Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Selection Post
Week #5 Option: 1
PTP: 7. A wedding takes extensive planning
Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books. Please link to the series page.
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Forget Me Not
Number of pages: 341 per GR
How the book qualifies:
From precis on GR: An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

Week 5 - Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book from a series of more than 5 books.

Crow by A. Zavarelli
Pages: 312
How the book qualifies: Boston Underworld has 6 books

Selection Post Week 5 Option 1: From a series of more than 5 books.


Book: All Kinds of Tied Down
Author: Mary Calmes
Pages: 350 pp
How it fits: Series of 7 books https://www.goodreads.com/series/1600...

Completion Post Week 5 Option 1: From a series of more than 5 books.


Book: All Kinds of Tied Down
Author: Mary Calmes
Pages: 350 pp
How it fits: Series of 7 books https://www.goodreads.com/series/1600...
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: This has to be at least my fourth read of this and I never get bored. Lots of action, a fun array of characters and of course sizzling chemistry between Miro and Ian. I don't usually like friends to lovers but this is more like couple who are act like they're already married start having actual sex. An MM classic for good reason.

Week 5 - Completion Post

Crow by A. Zavarelli
Rating: 2 stars

Review
This was okay, but I thought that it was going to be darker. The mafia aspect was kind of vague and there weren’t many scenes with the side characters.

I’m going to try Sasha and Ronan’s story, but I don’t think it’s going to make me want to continue with the rest of the series.

Week 6

Option 1
16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged 'hea'.

Please include a link to the page where the tag appears (or to the tag specifically). (The shelves are accessed after clicking on the 'more' on the genres for the book page.)

If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Option 2
Key date: 22 November 2024
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars


Option 3
Pass

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

Selection Post Week 6 Option 1: Read a book tagged 'hea'.


Book: Time to Shine
Author: Rachel Reid
Pages: 382
How it fits: tagged hea x 5 page 2 column 3 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

Week 6 - Selection Post
Option 1

Protecting Fiona by Susan Stoker
Page count: 286
How the book qualifies: Tagged 'hea' by 5 people on page 1 of tags

Week 6 - Completion Post
Option 1

Protecting Fiona by Susan Stoker
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is book 3 in Susan Stoker's SEAL of Protection series, and I felt the same about this one as I did the first 2. I liked the characters, the storyline was good if a bit predictable, and I'm more than willing to read more of her stuff. That being said, they don't reach the level of wondering as soon as I finish a book when I can read the next one - I'm perfectly happy to wait until it works for a challenge or I need a fill-in somewhere. I don't know if it's just this series or if I will find that in other series too...I guess I'll eventually find out!

Completion post: Week 5
PTP 7. A wedding takes extensive planning
Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books. Please link to the series page.
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Book cover/link
Star Rating: 4
Review: Forget Me Not by Julie Sato is a 2nd chance romance story about Ama and Elliot. It interesting how Ama’s customers decided to play match maker without realizing that Ama and Elliot had some turbulent history. I enjoyed reading this book.

Selection Post

Week # 6 Option: 1
PTP 16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged ‘hea’.

Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang

Number of pages: 343 per GR
How the book qualifies.
Tags: 'hea' on page 1 https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/hea

Completion Post Week 6 Option 1: Read a book tagged 'hea'.


Book: Time to Shine
Author: Rachel Reid
Pages: 382
How it fits: tagged hea x 5 page 2 column 3 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: This was a hard one to rate because Rachel is an amazing writer, this was a great book, but Landon annoyed me the whole damn time.

Landon and Casey are complete opposites and did feel perfect for each other, but Landon's inability to put in any effort drove me insane. He was so monotone it reminded me of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I hoped he'd open up eventually but he never changed. Then near the end when (view spoiler)[He had to return home he said he thinks it's best they end things as friends. That was messed up and I thought Casey could do better.
I do like it when authors explore the sexuality spectrum and in this book we have Casey who is Bi, and Landon is gay but seems demi-sexual and does not like the idea of anal or being touched in certain places. (hide spoiler)]

I can't give this book anything less than 4 stars because it doesn't deserve it but I did not like Landon and that soured the whole book for me. I did adore Casey though.

Jessica wrote: "Selection Post Week 6 Option 1: Read a book tagged 'hea'.


Book: Time to Shine
Author: Rachel Reid
Pages: 382
How it fits: tagg..."

Hey Jessica, will you please change the header on this from "Selection" to "Completion"? Thanks!

Selection Post
Week 6
Option 1: Read a book tagged 'HEA.’

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
398 pp
How it fits: tagged ‘HEA’ 28x, page 6, col. 3 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

COMPLETION POST
Week 6
Option 1: Read a book tagged 'HEA.’

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
398 pp
How it fits: tagged ‘HEA’ 28x, page 6, col. 3 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Read: 26 May
3 Stars
I really liked the beginning of this novel which made fun of small-town romance tropes. As it went on, the story stalled and I got bored. Nothing really happened. And I stopped caring. Had it not been for this challenge, it would have been a DNF. This could easily been 150 pages shorter.

Eugenia wrote: "Selection Post
Week 6
Option 1: Read a book tagged 'HEA.’

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
398 pp
How it fits: tagged ‘HEA’ 28x, page ..."

Eugenia, will you please correct your link? This one goes to a totally different book. Thanks!

~KarenH~ wrote: "Eugenia wrote: "Selection Post
Week 6
Option 1: Read a book tagged 'HEA.’

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
398 pp
How it fits: tagged ..."

Done! I post from my phone & sometimes the link I copy isn’t the one to the page I see. Goodreads 🙄

Eugenia wrote: "Done! I post from my phone & sometimes the link I copy isn’t the one to the page I see. Goodreads 🙄"

Yeah, Goodreads and phones don't mix at all for me! Will you make the change in the Selection post too, since that's where the link is actually required? 🙃 Thanks!

Completion post: Week 6
Option: 1
PTP 16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged ‘hea’.

Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang
How the book qualifies.
Tags: HEA https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/hea
Star Rating: 5
Review:
I should have gotten a clue from the title “Twisted Love”, but it being on the ‘hea’ list fooled me. I was expecting a simple romance, but it was complicated, mafia-like, twisted, and a bit crazy, but such a good story. I laughed, cried, and fussed at the characters. By chapter thirty-seven, I was tempted to skip the rest of the chapters and read the last one to see if there really was a happily ever after because I was seriously boo-hoo-ing for Alex/ Ava and the mess their lives had become. I am glad that I didn’t cheat because reading the remaining chapters was worthwhile. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

Week 6 - Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book tagged 'hea'.

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
Pages: 377
How the book qualifies: Tagged hea by 2 people, middle column 5th from the bottom

Week 6 - Completion Post

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
Rating: 2 stars

Review
This was a light comedic story with some annoying reactions (Blake’s distaste for Caroline and Caroline’s sudden “love” for Blake). While I liked that there wasn’t a real spy in this book, not much happens when it comes to the plot (it’s mostly just Caroline and Blake waiting). Also, I would have preferred if Caroline ended up with James, not Blake (there was no love triangle, but I just didn’t like Blake).

~KarenH~ wrote: "Eugenia wrote: "Done! I post from my phone & sometimes the link I copy isn’t the one to the page I see. Goodreads 🙄"

Yeah, Goodreads and phones don't mix at all for me! Will you make the change in..."

Done!

Hey Eugenia, I just did a quick look back and we're missing a completion for your week 4 book. Can you check the status on that...did you maybe just forget to post it?

Other than that one book we're completely current! 😃

Week 7

Option 1
10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country
OR
Read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).

'Pop' or 'business' royalty etc or equivalent will not count.

Please post the bookcover is you select the 'white' bookcover choice.


If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Option 2
Key date: 29 November 2024
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars


Option 3
Pass

A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options

Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Pages: 448
How it fits: tagged Royalty x 669. From percis with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

~KarenH~ wrote: "Hey Eugenia, I just did a quick look back and we're missing a completion for your week 4 book. Can you check the status on that...did you maybe just forget to post it?

Other than that one book we'..."

I’m slowly getting through it 🤫

Selection Post
Week #7 Option:1
PTP 10. Popularized by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country OR read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).
What the Prince Wants by Jules Bennett

Number of pages: 192 per GR
How the book qualifies: (The cover is mostly white) also from precis on GR:
What happens when a royal daddy falls for his child's live-in nanny?
Widowed Prince Mikos Colin Alexander wants to raise his little girl out of the spotlight. Granted a six-month leave from his royal duties, he escapes to Los Angeles, posing as a regular guy, one in need of a live-in nanny. Colin reluctantly hires Darcy Cooper, the curvy beauty who easily wins over his baby duchess. But soon the lush, love-shy American wins him over, too. Now he's torn between duty to the crown and what feels like his newfound family. But when Darcy discovers her emotionally distant boss is royalty, will all bets be off?

Eugenia wrote: "I’m slowly getting through it 🤫"

Ok, thanks...just wanted to be sure you hadn't finished and just forgot to post or something. That has happened a time or two on my team in previous rounds - once to me! Of course, when it was me I caught it pretty quickly since I was doing the tracking... 🤪

Jessica wrote: "Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: Red, White & Royal Blue
A..."

Jessica, can you update your qualification with some more detail? Jane needs to know specifically how you know the character is royal...either include the portion of the precis that mentions it, or there's a 'royalty' tag that you can link to. Thanks!

Week 7 - Selection Post
Option 1

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
Page count: 330
How the book qualifies: Mostly white cover - see above

~KarenH~ wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: [book:Red, White & Royal ..."

Thanks Karen.

Whilst I actually know that this book fits, please refer to the precis or post an extract. Thanks Jessica!

🍀 Outstanding:

Week 4 - Eugenia
Week 7 - a couple of selections

Completion post: Week #7
Option:1 PTP 10. Popularized by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country OR read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).
What the Prince Wants by Jules Bennett
Book cover/link
Star Rating: 4
Review:
What the Prince Wants by Jules Bennett was a quick easy read. Prince Colin is a widow with an eighteen-month-old little girl to raise. Life after the death of his wife, was becoming out of control, so he requests six-month leave from his royal duties, and moves to Los Angeles. Wanting to keep himself and his daughter out of the media spotlight, he poses as a regular guy and reluctantly hired Darcy to be his live-in nanny. Their relationship was not without problems but they do get a happily ever after.

🐒

Jane (PS) wrote: "~KarenH~ wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: [book:Re..."

My bad! I've updated it :)

Week 7 - Completion Post
Option 1

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This was as much fun this time as it was when I first read it 15 years ago! I love pretty much everything Jill Shalvis writes, and even 15 years later I still think this is one of her best. Wonderful, quirky characters, a setting that I wish wasn't fictional because I would love to visit (and it's close enough to where I live that I actually could), and a great storyline about sisters reconnecting. I see another series reread in my future!

Jessica wrote: "My bad! I've updated it :)"

Jessica, will you please repost your correction so Jane doesn't have to keep backtracking to the original to recheck? Thanks!

Week 7 - Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book with a mainly white cover

Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams
Pages: 257
How the book qualifies: White cover

Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Pages: 448
How it fits: tagged Royalty x 669. From percis with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

Week 7 - Completion Post

Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams
Rating: 2 stars

Review
I’m surprised with how much I liked Melissa and Trevor’s story. Even though this is a marriage of convenience at the beginning, I liked how they agreed to kind of be friends and live their lives together. However, the way this was written meant that all the scenes that weren’t strictly Melissa and Trevor interacting were vague and happened in the background. Also, I wasn’t a fan of Melissa’s “dislike” of Trevor at the beginning because his obnoxiousness (which is Melissa’s complaint) wasn’t really shown so it felt exaggerated.

COMPLETION POST
Week 4
Option 1: Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
519 pp
How it fits: Apostrophe in title
Read 2 June
3.5 Stars
Boy did it ever take me a long time to finish this book. It was just that I wasn’t in the mood for fantasy & should have chosen something different. I like that this book is speculative fiction of sorts—we are in a world (the United States, supposedly) sometime after the colonies were settled. What’s interesting is the POV of a young Native American girl, one who bonded with a dragon. She is shipped off to school to learn about controlling the magic between her and the dragon. This reminds me of the forced removal and acculturation of native children in the US via boarding schools. It was a good book and I’m glad I stuck it out.

Selection Post
Week 7
Option 1: 10. Read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).

The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk
320 pp
How it fits: Mainly white cover

Jessica wrote: "Selection Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: Red, White & Royal Blue
A..."

I LOVE this book 😍

🐔

Completion Post Week 7 Option 1: Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country


Book: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Pages: 448
How it fits: tagged Royalty x 669. From percis with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.
Date read: 2-June
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: I've put off reading this for a long time as anything with too much politics and bureaucracy bores me, but I now understand the hype around this book. The fact that it was a debut makes it even more impressive. The two MCs, though brought up in wealth with little hardship, are extremely likeable and down to earth. And just because they're rich doesn't mean their lives are all sunshine, especially Prince Henry, grieving the loss of his father and feeling forced to hide who he really is so as not to ruin the 'Royal image'.

This was a very cute new adult romance with fun banter and touching moments.

Week 8

Option 1
1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used.
Please link to the series page.

If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Option 2
Key date: 6 December 2024
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars


Option 3
Pass

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

Selection Post
Week 8
Option 1: 1. Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series.

Fractured by Karin Slaughter
530 pp
How it fits: Will Trent #2 https://www.goodreads.com/series/4501...

Week 8 - Selection Post
Option 1

The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong
Page count: 431
How the book qualifies: Book 2 in the A Rip Through Time series

Selection Post
Week #8 Option:1
PTP 1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used. Please link to the series page.
Twisted Games (Twisted Book 2) by Ana Huang
Twisted Games
Number of pages: 448 per GR
How the book qualifies.
This is the 2nd book in the Twisted series.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3144...

COMPLETION POST
Week 8
Option 1: 1. Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series.

Fractured by Karin Slaughter
530 pp
How it fits: Will Trent #2 https://www.goodreads.com/series/4501...
Read: 7 June
4 Stars
I’m so happy to have found this series after bingeing Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series. This second book in the series deals with a multiple murder and a kidnapping. I like Will Trent’s neurodivergence and the setting of Atlanta is a novelty since most police procedural books seem to be set in LA or NYC.