Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Wedding Planner
🔔KarenH

Partiers
🍾Ela (mouse)
🍾Eugenia
🍾Jessica S
🍾PurpleLadi

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. Wedding Planner (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, 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 16 April

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/Calls 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, particularly when the request is more than a day old. Its difficult to find older posts when going backwards in the threads.

Weekly Themes

Week 1
Option 1
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

Week 2
Option 1
5. The ceremony follows well established rituals
Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.

Week 3
Option 1
8. Marriage is a legal contract
Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer.

Week 4
Option 1
3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.)
Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.

Week 5
Option 1
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.

Week 6
Option 1
16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged 'hea'.

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%).

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.

Week 9
Option 1
9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.

(view spoiler)[ Week 10


Week 11 (hide spoiler)]

Selection/Completion Posts - Weeks 1-4

Week 1 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Sway - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - To Catch a Husband - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Love Is a Stranger - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - The Duke's Absolutely Mad Marriage - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 2 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Keeper of Enchanted Rooms - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Three Mages and a Margarita - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - SOS Hotel: Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - The House in the Cerulean Sea - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Not the Witch You Wed - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 3 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Dragon Bound - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Slow Burn - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - Resurrection Walk - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Boyfriend Goals - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - The Baby Inheritance - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 4 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Don't Tell - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Don't Cry - Selection Post / Completion Post
Eugenia - To Shape a Dragon's Breath - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Temporary Partner - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Grumpily Ever After: Pumpkin Spice 3:AM Kisses - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]

Selection/Completion Posts - Weeks 5-8

Week 5 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Protecting Alabama - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Crow - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - All Systems Red - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - All Kinds of Tied Down - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Forget Me Not - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 6 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Protecting Fiona - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - To Catch an Heiress - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - Book Lovers - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Time to Shine - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Twisted Love - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 7 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - Simply Irresistible - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Part-Time Husband - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Red, White & Royal Blue - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - What the Prince Wants - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]


Week 8 - Complete
(view spoiler)[✔KarenH - The Poisoner's Ring - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Unloved - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - Fractured - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Dead Reckoning - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Twisted Games - Selection Post / Completion Post (hide spoiler)]

Selection/Completion Posts - Weeks 9-11

Week 9 - Complete
✔KarenH - Fantasy in Death - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Forget Your Morals - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - Unseen - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - SOS Hotel: Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Spilling the Tea - Selection Post / Completion Post


Week 10 - Complete
✔KarenH - Darling Girls - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Ela (mouse) - Tilly in Technicolor - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Eugenia - After That Night - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔Jessica S - Winter Dreams - Selection Post / Completion Post
✔PurpleLadi - Duke, Actually - Selection Post / Completion Post


Week 11
(view spoiler)[KarenH -
Ela (mouse) -
Eugenia -
Jessica S -
PurpleLadi - (hide spoiler)]

Team's 'Read' shelves for Option 2:

Ela (mouse) - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Eugenia - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Jessica S - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
KarenH - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
PurpleLadi - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Team Name Suggestions

The Wedding Crashers
Always A Supporting Character...
We Do Take Thee Tropes
Karen and the Bridezillas

**

Hey everyone!

This is a bit unusual for me...while I recognize all your names, it appears I've never actually been on a team with any of you! I've sent you all friend requests, (except PurpleLadi since I couldn't get past your test - please send me a friend request).

Just a bit about me - I live in NW Washington State, so Pacific Time Zone, so tasks will generally be announced between 1-3 PM my time. My work schedule fluctuates so this may or may not happen when I'm not home, so if anyone else is around and wants to post the theme here, please feel free to do so. I should be around for the first couple of weeks, but after that who knows! I live with my very spoiled (but very sweet) 60 lb. "lap dog" who thinks she's in charge...and she's not always wrong!

I have fairly eclectic reading tastes, and while most of my reading is romance, within the romance genre it can be just about anything. I make a point of reading a variety of sub-genres every month, Contemporary, Historical, PNR, also a mix of MF and MM. I've always been a big mystery/suspense fan though, so RS is probably my favorite sub-genre, and I also read some non-romance in that area.

Our first task is to come up with a team name. I hope some of you are more creative than I am, because I'm horrible at this part! If you have any ideas please post them, even if you don't think they're good - sometimes they will help others come up with ideas, and some that you might think are bad my just need a little tweaking to make them perfect! My problem is I can't even seem to come up with 'bad' ideas! 😁

I guess that's all I have for now...I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

Hey! I'm in the UK so I think that means tasks should be announced around 9-11pm for me. I've participated in a few challenges, but this is my first time playing Pass the Parcel.

The majority of my reading is romance too and I feel like I read any sub-genre in it. I probably like fantasy and paranormal romance the most, but my favourite book is historical (Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold). Outside of romance, I've recently started reading some fantasy and non-fiction books too.

Hi Team!

I'm looking forward to playing with you all. I'm also in the UK, and this is my second time playing PTP.

I tend to only read MM romance unless I need something specific for a challenge. My favourite are fantasy enemies-to-lovers romances but I enjoy all genres.

I think 'The Wedding Crashers' will probably be thrown out by a few but maybe

Always A Supporting Character...
We Do Take Thee Tropes
Karen and the Bridezillas

Those are great names, Jessica! I think I’ll vote for Karen and the Bridezillas and We Do Take Thee Tropes.

Hi Ela and Jessica!

Thanks for the name suggestions, Jessica...I posted them in msg #9 and included The Wedding Crashers since only a couple of other teams have even mentioned it, and it doesn't seem to be on any of their "short lists". I'm not particularly picky about names, I'd be fine with any of those (and would love to see other suggestions too), but even though it's the least 'creative' of the suggestions, I think The Wedding Crashers would probably be my first choice...not by a lot though, and like I said, I'd be happy with any of them.

We're still waiting for a couple of team members to check in - hopefully we'll hear from them soon!

Hola! I just got back from a yoga retreat in Costa Rica yesterday. This is a super quick check in before I crash 😉 Hi all and I will make a longer intro tomorrow!

Hello Team👋🏾
I'm so sorry you couldn't get past my test, but no worries, Karen. I will send you a friend request. This is my third time participating in PTP. I am an avid reader and enjoy meeting new people. Unfortunately, I am away from home but will be back by Thursday.

I like we Do Take Thee Tropes.

Yay! We're all checked in!

We still have to finalize a name. So far We Do Take Thee Tropes seems to have more interest than anything else, but I'm going to wait a bit before going with that to allow Eugenia to chime in...either with an opinion on the existing suggestions or with additional ideas. 😀

I like that name but maybe without the ‘s’? We Do Take Thee Trope

I'm ok either way...anyone else have a preference between singular and plural?

~KarenH~ wrote: "I'm ok either way...anyone else have a preference between singular and plural?"

I started off without the S so fine with dropping it :)

~KarenH~ wrote: "Team's 'Read' shelves for Option 2:

Ela (mouse) - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Eugenia - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Jessica S - https://..."

Thanks

~KarenH~ wrote: "Yay! We're all checked in!

We still have to finalize a name. So far We Do Take Thee Tropes seems to have more interest than anything else, but I'm going to wait a bit before going with that to al..."

With or without the 's' is fine with me.

Ok, I'm going to throw in another possible variation as an option (yes, I know we're supposed to be narrowing it down, not making more choices!)

How about changing Thee to These or This?

We Do Take These Tropes
We Do Take This Trope

~KarenH~ wrote: "Ok, I'm going to throw in another possible variation as an option (yes, I know we're supposed to be narrowing it down, not making more choices!)

How about changing Thee to These or This?

We Do Ta..."

If we do that I would vote to keep it plural.

I like this (We Do Take This Trope) variation better since the 's' is removed.

I really confused the issue, didn't I? I didn't mean to, I promise! 😁

How about everyone pick their favorite of the four variations?

We Do Take Thee Tropes
We Do Take Thee Trope
We Do Take These Tropes
We Do Take This Trope

I think my preference is We Do Take These Tropes, mostly because the grammar OCD section of my brain likes it best! I'd really be fine with any of them though.

We Do Take Thee Trope, I’ll go with whatever

Me too. We can still go back to Karen and the Bridezillas 😂

Or Wedding Crashers?
Reading Crashers?

I am okay with whatever 🙂

Ok, we're the only team without a name, so I'm going to let Jane know that we'll go with We Do Take Thee Trope for now. If we come up with a consensus for something else, we can always have her change it later, but I'd hate to be the only team without a name when the first theme is called in a few hours!

We Do Take These Tropes or We Do Take Thee Trope

First theme call!!!!

Week 1

Option 1
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

[From Wiki: Semi-formal wear or half dress is a grouping of dress codes indicating the sort of clothes worn to events with a level of formality between informal wear and formal wear. The typical interpretation for men is black tie for evening wear and black lounge suit for day wear, corresponded by either a pant suit or an evening gown for women.

In addition, equivalent versions may be permitted such as ceremonial dresses (including court dress, diplomatic uniforms and academic dress), religious clothing, national costumes, and military mess dress.]

I will be looking for tuxedos or suits (with tie/bowtie), organza, silk and flow/long dresses. Pant suits are also acceptable, along with military dress etc. per above. Men in shirts that are open-necked/undone will not work.

If there are multiple cover-models, only one needs to be dressed per above.

Please show the cover of your book in your selection post.

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: 18 October 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 1# Option 1:
PTP 11. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
The Duke’s Absolutely Mad Marriage by Eva Devon

Number of pages: 185 per GR

~KarenH~ wrote: "Selection/Completion Posts - Weeks 1-4

Week 1"

Selection Post
Week 1# Option 1:
PTP 11. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
The Duke’s Absolutely Mad Marriage by Eva Devon
Number of pages: 185 per GR

Week 1 - Selection Post
Option 2

The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes by Alice Winters
Page count: 370
How the book qualifies: Read by Jessica on Mar 30, 2025 and rated 4 stars. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Week 1 - Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

Sway by Adriana Locke
Pages: 340
How the book qualifies: Suit

Week 1 - Selection Post
Option 1

Love Is a Stranger by John Wiltshire
Page count: 507
How it qualifies: Man in suit on the cover

🌷

Selection Post
Week 1: #11. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
Option 1

To Catch a Husband by Sophia Holloway
384 pp
How it fits: Man in formal dress on cover

Week 1 - Completion Post

Sway by Adriana Locke
Rating: 2 stars

Review
This book was fine, despite it being about topics that I don’t care to read about, but the Landry family as well as Huxley could have been shown more.

COMPLETION POST
Week 1: #11. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
Option 1

To Catch a Husband by Sophia Holloway
384 pp
How it fits: Man in formal dress on cover
Read 4/19
3 Stars

Despite having a high rating, this book was just OK for me. It ran a bit slow & seemed to cover the same ground. This was a new to me author, but I’m not sure I’ll pick up another one by her despite my love for Regency historicals.

PurpleLadi wrote: "~KarenH~ wrote: "Selection/Completion Posts - Weeks 1-4

Week 1""

~KarenH~ wrote: "First theme call!!!!

Week 1

Option 1
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a ..."



Completion post: Week #1
PTP 11. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
The Duke’s Absolutely Mad Marriage by Eva Devon

Star Rating: 4
Review: The Duke’s Absolutely Mad Marriage is not the typical regency romance. Mercy and Leander’s story dealt with some serious subjects like abandonment, women’s rights, America’s independence from England, and the fact that the Duke has manic/ depressive episodes. Back then this illness was not understood or even named, so their society considered all mental illnesses as madness. Anything not understood or different is heckled and ostracized. For a duke to be considered mentally infirmed, it would not just tarnish his image and diminish his credibility but make him laughingstock. Though at times, it seemed a bit much, I enjoyed reading it.

Week 1 - Completion Post
Option 2

The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes by Alice Winters
Rating: 4 stars
Review: These books are just plain fun - lighthearted and funny even though the subject matter easily could (and usually does) lend itself to much more serious, darker stories. It was nice getting a better look into Leland's past and more details about how he became the Sandman. The audio version was excellent, narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo.

🐣

Week 1 Completion Post:Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress

Love Is a Stranger by John Wiltshire
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: This was unlike anything I've read before. I was enjoying it, but didn't quite know where the story was going. Then we got the plot twist and suddenly everything made sense. To say Nikolas is complicated is an understatement, but it was always clear how much he felt for Ben, and I loved every moment Ben broke down another wall to reveal more of Nikolas than anyone ever has. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. There's still a lot more room for growth in their relationship and they make an excellent professional team.