Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Book, I Am Your Reader (3)
Kari wrote: "Hazel wrote: "I loved the Wild ones and the sterling shore series. Did you know she also writes under the names S.T Abby - I love the Mindf*ck series about a serial killer in a relationship with an..."Just went to check it out sounds good. Going to go check Amazon
Week #1Selection Post
Option 1
Betwixt by Darynda JonesPages: 233
How the book qualifies: Book title has 7 letters
Himanshi wrote: "Week #1Selection Post
Option 1
Betwixt by Darynda JonesPages: 233
How the book qualifies: Book title has 7 letters"
I finished the Charley Davidson series earlier this year so I'm looking forward to your review Himanshi!
Completion post week 1Book:
JesseRating: 3.5⭐️
Review: A 2nd chance romance with a revenge plot thrown in. This part was all good.
Emma and her 3 friends and business partners had all been subject to the attentions and subsequent dismissal of Jesse when they were teenagers and hatch a plot to get revenge 13 years later. Emma is the only one who developed real feelings.
Things go wrong with their revenge plot and Emma starts to get to know Jesse however this is when a strange confusing element hinting at assassins/cults/mafia type goings on are raised. I finished the book with no clue what this was meant to be about - obviously to get me to read the 2nd book.
The relationship between the 2 MCs was flirty and funny but I was left thinking what did I not understand.
Week #1Completion Post
Betwixt by Darynda JonesDate: September 5
Rating: 5 stars
Review: So this was my first re-read of the book Betwixt, I mostly did it because the author, Darynda, is going to publish its sequel, Bewitched, on 15th this month, for which I'm desperately waiting for. It was a lot different from the Charley Davidson series, but there was one similarity; like how in the Charlie Davidson series, Cookie was always there for Charlie, similarly Annette, the BFF, was also there for Defiance, the MC, and just like Charlie-Cookie moments, I really enjoyed the Defiance-Annette moments. Overall, it was a really fun and enjoyable read for me and I'll totally recommend it to you all.
Himanshi wrote: "Week #1Completion Post
Betwixt by Darynda JonesDate: September 5
Rating: 5 stars
Review: So this was my first re-read of the book Bet..."
Hi Himanshi can I please ask you to separate your response to Kathy from your review. We are not meant to have any group chat in our completion posts. Thanks x
Kari wrote: "Teamies and Jane, I was informed today that I will need to get thyroid surgery on September 16th. I should be in hospital for a few days after, depending on how things go. I have no idea if I'll be..."Thanks for letting us know so early Kari. I'll mark you a pass for that week :) Hope the surgery is a huge success!
Announcements are Friday afternoon in the US; Saturday morning in Australia 🧐
I hope it goes well Kari and that you recover as quickly as possible!And Himanshi I'm so glad you read that book this round. I didn't know Darynda Jones had more books out there - so yay!
Thank you Jane and Suzanne, I'm praying for a fast recovery. I'll keep you guys posted 💛. So the announcements are late Friday night/midnightish for me, I'm in Europe.
Completion Post – Week 1
Elect, Rachel Van Dyken – 9/5/20 – ✮✮✮✮✰
Review — A nice follow-up to the first book in this series. I think I preferred this book since it was told from the various male perspectives. I like Tracy, but she sort of got on my nerves by the end of the last book. There was a lot going on in this installment, but somehow it all managed to work. I can certainly see where future stories will be coming from and look forward to seeing where this series goes from here.
Tracking completed up to here. Tracking post message #6
Completion Post - Week 1 
The Somebody People by Bob Proehl
Read: 9/8/20
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: I really enjoyed The Nobody People, and I think I enjoyed this one even more. These stories have a similar idea to the X-men - some people have abilities that manifest, and have different ideas of how they should be used. And others think all with unusual abilities should die. This book was a more epic scope than the first - it follows a lot of characters as they try to deal with all the consequences engendered by book one. Regular people have been marginalized, and the dynamics, both good and bad, were interesting. I especially liked the different relationships, and I felt like they gave the book a romantic undertone, even though it was science fiction. There was a family with two dads and a boy they adopted after the events of the last book - they were pretty central, and seeing the ways they worked together and worked things out throughout the book was great. Another main character finally gets her Happily Ever After years later, because she thought she didn't deserve it. And there were more (it was a long book). Anyway, this was a fun start to Pass the Parcel - here's hoping to enjoy the future books just as much.
Hazel wrote: "Himanshi wrote: "Week #1Completion Post
Betwixt by Darynda JonesDate: September 5
Rating: 5 stars
Review: So this was my first re-rea..."
I'm so sorry for my mistake! I've edited my completion post. Is it okay now?
Suzanne wrote: "I hope it goes well Kari and that you recover as quickly as possible!And Himanshi I'm so glad you read that book this round. I didn't know Darynda Jones had more books out there - so yay!"
Actually, Darynda Jones has 2 more series called "Darklight" and "The NeverNeath" and she has written another book called A Bad Day for Sunshine, which is a part of her Sunshine Vicram series, it's sequel would be out in 2021. So you can check these books out too! :)
Himanshi wrote: "Hazel wrote: "Himanshi wrote: "Week #1Completion Post
Betwixt by Darynda JonesDate: September 5
Rating: 5 stars
Review: So this was m..."
Perfect! Thank you x
Completion Post - Week 1 Book: Majesty by Katharine McGee
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I actually really struggled with rating this book. It was an easy and enjoyable read, but it was nothing like what I expected from this sequel. The first book had great character development and developed so many relationships, and then this one undid everything the first one had created. I was confused about who I’m supposed to be rooting for half the time. The ending was also unsatisfactory. Maybe if it wasn’t for the first book then I would’ve liked this one more.
Excellent Team we have 6 completion posts for week 1 and we are ready for the 2nd call tonight!
Week 2Option 1:
2. Disney+ debuted in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019.
* Read a book published in November 2019.
You must quote the date of publication - any edition's date of publication will count.
Option 2:
Key date - 11 March 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.
Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.
Week 2 - Selection postTheme 2: Option 1
Book:
C.D. ReissPages: 299 as per kindle edition in above link
How it qualifies: Published 15 November 2019
Week 2 - Selection Post Them 2: Option 1
Book:
by Elizabeth BergPages: 304 kindle edition (Goodreads)
How it qualifies: Published November 19, 2019.
SELECTION POST Week 2
Theme 2 - Option 1
Book:
by Zoe ChantPages: 162
How it qualifies: Published November 18th, 2019
Selection Post Week 2 - Option #2
Book:
by Megan GoldinPages: 352
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book: Read by Suzanne, rated 4 stars, read 8/16/20-8/20/20
COMPLETION POSTWeek #2, Option 1
Dragon of Glass
Rating: 3.5 stars
I was expecting a traditional paranormal shifter romance, and found a lot more fantasy than I expected, which worked out really well. I like Zoe Chant’s stories and this one I found to be funnier than most. I loved the cast of mythical beings, especially Robin.
Trey comes from a parallel universe and is a dragon knight shifter, imprisoned by a curse in a Christmas ornament and released from the spell by Daniella. I liked watching the world from Trey’s eyes, how technology is magic in his view. Daniella and her dog Fabio were cute. There’s intrigue, we have the Darkness threatening the world and Trey’s missing friends, which I imagine will all get books later on. The romance was quirky and endearing, but the book might’ve been better if it would’ve been a bit longer. Enjoyable and looking forward to the next one.
Completion PostWeek 2 - Option 1
The Confession ClubRating: 4 stars
Review: I totally loved the first book in this series, The Story of Arthur Truluv, and while I didn't like this one quite as much, I thought it was excellent. A group of friends meets often, and what has started as a bookclub turned into evenings where they confess whatever is on their minds. It's really a story of friendship and support between women. We also see many stages of romance, - a couple meeting and falling in love, a couple reconciling, and a hilarious story about a woman trying to tempt her husband into having sex. I'm so glad I decided to read this book.
Week #2Selection Post
Option 1
Outmatched by Kristen CallihanPages: 334
How the book qualifies: Published on November 19, 2019
Completion Post - Week 2Book:
The Night Swim by Megan GoldinRating: 5 stars
Review: I loved this book so much. It gripped me from the beginning, and I could barely put it down until I was down. I would say this isn’t more of a mystery than a thriller, and I kept trying to see if I could figure it out before the end. I was convinced I had it right at one point but I did not. I loved that there were multiple unexpected twists and connections and some of them were sprinkled in before the end. I, honestly, wasn’t too intrigued when I read the caption, but it was so highly anticipated and such a popular book that I figured I would give it a try, and I’m so happy I did!
I'm glad you liked it Annette. I felt like it addressed hard topics so well, and was suspenseful too!
Suzanne wrote: "I'm glad you liked it Annette. I felt like it addressed hard topics so well, and was suspenseful too!"I agree. It was very eye opening, and I’d say a pretty heavy book, but it was done very well!
Week 2Selection Post – Option 1
Blindsided, Amy Daws
Pages ➔ 305
How the Book Qualifies ➔ published November 21, 2019
sorry for the late selection post! I should be finished with my book tonight or tomorrow.
My work has been mental this week and also my phone has stopped alerting me to notifications. I will catch up on all the posts tomorrow. Kari I still have you down for a pass for week 3. I hope you get on ok with your op and have a speedy recovery x
Thanks Hazel, yes to the pass, surgery went well, still at hospital and too drowsy to read at this time. Hopefully I can go home tomorrow.
Kari wrote: "Thanks Hazel, yes to the pass, surgery went well, still at hospital and too drowsy to read at this time. Hopefully I can go home tomorrow."glad to hear your surgery went well...take care and feel better!
Completion post week 2Book:
Read: 18 September 2020
Rating: 5⭐️
Review: A great enemies to lovers romance. Olivia an environmental lawyer doesn’t like to lose. Neither does Byron Crowne who is building in an area that has environmental protections. The 2 enter legal proceedings against each other and try to fight the attraction. On the side Olivia is trying to conceive using her gay friends sperm. When she gives into her attraction to Crowne and they have a contraceptive mishap their relationship takes on a new dimension. Hot and steamy scenes, a lot of two and fro, strong MCs. A really enjoyable read!
Week 3Option 1:
12. The Simpsons back catalogue is available for more of Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa et al! ...Have you noticed how all the names are short? Even the writers' names are short - Matt, James, Dan, Al, Sam, Mike, John etc (Yes, I am conveniently leaving out a few names for the sake of this category ;)
*Read a book with an MC whose first name is less than 6 letters long.
Qualification must be quoted in the précis; please provide an extract. Nicknames will work.
Option 2:
Key date - 18 March 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.
Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.
Week 3Selection post - Option 1
Book:
Lauren BlakelyPages: 202 as per kindle edition in above link
How it qualifies: MC name less than 6 letters. From précis ‘ As a casting director, my job is to find the most talented players for every part, so I choose dreamy, edgy, sexy, sarcastic Reeve.’
Week 3Selection Post - Option 1
Book:
Don't Look for Me by Wendy WalkerPages: 352 (Kindle edition goodreads)
How it qualifies: From precis "One night, Molly Clarke walked away from her life."
Molly is only 5 letters.
For Option 1:Please make sure you include an excerpt from the precis (blurb) quoting your MC's name that is less than 6 letters.
*a lot of ppl are missing this little detail, so this will be posted in all teams
Week 3 completion postBook:
Read:19 September
Rating: 3⭐️
Review: Reeve an aspiring actor and Sutton a casting director get put together in a fake fiancé scenario. She would never fall for an actor but needs to pretend to have a fiancé to get the shot at the next big film. Reeve has nothing better to do and needs the cash. Entertaining short read with some humorous sections.
Completion Post – Week 2
Blindsided, Amy Daws – 9/19/20 – ✮✮✮✮✮
Review — I love me some Harris brothers, but I LOVE Mac! This was a wonderful story from beginning to end. In fact the strong foundation of their story started in Gareth and Sloan’s books. These two had an amazing friendship that grew into more...I thought Ms. Daws did a great job balancing both characters’ insecurities and issues with relationships. While I love the happily ever after, I think Mac should have worked a bit harder for it...still, I can’t pull a star for that small item. I look forward to seeing if there are any additional spin-off books to come!
Week 3Selection Post – Option 1
Love with Me, Kristen Proby
Pages ➔ 252
How the Book Qualifies ➔ both main character’s have names shorter than 6 letters Jace/Joy
From the Précis: Jace Crawford heals hearts for a living./Joy Thompson collects unwanted strays.
☘KathyD☘ wrote: "glad to hear your surgery went well...take care and feel better!"
Thanks, KathyD :). I'm home, resting a lot, thankfully every day is a bit better so I think I'll be ready to jump back in here next week.
Kari wrote: "☘KathyD☘ wrote: "glad to hear your surgery went well...take care and feel better!"
Thanks, KathyD :). I'm home, resting a lot, thankfully every day is a bit better so I think I'll be ready to jum..."
Take it easy Kari glad you’re on the mend x
Completion Post – Week 3
Love with Me, Kristen Proby – 9/20/20 – ✮✮✮✰✰
Review — I love this series, but I didn’t love this book. Friends-to-lovers stories can be fantastic and provide depth to a story; especially when you have seen some of that friendship in previous books or their story unfolds beginning with the friendship. The main characters in this book are long-time friends. However, we really don’t know them except for some limited interaction with Jace in the previous installment. I felt like this book started in the middle of a thought, but I could never explain where it started from...it seems like all of a sudden these two besties have the hots for each other and jump into a romantic relationship. There was a lot of potential for a great story here between the characters themselves and their career challenges, but it fell flat for me and became sadly predictable...then it was over.
Week #2Completion Post
Outmatched by Kristen CallihanDate: September 20
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: To be honest, I found it a bit cliched and cheesy. It was a light read, not too dark and angsty, which was exactly what I was looking for, so yay for me. But I didn't really enjoy it much. Once the issue with Parker's boss was solved, I lost interest in it. But it did have some really good moments, which kept me entertained.
Week 3Selection Post
Teacher I Want to Date by Mia KaylaPages: 290
Qualification: From the precis, "Your Future Husband
Mason Brisken"
Suzanne wrote: "Week 3Selection Post - Option 1
Book:
Don't Look for Me by Wendy WalkerPages: 352 (Kindle edition goodreads)
How it qualifi..."
Hi Suzanne I know that the kindle edition has 352 pages however the link that you have provided takes you to the hardcover version which also has 352 pages. Are you able to update to put the kindle link in.
I'm not strictly sure if there is the requirement to have the book link to the kindle edition but I will clarify this.
Thanks x
Tracking updated to here msg 6 and 7Week 2 complete
Week 3
Selection post required for Annette and Suzanne to update the link Msg #89
Completion posts required from Suzanne, Annette and Himanshi
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Thanks, Hazel! I knew I was getting the date wrong, argh. So it'd be the week of the 18th.