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Pass The Parcel (Team Challenge)
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PtP R24 - Wedding Between the Lines (3)
Completion Post - Week 6: Option 1
Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde
Finished: 5.29.25
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: This is the 5th and final book of the Windy City series and I'm sad it's over. With that being said, it didn't leave me feeling like I needed more. I'm perfectly content and that's uncommon for me in a series. I can really feel their love-almost feel like I was part of it. Although the plot was a little "blah", this second chance romance may be in my top 5 favs.
Completion Post - Week 6: Option 1
Book: A Not So Meet Cute
Finished: 29 May
Rating: 4 stars
Review
I thought this one was really cute and fun to read. I loved the MC's Huxley and Lottie and their bantering. I thought the supporting characters were all good too but I didn't like Angela at all. Huxley is what I'd call a workaholic. Due to a business deal going sour, he feels the need to lie and say he's engaged and his fiancée it pregnant. As we all know the truth always comes out in the end. I won't say what happens but keep in mind that the series name is Cane Brothers.
Selection Post ❱❱ Week 7 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱ 10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white
Task ❱❱ Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country
Book ❱❱ Heir Untamed
Pages ❱❱ 312 (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ❱❱ Based on the precis, the female MC works for the Latvala royal family and engages in a friendship/relationship with the prince
Week 7Option 1
10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country
OR
Read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).
'Pop' or 'business' royalty etc or equivalent will not count.
Please post the bookcover is you select the 'white' bookcover choice.
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: 29 November 2024
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.
Week 7 selection - option 1
Harriet by Joan Mellows
Pages: 221
Qualification: King George IV is a character - "whereupon His Majesty, taking her hand in the kindest fashion, said" p.208, "what she and King George had ultimately spoken of" p.209
🍀 Outstanding:Completions
Week 5 - Vicki
Week 6 - Shan & LaurLa
Please let me know if I missed a post!!
I finished my book days ago. I'll get it posted tomorrow and update our tracking thread, as well as choose a book for the new call.
Week 7 completion
Book: Harriet by Joan Mellows
Date: 1/6 3★
Review:
This is an older Regency Romance (1977), although, as it's set in the 1820s & Prinny is now George IV, not really a Regency at all. It does have all the right elements, however, so we won't quibble about a few years.
I quite liked Harriet Frome, although her constant self-sacrifice to the whims & needs of others became a bit tedious. Her interest & care did border on interference so I can understand Hugh de Brandon's mistaking it for such. Ultimately, Hugh & Harriet's like-mindedness augurs well for a happy future.
Completion Post - Week 7
Evergreen by Ruby Scott
Finished: 6/1/25
Rating: ★★★
Review: I love Ruby Scott’s writing. I’ve read some fantastic stuff from her but this wasn’t one of them unfortunately. The plot was intriguing but man everything was so unnecessarily convoluted. I did like Alex and Zoe they had great sexual tension and chemistry but I didn’t buy into their romance because something was missing for me. Alex was my favorite character of the two because she’s an Ice Queen and that character type will always be my weakness. But yeah, this one just didn’t work for me like I was wanting it to. It felt like it was trying to do too much and nothing ended up getting fleshed out.
Selection Post - Week 7
How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles
Pages: 281
Qualification: White cover
Completion Post ~ Week 7Book:
Author: Simone Elkeles
Read: 2 June 2025
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This was a re-read for me but it was inadvertent. lol I had read it in 2019 and I needed it for a challenge with a task that a character wears a pantsuit. I looked for close to 3 hours yesterday and found nothing! Today I was looking at my thread of series books and saw this one and checked it and there it was! What I needed. Then I realized that it would also fit our week 7 task so I got to finally kill 2 birds (books) with 1 stone (1 book). :)
I had forgotten how annoying the MC is! OMG kill me now. lol I hate to admit this but I had also forotten about this author. I am going to read book 3 pretty soon (if I remember) and check into more of Simone Elkeles' books because I do like her very much for the genres she writes.
Aside from not loving the MC, I loved the humor in this book. I found many funny words/actions, such as when Amy not only kidnapped her own boyfriend but using plastic handcuffs on him. lol Okay, maybe all in fun but a bit ridiculously absurd so I did find it funny for that reason only. (I took this part from my previous review since it was still one of the funniest and most ridiculous things that I had to roll my eyes at, laugh at, and say OKAAAAAAYYYYYYY. lol
Completion PostWeek #6
Option 1
Book: Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
Page numbers: 368
How it fits: Tagged HEA 6x
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Finished: 05/25
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I've been looking forward to Teddy and Guy's story the most and I was not disappointed. This is my absolute favorite in the series to this point. The next book will have to knock my socks off and flip me over to be better than this.
I love an enemy to lovers where the enemies' part actually makes sense. Guy blames Teddy for getting Emmy, his sister & her best friend, into trouble when while they were growing up. He has placed himself as the protector of his siblings, especially Emmy who is the youngest and the only girl. Teddy dislikes stems from that (and another incident that took place years ago). He's always treated her with dislike, so she gives back the same. Neither of them realizing that they are more alike than different.
Now they are in a place where he needs help and she's going through something and is currently the only one available to offer support. He is not gracious about accepting.
This time allows them to finally, after years, get to know each other and let the attraction that was riding beneath the service shine through. Shocking the whole town.
I loved everything about this story. Guy is so freaking stubborn, that it takes the other people in his life to give him some hard truths. I love this family and how much they love and respect each other, but they step in when needed to help someone get their head on straight and that includes Teddy and her dad, and also Cam. Who wouldn't gush over a man who is an amazing father to his daughter Riley and loves his family.
Plus, these two were combustible together.
UPDATE!!Completion Posts
Week 1 ~ 11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event ~ Done!
Week 2 ~ 5. The ceremony follows well established rituals: Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'. ~ Done!
Week 3 ~ 8. Marriage is a legal contract: Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer. ~ Done!
Week 4: 3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.) Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name. ~ Done!
Week 5: 7. A wedding takes extensive planning: Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books. Please link to the series page.
🍾Vicki: Option #1 | Cold Days | 515 pgs | Rating | Link to Post
Week 6: 16. And they lived happily ever after: Read a book tagged 'hea'.
🍾LaurLa: Option #1 | Bounty | 678 pgs | Rating | Link to Post
Selection Posts
Week 7: 10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
🔔Shan A: Option # | Book | Pages | Qualification | Link to Post
🍾Michelle: Option # | Book | Pages | Qualification | Link to Post
I will have at least one of my books done before the call this week. Falling a little behind because PtP isn't playing well with TART or my other team challenges at the moment! But I'll get caught up by the weekend!
Selection Post - Week 7Option 1
Twisted Games by Ana Huang
Pages: 456
Qualification: character who is considered royal or rules a country. "Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Just realized I posted an update and still didn't make a selection post. I'll try to remember to choose a book after work.
Selection Post - Week 7Option 1
Book: Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
Page Numbers: 400
How it fits:
(white cover)
Completion Post - Week 7: Option 1Twisted Games by Ana Huang
Finished: 6.4.25
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: This is a re-read for me and book 2 of the Twisted series. I recently heard (fake news?) that this series is coming to the big screen or Netflix. I figure it's been over a year so I may as well read it again. Still great the 2nd time around. Bridget isa Ava's best friend (book 1) and the princess of Eldorra. Because her brother abdicated his title to the thrown to marry a commoner, Bridget has not choice but to submit to the Queen role. Rhys is an overbearing grump hired to be her security while she's studying in the US. The plot is definitely better than book 1 and it's not your typical princess/bodyguard story. She is to marry of noble blood and Rhys is not. Bridget is smart and witty and quick on her feet making it all come together in a HEA.
Completion Post ❱❱ Week 7 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱ 10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white
Task ❱❱ Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country
Book ❱❱ Heir Untamed
Pages ❱❱ 312 (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ❱❱ Based on the precis, the female MC works for the Latvala royal family and engages in a friendship/relationship with the prince
Date Read ❱❱ 06.05 ★★★★
Review
A somewhat predictable story with the female MC being on the brink of bankruptcy and suddenly getting a chance to work for a royal family - somewhere in northern Europe, I think. And predictably she falls for the crown prince but not as predictably she is immediately the target of threats - like the next morning. She's had no time to make enemies! Even though somewhat predictable, it was good writing and held my interest. I was disappointed that I never felt Chey being a target was never adequately explained... but I also think it's part of a larger story arc in the series, so I'll wait to see if book 2 dives further into that.
Week 8Option 1
1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used.
Please link to the series page.
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: 6 December 2024
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.
Week 8 selection - option 1
Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
Pages: 173
Qualification: Phryne Fisher #2
Selection Post - Week 8
Book: Longing for You by Jenny Frame
Pages: 212
Qualification: Book 2 in the Wild for You series
Selection Post - Week 8Option 1
Book: Only One Chance by Natasha Madison
Page Numbers: 254
How it fits: 2nd in the Only One series
https://www.goodreads.com/series/2897...
Completion Post - Week 8
Longing for You by Jenny Frame
Finished: 6/7/25
Rating: ★★★★.5
Review: I enjoyed this so much more than book one. There’s so much angst and push and pull between Alexis and Kate that I wanted to scream but it was just so good! Both were wonderful characters. Alexis is a very stoic vampire, doesn’t show her emotions especially after the death of her partner. Kate is a human, she’s young and she’s an absolute spitfire. She really knows how to get under Alexis’ skin so that was fun. I loved the chemistry between them and the angst and drama was addictive as well. Such a great romance.
I also loved that we got to see Byron and Amelia from book one. Love those two and I enjoyed everything that they had going on as well. I’m looking forward to getting to book three.
Completion Post ❱❱ Week 6 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱ 16. And they lived happily ever after
Task ❱❱ Read a book tagged 'hea'
Book ❱❱ Bounty
Pages ❱❱ 678 (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ❱❱ tagged HEA 10 times
Date Read ❱❱ 06.08 ★★★★
Review
What can I say? It's Kristen Ashley and she is my crack. That said, this one was pretty emotional and had me tearing up more than once. It's a lovely tribute to someone recognizing and being grateful for all they have in life, their "Bounty", and still know they are fulfilled and rather than letting that eat at them, they make efforts to figure out what will fulfill them. I loved the MC's love for her family and her need to honor her father. It was a sweet story and a bit of suspense that did take me by surprise near the end.
Selection Post ❱❱ Week 8 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱1. A wedding unites 2 people
Task ❱❱ Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series
Book ❱❱ Strong, Silent Cowboy
Pages ❱❱ 292 (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ❱❱ #2 in Moving Violations series
Week 8 completion
Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
Date: 9/6 5★
Review:
Fun & frolics in 1920s Melbourne as Phryne Fisher takes her second outing, her first as a private investigator & in her new house in St.Kilda: 221B The Esplanade, no less. She is hired to prevent a murder &, when that is unsuccessful to find the true culprit, while the police look down their noses at a lady detective - they haven't got to know Miss Fisher yet & are in for a few surprises. Phyrne also takes on the case of a missing child, kidnapped for ransom, which leads to some fairly hairy flying: well, it was all pretty risky in those days.
Highly entertaining, full of glamorous costumes, mouth-watering food & fascinating historical details; & all presided over by the scintillating, outrageous Miss Phryne Fisher.
Completion Post ❱❱ Week 8 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱1. A wedding unites 2 people
Task ❱❱ Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series
Book ❱❱ Strong, Silent Cowboy
Pages ❱❱ 292 (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ❱❱ #2 in Moving Violations series
Date Read ❱❱ 06.08 ★★★★
Review
Lora Leigh used to be my crack! If you're reading my reviews, you'll understand that reference :-) Anyway... I still enjoy reading the author. This was a good one but it was a little convoluted and maybe slightly over-complicated. Although I guess it did keep me guessing pretty much to the end. I think it's always interesting how the author combines international intrigue with small town settings and flavor. And she definitely does over the top alpha males!
Selection Post - Week 8 - Option 1Book: Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren
Pages: 345
Qualification: Read the 2nd book in a series.
Completion Post ~ Week 5
Book: Cold Days
Author: Jim Butcher
Read: 7 June 2025
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I just can't seem to get enough of Harry and all his antics! In previous plots he's been in ghost form, but now he's back in his regular physical body form and he is HOT! Bad ass hunk of a man who can kick ass like nobody's business! LOVE me some of Harry! Queen Mab puts a suspenseful twist on things. Harry becomes the Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. Keeping that in mind, one can imagine how dark and evil she can set tasks up for Harry.
Task: Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series
Book: Rebel Witch
Pages: 456 (Kindle edition linked above)
How it fits: Book 2 in the Crimson Moth series
Completion Post - Week 8Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren
Finished: 6.11.25
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: Book 2 introduces 2 "new" characters who I love. Sara, who broke off her 6 year relationship with a cheating a-hole, moves to NY to start a new life. She meets Max and I just fell in love with the Brit. There are themes in this book that I relate to personally and it was refreshing. The plot was much better than book 1 and book 1.5 and the spice was 5/5. I realize I've only met one other couple in this series with 7 books yet to read, but Max and Sara are my favorite thus far.
Selection Post ~ Week 8 Task: Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series
Book: So Not Meant to Be
Pages: 466 (Kindle edition linked above)
How it fits: Book #2 Cane Brothers series
Completion Post - Week 8Option 1
Book: Only One Chance by Natasha Madison
Page Numbers: 254
How it fits: 2nd in the Only One series
https://www.goodreads.com/series/2897...
Finished: 06/07
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I actually liked this one better than the first book in this series. These two were pretty funny, until they weren't. I liked how persistent Miller was in proving to Layla how much he wanted her, and how she fought against even though she knew it was something there. That whole thing with her grandma was hilarious.
However, it started to lose me after Layla's secret was revealed. As hard as he fought to get her, I would have thought he'd have acted differently once he got the full story, hell he should have just talked to her from the beginning. He's been after this woman for 4 years, in between the other women he was sleeping with, and he hears something unsavory, and he automatically shuts down? Nope.
From that point on it's a water fest for both of them.
Completion Post - Week 7Option 1
Book: Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
Page Numbers: 400
How it fits:
(white cover)Finished: 06/11
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Nell is running for her life after doing was necessary to evade her abusive husband. She comes to Three Sisters Island because it calls to her and she just wants to work and keep her head down. She definitely gets more than she bargained for.
Zack is the sheriff, and he knows right away that something is going on with Nell, but he bides his time because he wants her to trust him enough to tell him what she's running from.
Nell quickly becomes a part of the community and finds out there's more to her and the island than she ever could have imagined.
Nora Robert has a knack of writing these incredible, magical trilogies that are interwoven so well. Each book generally features a different couple, but the underlying plot is all connected. And even though their connected you still feel completely satisfied at the end of each book with what that couple had going on but still knowing there's more to come with all the things going on surrounding the couple of the moment.
Week 9Option 1
9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.
Qualification may come from the precis, an appropriately titled list or a relevant tag. Examples of a character that is 'wealthy' include other tags such as 'rich', 'millionaire', 'billionaire', 'moneyed', 'affluent'.
Please ask in the Q&A if you aren't sure.
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: 13 December 2024
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.
UPDATE!!Week 1 ~ 11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event ~ Done!
Week 2 ~ 5. The ceremony follows well established rituals: Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'. ~ Done!
Week 3 ~ 8. Marriage is a legal contract: Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer. ~ Done!
Week 4: 3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.) Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name. Done!
Week 5: 7. A wedding takes extensive planning: Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books. Please link to the series page. Done!
Week 6: 16. And they lived happily ever after: Read a book tagged 'hea'. Done!
Week 7: 10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white. Done!
Week 8: 1. A wedding unites 2 people
🍾Vicki: Option #1 | So Not Meant To Be | 466 pgs | Rating | Link to Post
Selection Post - Week 9 Option 1
Book: The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco by Talia Hibbert
Page Numbers: 210
How it fits: From Precis, "For millionaire footballer Nikolas Christou..."
Selection Post - Week 9
Book: The Contract by Cynthia Dane
Pages: 433
Qualification: One of the MCs, Etta is a billionaire. Per the precis: "On the day of an important job interview she's spotted by Etta Coleman, the smart and striking billionaire bachelorette who tears through assistants like cheap tissues."
Completion Post - Week 9
The Contract by Cynthia Dane
Finished: 6/14/25
Rating: ★★★
Review: Dane and Billings are such hit and miss authors for me. I’ve got a few five stars from them, some three stars, and two stars. This was way too long to be so boring. Over 400 pages of a molasses paced plot, the characters of Etta and Jamie (wonderful name) were okay and I did like the chemistry between them but I just wasn’t impressed with this book as a whole. I’ve read worst from these two hence the three stars but this one didn’t need to be this long at all.
Week 9 selection - option 1
Book:Possession in Death by J.D. Robb
Pages: 160
Task: Read a book with a wealthy character
Qualification: MCs are wealthy, tagged rich x 2 on p.4
Selection Post ❱❱ Week 9 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱ 9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Task ❱❱ Read a book with a wealthy character
Book ❱❱ Crashed
Pages ❱❱ 350 (linked ebook edition)
How it fits ❱❱ tagged billionaire 18 times
Selection Post - Week 9Option 1
Task: Read a book with a wealthy character
Book: A Long Time Coming
Pages: 473 (see linked book edition)
How it Fits: MPG Billionaire Romance (see linked book) also Tagged 'Billionaire' 184x
Completion Post ❱❱ Week 9 ❱❱ Option 1Call ❱❱ 9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Task ❱❱ Read a book with a wealthy character
Book ❱❱ Crashed
Pages ❱❱ 350 (linked ebook edition)
How it fits ❱❱ tagged billionaire 18 times
Date Read ❱❱ 06.15 ★★★★
Review
I do believe I have hit saturation level for the sh-- these two MCs can go through. It's a good thing this is the last in the 3 connected books for them in the series. I've rated these 4 stars because I do like the stories but they are also a reminder that New Adult as a genre can be a little weary-ing (not a word!) after a while. So much angst! And not just because of the drama but the inner dialogue for the MCs was very melodramtic and by this book 3, I was ready for them to just get over their baggage and move on!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
Date: 29/5 4★
Review:
I found this oneentertaining & more interesting than the previous book. Sookie heads to New Orleans to finalise the estate of her cousin Hedley, vampire lover to the Vampire Queen. There's quite a lot going on in this one, the pacing is good & I enjoyed the introduction of some new characters & talents. There's a lot of plotting going on: vampire against vampire, were against were, everyone against Sookie (probably because she's so nosy). We get to know Quinn a bit better (gotta love a weretiger): he & Sookie are getting along great so I expect it won't last, blink & she'll move on to the next supernatural creature.