A Special Extra Challenge (running for 6 months) - 1st April - 30 September 2020

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Don't we all ;) You're welcome!

[Janine]

Finished 7/16

A - Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie 4*

[Sarah]

Hi Brenda, Sorry to slot this in separately from my first post at the end of page 1, but I've had to split my list over two posts. Is 12 enough Australian Authors?
Progress: 84/84 AA: 21/21

PART 2:

V: Still Life by Val McDermid (30/8) 4.5*
A: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks (20/8) 4*
C: Conviction by Denise Mina (4/5) 5*
C: Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris AA (30/5) 5*
I: In the Cold Dark Ground by Stuart MacBride (13/9) 4.5*
N: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (27/5) 4*
E: The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths (22/7) 4*


V: Le Road Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France by Vivian Swift (21/8) 4*
I: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (5/9) 5*
R: Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham AA (25/7) 4.5*
U: A Royal Abduction by Arthur W. Upfield AA (26/5) 4.5*
S: Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie AA (7/6) 4*


P: Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home by Danielle Postel-Vinay (31/5) 4*
A: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (21/4) 4.5*
N: Knife by Jo Nesbø (31/8) 5*
I: Inspired by Murder by Audrey J. Cole (10/9) 2*
C: The Calling of the Grave by Simon Beckett (3/7) 4.5*


H: The Lost Man by Jane Harper AA (6/6) 5*
O: Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage by Rebel Girls (Nancy Ohlin) (16/8) 5*
M: Booked For Murder by Val McDermid (16/6) 4*
E: The Body in the Dales by J.R. Ellis (14/6) 3.5*


M: The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan AA (11/4) 4*
A: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (22/5) 4.5*
S: Flesh House by Stuart MacBride (5/4) 4*
K: 488 Rules for Life by Kitty Flanagan AA (6/5) 4*
E: The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (4/4) 4*
D: Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (31/5) 4*


C: Gathering Dark by Candice Fox AA (20/4) 4*
O: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (13/4) 4.5*
V: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (27/4) 4*
I: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (1/5) 4.5*
D: Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher AA (12/4) 4*


T: A Good Neighbourhood by Therese Anne Fowler (25/6) 5*
R: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (8/5) 3*
A: A Traveller In Time by Alison Uttley (30/6) 5*
C: Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller (31/7) 5*
I: In the Darkness by Karin Fossum (9/9) 4*
N: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (5/7) 4*
G: Watching from the Dark by Gytha Lodge (19/7) 4.5*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sarah that's no problems. I've linked this one as Sarah Part 2, and yes 12 AAs is fine :) You're doing brilliantly!!

[Sarah]

Brenda wrote: "Sarah that's no problems. I've linked this one as Sarah Part 2, and yes 12 AAs is fine :) You're doing brilliantly!!"

Thanks Brenda - If I get them all done, I'll clear most of my unread Kindle backlog, too - Score!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sarah wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Sarah that's no problems. I've linked this one as Sarah Part 2, and yes 12 AAs is fine :) You're doing brilliantly!!"

Thanks Brenda - If I get them all done, I'll clear most of my u..."

Wow that's great!

[Sarah]

I've finished my (second) first book for the challenge, which includes two Pulitzer Prize winners! (After shuffling my books around a bit to fit words, I will now need to re-complete my original first word).

Progress: 18/79 AA: 8/12

C: Gathering Dark by Candice Fox AA (20/4) 4*
O: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (13/4) 4.5*
V: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (27/4) 4*
I: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (2/5) 4.5*
D: Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher AA (12/4) 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're doing well Sarah!

[Odette]

Finished 6th book:

E in SAFETY

Emerald Springs by Fleur McDonald - 4★ AA

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I started with one word - now I have three. This is what it looks like now:)

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
8/18

A Angel with Two Faces by Nicola Upson 3 stars 10/4/20
C The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin 4 stars 3/4/20
T The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal 3 stars 21/4/20
I Turning Angel by Greg Iles 5 stars 19/4/20
V The Women's Pages by Victoria Purman AA 3 stars 20/4/20
E A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison 4 stars 5/4/20



T The Daughter of Victory Lights by Kerri Turner AA 4 stars 2/5/20
H The Huntsman's Tale by Ann Swinfen
R Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb 5 stars 2/5/20
E Darkness for Light by Emma Viskic AA
A Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman AA
T Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga by Todd Alexander AA



H All The Livelong Day by Mick Herron
E The Frost Fair by Edward Marston
A The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart AA
L The Long Cosmos by Terry Pratchett
TThe Choir by Joanna Trollope
H A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nice Phrynne!!

[Genevieve]

My second book finished.

The last H in HEALTH

Bruny by Heather Rose AA 5★

[Odette]

Finished 7th book:

Y in SAFETY
You Don't Know Me by Sara Foster - 4★ AA

[Janine]

Finished 8/16

I - Into the Dark by Karen Rose 4*

[PattyMacDotComma]

Phrynne wrote: "I started with one word - now I have three. This is what it looks like now:)

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
8/18

A Angel with Two Faces by Nicola Upson 3 stars 10..."

Phyrnne, you will bust this virus wide apart all by yourself!

[Sarah]

Hello Brenda! I'm in for the challenge- better late than never :) Thanks!

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Easy
0/6 (1AA)

H - The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier (AA)
E - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
A - A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
L - Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
T - The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
H - The Hoarder by Jess Kidd

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Welcome Sarah - I've linked you as Sarah #2 as we have another Sarah, and she's now onto Part 2. So there's bound to be confusion! lol

[Sarah]

Haha, that's okay. Even in school I was used to there being many of us!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It gets "fun" when there are different people with the same name ;)

[Janine]

Finished 9/16

I - The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand 3*

[Kim]

Finished my second of this Challenge:-

The Heather Blazing by Colm Tóibín

Love this author's writing and this one certainly didn't disappoint:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've just added 3 more words to my list so it now looks like this:

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
20/58

W What You've Done by J.A. Schneider 5★s 13/4/20
A Amethyst Pledge by Leonie Rogers 5★s 10/4/20 AA
S When He Finds You by Sadie Ryan 3.5★s 21/4/20
H A Horse Called Trouble by C.K. Volnek 5★s 26/4/20

H Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior 4★s 2/4/20
A Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver 5★s 7/4/20
N Constable On The Hill by Nicholas Rhea 4★s 3/4/20
D Damage Done by Susan Wilkins 4★s 18/4/20
S See You In September by Charity Norman



U The Secrets Mothers Keep by Jacquie Underdown AA
P A Silent Death by Peter May 5★s 9/4/20
D The French Wife by Diney Costeloe 5★s 5/5/20
A When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard AA
T Torched by Kimberley Starr AA
E Elsa Goody, Bushranger by Darry Fraser AA
S Something to Talk About by Rachael Johns 4★s 17/4/20 AA



T The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies
H Brave Girl, Quiet Girl: A Novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde
R Red Dirt Country by Fleur McDonald 5★s 3/4/20 AA
E Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer 5★s 1/4/20
A The Forces' Sweethearts by Rosie Archer 5★s 20/4/20
T To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid 5★s 6/5/20



S The Sunken Road by Garry Disher 4★s 5/4/20 AA
A The Safe Place by Anna Downes AA
F Find Her Alive by Lisa Regan 5★s 11/4/20
E Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler 5★s 19/4/20
T Mercy Street by Tess Evans 5★s 22/4/20 AA
Y Colombiano by Rusty Young 5★s 25/4/20 AA



H Her Last Words by Kim Kelly AA
E Beware the Past by Joy Ellis
A An Alice Girl by Tanya Heaslip AA
L Lockdown by Peter May
T Tiny White Lies by Fiona Palmer AA
H The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford



N The Silk House by Kayte Nunn AA
O The Oxford Mystery by Faith Martin
N 19th Christmas by James Patterson

E A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison
S The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan by Lisa Ireland AA
S The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey
E The Hidden Hand of Death by Lawrence J. Epstein
N Nicola's Virtue by AnneMarie Brear AA
T The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton
I Into the Darkest Day by Kate Hewitt
A The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart AA
L For Whom the Book Tolls by Laura Gail Black



T The Life She Finds by Maggie Christensen AA
R When She Was Good by Michael Robotham AA
A Worth the Wait by Annie Seaton AA
N Nighthawk: NUMA Files #14 by Clive Cussler
S Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie AA
M A Murder at Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
I Songbird by Ingrid Laguna
S Stars Over the Southern Ocean by J.H. Fletcher AA
S Breakfast at Bronzefield by Sophie Campbell
I Hard Rain by Irma Venter
O Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch Urioste
N Notorious by Ray Ellis

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Just read my A for active book. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

Wasn't real fussed. 2 1/2 stars My review

[Trish]

Brenda wrote: "I've just added 3 more words to my list so it now looks like this:

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
20/58

W What You've Done by J.A. Schneider 5★s 13/..."

Wow Brenda so many 4 and 5 ** choices...fantastic.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I've just added 3 more words to my list so it now looks like this:

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
20/58

W What You've Done by [author:J.A. Schneider|5..."

Thanks Trish, I've enjoyed the majority, that's why I thought I'd add some more words :)

[Trish]

Brenda wrote: "Trish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I've just added 3 more words to my list so it now looks like this:

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
20/58

W What You've Done by [author:J...."

Great idea Brenda...I may do the same with so much more time at home, as for most of us.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Trish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I've just added 3 more words to my list so it now looks like this:

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
20/58

..."

Why not :)

[Janine]

Finished 10/16

S - Something to Talk About by Rachael Johns(AA) 5*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I started with one word - now I have three. This is what it looks like now:)
Phyrnne, you will bust this virus wide apart all by yourself!
"

No - Brenda already did that 🙂

[Jane]

Finished my first word UPDATES :
U Die for You by Lisa Unger 4*
P Quantum by Patricia Cornwell 1*
D 55 by James Delargy 4*
A Eliza by Annie Seaton AA 3*
T An Iron Rose by Peter Temple AA 3*
E Echo by Celina Grace 4*
S Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter 5*

with 55 by James Delargy 4*

Plenty more books and words to go!

Does anyone know if James Delargy classifies as an Aussie author?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jane wrote: "Finished my first word UPDATES :
U Die for You by Lisa Unger 4*
P Quantum by Patricia Cornwell 1*
D 55 by ..."

I thought he was Aussie but it looks like he's only visited and lives in England now. I'll check further Jane.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I don't think we can call him Aussie Jane, sorry...

[Jacm]

Another great Australian read with Just an Ordinary Family by Fiona Lowe.

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

[Sarah]

Second word (acronym) completed - only a short one, but closing in on two more words...
Progress: 27/86 AA: 10/16

P: Peace by Garry Disher AA (16/4) 4.5*
P: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (21/4) 4.5*
E: The Octopus and I by Erin Hortle AA (17/5) 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Looks fabulous Sarah!!

[Janine]

Finished 11/16

S - Until Dark by Mariah Stewart 3*

[Janine]

Finished 12 & 13/16

O - Over the Line by Cindy Gerard 4*

N - The Botanist's Daughter by Kayte Nunn(AA) 3*

[Jackmeister]

Finished 2 more, S and E of DISEASE

S - Shadowfires by Leigh Nichols ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

E - El Gavilan by Craig McDonald ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[PattyMacDotComma]

H Health

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, written by Carson McCullers when she was only 23, has become a classic of the American South - 1930s Georgia. Great characters!
4★ Link to my 'Heart' review

[Kylie]

Finished hard level, I may add another word, I'll see :)

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
11/11 (AA- 3/3)

C- Silenced For Good by Alex Coombs 3 stars 9/4/20
O- Out of Sorts by Aurélie Valognes 3 stars 29/4/20
R- The Moor by L.J. Ross 4 stars 5/4/20
O- Operation Grizzly Camp by Kimberli A. Bindschatel 4 stars 2/4/20
N- Next Door by Blake Pierce 3 stars 27/4/20
A- The Secret of Provence House by Aubrey Rhodes 3 stars 1/4/20

V- Evelyn, After by Victoria Helen Stone 3 stars 2/4/20
I- In Darkness Visible by Tony Jones AA 4 stars 25/5/20
R- River of Salt by Dave Warner AA 3.5 stars 3/4/20
U- Unleashed by Emily Kimelman 4 stars 25/4/20
S- Silver by Chris Hammer AA 5 stars 18/4/20

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Go you! Good job :) Plenty of time for more words Kylie :)

[Kylie]

Brenda wrote: "Go you! Good job :) Plenty of time for more words Kylie :)"

Sure is Brenda ;)

[Odette]

Finished 12 of 26:

T: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars

[PattyMacDotComma]

Odette wrote: "Finished 12 of 26:

T: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars

"

Ah, that was a great one, Odette!

[Odette]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Odette wrote: "Finished 12 of 26:

Ah, that was a great one, O..."

Yes, Patty, it was really great!

[PattyMacDotComma]

L for Leif Enger. I tried to choose 'special' books for this special challenge, and this fit the bill perfectly.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger appealed to me on every level. I've got a soft spot for a child's point of view, and when there's humour and terror and adventure and tragedy and romance all mixed with a hint of magic, what more could I want?
5★ My 'Peace Like a River' review

[Odette]

Two months into challenge and half way through!

Spell-it-Out 6 monthly Challenge
Level: Hard
13/26

S: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday - 4★
A: Abandon by Blake Crouch
F: The Family Tree by Sheri S. Tepper - 4★
E: Emerald Springs by Fleur McDonald - 3.5★ AA
T: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer AA
Y: You Don't Know Me by Sara Foster - 4★ AA



S: The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave - 4★
H: Hell to Pay by Rachel Amphlett AA
U: Undara by Annie Seaton - 4.5★ AA
T: A Time to Run by J.M. Peace AA
D: Death in Delft by Graham Brack - 4★
O: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
W: We That Are Left by Lisa Bigelow AA
N: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - 4★



T: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - 5★
R: Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty AA
A: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman AA
N: The Nowhere Child by Christian White AA
S: Small Mercies by Richard Anderson - 4★ AA
M: Midwife in the Jungle by Fiona McArthur - 3.5★ AA
I: In Silence by Erica Spindler - 4★
S: The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
S: The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan
I: The Insulted and Humiliated by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
O: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin - 3★
N: The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're doing well Odette :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I just added another word and six more books!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Phrynne - we'll all have to see how many words we can fit in before the end of September :)