I Heart Reading: Goodreads' Red Dress Ink Challenges

Well, one challenge down and another one set to begin today. As a member of the Red Dress Ink Fans group on Goodreads, I participate in quarterly reading challenges. We are bonded by our love of everything chick lit, and as its name implies, we've "mourned" the loss of one publishing great dedicated to strictly chick lit, Harlequin's Red Dress Ink. But Chick Lit lives on...just as Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke of Chick Lit is Not Dead. In fact, you know what makes me mad about Chick Lit bashers? They common criticism that these nail polish color covered books are nothing but fluff - well I’m here to tell you that this stereotype couldn't be further from the truth! Of course I'm sure there are some books that are "breezier" than others, but isn't it like that in ALL genres?? I love reading Chick Lit because it resonates true with me. It's about love, life, relationships, family, friends, work, and everything else that goes on in real life on a day to day basis. Of course, it can be somewhat glamorized at times, but isn't that what we reach out to fiction and entertainment for! And you know what I love most about Chick Lit...it is the feeling that I get before, during and especially, after a finish reading a really great book by one of the fabulous females. For instance, I just finished A Total Waste of Makeup, my first read by author Kim Gruenenfelder and I had a smile plastered on my face the whole time!! I can't wait for the sequel. I'm waiting to start I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk and I'm already more excited just in anticipation of it the story and its leading heroine, Angela. So that all the naysayers....why don't you check out a book or two or three before you judge the whole genre and declare it dead and gone! You might just be surprised!

Here are the 21 Books I was able to finish fo the Spring/Summer challenge between April and June 2010:

List A: Oldest TBR Books:


1. Secrets of a Shoe Addict – Beth Harbison 6/16/10

2. Hope in a Jar - Beth Harbison 5/16/10

3. How to Sleep with a Movie Star - Kristin Harmel 04/06/10

4. The Art of French Kissing- Kristin Harmel 4/18/10

5. The Blonde Theory - Kristin Harmel

6. Baby Proof – Emily Giffin 4/18/10

7. Citizen Girl – Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

8. Nanny Returns - Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin 5/2/10

9. Tales of A Drama Queen – Lee Nichols

10. True Lies of a Drama Queen - Lee Nichols

Alternates:

11. Hand Me Down - Lee Nichols

12. Wednesday Night Witches - Lee Nichols

13. Fashionistas – Lynn Messina

14. Trials of Tiffany Trott – Isabel Wolff

15. Rescuing Rose - Isabell Wolff

List B: 10 Random TBR Books

1. 144 – Slightly Single - Wendy Markham

2. 131 – Italian for Beginners – Kristin Harmel

3. 205 -  Are you there Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea? – Chelsea Handler (4/2/10)

4. 189 - The Chocolate Lovers’ Club – Carole Matthews

5. 167  - Such A Pretty Fat – Jen Lancaster 4/27/10

6. 133 - Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife – Niamh Greene

7. 121 - Second Thyme Around/Thyme Out – Katie Fforde 4/23/10

8. 72 - The First Assistant – Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor 4/14/10

9. 122 – Wild Designs – Katie Fforde

10. 183 – Tallulahland – Lynn Messina

Alternates:

11. 115 – The Importance of Being Married - Gemma Townley 6/21/10

12. 95 – Carrie Pillby - Carrie Lissner

13. 81 – The Accidental Virgin - Valerie Frankel

14. 218 – Sex as a Second Language – Alisa Kwitney

15. 154 – The Pact – Jennifer Sturman

List C: Any TBR Choice

1. Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft – Mindy Klasky 4/10/10

2. The Night I got Lucky – Laura Caldwell 4/13/10

3. The Year of Living Famously – Laura Caldwell 5/4/10

4. The Carrie Diaries – Candace Bushnell 6/3/10

5. Holly’s Inbox – Holly Denham

6. Pretty In Plaid – Jen Lancaster 5/6/10

7. Enchanted Inc – Shanna Swendson 4/22/10

8. A Total Waste Of Makeup – Kim Gruenfelder 6/30/10

9. Sammy’s Hill – Kristin Gore 5/12/10

10. Diary of a Mad Bride – Laura Wolf

Alternates:

11. The Big Love – Sarah Dunn

12. The Wedding Girl – Madeleine Wickham 4/8/10

13. Monkey Business – Sarah Mlynowski

14. Rachel’s Holiday – Marian Keyes

15. One for the Money – Janet Evanovich 4/26/10

21/30 Books

210/300 Points

And now on to the next challenge! It's more of a scavenger hunt and I can't wait!!! Here are some examples. of the "treasures" I will be scouting out:

5 pts


1. School’s in Session

*The Glamorous Double Life of Isabel Bookbinder by Holly McQueen

2. Soak It Up - Read a complete book while sitting outside.

*The Journal of Mortifying Moments by Robyn Harding

3. For Independence Day – read a book with red, white or blue in the title or fireworks on the cover.

*Little White Lies by Gemma Townley

4. Beachey Keen - read a book that has a picture of a beach on the cover.

*Here Today, Gone to Maui by Carol Snow

5. Sail Away With Me - read a book with a boat on the cover.

* Operation Sunshine by Jenny Colgan

6. Your Secret’s Safe with Me - read a “Confessions” book.

*Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber:The Katya Livingston Chronicles by Adele Lang