred Kingdoms (up to book 4)
• Christina Phillips' Forbidden series (book 3 on TBR)
• Stieg Larson's Millennium (up to book 2)
• Neil Gaiman's Sandman (up to volume 5)
• Laurell K Hamilton Anita Blake Vampire Hunter (up to book 4)
• Merry Gentry (up to book 5)
• John Marsden's Tomorrow (up to book 3)
• Lisa Gardner's FBI Profiler (up to book 4)
• Lauren Kate's Fallen (up to book 2)
• Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl (up to book 4)
• Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum (currently reading book 14)
• Max Holt (up to book 5)
• Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy (up to book 2)
• Caitlan Brennan's White Magic (up to book 3)
• Kerry Greenwood's Phyrne Fisher Mysteries (up to book 2)
• Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices

Australian Women Writers Challenge 2013 - Overview

A much better year for reading Australian Women Writers. I branched out with a couple of new to me authors. However being part of the Romance Writers of Australia, I read many books by members in a mixture of genres.

I look forward to 2014.

1. Finding Veronica by Louise Forster (review on Goodreads)
2. The Inner Gentlemen by Alli Kincaid  (review on Goodreads)
3. Tangled Reigns by Stephanie Laurens (review on Goodreads)
4. Cityglitter by Carla Caruso (review on Goodreads)
5. Sin's Darkest Caress by Tracey O'Hara (on Goodreads)
6. Creating Wings by Lilliana Rose (on Goodreads)
7. Boyfriend In A Bottle by Shona Husk (review on Goodreads)
8. Gather the Bones by Alison Stuart (review on Goodreads)
9. Wild Encounter by Nikki Logan (review on Goodreads)
10. Archangel of Mercy by Christina Ashcroft (review on Goodreads)
11. Shut Up and Kiss Me by Rhian Cahill (review on Goodreads)
12. Thief of Light by Denise Rossetti (review on Goodreads)
13. In Focus by Anna Jacobs (review on Goodreads)
14. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood (review on Goodreads)
15. Harbinger by Peta Crake (review on Goodreads)
16. It's Love, Dude by Jenny Schwartz (review on Goodreads)
17. A Sporting Chance by Rhyll Biest (review on Goodreads)
18. Flesh by Kylie Scott (review on Goodreads)

~Eleni

December Reads

The year ended up on a good note with the following stories. I like that it was a range of genres and media.

• Harbinger by Peta Crake
• SNOOP (Snoop Cases #1) by Eleni Konstantine * (own story)
• I.C.U.R. Private Detectives by Kerri Lane (Children's)
• A Sporting Chance (Hot Down Under series) by Rhyll Biest (short story)
• Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie (audio)
• Flesh (Flesh #1) by Kylie Scott
• The Sandman Vol 4: Seasons of Mists by Neil Gaiman (Comic book)

Looking forward to reading a range of stories again in 2014 :)

November Reads

My goodness, it's halfway through December and I haven't listed my November reads.

• Thief of Light (The Four Sided Pentacle #2) by Denise Rossetti
• Her Royal Behindness by Kerri Lane (children's) 
• Zoo Goo by Kerri Lane (children's) 
• In Focus by Anna Jacobs (audio) 
• Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher #1) by Kerry Greenwood (audio)

I enjoyed all these titles.


~ Happy Reading!~

October reads

Just a quick post to note down what I read in October.

• Three Days to Dead (Dreg City, Book 1) by Kelly Meding
• Shut Up And Kiss Me: Hot Down Under by Rhian Cahill (short story)
• Masquerade (Love Notes) by Sloane Taylor
• Archangel of Mercy by Christina Ashcroft
• Wild Encounter by Nikki Logan
• The Ultimate Neil Gaiman Audio Collection by Neil Gaiman

All in all a really good month.

~Happy reading!~

Book Review posts

Both my groups the DarkSiders and the SARAs have book reviews on their blogs.

The latest for both has gone up this week.

DarkSiders - What We Are Reading? compiled by Shona Husk

SARA - Reading Adventures compiled by Eleni Konstantine (aka moi).


Happy Reading!

Progress

I'm starting to do some more reading again. Thank goodness! I hate it when life gets so busy and tiring that my brain doesn't have the energy to read. But I have been doing a little bit more since I returned from conference.

So since my last post:

• Sin's Dark Caress by Tracey O'Hara
• The Time Machine by H.G Wells
• A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
• War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
• Creating Wings by Lilliana Rose

The H.G. Wells books were on audio tape. I like to listen to books as I go to campus which is at least a 30 min drive away. 

I have my reviews of The Time Machine, and also Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet on the SARA blog. 

Today, I finished Lilliana Rose's book of poetry, Creating Wings. It is very inspiring and encourages people to find their own wings. 

I let myself go with the flow, and not agonising over the meanings and savoured the moment of each poem. Lilliana is a very talented poet and I enjoyed her style. 

Until next time, happy reading!

20, count them, 20 books...

Did you hear Count Dracula read that?

I'm actually excited to have reached 20 books with this busy and low health year I've had. I've got more on the go, but I'm reading them slowly as that's all I can manage ATM.

Happy Reading!

Be verra verra quiet...I'm hunting books...

No, I'm not really but it has been very very quiet in here.

The fact is that my health hasn't been the best and it's been taking longer to do things and my ability to concentrate on reading.

Frustrating? You betcha.

There are some days when I start to read a page and I fall asleep - nothing to do with how good the book is. It's just if I'm tired, I can no longer do the all night reads I used to. It's such a shame.

What I have been doing is listening to audio books as you can see on my audio challenge page.

So far this year, I have listened to:

• Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie
• An Angel at Christmas by Heather Graham
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Covet by Tara Moss
• The Truth About Magic by Dave Luckett

I'm currently listening to Tangled Reins by Stephanie Laurens.

You may have noticed by the titles, but there is a variety to my listening. We have contemporary romance, mystery, sci-fi, crime, children's fantasy, and historical romance. I wonder what I'll get next?

Do you like listening to audio books? If so, are there any faves you would like to share?

Happy reading - or listening in this case!

Another Challenge - UF and PR

Okay, so I wasn't going to do another challenge, but because I can add what I read to more than one challenge, I'm going to take this one on because I've got so many that I want to read.

Here are the details from Book Chick City:



Timeline: 01 Jan 2013 – 31 Dec 2013

Rules: There are FOUR (4) LEVELS to choose from
        One Howl: Read 12 UF/PNR books in 2013
        Two Howls: Read 24 UF/PNR books in 2013
        Three Howls: Read 36 UF/PNR books in 2013
        Four Howls: Read 48 UF/PNR books in 2013

• You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2013 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.
• At the beginning of Jan 2013, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.
• Audiobooks are accepted.
• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.
• You DO NOT have to write reviews of the books you read, but if you decide to then there will be a place each month for you to link up your reviews.
• You don’t have to have a blog to join in – for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books.

Happy Reading!

January reads

In addition to the two books I read and posted about previously, I have one more book to add to January's bundle.

Finding Veronica by Louise Forster.

I reviewed it at Goodreads, but here it is below...

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the characters were witty and likeable, the Aussie town was quirky, and the mystery of Veronica and the foreign men was a good subplot. I really enjoyed the romance and the banter between Jennifer and Callum, and also the family closeness of Jennifer with her sister and niece. Lots of laugh out loud moments- firemen, bagpipes, and bulls - and some really emotional moments remember the uncle.

I know that there is another book called 'Finding Elizabeth' on the way. Can't wait to read it.

Being an Australian Author, this has gone into the AWW challenge.

~Happy Reading~