Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Completion Post:

Task 3 - 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones


Like Water Catching Fire
E.M. Lindsey
218pg GR
Finished May 1st
How it fits: Not part of a series
Almost 4 stars.
I liked it.
Only angst was Jamie's family. Which was a problem for Jaime, but not something that overtook everything. So mostly angst free.
It was nice for a travel day. With the stop and go nature of trying to travel and read, it was nice having something that I'd have to back track on. Simple and sweet.
I enjoyed it. But once again, not a book I'd seek out to reread.

Completion Post
Task 3 - 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones


Book: Fathers of the Bride
Author: Marshall Thornton
Pages: 236 GR
How it fits: book does not belong in a series, a standalone
Finished: May 1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I absolutely loved it! This is a romantic comedy that I will enjoy ready time and time again. It’s priceless. It’s all about family and second chances. Miles and Andrew are thrown back together in order to give their daughter the wedding she wants. Even after a 2 years of not talking and being separated, they’ve never finalized their divorce. But a truce is called as they join forces against the future in-laws to make Kelly’s wedding come true. One can predict the story line, but the true joy was reading how the roller coaster events bring Miles and Andrew back together where they belong.

Completion Post
Task 3 - 7. Read 4 books that are standalone
You Can See Me
Author: A.E. Via
Pages: 331 kindle 1st
How it fits: Standalone
Read: 2nd May
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review: I just don't get on with A.E Via. Her characters aren't likeable to me, they're a bit too wooden and their speech sometimes feels unnatural.

I also had an issue with everyone's behaviour. Preston's lack of pride and poor idea of a prank, Rick's pursuit of Preston though he's not gay, the awful girlfriends, I think I was grimacing the whole way through.

The insta-love was also very annoying. There were pet names being used way too soon which felt a bit cringey.

The Texan escort Blaire was the only character I cared about, though he came in quite late.

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "Completion Post:

Task 3 - 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones


Like Water Catching Fire
223pg GR
Finished May 1st
How it fits: Not p..."

Please correct to the first edition Kindle page count (218). Thanks.

Since I am not waiting for corrections - yet...

Here is your next task!

Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

To qualify for this task, the selected books need to be written by a new to you author. You may have other books by the selected author on your shelves, but only the book selected for this task can be marked as read/rated. Include a link to your read shelf in your completion post, ideally sorted to your selected author. Please make sure the book you read for this task is on your shelves and marked as read. If your profile is private, you will either need to open if for the duration of this task or friend me so I can confirm your book. If I cannot confirm your book, the task is not completed.

Okay, reading Duke for the Summer

I am reading Fetch: In the Pines Book One by Meredith Spies

Skye, don't forget to update your last post with the right page number!

fixed.

Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

Shadow and Bone 369pg
Leigh Bardugo
05/03/25
3 stars?
How it fits: New to me author
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I think it's to early in the series for me to know what to think.
This book was entertaining, and I liked it.
But I'm not sold on Mal.

When they were children their connection was heart warming.
But later, after I was thinking wtf? What happened to their relationship?
Alina was still all in, but Mal didn't seem to be.

Maybe because we didn't get Mal's pov of that time, only Alina.

Even after Mal came around, I'm still not sold on him.

So relationship wise, that was a bust for me.

But the story was good. The Darkling character is very interesting.
I want more. I want to know how Alina's powers are going to be used.

I'm very interested in this world. So in that aspect it was a hit.

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

Shadow and Bone 369pg
Leigh Bardugo
05/03/25
3 stars?
How it fits: New to me a..."

Skye, you forgot “ Include a link to your read shelf in your completion post, ideally sorted to your selected author” 😉

what?
Are we supposed to have a Tart shelf?

Completion Post
Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author


Book: We Don't Need Another Santa
Author: Bix Barrow
Pages: 170
How it fits: new to me author https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Finished May 3
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
I am sold! I have found a new author that will go on my must-read list. I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this book! Two brothers need help. Enter one retired hitman/operative turned substitute teacher to the rescue. From start to finish, this was action packed, a touch of humor, tender hearted when needed, and over all a great read. Highly recommend.

I got ya now.
Fixed

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "what?
Are we supposed to have a Tart shelf?"

No, you just need to sort all your books with the search of the author. The search should reveal and prove this is a new author by showing only the book you read for this task. Save the link of the search and insert in How it Fits in your completion post

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "I got ya now.
Fixed"

Hah, you figured it out before I finished typing 🤣🤣🤣

Skye…Both Wende and I got 47 pts in Stalked by Shadows … You noted 46. Do you want a PM of our finds?

Sure.
I lose 1 points for it being a re-read.
It's probably public transportation that I missed. But it's always good to compare. Might be we have something very different.

Completion Post
Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author


Book: Duke for the Summer
Author: Emily Spady
Pages: 293 Kindle 1st
How it fits: new to me author
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Finished May 4
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This is a sweet, wholesome, new adult romance set in a castle on a beautiful Italian island.
Jacopo, a prickly and bookish Italian man arrives in Oregon to let farm boy Nate know he is the long lost heir to a fortune and Castle that Jacopo oversees. In order to officially inherit the castle, Nate must first live in it for at least 3 months, so off they set for Italy where they awkwardly live around each other trying to suppress the attraction they feel.

I loved both boys. It's kind of a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, with Nate, being the sunshine and more experienced of the two. Jacopo is an introvert with some self esteem issues and a chip on his shoulder, but he takes good care of Nate and watching the two become close was so heartwarming. I will definitely be checking out more of Emily's books.

Completion Post:
Task 4 - 3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author


Book: Fetch: In the Pines Book One
Author: Meredith Spies
Pages: 217 Kindle Ed (GR)
How it Fits: New to me author (one other book in my TBR folder)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This one was really interesting. A different type of magic (folk/ craft/ earthy??) from what I am used to reading in my usual paranormals. And the one MC is a fetch. A shadow person. And they don't manage to defeat the bad guy, so I am going to have to read the next book. Looking forward to it.

Jessica, don't forget to “ Include a link to your read shelf in your completion post, ideally sorted to your selected author” .

I will post our completion.

Diane wrote: "Jessica, don't forget to “ Include a link to your read shelf in your completion post, ideally sorted to your selected author” .

I will post our completion."

Thank you. Done :)

You are good to get a new task tomorrow!

Here is your next task!

Task 5 - 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

You can do the recommendations however you wish - to the group, to each individual, to the person below you on the list or ?? - it's up to you. If you want to provide a specific shelf for a teammate to pick from, it needs to have a minimum of 10 books on it. Please include a link to the message with the recommendations in your completion posts.

My favourites shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm going to read Skeletons in the Closet recommended by Skye in message 22

My recommendations are in Message 32

I’m going to read Diane’s recommendation Geoffrey the Very Strange from msg 32

My recommendations are in msg 23

I'm going to read Lust and Other Drugs from Skye's list.

I think I'm gonna do


Geoffrey the Very Strange 150p
from Diane's
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Guys just fyi, 12. read a book recommended by a team mate and 99. Each teammate lists 5 favorite books. Select books from 2 different teammates and read them. Are two different challenges, so you'll still need to read two more books from those listed.

@Dee, you need to replace your werewolf book as it's under 150 pages

Jessica wrote: "Guys just fyi, 12. read a book recommended by a team mate and 99. Each teammate lists 5 favorite books. Select books from 2 different teammates and read them. Are two different challenges, so you'l..."

Ok, I’ll replace it with 😁

Wait.
So we only have to read 1 book each.
And we can post a favorite shelf and use those instead of just the 5 we recommended for task 99?

Is that right?

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "Wait.
So we only have to read 1 book each.
And we can post a favorite shelf and use those instead of just the 5 we recommended for task 99?

Is that right?"

Yes. I only picked Skeletons in the closet because I need it for another task this week, but it might be best to pick from a favourite shelf if possible.

If everyone's already started reading then we can just swap some of our top 5s out for new ones

Here is my favorites shelf.
I don't update it often.
So if a series is on it, I say I recommend the whole series.
I don't put a book on there if the rest of the series sucks.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I’m almost done with the one I picked

Here’s my 5 star reads…all 743 books, which includes manga and books less than 150 pages 🤣https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Completion Post
Task 5 - 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.


Book: Geoffrey the Very Strange
Author: Angel Martinez
Pages: 150
How it fits: Diane’s recommendation from msg 32
Finished May 4
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
What a crazy, funny, sweet story. A weather witch trying to be a necromancer and a half demon make such a cute couple. But beware of zombie seashells! What a hoot.

I have already finished Lust and Other Drugs which is on Skye's 5 recommended, but not on the favorites shelf. Can I post it? I get that I will have to pick 2 different books if task 99 is called.

Diane wrote: "I have already finished Lust and Other Drugs which is on Skye's 5 recommended, but not on the favorites shelf. Can I post it? I get that I will have to pick 2 different books if task 99 is called."

Yes as it was still recommended by her. You just might need to pick two more from the top 5s if task 99 is called.

I added it to the favorites list, just in case.

Completion Post
Task 5 - 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

A Beginner’s Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters
170pg
Completed 05/05/25
#49 on DeeNeez list
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

review 4 stars
This was adorable.

Snarky, and fun.
A lot of openings for a future book. I look forward to seeing whats next.
and Tail sex! Who can pass that up?

DeeNeez wrote: "Skye…Both Wende and I got 47 pts in Stalked by Shadows … You noted 46. Do you want a PM of our finds?"

I'm up to 50

Completion Post:


Book: Lust and Other Drugs
Author: TJ Nichols
Pages: 203 Kindle first ed (GR)
Finished: May 4
How it fits: from Skye's post in message 22 as well as her favorites/recommended list: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: Such an interesting world the author is building with a mashup of mythological creatures and humans. I have never read one with different types/sizes of dragons before, so Edra was a novelty. Hopefully what he and Jordan started in this story will carry over to the next one, which I will add to my tbr.

Completion Post
Task 5 - 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate


Book: Skeletons in the Closet
Author: Nicky James
Pages: 367 Kindle first ed (GR)
Finished: May 5th
How it fits: from Skye's post in message 22 as well as her favorites/recommended list: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Romance and Characters +5 stars, but mystery..3? I just didn't understand why Diem and Tallus got so invested is something they weren't really getting paid to investigate. When we got the answers it made more sense but still, not a very scary or intelligent villain. That being said I love these characters, especially Diem, the gentle giant with a lot of trauma but a big heart. Him and Tallus together are both sweet and hot! Tallus is joyful and full of energy, they really compliment each other. I'm hoping the cases bring more tension and drama in the rest of the series.

checked us in

Here is your next task!

Task 6 - 31. Read 6 books rated over 4.0.

Books selected for this task need to have an average rating of 4.0 or higher on GR. If the rating for your book might drop below 4.0 during the task, i.e. it has very few ratings or it is exactly 4.0, a screenshot might be advisable and you might wish to withhold your rating if you are rating it less than 4 stars. Please include the average rating in your completion posts.

I'll read Boyfriend Goals and Fake Dates and Fanged Mistakes

I'm gonna start with Impurrfections

I've started with 4.06 rating.