Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Kristen wrote: "finally finished this dang book! I love Nalini Singh but for some reason, this one took a hot minute to get into..."

Oh dear - I think this is the book I am up to in this series. On the positive side and knowing me, it will take me at least another year to get to it (i'm hopeless on series even though I love them) so I will have forgotten this issue by the time I pick it up ;)

Jane (PS) wrote: "Kristen wrote: "finally finished this dang book! I love Nalini Singh but for some reason, this one took a hot minute to get into..."

Oh dear - I think this is the book I am up to in this series. O..."

haha well good! don't get me wrong, it was fine - just not my fave that's all! i'm excited for the next one though

I have mine finished, I just haven't gotten the chance to post yet. Stupid app

Completion Post -- Week 8 -- Option 1

Dirty Kiss Rhys Ford
Pages: 323
How it fits: #28 on Gay Romance Featuring a Grieving Main Character/MC
Date: 11/1
Rating: 3 stars

Review: I have mixed feelings on this one. Overall, the story was good but the language used from time to time bothered me. I understand that the author was trying to give us an idea of just how much everyone hates this man for being gay but for some reason, the execution felt...off to me. I had a hard time getting past the frequent ladyboys and other such terms. I also felt a lack of connection to any of the characters and for a death that was so much a part of who Cole is, it seemed glossed over. Not sure I will keep going with this one despite the fact that so many of my friends love it.

Week 9

Option 1
7. UNESCO Peace Prize
The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize is intended to honour living individuals and active public or private bodies or institutions that have made a significant contribution to promoting, seeking, safeguarding or maintaining peace.
* Read a book with one of the following words in the precis/blurb on the book's main page:
'peace', 'happy', 'cooperation', 'good' or 'tranquil' or words that have the same root word.
Eg 'peaceful', 'unhappily', 'cooperate', 'goodness', 'tanquility'.
Edit - no hyphens.


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 3, 2019


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

Week 9 Selection Post, Option 1
Complicated
Complicated Kristen Ashley
Pages: 576
How it fits: The only thing to look forward to is peace.

Week 9 Selection Post, Option 2

Book: The Beast
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 521

How it fits: Found on Stacie's shelves Read 10-18-19
Her rating was 3 Stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Completion Post - Week 8 - Option 1


Bookcover/link: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
Page numbers: 307
How it fits: #14 on the first list "Death gods and reaper protagonistst"

star rating: 4 stars
review: i enjoyed this book as much as the first in the series - it was funny and just so dang enjoyable. this series (so far) is super fun and i really enjoy all the characters and stories. i feel a lot of feelings. can't wait to see how it all plays out, especially how this one ended. charley, honestly, what did you expect! already requested the next one from the library!

Selection Post - Week 9 - Option 1



Bookcover/link: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
Page numbers: 464
How it fits: in precis 'can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?'

Week 9 Selection Post, Option 1
Complicated
Complicated Kristen Ashley
Pages: 576
How it fits: The only thing to look forward to is peace.
Date: 11/4
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
Kristen Ashley is so predictable and formulaic. Some days I don't even know why I read her as her alpha males tend to be way too over the top for my liking. I do appreciate that her characters tend to be older which is nice. She's perfect junk reading. It's not particularly good but sometimes, it just hits the spot.

Week 9 - Selection Post: UNESCO Peace Prize

Always for You: Jack
Pages: 296
How it qualifies: Caitlyn Curtis knows that good looks can hide a hot temper.

[*bookcover:Always for You: Jack|25982502]

Week 8 - Completion Post - Option 1

Black Widow Laurie Breton
Page No. - 318
Rating - 4 Stars
Review: The characters and writing in Black Widow appealed to me and this is an author I would read again. Imagine spending 4 years in prison for your husband's murder. Most people would not return to the town who were happy to see you convicted, but not Kathryn McCallister. I like how stubborn she was in trying to find the real killer. Balancing a romance with suspense is a tricky business, but Breton handled it well.

Selection Post - Week 9 - Option 1

Where Good Girls Go To Die Holly Renee
Pages: 340 Pages
How it fits: Unfortunately for him, I wasn't a good girl anymore.

Just Amanda's selection post outstanding :)

Week 9 Selection Post - UNESCO Peace Prize
Windburn by Juliette Cross
114 pages
Qualification: "...they’re good for only one thing..."

Week 9: Completion Post

Always for You: Jack
Rating: 3 stars
Review:

Because of an injury, Jack has left the military, so when his father dies, he is the only one of his brothers who can more readily finish up the construction contracts he had before closing the business. When Jack is at work one day, he sees a boy that he knows is living on the streets. He knows because like recognizes like, and before Jack and his brothers got taken in by their parents, they were all alone in one way or another. Jack gives the boy his card, and when he is called to the hospital one day because he was beaten, Jack and his mother decide to take the boy in for as long as he needs a place to stay.
Caitlyn is a tutor, and has been hired by Jack to get Ricky up to school levels. Caitlyn has been through a bad relationship, and doesn't really want to get back in the dating end of things, but there is something about Jack and his relationship with Ricky that tugs at her heartstrings. As Caitlyn and Jack get closer to each other, Ricky's not-so-distant past is about to catch up with him, pulling everyone in.

I thought that the relationship between Jack and Caitlyn developed way too fast. They barely had any interactions getting to know one another before they were declaring forever to each other.
I did like the relationship between Jack and his brothers, Jack and his mother, and Jack and Ricky. They were deep and heartfelt. I just didn't buy the romantic connection.
Told from several different characters POV. I enjoyed this, but I wouldn't re-read it.

Week 9 Completion Post - UNESCO Peace Prize
Windburn by Juliette Cross
114 pages
Qualification: "...they’re good for only one thing..."
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I was really looking forward to the heroine in this one after reading the first book in the series. She's brash, sexually confident, and has a mischievous streak. While that certainly carries over to her own book, the page count should have been double to full address and resolve Sorcha's commitment issues and Lorian's mysterious past.

Week 9 Completion Post, Option 2

Book: The Beast
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 521
Date Read: 11-7-19
Rating 3 Stars

How it fits: Found on Stacie's shelves Read 10-18-19
Her rating was 3 Stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Review:
I'm slowly reading this series book by book. I liked this book but I liked other ones more. This book told the story of Rhage and Mary. I really liked the commentary between the two of them. I also liked Bitty. I think my favorite scene in the whole book was the bathtub scene and the unfortunate accident and the brothers reaction. It was really funny. I also enjoyed the other storylines going on in the book. I probably should've read this series in order instead of jumping around because I think I'm confused on a couple things. Overall, this book was good.

bamaace83 wrote: "Week 9 Selection Post, Option 2

Book: The Beast
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 521
Date Read: 11-7-19
Rating 3 Stars

How it fits: Found on Stacie's shelves Read 10-18-1..."

Hi Anna - could you please update to show it as a completion post? Thanks :)

Oops! Sorry, I have found it's easier to copy and paste sometimes then to retype everything. Fixed it. :)

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

Week 10 Selection Post Option 1

Book: At Last Comes Love
Author: Mary Balogh
Pages: 386

How it fits: Mary Balogh was born in Wales, the United Kingdom.

Week 10, Selection Post, Option 2
Book:
The Best Thing Mariana Zapata
Pages: 480
How it fits: Kristen read it 8/15 and rated it 4 stars

Week 10, Selection Post, Option 1


Feral Sins Suzanne Wright
429 pages

How it fits: "Suzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. "

Selection Post - Week 10 - Option 1



Bookcover/link: Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
Page numbers: 433
How it fits: from Mhairi McFarlane's author page on Goodreads: 'Mhairi was born in Scotland in 1976 and her unnecessarily confusing name is pronounced Vah-Ree. She lives in Nottingham, with a man and a cat.'

Selection Post: Week 10 - Booker Prize

Wanted, A Gentleman
Pages: 151
How it qualifies: author GR bio states "I live in London, UK" K.J. Charles

[*bookcover:Wanted, A Gentleman|39383420]

Completion Post: Week 10

Wanted, A Gentleman
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review:

Theo ekes out a living writing Gothic novels and running a matrimonial advertisement paper. One day he is approached by a gentleman to find out who a particular advertiser is, and he helps out for a price. When Theo discovers a code in a newspaper with clues as to where the two clandestine lovers will be, he rushes to let the gentleman know.
Martin has a complicated relationship with the parents of the wayward girl who is communicating with a secret swain, but when they ask him for help, he agrees to chase her to Gretna Green. He takes Theo along to help smooth the way once they get out of London.
As Martin and Theo bump along at rapid speeds after the lovers, they get to know one another. Martin realizes that he may have misjudged Theo on his appearances, and that they may have more in common than they think.

This was a really good read. The characters were clearly human and clearly drawn, being neither all good nor all bad. Even though they didn't have a lot of time together, the time that they did have, they spent talking and getting to know one another. (Seriously, what else could you do while riding in a two-person conveyance on bumpy roads for over 12 hours?)

Week 10, Completion Post, Option 2
Book:
The Best Thing Mariana Zapata
Pages: 480
How it fits: Kristen read it 8/15 and rated it 4 stars
Date: 11/13
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I loved this book. I didn't put two and two together when reading the synopsis that this was a spinoff of Luna and the Lie. Luna fell kind of flat for me but Lenny's book more than made up for everything I didn't like about Luna's. I love Grandpa Gus and was happy we get Lenny's book because it meant more Gus. I had to read the epilogue through tears which is always a sign of a good book. Loved loved loved it.

Outstanding before the final week:

Selections
Week 10 - Amanda

Completions
Week 7 - Amanda
Week 9 - Kristen & Alice
Week 10 - Amanda, Anna (bamaace), Kristen & Alice

Let me know if I've missed a post.

Week 9 - Completion Post
Where Good Girls Go To Die
Holly Renee
340 pages
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: This is a second chance at love story and I enjoyed some of it but I had too many issues to love it. In addition to a second chance, it was also a brother's best friend story. Livy and Parker kept their relationship secret from the brother. If any of the three bothered to talk to each other, they wouldn't have wasted years apart. Just talk people! So frustrating. And if you don't want to be involved with your engaged ex-boyfriend, don't take a job at his shop.

Completion Post - Week 9 - Option 1


Bookcover/link: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
Page numbers: 464
How it fits: in precis 'can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?'

star rating: 5 stars
review: oh man. hmm. this went in a completely different direction than i expected it to and that ending! gah! feelings. what the hell is happening! anywho. grey is much more immediately likable than rhen was in his book, but maybe because we got to know grey in the last book. this one had a bit of a slow start but picks up around 35% and then i was like 'just one more chapter' and it's midnight and i'm at 91% and may as well just finish it right?! i really loved grey and lia mara, it was definitely more romantic than the first book... now i am impatiently waiting for the 3rd book and i can honestly say i have absolutely no idea where it's going to go. my mind is all over the place. definitely unputdownable.

Week 10 Completion Post Option 1

Book: At Last Comes Love
Author: Mary Balogh
Pages: 386
Date Read: 11-12-19

How it fits: Mary Balogh was born in Wales, the United Kingdom.

Review:
This book was so funny. I really enjoyed following the main characters. The book followed the lives of Duncan and Margaret. Duncan needs to find a wife and get married in two weeks before his grandfather disowns him. Margaret tells a fib that she's engaged and needs to find a guy to actually be engaged to. Sometimes I love reading this time period and sometimes I hate it due to the writing style but this book was really good. I won't give away the actual events of the book but I really liked Margaret's sense of humor and how well she could put Duncan in his place. I think I may have read some of these books years before I was on goodreads but I hadn't read this one. I'm going to have to go back and read the rest of the series.

Final Call

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 below yours in the following list:
Key Date: May 17, 2019

Please select your book from a member in the team immediately below you on the list. Eg Team 8 selects option 2 books from Team 9. And Team 3 selects option 2 books from Team 8.

8 Re-word Me
9 And the Winner is…
10 PITAs
1 The Spine Crackers
4 Top Per-4-mer
7 Read Carpet Romancers
11 Nobel Literary Chapter Chicks
5 Five Time Award Readers
6 Cinematic Cinereaders
12 Worldly Prize Readers
2 The U-Reader Awards
3 Winner Winner Chicken Dinner


You cannot use a pass this week.


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

Week 11 Selection Post, Option 1

Calmly, Carefully, Completely Tammy Falkner
Pages: 264
How it fits: each letter starts with C

I hope Amanda's all right.

Week 11: Selection Post - Academy Awards

Expeditions, Estimation, and Other Dangerous Pastimes
Pages: 164
How it qualifies: Expeditions, Estimations

[*bookcover:Expeditions, Estimation, and Other Dangerous Pastimes|36602760]

UnusualChild{beppy} wrote: "I hope Amanda's all right."

Me too!! She's missed the Week 10 selection post, so sadly your team won't be able to win :(

Feel free to keep playing though :D

Oh, bummer :( hope Amanda is okay!

So sorry everyone! I caught the flu and have been working a second job; I’ve essentially been unconscious for a good portion of the week.

Oh no worries at all. Are you feeling better? I heard this years flu is pretty bad. This has been a fun challenge.

glad you're okay! hope you're feeling better :)

Week 10 - Completion Post - Option 1

Feral Sins Suzanne Wright
429 pages
Rating: 4 Star
Review: I wanted to try something new and this was my first shifter story. I enjoyed the beginning because Taryn had such a take no prisoners personality until she met her match in Trey. I had no idea what was meant by latent at first. Once I figured out about her inner wolf and her inability to shift, it was kind of funny. Having an animal inside - what an inconvenience. I would've liked to see more humor in that vein.

Taryn's horrible dad tries to force a marriage on her but she hates the shifter involved so she goes along with Trey's plan to fake bond with each other instead (after being kidnapped by Trey, which she took in stride). There's some good ideas and writing in Feral Sins, but after a while the story and the sex scenes became a bit monotonous for me. Others may enjoy those pages the best but it wasn't what I was looking for in my first shifter story.

Sorry you weren't feeling good, Amanda. Hope things have settled down, now.

It was good playing with you, team. I'm sure we'll meet again sometime. Thanks for being captain, Amanda.

I'm still working on figuring out a book but I'll post it later.

Week 11 Selection Post Option 1

Book: The Secret Sister
Author: Brenda Novak
Pages: 400 pages
Alliteration: Secret Sister

I know we already have a winner but I wanted to finish this week. Just needed to find a book that would meet a couple different challenges at one time. Thanks for being such an awesome team!