December Summary

When December started, I had a total of 201 followers. Now I have 247 followers! I am definitely surprised by this! I never thought I would get over 200 and now I have 247. Thank you all for following me.

Events:
I participated in The Holiday Break Reading Challenge! It was so much fun (in fact it is still going on until tomorrow. I enjoyed participating in the different challenges. Plus, I did get some reading done and some reviews written!

I also participated in the Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon. It was definitely fun, but I only managed to read 2 books during that time. I did have fun participating in the mini challenges plus I did write a couple reviews.

I also signed up for a bunch of challenges:

1. Off the Shelf
2. Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
3. 2011 Debut Author Challenge
4. The 50 States Reading Challenge
5. Dystopia Challenge
6. 1st In A Series Reading Challenge
7. 350 Page Books Challenge
8. Vampire Challenge 2011
9. Zombies! Satisfy Your Undying Hunger! Challenge
10. 2011 YA Reading Challenge

I will have fun next year trying to complete all of these!

The biggest and newest thing that happened here at Swords for Fighting was that I hosted my very first contest! I gave away a $45 Gift Code to CSN Stores! (Winner will be announced soon)

I reviewed 10 books this month. I wanted to review at least 12, but that did not happen. There is always January!

Books reviewed (and links to their reviews):

• The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens
• The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
• ttfn by Lauren Myracle
• Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
  

Number of books read in December: 12

Favorite book read this month: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Least favorite book read this month: ttfn by Lauren Myracle

To Be Read List Total at the beginning of the month: 122

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 120

Goals for January:

• Review at least 12 books
• Read at least 10 books
• Lower TBR Pile
• Catch up on reviews
  

Goals for 2011:

• Read at least 10 books each month
• Review books as soon as I finish reading them
• Read at least 2 books off of the bottom of my TBR pile each month (I've had some of these books for years!)
• Finish all of the challenges I signed up for
  

Swords are for fighting,

November Summary

When November started, I had a total of 182 followers....well now I have 201! I am so surprised! I never thought I would have this many followers.

Events:
I participated in I Heart Monster's I Am Number Four Read-A-Long, which was a blast! It was fun to read this book with a few other people.

I reviewed 8 books this month. I hope to review at least 12 in December, but we will see how that goes.

Books reviewed (and links to their reviews):

• Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine
• Torment by Lauren Kate
  
• Santa Paws on Christmas Island by Kris Edwards
• Aries Rising by Bonnie Hearn Hill
• Wicked by Sara Shepard
  
• Taurus Eyes by Bonnie Hearn Hill
• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
  
• Gemini Night by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Number of books read in November: 10

Favorite book read this month: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Least favorite book read this month: Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens
It's not that I did not enjoy it, it's just that poetry is not my thing.

To Be Read List Total at the beginning of the month: 106

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 122

Even though I did not buy any books this month, I still managed to add to my TBR pile. I think I have a serious problem. I am going to continue my Book Buying Ban in December and try not to add to my TBR pile any more.

Goals for December:

• Review at least 12 books
• Buy no books (besides the ones I already ordered...)
• Read at least 10 books
• Join some reading challenges for next year

Swords are for fighting,

October Summary

At the beginning of October, I had 156 followers. As of today, I have 182 followers! Thanks for following and a huge welcome to new followers.

Events:
I participated in 2 read-a-thons! The first was Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. I ended up reading only 1 book and part of another one, but it was fun!

I also participated in the Halloween Read-A-Thon hosted by YA Books Reviewed. Since I had so much going on, I only read 1 book and started another. Not too good, but at least I got some reading done!

I reviewed 9 books this month. Sorry about the lack of reviews recently. I will try my best to get more up, but school comes first!

Books reviewed (and links to their reviews):

• The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
• Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
• Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
• Jealousy by Lili St. Crow
• Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
• Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II
• Empire of Night by Justin Somper
• The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
• Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Number of books read in October: 7

Favorite book read this month: Torment by Lauren Kate

Least favorite book read this month: Hard choice because I enjoyed all of the books I read this month. I guess my least favorite book was The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle, but I definitely enjoyed this book.

To Be Read List Total at the beginning of the month: 94

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 106

I think I need to go on a Book Buying Ban. My TBR list is getting way too out of control. Especially since I do not have as much time to read in the month. My goal for November is to not buy any books (besides the ones I have already pre-ordered).

Goals for November:

• Review more books
• Buy no books (besides the ones I already ordered...)
• Read at least 10 books
  

Swords are for fighting,

September Summary

At the beginning of the month, I had 144 followers and now I have 156! Thanks for following me.

I reviewed 13 books this month.

Books reviewed:

• Winter Longing by Tricia Mills


• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith


• Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz


• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins


• Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz


• Heist Society by Ally Carter


• Creepers by Joanne Dahme


• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


• Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler


• Unraveled by Gena Showalter


• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White


• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


• Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Number of books read in September: 10

To Be Read List Total at the beginning of the month: 76

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 94

I really need to get that number down!

Swords are for fighting,

What I Accomplished in August

August was a pretty busy month for me! I am proud to say that I had at least one post up each day! Also, I now have 144 followers! Thank you for following me!

Here are some of the highlights:

I participated in The Book Vixen's and The Book Junkie's Bookshelf's Book Club for August where we read and discussed The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I really enjoyed the book, and I had a lot of fun with the book club. The discussion posts definitely made me think:

• Discussion Post 1


• The Last Song Review


• Discussion Questions

I also participated in Bibliophilic Book Blog's Read Your Own Books Read-A-Thon. I managed to read 3 books total in one weekend!

I participated in Book Crazy's From Dawn to Dusk A Read-A-Thon, and I ended up reading 2 books.

I reviewed a total of 17 books!

Books reviewed:

• The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
  


• Betrayals (Strange Angels #2) by Lili St. Crow


• The Host by Stephenie Meyer


• Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard


• Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard


• Dark Flame (The Immortals #4) by Alyson Noel
  


• Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


• Dead Deep (Vampirates #1.5) by Justin Somper


• Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
  


• The Line by Teri Hall


• Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder


• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr


• Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely #2) by Melissa Marr
  


• Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine


• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Number of Books read in August: 15 <--The most books I have read in a month this year!

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 76

I received 4 awards. The Versatile Blogger Award from Kailia Sage at Reading the Best of the Best and also from Sara over at Along for the Ride, the Pertinent Posts Award from Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books, the Bodacious Blog Award from vvb32 Reads, and the Summer Blogger Award from Liberty Falls Down. Thank you all. I am very grateful for all of them!

I think I had a very productive month!

Swords are for fighting,