Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2023 Challenge Archive
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PtP - Lattes & Lovers (8)
Completion Post - Week 5How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy: The Complete Works by A.J. Sherwood
Read: (10/23)
Rating: ★★★★★
The only thing that could have possibly made this better was if there were dragons...because well dragons make everything better.
I loved this so much. It's cute and sweet and adorable and funny and quirky and silly all at the same time. Tan is all parts of ridiculous and awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed the slightly bloodthirsty side of his nature as well as all parts of the good caring soul. Devan is of course everything a knight should be as he protects his country from any force threatening it, even when that force is it's own princess. Of course we was ultimately going to fall for all of Tan's conniving. He was doomed from the minute he went to Tan for help. There was no way Tan was letting him out of his clutchy little hands.
All of the side characters in this made me smile, but Tan and Devan's relationship was the core of this story and it was just lovely. I had a smile all the way right through this. Once again A.J. Sherwood does not disappoint.
SELECTION POSTWeek #5
Option 1
10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
Use of Weapons
Pages: 514
Qualifications: book is 514 pages
Completion PostWeek 4
Book Fall Into Place
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: This was typical Alexa Riley--instant love with he man. Not my favorite since it was two short stories in one.
Mama's Completion Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #5
Option #1
Task ~ 10. Long Black
Book ~ The Do-Over 3.5* ✔️ 10/25
Pages ~ 553 pages
How qualifies ~ over 300 pages
Review ~ 3.5* as with the other 3 books in the series, this book was also hilarious.
I would have loved to been a fly on that wall so many times especially when Christopher was first learning about backpacking and staying in hostels.
I loved seeing how his eyes got opened to how much he had and how little other people had in life and they could still be happy and content. He did get on my nerves being such a spoiled little brat at the first part of the book. But then, my oh my did his loving heart show through.
Loved Hayden! And Eddie, loved that kid. His life, man that broke my heart.
Even though these books you figure out what's going to happen and there's no twist and turns they are still so good. The love stories are Epic, the laughs are many, and there have been tears shed in every book. This book would have been a 5🌟 if Christopher wouldn't have been such a little bitch at the beginning.
But he got better & I so loved the ending! Oh & the yacht scene with Julian Masters & all them...
** Outstanding from THIS WEEK #5
Unless I've screwed something up and cannot find it, I do not show that I have selections this week from Danielle, Emeli, or Grace. I know that she will post the new task tomorrow afternoon. Please make sure you are up to date.
Shelby,
You may want to PM them in case they do not check the thread.
I'm done my book just been working nights. I'll post after I get home tonight.
Selection PostWeek 5
Option 2
Book That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
Page numbers: 182
Qualification: Danielle read on August 12th, 2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Completion post week 5
Finished 26/10
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is not for the faint of heart its bloody violent and batshit crazy and i love it and August is someone i can identify with and i love him and Lucas together
Selection PostWeek 5 - Option 1
Book: Sticks and Stone
Pages: 377
How it Qualifies: Over 300 pages
[*book:Sticks and Stone|63893145]
Completion PostWeek 5 - Option 1
Book: Sticks and Stone
Pages: 377
How it Qualifies: Over 300 pages
Red Oct 24
Review
1 Star
My expectation of contemporary romances is that it has to be able to fit in a real-world setting. Yes, there's hyperbole involved but I still want to believe that in another time and place, this could have happened to Joe down the street. I think even Joe would have been confused about this one.
First off the author has no knowledge of hockey whatsoever. Calling it "ice" hockey is a dead giveaway that you're not from the US or Canada. It's just hockey the ice is redundant since field hockey isn't really that popular. At one point the guys play a game against the "Penguins" - a real NHL team, good good - except they also played against "Ontario". There has to be consistency or those who actually follow the sport are going to laugh at you.
Got a feeling as well the author has never been to Ann Arbour or knows when the hockey season starts. Why are we dressing in sundresses in the middle of November?
Why were there no midnight feedings with Huey? This baby was magic. Just there to get them all together and be toted around like a potato.
During the "breakup" section of the story, the guys are the only ones who feel like they need to apologize for creating chaos in their relationship. Nova, who wanted a clean break, refused to see them or talk to them and never once acknowledged that it was her fault, not theirs. Oh man, I hated her and all her crying. Plus, the very first thing that happens in the book is her saying she has PTSD from people knocking on her door. That little quirk just disappeared as she answered multiple doors throughout the book.
I have tons more questions especially related to the guys' pasts because none of that is well explained or makes sense. I mean how did River even end up playing hockey in the first place? That shit is expensive.
This author has been a hit or big miss for me. Much prefer her fantasy stuff.
Danielle wrote: "I'm done my book just been working nights. I'll post after I get home tonight."I didn't need you to be finished I just needed you to post what book you were planning to read for your selection.
Thank you for getting it done.
Emeli wrote: "Completion post week 5Finished 26/10
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is not for the faint of heart its bloody violent and batshit crazy and i love it and August is someone i can identify wit..."
I love this couple. I think they're my favorite couple in the series. August was so yummy! Probably my second favorite would be Atticus & Jericho. The way he was such a pansy ass sometimes had me ROFLMAO!!! I was sorry to see this series end. I'm glad she picked up the next generation. But I have not started that.
Grace wrote: " Selection PostWeek 5
Option 2
Book That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
Page numbers: 182
Qualification: Danielle r..."
Grace, will you please fix your date for the day that Danielle read that? You have the year as 2003 instead of 2023.
THIS WEEK TASK Week 6
Option 1
5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop for many countries
*Read a book with an MC who is a farmer **please see List Links in Announcements/Q&A
Best Gay Cowboys
A book from one of the 'MM Blue Collar 20xx" lists - EG MM Blue Collar Books 2021
Farmers in Romance
Buzzed: Bee Keeping in Romance
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
**If you chose option 1, you must read a book from one of the above lists. Please note the list when showing how your book qualifies & #on list please.
Option 2
Key date: 28 April 2023
Mama's Selection Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #6
Option #1
Task ~ 5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop
Book ~ Pure Bliss
Pages ~ 263 pages
How qualifies ~ #136 on Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Selection PostWeek 6
Option 1
5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop for many countries
The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows
Qualifications: From the Beekeeping in Romance list (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...)
Fun fact I got so excited when I saw this book on the list because I've been meaning to read it for ages, completely forgetting that I added it to this list last month.
Selection PostWeek 6
Book Flawless
Page numbers: 424
Qualification: #594 on Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy
Tracy wrote: "Fun fact I got so excited when I saw this book on the list because I've been meaning to read it for ages, completely forgetting that I added it to this list last month."Lol. Tracy BEE like...
Guess it was just....
Completion PostWeek 5
Option 2
Book That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: I loved this monster romance. It was the perfect mixture of modern and fantasy mixed up together. I did think the 2nd half got a little dragged down with introducing a lot of characters, but that's usually how it goes in first in series books. Have to set up for sequels.
Selection PostWeek 6 - Option 2
Book: The Effing List
Pages: 424
How it Qualifies: Mamacita aka MawMaw Read on May 23, 2023 rated 4 stars.
[*book:The Effing List|58297664]
Completion PostWeek 6 - Option 2
Book: The Effing List
Pages: 424
How it Qualifies: Mamacita aka MawMaw Read on May 23, 2023 rated 4 stars.
Read Oct 29
Review
2 Stars
Weeelll, this had the potential to be good. A second chance at love for two folks in their 50s after one is widowed and the other goes through a divorce late in life. You expect the usual getting-to-know-you stage, maybe a little family drama with adult-age children, the insecurities of dating in your 50s and not quite looking like you did in your 20s, etc. An easy reader that's what I wanted with some kink thrown in.
The problem is that this is book 14 and there are a couple of books related to it through other spin-offs and I have not read them all. There shouldn't have been a need because what author in their right mind would feel they need to incorporate 14 books worth of couples and their kids into a single story that is unrelated to them...oh wait...this one.
There was just so much going on. Not only were there 2 new couple storylines, but you also had the Shadowlands manager dating underage girls thing along with his poor management of the club, Z's and Jessica's baby drama, and it just got boring. Focus on one or two things and maybe I won't feel like I need to skim half the book.
Completion Post - Week 6Noble Metals by L.A. Witt
Read: (11/1)
Rating: ★★★★
I enjoyed this gold rush story more than I expected I would. I knew it was a Klondike, gold rush story, which just doesn't have that much appeal to me, but I do like L.A. Witt as an author and these characters did grab me quickly. Robert and John were sweet as they discovered the intense attraction between them was mutual and they fit each other better than either could have expected. Robert had fallen into life as a prostitute because it was the only way he had to try to make the money he needed. I loved that John saw past that to the good man that he was. John's a brilliant inventor and the fact that Robert is interested and can stick with him in discussion is enthralling for him.
There's just enough intrigue and action to keep this interesting as these two guys tackle the wilderness and those that would try to claim John's inventions for their own.
☕️ Completion Post ☕️
Week 5 Option 1
Use of Weapons
Pages: 516
Qualifications: Book is over 300 pages (there are 4 kindle editions listed published September 4, 2008, but all over 300 pages)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
This is what I’m reading for my in-person discussion group and I was excited to double-dip on it but oof, this one was a doozy.
We’re reading the Culture novels in publication order, and Use of Weapons was the first one I can say I really enjoyed! It is still too long and maybe hasn’t aged super well, but I actually enjoyed the protagonist! There’s a definite maturation of the structural element here as well, even though I found the sheer number of times the protagonist had memory issues in order to shoehorn a bit of narrative in that didn’t quite fit. The Big Twist was really well executed, but maybe not entirely worth the slog to get there.
Selection week 6
318 pages
24 on the best gay cowboys list
Emeli wrote: "Selection week 5318 pages
24 on the best gay cowboys list"
Emeli,
Can you please update your post to week #6 please
❄️ UpdatedEmeli to update week 6 post as noted above :)
Only week 6 books outstanding 🌺
Week 7Option 1
9. Caffe Americano
Book set in the Americas - South or North. (American continent and associated islands)
Option 2
Key date: 5 May 2023
Mama's Selection Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #7
Option #1
Task ~ #9. Caffe Americano
Book ~ Miles Ever After
Pages ~ 236 pages
How qualifies ~ Most of Book is set in the North America ~ New York
Tagged setting-us-new-york by 1 person
Mama's Completion Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #6
Option #1
Task ~ 5. Coffee is a significant agricultural crop
Book ~ Pure Bliss 2.5* ✔️ 10/31
Pages ~ 263 pages
How qualifies ~ #136 on Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Review ~ 2.5*
Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible. It's still Lexi blake. But damn, I expected so much more. That's why it took me 4 damn days to read this book. Normally I'd have it done in 1/2 that time.
Mainly where we're wrong for me was Nate was such an asshole to Noah. I get the past, I get some of the reasons why. But if you're going to hold on to that much resentment, how in the hell can you let it go just all of a sudden?
And then, what Laura went thru, after the phone call to Hope, totally skipped that whole scene all together.
You might be thinking, it sounds like I didn't like it at all.
This is still Lexi Blake, one of my favorite authors. She is funny, she keeps you engaged even when you're irritated with the book. I love the way she keeps you updated with all the past couples & brings in the whole town out to help out. Damn if that isn't the small town country way of life, I don't know what is.
I'd happily move to Bliss, Colorado. And, I will definitely still be back for more of this series.
Completion PostWeek 6
Book Flawless
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It had just the right amount of sweet and funny moments mixed in with the drama. I can't wait to see what happens with Cade next.
Selection PostWeek 7
Book Reckless
Page numbers: 205
Qualification: Setting in North America in Montana as stated in precis: "She decides on a fresh start in a new place: Montana."
Week 7: Selection Post: Book: The Boyfriend Makeover - 394pgs/GR
How Fits: Location - California and Texas
Week 7 - Completion PostThe Boyfriend Makeover by River Jaymes
Read: (11/5)
Rating: ★★★★★
Well yeah that just ripped at the heart strings in all the best ways. Not sure how I missed getting this onto one of my challenge TBR's, but as the random selection right now it was wonderful. I adored Noah and Ky together. I loved the development of this story. Noah is hiding so much of his pain, hiding it even from himself. He has never really dealt with what he went through with the death of his first boyfriend. He's punished himself for years. The idea of being truly happy and having someone in his life doesn't even really cross his mind. But Ky slips right through his guard. Ky's had his reasons for staying in the closet and wasn't expecting to find a reason to come out any time soon. His life has been devoted to his sisters and the hospital. But Noah worms his way into Ky's heart and together they're just so adorable.
I loved this story. It's got all the emotional impact you want from a really good love story. There's things both characters have to work through and at the end of things they're happier and healthier together.
☕️Completion Post☕️Week 6 Option 1
The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows
Pages: 271
Qualifications: Tied for #7 on the Buzzed: Beekeeping in Romance list (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...)
Date Completed: 11/8
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: so good. A historical that is truly grounded in time and place, with a remarkable slow burn for something under 300 pages, two incredibly likable and believable protagonists, and a cast of side characters that made the whole thing bloom. Care and Feeding strikes the perfect balance between giving us a beautiful happy ending for two characters we have grown to love and showing a world and a relationship that reflects the realities of keeping a relationship secret, however open a secret it may be.
Look, okay, if you want to read about two 45 year old women writing each other pornographic letters while fighting sedition charges and also the sapphic yearning, just so, so much yearning, you’ll love this book, I promise.
Selection Post
Week 7 Option 1
Tempted by the Bollywood Star: A Passionate F/F Opposites Attract Romance
Qualifications: “years later, she’s in Hollywood” as per the précis
Pages: 178
Selection PostWeek 7 Option 1
Train Me Daddy
228 pages
Set in nyc
Every opportunity I’ve had, I’ve blown. I lost my scholarship, dropped out of school, and now couldn’t keep a job if my life depended on it. Maybe I should leave New York? Maybe I should just give up
Completion PostWeek 7 Option 1
Train Me Daddy
Finished 11/11
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this and i loved how tough Dante was but at the same time sweet and i love ott alphas that moves heaven and earth for the people they love
Completion week 6
Finished 5/11
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although cowboys is not my cup of tea i still enjoyed the book and it a sweet and charming romance that i enjoyed reading
Selection PostWeek 7 - Option 1
Book: Elven Doom
Pages: 322
How it Qualifies: MP Setting: Seattle, Washington
[*book:Elven Doom|53428525]
EmeliIn the Q&A, Jane says that we have to show where the setting is either in the précis, tags or book details like where the editions are. Please let me know if I'm missing something from your book but I don't see in the blurb or the details where your book says that the setting is in LA.
See where she answers the question here.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Week 8Option 1
3. Earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in 15th Century
Read an historical romance.
Must have MPG 'Historical'
Option 2
Key date: 12 May 2023
Selection PostWeek 8
Book The Rogue and the Wallflower
Page numbers: 250
Qualification: MPG tagged "historical romance"
Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "I am gone visiting grandbabies this week and part of next week so I am barely checking in and out, so thank you all for being on your game and having your shit together getting all the completion..."
Enjoy your visit with your grandbabies!
☕️Completion Post☕️
Week 7 Option 1
Tempted by the Bollywood Star: A Passionate F/F Opposites Attract Romance
Qualifications: “years later, she’s in Hollywood” as per the précis
Pages: 178
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review:I really wanted to love this one—Bollywood! Lesbians! TV Drama! but ultimately it was just… not good. The dialogue was stilted, the prose unpolished, and the romance devoid of either plot or chemistry. Saira is a disaster and a diva, Mia is an unprofessional wreck, and neither of them has any reason to put up with the other outside of having spent a month together when they were teenagers and uncontrollable lust.
(Also there’s a bit where Saira pulls out a sex toy that *used to be Mia’s* and she’s kept for the past ten years??? And Mia just rolls with that???? Honestly unsettling behavior tbqh)
I did really like that Mia and Saira were both really invested in their television show in different ways, and that conflict was really compelling—I wish we had seen that be the major tension of the novel instead of the two of them almost literally fucking an entire production and both their careers into the ground.
Selection Post
Week 8 Option 1
The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 1
Qualifications: MPG Historical
Pages: 538
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Week #5
Option 1
10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
*Read a book longer than 300 pages
Option 2 ~
Key date: 21 April 2023
Mama's Team Selection & Completion Links
** Located In Post #4