Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Thanks Hazel!

So I'm assuming "Happier" would work?

Selection post
Week #9 - UNESCO Peace Prize
Option 1

Book: Tillie Cole
Pages: 466
How it qualifies: The first sentence in the précis mentions the word good. ‘Sinning never felt so good...’
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "So I'm assuming "Happier" would work?"

Yes :)

Jane (PS) wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "So I'm assuming "Happier" would work?"

Yes :)"

Thanks

Selection post
Week #9 - UNESCO Peace Prize
Option 1


Book: Graveyard Shift by Jenn Burke
Pages: 220
How it Qualifies: Has the word happier in the precis. "Wes and Hudson have never been busier…or happier"

Completion Post

Week 8- Option 1
The Devil in Disguise by Cynthia Eden
Rating- 4*
Review- I don’t read a lot of paranormal these days but it’s a nice change every once in a while. This was a story about the ruler of the dark and one of his dark creatures. Or so he thought. Luke and Mina were so good together. I really enjoyed her sass. He was supposed to be the big bad, but he really wasn’t. Mina needs something that Luke has. Luke isn’t giving it to her. Luke underestimates her- big mistake!

Selection Post

Week 9- Option 1

Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert
Pages- 221
How it qualifies- In précis- “Will these two lost souls find a happy ending under the tree this Christmas?”

Selection Post

Option 1
Week 9: UNESCO Peace Prize

The Last Grand Master by Andrew Q. Gordon
Page Count: 370/GR
How it Qualifies: "For three thousand years, Nendor and the Seven Kingdoms have known peace and prosperity and Neldin's evil was nearly forgotten." (From precis, GR Main Page)

Switching book, new selection below.

New Selection Post

Option 1
Week 9: UNESCO Peace Prize

Crescendo by Rachel Haimowitz
Page Count: 245/GR
How it Qualifies: "Time is fast running out for mankind, and only by making peace amongst themselves and with their ancient elven enemies can they end the Dark war..." (From precis, GR Main Page)

Completion Post

Week 9- Option 1

Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert
Rating- 4*
Review- The meet-cute in this story was just that....cute! Cash and Bailey both have baggage but are both genuinely good people. I found the characters multi-dimensional and a pleasure to read about. He's a tattoo legend and she's a barista at a local coffee shop. I love that we find out that he (view spoiler)[doesn't even like the specialty coffees that she whips up for him. He's there only to see her but hasn't worked up the nerve to ask her out yet. (hide spoiler)]

Completion post
Week #9 - UNESCO Peace Prize
Option 1


Book: Graveyard Shift by Jenn Burke
Date Read: 11/3
Rating: 5 Star
Review: I liked the first book, I really liked the second book and I loved the third book in this series! Graveyard Shift is not a stand alone book and should be read after the first two books in the series - so if you haven't started begin with the first one (the whole series is worth reading).

Graveyard Shift is where I thought Jenn Burke really hit her stride and I loved everything about this book! It gave us a great plot, a bit of a mystery, heartache and love. I've heard this is the final book in the series and I'm sad that there won't be more but what a perfect way to wrap up Wes and Hudson's story. I hope that we get a chance to see them again if the author writes about some of the great secondary characters in this world.

I really loved seeing Wes finally accept his power and come into his own! I loved the strong relationship between Hudson and Wes and all the people that made up their family. I laughed, I cried and I couldn't put it down!

Completion post
Week #9 - UNESCO Peace Prize
Option 1

Book: Tillie Cole
Rating: 5⭐️
Review: A book about a religious cult and an MC gang called Hades Hangmen. Styx the president of the hades hangmen is known as the hangmen mute as he has only been able to speak to 3 people in his life - his father, his best friend and now VP Ky and a young girl he met who was trapped on the other side of a fence when he was 11 years old.

Salome or Mae has been raised in a cult commune believing the outside world to be evil. When she was 8 following the first time she was taken by force by the male leaders of The Order she ran to the perimeter fence. A boy who spoke with his hands found her there and showed her kindness and left her with her first kiss and lasting memories.

At the age of 23 Mae is to be married to the leader of The Order as has been prophesied. Desperation due to the marriage and also finding out that her sister has died following abuse and neglect force her to run. Badly wounded she ends up at the Hades Hangmen compound where she is reunited with Styx.

Learning the ways of the outside world, a MC club, a highly possessive alpha male and combatting her religious beliefs with the danger and violence surrounding the club is hard for Mae. Learning to love and finding his girl after all this time is difficult for Styx.

When The Order seek retribution things turn ugly and Mae is taken back to fulfil her destiny war is declared. HEA ending

COMPLETION Post: Week #8
11. Darwin Awards

Book: Perversion by T.M. Frazier
Page numbers: 300
Qualification: 113 on Death Gods and Reaper Protagonists
Read: 11/3
Rating & Review: 3-stars
It was a good first book. It set up how Tristan met Emma Jane, how Tristan became Grim and how some foster kids cobbled together their own version of a family. We also got a glimpse into the criminal enterprise that many biker clubs run and how they exploit women and children. I can't wait to see how Emma Jane will factor into Marco and Grim's rivalry as both men want to claim her though only of them loves her. EJ is strong, resourceful and smart so I know she will find a way to escape her captors.

Ezi - I'm sure you are still deciding on the book, but thought I'd comment that you still need a selection post for this week :)

Jane (PS) wrote: "Ezi - I'm sure you are still deciding on the book, but thought I'd comment that you still need a selection post for this week :)"

I can’t find one :(
Well, not one with the magic words. I was wanting to read new releases but I guess happy peace cooperation etc aren’t as common as one would think

SELECTION Post: Week #9
7. UNESCO Peace Prize

Book: Wagering on Christmas by Sandra Sookoo
Page numbers: 263
Qualification: “Happiness”, a derivative of happy is in the précis

Happiness will elude them both unless they find the Yuletide wonder and give themselves over to a love that has waited... with the help of a few, secret Christmas wagers working behind the scenes.

Ezinwanyi wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Ezi - I'm sure you are still deciding on the book, but thought I'd comment that you still need a selection post for this week :)"

I can’t find one :(
Well, not one with the magic..."

LOL - the new releases are probably centred on doom and depression!

Week 8- Option 2


Book: Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster
Pages- 274 Pages
How it qualifies- on Ezi's read shelf- she read it on October 20, 2019. Ezi rated it 3*.
Read: 11/7
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Review: The only thing I really loved about this book was the narration. The story was so OTT I found myself rolling my eyes extensively. This is one of the reasons I don't read books about teens. THis book takes place with two best friends in highschool. When Penn kisses Cope he hits him and storms off. Cope then spends the next two years not talking and hating his best friend. Then suddenly they start hanging out again and Cope continues to act like an ass until he finally admits that he wants Penn too. To add to the OTT drama - they both have abusive fathers who treat their kids like pawns. This part of the story is actually even more ridiculous. Most of the secondary characters were one dimensional and I just didn't really believe the resolution.

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Week 8- Option 2


Book: Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster
Pages- 274 Pages
How it qualifies- on Ezi's read shelf- she r..."

I’m sorry my friend. It didn’t move me either

Ezinwanyi wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Week 8- Option 2


Book: Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster
Pages- 274 Pages
How it qualifies..."

That's ok I needed a book with the word wicked in the title for another challenge so at least it killed two birds.

Ezi have you read this one? I love her writing and it has peace in the title and happy in the précis. It was released on 5 November.

Hazel wrote: "Ezi have you read this one? I love her writing and it has peace in the title and happy in the précis. It was released on 5 November.

"

I did. I wasn’t on audio though 😩

COMPLETION POST

Option 1
Week 9: UNESCO Peace Prize

Crescendo by Rachel Haimowitz
Page Count: 245/GR
How it Qualifies: "Time is fast running out for mankind, and only by making peace amongst themselves and with their ancient elven enemies can they end the Dark war..." (From precis, GR Main Page)
Date Completed: 06Nov2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: Gah! Rachel is so good at world-building and telling an engaging story that it didn't matter that I'd read the first book over 2 years ago; I had no problem picking up where the tale left off and immediately dropped into the action. Once again I find myself wishing that more Fantasy-based books were this engrossing, this detailed, this sexy and romantic. Fantasy isn't a genre I read a lot of (not including UF/SPN/PNR) but I would read (and listen) more if I were sure I'd get this kind of quality.

Loved the narration...now I need to go back and listen to the first one!

Week 10

Option 1
2. Booker prize
The Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the United Kingdom.
* Read a book written by a UK author.
No foreign language editions to be used when showing how your book qualifies.
You may use a novel written by two authors, only one of which is from the UK. If you wish to use an anthology, at least 50% of the authors must be from the UK.
To qualify - please insert a link to the GR author's page or some other reference point that proves that they live in or are from the UK. You may also quote the source, but please also include the link.


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: May 10, 2019


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

** Clarification inserted for this theme:

To qualify - please insert a link to the GR author's page or some other reference point that proves that they live in or are from the UK. You may also quote the source, but please also include the link.

If the GR author's page doesn't specify location, and to insert a link from an outside source (hint: wikipedia is a good option), please copy the URL at the top of your web browser (ctrl c), and past the link into your post (ctrl v).**

Selection post
Week #10 - Booker Prize
Option 1

Book: by Ker Dukey
Pages: 215
How it qualifies: Author is from the UK
GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon author link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/a...

Selection Post
Week #10 - Booker Prize
Option 1


Book: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles
Pages: 211
How it qualifies: Author is from UK
GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Thanks Hazel!

COMPLETION Post: Week #9
7. UNESCO Peace Prize

Book: Wagering on Christmas by Sandra Sookoo
Page numbers: 263
Qualification: “Happiness”, a derivative of happy is in the précis

Happiness will elude them both unless they find the Yuletide wonder and give themselves over to a love that has waited... with the help of a few, secret Christmas wagers working behind the scenes.
Read: 11/8
Rating & Review: 3 Stars.
This holiday story was a second chance romance and it featured an interesting twist. The narrator Megan Green did a really good job with the story and with differentiating the characters.

Widowers Colin Rowley, the Viscount Hartsford and Lucy Ashbrook used to be sweethearts. They broke up and married other people, but both are now single with children. Thanks to a series of events, they are both en route back to the Lancaster Hall, which was where Lucy turned down Colin's proposal of marriage. The journey allowed the two to take stroll down memory lane and re-evaluate some of their behaviors back in the day.They got a chance to make a matured choices and do it right this time.

I really like Colin's evolution as he seemed be aware of his shortcomings but needed some support to navigate his melancholy behavior. Lucy's character was wishy-washy to me and I really feel like while she may have had residual feeling for Colin, she needed a husband with money. So I didn't trust her memories of Colin because one moment she loved him, then the next minute she thought he was selfish beyond all reason. She was the one I didn't connect with in this narrative. I do see that she was good for Colin.

I was satisfied with the ending though I will admit that this story dragged a bit. IT was definitely a good story about how the holiday spirit can heal old wounds.

SELECTION Post: Week #10
Option 1
2. Booker prize

Book: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Page numbers: 384
Qualification: Talia Hibbert is a British author per her author's page

COMPLETION Post:
Week #10, Option 1
2. Booker prize

Book: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Page numbers: 384
Qualification: Talia Hibbert is a British author per her author's page
Read: 11/9
Rating & Review: 3-stars
*Sighing* I just don't seem to connect with British written Rom-Coms. The narrator did a great job, the plot of the story was a good one but the characters just didn't engage me.

Chloe Brown is a website designer who was roughing it in life. Chloe has Fibromyalgia, a chronic and debilitating disease which kept her in constant pain. She needed pain killers daily life and the side effects were off putting to even her closest friends. Thanks to her health, her inner circle dwindled to just her two sisters and her grandma. After almost getting run over by a car, Chloe decides that she was done just barely surviving, she wants to really live!

Chloe moved out of her family's home and into her own space, where she meets the super of her building, Redmond 'Red' Morgan. The two of them make quick but incorrect assessments of the other and so Chloe and Red think very lowly of the other.

In her bid to add some excitement to her life, Chloe makes a List of things she wants to and enlists Red's help to achieve them. Then the reader got to learn more about both character's journey thus far. Red was a lot more complex than he initially appeared and the reader was able to understand his reasons for mistrusting Chloe.

They seem to get on each other's nerves but there was also a physical attraction that has been building and that chemistry allowed them to really bond with each other.

The author did a great job portraying a woman dealing with a chronic medical issue and a man escaping a painful past. What appeared like a cute romantic comedy actually dealt with some serious issues like mental abuse, body image and interracial romance. Talia Hibbert interwove these topics with humor so it didn't feel so heavy or preachy.

The problem for me is that I knew things were supposed to be funny, but they didn't tickle my funny bone. It's like that for me with a lot of British authors. I just don't connect with the humor and sometimes the writing even though I get the main point of their story. I did think this story was well done and I would recommend this book to all despite my indifference.

Completion Post
Week #10 - Booker Prize
Option 1

Book:
Rating: 3⭐️
Review: Mafia story about a whole lot of families with surnames and some first names beginning with V. This was slightly confusing especially to start with and I felt I just got the hang of some of the names by the time the story ended.
The main focus is on Vlad Vailiev who belongs to one of the first families he runs something called the V games which seems to be a game where you fight to the death. A lot of females are required for this however not a lot of detail is provided about the games. For alliance sake Vlad is to marry Diana Volkov although he has always wanted Diana’s sister Irina. Both sisters move into Vlads house and mayhem, deceit and betrayal ensue. The book ends in a CH and I need to read the 2nd book to see how things work out.

SELECTION Post: Week #10
Option 1
2. Booker prize

What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote
Pages- 152
How it qualifies- Jay Northcote - "Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England." as per author's page- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Completion Post: Week #10
Option 1
2. Booker prize

What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote
Rating- 3.5*
Review- Justin and Sean were very cute together. I enjoy a friends to lovers story. This one was a little slow but I still liked the guys together. The holiday setting made it a little more sentimental. The 'let's go together to the work thing and make my ex jealous by pretending to be together' trope has been used before, and probably often, but it's the highlight of this story and well done.

Outstanding before the final week:

Selections
Week 10 - Michaelle

Completions
Week 10 - Michaelle & Danielle

Let me know if I've missed a post.

Argh, forgot to post mine! Half-way through, too! Ooops...

Will work on tracking post tomorrow.

Selection Post

Week 10: Booker Prize

The Perfect Whore by Josephine Myles
Page Count: 201/GR
How it Fits: Author is British, per her GoodReads Profile page

COMPLETION POST

Week 10: Booker Prize

The Perfect Whore by Josephine Myles
Page Count: 201/GR
How it Fits: Author is British, per her GoodReads Profile page
Date Completed: 14Nov2019
Rating: ~4 Stars
Review: Again, not quite 4 stars but I liked it too much to round down to only 3. And maybe I'm in a good mood or something. Actually, I am predisposed to give MM scifi a slightly higher rating - so long as it's not really bad or boring - because there is just not enough of it IMHO.

And this is definitely NOT boring. Right from the start we get dropped into the action and it feels like the fast pace never really lets up! Parts of it remind me of the great Firefly capers...only more ridiculous and slightly silly - like something out of Red Dwarf. (Which JM credits as inspiration in her Author's Notes, so go me!) And it was fun...when it wasn't breaking my heart a little bit.

I cannot even imagine what it would be like to not live in your own form, to only look the way that others see you. (Oh wait, yes I can. I'm a woman. So, yeah, that's some deeply insightful commentary on the male gaze there Josephine. Props!). But to actually morph into that fantasy image is just horrifying to me. Not only is it a drain on Storms physical resources, but it takes away his agency as he's also forced to feel the emotions of those who surround him...which means that he's also not in control of his own desire. *shudders*

(This was supposed to be a fun romp, gorramit, not a scathing social observation that makes me think so much!)

Anyway, was it perfect? No. (Ha! Title pun.) There was a section that came after Jedd and Storm escape and have already had sex, once they're on the ship, where Storm realizes he's experiencing his own sexual arousal...and it's sort of portrayed as happening for the first time. Only, there was a passing mention of it happening when they were in the tunnels. So, when Jedd and Storm had sex the first time I was thinking that it was Storm's own desire that led to them getting hot and heavy (plus the unexpected role-reversal giving Storm a level of control). Except, maybe not? Which gave me the willies, only slightly alleviated by Jedd's own horrified reaction at thinking he'd somehow coerced Storm into it against his will.

I think had the realization in the tunnels been a little more detailed, a little more explored/explained/examined before they had sex, and had the "second" realization been less of a surprise (as it felt to me, the reader) it wouldn't have seemed so icky...and would have cemented the rating fully into the 4 - 4.25 range. (I just re-read what I wrote and that's not confusing at all. *sigh*)

Still, I am 100% HERE FOR THE SEQUEL!! Only, OMG, NO...there's not one yet. I need another installment ASAP. So glad that JM mentioned there were possibly 2 more in the works because I see neither hide nor hair of them here at GR.

Selection Post
Week #10 - Booker Prize
Option 1


Book: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles
Pages: 211
How it qualifies: Author is from UK
GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Date Completed: 11/15
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: So much fun to read - this story was full of action, romance, intrigue and just flew by. I really like the world in this series and the interesting use of Chinese mythology and sorcery. Both Crane and Stephen are interesting characters as well.

This book had a great mystery with the giant rats. Normally I'd be rolling my eyes but it worked. We also get a few very hot bedroom scenes and some sweet romantic ones as well. We see a bit more of some of the secondary characters who add to the book (especially Merrick). There's also a bit of humor along the way.

I'm hooked and ready to read the next one.

Category is up - the team we pick from if we use option 2 is 7 Read Carpet Romancers

New Category - Week 11

Option 1
3. Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, also officially and popularly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry.
* Read a book with alliteration in the title. Eg Borrowing Blue or Devil's Daughter
The alliteration can be anywhere in the title and can have 'a', 'an', 'the' or 'and' in between the two alliterating words - eg Twisted and Tied.
No other words will be approved.


Option 2
In this final week, if you use Option 2 you must select your book from a member in the team 7 Read Carpet Romancers
Key Date: May 17, 2019

Selection Post
Week 11 - Academy Awards
Option 1



Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan
Pages- 144
How it qualifies- title has alliteration- Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure

Selection post
Week #11 - Academy Awards
Option 1

Book: Christie Craig
Pages: 325
How it qualifies: Has triple D’s in the title which is alliteration

Selection Post
Week 11 - Academy Awards
Option 2


Book: Connections in Death by J.D. Robb
Pages: 371
Read by Mountain Kat (From Team Read Carpet Romancers) who gave it a 4 Stars on 27 October

Selection Post

Week 11: Academy Awards

Lucifer's Litigator by T.J. Nichols
Page Count: 120/GR
How it Fits: Alliteration of Ls

Completion Post
Week 11 - Academy Awards
Option 1


Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan
Rating- 4*
Review- Bertrice and Violetta are two older Victorian ladies who have had enough of men ruling their lives and making them miserable. This is a story about revenge, finding love and being yourself, and sharing cheese toastie thingies. You are rooting for these two with a smile on your face the whole time- I really enjoyed it.

Thank you so much Michaelle for being our terrific captain! It was a fun challenge and a fun time with the whole team :)

COMPLETION POST

Week 11: Academy Awards

Lucifer's Litigator by T.J. Nichols
Page Count: 120/GR
How it Fits: Alliteration of Ls
Date Completed: 15Nov2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Before I decided to read this, I read the first couple of sentences of some of the current reviews and so when I started I was prepared for Lucifer's Litigator to be "different."

I still wasn't prepared for how different it really was.

I absolutely LOVE stories that turn conventional mythology on its head and the way it's done here is brilliantly subversive.

"First rule of propaganda is to always accuse the other side of what you are actually doing."

(view spoiler)[Having Lucifer be Humanity's protector against the capricious whims of the gods and goddesses - as well as having NOT "deals with the devil" cost a person their soul, but the Miracles™ they beg for (both the selfish and selfless kind) from the dieties they worship that potentially dooms them - is, quite simply, my kind of story.

But they're not to destined for Hell, because that's actually, technically, as the domain of Lucifer, HERE on earth. And there's not really a Heaven as it's typically portrayed. Oh, and their souls aren't really all that special because the pantheon of powers trade them away like "kids do baseball cards" - for favors or for fun or to amass more power. Because it's the believing in them at all that gives them that leverage. (Kinda reminds me of the Orii in SG1, the first time I'd run across that particular deviation from traditional dogma in fiction.) (hide spoiler)]

Fuck. That's some mind-bending shit. Props to TJN for going out there like that. Again, my kind of story.

I think, however, that it goes a little too far with the Insta-love reboot; saving Will from a bad contract had one particular step and I think it could have been accomplished without going from meeting again immediately to (view spoiler)[engagement (hide spoiler)], especially since they had absolutely no contact in the intervening 25 years, and everything happens in the space of TWO DAYS.

I know there was a deadline (heh) but still...that "Last Step" was doable in a way that still gave Tom & Will time to get to know each other again. (I don't doubt the love was still there, at least on Will's part; Tom's "leave no man behind" approach was less than romantic and I think that's where part of the disconnect was for me.) If nothing else, an epilogue might have gone a long way toward convincing me that it wasn't a Fairy Tale-type HEA, that it took some work, some effort, some time to adjust to each other...and for Will to get used to his new job.

Hopefully that just means there might be a sequel? Seriously, I'd love to read about Will's new caseload!

Fran wrote: "Thank you so much Michaelle for being our terrific captain! It was a fun challenge and a fun time with the whole team :)"

Thanks Fran!

I checked and there's still no winner yet...so, crossing fingers and re-checking thread every so often.

I'll post when I head to bed so that someone else can keep an eye out for our last completion - in case no one has clinched it yet.

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "Fran wrote: "Thank you so much Michaelle for being our terrific captain! It was a fun challenge and a fun time with the whole team :)"

Thanks Fran!

I checked and there's still no winner yet...so,..."

It’s 7am for me so I’m happy to watch the thread through the day. I’m reading at the moment but didn’t get a lot done last night as we had to go and say goodbye to my sisters dog last night and my son was inconsolable. We brought my sisters other dog home with us and she’s had me up since 6am at least I get some peace to read before the weekend activities start.