Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2023 Challenge Archive
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PtP - Lattes & Lovers (8)
Mama's Completion 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
Review ~
Hands Down 5*
This is all the epilogues from the previous four books. I absolutely love this series. I love this family. It has become one of my all-time favorite series.
Jameson's & Tristan's had me laughing so hard. I loved their epilogues.
Elliot's was totally heartbreaking. They were struggling with infertility. Man that one was a hard read.
The last one was Christopher's story. That one just blessed my heart. Man. It was funny, but it still had substance also. Which they really all did but I don't know this one just had that extra little umph to the heart.
But Jameson is my favorite brother & still has my heart!
Oh wow I wish she will do a series on do a series of all the kids called... Miles, the Next Generation.
Completion PostWeek 7 - Option 1
Book: Elven Doom
Pages: 322
How it Qualifies: MP Setting: Seattle, Washington
Read Nov 11
Review
Solid 3 stars
I knew going into this series it was going to be ultra slow burn, but it's book 4 and we're still at the beginning stages of this romance. I like slow burn...but there are limits I think to the waiting. At least they've acknowledged their attraction for each other.
Selection PostWeek 8 - Option 1
Book: Dangerous
Pages: 368
How it Qualifies: Main page tag: Historical
[*book:Dangerous|36337268]
Completion PostWeek 8 - Option 1
Book: Dangerous
Pages: 368
How it Qualifies: Main page tag: Historical
Read: Nov 15
Review
4 Stars for the first 75% and 2 Stars for the last 25%
It took a lot of time to get up to Adams revelations about his former wife and daughters and it took a lot of time to work up to Mias revelations about her son. Wish maybe that had been spaced out a little bit instead of tossing it all in at once. Felt a little rushed, but other than that it was a fun read.
Selection PostWeek 8 - Option 1
296 pages
Mpg historical
Completion PostWeek 8 - Option 1
Finished 14/11
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this book it was fun and sweet with a splash of action all wrapped up in a perfect little gift that took me back in time
Promise I'll have a pick posted before call. I'm still debating between two books and my decision is going to be based on how much reading I get done tonight on the book I'm currently reading.
Completion PostWeek 8
Book The Rogue and the Wallflower
Rating: ⭐⭐
Review: I really wanted to like this book, but it was not for me. I really struggled to get in to it. It also felt too short and like I was missing something.
I'm still working on my week 7 book, but will be off from work next week and will catch up then.
☕️Completion 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
Completed: 11/12
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, maybe?
Review: I’m not actually super comfortable reviewing danmei! There’s a huge cultural context I don’t have yet, and Chinese isn’t a language I know enough about to even begin to evaluate a translation. That being said:
What I liked: I loved how, through the entire novel, every time I thought “okay, now we’ve gotten a handle on how badly Mo Ran behaved in his last life” I was immediately proven VERY WRONG.
What I didn’t: I did not love the interior illustrations, to be honest—they’re done in a smooth modern shonen manga style that I found kind of tonally jarring.
This volume was a lot of fun and I’m very much looking forward to the next one!
⛈️Outstanding
Week 7 - Grace's completion
Week 8 - Mama's selection | Mama, Shelby & Emeli's completions
Mamacita - please post your selection from last week ASAP
I am so sorry. I was traveling this week. And totally forgot all about it. I will post it now.
Mama's Selection Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #8
Option #1
Task ~ #3. Earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in 15th Century
Book ~ The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne
Pages ~ 328 pages
How qualifies ~ Historical Romance MPG
Week 9Option 1 ~
11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ
*Read a book written by an Australian or New Zealand author.
The book may also be set in Australia or NZ. Qualification may come from the GR main book page, author's page, lists and tags.
Option 2
Key date: 19 May 2023
Completion PostWeek 7
Book Reckless
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: I have not really connected with any of the books in the series, and this one continues that trend. It was nice read, but the business aspect of Jade's new book shop felt a little too Mary Sue. I also felt the ending happened too quickly and I'm side eyeing how quickly Maverick changes his mind.
Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Week 9Option 1 ~
11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ
*Read a book written by an Australian or New Zealand author.
The book may also be set in Australia or NZ. Qua..."
Lol - Well I guess I'm reading two N.R. Walker books in a row as she's always my go to Australia author.
Shelby wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Week 9Option 1 ~
11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ
*Read a book written by an Australian or New Zealand author.
The book may also be..."
Lol. Mine will be either T.L. Swan or Anna Hackett
Week 8 - Completion PostA Soldier's Wish by N.R. Walker
Read: (11/18)
Rating: ★★★★
This is sweet with a tiny bit of an insta-love element. Sure they meet and hookup for the first weekend at Woodstock, but it does feel like their relationship gets to develop with all the letters sent back and forth between them while Richard was in Vietnam. I liked how Gary drew Richard out of his sheltered upbringing to show him how much more the world could offer.
The second half of the story is lovely as well. Richard doesn't come back from the war unscarred either physically or mentally, but Gary is committed to being there for him no matter what. I liked these two committing to making a relationship work and being willing to do whatever the other needs.
I do enjoy these sweet little Christmas stories. They're feel good options and are always going to be a relatively quick read. Just plain nice all around.
Week 9: Selection Post: Book: Finders Keepers - 220pgs/GR
How Fits: Author: N.R. Walker is Australian
Week 9 - Completion PostFinders Keepers by N.R. Walker
Read: (11/20)
Rating: ★★★★★
Cute puppies and how they cause a random adorable connection between two guys...yep sign me up. This was sweet and charming. I loved Griffin and Dane as a couple. Griffin is the good samaritan who rescues Dane's little escape artist of a pup and everything dove tails from there. Sure this is insta-lovey (usually not my favorite) but somehow the connection with these two felt real and like something that really was going to last. Of course Wicket is cuteness himself as well.
I do enjoy a good toothachy sweet love story. This definitely is that from start to finish.
I will get all the links caught up as soon as I can.
Selection PostWeek 9 - Option 1
Book: Dark Heir
Pages: 496
How it Qualifies: Author born in Australia
[*book:Dark Heir|52780201]
Completion PostWeek 9 - Option 1
Book: Dark Heir
Pages: 496
How it Qualifies: Author born in Australia
Read: Nov 22
Review
5 Stars!
Just a book filled with a bunch of lonely people. Everyone is the last of their order or kind and trying to fight a past they don't want to repeat.
Mama's Selection Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #9
Option #1
Task ~ #11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ
Book ~ Hades
Pages ~ 245 pages
How qualifies ~ Anna Hackett lives in Perth, Western Australia as per her website https://annahackett.com/about/
Weeks 1-7 completeOutstanding
Week #8
*Mama's Completion
Week #9
*Mama's Completion
*Emeli Selection & Completion
*✔️ Grace Selection & ✔️ Completion
All Links Caught Up to HERE
Damn, I definitely don't want to get behind again. That was a PITA! But seeing my grandbabies was worth it! ☺️
Selection PostWeek 9
Book Echo of Silence
Page numbers: 101
Qualification: Nalini Singh lives in New Zealand
Completion PostWeek 9
Book Echo of Silence
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: I enjoyed this novella in the Psy/Changeling world. It focused more on the day to day and how Psy are quietly breaking Silence which is a nice contrast to the high stakes of the novels.
Completion week 9Davo
Finished 23/11
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was so good and i loved davo with his unique fashion sense and the swearing parrot was hilarious so all in all a sweet romance that made me laugh
🦃Just checking outstanding:
Week 8 - completions for Mama & Emeli
Week 9 - completion for Mama
Emeli wrote: "Selection week 9Davo
Finished 23/11
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was so good and i loved davo with his unique fashion sense and the swearing parrot was hilarious so all in all a sweet romance that ma..."
Hi E - please update to Completion up the top :)
Week 10Option 1
16. Instant Coffee - for when you are away from civilisation
*Read a book set in the wilderness or in a remote location, or where at least one MC sleeps in a tent.
Words in tags such as 'remote', 'wilderness', 'camping', 'woods', 'forest'
Qualification may come from the GR main book page, lists and tags.
Option 2
Key date: 26 May 2023
Week 10: Option 2
Dark Heir
Qualifications: Danielle rated it 5 stars November 22nd (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Selection PostWeek 10
Book Desert Island
Page numbers: 101
Qualification: Precis states couple is stranded on a deserted island.
Completion PostWeek 10
Book Desert Island
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: This book was pretty much what I expected, heavy on the insta-lust with over the top hero. Nice short read with a couple of Wilson references.
Week 10: Selection Post: Book: Soul Deep - 208pgs/GR
How Fits: Tagged - Western, Frontier, Mountains, & Lost or Stranded
Week 10 - Completion PostSoul Deep by Pamela Clare
Read: (11/26)
Rating: ★★★
Not my favorite in the series. I'm not a big fan of big age gap discrepancies and this one definitley falls in that for me. It's not that they didn't feel like they were a good fit, personality wise I like Jack and Janet as a couple, but the large discrepancy in their ages and the circumstances at the end of the story detract a little for me. (view spoiler)
The mystery here was also a little on the shorted side. It was really easy to figure out and even the misdirect wasn't really all that successful. But I do enjoy Pamela Clare's writing and so still enjoyed this story even if some of the elements weren't my personal favorites. I did enjoy Jack and Janet's interactions with the horses particularly. But then again I just adore horses having grown up on a horse ranch myself.
Mama's Completion Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #9
Option #1
Task ~ #11. Flat White - a barista coffee originating from Australia or NZ
Book ~ Hades 3.5* ✔️ 11/25
Pages ~ 245 pages
How qualifies ~ Anna Hackett lives in Perth, Western Australia as per her website https://annahackett.com/about/
Review ~ well I wrote a review, and now I can't find it. It disappeared off this page I don't know maybe I deleted it by accident when I was trying to make links.
Now I'm pissed and I'm too frustrated from looking for the damn thing and I'm too lazy to write another one.
I'm just going to tell you it was good. Hades works with Wolf from book one he was Italian super yummy and was supposed to meet up w/ a contact & get a thumb drive. Well Gabby was who had the thumb drive. She's a CIA analyst some shit went down they went on the run. Some more shit went down of course somebody gets taken. And the whole team has to come together with a few other people showing up to help out & during that they fall in love blah blah blah.
I'm just going to read my HR book to put me in a better mood and forget about it.
Mama's Completion Post Lattes & Lovers (8)
Week #8
Option #1
Task ~ #3. Earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appears in 15th Century
Book ~ The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne 3.5* ✔️ 11/28
Pages ~ 328 pages
How qualifies ~ Historical Romance MPG
Review ~ I've had this book on my TBR what seems like FOR.EVER. Part of the reason it took me so long to read this book where the reviews. It had some bad ratings and reviews. But one person's view I trust said she had reread this book many times. And truthfully a lot of the mainstream HR authors have not been publishing new books anymore.
Anywhore... back to the review. So I think part of the problem with some of the reviews is that a lot of HR readers don't like the asshole in a hero. Fortunately I do.
This was one of those make sure she's ruined so that they have to get married. He's marrying her for revenge and she doesn't know it. And boy does it come back to bite him on the ass. Which I was freaking loving.
But they figured it all out & they worked it all out in the end. I'll definitely keep going with this series and think I finally found me a new HR author!
Selection PostWeek 10 - Option 2
Book: Devil in Disguise
Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Grace read book 2 on Oct 17 rated 5 stars. Reading book 7 for this week.
[*book:Devil in Disguise|51178326]
Completion PostWeek 10 - Option 2
Book: Devil in Disguise
Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Grace read book 2 on Oct 17 rated 5 stars. Reading book 7 for this week.
Read: Nov 27
Review:
3 Stars
I will say that I absolutely loved that we got to see a conclusion to the St. Vincent and Lillian kidnapping from so long ago. Them deciding after so many years to be friends was quite lovely.
What I didn't understand was Keir. The scene where he races back to the house after his memory comes back didn't make a whole lot of sense. There was very little inner monologue to see him fighting the whole she's too high born for me when pre-amnesia he'd already come to that conclusion and decided to leave. Just needed a whole lot more.
🐻❄️🐻Need Emeli's selection post...
Selection week 1016. Instant Coffee - for when you are away from civilization
*Read a book set in the wilderness or in a remote location, or where at least one MC sleeps in a tent
262 pages
Greg Ventura has no use for high fashion. He lives on the isolated island of North Uist to escape the reminder that he’s nowhere near as handsome as his gorgeous brothers and avoid the painful childhood memories of being bullied
☕️Selection Post TAKE TWO☕️Option 2
System Collapse
Pages:248
Qualifications: Shelby read and rated 5 stars on November 20th (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
☕️Completion Post ☕️
Week 10 Option 2
System Collapse
Pages: 248
Qualifications: Shelby read and rated 5 stars on November 20th
Date Completed: 11/28
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Murderbot learns an important lesson about propaganda and makes a big decision and some new friends. I loved this, I really did, but at seven entries, I wanted this to move the needle a little more—the whole “redacted” thing felt very familiar, for instance. Still a great time, and the audio remains an excellent choice for this series, so I count my time well spent!
I’m really loving Dark Heir but it turned out to be a book I needed some more time with! I don’t think I’ll be able to get any reading in this weekend at all, so I might not get my week 11 entry in until Monday. Sorry, team! I have out-of-town friends in, so it’s a whole thing
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Gods of Londinium (other topics)Sensual Danger (other topics)
The Truth About Cads and Dukes (other topics)
System Collapse (other topics)
System Collapse (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anna Hackett (other topics)Pamela Clare (other topics)
Nalini Singh (other topics)
Anna Hackett (other topics)
N.R. Walker (other topics)
More...
Week 8
Option 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
Mama's Team Selection & Completion Links
** Located In Post #4