Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
The Amazing Race Team Challenge
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TART11 - Wine Not (9)
Finally a task that fits my other challenges 😭 I can read two for this.
Oooh. I didn't think the next one in the series would count. But it's First published December 3, 2020.So I can roll from The Second and His Bonded to The Deputy and His Enforcer for Quest.
Works good. I'll finish the first tonight, and be ready for the second one in the morning.
Task 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020.The Second and His Bonded 334p
Kiki Clark
Completed 05/14/25
How it qualifies: First published June 8, 2020
4 stars
review
I'm usually a little nervous when a series switches characters each book.
A lot of times the couple from previous books make a token appearance or two, and I hate that.
I liked that the couple from book 1 were more in this one. They didn't take over, but they weren't a cameo either.
It felt like a natural transistion. It wasn't hard switching my focus to Kieran and Bennet.
I like that there is an overall arch to the series.I loved the characters, but I know they are going to change next book. It's the pack issues and how they deal with what is thrown at them that keeps me coming back.
Completion PostTask 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020.
Book Rewind
Author: Marshall Thornton
Pages: 196
How it fits: first published 2019
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
Poor Noah, he finally gets brave enough to start dating, only to wake up and his date murdered in bed with him! Again our boys are out to prove Noah is innocent and find the killer. Excellent mystery! Had me second guessing every suspect till the very end. And yes, tall, dark and still very handsome Detective Javier is on the case.
Completion PostTask 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020.
The Deputy and His Enforcer 340pgKiki Clark
Completed 05/15/25
How it fits First published December 3, 2020
Rating 4 stars
I thought the questioning about money laundering was pretty cute.
Finally got around to delivering on that promise hinted at in the first book.
Romance was more of a focus in this one. Liked the characters, liked the story, but I want the overall arch. I hope the next book makes more progress there. I felt like this one didn't progress enough for my liking.
I was about to say I want the hunters story. But I just peaked at who the new couple is going to be, and it's the hunter, Yeah! And m-m-m, LETS GO!
And yes. I would like some more of that. Maybe not every book, but I little here and there works. Especially when there is knotting.
This one had faux knotting. I think I've only come accross that once before.
I can't say I'm a convert. I still prefer my main characters to stay the same thoughout the series. Or maybe most of the series...throw in a book where a side charcter becomes the lead for one book, and then switch back.
But, with there being an overall arch to the series, it's keeping me invested.
Completion Post:Task 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020
Book: Cisco's Boy
Author: AC Katt
Pages: 169 Kindle ed (GR)
Finished: May 15
How it fits: First published Nov 2013
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I found the writing in this fairly simple, with emotional events laid out really factually. And it felt like the characters didn't have too much depth, but it was alright. An uptight Dom who refused to love again after being royally burned by his first love finds out he is wrong and can love again, when the right sub is there for him.
Assuming Jessica will read her two and am going to take a wee break -- maybe finish one I started a few days ago but keep getting sidetracked by this challenge!It is a long weekend for us, so I am up at my cottage for the first time this year, trying to get it ready for the summer. Lots of gardening!!
I’m in the middle of my second book, but slogging thru it. Ugh, it’s dragging. Hope to be done in the morning.
Completion Post:Task 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020
Book: Life Lessons
Author: Kaje Harper
Pages: 279 Kindle ed (GR)
Finished: May 15
How it fits: First published May 2011
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I loved the mystery aspect of this. It truly felt like I was following a real police detective and I was so curious to know who the murderer was and their motive.
I wasn't expecting the cute kids which made the romance way more wholesome. Tony and Mac make a great couple and I hope to see Mac come out of the closet and build a family of four.
Completion Post:Task 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020
Book: Wolf in Gucci Loafers
Author: Tara Lain
Pages: 235 Kindle ed (GR
Finished: May 15
How it fits: Published May 2014
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I love a smaller top and I love a flamboyant MC so of course I loved Lindsey. Lindsey throwing on a granny costume and using his werewolf strength to basically be a Super Hero was so funny. I feel like I need a whole series of him, not just one book.
Seth who's a human police detective, is not into flamboyant men and not a fan of rich people, but when he finally gives into his strange attraction to Lindsey the chemistry is snap, crackle, pop!
Tara Lain is very hit and miss for me, but this was a fun, sexy read with a lot of charm.
Life Lessons by Kaje Harper was one of the first MM romance books I read, and really helped to hook me on the genre. Love the series!
Here is your next task!Task 11 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
As a team, select a series listed on GR and everyone reads a book in that series. (Does not have to be a numbered series.) Please include the selected series in your completion posts. Teammates can read the same or different books for this task. No pass for this task.
Tales from the Tarot? Honestly all work for me, just need to oick one
Tales from the Tarot! Works for another challenge I have 😁
Task 11 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.Found in Obscurity 441p
Tales from the Tarot
A.M. Rose
Completed 05/16/25
How it fits: Team chose Tales from the Tarot series.
4 stars
Very enjoyable.
I felt so bad when Lorin was pushing poor Kit away.
Lorin didn't realize Kit was his mate. He thought he was a familiar that he didn't want.
He didn't want to be a witch, and having a familar wasn't going to allow him to ignore that part of himself for ever.
But that didn't last long. Lorin excepted Kit as his familiar before finding out he was a shifter.
It was sweet, with a slow burn. Once their relationship was established, they got down to why Kit was trapped in his fox form.
All the stories in this series are by different authors. I hope this isn't the only gem in the group.
After reading this one, I'm ready to jump on a few more.
Completion Post:Task 11 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
Book: Where Fools Have Tread
Author: Jennifer Cody
Pages: 179 Kindle ed GR
Finished: May 17
How it fits: In the same series Tales From the Tarot
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This one was incredibly light-hearted and fun. This young man, set adrift after his parent dies gets a Tarot reading that sends him to butler school where he is hired by a whole family of gargoyles! So much world building to learn with respect to the universe and aliens and gargoyles and other sentient creatures and how he fit into this. It was a whole lot to take in, but very fun. The author even mentions characters of hers from another series she wrote. I didn't realize that world was quite this large!
Dee, we're reading the same book -- figured I'd start with the first one. Not playing Tower Teams that I know of Jessica. Is it a new challenge??
Completion Post: Task 11 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
Book: Death Song
Author: B. Ripley
Pages: 226 Kindle ed GR
Finished: May 18
How it fits: In the same series https://www.goodreads.com/series/3985...
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This was a solid paranormal romance. I liked it but also could have lived without reading it. I think the main issue was predictability. The characters also weren't that layered, but the mix of an ancient vampire still grieving a lost love from long ago, and an artist who cannot stop painting the face in his dreams was a super cute mix.
Diane wrote: "Dee, we're reading the same book -- figured I'd start with the first one. Not playing Tower Teams that I know of Jessica. Is it a new challenge??"
I don't know what Tower Teams is either. What group is it in?
Completion Post: Task 11 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task
Book Where Fools Have Tread
Author: Jennifer Cody
Pages: 179
Finished: May 17
How it fits: first book in Tales from the Tarot (team’s pick)
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
What a hoot! Crazy funny, over the top. And I enjoyed every step of way. A rollercoaster of paranormal gargoyles and aliens. A really fun read.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Was just curious. It started yesterday. It's encouraging reading books from around the world, so I'm looking forward to reading something different.
Checking in for new Cat.
Here is your next task!Task 12 - 76. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item.
As a team, select a specific item and read 6 books with the selected item on the cover. Jewelry is not specific, but earrings are. Weapon is not specific, but gun is. (As examples.) You can use any edition's cover to qualify for this task. Please include the selected item and the qualifying cover in your completion posts.
Something like shirt?
Oh. I just checked. We said snow or fire. I think I still have a fire left to read for sh. What about everyone else?
oooooh I have snow and fire
I'm going to have a nosey at Dee's SH books
edit: Dee's already finished her SH books. I feel like cover model is too easy but maybe we could do naked torso or leather jacket? CItyscape might work too
Do you think snow or fire are not specific enough items for this? Like maybe we need a candle or a snowflake? Maybe leather jacket would be easier??? Or glasses (on someone's face)
I have a couple this week with a leather jacket so happy to go for that. I don't think snow and fire are too broad when you think of the percentage of book covers that have them.
Well, the book I want to read is
So I've got
Fire
Leather jacket (if you think it's enough to claim)
glasses
Wheel on a bike
Big cat
weapon
tattoo
I have a lot of options on that one cover.
I say we leave it up to Dee and Diane to decide between leather jacket or gun
What?! We can’t use a male model on cover ☹️I’ll pick gun over leather jacket
Let's go with gun then. I will find something.
I'm reading
and one of my all-time favourites
I don't know that series Dee. Sounds like it's worth reading.
Completion Post: Task 12 - 76. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item. Chosen item -- GUN
Book: Dealing in Death
Author: LJ Hayward
Pages: 170 Kindle Ed, GR
Finished: May 19
How it fits: See gun on the cover
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: It has been a long time since I read the previous book in the series, which I believe is the same story, but told from the other MCs point of view. Ethan, who is trying to extricate himself from his lift as an assassin for the Cabal, has such different upbringing, priorities, and thought processes than Jack, and it is fascinating to see how they learn to understand and accommodate each other. I think there is only one more left in this one!
I kind of have a free night, so am starting another one now.
Completion Post:Task 12 - 76. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item. Chosen item -- GUN
Nothing Special V 393pg
Completed 05/19/25
How it qualifes: Team chose gun on cover, and there are 6 guns on the cover.
review
I really enjoyed Tech and Steels story.
I liked getting to see God and Day get married, and the troubles that preluded it.
These stories are great the first time around. I don't really care to reread them, but they are very enjoyable the first time. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Free's story plays out.
Completion PostTask 12 - 76. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item. Chosen item -- GUN
Book: Shock to the System
Author: Richard Stevenson
Pages: 212 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: see cover above, gun on cover
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
Don Strachey is a hard-boiled private detective in the era of the height of aids. You get the feel of a Sam Spade mystery. But there is never a dull moment with his wicked sarcasm and dry wit. It becomes full entertainment just waiting to see what remarks comes next. Yes, he can be a bastard at times, and I still wonder why Timmy still loves him. Total opposites, but it works
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Task 10 - 35. Read 6 books first published between 2011 and 2020.
Books selected for this task need to have been initially published between 1.1.2011 and 12.31.2020. If there is a date at the top of the editions page use it. Otherwise I will be looking for the earliest dated English language edition regardless of format for the qualification. Please include the initial publication date in your completion posts.