Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP - Perfect Penguins (2)
Louise wrote: "Selection Post - Week 2 - Mixed race 👩👨🏾Option 1
Dimitri by Roxie Rivera
Pgs: 284
How It Fits: #126 Best Interracial Reads
Date Read: ..."
Hi Louise - please update post to show COMPLETION :)
Jane (PS) wrote: "Louise wrote: "Selection Post - Week 2 - Mixed race 👩👨🏾Option 1
Dimitri by Roxie Rivera
Pgs: 284
How It Fits: #126 Best Interracial Re..."
Done
Week 6Option 1
9. Black tie suit (formal wear) 🤵♂️
*Read a book with a cover model in a suit or formal wear.
Option 2
Key date: 8 April 2022
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Series rule applies:
That is, if the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series
Option 3
Pass
Week 5 - Completion PostOption 1
Three Fates by Nora Roberts
Pages: 467
How It Fits: #166 Nerdy Geeky Heroines of Romance
Date Read: 10/13
Rating: 4*
Review
This was everything you expect from a Nora Roberts novel. This follows three siblings as they travel the globe in search of the three Fates to reunite them. This was 3 romances cleverly interwoven with mystery and suspense and a little mythology.
Selection posting: Week 6Task: 9. Black tie suit (formal wear) 🤵♂️ Read a book with a cover model in a suit or formal wear
Book/cover link: Beyond the Desert Sands
Page numbers: 300
How book qualified: woman on cover is wearing a velvet dress and pearls
Week 6 (Option 1) - selection post9. Black tie suit (formal wear)
Task: Read a book with a cover model in a suit or formal wear
Book:
James by Roxanne St. ClairePages: 226
How it qualifies: He is wearing a formal suit
Week 6 - Selection PostOption 1
Hollywood Bride: What happens when an ordinary girl marries the biggest film-star in the world? by Alison Kervin
Pages: 325
How It Fits: Couple wearing formal attire.
Selection post ~ Week 6~ Option 1 - Black tie suit (formal wear)
Book: An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Pages: 390
How the book qualifies:
Week 6 - Completion Post9. Black tie suit (formal wear)
Task: Read a book with a cover model in a suit or formal wear
Book:
James by Roxanne St. ClairePages: 226
How it qualifies: He is wearing a formal suit
Read: 17/10/22
Rating: 3★s
Review: Rich father dies and leaves each of his 7 sons a legacy with no explanation as to why they each got what they did. James is the oldest brother and the book opens as he travels to the Italian winery that is his legacy. A small family run operation, James plans to immediately sell it to a multinational wine conglomeration. But he meets a blonde bombshell and the family and slowly he learns that there is more to life than work. There is of course a huge misunderstanding and a lot of drama before the inevitable HEA is achieved.
Completion posting: Week 6Task: 9. Black tie suit (formal wear) 🤵♂️ Read a book with a cover model in a suit or formal wear
Book/cover link: Beyond the Desert Sands
Page numbers: 320
How book qualified: woman on cover is wearing a velvet dress and pearls
Date Completed: 10/17/22
Rating/Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Christian romance set mostly in New Mexico around the time of statehood. I found the book a little slow and disliked the female main character. She was whiny, self centered and I prefer strong female leads.
Week 5 - Completion Post
Option 1 - Chessboard
Book - Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Page numbers - 368 pages
How the book qualifies - #127 on Brainy/Genius Romantic Heroes List
Rating - 5/5 ⭐️
Review - Ali Hazelwood does it again! I loved The Love Hypothesis & her second full length novel did not disappoint! While yes, admittedly, it was predictable and very "tropey", I was smiling throughout the whole book. I loved the banter between the two main characters. I also very much appreciated that this book is basically made for romance readers who are also cat people (which I am).
Week 6 - Selection Post
Option 1 - Black Tie Suit
Book - The Do-Over by T.L. Swan
Page numbers - 533 pages
How the book qualifies - Cover model is wearing a suit.
Completion post ~ Week 6
Book: An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Rating: 5⭐
Review:
A cinderella story in the Bridgerton family. A beautiful adaptation of the fairytale. The evil stepmother, the masked ball, the "prince" (the second son of the family Bridgerton), the love at the first sight and at 12PM evriting is
Violet Bridgerton, the mother of the eight siblings won my heart at the end of the book. I savored every page of the book. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
Week 6 - Completion PostOption 1
Hollywood Bride: What happens when an ordinary girl marries the biggest film-star in the world? by Alison Kervin
Pages: 325
How It Fits: Couple wearing formal attire.
Date Read: 10/17
Rating: 3*
Review
This was a sweet if rather predictable story. Kelly is a sweet normal girl who falls in love with Hollywood actor Rufus. When she moves in with him life doesn't turn out the way she was expecting and she soon finds herself out of her depth and feeling shunned by her old friends, due to the manipulation of Elody. There's a few wrong turns and soul searching along with a possible murder before Rufus and Kelly get their HEA.
Selection posting: Week 7Task: 1. Opposites attract ⚤
* Read a book from Best enemies to lovers list
Book/cover link: Natural Born Charmer
Page numbers: 400
How book qualified: #165 on list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Week 7 (Option 1) - selection post1. Opposites attract
Task: Read a book from the following list - Best enemies to lovers
Book:
Walk of Shame by Lauren LaynePages: 218
How it qualifies: #114 on Best enemies to lovers list - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Completion posting: Week 7Task: 1. Opposites attract ⚤
* Read a book from Best enemies to lovers list
Book/cover link: Natural Born Charmer
Page numbers: 400
How book qualified: #165 on list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Date Completed: 10/22/22
Rating/Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cute, funny book about an artist and a professional football player finding family and love.
Week 7 - Completion Post1. Opposites attract
Task: Read a book from the following list - Best enemies to lovers
Book:
Walk of Shame by Lauren LaynePages: 218
How it qualifies: #114 on Best enemies to lovers list - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Read: 22/10/22
Rating: 2★s
Review: Oh dear - so NOT for me - was rolling my eyes 👀 from beginning to end. I just did not relate or bond with any of the characters. To me they were a waste of space. I found Georgie to be inexplicably stupid. I read so many rave reviews that I was left gobsmacked that anyone could enjoy this dribble and then decided maybe it was me rather than them. If it wasn’t that I had to read it as was the only book on my TBR shelf that matched anything on the lists I would not have finished it at all. Now I need to talk to myself quite sternly and ask me why it was on the shelf at all!
Week 7Option 1
1. Opposites attract ⚤
* Read a book from one of the following lists:
Best enemies to lovers
Hate at first sight
YA star crossed /forbidden enemy love
Enemies to lover trope in fantasy / PNR
If you use Option 1, your selected book MUST be on one of the lists above. Please link/state the list in your post
Option 2
Key date: 15 April 2022
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Series rule applies:
That is, if the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series
Option 3
Pass
Week 6 - Completion Post
Option 1 - Black Tie Suit
Book - The Do-Over by T.L. Swan
Page numbers - 533 pages
How the book qualifies - Cover model is wearing a suit.
Rating - 5/5 ⭐️
Review -This was such a fun read! T.LSwan's books are always great and this one lived up to expectations. Perfect amount of spice, romcom, and humor. I thought the plot was so unique and all the characters were so witty and quirky.
Selection Post - Week 7Option 1
The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
Pgs: 384
How It Fits: #384 on Best Enemies to Lovers
Week 7 - Selection Post
Option 1 - Opposites attract
Book - RoomHate by Penelope Ward
Page numbers - 320 pages
How the book qualifies - #48 on Best Enemies to Lovers List
Selection post ~ Option 1 ~ Week 7 
Book: The Crown of Gilded Bones
Pages: 645
How the book qualifies: #60 in Enemies to Lover trope in Fantasy and Paranormal list
Week 8Option 1
4. Night sky 🌃
* Read a book with the night sky on the cover
Option 2
Key date: 22 April 2022
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Series rule applies:
That is, if the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Week 8 (Option 1) - selection post4. Night sky
Task: Read a book with the night sky on the cover
Book:
Wish You Were Mine by Tara SivecPages: 272
How it qualifies: Night sky on cover
Selection posting: Week 8Task: 4. Night sky - Read a book with the night sky on the cover
Book/cover link: Burned
Page numbers: 340
How book qualified: night sky
Completion post ~ Week 7
Book: The Crown of Gilded Bones
Rating: 5 ⭐
Review:
This series has caught me. There are quite a lot going on in the volume so it leaves you at the end with new questions.
Completion posting: Week 8Task: 4. Night sky - Read a book with the night sky on the cover
Book/cover link: Burned
Page numbers: 340
How book qualified: night sky
Date Complete: 10/30/22
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romantic suspense one of my favorite genres. A woman on the run from stalker playing a cat and mouse game finds love.
Selection Post -Week 8
Diaries of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista
Pgs: 375
How It Fits: Diaries of an Urban Panther night sky on cover
Week 8 - Completion Post4. Night sky
Task: Read a book with the night sky on the cover
Book:
Wish You Were Mine by Tara SivecPages: 272
How it qualifies: Night sky on cover
Read: 02/11/22
Rating: 2★s
Review: My biggest gripe with this book was the excessive use of the “F” word. Just about every page - all the characters seemed to have such a poor grasp of the English language that they were incapable of using any other word/words to express their feelings. Don’t get me wrong, I know people swear - and I’ve read many books where swearing occurs - but this was every page to the extent it felt forced and repetitive. Anyhow the plot was good Cam James runs a camp for the kids of military families that her parents started years ago. It was at this camp as a child she met Everett and Aiden and they all became best mates. Secretly, Cam really liked Everett and he her, but they never said anything to each other. Everett's goal was to become a doctor, which he achieved, and took a job with Doctors Without Borders too travel the world and not see Cam and Aiden get married. The book opens with Everett receiving a letter written by Aiden (yes, with liberal use of the F word) just before he died from cancer telling Everett to come home and comfort Cam. The two have to work together, denying their feelings and guilt, to stop the camp from closing.
Week 7 - Completion Post
Option 1 - Opposites attract
Book - RoomHate by Penelope Ward
Page numbers - 320 pages
How the book qualifies - #48 on Best Enemies to Lovers List
Rating - 4/5⭐️
Review - What a great enemies to lovers (or more so friends to enemies to lovers)! I read A LOT of enemies to lovers and this one was done right. Too many times in this trop the switch from villain to love interest is too quick to be believable. The way Justin's character gradually changed to love Amelia was tastefully done. Quality read.
Week 8 - Selection Post
Option 3 - PASS
R~wka wrote: "Completion post ~ Week 7Book: The Crown of Gilded Bones
Rating: 5 ⭐
Review:
This series has caught me. There are quite a lot going..."
I approved your book in Q&A, so you are cleared to put up your week 8 selection :)
Week 9Option 1
5. Monochrome 📷
* Read a book with that is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover. Toning browns for sepia also work.
Additional colours must tone in and not dominate. A spot of bright colour is allowed e.g. for title effect or a simple highlight.
Option 2
Key date: 29 April 2022
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Series rule applies:
That is, if the book is in a series but does not match where you are up to, you may read another book from that same series
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 for formatting of all 3 options. This format is also in msg 3 of your team threads.
Week 9 (Option 1) - selection post5. Monochrome
Task: Read a book with that is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover. Additional colours must tone in and not dominate
Book:
Provocative by Lisa Renee Jones Pages: 279
How it qualifies: Is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover
Selection posting: Week 9Task: Monochrome
Book/cover link: All Your Perfects
Page numbers: 305
How book qualified:
brown tone cover
Completion Post -Week 8
Diaries of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista
Pgs: 375
How It Fits: Diaries of an Urban Panther night sky on cover
Date Read: 11/4
Rating: 3*
Review
This was basically a typical girl is bitten by a rogue panther. Girl becomes a shapeshifter and is the centre of a prophecy with a fairy prophecy and a love interest thrown in. This was an ok read, but there are better out there
Selection Post - Week 9Option 1
The Spooky Life by S.E. Harmon
Pages: 324
How It Fits: Black and White cover
Jane (PS) wrote: "I approved your book in Q&A, so you are cleared to put up your week 8 selection."Thank you. I have had the last few days full and forgot I didn't make the selection post for the book. I'm so sorry 😟
Selection post ~ Option 1 ~ Week 8 
Book: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Pages: 370
How the book qualifies: cover
VictoriaGuilfoyle wrote: ..."Have flagged and reported above ad by Victoria
Week 9 - Completion Post5. Monochrome
Task: Read a book with that is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover. Additional colours must tone in and not dominate
Book:
Provocative by Lisa Renee Jones Pages: 279
How it qualifies: Is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover
Read: 06/11/22
Rating: 2★s
Review: So, this is 2 weeks in a row that I’ve read a dud romance ***sigh***
Nick is convinced Faith has killed his father and her own mother to get her hands on the winery she is running. Mind you this doesn’t stop him from having sex with her. She thinks he really likes her and has no idea he is using her for sex to find out the truth. He lusts then loves her - I personally would tell him to take a running jump even if he did apologise.
Sally906 wrote: "Week 9 - Completion Post5. Monochrome
Task: Read a book with that is predominantly black, grey, white on the cover. Additional colours must tone in and not dominate
Book: [bookcover:Provocative|..."
Hopefully the next call will be better for you.
Completion post ~ Week 8
Book: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Rating: 5 ⭐
Review:
The story of Colin and Penelope. I've seen the spark in previous books and waiting to read their story. You can not love Colin here, is not a playboy AROGANT like many heroes, he is true to his feelings, and supporting his love, altrough it took him a while to realize that... I enjoined the book and the epilogue, and the second epilogue It makes me want to read Eloise's book soon.
Week 9 - Selection Post
Option 1 - Monochrome
Book - Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Page numbers - 291 pages
How the book qualifies - see cover
Completion posting: Week 9Task: Monochrome
Book/cover link: All Your Perfects
Page numbers: 305
How book qualified:
brown tone coverDate Completed: 11/8/22
Rating/Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not one of my favorite of her books. The subject matter of infertility is a hard one and emotional devastating but the female MC was just not a likable person. So much angst when simply talking with her husband would have made the situation better.
Selection post ~ Option 1 ~ Week 9 
Book:The Virgin Romance Novelist
Pages: 292
How the book qualifies:brown tone cover
Week 9 - Completion Post
Option 1 - Monochrome
Book - Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Page numbers - 291 pages
How the book qualifies - see cover
Rating - 3/5 ⭐️
Review - This one was just okay. Sure there was a cute love story, and I do enjoy the protector/alpha male protagonist, but there was too much insta-love. Like all of a sudden there was this undying connection. It was too much.
Completion Post - Week 7Option 1
The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
Pgs: 384
How It Fits: #384 on Best Enemies to Lovers
Date Read: 11/8
Rating: 2*
Review
This had the makings of a good book. Elena is the favored daughter of her mafia family. Nico is the head of another mafia family due to marry her sister. They are both attracted to each other but Elena hates him for what he stands for. My big problem with this book was women being traded as commodities and thought of and treated as property. I’ve read bad boy romances before and generally enjoy them but this was way off the mark.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Option 1 - Chessboard
Book - Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Page numbers - 368 pages
How the book qualifies - #127 on Brainy/Genius Romantic Heroes List