Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - BTS ~ Between The Sheets (6)
Week 3 Selection PostWell-Dressed
Thick as Thieves by Lucy Lennox
Pages: 278
Qualification: Man on Cover looks snazzy!!
[*book:Thick as Thieves|58262610]
Week 3 Completion postRead a book with a well-dressed or brightly-dressed person/s on the cover.
Book:
Pages: 226
Read: 17 April
Rated: 4⭐
How it qualifies: person on cover is wearing a long red dress
Review: This is tagged as a reverse Harem but there isn't much steam although there is certainly tension and the potential for their to be something in the following books.
Lera, a human has been chosen to be part of a powerful immortal quint team. The other 4 Fae travelled to the human world to find Lera and take her for the bond to be severed as she is not strong enough. On their journey the relationships begin to develop and none of the 4 fae males know if they are strong enough to break the bond.
Week 3 Selection PostWell-Dressed
Thick as Thieves by Lucy Lennox
Pages: 278
Qualification: Man on Cover looks snazzy!!
Read: 4/18/22
Rating: ★★★★
I don't remember the details of these two from the previous books but I know Julien was in one. This was a bff to lovers story that was so freaking sweet. It fit just perfectly in the series as books that are just great reads that leave you smiling. We get the first time gay sex and I actually felt their connection which I love. I can't figure out who will be next but I can't wait!
[*book:Thick as Thieves|58262610]
I’ll get my selection and last competition post in tomorrow when I can access the website and not mobile. Just wanted to check in and say hi!! Lol
Jodi wrote: "I’ll get my selection and last competition post in tomorrow when I can access the website and not mobile. Just wanted to check in and say hi!! Lol"Jodi I use my mobile for everything on GR and I always access the website version on my browser rather than use the app. The app is just not user friendly.
Week 3 - Completion PostFashion/Outfit on Cover
Book: Scandal Wears Satin - Loretta Chase
Pages: 372
Qualification: Beautiful dress on cover
Read: 4/20/22
Rating: ★★
Review:
It was really hard to get into this book. I'm not sure if it's because I should have read the first book in this series first (Though usually with these romance series, you don't have to read all of them) or if it was just boring. The plot seemed stitched together from multiple different Georgette Heyer books in a bad way, and I didn't like it. Not only that, but the characters felt hard to connect with for some reason, even though the dialogue was fairly good. I think it's because their motivations and the plot was so ridiculous.
I thought Regency Romance was safe from the "Save the Ranch" trope, but clearly it's not. Clearly, there's no ranch in this book, but you can replace the ranch with a bakery, a bed and breakfast, a restaurant.... or in this case... A DRESS SHOP?? Obviously this is just my personal preference but I cannot stand this trope. It's usually done in small town contemporary romances, which I tend to avoid. This on top of all the dress descriptions was too much for me. What a snooze.
It was mentioned time and time again that Harry was not intelligent, which was not evident at all. He seemed perfectly intelligent to me. The only thing I could think of was the author was going for Freddy in Cotillion by Georgette Heyer, but then I was insulted because I absolutely ADORE him. There is absolutely no reason at all for Harry to be unintelligent except in comparison to how "intelligent" Sophy is ... except she's basically just making up stuff as she goes along and half the time she doesn't even know what she's going to do or what she's doing. Sure, she figures it out eventually, so I guess there's something there. But to call Harry unintelligent just because he's not making up crazy schemes like Sophy is going a bit far.
All in all, this book isn't completely horrible, but I've read other books by this author and this is definitely not her best work. I will not be reading other books in this series for sure, though. If I have to read about this dress shop another second, I'm gonna scream.
📦Completion Post📦 Week: 2
Option 1: Task: 16 Jungkook - the youngest group member and the main singer. He is also very competitive and sporty.
Your selected book MUST come from one of the provided lists.
Book: Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Link: Kulti
Pages: 570 KE
How it fits: #9 Sports Romance List
Completed: 04/13/22
Rating: 5
Review: This is my first Zapata book and it certainly won’t be my last. I haven’t read a lot of ‘sports romance’ either so this book just opened up a whole new author and genre for me. It was a little long and the slow burn was slowww… but with that being said, it was worth the wait. Amazing characters! Love Sal and Kulti grew on me. I haven’t seen/ read a lot of romance books about female athletes either so overall I got
a lot of ‘new to me’ stuff from this book!
Week 3 Selection postWell dressed person
202 pages
Week 4- Selection PostRead a book set in Asia or with an Asian MC
Book: Gouda Friends - Cathy Yardly
Pages: 303
Qualification: Asian MC. Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.
📦 Selection Post 📦 Week: 3
Option 1: Task: 7 Fashion is part of the vibrant presentation. Read a book with a well-dressed or brightly-dressed person/s on the cover. Not just jeans and a t-shirt (or no shirt). Must be a ‘put together’/crafted look.
Book: While We Were Dating (The Wedding Date 6) by Jasmine Guillory
Link: While We Were Dating
Jasmine Guillory
Pages: 378 KE
How it fits: Couple on the cover are ‘well dressed’ in formal-wear.
Week 4 Selection PostAsian MC
The Doctor's Secret by Heidi Cullinan
Pages: 258
Qualification: #107 on Gay Asian List
[*book:The Doctor's Secret|43709549]
Week 3 Completion postWell dressed person
202 pages
Date read: 4/25/22
3 stars
For the first 40% of this book I had no idea what was going on, lots of words but no story. Having finished it, I still don't really know why Andrew was after Stanley. I am not sure Ill continue with this series.
Week 4 Completion PostInk and Flowers
170 pages
#35 Gay Asian Books
Date read: 4/24/22
3 stars
Luke is being evicted and agrees to move in with Cooper and have sex once a week with him. However, Luke cant admit that he is gay and freaks out the first night.
Very instalove with a couple of MCs I couldnt connect with.
📦Selection Post📦 Week: 4
Option 1: Task: 2 Breaking into the Japanese market allowed K-pop to really take off.
* Read a book set in Asia or with an Asian MC
Qualification must be via the precis (blurb), main page location, list or shelf.
Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient #1)
Link: The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang
Pages: 323 KE
How it fits: MC is Asian #14 on Romance Books With Asian Love Interest
Week 4 Completion PostAsian MC
The Doctor's Secret by Heidi Cullinan
Pages: 258
Qualification: #107 on Gay Asian List
Read: 4/27/22
Rating: ★★★★
I enjoyed this book very much and am glad it's the beginning of a new series. We have the big, strapping, heartbreakingly beautiful, Asian doctor Hong-Wei and the equally buff, not as tall, but also gorgeous nurse Simon. Simon is sent to pick up Copper Point's newest genius surgeon at the airport and after having a burger together it's instant attraction. Thankfully, they don't act on for some time so we do get quite the story. Loved the hospital setting, loved all the characters but of course, hated the board. Also had to laugh when his brilliance was revealed and my only reaction was "a what?" "is that like Dr. House?". The one thing that bothered me throughout the entire book was the constant political awareness elements. We got white people being ignorant of other cultures, the anti-gay Christian church, our shitty medical system, school bullying, still having to hide being gay in some places and the strength or lack thereof, of unions. My god, pick one and stick with it. Hell, maybe a few but don't just mention them in passing....I was annoyed. Can't wait to read the other books but hope it's more about the romance than the injustices of the world.
[*book:The Doctor's Secret|43709549]
Week 4 - Completion PostRead a book set in Asia or with an Asian MC
Book: Gouda Friends - Cathy Yardly
Pages: 303
Qualification: Asian MC. Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.
Read: 4/28/22
Rating: ★★
Review:
Oh man, I wavered between 2 and 3 stars for this one. Ultimately, I decided on 2 stars because the reason I came here was for the Best Friends to Lovers trope and I feel it just didn't work. I mean, I get that they were friends, but Josh was super creepy with how touchy feely he was right away even though they hadn't seen each other for 5 years. A friend of mine started out reading this with me and she said it gave her creepy sibling vibes. She sent me that clip of Friends where the guy Rachel is dating is creepy with his sister lol.
Speaking of Friends, there was a straight lift from Monica and Chandler's relationship with the "what happens in paris stays in paris" and it was directly after a Seinfeld lift of "We have to have sex to save the friendship!" I mean, this book was CHEESY, but maybe that's what I signed up for? It wasn't all awful. The plot was decent even though it was a bit too much social media and businessy for my tastes, and this is why I maybe wanted to give it a 3.
Ultimately, it wasn't friends to lovers how I wanted it to be. The extremely awkward scene in the middle (you know what i'm talking about if you read it) and the friends with benefits thing is not my thing. I'm sorry. so I dropped it to a 2.
Jodi, Please post either your week 3 or week 4 review before the call tonight.Hazel, Please post your Week 4 selection before tonight's call.
Thanks Ladies
Sorry Lisa, I thought I had posted selection post.
Week 4 Selection postBook:
Pages: 347
How it qualifies: Number 499 on Romance Books with Asian Love Interests https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
[*book:Dark Pleasures|39687147]
I will have it done by tonight. I can’t believe it’s a new call already lol… where’d this week go??
Week 5- Selection PostRead a book with a publication year that ends in a 2.
Book: My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pages: 394
Qualification: Publication Year is 2012
📦Completion Post📦 Week: 3
Option 1: Task: 7 Fashion is part of the vibrant presentation. Read a book with a well-dressed or brightly-dressed person/s on the cover. Not just jeans and a t-shirt (or no shirt). Must be a ‘put together’/crafted look.
Book: While We Were Dating (The Wedding Date 6) by Jasmine Guillory
Link: While We Were Dating
Jasmine Guillory
Pages: 378 KE
How it fits: Couple on the cover are ‘well dressed’ in formal-wear.
Completed: 4/29/2022
Rating: 4
Review: I’ve read this entire series by Jasmine Guillory. They are all great stories and the narrator is awesome. Her books all have a common theme about body positivity. She also writes fabulous descriptions of food. This book could be a stand-alone. Anna, a model/movie star meets Ben during an advertising pitch. An emergency puts them on a road trip together where they start to flirt and fall but not without some bumps along the way.
Week 5 - Completion PostPublished in year ending 2
The Dragon Experiment
229 pages
Published: 4/21/22
date read: 5/1/22
5 stars
Gosh how I love this series. I love the authors style of writing and the many moments I have chuckling to myself.
This episode revolves around Fabian and Rhys. Whilst out ring shopping Fabian signs up for a sex study, from there he gets involved with Rhys.
Fabian is such a cute character. I see him kind of a 18th century dandy, of course he isn't but its the idea of him having so many rings.
Can't wait for Steffan's story and to see who the author will match with him.
Week 5 - Completion PostRead a book with a publication year that ends in a 2.
Book: My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pages: 394
Qualification: Publication Year is 2012
Read: 5/1/22
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
This was a page turner and I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I almost wanted to give it five stars, but the only reason I dropped it to four is because it was too dramatic for my tastes and I don't want to keep it on my shelf because I won't ever read it again for that reason. It dealt with some pretty heavy issues which I won't mention here because they are definitely spoilers, but I spent at least half the book feeling like some impending doom was about to happen which is probably why I read it so quickly, haha. The characters and dialogue and storylines were all very well done. Props to this author. I just have to mention that I absolutely could not stand the best friend. She was soooo awful!!
Great book, highly recommended!
📦Completion Post📦 Week: 4
Option 1: Task: 2 Breaking into the Japanese market allowed K-pop to really take off.
* Read a book set in Asia or with an Asian MC
Qualification must be via the precis (blurb), main page location, list or shelf.
Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient #1)
Link: The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang
Pages: 323 KE
How it fits: MC is Asian #14 on Romance Books With Asian Love Interest
Completed: 5/3/2022
Rating: 4
Review: There is so much I want to say about this book but I don’t want to spoil it!
This was my second time reading it and I enjoyed it just the same. I’m looking forward to the others in the series. It was hilarious, sweet and at times sad! Also love the narrator.
Week 5 Selection PostRead a book with a publication year that ends in a 2.
Pushing the Limits by Riley Hart
Pages: 239
Qualification: Published 2022
[*book:Pushing the Limits|60030947]
Week 4 Completion postBook:
Pages: 347
Read: 4 May
Rating: 4⭐️
How it qualifies: Number 499 on Romance Books with Asian Love Interests https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
Review: I love the word building and the imagination of Aja James. I seriously need to read more of these books a lot quicker! Too many series to read, too little time and too many challenges! Because of the time gap since reading the last one I was lost at the beginning trying to find my bearings but once I did, the book didn’t disappoint. Devlin with his painful past and Grace the funny blunt tech wizard. Also appearances from some of the previous characters from earlier books was nice. The main plot line is still developing and keeping me interested to find out what happens next.
[*book:Dark Pleasures|39687147]
Week 5 Selection post Published in a year ending in 2
Book:
Pages: 336 as per kindle edition in above link
How it qualifies: First published Jan 1st 2002
Jodi, please post your week 5 selection before the call tonight.
Week 5 Completion post Published in a year ending in 2
Book:
Pages: 336 as per kindle edition in above link
Read: 3 May
Rating: 4⭐️
How it qualifies: First published Jan 1st 2002
Review::I enjoyed this book. Raina pretends to be Ill so that one of her sons will settle down and give her grand children. Roman is the one who loses the coin toss and he can’t see past Charlotte who turned him down years ago even though there was attraction.
Charlotte doesn’t want to be with a man who won’t stick around and Roman doesn’t want to be with a woman who will stop him living his lifestyle.
Week 6Option 1
5. The French Institut national de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as a "fusion of synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable, colorful outfits."
* Read a book with a colorful (energetic) cover. The cover must have at least 5 separately identifiable colours from: White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Aqua, Green, Grey & Black.
Please state your identified colors.
Option 2
Key date: 5 November 2021
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
Week 6- Selection PostRead a book with a colourful (energetic) cover.
Book: Take me Home Tonight - Morgan Matson
Pages: 405
Qualification: Colors included: Blue, yellow, gray, white, pink, green
Week 6 Selection PostRead a book with a colorful (energetic) cover.
In the Shadows by Hailey Turner
Pages: 368
Qualification: Blue, Black, Yellow, White, Purple
[*book:In the Shadows|36108948]
📦Selection Post📦 Week: 5
Option 3
How it fits: PASS
📦Completion Post📦 Week: 5
Option 3
How it fits: PASS
Week 5 Selection post - A book with a colourful coverBook:
Pages: 469
How it qualifies: Blue, Green, Brown, Grey, Red and Black on cover
[*book:Two Dark Reigns|37688187]
Week 5 Completion postBook:
Pages: 469
Read: 8 May
Rating: 4⭐️
How it qualifies: Blue, Green, Brown, Grey, Red and Black on cover
Review: This book is part of a series and follows on from the previous books. Queen Katherine has been crowned and is now struggling with rebellion from the mist created by the blue queen and also a rebellion. She is still ‘occupied/possessed’ by the previous dead queens and starts searching for a way to get them removed. Arsinoe and Mirabella are on the mainland but the island keeps calling to them and Arsinoe is having dreams of being Daphne and seeing the blue Queen. Jules has been told that she was a queen once and may be again and becomes part of the rebellion against queen Katherine.
Lots going on in this book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one. Some of the sections I feel could have been cut or at least a little bit shorter but it didn’t bother me too much.
Week 5 Completion PostRead a book with a publication year that ends in a 2.
Pushing the Limits by Riley Hart
Pages: 239
Qualification: Published 2022
Read: 5/2/22
Rating: ★★★
Probably should have read these in order but I didn't. Not sure how much that affected the impact. I did love seeing them as their teenage selves bonding. I didn't love how everyone kept saying how great they were as brothers....repeatedly. I didn't see this as any kind of incest or anything and I'm not sure I loved them as a couple but I did like them...can't really explain it. Good story but not great
[*book:Pushing the Limits|60030947]
Week 6 Completion PostRead a book with a colorful (energetic) cover.
In the Shadows by Hailey Turner
Pages: 368
Qualification: Blue, Black, Yellow, White, Purple
Read: 5/7/22
Rating: ★★★★
I really, really should have gone back and started from book one. I could not, for the life of me, remember who any of these people were. For real, nothing, nada. But the crazy think is I still really enjoyed it. Alexi and Sean had great chemistry. There was a ton of action and spy stuffs so I was never bored. I may actually go back and read the first two again just for funsies.
[*book:In the Shadows|36108948]
Week 6 Selection Post5 colors on cover
white, blue, yellow, green and red
284 pages
Week 6 - Completion PostZero Break
284 pages
Date read: 5/9/22
4 stars
Kimo is back with a rather good murder, which as usual kept me guessing to the reveal. A good balance of mystery while bringing us more insight into his relationship with Mike.
Hi, Lisa! You have my book (Take Me Home Tonight) listed under Jodi for week 6 in error. Just thought I'd mention it so you can fix that. Thanks! <3
Outstanding:Selection
Jodi - week 6 : this needs to be posted before the next call tomorrow
Completions
(Lori & Jodi - week 6)
Sorry for all my delays.. my internet isn’t working with my iPad currently so I’m having a hard time getting links. Hopefully these work!📦 Selection Post 📦
Week: 6
Option 1: Task: 5 The French Institut national de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as a "fusion of synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable, colorful outfits."
* Read a book with a colorful (energetic) cover. The cover must have at least 5 separately identifiable colours from: White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Aqua, Green, Grey & Black.
Please state your identified colors.
Book: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes
Link: Property of the Rebel Librarian
Allison Varnes
Pages: 288 KE
How it fits: Cover has: yellow, blue, red, green and orange
Week 6 - Completion PostRead a book with a colourful (energetic) cover.
Book: Take me Home Tonight - Morgan Matson
Pages: 405
Qualification: Colors included: Blue, yellow, gray, white, pink, green
Read: 5/12/22
Rating: ★★★
Review:
I've read two other books by this author in the past, and apparently I gave them four stars, but neither one of them are very memorable to me. The majority of this newest book takes place over a very short time period--think 24 hours--but even though one would think that would make this fast paced and easy to get through, it was not.
The main problem with this book was the long paragraphs of exposition and summaries. I really don't need 10 long paragraphs about each girls' college plans. Like, I get it already. It's hard to know what you want to do with your life when you're eighteen. I've been through that myself and it doesn't need to be explained to me in gritty detail. And that's just an example. Skip all this telling nonsense and show me their adventure. The book was long enough and didn't need all these long paragraphs of filler.
The other problem I had with the book was the unrealistic plot points. The whole Teri storyline was a little out there, but there were also other elements. I mean, this isn't the worst thing though, and I can overlook it.
The best thing about this book is the relationship between Stevie and Kat. At first I wasn't sure what to think of either one of them, but I came to like them and understand them as the story went on. That's really what saved this book and why I'm giving it 3 stars. I also really liked that a certain character didn't get redeemed. Let them live their miserable life and I hope everyone knows it. lol
Week 7- Selection PostRead a book from one of the three lists posted about billionaires/millionaires.
Book: The Real Thing - Melissa Foster
Pages: 288
Qualification: #310 on List--> Billionaires, Millionaires, Tycoons and Other Utterly Rich Romance Heroes
Week 7 Selection PostRead a book from one of the three lists posted about billionaires/millionaires.
Clutch by Piper Scott & Virginia Kelly
Pages: 240
Qualification: #49 on MM Romace w/ Millionaire List
[*book:Clutch|42208487]
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Read a book with a well-dressed or brightly-dressed person/s on the cover.
Book:
Pages: 226
How it qualifies: person on cover is wearing a long red dress