Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP Bookin' through the Pages (T5)
Completion PostWeek #4, Option 1
Book: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
Date Read:
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Magic Burns was a solid sequel to the first book in the Kate Daniels series. I was so engrossed in the story and could hardly put the book down. The world and the characters are growing on me and I just want to binge-read all of the books! I think each book in the series gets better and better so I'm really excited about that. It's just such a fun and quick read that I highly recommend if you're into urban fantasy!
[*book:Magic Burns|1811543]
Completion Post: 🌟Week 2🌟Option 1
[*book:The Keeper of Hidden Books|62054146]
🌟Read: 3 May 2024
🌟Rating: 5 stars
Review: The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin, is a historical fiction novel set during the German occupation of Warsaw, Poland during WWII, and it is a beautifully written book. It moved me to tears and tugged at my heart strings, especially towards the end. I don't want to get political on Goodreads, but I will say that this book definitely made me think about how I learned in high school that the reason to study history in large part is so that we learn from our mistakes so that we never repeat those mistakes. I'm not saying there's a Holocaust ensuing; however, I am saying that when reading this book I kept thinking of all of the hatred going on right now on different university campuses towards Jewish people. It's honestly disgusting and frightening that people could talk about any population of people the way some are doing now. Sadly, history can repeat itself.
In this story, many people in Warsaw hid and protected books so the truth about that time could be preserved and told at a later time. The truth that millions of Jews and Polish people, among others, were murdered. Zofia and Janina are both just young girls and their characters are both so loveable. Zofia saw the importance of keeping books hidden in order to preserve them, and through this story and Zofia's journey with her friend, Janina and her family, the importance of books is brought to life in a way that impresses on the reader just how valuable books are to a society.
I loved this historical fiction and I highly recommend it, especially to book lovers.
Thanks for getting your week 2 completion in, Vicki!!I probably won't finish this week's book today, I'm starting today and if I remember, the books in this series are kind of slow going for me. I need to stop reading them but sometimes it's hard to make yourself quite a series in the middle, you know? Anyway, I should be caught up by tomorrow.
How's everyone else's week going?
Just started my book yesterday night (slow reading week). I'll probably be done tomorrow or Sunday, I hope!
LaurLa wrote: "Thanks for getting your week 2 completion in, Vicki!!I probably won't finish this week's book today, I'm starting today and if I remember, the books in this series are kind of slow going for me...."
You're welcome. :) Although, I got behind on that one just because it didn't fit any other challenges and one of my challenges is a quick turn around so I have to read those books first. Hopefully, now I can stay on top of things!
Week 5Link to Jane's post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 1
3. The Americas
Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...... if you are unsure, please check on wiki for the countries included.
If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 2
Key date: 27 October 2023
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.
Selection Post🚦Week 5Option 1
Call🚦3. The Americas
Task🚦Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
Book🚦Love, All
Pages🚦198 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦series page describes the series being set at Camp Firefly Falls in the Berkshires which is a mountainous area of the US, mostly Massachusetts.
[*book:Love, All|39894348]
Selection PostWeek #5
Option 1
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
Pages: 391
Qualification: on book page, “ With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.”
[*book:Late Bloomer|127280315]
Selection Post Week #5, Option 1
Book: Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
Pages: 355
How it Qualifies: MPG - Setting in North Caroling (United States), which is in North America
[*book:Daughter of Mine|176443330]
* New book chosen on Post #121Week #5, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
[*book:Scandal Never Sleeps|24389686]
Page count: 392 pages
Qualification: MP setting is New York City, New York (United States)
Completion Post🌟Week #4🌟, Option 1
🌟Call 15. BUS
🌟Task Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the name of the title, series and/or author:
[*book:Peach Blossom Spring|58231775]
🌟Read: 4 May 2024
🌟Rating; 4 stars
🌟Review: Very interesting story about family and some of its generational history to help give the background of the journey it would take Meilin and her 3 1/2 year old son on during war time when the Japanese were bombing China and Meilin and her son, Renshu were forced to flee. It takes place beginning in China in 1938 and takes them through several long walks to safety, boats, and other means throughout different countries until Renshu moves to New York City to attend medical school where he changes his name to Henry Dao to make it easier, but more so because that's what all the immigrants were doing. His journey/the story takes him all the way to 2005. It was quite a beautiful, sad at times, journey. I loved it.
*One thing I really loved is that Meilin carried scrolls with her and she'd take them out and tell stories to her son and his cousin who was about 3 years older than Renshu. They read like fables, so they were always learning some kind of lesson important to life.
Completion Post🚦Week 5Option 1
Call🚦3. The Americas
Task🚦Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
Book🚦Love, All
Pages🚦198 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦series page describes the series being set at Camp Firefly Falls in the Berkshires, which is a mountainous area of the US, mostly Massachusetts.
Date Read🚦05.04 ★★★
Review
This was a quick easy read (as are all the books in this series). The love story happened fast. I don't mean as in insta-love but more the book moved fast covering a lot of time without sharing a lot of details of how they grew into the relationship. What we did get was good and I liked them together, but there was a lot skimming. One thing I really liked at the end was that the female MC did the big gesture/grovel after their inevitable break-up/misunderstanding. I liked that we had a female love interest who made the big mistake and the author let her own it and make up for it.
Completion PostWeek #5
[*book:Late Bloomer|138383367]
Read: 5/5/24
Rating: ✶✶✶
Review:
This was my first Macey Eddings book. It was a light, feel good read. Pepper and Opal were cute and sweet together, making me chuckle at times. Pepper was autistic and the grump to Opal’s sunshine. There were some heavier themes tackled in the book too. Like being neurodivergent, sexuality, and family conflicts. My main complaint was that I wanted a little more tension between the main characters or in the story. There wasn’t much, so I found myself getting bored. It was just too light for me in the end.
Selection PostWeek #5, Option 1
Book: Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau
Pages: 352
How it Qualifies: set in NYC
Completion Post🚦Week 4Option 1
Call🚦15. BUS
Task🚦Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the name of the title, series and/or author
Book🚦Blasphemous
Pages🚦403 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦letters of BUS in title
Date Read🚦05.03 ★★★
Review
I gave this 3 stars but it's more 2.5 or even 2, but it's not as bad as recent 2 stars I've read, so hence the bump up. But I can't read this series anymore - the next book starts with a U which I really need for other challenges, so I'll read that (it's thankfully just over 100pp) and then I'm done. The characters are erratic, completely immature and the plot lines are really unrealistic. I just can't anymore...
COMPLETION POSTWEEK 5 ~ OPTION 1
🌟Call 3. The Americas
🌟Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
[*book:Daughter of Mine|176443330]
🌟Read: 8 May 2024
🌟Rating; 4 stars
🌟Review: What a great mystery! I love how the story was formatted with four sections, six including the Prologue and Epilogue: Part 1 Father, Part 2 Mother, Part 3 Sons, Part 4 Daughter.
Hazel's stepfather she'd grown up with since about seven years old passed away. She had two brothers, Caleb and Gage, who you'd THINK the father would've left them his house or left it to all three, but he left it only to Hazel. It was rather odd, so one begins to wonder why? Why nothing to his biological sons? Hazel's mother had gone missing years previously, leaving a note and Hazel behind. A mystery ensues when a couple cars are found and things just seem so wrong.
Having the sections in four parts gave a pretty insight into the characters and the characterization was built very well and clearly. It's just so sad when there are secrets kept in families as they rarely (never in my opinion) do any real good for the family, although usually they're meant to "protect" someone. They rarely do, if ever.
Completion PostWeek #5, Option 1
Book: Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau
Date read: 5/7
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau is packed with action, some thrilling moments and a big mystery for these agents to solve. I didn't know an investigator for the Natl Parks Service was a thing but now I do, and we have one as the main character here. Michael and Gina who works hand in hand to solve these mystery. I loved the representation of the Statue of Liberty mentioned at the end of the book. Also I loved how they put glimpse of historical background before the chapters. I unexpectedly enjoyed this fast paced thrilling novel. Will totally recommend it to my action thriller book lover friends!
cw: Death, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
COMPLETION POST🗺️ Completion Post 🗺️
Week #4, Option #2
[*book:Twisted Love|55817097]
Date read: May 9 (DNF)
Rating: 1★
Review: DNFed at 78%. Chapter 37, location 3596 out of 4583 (Kindle Cloud Reader wasn't show pages for some reason.)
I swear, I tried really hard to like this, especially since I absolutely loved King of Wrath, another book by the author, but this one was such a struggle to get through. Ended up quitting when the noble idiocy moment showed up because I HATE that trope, and I already had so many issues leading up to the third act breakup that I couldn't take it anymore.
The main issue for me was everything important happened offscreen. The romantic development, character development, revealing plot twists, revenge plot...none of it was actually IN the moment, on the page, but just vaguely mentioned or suddenly dumped on the reader's head in giant infodumps. Like the evil villain reveals were all done via pages upon pages of the villain monologuing about his evil plans. There were two main villains, so just multiply that by two. And even the hero did his own monologuing about his revenge plot 🤦🏻
About the romance...where was it? At one point, Ava was telling her brother Josh how Alex was such a great guy because he was funny, protective, caring, etc., and I'm like ???? When and where, because I don't remember reading any of that. So much was off-page, just like the supposed times where he was teaching her how to swim and overcome her fear of water, which by the way had potential to be cute and swoon-worthy, but I never saw any of it!
It was so frustrating. Too much was going on in the book, too many tropes, too many missed opportunities, yet at the same time nothing was happening.
I know this book was (and still is) really popular on Amazon and Booktok, so maybe it's just a "me" problem.
Sorry for stalling! I got frustrated reading Twisted Love and had to take a breather...but in the end I couldn't finish it anyway 😓I'm starting this week's book tomorrow, hopefully will be all caught up by the weekend. Also changing this week's selection. I need a break from billionaires LOL!
✈️ Selection Post ✈️ REPOSTWeek #5, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
[*book:Striking Distance|15704285]
Page count: 374 pages
Qualification: MP setting is Denver, Colorado (United States)
LaurLa wrote: "Completion Post🚦Week 4Option 1
Call🚦15. BUS
Task🚦Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the name of the title, series and/or author
Book🚦[book:Blasphemous|188..."
The things we do for challenges! LOL I have also continued a series because it has a Q or U I need for a spell out. 🙂
minnemoo wrote: "Sorry for stalling! I got frustrated reading Twisted Love and had to take a breather...but in the end I couldn't finish it anyway 😓I'm starting this week's book tomorrow, hopefully will be all ca..."
You’re not alone. I have DNFd books that have high ratings on goodreads or my goodreads friends have loved.
minnemoo wrote: "COMPLETION POST🗺️ Completion Post 🗺️
Week #4, Option #2
[*book:Twisted Love|55817097]
Date read: May 9 (DNF)
Rating: 1★
Review: DNFed at 78%. Chapter 37, locati..."
You get props for trying!! And at 78% - part of me might have pushed through just because I was so far, but then again, why waste time if you hate something, right?
minnemoo wrote: "✈️ Selection Post ✈️ REPOSTWeek #5, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
[*book:Striking Distance|15704285]
Page ..."
One of my all time favorite series. I feel like this author, esp this series, is like a sleeper movie - it sneaks up on you how good it is without a lot of hype around it.
Selection PostWeek #6
Option 1
Heartless by Elsie Silver
Pages: 476
Qualification: From book page, “But broad-shouldered ranchers with calloused hands and filthy mouths are this city girl’s kryptonite.”
[*bookcover:Heartless|61373532]
LaurLa wrote: "Completion Post🚦Week 4Option 1
Call🚦15. BUS
Task🚦Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the name of the title, series and/or author
Book🚦Blasphemous
Pages🚦403 pp (GR kindle, l..."
Hi LaurLa - could you please update week 4 msg 98 to 'selection'? Thanks!
(Don't bother reposting, just let me know here :)
Jane (PS) wrote: "Hi LaurLa - could you please update week 4 msg 98 to 'selection'? Thanks!."Oops, sorry about that! Fixed.
Week 6Link to Jane's post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 1
8. Country
Read a book set in the country e.g. farm, ranch
For all the location/setting tasks, the book does not have to be solely set in that location; it simply needs at least one scene set there. The usual precise, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.
In this case the following will work:
* the precis includes a reference to the country, ranch, farm etc
* the book is tagged/shelved with an appropriate reference to country, ranch, farm etc
* the book is set in the wilderness/remote areas
* the bookcover shows a country setting.
Please ask if you are not sure.
If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 2
Key date: 3 November 2023
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.
LaurLa wrote: "minnemoo wrote: "✈️ Selection Post ✈️ REPOSTWeek #5, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
[*book:Striking Distance..."
Yes, totally agree with you! It's such an underrated series that definitely deserves more attention, but at the same time I like that it's a hidden treasure 🙂
COMPLETION POST🗺️ Completion Post 🗺️
Week #5, Option #1
[*book:Striking Distance|15704285]
Date read: May 11
Rating: 4.5★
Review:
I regret not picking this up sooner. Laura and Javier were not part of the original established cast and I didn't read their novella either, so I was like "Ehhh...hmmm...I dunno..." and even thought of skipping to the next one, haha. So glad I didn't.
The storyline was somewhat different from the usual I-Team read, not as much fast-paced action and focused more on the daily life of the characters. The heavy, somber topics made it hard to read at times (yep I cried a lot), but there was also a nice mix of humor, mystery, and the romance was the chef's kiss. Both Laura and Javier went through so much and needed time to heal. They were such a well-matched couple. I thought the slow burn feel of the romance worked really well for them.
✈️ Selection Post ✈️Week #6, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in the country e.g. farm, ranch
[*book:One Heart to Win|16130270]
Page count: 384 pages
Qualification: The hero is a rancher, as mentioned in the precis: Honoring her mother's promise, Tiffany reluctantly travels west to meet her estranged father and his enemy's eldest son, rancher Hunter Callahan.
Selection Post🚦Week 6Option 1
Call🚦8. Country
Task🚦Read a book set in the country
Book🚦Twisted Truths
Pages🚦449 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦cover shows wooded, remote area (approved by Jane)
[*book:Twisted Truths|34616646]
SELECTION POSTWeek #6, Option 1
Book: The Devil’s Playground by Charly Cox
Pages: 333
How it Qualifies: Country/wooded area on cover
[*book:The Devil’s Playground|59817114]
Completion Post🚦Week 6Option 1
Call🚦8. Country
Task🚦Read a book set in the country
Book🚦Twisted Truths
Pages🚦449 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦cover shows wooded, remote area (approved by Jane)
Date Read🚦05.12 ★★★★
Review
This was the last book in a series that felt a little ambitious to give the male MC, Denver, his own hero story as well as to wrap up the entire series story arc. Of course, everything that happened added to the intensity of the story and most of the book I was a bit on edge because I kept thinking 'what ELSE can go wrong?!' - but everything worked out in the end, of course, and all of the Blood Brothers and Gray Brothers can live happily ever after ;-)
Completion PostWeek #6
[*book:Heartless|61373532]
Read: 5/13/24
Rating: ✶✶✶✶✶
Review:
Elsie Silver is one of my new favorite romance writers. And this book did not disappoint! I loved the fiery relationship between Cade and Willa, in and out of bed. Cade was definitely a lovable grump to Willa’s sunshine. Really enjoyed how Willa didn’t let Cade get away with any bad behavior. It was also sweet how great Willa was with Cade’s son, Luke. I laughed, I smiled, from beginning to the end.
SELECTION POSTWeek #6, Option 1
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Pages: 379
How it Qualifies: set in wilderness
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve... Tagged6 times
COMPLETION POSTWeek #6, Option 1
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Date Read: 5/13
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
The chemistry between Leo and Lily was lacking and felt bland. I didn't feel any convincing tension or longing considering that they're supposed to be each other's 'the one', even after they reunited, so there's that. I'm a sucker for second chance romances but this just fell flat for me.
This may be for anyone who likes Indiana Jones, or National Treasure with a hint of romance.
We're all caught up through week 5 and we all have our books selected for week 6 - great job staying on top of reading! Making my job easy 😁Hope you're having a happy reading week!
Selection PostWeek #7
Option 1
A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins
Pages: 294
Qualification: Tagged UK and England on First page of tags, second and third column
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
[*book:A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril|196745356]
Week 7Link to Jane's post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 1
2. UK & Ireland
Read a book set in the British Isles
Wiki link to a definition of the British Isles ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
For all the location/setting tasks, the book does not have to be solely set in that location; it simply needs at least one scene set there. The usual precise, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.
Please ask if you are not sure.
If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 2
Key date: 10 November 2023
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.
Selection Post🚦Week 7Option 1
Call🚦2. UK & Ireland
Task🚦Read a book set in the British Isles
Book🚦Unclaimed
Pages🚦304 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits🚦set in England per books main page setting
[*book:Unclaimed|58442079]
✈️ Selection Post ✈️Week #7, Option 1
Task: Read a book set in the British Isles
[*book:The Book of Lost Things|69136]
Page count: 339 pages
Qualification: MP setting is United Kingdom
Completion PostWeek #7
[*book:A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril|196745356]
Read: 5/20/24
Rating: ✶✶1/2
Review:
This was my least favorite book in the series. I liked Jane’s independent spirit. And the little tidbits of real history added into the story. But the romance and murder mystery were ultra light. No real heat between Adrian and Jane, and not much suspense for the murder mystery investigation.
🗺️ Completion Post 🗺️Week #6, Option #1
[*book:One Heart to Win|16130270]
Date read: May 20
Rating: 3.75★
Review:
I liked it overall, but some of the plot was just so nonsensical (mostly the feud between the families and also the reason why the heroine's mother split up with the father), it was kind of frustrating. I did like Tiffany, the heroine. And the little piglet that followed her around. So cute!
Wish I could say the same for the romance. It was pretty lackluster. The hero didn't appear until nearly 30% into the book, and I honestly thought the heroine had better chemistry with one of the side characters, lol.
COMPLETION POST 🌟Week #6 🌟Option 1
🌟Call 8: Country
🌟Read a book set in the country
[*book:The Devil's Playground|60302545]
🌟Date Read: 13 May 2024
🌟Rating: 5 stars
🌟Review: Wow! This is my favorite book in this series. I loved it! And I love Charly Cox, the author of this series.
I love getting to know more and more about the cast of characters that I have grown to love: Alyssa, Cord, Hal, Joe, Tony and Ruby. They've become like old friends/acquaintances. Alyssa is quite the detective and I love her chemistry with her detective "friend." As we've all heard, we each wear many hats, as does Alyssa. Her detective demeanor is far different from her everyday personality.
The Devil's Playground is set in a cult, normally something I don't like to read or think about. But...Charly Cox hooked me from the get-go! It starts with murders, kidnapping, and children being in the mix...can't spoiler it. Carter and Abigail (one of my granddaughter's name) are just adorable, and he fits that "always protect your little sister" category.
It seems like most books of this genre have one psychopath, but this one has two! And I loved it. I loved to hate them! lol This one was just so good in a bad way...make sense? Or should I say it was so bad in a good way? I don't know, but I must have a sick mind to love this dark, Devil's Playground!
SELECTION POST 🌟WEEK 7🌟Option 1
🌟Call 2. UK & Ireland
🌟Task: Read a book set in the British Isles
🌟Book: Before He Kills Again
🌟Pages: 359
🌟How it Qualifies: Set in Liverpool, England (see MPG)
[*book:Before He Kills Again|54543090]
COMPLETION POST 🌟WEEK 7🌟Option 1
🌟Call 2. UK & Ireland
🌟Task: Read a book set in the British Isles
🌟Date Read: 21 May 2024
🌟Rating: 5 stars
🌟Review:🌟 Boy, oh boy! this was so good. POV's included the serial killer and his thoughts going into kidnapping people and then the thrill and excitement as he anticipated what he was going to do to them. SICK and DARK!
[*book:Before He Kills Again|54543090]
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
The Wharton Plot (other topics)The Wharton Plot (other topics)
To Love A Thief (other topics)
A Royal Witch (other topics)
Lady Fortescue Steps Out (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Manda Collins (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
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Week #4, Option 1
Book: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
Pages: 272
How it Fits: All letters BUS is in the title