Wacky Reading Challenges - Mini Challenge 2015

Mini Challenge hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

I think there is one every month of these mini challenges and I will have the rest of the year in this post.

This is spell/task challenge where you choose your level of participation: spell out, task, or a combination of both.

Challenge Rules:
Books should be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable (hardback, audio, ebook, etc). Re-reads are fine--just be sure to re-read the entire book. Please Note: Unless otherwise specified within the challenge rules, the following books are not allowed: manga, graphic novels, comic books, childrens books. When updating your challenge with books you've read, include the book title and author links, and the date you finished reading the book.

September:
I will only do the spell out part of the challenge this month:
Choose a word or phrase to spell out using the first letter of a book title or the first letter of the author's first or last name.
S: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
E: Fire Country by David Estes
P:
T: Touch of the Goddess by Maria Hammarblad
E: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
M: A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
B: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
E: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
R: Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson
★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

October:
This month I will try to do both the task option and the spell out.

1. Candy Corn: 
Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are found in CANDYCORN, OR a Series/TBR #3.

2. Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 
Read a book with a pink cover, OR a Series/TBR #1. 
Carved in Stone by Donna McDonald (Series #1)

3. Fire Prevention Week (week 2): 
Read a book with a character who is a firefighter, OR a Series/TBR #2. 
204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber (Series #2)

4. National Golf Day (Oct 4): 
Read a book in which the letters G, O, L and F are found in the title (any order), OR a Series/TBR #4. 

5. Wacky Halloween: 
Add a book to Wacky's bookshelf that has a Halloween related cover (ghost, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern, black cat, etc). To add a book to our bookshelf: (1) click on "bookshelf" a the top of the group home page; (2) type in the title of the book you would like to add in the search box and click "search"; (3) Click on "add to group". ***Please note: if the book you are trying to add is already on Wacky's bookshelf, it will be blurred out. 
Poisoned by Elaine Macko added 10/6-15

O:
C: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint
T: The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
O:
B: A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman
E:
R: Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa by Marilyn Randall
★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

November:

TASKS:

1. Happy Thanksgiving:
Read any book of your choice, OR a Series/TBR #1. 

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
(book of my choice)

2. Looking for Circles Day (2nd):
Read a book with a circle or circular object on the cover, OR a Series/TBR #2. 
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater  (The Raven Cycle #2)

3. Veteran's Day (11th):
Read a book in which a character is or was in a branch of the military or a book in which a war takes place, OR a Series/TBR #3. 
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews (the Edge #3)

4. Beautiful Day (20th):
Read a book with a beautiful cover (beautiful is open to interpretation - if it's beautiful to you, it works), OR a Series/TBR #4.Murder Half-Baked by Kathleen Delaney (Ellen McKenzie #4)

5. Wacky's Thanksgiving Celebration:
Add a book to Wacky's bookshelf that has some type of food or drink on the cover. To add a book to our bookshelf: (1) click on "bookshelf" a the top of the group home page; (2) type in the title of the book you would like to add in the search box and click "search"; (3) Click on "add to group". ***Please note: if the book you are trying to add is already on Wacky's bookshelf, it will be blurred out. 
Christmas at Carol's by Nicola Yeager (added to bookshelf 11/7-15)

Spell out:
N: Naomi Novak: Uprooted 
O: Opening Hearts by Iona Findley
V
E: Emma Bennet: I Need a Hero 
M: Memory & Dream by Charles de Lint
B
E
R 

★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

December:

I am only doing the tasks this month. 

TASKS:

1. Merry Christmas:Read a book of your choice.
Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler

2. Twelve Days of Christmas:Read any book, number 1 through 12, from your TBR.
(TBR set to random: book 8 on the list: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews)
Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

3. Friends & Family:Choose a book from a Goodreads friend's bookshelf to read. If you can't find one you like, ask for recommendations.
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
(Srividya read this in 2014)

4. Stocking Stuffers:Read a book from one of your favorite authors.
Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews

5. Wacky's Christmas Celebration:Add any book to Wacky's Bookshelf that has a Christmas item on the cover (wreath, Christmas tree, Christmas lights, etc). To add a book to our bookshelf: (1) click on "bookshelf" a the top of the group home page; (2) type in the title of the book you would like to add in the search box and click "search"; (3) Click on "add to group". ***Please note: if the book you are trying to add is already on Wacky's bookshelf, it will be blurred out. 

I År bliver det anderledes by Maeve Binchy  

A Million More Pages - Summer Games

Summer Games hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

I have joined this challenge with 4 others from the Rawk group. As I am not in a cabin for A Million More Pages cAMMP, I have been added to the Gypsy Caravan.
I have to read 3 books for this challenge.

1 month team challenge (5 person teams)
*Each team member will read 3 books to complete the challenge, with all 15 categories read to lead your team to victory.Choose your Color:
1. The five rings (circles) on the Olympic flag are interlocking on a white background.
The white background symbolizes peace.
The colors of red, blue, green, yellow, and black were chosen because each nation has at least one of these colors in its national flag.
Challenge: Each team completes the colors of the flag, with one team member reading a book with a cover matching one of the rings: red, blue, green, yellow, and black. *Color of cover must be at least 50% to qualify - must post cover in completion post.
Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe (Blue cover)

Choose your Location:
2. The 5 rings represent the five major land areas of the world. The five interlocking rings represent the continents of Africa, Australia, Europe, The Americas, and Asia.
The rings are interlocked to show friendship among the nations.
Challenge: Each team travels the globe, with one team member reading a book set in each of the five major land areas: Africa, Australia, Europe, The Americas, and Asia. *Must post each location read in completion post.
The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa (set in Japan)

Choose your Event:
The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport that comprises five events: fencing, 200 m. freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a final combined event of pistol shooting and a 3200 m. cross-country run. The sport has been a core sport of the Olympic Games since 1912, and since 1949 an annual World Championship has been held.
Challenge: Each team member completes one of the events of the pentathlon to lead their team to victory!
Fencing: Read a book with a main page genre of "Medieval" or "Epic Fantasy"
Swimming: Read a book featuring a body of water on the cover
Equestrian: Reading a book tagged "horse racing" or "horses" or features a horse on the cover
Shooting: Read a book with a main page genre of "military" or "war"
Running: Read a book with a main page genre of "adventure" or "travel"
*Must post how it fits in completion post.
Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson (horse on cover)

Books read:

1. The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
2. Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson
3. Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe

Wacky Reading Challenges - Word Search 2015

Word Search hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads..

I am quite enjoying different word searches and have joined another one. I will try and take part the rest of the year.

Below is the list of words to find. They can only be found within the text of the book - no covers, titles or authors, please. For each word you find, provide the book title, page or location, and the sentence containing the word. You can use one book to find all the words, or as many as you like.

***And if you don't find all the words this month, you are welcome to carry them over to next month's word search challenge.***

Challenge Rules:
Books should be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable. Re-reads are fine - just be sure to re-read the entire book. When updating your challenge with books you've read, please include a link to the book title, include the author's name, and the date you finished reading the book. 

September 2015 Word Search
DONE
September 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015
This month's word search is inspired by our August Group Read: God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo
Important Rule: You CANNOT use this book when looking for the words. That would be just too easy.
Optional Words: This month I have included 5 optional words that are a little harder than usual. You can choose to look for them or leave them off your list...it's up to you.  
Words
jewelry: Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Loc: 2422 ➨ She was not accustomed to wearing so much jewellery.

advertisement: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
Pg: 127 ➨ Is that doing pictures for advertisements?

apartment: The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
Pg: 153 ➨ Everything he might need - the telephone, a box of tissues, the teapot and cups - had been brought from elsewhere in the apartment and arranged close to the bed.

notebook: Iced Under by Nadine Doolittle
Loc: 1152 ➨ The detective flipped his notebook open.

abandon (or abandonment): The Wild by Christopher Golden
Pg: 15 ➨ If he found gold, she would be able to keep her home, and to abandon the charlatanry of spiritualisme.

universe: Fire Country by David Estes
Loc: 3477 ➨ It's the most powerful force in the universe.

metaphor: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Loc: 4033 ➨ Perhaps he should have concentrated less on the theological metaphors of the trip, and more on keeping his mouth closed.

popcorn: Touch of the Goddess by Maria Hammarblad
Loc: 1340 ➨ It was only a few minutes until the next showing, and Maria squeezed his hand, nibbled popcorn, and looked around with wide eyes.

film: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
Pg: 226 ➨ An old bed stood in the corner next to a dresser, both rotting to pieces under a film of dust.

possibility: Lady Falls by Renee Bernard
Loc: 1692 ➨ He stopped kissing her to lift his head, taking in the widening of her eyes, the flutter of her lashes in shock and the slow shift as a new heated possibility came to her.

vibe: A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
Loc: 2514 ➨ The good-mood vibe has seeped away and there's a tension round the table that's palpable.
 
intense: Bound by C.K. Bryant
Loc: 1692 ➨ The air grew thick and once again a bright light flashed, so intense that closing her eyelids barely made a difference.

apology: Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson
Loc: 1052 ➨ Jim sweeps his hat off his head and says to the fellow, My conscience got the best of me, sir, please accept my apology.

father: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
Loc: 612 ➨ My father gets angry with me for even speaking of Malta.

true love (must be together): Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
Loc: 3918 ➨ I knew your dad only five days when we got married, and he was the true love of my life.

Optional Words
bohemian

fortune-teller (with or without hyphen)

sushi: Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe
Loc: 428 ➨ It was a day off for me, and there's a sushi place we like there, so I went along for the ride, thinking I'd get a good laugh and some great baked scallop nigiri.

soulmate

Los Angeles: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
Loc: 742 ➨ Accepted to the graduate program in Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.


October 2015 Word Search
October 1, 2015 - October 31, 2015
This month's word search is inspired by our September Group Read: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski.
Important Rule: You CANNOT use this book when looking for the words. That would be just too easy. 

Words
bayou

forgiveness: 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
Loc: 2091➜  I offered my forgiveness, too.
 
haunting: Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young
Loc: 183 ➜ I could barely make out his eyes, yet they were haunting to me - they held my gaze so strongly that I had a hard time looking away.
heartbeat: What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York
Loc: 2331 ➜ His heartbeat was slow and strong, as always.
 
listen: A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Pg: 24 ➜   Du hører aldrig efter. (Pg: 24 ➜  You never listen.)

niche

peace: Carved in Stone by Donna McDonald
Loc: 2730 ➜ That left all Saturday evening and the whole next day for Michael to enjoy the peace and quiet of having his house all to himself.

redemption

ritual: Poisoned by Elaine Macko
Loc: 3277 ➜ The second stop was my house, where the ritual got repeated, and then home to finish off in their neighborhood.

rocking chair (must be together): 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
Loc: 3682➜  Olivia smiled, to find her ex-husband sitting in her rocking chair with their granddaughter in his arms.

root: Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa by Marilyn Randall
Loc: 1597 ➨ What sort of root problems?

secrets: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint 
Pg: 47➜  He'd always had secrets.

silence: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Pg: 13 ➜  There was a little silence.
   
sparrow: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint
Pg: 231➜  He touched a finger to the edge of one of the sparrow paintings.

vengeance: 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
Loc: 4000➜  Is it some sort of male pride? Or vengeance?


Optional Words
asylum: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint
Pg: 145➜  In Victorian times, we had the proliferation of women's diseases that kept us in our beds or in asylums.

crypt

kindred spirit (must be together)

matchbook: The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
Pg: 198 ➜ He was about to light a match when a family came out of the woods nearby, and he had to quickly hide the matchbook in his hand.

voodoo

Optional Words carried over from September:
bohemian: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint
Pg: 145➜  The patio overlooked the river and was filled with a bohemian lunchtime crowd.

fortune-teller (with or without hyphen)

soulmate

November 2015 Word Search
  
 Words

brilliant
Memories of the Blue Door by Neil Davis
Loc 1273 ➜ Wayne was, of course, also brilliant at everything. 

bruise
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews 
pg 177➜ A woman so refined, so delicate, should be shielded from the rigor of the world, so they don't bruise her.

bully
Life's a Witch by Amanda M. Lee 
Loc: 47➜  She was a bully, but Tillie was a bigger bully. 

desperate
I Need a Hero by Emma Bennet
Loc: 660 ➜  She was desperate to get out of the house and Ca,illa kindly picked her up and drove them to their writing group

glasses (won't accept glass)
Love, Laughter, and Murder Ever After by Jeanine Spooner  
Loc: 1476➜ revealing a stalky, bald man, whose glasses seemed to swallow his otherwise pinched face. 

headphones
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater   
pg 132➜  his headphones still around his neck.

hospital
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Pg 429➜ The hospital, Opening the ambulance doors.

lake
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews  
pg 371➜ The house perched on the green lawn next to a lovely lake.

ponytail
Christmas at Carol's by Nicola Yeager
Loc: 1827 ➜  accompanied by an equally tall designer-suited blond dude with his hair in a ponytail and a piratical earring in one ear.

pub
I Need a Hero by Emma Bennet 
Loc: 1349 ➜  Fancy a pub lunch?

sandwich
Opening Hearts by Iona Findley
Loc: 72 ➜ but she wondered if she had enough energy to head to the deli on the corner for a takeout sandwich.

software 
Christmas at Carol's by Nicola Yeager
Loc: 2152 ➜  He was having problems mastering two pieces of new software that the company had bought.

stash
Murder Half-Baked by Kathleen Delaney 
Loc: 3922 ➜  I'd just lug the box into the bedroom and stash it with all the rest of the stuff.
 
uniform
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
pg 322➜ An old man in a much-decorated uniform sank heavily into a chair on the other side,

vacuum
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
pg 170➜ He had the kind of face that would make him a good vacuum salesman or a succesful serial killer:

Optional Words
duvet 
I Need a Hero by Emma Bennet
Loc: 2658 ➜ Bronte dragged her duvet downstairs onto the sofa.

flip-flops
Rolls-Royce

sequin
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Pg 8➜ No sparkle, no sequins, just a few dull and frayed patched,  

stock market (must be together)

Words carried over from October:
bayou

niche
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
pg 238➜ and only an ordinary oil lamp stood set in a rough niche in the wall. 
 
redemption

Optional Words carried over from October:
crypt

kindred spirit
Memory & Dream by Charles de Lint
pg 85 ➜ She met more kindred spirits in her first two weeks living there than she had in the whole nineteen years of her life up to that point.

voodoo

Optional Words carried over from September:
fortune-teller (with or without hyphen)

soulmate
I Need a Hero by Emma Bennet
Loc: 2614 ➜ He's your soulmate?

December 2015 Word Search:
 
Words

Carol
Last Christmas by Lily Greene
Loc: 2225 ➜ She listened to Christmas Carols that were playing on the radio.
 
Dance
Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Pg. 263➜  She wasn't expected to dance but once or twice, but Sophie would enjoy it.
 
Dove
Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Pg. 322➜  Angelia bent over the sink, weeping like a hysterical dove.

Drum
Lost & Found in India by Braja Sorensen
Loc: 1222 ➜ There's usually a lot of big bass drum beats there,

French
Mattie: The Story of an Australian Convict Child by Sheila Hunter
Loc: 2501 ➜ there were a number of french windows opening out onto the verandah,

Four
Deathly Still by Elizabeth A. Reeves
Loc: 1574 ➜ You were four years old?
 
Gold
STRANGERS by Chirag Upadhyay
Loc: 138 ➜ Give me your green gold.

Laying*
Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler
Pg. 50 ➜  It hadn't worked out as planned, and I got the feeling she was back laying ghosts to rest.

Lord
Mattie: The Story of an Australian Convict Child by Sheila Hunter 
Loc: 275 ➜ Dear Lord, may we stay together?  
 
Maid
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
Pg. 14➜ Lady Patience and her maid Lacey

Ninth*
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Pg. 31➜ When he broke her arm in ninth grade, she ran away from home,

Pear
Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews
Loc: 2611 ➜ half-hidden by the enormous prickly pear the Hendersons refused to trim, 

Pipe
Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
Pg. 89 ➜ apparently watching me as his two partners discussed some problem they were having with a pipe.

Swim
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Pg. 387➜ Because they can swim?

Twelve
Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Pg. 20 ➜ So far you've shot your own dog and wasted twelve bullets.

*No variations accepted for these this month.

Words carried over from previous months
flip-flops
Rolls-Royce
stock market (must be together)
bayou

redemption
Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler
Pg. 80 ➜  Two of the sleeping bags were proclaimed beyond redemption and tossed overboard,
Mattie: The Story of an Australian Convict Child by Sheila Hunter 

crypt
Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler
Pg. 186 ➜  It was pointing to the stone steps which led to the crypt.

voodoo

fortune-teller (with or without hyphen)
Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb
Loc: 3646 ➜ I'd seen them used by fortune-tellers in Chalcedean towns.

Rawk: Get Ready for Autumn!

Get Ready for Autumn! hosted by Rawk-A-Tiers on Goodreads.

Get Ready for Autumn
September 1- September 30

This challenge is brought to you by YANG House

☯ You have one month to complete your level for 9 points.
CR Level = 3 tasks
RR Level = 6 tasks
PR Level = 9 tasks

☯ If you aren't quite ready for summer to be over and can't finish all of your tasks before the end of the challenge, you may score your points as follows
CR = # of tasks x 3
RR = # of tasks x 1.5
PR = # of tasks x 1

☯ BONUS +1 point for each book you read (maximum of 3) that fits more than one option under the task. For example, if for your Halloween task, you read a black book with Horror on the main page, you get an extra point

Remember: each task can only be done one time so you can only get 1 bonus point per task for a MAXIUM of 3 bonus points. So maximum score for the challenge would be 12 points

Back to School:
• Read a book that has a main character who is a student
The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa (Ethan is a student though he is a bit busy so he doesn't go to school every day)
• Read a book that has a main character who is a teacher or someone who works at a school (Principal, Guidance Counselor, Coach, Janitor, etc)
• Read a book with a "subject" as genre on the main page (Math, Science, Literature, Art, Music, etc)

Football
• Read a Sports Book
• Read a book that has a main character who is an athlete
• Read a book where the main character "catches" something (a disease, a criminal, a life-partner...be creative)

Harvest time
• Read a book about a farm/farmer or ranch/rancher
Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson
• Read a book with a fruit and/or vegetable on the cover
• Read a book that has genre "Western" on the main page

Halloween x 2
• Read a book with a predominantly orange or black cover
Fire Country by David Estes 
• Read a book with a main page genre of "Horror"
• Read a book where a character dresses up as someone else (costume party, goes undercover, etc)
Fire Country by David Estes (dresses up as a boy when trying to escape)

Leaves are Changing
• Read a book with leaves on the cover
• Read a book set in the New England States of the US (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island) where the people flock to see the fall colors
• Read a book who's color(s) are made up of fall leaf colors: red, yellow, purple, and brown.

Thanksgiving
• Read a book where there is a celebration or feast
• Read a book that has a main page genre of "Holiday"
• Read a book that was first published in November of any year
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig (first published November 26th 2007)

TV Pilot Season
• Read a book that's the first in a series (must be identified as a series on Goodreads)
• Read a book who's main character is someone who is associated with the TV industry (actor, writer, cameraman, news anchor, etc)
• Read a book that's been turned into a TV show

Autumn is a Time for Transition and Change x 2
• Read a book where a main character makes a transition or change (job, personal life, changing schools)
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts (visits Ireland and decides to stay instead of going back home)
• Change what you normally read, and read a book outside your comfort zone (state how this book is unusual for you)
• Read a book by an author that goes by another name (JD Robb/Nora Roberts, Stephen King/Richard Bachman)
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

It's Not Fall in the South! x 2
• Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere
• Read a book where two main characters are opposite
A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter (Male MC 500 year old vampire, female MC 22 year old student)
• Read a book with main page genre "Travel" or where the main character travels a great distance (different country, hemisphere, continent)
A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter (goes from USA to Europe) 

Beat the Heat Readathon 2015 - update week 1

Beat the Heat Readathon hosted by Novel Heartbeat & Phantasmic Reads.

This first week of the read-a-thon hasn't been a great reading week for me. I started out fine with a 400 page book that I finished Monday but then I didn't read anything at all till Saturday.

I still managed to read 3 books and 976 pages the first week.

I have read:

1. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - 416 pages (400 pages read during read-a-thon)
2. Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder - 416 pages
3. The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree - 160 pages

The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree

It’s Valentine’s Day in quiet, cozy Hatter’s Cove, Florida and food columnist, Kat Archer, has been assigned the event of the year, the grand opening of Miss Dolly’s Cookie Jar and Sweets Emporium.
What begins as a run of the mill, albeit tasty, assignment turns into something much more dangerous when one of the Cookie Jar’s employees is poisoned.
Now Kat is chasing the biggest story of her life, while trying to catch the eye of her handsome editor and avoid becoming the killer’s next victim. From Goodreads.

This was okay but no more. It is not one I will remember and there were no characters that were that likeable. A short, okay foodie mystery.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder

Powerful healer Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought a plague and survived. She took on corrupt King Tohon and defeated him. But now her true love, Kerrick, is missing and Avry fears he’s gone forever.
Yet she faces a more immediate – and deadly – threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With the territories’ armies in disarray and the dead not staying dead, Avry’s powers are needed now more than ever.
Torn between love and loyalty, she must choose her path carefully. For the future of Avry’s world depends on her decision…  From Goodreads.

I enjoyed the end to this series and as usual Maria V. Snyder keeps me turning the pages. There is war and chaos and I am pleased I read it so soon after the second book as there were a lot of characters to remember. I liked the bond part of the story and the happy ending though I think too many of the good guys survived compared to all the bad guys dying.
I have read a lot of her books and I just found out she has written a new book in the Study series but it also says it ends on a cliffhanger so I will just wait with that till the next book is released next year and then maybe even reread the 3 first books in the series. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

Beat the Heat Readathon 2015 - update

Beat the Heat Readathon hosted by Novel Heartbeat & Phantasmic Reads.


Monday 24/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 400
Books finished today: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Total of books finished: 1

Tuesday 25/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 0
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 1

Wednesday 26/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 0
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 1

Thursday 27/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 0
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 1

Friday 28/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 0
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 1

Saturday 29/8
currently reading: Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder
Pages read: 187
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 1

Sunday 30/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 389
Books finished today: Taste of Darkness and The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre
Total of books finished: 3

Monday 31/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 0
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished 3

Tuesday 1/9
currently reading: Born inn Shame by Nora Roberts
Pages read: 108
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 3

Wednesday 2/9
currently reading:The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa
Pages read: 252
Books finished today: Born inn Shame by Nora Roberts
Total of books finished: 4

Thursday 3/9
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 144
Books finished today: The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa
Total of books finished: 5

Friday 4/9
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 448
Books finished today: A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
Total of books finished: 6

Saturday 5/9
currently reading: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
Pages read: 52
Books finished today: none
Total of books finished: 6

Sunday 6/8
currently reading: nothing
Pages read: 286
Books finished today: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
Total of books finished: 7

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Goodreads.

This was okay and I enjoyed it. I like the magic in it and Blue's special skill of being able to enhance her mother and aunt's powers. I like that I am not completely sure whether the ley line magic is good or evil or if it is a good idea to wake it. I will continue this series and have already ordered the next book from the library.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me

Beat the Heat Readathon 2015 Sign Up

Beat the Heat Readathon hosted by Novel Heartbeat & Phantasmic Reads.

I am going to take part in this 3 week long read-a-thon. I just realised that I took part in this in 2013  so I must have taken part in the very first Beat the Heat Readathon they had but it doesn't seem like I took part last year.
UPDATE 25th of August: Just realised it is only a 2 week read-a-thon so I will change my goal to 7 books. I might still reach 10 if I have time to read during my travelling.

My goal for this year is to read 10 books. List below the rules.

Rules:

• The Beat the Heat Readathon runs from August 24th at 12:00 AM to September 6th at 11:59 PM. What does this readathon entail, you ask? Well, read as much or as little as you want – the main point is to READ! You set your own goal, and for three weeks you read as many books as you can/want to reach your goal!
• There will be mini-challenges throughout the Readathon for participants, along with a grand prize giveaway at the end!
• Sign up here at Novel Heartbeat or over at Phantasmic Reads. You may join whenever you like, but to be eligible for our grand prize giveaway, you must sign up by August 28th.
• To join, all you have to do is make a sign-up post – even if it’s just a “Let’s do this!” thing – and add your post URL to the linky below! You can put your goals and progress (will be required for the final giveaway) in your sign-up post, or you can make it separate. Totally up to you! (You are welcome to use the template we provide in the kick-off post as well.)
• In order to enter for the grand prize, you must have a post to keep track of your progress so we can see that you participated.
• Follow along on Twitter and share your progress with the hashtag #BtHReadathon!

List of books: (some of them anyway, that I may or may not read)

1.  Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (finish it as I have started it today)
2.  Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder
3.  The Wild by Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon
4.  City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
5.  I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint
6.  The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
7.  The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa 
8.  Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson, Beth M. Stephenson

Evidence of Trust by Stacey Joy Netzel

Having grown up under the excessive expectations of her CEO father, Brittany Lucas is as resistant to authority as the mustang she’s training for her boss. It’s a fault that lands her in more danger than she bargains for while camping in the back-country of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ranger Joel Morgan is used to having the upper hand in all his cases—until he runs into the headstrong blond while investigating disturbing incidents of poaching in the park. Brittany’s imprudent lie of omission awakens ghosts in his past, making the sizzling attraction between them unwelcome.
As he searches for evidence he can trust her, the monster mutilating wildlife turns his sights on Brittany, and Joel discovers he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her—even give his own life. From Goodreads




I liked this one, Brittany seemed a strong young woman though she had to work through her feelings about her father. I think the bad guy was hidden very well, the author gave us a villain but he was too obvious. I did not guess who the real bad guy was till the end and I like it when I haven't guessed it. Both Brittany and Joel have trust issues that they need to work out in order to be together.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Summer Song Shuffle
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

A Million More Pages - Summer Song Shuffle

Summer Song Shuffle hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

This is a challenge that can be done alone or as a group. I have chosen to do it alone but I also don't think I will make a very high level.

♫♫♫ Summer Song Shuffle ♫♫♫
Starts: August 22, 2015
Ends: October 31, 2015

Certain songs just feel like summer, don't they? Below is a list of songs that some people might associate with summer for different reasons. Roll the random number generator (link below) for each book to find out which song you are going to "listen to". You *must* keep your number and fulfill the task before moving on to another song. You may skip a song if you really can't do or don't like the task but you may only use so many skips per level (see below). If you decide to skip a song, please keep a record of it. If you land on a song you've already listened to, roll again, if you'd like. OR you can "repeat" the task, using another book.

*Since I'm posting this SO late in the season, you may work on this with a partner (up to 5 people, including yourself), in order to maximize those levels for the badges we all love. You will each earn credit for the level you complete as partners. If you choose to work with a partner(s), please keep let me know who you team up with when you sign up. Anyone can play together; you do not have to be in the same cabin. If you don't have a specific friend to sign up with, let me know if you want to be partnered up randomly and with how many other people (maximum of 4 other people). I will partner people up as you sign up. If you work with partners, I will set up a thread where you can discuss your rolls and who will read for which task. You can split them up however you want, but everyone must read a certain number of books based on levels - see below.

Levels:
☀ 1 = 5 songs (may skip one time) [each person must read 1 book; the remainder can be split however you like]
☀ 2 = 10 songs (2 skips) [at least 2 books per person, etc]
☀ 3 = 15 songs (3 skips) [at least 2 books per person, etc]
☀ 4 = 20 songs (3 skips) [at least 3 books per person, etc]
☀ 5 = 25 songs (4 skips) [at least 4 books per person, etc]
☀ 6 = 30 songs (4 skips) [at least 5 books per person, etc]
☀ 7 = 35 songs (5 skips) [at least 6 books per person, etc]
☀ 8 = 35 songs (NO skips = all 35 tasks OR 35 total tasks with repeated tasks) [at least 6 books per person, etc]

Standard Rules:
✪ Minimum Page Length: 125 (140 for YA; 200 for MG)
✪ Are Rereads Allowed? Yes
✪ Can I start a book before Challenge Start Date? Nope! Books may not be started until after you roll and discover your task.
✪ Children Allowed with restrictions: Yes
☛ Restrictions: must also have YA/Middle Grade as Main Page Genre (If strictly, or more frequently shelved as MG, page length must be at least 200)
✪ Posting Requirements when complete:
☛Book title/cover, author, date read
✪ Are Audiobooks Allowed? Yes
✪ Manga,Comics, Graphic Novels Allowed? Not unless the task specifically asks for this.
✪ Can I Ignore A/An/The in Titles? Yes, but you do not *have* to
✪ Can a book be used more than once in this challenge? ONLY if it is read by different people in your partnership
✪ Can the Tasks be done in any order: Yes, it is completely randomized

 To make your roll, go to Random Number Generator and generate a number between 1 and 35. Click the "Get Number" button and whatever number is generated is the "song" (task) you will "play" by reading a book that fits the task:

1. Magic, by The Cars - Main page genre: Magic; OR Title starts with M
2. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, by Kenny Chesney - Topless male on the cover; OR a title with at least one repeating word
3. Wicked Game, by Chris Isaak - Author's first name starts with C; OR a book with a 'wicked' character
4. I'm on a Boat, by The Lonely Island - Boat on the cover; OR Takes place on an island
5. So What, by Pink - About a character who moves on from a broken relationship; OR a book published in August (any year)
6. Summer Nights, from the Grease soundtrack - About a summer romance; OR Book made into a movie
7. Love Shack, by The B-52s - A romance novel; OR Two words in title
8. Crazy in Love, by Beyonce - An author's first published book; OR a book from the You're Crazy if you Haven't Read This Yet Listopia
9. Let's Twist Again, by Chubby Checker - Read a book from Best Strange & Twisted Memoirs list; OR by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter
10. Summer of '69, by Bryan Adams - Takes place mostly during the summer; OR Historical Fiction
11. Surfin' USA, by The Beach Boys - Takes place in California; OR a beach on the cover
12. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper - A book about female friends; OR a book from Strong Female Leads in Lit-Fiction All Genres List
13. Happy, by Pharrell Williams - A smiley/smiling face on the cover; OR a book with a hat on the cover
14. Emotions, by Mariah Carey - Read a book with one of the following emotions in the title: Love/Loving, Hate, Happy, Sad, Joy, Heartbroken/Heartbreak, Rage, Intimate, Warm, Terrified, Scared; OR a book on the Emotion Overload Listopia
15. I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston - Read a book with a female on the cover; OR a book with "Dance" in the title
16. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - Read a book that takes place in Hawai'i; OR at least 3 colors in the cover
17. Roll It Gal, by Alison Hinds - A book that takes place in the Caribbean; OR has a body of water on the cover
18. Cruel Summer, by Bananarama - Read one book from a trilogy; OR a book by multiple authors
19. September, by Earth, Wind & Fire - A book published in September of any year; OR a book with a (sapphire) blue cover
20. Genie in a Bottle, by Christina Aguilera - Read a book with a main genre of Paranormal or Urban Fantasy; OR a Young Adult novel
21. Street Fighting Man, The Rolling Stones - Read a book from the London Calling listopia; OR a book by an author with the initials R. S. (in that order)
22. California Gurls, by Katy Perry, featuring Snoop Dogg - A book with Girl/Girls in the title; OR with food on the cover
23. Brighter than the Sun, by Colbie Caillat - A yellow cover; OR a blond(e) character
24. Escapade, by Janet Jackson - Read a book about a character who "gets away from it all"; OR road trip/adventure fiction or non-fiction
25. Hot in Herre, by Nelly - Read a book by an author who uses only one name; OR a book from the Hottest Guy on Cover List
26. Heatwave, by Martha and the Vandellas - A book with a heart on the cover; OR a red cover
27. Summertime, by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - A book with a time of day or some measurement of time in the title (Day, Night, Evening, Afternoon, Morning, Dusk, Dawn, Twilight), one of the 4 seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn - Fall will not be accepted), Any month of the year, Any day of the week; OR a book published in June, July or August
28. Summer Love, by Justin Timberlake - Written by a male author; OR any stand-alone book
29. Smooth, by Santana & Rob Thomas - Book with a one-word title; OR title that starts with the letter "S"
30. Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina and the Waves - Has a sun on the cover; OR either a title that starts with W or an author whose last name starts with W
31. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys - Read a book about a musician (fiction or non); OR has double B's in the title
32. Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - A book with a beverage on the cover; OR a book from the Second Chance Romance Listopia
33. In Summer, by Olaf (From "Frozen") - Read a Graphic Novel/Manga; OR has snow on the cover
34. Boys of Summer, by Don Henley - Book about baseball; OR the word "boy/boys" in the title
35. Closing Time, by Semisonic - The final book in a series; OR about a bartender

Roll 1: 2 : No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, by Kenny Chesney
Topless male on the cover; OR a title with at least one repeating word
Evidence of Trust by Stacey Joy Netzel

Roll 2: 9 : Let's Twist Again, by Chubby Checker
Read a book from Best Strange & Twisted Memoirs list; OR by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig

Roll 3: 15 : I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston -
Read a book with a female on the cover; OR a book with "Dance" in the title
Fire Country by David Estes

Roll 4: 6 : Summer Nights, from the Grease soundtrack -
About a summer romance; OR Book made into a movie
Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe

Roll 5: 26 : Heatwave, by Martha and the Vandellas -
A book with a heart on the cover; OR a red cover
Carved in Stone by Donna McDonald
*******************************************************************

Roll 5: 17 : Roll It Gal, by Alison Hinds -
A book that takes place in the Caribbean; OR has a body of water on the cover