Book list for Aussie Readers - Autumn Reading Challenge 2014

Ok I've looked through my (extensive TBR pile) and picked the following books for the Autumn Challenge (here in Australia our Autumn (or Fall) runs from March to May):
1.  Labor Day:  a book who's lead characters are workers in construction, office, health, police force or teachers: Nurses of the Outback by Annabelle Brayley
 
2. St Patrick's Day: Green Cover/set in Ireland The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens
 
3. Moomba Festival: Book with fun activities (Moomba is fun long weekend in Melbourne (Australia) with crazy family activities it's the 60th Anniversary this year - here is their website
No Biking in the House Without a Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene
 
4.  Canberra Day: Book written on or about local indigenous people:
 Mullumbimby by Melissa Lucashenko
 
5. April Fools Day: Humours Book:  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
 
6. Easter: Chocolate, Religion, hot cross buns or family fun:
The Never Never Sisters by L. Alison Heller (I picked this for family fun - it's description is "highly entertaining novel about family secrets" so I figured it counted :)
 
7. ANZAC Day: War/Military  The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally
 
8. Captain Cook 1770 Festival : Historical Fiction about Australian Settlement
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
 

9: Whale Shark Festival: Find a book with any of our beautiful sea creatures in it:
Safe Harbour by Helene Young (ok I may be stretching it a little bit for "sea creatures" but it does include mention of a whale station in the blurb so I definitely think this counts - plus I really want to read it!)
 

10. Colours of Autumn: Choose a book which has the words, red, gold, brown, orange or yellow in the title OR whose cover is primarily one of those colours
House for all Seasons by Jenn J. McLeod (this totally qualifies - just look at the cover!)
 


11-13 Read 3 books from your TBR list for these:
11. Firestorm by Tamara McKinley
12. Silver Clouds by Fleur McDonald
13. Saving Grace by Fiona McCallum
Can't wait to start reading - bring on MARCH!

Autumn Reading Challenge 2014

I'm going to take part in the Aussie Readers Autumn Reading Challenge for 2014. I have to select 13 books to read from different subjects - to see the list check out the link to Goodreads below. I thought it would be a good way to help select books of my every growing TBR pile.

 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1701959-autumn-reading-challenge---2014

As soon as I finalise my list I'll post it up. I'm looking forward to Autumn - I am so over this hot weather we have been having here in Australia. Although I guess I shouldn't complain given the crazy weather they have been having in the northern hemisphere lately.

I'm back at work now - great to get a whole new group of young readers in, although I did have one sad moment when I had to delete off one of our best readers who had changed schools - she had borrowed 255 books in the 2 years she was with us!!

Happy Reading!

2014 Australian Women Writers Challenge

I am excited to be joining a challenge to contribute reviews of books written by Australia Women Writers for the AWW online newspaper which you can subscribe to here Australian Women Writers Paper

I think we have an amazing array of wonderful Women Writers in Australian which we can choose from and I look forward to reading many more this year.

Happy Reading

Gecko Girl Reads

Review of Sisters of Spicefield

Sisters of Spicefield

by Fran Cusworth

If you love Jodi Picoult's books of moral dilemma's you will love Fran Cusworth's book Sisters of Spicefield.

The heart of the story is couple Jessica and Matt who have 4 children, 3 with IVF and one naturally who sadly died of a genetic disease when young. Things were running as well as they could for this family until a new single mum comes to the school. Jessica immediately realised that the young girl, Mia is her biological child, the embryo that her and Matt gave up when they decided their family was complete. The decision that Matt never wanted to know the outcome of. How can you face seeing a child who looks just like your own kids and not feel something for her? How do you answer your kids questions when they notice this little girl has a matching birthmark?

Jessica is supported by her friends and fellow school mums Georgia and Max, along with her twin sister, Abby-who runs an orphanage in Thailand, all of who have issues of there own which help round out this story. With many twists and turns this often heart-wrenching story will leave you surprised and thinking ... what would you do?

This is the first of Fran's novels which I have come across but I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Review of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast

Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
by Danielle Hawkins    



This is the first book of Danielle's that I have read although I do have Dinner at Rosie's sitting in my TBR pile.

Danielle's background in farming and as a vet shows through in the well researched and at times very detailed story of Helen McNeil who is a vet in the small rural town of Broadview in rural New Zealand. Having visited New Zealand myself including the 'nearby' town of Hamilton I could totally envisage the setting of this book as I was reading.

The country road near Hamilton NZ - where I could totally see Helen driving

 

 

Helen reminds me of a modern day James Herriot and her often hilarious adventures in this dairy country will have you laughing (although if your squeamish this may not be the book for you!) After stumbling over national sporting hero, Mark Tipene - an All Black rugby player, without realising who he is this odd couple follow the trails of falling in love in the spotlight and their "date" at a breach birth of a cow is enough to send anyone running for the hills.

But when a happy 'accident' throws a spanner in the works of this budding romance will this odd couple make it? Can you really have your cake and eat it (for breakfast) too?

This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to reading Dinner at Rosie's.   

Holiday Reading

Working in a school library means I get almost 5 weeks holiday this time of year! I had a plan of making a huge dint in my TBR pile but between visiting family, friends weddings, engagements & funerals and this ridiculous weather (almost a week over 40C is not my idea of fun!) I didn't get to read as many books as I would like. I'm back to work this Friday but so far I have been able to read the following books:
Sisters of Spicefield by Fran Cusworth
Chocolate Cake for Breakfast by Danielle Hawkins and
Runaway Groom (Wedding Fever #3)  by Fiona LoweUnleashing Mr Darcy by Terri Wilson

I've finally had time to post my reviews - I hope you like the books as much as I did.

Happy Reading
GeckoGirl

Review of Runaway Groom by Fiona Lowe

Runaway Groom (Wedding Fever #3)

by Fiona Lowe

I've read the first two books in the Wedding Fever Series which I loved and Book 3 in Fiona Lowe's Wedding Fever Series does not disappoint. During the local heatwave I started reading it at 1am (big mistake) with the misguided thought to 'just read til I fall asleep'... well I finished it at 6am - good thing I'm still on holidays!

Just when you thought there was no one left in the town to marry off in comes Amy Sagar, who's fond memories of summers in Whitetail, Wisconsin decides to get in her car and drive when her high-flying life as a Lawyer in Chicago gets pulled from underneath her by her double-crossing ex. While Amy was expecting a old log cabin she ends up in something much nicer - only to be interrupted by Aussie 'intruder' Ben Armytage who is on a road trip of his own having fled Australia after being left at the alter.
What begins as a case of crossed wires and dislocated shoulders slowly simmers into something more but the path of love never seems to run smooth... especially when your well-meaning parents decide to drop in.

Ben & Amy's story is intertwined with those of the locals of Whitetail Weddings that Wow including single dress shop owner Melissa who decided that she isn't going to end up with the heartache of her sister and is only going to let a man into her life who meets her strict criteria. But will totally unsuitable Scott slip past that list???

And what of the lovely old neighbourly widowers Ella & Al? Can they find happiness again?

This book has plenty of laughs, love and lots of heart, not to mention a wedding or two complete with last minute dress nightmares and accidental pregnancies changing wedding deadlines. I hope this is not the end for the Wedding Fever Series because I'd love to know what happens next.

I also love that a special local charity Kids Plus Foundation got a mention in this book.
Here is a link to my review of picture perfect wedding