Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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TART Challenge - Round 3 - Buns on the Run (13)
Completion PostTask: 4 - 23. Each teammate reads a book that has been read by one of the RRRC moderators. No pass for this task.
Book/cover link: Ruthless Game
Page numbers with source: 414pgs per GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Read by: KarenH
Date Completed: (3/23)
Rating: ★★★★½
I do really enjoy this series. Kane and Rose weren't my favorite couple of the series, but I did enjoy their story. Kane knew Rose was pregnant with his child when he helped her escape from Whitney's clutches. He's been looking for her ever since. Of course Whitney's got his own devious plans for the two of them and he's determined to get his hands on their baby.
There's a fair bit of action in this one as it starts off with a bang. Rose and Kane are alone and reconnecting while on the run from multiple factions. At the same time Rose is going into labor. The connection between these two was already pretty well established before they meet back up in this one. Just neither had really admitted to the other that there was more there than a forced connection from Whitney's breeding program.
I enjoyed these two, but I wish we'd spent more time with the rest of Kane's Ghostwalker family. I really enjoy this family. I'm looking forward to more stories from these guys. They would do anything for each other and that extends to Rose and Sebastian as well.
Task Four - 23. Each teammate reads a book that has been read by one of the RRRC moderators. No pass for this task.Team 13 - Buns on the Run
Danielle: Completion Post
Shelby: Completion Post
AnnMarie: Completion Post
Ryland: Completion Post
Shelby wrote: "Completion PostTask: 4 - 23. Each teammate reads a book that has been read by one of the RRRC moderators. No pass for this task.
Book/cover link: Ruthless Game
[bookcover:Ruthless..."
That's the last book in that series I read even though there are 7 more. Not sure why I lost the bubble on it - I think it was the 18 months in between books. I liked that series but its been so many years I'm not sure I can remember enough to get back to it.
Here is your next task!Task 5 - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Books selected for this task need to be set outside the US. You can use the setting in the book details on the main book page, the title, the precis, tags or lists to qualify your book. Remember to let me know how you know the book qualifies with links and any other necessary information in your completion posts. I need to know where to look to confirm your books! Books can be set anywhere outside the US, this is not a team decision.
Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Completion PostTask: 4 - 23. Each teammate reads a book that has been read by one of the RRRC moderators. No pass for this task.
Book/cover link: Ruthless Game
[boo..."
Lol! It's the last book in the series I'd read before I stopped reading it years ago too. Pretty much for the exact same reason I'm sure. I just started rereading the series this last year because I wanted to get caught up and I remembered none of it. I've really enjoyed the rereads and am looking forward to moving through the rest of the published books.
MountainKat wrote: "Here is your next task!Task 5 - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Books selected for this task need to be set outside the US. You can use the setting in the book details on the main book p..."
Got it! Thanks :)
I started listening to Best Laid Plaids earlier today and will be finishing it tomorrow. I can start The Sugared Game after that to get an extra book in if necessary, will check in here first to see where we are :)Also The Sugared Game is tagged as "England", "British" and "London" on the first page of tags, would that be sufficient to qualify?
AnnMarie wrote: "I started listening to Best Laid Plaids earlier today and will be finishing it tomorrow. I can start The Sugared Game after that to get an extra book in if necessary..."I updated the book info so it shows that it is set in London, England on the MPG of the book under settings.
I ended up working late tonight so I will start my book that's not set in the US tomorrow.
Completion PostTask: 5 - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Book/cover link: Under a Vampire Moon
Page numbers with source: 389pgs per GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Location - Saint Lucia
Date Completed: (3/24)
Rating: ★★★½
This series is generally just ok for me with select books being more entertaining. This one falls into the ok, decent, but not great category. I know going in with these books you're going to be getting insta-love, so I try to ignore that part of things. But there is a selection of these stories that become a little too repetitive of a plot for me, especially now that I'm on book 16 in the series. When there's more to the plot than boy meets girl and falls in love, I like these books more. But when it falls back on a more traditional MF romance with just the "oops forgot to mention I'm also an immortal (vampire though we don't use that word cause we're from Atlantis and like nanos)" plot device I'm left a little more bored.
Now that being said I did like Christian and his care of Carolyn. He's determined to suffer through the stupid scenario his families provided to explain a way for him to hang out with Carolyn and not scare her off before she gets to know him. It was a stupid plot device, but the two were cute as they tried to pretend they weren't actually interested in each other. And I did enjoy Julian and Marguerite's interactions with their son here too. Julian was enjoying tormenting Christian as he stumbled his way through wooing his lifemate and Marguerite's joy in finally getting to be there for her son was sweet.
Finally the other downside was how rushed the ending of this story felt. It was kind of a oops I've used up all these pages and need to wrap it all up quick in like 5 total pages. Though Carolyn's reaction to getting all the information finally was actually kinda fun. :) I'll keep on with the series because I know these are going to be light quick reads that I'll enjoy but I don't expect any great heart wrenching story out of it all.
I'm going to start a second book for us, hope to get through it pretty quickly too. :)
Completion Post - Task 5Read 6 books set outside of the US.
The Layover by Roe Horvat
Completed: 3/24
Rating: ★★★★☆
Pages: 117 | Kindle First Edition
Set in Switzerland | Check Blurb
this is beautiful writing.
everything about this book was atmospheric hurt-comfort done right. there's an element of 'temporary' even in the writing style that lends a lot to the overall impact of this book.
digging into it a little deeper, the relationship between ondro and jamie was cute. they had incredible chemistry and it was clear they were getting really attached to each other very quickly, but horvat's writing style made it feel tragic and poetic instead of the unrealistic feeling i usually get from books with quick romances like this one.
there are themes of finding home, and figuring out what home really means, alongside coming to terms with who you are and accepting yourself for it even if others don't. i suspect a lot of the reason i liked this story so much was because it struck a little close to home, but regardless, i think roe horvat has written an excellent novel. this is an author i'm going to have to keep my eye on in the future.
i have also started by second book for this task. set in the uk -
lol you guys read faster than I can manage these days, I'll still check but it looks like you will read the second books before I will need to :)
Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "I started listening to Best Laid Plaids earlier today and will be finishing it tomorrow. I can start The Sugared Game after that to get an extra boo..."Thanks! I am embarrassed to say I am a librarian, I need to check out some of the things I can do I guess...
AnnMarie wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "I started listening to Best Laid Plaids earlier today and will be finishing it tomorrow. I can start The Sugared Game af..."I try to update the setting on a lot of books I read because so many tasks in challenges are based on that and it isn't listed in a lot of books. So as I read I always highlight where it's set and then go back and input it. I end up doing that and adding page counts more than anything else. Although I have added a new book a time or two or added an additional cover.
Completion Post - Task 5:Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Best Laid Plaids by Ella Stainton
283 pages (GR)
From the precis: In 1920s Scotland, even ghosts wear plaid.
3/25
★★★★☆ - I liked this even though I am not a huge fan of historicals. I have found though that I can listen to Cornell Collins read anything. I adore his narration and I think I likely would have given the book 3 stars but I enjoyed the narration so much I am bumping it up to 4 stars. One of the MCs got on my nerves a bit but overall I enjoyed the story and will likely continue with the next book, especially if Cornell narrates it :)
Completion Post - Task 5Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Someone to Keep Me by K.C. Wells
Completed: 3/25
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pages: 245 | Kindle First Edition
Set in the UK | Check Blurb
out of the entire series, i think this is my least favorite so far, and not because it was bad in any sense of the word. i'm quite connected to this series, i love kc wells and parker williams' writing, i adore the characters and the plot. this is really one of my favorite mlm bdsm series because it's clear the authors understand and know what they're writing.
but i think i was a tad disappointed by this one because i'd grown so attached to ben, the bartender at collars & cuffs (the local bdsm club.) we get to know ben through the previous two books in the series and when i realized that the third book was going to be his story i was really excited.
scott was an 18 year old kid who was coming to the uk to meet up with jeff, a dude he'd met online and who was going to 'take care of him.' when he got there, jeff never showed. and instead, ben took him in when he realized what was going on.
the relationship between scott and ben was a little slow, but it was sweet, like most of the romances i've read by these authors. it was a good book. it's definitely worth reading. honestly, i think i overhyped it in my brain.
Completion Post - Task 5Read 6 books set outside the US
Book: The Alpha King by Victoria Sue
Pages: 215
Date Read: 3/25
How it Fits: Set in the Kingdom of Askara as listed in the precis
Rating: Stars 2.5 Rounded up to 3
Review: A lot of my GR friends loved this book but I did not. It was just okay for me. First of all the author did A LOT of telling vs. showing. The world building was pretty good but the characters weren't very well developed. Luca the Alpha King made a lot of really dumb decisions and then he'd just make the ground shake and have everyone kneel. Kit's background makes you think he'd be a really strong character but he comes off as a wimp in most of this book who just hangs around waiting for Luca's attention. The whole Tara thing drove me crazy as did the other villains. They seemed so obvious and were OTT bad with these cheesy I'm going to rape and kill speeches. The angst in the relationship came almost exclusively from miscommunication. The dialogue was also just a bit too sugary sweet and cheesy for me. Finally the plot was very predictable.
I did really like Sam and Asher so If the next book was about them I might be willing to try it.
Completion PostTask: 5 - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Book/cover link: The Lady is a Vamp
Page numbers with source: 272pgs per GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Location - Ontario, Canada
Date Completed: (3/25)
Rating: ★★★★★
Ok so this rating is more about a rating against the other books in this series than against all books I've read. I enjoyed this one a lot. It started off with a bang before it fell into slightly more typical patterns, but it still was really entertaining. Paul's fear for his daughter was just so sweet and while his plan was daring he was desperate. Of course once Jeanne Louise realized she couldn't read her kidnapper and that he was really just a father in fear for his daughters life, she was on board.
I liked Paul and Jeanne Louise and Livy was just adorable. The circumstances had them all on the run from enforcers, but it gave them all the time to get to know each other. Jeanne Louise was sure she needed time for Paul to get to know her and fall for her before she could tell him about being life mates. And of course Paul felt he needed time for Jeanne Louise to realize how awesome Livy was before he told her of his plan.
This was sweet and very low angst, but had a little more to the story so it kept it interesting throughout.
Task Five - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.Team 13 - Buns on the Run
Danielle: Completion Post
Shelby: Completion Post
Shelby: Completion Post
AnnMarie: Completion Post
Ryland: Completion Post
Ryland: Completion Post
Ryland wrote: "Completion Post - Task 5Read 6 books set outside of the US.
The Layover by Roe Horvat
Completed: 3/24
Rating: ★★★★☆
Pages: 117 | Kindle First Edition
Set in Swit..."
Unfortunately this book doesn't qualify, the minimum page count for this challenge is 150 pages. ☹️
Ryland's first book for this task was too short to qualify - though it sounded like an interesting story. So you are one book short for the last task. I am going to assign the next task anyway, but someone needs to make up that missing book before the following one will be assigned. It can be anyone because Ryland read two books for Task 5.I hope that made sense. Bottom line, someone needs to read a book set outside the US before Task 7 can be assigned, but it can be anyone on the team. 😊
Here is your next task!Task 6 - 33. Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
As a team select a sub-genre and read six books in that sub-genre. Please include the selected sub-genre in your completion posts.
Understood MKat. As for sub-genre: thoughts?
Paranormal is the easiest for me to fit in 2 for sure. But I have books in Historical, Mystery, Suspense, Sci-fi.
Also just asked in the help if MM Romance will count as a sub-genre as that would make things easy for us.
That was asked and answered yes already :) Sooo I vote M/M
Good with M/M :) And I started listening to The Sugared Game anyway so I should finish it up later tonight which will complete the last task.
Completion PostTask: 5 - 39. Read 6 books set outside of the US.
Book/cover link: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
Page numbers with source: 210pgs per GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Location - Mexico & Albaniz
Date Completed: (3/26)
Rating: ★★★★
Well that was ridiculous and yet still fun. One little old Angela Landsbury type lady deciding she needs to be a spy and ending up being used by the CIA should not lead to such silly fun. Mrs. Pollifax is so unassuming that all these hard-nosed spies just don't see what's coming for them. Of course I'm sure her little courier jaunt in Mexico was never supposed to end up with her kidnapped by the Red Chinese and taken to Albania for torture.
Taken in the context of the time these were written this is actually more of a departure than one might expect. So much power given to a woman who shouldn't be in the position she's in. She is the driving force throughout everything and needs very little help in escaping all on her own. The plan is hers and it just leaves all the men around her in a fair bit of awe.
I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what the next adventure Mrs. Pollifax is going to get up to.
AnnMarie wrote: "Good with M/M :) And I started listening to The Sugared Game anyway so I should finish it up later tonight which will complete the last task."Lol! I started this one last night as a short fill book between categories so I might as well post it anyway since it fits the update requirement.
Shelby wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "Good with M/M :) And I started listening to The Sugared Game anyway so I should finish it up later tonight which will complete the last task."Lol! I started this ..."
Cornell Collins narrated that as well so it was time well spent!!!
I have a little league & a soccer game to sit through tomorrow so I'll listen to Ramen Assassin tomorrow.
I had to sit and watch a contractor do his job at our office this afternoon so nothing to do but read!
COMPLETION POSTTask 6 - Read 6 books in the same sub-genre (M/M)
Love and Payne by Charlie Cochet
Pages: 202
How it Fits: MPG M/M
Date Read: 3/26
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: It's been a long time since I read the THIRDS books and I had forgotten just how much I really loved them. This one doesn't have the whole THIRDS gang (since it's a stand alone and not part of the series) but it does have Austen, his best friend and some awesome Bear shifters including Zach. This one grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me entertained. Not as much action as I'm used to in THIRDS books and there was actually more time spent on relationship development which I loved. Zach was so sweet and patient and I loved him for Austen. Would love to come back to this world and even Zach's fun, lovable bear family.
I will start on a second book :)
Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I had to sit and watch a contractor do his job at our office this afternoon so nothing to do but read!"Full disclosure I am very much looking forward to my 3 year old niece's soccer game, She is not a sharer so I fully expect her to lose her shit if someone takes the ball from her and I am so here for that :)
AnnMarie wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I had to sit and watch a contractor do his job at our office this afternoon so nothing to do but read!"Full disclosure I am very much looking forward to my 3 year old ..."
I had my son in soccer and and all I could do was laugh because he was more interested in chasing butterflys and picking flowers. I was like "Gabe, just chase the ball" and he was all "No that's not fun" so I gave up. He'll be 18 in May and to this day he hates all things sports related. Hope you have fun!
MountainKat wrote: "Ryland wrote: "Completion Post - Task 5Read 6 books set outside of the US.
The Layover by Roe Horvat
Completed: 3/24
Rating: ★★★★☆
Pages: 117 | Kindle First Edit..."
oohhhh i forgot about the page count rule :(
thanks!
Completion Post - Task 6Read 6 books in the same sub-genre (M/M)
Winter Chill by Aria Grace
Pages: 209 (Kindle 1st Edition)
Date Read: 3/27
How it fits: MPG M/M Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: This book was just okay for me. It did the one thing that some M/M books do that drive me absolutely crazy - every woman (except Indie's mom/young sister) is a horrible person, or manipulative. Why do M/M authors have to make women the bad guy? So this wasn't anything I haven't read before - roommates are attracted to each other - one is pretty much a manwhore and the other is a virgin. Neither thinks they are gay or bisexual until they cuddle up together to stay warm. From there things progress and there is a side story about Daniel's truly horrible step-mom. It ends with a HFN and we never get to see how the guys handle their relationship once they return from winter break.
Completion PostTask: 6 - 33. Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
Book/cover link: Claiming Marcus
Page numbers with source: 350pgs per GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Sub-Genre Choice: MM Romance
Date Completed: (3/27)
Rating: ★★★★
This wasn't anything crazily new or different in the land of vampires but I did really like Ethan and Marcus. Ethan's family was killed when he was a child by vampires and he's searched for answers ever since. No one has ever believed him until Carl and his group. But while he might have gotten the job as Marcus' assistant under false pretenses he quickly finds himself drawn to Marcus.
I liked how sweet Ethan and Marcus were together. Marcus has such a shy nature really despite being such a strong presence and advocate for his family. He's never really wanted much for himself and never allowed himself to hope for someone to love. Ethan quickly learns that there's more to Marcus than the vampire Ethan suspects him to be. They were really cute as they danced around each other.
Of course the second half of the book the action picks up as the vampire factions pitch towards war with the Varik brothers caught in the center by no choice of their own. It adds some intensity to the story and gives plenty of time for Ethan to realize what he truly wants. Looking forward to more in this series.
Completion Post - Task #6:Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
Ramen Assassin by Rhys Ford
216 pages (GR)
M/M MPG
3/27
★★★☆☆ - This was just okay for me. The plot was a little too OTT and I never got to love the characters. I did enjoy the narration quite a bit so it wasn't painful to listen to but definitely not a favorite by this author for me.
Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I had to sit and watch a contractor do his job at our office this afternoon so nothing to do but read!"Full disclosure I am very much looking forward ..."
She acted so shy, it was surprising because she is normally very personable but this was the first week and there were a ton of people there. She spent most of the game standing at mid-field with her head down, the coach said her name a million times, it was hilarious and her older brother said she wasn't doing very well and I reminded him I have video of his first year so he better zip it!
AnnMarie wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I had to sit and watch a contractor do his job at our office this afternoon so nothing to do but read!"Full disclosure I a..."
Not all that surprising for kids that age. I'm glad you had fun watching though and I'm sure she'll get better.
I had nothing to do today but read so I finished another book - so when Ryland finishes his we will be done.
Completion Post - Task 6Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.
Prickly Business by Piper Vaughn
Pages: 280
Date Read: 3/27
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: There were some things I liked and some I didn't. So in the end I'm going to go with a 3 star rating.
I liked the idea of a hedgehog shifter - something totally different. The problem is I didn't like Avery all that much especially in the beginning. I get where the author was going - two shifters from different social classes, species who don't really like each other but are mates. The potential is fantastic. Unfortunately Avery's a brat, and self centered and thinks he's too good for "working class" shifters. I was hoping he'd grow up a lot and while he did change some it wasn't enough to really save this character for me.
Even once Dylan and Avery start dating and getting to know each other there are a ton of misunderstandings and they don't communicate at all. It got tedious after awhile. Also the alpha of the wolf pack is dumb as dirt and seems to be a pathetic alpha.
What I really liked was that the mating wasn't a guarantee for an HEA. It required both of them to work at the relationship and compromise. It was a nice change from the typical mating that comes with insta-love. In fact these two are really only at the HFN at the end of this book. Avery decides to become a P.I. and parts of the suspense plot aren't solved in this book and carry over to the next book. I'm just not sure I'm invested enough to want to read it.
Completion Post - Task 6Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide. - M/M
Blackwood by Pia Foxhall
Completed: 3/28
Rating: ★★★★☆
Pages: 267 | Kindle First Edition
this was such an interesting take on this subgenre. i enjoyed the characters, the writing was great, and coll was such a gentleman 😭- 4/5
braden was adventurous, daring, and creative. he was a photographer and seemed like he would really do anything to get the perfect shot. this time it just so happened to put him in danger. stuck in the australian wilderness with a broken down ute and a storm on the way, he had to make a choice, and make a choice fast - shift and run back to town, taking his chances with the storm, or shelter in place and hope he can get out of there before he completely ran out of suppressants.
opting not to leave behind his photography gear, he set up camp and waited for the storm to pass. having not had a heat in 8 years, and not been off of suppressants for 10, it was hitting him hard.
coll was a former logger turned forest protector. his job consisted of making sure illegal loggers stayed out of his forest and rescuing any would-be stranded tourists. he came across braden's tent in his regular patrols and took the young beta back to his home - or so he thought.
despite being in a pretty perilous situation, braden still gave as good as he got. he wasn't afraid to snap back at coll, and that's part of what i really loved about this book. they had an interesting banter and seemed to truly enjoy each other's company.
sharing his first heat in 8 years with an alpha was, of course, frightening, but coll was a gentleman and refused to step over that line with braden. he was insistent on not doing anything to scare him, especially after learning about braden's history.
this was a really refreshing take on this subgenre. i'm already adding the second book in the series to my tbr.
Task 6 - 33. Read 6 books in the same sub-genre, teams decide.As a team select a sub-genre and read six books in that sub-genre. Please include the selected sub-genre in your completion posts.
We decided on M/M as a subgenre.
Danielle: Completion Post
Danielle: Completion Post
Shelby: Completion Post
AnnMarie: Completion Post
Danielle: Completion Post
Ryland: Completion Post
Here is your next task!Task 7 - 32. Read 6 books with over 2500 ratings.
Books selected for this task need to have over 2500 ratings (not reviews). You can find the number of ratings on the main book page under the title. Please include the number of ratings in your completion posts.
Starting a book with 315K+ reviews.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Each teammate reads a book that has been read by one of the RRRC moderators. No pass for this task.
[book:A Boy and His Dragon|18..."
I loved this whole series. I can't wait for the next book. I believe R. Cooper's still continuing it. :)