Reader’s Choice Goal Review Giveaway

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Another fairly new Best Reads Blog tradition is quarterly reading goal reviews. I’ll share my progress (or not!) here just for some fun, book nerdy stats and, if you’re so inclined you can share a goal or two in the comments. But no pressure – a goal can be as simple as ‘read a book.’

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 or a different one each time, but a different title for each entry.

Books can be published any time up through the end of this year. Currently published books will be ordered this coming week for winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a title releasing later in October, November or December 2023.

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

So, I’m trying to be all techie with some of my reading in review summaries — and maybe a goal or two. We’ll see how it goes. 🙂 I am no mathematician and creating and then figuring out how to add a graph to this blog has been…interesting. Bwahahaha!

Breakdown of Genres so far this year (Jan- Sept):


Breakdown of reading formats so far this year

(can we say, audio books for the win?)


383 books read so far. Yes, that seems like a lot, but I live alone and have a chronic pain condition that limits what I can do. Plus I have a tedious amount of stretches and exercises to do daily, plus walks, and listening to books is my dangling carrot! 🙂 And yes, audible books have really increased the # of books I am able to read.

27 books DNF (Did Not Finish) mostly because of content issues regarding coarse language and/or innuendos (cozy mysteries) or cliche plots, culturally insensitive, poorly researched, unlikeable main characters etc.

2023 Goals:

READ MORE INDIE AUTHORS — 38 books read so far which is about par for this time last year but I want to do better on this goal. Already have three more Indies on my TBR pile waiting to be read and hoping for many more before the year’s end.

GIVE DEBUT AUTHORS A CHANCE! — 9 books read — Yikes! I need to work on this goal. Last year I averaged about 2 debuts a month so I’m sliding here!

READ MORE NEW TO ME AUTHORS — 60!! Pretty good since I read a total of 65 in 2022, so will definitely meet or exceed that number. Of course, the problem then becomes having oodles of new authors to follow which also eats into the reading new-to-me author time. Such a conundrum!

DIVERSIFY MY READING — 116 books. Not bad, a little under a third of my total book count. I really want to source out more though. One of my goals for next year will be to read more non American authors.

Non US Settings:

Diverse author nationality: 10 Canadian — 6 British — 3 Australian — 1 Irish — 1 New Zealand

Other Diversity stats: 16 Ethnically diverse authors — 22 books with ethnically diverse characters — 10 books with disabled or chronically ill characters.

AUTHOR CATCH-UP — this is a hot mess. I kept adding authors to the list which, of course, makes it difficult to actually completely catch up with any one of them. 🙂 Sally Britton and Susan Sleeman are the authors I’m still hoping to be up-to-date with by the New Year!

GIVE UNLOVED TROPES A 2ND CHANCE: 9 books — so a minuscule amount of what I actually read. What can I say but I know what I like and I rarely venture from it. Will admit to enjoying all 9 of these books so that’s a lesson learned. Never say never when it comes to a trope, all it takes is a talented author to change your mind.

SERIES: I don’t even want to go there. I am meticulously keeping a record but I keep adding to the series I want to read so it’s a bit alarming.

Started out the year current with 37 series and I’m still current with 28 of them so looks like I know what I should concentrate on this last quarter.

Started out the year with 31 series in progress, am up to date with 6 of them now, and made a wee bit of progress on some others.

As if I didn’t have enough on my plate…er, on my TBR shelf?…I started 55 new-to-me series this year (blushing furiously while avoiding eye contact with anyone in the room.) I am up-to-date with 13 of them though, if that counts. 🙂

Phew! Now it’s your turn: Did you make reading goals this year? If so, how is it going? Share below and remember to include a book title that will help you achieve your goal. You can enter three times in three separate comments using the same goal or different ones. What ever strikes your fancy. Just make sure each entry is for a different title.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 7 2023.

OFFER OPEN TO ANY READER WHO HAS A KINDLE .COM ACCOUNT FOR EBOOKS. OTHERWISE IT’S WINNER’S CHOICE OF PAPERBACK OR EBOOK FOR US AND CANADIAN ENTRIES.

151 thoughts on “Reader’s Choice Goal Review Giveaway”

  3. I’d like to read the Chiseled on the Heart novella collection simply because I love the box on the cover. I love hearts and that one is incredibly beautiful….I’d like to have one just like it.

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    1. Eeeepp — I just read Poppy Pendleton! You definitely want to read that one. And Chiseled on the Heart looks good too — lots of new-to-me authors in that collection. Good luck, Perrianne!

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    1. I haven’t ever read anything by Hannah Currie but I come across her name on Good Reads all the time. This book sounds really interesting — a reverse prodigal son spin. Good luck, Kathryn!

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  7. 1. Read a book by an author who I’ve not had the opportunity to read before.
    “Into the Fire” by Irene Hannon
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  8. 2. Catch up on an author whose books I absolutely love. Wanda Brunstetter was the one to open up the Amish genre to me creating this desire to read more of both the genre and her books.
    “Sisters by the Sea” by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Richelle Brunstetter
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  9. 3. Read more of my favorite type stories – dual timeline, which I absolutely love reading. Finding one that says READ ME is not as easy as it sounds, but this one sure does.
    “A Million Little Choices” by Tamera Alexander
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  10. Wow, I love your break down and how intentional you’ve been in your reading. I’m part of a quilting group that meets weekly. The leader found out I run a book club and work at the library. Her hope is to have us read a quilting book that we will learn something about quilting in a fun fiction novel. I found a book that can do just that. The group seems into this new adventure. I think this would make a first book club pick.

    Hidden In Plain Sight: Brian’s Quilt (The Quilt Journeys Mystery Series)
    by Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander

    Nora Finding Hope at yahoo

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    1. Ooooh — that is so neat, Nora. Combining quilting and a book clubish activity. How cool is that? And you’ve found a great book for it! And there are so many quilt centred stores out there. Good luck!

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  11. The Butterfly Collector Tea Cooper This will help me read a new to me author. Love the cover and the premise of the book.

    Nora Finding Hope at yahoo

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    1. Tea Cooper is another new-to-me author I’d love to try. I love books that are set in Australia & wanted to Read the Girl in the Painting. But I’m puzzled whether she writes Christian fiction because usually it’s not listed as such on Amazon. The publisher is Thomas Nelson but I don’t know if they’re just clean or CF. Does anyone know?

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      1. I checked on GR and they don’t tag her books as Christian Fiction either BUT it’s a Christian publisher so it fits the criteria for today’s giveaway. It really shouldn’t be so hard to figure out if a book is CF or not. It’s like we have to read one before we can say for certain nowadays!

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      1. I so agree. It shouldn’t be so difficult. I only read CF bc I love a spiritual thread throughout, but those type of books seemingly are becoming fewer. Although most are still clean. Especially those published by T. Nelson. I’m proud of the authors who still stay true to the genre Christian fiction! Even if they have to go Indie to do it!

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      2. Yes, it seems like indie is the way to go for a solid faith thread. And then you get someone like Toni Shiloh who started out indie, went traditional with amazing faith threads in all her books so…..confusing. 🙂

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  12. Rocky Mountain Promise Misty M. Beller

    This will help me catch up on my series and TBR pile. I really get lost in these adventures. When you think about what they had to go through to do every day life in the wilderness! Wow! We’ve got it easy!

    Nora Finding Hope

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    1. Misty M. Beller is another author that has slipped past me. I think I went off frontier / pioneer type settings in favour of Regencies in a big way. Time for me to expand my historical horizons, I guess. 🙂 Good luck, Nora!

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  13. Hi, Kav; I’m having trouble leaving comments today. I just finished typing this and hit reply. The computer said I already posted this. It’s a duplicate post. My comment is below.Thank you for your help.  Rocky Mountain Promise Misty M. Beller This will help me catch up on my series and TBR pile. I really get lost in these adventures. When you think about what they had to go through to do every day life in the wilderness! Wow! We’ve got it easy! Nora Finding Hope

    Nora :o)  Nora St.LaurentThe Book Club Network Blog www.psalm516.blogspot.comreviewer 

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    1. I’ve had the same problem today. It was taking so long to post a comment that I figured I hadn’t clicked the button so I clicked on it again and I was told it was a duplicate post but I couldn’t see it! So I refreshed the page and, voila, there it was. Strange. But they all came through, that’s the main thing.

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  14. 🙂 I’m smiling down here in Va. because you said last goal review day you needed to find a pie graph for your book numbers and I see you found one 🙂

    I’m in awe of your level of goals breakdown!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
    Mine are so much simpler, it leaves me more time for reading 😉

    #1 My Goodreads goal was 150, I’m at 178.
    I did read a fair number of shorter books and novellas.

    #2 Read a new to me author every month, I’ve read 19 in 9 months, so I’m averaging 2 a month.

    #3 Read a backlist book for every new release book, new 107/ backlist 71.
    I got out of whack in this goal category with a kindle unlimited subscription.
    I was reading fast and furious, mostly contemp. My new goal is to catch up my old goal, lol!

    #4 Keep up with favorite authors new 2023 releases.
    I’ve accomplished this pretty well the first 9 months.

    Which brings me to my first goal pick.
    Calling on the Matchmaker, a Shanahan Match Book by Jody Hedlund
    Goal 4- keeping up with favorite author new release.

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    1. I love that you are exceeding your goals! And yes, a pie chart is so much easier to look at for results…but not so easy to create but I persevered. Maybe I can fine-tune it by the end of the year wrap up. 🙂

      I gasped when I read your third goal. In theory, it’s not so alarming but I panicked at the the thought of not being able to read an anticipated new release because it was a backlist book’s turn. And then I felt guilty for under valuing the poor unnamed backlist book but still yearning for the new release even though I know this is all hypothetical and I’m not really living this nightmare. Bwahahaha! Yes, I take book nerd to a whole other level.

      Good luck, Tracey!

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      1. I have so many backlist books I just could not get to in previous years .BUT with my new handy dandy text-to-speech reading option I’m going to surpass my normal goal of 150 by probably 50%. I’ll be caught up with a bunch of backlist books before you know it! 🙂

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  17. My final pick is in solidarity with your goal, and mine, to keep up with a series 😉

    Home from the Storm by Laurel Blount

    This is as fun as New Monthly Release Day, and with 3 choices, how generous of you!
    Thanks Kav! tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. I am anticipated Home from a Storm as well. And there’s an interesting interview with Rebekah Millet on Storychats this week about her debut novel. Makes me want to read it all the more now. Good luck, Tracey!

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  20. Wow! I love reading your goals breakdown, Kav. I see somebody really loves suspense/mystery!! So do I. 😃

    It was my goal to read another dual-timeline by the end of the yr (and I’ve been searching for 1 besides Jaime Jo’s new one.) I enjoy them & forgot about this one. Duhhh…

    1) The Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. Eeeeepp — just read that one, look to next week’s blog. 🙂 Fantabulous! I like seeing a visual of my stats — it feels like I’ve read a ton of historicals so I was surprised to see they almost evenly match with the suspense but when you pair suspense and mystery together — that’s half my reading! Who knew? Good luck, Diane!

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      1. EEEPPP!!! I’m curious to see what you thought of it. I was planning on ordering it from Amazon & it slipped my mind, which is easy to do these days! Oops, sorry to pair your mystery & suspense together, but they DO often intertwine. Bwahahahaha

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  21. My goal is to read all this new author’s books until she gives me a reason not to. lol So far I have except her new one.

    2) Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder

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  22. Dual time lines are fascinating and I need to read more of them. I am going with A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  23. Finally reading Tony Shiloh’s “prince” sequel (it’s so good!) for my diversity goals so am in Africa now…also been to Alaska, England, and Prince Edward Island with Liz Johnson! I’d like to read more new authors like Cathy Gohlke and DL Wood! I’ve been missing out. So in keeping with new author goal:

    3) Snow Place Like Home by Lacey Baker

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    1. One of my biggest goals & one that’s proving to be a challenge is not a bookish one. Dr said hubby can only eat beef once a month so what to fix the other 29 days? He’s not a vegan so what to fix? I’m already “fished” out! Ugh Ok, sorry. Back to more pleasant things such as BOOKS!!!

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      2. I’m nearly a vegan…eat eggs but that’s about it. I know it’s a hard adjustment to go from red meat. What about child with beans instead of ground beef? Lot’s of spices and veggies etc to add to the flavour, so maybe he wouldn’t miss the beef? (says the vegetarian. bwahahaha)

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      3. Bwahahaha — there’s a major type in my last comment, but I’m going to leave it in. Cooking ‘child with beans’ should be ‘chili with beans” — silly auto correct. We’re talking vegan here!

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    2. This one looks really good too. And new to me author, not sure if it’s a debut? I’ll have to check that out since I’m sliding on my debut authors. I love that Toni Shiloh series — I listened to them on audible and will definitely re-listen to both — excellent narration! Good luck, Diane!

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      1. Yes, and I love that Shiloh includes a strong Christian thread in this series! I meant to say new-to-me authors bc Cathy Gohlke definitely isn’t new. I’m starting to branch out more bc I had a tendency to stick with my faves. Lacey Baker has written at least 10 books & I’ve read nary a one. Oops, just checked & Snow Place Like Home is listed as clean & wholesome & published by Thomas Nelson.
        He loves beans. Any kind. So I’ve been fixing them a lot with salmon patties & brown rice. Also making him bean burritos which he loves. They have a low carb wheat tortilla that I put refried beans, onions, tomatoes, etc, in. I’ve been using low sodium taco seasoning mix in 93/7 ground turkey & making tacos, burritos, and taco salad. I don’t have any probs with his breakfasts, but coming up with new ideas every evening is daunting.

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      2. May I switch Snow Place Like Home since it isn’t CF?

        3) The Christmas Promise by Lindsay Gibson

        It’s listed as religious romance & she’s a new-to-me author. Pretty cover and sounds like a great book!

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  24. My reading goal is 100 books for this year and so far I’ve read 76. I’m on track, but not ahead. This book will help me pick up the pace!

    The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley By Courtney Walsh

    manderley23 at gmail dot com

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    1. Ronie Kendig (gah, I hate auto correct, it wants to change her name to Rosie Kendall!) is one of the authors I was supposed to concentrate on this year. I’ve only read one of her books, I think. Maybe two? She’s moving onto next year’s goals. Good luck, Caryl!

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  30. Wow! I’m in awe of your meticulous record-keeping! I’ve exceeded my Goodreads 2023 Reading Goal of 120 books but I do get a chance to read a variety of books, so this list includes several children’s books. My goal? Simply to continue to help authors by reading and reviewing their books. A book that I want to read? A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander.
    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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  31. Wow! I’m in awe of your meticulous record-keeping! I’ve exceeded my Goodreads 2023 Reading Goal of 120 books but I do get a chance to read a variety of books, so this list includes several children’s books. My goal? Simply to continue to help authors by reading and reviewing their books. A book that I want to read? Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund.
    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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  32. Wow! I’m in awe of your meticulous record-keeping! I’ve exceeded my Goodreads 2023 Reading Goal of 120 books but I do get a chance to read a variety of books, so this list includes several children’s books. My goal? Simply to continue to help authors by reading and reviewing their books. A book that I want to read? The Letter Keeper by Rachel Fordham.
    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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  34. I love how you keep track of all your stats! It’s interesting to see our reading habits and trends.

    Goal: Keep up with a series!
    Fleur de Lis (The Gents Book 3) by Sarah M. Eden

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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    1. This is one series by Sara M. Eden that I haven’t tried because, of all the silly things, it’s the time period where everyone where’s white wigs and I just can’t…..:-) There is noting romantic about a hero with white fake curls atop his head. Good luck, Heidi!

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  35. My goal is to trade books on a regular basis and discuss what book we recommend to each other. I would love to start with The Letter Keeper by Rachel Fordham.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  47. My goal is to collect one of my favorite author’s backlist. #1 The Colonel’s Lady by Laura Frantz paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

    Sent from my iPad

    >

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  48. My goal is to collect one of my favorite author’s backlist. #2 The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

    Sent from my iPad

    >

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  49. Another goal is to keep up with a favorite author’s new releases #3 A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

    Sent from my iPad

    >

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    1. Laura Frantz is an excellent writer! I think I have all her books — well, read them all, might have gotten the last two from the library. But a bunch of them were on Audible Plus and I snatched them up. So I likely have doubles now. 🙂 Good luck, Paula!

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  50. I love your goals and stats posts!

    I read more by the whim of the moment but have some goals too.

    Goal: to read one of the 3 Katie Powner books on my library later shelf – The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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