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PtP - Reading is K-ool (5)
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Selection Post-Week #8Option 1-Read a book with an MC who is either struggling with mental health or works in the medical industry (doctor, nurse, psychologist, etc)
Book-The Backup Boyfriend by River Jaymes
Pages- 279
How it Fits-the main character is a doctor
I made my week 8 selection and almost done with it. I'll go find a book for week 9 too
Week #8 - struggling with mental health or works in the medical industry
The Doctor's Heart by Andrew Grey
★★★☆☆
I liked this book well enough but this did not reinvent the wheel in gay romance. It is a popcorn vook, quick easy read but will likely forget the details fairly quickly. This reminded me of a Hallmark movie, many interruptions and such but you just know there will be a HEA.
I had to wait until today to ready this since it got picked for me for another challenge!
Week 9 Completion Post
The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk163 Pages
How it qualifies:Handsome man on the cover. The big brown eyes are killer and really underrated.
My rating: 4 stars
My review:
J.E. Birk had my emotions all over the place on this one. This was a really sad story but also has a hopeful ending. You should know that going in. I had so many moments where the story was so sad I was crying and then moments where the lightness seemed to be breaking through and then more sad moments. It is a rollercoaster.
Tate is one of our MC's and he is on a trip to honor the memory of a young girl he once knew. I am not going to give away how he knew her or why she was now a memory, that will spoil the story. Tate is struggling and he is sad and sometimes he seems hopeless. I just wanted to wrap this man up in all the hugs because he didn't deserve self loathing he put himself through or all the hate and hurt he got from others because of what happened. On this trip he meets our second MC and this man changes everything in Tate's future.
Gabrielle is seriously this books hero. I loved him. His kindness was heart rendering, his easy way and his bright personality wrap themselves around Tate's sadness and shame and embraces him for who he is and not for what he was or what he did. I loved the ease in which Gabrielle stuck by Tate's side, at the time a stranger, and then has no other choice but to keep returning o the man he was so drawn to.
Tate and Gabrielle bond on this trip. They don't try to be anything but what they are, strangers who happen to like each other, but together they fit. It seem like the right time for them but in reality it couldn't be more perfect, they needed each other in a lot of small was that created one big reason. This story is really gutting and emotional and I cried more than once. I held my breath and paced myself because this story did not quit. One minute there is light and ease and the next my heart was breaking. To be that is the best kind of feeling when I am reading.
There were so many times I felt what Tate was feeling and I saw what he was seeing. Birk put so much emotion into this book which translated into me being convinced I was there with Tate in the Blue Lagoon or in London then Paris, it was an awesome feeling. Although a shorter read it was powerful and at the end if is a HFN and then Birk gives us a bonus scene which I HIGHLY recommend you read. It completes this couple so so well and it made me so happy.
Selection Post-Week #9Option 1-Read a book with a handsome man on the cover
Book-The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward
Pages- 336
How it Fits- I think the man on this cover is very handsome in a rugged outdoorsy way
Week 9 - Completion PostOption 1
Egotistical Puckboy
Pages: 303
Read: 6/2/22
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes because I love seeing the development of both characters and their love. This book hit eveything i want to see in this trope, they had an established rivalry that they fueled everytime they saw each other, then one night changes everything. Of course they think itsnonly temporary and they still hate eachother. We are able to get to know both Anton and Ezra and fall in love with them as they fall for eachother. The only thing missing for me is a little angst. It was almost a perfect transition from them not knowing if they have the same feelings to them being in a full relationship. But it is just my personal preference to have a little angst before a HEA.
Week 10Option 1
4. The first known use of the term K-pop occurred on Billboard on October 9, 1999
* Read a book with a 9 in the page numbers.
Rules on page numbers apply - minimum count (109pp ~ since you can't get a 9 in the count otherwise and still qualify); any English language edition.
Option 2
Key date: 3 December 2021
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
Outstanding:Week 6 & 7 - Crystal
Week 8 - Susan
Week 9 - Susan, AnnMarie & CB
Week 10 - current
Completion Post - Week 9
A Sense of Danger by Jennifer Estep
Date Completed: 5/31/2022
Rating: 5⭐️
This was an outstanding paranormal spy adventure, with some romance and wonderful moments of wit. Charlotte is an analyst stuck in her role at the paranormal spy organization Section 47, and due to familial obligations is greatly in debt so also working part time at night as a waitress. One day when coming home from work she is shocked when several assassins try to kill her, and that kicks off the start of an exciting and fun adventure.
Desmond is the golden boy of Section 47 assassins, who for his own reasons needs Charlotte’s help. The dynamic between Charlotte and Desmond was sparkling and fun, and both were such great characters of complexity. I loved how most everyone at Section 47 underestimated Charlotte, but as the daughter of a top tier assassin and granddaughter of a con artist, there was a lot more to her than meets the eye, and she was wicked sharp. I’m excited that this is the start of a new paranormal spy series and can’t wait to read the next book.
Week 10 (Option 1) - selection post4. The first known use of the term K-pop occurred on Billboard on October 9, 1999
Task: Read a book with a 9 in the page numbers.
Book:
Spell of the Ball by Deanna Chase et al Pages: 297
How it qualifies: There is a 9 in the page number
Week 10 - Selection PostTask #4: Read a book with a 9 in the page numbers
Destiny by K.N. Banet
Pages: 391 (GR)
How it qualifies: 9 in page count
Completion post- week #8
Book-The Backup Boyfriend
Date Read- 6/4/22
Rated- 4 stars
Review- I liked the book a lot. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be like. I love the fake boyfriend/girlfriend trope so I already knew I was going love this book and it didn't disappoint. Dylan is a straight man and Alec is gay. Alec just broke up with Tyler and he's really upset. Tyler wasted no time getting a new guy so Alec goes out and buys a vintage Harley motorcycle. Even trade off lol. Dylan is the mechanic who Alec takes his bike too. I love the humor, I love the romance. I love Dylan! He ends up on a date with Alec because he hates the way Tyler is flaunting his new boyfriend in front of Alec. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone but I highly recommend it. I loved the story line. I loved the 2 MC's so much.
I have to add that I hope we one day get a prequel into Dylan's past to see why he is the way he is today. I feel like his story should have more. Plus I loved him and wouldn't mind a book about the Dylan long before Alec :) Don't get me wrong I love Alec and Dylan together but I wasn't too know more about Dylan.
Okay I think I am updated to here.Week 6 - Crystal completion post
Week 7 - Crystal completion post
Week 9 - Susan & me completion posts
Week 10 in progress
Week 10 - Completion Post4. The first known use of the term K-pop occurred on Billboard on October 9, 1999
Task: Read a book with a 9 in the page numbers.
Book:
Spell of the Ball by Deanna Chase et al Pages: 297
How it qualifies: There is a 9 in the page number
Read: 06/06/22
Rating: 2★s
Review: This was an anthology of 8 short stories by 8 different authors- each was a paranormal romance set at Halloween. Like all short story collections there are some that are great and some that were not to my taste. Kristen painter’s story The Witch’s Halloween was a 5★ read, Stanhill was planning on proposing to Corette at the Annual Halloween Ball, but a magic spell,gone wrong had Corette forgetting who Stanhill was. Most of the other stories were - well - not to my taste. I think it was because each of them presumed the reader had some background information about the characters, I didn’t have any except for Kristen Painter’s. Not having the background left me floundering - and one or two,were just sex scenes connected by words - I’m sure if I had read other books in their respective series I would have handled it better as I would know why they were jumping into bed without an introduction.
Week #10 - 9 in page count 
Single Malt by Layla Reyne
★★★★☆
This was a re-listen and I think I may have actually enjoyed it more this time around. It's been a while and although I do not remember all of the specifics from the overall mystery I am finding it easier to follow. I don't know if I am paying better attention? The story kept me engaged and I loved the narration. I'll be working in the rest of the series, may revisit and bump this to 5 stars if I enjoy the rest this much a second time around.
Week 10 - Completion PostOption 1
Hand Picked
Pages: 299
Read: 6/4/22
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I enjoyed every aspect of this book. From the introduction of the new characters to the continuing of a storyline from the first books, it was all amazing. Reading about Webb and Luke was heart wrenching and funny at the same time. There was not real angst in the story since the reader could tell they both loved each other but just reading about this town and its people, there is no way you can go wrong. Cannot wait for the next book to come out. I have been waiting for Hawk and Jack since book 1.
Selection Post-Week #10Option 1-Task-Read a book with a 9 in the page number
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Pages-369
How it Fits- it has a 9 in the page numbers (369 pages)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Week 10 Completion Post
Ghost by Joel Abernathy196 Pages
How it qualifies:9 in the page count
Rating 3.5
Review:
First book in the DiFiore Mafia Family and my first book by Joel Abernathy and for the most part I enjoyed and will for sure be reading on in the series. The synopsis and the tropes held so much promise with it being a dark Mafia MM romance, opposites attract, age-gap, and hurt comfort. I am saying right now that the writing was amazing. Really talented author and a lot of detail in the scenes. I loved the characters and I loved the plot. Our two MC's Enzo and Echo aka Ghost were great and I was definitely routing for them.
Enzo is the eldest brother in the Difiore family and he has found himself in a really difficult situation. He has killed a man trying to help a young woman and that alone shows he has honor among thieves since you know of his part of position and the expectations in a big mafia family and will no doubt touch more violence in his lifetime. He is set up to take over the family when his father retires but he is doubted since he is "soft" and he has also committed the unthinkable and has the nerve to be a gay man. Honestly I loved Enzo and I had so much compassion for him. It is not even close to easy hiding such a big part of yourself and only doing so for fear of what others and your family would think. I loved that he stuck by his brothers though and I loved that he had a heart. It wasn't only about him and I also enjoyed that. Since we didn't get the ruthless monster vibe from Enzo then it had to come from another. And that is Echo.
I really liked Echo as a character as well. I loved his thinking and his darkness which is needed in this dark romance. I really enjoyed is inner struggle when it came to the situation he finds himself in when Leon DiFiroe hires him to help "clean up" Enzo's mess of a body. He comes in all confident, crude and intelligent and is graceful in all these things. He cleans up messes and then leaves with no attachements...usually. He describes himself as a sociopath and he his a Ghost because he comes an goes and once gone you don't see him again. That is not the case with the DiFiroe's however because he finds himself wanting and acting on that want. What he wants is Enzo. He is drawn towards his softness and his good nature but also see's the potential of the ruthless Mafia leader he needs to someday become. He also knows Enzo's secret immediately and takes dull advantage of the returned desire they both seem to share.
The chemistry was good. The sex scenes were good but not the best I've ever read and there were not nearly enough of them. I just couldn't buy into their intense desire when it happened like way way too fast. I understand this was a shorter read but I am confused as to why. ALL the pieces were there to make this a really intense and hot beginning to a dark and twisted series. I don't know why Enzo and Echo weren't given more. They needed and deserved it. Too many BIG things happened in this book for it to be less than 200 pages. Sometimes I love a short read but not when there are so many moving parts and twists and in the balance a love story is forming. It seems that Abernathy is more than capable of writing and writing a really good story, so in my mind the heart wasn't there yet. Ghost felt more like a novella to me and it was like Enzo and Echo where minor characters in a big story when I know that is not how they were indented. Or at least I hope. Words and actions clashes a lot too which annoyed me as well. Like when Echo says he never gets involved and he is heartless but then immediately falls for the boyish charms of Enzo. And then when Enzo learns of one part of Echo's past that hits a bit too close to home and basically says he would kill Echo is he ever saw him again and then that so did not happen, in fact it was the opposite. Sometimes things like this don't bother me but again it just felt so rushed with not enough of almost everything.
I clearly had some issues with this book but I really did like the plot and the writing is just so good. I will be continuing on with the series as I am really intrigued by the next announced couple and want more of this world. I certainly feel hopeful that I will read much more of Abernathy in the future.
*I give this a 3.5 but I could not increase to 4 like I would normally. *
Week #9 - handsome man
The Sceptic by Lily Morton
★★★★★
I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of the author, humor in books is my favorite thing ever, and while she upped the scare in this book she balanced it with humor. This is a follow-up to the Blue Billings books and while I guess technically this can be a stand alone I wouldn't suggest it. Definitely recommend!
This was the week I was dreading! Still, my daughter has lent me a book that fits! So even though I’m not a Hamilton fan I’ve picked it out of desperation 😂Week 11 (Option 1) - selection post
14. Jimin - Fabulous dancer, great singer and Gucci loves him as they sell out of everything he wears. He's also the member that many men would turn gay for (even though Jimin is not actually gay). Is he almost perfect?
Task: Read a book from one of the following lists: Selected ‘The Mary Sues of Literature’ list
Book:
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton Pages: 355
How it qualifies: #49 on the ‘The Mary Sues of Literature’ list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Week 11 - Selection PostTask #14: Read a book from one of the indicated GR lists
Play by Kylie Scott
Pages: 306 (GR)
How it qualifies: #243 on Dream Guy list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
Week 10 - Completion Post
Destiny by K.N. Banet
Date Completed: 6/7/2022
Rating: 4⭐️
As this was the final installment in the Kaliya Sahni series, the reading of this book was a little bittersweet. Although the Jacky Leon series by this author ranks by far as my favorite, I had become invested in Kaliya and her battle to save her people. Much of this book took place in India, where Kaliya was determined to find and kill her people’s enemy, Garuda, and the author wove in quite a bit of Kaliya’s culture and mythical beings, which was interesting. I was a bit shocked how the search for Rama turned out, but glad Raphael found more of his people.
Although the series was leading up to this final showdown for some time, I felt like this book didn’t quite have the exciting action and energy that most of the other books in this series have. Overall though, I was pleased to see Kaliya and Raphael and their people have a happy ending after everything they have all gone through.
Week 11Option 1
14. Jimin - Fabulous dancer, great singer and Gucci loves him as they sell out of everything he wears. He's also the member that many men would turn gay for (even though Jimin is not actually gay). Is he almost perfect?
* Read a book from one of the following lists:
The Mary Sues of Literature
The Gary Stus of Literature
Dream Guy
YA contemporary romance with perfect guy
Best Gay For You
Any book written by Mary Calmes
Books must be selected from one of the lists above. Please state the list in your selection post.
Option 2
Key date: 10 December 2021
If you use this option, this week you must select your book from the team shelves immediately below your team in this list. The last team picks from the first team.
5 Reading is K-ool
***1 One Directionless***
4 Dynamite Bookworms
11 Books With Luv
7 Seven Singing Foxes
6 BTS ~ Between The Sheets
3 Superstar Glow
10 Don't Know Much About BTS
8 Reading with Luv (feat T8)
9 Butter Me Up
2 The Broken Book Spines
Eg. Team 5 picks from team 1's members bookshelves. Team 2 picks from team 5's members bookshelves.
DO NOT PICK from a team member who has left the team during the game. Picks must come from current members.
Option 3
Not available this week
Week #11 - Perfect man
What Can Be by Mary Calmes
★★★★★
I am not generally a fan of novellas that are not follow-ups to books but this one I loved. It is completely OTT with 2 perfect MCs, some snark, a wonderful group of secondary characters, all the things I love about Mary Calmes books. This is a comfort read for me, very much a favorite.
Completion Post-week #9
Book-The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward
Date Read- 6/11/22
Rated- 3 stars
Review- this book was okay. It was really predictable almost from the start. Rich family with 2 boys. The dad is easy going and the mother is overbearing and extremely controlling. Renata has worked for the family for years and that summer Raven her daughter comes to work with her. Raven and Gavin hit it off and Gavin's mother will not have her son dating someone not in their financial class.
The book was good but I knew how this was going to turn out. I wish there would have been some twists
Completion Post-week #10
Book-Malibu Rising
Date Read- 6/11/22
Rated- 5 stars
Review- I have loved every book I've read from Taylor Jenkins Reid and this one didn't disappoint me. I loved the characters. I love that each of the kids in this very dysfunctional family all had their own flaws but she wrote them so that we love them even with all the flaws. Mick and June's story was great and heartbreaking but told so we could understand why Nina was the way she was and Jay, Hud and Kit. I loved them all but they had troubles. Mick was a messed up excuse of a father.
I also love how messy they left their relationship with Mick. This book didn't tie everything up with a perfectly happy ending but there seemed to be some closure and it ended in flames. A fitting ending to their messed up lives
Selection Post-Week #11Option 1-Task-Read a book from one of the lists. I'm reading from Dream Guy
Book-Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages- 391
How it Fits- it's book #2 on Dream Guy's list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
Week 11 Selection Post
Us by Sarina Bowen &Elle Kennedy322 Pages Paperback
Option #1: Found in list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Week 11 - Completion Post14. Jimin - Fabulous dancer, great singer and Gucci loves him as they sell out of everything he wears. He's also the member that many men would turn gay for (even though Jimin is not actually gay). Is he almost perfect?
Task: Read a book from one of the following lists: Selected ‘The Mary Sues of Literature’ list
Book:
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton Pages: 355
How it qualifies: #49 on the ‘The Mary Sues of Literature’ list
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Read: 12/06/22
Rating: 3★s
Review: I am not a fan of Urban Fantasy - dark paranormal. I really tried to read this with an open mind as my daughter loves the series and we share similar reading DNA. This time we agree to disagree. I couldn’t warm to the MC Anita - I certainly didn’t like the eroticism that dripped on most pages. Anita was strong-willed, independent and extremely judgemental. She is asked to investigate who is murdering vampires - she doesn’t want to, I mean can you murder undead creatures? Anyhow she is forced to accept the job (wererats? Really?) or her friend will die. Anyhow Anita alternated between being whiny and a total bitch. She solved the mystery - didn’t succumb to the blatant meaningless sex that was constantly on offer - however Jean-Claude is certainly a temptation she finds hard to resist - the wererats were easy to resist.
No more Anita Blake for me.
Thanks everyone for a fun challenge, and Ann Marie for being such a good captain!
Crystal wrote: "Is is over?"Yes - team 4 won.
I didn’t even realise this was the last week 😃
Sally906 wrote: "Crystal wrote: "Is is over?"Yes - team 4 won.
I didn’t even realise this was the last week 😃"
I did not either. I thought this was 14 week challenge. Not sure where I got that number LOL
I had so much fun. Thank you to our captain
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Guilty Pleasures (other topics)Us (other topics)
Hush, Hush (other topics)
Malibu Rising (other topics)
The Day He Came Back (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)Elle Kennedy (other topics)
Sarina Bowen (other topics)
Mary Calmes (other topics)
Mary Calmes (other topics)
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Task #11: Read a book with a handsome man on the cover
A Sense of Danger by Jennifer Estep
Pages: 367 (GR)
How it qualifies: See hot man on cover above