Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Frisky Firsties
Week 8:Option 1:
19. Scarred/injured MC - from the following lists:
Scars are sexy
scarred bookshelf
Gay Romance Featuring a Scarred MC
Option 2:
Key date: 2 May 2014
***
So this week, the book must come from one of these listed shelves and you need to provide a link to that list in your selection post.
Week 8
Firelight by Kristen Callihan372 pgs per goodreads
Qualifies per #175 on Scars are Sexy list:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Week # 8
Bookcover/link
Lover Avenged by J.R. Rain
Page numbers 527 pg
How the book qualifies -https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9... #5
Bookcover/link
Lover Avenged by J.R. RainPage numbers 527 pg
How the book qualifies -https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9... #5
Hi team!If no one else is using it this week, I would like to take the pass. I'm not feeling well, and I don't think I will be getting much reading done in the coming week. Thanks!
I am okay with that. Get well, Fran!
I'm good with it too. Take it easy and feel better soon!
Week 8
Firelightby Kristen CallihanRating: 4 stars
Review:
This was a great Beauty and the Beast story with a definite Cupid and Psyche slant. The unmasking of the hero was both shocking and moving - and not what I saw coming! I loved how strong the heroine was and how she never needed the hero to rescue her, just love and accept her. I'm adding the second book in the series to my TBR shelf.
Week 8
Book: With or Without Him by Barbara Elsborg
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This was not for me. The book was too long, I would enjoyed it more if it was based just on the relationship between the two male characters, but there was some plot twist that felt rushed and unfinished. I liked the hypochondriac butler and Alcide, the dog but this was an average read.
Week #8
Bookcover/link
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
Rating (1-5) 4 *
Review
The is a series of books by J.R. Ward. It tells of the brotherhood of vampires. It portrays the lives of Wrath and the others in the brotherhood. This book is the seventh in the series and tells the story of Rhevenge although not in the brotherhood his sister is married to one of them, Zsadist.
Rhevenge harbors a secret that can ruin his life and that of his family. Ehlena meets Rhevenge at the doctors office. At first she didn't like him at all, but then they get to know each other and fall in love. Unfortunately, he doesn't tell the truth about what or who he really is. Will Ehlena forgive him for the lies?
Stay tuned to book 8 and John's story.
Bookcover/link
Lover Avenged by J.R. WardRating (1-5) 4 *
Review
The is a series of books by J.R. Ward. It tells of the brotherhood of vampires. It portrays the lives of Wrath and the others in the brotherhood. This book is the seventh in the series and tells the story of Rhevenge although not in the brotherhood his sister is married to one of them, Zsadist.
Rhevenge harbors a secret that can ruin his life and that of his family. Ehlena meets Rhevenge at the doctors office. At first she didn't like him at all, but then they get to know each other and fall in love. Unfortunately, he doesn't tell the truth about what or who he really is. Will Ehlena forgive him for the lies?
Stay tuned to book 8 and John's story.
Wow - you are all up to date! Good work :)
Week 9:Option 1:
1. Main character is royal - from the following lists:
Royalty in Romance
Royalty bookshelf
King Queen
Gay Romance Featuring Royalty Nobility
Option 2:
Key date: 9 May 2014
***
This week the book must come from one of these listed shelves and you need to provide a link to that list in your selection post.
I hate this theme. I have two option for this and both are YA. I need to start them both and to see which one I can finish.
Week # 9
Bookcover/link
Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #1) by Nichole Chase
Page numbers 464 pg
How the book qualifies - Royalty in Romance https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... #4 on first page
Bookcover/link
Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #1) by Nichole ChasePage numbers 464 pg
How the book qualifies - Royalty in Romance https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... #4 on first page
Week 9
Queen of Shadows389 pgs
Fits per on page 31 of Royalty shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Mariana wrote: "I hate this theme. I have two option for this and both are YA. I need to start them both and to see which one I can finish."This was a hard one for me too! Don't forget you can always take Option 2!
Week # 9
Book: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Page numbers: 393 per GR
How the book qualifies #3 in Royalty In Romance
Week #9
Bookcover/link
Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase
Rating (1-5) 4 *
Review
I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I thought I would.
Samantha Rousseau is a grad student working on finishing her degree in wildlife biology when she meets Prince Alexander Patrick Fitzwilliam. She finds out she is a long lost heir, Duchess of Rousseau. She will need to go back to Lilaria for the carnation. She is not sure she wants to do it because her father is ill and she wants to be there for him. Her father tells her to go and he will come out when he is better. Unfortunately, that never happens he dies of cancer. It was so sad. I actually cried. I could feel her emotions. I felt so sorry for her.
Samantha and Alex have a lot of sexual energy going for them. She is scared she has seen the pictures and heard the rumors about Alex and one of his ex’s. Samantha has gone through a lot and doesn't want to get hurt. Will she give Alex a chance to prove himself? Will she be accepted as Duchess? Will she fall in love with Lilaria and its people?
The book is humorous at times. Samantha does have a mouth and is not afraid to use it.
Bookcover/link
Suddenly Royal by Nichole ChaseRating (1-5) 4 *
Review
I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I thought I would.
Samantha Rousseau is a grad student working on finishing her degree in wildlife biology when she meets Prince Alexander Patrick Fitzwilliam. She finds out she is a long lost heir, Duchess of Rousseau. She will need to go back to Lilaria for the carnation. She is not sure she wants to do it because her father is ill and she wants to be there for him. Her father tells her to go and he will come out when he is better. Unfortunately, that never happens he dies of cancer. It was so sad. I actually cried. I could feel her emotions. I felt so sorry for her.
Samantha and Alex have a lot of sexual energy going for them. She is scared she has seen the pictures and heard the rumors about Alex and one of his ex’s. Samantha has gone through a lot and doesn't want to get hurt. Will she give Alex a chance to prove himself? Will she be accepted as Duchess? Will she fall in love with Lilaria and its people?
The book is humorous at times. Samantha does have a mouth and is not afraid to use it.
Week 9Book- Worthy
Page Numbers- 144
How it qualifies- found on Gay Romance Feautring Royalty Nobility list - #119 -https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
Week 9Book- Worthy
Rating- 3.5*
Review-
This is a dystopian slave story. Demetrie is nobility, but he is a rule breaker. Sev is the gypsy/thief he buys as his slave. But Sev feels he is not worthy of being a slave. I loved Sev and his emotional journey, but Demetrie was cruel and cold through the first half of the story. I found his character difficult to warm up to. But I enjoyed the story for the most part.
Week 9
Queen of ShadowsRating: 4 stars
Review:
This books was intense! In the first few pages, we're drawn into the heroine's dark world where she's spiraling down into an extreme depression and alcoholism due to the isolation forced on her by her ability to sense and control the emotions of others. Then, again in the first few pages, she is gang-raped which left me reeling - not what I expected, so now I'm warning y'all. During the attack, she finds a spark of rage against her attackers, more for the other women she knows they've murdered than herself, and slams all the emotions their victims felt back on them, killing them all. Then she passes out. And wakes up in the home of the regional vampire king. To be honest, I almost didn't make it past the rape scene. It wasn't horribly graphic, but still, my brain can fill in the details with stuff I'd rather not think about when I'm trying to escape into a good book. I'm very glad I stuck it out. Miranda's recovery, from the rape and the damage her gift has caused her health and psyche, is believable and courageous. I loved watching her fight to grow from someone on the verge of death to a physically strong and mentally stable woman.
Week 9
Book: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
I heard so many good things about this series but this was not my style. I liked the world and the brotherhood, but I really didn't like the romance and Beth was so annoying sometimes. I don't know if I will continue with this series.
Week 10: (The second last week of this round!)Option 1:
6. Time for a cleansing cry. Select a book from one of the following lists:
Made Me Cry
Cry Tear Jerker Romances
Tear Jerker Romance Novels that Jerked the Tears Right Out of Ya
Best Gay Tear Jerker with an HEA
Heartbreaking Gay Romance
Option 2:
Key date: 16 May 2014
***
This week the book must come from one of these listed shelves and you need to provide a link to that list in your selection post.
Week #10
Bookcover/link
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Page numbers 410 pgs GR
How the book qualifies Shelves > Made Me Cry >
Popular Made Me Cry Books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/... First pages about half way down
Bookcover/link
Hopeless by Colleen HooverPage numbers 410 pgs GR
How the book qualifies Shelves > Made Me Cry >
Popular Made Me Cry Books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/... First pages about half way down
Week 10
Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer392 pgs per goodreads
Fits per on Made-Me-Cry shelf - 9th page of book's shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
All up to date - great work!
Week # 10
Book: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Page numbers: 352 per GR
How the book qualifies on page 5 Made Me Cry
Week 10
Barely a Lady by Eileen DreyerRating: 2 stars
Review:
This book had me furious! I have never despised a hero more. I really, really, really wanted Olivia to leave Jack to die on that Belgian battlefield because he deserved it and she deserved blissful happiness with someone who wasn't a complete twat. But she does rescue him and he does even MORE bad stuff. The writing style is pretty good and pulls you into the story, but that's the only good thing about this book. Hated this story. DIE IN DEEP PAIN, JACK.
Mrs.soule, I'm sorry you didn't like your book....but that was the greatest review ever! LOL, I will be sure to never read that one!
Week 10Book- The Story Guy
Pages- 131
How it fits- #106 on the list- Tear Jerker Romance Novels that Jerked the Tears Right Out of Ya-
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
I love your review too, I guess that book didn't make you cry. I finished my book too, but I don't know how to rate it.
Thanks ladies! I was almost in tears at the beginning of the book when it was going over all the traumatic, horrible things that happened to the heroine - so mad she ended up with the man who caused all that suffering!!
Week 10
Book: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Rating: 2.5 stars
Review:
I started reading this series because everybody loves Stephanie Perkins. I liked Anna (3 stars read), I kind of loved Lola (4 star read), so when Isla story was released I wanted to finish the series. Isla was a disappointment for me, she felt childish and insecure and Josh was absent, I didn't get to know him, I didn't understand how he get to care about Isla. I found out more about him in Anna's book. I liked Barcelona and I liked Joshua comic (and I liked him), but the rest of the story was average.
Week 10Book- The Story Guy
Rating- 4*
Review-
I've been wanting to read this story for awhile, so I was so happy to find it on the 'Tear Jerker Romance Novels that Jerked the Tears Right Out of Ya' list.
I enjoyed this story. The premise, meeting for an hour once a week, just to kiss, was unique and I was intrigued. I loved Brian, and liked Carrie. Their story felt complete in the shortish amount of pages, and while I didn't feel it was a tear jerker, I did tear up a few times. I would definitely seek out more books by this author in the future :)
Week # 10
Bookcover/link
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Rating (1-5) 4 *
Review
Sky and Holder set out for a roller coaster of a ride in this book.
This is a very emotional book. It made me laugh, cry and downright angry.
Sky is 17 and been home-schooled her entire life. She was never allowed to watch TV, have a computer or a phone supposedly her mother was technophobic. Sky is also a very strong, courageous young woman.
Hunter is 18 and gorgeous, melt your heart, has a bit of a temper.
Sky and Hunter meet and he seems to recognize her but not sure. He finds out her name and it isn't what he expects. There scenes in this book are intense, great sexually tension.
Some of the things that happened in this book were downright funny. I mean, geez, think of any seventeen year you know not knowing how to use a cell phone, not knowing what lol means. Then others were downright sad. I mean think of any child you know having to deal with abuse in any form, suicide and kidnapping. How would that change them.
Will Hunter figure out how he knows her? Will Sky ever let anyone close? Will her mom ever get a TV? What is her mom so scared of? Will Sky and Hunter get together? Will they heal? Can they heal from their past?
Bookcover/link
Hopeless by Colleen HooverRating (1-5) 4 *
Review
Sky and Holder set out for a roller coaster of a ride in this book.
This is a very emotional book. It made me laugh, cry and downright angry.
Sky is 17 and been home-schooled her entire life. She was never allowed to watch TV, have a computer or a phone supposedly her mother was technophobic. Sky is also a very strong, courageous young woman.
Hunter is 18 and gorgeous, melt your heart, has a bit of a temper.
Sky and Hunter meet and he seems to recognize her but not sure. He finds out her name and it isn't what he expects. There scenes in this book are intense, great sexually tension.
Some of the things that happened in this book were downright funny. I mean, geez, think of any seventeen year you know not knowing how to use a cell phone, not knowing what lol means. Then others were downright sad. I mean think of any child you know having to deal with abuse in any form, suicide and kidnapping. How would that change them.
Will Hunter figure out how he knows her? Will Sky ever let anyone close? Will her mom ever get a TV? What is her mom so scared of? Will Sky and Hunter get together? Will they heal? Can they heal from their past?
Wow - you are completely up to date Team. Great work!
Week # 11
Book: Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
Page numbers: 288 per GR
How the book qualifies Setting: San Francisco, California (United States) - mentioned in precis
Option 2 Week #11
Book-Beauty And The Bookworm
Page numbers- 107
The Romantics, beppy, 3*, 8/4/14. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Week 11: (Last week of this round!)Option 1:
15. Author or MC lives in, or is from, California.
Clarification: they (author or MC) may be been born in California but then moved. That is OK.
Please advise HOW you know the author or MC is from/lives in California. This may be precis, lists, shelves, wikipedia etc... I just need to know where you obtained the information. Please LINK to the info.
Option 2:
Key date: 21 May 2014
This week, if you use Option 2, you will select your book from the bookshelves of a member in the team BELOW your team. That is: someone in team Eclectic Six will pick a book from a member in team Space Monkey Mafia. The Romantics will select from members in team Eclectic Six. This only applies if you use Option 2.
Eclectic Six
Space Monkey Mafia
Double Trouble
The Axiomatic Minks
Three Ring Circus
Frisky Firsts
The Romantics
Refer post 128 for formatting required if you use this option.
Week 11Option 2
Chill Factor337 pgs per Goodreads
The Romantics, Becky the Bookworm, 4 stars, 8/27/14
Week #11
Bookcover/link
Unwrapped by Chantilly White
Page numbers 177 pgs GR
How the book qualifies Chantilly White was born in Southern California. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Bookcover/link
Unwrapped by Chantilly WhitePage numbers 177 pgs GR
How the book qualifies Chantilly White was born in Southern California. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Week 11
Book: Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
This was a funny and easy read, but I liked more the first book, Wallbanger. I didn't like that there was a lot of Sophia & Neil drama and not enough Carolina and Simon. There was still some fun scenes and some steamy ones, I liked the trip they took and the new people they met, especially Vivian. I like this author writing and I will buy and read her books, but I had high expectation for this book and I was disappointed in the end.
So I finished my book and posted my review, I wish you all happy reading and I hope we will win :)I have to go out of town, I have a big exam and I will not be back until Monday but I want to say that it was nice to meet you all and I hope to see you maybe next time.
Changing my book choice:Week 11
Option 2
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks371 pages per Goodreads
The Romantics, Becky the Bookworm, 4 stars, 6/3/14
Book- Beauty And The Bookworm
Rating- 4*
Review-
This was a fun, cute, totally angst-free story. Shane and Mason make an unlikely couple, one a health food eating, tall, gorgeous jock and the other a short, quiet, librarian. This story was told in first person from Mason's point of view. He is very funny, and that was the real charm of this book, but it would have been great to get a bit more insight into Shane and his thoughts and feelings. Overall very cute. Oh, and Mason's grandma almost stole the show.....a biker lesbian who was just so funny.
Mariana wrote: "So I finished my book and posted my review, I wish you all happy reading and I hope we will win :)I have to go out of town, I have a big exam and I will not be back until Monday but I want to say ..."
Good luck on your exam Mariana!
The has been a lot of fun! We are a great team! And I think we have a shot at winning :)
Week 11
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This was cute but not especially original. I felt like the heroine's personality changed back and forth too much - sometimes she was strong and brave, and sometimes she was a mess. Also everything happened super-fast - the book only covers about 3 days of time - and the undying love resulting between the protagonists was too unbelievable for me. But there were funny parts and the side characters were both intriguing and funny. I might pick up the second book in the series if it fits another challenge.
Thank you, team, for a great challenge and for making things super-easy on a first-time captain!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Unwrapped (other topics)How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (other topics)
Beauty and the Bookworm (other topics)
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (other topics)
Rusty Nailed (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jenn Bennett (other topics)Charlotte Stein (other topics)
Book: With or Without Him by Barbara Elsborg
Page numbers: 427 per GR
How the book qualifies #190 Gay Romance Featuring a Scarred Main Character