Mountain Climbing Challenge: Q2 2021

[Sam I]

This challenge is meant to help you climb your TBR Mountain and get those books finally read.



This will be a quarterly challenge, with a new theme each quarter. This year our first theme will be Monthly Themes

Sorry for the N. Hemisphere/US bend, but weather is influencing me as usual. This is flexible and the purpose is to get some books moved from TBR to Read shelf, so have has much fun with this theme as you want:
APRIL The birthstone is the diamond. The phrase is April Showers. There's a "Pink Moon" April is a name. Be creative! Pick books based on the month of April, the name April, the number 4-(4 word titles, 4th book in a series) and post them up for someone to pick for you!

MAY Same goes but: Emeralds, FLOWER moon, and May reminds me of weddings in a big way-do you have some marriage of conveniences on your list?

JUNE The same things apply, but Pearls, Roses, the summer solstice. Go crazy on June. Two great celebrations to help round our your MCC list: Juneteenth & Pride!


HOW IT WORKS:
1) The first poster will post 5 book titles that they pick from their TBR shelf.

2) The next poster will choose 2 books from the first poster's titles and choose 5 book titles off their own TBR. The first poster will then choose to read at least 1 of the 2 books chosen.

3) The third poster will choose 2 from the second posters list .... and so on.

4) Each participant will have the entire quarter to read their book(s), post their rating and review. And tell us what you think of your book in this thread.

5) You are not limited to 1 time. You can return to select and post more options as often as it suits you.

[Sam I]

by ROSE Lerner (June)
by Beverly Jenkins (June)
by Maggie Osborne (April & May!)
by AJ Demas (this is alt-historical/made up ancient world) (June)
by Annge Gracie (April - white/ kinda roses/kinda wedding-y look. I'll take it!)

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Sam, I choose for you:

&

My choices:

by Jeannie Lin — April/May due to pink & flowers

by Miranda Davis — June - roses on the cover

by Louise Allen - all of the months / jewel in title

by Susan Fanetti - June - Rose on cover

by Rose Lerner - June

[Susan]

Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I am just reading the Duke's Tattoo)

My choices:

by Alice Coldbreath - wedding theme

by Anna Campbell - moon theme

by Julie Garwood - wedding theme

Suzanne Enoch - 5 words (June)

by Mary Balogh (twins - June (Gemini)

[T.]

Darbella, I choose for you:
and

My choices are:
(book that were published in April/May/June)
1.) by Julie Garwood (April 1)
2.) by Elisa Braden (April 29)
3.) by Susan Fanetti (May 5)
4.) by Loretta Chase (June 4)
5.) by Elizabeth Kingston (June 20)

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

I pick for you


1 The Earl's Countess of Convenience
Convenience
2 The Warrior's Winter Bride Bride
3 Emerald Embrace Emerald
4 The Untamed Bride Bride
5 Dauntsey Park The Last Rake in London Pearls

[T.]

Darbella wrote: "T. thanks! Looking forward to reading them.
I know this has been discussed before but that cover on your number 2 book choice..... always gives me a chuckle. HA! :)"

Yes, that’s a terrible cover. I wasn’t even thinking about it, but I should have inserted the newest cover. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[T.]

Thank you, Shaz. I’m looking forward to finally reading Elizabeth Kingston.

[Sam I]

T. wrote: "Thank you, Shaz. I’m looking forward to finally reading Elizabeth Kingston."

*I'm dancing* (rec listen if I haven't told you that yet☺️)

[Sam I]

@shaz, I will choose for you tomorrow if no one else pops in

[T.]

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "T. wrote: "Thank you, Shaz. I’m looking forward to finally reading Elizabeth Kingston."

*I'm dancing* (rec listen if I haven't told you that yet☺️)"

I think we've waxed poetic over Nicholas Boulton on a couple of occasions.😍 After listening to Flowers From the Storm, I scoured his listening library for any and all others I would be interested in. Including this one and the rest of Kinsale's.

Also, I just saw that he co-narrates Dr. Emily Nagoski's (aka Emily Foster) non-fiction, Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, which the audio just released on 3/2. Normally, I only READ self-help type non-fiction, but this is tempting.😁 I also wish she would write more fiction a la How Not to Fall. *sigh*

[Sam I]

Oh seriously? That was an agsty duet but I remember liking it.

He's a delicious narrator & does this series very well. He does complex characters so much justice.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

T. wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "T. wrote: "Thank you, Shaz. I’m looking forward to finally reading Elizabeth Kingston."

*I'm dancing* (rec listen if I haven't told you that yet☺️)"

I think we've waxed po..."

This discussion is reminding me that I too need to read Kingston, and my listening queue is much shorter than my reading one.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Susan wrote: "Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I am just reading the Duke's Tattoo)

My choices:

[bookcover:Her Baseborn Bride..."

Thank you Susan! Both of these have languished too long on my TBR so it’ll be good to get to them.

[T.]

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Susan wrote: "Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I am just reading the Duke's Tattoo)

My choices:

[bookcover:Her ..."

Joanna, I've also had The Duke's Tattoo on my tbr forever. I'll see it and then forget about it for another year. Lol.

And both you and Sam had In For a Penny on your list. BR??? I still need to start Lerner's books.

[Sam I]

Shaz: I'm picking Emerald Embrace & the Untamed Bride for you. I've never read any of your list. Hope you enjoy!!

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

Thanks Sam
I have had the full series for the untamed bride for a few years. So this will give me the incentive to read it this year for M A A Series . I mean to read the series every year but never get round to it.👍

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

T. wrote: "Thank you, Shaz. I’m looking forward to finally reading Elizabeth Kingston."

Hope you enjoy your books T.
I like the sound of The Kings Man. Look forward to your review.
I have just noticed that I posted the wrong book should have been The Wedding
I do apologise ,( must be my foggy lockdown brain lol )

[Sam I]

T. wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Susan wrote: "Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I am just reading the Duke's Tattoo)
..."

I'm fine w/ BRing In for a Penny! And King's Man, if you guys want me to listen / read along if you decide to do that at any point.

Hm. We need to nominate her for a BoTM, don't we?

[T.]

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "T. wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Susan wrote: "Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I am just reading the Duke..."

I'm up for BRing both books. I cruise along when listening, so a BR of Kingston's might help me slow down a bit.

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

T. wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "T. wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Susan wrote: "Joanna - I choose for you: and
(I ..."

I don’t have much in queue to listen to, so I could buddy read the Kingston. I need to get through a few more ARCs (my own fault) before buddy reading something else.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

I have now started to read the first book picked for me
Emerald Embrace

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

Finished reading Emerald Embrace.
I found the story was interesting at first, lost a bit of interest in the middle. But gained it again toward the end . Gave it 3 stars.

[Padma]

Hi all
Sorry for joining in late.
The books in my TBR:

(Bride)

(moon)

( 4 words)

( Marriage of convenience, wedding)

(roses)

[T.]

I finished one of my two choices:

I gave it 2.5 stars (rounded up.)

[Nelly S. (brain fog sucks)]

I felt the same way about The Wedding and couldn't understand all the 5 star reviews! In fact, it's made me leery of reading any more Julie Garwood books.

[Padma]

Padma wrote: "Hi all
Sorry for joining in late.
The books in my TBR:

(Bride)

(moon)

( 4 words)

[bookc..."

Hi
Request one of you to pick two books from my TBR :)
Thanks

[Sam I]

So sorry! I thought I'd responded...

I will pick for you! Martin & Garwood. (I haven't read either!)

[Padma]

No worries Sam. Thanks so much.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

I have now started to read my second book 📕. The Untamed Bride 👰‍♀️

[T.]

Nelly Swilla wrote: "I felt the same way about The Wedding and couldn't understand all the 5 star reviews! In fact, it's made me leery of reading any more Julie Garwood books."

Me too, Nelly! The Bride was okay, but only because it was better developed than The Wedding. They were both kind of silly and definitely not true to the time period. After reading the first book, I had wondered if that was on purpose? If so, maybe not all of her books are like that.🤷‍♀️

[Padma]

Finished . A very touching read.
-5 stars

[Sam I]

I finished A Perfect Rake! It was so pleasant.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝]

I have read my second book. The Untamed Bride. I enjoyed the story . Which has got me reading the rest of the series. I have read book 2 and I am now reading book 3, with book 4 to read to finish the series .

[Padma]

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I finished A Perfect Rake! It was so pleasant."

oh. Yes...its a wonderful read..the hero is a perfect rake..
The entire series is good

[Sam I]

Padma wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I finished A Perfect Rake! It was so pleasant."

oh. Yes...its a wonderful read..the hero is a perfect rake..
The entire series is good"

I really enjoyed her writing so I will add them! I have started in for a Penny...

[Mariana]

Padma wrote: "Finished . A very touching read.
-5 stars"

I haven't read Kat Martin in a while. I'm gonna have to check that one out.

[Mariana]

I loved The Perfect Rake but never read the rest of the series. Thanks for reminding me Sam (AMNReader) and Padma!

[Padma]

Finished Prince Charming by Julie Garwood. 3.75 stars. Was a good read

[Sam I]

Hey! In for a Penny was a nice and angsty romance. I've finished my challenge, whoohoo

I might move on to AJ Demas now too. We'll see

[Padma]

Have finished all the 5 books on the TBR.

[Sam I]

Padma wrote: "Have finished all the 5 books on the TBR."

Oh wow!! I'd love to go for the same now that I realized I have another month!

[Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels]

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Padma wrote: "Have finished all the 5 books on the TBR."

Oh wow!! I'd love to go for the same now that I realized I have another month!"


I'm so behind! I need that month, lol

[T.]

Finished my second pick of the quarter and LOVED IT! I probably won’t read the remaining three I had for choices. Not by the end of the month, anyway. If I do, I’ll be sure to comment.
5 Stars!

[Sam I]

Hey everyone! This is one of my busiest weeks of the year, but by this weekend I will have a new theme & challenge for Q3 - I can't believe it's here already!! Leave me any suggestions here!

[Sam I]

New thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I will move this one in a few days. ENJOY and hope to have you all join us.