Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Daffodil wrote: "Hey Jane!

Not another question.

Just wanted to take a second and tell you how much we all appreciate you taking on this challenge! Thank you.

Now that I've buttered you up, let me ask y..."

LOL! Thanks Daffodil :)

Lisa Kay wrote: " has a Zachary."

Ohhhh...that's my favorite Kleypas. If I had it in audio, I'd re-read it.

Did you check your local library for downloadable MP3 audio? Or even the library in a bigger city near you?

BTW, D.G., my fav Kleypas also!

None of my libraries have it in audio. And I live in NYC so a bigger city is not that close by (and I doubt the libraries in Mexico City would have it either. :p)

I was planning on using: Wraith for Zoe. Unless it comes up in another book before I get around to this one.

I thought I might have a David in Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty. It's the main character's brother's name. But in doing an Amazon search-he never actually appears in the book and is only mentioned twice.

I found a Zoe in a georgette heyer mystery so it fits into the year of heyer challenge that i'm failing miserably at

Urgh. I have Jonathan crossed off as being used. But I didn't put his name by a book and I don't remember where he was.

I read a book that has a sister-in-law that appears for several chapters -- and I can't remember her name! Do you think I can find that book? Nope! It went into the black-hole were the laundry socks excape to, and it is driving me crazy. (I just know she is on the female name list! LOL!)

My library has where I can download in audio and ebook from and I love it.

Oh Lisa Kay! That sucks!

I keep track of the names in the Notes app in my iPod. This works really well for me. :)

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "I keep track of the names in the Notes app in my iPod. This works really well for me. :)"

Yes, one of the features I love about reading a book on Kindle for PC is the ability to make notes and highlights for my "buddy reads". Does anyone know if a regular Kindle does this too?

Lisa Kay wrote: "D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "I keep track of the names in the Notes app in my iPod. This works really well for me. :)"

Yes, one of the features I love about reading a book on Kindle for PC is the..."

Hi Lisa - yes, you can make notes and highlight in a regular Kindle. I do it all the time.

Thanks, Joann!

I usually have a lot of downtime at work on Fridays. I'm going to go to Googlebooks and search Jonathan on some of the books I read where he might have been.

Dee wrote: "I found a Zoe in a georgette heyer mystery so it fits into the year of heyer challenge that i'm failing miserably at"

Now now Dee - there's no win or lose in that challenge :)

Nicholas' are turning up in so many books! Anyone else finding that?

if i don't finish it...its a lose to me...lol!

Jane (PS) wrote: "Nicholas' are turning up in so many books! Anyone else finding that?"

Yes, I'm seeing that too - also Gabriel (must have read 4 or 5 books with that one in it already) and the one that surprises me, Sebastian.

Yes - I've had a few Sebastians and Gabriels as well!!

Dee wrote: "if i don't finish it...its a lose to me...lol!"

Well in point of fact, your book numbers are getting there. I should think that a catch up (reading a couple within a month to account for those missing earlier) is totally allowed...

and I got 3 on the pile, potentially another one...I think I saw a Heyer on the ARR top 100 list...and I have a challenge using that list...

Hahaha - you'll be Heyer'd out soon! :)

So far my most popular name is Sam. I've found like 7...but no Samuels. Grrr...

I haven't found one Nicholas either.

DG: Unfortunately I have overwritten my list that had Nicholas' - but Nicholas De La Cruz - lifemate to Lara (Dark Curse), starts appearing from Dark Secret onwards (I think)... ...Not sure you are a Carpathian reader though :)

I've never read any Feehan.

I'll start reading more historical romance so I hope to find one in there. If not the hero, at least a friend! ;)

the only nicholas I can think off the top of my head is the one in elizabeth ambers lords of satyr and those are just freaky books

I haven't come across a single Nicholas yet. But I have some in my TBR.

I've had probably 10 Sams if not more. The only Sam's I ever knew in real life were canine or cats.

I've had several Jacks too. I've known 1 Jack. My Uncle and his real name is John Jr. But they call him Jack instead of Jr.

There's a Nicholas in When I Fall in Love by Lynn Kurland. Also, the same Nicholas appears in Dreams Of Stardust. Jackson and Miles are also in that one.

I haven't read one book with 'Sam' yet! :) I'm hoping to just stumble across one as I go... (I had a book with a child 'Sam' but he was only mentioned in passing - no characterisation.)

Hey Jane,

I have a sort of outrageous question. I'm struggling through Highland Lover (Murray Family, #12) (it'll probably get a 1 star rating) and I've read over 150 pages. Can I use the name Alana, (she's the main character) or not?

Dee wrote: "the only nicholas I can think off the top of my head is the one in elizabeth ambers lords of satyr and those are just freaky books"

So true! LOLOLOL!

I'm listening Savor The Moment and there's a Nick in there but no mention of him being a Nicholas so far.

I think I read a while back that someone was going to put together a database of names for this challenge. Did anyone do that yet, and if so, where do I find it?

It's on pg 9 of this thread. I tried to copy/paste but it didn't show up as a link.

Yes, GR's has been having trouble with the copy/paste ability for two days now.

This is a total random question, I am trying audible.com, and I have never tried audio books before. I am wondering if anyone has any good audio books to recommend that I can try out. It wouldn't hurt if they can cross names of my list.

Thanks!

Hina wrote: "This is a total random question, I am trying audible.com, and I have never tried audio books before. I am wondering if anyone has any good audio books to recommend that I can try out. It wouldn't..."

Here are some of my favorites:
Perfect Chemistry - this is dual narration and it's one of my absolute favorites
Outlander (the unabridged versions narrated by Davina Porter)

You have tons of books on your TBR that are on my TBL but as I haven't listened to most of them, I cannot tell you how the narrations are.

Here are some of my favorite narrators:
- Joyce Bean (she narrates the first 3 books in the Fever series but I wasn't too crazy about her Barrons voice...but I've listened a few of her other books which are excellent)
- Rosalind Landor (she narrates a lot of Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Sophie Kinsella)
- Angela Dawe (she narrates the Nora Roberts Bride series)

Narrator to avoid:
- Anne Flosnik (she narrates a lot of Mary Balogh)

Rena wrote: "Hey Jane,

I have a sort of outrageous question. I'm struggling through Highland Lover (Murray Family, #12) (it'll probably get a 1 star rating) and I've read over 150 pages. Can I u..."

LOL! If you have read at least 150 pages but then 'did not finish' - I'm happy for you to use the name.

***edit***

BUT - anyone wishing to use this ruling MUST rate the book as a 1 or 2 star read :)

I'm not going to broadcast this ruling (ie add it to the FAQs) as I don't think I should encourage it ;)

Hina - Something else...do you have a library card? If you do, you should check your library because I'm sure they have downloadable audiobooks. All you need is to get Overdrive. That's what I've been doing and I have more audiobooks that I know what to do with them.

I like Simon Vance as a narrator - also highly recommend the christopher moore books on audio and they seem to have quite a few names

Hina wrote: "This is a total random question, I am trying audible.com, and I have never tried audio books before. I am wondering if anyone has any good audio books to recommend that I can try out. It wouldn't..."

I checked your bookshelves, Hina, and I see you like mysteries. J.D. Robb's In Death series is very well narrated and is available for download from most libraries. Also, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series too. (I know you've read most, but maybe the last one?)

I am currently listening to Dark Prince, Carpathians, #1 and it is not only well narrated, but the series is suppose to have a lot of the names we need for this challenge.


If you like, you can look at my post #136 on the third screen of the sister posting for this challenge and you will the other audiobooks I have listend to for these names. You can also check out my bookshelves for other suggestions.

Good luck!

Lisa Kay - Thanks for mentioning the first book in Carpathians series. I know Jane mentioned it a while back but I didn't think to check to see if my libraries had the first book. They both do so I'm downloading it now.

You are welcome, D.G.! I am quite enjoying it! My library has a lot of this series. :)

Beware - Xavier doesn't turn up for quite some time in these books - I'm guessing book 16 or so?? I'm sure there are other Carpathian readers who will correct me, but if you really want to know the book in which he first appears, I can go to my 'special book stash' (no nieces allowed) and check it out for you :)

Yep. #16
But there are other names in the series that are on this list!

True! Off the top of my head: Aiden - book 3, Gabriel - book 8?, Nicholas - book 15?...

...Anyway - enjoy! (I am so tempted to get the audiobooks as well!!)

The Fever books by Karen Marie Moning (Mackayla, her sister is Alina but she's dead before the series starts-good audio.
The Harry Potter books (not a good source for names but excellent on audio).
The JD Robb books
The FBI books by Catherine Coulter (probably some names in there it's a long series)
The Pink Carnation books by Lauren Willig
I listened to a couple of Black Dagger books on audio.They were good that way but I prefer that kind of book in print.
Prey Series by John Sandford (definately Lucas)

Jane (PS) wrote: "True! Off the top of my head: Aiden - book 3, Gabriel - book 8?, Nicholas - book 15?..."

According to shelfari:

Aiden & Jacob - book 1; Julian - book 2 & beyond; Joshua & Thomas - book 3; Savannah & John & David - book 4; Gabriel - book 5 ...

The Carpathian books are good on audio if you get the later ones. Or ones not narrated by Juanit Parker. I got the first few on audio with her as narrator. She misprounces words constantly.

Lisa Kay wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "True! Off the top of my head: Aiden - book 3, Gabriel - book 8?, Nicholas - book 15?..."

According to shelfari:

Aiden & Jacob - book 1; Julian - book 2 & beyond; Joshua & Thoma..."

Quite a haul! Maybe I'll have to do this as well :) (Any excuse ;)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!