Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Thanks Jane.

Updated April Challenge

My April Challenge
1. A Name book: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen(The Luxe series book 1) 4/1 - 4/3
2. April B-Day: Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips( From Tasha’s Favorites) 4/25-4/27
3.California : Freshman by Michael Gerber(author is from California)
4. Oldest: Boy Toy by Barry Lyga (I had to pick number 8 because that was one of the first that I added that is on the shelves and since I added most of my books at the same time.) 4/9-4/14
5.One Word: Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn(Sisters Of The Moon Book 1)
6.Funny: Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson (Book 1 in Katie Chandler Series)
7. War Background: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Book 1 in Black Dagger Brotherhood) 4/3-4/6
8. Male Profile: Never Dare A Duke By Gayle Callen (Book 2 in Sons of Scandal Series) 4/7- 4/9
9.Series Book: Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (House of Night Series Book 1)
10.Reader’s Choice: Second Sight by Amanda Quick (Arcane Society Series Book 1)

changed bday book

This was not a good month. i only got 5 done maybe next month ill do more. :)

April 27 Update:

Nichole - 6 books done
Kasia - 7 books done
Lori - 9 books done
Annvelwis - 9 books done
Courtney - 7 books done
Briansgirl - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Shazzy - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Barbara - 10 books done - Complete! - Congratulations!
Mel - 6 books done
Tasha
Yz - 6 books done
Lara - 8 books done
Christel
Stephanie - 6 books done
Shyloh - 5 books done
Susan
Jane - 8 books done
Melody - 7 books done
Anna - 5 books done
Jenny
Annie - 10 books done - Complete! - Congratulations!
DarkHeart - 6 books done
Nikki - 8 books done
Danielle - 4 books done
tosca - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Chelsea - 7 books done
Amanda - 6 books done
LibraryLass - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Kenjii - 5 books done
JenMcJ - 4 books done
IsisFG - 2 books done
Jael - 5 books done
Julie(Mom2lnb) - 4 books done
Glori - 8 books done
Shanon - 6 books done

The following had signed up since the last update:
Kristen - 8 books done

Group's running total: 222 books read.

Also 6 participants have completed all 10 categories.

Signing up will remain open throughout the whole month.

Also, if you haven't done it yet, feel free to add your completed books to our group bookshelf.

Note: For ease of tracking, please repost your official list with your progress after every update. Striking out the title and/or a finished date after the book's name will be best.

Final update will be May 1. Challenge closes midnight of April 30.

Update 28 April: 8 books down 2 more to go! Almost there. I really struggled to finish Dark Prince so it's put me behind.

1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A".
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Sarah's Shelf)

3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California.
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan (author lives in California)

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf.
Everlost by Neal Shusterman

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title.
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny".
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop.
March by Geraldine Brooks

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover.
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

9. Read a book that is part of a series
Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder (Study Series book 3)

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
Pick-It-For-Me Challenge: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Mel did you like the Poison/Magic/Fire Study books? I have them TBR. I got the first as a review book and bought the other two.

Briansgirl: I LOVED Poison Study. I highly recommend it. After Poison Study the series starts to loose steam. They were ok. Not mind blowing.

I'm with Mel on this, Poison Study was great, the rest decent. Go for it Brainsgirl.

Completed.

1. A...........................Private Party - Jami Alden
2. B-Day....................Romeo, Romeo - Robin Kaye (Tasha's currently reading)
3. California..............How to Knit a Wild Bikini - Christie Ridgway
4. Oldest TBR book...Bride of a Wicked Scotsman - Samantha James
5. Single Word...........alternateJacob, Jaquelyn Frank
6. Funny....................Sex & the Immortal Bad Boy - Stephanie Rowe
7. War.......................alternate Magic in the Wind, Christine Feehan
8. Male Profile..........Wicked Pleasure - Lora Leigh
9. Part of Series.........Loose and Easy - Tara Janzen (Steele Street, Book 9)
10. Pick-It-For-Me....One Bite With A Stranger - Christine Warren (tosca's recommendation)

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Woot!! Melody! Woot!! (that's me cheering)

Doing great this month, Melody. Congratulations!

Congratulations on completing the challenge Melody !

Kasia wrote: "I'm with Mel on this, Poison Study was great, the rest decent. Go for it Brainsgirl."

Thanks Kasia and Mel. I've added it to my May challenge list as a book from the group bookshelves. I like magic books (although I don't read much of them, lol) so figured I'd like the second one in the series. Not sure about the third though, although after getting the first one, Poison Study as a harlequin review book free, I decided to buy the other two and read all 3. Poison Study sounded really good when I read the blurb about it, even if it is a YA book. (Signed my son up for the tell harlequin teen panel.)

well done Melody. With 10 books and only a month to read I find this the hardest challenge.

Finished for April's Challenge: 7


1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A".
--- Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews 4/10/09

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
--- Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk - from… um… mine :)

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title. (Ex. Bitten, Decadent, Addicted, etc.)
--- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 4/20/09

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny" . (You know, April's Fools and all..LOL)
--- A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck I'm reading this with my 10 year old & the Grandma is so funny!

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop.
--- BDB 3 - Lover Awakened by JR Ward 4/4/09

9. Read a book that is part of a series. (Don't forget to name the series and what Book number it is.)
--- Mercy 3 - Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs 4/25/09

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
--- La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock 4/16/09


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well done Shanon

Thanks!

One left, but I'm not sure I'll get to it...

1. May Bird and the Ever After Book One by Jodi Lynn Anderson

2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Sarah)

3. The Bad Beginning Author from CA.

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf. Valiant A Modern Tale of Faerie

5. Wintersmith

6. Bone Volume 1 Out From Boneville

7. Come in from the Cold

8. City of Glass

9. Fragile Eternity- Wicked Lovely series, book 3

10. I Capture the Castle

I'm getting close to done myself, but I don't see myself finishing it on time. Shame really.
April (9 so far: )


1. A...........................Magic Strikes (Andrews, Ilona)
2. B-Day....................Kissing Sin (Sarah's TBR)
3. California..............Little Brother
4. Oldest TBR book...Cloud of Sparrows
5. Single Word...........Stray
6. Funny....................Zodiac
7. War.......................The History of Love
8. Male Profile..........Power of One
9. Part of Series.........Curse the Dawn (Cassie Palmer, Book 4)
10. Pick-It-For-Me....Dark Lover (Yz recommended it, thanks Yz)

Thanks all. :O)
(I did have to rework my list and fudge a category to get them all done on time though...)

I am done:
1.A………………… Taken, Anya Bast
2. B-Day…………… Blackpoint, AJ Llewellyn
3. California………… The White Knight, Josh Lanyon
4. Oldest TBR ……… Survival, Jade Falconer
5. Single Word …… Allergies, TA Chase
6. Funny…………… Accidentally Human, Dakota Cassidy
7. War. ……………… Mitch, Dakota Rebel
8. Male Profile…… Love Jamie, AKM Miles (DNF -but I really tried)
9. Part Series….…Fallen Star, Interstellar Service & Discipline 2, Morgan Hawke
10.Choice:......…Soft Focus, Reno MacLeod & Jaye Valentine.

Woot! JenMcJ!!

Not going to complete all 10 books this month, as I'm not in the mood to pick up any of the ones left on my list at the moment, so I've jumped back into the Wicked Lovely series. I'm happy with six though. =)

1. Author's first or last name starts with "A". The Nymphos of Rocky Flats – Mario Acevedo 09 Apr ***
2. Picked from Sarah's shelf. The Summoning – Kelley Armstrong 19 Apr *****
3. Setting is California. Red-Headed Stepchild - Jaye Wells 05 Apr *****
5. "One word" for its title. Stray – Rachel Vincent 12 Apr *****
7. Some kind of WAR as a backdrop. Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr 08 Apr *****
9. Part of a series. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7) - J.R. Ward 25 Apr *****

I'll take 6, as long as you're happy with it, that is.

Gosh dang it, I'm so close!
I'll finish the Perks of Being a Wallflower today - I'm doing the audiobook and it's pretty short. I'll start reading Lover Eternal tonight, but I don't have high hopes of finishing it in time. And poor Stephen Colbert... I'm just not gonna get to you this month!

1. Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur *4/15
2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, from Jayne's shelf *4/24
3. Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh *4/25
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky *4/29
5. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong *4/21
6. I Am America And So Can You by Stephen Colbert
7. Lover Eternal by JR Ward
8. The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter *4/18
9. Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione; Demonica series, book 2 *4/28
10. Soul Mates: Bound by Blood by Jourdan Lane *4/17

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Only completed 8 this time, but I am vey happy with that considering I've been working 14 hours a day Mon-Fri and 6 hours on Sat !
1. Emma - Jane Austen(audio book) - 25/04/09
2. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris(Sarah's Shelf) - 27/04/09
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini - 02/04/09
4. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens 16/04/09
5. Inkheart - Cornelia Funke 22/04/09
8. Once Upon A Valentine's - Holly Jacobs 01/04/09
9. Cutwork - Monica Ferris 04/04/09
10. The Tenth Circle - Jodi Picoult 16/04/09

Completed 8/10 for this challenge

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That is really quite an accomplishment Jane!

Nichole - yes you're close, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but even if you don't finish - it won't be the end of the world...

Kasia wrote: "Nichole - yes you're close, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but even if you don't finish - it won't be the end of the world...
"

Thanks, Kasia!
I know I won't finish, but I'll get 8/10, which isn't shabby! I really wanted to finish, but I'm satisfied with 8. It's been kind of a crazy month.

8 is still a lot, and I've been told that there are other things to do than reading. Apparently there's work and family time and it's nice outside... or so I've heard.

But seriously dread not, as you said, it's not shabby!

Kasia wrote: "That is really quite an accomplishment Jane"

Thanks Kasia I am really pleased with it. Plus I did manage to read APRIL too.

I finished!

City of Glass was over 500 pages but it was a pretty quick read. I highly recommend this series if you haven't read it yet.

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1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A" - Nicholas by Elizabeth Amber
2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. - Daughters of Terra by Theolyn Boese (Tasha's Shelf)
3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California - Drawn Together by Z.A. Maxfield (Long Beach, CA)
4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf - City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title - Stolen by Kelly Armstrong
6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny" - Gym Dandy by Storm Grant
7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop - Dark Defender by Alexis Morgan (As a Paladin warrior, Blake Trahern fights and dies again and again to keep mankind safe from the Others)
8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover - Raine by Elizabeth Amber

9. Read a book that is part of a series - Soul Mates Sacrifice by Jourdan Lane (Soul Mates Series #3)
10. Reader's Choice - Soul Mates Secrets by Jourdan Lane

Other books read:
Nicholas by Elizabeth Amber
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
Soul Mates Deceptions by by Jourdan Lane
Mona Lisa Craving A Novel of the Monere by Sunny
Stolen by Kelly Armstrong
At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost
Full Moon Rising by Keri Author
Gemini by Chris Owen
Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Lori wrote: "I finished!

City of Glass was over 500 pages but it was a pretty quick read. I highly recommend this series if you haven't read it yet. "

I bought City of Bones because it's so pretty, and have it sitting in my room waiting for me, but I already have too many books to read next month. My TBR is so overwhelming.... I want to read every good book and I want to do it now!

Update 30 April: Hoorah I finished!!!

1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A".
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Sarah's Shelf)

3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California.
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan (author lives in California)

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf.
Everlost by Neal Shusterman

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title.
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny".
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop.
March by Geraldine Brooks

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover.
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

9. Read a book that is part of a series
Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder (Study Series book 3)

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
Pick-It-For-Me Challenge: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Mel, Lori - you rock!

Thanks! I really enjoyed the challenge.

Kasia wrote: "Mel, Lori - you rock!"

Thanks Kasia. I just love these challenges!

Way to go, Mel and Lori.

Updated Challenge list: April 30

10 out of 10 completed. :-) The challenge was so much fun.


1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A".
Checkmate Annmarie McKenna 04/14

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
From Tasha's bookshelf:
Go Fetch Magnus Pack 2 Shelly Laurenston 04/13

3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California. (Suggestions for this category is welcome on the Suggestions and Discussion thread.)
Magic in the Wind Drake Sisters 1 Christine Feehan 04/17

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf. (How to do this? Go to your TBR shelf and click on Date added to sort it. Pick the book that is rank 1.)
Howl at the Moon The Others Book 4 Christine Warren 004/31

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title. (Ex. Bitten, Decadent, Addicted, etc.)
Firebird Jaycee Clark 04/16

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny" . (You know, April's Fools and all..LOL)
About a Dragon G A Aiken 04/01

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop. (Could be realistic like World War I, etc or imaginary like the Brotherhood against Lessers..as long as you can justify it..LOL)
The Immortal Hunter Lynsay Sands 04/08
Immortals versus rogue vampires

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover. (Be sure to post the cover. Let's see if its drool-worthy..LOL)
Passion Unleashed Larissa Ione 04/03

I know there is a woman in the cover, but the male model has an amazing chest and the arm tattoo is hot. ;-)



9. Read a book that is part of a series. (Don't forget to name the series and what Book number it is.)
You're so Vein (The Others, Book 7) 04/11

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
Black Ice Ice Series Book 1 Anne Stuart 04/30

Update 4/30

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood (Sarah's shelf) (4/16)

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny". (You know, April's Fools and all..LOL)
Tonight or Never by Dara Joy (4/29)

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop. (Could be realistic like World War I, etc or imaginary like the Brotherhood against Lessers..as long as you can justify it..LOL)
Two Suns in the Sky by Miriam Bat-Ami (4/21)

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover. (Be sure to post the cover. Let's see if its drool-worthy..LOL)
Elizabeth's Wolf by Lora Leigh (4/7)


10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
Lucifer and Lacious by Sean Vincent Lehosit (4/24)

Completed 5/10


That will do it for me this month. This was really fun for my first challenge, and 5 books was a good showing for me.:-)

Well done Julie!

FINAL UPDATE

1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A".
The Stepmother by Carrie Adams

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Sarah's shelf)

3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California.
Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf. (How to do this? Go to your TBR shelf and click on Date added to sort it. Pick the book that is rank 1.)
Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title. (Ex. Bitten, Decadent, Addicted, etc.)
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny" . (You know, April's Fools and all..LOL)
High Five by Janet Evanovich

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover. (Be sure to post the cover. Let's see if its drool-worthy..LOL)
Broken Wing by Judith James

9. Read a book that is part of a series. (Don't forget to name the series and what Book number it is.)
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione (Demonica #2)

10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Completed 7/10

This challenge was a lot of fun and I hope to do better next month.

Thanks LibraryLass!

1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "A". "In The Blood" by Adrian Phoenix"

2. Read a book picked from an April B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from. "The Devil's Due" by Jenna Black (my shelf. Income Tax Day, National Grievance Day, and now Tea Party Day baby)

3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from California. "Swallowing Darkness" (Meredith Gentry #7) by Laurell K. Hamilton. This series has continued to keep its high standard

4. Read the oldest book added to your Good Reads TBR shelf.

5. Read a book that has "one word" for its title.
"Micah" by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake). This series has deteriorated for awhile now, unfortunately. I keep hoping it will return to its original very good storyline

6. Read a book that you heard or think would be "funny". Turn Coat" by Jim Butcher. I love his sarcastic sense of humor

7. Read a book that has some kind of WAR as a backdrop. Lover Revealed" by J.R. Ward

8. Read a book that has a "male profile" on the cover. "Men of the Otherworld" by Kelly Armstrong

9. Read a book that is part of a series. (Don't forget to name the series and what Book number it is.)
"Lover Unbound" (Black Dagger Brotherhood #5. Great series

10. Reader's Choice: "Lover Eternal" by J.R. Ward

Good job guys! Glori - you have it all - yay!

Thanks Kasia! One of my friends thought it was hilarious that I was rushing after work to finish the last book before midnight.

APRIL RRR CHALLENGE LIST
1. "A" author: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

2. April B-day: Stray by Rachel Vincent (Tasha's shelf) finished 4/14

3. California: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I saw Jane's post that he is currently living in Northern California.)

4. TBR shelf: Wild Rain by Christine Feehan 4/29

5. One-Word Title : Tapestry(anthology) finished 4/10

6. "Funny" book: Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister finished 4/2

7. "War" Background: The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

8. Male Profile Cover: Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden (Midnight series Book 1) finished 4/8

9. Part of a Series: Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance (Cassie Palmer Series Book 2) 4/21

10. Pick-It-Me-Challenge Book: Causing Havoc by Lori Foster 4/22

Finished only 7 books for this challenge, although I did read 16 books for the month.

April Challenge is officially closed.

Final Update:

Nichole - 8 books done
Kasia - 9 books done
Lori - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Annvelwis - 9 books done
Courtney - 7 books done
Briansgirl - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Shazzy - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Barbara - 10 books done - Complete! - Congratulations!
Mel - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Tasha
Yz - 7 books done
Lara - 8 books done
Christel
Stephanie - 6 books done
Shyloh - 5 books done
Susan
Jane - 8 books done
Melody - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Anna - 5 books done
Jenny
Annie - 10 books done - Complete! - Congratulations!
DarkHeart - 6 books done
Nikki - 8 books done
Danielle - 4 books done
tosca - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Chelsea - 7 books done
Amanda - 7 books done
LibraryLass - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Kenjii - 5 books done
JenMcJ - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
IsisFG - 2 books done
Jael - 5 books done
Julie(Mom2lnb) - 5 books done
Glori - 10 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Shanon - 7 books done
Kristen - 9 books done

The following had signed up since the last update:
Laura - 9 books done

Group's final total: 256 books read.

Also 11 participants have completed all 10 categories.

If you haven't done it yet, feel free to add your completed books to our group bookshelf.

Great job, everyone!