Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Pass The Parcel (Team Challenge)
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PtP R24 - Aisle be there for you (4)
🍀 Outstanding:Completions:
Week 5 - CB (travelling)
Week 6 - Amber
Chiara - would you mind posting CB's selection of a PASS for Week 6? Thanks!
With Trip leaving the challenge, just a reminder that you can no longer use their shelf for Option 2 :)
Jane (PS) wrote: "🍀 Outstanding:Completions:
Week 5 - CB (travelling)
Chiara - would you mind posting CB's selection of a PASS for Week 6? Thanks!"
Hi Jane,
Sure I’ll do it now.
For the outstandings we’re also missing Amber completion for week #6
Chiara wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "🍀 Outstanding:Completions:
Week 5 - CB (travelling)
Chiara - would you mind posting CB's selection of a PASS for Week 6? Thanks!"
Hi Jane,
Sure I’ll do it now.
For the outsta..."
Very true! I do have that outstanding on my sheet as well! Thanks :)
Week #6 - Option 3 – CB's SELECTION POSTPASS
Jane (PS) wrote: "Chiara wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "🍀 Outstanding:Completions:
Week 5 - CB (travelling)
Chiara - would you mind posting CB's selection of a PASS for Week 6? Thanks!"
Hi Jane,
Sure I’ll do it now. ..."
Thanks to you for the amazing job you do on these challenges :)
Question: Do we think Dukes will count as royalty for this challenge?
Amber wrote: "Question: Do we think Dukes will count as royalty for this challenge?"Hey Amber, I don't think a duke can be considered for this challenge since it is specified that the character should be a ruler not only royalty. But I could be mistaken so maybe you should ask the question in the Q&A thread so Jane can answer you :)
Jane (PS) wrote: "With Trip leaving the challenge, just a reminder that you can no longer use their shelf for Option 2 :)"ah, right - thanks for the reminder about that
Jane (PS) wrote: "Trio wrote: "Selection & Completion Post, Week 6Hi Trio - in the future, could you please do SEPARATE selection and completion posts for this challenge? Thanks!..."
oh! Sorry Jane - yes, of course!
Amber wrote: "Question: Do we think Dukes will count as royalty for this challenge?"Hi Amber - Please ask in the Q&A thread if you are still interested in knowing if a Duke counts for this task :)
My vacation has come to an end I am so so sorry I completely ended up ghosting. I truly didn’t realize I would have so little time on my phone let alone I absolutely did no reading. If I can no longer participate I understand and I’m really sorry for basically just dropping out like that. If by a miracle I can still play - please let me know what I owe regarding posting and I’ll get that done!
CB wrote: "My vacation has come to an end I am so so sorry I completely ended up ghosting. I truly didn’t realize I would have so little time on my phone let alone I absolutely did no reading. If I can no lon..."Hi CB, don't worry you can still play! You need to make a selection for week #7 before the new theme is announced tomorrow and then you need completion for week #5 and week #7
I hope your vacation was good :)
Week #6 - Option #1 - COMPLETION POSTBook: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Date Read: 6/5/25
Rating: 5 STARS
Review: I have absolutely loved ALL of Ali Hazelwood's books. This one has been the best. I love the swimming sports romance. Fresh outlook on a sports romance. Also, love the exploration and outlook the character have to kink and BDSM. The banter was whitty, character development was great. Spice was even better. I highly recommend this book to any type of romance reader.
Week #7 - Option #2 - SELECTION POST Book: Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
Pages: 518 pages
Team Member: Rated 4 Stars by CB on 3/26/25
Completion Post, Week 7Option 1, White Cover
Tattooed Heart by Elamy Pride
197 pages
How it Fits:
Read: 4 Jun
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Oh my gosh, what a sweet surprise! I've never read anything by Elamy Pride before, and Tattooed Heart turned out to be an absolute pleasure.
A second chance romance is my favorite kind of love story, and Pride does a great job with this one. There aren't a bunch of silly misunderstandings (like we too often get), rather these two men have some valid issues and they work through them in a realistic, true way.
I espescially enjoyed the many references to the Avengers characters (I'm a big fan as well), and this added so much to the charm of the relationship.
Elamy Pride also introduces some interesting side characters, and I'm looking forward to future installments of the Tattooed series.
The audiobook version of Tattooed Heart is beautifully performed by Sion Hardd. They have so many different voices for all of these characters and I'm glad to have discovered a new narrator whom I enjoy.
Hi everyone! Here's our recap before the new theme is announced tonight:WEEK 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Complete
WEEK 5
Completion post from CB is missing
WEEK 7
Selection post from CB is missing
Completion posts from Chiara, CB and Amber are missing
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.
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 5: Completion PostOption 1
Book: Hell Hath No Fury
Date Read: 5/23
Rating: 2/5
Review:
DNF @ 50%. I did not connect with the main characters. I found the book to be a bit a boring and honestly the writing was slightly childish. I think this was my first book by this author so this could've been a one off. I will give her writing another chance.
Week 8: Selection Post Option 1
Book: Sea of Roses
Pages: 328
How it Qualifies: Book is book 1 of 2 books. This is a duology.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3459...
Week #7 - Option 1- COMPLETION POSTBook: Bittersweet Always
Date Read:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: This is the second installment in the Gray Springs University series and before reading it I had to re-read the first installment because I didn't remember these two characters at all. I love the first book of the series but unfortunately I didn't like this second one as much. This book tells the story between Toby and Pippa and it's a story mainly full of angst since Toby has very serious mental health issues. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with both characters and the story felt sometimes repetitive. Still good, but not great.
Week #8 - Option 1 – SELECTION POSTBook: Say You're Mine
Pages: 338
How the book qualifies: Book #1 of the "The One that I Want" duet. From the blurb: "This book was originally published (in part) as The One I Want, a stand-alone romance. It is now being republished as a duet with additional bonus content."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
CB wrote: "Week 8: Selection Post Option 1
Book: Sea of Roses
Pages: 328
How it Qualifies: Book is book 1 of 2 books. This is a duology.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3459......"
Hi CB - you just need to post a selection for week 7 as well. Please do this asap :)
Hope you had a great break!
Week #8 - Option #1 - SELECTION POST Book: Spiral by Bal Khabra
Pages: 367 pgs
How It Fits: Book #2 of the Off the Ice series
Amber wrote: "Week #7 - Option #2 - SELECTION POST Book: Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
Pages: 518 pages
Team Member: Rated 4 Stars by CB on 3/26/25
"Happy Reading! I hope you enjoy it too!
Week 7: Selection Post Option 1
Book:
Pages: 221
How it fits: Book cover shown above is all white.
Selection Post, WEEK 8Option 1, 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.
Sweet Expectations by Mary Ellen Taylor
352 pages
How it fits: book 2 in duology
Week #8 - Option 1- COMPLETION POSTBook: Say You're Mine
Date Read: June 13th
Rating: ⭐⭐
Review: DNF 52%
I rarely DNF a book but with this one I just couldn’t keep going. Garrick, the hero, was smitten with the heroine since their first encounter but she plays hard to get cause she never dates. But then around 50% of the book Garrick (who is wealthy) helps her grandma financially and when she finds out she all of a sudden kiss him in front of everyone.
Another very important thing that made me decide to dnf this book is the fact that I’ve realized that Garrick is NOT the love interest in the second book of this duet. And I honestly hate it when a duet has a love interest in one book and a new one in the second part..I had read the triggers and I know at the end of this book there is some kind of medical issue for Garrick..So the anxious in me had to check the second book before finishing the first to see if she would end up with the hero in the end or not..I hate to read a book and fall in love with a character only to find out he will not be end game..and I feel like this author does it all the time! I’ll read the second part of the duet but I’m really disappointed..
And since in this book Garrick was an amazing and caring guy I’m assuming that, in order to let the heroine change her mind, there will be a complete 180 in the next book..and I refuse to read 100 more pages of this book plus 700 pages of the next one!
Hi everyone, how's it going?Just a quick message to say I've updated the tracking posts up until here :)
Week 7: Completion Post Book:
Date Read: 6/12
Rating: 2/5
Review:
I pushed myself to finish this book because I selected it for a challenge and it really wasn't that long of a story. Plus I had already owned it. One of those books I got for free at some point.
The major plot point is that our FMC is a runaway who is "saved" by the MMC. She basically stays anonymous to him for 3 years but she knows who he is since she works for him. They end up meeting and he doesn't know who she is BUT in the synopsis it sort of makes it sound like it's going to be this big plot point, that he doesn't recognize her, and it really wasn't because it completely makes sense why he doesn't.
They hook up on their first night of "meeting each other" and immediately they throw in the daddy kink. It was not done well at all. The book continues and is just so cheesy and then we have these actually pretty hot sex scenes with her screaming daddy for no damn reason lol.
Anyways I finished this book, it kinda sucked, I probably should give it 1 star, and I do not recommend lol.
Week 8: Completion Post Book: Sea of Roses
Date Read: 6/8
Rating: 4/5
Review:
This is a really good historical pirates book! Both of our MC's are Pirates. Captains of their own ships! The story shows many times how much of a badass Rosetta (FMC) is. She also shows us multiple times just how stupid men can be compared to a woman's whit and it was extremely enjoyable lol.
What lacked for me with the story was that the MMCs character. I think it was that the author wrote him to be a mean, alpha, scary MMC, yet she failed to write him like that as well.
The story had a lot of emotional moments but also a lot of really funny moments too. I really did enjoy this overall and will finish this duology. It does end on a cliffhanger, of course, but not one that makes you want to throw your book/kindle against the wall.
Some good quotes:
"Beautiful clear skies, tranquil rolling waves, and strong steady winds to fill his sails- what a perfect day to get completely fucked over" LOL
"Eat, Mr Paine. I will not be feeding you again."
"Don't call me that," he demanded, turning his head back to her with gritted teeth. "My name is Captain Alister."
"A person must have a ship to be a captain, and currently, you don't own one." Her smile was sweet, but her words cut with lethal venom.
WEEK #7 - Option #2 - COMPLETION POST Book: Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
Date Read: 6/13/25
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: So I'm OBSESSED. This is my first Penelope Douglas read and BookTok is right. I loved the back and forth between past and present. I feel its difficult for authors to really hook you when following this format. The spicy scenes were SPICY. I really have to be in the mood for a dark romance, but this one hooked me. Can't wait to finish the series!
I think I'm caught up as well? I've got my week 8 book done, just have to polish up my review.
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.
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
CB wrote: "I'm actually caught up for once! :D LOL"Tracking posts have been updated.
We've completed week #1 to #7!!
For week #8 we're just missing completion posts from Trio and Amber, so I'd say we're doing great :)
WEEK #9 - Option #1 - SELECTION POST Book: Sin & Lightning by K.F. Breene
Pages: 329 pgs
How It Fits: tagged 'billionaire' by 3 ppl on page 2
Week 9: Selection Post Option 1
Book: The Diamond King: A Tale of Love, Hate, and Diamonds
Pages: 498
How it fits:
In the precis it says: Drasko Mawr, now the wealthiest diamond minor in the world....
Completion Post, WEEK 8Option 1, 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.
Sweet Expectations by Mary Ellen Taylor
352 pages
How it fits: book 2 in duology
Read: 11 Jun
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I didn't read the first book in Mary Ellen Tayor's Union Street Bakery series, but you can bet I'm going to be checking it out. I'm sure it's the sister's story and I want to get all the details of that one. Nevertheless, I had no trouble enjoying Daisy's story in Sweet Expectations.
This is a sweet story with a few really enjoyable twists and turns, I enjoyed the historical mystery aspect which was interesting due to the main character's status as an adopted child.
The audio version of Sweet Expectations is nicely performed by Moniqua Plante.
Week #9 - Option 1 – SELECTION POSTBook: Wild Love
Pages: 466
How the book qualifies: MPG: from the précis: "Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire"
Week #8 - Option #1 - COMPLETION POST Book: Spiral by Bal Khabra
Read: 6/17/25
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This was a super cute, easy read. The main characters had great chemistry. And I loved that the FMC was a ballerina. Sage, the FMC, was really funny and cracking jokes the whole book, which I always love. Both of the characters had flaws, but not annoyingly and the author portrayed both their struggles beautifully. Would strongly recommend for anyone who likes sports romance, without it being the entire plot.
🌺 OutstandingWeek 9 - selection Trio; completion ALL
Selection Post, Week 9Option 1
9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.
An American in London by Louise Bay
269 pages
How it Fits: from precis - "... Tuesday meets Ben Kelley, a wealthy, scowly, and movie-star-handsome stranger."
MPG Billionaire Romance
WEEK 10Option 1
15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life.
Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'. These are the only tags that will work.
So this can be a genre on the main page or on the book's shelves. A list will not work.
Please ask in the Q&A if you aren't sure.
Option 2
Key date: 20 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 #9 - Option 1- COMPLETION POSTBook: Wild Love
Date Read: June 21st
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: This book tells the story between Rosie and Ford, her brother's best friend. He's been in love with her since they were teenager but she has no clue. She returns to her hometown after losing her job and he helps her start over. I loved their love/hate relationship and their constant bickering and bantering. I'm not giving 5 stars because it wasn't perfect and there were some parts that I found a bit boring, but it was a solid 4.5 stars. I'll definitely be reading more books of this series.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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tagged HEA
Of Paper and Wood by Amy Bellows
198 pages
How it Fits: tagged HEA by 1 reade..."
Hi Trio - in the future, could you please do SEPARATE selection and completion posts for this challenge? Thanks!