Bout of Books 5.0 Mini Challenges

Being new to this whole read-a-thon thing, I wasn't really sure what I was getting into. I had no intention of joining in any of the mini-challenges, but I gave it a shot yesterday (Monday) and it ended up being a ton of fun. So . . . no promises on participating in every challenge, but this is where I'll be playing along. Feel free to join in if you like!

MONDAY

Literary BFF hosted by Auggie Talk: Everyone has that one character. The character that they know they could relate to, get along with, have fun with, and laugh with. A literary BFF! Tell us who your literary BFF is and why they're your always friend. What do you guys do together? What do you talk about? Get creative and let us know who your Literary Best Friend is!

 Well, this isn't something I've ever thought about before, but I think Jo from Little Women could be my BFF. She's feisty, independent, passionate, imaginative . . . I see myself in her. And we'd have a great time together! (She made her sisters do all those plays. My brother got roped into all sorts of performances!)


Passing Books hosted by Reading in Texas and The Space Between: Tell us what happens to your books after you have read them.

Because I bring so MANY books into my house, I'm not able to keep very many of them. Typically, I use them as prizes for giveaways, pass them along to my grandmother and her friens (or other friends), or donate them. (Does this make me the worst book blogger ever?!)

TUESDAY

Limericks hosted by Curiosity Killed the Bookworm: For today's challenge, I'd like you to write me a bookish or bloggish limerick.

Ooh . . . I used to love writing limericks in school. Hmmm . . . I wonder what that says about me?!

there once was a girl named Brooke
who always had her nose in a book
she read night and day
until she ran away
to hide out in her own book nook! 

Relocate! hosted by The Grammarian's Reviews: Use your current read. Now relocate the characters! How does this change the story?

Wow . . . so you're going to make me think, huh?! I'm reading A Texan's Honor by Shelley Gray right now. It's currently set a few years after the Civil War on a train out west. The portion I've been reading has been all about a robbery and hostage situation on a train.

I would relocate the characters to a present day time in a village in Africa. I could imagine the hostages being taken captive by village warlords. It would definitely increase the intensity. It could also be interesting learning about a different culture. For some reason, I think the main character would be a missionary in this village.

WEDNESDAY

Book Word Search hosted by The Musings of ALMYBNENR: Today on The Musings of ALMYBNENR, I have a Book Word Search for you. I created a word search with twenty words, including my blog name and the Bout of Books name…you know, in case you need a reminder of what this is for. ;) The other eighteen words are the titles of all my absolute favorite reads so far this year.

This was a fun challenge. It took a little while to finish, but I'm glad I took a break to do it. :)

Match the Zombie Book Cover hosted by The Busy Bibliophile: Look at the numbered book covers and select the book name that matches each cover.

Ha! This was hilarious. I've never read anything about zombies and I turned out to be a horrible guesser, but it was funny so I suppose that's all that counts, huh?

THURSDAY

A Book for Every Season hosted by Reading in Winter: Name the perfect book for each season of the year! The book can either have the name of the season in the title, or — and this is the preferred way! — the book can take place in that specific season.

Summer - Love Finds You in Mackinac Island by Melanie Dobson

Fall - Through Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond

Winter - A Texan's Honor by Shelley Gray

Spring - Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate

Candy Challenge hosted by Book Smartie: I'd like you to share either what's your favorite snack while reading - do you snack at all? Or do you - like me - sometimes try to eat (or drink) exactly what the characters in the story are having?

I've not really thought about it before, but I don't really eat that much while I'm reading—other than the back of cereal boxes and such. :) BUT, I did eat a popsicle while I was eating tonight. Weird, huh?

Contemporary Challenge hosted by Books with Cass: Choose your favorite contemporary of 2012 (thus far). Choose your favorite contemporary cover of 2012 (thus far). Explain your biggest *surprise* contemporary book of this year. (Surprise contemporary means: the book you may have not expected to love, but did.)

 Favorites: My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade & Wish You Were Here by Beth K Vogt

Cover: The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

Surprise: Cottage by the Sea by Robin Jones Gunn (I knew I would like it, but I didn't know I was going to love it!)

FRIDAY

Most Looking Forward To hosted by Pages of Forbidden Love: 1. What book are you most looking forward to based on summary alone? Feel free to show off the summary! 2. What book are you most looking forward to based on cover art alone? Feel free to show off the beautiful cover art!

Based on summary alone? That would probably be Short-Straw Bride by Karen Whitmeyer. Good thing it's in my TBR stack!

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

Based on cover alone? A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund. Of course, I love Jody's novels, but this cover is just so different from a lot of the historical fiction out there right now. Plus, the dark sky, the motion of the tie, and the cute guy. Love it!