Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

This showed up in the random book challenge, so who is interested in reading??

A christmas anthology published by Carina press

so i started this last night...i'm just shy of half-way through Ava March's...when it comes to historical m/m she is one of my favorites

the way she writes...I feel that fear that the guys have of being discovered...and from the looks of the length, this is about as long as some of her stand-alone books from other publishers

I finished the first two stories. The first one was ok, but the second one was really good.

I did like the historical time period of the first story Dee, I haven't read that many historical erotica but I do like it. I agree that the fear of being discovered during that time period adds to the tension.

i finished up the first one last night...awww for Alexander...but i wanted to bitchslap thomas...and then vice versa

Valerie, I agree, the very beginning of the second story was a little bit of a slow start. But I really liked it once it got going. Intense, sexy and emotional. I loved the epilogue too. That story made me look up Harper Fox and check out her backlist.

Finished the third story- good but not great. The second one is still my favorite so far.

who was the 3rd one by? Josh or KA? since you read Ava and Harper already...speaking of, I enjoyed Last Line by her that I read a few months ago

I think KAs was the last one. I really liked them all, those are all great authors.

Yes, Josh Lanyon was third. I really like him, this one was good, but felt maybe a tiny bit rushed.

that seems to be the consensus of the reviews...that his is the weakest, even though he is a favorite of a lot of readers

I'm in too! Just have to buy the book somewhere and FW is showing up with an expired certificate... I don't think it matters, but I'm going to wait an hour or so before I try the site again...

Does anyone know if this book is on FW?

nope on FW - I don't think Carina releases to there

It's on Amazon, Carina Press and maybe AllRomance.

Thanks Fran & Dee. Found it at AllRom :)

finished up Harper's and about half-way through Josh's...I liked the arthurian legend that Harper wound through-out hers...it could have been really cheesy, but it worked for me

I did notice that Josh's is shorter than the previous ones, but nearly 7k words, so I wonder if that contributes to the feeling in of being rushed?

Finished the fourth and final story. I liked the last one, but the second one remains my favorite. I would say 3 stars for all stories except Harper Fox's, she gets 4-4.5 * from me.

I really liked Josh's story, I enjoyed the whole anthology, and they were all solid 4s for me.

i finished josh's up last night...I did like it, I love the old lovers reunited kind of theme...just wish we'd seen more of them

Did you guys know that this one was released as an audiobook? I really liked the guy's voice who did Ava Gray's story :)

i hadn't but it does't surprise me, Carina seems to be pretty good about getting their stuff out that way

Huh! I've started on the Josh's book and so far I'm really enjoying it. (So glad I have some Josh books lined up to read :)

...But I have to say, Harper's story really didn't grab me :( I found it a bit all over the place. The Authurian legend was good and I liked the ghosts, but it felt messy and I didn't really grasp Piers character very well... I actually decided not to bother with trying one of Harper's book because of it.

I really enjoyed Ava's story.

Happy New Year in Australia Jane!!

KA Mitchell's story is good too- the Christmas tree farm owner was a cute setting, and it's a pretty hot story too.

I liked them all - and then I had to get last year's Christmas anthology and read it, too! (I'm crazy like that!)

And, on a random note - since I'm a Texan, Lone Star gets a boost just for the fun of reading a story that mentions Fredricksburg and Llano. Got to love the Hill Country!

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "Fran wrote: "Valerie, I agree, the very beginning of the second story was a little bit of a slow start. But I really liked it once it got going. Intense, sexy and emotional. I loved the epilogue t..."

So far I have read

Life After Joe and Driftwood by Harper Fox, and both were good, Driftwood was my favorite.

most of harpers stories don't include the myths, so you might like them better...

you know jane...you should have signed up for the m/m bingo challenge ;)

Dee wrote: "you know jane...you should have signed up for the m/m bingo challenge ;)"

Really? When I read the outline I was worried I'd hold my team back by not reading fast enough!! I probably didn't fully understand it - but maybe I'll do the next one :)

Smut Bitch wrote: "Life After Joe and Driftwood by Harper Fox, and both were good, Driftwood was my favorite. ..."

Actually I think I have both those books on my wishlist - they sound familiar. LOL! Perhaps I WILL read a Harper book after all :)

at one stage I was like 3 weeks behind on the books...but I got caught up

Fran wrote: "Happy New Year in Australia Jane!!

KA Mitchell's story is good too- the Christmas tree farm owner was a cute setting, and it's a pretty hot story too."

Thanks Fran :)

Happy New Year to everyone on the States and well, everywhere!!!

It's a beautiful day for 1 January over here :)

Dee wrote: "at one stage I was like 3 weeks behind on the books...but I got caught up"

Which bingo team are you in? I might drop into the thread to try to work out the mechanics a bit better...

I'm doing the GangBang this quarter :)

Dee wrote: "at one stage I was like 3 weeks behind on the books...but I got caught up"

It's ok to be behind unless you're at the point where this week's token would give you bingo, then you have to rush to catch up, lol!

i'm in Bubbles and the 4 Ho-ho's in Cha-cha heels...

we haven't started yet, so if you decide you want to Katie might be able to put you in a team...I know she is still waiting on some confirms from ppl

yeah, if you guys are in line for the bingo, your butt had better be planted and you reading that book

Dee wrote: "i'm in Bubbles and the 4 Ho-ho's in Cha-cha heels...

we haven't started yet, so if you decide you want to Katie might be able to put you in a team...I know she is still waiting on some confirms fr..."

Maybe if there is a slow group (regular speed) missing a participant, I'll put my hand up ;)

i'm doing slow speed..I know we had a last minute add before, so hit katie up...heck, come and join our group if she'll let you

Dee wrote: "i'm doing slow speed..I know we had a last minute add before, so hit katie up...heck, come and join our group if she'll let you"

Just sent her a PM :) Didn't think to push into your group! I just asked for a slow reading group (I think that is regular speed?)... if there was a spare space.

yeah regular speed and we can just change our name to the 5 ho-ho's ;)

Dee wrote: "yeah regular speed and we can just change our name to the 5 ho-ho's ;)"

Great name :) How would the rest of them feel, with another member?

i don't think they'd care...lol! the more the merrier in my mind

Well - I'll see how Katie comes back on my request :) Thanks for the push and invite!

np...and now to go and get the pizza for dinner...I might as well kill my diet for new years eve with a bang...got to enjoy it while I can

LOL!

Just finished Lone Star - I agree, it was a pretty rushed/incomplete ending, but I still enjoyed it :)

Now, for lucky last!

OK - I'm done! I've given the book 4 stars - they are all pretty good short stories IMO :) Thanks for the buddy read everyone!

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Which bingo team are you in? I might drop into the thread to try to work out the mechanics a bit better...

I'm doing the GangBang this quarter :) "

I must be a glutton for punis..."

I'm with you Valerie :) Katie put me in the regular BIN GOing Nuts team... Don't know anyone, but that's half the fun! Which team are you in?

finished the one up last night...KA Mitchell's seemed to need something else as well..like I wanted to know what happened to the gas company after...kinda hoping she is planning on going back and writing more for that area

The ending was again abupt with KAM's short story - but overall I thought all the stories were pretty good for novellas (except for my issues with HF's, as previously noted)...

Valerie ~Varuca~ wrote: "N-Dirty Whore; O-69 is the name of our team...lol

I have some pretty cool people on my team and I'm excited to get started :)"

Hahaha - what a name!

Still have another day to wait :)