**Spring Reading Challenge - 2013**

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Huge congratulations to Lynxie, Steve and Phrynne! And to those of you who've not quite finished, still some time;) But you have done an awesome job, and as long as you've enjoyed the challenge, our battle is won!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Huge congratulations to Lynxie, Steve and Phrynne! And to those of you who've not quite finished, still some time;) But you have done an awesome job, and as long as you've enjoyed the challenge, ou..."

Enjoyed it enormously thank you! That's why we keep coming back and doing it all again!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Huge congratulations to Lynxie, Steve and Phrynne! And to those of you who've not quite finished, still some time;) But you have done an awesome job, and as long as you've enjoyed th..."

That's GOOD!! Without you all enjoying these challenges, us mods would be without a job!

[Lynxie]

Thanks Brenda, your challenges are awesome. I love doing them. As Phrynne said, that's why we keep coming back and doing it all again :D

[Kathryn]

Totally agree, Phrynne and Lynxie! I've really enjoyed this challenge as well. I've STILL got one to go - but I've just finished a book and my bookmark is now sitting in the front of no. 13 - my Nov TBR - Booked To Die by John Dunning - and it's definitely the next cab off the rank!!

I could say I've finished the challenge anyway, since I've read other TBR books during Nov, but I have been wanting to get to this one for a while anyway. If it's a good book, 11 days should be more than ample to finish it, if it's not so good and I'm struggling, I'll give it up as a bad joke and use one of my other books as November's TBR!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lynxie wrote: "Thanks Brenda, your challenges are awesome. I love doing them. As Phrynne said, that's why we keep coming back and doind it all again :D"

So glad you enjoy them Lynxie! But you've said 'no' to the summer challenge....

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Totally agree, Phrynne and Lynxie! I've really enjoyed this challenge as well. I've STILL got one to go - but I've just finished a book and my bookmark is now sitting in the front of no. 13 - my ..."

Either way you've killed it Kathryn! Hope you enjoy your Nov TBR though if you've been wanting to read it for awhile:)

[Kathryn]

Thanks, Brenda - so do I!! A friend recommended it - judging by the blurb, it's about a local book scout who is murdered and a homicide detective who opens a bookshop - surely it's gotta be good if there are books involved?!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Thanks, Brenda - so do I!! A friend recommended it - judging by the blurb, it's about a local book scout who is murdered and a homicide detective who opens a bookshop - surely it's gotta be good i..."

It should be! Good luck:)

[Lynxie]

Brenda wrote: "Lynxie wrote: "Thanks Brenda, your challenges are awesome. I love doing them. As Phrynne said, that's why we keep coming back and doind it all again :D"

So glad you enjoy them Lynxie! But you've s..."

I have. I have been pushing myself really quite hard this last few months, with writing and NaNo, reading challenges, school and working full time, I'm due for a break. ;)

Knowing me, however, I'll still probably keep up the reading pace with the challengers. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lynxie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Lynxie wrote: "Thanks Brenda, your challenges are awesome. I love doing them. As Phrynne said, that's why we keep coming back and doind it all again :D"

So glad you enjoy them Lynxi..."

Fair enough:) But you can change your mind any time you like;)

[Nicola]

I've finished my number 10 - which I switched out from the original I thought about. Number 2 in the series and they are quite enjoyable
Darkness Rising / Keri Arthur
Only leaves me one more to finish, 10 days should be enough time!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'm sure you'll manage it Nicola...well done!

[Michelle]

Another one down yesterday. I don't have any hope of finishing the rest though. Maybe one more and that will be it..... :-(

1) - TBR Read - finished 28/10/13 - 4 stars
2) - Red cover - finished 19/11/13 - 4 stars
3) - New life - the main character has to learn to live as a ghost after he dies
4) - Aussie New Release - finished 10/10/13 - 4 stars
5) - Romance - finished 1/10/13 - 4 stars
6) - Luck goes with gambling
7) - Young Adult - finished 21/9/13 - 3 stars
8) - Favourite Genre is Thriller - finished 5/9/13 - 4 stars
9) - Starts with 'M'
10) - Aussie Sci-Fi/Paranormal - finished 15/9/13 - 1 star
11) - Been on my TBR forever!
12) - Same as above!
13) - Same as above!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Forget the TBRs, you can read 3 in 10 days can't you Michelle;) Well done though...great effort!

[Sharon]

I've finished :) read my last one # 13 Nov TBR: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens I LOVED!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks for a great challenge Brenda I thoroughly enjoyed it. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Sharon! Great review for, I agree, a fabulous book! Glad you enjoyed the challenge too:)

[Sharon]

Thank you Brenda :)

[Jenn]

Finally finished my list

1. TBR - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy READ
2. Colour -Fire READ
3. New Life - AwakeningREAD
4. New Release -Bones of the LostPublication Date: 2/9/13 READ
5. Romance - Gameboard of the Gods READ
6.Melbourne Cup- Black Beauty READ
7.YA - City of Fallen AngelsREAD
8. Fave Genre - Crime Night StalkerREAD
9. Starts with J - Jude the Obscure READ
10. Fantasy by Aussie Author - LiraelREAD
11. TBR - Written in Red READ
12. TBR - Heller's Decision READ
13. TBR - Schindler's ListREAD

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jennifer wrote: "Finally finished my list
Jennifer Parker My List
1. TBR - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy READ
2. Colour -Fire FireREAD
3. New Life - AwakeningREAD
4. New Release -Bones of the LostPublication..."

Congratulations Jennifer! Would you mind editing your post to link your books please? Thanks heaps:)

[Kathryn]

Finally managed to get to my last read Booked To Die by John Dunning and finished it yesterday - it was OK, fairly typical - American male detective looking for a murderer - it became more interesting when he left the police department and opened a bookshop, but still… Would I read more in the series? Perhaps, but there's so many books that I really want to read, I'm not sure I'd bother with any more of these. If they were the only books available, that would be a different matter! 3★ (Probably more like 2.5★)

1. Spring clean - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. 5★

2. Spring Colours - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 5★

3. New life of some description - Perfume from Provence by Winifred Fortescue - author starts a new life in Provence. 3★

4. Aussie new release – The Inheritance by Jo-Anne Berthelsen 4★

5. Romance – switched to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson 4★

6. Book related to element/s of Melbourne Cup - I happened to read 2 for this one - Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood - set in Melbourne. 3★
And Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris) by Paul Gallico – it involves fashion. 3★

7. YA book – The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith 3★

8. Favourite genre - historical fiction - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - 3★

9. Book starting with “K” The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue 4★

10. Fantasy/sci-fi:
The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth 3★

Extra TBR’s
11. Good Girls Do Swallow: The Darkly Comic True Story of How One Woman Stopped Hating Her Body by Rachael Oakes-Ash 3★
12. Empty Cradles/Oranges & Sunshine by Margaret Humphreys (same book, different names) 4★
13. Booked To Die by John Dunning 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Finally managed to get to my last read Booked To Die by John Dunning and finished it yesterday - it was OK, fairly typical - American male detective looking for a murd..."

Congratulations Kathryn! Fantastic effort:)

[Ben]

All finished.

1. Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey 4 stars
2. Dust by Hugh Howey 3 stars
3. Shift Omnibus Edition by Hugh Howey 4 stars
4. Eyrie by Tim Winton 3 stars
5. Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard 4 stars
6. Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard 3 stars
7. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman 4 stars
8. The Coldest War by Ian Tregillis 3 stars
9. Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis 3 stars
10. World's End by Will Elliott 3 stars
11. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester 2 stars
12. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest 1 star
13. Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Ben! Good for you:)

[Bronwyn]

I have been quiet here this challenge but I have been trying to plough through my choice. I won't get it completed though but I will still keep tyring. Here is my list

1. Spring TBR – When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman 5*
2. Spring colours red or yellow - by Joy Dettman has lots of red on the cover 5*
3. Spring brings new life – We Are Family by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees (Rachael Glover’s husband has just died so she decides it is time to get in touch with her estranged brother and while doing so she meets his daughter Laurie, so that’s my new life, Laurie and Rachael’s new relationship. 5*
4. New Release by an Aussie author
5. Romance – Too Scandalous to Wed by Alexandra Benedict 2*
6. A social event, gambling, horses, horse racing, fashion – Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley 5*
7. Young Adult – A Game of Thrones by George AA Martin 5*
8. Favourite GENRE – Vampires – Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands 4*
9. First letter of the title beginning with the first letter of your name – The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan 5*
10. Fantasy/paranormal by an Aussie author - Kiss The Night Goodbye by Keri Arthur 4*
A NEW THREAD
For those who have enjoyed pushing yourselves, we'll have this again:
11. For September read from your TBR
12. For October read from your TBR- The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir by Ahn Do 5*
13. For November read from your TBR – Blood Secret by Jayne Forde 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bronwyn wrote: "I have been quiet here this challenge but I have been trying to plough through my choice. I won't get it completed though but I will still keep tyring. Here is my list

1. Spring TBR – [book:When..."

Well done Bronwyn:) You look like you have (mostly) enjoyed your books!

[Trevor]

Just finished the Spring challenge with a couple of days to go, wasn't sure if I would get there or not.

1) Spring clean The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides 3★
2) Spring colour 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith 3★
3) New life The Innocent by Ian McEwan 3★
4) New release Cairo by Chris Womersley 4★
5) Romance Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant) 4★
6) Melbourne Cup Eleven Seasons by Paul D. Carter 4★
7) Young adult The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 3★
8) Favourite genre (detective) The Light of Day by Graham Swift 3★
9) First letter of name T Turbulence by Giles Foden 4★
10 ) Science fiction On the BeachOn the Beach by Nevil Shute 4★

plus 2 TBR

In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield 3★
Measure of Devotion by Caethes Faron 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trevor wrote: "Just finished the Spring challenge with a couple of days to go, wasn't sure if I would get there or not.

1) Spring clean The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides 3★
2) ..."

Congratulations Trevor! Well done:)

[Nicola]

Finished another No4 - New release
The Tournament/ Matthew Reilly
Very good - totally different from his usual playlist...

[Chris]

I'm on my last book, have 200 pages to go and a very busy 24hrs ahead. I'm not sure if I'm going to get it finished before midnight. Oh no!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Christina wrote: "I'm on my last book, have 200 pages to go and a very busy 24hrs ahead. I'm not sure if I'm going to get it finished before midnight. Oh no!"

You'll do it Christina!!! Go girl!!! lol

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations to all who finished this seasonal challenge, and well done to all those who almost finished! Great to see so many give it your best shot!!

[Ashleigh]

At the end of the challenge I was left with 2 books to go, these are my results.

1.) Spring Clean: The Road 19/09
2.) Spring Colours:
Started but did not finish in time!
3.) New Life: Fishing for Tigers 09/09
4.) Spring Aussie New Release: The Storyteller and his Three Daughters 31/10
5.) Romance: Chick Lit-Mystery & Romance Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes 03/10
6.) Melbourne Cup: Spirit Horses or Pegasus
7.) YA: Fairytales for Wilde Girls 14/11
8). Fav Genre SCI-FI & DYSTOPIAN/APOCALYPTIC: The Day of the Triffids 28/11
9.) 1st Initial 'A': Angelfall 17/10
10.) Aussie Sci-Fi: Remnant 29/09

I am glad I joined this challenge & I am happy with my results.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Ashleigh! Fabulous result! You might be able to put the 2 you didn't finish to the summer challenge? :)

[Nicola]

Finished my challenge with a few hours to spare! Was fun, there were some great books and some not so great books. I swapped some of my original choices for various reasons as usual..... Here's the completed list.....

1. Spring clean your bookshelves by reading a book from your TBR

Crescent Dawn Clive Cussler
Hornet Flight / Ken Follett

2. Spring colours are predominantly red and yellow.
Yellow and Red cover The Last Continent / Terry Pratchett

3. Spring brings new life - choose a book depicting new life of some description.

The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times / Jennifer Worth

4. Brisbane Writers' Festival is on 4th-8th September - choose a New Release written by an Aussie author

A Rake's Midnight Kiss / Anna Campbell
The Tournament/ Matthew Reilly

5. Romance is in the Spring air.

The Marriage Bargain / Jennifer Probst

6. The Melbourne Cup will be held on 5th November this year.
Fashion

A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur's Court / Marianne Mancusi

7. Choose a Young Adult book for this selection, not necessarily Aussie.

Wildwood Dancing / Juliet Marillier

8. Choose a book from your favourite GENRE here – Scifi/Scifan!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane / Neil Gaiman

9. How about a book with the first letter of the title beginning with the first letter of your name

Neuromancer / William Gibson

10. Read a fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi book by an Aussie author for this one:)

Darkness Rising / Keri Arthur

11. For September read from your TBR
The Last Days Of The National Costume / Anne Kennedy
12. For October read from your TBR
Cold Comfort Farm / Stella Gibbons
13. For November read from your TBR
Old Filth / Jane Gardam

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Nicola! Great result, reading some double-ups too:)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Nicola! Great result, reading some double-ups too:)"

Always nice to do! Especially if I run short of time due to silly assignments!

[Chris]

Woohoo! I have finally finished my last book for this challenge Ember Island 4 ★ Better late than never I say. Now on to my Summer challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Christina:)

[Chris]

Thanks Brenda.

[Wonderkell]

5. Out if control (losing Control Book 2) - Desiree Wilder

9. Kimono Suicide by Kay Hadashi

7. The Edge of Always. J.A. Redmerki


Missed it by one book - the Aussie authored fantasy/sci-fi!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Out of Control by Desiree Wilder
Kimono Suicide by Kay Hadashi
The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski

Bad luck Kell! But you did really well all the same:)

[Ashleigh]

Ashleigh wrote: "At the end of the challenge I was left with 2 books to go, these are my results

Thanks Brenda. I am not participating in the Summer Challenge :(

I am starting a 18 month challenge based on The Walking Dead T.V Series. ♥ ZOMBIES

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good luck Ashleigh:)