January Challenge - Aussie Readers Book Recommendations PLUS lots from your TBR!

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges, so whittle them down. Not quite sure when it's going to work though;)

With..."

Well, yes, same here - and I loved the TBR part of the challenge, of course, but the ARG reader recommendations is the part I've just turned into my own personal challenge. And the recommendations I've chosen are all on my TBR list anyway! Maybe if I'm very good with reading from my TBR and not adding, I can come back to this list and add 12 books that I like the sound of to my TBR!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges, so whittle them down. Not quite sure when it's going to work..."

Oh sorry, misunderstood! O_o!! I've had a big day...lol

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges, so whittle them down. Not quite sure when it..."

Oh dear, one of THOSE days! Hope you can put your feet up now and get some reading and relaxation time in, Brenda :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges, so whittle them down. Not qui..."

Haha! Yes, but in a good way:) We went out to lunch with my brother-in-law and his wife to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary, which is Saturday, and left home about 11am, arriving home after 4.30pm! So pleasantly tired - it's so exhausting having fun;)

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges, so whittle th..."

It's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Kathryn and Mish:) I do TBR all year, to the best of my ability. I choose books from my TBR for the challenges..."

Hehehe!!

[Kathryn]

I was just glancing through the list again and realised I've read 2 of the recommendations this month. Somehow I missed Patricia's post recommending And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini but I read it anyway with another group! Loved it - 5 stars from me for it as well!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

My final total for January's challenge:

For my Book recommendation part of the challenge I read The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill (thanks Zoey)

My TBR:
Always Watching by Chevy Stevens
In Safe Arms by Lee Christine
Poppy's Dilemma by Karly Lane
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
Until Death by Sandy Curtis
Dark City Blue by Luke Preston
Desert Fish by Cherise Saywell
The Sword of Demelza by J.E. Rogers
A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice by Caroline Stoessinger
Unforgivable by Sharon Robards
Red Queen by Honey Brown
Music Box by Anya Allyn
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
A Savage Garden by Chris Muir
The Grass Castle by Karen Viggers
Sinister Intent by Karen M. Davis
The Killing Hands by P.D. Martin
Beams Falling by P.M. Newton
The Lost Girls by Wendy James
Busted by Karin Slaughter
Roger Ascham And The King's Lost Girl by Matthew Reilly
Dying For A Chance by Amy H. Allworden
Ashes and Bone by Stacy Green
Vessels by Kealan Patrick Burke
Peregrine's Tale by Kealan Patrick Burke

[Sharon]

WOW Brenda, that's a very impressive list. Well done :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "WOW Brenda, that's a very impressive list. Well done :)"

Thanks Sharon:)

[Sharon]

My total for this challenge:

My recommended book was We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver 5 ★ (from Bette)

My TBR:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 5 ★
Still Alice by Lisa Genova 5 ★
The Goodbye Ride by Lily Malone 5 ★
After the Darkness by Honey Brown 5 ★
The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain 5 ★
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain 5 ★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow Sharon, look at all those 5 star reads! Well done:) You've had a very enjoyable month:)

[Sharon]

Thanks Brenda, yes it's been a great reading month. I'm looking forward to next month :)

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "My final total for January's challenge:

For my Book recommendation part of the challenge I read The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill (thanks Zoey)

My TB..."

Wow. Great going Brenda :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Sally:)

[Kathryn]

Well done to Brenda and Sharon! It does look like you've kicked the year off with a bang, Sharon. And you look like you're on track for 300+ this year, Brenda!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Kathryn:) No guarantees I can continue this way though;)

[Sharon]

Thanks Kathryn. And I see you also did very well in this challenge so well done to you as well :)

[Marianne]

This is what I got through for this challenge. Another easy one with a few recommendations and everything else I read on my TBR.
TBR ★★★★★
TBR Little Men ★★★★
Recommended by Jeniwren ★★★★★ and then some!!
TBR ★★★
TBR ★★★★★
TBR ★★★★★
TBR & recommended by my little sister ★★★
TBR ★★★★
TBR ★★★★
TBR ★★★★★
TBR ★★★★
TBR ★★★★☆
TBR ★★★★★
TBR ★★★★
Recommended by Jeniwren ★★★★★
Bedside romances
TBR ★★★★
TBR ★★★★
TBR ★★★★★
TBR Jack and Jill ★★★★
TBR ★★★★

[Marianne]

Brenda wrote: "My final total for January's challenge:

For my Book recommendation part of the challenge I read The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill (thanks Zoey)

My TB..."

wow, Well done!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Marianne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "My final total for January's challenge:

For my Book recommendation part of the challenge I read The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill (than..."

Thanks Marianne! Yours looks pretty impressive too:)

[Kathryn]

Marianne wrote: "This is what I got through for this challenge. Another easy one with a few recommendations and everything else I read on my TBR.
TBR ★★★★★
TBR [book:Little Men|846..."

Looks like some good reading there, Marianne! And a busy month!

[Carolyn]

Thanks for suggesting this great challenge. It's been such fun - a great way to start the year and enjoy some laid back summer holidays. I managed to read 12 altogether making a tiny dent in my TBR stack (so now I can buy some more HeHe!)

Recommended book:
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent 5 stars

From the TBR stack:
Sisters Of Mercy by Caroline Overington 3 stars
The Dunbar Case by Peter Corris 3 stars
Comeback by Peter Corris 3 stars
Mad Men, Bad Girls and the Guerilla Knitters Institute by Maggie Groff 3 stars
Good News, Bad News by Maggie Groff 3 stars
Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich 3 stars
Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser 4 stars
Hungry, the Stars, and Everything by Emma Jane Unsworth 4 stars
Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller 5 stars
Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus 3 stars
Unforgivable by Sharon Robards 4 stars

I'm also half way through:
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel and
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

so will have to finish them soon so I get onto the February post-apocalyptic challenge!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Carolyn! You had a great month of reading:)

[Carolyn]

Wow Marianne and Brenda. You are awesome readers!

[Kathy]

I read Small Indiscretions : stories of travel in Asia from my TBR - 5 stars. For the recommended books I am currently reading and enjoying The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, so thanks to all of those that listed this one.

[Sally906]

Marianne wrote: "This is what I got through for this challenge. Another easy one with a few recommendations and everything else I read on my TBR.
TBR ★★★★★
TBR [book:Little Men|846..."

Wow great achievement Marianne

[Sally906]

Carolyn wrote: "Thanks for suggesting this great challenge. It's been such fun - a great way to start the year and enjoy some laid back summer holidays. I managed to read 12 altogether making a tiny dent in my TB..."
Well done Carolyn. A few people have read and recommended Burial Rites I do have a copy of it - but is scheduled for a book discussion group later on in the year so will read it closer to then. I have high hopes for it.

[Sally906]

Kathy wrote: "I read Small Indiscretions : stories of travel in Asia from my TBR - 5 stars. For the recommended books I am currently reading and enjoying [book:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pe..."

small indiscretions sounds good :)

[Sandra]

TBR books I've read this month. Some have been on the tbr for years ;)


1. Snowballs in Hell 2/1/14 ★★★
2. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever 6/1/14 ★★★★
3. Finding Forgiveness 7/1/14 ★★★★
4. Mr. Red Riding Hoode 7/1/14 ★★★★
5. Hecate's Own 8/1/14 ★★★★
6. Loving Her 8/1/14 ★★★★
7. Make Her Howl 12/1/14 ★★★
8. Dragon Awakened 13/1/14 ★★★★
9. Vampire Academy 14/1/14 ★★★★
10. Savage Destiny 16/1/14 ★★★
11. Alien Abduction 20/1/14 ★★★
12. Shield 20/1/14 ★★★
13. Obsidian 22/1/14 ★★★★
14. Killbox 22/1/14 ★★★★★
15. Planet Mail 22/1/14 ★★★
16. The Warlord Wants Forever 23/1/14 ★★★★
17. Pleasure Unbound 23/1/14 ★★★★
18. Sookie Stackhouse Companion 27/1/14 ★★★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Sandra!

[Sandra]

Thanks Brenda :)

[Janine]

My Final list for January:
Recommended Book
Thornwood House by Anna Romer
TBR
1. Flowers On Main by Sherryl Woods
2. Swimsuit by James Patterson
3. After River by Donna Milner
4. Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
5. Stalking The Angel by Robert Crais
6. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
7. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
8. The Cove by Catherine Coulter
9. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
10. Murder on the Iditarod Trail by Sue Henry
11. Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson
12. Harbor Lights by Sherryl Woods
13. The Perfect Wife by Katherine Scholes

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Janine! Great result:)

[Sally906]

Well done Janine and Sandra - some great reads there!

[Janine]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Janine! Great result:)"
Thanks Brenda, a bit slower than normal as I was looking after my 2 year old grandson while his baby brother was entering the world.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Aww that's cute:) Baby brother and Mum safe and well?

[Janine]

Brenda wrote: "Aww that's cute:) Baby brother and Mum safe and well?"
All doing really well and baby Max is gorgeous and very good but brother Carter not so sure about him

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Aww that's cute:) Baby brother and Mum safe and well?"
All doing really well and baby Max is gorgeous and very good but brother Carter not so sure about him"

That's fair enough! Hope he gets used to him reasonably quickly, with none of the usual sibling jealousy:)