Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014 - Finished

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014 hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

As usual I have enjoyed this challenge. My goal was to read  Christmas Tree level: Read 5 or 6 books and the additional level of Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies.

I managed the books easily as I read 10 books but I never watched any Christmas films. I did watch a few episodes of Christmas stuff but not any films. Instead I watched the two first Hobbit film extended version before going to the cinema to see the third and final film.

I had mistakenly thought that last year was the 5th year, but it's actually this year. Yay! Are you ready!?

Like last year, there are multiple levels for participation, like children's books and watching Christmas movies AND the Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon is back again this year. Keep reading for details!
 
Details and sign up:

• challenge will run from Monday, November 24, 2014 through Tuesday, January 6, 2014 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
• cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
• These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!
• Levels:

            --Candy Cane:  read 1 book

            --Mistletoe:  read 2-4 books

            --Christmas Tree:  read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

          Additional levels:

            --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!

            --Visions of Sugar Plums:  read books with your children this season and share what you read

          *the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

• the most important rule?  Have fun!!!
• I will have a review linky posted as a page the day the challenge starts.  You will find it at the top of the right sidebar.

 List of books read:

1. Udvalgte historier fra Jul i Hjemmet by Morten Korch 
2. Glade Jul, 24 dejlige danske julenoveller edited by Michael Toubro  
3. Den sidste stjerne by Hans Blangstrup Christensen  
4. The Little Christmas Kitchen by Jenny Oliver 
5. Loveable Christmas Angel by Mimi Barbour
6. A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber
7. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 
8. A Christmas Charade by Karla Hocker 
9. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
10. The Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne

The Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne

Caleb didn’t know that one night of bliss last spring with small town beauty Maya Brand had resulted in a pregnancy, until the blackmail attempt arrived on his desk in an unmarked envelope, complete with photos of Maya with a belly out to there.
When he learns the truth, Caleb rushes back to Big Falls, determined to make it right despite what the scandal will do to his high profile career–the family legacy he had never truly wanted.
All he wants is Maya, and their child.
But can a girl whose father abandoned and betrayed her, ever truly believe in the goodness of a man who left town the morning after their one night stand? How can he convince her that he hasn’t stopped thinking about her since then, much less, do so with the whole world watching? He has to prove himself to a woman he’s not even sure he’s worthy of. But he has no idea how.  From Goodreads.



This was okay. I like it when books have strong women and Maya, her mother and her sisters are exactly that. It is a romance and it ends happily. It could be fun to read some of the other books in this series as I guess they are about Maya's sisters.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: December-January Mini Challenge
A Million More Pages - Scavenger Hunt > December
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

Perfect Christmas women's fiction from international bestseller Debbie Macomber.
'Tis the season for love and second chances ...
Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge first: Carrie must score the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.
Living in Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a bestselling book about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone, and no one even knows exactly where he lives. With her career at stake, Carrie sacrifices her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she expected. And soon Carrie is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.  From Goodreads.


This was okay. It was a cosy Christmas romance. Carrie needs to interview Finn, a reclusive author, in order to be allowed to move from the society pages to the more serious stuff. I liked that some of it takes place in a remote place in Alaska.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: December-January Mini Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Castle Scavenger Hunt
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

A Christmas Charade by Karla Hocker

Elizabeth Gore-Langton was hardly in a position to refuse to accompany Lady Astley to the Christmas party at Stenton Castle. After all, a paid companion must follow her employer's wishes. It scarcely mattered that Elizabeth would be forced to face the man who had unknowingly broken her heart years ago during her first season. Most likely, the Duke of
Stenton wouldn't even recognize her. But once she looked up into his dark, piercing eyes, she knew this was a man who forgot very little and forgave even less. Well, she was no longer a blushing schoolgirl, and the dashing duke would soon find that a broken heart, once mended, could be formidable, indeed!
Clive Rowland, Fifth Duke of Stenton, was in no mood for a holiday gathering. But the Christmas gala would provide the perfect cover as he investigated reports that French agents were doing a brisk trade in stolen documents along the Sussex coast. It would be devilishly difficult to play the host while tracking down traitors, but Clive was up to the task—provided he kept his wits about him and didn't get distracted by yule logs and Christmas folderol… or the delightful charms of the disturbingly familiar Elizabeth. She was hiding something, to be sure, and Clive liked nothing better than unveiling a lady's secrets!  From Goodreads.

This was an okay Christmas romance but there is a lot going on. We have got Elizabeth and Clive getting to know each other and Juliette and Stewart who are trying to make their marriage work. Then there are smugglers and French agents, and a treasure hunt.
What I liked best was Annie the ghost who even though she is a ghost actually is able to interact with quite a few of the characters.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory - R4: Team Challenge SS
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: December-January Mini Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Castle Scavenger Hunt
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own. From Goodreads.


This was okay. It was a fun idea about a scavenger hunt between strangers starting in a bookshop.
I liked Lily okay but not Dash so much, it seems he is nice to his friends but he can be rather rude to other people. I liked Boomer and especially Great-aunt Ida who seemed to be quite a character. It was cute and funny in between but just didn't draw me in.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory - R5: Team Challenge SSS
Crazy Challenge Connection Bard of Avon
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: December-January Mini Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Castle Scavenger Hunt
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber

Wishes for love bring hope from above.
Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy—three willing but sometimes wayward angels—are each given someone's prayer to answer . . .
Shirley: She's sent to help nine-year-old Timmy Potter, who longs for a new father. And although his mother, Jody, has vowed never to trust any man, Shirley is determined to help her love again.
Goodness: She knows Monica Fischer longs for a husband and home of her own, but the young woman has practically given up on finding the right man to stand by her side . . . until Goodness steps in to help.
Mercy: Can Mercy bring hope back into Leah Lundberg's life? This maternity nurse desperately wants a child to fill up the home she's made with her husband, Andrew.
But there's just one catch: Each angel must teach her charge a memorable lesson before the prayer can be granted . . . From Goodreads.


This was okay. A cosy, easy read about 3 angels who are sent to earth to help 3 humans get their wish. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are cute angels especially because they don't always behave as they should. Not all 3 humans who need help are interesting, I liked Monica Fisher's story best.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: December-January Mini Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Castle Scavenger Hunt
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Loveable Christmas Angel by Mimi Barbour

Aloha! Sweet romance, lovable angel, and a prickly little boy’s Christmas wish.
Christmas in Hawaii! How lucky can a girl get? Except Leilani is bringing her mother’s ashes home to Waikiki and has an urgent plea of help from an aunt she’s never even met. After winning two free nights in prestigious Hotel Jordan, things take a turn she never expected. First, she is stuck in an elevator with the prickly, but luscious Mr. Jordan. Secondly, her aunt is a sick woman and only held on for one reason. She wants to pass on her most precious possession… her five-year-old grandchild. The same prickly little fellow that takes one look at Leilani, slaps his fist on his hips and yells, “Go away!”
Kale is the owner of the Jordan Hotel Chain and he can’t believe his rotten luck. He broke up with a spoilt brat of a girlfriend and now he’s stuck in an elevator with a big-eyed, effusive tourist. How in the world can a guy who’s so worldly be hooked on a lively beauty with more dilemmas than anyone he’s ever met?  From Goodreads.

I really liked Leilana even though she seems a bit too good sometimes. She didn't know she had any family after her mother's death and suddenly she is in charge of Mano her 5 year old cousin and of course in love. Then there is the loveable elderly taxi-driver Pi who helps her from the moment she arrives in Hawaii. It was a cosy, heart warming story. Perfect Christmas holiday read.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory - R4: Team Challenge SS
The Challenge Factory - R5: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

The Little Christmas Kitchen by Jenny Oliver

Christmas at the Davenports’ house was always about one thing: food!
But when sisters Ella and Maddy were split up, Ella to live in London with their Dad, and Maddy staying in Greece with their Mum, mince pies lost their magic.
Now, a cheating husband has thrown Ella a curved snowball…and for the first time in years, all she wants is her mum. So she heads back to Greece, where her family’s taverna holds all the promise of home. Meanwhile, waitress Maddy’s dreams of a white Christmas lead her back to London…and her Dad.
But a big fat festive life-swap isn’t as easy as it sounds! And as the sisters trade one kitchen for another, it suddenly seems that among the cinnamon, cranberries and icing sugar, their recipes for a perfect Christmas might be missing a crucial ingredient: each other. From Goodreads.



Ella and Maddy are two sisters that got split up when their parents divorced. They both resent the parent they didn't live with as they felt discarded.
Now many years later Ella, after her marriage breaks up, comes to Greece to stay with her mum and Maddy goes to London hoping not to meet her dad. The girls used to be close but they both felt the other has a better life than they themselves do, but as is often the case looks can be deceiving and not everything is as it seems.
It is a Christmas story and a romance so of course all ends well.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory - R4: Team Challenge SS
The Challenge Factory - R5: Team Challenge SSS
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (O-zorilla)
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
A Million More Pages Hogwarts Challenge
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Den sidste stjerne by Hans Blangstrup Christensen

Den Sidste Stjerne er bogens titelnovelle. Den handler om den konflikt, der opstår, når en enlig gårdmandsenke med en søn, der hele sit liv har boet hjemme, pludselig ser sin hverdag bryde sammen, fordi sønnenfinder en pige, som han ønsker at dele fremtiden med. From back of book.

Another collection of Christmas short stories. These didn't have a too sickly happily ending, it seemed more like a promise of hope for the future. I liked this.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Glade Jul, 24 dejlige danske julenoveller edited by Michael Toubro

Julen består af traditioner, og folkelige, hjertevarme julehistorier er en af dem. Her foreligger 24 af de bedste danske julenoveller, som ugeblader Hjemmet har bragt fra 1934 og frem til vore dage.
Indholdet er humor, livsglæde, ærkedansk julehygge og - lad os bare indrømme det - hist og her en anledning til at fælde en tåre, når julevarmen til sidst smelter de vinterfrosne hjerters kvarts.
Ugebladsfiktion er ofte bedre end sit rygte. Hjemmet har bragt julebidrag fra estimerede forfatere som Leck Fischer, Hans Kirk, Eva Hemmer Hansen, Torben Nielsen og Poul Ørum, der alle får et genoptryk i denne samling. Folkelige fortællere som Erling Poulsen og Karen Brasen havde også noget på hjertet ved juletid, og den yngre generation repræsenteres bl.a af gode kvindeforfattere som Elsebeth Egholm og Helle Hauge.
Novellerne kaster strejflys over sociale og menneskelige forhold i gode og mindre gode tider, og de tegner smukke billeder af det familieliv, vi danskere dyrkede - eller gerne ville have dyrket - gennem århundredet, der gik.
Det er ikke så lidt tidshistorie i disse 24 fortællinger, men først og fremmest er de underholdende. Man kan sætte sig med dem, som man sætter sig til rette ved et julebord med sprødstegt and, rødkål og brunede kartofler.
Rigtig god appetit! From Goodreads.

24 cosy Christmas stories set from 1934 till 2002. They are entertaining and as usual with this kind of short story they start with a sad story, usually about family, but it all ends happily.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon 2014
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Udvalgte historier fra Jul i Hjemmet by Morten Korch

Hvad er en rigtig julehistorie? Spørger forfatteren Vagn Lundbye i Information 15 december 1997 i en anmeldelse af Morten Korch; Rigtige julehistorier: Må jeg bede om MORTEN KORCH. En rigtig julehistorie skal være enkel og ligetil og den fred den beretter om, skal være god og opbyggelig.
Vi drømmer om julen i gamle dage, men hvordan var den egentligt? Det fortæller Morten Korch i udvalgte historier fra JUL I HJEMMET. For ingen har vel som denne forfatter formået at bringe julens budskab til gamle og unge. Her er samlet en række typiske historier, hvor Morten Korch udfolder hele sin livfulde og sprudlende fortællerevne med rig variation i emnevalg og miljø, men stemningen er overalt lys og smuk, vanskeligheder overvindes, hårde hjerter smelter, kærligheden sejrer, mennesker forsones, så julens budskab kan stråle i sin fulde glans. From Goodreads.




This is a book of short stories about Christmas.These are cosy, they always start sad but end well on Christmas Eve. They are of course set in Denmark.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Tower Teams III
Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon 2014
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014 - sign up

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2014 hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

This is my fourth time taking part in this Christmas Challenge. This means I only missed the very first time but at that time I had no idea that anything like reading challenges existed.

As usual I will  do the Christmas Tree level: Read 5 or 6 books and the additional level of Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies.

This year I have not got a list of books ready but I have lots of Christmas books to read.

I had mistakenly thought that last year was the 5th year, but it's actually this year. Yay! Are you ready!?

Like last year, there are multiple levels for participation, like children's books and watching Christmas movies AND the Christmas Spirit Read-a-Thon is back again this year. Keep reading for details!

Details and sign up:

• challenge will run from Monday, November 24, 2014 through Tuesday, January 6, 2014 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
• cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
• These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!
• Levels:

            --Candy Cane:  read 1 book

            --Mistletoe:  read 2-4 books

            --Christmas Tree:  read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

          Additional levels:

            --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!

            --Visions of Sugar Plums:  read books with your children this season and share what you read

          *the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

• the most important rule?  Have fun!!!
• I will have a review linky posted as a page the day the challenge starts.  You will find it at the top of the right sidebar.

List of books read:

1. Udvalgte historier fra Jul i Hjemmet by Morten Korch 
2. Glade Jul, 24 dejlige danske julenoveller edited by Michael Toubro  
3. Den sidste stjerne by Hans Blangstrup Christensen  
4. The Little Christmas Kitchen by Jenny Oliver 
5. Loveable Christmas Angel by Mimi Barbour
6. A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber
7. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 
8. A Christmas Charade by Karla Hocker 
9. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
10. The Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne