Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Yz asked me to post the monthly challenge in her absence. Thanks so much to the members who posted ideas in the Suggestions Thread and helped me put this together.

This is the thread where we ask questions, discuss, and make suggestions for the challenge.

1. November: Read a book which title starts with “N”.

2. Birthday: Read a book from a November B-day celebrant’s GR bookshelf.

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Nevada.

4. Thanksgiving Day: Read a book about family, God, immigrants, harvest/agriculture or set during that time of the year.

5. Guy Fawkes Night: Read a hot/steamy book, a book with fire on the cover, or a book where one of the major characters is a firefighter, a conspirator or a rebel.

6. World Television Day: Read a book where one of the major characters is an actor, producer, makeup artist, news editor or works in the Television industry.

7. Get ‘Er Done: Read a book you've been meaning to get to, i.e. a book that has been on your TBR for a long time, a series catch-up, a book you need to return to the library or friend, etc.

8. Romance Genre: Read a Serial Romance a.k.a. Category Romance (ex. Harlequin, Silhouette, etc).

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book from the first 11 pages of the Book Club shelf.

10. Reader's Choice

Challenge Duration: November 1 – November 30, 2010

yay, DG you are awesome!! well, I had started reading Little Bee while is on the Book Club shelf (only a chapter in)...so I guess i'm going to put it aside and wait until November...

anyone got any Nevada recs?

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "yay, DG you are awesome!! well, I had started reading Little Bee while is on the Book Club shelf (only a chapter in)...so I guess i'm going to put it aside and wait until November...

anyone got..."

JA Jance writes a detective series set in Nevada, or anything set in Vegas would be good.

I found these three paranormal/UF series set in vegas - anyone read them?

Cassandra Palmer - Karen Chance (UF)
Vegas Vampires (Erin McCarthy)
Angelini - Jory Strong

all of them are new to me...

thanks for the JA Jance rec...I tried listening to one of hers before and it just didn't do it for me, but i might try again if i can't find anything else

Here are a few more set in Vegas-

The Angelini books were just OK...nothing I would recommend (although I know a lot of people like them.)

There's about a Las Vegas showgirl.

Does Serial Romance specifically mean Harlequin? Or can I use a book that is part of a series- i.e. Demon From The Dark (IAD #10)?

Thanks!

How about if they just visit Vegas in the book? Does that count for the geography requirement? I remember that one of JAKrantz's book's in the Arcane Society series went there to get the 'lamp'...

Fran wrote: "Does Serial Romance specifically mean Harlequin? Or can I use a book that is part of a series- i.e. Demon From The Dark (IAD #10)?

Thanks!"

Yup, it means Harlequin, Blaze, Desire, etc. not a series book.

Jane wrote: "How about if they just visit Vegas in the book? Does that count for the geography requirement? I remember that one of JAKrantz's book's in the Arcane Society series went there to get the 'lamp'..."

If they spend some significant time there, I don't see why not.

D.G. wrote: "Fran wrote: "Does Serial Romance specifically mean Harlequin? Or can I use a book that is part of a series- i.e. Demon From The Dark (IAD #10)?

Thanks!"

Yup, it means Harlequin, Blaze, Desire, e..."

Thanks D.G.!

Found the following link while searching for a category...

Books Set in Nevada

I did a search for "Vegas" here on GR and came up with a large list of books.

For World Television Day can I read a book based on a TV series? I have a whole bunch of Murder, She Wrote books. Already reading the new Castle book from the library Naked Heat & Heat Wave.

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "For World Television Day can I read a book based on a TV series? I have a whole bunch of Murder, She Wrote books. Already reading the new Castle book from the library Naked Heat & [b..."

I just read the [book:Murder, She Wrote: Trick or Treachery|334388] for the October Challenge for Nat'l Book Month. It wasn't bad, but I don't see myself reading a lot of those. She was getting on my nerves. But, I love the TV series. I guess reading somebody's thoughts is harder than watching them think.

Just found out that Robyn Carr lives or has lived in Nevada. She writes some great romances :)

Kim wrote: "I just read the Murder, She Wrote: Trick or Treachery for the October Challenge for Nat'l Book Month. It wasn't bad, but I don't see myself reading a lot of those. She was getting on my nerves. But, I love the TV series. I guess reading somebody's thoughts is harder than watching them think. "

I have all 33 books in the series, but have only read a couple of them. I have enjoyed them but I can only read one a time, not back-to-back. I read Murder, She Wrote: Trick or Treachery for a challenge last year. For Thanksgiving this year I'm reading Murder, She Wrote: A Fatal Feast. I have another, a new release The Queen's Jewels to read for a BOM in another group and wanted to see if I could use it for the World TV Day category here.

One of my favorite books of all time is Double Down by Tess Hudson. It's set in Vegas and has gambling, the mafia, professional football, and great sex. I love that book! What a great reason to re-read.

Kim wrote: "ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "For World Television Day can I read a book based on a TV series? I have a whole bunch of Murder, She Wrote books. Already reading the new Castle book from th..."

Sure.

Thanks D.G.! :)

I'll try again for 10, but we will see how it ends;0)

1. N is for November
2. Birthday shout out to Ann either Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt or Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
3. Nevada The Brother Returns by Jeannie Watt
4. Thanksgiving TBD
5. Burning up the pages As You Desire by Connie Brockway-book takes place in a hot climate
6. TV Glam
7. TBR
8. Serial romance Passionate Chef, Ice Queen Boss (Harlequin Romance by Jeannie Adams
9. Of Lists of Shelves Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
10. My Choice

Completed 0/10

I added a clarification to the Romance category so players understand 'Serial Romance' does NOT mean romance that is part of a series but Category Romance.

Judithe wrote: "Found the following link while searching for a category...

Books Set in Nevada"

More books set in Nevada

Nevada Shelf

Also, Linda Palmer had a cozy mystery series set on a soap opera which would count for TV. Another cozy series by Melinda Wells has the main character doing a cooking tv show.

WOW Judithe and Diane - those are impressive resources!

DG - For the thanksgiving theme, would Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan count as a 'family' book? Lots of different families congregating to spend Xmas together. I know it isn't Thanksgiving, but we're only out by a month or so!!??

I've just started the book - about a qtr of the way through. But I assure you - I'd be very happy to re-read it from the beginning again on 1 Nov! LOL.

That would be fine, Jane...just start on Nov. 1st!

No problem - thanks! I love Christine Feehan's Dark series!!

I figured out a way to search for books set in a certain location last month. You can do a subject search for location, fiction. So Nevada is Nevada, fiction. You can search any card catalog like this. If you usually buy your books, you can get ideas from World Cat, which searches all the libraries in the world.

Thanks for that tip, Courtney! Very helpful :)

For Guy Fawkes Day, since it's a british holiday (Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament)... also called Bonfire Night (an effige of Guy Fawkes is thrown onto Bonfires and burned along with fireworks set off) and is Nov 5th (Remember, Remember, the 5th of November...)... any chance we can read a book set in or about Britian to qualify? Or does it have to be fire related? I'm going to read a book about someone trying to steal the Queen's Jewels and takes place in London and was hoping it might qualify. The Queen's Jewels I havn't managed to find any fire related books other than the one I already read last month (Fire Study).

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "For Guy Fawkes Day, since it's a british holiday (Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament)... also called Bonfire Night (an effige of Guy Fawkes is thrown onto Bonfires and burned along with firewor..."

Some possible suggestions:
For PNR - Playing with Fire or Playing With Fire

Mystery - The Kate Holly Case series by Charlotte Hughes (her ex-husband is a fire-fighter). The series starts with What Looks Like Crazy

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "For Guy Fawkes Day, since it's a british holiday (Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament)... also called Bonfire Night (an effige of Guy Fawkes is thrown onto Bonfires and burned along with firewor..."

A book set in Britain would be just too broad for the category.

You have a book in your TBR called Mystic Fire: A Bonanza / Civil War Novel. That would do. :)

any futher clarification on hot/steamy...lol! i'm planning on reading Inside Out (which I woudl call hot and steamy), but i'm sure I have a firefighter book somewhere

I think any erotica would definitely fall in the hot/steamy category, LOL!

Would The Iron Duke qualify for Guy Fawkes? Steamy (though NOT erotica) steampunk, set in England with conspiracy, conspirators, former rebels, and fires...(though not on the cover!)

Another question: Would He Loves Lucy work for the TV category? The main characters go on a popular morning TV show regularly to broadcast results.

Penney wrote: "Another question: Would He Loves Lucy work for the TV category? The main characters go on a popular morning TV show regularly to broadcast results."

I was wondering the same thing!

Regarding Nevada...

I'm reading American Gods for another challenge and saw the book on the Nevada list (Thanks, Judithe!) However, it had a lot of other locations listed as well.

If anyone has read the book, could you let me know if you think enough of the story takes place in Nevada to count, or if I should look further?

Thanks!

Penney wrote: "Another question: Would He Loves Lucy work for the TV category? The main characters go on a popular morning TV show regularly to broadcast results."

I think that will work.

Thanks Yz :)

Judithe wrote: "Would The Iron Duke qualify for Guy Fawkes? Steamy (though NOT erotica) steampunk, set in England with conspiracy, conspirators, former rebels, and fires...(though not on the cover!)"

Sure, Judithe!

Would a book with a character named Nevada count? Because I have one of those.
I also have: Just For Kicksby Susan Anderson

Killer in High Heels-Gemma Halliday
Death Perception-Victoria Laurie

if anyone is still looking for Nevada ideas.

I need to skim for TV ideas so if anyone has them and hasn't posted yet-I need suggestions.

Ok would : Corpse Pose by Diana Killian count for the TV one? The description says that the main character's mother is a former TV star.

OK I found another one with a TV Chef hero so I'm good for TV if I can find it in time:

Red Hot Reunion-Bella Andre

D.G. wrote: "JSure, Judithe! "

Thanks!

Some TV suggestions:

Delicious (Chef with TV Show)
Just the Sexiest Man Alive (actor)
Sexiest Man Alive (actor/costume designer)
Shoot from the Lip (reality show)
As Seen on TV
Mommywood
A Talent For Murder
The Actor and the Housewife
Reality TV Bites: A Novel
Santa Fe Rules
The Friday Night Knitting Club
Sundays at Tiffany's

The Kitchen Witch (Accidental Witch Trilogy, #1) (TV Show - she hosting it; him producing)

2010 NOVEMBER MONTHLY CHALLENGE
11/1 - 11/30
8/10
1.NOVEMBER: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 11/1
2.BIRTHDAY: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 11/10 (Harper)
3.GEOGRAPHY:
4.THANKSGIVING DAY: You are here by Jennifer E. Smith 11/6 (family)
5.GUY FAWKES NIGHT: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick 11/2 (Patch Cipriano)
6.GET 'ER DONE: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione 11/12
7.ROMANCE GENRE:
8.OF LIST & SHELVES: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 11/8
9.WORLD TELEVISION DAY: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 11/7
10.READER'S CHOICE: Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa 11/4

by Katie MacAlister works for TV.

say - i think you posted in the wrong thread...this is the suggestions one ;)

Say wrote: "2010 NOVEMBER MONTHLY CHALLENGE
11/1 - 11/30
8/10
1.NOVEMBER: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 11/1
2.BIRTHDAY: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 11/10 (Harper)
3.GEOGRAPHY:
4.THANKSGIVING DAY: You are here..."