Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Challenges of Yesteryear
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Spring: Design Your Own Perfect Valentine's Day Date
Natasha, Love your beginning and the books you've chosen. Can't wait to see what else you come up with. :)
Natasha wrote, "This is so much fun. Maybe we could start a story writing challenge." From what we've seen so far we have a very talented group. :)
I love peeking into everyone's diary! Who knew?
LOL I hadn't even thought about that Lisa.
We got some really good writers in our group! And why aren't yall writing professionally?? :)
Good luck to you, Natasha. I've never had an interest in writing. Maybe after I am finally done with school and writing is more than research papers my outlook will change.
Lisarenee! Fun challenge! Big shout out to Jex, Amy J., Dragana, Inkeri, Gen, and Natasha. Your stories are great and I enjoyed the word play and humor. I'll take a stab at this and I apologize if my story is long and boring!Good luck everyone!
Breathe in.
Midfoot. Excellent.
Breathe out.
Heel. Dammit.
Breathe in. Concentrate. Try again.
I’m so wrapped up in my inner dialogue of critiquing my form that I almost smash into another runner out on the trails which I affectionately call the Paths of Glory. He grabs my arm to steady me or push me away I’m not sure but I stumble and we both go down like a ton of bricks. “I’m so sorry!” Oh God, he’s probably so pissed at me! No runner handles interruption well and as my Garmin keeps ticking off seconds even I’m annoyed at myself. My mile pace was pushing sub 7 today too!
“No worries,” he says with a smile and something inside of me changes. I forget about my watch declaring I’m no longer on pace and smile incredulously at him.
“Will?”
“Hey.” After years and years of being apart, I’m staring at my childhood crush who once was a skinny nothing of a nerd and is now built like an
“Literally,” I mumble and he laughs, a carefree and happy sound that I have missed dearly since moving away in the 7th grade. I want to hang onto this moment and not let him go; I lost him once I don’t want to lose him again. “Look, I need my Running Fix so why don’t you join me and we’ll catch up and laugh about the old times.”
“Absolutely." We take off at a good clip but easy enough to squeeze out sentences between puffing for breath. It’s one of the best runs I’ve had in a long time and the company is better than anything I could have hoped for. Upon nearing the end of the eighth mile marker I realize our time is short and I should make my move before we part ways. When we come to a stop to catch our breath, he turns his green eyes on me. I get the courage to ask for his number as well as a future running date but he just shakes his head. “I can do one better,” he says and leans in for a sweet Kiss that makes me lose my balance a bit.
Next thing I know we’re back at my place, Stripped down and heading for a steamy shower. Moving too quick? Maybe. But then again, I’m used to going fast.
Completed: 1/7
AWWWW! I love it. Especially the last line. I'm a sucker for wit. ;D
NBRC - Design Your Perfect Valentine Date2/1/12 - 3/3/1/12
0/5
Dear Diary,
I just had the BEST Valentine's Day date ever! Gavin Riley and I have been together for a while, and I knew he was going to do something special.
I wore the sexiest purple dress for our date, cause Gavin likes me in purple :)
Gavin took me to the park even though it was night. He had set up a canopy and had a private candlelight dinner for us. Then we looked at the stars and moon since it was a beautiful night. I took a picture of the view.
Wasn't it pretty?
While we were looking at the stars, he took out a small black velvet box from his pocket. Guess what was in it?
YEP! A ring! Gavin got down on one knee and said the sweetest thing to me, ""“I am on my knees before you because we will always be equals, partners in all things. I hold your hand in mine, because we will always be together. I look into your eyes to see into the real you, and let you see into the real me. I pledge to take care of you, protect you, and cherish you for all time.”
Then he asked me to be his wife. I can't wait to start planning our wedding.
Love,
Me!
Katie, one word--WOW! Okay a few more--I loved it.Susan, Sounds like a perfect Valentine's day to me. I like the tie in to the books.
Thaks to Rachel, Lisarenee, Amy J, Lisa Kay, Dragana and Katie for your kind words. :)The stories really make this challenge great fun. I especially love Amy J's, Natasha's and Katie's stories. Maybe we should make a storie writing challenge as Natasha suggested. :)
Ps. How to shoo a cat from lying on the book you're reading?
Hopefully i didn't make this to long, but had fun writing this based on the books i had read.As I waited in the lobby to be taken to my hotel room, I was thinking about how I had met a lot of people over the years but none like William Timmins (The Family Farm) He was a farmer from a small Perth town. Like me he was staying at the Angel Falls Hotel.
I couldn’t put my finger on why I found him so intriguing, but I found myself wanting to know him better. We decided that we would go together to the fancy dress party the hotel was holding that night.
It gave me a chance to where this tight black leather dress I had bought earlier in the week (Witch Blood)
. I was planning on going as a sexy witch and was curious on what Will would wear.As I walked through the hotel to the party, I started to get nervous of the night with Will.
As I arrived at the door, my heart jumped there standing waiting was Will dressed as Jason Andrews who in my eyes was Just the Sexiest Man Alive on the big screen; any screen for that matter; and my god did Will pull it off.
Dressed in a tux and looking like he should be at a movie première not a hotel party. He was even more handsome than I originally thought. He held out his hand to me and escorted me to the dance floor where he whispered in my ear how beautiful I looked. If he wasn’t holding me I swear I would have melted to the floor then and there.
The band Ghostwriting was playing a slow song as he pulled me to the dance floor. Will held me close and I could feel his breath on my neck, just this closeness was doing things to my body I had never experienced before. As we danced I prayed he would kiss me as I’m not the forward kind of girl that could make the first move.
We must of dance to every song that night. Only stopping when the band did. Will was confident on the dance floor, and I wondered if he was as confident in the bedroom. I couldn’t figure where I was getting these thoughts from, no guy had ever turned my brain into its own x-rated show. Can’t say I hated it though.
As we walked back to our rooms in the early hours of the morning. Will and I talked about what a wonderful night it had been. As we got to my door, he took my hotel card and opened the door for me, ever the gentleman.
I turned to say goodnight and found myself so close to him that I had to lift my head to look him in the eye. I went to take a step back but found myself against the door frame. I felt Will’s hand gently slide up my arm and my breath caught in my throat.
We were so close I could feel his breath on my face. I could see ever speck in those gorgeous eyes. I was thinking this is it. I will finally get the kiss I’ve been dreaming of all night. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move. I was locked in these eyes.
And then it happened, I couldn’t believe it, I still can’t believe it. I got the hiccups. I was so nervous about this long awaited kiss; I actually hiccuped in his face. Not one of those soft hiccups one of those loud body jumping hiccups that makes everyone around you laugh. And that’s what he did, he laughed. One stupid dose of hiccups ruined the moment. One stupid hiccup has me embarrassed for life, and left wondering if Will tasted as good as he looked.
One hiccup changed the mood from romantic to friendly in an instant.
LOL! Loved it, Kylie! Very clever, what with the band name and all. A shame you got the hiccups, though. ☺
NBRC: ~ Design Your Own Perfect Valentine’s Day Date Reading Challenge ~ 
Duration: February 2 –
25/25 - Done!
I thought The Texan, who looked as dangerous as a Black Ops Bodyguard, was sure to be one Smooth Talking Stranger – and a Scoundrel to boot; nevertheless, he eventually convinced me with his Kiss of Fire, that he was The Next Always.
When I first agreed to go out with him, I told him there wasn’t a Ghost of a Chance that I’d be his Mistress for a Weekend. However, he was a perfect gentleman, asking me which play I wanted to see: The Count of Monte Cristo or The Masque of the Black Tulip. He decided on the restaurant for dinner, a lovely little secluded place on Rainshadow Road. There was something About That Night that made me feel like Cinderella and I thought he was only Mine Till Midnight, but the Clockwork Angel was on my side. She allowed me to become one of The Daybreakers with him; we enjoyed watching the sunrise together.
After a whirlwind courtship, a Smokin' Seventeen dates, we took a walk on the beach holding hands in the misty Texas Rain, when he told me he loved me and said “You are Mine to Possess” and I would have his Loyalty in Death – and beyond. Then he asked me To Wed in Texas. We made marvelous plans that included a lovely wedding reception with an outdoor bar-b-que on his ranch; but, all I could think of was our honeymoon with Visions of Heat. Still, we married at Twilight in Texas and enjoyed the celebration with our friends and family.
And One Last Thing ..., I was Barely A Bride before I found out I was expecting. He was thrilled, saying he looked forward to reading the Harry Potter series, starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, to our children.
1. ✔ The Texan, by Carolyn Davidson ★★★★✩ PB 3/27
2. ✔ Black Ops Bodyguard, by Donna Young ★★★✩✩ Library PB 2/25
3. ✔ Smooth Talking Stranger,
by Lisa Kleypas ★★★★★ CDs to iPod/Touch 2/17 “b.r.”
4. ✔ Scoundrel, by Zoe Archer ★★★★½ PB 2/18
5. ✔ Kiss of Fire, by Deborah Cooke ★★★½✩ PB 2/20 “b.r.”
6. ✔ The Next Always, by Nora Roberts ★★★★✩ Library-CDs 2/15
7. ✔ Ghost of a Chance, by Yasmine Galenorn ★★★★✩ PB 3/28
8. ✔ Mistress for a Weekend, by Susan Napier ★★★★★ Kindle 2/20
9. ✔ The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas ★★★★✩ ODA & Kindle 4/12 “buddy read”
10. ✔ The Masque of the Black Tulip, by Lauren Willig ★★★★★ Library-CDs 3/29 “b.r.”
11. ✔ Rainshadow Road, Lisa Kleypas ★★★★★ audible.com 3/3 “b.r.”
12. ✔ About That Night, by Julie James ★★★★½ PB 4/16
13. ✔ Cinder, by Marissa Meyer ★★★★½ Library-HC 3/28 “NBRC: b.r.”
14. ✔ Mine Till Midnight, Lisa Kleypas ★★★★★ audible.com 2/27
15. ✔ Clockwork Angel,
by Cassandra Clare ★★★★★ audible.com 03/01/12 “b.r.”
16. ✔ The Daybreakers, by Louis L'Amour ★★★★½ Library CDs 2/24
17. ✔ Smokin' Seventeen, by Janet Evanovich ★★★★✩ ODA 3/19
18. ✔ Texas Rain, Jodi Thomas ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 3/18 “b.r.”
19. ✔ Mine to Possess, by Nalini Singh ★★★★✩ audible.com 4/11
20. ✔ Loyalty in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ PB 3/23
21. ✔ To Wed in Texas, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★✩ PB 2/23
22. ✔ Visions of Heat, by Nalini Singh ★★★★✩ PB 2/12
23. ✔ And One Last Thing ..., by Molly Harper ★★★★✩ C’s-CDs 3/9
24. ✔ Barely A Bride, by Rebecca Hagan Lee ★★★★✩ OCD 2/9
25. ✔ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,
by J.K. Rowling ★★★★★ C’s-CDs 2/23
Read
“b.r.” = “buddy read”
OCD = OneClickDigital
ODA = Over Drive Audio
I'm a bit scared to do this again. I liked my first scenario so much, how can this live up to my own expectations?10/10
Grimm turned out not to be such a good match for me after all. Yeah, it was fun while it lasted. We had some good times together moving forward and backward through history at his whim. Until one day, several months ago, he gets a post from a former acquaintance, he up and leaves me without so much as an explanation or a "so long, have a nice life"!
So here I am, stuck in the Canada during the late 19th century ( Anne of Green Gables {Finished 3/31}) with no way to get back to my time. Had he left me one month sooner, I might not be in this predicament. I used to have a djinn to call my very own, but I lost David last month in a poker game. With four of a kind, I thought there was no way I could lose. Alas, my opponent had a royal flush. Last I heard David had changed hands at least once more. Rumor has it, he's now The Vampire Queen's Servant {Finished 3/21}. It's been a sad couple of months, but I think I'm finally turning the corner...
I meet a handsome man today, by the name of Lord Maccon (Blameless {Finished 3/7}) and I think I'm head over heals in lust again. Sure he can be a bit gruff, but he is, quite literally, one sexy beast.
We have a date tonight. In fact, he'll be here in about an hour to pick me up. I've been mooning in my Room {Finished 3/5} all afternoon, trying to plan the perfect first date outfit. But to no avail. I can't decide on a dress, or on shoes, or on the arrangement of my hair. The only thing I know for certain is that I want my head to be Iron Crowned {Finished 3/12}. I wonder if Lord Maccon would be put off if that were my only adornment?
This is the general plan for the night. First we will grab A Quick Bite {Finished 3/3} at the newest club in town. It's called the Chill Factor {Finished 3/11} and in the two weeks since it opened it's gotten stellar reviews. Following our meal, I plan to take him star gazing. We will lie in the grass Under the Dome {Finished 3/28} and scan the sky for falling stars. If all goes well, I'll take him back to my home and ask him to (wink wink) Light My Fire {Finished 3/12}, both literally and metaphorically! Hopefully, the date will end in a horizontal Night Embrace {Finished 3/30}. What can I say, it's been months and this girl has needs!
Oh, I love it, Amy! Another great one. ☺
2 books left...which just so happen to be the books I need to finish for the New Year's challenge as well...better get to reading them.Complete: 3/5
He was the man of my dreams.
✓
It was after the zombie invasions, and we were hoping for anything resembling normality.
✓
He bought me a shot of tequila (he's classy you know)
We danced the night away.
✓It was like a fairy tale.
NBRC - Design Your Perfect Valentine Date2/1/12 - 3/3/1/12
1/5
Dear Diary,
I just had the BEST Valentine's Day date ever! Gavin Riley and I have been together for a while, and I knew he was going to do something special.
I wore the sexiest purple dress for our date, cause Gavin likes me in purple :)
Gavin took me to the park even though it was night. He had set up a canopy and had a private candlelight dinner for us. Then we looked at the stars and moon since it was a beautiful night. I took a picture of the view.
Wasn't it pretty?
While we were looking at the stars, he took out a small black velvet box from his pocket. Guess what was in it?
YEP! A ring! Gavin got down on one knee and said the sweetest thing to me, ""“I am on my knees before you because we will always be equals, partners in all things. I hold your hand in mine, because we will always be together. I look into your eyes to see into the real you, and let you see into the real me. I pledge to take care of you, protect you, and cherish you for all time.”
Then he asked me to be his wife. I can't wait to start planning our wedding.
Love,
Me!
Read:
Susan (susayq) wrote: "NBRC - Design Your Perfect Valentine Date2/1/12 - 3/3/1/12
1/5
Dear Diary,
I just had the BEST Valentine's Day date ever! Gavin Riley and I have been together for a while, and I knew he was go..."
That's Great!
NBRC - Design Your Perfect Valentine Date2/1/12 - 3/3/1/12
4/5
Dear Diary,
I just had the BEST Valentine's Day date ever! Gavin Riley and I have been together for a while, and I knew he was going to do something special.
I wore the sexiest purple dress for our date, cause Gavin likes me in purple :)
Gavin took me to the park even though it was night. He had set up a canopy and had a private candlelight dinner for us. Then we looked at the stars and moon since it was a beautiful night. I took a picture of the view.
Wasn't it pretty?
While we were looking at the stars, he took out a small black velvet box from his pocket. Guess what was in it?
YEP! A ring! Gavin got down on one knee and said the sweetest thing to me, ""“I am on my knees before you because we will always be equals, partners in all things. I hold your hand in mine, because we will always be together. I look into your eyes to see into the real you, and let you see into the real me. I pledge to take care of you, protect you, and cherish you for all time.”
Then he asked me to be his wife. I can't wait to start planning our wedding.
Love,
Me!
Read:
Congrats, Dragana! That is so neat. ☺
Thank you Lisa Kay, Susan and Jex. :)
NBRC - Design Your Perfect Valentine Date2/1/12 - 3/3/1/12
5/5 DONE!!!
Dear Diary,
I just had the BEST Valentine's Day date ever! Gavin Riley and I have been together for a while, and I knew he was going to do something special.
I wore the sexiest purple dress for our date, cause Gavin likes me in purple :)
Gavin took me to the park even though it was night. He had set up a canopy and had a private candlelight dinner for us. Then we looked at the stars and moon since it was a beautiful night. I took a picture of the view.
Wasn't it pretty?
While we were looking at the stars, he took out a small black velvet box from his pocket. Guess what was in it?
YEP! A ring! Gavin got down on one knee and said the sweetest thing to me, ""“I am on my knees before you because we will always be equals, partners in all things. I hold your hand in mine, because we will always be together. I look into your eyes to see into the real you, and let you see into the real me. I pledge to take care of you, protect you, and cherish you for all time.”
Then he asked me to be his wife. I can't wait to start planning our wedding.
Love,
Me!
Read:
Update:
Post #75
= 20/25I think I'll be able to finish a couple of more books, since I'm in the middle of one and close to the end of the second. However, there is no way I'll be able to finish
- and eep! - I thought I had another one, but I'm out of Extention Gift Cards. **sigh**
Design Your Own Perfect Valentine's Day Date Reading Challenge
February 2 - March 31, 2012
Completed
On valentine's day, at noon, I was sitting on bench, in a nearby park, watching squirrels having more fun than me. When a very handsome man sat next to me and introduced himself as Morgan. He told me that a woman as lovely as I was shouldn't look lonely on such a day, and he then invited me on a date that same night. He was so charming that I was at a lack of words, so I just nodded. He winked at me and left. I was to meet him at seven near the same bench.
Back at home, I was very much excited about my date, even if he was a complete stranger. I was wondering what I should wear while creating a mess in my room. Finally, I chose a hot designer top and a pair of Fancy Pants. Not to forget of course, my Yves Saint Laurent pink high heel pumps.
I was twenty minutes late when I got to the park, but to my relief, he was still there. When I apologized to him, he told me not to worry, that every beautiful girl should always have more time for themselves. At that, my heart melted a little. When I asked him where we were going, he said it was a surprise. He just asked me to get in his car, which to my surpise was a Bugatti Veyron Super Sports, and we were gone to our first destination.
He took me to the Blue Diablo, an old renovated theater, to see Casablanca in downtown Montreal. Where we were served Chocolates, as much as we wanted, at our table. At the end of our movie, we went for a walk and we made small talk till we got to the Vieux-Port, where we stopped to watch the fireworks and eat our chocolates leftovers.
On our way back to his car, he bought me a Blue Dahlia to match my eyes, he said. He drove me back to my house and walk me to my doorstep. He kissed my hand and told me what an enchanting evening it had been and that he was hopeful that I agree to see him again. I agreed and kissed him quickly on the lips before saying goodnight and entering my house. Inside, I sat on the floor against the door and I just couldn't keep the smile off my face. I then picked myself up and went to bed where I dreamed of our second date.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
All the Bright Places (other topics)The Bat (other topics)
Luckiest Girl Alive (other topics)
The Secret Lives of Dresses (other topics)
Mine Till Midnight (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Maria V. Snyder (other topics)Susan Ee (other topics)
Heather Graham (other topics)
Sarah Addison Allen (other topics)
Kim Harrison (other topics)
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It was Valentine's Day and I had been invited to The Devil's Waltz, an event hosted by The Lost Duke of Wyndham so known because he had recently ret..."
Wow, cool story. Definitely sounds like a great start!