Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members


Captain Grinder
🫘MountainKat

Frothers
🍵Aoife
🍵Michaele
🍵Aiswrya
🍵MN Lisa
🍵Christy

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. Captain Grinder - 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 14 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 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: 4. The two most commonly grown coffee bean types are C. arabica and C. robusta.
*Read a book written by two authors (or more).

Week 2: 12. Latte Art - the decorative surface pattern on Flat Whites or Lattes.
*Read a book with a drawn cover.

Week 3: 6. Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown.
*Read a book with green and brown on the cover. Both colors must be on the cover.

Week 4: 8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated.
*Read a book from one of the lists.

Week 5: 10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water.
*Read a book longer than 300 pages.

Week 6: 5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop for many countries.
*Read a book with an MC who is a farmer.

Week 7: 9. Caffe Americano
*Book set in the Americas - South or North. (American continent and associated islands).

Week 8: 3. Earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in 15th Century
*Read an historical romance.

Week 9: 11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ (as usual, we both claim it ;)
*Read a book written by an Australian or New Zealand author.

Week 10: 16. Instant Coffee - for when you are away from civilisation.
*Read a book set in the wilderness or in a remote location, or where at least one MC sleeps in a tent.

Week 1: Week 1: 4. The two most commonly grown coffee bean types are C. arabica and C. robusta.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews; message #51
Aoife: Tapping the Billionaire by Max Monroe; message #60
Michaele: Lavender's Blue by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer; message #68
Aiswrya: Option 2; The Awakening by Nora Roberts; message #54
MN Lisa: Cold Justice by Tibby Armstrong and Bianca Sommerland; message #66
Christy: Breathless In Love by Bella Andre and Jennifer Scully; message #58

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 9.19.2023; message #72
Aoife: Completed 9.18.2023; message #70
Michaele: Completed 9.21.2023; message #77
Aiswrya: Completed 9.17.2023; message #59
MN Lisa: Completed 9.16.2023; message #67
Christy: Completed 9.21.2023; message #79

Week 2: 12. Latte Art - the decorative surface pattern on Flat Whites or Lattes.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Pick Me by May Archer; message #92
Aoife: A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore; message #87
Michaele: The King's Delight by Sarah Honey; message #84
Aiswrya: The Choice by Nora Roberts; message #95
MN Lisa: Updated; Alphas Like Us by Krista Richie; message #102
Christy: You Lucky Dog by Julia London; message #91

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 10.3.2023; message #97
Aoife: Completed 10.2.2023; message #99
Michaele: Completed 10.3.2023; message #100
Aiswrya: Completed 10.3.2023; message #98
MN Lisa: Completed 10.9.2023; message #120
Christy: Completed 10.1.2023; message #96

Week 3: 6. Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Blindside by N.R. Walker; message #111
Aoife: An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman; message #116
Michaele: Potato Surprise by Angel Martinez; message #119
Aiswrya: Updated; A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas; message #124
MN Lisa: Option 2; Micah by Louisa Masters; message #117
Christy: Wishing on a Christmas Cowboy by Sara Richardson; message #131

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 10.11.2023; message #126
Aoife: Completed 10.10.2023; message #128
Michaele: Completed 10.9.2023; message #144
Aiswrya: Completed 10.11.2023; message #125
MN Lisa: Completed 10.15.2023; message #147
Christy: Completed 10.13.2023; message #132

Week 4: 8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux; message #139
Aoife: Sensing Danger by Wendy Vella; message #155
Michaele: Option 2; Don't Date a DILF by D.J. Jamison; message #146
Aiswrya: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson; message #138
MN Lisa: Headstrong Like Us by Krista Ritchie; message #136
Christy: The Suite Spot by Trish Doller; message #158

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 10.15.2023; message #151
Aoife: Completed 10.25.2023; message #177
Michaele: Completed 10.16.2023; message #148
Aiswrya: Completed 10.16.2023; message #150
MN Lisa: Completed 10.16.2023; message #150
Christy: Completed 10.20.2023; message #159

Week 5: 10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Connections in Death by J.D. Robb; message #168
Aoife: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead; message #178
Michaele: Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley; message #169
Aiswrya: A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Rayburn; message #162
MN Lisa: The Scars That Bind Us by Michele Notaro; message #167
Christy: The Virgin Rule Book by Lauren Blakely; message #171

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 10.23.2023; message #172
Aoife: Completed 10.26.2023; message #181
Michaele: Completed 10.221.2023; message #170
Aiswrya: Completed 10.24.2023; message #174
MN Lisa: Completed 10.25.2023; message #176
Christy: Completed 10.29.2023; message #194

Week 6: 5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop for many countries.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb; message #193
Aoife: Option 2; On the Edge by Ilona Andrews; message #189
Michaele: Once Around Seven by Ofelia Grand; message #195
Aiswrya: PASS; message #187
MN Lisa: Touch Me Gently by J.R. Loveless; message #200
Christy: Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen; message #186

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 10.31.2023; message #196
Aoife: Completed 11.3.2023; message #210
Michaele: Completed 11.1.2023; message #197
Aiswrya: PASS; message #187
MN Lisa: Completed 10.28.2023; message #201
Christy: Completed 11.1.2023; message #198

Week 7: 9. Caffe Americano.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Bayou Beauty by Lexi Blake; message #216
Aoife: Curse the Day by Annabel Chase; message #213
Michaele: Breakaway by Avon Gale; message #229
Aiswrya: Identity by Nora Roberts; message #224
MN Lisa: Try by Ella Frank; message #208
Christy: Keepsake by Sarina Bowen; message #220

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 11.4.2023; message #219
Aoife: Completed 11.4.2023; message #218
Michaele: Completed 11.8.2023; message #230
Aiswrya: Completed 11.7.2023; message #246
MN Lisa: Completed 11.8.2023; message #231
Christy: Completed 11.4.2023; message #221

Week 8: 3. Earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in 15th Century.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Saving Grace by Julie Garwood; message #237
Aoife: Updated; An Unwilling Earl by Sharon Cullen; message #251
Michaele: Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews; message #243
Aiswrya: Updated; A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn; message #253
MN Lisa: Option 2; The Amazing Alpha Tau Boyfriend Project by Lisa Henry; message #249
Christy: How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James; message #248

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 11.13.2023; message #254
Aoife: Completed 11.13.2023; message #252
Michaele: Completed 11.11.2023; message #245
Aiswrya: Completed 11.18.2023; message #272
MN Lisa: Completed 11.16.2023; message #261
Christy:

Week 9: 11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ (as usual, we both claim it ;)

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb; message #271
Aoife: Rock Hard by Nalini Singh; message #278
Michaele: Davo by N.R. Walker; message #266
Aiswrya: Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh; message #273
MN Lisa: Once Upon a Sexy Scrooge by Ella Frank; message #263
Christy: Option 2; Sweetheart by Sarah Mayberry; message #274

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 11.20.2023; message #280
Aoife: Completed 11.21.2023; message #282
Michaele: Completed 11.17.2023; message #269
Aiswrya: Completed 11.21.2023; message #286
MN Lisa: Completed 11.22.2023; message #292
Christy: Completed 11.20.2023; message #275

Week 10: 16. Instant Coffee - for when you are away from civilisation.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Tic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker; message #305
Aoife: Spell's Bells by Annabel Chase; message #335
Michaele: Tic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker; message #312
Aiswrya: Grave Dance by Kalayna Price; message #304
MN Lisa: Option 2; Trick Play by Eden Finley; message #300
Christy: PASS; message #328

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 11.27.2023; message #317
Aoife: Completed 11.27.2023; message #336
Michaele:
Aiswrya: Completed 11.27.2023; message #315
MN Lisa: Completed 11.26.2023; message #301
Christy: PASS; message #328

Week 11:

Selection Posts
MountainKat:
Aoife:
Michaele:
Aiswrya:
MN Lisa:
Christy:

Completion Posts
MountainKat:
Aoife:
Michaele:
Aiswrya:
MN Lisa:
Christy:

xx

xx

Hi team! I just got home and it was HOT today, so next up is a shower. I'll come back and do an introduction in a little while!

Can't wait to see who is on our team this round!

Hi again! A little about me - I'm Kat. I live in the mountains of SoCal, thus MountainKat. 😉 I'm still married to my high school sweetie - we had our 40th anniversary this year. Our kids are all grown with kids of their own and being a grandma is pretty great! Other than reading, I love spending time at Disneyland. I actually go there more often than I should probably admit in writing... But since my hubby works from home, it is where I go to feed my inner introvert. I know it sounds backwards, but when I am there solo no one is making any demands of me and I don't even need to talk to anyone unless I want to!

As for my reading, I will read just about anything as long as it is romance! I NEED my happy ending! Reading is entertainment, it should be enjoyable! I am a little hesitant with YA and even more so with inspirational, but other than those I try to read a variety of sub-genres. And if it isn't in audio (or has a bad narrator), I might never get to it! 😂 But living in the boonies gives me lots of listening time if I have to go into town. I used to rarely do rereads - too many books and too little time, but a little over a year ago I had a long list of series I wanted to revisit so I decided to just go for it. I am loving them - so great to visit old friends again!

Hey everyone! I'm Aoife (ee-phaa) from Ireland :) I work as an engineer and listen to a lot of audiobooks during work when I don't have meetings and stuff.

I read most genres and romance does come up a lot throughout. I tend to fantasy, paranormal, mystery and getting into horror for the spooky season. I really adore audiobooks after getting into them last year and find it really handy to listen & get other work done at the same time - I hate putting clean laundry away so having a book on makes it so much easier lol

Very excited to see this challenge! I got a load of recs the last time I played

Hi Team! I'm Christy, and I live in a suburb of Austin w/ my chug (chihuahua/pug mix), Pippa. I work from home as a marketplace manager and read most nights.

I mainly read romance, though will occasionally branch out to historical fiction or whatever modern novel my book club chooses.

Looking forward to this challenge!

Hey team! Lovely to meet everyone 😊 my name is Aiswrya (aish-war-ya), live in New York with my husband. I read a little of everything, as long as it’s fiction. Totally into audiobooks too! I bought on of those paint by numbers pieces recently, and audiobooks are perfect for when my hands and eyes are otherwise busy haha!

I’m currently reading the 5th book in the Lady Sherlock series (Murder on Cold Street). Love the series so far, I usually never read a series back to back, but this one has me glued to it! Anyone else read it?

Looking forward to playing this challenge with everyone! Sending friend requests to the new names in the group :)

Hi everyone! Looks like we are going to have a great team! I've seen most of you around in other challenges, so I feel like we are already friends - but I will be making that fact if we aren't already GR friends. 😊 (Thanks for the reminder Aiswrya!) It is helpful to be friends with teammates in this challenge, especially if you need to use Option 2. I seem to use Option 2 a lot, especially towards the end of a M&G round when I am trying to finish off my books!

Hi! I'm Michaele (pronounced like Michael). I currently live in Utah, so US MST.

I also listen to audiobooks while at work - I get through a ton of books that way, so I end up doing a lot of re-reads (audiobooks can be expensive I try to make them worthwhile).

I am excited to start another challenge!

OK team - our first task is to come up with a team name. This is not my strong suit! The theme this round is 'Coffee' - I am not a coffee drinker. (Smells good but tastes bad - I don't even like mocha, though I love chocolate!) However, I am a big fan of caffeine!

Maybe some of you coffee lovers will come up with something, in the mean time I will try to think of some ideas too.

LOL - I seem to have put most of the names that need phonetic spelling in this team!! You can sympathise together 💜

MN Lisa may have already left for her holiday with limited phone service, so she may not be able to introduce herself until mid next week. Lisa WILL be here though - a few days after the first call.

Jane (PS) wrote: "LOL - I seem to have put most of the names that need phonetic spelling in this team!! You can sympathise together 💜"

😂

We got this!

Jane (PS) wrote: "MN Lisa may have already left for her holiday with limited phone service, so she may not be able to introduce herself until mid next week. Lisa WILL be here though - a few days after the first call."

Thanks for the reminder. I remember seeing her comment about being away, but forgot when I was looking at who was on our team.

Really terrible at coming up with names! I won’t even try 🙈

We could have a punny name, like We Love Reading a Latte. But i have a feeling there will be a lot of those...

All Frothed Up?

I like all frothed up! I'm terrible for names always am

So far we have:

We Love Reading a Latte
All Frothed Up

And maybe slightly modified from a quick google search...

The Daily Grind
Living La Vida Mocha
We Have a Terrible Case of Deja Brew
We Believe in Caffeine
Brew HaHa!


Of those, I think my favorites would be We Love Reading a Latte or Brew HaHa! But really, I'd be good with anything.

Brew HaHa is fun.

Oh I like Brew haha also!

I'm here!! I'll have more access on the 17th.

Thanks Jane. I'll be back on Sunday! Glaciers, whales, bears and raptors have occupied my time. ,

MN Lisa wrote: "Thanks Jane. I'll be back on Sunday! Glaciers, whales, bears and raptors have occupied my time. ,"

Have fun Lisa!

MN Lisa wrote: "Thanks Jane. I'll be back on Sunday! Glaciers, whales, bears and raptors have occupied my time. ,"

That sounds fabulous! Would love to hear more when you get back!

No comments since yesterday, but 3 of us have said they like Brew HaHa! If you have any other suggestions or votes, please do so soon. Otherwise I will let Jane know we are going with Brew Haha!

I think we should go for it!

Aiswrya wrote: "I think we should go for it!"

Done - message sent to Jane! 😊

First Theme Call tomorrow - afternoon my time! I'm terrible at planning for this challenge except for the last week - then I have it all planned out. So I will be winging it and will figure it out after the call. 😊

Anyone have a preference on a theme for this week?

Excited to start!

I think the agri one will be the hardest for me - I very rarely have books that suit! I think the action/thriller mpg would suit me easiest but the rest are pretty doable (I hope)

I am least excited for historical - I am not a fan- the rest look fun.

I'd be okay with any of the non-list themes. I don't want to be forced to read pure romance. I feel like I just don't have the patience for fluff, moping and drama anymore lol!

Michaele wrote: "I am least excited for historical - I am not a fan- the rest look fun."

haha this is one of my favorite genres!

Michaele wrote: "I am least excited for historical - I am not a fan- the rest look fun."

If historical comes up, I would highly recommend Into Deep Waters and the audio was very good too!

Thanks for the recommendation!

First Theme!

Week 1: 4. The two most commonly grown coffee bean types are C. arabica and C. robusta.

Read a book written by two authors (or more).

Qualification needs to be shown on the main page with 2 authors listed (narrators don’t count) or through a list which shows authors that write under a single name.