Duration: 1st July – 30th September 2020
Number of books: 28
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

I love summer (as long as it doesn’t get too hot and humid, of course 😉), and after being stuck in the house all spring, am looking forward to getting out a bit more, as my area allows, in the next few months.

There are so many fun things to do in the summer, we always seem to run out of time to get them all done. This year’s summer challenge is based on the things that we most enjoy during the summer months.

Please note: You only need to complete tasks for 20 of these activities to complete the challenge, although you’re welcome to complete all of them if you’d like. You can choose them in advance if you prefer, or complete them as you go.

CHALLENGE RULES :
See this thread for more detailed rules for all CCC challenges.

♦ If you want to participate in this challenge, please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link above for rules regarding graphic novels. Please remember that ONLY graphic novels can be combined.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book. You must read at least half of the book AFTER the challenge begins in order to count it for this challenge.

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover or specific author initials or name/s, you must include a link to the book cover and/or author’s name, respectively. To avoid spoiling a book for other readers, please use spoiler tags, if necessary, when explaining your book choices.*
    * For help with posting spoiler tags, see this post: Spoiler tags
    * If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author

♦ When you complete the challenge, please copy and paste your entire list as a new message at the end of the challenge thread. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your links and formatting. If you don’t repost your list, with appropriate links, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge. Please do NOT simply post a link back to your original post.

THE TASKS

1. GO TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK
🎢 Read a book in which a character visits any kind of park; tell us what kind OR a book with a carnival/amusement park ride shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

2. WALK BAREFOOT
👣 Read a book with a barefoot person shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with an 8-letter word in the title – Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods

3. ATTEND A BASEBALL GAME
⚾ Read book #9 from a series; tell us the series OR a book with a diamond-shaped object shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Angel’s Peak by Robyn Carr

4. BUILD A BONFIRE
🍢 Read a book with FIRE in the title or shown prominently on the cover; post the cover if using that option OR a book that you find mesmerizing; briefly tell us why – Truganini by Cassandra Pybus

5. GO CAMPING
⛺ Read a book whose title begins with a letter in CAMPING; disregard A, An and The OR a book by an author with a 7-letter name (last, first or combined); post a link to the author’s GR page – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

6. EAT CORN ON THE COB AND WATERMELON
🍉 Read a book by an author whose first AND last initials can be found in either CORNONTHECOB or WATERMELON; post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book with a “summer” food shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

7. GO TO A DRIVE-IN MOVIE
🎞 Read a book by an author with a hyphenated name; post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book that has been made into a movie (NOT a TV show); tell us the movie title if different from the book title – Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

8. SHOP AT A FARMER’S MARKET
🍅 Read a book with a character who earns his/her living by farming; tell us who OR a book with an apostrophe in the title or author’s name; post a link to the author’s GR page if using that option – Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (George and Billie)

9. CATCH FIREFLIES
✨ Read a book in which something/someone is caught; using spoiler tags if necessary, briefly explain OR a book with a light source of some kind shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

10. SEE A FIREWORKS DISPLAY
🎆 Read a book set in China (most US fireworks are manufactured in China) OR a book for which the first letter of every word in the title can be found in FIREWORKS (ALL words count; 2-word minimum)

11. GO FISHING
🐠 Read a book in which a character goes fishing; tell us the character OR a book with a long, thin object (like a fishing pole) shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Harbor Lights by Sherryl Woods (Kevin O’Brien)

12. RELAX IN A HAMMOCK
📚 Read a book from a genre that relaxes you OR a book that was released less than six months before you read it; tell us the release date – What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (Regency romance)

13. PLANT A GARDEN
🌸 Read a book with a predominantly green cover; post the cover OR a book with a character who gardens, either for fun or professionally; tell us the character – The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

14. GRILL OUTDOORS
🥩 Read a book with double OOs in the title OR a book in which someone grills/cooks food outdoors – Flowers on Main by Sherryl Woods

15. MAKE ICE CREAM
🍦 Read a book with a title that begins with I (ALL words count!) OR a book set in a location that is very warm most of the time; tell us where – The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods

16. FLY A KITE
👓 Read a book with a word in the title that rhymes with KITE (use this website for help if necessary) OR a book with something shown prominently on the cover that could fly unassisted (like a bird or bat, not a kite); post the cover – Sourcery by Terry Pratchett (flying carpet)
NOTE : For the rhyming option, I would prefer 1-syllable rhymes, but will accept 2-syllables if you don’t have a 1-syllable word that works

17. PLAY MINI GOLF
⛳ Read a book with an intact 18 in the total number of pages; tell us how many pages OR a book with a character who plays golf; tell us the character – Bluebird by Malcolm Knox (Kelly)

18. ATTEND AN OUTDOOR CONCERT
🎶 Read a book featuring a musician, amateur or professional; tell us who OR listen to an audiobook – Rock Wedding by Nalini Singh (Abe)

19. GO ON A PICNIC
🍗 Read a book that contains recipes (NOT a cookbook) OR a book with a blanket shown prominently on the cover; post the cover

20. SIT ON A PORCH SWING
😎 Read a book set in a location beginning with a letter in PORCH; tell us where OR a book told from at least two different points of view – Human Acts by Han Kang

21. GATHER SEASHELLS AND BUILD A SANDCASTLE
🏰 Read a book set in a beach town; tell us where OR a book with a castle or seashell/s shown prominently on the cover; post the cover

22. CREATE SIDEWALK ART
🎨 Read a book with a cover that looks cartoon-ish; post the cover OR a book with a compound word in the title – Hot in Handcuffs by Sylvia Day, Shayla Black & Shiloh Walker

23. GO STARGAZING
🌟 Read a book with a starry night sky shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a verb ending in ING in the title – Artemis by Andy Weir

24. ENJOY A STREET FAIR
🧸 Read a book in which a character owns/drives or purchases from a food truck OR a book set in a small town, real or fictional; tell us the town – A Slice of Heaven by Sherryl Woods (Serenity)

25. GO SWIMMING
👙 Read a book with a word in the title that begins with SW OR a book with a body of water in which you could swim shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

26. OBSERVE A THUNDERSTORM
⛈ Read a book with a 7 in its original year of publication; tell us the year OR a book with lightning shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance (2007)

27. TAKE A VACATION
✈ Read a book in which a character takes a vacation; tell us where s/he went OR a book set in a location where you would like to vacation; tell us where – A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands (Canada)

28. TOSS WATER BALLOONS
💦 Read a book with a child shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a major character who is under 12 years old; tell us the character and the age – Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr

Duration: 1st July – 31st July 2020
Number of books: 7
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

According to Wikipedia, ice cream is “a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavors. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners.” To me, it doesn’t matter what it’s made of, or whether it’s served in a bowl or a cone; all that matters is the taste! To put a twist on a popular saying, it’s always ice cream o’clock somewhere 🙂

Let’s kick off the summer with this challenge based on some of the best-selling ice cream flavors in the world, listed here in alphabetical order.

CHALLENGE RULES :
See this thread for more detailed rules for all CCC challenges.

♦ If you want to participate in this challenge, please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link above for rules regarding graphic novels. Please remember that ONLY graphic novels can be combined.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book. You must read at least half of the book AFTER the challenge begins in order to count it for this challenge.

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover or specific author initials or name/s, you must include a link to the book cover and/or author’s name, respectively. To avoid spoiling a book for other readers, please use spoiler tags, if necessary, when explaining your book choices.*
    * For help with posting spoiler tags, see this post: Spoiler tags
    * If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author

♦ When you complete the challenge, please copy and paste your entire list as a new message at the end of the challenge thread. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your links and formatting. If you don’t repost your list, with appropriate links, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge. Please do NOT simply post a link back to your original post.

THE TASKS

1. BUTTER PECAN
A good butter pecan ice cream is chock full of pecan halves. The rich buttery ice cream enhances the somewhat soft crunch of the pecans, making it a perennial favorite flavor in ice cream shops and stands.
🍨 Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in BUTTERPECAN; post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book with a 6-letter word in its title – The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

2. CHOCOLATE
It shouldn’t be a surprise that chocolate ice cream lands on this list. It is thought to have originated in Naples, Italy around 1692. Hot chocolate was transformed into a solidified treat in 17th-century Europe, but didn’t make its way to America until well into the late 19th century.
🍦 Read a book with something chocolate shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title begins with a letter in CHOCOLATE (disregard A, An and The) – Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

3. COOKIES AND CREAM
Thought to have been introduced by burger joints and shake counters, cookies and cream ice cream has become a favorite flavor. Crushed cookies, usually Oreos, blended with vanilla ice cream combine to give us what many think is the best of both worlds – smooth ice cream and chunky cookies in one tasty dish.
🍨 Read a book with the word “AND” in the title OR a book set in a location beginning with a letter in OREOS; tell us the location – Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods (Serenity)

4. MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP
Another combination that many feel can’t go wrong is mint chocolate chip ice cream. While most mint chocolate chip ice cream is light green with a wintergreen flavor, there is also a white version, which is usually peppermint flavored and tends to have larger chunks of chocolate.
🍦 Read a book whose title contains a color word OR a book with a cover that is predominantly mint green; post the cover (color swatch) – Artemis by Andy Weir

5. NEAPOLITAN
If you are of a certain age, you may remember getting paper-wrapped slices of Neapolitan ice cream for dessert with your school lunch or at community potluck dinners. Initially made in the late 19th century, Neapolitan ice cream consists of strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ice cream ‘slabs’ next to one another. Some brands, however, swirl the three flavors together.
🍨 Read a book set in the late 19th century (1850-1899); tell us when OR a book with a main character whose first name begins with a letter in NEAPOLITAN; tell us the name – What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (Olivia)

6. STRAWBERRY
Refreshing, sweet, and summery strawberry ice cream goes back to 1813, when it was served at the second inauguration of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. This pink dessert sometimes has chunks of strawberries mixed into the cream, or even swirls of strawberry jam.
🍦 Read a book with a fruit in the title or shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book in which a president or other leader of a country plays a role (can be a real or fictional character); tell us the character and the role played – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (pretty much all of them)

7. VANILLA
The #1 best-seller on almost every list of popular ice cream flavors is vanilla, possibly due to all the children who haven’t yet developed an adventurous palate. It is thought to have been created in Asia in the 14th century. The custom of making frozen desserts spread from the East to Europe when Moors and Arabs headed to Spain and refrigeration became common.
🍨 Read a book set in Asia (use this list) OR a book that has reached the #1 position of a best-seller or most-popular list; post a link to the list and tell us the date it was posted/printed – Human Acts by Han Kang