TART Challenge - Round 3 - Fast like Molasses (11)

[Chan]

I'm starting Take no Prisoners

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task 20 - 109. Read 6 books with or without facial hair on a male cover model. Teams decide.
Team chose with facial hair

Book 1:
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Pages: 298 (Kindle version)
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: 4/28/21
How the book qualifies: Cover model has facial hair

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I'm about halfway through my second book - . I'd hoped to finish it tonight, but life didn't cooperate and I don't see myself finishing before tomorrow morning now.

[Courtney]

No worries. I'm only about half way through mine anyway. Ended up taking a little staycation yesterday and today. So I'll probably finish up tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Courtney]

Completion Post - Task 20

109. Read 6 books with or without facial hair on a male cover model. Teams decide.

Team chose WITH


Dragon Guard Warrior

Pages: 198 (Kindle Edition)
Completed: 4/29
How the book qualifies: Dude on the cover has an impressive beard 😉
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

Meh. This was just pretty boring. The characters were boring, the story was boring, the drama was boring, and the sex was boring. It's just one of those books that you start forgetting as soon as you get through it 🤷‍♀️.

The hero is the captain of the Dragon Guard, and the heroine is the new nanny for the Prince. They both live and work in the castle together, and despite the hero knowing that Poppy is his fated mate the first time they meet, they spent most of the book avoiding each other for a myriad of stupid reasons. Of course they manage to get together at the end, but it's all very bland and uninteresting 🤷‍♀️

[Elizabeth]

Completion Post - Task 20. 109. Read 6 books with or without facial hair on a male cover model. Teams decide.

Team chose WITH
Book:

Pages: 387 (Kindle Edition)
Completed: 4/29
How the book qualifies: Ashton has stubble on his face.
Rating: 😍😍😍😍
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Elizabeth]

Chan wrote: "Using GR on the phone is the worst. Couple that with the screwed up notifications and the GR platform is becoming pretty sucky.

I'm grateful for the relationships I built on here and RRRC. That's ..."

I agree and I'm not going to lie being apart of this reading group has me reading more than ever. I finished over 150 last year and I'm hoping for 200 this year!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task 20 - 109. Read 6 books with or without facial hair on a male cover model. Teams decide.
Team chose with facial hair

Book 2:
GhosTV
Pages: 300 (Kindle version)
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: 4/29/21
How the book qualifies: Cover model has facial hair

[Chan]

#20 | Task 109: Read 6 books WITH facial hair on a male cover model | Book 2
Book: Take No Prisoners
Rating: 🎖️🎖️🎖️🎖️
Pages: 385
Completed: April 29, 2021
Qualifies: mustache

[Courtney]

Posted in the main thread 👍

[Chan]

whoops sorry. i thought we were waiting for one more. i miscounted

[Courtney]

No worries! I checked it as I was heading to breakfast anyway.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 21 - 70. Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors.

As a team, select a sub-genre and then make sure you are all reading different authors. Remember to use the first edition Kindle page count.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Here is your next task!

Task 21 - 70. Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors.

As a team, select a sub-genre and then make sure you are all reading d..."

Wow, I got a notification for this! Maybe they've finally fixed it??!??

[Courtney]

Woo hoo maybe? 🤣

So this one we had originally had contemporary, but then thought about changing it since we did contemporary for the other sub-genre one. We mentioned maybe doing historical instead, but what do y'all think?

I'm OK with contemporary or historical, or do you want something more specific? We've already done magic and sports for other tasks, and Ruby Dixon was sci-fi...so maybe musician or western/cowboy?

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Courtney wrote: "Woo hoo maybe? 🤣

So this one we had originally had contemporary, but then thought about changing it since we did contemporary for the other sub-genre one. We mentioned maybe doing historical inste..."

I'd really rather keep it more general if you guys don't mind...this weekend is when I'm moving and I don't want to have to think any harder than necessary! Either contemporary or historical is fine, though!

[Elizabeth]

I’m good with either. I love both genres!

[Courtney]

I'm cool with either. I think contemporary is probably a bit easier, though.

[Courtney]

Does anyone have a preference for an author since we can't read the same one?

For contemporary, I was kind of in the mood for , but it's only 178 pages 😩.

Maybe would work. It's 223, so a bit closer to 300.

For historical, I've been meaning to re-read because I read it ages ago, and never rated it, and I can't remember if I liked it or not 🤣. It's 322 pages.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I have 3 that I'm looking at... and .

I'm leaning toward the Toni Anderson book, and it's 400 pages so it will give the rest of you some wiggle room. Advance warning though - life is crazy here for the next couple of days so I can't imagine finishing before tomorrow night sometime...

[Chan]

Hi Team! The only one I overlapped with was Ella Frank, but I removed it from my list. If we're doing contemporary, I would read one of these books

- 336 pages
- 344 pages
- 235 pages
- 448 pages


This was the Ella Frank book I was thinking about:

[Chan]

~KarenH~ wrote: "I have 3 that I'm looking at... and .

I'm leaning toward the Toni Anderson book, and ..."

Karen, it looks like you and i lean towards books that are very long.

Courtney, if Karen and I read longer books, then you could read a shorter book. I don't know if you like shorter books or if you read the shorter ones only for challenges.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I actually jump all over the place as far as length goes...it just happens that what I have on my M&G list that fit this particular task are all over 300 pages. For the most part I prefer shorter if I'm going to be reading the book since I don't tend to read much except late night/early morning in bed. For audio I'll go for just about any length, from a novella to Outlander-like monsters!

[Chan]

I have found that i can do some short audios. Especially if the narrator is good.

[Chan]

I'm guessing we are going to do contemporary.

I'm going to read this one


1200 pages - 448 pages = 752 pages

[Elizabeth]

I'm going to read it has 323 pages.

1200 pages - 448 (Chan) - 323 (Mine) = 429 pages still needed.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I haven't decided for sure, but all three of my options are over 300 pages, so Courtney, as long as your book reaches the 150 page minimum for the challenge, you're good!

[Courtney]

Ok, cool!

Sorry, Chan you can do the Ella Frank if you want! I actually started before I went to bed last night on the chance everyone would be good with contemporary and I didn't want to go too short just in case!

[Chan]

I'm going to switch to Copper Beach.

I double checked page count before I decided, and with my switch and adding Liz and Courtney's page count, Karen would need a book with at least 310 pages.

Karen, I know you have decided yet, but the three options you posted above are 339 pages or longer. So, we'll be okay with page count.

[Courtney]

Omg, I wasted 2 hours of my life watching Midsommar last night when I could have been reading 😭. It was so terrible!

[Courtney]

There's a new Ruby Dixon out today!!!!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task 21 - 70. Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors.
Team chose contemporary romance

Book 2:
Colder Than Sin
Pages: 400 (Kindle version)
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: 5/1/21
How the book qualifies: MPG Romance > Contemporary Romance, author Toni Anderson

[Chan]

Courtney wrote: "There's a new Ruby Dixon out today!!!!


"


that gif brings back some wonderful memories. New Girl was one of my favorite shows

[Chan]

#21 | Task 70: Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors - Contemporary
Book: Copper Beach
Rating: 📚📚📚📚
Pages: 344
Completed: May 2, 2021
Qualifies: MPG Contemporary | Author is Jayne Krentz

[Elizabeth]

#21 | Task 70: Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors - Contemporary

Book:
Rating: 😍😍😍😍
Pages: 323
Completed: May 2, 2021
Qualifies: MPG Contemporary | Author is Helen Hoang
Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Courtney]

Completion Post - Task 21

Task 70: Read a minimum of 1200 pages in books of the same sub-genre, but by different authors

Team chose contemporary


Parker

Pages: 223 (Kindle First Edition)
Completed: 5/2
How the book qualifies: MPG Contemporary Romance, Author is Jillian Quinn
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

This was an OK read, but I just had a hard time connecting to it. Some parts were a bit over-the-top cheesy and ridiculous, and I really didn't like either of the MCs. Overall, it felt like it was trying too hard and didn't seem that polished.

For one thing, it all felt incredible rushed. Just a bit too insta-love for me. Alex goes from alcoholic man-whore to devoted boyfriend in a week?



And the timeline in here is just all sorts of messed up. First, despite Alex and Charlie both being super close to sports agency boss Mickey, they've never met. You're telling me that Charlie, who is supposed to be like Mickey's adopted daughter, and apparently met Alex's dad, Mickey's best friend, several times, didn't go to that man's funeral?



Then, when Alex and Charlie finally do meet, the very next day, Charlie is rescuing him from his drunken stupor, forcing him to live with her so she can watch over him, and is already worried about how much she cares about him and how it could mess with her career if they got together.



Then throughout the rest of the book, the author forgets how long they've actually been together. Like, Parker spent one week with Charlie, then two weeks traveling, then a few days with Charlie, then one week away, and somehow that equals two months....



Inconsistencies like that drive me bonkers. Not to mention that after dating for all of "two months" Mickey makes Alex do the most ridiculous thing ever to prove that he actually wants to date Charlie, which supposedly takes two months to get together, during which time, him and Charlie only see each other passing in the hall or elevator, but they're ridiculously in love with each other? So much so that Alex says he would give up his hockey career if he had to?



So besides the rushed, weird insta-love stuff going on, what really bothered me about this book was all the "not like other girls" garbage. Seriously, it's so cringy bad in here.

At one point, Charlie sits with the hockey wives at one of Alex's games, and she is so rude and judgmental of these women that it was actually painful to read. She thinks it's terrible that they don't know anything about the game, and she assumes that all they ever do is get manicures or whatever, which obviously makes her better than all of them. And of course there's the whole "I like hanging out with guys because they talk about important stuff like sports and women are so silly and just talk about makeup" internal monologue that is typical of these I'm-not-like-other-girls girls.



And even after the women are all super nice to her and listen to her explanations during the game and seem really interested in what she's saying, Charlie still mocks them in her internal monologue. There sure was a stuck-up-b*tch in the stands, but it's not the woman Charlie thinks it is.



Added to this is Alex's stupid monologuing about how Charlie's not like other girls, and he's so happy that she doesn't wear makeup or super short skirts or whatever other stupid slut-shaming crap the author decided to rant about. Sorry, just not a fan of that. Women can wear makeup if they want, and it's fine. Women can wear short skirts if they want, and it's fine. Alex had sex with multiple chicks barely over the age of 18 and woke up after being black out drunk in a dorm at 27 years old. If anyone should be shamed, it's that guy.



So, just kind of meh for me. Perhaps some potential in here, but the cheesy plot points and slut-shaming need to go.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 22 - 46. Read over 1000 pages in books written by duo authors.

Books selected for this task need to be written by two authors. If both authors are listed on the main book page/cover, simply list them in your completion post. If the authors write under a pseudonym such as Ilona Andrews, include a link to the author page for the pseudonym or their website showing it represents two authors. Remember to use the first edition Kindle page count.

[Courtney]

Here's a list if anyone needs some inspiration.

Romance Duo Author List

Glad I didn't get to last time! I'll do it now if it fits the page count 👍. It's 178 pages.

If too short, I'll just grab a Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I'm listening to Burn for Me...it's 406 pages.

[Chan]

OMGosh Karen! it's soooo good. I hope you like it.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Chan wrote: "OMGosh Karen! it's soooo good. I hope you like it."

It's actually a reread (relisten) for me, but somehow I never continued the series the first time. Now that it's been almost 3 years, I really need a refresher before continuing...

[Chan]

I'm reading

[Courtney]

Ok, so
416
406
178

Exactly 1000 🤣. What are the chances?

So, Liz anything over 150 for the challenge minimum is fine!

[Courtney]

Completion Post - Task 22

46. Read over 1000 pages in books written by duo authors.


Need for Speed

Pages: 178 (Kindle First Edition)
Completed: 5/3
How the book qualifies: Written by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

It's actually been a while since I read the first book in the series, so it did take me a little bit to get into this one. I think this series works a little better reading back-to-back because it really is one full story that's been broken into three parts.

With that said, I did enjoy this installment in the series a lot. The first book was about the enemies becoming lovers, and this one is mainly focused on the development of their relationship from friends to partners. There isn't as much angst and drama here, but I think the relationship building was really well done. Solo and Panther just start to really fit together as a couple. In the first book, sometimes I had a little trouble with Solo being too over-the-top, almost running into annoying territory, but I think his cockiness was a little better tempered in this one, and I found him much more charming. And his lightness and charm softens Panther's edges perfectly once he opens up to the relationship.

I just love a story with a lot of character growth and development, and that's exactly what this installment is about.

The only downside is that it does take a bit at the beginning for it to really get going. I feel like the first book grabbed me more right from the start. And the ending cliffhanger is way worse than the one in the first book! OMG, I have to know what happens!!!! 🤣

[Chan]

#22 | Task 46: Read over 1000 pages in books written by duo authors.
Book: Sweet Filthy Boy
Rating: 😐😐😐
Pages: 416
Completed: May 3, 2021
Qualifies: Authors are Christina Lauren

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task 22 - 46. Read over 1000 pages in books written by duo authors.

Burn for Me
Pages: 406 (Kindle version)
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: 5/3/21
How the book qualifies: Written by Ilona Andrews, a husband and wife team.

[Elizabeth]

46. Read over 1000 pages in books written by duo authors.


Pages: 358 (Kindle version)
Rating: 3 stars
Completed: 5/3/21
How the book qualifies: Written by [author:Christina Lauren|6556689, 2 Friends duo.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

OK speed readers - I've got you as complete and will assign your next task in the morning. 😊

[Courtney]

Oh my! I wake up and everything's done 🤣🤣

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 23 - 117. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 250 reviews.

Books selected for this task need to have an average GR rating under 4.2 AND under 250 reviews (not ratings). You can find this info on the main book page under the title. Please include the average rating and the number of reviews in your completion posts.