2023 Reading Goal’s Giveaway

I haven’t shared my 2023 reading goals with you yet so I thought I would do that here as well as tally up my first quarterly report. So, to enter this giveaway, just share anything goal related in the comments. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

“I want to catch up on some suspense series. Night Prey by Susan Sleeman.”

****NOTE: BOOKS MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION****

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments — and you can use the same goal for a different one each time.

Books can be published any time through June 2023. Currently published books will be ordered right away, otherwise you’ll get an IOU for a later title.

See? Easy Peasy. But, if you’re still not clear, don’t be shy about asking questions.

Here’s how I’m doing on my goals so far this year (Jan to March):

  • 121 (ish) books read — I’ve added on that ish ’cause I’m going by my Good Reads # but I read ahead for the blog so the count is a wee bit higher. And here’s some fun stats:
  • 31 Audible
  • 34 Audible Plus
  • 6 Chirp
  • 5 for Review
  • 41 from the library (print and audio)
  • 12 print purchased by me

And broken down by genre (because I’m that much of a book nerd these days.)

  • 14 Historical
  • 9 Regency
  • 3 WWI
  • 4 WWII
  • 16 Contemporary
  • 2 Amish
  • 18 Romantic Suspense
  • 1 Suspense
  • 2 Mystery
  • 59 Cozy Mysteries (yikes!)
  • 14 Historical Mysteries
  • 2 Dual Time lines
  • 1 Novella set
  • 6 Middle Grade

Now for my goals:

#1 READ MORE INDIE BOOKS

14 books — not great given the number of books I’ve read overall so I’ll try to improve next quarter.

#2 READ MORE DEBUT BOOKS

7 books — not bad, that’s about two a month.

#3 READ MORE NEW TO ME AUTHORS

28 authors — and have found some new faves too, which is going to make my reading life that much more complicated. 🙂

#4 DIVERSIFY MY READING

40 books — largely due to setting (thank you Regencies!) so I’m going to try harder to branch out next quarter.

Diverse Settings:

  • 23 books set in England
  • 4 books set in Canada
  • 3 books set in Ireland
  • 3 books set in Germany
  • 2 books set in Africa
  • 2 books set in France
  • 2 books set in Asia
  • 1 book set in Denmark
  • 1 book set in Greece
  • 1 book set in Austria
  • 1 book set in Wales
  • 1 book set in Scotland

Diverse author by nationality:

  • 6 Canadian
  • 3 British
  • 1 Irish
  • 1 Australian
  • 5 ethnically diverse authors
  • 6 books with at least one ethnically diverse MC
  • 2 books with disabled or chronically ill characters

#5 PLAY AUTHOR CATCH-UP

Last year I put way too many authors on this list one of which was Christy Barritt (what was I thinking?!) so I failed dismally. This year I’m going to concentrate on one or two each quarter. This time round it was:

Sally Britton (surprised?) — I’ve read 8 out of 19 books (still have some work to do!) and Susan Sleeman — just have 7 books to go (8 if you count her May release) out of…a bazillion books! I’m getting closer!

#6 GIVE UNLOVED TROPES A SECOND CHANCE

3 books read. Sigh — I really don’t like to move out of my comfort zone and I don’t think that’s likely to change any time soon. I enjoyed the books I read for the most part, but I’m not going out of my way to find these tropes. 🙂

#7 STORY CHATS RECOMMENDS

Story Chats is a Booktube video (podcast?) hosted by three indie authors — Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey and Narelle Atkins. It’s a weekly show where they highlight contemporary Christian Romance (CCR) using various themes/tropes, as well as host guest authors. My goal is to read at least one book recommend a month and, yay, I’m 3 for 3!

SERIOUS ABOUT SERIES:

And then there’s this whole other beast called a SAS list, that stand for Serious About Series. I might have been overly ambitious when I made up these lists…they fill an entire book after all, but here it is in a nutshell:

TRILIGOIES IN PROGRESS

10 completed (or up to date) out of 28

TRILIGOIES TO START:

4 started out of 27

SERIES I’M CURRENT WITH

33 out of 37 (a few new releases slipped passed me!)

SERIES IN PROGRESS:

Have been randomly reading through 8 out of 29! Nothing completed yet.

SERIES TO START

24 started, 5 up to date out of 95!!!!!


122 thoughts on “2023 Reading Goal’s Giveaway”

  1. Tomorrow’s Constant Hope by Naomi Rawlings is my choice for this one. I’ve read the first two books and have three more, plus a novella, to go.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  2. Ohmygoodnessgracious! Kav! You are my hero! Dr. prescribed me meds for a UTI, took 1st one last night & feel like I’m floating. And dizzier. Ugh After reading your impressive goals my head was spinning like a top! LOL! What amazing lists & such organization, my friend!

    In keeping with my goal of diversity & new authors:

    1) The Thing About Home By Rhonda McKnight (May 9)

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  3. 2) In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart (May 9)

    Reading past fave authors that I’ve let fall by the wayside bc of reading so many new authors such as Ann Gabhart, Lisa T. Bergren, & Carrie Turansky!

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    2. One of my goals is to read six new-to-me CF male authors in 2023.

      1. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh.

      Obertam at gmail dot com

      Thanks.

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  4. Wow! In addition to being a superstar reader, you are also a mathematician and data collection expert! Your numbers and goals are IMPRESSIVE! I want to follow in your footsteps, but I’m over here with goals of-
    *1-for every new release read a book on my backlist
    *2-read a new to me author every month
    *3-150 books this year

    As you can see, I go easy on myself in the goals category, lol. So far I’m on target
    27 backlist to 27 new, 54 of 150 books this quarter, 4 new to me authors
    Historical 15, Contemporary 24, Suspense 11, Dual timeline 4

    1-The Heart’s Choice by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
    New to me author goal

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  6. 3-Courage in the Storm by Laurel Blount
    stockpile new releases and keep current on series

    This week has been so much FUN! Thank you for giving us all an inside look at the upcoming Spring releases! I’ve added a few new ones to my reading list 🙂
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. Kav, I am so impressed with your accomplishments…..you are so gobsmacking SMART! And so generous to us readers.. THANKS!
      I am SAS and so anxious to read Irene Hannon’s Windswept Way!
      jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    2. Someone really wants to read Courage in the Storm! lol Love your goals, Tracey — nice that you are striving for a balance between new releases and back list books. And, look at you, way ahead of your yearly goal! I’m definitely not a mathematician…but I can count. Bwahahaha. I thought afterwards that I should have tried to make some of the stats into a pie chart or something so it wasn’t so long. I’m sure there’s something on the internet that would do that. I’ll have to check it out for next time. Good luck, Tracey!

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  7. Thanks again for such a fun-filled week, Kav! I love me some book talk now. BTW hubby & I celebrate our 50th golden anniversary Mon! We’re really not that old – we married in the womb. hahahaha So this week was a fun pre-celebration of our 50th!

    Keeping up with a series:

    3) Dawn’s Untrodden Green by Carolyn Miller (April 11)

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. Can you switch this to: Indigo Isle?
      I initially started to put this but didn’t know if it fit the goal category. But I’ve read 1 book by this author & loved it! And my goal is to read every book she writes from here on out. And to be quiet honest when I saw it on Tracey’s goal list, I started drooling. 😂

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    2. That’s a great goal too — instead of angsting over catching up, just keep an eye toward staying current from this moment on. Like that. Might steal it. 🙂 Good luck! And Happy 50th, Diane and hubby. What an incredible achievement. Blessings over both of you.

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      1. Thank you, Kav! I know, right? 50 years of cleaning whiskers out of bthrm sink & washing dirty socks. lol
        Actually poor guy has been my chauffeur during this entire”dizzy” trial & never complains. He’s a gem & definitely a keeper!

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  8. 1. Start a great new series with book number one.
    “Counter Attack” by Patricia Bradley
    Release date – May 16, 2023
    2clowns at Arkansas dot net

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  10. 3. Read a fabulous sounding Regency era book.
    “Mission at Midnight” by Collette Cameron
    Release date – May 1, 2023
    2clowns at Arkansas dot net

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  11. Thanks so much Kav. #1 March 30 In Her Sights book 1 Pink Pistol Sisterhood by Karen Witemeyer Goal: to read this new series quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  12. #2 Goal: To read a new to me author. I have seen a lot of her books and read her bio and now get her newsletter. I am really curious now about her writing. So I would like to start with: March 7 Dreams of her Heart book 2 Wyoming Sunrise series by Penny Zellar

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  13. #3 Goal: to get back to reading an author I love and catchup on this series. February 21 A Match in the Making book 1 The Matchmakers by Jen Turano

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  21. 3) finish series! ~ Carry Me Close (Blue Wren Shallows #3) by Dorothy Adamek – Crabapple House Publishing, April 1, 2022
    Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

    2023 Reading Goals Wishlist ~ Still after dual timelines!
    1st goal: Continue with a series I have begun reading.
    2nd goal is: Go back in time and reread some favorites!
    3rd goal: Return to Novellas to pick up authors I haven’t read.
    Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

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    1. I like your goals, Kathleen. Dual timelines in Christian Fiction are getting easier to come by now and I am loving it! I read Dorothy Adamek’s first Blue Wren Shallows book, but need to read those other two…only do I really need to add another series to my SAS list? Maybe…see this is my problem and you’re enabling me! 🙂 Good luck, Kathleen!

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  22. It is so much fun to read your amazing analysis of your reads! And the other readers’ comments. I read 24 books this past quarter and had several others which I did not finish. Most were Christian fiction with a few hefty non-fiction mixed in. I have also been trying to catch up on all books from favorite authors, including reading quite a few of Julie Klassen’s older books (my library increased their holdings) this past quarter.

    Since I have read all her books, I would like to add Sarah Sundin’s newest book, The Sound of Light, to my TBR list.

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  24. I read my first Amy Lynn Green book this quarter, the wonderful Blackout Book Club. I would like to catch up, starting with her first release, Things We Didn’t Say.

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    1. Ohhh, I forgot to include my DNFs in my stats — 11 for me! Not bad considering. Love that your library is updating their Julie Klassen collection. Her books should be considered classics! Things We Didn’t say was soooo good! Good luck, CC!

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  30. | | | |

    | | | KavWow! You are an amazing reader! I, unfortunately, though passionate about reading my entire life, have never been a fast reader (despite taking a course in speed reading, which I hated)! I really admire you and wish I could do even half as well as you. Blessings,Kay

    Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (NIV)

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    | | | | Yahoo Mail Stationery |

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    1. Thanks, Kay. I have to give listening to audio books the credit — that’s really upped the number of books I’ve been able to ‘read.’ Plus, I live alone and have some health issues, so reading has kinda become my job. lol

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  31. Kav, one of my goals is catching up on backlist books of authors I enjoy so #1 choice is A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton.

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  32. Another goal of mine is reading books high on my want-to-read list so #2 choice is The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan.

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  33. Another goal is to read more new-to-me authors and believe it or not, I haven’t yet read a Mimi Matthews book so #3 choice is Return to Satterthwaite Court.

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  34. 1. Book by new-to-me author (I know I’m late to the game on this author–sigh!)
    Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Hey, Winnie! I’ve only read 1 book by Lowe & it was sooo good. I mean 5 star good! Went to Amazon immediately & started looking at her titles. Don’t really think I can catch up so I’ll just read her books from henceforth. Isn’t that a great bookish word? Henceforth. 😄

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  35. 2. Can I choose Fleur de Lis by Sarah M. Eden? It’s releasing June 20. The publisher is Covenant Communications which is a Christian fiction publisher. I need to keep up with Sarah’s books.
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Absolutely — that title has been suggest a few times already on other days — Historical, I guess. Sarah Eden is one of the authors I want to catch up with this year as well. Good luck, Winnie!

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  42. I love your goals! I love how you have broken down how you are doing with your reading as well…sigh. I started a list of series I was in at the beginning of the year with the intent to finish them this year. When I realized I had started 49 series…I modified the goal and hope to finish 10 of those series. One of the series I want to finish is Sewing in SoCal by Sarah Monzon. I would love book #3 Nicole to help complete this series.

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    1. Yes!!! That is such a great series. I totally feel your pain over getting carried away by series. I knew I was supposed to focus on x number that I wanted to be able to finish but I kept adding more and more and more and, well, here we are. Sigh. Good luck, Cindy!

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  43. Another goal I have is to read MORE male authors. Most of the male authors I do read are nonfiction. I lean very heavily toward female authors, so want to attempt to branch out, LOL. I basically want to say “Pick me a book” LOL! But, I guess we will go with Creston Mapes Fear Has Name. If you have any male authors you love PLEASE give me suggestions. I have read and liked Tom Threadgill and James Hannibal.

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  44. And, yes, it took me that long to come up with a book by a male author, LOL! The next goal I have is to read more “new” to me authors…Lisa Phillips is one I want to try and would love Sanctuary Lost. Thanks so much for doing this Kav!! cilydav at hotmail dot com

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  45. You are doing great on your goals! One of mine is to read new-to-me authors. For that, I’ll go with Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe. I’ve heard such good things about her books.

    Jolene (Beauty in the Binding Blog) – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  46. Second goal is to read indie books. And now that Becky Wade has gone into independent publishing, I’m choosing her new release, Memory Lane, for this one. Thanks for the giveaways!

    Jolene (Beauty in the Binding Blog) – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  49. Read a favorite author I haven’t read for quite awhile The Tapestry of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Thank you my book twin for the wonderful giveaway.

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  50. Another one of my goals for 2023 was to read a minimum of 6 new-to-me female authors. I bypassed that goal already. I will likely triple it at least.

    2. Indigo Isle by TI Lowe

    Obertam at gmail dot com

    Thanks.

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