52 Weeks Book Challenge

Once again I will be participating in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge that is hosted by Robin of My Two Blessings. You can find info on the challenge here. I have been participating in this reading challenge since January of 2010. I have yet to read 52 books in 52 weeks but you never know! My goal this year is to read 35 books. Last year my goal was to read 30 and I exceeded that by 3 so we shall see what happens this year. As always, I will post my review of each book I read on my blog. Please feel free to leave me comments as we go along. Are you participating in any reading challenges this year?

52 Weeks Book Review Wrap Up

Well~ it has been an interesting reading year. To sum up my book reading list I am going use the 52 Book Challenge questionnaire to give you a my year in review. 


1. How many books did you read and did you meet or exceed your own personal goal? I read 33 books this year. My goal was to read 30 books. 

2. What are your Top 5 (or more) stories? Top 5 least favorite?

Top 5

Without a Trace by Colleen Cobel

Beyond a Doubt by Colleen Cobel

Into the Deep by Colleen Cobel

Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann

Unforgotten by Kristen Heitzmann

Echos by Kristen Heitzmann

I didn't have least favorite books. I enjoyed them all.

3. One book you thought you'd never read and were pleasantly surprised you like. Holes by Louis Sachar

4. Most thrilling un-put-downable book.
The Colleen Cobel book series.

5. Did you come across a story you that you enjoyed so much you turned around an read it again or are planning on reading it again in 2014? I didn't re-read anything and probably won't re-read any of these in 2014.

6. One book you thought you would love but didn't.
The Camel Club by David Baldacci. I didn't dislike it but I thought it would grab me from the start but it took a long time to get into it.

7. Which book or books had the greatest impact on you this year? The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer and The Stress Answer by Frank Lawlis

8. Do you have a favorite cover or quote from a story you'd like to share? 

9. What book would you recommend everyone read? The Debt by Angela Hunt. 

10. What was your favorite part of the challenge? Did you do any mini-challenges? I didn't realize until halfway through the year that most of the books I read were new to me authors. I didn't do any mini-challenges this year. Maybe next year. I enjoyed exceeding my personal goal for this year. 

Here is an index link to each book review from 2013.

1. Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes
2. Holes by Louis Sachar
3. Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes
4. Private Justice by Terri Blackstock
5. Shadow of Doubt by Terri Blackstock
6. Word of Honor by Terri Blackstock
7. Trial by Fire by Teri Blackstock
8. Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyers
9. Line of Duty by Teri Blackstock
10. The Stress Answer by Frank Lawlis
11. Without a Trace by Colleen Cobel
12. Beyond a Doubt by Colleen Cobel
13. Into the Deep by Colleen Cobel
14. A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston
15. A promise of Hope by Amy Clipston
16.A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston
17 The Debt by Angela Hunt
18. A Life of Joy by Amy Clipston
19. A Season of Love by Amy Clipston
20. Abomination by Colleen Coble
21. A Cry in the Night by Colleen Coble
22. Peter Pan by J. M. Barre
23. Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann
24. Unforgotten by Kristen Heitzmann
25. Echoes by Kristen Heitzmann
26. A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter
27. Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble
28. A Sister's Test by Wanda E. Brunstetter
29. King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
30. A Sister's Hope by Wanda E. Brunstetter
31. Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin
32. The Camel Club by David Baldacci
33. The Book Thief by Markus Zukas

52 Books in 52 Weeks

 The last book of the year. Wow. I set a goal to read 30 books this year and I exceeded that goal by 3! The last book for 2013 was a last minute choice spurred on by the release of the movie The Book Thief. The Book Thief takes place during WWII in  Nazi Germany and is narrated by the character "Death". I wasn't sure at first if I was too keen on the idea of reading something narrated by "Death" but it was not creepy at all, in fact, I quickly forgot that was the narrators character and given the books theme it was very appropriate. The book centers on the life of a young German girl, Liesel, who is brought to the home of Hans and Rosa Huberman in the small town of Molching, after her mother becomes sick. On the way there, her brother dies on the train and is buried in a town along the way. That is where Liesel steals her first book, even though she cannot read. She is taught to read by her foster father and the book describes the events of the small town and how a young Jewish man comes to be hidden in the Huberman's home. The Huberman's obviously do not hold the same view as Nazi party and only time will tell if they will pay for their unpopular beliefs. There are parts of the book that are very touching, as we see the relationships form between neighbors during the time of war but there are also parts of the book that describe events not suitable for young impressionable youth. Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was written from an interesting perspective and brought out the point that, at first, Hitler didn't start his campaign to conquer the world with the force of weapons but through the use of words in a book. The power of the written word, a very interesting thought to ponder.  

52 Weeks Book Challenge

 It has been several weeks since I have updated my book reading on my blog. I have been reading just too busy to write about it! I decided to read a book by David Baldacci, an author I had never read before. We picked up several of his books at a library sale a while back so I chose book 1 in The Camel Club series. 

The book introduces four men who are basically conspiracy theorists living in Washington D.C. who meet regularly to discuss their theories about government corruption. During a secret meeting on Roosevelt Island, they witness a body being dropped off. They do a bit of checking and find that the dead man holds a high position in one of the country's security agencies. Unfortunately the murderers track them down and the fun begins. What the Camel Club thinks is a simple murder turns into a mega-plot to assassinate  the president of the United States. This book took me until chapter 27 to really "get into" the story lines. There are many more characters and plot lines than I can even begin to go into. I think I was expecting Baldacci to be Grisham and grab me from chapter one. When that didn't happen, I wanted to give up but I stuck with the book and did get to a place where I couldn't put it down. All in all, it was a good book.