Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2013

[Dale]

I was a bit slow getting to it, Nicola, waiting for it to come onto library shelves but so glad to have read it finally.

[Zoey]

Finished my book for June

Farewell to Lancashire Anna Jacobs 4★

[Neil]

Ok I have finished my 3rd book which I swapped to coincide with the female author challange couple of months back - Dawn One hell of a life. Was a book that I stuggled to keep reading but well worth the history I learnt about this great lady. Now into 4th book with a bit of sex, drugs & rock n' roll - Hey, you in the black t-shirt, Michael Chugg. Should be a bit faster pace.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Neil wrote: "Ok I have finished my 3rd book which I swapped to coincide with the female author challange couple of months back - Dawn One hell of a life. Was a book that I stuggled to keep reading but well wort..."

Dawn: One Hell Of A Life by Dawn Fraser.. you can call it June too, as female author was also then Neil:) It's hard when you're struggling, but at least you finished it! Well done. Is this one Hey, You in the Black T-Shirt by Michael Chugg your May read (male author) or April (favourite genre)? You're doing well!

[Davina]

I'm afraid I haven't done these in the right order I'm reading them one a month but the ones I can get my hands on that month. I think I've mentioned in another thread my current library isn't as good as my last one so I making do.
January - Male: Band-Aid for a Broken Leg by Damien Brown
February - Female: The Rumpelgeist by Fiona McIntosh
March - New Release: TBA
April - Fav Genre/ParanormalEmblaze by Jessica Shirvington
May - Male:The Price of Lifeby Nigel Brennan
June - Female: Dollhouse by Anya Allyn if I can find it.
July - New Release: Doomsday by Chris Morphew
August - Fav Genre/Paranormal: The Extinction Gambit by Michael Pryor
September - Male: Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison
October - Female:Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
November - New Release: The Red Queen by Isobelle Carmody
December - Fav Genre/Paranormal: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier

[Mish]

That's perfectly fine Davina :)

[Janine]

I have finished my 2013 new release for July
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 4*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished my July book The Shadow Year. It was very good - nicely written and with lots of clever twists and turns. 4 stars.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "I finished my July book The Shadow Year. It was very good - nicely written and with lots of clever twists and turns. 4 stars."

I really enjoyed that one Phrynne:)

[Christy]

Oops, I think I'm neglecting my postings here!
My May book: was great, and actually recommended to me by the author's daughter who is a very good friend of mine.
And my June book: another fantastic read. Glad to have found this author.
Not sure what I'll read for July yet, so it's nice to see what others are reading!!!
Stay warm!!

[Sharon]

Have finished my July read by Tony Cavanaugh

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've finished my first July read Blood Witness by Alex Hammond 4★

Review to follow

[Jo]

Phrynne wrote: "I finished my July book The Shadow Year. It was very good - nicely written and with lots of clever twists and turns. 4 stars."

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 2013 new release for July
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 4*"

Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I finished my July book The Shadow Year. It was very good - nicely written and with lots of clever twists and turns. 4 stars."

I really enjoyed that one Phrynne:)"

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 2013 new release for July
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 4*"

Phrynne I want to read The Shadow Year but the library has quite a few reserves for it. I'll get to it eventually.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Jo wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I finished my July book The Shadow Year. It was very good - nicely written and with lots of clever twists and turns. 4 stars."

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 2013 new release fo..."

It is definitely worth a read Jo!

[Dale]

Finished my July read last nightThe Son-in-Law 4 stars review to come.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I finished my second for July Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith Absolutely un-put-downable!!! I'll be looking for the second in the series ASAP! Second Hearts

Review to follow

[Sharon]

Sounds like you really enjoyed that one Brenda:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I finished my second for July Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith Absolutely un-put-downable!!! I'll be looking for the second in the series ASAP! Second Hearts

Review to follow"

Sharon wrote: "Sounds like you really enjoyed that one Brenda:)"

I sure did Sharon! Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I've finished my first July read Blood Witness by Alex Hammond 4★

Review to follow"

Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Zoey]

Finished my July read

Bay of Fires Poppy Gee 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Finished my July read

Bay of FiresPoppy Gee 3★"

Did you enjoy it Zoey? I see the 3 stars, so you must have liked it a little?

[Zoey]

Brenda wrote: "Zoey wrote: "Finished my July read

Bay of FiresPoppy Gee 3★"

Did you enjoy it Zoey? I see the 3 stars, so you must have liked it a little?"
Sorry for the late reply Brenda. Havent been on here much lately. :(
I liked it, but not as much as I was hoping. I really enjoyed that it was set in Tassie (dont get a lot of books like that) & knowing a lot of the places mentioned but the story just didnt really grab me

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Zoey wrote: "Finished my July read

Bay of FiresPoppy Gee 3★"

Did you enjoy it Zoey? I see the 3 stars, so you must have liked it a little?"
Sorry f..."

I understand what you're saying...I was the same.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'll be starting my first August book for this challenge next... Heist by Robert Schofield

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I'll be starting my first August book for this challenge next... Heist by Robert Schofield"

Finished - 4★s Review to follow

[Dale]

August is At Home With the Templetons
I love Monica's books and can't believe I somehow missed this before.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "August is At Home With the Templetons
I love Monica's books and can't believe I somehow missed this before."

I enjoyed this one Dale:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'll be starting my first August book for this challenge next... Heist by Robert Schofield"

Finished - 4★s Review to follow"

Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Janine]

Finished my August book
Wattle Creek by Fiona Mccallum 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow, over and done with quickly! What will you do for the rest of the month? :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've finished my second August book, Deadly Tide by Sandy Curtis ★s

Review to follow

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I've finished my second August book, Deadly Tide by Sandy Curtis ★s

Review to follow"

Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Finished my August book Stardust. 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Phrynne:)

[Kathryn]

I just realised I forgot to post my July read here - I read The French Promise by Fiona McIntosh - the sequel to The Lavender Keeper - and I enjoyed it, however I liked The Lavender Keeper better. The French Promise kept me interested and there was a plot twist halfway through that I certainly didn't see coming (and left me flabbergasted!), but I think I liked the setting of the first book in England and France in WWII better than post-war Tasmania with England and France thrown in.

And for August I intended to read The Secret River by Kate Grenville (which, incidentally, would also fit in with the August challenge of reading a book from the ABC's First Tuesday Book Club) but I can't seem to drum up enough enthusiasm to even borrow it from the library!! So instead I'll substitute Kate Morton's The House At Riverton, which I'm reading with someone in another group. I've been listening to The Forgotten Garden for a while as I crochet and am enjoying it - I seem to be on a Kate Morton-read-a-thon at the moment!

[Elaine]

Kathryn wrote: "I just realised I forgot to post my July read here - I read The French Promise by Fiona McIntosh - the sequel to The Lavender Keeper - and I enjoyed it, however I liked The Lavender Keeper better. ..."

Kathryn they're all good choices there but I just had to butt in and say that I was a bit like you with The Secret River. I had been meaning to read it for years, even started it once and left it!! I finally read it earlier this year and absolutely loved it. I couldn't believe it took me so long to get to it. It really is a well written,gem of a book.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just realised I forgot to post my July read here - I read The French Promise by Fiona McIntosh - the sequel to The Lavender Keeper - and I enjoyed it, however I liked The Lavender..."

I agree, it was a brilliant book:)

[Zoey]

Finished my book for August:
Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing by Gabrielle Lord4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Zoey:)

[Sharon]

Finished my August read Warrior of the West by M.K. Hume. 4 stars

[Kathryn]

Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just realised I forgot to post my July read here - I read The French Promise by Fiona McIntosh - the sequel to The Lavender Keeper - and I enjoyed it, however I liked The Lavender..."

Thanks, Elaine - it's still on the list, but not on the "to be read at the soonest available opportunity" list. And it would still fit in for either October or December reads as a back-up, if I feel more like reading it at either of those points! I read The Lieutenant earlier this year and enjoyed it, so I'm sure I will enjoy the first book just as much - didn't realise I read them the wrong way round until too late, but never mind...!

I think the problem with my reluctance to read The Secret River is that I've read Remembering Babylon by David Malouf in the meantime, didn't really like it that much, but it's gotten mixed up in my mind with Kate Grenville's books and put me off them!! Hopefully I just need to put a bit more time between me and Remembering Babylon!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Finished my August read Warrior of the West by M.K. Hume. 4 stars"

Well done Sharon:)

[Nicola]

I've just finished my July read
Metro Winds / Isobelle Carmody

Which I started in all good faith of being a new release - only to find out that it was a new collection of previously released short stories! but it was my first Isobelle Carmody book and I enjoyed most of the stories.
My August Genre read is a step back in time to 1895
A Bid for Fortune or Dr Nikola's VendettaGuy Boothby which I have started and am also enjoying!

[Neil]

Brenda wrote: "1.Jessica by Bryce Courtenay
2.Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
3.Hey, You in the Black T-Shirt by Michael Chugg
4.Dawn: One Hell Of A Life by Dawn Fraser
5.You Wouldn't Be Dead For Quids by Robert G...."

Finished my 4th book, Hey You In The Black T-Shirt by Michael Chugg. Now to start the 5th book You Wouldn't Be Dead For Quids by Robert G Barrett, RIP. I swapped Dawney around with Chuggy. On road to meeting the 6 books I put up to read.

[Sally906]

OK - I have completed my August selection - so this is where I am up to right now:

January - Male Author:
The Cook by Wayne Macauley


February - Female Author:
The Forgotten Pearl Belinda Murrell

March - New Release:
Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell

April - Favourite Genre (Chick Lit):
Peace, Love and Khaki Socks by Kim Lock

May - Male Author:
The Asylum by John Harwood

June - Female Author:
A Curious Intimacy by Jessica White

July- New Release:
Trouble Brewing by Jane Tara

August - Favourite Genre - (Chick Lit:
Greetings from Somewhere Else by Monica McInerney

[Dale]

It's been sitting here a while but since the next one is a male author read and it is September, what else would I read but a book about football and one of the legends of the game?Brave Heart: Lessons Learnt from Life

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "It's been sitting here a while but since the next one is a male author read and it is September, what else would I read but a book about football and one of the legends of the game?Brave Heart: Les..."

I'm pretty sure my husband read that one Dale and enjoyed it.

[Dale]

Have to say better Kirk was a favourite of mine for lots of reasons.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Finished my September read Underdog byMarkus Zusak. It was okay especially as I think it was his first book, or a very early one anyway.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my first September read Rotten Gods by Greg Barron