Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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TART Challenge - Round 4 - Chapter Chicks (9)
MountainKat wrote: "Shan, sending my thoughts to you and your family. Cancer sucks hard!Please remember that if you need it, you do have the pass option. (Not saying you aren't reading fast enough, I can't speak for..."
Thank you!
Shan - I am so so sorry that you and your family are dealing with this. Your family is my more important than this challenge. Take as much time as you need. No rush or worries. Read when you can or don't. Hugs and love!!
Selection PostTask 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez
Qualifies: Tagged Favorite x24 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: 272 pages
Shan ~A~ wrote: "Mony wrote: "PM'ed ShanA to see if everything's ok...nothing back yet."Just so you all know. I'm in central time zone, and I commute to/from work, then I have a teenager that I have to feed, so o..."
Shan I echo and agree with what M has said. Your family is way more important than anything else. I'm so sorry you are dealing with all of this. Do what you can when or as you can for this. This is supposed to be fun and an escape from real life. Focus on you and your family. I'm sorry if we made you feel like we were pushing. That was never and would never be my intention. Let us know how we can be of support to you instead of a stressor. I'm sending you a huge hug and good thoughts.
Selection Post Task 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Faked by Karla Sorensen
Qualifies:
Tagged as "favorites" by 34 people. First page, left column, 13th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 259 pages
Shan, We PM'ed earlier. I share others’ sentiments...it’s so unfortunate that you felt that pressure, particularly at a time like this. It certainly was not intended. We are a team of four all the way. This is about having fun and sharing books, authors, ideas & RL. No need to rush your reading…important for you to take the time you need and enjoy your book in a relaxed way. Please let us know if there's anything you need.
Selection PostTask 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Second Best by Noelle Adams
Qualifies: Tagged Favourite x 12 For favourite tag, see page 1,column 1
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 236 pages
Completion PostTask 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Book/Author: Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale
Qualifies: Tagged Favorites 10 times
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: 290 (Kindle Edition)
Finished: 11/06
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I don't know what happened with book 1 of this series for me, but Lani Lynn Vale upped her game for this one.
Trouper Aoki and Beckham Spurlock met when they were 17 and stuck together through all of the things that came their way after.
This story didn't feel rushed, it didn't feel like we were missing anything, because it was the story of how these two met, feel in love, and weathered all of the obstacles they ended up having to face.
I believed that they loved one another. Were there some things that I found unfathomable? Yes
Mainly them not making a way to see one another for so many years. As much as I felt the love between them, I find it hard to believe that they would let anything as insignificant as busy schedules get in the way of personal time together.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to see how the rest of the series will pan out.
Thank you everyone for the kind words.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝟏𝟒 - 𝟏𝟖. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟓𝟎 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝/𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 '𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞'.
Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez
Qualifies: Tagged Favorite x24 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: 272 pages
Finished: 11/07/21
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: Till and Eliza .... I enjoyed their story SO much! I've seen this book around quite often and had great intentions of reading it after each sighting, but follow through was lacking. Why? Why, did I wait so long to read this gem.
"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔."
This was something special. Till and his doodle were beautiful from start to finish. They went through so much together.. high and lows, heartbreaking moments and breathtaking ones as well. Their story was filled with raw emotion that gripped you from the start. Your heart broke and soared with them. They had to work and not give up for all their good times. They didn't fall into their laps and that made them even more endearing.
"𝐈’𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞."
Some parts made me mad, some made me smile and some broke my heart, but I truly wouldn't change a thing. When Till had his head up his... Eliza was there to give him a dose of reality. Even if it would rock his world and send his fantasy that he grips tight into oblivion. They each were there to pick up the other's heart pieces when they shattered. Always.
“𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔, 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒏. 𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆.”
Completion PostTask 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Second Best by Noelle Adams
Qualifies: Tagged Favourite x 12 For favourite tag, see page 1,column 1
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 236 pages
Completion Date: Nov. 7, 2021
Rating: 5+⭐
Review: As mentioned earlier, Noelle Adams writes books that are refreshing, natural, intelligent, no over the top dramas. Hs who are sexy, experienced, attentive & can hold a moment in a story. Slow build chemistry and great sex scenes.
With that in mind, I think this is her best book.
It's about two strangers who agree to meet every other week for sex with no strings attached. Handsome Sean Doyle, is a wealthy man, a good man. Following his fiancé’s death two yrs ago, he only allows himself this level of intimacy. Beautiful Ash is in love with someone else who doesn’t reciprocate, and so agrees to this arrangement as a sexual interlude.
At the beginning, their meetings are based on attraction and mutual respect, seeking sexual satisfaction. Over the weeks that builds up to not only sizzling chemistry and great sex, but also a deeper intimacy and love.
This book is not just about a hookup, there is depth to this story. It is believable emotional, steamy, a delicious romance.
A new favourite book.
Completion Post Task 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Faked by Karla Sorensen
Qualifies:
Tagged as "favorites" by 34 people. First page, left column, 13th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 259 pages
Read On: 11/8/2021
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: I fell in love with this book pretty quickly. I was actually really happy that Finn WASN'T her hero. I would love to see Finn's book later in the world, he seems too perfect, too polished just "too". He didn't strike me as "Ward Sister" worthy though. Bauer on the other hand....he was PERFECT for Claire. I adore stories where the author writes outwardly appearing opposites, but as you settle in with the characters you begin to realize they are the same. Bauer does carry a huge amount of baggage. Adele should be strung up by her fingernails and I absolutely am desperate to pummel his father for allowing his son to be treated as he was. However, without the vileness of Adele, Bauer wouldn't have had Scotty. I liked how Bauer was all caught up in how he "didn't know how to" or "couldn't be in" a relationship, yet he very obviously nurtures the healthy ones in his life, exhibits strong protective instincts and has core compass of right and wrong. He also sets and maintains boundaries. Somewhere along the way, he was either taught or caught on to healthy vs non healthy skills for relationships of all kinds. Those are just instinctive. Most emotionally abused children don't recognize boundaries as theirs have been crushed and demolished their entire lives. I also liked the fact that for Bauer true and deep attraction was all about what lies under the surface versus what everyone sees. I straight up hated Lia for a good portion of this book. Finn I began to come around to on. He needs to get out of his parent's orbit, have his perfect world burned around him, and struggle to acclimate on his own and on his own terms. Claire wasn't right for him. She would have grown bored with him and not understood where her frustration with him lay. Because he was everything she thought she needed - at a surface level. Finn hasn't learned how to give Claire all the things she needs as a person to be fulfilled. He's a good sibling/friend. Lia...needs her time in London and a little comeuppance of her own. While she does have the more ignitable temperament and nature versus Claire's more circumspect, it comes with a bit of a entitlement almost. Not intentionally, but she's always been seen as the strong half of a whole. I'm going to read her book. She's a seething mass of psychological issues waiting to collapse an ocean and a landmass away from her family and I think it's going to be spectacular.
For Faked, Karla's books are always, just always such strong amazing reads. I could hold an entire book club going on about how awesome I found this book. It checks every thing I need and love in a plot, in characters, in story line movement, in motivation, even in the conflict AND the conflict resolution. Because Karla DOES NOT give them a kitten, a "let's move in" and "let's get married" HEA. It's an "I Love You" here's a kitten, and "can we please try?". It's real and realistic. Claire, Bauer, and the rest of the world they live in doesn't require huge leaps of disconnect from reality. It presents a story that is healthy, heart warming, heart breaking, poignant, and utterly realistic. Which is why whinging is all about surface stuff and side characters - because the main characters were solidly handled. I'm cool with where they are. Are they going to struggle and have bumps? Yes. Will Adele still treat Bauer as a third rate citizen? Yes. Will the Wards adopt him into the family and posssssssiiiiibbbbblllyyyy eventually sic Paige on Adele - I sincerely and utterly hope so, but most likely not. Because that would be fiction life and not realistic life. In real life families let other families be.
Oh. And. The snowed in, in an A frame, with 48 hours with a tatted mushy hearted alpha athlete and a brainaic who has never really felt seen or loved for just herself - SOOOOOOOOOO good with the sexy times.
Belle is my favorite princess too. It's not just because we are both brunettes and love to read. It's because - je peux aussi chanter en francais 😜
So - personal overshare. I have a family member who is named Adele, however their name is spelled just slightly differently than the English spelling. Nor is it the traditional Germanic spelling. I lost count of the times I had to go back through and reread my review above to make sure I removed the additional "L" from Karla's Adele 😂It was fun to see the name in a book that wasn't based in the UK or mainland Europe though. It's not common in most of the US.
Sorry for the delay, so glad you all loved your books for this task! ❤️M - love that book and that series!
Here is your next task!Task 15 - 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.
Hi Team, I think we decided on Enemies to Lovers based on earlier msg?
I copied this from msg 7
⭐79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. ENEMIES TO LOVERS
Are we all still okay with this trope?
Maggie wrote: "Hi Team, I think we decided on Enemies to Lovers based on earlier msg?
I copied this from msg 7
⭐79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. ENEMIES TO LOVERS
..."
UPDATED
Good for me! What do others think?
I can read 2 books. I need to complete these for another challenge.
MountainKat wrote: "Sorry for the delay, so glad you all loved your books for this task! ❤️M - love that book and that series!"
So good! One of my tops reads of this year for sure!!
Mony wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Hi Team, I think we decided on Enemies to Lovers based on earlier msg?
I copied this from msg 7
⭐79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. ENEM..."
I'm totally on board for enemies to lovers.
I really liked Enemies, Mony. Hope you do as well!
M wrote: "Mony wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Hi Team, I think we decided on Enemies to Lovers based on earlier msg?
I copied this from msg 7
⭐79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide whic..."
M,
I have to admit that Enemies will be a re-read. I LOVE this book! He is so dam mean... It's one of about 5 comfort books I read when I need a good emotional story. Looking forward to it again. LOL
Selection PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Book/Author: Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan
Qualifies: Precis ~ Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text. Also 205th on the Best Enemies to Lovers list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Page Count: 386
Mony wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Hi Team, I think we decided on Enemies to Lovers based on earlier msg?
I copied this from msg 7
⭐79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. ENEM..."
LOVE Enemies!!! Enjoy the reread Mony!
I have two books that I need to read for challenges as well -
I'll start with Campus King as that one needs to be finished in the next two days. I'll check in to see where we are from there.
Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Campus King by Mickey Miller
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" by 11 people. First page, left column, 11th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 259 pages
Oh! Just a heads up - I will be traveling Nov 12th - Nov 14th. I'll have my phone with me, but not my laptop. I'll see what I can do in order to post for any challenges during that day. I'll be unavailable on the 13th. I'm volunteering at and attending an author signing event in Philly that day. 💜
Maggie wrote: "Oh! Just a heads up - I will be traveling Nov 12th - Nov 14th. I'll have my phone with me, but not my laptop. I'll see what I can do in order to post for any challenges during that day. I'll be una..."Hey Maggie,
I liked your remarks about the name Adele and the various spellings of that name. My brother's name is Camille, although it can be spelled Camile as well. Also the name Michelle is interesting. I have friends and family who are named Michèle or Michelle, and I keep forgetting which is which. My middle name is Rachele- although I use Rachelle. :)
Entirely different note - although this is about names. My daughter just told me they've picked two possible names for a boy baby due in March. So of course, I pressed & pressed and she told me one has S as the first letter. So I googled S boy names quite a bit this aft trying to figure it out. No luck. LOL
Maggie wrote: "Oh! Just a heads up - I will be traveling Nov 12th - Nov 14th. I'll have my phone with me, but not my laptop. I'll see what I can do in order to post for any challenges during that day. I'll be una..."Lucky you! have a good trip...sounds like fun!
Selection PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" x26 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve... (page one, first column, 19 down)
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 317 pages
Selection PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" x 3 (page 3, right column)
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 410 pages
Not sure which one I feel like reading first LOLSelection Post
Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
Enemies by Tijan
Qualifies: enemies-to-lovers x 5 (page 3, left column)
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 370 pages
Mony wrote: "Not sure which one I feel like reading first LOLSelection Post
Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
Enemies ..."
Just dive in! I'm a multi reader, so if I can't decide I usually open the one that looks more intriguing to me first or the one that loads faster on my Kindle, then I read until I hit a low plot area or until my attention wanders and then I switch over to the next book. That's why I've been "reading" a Nicole Snow book for a month now :-)
Maggie wrote: "Mony wrote: "Not sure which one I feel like reading first LOLSelection Post
Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
[book:Enemi..."
Good advice Maggie! I haven't done that but I definitely hit that low plot area you mention. I'm going to try it. :)
Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by Jessica Prince
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" by 7 people. First page, left column, 8th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Maggie wrote: "Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by Jessica Prince
Q..."
I'm at 65% of Campus King so I will finish that book tonight. This book is by one of the attending authors for the event I'm going to this week. I've been trying to read books by the "new to me" authors so this is a win win. Figured I'd post as a selection.
Maggie wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by [author:Jessica Pr..."
Very cool Maggie! And cool to meet the author too! Envious... I know what you mean about new to me authors.
Same dilemma for me with HR authors, who seem to be same ones read most of the time. So I've been branched out past year & it's been fantastic. So have learned new things about past history & wars...black history, 1812 war in New York State, Indian raj history, Napoleonic war, Australian penal colonies, Indonesian & Malayan history, American west & lots more. Love it.
Maggie wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by [author:Jessica Pr..."
That's so awesome! I really enjoy Mickey Miller's writing. You should ask him when the audiobook for Rock Block will be released... He's doing the audio for it and his voice is so hot! I bought the book, but have held off on reading it for that reason.
Completion PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Book/Author: Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan
Qualifies: Precis ~ Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text. Also 205th on the Best Enemies to Lovers list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Page Count: 386
Finished: 11/09
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Macon Saint and Delilah Baker. From the moment these two met when they were kids, things went completely down hill. Delilah being her sweet, happy self offering friendship to Macon, who promptly throws it in her face. That moment is the beginning of years of these two trashing each other, and hurting each other in the worst way.
Delilah's retorts were all reactionary though. I felt that if she hadn't been treated so poorly, she wouldn't have said any of the things she said to Macon in the first place. I would have been looking for ways to wound him also.
10 years later and the are back in one another's orbit, all thanks to Delilah's sister Sam. I forgot to mention that when they were growing up Sam and Macon were an off & on item, until they moved away. Sam is trouble with a capital T, and Delilah will do anything to keep the peace in her family and try to protect her sister.
This time around these two (Macon/Delilah) finally actually talk to each other. I thought I would find it cringy that Delilah would have something with Macon after he had a relationship that spanned several years with her sister, but this felt like a natural progression to me.
I was glad that the author didn't allow his former bad behavior to be swept under the rug for the sake of their romance.
Completion Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Campus King by Mickey Miller
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" by 11 people. First page, left column, 11th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 259 pages
Read On: 11/9/2021
Rating: 3.5 Stars (GR will only show 3 stars)
Review: I'm a little annoyed with this book. Mickey Miller is one of my go to authors but the last two books in this particular series have fallen flat for me. I ditched out of book 3 because I was bored and meant to go back to it, but Campus King just ... it missed his usual "sucked me into the worldness" that he has. It felt like a forced "I have to wrap up this series" book. Hate Mates and Kiss King the first two books in this series were AMAZING fantastic and multi layered characters with unusual or unexpected depths and twists. Unexpected life decisions. Steam that was out of the world and crazy sexual tension build up. This one just .... dragged. Mickey's ladies are usually in charge, take charge, core of self sort of women. Charlotte came across as someone who was in the middle of growing into her skin vs being a senior in college. Frankly - she's whiny. Her Journalism professor is who I expect for a Mickey Miller female lead. Not a Charlotte. There was also too much going on in the plot, like he couldn't decide where he wanted the tension and the conflict drive to come from. Which made me really dislike Colin as well. Because Mickey was too busy tinkering around with the plot it made Colin come off as this paper thin athlete. After reading DJ's story and GRANT - I just ... I really feel that he wrote this book because he felt or was bound by contract or something to write it...but it sucks as a Mickey book. I hate saying that about a favorite author. Honestly the teaser for his next book in a new series at the end of Campus King sounded like MICKEY. In a tiny chapter clip he had the BA chick down who was broken, but strong. The guy was broken, but still open to human interaction. Where as I spent the entirity of Campus King waiting for Charlotte's mom to go off the rails and go all Norma Bates with the "My Baaaaaaabbbbbbbyyyyyy" and dragging her back home with some sort of guilt heavy trip or laying on "guys always leave when it's a choice between their dreams and you" which he HAD laid the plot work for. Or even Colin's mum going off and having an OD or a car accident or her new "boyfriend" trashing her house or trying to crash the Villa. The ONE scene he's in it is patently obvious he is only there for Colin and the meal ticket he thinks he can get out of dating Colin's mom. If the idea of Colin being drafted and moving away caused her to drink and start abusing pills, then a boyfriend breaking up with her because her son isn't panning out it should have sent her tail spinning. Charlotte and Colin's back story also came to light in chunks, which is fine and sort of normal....but it wasn't normal good. It turns out - at 67% into the book that these two had been close childhood friends who had then kissed during Colin's senior year of high school and then had a hot summer fling before Colin went to college and ghosted Charlotte....and we find ALL of that out .... when????
Charlotte and her non descript feelings for her ex boyfriend even though she's so very focused on a life plan.
The book doesn't make sense to me from this author. I'm less annoyed with the book and more concerned with the author. Why publish this book? It's not the standard that they consistently write to. Was there a back story? Was he trying something new? Did he slide off his deadline plan? I know Mickey is working on newer non writing creative projects and the guy is crazy talented. Also, his newer stuff outside of this series is fresh and reads closer to how the first two books in this series read. I just hope that at some point he comes back to this one and .... rewrites it. 😢
M wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by [au..."
Mickey won't be at the event I'm heading to. 😢 Actually all the authors are female. Buuuuutttt - Teddy Hamilton, Jason Clarke, and Shane East will be there!!! I'm heading to Indies Invade Philly.
I agree with you on Mickey as a narrator and I too want to know when he's going to be releasing the audio book. I think he'd sent out a sound clip of some music he's working on and - WHOA. Good and HOT.
Campus King was a huge let down though 😢 It was like the anti Mickey book. I don't know what was going on in his life at the time, but Charlotte and Colin do NOT meet DJ or Grant level writing. I knew he was slipping away from the series a little with Sexiled, but I thought it was a me thing and it was a middle of the series slump..but this was not his style at all. Charlotte goes from a "I don't know" kinda gal to a "Jumps to conclusions" sort of gal with a whole lot of "checking with her inner goddess" between hot encounters of the Colin kind. The structure and pieces of the plot that he let languish though were GOOD. They were definitely Hate Mate level good. I need to stalk his reader group. It's not one I'm currently in. I want to reader stalk and see if there was life stuff going on when this one hit. That seems to be a theme for the 2021 books. 2020 hit everyone hard and creatives really hard so there were some hit or miss books in the pipeline from solid authors.
COMPLETION POSTTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" x26 https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve... (page one, first column, 19 down)
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 317 pages
Finished: 11/10/21
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Avery and Lucas were SO much fun! I was a little nervous going into this because of the book title and premise, but it wasn't at all what I though it would be. He slept around, but each woman knew about the other. He didn't keep it a secret or try to deceive them. Was very upfront from the start. Lucas had a perfect weekly spread of women and it was great until Avery walked back into his life. The girl who has always made his heart skip a beat.
She called him out on his ways, over and over. The banter between them was so good. One of my favorite parts was when she went out to dinner with his parents, pretending to be his girlfriend. Hilarious!! I'm glad I decided to give this one a try. Plan to read book 2 as well.
Maggie- I love those narrators! I try to catch all of Jason Clarke's lives on instagram. Can't wait to hear how your trip was! I have a ticket for LovenVegas next October and I am so excited. It will be my first time ever attending a book event.
I will find another book that's enemies to lovers to start just in case. It's my favorite trope so it's a win-win.
M wrote: "I will find another book that's enemies to lovers to start just in case. It's my favorite trope so it's a win-win."M,
My favourite trope too + throw in an alpha jerk, and I'm in heaven. 😎
Yay, reading a second book would be great!
Completion PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
The Darkest Temptation (Made #3) by Danielle Lori
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" x 3 (page 3, right column)
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 410 pages
Rating: 3.5⭐
Review: The Darkest Temptation is book 3 in a great series by Danielle Lori. I love her writing, and not just in this series. Book #2 was my favourite - Maddest Obsession, so so good! (4.4). But I was warned that this book wasn't as good as the other two, but if you liked Lori, still worth it. That was definitely the case.
This is about Ronan, the Russian Moscow Bratva head and American Mila, daughter of the head of a competing Bratva group in Russia. Ronan captures Mila in Moscow and uses her for an exchange with her father. He lets her know he will be killing her at the end of captivity. Mila is a feisty quirky vegan who's outspoken & tells Ronan what she thinks about all this. So the "fun" begins - drugging her, tying her up naked, light seduction, tossing her outside in the cold winter as punishment, heavy seduction...complications, releasing her, then love. I'm being a bit cavalier about all this because it didn't have that needed punch to keep my attention, Ronan wasn't dark enough for me, it was repetitive and needed editing. Still there were great characters & parts of the story.
A question. How do you feel when a heroine falls in love & stays with a Mafia king, although he'll be continuing to do murderous, torturing & other dirty deeds described in the book? Hmm, that doesn't sit well with me.
Selection PostTask 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope. (enemies to lovers)
Room 452 by T.L. Quinn
Qualifies: Tagged enemies to lovers x3 - first column, 5 down https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: 241 pages https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
Mony wrote: "M wrote: "I will find another book that's enemies to lovers to start just in case. It's my favorite trope so it's a win-win."M,
My favourite trope too + throw in an alpha jerk, and I'm in heaven..."
I completely agree. It makes their redemption so much sweeter.
M wrote: "Mony wrote: "M wrote: "I will find another book that's enemies to lovers to start just in case. It's my favorite trope so it's a win-win."M,
My favourite trope too + throw in an alpha jerk, and ..."
Yea, especially if they do some lengthy grovelling 😏
Completion Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
Bombshell by Jessica Prince
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" by 7 people. First page, left column, 8th tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Read On: 11/11/2021
Rating: 4 stars
Rating: This was a new to me author and I really loved this book. This was a mix of troupes with Marin being the ex girlfriend of Pierce's brother Frank. Marin and Frank ended when Frank started hitting Marin. Frank is just a rotten human and apparently his mom buys into his version of the world, so they both made Marin out to be the bad guy. Pierce has known for years that his mother is an enabler to his brother's poor personality and bad human habits. I liked how the author allowed Marin and Pierce to see past the preconceived opinions and things that they had been told about the other by Pierce's mother and his brother. They honestly gave each other a second chance. I also liked how the author portrayed Marin's sister Tali and her brother in law Nick. Where Nick is running his marriage into the ground not realizing that he's so stuck in the tunnel of work and just allowing himself to be sexually harassed by a female coworker. The loyalty and sisterly bond between Marin and Tali is amazing. Added to that is how each sister seeks out the other's guy to let the guys know how they are messing things up and telling them how they need to fix things NOW or just watch the sisters walk away. The concept of the Whiskey Dolls is pretty cool as well., While these ladies are burlesque dancers, their actual act is only described once, and it's in an appreciative way. Otherwise the author focuses on the work and dedication the dancers have to put into their profession as well as the tight friendship that forms with performance acts such as this. Seeing Marin's strong support circle of various women in various stages of their lives with different struggles and baggage is realistic and colorful. All of the characters in this book are full people on the page. No throw aways in this book, not even the bit parts that are needed as one line extras or stand ins. Loved this read and will be adding this series to my ever growing, never shrinking TBR.
Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
No Good by Stevie J. Cole
Qualifies:
Tagged as "enemies to lovers" by 23 people. First page, left column, 3rd tag down
Page Count: Kindle Edition, 428 pages
Maggie wrote: "Selection Post Task 15 - 79. Read 6 books that have the same romance trope, teams decide which trope.
No Good by Stevie J. Cole
Quali..."
I know the lot of us are all reading enemies to lovers and like M and Mony it is one of my favorite troupes as well. This book is part of my MnG books for this round so I figured I would pop a selection post in here just in case I finish this one quickly.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Task 14 - 18. Read over 750 pages in books tagged/shelved with 'favorite'.
Book/Author: Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale
Qualifies: Tagged Favorites 10 times
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Page Count: 290 (Kindle Edition)