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December - Christmas Spell-it-out

Can anyone believe it's almost Christmas again already? I certainly can't!! But, perhaps if we put ourselves in the spirit this December, it'll seem more real :)

To start:

Choose a book to read - it must be a Christmas book - and once you've finished it, pick something from the cover of your book and do a SPELL-IT-OUT with the word. (using the first letter of the title, or beginning of the author's first or last name)

For example:

I might read Second Chance Christmas and on the cover are several things I could choose; like scarf, beanie, trees, gazebo, snow - you get the idea. Then I'd do a SPELL-IT-OUT with one of those words.

Easy - read minimum 5 books (at least 2 Aussie authors)
Hard - read minimum 9 books (at least 3 Aussie authors)

***Our guidelines Here

TEMPLATE

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level:
0/?

1. Initial book (with cover pic):

Spell-it-Out - from the book cover
2.
3.
4.
5.

Participants


Amanda
Amanda (docmandy)
Brenda
Carolyn
Cherie (Myst)
Clare
Jane
Janine
Jennifer
Kim
Kim (kimborams)
Kylie H
Mari
Melissa
Odette
Phrynne
Sabrina
Sarah (Mess 23)
Sarah (Mess 66)
TheMadHatter
Tien
Trish
Zoey

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Hard (3 AAs)
9/9

1. Initial book (with cover pic):
Izzy's Christmas Star by Berni Stevens 5��s 2/12/19

Things I spy on the cover: SANTA, SNOW, BUS, LANTERNS, BUILDINGS, SACK, FOOTPATH

2. L The Life She Chooses by Maggie Christensen 4��s 8/12/19 AA
3. A Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower 4��s 9/12/19
4. N Nancy Wake by Russell Braddon 4��s 13/12/19 AA
5. T The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper 5��s 13/12/19 AA
6. E Akin by Emma Donoghue 3��s 19/12/19
7. R Kick the Dust by Rhonda Forrest 5��s 11/12/19 AA
8. N The Rise of Magicks by Nora Roberts 5��s 6/12/19
9. S Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde 5�� 3/12/19

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Hard - nine books 3 aussie
9/9

1. The Holiday Homicide by Grace York AA 4 stars

Spell-it-Out - from the book cover : PRESENTS
2. P Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind by Alexander McCall Smith 5 stars
3. R Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen 4 stars
4. E The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker 3 stars
5. S Shell Game by Sara Paretsky 4 stars
6. E Summers With Juliette by Emily Madden AA 2 stars
7. N Second Chance Christmas by Nicki Edwards AA 3 stars
8. T Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 5 stars
9. S The Siege by Helen Dunmore 4 stars

Excellent! Now to dig out my stash of Christmas-themed books! (I wrap them with the left-over wrapping in January and number them 1-25 for a book-a-day during December. It's a bookish equivalent to an Advent Calendar which gets me into the Christmas (literary) spirit!

Do we have a read-a-thon coming up soon, too?

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Hard
14/14

1. Initial book (with cover pic): Christmas Carol 5 stars

Things I see on the cover: Scarf, night cap, Christmas Tree, Cane , Glasses

Spell-it-Out - from the book cover
2. C - Country Roads by Nicole Hurley-Moore AA 5 stars
3. H - Home at Last by Meredith Appleyard AA 5 stars
4. R - Riverstone Ridge by Mandy Magro AA 5 stars
5. I - Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews 5 stars
6. S - Undara by Annie Seaton AA 5 stars
7. T - Dead Man Switch by Tara Moss AA 4 stars
8. M -MacKenzie Crossing by Kaye Dobbie AA 5 stars
9. A - All the Little Liars by Charlaine Harris 5 stars
10. S - Shadows Of Hunters Ridge by Sarah Barrie 5 stars

11. T - Forever Magic by T.M. Cromer5 stars
12. R - Will to Live by Rachel Amphlett AA 4 stars
13. E - An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris 4 stars
14. E - Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver 5 stars

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy
5/6 ish

Christmas Lilies by Jackie French


Spell-it-Out - from the book cover- LILIES
L- A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne 4 Stars
I The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See Currently Reading
L The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland AA 4 Stars
I Inexperience: And Other Stories by Anthony Macris AA 3 Stars
E The Everlasting Sunday by Robert Lukins AA 3 Stars
S Swallow the Air by Tara June Winch AA 4 Stars

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy
5/5

1. Initial book (with cover pic): His Christmas Cowgirl by Alissa Callen AA 4��


Spell-it-Out - from the book cover - KISS

2. K - A Yorkshire Christmas by Kate Hewitt 3��
3. I - In the Woods by Tana French 4��
4. S - The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter 4.5��
5. S - Bindarra Creek Makeover by S.E. Gilchrist AA 3��

Sarah wrote: "Do we have a read-a-thon coming up soon, too?"

Sure do Sarah - I'll announce it soon :)

Sarah wrote: "Excellent! Now to dig out my stash of Christmas-themed books! (I wrap them with the left-over wrapping in January and number them 1-25 for a book-a-day during December. It's a bookish equivalent to..."

What a great idea Sarah! I love it!!

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Hard
9/9 (8/3 AA)


1. Our Country Christmas -Read 23/12

Aiming at reading all Aussie women writers starting with all 4 authors from book 1

2. S - The Secrets Mothers Keep by Jacquie Underdown -Read 09/12
3. U - Up on Horseshoe Hill by Penelope Janu -Read 10/12
4. N - A New Kind of Death by Alison Goodman -Read 18/12
5. D - The Good Woman of Renmark by Darry Fraser -Read 28/12
6. R - The Reunion of a Lifetime by Fiona Lowe -Read 11/12
7. E - Who Killed Angelique? (Who Killed...? #1) by Emma Darcy -Read 12/12
8. S - Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott -Read 07/12
9. S - Bloodtree River by Sarah Barrie -Read 26/12

Welcome everyone! All linked to here :) Kim, love the initial cover!

Brenda wrote: "Welcome everyone! All linked to here :) Kim, love the initial cover!"

It's is lovely isn't it. I looked up your hints on how to get the image embedded.

These images are beginning look like Christmas Cards :D

Easy - 7/7 books (1 AA)

�� 1. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons 3��

�� S Six Wicked Reasons by Jo Spain 5��
�� L The Lying Game by Ruth Ware 3.5��
�� E Evil at Echo Point by Grace York AA 4��
�� D Darkness for Light by Emma Viskic AA 5��
�� G Give the Devil His Due by Sulari Gentill AA 4��
�� E Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes 4��

Kim wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Welcome everyone! All linked to here :) Kim, love the initial cover!"

It's is lovely isn't it. I looked up your hints on how to get the image embedded.

These images are beginning ..."

Well done on that! And yes they are ;)

You're linked Carolyn :)

Thank you!

Sarah wrote: "Excellent! Now to dig out my stash of Christmas-themed books! (I wrap them with the left-over wrapping in January and number them 1-25 for a book-a-day during December. It's a bookish equivalent to..."

I am going to suggest that to my niece for her kids, they love reading and I think they would love this!

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy
6/6 - FINISHED 3/2/2019

1. Initial book (with cover pic): The 19th Christmas by James Patterson 3*


Spell-it-Out - DEATH (sorry - a morbid Christmas!)
2. D - Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb 5*
3. E- Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters 4*
4. A - Will to Live by Rachel Amphlett AA 4*
5. T - Trick or Treat by Kerry Greenwood AA 3*
6. H - On Dangerous Ground by Jack Higgins 4*

Jane how does death appear on the front of that cover? I know there's a body there, a christmas bauble, ribbon and a tree, also snow ... but death isn't an item. Can you explain to me please? Thanks :)

Progress (as of 26 December 2019) - 6 out of 6

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy

1. Initial book : Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin
Review: /review/show... (2.5 Stars)



Spell-it-Out - ROBIN (little Christmas red robin in the tree)

RKick the Dust by Rhonda Forrest AA
Review: /review/show... (5 stars)
OOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Review: /review/show... (4 Stars)
BBrief Answers to the Big Questions: Puzzle Edition by Stephen Hawking
Review: /review/show... (4 Stars)
I The Ice House byMinette Walters
Review: /review/show... (3 Stars)
NNevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend AA
Review: /review/show... (4 Stars)

I'm going to attempt hard, but I have backup plans for 9- and 7-letter alternatives if it's looking dicey...
Progress: 11/11, AA: 3/3

Initial Book: Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron (3/12) 4*


Spell-it-Out: SILHOUETTE
S: Sweet Poison, Why Sugar Makes Us Fat by David Gillespie AA (15/12) 5*
I: Cemetery Road by Greg Iles (15/12) 4*
L: The Lost Girls by Jennifer Spence AA (5/12) 3.5*
H: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (30/12) 4*
O: 1984 by George Orwell (10/12) 5*
U: The Death of Lucy Kyte by Nicola Upson (13/12) 4*
E: Disaster's Children by Emma Sloley AA (19/12) 3*
T: Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay (24/12) 4*
T: To The Lions by Holly Watt (2/12) 4*
E: Tales of Mystery and Horror: Vol.I by Edgar Allan Poe (8/12) 3.5*

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy
5/5

1. Initial book My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins 3 stars



Spell-it-Out - POND
2. P - The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta AA 3 stars
3. O - Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer 3 stars
4. N - Blade Bound by Chloe Neill 4 stars
5. D - Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff AA 4 stars

Cherie (Myst) wrote: "Initial book My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins"

What a gorgeous cover!

Kerri_M wrote: "I am going to suggest that to my niece for her kids, they love reading and I think they would love this!"

Hi Kerri, I do the same thing for my daughter, and she loves it! We have an ever-increasing collection of Christmas-themed books, which are kept in a box the rest of the year. Every year, I add a few new ones with more sophisticated content (she's now 10), but she always enjoys a few old favourites, like Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday! I'll post this year's list(s) to Personal Challenges, if you're interested.

Brenda wrote: "What a great idea Sarah! I love it!!"

Thanks Brenda! Not my own idea - I found it on Pinterest:

All linked to here :)

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level:Easy
1/6

1. Initial book (with cover pic): One Day in December Josie Silver


Spell-it-Out - Night
1. N - Nine Perfect Strangers Liane Moriarty AA
2. I -Iron Junction Charlotte Nash AA
3. G - The Giver of Stars Jojo Moyes
4. H - Heart of the Cross Emily Madden AA
5. T - The Ten Thousand Doors of January Alix E. Harrow

Brenda wrote: "Jane how does death appear on the front of that cover? I know there's a body there, a christmas bauble, ribbon and a tree, also snow ... but death isn't an item. Can you explain to me please? Thank..."

I saw the dead body as a 'DEATH', but I suppose I could just change it to 'DEAD' and still sneak into the 5 book easy limit?

Jane wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Jane how does death appear on the front of that cover? I know there's a body there, a christmas bauble, ribbon and a tree, also snow ... but death isn't an item. Can you explain to m..."

That's okay Jane, leave it as it is now. It's all about perception isn't it :) Enjoy!

Melissa wrote: "December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level:Easy
0/?

1. Initial book (with cover pic): One Day in December Josie Silver


Spe..."

You're linked Melissa :)

Easy for me
5/5

1. I Won't Be Home For Christmas by Amanda Prowse 4 ��

WORD: SAND
2. S - Saving Missy by Beth Morrey 4 ��
3. A - Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen 4 ��
4. N Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor (book 1) by Jessica Townsend 4�� AA
5. D - Dark Roots by Cate KennedySarah Bailey 2�� AA

You're linked Kylie :)

Brenda wrote: "Jane wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Jane how does death appear on the front of that cover? I know there's a body there, a christmas bauble, ribbon and a tree, also snow ... but death isn't an item. Can you..."

Thanks!

Thanks Brenda

Easy for me:

Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days 04/12/2019 - 4*
H: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming - Mike Brown 08/12/2019 4*
O: The Last Days of Ava Langdon - Mark O'Flynn - AA 01/12/2019 - 3.5*
L: Last Witnesses: Unchildlike Stories - Svetlana Alexievich 14/12/2019 4*
L: The Language Wars: A History of Proper English - Henry Hitchings - 03/12/2019 2.5*
Y: Diary of a Naked Official - Ouyang Yu - AA - 05/12/2019 - 2.5*

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy
7/7

🎄 1. Initial book:
The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson 09/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Spell-it-Out:
🎄 2. B: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 28/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎄 3. O: One Hundred Years of Dirt by Rick Morton *AA* 11/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎄 4. N: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty *AA* 02/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎄 5. B: Bikinis in Paradise by Kathi Daley 21/12 ⭐️⭐️💫
🎄 6. O: The Overlook by Michael Connelly 20/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎄 7. N: Next Girl to Die by Dea Poirier 07/12 ⭐️⭐️💫

Amanda and Mari, you're both linked :)

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level: Easy 2AA
5/5

1. Initial book (with cover pic):
Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson Read 29/12. 3��



Spell-it-Out from the book cover
2. S - The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett Read 4/12. 5�� AA
3. T - The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie Read 9/12. 3��
4. A - Another Night in Mullet Town by Steven Herrick Read 17/12. 3�� AA
5. R - Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood Read 18/12. 5��

Clare wrote: "I would like to join. How do I make a book cover pic big?

Hi Clare, that took me a while to work out, too! If you click on the (some html is okay) link above the comment box, you get a drop-down list of useful actions. To insert a larger image, you need to
enter the following command, but with "<" and ">" at either end:

img src="/book/photo/..."
(not using the height and width options gives you the large-sized image others have used)

P.S. Thanks for the book pointer - I love Jeanette Winterson, but hadn't realised she'd written a Christmas book - adding it to my list now!

December Spell-It-Out
Easy level 5books with 2AA
5/5

1. Initial book ..The Christmas Bouquet by Sherryl Woods....read 3*

Word ROSE
2. R...From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell....read 3*
3. O...Never Say Die by Chris O'Brien AA....3.5*
4. S...The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion AA....read 4*
5. E...Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell....read 4*

I would like to join this challenge and do the easy level.

5/5

My choice of book to start off with is:

Second Chance Christmas by Nicki Edwards - 4�� AA



My word to spell out is SNOW

S: Six Minutes by Petronella McGovern - 5�� AA
N: Khaki Town by Judy Nunn - 4�� AA
O: On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan - 4��
W: The Wicked Trade by Nathan Dylan Goodwin - 4��

Sarah wrote: "Clare wrote: "I would like to join. How do I make a book cover pic big?

Hi Clare, that took me a while to work out, too! If you click on the (some html is okay) link above the comment box, you get..."

Thanks so much Sarah :)

All linked to here :)

Hi Brenda,
I have been looking at this Challenge and have tentatively selected a Christmas-themed book but just wondered if I can use a word from the cover title rather than an object?

Finally got this sorted!
My Christmas book is: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham


Santa on cover, so:

S The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan AA
A Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
N Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
T The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton AA
A Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body by M.C. Beaton

Kim wrote: "Hi Brenda,
I have been looking at this Challenge and have tentatively selected a Christmas-themed book but just wondered if I can use a word from the cover title rather than an object?"

Kim, no sorry :) We need the item from the book cover for this month's challenge...

Amanda wrote: "Finally got this sorted!
My Christmas book is: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham


Santa on cover, so:

S The Scholar b..."

You're linked Amanda :)

December - Christmas Spell-it-out
Level:
5/5

Easy Level for me

1. Initial book (with cover pic):

The Christmas Party by Karen Swan READ 4/12/19 4*

Spell-it-Out - from the book cover
S - Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart(AA) READ 7/12/19 4*
N - Saving You by Charlotte Nash(AA) READ 5/12/19 4*
O - The Orchardist's Daughter by Karen Viggers(AA) READ 14/12/19 3*
W - Beautiful Messy Love by Tess Woods(AA) READ 9/12/19 4*