Thursday, January 09, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Once Upon a Bad Boy & 2020 Reading Challenges & Goals)



Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

This is the last of my reviews for my 2019 reads. I thought I would share a couple of snippets with you and my thoughts on the book.


Once Upon a Bad Boy (Sometimes in Love #3) by Melonie Johnson
St. Martin's Press, 2019
Romance; 383 pgs
Source: NetGalley

Book Beginnings:
Sprinkles. Sadie Goldovitz braced her feet on the mat, bent her knees slightly and twisted sideways, pulling her elbow back. No,Glazed.
Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):
"Ugh, you don't get it! The tabloid people, they're not concerned with facts. Exhibit A, my invisible book job! And the people who like to read these stories aren't interested in facts either. All they need to do is skim a clickbait headline and bam, their mind is made up."
"Who cares?"
"I do! What people think of me matters. It matters to me, and it matters to my career." 
My thoughts:
The last person doughnut-loving actress Sadie Goldovitz expected to have to see again is her ex-boyfriend, Bo Ibarra. He was the love of her life and then he broke her heart, dumping her on prom night. Now he is the stunt coordinator on the movie that Sadie hopes will propel her career to a new level. Bo himself has something to prove as well. Both Bo and Sadie are carrying past hurts and secrets that perhaps it is time to finally face. Can they put the past behind them and give into the love they still feel for each other?

Melonie Johnson has fast become one of my favorite romance novelists. I was first introduced to Sadie in the first book of the series, Getting Hot With a Scot, and she made an appearance in the second book, Smitten by the Brit, as well. I admit I put off reading this one a little longer simply because I am not big on celebrity heroines, but I am so glad I finally did. I should have known Johnson wouldn't let me down. With her usual smart and witty writing style, taking on a relevant and difficult topic, Johnson  has written another winner for me. I loved Sadie's confidence and compassion. She doesn't let much get her down, and always pulls herself back up when it does. She and Bo are well matched. If you are a reader of romance, I highly recommend you check out Melonie Johnson's novels.

Does this sound like something you would like? 


Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you have a reading challenge for 2020? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I used to go hog wild when it came to challenges, but I stepped back from them because it got to be too much. I already have so many commitments, why add to them? I am very much a mood reader and enjoy the freedom to choose what I want to read when I want to read it. At the same time, I love the community aspect that often comes with joining a challenge, and sometimes it's a great way to motivate myself to work on personal reading goals I would like to achieve. Read more poetry. Read more nonfiction. Read more of my TBR books. It can be a way to hold myself accountable. In the end these types of goals or challenges are just for fun. If I complete them, I can pat myself on the back. If I do not, that's perfectly okay--it's not like my life depends on it.

This year I joined two.

 I am already planning to read more poetry this year, and so the Poetry Reading Challenge hosted by Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit seems like a natural fit. It will help motivate me to get to some of those poetry collections that are sitting on my TBR mountain. The challenge offers three options, and I am committing to the second, to read at least one poetry collection and share my self-reflections about one or more of the poems I read from it, although I hope to read more than just one (which would be option three).

I have long enjoyed reading poetry, but sometimes find it a bit intimidating, afraid I might miss some hidden meaning in the words. Poetry is very much about the feelings it provokes in the reader (and writer), however, and that is what I try to focus on when I read it.


If you could see how many nonfiction books I have sitting on my shelf . . . Nonfiction is not my go to genre, but I do enjoy it when I read it. I just sometimes need a little push. I really want to get to Becoming and Being Mortal this year, for example. And how long has The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks been sitting unread on my shelf? So why not join the 2020 Nonfiction Reader Challenge hosted by Shelleyrae of Book'd Out? I am only entering the lowest of challenge categories, the Nonfiction Nipper, where I have to read at least three nonfiction books during the year. If I read more, great. If I only read the three, I met my goal!


As you can see, I am leaving myself quite a bit of wiggle room in both challenges. I want to keep it fun and keep the pressure light. The best of both worlds!

Are you taking part in any reading challenges this year?



Every Tuesday Heidi at Rainy Day Rambling hosts Tell Me Something Tuesday, leading a discussion about a topic of her choiceAs you can see though, it is not Tuesday, but Friday. But I wanted to play along just the same. 

What is your word or phrase for 2020? 

It was a couple of years ago or so when I decided to give the whole one word or phrase a try. I felt fairly strongly about the word I chose, but ended up forgetting about it entirely within a few months. My intentions were good, but my focus and follow-through not so much. Just for the fun of it, I took a quiz someone had posted on Facebook that was to choose my favorite word for me in December. At the time, I was feeling quite exhausted and a bit overwhelmed, and I was still recovering. I am not adopting a word or phrase for this year, but if I was to, the answer I got when I took the quiz would definitely be a good candidate. Those who read my year in review post might remember me mentioning it there. Rest. Who would have thought the algorithm of an internet quiz would pop out the one word that perhaps I needed to hear most in that moment?  At least as a reminder to remember to throw in some self-care--namely rest--now and then.

I think though, what I really want to do is to be kinder to myself. Stop giving myself a hard time when I reach my limit and recognize that it's okay that I cannot do all the things all the time. To not feel guilty when I do take a break or do something just for me--even when there are other things that could use tending to (because there is always something, isn't there?). And to be kinder with myself when my anxiety sets in and I am overthinking things. So, perhaps I do have a phrase for the New Year after all.

Did you take on a word or phrase for 2020? If so, what is it? Or perhaps you have a goal you want to work on this year? 


 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!


© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

68 comments:

  1. I keep wanting to take in part of a challenge, but then like you mentioned, way too many commitments (and they do keep on growing!) I also come up with sort of challenges for myself, like read USA historical fiction from present to the past and then write essays or something about it, or do world history challenge for myself that I set up, or- a new one- read books from 1740s or so to 2020s (not all, just selected) and see how the fiction genre grew.

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    1. Sveta - I think the challenges create for yourself are a great way to go--and you can leave them open ended timeline wise. Thank you for visiting!

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  2. Delighted that you are joining the Nonfiction Reader Challenge, I look forward to seeing what you choose to read!

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    1. Shellyrae - I'm looking forward to participating! Thank you for hosting!

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  3. I've cut down on reading challenges too :p It gets to be too much pressure - I think one a year is enough for me. Your two sound great, hope you have fun with them!

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    1. Eustacia - Yes, I do not need the extra pressure--only just enough to make me feel I can do. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. The only challenges I do any more are self-challenges, but reading more nonfiction is one of them. Since you already have several possibilities on your shelves, that should be encouraging. I love getting interesting titles from other blogs, especially books that otherwise escape my notice, so I look forward to your nonfiction reviews, Wendy!

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    1. Jenclair - Self-challenges are good too. :-) I probably wouldn't have joined the ones I did if I wasn't already planning to do at least the amount I committed to. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Welp, now I'm sufficiently hungry and wanting donuts. Thanks for that. xD This sounds like a cute read.

    I need to read more poetry this year, too! I always feel daunted, because I'm so picky about the poetry I read, but I miss that euphoria of finding a poem that's just absolutely perfect and speaks to you and that you want to hang on your wall. So reading more poetry sounds like a great goal to me. :) Good luck.

    Here's my Friday post.

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    1. Sammie - Haha! It was hard not to crave doughnuts while reading this book! Thank you for the encouragement. I'm looking forward to exploring more poetry. Thank you too for visiting!

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  6. Those excerpts make me want to grab that book. Thanks for sharing.

    I also signed up for the Nonfiction Challenge because of a growing stack of nonfiction books on my nightstand.

    Enjoy!

    Here are my Friday Excerpts:
    “THE VANISHING”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I really enjoyed Johnson's book. I am glad you are doing the nonfiction challenge too! I look forward to seeing which books you decide to read for it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. I agree challenges can help you meet goals, but can also get overwhelming. So far I've signed up for Calendar of Crime 2020 to read 12 mysteries (one per month) for my mystery blog and nonfiction picture book challenge 2020 to read one nonfiction picture book per week for my children's book blog, Wrapped in Foil. Yay nonfiction!

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    1. Roberta - Those sound like fun challenges! I wish you the best with them. Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I think I failed at every challenge I signed up for so I quit them several years ago. I've never done the word thing either because I figure I'd fail at that too.

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    1. Kathy - The first year I did challenges, I excelled at them. Then slowly, but surely, as the years went on, I didn't do so well. I've learned my limits and what works for me. I figure if I go with something like being kinder to myself, at least if I forget, I can apply it as soon as I remember and not feel so bad I forgot in the first place. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. I think I like any book that starts with doughnuts!

    Good luck with your challenges in 2020. Both of them look interesting. I have been trying to read more poetry and more nonfiction in the past few years.

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    1. Gillion - Me too! We got doughnuts this morning, which was a nice treat. Thank you for the good luck wishes! And thank you for visiting (and hosting Book Beginnings!).

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  10. What a sweet sounding romance. I can feel the speaker's frustration in that excerpt. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

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    1. Alicia - It was a good one! I hope you have had a good weekend too! Thank you for visiting!

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  11. This sounds like such a wonderful romance. I need to check out this author. Good luck with your challenges this year! :D

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    1. Ashley - I hope you like her books if you give them a try. I really enjoy her romances. Thank you for the good luck wishes! And thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Once Upon A Bad Boy sounds good. I've been reading more romances lately. I still join reading challenges, but not as many as I used to. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Yvonne - I seem to be reading more romances too. For so long I swore off them, but now they are often just what I need. I hope you had a good weekend too! Thank you for visiting!

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  13. I am a real mood reader as well. While I am hesitant to join any challenges, that non-fiction one has caught my attention. Once Upon a Bad Boy sounds like one that I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing those snippets! :)

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    1. Lori - I figure the nonfiction and poetry challenges fit right into my own reading plans, so it won't hurt to sign up for the official challenges. I hope you will like Once Upon a Bad Boy a try if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I only made one reading challenge for myself this year, to read 150 books by the end of the year.

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    1. Mary - Good luck with your goal! Thank you for visiting!

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  15. i backed away from some challenges too, but i think i'll be taking on more this year, hoping for books that can apply to more than one challenge.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Sherry - Being able to apply a book to more than one challenge is definitely a plus when you are doing multiple challenges. Whichever ones you do, I wish you luck! Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. Sounds like a relatable read! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - Yes, it was a good one. And I can relate to her love for doughnuts. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  17. Wendy, I think that 'rest' is a good pick for a word and seems to apply to your life right now. I think I took the same quiz and I got 'BLOOM' and at first I thought it was kind of an odd word. Now I'm really liking it. It can be interpreted in many ways. Oh, I wanted to tell you that Anne Bogel is coming out with a new book in March (think that's when it is) called DON'T OVERTHINK IT. Might be a book to watch for - I'm going to read it because I know I have a tendency to overthink everything...ha! Have a nice weekend and 'rest' (truly).

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    1. Kay - Thank you for the head's up about Bogel's new book. I will definitely have to look for that one. I'm the queen of overthinking. I hope you are enjoying your weekend too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. Rest! Yes, that is a good word. Rest is maybe the most important thing

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    1. Blodeuedd - Your word is a good one too. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  19. Good luck with all your reading challenges this year. I'm going reading challenge free in 2020. :)

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    1. Lark - Thank you! Enjoy your freedom from challenges. I think you will enjoy it. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. Oh,Oh, a poetry reading challenge. Better check that challenge out, I said to self. Thanks. My book: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

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    1. Anne - I hope you will join too! Thank you for visiting!

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  21. Glad you enjoyed your final 2019 read, and good luck with your challenges!

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  22. Have fun with your reading challenges, Wendy! I'm a mood reader as well and it's always fun to decide what books to read next, isn't it? Hope you've a great weekend!

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    1. Melody - Thank you! Yes, I enjoy choosing the next book to read. Although sometimes it takes me forever to decide. LOL I hope you are enjoying your weekend! Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. Thanks for stopping by! For the Book Blogger Hop, I understand. I'm a mood reader, too, and in fact I don't choose challenges with prompts because I never follow them, I'm more for "read x books from this genre" or "read y books from your TBR" so I can still choose which book to pick up.

    Have a nice weekend, too!!

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    1. Laura - Yes! When I do choose a challenge with prompts, I tend not to want to read any of the books that might fit those prompts--even though I might have wanted to before. My brain is a funny thing. Thank you for visiting!

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  24. Good luck with your challenges.

    I only do Goodreads.

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  25. I like the idea of one word or phrase to see me through the year. I think mine would be 'calm' but I don't tend to work that way, unfortunately. (Rest would also work, lol.) Instead, I'm working out what I want and because it's a new decade, I'm going for a 5 year plan broken down into bite sized chunks. That's why I still haven't settled on resolutions or anything like that!

    I'm a mood reader too so my reading challenges are ones were there are plenty of scope. Indeed, I think every book I could choose would fit into one of my challenges! :)
    Good luck with your choices and fingers crossed for a healthy, happy, 2020!

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    1. Nicci - Calm is a good word--but I can see how it would be a difficult one. I like your idea of a five year plan broken into parts. That seems more doable in many ways. They say small steps . . . Yes, I like those wide open challenges too. I hope you have a great 2020 too. Thank you for visiting!

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  26. It sounds like this is an author that I need to check out!! I love a good contemporary romance (and those titles are so great). Plus, I feel like you and I have similar reading tastes when it comes to romances so I'm betting I will enjoy this author and her books as well. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    1. Samantha - I hope you will check her books out. I really enjoy the series. Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. Good luck with your two challenges! I stepped back this year as well. I didn't really set any challenges, I just want to complete a few goals for myself :)

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  28. Once Upon a Bad Boy sounds great! I think I need to check out Melonie Johnson's books. I sign up for just a couple of challenges but these are things I am doing anyway so it's not much of a challenge. There are times that I really need to be nicer to myself as well.

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    1. Carole - I enjoyed Once Upon a Bad Boy! I hope you will check out Johnson's books. I really enjoy them. Sounds like you and I have the same plan with our challenges--we are already going to do them on our own, so why not sign up for the official challenges. It's said we are our own worst critics--and it is often true. Thank you for visiting!

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  29. I have great admiration for people who read poetry. No matter how many times I have tried to get into it, I just can't. I will be interested to see your future reviews!

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    1. Sarah - Some poetry doesn't work for me, and if I'm supposed to find hidden meanings in the words, chances are I will miss something. Thank you for stopping by!

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  30. My main goal this year is to finish some series and reduce the number of unread books on my Kindle, luckily I've joined a challenge or two in my Goodreads group to help me. Good luck with your challenges.
    I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
    Here's my BBH Post
    Flora x

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    1. Flora - I think those are great goals! I wish you luck with them! I hope you have a great rest of your weekend too. Thank you for visiting!

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  31. This sounds intriguing. I enjoy a good second-chance romance!

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    1. Whitney - Me too. It was really good! Thank you for stopping by!

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  32. I'm with you, I used to go crazy with all the reading challenges but I'm trying to be a bit more restrained about them. Granted the nonfiction reading challenge is really calling my name! So glad you're also doing the poetry challenge. I like the idea of a word for the year but I haven't really tried it even though every year I think I'll join in. Next year maybe! :)

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    1. Iliana - I think both the poetry and the nonfiction challenges will fit in nicely with my reading plans for the year--makes it an easy decision. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  33. Good luck with your challenges. This year I'm only doing the Goodreads challenge and the Beat the Backlist challenge. I really want to focus on reading books I already own.

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  34. I cut down my reading challenge this year, every year I set myself a really high reading target on my goodreads challenge and fail. Only 24 books this year, I should be able to achieve that :) Good luck with your challenges

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    1. Mrs. D - That's what I've set my goal at on Goodreads too. Something very achievable. :-)

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