The Challenge Factory discussion

For this challenge you will need to read one book a week.

Each week the moderator will announce the Word of the Week. The WotW will have four letters. Each team member will choose one of the four letters. That letter will determine the book they will read that week. You can use the first word of the title (excluding 'a', 'an', or 'the'), or the author's first, middle, or last initial.

There will also be a BONUS Word of the Week. (BWotW)

Example:
The WotW is 'BOAT'. You pick the letter 'A'. You decide to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

If you find both the WotW and the BWotW in the text of the book, you will earn the Scrabble point value of the letter and a point for each of the found words. In this example, A is worth 1 point, plus 2 points for the two found words for a total of 3 points.

WotW and BWotW will be announced each Monday morning.


Rules, Teams with less than 4 players, Missing Players, and Captain's Duties

Rules:
* You cannot begin reading your book until Wednesday morning (12:01 a.m.) your time.
* Books must be 140+ pages. Audio book page length is determined by the first paper version that shows up.
* Graphic novels and poetry books are allowed, but they must be 250+ pages.

Teams with less than 4 players and Missing Players:
If a team has fewer assigned members than four, one member will need to read an second book. That member may change from week to week.

If a team member has an emergency or has scheduled an absence, a team member can read 2 books that week so that the team will not lose points.

A team member can have one unplanned absence one without repercussions. When they miss a second week, they will eliminated from the team. In the case of an unplanned absence, a team member cannot read a second book.

Captain's Duties:
* Double check your team members' Completion Posts to verify compliance to the rules and tasks.
* Captains will need to post on the Reporting Thread when everyone in their team has made a Completion Post. That entails one post with a copy of or link to each member's Completion Post.
*Report any problems, concerns, missing players, etc. to the moderator.

Sample Completion Post:
If the WotW is Coat, and the BWotW is Chair:

Completion Post:
Coat & Chair Week:
My Letter: C
Book: Charlotte's Web
Read: 6/20/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Review: (At least 3 sentences long, please.)

Bonus Items and Points:
Coat: "...his silky white coat..." p. 136
Chair: not found in the text

Total: C = 3; 3 + 1 = 4 points

Team Members:
Ariel
Heli
Louise
Shelley

Hi team! I'm super excited to be apart of this challenge - it seems like so much fun.

I believe we do have a couple decisions to make. Do we have a captain volunteer? If none of you have any massive desire to do it, I can always step up to the plate on that topic.

I’m here

Hi guys! Checking in.

I think you would make a great team captain Ariel.

That sounds good to me - I'm up for the challenge. LOL

How would you guys like to go about choosing who does what letter? First come first serve? Some sort of randomizer every week? Alphabetical? Etc?

How about rotation so whoever is first picks a letter that way the different time zones become a non-issue. As the words are announced on a Monday we have two days to organize before we read.

So for this week:
Ariel
Heli
Louise
Shelley

Week 2
Heli
Louise
Shelley
Ariel

Week 3
Louise
Shelley
Ariel
Heli

Week 4
Shelley
Ariel
Heli
Louise

Week 5 our rotation would start again

I like that idea. It seems fair and gives everyone a chance. Is everyone else okay with that idea?

This weeks words have been posted: WORD OF THE WEEK IS: Belt and BONUS WORD OF THE WEEK: Carpet.

I think it's a great idea. I'm good with it.

Sorry I'm late. Everything sounds good. Thanks for stepping up as captain Ariel. If I understand the rotation, I get the last leftover letter this week, yes?

Shelley wrote: "Sorry I'm late. Everything sounds good. Thanks for stepping up as captain Ariel. If I understand the rotation, I get the last leftover letter this week, yes?"

Yes, that’s right. Ariel you’re good to choose your letter.

I am going to choose the letter B.

Heli pick a letter E L T

I'll pick letter T.

E or L for you Louise.

I will take the E

Just for housekeeping purposes, here is where we are at:

Ariel: B
Heli: T
Louise: E
Shelley: L

WotW: BELT
Bonus: CARPET
Reading begins tomorrow morning.

Is the bonus counted once per team or can multiple players earn it? I know both belt and carpet are in the book I'm reading. - This is probably already answered.

That is a very good question. I would think that all players can earn it but I am not a 100% positive on that answer. I can post it in the Q&A thread and see what the answer is there.

The answer in the Q&A was that it's for everyone to try and earn the bonus points.

Completion Post
Belt & Carpet Week:
My Letter: B
Book: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
Read: 6/10 - 6/11
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review:

I can understand why this book wouldn't necessarily be for everybody but the slow burn and forbidden romance was perfect. I definitely related to Jordan being older than her years and the disadvantages she clearly had growing up which led to her personality and her connection with Pike - who was awkward in his own sense.

I can't remember the last time that I read book in one sitting but I did this one last night. Is it weird to call a book hot? Because it was and such good writing with such good characters. I truly did love it and will definitely binge read some more Penelope Douglas.

Bonus Items and Points:
Belt: "...he grips his tool belt and lunch container." p. 37 (1 point)
Carpet: "..due to minor damages to the carpet -..." p. 26 (1 point)

Total: B = 3; 3 + 2 = 5 points


How is everyone else doing?

Great start Ariel. I haven't started my book yet.

Completion Post:
Belt & Carpet Week:
My Letter: T
Book: Too Late The Phalarope
Read: 6/13/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★
Review: The downfall of a man told in a simple but effective way. I found the writing style calm and minimalist. Not a feel-good story. An enjoyable classic.

Bonus Items and Points:
Belt: not found in the text
Carpet: not found in the text

Total: T = 1 point

I should have checked before I started reading this, but I was distracted and a little tired. Neither of this weeks words are in the text. So only one lousy point for me.

Completion Post
Belt & Carpet Week
Letter: E

Getting Played by Emma Chase
Date Read: 6/13
Rating: 3*
Review
This was a quick enjoyable read, although a series book it reads like a standalone. This was a typical insta-luv romance where the MC's hook-up and go their seperate ways only for fate to throw them back together again. Fate in this case is an unplanned pregnancy and Lainey and her son moving to the same town as Dean who teaches in the local school. This has the typical ups and downs on the road to a HEA.

Bonus Items and Points:

Belt: pg234 "...gestures to an adorable gentleman in a tool belt an flannel shirt..."

Carpet: pg88 "...we have an effective, lemony-smelling carpet and fabric cleaner that's safe for babies..."

E=1; 1+1+1=3

Week 2
WofW - Wage

BWofW - Barn

Picking Order
Heli
Louise
Shelley
Ariel

Completion Post
Belt & Carpet Week:

My Letter: L
Book: The Do-Right by Lisa Sandlin
Read: 6/11/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Review: If you like an old school P.I. story with several mysteries going at once, this is for you. The story takes place in 1973. Delpha Wade is looking for a job after serving 14 years in prison for killing one of the men who brutally raped her. She ends up getting a job with Tom Phelan, a novice Private Investigator. The story covers several investigations from searching for a missing teenager to getting proof of a husband's infidelity. There is also a romance.

The main thing I liked about The Do-Right is the relationship/friendship forming between Delpha and Tom. This reads like the beginning of a series. If so, I'd read the next installment.

Bonus Items and Points:
belt: "He stuck the gun in his belt . . . " pg 30
carpet:"She rolled up the carpet and the pad underneath" pg 61

Total: 1+1+1 = 3 pts

I'll pick letter W for next week.

Louise you can choose from letters AGE.

I’ll choose G

Shelley you’re up A or E

I'll take A this week.

Which leaves me with E.

Here is an updated list of who has what for this week:

Heli: W (4 points)
Shelley: A (1 point)
Louise: G (2 points)
Ariel: E (1 point)

Total Points Possible for This Week: 17 points
How Many Points We Have So Far: 12 points
Good luck guys! :)

Completion Post:
Wage & BarnWeek:
My Letter: W
Book: Where the Bodies Are Buried
Read: 6/18/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Review: This was a good one. I really liked the writing style and the interesting plot. Going in I had no idea what would be ahead. All threads intertwined eventually in an engaging way. The characters were great too. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing with her intriguing Scottish accent. A great read.

Bonus Items and Points:
Wage: Page 14: "It was paying a wage."
Barn: Page 255: "...the proverbial barn door from six feet."

Total: W = 4; 4 + 2 = 6 points

Completion Post:
Wage and Barn Week

My Letter: A (1)
Book: And Then You Die
Read: 6/18/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Review: Iris Johansen never disappoints. (I've been reading her books since her Harlequin romance days.) And Then You Die has action and the expected twists and turns. Bess Grady is a photojournalist sent on an assignment where she discovers something that puts her life in danger. With the help of an unexpected ally she seeks to expose the "monsters" while protecting her life.

If you like Iris Johansen you'll enjoy this one. And if you've never read her, while not the best, it's a good place to start. It's an easy read.

Bonus Items and Points:
Barn - "there was an explosion in a barn outside Waterloo, Iowa" - pg 248

Total: 1 + 1 = 2

Week Three
WofW - View,
BWofW - Butter

Picking Order

Louise
Shelley
Ariel
Heli

I will pick W

I'll take v

I will take I - which leaves the E for Heli.

Completion Post:
Wage and Barn Week

My Letter: E (1)
Book: The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot
Read: 6/20/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: This was my first Kendra Elliot book and I was pleasantly surprised. As a new reader, I was wary of whether or not I had to have read previous books but thankfully, it was all good just the way it was. It was like the perfect mixture of suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance. I think one of the things that I loved the most is that there were several mysteries and plots entangled in the novel until they all tied together. Not all authors have the ability to juggle subplots in the middle of the main one but Kendra Elliot did it wonderfully.

I think that Kendra was able to take some very serious plotlines and create a captivating thriller. Since this was the first book in the series, I can't wait to read more and even back track to read the series that this branches off on.

Words and Points:
Wage: "...I'll pay your usual wage." (page 208)
Barn: "The barn with the caved in roof..." (page 166)
Total: 1 + 1 + 1= 3

Completion Post
Wage and Barn Week
My Letter: G


A Proper Companion by Louise M. Gouge
Date Read: 6/21
Rating: 3*
How It Fits: Author LN begins with G

Review:
This was a sweet clean romance set towards the end of the napoleonic war. This had elements of the propriety we see in Julia Quinn novels and is an adequate start to what promises to be a good clean regency series.
Wage: pg13 "...father purchased it with his wages..."
Barn: pg146 "...leaving her hungry as a barn cat..."

Total: 2+1+1=4

WEEK 2 COMPLETION POST

1. Heli - W (4) - Where the Bodies Are Buried - Wotw: Y (1) BWotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 6)
2. Shelley - A(1) - And Then You Die - Wotw: N BWotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 2)
3. Louise - G(2) - A Proper Companion by Louise M. Gouge - Wotw: Y (1) Bwotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 4)
4. Ariel - E(1) - The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot - Wotw: Y (1) Bwotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 3)

Total Points for Week 2: 15 points




WEEK 3 UPDATE
WORD OF THE WEEK: View
(Shelley) V: 4 points
(Ariel) I: 1 point
(Heli) E: 1 point
(Louise) W: 4 points
BONUS WORD OF THE WEEK: BUTTER

I am clearly on top of it this week. LOL

Completion Post:
View and Butter Week

My Letter: I (1)
Book: If Only in my Dreams by Carrie Aarons
Read: 6/22/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: This is a second chance romance that was absolutely heavenly. The angst from the way Porter originally treated her to the revelations of love later on was heart wrenching. It was a romantic feel good and fast read - which is what I was looking for. I enjoy that it was a Christmas story without it only being wrapped up in the holiday - it was a romance that just happened to be taking place during Christmas.

Carrie Aarons has really become one of my favorite authors lately. She is able to create characters and storylines that make you feel things that hard to feel and yet you still want to keep reading to see the happy ending.

Words and Points:
View: "The cafe comes into view..." (Chapter 2)
Butter: "...I melted like butter." (Chapter 24)
Total: 1 + 1 + 1= 3

Completion Post:
View and Butter Week

My Letter: V (4)
Book: Vanishing Girls
Read: 6/26/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★



Review: I enjoyed and recommend Vanishing Girls. It was listed as a mystery - two missing girls - but that's a little misleading. The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of sisters Nick and Dara. The search for a missing 9 year-old girl is interwoven through the story. The sisters were very close, inseparable, but are now estranged after a car accident. Because of the alternating viewpoints you know the sisters love each other and miss each other, but don't know how to overcome their estrangement. This is not the best review, but I don't want to give away too much. 😊

Words and Points:
View: "her voice muffled as she passes out of view" - pg 65
Butter: "You mix butter into popcorn" - pg 25

Total: 4+1+1 = 6

Completion Post:
View & Butter Week:
My Letter: E
Book: Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch
Read: 6/26/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Review: This is a story of how Katharina Kepler, mother of astronomer Johannes Kepler, is accused of being a witch. The book is set from 1618 onward. People are afraid of the plague and superstitions are strong. If you only looked at a person or just touched her/him once and they got ill or lost loved ones after that one meeting, you could be seen as a witch using your demonic powers of evil. Book is based on official documents and is told from the points of view of Katharina and her neighbor Simon. The audiobook narrator was great and performed each character very well. A good read.

Bonus Items and Points:
View: ", and were instructed to keep him out of view for nine days." page 106
Butter: "At home I had some butter to offer Heinrich." page 30

Total: E = 1; 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 points

Week 4 words have been posted:

Word of the Week: Camp
Bonus: Peace

Week 4 Rotation of Letters:
Shelley
Ariel
Heli
Louise

Shelley, you can pick your letter when you get a chance. :)

I'll take C

I'll choose P.

I'll take M. That leaves A for you Louise.

Completion Post
View and Butter Week
Letter: W

White Russian by J.A. Konrath
Date Read: 6/28
Rating: 3*
How It Fits: Title begins with W

Review
This was an enjoyable read although having not read the previous books in the series I was missing some back story. Jack and Phin are living in Florida with their 4year old daughter Sam under aliases. Jack and Harry go on a rescue mission to rescue their friends from the clutches of the Cowboy. This was fast paced and full of twists and turns.

Bonus items
View - pg66 "love because it gets more views “
Butter - pg 46 “smelled like Florida sunshine, peanut butter and jelly”

Points - 4 + 1 + 1 = 6

Week 3 Completion Post
Wotw: VIEW
BWofW: BUTTER

1. Shelley - V (4) - Vanishing Girls - Wotw: Y (1) BWotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 6)
2. Ariel - I (1) - If Only in My Dreams - Wotw: Y BWotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 3)
3. Heli - E (1) - Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch - Wotw: Y (1) Bwotw: Y (1) (TOTAL:3)
4. Louise - W (4) - White Russian - Wotw: Y (1) Bwotw: Y (1) (TOTAL: 6)

Total Weekly Points: 18

WEEK FOUR UPDATE
Word of the Week: Camp
Shelley: C
Louise: A
Heli: M
Ariel: P
Bonus Word of the Week: Peace

Completion Post
Camp and Peace Week
Letter: A

Wolf's Bane by Auryn Hadley
Date Read: 6/29
Rating: 4*

Review
This was a surprisingly good read. It was pretty fast paced and was full of twists and turns as Elena tries to navigate the responsibility of bringing up her teenage daughter who has developed a rebellious streak and returning to the world of dating. All this in the midst of the sanctuary of Wolf's Run.

Bonus Items
Camp:
Peace: Pg7 - "feeling some strange sense of peace come over me ..."

Total: A - 1 +1 =2

Completion Post
Camp and Peace Week



My Letter: C (3)
Book: Creation in Death
Read: 7/1/22
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: I have tried to read Nora Roberts in the past, and just couldn't get into it. I decided to give this book a try, even though it's Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb. I'm glad I did!

The story takes place in the future, 2060. The serial killer tagged "The Groom" by media has returned to New York after a 9 year absence. Why has he returned? Who do the women he kills represent? Where does he hold them? If these questions can be answered, the police might be able to catch him. Lieutenant Eve Dallas was one of the detectives who worked the case. This time she's the Lead Detective. This time, however, The Groom has made it personal. The women abducted all have a connection to Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke.

This is the 25th in the "In Death" series. It can be enjoyed without reading the previous installments. However, knowing the back story of the different characters and their relationships I would have given this 5 stars.

Words and Points:
Camp: "It's a school camp." pg 34
Peace: "she knew only peace and pleasure"
Total: 3 + 1 + 1 = 5