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Jan - Jun 2022

Let’s play a connect-the-dots, er, books game. Read books that connect to each other in one of the following ways. You may mix and match OR choose the same option all the way down the connection. You may decide as you go.

* a word in the title (cannot be an article [a, an, the])
Example: Until I Met You could be connected to Until We Find Home.

* author name (must be two different authors, but spellings don’t have to match)
Example: Kimberley Woodhouse could be connected to Kimberly Duffy.

* publication year
Example: A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano could be connected with Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason, because they’re both published in 2021.

The first “dot� does not count as a connection, so you must read one more book than the number of connections you choose.

Note: The connected books must be read in order. You cannot skip ahead and retrace your steps to fill in the gaps along the way.

Options:
Small: 8 connections (9 books)
Medium: 12 connections (13 books)
Large: 15+ connections (16+ books)

Andrea | Medium
Bonny | Medium | Done
Brittany | Large
Christy | Small
Hannah | Medium
Jenn | Large | Done
Lauri: Round 1 | Large | Done
Lauri: Round 2 | Large | Done
Lisa | Medium
Mary | Medium
Sarita | Medium | Done
Shash | Large | Done

Example of a Connect the Books list:

1. Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke
2. Until I Met You by Tari Faris (connection: Until)
3. The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin (connection: published in 2020)
4. Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy (connection: Sarah)

Connect the Books
Jan - Jun 2022

Options:
* a word in the title (no articles)
* author name (2 different authors; spellings don't have to match)
* publication year

Medium: 12 connections (13 books)

Connections:
1. The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark 1/3/22

I’m in for medium (12 connections)
* a word in the title (no articles)
* author name (2 different authors; spellings don't have to match)
* publication year

Start

1. Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War by Mary Davis- published in 2022

2. Life Flight by Lynette Eason - published 2022

3. Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin- published 2022

4. After She Falls by Carmen Schober - same word "fall"

5. To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano- published 2021

6. Love's Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik - connection "Jen"

7. Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson - connection published 2022

8. A Rose for the Resistance by Angela K. Couch - published 2022

9. Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn - published 2022

10. Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin - connection Lynn

11. Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman - connection Chasing

12. Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason

Welcome, Sarita!

I'll try for Large: 15+ connections (16+ books)

Start: A January Bride by Deborah Raney (1/4/22)

1. A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer (connection: bride) (1/6/22)
2. Blood Covenant by Lisa Harris (connection: published in 2010) (1/7/22)
3. Once Upon a Montana Summer by Lisa Tawn Bergren (connection: Lisa) (1/9/22)
4. Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason (connection: published in 2018) (1/10/22)
5. An Elegant Façade by Kristi Ann Hunter (connection: Ann/Anne) (1/11/22)
6. The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter (connection: Hunter) (1/12/22)
7. A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant (connection: bride) (1/13/22)
8. Miranda Warning by Heather Day Gilbert (connection: published in 2014) (1/17/22)
(9 books /\ I decided to keep going \/)
9. Deadly River Pursuit by Heather Woodhaven (connection: Heather) (1/19/22)
10. To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano (connection: published in 2021) (1/24/22)
11. Behind Love's Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels (connection: published in 2021) (1/31/22)
12. Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano (connection: behind) (2/7/22)
13. Secret Christmas Twins by Lee Tobin McClain (connection: published in 2017) (2/25/22)
14. A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher (connection: Lee) (2/25/22)
15. Glimmer in the Darkness by Robin Patchen (connection: Robin) (3/31/22)
16. The Librarian's Journey: 4 Historical Romances (connection: published in 2021) (4/8/22)
17. Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden (connection: published in 2021) (4/20/22)
18. The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik (connection: published in 2021) (5/3/22)
19. The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher (connection: published in 2021) (5/3/22)
20. One Word from You by Susanne Dietze (connection: Suzanne/Susanne) (5/5/22)
21. A Valentine from Charleston by Ashley Clark (connection: from) (5/9/22)
22. High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt (connection: published in 2022) (5/9/22)
23. Life Flight by Lynette Eason (connection: published in 2022) (5/18/22)
24. Still Life by Dani Pettrey (connection: life) (6/13/22)

I'm in! Large 15+ connections

Connect the Books
*word in the title
*author's name
*publication year

Start: Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund (1/6/22)

1. A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz (connection: pub 2022) (1/9/22)
2. Never Pursue a Prince by Regina Scott (connection: pub 2022) (1/10/22)
3. What True Love Is Made Of by Debra Clopton (connection: pub 2022) (1/11/22)
4. A Harvest of Love by Marta Perry (connection: "love" in title) (1/13/22)
5. Love and Lavender by Josi S. Kilpack (connection: "love" in title) (1/15/22)
6. Nursing Her Amish Neighbor by Marta Perry (connection: pub 2021) (1/17/22)
7. Fake Engagement Mistake by Lisa Renee (connection: pub 2021) (1/20/22)
8. Hers to Love by Sherrinda Ketchersid (connection: pub 2021) (1/23/22)
9. Their Surprise Amish Marriage by Jocelyn McClay (connection: pub 2021) (1/24/22)
10. Snowbound Amish Survival by Mary Alford (connection: "Amish" in title) (1/29/22)
11. Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston (connection: pub 2022) (2/1/22)
12. Their Secret Courtship by Emma Miller (connection: pub 2022) (2/4/22)
13. Their Unbreakable Bond by Deb Kastner (connection: "Their" in title) (2/5/22)
14. Seeking Refuge by Lenora Worth (connection: pub 2021) (2/6/22)
15. An Alleged Rogue by Sian Ann Bessey (connection: pub 2021) (2/15/22)
16. Amish Midwives: Three Stories by Amy Clipston (connection: pub 2021) (3/2/22)
17. An Accidental Romance by Karen Tuft (connection: pub 2021) (3/13/22)
18. A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection by Stacy Henrie Kristin Holt Annette Lyon Sarah M. Eden Heather B. Moore Sian Ann Bessey (connection: "Romance" (3/24/22)
19. The Valet's Secret by Josi S. Kilpack (connection: pub 2022) (4/4/22)
20. Loving Lovina by Patricia Johns (connection: pub 2022) (4/7/22)
21. The Marquis's Pursuit by Lorri Dudley (connection: pub 2022) (4/12/22)
22. The Perfect Mail-Order Bride by Regina Scott (connection: pub 2022) (4/14/22)
23. Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter (connection: pub 2022) (4/16/22)
24. Their Unpredictable Path by Jocelyn McClay (connection: pub 2022) (4/18/22)
25. Inheritance of Secrets by Robin Patchen (connection: pub 2022) (4/20/22)
26. The Marriage Jinx by Krista Noorman (connection: pub 2022) (4/23/22) clean/not CF
27. Death Valley Hideout by Dana Mentink (connection: pub 2022) (4/24/22)
28. The Amish Twins Next Door by Vannetta Chapman (connection: pub 2022) (4/27/22)
29. Songs of Home: A Christian Romance by Valerie M. Bodden (connection: pub 2022) (4/30/22)
30. To Bring You Back by Emily Conrad (connection: pub 2022) (5/1/22)
31. Secrets of Rosenli Manor by Heidi Eljarbo (connection: pub 2022) (5/5/22)
32. The Emperor’s Aeronaut by Shelley Adina (connection: pub 2022) (5/9/22)
33. Her Amish Springtime Miracle by Winnie Griggs (connection: pub 2022) (5/12/22)
34. The View from Coral Cove by Amy Clipston (connection: pub 2022) (5/15/22)
35. Her Mountain Refuge by Laurel Blount (connection: pub 2022) (5/22/22)
36. The Paramedic's Forever Family: A Clean Romance by Tanya Agler (connection: pub 2022) (5/26/22)
37. Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight (connection: pub 2022) (5/30/22)
38. A Far Way to Run by Lori Altebaumer (connection: pub 2022) (6/4/22)
39. Among the Innocent by Mary Alford (connection: pub 2022) (6/7/22)
40. Amish Cradle Conspiracy by Dana R. Lynn (connection: pub 2022) (6/11/22)
41. Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller (connection: pub 2022) (6/13/22)
42. Driving Force by Kate Angelo Lynette Eason (connection: pub 2022) (6/15/22)
43. Fatal Code by Natalie Walters (connection: pub 2022) (6/20/22)
44. Vanished Without a Trace by Sarah Hamaker (connection: pub 2022) (6/25/22)
45. Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary by Amy Lillard (connection: pub 2022) (6/27/22)
46. To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore (connection: pub 2022)(6/28/22)

Welcome, Jenn and Brittany!

I'm in! Going for large - 15+ connections

Connect the Books
*word in the title
*author's name
*publication year

Start: Miss Oriented and the Billionaire by Lorin Grace (1/2/22)

1. Mostly Perilous by Kimberley Montpetit (1/4/22) - Published in 2020
2. The Hopeful Bride by Kimberly Krey (1/7/22) - Kimberley/Kimberly
3. The Hopeful Heart by Jaclyn Hardy (1/8/22) - Hopeful
4. Choices of the Heart by Sarah M. Eden (1/19/22) - Heart
5. To Con a Gentleman by Sarah Adams (1/26/22) - Sarah
6. An Officer, Not a Gentleman by Elizabeth Johns (1/30/22) - Gentleman
7. One Singing Bachelorette by Jennifer Youngblood (1/31/22) - Published in 2020
8. Wrong Train to Paris by Jennifer Moore (2/12/22) - Jennifer
9. Until Vienna by Heather B. Moore (2/18/22) - Moore
10. Her Unsuitable Match by Sally Britton (2/22/22) - Published in 2021
11. Her One and Only by Becky Wade (3/8/22) - Her
12. One Kick Wonder by Jennifer Youngblood (5/7/22) - One
13. Elevator Kiss by Jennifer Griffith (5/8/22) - Jennifer
14. The Gingerbread Café by Jean Oram (5/22/22) - Published in 2022
15. The Gingerbread Man of My Dreams by Lisa J. Crane (6/18/22) - Gingerbread

Welcome, Shash!

Can you use a word in the title even if it is the same author. I have two books by Julie Klassen that both have "daughter" in the title. Same with Charles Martin with the word "water".

Yes, Lauri, that is acceptable. You would just note that the connection is "daughter" or "water" for that book. Since the title word is the connection, the author "connection" would be ignored.

Example:
1. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen | start
2. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen | connection: daughter

I may drive myself crazy since I am also doing the crusher challenge but I will try to incorporate this in as well. Starting off small.

Welcome, Lauri!

The chain of books must be read in order (I'll add a note about that in the directions, as I forgot until you mentioned it). If you read anything in between that doesn't replace your next book, you just won't count it for this particular challenge. You may adjust your chain as you go if your reading mood changes or you discover a dud in the stack of books or something.

Fun!!! I'm in for Medium with 12 books.

Welcome, Bonny!

I'd love to sign up for Small. :)

1. Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan 1/11/22
2. Becoming Lucy by Martha Rogers (connection - becoming) 4/13/22
3. Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida by Sandra D. Bricker (connection - 2009 pub year)
4. Love's Miracles by Sandra Leesmith (connection - author's first name)
5. Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell (connection - Love's)
6. Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins (connection - pursuit)
7. The Cutting Edge by Ace Collins (connection - author's last name)
8. The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox (connection - edge)
9. Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot (connection - author's first name)

Going for medium.

1. Christmas Vendetta by Valerie Hansen 1/1/22
2. Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen (link: 2021 publication)

Welcome, Christy and Hannah!

2022 Connect the Books (6-Month Challenge) CF
Duration: Jan.1, 2022 -June 30, 2022

Options:
* a word in the title (no articles)
* author name (2 different authors; spellings don't have to match)
* publication year

Options:
Small: 8 connections (9 books)
Medium: 12 connections (13 books)
Large: 15+ connections (16+ books)

MEDIUM - Completed 0/12 (13 books)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Welcome, Lisa!

Cover items do not work for this challenge.

I do love your creativity, Lauri. However, there are only three ways to connect books: a word in the title (not a, an, or the), author’s name (first or last; must be two different authors), and publication year.

Do we need to update our comments with the dates we read each book?

Christy wrote: "Do we need to update our comments with the dates we read each book?"

Yes, please.

Lauri wrote: "Last question, can Kim and Kimberly count as a name link?"

They cannot. The names have to match, with the only exception being that the spelling may be different if the names are pronounced the same, such as Kimberly and Kimberley or Sarah and Sara.

Start -Beneath a Golden Veil by Melanie Dobson (1/1)
1. Faith Countryman by Lori Hartman Gervasi (1/6) connect pub
2016
2. Dear Mr. Weaver by Kit Morgan (1/8) connect pub 2016
3. Dear Mr. Turner (1/10) connect "Dear"
4. Dear Mr. Comfort (1/11) Connect "Dear"
5. The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell (1/13) connect Pub 2016
6. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen (1/16) connect Julie
7. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz (1/19) connect "daughter"
8. The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen (1/23) connect "daughter"
9. The Art of Losing Yourself (1/25) connect pub 2015
10 Water From my Heart by Charles Martin (2/6) Connect pub 2015
11 Coming Home Again by T.I. Lowe (2/7) Connect pub 2015
12 Carry Me Home by Valerie Howard (2/9) Connect "Home"
13 Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer (2/14) connect "home"
14 Life After by Katie Ganshert (2/17) connect pub 2017
15 A Flicker of Light by Katie Powner (2/20) connect Katie
16 Rain by Dana McNeely (2/26) connect pub 2021
17. Plot Twist by Bethany Turner (2/28) connect pub 2021
18 The Last Piece by Terrie Todd (3/3) connect pub 2021
19 The Carving Tree by Terry Thomas Bowman (3/7) connect authors name Terrie/Terry
20 Finding Amanda by Robin Patchen (3/9) connect pub 2015
21 Firstborn by Robin Lee Hatcher (3/11) connect Robin

I think this ends my connections. It was fun, would like to do it again sometime. Perhaps I can start an new one?

Great job, Lauri! You're off to a quick start.

Andrea, I originally planned to do the small level for this challenge, but I am really enjoying connecting various books and I am going to change to the large level.

Wonderful! I love hearing that, Brittany. I’ll get your level adjusted.

Thank you!

I decided to switch mine from small, also. I think I'll aim for large now.

Fantastic! I’ll get that switched for you, Jenn.

Thanks! It's been fun looking for books that connect :)

Andrea wrote: "Fantastic! I’ll get that switched for you, Jenn."

Can you bump me up as well. I have made 8 connections so far and I think I can connect 7 more. This has turned out to be fun, as well as keeping me on track reading books on my TBR shelf.

Sure thing, Lauri. To medium or large?

Andrea wrote: "Sure thing, Lauri. To medium or large?"
Large - Thank You

I’ll get that switched for you.

Round two (I hope it is ok I am doing this
Start - If These Walls Could Talk by Dan Walsh (3/29)
1. Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate (4/4) connect "Talk"
2 The Escape by Lisa Harris (4/6) connect Lisa
3 Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury (4/8) connect pub 2020
4 Runaway River by Kim Taylor (4/12) connect pub 2020
5 The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas (4/14) connect pub 2020
5 The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin (4/16) connect Sarah
6 The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin (4/18) connect "us"
7 The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin (4/20) connect "us"
8 An Appalachian Summer by Ann H Gabhart (2/23) connect pub 2020
9. On A Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher (4/24) connect "summer"
10 Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson (4/26) connect "summer"
11. Under the Northern Lights by Tracie Peterson (4/30) connect publish 2006
12 Whispers of Winter by Tracie Peterson (5/2) connect pub 2006
13 In Harms Way by Traci Hunter Abramson (5/6) connect Tracie/Traci
14 A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano (5/9) connect pub 2021
15 The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox (5/11) connect pub 2021
16 Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd (5/14) connect pub 2021
17 Broken Together by Brenda S. Anderson (5/16) connect pub 2021
18 Under the Magnolias by T.I. Lowe (5/18) connect pub 2021
19 Last Wish by Valerie Howard (5/19) connect pub 2021
20 Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse (5/23) connect Valerie
21 In the Shadow of Your Wings by JP Robinson (5/27) connect pub 2018
22 The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano (6/2) connect pub 2018
23 The Fashion Desinger by Nancy Moser (6/6) connect pub 2018
24 The Wedding Kiss by Hannah Alexander (6/9) connect pub 2018
25 To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander (6/14) connect name Alexander
26 To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander (6/18) connect "Her"
27 To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander (6/20) connect "Her"
28 Desire of My Heart by Heidi Gray McGill (6.23) connect "heart"
29 Beach Haven by T.I. Lowe (6/26) connect pub 2020
30 Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon (6/29) connect "beach"

Lauri wrote: "Round two (I hope it is ok I am doing this
Start - If These Walls Could Talk by Dan Walsh (3/29)"

Perfectly fine, yes. Will you repost your full list for round one in a new comment so I may check it please? Thanks!

And, Lauri, did you want small, medium, or large for Round 2?

Andrea wrote: "And, Lauri, did you want small, medium, or large for Round 2?"

I think I have enough sketched out to do Medium this time. Doing this challenge has kept me on track choosing books from my overflowing TBR piles.

Completed Connect the Books with a total of 21 books:

Start -Beneath a Golden Veil by Melanie Dobson (1/1)
1. Faith Countryman by Lori Hartman Gervasi (1/6) connect pub
2016
2. Dear Mr. Weaver by Kit Morgan (1/8) connect pub 2016
3. Dear Mr. Turner (1/10) connect "Dear"
4. Dear Mr. Comfort (1/11) Connect "Dear"
5. The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell (1/13) connect Pub 2016
6. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen (1/16) connect Julie
7. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz (1/19) connect "daughter"
8. The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen (1/23) connect "daughter"
9. The Art of Losing Yourself (1/25) connect pub 2015
10 Water From my Heart by Charles Martin (2/6) Connect pub 2015
11 Coming Home Again by T.I. Lowe (2/7) Connect pub 2015
12 Carry Me Home by Valerie Howard (2/9) Connect "Home"
13 Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer (2/14) connect "home"
14 Life After by Katie Ganshert (2/17) connect pub 2017
15 A Flicker of Light by Katie Powner (2/20) connect Katie
16 Rain by Dana McNeely (2/26) connect pub 2021
17. Plot Twist by Bethany Turner (2/28) connect pub 2021
18 The Last Piece by Terrie Todd (3/3) connect pub 2021
19 The Carving Tree by Terry Thomas Bowman (3/7) connect authors name Terrie/Terry
20 Finding Amanda by Robin Patchen (3/9) connect pub 2015
21 Firstborn by Robin Lee Hatcher (3/11) connect Robin

Fantastic list, Lauri! Well done! I'll get you marked down for Medium this time around.

Andrea wrote: "Fantastic list, Lauri! Well done! I'll get you marked down for Medium this time around."

At the rate I am going I can make it to large. Although, it will be connecting a large stack of books connecting the publication year of 2021.

That’s wonderful! Do you want me to adjust your challenge to Large?

Andrea wrote: "That’s wonderful! Do you want me to adjust your challenge to Large?"

yes, please

Will do.