Opal Fire by Barbra Annino

Stacy Justice did not expect to be set on fire that night, but being raised by witches prepares one for life's little surprises. In fact, she isn't the least bit shocked when her cousin is accused of arson, or when her divorced grandparents sign up for a marriage retreat, or even when her own boyfriend hauls her off to jail. But when a decades-old secret is discovered within the walls of her cousin's bar, even Stacy is rattled. Now, someone wants her dead and she finds herself dodging angry motorists, exploding chickens and a very creepy man who lurks around every corner. As she begins to dig up the past, Stacy learns that even those closest to her have something to hide--and she's about to discover a destiny she never imagined. From Goodreads.




This was okay and it was fun listening to it. As usual in cosy mysteries the MC does a lot of stuff that is really stupid and nearly dies. I also guessed the killer around midway through the book. But it was enough fun that I will continue the series and I will continue it as audio.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
2015 Audiobook challenge
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (1/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

The Liquidator by John Gardner

Paris, 1944.
As the city is liberated, Sergeant Boysie Oaks kills two Germans attempting to assassinate an Intelligence Corps officer named Mostyn.
Two decades later, the suave, sadistic Mostyn has become the Second-in-Command of British Special Security.
He recruits the man he believes is a master assassin -- Boysie Oakes -- to quietly murder potential security risks.
He is 'The Liquidator'.
But is Boysie the right man for the job?
He is preparing to take Mostyn's secretary to the Cote D'Azur for a weekend of romance.
Yet what starts as a few days of seduction in the Mediterranean sun turns into a nightmare for Boysie as he becomes more and more embroiled in Operation Coronet.
Captured, the tables are turned, and the assassin becomes the target.
Boysie Oakes will need all his wits to stay alive.  From Goodreads.

This was better than I expected. Spy fiction is not a genre I read very often. But this was a lot about Boysie Oakes, the Liquidator, as well. I will not reveal his secret here but it was quite a funny twist. Not bad for a spy novel and it was clear most of the book who were the enemy spies and who were the friendly and it was also humorous.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (2/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater? 

Metal Emissary by Chris Paton

Struggling to regain the Queen’s favour, the British Royal Navy despatch Lieutenant Jamie Hanover on a mission to uncover the rumour of a French secret weapon located in the mountains of Afghanistan.
As the Great Game takes shape in Central Asia, Jamie is helped by the strange mystic, Hari Singh, as he tracks a metal monster leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. The two men join forces to fulfil their respective missions. Ambushed in the mountains, they fight side by side as they travel through the infamous Khyber Pass.
Following in the destructive footsteps of the metal emissary, Jamie and Hari’s journey takes them from Peshawar to Adina Pur where the uncovering of secrets and the culmination of their mission demands a heavy price.
Metal Emissary is a Steampunk Adventure set in Central Asia in the 1850s full of weird machines, exotic characters, dust, snow and blood. From Goodreads.

I really liked this. It is a short, 120 pages, and quick read with a lot of action.  The friendship that quickly develops between Jamie and Hari is interesting as they know hardly anything about each other but they need each other to survive as they follow the Metal Emissary. I am a bit sad about the ending  but the epilogue is setting the scene for the continuation of the series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015

The Sewing Bee by the Sea by De-ann Black

Tiree moves from the city to a beautiful cottage in the Scottish Highlands to begin work as the dressmaker’s apprentice.
While helping the dressmaker make dresses that have been ordered for a Hollywood premiere, she meets some of the local men. Tavion the flower grower proves to be a handsome distraction, as does Bredon the beemaster and the silversmith.
Tiree also sets up a sewing bee in her cottage by the sea. The ladies of the sewing bee get up to all sorts of mischief when they get together. From Goodreads.

Just like the first in the series this is short light romance set in Scotland. A young woman moves to the small community, meets a hunk of a young man, there are a few misunderstandings but at the end everything is all nice. What I also like is that we meet the characters from the previous book.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (1/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater? 

A New Witch in Town (Maybe Two) by Dani Corlee

A New Witch in Town (Maybe Two) - A Modern Tale about the Witches of Springsville
♥ a light-hearted story suitable for all audiences ♥
Kimberly wants nothing more than to begin a new life with her four-year-old daughter. What begins as a fresh start quickly becomes something Kimberly could never have imagined.
Becoming a witch was never part of the plan. Kimberly is soon hailed a Queen, but why that happened and how she deals with it is only the beginning of her adventure.
Fearing for not only herself but her daughter, Kimberly struggles with fighting destiny and not fulfilling a prophecy laid out long before she and her daughter were born.
Can this duo of new witches come to terms with what has happened or will all be lost and their destiny not reach its full potential? From Goodreads.



This was very cute story about a woman and her daughter just moved to a town and then something happens that turns them into witches. Kimberly of course has difficulties believing she is a witch but when she does everything ties up a little too neatly, but it was still cute and cosy.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (1/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw - Finished

To Be A Ravenclaw hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

I finished this challenge at the highest level for 6 points but as I didn't want to find specific cover colours I did not get the bonus point.
 
February Challenge - 2 month challenge - February 1-March 31,2015

What it Takes to Be Part of Ravenclaw House

Ravenclaw House prizes learning, wisdom, wit, and intellect in its members. Thus, many Ravenclaws tend to be academically motivated and talented students. Ravenclaws also pride themselves in being original in their ideas, and methods. It's not unusual to find Ravenclaw students practicing especially different types of magic that other houses might shun. Students in Ravenclaw can also be quirky and possess unusual intellectual interests. Ravenclaws generally accept and celebrate these eccentrics.

Choose Your Level:
Level 1: Complete 3 tasks - 2 points
Level 2: Complete 6 tasks - 4 points
Level 3: Complete all 9 tasks - 6 points

When posting your book, please include a link to the book (or book cover if required for task), date book was completed, and your rating of the book. If any additional information is required based on the task, include that as well.

✦ Intelligence - Most people describe Scientists as Intelligent....read a book with Science or Science Fiction as a Main Page Genre
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

✦ Wit - read a book that has comedy/humor as Main Page genre
Fat Vampire by Johnny B. Truant

✦ Wisdom - read a book that features a teacher/professor as a Main Character (should be obvious from the book's description)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling 

✦ Creativity - read a book that has "the arts" as a theme...music,artist,dancer,etc should be obvious from book description
Cora's Heart by Rachael Herron

✦ Originality - original=first timer...read an author's debut book
Love is a Thief by Claire Garber

✦ Individuality - Read a book that is a standalone...not part of a series
Secrets of the Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

✦ Acceptance - Read a book that has a genre you don't typically read (specify the genre selected in your post). List at least 2 things about the book that you found you liked in your post.
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald (non-fiction)
1. I liked the relationship she had with her hawk.
2. The way she portrays her depression, I was just waiting for the meltdown.

✦ The Ravenclaw House Mascot is an eagle - read a book that has a bird on the cover (include cover in post)
Raven's Key: A Novel by Siomonn Pulla (bird on cover)

✦ The Ravenclaw House Ghost is the Grey Lady - read a book that has Paranormal > Ghost as a Genre on the main page or that has GHOST in the book title or series name.
Child of the Ghosts by Jonathan Moeller

BONUS POINT -
✦ The Ravenclaw House colors are blue and bronze - if Level 3 is completed and all covers include something blue or bronze on the cover, an additional point will be earned. Make sure to include all covers in your post and point out the blue/bronze on each cover in order to earn the bonus point.

7 points total for Level 3 + Bonus Point (6 + 1 bonus) 

Secrets of the Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

Scotland, 1860. Reverend Alexander Ferguson takes up his new parish, an isolated patch on the Hebridean island of Harris. His time there will change his life, but the Sea House, on the edge of the dunes keeps its silence long after Alexander departs. More than a century later, Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building for the family they hope to have. But their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. From Goodreads.

I found this very slow going in the beginning but then it started getting interesting. As there were 3 narrators, one for each MC it made it easy to hear who was MC of each chapter. Set in Scotland and hearing about how the English landlords just moved people around as they thought fit was interesting. It is not a happy read, it is actually quite depressing but it ends fairly happy for the 3 MCs.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Audiobook challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: Butterbeer Recipe - Finished

Butterbeer Recipe hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

A team challenge. Each team has a member from all four houses. My team was Team 1. This was quite fun with a lot of different tasks like writing reviews so others could respond and the of course I had to respond to other peoples reviews too.
I did well in this challenge as I got the maximum 9 points, unfortunately two of my team-mates missed the deadline and only got 1 point each. Luckily for me we got points individually. 

February is here. It’s still cold outside. What a great time to bring a friend or sweetheart to share some good conversation and a great Butterbeer!

This challenge is a recipe challenge. Find all the ingredients to earn points. This challenge is a team of four. The twist is the teams of four people have to be from different Houses. Each team must have a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

What to do:
♡ Sign up by saying what house you are in. I’ll make a list and you’ll be teamed up with your team using a random generator.
♡ January 31, 2015 11:59 (PST) is last sign up day.
♡ Once the teams have been made, post a message by one member for your team to keep track of tasks. This will make it easier for me to see if you have completed all elements of the challenge.

Points:
♡ If you finish this challenge you earn 8 points.
♡ If you only participate (reading at least one book) and not finish the challenge you get 1 point.

Points of Interest:
♡ On February 1, I’ll be making the teams with a random generator and fill in any teams needed.
♡ Teams will be posted by February 8.
♡ On the week of February 8-14, 2015 you will be given time to plan with your team.
♡ If there are an odd number of people in a team, I will post in your common room for any players.
♡ If there are no takers when I post for more players, you may play a second game.
♡ If there is a team that needs an extra player you may play a second game but only earn 4 more points for the second game.
♡ If you play a third game you can only earn 2 points for the third game. If you play a fourth game you can only earn 1 point for the fourth game. (This means you can only play 4 times. Meaning you have the opportunity to earn up to 15 points.)
♡ I will make a reserve for the players willing to play a second game.
♡ It's up to you to keep in touch with your team. (You can PM each other, post in the forum, or even make a temporary GR group)
♡ You cannot use the same books from team to team. (This only applies if you play more than one game.)
♡ You will be reading about 3 to 4 books during this challenge.
♡ You may use YA and Children’s books. Page count for book must be at least 125. For YA and Children’s books page count must be at least 150 pages.

BUTTERBEER
Start to finish: 4 Weeks + 1 Week of planning (Starts February 15 - Ends March 14, 11:59 PST)
Servings: 4, one player from each house.

Ingredients:
❤ 1 cup light or dark brown sugar – Read a book with a dark cover or something tasty sweet on the cover. (1 person task) - Arshiya

✔ ❤ 2 tablespoons water – Pick one person from your team of four and visit their home page, click on the "Compare Books" link, and choose one book to read that you both have in common. (2 person task)
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

✔ ❤ 6 tablespoon butter - Go to the “Hello, My Name Is…” and welcome new members joining. (2 times per person, 4 people task)
1st welcome done.
2nd welcom done.

❤ 1/2 teaspoon salt – Read a book which title or author’s first or last name start with “S”. (1 person task) - Greta

✔ ❤ 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar – Spell out the word CIDER as a team. Using either title and/or author’s first or last name. (4 person task, one person will have two books)

C - Meera
I - Meera
D - Greta
E - Every Witch Way But Wicked by Amanda M. Lee
R - Arshiya

✔ ❤ 3/4 cup heavy cream, divided - Read a book from each other’s “read” list, their book must be scored a 3 or 4 star. (4 person task)
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

✔ ❤ 1/2 teaspoon rum extract – Write a review and share it in the challenge thread. Stating: Your team, Book, Author, Rating, and Review. For easy tracking place link in your team message. (4 person task)
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness 

✔ ❤ Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda – Visit each other’s team common room and encourage them once for the month each. This includes your own common room. (4 person task)
1. Gryffidor Common Room 2/24-15 Encouragement DONE
2. Hufflepuff Common Room 2/24-15 Encouragement DONE
3. Ravenclaw Common Room 2/24-15 Encouragement DONE
4. Slytherin Common Room 2/24-15 Encouragement DONE

**❤ 1 BONUS Point per player if you read and reply to 5 of the Reviews Posted here! Post your reply the main Butterbeer thread.
To claim your bonus point, post the person's name and the book they read in your team's thread.
Replies should be at least 3 sentences! (individual task - optional)
1st reply CassieV: The Immortal Rules
2nd reply Amanda A: Magic Rises
3rd reply Greta: The Silver Linings Playbook
4th reply Michelle: Thicker Than Water
5th reply Purvika: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II

Wheel-A-Thon Team Challenge hosted by Novel Books & Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

I am taking part in this again. We have to, as a group, spell out different colours. I will just be reading whatever books I need for other challenges and hope they fit this one way or the other.

About this Challenge
◈ Starts on March 22, 2015 and runs for 8 weeks
◈ The team with the highest points at the end of the 8 weeks wins!
◈ Each week the mods will “spin the wheel" and assign each team a colour name
◈ The team's task is to read books to spell out the colour name for 10 points per letter for books of less than 500 pages and 20 points per letter for books of 500 pages or more
◈ The team will get an extra 15 completion points if all the letters in the colour name are part of their spell-it-out
◈ The team will get an additional 30 bonus points if at least one person in the group reads a book of that colour (the book cover must be about 50% of that colour)
◈ Once teams have read their colour name for the week they can "re-read" the colour name to gain more points (10 points per letter for books of less than 500 pages and 20 points per letter for books of 500 pages or more , but no additional completion points).
◈ BOM bonus: Have a team member write discussion questions for a day of a Book of the Month (BOM) and receive 20 points (limit one BOM bonus per book per team ; that is, if two of your teamies write DQs for the same BOM, you still only get 20 points). NOTE: You can volunteer on the BOM thread to write DQs. If we have more volunteers than days available 3 days prior to the BOM start, then the volunteers will be chosen using a randomizer. If you volunteer and do not write your allocated DQs without notice then you will not be eligible to nominate yourself again for the duration of this challenge
◈ Books must be more than 160 pages in length. Children's books, Graphic Novels, Cookbooks and Poetry books cannot be used unless by word count they can be verified as more than 160 pages
◈Only books read during the specified week can be used (“read date” is what counts, not the day you start.) Books cannot be “banked” from previous weeks to use later in the challenge

How a "spell it out" works
Spell out the word(s) using the first letter in the book's title, the first letter in the author's first or last name, or the first letter of a character's first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter of the series name. As always, if the first letter of a title starts with an indefinite or definite article ('A', 'An', 'The', etc.), you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word. If you are listening to an audiobook, the first letter in the narrator's first or last name also can be used

Colours
We are using crayola colours for the wheel, and the “base” colour this responds to are listed under the spoiler
(view spoiler)

Challenge requirements

IMPORTANT: To be a part of this challenge you need to be able to:
◈ Read at least one book per week
◈ Create a special shelf for the challenge for the books you are reading
◈ Check-in on your team's discussion thread at least once per week
◈ Have fun!

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

About Team Captains
There will be no "special twists" for this challenge so your role is pretty easy for this challenge and you just need to:
* help motivate your team to complete the spell-it-out each week
* check that the books are posted within the right time frame and submit each week by posting to the captains group (Posts will be due each week by Sunday at noon, Australian Eastern Standard Time - convert this to your timezone here)

List of books:

1. Opal Fire by Barbra Annino
2. Something to Witch About by Amanda M. Lee
3. Three Girls and a Baby by Rachel Schurig
4. Got A Hold On You by Pat White 
5. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
6. Getting Lucky by Katie Graykowski
7. Wait for the Rain by Maria Murnane
8. Bloodstone by Barbra Annino
9. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
10. Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö
11. Sing for Me by Penelope Reece
12. Louisiana Longshot by Jana Deleon 
13. Tastes Like Chicken by Johnny B. Truant
14. The Martian by Andy Weir
15. Girl's Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky
16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
17. Maids of Misfortune by M. Louisa Locke
18. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
19. THE CHRISTMAS KNITTING BEE by De-ann Black
20. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
21. A Little Love by Amanda Prowse
22. The One Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
23. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill
24. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
25. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
26. Hollywood Assassin by M.Z. Kelly
27. Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine
28. Ovenpå er der Stille by Gerbrand Bakker  
29. Malicious Mischief by Lora Young
30. Raw Deal by Mark Henwick 
31. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
32. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
33. Take Three Birds by Jilli Lime-Holt 
34. Weingarten by J. Davis Bly 
35. Penelope by Anya Wylde
36. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
37. Avram Thief of Catland by James Bjorkman
38. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot 
39. The Synchronicity War Part 1 by Dietmar Wehr

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Julia Parker would trade her secret gift to feel others emotions in a heartbeat, especially half the horny guys in school. Ewww, gross.
After running out of gas and having no choice but to walk through the woods home, she feels something no one should feel: blood-lust. And when she tries to escape, she ends up dangling off a cliff. Who comes to her rescue? None other than a hot guy with super human strength. Only problem is, he's there when you need him and gone when you want him. Typical guy.
Julia tries to forget him, but as the vampire problem grows and friends fall prey to the growing coven, she has no where else to turn. She ends up seeking the advice of a psychic, only to find out she alone is the key to stopping the madness, problem is it'll require her rescuer's life. Great. From Goodreads.





This book was okay. Ever since her mum disappeared Julia has been able to feel everybody else's emotions. Julia is young and naive and falls in love with Nicholas a bit too easily. I might continue this series at some point.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (4/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

Raven by Suzy Turner

After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor's parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets...
Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was... well, not very motherly.
After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that's not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn't who, or what, she thinks she is.
Lilly has a very special ability and it's just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again.
Raven is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in the beautiful province of British Columbia. From Goodreads.


I liked this one, it was not greatly written but I liked the diversity of paranormal beings in it. Lilly has had a loveless childhood and suddenly she is surrounded by her loving family. It seems I actually bought the next two books in this series 1½ years ago so I will continue it.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (4/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

Battle Earth by Nick S. Thomas

A distress transmission from Mars research colony warns of an advanced and unknown enemy approaching the heavily populated lunar colony. An elite marine unit commanded by Major Mitch Taylor is dispatched to protect the civilians. However, the attack is merely a prelude to a massive invasion of Earth. A futuristic adventure that chronicles vast battles following humanity’s reach into the stars. From Goodreads.

This was okay but no more than that. It was interesting to follow Mitch Taylor as he first encountered the Alien enemy on the moon, then the Atlantic Ocean and lastly in France. It is of course full of war scenes and basically millions of humans are killed. This is not enough to continue this series. I would instead recommend the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi which has a lot more going on than just war.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (4/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Hunger Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

The Flower Hunter's Cottage by De-ann Black

Mairead is a botanical artist, gardener and quilter. She leases the flower hunter's cottage in the Scottish Highlands. She plans to get away from the city and finish the floral artwork for her new book along with her quilt designs.
As part of the lease agreement she has to take care of the traditional cottage garden while the owner, the flower hunter, is away working abroad, searching for a new species of flower.
Mairead arrives at the cottage in January. After settling in, she meets handsome flower grower, Tavion, and Ethel a knitter who spins and dyes her own yarn. While making new friends, Mairead is keen to get on with her artwork and quilting - and get the garden ready for the spring and summer. Romance isn't on her to-do list, but when it comes to love, nothing goes according to plan.
The Flower Hunter's Cottage is filled with flowers, artwork, knitting, quilting, baking cakes, gardening and romance. From Goodreads.


I enjoy these short, light romances set in Scotland. Nothing bad happens in them and they are just cosy easy reads.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (2/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

When Helen Macdonald's father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer, Helen had never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the goshawk, but in her grief, she saw that the goshawk's fierce and feral temperament mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel, and turned to the guidance of The Once and Future King author T.H. White's chronicle The Goshawk to begin her challenging endeavor. Projecting herself "in the hawk's wild mind to tame her" tested the limits of Macdonald's humanity and changed her life.
Heart-wrenching and humorous, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement and a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast, with a parallel examination of a legendary writer's eccentric falconry. Obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history combine to achieve a distinctive blend of nature writing and memoir from an outstanding literary innovator. From Goodreads.

I don't usually read non-fiction but I needed it for a challenge. The topic was interesting as I visited Cheshire Falconry a few years ago. It was a very different book to what I expected. Yes. it is about Helen Macdonald training a goshawk but it turned out also to be about her depression after her father's death and a biography of T.H. White. I found a lot of the stuff about T.H. White a bit irrelevant but I can see that it fit her mental state at the time. I liked Mabel, the goshawk, a magnificent predator.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (4/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?

The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS

R6: Team Challenge SSS (SSS = Super Speedy Series) hosted by The Challenge Factory on Goodreads.

I have decided to take part again but this time only the  Super Speedy Series as I am doing a lot of other challenges and don't think I can cope with 3 books every week. I am on team 6: My team is: SSS Six Pence for a Book

Round 6 Super Speedy Series

✸This is a team challenge that requires 2 books a week. The object of the game is to roll the die and move along the board. To win a team must roll past 100. Teams will roll on Thursdays & Sundays.

✸Sign ups are open now through 3/15. Then teams will be formed and the game will officially start 3/19.

✸Teams will roll the die by clicking here on Sundays and Thursdays once their team has completed their reads. Please note you will have to change the dice to one die.

**Very Important**
A team can not advance if all reviews are not in by the deadline. That being said, players need to have their reviews in on Wednesday (for the Thursday roll) and on Saturday (for the Sunday roll). Real life sometimes gets in the way of play so you do have Thursday and Sunday to get your reviews in before the team is penalized. If a player fails to have their book done two times throughout the game (excluding a prearranged absence) they will no longer be a part of the team.

✸ How to pick a book:
Books are based on the spot you're on not the roll of the die.
If you land on single digit spot for example lets say you land on spot 5 then you have to read a book that's #5 in a series. For double digit numbers, for example you land on spot 48 you can read either a #4 or a #8 in a series.
✸Standalone books can be used for a 1 or a 0
✸First in a series can be used for a 1
✸I don't expect anyone to read a series out of order and for people that don't read series books that still want to play there will be an alternate option. There will be an alternate option for each spot.

✸There will be a separate thread for captains to post their place on the board after rolling and a separate thread for captains to post a link to the teams completed reviews.

✸Teams will have a chance to earn 1 Free Pass to roll. To earn your free pass your team has to complete their reads a day before the next roll. Once your team has done this you will have 1 free pass. The free pass will allow a team to roll if they are missing a review(s) before the cutoff. The free pass may not be used for the win. Once you've used it, you can't earn another one. It's a one time shot.

✸Re-reads are allowed
✸Page limit is 150
✸When using an anthology you may use any of the numbers in the book except for the .5 since this means 1/2. But you must review each story in the anthology.
✸Series # will be based on how GR has it listed.
✸Deadline cutoffs are based on US Central time zone
✸When posting your review, please include a link to the book, date finished, a rating, and a review. Your review doesn't have to be fancy. When using an alternate option please link the correct edition of your book. (If you're new to Goodreads and don't know how to add a book to your post, check out the How to Guide.





List of books read:

Week 1 (roll 1): roll 6 ➜ space 6: The Liquidator by John Gardner (cover item: weapon)
Week 1 (roll 2): roll 6 ➜ space 12: Three Girls and a Baby by Rachel Schurig (#1)
Week 2 (roll 1): roll 6 ➜ space 18: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (#1)
Week 2 (roll 2): roll 2 ➜ space 20: Getting Lucky by Katie Graykowski (#2)
Week 3 (roll 1): roll 4 ➜ space 24: I didn't take part because of Easter break
Week 3 (roll 2): roll 6 ➜ space 30: Sing for Me by Penelope Reece (standalone)
Week 4 (roll 1): roll 1 ➜ space 31: The Martian by Andy Weir (standalone)
Week 4 (roll 2): roll 3 ➜ space 34: Maids of Misfortune by M. Louisa Locke
Week 5 (roll 1): roll 2 ➜ space 36: THE CHRISTMAS KNITTING BEE by De-ann Black 
Week 5 (roll 2): roll 5 ➜ space 41: The Man in the Crowd by M. Sydnor Jr.
Week 6 (roll 1): roll 6 ➜ space 47: A Little Love by Amanda Prowse
Week 6 (roll 2): roll 3 ➜ space 50: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Week 7 (roll 1): roll 3 ➜ space 53: Raw Deal by Mark Henwick
Week 7 (roll 2): roll 4 ➜ space 57: Take Three Birds by Jilli Lime-Holt
Week 8 (roll 1): roll 6 ➜ space 63: Weingarten by J. Davis Bly
Week 8 (roll 2): roll 5 ➜ space 68: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot 
Week 9 (roll 1): roll 2 ➜ space 70: The Synchronicity War Part 1 by Dietmar Wehr
Week 9 (roll 2): roll 3 ➜ space 73: Getaway by Rosemarie Naramore
Week 10 (roll 1): roll 2 ➜ space 75: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Week 10 (roll 2): roll 4 ➜ space 79: The Cold King by Amber Jaeger
Week 11 (roll 1): roll 4 ➜ space 83: Returning Pride by Jill Sanders
Week 11 (roll 2): roll 6 ➜ space 89: The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair
Week 12 (roll 1): roll 5 ➜ space 94: First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen