TART Challenge - Round 4 - The Loitering Layabouts (6)

[Lisa]

Jane, your completion in the summary is post 698 not 680.

[Lisa]

Completion post posted in q&a

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Lisa wrote: "Jane, your completion in the summary is post 698 not 680."

Thanks! Updating it now :)

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Task 26 - COMPLETION
#111. Read 8 books without a person on the cover

Book 2:
Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem

Pages: 248
Qualifies:..."

Please correct to the first edition Kindle page count (238). Thanks!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Shannon wrote: "Task 26 Completion Post (Book 2)
111. Read 8 books without a person on the cover.


Dearest Milton James by NR Walker
Pages: 193
Qualificati..."

I keep seeing this book and thinking I need to add it. Then I go check the editions page for the page count and see it isn't in audio... ☹️

Actually reading is rare for me anymore and usually pretty slow when I try. Hubby is not a reader, so he thinks I'm "wasting time" when I sit down and read... 😡

[Shannon]

I wasn't expecting to love it so much. I'm sure she'll come out with audio eventually!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 27 - 78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Books selected for this task need to have alliteration in either the title or the author's name. There can be a small word such as in or and between the alliterated words in the title. So books such as Spook Squad or Divided in Death would work. And authors like Lucy Lennox and Eli Easton would also work.

[Lisa]

Book 2 is out soon

[Lisa]

Task 27 - Selection Post book 1
Alliteration
Sweet as Honey
319 pages
How it qualifies: author is Lucy Lennox

[*book:Sweet as Honey|56714714]

[Shannon]

Task 27 Selection Post (Book 1)
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.


Shielding the Superstar by Jacki James
Pages: 186
Qualification: Author Jacki James

[*book:Shielding the Superstar|57677136]

[Donna]

Task 27: SELECTION POST
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Book 1:
A Little Love by Pandora Pine
180 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Pandora Pine

[ book:A Little Love|35186267]

[Donna]

Task 27: SELECTION POST
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Book 2:
King & Queen by Maz Maddox
216 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Maz Maddox

[ book:King & Queen|58008144]

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Task 26 - COMPLETION
#111. Read 8 books without a person on the cover

Book 2:
Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem

Pag..."

Sorry - so focussed on the Kindle edition that I forgot to check the page numbers! 🙄 ...Done...!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "
I keep seeing this book and thinking I need to add it. Then I go check the editions page for the page count and see it isn't in audio... ☹️

Actually reading is rare for me anymore and usually pretty slow when I try:..."

THIS is ME!

And I keep checking for audio on this as well. I'll let you know if I see it 🧐

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Shannon and Donna : Overachievers 😆

(both titles & authors!)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Message 504 in Q&A:

‼️ PLEASE TAKE NOTE! ‼️

With the challenge ending on Wednesday, November 17th, there will a minor change to the last task. Beginning on Monday, November 15th, when teams post their completions and get a new task, they will all get the same task. For this task, instead of just completing it, you will continue reading to add to the total number of books read for your team. There will be no passes for the last task and to complete it, every team member must complete a book for the task and contribute to the overall book count. So, the task is considered ‘completed’ when every team member has read one book for the task, but you can continue reading in order to increase your overall book count for the task in case that is needed for a tie breaker. In the event that two or more teams are tied based on the number of tasks completed, the team with the highest book count will win The Amazing Race Team Challenge!

*bolded type with my emphases ;)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 27 - Selection
#78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

How to Catch a Bodyguard
Pages: 195
Qualifies: Ana Ashley (author)

[*book:How to Catch a Bodyguard|52442650]

[Donna]

Donna wrote: "Task 27: SELECTION POST
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Book 2: Changed book...
King & Queen by Maz Maddox
216..."

A Little Luck by Pandora Pine
168 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Pandora Pine

[ book:A Little Luck|35657119]

[Donna]

Task 27: COMPLETION POST
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Book 1:
A Little Love by Pandora Pine
180 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Pandora Pine
Finished: 11/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
Let's just get this out of the way... COVER ISSUES... grrr
Gemma has dark hair just like her mother and her uncle Rem... Sorry, I just like my covers to be reflective of the story! :(

Now, the story... this was so much better than the first book! Grab the tissues and be prepared to deal with two men that can't seem to get their act together. Communication is NOT a thing for them and let me tell you, it got annoying really fast! The friends and family part of the story were just wonderful and I can't wait to jump right into A Little Luck! I did feel like there was a huge change in how Gemma was written about halfway through the book, but it wasn't enough to be a bother.

Of course, it would be remise of me if I didn't mention the whole "quotation mark" issue! This book was just all over the place, but I expected it and didn't let it drive me too crazy! *grin*

[ book:A Little Love|35186267]

[Lisa]

Task 27 - Completion Post book 1
Alliteration
Sweet as Honey
319 pages
How it qualifies: author is Lucy Lennox
Date read: 11/13/21
4 stars

Trueman was sweet by nature as well as name. I am presuming he was a twink and I am partial to them. Sam was good with him as well.
Unusually I did guess the guilty party early on but that was ok as it was a great book.

[*book:Sweet as Honey|56714714]

[Lisa]

Task 27 - Selection post book 2
Alliteration
His Mistake
275 pages
How it qualifies: author is Pandora Pine
[*book:His Mistake|57188830]

[Donna]

Lisa wrote: "Task 27 - Selection post book 2
Alliteration
His Mistake
275 pages
How it qualifies: author is Pandora Pine
[*book:His Mistake|57188830]"

I hope this one works better for you than it did for me... *fingers crossed*

[Shannon]

Task 27 Completion Post (Book 1)
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.


Shielding the Superstar by Jacki James
Pages: 186
Qualification: Author Jacki James
Read: 11/13/21
Rating: ★★★

This wasn't nearly as good as the first one but still okay. The mystery part of the book was more interesting than the romance. Standard blah romance but I didn't guess the mystery so that's something. Not bad, not great.

[*book:Shielding the Superstar|57677136]

[Donna]

Task 27: COMPLETION POST
78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

Book 2:
A Little Luck by Pandora Pine
168 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Pandora Pine
Finished: 11/13 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
Was the whole series a tad bit over the top? Yes, it was... but, did I care? NOT ONE BIT!!! I really liked the last story, but this one was by far my favorite! I felt comfortable with the "family" dynamics and loved seeing everyone doing their part to help Ben, Knox and Milo bccome the family they deserved to be!

Have I read stories with more... everything? Sure, but this one pushed all my "love" buttons and when have I ever NOT liked a story with kids, family and acceptence? Yeah, NEVER!!! *grin*

I really wish life could be this simple when trying to adopt a child or children. What we didn't see was the bigotry that is shown to many in the LGBTQ community. What we didn't see is the ridculious financial strain that adoption can put on a family. But, what we did get to see was the amazing way adoption can change the life of a child and the family that is blessed to be able to call them son/daughter/grandchild/niece/nephew... the list just doesn't end!

[ book:A Little Luck|35657119]

[Lisa]

Task 27 - Completion post book 2
Alliteration
His Mistake
275 pages
How it qualifies: author is Pandora Pine
[*book:His Mistake|57188830]
Date read: 11/13/21
4 stars

I enjoyed this. A second chance romane where at least the MCs learned from their previous mistakes. Very little angst and a nice set of secondary characters.
I hope in book 2 Bram gets his dragon.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 27 - COMPLETION
#78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

How to Catch a Bodyguard
Pages: 195
Qualifies: Ana Ashley (author)
Read: 13 Nov
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Cute and sweet - I liked that both MCs had materially changed since their childhood friendship and then developed further during the story. The mystery was a bit random, but it had the effect of keeping our MCs close enough for lurve to get its grip on them ;)

Narrated by Nick Hudson - 5 stars.

[*book:How to Catch a Bodyguard|52442650]

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 27 - Completion Summary
#78. Read 6 books with alliteration in the title or author's name.

1. Donna - A Little Love - Completion 719
2. Lisa - Sweet as Honey - Completion 720
3. Shannon - Shielding the Superstar Completion 723
4. Donna - A Little Luck Completion 724
5. Lisa - His Mistake Completion 725
6. Jane - How to Catch a Bodyguard Completion 726

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Posted in Q&A :)

I've asked if we get one more task before the final one...

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Posted in Q&A :)

I've asked if we get one more task before the final one..."

I answered there, but I'll answer again. 😊

Yes, you will get your next task in the morning (for me) and if completed, you would get the last task on the 16th. It would need to be completed (everyone reads a book for the task) before the challenge ends to count as a completed task with any extra books used as a tie breaker.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 28 - 77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.

There is no date limitation for this task, just select a teammate after you alphabetically read and rated 5 stars. Please include a link to the teammate's review in your completion post.

Donna→Jane→Lisa→Shannon→Donna

[Lisa]

Lets hope theres some 5 stars

[Lisa]

Task 28 Selection Post

Select from Shannon

First You Fall
266 pages.
How it qualifies: read by Shannon, 9/29/12 and rated 5 stars
Shannon's read shelf

[Donna]

Lisa wrote: "Lets hope theres some 5 stars"

I have TONS of 5-star reads!!! *grin*

[Shannon]

Task 28 Selection Post
77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.


Upside Down by NR Walker
Pages: 251
Qualification: Donna Rated 5 Stars

[*book:Upside Down|44556704]

[Donna]

N R Walker kind of day...

Task 28: SELECTION POST
77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.


Imago by N.R. Walker
164 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Jane rated 5 Stars

[ book:Imago|34342184]

[Lisa]

Task 28 Completion Post

Select from Shannon

First You Fall
266 pages.
How it qualifies: read by Shannon, 9/29/12 and rated 5 stars
Shannon's read shelf
Date read: 11/14/21
5 stars

As I get older I realize I love no sex books just as much as I loved reading lots of sex when I first started MM back in 2013.
Loved the mystery here and as usual I didn' t guess whodunit.
Loved Kevin with his friends and family.
A good start to the series.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 28 - Selection
# 77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.

Winter Oranges
Pages: 275
Qualifies: Lisa read 21 Apr 2021, rated 5 stars

[*book:Winter Oranges|28011009]

[Donna]

Task 28: COMPLETION POST
77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.


Imago by N.R. Walker
164 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Jane rated 5 Stars
Finished: 11/14 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
Butterflies... Tasmanian Devils... a 4-year-old personal chef... what more could you ask for?

This was a solid 4-star read for me! Lawson has got to be one of my favorite main characters that I have read this year... and I have read a lot this year! *grin*

Jack? Here was a man that was content/happy with his life until he meets Lawson and then he very quickly realizes that there was something missing from his life... Lawson! Who knew? He sure didn't!

We had a lot happening in just a few short days, but things progressed just perfectly... that is until their world went to hell in a handbasket! We had our, "Lassie, did Timmy fall down the well?" moment! And then lives were saved and the world was right again! Did I mention this all took place in a matter of a few days? Yep, things sure move quickly over there in Tasmania! LOL!!!

Truth is, I love this author's heart and writing style! We always get wonderful characters that help us see the good in life and realize that kindness for others is our own reward!

[ book:Imago|34342184]

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 28 - COMPLETION
# 77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.

Winter Oranges
Pages: 275
Qualifies: Lisa read 21 Apr 2021, rated 5 stars
Read: 15 Nov
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I've read this once before and I KNEW that I would love it but it was a few years ago and I'd forgotten most of the details. OMG - so sweet and wonderful. Our MCs are delightful - one dealing with perceived failure, one pure at heart; both dealt a tough hand in life. I was totally engrossed and fully on board for the climax and resolution!

Narrated by Nick J Russo - 5 stars

[*book:Winter Oranges|28011009]

[Shannon]

Task 28 Completion Post
77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.


Upside Down by NR Walker
Pages: 251
Qualification: Donna Rated 5 Stars
Read: 11/15/21
Rating: ★★★★

Jordan and Hennesey were really just the cutest. Jordan's mouth was both horrifying and extremely entertaining. They're both Ace which was a relief because I find when only one partner is Ace it makes me uncomfortable. A bit preachy but so worth it just to meet the Soup Crew on the bus. Cutest book I've read in a while.

[*book:Upside Down|44556704]

[Shannon]

Task 28 Completion Summary
77. Each teammate reads a book that the teammate after them alphabetically has rated 5 stars. No pass for this task.

Lisa - First You Fall, Post 736
Donna - Imago, Post 738
Jane - Winter Oranges, Post 739
Shannon - Upside Down, Post 740

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Well, that was fast! I'll be back tomorrow with your last task!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your last task!

Last Task. Read books with more than one person on the cover.

Books selected for this task need to clearly and obviously have more than one person on the cover. The cover does not need to show all of both people, but it does need to show enough that it clearly has at least two people on the cover. You can use any edition’s cover to qualify. Please include the qualifying cover in your completion post.

Remember completion posts with errors or missing elements will not count towards your team total or the completion of this task. The task will be considered ‘completed’ when each team member has completed one book for this task, additional books will count towards a tie breaker if necessary. Help each other out by double checking posts are complete with the first edition Kindle page count!

There is no need to post a team completion in the Q&A thread, I will be checking all team threads at the conclusion of the challenge. 😊

[Donna]

LAST TASK: COMPLETION POST:
More than one person on the cover.

Book 1:

Hollywood Kisses & Christmas Wishes by Claire Castle
154 pgs/GR
Qualifies: 2 people on the cover!
Finished: 11/16 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
I loved the cover... it really worked for me!

I truly found both MCs to be such kind, generous people. What I didn't like so much was all the "telling" instead of "showing" that we got in this story. It was kinda like looking out over the snow, but not going out and playing in it. What this story lacked in depth, it was made up with kindness! Which for me, kindness should be the most important thing in a holiday story... and of course, Christmas pajamas!!!

I know, as Tristan did, that not all "coming out" stories end this well... but, hey, it is Christmas... we all deserve a happy ending and this story did provide that... 3 times over! *grin*

[Shannon]

I'll just be doing completion posts for this task.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

I’ll get my book up later.

I left my laptop at home & I don’t access GR at work 🙄

[Shannon]

Last Task Completion Post (Book 1)
Read books with more than one person on the cover.


His Reclaimed Omega by LC Davis
Pages: 155
Qualification: Two Men on Cover
Read: 11/16/21
Rating: ★★★

I'm sure my rating has a lot to do with the fact that this is a series book and I haven't read any others so I had no idea who anyone was or how the packs worked. That said, the story was okay. Nathan gets knocked up and is sent to a different pack where Kent knows right away he's his mate. Kind of a boring mating dance if I'm honest. Then danger, imprinting, mating marks and an HEA.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Task 29 - COMPLETION
#Last task - Read books with more than one person on the cover.

Sixty Five Hours
Pages: 174
Qualifies: 2 people on the cover

Read: 17 Nov
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
Love this story! I've read a couple of times and have thoroughly enjoy it each time. The MCs are so different and yet with such creativity and with similar quirks (feet and sock feetishes) - and it always surprises me at how much longer the story continues after it has been apparently resolved - a bonus!

I can't help but wonder how NRW comes up with the innovative ideas behind the ad campaigns! (Clearly I am unoriginal ;)

Narrated by Nick J Russo - a pleasure :)

[*book:Sixty Five Hours|26001845]

Realised that I just need to do completions posts now! (Even though we didn't ever really need to do the selections anyway 😎)

[Lisa]

Task 29 - Completion Post - Book 1
More than 1 person on cover


159 pages
Date read: 11/16/21
2 stars
How it qualifies: more than 1 person on cover

Oh dear. I like KC Wells but this was really PWP. I did find a couple of pages which were story but basically just sex between the boss and his employee

[Donna]

LAST TASK: COMPLETION POST


Book 2:

Mistletoe Marriage by Riley Knight
158 pgs/GR
Qualifies: 2 people on the cover.
Finished: 11/16 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
This was my 3rd book by this author, and it will be my 3rd 3-star rating... enough is enough. This author just isn't for me. The one thing I did like about the story was the fact that both the two dads and the two sons were pretty much complete opposites, but they each complimented each other and came together as a true family... yeah, I liked that about this story!