Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - The Naughty Niners
So much chatter and I never got a notification! I must have accidentally turned RRRC off. Hmph. Logan wrote: Green deals with very mature themes here, and what ultimately got me in the feels at the end of this book was the reminder that each person matters to someone, and we all leave lasting marks on the people who flow through our lives, no matter how briefly or influentially.
I love that!
I'll have my review up in a little bit. It won't be long or beautiful as it was just a category Romance and not a lot of depth too it. Don't be too disappointed lol.
Week 2
Tempting the Player by J. Lynn
Finished: 6/10/14
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review:
Chad Gamble, all-star pitcher for the Nationals and womanizer, is basically given an ultimatum. Clean up his image or lose the contract with his home team. After relishing in his bad-boy reputation for so long, it will not be easy. While pouting in his liquor, he spies Bridget Rodgers and the sparks fly. They spend hours just chatting until he makes his move. Bridget, the consummate good girl, decides to live on the wild side for at least one night. It doesn't work out quite that way and they end up in a fake relationship that eventually turns into something more. Personally, I like her YA series (Lux) much better but I will eventually read the last book in this series.
So, while I enjoyed this book it was nothing spectacular. But most of these "sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint" are just guilty pleasure reads. They all seem to have the same formula (blah, blah, sexy times, more blah, blah, sexy times, blah, blah, conflict, blah, blah, HEA) and fall in the 3 star range for me. Don't be fooled. The blah blah isn't bad it's just missing heart. Same story, different (color) cover.
Ah...the formula reads. That happens too often these days. Have you ever read Alyssa Kress? She's an indie author and writes contemporary romance. I'm a devoted fan and have all of her books. The first book, Marriage by Mistake wasn't great, but Asking For It (lots of chemistry) and The Indiscreet Ladies of Green Ivy Way (really fun couple dynamics) were pretty entertaining.
I like her easy prose and the way she gives visuals without waxing poetic over ten pages. In her last book she changed her style. No sex (or sex behind closed doors) but the story was still decent. All of the books have a plot outside of romance and are only $.99. They aren't part of a series and stand on their own.
Week # 2 So Week 2: June 6-13. J bookBookcover or link Serial
GR has the book, but with this I cant' find it
Number of pages: 512
Rating 4 stars
A description of how it fits the theme: Authors name is JOhn or J
Review: Frank Quinn Series is a psychological thriller full of suspense. Quinn is hired to investigate a gruesome killing by the Commissioner of the NYPD, it all becomes personal when he recognises the victim. She has been gagged, violated, and tortured. New York Police Commissioner Harley Renz is no slouch, so before the blood has even dried he calls in Frank Quinn and his team, all retired NYPD. Quinn and crew specialize in catching serial killers and this one, quickly dubbed "The Skinner" for reasons easily guessed, gives them a run for their money.
You've almost got it, Lindy. Jane needs two separate posts each week per the rules, and we do need a link to the book or book cover. Jane has the required format in Message 3 on this thread, and I'll paste it below for you again. Please try to get both of your posts to follow the required formatting so we can count your books to our team total!
Posting format
For the initial selection post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies
For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review
Hi Lindy. I was really impressed that you signed up to start with; but with these posting requirements, I completely understand pulling out. It was great having you with us, even if it was for only a short time :)
Week 2: Author name starting with J
Book Title: It Happened One Wedding by Julie James
Date Finished: 12 June
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Since I'm feeling lazy, a short review from me.
A reliable entry from Julie James. I loved the MCs (though Vaughn is becoming remarkably similar to other Male characters)
I loved both the MCs - Sidney is just starting to recover from her almost-wedding (cheating fiance) and getting back into the dating grove. She has 34(!!) items in her checklist for prospective boyfriends. Vaughn, on the other hand, just wants to have fun. He doesn't want to settle down just yet. When these two meet, even though they're attracted to each other, they decide to stay away and then (of course) they proceed to secret affair stage.
I didn't remember Vaughn much from the previous books (bad, I know) but I love how the author does male friendships. They felt very authentic which I liked. I loved Vaughn and Sidney's progression of relationship - Vaughn doesn't have a big justification for not wanting to settle down which I really liked.
A really good contemporary romance which I really enjoyed reading. Recommended.
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Vi wrote: "I want to read Lady Luck too. When are you planning to start?"I have four books to read for my monthly challenge, plus one per week for this one, but I'll probably fit it in between ..."
Let me know when you are planning to read - I already have it on my kindle.
Vi wrote: "Let me know when you are planning to read..."You bet! I'm going to start Sweet Dreams on the side and power through it when I'm finished with my other challenges. It won't be long before I can start Lady Luck. I put both of them on my Nook this afternoon. July should be a great month for me, but I'll be reading long books. I downloaded Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager while B&N had them on sale.
Do you have any interest in reading The Darkest Hour
with Logan and me? I'm #2 on the library hold! YAY!
Lindy wrote: "I am out of this too hard beign blind"I'm sorry to see you go Lindy. Thanks for joining us - it was nice to have you on our team!
I need to reread the Outlander series. I go back and read the first book over and over but never the rest of them for some reason. And then I waited years before starting #7 and now #8 is already out. so have no memory of what happened in the last one I read!
I just adore Jamie's character and I'm so eager to see what happens next. If they don't end up together I'm going to wail...
Lindy wrote: "I am out of this too hard beign blind"Hope to see you on other challenges Lindy. It was nice to meet you!
Woohoo! Next week's theme is up!Week 3: (12) Book with at least 450 pages per GR
Key date: 11 December 2013
And here I just finished a tree-shredder...
Week 3: Book with at least 450 pages per GR.
by Catherine AndersonPages: 480
Justification: Length ; )
Hmmm, decisions decisions...Outlander or BDB series?
Thinking...
No kidding! I wavered between Dragonfly in Amber, but it's twice as long as Comanche Moon. I don't want to feel rushed when I read it, either. There's something about Outlander that I just wanted to savor. I think I read it in three days, but it took me two months to get past the first 100 pages. I didn't savor that part so much. Then I just fell through the pages. LOL!
Week 3: Read a book with at least 450 pages per GR
Pages: 775
How it fits the theme: More than 450 pages
Since The King is a library book, I figure this is good motivation to finish it before I turn to An Echo in the Bone.
I have the BDB bookmarked to start. I have so many books on my dying-to-read shelf that I'll be busy through Christmas. It's even tougher when I add in the series I'm eager to get back to. Mercy Thompson and Love at Stake are up there at the top on my PNR list.
I have way too many books to narrow down. Pick from M&G, June PIFM, or Challenge Pool? 450+p. or Teammies read shelf? This is what I'm trying to choose from lol.
I think I'll wait for Bingo/Uncover-It or to see if my Library hold comes in. I'll post tomorrow.
Nichole wrote: "I have way too many books to narrow down. Pick from M&G, June PIFM, or Challenge Pool? 450+p. or Teammies read shelf? This is what I'm trying to choose from..."Oh...you have some good ones! I have Saving Grace on my TBR list and hope to get to it in August.
was super entertaining. It's campy, but it moves along nicely and was a fun break from historical westerns. I just finished it, too, so it's eligible for this weeks challenge. ; )
Nichole, can I pick for you? While there are 3+ books that you must read, I'll go with
. You must must read this. It's one of my all time favorites
Vi wrote: "Nichole, can I pick for you? While there are 3+ books that you must read, I'll go with . You must must read this. It's one of my all time favorites"I've been in a Fantasy mood lately and have been wanting to read this, so why not. Plus, it was a M&G pick (Win-Win). Maybe the vampire one will work for Bingo *crosses fingers*. I'll be getting to everyone of those at some point this year. They're all challenge books. Out of curiosity, what other ones are must-reads? Maybe I should bump them up :)
I'm definitely going to bump up
. It sounds awesome! I'd forgotten it was on my list! Ack!
week 2: author starting with jSecrets by jordan castillo price
rating: 4 stars
review:
vic and jacob have just moved in together when jacob catches a case that has him occupied, leaving vic to unpack alone. vic gets distracted by the fact that there is no mention of himself anywhere on the internet, in spite of all the cases that he has helped to solve. when he finds out that jacob knew about it and didn't tell him, along with the fact that jacob doesn't want to talk about the case with him, vic feels hurt. vic's former partner lisa comes back to town, and they end up helping jacob and his partner solve their case. ghosts are involved...sort of.
what i liked: vic shows more growth. i liked the chemistry between vic and jacob. i liked that vic took a couple of steps outside of himself and realized that lisa didn't have it easy with her psychic talent, either.
what i didn't like: the lack of communication between vic and jacob. also, vic being worried that he would have sex with jacob's ex if he wasn't supervised. there was also the not-so-pleasant surprise of a scene between jacob and said ex (when they were still together), that made that particular relationship feel almost unfinished.
week 3: book with at least 450 gr page countDo or Die by suzanne brockmann
page count: 576 pgs
how this book qualifies: over 450 pages
Vi wrote: "Becky, I agree about Kristen Ashley too. As Nichole said, it's just her thing. I read 
which I really liked but it was too long and the ending felt rather rushed. I..."I don't think you are in the minority - I think a lot of us agree, but other aspects just drag it into the 4 star realm. I agree there are way too many twists/turns and additional details. But audio does make it much easier to knock off ;)
Week 3: Read a book with at least 450 pages per GR
by Juliet MarillierPages: 560
How the book qualifies: Chunkster (450+ pgs.)
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Very insightful review, Logan. I have this on my TBR list and I'm number 200 something on the library hold. *snorts* I'll probably just break down and buy it.Your review beats the pants off th..."
LOL!!! Eloquent.
so, i'm going to change my pick for week 3, because i'm already 7 books behind for this month, and if i add another one that's not already on my "currently reading" shelf, i may just curl up into a fetal position for the rest of the month and only play video games or something. i'll change it in my original post, because i AM just that efficient. (and lazy.)
beppy wrote: "so, i'm going to change my pick for week 3, because i'm already 7 books behind for this month, and if i add another one that's not already on my "currently reading" shelf, i may just curl up into a..."Oh man, I've been there! You can change your book selection any time up to the next theme announcement, so no worries. If you don't want to read a chunkster you can always do option 2 or take a pass. And you also don't have to finish it in a week. At least there's that. I just finished a game where if I finished late it held the whole team up and that's a lot of pressure!
Nichole wrote: "They're all challenge books. Out of curiosity, what other ones are must-reads? Maybe I should bump them up :) "
In no particular order..
- This book was the best of Julie James IMO up until that point. It got everything right (the author even changed a dress in one scene to reflect the cover)
- A sweet contemporary romance. Certain parts could have been improved but overallit was good
- I had to be in the mood to start this one (and yet I was still apprehensive) but man, when I came to the end, I almost didn't want it to end.
- If you liked the first one, you have to got to finish the trilogy. I wouldn't exactly say the world built is a feminist one but I liked the characters. The only other book I've read from the list is KA book but I honestly can't recommend it.
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Do you have any interest in reading The Darkest Hour The Darkest Hour (KGI, #1) by Maya Banks with Logan and me? I'm #2 on the library hold! YAY! "
I've read that one, Becky. I don't remember why I haven't continued with the series though. Probably laziness :D
Speaking of Outlander, how's
? I suppose this is the one in which Jamie & Claire are not the MC but their daughter Brianna is?
Book Selection Post - Week 3Title: Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Length: 560 pages
How it Fits: Length > 450 pages
Thanks Vi, those were all picked for me in the M&G so I'll make sure to read them. Well Flowers from the Storm might have to wait a bit. I had that planned for the double decker in RLftCI and I'm on JJ, lol. Besides, Daughter of the Forest, which I'm really enjoying was picked by the same person.I hope you like Green Rider. I loved it.
Logan wrote: "beppy wrote: "so, i'm going to change my pick for week 3, because i'm already 7 books behind for this month, and if i add another one that's not already on my "currently reading" shelf, i may just ..."i'm trying to have the mindset that i need to finish within the week, otherwise i will just procrastinate and be in panic mode at the end of the challenge. so far, it's working for me.
i've only read 1 kristen ashley (At Peace), and, while i really enjoyed it, i haven't gotten around to reading another. too many other shiny objects catching my attention, i think.
Vi wrote: "beppy wrote: "regarding westerns, johanna lindsay wrote some good ones: A Heart So Wild, Savage Thunder (na), 
, 
...i actually own
and plan on reading it someday, since i really like Penelope Williamson as an author. unfortunately, i burned myself out on historical romances last year, and just can't bring myself to read one, even though i'm supposed to read
,
,
and
this year.
Vi wrote: "Speaking of Outlander, how's ? I suppose this is the one in which Jamie & Claire are not the MC but their daughter Brianna is?"I'll admit it's one of my least favorite in the series. It's not that Jamie and Claire aren't the MC, they just have to share time with Brianna and Roger. It is a pivotal book for the series with some big reveals if I remember correctly.
Ya'll are killin' me! I'm almost done with
, haven't started
but downloaded a sample of
. It's like being at Baskin Robbins and not being able to pick a flavor!
is screaming...loudly...banshee loudly.
Week 3:
Finished 6/15/2014
✰✰✰✰✰Review:
What a roller coaster of emotion! When Hunter first takes Loretta from her home, I had no idea how the author would turn this story around, but she did...in a very believable way. The violence made me uncomfortable, but it was an ugly fact in the Nation's history, with both parties committing atrocious acts of cruelty. Both Loretta and Hunter's painful past led to misconceptions and beliefs that were difficult to move beyond, despite their growing feelings for one another. Their love was not an easy one and acceptance of new ways came slow.
Hunter's patience was endearing. (view spoiler) Lots of well written characters made me fall in love with this book. The pace was exciting, the writing compelling. I really, really enjoyed this.
Week 3: 450+ pages
Finished: 6/17/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This series is one of those where I feel compelled to keep reading, even if I don't care all that much about the characters anymore. I just want to find out what happens next! I can't resist!
Beth and Wrath are not my favorite couple, but it was really interesting to see Ward set up a new direction for the series. She's shaking things up from the old BDB v. Omega format and giving us more characters and better conflicts. After being a bit disappointed by Lover at Last, this one may have hooked me back in. The Shadows may not excite me as much as Quinn and Blay, but there are lots of other couples with futures up in the air at the end of The King, so I'll stick around. You win, J.R. Ward!
Week 3: 450+ pages
by Juliet MarillierRating: ★★★★★+ +
Review:
"This is the most awesome book, like EVER, and I don't even like books or reading, but you just HAVE to read it and tell me how it ends, because I started crying and I don't like that."
Just kidding!! Well mostly :D I finished this a couple of days ago and have been trying to figure out how to write a spoiler free review and not gush the whole story out. Every time I start to write out my review I just start blathering, so I'm going to cheat a little.
Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all...
Okay, I abso-freaking-lutely LOVED this book. It's now one of my all-time favorites. It was not an easy read (listen) at all and I spent most of the book with my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes. It moved me and I loved it more for that. Sorcha was such a strong girl, yes girl, she was very young to have endured everything she did. She bore the weight of her task and every terrible thing that happened along the way with fierce determination and a love for her brothers that was so strong, nothing could break it. I can't even put into words how amazing it was to see her persevere through it all.
The romance in the book was light and yet it was chock full of love. You could feel it in your bones it was so deep. How did Marillier do that? I loved all the Irish Folklore too! Although a major part of the story, the magic and the Fair Folk were subtle (that's not quite right) but had a strong presence. Does that even make sense? Simply put, this was storytelling at it's best!
I loved it so much that I had a hard time moving on. I wanted to read it again immediately. I literally moped around and everything was on hold until I finished it. My husband ate hot dogs and frozen pizza for dinner those 2 days lol. Thank you for the push! I'll be reading the next one sooner rather than later. It was the perfect book at the perfect time and it doesn't get better than that.
Wow! Okay, adding to my TBR now. I've always wanted to read one of her books!
Yay, Nichole! Another convert!! I'm so glad you loved it. I just love, love Marllier's prose.
Way cool, Nicole! SOLD! Love it when a book pulls my heart to my stomach! I'm only a few pages into the sample and I love the feel of it. I hope the brothers stay as sweet with Sorcha as they are in the beginning. Guess I'm going to have to part with my $$$$$ and download the rest. Since I just finished Trouble in Mudbug (it was cute) I could use a change of pace.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Lindy, did you decide on a week 2 book yet?