Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Oh man...I was hoping there was another one, just slow to come. Dang it!

Selection Post: Week # 2 -
14. Best in Show

Book: Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins
Page numbers: 448
Qualification: Dog on the cover

Hey Ezinwanyi, the Mod said in Q & A that it had to be domestic animals.

Completion post
Week #2 - Best in show

Book: byHeather Hill
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Review: I mostly enjoyed this book. There are sections of lol moments including exploding fish, nudeoke and flip flop flinging mixed in with some depressing sections looking at sexual and personal feelings of inadequacy. The message of this book seems to be that you need to be happy on the inside to be happy with anyone else and that you should live each day for you.

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "Hey Ezinwanyi, the Mod said in Q & A that it had to be domestic animals."

Thanks for the clarification

Selection Post: Week # 2 - Option 1
14. Best in Show

Bob the Destroyer of Leads by Sue Brown
Page numbers: 116
Qualification: Dog on cover

Changed my Selection Post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Completion Post
Week #2 - Best in Show


Hunting Under Covers by Aimee Brissay and more
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Rounded up to 4
Review: Overall 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up because it was free and the thoughtful reasons it was written.

Living Out the Fantasy by Aimee Brissay - ★★★
Not a lot to this story. It's VERY short and has no real time to get to know the characters. It's mostly a sex scene about Anthony who is in Vegas without his boyfriend. He has a sexual encounter with a man he is almost positive is his partner.

Thank God For Games Saga by Shayla Mist ★★★
I liked both Eric and Rich but I really don't like the whole lack of communication trope which this short story was completely focused on. I just wanted to smack the two of them and tell them to talk to each other.

Changes coming Down by Kaje Harper ★★★★
I'm not always a big fan of M/M/M stories but I enjoyed this one and it was definitely the most "meaty" story in the book. I actually thought the relationship between the sheriff, the rancher and the hokey player really worked. Lots of character depth and relationship dynamics. The mystery part was a bit weak and seemed to be thrown in as a catalyst for the characters to come out. Still overall my favorite of the book.

A Capricorn Tale by M.E. Sanford ★★ + 1/2
I admit I'm just not a fan of Mpreg and this one was a bit bizarre. However, it was well written and although I found Capricorn and David a bit of an odd partnership I did like them together. The story confused me a bit and I'm still not quite clear on what disaster found the humans and how they ended up where they did.

Pierced by J. Vaughn ★★★
I liked this one but I would have liked to see Kyle work through the effects if his rape and attack more. Paul was hot and cold for me and his reactions/actions seemed a bit all over the place but I liked them together. This didn't really tread any new ground that I hadn't read before and college age characters aren't my favorite but it was well written and enjoyable enough to give 3 stars.

Demons, Time Travel and Bacon Oh My !! by a whole bunch of people ★
This one was very disjointed and you could tell it was written by a bunch of people. It didn't really make sense to me and was so OTT and ridiculous I just didn't enjoy it. Demons, space travel, ghosts and more - I think just about everything but the kitchen sink was thrown into this one.

There are Worse Things by Katies Crewman ★★
Okay I just finished this book and I couldn't remember what this story was about until I went back and looked. Obviously it was not memorable at all. It wasn't bad I just didn't remember it. A bit of time travel, world ending suspense and decent characters but it didn't really work for me.

Home by Kathleen Hayes ★★★★
I don't read historical or time travel books because they usually just aren't my thing but I actually really enjoyed this story. In fact I wish this one was longer. I liked Brian and Angus and I loved getting to see Angus deal with all the changes and technology of the future. Obviously there were missing elements like Angus being able to get a job with no I.D. but if you let that kind of stuff go it was a fun and enjoyable read.

COMPLETION POST

Option 1
Week 2 - Best in Show

Living Promises by Amy Lane
Page Count: 350/GR
How it Qualifies: See Cover above (Horses)
Date Completed: 16Sep2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Oof. This series always packs one hell of an emotional punch, and wow oh wow were there quite a few body blows in this installment. Life, love, death, illness, family...nothing is perfect or easy but worth the fight all the same. Loved the ending. And Paul Morey gives a great performance here.

Of course the next one is on the TBR but I think I'll wait a while before tackling it - I need some escapist fluff right now.

Dear Captain,
do you think I can get away with for domestic?

Ezinwanyi wrote: "Dear Captain,
do you think I can get away with for domestic?"

I don't see a cat, dog or horse...am I missing them? Those were the animals approved for the category as they are the ones with well-known "shows" for Best in Show category.

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "Ezinwanyi wrote: "Dear Captain,
do you think I can get away with for domestic?"

I don't see a cat, dog or horse...am I missing them? Those were the animals app..."

There are birds

Q & A link to specific post that states it has to be domestic animals - specifically dogs, cats and/or horses. (From message 53 upthread, and those were specifically listed in the category announcement msg 45 as copied from official category call post.)

Yes, birds can be domestic animals but those do not appear to be caged; looks like a wild flock to me - but I'll post a request for clarification on the Q&A thread for certainty.

EDITED TO ADD: If you'd like to "pass" on this category just let me know before the new category is called tomorrow, so ASAP.

The mod said no to birds...only cats, dogs and horse. So sorry.

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "The mod said no to birds...only cats, dogs and horse. So sorry."

Thanks

Do you want to pass this round? No one else claimed it yet and once we get the new category it can't be claimed.

Category Week 3

Option 1
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

Selection Post

Week 3: Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
Option 1

Running Wild by S.E. Jakes
Page Count: 280/GR
How it Qualifies: Trees on Cover (see above)

Selection Post

Week 3: Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
Option 1

A Crown of Iron & Silver by Hailey Turner
Page Count: 379
How it Qualifies: Trees on Cover (see above)

Selection post
Week #3 - Palme d’Or Cannes Film Festival
Option 1

Book: by Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 406
How it qualifies: Tree on the cover of the Persian edition . Approval given by MountainKat.

Selection Post: Week # 3 -
5. Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival

Book: Forbidden Letters by Elin Peer
Page numbers: 328
Qualification: Tree on the cover

COMPLETION POST

Week 3: Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
Option 1

Running Wild by S.E. Jakes
Page Count: 280/GR
How it Qualifies: Trees on Cover (see above)
Date Completed: 21Sep2019
Rating: 3.25 Stars
Review: Despite Dorian's sexy gravel and smoke voice, this one took a while to get into. It wasn't until Noah's run-in with Ed, a job gone wrong, where Sean steps in to help save his ass (again) that things got interesting. I kept thinking that somehow that Ryker was a plant, that the secret sneaking in was part of an op and waiting for that shoe to drop. It did, but not in that way...which, in some aspect didn't really make sense. Why did he need to sneak in if the club was okay with non-hetero club members? Still not sure about that detail, other than the elicit hotness of it to Sean?

IDK, I'm thinking MC themed books just aren't ever really gonna be my cuppa.

Week #3 - Palme d’Or Cannes film festival
Option 1

Book: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 4⭐️
Review: I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading the next in the series. Mystery, intrigue, magic and suspense with the promise of some romance to follow in the next books. As a world renowned assassin, once caught Caeleana was sent to work with the slaves in Endovia. When the crown prince offers her the chance to compete for the chance to be kings champion and ultimately win her freedom Caleana jumps at the chance. She faces many tests physical, mental and emotional and uncovers some dark secrets about the past that she seems to only start unravelling in this book.

COMPLETION POST

Option 1
Week 2 - Best in Show

Bob the Destroyer of Leads by Sue Brown
Date Completed: 24Sep2019
Rating: 2 Stars
Review: This was not great. I didn't feel a connection between the main characters Lawrence and Will. They got off to a bad start, mostly due to the awfulness of Lawrence, and then somehow they ended up together romantically. I just didn't buy it. Will was bulldozed and walked all over by several men in this story. He is much younger than they are too. Nothing in this story made me smile, and I need that in my romances. It was a shorter book but took me forever to get through. Not a good sign, lol.

COMPLETION POST
Week 3 ~ 5. Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival

Book: Forbidden Letters by Elin Peer
Page numbers: 328
Qualification: Tree on the cover
Read: September 25
Rating & Review: 4.5 stars.
I’m amazed that with So many books in this series, author Elin Peer continues to deliver high quality story telling complete with a well developed plot, fleshed out characters and an emotional appealing romance.

Forbidden Letters is a prequel giving us some background into the further breakdown of relations between the Mothlanders and Nman due to some prejudices due to the war. What a subtle commentary on societal prejudices and stereotypes but written without a heavy-handed dose of her opinion. I didn’t feel like it was preachy at all.

Devina and Tyton are one of my favorite couples in this series. They were both brave and flexible despite their societal views at that time. Tyton reminded me of Alexander Boulder, Christina’s husband, because he was protective without being overbearing or aggressively alpha.

Tyton’s Family was exactly what Devina needed and I love their journey to love as it was full of twist and turns. The story flowed so well, the pacing was perfect and the story left me feeling really happy at the end.

I recommend that readers DON’T start with this one. I believe I enjoyed it more having read the other stories in order first.

Selection Post: Week # 3 - Option 1

5. Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
Book-
Going Up by Tawna Fenske
Page numbers: 128
Qualification: Trees on cover, small and drawn towards bottom- approved by MountainKat in question thread.

Completion Post
Week #3 - Palme d’Or Cannes film festival
Option 1

Book:
Going Up by Tawna Fenske
Rating: 3.5*
Review: This made me smile! Lexi and Noah meet cute in a stuck elevator. Sweetness, minor conflict and an HEA ensue. Yes, Noah seems too perfect. I don’t care. I like my heroes that way :)

Completion Post
Week 3 - Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival
Option 1


Book: A Crown of Iron & Silver by Hailey Turner
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: 4.5 Stars! I love these characters and I love this series and it was close to a 5 star book but for a few minor things.

Patrick and Jono are great characters and I love to see them growing closer together and the addition of Wade is awesome because he practically steals the scene whenever he is on page. The plot was action packed and thrilling (in fact it was so jam packed that I would have liked just a couple of in between scenes where Patrick and Jono could slow down and spend a bit of time together). However, the story did keep me glued to the pages. We went from a missing witch baby to a missing Fae Princess and along the way we got to visit both Fae Courts and Ireland. I also really liked the addition of Patrick's old team and getting to know them better in this book. There are a few surprises along the way and the introduction of a few new characters. I think that for me that was the minor thing that kept this book from a 5 star rating. So many new faces/names and such an intense pace that I missed the emotional piece between Jono and Patrick that was so present in the second book. I'm also more engaged with Jono taking over as the main God Pack leader then I am with Ethan as a villain. Maybe because other than the fact that he wants to be a god and destroy the world we don't really get to know anything about him and we know a lot more about the horrible god pack alpha's in New York.

Overall - this is fast becoming one of my favorite series and I can't wait to see what is next!

Ugh! I’m still in the library waiting list for . I’m first in line though

No problem Ezi!

New Category Week 4

Option 1
13. Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics', painted by any artist resident in Australasia.
* Read a book set in Australasia or written by an author from Australia or New Zealand.
Australasia comprises Australia, New Zealand, and some neighbouring islands.

Please post 'proof' of the author or book's setting - a link to the main GR page, author's page, shelving, wikipedia or something similar.


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 29, 2019

Selection Post

Week 4: Archibald Prize
Option 1

Book: Breaking Point by N.R. Walker
Page Count: 402/GR
How it Qualifies: N.R. Walker is an Australian author N.R. Walker Page

Selection Post: Week # 4 -
13. Archibald Prize

Book: Repeat by Kylie Scott
Page numbers: 304
Qualification: Author is Australian per her goodreads author page

Hey Ezi, can you edit your post to include where the info on your author says she's Aussie, please?

Like Danielle did above you for NR Walker; whether that's a wiki link or something else. It's a condition listed in post 81. Thanks!

Waiting on a ruling of "from" vs. "resides" in Australasia to post my choice.

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "Hey Ezi, can you edit your post to include where the info on your author says she's Aussie, please?

Like Danielle did above you for NR Walker; whether that's a wiki link or something else. It's a..."

Done!

Selection Post
Week#4 - Archibald Prize
Option 1

Book: by Amo Jones
Pages: 307 (kindle)
How it qualifies: Author was born in New Zealand and lives in Australia Amo Jones

Hazel wrote: "Selection Post
Week#4 - Archibald Prize
Option 1

Book: by Amo Jones
Pages: 307 (kindle)
How it qualifies: Author was born in New Zealand and lives in..."

It's free on kindle for anyone who needs a book

Selection Post

Week 4: Archibald Prize
Option 1

Book: Exchange of Hearts by N.R. Walker
Page Count: 133
How it Qualifies: N.R. Walker is an Australian author - link to his author page- N.R. Walker

Completion Post

Week 4: Archibald Prize
Option 1
Book:
Exchange of Hearts by N.R. Walker
Completed- 9/30/19
Rating- 4*
Review- Levi and Harrison were so adorable. This book gave us a boarding school pair who found themselves and each other. Harrison has family issues. They are affecting his life in a big way. A new exchange student arrives and helps him figure it out. Sweet and uplifting.

Selection Post

Week 4: Archibald Prize

Leather+Lace by A.B. Gayle
Page Count: 304/GR
How it Qualifies: Author Born in Australia per author page.

COMPLETION POST

Week 4: Archibald Prize

Leather+Lace by A.B. Gayle
Page Count: 304/GR
How it Qualifies: Author Born in Australia per author page.
Date Completed: 03Oct2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: I originally added this to my TBR because the VAST majority of my GR friends who've read it have rated this 4 or 5 stars, and I couldn't believe I'd missed it somehow after all this time. That said, I can see why they rated it so high.

I loved how there was a frank and honest discussion about the difference between abuse and RACK/SSC BDSM. I loved how Steve realized his situation and was able to escape. I hated that he got an old school therapist that wasn't familiar with the lifestyle and equated it to an addiction or perversion. I hated that he felt he couldn't trust himself or anyone else to try again. I loved that he found Don, also broken and floundering a bit after his own loss. I loved that Don wasn't an all-knowing, perfect Dom. (Although, seriously, that mo' had to go.)

I love that they found their own version of happiness, together. That they found something that fit their needs. And if it weren't for that ending, which felt a little forced, a little rushed, I think it would have been perfect. I know it was meant to show Steve taking back the narrative, re-writing his own story and reclaiming a part of himself...I just wish it had been a little later in the story and not right after he returned from his trip, so close on the heels of his revelation and acceptance of how he and Don could make a go of it.

Also, as vindictive as it sounds, I'm kind of gleefully, spitefully glad for what happened to Steve's Ex. Not so much Alex, Don's Ex...but if it hadn't they'd have never found each other.

New Category - Week 5

Option 1
8. Olympics
The modern Olympic Games are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.
* Read a book with an MC who plays sport from one of the following lists:
Sports Romance
Romance with hero/heroine are athletes
Best Gay Athletes

*If you use this option, your book selection MUST come from one of these lists. Please note which list and preferably the book's number on that list.


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: April 5, 2019

Selection Post
Week 5: Olympics
Option 1

Book: Goalie Interference by Avon Gale
Page Count: 304/GR
How it Qualifies: #382 on Best Gay Athletes

Selection Post

Week 5: Olympics

The Eskimo Slugger by Brad Boney
Page Count: 230/GR
How it Qualifies: Currently #207 on Best Gay Athletes List

Completion Post: Week # 4 -
13. Archibald Prize

Book: Repeat by Kylie Scott
Page numbers: 304
Qualification: Author is Australian per her goodreads author page
Read: 10/5
Rating & Review: 5-stars.
Clementine Johns, a bank teller, was found on the street, almost dead and the attack left her with retrograde amnesia. When someone recognizes Clem's tattoo as the work of Larsen and sons, Clem ends up finding her ex boyfriend tattoo artist Ed Larsen. Ed was NOT happy to see Clem and but he was an avenue for her to reclaim her the last few years of her life, I mean, they were in love and lived together.
But how do you stroll down memory lane with an ex who seemingly can't stand the very sight of you?

This story was very interesting. Clem was like a grown baby, in that she didn't know what she liked and had to relearn almost everything and everyone. Each person Clem came in contact with shared memories that she felt no connection to but there was an emotional turmoil nonetheless.

I enjoyed this story because Clem got a chance to be a better version of herself. It was like a snake shedding it's old skin and revealing the new skin. I was on pins and needles wondering what would happen once the old memories resurface? What a fun ride watching Clementine earn her way back into her old life but as a new person. The writing kept me engaged the entire time. Definitely one of the best stories I have listened to this year.

Selection Post: Week # 5 ~ Option 1
8. Olympics

Book: The Coaching Hours by Sara Ney
Pages: 300 pages
Qualification: #776 on pg. 8 on Sports Romances

Selection Post

Week 5: Olympics
Option 1


Down for the Count by Christine Bell
Page Count:128 /GR
How it Qualifies: #520 on this list-
Romance_with_hero_heroine_are_athletes

Completion post
Week #4 - Archibald Prize
Option 1

Book: by Amo Jones
Rating: 5⭐️
Review: I have loved everything I’ve read by Amo Jones and this was no different. Beatrice Kennedy is not who she thinks she is and having moved about after the death of her grandparents ends up in New Orleans. It’s there she ends up in the path of the Bratva and the son of its leader Aeron/Manik.

Selection post
Week #5 - Olympics
Option 1

Book: by Sarina Bowen
Pages: 298
How it qualifies: #251 on Romance with hero/heroine are athletes
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...