Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Lisa Kay wrote: "Aaaahhhhhhgggh! I'm reading A Game of Thrones; there are 328 characters in this book and I can only use one! (There are more that apply to this challenge; however, I have already use..."

Aww, that's too bad since you'd be able to use 7 names from that book!

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "I noticed that a few people were using Alina for Alana but those names don't sound at all the same to me. I also checked the pronunciation sites and they are pronounced differently so I know it's n..."

They don't sound the same to me either - thanks DG and Mojca! :) ...I haven't updated my list for a long time so haven't been in that thread for ages...

Attention everyone!! *clapping hands* Alina is not the same as Alana and should not be substituted... Anyone who finishes the challenge with this substitution will be sent back to read another book :)

wow - I actually managed to get 4 names out of a book...lol! first one I think I've managed that on

Mary wrote: "I noticed that too and was too chicken to mention it here. Not that I'm monitoring what people use-more like looking to see if a book I have fits names that I don't know it does. I've found a few..."

I asked because it if it WAS allowed, then I'd have used it. :) I've been checking people's lists to see if there are any 4-name books I have on my TBR that I should bump up. :)

Right now I'm reading Bed of Roses which has tons of names: Emma, Jack, Mackensie, Carter. There's even an Addison but she's made just one appearance so I'm not counting her so far.

Yep me too.

Woohoo! I found out that the Jack from 'Bed of Roses' is a Jackson! I'll use that name because I think it's more difficult to find.

Can we take another look at the Madelyn/Madeline ruling? I looked them up at www.pronouncenames.com and both have "m ae d uh l ih n" as a pronunciation option (first option for Madelyn, second for Madeline). Wouldn't that make Madeline qualify?

Also, can someone give me a ruling on page count for the books in the Holding Out for a Hero series by Shelli Stevens - Going Down,Command and Control, Flash Point, and Love Me Knot. I know the last one is just a short story, but the first three are too close for me to estimate.

Aww man, I'm gonna have to drop out! When I 1st started, I had only read the main rules & missed the character rule.... didn't realize that character needs to appear more than once. Not sure how many names on my list may have appeared only once, so I'll just bow out. :(

I think what jane is getting at is that you have to get an idea of their character...if you can get that from limited appearances then they work...but yeah, that does make it a tad harder...

Man I need to get reading cause all the books I have been reading don't have any of the names

I just listened to an audiobook that had no names. At least was a short one.

Can I get a name of a book that has an Xavier in it? So far what I found are part of a series, or not available at my library.

KarenH wrote: "Can we take another look at the Madelyn/Madeline ruling? I looked them up at www.pronouncenames.com and both have "m ae d uh l ih n" as a pronunciation option (first option for Madelyn, second for..."

Ok - I get what you are saying... I can see the confusion on this name's pronounciation - it does seem to allow Madeline to be pronounced as Madelyn however not Madelyn as Madeline!!

But following the sound allowance - I have to allow Madelyn (the listed name) to also be marked off where a Madeline is encountered, because Madeline may be pronounced the Madelyn.

...Have I confused everyone with my reasons for allowing both spellings to be interchangeable??...

Now that we're in the topic of Madelyns...there's one in Duncan's Bride, an excellent contemporary romance.

D.G. you're my hero right now....I re-read Bed of Roses today and totally didn't pick up on the fact he was a Jackson.

And now you've reminded me of Madelyn in Duncan's Bride, one of my favorites! I re-read this one all the time!

I just recently read 3 Brides For 3 Bad Boys by Lucy Monroe...this is three novellas about brothers, two of which are named Colton and Carter.

if anyone reads lorelei James Rough Riders series - the new book is out the end of the month and the two main characters are on the list - Ava and Chase...and i'm sure there will be some secondary ones that show up

Jane (PS) wrote: "Ok - I get what you are saying... I can see the confusion on this name's pronounciation - it does seem to allow Madeline to be pronounced as Madelyn however not Madelyn as Madeline!!

But following the sound allowance - I have to allow Madelyn (the listed name) to also be marked off where a Madeline is encountered, because Madeline may be pronounced the Madelyn...."

Thank you, Jane! :)

~Megan~ wrote: "D.G. you're my hero right now....I re-read Bed of Roses today and totally didn't pick up on the fact he was a Jackson.

And now you've reminded me of Madelyn in Duncan's Bride, one of my favorite..."

I'm somebody's hero! I rock! :p

Jack says his full name when they go to the restaurant in the City and according to Emma, he quips in his best James Bond voice: 'Cooke. Jackson Cooke.'

OK can we use Gabrielle for Gabriella? I wasn't going to but then I saw that someone else made the substitute for the same book-and I don't have a Gabriella book. And this book also has an Eva and a Savannah.

OK that Ignola or whatever site-doesn't recognize half the names I put into it and I'm spelling them right.

@ Mary - i'm not jane, but I would say no...gabrielle and gabriella are said differently to me...

Yeah that's what I thought when I first picked up the book. But she ended up allowing Madelyn/Madeline.

I did check on the 2 prononciation sites. The first one didn't recognize Gabriella. The 2nd one had different pronunciations.

I think because madelyn/madeline can potentially be said the same...because i've seen it...but a name ending with an a vice an e would make a totally different sound to me...ditto with eva/eve...

Mary wrote: "OK can we use Gabrielle for Gabriella? I wasn't going to but then I saw that someone else made the substitute for the same book-and I don't have a Gabriella book. And this book also has an Eva and..."

Guilty!!! lol! I used it after I noticed that someone else did. That was before I read the complete Q&A/rules. I've since dropped out of the contest & removed my name list because some of the names I used "may" have appear only once in the book.

I haven't looked at anyone elses list, because I don't want to confuse myself on how I understand it

Here's a book with a Gabriella: The Virgin's Secret.

I like Victoria Alexander. But I don't have that one. I'll keep it mind as a library maybe.

And I didn't mean to rat anyone out. I was hoping she'd let it slide.

I've used people that were only in 1 or 2 scenes. But only if they had an decent conversation and contributed something important to the story. Not like just the waitress or store clerk or something. But witness in a murder case who gives an important clue-yeah why not.

I might have to take back Aaron. I always keep a book at work for down times. Since I frequently bring in others that I'm really into-the one in there now has been taking me awhile.

Anyway-within like the 1st 50 pages I had: Aaron, Matthew, Samual, Sam, Adrien and Juliana. But now I'm closer to 100 pages in and Aaron hasn't reappeared. Might have to find him elsewhere. Why couldn't it be Matthew or Sam/Samual-both of which I could have crossed off several times by now.

I've found like a gazillion Sams but no Samuels.

Does anybody know if Sam from the Sookie Stackhouse series is a Samuel? I don't think I've ever read that and I searched in almost every book but I haven't found anything.

Sam in the Mercy Thompson series is a Samuel

I'm up to date on that series...but I may try the Alpha & Omega series. He probably shows up in there.

lemme think about other sam's

Has anyone found any books with Aaliyah or Gianna? I'm having trouble finding these.

here is what shelfari says...I see why its popular...apparently it is a twilight name

I used my 40% off Borders coupon to order Wild whic has an Aaliyah. She's a favorite of mine and when I saw it on someone's list here-I knew that's what I'd use my 40% off coupon for. Now I have $5 in Borders bucks expiring and can't decide what to get.

Is Lilah the same as Lyla??

Mary wrote: "OK can we use Gabrielle for Gabriella? I wasn't going to but then I saw that someone else made the substitute for the same book-and I don't have a Gabriella book. And this book also has an Eva and..."

No, sorry Mary - you have to find a Gabriella.

The Madeline allowance is solely because the second pronounciation site pronounces this name (Madeline) as Madelyn sounds. There are not other names (at this stage) similar to this ruling...

Christine S. wrote: "Mary wrote: "OK can we use Gabrielle for Gabriella? I wasn't going to but then I saw that someone else made the substitute for the same book-and I don't have a Gabriella book. And this book also h..."

Hey Christine - you don't have to drop out! Just adjust your list :) I'm taking this challenge really slowly - I doubt I'll mark off even half the list... It's just for the fun of it...

KarenH wrote: "Can someone give me a ruling on page count for the books in the Holding Out for a Hero series by Shelli Stevens - Going Down,Command and Control, Flash Point, and Love Me Knot. I know the last one is just a short story, but the first three are too close for me to estimate.
..."

'Sandra the wonderful green sandal' has looked up these books for you Karen - the first three are novellas of between 55 - 85 pages. You noted the last one is the shortest (Sandra said it is self-published). Use the novella ruling - at least 3 novellas (add the fourth if there is a name you need) in a series with a max of 4 names marked off for the bundle. Enjoy :)

Rena wrote: "Is Lilah the same as Lyla??"

Yes - according to the pronouncenames website, they have the same pronounciation...

Mary wrote: "OK that Ignola or whatever site-doesn't recognize half the names I put into it and I'm spelling them right."

Try the Pronounce Names website.

Or, if you can find another 'authoritative' website - not just some random chit-chat - then let me know and I'll look at adding it. Wikipedia is fine as well...

Mary wrote: "I used my 40% off Borders coupon to order Wild whic has an Aaliyah. She's a favorite of mine and when I saw it on someone's list here-I knew that's what I'd use my 40% off coupon fo..."

Thanks, Mary! One more name off my list! Yay! I'll have to check Amazon for that book. Sadly, all the Borders and Waldenbooks in my area have closed. :( I do miss those Borders bucks!

Funny thing is that we have both Layla and Lyla in the list and to me those both sound the same. So I guess we could use Lilah for any of those too. :p

I read 'Just The Sexiest Man Alive' already.

Cry No More wiped me out so I'm re-reading a book I loved. It doesn't have any names so far though!

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "Funny thing is that we have both Layla and Lyla in the list and to me those both sound the same. So I guess we could use Lilah for any of those too. :p"

Actually, D.G. Lilah would sound the same as Lyla, while Layla sound (at least to me) like Eric Clapton sings it in his song.

Lyla/Lilah = lie-la (lie as in the "not tell the truth")
Layla = lay-la (lay as in...rimes with "hey" comes to mind)

Or just think of the Eric Clapton song: "Lay-la, got me on my knees, Lay-la. Beggin' darling please Lay-la, darling won't you ease my worried mind".

(I typed the name that way to emphasize the pronunciation).

The name in Wild is actually Aliyah not Aaliyah. I better go double check that but to me they look the same.

ETA: they show as having the same possible ponunciation on the 2nd site listed.

You're right! I was just thinking of somebody I know...her name is written Laila but she pronounces lie-la.

The Borders near me closed a few months ago. I ordered it online.

Still don't know what to use my $5 in Borders bucks for. Maybe the latest Arcane Society book. Although I haven't read the last 2 yet so maybe not. Can't decide.

Maybe I'll use it towards getting the movie Burlesque which my daughter and I liked a lot, even though it tanked at the box office.