Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members


Captain Deep


REMs

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. Deep Sleeper - 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, 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 29 March

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 selection post Option 1 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please note which qualifying bookshelf/list you are using or the tags that justifies that it works.
If the theme is based off the bookcover, post the cover. If there is a letter count in the title, publication date etc, please note these details.

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

For selection post Option 3 you must have:
Week #
PASS


For the completion post you must have:
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.

IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT A POST FOR MISSING INFORMATION or because the didn't qualify etc, please REPOST this information in a NEW post. I don't want to have to keep going backwards in the thread.

Called Themes:

Week 1: 3. Charlotte Bronte once wrote: "a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow".
*Read a book with MPG Historical or by an author whose last name starts with either C or B.

Week 2: 2. More than a third of adults fail to get enough sleep each night.
*Read the third book in a series OR any book from a trilogy.

Week 3: 5. Until recently, medical science was unable to consistently and fully explain why we sleep.
*Read a book from on of the provided medical romance lists.

Week 4: 7. Sleep regenerates both the mind and body.
*Read a book with an exposed human body on the cover.

Week 5: 13. In 1927 a French geophysicist discovered that plants generate their own internal time.
*Read a book with a plant on the cover. Trees, bushes, flowers, grass count.

Week 6: 10. The author states that he would be delighted if you found yourself nodding off as you read his book.
*Read a book that would 'comfort' or 'relax' you. The book MUST NOT have a MPG of Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Action or Adventure.

Week 7: 14. In the absence of sunlight (days/nights) humans continue to maintain the circadian rhythm of roughly 15 hours awake and 9 hours asleep.
* Read a book with the numbers 15 and 9 in the publication date and/or the page numbers.

Week 8: 15. About 40% of the population are Early Birds.
*Read a book that was first published in the last 6 months.

Week 9: 12. The likelihood of breaking an Olympic record has been tied to the time of day, being at the maximal peak of the circadian rhythm in the early afternoon.
*Read a book featuring an athletic MC or sport.

Week 10: 6. Every animal species sleeps - some for up to 22 hours each day.
*Read a book featuring an animal from one of the provided lists.

Week 11: 1. Author: Matthew Walker
*Read a book with the letters M & W in the book title and/or author's name.

Week 1: 3. Charlotte Bronte once wrote: "a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow".

Selection Posts
MountainKat: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn; message #52
Kari: The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles; message #42
bamaace83: The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory; message #49
Emeli: Natsu and Alec: A Steamy BL/Yaoi/Gay Contemporary Romance Series by Bella Chan; message #47
Amanda: Into the Fire: The Complete Series by Mia West; message #39

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.3.2023; message #58
Kari: Completed 4.3.2023; message #57
bamaace83: Completed 4.7.2023; message #66
Emeli: Completed 4.5.2023; message #63
Amanda: Completed 4.8.2023; message #70

Week 2: 2. More than a third of adults fail to get enough sleep each night.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Happy Endings by Alice Winters; message #62
Kari: Option 2; The Alpha's Warlock by Eliot Grayson; message #65
bamaace83: PASS; message #67
Emeli: Sociopath's Boy by Aster Rae; message #68
Amanda: Heartsong by T.J. Klune; message #71

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.8.2023; message #73
Kari: Completed 4.8.2023; message #69
bamaace83: PASS
Emeli: Completed 4.12.2023; message #75
Amanda: Completed 4.8.2023; message #72

Week 3: 5. Until recently, medical science was unable to consistently and fully explain why we sleep.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Dirty Slide by Lauren Blakely and K.D. Casey; message #85
Kari: David's Selfie by Daisy Harris; message #82
bamaace83: Full Package by Lauren Blakely; message #92
Emeli: Bleu Balls by Tara Lain; message #90
Amanda: Option 2; Lost in Amber by May Maddox; message #79

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.17.2023; message #89
Kari: Completed 4.17.2023; message #84
bamaace83: Completed 4.21.2023; message #96
Emeli: Completed 4.19.2023; message #105
Amanda: Completed 4.16.2023; message #83

Week 4: 7. Sleep regenerates both the mind and body.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Dirty Steal by Lauren Blakely and K.D. Casey; message #99
Kari: Body and Soul by Lucy Lennox; message #102
bamaace83: On the Surface by Kate Willoughby; message #103
Emeli: Daddy's New Kitten by Chara Croft; message #106
Amanda: Scorched by J.D. Light; message #101

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.24.2023; message #109
Kari: Completed 4.23.2023; message #107
bamaace83: Completed 4.24.2023; message #110
Emeli: Completed 4.27.2023; message #116
Amanda: Completed 4.23.2023; message #108

Week 5: 13. In 1927 a French geophysicist discovered that plants generate their own internal time.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Obsession in Death by J.D. Robb; message #115
Kari: Shiny! by Amy Lane; message #117
bamaace83: Hallows End by Kristen Proby; message #121
Emeli: Daddy Danger At Little Rapids by Zach Wish; message #119
Amanda: Elliot, Song of the Soulmate by Anita Sunday; message #127

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.29.2023; message #120
Kari: Completed 5.2.2023; message #122
bamaace83: Completed 5.6.2023; message #136
Emeli: Completed 5.4.2023; message #138
Amanda: Completed 5.4.2023; message #128

Week 6: 10. The author states that he would be delighted if you found yourself nodding off as you read his book.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: On Hart's Boardwalk by Samantha Young; message #134
Kari: Off the Ice by Avon Gale; message #132
bamaace83: Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown; message #140
Emeli: Bound to His Omega: M/M Shifter Mpreg Romance by Lorelei M. Hart; message #139
Amanda: Bullets & Butterflies by May Maddox; message #133

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.6.2023; message #142
Kari: Completed 5.6.2023; message #135
bamaace83: Completed 5.7.2023; message #141
Emeli: Completed 5.10.2023; message #149
Amanda: Completed 5.5.2023; message #137

Week 7: 14. In the absence of sunlight (days/nights) humans continue to maintain the circadian rhythm of roughly 15 hours awake and 9 hours asleep.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Enamored by J.S. Scott; message #145
Kari: Fran Cuthbert Ruins Christmas by Lisa Henry; message #146
bamaace83: Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams; message #152
Emeli: Option 2; Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett; message #150
Amanda: Option 2; Ghost of Lies by Alice Winters; message #147

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.15.2023; message #153
Kari: Completed 5.14.2023; message #148
bamaace83: Completed 5.17.2023; message #160
Emeli: Completed 5.19.2023; message #170
Amanda: Completed 5.16.2023; message #151

Week 8: 15. About 40% of the population are Early Birds.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Lassiter by J.R. Ward; message #157
Kari: List Me With Your Best Shot by Isla Olsen; message #158
bamaace83: Fluke by Adriana Locke; message #165
Emeli: Paladin by Onley James; message #156
Amanda: The Witch and His Doctor by Kiki Clark; message #159

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.23.2023; message #172
Kari: Completed 5.22.2023; message #167
bamaace83: Completed 5.22.2023; message #171
Emeli: Completed 5.21.2023; message #169
Amanda: Completed 5.21.2023; message #163

Week 9: 12. The likelihood of breaking an Olympic record has been tied to the time of day, being at the maximal peak of the circadian rhythm in the early afternoon.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Cannon by Sawyer Bennett; message #179
Kari: Listen, Pitch by Lani Lynn Vale; message #181
bamaace83: The Assist by Rebecca Jenshak; message #178
Emeli: Defending the House by V.L. Locey; message #187
Amanda: Goal Lines & First Times by Eden Finley; message #180

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.28.2023; message #184
Kari: Completed 5.30.2023; message #182
bamaace83: Completed 5.27.2023; message #188
Emeli: Completed 6.3.2023; message #198
Amanda: Completed 5.30.2023; message #183

Week 10: 6. Every animal species sleeps - some for up to 22 hours each day.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn, message #192
Kari: Option 2; Fake Out by Eden Finley; message #191
bamaace83: Don't Call Me Cupcake by Tara Sheets; message #193
Emeli: A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters; message #199
Amanda: Chasing His Cottontail by A.R. Barley; message #195

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.6.2023; message #200
Kari: Completed 6.4.2023; message #194
bamaace83: Completed 6.5.2023; message #202
Emeli:
Amanda: Completed 6.9.2023; message #209

Week 11: 1. Author: Matthew Walker

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Interlude in Death by J.D. Robb; message #207
Kari: How to Summon a Boyfriend by Aja Foxx; message #211
bamaace83: One Way Back to Me by Carrie Ann Ryan; message #217
Emeli:
Amanda: How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton; message #210

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.9.2023; message #212
Kari:
bamaace83:
Emeli:
Amanda: Completed 6.9.2023; message #214

Team Name Suggestions:

Sleepy Crawlers
Sleepynators
2 Nap or not 2 Nap
Siesta Sisters
BookwormZzz
Sleeping Bookie
Sleeping Beauties
Dream Crashers
Bed Buddies
The Sand Girls

Hi all! Looking forward to seeing who I get to play with this round!

A little about me while I wait... I live in the mountains of SoCal (PDT) with my high school sweetie and we have been hammered by winter this year! Not as bad as further north, but more snow and rain than I have seen in my nearly 18 years on the mountain. Not to mention the winds! So much wind and snow that a huge branch came down on our roof. 😡 Over our bedroom. 🤬 And we are trying to deal with insurance and contractors... I am so over winter and it is usually my favorite season!

Other than that headache, my passions are reading, crafting and Disneyland - probably not in that order. We are looking forward to taking some of the grandkids to Disneyland a couple of times over the next few months. And I will probably be going even more often than that to escape reality! I also have a trip planned for late May, early June that does overlap this challenge. I am going east to see family and for my niece's graduation. Really looking forward to seeing everyone again, but I will do my best not to let it interfere with my reading for the challenge.

As for my reading tastes, I try to read a little of the main romance sub-genres every month. But it has to be romance - I need my HEA!! I really only shy away from Inspirational and YA - I don't like to be preached at in my books and I am WAY too old to deal with YA drama. 🙄

Looking forward to getting know to all of you during the next few months!

Just a reminder that our first task is to come up with a team name. The theme this round is Sleep.

Quite honestly, I haven't gotten enough sleep lately (LOL) to think of anything, but I will work on it.

Checking in! Sorry about your roof, MKat that sounds terrible :(.
I'm in Madrid, so my time is CET. I also need a HEA and I read all kinds of romance, both MM (more and more lately) and MF. I don't love YA either, and my preference is always something lighthearted like romantic comedies. Here are some team name options: Sleepy Crawlers, Sleepynators, 2 Nap or not 2 Nap, Siesta Sisters, BookwormZzz, Sleeping Bookie, I'm honestly happy with any name you guys want.
Looking forward to the challenge!😃

Great ideas Kari! I put the list in message #16 above and added 'Sleeping Beauties'. I did mention I am a Disney fan right? 😉

Hi everyone im half Swedish half Latina from Sweden which is not that far from Spain so i have the same time zone as kari altough i mix in some mf from time to time i read mm almost exclusively it was actually this challenge that got me started my favourite tropes are mafia and daddy/boy my least favourite kind of books is overly angsty books im a happy spirit and i like books that make me smile and not cry plus i dont like doom and gloom i get enough of that reading the news
Team name suggetions
Dream Crashers
Bed Buddies
The sand girls

Hi Emeli! I've added your suggestions to the list above.

Hey everyone, I'm Anna and I live in the Southern Indiana and am on eastern time zone. I love reading romance books and tend to lean towards sports ones more but am open to almost anything. I will be out of the country with limited service from April 11-April 19 but I may be able to use wi-fi to check in something on my phone but I won't have my computer to do any browser posts. I'm looking forward to playing with y'all! I'm not that good with team names but I'm open to anything. The BookwormZZZ is cute!

Hey everyone!

I'm Amanda, and I live in metro Detroit so I'm EST. I mainly read MM but have occasionally gone for some contemporary MF when something sounds really good to me. I like paranormal mysteries the most, but read a little of everything. I'm also currently pregnant with my first child so I might not be around as much but am always reading and will be here for selections/completions! I'm also going to definitely learn what it's like to have no sleep so on brand for this theme LOL. I cannot think of any team names but I like a lot of them (I think Siesta Sisters or the Sand Girls are my favorite)

Congrats Amanda! How exciting to be expecting your first little one!

MountainKat wrote: "Congrats Amanda! How exciting to be expecting your first little one!"

Thank you! Very exciting and also the most frightening thing lol.

Amanda wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Congrats Amanda! How exciting to be expecting your first little one!"

Thank you! Very exciting and also the most frightening thing lol."

I was so young and stupid when I did it that I wasn't scared. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MountainKat wrote: "Amanda wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Congrats Amanda! How exciting to be expecting your first little one!"

Thank you! Very exciting and also the most frightening thing lol."

I was so young and stup..."

A girl I used to NANNY is due the same month as me and she announced everything really early and is just so carefree and my mom said it was the same thing. She said when you're young, you don't really think about the what-ifs. I'm 31 and have anxiety so it's all I think about

I worked with pregnant moms for many, many years and honestly worrying about the baby and how things are going to go is actually normal. And especially normal when the mom was over 30.

I think one of the big reasons younger moms don't worry as much is because their bodies have been changing for years, so the changes of pregnancy are just another change. Oh my boobs are growing again - no big deal... Where once you are 30, your body has been the same for a number of years - every little change is a great big deal!

So yep, your mom is right. 😂

OK, everyone - I am running out the door in just a minute, but if everyone could give some input on a team name that would be great! If all the teams get their names figured out, Jane might make the first call early! 😉

Hi Emeli, Anna and Amanda, great to see all of you!
@Amanda, I had my son at 30 (he's almost 18 now). I'm sure all will be amazing, congrats!! 😊
I don't have a clear preference with the team name, maybe BookwormZzz, but I'm honestly happy with all of them.

Well, that makes 2 for BookwormZzz and one for Siesta Sisters or Sand Girls. I can make it 3 for BookwormZzz but I don't think anyone is completely attached. Three is a majority, but I will wait a bit to see if there is anymore input.

Let me know so I can let Jane know ASAP. 😊

I can switch mine to BookwormZzz because I like that as well and then we don't have my vote causing problems lol. I'm really easy going!

Kari wrote: "Hi Emeli, Anna and Amanda, great to see all of you!
@Amanda, I had my son at 30 (he's almost 18 now). I'm sure all will be amazing, congrats!! 😊
I don't have a clear preference with the team name, ..."

Thank you!

bookworm Zzz works for me

OK, BookwormZzz it is! I will let Jane know. 😊

First Theme Called!

Week 1

Option 1
3. Charlotte Bronte once wrote: "a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow".
*Read a book with MPG Historical or by an author whose last name starts with either C or B.
You must specify which option is used in your qualification.


Option 2
Key date: 30 September 2022
*Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Series rule applies:
If the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series.


Option 3
*Pass


A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 for formatting of all 3 options. This format is also in msg 3 of your team threads.

I have lots of options for this task, both HR and books with B or C authors. I won't be starting my book until the first anyway though - busy all day tomorrow. I will see what I am in the mood for then and make my selection post. 😊

Selection Post-Option 1
Week # 1
*Using MPG Historical*

Into the Fire: The Complete Series by Mia West
716 Pages
How the book qualifies - MPG Historical

Amanda wrote: "Selection Post-Option 1
Week # 1
*Using MPG Historical*

Into the Fire: The Complete Series by Mia West
716 P..."

I'd say that is an ambitious selection, but it's you so it really isn't! 😂

I'll pick my book probably tomorrow night. I was going to check to see if it's okay that I use a pass for the week of April 10-16. We will be going to Ireland for that week with limited internet availability and no computer to be able to do updates. I plan on taking a couple books but this trip is three years in the making so I'm gonna try to go tech free for most of it. If someone else needs that week over me, I'll be in airports on Monday/Tuesday and I'll make things work.

Selection Post

Week # 1 - Option 1 using MPG Historical

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles
244 pages
How the book qualifies - MPG Historical

bamaace83 wrote: "I'll pick my book probably tomorrow night. I was going to check to see if it's okay that I use a pass for the week of April 10-16. We will be going to Ireland for that week with limited internet av..."

I'm ok with you using a pass that week. I hope you have a great trip, Anna. I love the idea of being tech free.

MountainKat wrote: "I have lots of options for this task, both HR and books with B or C authors. I won't be starting my book until the first anyway though - busy all day tomorrow. I will see what I am in the mood for ..."

I had a bunch of options too, it takes me foreverrrr to decide.🤦‍♀️😃

MountainKat wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Selection Post-Option 1
Week # 1
*Using MPG Historical*

Into the Fire: The Complete Series by [author:Mia West..."

My concentration has not been great lately so it’s a little more ambitious but I gotta read it for something else so am gonna make it work! Lol

bamaace83 wrote: "I'll pick my book probably tomorrow night. I was going to check to see if it's okay that I use a pass for the week of April 10-16. We will be going to Ireland for that week with limited internet av..."


I’m also fine with it! I’m just incredibly jealous. We’ve had 2 trips to Ireland planned that we had to shelf. I hope you have the best time!!

Week 1 Option 1
3. Charlotte Bronte once wrote: "a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow".
* or by an author whose last name starts with either C or B.

Natsu and Alec: A Steamy BL/Yaoi/Gay Contemporary Romance Series
Bella Chan
260 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Natsu-Alec-Lov...
How it fits see author

Amanda wrote: "bamaace83 wrote: "I'll pick my book probably tomorrow night. I was going to check to see if it's okay that I use a pass for the week of April 10-16. We will be going to Ireland for that week with l..."

Thanks everyone! We also shelved Ireland twice, in 2020 and 2021 and last year we didn't even try and stuck to a couple newer places in the US. I hope that you get to go soon! I'll definitely come back and tell about some of my favorites. I feel like so many meetings have gone to zoom or we use our computers so much more at work than we ever did so I'm looking forward to just having a down week.

Selection Post

Week # 1 - Option 1 - using MPG Historical
Book:
Pages: 502
How the book qualifies - MPG Historical

Hi Anna - as far as I'm concerned the Pass goes to whoever asked for it first. Though, I'm not sure I've ever had more than one person ask for it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Will you be able to make your Selection Post claiming the Pass for that week? Or should we make some arrangements with Jane beforehand? I've made selection posts in the past for players on vacation in this challenge.

And I'm only a wee bit jealous of your trip!