**Summer Reading Challenge - 2013/2014**

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Just finished my #3 New Release of this challenge: Unforgivable by Sharon Robards....more like... Unputdownable! I read this book for most of the day as I couldn't leave it.
I will write a review when I have slept on it as I am still absorbing and processing a lot of it. Very emotional content.
Can recommend this one too.
See my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

I have read 4 for this challenge so far
1. Summer in Australia Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman 4*
3. New release The Far Side of the Sun by Kate Furnivall 3*
9. Favourite genre Deadline by Sandra Brown 4*
11. December TBR The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Julie wrote: "Just finished Unforgivable by Sharon Robards....more like... Unputdownable! I read this book for most of the day as I couldn't leave it.
I will w..."

That's great to hear Julie! I have this one to read as well, I might move it up my pile now:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "I have read 4 for this challenge so far
1. Summer in Australia Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman 4*
3. New release [bookcover:The F..."

You're doing well Janine:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have finished my 8th - second #11 - TBR December Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb 5★s

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

[Trevor]

Finished books 3 and 4 for the challenge:

Christmas The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen 2★
LGBT American Studies by Mark Merlis 3★

Going to start on one of my TBR's If I Die Before I Wake by Sherwood King

[Steve]

I have finished my ninth book, my first 9. Favourite Genre, Raising Steam, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is a book I've looking forward to reading for a while, my second 9. Favourite Genre, Immortal in Death.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my nineth - second #5, Christmas themed book. Merrie Axemas by M.R. Sellars

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 10th - first #1 - Summer from Aussie author - Burnt by Karly Lane

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

[Angela]

I finally wrote a review for The Night Guest - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Still plugging along with Little Women and am going to crack open The Divine Comedy (hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew with that one!)

[Steve]

I have finished my tenth book, my second 9. Favourite Genre, Immortal in Death, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 10. Book into a Movie, The Green Mile.

[B the BookAddict]

Finished my ninth #7 Mardi Gras In One Person by John Irving. 8★
This was a re-read for me but still enjoyable; Irving is one of my favourite authors.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Have just finished my #4 book for this challenge.. The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain and will follow up next with her sequel Necessary Lies.
And I will finish book #7 The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith later today.

Making my finished choices so far:

1. Summer in Australia: The Silver Thread by Kylie Fitzpatrick
3. New Release: Unforgivable by Sharon Robards
5. Christmas Themed: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
4. The Literature Map: The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain ..... & will now follow up with Necessary Lies.
7. Mardi Gras Gay: The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith.

.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my eleventh - #9 second Favourite Genre - Dead Beat by Val McDermid

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great review Michael!

[Lila]

LGBT: Jade

One down 12 to go! Jade had some really fun moments and interesting ideas, so I liked it a lot. But it crammed too much into too few pages for my tastes. However, it ended on the kind of note that has me craving more!

[Sharon]

Finished my 6th # 7 Mardi Gras : The Weekend: A Novel by Peter Cameron

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

[pauliree]

Here are my choices for the Summer Challenge (although I am starting this late so I have chosen a couple I have read in December already - I hope that is not cheating)

1 - Summer in Australia - The Lavender Keeper (It isn't set in Australia but the author is Aussie and the cover is summery looking)
2 - Valentine's Day - The Sum of All Kisses Easy peasy as romance is my favourite genre. Just finished this one
3 - New Release - TBA - I won't know till I see the lists
4 - Literature Map - Styxx- this book is enormous!!
5 - Christmas - A Wallflower Christmas I didn't even know this book existed until now!
6 - Young Adult - The House of Hades Finished this the other day, very compelling
7 - LCBT - Lover At Last I have been waiting to read this for ages
8 - Aussie Author - Lexicon This comes highly recommended
9 - Favourite Genre - Young Adult The Girl of Fire and Thorns - currently reading this one Finished this last night
10 - Book Being made into movie - Winter's Tale - another one I have been waiting a while to read
11 Reduce TBR - The Crown of Embers finished end of December
12 Reduce TBR - The Bone Season half way through
13 Reduce TBR - The Age of Miracles finished 7th Jan - review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Wow, if I get through all these I will be impressed with myself

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

pauliree wrote: "Here are my choices for the Summer Challenge (although I am starting this late so I have chosen a couple I have read in December already - I hope that is not cheating)

1 - Summer in Australia - [b..."

Nice list Pauliree:) Welcome to the group, lovely to see you joining us in the challenge!

[Steve]

I have finished my eleventh, my first 10. Book into a Movie, The Green Mile, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 5. Christmas, A Christmas Carol.

[Trevor]

I have finished my 5th book, one of my TBR, The Perfect Family by Kathryn Shay which I gave 3★, short review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've finished my 12th book, second #3 - New Release The Last Savanna by Mike Bond

Review to follow closer to publication

[Nicola]

Another no. 6 YA novel
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox / Eoin Colfer

[Heather]

So busy with the whole Christmas thing - so I have only finished three books so far -
5. Christmas - The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
8. Australia Day -The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
11. TBR - Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Heather wrote: "So busy with the whole Christmas thing - so I have only finished three books so far -
5. Christmas - The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
8. Australia Day -[book:The Br..."

Sounds like you're reasonably on track Heather...some good books there!

[Christy]

Here's my update! Can't believe I'm on such a roll. However today is the first day of school holidays so I hope I can keep up the pace :)


1. Summer/Aussie Readers Bookshelf: by Chloe Hooper - 2 Stars

2. Valentine's Day: by Elizabeth Bard

3. New Release: - - 5 Stars
by Sarah Addison Allen also hoping to read by her as well, but we'll see if I can get it in time!!


4. Literature Map: Jennifer Weiner = Judy Blume so I'll read

5. Christmas: by James Patterson

6. Young Adult: by Candace Bushnell

7. Mardi Gras: by Virginia Woolf

8. Australia Day: by Geraldine Brooks

9. Favorite Genre: Crime Fiction - by James Patterson
and Historical Fiction - by Lynn Cullen

10. Book into a Movie: by Sijie Dai - 3 Stars

11. TBR: by Laura Childs - 4 Stars

12. TBR: by Janet Evanovich

13. TBR: by Nancy Horan

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Christy wrote: "Here's my update! Can't believe I'm on such a roll. However today is the first day of school holidays so I hope I can keep up the pace :)


1. Summer/Aussie Readers Bookshelf: [bookcover:The Eng..."

Looking good Christy!

[Christy]

Brenda wrote: "Christy wrote: "Here's my update! Can't believe I'm on such a roll. However today is the first day of school holidays so I hope I can keep up the pace :)


1. Summer/Aussie Readers Bookshelf: [b..."

Thanks Brenda!! I think I've read more for this challenge already than almost my entire spring challenge :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Well done!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have finished my 13th - 2nd Book Made Into a Movie - The Call of the Wild by Jack London

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

[B the BookAddict]

Finished my tenth #5 Christmas Themed Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

[Steve]

While on my way to a seasonal party last night, I finished my twelfth, my first 5. Christmas, A Christmas Carol, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I also made a start on my second 10. Book into a Movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Steve wrote: "While on my way to a seasonal party last night, I finished my twelfth, my first 5. Christmas, A Christmas Carol, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I also..."

Doing well Steve:)

[Kathryn]

I'm thinking it's time for an update since a few weeks of December have gone by and I'm on my fourth book!

1. Summer in AU -
Lighthouse Bay by Kimberley Freeman. 4 stars

2. Valentine's Day - romance -
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

3. New Release -
The Spy by James Phelan

4. Literature Map - I put in Kerry Greenwood and selected Ariana Franklin - Mistress of the Art of Death

5. .Christmas theme - Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. 3 stars - 3.5 if I could...

If I get time to read another before or around Christmas, I'm liking other people's choices of A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn

6. YA - children, teens, families -
The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett

7. Mardi Gras - LGBT author -
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

8. Australia Day - Aussie Author - probably The Secret River by Kate Grenville and perhaps also The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

9. .Favourite Genre -
Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal 3 stars

10. Book made into a Movie -
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

11. Dec TBR -
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome struggling with this one at the moment - 2 stars so far...

12. Jan TBR -
The Cleverness of Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith

13. Feb TBR - TBA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Kathryn:)

[Binari]

Finished my fifth book #8Growing Up Asian in Australia

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 14th - my 2nd #7 Mardi Gras (gay character) Silent Partner by Jonathan Kellerman

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

[Jade]

Hi everyone here are my summer challenge books

1. Summer in AU - The Inevitability of Stars
2. Valentines - A Walk to Remember
3. New release - Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns
4. Literature map - I put in John Green, than picked Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games
5. Christmas - A Christmas Carol
6. Young Adult - The Lightning Thief
7. Mardi Gras - Look Who's Morphing
8. Aussie Author - Campaign Ruby
9. Fav Genre - The Fault in Our Stars
10. Book to Movie - The Hobbit
11. Dec TBR - The Fellowship of the Ring
12. Jan TBR - Paper Towns
13. Feb TBR - Native Son

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jade wrote: "Hi everyone here are my summer challenge books

1. Summer in AU - The Inevitability of Stars
2. Valentines - A Walk to Remember
3. New release - [book:Revenge Wears Prad..."

Lovely list Jade! Welcome to the group:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just finished my 15th - my first #2 - Romance - Currawong Creek by Jennifer Scoullar

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

[Angela]

Wowser Brenda! You are speedy Gonzales :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Angela wrote: "Wowser Brenda! You are speedy Gonzales :)"

Haha! Thanks Angela:)

[Sally906]

I have read the following already – have 3 more to go – so can take it easy now :)

1. Right As Rain by Tricia Stringer

3. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman - (release date 01/12/13)

4. Christmas Crumble by M.C. Beaton - (typed in Rhys Bowen)

5. A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn

6. The Elite by Kiera Cass

7. Keepers of the Cave by Gerri Hill

9. This time of the year my favourite genre is actually any light and fluffy genre with a christmas theme so for this I read The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson

10. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas - Movie was ‘Christmas with Holly’

11. December - A Family for Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor

13. Threadbare by Cindi Gale

[Janine]

I have read my 5th for this challenge, my No.8 Aussie Author :
The Tailor's Girl by Fiona McIntosh 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 16th - second #2 (Romance) - Eliza's Home by Rachael Herron

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

[Binari]

Wow Brenda, you're reading at the speed of light. I'm still up to my sixth

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Binari wrote: "Wow Brenda, you're reading at the speed of light. I'm still up to my sixth"

Thanks Binari:) 6th title is very good!

[B the BookAddict]

I've finished #2 Valentine's Day The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 2★

Two to go; my new release (not till feb) and my Literature Map.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bette wrote: "I've finished #2 Valentine's Day The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 2★

Two to go; my new release (not till feb) and my Literature Map."

You're doing well Bette!

[Binari]

Just finished my sixth book #2 Where she went. About to start #10 book to movie-The Great Gatsby