Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2019 Challenge Archive
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2019 October Pick It For Me Challenge

Thanks for the great picks, Kathy! We do have a lot in common, but as usual you found plenty of new picks that sound intriguing...I can't wait to investigate them a little more closely!

KarenH, I can pick for Rebecca. Don't want her to miss out!"
Thanks Sonja, that would be great!
Rebecca, if anyone doesn't get picks by the deadline, I'll have you do picks for them if that's ok with you.

Here are your picks. I hope they hit the spot!
Jack o Lanterns: We have a faces on Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and The Passenger by Lisa Lutz (strange tale of a woman running from the law).


Costumes: An oldie, but goodie romantic suspense book by Linda Howard - Mr. Perfect where friends learn a little fun can get out of hand. Or check out the adorable Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon - I know this is middle grade, but it is the cutest story where a young girl pretends to be the witch the minions of a castle sent for.


Trick or Treating: You seem to be loving the series, so learn about Dina's sister in One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews (book MUCH better than cover). Or read about a woman who wakes up on a beach with amnesia and a dead body in Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur (pretty cover).


Mischief Night: We have a couple "bad" boys with The Gamble by Kristen Ashley and Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews where an ex-football player ends up going to his hometown for his parents and drags his assistant with him.


Bobbing for Apples: Interesting premise in It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne. Or see a widow learn to live again during a cooking competition in A Taste of Heaven by Penny Watson.


Divination Games: Check back with the bar crew in Twist by Kylie Scott. Or check out a great YA trilogy by Jennifer Estep where magical power leads to mob-like families and our MC gets forced to join a family as a bodyguard in Cold Burn of Magic.


Haunted Houses: An small town were lots of paranormal folk live is being studied in How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper. See the universe expand beyond werewolves when Elena gets Stolen by Kelley Armstrong.


Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): The New Orleans crew is tight like family and help out a newcomer in Crux by Moira Rogers. Or check out the "strange" Goodnight family as sisters are farm sitting and end up helping investigate a "ghost" at a dig site in Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore.



I hope you find something interesting this month to read.
Jack o Lanterns:
TBR:

New:

Costu..."
Why Hello, :D
Thankyou for my Picks, I look forward to reading, although
I'm also gonna be kicking myself for not updating some of the books on my TBR before pickings.
Some of my September picks have been picked again, but I don't think I'll get to them in five days so hopefully October can make it happen.
Silly me also forgot that I have second books in series' but not the first and they're ones that "need to be read" in order.
Oh man, October is gonna be a massive book one.,

Don't forget that the "series rule" applies to this challenge. If a book is recommended to you that isn't in the right place in a series, you can substitute the book that is next up for you and it counts for the challenge!

Hoping I was on the right track with your picks here. I went off your to-read shelf and tried to pick the current series number showing, but if it's off, please feel free to adjust or tell me and I'll adjust to the one you are to read next.
Jack o Lanterns:
🍂 TBR: Memory in Death (orange cover)
🍂 TBR: Catering to Nobody (face – Jack o’Lantern! – on cover)


Costumes:
🍂 TBR: Trouble in Mudbug (H is undercover/hiding identity)
🍂 NEW: Barely a Lady (both H and h are hiding identity/something – this was a surprisingly entertaining series)


Trick or Treating:
🍂 TBR: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat (love cats, cover is cute!)
🍂 NEW: A Werewolf in Manhattan (book was better than the cover suggests IMO, light-hearted read)


Mischief Night:
🍂 TBR: Blood Trinity (h is a human/demon, demons are trouble/bad)
🍂 NEW(ish): Ruthless (H is a bad, bad boy)


Bobbing for Apples:
🍂 TBR: Brownies and Broomsticks (food/cover/food industry)
🍂 NEW(ish): Marked (redish cover)


Divination Games:
🍂 TBR: Emily Goes to Exeter (series)
🍂 NEW: Stalking Jack the Ripper (series – I’ve really enjoyed this series so far and am on hold for book 4! Audrey Rose sometimes bothers me with her immaturity, but the delectable hero, Thomas makes up for it. IMHO Prince Dracula, book 2 was my fave.)


Haunted Houses:
🍂 TBR: Carve the Mark (dark cover)
🍂 TBR: Caught Dead Handed (dark/scary cover/paranormal)


Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead):
🍂 TBR: Haunted in Death (death in story)
🍂 TBR: Freaky LiesFreaky Lies (death in story)
🍂 NEW: Heartstone (close family/death in story - I had to get this one in somewhere. It's a P&P vagary with dragons and fantasy. Started slow, but it sure picked up and I enjoyed it.)



Hope you find some good reads!

Don't forget that the "series rule" applie..."
I did not know that. I will honestly probably read the all of them till I get to the recommenced one anyway, so its no big deal, but thank-you for letting me know.

Here are your picks. I hope they hit the spot!
Jack o Lanterns: We have a faces on Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and The Passenger by Lisa Lutz (strange tale ..."
Thanks so much Diane

2019 October PIFM Challenge - Picking Rules
Jack o Lanterns:
🍂 Recommend a book with a mostly orange cover or with a face on the cover.
- Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward – Orange Cover
- Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs – Face on Cover


Costumes:
🍂 Recommend a book tagged as Romantic Suspense, OR a book where someone hides their true identity or something else about themselves.
- The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann – Hides something about themselves
- Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb – Romantic Suspense - **NEW**


Trick or Treating:
🍂 Recommend a book where the cover is a treat - one you find particularly attractive, or a Trick - where the book is better (or more highly rated) than the cover looks.
- Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen – Attractive Cover
- Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews – Book is better than the cover


Mischief Night:
🍂 Recommend a book with a "bad boy" or "bad girl" character, or a character that is a troublemaker or enjoys pranks or practical jokes OR a book set in the spring or with a spring-like scene on the cover.
- Circe by Madeline Miller – Bad Girl/Troublemaker - **NEW**
- A Knight to Remember by Cynthia Luhrs – Spring-like Cover


Bobbing for Apples:
🍂 Recommend a book with a mostly red cover or with food on cover, OR a book set in the food industry. You can also recommend a book that includes traditional dating or courtship.
- Dragonsworn by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Red Cover
- Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan - Food Industry - **NEW**


Divination Games:
🍂 Recommend a book that is part of a series - so they can eventually see what the future holds!
- Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews – Part of a Series
- A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole - Part of a Series - **NEW**


Haunted Houses:
🍂 Recommend a Paranormal Romance, OR book that is scary, OR a book with a dark cover.
- Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire – Dark Cover - **NEW**
- Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper – Paranormal Romance - **NEW**


Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead):
🍂 Recommend a book with close family or friends, OR a book where a death is a factor in the story, OR a book with celebration, OR a book with flowers on cover.
- Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare – Flowers on the cover - **NEW**
- Claimed By Shadow by Karen Chance – Death in the Story



I'm not going to lie, some of my 'new' were likely on your TBR shelf, but I noticed they were far back so I'm bringing them back to the spotlight! If you need any repicks, let me know!..."
Thank you so much! My TBR is a monster, you're a brave woman for tackling it!

I'm not going to lie, some of my 'new' were likely on your TBR shelf, but I noticed they were far back so I'm bringing them back to the spotlight! If you need any repicks..."
It was interesting and my TBR filled up some more too! LOL Hopefully I gave you a nice variety for next month!

Jack o Lanterns:
🍂 Recommend a book with a mostly orange cover or with a face on the cover.
TBR -

NEW -

Costumes: Celtic people believed that during the festival Samhain, which marked the transition to the new year at the end of the harvest and beginning of the winter, spirits walked the Earth. The Celts had to get creative to avoid being terrorized by evil spirits during this time of year. To fake out the ghosts, people would don disguises so they would be mistaken for spirits themselves and left alone.
🍂 Recommend a book tagged as Romantic Suspense, OR a book where someone hides their true identity or something else about themselves.
TBR -

NEW-

Trick or Treating: Some sources argue that our modern trick-or-treating stems from belsnickling, a tradition in German-American communities where children would dress in costume and then call on their neighbors to see if the adults could guess the identities of the disguised guests. In one version of the practice, the children were rewarded with food or other treats if no one could identify them. Other researchers speculate that the candy bonanza stems from the Scottish practice of guising, itself a secular version of souling. In the Middle Ages, soulers, children and poor adults, would go to local homes and collect food or money in return for prayers said for the dead on All Souls’ Day. Guisers ditched the prayers in favor of less religious performances like jokes, songs, or other “tricks.”
🍂 Recommend a book where the cover is a treat - one you find particularly attractive, or a Trick - where the book is better (or more highly rated) than the cover looks.
TBR -

NEW -


Mischief Night: As a phenomenon that often varies by region, the pre-Halloween tradition, also known as “Devil’s Night”, is credited with a different origin depending on whom you ask. Some sources say that pranks were originally part of May Day Celebrations. But Samhain, and eventually All Souls Day, always seem to have included good-natured mischief. When Scottish and Irish immigrants came to America, they brought along the tradition of celebrating Mischief Night as part of Halloween, which was great for candy-fueled pranksters.
🍂 Recommend a book with a "bad boy" or "bad girl" character, or a character that is a troublemaker or enjoys pranks or practical jokes OR a book set in the spring or with a spring-like scene on the cover.
TBR-

NEW -


Bobbing for Apples: This game traces its origins to a courting ritual that was part of a Roman festival honoring Pamona, the goddess of agriculture and abundance. Multiple variations existed, but the basic gist was that young men and women would be able to foretell their future relationships based on the game. When the Romans conquered the British Isles the Pamona festival was blended with the similarly timed Samhain, a precursor to Halloween.
🍂 Recommend a book with a mostly red cover or with food on cover, OR a book set in the food industry. You can also recommend a book that includes traditional dating or courtship.
TBR -

NEW -


Divination Games: Fortune Telling of a sort, divination games and spells date back hundreds of years, and were as much a part of traditional Halloween celebrations as trick-or-treating is today. Most of the games seem to originate from rural Ireland and Scotland, and most authors on the topic cite the iconic Scottish poet, Robert Burns’ 1785 poem, "Halloween" as one of their earliest references. These divination customs were probably already traditional by the late eighteenth century, and some stayed in practice, evolved into Victorian parlor games. They were carried over to the US and Canada when Scottish and Irish immigrants brought Halloween with them to the New World. Descriptions of divinatory party games can be found in North American books and magazines as late as the 1940s, although they passed out of favor by the golden age of Trick-or-Treating in the post-WWII suburban boom.
🍂 Recommend a book that is part of a series - so they can eventually see what the future holds!
TBR -

NEW -

Haunted Houses: The origins of the haunted house date back to 19th-century London, when a series of illusions and attractions introduced the public to new forms of gruesome entertainment. Halloween-themed haunted houses first emerged during the Great Depression as American parents schemed up ways to distract young tricksters, whose holiday pranks had escalated to property damage, vandalism and harassment of strangers.
🍂 Recommend a Paranormal Romance, OR book that is scary, OR a book with a dark cover.
TBR-

NEW -


Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): Celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican descent, this three day event traditionally starts on October 31. It is a time for family and friends gather to remember friends and family who have died, and to support their spiritual journey. It is viewed not as a time of sadness but of celebration, because their loved ones wake and celebrate with them.
🍂 Recommend a book with close family or friends, OR a book where a death is a factor in the story, OR a book with celebration, OR a book with flowers on cover.
TBR -

NEW -


Let me know if you need any repicks happy reading!.

Hoping I was on the right track with your picks here. I went off your to-read shelf and tried to pick the current series number showing, but if it's off, please feel free to adjust or ..."
Thanks Sonja.

Jack o Lanterns:
🍂 Recommend a book with a mostly orange cover or with a face on the cover.
TBR -

NE..."
Thank you Romanticbookworm, these look great!


☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "NancyH I'll get your picks in tonight."
Thanks for posting - I was just getting ready to send out reminder PMs, and you cut the number I need to do in half! 😀

Jack o Lanterns:
To Be Read Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall - from America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness I cho..."
Thanks! I'm looking forward to checking these out :)

Here are your picks. Happy reading!
Jack O Lantern
TBR -

New -

Costumes
TBR -

New -

Trick or Treating
TBR -

New -

Mischief Night
TBR -

New -

Bobbing for Apples
TBR -

New -

Divination Games - part of series
TBR -

New -

Haunted Houses - dark cover
TBR -

New -

Dia de Los Mueros (Day of the Dead) - Flowers on cover
TBR -

New -


P.S. This is my first time participating, so please forgive any mistakes!
Jack-O-Lanterns:
1. You Loved me at my Darkest – Evie Harper. This is from your on-kindle list (the list you wanted your picks to be made from) and has a face on the cover!

2. War (The Four Horsemen #2) – Laura Thalassa. According to your Read list, you read Pestilence (the first book in the series). I have read both and LOVED them. War was just as good, if not better, than Pestilence. I hope you like it! The cover features War (His whole body... face included! I'm fudging a little because I think you'd like to read this!).

Costumes:
1. The Secret by Lexy Timms. I picked this one for it's title. It seemed apropos! It's also on your on-kindle list.

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thornes and Roses #1) Sarah J. Maas. According to your read list, you have read some other works by Mass. This series is amazing! I hope you'll give it a shot. This first book in the series features a lot of secrest and intrigue and an entire race of beings cursed to wear masks that hide their faces.

Trick or Treating:
1. Sweet Obsession (Sweet Additction #3) – J. Daniels. This title is from your on-kindle list. I thought the cupcake was a unique take on an "appealing" cover!

2. Under Locke – Mariana Zapata. I picked this one for you for a few reasons. The cover is deceptively unexciting, but between the covers is a really great story! It's pretty original as far as MC romances go and very enjoyable.

Mischief Night:
1. Fallen Ink (Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #1) -- Carrie Ann Ryan. This book from your on-kindle list features a female tattoo artist as the main protagonist. Maybe I'm a goody goody, but in my imagination a female tattoo artist is a "bad girl"... or just a bad ass.

2. Flowers from the Storm – Laura Kinsale. Jervaulx, the male lead in this story, is definitely a bad boy. Sleeping around and not expecting any consequences, Jervaulx gets his comeuppance (or way more than he deserved).

Bobbing for Apples:
1. The Demon World (The Smoke Thieves #2) – Sally Green. This book, with a mostly red cover, is from your on-kindle list.

2. After the Night – Linda Howard. This book is really exciting! The cover is almost entirely red, depending on the edition you read.

Divination Games:
1. Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) – Sarah J. Maas. This book is from your on-kindle list.

2. Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter #1) – Sherrilyn Kenyon. This author writes a lot of series. The Dark-Hunter series is a spin off of another series, so there's a lot of books to dive into here!

Haunted Houses:
1. Sordid (Sordid #1) – Nikki Sloane. This book is from your on-kindle list and I thought the cover and title combined were on the scary/dark side!

2. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte. So, this book is a little old fashioned, but it's a classic for a reason! It is a romance, but it's an eerie story with a lot of dark themes and spooky imagery. Give it a shot!

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead):
1. Cart Before the Horse (Denver Brides #1) – Bernadette Marie. This is from your on-kindle list and has flowers on the cover :)

2. One Day in December – Josie Silver. This story spans ten years between two best friends and a common love interest. There's also a cast of secondary characters (all friends and family) that play important roles in the story. It's an adorable and fun read!


P.S. This is my first time participating, so please forgive any mistakes!
Jack-O-Lanter..."
Thanks Caroline. Some great choices there. I haven’t read the first one in the four horsemen series yet so that must be wrong in my lists but I will try and read that and if I have time try the second one too. Fab picks xx

Jack o Lanterns:
TBR:

New:

Costumes:
TBR:

New:

Trick or Treating:
TBR:

New:

Mischief Night:
TBR:

New:

Bobbing for Apples:
TBR:

New:

Divination Games:
TBR:


Haunted Houses:
TBR:

New:

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead):
TBR:

New:


Here are your picks. Happy reading!
Jack O Lantern
TBR -

New -

Costumes
TBR - [bookcover:His R..."
Thanks for the picks Carina. I can't wait to get to some of them.

Jack o Lanterns
🍂TBR ~ Cookies and Clairvoyance ~ Bailey Cates ~orange cover
🍂NEW ~ The Foxe & the Hound ~ R.S. Grey ~orange cover


Costumes
🍂TBR ~ Rev It Up ~ Julie Ann Walker ~romantic suspense
🍂NEW ~ Deadly Descent ~ Kaylea Cross ~an interesting RS series


Trick or Treating
🍂TBR ~ Whiskey Beach ~ Nora Roberts ~treat ~ attractive cover
🍂NEW ~ The Year We Fell Down ~ Sarina Bowen ~trick ~ a nice cover but way better story than typical NA angst


Mischief Night
🍂TBR ~ Rock Chick Revolution ~ Kristen Ashley ~Ally's kind of a bad girl ;-)
🍂NEW ~ Accidental Tryst ~ Natahsa Boyd ~a bit of a bad boy


Bobbing for Apples
🍂TBR ~ Death by Dumpling ~ Vivien Chien ~food!
🍂NEW ~ Them Bones ~ Carolyn Haines ~food on cover - one of my favorite series


Divination Games
🍂TBR ~ Dark in Death ~ J.D. Robb ~longest series I know of!
🍂NEW ~ When We Touch ~ Brenda Novak ~good start to a series


Haunted Houses
🍂TBR ~ Dreams of a Dark Warrior ~ Kresley Cole ~PNR
🍂NEW ~ Awakened by the Wolf ~ Kristal Hollis ~PNR


Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
🍂TBR ~ All He Ever Desired ~ Shannon Stacey ~friends & family
🍂NEW ~ Good Luck with That ~ Kristan Higgins ~close friends



We have such similar tastes that I kept picking ones for you that you have already read - lol. But I think I have found enough that you will have some new ones on your list!"
These are great options, Nancy!! Can't wait to dig in :-)

Jack o Lanterns
🍂TBR ~ Cookies and Clairvoyance ~ Bailey Cates ~orange cover
..."
Thanks for the great picks LaurLa!

Now for the hard part - waiting for October to get here so we can start reading! 😁

Jack o Lanterns:
TBR:

New:

Costumes:
TBR:

New: [boo..."
Thank you, Carmen, these look GREAT! I can't wait to get started but the problem will be choosing which one to start first, since I want to read them all!!

I finished my first pick and really liked it! Thanks for the push to read.

Awesome!!! Glad it was a good pick for you :-)

We're the middle of the month and I've tried THREE books on my list and have yet to finish one! *sob*
I'll get there, but wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?



Carmen - This needs to be a thing! I need reading time!!! ;)

Carmen; I like the way you think.

Sonja it definitely needs to be a thing. 😉


I am starting my third pick


I am starting my third pick

Great reading, Rebecca! You're already two ahead of me!


Here are my selections for you. Hopefully there are some new choices you will enjoy.
Jack o Lanterns:
🎃 TBR:

🎃 NEW: [bo..."
Hi Hazel!
I finished [bookcover:His Rebel|36570555] from your list for me. It was typical Riley....spicy and fun. I added

Thanks for the great picks!






and from your picks

Books mentioned in this topic
Angels' Blood (other topics)Nobody Does It Better (other topics)
The Luckiest Lady in London (other topics)
King Me (other topics)
We Shouldn't (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Karen Chance (other topics)J.R. Ward (other topics)
Patricia Briggs (other topics)
Suzanne Brockmann (other topics)
J.D. Robb (other topics)
More...
Here are my picks for you. I hope there's something good in this mix.
Jack o Lanterns:
TBR: Dragonfly in Amber (orange cover)
New: Playing with Fire (orange co..."
Thank you :)