First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

A magical new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Lost Lake, featuring characters from her beloved novel Garden Spells.
Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beat-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. From Goodreads.

This wasn't as good as the first book in the series but it was still very enjoyable. Bay knows where things belong and she also knows the boy she belongs with, but for a 15 year old that is not so easy as it sounds.
Claire seems to be so sure of herself but when she seriously doubts her identity she needs the support of her family.
I hope there will be more books about the Waverly family.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Deja Vu Books
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Summertime Mountaineering
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Young Lord of Khadora by Richard S. Tuttle

A skilled warrior gets entangled in a corrupt political world, his cunning strategies pitted against thousands who seek his death. Marak challenges the clans of Khadora and the Chula, the dreaded cat people of ancient times, in a struggle that will change the fate of the world. Young Lord of Khadora is a tale of magic, military cunning, and political intrigue set in a land where honor is everything yet deceit is everywhere. From Goodreads.

In this world, when you lie you become the slave of whoever you lied to. This is what happened to Marek's mother. Everybody also has to swear vows of service to their lord. Son's of slaves can make the choice to become soldiers instead of being slaves and this is what Marek does.
At the beginning of the book Marek is promoted and purposely sent to failure. The problem is that he does not fail and he manages to communicate with the savages instead.
It ends a bit to neatly but it was still good.

This book qualifies for:
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Murder at Jade Cove by Dianne Harman

Was it the environmental activist enamored with spotted owls, someone from the local Native American tribe, Jeff’s son, Jeff’s wife, or his wife’s lover? Join Kelly, the owner of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, her boxer dog, Rebel, and her fiancé, Mike, the county sheriff, as they try and catch the person who killed Jeff Black.
Well, it’s not as if no one wanted Jeff dead. He had enemies. There were a lot of people who didn’t want to see his property turned into a commercial hotel and spa. Finding suspects won’t be hard to do, but finding out who killed him will be. No one would ever nominate Jeff for the “Most Popular Citizen Award.” This is going to be a nightmare for Mike. I wonder how I can help him, Kelly thought. From Goodreads.







It is not long ago that I read the first book in this series and this was not very different from the first. Kelly still got too involved in solving a murder and butts into her boyfriend's, the sheriff, case. It was okay.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
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: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Summer at Sea by Beth Labonte

Four jackets of varying weights, enough socks for the entire Confederate Army, three umbrellas, most of the antacid aisle from the local pharmacy, and six pairs of old people sneakers that all look exactly the same.
Have you ever helped your parents pack for a weeklong cruise?
No? I didn't think so. So shut it.
So begins vacation for Summer Hartwell - twenty-six years old, living with her anxiety-ridden parents, and unwillingly booked by her brother on a weeklong cruise to Bermuda. Despite the nightmare of being trapped aboard a cruise ship with Mom and Dad, Summer sees a rare opportunity to fulfill The Prophecy – her mother’s declaration that she will live at home until she gets married. With two thousand passengers onboard, at least one of them must be husband material, right?
The only problem is Graham Blenderman – her brother’s best friend who is joining them for the week, in all of his tall, blonde, extroverted glory. Graham doesn’t believe Summer needs a husband in order to break free from her parents. He thinks she just needs a little bit of nerve. And to Summer’s introverted horror, he’s willing to spend the entire week proving that he’s right.  From Goodreads.

This was a very light, slightly funny and very quick read. Nothing special but still okay.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Summertime Mountaineering
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue#2

Legend by David Gemmell

The Legend
Druss, Captain of the Axe: the stories of his life were told everywhere. Instead of the wealth and fame he could have claimed, he had chosen a mountain lair, high in the lonely country bordering on the clouds. There the grizzled old warrior kept company with snow leopards and awaited his old enemy death.
The Fortress
Mighty Dros Delnoch, protected by six outer walls, the only route by which an army could pass through the mountains. It was the stronghold of the Drenai empire. And now it was the last battleground, for all else had fallen before the Nadir hordes.
And hope rested on the skills of that one old man… From Goodreads






I like fantasy and this was really good. There is a lot going on and I like that even the attacking bad guy is not all bad. We see all the weaknesses of the characters but it does not make them weak instead we think the more of them for overcoming their weaknesses.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Deja Vu Books
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MASH with a Hufflepuff
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Summertime Mountaineering
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Amazing Book Race
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue#2
Crazy Challenge Connection Read your age

The Oatmeal Stories by Robert R. Stevens

My dad, Robert Russell Stevens, is the oldest of the five children in his family and for that reason he bore the burden of helping his father not only with chores, but whatever else was necessary for their survival.
It was a difficult time during the 1940's, and life was a constant struggle for his family. He often told us how he went without shoes in the summer, sat alone during school lunch so no one would notice that he had nothing to eat, and slept in the cold attic where snow would drift in under the eaves and onto his back. I referred to these as “the oatmeal stories,” because he also frequently told us about the times they ate nothing but oatmeal for days. I didn't appreciate these tales. I supposed they were being told for the purpose of making us grateful for what we had. When I set out to write a children's book about growing up in Maine during simpler times and asked my dad to relate some of his experiences, he began sending stories to me each day via email. Suddenly I was opening my inbox with anticipation, excited to read each new account of his childhood. I was amazed and saddened by what I read. These were not suitable for a children's book; nevertheless, I thought they should be told. These are the oatmeal stories. From Goodreads.

The stories in this book were both interesting and funny. Some of the stories, that I thought funny, I am sure were not funny at the time it happened. There were different kinds of dangers about in those days, life was maybe more simple but it was hard. My father grew up on a farm and he talked about a time when he and his brothers were fighting, they threw pitchforks after each other. Just the thought of what could have happened is scary.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Summertime Mountaineering
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue#2

The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair

Luce knows she should be thrilled when Jenna asks her to be bridesmaid – after all, they’ve known each other since childhood and Jenna is the best friend any girl could have. But it’s hard to get excited about weddings when you’re terminally single and the best man is the boy who broke your heart: Jamie, the groom’s dashing and irresistible brother. How can she face the man who dumped her when she’s still so hopelessly in love? Then again, maybe this is the perfect opportunity – after all, where better to get back together than at a wedding?
So Luce has six months to figure out how to win back her ex, but she has plenty else on her plate – from an old friend returned to Newcastle with an announcement of her own, to a youthful colleague who may or may not have a crush on her and a mother who is acting very strangely indeed… and that’s all before a mysterious, handsome American walks into her life.
Sometimes being a bridesmaid isn’t all confetti and champagne… From Goodreads.


I didn't like this much. It was supposed to be funny but I couldn't see that. All I saw was a whiny main character who was drinking constantly. All through the book she is also complaining about being fat  and in the end it turns out she is a size 12 compared to her friend's size 16. Not for me!

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: House Elves
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue#2

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: House Elves

House Elves hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

House Elves
June 1, 2015 through July 15, 2015

Choose one elf, complete a spell out of that elf's name and all five tasks. Books may be used twice, once for spell out and once for a task. Use the book's title or the author's first or last name for spell out.

Dobby - "Dobby has got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby -- Dobby is free."
* Read a book where the main character saves someone's life.
Legend by David Gemmell 
* Read a book where the MC works in the kitchen, a cook or baker, or just likes to cook/bake.
Murder at Jade Cove by Dianne Harman 
* Read a book where a character is an outcast.
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
* Read a book where the MC has a small group of friends.
* Read a book where the MC is into fashion.

D: Legend by David Gemmell
O: The Oatmeal Stories by Robert R. Stevens
B: The Bridesmaid Blues by Tracey Sinclair
B: Summer at Sea by Beth Labonte
Y: Young Lord of Khadora by Richard S. Tuttle

Bonus Point Read book with a sock/socks on the cover. This must be approved.

Winky - "My poor Mr Crouch, what is he doing without Winky?"
* Read a book where the main character is fired from their job.
* Read a book where a character is an alcoholic.
* Read a book where a character is accused of a crime they did not commit.
* Read a book where a character is hiding something, tell us what they are hiding.
* Read a book where the MC is a female.

Kreacher - "Nasty brat, standing there as bold as brass. Harry Potter, the boy who stopped the Dark Lord. Friend of Mudbloods and blood-traitors alike."
* Read a book with a character who has a mean disposition.
* Read a book with an older MC (older than 40)
* Read a book where a character is poisoned.
* Read a book where a character has a mental illness.
* Read a book where a character fights for something.

Points:
1 point per task completed.
0.5 points per letter for spell out.
Must have read three books to receive any points.
Bonus Point is a separate book.

Rules:
✪ Minimum Page Length: 125 (140 for YA)
✪ Are Rereads Allowed? Yes
✪ Can I start a book before Challenge Start Date? Yes
✪ Children Allowed with restrictions: Yes
☛ Restrictions: Must also have YA as Main Page Genre
✪ Posting Requirements when complete:
☛Book title/cover, author, date read, how it fits the task.
✪ Are Audiobooks Allowed? Yes
✪ Manga,Comics, Graphic Novels Allowed? No
✪ Can I Ignore A/An/The in Titles? Yes
✪ Author Names Count in Matching Letters? Yes
✪ Can a book be used more than once in this challenge?: Yes, once for spell-out and once for a task.
✪ Can the Tasks be done in any order: Yes
✪ Can Series titles be used for meeting requirements? No
✪ Verification Required For Points: Yes