Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

* Team Captain

Debbie (Doc)
Katherine
Mariana
Ezinwanyi
* Grace
Armi
Sassafrass

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Definitely let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.

2. Pick a Team Captain. The team captain will track the books read by the team and double-check that your book selection complies with the rules - eg make sure that the selection and completion posts are as per the formatting and information requested below (msg 3).

Anyone is free to ask questions in the Q&A/Announcement thread - here. If you are unsure, please ask.

Once a Captain has been decided, the Team Captain should reserve a couple of posts in this thread to track their team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert one of their chat comments to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. This is not mandatory, but it is fun. Given we are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)

Please PM your name to Jane(PS) by 9 September.

4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2.

5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies including links to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!

* please don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full in that post.

You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.

I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply with the format rules of the challenge.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you expect to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation.

7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.

8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.

9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)

10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A/Announcement thread. The full list of themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.


The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.


For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

I'll be tracking each team's progress separately, using the Captain's summary in each team's thread to check for accuracy.

A summary chart will be posted in the last week to let teams know their progress against other teams :)

Hi from Kennesaw, GA! I love this challenge and am looking forward to starting! I won't be on here much today so I wanted to drop in early this morning. I do see some familiar "faces"! I would prefer not to be captain but will be more than glad to help if needed.

Hi I am from Lithuania. this is second time in this challenge and I loved it first time. i don't want to be captain. :D

All my peeps! Katherine, Debbie, Armi, Saasfrass, Grace ---Hey!!!
Mariana, we haven't met, but Hey!
I'm in Dallas, Tx, originally from Chicago, Illinois.

Week 1
Option 1: Artistic/Creative Romance
Option 2 key date: 6 March 2015

Week 2
Option 1: 3. Bookcover - No people on the cover
Option 2 key date: 13 March 2015

Week 3
Option 1: MC is a professional sportsman/woman
Option 2 key date: 20 March 2015

Week 4
Option 1: Main page genre 'comedy', 'humor' or 'funny' (must be on the main page)
Option 2 key date: 27 March 2015

Hey team! I'm from Pennsylvania, United States so I'm in the EST time zone.

I've done every pass the parcel challenge since the first one! I love this game, it's a ton of fun. I would offer to be captain, but I am studying for my licensing boards, so the extra time of keeping up on everyone's stuff may be a bit much, so I'm glad that Grace is offering if there is no one else who really wants to do it.

As far as team names:

Lucky 7
Seventh Heaven

I'll try to think of some more

Seven Year Itch
Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Wonders of the World
Seven Dwarfs
Seven and Seven
007

Okay those are the seven phrases I can think of at this point. LOL

i like the "Deadly Seven" instead of Deadly sins

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "i like the "Deadly Seven" instead of Deadly sins"

oooh, that's good

Mariana wrote: "Hi. My name is Mariana and I'm from Romania. I like to read all kind of genre, my favorite is historical romance, but I recently found my love for MM. This is my third time participating in this ch..."

HR is my first love too, and I am 2 yrs into my discovery of m-m books

Grace, i can help you as I appreciate you stepping up to be captain

Selection Post

Week 1
Debbie: The Duke of Shadows
Katherine: The Unidentified Redhead
Mariana: Now You See Her
Ezinwanyi: Unsaid
Grace: Faith & Fidelity
Armi: Dance With Me
Sassafrass: Lead

Week 2
Debbie: Born in Ice
Katherine: Red Queen
Mariana: Ugly Love
Ezinwanyi: Gus
Grace: Craving Beauty
Armi: On the Clock
Sassafrass: Crash & Burn

Week 3
Debbie: Double Play
Katherine: Alex
Mariana: The Friend Zone
Ezinwanyi: Him
Grace: Game For Love
Armi: Play On
Sassafrass: The Deal

Week 4
Debbie: The Scam
Katherine: Sustained
Mariana: Beautiful Secret
Ezinwanyi: One Foot in the Grave
Grace: Doctor's Delight
Armi: Groomzilla
Sassafrass: Sweet Addiction

Week 5
Debbie: The Bourbon Kings
Katherine: The Bourbon Kings
Mariana: Fall from India Place
Ezinwanyi: Take This Regret
Grace: At Love's Command
Armi: One Real Thing
Sassafrass: Stepbrother Dearest

Week 6
Debbie: Scarlet
Katherine: Until Jax
Mariana: Seducing Cinderella
Ezinwanyi: Slumber
Grace: Destined for an Early Grave
Armi: Cinder
Sassafrass: Magic Shifts

Week 7
Debbie: Saddled and Spurred
Katherine: Silver Borne
Mariana: The Siren and the Sword
Ezinwanyi: Surviving Ice
Grace: Sharp Change
Armi: Seventh Grave and No Body
Sassafrass: Suddenly One Summer

Week 8
Debbie: He's So Fine
Katherine: Holidays Are Hell
Mariana: Blue-Eyed Devil
Ezinwanyi: Never Never
Grace: Slave to Sensation
Armi: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
Sassafrass: Can't Shake You

Week 9
Debbie: Feral Sins
Katherine: Fifty Shades Freed
Mariana: Love Only Once
Ezinwanyi: The Marriage Bargain
Grace: Pass
Armi: Wethering the Storm
Sassafrass: Sweet Home

Week 10
Debbie: One in a Million
Katherine: Reckless
Mariana: The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie
Ezinwanyi: Thoughtful
Grace: Caressed by Ice
Armi: Pass
Sassafrass: If You Were Mine

Week 11
Debbie: Cut & Run
Katherine: Tempting the Bodyguard
Mariana: Crashing the Net
Ezinwanyi: Perfect Imperfections
Grace: Long Time Gone
Armi: What Happens at Christmas
Sassafrass: Let Me Be the One

Completion Post

Week 1
Debbie: Finished-9/11
Katherine: Finished-9/17
Mariana: Finished-9/17
Ezinwanyi: Finished-9/12
Grace: Finished-9/17
Armi: Finished 9/18
Sassafrass: Finished 9/11

Week 2
Debbie: Finished 9/24
Katherine: Finished 9/23
Mariana: Finished 9/20
Ezinwanyi: Finished 9/22
Grace: Finshed 9/23
Armi: Finished 9/20
Sassafrass: Finished-9/29

Week 3
Debbie: Finished-9/30
Katherine: Finished-9/29
Mariana: Finished-9/31
Ezinwanyi: Finished-9/30
Grace: Finished-10/1
Armi: Finished 9/27
Sassafrass: Finished 9/28

Week 4
Debbie: Finished-10/7
Katherine: Finished-10/6
Mariana: Finished-10/3
Ezinwanyi: Finished-10/5
Grace: Finished-10/5
Armi: Finished-10/16
Sassafrass: Finished-10/2

Week 5
Debbie: Finished-10/12
Katherine: Finished-10/12
Mariana: Finished-10/17
Ezinwanyi: Finished-10/10
Grace: Finished-10/15
Armi: Finished-10/14
Sassafrass: Finished-10/10

Week 6
Debbie: Finished-10/20
Katherine: Finished-10/20
Mariana: Finished-10/17
Ezinwanyi: Finished-10/19
Grace: Finished 11/12
Armi: Finished-10/18
Sassafrass: Finished-10/18

Week 7
Debbie: Finished 10/29
Katherine: Finished 10/28
Mariana: Finished-10/25
Ezinwanyi: Finished 11/2
Grace: Finished-10/25
Armi: Finished 11/2
Sassafrass: Finished-10/24

Week 8
Debbie: Finished 11/5
Katherine: Finished 11/1
Mariana: Finished 10/11
Ezinwanyi: Finished 11/5
Grace: Finished 11/5
Armi: Finished 11/2
Sassafrass: Finished 10/31

Week 9
Debbie: Finished 11/12
Katherine: Finished 11/14
Mariana: Finished 11/17
Ezinwanyi: Finished 11/13
Grace: Pass
Armi: Finished 11/7
Sassafrass: Finished 11/12

Week 10
Debbie: Finished 11/19
Katherine: Finished 11/17
Mariana: Finished 10/16
Ezinwanyi: Finished 11/20
Grace: Finished 11/19
Armi: Pass
Sassafrass: Finished 11/15

Week 11
Debbie: Finished 11/21
Katherine: Finished 11/21
Mariana: Finished 11/21
Ezinwanyi: Finished-
Grace: Finished 11/20
Armi: Finished 11/21
Sassafrass: Finished 11/21

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Hi. My name is Mariana and I'm from Romania. I like to read all kind of genre, my favorite is historical romance, but I recently found my love for MM. This is my third time particip..."

When I first started reading romance, I started exclusively with historical romance. I'm not quite sure why I only read HR, but I eventually branched out. I'll pretty much try any genre now.

Mariana wrote: "I vote for Deadly Seven."

I like it too!

Looks like we have a name:D

I can help with posting the theme.
I read HR books because you could get 5 for $1 at garage sales. They were cheap and quick reads

Sounds like we have a name and captain. We are ready to get started!

I'll PM Jane with the info.

competition starts tomorrow, right?

I'm assuming it does. The sign up post it says it starts the 10th.

Sassafrass's Running Tally of Books read for the challenge (personal)


Week 1: Lead 9/17/15
Week 2: Crash & Burn 9/29/15
Week 3: The Deal 9/28/15
Week 4: Sweet Addiction 10/2/15
Week 5: Stepbrother Dearest 10/10/15
Week 6: Magic Shifts 10/18/15
Week 7: Suddenly One Summer 10/24/15
Week 8: Can't Shake You 10/31/15
Week 9: Sweet Home 11/12/15
Week 10: If You Were Mine 11/15/15
Week 11: Let Me Be the One 11/21/15

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
Option 1
Lead
320 pages/GR
How it Fits: #32 on the Musically Inclined Heroes/Heroines In Romance

Week #1: Artist/Creative Romance
Option 1


Page numbers - 276 p.
How the book qualifies - #19 "Romance with Actors/Actresses/Acting"

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
OPTION 1

Book: Unsaid by Avery Aster
Page Number: 528 pages
Qualification: #19 on the Best Gay Romance with Artists

Week #1: Artist/Creative Romance, Option 1

Book: Now You See Her by Linda Howard
Page numbers 362 pages GR
How the book qualifies - #71 Artistic Creative Romance Heroes Heroines

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
OPTION 1


Book: The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
Page Number: 371 pages
Qualification: #3 on the Artistic Creative Romance Heroes Heroines

Week 1
Option 2


Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels
Page Numbers: 228 pgs per GR

Based upon Ezi reading Truth & Tenderness 5/5/15 ★★★

Grace wrote: "Week 1
Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels

Based upon Ezi reading Truth & Tenderness..."

I LOVED Faith and Fidelity---don't do the audio, please. Narrator was really bad

Armi wrote: "Week 1


Dance With Me
282 pp. (GR/Amazon)
#2 on Best Gay Romance with Artists"

don't you love this new cover???

COMPLETION POST

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
OPTION 1

Book: Unsaid by Avery Aster
Page Number: 528 pages
Qualification: #19 on the Best Gay Romance with Artists
Read: 9/11
Rating and Review:★★★. I jumped into a book 3 without reading the prior books. Big mistake. I'm normally OCD about reading in order but the author said it could be read as a standalone (no it cannot!)

I found the book entertaining and I chuckled at times. It's a bit sex in the city-ish. It was written like a soap opera so there were other minor story lines continued from prior books. The main focus in third installment was Miguel and Blake.

Miguel has had a crush on his best friend Blake for over 9 years. When Blake gets a divorce, Miguel sees an opportunity. Blake's last years of marriage wasn't sexually fulfilling, so Newly single Blake makes a list of Seven Sexual Desires (fantasies) he would like to see fulfilled so their meddling friends set it up so that Miguel can help Blake experience his fantasies. Will this week of getting their freak on finally open Blake's eyes and heart?

I didn't like Blake much because he was just shallow at first. I refuse to believe he didn't know how Miguel felt. Everyone else knew and their little crew couldn't keep a secret if their lives depended on it. Blake was just about the outward apperance, that's why he ended up with a bad marriage. Miguel, well, he didn't fight for what he wanted so he didn't get it. But I like the fact that Miguel used the 7 desires to address his seven needs.

There was a bit too much of sex in this book, but there was enough of a plot for me to like it.

Wow, you are fast. Great review! I just started my book. I love Linda Howard books.

Mariana wrote: "Wow, you are fast. Great review! I just started my book. I love Linda Howard books."

Thanks. I've never tried Linda Howard. Is she romance?

More romantic suspense. This is paranormal too.

Mariana wrote: "More romantic suspense. This is paranormal too."

Ok. Thanks.

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Wow, you are fast. Great review! I just started my book. I love Linda Howard books."

Thanks. I've never tried Linda Howard. Is she romance?"

Linda Howard is one of the only contemporary m/f writers that I'll willing read. She has good balance in her H/hs. I don't think I've struck a stupid h in the few books I've read :D

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "Armi wrote: "Week 1


Dance With Me
282 pp. (GR/Amazon)
#2 on Best Gay Romance with Artists"

don't you love this new cover???"

I hadn't seen this before since I read the book years ago - but it really is great!

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
OPTION 1


Book: The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
Page Number: 371 pages
Qualification: #3 on the Artistic Creative Romance Heroes Heroines
Read 9/12
Rating and Review: ★★★

I really enjoyed this book especially the first half which took place in India. This is not your typical historical fiction. Emmaline and her parents were making the long trek from England to India so that Emmaline could marry her lifelong fiancé. Tragedy struck and all passengers, with the exception of Emmaline went down with the ship. At a young and vulnerable age, Emma was alone in the world. Emma was rescued by men and taken to her fiancé.

Unfortunately, the citizens of Dubai did not receive Emma, because they assumed that she was now “tainted”. There was immediate tension between Emma and her fiancé.

The hero of this story is not Emma’s fiancé but his cousin Julian, who is half Indian and heir to an English Duke. Knowing that an uprising is in the works, Julian helps Emma escape. This book is raw and often intense. The writing is well prepared and the characters appear real.

I did have some issues with some scenes that just didn’t make sense. There were also parts in the book that were very slow. I did love all of the detail, especially in describing India and the culture. I will definitely check out more book written by Ms. Duran.

Week #1: Artist/Creative Romance
Option 1


Page numbers - 276 p.
How the book qualifies - #19 "Romance with Actors/Actresses/Acting"

Finished: 2015/9/15
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
The story is cute and sweet. But I didn’t found anything funny about this book, yeah there were moments that made me smile, but I wouldn’t call it a humor novel.

The main character, Grace is thirty three years old and she wants to be an actress. Once, when she was younger, she moved to L.A. There she tried to make her dreams come true, but no one has gived her a chance to succeed.

After some time she comes back to Hollywood to try again and there she meets Jack. Jack is twenty four year old actor. He is new in Show Business and because of the main roll he has in the movie Time, he can become someone great actor.

Week #1, Option 1

Book: Now You See Her by Linda Howard
Rating: 3.5 stars, finished 17/09/2015
Review:
This story is about Paris, she is a painter who has a unique ability and Richard a millionaire who is in the middle of a messy divorce. And their lives collide.
I like Linda Howard, her books have the perfect combination between romance, suspense and in this case paranormal. I really liked her paranormal scenes, the crime plot was developed. I loved the New York setting, it made my reading experience better. I didn't like the romance between Paris and Richard, it was so quick and I just didn't felt the connection between them.

Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
Lead
320 pages/GR
How it Fits: #32 on the Musically Inclined Heroes/Heroines In Romance
Completed: 9/17/15
Rating: *4 STARS*

I was NOT looking forward to Jimmy's story but Kylie Scott really made me like him. In the first two books, he just seemed like a supreme douche but LEAD brought out his character.

And Lena's character was really good. I liked her sense of humor. And I love the way she was able to handle Jimmy.

What I didn't like was how quickly this was all wrapped up. Considering the huge amount of lead up to Jimmy and Lena's HEA, I really felt like their ending deserved more.

But, I still enjoyed every second of reading this story. I'm not sure how no one could see what was going on with Ben and Ann's sister. I can't to see what's going to happen in his story.

when is the new one announced?

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "when is the new one announced?"

Friday

Sassafrass wrote: "Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "when is the new one announced?"

Friday"

AHHHH!. I guess I am early :D
Thanks Sassafrass

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "Sassafrass wrote: "Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "when is the new one announced?"

Friday"

AHHHH!. I guess I am early :D
Thanks Sassafrass"


LOL, that first week is always really long because we start early. So, it's extra tortuous waiting for the next call. ;)

Hi Grace, I don't to bother you but maybe you should write a date when the books are read or below the week and all the names a covers of book that are read. Or something. :)

Week 1
Faith & Fidelity
Rating: ★★★★

I'm not sure why I kept putting off reading this book, but I'm glad I finally did. I think I was a little reluctant because of the heavy story line,I usually gravitate to lighter reads, but it was just the right amount of emotional angst. I really ended up enjoying the story. I LOVED the first half of the book. I loved how Matt and Evan slowly developed a friendship before jumping in a relationship and it was just perfect.
The second half is were I did have a few problems. (view spoiler)[ I was really annoyed by Evan's panic attack and how he broke up with Matt. I'm also not a fan of reading about MCs sleeping with other people. It's one of my least favorite things to read. I understand why the author did it, but I still hate it. Maybe if it was truly a one night stand, and not used to introduce the hero of the next book, I wouldn't have minded it so much. I also wish Evan groveled more but I'll survive. (hide spoiler)] Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Sassafrass wrote: "Week 1: Artist/Creative Romance
Lead
320 pages/GR
How it Fits: #32 on the Musically Inclined Heroes/Heroines In Romance
Completed: 9/17/15
Rating: *4 STAR..."

I feel the same way about Jimmy. I actually skipped his book and went straight to the fourth one because I hated him in the first two books. I guess I should give it a try.