Aussie Readers discussion

Our next seasonal challenge is the Scorching Summer Challenge which takes place 1st December 2016 - 28th February 2017



This seasonal challenge is set in two parts - A and B

Read either A or B for your EASY challenge
Read A and B for your HARD challenge

Rules:

#1. State your challenge level then list (and LINK) all the books you plan to read for the challenge. Make sure to put the cover pic up when using the "colour" categories
#2. Upon completion of a book, rate it and update your progress.
#3. Don't forget our minimum of 125 pages - full guidelines HERE
#4. At least TWO Aussie authors are required - but challenge yourself to read as many as you can :)

Categories:

Part A:

Read a Rainbow - It's the colour on the cover that counts! (Minimum 50% colour coverage essential!)

#1. Yellow
#2. Orange
#3. Red
#4. Green
#5. Blue
#6. Purple

Part B:

#7. Title: Read a book that has any of these summer themed words in the title; 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot'.
#8. 25th December: Read a novel with a Christmas setting.
#9. New Years Eve: What better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by reading a book that was published this year!
#10. Cover - Read a book with EITHER a snow scene OR a beach scene on the cover
#11. Holiday - Read a book where the MC (main character) is on holidays
#12. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice



Relax by the pool with a glass of your favourite beverage and read the heat away!

Participants!

This is to make it easier to find your challenge. Below you will find your name listed alphabetically. Just click on your name and it will take you straight to your post!


Andrea
Angela
Ashleigh
Brenda
Carolyn
Chloe
Christina
Christy
Connie
Dree
Heather
Jacm
Jane
Janine
Jen
Jennifer
Jenny
Kate
Kathryn
Kelly
Kerri
Kerrie
Lee
Li'l Owl
Loz
MaryG2E
Maureen
MichelleG
Michelle_Mck
Melissa
Niamh
Odette
Phrynne
Renee
Renie
Richard
Rosie
Sally906
Sarah
Sharon
Sharon Walsh
Stef
Steve
Tien
Trevor
Tracy
Valerie
Veronica
Zoey

Thanks for catching me online, Brenda lol :D

I'm in - and going for HARD

Here is my list - subject to change:

Part A
1. Yellow Cover – Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 2★s

2. Orange Cover - Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya - 2★s

3. Red Cover - North Pole High: A Rebel Without a Claus by Candace Jane Kringle – 2★s

4. Green Cover - Spiral of Need by Suzanne Wright – 4★s

5. Blue Cover - Christmas at Copper Mountain by Jane Porter – 4★s

6. Purple Cover – Accidental Leigh by Melanie James – 2★s

Part B
7. Title has word summer – Summer Beach Vets: Playing Santa by H.Y. Hanna (Aussie Author) – 4★s

8. Read a novel with a Christmas Setting – Cold Feet at Christmas by Debbie Johnson – 4★s

9. Read a book published in 2016 - The Cauldron's Gift by Marina Finlayson (July 2016) (Aussie Author) – 3★s

10. Book with Snow Scene on cover - Stranded: A Winter Romance Duet by Samantha Chase – 4★s

11. Read a book where MC is on holiday - I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk – 3★s

12. Book of your choice - Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber – 5★s

Woah, Sally, how did you plan so fast!

Tien wrote: "Thanks for catching me online, Brenda lol :D"

No worries Tien ;) I try to accommodate - lol!

I'm going for HARD

12/12

A - Read a Rainbow

#1. Yellow - The Shoulders of Giants by Jim Cliff 3.5★s
#2. Orange - The Dark Side of the Street by Jack Higgins 5★s
#3. Red - Home by Harlan Coben 5★s
#4. Green - A Chance Of Stormy Weather by Tricia Stringer 4★s AA
#5. Blue - Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold by Iain Reading 4★s
#6. Purple - Shadows Of Hunters Ridge by Sarah Barrie 5★s AA



B

#7. Title (Sun/Summer/Heat/Hot) - The Heat of the Moon by Sandra Parshall 5★s
#8. 25th Dec (Xmas setting) - Festive Deception by D.B. Tait 5★s AA
#9. New Years Eve (pub. 2016) - The Silent Kookaburra by Liza Perrat 4.5★s AA
#10. Cover (Snow or Beach scene) - The Crossing by B. Michael Radburn 5★s AA
#11. Holiday (MC on holidays) - A Campy Christmas by Karen Musser Nortman 5★s
#12. Reader's Choice - The Florentine Bridge by Vanessa Carnevale 5★s AA

I am going for hard:)

PART A
1,Yellow: Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen 4 stars
2.Orange: Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty AA 5 stars
3.Red: The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood 5 stars
4.Green: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 3 stars
5.Blue: C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton4 stars
6.Purple: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder 4 stars



PART B
7. Title: Summer by Edith Wharton 4 stars
8. Christmas setting: Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis 3 stars
9. Published 2016: The Good People by Hannah Kent AA 4 stars
10. Snow on cover: Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt 4 stars
11. MC on holiday. Cold Kill: Monkeewrench Book 7 by P.J. Tracy 5 stars
12. Readers Choice. The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer 4 stars

I'm in for sure!! I'm taking the EASY rainbow challenge :)

#1. Yellow: He Loves Lucy READ 3 stars
#2. Orange: Where the Heart Is READ 4.5 stars
#3. Red: The Book of Love (AA) READ 5 stars
#4. Green: Where I Found You
#5. Blue: Relativity (AA) READ 5 stars
#6. Purple: All That is Lost Between Us (AA)

Okay I am in and going for colours of the rainbow
Yellow, Pop Goes the Weasel James Patterson (my paperback copy is yellow) Read. 4 Stars
Red, The Casual Vacancy 1st Hardcover J.K Rowling Read 4 stars
Orange, Death Comes to Pemberley P.D. James (Read and enjoyed. 4 stars)( Hardback copy orange)
Green, The First Man in RomeColleen McCullough ( green cover copy )also Aussie author Read 4 stars
Blue, CloudstreetTim Winton (sky blue cover) also Aussie author Read 4 stars
Purple, The Omega Scroll Adrian d'Hage also Aussie author Read 4 stars
all on my TBR list, yay.

Woohoo! Can't wait for this one to start!

HARD: COMPLETED as at 18/02

Part A: Read a Rainbow

#1. Yellow: Zigzag Street by Nick Earls* -Read 12/12
#2. Orange: Red Dust by Fleur McDonald* -Read 5/12
#3. Red: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky -Read 16/12
#4. Green: Judgment Calls (Samantha Kincaid #1) by Alafair Burke -Read 31/
#5. Blue: Last Orders at Harrods (Kuwisha Trilogy #1) by Michael Holman -Read 05/01
#6. Purple: Missing Justice (Samantha Kincaid #2) by Alafair Burke -Read 18/02



Part B:

#7. Title: The Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists, and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York by Matthew Goodman -Read 15/01
#8. 25th December: Heartwarming Duo/Secret Santa/Homespun Christmas by Cynthia Reese / Aimee Thurlo -Read 26/12
#9. New Years Eve: The Map of Bones (The Fire Sermon #2) by Francesca Haig* -Read 28/01
#10. Cover: On, Off (Carmine Delmonico #1) by Colleen McCullough* -Read 14/02
#11. Holiday: Death by Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood* -Read 08/12
#12. Reader's Choice: Café Scheherazade by Arnold Zable* -Read 06/12



*Aussie Authors

Yay Love the Summer Challenge - Going to Rainbow it up!

✔ PART A: Easy - 6/6

✔ 1. Yellow The Boundless Sublime by Lili Wilkinson (AU) ★★★★ 30th Dec 16
✔ 2. Orange Coraline by Neil Gaiman ★★★ 27th Jan 17
✔ 3. Red City of Glass by Cassandra Clare ★★★ 5th Jan 17
✔ 4. Green: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare ★★★★ 2nd Dec 16
✔ 5. Blue City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare ★★★★ 13th Dec 16
✔ 6. Purple The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe ★★★★ 22nd Dec 16



PART B: Hard - 3/6

7. Title - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
✔ 8. 25th December: Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story by R.L. Stine ★★★ 5th Dec 16
✔ 9. New Years Eve: Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (AU) ★★★★★
10. Cover - The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan (AU)
✔ 11. Holiday Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson ★★★ 27th Dec 16
✔ 12. Reader's Choice A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness ★★★★ 16th Dec 16

Connie wrote: "Okay I am in and going for colours of the rainbow
Yellow, Pop Goes the Weasel James Patterson (my paperback copy is yellow)
Red, The Casual Vacancy 1st Hardcover J.K Ro..."

Connie can you please link your cover pics for this one? We'd all love to see the rainbow colours :)

Yes, I'm delighted to participate. But I'm only going for the EASY level, given the busy-ness of the season. My list, which, of course, may be modified, is based on the colours of the rainbow:

1. Yellow: Dust by Hugh Howey
2. Orange: Here Come The Dogs by Omar Musa (AA)
3. Red: Zero Day by David Baldacci
4. Green: The Soldier's Curse by Meg Keneally (AA)
5. Blue: The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke
6. Purple: Silver in the Sun by Anthony David Parsons (AA)

Nice list Mary and great match of colours too! I'm tempted to change my #4 to the same as yours as I haven't read it yet, and it's here looking at me!

I am aiming for Hard on this Challenge

12/12 Books Completed
Part A:
1. Yellow Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris 3 Stars
2. Orange The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher 3.5 Stars
3. Red Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
4. Green Holding by Graham Norton 4.5 Stars
5. Blue Before the Fall by Noah Hawley 4.5 Stars
6. Purple When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah *AA 4.5 stars



Part B:
7. Title: Summer Harvest by Georgina Penney *AA
8. 25th December: Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
9. New Years Eve: The Mothers by Brit Bennett
10. Cover - Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin
11. Holiday The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald 4 Stars
12. Reader's Choice The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling 3.5 Stars

Count me in...I am going to do the Hard level..

Part A
1. Yellow To Save a Mate by Krystal Shannan

2. Orange Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

3. Red Four to Score by Janet Evanovich

4. Green Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich 4 stars

5. Blue Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich 4 stars

6. Purple Dead Wrong by Leighann Dobbs



Part B

7. Title has a summer themed word in it Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

8. Christmas Book Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Katherine Garbera

9. NYE - Published in 2016 The Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns AA

10. Cover has either a Beach or Snow scene The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman AA

11. Holiday - Main Character is on Holidays

12. Reader's Choice Illuminae by Amie Kaufman AA 4 stars

I will try for the Hard level


A
1. Yellow -Wattle Creek by Fiona McCallumAA 4★
2. Orange - The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell 4★
3. Red - The Scandalous Lady W by Hallie Rubenhold 3★
4. Green - The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber 2.5★
5. Blue - The Royals by Kitty Kelley 1.5★
6. Purple - Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris 3.5★



B
7. Title - Dead Heat by Bronwyn Parry AA 5★
8. Xmas - Murder in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon 4.5★
9. 2016 - Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes 5★
10. Snow on Cover - Ice by Linda Howard 3.5★
11. MC on Holidays - Seduction's Kiss by Alyssa Rose Ivy 4★
12. Readers Choice Secrets in Time by Alison Stuart AA 5★

Brenda wrote: "Connie wrote: "Okay I am in and going for colours of the rainbow
Yellow, Pop Goes the Weasel James Patterson (my paperback copy is yellow)
Red, [book:The Casual Vacancy 1st Hardcover|3..."
I don't know what happened to my reply Brenda but here goes take 2. I don't know how to link the covers and some of the covers are different to the copies I have here at home

I'm in. I will try the Hard Level.

Count me in. Will start with just easy level and figure out some book options later :)

Brenda wrote: "Nice list Mary and great match of colours too! I'm tempted to change my #4 to the same as yours as I haven't read it yet, and it's here looking at me!"

Pure luck Brenda, that I could assemble 6 books from my owned shelves to make up such a pretty set of colours. I'm looking forward to starting The Soldier's Curse, as, like you, it has been staring at me for a while now...

Connie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Connie wrote: "Okay I am in and going for colours of the rainbow
Yellow, Pop Goes the Weasel James Patterson (my paperback copy is yellow)
Red, [book:The Casual Vacancy ..."

Yay I worked it out and even found the right covers

Well done Connie!

HARD Challenge (of course :-)

1. Yellow ★★☆☆☆
2. Orange ★★★★☆
3. Red ★★★★☆
4. Green ★★★★☆
5. Blue ★★★★☆
6. Purple ★★★☆☆
7. Summer Title ★★★★★
8. 25th December AA ★★★★☆
9. New Years Eve ★★★★☆
10. Cover ★★★★★
11. Holiday AA ★★★☆☆
12. Reader's Choice ★★★★★

Looking forward to getting stuck in!

Hi Brenda,
I'm going to give it a shot and am going to try easy as follows:-
Yellow Eyrie Tim Winton (Aussie)
Orange What Alice Forgot Liane Moriarty (Aussie)
Red Norwegian Wood Haruki Murakami
Green May We Be Forgiven A.M. Homes
Blue The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared Jonas Jonasson
Purpleish Archipelago of Souls Gregory Day (Aussie)

Phrynne wrote: "Well done Connie!"

Thanks Phrynne, I felt so useless not being able to do it but now I feel superhuman.............well nearly. So I will finally be reading Death comes to Pemberely that you gave me, so looking forward to it

I feel like this is the perfect challenge for me to tackle the Outlander series. Will have to check how the colours match up!

Connie wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Well done Connie!"

Thanks Phrynne, I felt so useless not being able to do it but now I feel superhuman.............well nearly. So I will finally be reading Death comes to Pemberel..."

I hope you like it more than I did:)

Angela wrote: "Hi Brenda,
I'm going to give it a shot and am going to try easy as follows:-
Yellow Eyrie Tim Winton (Aussie)
Orange What Alice Forgot Liane Moriarty (Aussie)
Red [..."

Can you link your covers please Angela so we can see their colours:)

Easy:

#7.
#8.
#9.
#10. (The edition I have has a pic of a beach, but I can't find it on Goodreads yet.)
#11. (I *think* from the blurb they initially go on a holiday...)
#12.

Count me in. Just working on my list and wondering if Fearless by Fiona Higgins would count as main character being on holidays.

I'm in and I'm going for the easy level with Part A:

1. Yellow - The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee 4*
2. Orange - City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
3. Red - Champions at Fire's End by Charlotte Jain (Aussie Author) 4*
4. Green - Kiss of Deception by Mary. E Pearson
5. Blue - Darkness Be my Friend by John Marsden (Aussie Author)
6. Purple - Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

I'm in and going for HARD - just marking my place while I scan my TBR list:
PART A - Rainbow
1. Yellow: Death By Chocolate by Abigail Keam 3*
2. Orange: Night School by Lee Child 3*
3. Red: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 5*
4. Green: Twisted by Jonathan Kellerman 3.5*
5. Blue: Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham 5* AA
6. Purple: Glory in Death by J.D. Robb 5*



PART B - Christmas
7. Title: High Heat by Richard Castle 4*
8. Christmas setting: Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood 4* AA
9. Published 2016: Love You Dead by Peter James 4.5*
10. Beach on cover: Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire 3.5*
11. MC on holiday. Holiday in Cambodia by Laura Jean McKay 2*AA
12. Readers Choice. After You by Jojo Moyes 4.5*

Phrynne wrote: "Connie wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Well done Connie!"

Thanks Phrynne, I felt so useless not being able to do it but now I feel superhuman.............well nearly. So I will finally be reading Death co..."

I still remember that conversation Phrynne ha ha,will let you know if I like it or not

MaryG2E wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nice list Mary and great match of colours too! I'm tempted to change my #4 to the same as yours as I haven't read it yet, and it's here looking at me!"

Pure luck Brenda, that I coul..."

Soon...

I'll join in this one :)

Part A:

Read a Rainbow - It's the colour on the cover that counts! (Minimum 50% colour coverage essential!)

#1. Yellow
#2. Orange
#3. Red
#4. Green
#5. Blue
#6. Purple

Part B:

#7. Title: Read a book that has any of these summer themed words in the title; 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot'.
#8. 25th December: Read a novel with a Christmas setting.
#9. New Years Eve: What better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by reading a book that was published this year!
#10. Cover - Read a book with EITHER a snow scene OR a beach scene on the cover Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead by A.P. Martin
#11. Holiday - Read a book where the MC (main character) is on holidays
#12. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice

Connie wrote: "Connie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Connie wrote: "Okay I am in and going for colours of the rainbow
Yellow, Pop Goes the Weasel James Patterson (my paperback copy is yellow)
Red, [book:The ..."

Well done! It's amazing how all this "complicated stuff" helps us improve our technological selves ;)

Steve wrote: "HARD Challenge (of course :-)

1. Yellow
2. Orange
3. Red
4. Green
5. Blue [bookcover:Frost Like ..."

Looks perfectly snowy to me Steve :)

Odette wrote: "Count me in. Just working on my list and wondering if Fearless by Fiona Higgins would count as main character being on holidays."

Definitely Odette! Even though it's a retreat it's still a holiday :) Enjoy!

Please add me. Will return shortly with my selections.

I am going for the 'hard' level:

1. Yellow: House for all Seasons by Jenn J. McLeod - 4★ AA
2. Orange: The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley - 4★
3. Red: Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin - 4★
4. Green; One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters - 4★
5. Blue: The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin - 4★
6. Purple: The House With No Rooms by Lesley Thomson - 5★



7. Title: Read a book that has 'Sun' in the title: Chasing the Sun by Natalia Sylvester - 4★
8. 25th December: Read a novel with a Christmas setting: Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood - 3★ AA
9. New Years Eve: Book published this year: River Run by Nicole Alexander - 4★ AA
10. Cover - Read a book with a snow scene on the cover: White Fire by Douglas Preston - 4★
11. Holiday - Read a book where main character is on holidays: Fearless by Fiona Higgins - 4★ AA
12. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice: Crimes of the Father by Tom Keneally - 4★ AA

Nice list Odette! Some excellent choices coming through from everyone :)

Will start with easy level...



Yellow: ✔ The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson ★★★★
Orange: ✔ Stiff by Shane Maloney (AA) ★★★1/2
Red: ✔ Dark Matter by Blake Crouch ★★★1/2
Green; ✔ The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides ★★★
Blue: ✔ Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith ★★★1/2
Purple: ✔ Tirra Lirra by the River by Jessica Anderson (AA) ★★★

OK since I finished spring I will try summer. HARD Let me go through my TBR over the next few days



#1. Yellow AA DONE
#2. Orange DONE
#3. Red DONE
#4. Green DONE
#5. Blue DONE
#6. Purple DONE

Part B:

#7. Title: Read a book that has any of these summer themed words in the title; 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot'. AA DONE
#8. 25th December: Read a novel with a Christmas setting. DONE
#9. New Years Eve: (pub 2016) AA DONE
#10. Cover - Read a book with EITHER a snow scene OR a beach scene on the cover Asta in the Wings (snow scene) DONE
#11. Holiday - Read a book where the MC (main character) is on holidays: DONE
#12. Reader's Choice: DONE

Count me in, I will go for easy part B

7. Summer at Willow Lake
8. Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky
9. The Wonder
10. A Winter Affair: A wonderful festive treat
11. The Promise of Provence
12. The Wildwood Sisters

I'm in, and I'll go for hard, because it's summer and I always read heaps anyway :)

12/12 read

Part A:
1. Yellow: When Mr. Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan 3.5★
2. Orange: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta AA 4★
3. Red: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion AA 4★
4. Green: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson 4★
5. Blue: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 4.5★
6. Purple: The Siren by Kiera Cass 4★


Part B:
7. Title: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 4.5★
8. 25th December: Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle 4★
9. New Years Eve: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken 4.5★
10. Cover - beach scene: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 4★
11. Holiday: Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn 4★
12. Reader's Choice: Genesis by Lara Morgan AA 4★

I'm in, and will go for Easy - Part B

#7. Title: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson 3.5★
#8. 25th December: Hester and Harriet by Hilary Spiers 2.5★
#9. New Years Eve: Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty (AA) 4★
#10. Cover: (snow scene) The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths 3★
#11. Holiday: Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey Into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa 4★
#12. Reader's Choice: Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett (AA) 3★

I'm in - time to make my list ;)