Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2015 Challenge Archive
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2015 March Pick-It-For-Me-Challenge
***TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!***For Pickees:
To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorites. Also, you might consider updating your profile – you can include info about your favorite books/authors (or themes/books you dislike – i.e. secret baby).
HOWEVER – Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread – these will not be included in the pairings. And your pickee may not even see this and does not need to rely on them when making picks.
For Pickers:
Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group, so most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are many different sub genres and related types of books - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy. If your pickee reads a wide variety, you could add a non-romance.
Please choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them/not found on any of their shelves or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work before
A few hints to help with book selection:
- Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
- Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has made, i.e. 'to read next', 'favorites'.
- Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
- Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read the most. That might help in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
- If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) Contact either the Mods or the month's organizer and they can try to help
- Include a variety of books (i.e. a short book, a new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book) This gives them a variety of options to choose from. You can sort the shelves by many features (including ratings, date read, date added, date published, #of pages).
PICKING RULES!Because this months PIFM rules are a bit different and it's a short month I'm going to post the rules before you signup...
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Write your own story.
This months PIFM challenge is a chance to write your own story, taking plot points from the books you choose.
Step 1. Pick 8 books (4 from your shelves + 4 from your pickee's TBR shelf)
Step 2. spin it into a tale of your choosing by putting the plot point that made you choose the book next to the words below.
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Once upon a time there was a….
who….
Running scared she…
and ran straight into…
When….
they…
As the…
they…
And they lived happily ever after. (it is a romance readers bookclub after all)
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This actually looks harder than it is. Here's an example....
From MountainKat's To Read ASAP shelf I picked:
Kodiak's Claim Come Away with Me This is Who I Am Hope Ignites
From my shelf I picked:
Angels' Blood Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs Riding the Storm The Reluctant Dom
Which I spun into this:
Once upon a time there was a…. famous actress (Hope Ignites)
who…. accidentally got turned into a vampire (Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs)
Running scared she… went back home to her old home town (This is Who I Am)
and ran straight into… a huge bear (Kodiak's Claim)
When…. she accidentally took his photo (Come Away with Me)
they… created a devastating storm that wiped out the surrounding area (Riding the Storm)
As the… storm raged, a really hot Archangel flew down from above so (Angels' Blood)
they… had lots of tie me up, tie me down, happy naked fun time (The Reluctant Dom)
And they lived happily ever after.
See what I mean - doesn't need to make sense plot wise, in fact the more absurd the better :)
SIGNUPS (up to message 43)Left
LaurLa - Mt TBR
Penney - PIFM
Katherine
Ashley
Pamela Su
Stacie D-Struction
Christina
Ramneek
Tarsila - Shelf at home
Jojo - 2015 Meet and Greet
Ty
Arys
Shelby - Current Challenge To Reads
Sadie - Pick It For Me
Diane Firefly - MNG Picking
Kristy - RRRC
Pam
Right
Tammie - PIFM
Fran - PIFM Shelf
Breann - PIFM Pick Me
Nancy H
Kay
Kait
Dee - RRRC-MNG-FEB-MAR
Sunshine - Upcoming Reads
MountainKat - To Read ASAP
KarenH - Can’t Wait To Read
KathyD - Pick It For Me
Suzanne
Anna
Mandy - To Read - WELCOME BACK MANDY!!!!!!
Larissa - On Deck TBR
Kristin
PAIRINGS (up to message 43)Everyone picks for the person below them. Pam you pick for LaurLa
(L) LaurLa - Mt TBR
(R) KathyD - Pick It For Me
(L) Christina
(R) Kay
(L) Tarsila - Shelf at home
(R) Fran - PIFM Shelf
(L) Sadie - Pick It For Me
(R) Nancy H
(L) Jojo - 2015 Meet and Greet
(R) Dee - RRRC-MNG-FEB-MAR
(L) Katherine
(R) Mandy - To Read
(L) Shelby - Current Challenge To Reads
(R) Suzanne
(L) Diane Firefly - MNG Picking
(R) Sunshine - Upcoming Reads
(L) Arys
(R) Anna
(L) Penney - PIFM
(R) KarenH - Can’t Wait To Read
(L) Ty
(R) Larissa - On Deck TBR
(L) Pamela Su
(R) Breann - PIFM Pick Me
(L) Ramneek
(R) Kait
(L) Ashley
(R) Stacie D-Struction
(R) MountainKat - To Read ASAP
(L) Kristy - RRRC
(R) Tammie - PIFM
(L) Pam
Internet is going on and off here because of all the rain we're having (Australia - if it's not droughts it's floods). If you have questions about this months format - I will answer them as soon as I have internet I promise :)
...rules sound interesting!...she turned RIGHT and saw the room was now filled with adoring GR fans!
Please use: PIFM shelf. Can also use 'to read' if you can't find what you want there.
I will throughly enjoy reading these "stories", I'm in!"Meanwhile in Autralia... she turned LEFT dodging yet another flash flood..."
For your own sanity please use my pifm shelf.
I'm in!"....she turned RIGHT...and tried to avoid the huge piles of snow on her street in NY.."
please choose a few from my PIFM Shelf
I am in!"Some decisions are hard to make, but in the end She turned Left and fell down the rabbit hole..."
I love this idea. Sign me up.Some decisions are hard to make, but in the end she turned… left hoping that like the Alice before her she would end up among mad people. Specifically that dashing mad hatter....
She had the Right idea about how great Good Reads is for book suggestions and she was Right about how much fun it is to get ideas from other reading addicts!
What a great idea! I'm in. She turned left because her sense of direction sucks. :P
I would like to try this month. I am going to go with Right. :)
This sounds like fun! Some decisions are hard to make, but in the end she turned… left and followed her heart <3
She turned... right hardly noticing the intersection because her nose was buried in a good book.:)
It took much angst and decision making, but eventually she flipped a coin and heads told her to go Right
So, she place her right hand over her heart, because its natural for her to go to her right first. FYI
Following my heart, I am one of those that does not know her left from her right or right from left for that matter. So in trying to determine left from right I always place my Right hand over my heart to "Pledge Allegiance to the Flag" or wave/raise my right hand first. Then, I know to go right.
My shelf Upcoming Reads
Oooh, such a great idea!I'll go with left please :)
Some decisions are hard to make, but in the end she turned… right because she was left handed and lived on the left coast and it was time for a change!Please you my to-read-asap shelf - thanks!
She turned left because the girl writing this is left-handed!! :) I am in!
Please pick the most you can, if your mood tells you so, from my "shelf-at-home", thanks!!!
I'm in - and because she's as indecisive as I can be sometimes, she closed her eyes, spun around 3 times, and found herself heading to the right! :DPlease use my cant-wait-to-read shelf. Thanks!
sign me up!she went to the left, to the left (and left his cheating ass on the curb)
Sign me up please!She turned left because right was a dead end. :)
On her planned trip to Austria she turned LEFT and fell into a (fingers crossed) wonderfully lovely week with her boyfriend. :D -- Currently on board the plane as I'm writing this. ;)My preferred shelf...Current Challenge To Reads
Sign me up. She turned right...because who wants to be wrong? :-)
Not sure how good I'll be at this, but I'll give it a try and go Left.Shelf to use if don't want to wade through 800+ books on my TBR - mng_picking
I haven't done a PIFM in two years...and this is the one I join??!? Sigh. I'll try. She turned RIGHT because more accidents are caused by left turns.
My preferred shelf.
Hi guys - I'm just home from work so signups are now closed. Pairings will be up in an hour.
Is it too late to sign up?? If not, I would love to get in on this and choose RIGHT!
Kristin - just for you I'll put you in :)
(I've been stalking the thread :P Hopefully you're finished with the pairings etc, Tania)Hi Ashley! I had a lot of fun picking books for you. I could have picked tons more from your TBR so you ended up with two stories... :P (I usually recommend 16 books for PIFM anyway but I hadn't planned on it with the storytelling format.) I hope there's something you like especially with the new-to-you books. You'd already TBR-ed or read most of what I would have recommended so I had to go out on a limb for some of them.
TBR Story
Once upon a time there was a... drink slinging magician (Kindling the Moon)
who... was trying to save the people she loved. (Insurgent)
Running scared she... took picture after picture (Shut Up and Kiss Me)
and ran straight into... the Beast Lord. (Magic Breaks)
When... he made her a scandalous offer (Where Dreams Begin)
they... began a charade that became more dangerous with every passing moment. (Double Standards)
As the... inner circle of glamour, sex, and privilege became their playground (Afterburn & Aftershock)
they... built a a monstrous army. (Days of Blood & Starlight)
And they lived happily ever after.
New-To-You Story
Once upon a time there was a... demon-hunter (Unchained)
who... witnessed a licentious scene no innocent young miss could imagine. (Seven Years to Sin)
Running scared she... avoided her neighbours that had turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs (Flesh)
and ran straight into... a notorious bootlegger who was more comfortable with guns than ghosts. (Bitter Spirits)
When... the stroke of midnight ushered in many things (Twelve Shades of Midnight)
they... journeyed across the eerie deserted terrain for help. (These Broken Stars)
As the... snow melted and the temperature rose (North of Need)
they... were put on the FBI’s wanted list. (Priceless)
And they lived happily ever after.
Hi Sadie!Here are your picks, and your story :)
I hope you find something you like!
Once upon a time there was a… young lady with an attitude problem Kick (NEW)
who…. wanted a vacation on a quiet island We Were Liars
Running scared she….ducked into a bar and had a drink Foreplay
and ran straight into… her English professor! Losing It
When….she realized she would rather date a photographer Break Through (NEW)
they…moved to Brooklyn Jake Undone (NEW)
As the…new neighbor introduced himself as a vampire Fated (NEW)
they…went out and got tattoos! All the Pretty Lies
And they lived happily ever after.
Hey Larissa!quite fun plotting this story - your HUGE pnr interests certainly helped. :DD
Enjoy! Hope you find one you like.
Once upon a time there was an… angel - Archangel's Shadows(TBR)
who… got stuck on a boat. Surviving Raine (TBR)
Running scared she… flew to Siberia. Heart of Obsidian (TBR)
and ran straight into… an underground prizefighter with a taboo kink. Willing Victim (TBR)
When…. they got caught in the net of a South American drug lord, Midnight Rainbow (NEW)
they… called out for help to some creepy shadow monsters. Night Whispers (NEW)
As the… frisky Greek gods and goddesses started poking their noses where it didn't belong, Deer in Headlights (NEW)
they… met their one true love who completed their triad. Rule of Three (NEW)
And they lived happily ever after.
Hi Christina!Here are my picks and story for you! Enjoy and happy reading! :)
Once upon a time there was an ex-safe cracker (Against the Dark) who accidentally married a rock star (Lick).
Running scared, she went to west Texas (Killer Secrets) and ran straight into a long-trapped, cursed love slave (Fantasy Lover).
When she discovered she and her mother weren't his only family (Hero), she shacked up with an ex SEAL for protection (Safe with Me).
As the mansion was being restored (Cutting Loose), they tried opening a therapeutic riding center (The Edge of Courage)
And they lived happily ever after!
Christina’s Shelf
Kathy’s Shelf
Hello Stacie D-Struction,I am going to make you two lists one with new books and one with your TBR list.
Once upon a time there was … The Girl Who Chased the Moon. (TBR)
who… was looking for the Law Man.(NEW CAN BE READ AS STANDALONE/BEST ONE IN THE SERIES)
Running scared she… realized The Truth About Forever. (TBR)
and ran straight into… the warlord who wanted her soul forever. The Warlord Wants Forever (TBR)
When… they came together he took the Lead (TBR)
and they… went into The Darkest Night. (TBR)
As the… Shadow of Night (TBR) began to close in on them
they… stumbled upon the Reaper's Property. (TBR)
And they lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time there was a… Jinx (NEW)
who… was a Slave to Sensation (NEW)
Running scared she… searched for The Raven Prince (NEW)
and ran straight into… The Bride (NEW)
When… The Vampire Stalker (NEW) appeared
they… realized that she was Playing for Keeps (NEW)
As the… birds tried to Talk Me Down (NEW)
they… sang The Last Song(NEW)
And they lived happily ever after
Hey Ty! I've got a busier day than usual today so may not get your picks up until this evening, hopefully before you head off to bed, but no guarantees!
I hope I do this right, it's my first time playing! For MountainKatOnce upon a time there was a cocktail waitress Only with You
who is suffering from amnesia Cross & Crown
Running scared she escaped to Boston, MA Hero
and ran straight into a successful rock star Never Enough
When they discover she's the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel Revenant
they find they have a lot more in common than they thought. Let It Snow
As Hope Ignites
they succumb to the heat between them Blood Magick
And they lived happily ever after.
Here's one using books from my shelves that I really liked so all in all 16 books for you to pick from!
Once upon a time there was an impulsive bookstore owner The Marriage Bargain
who was trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber Kushiel's Dart
Running scared she left her life in New York City Always on My Mind
and ran straight into sexy, sophisticated, possessive, all-alpha Davis Milo Playing With Her Heart
When find themselves learning more about each other Caught Running
they hire a talented, sexy male escort Escorted
As they wonder if three's really a crowd Menage on 34th Street
they have a whirlwind fling Anything But Mine
And they lived happily ever after!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
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Rogue Alpha (other topics)
Between Family (other topics)
True Dead (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Colleen Houck (other topics)Colleen Houck (other topics)
What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.
You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!
After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. Your profile also needs to be set to receive Private Messages (PM’s) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mod’s, organizer etc)
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
- the books picked for you are not yet released.
- if you have already read them and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
- If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.
You may not ask for repicks because:
- a book is not available at your library.
- a genre or author you don’t enjoy.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
I am shaking things up a little this month, check out the picking rules before you sign up!
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
Choose your own adventure…
Some decisions are hard to make, but in the end she turned…
Left or Right?
***If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick!***
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until February 24th (8 pm US EST).
For your convenience a Time Zone Converter.
You’ll have until February 27th (8 pm US EST) to make your recommendations.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!
*Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!*