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2017 Crazy Challenge Connection
Winter 2017 Seasonal Scavenger Challenge - Skiing
Duration:December 20, 2016 - March 21, 2017
READ: 16/16
✔1. Skiing is just about as old as time itself. Rock paintings and skis preserved in bogs show that hunters and trappers used skis at least 5000 years ago. Fast forwarding several thousand years, skis were in regular use by Scandinavian farmers, hunters and warriors throughout the Middle Ages. By the 18th century, units of the Swedish Army trained and competed on skis.
❂ Read a book that takes place in prehistoric times (before 1,000 A.D.) OR read a book that takes place in any of the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) OR read any book on your TBR whose position is in an ‘even’ thousand position (i.e. 1,000 2,000 3,000; tell us its position).
The Thrall's Tale - Judith Lindbergh (985 AD) 1/8
✔2. In 1850, The cambered ski was invented by woodcarvers in the province of Telemark, Norway. The bow-shape cambered ski arches up toward the center to distribute the weight of the skier more evenly across the length of the ski. Before this, skis had to be thick to glide without bowing downward and sinking in the snow under the skier’s weight, concentrated in the middle.
❂ Read a book with an ‘unbalanced’ character (tell us who and why you think they are unbalanced) OR read a book whose plot occurs during the 1800’s OR read a book that is second in a trilogy or at the middle of your TBR (you may use TBR midpoint +(-) ten.
Remy - Katy Evans (hero is bi-polar) 12/29
✔3. Prior to World War I the world looked to Scandinavia as the fount of all things skiing; the northern countries had a five-thousand-year head start in utilitarian and sporting activities. The European Continent’s military noted the effectiveness of Norwegian ski troops and eventually emulated the notion. Russian, German, Austrian, Swiss and Italian regiments were experimenting with ski troops in the 1890s. The English were contemplating training ski soldiers to guard India’s Himalayan frontier.
❂ Read a book in which a character is considering trying something new (tell us what) OR read a book that mentions the military OR read a book whose main character’s first name starts with a letter in “SKIING.”
The Beekeeper's Ball - Susan Wiggs (Isabel) 1/12
✔4. France was also interested in skiing troops and wished to recruit men from their Alpine villages. Despite the popular image of cozy mountain villages with rosy-cheeked, healthy villagers, France faced a national public health crisis for its Alpine inhabitants. Tuberculosis and influenza were rampant, along with the afflictions of goiter and rickets. It was primarily economic issues that fueled public health initiatives to improve villagers’ lives. Villagers were naturals to recruit for skiing troops as they were already acclimated to the high altitudes and cold of the mountains.
❂ Read a book that takes place in the mountains (tell us which range) OR read a book where a character has a serious illness OR read a book where the first letter of each title word may be found in “PUBLIC HEALTH” (include a|an|the; 2 word minimum).
Web of Lies - Jennifer Estep (Appalachian Mountains) 12/21
✔5. The French government was also deeply desirous of supporting and maintaining the growth of mountain tourism. A not inconsiderable amount of money was at stake. The fortress town of Briançon, for example, hosted 50,000 visitors in 1909, a figure that rose to 65,000 by 1911. Mountain tourism was growing to the extent that huts owned by the French Alpine Club were being replaced here and there by small hotels catering to sportsmen.
❂ Read a book that takes place in a popular tourist destination (tell us where) OR read a book where someone goes skiing OR read a book in which a character works for any governmental agency.
Me, Myself and Why? - Mary Janice Davidson (FBI) 1/1
✔6. After WWI, Chamonix (France) was growing in the twin categories of health center and ski station, particularly the latter. It developed the best lifts and the most expert terrain and was the country’s most prestigious ski village. In 1924 Chamonix was chosen as the site of what became, in retrospect, the First Winter Olympic Games. Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, was not an advocate of winter games; he believed that “les sports d’hiver sont douteux,” (winter sports are doubtful).
❂ Read a book that takes place in any city that has hosted the Winter Olympics (List) OR read a book with an intact “24” in its total page count OR read a book in which a significant first occurs (tell us what).
Crow Lake - Mary Lawson (324 pages) 1/15
✔7. Today’s Winter Olympics is an exponentially-growing entity producing ever-larger spectacles for the world’s entertainment, achieving ever-greater complexity within its competitions and attracting ever-larger portions of the world’s attention during those weeks every four years when it is being held on the television screens of the world. In retrospect, it exhibits a wondrously paradoxical contrast to that long-ago series of modest French Alpine Club ski competitions from which those first Winter Games were born three generations ago.
❂ Read a book in which a competition takes place (tell us what) OR read a book with "WINTER" in its title OR read a book whose cover is the color of one of the Olympic rings (blue, black, yellow, red or green).
The Chocolate Pirate Plot - JoAnna Carl 1/7
✔8. Hot-dog: Newcomers to skiing might snowplow down the slopes, but adventurous skiers and snowboarders will hot-dog down the mountain. This term means to perform unusual or very intricate maneuvers in a sport, especially in a showy or boastful manner. The connection, if there is one, between this sense and that of a certain sausage snack is unclear, though you might find both types of hot dogs at most ski resorts.
❂ Read a book in which a main character is a show off OR read a book where a character has some kind of advanced skill (tell us what) OR read a book whose title starts with a letter in HOT DOG (a|an|the DO count!).
Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans - Denise Grover Swank 12/28
✔9. Herringbone: Most skiers are familiar with the snowplow, a maneuver to decrease speed, turn, or stop in which the skier pushes the heels of both skis outward resulting in a V formation down the hill. But what if you have to get up the hill? The herringbone is a method of going up a slope in which a skier sets the skis in a form resembling a V, with the heels together, and pushes on the inside edges of his or her skis using poles for support. The method leaves a pattern in the snow that resembles a herringbone or chevron pattern.
❂ Read a book with an object resembling an inverted “V” or any repeated pattern on its cover (remember to post the cover) OR read a book with footprints on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book whose title contains the word “UP” (the two letters must be together but do not have to be an independent word).
Lost - Alice Lichtenstein 2/4
✔10. Yard sale: A steep, snow-covered mountainside might sound like an unlikely place to hold a yard sale, but if you've ever fallen spectacularly mid-slope, leaving your skis, poles, and other paraphernalia scattered in a trail of destruction behind you, then congratulations, you've hosted one. In skiing, this term refers to the site of such a crash.
❂ Read a book in which some kind of crash occurs (tell us what) OR read a book whose title or author’s first or last name begin with a “Y” (ignore a|an|the) OR read a book whose cover shows a yard (post the cover).
Off Kilter - Hannah Reed (gets forced off the road by villain, car crashes) 1/1
✔11. Piste: A piste is a track or trail for skiing. It can also refer to a track made by a wild animal. The word is borrowed from French and ultimately can be traced back to the Latin pinsere meaning "to pound, crush."
❂ Read a book whose cover shows a wild animal or a track or trail of any kind (remember to post the cover) OR read a book that seems to follow a trail (i.e. formulaic plot, a re-telling) OR read a book whose title contains any foreign word or phrase.
Eaten - Susan Crockford 3/7
✔12. Hairpin: In slalom events, skiers race down winding or zigzag courses marked by obstacles called gates. A hairpin is an obstacle configuration in slalom consisting of two gates with one closing gate. The word hairpin began to be used to describe a particularly sharp turn, such as the U-shape in a pin used to fasten hair, in the early 1900s.
❂ Read a book whose cover shows a racetrack of any kind (post the cover) OR read a book whose plot moves quickly and has some hairpin plot twists OR read a book published anywhere in the 1900’s (1900-1999).
The Rocky Road to Romance - Janet Evanovich (pub 1991) 12/25
✔13. Flush: A flush is another configuration in slalom consisting of three or more gates with one closing gate. The origin of the word flush is unknown, but is perhaps linked to the Latin fluer meaning "to flow," which evokes the movements of skiers as they execute these highly technical courses.
❂ Read a book whose location starts with a letter in FLUSH (tell us where) OR read a book in a series that is third or higher (tell us the position) OR read a book whose cover shows any ‘flowing’ object (i.e. hair, a river; remember to post the cover).
Bite Me - Shelly Laurenston (Pride #9) 12/24
✔14. Boilerplate: In different settings, the word boilerplate refers to vastly different things; on the slopes, boilerplate refers to frozen, crusty, hard-packed snow, often with icy patches that can be dangerous for skiers.
❂ Read a book where a character finds themselves in a dangerous situation OR read a book with ice on its cover (remember to post the cover) OR read a book whose author’s first AND last initials may be found in BOILERPLATE.
Compulsion - Allison Brennan 12/24
✔15. Tuck: The tuck is a maneuver used on the slopes to maximize speed by lowering the skier's center of gravity and boosting aerodynamic efficiency. In this crouched position, the skier holds the poles close to his or her chest, extending them back under the arms and parallel to the ground.
❂ Read a book where “TUCK” may be found intact within the book's title or author name OR read a book whose cover shows any two parallel objects (post the cover) OR read a book where a character figures out how to improve a process (be sure to tell us what that process is).
Once a Cavalier - Linda O. Johnston 3/16
✔16. Après-ski: When the thought of herringboning up yet another slope to retrieve all your gear from your latest yard sale becomes too much to bear, consider commencing après-ski. This useful term refers to the period of relaxation that follows skiing, often marked by a cup of hot cocoa or some other form of hydration in the ski lodge.
❂ Read a book that helps you unwind OR read any book in a series that follows a previous book in that series (any except the first) OR read a book with a hot beverage on its cover (post the cover).
Men of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong 12/31
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Winter 2016 Seasonal Spell Challenge - Skiing Duration: December 20, 2016 - March 21, 2017
READ: 22/22
Rosi Mittermaier (Germany)
R: Ravens - George Dawes Green 1/28
O: Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood 1/2
S: Stolen Songbird - Danielle Jensen 1/3
I: I Love This Bar - Carolyn Brown 12/23
M: Midnight's Master - Donna Grant 1/28
I: Magic Binds - Ilona Andrews 12/28
T: Storm's Heart - Thea Harrison 1/30
T: Three Sisters - Susan Mallery 2/4
E: Some Like It Scot - Suzanne Enoch 1/8
R: The Memorist - M.J. Rose 1/29
M: The Murder of King Tut - James Patterson 2/10
A: A Walk Across the Sun - Corban Addison 1/9
I: The Immortals of Meluha - Amish Tripathi 1/15
E: The Edge of the World - Kevin Anderson 1/13
R: Raising the Past - Jeremy Robinson 2/28
---------------
G: The Girl from Everywhere - Heidi Heilig 12/25
E: Eleventh Grave in Moonlight - Darynda Jones 2/6
R: Chains of Darkness - Caris Roane 2/27
M: Time Thief - Katie MacAlister 2/24
A: Graced - Amanda Pillar 1/17
N: Nautier and Wilder - Lora Leigh 1/23
Y: Sword of the Rightful King - Jane Yolen 1/17
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
January Scavenger Challenge - Timepieces
READ: 5/7
✔1. Tracking of time via mechanical or other means appeared over 5500 years ago in Ancient Egypt, the southern region of ancient Mesopotamia that is today regarded as the birthplace of modern civilization. Sundials began appearing in ancient Egypt around the 4th millennia BC, with the earliest known obelisk being made around 3500 BC.
☼ Read a book with a sunny scene on the cover (post the cover) OR a book set in an ancient civilization.
The Thrall's Tale - Judith Lindbergh (AD 985) 1/8
✔2. Even though he was not the original creator of clock mechanisms, Peter Henlein is today regarded as the father of the modern age of clocks. With his 1510 invention of the small pocket watch, he instantly became famous and provided inspiration for countless other innovators who came after him.
☼ Read a book with a character who is innovative in some way (tell us how) OR a book by an author whose first or last name begins with P or H.
Fair Game - Jasmine Haynes 1/21
✔3. By the 16th century, mechanical devices started finding their way out of industrial laboratories, and time-measuring devices based on pendulums and springs began appearing across Europe, enabling a new era of dependable and precise time keeping.
☼ Read a book set in a European country (tell us which country) OR a book in which an object is used for a purpose other than which it was intended (tell us how).
The Memorist - M.J. Rose (Austria) 1/29
✔4. The rise of railroad networks in the 19th century brought with it the need for global standardization of time and the corresponding expansion of clocks, especially after several accidents occurred that could have been prevented if all railways used the same timekeeping.
☼ Read a book with a train or train tracks on the cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail; post the cover) OR a book that seems to follow a "standard" formula for its genre.
Some Like It Scot - Suzanne Enoch 1/8
✔5. During World War I, pocket watches gained competition from small, extremely portable, and easy-to-use wrist watches. With the improved technologies of automatic winding and increasingly smaller designs, wrist watches very quickly became the most popular type of portable clocks in the world.
☼ Read a book set during World War I or with WAR on its main GR page OR a book by an author whose books you reach for automatically, without question.
The Final Cut - Catherine Coulter 1/5
6. Decades of innovations enabled us to start using electronic watches of many designs. In 1969, the ground-breaking quartz analog watch was released, Subsequently, in 1973, liquid-crystal quartz digital watches were released, followed by solar-powered quartz analog watches in 1976 and radio-controlled watches in 1990.
☼ Read a book originally published between 1969 and 1990 (inclusive) OR a book with a Q or Z in its title.
7. Tell us your favorite timekeeping device and how you keep track of time on a daily basis.
☼ Read a book with a timepiece of some sort on the cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail ; post the cover) OR a book with TIME in the title (compound and possessive words are ok)
January Spell - Timepieces READ: 11/11
✔C: Crow Lake - Mary Lawson 1/15
✔L: Nautier and Wilder - Lora Leigh 1/23
✔O: Off Kilter - Hannah Reed 1/1
✔C: The Cannibals - Iain Lawrence 1/5
✔K: Omens - Kelley Armstrong 1/28
✔S: Stolen Songbird - Danielle Jensen 1/3
✔R: The Memorist - M.J. Rose 1/29
✔A: A Walk Across the Sun - Corban Addison 1/9
✔D: The Curse of Tenth Grave - Darynda Jones 1/11
✔I: The Immortals of Meluha - Amish Tripathi 1/15
✔O: Offside - Juliana Stone 1/29
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February Scavenger Challenge - The Super Bowl
READ: 7/7
✔1. The first Super Bowl was held in Los Angeles on January 15, 1967, when the Green Bay Packers defeated Kansas City 35-10. No NFL team has ever played in a Super Bowl in the same year that it has been held in their home stadium.
* Sort your GR to-read list in whichever method you choose and read book #1 from that list OR read the first book of a new-to-you series by a new-to-you author.
Blackbirds - Chuck Wendig 2/10
✔2. Roman numerals are used in the Super Bowl (such as Super Bowl XV) because the football season falls in two calendar years. The only exception was Super Bowl 50, played in February 2016.
* Read a book whose storyline starts in one calendar year and ends in another OR a book originally published in February (of any year; tell us the year).
The Murder of King Tut - James Patterson 2/10
(starts in 1324 BC and ends in 1926)
✔3. No Super Bowl has ever gone past the 60-minute regulation playing time, although a handful of the conference championship games (that determine the teams who will play in the Super Bowl), have gone to overtime.
* Read a book in which a sports event takes place (tell us the sport) OR a book that you feel ends when it should (it isn’t too long, it doesn’t end abruptly).
So Sure Of Death - Dana Stabenow 2/16
✔4. The Lombardi Trophy, named for Vince Lombardi, a revered coach of the Green Bay Packers, is given to the winning team. It weighs seven pounds, is 21" high, and is worth $25,000.
* Read book #7 or higher from a series OR a book by an author whose first or last name begins with V.
The Covert Wolf - Bonnie Vanak 2/9
✔5. Although played in the USA and comprised of American football teams, the Super Bowl is truly a worldwide event. It is distributed to more than 185 countries and broadcast in 30 different languages every year.
* Read a book set in a country that you have never visited but would like to (tell us the country) OR a book that has been translated from its original language into another language (tell us both languages).
Desert God - Wilbur Smith (set in Egypt) 2/4
✔6. Thanks to all the folks who host Super Bowl parties every year, Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day for food consumption in the US, only surpassed by Thanksgiving Day.
* Read a book in which a party takes place (tell us the reason for the party) OR a book with some type of food on the cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail {the small image that shows up in a post}; post the cover).
A Harvest of Bones - Yasmine Galenorn (donuts) 2/8
✔7. Go to Super Bowl scores and choose one Super Bowl as the basis for this task.
* Read a book by an author whose initials – ALL initials count! – can be found in the name of the winning team AND whose page total includes at least one number found in the score of the game (winning or losing score). Use only the name of the city!
Be sure to tell us the Super Bowl number (IV, XVI, etc.), the winning team’s name and the score of the game. In addition, tell us how many pages are in the book and post a link to the author’s page here on Goodreads.
The Storm - Clive Cussler (416 pages) 2/15
Superbowl XVI - San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February Spell - Super Bowl MVPs READ: 10/10
Troy Aikman
✔T: Tuesday's Child - Dale Mayer 2/18
✔R: Rogue - Katy Evans 2/2
✔O: On the Accidental Wings of Dragons - Julie Wetzel 2/11
✔Y: Yours, Mine, and Ours - Mary Janice Davidson 2/19
✔A: The Bird Eater - Ania Ahlborn 2/13
✔I: Immortal - Traci L. Slatton 2/2
✔K: The Last Good Man - Kathleen Eagle 2/17
✔M: Time Thief - Katie MacAlister 2/24
✔A: The Lady in Question - Victoria Alexander 2/25
✔N: Night Reigns - Dianne Duvall 2/11
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March Scavenger Challenge - World Wildlife Day
READ: 7/7
✔1. On 3/3/73, the United Nations General Assembly took a stand to protect Endangered Species throughout the world. CITES was put into place (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) to ensure that the world does not continue to lose species that would never be seen again.
* Read a book whose title starts with a letter in CITES (disregard A, An, The) -OR- a book where a character takes a stand and/or defends their point of view.
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend - Katarina Bivald (Sara) 3/17
✔2. On 12/20/13, the UN declared that each year World Wildlife Day would be dedicated to a new purpose and idea to keep people informed about the changing nature of our world and the treasures we stand to lose from the animal and plant kingdoms if we don’t take care. It declared the day out of concern that wildlife crime had negative economic, environmental and social impacts worldwide.
* Read a book with an animal AND a person on the cover (show us the cover) -OR- a book originally published in 2013.
Buried in a Bog - Sheila Connolly (Feb 5, 2013) 3/12
✔3. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proclaimed, "On this World Wildlife Day, I call on all citizens, businesses and governments to play their part in protecting the world’s wild animals and plants. The actions taken by each of us will determine the fate of the world’s wildlife. The future of wildlife is in our hands!"
* Read a book with quotes at the beginning of each chapter -OR- a book with hands on the cover (show us the cover) -OR- a book with an honorific in the title (Sir, Mr., Dr., etc.).
In the Company of Vampires - Katie MacAlister 3/5
✔4. In its resolution, the General Assembly reaffirmed the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic, to sustainable development and human well-being.
*Read a book whose author's first AND last initial can be found in any of the following words: ecological - genetic - social - economic - scientific - educational - cultural - recreational - aesthetic (Both initials must be in the same word.) -OR- a book with some sort of political figure in the story (either real or fictional).
Eaten - Susan Crockford 3/7
✔5. This day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the benefits that conservation provides to people. At the same time, it reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts.
* Read a book with some sort of plant on the cover (show us the cover) -OR- a book with CRIME on the main GR genre page.
One Kick - Chelsea Cain 3/4
✔6. The world’s wildlife is facing many challenges. The biggest threats to wildlife are habitat loss, as well as overgrazing, farming and development.
* Read a book with character who is a farmer or one who clears the land for whatever purpose -OR- a book with a house (or other living space, like a shed or a shack) on the cover (show us the cover).
The Never List - Koethi Zan 3/9
✔7. Poaching and trafficking in wildlife, driven by transnational organized crime groups, pose the most immediate threat to many species. Wildlife trade is one of the most profitable illicit trades in the world, estimated at up to $10 billion annually. Illegal wildlife trade of elephant ivory, rhino horns, and tiger products is widespread in many countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. It is controlled by dangerous crime syndicates that traffic wildlife like drugs or weapons.
* Read a book set anywhere in Asia or Africa -OR- a book with "10" intact in the number of pages -OR- a book that is #10 in a series.
The Savage Altar - Åsa Larsson (310 pages) 3/4
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March Spell - Endangered Animals 
READ: 12/12
✔H: Hot Pursuit - Kathryn Jensen 3/9
✔ I: In the Company of Vampires - Katie MacAlister 3/5
✔P: Phantom Shadows - Dianne Duvall 3/17
✔P: The Lazarus Machine - Paul Crilley 3/27
✔O: Once a Cavalier - Linda O. Johnston 3/16
✔P: Wrayth - Pip Ballantine 3/21
✔O: On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle 3/20
✔T: Some Like It Wild - Teresa Medeiros 3/13
✔A: The Accidental Alchemist - Gigi Pandian 3/28
✔M: Dark Enchantment - Kathy Morgan 3/4
✔U: Unchained - Caris Roane 3/22
✔S: Swimming with the Dead - Kathy Brandt 3/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Spring Seasonal Scavenger Challenge - Spring has Sprung!!
Duration:March 21 - June 20, 2017
READ: 18/18
✔1. Read a book whose cover shows a flower or a blooming tree/shrub OR read a book in which at least 2 sisters are main characters OR read a book whose title starts with a letter found in PRIMROSE (ignore a/an/the).
Serpent's Kiss - Thea Harrison 4/22
✔2. Read a book that centers around a fair, festival, or carnival OR read a book whose title is a question OR read a book in which a character fakes an illness or injury.
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon - Nancy Atherton 4/22
(centered around a Renaissance Fair)
✔3. Read a book that takes place in the 1600’s OR read a book in which a trick is played on someone (tell us what) OR read a book with a fish or someone’s back on its cover; remember to post the cover.
A Rose from the Dead - Kate Collins 5/17
(2 guys at a funeral convention, lock mc in a phone booth shaped coffin and leave her there)
✔4. Read a book whose cover shows an obvious daytime or nighttime scene; post the cover OR read a book published in March or September (any year; tell us the publication date) OR read a book whose main character’s first name starts with a letter in EQUINOX; tell us the character's name.
Haunted on Bourbon Street - Deanna Chase 4/26
✔5. Read a book whose title contains the word “FIRE” (may be a compound word) OR read a book that takes place in Scotland OR read a book in which a party of some kind is celebrated (tell us what).
One Night in Scotland - Karen Hawkins 6/3
✔6. Read a book that is the fifth in a series OR read a book in which any type of goddess is mentioned (tell us who) OR read a book in which a main character is pregnant or has just had a baby in the past six months.
Acts of Violets - Kate Collins 6/11
✔7. Read a book with a green cover OR read a book that takes place during the Spring (March, April, May) OR read a book that somehow involves vegetables (i.e. takes place on a farm or at a farmer’s market, or character is a chef.)
The Luckiest Lady in London - Sherry Thomas 4/23
✔8. Read a book in which a MC loves to garden (need not be professional) OR read a book with any type of green, non-flowering plant on its cover (show us the cover) OR read a book with the letters V-E-R-N in the book's title (do not have to be consecutive, nor in order).
Death Takes Priority - Jean Flowers 6/10
✔9. Read a book that takes place in the US South (AL, AR, DE, GA, FL, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV ) OR read a book with any type of berry on its cover (show us the cover) OR read a book in which the main character is a baker (not chef!) of some kind.
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder - Joanne Fluke (cookie baker) 5/9
✔10. Read a book with any word synonymous with wind in its title (i.e. breeze, gale, etc.) OR read a book with a significant “wind scene” (i.e. a tornado, hurricane; briefly tell us about the scene) OR read a book with any type of bird on its cover (show us the cover).
Seduced by the Storm - Sydney Croft (hurricane) 5/9
✔11. Read a book that takes place in any of the British Isles (England, Ireland, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, Scotland, Wales) OR read a book with a nest on its cover (show us the cover) OR read a book in which a spouse or significant other has an affair.
The Wild Irish Sea - Loucinda McGary (Ireland) 5/29
✔12. Read a book with a Scottish character OR read a book with a bird’s name in its title or in the author’s name (compound words are okay) OR read a book whose title begins with a letter in GOWK (exclude a/an/the).
Die Like an Eagle - Donna Andrews 5/21
✔13. Read a book with a lawn or field visible on its cover (remember to post the cover) OR read a book in which a character celebrates a birthday OR read a book whose title contains a word that rhymes with GRASS.
One Lucky Cowboy - Carolyn Brown 5/28
✔14. Read a book that takes place in New Hampshire OR read a book that takes place in the 1600’s OR read a book in which something is foretold; tell us what.
The Order of Odd-Fish - James Kennedy 6/5
(infant Jo Larouche will return from exile and destroy the world)
✔15. Read a book whose protagonist is a young female (6-24 years old) OR read a book that takes place in Greece OR read a book featuring someone who works as a waitress or barmaid.
Seizure - Kathy Reichs (female mc is 14) 5/25
✔16. Read a book featuring siblings (tell us who) OR read a book with showers or flowers on its cover (show us the cover) OR read a book of poetry (may be an exception to the 150 pp. rule; however, you wouldn’t be able to use this poetry book in other challenges unless it is 150pp or more.)
Starting Now - Debbie Macomber 6/12
✔17. Read a book that takes place in any of the Northeast states (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, NJ, PA, RI and VT) OR read a book whose setting is primarily a newsroom OR read a book with boots (bonus for galoshes!) on its cover; remember to post the cover.
Chasing Payne - Chantel Seabrook (New York) 5/6
✔18. Read a book that takes place in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives) OR read a book featuring any paranormal creature (tell us what) OR read a book by a female author.
Hotwire - Alex Kava 4/29
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Spring SPELL Challenge: Spring has Sprung! Duration:March 21 - June 20, 2017
READ: 20/20
H: Harbinger - Pip Ballantine 4/25
A: Hotwire - Alex Kava 4/29
R: The Ronin's Mistress - Laura Joh Rowland 5/27
B: Silence Fallen - Patricia Briggs 5/1
I: The Quiet Game - Greg Iles 5/20
N: Night Unbound - Dianne Duvall 5/20
G: Going Organic Can Kill You - Staci McLaughlin 6/2
E: A Room Full of Bones - Elly Griffiths 5/4
R: Down the Rabbit Hole - J.D. Robb 6/10
O: One Dog Night - David Rosenfelt 4/21
F: Fruitcake - R.J. Kaiser 5/4
S: The Shadowy Horses - Susanna Kearsley 5/11
P: Fever Dream - Douglas Preston 4/27
R: Seizure - Kathy Reichs 5/25
I: The North Water - Ian McGuire 4/10
N: Never Look Back - Linda Lael Miller 5/30/17
G: Getting Lucky - Carolyn Brown 6/4
M: The Madness of Mercury - Connie Di Marco 5/18
A: The Secret of the Nagas - Amish Tripathi 4/17
Y: The Conquest - Yxta Maya Murray 4/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
April Scavenger Challenge - Titanic Remembrance Day
READ: 6/7
✔1. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in TITANIC (disregard A, An, The) - OR - read a book originally published in 1912 or earlier.
The North Water - Ian McGuire 4/10
✔2. Read a book set in New York or England - OR - read a book in which a collision of some kind occurs (briefly tell us about the collision).
The House at Sea's End - Elly Griffiths 4/6
3. Read a book with "15" intact in the number of pages (tell us how many pages) - OR - read a book with a color name in the title or author's name.
White Heat - Jill Shalvis
✔4. Read a book with some sort of boat on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - read a book from a series with at least 16 books.
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon - Nancy Atherton (#14 of 22 so far) 4/22
✔5. Read a book with ice on the cover (not snow, just ice in some form) - OR - read a book with more than 300 pages (tell us how many).
Better To Rest - Dana Stabenow (icebergs) 4/15
✔6. Read a book with a 6 or 5 in the publication YEAR - or - a book written by a female author - OR - read a book marked CHILDREN on the book's main genre page (must still be at least 150 pages).
The Cat Who Said Cheese - Lillian Jackson Braun (pub 1995) 4/5
✔7. Read a book with two words in the title that start with the same letter (disregard A, An, The) - OR - read a book with some sort of disaster, either natural or man-made.
The Girl with the Golden Gun - Ann Major 4/11
April Spell - Titanic Remembrance Day READ: 8/8
✔L: Don't Look Now - Linda Lael Miller 4/2
✔I: One Fell Sweep - Ilona Andrews 4/1
✔F: Fever Dream - Douglas Preston 4/27
✔E: The Scribe - Elizabeth Hunter 4/19
✔B: Born of Vengeance - Sherrilyn Kenyon 4/12
✔O: Once Upon Stilettos - Shanna Swendson 4/9
✔A: The Secret of the Nagas - Amish Tripathi
✔T: Dead Sexy - Tate Hallaway 4/8
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
May Scavenger Challenge - Day is Done
READ: 6/5
✔1. During the Civil War, Union buglers signaled “lights out” to their comrades with Extinguish Lights, borrowed from Napoleon's favorite French bugle call, called a "tattoo." Tattoo came from an old Dutch military word which meant it was time to turn off the beer taps and return to camp. Tattoo was usually played about an hour before lights out, to give soldiers time to prepare to end the day.
* Read a book with a night scene on the cover (post the cover) OR a book with TWO sets of double letters in the title or the author's name (post a link to the author's GR page).
Night Unbound - Dianne Duvall 5/20
2. Finding the song too formal, in July 1862, Union Army General Daniel Butterfield wanted a more soothing call to tell his men that the day was over, so he turned to an old, unused tune called Scott's Tattoo. While his brigade recuperated after a battle, Butterfield worked on the new tune with his bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton. The two came up with the 24 notes known today as Taps. The word “taps” is an alteration of the obsolete word “taptoo,” derived from the Dutch “taptoe.” Taptoe was the command — “Tap toe!” — to shut (“toe to”) the “tap” of a keg.
* Read a book by an author named Scott, Dan/Daniel or Oliver (no other variations) OR a book originally published on the 24th of any month (tell us the publication date).
SKIP
✔3. The melody of Taps is composed entirely from the written notes of the C major triad (i.e., C, E, and G, with the G used in the lower and higher octaves). This is because the bugle, for which it is written, can play only the notes in the harmonic series of the instrument's fundamental tone.
* Read a book whose title begins with C, E or G (A, An and The DO count!) OR a book with a character who earns his/her living as a musician of some sort.
Cold Vengeance - Douglas Preston 5/22
✔4. Norton later recalled the first time he played Taps at lights out in July 1862, and its reception:
The music was beautiful on that still summer night, and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished ... as each brigade commander exercised his own discretion in such minor matters, the call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac.
* Read a book set in the summer (June, July or August) OR a book that you got from someone else (a gift, a hand-me-down, a borrowed copy; tell us who you got it from).
The Shadowy Horses - Susanna Kearsley (bought at library sale) 5/11
✔5. Taps was first played at a military funeral in 1862 on the orders of Captain John C. Tidball. Tidball’s unit was in an advance position when a well-respected soldier was killed. Not wanting to reveal the battery’s position in the woods to the enemy nearby, Tidball substituted Taps for the traditional three rifle volleys fired over the grave. It quickly became popular throughout both the Union and the Confederate Armies. Taps formally became a mandatory part of Army funeral ceremonies in 1891.
* Read a book with a main character who is serving or has served in the military (any service, any country, any era) OR a book set in the late 1800s (1860-1899).
Midnight Rainbow - Linda Howard 5/13
✔6. As soon as Taps was sounded that night in July 1862, words were put with the music. The first were, "Go To Sleep, Go to Sleep." As the years went on, many more versions were created. There are no official words to the music but the lyrics to the most popular version are:
Day is done. Gone the sun, from the hills, from the lake, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest. God is nigh.
* Read a book with song lyrics, a quote or a poem at the beginning of each chapter OR a book with a one-word title (ALL words count!).
Fruitcake - R.J. Kaiser 5/4
✔7. As part of the 2013 Defense Authorization Act, Congress designated Taps the National Song of Remembrance, and it is played every day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and every night at Arlington National Cemetery and many other military installations. However, qualified buglers are becoming increasingly rare. Young buglers are all but gone, and one of the first things to go with any cuts in the military are things like bands, where the buglers come from. In recent years, more than 16,000 "ceremonial" (digital) bugles, which look authentic but require only the switch of a button to activate, have been used by military units and veterans service organizations to fill the void. To help families who still want a live performance at military funerals, thousands of musicians have joined together to form Bugles Across America, an organization whose volunteers play Taps. As one veteran bugler noted: “Every person can recognize the tune within the first three notes . . . . It’s amazing how much is packed into a piece of music that is 24 notes long and lasts 50 seconds.”
* Read a book that leaves you feeling emotional (tell us why) OR a book with a "24" intact in its total page count; tell us how many pages.
Shadow's Seduction - Kresley Cole (248 pages) 5/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
May Spell - Taps READ: 9/9
D: Die Like an Eagle - Donna Andrews 5/21
A: Ultraviolet - R.J. Anderson 5/6
Y: Flora Segunda - Ysabeau S. Wilce 5/8
I: The Quiet Game - Greg Iles 5/20
S: Silence Fallen - Patricia Briggs 5/1
D: Dirty Magic - Jaye Wells
O: Oracle's Moon - Thea Harrison 5/16
N: Night Unbound - Dianne Duvall 5/20
E: A Room Full of Bones - Elly Griffiths 5/4
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
June Spell Challenge - Six Letter Words
READ: 6/6
✔O: One Night in Scotland - Karen Hawkins 6/3
✔C: Lucky Bastard - Deborah Coonts 6/7
✔T: Two Graves - Douglas Preston 6/24
✔A: Acts of Violets - Kate Collins 6/11
✔V: Spectacle - Rachel Vincent 6/14
✔E: The Immortals - J.T. Ellison 6/19
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Summer 2017 Scavenger - Endangered Species
Duration:June 21 - September 20, 2017
READ: 18/20
Critically Endangered:
✔1. Amur Leopard
* Read a stand-alone book - or - read a book with a husband and wife as the main characters.
Lost Gods - Brom 7/1
✔ 2. Black Rhino
* Read a book with a primarily black cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book where a murder occurs.
Prime Cut - Diane Mott Davidson 7/4
✔ 3. Bornean Orangutan
* Read a book set on an island - or - read a book with the letters N-B-O found in the title, in that order.
Dark Roots and Cowboy Boots - Luann McLane 7/13
✔ 4. Hawksbill Turtle
* Read a book with some sort of fish or water scene on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with a character whose FIRST name starts with a letter in TURTLE (tell us the name).
The Harder You Fall - Gena Showalter (Lincoln West) 8/31
✔ 5. Mountain Gorilla
* Read a book set in the mountains or with a mountain showing on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a Series Book #8 OR #13 (tell us the series).
The Empire's Ghost - Isabelle Steiger 7/22
✔ 6. Saola -
* Read a book whose title starts with a letter in SAOLA (disregard, A, An, The) - or - read a book with some sort of significant discovery in the plot (without revealing too much, tell us about the discovery).
Lord's Fall - Thea Harrison 7/4
✔ 7. Vaquita -
* Read a book originally published in 1958 or earlier - or - read a book with a fisherman or a scene where someone goes fishing.
The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger 7/27
Endangered:
✔ 8. African Wild Dog
* Read a book with a total # of pages ending in "0" (tell us how many) - or - read a book with some sort of predator in the story.
Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion (zombies) 7/14
✔ 9. Asian Elephant
* Read a book with MYTHOLOGY or FANTASY on the main genre page - or - read a book set in Asia.
Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks (set in China) 8/22
✔ 10. Bengal Tiger -
* Read a book set in the 1970's - or - read a book where a character injures or kills an animal.
The Man Who Spoke Snakish - Andrus Kivirähk 7/17
✔ 11. Black-Footed Ferret
* Read a book a book by an author who has a significant gap in his/her publication history; tell us the years involved (ex: P.J. Tracy published books in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, then not again until 2010) - or - read a book that has at least 300 pages (tell us how many).
The Passage - Justin Cronin (766 pages) 8/8
✔ 12. Blue Whale
* Read a book with a color word in the title or author's name - or - read a book with some sort of loud noise significant to the plot (thunder, explosion, even screams, etc.).
Slipknot - Linda Greenlaw 7/13
13. Chimpanzee
* Read a book with some sort of leafy tree on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book involving cousins in some way (tell us how).
✔14. Red Panda
* Read a book with a predominantly red cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book whose title starts with P (including A, An, The).
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker - Leanna Renee Hieber 7/20
15. Snow Leopard
* Read a book set in a cold climate - or - read a book with snow in the title or on the cover (show us the cover).
Vulnerable:
✔16. Giant Panda
* Read Book #26 or #84 on your TBR, sorted in whatever method you choose - or - read a book with a character or author who is from China.
The Girl with Ghost Eyes - M.H. Boroson (Chinese immigrant) 8/18
✔17. Giant Tortoise
* Read a book that is the last in a series (or is the last published so far) - or - read a book with a character or author named George (can be first or last name - reasonable similarities accepted, such as Georgie or Jorge).
Eternal Hunger - Cameron Dean (trilogy conclusion) 8/3
✔18. Great White Shark
* Read a book with teeth on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book that took you a long time to read (at least a week).
Judas Kiss - J.T. Ellison 7/28
✔19. Hippopotamus
* Read a book with some sort of water on the cover that's large enough for a hippo (like a river, lake, or ocean) - or - read a book with the number 8 in the original publication YEAR.
Fatal Fixer-Upper - Jennie Bentley (pub 2008) 7/17
✔20. Marine Iguana
* Read a book with a fence on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with an author whose first or last name starts with M or I.
A Catered St. Patrick's Day - Isis Crawford 7/14
Summer 2017 Spell Challenge - Endangered Species Duration:June 21 - September 20, 2017
READ: 29/29
Saola
✔S: Straight from the Heart - Tami Hoag 8/5
✔A: Blood of the Dark Moon - Adrianne Brennan 8/13
✔O: One Last Look - Linda Lael Miller 6/28
✔L: Lick - Kylie Scott 8/10
✔A: Sliding Home - Kate Angell 8/31
Bengal Tiger
✔B: Bengal's Quest - Lora Leigh 8/17
✔E: So Close the Hand of Death - J.T. Ellison 8/29
✔N: The Perfect Liar - Brenda Novak 7/23
✔G: Gingerbread Cookie Murder - Joann Fluke 7/6
✔A: Melting into You - Tracey Alvarez 6/30
✔L: Lucky Break - Deborah Coonts 8/26
✔T: Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma 6/24
✔I: Bound By Darkness - Alexandra Ivy 8/11
✔G: Midnight's Kiss - Donna Grant 9/2
✔E: Afterlight - Elle Jasper 9/6
✔R: Out of the Mist - JoAnn Ross 9/13
Asian Elephant
✔A: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula - Marta Acosta 9/18
✔S: The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafón 8/18
✔I: Bound By Darkness - Alexandra Ivy 8/11
✔A: Hidden Embers - Tessa Adams 8/8
✔N: No Man's Land - David Baldacci 7/9
✔E: Eternal Hunger - Cameron Dean 8/3
✔L: Spellbent - Lucy Snyder 9/5
✔E: Spider’s Revenge - Jennifer Estep 8/3
✔P: Two Graves - Douglas Preston 6/24
✔H: Bad Monkey - Carl Hiaasen 6/30
✔A: Night Shift - N. Singh/I. Andrews/L. Shearin/M. Vane 8/12
✔N: Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea - Sophia Nash 8/5
✔T: The Oath of the Vayuputras - Amish Tripathi 8/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
July Scavenger Challenge - Founding Fathers
READ: 5/7
✔(1) The Founding Fathers:
✭ Read the seventh book of a series -or- read a book which contains more than two POVs -or- read a book marked "Politics" or "History" in the book's main GR page.
Devoured by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity #7) 7/24
(2) John Adams (Oct 30, 1735 - Jul 4, 1826):
✭ Read a book by an author whose son or father is also an author (tell us who it is) -or- read a book written in a diary or epistolary format -or- read a book written by an author who is fifty this year (use this list for help)
✔(3) Benjamin Franklin (Jan 17, 1706 – Apr 17, 1790):
✭ Read a book in which a speaking character is a scientist or inventor -or- read a book with either FIRST or AMERICA/AMERICAN in the title/subtitle (no other variations) -or- read a book set in any of the states of the US which has a Franklin County (tell us which state).
The Spy Who Wants Me - Lucy Monroe (hero is a scientist) 7/5
✔(4) Alexander Hamilton (Jan 11, 1755 or 1757 – Jul 12, 1804):
✭ Read a book in which a character is concerned with money for whatever reason -or- read a book whose main character works for any branch of the US military of any era -or- read a book featuring a duel.
No Man's Land - David Baldacci (Army CID) 7/9
(5) John Jay (Dec 23, 1975 - May 17, 1829):
✭ Read a book about slavery or abolitionism -or- read a book which features an important courtroom scene -or- read a book whose title or author's name contains a bird (compound words are okay).
(6) Thomas Jefferson (Apr 13, 1743 - Jul 4, 1826):
✭ Read a book whose main character is an author -or- read a book with pirates of any kind in it -or- read a book set before 1800 (tell us when the book is set).
✔(7) James Madison (Mar 16, 1751 - Jun 28, 1836):
✭ Read a book in which a main character has a change of heart about something over the course of the book (the change might be for the better or for worse, explain how your book fits) -or- read a book that you think is confusing -or- read a book in which war is an important element.
Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion (war between zombies vs humans) 7/14
✔(8) George Washington (Feb 11, 1731 - Dec 14, 1799):
✭ Read the first book of a series with more than one book or the first book written by an author who has written more than one book -or- read a book with a revered character -or- read a book which is rated more than 4.2 stars on GR (tell us the rating).
Lord's Fall - Thea Harrison (4.24) 7/4
July Spell Challenge - Founding FathersREAD: 11/11
✔D: Darkling - Yasmine Galenorn 7/11
✔E: The Empire's Ghost - Isabelle Steiger 7/22
✔C: Lucky Catch - Deborah Coonts 7/8
✔L: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker - Leanna Renee Hieber 7/20
✔A: Fireproof - Alex Kava 7/6
✔R: Ash and Quill - Rachel Caine 7/26
✔A: The Man Who Spoke Snakish - Andrus Kivirähk 7/17
✔T: Lord's Fall - Thea Harrison 7/4
✔I: A Catered St. Patrick's Day - Isis Crawford 7/14
✔O: Our Husband - Stephanie Bond 7/19
✔N: No Man's Land - David Baldacci 7/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
August Scavenger Challenge - C'mon, get happy!
READ: 5/5
✔2. ☺ Read a book in which a character is a bartender or owns a bar OR read a book which you received at a reduced price (tell us about your bargain!).
Death by the Dozen - Jenn McKinlay 8/27
(picked up at a used book sale for 25 cents or so)
✔4. ☺ Read a book with any type of weapon on its cover OR read a book whose title contains any word with double, consecutive consonants.
Blood of the Dark Moon - Adrianne Brennan 8/13
✔5. ☺ Read a book with a character you would describe as “happy-go-lucky” OR read a book you feel lucky to have read (a book you would rate at least 4 stars).
Lucky Break - Deborah Coonts 8/26
✔6. ☺ Read a book of medium length OR read a book with opposite words in its title.
Spider-Touched - Jory Strong (372 pages) 8/24
✔7. ☺ Read a book in which someone goes camping OR read a book whose title begins with a letter in CAMPER.
Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks 8/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
August Spell Challenge - C'mon, Get Happy!READ: 10/10
C: Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets - Mary McHugh 8/7
L: Lick - Kylie Scott 8/10
A: Blood of the Dark Moon - Adrianne Brennan 8/13
M: Death by the Dozen - Jenn McKinlay 8/27
G: The Girl with Ghost Eyes - M.H. Boroson 8/18
O: The Oath of the Vayuputras - Amish Tripathi 8/22
L: Lucky Break - Deborah Coonts 8/26
D: A Dying Fall - Elly Griffiths 8/6
E: Eternal Hunger - Cameron Dean 8/3
N: Night Shift - N. Singh/I. Andrews/L. Shearin/M. Vane 8/12
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
September Scavenger Challenge - McGuffey Reader
READ: 7/7
✔1. ✒ Read a book published between 1850-1950 (inclusive) OR read a best selling book (25,000+ GR rating) OR read a book with two of the three numbers, 1-2-0, in its total page count (tell us how many pages).
Forbidden Embers - Tessa Adams (302 pages) 9/11
✔2. ✒ Read a book where a main character moves permanently from one country to another (tell us the originating and terminating countries) OR read a book that is anywhere between the 6th and the 21st in a series OR read a book dealing with religion.
Crimson Shore - Douglas Preston (#16 Pendergast series) 9/19
✔3 ✒ Read a book that takes place on a university campus OR read a book where the MC is a teacher or professor OR read a book whose location starts with a letter in MIAMI.
Scone Cold Dead - Kaitlyn Dunnett (Maine) 9/17
✔4. ✒ Read a book featuring brothers OR read a book marked “classic” on its main GR page OR read a book by an author who uses three names.
Dairy Queen - Catherine Gilbert Murdock 9/20
✔5. ✒ Read a book whose title contains any word starting with “ph” OR read a book with any school-type item on its cover (remember to post the cover) OR read a book that you think has vivid descriptions.
Hour of the Rat - Lisa Brackmann (vivid descriptions of China) 9/18
✔6.✒ Read a book that is about words (i.e. grammar, language, crossword) OR read the ‘highest’ book on your TBR (you may define this however you choose; tell us how your book is highest – i.e. most recently added, highest rated, etc.)
Blue Hollow Falls - Donna Kauffman (most recently added) 9/14
✔7. ✒ Read a book whose title contains any repeated word OR read a book that takes place during colonial America OR read a book whose author’s last name begins with “Mc.”
Going, Going, Ganache - Jenn McKinlay 9/21
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
September Spell Challenge - McGuffey ReaderREAD: 8/9
✔P: Crimson Shore - Douglas Preston 9/19
✔R: Pirates! - Celia Rees 9/21
✔O: Out of the Mist - JoAnn Ross 9/113
✔F: Fear the Dark - Kay Hooper 9/23
✔E: The End Game - Catherine Coulter
✔S: Deadmen Walking - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/4
✔S: Dragonsworn - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/9
✔O: Out of the Easy - Ruta Sepetys 9/16
R: Catacomb - Madeleine Roux
Fall Scavenger - The Mayflower
Duration: September 21 - December 20, 2017
READ: 17/20
1. Read a book where a character moves from one country to another - OR - read a book set in the fall (September, October, November).
✔ 2. Read a book marked RELIGION on the main GR genre page - OR - read a book written by an author whose first AND last initials can be found in SEPARATIST.
Fear the Darkness - Alexandra Ivy 9/28
THE SHIP
3. Read a book marked FAMILY on its Goodreads main genre page - OR - a book with a pregnant woman.
✔ 4. Read a book with some sort of weather shown on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book that took longer to read than you expected (it was longer you thought it needed to be or you went on vacation, etc.).
The Devil's Triangle - Catherine Coulter (lightning) 12/9
✔ 5. Read a book with "25" or "12" appearing intact and in that order in the total number of pages (tell us how many pages) - OR - a book with some sort of alcoholic beverage on the cover (show us the cover).
Secrets in Death - J.D. Robb 11/3
✔ 6. Read a book that is small (150-200 pages) - OR - a book with a character who has to live in a small space (a tent, a small room, an attic, etc.).
The Dragons Want Her - Angela Foxxe (185 pages) 11/9
✔ 7. Read a book with a candle or playing cards on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - a book where a meal is eaten.
Of Grave Concern - Max McCoy 12/4
✔ 8. Read a book where an animal is important to the plot - OR - a book where the first letter of the first word of the title is found in PET (disregard A, An, The).
Pig Island - Mo Hayder 11/12
✔ 9. Read a book with an honorific in the title (Captain, Dr., Mr. Mrs., Sir, etc.) - OR - a book with a character who is a cook or chef.
Widow’s Web - Jennifer Estep 11/30
✔ 10. Read a book in which the characters are in danger (without telling too much, tell us how) - OR - a book with a gun or cannon on the cover (show us the cover).
Fear the Dark - Kay Hooper (serial killer preying on locals) 9/23
✔ 11. Read a book with some sort of pot on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - a book with an author's LAST name that begins with L or P.
Forgive Me - Daniel Palmer 11/13
THE JOURNEY
✔ 12. Read a book where someone travels by ship - or - read a book set in England OR Holland (Netherlands).
Star of the Sea - Joseph O'Connor 10/17
✔ 13. Read a book in which a character double-crosses another character or cheats in some way - or - read a book whose title or author's name has TWO sets of double-letters (they don't have to be in the same word).
The Outcast Dead - Elly Griffiths 10/30
14. Read a book with some sort of tool on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book that you started previously, put down, then picked up again and finished.
✔ 15. Read a book with a character whose FIRST name starts with J (tell us the name) - or - read a book with a carpenter or which contains some sort of wood-working activity.
Echoes of Ice - Boone Brux (Juna) 11/26
✔ 16. Read a book where a group of people work together to solve a problem - or - read a book with at least two KEY words in the title that start with the same letter.
The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster - Scott Wilbanks 11/29
THE ARRIVAL
✔ 17. Read a book set in a cold climate (tell us where) - OR - a book showing shoes or stockings/socks on the cover (show us the cover).
Dorothy Must Die - Danielle Paige 10/19
✔ 18. Read a book in which disease in involved - or - read a book with either 5 or 3 in the original publication YEAR (tell us the year).
White Trash Zombie Unchained - Diana Rowland 10/7
(zombie disease spreading like wildfire)
✔ 19. Read a book with hills or mountains on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with a character who acts as bodyguard for another character.
Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich (hero acts as bodyguard for heroine) 10/3
✔ 20. Read a book that you consider to be a quick and easy read - or - read a book set in London.
Lady of Devices - Shelley Adina 11/23
Fall Spell Challenge Duration: September 21 - December 20, 2017
READ: 35/35
P: Pirates! - Celia Rees 9/21
E: Evil Harvest - Anthony Izzo 9/23
R: White Trash Zombie Unchained - Diana Rowland 10/7
E: Empire of Storms - Sarah J. Maas 9/27
G: Going, Going, Ganache - Jenn McKinlay 9/21
R: Blind Faith - Rebecca Zanetti 10/16
I: Fear the Darkness - Alexandra Ivy
N: Golden Age and Other Stories - Naomi Novik 10/9
E: Where All the Dead Lie - J.T. Ellison 10/2
D: Midnight's Captive - Donna Grant 10/12
E: Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich 10/3
L: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers 11/25
F: Fear the Dark - Kay Hooper 9/23
S: The Six-Gun Tarot - R.S. Belcher 10/25
H: Bite My Fire - Mary Hughes 10/14
A: Brother - Ania Ahlborn 10/28
V: Vampires Dead Ahead - Cheyenne McCray 12/5
E: The Wrong Hostage - Elizabeth Lowell 10/12
N: No Rest for the Dead - Andrew Gulli 11/20
O: The Outcast Dead - Elly Griffiths 10/30
C: Burning The Map - Laura Caldwell 10/28
E: Foul Play - Janet Evanovich 10/21
A: And I Darken - Kiersten White 10/30
N: The Bedlam Stacks - Natasha Pulley 11/18
U: Ukulele Murder - Leslie Langtry 10/23
S: The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster - Scott Wilbanks 11/29
W: The Wood Queen - Karen Mahoney 10/4
H: How to Wash a Cat - Rebecca M. Hale 11/22
I: Intensity - Sherrilyn Kenyon 12/9
P: Steal the Dragon - Patricia Briggs 9/30
S: She'll Never Live - Hunter Morgan 10/14
T: A Tale of Two Vampires - Katie MacAlister 11/16
A: Her Own Devices - Shelly Adina 12/7
F: Field of Graves - J.T. Ellison 11/17
F: Forever... - Jude Deveraux 11/19
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
October Scavenger Challenge - Hoo-Hoo-Hoooot
READ: 7/7
✔GREAT HORNED OWL / Bubo virginianus - Read a book with a verb ending in "-ed" in the title OR a book with a statue on the cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail); post the cover
White Trash Zombie Unchained - Diana Rowland 10/7
✔SNOWY OWL / Bubo scandiacus- Read a book that is over 500 pages long; tell us how many pages OR a book with snow on the cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail); post the cover
Ho-Ho-Homicide - Kaitlyn Dunnett 10/5
✔SPOTTED OWL / Strix occidentalis - Read a book with a Native American character; tell us who OR a book with a couple who was married when the book began and stays together throughout the entire book
The Six-Gun Tarot - R.S. Belcher (deputy named Mutt) 10/25
✔SPECTACLED OWL / Pulsatrix perspicillata - Read a book with less than 2500 ratings on Goodreads; tell us how many ratings OR a book by an author whose initials – including middle initial or name if used on GR – can be found in SPECTACLED; post a link to the author's page
The Wrong Hostage - Elizabeth Lowell 10/12
✔ELF OWL / Micrathene whitneyi - Read a book in which there is some kind of competition between two or more characters (NOT a game or sport); tell us how they're competing OR a book with a two-word title; ALL words count!
Godsgrave - Jay Kristoff (a tournament to the death between assassins) 10/24
✔BARRED OWL / Strix varia - Read a book with consecutive double letters in the author's name (first, middle or last); post a link to the author's GR page OR a book set in Canada; tell us where
Blind Faith - Rebecca Zanetti 10/16
✔LONG-EARED OWL / Asio otus - Read a book with an intact "10" in the original year of publication OR a book whose title begins with a letter in LONG
Golden Age and Other Stories - Naomi Novik 10/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
October Spell Challenge READ: 6/6
✔S: She'll Never Live - Hunter Morgan 10/14
✔W: Where All the Dead Lie - J.T. Ellison 10/2
✔A: Brother - Ania Ahlborn 10/28
✔M: Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich 10/3
✔P: The Persian Always Meows Twice - Eileen Watkins 10/26
✔S: The Six-Gun Tarot - R.S. Belcher 10/25
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
November Scavenger Challenge - Chrysanthemums
READ: 5/7
✔1. Read the second book in a series or the second book written by an author OR read a book whose cover is primarily (75%+) gold, white, purple, or red.
Dolled Up to Die - Lorena McCourtney 11/6
✔2. Choose ONE of the nine categories listed and read a book where the first letter of each title word may be found in that term (ALL words count; 2 word minimum; tell us which category) OR read a book with a “9” in its total page count.
Kinked - Thea Harrison (294 pages) 11/13
3. Read a book that takes place in a tropical location or in Japan OR read a book in which some type of garden or flower show takes place.
✔4. Read a book in which a funeral takes place OR read a romance OR read a book with a couple who exhibit fidelity and loyal love.
A Tale of Two Vampires - Katie MacAlister (Mated h/h) 11/16
5. Read a book whose title contains the word “LUCK,” “LUCKY,” “UNLUCKY” or any form of “LAUGH” (i.e. laughing, laughed) OR read a book marked humor.
✔6. Read a book featuring a large family (6+ members) OR read a book with any type of flower or flowering plant on the cover.
To Brie or Not To Brie - Avery Aames 11/27
✔7. Read a book that could be classified as two or more genres (i.e. romantic suspense; tell us the genres) OR read a book featuring an herbalist or tea expert.
In Stone's Clasp - Christie Golden (fantasy, romance) 11/6
November Spell Challenge READ: 7/7
✔S: Strong, Sleek and Sinful - Lorie O'Clare 11/4
✔P: Pig Island - Mo Hayder 11/12
✔I: Darkness Avenged - Alexandra Ivy 11/9
✔D: The Dragons Want Her - Angela Foxxe 11/9
✔E: Echoes of Ice - Boone Brux 11/26
✔R: Secrets in Death - J.D. Robb 11/3
✔S: The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster - Scott Wilbanks 11/29
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
December Scavenger Challenge - "December" in Song
READ: 6/5
✔1. December 1963 (Oh What a Night), The Four Seasons -
Read a book in which a character remembers a romance of the past -or- read a book with a season in its title or subtitle -or- read a book set in the 1960s.
The Four Sworn: Spring Equinox - Lenore Sagaskie 12/15
2. December, Collective Soul -
Read a book in which a main character is a preacher or a religious sort -or- read a book with an intact "IVE" in either its title or author's name (first, middle, last all count) -or- read a book in which friends or family have a fight and are no longer on speaking terms.
✔3. Once Upon a December, Liz Callaway -
Read a book set in Russia or with a Russian protagonist -or- read a book which has been made into a movie -or- read a book whose series title begins with a letter in ANASTASIA (A, An and The DO NOT count).
Silver Silence - Nalini Singh 12/13
✔4. Back to December, Taylor Swift -
Read a book whose author or character shares your name (spelling variations are okay) -or- read a book you expect to be a fast read -or- read a book with a teen romance (bonus if a werewolf is involved).
Wife by Wednesday - Catherine Bybee (only 221 pages) 12/13
✔5. I Can See the Sun in Late December, Roberta Flack & Stevie Wonder -
Read a book with SUN or MOON in the title (compound words are fine) -or- read a book with a strong female main character -or- read a book written by an African American author.
Her Own Devices - Shelly Adina 12/7
✔6. Cold December Night, Michael Buble -
Read a book with any of these things on the cover: Stockings, Pine tree, Toys, Candles, Santa, Mistletoe, Fireplace, Sweater, A lit house (post the cover!) -or- read a book set in Canada -or- read a fireplace book - a book you would choose to read in front of a fireplace under a blanket and a cat or two.
Blood Pact - Tanya Huff (Ontario) 12/14
-✔7. Warm in December, Julie London -
Read a book set in the summer (set where it is warm in summer) -or- read a guilty pleasure book -or- read a book that is a retelling of another book or story, or a book that has spawned retellings (tell us which is the original and which a spinoff).
Red 1-2-3 - John Katzenbach (Little Red Riding Hood) 12/9
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
December Spell Challenge READ: 9/9
✔S: The Four Sworn: Spring Equinox - Lenore Sagaskie 12/15
✔A: Dead Dry - Sarah Andrews 12/13
✔I: Intensity - Sherrilyn Kenyon 12/9
✔N: Silver Silence - Nalini Singh 12/13
✔T: Hide Your Heart - Tracey Alvarez 12/27
✔N: The Naked Duke - Sally MacKenzie 12/16
✔I: Mind Game - Iris Johansen 12/11
✔C: Vampires Dead Ahead - Cheyenne McCray 12/5
✔K: How to Seduce a Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks 12/14
From Sea to Shining Sea - Tennessee Duration: January 1 - February 28, 2017
READ: 10/10
✔1. Read a book first published in a year with the numbers 9 or 6 in it (tell us the publication year) -or- read a book with 3 sets of double letters in the title and/or author name (for example, smaLL gods by teRRy pratcheTT; murder in miSSiSSiPPi by John Safran; etc.) -or- read a book in which something is named (a baby, a new road, a building etc.) Tell us the name.
The Beekeeper's Ball - Susan Wiggs 1/12
✔2. Read a series book with at least 9 books published -or- read a book whose title has words that start with the two letters of the postal code of Tennessee's neighboring states (KY, VA, NC, GA, AL, MS, AR or MO; for example, The Nice and the Good (G and A), All for Love (A and L)) -or- read a book whose main protagonist is a soldier, any country, any branch, any time in history.
The Curse of Tenth Grave - Darynda Jones (#10 in series) 1/11
✔3. Read a book whose cover is predominantly dark purple -or- read a book whose title has a word matching a word in one of the Tennessee's official state song title (exclude The, in and of) -or- read a book in which the main character farms or is in a business.
The Chocolate Pirate Plot - JoAnna Carl (owns a chocolate shop) 1/7
✔4. Read a book that deals with the World War II or any war in which nuclear explosives are a threat -or- read a book which is set in a campus of some sort (industrial or educational) -or- read a book in which people work towards something that is not wholly explained to them, explain how the book fits.
The Lost Key - Catherine Coulter 1/23
(about a nuclear weapon that was created during WWI)
✔5. Go to random.org and generate a random number between 1-100. Match the number to the song on the list of 100 Greatest Country Music Songs of all Time. Then, either a) read a book that fits the song lyrics in some fashion (explain how) or b) read a book whose author's initials matches that of the singer* or c) read a book first published the year the song released. Mention which option you chose.
Random Number=22
22. Ernest Tubb, 'Walking the Floor Over You' (1941)
Lyrics:
You left me and you went away
You said that you'd be back in just a day
Vicious - Kevin O'Brien 1/19
(villain's mom left him when he was young turning him into a serial killer who only killed moms with baby boys.)
✔6. Read a book whose cover shows a mountain (must be visible on the GR thumbnail, post the cover) -or- read a book in which a bear makes an appearance -or- read a book in which the main character smokes.
The Immortals of Meluha - Amish Tripathi 1/15
✔7. Read a book in which a character shuts themselves off for an extended period of time for whatever reason (mention how the book fits) -or- read a book that has generated some hype and dialogue -or- read a book with a Native American main character.
A Walk Across the Sun - Corban Addison (sex trafficking) 1/9
✔8. Read a book that is a genre book but doesn't call itself that (for example, a general fiction book that is really a mystery or a romance) -or- read a book with a character or author named Jack or Daniel (reasonable variations okay) -or- read a book in which a character suffers an injury in an absurd fashion (it needn't be fatal).
Birdman - Mo Hayder (Jack Caffrey) 1/7
✔9. Read a book in which the main character moves permanently to a different place for whatever reason -or- "read" an audio book narrated by someone whose voice you really enjoy (tell us who) -or- read a book on the Goodreads Popular Books by Month. Books can be on the list for any of these months: November 2016, December 2016, January 2017 or February 2017. Mention on which month's list your book appears.
Omens - Kelley Armstrong 1/28
(heroine moves from Chicago to a small town in Illinois)
✔10. Read a book with a cover showing two people holding hands (post the cover) -or- read a book which has the genre Time Travel on its main page -or- read a book which has at least 8 named women among its characters.
Time Thief - Katie MacAlister 2/24
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
It's All the Same to Me ChallengeStart Date: May 1, 2014
End Date: February 18, 2017
READ: 118/118
✔1. Read 2 books that share the exact same title. Remember to list the author for each book and/or post the covers so that we can distinguish between the two books.
1. Revenant - Larissa Ione 3/14/15
2. Revenant - Phaedra Weldon 7/13/15
✔2. Read 2 books within the same genre. Tell us which genre you choose. (Paranormal)
1. Kiss of the Betrayer - Boone Brux 7/8/15
2. Hunger Untamed - Pamela Palmer 7/9/15
✔3. Read 2 books, each of which has the title and author name printed in two different colors
1. Light My Fire - G.A. Aiken 1/5/15
2. The Horse Goddess - Morgan Llywelyn 1/4/15
✔4. Read 2 books that have the same number of words in each title (contractions count as one word - i.e. can't, I'll, you're; also 'a,' 'an,' and 'the' DO count).
1. Some Kind Of Fairy Tale - Graham Joyce 8/22/14
2. Night Falls on the Wicked - Sharie Kohler 7/13/14
✔5. Read 2 books which were recommended by the same source (friend, newsletter, ‘best of’ lists); within whichever source you choose, the source doesn't have to be the exact same. I.e. You read two books recommended by friends - one book from friend Barb and one book from friend Connie is fine. (My Sister Lisa)
1. Bees in the Butterfly Garden - Maureen Lang 5/17/15
2. The Dairy Queen - Allison Rushby 9/22/15
✔6. Read 2 books which were added to your TBR on the same day. (If you do not have the same date, use two books which are close in date added). Tell us the date your books were added.
1. Blaze of Memory - Nalini Singh (added Sep 15, 2009) 8/31/15
2. Crimson - Jordan Summers (added Sep 15, 2009) 3/16/15
✔7. Read 2 books that show human bodies in the same or similar position – i.e. each book has a body sitting on a bench and viewed from the back. Remember to post the covers.
1. A Tale Of Two Dragons - G.A. Aiken 2/2/15
2. Absolution - Susannah Sandlin 2/5/15
✔8. Read 2 books that take place during the same time period; dates do not have to match exactly. Two books that take place during the same decade are fine (1920’s, 1940’s, 1970’s, etc.). For books earlier than 1900, go for similar periods – i.e. the Regency period, Colonial America, ancient civilization. You may also use two books that occur in the future. For this task, books that take place from the year 2000 - the present are excluded. Remember to tell us which time frame you use.
1. Night Forbidden - Joss Ware (Future-2082) 10/14
2. Play of Passion - Nalini Singh (Future-?) 10/28
✔9. Read 2 books from the same media – i.e. audio, kindle, hard back, paperback. Remember to tell us your media. (audio)
1. XO - Jeffrey Deaver 6/26/14
2. Guardian of the Horizon - Elizabeth Peters 7/31/14
✔10. Read 2 books that share a character’s first name. These names do not have to be the main character, but should be characters who are mentioned more than once. For this task, first names must match exactly!
1. Written in My Own Heart's Blood - Diana Gabaldon (Ian Murray) 12/23/14
2. Thunder Moon - Lori Handeland (Ian Walker) 12/15/14
✔11. Read 2 books which have similar (almost identical) covers. Remember to post the covers!
1. Captured by the Pirate Laird - Amy Jarecki 2/25/15
2. The Knight - Monica McCarty 6/21/15
✔12. Read 2 books that take place in the same state or in the same country. Tell us the place. ~ Chicago, Illinois
1. Blood Games - Chloe Neill 8/17/15
2. Born Wild - Julie Ann Walker 8/30/15
✔13. Read 2 books published in the same year. Tell us the publication year. (2008)
1. Show and Tell - Jasmine Haynes 8/17/14
2. The Last Oracle - James Rollins 5/30/14
14. Read 2 books that contain a day of the week in their titles (does not have to be the same day).
✔1. Blue Monday - Nicci French 1/26/17
✔2. Tuesday's Child - Dale Mayer 2/18/17
✔15. Read 2 non-series books by the same author.
1. Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts 10/8/14
2. The Witness - Nora Roberts 7/25/15
✔16. Read 2 books, both of which contain a punctuation mark in their titles (does not have to be the same mark).
1. Wanna Get Lucky? - Deborah Coonts 9/17/14
2. Are You Scared Yet? - Hunter Morgan 8/19/14
✔17. Read 2 books that depict similar times of day on their covers – i.e. dawn, daylight, dusk, night. SUNSET
1. Nightbred - Lynn Viehl 12/2/14
2. Burning Skies - Caris Roane 3/5/16
✔18. Read 2 books that have titles in the same color. Try to find a color other than white or black.
1. Never Less Than a Lady - Mary Jo Putney 6/4/14
2. Tomb of the Golden Bird - Elizabeth Peters 9/2/14
✔19. Read 2 books from the same series. Tell us which series. -- Twelve Houses
1. The Thirteenth House - Sharon Shinn 8/7/14
2. Dark Moon Defender - Sharon Shinn 8/23/14
✔20. Read 2 books that have the same number of people on the cover. Remember to post the covers!
1. Wild About You - Kerrelyn Sparks 10/3/14
2. Bound to a Warrior - Donna Fletcher 6/30/14
✔21. Read 2 books that have the same number of pages. Tell us how many pages.
1. Blood Born - Linda Howard (466 pages) 7/27/14
2. Ashfall - Mike Mullen (466 pages) 6/21/14
✔22. Read 2 books by authors who share the same initials. If your first author has 3 initials, your second author must have the same 3 initials.
1. The Firebird - Susanna Kearsley 5/12/14
2. Styxx - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/12/14
✔23. Read 2 books that both take place in a small town.
1. Always On My Mind - Jill Shalvis 7/5/14
2. Between, Georgia - Joshilyn Jackson 7/5/14
✔24. Read 2 books that take place over the same holiday. Tell us the holiday. (Christmas)
1. Highlander for the Holidays - Janet Chapman 10/4/14
2. Festive in Death - J.D. Robb 2/16/15
✔25. Read 2 books which have similar objects on their covers (flowers,desert)
1. Big Sky Mountain - Linda Lael Miller 6/30/15
2. Big Sky River - Linda Lael Miller 7/10/15
✔26. Read 2 books by different authors who share the same first name. Spelling does not have to be exact, but style should be – i.e. Cathy and Kathy works, but Cathy and Kathleen does not.
1. Chill - Stephanie Rowe 7/9/14
2. Dire Needs - Stephanie Tyler 7/9/14
✔27. Read 2 books by different authors who share the same last name. Spelling does not have to be exact, but style should be – i.e. Smith and Smyth works, but Smith and Schmidt does not.
1. Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher 9/1/14
2. Running Scared - Shannon Butcher 9/28/14
✔28. Read 2 books whose covers are the same color. The 'hue' or 'shade' of color does not have to be the same (i.e. you could use a powder blue and a royal blue cover), although it will be fun to see how close you can match colors. Remember to post the covers!
1. Biting Bad - Chloe Neill 12/5/14
2. Ember's Kiss - Deborah Cooke 12/12/14
✔29. Read 2 books with similarly aged protagonists. The age does not have to be exact – you could use two women in their 50’s, two teenagers, etc. Remember to tell us the ages. (two women in their 20's)
1. Hungry Like a Wolf - Christine Warren 12/17/14
2. If There Be Dragons - Kay Hooper 12/18/14
✔30. Read 2 books in which the main characters share similar occupations – i.e. 2 teachers, 2 artists, 2 doctors, etc. The occupation does not have to be the exact same, but should be related in the same field - i.e. 2 artists (one is a painter, the other a sculptor).
1. [doctor] How to Run with a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper 11/27
2. [doctor] Parasite - Mira Grant 12/16
✔31. Read 2 books, both of which have authors who use initials + last name only. The initials do not have to be the same, nor do the last names.
1. Tall, Dark & Lonely - R.L. Mathewson 8/13/14
2. Shaman Rises - C.E. Murphy 7/23/14
✔32. Read 2 books that both occur during the same war. Tell us which war is common to the books. (English vs Scotland)1. The Recruit - Monica McCarty 3/27/15
2. The Knight - Monica McCarty 6/20/15
✔33. Read 2 books that take place in the same major city (national or international). Tell us which city.
1. The Mad, Bad Duke - Jennifer Ashley (London) 3/31/15
2. If He's Tempted - Hannah Howell (London) 7/5/15
✔34. Read 2 books that have the same GoodReads rating. Be sure to list the date you chose your books and the common rating. (3.44 rating on 11/3/15)
1. Games Creatures Play - Charlaine Harris 5/2/15
2. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker - Leanna Renee Hieber 6/15/15
✔35. Read 2 books that have similar cover styles – i.e. simple, clean covers or striped covers, or ‘arty’ covers. Tell us why you think the covers are similar.
1. 77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz (simple white) 1/19/15
2. The Winter People - Jennifer McMahon (simple white) 5/3/15
✔36. Read 2 books whose titles begin with ‘difficult’ letters (discount a, an, the). For this task those letters are Q,U,V,X,Y,Z.
1. You Can't Hide - Karen Rose 2/7/15
2. Zoo - James Patterson 3/5/15
✔37. Read 2 books whose authors’ last names start with a ‘difficult’ letter – Q,U,V,X,Y,Z.
1. On the Way to the Wedding - Julia Quinn 9/25/14
2. Frostfire - Lynn Viehl 8/30/14
✔38. Read 2 books, both of which have titles that are NOT horizontal.
1. Uncorked - Lois Greiman (diagonal) 12/5/14
2. Up to Me - M. Leighton (zigzag) 3/12/15
✔39. Read 2 books that show similar modes of transportation on their covers. The transportation does not have to be exactly the same, but should be the same style.
1. Hell on Wheels - Julie Ann Walker (motorcycle) 3/19/15
2. In Rides Trouble - Julie Ann Walker (motorcycle) 5/26/15
✔40. Read 2 books written by female authors.
1. Beauty - Robin McKinley 7/22/14
2. A Taint In The Blood - Dana Stabenow 8/10/14
✔41. Read 2 books written by male authors.
1. The Devil's Punchbowl - Greg Iles 8/3/14
2. Middle of Nowhere - Ridley Pearson 9/11/14
✔42. Read 2 books by authors who have jobs other than author – i.e. Robin Cook is also a doctor, John Grisham is also a lawyer.
1. Flash and Bones - Kathy Reichs (KR is a medical examiner) 4/25/15
2. Lifelines - C.J. Lyons (CJ is a doctor) 11/26/15
✔43. Read 2 books of similar length. For this task, short is 150-200pp, medium is 201-400pp. and long is 401+ pages. List the number of pages for each book.
1. Angel Fever - L.A. Weatherly (496 pages) 9/9/14
2. Don't Tell - Karen Rose (501 pages) 6/6/14
✔44. Read 2 books from the same source – i.e. library, amazon.com, paperback swap, netgalley, etc. Tell us the source! (library)
1. Sunshine - Robin McKinley 9/3/14
2. Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson 9/24/14
✔45. Read 2 books (fiction, non-fiction, or mixed) about the same subject. Your subject can be as broad or narrow as you wish, but you must state what the similar subject is.
1. Moloka'i - Alan Brennert (leprosy) 1/18/15
2. Devil Bones - Kathy Reichs 1/21/15
✔46. Read 2 books which share a homonym – i.e. one title has ‘there’ and the second title has ‘their’ or one title has 'see' and the second title has 'sea.'
1. Heir of Fire - Sarah Maas (HEIR) 9/13/15
2. In the Air Tonight - Stephanie Tyler (AIR) 11/5/15
✔47. Read 2 books that take place in the same type climate (NOT season of the year) – i.e. seasonal (as in the seasons change), tropical, always cold.
1. Midnight Come Again - Dana Stabenow (Alaska) 6/19/14
2. Come Fly With Me - Addison Fox (Alaska) 9/19/14
✔48. Read 2 books, both of which have repeated words in their titles – the words do not have to be repeated across titles. For example Apologize, Apologize! and Someday, Someday, Maybe works.
1. Red Seas Under Red Skies - Scott Lynch 1/11/15
2. Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls - Victoria Laurie 8/14/16
✔49. Read 2 books that have the same number of letters in their titles. Tell us how many letters in each. (10 letters in title)
1. Broken Soul - Faith Hunter 1/3/15
2. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins 1/19/15
✔50. Read 2 books which both have a title in cursive writing. Remember to post the covers!
1. Can't Buy Me Love - Molly O'Keefe 8/21/14
2. Darkness Unleashed - Alexandra Ivy 6/7/14
✔51. Read 2 books which share a similar literary style – i.e. epistolary (story told through letters, diaries, or journals), anthologies, short story collections, fairytale retelling, stream of conscious. Try to be more creative than ‘both are fiction.’ Tell us how your books’ styles are similar.
1. On the Hunt - Showalter/Knight/Andersen/Butcher 6/26/14
2. Playing Easy to Get - Kenyon/Black/Cole 9/22/14
✔52. Read 2 books, both of which have repeated objects on their covers. The objects do not have to be the same across the 2 books – i.e. one cover has several spools of thread and one book has a stack of boxes. Remember to post the covers!
1. The Broken Hearts Club - Ethan Black (hash marks) 7/8/14
2. Speaking in Bones - Kathy Reichs (skulls) 10/30/15
✔53. Read 2 books which take place primarily in the same season. Tell us which season. (SUMMER)
1. A Night Too Dark - Dana Stabenow 12/9/14
2. Archer's Voice - Mia Sheridan 1/6/15gbh
✔54. Read 2 books whose covers depict the same type of weather on the cover – i.e. rainy, cloudy, sunny, snowy, foggy, etc. Words in the title do not count. Remember to post the book covers!!
1. Taken by the Cowboy - Julianne MacLean (lightning) 12/28/14
2. West of Want - Laura Kaye (lightning) 3/21/15
✔55. Read 2 books, both of whose titles are in all CAPS. Remember to post the covers!
1. Power Play - Catherine Coulter 9/29/14
2. Double Shot - Diane Mott Davidson 9/22/14
✔56. Read 2 books whose titles contain synonyms – i.e. title one = The Scarlet Letter and title two = The Crimson Tide; scarlet and crimson are similar in that they are both shades of red.
1. Scarlet - Jordan Summers 2/7/15
2. Crimson - Jordan Summers 3/16/15
✔57. Read 2 books that feature the same type of animal – i.e. two books about horses or two books with pet dogs; the animal doesn't have to be the main focus, but should play part of the plot. (tiger shifters,tigers on cover)
1. Heart of Atlantis - Alyssa Day 8/11/14
2. On the Prowl - Christine Warren 8/4/14
✔58. Read 2 books whose covers feature the same body part. Remember to post the covers!
1. Spirit and Dust - Rosemary Clement-Moore 6/30/14
2. Redemption - Susannah Sandlin 8/24/14
✔59. Read 2 books that both take place in a similar terrain – i.e. both books take place on an island; both books take place in the desert, etc. Tell us the terrain.
1. [island] Pleasure Island - Lorie O'Clare 11/29
2. [Island] Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea - Nancy Atherton 2/4
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
One Hit Wonders of the 90sDuration: January 1 - June 30, 2017
READ: 24/24
✔1. Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor
Read a book with a publication date contains a 7 or 15 OR with a character that has a bald head OR has the word NOTHING in the title.
In Cold Pursuit - Sarah Andrews (pub 2007) 2/24
✔ 2. Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
Read a book that is wicked (by your definition, please tell us) OR features unrequited love OR a book that was made into a TV show/movie.
I Think I Love You - Stephanie Bond 1/14
✔ 3. Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
Read a book set in Tennessee OR has a spiritual aspect OR that features a scene with rain.
The Thrall's Tale - Judith Lindbergh 1/8
✔4. I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred
Read a book where a character is a model OR has a sexy cover OR a character with a cat/or is a cat.
A Harvest of Bones - Yasmine Galenorn 2/8
✔ 5. Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot
Read a book with a rear end (of any kind) on the cover OR where the MC is a musician OR with a character that exercises.
Midnight's Master - Donna Grant 1/28
✔ 6. Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
Read a travel book OR a book where a character travels OR with a vehicle on the cover.
Nautier and Wilder - Lora Leigh (motorcycle) 1/23
✔ 7. No Rain by Blind Melon
Read a book with a HEA OR with a character that reads OR with sunshine on the cover.
Some Like It Scot - Suzanne Enoch 1/8
✔ 8. Far Behind by Candlebox
Read a book where the author's first and last initials can be found in FARBEHIND OR the title contains an X OR where a character has lost friends.
Off Kilter - Hannah Reed 1/1
✔9. House of Love by Amy Grant with Vince Gill
Read a book with ONLY a man and woman on the cover OR a Romance OR published in November or 1994.
Rogue - Katy Evans 2/2
✔ 10. A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins
Read a book set in the UK OR a Series/TBR #3 or with GIRL in the title.
Birdman - Mo Hayder 1/7
✔ 11. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something
Read a book set in New York City OR with a blue cover OR Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote.
The Chocolate Pirate Plot - JoAnna Carl 1/7
✔ 12. The Chanukah Song written and sung by comedian Adam Sandler with Saturday Night Live writers Lewis Morton and Ian Maxtone-Graham
Read a comedy or humor book OR with Jewish characters OR a book with a famous character - real or fictional.
The Beekeeper's Ball - Susan Wiggs 1/12
✔ 13. Renee by Lost Boyz
Read a book where the MC is a lawyer OR set at a college/university OR where a character is murdered.
The Final Cut - Catherine Coulter 1/5
✔ 14. Barely Breathing by Duncan Sheik
Read a book with a two word title OR two words in the title that start with the same letter OR with a guitar on the cover.
Stolen Songbird - Danielle Jensen 1/3
✔ 15. Butterfly Kisses written by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas
Read a book where a character has a daughter OR with a butterfly on the cover OR where a father walks his daughter down the aisle.
The Curse of Tenth Grave - Darynda Jones (hero & heroine have a daughter) 1/11
✔ 16. Bitch by Meredith Brooks
Read a book with flowers on the cover OR with a strong woman as the MC OR a one word title.
Graced - Amanda Pillar 1/17
✔ 17. The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe
Read a book where a character has an abortion OR the title contains a V or P OR published in January (of any year).
Vicious - Kevin O'Brien 1/19
✔ 18. Sunny Came Home by Shawn Colvin
Read a book with fire on the cover OR where a house burns down OR that has won an award.
A Walk Across the Sun - Corban Addison 1/9
✔ 19. Legend of a Cowgirl by Imani Coppola
Read a book with bikers OR with cowboys OR where the female MC can "Speak my mind any time 'cause I got the master plan, Power in my soul, strength from my hand".
Venom - Jennifer Estep 1/21
(m.c. is a bad ass and doesn't take no shit from nobody)
✔ 20. If You Could Only See by Tonic
Read a book with a yellow cover OR with one of the words in the song title is also in the book's title OR with a 6 or 3 in the page total.
Sword of the Rightful King - Jane Yolen (376 pages) 1/17
✔ 21. Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry
Read a book set in a different country than you live in OR with a black and white cover OR where the title begins with a letter in SAVETONIGHT.
The Immortals of Meluha - Amish Tripathi (India, I live in US) 1/15
✔ 22. C'est la Vie by B*Witched
Read a book set in Ireland OR with 4 people on the cover OR where the characters have sex.
Fair Game - Jasmine Haynes (nonstop sex) 1/21
✔ 23. Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega
Read a book with a character or author named Rita, Sandra, Erica, Monica, Tina, Mary or Jessica OR takes place in the 1920s or 1930s OR a court case is featured.
Crow Lake - Mary Lawson 1/15
✔ 24. What It's Like by Everlast
Read a book where a character has bad times OR with a contraction in the title OR whose author is known by more than one name eg. Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb or Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain. Tell us both names.
Immortal - Traci L. Slatton 2/2
(m.c. is kidnapped and turned into a sex slave)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Pro Basketball Challenge Start Date: November 1, 2015
End Date: February 9, 2017
ROUND 1
Game 1: BOSTON CELTICS vs ATLANTA HAWKS
✔Boston Celtics: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in MA or whose author's first and last initials can be found in BOSTON.
The Emperor's Tomb - Steve Berry 11/23 ★★★
✔Atlanta Hawks: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in GA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in ATLANTA.
Edge of Dawn - Lara Adrian 11/3 ★★★
Game 2: BROOKLYN NETS vs CHARLOTTE HORNETS
✔Brooklyn Nets: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in NYC or whose author's first and last initials are in BROOKLYN.
Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo 11/27 ★★★★★
✔Charlotte Hornets: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in NC or a book whose author's first and last initials are in CHARLOTTE.
Night of Cake & Puppets - Laini Taylor 11/8 ★★★★
Game 3: NEW YORK KNICKS vs MIAMI HEAT
✔New York Knicks: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in NYC or whose author's first and last initials are in NEWYORK.
Flames of Arousal - Ruth Kerce 11/1 ★★★
✔Miami Heat: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in FL or a book whose author's first and last initials are in MIAMI.
Sweep in Peace - Ilona Andrews 3/13 ★★★★★
Game 4: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS vs ORLANDO MAGIC
✔Philadelphia 76ers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in PA or whose author's first and last initials can be found in PHILADELPHIA.
Dragon Justice - Laura Ann Gilman 2/21★★★★
✔Orlando Magic: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in FL or a book whose author's first and last initials are in ORLANDO.
Crave The Night - Lara Adrian 12/25★★★★★
Game 5: TORONTO RAPTORS vs WASHINGTON WIZARDS
✔Toronto Raptors: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in Ontario CN or a book whose author's first and last initials are in TORONTO.
The Liar - Nora Roberts 1/13 ★★★
✔Washington Wizards: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in Washington, D.C. or a book whose author's first and last initials are in WASHINGTON.
Tangle of Need - Nalini Singh 12/12 ★★★★★
Game 6: DALLAS MAVERICKS vs CHICAGO BULLS
✔Dallas Mavericks: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in TX or a book whose author's first and last initials are in DALLAS.
Bad Blood - Dana Stabenow 11/24 ★★★★★
✔Chicago Bulls: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in IL or a book whose author's first and last initials are in CHICAGO.
Knock Me Off My Feet - Susan Donovan 11/27 ★★★★
Game 7: HOUSTON ROCKETS vs CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
✔Houston Rockets: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in TX or a book whose author's first and last initials are in HOUSTON.
Heart of Obsidian - Nalini Singh 12/24 ★★★★★
✔Cleveland Cavaliers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in OH or a book whose author's first and last initials are in CLEVELAND.
Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea - Nancy Atherton 2/4 ★★★
Game 8: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES vs DETROIT PISTONS
✔Memphis Grizzlies: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in TN or a book whose author's first and last initials are in MEMPHIS.
The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires - Molly Harper 1/26 ★★★
✔Detroit Pistons: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in MI or a book whose author's first and last initials are in DETROIT.
Backlash - D.L. Thomas 1/15 ★★★
Game 9: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS vs INDIANA PACERS
✔New Orleans Pelicans: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in LA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in NEWORLEANS.
Forbidden Fruit - Erica> Spindler 12/31 ★★★★
✔Indiana Pacers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in IN or a book whose author's first and last initials are in INDIANA.
Bad Wolf - Nele Neuhaus 12/20 ★★★★
Game 10: SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs MILWAUKEE BUCKS
✔San Antonio Spurs: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in TX or a book whose author's first and last initials are in SPURS.
Butterfly - Sharon Sala 11/1 ★★★
✔Milwaukee Bucks: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in WI or a book whose author's first and last initials are in MILWAUKEE.
Big Sky Wedding - Linda Lael Miller 11/8 ★★★
Game 11: DENVER NUGGETS vs GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
✔Denver Nuggets: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in CO or a book whose author's first and last initials are in DENVER.
Aunt Dimity Goes West - Nancy Atherton 11/3 ★★★★
✔Golden State Warriors: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in CA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in GOLDENSTATE.
Kiss of Snow - Nalini Singh 11/13 ★★★★★
Game 12: MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES vs LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
✔Minnesota Timberwolves: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in MN or a book whose author's first and last initials are in MINNESOTA.
Shield of Winter - Nalini Singh 1/29 ★★★★★
✔Los Angeles Clippers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in CA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in LOSANGELES.
Big Bad Beast - Shelly Laurenston 12/6 ★★★★★
Game 13: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs LOS ANGELES LAKERS
✔Oklahoma City Thunder: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in OK or a book whose author's first and last initials are in OKLAHOMACITY.
East of Ecstasy - Laura Kaye 12/19 ★★★★★
✔Los Angeles Lakers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in CA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in LOSANGELES.
Parasite - Mira Grant 12/16 ★★★
Game 14: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs PHOENIX SUNS
✔Portland Trail Blazers: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in OR or a book whose author's first and last initials are in PORTLAND.
Waking the Dead - Kylie Brant 11/17 ★★★★
✔Phoenix Suns: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in AZ or a book whose author's first and last initials are in PHOENIX.
East - Edith Pattou 12/19 ★★★★
Game 15: UTAH JAZZ vs SACRAMENTO KINGS
✔Utah Jazz: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in UT or a book whose author's first and last initials are in UTAH.
Fade to Black - Morgan Kearns 12/7 ★★
✔Sacramento Kings: Round ①: Read a book that takes place in CA or a book whose author's first and last initials are in SACRAMENTO.
In the Air Tonight - Stephanie Tyler 11/5 ★★★★
ROUND 2Game 1: Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs
✔Golden State Warriors: Round ②: Oracle Arena is the place to see the Warriors when they're home in Oakland. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in ORACLEARENA. TWO word minimum.
No Limits - Alison Kent 7/16 ★★★★
✔San Antonio Spurs: Round ②: The AT&T Center is the arena in which the Spurs play their home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in ATTCENTER. TWO word minimum.
The Target - David Baldacci 6/25 ★★★★★
Game 2: Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets
✔Boston Celtics: Round ②: TD Garden is the arena in which the Celtics play home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in TDGARDEN. Two word minimum.
Ghosts & Echoes - Lyn Benedict 4/28 ★★★
✔Brooklyn Nets: Round ②: Barclays Center hosts the Nets home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in BARCLAYSCENTER. Three word minimum.
Straddling the Line - Jaci Burton 3/14 ★★★
Game 3: Dallas Mavericks vs Orlando Magic
✔Dallas Mavericks: Round ②: The American Airlines Center is the arena in which the Mavericks play their home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in AMERICANAIRLINESCENTER. Three word minimum.
The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins 5/24 ★★★
✔Portland Trail Blazers The Moda Center is the arena in which the Blazers play their home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in MODACENTER. TWO word minimum.
Night Marchers - Rebecca Gober 4/25 ★★★
Game 4: Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
✔Indiana Pacers: Round ②: Bankers Life Fieldhouse is the place to see the Pacers' home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in BANKERSLIFEFIELDHOUSE. Three word minimum.
Born of Shadows - Sherrilyn Kenyon 4/13 ★★★★★
✔Oklahoma City Thunder: Round ②: Chesapeake Energy Center hosts the home games of the Thunder. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in CHESAPEAKEENERGYCENTER. Three word minimum.
England's Perfect Hero - Suzanne Enoch 3/18 ★★★★★
Game 5: Sacramento Kings vs Washington Wizards
✔Sacramento Kings: Round ②: When in Sacramento, the Kings play in Sleep Train Arena. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in SLEEPTRAINARENA. Three word minimum.
Immortal Ever After - Lynsay Sands 4/27 ★★★★
✔Washington Wizards:
Round ②: The Verizon Center is home to the Wizards when they're in Washington, D.C. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in VERIZONCENTER. TWO word minimum.
Cleopatra's Needle - Steven Siebert 6/23 ★★
Game 6: Detroit Pistons vs Minnesota Timberwolves
✔Detroit Pistons: Round ②: The Palace of Auburn Hills is the arena in which the Pistons play their home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in PALACEOFAUBURNHILLS. Three word minimum.
Born of Ashes - Caris Roane 5/11 ★★★★★
✔Minnesota Timberwolves: Round ②: The Target Center is the place to be to see the T-Wolves in action while in Minneapolis. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in THETARGETCENTER. Three word minimum.
How to Entice an Enchantress - Karen Hawkins 6/29 ★★★★
Game 7: Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic
✔Houston Rockets: Round ②: The Toyota Center hosts home games for the Rockets. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in THETOYOTACENTER. Three word minimum.
Allegiance of Honor - Nalini Singh 7/3 ★★★★★
✔Orlando Magic: Round ②: Amway Center is the arena in which the Magic plays their home games. Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY word in the title (include a,an,the) may be found in AMWAYCENTER. TWO word minimum.
Wicked Charms - Janet Evanovich 3/26 ★★★★
ROUND 3Game 1: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers
✔Miami Heat: Round ③: Team colors are red, yellow, black and white. Read a book whose cover is predominantly red, yellow, black and/or white.
Poison Princess - Kresley Cole 7/31 ★★★
✔Indiana Pacers: Round ③: Team colors are yellow, blue, cool gray and white. Read a book whose cover is predominantly yellow, blue, gray and/or white.
Lawless - T.M. Frazier 8/12 ★★★★★
Game 2: Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks
✔Brooklyn Nets: Round ③: Team colors are black and white. Read a book whose cover is predominantly black and/or white.
About a Vampire - Lynsay Sands 8/11 ★★★★
✔Dallas Mavericks: Round ③: Team colors are blue, silver, black, navy blue, white. Read a book whose cover is predominantly (medium) blue, silver, black, navy blue and/or white.
Zero Hour - Clive Cussler 8/6 ★★★★
Game 3: San Antonio Spurs vs Detroit Pistons
✔San Antonio Spurs: Round ③: Team colors are silver, black, and white. Read a book whose cover is silver, black, and/or white.
Dragonmark - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/3 ★★★
✔Detroit Pistons: Round ③: Team colors are red, blue, navy and white. Read a book whose cover is predominantly red, (medium) blue, navy blue and/or white.
Bound by Flame - Anne Windsor 8/10 ★★★★★
Game 4: Houston Rockets vs Sacramento Kings
✔Houston Rockets: Round ③: Team colors are red, silver, black and mustard. Read a book whose cover is red, silver, black and/or golden yellow.
Born of Legend - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/9 ★★★★★
✔Sacramento Kings: Round ③: Team colors are purple, silver, black and white. Read a book whose cover is at least 50% purple, silver, black and/or white.
Dead Heat - Patricia Briggs 8/5 ★★★★
ROUND 4
Game 1: Indiana Pacers vs Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers: Round ④: Head Coach is Frank Vogel. Read a book in which the main character's or the author's first name is Frank (Francis okay) OR read a book in which the main character's or author's last name is Vogel (exact match).
The Aeronaut's Windlass - Jim Butcher (Francis Grimm) 10/1 ★★★★
Dallas Mavericks: Round ④: The Mavericks' Head Coach is Rick Carlisle. Read a book in which the main character's or the author's first name is Rick (Richard okay) OR read a book in which the main character's or author's last name is Carlisle (exact match).
14th Deadly Sin - James Patterson 10/7 ★★★
Game 2: Detroit Pistons vs Houston Rockets
Detroit Pistons: Round ④: Head Coach is Stan Van Gundy. Read a book in which the main character's or the author's first name is Stan or any male name that begins with St OR read a book in which the main character's or author's last name begins with VAN.
The Covert Wolf - Bonnie VANak 2/9 ★★
Houston Rockets: Round ④: Head Coach is Kevin McHale. Read a book in which the main character's or the author's first name is Kevin OR read a book in which the main character's or author's last name begins with McH.
Vicious - Kevin O'Brien 1/19 ★★★
ROUND 5
Game 1: Indiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers: Round ⑤: The Pacers were founded in 1967 and joined the NBA in 1976. Read a book originally published in 1967 or 1976.
Houston Rockets: Round ⑤: The Rockets were founded in 1967. Read a book originally published in 1967.
Musical Alphabet ChallengeStart Date: September 1, 2013
End Date: March 9, 2017
✔A: All My Friends Say - Luke Bryan
A: Aunt Dimity's Death - Nancy Atherton 9/8/13
M: Master of Darkness - Angela Knight 9/5/13
F: Forced to Kill - Andrew Peterson 9/4/13
S: The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart 9/4/13
✔B: Bringing On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard
B: Written in Red - Anne Bishop 9/16/13
O: Z for Zachariah - Robert O'Brien 9/9/13
H: Hunting Eve - Iris Johansen 9/14/13
✔C: Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy) - Rodney Atkins
C: Bitter Blood - Rachel Caine 9/23/13
T: 12th of Never - James Patterson 9/26/13
G: Faerie Tales - Martin Greenberg 9/19/13
C: Fall of Night - Rachel Caine 10/5/13
O: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology - Kevin Osborn 9/17/13
I: Ink Flamingos - Karen Olson 9/17/13
B: Blood Lies - Daniel Kalla 10/3/13
✔D: Don't Tell Me You're Not In Love - Jerry Kilgore
D: The Terror - Dan Simmons 10/23/13
T: Too Hot to Handle - Robin Kaye 10/9/13
M: Healing the Highlander - Melissa Mayhue 10/7/13
Y: A Year and a Day - Virginia Henley 11/3/13
N: Aunt Dimity and the Duke - Nancy Atherton 10/6/13
I: What Doesn't Kill You - Iris Johansen 10/17/13
L: Little Shop of Homicide - Denise Swanson 10/22/13
✔E: Eight Second Ride - Jake Owen
E: Eternity Base - Bob Mayer 11/21
S: Head Over Heels - Jill Shalvis 11/7
R: Curfew - Phil Rickman 11/6
✔F: Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
F: Cream Puff Murder - Joanne Fluke 11/29
A: Stranger - Zoe Archer 11/24
F: Fifth Quarter - Tanya Huff 12/11
I: Initiation - Ruth Kerce 12/5
L: Labyrinth - Kat Richardson 11/29
✔G: Goodbye On A Bad Day - Shane McAnally
G: Black Hole Sun - David Macinnis Gill 12/22
O: One Rainy Night - Kathye Quick 1/10
B: Beyond the Night - Joss Ware 12/20
D: Death Bringer - Derek Landy 12/12
✔H: How Do You Talk To An Angel - The Heights
H: Hour Game - David Baldacci 1/30
D: Dreams of a Dark Warrior - Kresley Cole 1/16
Y: You're Next - Gregg Hurwitz 2/20
T: Lizard World - Terry Richard Bazes 1/21
T: The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner 2/10
A: The Ape Who Guards the Balance - Elizabeth Peters 1/22
✔I: I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
I: Instant Gratification - Jill Shalvis 2/23
W: Embrace the Night Eternal - Joss Ware 2/23
B: Big Bad Wolf - Christine Warren 3/16
S: Steel's Edge - Ilona Andrews 2/25
✔J: Just Say Goodbye - Theory of a Deadman
J: Four Blind Mice - James Patterson 3/16
S: Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Joanne Fluke 3/20
G: Unmanned - Lois Greiman 3/26
✔K: Keep Your Hands To Yourself - The Georgia Satelites
K: Shadows Before the Sun - Kelly Gay 3/29
Y: Blood Past - Samantha Young 5/15
H: He Shall Thunder in the Sky - Elizabeth Peters 3/29
T: The Queen of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner 3/31
Y: Shades of Blood - Samantha Young 9/20
✔L: Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
L: Daddy's Girl - Lisa Scottoline 10/16
M: The Sinner - Margaret Mallory 9/27
C: Hallowed - Cynthia Hand 9/25
B: Spectyr - Philippa Ballantine 9/30
W: Wanted: Undead or Alive - Kerrelyn Sparks 9/26
✔M: Must Be Doing Something Right - Billy Currington
M: Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick - Mandi Casey 10/19
B: The Alexandria Link - Steve Berry 10/25
D: The Highlander's Forbidden Bride - Donna Fletcher 10/19
S: The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo - Kerrelyn Sparks 10/18
R: The Six Sacred Stones - Matthew Reilly 10/21
continued...✔N: No One Needs To Know - Shania Twain
N: Nightborn - Lynn Viehl 10/31
O: Crazy Thing Called Love - Molly O'Keefe 11/26
N: Nearly Departed in Deadwood - Ann Charles 11/9
T: Twisted Things - Madge Swindells 11/9
K: The Ghost and Mrs. McClure - Alice Kimberly 10/29
✔O: Old Enough To Know Better - Wade Hayes
O: One Heart to Win - Johanna Lindsey 12/16
E: The Exiled Queen - Cinda Williams Chima 11/28
T: Thunder Moon - Lori Handeland 12/15
K: If There Be Dragons - Kay Hooper 12/18
B: Biting Bad - Chloe Neill 12/5
✔P: Paradise By The Dashboard Light - Meatloaf
P: Cross My Heart - James Patterson 12/19
B: Baby, I'm Yours - Susan Andersen 12/20
D: Love Is All You Need - Lori Devoti 12/22
L: Love You More - Lisa Gardner 12/24
✔Q: Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) - Doris Day
Q: Quarterback Draw - Jaci Burton 8/25/15
S: Lie With Me - Stephanie Tyler 12/27/14
S: Though Not Dead - Dana Stabenow 12/31/14
W: Wild Things - Chloe Neill 12/31/14
W: Wicked as She Wants - Delilah Dawson 2/6/15
B: Antiques Flee Market - Barbara Allan 2/4/15
W: Water Bound - Christine Feehan 2/16/15
B: Her Sky Cowboy - Beth Ciotta 2/13/15
✔R: (Reach Up for the) Sunrise - Duran Duran
R: Born in Chains - Caris Roane 8/30/15
U: Luscious - Amanda Usen 10/2/15
F: The Forgotten Room - Lincoln Child 9/25
S: Savage Chains - Caris Roane 8/30/15
✔S: Shattered (Turn The Car Around) - O.A.R.
S: Fingersmith - Sarah Waters 10/8/15
T: Days of Blood & Starlight - Laini Taylor 10/13/15
C: Meanwhile, Back in Deadwood - Ann Charles 10/18/15
A: Magic Shifts - Ilona Andrews 10/9/15
✔T: Too Much Time On My Hands - Styx
T: The Tower - Jean Johnson 10/21
M: SEVEN-X - Mike Wech 10/24
T: A Taste of the Nightlife - Sarah Zettel 10/29
O: Pleasure Island - Lorie O'Clare 11/29
M: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma - Trenton Lee Stewart 10/24
H: The Heart of a Hero - Janet Chapman 10/25
✔U: Used Heart For Sale - Gary Allan
U: Under the Boardwalk - Carly Phillips 1/8/16
H: Boundless - Cynthia Hand 11/29
F: Full Blast - Janet Evanovich12/22
S: Spell Booked - Joyce & Jim Lavene 12/23
✔V: Valley Of The Calm Trees - Klaxons
V: Vixen 03 - Clive Cussler 1/14
O: Odd Interlude - Dean Koontz 2/13
C: Lost Highlander - Cassidy Cayman 1/16
T: Backlash - D.L. Thomas 1/15/16
✔W: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
W: Rapture - J.R. Ward 2/28
M: The Penalty Box - Deidre Martin 2/21
U: Under a Vampire Moon - Lynsay Sands 2/20
B: Big Stone Gap - Adriana Trigiani 2/16
Y: The Curse of the Wendigo - Rick Yancey 9/5
G: Dragon Justice - Laura Ann Gilman 2/21
G: Guardian - Jo Anderton 3/6
✔X: SeXy Little Thing - Chickenfoot
S: Born of Legend - Sherrilyn Kenyon 9/9
L: Easter Bunny Murder - Leslie Meier 9/8
T: Thirty-One and a Half Regrets - Denise Grover Swank 9/23
✔Y: You Made A Liar Out Of Me - Chad Brock
Y: Sword of the Rightful King - Jane Yolen 1/17
M: Barefoot Season - Susan Mallery 9/25
L: Beast Behaving Badly - Shelly Laurenston 9/28
O: One Snowy Knight - Deborah MacGillivray 11/25
O: One Moonlit Night - Samantha James 12/6
M: Mister X - John Lutz 10/3
✔Z: Zing Met Me Mee - Gerard Joling
Z: The Never List - Koethi Zan 3/9/17
M: Midnight's Master - Donna Grant 1/28/17
M: The Memorist - M.J. Rose 1/29/17
M: The Murder of King Tut - James Patterson 2/10/17
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
From Sea to Shining Sea - Ohio Duration: March 1 - April 30, 2017
READ: 9/10
✔1. Read a book that was first published in 2017 -or- read a book with a deer on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose title begins with the letter C (all words count!)
Born of Vengeance - Sherrilyn Kenyon (pub 2/7/17) 4/12
✔2. Read a book with a word meaning road in its title (compound words are only okay as long as they still mean road) -or- read a book more than 50% into the series (for example, books 6-10 in a ten book series) -or- read a book set on the shores of one of the Great Lakes (tell us where it is set).
St. Patrick's Day Murder - Leslie Meier (book 14 of 23) 3/8
✔3. Read a book that has a Native American main character -or- read a book whose cover is 75% red (post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone farms.
The Savage Altar - Åsa Larsson 3/4
✔4. Read a book with a politician main character -or- read a book that somehow relates to one of the movies directed by Steven Spielberg (let us know which movie, and how your book fits) -or- read a book that features either an astronaut or a pilot.
Nothing Gold Can Stay - Dana Stabenow (pilot) 3/11
✔5. Read a book set in ancient times (anything 1200s and older) -or- read a book with a snake or a grave on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which an object is dated using carbon dating (tell us what it is).
Dragon of the Island - Mary Gillgannon (set in 510 AD) 4/1
✔6. Read a book with a kitchen utensil on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set in the 1800s -or- read a book with a main character in one of the emergency services.
Some Like It Wild - Teresa Medeiros (set in 1814) 3/13
✔7. Read a book in which a professional sport is observed or played -or- read a book that was first published in one of the years a Summer Olympic game was held (the years are on the right side of the wiki) -or- read a book with a predominantly brown cover (post the cover).
When Maidens Mourn - C.S. Harris 3/14
8. Read a book marked Food on the main GR page -or- read a book with a spice in its title -or- read a book in which a character eats one of the foods mentioned above - hot dog, chili dog, spaghetti, chili or buckeyes.
✔9. Read a book with an imaginary animal in it (tell us what it is) -or- read a book whose author initials are in "SOUTHBAYBESSIE" -or- read a book greater than 500 pages (tell us the number of pages).
Dark Embers - Tessa Adams (dragon) 3/24
✔10. Read a book with shoes on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a real whale is seen -or- read a book where a character breaks the law but does not get caught (cozy mystery heroines breaking and entering to snoop count).
One Kick - Chelsea Cain (breaking & entering) 3/4
A trip to the MallDuration: December 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017
READ: 45/45
FOOD COURT (10) ✔1. Burgers – Fast food was first popularized in the 1950’s in the U.S.
*Read a book that is “fast” (between 150 and 200 pages) OR a book that is set in the 1950’s.
Chasing Payne - Chantel Seabrook (270 pages) 5/6
✔2. Pizza – Pizza is an oven-baked flat bread generally topped with tomato sauce and cheese, originally developed in Naples Italy.
*Read a book with a red or yellow cover (show us the cover) OR a book with an Italian character or set in Italy.
The Lost Key - Catherine Coulter 1/23
✔3. Asian Cuisine – Rice is common to most Asian cuisines, with different varieties popular in various regions. Chopsticks are shaped pairs of equal length sticks used as the traditional culinary utensils in all of the East Asian countries for over 6000 years.
*Read a book whose title’s first word starts with a letter in RICE (disregard A, An, The) OR a book with a long straight item on the cover (show us the cover).
Restless Heart - Emma Lang 12/5
✔4. Salads – A salad consists of small pieces of food, mixed with salad dressing, and generally served cold.
*Read a book with lots of little items on the cover (show us the cover) OR read a book set in the summer months (June, July, or August).
Tick Tock - James Patterson 2/5
✔5. Mexican – Mexican cuisine’s basic staples are corn, beans, and chili peppers, although Europeans (especially the Spanish) introduced meats, cheese, and herbs & spices.
*Read a book set in Mexico or a US state that borders Mexico (California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas) OR a book with a Spanish-speaking character.
Nightwalker - Jacquelyn Frank (New Mexico) 12/29
✔6. BBQ – Barbecuing is done slowly over low indirect heat and flavored by the smoking process.
*Read a book with a title that starts with “B” or “Q” OR a book that has a word in the title that can be used either as an adjective or a verb.
Birdman - Mo Hayder 1/7
✔7. Pretzels – The distinctive symmetrical looped form is traditional, originating in Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
*Read a book with a character whose first or last name starts with “Z” OR a book with some sort of twist in the plot.
Apprentice in Death - J.D. Robb (Zoey Younger) 12/17
✔8. Ice Cream – This is a frozen good made from dairy products.
*Read a book with snow or ice on the cover (show us the cover) OR read a book whose author’s first OR last name starts with “S” or “I.”
Magic Binds - Ilona Andrews 12/28
✔9. Bakery – The first open-air bakery was developed in Paris.
*Read a book with something sweet on the cover (doesn’t have to be food, but something you consider sweet like a puppy or a baby—show us the cover) OR read a book set in Paris.
The Rocky Road to Romance - Janet Evanovich 12/25
✔10. Coffee Shop – Coffeehouses serve as centers of social interaction while also serving coffee and other hot beverages.
*Read a book where the characters meet somewhere for coffee OR a book with some sort of coffee or tea cup on the cover (show us the cover).
On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle 3/20
SERVICES (15) ✔1. Bank – Banking in its modern sense evolved in the 14th century in the rich cities of Renaissance Italy but in many ways was a continuation of ideas and concepts of credit and lending that had their roots in the ancient world. *Read a book with a wealthy character OR a book with a cityscape on the cover (show us the cover).
The Curse of Tenth Grave - Darynda Jones (hero is a billionaire) 1/11
✔2. Gift wrapping – In the United States, an additional five million tons of waste are generated over the Christmas gift-giving period; four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags.
*Read a book with some sort of holiday or celebration in which gifts are usually given (tell us the occasion) OR a book with a 5 in the original publication date.
Compulsion - Allison Brennan (pub Apr 2015) 12/24
✔3. Nails – There are approximately 200,000 nail salons in the United States. People who work at nail salons are usually called "nail technicians or manicurists or 'Nailists' (the well-known appellation of nail technicians in Japan and some Southeast Asian countries)."
*Read a book set in an Asian country or with an Asian character OR a book with more than 200 pages (tell us how many pages).
Me, Myself and Why? - Mary Janice Davidson (m.c. is Asian) 1/1
✔4. Hair salon – A hairstylist is a person whose business is cutting, curling, coloring, and arranging hair, especially that of women.
*Read a book with a character who works with hair OR a book with more than one woman on the cover (show us the cover).
The Thrall's Tale - Judith Lindbergh 1/8
✔5. Photographer – A photographer can be an amateur (taking photographs for pleasure and to record an event) or a professional (to make money such as for a newspaper, wedding, graduation, or to illustrate an advertisement).
*Read a book with a wedding or graduation within the plot OR a book with any character who is a photographer.
Bite Me - Shelly Laurenston (heroine is a photographer) 12/24
✔6. Pharmacy – The word pharmacy is derived from its root word pharma which was a term used since the 15th–17th centuries. However, the original Greek roots from pharmakos imply sorcery or even poison. In addition to pharma responsibilities, the pharma offered general medical advice and a range of services that are now performed solely by other specialist practitioners, such as surgery and midwifery.
*Read a book with a character in the medical field OR a book that includes some sort of sorcery or poison in the plot.
Wicked Witch Murder - Leslie Meier (m.c.'s are witches) 12/10
✔7. Playground – Modern playgrounds often have recreational equipment such as the seesaw, merry-go-round, swing set, slide, jungle gym, or sandbox, many of which help children develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as providing recreation and enjoyment.
*Read a book with a character who is a parent OR a book with the first letter of every word in the title in PLAYGROUND (3-word minimum, you may use A, An, The).
The Girl from Everywhere - Heidi Heilig (m.c.'s are father and daughter) 12/25
✔8. Arcade – Video games were introduced in amusement arcades in the late 1970’s, becoming popular with young adults. Many video arcades began closing in the late 1990’s as the technology of home video game consoles began to rival that of arcade games. However, video arcades remain popular in Japan, where they are called game centers
* Read a book where some sort of game is played (sports, video games, board games, etc., NOT mind games or manipulation) OR a book with a MAIN character under the age of 13.
Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood (chess and video games) 1/2
✔9. Optical services – The first wearable eyeglasses were invented in Italy around 1286. This was the start of the optical industry of grinding and polishing lenses for these "spectacles"
*Read a book with eyeglasses on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with at least two of these numbers--1, 2, 8, or 6-- in the total number of pages.
Tutu Deadly - Natalie Roberts (256 pages) 12/12
✔10. Art gallery– In the second half of the eighteenth century, many private collections of art were nationalized and opened to the public.
*Read a book with a character who an artist of any sort OR a book with a painting or frame on the cover (show us the cover).
Three Sisters - Susan Mallery 2/4
✔11. Movie theater – Most but not all movie theaters are commercial operations catering to the general public, who attend by purchasing a ticket. The movie is projected with a movie projector onto a large projection screen at the front of the auditorium.
*Read a book about someone in the entertainment industry (real or imaginary) OR a book with a character who goes to the movies.
The Legacy - Linda Lael Miller (mother & step son go to the movies) 3/27
✔12. Phone service center – Phone service centers now cater to cell-phone users, offering new products and plans as well as expert technicians and quality parts.
*Read a book with a 5-letter word in the title OR a book where the character mentions using a telephone or cell phone in some way.
Cold, Cold Heart - Tami Hoag 12/3
✔13. Engraving – Engraving is the practice of incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it.
*Read a book with the title written in cursive OR a book with some sort of actual texture on the cover (for example, raised lettering, fuzzy background).
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend - Katarina Bivald 3/17
✔14. Tailor – This term dates back to the 13th century and took on its modern meaning in the last of the 18th century.
*Read a book set more than 200 years ago OR a book with some sort of sewing item on the cover (such as scissors, tape measure, sewing machine, etc.) (show us the cover).
White Lion's Lady - Tina St. John (set 1179) 2/22
✔15. Day Spa – This is a business providing a variety of services for the purpose of improving health, beauty and relaxation through personal care treatments. A day spa is different from a beauty salon in that it usually contains facilities such as a sauna, pool, steam room, or whirlpool that guests may use in addition to their treatment.
*Read a book that relaxes you OR a book from your favorite genre.
Men of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong 12/31
STORES (20) ✔1. Men’s apparel – Men’s clothes are often more practical, functioning well in a wide variety of situations. Be sure to visit London for fine hand-tailoring and classic styles.
*Read a book with lone man on the cover OR a book set in London.
Skin Game - Jim Butcher 12/8
✔2. Women’s boutique – A wider range of clothing styles are available to women. It is generally acceptable for a woman to wear traditionally men’s clothing, while the converse is unusual.
*Read a book with a lone woman on the cover OR a book about someone who works in the clothing industry (designer, tailor, etc.).
Someone to Watch Over Me - Lisa Kleypas 12/11
✔3. Children’s clothing – Children's clothing is often more casual than adult clothing, fit for play and rest.
*Read a young adult or middle grade book (must be at least 150 pages) OR a book with a baby or young child on the cover (show us the cover).
The Cannibals - Iain Lawrence (240 pages) 1/5
✔4. Luggage – Also called baggage, this consists of containers that hold a traveler’s articles during transit.
*Read a book set in a country other than your own OR a book where a character takes any sort of lengthy trip, like a vacation or relocation.
Night and Day - Iris Johansen (set in Scotland, I'm USA) 12/4
✔5. Jewelry – Jewelry consists of small decorative items worn for personal adornment.
*Read a book with jewelry on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a sandwiched letter in the title
Maximum Ride Forever - James Patterson (maxiMUM forEVEr) 12/4
✔6. Toys – Toys have been found at archaeological sites, with the origin of the word dating to the 14th century.
*Read a book with some sort of plaything on the cover (show us the cover) OR read a book with a 4-letter title.
Remy - Katy Evans 12/29
✔7. Bath and beauty– A beauty salon offers generalized services related to skin health.
*Read a book whose cover you consider beautiful (show us the cover) OR read a book where a character works in a spa or someone who visits a spa.
Graced - Amanda Pillar 1/17
✔8. Bookstore – Bookselling was originally founded when Christianity spread, creating a great demand for copies of various sacred books.
*Read a book with “Christian” or “Religion” on the main GR genre page OR a book with an open book showing on the cover (show us the cover).
Daughter of the Blood - Ann Bishop 1/22
✔9. Music – Music is an art form whose medium is sound, with common elements of pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and timbre/texture.
*Read a book where music is important to the plot OR a book with any of the following words in the title: MUSIC, SONG, LYRIC, SOUND, CHORD, PITCH, RHYTHM (plural is the only variation allowed).
Stolen Songbird - Danielle Jensen 1/3
✔10. Cards and Gifts – The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls. Nowadays they are usually given on special occasions. *Read a book set in China or Egypt OR a book with some sort of writing implement on the cover (show us the cover).
Desert God - Wilbur Smith (set in Egypt) 2/4
✔11. Cooking and cookware – Cookware is a type of food preparation container and intended for use on a stove or in an oven. First made of pottery, they now can be found in various metals and composites.
*Read a cookbook (non-fiction) OR a book with any kitchen item on the cover (show us the cover).
The Beekeeper's Ball - Susan Wiggs 1/12
✔12. Shoes – Shoes are intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities and can be made from leather, wood, canvas, rubber, or plastics.
*Read a book with shoes, sandals, or boots on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book that can be considered more than one genre (such as historical fiction and mystery).
Me, Myself and Why? - Mary Janice Davidson 1/1
✔13. Housewares – Household goods can be categorized as consumer electronics, appliances, and home furnishings.
*Read a book with some sort of household furnishings on the cover (such as chair, table, lamp, etc.) (show us the cover) OR a book whose author’s first AND last initial is found in the word HOUSEWARES.
Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid - Suzanne Enoch 12/2
✔14. Sports and fitness – Hundreds of sports exist, from those requiring only 2 participants to those with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or competing as individuals. It generally consists of activities based on physical athleticism or physical dexterity.
*Read a book with a competitive athlete (either fiction or non-fiction) OR a book with at least 2 people on the cover.
Alien in the Family - Gini Koch 12/14
✔15. Florist – Many nations have their own style of floral arranging. This is dependent on what flower varieties are readily available and the culture of the nation.
*Read a book with multiple flowers on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a character who gardens as a hobby or a profession.
Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans - Denise Grover Swank 12/28
(heroine is a professional landscaper)
✔16. Chocolate and candy – Also known as a confectionery, candy stores are filled with an assortment of sweets, often offering a selection of old-fashioned treats from different countries.
*Read a book with some sort of chocolate in the title or on the cover (show us the cover) OR read a book with a character who is a small business owner (of any type).
I Love This Bar - Carolyn Brown (m.c. owns bar in a small town) 12/23
✔17. Vitamins – Vitamins are essential for the normal growth and development of a multi-cellular organism. The value of eating a certain food to maintain health was recognized long before vitamins were identified.
*Read a book with “Health” listed on its GR main genre page OR a book whose title or author’s first or last name begins with “V.”
Vicious - Kevin O'Brien 1/19
✔18. Comics and Joke Gifts – Although comic books have some origins in 1700’s Japan and 1830’s Europe, comic books were first popularized in the United States during the 1930s.
*Read a book set in the 1930’s OR a book whose main character’s FIRST name starts with C or J (tell us the name).
Captive Heart - Anne Windsor (Jack Blackmore) 12/11
✔19. Perfumery – The word perfume derives from the Latin perfumare, meaning "to smoke through." Perfumery, or the art of making perfumes, began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, and was further refined by the Romans and Persians.
*Read a book showing smoke on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book set in Egypt, Italy, or what now constitutes Mesopotamia (including Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey) or Persia (including Iran, Armenia, Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan).
Immortal - Traci L. Slatton (Italy) 2/2
✔20. Electronics – Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. In British English they are often called brown goods by producers and sellers.
*Read a book with a brown cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a character who uses some sort of electronics in his/her job (such as a cell phone, computer, etc.).
The Current Between Us - Kindle Alexander 12/26
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Food Phrases Duration: December 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017
READ: 29/30
✔1. Apple of my eye
* Read a book some kind of fruit on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - read a book set in ancient times (1500's or earlier).
The Apple Orchard - Susan Wiggs (bowl of apples on table) 12/19
✔2. Bad apple
* Read a book that is marked DARK on the main Goodreads genre page - or - read a book whose title contains double consecutive letters (like a-pp-le).
The Current Between Us - Kindle Alexander (cuRRent, betwEEN) 12/26
✔3. Best thing since sliced bread
* Read a book that is highly regarded (having a GR rating of higher than 4.0) - OR - read a book published in 1940 or earlier.
Apprentice in Death - J.D. Robb (4.43) 12/17
✔4. Big cheese
* Read a book with a word in the title that contains the letters "CH" (letters must be together) - OR - read a book about a celebrity or another high-profile real-life person.
Poseidon’s Children - Michael West (CHildren) 12/31
✔5. Bite off more than one can chew
* Read a book where the first letter of the first word of the title begins in CHEW (disregard A, An, The) - or - read a book where a character tackles a big project.
Wicked Witch Murder - Leslie Meier 12/10
✔6. Bring home the bacon
* Read a book set in England - or - read a book with main characters who are married to each other.
Night and Day - Iris Johansen 12/4
✔7. Buy a lemon
* Read a book with a lemon yellow cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book that didn't meet your expectations.
The Girl from Everywhere - Heidi Heilig 12/25
✔8. Cook (someone's) goose
* Read a book set in Sweden or written by a Swedish author - or - read a book with a TSTL character (tell us who and why).
Vicious - Kevin O'Brien 1/19
(heroine goes investigating on her own while a serial killer is grabbing people)
✔9. Cool as a cucumber
* Read a book set in the summer - OR - read a book with a character who is cool under pressure.
Echoes in Death - J.D. Robb 3/29
✔10. Couch-potato
* Read a book with a couch/sofa or a TV on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - read a book with an author or character named Tom.
Someone to Watch Over Me - Lisa Kleypas 12/11
✔11. Cry over spilled/spilt milk
* Read a book with no word in the title being longer than 4 letters - or - read a book with some kind of beverage on the cover (show us the cover).
Skin Game - Jim Butcher 12/8
12. Duck soup
* Read a book that has been made into a movie - or - read a book featuring brothers.
✔13. Easy as pie
* Read a book from your favorite genre (tell us the genre) - OR - read a book written in the 1800's.
Captive Heart - Anne Windsor (paranormal) 12/11
✔14. Eat crow
* Read a book with a bird in the title or on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - read a book with a character whose FIRST name begins with a letter in CROW (tell us the character).
Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo 12/17
✔15. Eat humble pie
* Read a book whose title starts with the letter "H" or "U" - or - read a book in which a wild animal is a significant part of the story.
Hangman - Michael Slade 12/9
✔16. Flat as a pancake
* Read a book that you found uninteresting or flat, rating it 1-2 stars - or - read a book with some sort of food on the cover (show us the cover).
Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood 1/2
✔17. Go bananas
* Read a book with a wild animal on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book marked CRIME or TRUE CRIME on the main GR genre page.
Bite Me - Shelly Laurenston 12/24
✔18. Half a loaf is better than none
* Read a book with a royal character - or - read a book with a play on words or pun in the title.
Alien in the Family - Gini Koch (hero is a prince) 12/14
✔19. Have bigger fish to fry
* Read a book with a fish on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with an "X" somewhere in the title or the author's name.
The Fire Dragon - Tianna Xander 12/18
✔20. In a pickle
* Read a book whose title starts with a letter in PICKLE - or - read a book with a character who finds him/herself in trouble that can't be easily solved.
I Love This Bar - Carolyn Brown 12/23
✔21. Lay an egg
* Read a book with an actor or actress somewhere in the story - OR - read a book with a character who has some sort of failure (tell us how).
Maximum Ride Forever - James Patterson 12/4
(heroine was supposed to save the world and she failed, apocalypse happened)
✔22. Like taking candy from a baby
* Read a book with some sort of candy on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book that involves an organization known by an acronym (FBI, CIA, ATF, etc).
Me, Myself and Why? - Mary Janice Davidson (FBI) 1/1
✔23. Living high off/on the hog
* Read a book with a wealthy character - OR - read a book where the characters share a feast or meal of some sort.
The Curse of Tenth Grave - Darynda Jones (hero is a billionaire) 1/11
✔24. Not one's cup of tea
* Read a book with a cup on the cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with a negative word in the title (no, not, don't, won't, etc.)
On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle 3/20
✔25. Not worth a hill of beans
* Read a book with mountains or hills on the cover (show us the cover) - OR - read a book that didn't cost anything (tell us where you got it).
The Immortals of Meluha - Amish Tripathi 1/15
✔26. Nutty as a fruitcake
* Read a book with some sort of mental health issue involved in the plot- or - read a book set in the 1930's.
Cold, Cold Heart - Tami Hoag (amnesia & PTSD) 12/3
✔27. Out to lunch
* Read a book with an author's first or last name starting with O, U, or T - or - read a book with a naive character.
The Likeness - Tana French 12/30
✔28. A red herring
* Read a book with a dog as an important part of the story (tell us how) - or - read a mystery where the investigator is led off the trail by the culprit.
The Rocky Road to Romance - Janet Evanovich (hero gets a dog just to attract the heroine) 12/25
✔29. Salad days
* Read a book with a light green cover (show us the cover) - or - read a book with two proper names in the title.
Some Like It Wild - Teresa Medeiros 3/13
✔30. Whole enchilada
* Read a book with a foreign word in the title - or - read a book with a character who gets sick or who eats too much.
Stolen Songbird - Danielle Jensen (heroine is poisoned) 1/3
Backyard Birds of AmericaDuration: April 1 - September 30, 2017
READ: 30/30
✔1. American Goldfinch. Spinus tristus. Family: Finches.
❀ Read a book with a bright yellow or gold cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set in the summer -or- read a book whose title begins with a letter in PERCHICKORY (ignore a, an and the).
The Girl with All the Gifts - M.R. Carey 4/4
✔2. American Robin. Turdus migratorius. Family: Thrushes.
❀ Read a book with a Robin's Egg Blue cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose author has a bird name (like Robin) -or- read a book in which a character has a substance addiction issue.
Stuck In Shangri-La - Kasey Michaels 4/18
✔3. Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula. Family: Blackbirds and Orioles.
❀ Read a book with a dark orange cover with black printing (post the cover) -or- read a book set in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) -or- read a book about baseball.
Die Like an Eagle - Donna Andrews (about little league) 5/21
✔4. Black Capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus. Family: Chickadees and Titmice.
❀ Read a book with some kind of head ornament on the cover (hat, tiara, scarf all count; post the cover) -or- read a book you consider cute or adorable -or- read a book in which a character adapts to some sort of change (explain how the book fits).
You and I, Me and You - Mary Janice Davidson 4/13
(view spoiler)
✔5. Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata. Family: Crows, Magpies, Jays.
❀ Read a book with the word BLUE in the title or author's name (it doesn't have to be separate, it can be contained in another word) -or- read a book in which a main character steals something -or- read a book whose main character's first name starts with a J (let us know the name).
Blue Flame - Jill Shalvis 6/15
✔6. Carolina Wren. Thryothorus ludovicianus. Family: Wrens.
❀ Read a book with a brightly colored cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which the main character stays married to the same person throughout the book (and doesn't have any affairs either) -or- read a book co-written by two authors.
One Fell Sweep - Ilona Andrews 4/1
✔7. Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum. Family: Waxwings.
❀ Read a book which follows more than one POV -or read a book from a series that cannot be read out of order -or- read a book with a candle on the cover (post the cover).
Born of Vengeance - Sherrilyn Kenyon 4/12
✔8. Common Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula. Family: Blackbirds and Orioles.
❀ Read a short story collection or anthology -or- read a book whose main character has a Q in their first or last name (tell us their name) -or- read a book connected to a song that you think is terrible. Let us know the song, and how the book fits.
The Cat Who Said Cheese - Lillian Jackson Braun (Jim Qwilleran) 4/5
✔9. Dark Eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis. Family: New World Sparrows.
❀ Read a book whose author is related to another author (tell us whom and how) -or- read a book with only gray, white and/or black colors in the cover (the title can be in a different color) -or- read a book set during winter.
The House at Sea's End - Elly Griffiths 4/6
✔10. Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens. Family: Woodpeckers.
❀ Read a short book (150-200p., tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book set in the southwestern US -or- read a book with a friendly character.
Chasing Payne - Chantel Seabrook (170 pages) 5/6
✔11. European Starling. Sturnus Vulgaris. Family: Starlings and Mynahs.
❀ Read a book set in any country in Europe -or- read a book with a taste word in the title (sour, sweet etc., compound words are okay) -or- read a book about an immigrant experience (any source/destination country).
Silence Fallen - Patricia Briggs (Czech Republic) 5/1
✔12. Gray Catbird. Dumatella Carolinensis. Family: Mockingbirds and Thrashers.
❀ Read a book which has a cat on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a main character can be said to have a personality -or- read a book whose author's first and last initials are in "CATBIRD".
Dead Sexy - Tate Hallaway 4/8
✔13. House Finch. Haemorhous mexicanus. Family: Finches.
❀ Read a book with a predominantly blue or lavender cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set in New York City -or- read a book whose main character works with animals.
Haunted on Bourbon Street - Deanna Chase 4/26
✔14. Indigo Bunting. Passerina cyanea. Family: Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings.
❀ Read a book with a single parent character -or- read a book with a night scene on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose author's first or last initial is I.
The North Water - Ian McGuire 4/10
✔15. Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus. Family: Plovers.
❀ Read a book with a resourceful main character -or- read a book with the word "KILL" or "MURDER" in its title (no variations please) -or- read a book with a scene in an airport.
Murder Under a Mystic Moon - Yasmine Galenorn 4/12
✔16. Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos. Family: Ducks and Geese.
❀ Read a book in which a character gets handouts from other people -or- read a book where a child is a disappointment to the parent -or- read a book by a female author.
The Striker - Monica McCarty 4/15
✔17. Mountain Bluebird. Sialia currucoides. Family: Thrushes.
❀ Read a book with a powder blue cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a gold-digger (male or female) -or- read a book set in a mountain town/range (let us know which one).
Full Scoop -Janet Evanovich 5/6
✔18. Mourning Dove. Zenaida Macroura. Family: Pigeons and Doves.
❀ Read a book in which a character is in mourning for any period of time -or- read a book in which a main character has more than two kids -or- read a book tagged Romance in its main GR page.
Coming Home - Mariah Stewart 4/17
✔19. Northern Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis. Family: Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings.
❀ Read a book with a repeated word in the title/subtitle -or- read a book set in one of the states the cardinal is state bird of (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia or West Virginia) -or- read a book with a reflecting surface on the cover (post the cover).
Darkness Rises - Dianne Duvall (North Carolina) 4/20
✔20. Northern Mockingbird. Mimus polyglottos. Family: Mockingbird and Thrashers.
❀ Read a book with a professional singer character -or- read a book that you could not put down -or- read a book by an author who writes in different genres.
Don't Look Now - Linda Lael Miller (romance/mystery) 4/2
✔21. Pine Siskin. Spinus pinus. Family: Finches.
❀ Read a book with rhyming words in the title -or- read a book with flowers on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book in which a character wears some kind of disguise.
When a Scot Ties the Knot - Tessa Dare 4/12
✔22. Purple Martin. Progne subis. Family: Swallows.
❀ Read a book where the main character stays at a rustic inn -or- read a book with a Native American character -or- read a book with a purple colored cover (post the cover).
Fruitcake - R.J. Kaiser 5/4
✔23. Red Eyed Vireo. Vireo olivaceus. Family: Vireos.
❀ Read a book in which a character blends into the background -or- read a book with a question word in the title (why, where, when, what, which, how) -or- read a book that you would describe as an airplane book (a mindless book you would only read on a long boring journey).
The Conquest - Yxta Maya Murray 4/22
✔24. Red Winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus. Family: Blackbirds and Orioles.
❀ Read a book with a predominantly red and black cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set during spring -or- read a book in which a character has a loud voice.
Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep 4/20
✔25. Scarlet Tanager. Piranga olivacea. Family: Cardinals.
❀ Read a book whose main character has red hair -or- read a book set in South America -or- read a book with woods on the cover (post the cover).
Living on the Edge - Shannon Butcher (Colombia) 4/20
✔26. Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia. Family: New World Sparrows.
❀ Read a book with the word SONG in its title (compound words are fine) -or- read a book in which a character skulks -or- read a book whose cover has changed for whatever reason (post both original and changed covers, you may read any edition).
The Shadowy Horses - Susanna Kearsley 5/11
✔27. Tufted Titmouse. Baeolophus bicolor. Family: Chickadies and Titmice.
❀ Read a book whose title has two words starting with the same letter -or- read a book whose main character or author is named Peter -or- read a book with hair on the cover (post the cover).
The Luckiest Lady in London - Sherry Thomas 4/23
✔28. Western Screech Owl. Megascops kennicottii. Family: Owls.
❀ Read a book set in Alaska or Arizona -or- read a book that is a spinoff from another series -or- read a book whose title has a directional word (for the purpose of this task, east, west, north and south only).
Better To Rest - Dana Stabenow 4/15
✔29. Wood Duck. Aix sponsa. Family: Ducks and Geese.
❀ Read a book set along a water body (tell us which one it is) -or- read a book translated from an Asian language (tell us the original language) -or- read a book set in the 1800s.
The Wild Irish Sea - Loucinda McGary (off coast of Ireland, Atlantic Ocean) 5/29
✔30. Yellow Warbler. Setophaga petechia. Family: Wood Warblers.
❀ Read a book with a predominantly yellow cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that has another author's characters (for ex: Sophie Hannah's Hercule Poirot book) -or- read a book in which a main character dies.
Down the Rabbit Hole - J.D. Robb 6/10
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Yard WorkDuration: April 1 - June 30, 2017
READ: 14/15
✔1. MOW THE LAWN
At the beginning of spring, after the ground has dried up, the grass may need a quick mow. Set the lawnmower to its highest setting to give the lawn a manicured look. If any bare patches are found, these spots should be reseeded.
* Read a book set in the spring (March-April-May) OR a book where someone uses some sort of machinery.
The Order of Odd-Fish - James Kennedy 6/5
(uses and fixes some sort of dimension travel machinery)
✔2. FERTILIZE THE GRASS
A spring fertilization treatment can give your grass a boost of nutrients for strong spring and summer growth.
* Read a book with grass on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a "Z" somewhere in the title.
Books Can Be Deceiving - Jenn McKinlay 4/7
✔3. PLANT THE GARDEN
Soil is ready for gardening once it is free of ice crystals and crumbles easily. Soil that is too wet is easily compacted, reducing beneficial soil aeration. Common early spring crops are peas, spinach, lettuces and leeks. Follow these crops with broccoli, cabbage, radishes, kale, turnips, new potatoes and onions. Mulch early bulbs if you live in areas where freezing temperatures hang on.
* Read a book with some sort of garden on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book where the author's first AND last initial can be found in AERATION.
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon - Nancy Atherton 4/22
✔4. CHECK THE PLANT BULBS
It's not unusual for the foliage of early spring-blooming bulbs to turn brown, especially at the tips, when temperatures drop suddenly. Although the foliage may not look all that great, the bulbs themselves will be just fine and will flower pretty much on schedule.
* Read a book with a brown cover (show us the cover) OR a book with an unexpected temperature drop (like a sudden snowstorm or someone unprepared for the weather).
Serpent's Kiss - Thea Harrison 4/22
✔5. PREPARE BIRDHOUSES
Inspect birdhouses to make sure they're firmly mounted. Clean their feeders, filling them with fresh seed once they dry. Give birdbaths a good scrubbing and refill with water. Last but not least, create a pile of ready-for-the-taking nesting materials to make life a little easier for our feathered friends.
* Read a book with a bird in the title or on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a character who is moving to a new home.
Stuck In Shangri-La - Kasey Michaels 4/18
✔6. WEED THE GARDEN
Removing weeds is much easier when they're small and the soil is moist with spring rain. To minimize the reappearance of weeds, use weed control fabric or tarp in your garden or flowerbeds.
* Read a book whose title starts with a letter in WEED (disregard A, An, The) OR a book with a character who is a gardener.
When a Scot Ties the Knot - Tessa Dare 4/12
✔7. EMPTY THE GUTTERS
Clean house gutters to prevent water from overflowing. Check them in the spring to ensure that no debris has become clogged in them during winter storms.
* Read a book where a storm is important to the story (tell us how) OR a book with flowing water on the cover (such as a waterfall, brook, stream, even the ocean--show us the cover).
The House at Sea's End - Elly Griffiths 4/6
✔8. RAKE THE LEAVES
Rake up fallen leaves and areas of dead grass. This is also a good time to remove last fall’s mulch and add new mulch to flower and vegetable beds.
* Read a book with leaves on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book where something is replaced.
Coming Home - Mariah Stewart 4/17
✔9. PRUNE PLANTS AND BUSHES
Pruning makes plants easier to maintain. Thinning the plants increases air circulation through the plant and helps reduce the potential for diseases and pests. Also prune your overgrown shrubs. Snipping off the dead bits makes way for new growth. Prune unwanted branches of trees and shrubs after new growth has begun.
* Read the first book of a new-to-you series OR a book where a character makes a major life change (such as a New Year's resolution, new job, marriage/divorce, etc.).
The Scribe - Elizabeth Hunter 4/19
✔10. TRIM THE SHRUBS
Begin by pruning away dead or damaged branches. Your tools should be sharp enough to leave a straight, clear cut, with no ragged edges. Prune just above what's known as the "branch collar," that little ring of bumpy tissue at the junction of a branch and main trunk. Leaving the collar intact gives your shrub a better chance to callous over and recover from your surgery.
* Read a book where a character has had surgery OR a book with a sharp tool (or weapon) on the cover (show us the cover).
Born of Vengeance - Sherrilyn Kenyon 4/12
11. GET THE GRILL READY
Guests always have a good time if there are drinks and food being served! After a long winter break the barbecue grill is probably a little crusty and in need of a good cleaning. A seasoned grill is a good thing, but a dusty and dirty grill is just gross.
* Read a book with "Food and Drink" on the main Goodreads genre page OR a book with some sort of party that is important to the story.
✔12. WASH THE WINDOWS
After a season of rain and snow the windows on your house will look dingy and dirty. When the sun comes out you don’t want to be looking out at water spots, you want to be able to enjoy the view!
* Read a book with a person who works in the cleaning field (such as housekeeping, maid, janitor, window washer, etc.) OR a book with the sun on the cover (show us the cover).
The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella (m.c. is a housekeeper) 6/3
✔13. WASH OUT TRASH CANS
Have you ever walked up to someone’s house and been offended by the smell of trash? Spring cleaning is the perfect time to wash out your trash cans and get them smelling fresh.
* Read a book with a residential home on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book with a scene where someone/something smells bad.
Lucky Bastard - Deborah Coonts (dead body) 6/7
✔14. OPEN THE POOL
The earlier you start-up the swimming pool, the better. Opening your pool a few weeks earlier than normal can mean the difference between saving money or costing more money.
* Read a book with water on t with double letters in the author's first or last name.
Dragon of the Island - Mary Gillgannon 4/1
✔15. CLEAN OUTDOOR FURNITURE
When guests arrive you’ll want to make sure they have a clean place to sit and relax. Cleaning outdoor furniture is the last thing to do to have the outside of your home fully prepared for spring!
* Read a book with an outdoor scene on the cover (show us the cover) OR a book that is the last book (or most recently published book) in a series.
Silence Fallen - Patricia Briggs (most recent book) 5/1
From Sea to Shining Sea - LouisianaDuration: May 1 - June 30, 2017
READ: 8/10
✔1. Read a book written in French or translated from it -or- read a book with an intact 12 in the year it was first published (tell us the year) -or- read a book with the word Red or a synonym in its title.
The 120 Days of Sodom - Marquis de Sade 5/16
✔2. Read a book which has a natural scene on its cover (without any man made items visible; post the cover) -or- read a book whose author initials are MN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KY, TN, AR, MS or LA (vice versa is acceptable - SM or AL are fine as well) -or- read a book with a main character who works or lives amid nature.
Midnight Rainbow - Linda Howard 5/13
(m.c. is special ops and his specialty is jungle rescue)
✔3. Read a book with a mostly brown cover (post the cover) -or- read a book whose main character stands for union, justice or confidence (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book with a boat used in the story.
The Wild Irish Sea - Loucinda McGary 5/29
✔4. Read a book whose author or main character is called Edward, Andrew or Alexander (reasonable variations are fine) -or- read a book where characters work without knowing the whole story (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book set within a period of 10 days.
The Scent of Jasmine - Jude Devereau (hero is Alexander McDowell) 6/11
✔5. Read a book in which a natural disaster strikes -or- read a book whose author's first name starts with the first three letters of any hurricanes that have hit Louisiana since 1950 (for this task: Audrey, Betsy, Camille, Andrew, Lili, Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Isaac) -or- read a book first published in 2005.
The Preacher - Camilla Läckberg 5/31
✔6. Read a book set in Canada (bonus for a book set in the Maritimes: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island) -or- read a book in which a group rebels against a ruling or invading force (tell us how your book fits) -or- read a book first published in the last 18 months (for the purpose of this task, any publication date after Nov 2015 is fine; tell us when it was published).
Ultraviolet - R.J. Anderson (Ontario) 5/6
✔7. Read a book which begins with a letter in the word CREOLE (tell us the first word of the book; I do mean the book, not its title!) -or- read a book with Food as one of its genres on the main page -or- read a book with any of the gumbo ingredients mentioned above on its cover (post the cover).
Bad Monkey - Carl Hiaasen 6/30
(First word= ON the hottest day of July)
8. Read a book written by an African American author -or- read a book about music (bonus if it's a jazz book) -or- read a book set during the Jazz age (for the purpose of this task, after WWI through the Great Depression; mention when your book is set).
9. Read a book you added to your TBR in February 2017 (if you don't have any books that fit, you may go back to Feb 2016; let us know when you added it) -or- read a book in which a main character is either part of or has to deal with an organization committee of any form -or- read a book with a (formal dance) ball in it.
✔10. Read a book set in an Alligator state of America (Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, South and North Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas; tell us where your book is set) -or- read a book in which a main character is older than 65 -or- read a book in which a pizza is eaten.
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die - Colin Cotterill (mc is 74) 5/14
Tiffany & Company ChallengeDuration: February 1 - July 31, 2017
READ: 25/25
✔1. Read a book where someone works with jewelry (designing it, making it, selling it; tell us how) OR read a book in which the author or the main character is named Tiffany OR read a book that takes place in NYC.
On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle 3/20
✔2. Read a book with any type of store or shop on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book with two or more person’s names in its title OR read a book that takes place during the 1800’s.
The Edinburgh Dead - Brian Ruckley (1828) 2/23
✔3. Read a book where a character likes to flaunt deviance from social customs OR read a book with any type of money or price tag on its cover OR read a book in which the main character owns his or her own business.
A Harvest of Bones - Yasmine Galenorn (owns a tea shop) 2/8
✔4. Read a book with any type of mail item on its cover (letter, stamp, postman) OR read a book published between 1972 – 1994 (inclusive) OR read a book with a “15” in its publication year.
Dead Ice - Laurell K. Hamilton (pub June 2015) 2/21
✔5. Read a book with a Tiffany Blue cover OR read a book that is currently popular (on a "most popular books this month for February - July 2017) OR read a book where the first letter of each word in its title may be found in “CHARLESLEWISTIFFANY” (all words count; three word minimum).
White Lion's Lady - Tina St. John 2/22
✔6. Read a book with a character who works in marketing or advertising OR read a book with a wrapped gift on the cover (post the cover) OR read a book whose main character's LAST name starts with a letter found in ICON (tell us the name).
So Sure Of Death - Dana Stabenow (Liam Campbell) 2/16
✔7. Read a book that occurs during the American Civil War or during WWI OR read a book with a cross or a sword on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book with “MEDAL” or “HONOR” in its title.
Cold Plague - Daniel Kalla 2/27
✔8. Read a book with a gold or silver object on its cover (must be visible in the GR thumbnail; post the cover) OR read a book that takes place in Paris OR read a book in which a main character receives an award for something (tell us what).
The Murder of King Tut - James Patterson (King Tut's mask is gold) 2/10
✔9. Read a book in which a police person is a main character OR read a book about baseball OR read a book that takes place in New York City.
The Burning Wire - Jeffrey Deaver 2/18
✔10. Read a book involving diamonds (i.e. smuggling, illegal selling, searching for; tell us how they are involved) OR read a book about royalty or with a royal character OR read a book with a jewel-toned cover (post the cover).
Once Upon a Marigold - Jean Ferris (heroine is a princess) 3/25
✔11. Read any book that has been made into a movie OR read a book published in 2010 OR read a book with a pale yellow cover.
Three Sisters - Susan Mallery 2/4
✔12. Read a book featuring a father and his son OR read a book with a lamp or window on its cover (does not have to be stained glass; post the cover) OR read a book that has a season (spring, summer, winter, fall/autumn) named in its title.
Buried in a Bog - Sheila Connolly 3/12
✔13. Read a book that takes place during the Christmas holiday season OR read a book whose author is named Andy (Andrew, Andrews, Andie etc. are all acceptable) OR read a book in which at least one scene take place at an auction (tell us where).
Yours, Mine, and Ours - Mary Janice Davidson 2/19
✔14. Read a book with flowers, birds, or dishes on its cover OR read a book in which a lavish dinner party is held OR read a book in position #80, #800, or #2208 on your TBR.
Blackbirds - Chuck Wendig 2/10
✔15. Read book #57 on your TBR (sorted however you choose) OR read a book in which a character is a film maker or actor OR read a book with at least one scene in Tiffany's.
Tuesday's Child - Dale Mayer 2/18
✔16. Read a book with a box (of any kind) on its cover; post the cover OR read a book in which a character cannot obtain something they desire (tell us what) OR read a book whose publisher’s name starts with a letter in BOX (disregard a/an/the)
Murder Under a Mystic Moon - Yasmine Galenorn 4/12
✔17. Read or re-read The Great Gatsby OR read a book that takes place during the Jazz Age (1918 - 1929) OR read a book with an exceptionally wealthy character.
Echoes in Death - J.D. Robb (Roarke is a bazillionaire) 3/29
✔18. Read a book with only natural items on its cover (show us the cover) OR read a book that takes place in the 1950’s OR read a book in which fashion design has a significant role (tell us what).
St. Patrick's Day Murder - Leslie Meier 3/8
✔19. Read a book published in the 1970’s OR read a book with a strong, independent woman OR read a book that takes place in Italy.
Immortal - Traci L. Slatton 2/2
✔20. Read a book in which an anniversary of any kind is commemorated (tell us about the anniversary) OR read a book whose ISBN number contains all four digits – 1, 8, 3, & 7 (numbers do not have to be in order) OR read a book whose location begins with a letter in RUBEDO (tell us the location).
Time Thief - Katie MacAlister (Oregon) 2/24
✔21. Read a book whose title (disregard a/an/the) begins with the letter “T” OR read a book whose author’s first or last initial is “T” or read a book on your TBR whose position number begins with a “T” (i.e. two, ten, two hundred; tell us the book’s position.)
Tick Tock - James Patterson 2/5
✔22. Read a book with a key on its cover (post the cover) OR read a book from your personal archives (owned or on TBR > 2 years) OR read a book with “Adventure” on its main GoodReads page.
The Storm - Clive Cussler 2/15
✔23. Read a book in which a character is returning home after an extended absence (at least one month; tell us who) OR read a book whose cover shows a universally-known symbol (tell us what; post the cover) OR read a book that takes place in NYC*
Clash - Nicole Williams 2/25
✔24. Read a book in which some kind of event or milestone is celebrated (tell us what) OR read a book in which a character receives a gift OR read a book marked “Romance” on its main GoodReads page.
Rogue - Katy Evans 2/2
✔25. Read a book whose author’s initials are P.P. OR read a book where a character has a famous parent (fictional or non-fictional) OR read a book with a set table on its cover (post the cover).
White Colander Crime - Victoria Hamilton 7/15
CHALLENGE COMPLETE!
Mermaids
Duration: June 1 - August 31, 2017
READ: 16/16
✔1. Legendary aquatic creature ⁑ Read a book featuring any type of mythological creature (tell us what) OR read a book with opposite words within its title OR read a book in which some kind of disaster occurs (natural or man-made; tell us what).
Spectacle - Rachel Vincent (minotaur, manticore, griffin, Cerberus) 6/14
✔2. Symbols and powers attributed to mermaids Seduction, Allure, Flirtation, Beauty, Charm, Divine, Feminine Essence, Provocative, Magical. ⁑ Read a book with a main character who embodies any of the above listed attributes OR read a book by an author whose first and last initials are contained within one of the attributes listed above OR read a self-help book.
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker - Leanna Renee Hieber 7/20
(heroine is a beautiful, magical woman)
✔3. The ancient Syrian goddess ⁑ Read a book that takes place in ancient times (prior to 1000 A.D.) OR read a book in which the main character’s FIRST name begins with a letter in ATARGATIS OR read a book whose cover design is roughly divided into halves.
Getting Lucky - Carolyn Brown (Griffin) 6/4
✔4. Historical accounts ⁑ Read a book that takes place in the Caribbean (tell us where) OR read a book whose author’s initials are C.C. OR read a book in which something is discovered (tell us what).
The Valcourt Heiress - Catherine Coulter 6/18
✔5. Sirens of Greek mythology ⁑ Read a book that has a character who sings (need not be professionally) OR read a book that takes place in Greece OR read a book with a “femme fatale.”
The Perfect Liar - Brenda Novak 7/23
✔6. Some legends of the Pacific Islands ⁑ Read a book that takes place in the South Pacific List OR read a book in which a character loses something significant (tell us what) OR read a book that mentions any type of legend or lore (tell us what).
Melting into You - Tracey Alvarez (New Zealand) 6/30
✔7. Aquamarine ⁑ Read a book whose cover is the color of aquamarine OR read a book with at least one “crying” scene OR read a book where a character carries a talisman or good luck charm (tell us the character and the object).
Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma (female m.c. has a meltdown) 6/24
✔8. Mermaids usually meant trouble ⁑ Read a book in which a significant storm occurs OR read a book with a character who likes to cause trouble OR read a book in which a character dies.
Bad Monkey - Carl Hiaasen 6/30
✔9. The One Thousand and One Nights ⁑ Read a book that is a collection of stories OR read a book that features any type of alternate society (tell us about the society) OR read a book that is #1001 on your TBR (sorted any way you choose).
Down the Rabbit Hole - J.D. Robb 6/10
✔10. Hans Christian Andersen ⁑ Read a book that is a fairy tale or a retelling of a fairytale OR read a book that takes place in any of the Scandanavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) OR read a book whose title’s first word (ignore a, an, the) begins with a letter in HAVFINE.
Bella at Midnight - Diane Stanley (Cinderella) 6/22
✔11. Anderson’s fairy tale ⁑ Read a book that has been made into a movie OR read a book that ends happily ever after OR read a book published between 1837 and 1989, inclusive.
Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion 7/14
✔12. In the original story ⁑ Read a book in which a wedding takes place OR read a book featuring any type of witch OR read a book featuring unrequited love.
One Last Look - Linda Lael Miller 6/28
✔13. Andersen’s work has influenced Western literary works ⁑ Read any book featuring a mermaid; you may choose one of the books mentioned above or anything else you may find OR read a book featuring a writer OR read a book that makes a reference to another book.
White Colander Crime - Victoria Hamilton 7/15
(mentions Gone Girl a few times)
✔14. A world-famous statue. Countries with public art mermaid sculptures include Russia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Norway, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, India, China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Guam, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Cayman Islands, the United States (including Hawaii and Virgin Islands) and Canada. ⁑ Read a book featuring a sculptor (real or fictional) OR read a book that takes place in any of the locations mentioned above (tell us where; note: for the US, only Hawaii or the Virgin Islands will be accepted) OR read a book where a main character visits any tourist attraction (tell us about the attraction).
Melting into You - Tracey Alvarez (New Zealand) 6/30
✔15. Film depictions ⁑ Read a romance or romantic comedy OR read a book that is a spin-off from another series (tell us both the original and the spin-off series) OR read a book whose title contains any of the following words: SPLASH, CHARM(ED), CARRIBBEAN, STRANGE(R), or TIDE(S).
Midnight's Warrior - Donna Grant 7/20
(original series: Dark Sword / spin off: Dark Warrior / continues in Dark Kings)
✔16. Starbucks two-tailed mermaid. ⁑ Read a book having anything to do with coffee OR read a book with any familiar logo on its cover OR read a book with a “2” in its total page count.
Slipknot - Linda Greenlaw (272 pages) 7/13
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
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Books mentioned in this topic
White Trash Zombie Unchained (other topics)Pirates! (other topics)
Evil Harvest (other topics)
Empire of Storms (other topics)
Going, Going, Ganache (other topics)
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