Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Fran
I'm glad you liked the book you read. Hopefully you get another in, but if not, I'm happy to hear you've added some to your TBR list. Enjoy!

Mary-Megan wrote: "Fran
I'm glad you liked the book you read. Hopefully you get another in, but if not, I'm happy to hear you've added some to your TBR list. Enjoy!"

Thanks Mary-Megan :)
I'm on a waitlist on my library ebook website for The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. Hopefully it will come in soon.

Nancy H, I have started my first pick Aunt Dimity's Death. I'll keep you posted.

Courtney wrote: "Here you go Carmen. Sorry for the delay! Hope I got some good picks for you.

Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America)
TBR: Swink (series)
NEW: Healed By Love (family)..."


Yay, Courtney! You get to pick for me again :) I know I'm late but with the holidays, err time crunch. I love the picks and now I'm off to see which one to start off with, thanks :-)

Allie wrote: "Hello Diane ~Firefly~, I finished my first pick from you today. . Thank you so much for giving me a push to continue this series. I read the first book a coupl..."

Glad you liked it and good to know as that is on my wishlist :)

Hey, Carina! Besides Harry Potter, I read One Man Guy and it wasn't wonderful, but it was nice, and I finally got to get it off my shelf.
I also gave another try to The Chocolate Lovers' Club, but I can't stand the way grown-ups act my teenagers in this and it's currently in my didn't finish list and off my shelves.
I think I'll try The Nightingale one of these days, but I'm not crazy for historical fiction and don't know how much I'll enjoy it.

Gabriella,

I read my first book this month, a nice Thanksgiving mystery.

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Gabriella,

I read my first book this month, a nice Thanksgiving mystery.

"

Nice! Hope you enjoyed it :)

OMG I've been a terrible hostess this month! Sorry all! Been hectic for work with the end of the year and our holiday party.
I'm fresh out of Hogwarts, you guys! We went to Universal Studios yesterday and specifically ran around in Hogsmead and Hogwarts. OMG SO FUN!!! We all got wands (I got the Elder Wand) as gifts, plus house scarves and socks. Was a lot of fun and I totally got to get my geek on! :D

Nancy H wrote: "Hi Sonja,
I have finished Thank You For Riding and really enjoyed it.
I also read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill[bookcove..."

So glad you enjoyed those books, NancyH!! I really enjoyed Thank you for Riding, was a nice short holiday-themed story! Glad you liked Nina as well! She was different wasn't she?
Happy reading!

Carrie wrote: "Sonja, I hope you find something to curl up with for December


Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America):

TBR: (Family)
Relatively Normal by [a..."

Hey Carrie!
I finished [bookcover:To All the Boys I've Loved Before|15749186] last week, but didn't get a chance to let you know.
I started right after, but haven't had much time for it, but I'm also listening to while I'm gallivanting all over town for work so that's helping! Hoping to get those done and at least 3 more this month!

Yes! thanks for the picks Suzzanne. It's hard getting online without my laptop.

I just finished Seduction and Snacks not five minutes ago. I have to say I liked it and I'm glad I got to scratch yet another Tara Sivec off my list.

I'm reading a couple at a time right now. hopefully I can finish a few more by month's end.

Sonja wrote: "Carrie wrote: "Sonja, I hope you find something to curl up with for December


Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America):

TBR: (Family)
[book:Relatively Normal|..."


That's quick reading :)

Carrie wrote: "Sonja wrote: "Carrie wrote: "Sonja, I hope you find something to curl up with for December


Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America):

TBR: (Family)
[book:Rela..."


LOL weeeelllll I'm not done with them yet, but Geekerella is so fun that I might be done soon!

Hey Suzanne,

Here's my progress report. Like I say, I've finished which was good Seduction and Snacks.

⭐⭐⭐

I also finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon .which was different from what I'm used to but I really liked.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just finished Romancing the Duke and hope to finish this weekend (LOVED IT).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm also moving along with My Life as a White Trash Zombie which is a little out my wheel house, but I'm enjoying so far.

⭐⭐⭐⭐


I've just scratched the surface of Fool Me Twice & The Alice Network

⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Courtney wrote: "Here you go Carmen. Sorry for the delay! Hope I got some good picks for you.

Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America)
TBR: Swink (series)
NEW: Healed By Love (family)..."

Courtney I started with and I really liked it. I just found a new author. ;-) Ok now to see which one is going to be next. Not sure if I'm going to go with another new one or on my tbr, hmmm. LOL

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Gabriella wrote: "Diane ~Firefly~
Here are my picks for you, I hope you like them :)

Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America) –
TBR -
New - [bookcov..."

Hello Diane! I have finished three more books from your recommendations. Thank you so much for the great picks.

[bookcover:Grin and Beard It|23337863] - 3/5 stars. I already told you I enjoyed this one.
- 4/5 stars. This was my first time reading this author. I was very pleasantly surprised. It was really cute. I can't wait to read more from this author.
3/5 stars. I always enjoy Tessa Dare. This definitely wasn't my favorite by her, but I still enjoyed it a lot.
- 3/5 stars. I have a soft spot for books that revolve around stage theater since I have a background in acting. I hadn't heard of this series at all, and really enjoyed it. It was a bit overdramatic at times, but when it's a book about actors what else can you expect. I wish more of the book had taken place at the actual theater.

Carrie wrote: "Sonja, I hope you find something to curl up with for December


Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America):

TBR: (Family)
Relatively Normal by [a..."


Hey again Carrie!
Updating as I'm finishing though it's been a hectic and fun month so far! Between Harry Potter world and Disneyland, I am all geeked out and kind of stuck with audiobooks just so I can get them read!
So far, I've finished 3!
[book:To All the Boys I've Loved Before|15749186]

I'm reading two more now and hoping for a couple more during the holidays!
(I'm ambitious for a busy month! LOL)

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Here you go Carmen. Sorry for the delay! Hope I got some good picks for you.

Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America)
TBR: Swink (series)
NEW: [book:Healed By Love|4..."

Yay! Glad you liked it! Hope you find some more good picks. I know I found some digging through your shelves.

@Allie - I'm glad you are enjoying the books :)

Hey, Suzanne. You've made such perfect picks. As of now, I've finished Romancing the Duke, Seduction and Snacks, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, and My Life as a White Trash Zombie. All great books! The Zombie book surprised me, ending with 4 out of 5 stars.



I'm going to see what progress I can make with Fool Me Twice (20%), The Alice Network (10%) , Chocolat, Animal Magnetism, Cold Reign (6%), Real Murders (12%) and The Friday Night Knitting Club (50%).

,

Hey, Carina!
I also read Storm Born by Richelle Mead, which I liked, and finally gave up on The Nightingale, that belongs to a genre I hate.

Many thanks for all the amazing picks this year! I found some amazing new authors and made a nice dent (not really) in my TBR mountain. Happy New Year

January — Picked by: Rebecca
He’s a former football star
Shadow Highlander, Donna Grant – 1/11/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

Colton used to own a restaurant called 4th & Goal Grill in Washington D.C.
Hot Cop, Laurelin Paige – 1/2/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

Colton is 26 years old
Wicked Kiss, Rebecca Zanetti – 1/23/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

Colton was born in Indianapolis and grew up in the small town of Washington, Illinois
Falling for Jillian, Kristen Proby – 1/29/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

February — Picked by: Romanticbookworm
💜 Research to date supports that chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a balanced, heart-healthy diet and lifestyle.
Charming Hannah, Kristen Proby – 2/10/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

💜 Cocoa is raised by hand, on small, family-owned farms and most cocoa farms are not owned by the companies that make chocolate.
Bishop, Sawyer Bennett – 2/17/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

💜 Some cacao trees are more than 200 years old, but most give marketable cocoa beans for only the first 25 years.
Rumor Has It, Jill Shalvis – 2/28/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

💜 Rudolph Lindt designed the first conching machine, a special mixing/refining machine specific to chocolate manufacturing.
Endurance, Amy Daws – 2/13/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

March — Picked by: jenny
“Bad luck always comes in threes”
Rising Assets, Rebecca Zanetti – 3/8/19 – ✮✮✮✰✰ — tbr

“666”
Treachery in Death, J.D. Robb – 3/11/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
Three Blind Dates, Meghan Quinn – 3/17/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — new

“Friday the 13th”
Dare to Love, Carly Phillips – 3/5/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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April — Picked by: Rebecca
🐰The Easter Bunny
Faking It, Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde – 4/17/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍫An Easter Basket
Sebring, Kristen Ashley – 4/20/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🌼Egg Hunt
Shaken, Not Stirred, Sawyer Bennett – 4/27/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍞Family Dinner
Sapphire, J.A. Low – 4/2/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

⛪Church
Complete Me (reread), Julie Kenner – 4/12/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

👒Easter Bonnet
Reaper’s Property (reread), Joanna Wylde – 4/14/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🐑Lamb
The Sweetest Thing, Jill Shalvis – 4/24/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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May — Picked by: Laura
🍿 Return of the Jedi
Wicked Fall (reread), Sawyer Bennett – 5/19/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍿 The Phantom Menace
The Bourbon Kings (reread), J.R. Ward – 5/25/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍿 The Force Awakens
Fifth Grave Past the Light, Darynda Jones – 5/2/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

June — Picked by: Nancy H
🌸 White Wedding Dress
Dirty Exes, Rachel Van Dyken – 6/10/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🌸 Something Old
Elite, Rachel Van Dyken – 6/4/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🌸 Something New
Securing Caite, Susan Stoker – 6/26/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🌸 Something Borrowed
Concealed in Death, J.D. Robb – 6/18/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🌸 Something Blue
Erik, Sawyer Bennett – 6/15/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

July — Picked by: Carina
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, Kylie Scott – 7/11/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

Celebrate with Tea or Coffee
Birthday Suit, Lauren Blakely – 7/4/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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August — Picked by: Mary-Megan
💡 Science
Festive in Death, J.D. Robb – 8/18/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🎨 Art
Blood Kiss (reread), J.R. Ward – 8/13/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚

September — Picked by: Ashley
Hispanic Heritage Month and includes National Good Neighbor Day and International Peace Day
Plan B, Jana Aston – 9/27/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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October — Picked by: MKat
🍂 Jack o Lanterns
Legend, Sawyer Bennett – 10/6/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🍂 Costumes
Devoted in Death, J.D. Robb – 10/18/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
Marked, Kaylea Cross – 10/14/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — new

🍂 Trick or Treating
Hard Wood, Lauren Blakely – 10/9/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
Sex, Not Love, Vi Keeland – 10/26/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — new

🍂 Mischief Night
Head Over Heels, Jill Shalvis – 10/5/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍂 Bobbing for Apples
Fighting for Everything, Laura Kaye – 10/29/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
The List, Tawna Fenske – 10/4/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — new

🍂 Divination Games
Still the One, Jill Shalvis – 10/12/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍂 Haunted Houses
Seventh Grave and No Body, Darynda Jones – 10/20/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🍂 Dia de los Muertos
Once Upon a Sure Thing, Lauren Blakely – 10/13/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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November — Picked by: Mary-Megan
🌴 Key Lime Pie
Keeper, Amy Daws – 12/2/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🍋 Lemon Meringue Pie
Charmed Spirits, Carrie Ann Ryan – 11/3/19 – ✮✮✮✰✰ — tbr

🐿️ Pecan Pie
Safe with Me (reread), Kristen Proby – 11/21/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr
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December — Picked by: Allie
🎁 Decorated Sugar Cookie (North America)
Things You Save in a Fire, Katherine Center – 12/7/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr

🎁 Nian Gao (China)
Eighth Grave After Dark, Darynda Jones – 12/13/19 – ✮✮✮✮✮ — tbr

🎁 Brigadeiros (Brazil)
Santa’s Executive, Carrie Ann Ryan – 12/6/19 – ✮✮✮✮✰ — tbr
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Chaos

I managed to get two in this month, finishing with just a few hours to spare. I read Flare Up and Can't Hardly Breathe. They were both enjoyable, so thanks for the picks. Have a happy new year!

☘KathyD☘ wrote: "Many thanks for all the amazing picks this year! I found some amazing new authors and made a nice dent (not really) in my TBR mountain. Happy New Year..."

That is awesome to see how many books you read through this challenge! Thanks for sharing!

That's a great recap Kathy D!

Hope everyone had a fun challenge this month! Sorry I sort of went MIA again. Been in Seattle with family the last week and it's been kind of busy. I did manage to finish three more books for the month and maybe another if I can stay awake until midnight here!
Books read:


Happy New Year everyone!

Hazel ~ picks were lovely but managed only 2 this month. Well, 1.5 since I subbed a book in a series you picked :-)

Struffoli (Italy)
🔹TBR: Strong Enough to Love ~ Victoria Dahl ~ green ~ 12.11 ★★★★


Polvorones (Spain)
🔹NEW: Never Say Duke ~ Erica Ridley ~ historical
Read instead: Once Upon a Duke ~ 12.10 ★★★★

It was a flop for me this month :(

Hi Carmen! Thanks for the picks! December was a different reading month for me, but I did manage to get to three of my picks!

A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady by Jennifer Ashley 12.12.19
Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane 12.14.19
Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb 12.18.19

Loved them all thank you! 😊

Kathy, your list is awesome and inspired me to share my own! I don't keep ratings like you do - I should, but that is another step. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Almost all were 4 or 5 stars, with a few 3s in there too - all in all, a great year!

2019 PIFM Challenges:

January - Picks from Laura
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews 1.8.19; A Wish Upon the Stars by T.J. Klune 1.30.19; Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb 1.31.19

February - Picks from Sonja
Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes by Michelle M. Pillow 2.2.19; Small Town Siren by Sophie Oak 2.18.19; Tripped Out by Lorelei James 2.20.19; Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas 2.23.19; Summoned to Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones 2.27.19

March - Picks from Tonya
Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward 3.14.19; Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye 3.14.19; Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb 3.20.19; From Sanctum with Love by Lexi Blake 3.25.19

April - Picks from Elke
Planet Dragos by Thea Harrison (series rule) 4.6.19; Dark Fancy by Sabrina York 4.9.19; The Savior by J.R. Ward 4.15.19; Wilde Fire by Lucy Lennox 4.17.19; The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn 4.24.19; Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb 4.28.19

May - Picks from Sonja
Hudson's Luck by Lucy Lennox 5.3.19; Born to Be Wilde by Eloisa James 5.8.19; Hour of Darkness by Lara Adrian 5.9.19; Hitched: Volume Three by Kendall Ryan 5.11.19; Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan 5.16.19; Hail Mary by Nicola Rendell 5.25.19; I Want You Back by Lorelei James 5.31.19

June - Picks from Jamie
I Want You Back by Lorelei James (read in May) 5.31.19; No Ordinary Billionaire by J.S. Scott 6.13.19; The Devilish Lord Will by Jennifer Ashley 6.30.19; Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely (finished in July) 7.1.19

July - Picks from Laura
Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely (started in June) 7.1.19; Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long 7.7.19; Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh 7.10.19; The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis 7.20.19; Caught Up in Her by Lauren Blakely 7.23.19

August - Picks from Susan A
Blood Heat by Josh Lanyon (read in July) 7.24.19; Dead Run by Josh Lanyon 8.15.19 (series rule); Kick Start by Josh Lanyon 9.1.19 (series rule, finished in September); Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon 8.2.19; The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 8.8.19; The Last by Tawna Fenske 8.14.19; Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb 9.19.19; Bonfires by Amy Lane 8.29.19

September - Picks from Nancy H
Bonfires by Amy Lane (read in August) 8.29.19; Let It Shine by Alyssa Cole 9.3.19' Losing Control by Nina Croft 9.4.19; Bishop by Sawyer Bennett 9.9.19; Tell Me It's Real by T.J. Klune 9.16.19; Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews 9.30.19

October - Picks from Fran
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh 10.3.19; King Me by Lucy Lennox 10.9.19; Nobody Does It Better by Lauren Blakely 10.17.19; We Shouldn't by Vi Keeland 10.21.19; The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas 10.31.19

November - Picks from Romanticbookworm
The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (read in October) 10.31.19; Magic Stars by Ilona Andrews 11.4.19; A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert 11.11.19; Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James 11.16.19; The Pumpkin Was Stuffed by Tara Sivec 11.18.19

December - Picks from Carmen
A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady by Jennifer Ashley 12.12.19; Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane 12.14.19; Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb 12.18.19

My December turned out pretty good,
These were the ones I finished;
The Year We Fell Down, Wanderlust, Mister Moneybags, First Grave on the Right, Where We Belong, Bittersweet, The Bombshell Effect

These were my did-not-finish-but-attemped list.
In My Custody; I love Stella, but the main girl shares a name with my daughter and I just couldn't. The Stocking was Hung, Midnight Man and Hard as It Gets

Well my Christmas trip to Seattle to see family got extended by an UNwanted holiday guest - FLU! My son got it the day after New Years and we had to change our fights from Friday to Monday so we weren’t flying with fever. Still not 100% but finally able to go back to LA and normal life! Needless to say my reading got hijacked by the need for rest and caregiving... *sigh* 2020 is off to a great start... 🤨