**Winter Reading Challenge - 2014**

[Tien]

Brenda wrote: "If you look at my original post Tien you'll see I double up the challenge for myself. So two of everything :)"

oh i see - it looks like you'll be doing a third run of it in August then? seems like you've nearly finished your second ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha no, once my double up is finished I'm done! Plenty of other challenges to work on :)

[Tien]

lol - i know exactly what you mean!

I'm trying to squeeze in as much reading as I can get in the next few months cuz when baby comes, I'll have to bid my books adieu for the rest of the year, methinks! :(

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ah but it'll be worth it :) How exciting, congratulations Tien! When is bub due? I'm sure you'll fit in a little bit of reading time now and then :)

[Tien]

Thanks, Brenda :)
Due early October and I do hope I get to read some (if only to keep sane lol)

[Valerie]

Finished my 10a Thriller/Mystery Blood Witness by Alex Hammond. I gave this 4 stars, particularly enjoyed it being set in Melbourne. The cover implies that there will be more books to follow, and I look forward to the next.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Ah but it'll be worth it :) How exciting, congratulations Tien! When is bub due? I'm sure you'll fit in a little bit of reading time now and then :)"

I used to read during the 2.00.am feeds. The babies never seemed to mind:)

[Tien]

Phrynne wrote: "I used to read during the 2.00.am feeds. The babies never seemed to mind:)"

lol but I'm not sure if can go back to sleep if I start reading at 2am, it'll definitely wake me up & I'll not be wanting to put it down (esp. if it's a good book!)

[Steve]

I have finished my twenty-first, my first 2. New Release, The House on Carnaval Street with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 5b. Fake, The Eagle Has Landed.

I am also off on Sunday for a week to Raleigh, North Carolina. Hopefully I will get stuck into some good reading on the plane.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Tien wrote: "Thanks, Brenda :)
Due early October and I do hope I get to read some (if only to keep sane lol)"

All the very best when the time comes Tien:) I'm sure you'll need some reading time;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Steve wrote: "I have finished my twenty-first, my first 2. New Release, The House on Carnaval Street with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 5b. Fak..."

Safe travels Steve! I hope you're not flying Malaysian Air!

[Carolyn]

Tien wrote: "lol - i know exactly what you mean!

I'm trying to squeeze in as much reading as I can get in the next few months cuz when baby comes, I'll have to bid my books adieu for the rest of the year, meth..."

Audio books might be the go Tien, for those late night and early morning feeds :)

[Steve]

Brenda wrote: "Safe travels Steve! I hope you're not flying Malaysian Air!"

Thanks! Heh, no, Qantas all the way. :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Steve wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Safe travels Steve! I hope you're not flying Malaysian Air!"

Thanks! Heh, no, Qantas all the way. :-)"

That's good!!

[Bec]

Just finished my second book - YA Book The Recruit by Fiona Palmer who usually writes great Australian Rural Romance books. I loved this book and I'm very glad that this is the start of a new series!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Liam wrote: "And finished. 10 more to go in 44 days.

Oh dear."

Good luck with that Liam;)

[Valerie]

Finished 5a Nonfiction The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier. I savoured this book and am very sad to leave it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kira]

I finished Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. It started really slow but the second half was both captivating and heartbreaking. I cried buckets with this one. I would have given it 5* if it wasn't for the slow start.

My reviewhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show/995230914

Only one more to go for this challenge :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished Embassytown by China Miéville. It was excellent but his books always are.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have five more to read for this challenge but there is still heaps of time:)

[Carolyn]

I've finished 3. Miles Franklin Winner All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld 4★.
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I know a few people have found the writing confusing as it skips between the present and the past but I enjoyed the weaving together of the present and the past to gradually lead back to the horrific event that caused the main character, Jake to end up in exile on an English island.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "I've finished 3. Miles Franklin Winner All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld 4★.
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I know a few people have f..."

Excellent review Carolyn :)

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I've finished 3. Miles Franklin Winner All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld 4★.
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I know a f..."

Thanks Brenda! It's quite a different book, not what I was expecting from the title and it is quite disturbing in places but I do recommend it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I finished my 26th - second 10b (Nice) - Moonlight Plains by Barbara Hannay 4★s

Review to follow closer to publication

2 to go!!

[Trevor]

Finished my 7th book for the challenge, my new aussie release The Boy's Own Manual to Being a Proper Jew by Eli Glasman which was great - 4★

my short review is: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

I have finished my 12th and 13th
#2 New Release
Let Her Go by Dawn Barker 4*
#6 Cover depicting Winter
The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg 3*

[Steve]

While in the air somewhere between Dallas and Raleigh, I finished my twenty-second, my second 5b. Fake, The Eagle Has Landed, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I started my second 4. International Children's Day, City of Bones on the same flight.

[Elaine]

Finished my sixth for this challenge so I think I'm slightly lagging behind.
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity . A 3.5 star read.

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

[Sharon]

Finished my 10th # 4 International Children's - YA: Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith 5★

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Finished my 10th # 4 International Children's - YA: Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith 5★

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

Great review Sharon :) It's an amazing series, so glad you enjoyed the first book.

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Finished my 10th # 4 International Children's - YA: Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith 5★

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

Thanks Brenda :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 27th - 2nd #11 TBR - Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler 5★s

Review to follow

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I just requested my last read to finish this challenge, from the library - Drylands by Thea Astley

It's my second #3 Miles Franklin winner (won in 2000) and sounds good! Hopefully it will be!

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Just quietly I don't think I'm gonna make it :P

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Liam wrote: "Just quietly I don't think I'm gonna make it :P"

You have over 5 weeks Liam:)

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Yeah but I'm a painfully slow reader.

Obernewtyn finished.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Liam wrote: "Yeah but I'm a painfully slow reader.

Obernewtyn finished."

If you don't manage to finish, blend them into the spring challenge:)

[Janine]

Challenge Complete
#8 Harlan Coben - Jonathan Kellerman
Killer by Jonathan Kellerman 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Janine! Excellent effort with over a month to go...

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Perdido Street Station now, immense book. Still 7 to go after this as well.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Liam wrote: "Perdido Street Station now, immense book. Still 7 to go after this as well."

That is such a good book though - just enjoy it and forget the other seven:)

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Tempting :P I've owned it (and four other China Mieville novels) for like five years, still haven't gotten around to reading them.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Liam wrote: "Tempting :P I've owned it (and four other China Mieville novels) for like five years, still haven't gotten around to reading them."

I am currently working my way through his books - I think he is brilliant and Perdido Street Station one of his best.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 27th - 2nd #11 TBR - Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler 5★s

Review to follow"

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

[Steve]

I have finished my twenty-third, my second 4. International Children's Day, City of Bones, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 6. Winter, The Pillars of the Earth.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Finished #12 TBR Small Blessings: A Novel by Martha Woodroof

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

Next up is: Hannah by Raymond W. Clarke

[Lesley]

I still have a few to go...

2. new, probably won't do.
3. Miles Franklin White Earth
8. literature map Drylands currently reading
9. Australian summer Barracuda
10a. naughty Beneath the Darkening Sky

Read so far:

1. TBR Crime and Punishment read 27 June, 4 stars
4. YA 1984 read 10 June, 3 stars
5a. fake The Commandant read 4 July, 3 stars
5b. real Hazel's Journey read 21 July, 3 stars.
6. winter Frankenstein read 24 July, 3 stars
7. national tree day Mateship With Birds read 2 June, 2 stars
10b. nice Sense and Sensibility read 25 June, 3 stars
11. TBR The Color Purple read 6 June, 3 stars
12. TBR Emma read 10 July, 3 stars

[Chris]

I have completed no. 6 Winter cover or title: Winter Solstice 4 ★

[Carolyn]

I've finished my 9th, #6 Winter Cover by Katia Lief 3.5★.

Not as chilling as I thought it would be but a good read anyway.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 22nd - second #2 - New Release - Deeper Water by Jessie Cole (1/8/14) 4.5★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

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

[Sharon]

Finished my 11th #2 New Release: Let Her Go by Dawn Barker4★

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