Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Not the Droids You're Looking For (8)
MountainKat wrote: "Yeah, Violet is a little hard to take in this book, I thought she was a hoot in her book though. ..."I loved Violet so much in her book, but when she pops up in other ones, I feel like the author is trying too hard to make her comic relief or something. She feels a lot more fake in her 'guest appearances'. She pops up in Hunting's new hockey series, too, and it's a bit much for me.
Week 8: 4. 10 million users subscribed to Disney+ on its first day of operation.Completion Post
Pucked Over by Helena Hunting, 350 p. per GRBook has over 10,000 ratings with 15,031 ratings currently.
Completed 10.29.2020 *4- Stars*
While I really liked the main characters in this book, the euphemisms and 'over the top'-ness of it was all too over the top. I just wasn't engaged liked I hoped, nor was it just an easy escape read. Probably my mood more than anything else - it wasn't that different from the earlier books. 🤷🏻♀️ (view spoiler)
I listened to the audio and enjoyed both narrators, Rose Dioro and Jacob Morgan. Jacob Morgan was easier to listen to, but Rose Dioro, while more soft spoken making me have to focus more, had a very fitting Canadian accent.
Sorry guys I'm having a really rough week when it comes to reading. My schedules been bonkers between the World Series and the Dodgers winning. Working more shifts than normal and it's thrown me into a slump. But promise this is my next book up.
Shelby wrote: "Sorry guys I'm having a really rough week when it comes to reading. My schedules been bonkers between the World Series and the Dodgers winning. Working more shifts than normal and it's thrown me in..."I've been thinking about you this week and figured life was crazy right now. I just came to check if you had made your Selection Post yet and was going to message you if you hadn't. Hopefully things settle some soon.
NEW THEME!Jane's post with links
Week 9
Option 1:
9. Due to COVID-19, 'Hamilton' (the musical film) has skipped the cinematic release scheduled for October 15, 2021 and instead had a digital worldwide release on July 3, 2020 on Disney+. More than a year early!
* Read a book on one of the following 'Can't Wait' romance lists:
Can't Wait MM Romance of 2019
Can't Wait MM Romance of 2020
Can't Wait Sci-Fi Fantasy of 2020
Can't Wait Best New Romances for 2018 (No more recent list options sorry)
Can't Wait Best New Romances for 2017
Random Christian (and just clean fun) Books I Am Excited to Read
If you use Option 1, your book must be selected from one of these lists. Please QUOTE THE LIST and PLACE NUMBER on that list for qualification - a link is preferred but otherwise just type out the name.
Option 2:
Key date - 29 April 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.
I think it is going to be another Option 2 week for me! I need to stick with my M&G books or I won't even get close to finishing!
Week 9: 9. Due to COVID-19, 'Hamilton' (the musical film) has skipped the cinematic release scheduled for October 15, 2021 and instead had a digital worldwide release on July 3, 2020 on Disney+. More than a year early!Selection Post
Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb, 308 p. per GROption 2: #7 in series, #48 in series on Cathy M.'s read shelf, read 7.24.2020, rated 4 stars.
Selection PostWeek 9, Option 1:
9.Due to COVID-19, 'Hamilton' (the musical film) has skipped the cinematic release scheduled for October 15, 2021 and instead had a digital worldwide release on July 3, 2020 on Disney+. More than a year early!
* Read a book on one of the following 'Can't Wait' romance lists:
Out of Bounds
Pages: 150 (Kindle Edition)
How it qualifies: Number 313 on Can't Wait Best New Romances for 2017
Week 9 - Completion PostOption 1:* Read a book on one of the 'Can't Wait' romance lists
Out of Bounds
Pages: 150 (Kindle Edition)
Date completed: 11/1
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was an ok read. Nothing really wrong with it, but nothing very exciting either.
Drew and Dani meet one afternoon at a beach. They have an instant connection, but they have difficulties getting back in contact with each other because of lost messages. They end up meeting again when Drew is signed on as quarterback for the team Dani is the lawyer for.
There are some cute and steamy moments in the book, but I think it's just a bit too cheeseball for me. The main obstacle they face is that they think it would look bad for the team's image if they're dating, which is just a bit ludicrous. She's a lawyer for the team, but she doesn't handle contracts or anything like that, so it just seems ridiculous that it would matter to anyone if they got together.
And then after that teeny molehill they make a mountain of, they get approval to date, and they only date for a week. Then Drew breaks up with her because he thinks she's affecting his game.
Perhaps if this had been a bit longer and the couple had spent more time together, the breakup would have felt like something, but it ended up feeling like unnecessary filler drama to me. 🤷♀️
I just didn't really care if they got together or not.
Week 8 Completion PostOption 1 - Over 10,000 Ratings
Book: Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep
Page numbers: 405
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: I love these characters and the world this author has built and in this book Gin gets a new nemesis that puts a huge strain on her relationship with Owen (who at times was so frustrating!). I'm not sure the author redeemed him by the end but at least I can kind of understand some of his decisions even if I don't like them. The author still has a bad habit of repeating certain phrases and recapping things from the past to much which always brings my ratings down. The story is a solid 4 stars but I have issues with some of the author's writing quirks. Still an enjoyable series and I'm looking forward to more.
I have two I'm choosing between but I'll have a selection post soon. Both are fairly short.
Completion PostWeek 8: #4 Option 1
Vendetta in Death by JD Robb
Rating: 4 Generous Stars
Review:
The case of Lady Justice was a little disturbing, at least more so than some of the other cases Eve has dealt with. Although maybe it was just the (view spoiler).
Quite frankly there's not a whole lot to say about this one, or at least to add to what I've said in the past reviews. I've made it thru 49 books now (excluding the novellas) and I do find this one just as entertaining because I do love these police procedurals and I love these characters. But I wish there was more development with our MCs. I remember mid-way thru the series thinking how much Eve and Rourke have grown since the beginning. But now I just feel like they are still the same, nothing changing. Almost one note because we know them so well.
I'll keep reading, at least for the time being, but I really need some more development with Eve & Rourke to keep me going. Otherwise it'll just be the same thing over and over again and that'll get real old real soon.
Selection PostWeek 9: #9 Option 1
Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Pages: 400
How the book fits: #22 on Can't Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2020 List
I'm reading book 4 right now to refresh before I head into Emerald Blaze but should be done with it by Friday!With 2 more picks to go, I'm going to pick out some short books for the options left. We should have a shot at winning :D
Selection PostWeek 9: #9 Option 1
Lucifer's Litigator by T.J. Nichols
Pages: 153
How the book fits: #94 on Can't Wait M/M Romance of 2019
Week 8 - Disney+Circe by Madeline Miller
Read: (11/1)
Rating: ★★★★½
I was a little skeptical going into reading this story as I didn't love the first book of Madeline Miller's I read. As someone who studied Classical Languages and this period of history and its' myths I'm always a little bit of a tough sell on these sorts of retellings. But I was very pleasantly surprised with this story. I really really enjoyed this one. Circe's depictions in this story were fairly close to the original ideas of how she's depicted in the myths, but she's more humanized in this story. This being told from her perspective really brings you into how those known events in her life could be seen from a different point of view. I liked that this story didn't change the key moments so much as it changed the perspective things were viewed through. This really pits the idea of human mortality and values vs the gods and their priorities.
This was a lovely story, and I really enjoyed the reading of things.
Week 9 - HamiltonTrade Deadline by Avon Gale
Read: (11/3)
Rating: ★★★★
This story was good. It wasn't my favorite in the series, but there wasn't anything really wrong with it. I think it fell short for me because my general reaction was just, "oh that was nice," but nothing really stood out for me one way or another.
I liked both characters, Daniel and Micah were sweet and low angst for the most part. I liked Micah's work at the aquarium and they fitted into each others lives pretty seamlessly. Most of the "controversy" in this story was just within the choices Daniel needed to make with regards to his career. They integrations of their friends and family was essentially effortless.
I did enjoy seeing all of my favorite Venom characters as well even though Bellzie is no longer with his old team. They all have such a strong connection together. There's such fun every time they spend time with each other. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Woohoo! That should have me totally caught up. :)
Week 9: 9. Due to COVID-19, 'Hamilton' (the musical film) has skipped the cinematic release scheduled for October 15, 2021 and instead had a digital worldwide release on July 3, 2020 on Disney+. More than a year early!Completion Post
Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb, 308 p. per GROption 2: #7 in series, #48 in series on Cathy M.'s read shelf, read 7.24.2020, rated 4 stars.
Completed 11.2.2020 *4 Stars*
This was reread for me and I didn't remember any part of the story - at all! I still loved it, it was especially hilarious watching Eve adjust to a holiday with a husband and friends. She actually had to buy presents!! 😯 Real ones that shows she cares! 😂 And I never pieced the mystery together even though it was a reread. 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
I listened to the audio and loved Susan Ericksen's performance.
Tracking updated!! (Anything to avoid what I should be doing like maybe cleaning the house... 😂)We are complete through Week 8 and only missing 2 completions for Week 9. So looking pretty good team. 😊
I need to find some time to find options for the last week, but I doubt it will be before TART ends.
New Call!List links here
Week 10
Option 1:
14. Naturally, watching the TV, you need snacks and drinks ~ treats and things that may be bad for you!
* Read a book from one of the following lists:
Naughty Husbands
"Give Me Some of That Awesomeness" Romances
SugarKink BDSM
Sexy Curves (The outcome of the sit-in ;)
Yummy Adult Paranormal Romances
MM Romance Comfort Reads
MM Hot Stuff Corner
Yummiest College New Adult MM
If you use Option 1, your book must be selected from one of these lists. Please QUOTE THE LIST and PLACE NUMBER on that list for qualification - a link is preferred but otherwise just type out the name.
Option 2:
Key date - 6 May 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
Thanks Courtney - I just went looking for the new theme myself! Totally forgot it was Friday - what a week and it's not over yet...
This may be the longest week of all time! 🤣🤣
That's the truth!! And I've been so distracted and stressed I've barely been able to read - so it seems even longer! 🤦🏻♀️
Selection PostWeek 10, Option 1:
14. Naturally, watching the TV, you need snacks and drinks ~ treats and things that may be bad for you!
* Read a book from one of the following lists:
Polar Bared
Pages: 201 (Kindle Edition)
How it qualifies: Number 7 on "Give Me Some of That Awesomeness" Romances
Week 10: 14. Naturally, watching the TV, you need snacks and drinks ~ treats and things that may be bad for you!Selection Post
The Jackal by J.R. Ward, 416 p. per GR#423 (yes, the very LAST book!) on the Yummy Adult Paranormal Romance Books list.
That's a long one, but hopefully things will mellow some and I will be able to listen more this week. 🤞🏼
Selection PostWeek 10: #14 Option 1
Bloodline by Jordan L. Hawk
Pages: 237
How the book fits: #357 on MM Hot Stuff Corner list
Completion PostWeek 9: #9 Option 1
Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Another fun installment of the Hidden Legacy series! It was fast paced, jam-packed with action around every corner, and had a little more on the romance front. BUT the storyline (the Pit/constructs) sort of bored and confused me so what would've ordinarily taken 1-2 days to read actually took me over 4 days.
So to start, I'm still a little surprised at how Catalina has really stepped up into the role of head of House Baylor and as Deputy Warden. She has been a fantastic heroine and I can't believe I ever doubted her! But I felt like there were some parts that seemed a little repetitive (her thoughts/feelings mostly about Alessandro) which started to annoy me. And as always I love the family, though I still don't think there's enough of Leon for my liking :P And I LOVED that Nevada and Connor were present because I missed them!
I definitely liked Alessandro more in this one. He was more humble and things made a lot more sense once we learned his backstory. By the end I did like him with Catalina and I am looking forward to their relationship progressing more.
I guess we'll have to wait another year for the next one *sigh* Maybe if I re-read this one next year, and am in a better mind-set, I'll understand/enjoy it a little more (to get it to the 5 stars it should be ~ well based on all the other reviews & my previous ratings of this series)!
Tracking updated again! We are still missing some things - Shelby's completion for Week 9 and Selection for Week 10. I know her work can be overwhelming at times, so she can't get on to post, but hopefully she has read her book/s and will get things updated soon.We also have no completions yet for Week 10. We need to have everything in before the last theme is called if we want to try to win! I am over half done with my book and should finish today or tomorrow at the latest.
FINALLY took the time to figure out options for the last call! (Yep, still not cleaning my house... 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)I jumped to Option 2 since none of the remaining themes lined up with the shorter books on my short list. 😂 But I have a short Option 2 book planned for all the other teams. 😊
To help you out since I already took the time, these are the themes we've used:
2. Disney+ debuted in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019.
3. A week later, the Disney+ service was expanded to Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
4. 10 million users subscribed to Disney+ on its first day of operation.
7. There are a lot of 'classic' movies and serials on Disney+.
8. The Star Wars movies are a major attraction to the streaming service.
9. Due to COVID-19, 'Hamilton' (the musical film) has skipped the cinematic release scheduled for October 15, 2021 and instead had a digital worldwide release on July 3, 2020 on Disney+. More than a year early!
10. National Geographic is a very popular option on Disney+.
11. The National Geographic magazine has been published continuously since its first issue on September 22, 1888.
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 ;)
14. Naturally, watching the TV, you need snacks and drinks ~ treats and things that may be bad for you!
And these are the ones remaining:
1. The service primarily streams films and television series produced by Walt Disney corporations. (Has lists.)
5. Disney+ - * Read a book with punctuation or a symbol in the title as shown on the bookcover. An ampersand counts. Series titles do not count.
6. Disney+ features many movies that are made in cartoon format. * Read a book that is also available in a graphic novel format OR read a book with a drawn cover. You must specify which option you are using in your post when showing 'how it fits' AND include the bookcover edition as proof.
13. The Toy Story, Marvel and Frozen collections are huge hits with children. (Has lists.)
Jane's post with the links to the lists is HERE.
And just a reminder - this is the last week anyone can use a Pass, everyone has to read next week.So if you want it, claim it!
Week 10 - Completion Post
Polar Bared
Pages: 201 (Kindle Edition)
Date completed: 11/8
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Eva Langlais is always a hard one for me because sometimes her books are just a little too over-the-top; often skewing more towards parody territory. I've liked the Kodiak Point series more than her others because it feels a bit more "real". However, this installment, while still written well enough, included too many of the things that kind of drive me bonkers with Langlais.
For one thing, Vicky's constant fainting episodes are just completely ridiculous. Definitely in the over-the-top category for me. It made Vicky feel like a cartoon character rather than a person. Anyone who faints that much should like be intelligent enough to know that traveling to the arctic in search of polar bears to photograph is a really bad idea. She ended up feeling very childish to me because everyone was on constant alert waiting for her to faint. It really took away from any growth her character could have had, and made her seem more like a distraction than a main character.
Also, I really hate that whenever Langlais writes a character of size, she beats the description of her weight to death throughout the story as if that's the entire sum of her personality. I know Vicky is chubby! You've said it a million times! The constant self-depreciating comments get old really fast. All she ever says about herself is that she's fat and ugly and nerdy and has no friends. I wish Vicky would have had at least one nice to say about herself.
Despite being the "Big Bad" in the earlier books, Gene was honestly pretty boring compared to the rest of the heroes in the series. I think perhaps Langlais was trying too hard to change him from his depictions in the previous books, and for me, it just made him feel like a completely different character. I think by making Vicky too ridiculous with the constant fainting and always getting into trouble, Gene had to become a babysitter more than the broken guy trying to find his good side again, which is what I think her original intention with the character was.
An ok read, but not something I'd read again.
Sorry, I posted this in the Amazing Race thread and forgot to do it here! I think my brain is mush this week. Too many late nights watching the news, haha.I'll take a look at the ones left and see if I can find some right around 150 pages!
Courtney wrote: "Sorry, I posted this in the Amazing Race thread and forgot to do it here! I think my brain is mush this week. Too many late nights watching the news, haha.I'll take a look at the ones left and se..."
Totally understand! I would have reminded you since I was pretty sure I saw your review there. 😉
Completion PostWeek 10: #14 Option 1
Bloodline by Jordan L. Hawk
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
Well that wasn't what I was expecting. Though to be fair it's been about 5 years since I read the last one so I didn't really remember much about the characters or this series.
So the supernatural elements was what sort of threw me off. I remembered there was magic but the whole (view spoiler) was a little out there. And geez, the villain was him really, and his whole world domination plan?!?! Then there's Percival. His constant lying to Griffin really made me mad because I remember loving them together.
Although there was plenty of action and mystery, I guess I was expecting more of a historical adventure and I felt like this was a bit lacking. I'll try to get to the next one sooner so I remember more about this series but if it continues on this way, I might have to give up on it.
MountainKat wrote: "FINALLY took the time to figure out options for the last call! (Yep, still not cleaning my house... 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)I jumped to Option 2 since none of the remaining themes lined up with the shorter bo..."
Thanks for this! I have a couple shorter books set aside for some of these but will need to find options for the last one. Didn't see anything on my 1st look thru but I'll have to be less picky.
Courtney wrote: "Week 10 - Completion PostPolar Bared
Pages: 201 (Kindle Edition)
Date completed: 11/8
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Eva Langlais is always a hard one ..."
I have the same problem with Eve Langlais books. Sometimes I find them funny, sometimes not. Guess that just depends on my mood :)
Hey MKat - My completion post for Week 9 is Here. My weeks 8 & 9 were posted back to back. I've actually already completed my Week 10, I just need to take the moment to write the review and post it all. Will post the Selection here momentarily.
Cathy M. wrote: "I have the same problem with Eve Langlais books. Sometimes I find them funny, sometimes not. Guess that just depends on my mood :)."Yeah, that's probably part of it for me, too. I think it may also be that when she adds in too many outside plots, it starts going more towards ridiculous. I seem to have a better time with the relationship-focused ones.
Completion PostWeek 9: #9 Option 1
Lucifer's Litigator by T.J. Nichols
Pages: 153
How the book fits: #94 on Can't Wait M/M Romance of 2019
Date Read: 11/9
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: This book didn't really live up to the expectations the blurb gave me. I liked the concept well enough but it was really short for all it tried to accomplish. There was also a definite lack of Lucifer for a book title Lucifer's Litigator. Tom and Will were the focus along with a second chance relationship but I never really felt the chemistry between the two of them. Will put Tom has his one regret but couldn't tell him anything since he signed an NDA with the gods. Tom figures things out really quickly and the resolution happens way to quickly for me. The entire ending felt very rushed and Will's big regret didn't really jive with me. It seemed like the author was trying to send a message that just didn't work for me with this plot.
Shelby wrote: "Hey MKat - My completion post for Week 9 is Here. My weeks 8 & 9 were posted back to back. I've actually already completed my Week 10, I just need to take the moment to write the review and post ..."
Thanks so much for this! Glad someone is on top of things... 😂
Week 10: 14. Naturally, watching the TV, you need snacks and drinks ~ treats and things that may be bad for you!Completion Post
The Jackal by J.R. Ward, 416 p. per GR#423 (yes, the very LAST book!) on the Yummy Adult Paranormal Romance Books list.
Completed 11.11.2020 *4 Stars*
There was an awful lot of overlap with the regular series in this book. I can't imagine that it would be ok to skip it moving forward. That said, it was set in a interesting 'world' and wonder what could happen in future books.
I listened to the audio with Jim Frangione narrating and enjoyed it.
MountainKat wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Hey MKat - My completion post for Week 9 is Here. My weeks 8 & 9 were posted back to back. I've actually already completed my Week 10, I just need to take the moment to write the r..."
Wow, I am just a mess. I had your completion post already listed! 🤦🏻♀️ Sorry for making extra work for you Shelby! It was Danielle's we were missing and she just posted it. It wasn't even late at night or anything... 🤷🏻♀️
Updated the tracking again - I think I have it right this time! Please let me know if I messed up again.We have everything through Week 9 now! And all selections for Week 10. Only missing Shelby and Danielle's completions and Shelby just needs to write hers up.
Looking good!!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Yes, this challenge ends at Week 11, so we all need to be current before Week 10 ends to compete in the last week. TART is scheduled to be wholly within the PtP, so it shouldn't compete with it and just help fill gaps. So no worries about any delays at this point. I know that a lot of people are in both challenges and I didn't want there to be a conflict.