Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Frozen In Fantasyland (5)
Week 6: Disney was a shy, self-deprecating and insecure man in private - read a book from the nerds/geeks lists.Completion Post
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen, 270 p. per GROption 2: #1 in series, #5 in series on Becky's Read Shelf, read 7.18.16, rated 5 stars
Completed 10.19.16 *4+ Stars*
Every now and then you find a book that has everything in it you don't like, but you like it anyway. I've had this book recommended to me repeatedly and finally put it on a list for a challenge - and they were right! This was a sweet story with lovable characters. They had trials, but there wasn't a ton of angst. I would have loved an epilogue though!
I listened to the audio, in fact the audio coming out was a factor in me finally reading this, and I really enjoyed it. It had dual narrators, Nick Podehl and Saskia Maarleveld, and they did a very nice job with the story. I look forward to listening to more in the series!
Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Selection Post
Strung Up by Lorelei James, 120 p. per GROption 2: #7.5 in series, #6.5 in series on Tammie's Read Shelf, read 9.11.16, rated 4 stars
Changing my book for Week 7. Updated in message #153
Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Selection/Completion Post
Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson
Completed: 10/22/16
384 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
#13 on Children In Romance
Review: Sam LeClaire and Autumn Haven meet in Las Vegas, have a whirlwind fling and end up married. Then Sam disappears and a few weeks later Autumn receives divorce papers. And a few weeks after that she discover she's pregnant! Oops! Over the past five years Sam has been a hit or miss dad and he and Autumn do not get along...at all. But then Sam remembers how his own dad put his career ahead of his family and realizes he needs to do better by their son, Connor.
I really enjoyed this book - I'm addicted to hockey romances and this one is great! Sam was such a jacka$$ at the beginning of the story - he was selfish and impulsive and entitled. But I still liked him :D. Autumn has struggled for years to get over Sam, and things just get more difficult now that he's decided to take more of an interest in her son's life. The book went back and forth between today and five years ago when they met and married and I liked the way the author did this. It was sometimes confusing when the POV switched without notice - maybe formatting thing? But overall I really liked this story and want to read more in the series.
MountainKat wrote: "Week 6: Disney was a shy, self-deprecating and insecure man in private - read a book from the nerds/geeks lists.Completion Post
[book:The Year We Fell Do..."Corey and Hartley are secondary characters in the next book, and I think they have smaller parts in book three, also. So you do get to see them going strong as a couple.
Thanks Becky! I do want to see more of them! =)
I can't find a post from Runnel for week 6. I'll need this by the end of today (in 11 hours) for Runnel to stay in the game :(
Sandy wrote: "Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Selection/Completion Post
[book:Any Man of Min..."
Technically this should be two posts Sandy. I'll take it for this round, and note that it has been accepted, but please post separately in the future :)
(I know this is pedantic, but if I hadn't specifically mentioned that I accepted it, someone else could claim that not all the posts meet the criteria if this team was to win...)
You are mostly up-to-date :)I have outstanding:
Week 5 - Runnel
Week 6 - Pam, Tammie, Becky & Runnel
Jane (PS) wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Selection/Completion Post
[book:..."
Sorry Jane! I'm new at this so I'll make sure to do it right next time. Thanks!
Sandy wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Selection/Completion Post
[bookcover:Any Man of Min..."
No probs :D
Week #6: Read a book from the nerds/geeks listsBookcover/link: Aliens, Smith and Jones by Blaine D. Arden
Rating: 2 stars
Review: This one was very "meh" for me. It's about an alien who has lived on Earth for 360 years. He was a being of energy who had to transform himself into a human or he would have dissipated and died. One day he comes across a human who is compatible and can create a mind-to-mind bond with him, the way his people can. This person just happens to work for an organization called Primrose, which is dedicated to catching any aliens found running loose and keeping lost alien tech out of the hands of innocent (and occasionally not-so-innocent) citizens.
There was a plot about missing aliens and someone or someones stealing alien tech and selling it on the black market, but the bad guy was suuuuper obvious, right from the beginning. The human hero started dating a guy shortly after his first encounter with the alien, and he spent a lot of time waffling between being annoyed by the guy and thinking he was the perfect man. But there was never any heat or any sign of an emotional attraction between them. Then once he realized the true nature of the soulmates bond with the alien, he waffled around some more about whether he should stick with "Mr Perfect," who he hasn't even know all that long, or if he wants to be with the alien, who he knows, and who knows him on a deep level because of the link. Although, again, you don't get much sense of a deep, passionate physical or emotional connection.
And then there was some stuff about some agents who were kidnapped and the rather pointless death of a character that all felt like a way to make word count than anything that served any purpose in the story.
Week 6 Completion PostNever Been Kissed
** 1/2
I keep waffling on the rating for this book. This was a book for the nerd/geek week but could equally have fit in the illness or the children category. There was just too much going on.
The story takes place in Montreal (although it could have been anywhere). Sera moves into a new apartment next door to a really hottie. Sera is the nerd who loves superheroes and movies. She has a small group of friends and is overweight and undervalued by her family. Lots of self-image issues. Enough for one book. Turns out she saves the hottie whose name is Hunter from a diabetic shock incident and hottie turns out to have both a kid and a gorgeous ex-girlfriend (so of course Sera is super-insecure). Hunter has issues with his disease and his son. The course of true love was WAY too bumpy. I think that the author did a really good job with the diabetes but by the end, I felt everyone needed a super good therapist. But having said that, I have put the next book in the series on my TBR.
Hey guys. I am struggling to get things read this time around. It is very rare for me to only finish a book a week but that seems to be where I am. Promise to try and rally. Just a heads up that I will be traveling on Friday. Going out to New Mexico to visit my grandson for his birthday. Usually I can access a computer out there. At least I know I'll be in planes and airports so should be able to read both week 7 and week 8. As you can see, Jane is back so we will need to be timely :)
Pam...I've had issues being focused on reading for this challenge as well. I actually finished my book a week ago...need to post...have been quite ill...hope to catch up by later today on everything!
Selection Post: Week 7, Option 2
Christmas from Hell, R. L. Mathewson
242 pgs
From MountainKat's Read Shelf she read #6, Double Dare ★★★★ on 7/23/16
Week #7: Read a book with a child/children as a central characterBookcover/link: Out! by J.L. Merrow
Page numbers: 322 pages
How the book qualifies: #249 on the Best Gay Books Dealing With Children list
Sorry I've been MIA guys! Our internet has been acting up and have been without it for a while as we had to get a new router box, etc. I'll get my books posted tonight when I get home from work.
Week #6 Completion Post:
MacKenzie's Pleasure, Linda Howard
360 pgs
Review: I'm absolutely loving this series of Linda Howards! One of my favorite authors.
In this story one of the MacKenzie siblings...all who have been extremely successful in their military careers...comes to the rescue of Barrie Lovejoy. Zane is a SEAL who is her primary rescuer. The rescue adventure they go through includes her getting pregnant and them marrying. The story is filled with great suspense throughout...awesome romance too.
Recommended...★★★★...finished 10/16.
Week #7: Read a book with a child/children as a central characterBookcover/link: Out!
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Mark is a newly divorced, recovering workaholic who just moved to a small village to get his 14 year old daughter away from a "bad element" in London and give her a fresh start. Mark got divorced because he's gay, and after years of marriage to the experimental girlfriend he accidentally knocked up, he just can't take it any more. The ex-wife, who comes off as a piece of work, doesn't want the daughter to know that he's gay, and Mark is kind of afraid of the daughter's reaction if she knew, so he agrees to keep it a secret. The daughter, who comes off as a kind of obnoxious cliche of a teenager at times, insists that Mark needs to get out of the house and find a hobby, so he goes to a local charity men's club meeting, where he meets Patrick. Patrick is 25 to Mark's 39, out and proud to Mark's closeted, and a professional social crusader to Mark's corporate tax consultant. The age thing is probably the most interesting issue that they face, mostly because they grew up in completely different eras, with completely different legal and social situations. The open/closeted problem, which was billed as the main obstacle to their HEA, fizzled about halfway through, when we find out that the daughter knew he was gay all along. The opposing political views, as represented by their different career paths, was never much more than a rather shallow and easily overcome fight. And the "bad element" that got them out of London in the first place turned out to be either a complete misunderstanding or a wild overstatement of the problem by the mother, who was fed up and couldn't deal with the daughter anymore.
Overall, this was a fun but mostly forgettable story.
Runell wrote: "Sorry I've been MIA guys! Our internet has been acting up and have been without it for a while as we had to get a new router box, etc. I'll get my books posted tonight when I get home from work."Runell, you should PM Jane. You didn't make your required selection post within the time limits (supposed to be before the next theme was called) or even within the extra time she gave you. I don't know if she will be able to give you a pass since all the teams have the same rules.
I'm really sorry. :( I wasn't aware of the extra time frame she gave me. I kept hoping that they'd get it fixed before everything was due, but my internet provider is terrible so I guess I should have ultimately known better. Again, I'm really sorry.
I know how that goes and I bet she will be understanding!
Runell wrote: "I'm really sorry. :( I wasn't aware of the extra time frame she gave me. I kept hoping that they'd get it fixed before everything was due, but my internet provider is terrible so I guess I should h..."Hi Runell - if you could just get that week 6 selection post done asap that would be great; even if it doesn't have all the pretty links. You can go back and add them later.
I know how frustrating those IPs can be!
Pam wrote: "As you can see, Jane is back so we will need to be timely :) ..."LOL - yep. The dragon (or more likely badger) returns!
Week 7: Completion Post
Christmas from Hell
242 pgs
Review:
Atypical of the series, the focus wasn't constantly on food.
I liked the characters overall...at the same time Necie drove me crazy with her clumsiness. I thought the story was a bit choppy. Spelling/grammar errors drove me nuts. Overall a so-so book that could have vastly been improved pretty easily.
★★★ finished 10/26
Runell wrote: "I'm really sorry. :( I wasn't aware of the extra time frame she gave me. I kept hoping that they'd get it fixed before everything was due, but my internet provider is terrible so I guess I should h..."I'm sorry Runell, but I have to remove you. I'm announcing the next theme tomorrow morning and you still haven't posted your book selection for week 6.
I know you have internet issues, and I'm really sorry, but we've already really stretched the rules :(
Week 7: Disneyland: The Happiest Homecoming on Earth - read a book with a child/children as a central character.Completion Post
Strung Up by Lorelei James, 120 p. per GROption 2: #7.5 in series, #6.5 in series on Tammie's Read Shelf, read 9.11.16, rated 4 stars
Completed 10.27.16 *4 Stars*
I enjoyed this, it was a quick read. It was only two easy evenings of reading interspersed with real life, perfect size to fit around things. I liked the characters and their story. It helps in shorter stories that their was a history between the characters like this couple had. It always makes me happy when other people in the story don't make a big deal out of the gay (or whatever) couple, I love the understanding - love is love! Not that both characters hadn't had issue with it in the past and probably would again, but where they were in their lives now was good, as it should be. Looking forward to more in this series!
Week 7 completion
****
Another good Sarah McLean. Lily, ward of the Duke of Warnick, brings scandal down on herself by posing for a portrait. The Scottish dome, who didn't even know he had a ward, races to her rescue. Mayhem ensues involving portraits, peacocks, a hilarious subplot involving a canine dress and a canine portrait, not to mention a man killed by a sheep. A good historical in a very entertaining series connected to the previous one.
(Will put the links in when I get access to computer)
I see week 8 posted for other teams...didn't see it on main page...I trust we can move forward...
Week 8, Option 1: Colorful Cover-at least 4 colors
Kissing Under the Mistletoe, Bella Andre
212 pgs
Pink, Blue, Green and assorted colors on twinkling Christmas tree ;)
Week #8: Book with a colourful cover (at least 4 colours)Bookcover/link:
Page numbers: 211
How the book qualifies: has 4 colors on the cover- bright blue, icy white/blue, gold, purple
Week #8: Book with a colourful cover (at least 4 colours)Bookcover/link:
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is book two in the Ice Planet Barbarian series. The basic story is this: a bunch of human women were kidnapped by aliens to be sold. For meat? For sex? No one really knows. On the way to where ever they were going, the ship gets into trouble, and the aliens dump the cargo hold on a convenient planet, with plans to come back and get them later. As the title suggests, it's extremely cold. One of the main characters refers to it as not-Hoth. The planet has some wildlife on it, and a very small tribe of intelligent, blue humanoids. Their own ship crashed on the planet so far back that they don't even know that the "cave" they think of a sacred is actually a section of their ship, buried in the ice and snow. The planet has a toxic gas that slowly kills anything that doesn't have a "khui"- a parasite that strengthens them and cleans the toxin out of their system.
The down side of a khui- or a cootie, as some of the human women call them- is that they really want their hosts to reproduce. When a khui sense someone who would be a good mate and make strong babies with their host, they vibrate and basically drive their hosts crazy until they mate. The blue aliens have no problem with sex, when there are unmated partners available. But once your khui chooses, you're basically married.
And that's the story for Liz. She's been through hell, being kidnapped, crashing, injured and freezing on an alien planet. And then this big blue alien stakes her out as his. She doesn't want anything to do with him or this parasite thing, even if it's going to save her life. So Raahosh forces the khui on her and hides away with her in a cave. His plan is to give her a chance bond with him and get her pregnant, and then the rest of the tribe will have to accept it. He never thought he'd have a mate and a family, and he's not going to take a chance on losing her. The plan works for a little while, until the tribe finds them, and then it's Liz fighting the tribe to try to stay with Raahosh.
These stories are a little silly, and they're a little hand wavy with the details. But they're fun.
Week 8, Option 1: Colorful Cover-at least 4 colors
Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre
Pages: 212
Blue, Pink, Green and Brown among colors on cover
(thanks for the idea Tammie!)
Selection post Week 8 Book with a colorful cover
384 pages per GR
How It Fits: cover has red, gold , black, pink, brown and white
Okay-I think I am all caught up. Tammie, I'm sorry you haven't been well. I have us as complete through week 7 and everyone posted in week 8 except MountainKat. Two year olds take a lot of energy. Off to take costume pictures of the birthday boy.
Week 8: Book with a colorful cover (at least 4 colors).Selection Post
Into the Fire by Amanda Usen, 201 p. per GROrange, yellow, black and white on cover.
Sorry for the delay - I took the weekend off GR and am just starting to get caught up!
Week 8: Book with a colorful cover (at least 4 colors).Completion Post
Into the Fire by Amanda Usen, 201 p. per GROrange, yellow, black and white on cover.
Completed 10.31.16 *4- Stars*
This book was basically one great big misunderstanding! And it worked. The problems were well rooted in the hero and heroine's insecurities, so it was understandable how they acted and reacted. I enjoyed it and would read the author again - especially for that U in her last name!
But I do get a little reading done! =)
Completion Post: Week 8
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
11/1/16
★★★★
Review: as cheesy as some of the wrap up stories to series can be, this one didn't hit that mark. A nice romance to star the holidays and a great wrap up to the Sullivan Seattle series.
Mary and Jack meet at a photo shoot of Mary's and in a whirlwind romance manage to also kick start Jack and his friends' latest invention.
Overall a 3.5 rating for me.
Completion Post Week 8
**** 1/2
This series continues to get better and better. Kate's father continues to challenge her at every corner. A really nice twist as she confronts him and gives him a taste of his own medicine. Kate and Curran proceed with wedding plans (leading to some really funny scenes as you can imagine wedding planning is not Kate's favorite things). Some old friends reappear.
Week 8, Option 1: Colorful Cover-at least 4 colorsCompletion Post
Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre
Pages: 212
Blue, Pink, Green and Brown among colors on cover
Completed: 10/31/16
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: This book was a look back in time at Mary and Jack Sullivan's beginnings. It's Christmas time and Mary starts reminiscing and we learn how the two came to be. It was an enjoyable story, although nothing really exciting or dramatic happens. 3.5 stars.
Pam wrote: "Wow. All of us done for the week!"Sweet!
Getting close to end...need 'big finish' strategy!
My strategy - This week I will just pick a book as usual. Next week isn't quite as important as the last, but I always want to pick a book I can easily finish within the week so I am all caught up and ready for the last call. That week speed matters, so I want to pick a shorter book (that still qualifies) or even a medium one I know I can get through fast - like an In Death book for me. I've even gone so far as to go through all the teams to find books for option 2 in each team incase the theme doesn't work for me, granted that was when I NEEDED to read one of my M&G books to finish that challenge too!You never know with this challenge, sometimes a team finishes in a few hours and other times it is the next day or even a couple of days! But I never want to be the one lagging, I am not super competitive but I don't ever want to be the reason we lose either. =)
Oops, I forgot the thing I think helps me the most! Having finished all my books, audio or ebooks, before the theme is called so there is nothing distracting me. Sometimes the timing works out well - I just finished the book I was listening to about an hour ago. If I stop reading one book to read my book for the PtP, it would distract me and I would keep feeling called back to it.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Warlord Wants Forever (other topics)
Come Away with Me (other topics)
The Warlord Wants Forever (other topics)
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So far, so good - started it in audio this morning!