Reading Challenges 2024: January Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in January:

For the challenge in the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction FB group I needed a book that was an author's debut novel. I chose to read Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer.

For the challenge over at Crystal Caudill's blog, I read Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble. 

For the challenge in the Eating Our Words FB group I was also able to use Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble for my January book. With this challenge, we can choose to read the book IN the month, or any time of the year, OR we can do both. So, like last year, I am choosing to try both. 

I read another book for January, The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold. 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse works for March. Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer fits in for April. Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black works for June. I chose to use Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer for September. If I Were You by Lynn Austin works for October. 

For the challenge in The Posse FB group, I read 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse.

I chose to start the Read Your Bookshelf challenge from Chantel Reads All Day with the Arthur Conan Doyle side of the flow chart. I am currently reading The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson. 

I really enjoyed Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong, which was the January book in the Between the Pages FB group challenge/book discussion.

One of the authors I follow, Malissa Chapin, is also doing a challenge on her FB page, Malissa Chapin's Merry Band of Book Lovers:

I haven't read my January book for the Malissa Chapin challenge, but I am using Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble for the February challenge as the author is one of my favorite Christian suspense authors and I would say I admire her for her ability to write such awesome books. 

Five of the books I read in January work for the January challenge in the Faith Filled Fiction FB group. Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer, Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer, If I Were You by Lynn Austin, An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey, and Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong.

For the Literary Escapes Challenge here is what I read in each month. 

In January I read books set in the following states:

Alaska: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse 
Arkansas: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer
Illinois: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer 
Missouri: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Oregon: Huband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
South Carolina: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble 
Wyoming:  Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black 

And I traveled to England with If I Were You by Lynn Austin

Here is what I've read for the Alphabet Soup Challenge:

D: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer, The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

F: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble, Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black 
H: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong 
I: If I Were You by Lynn Austin 

T: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer
U: An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey 

Here's what I've read for the 2024 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader. 

In January I read books set in the following European country:

England: If I Were You by Lynn Austin 

I also decided I was going to read one Christmas book each month. 

For January I started The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson; however, I haven't finished it yet.

Also, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group again came up with a yearly book challenge. This year we have 50 prompts:

Read a book...

1. With a title that starts with a P

2. By an author you’ve never tried before: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer

3. Set on the coast

4. With a tree on the cover

5. By an author whose name starts with a J

6. From a genre outside your comfort zone

7. With an adverb in the title

8. Featuring a character with grey hair

9. That has won a Carol award

10. Published in 2024

11. By a debut author: An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey

12. Written by multiple authors

13. With a green cover

14. That is a bestseller

15. Set on a boat, train, or plane

16. With an illustrated cover: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

17. With a main character who is disabled

18. With a single mother or father

19. Written by an indie author: Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black

20. Set somewhere you’ve been: If I Were You by Lynn Austin

21. Featuring law enforcement 

22. Published during the summer

23. Set during a holiday

24. That is considered women’s fiction 

25. Featuring a Jewish character

26. Set over 100 years ago

27. That contains bible verses

28. With a teenager as a main character 

29. With a one word title 

30. A book you preordered

31. With a solid colored cover

32. By an author who writes with a pen name 

33. That takes place in a national park 

34. With a title that starts with an M

35. By a male author

36. That includes pirates

37. By an author whose name starts with the letter T

38. That has been made into a movie or television show 

39. With forgiveness as a topic or theme: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

40. Featuring a journalist 

41. That includes sisters: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble

42. With a midwife or doula

43. That takes place in a country you’ve never been to

44. That is lighthearted or humorous: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

45. Set during WWII

46. That you choose because of the cover

47. By an author who writes multiple genres: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse

48. With a dual timeline 

49. With a second chance romance

50. Recommended by someone you know

Also, I joined in with a second yearly challenge last year in the Scripture Literature-You Are What You Read group. I just never added it to my blog post. So, this year I'm adding it here, though the post is going to be so long. LOL. 

So, here it is:

1- Takes place in Israel

2- Second chance: An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey

3- Not your usual genre

4- Significant church event

5- Well known author/lesser known book

6- Major motion picture

7- About an influential Christian

8- A Mysterious disappearance

9- Speculative Fiction

10- Protagonist has a disease/disability

11- Recommended by an author

12- Includes angels

13- An inheritance: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble 

14- Finish what you started: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse 

15- Carol Award winner

16- A Spy

17- Forgiveness

18- Redemption

19-Less than 200 pages

20. Two or More Authors

21. By your Favorite Author

22. Male Protagonist

23. Recommended on this Page

24. Blended Families

25. Book of Devotions

26. Christian Literary Classic

27. Dystopian

28. Mistaken Identity: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer 

29. A Life Lesson: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

30. Bible Retelling

31. The American Frontier

32. Features Music

33. Recovering from Addiction

34. Gothic Romance

35. Eye Catching Cover: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer

36. Takes Place on an Island

37. Spiritual Warfare

38. Protagonist Shares your Occupation

39. Written by a Famous Christian

40. Family Estrangement: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold 

41. Tear Jerker

42. Treasure Hunt

43. New to you Author

44. Mother-Daughter Bond

45. 2023 Best Seller

46. Title Includes a Color

47. Fairytale

48. On your TBR

49. Alternate Reality

50. Written before 1950

51. Includes a Foreign Language

52. Includes a Historical Monarch: If I Were You by Lynn Austin

53. Choose your own Adventure  

My Goodreads goal is to read 110 books this year. Last year I had set it at 100 and I ended up reading 122. So far this year I have read 9 books. 

Phew, I know this seems like a lot, even more than last year, but like last year, I hope to be able to combine challenges where possible. And with the yearly challenges, I read books for the other challenges and then see where they fit in the yearly challenge lists. Also, when I pick books for the monthly challenges, I will try to choose books that take place in different states or countries. Also, I'll probably prioritize the challenges I've been doing longer if I start struggling with keeping up.