**Summer Challenge 1/12/20 - 28/2/21**

[Kim]

Completed this Challenge with:-

'Y' from 'LOTTERY' - title of book:-
You Belong To Me by Samantha Hayes

Rated this book as 4+ stars (9+/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Kim! We must have another seasonal coming up soon ;)

[Trevor]

Just finished my "D" story - Consolation by Garry Disher - 3★, unfortunately let down by a narrative with too many distracting sub-plots.

[MaryG2E]

Finished this Challenge. Some excellent reading there.

AR Summer Challenge 2020/2021
My Favourite Book Challenge
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: EASY - 8 books - Spell out title (min 2 AAs)
Progress: 8/8

Drylands by Thea Astley is a great favourite of mine, by one of Australia's greatest female authors. (I don't seem able to place the magnified image.)

✔ D: Dancing on Knives by Kate Forsyth(AA) 2.5★s
✔ R: Water Under Water by Peter Rix (AA) 4.5★s
✔ Y: The Murrumbidgee Kid by Peter Yeldham (AA) 4★s
✔ L: The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner (AA) 3★s
✔ A: Arthur & George by Julian Barnes 4.5★s
✔ N: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester (AA) 4.5★s
✔ D: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (AA) 5★s
✔ S: Everless by Sara Holland 3★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Mary!!

[Jane]

Finished my summer challenge with the "N" of "NAKED in DEATH" with the somewhat appropriate:

N The Witness by Nora Roberts 4*

[Trevor]

Finished two more books for the challenge, both of which were really good reads:

R Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez - 4.5★
L Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar - 4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great job Jane!

[Steve]

I have finished off my last for this challenge, T from CITY, That Ain’t Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire. Thank you, one and all mods for another great challenge! Below is my completed list:

1. Favourite Book: City of Miracles, Robert Jackson Bennett

C Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine ★★★★☆ 25/1
I Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks ★★★★☆ 16/1
T That Ain’t Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire ★★★★★ 16/2
Y Flare Up by Felicity Young AA ★★★★☆ 15/12

O Once Taken by Blake Pierce ★★★★★ 16/12
F Forged by Benedict Jacka ★★★★★ 12/12

M Mission of Honor by David Weber ★★★★★ 12/12
I I Am Justice by Lara Coates AA ★★★★☆ 7/1
R Hell to Pay by Rachel Amphlett AA ★★★★★ 12/2
A Cold Valley Nightmare by Anna Willett AA ★★★★★ 8/2
C Sevenfold Sword: Champion by Jonathan Moeller ★★★★★ 13/12
L Legion by Dan Abnett ★★★★★ 6/2
E The Hungry Dragon Cookie Company by L.G. Estrella AA ★★★★☆ 5/1
S Containment by Vanda Symon ★★★★★ 10/2

2. Item on Cover - Tower

T The Collaborator by Diane Armstrong AA ★★★★★ 11/1
O WTF?: What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us by Tim O'Reilly ★★★★☆ 23/12
W Winter Wolf by R.J. Blain ★★★★☆ 20/12
E The Longest Echo by Eoin Dempsey ★★★★☆ 14/2
R The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski ★★★☆☆ 7/12

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great job Steve!!

[Carol]

All done :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Carol!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Finished:)

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Hard
13/13

W Hope, Faith, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker 4 stars 3/1/21
I The Innocent by David Baldacci 4 stars 18/2/21
L The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix AA5 stars 5/1/21
D Death in Daylesford by Kerry Greenwood AA 5 stars 7/12/20
F Forged by Benedict Jacka 5 stars 9/12/20
I The Hanging Garden by Ian Rankin 4 stars 21/12/20
R Raelia by Lynette Noni AA 4 stars 24/12/20
E The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths 5 stars 4/12/20



H A Scone to Die For by H.Y. Hanna AA 4 stars 9/1/21
O Murder in an Irish Bookshop by Carlene O'Connor 4 stars 12/1/21
U Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott 3 stars 12/2/21
S Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine 3 stars 11/12/20
E The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths 4 stars 4/1/21

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great job Phrynne!!! I do love the cover of your chosen book!

[Kylie H]

Summer challenge now complete ☺

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Easy
9/9

1. Favourite book - Still Life by Louise Penny


S - The Stonecutter by Camilla Läckberg
T - White Throat by Sarah Thornton 3★AA
I -I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty 4★AA
L - The Lost Man by Jane Harper 4★
L - Lethal White by Robert Galbraith 4★

L - Daughter of Mine by Fiona Lowe 4★AA
I - I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll 4★
F - Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell 4★
E - The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver 4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Kylie!!

[Kahlia]

Done!

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Hard
23/23

Title:

R Red Heir by Lisa Henry & Sarah Honey AA ★★ (5/12)
E The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo ★★★ (29/12)
D Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade ★★ (11/12)

W Weapon by Lynette Noni AA ★★★★ (30/1)
H Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (10/12)
I It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian AA ★★ (20/12)
T Legendborn by Tracy Deonn ★★★★ (23/1)
E The Councillor by E.J. Beaton AA ★★★★ (31/1)

&

R Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse ★★★★★ (19/2)
O The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner AA ★★ (23/12)
Y On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu ★★★ (21/1)
A The Angel of Waterloo by Jackie French AA★★★ (15/2)
L The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner AA ★★★ (17/1)

B The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen ★★★★ (9/1)
L Persephone Station by Stina Leicht ★★ (18/12)
U Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey ★★ (15/2)
E Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik ★★★★ (9/1)




Spell it out:

P Piranesi by Susanna Clarke ★★★★ (4/12)
R Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce ★★★ (2/1)
I The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab ★★★ (28/12)
N The Conductors by Nicole Glover ★★ (22/12)
C Call of the Bone Ships by R.J. Barker ★★★★ (11/1)
E Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger ★★★★ (16/2)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Kahlia!!

[Deb]

I made it! It was a near thing, but Simon Morden

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

This has been a fun one!



I - I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson

A - Akarnae by Lynette NoniAA
M - Miss Harriet by Guy de Maupassant

L - Lexicon by Max Barry AA
E - Equations of Life by Simon Morden
G - Ghost Species by James BradleyAA
E - Emerald Springs by Fleur McDonaldAA
N - Nest by Inga Simpson AA
D - Dreamer's Pool by Juliet MarillierAA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Deborah :)

[Alex]

Another off my list.

T - Thunderhead by Douglas Preston 28/12 4.5★
H - Hard Way by J.B. Turner 17/12 5★
E - Exit Music by Ian Rankin 21/2 4★



W - The Wreckage by AA Michael Robotham 13/12 5★
R - Reconstruction by Mick Herron 2/1 4.5★
E - Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin 9/1 5★
C - The Black Echo by Michael Connelly 5/2 4.5★
K - Killing Jane by Stacy Green 4/12 4★
A - The Long Call by Ann Cleeves 31/1 3★
G - Give the Devil His Due by AA Sulari Gentill 7/12 3.5★
E - Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn 11/2 3.5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Alex!

[Jenn]

Finished :)

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Hard
14/14

Favourite book:
M -Author - The Halloween Spell by Morgana Best AA 3 stars
A - Author - Eggnog Trifle Trouble by Addison Moore 4 stars
G - Author - Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn 5 stars
I - Title - Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost 5 stars
C - Title - Clariel by Garth Nix AA 5 stars
I - Author - Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione 4 stars
A - Author - Magic Misled by Keri Arthur AA 5 stars
N - Author - Stone Country by Nicole Alexander AA 4 stars


On the cover:

C - Title - The CEO by Victoria Purman AA 4 stars
A - Author - What Love Sounds Like by Alissa Callen AA 4 stars
S - Title - Something in the Wine by Tricia Stringer AA 4 stars
T - Author - Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend AA 5 stars
L - Title - Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward 4 stars
E - Author - Eve Silver - Sins of the Flesh 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done once again Jennifer!

[Jenn]

Brenda wrote: "Well done once again Jennifer!"

Thanks Brenda.

[🌸Teresa🌸]

Summer challenge completed :)

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level:
14/14 - AA 5/5

Favourite Book The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah



T - A Lifetime of Impossible Days Tabitha Bird AA Read 10/1/21 5*
H - The Horse Dancer Jojo Moyes Read 23/1/21 5*
E - Eleanor & Park Rainbow Rowell Read 10/2/21 5*

N - The Jane Austen Society Natalie Jenner Read 17/1/21 4*
I - Immortal in Death J.D. Robb Read 2/1/21 4*
G - The Good People Hannah Kent AA Read 7/2/21 5*
H - Bruny Heather Rose AA Read 16/1/21 5*
T - The Testaments Margaret Atwood Read 21/1/21 4*
I - Illuminae Amie Kaufman AA Read 14/12/20 4*
N - Dear Edward Ann Napolitano Read 27/1/2021 4*
G - Golden Earrings Belinda Alexandra AA Read 15/2/21 5*
A - An American Marriage Tayari Jones Read 5/12/20 3*
L - An Almost Perfect Holiday Lucy Diamond Read 24/12/20 4*
E - The Missing Sister Elle Marr Read 25/2/21 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Teresa!

[Veronique]

Finished!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Veronique.

[Veronique]

It was a close one!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Still a couple of days, but yes, down to the wire! We're missing a few days this month too.

[Mari]

Challenge completed. Awesome challenge - thanks Brenda 😊.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Mari!! Glad you enjoyed the challenge :)

[Trevor]

Just finished Scoop by Evelyn Waugh - 4★, a very enjoyable, politically incorrect read. Now onto my last read for the challenge - Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Almost there Trevor!! Two days to do it in ;)

[Cherie]

Finished today :)

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Easy
14/14 (2 AA)

Favourite book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline



R - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 5 stars
E - Emergence by John Birmingham AA 1 star
A - All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton AA 3 stars
D - Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie 3.5 stars
Y - Frankly in Love by David Yoon 3 stars

P - Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee 3 stars
L - Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie 3.5 stars
A - Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout 3.5 stars
Y - You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day 5 stars
E - The Disasters by M.K. England 4 stars
R - Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline 4.5 stars

O - One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London 3 stars
N - The Night Country by Melissa Albert 3 stars
E - The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune 4 stars

[Trevor]

Brenda wrote: "Almost there Trevor!! Two days to do it in ;)"

Hopefully I'll finish, couple of train journeys on Saturday which will be good for a few pages.

[Carolyn]

Challenge completed: 12/12 books (4 AA)



✔ J The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner 4★
✔ A Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff AA 5★
✔ N The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths 4.5★
✔ E Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood 4★

✔ E Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge 4★
✔ Y Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha 4.5★
✔ R Rippling Red by Brigid George AA 4★
✔ E My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante 4★




Item from cover:

✔ G The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré 5★
✔ I Icefall by Stephanie Gunn AA 4★
✔ R Return to Tamarlin by K.M. Steele AA 3.5★
✔ L Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend AA 4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great job Cherie and Carolyn!! Just in time to start Autumn ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trevor wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Almost there Trevor!! Two days to do it in ;)"

Hopefully I'll finish, couple of train journeys on Saturday which will be good for a few pages."

Good luck Trevor :)

[Niamh]

Bit of a disappointing end for me, with a DNF as my attempt for book 11/14. I tried reading a bit of it this morning, but I just couldn't get engaged, and I didn't want to force myself through a bit more in the hopes it would get better. Finishing the summer off with 10 books of my original 14 is still better than I've previously done on the seasonal challenges in recent seasons, so I'm happy with this attempt, but have committed to fewer books for the Autumn.

Summer Challenge 2020/2021
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: Hard
10/14 (4 AA 🦘)



✅U - The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren 4🌟
N - Burn by Patrick Ness
⛔E - Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks 🦘 - DNF at 20%
✅A - Future Girl by Asphyxia 🦘 4🌟
R - Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah 🦘
✅T - The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan 4🌟
✅H - A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer 4🌟
✅L - In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren 4🌟
✅Y - Fable by Adrienne Young 4.5🌟

Item on cover: Smoke
✅S - The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler 4🌟
M - A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs
✅O - Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout 3.5🌟
✅K - Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman 🦘 4.5🌟
✅E - Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno 4🌟

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done on the 10 read Niamh!! Bad luck on the DNF - I'm amazed at how much her writing varies. Catherine Jinks is an AA and I read and loved Shepherd but when I read Shelter I couldn't relate. It was brutal! And then I see the one you tried to read and it's completely different to these!

[Trevor]

Final book of the challenge finished - Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood - 5★, this is one of my all time favourite books.

My short review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/514624833

[Trevor]

AR Summer Challenge 2020/2021
My Favourite Book Challenge
Duration: 1/12/20 - 28/2/2021
Level: EASY - minimum 6 books - Spell out title (min 2 AAs)
Progress: 15/15

Favourite book - Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood



G Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood - 5★
O One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson - 4★
O Orient Express by Graham Greene - 3★
D Consolation by Garry Disher AA - 3★
B Trio by William Boyd - 4★
Y Marching Powder by Rusty Young AA - 3★
E Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo - 4★

T White Throat by Sarah Thornton AA - 3★
O Out of the Shelter by David Lodge - 4★

B Lie With Me by Philippe Besson - 4★
E Scoop by Evelyn Waugh - 4★
R Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez - 4.5★
L Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar - 3★
I Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard AA - 5★
N A Small Place in Italy by Eric Newby - 3★

Some great books, and one Invisible Boys by Australian author Holden Sheppard, which I would recommend everyone should read, it is a very powerful and relevant story.

Thanks to the moderators for another great challenge.

[Niamh]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Invisible Boys, Trevor. It's on my list for the Autumn challenge, as well as a couple of the annual challenges

[Trevor]

Niamh wrote: "I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Invisible Boys, Trevor. It's on my list for the Autumn challenge, as well as a couple of the annual challenges"

Niamh, it's a great book, very thought provoking, it's the best book that I've read so far this year, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great job Trevor!!

[Trevor]

Brenda wrote: "Great job Trevor!!"

Thanks Brenda, I usually manage to finish with a few days to spare, but not this time :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You would have though if February didn't trick us out of those last 2 or 3 days!

[TheMadHatter]

Curse February and its 28 days! It nearly got me. However, I made this (and the February challenge with about 3 hours to spare). :-)

HARD - Minimum 4 Aussie authors
14 of 14 as of 28 Feb 2021



P Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
E An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (2.5 Stars)
R Reality is Not What it Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity by Carlo Rovelli
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (4 Stars).
S Slayer by Kiersten White
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (2 Stars)
U Up for Heir by Ruth Cardello
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3 Stars)
A Akarnae by Lynette Noni AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
S Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
I An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
O The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3 Stars)
N None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (4 Stars)

And I had to choose the iconic writing desk where Wentworth wrote "The Letter" :-P
D DEV1AT3 by Jay Kristoff AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
E Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
S Slammed by Colleen Hoover
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)
K Kissing Tolstoy by Penny Reid
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)