Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Wedding Planner
🔔MountainKat

Partiers
🍾DanielleGS
🍾Kari
🍾Janeylou
🍾Liza

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.

Themes Called:

Week 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: 5. The ceremony follows well established rituals.
*Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.

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

Week 4: 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: 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: 16. And they lived happily ever after.
*Read a book tagged 'hea'.

Week 7: 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: 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: 9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event.
*Read a book with a wealthy character.

Week 10: 15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life.
*Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'.

Week 11: 4. Music is played ~ before, during or after.
*Read a book with an MC who is a musician or music composer/lyricist. Not a poet.

Week 1: 11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Survivor In Death by J.D. Robb; message #66
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Unseen by Jordan L. Hawk; message #54
Kari: Option 2; The Christmas Switch by Briar Prescott; message #56
Janeylou: Destroyer of Worlds by Jordan L. Hawk; message #57
Liza: The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer; message #53

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.22.2025; message #73
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 4.20.2025; message #63
Kari: Completed 4.20.2025; message #60
Janeylou: Completed 4.19.2025; message #58
Liza: Completed 4.21.2025; message #70

Week 2: 5. The ceremony follows well established rituals.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh; message #88
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Death Knell by Hailey Edwards; message #89
Kari: Purrfect Harmony by Arden Steele; message #91
Janeylou: Night and Fae by Arden Steele; message #93
Liza: Mortal Skin by Lily Mayne; message #92

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 4.29.2025; message #95
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 5.2.2025; message #102
Kari: Completed 5.1.2025; message #97
Janeylou: Completed 5.1.2025; message #98
Liza: Completed 4.28.2025; message #94

Week 3: 8. Marriage is a legal contract.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer; message #109
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Option 2; Death in the Spires by K.J. Charles; message #111
Kari: Heart of Glass by Ari McKay; message #112
Janeylou: Wake Up Call by J.L. Merrow; message #107
Liza: Contract Baby by Aiden Bates; message #110

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.5.2025; message #115
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 5.5.2025; message #116
Kari: Completed 5.4.2025; message #114
Janeylou: Completed 5.8.2025; message #126
Liza: Completed 5.6.2025; message #117

Week 4: 3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.).

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Origin in Death by J.D. Robb; message #134
Danielle Gypsy Soul: The (Maybe) Murderer Who Knocked Me Up by Amy Bellows; message #133
Kari: Tall, Dark, and Deported by Bru Baker; message #132
Janeylou: Sheriff's Choice by Jacki James; message #136
Liza: SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Adam Vex; message #128

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.12.2025; message #139
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 5.12.2025; message #140
Kari: Completed 5.11.2025; message #135
Janeylou: Completed 5.17.2025; message #155
Liza: Completed 5.13.2025; message #141

Week 5: 7. A wedding takes extensive planning.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Haunted in Death by J.D. Robb; message #149
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Pixie Little Liar by Arden Steele; message #144
Kari: Option 2; Protecting Mr. Fine by Lucy Lennox; message #148
Janeylou: Updated; The Bunny, the Wolf, and Their Kangaroo Omega by Lorelei M. Hart; message #161
Liza: Clueless Puckboy by Eden Finley; message #145

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.17.2025; message #153
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 5.20.2025; message #159
Kari: Completed 5.18.2025; message #152
Janeylou: Completed 5.20.2025; message #162
Liza: Completed 5.16.2025; message #146

Week 6: 16. And they lived happily ever after.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Memory in Death by J.D. Robb; message #173
Danielle Gypsy Soul: PASS; message #167
Kari: Method Acting by N.R. Walker; message #175
Janeylou: Unguarded by Jay Hogan; message #176
Liza: Off Balance by Jay Hogan; message #174

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 5.25.2025; message #177
Danielle Gypsy Soul: PASS; message #167
Kari: Completed 5.26.2025; message #178
Janeylou: Completed 5.30.2025; message #184
Liza: Completed 5.26.2025; message #179

Week 7: 10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Bossy by N.R. Walker; message #192
Danielle Gypsy Soul: The Quarterback by Tal Bauer; message #196
Kari: Option 2; Mr. Nice Guy by Isla Olsen; message #202
Janeylou: This Is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleet; message #197
Liza: Winter Cowboy by R.J. Scott; message #195

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.1.2025; message #204
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 6.4.2025; message #234
Kari: Completed 6.4.2025; message #214
Janeylou: Completed 6.10.2025; message #236
Liza: Completed 6.6.2025; message #222

Week 8: 1. A wedding unites 2 people.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; The Rivals of Copper County by May Archer; message #228
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Blood and Bone by Patricia Logan; message #221
Kari: Bean by Nora Phoenix; message #220
Janeylou: Tarnished Cages by R. Phoenix; message #237
Liza: Bad Dogs by Riley Nash; message #223

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.9.2025; message #238
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 6.7.2025; message #235
Kari: Completed 6.8.2025; message #232
Janeylou: Completed 6.19.2025; message #258
Liza: Completed 6.7.2025; message #231

Week 9: 9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; How to Flirt with a Hellhound by Shannon Mae; message #245
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Maybe You by Briar Prescott; message #244
Kari: Because You Came Along by Ian Finn; message #247
Janeylou: Option 2; Into the Tempest by N.R. Walker; message #251
Liza: Splintered by Isabel Lucero; message #243

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.14.2025; message #246
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 6.15.2025; message #254
Kari: Completed 6.18.2025; message #255
Janeylou: Completed 6.21.2025; message #270
Liza: Completed 6.16.2025; message #253

Week 10: 15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Adam Vex; message #265
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Option 2; SOS Hotel: Luxury to Die for by Adam Vex; message #266
Kari: Christmas Prince by R.J. Scott; message #273
Janeylou: Island House by Bru Baker; message #272
Liza: Option 2; School of Fish by Amy Lane; message #268

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.23.2025; message #281
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 6.23.2025; message #284
Kari: Completed 6.22.2025; message #274
Janeylou: Completed 6.26.2025; message #290
Liza: Completed 6.26.2025; message #291

Week 11: 4. Music is played ~ before, during or after.

Selection Posts
MountainKat: Option 2; Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb; message #304
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Sounds Complicated by Frances Fox; message #305
Kari: How I Met Your Father by L.B. Gregg; message #308
Janeylou: Rock Me: A Rock and Roll Romance by Lee Parker; message #306
Liza: Moonlight Becomes You by Piper Vaugh; message #319

Completion Posts
MountainKat: Completed 6.27.2025; message #322
Danielle Gypsy Soul: Completed 6.27.2025; message #317
Kari: Completed 6.27.2025; message #318
Janeylou: Completed 6.27.2025; message #320
Liza: Completed 6.27.2025; message #324

xx

Team Name Ideas:

I Do Crew
Blushing Bridesmaids
Bouquet Catchers
Maids of Dishonour

Hi team!! Looking forward to seeing who is on the team this round!

I'm Kat. I live in the boonies of SoCal - yes, we have boonies in SoCal! (So, Pacific time.) I have been with my hubby since the Dark Ages. Our kids are grown and gone with kids of their own. And grandkids are the best! As for my reading tastes, for those that use Option 2 like me, I almost exclusively read Romance. But I try to mix things up every month with a variety of different sub-genres.

Before I forget - again... Our first task is to come up with a team name. Weddings is the theme for this round - so something related to that.

I'm going to have to think on that one.

Hi all 👋
Im Janine from England . Early in the morning here but once ive had my coffee will have a think on names

Name Ideas

I Do Crew
Blushing Bridesmaids
Bouquet Catchers
Maids of Dishonour

Hi Janine! I don't think we've ever been on a team together before. 😊

I like your team name ideas, especially I Do Crew and Maids of Dishonour. My autocorrect wanted to change that to the American spelling.

Hi Kat ..i keep thinking we have been on same team but think its because of Amazing Race 😄😄

Hi everyone! My name is Liza and I’m a single stay-at-home mom from Massachusetts. I have an amazing 14 year old kiddo who is doing her first year of virtual school and loving every second of it. I have been an avid reader my entire life, a trait I thankfully passed on to my daughter. I read pretty much exclusively MM romance, but will read almost anything that speaks to me.

As for team names, I like Maids of Dishonor!

Hi Liza, its been a while since we've been on a team together and im sure your daughter was only about 8yrs 😄😄

Checking in! I'm out of town until next weekend but managed to get on my phone. Great to see everyone and looking forward to the challenge! Happy with Maids of Dishonour or I Do Crew :)

Janeylou wrote: "Hi Kat ..i keep thinking we have been on same team but think its because of Amazing Race 😄😄"

Speaking of... I need to work on that.

Hey everyone - I think I've been on a team somewhere or another with most of you! I'm in Arizona and we don't do daylight savings so I always forget what time zone I'm on since it changes LOL. I read 90% MM romance and the rest is Fantasy/Paranormal romance authors I love that write M/F.

I'm looking forward to the challenge and I love the the name Maids of Dishonour.

Hi Kari & Danielle, good to be with you again .
So we got a full team ..that was quick 😄

Yes, looks like everyone has checked in! And it also looks like we have a consensus on Maids of Dishonour as a team name. That was also super quick and easy! And even though my autocorrect wants to keep changing it, I say we go with the British spelling because it was our British teammate who gave us all the suggestions!

I will let Jane know - I bet her autocorrect doesn't try to change it!

I was just thinking that since I frequently use Option 2, I would make sure I am GR friends with all of you. So if we aren't already friends, I will send you a friend request.

Turns out it was just Liza. 😊 (Forgot to hit post before I went to check.)

I'm already friends with everyone - so that worked out well!

I need to make myself something to stick on my wall above my desk that tells me what day it's due and the minimum page count since I have a ton of group challenges going right now and they are all just a little different LOL

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I'm already friends with everyone - so that worked out well!

I need to make myself something to stick on my wall above my desk that tells me what day it's due and the minimum page count since I ha..."

I know exactly what you mean , i seem to constantly go round in circles updating everything 😄😄

I'm really hoping for an early start to this challenge! I'm sure the book I started in the wee hours this morning will have worked for the first call - it always seems that way.

Are you all planners or do you fly by the seat of your pants? I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants, at least until the last week. Then I try to be super organized and have a nice short book I can read quickly ready to go for the remaining themes (or other teams for Option 2). I will try to save a book if I have one I know works for a specific theme on my M&G list - that almost guarantees that theme won't be called though. 🤦🏻‍♀️

A couple of tips, even though I think you have all played before.

✱ You can only change your book in the week the theme is called. Once the next theme is called, it is set and you will have to read it even if you don't like it. For that reason, I always recommend that you at least start your book so that you know the characters or writing style aren't off-putting.

✱ Please attempt to keep us informed if you are going to be away or if you have connectivity issues. Jane is pretty understanding, but she does need to know what is going on. If you are having problems posting because of problems, she will usually allow captains to post/repost.

✱ Remember you can only get two books behind. It is definitely easier to stay on top of this and not get behind at all. It is especially important to have everything completed before the last theme call if we want a chance to win!

I really thought there was something else, but it's gone. If I ever remember, I'll bring it up. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm looking forward to a fun round with you all!

Is the pg count first kindle edition or one we read

Ive got a few bigger team challenges where there are about 10 books a month, so i tend to plan for these and hope the smaller challenges will fit in

Janeylou wrote: "Is the pg count first kindle edition or one we read"

You can use any page count for this challenge, but the link you use needs to match the page count you use.

Ok

I'm a planner - I do leave some flexibility for tasks that I need to go find a book for but I'm the same as Janey with team challenges that have a ton of books per month that I hope the other team challenges fit into.

I will be in Croatia from May 23rd - to May 31st so I'll probably ask for the Pass on the 23rd. I may not need it - just depends on connectivity but we are going to be on a yacht so I'm not sure how much internet I will have.

Wow, sounds fabulous Danielle!

And that is the other thing I wanted to say - as far as I'm concerned, the pass is first come first served. So I can pencil you in for Week 6. 😊

MountainKat wrote: "Wow, sounds fabulous Danielle!

And that is the other thing I wanted to say - as far as I'm concerned, the pass is first come first served. So I can pencil you in for Week 6. 😊"

Perfect - thanks!

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Perfect - thanks!"

Just remember you still need to make a selection post. I think she has allowed people to post it early, but we would need to ask. I could also make the post for you if needed. 😊

I'm half and half. I have a spreadsheet for books for challenges that I have going on, but I will gladly add to it if I need to!!

MountainKat wrote: "Janeylou wrote: "Is the pg count first kindle edition or one we read"

You can use any page count for this challenge, but the link you use needs to match the page count you use."

Let me add to this, I believe it needs to be an English language edition.

The planners always amaze me! I am just not that together. I have a list of books I plan to read in a month, with some extras thrown in. Pretty much all of them in my M&G list. Beyond that, I'm useless.

Kat, the amount of challenges we do , we couldnt cope if didnt plan 😄😄😄

MountainKat wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Perfect - thanks!"

Just remember you still need to make a selection post. I think she has allowed people to post it early, but we would need to ask. I could also make t..."

If I can post the day before that would work - otherwise I will be flying ALL DAY the day it's posted; but we can confirm when we get a little closer ;)

Janeylou wrote: "Kat, the amount of challenges we do , we couldnt cope if didnt plan 😄😄😄"

So true - sometimes I wonder if I'd even know what to read if I wasn't reading certain books for challenges 😂

I don't think Jane is going to announce the first theme early, but I am out all day, so if she does anyone can post it here in the team thread. Thanks!

First Theme!

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.