An additional Annual Challenge for 2018 - A-Z

[Jenn]

A - Z Challenge - Part 2
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2018
Progress: 26/26

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited
Judgment Road by Christine Feehan 5 stars

B - Read a book which you BORROWED
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 3.5 stars

C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover
The Delta by Tony Park AA 5 stars

D - Read a book which has DARK themes
An Empty Coast by Tony Park AA 4.5 stars

E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover
Lake Silence by Anne Bishop 5 stars

F - Read a book which is FIRST in a series
Ice Station by Matthew Reilly AA 4 stars

G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read
Beneath the Dark Ice by Greig Beck AA (SciFi) 5 stars

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
Poppy's Dilemma by Karly Lane AA

I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman
Written in Red Anne Bishop 5 stars

J - Read a book where the main character goes on a JOURNEY
Covert Game by Christine Feehan 5 stars

K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover
Goldenhand by Garth Nix AA 4 stars

L - Read a book which is your LATEST purchase
Fool's Gold by Fleur McDonald AA 4 stars

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part
Enchanter by Sara Douglass AA 4 stars

N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title
Area 7 by Matthew Reilly AA 4 stars

O - Read a book with a ONE word title
Battleaxe by Sara Douglass AA 5 stars

P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM
Nothing Stays Buried by P.J. Tracy 4 stars

Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text
Tiger Time by Marissa Dobson 4 stars

R - Read a book which has been RECOMMENDED to you
Fuel the Fire by Jamie GarrettAA 4 stars

S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title
Winter Halo by Keri Arthur AA 5 stars

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long
Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs 5 stars

U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover
Saving Grace by Jane Green 2 stars

V - Read a book with a VIVID cover
Fair Game by Patricia Briggs 5 stars

W - Read a book set in WAR time
Starman by Sara Douglass AA 4 stars

X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good
Rock Star Returns by Candy J. Starr AA 4 stars

Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover
White Gold by Rachel Amphlett 4.5 stars

Z - Read a book with ZANY characters
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs 5 stars

[Mish]

Jennifer wrote: "I only have one title left so I will put up a new list soon :)

A - Z Challenge
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2018
Progress: 24/26

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited


Well done Jennifer!

Leaving the best to last ? ;) Lover Mine is so good.

[Jenn]

Mish wrote: Well done Jennifer!

Leaving the best to last ? ;) Lover Mine is so good.

Thanks Mish. I can't wait to read it. I love the whole series so far.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jennifer, your PART 2 is linked - and congratulations on being almost finished in your first full round!

[Mish]

Jennifer wrote: "Mish wrote: Well done Jennifer!

Leaving the best to last ? ;) Lover Mine is so good.

Thanks Mish. I can't wait to read it. I love the whole series so far."

Gosh me too Jennifer! And the series is getting better as it goes. I'm up to The King :)

[Jenn]

Brenda wrote: "Jennifer, your PART 2 is linked - and congratulations on being almost finished in your first full round!"

Thanks Brenda. :)

[MaryG2E]

Dear Mods, a quick question please...
This book cover has lots of shades of green in it. Can you advise if you think it satisfies the criterion for "E - a book with an emerald cover"?

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Yes Mary. That looks very green to me:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Agreed Mary :)

[MaryG2E]

Thanks, yes, lots of green. Great to be able to add one more book read to this annual challenge!

[Nicola]

2 more finished...
G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read - Horror
Evil Librarian / Michelle Knudsen 4*
I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman
Mercenary Mum: My Journey from Young Mother to Baghdad Bodyguard / Neryl Joyce 3* AA

[Kylie]

Ever so slowly making some progress here...

Finished number 4 of 26. :)

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Most worthy of 5 stars.

[Zoey]

Finished my 9th

Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text

The Summer Queen Elizabeth Chadwick 5★

[Ace]

Finished my 11th, a book with a VIVID cover The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough which takes me to 6 Aussie authors so far. 4 stars.

[Amanda]

Well, I haven’t updated for ages! Ive read 9 now, the latest being K for knife on the cover Dead Center by David Rosenfelt. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to it as an audiobook which is a good way of passing time on a long flight (17 hours Perth to London!) It was lightweight and very entertaining. It is actually the 5th book in a series - now I’ll have to go back and read some of the others!

[Marianne]

Brenda is this yellow enough for Y?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes that would work Marianne :)

[Marianne]

Thanks, Brenda

[Kylie]

Completed my 5th and 6th of this annual A-Z challenge. :)

O - Lost by Michael Robotham. Highly entertaining, and just like Suspect, non-stop fast action pace! 4 stars; it wasn't quite as good as the first in the series... but far from awful!

and

X - Music And Freedom by Zoë Morrison. This one took me a little bit to get into, but I was utterly absorbed in Alice's story soon enough. 4.5 stars!

[Kylie]

Completed my 7th of 26. :)

S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title - The Summer Guest by Emma Hannigan. Utterly brilliant, a most heartwarming, poignant, emotional journey. It made me both laugh and cry.5 stars. :)

[Nicola]

another one down!
N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title
Cold Fusion 2000 / Karl Drinkwater 4*

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Just finished D is for Dark Themes:

The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

5 stars My review if you're interested

[Laura]

I'm going to give this my best shot. will fill in when I can.

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited
✔️B - Read a book which you BORROWED The Bay by Di Morrissey aa
✔️C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover Black Hills by Nora Roberts
✔️ D - Read a book which has DARK themes The Boy Under the Table by Nicole Trope AA
✔️E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover The Perfect Mother by Margaret Leroy
F - Read a book which is FIRST in a series
✔️G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read The Things That Make Us: Life, loss and football by Nick Riewoldt aa
✔️H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine
✔️I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman Changing Habits by Debbie Macomber
✔️J - Read a book where the main character goes on a JOURNEY The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux
K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover
✔️L - Read a book which is your LATEST purchase The Other Wife by Michael Robotham AA
M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part
✔️N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title Three Seasons by Jane Hansen AA
✔️O - Read a book with a ONE word title Blueberry by Glenna Thomson AA
P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM
Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text
R - Read a book which has been RECOMMENDED to you
S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title
T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long
✔️U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover
Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan
✔️V - Read a book with a VIVID cover The Family Secret by Fiona Palmer AA
W - Read a book set in WAR time
X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good
✔️Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover Man Drought by Rachael Johns AA
Z - Read a book with ZANY characters

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Welcome Laura :) You're linked! Don't forget to note your AAs when you get to it..

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Read my A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited

Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties by Camille Pagán

Somewhat disappointing. 3 out of 5 Review here

[Krystal]

For #11 I marked off my One word title:

Lovesome by Sally Seltmann

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

[Kylie]

My eighth book of this annual challenge is now complete! Slowly, yet surely making my way through these...

V - Read a book with a VIVID cover - A Hundred Small Lessons by Ashley Hay AA. Completed 27/05 - 5 stars.

A vivid cover, with a very vivid story to go with it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

A beautiful cover Kylie :) Helps I love purple too!

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

U for umbrella on the cover - Passage by Connie Willis

5 out of 5 review here

[Krystal]

Finished #13 with my X: by Sergei Lukyanenko which includes this musical line on page 4:

'The delicate trill of a flute, the strum of guitar strings, the chime of a xylophone.'

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

[Krystal]

Also had to mix some stuff around so marked off my A for #12: The Year that Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly who is from Ireland.

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

[Nicola]

2 down
E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover
Mele Kalikimaka Mr Walker: A Les Norton Novel 8 / Robert G. Barrett AA 5*
U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover
The Nanny Diaries / Emma McLaughlin 2*

[Nicola]

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long
The Bourne Imperative / Eric Van Lustbader

[Jacm]

Just finished number 19 today. Vivid cover: Replica by Lauren Oliver.
A great YA novel. There are 2 options for how the read this book, 1) read the whole narrative from one main character's point of view at a time, or 2) alternate between view points after each chapter. I took option 2 and while some plot elements are somewhat predictable, it was hard to put this one down as the end of each chapter just left me wanting more. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment of this story arc. 4★

[Nicola]

X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good

Xylophones Above Zarundi: A Chaotic Tale of Melody / Geoffrey McSkimming 5*

The audio edition narrated by the author is so well worth it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Nicola!!! I think you're the only one so far who has found a xylophone...and in the title no less!

[Sue]

Joining in very late, but really want to be a part of this one. I'm creating and saving my basic post first and then will get going on filling in the books that I plan to read.

Notes: At least four AA

A - Z Challenge
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2018
Progress: 0/26

_ A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited - The Rose of Sebastopol | Katharine McMahon | I have never visited the United Kingdom
_ B - Read a book which you BORROWED - Rescue | Anita Shreve | borrowed from the library
_ C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover - Ruddy Gore | Kerry Greenwood AA
_ D - Read a book which has DARK themes - I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This | Jacqueline Woodson
_ E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover - Newt's Emerald | Garth Nix AA
_ F - Read a book which is FIRST in a series - The Cross of Lead | Avi | book one in the "Crispin" series
_ G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read - The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin | Stephanie Knipper | genre is Magical Realism
_ H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods - A String in the Harp | Nancy Bond
_ I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman - Susannah's Roses | Louise Rotondo AA
_ J - Read a book where the main character goes on a JOURNEY - Journey to the Center of the Earth
_ K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover - Knife | R.J. Anderson
_ L - Read a book which is your LATEST purchase - The Pearl That Broke Its Shell | Nadia Hashimi | purchased 2018-Jun-05
_ M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part - On the Edge | Ilona Andrews
_ N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title - Eight Cousins | Louisa May Alcott
_ O - Read a book with a ONE word title - Deerskin | Robin McKinley
_ P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM - Silas Marner | George Eliot | pseudonym for Mary Ann Evans
_ Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text - Victoria | Daisy Goodwin
_ R - Read a book which has been RECOMMENDED to you - Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali | Kris Holloway | recommended by my daughter Karen
_ S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title - The Summer of the Swans | Betsy Byars
_ T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long - How I Live Now | Meg Rosoff | on my TBR since 2010-Dec-03
_ U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover - Soulless | Gail Carriger
_ V - Read a book with a VIVID cover - Tiger Lily | Jodi Lynn Anderson
_ W - Read a book set in WAR time - The Wild Girl | Kate Forsyth | set during the Napoleonic Wars AA
_ X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good - Solo | Kwame Alexander
_ Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover - Sold | Patricia McCormick
_ Z - Read a book with ZANY characters - The Big Bazoohley | Peter Carey AA

Author*Borrowed*Cat * Dark *Emerald* First *Genre *

Histrcal*Intrstng*Journey*Knife*Latest*Magic*Number*

*One*Pseudo*Queen*Rec'mend*Season*TBR*Umbrella*

*Vivid * War *Xylophne*Yellow* Zany *

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Nicola!!! I think you're the only one so far who has found a xylophone...and in the title no less!"

It took a bit of searching for a book I could actually get hold of! and the Xylophonists are integral to the story as well, not just in passing...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sue wrote: "Joining in very late, but really want to be a part of this one. I'm creating and saving my basic post first and then will get going on filling in the books that I plan to read.

Notes: At least fou..."

Welcome Sue :) You're linked!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Nicola!!! I think you're the only one so far who has found a xylophone...and in the title no less!"

It took a bit of searching for a book I could actually get hold of! and..."

And you are to be commended! Plus the bonus is, you enjoyed it!

[Marianne]

20. U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover Afternoons with Harvey Beam 5★s
21. C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover To Be A Cat 5★s

[Marianne]

22. Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover The Yellow House by Emily O'Grady AA 4★s

If I find a yellower cover than this before years end, I'll replace it

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's a sort of beige-y/yellow isn't it Marianne ;) lol

[Loren]

Finished my 16th - author that used a pseudonym; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (a.k.a. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). I read the first story when I was very young but this was my first time reading the second. It was completely out there - “Through the Looking-Glass” being the strangest my far, in my opinion - and I loooooved it! 5 stars!

[Marianne]

23. X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good We See the Stars by AA Kate van Hooft not exactly about music but it does play a part and there's a xylophone mentioned on p211 2.5★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done on the xylophone Marianne :)

[Marianne]

Brenda wrote: "Well done on the xylophone Marianne :)"

Thanks, Brenda, I exclaimed out loud when I saw it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha!

[Amanda]

Well, I’ve managed 10 so far, the latest being V for Vivid Cover, The Night Ferry by Michael Robothom. It bore some resemblance to his most recent book, The Secrets She Keeps - very similar theme.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Amanda wrote: "Well, I’ve managed 10 so far, the latest being V for Vivid Cover, The Night Ferry by Michael Robothom. It bore some resemblance to his most recent book, The Secrets She Keeps - very similar theme."

I loved both The Night Ferry and The Secrets She Keeps Amanda :)