Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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The Amazing Race Team Challenge - Books on the Run (16)

17. Read 4 books that are stand alones.
Books can not have any series listed on GR.

17. Read 4 books that are stand alones.
I'm going to read Pine Lake by Amanda Stevens
Pages: 256/GR

Once I read Iron and Magic I still wasn't fully on the Hugh bandwagon but now after reading Magic Triumphs I totally am. Just an FYI.

The Kate Daniels series is I think simply the best UF series ever written, and it’s what got me into UF in the first place many years ago too.
And that’s interesting about Iron and Magic - Hugh’s hilarious over-the-top anti-hero character was my favorite thing about that book, and I am desperately awaiting book #2.

17. Read 4 books that are stand alones.
Books can not have any series listed on GR."
This should be a pretty straight-forward task 👍


I also wasn't really interested in Iron and Magic but after reading Magic Triumphs, I'm going to be totally getting that book as soon I slow down on some of these challenges. LOL

My first couple of choices that I was sure were standalone, I started and then saw on GR they were technically part of a series, so this was interesting finding one was that wasn’t. I had a number of Vi Keeland books on my TBR list and her books are usually standalone, so I picked up one of those - The Baller. About a quarter into it so far, and am really enjoying it.

I decided to go with Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words because of Andi Arndt who is one my most favorite narrators. I'm hit or miss with Tara Sivec but I think this one is cute so far. I'll be done in about an hour with this one.

Task #2

Date completed: 4/19/20
Pages: 197
Task: Read 4 books that are stand alones
How it fits: standalone book

Task #2

Date completed: 4/19/20
Task: Read 4 books that are stand alones
How i..."
Hi Sass - can you please edit your post to add the page count? Thanks!

Task #2 - 17: Read 4 books that are standalone

The Baller by Vi Keeland
Pages: 285 (GR)
How book qualifies: Book is a standalone and not part of a series
Date Completed: 4/19/2020
Rating: 4.5⭐️



9. Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
What about paranormal romance? We all seem to like that genre.
25. Each player reads a book in a series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
Going back to the authors list that we all had in common, Nalini Singh caught my eye - maybe the Psy-Changling series? Has like 19 books and a bunch of novellas.
51. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
No idea on this one. Anyone want to throw out a month/year?
56. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color.
Anyone have a color they see a lot of? Blue, grey or black come to mind.
57. Each teammate reads a book set in one of your teammates’ home town, no pass for this task.
MKat indicated that for hometown, we can use states within the US, countries outside the US. So for US, we have Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Iowa I believe, and Australia. My vote on this is Australia, I think it will be the easiest to find books set there.
58. Read a minimum of 750 pages in books published in any one year prior to 2018, team picks the year.
Should we keep it simple and just choose 2017?
59. Read 4 books published in the decade of a teammate’s birth, team decides which teammate.
I was born in the 1970s. I think from the profiles that might be about the same for most of the team as well. Is that correct?
60. Read 6 books set on a beach or in the mountains, teams decide which.
I don’t care. Anyone have a preference on this?
61. Read a minimum of 1500 pages in books by the same author, teams decide author.
Going back to our “in common” list - Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Darynda Jones, Anne Bishop, Kristen Ashley, Kresley Cole, JR Ward, Thea Harrison, Sarah Maas, Jennifer Ashley, and Faith Hunter?
62. Read 6 books published in a teammates’ birth month, you may not use your own month.
I’m March
63. Read over 1000 pages in books that start with the same letter (no articles), teams decide letter.
C, D, and S are always common title starters. Anyone care? Let’s just pick something.
66. As a team, pick a list with over 100 romance books on it, each member reads a book from that list. No pass for this task.
Does anyone have a preference on any of these general lists? Or any others?
Best Paranormal Fantasy Romances
Best Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
All Time Favorite Romance Novels
Best Romance Books Ever
67. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item.
Of the items I had listed before - Sword, gun, knife, tattoo, wolf, sunglasses, shoe, tie - what about tattoo or shoe? Either of those would be super easy.
73. Read 6 books published in the year one of the teammates joined RRRC, teams decide which teammate.
Looks like I joined in 2018. How about everyone else?
75. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Of the tropes I had listed before - friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, second chance love, fake relationship, forbidden love, office romance, hidden identity - anyone have a preference? I could read any of them.

I'm born in the 70's as well. and February for me.
I started GR on 2010. I think your year is probably the best since it's so recent.
I think tattoo would be good for same item because those seem to be universal almost no matter what the romance genre.


Task #2 - 17: Read 4 books that are standalone

Pine Lake by Amanda Stevens
Pages: 256/GR
How book qualifies: Book is a standalone and not part of a series
Date Completed: 4/20/2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars

What about paranormal romance? We all seem to like that genre.
I'm good with paranormal romance or romantic suspense works for me as well.
25. Each player reads a book in a series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
The Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh works for me. Tons of books in the In Death series by JD Robb as well. Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series has 30 books. Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series has 16 books and some novellas. Here are a few series that I'm hoping to work on completing this year...
Trouble Shooters series by Suzanne Brockmann (Books 1-17)
Virgin River series by Robyn Carr (books 11-18)
Carpathian (Dark) series by Christine Feehan (books 15-29)
Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones (Books 8-13)
51. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
May or June might be a good months only because it's the beginning of a lot of "beach read" releases. I'd like to shoot for something in the last 5 years or so. 2014-2019. I do have books from this year but thought something from last year would be more plentiful, at least for me.
56. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color.
Blue or Grey works for me
57. Each teammate reads a book set in one of your teammates’ home town, no pass for this task.
I agree with Australia being easier than Iowa for sure. I have some Keri Arthur books in my TBR.
58. Read a minimum of 750 pages in books published in any one year prior to 2018, team picks the year.
2017 sounds good
59. Read 4 books published in the decade of a teammate’s birth, team decides which teammate.
I was also born in the 70's...we have no millennials on our team? Darn it. I was hoping not to read a book set earlier than the 80's (which is pushing it for me and my enjoyment of romances)
60. Read 6 books set on a beach or in the mountains, teams decide which.
I don't care much either but think I have more Beach books than Mountains...although I read a book set in the Rockies in the last 6 months and loved it. I'd love to go back and read the 1st book in that series. It was by Katie Ruggle about a family of female bounty hunters.
61. Read a minimum of 1500 pages in books by the same author, teams decide author.
I'm game for any of the following...Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Darynda Jones, Anne Bishop, Kresley Cole, JR Ward, Thea Harrison, or Sarah Maas.
62. Read 6 books published in a teammates’ birth month, you may not use your own month.
I'm January. So far we have January, February, and March
63. Read over 1000 pages in books that start with the same letter (no articles), teams decide letter.
I have a lot of W's as well as S's. I have a lot of books that start with Wolf. I will go ahead and suggest S though.
66. As a team, pick a list with over 100 romance books on it, each member reads a book from that list. No pass for this task.
I vote for this one....
Best Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
67. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item.
Tattoo, Gun, Wolf, or Dog are my vote
73. Read 6 books published in the year one of the teammates joined RRRC, teams decide which teammate.
I joined RRRC in 2015. CB joined in 2018. Sassafrass joined in 2011. Nikk joined in 2017. Any of them will work for me but I like the idea of 2017 or 2018.
75. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
I'll find something to read for just about any trope but my favorites are Amnesia, friends to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Fake Dating/Relationship, Secret baby/pregnancy, and On the Run.

9. Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
Paranormal Romance
25. Each player reads a book in a series, teams decide. No pass for this task.
Of the authors/series you mentioned, I’d be game for either Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, or Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series.
51. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
May or June work for me, and I agree, the more recent the better. You mentioned last year, I’d be fine with reading 2019.
56. Read 6 books with the same color cover, teams decide color.
Blue or grey - any further preference here anyone?
57. Each teammate reads a book set in one of your teammates’ home town, no pass for this task.
Australia.
58. Read a minimum of 750 pages in books published in any one year prior to 2018, team picks the year.
2017
59. Read 4 books published in the decade of a teammate’s birth, team decides which teammate.
1970s (this should be fun 😉)
60. Read 6 books set on a beach or in the mountains, teams decide which.
So far no one seems to care either way here. Nikk, any preference?
61. Read a minimum of 1500 pages in books by the same author, teams decide author.
I’ll narrow your list slightly - Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Darynda Jones, Kresley Cole, Thea Harrison, Sarah Maas. Sass and Nikk, any further thoughts on this?
62. Read 6 books published in a teammates’ birth month, you may not use your own month.
So far we have January, February, and March
63. Read over 1000 pages in books that start with the same letter (no articles), teams decide letter.
I’m good with S. Sass and Nikk?
66. As a team, pick a list with over 100 romance books on it, each member reads a book from that list. No pass for this task.
I’m also good with Best Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
67. Read 6 books with a specific item on the cover, team selects item.
Let’s go with tattoo
73. Read 6 books published in the year one of the teammates joined RRRC, teams decide which teammate.
I’m also good with 2018.
75. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Of the tropes you listed, my preferred picks would be either friends to lovers or Marriage of convenience.

I’ll narrow your list slightly - Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Darynda Jones, Kresley Cole, Thea Harrison, Sarah Maas. Sass and Nikk, any further thoughts on this?
Any of those would be great.

S should be fine for letter. I'm sure I can find something with that
Friends to lovers is my favorite trope
I think grey is easier than blue
And I'm good with Charley Davidson or Psy-Changeling although I think I may be all caught up wth Psy-Changeling. Anybody read the Others series by Anne Bishop (another great UF type series)?

I'm still working on another challenge right now. The cozy mystery bingo game just keeps going. 9 calls this last Saturday would have been a winning call and 5 kept the game going. So of course one of the 5 happened LOL. I still have 2 books to read for that challenge one of which I haven't started so I'm good until our next task but I love finding my next book so I'm anxious for the next task.

S should be fine for letter. I'm sure I can find something with that
Friends to lovers is my favorite trope
I think grey is easier than blue
And I'm good with Charley Davidson or Psy-Changeling although I think I may be all caught up wth Psy-Changeling. Anybody read the Others series by Anne Bishop (another great UF type series)? "
I am all on board with Ilona Andrews. I have 5 or 6 still on my TBR. Nalini Singh...I've only read 2 of her Psy-Changeling books and haven't fully invested into it yet but I have the last half of her ArchAngel series. I'm looking forward to reading more of the Charley Davidson books and I've read 3 of the Others books by Anne Bishop and loved them.
Grey for a book cover is fine with me.




A player will be removed if they make no comment for 5 days after a new task is assigned or 3 days after the rest of the team completes the task (whichever is later), despite attempts to make contact.
And so I wanted to make sure that she makes a comment at least because we are at the 3 day mark. I saw she's been posting that's why I was thinking that she wasn't getting notifications. That's all. But I also don't want to harass her if she's struggling to get through a book that isn't a great as she was hoping. LOL


I do have the newest Sarah J Maas still to read and that's like 800 pages all by itself :-)
I love The Others series by Anne Bishop though am also completely up to date. I do need to read the latest book in her black jewesl series

I am only up to book 6 of her guild hunter series so I figure its a good chance to move forward with that one :-)

Although I may save that for the same country book since it's set in Australia, I'm pretty sure.

Nalini Singh's Psy books are ok for me too but as I said before I'm just not fully invested in the series yet but next up for me us the 3rd book and that hero looks very interesting.


Ok, so for same author, seems we’re decided on Nalini Singh. (Guild Hunter series is my favorite by her!)
I too love The Others series, but I’ve read them all, and after reading the Kinsmen recently as part of this challenge, there is now not a single book I haven’t read by Ilona Andrews. 😔
Everyone also good with the friends to lovers trope, and for book color - grey?
So I think the only outstanding task we need to decide on is if we get assigned #25, each player reads a book in a series.

What about the In Death Series? Have people read those books? thoughts? There are like 50 (not including the in betweens) of them so I figure it would be hard to be caught up on those.

Tower of Dawn is awesome so if you get a chance to read it do!
I loved that whole series

What about the In Death Series? Have people read those books? thoughts? There are like 50 (not including the in betweens) of them so I figure it would be hard to be cau..."
Definitely happy to go with the in death series. I am up to book 43 so still have a lot to choose from and I just reserved it at the library - currently also have 44 and 46 out on loan

Diana Palmer's Long, Tall Texans series has 50 books. Normally I would not choose one of her books as many of them were written either in the 80's or still written like it is the 80's. But with 50 books they might be easy to find. https://www.goodreads.com/series/5180...
Also the In Death series by JD Robb has 50 books as well.
Here are some authors with series I actually have on my TBR focusing more on UF or PNR but some author's venture out in other subgenres as well....
Erin McCarthy (most of hers are CR and the series aren't long)
Vicki Lewis Thompson (CR Nerd books look cute but she has some PNR as well)
MaryJanice Davidson (Queen Betsy...I'll take one for the team if this one works for everyone....I gave up this series at #13 or so)
Rachel Caine (Weather Warden)
Gena Showalter (Alien Huntress or Lords of the Underworld)
Kim Harrison's Hallows series
Karen Chance (Cassandra Palmer)
Karen Marie Moning (Fever)
Cassie Alexander (Edie Spencer)
Keri Arthur (Spook Squad or Rylie Jensen)
Jennifer Estep (Any of her series as all are on my shelves)
Jeaniene Frost (Any)
Molly Harper (Any...I think)
Faith Hunter (I have the first Jane Yellowrock and the first Soulwood)
Seanan McGuire (both October Daye and InCryptid)
Chloe Neill (Chicagoland Vampires)
Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane and Prospero's War)
Lara Adrian (Midnight Breed)
Cynthia Eden (lots of stuff on my shelves from various series)
Christine Feehan (any of her series)
Jacquelyn Frank (Nightwalkers or World of Nightwalkers)
Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters)
Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity)
Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark Hunters)
Angela Knight (Mageverse)
Shelly Laurenston (Pride)
Bec McMasters (London Steampunk)
Lynsay Sands (Argeneau)
Kerrelyn Sparks (the Embraced or Love at Stake)
Terry Spear (Heart of the Wolf)
Paige Tyler (X-Ops or SWAT)
JR Ward (any)
Rebecca Zanetti (any)


I remember reading when the series first came out like maybe the first 7 books or so in the In Death series - I just looked it up - that would have been 25 years ago that I read the 1st book!! Wow, I’m impressed that series is still going strong. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t ever continue on with it, but I’d be game to read one of those for our series pick.

So for #25 series read, the In Death series it is.
Thanks everyone for all the great input and feedback!

No wonder you hadn’t see we were posting.
I love how we are coming together to figure out these tasks!!
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Task #1
Task: Read book by same author
How it fits: Author [author:Ilona Andrews|2174..."
Both you and Christina rated it 5 Stars - I read #9 last month. I kind of dread the end of the series... And Sass, I think you are the one who got to finally start it!