Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Flower Power Rosebud
🌹 MountainKat

Sprouts
🌱 Trio
🌱 Helke
Sandra R
🌱 Danielle GS
🌱 Hazel
🌱 JaneyLou

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.

2. Team Captain - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. Using this round's theme of Spring, come up with a fun name. Given we are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)

Please PM your name to Jane(PS) by 10 September.

4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2. (It will also help with one of the categories in this round!)

5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies including links to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!

* don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full in that post.

You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.

I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply with the format rules of the challenge.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you expect to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation, etc.

7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.

8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.

9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)

10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A/Announcement thread. The full list of themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.


The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.


For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

I'll be tracking each team's progress separately, using the Captain's summary in each team's thread to check for accuracy.

A summary chart will be posted in the last week to let teams know their progress against other teams :)

Weeks 1 & 2 Selection/Completion Posts Posts

Week 1 - Selections: 14. The Earth has been slumbering but is now waking up!
MountainKat: Option 2; Revelation by Sloane Kennedy; message #90
Trio: Option 2; Magic & Mistletoe by Annabelle Jacobs; message #91
Helke: Option 2; Smash & Grab by Maz Maddox; message #100
Danielle: Option 2; Mafia and Magics by Lyn Gala; message #82
Hazel: Option 2; Fatal Affair by Marie Force; message #73
Janeylou: Updated; Option 2; 'Nother Sip of Gin by Rhys Ford; message #87

Week 1 - Completions: 14. The Earth has been slumbering but is now waking up!
MountainKat: Completed 9.14.2021; message #96
Trio: Completed 9.18.2021; message #144
Helke: Completed 9.23.2021; message #165
Danielle: Completed 9.13.2021; message #94
Hazel: Completed 9.10.2021; message #88
Janeylou: Completed 9.13.2021; message #92

Week 2 - Selections: 8. Spring - a geometric surface in the shape of a helically coiled tube.
MountainKat: Imagines by N.R. Walker; message #147
Trio: Option 2; One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn; message #139
Helke: Option 2; Sink or Swim by Maz Maddox; message #152
Danielle: Option 2; One True Thing by Piper Vaughn; message #137
Hazel: Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid; message #146
Janeylou: Option 2; Interlude by C.S. Poe; message #136

Week 2 - Completions: 8. Spring - a geometric surface in the shape of a helically coiled tube.
MountainKat: Completed 9.20.2021; message #154
Trio: Completed 9.21.2021; message #155
Helke: Completed 10.7.2021; message #206
Danielle: Completed 9.27.2021; message #176
Hazel: Completed 9.25.2021; message #171
Janeylou: Completed 9.19.2021; message #153

Week 3 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 3 - Selections: 12. There are also locations/places called 'Spring' in Germany, Romania, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (according to Wikipedia).
MountainKat: Option 2; Big Jack by J.D. Robb; message #178
Trio: A Winter's Earl: A Regency Christmas Romance by Annabelle Greene; message #184
Helke: Cosplay Killer by Dahlia Donovan; message #183
Danielle: Option 2; Jonty's Christmas by Barbara Elsborg; message #177
Hazel: The Duke's Desire by Erica Ridley; message #172
Janeylou: Ghost Light Killer by Dahlia Donovan; message #168

Week 3 - Completions: 12. There are also locations/places called 'Spring' in Germany, Romania, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (according to Wikipedia).
MountainKat: Completed 9.27.2021; message #179
Trio: Completed 9.30.2021; message #185
Helke: Completed 10.8.2021; message #212
Danielle: Completed 10.3.2021; message #202
Hazel: Completed 9.27.2021; message #173
Janeylou: Completed 9.30.2021; message #187

Week 4 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 4 - Selections: 13. Spring into action.
MountainKat: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward; message #194
Trio: Trust Me by L.A. Witt; message #196
Helke: Submission Guidelines by T. Neilson; message #208
Danielle: Mind Sweeper by A.E. Jones; message #190
Hazel: Option 2; Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews; message #203
Janeylou: Taboo for You by Anyta Sunday; message #189

Week 4 - Completions: 13. Spring into action.
MountainKat: Completed 10.5.2021; message #204
Trio: Completed 10.5.2021; message #205
Helke: Completed 10.7.2021; message #209
Danielle: Completed 10.4.2021; message #211
Hazel: Completed 10.6.2021; message #207
Janeylou: Completed 10.3.2021; message #201

Week 5 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 5 - Selections: 1. Spring is the season of birth.
MountainKat: Option 2; Pieces of Me by N.R. Walker; message #217
Trio: Rebel Heir by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward; message #221
Helke: Option 2; Ghost Light Killer by Dahlia Donovan; message #231
Danielle: Option 2; Fair Isn't Life by Kaje Harper; message #226
Hazel: Lick by Kylie Scott; message #223
Janeylou: An Egg for Ansel by Amy Bellows; message #218

Week 5 - Completions: 1. Spring is the season of birth.
MountainKat: Completed 10.8.2021; message #219
Trio: Completed 10.10.2021; message #222
Helke: Completed 10.10.2021; message #232
Danielle: Completed 10.14.2021; message #241
Hazel: Completed 10.11.2021; message #229
Janeylou: Completed 10.9.2021; message #220

Week 6 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 6 - Selections: 11. There are 4 locations/places called 'Spring' in the US.
MountainKat: Divided in Death by J.D. Robb; message #245
Trio: Memories of the Heart by Felice Stevens; message #263
Helke: Alpha Unit One, New York by Chris T. Kat; message #267
Danielle: The Gangster by C.S. Poe; message #246
Hazel: Updated; Running into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds; message #255
Janeylou: Witness by L.A. Gilbert; message #243

Week 6 - Completions: 11. There are 4 locations/places called 'Spring' in the US.
MountainKat: Completed 10.19.2021; message #262
Trio: Completed 10.21.2021; message #269
Helke: Completed 10.21.2021; message #268
Danielle: Completed 10.23.2021; message #285
Hazel: Completed 10.18.2021; message #256
Janeylou: Completed 10.16.2021; message #257

Week 7 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 7 - Selections: 10. Spring tide - in oceanography, the maximum tide, occurring twice a month during the full and new moon.
MountainKat: Pieces of Us by N.R. Walker; message #283
Trio: The Book Of Daniel by Z.A. Maxfield; message #286
Helke: Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker; message #275
Danielle: Option 2; Jonty's Halloween by Barbara Elsborg; message #284
Hazel: One August Night by Victoria Hislop; message #288
Janeylou: Island House by Bru Baker; message #281

Week 7 - Completions: 10. Spring tide - in oceanography, the maximum tide, occurring twice a month during the full and new moon.
MountainKat: Completed 10.26.2021; message #290
Trio: Completed 10.25.2021; message #289
Helke: Completed 10.25.2021; message #292
Danielle: Completed 10.27.2021; message #299
Hazel: Completed 10.29.2021; message #294
Janeylou: Completed 10.25.2021; message #291

Week 8 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 8 - Selections: 15. Sprouting procreation or the unusual.
MountainKat: Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon; message #297
Trio: Option 2; Other Half by Jordan Castillo Price; message #311
Helke: Alpha Trine by Lexi Ander; message #309
Danielle: Option 2; Bitter Pill by Jordan Castillo Price; message #302
Hazel: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole; message #314
Janeylou: Option 2; The Murder Between Us by Tal Bauer; message #306

Week 8 - Completions: 15. Sprouting procreation or the unusual.
MountainKat: Completed 11.1.2021; message #316
Trio: Completed 11.3.2021; message #321
Helke: Completed 10.31.2021; message #310
Danielle: Completed 11.5.2021; message #325
Hazel: Completed 11.5.2021; message #328
Janeylou: Completed 11.2.2021; message #320

Week 9 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 9 - Selections: 3. Flowers are everywhere (well, hopefully).
MountainKat: The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission by Jaci Burton; message #331
Trio: Everything I Know by Josh Lanyon; message #327
Helke: Sheriff Found by Joyee Flynn; message #345
Danielle: Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh; message #329
Hazel: Cart Before the Horse by Bernadette Marie; message #335
Janeylou: Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell; message #334

Week 9 - Completions: 3. Flowers are everywhere (well, hopefully).
MountainKat: Completed 11.8.2021; message #337
Trio: Completed 11.6.2021; message #339
Helke: Completed 11.10.2021; message #346
Danielle: Completed 11.8.2021; message #342
Hazel: Completed 11.7.2021; message #336
Janeylou: Completed 11.11.2021; message #359

Week 10 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 10 - Selections: 4. Animals of all shapes and sizes time mating to give birth when food is more plentiful ~ spring.
MountainKat: Hot as Heller by Lucy Lennox; message #352
Trio: Hudson's Luck by Lucy Lennox; message #363
Helke: Embrace the Beast by Mia West; message #382
Danielle: New Tricks by J.D. Light; message #353
Hazel: Brighter Than the Sun by Maya Banks; message #349
Janeylou: Embrace the Beast by Mia West; message #356

Week 10 - Completions: 4. Animals of all shapes and sizes time mating to give birth when food is more plentiful ~ spring.
MountainKat: Completed 10.15.2021; message #375
Trio: Completed 11.16.2021; message #377
Helke: Completed 11.18.2021; message #383
Danielle: Completed 11.13.2021; message #372
Hazel: Completed 11.13.2021; message #365
Janeylou: Completed 11.14.2021; message #368

Week 11 Selection/Completion Posts

Week 11 - Selections: 5. The southern hemisphere's spring season starts in September.
MountainKat: Haunted in Death by J.D. Robb; message #396
Trio: The Shooting Season by Isobel Starling; message #411
Helke: F.A.S.T. Balls by Tara Lain; message #399
Danielle: Clutch by Piper Scott; message #403
Hazel: When He's Dirty by Lisa Renee Jones; message #397
Janeylou: A Very Terry Christmas by Jacki James; message #398

Week 11 - Completions: 5. The southern hemisphere's spring season starts in September.
MountainKat: Completed 11.19.2021; message #401
Trio: Completed 11.19.2021; message #413
Helke: Completed 11.20.2021; message #428
Danielle: Completed 11.19.2021; message #410
Hazel: Completed 11.19.2021; message #406
Janeylou: Completed 11.19.2021; message #404

Hi team! I am out of town visiting family until next week. I actually have WiFi through the weekend, but it will be iffy after that until I’m home. I will add more to this when my grandson takes his nap. 🤞🏻

I'm back. 😊 I'm across the country from my usual haunts right now. Visiting the folks, saw my brothers and their families in Maryland and got out before Ida got there - thank goodness! Now down in Georgia where my youngest just moved. He and his wife are both working at the university here in south Georgia and I got to play with my grandson while they worked today. I can tell you, me and my hair are not used to this kind of humidity!! I'm here through the weekend and then back north a little for a few days where the folks live and finally home just before this challenge starts (unless it starts early, then I'll still be here 🤷🏻‍♀️)! Phew!

Normally I am on Pacific time - I live in the mountains down in SoCal. I am about an hour from everything, but that gives me lots of audiobook time. 😉 Now that Disney has offered passes again, I just might be visiting there. Maybe even frequently... 😁

Anyway, I read a little of everything - as long as it is romance! I NEED my happy endings! (The real world is hard enough without sad books.) I can't wait to see who I get to play with this round. Remember, our first task is to come up with a team name and out theme is 'Spring'. All that pops into my head right now is 'Spring Chicks'... I'll keep thinking. 😊

Hi - I think I've played with all of you in some challenge or another in one group or another except maybe Sandra R.

I live in Phoenix and am a single mom to two teens. My teen nephew also lives with me. My son is a senior in high school and all about getting ready for college - he wants to go to Georgetown or NYU. My daughter and my nephew just turned 15 1/2 so they both have their permits and I'm teaching them to drive.

I also just got thrown into a new job as the accountant for the next few months. It's been 10 years since I did any accounting job but the one deep person is out for medical reasons and they had no one else. So with no training I'm just trying to figure it all out. It's not a small company either so it's been crazy!

I read mostly M/M romance but also some M/F Fantasy stuff. I've gotten into audio books the last year since I can listen to them during my commute to work and sometimes at the office if I'm not concentrating on spreadsheets! I was one of the few people who never got to work from home during Covid.

I'm looking forward to playing with you all - I really like this team challenge.

As for names all I have is:

The Cherry Blossoms
The Spring Flings
All the Buzz
Look Who's Blooming
Love Bugs
Crazy Daisies
Bad Seeds

Hi y'all! I think I've played with everyone on the team in some challenge or another as well :)

I'm Trio and I live in NYC - yes, we survived IDA, but whoooo what a rainstorm!

I've got three kids, 26, 24, & 19 - and they all live with me. I've also got two Cavalier King Charles spaniels who I absolutely adore. I walk them every day which gives me my alone time, and I usually listen to audiobooks then.

I also read mainly romances, mostly LGBTQ but some MF as well.

I LOVE Bad Seeds!!!!!!!! That's brilliant :)
but I'll go with any name, I'm easy 😜

Hi Everyone 👋

I’m Hazel from Glasgow, Scotland. I work in HR for policing and live with my husband, my 12 year old son who has just started secondary school and my 18 year old cat. I’m starting to move back into the office on a hybrid basis from next week after the busiest 18 months working at home.

I used to have a Wednesday to myself to read but I now look after my niece who is 15 months old and I have a nephew on the way so I will have him on a Wednesday as well. It’s great fun and I love it but i forgot how tiring it is and my reading has certainly suffered.

I’ve certainly played with a few of you in challenges before. My preference is MF romance and I will read any sub genre except horror.

Team name suggestions I have are
Oopsie Daisy
Last bud not least
In a Lilly bit
What in Carnation

I do like Bad Seeds as an option from Danielle’s suggestions.

Hi. I'm Helke and at least a few of you have been my team captain s on another challenge. Glad to meet the rest of you. I live in Germany near Berlin where I work as a school teacher on the job qualification level. I live with my hubby and due to Covid my two kids. My daughter will most likely move back into her flat in another city next month as uni will go back to work with students in classrooms insted online. My son still lives at home as he is studying in Berlin and it is cheaper for us this way. But at least he will have to leave the house to go to uni too. That will give me an empty house for a few hours here and there. Something that was not possible for the last nearly 2 years. 😁
I don't have any name suggestion but I do like Bad seeds and Oopsie Daisie.
But I'm game for any name the team choses but not Spring Chicken please as I feel more like an old hen then a chicken.😂

oh I like Oopsie Daisie too, that's clever! All of your suggestions are terrific Hazel!

Hi Helke, your profile is set to private, can I send you a friend request for this challenge?

Trio wrote: "Hi Helke, your profile is set to private, can I send you a friend request for this challenge?"
Of course. I really thought we were already friends as we have been running into each other so often over the last years with the different challenges. I'm glad we have so many mm reader in the team.

Hi all! Helke, I sent you a friend request too. I think I know most of you from other challenges, not sure if we were on the same teams before though. I look forward to playing with you all - I know I'll be checking out your shelves for Option 2 at least a couple of times, I always do.

Love all the team name suggestions! I don't think I have a favorite, they are all so good!

Hi Kat - Sandra has pulled out. (I sent her a PM to see if she still wanted to play.)

I will post in the main thread to see if anyone else wishes to take her place...

Kat said she was out of WiFi range until just before the challenge starts, do we want to try and decide on the team name to help out? Think it’s down to Bad Seeds and Oopsie Daisie.

I have no preference and would be happy with either one.

That would be great Hazel!

And you have JaneyLou joining you any minute so she may help make the decision 🧐

Hiya girls ...you've got me for your replacement , sorry 😄😄😄😄

I know all of you and ive played before so im good to go
I like Oopsie Daisy as a name ...seem to be saying that a lot just lately 😄

Janeylou wrote: "Hiya girls ...you've got me for your replacement , sorry 😄😄😄😄

I know all of you and ive played before so im good to go
I like Oopsie Daisy as a name ...seem to be saying that a lot just lately 😄"

Hey Janeylou! I think we must be mad with all the challenges we play in! I don’t know if I could ever pick a book for myself again without having to think of the criteria it meets 😂

Hazel wrote: "Janeylou wrote: "Hiya girls ...you've got me for your replacement , sorry 😄😄😄😄

I know all of you and ive played before so im good to go
I like Oopsie Daisy as a name ...seem to be saying that a l..."

I know exactly what you mean, ive got loads of books i want to read but they never work for any of the tasks 😪😪

Janeylou wrote: "Hazel wrote: "Janeylou wrote: "Hiya girls ...you've got me for your replacement , sorry 😄😄😄😄

I know all of you and ive played before so im good to go
I like Oopsie Daisy as a name ...seem to be s..."
Perhaps we ought to create a challenge with the right criteria for your books then.😁
Love that you joined us. Another challenge we can do together.

Welcome Janeylou - I knew you'd give in and join this one too 😂

I'm happy with Oopsie Daisy or Bad Seeds

Tbh Danielle, i wasnt going to do it this time but i was standing in a huge queue at Tescos filddling with my phone and i thought " ill have a look whos team Trio is in and i saw all you guys and you needed 1 more ...it was like fate 😄😄😄😄..and whats 1 more book a week !!!

Janeylou wrote: "Tbh Danielle, i wasnt going to do it this time but i was standing in a huge queue at Tescos filddling with my phone and i thought " ill have a look whos team Trio is in and i saw all you guys and y..."

Right. Just like your WhatsApp profile pic. They aren't reading themself so we have to help them out.😁

HI all! I had a message all typed up the other night and never hit post! 🤦🏻‍♀️

It basically said, it seemed like two names were the most popular - Bad Seeds (I really want to put 'The' in front of that one 🤷🏻‍♀️) and Oopsie Daisy. I would be happy with either one, but if everyone could suggest their favorite - we could make a decision and have a team name!

And welcome Janeylou!! 😊

Yes The should go in front of Bad Seeds! I'm always more the villain type so I'm voting for The Bad Seeds but I really like them both.

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Yes The should go in front of Bad Seeds! I'm always more the villain type so I'm voting for The Bad Seeds but I really like them both."

I'm right there with you - it's nearing Halloween and I love the (Disney) Villains! I usually want the good guys to win at... whatever, but...

So while I love Oopsie Daisy, I am leaning towards The Bad Seeds. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Since you mentioned putting The in front of bad seeds its jogged me to be thinking of Nick Cave , and ive been humming 'Where the wild roses grow' all morning ..love that song

I’m happy with The Bad Seeds 😃

Im ok with The Bad Seeds as well and as 4 are we can go ahead and get sorted .
I alwayd want the name sorted asap and if im captain go " right choices are ??? & ???, if you dont pick, ill pick for ya " 😄😄😄

So we go with: The Bad Seeds.
That's settled then. 🙃

FYI Ive just signed up to get 2 months of kindle unlimited for free. I dont know if any of you use it or if the deals are the same for everyone but just incase any of you wanted to check it out

I do have KU ..and use it a lot but i think most of the offers they have are for new customers , which is like everybody elee tbh .

I have heard that in the states tou can now have up to 20 books at one time but ours is still.10.

KU for Germany is also only 10 books at a time. So that is a special offer for the states. I use KU a lot. Helped reducing the costs for my extensive reading and therefore helped also saving the peace of my marriage.😁

I have KU and am in the states but can only get 10 books at a time. i use it a ton. I'd say at least 1/3 of my books are KU every month.

Ive never used it before as through author newsletters and freebie posts on GR groups plus NetGalley and Bookbub daily emails I get so many books. I add all the books I want onto my Amazon wish list and when I get paid each month I sort the wish list from lowest to highest price and can get a few books for £5. I’ll spend more if it’s one I really want. I have over 1000 unread on my kindle so this is not going to help my book collection go down 😂

Wonder who has the 20 bks at a time then
When we were on the group chat for celebrations a few said they had 20 bks ...perhaps.it was a special offer 🤔🤔

I'm pretty sure I only get 10 at a time on KU, but it is helpful!

I will let Jane know we have our name now. 😊