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January 2025 Scavenger - Diet Memes Part I
READ: 7/7
✔1) Every time we try to eat healthy, along comes Christmas, Easter, Summer, Friday, or Tuesday and ruins it for us.
Read a book during which any holiday occurs. Tell us which holiday.
Already Gone - Diane Benefiel (Christmas) 1/18
✔2) I'm on two diets now.... I wasn't getting nearly enough food on just one.
Read a book with two of the same item on the cover (two cars, two people, two trees, etc). They don't have to match in appearance, but there can be only two of them. (Post the cover.)
Candy Slain Murder - Maddie Day (2 red bows) 1/30
✔5) Yesterday I went on a diet. Thank God that's over.
Read a book where a character is glad to have something over with (tell us who and why) or a book you didn't like much and are glad to be done with (tell us why you didn't like it).
Blood Orchids - Toby Neal (MC glad her stalker was caught) 1/4
✔8) (Picture of sad-faced cat eating lettuce.) "When you were super-motivated starting your diet this morning but by the time you get lunch you regret your whole life....."
Read a book with a cat pictured on the cover (post the cover) or a book where a character has regrets (tell us who and what they regret).
Caught Dead to Write - Lynn Cahoon 1/10
✔9) Me: I'm still tired from all that CrossFit this morning.
My co-worker: It's pronounced "croissant" and you ate four of them.
Read a book where the main character has a job outside the home and co-workers (tell us what the character does for a living) or a book with four of something on the cover (cars, people, dogs, flowers, trees etc.) (they don't have to be identical but there can be only four, post the cover).
Windy City Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/2
(hero and heroine, doctor and nurse at same hospital)
✔10) I've been trying to diet and work out but I've come to the realization that the only way I'm going to get 'smokin' hot' is by being cremated.
Read a book with a flame of some kind visible on the cover (post the cover) or where a fire happens in the story (tell us the circumstances).
The Dragon of Sedona - Genevieve Jack 1/15
(lots of fires lit when MCs camping overnight in the woods)
✔12) Of all the things I've lost, I miss my metabolism the most.
Read a book where someone loses something (tell us what) or with all of the letters L O S T in the title, in any order.
The Last Outpost - Hannah Ross 1/6
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
January 2025 Spelling - Diet Memes Part I READ: 5/5
✔ S: Kiss Hard - Nalini Singh 1/7
✔ A: Already Gone - Diane Benefiel 1/18
✔ L: The Last Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/22
✔ A: The Angel of Paragon - Genevieve Jack 1/25
✔ D: Candy Slain Murder - Maddie Day 1/30
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Countries of the World #6 - Colombia READ: 7/6+
COLOMBIA
✔ 🚩Read a book whose title starts with a letter in COLOMBIA (ignore A, An and The or equivalent if not English).
Blood Orchids - Toby Neal 1/4
Stats
- Capital: Bogota
🚩Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in the word BOGOTA (letters can only be used as many times as they appear in the word).
✔ - Population: 52,695,952 (2024 estimate)
🚩Read a book whose total number of pages contains at least 2 of the numbers in the population (tell us the page count).
The Tees Valley Killings - C.J. Grayson (426 pages) 1/30
✔ - Area: 440,831 sq mi
🚩Read a book whose year it was first published and has at least 2 of the numbers in the area (tell us the year published).
Already Gone - Diane Benefiel (pub 2018) 1/18
Trivia
✔ 1. Read a book in which a pandemic is part of the plot (tell us which) -or- read a book in whichsomeone is killed with a poison (tell us which poison).
Candy Slain Murder - Maddie Day 1/30
✔ 2. Read a book with a gold object shown on the cover (post the cover, award seals don’t count, the object must be on the cover illustration itself) -or- read a book in which someone submerges themselves in a natural body of water (tell us who).
Hidden Dragon - Genevieve Jack (Dianthe) 1/17
✔ 4. Read a book in which an explosion of some sort happens (tell us what) -or- read a book in which the characters play some sort of game (professional or amateur is fine, board games work as well, tell us which game).
Promise Not to Tell - Jayne Ann Krentz 1/26
(a house is torched and explodes)
✔ 6. Read a book with chocolate in any form on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with at least one romantic storyline.
Kiss Hard - Nalini Singh (MPG romance) 1/7
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February 2025 Scavenger - Diet Memes Part II
READ: 7/7
✔️ 1) Friend: I thought you were dieting?
Me: I am.
Friend: You just ate three doughnuts.
Me: But I wanted four. See? Dieting.
Read a book where a character deludes him- or herself, tell us who and how OR read a book that has a circular object on the cover (post the cover).
Catch Me If You Candy - Ellie Alexander (Tires) 2/15
✔️ 2) I bet you would be really motivated if the weight you lost went to somebody you don't like.
Read a book where two characters dislike each other (tell us who) OR a book with two opposite things on the cover (man and woman, cat and dog, square and round, light and dark, sun and moon, etc. (Post the cover and if it's not obvious, tell us what the things are.)
Guardian of Talons and Snares - Anastasis Blythe (MCs) 2/6
✔️ 4) Helpful Diet Tip: if you stir coconut oil into your kale, it makes it easier to scrape it into the trash.
Read a book with a character you think is helpful (tell us who) OR a tropical-looking cover (post the cover).
Aftermarket Afterlife - Seanan McGuire (Mary) 2/18
✔️ 5) I wish I were the person I thought I could be when I bought all this produce.
Read a book with fruits or vegetables visible on the cover OR whose cover color is predominantly green, yellow, orange or red or some combination of those colors (post the cover in either case).
Chaos & Flame - Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland 2/20
✔️ 8) "How y'all summer bodies lookin'? Mine lookin' like I have a great personality!"
Read a book with a main character whose personality you really like (tell us who and why) OR a book with a cover that looks like summer to you (post the cover).
A Catalogue of Catastrophe - Jodi Taylor 2/10
(Max, she is irreverent and sarcastic)
✔️ 10) Managing your weight around the holidays just requires a little planning.... for example, I took the batteries out of my scale on Wednesday.
Read a book with a character you think of as being a "planner" (tell us who) OR a book set around a holiday (any holiday is fine, tell us which).
Be Still My Heart - Emily McIntire & Sav R. Miller (Halloween) 2/26
✔️ 12) Monday: Salad
Tuesday: Salad
Wednesday: Salad
Thursday: Salad
Friday: Salad
Saturday: three pizzas, tacos, grilled cheese, bottle of wine, seven cinnamon rolls, a gallon of ice cream, two cheeseburgers, extra fries
Sunday: Salad.
Read a book where someone binges or splurges, your interpretation, (tell us who and how) OR a book with a character who is stuck in a rut of some kind, (your interpretation, tell us who and how).
The Foxglove King - Hannah F. Whitten 2/23
(Cecelia, over indulges in drugs)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
February 2025 Spelling - Diet Memes Part II READ: 6/6
B: Brimstone Bound - Helen Harper 2/2
I: Chaos & Flame - Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland 2/20
N: Autopsy of a Fairytale - Nicole Scarano 2/1
G: Guardian of Talons and Snares - Anastasis Blythe 2/6
E: A Very Bad Thing - J.T. Ellison 2/14
S: Aftermarket Afterlife - Seanan McGuire 2/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Countries of the World #7 - Trinidad and Tobago READ: 8/6+
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
✔️ The southernmost island country in the Caribbean, located 6 nautical miles northeast off the coast of Venezuela, and 70 nautical miles south of Grenada.
🚩Read a book whose title starts with a letter in TRINIDAD TOBAGO (ignore A, An and The or equivalent if not English).
Brimstone Bound - Helen Harper 2/2
Stats
✔️ - Capital: Port of Spain
🚩Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in the word PORTOFSPAIN (letters can only be used as many times as they appear in the word).
Autopsy of a Fairytale - Nicole Scarano 2/1
✔️ - Population: 1,508,635 (2024 estimate)
🚩Read a book whose total number of pages contain at least 2 of the numbers in the population (tell us the page count).
Maiden of Candlelight and Lotuses - Anastasis Blythe (387 pages) 2/2
✔️ - Area: 1,981 sq mi
🚩Read a book whose year it was first published has at least 2 of the numbers in the area (tell us the year published).
Untouchable - Jayne Ann Krentz (pub 2019) 2/6
Trivia
✔️ 1.
🚩Read a book in which a parade or carnival is held (tell us what) -or- read a book with an exaggerated piece of costume on cover (a mask, a headdress, a skirt you wouldn’t wear to work for example, post the cover).
Catch Me If You Candy - Ellie Alexander (Halloween parade) 2/15
✔️ 3.
🚩Read a book whose main character or author is an Alexander (reasonable variations like Alex, Alexis or Alexandra are okay; tell us the name if it’s the main character) -or- read a book whose cover shows a pan shaped object (post the cover).
Kilt Trip - Alexandra Kiley 2/14
✔️ 4.
🚩Read a book with a paved (asphalt) road on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with a god as a character (tell us which god – fantasy ones are okay).
The Foxglove King - Hannah F. Whitten (Appolius) 2/23
✔️ 5.
🚩Read a book that is hot (your interpretation; tell us why your book qualifies) -or- read a book that is sweet (again your interpretation; tell us why your book qualifies).
Be Still My Heart - Emily McIntire & Sav R. Miller 2/26
(mostly smut)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
March 2025 Scavenger - Chess
READ: 6/7
✔️1. ♟️ Read a book with a wartime setting (let us know which war, a fantasy war works), or, Read a popular book (More than 100.000 ratings, tell us how many ratings).
The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman (224,578) 3/19
✔️2. ♟️ Read a book with a main character with no luck, (your interpretation, tell us how it works), or, Read a nonfiction book.
Infernal Enchantment - Helen Harper 3/21
(if it can go wrong, it definitely does for heroine)
✔️3. ♟️ Read a book <>B>with the first letter of all the words in the title in CHATURANGA, (2 words min, all letters count), or, Read a book set during near-ancient history (500 AD - 1700s)
The Crash - Freida McFadden 3/11
4. ♟️ Read a book with a clock, pieces of a game or a gameboard on the cover, (post the cover) or, Read a book where the Author is a celebrity known for something other than writing books
✔️5. ♟️ Read a book with something checkered on the cover, (post the cover), or Read a book with knights, bishops, queens, or kings as speaking characters.
The Hemlock Queen - Hannah F. Whitten (king/queen) 3/29
✔️6. ♟️ Read a white cover book, or Read a black cover book, (post the cover)
Lost in the Moment and Found - Seanan McGuire 3/10
✔️7. ♟️ Read a book where a principal character loses something (tell us who and what), OR, a book where the author's first and last initials are in CHECKMATE, please post a link to the author's GR page.
A Ship of Bones & Teeth - Karina Halle 3/6
March 2025 Spelling - Chess READ: 7/7
✔ B: Blood & Fury - Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland 3/3
✔ I: I'll Be Waiting - Kelley Armstrong 3/9
✔ S: A Ship of Bones & Teeth - Karina Halle 3/6
✔ H: Infernal Enchantment - Helen Harper 3/21
✔ O: The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman 3/19
✔ P: The Paper Caper - Kate Carlisle 3/12
✔ S: Where the Drowned Girls Go - Seanan McGuire 3/7
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Countries of the World #8 - Liechtenstein READ: 6/6+
LIECHTENSTEIN
✔ A doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east and north and Switzerland in the west and south.
🚩Read a book whose title starts with a letter in LIECHTENSTEIN (ignore A, An and The or equivalent if not English).
Infernal Enchantment - Helen Harper 3/21
Stats
✔ - Population: 40,015 (2023 estimate)
🚩Read a book whose total number of pages contain at least 2 of the numbers in the population (tell us the page count).
The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman (413 pages) 3/19
Trivia
✔ 2. 🚩Read a book that was first published in August of any year (tell us when the book was published) -or- read a book whose cover shows a large garden (post the cover).
Murder at a Cape Bookstore - Maddie Day (August 22, 2023) 3/4
✔ 3. 🚩Read a book with a king or emperor as an important character (a biography of a monarch is fine) -or- read a book in which Bill Gates is mentioned (tell us the line and page number or location of the line).
The Hemlock Queen - Hannah F. Whitten (king is MC) 3/29
✔ 4. 🚩Read a book in which the main character has a sidekick -or- read a book in which an important character is a thief or a swindler.
Murder at the Lemonberry Tea - Darci Hannah (MC & Kennedy) 3/28
✔ 6. 🚩Read a book with an airplane on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book set in a location you don’t want to visit
Something's Guava Give - Carrie Doyle 3/22
(set in Caribbean, it's way too hot for me to ever visit)
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
April 2025 Scavenger - Birthdays
READ: 6/7
✔️2. 🎁Read a book with a god character (tell us who) - OR- Read a book with candles or a moon on the cover ( post the cover).
The Wolf in the Whale - Jordanna Max Brodsky 4/21
✔️3. 🎁Read a book first published in the same month as your birthday (tell us the month) -OR - Sort your TBR by the number of ratings, highest to lowest, and read one of the 10 with the highest number of ratings. (Tell us the number of ratings).
Curse the Day - Annabel Chase (pub January 7, 2017) 4/6
✔️7. 🎁Read a book set in China, - OR - Read the first book in a Series (tell us the Series name).
The Perfect Death - Stacy Claflin (Brannon House #1) 4/6
✔️8. 🎁Read a book with an intact 20 in the page number, (tell us the number of pages), -OR- Read a book marked YOUNG ADULT on the main GR page.
Shelter - Tara Shuler 4/14
✔️9. 🎁Read a book with a title starting with a letter in MITZVAH (ignore A, An, and The), -OR- Read a book with a speaking teenager character (tell us the name)
The Icehouse - J.J. Richards 4/30
✔️10. 🎁Read a book with a female main character, -OR- Read a Coming of age book
Inspection - Josh Malerman 4/1
April 2025 Spelling - Birthdays READ: 6/7
✔ P: The Perfect Death - Stacy Claflin 4/6
✔ H: The House on Blackstone Moor - Carole Gill 4/11
✔ A: Curse the Day - Annabel Chase 4/6
✔ R: Rogue of the High Seas - Cynthia Breeding 4/9
✔ A: As Dead As A Vampire - April Fernsby 4/26
O:
✔ H: Deadly Touch - Heather Graham 4/17
Countries of the World #9 - Suriname READ: 9/6+
✔ SURINAME
A country in northern South America, sometimes considered part of the Caribbean and the West Indies.
🚩Read a book whose title starts with a letter in SURINAME (ignore A, An and The or equivalent if not English).
Inspection - Josh Malerman 4/1
Stats
✔ - Capital: Paramaribo
🚩Read a book whose author's first and last initials are in the word PARAMARIBO (letters can only be used as many times as they appear in the word).
Murder on Devil's Pond - Ayla Rose 4/29
✔ - Population: 632,638 (2022 estimate)
🚩Read a book whose total number of pages contain at least 2 of the numbers in the population (tell us the page count).
Deadly Touch - Heather Graham (384 pages) 4/17
✔ - Area: 63,250 sq mi
🚩Read a book whose year it was first published has at least 2 of the numbers in the area (tell us the year published).
The Icehouse - J.J. Richards (2023) 4/30
Trivia
✔ 1. 🚩Read a book with at least one important scene set in a wilderness (tell us where the book is set) -or- read a book with a wild animal or bird prominently shown on the cover (post the cover).
Girl Without a Chance - Rylie Dark (in the woods of Colorado) 4/4
✔ 3. 🚩Read a book set in the Netherlands -or- read a book with a predominantly indigo cover (post the cover).
Mischief in New Orleans - Lucy Quinn 4/23
✔ 4. 🚩Read a book in which a holiday is celebrated (bonus for a country’s independence or emancipation day; tell us which holiday) -or- read a book whose cover shows something bound (post the cover).
Shelter - Tara Shuler (Christmas) 4/14
✔ 5. 🚩Read a book in which a speaking character is pregnant or has just given birth (tell us who) -or- read a book that you added to your TBR 4-5 months prior to reading (tell us when you added the book to your TBR).
Fur Love or Money - Sofie Ryan (Ashley) 4/2
✔ 6. 🚩Read a book whose cover shows a witch’s workshop, an apothecary or a chemist’s lab (post the cover) -or- read a book in which someone escapes from captivity (tell us who).
The House on Blackstone Moor - Carole Gill (MC from asylum) 4/11
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
May 2025 Scavenger - May Holidays
READ: 6/7
✔️May 1: National Mother Goose Day.
💠Read a book whose title has words that rhyme -or- read a book with a bird shown prominently on its cover (post the cover).
Improbably Yours - Kerry Anne King 5/7
✔️May 4: Star Wars Day/May the Fourth.
💠Read a book first published on the 4th of any month (tell us the date) -or- read a book in which a speaking character works at a newspaper (tell us who and what they do).
25 Alive - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (Cindy, reporter) 5/17
✔️May 9: National Lost Sock Memorial Day.
💠Read a book in which something minor is lost (tell us what it is) -or- read a book whose cover shows unworn clothes (post the cover - bonus for socks).
The Deathly Grimm - Kathryn Purdie (a page torn from an important book) 5/30
✔️May 11: National Twilight Zone Day.
💠Read a book that has been made into a TV show (tell us which if it's not obvious) -or- read a book that has paranormal elements in it (tell us what if not a spoiler).
Dead to Me - Annie Anderson (ghosts) 5/4
✔️May 12: National Limerick Day.
💠Read a book marked Humor on its main page -or- read a book set in Ireland.
Charmed Bones - Carolyn Haines 5/15
✔️May 21: Talk Like Yoda Day.
💠Read a book with content that you think is wise, or a character you think is wise -or- read a book whose main character's first name begins with a letter in YODA (tell us the name).
Spark of the Everflame - Penn Cole (Diem) 5/16
May 2025 Spelling - May Holidays READ: 9/9
✔️S: Seeker of Secrets - Ashley McLeo 5/14
✔️T: Immortal - Sue Lynn Tan 5/11
✔️A: Dead to Me - Annie Anderson 5/4
✔️R: Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros 5/3
✔️S: Spark of the Everflame - Penn Cole 5/16
✔️W: Manners and Monsters - Tilly Wallace 5/23
✔️A: Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear - Seanan McGuire 5/9
✔️R: Bonded in Death - J.D. Robb 5/5
✔️S: A Shift in Shadows - Maddox Grey 5/24
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
June 2025 Scavenger - Jubilee Day
READ: 7/7
✔ 1. Jubilee Day began in 1923, although it was not held from 1940-45 because of fuel shortages due to World War 2. It was also cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.
🎪 Read a book with WAR on its main GR page OR a book with all of the letters C-O-V-I-D in the title, in any order
A Curse Carved in Bone - Danielle L. Jensen 6/30
✔ 2. The first festival was called Farmers and Merchants Day.
🎪 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in MERCHANTS; post a link to the author's GR page OR a book with a main character who is a farmer (will accept anything related to farming - vineyard, orchard, etc.); tell us who and what they grow
An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir 6/7
✔ 3. Art & craft vendors set up booths in the streets, stages are set up for live music all day long, and farmers sell flowers and plants.
🎪 Read a book with flowers on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a main character who earns a living as an artist, crafter or musician of some sort; tell us who and the career.
Forged in Frost - Jasmine Walt 6/12
✔ 4. Our library’s Friends group holds a used book sale on Jubilee Day.
🎪 Read a book set in a library or bookstore; tell us the name of the establishment OR a book whose title words all begin with a letter in FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY (a letter may only be used as many times as it appears in the phrase); 3-word minimum
The Secret, Book & Scone Society - Ellery Adams (Miracle Books) 6/2
✔ 5. Local businesses in the downtown area of this small town hold sales and offer special deals to festival-goers.
🎪 Read a book in which a major character owns/runs their own business; tell us who and the business OR a book set in the state in which you currently live (for our international members, use the US state you would most like to visit); tell us where
Chance of a Ghost - E.J. Copperman (MC, BnB) 6/10
✔ 6. The festival is held on the third Thursday of June every year.
🎪 Read a book with a day of the week or the name of a month in the title OR a book with a 3 or 6 in the year it was originally published; tell us the year.
Fortune's Ashes - Helen Harper (2023) 6/26
✔ 7. Jubilee Day is reportedly the largest, longest-running one-day street fair east of the Mississippi.
🎪 Read a book involving a long-standing tradition of some sort OR a book set in a US state east of the Mississippi River; tell us where
Word to the Wise - Jenn McKinlay (Connecticut) 6/18
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
June 2025 Spelling - Jubilee Day READ: 6/6
S: Scorched Heart - Helen Harper 6/15
T: An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir 6/7
A: A Midnight Puzzle - Gigi Pandian 6/15
G: Grilled for Murder - Maddie Day 6/29
E: Chapter and Curse - Elizabeth Penney 6/20
S: Servant of Earth - Sarah Hawley 6/22
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
July 2025 Scavenger - El Niño
READ: 5/7
1. El Niño and La Niña are two natural climate patterns that occur in the Pacific Ocean.
🌎 Read a book with “girl” or “boy” in the title (plurals are OK). - OR - read a book with a unpredictable character, (tell us who and explain).
When the Grits Hit the Fan - Maddie Day (Maude) 7/5
2. The term El Niño means “the boy” in Spanish. This weather phenomena occurs in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
🌎 Read a book with a Spanish character (Tell us who).- OR - Read a book tagged as CHILDREN on the Goodreads main genre page.
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend 7/4
3. During El Niño the trade winds weaken, or even reverse, causing the warm surface waters to flow back eastward towards South America. As a result, the eastern Pacific becomes unusually warm, disrupting the regular temperature distribution across the ocean.
🌎 Read a book with a warm setting, (tell us where). - OR - Read a Time Travel Book.
The Good, the Bad and the History - Jodi Taylor 7/23
4. The changes in ocean temperatures during El Niño have far-reaching effects on global weather patterns. Some places that are usually dry might experience more rain than usual. This can lead to floods and heavy rainfall in certain regions. On the other hand, some places that usually receive lots of rain may experience droughts.
🌎 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in RAIN, (ignore a, an and the). - OR - Read a book with a changed character (meaning “someone who has become very different from what they were before, as a result of a very important experience”, please tell us who and why the have changed).
Archangel's Ascension - Nalini Singh 7/20
5. El Niño can cause stress to coral reefs. The warm ocean waters can lead to coral bleaching, a process where corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white.
🌎 Read a book with a vibrant colors cover, please post the cover. - OR - Read a book with a stressed character, please tell us who and why they are stressed.
Black Hat, White Witch - Hailey Edwards 7/6
(MC stressed trying to keep her rare familiar from predators)
6. El Niño can disrupt the food chain in the ocean. Changes in ocean currents can affect the availability of food for fish and other sea creatures. Some species may experience population declines, while others may move to different areas in search of food, impacting their survival and reproduction.
🌎 Read a book with a sea creature on the cover (Post the cover). - OR - Read a nonfiction book.
7. El Niño put a damper on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The weather pattern brought unseasonably warm weather to the normally chilly coastal town.
🌎 Read a book by a Canadian Author (post a link to the author’s page). - OR - Read a book first published in a year ending in zero (post the publication year).
July 2025 Spelling - El NiñoREAD: 9/9
✔ T: Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop - Tricia O'Malley 7/15
✔ R: A Drop of Corruption - Robert Jackson Bennett 7/20
✔ A: Death by Committee - Alexis Morgan 7/30
✔ D: Death by Beach Read - Eva Gates 7/31
✔ E: Black Hat, White Witch - Hailey Edwards 7/6
✔ W: When the Grits Hit the Fan - Maddie Day 7/5
✔ I: Sanctuary - Ilona Andrews 7/17
✔ N: Archangel's Ascension - Nalini Singh 7/20
✔ D: Lies He Told Me - David Ellis & James Patterson 7/3
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
August 2025 Scavenger - Summer Cleaning
READ: 8/7
Prior 2025: 4/4
✔ 1. Paper/Documents/Bills that I've hung on to for years because maybe it's important? Yeah, no. In the shredder they go.
🗑️Read a book with paper of some kind on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a physical book.
Hummingbird - Helen Harper (ADDED 2023) 8/8
✔ 2. Those knickknacks I bought years ago because they were cute and were on sale but they don't fit anywhere in my home, so I stuffed them in a closet just in case I felt moved to change my decor.
🗑️Read a book with the inside of a residential house on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book that you picked mainly because of the cover (post the cover).
Homicide in Hardcover - Kate Carlisle (ADDED 2012) 8/5
✔ 3. Expired medicines that I didn't use and didn't throw because for one thing what if I felt sick enough to need them one day and another, because I didn't know how to safely get rid of them. (Turns out flushing is better than tossing some meds in the trash, and in any case, there are places near me that take unused or expired medicines).
🗑️Read a book in which someone is sick enough to need medication (tell us who) -or- read a book in which a character doesn't do something because it might be unsafe (tell us how your book fits).
Atonement Sky - Nalini Singh (Eleri) 8/3
✔ 5. An ice cream maker that I bought when I also bought an ice cream making book, both of which I used twice and never again. I'm keeping the book though, because it's a book and it looks pretty.
🗑️Read a book with a dessert shown on the cover (bonus for ice cream, post the cover) -or- reread a book.
Death of an Ice Cream Scooper - Lee Hollis (ADDED 2024) 8/21
✔ 7. The drawer full of mystery cables that go with something, but I have no idea what - I'm fairly certain I'm going to regret this one, I'll need one of these very soon.
🗑️Read a book marked Mystery on the main page -or- read a book in which a character makes a decision that they come to regret (tell us how the book fits, use spoilers if needed).
Nacho Average Murder - Maddie Day 8/21
✔ 8. Some of my old yarn, crochet hooks and macrame tools because I would have used them by now if I wanted to, wouldn't I?
🗑️Read a book in which the main character has a hobby (tell us what their hobby is) -or- read a book with yarn or rope on the cover (post the cover).
The Vampire Knitting Club - Nancy Warren 8/14
✔ 9. A drawer full of user's manuals - some of the gadgets themselves I no longer own. This was the easiest toss and made me feel quite accomplished.
🗑️Read a book that's easy to read (tell us why) -or- read a nonfiction science book.
Biscuits and Slashed Browns - Maddie Day (cozy mystery) 8/6
✔ 10. My son's art from when he was little - I'm sentimental, but I really don't need a paper that has a single line on it, right? (I confess, I packed them all in boxes and put them in the garage to deal with some other day).
🗑️Read a book with something that seems to belong to a child on the cover (a toy, a small shirt, a cradle all work, post the cover) -or- read a book that tugs at your heart
Ghost On The Coast - Judith Jackson (ADDED 2022) (beach ball) 8/27
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
August 2025 Spelling - Summer Cleaning READ: 7/7
✔ C: Dark King - C.N. Crawford 8/8
✔ A: Atonement Sky - Nalini Singh 8/3
✔ B: Black Wings, Gray Skies - Hailey Edwards 8/4
✔ I: Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros 8/15
✔ N: Nacho Average Murder - Maddie Day 8/21
✔ E: Whispers of the Deep - Emma Hamm 8/10
✔ T: The Things We Water - Mariana Zapata 8/26
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
The Solar SystemDuration: December 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025
READ: 26/26
✔ 1. 🌞 Read a book set in the space OR a book with multiple similar objects in the cover; post the cover.
Caught Dead to Write - Lynn Cahoon (books) 1/10
✔ 2. 🌞 Read a book with a mostly black cover; post the cover OR a book whose author's first and last initials are in “Milky Way”; post a link to the author’s page.
Torch Ginger - Toby Neal 1/9
✔ 3. 🌞Read a book whose author's name has an X in; post a link to the author’s page OR read a book that has been on your to-read list for at least three years; tell us when you added it.
Dead Ringer - Jasmine Cresswell (added 2009) 12/18
The SUN.
✔ 4. 🌞 Read a large book, (More than 500 pages); tell us how many pages OR read a very popular book (over 10,000 ratings); tell us how many.
Bringer of Dust - J.M. Miro (608 pages) 12/14
✔ 5. 🌞 Read a book with a cluttered cover; post the cover OR a book from a series with at least 9 published books; tell us the series and how many books there are.
Make Them Pay - Allison Brennan (#12 of 17) 12/31
✔ 6. 🌞 Read a book with two of these in its original year of publication : 0, 1, 5, 6; tell us the year OR a book in whichthe main character makes a potentially life-changing decision; using spoiler tags, briefly explain.
Windy City Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/2
(view spoiler)
THE PLANETS
✔ 7. 🌞 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in PLANETS, (disregard A, An and The) OR a book with more than two siblings as characters; tell us their names.
Murder at Pirate's Cove - Josh Lanyon (Trevor/Logan) 12/21
✔ 8. 🌞 Read a book whose main character has kids OR a book with a circle shape in the cover; post the cover.
The Christmas Princess - Patricia McLinn (snow globe) 12/15
✔ 9. 🌞 Read read enough half-step books to equal or exceed 150 pages OR a book with no more than 250 pages; tell us the page number.
Exile Trust - Vincent H. O'Neil (224 pages) 12/30
✔ 10. 🌞 Read a book set in Egypt OR a book with a night sky in its cover; post the cover.
Dark Rooms - Lynda La Plante 4/10
✔ 11. 🌞 Read a book you like (a book you rate 4 or 5); post your rating OR a book with life on the cover. (plants, animals, humans); post the cover.
Stop Dragon My Heart Around - Susannah Scott 12/28
✔ 12. 🌞 Read a book with WAR on its main GR page OR a book with a red cover; post the cover.
Chaos & Flame - Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland 2/20
✔ 13. 🌞 Read a # 5 book in a series; tell us the series name, OR a book with a character who is not what they seem; please explain, use spoilers tags if needed.
Warrior of Legend - Kendare Blake 12/7
(MC pretending to be a matchmaker but is really a hero maker/warrior)
✔ 14. 🌞 Read a book with a wedding in the story; tell us who is the couple, OR a book with a character who is a farmer or raises livestock; tell us who.
The Twelve Jays of Christmas - Donna Andrews 12/20
(MC and her husband have a farm with goats and llamas)
✔ 15. 🌞 Read a book whose author ‘s initials are in TELESCOPE; post a link to the author’s page OR a book with a blue cover; post the cover.
Not Quite Dead - Lyla Payne 12/25
✔ 16. 🌞 Read a book with a major character who works with numbers; tell us the name OR a book with two authors; (please explain if it´s a pair of authors writing under just one name)
Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle - Phil & Kaja Foglio 12/27
✔ 17. 🌞 Read one of the four last books from a series that has ended; tell us the name of the series, the number of total books in it, and the position of the book you read, OR a nonfiction book.
The Last Dragon - Genevieve Jack (Treasure of Paragon #9 of 10) 1/22
OTHERS
✔ 18. 🌞 Read a book with an unusual character (your interpretation); tell us the name OR a book first published in 2006.
You Can Kill - Rebecca Zanetti 12/23
(MC an FBI agent who is a genius but has terrible social skills/anxiety)
✔ 19. 🌞 Read a book with rocks in the cover; post the cover OR a series book that's not the first nor the last book of the series; tell us the name of the series and the position of your book in it.
Espresso Shot - Cleo Coyle (#7 of 21) 12/5
✔ 20. 🌞 Read a book with a beautiful cover; post the cover, OR a book where the main character’s first name starts with a letter in METEORS; tell us the name of the character.
Flashpoint - Catherine Coulter (Rome) 12/15
✔ 21. 🌞 Read a book with a foreigner major character (born in or coming from a country other than the setting); tell us the name, OR a book with something glowing on the cover; post the cover
Everdark - Elle Jasper (the moon) 12/20
✔ 22. 🌞 Read a book with an intact 30 or 50 in its number of pages; tell us the number of pages, OR a book whose title contains at least one word with double vowels (like cOOl)
Blood Orchids - Toby Neal 1/4
✔ 23. 🌞 Read a book with HISTORY on the main GR page OR a book with a major character who works in a science-related field; tell us who and the career
The Last Outpost - Hannah Ross (hero, environmental scientist) 1/6
✔ 24. 🌞 Read the first book in a series; tell us the series name OR a book with some human-made artifact on the cover; post the cover.
Plantation Shudders - Ellen Byron (Cajun Country Mystery #1) 12/24
✔ 25. 🌞 Read a book first published in the 20th century; tell us when OR a book with “extra” in the title (it can be part of another word, like extraordinary).
Extra Sensory Deception - Allison Kingsley 5/27
✔ 26. 🌞 Read a book where the main character discovers something, (it doesn´t need to be something significant, discovering a new restaurant in town or a new recipe works); tell us what OR a book you find difficult to read; tell us why.
Weyward - Emilia Hart (very slow and boring plot) 12/4
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Solids, Liquids, and GasesDuration: January 1 - June 30, 2025
READ: 25/25
✔ 1. ✳️ Read a book from a trilogy, (tell us the name of the trilogy and your book position) -or- read a book first published in a year with a 3 (tell us the date of first published).
Untouchable - Jayne Ann Krentz (Cutler, Sutter and Salinas #3) 2/6
✔ 2. ✳️ Read a nonfiction book -or- read a book you added recently, please tell us when you added it. (posted after July 2024)
The Last Dragon - Genevieve Jack (added January 16, 2025) 1/22
✔ 3. ✳️ Read a book whose main character’s first or last name has a double consonant (as in MaTThew or in IsabeLLe, tell us the main character’s name) -or- read a book with a clean cover (a cover with no images or any art, just the title and the author's name, post the cover).
Sterling - Dannika Dark (Zoe Merrick) 1/16
✔ 4. ✳️ Read a book you read very fast (a book you “have to finish” or maybe a short book with more than 150 pages?) -or- read a book where a speaking character’s behavior is loose, (your interpretation), please tell us the character’s name and why you think so.
Caught Dead to Write - Lynn Cahoon (158 pages) 1/10
✔ 5. ✳️ Read a book with an author whose first or last name starts with an X, (post a link to the author’s page if you use this option) -or- read a book whose title starts with O, C, D or N; disregard A, An and The.
Candy Slain Murder - Maddie Day 1/30
✔ 6. ✳️ Read a book marked "Romance" on its main GR page -or- read a book with vapor or smoke on the cover, (post the cover).
Already Gone - Diane Benefiel 1/18
✔ 7. ✳️ Read a book with a transgender character (tell us who) -or- read a book set in a hot climate, (tell us where).
Blood Orchids - Toby Neal (Hawaii) 1/4
✔ 8. ✳️ Read a book whose year of first publication contains at least 2 of the following numbers: 2,1,2,1,0,0 (tell us the year published) -or- read a book with a verb ending in ING in the title.
The Tees Valley Killings - C.J. Grayson (pub 2020) 1/30
✔ 9. ✳️ Read a book with a conversion in the story (your interpretation, tell us about it, use spoiler tags if needed) -or- read a huge book that you think could have been compressed a bit, (tell us how many pages).
A Catalogue of Catastrophe - Jodi Taylor 2/10
(Max talks to her bosses about strategy for her next mission)
✔ 10. ✳️ Read a series book that is not the first, nor the last book in the series, (Tell us the series, how many books are in the series and the position of your book) -or- read a book with liquid in a container in the cover (a glass of drink, a bottle of perfume are good examples, post the cover).
Manhattan Dragon - Genevieve Jack (Treasure of Paragon #3 of 10) 1/11
✔ 11. ✳️ Read a book whose cover shows blood (post the cover) -or- read a book with a scene set underwater (tell us how your book works).
Hidden Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/17
(heroine dives into a lake to retrieve a hidden gem)
✔ 12. ✳️ Read a book marked "Science" on its main GR page -or- read a standalone book.
A Very Bad Thing - J.T. Ellison 2/14
✔ 13. ✳️ Read a book with a main character who feels comfortable in their body (tell us the character’s name) -or- read a book with a human body on the cover, (post the cover).
Highland Dragon - Genevieve Jack 1/17
✔ 14. ✳️ Read a book that features a tight-knit group of friends, tell us their names-or-read a book that helps you finish a challenge (tell us the challenge’s name).
The Dragon of Cecil Court - Genevieve Jack 1/16
(6 brothers and their mates)
✔ 15. ✳️ Read a book with a low GR rating, (less than 3.3, tell us the rating)-or- read a book set in a cold climate (tell us where).
Chaos & Flame - Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland (3.43) 2/20
✔ 16. ✳️ Read a book with a jewel or gem on the cover (post the cover) -or- read a book with STEEL or COPPER intact in the title or author’s name, (post a link to the author’s page if you use this option)
Chance of a Ghost - E.J. Copperman 6/10
✔ 17. ✳️ Read a book where the main character changes phases (kid to adult, single to married are good examples, please explain) -or- read a series book, please tell us the series name.
Windy City Dragon - Genevieve Jack (single to married) 1/2
✔ 18. ✳️ Read a book with ice or snow on the cover, (post the clever) -or- read a short book (but still over 150 pages, 300 for graphic novels; tell us the number of pages)
The Crash - Freida McFadden 3/11
✔ 19. ✳️ Read a book with two of 0, 3 or 2 in the number of pages. (Tell us the number of pages) -or- read a book that has been translated (tell us the original language of the book).
The Angel of Paragon - Genevieve Jack (320 pages) 1/25
✔ 20. ✳️ Read a book whose Author's first or last name has a metal in it (like gold or tin)-or- read a book with something metallic on the cover
The Hemlock Queen - Hannah F. Whitten 3/29
✔ 21. ✳️ Read a book with a cover that has something that runs on electricity (post the cover ) -or-read a book with more than one narrator.
Promise Not to Tell - Jayne Ann Krentz (MC and villain) 1/26
✔ 22. ✳️ Read a book whose author is new to you, (post a link to the author’s page) -or- read a bookwith the development of a relationship as the main focus.
Kiss Hard - Nalini Singh 1/7
✔ 23. ✳️ Read a book with a major character who works in a science-related field; tell us who and the career - or- read a book with something crystal like on the cover (wine glasses, snowflakes, diamonds, and table salt, are good examples, post the cover)
The Last Outpost - Hannah Ross (hero an environmental scientist) 1/6
✔ 24. ✳️ Read a book with all the letters in PLASMA in the title, (any order)- or - read a book with stars or lighting bolts on the cover (post the cover)
Spark of the Everflame - Penn Cole 5/16
(SPArk of the everfLAMe)
✔ 25. ✳️ Read a book whose series title begins with a letter in BOSE-EINSTEIN (tell us the series) -or- read a book with a genre you are not very familiar with, (tell us the genre)
Manhattan Dragon - Genevieve Jack (Treasure of Paragon) 1/11
CHALLENGE COMPLETE
Barbara's Challenges & Reading Lists
Books mentioned in this topic
Black Wings, Gray Skies (other topics)Nacho Average Murder (other topics)
The Things We Water (other topics)
Atonement Sky (other topics)
Dark King (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sabaa Tahir (other topics)Lyla Payne (other topics)
Karina Halle (other topics)
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