Danielle The Book Huntress ’s Comments (group member since Jan 27, 2010)

Danielle The Book Huntress ’s comments from the Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group group.

I'm sorry the March challenge is late. I'm working on it now and I will have it posted in a couple of hours.

The February challenge is ready!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Sandra wrote: "I enjoyed the cover challenge, I picked a couple of books based on their covers alone and found new authors to enjoy."

Thanks, Sandra! It's up and ready!

The February Challenge is up!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The challenge is up!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DHASG February Challenge

Introduction: February is here! It's time for hearts and snow boots, celebrating Black History and the Presidents. Let's enjoy our February reading!

Duration: February 1-February 28, 2019

Rules:


1. Any DHASG member can participate.
2. Sign up at any time during the month, but books must be read between February 1st and February 28th, 2018. Post when you sign up and update your progress regularly and when you finish.
3. Rereads are fine. Reads can overlap with other challenges on the group, but a book can only count once in this challenge.
3. In your stats, write your level, include book name, author, date read, and how it fits the particular challenge point.
4.Have fun!

Levels:

1. Book Love Junkie: Read 9-12 books.
2. Hearts and Books: Read 5-8 books.
3. Book of Love: Read 3-4 books.

Categories:

1. Black History Month: February is Black History Month. Celebrate the achievements and the history of Black people this month with a book you read.
2.An Affair to Remember Month: Since February is An Affair to Remember Month, Read a book about a legendary love affair. It can be in your opinion or it could be biographical or based on true events, mythology, fairy tales or folklore or legends.
3.Creative Romance:February is is the month to celebrate the creative in the romance genre. Read a book with a unique, off the beaten path, or creative romance story. Let us know how it fits.
4.Bowl of Cherries: Since February is National Cherry Month, let's celebrate this small, delicious fruit with our reading. You can base your book on this list of cherry facts, or some other association that occurs to you. http://tonsoffacts.com/25-interesting...
5.The Art of the Flirt: The 3rd week of February is International Flirting Week. Read a book with some exceptional flirting scenes. Let us know a little about it, because inquiring minds...
6.Chinese New Year:Chinese Year 4717 - February 5, 2019 is Chinese New Year in 2019. It's the year of the Pig, a Yin year. Read a book that celebrates this aspect of Chinese culture or that features a prominent Chinese heritage character or some prominent element of Chinese culture.
7.Rules Schmules!:There's a day of the month that encourages us to not follow the rules, Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Let's read a book about other rule breakers, or read a book that doesn't follow the rules in some way (non-linear storytelling, surprise ending, etc.).
8.Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!: February 9th is National Pizza Day. Celebrate this beloved food item in some way with your reading. Here's some facts about pizza: http://mentalfloss.com/article/69737/....
9.Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk: February 11th is the day to recognize that we all 'spill milk' now and then. Read a book about a character who has made mistakes but keeps on trying.
10.Thank You for Being a Friend: February 11th is Make a Friend Day. Read a book about friendship.
11.What's in a Name?: February 13th is Get a Different Name Day. Read a book with a character with an unusual or intriguing name, or just a name you like, and look up what the name means. Correlate the character's name with the book's plot or their character in some way and let us know what you find.
12.SAD is not Sad: Singles Awareness Day is the day after Valentine's Day, the 15th, a day to recognize that some people are single and not in relationships or married. Read a book with a character who has been single for a long time, or at least is single when the book starts and for at least 1/4 of the book.
13.Conversation Hearts: Read a book that has a title that sounds like a Conversation Heart.
14.Valentine's Day: February 14th is the day that we celebrate love. Read a book that celebrates the concept of love in any way. It doesn't have to be romantic love.

Information about February holidays taken from Holiday Insights page. http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreho...







Challenge Participants

Stacie
Tammy
Emily

Hello, DHASG Challenge Queens!

I'm working on the February challenge as we speak. Apologies for the delay! I'll post it soon, hopefully this evening.

Arch wrote: "Poor Alexei, he couldn't get a break. His enemy escorts his girlfriend to dinner. Oh, what if Alexei would have pouned on Sullivan? That would have been a sight. Glad he hold himself back.

I wond..."

Alexei had had to do some serious self-control. He knows Karina's life depends on it.

Yeah, I think it's sweet that they'll miss not sleeping together.

Grandmere would have scolded him a little, but admitted he chose well with Karina.

So you pretty much nailed it!

Thanks for reading!

DHASG 2019 Dangerous Hero Mega-Challenge
Duration: January 1-December 31, 2019

Description: 2019 has arrived and it's time to get down and dirty with our dangerous hero reading.

General Rules:

1. Books must be read between the time period of January 1st and December 31st of 2019. You can start as early as 12:00am on January 1st, and must be done by 11:59pm December 31st. A member can join the challenge at any point during the year.
2. The books you use do not have to be romance. If you read a fictional book of any kind with a hero that you feel is bad/edgy/dangerous enough to qualify, you can use them.
3. You can post your book selections at any time once the thread opens, and you may make changes up until the end of the year.
4. You cannot use a book more than once in a particular option. Books between options may overlap.
5. Please let the Challenge Coordinator know if you are signing up, and she will add you to the participant list. Please let the Coordinator know when you have finished your challenges for the year.
6. Participants can do as many of the options as they wish. If they decide to repeat challenges, that is fine, but they must use new books from those used in the first challenge. Please specify which challenges you are doing. Please repost your progress regularly.
7. Participants can change their options and books anytime during the challenge.

Challenge Options:

Option A--Spell Out Your Love!:

Instructions: For this Option, you can choose to spell out a dangerous hero-related phrase using only books with dangerous hero characters. You can use:
1. The first or last name of the author
2. The first letter of the book title (not including A, An, And, or The)
3. If you choose your own acronym and it contains the letter X, the word can have X anywhere in its spelling. Other letters much be used in the specified manner.
4. You can even use the hero’s first or last name, but only once.
Here are your choices (you can do however many you like throughout the year).

Spelling Choices:

1. OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO HIS BED (30 letters)
2. HE KISSES LIKE ITS THE END OF THE WORLD (31 letters)
3. HE SAW FOREVER IN HER EYES (21 letters)
4. DARK, DEADLY AND SEXY (17 letters)
5. LOVE IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE OF DRUGS (29 letters)
6. HIS RING ON HER FINGER HER NAME ON HIS HEART (35 letters)
7. ONE TOUCH WAS ALL IT TOOK FOR HER TO FALL FOR HIM (38 letters)
8. WALK TOWARDS HIM NOT AWAY (21 letters)
9. HIS SURRENDER WAS HIS SALVATION (27 letters)
10. WHEN HE FALLS HE LANDS IN HER ARMS (27 letters)
11. BAD BOYS CAN BE GOOD AT LOVE (22 letters)
12. HE MIGHT BE DANGEROUS BUT HER LOVE IS DEADLY (36 letters)
13. ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (20 letters)
14. IS YOUR LOVE STRONG ENOUGH (24 letters)
15. CARELESS MEMORIES (16 letters)
16. I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE (21 letters)
17. Pick your own dangerous hero-related phrase to spell (minimum 12 letters)

Option B—World Wide Bad Boy Scavenger Hunt:

Instructions: The world is big and full of dangerous heroes. You have thirty chances to find a dangerous hero in thirty different places around the world. The one qualification is that only eight can be from the United States (you can use a particular state only once). The same goes for a country.

Regions:

1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
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21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Bonus (Out of This World)--collect a minimum of 10 heroes from different mythical/otherworldly locations):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Option C--Paranormal Dangerous Heroes:

Instructions: Read ten to thirteen books with a main character/hero who is in each of the below categories. One book per category. The books can be from romance, urban fantasy, fantasy, or science fiction novels.

1. Angel or demon
2.god or demi-god
3.Werewolf or shapeshifter
4. Sorcerer/Wizard/Magician or Magic-User
5.Immortal Warrior
6.Alien/From Another World or Dimension
7.Vampire
8.Faerie (any Fae creature)
9.Genetically-Enhanced or altered hero (powers are not magical but scientific)
10.Time-Traveler
11.Superhero ( Includes caped crimefighter with powers)
12. Elemental (able to harness the powers of nature)

Bonus: Psychic/Telekinetic Abilities (doesn’t fit in above categories)
Bonus: Other (doesn’t fit into above categories)

Option D--Hero, Anti, or Villain

Instructions: For this option, you get to choose up to thirty book characters and assign them to one of the above characters. Anti-hero: a central character (protagonist) in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes. Conventional heroic attributes are things like optimism, honesty, strength, confidence, courage and virtue. Villain: a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot. (Description taken from Quora: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-dif...). It will be a bit of eye of the beholder.

In order to complete this option, you must have at least fifteen characters assigned (and a minimum of five per category).

Option E--Dangerous Historic Heroes:

Instructions: For the historical romance or historical fiction readers on the group, the purpose of this challenge is to read one book for a minimum of eight of the most common dangerous historical hero types.

1. Scottish/Highlander warrior
2. Knight
3. Archer/Bowman
4. Emperor/King/Duke/Earl/Titled Hero
5. Gunslinger or Outlaw
6. Lawman, Sheriff, Marshal
7. Native American Warrior
8. Gambler or Rogue
9. Ninja/Samurai/Warrior of Eastern Martial Arts Disciplines
10. Historical Spy
11. Mountain Man
12. Pirate/Buccaneer/Privateer/Brigand of the High Seas
13. Highwayman or Thief
14.Mercenary, Warlord or Assassin
15.Historical Gangster
16.Legendary Swordsman (not any of the above)
17. Revolutionary or Freedom Fighter
18.Historical Soldier or Military Man

Bonus: Other historical dangerous hero (not listed above)

Option F—Dangerous Hero Career Fair

Introduction: For this challenge, we'll showcase modern day dangerous heroes. Let's go to the Career Fair, with a twist.
Pick up brochures for at least fifteen of the below dangerous hero/bad boy career professions to assemble your ultimate portfolio.

1. Sniper/Marksman
2. Armed Forces: Army, Air Force, Marines Enlisted/Commissioned Soldier
3. Special Forces Soldier (Navy SEALS, Delta)
4. Mercenary or Military Contractor
5. Outlaw Biker
6. Undercover Agent/Spy
7. Fireman
8. Police Officer/Sheriff/State Trooper
9. Rock Star/Pop Star/Hip-Hop Mogul (The Shadier the Better)
10. Computer Hacker/Tech Guru
11. Private Investigator
12. Vigilante/Crimefighter
13. Organized Crime Boss
14. Bouncer/Bruiser/Heavy or Enforcer
15. Boxer/MMA Fighter
16. Corporate Raider/Cutthroat Businessman
17. Mad Scientist/Inventor
18. FBI/US Marshal/DEA/ATF/Federal Agent
19. Assassin/Contract Killer
20. Bodyguard/Security
21. Professional Thief
22. Cardsharp/Professional Gambler
23. Martial Artist
24. Stuntman/Professional Daredevil
25. Racecar Driver
26. Sports Player (has to be a bad boy type with a bad reputation)
Bonus: Pick up to three other types of modern day dangerous hero types.


Option G—Dream Team:

Create your own Dangerous Hero Dream Team. Below are the usual suspects when you have an ensemble cast of characters in a caper film. Read a book with a character that reflects the descriptive characters below. If the book character fits more than one, choose the one you think he best fits. (You have to assemble a minimum of six characters for your dream team).

A. The Leader: He’s in charge and makes the decisions for the crew.
B. The Nimble-Fingered One: He’s the thief and he can steal anything.
C. The Tech Guru: There’s not a computer he can’t hack or a machine he can’t fix.
D. The Flying Ace: He can fly anything.
E. The Beater: He’s tough and lethal with his hands.
F. The Sphinx: No one really knows what he’s capable of, at least until the eleventh hour or when his team really needs him.
G. The Smooth-Talker: He can talk his way in and out of anything.
H. The Seducer: He has the looks and the charm to seduce his way into whatever he wants or needs.
I. The Marksman: He never misses.
J. The Master of Disguise: He can pretend to be anyone or anything.
K. The Transporter: He's fast and furious with a car.


Option H--Create your own Dangerous Hero-Themed Challenge:

Instructions: You can come up with your own challenge that involves the theme of this group. It should be something to keep you occupied for most of the year. It’s up to you otherwise.

Any questions? Hope you’ll join us!

Challenge Title Participants

Leona
Martel
Danielle TBH
Suzanne

CC wrote: "in another group we do a Clean out your to-read shelf" challenge for only books on your to-read shelf that were published before XXXX year. It is kinda fun to clear out some that have been on the s..."

Hi CC, can you list some more qualifications for your idea? If you're interested, you can create the challenge in this folder, or just post your thoughts here and I'll create it. Thanks!

Duration: 1 January to 31 December, 2019

Introduction: The Cover Makes the Book! Have you ever had that experience where you read a book just because the cover was so boss? Well, you're not alone. In this challenge, we celebrate the allure of book covers.

Instructions:

Match a book cover with one of the categories on the list. A cover could potentially meet more than one category of the challenge, but you get to choose which one.

Rules:

1. Any DHASG member can participate in the challenge, and can sign up at any time during the year by December 31st, 2019.
2. Sign up and post your stats regularly on this thread.
3. A book may only count once. Rereads are acceptable.
4. Since this is a cover challenge, at least one cover edition of the book used must match with one of the qualifications of the challenge. It possible, post the cover so we can see it, using a goodreads link (add book/author and click bookcover).

Levels:

1. Cover Librarian: Read 30 or more books.
2. Cover Catcher: Read 20-29 books.
3. Cover Hunter: Read 15-19 books.

Categories:

1. Warrior Cover: A hero with a sword, an ax, a warhammer or bow (any other historical fighting instrument) on the cover.
2. Highland Cover: Hero wearing a Scottish plaid or otherwise appearing to look like a Scottish highlander.
3. Sporty Cover: Hero wearing or holding sports gear.
4. Hot and Heavy Cover: Hero and Heroine in a clinch.
5. Bare-chested Cover: Hero is shirtless.
6. Military Hero Cover: Hero is wearing a military uniform.
7. Hero of Color Cover: Hero on the cover is black, Native American, Asian, Latino or Middle Eastern.
8. Dressed to the Nines Cover: Hero is wearing formal clothing or a three piece suit.
9. Dancing Machine Cover: Hero is dancing alone or with someone else.
10. Rock Star Cover: Either hero is holding or playing instrument or cover has an instrument.
11. Flower Power Cover: A flower or bouquet of flowers is on the cover.
12. Animal Kingdom Cover: An animal is on the cover.
13. On the Beach Cover: A beach or ocean is depicted.
14. Kiss Cover: Someone is kissing or lips are depicted on the cover.
15. Femme Fatale Cover: A dangerous woman is on the cover.
16. Woman of Color Cover: A woman who is black, Asian, Native American, Latino or Middle Eastern is depicted on the cover.
17. Sci-Fi Cover: The cover depicts a science fiction scene.
18. Food Paradise Cover: Food of some kind is shown on the cover.
19.Let There Be Light Cover: A flame or a candle or torch, or anything that provides light is on the cover.
20.Fast and the Furious Cover: A hot rod car is on the cover.
21.Regency Manners Cover: A cover depicts a Regency historical romance scene.
22.Steampunk Aesthetic Cover: A Steampunk type scene is on the cover.
23.Swashbuckling Cover: The cover depicts a pirate or swashbuckling scene.
24.Historical Gentleman or Lord Cover: A historically dressed man is on the cover.
25.Black and White Cover: Only the colors of black and white are on the cover, or a black and white photograph is on the cover.
26.Sword and Sorcery Cover: The book cover depicts a fantasy scene.
27. To Protect and Serve Cover: The cover depicts a police officer or fireman.
28. Kids R'Us Cover: A child, baby or children are on the cover.
29. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys Cover: The hero is wearing a cowboy hat or other gear on the cover.
30. Spooky Cover: The cover looks scary or horrific.
31.Supernatural Lover Cover: A supernatural/paranormal scene is on the cover. Hero/heroine looks more than human.
32.Secret Agent Cover: The hero or heroine on the cover is depicted as a spy or secret agent.
33.The A Team Cover: There are at least three persons on the cover.
34.All That Glitters Cover: The cover depicts a high class scene, all the glitz and glitter. Alternatively depicting diamonds or jewels.
35.Prize Fighter Cover: Cover depicts a boxer, martial artist or a mixed martial artist cover.
36.Bearded Cover: The hero has a full beard on the cover.
37.Chrome Dome Cover: The hero is bald on the cover.
38.All Tatted Up Cover: A person on the cover has visible tattoo(es).
39.Beautiful Dress Cover: A figure on the cover is wearing a lovely dress.
40.Cartoon Cover: The cover is illustrated, animated or graphic art (drawn or painted, not photographed).
41.World Tour Cover: The cover features an international city.
42. Fairy Tale Cover: Cover features elements from a well-known fairy tale.
43. Variation of a Theme Cover: A cover that is an homage to classic literature or classic movies, tv.
44. Beauty in the Eye Cover: A cover that is just really gorgeous.
45. Kooky Cover: Strange or weird cover.
46. Four Seasons Cover: The cover distinctively conveys one of the four seasons: winter, spring, summer or fall.
47. Biker Boy or Babe Cover: The person on the cover is riding a motorcycle.
48. Au Natural Cover: The person on the cover is mostly or fully undressed.
49. Bookaholic Cover: Book(s) are depicted on the cover.
50. Do Not Comprehend Cover: The cover makes absolutely no sense.
51. Nerds Are Sexy Cover: Read a book with a nerdy looking person on the cover.
52. Masquerade Cover: Read a book where the cover model is wearing a mask or their face is obscured.

Challenge Participants

Stacie
Renegade--Completed 7/7/19
Martel
Brandi
Phe'
Natalie
Sandra
Suzanne

Introduction: This is a yearly reading challenge that challenges readers to get outside of their comfort zone, and out of their typical reading tastes. In order to participate, readers will have to pick books that fit into different types of fiction or non-fiction.

How this Works:

Below are listed genres and subgenres. I simplified in some cases to make the lists easier to read. You can assemble your own list of genres/subgenres you want to tackle. Challenge yourself but also be realistic. If it’s not a genre you really don't enjoy or want to read, don’t make yourself read it. No need to torture yourself.

Rules:

1. All DHASG members are eligible to participate in this challenge.
2. Books must be read between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. Readers can sign up at any time during the year.
3. Books may only be used once, and the specific genre can only be used once. If you read a book that fits in multiple genres, you can pick the genre that best fits the book. You are going to be on the honor system. Graphic Novel volumes in a specific series could potentially count separately if they fit into varied categories. Books read can be audiobooks, but all books should be at least 60 pages or 1 hour listening length.
4. Post when you sign up and regularly update your stats through the year. List books by name, author and date and genre that it represents.
5. Rereads count and this challenge can overlap with others on the group.

Levels:

1. Genre Post-Doc: Read 40 or more books to represent distinct genres or subgenres.
2. Genre Doctoral Student: Read 30-39 books representing distinct genres of subgenres.
3. Genre Master Student: Read 20-29 books representing distinct genres or subgenres

Broad Genre:
*You can use another genre/subgenre I may have omitted. Just list what it is next to the book.
**You can use a foreign language book as its own category once. Thereafter, any books read in a different language would go under its specific genre/subgenre.

1. Classic
2. Crime/detective
3. Mythology/Mythopoeia/Folklore/Fairy tale/Fable
4. Fan fiction
5. Fantasy
6. Historical fiction
7. Horror
8. Humor
9. Legend/ Tall tale
10. Magical realism
11. Meta fiction
12. Mystery
13. Picture book
16. Science fiction
17. Short story
18. Suspense/thriller
19. Western –
20. Literary Fiction/Contemporary or Mainstream Fiction
21. Poetry
22. Graphic Novel/Illustrated Novel (technically can be any of the above but it will count separately)

Nonfiction:
22. Biography/Autobiography
23. Essay Collection –
24. Memoir/Narrative nonfiction/personal narrative
25. Reference book
26. Self-help book
28. Speech(s)
29. Textbook
30. Ethnic/Cultural Studies

Other:
31. Play or Screenplay
32. Foreign Language

Fiction Subgenres:

Romance:

1. Adventure Romance
2. African-American
3. Category Romance also known as "Series" titles.
4. Chick-lit
5. Contemporary
6. Dark Fantasy
7. Erotic Romance
8. Erotica
9. Fantasy
10. Futuristic
11. Gothic
12. Historical (for the purposes of this group anything set prior to 1960)
13. Inspirational
14. Interracial Romance
15. LGBT
16. Mainstream
17. Menage a trois
18. Medical
19. Military
20. M/M-Romance or F/F -Romance
21. Multi-Cultural
22. Mystery/Thriller
23. Paranormal (non Sci-Fi, just supernatural themes)
24. Regency Romance
25. Rock 'n Roll Romance
26. Science Fiction
27. Single Title
28. Suspense
29. Sweet
30. Time-Travel
31. Traditional
32. Urban Fantasy
33. Yaoi
34. Young Adult
35. New Adult

Action/Adventure Subgenres:

1. Action-Comedy
2. Cop Stories
2. Disaster
3. Epic Adventure
4. Escapes
5. Girls with Guns
6. Heist
7. Historical
8. Man vs. Nature (sea, desert, mountain, etc.) aka Survival
9. Martial Arts
10. Military
11. Paranormal
12. Revenge
13. Romantic
14. Search/Expedition
15. Shoot-em-Up
16. Space Adventure
17. Superheroes
18. Survival
19. Swashbucklers
20. Terrorist
21. Treasure Hunts
22. War
23. Westerns
24. Technothriller

Science Fiction Subgenres:

1. Afrofuturism/African or Multicultural-Focused
2. Alien invasion
3. Anthropological science fiction
4. Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
5. Black science fiction
6. Christian science fiction
7. Comic science fiction
8. Cyberpunk and derivatives/Decopunk/Dieselpunk/Biopunk
9. Edisonade (aka Inventor Sci-Fi)
10. Science fantasy
11. Feminist science fiction
12. Gothic science fiction
13. Grotesquerie
14. Hard science fiction
15. Imaginary voyage
16. Military science fiction
17. Mundane science fiction
18. New Wave science fiction
19. Post-Futurism
20. Science fiction Western
21. Scientific romance
22. Slipstream (genre)
23. Social science fiction
24. Solarpunk
25. Space opera
26. Speculative evolution
27. Speculative poetry
28. Steampunk
29. Tech noir
30. Transrealism (literature)
31. Weird West
32. Space Western

Other Fiction Genres:

• Brit lit
• Children's literature (can be divided into other genres above)
o Young adult fiction
o Middle Grade/Juvenile
• Erotic fiction
• Graphic novel
• Historical fiction
• Literary fiction
• Occupational fiction
• Philosophical fiction
• Political fiction
• Pulp fiction
• Religious fiction
• Saga
• Urban fiction
• Westerns
• Women's fiction (will be classed separately from romance)
• Speculative fiction (includes science fiction, fantasy and intersection)

Fantasy Subgenres:

1. Epic / high fantasy
2. Hard fantasy
3. Historical fantasy
4. Low fantasy
5. Urban fantasy
a. Paranormal romance
6. Comic fantasy
7. Contemporary fantasy
8. Dark fantasy
9. Fantasy of manners
10. Heroic fantasy
11. Magic realism
12. Mythic
13. Paranormal fantasy
14. Shenmo fantasy
15. Superhero fantasy
16. Sword and sorcery

Horror Subgenres:

1. Body horror/Splatterpunk
2. Erotic
3. Gothic fiction/Southern Gothic
4. Psychological
5. Supernatural / paranormal
6. Cosmic (Lovecraftian)
7. Ghost story
8. Monster literature
9. Occult detective

Speculative cross-genre fiction:

1. Bizarro fiction
2. Slipstream
3. Weird fiction/New Weird

Suspense fiction :

o Crime fiction
o Detective fiction
o Mystery fiction

Thriller :

o Mystery fiction
o Legal thriller
o Medical thriller
o Political thriller
o Spy fiction
o Psychological thriller
o Techno-thriller

Any questions?

Challenge Participants

Stacie
Leona
Martel

Thanks for the feedback. I'll be working on getting the challenges up today!

Feel free to post more suggestions.

So which heroes made your favorites list this year and why?

Which heroines?

My sister and I watched Destination Wedding with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder and it was great. It made me want to read more romance books like that, where there are two lonely people who haven't had much luck with relationships who find each other. Can anyone recommend any books to me.

The woman in the mirror looked….beautiful. Karina blinked twice. Her stylist had outdone herself. The dress was 1920s-style, a look that should have looked awful with her very curvaceous body, especially considering that she’d gained weight, with Alexei’s insistence on keeping her well fed. It was a bright pristine white silk with an overskirt of lace. Sleeveless with thin stripes appliqued with tiny crystals, the neckline was also trimmed with crystals. On one side of her chest near her shoulder was a white rose embroidered with more crystals and pearls. Her short hair was dressed and shiny, and she wore a rosebush trimmed headband that was also the way to keep her veil on her head. Her dress nearly trailed the floor, the trim of the overskirt embroidered with more of the shimmering crystals that must have been a headache to sew onto the dress. The shoes were the same rich white, but in satin, the heels high enough to take her to nearly six feet, and the height kept her dress from dragging on the floor. She wore Alexei’s engagement ring, but initially there was no other jewelry. At least until yesterday, when he gave her some additional items of jewelry, earrings. The earrings were antiques that Alexei had given her the night before.

“They’re straight from the vault. My grandmother had them made for her own wedding,” Alexei said, looking almost nervous. Karina opened the black velvet container and gasped at its content. The earrings were so gorgeous. They had square silver settings housing two bands of rectangular cut diamonds centering an exquisite black pearl. Jet, tears-haped beads hung suspended from the rectangular diamond settings.

“Try them on,” Alexei said. He handled the earrings with a delicacy that was unsurprising, despite his large body and big hands. She knew that while his hands could do great violence, they were also those of an artist. As his hands fastened the earrings on, Karina forced herself to hold still. His nearness had the effect of making her weak at the knees. His smell was delicious, the heat of him. Everything. She closed her eyes and immersed herself in the world of sensations that engulfed her at his assault on her senses.

“Done,” Alexei said. He gently tilted her chin up and turned it from side to side. “Grandmere would be very proud to see my bride wearing these,” he murmured in a near-whisper.

Karina bit her lip, forcing herself to make eye contact with his near black gaze. “You don’t have to say that. Sullivan’s not here to say that.”

“I’m not saying that for him. It’s the truth.”

Karina nodded. “Thanks for saying that.”

“Grandmere used to say that my bride would be the right woman for me. That she would be beautiful and smart…and strong.”

Karina just listened. His words kindled a warmth in her heart. She could imagine his Grandmere. She must had had those dark eyes like him, and the steel backbone that allowed her to run a successful jewelry company by herself, and raise her grandson. She recalled the cozy little cottage and could visualize this strong, tall, beautiful man as a beautiful boy with a mop of black hair and a long clever face, intently studying his grandmother as she taught him to cook.

“Your grandmother sounds like a very special woman.”

Alexei nodded. “She was. I wish she could have met you.”

Karina laughed nervously. “That would be awkward, considering everything.”

“Grandmere was a tough lady. She lived through innumerable wars, buried two husbands, and a daughter. She was even in the French Resistance during World War II.” He chuckled. “Not sure how she’d feel about some of my career choices, but she would be very happy that I caught you.”

Karina lightly tapped his chest. “Hopefully you’d leave out how you kidnapped me?”

Alexei shrugged in that characteristically Gallic way. Then, he smiled wickedly. “She was French. She would have conveniently shrugged that off.”

“You have a way of making a woman want to forgive you anything, Alexei,” Karina said spontaneously.

“I hope that you can forgive me for what I’ve done to you,” Alexei said, all humor gone. He was deadly serious, evident in his dark gaze that held her attention resolutely.

Karina could have used the moment to make him feel bad about how much he’d scared her. How he’d robbed her of choices. But she’d forgiven him. It was as simple as that. “I already have, Alexei,” she said. There was nothing to add. So instead, she kissed him.

It was a gentle kiss that said everything. His lips was soft and warm and as his arms fell around her and pulled her tight, she let her body cling to his. She couldn’t think about the future. Just being here with him right now. That warm glow had not faded fully, instead it settled deep in her belly like warm embers in a stoked fire. The glow wasn’t enough. She wanted more. That scared and excited her. Made her wonder about possibilities.

Karina looked into dark eyes that said everything. Like he knew what she wanted and how to give it to her. Like he wanted to give her everything.

“Are you sure you want me to have these earrings?”

Alexei held her gaze. “You will be my wife. Those earrings belong to you. My grandmere would tell me most of my life that one day I would give my wife those earrings.”

“But,” she started to say, but Alexei gently touched his hand to her lips.

“You will be my wife. These earrings are yours now.” Karina knew well enough not to argue with him at that point. He had made up his mind. She knew that Alexei wasn’t going to change it.

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay what?” Alexei probed, his voice demanding everything in return.

“The earrings belong to me as your wife,” Karina said.

“Exactly.” Satisfaction in that word, he kissed her forehead. “Now let’s go to dinner, and then I’ll take you back to your bed that I’m not allowed to share tonight.”

Karina couldn’t help but laugh at his long-suffering tone.

The memory made her smile as she looked in the mirror wearing her wedding dress. Lips painted a dark magenta that stood out against her rich golden brown skin. Her eyes were made up dramatically, highlighting the glints of gold, brown and green in her hazel eyes. She looked a lot like her mother as far as her facial structure, lips and nose, but her eyes were like her father’s, the shape and color. It’s like they were there with her. The thought was comforting to her. She needed all the comfort she could get.

“This is how I get what I came for,” she said very quietly. “Two years has been too long.” She didn’t know exactly what Alexei’s next move was but she trusted him. Alexei was still the most dangerous man she’d ever met. He was her personal guardian angel and avenging angel wrapped in one. Yes, Sullivan was the one in trouble.

Chapter Nineteen (continued)

Karina smiled brightly. “Dinner sounds good.” While her voice sounded normal enough, Alexei had gotten to know Karina enough to know the truth about her. And this wasn’t the real Karina. His Karina. Her hazel eyes glittered with a crystalline brilliance. There was a hardness that the truth had put there. Alexei hated seeing it. It was his job to be cold and merciless. But he could not hide the truth from her. He wouldn’t do that to Karina. Not about her beloved parents.

“Excellent,” Sullivan responded, clasping his beefy hands together. He offered Karina his arm. “Indulge an old man and let me escort you into dinner.” He looked over at Alexei. Challenge was in his flat blue eyes. “You won’t mind will you, Alexei.”

Alexei’s reply was a playful smile that had the edge of the wolf lurking beneath its surface. It was there, if Sullivan looked closely enough. But he guessed Sullivan would interpret it as jealousy. While Alexei was indeed very possesses, with a high tendency to become jealous when it came to Karina, he wasn’t jealous of Sullivan. He didn’t want the man’s hands on Karina, because his filth didn’t deserve to be in the same dimension as her. And the edge was of the wolf who wanted to rip out his throat for being anywhere near her. And some of the anger was self-directed. He’d brought Karina here.

He shook his head, smiling tightly. “By all means. I suppose I can allow an old friend to see my fianceé into dinner. After all, you’ve opened your home to us so generously.”

As he watched Karina take Sullivan’s arm with a brittle smile on her incredibly beautiful face, he cursed himself. With a graceful indolence that was completely manufactured, he followed them into the dining room. His own arrogance, damn himself. Alexei felt as though he had aged years in a few days. He had done this to her. He’d put her in danger, outed her to a man who was the greatest risk to her possible. No Karina was not happy, leaving her ghostlike existence flitting around Europe, stuck in a state of unending anguish over her parents. But damn, she’d been safe. Because he’d been pissed that she had supposedly double-crossed him, he’d outed her. While he would die to keep safe, and had every intention of doing so, he’d exposed her to his horrible anguish of knowing this man had killed her parents, and having to face this ugly pretense.

Alexei smiled genuinely, fully, ferally. He was going to make this up to her. First by delivering Sullivan’s head on a platter. And then by making her very happy. It wasn’t enough. He knew that he should let her go, far away from anything that reminded her of the pain. But he couldn’t bring himself to do that. So he’d have to do what he could to help her heal.

*****

The wedding day came so quickly, Karina’s head felt like it was spinning. All things considered, it promised to be a beautiful day. Her dress was gorgeous. She didn’t care that much about couture, but Alexei did. He selected the dress, and was there every step of the way. Even when the dress designer that Brigitte had strong ideas, he was very insistent about making sure that he got his way. She would have felt like a dress dummy except for the fact that Alexei always made sure to acknowledge her both with a gentle touch, and assurance and confirmation in French that was way too sexy for her own good. She had to admit that he knew what he was doing.

Karina stared in the full-length mirror in the bedroom that she had been sharing with Alexei for over a week. Alexei had been banished to another room last night because of ‘tradition’. She was sure that Sullivan was utterly gleefully about having an excuse to do so. Alexei had assented gracefully, but not before murmuring that he had the room under surveillance, and a forced promise that she would secure the door from the inside as he had taught her. Karina had to be honest and admit that she hadn’t slept nearly as well that night. Alexei’s side of the bed felt incredibly empty. She had gotten way too used to sleeping with his big warm body next to her, or typically wrapped around her. He was so warm in fact, that she didn’t even need a blanket. But not just the warmth of him, but the feeling of being protected. That nothing would harm her if he was with her. It scared her. That she was beginning to feel dependent on him. Not after two years of isolation and the cold reality that was all alone. Feeling scared all the time. She should be more scared now with the man who had orchestrated her parents’ deaths in the same house with her. But that didn’t scare her nearly as much as wondering what it would be like when Alexei wasn’t in her life anymore.

Alexei looked at her with affection, certainly desire. Maybe something more, but her mind could be fooling her. She could be seeing what she wanted in him. Or maybe he just felt guilty for leading her back into the lion’s den when she’d been safely on the run. Surely, if he stayed with her, at some point he would grow tired of it, having the hot mess that was her to take care of. And she didn’t want that kind of relationship. She wanted to be whole enough for Alexei to want her for the right reasons. And she wanted to be sure she was with Alexei for the right reasons.

Maybe she was too messed up to be with anyone at all.

Thanks, Martel!

DHASG 2019 Yearly Dangerous Hero Challenge

Introduction: This is our chance to fill our lives with our beloved dangerous literary heroes. Each member can count all the books they read that have a character who represents the traits of a dangerous hero to you. You have all year, so let's do it.


Rules:
1. Any DHASG member can participate in the challenge.
2. Sign up for the challenge here on/after January 1st.
It will allow you to create a shelf to log your reading. There is also a thread to discuss the challenge here:
3. Books must be read between January 1st and December 31st, 2019.
4. A book may only be read/counted once for the challenge. Rereads definitely count.
5. This challenge is dedicated to male/hero characters. This is a dangerous hero group so the yearly challenges are associated with the male dangerous heroes.

The official sign up page is here, but feel free to post your stats on this thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Sandra wrote: "From my point of view there is a "sheeeesh here we go again" element to the manwhore, actually I don't think multiple partners is actually going to make you automatically good in bed, think about i..."

Good point.