Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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TART Challenge - Round 5 - Fast Like Molasses (7)
Completion Post - Task #622. Read 4 books #5 or higher in a series.
Bruiser
Pages: 324
Completed: 4/24
How it Qualifies: #7 in the Seattle Sharks series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
This was a pretty solid three stars for the first three-quarters of the book. While I loved Hudson, I wasn't really a fan of the relationship with Shea. It just didn't feel like there was a reason why Hudson liked Shea. He saw her and thought she was attractive, and that was about it. There's not a lot of "getting to know you" stuff because Shea is pretty one-dimensional. All of the focus is on how she was a domestic abuse survivor, and all she really talks about is needing to keep her daughter safe and worrying about being in a relationship with a guy who makes a living through violence. Although it feels like Hudson is all in, I really couldn't figure out why. Shea doesn't really give him much of a reason to be with her.
But the last quarter of this is great, and I finally felt like this couple was actually a couple. The action was really exciting, and made me like Shea and Hudson more, so I went ahead and bumped up to four stars. I wish the earlier relationship had been stronger, but it ended on a high note for me.
Sorry about the copy and past error in your last task! I'll try not to do that again in the morning. 🤞🏼
no worries, Kat. it was a straightforward task. There were no issues. Plus we have the other half of your brain with us...Karen. She understood it easily 😜
I started reading
and I'm really digging the super Boston-y type hero. Do you guys have any recs for more? I've seen a few mobster ones, but I want more just normal working class guys.
Courtney wrote: "I started reading and I'm really digging the super Boston-y type hero. Do you guys have any recs for more? I've seen a few mobster ones, but I want more just nor..."Courtney, check out Shannon Stacey. She lives in New England and while not just Boston, most of her books are set there. She has a Boston Fire series, all about firefighters. And I think the Kowalski series might have one in Boston, but all are a lot of fun.
Here is your next task!Task 7 - 37. Read 6 books set in the US.
Books selected for this task need to be set in the US. You can use the book details on the main page, title, precis, tags or lists as your qualification. Remember to let me know how you know your books qualify, I need to know where to look to confirm you books! Please include any necessary links and information in your completion posts.
MountainKat wrote: "Courtney, check out Shannon Stacey. She lives in New England and while not just Boston, most of her books are set there. Sh has a Boston Fire series, all about firefighters. And I think the Kowalski series might have one in Boson, but all are a lot of fun."Perfect, thanks!
I can easily read 2 for this task...or for that matter even 3 if everyone else is slammed. I should finish my first one
later today while I'm playing in the dirt (potting plants for my deck - we'll see how many I can keep alive). I have a ton of reread options that have barely over the minimum page count that I can listen to in 2-3 hours each that I can work on while running errands tomorrow.
I'm reading one that's just over the minimum page count because I'm finding it hard to get into anything longer and will be done early morning here (it's 22:15 now)
Tink Magoo is bad at reviews wrote: "I'm reading one that's just over the minimum page count because I'm finding it hard to get into anything longer and will be done early morning here (it's 22:15 now)"Short books count just as much as long ones for this task, so you're good!
Oh good :) Thanks.Enjoy your planting, I love growing all sorts of things and watching them grow, but hate weeding once they're in the garden
Mine are all in pots since I'm in an apartment, so weeding isn't generally an issue. I love having them and watching them grow too, but definitely wouldn't say I have a green thumb. We'll see how it goes...I'm trying a mix of flowering annuals and some veggies that I hope will do ok in pots. I usually have good luck with tomatoes in pots, but haven't tried much of anything else in a LONG time. This is a new space, and I get more sun than I've had in the past, so hopefully I won't kill too many of them. 😂 I think I went a little overboard though - if by some miracle everything I have does well, there won't be room for anything but plants on my patio!
I'm doing
. It's surprising how many books take place in the US, but don't say they're in the US 🤣.
Hi. I've been gone all day. this has been a busy weekend, but it's been fun. I finished my book about an hour ago and started reading Light in Shadow.
#7 | 37. Read 6 books set in the US | Book 1Book: The Fall
Pages: 306
Qualifies: MPSetting is New York
Rating: 👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️
Completed: April 24, 2022
#7 | 37. Read 6 books set in the US | Book 2
Book: Light in Shadow
Pages: 365
Qualifies: MPSetting is Arizona
Rating: 🔍🔍🔍🔍
Completed: April 25, 2022
Chan wrote: "#7 | 37. Read 6 books set in the US | Book 1Book: The Fall
Pages: 306
Qualifies: MPSetting is New York
Rating: 👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️
Completed: April 24, 2022
[bookcover:The Fall|42069..."
I'm glad to see you liked this one, Chan! Since you're reading 2 and I don't need to hunt for super short books, that's one of my top choices for my 2nd book.
I was really on the fence with 3 and 4 stars. the romance was lacking a little to me and I was hoping for more from the mystery side. the one word that repeated in my head was 'cute'. I'm not going to read the next book...yet. I'm going to try something else by this author first, and maybe go back to book 2.
I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks...it's on my M&G so I'll be reading it soon one way or another, but I'll just see what kind of mood I'm in when I go to start my next book, later this evening. I'm getting quite the dose of cute right now (in a really good way), so might want to change gears a bit for the next book.
#7 - 37. Read 6 books set in the US Book 1
Book:
How to Be a Normal PersonPages: 290
Qualifies: MP Setting: Oregon (United States)
Rating: 5 stars
Completed: April 24, 2022
Book 2
Book:
State of GracePages: 338
Qualifies: From precis - The holiday season is under way in Washington, D.C., but Metro Police Lieutenant Sam Holland is busier than ever...
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: April 25, 2022
Task: #7 - 37. Read 6 books set in the USBook: Father of the Bride
Page numbers: 155
How book qualified: Set in Vegas -stated in precis
Date Completed: 25th April
Rating: 2 stars
This is somewhere between my 3rd and 5th book by Jayne Ann Krentz. Why do I drag my feet to read her books and then I'm shocked when I enjoy them? All of the books I've read so far have not been less than 4 stars for me.
I updated my completion post in Msg 266 to include both books.
I'm so glad you're still liking her work, Chan! I'm kind of the same way with her, and not sure why. I think of her as one of those "sure thing" authors - I have an idea what to expect (generally, not specifically) and know I'll enjoy it, yet the only time I read something of hers is when it pops up in the search to fill a slot in a challenge. I don't go looking for them.
I finished my 2nd book and added it to my earlier completion post.
Completion Post - Task #737. Read 6 books set in the US
Famous in a Small Town
Pages: 219
Completed: 4/26
How it Qualifies: Set in California - from precis:
Where better to escape his past than a small town in the Northern California mountains? If only he could get the townsfolk of Wildwood to leave him the hell alone.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
This started out really strong and was just as well written as any other Scott book I've read, but it just didn’t work for me. I liked the premise and liked both of the MCs; I just didn't really like them together. I think Scott did a great job building a friendship between Garrett and Ani, but it never translated into a good romantic relationship. I think the problem is that the front end moves at a more leisurely pace, and then the back end goes at about 1000 miles an hour. When they have their first real date and hook up, it just felt awkward, like they weren't supposed to be there yet. And then the moving in and the "I love you's" happen over like three days. It was just too much, and it kind of felt like the author got bored writing the story and just wanted to rush to the end. There just wasn't much chemistry or tension, so the relationship just seems unconvincing.
And the precis isn't really that accurate. Everyone in the town respects his privacy and tries to help him hide 🤷🏼♀️.They were actually the highlight of the book for me.
OK, speed readers - I'll be back in the morning with your next task.
Hey Chan...have you checked out the latest Audible sale (Tink too, if you have the same sale where you are)? If not, the one thing that jumped out at me that you might be interested in is TJ Klune's Verania series are all $4-6, except for the Fairy Tales. You're welcome! 😁
Oooh that's s good deal! Off to see if it's on offer here. Thanks Karen
~KarenH~ wrote: "I'm so glad you're still liking her work, Chan! I'm kind of the same way with her, and not sure why. I think of her as one of those "sure thing" authors - I have an idea what to expect (generally, ..."IKR! she is a sure thing author. Her stories are bit quirky which i really like. Sometimes they have an undertone of whimsical. There's romance and suspense. It's weird I don't pick her up just because i'm in the mood for a good book.
~KarenH~ wrote: "Hey Chan...have you checked out the latest Audible sale (Tink too, if you have the same sale where you are)? If not, the one thing that jumped out at me that you might be interested in is TJ Klune'..."I had not seen the sale. Thank you so much for telling me. I purchased book 2, 3 and 4 of Tales of Verania for a total of 17USD! Can you frickin believe that price!!! 1 book regularly priced at 24.95USD. Book 4.5 wasn't on sale, but you can't have everything 😜
Chan wrote: "Book 4.5 wasn't on sale, but you can't have everything 😜."Yeah, and the brand new one, just released today I think, wasn't included either, but getting the other three for that price is amazing...almost makes me wish I didn't already have them! 😂
Did you get sucked into the crazy sale they had a couple of months ago? I went just a little bit nuts with that one...
I am very jealous right now! The sale wasn't on for me, and maybe I don't NEED more books but I certainly WANT more, especially at that price.
Tink Magoo is bad at reviews wrote: "I am very jealous right now! The sale wasn't on for me, and maybe I don't NEED more books but I certainly WANT more, especially at that price."Well that stinks...hopefully you'll get a good sale soon! 😁
~KarenH~ wrote: "Chan wrote: "Book 4.5 wasn't on sale, but you can't have everything 😜."Yeah, and the brand new one, just released today I think, wasn't included either, but getting the other three for that price..."
Yep. I'm not even going to tell you how much i spent. I am so ashamed of myself lol like for real. I let the books sit in my cart for 24 hours before I clicked purchase hoping sleep would restore my senses.
Tink Magoo is bad at reviews wrote: "I am very jealous right now! The sale wasn't on for me, and maybe I don't NEED more books but I certainly WANT more, especially at that price."That does stink. maybe the sale you get will be better than ours.
Here is your next task - finally!Task 8 - 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
As a team select a month and year, then each teammate reads a book initially published in that month and year. Make sure you use the initial publication date. If there is a date at the top of the editions page, use it. Otherwise, I will be looking for the earliest dated English language edition regardless of format for the qualification. Please include the selected month/year combo in your completion posts.
We have November 2020 on the list. I think that might be a carryover from a previous round...I don't remember us discussing this one, but as long as we're all on the same page I don't think that matters.
Yeah sorry. I think I updated most, but must have missed that one. I'm ok with November 2020 though.
#8 | 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year.Team chose November 2020
Book: The Awakening
Pages: 438
Qualifies: Published November 24, 2020
Rating: 🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉
Completed: April 27, 2022
Chan wrote: "#8 | 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year.Team chose November 2020
Book: The Awakening
Pages: 438
Qualifies: Published November 24, 2020
Rating: 🐉🐉🐉🐉..."
I've been looking forward to this one...now I am even more! Going to wait a few more months though, until close to the third one coming out, so I can read them all fairly close together.
This is my second read and I liked it even more. The beginning is a little slow because she's building the world, but after she orients you into the world, it becomes all consuming...well for me. this is in my top 5 by NR. Maybe because of the colors she invokes. In Death is really good, but it's grays, blues, blacks, all dark colors. This creates such a vibrant, colorful image. And that cute doggy with the web feet. I spent about 30 minutes online looking them up, wondering if i should get one LOL.
Now I'm curious about the dog with webbed feet. Mine has them, so wondering if it's just "normal" dog webbed feet or something different! 😁I'm guessing I'll be reading them in the fall, and they will most likely be some of the semi-buddy reads that Kat and I do.
Am I right in thinking that I can use the audio publication date but have to put the first kindle edition page count?
Tink Magoo is bad at reviews wrote: "Am I right in thinking that I can use the audio publication date but have to put the first kindle edition page count?"No, the date you need to use is the "First Published" date at the top of the editions page. Pub dates for individual editions don't matter (unless there is no First Published date, then you use the earliest English language edition). As far as page count goes, you are corrrect...always first (English) Kindle edition.
Ah okay, I'm going to be late with my book then as the one I'm halfway through has an audible pub date of November 2020 but the first published date is May
And I just realised it says that under the task. That's what I get for not reading it all. Sorry guys
No worries...none of us are going to stress out over a bit of a delay, whatever the reason! 😀
Don't worry, I didn't get much reading time yesterday, so I'm only about halfway through my book.
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Book: Purity in Death
Pages: 362
Qualifies: Book 15 in In Death series
Rating: 👮♀️👮♀️👮♀️👮♀️
Completed: April 23, 2022