Xepherus Reads

    Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          Time can be a friend or foe. There are plenty of hours in the day if you remove some old bad habits from your life. Below are some bad habits my readers have shared that they wish to change. Are any of the bad habits listed a part of your daily life? Old Habits: Waking up and scrolling social media- you may do this as a way to wake up. But when was the last time you went on social media "just for a few minutes" and end up using 3 hours of your morning watching endless cat videos. Getting up late daily- the bed feels so good and you just found that perfect spot. But your morning is slipping away.  Reading just 5 chapters daily- this can be a great way to read more, but chapter length vary per book. If you read 5 chapters that are 4 pages each, that is not a lot of pages. Buying books hot on TikTok- I love a new "hot" book to read. I get excited when a lot of people rave about a book. But FO...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,    Welcome to the 2026 Xepherus Reads Reading Challenge!     It is time to share this year's Reading Challenge.     Rules:    Choose a book for each category. There is no need to go numerically; take each challenge in any order you wish. Once read, add the book to your list. You may also read books that are not in a category. There is a place below to add them. A running total is displayed at the beginning of the reading challenge.  Share your challenge on social media and let your friends know how much fun you have reading your choices. Maybe you will encourage your friends to read more.    The challenge dates are January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026  Book Challenge books read: (0/50) Books Read Not in a Category: (00) Total Books Read: (00)   Updated 00/00/2026   Xepherus Reads Challenge categories (in alphabetical...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          Let's get ready for a new reading year. As my author journey neared its first published work, I found that reading for pleasure was replaced by reading for research. I n December I decorated and enjoyed the holidays. With more research and lots of writing, it turned into a fast and fun time getting book two started.    I will be working on a list of changes I plan to implement in my life. As I begin to promote and sell my first novel, I will be writing book two. This has prompted me to start changing habits that waste time. I will share my plans soon. It may be a plan that helps you, as well.     January/ February 2026 TBR: Bad Liar by Tami Hoag Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson The Last One by Will Dean The Last Word by Taylor Adams The Woman in Suite 1...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          My reading year was mainly filled with research, but I managed to squeeze in few books.    Here are my Top 5 Reads for 2025: 5) The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner  (4 stars) - a particularly hard read about a shooting being investigated at a school. I enjoyed the main characters and the mystery that unfolded throughout kept me moving forward. Lisa Gardner never disappoints, I love her books. They are always thrilling. 4) The Retreat by Sarah Pearse  (4 stars)- the sequel to the Sanitorium brings Detective Elin Warner onto the scene as several members of a vacation party start to be picked off one by one. Heading to Reaper's Rocks Resort, Warner has no idea what she is about to endure. Twists and turns end in a incredible finale. 3) 107 Days by Kamala Harris  (5 stars)- this fast paced political memoir was a fresh take on the last election cycle. I enjoyed this one and read it in ...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          This year was filled with many exciting moments. I finished rewrites on my debut novel, started my second novel, and moved closer to publication of book one. Along the way I managed to enjoy a few books.    I love creating my annual reading challenge. It makes me smile seeing everyone's results.    Here are my results for my 2025 reading challenge: A biography of a musician-   Gold Dust Woman: The Life of Stevie Nicks by Stephen Davis (5 stars) A book over 400 pages-   Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown  (5 stars)   A book published in 2024-   The Retreat by Sarah Pearse  (4 stars) A book you disliked at first, but loved after finishing-   The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner  (4 stars) An audiobook-   107 Days by Kamala Harris  (5 stars) The first book in a series-   The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh  (4 stars) A book that sparks n...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          When Pro Writing Aid launched their Novel November, I was intrigued. I never participated in NaNoWriMo and when I heard Novel November would be a replacement, I decided to join in the challenge.   Using my second novel , I achieved a few goals with my participation.  :        Words written: 36,411 Badges earned: The Starter First Steps Picking up Pace 1667 Word Marker 5k Word Marker 10k Word Marker 15k Word Marker 25k Word Marker   I had a great time with this challenge. It pushed me to work with my manuscript in many different ways. I enjoyed the interactive parts, including messaging other writers. Challenges and writing sprints are a great way to work towards your writing goals.           Let me know  what you are reading  in the comments below. Follow me on social media by visiting my  Linktree . I am preparing my debut ...