Merry Month of May Challenge

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's bad luck Sharon :) You can always post it at the end if you like :)

[Zoey]

2nd book for May finished

2. Strong Female - W is for Wasted Sue Grafton 3.5★

[Mary]

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole
review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Just finished my 10th and final for May's challenge - Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott 4★s

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


Merry Month of May

10/10

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author

Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood 4★s AA

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist

Be My Baby by Laura Greaves 5★s AA

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover

Band of Gold by Deborah Challinor 5★s AA/NZ

4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title

Before You Were Mine by Em Muslin 3★s



SPELL-IT-OUT

Using the first letter of a book title or the first letter of the authors first or last name, spell out a May item from this list:

1. Mother
2. May Day
3. Merry
4. Happy
5. Taurus
6. Gemini
7. Flowers

T - The Darathi Vorsi Prince by Tameri Etherton 4★s
A - Closing Down by Sally Abbott 5★s AA
U - Union Belle by Deborah Challinor 5★s AA/NZ
R - One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett 5★s AA
U - Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott 4★s
S - The Stranger Inside by Jennifer Jaynes 3.5★s

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Brenda:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Phrynne :)

[Kathryn]

Looks like a good month of reading, Brenda!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Kathryn - yes it pretty much was!

[Diana]

Congratulations Brenda.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Diana :)

[Mary]

8/11
Man Drought by Rachael Johns 4*
Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mary]

Brenda wrote: "Just finished my 10th and final for May's challenge - Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott 4★s

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


Merry Month..."

Wow Brenda. You really had a good time.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Mary, I sure did!

[Nicola]

Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it was over 700 pages!
On track to finish the last 3 books!

[Mary]

Crikey Nicola. That's epic. Well done.

[MichelleG]

Hi all,

I'm working on my final 2 books - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and The Golden Age by Joan London :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

MichelleG wrote: "Hi all,

I'm working on my final 2 books - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and The Golden Age by Joan London :)"

I really enjoyed The Golden Age when I read it :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it was over 700 pages!
On track to finish the la..."

Did you like it Nicola?

[Jane]

Finished the challenge and finished spelling MOTHER with:
H - Pig Island by Mo Hayder 4*

Looking forward to starting June's challenge next week!

[Diana]

Well done Jane.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Finished:)

11/11

1. Historical fiction by an Aussie author. Nightingale by Fiona McIntosh AA 3 stars.

2. Mother in title. The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson4 stars

3. Smiles on the cover. Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty AA 3 stars

4. Flowers on the cover. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb5 stars




F Fire Sale by Sara Paretsky 4 stars
L Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward5 stars
O One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 3 stars
W The Wreckage by Michael Robotham AA 4 stars
E The End of the Day by Claire North 5 stars
R Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo 4 stars
S Staked by Kevin Hearne 4 stars

[MichelleG]

Some great books there Phyrnne, looks like you had a great reading month :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I did thank you:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Jane and Phrynne!

[Connie]

Finished The Lavender Keeper 4 stars

[Janine]

Challenge Completed
Tasks
#1 Historical Fiction by Australian Author
The Cloud Leopard's Daughter by Deborah Challinor(AA) 3*
#2 Mother in Title
Her Mother's Secret by Natasha Lester(AA) 5*
#3 Book that makes me laugh
The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson 3*
#4 Flowers on Cover
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart(AA) 3*


Spell-it-out
M - Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard 3*
E - When The Duke Returns by Eloisa James 3*
R - The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza 4*
R - The Songbird Sisters by Rachael Herron 4*
Y - A Dissection of Murder by Felicity Young(AA) 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Janine :)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it was over 700 pages!
On track t..."

Brenda,
Over all yes, although the subject matter was heavy going at times. Think I gave it 4 stars.. Did have to put it down for a couple of days in between....

[Nicola]

Finished my 3rd book
MERRY
E Escape From Wolfhaven Castle / Kate Forsyth
Now well on track to finish the other 2!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it was over 700 pa..."

There have been many and varied reviews/ratings for this one, but I decided not to read it...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it ..."

I've only just begun reading A Little Life and have been warned by the reviews that all is not cheery. But it's won so many and such varied awards, I decided I'd start it and see what all the fuss is about. :)

[Diana]

Congratulations Phrynne and Janine. I just completed the challenge. Now to find a quick read before I start the June and Winter challenges.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Diana!

[Diana]

Thanks Brenda.

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn't realised it ..."

It is a good read - the words really do flow - but the story does have some confronting story lines, but overall I found it worthwhile

[Nicola]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / Hanya Yanagihara
Didn..."

It is good, but overall not cheery, but some beautiful moments about friendship!

[Connie]

]Finished [bookcover:The Rice Mother|164814
4 stars this completes my four books

[Sally906]

OK - May has officially ended!!! Well challenge wise anyway - LOL!!!

I went for EASY

Here is my completed list:
Historical Fiction: A Woman Transported by Sharon Robards - AA - 2★s
Mother in Title: Mother of All by Heather Marie Adkins - 3★s
Makes me Laugh: Some Were In Time by Robyn Peterman - 5★s
Flowers on cover or in title: Unwrapping Her Perfect Match by Kat Latham - 4★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Connie and Sally :)

[Jenn]

I Have finished all my books for this challenge

Merry Month of May

11/11

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat AA 5 stars

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty AA 4 stars

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich 4 stars


4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
The billionaire and the virgin - extended epilogue by Bella Love-Wins 3.5 stars

SPELL-IT-OUT

F Power Game by Christine Feehan 5 stars

LLet it Byrneby Holly Hart4 stars

O Our Kind of Love by Victoria Purman AA 4 stars

WWicked Wolf Shifters by Anna Craig 4 stars

E Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop 4.5 stars

R Room by Emma Donoghue 3.5 stars

S The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 2 stars (I just couldn't get into this book). Alternate book: Kakadu Sunset by Annie Seaton AA 5 stars...loved this book

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jennifer! Great effort :)

[Diana]

Congratulations Connie, Sally and Jennifer.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done everyone:) Lots of finishers this month and still some time to go.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Nicola wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Second one finished for
MERRY
Y A Little Life / [author:Hanya...

It is good, but overall not cheery, but some beautiful moments about friendship! "

That describes exactly how I'm feeling about it right now, Nicola. It's not exactly a 'quick' one to fit in between May and June challenges either, but it's good!

[Zoey]

3rd book finished, 1 to go

1. Aus Author Hist. Fiction - A Pirate for Christmas Anna Campbell 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Zoey! You can do it ;)

[Carolyn]

Finished my challenge in the nick of time:

✔ #1. May Day AA historical novel - A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester AA 4★
✔ #2. Mothers Day - book about families - The Starlings by Vivienne Kelly AA 5★
✔ #3. Merry month of May- book that makes you laugh - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 5★
✔ #4. Flowers in title or on cover - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann 5★



✔ G Gemina by Amie Kaufman AA 5★
✔ E The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry 4★
✔ M The Magpies by Mark Edwards 4★
✔ I The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman 4★
✔ N Noteworthy by Riley Redgate 4★
✔ I Into the Water by Paula Hawkins 4★

[Nicola]

2nd last finished
MERRY
R Ronan's Echo / Joanne van Os
and only 3 hours away from finishing my last, should get that mostly done this afternoon, which will also complete my second bingo for Autumn!

[Zoey]

Finished with a day & a bit to spare

1. Aus Author Hist. Fiction - A Pirate for Christmas by Anna Campbell AA 3★
2. Strong Female - W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton 3.5★
3. Smile on Cover - One Time Thing by Tess McCallum AA 4.5★
4. Flowers in Title - The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley 5★

[Diana]

Congratulations Carolyn and Zoey.