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As always, read as many or as few categories as you like. It's up to you if you read all mysteries or fill in with other subjects as well. All are based on odd, wacky, or obscure holidays.

Dec 5 - Repeal Day - The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition. I'll drink to that! Read a book with any alcohol theme, or a book that has alcohol of any kind shown on the cover. (There are alot of wine mysteries and even a Jack Daniels themed mystery series that I know of.)

Dec 6 - Put on your own Shoes Day - Read any book that is has shoes of any kind on the cover or in the title. (Boots, high heels, sneakers, etc.)

Dec 18 - Bake Cookies Day - Read any book with a recipe in it, has cookies in the title, or pictured on the cover. BONUS: Bake cookies that day!

Dec 21 - Mayan Calendar Ends - Is it the end of Humanity!? Read a book about an ancient culture, any book with Indians in it, a book set in Mexico, or any armagedeon themed book about the end of the earth.

Dec 27 - Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day - Read a book with snow/snowflakes on the cover, in the title, or if the author's last name happens to be Snow. Any character with a "snowy" name would work too (i.e. Snow White). BONUS: Actually cut out some paper snowflakes. :)

You may notice I avoid the obvious holidays because for this challenge the unheard of odd, wacky holidays are more fun. :)

Enjoy!

Well, Fun begins: To choose books ;) Thank you!

If I can I always try to tie at least one category here that can be filled with one of that month featured author's series books to help out. Not that you have to use them, but it helps.

Cookies? :D

Yeah, the cookie category can be filled with a book from our featured author this mnth. :)

Looks good! I'm in this month - hopefully it will go better than Nov. I hardly got any reading done.

I like the categories, but think I'll be too busy this month to participate. For all of you who do join in, have fun!!

I will participate. I'll look for books then update my list :)

Dec 5 - Repeal Day - alcohol is on cover.

Dec 6 - Put on your own Shoes Day -

Dec 18 - Bake Cookies Day -

Dec 21 - Mayan Calendar Ends - Is it the end of Humanity!? Read a book about an ancient culture, any book with Indians in it, a book set in Mexico, or any armagedeon themed book about the end of the earth.

Dec 27 - Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day -

Yes Deb, the Mayan Calendar Ending may be the hardest category to fill this month. I have a non-cozy set in Egypt on my TBR list Curse of the Kings by Victoria Holt although I also have The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton.

I'm going to read Skull Duggery , which is set in Mexico.

Repeal day was hard for me because I'm trying to pick from my TBR mountain. I finally found Jerrilyn Farmer's Killer Wedding.


For the Mayan calendar, what do you mean by ancient culture? Does the book need to be a historical fiction? One mystery I may read this month has a gypsy as a main character. Does that fit as an ancient culture?
Also, by Indian do you mean Native American or east Indian characters?
Edited: Re-reading this challenge description I assume from the context that you mean Native American/Indian.

Here is what I've come up with so far. I have some hopes of getting repeal day in but think Mayan calendar ends won't happen.

Repeal Day -
Put on Your Own Shoes Day -Dude On Arrival
Bake Cookies Day - Christmas Cookie Murder
Mayan Calendar Ends -
Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day - A Christmas Beginning: A Novel

I do like Amelia Peabody. didnt know she had one based in Mexico. thanks.
i was going to see if JA Jance had a book since most of hers are set in Arizona. i did find a yucatan mystery but it wasnt a cozy and never heard of the author before.

Just a suggestion for Mayan Calendar Ends - . Excellent mystery (not really a cozy) about stolen Native American petroglyphs. I learned a lot about the Arapahos and petroglyphs.

Kaye wrote: "Just a suggestion for Mayan Calendar Ends - . Excellent mystery (not really a cozy) about stolen Native American petroglyphs. I learned a lot about the Arapahos a..."

I forgot that I have the first 3 or 4 in the Margaret Coel series. I also have some unread Tony Hillermans. Thanks for the reminder.

0/5 Done

1. Repeal Day: A Vintage Murder by Michele Scott
2. Shoes Day: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones
3. Bake Cookies Day: Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
4. Mayan Calendar: The Jackal's Head by Elizabeth Peters
5. Snowflakes Day: An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

Another non-cozy suggestion for the Mayan calendar challenge is the rom-suspense Beautiful Sacrifice by Elizabeth Lowell. Read it this summer and thought it was pretty good, as well as a fast read.

I just finished this book which was recently free for the Kindle and would qualify for the Mayan challenge . It takes place in Mexico.

Nell wrote: "For the Mayan calendar, what do you mean by ancient culture? Does the book need to be a historical fiction? One mystery I may read this month has a gypsy as a main character. Does that fit as an ancient culture? Also, by Indian do you mean Native American or east Indian characters? Edited: Re-reading this challenge description I assume from the context that you mean Native American/Indian."

I'll answer the easier question first. By Indians I'm referring to the Native races of people who populated the American (north, south and central) continents before the Europeans arrived. As it's the Mayan calendar, I'm trying to get you close to something like the Mayan Indians. As for ancient culture, I'm aiming for the same thing. To me, something ancient would need to be several hundred years old. Personally I don't think gypsy's would qualify. Does that help answer your questions?

1/5 Done

1. Repeal Day: Sharpshooter by Nadia Gordon (12/04/2012 - ***)
2. Shoes Day: Shoe Done It by Grace Carroll
3. Bake Cookies Day:
4. Mayan Calendar: Skull Duggery by Aaron J. Elkins
5. Snowflakes Day: Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs

�� Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)�� wrote: "Nell wrote: "For the Mayan calendar, what do you mean by ancient culture? ...To me, something ancient would need to be several hundred years old. Personally I don't think gypsy's would qualify. Does that help answer your questions?"

Yes, thank you.
Kaye's post reminded me that I have a couple of Margaret Coel's books on my shelf. The first in her series fits the challenge and I've been meaning to read it.

Dec 21 - Mayan Calendar Ends - Is it the end of Humanity!? Read a book about an ancient culture, any book with Indians in it, a book set in Mexico, or any armagedeon themed book about the end of the earth

I think any of the Aaron Elkins' books would fit this category, too, since -- the main character being an anthropologist -- each one deals with an ancient culture in some aspect or another.

Heather L wrote: "I think any of the Aaron Elkins' books would fit this category, too, since -- the main character being an anthropologist -- each one deals with an ancient culture in some aspect or another. "
Do you think so? Because I have two nice "U"s waiting for Autumn ;)

i'm taking part in this/ :)

0/3 completed

Shoe day: Mini Shopaholic
Bake Cookies Day: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Snowflakes Day: The Christmas Sweater

Marisa: I don't have Uneasy Relations and have no idea what it's about, but I just read the back cover for Unnatural Selection (I haven't got that far in the series myself), and it mentions a neolithic site, so yeah...it might work for the mini challenge, too.

Okay, just read the GR synopsis for UR, and it might also work for the challenge. If nothing else, you get your "U" books for "Autumn." I still need to read one more "U" for that myself, just haven't decided what I'm in the mood for yet.

Heather: Yes, I 'll go with Unnatural Selection. I had another one for Mexico, but I'm going to cover two challenges with a book (December is going to be a busy month). Thank you.

2/5 Done

1. Repeal Day: Sharpshooter by Nadia Gordon (12/04/2012 - ***)
2. Shoes Day: Shoe Done It by Grace Carroll
3. Bake Cookies Day:
4. Mayan Calendar: Uneasy Relations by Aaron J. Elkins (12/09/2012 - ****)
5. Snowflakes Day: Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs



Pdta: I've changed my mind about books again ;)

I'm in for 3 books.

December 6, - Put on your shoes.
December 18 - Bake cookies - Gingerbread Cookie Murder
December 27, - Cout out snowflakes - On a Snowy Night

4/5 Done

1. Repeal Day: Sharpshooter by Nadia Gordon (12/04/2012 - ★★��)
2. Shoes Day: Shoe Done It by Grace Carroll (12/14/202 - ★★)
3. Bake Cookies Day:
4. Mayan Calendar: Uneasy Relations by Aaron J. Elkins (12/09/2012 - ★★★★)
5. Snowflakes Day: Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs (12/11/2012 - ★★★★)

Good job :)

Read Christmas books this month. These are the ones that fit this challenge.

Dec 6 - Put on your own Shoes Day - Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer
My edition pictures the victim lying on a carpet fully dressed and wearing shoes. GR doesn't have that cover.

Dec 18 - Bake Cookies Day - The Body in the Big Apple by Katherine Hall Page

Dec 27 - Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day - Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod

Done

1. Repeal Day: Sharpshooter by Nadia Gordon (12/04/2012 - ★★��)
2. Shoes Day: Shoe Done It by Grace Carroll (12/14/202 - ★★)
3. Bake Cookies Day: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (12/19/2012 - ★★��)
4. Mayan Calendar: Uneasy Relations by Aaron J. Elkins (12/09/2012 - ★★★★)
5. Snowflakes Day: Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs (12/11/2012 - ★★★★)

Congrats to all the finishers so far!

Mini Monthly Challenge

5/5 Done Yay!

1. Repeal Day: A Vintage Murder by Michele Scott 12/20 ★★��
2. Shoes Day: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones 12/29 ★★★★��
3. Bake Cookies Day: Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke 12/11 ★★
4. Mayan Calendar: The Jackal's Head by Elizabeth Peters 12/24 ★★��
5. Snowflakes Day: An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris 12/22 ★★★★

I tend to read a lot of Christmas-themed books in December, so between that and being so busy, I wasn't expecting to accomplish any of this month's challenges. I somehow managed to do two of them -- no wait, three. I just looked at the cover of the book I've nearly finished, and see that it fits a third category. Sweet!

Put on your own Shoes Day
A Winter Bride by Meredith Webber
* It's difficult to tell in the thumnail image shown below, but there are two little kids at top in sneakers.

Bake Cookies Day
Holly Lane by Toni Blake
* Sugar cookie recipe at the end
* Baked cookies (multiple times this month, actually)

Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day
Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
* Snowflakes on the cover
* While I did not cut out any snowflakes on the 27th or any other day, I did stamp about one hundred of them for Christmas cards. That has to count for something...right?

Congrats everyone!

Congrats, Valorie! Congrats, Heather! Congrats, Nell!

Thanks Marisa! Congrats Heather!

Congrats anyway, Kari! You have finished a lot of categories...

Finally getting around to posting my December challenge. This was sort of bittersweet since it will be my last monthly challenge for a while. I'm doing a reread of the Wheel of Time series and don't expect to finish that until July. Might have to make a few fantasy challenge lists, since coming up with books to read is part of the fun!

Repeal Day - Notorious Nineteen 12/29/12
Put on Your Own Shoes Day - Dude On Arrival 12/15/12
Bake Cookies Day - Christmas Cookie Murder 12/5/12
Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day - A Christmas Beginning: A Novel 12/19/12

Congrats, Linda! And good luck with your reread.

Congrats Kari and Linda!

Hooray Kari and Linda!