Aug 2013 - Mini Challenge

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner]

Here it is folks. Read as many or as few as you'd like based on weird and wacky but real holidays.

August is Admit You're Happy Month - Read a book by your favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release.

August is Back to School Month - Read a book where at least one character is a student or a teacher, or a scene takes place in a school.

Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day - Read a book that takes place near or on the ocean, or has an ocean on the cover. Or read a book that has anything to do with a lighthouse: in the story, the title, or the cover.

Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day - Read a used book.

Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day - Read an ebook (on your computer, ipad, ereader, smartphone, etc.) or download an ebook. (NOTE: Many free ebooks from mainstream online stores and free archives are available online.)

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Sweeeeet -- I have the back-to-school one taken care of with the book I am currently reading. Gotta love when the stars align like that! ☺

(BTW, school here doesn't start until after Labor Day -- stupid law about education interfering with tourism.)

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I'm in. "Admit you're happy" and "Race Your Mouse" are quuuuuite easy

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner]

Marisa, for some Race Your Mouse would be really easy. But not everyone can read an ebook unless it was on the pc. I've done it that way, and it was kinda a pain. So now I own a cheap ereader. :)

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I totally agree, Briansgirl. It would be impossible for my Mom, for example. What I haven't written is that it's easy for me: a new Jayne Castle's book appear on August, 27. I'll begin it that day. And, although I read around 200 books a year, if I read two or three as paperbook, it's an effort. The used book is going to be complicated for me, but not for a lot of people in the group. All of us have our strengths and weaknesses ;)

[Melodie]

Should be able to get all of these. I have a Kindle Fire, but don't really like reading books on it..though I have LOTS of books loaded on it!

[Susan]

August is Admit You're Happy Month - Read a book by your favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release.
Joyland
Finished 8/24/13.

August is Back to School Month - Read a book where at least one character is a student or a teacher, or a scene takes place in a school.
Killer Pancake / The Cereal Murders 8/17/13 Finished


Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day - Read a book that takes place near or on the ocean, or has an ocean on the cover. Or read a book that has anything to do with a lighthouse: in the story, the title, or the cover.
The Light Between Oceans
8/30/13 Finished

Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day - Read a used book.
City of Bones borrowed from my cousin on vacation in July, haven't started it yet.



Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day - Read an ebook (on your computer, ipad, ereader, smartphone, etc.) or download an ebook. (NOTE: Many free ebooks from mainstream online stores and free archives are available online.)

Divergent 8/27/13 Finished

[Melodie]

Susan wrote: "August is Admit You're Happy Month - Read a book by your favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release.
Joyland
TBR

August is Back to School Month - Read a book where a..."

I LOVED ! Great read! Read CITY OF BONES a couple of years ago and didn't like it, but I'd like to see the movie.

[Beth]

Not my month. Just finished the new release by my favorite author before the month started, and hate reading books on the desktop, only way I have to read a down-loaded book. I'll stop whining now and let the rest of you get on with it.

[Linda]

Back to school month goes together quite nicely with our author of the month - Denise Swanson. The tricky category for me is the coast guard day, have to see what I have that will fit.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner]

Marisa wrote: "I totally agree, Briansgirl. It would be impossible for my Mom, for example. What I haven't written is that it's easy for me: a new Jayne Castle's book appear on August, 27. I'll begin it that day...."

Yep, I buy used a majority of the time. I tend to buy either used from Amazon super cheap (under $1 plus shipping) or from PaperBackSwap. My area thrift stores don't have anything anymore that I want or need as I have so much. lol

I have on rare occasions bought ebooks but only if that's the only format it's available in. Otherwise, I have a DVD with 8k romance ebooks and another with 5k mystery ebooks. I got a Libre ereader cheap to read those on (in color). After downloading over 250+ kindle ebooks that can only be read either on your pc (kindle for pc) or an actual kindle, I broke down and bought the cheapest kindle ($79 I think. It was a birthday gift). Much better to read all of my ebooks on. The other ereader's battery wasn't good enough for even one full novel and you can't read as it's charging. Kindle's battery can last for a full month.

But yes, we all have our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to reading. I don't expect everyone to complete every part of the mini-challenge each month. Just whatever is comfortable for each person.

[Nell]

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "... Kindle's battery can last for a full month."

FYI - The Kindle's estimated battery life is based on reading 30 minutes per day. You'll find that tidbit in the small print. When I'm reading on my Kindle keyboard, I usually have to charge the battery once a week. You can continue reading while the battery charges.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner]

The Libre's battery didn't last for the length of one book, and I couldn't read while it charged so was completely frustrated after a day of reading to wait for the ending. I do tend to charge my kindle between novels for the heck of it, but it's battery will more than get me through a book or two without worry. That's the main thing to me. Screen is easier to read too.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Yes, ereader is quite easy for reading than LCD screen (as Libre or my old Palm E2 here I read before). I use to charge my Mini a month aroound more or less, but I plug in the computer a lot to charge books in it ;)

[Naomi]

I'm in! 5/5 DONE with BONUS!


August is Admit You're Happy Month - Night Vision by Yasmine Galenorn + BONUS

August is Back to School Month - File M for Murder by Miranda James

Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day - Ghost Shadow by Heather Graham

National Thriftshop Day - Shadow Fires by Dean Koontz

Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day - Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates

[Mary (Biblophile)]

I'll give it a try.

5/5

August is Admit You're Happy Month - Read a book by your favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release. ..8/7/13

August is Back to School Month - Read a book where at least one character is a student or a teacher, or a scene takes place in a school. ..8/5/13

Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day - Read a book that takes place near or on the ocean, or has an ocean on the cover. Or read a book that has anything to do with a lighthouse: in the story, the title, or the cover. ...8/23/13

Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day - Read a used book. ...8/8/13

Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day - Read an ebook: ..8/3/13

[Linda]

Here is the start of my August challenge. I love how these challenges help me to get to things (ie. books I need to get from the library or ones on my phone's kindle app, all that get put off for actual books on my shelf).

Admit You're Happy Month - Murder in the House

Back to School Month - Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry

U. S. Coast Guard Day/National Lighthouse Day - Murder Most Maine

National Thrift Shop Day - An Unsuitable Job For A Woman 8/4/13

Race Your Mouse Day - A Dash of Murder

[Beth]

Admit you're Happy month--Won a copy of Shadows by Robin McKinley here at goodreads, I think it would qualify as a new release as it is pre-pub : )(not a mystery, but one of my favorite authors read 8/5/13Shadows
Back to school month Murder of a Royal PainDenise Swanson read 8/10/13
U.S. Coast Guard Day/National Lighthouse Day Book, Line and SinkerJenn McKinlayRead 8/3/13
National Thrift Shop Day Dead Canaries Don't SingCynthia BaxterRead 8/6/13
Race your mouse day--The mouse is too fast it wins.

[Susan]

I have to say that I love reading on my kindle and nook color. But I really enjoy reading on my ipad b/c I have the kindle app, nook app, google bks app, etc. So pretty much all formats are covered and if I have to convert I use calibre.

Then I can change the font to whatever size I need.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

1 / 5

1.- Admit You're Happy Month

2.- Back to School Month: Murder of the Cat's Meow by Denise Swanson (08/08/2013 - ★★★)

3.- U.S. Coast Guard Day / National Lighthouse Day

4.- National Thriftshop Day

5.- Race Your Mouse Day

[Curryanne]

Carol wrote: "I'm one of those who can't read ebooks, (tried it on the pc once with a short book--about 100 pages--NEVER AGAIN! I wasn't even able to finish it, and it was one of those only available electronica..."

I can/t read on a pc either. But I would not give up my kindle for all the tea in China. An ereader is a different experience. Go to the library and try one out.....

[Teresa]

Carol wrote: "I'm one of those who can't read ebooks, (tried it on the pc once with a short book--about 100 pages--NEVER AGAIN! I wasn't even able to finish it, and it was one of those only available electronica..."

Tim Myers has a great lighthouse series.

[Nell]

Carol wrote: "I'm one of those who can't read ebooks, (tried it on the pc once with a short book--about 100 pages--NEVER AGAIN! I wasn't even able to finish it, and it was one of those only available electronica..."

Reading e-books on a PC is very different from using an e-reader because of the lighting. The PC is backlit and harder on your eyes. It is easier to read without eye fatigue on most e-readers because of the print (e-ink) and the lighting. (I am saying most because I understand the e-readers with color are backlit the way a computer screen or tablet is.) I can read without eye strain on my Kindle.

That said - I admit to an old school preference for holding a real print book in my hands and turning the pages.

[Melissa]

Done!

August is Admit You're Happy Month - Read a book by your favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release. - Little Shop of Homicide - 8/14/13

August is Back to School Month - Read a book where at least one character is a student or a teacher, or a scene takes place in a school. - Quilt or Innocence: A Southern Quilting Mystery - 8/12/13

Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day - Read a book that takes place near or on the ocean, or has an ocean on the cover. Or read a book that has anything to do with a lighthouse: in the story, the title, or the cover. - Cross Stitch Before Dying: An Embroidery Mystery - 8/16/2013

Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day - Read a used book. -Angel's Advocate - 8/3/13

Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day - Read an ebook (on your computer, ipad, ereader, smartphone, etc.) or download an ebook. - Lowcountry Boil - 8/12/13

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Carol wrote: "I can't afford a Kindle or other ereader, and if I did have one, I would constantly be afraid of losing it somewhere. I'm not one of those people who is constantly losing things, but I'm not going to take chances with expensive stuff. It's one thing to maybe leave a paperback somewhere and have to replace it, but electronics devices are a bigger deal."

I have a friend who has three diffrent Nooks, and I occasionally borrow the cheaper one. My greatest fear is that I will lose it, or have it stolen, so I usually only use it at home. If I lose my own paperback, yes it would suck, but they're cheap enough that I could eventually replace it. If I were to lose her Nook, though... I don't even want to think about it. I'll be using her Nook to read a novella for this challenge that she downloaded for free.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I've got a Kobo Mini(I carry around all the time, so I like its size: 5"). Now you can purchase it by 53$... I know that it's a lot of money in some cases, but it's not really an expensive device anymore.

[Mary (Biblophile)]

I prefer a book and always thought I'd never like an e-reader. However, hubby got me one for Xmas two years ago and I love it. As I'm getting older, I find the smaller print harder to read and love that I can adjust the size of the text. It's also easier on the hands than a large heavy book. Still, I read more of the paper books than ebooks. And, have found some wonderful authors from some of the freebie books.

[Curryanne]

I love my kindle and have never come close to losing it. I won't go back to reading books. It is not and ebook I don't read it. My husband was like most of the comments until he read a long book. Suddenly he has seen the light. He is not tetchy so he panics sometimes. But I show him what to do. And he realises there was no need for panic. Only once has he lost it he thought. He hadn't.

[Melissa]

Finished!

[Melissa]

I'm on the fence with ereaders. I have a Nexus 7, it's an android tablet. I have the kindle and nook apps downloaded. I have a bunch of free ebooks and I've bought just a couple. It just has some quirks that I don't like. One time I was reading and the pages kept moving forward, it would jump ahead like three pages when I didn't even touch it. I restarted and it was fine, but still, it's a bit off-putting.

[Linda]

Finished my August challenge last night!

Admit You're Happy Month - Murder in the House 8/20/13

Back to School Month - Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry 8/13/13

U. S. Coast Guard Day/National Lighthouse Day - Murder Most Maine 8/10/13

National Thrift Shop Day - An Unsuitable Job For A Woman 8/4/13

Race Your Mouse Day - A Dash of Murder 8/16/13

[Melissa]

Congrats Linda!

[Leslie]

Congrats Linda & Melissa (and anyone else out there who has finished)!

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Congrats Linda!

[Mary (Biblophile)]

Congrats to those who finished. I still have to dig up my lighthouse book before I can finish.

[Shayla]

Pies and Prejudice favorite Author right now, done.
Need to work on getting the rest complete!

[Mary (Biblophile)]

Finished.

[Melissa]

Congrats Carol and Biblophile!

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Congrats Carol! Congrats Bibliophile!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Congrats to Carol and Biblophile!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Finis!


August is Admit You're Happy Month — Read a book by a favorite author. BONUS if it's a new release.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts (Bonus: relatively newish--came out in April 2013.)


August is Back to School Month - Read a book where at least one character is a student or a teacher, or a scene takes place in a school.

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter (Book four in a series set at a HS for spies)

Aug 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day and Aug 7 National Lighthouse Day — Read a book that takes place near or on the ocean... Or read a book that has anything to do with a lighthouse.

Written in Stone by Ellery Adams (Set on east coast, with scenes at a lighthouse)


Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day — Read a used book.

Sleeping with the Entity by Cat Devon (Bought at Half Price Books)


Aug 28 - Race Your Mouse Day — Read an ebook.

Rock Point by Carla Neggers

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Congrats, Heather!

[Leslie]

Congrats Heather :)

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Thanks! ☺

[Susan]

I accomplished all but one!!!

[Linda]

Congrats to everyone who finished!!

[Nell]

August Mini-Challenge

August is Admit You're Happy Month -
A Parfait Murder by Wendy Lyn Watson (& used)

August is Back to School Month -
Murder of a Creped Suzette by Denise Swanson (& used)
Scoop to Kill by Wendy Lyn Watson (& used)

Aug 17 is National Thriftshop Day -
Finger Lickin' Dead by Riley Adams
Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley