Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Week 1

Option 1 - 10. Golden Raspberry
The Golden Raspberry Awards is a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements.
* Read a book from one of the following lists:
Guilty Pleasures - Crap You're Embarrassed to Love
Male characters you would run from if they tried to date you
Would Rather Pluck My Eyebrows
Most Unappealing MM book covers of 2015
Most Unappealing MM book covers of 2014

If you use this option please quote the list and page number where the title is found. A link would be even better!


Option 2: Key Date: March 8, 2019
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.



Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.

Week 1: Golden Raspberry
Beauty and the Bookworm
107 pages
Qualifies: #24 on Most Unappealing MM Book Covers Of 2014

@Emeli, thank you for remembering the broken link!!! I forgot to mention about it.

So yeah, everyone please include a broken link when you post your book selection so I can just easily copy/paste the correct version.

Week 1: Golden Raspberry

200 pages
How it Qualifies: #4 on Most Unappealing M/M Book Covers of 2014

[*book:Shiny!|20613854]

Week 1: Golden Raspberry


For Real by Alexis Hall
Pages: 437
How it Qualifies:# 49 on Most Unappealing MM Book Cover of 2015

[*book:For Real|25376011]

Week 1: Golden Raspberry
Option1


Just a Bit Twisted by Alessandra Hazard

Pages: 160
How it Qualifies: #30 on Most Unappealing M/M Book Covers of 2014

[*book:Just a Bit Twisted|26840475]

Yay Shannon! Hi. Glad to have you with us. (Yeah I'm a little behind sorry.) :)

Week #1: Golden Raspberry

Just a Bit Twisted by Alessandra Hazard
Rating: 4
Review: This was adorable once I got past the first uncomfortable icky part where money changed hands. I loved the dynamic between Shawn and his Professor Rutledge. Shawn’s sweetness contrasted very nicely with the Professor’s grumpy outer shell. And watching that shell crack and see his vulnerability peek through, especially with Shawn’s little sisters-oh man, the cuteness was killing me! I’ve been intrigued by this series for a while and I’m so glad I finally got around to getting started. I’m definitely going to pick up the next one.

oh my gosh, we've all picked SUCH good books! (Well I don't know about mine yet of course.)

I'm still thinking too Trio. Gotta see what lines up with other challenges this week. :)

Week 1 Completion Post


For Real by Alexis Hall
Read: 9/10/19
Rating: ★★★★

This is a hard one for me to review because I really enjoyed this book but I don't feel like I really understood their relationship and after 400+ pages, I should really get them. I never understood what Laurie saw in Toby that made him want to kneel for him. All I could see was a really funny, lost kid. I was expecting some seriously humiliating, depraved shit but it was nothing like that...at all. Which isn't a bad thing, it just is. Some situations didn't make that much sense to me but their importance was huge to the couple. Just things like that. I do think it could have been quite a bit shorter with the same impact but overall I did love these two.

Week 1 Completion Post
by Amy Lane
Read: 11 September 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Sweet and funny, Amy Lane's Shiny is an opposites attract romance with a first-time-gay twist.

Poor Will thinks he's asexual as his experiences with women have done nothing for him. (As in "don't worry, it happens to all men" kind of cold - ouch.)

Poor Kenny whose cheating boyfriend has left him soured on men in general - but sweetly, clueless (STRAIGHT) Will makes an excellent friend.

Watching these two come together is adorable, and I love the way the whole thing is told as a story.

Tyler Stevens does a wonderful job narrating this one, I love his voice and he can read to me any time.

Week 1
Option 1
Book: Caraval
Page numbers: 407
How Fits: #335 on Male Characters You Would Run From If They Tried To Date You

Week 1 completion

Tara Lain
Finished 11/9
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this retelling of one of my favourite fairytale and it had everything i Wanted and I loved that the got their hea at the end

Week 2 selection
Option 1

[*book:Loving Hector|17622440]
224 pages
Dog on cover

Week 2

Option1
14. Best in Show
"Best in show" is the title that is given to a winning animal in an animal show/competition, such as a dog show, cat show, or horse show. (Source: Urban Dictionary)
* Read a book with a dog, cat or horse on the cover.

Please post the bookcover in your selection post.


Option 2
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.
Key Date: March 15, 2019


Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.

Thanks Shannon!

I saw that and got so confused on what day it was! LOL

Week 2 Selection Post
Option 1: Horse on Cover


A Foreign Range by Andrew Grey
Pages: 200
Qualification: Horse on Cover

[*book:A Foreign Range|14510527]

Week 2: Selection Post
Option 1
Best in Show


How to Run with the Wolves by Eli Easton
Pages: 231
How it Qualifies: dog on the cover

[*book:How to Run with the Wolves|46155038]

I'm trying to choose between 3 books - I'll post asap with my choice.

Trio wrote: "I'm trying to choose between 3 books - I'll post asap with my choice."

it's okay, you have until friday to post a selection.

I'm torn between

or


anyone have any recomendations between those three?

Trio wrote: "I'm torn between

or


anyone have any recomendations between those three?"

......I didn't realize I hadn't read How To Save A Life....oops.

I haven't read the middle one but I vote for the Eli Easton book. I loved that one.

I was going to recc that one as well, you can't really go wrong with Eli Easton.

Yep, she’s my pick too.

haha and then last night when I went to read I checked my Kindle and found which I've had for ages and actually read the sequel already - I started that one, but I'm saving off posting it till I'm positive.

I've got the How to Save one on audio, and I'm just not sure I've got time to listen to another audiobook this week - that's the only reason I'm wavering on it.

Well I'm enjoying so far. I really like Eli's writing style and the characters are very likeable. It's definitely slow burn, I think I'm over halfway, and the MC's haven't even kissed yet.

She definitely does a good slow burn in that at least the story is good as it builds to a plausible relationship - I love that about her stories too.

Week 1
Caraval by Stephanie Garber


Read: (9/14)

Rating: ★★★★

Well that was an interesting dark and twisty tale. This falls into one of those categories of books I'd heard about, picked up because people seemed to recommend it, but really knew nothing about. It's been sitting on my shelf for awhile and I just never got around to reading it. Definitely glad I finally found the time.

I enjoyed the weirdness that is Caraval. It's just the right amount of dark and I felt for Scarlett as she tried to do what is right and save her sister. I even like Julian by the end and realized he's not as awful as he sometimes seems. Of course all of Caraval is not quite what it seems. Scarlett makes a lot of mistakes on her way to figuring out how to save her sister. I appreciated that she wasn't perfect and that not everything went off without a hitch. Honestly I think the only thing that really took this book down a notch for me was the fact that frankly I didn't like Tella. I didn't see what was so worthy about her that Scarlett was so desperate to save her. There wasn't a moment that I felt like Tella would have made the same sacrifices for her sister that Scarlett made for her. I felt like she just took everything as her due and was very selfish.

I'm curious about the second book in the series based on the ending and I'm wondering what's in store for Tella. I hope she kind find her way to being a better person. But I think Scarlett deserves her shot at love and that she and Julian have been through enough.

Week 2 Dog on Cover, Option 1
selection post

Where Do I Start? by Chase Taylor Hackett
266 pages
Qualifies: Dog on Cover
[*book:Where Do I Start?|34818807]

Week 2: Completion Post
Option 1
Best in Show


How to Run with the Wolves by Eli Easton
Pages: 231
How it Qualifies: dog on the cover
Rating: 3 stars

Review: So I've mostly enjoyed Eli's dog-shifter stories set in Mad Creek, and this one was ok too, just not as engaging as the previous books. I really liked Zeus, he was really sweet and just so very awkward I really felt for him. I had a harder time with Timo, he wasn't as likeable for me. but I eventually came around and was able to root for these two to find their way together. I read at the end that Eli is going to be doing a spin-off of this series with the pack in Alaska, which should be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.

Week 2 Completion Post
Option 1: Horse on Cover


A Foreign Range by Andrew Grey
Pages: 200
Read: 9/15/19
Rating: ★★★★

Another great addition to the Range series. This one didn't take place on the ranch we all love but some of the MCs from the previous books did make an appearance. Here we have Wilson, a burnt out famous country singer, and Steve, a guy running from his crazy AF father and his cult. In typical Andrew Grey fashion, it was a sweet love story with great supporting characters, a bit of heat, a bit of drama but ultimately a HEA. Glad I finally got back to this series, they make me happy.

Week 2
Option 1
Book: My Cowboy Freedom
Page numbers: 289
How Fits: Cover: Horse



[*bookcover:My Cowboy Freedom|29536949]

Week 1: Golden Raspberry - Beauty and the Bookworm

Rating: ★★★

Review:
Really love the humor in this book. The couple are so great together and the way they fit each other is adorable. This is just a happy book. There's no drama. There's no angst. There's just two guys falling in love and being together. There's some dodgy parts with the best friend but it never crosses the line fully. The grandma is indescribable.

Week 2 - Dog on Cover
completion post

by Chase Taylor Hackett
266 pages / GR
completed 18 September 2019
5 Stars

As much as I enjoyed And The Next Thing You Know..., this one is even better.

It took me a year and a half to get to Where Do I Start, something about Jeff and Theo's story just totally gutted me. But turns out it's a good thing I read that one first, because after getting to know Jeff I might not have cared much to see him to find his happily-ever-after. Just kidding (but not really).

No, seriously, all the characters in this series are beautifully complex and really nicely developed and their stories are all interesting. Especially Tommy - I hope everyone has a little (or big) Tommy in their lives because we could all use a friend like him.

Truly marvelous story, Chase Taylor Hackett is wildly talented and I hope it's not long till he gives us some more!

Is it cool with everyone if I use the pass this week?

Fine with me Calila

Fine with me!

Week 3

Option1
5. Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
The Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee.
* Read a book with a tree on the cover.

Please post the bookcover in your selection post.


Option 2
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.
Key Date: March 22, 2019


Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.

Calila wrote: "Is it cool with everyone if I use the pass this week?"

Fine with me too Calila.

Week 3 Selection Post
Option 1


Book:Loving a Warrior
Author: Melanie Hansen
Pages: 276
How it Fits: Tree on the cover

[*book:Loving a Warrior|40246271]

Week 3 Tree on Cover
selection post


Soul by Susi Hawke
Length: 109 pages / GR
How it Fits: Tree on cover

[*book:Soul|42750880]

Week 3 Tree on Cover
completion post

by Susi Hawke
Length: 109 pages / GR
How it Fits: Tree on cover
Finished 21 September, 4 Stars

Soul was definitely my favorite of the four stories in the Legacy Warrior series. I fell in love with this couple, between goofy, awkward Toby and sweet, kind Aaron... they're adorable together. Gah, that wedding night fiasco? What could be worse!

It's no surprise to me that this couple turns out to be the cornerstone of the whole thing... poetic justice!

Week 2 - Dog on Cover
completion post

Finished 18/9
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love John Inman and this book was just hilarious it had everything heat action and I loved dils grandfather he was so funny so all in all a hilarious book that Will make you laugh out loud

Week 3 tree on cover selection post
Option 1

Tree on cover
207 pages
[*book:Coming Home|44154306]

Are these trees?

Shannon wrote: "Are these trees?


"

hmm they might skirt the edge too much Shannon.

Two Man Station: has mostly brush/shrubs except that one branch that sticks out. Which I wouldn't consider enough to qualify, personally.

Rules To Follow: I would say has tree trunks but might be a bit too blurry.

I'd check in the Q&A thread.

Week 3 Completion Post
Option 1


Book:Loving a Warrior
Author: Melanie Hansen
Pages: 276
How it Fits: Tree on the cover
Rating: 3 stars
Date Finished: 9/24/19

Review: I usually *love* mm military books, especially SEALS teams, but somehow this one just missed the mark. It was too detailed about the BUD/s training, then HELL week. I mean, every little detail was gone over, from the wet sand clinging to the MC's pants every other sentence, to the burn of their muscles every time they did a push up. It got really tedious, really fast. I also didn't really connect with the MCs. There wasn't much emotion between them, nothing for me to get caught up in and focus on as the main connection, other than the SEALs training, which was NOT romantic in the slightest. I gave it three stars, since the writing was good, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[*book:Loving a Warrior|40246271]

Week 3 Selection Post
Trees on Cover


Rules to Follow by Susan Hawke
Pages: 284
Qualification: Trees on Cover (asked a mod)