August 2011 Challenge

[Lina]

Heather wrote: "Rating pending reduction in irritation levels..."

Was it that bad Heather?

[Heather]

I honestly don't know how to answer that, CaroB. The concept/plot was intriguing, but the actual telling fell well short of good. It was long winded, pretentious, maddeningly irritating. Also, it was a set up for book two and I really hate it when an author does that. If it weren't for those things, I would have loved it. Lol It was just one thing after another, shoving things at the reader for the shock effect or something.

[Lina]

LOL! I think you answered that quite well!

And why wait for a reduction in irritation levels? Would that not be part of your reaction to the book and therefore affect how you rate it? I'm only curious because I've recently been part of a ratings discussion in another group and have realised I tend to not be an easy grader, but must admit I always rate within a day of finishing the book. Otherwise I'll be halfway into another book and forget how I really felt when I was reading it. It's an interesting topic for me :-)

[Heather]

I had built up a real head of steam at something that was "revealed" towards the end, and didn't want that matter to influence my other all take on the book. I decided on 2 stars, because that the last "reveal" just was the last straw on a series of events that were just too much. So overall taking a little time (overnight, lol) didn't really change my reaction or rating too much. This is the first book that I've waited on giving a review, as I'm generally an instant star-er. Regardless, I thought the author could have done without many of the throw-in obstacles and it ruined the book for me.

[Lina]

"An instant star-er" I like that :-) I'm one of those too!

[Heather]

Currently reading my last book pick for the month (Mercy) when I should be prepping for a job interview in the morning. It's not that I don't want the job, I would just rather read. lol

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Good luck on the job interview, Heather. I understand wanting to read instead of doing anything else. I'm at work right now, thankful it's nap time so i can read. My BFF and I joke that working cuts into our precious reading time lol

[Lina]

Good luck on your interview Heather!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Lord, I totally understand that!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

3/5 Read

1. Hot Ticket by Deirdre Martin
2.Witch Heart By Anya Bast
3. Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
4. Covet by JR Ward
5. The Countess By Lynsay Sands

[Heather]

Thanks everyone. I finished the book and prepped. Go me. lol
Keep your fingers crossed.

5/5 Completed

1. Trial by Fireby by Jo Davis 8/8 ★★★★1/2
2. Mercy by Julie Garwood 8/18 ★★★★
3. Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden 8/10 ★★★★
4. Unlawful Contact by by Pamela Clare 8/5 ★★★★★
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 8/16 ★★

[Megan]

Way to go Heather!!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Congrats, Heather!

[Lina]

*prepares the pompoms* GOOOOOO HEATHER!!

[Heather]

Thanks again girls! Interviews went well too. Hopefully I'll hear something next week. =)
On to wait anxiously for September's challenge in the meantime. lol

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I'm replacing The Countess with Suddenly Sexy by Linda Francis Lee. It was summer in the book and The Countess is just not calling my name to read it right now LOL

4/5 Read

1. Hot Ticket by Deirdre Martin
2.Witch Heart By Anya Bast
3. Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
4. Covet by JR Ward
5. Suddenly Sexy by Linda Francis Lee

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Susan - It didn't call my name either.

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

I should clarify that - the cover did, b/c I'm a book cover ho and I loved that red dress - but the story never really grabbed me.

[Megan]

2/5 Completed Okay, because it was so long and took me so long I have decided to count A Game of Thrones as 2 books. :o)

It’s hot, hot, hot!
1 – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (I think Sean Bean is hot!) *****08/20
2 – Counting A Game of Thrones as two books
3 – Vacation with a Vampire… and Other Immortals (Anthology)
4 – Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (red cover AND hot guy)
5 – Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon (any choice)

[Patricia]

4/5

1 Hunting Season Shelly Laurenston 8/17
2 Storm's Heart Thea Harrison 8/6
3 Chains of Fire Christina Dodd 8/16
4 Seduce Me in Flames Jacquelyn Frank
5 Shadowflame Dianne Sylvan 8/13


read

[Michelle]

Read 2/5



1.Nocturne by Syrie James **
2. The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith*****
3.
4.
5.

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Yea! Megan, you finished - CONGRATS! Are you going to continue with the series?

[Megan]

Thanks Lisa! It took me forever, but yep, finally finished! I loved it, and after I read the rest of my August Challenge books I plan on starting A Clash of Kings! :o)

[Gisela, Moderator]

Read:
1)Kiss at Your Own Risk
2) IOU Sex

[Valorie]

Congrats to all the finishers so far!!

5/5 Done Yay!

1. Hot Cover: Wolf Tales VI by Kate Douglas 8/3 ★★★
2. Hot Cover: When You Dare by Lori Foster 8/15 ★★★★
3. Hot Cover: Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow 8/20 ★★★
4. Hot Location: Death on Tour by Janice Hamrick 8/2 ★★★★★
5. My Choice: Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey 8/5 ★★★★

[Heather]

Way to go, Valorie!!

[Megan]

Congrats Valorie!!

[Megan]

3/5 Completed

It’s hot, hot, hot!
1 – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (I think Sean Bean is hot!) *****08/20
2 – Counting A Game of Thrones as two books
3 – Vacation with a Vampire… and Other Immortals (Anthology)
4 – Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (red cover AND hot guy)
5 – Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon (any choice) **08/21

[Megan]

August 2011 Challenge – It’s hot, hot, hot!

Duration: August 1st- August 31st

Participants:

CaroB – 5/5! Done! Congrats!
Cher – 2/5
Gisela – 2/5
Heather – 5/5 ! Done! Congrats!
Jennifer – 0/5
Kelley – 0/5
Lisa Kay – 3/5
Megan – 3/5
Michelle – 2/5
Patty - 4/5
Ruth – 0/5
Susan (susayq) – 4/5
Taita – 0/5
Valorie - 5/5! Done! Congrats!

Total books read in this challenge so far: 35

Please re-post your list after every update. Updates will occur every Sunday.

Also, please have your total at the top of your post (example 1/6 books read). Striking out the books you have read is also helpful and/or dating them also helps!

Happy Reading!

If a book is not in the group bookshelf, please add it! Thank you!

[Valorie]

Thanks Heather & Megan!

[Lina]

Well Done Valorie!

[Valorie]

Thanks CaroB!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Congrats, Valorie!

[Valorie]

Thanks Lisa Kay!

[taita]

5/5 Complete!


1. Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer (8/5) - Bonus! It's cloudy all year in the San Francisco Bay Area, even in August!

2. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (8/7) - Hot Highlander on the cover.

3. The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (8/9) - Hot faery, need I say more?

4. Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord by Sarah Maclean (8/12) - Hot love scenes.

5. Lord of Fire by Gaelen Foley (8/21) - Hot grotto, "Fire" in the title.

[Lina]

Lol, love the explanations taita! Well done on finishing!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Congrats, taita! Wow! You are on a roll lately. :)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired - August, 2011
It's hot, hot, hot!
5/5 - DONE!



1. ✔hot hunk on the cover - When You Dare, by Lori Foster ★★★★☆ PB 8/22
2. ✔ starts with “H” for Hot - Heartbreak Creek, by Kaki Warner ★★★★½ PB 8/11
3. ✔hot hunk on the cover - Storm's Heart, by Thea Harrison ★★★★☆ PB 8/5
4. ✔hot chemistry between H/h - Sugar Daddy, by Lisa Kleypas ★★★★★ OD audio 8/6
5. ✔ “hot” in the title Hot Rocks, by Nora Roberts ★★★★✩ OD audio 8/23

[Lina]

Woohoo! Well done Lisa Kay :-)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Thanks, CaroB!

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

I still can't find my misplaced book!

[Lina]

LOL! I'd forgotten all about that!

[Heather]

way to go taita and Lisa Kay!

[Megan]

Congrats Taita and Lisa!!

[Megan]

4/5 Completed Since Bloodlines has not come in from the library, I have switched a couple of books around.

It’s hot, hot, hot!
1 – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (I think Sean Bean is hot!) *****08/20
2 – Counting GOT as 2 books
3 – Vacation with a Vampire… and Other Immortals (Anthology) ****08/24 Warm tropical island and the guy on the cover is hot
4 – Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon (any choice) **08/21 Takes place in Las Vegas
5 – Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Thanks, Megan! Wow! You are on #5 of the Kate Daniels series? Good for you.

[Megan]

Lisa- at least I am up to date on one series!! LOL

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

LOL! And she is not a vamp!

[Megan]

True enough

[Michelle]

Congrats to all who've already finished!!!

I don't have any papers or projects due, and my classes won't start again for another four days, so I'm hoping to get at least one more book read between now and then.