2012 June Pick It For Me! Challenge

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Working on them now! Fingers crossed I can find some good ones for you!!

[Tiffanny]

Ty, I'm going to put your list together right now, and should have it ready in about 30 minutes :)

[Dee]

Cathy - putting together your list right now...hold tight ;)

[Tiffanny]

TY

I hope that you find something here that you'll enjoy. Several of these aren't in your to-read list, so I hope you'll find something you might like. If not, just let me know and I can easily make a new list :)

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty
2. No Place to Run (military series), The Rescue (Firefighter), or any books from Lora Leigh's Elite Ops Series
3. Riding the Storm (I really enjoy this series)
4. Garden Spells, Too Hot To Touch
5. Passion Unleashed (I LOVE Larrissa Ione and ALL of her books!)
6. Fifty Shades of Grey (The first book wasn't my favorite, I liked books 2 and 3 WAY more)
7. Faith & Fidelity
8. Giving Chase (I LOVE this series, and reread it often)
9. Branded
10. Clockwork Angel
Bonus: Dragon Bound

[booklovinrn]

Dee wrote: "Cathy - putting together your list right now...hold tight ;)"

Thanks Dee...looking forward to seeing what you pick for me.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Fran, here are your picks! I hope you can find something, I was a little rushed.... Our tastes are pretty similar, but you are missing some of my favorites - maybe we can remedy that this month! =)

Schools Out for Summer! - I'm not big on YA books, but I did find a really good book on your TBR that not only has children, but involves a vacation! Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey is a book I just loved, in fact I've loved all of the Kowalski books so far!

Flag Day, June 14th - I was surprised to see you didn't have any Pamela Clare or Lisa Marie Rice on your shelf. Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare involves a politician and while not my favorite in her I-Team series, it is the first and I am way to OCD not to read series in order. It is really very good and is only topped by the books that follow it in the series! Another idea is Midnight Man by Lisa Marie Rice, yummy alpha (ex-SEAL) and plenty of heat!

Don't Forget the Sunscreen - I have three suggestions for you here:

All 5 Stars for me! (Maybe I should double check that, if I didn't give them that - I should have, because that is how I remember them!!)

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream - My first thought as I looked for this category was the Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series, and you read the first book giving it 5 Stars, but you have left The Sweetest Thing sitting on your TBR. You really need to get to that one!! Another idea could be Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. You seem a little hit and miss with her books, but I loved this one and I think it is similar in feel to Breathing Room that you rated highly. An afterthought here is First Lady also by SEP, it has a great grovel scene if you like those!

Fire up the BBQ - This one from your TBR looks good, Can't Stand The Heat by Louisa Edwards. This one works for the monthly challenge. Maybe a buddy read?

Summer Solstice - This one is so pretty, I always use the cover not the link when I recommend it! by Jaci Burton - amazing cover, good story. You don't need to like sports to enjoy it!

Gay Pride Month - How about this one from your TBR, Hot Head by Damon Suede. I thought it was quite good!

Old Maids Day, June 4th - Several picks again, first from your TBR - Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward, how have you not read this yet? A couple of new ideas - Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (I love the audio of this series!) or The Gamble by Kristen Ashley ( I read this last month and loved it!).

Buddy Reads:
Sand in Your Shorts - This one sounds fun and I think we are both planning to read it for the monthly challenge anyway, Seeing Double by Cara North.

Best Friends Day, June 8th - I usually wait for all the books in her trilogies to come out before I start them, but I have been wanting to read The Next Always by Nora Roberts and this seems like a pretty good reason!

Bonus Pick: Father's Day, June 17th, because we all love a good daddy! - This was hard because all of the ones I could think of you had already read, but then I found Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels on your shelves and knew I had to pick it! It is a really sweet story and more emotional than I expected.

[Dee]

ok, Cathy - are you ready...are you set...lol!

I tried to pick a combo of stuff from on your list and off, stuff from your list is marked with an asterisk**

Schools Out for the Summer
1. Rules of Attraction** - you read the first one, so why not the second one
2. Forbidden - a controversial topic but very well written
3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - one of my favorite reads so far this year

Flag Day, June 14
1. Never Too Hot**
2. Ride the Fire**
3. No Mercy - features a female army sniper and her potential love interest is the local sheriff (The author is the aka of Lorelei James)

Don't Forget the Sunscreen
1. All Jacked Up**
2. Hush**
3. Inside Out**

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream
1. Zack - you'll never look at cheesecake the same
2. Falling For Gracie - technically this is the second one in the series, but I read it by itself and wasn't too confused (Jim would argue otherwise though)

Fire Up the BBQ
1. Garden Spells
2. Good Girls Don't**
3. Too Hot To Touch**

Summer Solstice
1. Secrets of a Summer Night -I saw you only had a couple Lisa Kleypas on your shelves - this kicks off her wallflowers series, which is one of my favorites by her
2. One Reckless Summer**

Gay Pride Month
1. Out in the Field - this is probably out of your comfort zone but that is what I love about this challenge - and a few of us are doing this as a buddy read this month, if you would like to join us
2. Curveball

Old Maids Day, June 4
1. A Dyeing Shame: Death at the Beauty Box - Cozy mysteries are a guilty pleasure for me, and I love the ones that feature older individuals
2. Bingoed - same comment as above
3. Giving Chase - the mother is this is just hilarious

**Buddy Reads** - i'm not going to really have time to do a buddy read this month, but here are some picks for you

Sand in Your Shorts
1. Just Breathe**
2. Beachcombers**
3. My One and Only

Best Friends Day, June 8
1. The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship
2. Firefly Lane - make sure you have tissues if you read this one
3. Lethal Rider** - i'm only about 25% of the way in, but the various friends are playing a huge role in this

Father's Day, June 17
SEALed with a Kiss - i'm not a huge fan of daddy books, but I found this one when I googled it

[Ty]

Tiffanny!

um. how fun was this to comb through someone else's TBR!
hope you like these picks - most of which were from your TBR. :)

Schools Out for Summer!
- Jennifer Echols - Love Story
- Jenna Black - Glimmerglass

Flag Day, June 14th
- Shiloh Walker - The Departed
- Julie Garwood - The Ideal Man

Don't Forget the Sunscreen
- Nalini Singh - Slave to Sensation
- Bronwyn Green - Maggie's Mates Multiple Partner Bear Shifter Erotic Romance (um... THAT COVER! /fans)

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream
- Marie Force - The Wreck - sweet story once you get pass the ugly cry. I mean, UGLY, five-hankie, don't-go-out-in-public-afterwards cry.
- Jeanne Ray - Eat Cake

Fire up the BBQ
- Libba Bray - Beauty Queens
- Emma Holly - Cooking up a Storm

Summer Solstice
- Deborah Cloyed - The Summer We Came to Life
- Holly chamberlin - Summer Friends

Gay Pride Month
- Z.A. Maxfield - St. Nacho's
- Samantha Kane - The Courage to Love

Old Maids Day, June 4th
- LaVyrle Spencer - Years
- Nalini Singh - Angels' Blood

Buddy Read: Sand in Your Shorts
- Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Angel
- Mayandree Michel - Betrayal

Buddy Read: Best Friends Day, June 8th
already read these, but can reread either one. I feel the need to pimp out K.Ashley whenever possible.
- Kristen Ashley - Rock Chick
- Kristen Ashley - Mystery Man

Bonus Pick:
Father's Day, June 17th
- Ilona Andrews - Magic Bites - um, this kinda qualifies for this category, there is a father figure...
- Alice Ozma, Jim Brozina - The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared

[Ty]

Tiffanny wrote: "TY

I hope that you find something here that you'll enjoy. Several of these aren't in your to-read list, so I hope you'll find something you might like. If not, just let me know and I can easily ..."

Awesome! thanks for the picks!
Definitely gonna try for Passion Unleashed, Clockwork Angel [which I picked for you too!], and Riding the Storm. The overachiever in me will probably try to check off each pick....

[Fran, Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Fran, here are your picks! I hope you can find something, I was a little rushed.... Our tastes are pretty similar, but you are missing some of my favorites - maybe we can remedy that this month! ..."

Wow, Kat, thanks so much for this awesome and extensive list! There are so many on here that I want to read, but because June is crazy busy for me (2 kids graduating, Prom, kids sports dinners, etc.)I can only commit to a few.

I haven't read Lover Reborn yet because once I do, I know I am in for a long wait until the next one! I try to hold out as long as I can before giving in and devouring it- maybe for July or August when things are quieter for me.

Definitely in for Seeing Double and either Hot Head or Faith & Fidelity or First Lady. I am also going to read one of Suzanne H.'s picks for me. Even though she wasn't my pickee, she took the time to give me picks and did a great job :) I will read Out in the Field from her list.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Fran wrote: "I am also going to read one of Suzanne H.'s picks for me. Even though she wasn't my pickee, she took the time to give me picks and did a great job :) I will read Out in the Field from her list."

I completely forgot that you got picks from her too! I am trying not obsess over every detail of this challenge this month, maybe I should be obsessing just a little more than I am! ; )

You do have a crazy busy month! Congrats on all the great Mom events - it takes a great mom to make it all happen!

[Fran, Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Fran wrote: "I am also going to read one of Suzanne H.'s picks for me. Even though she wasn't my pickee, she took the time to give me picks and did a great job :) I will read Out in the Field from ..."

Thanks Kat :)

I love getting recs, having both of you pick for me was such a bonus this month- thanks again for the great selection!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

Regina wrote: "I never did a buddy read, but I can start reading One Small Thing today. How does Buddy read works? "

Hi Regina,

A buddy read is when we both read the book at the same time (or as close to that as possible) and discuss or compare notes on it either as we read if we can make that work, or at least after we've both finished. We can either do it in PMs or in a thread in the Dare You to Read section. I've seen a couple of mentions of One Small Thing floating around so maybe some others will join us. I went ahead and started a thread, located here, with a start date of June 3. If you've already started reading, that's fine though.

I'm in the middle of another book right now, but hopefully will finish it tomorrow and I can start One Small Thing right after that.

I'm looking forward to it!

[Lauren (aplpeach)]

Hey, I can't wait to do next months challenge!! I am back and ready to go!! I can't believe I am finally married!!!! :):):):)

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Elke wrote: "Hi Diane! I would love to buddy read that one! Let me know when you want to start!
."

Elke,

Does Wed work for you?

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Leslie wrote: "Diane-Firefly
I'm so sorry that you weren't feeling well. No worries on my end. I just get impatient to figure out what I'm reading for the month - complete OCD personality! Thanks for the picks. T..."

Leslie,

Thanks for the well-wishes. I hope you enjoy those series, I know I have.

[Emily]

Regina,

Thanks for recommending Divergent. I just finished reading it. I loved the story. Cant wait for my book to get here so we can start our buddy read.

[Fran, Moderator]

Lauren (aplpeach) wrote: "Hey, I can't wait to do next months challenge!! I am back and ready to go!! I can't believe I am finally married!!!! :):):):)"

Congratulations Lauren!

[D.G.]

Lauren (aplpeach) wrote: "Hey, I can't wait to do next months challenge!! I am back and ready to go!! I can't believe I am finally married!!!! :):):):)"

Congratulations, Lauren!! How was the wedding? :)

[Susan (susayq ~)]

congrats Lauren!

[Maija]

Irina wrote: "Maija wrote:
Ok :D thanks

And Debbie, thanks. Since I yesterday got City of Bones audiobook, I'll start listening it this afternoon or to..."

The start felt kind of boring and there were different POV and since at that time I really didn't want to read it much and didn't have motivation to, either. But now it kinda seems interesting :)

[Maija]

Irina wrote: "I finished my BR with Maija for thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to more action by this author. thank for another good pick.. you are on fire woman! ;)"

I'm happy you liked my picks. It was kind of hard to choose because you TBR list wasn't that big, but....it's cool :D

[Maija]

Debbie wrote: "Maija wrote: "Susan (susayq) wrote: "Maija, I would say your time ;0)"

Ok :D thanks

And Debbie, thanks. Since I yesterday got City of Bones audiobook, I'll start listening it this afternoon or to..."

Nah, it's cool now. I just have bigger patience, I guess :D I'm already in the middle of City of Bones and yesterday started to read Covet, which I had the same trouble as Mortal Instruments, but this time I waited longer and now I kind of even enjoy it :D :) Guess I just had to have motivation to start

[Brett]

DG,
I finished my first pick, . I was pleasantly surprised, I really liked it.

[Rishika]

EMILY i finished my first pick Marked ( house of night#1) I really enjoyed it. thanks

[Dee]

hey Brett - if you decide you want to try another m/m out - a group of us are buddy reading Out in the Field if you want to join us ;)

[D.G.]

Brett wrote: "DG,
I finished my first pick, . I was pleasantly surprised, I really liked it."

Wow! That was fast! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[Sue]

Mommaseymour,

I finished The Mage in Black today. I didn't like it as much as the first book in the series, but I did enjoy reading it. I'm going to place the next one in the series on hold at the library so I can find out what happens next though!

Sue-

[Alexis]

Tina "reading mommy" I finished my first read, today! I really enjoyed it. I love Miller's stories, they are just such sweet and simple reads. It was a great kickoff to my month and I can't wait to read more of your recs!

[Debbie]

Maija wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Maija wrote: "Susan (susayq) wrote: "Maija, I would say your time ;0)"

Ok :D thanks

And Debbie, thanks. Since I yesterday got City of Bones audiobook, I'll start listening it this..."

I am the same, I have to be in the right mood for some books. They drag if I am not there yet and fly by when I am. Hope they go well for you.

[Maija]

Debbie wrote: I am the same, I have to be in the right mood for some books. They drag if I...
"
Thanks, Debbie :) So, have you started to read some of your pickie's books?

[booklovinrn]

Dee,

Thanks for the picks. I had a hard time choosing. I am planning to read

Ride the Fire by Jo Davis
All Jacked Up by Lorelie James
Inside Out by Lauren Dane
Giving Chase by Lauren Dane



I have requested from the Library
One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

[Debbie]

Maija wrote: "Debbie wrote: I am the same, I have to be in the right mood for some books. They drag if I...
"
Thanks, Debbie :) So, have you started to read some of your pickie's books?"

I just packed a few today, I am going to be gone for a whole month so will be getting to them first of next week with not much else to do for most of the month.

[Suzanne]

Hi Irina,

Just finished Spying in High Heels and loved it so much I went and bought books 1-5 boxset on amazon! Was much cheaper than buying them individually.

I have no idea why I put this one off, I absolutely love the Stephanie Plum series and this is really similar so it is perfect for me :)

Incase anyone is interested here is the boxset link:
http://www.amazon.com/Heels-Mysteries...

[Carrie]

Hi Susan (susayq)

I just finished . It was amazingly great. I loved the character of Stevie Rae, she was just adorable. :)


Thank you for the pick. I'm looking forward to checking out some of the other suggestions you made to me at some point. Need to keep my eye out for some of the ones that I never ever heard of.

[Elke]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Elke wrote: "Hi Diane! I would love to buddy read that one! Let me know when you want to start!
."

Elke,

Does Wed work for you?



"


Wednesday is good for me!

[Mounika]

Hey Gigi,
I finished my first pick and I really liked it. :)

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Carrie wrote: "Hi Susan (susayq)

I just finished . It was amazingly great. I loved the character of Stevie Rae, she was just adorable. :)


Thank you for the pick. I'm looking forward to checki..."

Carrie I am so glad you liked it! Stevie Rae just gets better in the series! She's my favorite in the series.

[Lauren (aplpeach)]

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "Lauren (aplpeach) wrote: "Hey, I can't wait to do next months challenge!! I am back and ready to go!! I can't believe I am finally married!!!! :):):):)"

Congratulations, Lauren!! How was the wed..."

It was amazing. We had so much fun. I couldn;t have asked for a better day. :)

[Elke]

Elke wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Hi Elke~ here are your picks - finally ack!! I had them almost done and hit a WRONG button and lost the whole thing!?!?! Anyhoo ~ hopefully there are a couple that peek your interes..."

Hi Melissa,

Ok I guess my library has the 2 books out...so I will choose to read The Romance Readers' Book Club...

[Kami]

I finished Deeper than Midnight. I liked it. I thought it was good but not great. The protagonists weren't my favorite. The next one in the series looks better. I am giving this one 3 stars. I am going to read Wicked Lovely next.

[Joyce]

I finished my first pick Urban Shaman on 6/4/12. I enjoyed it especially the blend of Celtic and Native American lore. Now I'm on to the next one probably On the Edge

[Joyce]

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "Joyce wrote: "I'm up for starting Grimspace on the 1st if you want. Glad you liked your picks. I did
Tom Gordon on audiobooks years ago and really enjoyed it that way. "

Oh I can't start it today...."

No problem midmonth would work for me. Say around the 15th?

[Penney]

Dawn, thanks so much for the gentle nudge to read And One Last Thing ... I finished it yesterday and it just solidified the fact that I ADORE Molly Harper! She is the queen of snark and never fails to make me laugh my ass off :D

[Brett]

Dee wrote: "hey Brett - if you decide you want to try another m/m out - a group of us are buddy reading Out in the Field if you want to join us ;)"

This books looks good! Unfortunately I can't join the buddy read. I'll keep an eye out for what you guys think of it. :)

[Skandia]

Finished my first book
It was a good, solid Virgin River series book. Maybe not as good as the first two but it was nice to meet the familiar characters again.

[Jojo]

Hi Mandy,

I've just got home from a long weekend with my in-laws who took the kids off my hands so was able to finish 2 of my picks.

I read The Iron Duke first, I didn't love it but I did enjoy it and the whole alternate reality thing really gets me thinking so I must admit I'm going to add the next book to my TBR and will read it.

My second book was Murder on the Rocks, I downloaded this as a freebie because I really do like cosy mysteries when I'm in the right sort of mood and this was a very good one (that did involve cooking).

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Elke wrote: "Wednesday is good for me! "


Great, looking forward to starting tomorrow.

[booklovinrn]

JUNE PICK IT FOR ME CHALLENGE
TOTAL 1


Ride the Fire by Jo Davis 6/4/12 ★★★★
All Jacked Up by Lorelie James
Inside Out by Lauren Dane
Giving Chase by Lauren Dane
One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake
Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl

[Elke]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Elke wrote: "Wednesday is good for me! "


Great, looking forward to starting tomorrow."

I started it this morning before work...do you want to talk about it throught here or PM's?