TART Challenge - Round 6 - Fast Like Molasses (5)

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I'm fine with either of those...I like both authors. I probably prefer Jill Shalvis, but Lucky Harbor would be a reread and Happily, Inc. is new to me, so I'm perfectly happy going either direction.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

In case anyone didn't see it, Kat posted this in the Q&A thread a bit earlier:

OK everyone, hubby and I are heading out of town in the morning to celebrate his birthday! (It's one of those big ones with a zero on the end!) I will be on my phone and busy, so not really able to answer many questions, but I'll try. If another moderator answers a question, their answer will stand. 😊

I plan to announce the first task a little earlier than scheduled, probably about 3-4 hours - sometime around 11 or 12 US EDT. Remember you need to post in this thread when you are done with the first task and that tasks are assigned no sooner than every other day. The second task cannot be assigned until Friday. I will be prepped and ready to do that from my phone - and will hopefully not have too many copy and paste errors! 🤞🏼

I will be assigning the second task to teams that finish the first without checking your posts - I won't be able to do that until we are home over the weekend. 😊

So, we'll be getting our first task a little earlier than expected, just to prevent any time zone confusion, it will probably be in the neighborhood of 12-13 hours from now.

[Courtney]

I'm so excited for the challenge to start! I've had absolutely no luck over the past week picking anything good to read. Sooo many dnfs. I need a kick in the butt to get me going 🤣.

I believe the first task will be assigned around midnight my time, so I may or may not be up. If I'm not, and you need to pick something, just go ahead without me and I'll find something to fit when I get up 👍

[Courtney]

~KarenH~ wrote: "I'm fine with either of those...I like both authors. I probably prefer Jill Shalvis, but Lucky Harbor would be a reread and Happily, Inc. is new to me, so I'm perfectly happy going either direction."

Is there a Shalvis series you haven't finished yet? I'm happy to switch to another of hers too if you don't want to re-read.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

No, I'm pretty sure the only things by her that I haven't read aren't available in audio, not really an option unless we want to take 2 weeks to get through the task. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but probably not much! I'm fine with a reread of Lucky Harbor, or with the Susan Mallery series - either one.

[Chan]

I'm good with Lucky Harbor or Happily Inc.

[Elizabeth]

0. Read a sports romance (MPG) or a book with a primarily green cover, teams decide which. No pass for this task.

With both college and pro football seasons starting, I’m sure I’m not the only one with sports on the brain! As a team, decide if you are a book with primarily green cover or a book with MPG Sports Romance. If selecting a sports romance, it can either be the generic Sports (alone or combined) or the specific sports such as football, baseball or hockey - but it MUST be MPG! If selecting books for the cover option, green must be the primary color you see on the cover to qualify. No pass for this task.

[Elizabeth]

Which do you all want sports romance or green cover?

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Elizabeth wrote: "Which do you all want sports romance or green cover?"

I can do either one, but I'm pretty sure all of us like sports romances and that one would definitely be easier to find.

What do you think?

[Elizabeth]

I agree I love a good sport romance.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Ok, let's call it that then. I'm sure Chan and Courtney will be happy with it - I know they both like them too!

[Chan]

yep. i would've been okay with either choice. off to look for a book.

[Courtney]

Yes, sports for me! Just woke up, so I'll look through what I've got now.

[Chan]

#1 | 0. Read a sports romance (MPG) or a book with a primarily green cover.
Team chose MPG Sports
Book: The Aftermath
Pages: 231
Qualifies: MPG Sports
Rating: 🥊🥊🥊🥊
Completed: September 14, 2022


[*bookcover:The Aftermath|25974239]

[Elizabeth]

#1 | 0. Read a sports romance (MPG) or a book with a primarily green cover.
Team chose MPG Sports
Book:
Pages: 256
Qualifies: MPG Sports Romance
Rating: ⚾️⚾️⚾️
Completed: September 15, 2022

[Courtney]

Omg you guys are so fast 🤣. I was all proud of myself for being a quarter done already 🤣.

I had way too many to choose from, but decided to go with a new author for me

It's super cute so far and pretty funny, so hopefully it'll stay good 🤞

[Elizabeth]

Courtney wrote: "Omg you guys are so fast 🤣. I was all proud of myself for being a quarter done already 🤣.

I had way too many to choose from, but decided to go with a new author for me [bookcover:Hot as Puck|34757..."

To be fair I picked an audio book. So I listened while making dinner and finishing up work. Lol

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I'm right about where you are, Courtney! We've got lots of time though...can't get a new task until Friday morning (my time).

[Chan]

No rush. I needed to finish my book last night because I have a busy day today. And tomorrow morning to mid afternoon I have to sit through something and it would be inappropriate to put in headphones...I guess 🙄. So, my quick completion was strategic 😁

I sometimes have to plan out my reading.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task #1 - 0. Read a sports romance (MPG) or a book with a primarily green cover.
Team chose MPG Sports

Book: Riggs
Pages: 322
Qualifies: MPG Sports Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: September 15, 2022

[Courtney]

Task 1 - 0. Read a sports romance (MPG) or a book with a primarily green cover.
Team chose MPG Sports


Hot as Puck

Pages: 330
Qualifies: MPG Sports Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Completed: 9/16

[Courtney]

Checked in 👍

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

7. Read 4 books that are stand alones.

Books selected for this task can not be listed in any series on GR.

[Chan]

Okay. i have a few on my MnG. Off to search

[Chan]

I'm reading

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Hmmm, I just saw something yesterday that I was considering using as a filler, but changed my mind so I could save it for this task. Now I just need to remember what it was... 🤪

[Elizabeth]

Yay I still have 2 books left on my meet n. Greet challenge so I can use one of those. I’m reading

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I found the book I was thinking of:

I'm waiting to start it until after the next PtP theme is announced in a couple of hours though...just in case it happens to work for that one too!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

My original book doesn't work for PtP, but I found one on one of the PtP lists that works for this one too, so I'm switching to that: . My sister read it and raved about it probably 20 years ago, and it's been hanging around on my TBR for as long as I've had one. Time to finally take the plunge!

[Courtney]

~KarenH~ wrote: "Hmmm, I just saw something yesterday that I was considering using as a filler, but changed my mind so I could save it for this task. Now I just need to remember what it was... 🤪"

Omg same! There was a sports book I was going to read, but it was a stand alone, and I totally told myself to save it in case we got the stand alone task....but what the heck was it? 🤣

[Chan]

#2 | 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones.
Book: Beautiful Mistake
Pages: 297
Qualifies: Not in a series
Rating: 👨‍🏫👨‍🏫👨‍🏫👨‍🏫
Completed: September 16, 2022

[Courtney]

I remembered which book it was 😄.


It's actually a bit longer than I thought it would be, so I was considering changing it for something else, but I read a few chapters during my son's first nap, and I freaking love it! I've had way too many virgin "teach me" heroines lately, so an older woman who know what she wants with a younger man...



I haven't had that much reading time today because we were meeting up with some friends that we haven't seen in like a year, but I'm going to stick with this one. I hope it ends as good as it's started.

[Elizabeth]

Task 2: Read 4 books that are stand alones.
Completed: September 17, 2022
Book:
Pages: 272
Qualifies: Not in a series
Rating: 🪷🪷🪷🪷

[Chan]

Courtney wrote: "I remembered which book it was 😄.


It's actually a bit longer than I thought it would be, so I was considering changing it for something else, but I read a few chapters ..."

Courtney you are so funny.

I'm glad you are sticking with it. We are supposed to enjoy what we are reading. So it doesn't matter if it takes longer to complete it...just enjoy it.

I'm eagerly awaiting your review to see if I should add it to my shelf.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I checked your completions for the first task and all looked good! 😊

[Courtney]

So far, so good. I think if you liked you'd like this. There is some secret with her ex that's been hinted at the whole story, so I'll have to wait and see how that goes. I really hate when a book hints at a secret and when it's finally revealed, it's not a big deal, so hopefully this won't go it that direction.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Task #2 - 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones.

Kindred
Pages: 306
Qualifies: Not in a series
Rating: 4 stars
Completed: September 17, 2022

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Courtney wrote: "I remembered which book it was 😄.


It's actually a bit longer than I thought it would be, so I was considering changing it for something else, but I read a few chapters ..."

Glad you're liking it so far, Courtney! And take your time...like Chan said, we're not in this for the speed, we're in it for the enjoyment!

[Courtney]

Task 2 - 7. Read 4 books that are stand alones.


Lucky

Pages: 284
Qualifies: Not part of a series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Completed: 9/18

[Courtney]

Checked in!

[Courtney]

I loved mine! I ended up racing through it today because I couldn't put it down. It was so freaking adorably sweet without going all cheeseball ridiculous. Loved the couple's dynamic. Just super super super!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 3 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.

As a team, select a series listed on GR and everyone reads a book in that series. (Does not have to be a numbered series.) Please include the selected series in your completion posts. Teammates can read the same or different books for this task. No pass for this task.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Ok, we never finalized this one! We have it narrowed down to Lucky Harbor (Jill Shalvis) or Happily, Inc. (Susan Mallery). Anybody have a preference?

[Elizabeth]

My library has audio books for both, but I’ll like to try Happily Inc. what does everyone else think?

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Elizabeth wrote: "My library has audio books for both, but I’ll like to try Happily Inc. what does everyone else think?"

Happily, Inc. it is! Everyone has said either was ok, and you're the first to state a preference, so let's go with it!

[Chan]

Karen, do you think I would like your book? the synopsis sounds really interesting.

courtney, i added your book to my shelf.

[Chan]

Great pick, Liz! I didn't realize that I have book 1 of Happily Inc on my Aug/Sept MnG.

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Chan wrote: "Karen, do you think I would like your book? the synopsis sounds really interesting.

courtney, i added your book to my shelf."

I don't know for sure Chan, but I think so? It's very well written (and narrated), and best I can tell (not being a history buff) seem well researched and fairly realistic. Of course, this leads to some hard parts - slavery wasn't pretty - but it's more of an emotional hard than because of too much blood and gore. There's some, but I don't recall it being too graphic.

[Courtney]

Chan wrote: "Karen, do you think I would like your book? the synopsis sounds really interesting.

courtney, i added your book to my shelf."

I hope you like it!

[Chan]

I thought i would finish You Say it First this evening, but not gonna happen.
The story is okay. light and fluffy. I'll finish up tomorrow.