Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

@KarenH LOL that's great but totally understandable :)

Jenny (Ynnej) wrote: "Stacie wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Note to self: STOP stop STOP browsing everyone else's read list... you have enough on your shelf for May!! :D"

But where's the fun in that?!?! I keep coming to see min..."

Stacie and Jenny, good to know it's not just me! :D
Unfortunately I can't use the excuse that I didn't have my picks yet... LOL!

Tink Magoo is bad at reviews wrote: "Hey Kat,
I hope you can find at least one new and off your list to read.

Wheaten Terrier
🐾 Recommend a book set in Ireland or with an Irish character, features working class people, OR that has a..."

Sorry for the delay is responding, but thanks for the great picks! I see several I want to read - now I just need May to get here! =)

Hi Gozie,

So I've started reading one of your picks and as the month progresses I'll update this post with all my thoughts :)

Scottish Terrier
🐾 New: Capture Me by Anna Zaires (02/05) ★★★ - dark and wickedly delicious. This is a new author to me but I like the precis of the book. I'll be getting the other two books in the "series" because I'm curious to see what Lucas does with his prisoner and whether she'll break or not...
🐾 TBR: Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward (14/05) ★★ - grateful to have this off my TBR list. It has confirmed that I'm not a fan of Penelope Ward unless she is writing with Vi Keeland. Typical storyline with the taboo factor. Far too much back and forth, to the point of annoyance. But at least it's done and dusted.

Wheaten Terrier
🐾 TBR: Any Time, Any Place by Jennifer Probst (05/05) ★★★ - loved delving back into the Pierce brothers lives. This book follows the youngest brothers story of love, forgiveness and understanding. I learnt a lot about woodwork and astronomy. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

Toy Fox Terrier
🐾 TBR: Settling the Score by R.S. Grey (10/05) ★★ - way too much drama. Page after page I was like how the heck do they find to compete at the Olympics with all this drama in their lives. I enjoyed the other book in the series and thought this would be just as good. No siree. But at least it's off the TBR pile ☺
🐾 TBR: Hawk's Property by Chiah Wilder (30/05) ★ - This was not as enjoyable as I thought it would be. The way the motorcycle club members referred to woman was deplorable. Some of things that happened at their parties was disturbing. The back and forth between the two main MCs was irritating and ridiculous. I had high hopes for this since I enjoy MC themed books but not this one.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
🐾 TBR: Ex Games by Stella Rhys (17/05) ★★★ - took me awhile to get into it but it was worth it in the end. I love the hate-to-love trope and this had added drama with the brothers. I would have preferred dual POV but it is what it is. Another one off my TBR list!

Mindy wrote: "Nancy H wrote: "Hi Mindy,
We don't have a lot of books in common, but I have tried to give you some from your TBR as well as some that I have enjoyed.

Wheaten Terrier: Ireland, Irish characters,..."

You're welcome, Mindy. I hope you find something REALLY good!

Mary Megan,
Thank you so much for the great picks! I thought I had sent you a message from my tablet but I don't see it anywhere on here so maybe it didn't go. Anyway, I am so excited about your picks that I am starting FIVE of them, because I can't decide which one to do first - lol. I often read several books at once, so this isn't unusual for me, but I just wanted to let you know I am enjoying your picks!
Thanks again!

Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything worked for me. I was totally absorbed in it and didn't want it to end! Thank you so much for recommending it to me. I plan to read the other books in the series as well!
As for my other picks for the month, I haven't decided yet but I intend to read Off Sides and Throne of Glass and may be Firelight if I'm feeling daring. lol

Polina wrote: "Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything worked for me. I was totally abso..."

Go with Firelight! AWEsome book!!! :)
And I agree, LOVED On Dublin Street!

Christine
I have finished my first pick The Obsession and gave it 3 stars

Sonja wrote: "Hi Fran!
Well all I can say is my to-read list has doubled since browsing your PIFM shelf! LOL!
I dug way back in your PIFM shelf to find some of your TBRs here. Sometimes we put things on our she..."

Hi Sonja!

I finished my first pick of yours, Dare to Take. I enjoyed it! I may check out the other books in the series.
I hope to get to one or two more of your recs this month....maybe Wicked Intentions, The One In My Heart and/or Melting Jane.
I will let you know :)
Thanks again for the great recs!

Nicole wrote: "Hi Gozie,

So I've started reading one of your picks and as the month progresses I'll update this post with all my thoughts :)


Scottish Terrier

🐾 New: Capture Me

Hi Nicole,

Aplologies for my late response.

I'm glad you liked Capture Me enough to want to read the second and third books. I read my first Anna Zaires book in March, and I rated it 3 stars. I've now read 7 of her books (6 of which I gave 4 or 5 stars), and waiting for the next book to be released :)

I'm eager to see what you read next, and I hope you enjoy it.

Fran wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Hi Fran!
Well all I can say is my to-read list has doubled since browsing your PIFM shelf! LOL!
I dug way back in your PIFM shelf to find some of your TBRs here. Sometimes we put thi..."

Woohoo! That one's on my list too. Can't wait to see which one you read next! :)

Polina wrote: "Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything worked for me. I was totally abso..."

:D I'm so glad you loved it!! That secondary romance <3 I was sooo happy it got resolved even though I wish they'd had an entire book.

I hope you enjoy the others too! :)

Dana,

I just finished my first book, Paper Princess, and I loved it! I will definitely be reading more from the series. Thank you for recommending it from my TBR.

Hey Ashley

I just finished one of your recommendations The Raven Prince. I'll be honest that I was very hesitant because I don't read historical romances but I'm surprised to say I really like it. Thanks for the rec!

Finished What Not To Were 2 stars

Finished my first book and I have to be honest.... after Archer's Voice... I may be done for the month... because nothing I read now is going to compare....

Heather Cam wrote: "Hey Ashley

I just finished one of your recommendations The Raven Prince. I'll be honest that I was very hesitant because I don't read historical romances but I'm surprised to say I re..."
LOVE that series! But then, I adore Elizabeth Hoyt! The Princes series was good, but the Legend of the Four Soldiers was better IMHO. Starts with To Taste Temptation.

Sonja wrote: "Finished my first book and I have to be honest.... after Archer's Voice... I may be done for the month... because nothing I read now is going to compare....
"
Ha ha! I'm happy you liked it. Definitely one of my favorites.

Heather Cam wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Finished my first book and I have to be honest.... after Archer's Voice... I may be done for the month... because nothing I read now is going to compare....
"
Ha ha! ..."

'liked' is too mild a word.... LOVED is more accurate! Though my brain is still too slow to process the emotional roller coaster the last 30% off the book put me through! LOL!

Kait, I've finished a couple of the books you picked for me. Thank you!

2 stars. Kind of ridiculous and annoying.

4 stars. This one was great and I don't think I ever would have come across it without you. Thank you! I recommended it to someone else already.

3 stars. It was cute with some hot scenes but overall the ending seemed a little rushed and the characters made me want to bonk their heads together.

Sonja wrote: "Polina wrote: "Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything worked for me. I w..."

Hi, Kait... and Sonja! :D
I finished Firelight yesterday and I'm still thinking about it! It is that good! I am glad I went out of my comfort zone with this one because it was so worth it.
Kait, thanks again for the great recs, I can't wait to start the next one! I hope you are having as much fun as I am with this month's challenge.

Hello broken-barriers,

I finished my first book in this challenge the other day. I read by Nicole Williams and really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars. Thanks for giving me the push to read this one!

Christine

Just finished Half-Blood 3 Stars

Polina wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Polina wrote: "Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything work..."

I did that too when I read it, Polina! It was just SOO good! Glad you liked it!

Stacie wrote: "Kait, I've finished a couple of the books you picked for me. Thank you!

2 stars. Kind of ridiculous and annoying.

4 stars. This..."

I loved that one too - found it randomly in my library! Glad you enjoyed it!

Just read my second rec and absolutely loved it. 5 stars!

HI Heather

Thank you so much for recommending Captive Prince - I loved it so much that I've also read the rest of th trilogy. If you've read this and enjoyed it you should try One Breath One Bullet, the whole feel and atmosphere to the book is very similar - just what I like.

Stacie wrote: "Kait, I've finished a couple of the books you picked for me. Thank you!

2 stars. Kind of ridiculous and annoying.

4 stars. This..."

:D So glad you enjoyed Worth the Fall! It was recommending to me for PIFM last year and I'm so happy I got to pass along the 'favor'.

Polina wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Polina wrote: "Hi, Kait!
I just finished On Dublin Street and I loooved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the plot, the secondary romance... everything work..."

:D YAY!! I'm so glad. It's such a unique book that I'm always unsure about recommending it but uughhh love it so much.

Carrie -
So far I've managed three off of your list. I actually read Hero at Large at the end of April because it was also suggested for me during the April PIFM. It was a bit disappointing, but I didn't have high expectations for the book from past experience...

I also readControlled Burn. I started the series thanks to PIFM and this was another great addition. You can't go wrong when firefighters are involved.

Now I just finished All I Want. It was the last book in a series I love, so it was good. Hopefully the series continues, but it has been a few years...

Those were all on my TBR list, so thanks for selecting them from the multitude I have waiting to be read. I have one of the new books you suggested on my bookshelf to read next. Thanks for guiding my reading selections! So far so good :)

Mary-Megan wrote: "Carrie -
So far I've managed three off of your list. I actually read Hero at Large at the end of April because it was also suggested for me during the April PIFM. It was a bit disapp..."

I'm happy to hear and happy to help :)

I have finished Sweet Peril 4 stars I really enjoyed it.

Alexis wrote: "Hello broken-barriers,

I finished my first book in this challenge the other day. I read by Nicole Williams and really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars. Thanks for giving..."

Glad to know I helped. :)

Finished my second book, Heather Cam!
I was right... Archer's Voice totally ruined me for anything else this month... Nothing I've read since has been more than 3 stars... LOL!
I finally, finally finished Whispering Rock... I started it in March and wanted to finish, but it kept skipping around with the perspectives and that drives me bananas. I finally slogged through and it got better, but still not even close to Archer's story! So thank you for making me finish! :D

That means 2/8 for me. I have Wallbanger, Outlander, The Bachelor and The Duke Can Go to the Devil on deck now...

Done:

Rebecca wrote: "I have finished Sweet Peril 4 stars I really enjoyed it. "

I'm glad there was a book you enjoyed from the picks. :)

Hi Mary Megan,
I have finished two of your picks so far, with three more started.. The two I have finished were excellent and I highly recommend them. The first, a contemporary romance set in Idaho, is What I Love About You , and the second is a good mixture of romance with mystery, set in 19th-century London, The Cater Street Hangman .

Thanks for the great picks!

Stacie,

Finally finished my first pick... -I think I was taking my sweet time with it because it is the last of the Chicagoland Vampire series...but it was amazing! So bitter-sweet to read this...sad that it is over but super excited for the spinoff!! :D

The Heretic Queen was great 4 Stars

Nancy H wrote: "Hi Mary Megan,
I have finished two of your picks so far, with three more started.. The two I have finished were excellent and I highly recommend them."

Nancy -
I'm glad you've enjoyed your books. The Rachel Gibson book I had read, so I'm glad you liked it. I hope the next three you read are just as good!
Happy reading!

Pam wrote: "Hi Tammie
Wheaton Terrier
TBR Ethan a cattle empire would seem to qualify as an outdoor setting
New If I Only Had a Duke Ireland

Pam: Thanks again for the picks...so far I've read of your choices: Ethan which was the best of this series so far. I also read Feverborn...I actually have two more to go...I'll try to read the next...Feversong in the next month or so. Will see if I can get one more in yet.

Romanticbookworm wrote: "Hi Broken Barriers. Here are your picks for May. I tried to get as close to your genres as possible that were in your pick for me selection but couldn't resist adding a few favourites :).

1. Wheat..."

I just finished Secrets Of A Summer Night, and gosh, I loved it so much! 4 stars, dearie, and thanks for picking it for me. :)

Jojo wrote: "HI Heather

Thank you so much for recommending Captive Prince - I loved it so much that I've also read the rest of th trilogy. If you've read this and enjoyed it you should try [book..."

Oh great! So glad you enjoyed The Captive Prince, Jojo.
Will add the book you suggested to my TBR now, looks good.

Sonja wrote: "Finished my first book and I have to be honest.... after Archer's Voice... I may be done for the month... because nothing I read now is going to compare....
"

Hahaha I love it. Great picture Sonja. I think I'm going to have to get to this one :)

Polina wrote: "Hi, Heather! I had so much fun picking for you :D I hope you find something you like.

Wheaten Terrier 🐾 Recommend a book set in Ireland or with an Irish character, features working class people, O..."

Hey Polina!
I very much enjoyed The Selection & am working my way through the rest of the series now. It reminds of my favorite bits of Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins + Beauty Queens- Libba Bray. Fun! Thanks!

Heather wrote: "I very much enjoyed The Selection & am working my way through the rest of the series now. It reminds of my favorite bits of Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins + Beauty Queens- Libba Bray. Fun! Thanks!."

I LOVE the Selection series. I think I devoured the first three books in a weekend. I'm not big on dystopia, but this one really worked for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Finished my first book and I have to be honest.... after Archer's Voice... I may be done for the month... because nothing I read now is going to compare....
"

Hahaha..."
Do, Carmen! Definitely! I finally read another one that didn't quite knock Archer's Voice off the shelf, but at least it brought me out of my 'Archer Coma'! LOL!

Hi Sonja!

I finished a second rec of yours, a new to me title- The One In My Heart. I loved it! Thanks so much for introducing me to a new author. This book was so well written, and held my attention the entire time. I loved the secondary characters and issues as much as the love story between Evangeline and Bennett. I also really enjoy first person, which this is written in. Great pick!

Aww but the Archer coma sounded so good. Hahaha :-)

Elke wrote: "Stacie,

Finally finished my first pick...-I think I was taking my sweet time with it because it is the last of the Chicagoland Vampire series...but it was amazing! ..."

I read it too and was happy with how it ended! I didn't know there was going to be a spin-off!!