PtP - Fairest of Them All (9)

[Maddie]

I know it's the Romance Reader's Group, but still XD

[Maddie]

Hoping my book will come in from the library, otherwise I'll read Roomies, which is on HeatherMarie's shelf. When do I have to post by? And I can only change my selection before the next shelf call right?

[Maddie]

Btw Heather, it's so strange looking through your shelves finding Escape to New Zealand on your shelf XD A whole series about my country!

[Maddie]

At least I thought it was on HeatherMarie's shelf...

Selection 1 - Option 2

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
Read: 23rd Jan
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 368

[HeatherMarie]

Maddison wrote: "At least I thought it was on HeatherMarie's shelf..."

Hey Maddison,
Have read Roomies recently (Jan 23, 2018)- so you're good. There is something bizarre going on with my Goodreads recently- books disappear then reappear the next day & and shelves are "0" then they're not.😒

My neighbor growing up was from New Zealand & she was my favorite elemententary school teacher - will always have a deep fondness for your country.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

The shelf all zeros thing is a bug. They are working on it.

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

[Alexa]

Linda C wrote: "Alexa wrote: "I can't remember or find it for some reason (probably just blind). Is the page count minimum 100 or 150? If my book is too short I do have a backup, just let me know."

This question ..."

Thanks Linda. I must have missed it because I was skimming looking for a specific question about page count.

[Linda C]

Maddison wrote: "Isn't this Option Two?
2. Select a book from the 'READ' list of a team-mate that they read in the last 6 months AND that the team-mate rated at least 3 stars. (This essentially passing on a recomme..."

Maddison,
I just copied the announcement from Jane and she didn't repeat all of the info about Option 2. As Heather stated the book you want qualifies. I added the info to our first week announcement section, so if she just does date in the future, you can just refer to the first entry.

[Maddie]

Okay thanks :) I didn't realise the date was going to be 6 months prior haha. I'm all sweet now thanks!

[Alexa]

Completion Post

Week #: 1
Bookcover/link

Avalanche of Desire by Bea Paige
Rating (1-5): 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Review:
I really enjoyed this book, for a shorter novel, the pacing was actually well done and I was engaged from the beginning until the end. In this book Louisa gets a job as a Chalet girl for a ski resort in the French Alps. Once there, she meets and begins to fall for the Freed brothers, who she will be keeping house for over the holiday season. y biggest problem with the book was that I kind of seriously disliked Louisa. She just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't see wh the brothers were so enamoured. However, I'm really hoping that there will be more character development in future books. This book was originally written for a Christmas anthology, so I can be forgiving in this book. As for the brothers, I loved Hudson and Max and I liked Bryce. I'm hoping for a deeper look at his character in the next book. I really did love tht the author points out that this fling the group ends up having may not be true love. I don't think at this point it is. They just don't know each other well enough yet. They definitely have a connection, but they can't say that they will have a HEA yet. The ending was rushed though, like a few short paragraphs setting up the next book. I susect that was added quickly when the author decided to turn the books into a series and not a novella. I will definitely be reading on. Luckily, the next book is releasing tomorrow.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Completion Post - Week One - Set in Europe

The Darkest Night #1 Lords of the Underworld Gena Showalter
Pages: 379
How it Fits: Set in Budapest, Hungary
Read: March 10
Rating: ★★★✰✰
Review:
The twist on the Pandora's Box myth is unique. However, I felt the reasoning behind the opening of the box and thus the initial basis of this book, and indeed the entire series very weak.

Maddox is a tortured arrogant hero with OTT alpha macho tendencies, but Ashlyn, who has withstood her own version of Hell, is a strong character match for him. I liked that both Maddox and Ashlyn both benefited in each other's company, and while that provided the basis for their relationship it was more believable as insta-lust rather than insta-love. Overall, a satisfying start to the series.

[HeatherMarie]

Completion post:
Week 1

Fortune Favors the Wicked by Theresa Romain
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was ok. It’s a historical romance but most all the attitudes and actions of the characters were very modern. I know that drives a lot of people crazy but meh, was ok. I liked that the hero was blind and he wasn't “miraculously” healed by the end but was adaptable and competent despite his disadvantage in a sighted world. The main gist of story was the H&h looking for a hidden treasure- thought that was interesting. Also liked the kid in the story acted like a real kid (think authors generally miss out when they make children perfect little angels- great built-in little drama vectors 😉) Would probably read the next book about the bluestocking sister to the hero.

[Maddie]

Just waiting for my book to come in at the library :/ Once I've got it I'll speed through because it's an audio and I listen on 2.5x-3x speed

[[deleted user]]

Completion Post

Week #1
Book: Greek for Beginners by Jackie Braun
How It Fits: Book was set in Greece
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
I really enjoyed this story! It was a really fun take on the vacation romance story line. Both Darcie and Nick have relationship issues in their past, so they know jumping into anything more than a fling right away may not be the best idea.

I adored reading about Greece and it made me want to go there even more (it is on my travel bucket list). Both Nick and Darcie were great characters and they had great backstories and worked really well together as a couple.

[Maddie]

Finally got Roomies, so I'm into it now :)

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Maddison wrote: "Finally got Roomies, so I'm into it now :)"

Great Maddison. Hope you enjoy it :)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Maddison wrote: "At least I thought it was on HeatherMarie's shelf...

Selection 1 - Option 2

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
Read: 23rd Jan
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 368"

Hi Maddison - can you just add the week # to this post as well? Thanks!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Alexa wrote: "Linda C wrote: "Alexa wrote: "I can't remember or find it for some reason (probably just blind). Is the page count minimum 100 or 150? If my book is too short I do have a backup, just let me know."..."

It's also in msg 2 of the sign-up thread :)

[Maddie]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Maddison wrote: "At least I thought it was on HeatherMarie's shelf...

Selection 1 - Option 2

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
Read: 23rd Jan
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 368"

..."

It's week 1, hence the Selection 1.

[Linda C]

Completion Post

Week #1 - Option #1
Book: - Fredrik Backman
Pages: 370
How the book qualifies: Book is set in Sweden
Read: 3/15/18
Rating: 4 stars

Review: Elsa is a precocious seven-year-old who spends a great deal of her time with her Granny; her mother has a stressful job and is pregnant with Elsa's step-sibling. Granny is eccentric, some say crazy, but Elsa's best friend. Granny gives Elsa a collection of stories based around the Land of Almost-Awake. When Granny dies she leaves Elsa a letter to deliver with a message saying she's sorry. The letters force Elsa to confront some of the other people who live in their apartment building and each delivery leads to another letter and another person. The characters in the building have a lot more in common than Elsa ever knew and as she learns about each of them she uncovers more about Granny. Also, the stories from the Land of Almost-Awake begin to connect to the real world.

Another great book from Backman, although I had a few unanswered questions when I finished that took a stretch of the imagination to accept.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Maddison wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Maddison wrote: "At least I thought it was on HeatherMarie's shelf...

Selection 1 - Option 2

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
Read: 23rd Jan
Rating: 3 s..."

Hi Maddison - to make my life easier since I am tracking every book read over 11 weeks, please change your wording to week from now on, not selection.

Thanks.

[Linda C]

Week 2
7. Snow white was 'fair' - read a book with an MC with blonde hair and/or fair skin. You must either quote the optional list used OR include in your post the sentence that qualifies that the MC is fair or blonde.

See msg #2 for optional lists

[Linda C]

Selection Post

Week 2 - Option 1-read a book with an MC with blonde hair and/or fair skin.
Book: Gunmetal Magic - Ilona Andrews
Pages: 326
How it Fits: #233 on Blonde on Cover

[Maddie]

Week 2 Selection
https://auckland.overdrive.com/librar...
Task: Blonde MC
How it fits: Blonde MC on cover

There isn't that cover on GR, and that's the one with the blonde MC

[[deleted user]]

Week #2 - Selection 1
Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath
Page numbers: 384 pages
How the book qualifies: Blond on the cover

[Linda C]

Maddison wrote: "Week 2 Selection
https://auckland.overdrive.com/librar...
Task: Blonde MC
How it fits: Blonde MC on cover

There isn't that cover on GR, and that's the one with the blonde MC"

Both the overdrive cover and the GR cover look to me like redheads. Can you find a sentence in the book that describes her as a blonde. That would cinch it. Thanks.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Week Two Selection Post: Snow White was 'fair'

Keepers & Killers #2 Alchemy Donna Augustine
Pages: 250
How it Fits: Ranked 11 on Blondes on Cover Shelf

[Alexa]

Selection

Week # 2
Bookcover/link:

The Quarterback
Page numbers: 330
How the book qualifies - Blonde on Cover list #63

[HeatherMarie]

Selection Post


Week 2 - Option 1

The Dancing Master-Julie Klassen
422 pages
How it Fits: #28 on Blonde on Cover

[Maddie]

Linda C wrote: "Maddison wrote: "Week 2 Selection
https://auckland.overdrive.com/librar...
Task: Blonde MC
How it fits: Blonde MC on cover

There isn't that cover on GR, and that's the one with t..."

Bummer okay, I can't use that book then because it's audio XD

[Maddie]

Week 2 Selection Edit

Task: Blonde MC
How it fits: #9 on https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... list
Pages: 290

[Alexa]

Completion Post

Week # 2
Bookcover/link:

The Quarterback
Rating (1-5): 4 stars
Review: I have been putting off reading this one. Mainly because it received pretty mixed reviews. But, I'm so happy that I gave it a chance. This book focuses on Matt, a college quarterback who is very deeply in the closet and hasn't ever explored his sexuality, and Trevor a fellow student at his school that was disoned by his traditional Korean family after coming out in high school. The boys meet in a Happy Endings massage parlour of all places, which was not something I'd ever seen come up in a romance novel before, but it all worked out in a way that didn't leave me feeling squeamish. I really liked the romance between the two. They are very different, but they really seem to mesh well. I especially liked the simplicity. There was no fighting their attraction,and it establishes that they are in an actual relationship pretty early. Most of the books conflict revolved around whether they could handle a relationship while Matt remained closeted. I do see the problems that the book had, the side characters seemed to have no filter and were often very rude, but they were also very minor and pretty far into the background. The book definitely put all of the focus on the boys, which I loved.

[Alexa]

I decided to change my rating for Avalanche of Desire , my choice for week 1, down to three stars. The more I think on it, the more underwhelmed I am by it. I actually couldn't even remember what book I'd read or anything about it. It was cute, just not anything special.

I don't think it matters, but should I change my completion post to reflect my thoughts?

[Maddie]

I'll be finishing Roomies probably tomorrow :D My week 1 book.

[Linda C]

Alexa wrote: "I decided to change my rating for Avalanche of Desire , my choice for week 1, down to three stars. The more I think on it, the more underwhelmed I am by it. I actually couldn't even remember what b..."

I think you can change it. It's required that you have a rating and you did that.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Completion Post - Week Two - Snow White was fair

Keepers & Killers #2 Alchemy Donna Augustine
Pages: 250
How it Fits: Ranked 11 on Blondes on Cover Shelf
I flew through this book. It is an unusual mix of paranormal, urban fantasy and sci-fi. The heroine did annoy me in that she was always running around with poorly thought out plans that were always doomed to fail. The hero tries to control her which causes more drama. Serious trust issues that developed in the previous book continue to bog down progress. As with Donna Augustine's Karma series the romance is very slow burn, developing in the background over the series arc. Combine all of this with the racial distrust between the Keepers, fae, shifters and other unknown entities.
Read: March 20
Rating: ★★★★✰

[Maddie]

Yay finished off Week 1 and started my Week 2 :)

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Congratulations Maddison

[Maddie]

Sorry it took me so long! The books weren't available!

[[deleted user]]

Completion Post

Week #2
Book: Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath
How It Fits: Main character is blond
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
I adored this book! The premise was simple, but a lot of fun. Ophelia is suffering from amnesia and Drake finds her and because she has been nothing but nasty him, he makes her believe that she is his servant.
Once I started reading it, I realized it reminded me a lot of that great cheesy 80's movie, 'Overboard' with Kirk Russel and Goldie Hawn (well, if it had been set in Regency England lol). Ophelia falls into the Themes and Drake pulls her out; she was very high society and he was of a lower class. It was enjoyable drawing comparisons.
I really enjoyed both characters. It took me a bit to warm up to Ophelia, but I think that was the point.
Highly recommend!

[Maddie]

When do I have to have each book read by? Sorry I'm a little confused, got this and the Bingo challenge that I'm in.

[Maddie]

Week 1 Completion

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
She Read: 23rd Jan
I read: 21/3
Her Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 368
Review: This book was the cutest most adorable thing I've read in a long time. Got my heart all fluttery inside. It was such a warm gooey book, and I am super pleased I gave it a go. Makes me even more certain I want to binge Christina Lauren books :D I'm so pleased there's so many of them.
This is a very different tune to her Beautiful Bastard series. I knew this one wouldn't be erotica, but I was expecting more depiction of the 'intense' scenes, if you know what I mean. The relationship and banter and cutesiness between Holland and Calvin was just right up my alley. (view spoiler)[The whole premise as to why they got married was incredible too. (hide spoiler)] And the one thing I was worried about, (view spoiler)[the whole denial of the proper feelings thing, and is just being a convenient situation, (hide spoiler)] didn't happen. It was true and honest the whole time. Only thing Holland did that annoyed me was (view spoiler)[let Calvin believe the that her whole initial 'stalker' act thing was a lie. Wish she'd straightened that out sooner. I also really hate how she just assumed Natalie was his gf. (hide spoiler)] This book had me grinning, laughing out loud, cringing as well as groaning. It had everything I was feeling like. I really liked how (view spoiler)[Calvin never lied, although the whole Amanda thing did have me frustrated. (hide spoiler)] I really appreciate when Holland said 'I know I always groan when I read this passage in a book, but I really feel like it applies to me'. It's true, because I groaned before I listened to what she was going to say next XD
I really wish this was a series, it just ended suddenly, I didn't even know the ending was coming up. It just finished :( I need move Callond.

[Linda C]

Maddison wrote: "Week 1 Completion

Task: On HeatherMarie's shelf
She Read: 23rd Jan
I read: 21/3
Her Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 368"

Maddison, I need a review before I can enter it as completed.

[Linda C]

Maddison wrote: "When do I have to have each book read by? Sorry I'm a little confused, got this and the Bingo challenge that I'm in."

Within the call week you need to select a book and hopefully complete it before the next call. If not completed you have two books to complete the next week. You cannot be more than 2 books behind. When a 3rd week is called and you are not finished with the 2, we can opt to use a pass for you that week. You still need to read the 2 already selected but you use the pass for the 3rd.
Each member only has one pass in a 5 week period, so you would not get another pass. Hitting that 3rd outstanding book would get you removed from the game.
So, get that review added to book 1 and you are ok for the theme call on Friday

[Maddie]

Alright sweet so 2 behind. Gotcha :D

We've only had the 2 calls so far right?

Roomies review: This book was the cutest most adorable thing I've read in a long time. Got my heart all fluttery inside. It was such a warm gooey book, and I am super pleased I gave it a go. Makes me even more certain I want to binge Christina Lauren books :D I'm so pleased there's so many of them.
This is a very different tune to her Beautiful Bastard series. I knew this one wouldn't be erotica, but I was expecting more depiction of the 'intense' scenes, if you know what I mean. The relationship and banter and cutesiness between Holland and Calvin was just right up my alley. (view spoiler)[The whole premise as to why they got married was incredible too. (hide spoiler)] And the one thing I was worried about, (view spoiler)[the whole denial of the proper feelings thing, and is just being a convenient situation, (hide spoiler)] didn't happen. It was true and honest the whole time. Only thing Holland did that annoyed me was (view spoiler)[let Calvin believe the that her whole initial 'stalker' act thing was a lie. Wish she'd straightened that out sooner. I also really hate how she just assumed Natalie was his gf. (hide spoiler)] This book had me grinning, laughing out loud, cringing as well as groaning. It had everything I was feeling like. I really liked how (view spoiler)[Calvin never lied, although the whole Amanda thing did have me frustrated. (hide spoiler)] I really appreciate when Holland said 'I know I always groan when I read this passage in a book, but I really feel like it applies to me'. It's true, because I groaned before I listened to what she was going to say next XD
I really wish this was a series, it just ended suddenly, I didn't even know the ending was coming up. It just finished :( I need move Callond.

I also edited my completion post.

[Maddie]

And as soon as I finish my current audio I'll get back to Wings, and will have that finished tomorrow or the next day.

[Linda C]

Completion Post

Week 2 - Option 1-read a book with an MC with blonde hair and/or fair skin.
Book: Gunmetal Magic - Ilona Andrews
Pages: 326
How it Fits: #233 on Blonde on Cover
Read: 3/23/18
Rating: 5 stars

Review: Andrea, Kate's best friend and employee in Cutting Edge Investigations, is the star of this volume in the series. Andrea has been through a rough time having been 'retired' from the Order against her will and losing her boyfriend, Raphael, by choosing the Order over him. She has immersed herself in work and her next case involving 4 murders on a reclamation site puts her back into Raphael's vicinity since the victims worked for him. Each step to solving the case ends up being an action filled event. Plenty of monsters to fight, ancient artifacts with magical properties to overcome and political chaos in Andrea's personal life. Around all of this Andrea and Raphael need to figure out their relationship. Another great story.

[HeatherMarie]

Selection Post

Week # 3

A Treacherous Curse
352 pgs
How the book qualifies - Read a book with a 5 & a 3- it has 352 pages.

[Alexa]

Selection

Week: #3
Book cover/link:

Him
Page numbers: 360
How the book qualifies: 360 pages and the book was published July 28, 2015

[Linda C]

Week 3 - Read a book with a 5 AND 3 in the book publication date and/or the page numbers (any combination) on the GR page for the book you choose.

see full description in msg #2