December Challenge 2017 - Create a Christmas Present

[Bec]

This is the first challenge I've ever done so hopefully I've got this right :P

Level: Easy - 1 Gift. Read 4 books.

Step 1 - Pick a gift

Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood (AA)

(Gift: Shawl)

Step 2 – Wrap up the gift

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

(Wrapping paper: Grey)

Step 3 – Hide the gift until Christmas Eve

Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell

(Hiding place: Under the top hat)

Step 4 – On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

[Brad]

Level: Easy - 1 Gift. Read 4 books. One Aussie Author
2/4



Book 1: Pick a Gift. (Earrings)
(Look at the earring!! nice!!)
Jelena Dokic (Australian Tennis Player and apparently an Author)

Book 2: Wrap up the gift (Red & Green)
(Those Red&Green jerseys)
Michael Maguire (Australian Footballer, coach and apparently an Author)

Book 3: Hide the gift until Christmas

(If I hid the kids presents in a dark basement, they would never find them!)

Book 4: On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree

(Not exactly Christmas looking trees, but they are trees!!)

[Sally906]

Have added you both. Bec you have done good :) and if you hid my present in a dark basement I doubt I would go down there!!! LOL

[MichelleG]

Hi all,

Please sign me up for the Medium level.

December Challenge - BUILD A CHRISTMAS GIFT
Progress: 8 / 8 books

Easy - 1 Gift - Read 4 books - one Aussie author
Medium - 2 Gifts - Read 8 books- two Aussie authors
Hard - 3 Gifts - Read 12 books - three Aussie authors

GIFT 1
✔ Step 1: Pick a gift - Task: Read a book with your gift on the cover. . Read: 14 Dec, Rated: 3 stars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
How it fits: Chocolate shop in the background

✔ Step 2: Wrap up the gift - Task: Read a book cover to reflect that colour (chosen colour must be at least 50% of the cover) . Read: 20 Dec, Rated: 4 stars
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
How it fits: Cover is 78.8% Blue

✔ Step 3: Hide the gift until Christmas Eve - Task: Read a book where there is a place you can hide your present on the cover . Read: 27 Dec, Rated: 3 stars
Death by Coffee by Alex Erickson
How it fits: Library Shelves - lots of room to hide things in :)

✔ Step 4: On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree - Task: Read a book that has a tree on the cover . Read: 16 Dec, Rated: 3 stars
Sing Fox to Me by Sarah Kanake (AA)
How it fits: Trees on the cover


GIFT 2
✔ Step 1: Pick a gift - Task: Read a book with your gift on the cover. . Read: 26 Dec, Rated: 4 stars
Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
How it fits: Wand on the cover

✔ Step 2: Wrap up the gift - Task: Read a book cover to reflect that colour. . Read: 3 Dec, Rated: 4 stars
Love Bites by Lynsay Sands
How it fits: Cover is 69.4% blue

✔ Step 3: Hide the gift until Christmas Eve - Task: Read a book where there is a place you can hide your present on the cover . Read: 16 Dec, Rated: 4 stars
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells by Rose Pressey
How it fits: Kitchen cabinet on the cover

✔ Step 4: On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree - Task: Read a book that has a tree on the cover . Read: 27 Dec, Rated: 4 stars
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (AA)
How it fits: Trees on the cover

[Sally906]

You're added Michelle

[MichelleG]

Sally906 wrote: "You're added Michelle"

Thanks Sally :)

[Nicole]

Level: Easy - 1 Gift. Read 4 books

Step 1 - Pick a gift
Task: read a book with your gift on the cover.
Up and In by Deborah Disney AA
(my gift will be a fresh, white summery dress)

Step 2 – Wrap up the gift
Task: pick the colour of your wrapping paper and read a book cover to reflect that colour (chosen colour must be at least 50% of the cover)
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
(wrapping it in gold paper with a red ribbon)

Step 3 – Hide the gift until Christmas Eve
Task: read a book where there is a place you can hide your present on the cover
Christmas at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown
(like many people, I will be shopping at the last minute ... so my present will be 'hidding' at the shop I will buying it from, late Christmas Eve.)

Step 4 – On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree
Task: read a book that has a tree on the cover
Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin

Good luck everyone and enjoy your reads!

; ; ;

[Sally906]

All added up to here.

Only a few hours and you can start reading your December picks - and read up a storm for the readathon at the same time.

[Nicole]

Thank you Sally.

[Trish L]

I would like to participate in this challenge if it is not too late.

As December can be a hectic month, I have chosen 4 shorter books to give myself the best chance of getting thru them all.

1) Find a present: Goodbye Christopher Robin by Anne Thwaite.. Goodbye Christopher Robin: A. A. Milne and the Making of Winnie-the-Pooh.... a teddy bear for my grandson
2) Wrapping paper: Breath by Time Winton AA Breath.... blue paper
3)Hide it away till Christmas: The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag The Durrells of Corfu.........I will hide the present somewhere on the island
4) Place it under the tree; The Better Son by Katherine Johnson AA The Better Son

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Never too late Trish :) Sally will link you soon...

[Sally906]

Trish wrote: "I would like to participate in this challenge if it is not too late.

As December can be a hectic month, I have chosen 4 shorter books to give myself the best chance of getting thru them all.

1) F..."

All added Trish :)

Are you able to add the covers of your picks please,so we can all see how they fit :)

[Trish L]

Sally906 wrote: "Trish wrote: "I would like to participate in this challenge if it is not too late.

I have edited my post and added the book covers. Seems I have to navigate to the book twice - once to add the link and once again to add the book cover. ( Still have my L plates on ! )

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Trish :)

[Janine]

I have finished my 1st for this challenge

#3 Hide it away (boat)
Hell to Pay by Rachel Amphlett(AA) 4*

[Sally906]

Trish wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Trish wrote: "I would like to participate in this challenge if it is not too late.

I have edited my post and added the book covers. Seems I have to navigate to the book twice - on..."

L Plates are good 😀👍🏻

[Sally906]

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 1st for this challenge

#3 Hide it away (boat)
Hell to Pay by Rachel Amphlett(AA) 4*"

Well done Janine!

[Sharon]

Here is my list. I know I've already been added, but did not have my list ready 😊


Build A Christmas Gift

Level: Easy


Step 1 - Pick a gift
Task: read a book with your gift on the cover.

Cracks in the Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby ( A teddy bear for an underprivileged child)

Step 2 – Wrap up the gift
Task: pick the colour of your wrapping paper and read a book cover to reflect that colour (chosen colour must be at least 50% of the cover)

The Greatest Gift by Rachael Johns (Pink paper for a girl) AA

Step 3 – Hide the gift until Christmas Eve
Task: read a book where there is a place you can hide your present on the cover

Sanctuary by Judy Nunn (hiding present on a houseboat) AA


Step 4 – On Christmas Eve place the present under the tree
Task: read a book that has a tree on the cover

Jacaranda by Mandy Magro AA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished three out of this challenge over the weekend

Return of the Magi: A heartwarming Christmas story by P.J. Tracy

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


The Runaway Children: Gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction by Sandy Taylor

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


A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

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

All 5 stars!

[Janine]

2nd Finished

2/ Wrap the Gift (Blue)
Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben 4*

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "Finished three out of this challenge over the weekend

Return of the Magi: A heartwarming Christmas story by P.J. Tracy

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

I'm reading the Runaway children at the moment.

[Nicole]

Well, pleased to report that I have bought my pressie (finished my first book) ...
Up and In by Deborah Disney AA 3*s

Now getting the stuff together so I can wrap it Christmas Eve ... book 2.

[Diana]

Finished books 1 and 2 during the readathon.
The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain 5 stars
Good News, Bad News by Maggie Groff 4 stars

[PattyMacDotComma]

The cover has a lovely curtain to hide a present behind, but other than that, it wasn't for me. I read part of, but did not finish, Ho Lin's China Girl: And Other Stories.
2★ Link to my review

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Finished three out of this challenge over the weekend

Return of the Magi: A heartwarming Christmas story by P.J. Tracy

Review: https://www.goodreads...."

Absolutely loved it Sally!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 4th - #3 Hide the gift (under the scooter) - Close to Home by Cara Hunter 5★s

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 5th - Gift under tree (trees on cover) - Murder in Vail by Judy Moore 4★s

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

[Ace]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 5th - Gift under tree (trees on cover) - Murder in Vail by Judy Moore 4★s"

I was just coming to check what books I had lined up for this challenge and see you have 5 down already. Amazing!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Thanks Ace :) The readathon was mostly responsible for that!

[Ace]

Brenda wrote: "Haha! Thanks Ace :) The readathon was mostly responsible for that!"

Yes! My weekend was crazy, but looks like everyone got some great reading in.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sure did 😊

[Sally906]

Don't panic Ace - the Brenda Juggernaut reading machine is scary - but she is an amateur compared to readers I've met in other groups. One lady reads on average 5 books a DAY!!!

to be fair she is disabled and stays at home - but she still has 3 kids to look after once they're home from school. I don't know know she does it - same as I don't know how Brenda does it :)

[Ace]

Sally906 wrote: "Don't panic Ace - the Brenda Juggernaut reading machine is scary - but she is an amateur compared to readers I've met in other groups. One lady reads on average 5 books a DAY!!!

to be fair she is ..."

I think that's amazing too. How does she read 5 books a day, I'm not sure I could even turn that many pages over in a day.... and that's without reading them!

[Sally906]

Ace wrote: "I think that's amazing too. How does she read 5 books a day, I'm not sure I could even turn that many pages over in a day.... and that's without reading them..."

I don't think they are huge books - like me she is happier reading under 400 pages, and most of them are under 300

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Don't panic Ace - the Brenda Juggernaut reading machine is scary - but she is an amateur compared to readers I've met in other groups. One lady reads on average 5 books a DAY!!!

to be fair she is ..."

Haha! Well that's a new title for me! lol

[Sharon]

Finished my first one for this challenge - Wrap a gift (pink paper)

The Greatest Gift by Rachael Johns 5★

[Sally906]

Sharon wrote: "Finished my first one for this challenge - Wrap a gift (pink paper)

The Greatest Gift by Rachael Johns 5★"

Did it clean you out of tissues? Don't cry often - but this one made me bawl in the middle.

[Janine]

Finished 2 more

4/8

#2 Wrap the Present (Purple)
A Cornish Christmas by Lily Graham 4*

#4 Tree on Cover
The Tea Gardens by Fiona McIntosh(AA) 4*

[PattyMacDotComma]

Hoo boy! After a DNF for the Christmas ornament, I picked a winner for the gift on the cover: Flowers. Canadian author Louise Penny began her popular detective series with Still Life.
4+★ Link to my review

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 6th - 2a - Green wrapping paper (both my gifts are bought and wrapped now - one hidden and one under the tree;) )

Dial P For Poison by Zara Keane 5★s

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

[Nicole]

Book 2 done ... Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan 2.5★s So, so book ... amusing at times, with some awful, awful characters!

I (like most of you) am also doing Summer Bingo, so will be reading my first for that challenge next.

[Zoey]

1st one finished

Step 3 – Hide the gift until Christmas Eve - behind the curtains/blinds
Don't Tell by Karen Rose 5★

[Diana]

Finished my third
Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman 2 stars, nowhere near as good as the author's first book.

[Sally906]

Wow - you all whizzing through - am just about to finish my second - but the last two are quick reads and I am on rec leave from the 18th - not going anywhere other than not going to work - LOL!!!

[Sharon]

Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Finished my first one for this challenge - Wrap a gift (pink paper)

The Greatest Gift by Rachael Johns 5★"

D..."

Surprisingly I didn't need the tissues, but I did come very close. An emotional read for sure.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 7th - putting the gift under the tree - Christmas at the Vicarage by Rebecca Boxall 4.5★s

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

[Li'l Owl]

Oh my gosh, Brenda! 7? I've not even been able start reading my one 'GIFT' yet! Aaahhhhh!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Li'l Owl wrote: "Oh my gosh, Brenda! 7? I've not even been able start reading my one 'GIFT' yet! Aaahhhhh!"

Still plenty of time Owl :)

[Sally906]

Li'l Owl wrote: "Oh my gosh, Brenda! 7? I've not even been able start reading my one 'GIFT' yet! Aaahhhhh!"

Don’t panic - is my challenge and I am only half way through :)

[Sharon]

Finished my second one for this challenge - Hide the gift until Christmas Eve ( houseboat) - Sanctuary by Judy Nunn 5★