**Spring Reading Challenge - 1st September - 30th November 2018**

[PattyMacDotComma]

I have used Kit de Waal for my W in groW, which I hope is ok. (The "de" is separate, although I know it's really part of the surname.) I really enjoyed her The Trick to Time.
4★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I foolishly had 3 words with W, which ate into my list of options. My last book is also a W!

[Sally906]

Completed - with a few weeks to spare!!

I did 'Easy' - here's my list:

A - Jinxed by Amy McCulloch - 4★s
N - The Future Widows' Club by Rhonda Nelson - 5★s
E - The Lost Pearl by Emily Madden - AA - 5★s
W - The Rain Never Came by Lachlan Walter - AA - 5★s

G - And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke - 4★s
R - Scent of a Killer by Lisbeth Reade - 4★s
O - One Thursday Morning by T.K. Chapin - 2★s
W - Winter Signs by Sarah Gai - AA - 4★s

R - You've Got Tail by Renee George - 2★s
A - A Nanny For Christmas: A Harper's Corner Series Novella by Christina George - 5★s
I - Starline by Imogene Nix - AA - 3★s
N - New Corpse In Town by Lucy Quinn - 5★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Sally!

[Nicola]

Last Book done completing Lush.... Challenge Completed
Lush
L – The Last Bookaneer /Matthew Pearl 3*
U –Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown / Maureen Waller 5*
S – Dead Certainties: Unwarranted Speculations / Simon Schama 3*
H – Her Outback Cowboy / Annie Seaton 4* AA
RAIN
R - Seraphina / Rachel Hartman 4*
A – Lady of Devices / Shelley Adina 4*
I - Dark is the Moon / Ian Irvine5* AA
N - The Real History of the End of the World: Apocalyptic Predictions from Revelation and Nostradamus to Y2K and 2012 / Sharan Newman 4*
Warm
W – Winner Lose All / William F. Brown 4*
A – Captain Cook's Apprentice / Anthony Hill 4* AA
R - The Secrets She Keeps / Michael Robotham AA 5*
M - Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time / Greg Mortenson 2*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Nicola!! Great job :)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Nicola!! Great job :)"

Thank you!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Sally and Nicola!

[Rob]

Spring challenge all done and dusted.
Book 12 of 12
ANEW
W=The Nowhere Child The Nowhere Child by Christian White.

A truly great read from first time author Christian White

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Rob!!

[Jenn]

All done :)

I'm in. Hard level for me.
Seasonal Spell-it-Out
Level: Hard - Spring. Floral, Bright
Book: 18/18
Aussie Authors: 8

September

S - Serpentine by Laurell K. Hamilton 4 stars
P - Nothing Stays Buried by P.J. Tracy 4 stars
R - Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly AA 4 stars
I - The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa 5 stars
N - Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors by Molly Harper 4.5 stars
G - Goldenhand by Garth Nix AA 4 stars




October
F - Liar Liar by James Patterson & Candice Fox AA 4 stars
L - Valiant by Laurann Dohner 5 stars
O - Obsidian by Laurann Dohner 5 stars
R - Rock Revenge: Alex's Story by Candy J. Starr AA 4 stars
A - Hunter Hunted by Keri ArthurAA 5 stars
L - Fury by Laurann Dohner 5 stars




November
B - Burnt BY Karly Lane AA 4.5 stars
R - My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent 4.5 stars
I - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 4 stars
G - Reckless by Andrew Gross 4 stars
H - The House on Jindalee Lane by Jennie Jones AA 4 stars
T - Tallowood Bound by Karly Lane AA 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jennifer :) What did you think of Lethal White? You haven't marked it and I wondered what you thought :)

[Trish]

FornA from ANEW...Anita Brookner's Falling Slowly ...3*..a pensive story of 2 sisters facing life together and apart.
This is my 11nth book so one left to go.

[Kerri_M]

Finished the Spring Challenge with a 5 star read - can't ask for more than that. Well actually it was an audio, if we want to get specific. Loved it.

by Tana French ★★★★★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Kerri!!

[cherryjellybeans]

Have finished 3 out of 12 books so far with 2 Aussie Authors.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Camille 😊

[Heather]

Finished to more for BLUE
L - Alone by Lisa Gardner - 5 ★ - guess who's not a baddy

U - Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger - 4 ★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Heather :)

[Heather]

I think I will just make it - two to go

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wonderful!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

You can do it Heather! I still have three and a bit to go.

[Heather]

well it sounds harder when I look at what's left and do a page çount of 1000

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Heather wrote: "well it sounds harder when I look at what's left and do a page çount of 1000"

Don't count.....

[Li'l Owl]

Finished my challenge! All really good reads!


Spring Challenge Spell-it-out
September 1 - November 30
Easy
☔ 12/12

⁣ September ~ BLUE
B Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford AA 11/13/18 4★'s
L Missing Pieces by Laura Pearson 10/26/18 5★'s
U An Unfamiliar Murder by Jane Isaac 11/7/18 4★'s
E The Body in the Dales by J. R. Ellis 4★'s


⁣ October ~ WARM
W Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend ⁣AA 11/20/18 5★'s
A An Act of Silence by Colette McBeth 4★'s
R Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan 11/5/18 5★'s
M The Ruin by Dervla McTiernanAA 5★'s 9/25/18



⁣ November ~ ANEW
A Magyk by Angie Sage 5★'s
N Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey 5★'s
E The Quartet Murders by J.R. Ellis 5★'s
W The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz 10/19/18 4★'s

[Megan]

Level: Easy = 3 x 4 letter words (12 books) - minimum 1 Aussie author

10/12

In preparation of my brother's return home from overseas and without his prodding this time, I am updating my progress! I have been powering through this challenge this month, averaging one book every 5 days or so, and have now completed my October word BLUE and the W of WARM.

Here are my reviews:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
- Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria by Julia P. Gelardi - 5 ☆!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
- An Uncommon Woman - The Empress Frederick: Daughter of Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of Kaiser Wilhelm by Hannah Pakula - 3 ☆.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
- The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor by Colin Tudge - 3 ☆.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
- With the Heart of a King: Elizabeth I of England, Philip II of Spain, and the Fight for a Nation's Soul and Crown by Benton Rain Patterson - 4 ☆.

If I stick to my timeline, I should finish on the 30th November. Fingers crossed! I am currently reading The Perilous Crown: France Between Revolutions 1814-1848 by Munro Price.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Li'l Owl wrote: "Finished my challenge! All really good reads!


Well done Owl!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Owl :)

[Jazzy]

C'est fini!

❈ ❂ ❀ ❤ ♫ SPRING READING CHALLENGE ♫ ❤ ❀ ❂ ❈

Seasonal Spell-it-Out
Level: Hard
Book: 18/18
Aussie Authors: 7/4

September:
BREEZY

October:
BRIGHT

November:
SPRING

✅B- Lucky Us - Amy Bloom Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅R- Ruddy Gore - Kerry Greenwood *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅E- Eleni - Nicholas Gage Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅E- To Sir, With Love - E.R. Braithwaite Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅Z- Zazie in the Metro - Raymond Queneau Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅Y- A Young Girl's Diary - Grete Lainer Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



✅B- Bluebottle - Belinda Castles *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅R- Raisins and Almonds - Kerry Greenwood *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅I- In Praise of Older Women - Stephen Vizinczey Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅G- Urn Burial - Kerry Greenwood * Aussie Author ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅H- The Land of Green Plums - Herta Müller Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅T- Tigers in Red Weather - Liza Klaussmann, Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐



✅S- King Lear - William Shakespeare Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅P- Picnic at Hanging Rock - Joan Lindsay *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅R- Requiem for a Wren - Nevil Shute *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅I- If Kisses Cured Cancer - T.S. Hawken *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅N- The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅G- Death Before Wicket - Kerry Greenwood *Aussie Author Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Jazzy!!

[Jazzy]

Thank you so much Brenda! xx

[Jackmeister]

I have finished my last two, yay!

R of Rain - Retribution by Richard Anderson ⭐️⭐️⭐️

M of Warm - The Three Secret Cities by Matthew Reilly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Jackie!

[Li'l Owl]

Thank you, Brenda and Phrynne!

[Jackmeister]

Brenda wrote: "Congrats Jackie!"

Thanks Brenda! 🙂 📚

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Jacky and Jazzy!

[PattyMacDotComma]

FINISHED! And with a terrific 5-star book, too. This was my third W book, Warm, and what an unusual book it was, too. A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley was written more than 50 years ago about race in the American Deep South
5★ Link to my review

[WF]

Dear moderators

Is there a way to find out which books have been most popular or most highly rated in this challenge?

[Trevor]

Challenge finished, with a few days to go:

G - Lilian's Story by Kate Grenville AA - 2★
R - The God Game by Jeffrey Round - 2★
O - The Only Story by Julian Barnes - 4★
W - What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli - 4★

L - Widows by Lynda La Plante - 4★
U - Us Three by Mia Kerick - 4★
S - The Far Country by Nevil Shute AA - 4★
H - The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurst - 3★

A - The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot AA - 4★
C - Theft: A Love Story by Peter Carey AA - 3★
T - Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux - 4★
I - Strip Jack by Ian Rankin - 4★
V - Tonight You’re Dead by Viveca Sten - 4★
E - Extraordinary People by Peter May - 3★

A couple of not so good reads, but enjoyed all the rest. Thanks for a great challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Patty and Trevor 😊

[Kylie]

Finally finished 12/12 with Under Your Skin by Sabine Durrant

Phew, now bring on Summer :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Kylie!!

[Kylie]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Kylie!!"

Thanks Brenda :)

[Heather]

Finished WARM
A - American Gods 4 ★

one to go it's suppose to be The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy for the E in Blue
but the one I had on reserve has gone missing so now its

Marked for Life by Emelie Schepp

[Carolyn]

I've completed my EASY challenge (12 books, 1 AA)


September - RAIN
✔ R Redemption Road by John Hart 5★
✔ A African Dawn by Tony Park AA 4★
✔ I An Irish Country Cottage by Patrick Taylor 4★
✔ N Nefarious Doings by Ilsa Evans AA 3.5★



October - LUSH
✔ L Little Me: My Life from A-Z by Matt Lucas 4★
✔ U Unbound by Jim C. Hines 4★
✔ S Second Sight by Aoife Clifford AA 4★
✔ H The Huntsman's Tale by Ann Swinfen 3.5★



November -WARM
✔ W The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson 4★
✔ A Assassins Hunted by Rachel Amphlett AA 4.5★
✔ R The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson 4★
✔ M My Real Name Is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih 4.5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Carolyn!!

[Trish]

Finished spring challenge just in time with Tim Winton's The Shepherd's Hut (AA) 4*...a very gritty raw story...not the usual coming of age story.

My Easy Spell-It-Out with at 1 AA ..ANEW BLUE WARM

A..Anita Brookner..Falling Slowly 3*
N..Nutshell..Ian McEwan 3.5*
E..Elizabeth Strout ..Anything is Possible 3.5*
W..Tim Winton.. The Shepherd's Hut (AA) 4*


B..Born Under A Million Shadows..Andrea Busfield 3.5*
L..The Light Between Oceans..M.L.Stedman (AA) 5*
U..Lisa Unger.. Fragile 4*
E..Elena Ferrante..Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay 4*


W..The Widow..Fiona Barton 3.5*
A..Dolly Alderton..Everything I Know About Love 3*
R..Ruth Rendell..The Girl Next Door 3*
M..Liane Moriarty..Three Wishes (AA) 3.5*


Really enjoyed the challenge with a couple of stand outs.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Trish!

[Jenn]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Jennifer :) What did you think of Lethal White? You haven't marked it and I wondered what you thought :)"

I forgot to change it out I actually read Reckless by Andrew Gross.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

There you go then!! You'll have Lethal White for another challenge :)

[Trish]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Trish!"

Thank you Brenda.