Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

If we go from blackish to grayish scale, I’ve finished one and already started the second

MountainKats response: No, if you choose gray it could not include black. Sorry

😭 That will mean black can't include grey. I don't know what to do. I haven't even started one book yet

Then let’s stick with black. I need to figure out tineye to see if my books have enough black 😒

Found some instructions…. 🤞🏼

Dee which book have you read? I feel bad if Diane has already read a black cover, but I think she can probably fit one grey in. Then I'll read two

https://labs.tineye.com/color/

Copy and paste the image URL and make sure to tick 'include background' when you get the result

is 54% grey

is 76.7 grey
Alt cover…
is 66% black

DeeNeez wrote: " is 54% grey"

Okay, hold off on starting a second for now. Have a black cover book ready. If both Diane and Skye are already reading black we'll need to stick with it. Hopefully they will respond soon.

Next time we're choosing blue!

I can go either way.

I can do either...But I can only complete one today.
I have 1/2 done of a grey, and then I switched to black, and I'm 1/2 way through it.

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "I can do either...But I can only complete one today.
I have 1/2 done of a grey, and then I switched to black, and I'm 1/2 way through it."

I'm starting which is 78% black

Then will do which is 75% black

They're short so can get them done quickly and do a third if needed

I’m still working on the black one. I can get one done by end of day. If we still need another I can start another. But wouldn’t finish until tomorrow morning

Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color.

Unguarded 345pg
Jay Hogan
Completed 5/11/25

How it qualifies Cover is 63.7% black

4 stars
This was a nice read.
The was a little Angst.
Tai's cheating ex-boyfriend showed up and had some drama, and Emmett's family's reacation to coming out.
But it wasn't something that overtook the story.
Today was one of those days where I had to stop and go in my reading. This was a good book to read for one of those days. It wasn't hard to pick back up.

Updated to Completion Post on 5/12/25
Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color.
Love is a Stranger 296pg
How it qualifies Black Cover
ran it through tineye and it's 65%
Completed 05/12/25
review 4 stars
This was really hard for me to get into, but once I did I enjoyed it a lot. I'm looking forward to reading more.

Nik and Ben have been lying to them selves thinking all they had was sex.
Nik has a lot of secrets and lies.

Lots of twists. I look forward to reading more about Nik and Ben.
~~~
Reread
Man, I forgot how much is packed into each book.
I knew Nik's secret, but had thought it was revealed later in the series. But nope, it was revealed here. Maybe not all his secrets, but the big one.

Nik is married. A marraige of covience, but still married.
Secret organization.
Bens past family issues. Nik's secrets, at least some of them.

Oh man, so sorry I couldn't check in earlier today. It was Mother's day and my kids took turns popping in and I just finished that first black covered book. So sorry you guys got stressed out. I will post that book now, if that's OK? Can start another, but not sure if I can get it done faster.

Completion Post: Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color -- BLACK


Book: Booklover
Author: JE Birk
Pages: 250 Kindle first ed
Finished: May 11
How it qualifies: See picture of cover --69.3% black
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: This was a sweet story about two young men who both love romance books, but who both have issues that need to be overcome for them to get together. It was sweet, but honestly I think it could have been a little shorter.

OMG I started to freak when tineye didn't pick up black at all until I clicked off the 'Exclude exterior colors' button. Phew!

I can start another to be safe, but someone else may finish before me.

Completion Post
Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color -- BLACK


Book Death of a Pirate King
Author Josh Lanyon
Pages 248
How it fits: cover above is 66% black
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
Two years have past since Jake and Adrien parted ways. And I’m so glad Jake is back. He has changed, more mature. Even with all of Jake’s flaws, I still love the chemistry with Adrien. Adrien’s current relationship with Guy, was never going to work. I never liked him. As for this mystery, wow! Adrien is involved in another murder, and of course, a suspect. And what an ending!! This is my favorite so far in the series.

Diane wrote: "Oh man, so sorry I couldn't check in earlier today. It was Mother's day and my kids took turns popping in and I just finished that first black covered book. So sorry you guys got stressed out. I wi..."

No worries Diane! Dee's second book had an alternate black cover so we're all good. If you can do a second book that would be great. I've finished my first and half way through my second.

Completion Post
Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color -- BLACK


Book: Saved by a Barbarian
Author Amy Padilla
Pages: 180
How it fits: The cover is 78% black according to tineye
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I gave this three stars, but I was hugely disappointed after loving book 1. I liked we had a plus-sized MC and that our Barbarian warrior was both a giver and receiver when usually in books like this they only top. It just lacked much of a plot. I liked the characters well enough but wasn't truly invested in them. I will continue with the series but have some concerns that it's not going anywhere exciting.

Done with Love is a stranger. I’ll post review and edit post to completion when I get home from work. But wanted to post completion of 2nd black book.

Ahh, thanks Skye.

@Diane, no need to read a second book :)

Jessica wrote: "Ahh, thanks Skye.

@Diane, no need to read a second book :)"

That's awesome -- will go back out to the garden!

Completion Post
Task 8 - 52. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color -- BLACK


Book: The Whims of Hate
Author: Mell R. Bright
Pages: 166
How it fits: The cover is 75% black according to tineye
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This is everything I could have asked for and more. enemies to lovers fantasy/sci-fi is my absolute favourite thing to read and Oliver and Jude definitely hate each other at the start of the book.

Oliver is the villain from book 1 and has done some awful things, but through the book we learn more about his past and it's not surprising he turned out the way he did.

Jude is not really a good guy either. He 'rescues' Oliver as he needs him to fly the ship that helps them escape the crumbling caverns. A ship who's AI Jude fondly names 'Dumb Dumb' will only obey Oliver's voice commands.

Together they travel the wastes meeting friends and foes. We get a great villian in Maeve and an epic fight scene near the end. And this book is insanely hot!

(view spoiler)[The change from enemies to lovers happens gradually and is very believable. Both have been touch and love-starved most of their lives but find what they need in each other. (hide spoiler)]

This is my second book by Mell but she might become a new favourite if she continues to write like this.

Completion Post (For MountainKat)

Book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book 6: Will keep checking in and add once Skye posts

I updated my post to show it as a completion
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here is your next task!

Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. Space does not count - must be a real continent.

Determine the continents the members of your team lives on, using the 7 continent model. (You can look on wikipedia for a definition.) Select books that are not set on any continent of a teammate. This is not a team decision, you can use any continent on which a member of your team does not reside. Remember to let me know how you know your book qualifies, be it title, precis, book details, tags or lists. I need to know where to look to confirm your books.

Just to confirm, that's any continent that's not North America or Europe.

Time to read our New Zealand books from Scavenger Hunt.

=( Bummer, I alread read my book set in New Zealand.

My first idea, I went strait to, and had to give it a scan for points, and now it's gonna be my new Drawn Cover book. So that worked out well.

I'm going to read The Meaning Of You and either Soul on Fire or Safe in His Arms

I already read mine too, so I am going to read an Anyta Sunday book.

I've got No Souls On The River ready to go.

idk if I can do 2 tomrrow, busy day at work.
But just in case I can, I have another on deck.

I found a New Zealand book…177 pgs

I should be able to do an NR Walker book as well if none of you find anything else. Just let me know if you plan on reading two books :)

I'm not gonna get a 2nd one done. But I will finish my first tonight.

Completion Post:
Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. Space does not count - must be a real continent. -- NOT North America or Europe


Book: Emerett Has Never Been in Love
Author: Anyta Sunday
Pages: 262 Kindle Ed (GR)
How it fits: Setting is listed as New Zealand on MPG which is not in Europe or North America
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: I usually really like this author's writing, and this was a cute book, but there were a whole lot of other characters all trying to find their own happy endings and it made me feel a bit like I missed out on some of the set up of the story. I think it could have been simplified.

I am starting a second one in the same series as the one Dee is reading -- takes place in Japan.

Completion Post:
Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. Space does not count - must be a real continent. -- NOT North America or Europe

No Souls On The River

M. Kato 389pg
Completed 05/13/25
4 stars
How it qualifes: All team mates live in either North America or Europe.
This is set on a coninent that is not US or Europe.

I'm enjoying this world.
It's different, yet familiar.
I love the setting. It's not often that I've come across mm romance set in Japan.
It's always nice seeing different cultures in books.
I'm a pnr girl. Law enoforcment with a pnr cross is a comon mash up.
There is a basis that feels familiar, yet the world is well built and different at the same time.
I would love this to get an audio.

Skye not that it matters too much but Diane is from Canada not US 🤣 wouldn't get that mixed up in the current political climate

I've finished To the Moon and Back but will post both my reviews together tomorrow

true...and US isn't a continent

Yeah, it's a bit of a sensitive topic here! Thanks.

Completion Post:
Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. —- NOT North America or Europe


Book A New Zealand Wedding Date
Author Ella Brighton
Pages: 177
How it fits: book takes place in New Zealand
Finished: May 13
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
What a delightful story. Best friends to lovers, fake relationship trope. Awesome. What made this one special was watching Dev falling in love with Lucas, even though he didn’t realize it. He always thought he was straight, but he would do anything for his best friend, even fake a relationship. As for the setting, wow! I want to visit New Zealand after reading this book. The tour of the film sites of Lord of the Ring had me awe struck. Overall, I love it.

Not able to read a second book today…. Loaded with Dr appts
I can try reading one between tests and waiting rooms …but odds are I won’t finish it till later tonight, sorry

3 down, 3 to go…

Completion Post: Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. —- NOT North America or Europe


Book To the Moon and Back
Author N.R. Walker
Pages: 220
How it fits: set in Australia
Finished: May 13
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Usually I don't like books that are all sweetness and no agnst, but despite the MCs being a little boring, this was heartwarming and I did enjoy the story.

Gideon has adopted his 5 week old nephew leading to his partner leaving him. Alone with an infant and still trying to work full time, Gideon is drowning so decides to hire a nanny. A hot male nanny.

Not one of Walker's best, but sweet and innoffensive.

Completion Post: Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. —- NOT North America or Europe


Book: Safe in His Arms
Author: Renae Kaye
Pages: 208
How it fits: set in Australia
Finished: May 14
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: (view spoiler)[Renae Kaye is fearless. It takes a lot of confidence to tackle this issue of child sexual abuse and age difference in relationships in the way she does. (hide spoiler)]

Lon is a MAN. He's a mine worker who lives a simple life. When he meets Casey in the shared shower room of their trailer park, things quickly turn physical, and when Casey asks to sleep over, Lon agrees.

Casey has recently moved to Perth to stay with his grandma, but is still haunted by bad memories and struggling with anxiety. When he meets Lon, he finally feels safe and pretty much moves in.

Despite everything working against them they stay true to how they feel. I love how raw and unapologetic the story is and look forward to reading more from the author.

Woohoo, 5 down, one more to go!

I am about an hour away from finishing mine!

Completion Post:
Task 9 - 64. Read 6 books not set on a continent of a teammate. —- NOT North America or Europe


Book: A Japanese Lockdown
Author: Ella Brighton
Pages: 220 Kindle ed GR
How it fits: Takes place in Japan during Covid -- see book description
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This was a sweet book. Marshall meets Kunio while travelling in Asia and when they hear about borders closing due to the pandemic, they decide to wait it out in Kunio's grandmother's house in Tokyo. Kunio was closeted and scared to come out, but eventually they fell in love and found their happy ending.

Will post our completion.

Just a quick reminder, I need to know how you know your books qualifies. Saying it does isn't really helpful when I'm trying to confirm your books - I need to know where to look. I was able to find things pretty easily for this task, but if I need to search more I will be asking for more clarification.