TART Challenge - Round 5 - Reading on Empty (11)

[Kirsten]

Maggie wrote: "Kira had originally suggested Team 7 as she is familiar with the members of that team.

I know Kira hasn't checked in yet, and I also know she's working and in a different time zone.

Would it be..."

This works for me. And Kira, I feel your pain. I need to take a break from challenges after this, so I can read some long lit fic without hurting my team. There are some short ones in Group 7!

[Kira]

Maggie wrote: "Kira had originally suggested Team 7 as she is familiar with the members of that team.

I know Kira hasn't checked in yet, and I also know she's working and in a different time zone.

Would it be..."

I would be happy with any of these! Team 7 still has the most that catches my eye.

[Kira]

Maggie wrote: "Kira had originally suggested Team 7 as she is familiar with the members of that team.

I know Kira hasn't checked in yet, and I also know she's working and in a different time zone.

Would it be..."

Maggie: I saw that selection in PTP and was like "Whoa! She's feeling ambitious". I've heard tons of good things about The Words, but it's definitely not something I can tackle in the confines of this challenge.

P.S. I think I'm the one that's been holding us up!

P.P.S. You can always switch your PTP selection if it's a source of stress.

[Kira]

Kirsten wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Kira had originally suggested Team 7 as she is familiar with the members of that team.

I know Kira hasn't checked in yet, and I also know she's working and in a different time zone..."

Kirsten: I totally agree with this. There are some long books in my TBR that are starting to call to me.

[Kirsten]

Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.
Completion Post

Team 7: Fast Like Molasses
Private Charter
N.R. Walker
Completion Date: 25 May
244 pages
3.5 stars rounded up
Scorching sailing sex.
Surprisingly thoughtful guys
choose to live best lives.

I liked this so much more than I expected! And I got it off my TBR!
Also, I can't figure out how to link to a message. Sorry.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[M]

I hear ya on taking on too many challenges. I have done the PTP in the past, but with reading arcs often there is no way I'd keep up. I really like this one and bachelor. I'll stick with those for now.

Omg! We find out today if our 12yo made baseball allstars. He has a game this evening and will most likely be starting pitcher. Some of these kids aren't too sure how to bat against a lefty. Makes it interesting.

[Maggie]

M wrote: "I hear ya on taking on too many challenges. I have done the PTP in the past, but with reading arcs often there is no way I'd keep up. I really like this one and bachelor. I'll stick with those for ..."

Oh! Please check in and let us know how that goes! All the good things and hopes for him!!

I've actually cut back on my ARCs since this summer. I'm taking on less now. I was writing more, but even that has dropped off in the last few weeks. It's just mental bandwidth and the end of the year.

Challenges keep me reading and help keep my TBR "manageable"? I guess? It also helps me find new things to read.

I'm excited for your kiddo! Seriously, let us know how he does. I hope he is able to make the All Stars. Good Luck to him!

[Maggie]

Kirsten wrote: "Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.
Completion Post

Team 7: Fast Like Molasses
[book:Private Charter..."

I'm 50% of the way through Bruiser. I'll be completing that one today.

[Kirsten]

M wrote: "I hear ya on taking on too many challenges. I have done the PTP in the past, but with reading arcs often there is no way I'd keep up. I really like this one and bachelor. I'll stick with those for ..."

Definitely keep us posted on the baseball results. Summer swimming (my Ivy is a rockstar swimmer) started this week. She'll swim and also be a counselor in training--did I already say that? Can you tell I'm excited?

I briefly flirted with ARCs, to try and get some good stuff early. And I HATED it. I read a ton of crap; my TBR got huge; I'm a mood reader and forced myself to read stuff. Now, I'm happy to read things as they come out--it's not worth it for me.

I've just joined 2 more challenges--Word Hunt and Yahtzee. Yahtzee's just one book, and I bet I can double something for this and my scavenger hunt. And Word Hunt is just hunting through the books I'm already reading. But I'm going to take a break from these multi-month challenges soon, much as I love them.

[M]

Completion Post
Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.
Team chose - Fast Like Molasses (7)


Buck Cowboys by Elle Thorpe

Qualifies Was read by Tink Magoo is bad at reviews Task #8
Page count 178 pages
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
Date completed 5/125/22
Rating 3.5
ReviewThis was a sweet second chance read. It was pretty short and right about the time I was really enjoying these two it was over. I wanted more of them.

Nate was the perfect guy for this read. Umm, I have been missing out on these hot cowboys in romance books! I need to find me some more. I felt like I got enough to start falling for Nate. He was charming, romantic and his dirty talk was something.

Hallie held her own and didn't cave too early when it came to pursuing anything with Nate. She had placed her trust in him and it had backfire in an epic way. She was leary and needed to make sure he was all in.

If you're looking for a new adult, second chance read about a bull rider and the one that got away - this one is for you!

[Kira]

M: Ooh. Bull riders. Yeah, that sounds worthwhile.

I'm well into Becoming a Vincent. Should have a completion posted in a couple hours.

[Maggie]

Completion Post
Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.
Team chose - Fast Like Molasses (7)

Bruiser by Samantha Whiskey
Qualifies: Was read by Courtney for Task #6
Pages:Kindle Edition, 324 pages
Read On: 5/25/2022
Rating: 4 stars
Review: It's been so long since I've read one of the Shark books. I think I may have actually read Hudson and Shea's story before, but it's been long enough now that I'd forgotten a lot. I adore this series. This one deals with domestic violence and the toll it takes on different people within the abusive situation. Hudson is a child from an abusive home. Shea ran from an abusive relationship as a teen mom. Elliott is the infant that came from Shea's abusive relationship. Reading through how these different people reacted to and grew from these circumstances is amazing. As always my biggest pet peeve is around proper mental health care. While Shea would have gone through and honestly should still be going through counseling with her social services job - it's never mentioned. She's an amazingly strong and well written female character. She is written as fighting her own demons and recognizing when those demons are ruining what is in front of her. Those skills don't just "poof' out of thin air. That takes massive amounts of time and therapy. I just wish it would be acknowledged is all. Same with the teen mom Shea helps in the story. But again - it's my pet peeve. I've always loved how Samantha writes her guys as being both the typical big hulking dudes, but with unexpected twists and turns to them. Hudson is one who I wish WOULD speak up a bit more about domestic violence. While I understand that "it's not his story to share" there are other ways to talk about the issue without being your story or your family's story - not to mention he'd stop being fined. I know when this book was written this twist of protection to show respect for what his mom, he and his brother had gone through was to illustrate a vulnerable side as well as a deeply protective and loyal side to him, and it still fits the narrative. I just wonder how well this piece will age out in another 5 years. As of now it's getting close to not aging well in a book. It doesn't detract from his character. It's something I would hope the author would revisit maybe. What WAS a bit of a smack to face was Shea snapping back at Hudson that RBG would be an appropriate mentor for Elliott. This book was only published in 2019. It's crazy how quickly things change in the world. Overall, this is just another well written story of chosen family within the sports world. I've always liked how the NHL takes more of a back seat in the Shark books. I feel as if Samantha writes more actual hockey into her Reaper series. Particularly the Shark book that begins that spin off. For all of the heavy content in the characters and the plot line, it's an easy read. An insta love between Hudson and Shea, and a good ending. Not forced. I still adore the moment Elliott declares Hudson as her REAL father not realizing that she's being listened to over her tracking device.

[Maggie]

COMPLETION POST- Team 11 Reading On Empty
Task 16

Kirsten: Msg 355
M: Msg 360
Maggie: Msg 362
Kira:

[Maggie]

Kirsten wrote: "M wrote: "I hear ya on taking on too many challenges. I have done the PTP in the past, but with reading arcs often there is no way I'd keep up. I really like this one and bachelor. I'll stick with ..."

Just catching up and getting back - Does Ivy have a favorite event? Her lung capactiy/endurance must be crazy high swimming year round!

Counselor in Training is fun! That was us last summer. Is she looking forward to working with the kiddos? Is she lifeguarding or training for overall counselor?

[Maggie]

Kira wrote: "M: Ooh. Bull riders. Yeah, that sounds worthwhile.

I'm well into Becoming a Vincent. Should have a completion posted in a couple hours."

No worries at all!
It's getting late here, so I'm going to get the "hey! are you coming to bed?" question soon LOL

I've got the rest of the completion posts queued up in message 363. Hopefully it's a quick copy and paste if you are able to pop in tonight.

I'll check in early tomorrow morning to see how we're. It's our 21st anniversary but we are enjoying a long drawn out chill holiday weekend - which will kick off with two kids leaving the house for school tomorrow morning swiftly followed by mom and dad heading out for a really yummy breakfast out.

I'll be back around tomorrow afternoon.

[Kira]

COMPLETION POST
Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.
We Chose Team 7 - Fast Like Molasses
Becoming a Vincent by C.M. Owens


Page numbers: 168 (See Above Links)
How book qualified: Read by Tink April 17/22 - Completion Post
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I've only recently started reading C.M. Owen's books and it makes me sad knowing once I get through her back catalog, that's it. This was so funny. The characters were wonderful. Low angst, but just fun all the way through.

[Kira]

COMPLETION POST- Team 11 Reading On Empty
Task 16 - 71. Pick another team and each member reads one book that was read by a member for this challenge. No pass for this task.

Kirsten: Msg 355
M: Msg 360
Maggie: Msg 362
Kira: Msg 366

*Posted in Q&A

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I've not checked your completions yet, taking off in a few for a mental health break after the last couple of days... 😳😢

Here is your next task!

Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.

Books selected for this task need to have an average rating under 4.2 AND less than 2500 rating (not reviews). You can find this information on the main book page under the title. Please include the average rating and number of reviews in your completion posts.

EDITED!

[Maggie]

MountainKat wrote: "I've not checked your completions yet, taking off in a few for a mental health break after the last couple of days... 😳😢

Here is your next task!

Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating..."

I understand Kat.
Enjoy your long weekend!

[Kirsten]

Maggie wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "M wrote: "I hear ya on taking on too many challenges. I have done the PTP in the past, but with reading arcs often there is no way I'd keep up. I really like this one and bachelor. ..."

She's actually a Coach in Training, for the 3rd time (I misyped). She's still just 14, which is great in the sense that she's older than most of her competitors (she has great times when she's 10, 12, and 14) and less great in the sense that she's dying to teach swim lessons and life guard. She is doing lifeguard training in July (when she turns 15).

I love it when she IMs (butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke, freestyle)--she's been competing in that since she was 7!!! She likes free and fly the best. She has hyper-mobility disorder, so she's prone to sublaxating shoulders and knees, especially in backstroke, which would otherwise be a favorite.

Thanks for asking.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

When I initially posted your task, I had a discrepancy in the description. The task should be:

118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.

I've edited the description above. If you have already started books that fit how it was initially posted, they will be accepted. My apologies. I typed this all up the last round and that error didn't get caught until now. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Kira]

MountainKat wrote: "When I initially posted your task, I had a discrepancy in the description. The task should be:

118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.

I've edited the descripti..."

Thank you MountainKat! No worries about a little typo. Sorry for being a pain. You do such an incredible job with these challenges.

[Maggie]

Hi ladies,

I've got two books in my Kindle that should fit the task. I've got
and that I was planning on starting.

I over did my activity level and cut back on my Tylenol too quickly so I'm back to being couch bound today...most likely tomorrow as well.

I'd like to say that I'll learn...but I'm in my 40s soooooooo 🤷

Hope you all are having a happy and fun weekend!
Happy Memorial Day!
Kira we're adopting you as an American for this holiday.
It's a fun weekend.
Picnics, beach visits, hanging out with friends.
It's the unofficial start to summer.

[Kirsten]

Canada has Victoria Day, generally the weekend before. It’s more of a ‘welcome, spring!’ than summer. Canada Day (July 1) kicks off summer. Or at least that’s how my friends and I understood them.

Canadians—always colder, always ahead of the US.

Feel better, Maggie.

[Kirsten]

Task 17-188: under 4,2 and 2500
Completion Post

The Summer of Us
Lily Morton
Completed 27 May
228 pages
Average 4.08/2205 ratings

3 stars
Lily’s first MM.
First half reads like MF, then
hits her smexy stride.

Sicken of the Calm
Marina Vivancos
Completed 28 May
225 pages
Average 4.04/306 ratings

4 stars
Swoony, smoking hot
BDSM newbs tumble
into grown-up love.

[Maggie]

Kirsten wrote: "Canada has Victoria Day, generally the weekend before. It’s more of a ‘welcome, spring!’ than summer. Canada Day (July 1) kicks off summer. Or at least that’s how my friends and I understood them. ..."

My family celebrates Canada Day. Mainly due to my Canadian family all being able to take vacation around that time and the American half being done with school so they can head up to Fundy and stay for most of July to visit all of the family in the Maritimes. My grandfather's family is from St. Andrews and my great aunt's family still has a camp ground near Alma. I have cousins who live year round in New Brunswick and one who recently just passed all of his testing and is officially a barrister now. I think Geordie is living in Edmonton these days. His dad is the New Brunswick cousin.

I honestly forget about Victoria Day. It's one that we don't talk about in the family chat. The Canadian relatives would celebrate Memorial Day weekend with us as my grandfather, one of my uncles, and my dad are all veterans from two different wars. I guess that was our compromise.

And I'll celebrate Guy Fawkes and Midsummer with my close in age UK relatives. They're in Cornwall and Glasgow.

We split the difference for Thanksgiving and Mothering/Mother's Days and celebrate both Thanksgivings and both Mothering/Mother's Days.

We're spread out all over.
I keep saying I need to get so much better at looking at the world's holidays - and then never do. I'm so very very American in that way.

[Kirsten]

Maggie wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Canada has Victoria Day, generally the weekend before. It’s more of a ‘welcome, spring!’ than summer. Canada Day (July 1) kicks off summer. Or at least that’s how my friends and I u..."

American Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday--and always very close to my birthday. When we lived in Canada, I'd host a huge Thanksgiving on Saturday, and basically cooked everything (though some people brought stuff, and if they wanted yams or bread stuffing, they had to bring them). Some of our closest friends were UK expats or serious anglophiles, so we got (and stayed) in the habit of Guy Fawkes Day. We mark (as a family) Canadian Thanksgiving and Canada Day--we arrived in Calgary to fireworks on July 1, 2003, and Ivy's got dual citizenship.

I miss Calgary a ton.

[M]

Completion Post
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings./b>


Stealing Home by Tara Wyatt

Qualifies 3.97 average rating AND 767 ratings
Page count 212 pages
Date completed 5/28/22
Rating 3.5
Review
Baseball and second chance - sign me up, Coach!

Dylan McCormick and Maggie Jennings had a whirlwind relationship towards the end of their senior year in HS. Lots of firsts were shared... also the first major heartbreak.

Fast forward 10 years and Dylan who plays pro ball is traded from the Padres to Dallas.
He never wanted to set foot back inhis home state and never so close to a town filled with some his worst and best memories.
He is in for the shock of his life when none other than his Maggie, his Mags, walks up to him on the field. She needed to clear the air with him if they were going to work closely with one another. She is more beautiful now than ever.

Can't believe his ears or luck when this sweet woman gives him an in when it comes to trying to win her back. Will she see it as manipulation or will she see the truth behind it?

[Kira]

COMPLETION POST
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.
Spellbound in Salem by Milly Taiden


Page numbers: 284 (See Above Links)
How book qualified:
- Avg Rating 3.94 (<4.2)
- Ratings 898 (<2500)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This was free on audible and the narration was really good. A bit too much insta-love/lust. And just not a lot of character development or intricacy of plot in such a short book. Still enjoyable.

[Kira]

Kirsten wrote: "Canada has Victoria Day, generally the weekend before. It’s more of a ‘welcome, spring!’ than summer. Canada Day (July 1) kicks off summer. Or at least that’s how my friends and I understood them. ..."

Memorial Day sounds fun! And I'm thankful for the clarification 😂. Last weekend was Victoria Day. It's mostly referred to as "May Long". And the tradition seems to be that people get excited and go camping only to realize that it's still much too cold to be camping.

My boyfriend came to visit and we went to Waterton National park. Did a couple super easy hikes and then had supper at the bar to watch the hockey game. We sat on the patio, but I was so glad for the heat lamps.

I never realized that Mother's Day was not the same everywhere! And I feel like American Thanksgiving would feel too close to Christmas, wouldn't it? I really need to be more aware of holidays and traditions outside by little bubble.

Dual citizenship would be super cool.

I'm halfway through Fighter's Heart, so should have a completion tomorrow morning,

[Kirsten]

Task 17-118: Books under 4.2 and 2500 ratings
Completion Post

Undeniable
Andi Burns
Completed 29 May
317 pages
Average 4.1/40 ratings

2.5 stars rounded down
Not a standalone.
Confused plot, MCs, actions.
Hot, banal, young, dumb.

this is my 3rd book for this challenge. I’m cleaning off my tbr.

[Maggie]

Completion Post
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.

Not a Player by A.J. Wynter
Pages: Kindle Edition, 272 pages
How it Qualifies:
3.98 average rating
1280 ratings
Read On: 5/29/2022
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: This one was a good read. I liked that it was well written from both the figure skating and the hockey side of the sports. Figure Skating is my preferred ice sport and the one I do. But hockey is a love as well. It's clear that the author has the same deep love of The Cutting Edge as I feel anyone who is an ice based sports fan should be. One star is for the outright acknowledgement that this book is a direct play from that movie plot - from the characters themselves within the story. The characters were well written. The stages and dealing with grief was well handled for two not quite kids not quite adults who lost their parents suddenly AND are struggling to support two very expensive sports careers. I enjoyed the sibling support even in the depth of their own spiral of grief, and questioning of their goals. I wasn't thrilled with the abruptness of Jessie's decision to not return to the Academy. I've had friends and famly competing at both the figure skating and gymnastics level that she is at and waffle with the "should I continue or shouldn't I" frankly that story line alone is enough to make a book. And it's not a snap decision. It was too easy and too fast. That one sat well wrong with me only as I've sat through it too many times. I also wasn't crazy about the return of Kane's lucky coin. I would have liked a better explanation as to how it came to be in that person's possession and WHY and how they knew it what it meant to him even though they didn't meet him until later into the book. Especially as his entire story line was written around finding this "lucky coin" and the family ties to it. This is the first in a series, it's well written enough and the characters were vivid so I know I'll be back for more - at the very very least to check in on Dylan, Tanner, and the Coach. Perhaps the coin issue will be resolved in those books. Or not. The 3.5 stands mainly due to the "I suddenly realize I don't want to live a the Academy and I want to train at home and I think I'm okay with stepping away for longer than I realized" coming at 82% of the book rather than at 32% of the book. That one - that one is big.

[Maggie]

Kirsten wrote: "Task 17-118: Books under 4.2 and 2500 ratings
Completion Post

Undeniable
Andi Burns
Completed 29 May
317 pages
Average 4.1/40 ratings

2.5 stars rounded down
Not..."

YAY for the cleaning off of the TBR!

[Maggie]

Kira wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Canada has Victoria Day, generally the weekend before. It’s more of a ‘welcome, spring!’ than summer. Canada Day (July 1) kicks off summer. Or at least that’s how my friends and I u..."

I'm actually working on getting my dual citizenship. I waited too long and the laws changed a bit. My mom and all of my uncles have theirs. One of my siblings has theirs - when they were in the US Marines they helped them obtain their dual citizenship. The University of Southern Glasgow is the only University in the world who offers the Doctorate I want to get. I'll more than likely never use it professionally, but I adore what I studied. My American University is the only one in the US who offers the masters in the subject matter. I'm playing with the idea of getting the masters while my kids finish schooling, and then applying for the doctorate. I'd be higher on the admit list with a Canadian citizenship. Higher still if I can convince my husband to move to Glasgow a year in advance and hang out with my cousins. My husband is not a fan of "Well NORTH"

I didn't think to pursue the citizenship prior as I was always able to cross the border with just by birth certificate. In my 18 year old mind I never saw that changing. Granted in my 18 year old mind I also saw me getting a design degree only and never wanting to work on the science and restoration side of things which would require European universities. 18 me was a tunnel visioned twit.

American Thanksgiving....growing up, I didn't think it was too close to Christmas. In my house we had the two Thanksgivings, then Christmas, then Three Kings Day. My mom also celebrates Yule. Actually - holiday season in my house really started on Halloween and then never stopped.
My mom celebrates All Hallows Eve, we observed All Souls Day, then Veterans Day, then the Thanksgivings, Advent, Yule, Christmas, the 12 days of Christmas, and we end on Epiphany.
By the time my mom's birthday rolls around at the end of January I am done with the holidays of any sort.

It was odd the year I was in London. Since it was England there wasn't ANY Thanskgivings. So we went from Guy Fawkes right into Christmas displays. It was nice....but excessively odd. That was my hardest hit of homesickness. My Uni organized an American Thanksgiving at the Cultural Center for us. Ask us all to bring in side dishes and desserts. The study abroad coordinators cooked or catered turkey for us. Some parents flew over for the long week end. That helped.
I wound up making homemade stuffing which my host mum fell in love with.
I then spent a few weeks teaching her how to make other dishes from thanksgiving and she taught me her traditional Christmas dishes. That really helped. I adored living with them.

[Maggie]

I'm starting this afternoon. I'm still mostly couch bound. I pushed myself too hard this week and overdid my activity level. I'm hoping I can get this read by tonight.

[Maggie]

M wrote: "Completion Post
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings./b>


Stealing Home by Tara Wyatt
Stealing Home by [author:Tara Wyatt|140..."

M - I'm adding this to my TBR! It looks like a great read - but I also love that cover model. I follow him on Insta and he's a riot. That particular photo has been used for several of my favorite books, so I've just started reading any book it shows up on now.

I've also started reading any book that Wander Aguiar is the photographer for. He's another fun. interesting character of a human who loves his job but also loves the authors who he works with. He was the "assistant" to an author at the signing event I went to last year as she didn't have anyone to travel with. He's a complete sweetheart and his photography is gorgeous. Best way to find new authors! (I actually keep meaning to make a list on Listopia of his covers)

[M]

Maggie wrote: "M wrote: "Completion Post
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings./b>


Stealing Home by [author:Tara..."

I enjoyed it and hope to continue on with the series soon.
Hope you like it too! Who is the cover model? I think I need to follow him as well lol.

[M]

Completion Post
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.


Cruel Lord by Ivy Thorn

Qualifies Average rating of 3.88 and ratings of 813
Page count 277 pages
Date completed 5/29/22
Rating 3.5
Review These guys were pretty vile and brutal. I almost liked one until I didn't. I don't feel like any of them have a shred of good in them. Especially towards Athena.

Cayde is dangerously close to becoming a full fledged psycho. Dean wants her only because of the power that would bring. Jaxon is so wishy washy and goes along with just about everything.
These three have A LOT to do to get onto my good side. Not redeemable at this time.

This had a Forsyth University and Everlake Prep kinda vibe. I enjoyed parts of the story and then other parts were shockingly heartbreaking. I don't feel like our heroine has what it takes to stand up against these families. Still so meek and timid.

Hope she finds that badass chick that must be inside her somewhere. The ending of this read caught my interest so I'll be starting book 2 to see how something plays out.

[Kirsten]

We just have one book left!

[Kira]

COMPLETION POST
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.
Fighter's Heart by A. Rivers


Page numbers: 200 (See Above Links)
How book qualified:
- Avg Rating 4.11 (<4.2)
- Ratings 493 (<2500)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Another 3 star. Just lacking depth and originality. I like Lena and Jase a lot. I'm also curious about the other men at the gym and may read their books. Domestic violence was a central theme and I didn't feel it was handled with as much care as it could have been.

[Kira]

COMPLETION POST- Team 11 Reading On Empty
Task 17 - 118. Read 8 books with an average rating under 4.2 AND under 2500 ratings.

Kirsten x 2: Msg 375
M: Msg 378
Kira: Msg 379
Kirsten: Msg 381
Maggie: Msg 382
M: Msg 388
Kira: Msg 390

*Posted in Q&A

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 18 - 92. Read over 1500 pages in books set in the future or the past - teams decide.

As a team decide whether your books will be set in the past or in the future, then read at least 1500 pages set in that time frame. ‘Historical’ or ‘Futuristic’ tags will qualify depending on the selected time frame. If looking for specific years, it would need to be 25 years to the future or the past. Remember to use the first edition Kindle page count.

[Kirsten]

I hate SF. I have to read one for my other challenge but can’t start til June 1. But I can do that one if we wait.

I love historical.

Ooh… I could reread Never Let Me Go or finish How High We Go in the Dark.

So I guess I can do whatever.

[M]

I haven't read any historical - but I can play detective and try to find some with that tag that aren't too old fashion lol. I know that a couple books in the dirty heroes has a couple with a historical tag.

I only read a handful of shifters (is that even sci fi lol), but I'm sure I can search out something for that as well.

So all that to say, I'll go with the majority vote :)

[Maggie]

M wrote: "I haven't read any historical - but I can play detective and try to find some with that tag that aren't too old fashion lol. I know that a couple books in the dirty heroes has a couple with a histo..."

Let me grab the laptop and see what I can find for future and historical
I think future doesn’t have to be sci fi or alien such based
Just as historical doesn’t have to be hoop skirts or regency England and the like.

Steampunk could be future or historical - looking at you

[Maggie]

Looking back at team discussions, we were undecided on this one.

So. For future - genres/subgenres/categories that would fall into this category could be:
-Robots
-Androids
-Sci Fi
-Fantasy (high and Urban)
-Dystopian
-Apocalypse
There are actually quite a few MM reading lists for all of these categories. And, I actually have one or two books from a series I read for TBC which would fit the Future reads.

Historical - genres/subgenres/categories that would fit
-Historical Fiction
-Historical Romance
-Steampunk (era would need to be noted in the precis. I've read future and past Steampunk series)
-Some Fantasy or Horror (Frankenstein, Poe)
-Mystery (Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes ect)

[Maggie]

M wrote: "I haven't read any historical - but I can play detective and try to find some with that tag that aren't too old fashion lol. I know that a couple books in the dirty heroes has a couple with a histo..."

Shifters - it depends. Most I've been reading lately are contemporary times. However there can be historical shifters and there are future shifters. It's more in how the series or the book itself is written. Is it an Urban Fantasy with shifters, fae, werewolves, and vamps? That would most likely be future.
If it's shifters and they are trolling the ballrooms of London (see Anne Rice) that would be historical.

Actually -- Interview with a Vampire is bordering on 25 years in the past isn't it. 😱

Which would put Lyndsay Sands Argeneau line of books with their settings as --- historical as they are all early to mid 90s 😱😱😱😱

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Kira]

Neither of these appeal to me 😂. But I'm also convinced I could find something for either.

Edited: I definitely have options for both. Honestly, I would flip a coin at this point. Happy to go with whatever you'd all prefer. Or maybe historical so Kirsten can read something new?

Options list, so I don't forget tomorrow:
(view spoiler)[Historical

Future
(hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

Kira wrote: "Neither of these appeal to me 😂. But I'm also convinced I could find something for either.

Edited: I definitely have options for both. Honestly, I would flip a coin at this point. Happy to go with..."

I’ve actually got 2 lit fic futures I’m anxious to make myself read, both new, and an urban librarian series I’d love to keep reading. Or we can flip a coin. I’m find regardless.

[Maggie]

Want to go with Future to help Kirsten out and give her a reason to clear her TBRs?
M- would you have anything to read in the future setting?