July - Pick It For Me Challenge

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

That most read books will be really interesting at the end... (with all the buddy reads going on...) Thanks DG :)

[Julie]

Finished the first book in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. I really liked this book and would gladly recommend it. This is my third completed pick. Thanks KarenH for this suggestion.

[Dee]

I finished up The Raven Prince which Tugce Nida recommended as a buddy read, but didn't realize it until just now...lol!

also reading Sweet Persuasion as another pick from her

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Julie, I'm so glad you liked Virgin River - I love that series! The characters and storylines are great, and even though I'm actually a couple of states away, the description of the setting sounds like it could be right where I live. I enjoyed our buddy read of Cherish (finished 7/11/11), even though I fell a bit behind and you had to wait for me to catch up to discuss it.

I also finished How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf today, part of the group buddy read. What a fun, entertaining book! Thanks, Vi, for the recommendation. I'm hoping to get through at least one more of your recommendations before the end of the month, but the problem is going to be picking which one - there are several that sound really good! :)

[Kami]

I finished Magic Slays and it was awesome if anyone else wants to read it. Five stars!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Before anyone starts to get a bit antsy, I am hosting the August Pick It For Me Challenge. Due to work commitments I can't post the thread until tomorrow.

So don't fret - it will be up and ready in about 23 hours at the latest :)

[Tuğçe]

Dee wrote: "I finished up The Raven Prince which Tugce Nida recommended as a buddy read, but didn't realize it until just now...lol!

also reading Sweet Persuasion as another pick f..."

:) How was it, The Raven Prince?

[Tuğçe]

I have finished The Princess Bride, which was a Buddy Read with Amanda, which we still try to discuss :)

I also read Secret Daughter, which I suggested to Dee but read with Vi as a buddy read :)

[Dee]

I enjoyed it - will prob read the rest in the series

Tugce Nida wrote: "Dee wrote: "I finished up The Raven Prince which Tugce Nida recommended as a buddy read, but didn't realize it until just now...lol!

also reading Sweet Persuasion as an..."

[Megan L]

9. Comet - The cover of The Iron King caught my attention. I love a good cover! Finished on 7/16/11 It was a good story! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[D.G.]

Jane (PS) wrote: "That most read books will be really interesting at the end... (with all the buddy reads going on...) Thanks DG :)"

Glad you liked the stats ladies!

I know Debbie always does the stats about books recommended but I always wanted to know what books were actually picked. :) I figure that Naked Werewolf will take the prize for most read as like a gazillion of us read it/are reading it.

I'm planning to do final stats on most read authors, most read series and if I can, even genres, but that will have to be for the end. :)

[Vi]

I finished How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf which was a group read with the many many people.

Brenda, saw your comment over at the thread. Glad you liked it. I'm glad I liked it too! :P

[Suzanne]

Jane (PS) wrote: "Suzanne Wow - 4,907 books on your TBR shelf – 244 246 pages! (This jumped by another 37 books as I was picking!!) I was nearly drowning there for a while. :) You also have a really wide range o..."

Finished Darkfever and it was really good! Full Moon Rising is next on my list!

[Julie]

KarenH - I finally read Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas. Thanks for helping me start this series. I've had it on my TBR list tooo long. This is my 4th book finished from your picks. I deserve a cookie or something.....ha ha.

[~Megan~]

Shellbelle:

I finished my third pick from you, Magic Bites, on 7/8 and have since read the entire series!! Thank you for pushing me onto the Kate and Curran bandwagon! :)

[Shellbelle]

YAY Megan!!! How exciting:) I had someone nudge me to read it, and I was soooo glad that she did, it has became on of my favs.! And Curran....YUM;)

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

I finished How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf last night. Great fun book. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that this book would be a great 'beach' read - one of the categories that Sandy included in the monthly challenge :) Easy to read, relaxing, funny, light but well-written.

[D.G.]

That's true, Jane! I'll use it for my beach read (I didn't have anything on that category.)

[Thenia]

I finished my July pick - Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot. A a light book and good end to the series. I've also read one of the buddy reads, The Pregnancy Test by Erin McCarthy which was also fun.

Looking forward to August's PIFM!

[Megan L]

4. Mercury - I thought Kresley Cole's historical trilogy was great. Haven't read The Warlord Wants Forever, but hopefully it's great too. Finished 7/18/11. This is an awesome book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

[AlbertaJenn]

Miss:

I finished My Soul to Lose. It was really good, but wasn't overly earth-shattering; much of what was told was already in My Soul to Take. But good to get it off my TBR shelf!

Next: Invincible: The Chronicles of Nick. Hope I can get it finished before the end of the month! Been finishing off some other stuff that I have had laying around for a while. Cleaning up my Currently Reading pile. :-)

Thanks for the rec!

[Amanda]

I finished The Princess Bride, which was a buddy read with Tugce Nida. Next I'll be reading A Hunger Like No Other. I hope to read some of the other recommendations soon, but July is a very busy month for me.

[Dee]

I just finished up Sweet Persuasion which was my third recommendation from Tugce Nida...loved it - I was about crying by the end - i decided to break my rule for reading series and start the next book because I wanna read about Julie and hopefully Nathan

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

D.G. ~Vile Temptress~ wrote: "That's true, Jane! I'll use it for my beach read (I didn't have anything on that category.)"

LOL DG! - glad I could help :)

[Cacophony]

I have finished Stray. I really enjoyed the ending.

[Miss]

AlbertaJenn wrote: "Miss:

I finished My Soul to Lose. It was really good, but wasn't overly earth-shattering; much of what was told was already in My Soul to Take. But good to get it off my TBR shelf..."

I'm happy you're ok with your pick Alberta, hope the next one is more captivating. :)

[AlbertaJenn]

Miss wrote: "AlbertaJenn wrote: "Miss:

I finished My Soul to Lose. It was really good, but wasn't overly earth-shattering; much of what was told was already in My Soul to Take. But good to get i..."

Sherrilyn Kenyon is always good for an exciting read. I'm sure it will be. :-)

[Lacy]

Larissa wrote: "Lacy,

I'm really glad that you enjoyed your picks! And as for the buddy reads, I'm going to be traveling in the last week of July, but as for the rest, I'm avaliable. Just let me know ;)

----..."

Larissa
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to do the buddy read after all. I have to many library books due back on the 30th!!!!

I hope that you enjoy your trip!

~Lacy

[Larissa]

That's alright, don't worry about it ;)



Thank you and happy reading!

[Julie]

KarenH,
I'm starting The Help tonight. I am looking forward to this one. I'll post when I finish to let you know how I liked it.

[TinaNoir]

I have finished all my books this challenge:

Gorgeous As Sin - 3-stars - a quick, fun read that I thought was lighter in tone and spirit than a lot of Susan Johnson books

Two Buddy reads:
Beauty Queens - 3 stars - YA novel that was a bit schizophrenic in tone. Would've enjoyed it more without some of the wanna be satiric humor

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf - 4 stars - funny as heck. Felt a bit chick lit at times, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

[D.G.]

Finally! I finished my first rec from Jenn...How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf. Really enjoyed it!

Now I just started Don't Look Back, one of Dee's recs...

[KimKirt]

Hi Amanda!

Hope you haven't given up on me. I'm about 3/4 the way thru The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. I have started The Princess Bride and I just picked up The Hunger Games from the library. Will check in again as I finish.

Kim

[Tuğçe]

Dee wrote: "I just finished up Sweet Persuasion which was my third recommendation from Tugce Nida...loved it - I was about crying by the end - i decided to break my rule for reading series and s..."

Although I still think Sweet Persuasion was better my next favourite was Micah's story, Julie's story is not bad at all. You will not be disappointed probably :)

[Tuğçe]

I am finished The Princess Bride, which was a Buddy Read and I am finished with The Name of the Wind, thank you Amanda it was a good one. I am reading The Warlord Wants Forever next.

[Elke]

Just got from the library...I am in the middle of reading . So hopefully I will get to finish both by the end of July!

[Dee]

I finished up Julie's story last night - i liked it, but not as much as I did Serena's...something felt like it was just missing...going to take a break before i read Micah's

Tugce Nida wrote: "Dee wrote: "I just finished up Sweet Persuasion which was my third recommendation from Tugce Nida...loved it - I was about crying by the end - i decided to break my rule for reading ..."

[D.G.]

COMPLETERS
Updated through msg 695

1. Megan: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas, Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon, Nevermore by Keith R.A. DeCandido, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole - 7/1, 7/15, 7/18, 7/19
2. Fran: The Wrong Suitor by Tina Folsom, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Chasin' Eight by Lorelei James - 7/2, 7/11, 7/15
3. ~Megan~: Deeper Than Midnight by Lara Adrian, Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas, Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews - 7/2, 7/18
4. Amy: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning, Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (BR), Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie (BR) - 7/2, 7/3, 7/10, 7/15
5. Diane ~Firefly~: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - 7/2
6. Lorena: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - 7/3
7. Penney: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey - 7/4
8. Alexis: Four to Score by Janet Evanovich, Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas - 7/4, 7/7, 7/13
9. Elke: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward - 7/4
10. Sue: Soulless by Gail Carriger, Hilda the wicked witch by Paul Kater (BR) - 7/5, 7/11
11. Lacy: At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost - 7/5
12. Dee: Lord of the Flies by William Golding - 7/5
13. Amanda: Once and Always by Judith McNaught - 7/5
14. Kate: No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole - 7/6
15. Regina: Aftershock by Jill Shalvis - 7/6
16. Debbie: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - 7/6
17. Shell: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione - 7/6, 7/15
18. Tiffanny: Delirium by Lauren Oliver - 7/7
19. Lilli: Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh - 7/7
20. Cacophony: Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas, Stray by Rachel Vincent - 7/8, 7/19
21. Brenda: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas - 7/8
22. Heather: Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare, A Lot Like Love by Julie James, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (BR) - 7/8, 7/13
23. MountainKat: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning, You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister (BR) - 7/8
24. Renee: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 7/9
25. Caroline: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (BR), Hilda the wicked witch by Paul Kater (BR) - 7/9, 7/11
26. Lisa: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, Faefever by Karen Marie Moning - 7/9, 7/11
27. Dee: The Letter Z by Marie Sexton, The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks - 7/9, 7/17, 7/19
28. Jim: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - 7/9
29. Jane: Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank (BR), How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (BR) - 7/9, 7/18
30. Julie: Saving Grace by Julie Garwood, Cherish by Catherine Anderson (BR), Virgin River by Robyn Carr, Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas - 7/9, 7/17, 7/18
31. Melissa **: The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter, Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (BR), Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie (BR) - 7/10, 7/12, 7/15
32. Larissa: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas - 7/10
33. Isabella: Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson, The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen - 7/11
34. Anna: Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas - 7/11
35. Mandy: Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank (BR)- 7/11
36. Clare: Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, In the Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jeffries - 7/13
37. Suzanne: Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb, Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning - 7/13, 7/18
38. Ari: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - 7/13
39. Shellbelle: The Short Second Life of Bree Tannerby Stephenie Meyer - 7/15
40. Katie: The Cross of Sins by Geoffrey Knight - 7/15
41. ~Sara~: Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy - 7/16
42. Reyl: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - 7/16
43. ~KarenH~: Cherish by Catherine Anderson (BR), How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (BR) - 7/17
44. Kami: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews - 7/17
45. Tugce Nida: The Princess Bride by William Goldman (BR), Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (BR) - 7/18
46. Vi: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (BR) - 7/18
47. Thenia: Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, The Pregnancy Test by Erin McCarthy - 7/19
48. AlbertaJenn: My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent - 7/19
49. Amanda: The Princess Bride by William Goldman (BR) - 7/19
50. Tina: Gorgeous as Sin by Susan Johnson, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (BR), How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (BR) - 7/21
51. D.G.: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper - 7/21

MOST READ BOOKS
5 Readers


3 Readers


2 Readers



ALL BOOKS READ

[Lady Allison]

Photojim, I finished a couple days ago & really enjoyed it! Thanks so much for kicking my butt into reading it :D

[Fran, Moderator]

Finished my Buddy Read with Tina- How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf- very cute, I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

[KimKirt]

Yay! I finished The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. I didn't really care for it though, but happy I finished it!

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Glad you enjoyed it Lady Allison. I think the third one in the series is my favorite. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series too.

[Lady Allison]

Photojim wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it Lady Allison. I think the third one in the series is my favorite. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series too."

I'm on the 3rd one now & while I definitely enjoyed Sam & Francesca, I think this one will be my favorite as well! I'm loving the history & tension between Nic & Brenna.

[Julie]

KarenH,
I just finished another of your picks. (The Help-Kathryn Stockett) Wonderful! Now I'm curious if the movie is as good. Usually movies aren't even close to the richness of the books they are supposed to mirror. Anyway, thanks for this pick. This is my 5th pick finished.

[TinaNoir]

Fran wrote: "Finished my Buddy Read with Tina- How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf- very cute, I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series."

Hey Fran, thanks the for Buddy read suggestion. I enjoyed it a lot too. My favorite of the July PIFMs.

[SandyC]

I finished two of my picks: and .

Thanks to Roxy for the nudge to read them!

[Fran, Moderator]

Kate,

I finished my third pick of yours- The Ghost on My Couch. It was surprisingly touching and sweet and I even choked up at the end! Thanks for getting it off my tbr, so glad I read it!

[Desperado]

Sandy, I finished your rec, .

It was...horrible. I've read most of LJ's "Rough Riders" books so I KNOW she can do better than this. I also know that although her books are full-o-sex, the h/h don't usually eye-bone each other within the first few pages. This book jumped right into the sexing & it became very repetitive quick. Thanks for rec'ing it. I knew I had to read it at some point; I just needed that extra push.

[SandyC]

LerhalLovely...Sorry you didn't like it! Guess I should
stick to recommending books I have actually read...I hope
next month is better for you!

[Dee]

lethal - I felt the same way about LHR - it was just full-blown, but I read it before I read any of her others - so glad I didn't give up on the series