The Challenge Factory discussion

The May 2016 Employee of the Month



is......



Jamie!!



Congrats Jamie! So tell us a little about yourself:

1. What country/state do you currently live in?
2. What book are you reading right now?
3. What was the last book you read?
4. What is your favorite genre or series of books?
5. Besides reading, what are your hobbies?
6. What is your favorite holiday?
7. What is your favorite activity that isn’t a hobby and doesn’t involve books?
8. What is your favorite movie and/or song?
9. What challenge or type of challenge is your favorite to participate in?
10. Name a country you would like to visit, and why.
11. What was the first book that you remember reading/being read?
12. What is your dream job?
13. What is the furthest place you have traveled to?
14. What was the last book you recommended to someone?
15. If you could bring a fictional character to life, who would it be?
16. If you were given $20 to spend in a bookstore, what would you buy?
17. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
18. What is your favorite dessert?
19. What was the last book that made you laugh?
20. What's your preferred method of reading? i.e. paperback, e-reader, audio, etc.

BONUS:
Tell us three things about yourself not already mentioned here.

Congrats, Jamie! Looking forward to seeing your answers to these questions!

1. What country/state do you currently live in?
I live in NYC in the United States. I used to live in the suburbs and commute in to work, but when my youngest son went to college I moved back to the best city in the world.

2. What book are you reading right now?
I'm in the middle of two books, Scar Tissue and Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells.

3. What was the last book you read?
I finished Lover Unleashed last week. I started that series awhile ago but recently pledged to get through the series I'd already started so I've been making my way through the BDB!

4. What is your favorite genre or series of books?
I love lots of genres although lately most of my reading is in the Romance genre. My series love started young with The Little House Collection & The Chronicles of Narnia.

Some more recent series I've enjoyed, anything by K.J. Charles, Courtney Milan's Brothers Sinister, Game of Thrones, Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers, Jordan L. Hawk's Whyborne & Griffin, Jordan Castillo Price's Psycop, Joanna Chambers' Enlightened and Eden Winters' Diversion series.

5. Besides reading, what are your hobbies?
I like to knit, solve crossword puzzles, listen and play music and go to the gym (most of the time).

6. What is your favorite holiday?
I like Labor Day because it's the start of fall, and to me that's a time of new beginning!

7. What is your favorite activity that isn’t a hobby and doesn’t involve books?
I spend a lot of time just walking around NYC and enjoying all it has to offer.

8. What is your favorite movie and/or song?
I love all types of music and movies! If I have to narrow it down I'll say Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones. For movies I love The Great Escape, The Sting, Goodfellas and the first Star Wars (the most recent one was pretty good too!)

9. What challenge or type of challenge is your favorite to participate in?
I definitely think team challenges are the most fun. I like trying to find books for different types of challenges but I love the interaction of a team.

10. Name a country you would like to visit, and why.
I want to visit Scotland because I have ancestors who came from there and I'd like to see the castles. I want to go to Greece because it sounds beautiful and exotic plus there is ancient history!

11. What was the first book that you remember reading/being read?
I was very anxious to start reading when I was young so my mother gave me Little House in the Big Woods and I remember sitting on the sofa trying to sound out the words. My first "adult" book was Watership Down which I loved (see my avatar!)

12. What is your dream job?
I would like to work in the film industry, preferably a job like Assistant Director.

13. What is the furthest place you have traveled to?
I was in Mexico in January for my sister's 50th birthday. Almost two years ago I traveled to Dublin for my 50th birthday. Those are actually similar distances. But the furthest I've been was Dusseldorf, Germany. I traveled there when I was 14.

14. What was the last book you recommended to someone?
I put off reading Cinder forever, but once I read it I recommended it to everyone I knew. I loved the world building in that book and it took me by surprise.

15. If you could bring a fictional character to life, who would it be?
It would depend on my mood, but either Sebastian St. Vincent from Devil in Winter or Jane Eyre.

16. If you were given $20 to spend in a bookstore, what would you buy?
Winter and The Temple Road because I can't use my e-bucks at All Romance for either one!

17. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
I would go to the past to correct a mistake I made.

18. What is your favorite dessert?
I like desserts like brownies or chocolate cake, although I don't like them to be too sweet.

19. What was the last book that made you laugh?
When I Grow Up by John Goode. The Foster High books make you feel all the feels!

20. What's your preferred method of reading? i.e. paperback, e-reader, audio, etc.
Definitely e-book.

BONUS: Tell us three things about yourself not already mentioned here.
1. I really wanted to learn how to drive standard transmission so I bought my first car with a stick shift so I'd have to learn.
2. I've been to over 30 Rolling Stones concerts. I asked my fellow Stones concert fan how many we'd been to and she said, "not enough", although hopefully they'll tour the US again this fall.
3. My first job post college was at the company that made Dirty Dancing, one day the DD producer ran around to all the women at the firm asking if we knew who Patrick Swayze was because he was building the case to cast him. As a big Orry Main fan, of course I said yes!!

Thanks TLC for naming me EotM, I had fun answering the questions.

Happy reading!

Yeah - congrats Jamie!!

Congrats!


20 Completed

✔01. MC Moves:
Trial by Fire
5/01 ★★


✔02. Book Title Starts With An 'S':
Smitten
5/01 ★★★★★


✔03. PNR:
Scales And A Tail
5/02 ★★★★


✔04. Romance:
The Hooker and the Hermit
5/02 ★★★★


✔05. MCs Go To The Gym Frequently:
My Hero
5/03 ★★★


✔06. MC Starts a New Beginning With a New Job:
Bad Romeo
5/06 ★★★


✔07. Set in NYC:
Beyond the Surface
5/09 ★★★★


✔08. Dead in Title:
Fashionably Dead
5/08 ★★


✔09. Team Challenge Book:
Undeclared
5/09 ★★★★★


✔10. Scotland (UK)/ Alice in Wonderland originated in the UK:
Through the Zombie Glass
5/10 ★★★★


✔11. Ficiton Book:
Bubba and the Dead Woman
5/11 ★★★


✔12. MC Loves Old Movies:
In the Middle of Somewhere
5/12 ★★★★


✔13. Published in January:
The False Prince
5/12 ★★★★★


✔14. Dystopian Book:
Feed
5/14 ★★


✔15. MCs Have a Rough Start to Their Relationship (same as the couple in Devil in Winter)
Kaleidoscope Hearts
5/15 ★★★


✔16. Author Tilly Bagshawe Can Be Found On The ARe Site:
Sidney Sheldon's The Tides of Memory
5/16 ★★★


✔17. Story Flashbacks to the Past:
Nights in Rodanthe
5/17 ★★


✔18. A Book That's Not Sweet:
The Salvation of Vengeance
5/17 ★★★


✔19. Book With Feels:
Fit to be Tied
5/18 ★★★★


✔20. Borrowed Ebook:
How To Be A Normal Person
5/19 ★★★★

Congratulations, Jamie.
I'm in for this challenge.
books read : 12

1. college
2. seashell
3. lover All Night Long 5/6/16 **** (mcs become lovers)
4. romance
5. music
6. Fall The Ghost Next Door 5/20/16 *** (set in the Fall)
7. walking
8. movie
9. team The Mystery of the Ivory Charm 5/31/16 *** (Nancy, Bess & George make quite a team)
10. Greece My Family and Other Animals 5/2/16 **** (set in Corfu)
11. sofa Demon Hunter and Baby 5/23/16 **** (Rafe sleeps on the sofa)
12. film Death on the Nile 5/11/16 **** (filmed in 1978)
13. Mexico
14. recommended Aunt Sophie's Diamonds 5/14/16 ****
15. Jane The Pirate 5/7/16 *** by Jayne Ann Krentz
16. winter
17. past The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead 5/15/16 *** (set in the past)
18. chocolate Demon Hunter and Baby "His eyes are dark chocolate-brown..." loc. 248
20. ebook Olive in Italy 5/7/16 ***

bonus -
car The Thirty-Nine Steps 5/14/16 **** (Hannay steals a car)
concert
dancing The Air Singer 5/14/16 *** (mcs go dancing)

congratulations Jaime!

You didn't tell me!

That was fun.

Jamie said: "... recently pledged to get through the series I'd already started..."

I'll pledge to read 10 books from a series I started prior to this month.

1. Lessons in Trust May 11 ★★★★
2. All Lessons Learned May 16 ★★★★
3. Black Cat Ink May 1 ★★★★
4. One Man's Treasure May 14 ★★★★
5. His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC May 13 ★★★★★
6. ZA: Run & Gun May 4 ★★★
7. Double Down May 5 ★★★★
8. A Gentleman's Position May 3 ★★★★★
9. His Fateful Heap of Days May 17 ★★★★★
10. Hands-On Learning May 13 ★★★

Susan A wrote: "You didn't tell me!

That was fun."

I know, it was a funny day all around :-)

Congrats Jamie!

Congrats!

Congrats Jamie. I'm in!
Read 11/23

1. Book that takes place in NYC
Hittin' It Out the Park by Allison Hobbs, Karen E. Quinones Miller 5/8/16 3stars (MC is a NY Yankee)

2. Read any book that interests you
Lone Heart Pass (Ransom Canyon #3) by Jodi Thomas 5/24/16 5stars

3. Read the next book in one of your favorite series that you need to catch up on
Ain't She Sweet (Green Mountain #6) by Marie Force 5/2/16 4.5stars

4. Read a Romance book
Appealed (The Legal Briefs, #3) by Emma Chase 5/5/16 3.5stars

5. Read a book where the MC has a hobby

6. Read a book set in the fall

7. Read a book where the main character does a lot of walking
Scandal at the Midsummer Ball: The Officer's Temptation\The Debutante's Awakening by Marguerite Kaye and Bronwyn Scott 5/30/16 4.5stars (Zara and Kael)

8. Read a book that was made into a movie

9. Read a book that has any type of team in it

10. Read a book set in Scotland

11. Read a favorite children's book

12. Read a book where the MC works in the film industry

13. Read a book set far from where you live (I live in CT)
Her One True Love by Rachel Brimble 5/21/16 4stars (England)

14. Read a book you would recommend to a friend
Desire After Dark (Gansett Island #15) by Marie Force 5/14/16 4.5stars (love the author and the series)

15. Read a book by Jane Eyre

16. Read a book you would want to purchase so you can keep it

17. Read a book that takes place in the past
Grace's Forgiveness (Keepsake Pocket Quilt, #2) by Molly Jebber 5/19/16 5stars (1900, Berlin, Ohio)

18. Read a book that has desserts and/or a baker
On the Naughty List by Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Beth Ciotta and Sugar Jamison 5/8/16 3.5stars (Maya - pastry chef in Some Kind of Wonderful (Cupcake Lovers 3.5 by Beth Ciotta)

19. Read a book that makes you laugh
Every Bride Has Her Day (Magnolia Brides, #2) by Lynnette Austin 5/11/16 4stars (especially Hobo's actions)

20. Read an e-book.
The Substitute (The Wedding Pact, #1) by Denise Grover Swank 5/28/16 4stars

BONUS: Tell us three things about yourself not already mentioned here.
1. Book with a car on the cover
2. Book with a concert in it
3. Character with their first job

Susan A wrote: "You didn't tell me!

That was fun.

Jamie said: "... recently pledged to get through the series I'd already started..."

I'll pledge to read 10 books from a series I started prior to this month.

..."

I like your challenge :-)

Congrats Jamie. I loved reading your answers.
May - Jamie

1/12

2. Read a non-fiction science book - A Very Brief Intro...Philosophy of Science
3. Read a paranormal book - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Gleaming
5. Read a book about music - Year Zero
8. Read a book with flowers on the cover - Witches of Cambridge
9. Read a buddy-read or group BOM challenge book - Don Quixote
11. Read a book with animals as the MCs - Holy Cow
14. Read Cinder - Cinder
17. Read a book about fixing mistakes - The Princess Bride
18. Read a book that involves baking - The Secret Ingredient
19. Read a book about high school friends - Beautiful Darkness
20. Read an e-book - To Kill a Mockingbird

BONUS:
3. Read a book made into a movie - Gidget - read 5/13

Jamie's bookshelf

Congratulations Jamie!

May Employee of the Month - Jamie
10/10

1. What country/state do you currently live in? (NYC) - Big Rock 18/5/16
4. What is your favorite genre or series of books? (Romance) - Mystery Man 4/5/16
5. Besides reading, what are your hobbies? (Music) - Girl on Tour 27/5/16
6. What is your favorite holiday? (New Beginning) - Hard as It Gets 23/5/16
10. Name a country you would like to visit, and why. (History) - The Unlikely Lady 24/5/16
12. What is your dream job?(Film industry) - It Must Be Your Love 17/5/16 (Okay, there are people in the book working in film industry, but not main characters and in the book they making a movie about main character.)
17. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future? (Past) - One Good Earl Deserves a Lover 21/5/16
18. What is your favorite dessert? (Desserts like brownies or chocolate cake) - The Coffee Girl 30/5/16
20. What's your preferred method of reading? i.e. paperback, e-reader, audio, etc. (e-book) - Forgotten Sins 8/4/16

Bonus:
2. "I've been to over 30 Rolling Stones concerts." (Big fangirl) - Kill the Boy Band 12/5/16

Finished on post 12 - read 11/23
Missed my mark of 50% again this month!