Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2019 Challenge Archive
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2019 February Pick-It-For-Me Challenge
TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!Pickees
✱ To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed (Did Not Finish) or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorite books and authors. In addition, you might consider updating your profile. You can include info about your favorite books, authors, genres, themes or tropes (or themes/tropes you dislike – i.e. secret baby).
✱ Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread. This information will not be included in the pairings and your pickee may not see your message and does not need to rely on that information when making picks.
Pickers
✱ Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group. Thus, most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are various sub genres within the romance category - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy. If your pickee reads a wide variety, you could add a non-romance as a choice.
✱ You will be using 8 picking rules to select books for you pickee. Choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them (not found on any of their shelves) or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work previously. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr, with a minimum of one from their preferred shelves if provided. Be sure to pick at least one book for each picking rule, but please limit your picks to no more than two books per rule as sometimes having too many options is worse than too few.
✱ Please remember when you are giving new recommendations, you are not limited to titles that you have read. You can choose books that are new releases, on your tbr, or titles you looked up on Goodreads or Amazon that you think your pickee would enjoy.
A few hints to help with book selection:
✱ Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
✱ Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has created. (e.g., 'to read next', 'favorites' ‘didn’t like’)
✱ Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
✱ Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read or read the most. Reviewing their ‘read’ shelf might help you in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
✱ If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) Contact the Mods or the month's organizer for guidance.
✱ Include a variety of books (e.g., shorter page count, new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book on their 'to-read' shelf) This variety gives your pickee options when choosing the book or books they will be reading this month. Use the sort feature within their shelves to determine date a book was added, published or read; page numbers, ratings, etc.
If you want to volunteer to make repicks:
✱ We love that you want to help out, but please remember those who need picks have been waiting for a long time already. Please only volunteer if you are able to make the repicks within a few hours of the deadline. Thank you!
2019 February PIFM Challenge -- ParticipantsA: Dark Chocolate is the Only Chocolate!
LaurLa - 04-challenges-picklist
Nancy H - Want to Read
〰️Beth〰️ - 19tbr-romance
Sonja - pifm
B: Chocolate is Chocolate – Give It To Me!
Diane ~Firefly~ next to read shelf
MountainKat - to-read-asap
Mary-Megan - february-march
Laura - pick-for-me
Romanticbookworm - pick-for-me
Carina - nextofftheshelf
Carrie - mgp
Rebecca - Audio Shelf
Hazel - roll-over
Suzanne - books-I-own
☘KathyD☘ - c-m-g-32
Anja - Want to Read
Sarah - Want to Read
Nicole - pifm
Himanshi - Want to Read
Tracy - amazon-digital-books-that-i-own
Veronica - Want to Read
Fran - a-pifm-shelf
♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - meet-greet-picks
C: Keep it Away – Can’t Stand the Stuff (AKA: I’m allergic)!
HeatherMarie - 0-picking
Shea - Want to Read
Elke - On deck 4 chlges
2019 February PIFM Challenge -- PairingsPlease pick for the person BELOW you on each list with the last person picking for the first person. The last person on the list chooses for the first person. For example, Nancy H chooses for Elke, Shea chooses for Nancy H.
A and C Combined ~ Dark Chocolate or No Chocolate
✔Nancy H ~ Want to Read
✔Elke ~ On deck 4 chlges
✔LaurLa ~ 04-challenges-picklist
✔Sonja ~ pifm
✔HeatherMarie ~ 0-picking
✔〰️Beth〰️ ~ 19tbr-romance
✔Shea ~ Want to Read
Group B ~ Chocolate is Chocolate
✔Hazel ~ roll-over
✔Anja ~ Want to Read
✔Rebecca ~ Audio Shelf
✔Nicole ~ pifm
✔Diane ~Firefly~ next to read shelf
✔♎ Carmen ~ meet-greet-picks
✔Fran ~ a-pifm-shelf
✔Suzanne ~ books-I-own
✔Romanticbookworm ~ pick-for-me
✔☘KathyD☘ ~ c-m-g-32
✔Veronica ~ Want to Read
Carina ~ nextofftheshelf
✔Carrie ~ mgp
✔Mary-Megan ~ february-march
✔Sarah ~ Want to Read
✔Tracy ~ amazon-digital-books-that-i-own
Laura ~ pick-for-me
✔Himanshi ~ Want to Read
MountainKat ~ to-read-asap
2019 February PIFM Challenge -- Picking Rules💗💜💜💗
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to get a little perspective on this most common of Valentine's Day gifts!
💗💜💜💗
Here are some Fun Facts about this product that 40-50 million people depend on for their livelihood!
1. Chocolate comes from a fruit tree; it’s made from a seed and each cacao tree produces approximately 2,500 beans. It takes 400 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate and two to four days to make a single-serving chocolate bar. This is why you must savor it!
💜Recommend a book that has a tree on the cover or has a brown or green cover
2. Valentine's Day isn't the only chocolate holiday. The French celebrate April Fool’s Day with chocolate-shaped fish, or “Poisson d’Avril.” In November, Germans celebrate St. Martin–a knight who shared his cloak with a beggar–with a lantern-lit parade, sweets and steaming hot chocolate. Huh.
💜Recommend a book that has a holiday theme, is tagged with any holiday or features a celebration of any kind.
3. Research to date supports that chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a balanced, heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. Studies have demonstrated that one of the major saturated fats in chocolate does not raise cholesterol like other hard fats–meaning chocolate can be enjoyed in moderation. Yes! Oh wait, he said in moderation.
💜Recommend a book that is moderate in size: 200-300 pages.
4. Carolus Linnaeus, the father of plant taxonomy, named the tree that produces cocoa beans: Theobroma Cacao which means “food of the gods.” Well, Duh!
💜Recommend a book that features a farmer/gardener/florist (anyone who enjoys working with plants or flowers) or a book that has food on the cover.
5. Cocoa is raised by hand, on small, family-owned farms and most cocoa farms are not owned by the companies that make chocolate. About 70 percent of cocao hails from West Africa with Cote d’Ivoire being the single largest producer with around 40 percent of the world's supply coming from there. Wow.
💜Recommend a book set on a farm or ranch, is set in Africa or has a white cover.
6. Some cacao trees are more than 200 years old, but most give marketable cocoa beans for only the first 25 years. And because cacao trees are so delicate, farmers lose, on average, 30 percent of their crop each year. Oh No, not the chocolate!
💜Recommend a book with something delicate on the cover (your interpretation) or that has a publish date with a 2 and 5 in it.
7. Because of the delicacy of the trees, historically cacao beans have always held intrinsic value: Cacao beans were so valuable to early Mesoamericans that they were used as currency; Spanish royalty gave cakes of cacao in their dowries; The Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 cups of cacao a day from a golden chalice. Feel free to pay me in chocolate!
💜Recommend a historical book or a book that features a wealthy character.
8. Other fun historical facts: Benjamin Franklin sold chocolate in his print shop in Philadelphia; German chocolate cake was named for Sam German, who developed a sweet bar for Baker’s Chocolate–and was not from Germany; Rudolph Lindt designed the first conching machine, a special mixing/refining machine specific to chocolate manufacturing. You recognize that name!
💜Recommend a book that features someone who makes something - a baker/chef, a person who works with their hands, in inventor, an artist, etc.
💗💜💜💗
For any rule above, you may substitute a book recommendation that has chocolate on the cover, in the title or in the series name! You may do this as many times as you wish! Just remember to still include at least 4 books from our Pickee's TBR
A, but also B. Put me where you need me.I only have one TBR shelf here, so use that, please. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1555231-nancy-h?shelf=to-read
Oh, I am a Big Ol' B for this one! Yummm...😋Please use my to-read-asap shelf, that I really need to update!
I can take chocolate or I can leave it. I need to be in the mood...but I guess I'd say Group BPlease use: february-march
B I love any chocolate (apart from coffee flavored, love coffee not in chocolate....)https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Group B pleasePlease use my PIFM shelf
I'm in for B...personally I like milk chocolate the best. Please pick from https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Romanticbookworm wrote: "Group B pleasePlease use my PIFM shelf"
Can you please add a link to your shelf?
Carina wrote: "B. Use nextofftheshelf"Can you please add a link to your shelf?
I’m in B is the answer I would pick although milk and white chocolate for me only. Please use https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
C please. I like Abuelitas & Ibarra but mostly chocolate is just meh for me. I love seeing the joy it brings to other people thoughThis shelf, thanks!
I'm in and I'm a B! Please try to narrow my selections to the books-I-own shelf because I need a reason to unpack my books!
LaurLa wrote: "Romanticbookworm wrote: "Group B pleasePlease use my PIFM shelf"
Can you please add a link to your shelf?"
link added
I am in for A, but when desperate B Please use my 19 TBR Romance Shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I'll go with C. I really don't care much for chocolate, unless it's in a hot drink like a mocha latte. Feel free to pick from any shelf!
I'm a B and as I can't get out of a book slump anything on my tbr pile is okay
For me the answer is B although, white choco FTW. You’ll find lots of romantic novels in my want to read take your pick!
I believe I have everybody to here linked up. Let me know if your shelves change!
I'm definitely a B. Please pick from my digital books from Amazon shelf. :)
Elke wrote: "I am in...Since loosing 117lbs since April 2018 I am a "C"!
Please pick from my On deck 4 chlges"
Wow! Congrats Elke! That's amazing 🙌🏻
Eep I almost missed it! I'm in please and I'm a B, though I prefer dark chocolate! Gimme gimme! Please use my PIFM shelf
I'm in! I am a B....please give me all the chocolate!!PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Nicole wrote: "Elke wrote: "I am in...Since loosing 117lbs since April 2018 I am a "C"!
Please pick from my On deck 4 chlges"
Wow! Congrats Elke! That's amazing 🙌🏻"
Thanks! Been one of the hardest things I have done!
**********BONUS SIGN UP TIME**********I have an appt this evening that doesn't end until 8:30 (EST). I thought it ended at 8:00 (hence the 8:00 deadline time) but apparently I was mistaken. I will be on line asap once I get home, but in the meantime, maybe the extra hour or so will give someone a chance to sign up ;-)
Hey LaurLa! Thank you for hosting! I noticed you have me in category A. I'm actually a B as I do love all chocolate, but since I especially love dark chocolate and A is so few, I'm happy to stay there if you need me to! Thanks!
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "If possible can I sign up, please?B - shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."
You are just in time!!!
LaurLa wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "If possible can I sign up, please?B - shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."..."
Awesome! Thanks LaurLa :)
Sign-ups closed. Pairs and rules will be up soon!
*********PAIRS AND PICKING RULES ARE UP**********Happy Picking!!
My picks for Fran1. 💜Recommend a book that has a tree on the cover or has a brown or green cover
TBR: A Rare Gift
New: Spinning the Moon
2. 💜Recommend a book that has a holiday theme, is tagged with any holiday or features a celebration of any kind.
TBR: 'tis the Season
New: Valentines Days & Nights
3. 💜Recommend a book that is moderate in size: 200-300 pages.
TBR: Let's Get Textual
New: Sacked
4. 💜Recommend a book that features a farmer/gardener/florist (anyone who enjoys working with plants or flowers) or a book that has food on the cover.
TBR: Hired Bear
New: One Bad Apple
5. 💜Recommend a book set on a farm or ranch, is set in Africa or has a white cover.
TBR: Dirty Exes
New: Mail Order Outlaw
6. 💜Recommend a book with something delicate on the cover (your interpretation) or that has a publish date with a 2 and 5 in it.
TBR: Sex in the Sticks (pub. 5/2/2017)
New: Seduction and Surrender (5/5/2014)
7. 💜Recommend a historical book or a book that features a wealthy character.
TBR: Robby Riverton: Mail Order Bride
New: Hate Notes
8. 💜Recommend a book that features someone who makes something - a baker/chef, a person who works with their hands, in inventor, an artist, etc.
TBR: First Dance
New: Mann Cakes
Happy Reading!
CarmenWe have a lot of books in common (and you have a huge read and TBR list), so it made finding new books a bit more challenging, but challenges are fun. I hope you like your options.
1. From your TBR we have Blackberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne. Or see a slightly flaky chef get a job in a small town for an eccentric grandmother and fall for her stick in the mud grandson in Fool for Love by Beth Ciotta.
2. From both our TBR's there is Bah, Humbug! by Heather Horrocks. Or check out Celebration Bay where Liv (with her cute Westie) is the event planner for the city and helps out when they find a dead body in Foul Play at the Fair by Shelley Freydont.
3. From your TBR we have Doppelbanger by Heather M. Orgeron. Or find out what happens when a 6'+ female warrior with self-esteem issues goes undercover on a paranormal tv show in To Woo A Warrior by Jane Cousins.
4. One of my favorite Crusie's - Bet Me were prim and proper Min is hating men and decides to give back when she hears a bet made about her. Or a sweet small town romance where a baker and a cop are at odds over a wayward teen in Baker's Law by Denise Belinda McDonald.
5. I just re-read this book (and am continuing with the series) - Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson. It is kind of paranormal chick-lit where not having any magic is special. Or check out a paranormal YA where Morgan sees something odd at school and instead of having her memory wiped, joins the M.B.R.C. to help creatures integrate into the normal world in My Life at the M.B.R.C. by K.M. Shea.
6. From your TBR - The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. Or check out a town voted best place to get over a breakup in Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick
7. Both these have wealthy characters. Ignore the cheesy cover and find out how interesting the Edge between the normal world and the magical world is in this great family PNR by Ilona Andrews - On the Edge. Or check out some English stage actors who are pretending to date to help his reputation in Act Like It by Lucy Parker.
8. Vaughan finds a runaway bride in his bathtub which leads to an unlikely friendship that helps them each get over some issued in Dirty by Kylie Scott. Or check out a small town with way more men than women and what happens when Gwen moves to town to open a restaurant in Catch of the Day by Marcia Evanick.
Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "CarmenWe have a lot of books in common (and you have a huge read and TBR list), so it made finding new books a bit more challenging, but challenges are fun. I hope you like your options.
1. From..."
LOL, yes we do have a lot in common but thanks for the picks. I see lots that I'd like to get to :-D
Picks for BethHey Beth, hope you find something great to read! Let me know if you need any repicks.
1. Chocolate
TBR: Robby Riverton: Mail Order Bride (brown cover)
New: The Hidden Blade (green cover)
2. Valentine's Day
TBR: Romancing the Duke (celebration)
New: The Ides of April (holiday)
3. Chocolate in Moderation
TBR: Deep (271 pgs)
New: Unfit to Print (145 pgs)
....hey I goofed & didn't read the premise right, so bonus extra book!
Clean Sweep (235 pgs)
4. Theobroma Cacao
TBR: Sin and Cider (set at an apple orchard)
New: The Duke I Tempted (gardener/florist)
5. Cocoa
TBR: Bittersweet (apple farmer)
New: Princess of Zamibia (set in Africa)
6. Cacao trees
TBR: Texas Gothic (something delicate cover: That redhead’s complexion, (from life experience)- that girl’s got at least 3 kinds of sunscreen in her purse right now)
New: Shades of Milk and Honey (something delicate cover: smoke/magic?)
7. Montezuma
TBR: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (historical)
New: Song of Seduction (historical)
8. Benjamin Franklin
TBR: Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin (maker…..of music: rock star)
New: A Girl Like Her (graphic novelist)
HimanshiHe we seem to like similar books!!!! I hope you enjoy the picks... I have included a few of my own that i loved and think you will enjoy!
Happy reading
💜Recommend a book that has a tree on the cover or has a brown or green cover
TBR
My pick:
💜Recommend a book that has a holiday theme, is tagged with any holiday or features a celebration of any kind.
My pick:
Has her birthday in it.💜Recommend a book that is moderate in size: 200-300 pages.
TBR:
300 pagesMy pick:
209 pages💜Recommend a book that features a farmer/gardener/florist (anyone who enjoys working with plants or flowers) or a book that has food on the cover.
TBR
Fae work with nature (Also my fave series ever i think i reread about 3 times now lol)My pick:
Jenks and his garden.💜Recommend a book set on a farm or ranch, is set in Africa or has a white cover.
TBR:
My pick:
💜Recommend a book with something delicate on the cover (your interpretation) or that has a publish date with a 2 and 5 in it.
TBR:
publication date 3/5/2008 5 and 2 in it.My pick:
💜Recommend a historical book or a book that features a wealthy character.
TBR:
My pick:
💜Recommend a book that features someone who makes something - a baker/chef, a person who works with their hands, in inventor, an artist, etc.
TBR:
LibrarianMy pick:
Healer
Mary-Megan, I hope you find at least one book to melt into while eating some chocolates :)💜Recommend a book that has a tree on the cover or has a brown or green cover
TBR: Suddenly Last Summer Green cover
New:Speak tree (5 star for me)
Recommend a book that has a holiday theme, is tagged with any holiday or features a celebration of any kind.
TBR: One Day in December holiday theme (also this book is oh so ever lovely)
New:Dash & Lily's Book of Dares Holiday (another lovely book)
💜Recommend a book that is moderate in size: 200-300 pages.
TBR:The Wednesday Letters 288 pages
New: The Housewife Assassin's Handbook273 pages (based on your likes I think you'll enjoy it, I gave it 5 stars)
💜Recommend a book that features a farmer/gardener/florist (anyone who enjoys working with plants or flowers) or a book that has food on the cover.
TBR:Ain't She a Peach? Peaches are food
New:Promise Me This landscaper/gardener (thoroughly enjoyed this)
💜Recommend a book set on a farm or ranch, is set in Africa or has a white cover.
TBR:Caught in Time white cover
New:Imperfect Chemistry white cover (cute book)
💜Recommend a book with something delicate on the cover (your interpretation) or that has a publish date with a 2 and 5 in it.
TBR:Phantom Waltz 2001 pub date
New:Twenties Girl delicate necklace (also a lovely read)
💜Recommend a historical book or a book that features a wealthy character.
TBR:The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar historical
New:The Dragon Lord's Daughters historical (it's been awhile but I really liked this book)
💜Recommend a book that features someone who makes something - a baker/chef, a person who works with their hands, in inventor, an artist, etc.
TBR:A Fine Romance baker
New:Pies and Prejudice baker (cute cozy)
Happy Reading
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Chocolate Secrets (other topics)Sex, Lies, and Snickerdoodles (other topics)
Hidden Fires (other topics)
What the Duke Desires (other topics)
Trudy, Madly, Deeply (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lisa Kleypas (other topics)Joanne Fluke (other topics)
Jenny Colgan (other topics)
Lauren Blakely (other topics)
Lauren Willig (other topics)
More...
What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.
You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!
After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to keep your profile private, it is your responsibility to send a friend request to the person picking for you as soon as possible after the matchups are posted. Whether your profile is private or not, it is also very important that your profile be set to receive Private Messages (PMs) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mods, organizer etc.)
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
✱ The books picked for you are not yet released.
✱ If you have already read the chosen book(s) and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
✱ If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.
You may NOT ask for repicks because:
✱ A book is not available at your library.
✱ A genre or author you don’t enjoy.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
✱✱ What kind of Chocolate Lover are you? ✱✱
A: Dark Chocolate is the Only Chocolate!
B: Chocolate is Chocolate – Give It To Me!
C: Keep it Away – Can’t Stand the Stuff (AKA: I’m allergic)!
✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until January 24 ~ 8 pm US EST
For your convenience a Time Zone Converter.
You’ll have until January 28 ~ 8 pm US EST to make your recommendations.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!
✱Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!✱