Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Monthly Challenges
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Miscellaneous Challenges

FIX LINKS

Chubby Chunkster Challenge

Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2023
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese

READ: 30/8
Tomes = 1
Chunksters = 29

1. [560 pages] Forging Silver into Stars - Brigid Kemmerer 1/11
2. [902 pages] Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone - Diana Gabaldon 1/27
3. [512 pages] Song of Silver, Flame Like Night - Amélie Wen Zhao 1/28
4. [507 pages] Never Fade - Alexandra Bracken 2/2
5. [669 pages] Upon a Burning Throne - Ashok K. Banker 2/12
6. [528 pages] River of Darkness - Rennie Airth 2/20
7. [508 pages] A Dark Queen Rises - Ashok K. Banker 3/3
8. [496 pages] The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - S.A. Chakraborty 3/5
9. [496 pages] Ghost Ocean - S.M. Peters 4/1
10. [518 pages] The Hive Child - Rebecca L. Fearnley 4/15
11. [522 pages] Kingdoms at War - Lindsay Buroker 4/21
12. [594 pages] The Winter King - C.L. Wilson 4/23
13. [480 pages] Liar, Liar - Lisa Jackson 4/27
14. [581 pages] Inca Gold - Clive Cussler 5/2
15. [576 pages] Alaskan Fire - Sara King 5/14
16. [699 pages] War Song of the Wild - Rebecca L. Fearnley 5/21
17. [464 pages] The Cleaner, the Cat and the Space Station - Fay Abernethy 5/25
18. [496 pages] Never Let You Go - Katy Regnery 6/17
19. [672 pages] The Dragon Republic - R.F. Kuang 7/16
20. [622 pages] The Burning God - R.F. Kuang 7/19
21. [519 pages] Blood Trinity - Sherrilyn Kenyon/Diana Love 7/26
22. [513 pages] Angels Falling - Harriet Carlton 8/11
23. [606 pages] A Queen of Thieves & Chaos - K.A. Tucker 9/26
24. [453 pages] Cold Blooded Liar - Karen Rose 9/13
25. [483 pages] Ice Like Fire - Sara Raasch 10/20
26. [502 pages] The Book of Fire - Marjorie Kellogg 10/1
27. [528 pages] House of Correction - Nicci French 11/11
28. [610 pages] The Olympian Affair - Jim Butcher 12/8
29. [576 pages] The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - Mark Lawrence 12/9
30. [512 pages] Delicious Monsters - Liselle Sambury 12/22



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (January)

READ: 6/6

✔ J: Tortured Dreams - Hadena James 1/31
✔ A: The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart 1/9
✔ N: No Time Like the Past - Jodi Taylor 1/7
✔ N: White is the Coldest Colour - John Nicholl 1/18
✔ A: The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken 1/15
✔ R: Raphael - D.B. Reynolds 1/16



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

January Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1. Happy January Birthday!: Read a book published in January, or read a book with red on the cover in honor of January's birthstone, the Garnet
The Untangled Cassie Black - Tammie Painter 1/3

✔️2. Baby Names! Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names. Alternately, you may choose a book with a character, plot, scene or cover art that somehow represents the name's meaning (in parentheses). Some of the meanings are pretty obscure, so feel free to be creative! This month's names: Ada (Noble, Happy), Ruby (Red Gemstone), Colton (Cole's Town), Wyatt (Son of Guy).
Psychic Dreams - Elizabeth Hunter (ruby red bottle on cover) 1/18


✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) author - Lauren Layne: Read one book written by Lauren Layne or any author with her first or last name. You may also read a book set in New York or Washington, Book published in 2011, or an office romance.
The One You Love - Paul Pilkington (pub April 27, 2011) 1/29

✔️4. January 3-Festival of Sleep Day- Read a book with something to do with sleeping on the cover, or with sleepover between friends, or ‘with the letter ‘z’ in title or author’s name (zzzzz).
You Can Hide - Rebecca Zanetti 1/5

✔️5. January 6- Cuddle Up Day-Read a book with a couple in an embrace on the cover, or with a someone on the cover you want to cuddle up with.
Scottish Werebear: Books 1-3 - Lorelei Moone 1/17

✔️6. January 13-Friday the 13th- Read a book with a black cat on the cover or a black on the cover.
The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart 1/9

✔️7 . January 16-Appreciate a Dragon Day-
Read a paranormal romance (bonus if a dragon shifter) or with a book with 12 books in a series, or opposite attract romance.
The Dragon's Promise - Elizabeth Lim (has dragon shifters) 1/14

✔️8. January 23-Measure Your Feet Day- Read a book with feet or shoes on the cover or read a book with the letters FEET or FOOT in the title/series/author's name (any combination).
White is the Coldest Colour - John Nicholl 1/18

✔️9. January 26- Spouse's Day/ Australia Day- Read a book with a established couple or a book based in Australia.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? - Jodi Taylor (Max and Leon) 1/29

✔️10. Readers Choice: Read any book you want.
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone - Diana Gabaldon 1/27



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

January Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ black - The Untangled Cassie Black - Tammie Painter 1/3
(getting sucked into a black hole ), p14

✔ cheer - No Time Like the Past - Jodi Taylor 1/7
(I could hear the shouts and cheers), p151

✔ evil - The Untangled Cassie Black - Tammie Painter 1/3
(fighting off evil), p17

✔ fret - Murder in the South of France - Susan Kiernan-Lewis 1/8
(aw, don't fret), p291

✔ galaxy - No Time Like the Past - Jodi Taylor 1/7
(somewhere a new galaxy formed), p86

✔ jam - Fatal Catch - Pauline Rowson 1/6
(wiping the jam from his chin), p12

✔ marble - No Time Like the Past - Jodi Taylor 1/7
(the fixtures and fittings were brass and marble), p63

✔ outside - Double Dealer - Barbara McCafferty & Beverly Herald 1/7
(and deposits them outside), p71

✔ reality - Fatal Catch - Pauline Rowson 1/6
(before reality rushed in), p106

✔ wake - The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart 1/9
(sorry I didn't want to wake you), p49


Bonus
✔ angular - Double Dealer - Barbara McCafferty & Beverly Herald 1/7
(given his true sex away was that angular jaw), p181

✔ cloudy - Children - Bjørn Larssen 1/8
(the whole new world, cold and cloudy), p10

✔ foreboding - The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart 1/9
(ominous and foreboding), p41

✔ hiccups - Forging Silver into Stars - Brigid Kemmerer 1/11
(he hiccups and stumbles), p268

✔ seed - Children - Bjørn Larssen 1/8
(a man has to spread his seed), p102

✔ traverse - You Can Hide - Rebecca Zanetti 1/5
(she'd need to traverse the forest again), p8

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

February Monthly Challenge

READ: 9/9

✔️1. Happy February Birthday!: Read a book published in February, or read a book with purple on the cover in honor of February's birthstone, the Amethyst.
Silver Spells - Kate Moseman 2/8


✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) author - Sloane Kennedy: Read one book written by Sloane Kennedy or any author with their first or last name. You may also read a book set in Germany, Wisconsin, or Seattle, or by an author who is from any of those locations. Or you may read any book published in 2015, is shelved as MM or LGBTQIA romance, or features a cat, dog, or horse.
Just in Time for a Highlander - Gwyn Cready (pub Feb 2015) 2/24

✔️4.Valentine’s Day: - February is the month of LOVE! Read any book that you consider to be a love story.
Sweet Trouble - Susan Mallery 2/10

✔️5. US/Black History Month: Read a book with a POC character, written by a POC author, or that has black on the cover.
Buffalo Jump Blues - Keith McCafferty 2/16


✔️6. US/National Bird Feeding Month: Read a book with a bird on the cover or in the story, or by an author’s first or last name beginning with B, I, R, or D.
Shattered at Sea - Cheryl Hollon (seagulls) 2/4


✔️7. February 21 – Mardi Gras/Carnival: Read a book that features a celebration, or has purple, gold, or green on the cover. You may also read a book where the characters eat pancakes, Paçzki, or any other decadent food.
Music Man - K.L. Montgomery 2/19
(Claire plates the pancakes, eggs and bacon), p207

✔️8. February 12 – Super Bowl Sunday: Read a sports romance or one featuring a musician, a book that takes place in the US Southwest, or one where the characters eat snacks during the course of the story.
Final Lap - Erin McCarthy (car racing) 2/21

✔️9. February 28 - Finnish Culture Day: Read a book set outside the US.
If You Could See the Sun - Ann Liang (China) 2/1

✔️10. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice.
The Last Beekeeper - Rebecca L. Fearnley 2/17

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (February)

READ: 4/4

✔ F: Found in the Lost - Tarina Deaton 2/21
✔ R: Reckoning - Catherine Coulter 2/3
✔ A: The Avid Angler: The Hot Dog Detective - Mathiya Adams 2/27
✔ R: Rhapsodic - Laura Thalassa 2/11



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

February Word Hunt

READ: 15/16

alpha - Moon Craving - Lucy Monroe 2/18
(no shame in submitting to a more powerful alpha), p188

barrier - Dark Sentinel - Christine Feehan 2/8
(she was either going to let down her barriers), p12

castle - Sweet Trouble - Susan Mallery 2/10
(the castle is our favorite), p115

friendship - The Pearl Savage - Tamara Rose Blodgett 2/13
(every friend sacred), p14

generation - Never Fade - Alexandra Bracken 2/2
(they'd salvaged an older generation phone), p41

humiliation - If You Could See the Sun - Ann Liang 2/1
(humiliation floods through me, p45), p

protein -
(), p

reject - Moon Craving - Lucy Monroe 2/18
(he would reject her as his wife), p217

soul - Better Late Than Never - Jenn McKinlay 2/5
(he's not the most exciting soul in town), p184

whip - Upon a Burning Throne - Ashok K. Banker 2/12
(like a coiled whip unleashing), p20


Bonus Words
keening - Darkness, My Old Friend - Lisa Unger 2/6
(then a horrible keening scream), p150

species - That Ain’t Witchcraft - Seanan McGuire 2/4
(to have members of your own species around), p3

spotlight - Dark Sentinel - Christine Feehan 2/8
(she'd come to the mountains to escape the spotlight), p25

utmost - The Pearl Savage - Tamara Rose Blodgett 2/13
(it was my utmost desire), p165

youthful - Better Late Than Never - Jenn McKinlay 2/5
(made her seem eternally youthful), p4

vulgar - Silver Spells - Kate Moseman 2/8
(oh darling, how vulgar), ch24

Read the Month Maltese Edition (March)

READ: 3/5

✔ M: Moment of Tooth - Lindsay Buroker 3/12
✔ A: Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold - Nancy Atherton 3/7
✔ R: Earth Spells Are Easy - Renee George 3/19
Z:
U:

Read the Month Maltese Edition (April)

READ: 5/5

✔ A: Unwritten - Alicia J. Novo 4/1
✔ P: Hidden Blade - Pippa DaCosta 4/18
✔ R: Rising Darkness - Jen L. Grey 4/9
✔ I: If Looks Could Chill - Nina Bruhns 4/22
✔ L: The Laughing Policeman - Elizabeth J. Brown 4/3



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

April Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ blink - Ghost Ocean - S.M. Peters 4/1
(she does not blink), p18

✔ corporate - Of Claws and Inferno - Kyoko M. 4/10
(corporate sponsors?), p31

✔ exactly - Hades - Candice Fox 4/8
(Hades hadn't checked what happened exactly), p104

✔ fool - Unwritten - Alicia J. Novo 4/1
(you can't follow this fool), p41

✔ hug - The Laughing Policeman - Elizabeth J. Brown 4/3
(as if to hug him), p338

✔ meat - The Laughing Policeman - Elizabeth J. Brown 4/3
(why should I be jealous of a meat bag), p185

✔ recount - Of Claws and Inferno - Kyoko M. 4/10
(he recounted everything that happened), p88

✔ prey - Unwritten - Alicia J. Novo 4/1
(serving as prey for anything sounded ominous), p45

✔ stone - The Laughing Policeman - Elizabeth J. Brown 4/3
(of the weathered stone chapel), p179

✔ trade - The Hive Child - Rebecca L. Fearnley 4/15
(how did they trade for enough solar panels), p73


Bonus
✔ crave - Warrior's Moon - Lucy Monroe 4/16
(I crave you as no other), p71

✔ halt - Warrior's Moon - Lucy Monroe 4/16
(Shona guided her tired mare to a half), p11

✔ omen - Zar - Alana Khan 4/12
(never a good omen), p61

✔ pebble - Viking Warrior, Unwilling Wife - Michelle Styles 4/13
(her foot struck a pebble), p20

✔ tropical - Unwritten - Alicia J. Novo 4/1
(a tropical jungle bathed in green fog), p36

✔ lagoon - Devil of a Chance - Ciara Graves 4/5
those eyes of his reminded me of a lagoon(), p74

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

April Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1. Happy April Birthday!: Read a book published in April, or read a book with white on the cover in honor of April's birthstone, the Diamond.
The Rapids - Carla Neggers 4/15


✔️2. Baby Names!: Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them. Alternately, you may choose a book with a character, plot, scene or cover art that somehow represents the name's meaning (in parentheses). Some of the meanings are pretty obscure, so feel free to be creative! This month's names: * Felicity (Happiness)
Find Her Alive - Diane Saxon (MCs sister is named Felicity) 4/27

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) – Kresley Cole: Read one book written by Kresley Cole, or any author with her first or last name. 🌲 You may also read any book or novella set in Florida, or one that features either an athletic character or someone traveling internationally; or a book categorized on Goodreads as erotica or historical romance; or a book written by an author who has won a RITA award.
Viking Warrior, Unwilling Wife - Michelle Styles 4/13

✔️4. National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – April 2:
🌲 Read a book that you consider a comfort read. You can also read a book with brown, red, or purple on the cover; or a book where a character eats a meal or a comfort food. You can also read a book categorized on Goodreads as military or military romance in honor of American WWII soldiers, who had peanut butter and jelly included on their ration lists.
The Winter King - C.L. Wilson 4/23

✔️5. Look Up at the Sky Day – April 14:
🌲 Read a book with a sky (day or night) shown on the cover, or a cover with blue on it, or a cover with sky-type elements such as stars, a moon, clouds, planets, etc. You can also read a book categorized as science fiction on Goodreads, or a book with a character who either enjoys cloud/star gazing, or works in a related profession, such as meteorology, astronomy, or starship pilot.
Broken Mate - Jen L. Grey 4/8


✔️6. National Take a Chance Day – April 23:
🌲 Read a book on your TBR list, or a book by an author who is new to you. You can also read a book where a character takes a chance on some goal or dream that they have, or must overcome a challenge/difficulty during the story.
Witch Hunt - Sara Bourgeois 4/8

✔️7. Arbor Day – April 28:
🌲 Read a book with a tree or the color green on the cover. You can also read a book set in Nebraska, or a book where a character goes for a walk or hike in a park or the woods. You can also read a book where a character gardens, or is a gardener, florist, botanist, or does something positive for the environment (your interpretation).
Let Me Go - Kate Bold 4/6


✔️8. National Library Week: Celebrated from April 23–29 this year,
🌲 Read a book that you have borrowed from a library or some other source (friend, family, Kindle Unlimited, etc). You can also read a book that was recommended to you, or a book that features an educational or library setting. Additionally, you can read a book that is part of a series, in honor of this year’s National Library Week theme, “There’s More to the Story.”
History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera 4/12

✔️9. National Humor Month:
🌲 Read a book that is categorized in a humor category on Goodreads (such as comedy, humor, romantic comedy, etc). You can also read a book with bright colors on the cover, or with cover art that you find humorous or features a person that is smiling or laughing. You can also read a book featuring a character who you find witty or funny, or one where the characters do something fun.
Kingdoms at War - Lindsay Buroker 4/21

✔️10. Reader's Choice: 🌲 Read any book of your choice.
Of Claws and Inferno - Kyoko M. 4/10

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

May Monthly Challenge

READ: 9/9

✔️1) 💐 Happy May Birthday 💐: Read a book published in May, or read a book with a green cover in honor of May’s birthstone, the Emerald.
Blackbird Fly - Lise McClendon (published May 1, 2009) 5/29

✔️3) 💐 Featured Author Challenge (FAC) - Christina Dodd 💐: Read one book written by Christina Dodd or any author with her first or last name. You may also read a book set in either the Western United States or in England. Additionally, you may read a book that has been shelved as suspense, a book that has won an award or a book that has appeared on a bestseller list.
One Hit Wonder - Kristi Rose (Washington) 5/18

✔️4) 💐 National Space Day - May 5 💐: Read a book with science fiction or fantasy elements, a book with a character who is in a STEM profession (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or a book with the sun, moon, stars or sky on the cover.
The Cleaner, the Cat and the Space Station - Fay Abernethy 5/25

✔️5) 💐 National Nurses Week - May 6 - 12 💐: Read a book with a character who is in a medical profession, or a book with a character who takes care of another. You may also read a book set after 1872, the year in which the first nursing school was established in the United States.
Deadly Remedy - Gwen Hunter (MC ER doctor) 5/24

✔️6) 💐 National Chocolate Chip Day - May 15 💐: Read a book that you consider to be “sweet,” a book with a dark cover or a piece of food on the cover or a book by an author whose first or last name begins with the letter C.
How to Date a Dragon - Ashlyn Chase 5/6

✔️7) 💐 National Bike to Work Week - May 15 - 21 💐: Read a book with a character who is active or participates in physical fitness, or a book with a character who enjoys being outdoors. You may also read a workplace romance.
Moon Duel - Aimee Easterling 5/26
(MC is a werewolf and prefers the outdoors)

✔️8) 💐 International Museum Day - May 19 💐: Read a book that has been shelved as historical, or a book with a character who is studying or teaching something. You may also read a book set in or near New York, Paris or Washington D.C. in honor of the following museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre and the Smithsonian Institution.
Lady Helena Investigates - Jane Steen 5/18

✔️9) 💐 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 💐: Read a book written by an AAPI author or with an AAPI character, a book with an island setting or a book with the letters A, P or I in the title.
The Priestess and the Dragon - Nicolette Andrews (set in Japan) 5/27

✔️10) 💐 Reader’s Choice 💐: Read any book of your choice!
War Song of the Wild - Rebecca L. Fearnley 5/21

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (May)

READ: 5/5

✔ M: Marked - Rebecca Zanetti 5/22
✔ E: Flames of Love - Erin Wright 5/5
✔ J: Lady Helena Investigates - Jane Steen 5/18
✔ J: The Thunderbird Queen - Jordan Rivet 5/21
✔ U: Unsafe Harbor - Jessica Speart 5/16



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

May Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ gift - How to Date a Dragon - Ashlyn Chase 5/6
(and get you one for a gift), p50

✔ face -The Butterfly Forest - Tom Lowe 5/7
(too bad we can't make out his face), loc2997

✔ copy - Abandoned in Death - J.D. Robb 5/28
(I'm going to copy you in on our file), p57

✔ sigh - Tempted - Megan Hart 5/4
(not really a sigh either), p78

✔ knot - Siren's Surrender - Devyn Quinn 5/1
(a knot of dismay formed in his throat), p37

✔ slip - The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer - Cathy Ace 5/13
(she wanted to slip around the back of the pub), p46

✔ roll - The Butterfly Forest - Tom Lowe 5/7
(heads literally roll), loc4025

✔ blush - The Vixen and the Vet - Katy Regnery 5/5
(Scarlet's delicate blush spread to her neck), p11

✔ canvas - The Butterfly Forest - Tom Lowe 5/7
(under the shade of a canvas tarp), loc2216

✔ juicy - How to Date a Dragon - Ashlyn Chase 5/6
(only the real juicy stuff), p115


Bonus
✔ several - The Botanist - Liesel Hill 5/8
(several caves high up in the rock looked down), p50

✔ aftershave - The Protector - Donna Grant 5/3
(she could smell his aftershave), p78

✔ frantically - War Song of the Wild - Rebecca L. Fearnley 5/21
(the little bee lifts her wings and buzzed frantically), p339

✔ hometown - Siren's Surrender - Devyn Quinn 5/1
(he didn't want to hang around his old hometown), p20

✔ avoid - Come Get Me - Molly Black 5/10
(I'd just as soon avoid the grim realities), p157

✔ ensnare - Cursed - Keri Arthur 5/15
(urge to ask the earth to ensnare them), p286


Orphans
March
jaywalk

June Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1. Happy June Birthday! - Read a book published in June, or read a book with a white or black cover in honor of June's birthstone, the Pearl.
Never Let You Go - Katy Regnery (pub June 2, 2015) 6/17

✔️2. Baby Names! Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them. Some of the meanings are pretty obscure, so feel free to be creative! This month's names: Gemma (Precious Stone), Landon (From the Great River), Elliott (The Lord is My God), Mia (Of the Sea or Bitter).
Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's - Debbie Young (Gemma Lamb) 6/16

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) - Susan Andersen: Read one book written by Susan Andersen, or any author with her first or last name. You may also read a book tagged Contemporary Romance, Humor (or similar), or Suspense. Additionally you may read a book that has been nominated for or won any award, or a book that has more than one important male character (family, close friends, co-workers, m/m romance, etc).
Two Cabins, One Lake - Shaye Marlow (humor) 6/29

✔️4. Old Maids Day~ Started in 1946 after WW2 when the women were waiting on their GI’s.
Read a military romance or a book with the digits 1,9,4,6 in the publication date and/or page count, or a book with a couple who are reunited after time apart.
Too Hot to Hold - Stephanie Tyler 6/19

✔️5. World Ocean Day~ Oceans are immensely important and vital to humans. It feeds us, producing vast amounts of fish and seafood. Oceans comprise about 71% of the surface of the earth.
Read a book with a primarily blue cover or with water on the cover, or with a character who spends a lot of time in or around water, or that is set in a location near a body of water.
Every Body on Deck - G.A. McKevett 6/30


✔️6. Father's Day~The first Father’s Day modern-day celebration was in Spokane, WA. on May 18, 1910.
Read a book with a father figure in the story, or takes place in Washington State.
Girl in Trouble - Stacy Claflin 6/27

✔️7. National Pink Day-
Read a book with the color pink or a sunrise/sunset on the cover, or with a musician in the story (in honor of the singer, Pink).
Hot on Her Heels - Susan Mallery 6/25


✔️8. International Fairy Day-
Read a book that is tagged Fantasy (bonus points if it includes a Fae character), or a book set in Greece, Ireland, or Scotland (where Fairies were originally spoken about) or that includes a Greek, Irish, or Scottish character.
Ian's Rose - Suzan Tisdale (set in Scotland) 6/22

✔️9. National Hug Holiday-
Read a book with embrace on the cover or a book that includes the letters of HUG in the title, series, or author's name.
A Captain and a Corset - Mary Wine 6/13


✔️10. Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice
Encore in Death - J.D. Robb 6/30

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (June)

READ: 5/5

✔ G: Girl in Trouble - Stacy Claflin 6/27
✔ U: Purgatory Chasm - Steve Ulfelder 6/4
✔ N: Never Let You Go - Katy Regnery 6/17
✔ J: The Dragonfly Oath - Jordan Rivet 6/15
✔ U: Impulse Control - Amanda Usen 6/21



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

June Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ episode - Never Let You Go - Katy Regnery 6/17
(what episode had just tormented him), p133

✔ follow - Hidden Pictures - Jason Rekulak 6/9
(I follow and find him standing on tip-toe), p91

✔ minute - Burn - Keri Arthur 6/3
(the minute we make any untoward move), p12

✔ nice - Purgatory Chasm - Steve Ulfelder 6/4
(nice car, ahead of its time), p2

✔ penny - Magic Tides - Ilona Andrews 6/5
(velcro cost a pretty penny), p61

✔ purse - Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Susan Donovan 6/11
(tossed the phone back into her purse), p107

✔ respect - Killed at the Whim of a Hat - Colin Cotterill 6/10
(a sincere respect for the fourth estate), p22

✔ strict - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious - Mary Wine 6/12
(to assume we keep such strict membership requirements), p17

✔ under - Never Let You Go - Katy Regnery 6/17
(his fingers curling under her body), p52

✔ world - Crazy Love You - Lisa Unger 6/7
(fatboy and Priss against the world), p9


Bonus
✔ bones - Kingdom of the Wicked - Kerri Maniscalco 6/2
(I feel it in my bones), p10

✔ elaborate - A Curious Beginning - Deanna Raybourn 6/6
(before I could ask him to elaborate), p64

✔ deeply - A Curious Beginning - Deanna Raybourn 6/6
(I am deeply sorrowed), p76

✔ gala - Desperation in Death - J.D. Robb 6/9
(a glassy report from the Met gala), ch19

✔ single - Crazy Love You - Lisa Unger 6/7
(a weird looking single guy), p13

✔ blacklisted - Magic Tides - Ilona Andrews 6/5
(they blacklisted you), p76


Orphans
March
jaywalk -

July Monthly Challenge

READ: 9/9

✔️1. Happy July Birthday! - Read a book published in July or read a book with a Red cover in honor of July's birthstone, the Ruby.
Cold Midnight - Joyce Lamb (pub July 7, 2009) 7/28

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) - K. Bromberg: Read one book written by K. Bromberg, or any author with her first or last name.

You may also read a book set on the east coast, or by an author who is from the east coast. You can also read any book published in 2013 or is shelved as Contemporary Romance or a book by any author who has been published in multiple countries.
Life in the Dead Lane - Lucy Quinn (Maine) 7/20

✔️4. Lazy Days of Summer – Read a book that includes summer activities in the story or on the cover such as a picnic, playing frisbee in the park, going to the beach, pool, lake, etc., or read a chick lit book, a cozy mystery, or a book that is perfect to read at the beach!
Rainy Day Friends - Jill Shalvis 7/1


✔️5. Summer Vacation – Read a book with some sort of travel involved: vacation, business trip, out of state wedding, etc., or read a book with a plane, boat, or train in the story or on the cover.
The Chosen of the Manifold - Kyle West 7/7
(MCs are on a space ship traveling from planet to planet)

✔️6. The Dog Days of Summer - Read a book that takes place in the summer or in a hot environment. You could also read a book that includes an animal of any kind in the story or on the cover (shifters count!)
Freefall - Tess Oliver 7/31

✔️7. Independence Day and Canada Day – Read a book with a main character that is military, ex-military, police, fire service, or FBI. You could also read a book that has the birth of a child in it, a pregnancy, or a main character with a child.
The Murder Code - Ava Strong (FBI) 7/28

✔️8. National Watermelon Month – Read a book with food service in it, for example a chef, a baker, owns a business in the food industry, etc., or read a book with food on the cover, or with red on the cover.
An Ear for Trouble - K.T. Lee 7/22


✔️9. July Flower: Larkspur and Water Lily – Read a book that takes place in the mountains, at a national park, at summer camp, or at a camp site. Read a book that involves camping, hiking, glamping, or rock climbing. You can also read a book that has pink or purple on the cover.
Vanishing Edge - Claire Kells 7/23

✔️10. Reader’s Choice – Read any book of your choice.
Suppression - Laramie Briscoe 7/30

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (July)

READ: 4/5

✔ L: Lethal Licorice - Amanda Flower 7/3
✔ U: Unnatural Causes - Leah Ruth Robinson 7/29
✔ L: Life in the Dead Lane - Lucy Quinn 7/20
✔ J: Rainy Day Friends - Jill Shalvis 7/1
U:

July Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ show - Here and Then - Linda Lael Miller 7/23
(she was too proud to let them show), p44

✔ ten - Rainy Day Friends - Jill Shalvis 7/1
(ten acres of land had been cordoned off), p23

✔ space - Rainy Day Friends - Jill Shalvis 7/1
(donating the space), p159

✔ like - The Dragon Republic - R.F. Kuang 7/16
(you did storm out like a man on fire), p57

✔ eye - Fool's Moon - Diane A.S. Stuckart 7/2
(that matched narrow black eyes things), p16

✔ no - Eve of Samhain - Lisa Sanchez 7/17
(was there no end o this abilities), p62

✔ bell - Fool's Moon - Diane A.S. Stuckart 7/2
(a pink collar with a tiny pink bell), p15

✔ make - The Burning God - R.F. Kuang 7/19
(weren't meant to make decisions), p62

✔ blink - Burn the Ship - Sarah Branson 7/6
(we both blink), p36

✔ need - The Murder Code - Ava Strong 7/28
(I don't need anything), p2


Bonus
✔ body - Cold Midnight - Joyce Lamb 7/28
(buried them away from the body), p338

✔ pair - Magic and Misrule - K.M. Merritt 7/8
(she got some mixed messages from the pair), p53

✔ maybe - Burn the Ship - Sarah Branson 7/6
(or maybe it might not end), p245

✔ smooth - Eve of Samhain - Lisa Sanchez 7/17
(their walk looked beautifully smooth), p3

✔ waist - Burn the Ship - Sarah Branson 7/6
(a red sash around its stone waist), p127

✔ coffee - Pointe and Shoot - Natalie M. Roberts 7/7
(not drinking coffee again?), p7


Orphans
March
jaywalk -

August Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1. Happy August Birthday!: Read a book published in August, or read a book with green on the cover in honor of August's birthstone, the Peridot.
Incendiary in a Kilt - Anna Durand (pub August 30, 2022) 8/17

✔️2. Baby Names! Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them. Alternately, you may choose a book with a character, plot, scene or cover art that somehow represents the name's meaning (in parentheses). This month's names: Freya/Freja (Goddess of Love, Fertility and Beauty), James (Supplanter), Axel (My Father is Peace), and Evelyn (Beautiful Bird)
Beyond Neverland - Heather Killough-Walden (James Hook) 8/20

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) author - Rebecca Zanetti: Read one book written by Rebecca Zanetti or any author with her first or last name. You may also read a book set in the Pacific Northwest, or by an author who is from the Pacific Northwest. Or you may read any book that includes a lawyer, someone who works in the art field, or any book that is in the paranormal or romantic suspense genres.
Angels Rising - Harriet Carlton 8/2

✔️4. Romance Awareness Month - Let’s celebrate Romance this month! Read any book in the Romance genre.
XOXO Valentina - Jill Brashear 8/13

✔️5. August 1: National Girlfriends Day - Read any book that features girlfriends or other friends, sisters, or a friends-to-lovers trope.
Beachside Bullet - Jasmine Webb (girlfriends, BFFs) 8/15

✔️6. August 3: National Watermelon Day - Read any book with a watermelon on the cover or mentioned inside the book, or with a round or oval object on the cover or the colors pink, green, or black on the cover.
The Choice - Nora Roberts 8/12


✔️7. August 8: International Cat Day - Read a book with a cat on the cover or one that includes any animal (shifters count), a veterinarian, or anyone who works with animals. Or you may read a book with the letters C, A, and T in the title.
Chocolate Chills - Rosie A. Point 8/21


✔️8. August 12: National Garage Sale Day - Read a book that you purchased on sale or one that you consider to be a bargain. You may also read a free book (KU, library, etc) or one that has been in your stash for a while.
Invisible Born - Lucia Ashta 8/23

✔️9. August 19: National Honeybee Awareness Day - Celebrate the bee by reading a book that includes bees, beekeepers, or honey. You may also choose to read a book with flowers, herbs, or vegetables on the cover, or one with a character’s or author’s name that begins with B or E.
Fractured Oak - Dannie Boyd 8/12

✔️10. Reader’s Choice – Read any book of your choice.
Resonance Surge - Nalini Singh 8/25

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (August)

READ: 6/6

✔ A: Angels Rising - Harriet Carlton 8/2
✔ W: The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus - Jaime Jo Wright 8/13
✔ I: Invisible Born - Lucia Ashta 8/23
✔ S: The Sanatorium - Sarah Pearse 8/8
✔ S: Strawberry Sin - Rosie A. Point 8/19
✔ U: Under Suspicion - Rachel Lee 8/31



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

August Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ nine - The Choice - Nora Roberts 8/12
(I came down about nine), p40

✔ him - The Sanatorium - Sarah Pearse 8/8
(It's about him, isn't it?), p361

✔ next - The Choice - Nora Roberts 8/12
(what happens next?), p25

✔ pick - The Choice - Nora Roberts 8/12
(pick the cabbage), p111

✔ deal - The Sanatorium - Sarah Pearse 8/8
(deal with it, move on), p102

✔ child - The Becoming - Nora Roberts 8/6
(I think you're with child), p94

✔ stay - Forever Neverland - Heather Killough-Walden 8/18
(stay back, she creamed), p49

✔ recent - Craks in a Marriage - Barbara Barrett 8/14
(copies of recent trustee budge reports), p47

✔ awful - Angels Defying - Harriet Carlton 8/8
(I'm just awful as an archangel), ch30

✔ dark - The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus - Jaime Jo Wright 8/13
(the glower that settled between his dark eyes), p91


Bonus
✔ sofa - The Sanatorium - Sarah Pearse 8/8
(there's a bed, a sofa, a table and chairs), p59

✔ trash - Vanilla Vendetta - Rosie A. Point 8/19
(to dump trash into the swimming hole), ch7

✔ myself - Craks in a Marriage - Barbara Barrett 8/14
(I should have kept to myself), p139

✔ stranger - Craks in a Marriage - Barbara Barrett 8/14
(I'm almost a perfect stranger), p129

✔ everywhere - The Becoming - Nora Roberts 8/6
(and woman everywhere), p258

✔ village - The Becoming - Nora Roberts 8/6
(I want to walk through the village), p158

Orphans
March
jaywalk

Read the Month Maltese Edition (September)

READ: 9/9

✔ S: Spells for Forgetting - Adrienne Young 9/2
✔ E: The Last Remains - Elly Griffiths 9/3
✔ T: Forced to Flee - Terri Reed 9/17
✔ T: A Queen of Thieves & Chaos - K.A. Tucker 9/26
✔ E: Murder in the Book Lover's Loft - Ellery Adams 9/8
✔ M: Frozen Tides - Morgan Rhodes 9/9
✔ B: Flea Market Magic - Bella Falls 9/2
✔ R: Cold Blooded Liar - Karen Rose 9/13
✔ U: Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi 9/16



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

September Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ baby - For Whom the Book Tolls - Laura Gail Black 9/10
(it was all I could do not to bawl like a baby), p15

✔ bed - Just Haven't Met You Yet - Sophie Cousens 9/9
(bed linens to save your marriage), p15

✔ cover - Murder in the Book Lover's Loft - Ellery Adams 9/8
(I'll have to cover my eyes), p206

✔ fair - Just Haven't Met You Yet - Sophie Cousens 9/9
(fair enough really), p34

✔ in - For Whom the Book Tolls - Laura Gail Black 9/10
(she stood in the doorway), p286

✔ let - Just Haven't Met You Yet - Sophie Cousens 9/9
(if I let got of what he treasured), p28

✔ long - The Vow - Dannika Dark 9/7
(strands of her long brown hair), p2

✔ point - Murder in the Book Lover's Loft - Ellery Adams 9/8
(would let Trent's name slip at some point), p180

✔ tap - Spells for Forgetting - Adrienne Young 9/2
(turning on the tap), p256

✔ two - For Whom the Book Tolls - Laura Gail Black 9/10
(enjoy a piece or two your tea), p284


Bonus
✔ photo - Spells for Forgetting - Adrienne Young 9/2
(a photo of Lily and Emery), p321

✔ hand - The Vow - Dannika Dark 9/7
(with the back of her hand), p2

✔ line - Spells for Forgetting - Adrienne Young 9/2
(my family line had tended it), p328

✔ warn - The Vow - Dannika Dark 9/7
(now you warn me), p115

✔ glance - Murder in the Book Lover's Loft - Ellery Adams 9/8
(Jane darted a glance at the swing doors), p49

✔ email - The Last Remains - Elly Griffiths 9/3
(tell Nelson to send me an email), p11

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

September Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1. Happy September Birthday!
Read a book:
❇️ published in September
For Whom the Book Tolls - Laura Gail Black (pub Sep 8, 2020) 9/10

✔️2. Baby Names! ▻ This month's names: Jasper (Treasurer), Lydia (From Lydia, Greece), Elias (The Lord is My God), Lila (Lilac Tree)
Read a book:
❇️ featuring a character or is written by an author with one of the above popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them.
No Good Tea Goes Unpunished - Bree Baker (Jasper) 9/29

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) ▻ Julie Ann Walker
Read a book:
❇️ tagged as any variation of suspense or romantic suspense
Forced to Flee - Terri Reed 9/17

✔️4. Little League Month
Read a book:
❇️ set during (any) wartime
A Queen of Thieves & Chaos - K.A. Tucker 9/26

✔️5. National Indoor Plant Week (third week)
Read a book:
❇️ featuring a character who likes to garden or has house plants
Earth Bound - Christine Feehan (heroine) 9/15

✔️6. September 1 ▻ Emma M. Nutt Day
Read a book:
❇️ with double letters in the author's first or last name
Flea Market Magic - Bella Falls 9/2

✔️7. September 5 ▻ Be Late for Something Day
Read a book:
❇️ with an author's first or last name that starts with a letter in PROCRASTINATION
Cherish Hard - Nalini Singh 9/5 (NEW ZEALAND)

✔️8. September 6 ▻ Fight Procrastination Day
Read a book:
❇️ with a gung-ho character, someone eager to start something, do something, or lets nothing stop them
Bound Together - Christine Feehan 9/22
(hero bound and determined to take out a pedophile ring)

✔️9. September 21 ▻ International Peace Day
Read a book:
❇️ with an author's first OR last name initial in PEACE
Murder in the Book Lover's Loft - Ellery Adams 9/8

✔️10. Reader's Choice
❇️ Read any book of your choice!
The Witch Collector - Charissa Weaks 9/1

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

October Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1) 🍁 Happy October Birthday 🍁: Read a book published in October, or a book with a multi-colored cover in honor of October's birthstone, the Opal.
Down & Out Witch - Sami Valentine (pub October 20, 2019) 10/26

✔️2) 🍁 Baby Names 🍁: Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them. This month's names: Eloise (Famous Warrior), Emmett (Entire), Cora (Heart, Maiden) and Arthur (Bear).
Imaginary Numbers - Seanan McGuire 10/25

✔️3) 🍁 Featured Author Challenge (FAC) - Jasinda Wilder 🍁: Read one book written by Jasinda Wilder or any author with her first or last name. You may also read a book set in the Midwestern* United States. Additionally, you may read a book that has been shelved as contemporary, a book that has appeared on a bestseller list or a book that has been co-written.
Night of the Witch - Sara Raasch & Beth Revis 10/14

✔️4) 🍁 Oktoberfest - October 3 🍁: To mark the conclusion of the two-week festival celebrating German culture, read a book set in Europe. You may also read a book with a character who sings or dances, or a book in which food or drinks feature prominently.
Herc - Phoenicia Rogerson (Greece) 10/20

✔️5) 🍁 Old Farmers Day - October 12 🍁: Read a book with a farm, a book with a character who farms or engages in manual work or a book with the letters F, A, R or M in the title.
Heart of Fire - Bec McMaster 10/28

✔️6) 🍁 Dictionary Day - October 16 🍁: Read a book with a character likely to use a dictionary, such as a writer, editor, teacher or student, or a book with a character who is bilingual or multilingual. You may also read a book set after 1828, the year in which Noah Webster published An American Dictionary of the English Language, the predecessor of the modern Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
The Librarian of Crooked Lane - C.J. Archer (set in 1920) 10/25

✔️7) 🍁 National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day - October 21 🍁: To celebrate the seasonal fruit - and its many delicious uses - read a book set during autumn, or a book that you consider to be “spicy.” Alternatively, you may read a book with 1 or 5 in the publication date for the 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin produced in the United States annually.
Ice Like Fire - Sara Raasch (pub October 13, 2015) 10/20

✔️8) 🍁 Howl at the Moon Night - October 26 🍁: Read a book featuring an animal that howls, such as a wolf, coyote or dog - shifters count! You may also read a book with the moon, stars or sky on the cover, or a book with a character who spends time outdoors.
The Taken Ones - Jess Lourey (takes place in the woods) 10/17

✔️9) 🍁 Halloween - October 31 🍁: Read a book with horror, mystery or paranormal elements, a book with orange or black on the cover or a book by an author whose first or last name begins with the letter H.
Malice House - Megan Shepherd 10/5

✔️10) 🍁 Reader’s Choice 🍁: Read any book of your choice!
Untethered Sky - Fonda Lee 10/7

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

October Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ scowl - Night of the Witch - Sara Raasch & Beth Revis 10/14
(only to scowl), p64

✔ pretend - Gone with the Whisker - Laurie Cass 10/15
(how about if we pretend), p174

✔ grin - Unnatural Causes - Dawn Eastman 10/11
(his grin betraying his desire to cheer her up), p42

✔ look - Night of the Witch - Sara Raasch & Beth Revis 10/14
(I do look up now), p64

✔ trust - The Book of Fire - Marjorie Kellogg 10/1
(trust these legs to run again), p213

✔ loud - The Girl the Sea Gave Back - Adrienne Young 10/4
(every sound loud in my head), p162

✔ blink - Never Lie - Freida McFadden 10/2
(I blink a few times), p60

✔ end - Ledge - Stacey McEwan
(Briar would sleep for days on end), p23

✔ snow - The Book of Fire - Marjorie Kellogg 10/1
(the snow began falling), p17

✔ stick - Ledge - Stacey McEwan
(snatches a stick from the ground), p61


Bonus
✔ fantasy - Never Lie - Freida McFadden 10/2
(you want to hear my fantasy), p135

✔ everyone - Never Whistle at Night - Shane Hawk 10/2
(she raised her voice so everyone can hear), p26

✔ chest - Never Whistle at Night - Shane Hawk 10/2
(that'd put hair on your chest), p9

✔ cabin - Never Lie - Freida McFadden 10/2
(we rented the cabin for the weekend), ch10

✔ color - Untethered Sky - Fonda Lee 10/7
(mismatched eye color is not so rare), p121

✔ improvised - Never Whistle at Night - Shane Hawk 10/2
(I cringed at the improvised nickname), p8


Orphans
March
jaywalk

Read the Month Maltese Edition (October)

READ: 7/7

✔ O: Other Birds - Sarah Addison Allen 10/12
✔ T: The Toybox - Charly Cox 10/12
✔ T: The Taken Ones - Jess Lourey 10/17
✔ U: Untethered Sky - Fonda Lee 10/7
✔ B: The Burning Sky - Sherry Thomas 10/15
✔ R: Night of the Witch - Sara Raasch & Beth Revis 10/14
✔ U: Uncharted - Erin Cashman 10/22



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

November Monthly Challenge

READ: 9/9

✔️1. Happy November Birthday!: Read a book published in November, or read a book with yellow on the cover in honor of November's birthstone, the Topaz.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library - Michiko Aoyama 11/22
(published November 9, 2020)

✔️3. Featured Author Challenge (FAC) author - Julie Garwood: Read one book written by Julie Garwood or any author with her first or last name.

You may also read a book set in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin), one published during the 20th century, or one classified as Historical Romance or Romantic Suspense.
Calculated Risks - Seanan McGuire (set in Iowa) 11/11

✔️4. Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 1 & 2. Read a book by a deceased author, or one with candles, flowers, a skull, bones, an altar, or food on the cover.
A Catered Thanksgiving - Isis Crawford 11/20


✔️5. November 1 is also National Authors Day. Read a book by one of your favorite authors, or try one from an author new to you.
Death Overdue - Allison Brook 11/9

✔️6. November 4 (the first Saturday of November) is Book Lovers Day. Re-read a book you loved in the past, one with a heart on the cover, the word “Love” in the title, or one with a pink or red cover. Or read a book that someone else has tagged ‘Favorite.’
The Little Black Dress - Piper James 11/15


✔️7. November 6 is Marooned Without A Compass Day. Read a book with someone lost in (or dealing with) the wilderness, or with a compass or stars on the cover. Or read a book with a military or ex-military character.
Abounding Might - Melissa McShane 11/22

✔️8. Celebrate Play Monopoly Day on November 19. Celebrate it by reading a book with a wealthy MC, one dealing with houses and/or real estate (construction, decorator, real estate agent, etc), or one that includes a trip on a railroad. Or choose one with any of the Monopoly property colors on the cover (blue, green, yellow, red, purple, brown, light blue, magenta, or orange).
Yes & I Love You - Roni Loren 11/1


✔️9. It’s Go For A Ride Day on November 22. Read a book with any sort of transportation (car, plane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat, etc) on the cover or included in the story. Or read a book where the author’s name begins with G or R.
Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix - C.B. Lee (boats) 11/25


✔️10. Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice!
The Child of Venlet - K.C. Nuzum 11/12

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (November)

READ: 7/8

✔ N: The Child of Venlet - K.C. Nuzum 11/12
✔ O: The September House - Carissa Orlando 11/6
✔ V: Viking Warrior Rising - Asa Maria Bradley 11/17
✔ E: Spells & Shelves - Elle Adams 11/29
✔ M: Midnight Showing - Megan Shepherd 11/8
✔ B: Books of Blood: Volume One - Clive Barker 11/5
✔ R: Yes & I Love You - Roni Loren 11/1
U:

November Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ spice - Hollowthorn - Kalyn Josephson 11/1
(to the scent of pine and orange spice), p20

✔ brush - All the Crooked Saints - Maggie Stiefvater 11/5
(a fast-runing rivulet into the brush), p32

✔ local - Whales and a Watery Grave - Ruby Loren 11/2
(I'll alert the local press), loc199

✔ join - The Peacock's Poison - Ruby Loren 11/18
(ready to join the vermin hunting team), loc1036

✔ end - Hollowthorn - Kalyn Josephson 11/1
(at the end of the battle), p15

✔ casual - All the Crooked Saints - Maggie Stiefvater 11/5
(accustomed to the casual love affairs of strangers), p21

✔ whisper - Force of Nature - Jane Harper 11/4
(could hear crying followed by a harsh whisper), p119

✔ chest - Midnight Showing - Megan Shepherd 11/8
(eat its way out of their chest), p291

✔ thumb - Force of Nature - Jane Harper 11/4
(her thumb stilled), p15

✔ air - Grave Witch - Kalayna Price 11/3
(guarding me from the frigid hospital air), p38


Bonus
✔ warmth - Grave Witch - Kalayna Price 11/3
(a being of warmth and breath), p23

✔ support - Twelve Angry Librarians - Miranda James 11/6
(to force me to support him, p29

✔ nudged - Hollowthorn - Kalyn Josephson 11/1
(Anna nudges me with her outstretched hand), p126

✔ boots - The Child of Venlet - K.C. Nuzum 11/12
(dragging his boots to meet his short steps), p238

✔ blond - Grave Witch - Kalayna Price 11/3
(a single blond hair found in his bed), p58

✔ suddenly - Force of Nature - Jane Harper 11/4
(suddenly she was weightless as she plunged), p118

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

December Monthly Challenge

READ: 10/10

✔️1) ☃️ Happy December Birthday ☃️: Read a book published in December, or a book with blue or green on the cover in honor of December's birthstone, the Turquoise.
Statue of Limitations - Kate Collins 12/17


✔️2) ☃️ Baby Names ☃️: Read a book that includes a character (doesn't need to be a MC) or is written by an author with one of the following popular baby names, or any variation or nickname of one of them. Alternatively, you may choose a book with a character, plot, scene or cover art that somehow represents the name's meaning (in parentheses).
This month's names: Evangeline (Messenger of Good News), Savannah (Open Plain), Ian, Vincent (Victorious).
Warrior Witch - Danielle L. Jensen 12/10
(MCs were able to "beat back" (victorious) the monsters they released on Earth)

✔️3) ☃️ Featured Author Challenge (FAC) - Molly Harper ☃️: Read one book written by Molly Harper or any author with her first or last name. You may read a book that has been shelved as paranormal, contemporary or humor. You may also read a book with a character who works in the news media industry. Finally, you may read a book set in the Midwestern United States.*
Hope for the Best - Jodi Taylor 12/13

✔️4) ☃️ ’Tis the Season ☃️: Read a holiday romance, or a book in which a celebration occurs. You may also read a book with a character who is cheerful, such as a book featuring the “grumpy/sunshine” trope.
Snowed in with Grumpy - Olivia Noble 12/20


✔️5) ☃️ Mitten Tree Day - December 6 ☃️: Read a book with a character who is charitable or does something kind for another. You may also read a book featuring a school or a workplace, since these are places where mitten trees are commonly observed during the month of December. Finally, you may read a book set during winter or in a place with a cold climate.
Hollyberry Homicide - Sharon Farrow 12/3

✔️6) ☃️ National Cocoa Day - December 13 ☃️: Read a historical romance. You may also read a book with a tree, plant or flower on the cover. Alternatively, you may read a book that you consider to be “cozy.”
Scot Under the Covers - Suzanne Enoch 12/11

✔️7) ☃️ Crossword Puzzle Day - December 21 ☃️: Read a book with a character who attempts to solve or find something, such as a detective or an archaeologist. You may also read a book with black or white on the cover, or a book set after 1913, the year in which the first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World newspaper.
When All the Girls Have Gone - Jayne Ann Krentz 12/26

✔️8) ☃️ National Short Film Day - December 28 ☃️: Read a short story or a novella (generally defined as less than 160 pages) or a book by an author whose first or last name begins with one of the letters S, H, O, R or T. Alternatively, you may read a book with a character who works in the entertainment industry.
Just the Sexiest Man Alive - Julie James (hero is a movie star)12/26

✔️9) ☃️ New Year’s Eve - December 31 ☃️: To mark the clock striking midnight, read a book with 1 or 2 in the publication date. You may also read the last/most recent book in a series, or a book with any of the following items commonly associated with New Year’s Eve celebrations on the cover: fireworks, stars, balloons, hats, food or drinks.
I.O.U. - Nancy Pickard (published March 1, 1992) 12/10

✔️10) ☃️ Reader’s Choice ☃️: Read any book of your choice!
Voices in the Snow - Darcy Coates 12/22

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

December Word Hunt

READ: 16/16

✔ pair - Warrior Witch - Danielle L. Jensen 12/10
(ranging up and won in pairs), p92

✔ sister - I.O.U. - Nancy Pickard 12/10
(I sneaked a loot at my sister), p3

✔ tingle - Warrior Witch - Danielle L. Jensen 12/10
(the itchy tingle of too much magic), p61

✔ walk - Wicked Fix - Sarah Graves 12/14
(We'd started our walk as we always did), p23

✔ complete - Six Months - Dannika Dark 12/24
(in complete and utter shock), p160

✔ crunch - The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - Mark Lawrence 12/9
(with a sick-making crunch), p499

✔ diner - Wicked Fix - Sarah Graves 12/14
(cars crowded around the Waco Diner), p23

✔ blank - The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - Mark Lawrence 12/9
(consider her a blank slate), p101

✔ tire - Six Months - Dannika Dark 12/24
(the tire on my car wedged into a pothole), p39

✔ tree - Warrior Witch - Danielle L. Jensen 12/10
(what remained of the tree line), p91


Bonus
✔ middle - The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - Mark Lawrence 12/9
(the mass of fibres are pressed towards the middle), p4

✔ music - Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney 12/16
(why don't you put some music on), p25

✔ flashed - Delicious Monsters - Liselle Sambury 12/22
(she looked exactly like the photo they flashed on the news), p307

✔ left - Statue of Limitations - Kate Collins 12/17
(a wide opening on the left side of the foyer), p143

✔ nothing - Delicious Monsters - Liselle Sambury 12/22
(that brought me nothing but trouble), p74

✔ cowboy - Murder at the Snowed Inn - Imogen Plimp 12/15
(romance novels feature more than one cowboy), p102

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Read the Month Maltese Edition (December)

READ: 8/8

✔ D: A Dawn of Onyx - Kate Golden 12/17
✔ I: I.O.U. - Nancy Pickard 12/10
✔ C: Statue of Limitations - Kate Collins 12/17
✔ E: It's Getting Scot in Here - Suzanne Enoch 12/7
✔ M: Murder at the Snowed Inn - Imogen Plimp 12/15
✔ B: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - Mark Lawrence 12/9
✔ R: Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney 12/16
✔ U: Undraland - Mary E. Twomey 12/28



CHALLENGE COMPLETE

2023 Advent Calendar challenge
Duration: December 2023

READ: 14/24

✔ Day 2 - Read a book with a tree/s (any tree) on the cover
Murder at the Snowed Inn - Imogen Plimp 12/15


✔ Day 4 - Read a book set in winter
Better Off Thread - Amanda Lee 12/29


✔ Day 5 - Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere.
That's Australia, New Zealand, southern parts of Asia (not the mainland) the Americas and Africa, and a lot of islands
The Year of the Fox - Merren Tait (New Zealand) 12/30

✔ Day 6 - Read a book set in a different country to where you currently live
My Lady Judge - Cora Harrison (Ireland, I live in US) 12/24

✔ Day 7 - Read a book centred on a holiday (any holiday) or MCs going on holiday
Wed, Read & Dead - V.M. Burns (at Christmas) 12/18

✔ Day 8 - Read a book with snow on the cover
Snowed in with Grumpy - Olivia Noble 12/20


✔ Day 9 - Read a book with reindeer, elves or Santa in the storyline (does not have to be an MC) or on the cover
Hollyberry Homicide - Sharon Farrow 12/3
Hollyberry Homicide

✔ Day 11 - Read a Christmas themed book
Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! - Donna Andrews 12/2

✔ Day 12 - Read a book with kids in the storyline
Hope for the Best - Jodi Taylor 12/13

✔ Day 15 - Read a book with a pretty cover (your interpretation)
A Dawn of Onyx - Kate Golden 12/17


✔ Day 20 - Read a book with celebration in it, or a book with an artistic MC
The Best of Friends - Susan Mallery (welcome home party) 12/27

✔ Day 22 - Read a book with cover models embracing, hugging, kissing or holding hands
Just the Sexiest Man Alive - Julie James 12/26


✔ Day 23 - Read a book where food is a focus (chef, restaurant owner etc) or with a family celebration
Statue of Limitations - Kate Collins (family owns diner) 12/17

✔ Day 24 - Read a book by your favorite author or one that was given to you as a present
Payback in Death - J.D. Robb 12/5