Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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TART Challenge - Round 4 - Fast like Molasses (4)
#18 | 83. Read 8 books with a white flower/s on the cover | Book 1Book: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
Pages: 309
Rating: 🍞🍞🍞
Completed: October 27, 2021
Qualifies: White flowers on cover
#18 | 83. Read 8 books with a white flower/s on the cover | Book 2
Book: Forever and a Day
Pages: 384
Rating: 🩺🩺🩺🩺
Completed: October 28, 2021
Qualifies: White flowers on cover
Courtney wrote: "~KarenH~ wrote: "At the rate I'm going I'll be lucky to finish my first book tonight...it's been a crazy day after a night of very little sleep, so every time I try to just settle down and listen I..."I hope he feels better, Courtney.
# 18 | 83. Read 8 books with a white flower/s on the cover | Book 1Book 1: Truth Be Told
Pages: 337 (Are You Sleeping
Rating: 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Completed: October 28, 2021
Qualifies: White flowers on cover
Book 2
Book:
Pages: 336
Rating: 👑👑👑👑
Completed: October 28, 2021
Qualifies: White flowers on cover
Task #18 - 83. Read 8 books with a white flower/s on the cover.Book 1:
Book:
The GamblerPage Count: 357
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: Oct 27, 2021
Qualification: White flowers on cover - see above
Book 2:
Book:
Conspiracy in DeathPages: 363
Rating: 5 stars
Completed: Oct 28, 2021
Qualification: White flower on this cover:
Chan wrote: "Courtney wrote: "~KarenH~ wrote: "At the rate I'm going I'll be lucky to finish my first book tonight...it's been a crazy day after a night of very little sleep, so every time I try to just settle ..."Thanks! He's doing fine today. Yesterday was a bit crazy. Luckily seems to have just been the fever and nothing else.
I finished my first one, and I'm about a quarter through the second. So, probably won't be finished until tomorrow.
was so freaking good that it's hard to get into this other one...which also happens to move at snails pace. 25% done and they still haven't completed their trip up the river yet 🤪
Completion Post - Task #18Task #18 - 83. Read 8 books with a white flower/s on the cover.
Book 1
Liberating Lacey
Pages: 276
Completed: 10/29
How it Qualifies: White flowers on cover
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
You know those books that you finish, and they're just so darn good that you don't think you can ever read anything else. That's this book.
I loved this book. Loved everything about it. The story - middle-aged woman looking to try something different after a divorce and ends up finding the perfect man - is handled in such a great, emotional way. I thought the author handled their different ages and social situations so well. You just feel everything with these characters. If you like an opposites attract story, this is really just stunning.
And Hunter, yum yum yum. My goodness! He's so delicious, and the chemistry in here is freaking fantastic.
There's just no way this book could be any better. One of my new favs!
Book 2
A Duke in Shining Armor
Pages: 405
Completed: 10/30
How it Qualifies: Woman holding white flowers on cover
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review:
It's a shame that the first half of this book moves so darn slow and the characters are initially so irritating. I was honestly ready to DNF it and call it a day. But if you keep going, it does actually get better.
Olympia is unfortunately one of those off-putting "not like other girls" girl, who spends the first portion of the book talking about how different she is because she reads and wears glasses and whatever, and how no man could want her because she's not pretty or something. She is also and incredibly excessive complainer. Every single thing that happens, no matter how Ripley tries to help, she whines about. It's exhausting. Eventually she does realize that she's not as awful as she assumes she is because she manages to snare not one, but two dukes, and I guess she feels happier with her circumstances because she stops complaining about everything, and then the book starts moving along and is more enjoyable to read.
Ripley really isn't that much better. It's hard to get a good handle on his character until they make it to his aunt's house. Sometimes he's thoughtful, sometimes he's condescending...does he like Olympia, does he even like Ashcroft? I just couldn't tell. And it was weird how the author changed him from barely knowing who Olympia is at the beginning of the story to suddenly making him regretting that he never went after her years ago because he knew she was special all the way back then. I guess she wanted it to feel more believable that Ripley would fall for her so fast, but it just didn't really make sense.
And I still don't get how or why Olympia and Ashcroft were together in the first place. The book keeps stating that he pursued her because she was a challenge, but surely there are other "challenging" women out there. And if a duke was showing interest in her, certainly other men would have tried to woo her away from him, so then she would have other options and never would have gone through with the engagement in the first place.
Oh, well. The back half was good. At least 3 stars, maybe even 4, but the first half was just annoying and hard to get through.
Here is your next task!Task 19 - 74. Read 6 books published in a teammates' birth month, you may not use your own month.
This is not a team decision, you may read a book initially published in the birth month of any teammate. You may not use your own birth month unless it is the birth month of another teammate as well. Use the initial publication date for this task. If there is a date listed at the top of the editions page, use it! Otherwise, I will be looking for the earliest dated English language edition regardless of format for the qualification. Please include the teammate and their birth month in your completion posts.
Ok, we have a list of months but I didn't find who belongs to which month (not that I looked very hard...) Kat is requiring that in our qualification, so if everyone could post which month belongs to them, that will be helpful! We have January, April, September, November, and I'm April.
A have 2 books on my M&G that qualify (both January) and neither one is particularly long (just over 600 pages combined), so I can easily read 2.
I’m January and I have found 2 books for September.
Darn, there's a Ruby Dixon I haven't read on the PTP lists, but it's February 😭
Ok, I found two that are on the PTP lists
first publication is September
first publication is JanuaryJust have to decide which one to do 🤣. I'm leaning to the first one, even though it's not the start of the series just because the reviews are way higher.
#19 | 74. Read 6 books published in a teammates' birth monthBook: Borrowing Blue
Pages: 302
Rating: 🍸🍸🍸🍸
Completed: October 30, 2021
Qualifies: Published in Courtney's birth month - November
I was out all day, but I was able to listen to Borrowing Blue. I was going to start another one, but i see karen and liz are reading two...thank you both. I'm sure you all have figured out my birth month by process of elimination, but it's September 😁
Glad you liked Borrowing Blue, Chan! That was my first Lucy Lennox book, and she's become a real favorite author for me.Reading 2 for this task worked out really well...I've gotten a bit behind on my M&G books, and this takes out 2 of them. Unfortunately neither worked for the PtP, but I've got a couple of M&G books that do work there, so with a little luck one of them will work for our next task here!
Task #19 - 74. Read 6 books published in a teammates' birth month, you may not use your own month.Book 1:
Book:
Agent BaynePage Count: 294
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: Oct 30, 2021
Qualification: First published January 9th 2018 - January is Elizabeth's birth month
Book 2:
Book:
A Merciful SecretPages: 332
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: Oct 31, 2021
Qualification: First published January 16th 2018 - January is Elizabeth's birth month
~KarenH~ wrote: "Glad you liked Borrowing Blue, Chan! That was my first Lucy Lennox book, and she's become a real favorite author for me.Reading 2 for this task worked out really well...I've gotten a bit behind o..."
It's my first one too. i really like the way she writes. I think someone in PtP group rec'ed that book to me...i think. maybe gustav or jey...can't remember.
I finished my 2nd book and updated my completion post.
Completion Post - Task #1974. Read 6 books published in a teammates' birth month, you may not use your own month.
Calder
Pages: 178, first edition
Completed: 11/1
How it Qualifies: First edition published September 4th 2009, Chan's birth month
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I was surprised by how good this book was. It had some really interesting world building that made it more interesting than a lot of smut out there. The setting is a planet where society is run by women, with very few men left. A group of men had been created in the past to pleasure women, but visiting the Shareem has become taboo and a dirty secret.
The main story is a "beauty and beast" type one. Calder is covered in scars left over from being caught in a fire and gains the reputation for being the "Beast", with women paying him to be dominated. Unlike other women, Katarina sees past Calder's beast side, and treats him like an actual person.
I really liked this. It's definitely a lot of smut, but there's an interesting plot to go with it. This is actually the first book in the series I've read, and although there are characters mentioned that obviously came from previous books, everyone was introduced and described well enough in here that I was never confused about what was going on. I would definitely read more in the series.
Task #19 - 74. Read 6 books published in a teammates' birth month, you may not use your own month.Book 1:
Page Count: 352
Rating: 2.5 stars
Completed: Oct 30, 2021
Qualification: First published September 7th - September is Chan’s birth month
Book 2:
Page Count: 320
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: Oct 31, 2021
Qualification: First published September 28th - September is Chan’s birth month
Posted the completed task on the main thread.
You are all set for a new task in the morning!
I'm off to bed, so if the call comes and something needs to be picked, just go ahead without waiting for me!
Here is your next task!Task 20 - 110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model.
Books selected for this task need to have a model on the cover with a tattoo. You can use any cover to qualify for this task. Please include the qualifying cover in your completion posts.
Well, this one is easy...or maybe not since I have way too many on my M&G list to choose from! 😁 I'm starting with
since it works for the PtP too. I'll figure out what to use for my 2nd one based on length when I finish this one.
I just added a bunch to my TBR from the PtP lists that didn't fit the birthday months 🤣. So I guess I'll go with those.
I'll be done with my 2nd book in about 4 or 5 hours...if nothing comes up.I always think of Beneath this Ink as book 1. I didn't like book 1 and skip it when I reread this series.
not quite finished yet. Maybe 2 or 3 more hours...or 5 lol
Task 20 - 110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model.Book 1:
Page Count: 275
Rating: 3 stars
Completed: Nov 1, 2021
Qualification: Tattoos on the male cover model
Book 2:
Page Count: 369
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: Nov 2, 2021
Qualification: Tattoos on the male cover model
#20 | 110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model | Book 1Book: Steadfast
Pages: 313
Rating: 💊💊💊💊
Completed: November 1, 2021
Qualifies: right arm tattooed on cover
#20 | 110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model | Book 2
Book: Beneath This Ink
Pages: 373
Rating: 👸👸👸👸
Completed: November 2, 2021
Qualifies: back, arm and chest tattooed on cover
Task #20 - 110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model.Book 1:
Book:
The Mighty StormPage Count: 442
Rating: 2 stars
Completed: Nov 2, 2021
Qualification: Tattoo on cover - see above
Book 2:
Book:
RedemptionPages: 362
Rating: 5 stars
Completed: Nov 2, 2021
Qualification: Tattoo on cover - see above
Sorry, guys. Done with my first and a few chapters into my second. Will finish up by tomorrow afternoon.
No worries, Courtney. We are playing to have fun and to add books to our tbr.
What Chan said! I actually was chatting with Kat last night and made the comment that I'm glad we're not one of the very top teams anymore...takes off the pressure so we can just have fun.
Yes, i agree, Karen. This sounds cliche, but I feel like we are winning because we are actually having fun. We are having conversation and sharing books. I've said it many times, but without some of these challenges (especially this one), I would have missed out on a lot of good books. There is no way I would have read Ice Planet Barbarians. But I enjoyed it, despite the eating the heart scene 😝
Chan wrote: "Yes, i agree, Karen. This sounds cliche, but I feel like we are winning because we are actually having fun. We are having conversation and sharing books. I've said it many times, but without some..."
I’m glad you all are saying that! November means the start of peak for me at work. Planning peak for UPS keeps me crazy busy. I’ve been trying my best to keep up. I don’t want to let down my team, but it’s a nice reminder that this is all for fun and you all won’t be mad if it takes me a little longer. 😀 Luckily, I’ve been able to keep up some what with audiobooks, but the next 2 weeks will be a little crazy for me. I scared I might not be able to be as quick.
Completion Post - Task #20110. Read 8 books with a tattooed cover model.
Book 1
Waking the Beast
Pages: 190 (Kindle first edition)
Completed: 11/3
How it Qualifies: Lion tattoo on cover model's chest
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review:
Meh. In theory, the idea of a shifter's "origin story" - finding out they're a shifter later in life, learning how to shift, etc. - sounds really interesting. But in this book, not so much.
I think the problem is that I really disliked the heroine from the get go, and she never did anything to make herself likable as the story goes on. I really hate those "I'm not like other girls" girls. As if women come in one of two flavors 🤮. Abby actually writes in her first diary entry in the book that she knows other girls wouldn't care about legends of cat people, but they're soooo important to her because she's really brainy or whatever other garbage she spouts to make herself seem better/smarter than everyone else. Why on Earth would caring about an ancient legend have anything to do with someone's gender? Sure, I bet a lot of ladies wouldn't care...just like a lot of men wouldn't care. This does not make one a "better" girl. And then there's the scene where she tells Utah that she may not be the prettiest woman he's been with, but she's definitely the smartest.
I'm not sure what level of "full of oneself" that it, but it's definitely up there.
Anyway, there's absolutely no relationship development in this book at all. Utah starts slowly claiming his lion side, and as he does, he bangs Abby more and more often. And that's their relationship. Just feels kind of boring and lazy, especially since the sex isn't really anything to write home about. If you just want lion shifter smut, Tempting the Beast is much better done.
There are a whole lot of things that are thrown in here that don't feel worked out enough. A lot of ridiculous stuff that doesn't make much sense or is thrown in for a little extra shock value and adds nothing to the story.
Just meh.
Book 2
Alien Claimed
Pages: 155
Completed: 11/4
How it Qualifies: Shoulder tattoo on cover model
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I picked up this one not realizing it was related to Alien Wanted, so I went a chapter or two wondering why so much seemed familiar. It looks like the other was originally the beginning of the series, and this was added later. I don't think reading one or other first makes a huge difference. While taking place in the same universe with some overlapping characters, the feel of the two books are very different. This one had more action, and the characters were more interesting and less wishy-washy. But adding in this one does make some things in Alien Wanted seem a bit odd now, so I'm not sure if that one has been changed now.
The two MCs in this one, Ivy and Quinnov, are strong characters. I liked both of them, whereas I hadn't really cared about Emily and Makov in the other book. The story was more interesting here, too. Ivy had been sold as a mail order bride, but escapes and is rescued by Quinnov. There's a bit of relationship building in here, but mostly relies on the heartmate/fated mate concept to keep them together. It would have been nice if there was a bit more.
My main complaint with the story is similar to the problem that I had with the other book in the series - the characters don't talk to each other. Quinnov is too worried about Ivy leaving, so he doesn't tell her they're fatd mates, and Ivy wants to stay with Quinnov, but won't tell him because he doesn't give any indication he wants her to stay.
I also was a bit peeved that all the good action bits happen off page. We get one good fight scene in the pit near the beginning, but all the rescues and escapes we learn about after they're finished. While this book was Ok for something short, if all the parts had been fleshed out into something longer, it would have been a lot better.
And I still think the double-male-appendage thing is a bit gimmicky and doesn't really add anything beyond being something "different". Horns and blue skin were probably enough for that already.
Elizabeth wrote: "😀 Luckily, I’ve been able to keep up some what with audiobooks, but the next 2 weeks will be a little crazy for me. I scared I might not be able to be as quick."Totally take your time! Will take some pressure off for me too 🤣. I'm trying to get ahead of all my work so I'm ready for baby time in Feb!
Courtney wrote: "I'm trying to get ahead of all my work so I'm ready for baby time in Feb!"February is a great month for a birthday! (Been there on both sides, it is my birth month and my youngest's too!)
Here is your next task!Task 21 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
As a team select a common romance trope, fake boyfriend, secret baby etc., then read 6 books that use that trope. Please include the selected trope in your completion posts. Remember to let me know how you know your book qualifies, be it precis, tags or lists - I need to know where to look to confirm your books. Include any necessary links or info in your completion posts.
This is what we have:79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Friends to Lovers
I have several on my M&G list that qualify, and none of them are super long for a change, so I can easily do 2.
Yay I have a book that I’ve been wanting to read for weeks but it didn’t meet the requirements for the other challenges.
i started this one and it's meh, but i'll finish it tomorrow. maybe it'll get better
i'll read this one for book 2
MountainKat wrote: "Courtney wrote: "I'm trying to get ahead of all my work so I'm ready for baby time in Feb!"February is a great month for a birthday! (Been there on both sides, it is my birth month and my younges..."
It's my dad and brother's birth month, too 🤣. I wonder why it's such a big one. My due date is actually 2/2/2022, and I'm really hoping baby will come that day. Would be such a cool birthday!
I'm going to do
. Been meaning to get to it ever since I finished the first one and haven't been able to fit it in. I love, love, love, everything I've read by Naima Simone, so here's hoping for another knock out!
I'm almost done with the second book. I'm so glad it's only a little over 200 pages because i'm not liking it. Both of the books I read for this task were meh.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
The Beginning of Everything (other topics)Ruthless King (other topics)
The Bride (other topics)
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The V Girl: A Coming of Age Story (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Zoey Ellis (other topics)Em Petrova (other topics)
Naima Simone (other topics)
Lauren Blakely (other topics)
Em Petrova (other topics)
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OMGosh LOL Karen that was my problem. I went bed very early last night. I had to give up. I kept dozing off. It's been a long week. I've been productive, but i hit a wall last night and my body and brain were not having it. So, i listened and went to sleep.