TART Challenge2 - Book Babes (11)

[Aiswrya]

I’m almost done you guys. Another hour of listening to go. Will get that done as soon as I’m done with work.

[Laura]

Aiswrya wrote: "I’m almost done you guys. Another hour of listening to go. Will get that done as soon as I’m done with work."

Nice! Appreciate the update.
I was able to finish my two books that were due in 2 days and I 'm almost finished the buddy read Megan and I are reading.

[Aiswrya]

Completion Post
Task: As a team select your favorite month of 2019 (because 2020 basically SUCKS!) and each player reads a book initially published in that month. No pass for this task. We picked July 2019
Book/cover link: One Fine Duke
Page numbers with source: 384 pages (kindle) - there are two kindle editions with the same publication date. I picked the page count from my kindle.
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary.: Published on 7/23/2019
Date Completed.: 9/14/2020
Rating/Review.: 3 stars - I've conflicting feelings about this book. I listened to the audio-book, and I always rate my audios higher than if I were to read the book. So 4 stars. BUT, I think I might have found this book a little boring if I had read it. That being said, the narrator did a splendid job. She was very expressive and mimicked distinct voices for all characters.
The story itself was very typical - duke has a bad past, duke meets heroine and instant sparks fly, duke doesn't want to fall in love, duke falls in love but is in denial, duke accepts his emotions but heroine is butt hurt, and finally they kiss and make up. There were also some aspects of this book that would have been very unrealistic at the time the story takes place in. So, my final rating would be 3 stars.

[Aiswrya]

Laura wrote: "Aiswrya wrote: "I’m almost done you guys. Another hour of listening to go. Will get that done as soon as I’m done with work."

Nice! Appreciate the update.
I was able to finish my two books that w..."

Wow, impressive progress!

[AliciaJ]

Laura wrote: "Megan, for task #82 can you get a book from Lisa Kleypas series Hathaways?

I can get Seduce Me at Sunrise- immediately
Then if this task isn't called next I can get [book:Mine Till ..."

I don't mind, any series of hers is good by me.

[AliciaJ]

Laura wrote: "AliciaJ wrote: "Laura wrote: "AliciaJ wrote: "Aiswrya wrote: "England/ London is definitely a good pick! I read loads of historical romance, so that works for me!"

Yes, I love that setting. Lots o..."

As I recall, I liked the second book much more than the first. I don't know if it was the characters in the first book, or the story, I just couldn't get into it like I usually would with her books. I should probably reread them both though before I get into the third book so I remember more of the story.

[AliciaJ]

Completion Post

Task: 0. As a team select your favorite month of 2019 (because 2020 basically SUCKS!) and each player reads a book initially published in that month. No pass for this task.

Team choice: July 2019
Book: Black Sky Morning
Pages: 224
Rating: 3 stars
Read: 9/14/20
Qualifies: Published 7/16/19 Black Sky Morning main page
Review: I enjoyed the story for the most part, but it did drag a bit for me, especially in the middle when Jonathan and Xin were alone on the island for so long. Nothing happened except they started having sex and Xin learned to swim. Kind of dull, at least compared to the previous two books. Plus Jonathan was basically suicidal for the first half of the story, which made it really hard to empathize with his character. Overall this one was a bit of a let down after the first two excellent books in the series.

[Aiswrya]

Yayy! We’ve finished the first task. Sounds like Laura is the only one that had no complaints about her book. Hopefully, we’ll all enjoy our books more for the next task.

Laura, would you like me to post our completion on the tracking thread? I’m on my computer so it won’t be any trouble

[Laura]

I just finished another book so I'll post it so MKat has the whole link to all our books. We won't be able to get another task quite yet!

Nice going ladies!

[Aiswrya]

Perfect - I just posted it since I was getting read to shut down my computer, but I'll get rid of my message :)

[Laura]

I certainly don't mind if I 'm not around, though I will always post if I'm not available and ask the last person to finish to check us in.

[Aiswrya]

That works :) off to catch up on my reading for the PTP challenge. I know Laura is playing that one too, is anyone else playing as well?

Alicia, I totally forgot to get back to you on your MM bingo question. I’m on team “with a push and a groan” 😉 lol. What team are you on?

[Laura]

Great job ladies, now we wait for our next call. I believe we were the first team to finish task 1! Yay!

[AliciaJ]

Aiswrya wrote: "That works :) off to catch up on my reading for the PTP challenge. I know Laura is playing that one too, is anyone else playing as well?

Alicia, I totally forgot to get back to you on your MM bin..."

We are The Chub Club! LOL. Some of the names we come up with each time just crack me up.

[AliciaJ]

Oh, and I’m doing PtP this time too. I think that team is Love is an Open Book.

[Aiswrya]

AliciaJ wrote: "Aiswrya wrote: "That works :) off to catch up on my reading for the PTP challenge. I know Laura is playing that one too, is anyone else playing as well?

Alicia, I totally forgot to get back to yo..."

Lol truly 😂

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I've got you complete for the first task, you will get your next task sometime tomorrow morning (my time).

[Laura]

Thank you!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your Task 2:

3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

In your completion post for this task, you will need to post a link to your read shelf. The author you choose can be only your shelves, but only the book you read for this task can be marked as read. If you have a private profile, you will need to either open it for the duration of this task (or challenge) or friend me so I can confirm your completion.

[Megan]

Thanks!!

Ok I'm reading Choose Me by Lea Coll which I haven't read any of hers before. That was lucky having that just sitting there. I'll get some done tonight before bed and the rest tomorrow :-)

[Laura]

I might try a Catherine Bybee!

Edit:
Since, it's late afternoon for me I will likely finish tonight.
Excellent thanks for the update, Megan and enjoy your book.

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "I might try a Catherine Bybee!

Edit:
Since, it's late afternoon for me I will likely finish tonight.
Excellent thanks for the update, Megan and enjoy your book."

Not sure why but I thought you'd read her before!

[Laura]

I had to double check 😊 I have read some of your other recommendations but not Bybee. Not sure why? I guess maybe just didn't get around to it.

[AliciaJ]

I'm going to read Catherine Bybee too. Not Quite Dating looks pretty good and it's on KU. Yay. I probably won't be able to start it until tonight though. Boo.

[Laura]

I chose and am enjoying it!

Thanks Megan, I love finding new authors. I will read more by Bybee.

[Laura]

Completion post - task 2

3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.
Book:
pages: 206 kindle edition (GR)
read: Sept 15/20
rating: 4 stars
qualifies: new to me author Laura's read shelf
review: This was a really sweet, story that's been done so many times but Bybee does such a good job with these two characters that you couldn't help rooting for both of them to have a HEA.
Looking forward to continuing with this series.

[Megan]

Completion post - task 2

3. Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.
Book: Ms. Lawyer
Read: 16th Sept
Pages: 288
Rating: 1 star
Qualifies: New to me Megan's Read Shelf
Review: I won't be reading this author again. It was just boring and this I think was meant to be a slow burn but instead it just felt very long and I was just not interested in either of them getting together.

[Laura]

Hi ya, Megan
Hope your next book is better! When you get a moment will you please add a page count to your completion post and link to the kindle first edition rather than the 2nd edition.

[Laura]

Aiswrya, what book did you choose for the current task and how are you making out?

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "Hi ya, Megan
Hope your next book is better! When you get a moment will you please add a page count to your completion post and link to the kindle first edition rather than the 2nd edition."

Added the page number, but thats the edition I've read so that is whats been linked.

[Laura]

Thanks for adding the page count.

Different rules for different groups. MKat requires the GR kindle first edition regardless of which book you read and will ask you to fix it if you don't before check in. Also last round once the game gets going she won't assign a new task until the completion post has all the correct info she requires, in this case a link to the kindle first edition.

I've copied this from the rules in post 3 of our thread.

"*For this challenge, use the GR Kindle first edition page count if available. Ebook page count will be acceptable if no Kindle page count available. The acceptability of other page counts will be made on an individual basis**"

Edit: you will need to correct the page count to the kindle first edition

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "Thanks for adding the page count.

Different rules for different groups. MKat requires the GR kindle first edition regardless of which book you read and will ask you to fix it if you don't before ..."

Ok thats done but I don't understand the point of that rule.

[Laura]

Thanks! I think it was explained in a different challenge or maybe last round but something to do with page count differences (don't quote me)
😊

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Hi Book Babes! Aiswrya is no longer a member of your team. You will continue as a team of three and I will adjust the tasks as necessary, i.e. lower the book or page count requirements. Not all tasks will require adjustment though.

If you have any questions, let me know. 😊

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I decided to use the first edition Kindle page count as a way to level the playing field. In the Bachelor Team Challenge, I was seeing some get an unfair advantage because their book came in a large print edition or other increased size. On the flip side, if you listen and the audio edition, though unabridged, says 11 pages - does the book count? Anyway, since so many of the tasks use a page count for completion, I thought this was the best way to go and started using it in the BTC the last round too. I think it has worked out well. 😊

I'm not all that concerned about what book you link to as long as you use the correct page count in your completion - yes, I do check.

[Megan]

Fair enough. Thank you for explaining it!

[Laura]

Thank you for the better explanation!

[AliciaJ]

MountainKat wrote: "Hi Book Babes! Aiswrya is no longer a member of your team. You will continue as a team of three and I will adjust the tasks as necessary, i.e. lower the book or page count requirements. Not all tas..."

I'm so sorry to hear this. Thanks for letting us know Kat.

[AliciaJ]

Ladies, sorry I've been awol the last couple days. Life happenings around home, but I've got it all sorted out now. 😊

I am in the middle of my Bybee book, I'm enjoying it so far. I should have it done and posted by tonight.

[AliciaJ]

Completion Post

Task #2: Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

Book: Not Quite Dating
Pages: 259
Rating: 4 stars
Read: 9/17/20
Qualifies: New to me author Alicia's Read Shelf
Review: While there weren't a lot of fireworks in the story, the sweetness of it all kept my interest throughout the book. I really liked Jessie, and I could easily identify with her struggles as a single mom. I also thought the author did a really great job with Jack. I thought for sure that I would not like him since he was lying for more than half the book, but somehow it worked and I was really happy at the end when they were able to finally get their HEA. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author.

[AliciaJ]

Team Completion Post:

Task 2: Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.

✅Laura: Wife by Wednesday Completion Post
✅Megan: Ms. Lawyer Completion Post
✅Alicia: Not Quite Dating Completion Post

[AliciaJ]

I went ahead and reported our completion of task 2 to MKat. We should get our next task soon! 😊

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Laura, I can't confirm your completion because your profile is private. You will either need to open your profile or friend me so that I can see your shelves.

I will go ahead and assign your next task, but won't assign one after that until I can confirm your book for Task 2.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is Task 3:

12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

You can do the recommendations however you wish - to the group, to each individual, to the person below you on the list or ?? - it's up to you. If you want to provide a specific shelf to pick from, it needs to have a minimum of 10 books on it.

[Megan]

I don't have a rec list, do my favourites count as recommendations? Otherwise I can make a quick list...

Think I'm going to read Be the Girl from Laura's rec list

Edit: Made a Rec list I tried to include 1st in a series but some of the ratings are lower than a 4 star because its more me recommending a series and my ocd can't allow me to recommend random ones in a series it just doesn't sit well with me. Hopefully theres a diverse list for you guys to find something :-)

[Megan]

AliciaJ wrote: "I went ahead and reported our completion of task 2 to MKat. We should get our next task soon! 😊"

Thanks Alicia! I'm glad you liked the book, I think that series is exactly as you described. Its just an easy nice romance. If you want more fireworks her series First Wives: Fool Me Once has a little more fireworks. Its still easy to read but theres more to the story.

[Laura]

MountainKat wrote: "Laura, I can't confirm your completion because your profile is private. You will either need to open your profile or friend me so that I can see your shelves.

I will go ahead and assign your next ..."

That's unusual because you were able to check last round and nothing has changed. Request sent

[Laura]

Megan wrote: "I don't have a rec list, do my favourites count as recommendations? Otherwise I can make a quick list...

Think I'm going to read Be the Girl from Laura's rec list

Edit: Made a Rec..."

I really liked this one. Hope you like it.

[Laura]

Tough choice! There were lots of great books to choose from, some I have, some I want to read. I chose another Catherine Bybee book from Megan's shelf. Fool Me Once

[Megan]

Completion Post - Task 3
12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.
Be the Girl
Read: 18th Sept
Pages: 333
Rating: 4 Stars
Qualifies: On Laura's Rec Shelf
Review: Oh my god I feel like this book should have a warning...
I'm so conflicted by this book, I feel the author does such a good job in showing us Aria, getting to know her and you feel like you've got her weighed out but you don't! I read this so quick because I couldn't put it down in the end.