TART Challenge - Round 3 - Rainbow Tarts (9)

[Truitt_T]

I'll start listening to Best Laid Plaids today, and reading The Lone Rancher, which should be quick.

[KellyJo]

Reading A Marked Man

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post: Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.


The Lone Rancher
[*book:The Lone Rancher|46133296]
192 pages per GR, see link above
3 word title
3/31

⭐⭐⭐

Meh. This one really didn't work for me. It was well enough written, but I didn't enjoy the family drama and wished for more romance. I was tempted to rate it two stars, but I usually save that for really bad books I somehow manage to finish (I don't use one star - if it's that bad, I bail). The Lone Rancher was wasn't that terrible, it just wasn't for me.

ETA: The cover is pretty. :)

[Truitt_T]

I've been listening to Best Laid Plaids, but I'm going to switch over to the ebook version to finish up - I should get it done tonight.

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post: Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.


Best Laid Plaids
[*book:Best Laid Plaids|53790421]
283 pages per GR, see link above
3 word title
4/01

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's my second time reading/listening to the book and I truly enjoyed it both times. 1920s Scotland, a man on the spectrum who hears ghosts, a WWI vet and student of psychology looking for fodder for his thesis, major sexual tension - what's not to like?

[Teresa]

Completion Post: Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.

Sink or Swim by Maz Maddox
226 pgs/GR
04/01
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fun
This has a lot of tropes: fake fiancé, undercover operation, redeemable Robin Hood thief, (partial) enemies to lovers and few others. Yet it was presented in unique ways. I really liked the Dinosaur angle and learned a new type. There was action, danger, and humour

[Teresa]

I'll read next

[Teresa]

Completion Post: Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.


Fate & Fortune by Maz Maddox
216 pgs/GR
04/01
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Although calling the end happily ever after is a bit of a stretch, I’m glad Sky found someone and a new purpose. I really liked Victor and he was good for Sky. I’m looking forward to the final book as much if this book was a setup for it.

[Fi]

Completion Post

Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.


Sink or Swim by Maz Maddox
Pages: 226/ GR Kindle 1st edition
Read: 01/04/21
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: This was pretty good and I liked Baha a lot. It took me a little longer to warm up to Jackson but I got there in end. The pace and the humor were more subdued than in the first book, but that suited the MCs and the story well. There were a few inconsistencies, but it didn't detract much from the overall enjoyment of the book.

[Teresa]

If you didn't see, BINGO sign ups are on now: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Fi]

Teresa wrote: "If you didn't see, BINGO sign ups are on now: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

Ooh tempting. Signups for Tower Teams are open as well. 🙈 Lol decisions, decisions...

[Teresa]

So tempting!!! I'm already doing two team challenges and signed up for BINGO - I'm not sure if I could commit to another. Although I do read a lot, I'm trying to "get out" more and do non reading things. LOL That being said, there is only a few weeks of over lap with PtP and TART ending in May....

[KellyJo]

Completion Post

Task 8 - 45. Read 6 books with 3 word titles.

A Marked Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Pages 214
Read 4/1/2021
Rating 4 stars
Review- I love this series. I have been meaning to do a reread of all the authors books since I have not read the last few releases. But since the author passed away, we will never know how things where planned to end and that makes me a little reluctant to read them again. Very unique characters and these stories make for great relaxing afternoon reads,

[Fi]

Great, I'll check us in!

[Fi]

Teresa wrote: "So tempting!!! I'm already doing two team challenges and signed up for BINGO - I'm not sure if I could commit to another. Although I do read a lot, I'm trying to "get out" more and do non reading t..."

True, and UNO ends in April so it'd be mostly just TT and Bingo... (what are these non reading things you speak of, though? 😂)

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.

You can use any edition's cover to qualify for this task. Basically, I"m looking for lots of skin here, minimum of an open shirt on the cover. Please include the qualifying cover in your completion posts.

[Teresa]

I’m going to read


Zyon by Michelle Notaro

[Fi]

Reading

[Truitt_T]

I'm reading Hot Head.

And I have a question for all of you who play multiple games at once. I'm playing this, plus Scavenger Hunt over in the M/M group. How tough is it to play multiple games? Do most of your books count for more than one game? Both Tower Teams and Bingo look like fun.

[Teresa]

I like trying to fit a book into as many games as I can. Lol but it really depends on how many you read a week. I averaged my books from the last 9 years and I read 20-26 books a month, some short some long. Or 4-6 books a week. So I can read enough for about 4 challenges a week without doubling a book use.

[Fi]

Finding books that work for multiple challenges is the fun bit. 😁 Another thing that helps is mixing challenges with very specific tasks with broader ones. But honestly Tru, you read so fast that it would probably take a lot of challenges to make you sweat. 😂

[KellyJo]

Reading Featherbed

[Teresa]

Completion Post - Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.

Zyon by Michelle Frost
300 pgs/GR
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Though much of the world is a mystery at first, the picture gradually emerged as the story progressed. I really liked Braz, Nica, Weylyn, and Theon. The differences in all their bonds were clearly shown. I am greatly looking forward to the next book as we are definitely not done with their story!

[Teresa]

I'm going to read

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post: Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.


Hot Head
[*book:Hot Head|11740121]
320 pages per GR, see link above
Two chests, and a little more of one....see cover above
4/3
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'll write a little more later, but this a is an oddly endearing book.

[Truitt_T]

Teresa wrote: "Completion Post - Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.

Until I saw your post, Teresa, I hadn't noticed this was another 6 book task! It'll be pretty late tonight before I get a second one done - I haven't even picked one out yet. :)

[Truitt_T]

Mine by Mary Calmes has a pretty, pretty cover and is relatively short, so it’s my next pick.
And it helps that I already own the ebook and the audio version. :)

[Fi]

Completion Post

Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.


Black Sky Morning by Hanna Dare
Pages: 224/ GR Kindle 1st edition
Read: 03/04/21
⭐⭐⭐
Review: It was ok, but nothing special. The plot didn't really manage to keep my attention, even though I liked the MCs. Nice, but forgettable.

[KellyJo]

Completion Post

Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover

Featherbed by Annabeth Albert

Pages 186

Read 4/3/21
Rating 4 stars
Review- this was an entertaining age gap, opposites attract romance. Cute fluffy read with low angst. Read the book in one setting and can not wait to read more from this series.

[Teresa]

Completion Post - Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.


Wolf Lost by Sam Burns
188 pgs
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Enjoyable!
Likeable characters that I cared about. The world could have been fleshed out a little more but it was a good start to a new series

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post - Task 9 - 30. Read 6 books with nekkid man chest on the cover.


Mine
[*book:Mine|15846744]
220 pages per GR, see link above
See cover
4/3
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love the crazy, warped relationship between Trevan and Landry. It's an odd little book, but I enjoyed it.

[Truitt_T]

I'm pretty sure I got the task completion post done correctly. :)

[Truitt_T]

Teresa wrote: "I like trying to fit a book into as many games as I can. Lol but it really depends on how many you read a week. I averaged my books from the last 9 years and I read 20-26 books a month, some short ..."

Thanks for replying, Teresa. I can see the fin in trying to fit a book into as many games as possible - and, frankly, I like having a little direction in picking my next book! I suppose I need to sit down and look at the start/end dates for everything and figure out what I can manage while still keeping it fun.

[Truitt_T]

Filipa wrote: "Finding books that work for multiple challenges is the fun bit. 😁 Another thing that helps is mixing challenges with very specific tasks with broader ones. But honestly Tru, you read so fast that i..."

Between you and Teresa, you've about got me convinced I need another game or two, lol. Your point about mixing challenges is a good one. At this point, I'm only learning about them as someone posts about them on a thread I'm following. I take it you'll be playing Tower Teams?

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 10 - 22. Read 4 books #5 or higher in a series.

For this task the selected books need to be #5 or higher in a series listed on GR. Please include a link to the series page in your completion posts.

[Fi]

Truitt_T wrote: "Filipa wrote: "Finding books that work for multiple challenges is the fun bit. 😁 Another thing that helps is mixing challenges with very specific tasks with broader ones. But honestly Tru, you read..."

I am. :) Challenge threads are one of the best ways to learn about new challenges, but also keep an eye on group newsletters, there's usually a mention when something is about to start.

[Fi]

I was hoping to make this task work with PtP, but since I don't have any 5+ book set in Europe, I'm going with Salmon and the Hazel.

(Practical example of challenges sometimes not working together, Tru. 😂)

[Truitt_T]

Filipa wrote: "I was hoping to make this task work with PtP, but since I don't have any 5+ book set in Europe, I'm going with Salmon and the Hazel.

(Practical example of challenges sometimes not ..."

Point taken, lol.

Since you'll be playing Tower Teams, would you tell me how books are selected? I looked at the info thread, and I can't figure it out. I'm probably missing something blazingly obvious....

For our 10th task (woohoo!) I'm going to read Starting From the Top by Lane Hayes, which is the fifth (and I think final?) book in the series.

[Teresa]

Ugh, I just finished a book that would have worked... I’m going to have to go for a reread I think. All my series not finished I have book 2 or 3 next. I tend to binge series.

[Teresa]

I’m going to read Amos Ridge by BL Maxwell

[Teresa]

Not a reread but looks good!

[Fi]

Truitt_T wrote: "Since you'll be playing Tower Teams, would you tell me how books are selected? I looked at the info thread, and I can't figure it out. I'm probably missing something blazingly obvious...."

It's usually points by page count, so bigger books = more points. That's not mentioned this year though, so I guess we'll wait and see. And then the mods will probably throw in a few mini challenges as well.

[Fi]

Teresa wrote: "Ugh, I just finished a book that would have worked... I’m going to have to go for a reread I think. All my series not finished I have book 2 or 3 next. I tend to binge series."

My bookish goal for the year is to finish more series than I start, and apparently I'm doing ok because I only had this book and the last Psycop to pick from. 😂

[Truitt_T]

Filipa wrote: "It's usually points by page count, so bigger books = more points. That's not mentioned this year though, so I guess we'll wait and see. And then the mods will probably throw in a few mini challenges as well."

I broke down and asked on the Mended Drum thread - I kept looking , but I can't find any explantion much beyond 'read boos for points', lol.

[Teresa]

Try, you can go into the group archives and look at past tower team events to get an idea. I’ve played before but I don’t quite remember the format.

[Teresa]

Tru.... stupid autocorrect

[Truitt_T]

Teresa wrote: "Try, you can go into the group archives and look at past tower team events to get an idea. I’ve played before but I don’t quite remember the format."

Great suggestion - I haven't tried looking anything up anything archived before, but it seems obvious now that you suggest it, lol.

I did get an official answer, though, and it's pretty much what Filipa said and I'd inferred - read books, earn points. Now I know that everyone doesn't have to read the same books, so that makes me happy; a flexible challenge sounds good.

Autocorret is my nemesis.....

[Fi]

Completion Post

Task 10 - 22. Read 4 books #5 or higher in a series.


Salmon and the Hazel by Sam Burns
Pages: 170/ GR Kindle 1st edition
Qualification: #8 in The Rowan Harbor Cycle Series
Read: 04/04/21
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)
Review: This book was a little different from the others in this series, since it took place in Fairie instead of Rowan Harbor. I think the town is such an integral part of these stories, almost like a character in itself, that it felt like something was missing. And of course the result was that there weren't many interactions between all of the characters, and especially when it comes to Jesse and Wade I did miss it. But I still loved Jesse and Sean, and the story was interesting, a good setup for the last book in the series.

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post: Task 10 - 22. Read 4 books #5 or higher in a series.


Starting From the Top by Lane Hayes
[*book:Starting From the Top|56326575]
310 pages per GR, see above
Qualifiction: 5th book in the Starting From series
4/4
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've enjoyed all the books in this series to one degree or another, but this finial book is one of my favorites. It's a slow burn lovers to friends, friends to more story with plenty of sex and not too much agnst. It's low key, rather lovely, and at least 4.5 stars. I'm sorry to have come to the end of the series, but I'm looking forward to reading more by Lane Hayes.

[Teresa]

I’m done but not near a computer. I don’t think we can get our next book until tomorrow anyway but I’ll post soon.