Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion
Monthly Reading Challenges
>
March 2009 Reading Challenge


1. Anthology -
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance -
3. Futuristic Romance -
4. Shapeshifter Romance - Wolf Tales III by Kate Douglas
5. Time Travel Romance -Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
6. Vampire Romance-
7. Romantic Fantasy -
8. Romantic Science Fiction & Furturistic Fantasy - Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy -
Also read this month for my other challenges:
Tech Support & Snagged by Jet Mykles
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
Sexy Beast I Anthology
Not in Kansas by R.G. Alexander
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter
The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter



Anthology:
Fantasy/Magical Romance:
Futuristic Romance:
ShapeShifter Romance:
Time-Travel Romance:
Vampire Romance:
Romantic Fantasy:
Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy:
Romantic Urban Fantasy:
I also added Magic and Desire as even though I loved Men of the Otherworld there's wasn't any romance until the last story so I felt like I'd cheated a bit!
My favourite was Bone Crossed - therehasn't been one book in the Mercy series that I haven't loved.

1.ON THE PROWL *****FINISHED 03/11
2.NIGHT KEEPERS - JESSICA ANDERSEN *****FINISHED 03/18
3.FORBIDDEN MAGIC - CHEYENNE McCray *****FINISHED 03/18
4.BLUE MOON - LORI HANDELAND *****FINISHED 03/15
5.MORRIGAN'S CROSS - NORA ROBERTS ****FINISHED 03/19
6.THE HARLEQUIN - LAURELL K HAMILTON **** FINISHED 03/09
7.ETERNALLY - MAUREEN CHILD *** FINISHED 03/09
8.DEAD WITCH WALKING - KIM HARRISON *****FINISHED 03/19
9.URBAN SHAMAN - C.E.MURPHY ****FINISHED 03/20
NIGHT KEEPERS - Was a AWESOME read, this story has it all: action,suspence,romance and mystery. I have put the hero Strike up there with the Winchester Brothers in my hall of delicious heros of the paranormal world.
FORBIDDEN MAGIC - Also another awesome read. Tall men with wings anyone? YUM!!
MORRIGAN'S CROSS - Has engaging characters,romance and a mythology that combine into an interesting book, one that makes me wish I had book 2 in my hands so the story could continue.
DEAD WITCH WALKING - Welcome to The Hollows a world where the creatures of dreams and nightmares are real and hold down jobs. This looks like another great series for my keep shelf.
URBAN SHAMAN - Although light on romance this book held enough of my interest that I am looking forward to finding out what happens next to the heroine in the following books.
Diane,
Nora Robert's Circle trilogy, of which Morrigan's Cross is the first, is one of my favorite trilogy of hers, and the last book is my favorite. I love Cian. You should get your hands on book 2 and 3.
Nora Robert's Circle trilogy, of which Morrigan's Cross is the first, is one of my favorite trilogy of hers, and the last book is my favorite. I love Cian. You should get your hands on book 2 and 3.
Well, I went to the library the other day and found Acheron (book #22 in Kenyon's Dark Hunter's series) and refused to allow the 700+ pages to scare me off. It only took me about 7 hours to read it. But I have to admit--it was absolutely GREAT. Now, I just need to go in and check on the REST of the series--and find out where I left off when reading it. Not sure what happened and why I quit, maybe I'd burned out or something. I tend to find a BIG series where there are like 10 or so books in it, then read them ALL in one sitting, over however many days/weeks it takes. Maybe I did that. (Shrugging) anyway, I have decided its time to get back into her series.
I am trying to figure--I think that makes--the 9 books for the challenge, then a further 10 or so books that are non-challenge. And I'm now getting ready to read 3 Nora Roberts. :o) (sighing sadly) oh dear, oh dear, oh dear--so many books, so little time
I am trying to figure--I think that makes--the 9 books for the challenge, then a further 10 or so books that are non-challenge. And I'm now getting ready to read 3 Nora Roberts. :o) (sighing sadly) oh dear, oh dear, oh dear--so many books, so little time

Angie - Grats!!!! And I agree on Briggs! :) I have blown through the Mercy books here lately, and just have Bone Crossed left and each one has just been fantastic!!
Diane - Great job finishing up!
Mom - I'll bet anything it was burn out. I've seen you do that. I've done that, too. LOL

I finished Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home by Michelle Bardsley. Talk about a riot!!! I need to get more books by this author. What on earth didn't this have? Wiccans - check. Vamps - check. Shifters - check. Dragons - check. Wackiness - check. Sidhe - check. Romance - check. Weird former government guys that have access to all kinds of high tech spy type things - check. Sheesh! And it was nonstop action! Holy cow! I totally recommend this one! No freaking wonder it got honourable mention! Five stars for sure just on freaking creativity and being able to work in just about everything under the sun!
Is it bad I want to move to that town? ROFL.
I've moved on to the last book I actually need for this challenge - Your Planet or Mine by Susan Grant which was: Honorable Mention 2006 PEARL I'm on page 76 and this one is really great so far. BTW I have a couple of other PEARL books, so I'm hoping to finish up at least one or two others before the end of the month. I'd really like to read nine actual PEARLS (counting Dresden though the one I read wasn't actually a PEARL...)
Updated Oz List:
1. Anthology: Blood Lite (Winner 2008 PEARL)
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (Technically not a Pearl but others in the series are, so I'm claiming it a pearl.)
3. Futuristic Romance: Heroes Arise
4. ShapeShifter Romance: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs(Honorable Mention 2007 PEARL)
5. Time-Travel: In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
6. Vampire Romance: Dead Sexy by Tate Hallaway
7. Romantic Fantasy: Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home by Michelle Bardsley (Honorable Mention 2008 PEARL)
8. Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy:
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs(Pearl Nominated)
Also read from the PEARL list:
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe - Too bad I can't fit it in somewhere. LOL
So This month I've read:
6 PEARL books (counting Dresden)
3 non Pearl Books
For 9 books in total, 8 for the challenge!


I struggled with Dresden because of the first one. But i'm happy to say I've come into the fold.. I look forward to reading book three hopefully soon! May it work into a challenge soon! LOL
I don't know about Kim Harrison Rachel Morgan... I should go look at Harper Collins and see if I can get a freebie... LOL

Waiting for pay day but here is what I was thinking
1.On the Prowl -COMPLETED
2.Paranormal Romance: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione - COMPLETED
3.Tempt Me with Darkness by Shayla Black
4. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs- COMPLETED
5.Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Werewolf Series #1) by Keri Arthur
COMPLETED
7.Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore-COMPLETED
8. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #1) by J. R. Ward -COMPLETED
9.The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
Also read this month------
Lover Eternal- JR Ward
Lover Awakened-Ward
Lover Revealed- Ward
Lover Unbound- Ward
Lover Enshrined- Ward


So I'll have to find something else...

I am getting ready to place an order for books and I am trying to hold off to see what type of books in on for the April Challenge

Now back to working on Your Planet or Mine. I'm on page 247 of 379!!!
Yz's March Challenge List
1. Anthology
An Enchanted Season
finished 3/6
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance
Atlantis Rising - Alyssa Day
finished 3/21
3. Futuristic Romance
Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair finished 3/5
4. ShapeShifter Romance
Hostage to Pleasure - Nalini Singh
5. Time-Travel Romance finished 3/16
Dark Seduction - Brenda Joyce
finished 3/11
6. Vampire Romance
Dark Curse - Christine Feehan
7. Romantic Fantasy
One Foot in the Grave - Jeanine Frost
8. Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy
Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy
Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
finished 3/15
1. Anthology
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance
3. Futuristic Romance
4. ShapeShifter Romance
5. Time-Travel Romance finished 3/16
6. Vampire Romance
Dark Curse - Christine Feehan
7. Romantic Fantasy
One Foot in the Grave - Jeanine Frost
8. Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy
Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy


Time for an update:
(Sorry, guys. This was supposed to be up last night, but I got caught up with some things..)
Yz - 6 books done
Ann - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Barbara - 3 books done
Melissa - 2 books done
Lori - 6 books done
DarkHeart - 2 books done
Shazzy - 6 books done
Lady Ozma - 8 books done
Angie - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
McKayla - 8 books done
Gail - 1 book done
Kristen - 3 books done
Dawn - 9 categories (13 books read)Complete - Congratulations
Nicole - 6 books done
Michelle M - 8 books done
Diane - 9 books -Complete - Congratulations!
Karen - 8 books done
Kenjii - 5 book done
Martina - 8 books done
Brandy - 6 book done
Terri - 1 book donene
Jamie - 2 books done
No one had signed up since last update.
Group's running total: 129 books read.
Great work, ladies!
Signing up will remain open throughout the whole month.
Note: For ease of tracking, please repost your official list with your progress after every update. Striking out the title and/or a finished date after the book's name will be best.
Next update will be March 26.
(Sorry, guys. This was supposed to be up last night, but I got caught up with some things..)
Yz - 6 books done
Ann - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
Barbara - 3 books done
Melissa - 2 books done
Lori - 6 books done
DarkHeart - 2 books done
Shazzy - 6 books done
Lady Ozma - 8 books done
Angie - 9 books done - Complete - Congratulations!
McKayla - 8 books done
Gail - 1 book done
Kristen - 3 books done
Dawn - 9 categories (13 books read)Complete - Congratulations
Nicole - 6 books done
Michelle M - 8 books done
Diane - 9 books -Complete - Congratulations!
Karen - 8 books done
Kenjii - 5 book done
Martina - 8 books done
Brandy - 6 book done
Terri - 1 book donene
Jamie - 2 books done
No one had signed up since last update.
Group's running total: 129 books read.
Great work, ladies!
Signing up will remain open throughout the whole month.
Note: For ease of tracking, please repost your official list with your progress after every update. Striking out the title and/or a finished date after the book's name will be best.
Next update will be March 26.

1. Anthology
-- The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance
--
3. Futuristic Romance
-- Naked in Death - JD Robb
4. ShapeShifter Romance
--
5. Time-Travel Romance
-- Morrigan's Cross - Nora Roberts
6. Vampire Romance
-- Ravenous The Dark Forgotten - Sharon Ashwood
7. Romantic Fantasy
--
8. Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy
-- Grimspace - Ann Aguirre
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy
--
Other non-challenge books read:
Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews
Hunted - P.C. & Kristin Cast
Lords of Misrule - Rachel Caine
Feast of Fools - Rachel Caine
Midnight Alley - Rachel Caine
The Dead Girls' Dance - Rachel Caine
Untamed - P.C. & Kristin Cast
Chosen - P.C. & Kristin Cast
Betrayed - P.C. & Kristin Cast


I'm now reading the Anthology On the Prowl because a) it's a PEARL b)I wanted to read the alpha and omega stuff cause hubby has and c) it was on the top of my stack. I'm nearly done with the Briggs short story. It's going to take everything I have to not go jump on the cry wolf book when I get done... I must remain strong and finish the short stories!
1. Anthology: Blood Lite (Winner 2008 PEARL)
2. Fantasy/Magical Romance: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (Technically not a Pearl but others in the series are, so I'm claiming it a pearl.)
3. Futuristic Romance: Heroes Arise
4. ShapeShifter Romance: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs(Honorable Mention 2007 PEARL)
5. Time-Travel: In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
6. Vampire Romance: Dead Sexy by Tate Hallaway
7. Romantic Fantasy: Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home by Michelle Bardsley (Honorable Mention 2008 PEARL)
8. Romantic Science Fiction/Futuristic Fantasy: Your Planet or Mine by Susan Grant (Honourable Mention 2006 PEARL)
9. Romantic Urban Fantasy: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs(Pearl Nominated)
Also read from the PEARL list:
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe - Too bad I can't fit it in somewhere. LOL
So This month I've read:
7 PEARL books (counting Dresden)
3 non Pearl Books
For 10 books in total, 9 for the challenge! I am DONE!
Thanks for posting your progress, DarkHeart. Every book still counts for the group total.
Congratulations, Lady Oz. Great job.
Congratulations, Lady Oz. Great job.


1.On the Prowl -COMPLETED
2.Paranormal Romance: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione - COMPLETED
3.Tempt Me with Darkness by Shayla Black-COMPLETED
4. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs- COMPLETED
5.Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Werewolf Series #1) by Keri Arthur
COMPLETED
7.Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore-COMPLETED
8. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #1) by J. R. Ward -COMPLETED
9.The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu-COMPLETED
Also read this month------
Lover Eternal- JR Ward
Lover Awakened-Ward
Lover Revealed- Ward
Lover Unbound- Ward
Lover Enshrined- Ward
Yeah I am done..... Bring in April Showers and Book Series

Finished FIRST COMES MARRIAGE by Mary Balogh, though. Gah!
Okay, we'll see what I do by next Tuesday... Some of these may go on next month's list. Bleah.
I'm going to be like you, Gail. Although I'm still trying to get a few books in before the month ends...but if not, some will just have to roll over to next month..LOL


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
I'm actually at 13 books for the month - the other four that I've read so far are:
* Real Vampires Don't Diet by Gerry Bartlett
* Dragon Harper by Anne & Todd McCaffrey
* Coyote's Mate by Lora Leigh
* Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
And, since there's so much time left in the month I'll doubtless get through 4-5 more books before beginning to read for April's challenge.
One quick thing: THANK YOU to everyone who has made these challenges fun & successful! I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my 1st child and have been having a pretty rough go at it. I haven't worked since the end of December and just recently started experiencing pretty severe pelvic pain. I spend almost all my time at home, much of it on bed-rest and this community has really helped me
Martina--Oz and I can sympathize with the horrible pregnancy thing. And yes, you DO have a LOT of time to kill when you are on bedrest during a pregnancy.
Something else to consider--take up a hobby--quilting, knitting, quiliting, crochet, quilting, cross stitch, quilting, collecting bottle caps. . . Oh yeah, and did I mention quilting?
Lots of books out there for all of these hobbies--except maybe the collecting bottle caps one. :o)
Something else to consider--take up a hobby--quilting, knitting, quiliting, crochet, quilting, cross stitch, quilting, collecting bottle caps. . . Oh yeah, and did I mention quilting?
Lots of books out there for all of these hobbies--except maybe the collecting bottle caps one. :o)

Let us know if there's anything we can do for you. Even if it's just someone to chatter with. :)

I used to read as a hobby, but these days it's more of a way of life than a hobby. ;-) Maybe I should teach myself all the different ways to play Solitaire - that might take me awhile. Aren't there over a hundred of them?

Nothing wrong with reading. I don't even want to think about how many books I watched when I was pregnant with Caramon. And movies I watched. LOL When I was pregnant with Joram I read genealogy books and took my family file to several thousand names. Talk about a lot of time on my hands!

Now genealogy - there's an idea. Maybe I should look into that. . .

Speaking of blogs... I need to go write mine up about our trip (via the kitchen) to Italy. LOL
(rolling eyes) you should have SEEN what she had me doing for the geneology phase she went through. She had her Dad's family back to I think the 1400's. My family is a little harder (sigh, the Revolution was a serious pain. Still not sure which of 5 brothers is the "right" one for our ancestor.)

Yeah... I did a lot of work that year. ROFL
Wow--I just counted how many books I've read this month. THIRTY. Nine for the challenge, 21 that were just books that I had that I couldn't wait to read. :o) PLUS of course, it is not counting any re-reads that I did--nor does it count my "craft" books. I went through about 10 of the craft books, looking for ideas for the quilt I'm making my nephew for his wedding. I mean, I KNEW I read a lot, but WOW--even I didn't realize it was that many books.
Books mentioned in this topic
To Serve and Submit (other topics)Lover Revealed (other topics)
The Stardance Trilogy (other topics)
Dreamcatcher (other topics)
The Challenge (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Susan Kearney (other topics)Susan Kearney (other topics)
Patricia Waddell (other topics)
Patricia Waddell (other topics)
Susan Kearney (other topics)
More...
So which was your favorite?