Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

For May we thought we'd read Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton. If anyone would like to join us in reading this book, or just to comment, please feel free to drop in :)

This book is so good! I hope you like it :)

I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm in. I have wanted to read this for a while!

In in in! Love Marie Sexton's 1st too Coda books, so hoping this will be just as good!

Woohoo, Joellen and Shell!!

Post your preferred timing for this read whenever you've sorted out you May reading... I'm easy ;)

1st weekend in May for me...school is killing me through the week.

That should work for me as well!

I think Dee was interested in reading this book as well... I'll PM her to see if she has checked this thread lately :)

i'm going to try and read it ;) since Marie is going to be at GRL12

Fab Dee!

Oh - the big Albequeque (however you spell it) challenge? Given I said I'd join you with low expectations, this works for me too! Great! :)

yep that one ;)

whee, providing I get my one book read tonight, this showed up on my list for the Reader's Also Enjoyed for the Follow the Leader!! yay!!

My RAE challenge is extremely haphazard! It will only be a plug I think between all my other challenge reading :)

i just finished this up - talk about a roller coaster...omg...I gave it 5 stars

Dee wrote: "i just finished this up - talk about a roller coaster...omg...I gave it 5 stars"

I agree Dee! Really good, glad you enjoyed it :)

Hmmmm now I'm hoping Friday comes soon. I'm in the middle of a couple of other books and looking forward to this one.

Me too, Shell!

On pg 103 and loving this book! I like how even though the Mormon religion is a part of the story it isn't heavy handed. Jamie is so sweet you just want to wrap him up and keep him safe. And Levi is a doll...one that is working through his issues slowly. I like how it's taking "real time" gather the relationship instead of instead love.

Oh - this book was fantastic! I loved it :) Here's my review (don't worry Shell; no spoilers):

Sometimes you read a book and think, 'this just couldn't have been better'. This is one of those books.

I loved every minute of my time spent with this book. I loved the change and acceptance that permeated every angle of the story. I loved the courage of the main characters in their overall search for improvement in their lives. I loved the growth that was shown not just by the MCs but also the minor characters. And I learnt things about the Mormon religion I would never have been exposed to otherwise. It was wickedly funny in parts, heart-wrenching in others...

For me, this book was a wonderful journey that resonated in multiple areas even though I have never been exposed to any of these situations.

Jane - those were my thoughts to a T...I love that the religious aspect didn't seem to be demonized like you see in so many book (m/m romance or not)...

I agree - the religious aspect, which could easily have been extreme (and I guess it was pretty definite) was really well-balanced IMO. Everyone benefited from Jaime and Levi's love - just a great story.

If Shell and Joellen rate this a 5, we'll have a first on our hands!

any thoughts on next month?

scrolling through Jase's list of new releases, the following caught my eye:
Out in the Field
Redemption by Fire (fairly short though, less than 100 pages)
Hounded by Love (the cover caught my eye, it won't be out until the 15th, and no cover copy yet0

LOL! 6 May and we are thinking about next month's book! I have to say though Dee, that was my thought when I finished BS&S ;)

I haven't read any of Andrew Grey's or Kate McMurray's books. I read my first PiaV book the other day...

I'm easy on which book we read - I've done really well over the last 3 months: three 5 star reads!

Out in the Field looks really good - and you will note that Levi from the cover of BS&S is also on this cover!!

****edit****

Now I've checked out the other two...

I nearly bought the Andrew Grey book (Redemption by Fire) the other day, and I like the premise of Pia's book.

I'd be happy with any choice of these three :)

Jane - which Pia book did you read?

I read Make You Sweat.

i thought that one was cute...I have Man Whore in the pile somewhere to read

Finished it last night and absolutely give it 5 stars. I loved the interaction between Levi and Jamie. The novel was wonderfully written with a great mix of character development and intense intimacy. I love the fact that she didn't tie everything up into a neat package just like life isn't, but yet you are left with the overall impression that the characters will make it successful. Marie Sexton is a wonderful author and there hasn't been a book so far of hers that I've read that I didn't love. EXCELLENT pick this month!

Any of the choices sound wonderful to me. :) Though if I had to pick just one, I'd go for the Andrew Gray novel. I've a soft spot for firefighters. :)

so do I, my only hesitation is that its short and I like a good hefty read

I think Fran likes short reads; not sure about the rest of our regulars. Short reads are good if the book isn't (good) ;) *hehehe*

You pick Dee; we've all had a pick fairly recently if we say that Fran chose 'Clear Water' and Shell & I chose 'BS&S'...

***edit***

Hmmm - I think I finalised CW. ...But it WAS on Fran's list to read... ;)

well, bitchie has read any of them either - which is always a good goal (finding a book she hasn't read)...lol!

Perhaps Bitchie should pick? Pull her back into the fold?

Jane, you really know me! Short is great for me but I will do longer. Clear Water was on my preferred list and I loved it so that worked out great :)

I'm good with whatever Dee or Bitchie chooses :)

Fran wrote: "Jane, you really know me! Short is great for me but I will do longer. Clear Water was on my preferred list and I loved it so that worked out great :)

I'm good with whatever Dee or Bitchie chooses :)"

LOL - I was going to be more definite with my statement - ie 'Fran prefers short reads' but thought I'd better go diplomatic!! Didn't want to sh*t-stir too much :)

actually, how about One Small Thing - it has gotten really good reviews so far, its relatively new and I like the Piper/MJ writing combo

and that's my final nomination

I second that nomination! I am going to read that one for KS, probably this month, so I will definitely be able to chat about it for June.

I don't know if i'll be able to read it for KS this month - I though I mgiht hold onto it for SRC starting in June...i'm sure it will fit into a category somewhere - I know that it will fit into one of mine if I finish

I need a book for the task where you read a book that's featured for the group so I thought that one would work. I could hold off until June too, I really am done with SRC for this season. Reached my limit with that one for now :)

I have like 10 books to go and 5 of those are in progress

Dee wrote: "I have like 10 books to go and 5 of those are in progress"

You are amazing- I quit around 450 points. I've kind of had it. It's great that you finish the whole thing.

i don't know what I would do if I didn't have a list of books to pick from...lol! but I can tell you for sure, that OST will fit into one of my challenge books ;) and i'm not doing anything goofy like rolling dice etc

One Small Thing sounds fine to me as well...

ok, i know it was up to me to pick June's book but I suck at making decisions, so i'm going to use my friend - random.org ;)

and the winner is....Out in the Field

Great! Will you set up the Dare You thread or would you like me to do it :)

i can