Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Captain: Tammie
Nicole P
Nichole
Fran
Shannon (wckdktty)
Alexis

1. Introduce yourself to your team. 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. Team Captain - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. Using this round's theme of HUNTING, come up with a fun name. 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 8 March.

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*!

* 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.

Week 11

Completion:
✓Alexis 5/19
✓Fran 5/20
✓Nichole 5/19
✓Nicole P 5/20
✓Tammie 5/20

Selection-All Option 1 except Alexis
Alexis: Transformation, X. Aratare - Option 2
Fran: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, Leta Blake
Nichole: Among the Living, Jordan Castillo Price
Nicole P: Sticks & Stones, Abigail Roux
Tammie: Lean on Me, Cherise Sinclair

Round 2 Completion
Click on name to travel to Completion Post

Week 10:
✓ Alexis 5/18
✓ Fran 5/16
✓ Nichole 5/15
✓ Nicole P 5/14
Shannon
✓ Tammie 5/18

Week 9:
✓ Alexis 5/8
✓ Fran 5/8
✓ Nichole 5/9
✓ Nicole P 5/8
✓ Shannon 5/13
✓ Tammie 5/7

Week 8:
✓ Alexis 4/30
✓ Fran 5/2
✓ Nichole 5/6
✓ Nicole P 4/29
✓ Shannon 5/2
✓ Tammie 5/4

Week 7:
✓ Alexis 4/26
✓ Fran 4/24
✓ Nichole 4/23
✓ Nicole P 4/22
Shannon: Pass
✓ Tammie 4/26

Week 6:
✓ Alexis 4/13
✓ Fran 4/15
✓ Nichole 4/16
✓ Nicole P 4/15
✓ Shannon 4/23
✓ Tammie 4/26

Round 2 Selection Posts
Click on name to travel to selection post

Week 10:
Alexis: Nuts, Alice Clayton - Option 2
Fran: Out of Bounds, Lauren Blakely - Option 2
Nichole: Smut, Karina Halle - Option 2
Nicole P: Fatal Affair, Marie Force
Shannon:
Tammie: Feverborn, Karen Marie Moning - Option 2

Week 9:
Alexis: Stars & Stripes, Abigail Roux - Tammie recommend in post 246
Fran: Cupid Has a Heart-On, Tara Sivec - Option 2
Nichole: Neighbor Dearest, Penelope Ward - Fran recommended in post 245
Nicole P: The Hot One, Lauren Blakely - Nichole recommended in post 248
Shannon: Taming Natasha, Nora Roberts - Fran recommended in post 247
Tammie: Full Throttle, Erin McCarthy - Fran recommended in post 247

Week 8: All Option 1 except Nichole
Alexis: Wait for It, Mariana Zapata
Fran: Single Wolf Female, Jessica Sims
Nichole: The Curse of Tenth Grave, Darynda Jones, Option 2
Nicole P: Wild Man, Kristen Ashley
Shannon: Family Unit, Z.A. Maxfield
Tammie: Sawyer, Lori Foster

Week 7: All Option 1 except Fran
Alexis: Mister Moneybags, Vi Keeland
Fran: The Stocking was Hung, Tara Sivec, Option 2
Nichole: Full Package, Lauren Blakely
Nicole P: Anything You Can Do, R.S. Grey
Shannon: PASS
Tammie: Brighter Than the Sun, Maya Banks

Week 6: All Option 1
Alexis: Strong Side, Alison Hendricks
Fran: Ex Equals, L.A. Witt
Nichole: The Last Letter from Your Lover, Jojo Moyes
Nicole P: Fake Fiancée, Ilsa Madden-Mills
Shannon: Animal Attraction, Jill Shalvis
Tammie: Barely Breathing Pamela Clare

Round 1 Completion Posts:
Click on name to travel to selection post

Week 5:
✓ Alexis 4/8
✓ Fran 4/12
✓ Nichole 4/13
✓ Nicole P 4/11
✓ Shannon 4/12
✓ Tammie 4/13

Week 4:
✓ Alexis 4/1
✓ Fran 4/3
✓ Nichole 4/4
✓ Nicole P 4/3
✓ Shannon 4/8
✓ Tammie 4/3

Week 3:
✓ Alexis 3/29
✓ Fran 3/27
✓ Nichole 3/28
✓ Nicole P 3/25
✓ Shannon 3/27
✓ Tammie 4/2

Week 2:
✓ Alexis 3/20
✓ Fran 3/20
✓ Nichole 3/19
✓ Nicole P 3/20
✓ Shannon 3/23
✓ Tammie 3/19

Week 1:
✓ Alexis 3/12
✓ Fran 3/10
✓ Nichole 3/15
✓ Nicole P 3/12
✓ Shannon 3/12
✓ Tammie 3/11

Round 1 Selection Posts
Click on name to travel to selection post

Week 5: All Option 1 except Tammie
Alexis: Timing, Mary Calmes
Fran: Stripped Down, Lorelei James
Nichole: Stars & Stripes, Abigail Roux
Nicole P: Long Hard Ride, Lorelei James
Shannon: Long Hard Ride, Lorelei James
Tammie: First Grave on the Right, Darynda Jones, Option 2

Week 4: All Option 1
Alexis: Him, Sarina Bowen
Fran: His Purrfect Mate, Laurann Dohner
Nichole: How to Walk Like a Man, Eli Easton
Nicole P: His Alone, Alexa Riley
Shannon: Happy Endings, Chantel Rhondeau
Tammie: Holiday in Death, J.D. Robb

Week 3: All Option 1 except Nichole, Tammie
Alexis: Saving Grace, Julie Garwood
Fran: High-Powered, Hot-Blooded, Susan Mallery
Nichole: Egomaniac, Vi Keeland Option 2
Nicole P: Rock Hard, Nalini Singh
Shannon: Bear Necessities, Dana Marie Bell
Tammie: Shadow's Claim, Kresley Cole Option 2

Week 2: All Option 1
Alexis: Romancing the Duke, Tessa Dare
Fran: Thief, Ava March
Nichole: Dance with the Devil, Megan Derr
Nicole P: The Vixen and the Vet, Katy Regnery
Shannon: Beauty and the Beast, K.M. Shea
Tammie: Charming the Prince, Teresa Medeiros

Week 1: All Option 1
Alexis: Redemption Bay, RaeAnne Thayne
Fran: Caught, A.B. Gayle
Nichole: It Ends with Us, Colleen Hoover
Nicole P: First Grave on the Right, Darynda Jones
Shannon: The Obsession, Nora Roberts
Tammie: Shadow Music, Julie Garwood

Welcome Team!
I'm excited to get started...I've done this a few times, but this is my first time being Captain...feel free to crack the whip if I slack-off!

Let's spend these first few posts getting to know each other a bit! Then our first task is a team name...will need to banter around some fun ideas...theme is 'HUNTING'.

What is your favorite genre? Author?
Tell us a bit about yourself if you are comfortable...anything fun happening your your life this month?

I love romantic suspense. Suzanne Brockmann, Linda Howard, Iris Johansen, etc
I'm a Real Estate Agent...RealtorWorld is really picking up about now, but I'll do my best to check in at least once a day.
Doing a bit of travel...this month Spring Training-Phoenix...Cubs vs Angels

I Googled Hunting Names...because I have absolutely no personal creativity...
Amazing Racers
Book Scavengers
Finders Keepers

Hi Everyone!

I live in Oklahoma, married with a 40 year old boy (my husband). I've played every round except one, I believe. I love it and I'm so excited to get started :)

I read mostly Fantasy/Paranormal Romance with a bit of M/M, CR, UF and HR thrown in the mix. I think my favorite author of the moment is Ilona Andrews.

Team names.... I had to Google some, lol.

The Three Shot Crew
Shell Bangers
Fowl Play
Hens Only
10 Gauge Mafia
Top Gunners
Sharp Shooters

And some non-hunting names...

El Rockstars
The Abusement Park
Chicks with Kicks
Book, Line, and Sinker
The Word Nerds
Paperback Patrol
Read Between the Lines
Between The Sheets
Mullet Mafia

Or maybe....

The Good, The Bad and the Rated (or something, I don't know, lol)
High Plains Readers
The Book Stops Here

Hello everyone! I'm Alexis. This is my first time doing the challenge, but I'm pretty excited. I'm currently a stay at home mom to my son, but I used to teach elementary and I still tutor kids in reading pretty regularly. There is a chance we may end up moving during the challenge time frame. I do not have any specifics yet though, but will let y'all know if I do. For now, I live in Colorado... So ready for Spring to hit here. My family back east keeps posting photos of the blooming trees.

I read all over the board really. I probably most often read contemporary romance or YA fantasy books though. But, I have been picking up more and more historical stuff lately and loving it. The only thing I don't read much of at all is lgbtq romance. I've only read a very select few, so I probably won't be much help there.

It is almost getting late here and my son has been sick and cranky all day, so I'm too tired to think of names tonight. I'll sleep on it and post some ideas in the morning.

Hey everyone! I'm Nicole. Like Alexis, this is my first time doing this challenge, but I'm looking forward to it :)

I am from South Africa but am currently living and working in Abu Dhabi. I am a History high school teacher. Living in the desert has been interesting thus far.

I love contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Also erotica, LGBTQ, YA. Not a fan of paranormal, fantasy or historical but I'm not opposed to them either :) I have way too many favourite authors but off the top of my head: Sandra Brown, Lauren Layne, Tessa Bailey, Jessica Lemmon.

It must be noted that I don't have a creative bone in my body! But I'm an expert at Google ;)

The Book Collectors
Happy Trail Bookers
The Treasure Hunters
Good Book Hunting
Wordsworth by Nature

Okay ladies, I'm not claiming any sort of creative juice.. just to let you know ahead of time. But here are a few ideas I came up with.

hunting synonyms: pursue, stalk, chase, quest, snoop, search
Romance Stalkers
In Pursuit of the book
Library searchers

Based off of famous hunters
Artemis is the goddess of hunting in Greeky mythology: Artemis' Femme Fatale, Book Hunters with Artmeis
Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (I couldn't think of a name to go with him, but throwing him out there)
Scooby Doo Book Brigade?

Yeah, I'm not good at this.. although I do like the idea of using Artemis somehow

I totally love your suggestions Alexis! I'm a sucker for Greek mythology. Book Hunters with Artemis is so cool!

Hi Team 3!

I'm Fran. I'm from NY. I've done this challenge before, but it's been a while. I'm so excited to get back into it!

Right now I've been reading contemporary romance, YA, erotica, lgbt, a little pnr and very little historical. I'm open to anything that's on the shorter side, lol, except maybe UF.

I love all of your suggestions for our team name!
Playing off of Alexis's idea of Artemis-
Artemis's Accomplices
Artemis's Assistants


I really like-
Scooby Doo Book Brigade
Good Book Hunting

Oh, I like Artemis alliteration. She was known for her attendants... though they were all virginal... so its kind of the opposite of romance reads.. but may still be fun.

Artemis's Attendants
Artemis's Apprentices

Some wonderful ideas...so glad there is some creativity on our team! Waiting for one more check-in...lets continue to turn these around and we'll decide in the next couple of days...early I'm sure would make Jane very happy...we love a happy Jane!

Hi I am Shannon/WckdKtty. I am an old pro at this challenge but it is clearly one of my favorites. I am currently a Stay at home mom to an 8 year old boy. However during this challenge I may become employed at my sons school. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I live in Florida where everything is producing pollen already.

I love reading mostly PNR. Although I do read a variety to keep myself reading. My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan, and JR Ward.

As far as team names I also love the Artemis idea.

Shannon/Wckdktty

Looks like Artemis is a favorite...

Artemis's Huntress VI
Artemis's VI
Artemis's Accomplices
Artemis's Assistants
Artemis's Bookers...(is this 'clean')
Artemis's Book Brigade
Artemis's Book Readers
Artemis's Attendants
Artemis's Apprentices
Artemis's ?

Let's take Nicole's lead below and post our favorites or add another idea...we can final tomorrow

My favourite one's are:

Artemis's VI
Artemis's Accomplices

I think my favorite is Artemis's Huntress VI. It seems to flow really well.

My favorite is Artemis's Bookers but I am good with anything :)

My favorites-

Artemis's Accomplices
Artemis's VI

My Favorites are:

Artemis's Attendants
Artemis's Apprentices

Ok...it looks like the 2 favs are:

Artemis's Accomplices
Or
Artemis' VI

Please vote for 1...no fair saying you don't care...hehe ;)

I looked it up to be sure, and I had it wrong- Artemis' is the plural. Who knew when dealing with mythology or religious figures it's single s with apostrophe and not s's!

My vote is for Artemis' Accomplices

I'm voting for Artemis' VI

I think I like the single apostrophe mre anyways. For some reason, the extra s has been really annoying me.

Artemis's Accomplices is my vote

LOL - this thread is cracking me up! I feel like I should vote as well ;)

I say go ahead and vote Jane.

Jane (PS) wrote: "LOL - this thread is cracking me up! I feel like I should vote as well ;)"

Yup...if Jane wants to vote...it should be so...let us know what you think!

Does anyone know....what would Artemis' minions actually be? Goddesses are we?

Nope. Not buying in on this one!

I vote for Artemis' VI.

I'm voting for Artemis' VI

Ok...Artemis' VI it is...yeah we have a name!

We are all set to start. Jane sometimes posts the first round a bit early if everyone is ready to go. If I'm not on and one of you see the category posting, please feel free to post for our team,
Official start...Friday March 10

I'll work to keep things straight in those 1st few posts in our thread.

If you haven't already, you might check out our team members book shelves for options to read in case you prefer that vs the category posted. I do try to do this as I'm 'cheap' and prefer 'free' and the library over purchasing books if I can get away with it.

We'll have fun reading together I'm sure...

Yay! I'm excited! I'm glad picking out a name was fairly quick and painless... Even if we did almost have an even split.

I'm also tickled pink that y'all liked the Artemis idea. I get a little nerdy over things like Greek Mythology.. it's one of my weird quirks.

Alexis wrote: "Yay! I'm excited! I'm glad picking out a name was fairly quick and painless... Even if we did almost have an even split.

I'm also tickled pink that y'all liked the Artemis idea. I get a little ne..."

Right there with you Alexis :) Also can't wait to start...giddy with excitement!

The theme has been announced! Woohoo!!!!

Option 1
Week #1
Book link: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Page numbers: 321 (Kindle Edition)
How the book qualifies - This book has a whole host of awards.
RITA Awards
Goodreads Book Review Page

Was that format the correct way? First time doing this, so feel free to show me the way :)

Option 1 - bok that has won or been nominated for an award.
Week # 1
Bookcover/link: Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne
Page numbers: 378 pages
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list. RITA Award Nominee 2016

Nicole wrote: "Was that format the correct way? First time doing this, so feel free to show me the way :)"

Nicole this looks good...if you want to add one more thing...it would be to call out if you are doing Option 1 or Option 2...see Alexis post in 43...I'd put the Option right next to the Week #1 you have posted there.

1st time is always the most nerve racking...you'll be a pro by the next round...I love this challenge! Your book looks interesting...I haven't read that author...and wow you are right...quite a list of awards...look forward to hearing your review...

Note to everyone...I'll link you to the announcement post at the front of our team thread each week if you need it...

Week #1, Option 1:

Shadow Music, Julie Garwood
449 pgs
How Book Qualifies: Romantic Times-Reviewers Choice Award-pg 24

Tammie wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Was that format the correct way? First time doing this, so feel free to show me the way :)"

Nicole this looks good...if you want to add one more thing...it would be to call out if y..."

Thanks Tammie :) I was supposed to read this book last month but got sidetracked with other books on my TBR pile. Can't wait to get started.

Week #1 bok that has won or been nominated for an award.

Page numbers 453
How the book qualifies - Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 Best Romance

Week #1- Option 1


Caught by A.B. Gayle
Page Count- 122
How the book qualifies- Rainbow Award for Gay Contemporary Romance (2011)-page 2

I still haven't decided what I'm going to read yet. Will decide this weekend :)