Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Reading on the Rails (3)
Week 2Option 1
Heart of the Deep by Tiffany Roberts
378 pages
Qualification: Number 3 in precis
"Her efforts finally come to fruition when she and the other rangers capture three of the beasts"
~KarenH~ wrote: "Grace wrote: "I'll have my book finished over the weekend. I'm listening to the audio version ( I don't usually listen to audio books) and it's taking me longer than usual."LOL, you're the exact ..."
Yup, I'm definitely the opposite. I tried playing with the speed, but it changes the narrator's voice too much for me. So I'm leaving it on normal speed, but I'm enjoying it a lot.
Completion post week 2
read 3/18
*****
Review - Patricia Briggs is one of the few authors that is an "auto-buy" for me. I read this book before, but it was enough years back that I had forgotten everything. This book is connected to the Mercy series, but gives more of a focus to the Montana pack. Anna was very abused by her former pack and while her wolf felt Charles was her mate, Anna had been too long without anyone to trust and wasn't sure of herself, much less Charles. How she grew was great to see and I look forward to seeing how she progresses in the series.
NewSelection Post:
Week: 2
Book: The Summer Gardener
Page count: 103
How it qualifies: Number two in precis -
"...both men discover they have two things in common..."
Week 2 - Completion PostOption 1
Purity in DeathFinished: 3/17/19 - 4 Stars
Review: This was a reread (relisten actually). I love this entire series, and this was no exception. The best part for me is the interaction between the main and secondary characters, and seeing the growth and deepening of the relationships...the murder mystery is generally good to, but not why I'm so drawn to these books. In this case we get to see how McNabb and Peabody deal with a hardship that has the potential to either strengthen their relationship or destroy it. As usual the narration was stellar. Susan Ericksen is amazing...the only female narrator I know of that can make a male MC's voice actually sound sexy!
If I change books do I make a new post or edit my original post? I couldn't get into the book I chose and with the boring readings I do for school I don't want to struggle with my leisure reading. Luckily I have another book checked out that fits.
Mary-Megan wrote: "If I change books do I make a new post or edit my original post? I couldn't get into the book I chose and with the boring readings I do for school I don't want to struggle with my leisure reading. ..."A new post please...it makes life so much easier for both Jane and me! =)
Week 2: CompletionOption 1
Three Blind Dates386 pages/GR
How it fits: #3 in title
Date completed: 3/8/19
Rating: *4 STARS*
Oh my goodness this was stinkin' cute! It was so funny and there were more than a few moments that I laughed out loud. I also got a kick out of the "You've Got Mail" tie in as it's definitely one of those movies I could watch over and over again. And ultimately as I knew exactly the way this one was going to turn out, I really enjoyed the ride it took to get there.
The audio on this one was really good. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
New Selection Post - Changed bookWeek # 2
Bookcover/link: Under Control by Shannon Stacey
Page numbers: 283
How the book qualifies: Numbers in the precis: “...which means more time to spend with his two kids.”
Week 1
Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews
Finished 3/20, 5 stars
Review: I am a fan of the Andrews, and honestly, they can do no wrong in their books. Each one keeps getting better and better. They're not everyone's cup of tea, but their books are perfect to me. It amazes me they took an April Fools' joke and then decided to make a whole new series out it. I can't wait for Hugh's next book. The narration was really great. The narrator was able to embody Hugh.
Completion Post: Week 2Book: The Summer Gardener
Rating: 2.5 stars
Date Read: 18th March
Review:
While I liked the descriptions in this there were issues that were bought up without ever getting resolved which did lower my over all enjoyment.
BarbaraAnn wrote: "Completion post week 1read 3/18
*****
Review - Patricia Briggs is one of the few authors that is an "auto-buy" for me. I read this book before, but it was enough year..."
Hi BarbaraAnn - I think you mean week 2?
Jane (PS) wrote: "BarbaraAnn wrote: "Completion post week 1read 3/18
*****
Review - Patricia Briggs is one of the few authors that is an "auto-buy" for me. I read this book before, but..."
Sorry Jane - you're correct and I've made the change.
Completion PostWeek # 2
Bookcover/link: Under Control by Shannon Stacey
Rating (1-5): 3
Completion Date: 3/22
Review: This was a decent addition to the Boston Fire series. There wasn’t much going on in the books aside from Derek and Olivia trying to figure out if a relationship will fit in their busy lives. She’s a planner and a relationship, particularly with a man who already has kids, isn’t in her current trajectory. He, meanwhile, has a chaotic schedule between the firehouse and his two kids. Can the two of them fit into each other’s lives or not...It was decent. The drama was fairly predictable but still an enjoyable read.
Sassafrass wrote: "Week 2: SelectionOption 1
Three Blind Dates386 pages/GR
How it fits: #3 in title
Date completed: 3/8/19
Rating: *4 STARS*
Oh my goodness t..."
Hey Sass, your completions post says 'selection'...can you fix that for me please? Thanks!
~KarenH~ wrote: "Sassafrass wrote: "Week 2: SelectionOption 1
Three Blind Dates386 pages/GR
How it fits: #3 in title
Date completed: 3/8/19
Rating: *4 STARS..."
Done
Hey everyone, I just saw in another team's thread that Jane requested that posts be labeled either 'selection' or 'completion'. From what she said it's not required but it does make things easier for her (and I know it does for me, too). So from here on if everyone can be sure to include that it would be much appreciated! Also, Grace and BarbaraAnn, if you could add that to your week 2 selection posts, that would be great. Thanks!
Week 3Option 1
12. Read a book with editions available in more than one language.
Option 2
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.
Key Date: September 21, 2018
Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.
Week 3: SelectionOption 1
It Ends with Us385 pages/GR
How it fits: editions available in multiple languages: English, German, French, Dutch, and more
Selection post - Option 1Week # 3
Bookcover/link: Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey
Page numbers: 331 pages
How the book qualifies -The book comes in English, German, Estonian, Portuguese, and Dutch.
Week 3 - Selection PostOption 1
Secrets at MidnightPages: 100 (Kindle version)
How the book qualifies: Published in English and German
Week 3 - Selection PostOption 1
pages 368
How the book qualifies - published in English, Dutch, Turkish and Polish
Week 3: CompletionOption 1
It Ends with Us385 pages/GR
How it fits: editions available in multiple languages: English, German, French, Dutch, and more
Date completed: 3/23/19
*4.5 STARS
Ok, so woah. This was way more intense than I expected it to be. The story took me down a path that I was not ready for. I went into this completely blind and I think it made the reading experience way more authentic.
The first time shit went down with Lily and Ryle, I was so freakin' shocked, much like she was. And it was just something I couldn't get over. I couldn't believe it.
I wish the romance part had been developed a little more and wish it hadn't ended where it did but man I was bawling like a baby during that delivery room scene. It was exactly the way it should have gone. I had such tremendous respect for Lily at that point.
I stayed around to listen to the author's note and got so much more insight into why she wrote this book and why she wrote it the way that she did. I also want to say how much respect I had for her making Ryle this brilliant neurosurgeon. It really drove home the point that no one is immune.
This is my first experience with a Colleen Hoover adult book and now I understand why she's won the Goodreads choice award so many times. I was really blown away.
I thought the narrator was good in this one. But honestly I don't remember much about her besides the fact that she didn't detract from the story for me and let me get immersed in the experience. I certainly would listen to another book narrated by her.
Selection Post:Week: 3
Book: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Page count: 316
How it qualifies:
Published in English and German
Completion Post: Week 3Book: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Rating: 3 stars
Date Read: 23rd March
Review:
Loved the start of this and the flashbacks of the two of them together but when they actually get around to trying anything in the present it felt lacklustre and almost a copy and paste scenario from any similar romance which left me disappointed. The writing was spot on as usual for this author though, so its a 3 for me.
Week 2 Completion
Heart of the Deep by Tiffany Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This was a nice conclusion to the broader story arc. I like Larkin, she was different from the previous heroine and a nice change of pace. There is a lot of story possibilities to go from here and I'm interested to see where the authors take the next couple stories.
Week 3 Selection
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole
359 pages
Qualification: Translated in English, German, and Italian
Completion posts:Week #3
Bookcover/link Firestorm by Iris Johansen
Finished 3/25/19
Rating ***
Review - It's been quite awhile since I've read one of Iris Johansen's books. This one is a standalone title, but it felt like part of a series. Overall, it was a good story - Kerry's mother died in a fire when she was a child and she grew up to be an arson specialist. I liked the basic plot. I also liked both Kerry and Brad Silver, the person who recruited her to work on a serial arson investigation. My problem with the story was the paranormal aspects. I thought it made the story overcrowded without adding anything.
Week 3 - Completion PostOption 1
Secrets at MidnightFinished: 3/22/19 - 4 Stars
Review: I love this series! This one was very enjoyable, but being so short didn't have the amazing detail that most of Nalini Singh's books have. It was fun to listen to Bastien's story though, and really whet my appetite for the next full length novel, due out in June! As always, Angela Dawe did a fantastic job with the narration.
Completion PostWeek # 3
Bookcover/link: Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey
Rating (1-5): 3
Completion Date: 3/28
Review: This was a pretty typical fake boyfriend/fiance storyline. Knowing that the whole thing was fake and only temporary, they try to ignore their attraction but being forced to live together makes that difficult. I really liked the secondary characters and how they screwed with the couple. There was also a secondary minor romance between the grandma and the hardware shop owner. It was nice to see an older couple getting some love. Overall it was an enjoyable book.
Yikes! I completely forgot we had a new theme announcement today! Thank goodness I was at my computer trying to get some work done when it was posted. 😛Week 4
Option 1
7. Read a book with an animal on the cover.
Please post the cover to show how it fits the theme for option 1.
Option 2
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.
Key Date: September 28, 2018
Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.
Wow, this one is harder than I thought it would be. In the 112 books I have on my TBR list, two have animals, one is checked out from my library and the other I'm saving for a road trip...grrrrI'm placing another book on hold from another library, hopefully it doesn't take too long to get here...
Mary-Megan wrote: "Wow, this one is harder than I thought it would be. In the 112 books I have on my TBR list, two have animals, one is checked out from my library and the other I'm saving for a road trip...grrrr"I lucked out...I have one book left on my Feb/Mar M&G list that fit about five different themes, and this was one of them. I figured if the theme that was announced worked for it great, and if not I'd listen to it anyway and just wait until Monday when the new M&G list kicks in to pick a book for this challenge. I'm all about multi-tasking!
Selection Post - Option 2Week # 4
Bookcover/link: Ain't She a Peach? by Molly Harper
Page numbers: 304 pages
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book: Sassafrass read Sweet Tea and Sympathy (book 1) on 2/17/19 and gave it four stars. Thanks to the series option, I’m going to read book 2.
Week 4 - Selection PostOption 1
Candy Man
Pages: 139 (Kindle version)
How the book qualifies: Dog on cover
~KarenH~ wrote: "I figured if the theme that was announced worked for it great, and if not I'd listen to it anyway and just wait until Monday when the new M&G list kicks in to pick a book for this challenge. I'm all about multi-tasking! ..."I can understand that. The book I chose is actually a part of my April/May M&G as well as PIFM, so the fact that I have to wait for the library to get it works in my favor. Plus I just started a different book, so this gives me time to get it read.
Selection Post: THIS WEEK'S SELECTION HAS BEEN CHANGED - NEW POST IN NOTE #98Week: 4
Book: Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Page count: 514
How it qualifies: wolf on the cover
Sassafrass wrote: "Week 4: SelectionOption 1
Left Field279 pages/GR
How it fits: drawing of rabbit on cover"
Sass, I'm checking with Jane about your book...I thought it was fine, but she just disallowed a couple of books saying she wanted "an obvious realistic animal", so I figure better safe than sorry!
Ok, just got a response...she said no. ☹️
FYI - I've ruled out stylised animals. Must look like a realistic animal.Sorry Sass!
ok no problem I'll look for something else later then
Week 4: SelectionOption 2
Chaos in Death160 pages/GR
How it fits: KarenH read book 1 in this series, Naked in Death on 10/3/18 and rated it *4 STARS*
Week 4: SelectionOption 2
Chaos in Death160 pages/GR
How it fits: KarenH read book 1 in this series, Naked in Death on 10/3/18 and rated it *4 STARS*
Date completed: 3/31/19
Rating: *4.5 STARS*
I like these in between books. They have more of the "woo-woo" in them that Eve ties to ignore at all costs. She's facts and evidence but sometimes life just doesn't work that way.
This story was no different in that there was something really weird going on with some murders and the evidence led them down a path that was even weirder.
My only complaint was that I did feel like this story needed to be flushed out a bit more. But that may have been me just trying to get a longer story. :)
Week 3 Completion
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I enjoyed this book and I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to continue with this series (it's been 5 years since I read the previous book). At the beginning there, were a couple moments were I wasn't quite sure what was going on (this one jumps in really with the previous book) but it did start slowly coming back to me. There were some moments were the hero was starting to creep on my ick factor, but overall I really liked both Mari and Bowen. I really like how the books don't focus on just one paranormal creature, but switch it up. Hopefully, it'll keep the series fresh and less repetitive (and hopefully it doesn't take me another 5 years to read the next one).
I'm changing my selection post for week 4 - Written in Red will take a few weeks to get hold of.Week: 4 - new selection post
Book: Fish Out of Water by Amy Lane
Page count: 270
How it qualifies: goldfish on the cover
I'm going to change my book for this week, I'm just not feeling it right now.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Week: 2
Book: One for the Money
Page count: 320
How it qualifies: One in title