**Summer Challenge - 1/12/16 - 28/2/17**

[Kathryn]

OK, I'm going to say I'm in for both - the hard level, because I just can't help myself!

COMPLETED

Part A:

Read a Rainbow

Part A:
Read a Rainbow

#1. Yellow – Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - 3★
#2. Orange – Mr Wigg by Inga Simpson - AA - 4★
#3. Red – The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly - AA - 4★
#4. Green – Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood - AA - 3★
#5. Blue –The Blue Mile by Kim Kelly - AA - 3.5★
#6. Purple – Fly Away by Kristin Hannah - 4★



Part B:
#7. 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot' in the title
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston - 4★

#8. Christmas setting
A Gift to Remember by Melissa Hill - 4★

#9. Book published this year
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty - AA - 4★

#10. Snow/beach cover
Winter Journey by Diane Armstrong - AA - 4.5★


#11. Main character on holiday
Sidney Chambers and The Forgiveness of Sins by James Runcie - 4★

#12. Reader's Choice
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith - 5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great you're joining us Kathryn :) And you have some good titles there!

[Kathryn]

Thanks, Brenda! I'm looking forward to them!

By the way, if anyone else needs ideas for the main character on holiday book and is reading Kathryn Fox's Anya Crichton series, I've just finished Cold Grave (the 6th in the series) and really enjoyed it, and in that, Anya is (supposedly!) on holidays on a cruise with her son. However, I would say this is a series where reading the books in order certainly matters because of development of the characters, so I would suggest not jumping ahead to this one if you aren't up to no. 6!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I remember that one! It was good :)

[Trevor]

Hi Brenda, I thought I had accepted this challenge , but can't find the email with the link, could you include me please, Trevor

[Ashleigh]

I bought Gemina on the weekend to get ready for the Summer Challenge. Do you think I could keep my hands off it . . . it is sooo lovely . . . . and then I started reading it LOL

I am going to finish this even before the challenge starts, EEKK

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trevor wrote: "Hi Brenda, I thought I had accepted this challenge , but can't find the email with the link, could you include me please, Trevor"

No problems Trevor :) When you've done your list up, I'll add your name in the link at the beginning of the challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ashleigh wrote: "I bought Gemina on the weekend to get ready for the Summer Challenge. Do you think I could keep my hands off it . . . it is sooo lovely . . . . and then I started reading it LOL

I ..."

LOL! Oh well, it gives you an excuse to get another good read for the challenge ;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Ashleigh wrote: "I bought Gemina on the weekend to get ready for the Summer Challenge. Do you think I could keep my hands off it . . . it is sooo lovely . . . . and then I started reading it LOL

I ..."

You do not surprise me at all Ashleigh. Did something similar myself:)

[Trevor]

My list for the challenge:

Part A
Yellow - The Plains: Text Classics by Gerald Murnane - Australian author
Orange - Moonraker by Ian Fleming
Red - China Dolls by Lisa See
Green - Courting Trouble by Kathy Lette - Australian author
Blue - Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham
Purple - Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green



Part B
Summer - The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Christmas - Murder in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon
NYE - Nutshell by Ian McEwan
Snow - When the Professor Got Stuck in the Snow by Dan Rhodes
Holiday - Spring Break at the Villa Hermes by Xavier Mayne
Readers choice - Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nice list Trevor :)

[Jenny]

Brenda my name not on the list can I still join the challenge. I would like to challenge myself to do A and B. Jenny

[Jacm]

DONE!!!!
Okay.. I'm going to give Part A a shot...
1. Yellow: The Favoured Child by Philippa Gregory
2. Orange: The odyssey by Homer
3. Red: For one more day by Mitch Albom
4. Green: The mad scientists guide to world domination Edited by John Joseph Adams
5. Blue: The light between oceans by M.L Stedman
6. Purple: The Undivided by Jennifer Fallon

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jenny wrote: "Brenda my name not on the list can I still join the challenge. I would like to challenge myself to do A and B. Jenny"

I add people to the list once their books are chosen Jenny :) Then the link goes directly to your original post so you're able to find it down the track. So when your list is done, I'll add it in :)

[Jenny]

Thank you Brenda!

[Jenny]

1. Iris Johansen
2. Sam Carmody
3. Catherine Lee
4. Catherine Lee
5. Peter Corris
6. Peter Corris
7. The Sunburnt Country Fiona Palmer
8. His Christmas Cowgirl Alissa Callen
9. The Cliff Top Killer Chris Taylor
10. Seaside Hearts Melissa Foster
11. Ten Days in Tuscany Annie Seaton
12. The Crossroads Pamela Cook

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jenny wrote: "Hope the following books fit the brief???

1. Anthea Hodgson
2. Sam Carmody
3. [bookcover:..."

I've sent you an email Jenny :)

[Jenny]

Brenda wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Hope the following books fit the brief???

1. Anthea Hodgson
2. Sam Carmody
..."


Thank you Brenda!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Renie wrote: "the hard level
Part A:

Read a Rainbow

1. Yellow – Half of a Yellow Sun
2. Orange –I Am Number Four
3. Red – Wanting
4. Green – 
5. Blue – [book:Breath|2..."

Would you mind adding the cover pics for the first 6 Renie? Thanks...others like to check them out for helping choose our own :)

[Kelly]

1. yellow- The Maltese Falcon
2. orange- The Sun Also Rises
3. red- The Brothers Karamozov
4. green- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
5. blue- The Little Prince
6. purple- Storm Front

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kelly, nice list! Do you have an Aussie author in there? There should be at least one :)

[Maureen]

I'm in on this as well. I'm going to attempt for the HARD level. For now, I'm just going to list one book to get the ball rolling and then take it from there.

11/12 completed

Read a Rainbow - It's the colour on the cover that counts! (Minimum 50% colour coverage essential!)

#1. Yellow - The Burning by Jane Casey *completed* 3★ ✔

#2. Orange The Martian by Andy Weir *completed* 3 ★ ✔

3. Red- The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion- AA *completed 2.5 ★ ✔

4.Green- The Last Dead Girl byHarry Dolan *completed* 3 ★ ✔

5. Blue- Breaking Silence byLinda Castillo *completed* 4 ★ ✔

6. Purple- A Charming Crime by Tonya Kappes

Part B:

7. Title: Read a book that has any of these summer themed words in the title; 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot'.
Hot Six by Janet Evanovich completed ✔ 4 ★

8. Christmas Setting: The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts *completed* 4 ★ ✔

9. Published 2016: Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica completed 4 ★ ✔

10. Snow or Beach on Cover: The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline completed 4 ★ ✔

11. Main Character on Holiday - The Christmas Train by David Baldacci *completed* 4 ★ ✔

12. Book of your choice: White Walls byH.M.C. AA -*completed* 4 ★ ✔

[Chris]

Here's my list for the EASY challenge. I'm doing Part B.

1) Title with Summer: The Far Side of the Sun 4★
2) 25th December: Mystery in White changed to The Christmasaurus 4★
3) Published in 2016: Nutshell 5★
4) Cover with Snow or Beach: TBA
5) Main character on holiday: The Lake House 5★
6) Reader's choice: What Alice Forgot

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Some lovely titles in everyone's lists! And less than 24 hours until we can start to read our December/Summer books!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Summer challenge is now under way! Good luck and happy reading everyone :)

[Jenny]

Thank you Brenda!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

:)

[Michelle_Mck]

Good luck everyone :-)

[Jenn]

Starting my first for this challenge...Readers Choice.Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

[Jenny]

Michelle_Mck wrote: "Good luck everyone :-)"

Good luck Michelle_Mck

[Nicola]

Going for both - still need to pick some books!
Part A:
Read a Rainbow - It's the colour on the cover that counts! (Minimum 50% colour coverage essential!)

#1. Yellow
Wolfskin / Juliet Marillier
#2. Orange
Michelangelo's Notebook / Paul Christopher
#3. Red
The Bourne Dominion / Eric Van Lustbader
#4. Green
How to Build an Android: The True Story of Philip K. Dick's Robotic Resurrection / David F. Dufty
#5. Blue
Last Chance Cafe / Liz Byrski
#6. Purple
Shadows in Flight / Orson Scott Card

Part B:

#7. Title: Read a book that has any of these summer themed words in the title; 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot'.
Fear in the Sunlight / Nicola Upson
#8. 25th December: Read a novel with a Christmas setting.
TBC
#9. New Years Eve: What better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by reading a book that was published this year!
Daintree / Annie Seaton
#10. Cover - Read a book with EITHER a snow scene OR a beach scene on the cover
The Lieutenant / Kate Grenville
#11. Holiday - Read a book where the MC (main character) is on holidays
TBC
#12. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice
Geomancer / Ian Irvine

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola, #8 doesn't fit the challenge criteria I'm sorry. I didn't check any of the others but this one only has 24 pages - the minimum is 125 :)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola, #8 doesn't fit the challenge criteria I'm sorry. I didn't check any of the others but this one only has 24 pages - the minimum is 125 :)"

Didn't even check that! - must be one of the kids books I'm checking out for a friend! (I'll change it (and the december challenge as well!) Thanks for picking it up. N

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

No problems Nicola :) Thanks!

[Stef]

Changed my blue book since I finished the other one early. I read a short 200 page which was a very interesting read, flawed but a page turner nevertheless. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I guess the two stars reflects that I am cross with the book for starting off so well then disappointing slightly but I didn;t hate every moment of reading for sure! Will look for more Aussie books to add in my gaps (that wasn't one)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 1st - #8 - 25th Dec Christmas setting - Festive Deception by D.B. Tait 5★s

Review to follow

[Maureen]

Finished 2 so far The Martian and White Walls. ,

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 2nd - #11 - MC on holidays - A Campy Christmas by Karen Musser Nortman 5★s

Review to follow

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

And my 3rd - #10 - Snow on cover - The Crossing by B. Michael Radburn 5★s

Review to follow

[Li'l Owl]

Oooo! Colors! Might think about this one! I'd probably go for the read a rainbow part only. Don't want to get in over my head! Is there a deadline to enter this challenge? Is it already too late? Thanks! =o)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Not too late and it finishes at the end of summer (your winter) so it's really just started three days ago Owl :)

[Li'l Owl]

Thanks, Brenda! I'll give it some thought.
Now I'm understanding, too, why these challenges are Spring/summer themes! Maybe because it's SUMMER there and WINTER here!! Feathers for brains!
It's snowing here again! Merry Christmas!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! :)

[Maureen]

Owl- also you have to get used to the way the date is written... Here it is 1/12/16. When you and I see this we think Jan 12...for we are used to the month being first, then the day, then the year..but they are saying it is Dec 1, 2016...takes a bit of getting used to....

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's that same for us when we see it your way Maureen! It's confusing all round isn't it!

[Maureen]

I know.... But we are all so smart and lovely...so that helps!!!!! Just takes a bit of getting used to. :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

LOL! Yes we usually figure it out ;)

[Kerrie]

Group A
#1. Yellow -Turkish Delight
***

#2. Orange Fool me once
****

#3. Red The Rosie Project
****

#4. Green Family Secrets *****

#5. Blue: Old Scores
**

#6. Purple Changeling
***

Group B
#7. Title: 'Sun', 'Summer', 'Heat' or 'Hot' Heat Wave
** Not a fan.

#8. 25th December setting: The Christmasaurus
*****

#9. New Years Eve: published in 2016 Miranda and Me
*****

#10. Cover: snow or beach The Snow Globe (read it anyway in the end)
***

Will still read this one day but swapped to The Misty Shore
***

#11. MC on Holiday The Ottoman Motel
***

#12. Reader's Choice: All the Light We Cannot See
*****

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kerrie can you put your cover pics up as well for the Rainbow section? Thanks...

[Kerrie]

When I finish a book how do I cross it out please Brenda? Do I add the review to my initial comment with books above or do folks prefer me to add it to the ever growing list of new comments? I saw some people did it both ways last challenge.