Luck of the Irish Challenge

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: 3 months March 1 - May 31

Trying something a little bit different here. This is a "Build Your Own" Challenge. I'm going to list several sayings related to Saint Patrick's Day. You choose how many books to read and how to relate them to your saying. I'll give some examples - but as long as you can show the relationship - it counts!

Saying:
May the Good Lord take a liking to you... but not too soon!

Examples:
Not too soon - character brought back from a brink (injured, demon possessed, etc.)
Liking - UF story with little or no romance.

Saying:
When Irish eyes are smiling,
'Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.

Examples:
Smiling - Smile on cover, humorous book.
Angels - Character is an angel (or half-angel), angel on cover or in title, white cover.
Lord - Character is a Lord, Christian fiction.
Sing - Music is part of the story, character is a musician.

Saying:
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

Example:
Living/dead - character becomes something else (werewolf, vampire, zombie), living or dead in the title.
Drinking - Character spends time in a bar.

Saying:
Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover? You don't want to press your luck.

Examples:
Luck - Character with the name Lucky, a leprechaun, or an Irish name.
4 leaf clover - green cover, clover on the cover or in the title, number 4 on the cover or in the title.
Iron - Iron or type of metal in title, character is a housewife.

Saying:
Saint Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland
Here's a drinkee to his health!
But not too many drinkees
Lest we lose ourselves and then...
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see them snakes again!

Examples:
Drinkee - character drinks beer, set in a winery, beverage of some sort on cover or in the title (preferably alcoholic)
Saint Patrick - snake on cover, in the title, or in the story, character wears a hat, character wears green clothes.

BONUS #1: Show a connection to Ireland or March 17

Examples:
Ireland - emerald in the story, character named Emmie or Emma, takes place on an island.
March 17 - March in the title or character name, parade in the story, 17 somewhere in the book, story set in the spring, a holiday is celebrated in the story.

BONUS #2: Spell out an Irish word or phrase

EXAMPLES:

Four leaf clover
Saint Patrick
Shillelagh
Guinness Beer
Irish Whiskey
Banish the snakes
Shamrock

BONUS #3: The Luck of the Irish
1. Find a 4 leaf clover - read book #4 of a series
2. Wear green - read a book with a green cover
3. Kiss the blarney stone - Read a romance book or a book with gargoyles. Read a book with a character who is full of "blarney" - flattering or wheedling talk; deceptive or misleading talk.
4. Catch a leprechaun - Read a book with magic or a pot of gold.

SUPER SPECIAL BONUS!!!

ANY book finished on March 17 can substitute for any spot you need to fill. You don't even have to pick the spot right away. Just post your SUPER SPECIAL BONUS book and use it for that pesky book you just don't have time to read - or something you can't find in your TBR.




For this challenge you are encouraged to press your luck! Try for as many as you can read, and then some. Who knows? Maybe the saints will be with you.....

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Levels:

Snake in the grass: 1-3 books
Need a Shillelagh: 4-6 books
In My Cups: 7-10 books
Pot of Gold: 11+ books

May the Luck of the Irish be with you:

Cindy
Steph
Judithe
Lizz
Wan
Julianne
Sandra
Barbara
Valorie
Suzanne

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Very cool, Miss Cindy! Thanks for sharing your creative idea! :)

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Thanks Steph! Hope someone else will join with me here. I may end up being a "snake in the grass" on this one, but I'm trying for the "pot of gold"!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL! I'll search through my books to see if I can slither along w/ya. ;)

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Wicked...and I'm so busy right now....WAIT! Just checked the dates! I can do this! Be back later...and if you don't see me by March, send the troops out to find me!

[Wan]

I'll try. Do we have a link the consolidated list of the saying somewhere? That would help.

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I will be in

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Judithe wrote: "Wicked...and I'm so busy right now....WAIT! Just checked the dates! I can do this! Be back later...and if you don't see me by March, send the troops out to find me!"

LOL Judithe! We'll send the search party if you don't come back. Of course, the beer will be flowing, so not sure if the search party will be in good enough shape to actually find anyone!

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Wan ~DragonsWan~ wrote: "I'll try. Do we have a link the consolidated list of the saying somewhere? That would help."

Wan - I just Googled Irish Blessings. Found a couple here, some more there....wasn't just 1 site.

Feel free to copy and paste whatever parts of the original post you need.

Also - you don't have to read a book for each of the sayings. You could just pick one and then see how many books you can associate with that particular saying.

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

For all the smut lovers out there - I'm reading a book now that could have been used here. The Hero's Mother is from an Irish settlement on Mars. Sounds weird, but it would work for this challenge!

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Well...it that case, maybe the lure of the suds will bring me back regardless!

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Good to know!

Welcome ladies!!! Hope everyone has fun here.

[Julianne]

I'd like to try too (because I'm a challenge junkie) but I'll have to see what I can find to fit.

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

It won't be hard.

For example. I have a book I have been promising to send to a friend for a LONG time. Just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I'm planning to use it here.

The book? Alien Penetration

It fits this saying:

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

How does it fit? Well - entering something is very similar to penetrating something! So - I could list it like this:

Entered = Alien Penetration

If the connection isn't fairly obvious, then you could put a short explanation next to the book title.

Saying:
Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover? You don't want to press your luck.

Books:
Iron - Three Moon Station Heroine becomes a housewife on a far off planet.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I gave 4 stars, I'm a sucker for Kaitlyn O'Connor. LOL.

I'll have to look & see what books I can find :)

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

Can we use our own sayings?

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

As long as the saying relates to Ireland or the Irish in some way that should be OK.

[Barbara ★]

I'm in though I'm not sure yet which part(s). I will post when I figure it out.

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

Cindy (eclecticfirefly) wrote: "As long as the saying relates to Ireland or the Irish in some way that should be OK."

Thanks

[Valorie]

I'm in! I'll have to give some thought to the books before I post.

[Suzanne]

SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: March 1, 2012 - May 31, 2012

[Lisa Kay]

Oh, I like this one! I'm in. I'll get my books together.

[Wan]

SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: March 1, 2012 - May 31, 2012
Need a Shillelagh: 4-6 books
15/18

Saying:
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

1.Living: Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione 3/22 (5)
2.Drinking: Set in a Bar No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon 3/10 (5)
3.Drink: Charactor that Drinks Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward 3/17 (5)
4. One: 1st in Series Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch 3/6 (4)



Bonus#2: Shillelagh
1.Sherrilyn Kenyon - Born of Shadows 4/9 (5)
2.Hill, Joey W. - A Mermaid's Kiss
3.Ilona Andrews, Magic bites 4/30 (3.5)
4.Lara Adrian, Veil of Midnight 5/4 (4)
5.Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward 4/29 (5)
6.E.L. James, Fifty of Grey
7.Laurenston, Shelly - The Mane Event 4/22 (4.5)
8.Alien Tango by Gini Koch 4/15 (5)
9.Gena Showalter - The Darkest Surrender 5/14 (4.5)
10.Hard Day's Knight by Katie MacAlister



Bonus#3:
1.4 leaf clover: 4th in series Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian 3/28 (4.5)
2.Wear green: a green cover Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon 3/13 (5)
3.Kiss the blarney stone: blarney talk Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon 5/8 (5)
4.Catch a leprechaun: magic Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews 4/30 (3.5)

[Lisa Kay]

SOS: Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: 3 months, March 1 - May 31

14/14 + Bonus = 15!

SAYING:

May the Good Lord take a liking to you... but not too soon!

Not too soon: - character brought back from a brink
✔ Bone Crossed, by Patricia Briggs ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 3/3 “buddy read”


SAYING:

When Irish eyes are smiling,
'Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.

Angels - character is half-angel
✔ Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare ★★★★★ audible.com 03/01 “buddy read”


SAYING:

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

Drinking - character spends time in a bar
✔ Rainshadow Road, by Lisa Kleypas ★★★★★ audible.com 3/3 “buddy read”


SAYING:

Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover? You don't want to press your luck.

4 leaf clover: - green cover
✔ Amazon Lily, by Theresa Weir ★★★★★ Kindle 5/30 (But, second cover is MUCH better!)


SAYING:

Saint Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland
Here's a drinkee to his health!
But not too many drinkees
Lest we lose ourselves and then...
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see them snakes again!

Saint Patrick: - snake on cover
✔ The Curse of the Pharaohs, by Elizabeth Peters ★★★✩✩ OneClickDigital 3/18


BONUS #1: - hero was born in Ireland
✔ Naked in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ OneClickDigital 3/23


BONUS #2: - spell out an Irish word: Bailey’s

B. - ✔ Benjamin Mee = We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever ★★★½✩ ODA 3/21
A. - ✔ About That Night, by Julie James ★★★★½ PB 4/16 “buddy read”
I.  - ✔ Ilona Andrews = Bayou Moon, by ★★★½✩ PB 3/19
L. - ✔ Loyalty in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ PB 3/23
E. - ✔ Evanovich, Janet = Smokin' Seventeen ★★★★✩ ODA 3/19
Y. - ✔ You Slay Me, by Katie MacAlister ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 3/6
S. - ✔ Storm Front, by Jim Butcher ★★★★½ PB & ODA 5/1



BONUS #3: The Luck of the Irish
Kiss the blarney stone - read a romance book
✔ At the Bride Hunt Ball, by Olivia Parker ★★★★✩ Library e-book 4/7


SUPER SPECIAL BONUS!!!

ANY book finished on March 17 can substitute for any spot you need to fill. You don't even have to pick the spot right away. Just post your SUPER SPECIAL BONUS book and use it for that pesky book you just don't have time to read - or something you can't find in your TBR.
✔ The Man She Loves To Hate, by Kelly Hunter ★★★★½ PB 3/17

[Valorie]

SOS: Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: 3 months, March 1 - May 31

0/10 Done

SAYING:
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

1. Drinking: Chains of Ice by Christina Dodd
I like my drinks "on the rocks", so "Ice" in title.
2. One: Storm Born by Richelle Mead
First book in a series.
3. Entered: Alice in Deadland by Mainak Dhar
Alice entered the rabbit hole.
4. Man: Black Magic by Cherry Adair
Hot man on the cover.
5. The Living: Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard
Human only/Non PNR book.
6. Hell: My Way to Hell by Dakota Cassidy
"Hell" in the title.
7. Dead: Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian
Vampire main character.
Bonus #1 Ireland: A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn
Main character is named Emerald.
Bonus #3 Green: Strange Brew Anthology
Green Cover
Bonus #3 Blarney: Out of Mind by Stella Cameron
Romance book

[Barbara ★]

READ: 13/14 + bonus

✔F: Angie Fox - Accidental Demon Slayer 3/4
✔O: One Bite With A Stranger - Christine Warren
✔U: The Undead Next Door - Kerrelyn Sparks 3/12
✔R: Raziel - Kristina Douglas 3/27


✔L: Linger - Maggie Stiefvater 3/4
✔E: Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione 4/11
✔A: Across the Great Barrier - Patricia Wrede 3/3
✔F: Jeaniene Frost - Unbound 3/27


✔C: Crazy Cool - Tara Janzen 3/20
✔L: Lavender Morning - Jude Deveraux 3/15
✔O: On a Highland Shore - Kathleen Givens 3/30
✔V: Vickie Taylor - Legacy of Stone 3/7
E:
✔R: Red Mist - Patricia Cornwell 3/21


✔BONUS: Witch Fury - Anya Bast 3/17

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Loving the books!!!

I've been MIA lately - had a death in the family and just not much time for reading. Hope to get back in the saddle quickly!

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: 3 months March 1 - May 31

7/14 + 4 Bonus Books

When Irish eyes are smiling,
'Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.

1. Morn - Perilous Partnership by Ariel Tachna ***** 3-4 Vampires paired with a wizard can walk in daylight.
2. Angels - Soul Thief by Jana Oliver **** 3-6 Ori is a fallen angel.



There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

1. Entered - Alien Penetration by Kaitlyn O'Connor **** 3-20
2. Drink - The Ice Dragon by Bianca D'Arc **** 3-16 (ice for my drink!)
3. Dead - Deadly Wrong by Victor J. Banis **** 3-14



Saint Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland
Here's a drinkee to his health!
But not too many drinkees
Lest we lose ourselves and then...
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see them snakes again!

1. Saint Patrick - Gemini Bites by Patrick Ryan **** 3-21
2. Snakes - Bite Me by Parker Blue **** 3-26 (snakes bite!)



BONUS #2: 6/7

Sarah Rees Brennan The Demon's Covenant **** 3-30
H
Alden Bell The Reapers Are the Angels *** 4-13
Moncreif, Skyhe Beauty and the Brute *** 3-31
Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory ****3-9
Owen, Chris Adagio *** 4-13
C791 by Eve Langlais **** 4-2
Karr, Julia XVI *** 4-9



BONUS #3:

Wear green! Brain Jack **** 3-11
Catch a leprechaun! Magic Slays **** 3-24
Kiss the blarney stone! The Bar Code Tattoo **** 4-3



SUPER SPECIAL BONUS!!! The Body Finder **** 3-17

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 3/14

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Keep up the good work Lisa Kay! Hope you are having fun.

[Lisa Kay]

Thanks, Cindy! I am. ☺

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Did anyone else finish reading a book yesterday? Don't forget to add your Super Special Bonus if you did!

[Lisa Kay]

Oh, thanks, Cindy! I did. Forgot about that. ☺

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 5/14 + Bonus

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 7/14 + Bonus

[Lisa Kay]

Miscounted, and figured out another one. Updated Post #25 = 9/14 + Bonus

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

LOL Lisa Kay - seems like you are always ahead of me....

[Valorie]

SOS: Luck of the Irish Challenge
Duration: 3 months, March 1 - May 31

4/10 Done

SAYING:
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

1. Drinking: Chains of Ice by Christina Dodd 3/19 ★★★★
I like my drinks "on the rocks", so "Ice" in title.
2. One: Intern With The Vampire by Kit Iwasaki
First book in a series.
3. Entered: Alice in Deadland by Mainak Dhar 3/6 ★★★★
Alice entered the rabbit hole.
4. Man: Black Magic by Cherry Adair 3/22 ★★★
Hot man on the cover.
5. The Living: Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard 3/18 ★★★★★
Human only/Non PNR book.
6. Hell: My Way to Hell by Dakota Cassidy
"Hell" in the title.
7. Dead: Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian
Vampire main character.
Bonus #1 Ireland: A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn
Main character is named Emerald.
Bonus #3 Green: Strange Brew Anthology
Green Cover
Bonus #3 Blarney: Out of Mind by Stella Cameron
Romance book

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Welcome Valorie! And thanks for updating.

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 10/14 + Bonus

[Lisa Kay]

Cindy (eclecticfirefly) wrote: "LOL Lisa Kay - seems like you are always ahead of me...."

Yeah, and Joann is always ahead of me... there is always someone ahead. LOL!

[Valorie]

Cindy (eclecticfirefly) wrote: "Welcome Valorie! And thanks for updating."

Thanks Cindy! I'm trucking along, but had to make a book change. Good thing I have until May, I seem to be a little behind everyone!

[Lisa Kay]

I misplaced one of my books for a challenge in another group and it ends this month. I ordered it special and it is driving me crazy. I know it is in this house somewhere, LOL! Don't know if I'll get that one finished.

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

I do that all the time! Put a book into one of the games on PBS that I know I have somewhere.....but I can't find it. SIGH..... I have some more time, so maybe it'll turn up. Otherwise Amazon is my friend.

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

Updated my post above.

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 11/14 + Bonus

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 12/14 + Bonus

[Barbara ★]

READ: 14/14 + bonus

✔F: Angie Fox - Accidental Demon Slayer 3/4
✔O: One Bite With A Stranger - Christine Warren
✔U: The Undead Next Door - Kerrelyn Sparks 3/12
✔R: Raziel - Kristina Douglas 3/27


✔L: Linger - Maggie Stiefvater 3/4
✔E: Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione 4/11
✔A: Across the Great Barrier - Patricia Wrede 3/3
✔F: Jeaniene Frost - Unbound 3/27


✔C: Crazy Cool - Tara Janzen 3/20
✔L: Lavender Morning - Jude Deveraux 3/15
✔O: On a Highland Shore - Kathleen Givens 3/30
✔V: Vickie Taylor - Legacy of Stone 3/7
✔E: Emma Craig - Midsummer Night's Magic 4/24
✔R: Red Mist - Patricia Cornwell 3/21


✔BONUS: Witch Fury - Anya Bast 3/17

[Lisa Kay]

Updated Post #25 = 13/14 + Bonus

I did my Bonus book. Let's see if I can get by without using it... I'll wait to closer to the end of the month to decide.