Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

use this thread to discuss books - each member in group, please reserve a post for reporting status of books

Genres
sports
romance w/ child
YA
LGBT
western

Members
Amy J
Calila
Cathy
Dawn
Debbie
Ezinwanyi~the Troublemaker
Gea
Grace
Jamie NY
Laurla
Mandy
Shannon/Wckdktty
Sunshine
Tea
Vi

I need help with romance with a child. Any one have suggestions for that genre?

I have a couple. Let me check and get back to you.

My posting spot.

Completed and ranked in order

Genres
1 romance w/ child Games of the Heart 8/13 ★★★★★
2 sports Chasing the King of the Mountains 8/19 ★★★★★
3 LGBT Paper Planes 8/3 ★★★★
4 western Pickup Men 8/12 ★★★
5 YA Reason to Breathe 8/12 ★★★

Vi's Spot

Tentative List:

1. Sports: Just This Once by Rosalind James - 9 Aug - ★★
2. Romance w/ child: Her Kind of Trouble by Sarah Mayberry - 2 Aug - ★★★★
3. YA: The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn - 05 Aug - ★★★★
4. LGBT: Promises by Marie Sexton - 08 Aug - ★★★
5. Western: Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath - 09 Aug - ★★★★

Review:
1. Sports: Just This Once by Rosalind James:
This was a little boring contemporary romance. Hannah was a little too standoffish and Drew was a little too perfect. I had a hard time connecting with them. The feel of New Zealand and Rugby was done very well. I admit to looking forward to a mention of Cricket since NZ do have a strong cricket team. But nope. {I really want a cricket novel}

2. Romance w/ child: Her Kind of Trouble by Sarah Mayberry:
Mayberry is one of my favorite author so I had great expectations of this book. I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. The baby in this case is a newborn so as such didn't play an active role. But the author portrayed her effect very well and showed how parenthood affects a bachelor.

3. YA: The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn:
A very quiet fantasy set in quiet rural town. It had the feel of small town England probably and was very character driven. It completely focused on the cast of characters, their lives and choices. It has quite an open ending whih I liked.

4. LGBT: Promises by Marie Sexton:
My first full-length M/M novel. I liked the setting, the conflicts experienced by the main characters. I liked the cast of characters. The major problem I had was the relationship between the two MC - it sort of had the same dynamics as a m/f relationship. Maybe it's the Gay For You trope that I can't really get behind. I don't know if that's how sexuality works. So while I will enjoyed my first M/M, I won't be rushing out to hop on the bandwagon.

5. Western: Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath:
I liked the first book in the series and enjoyed this too. Dallas was a little difficult to like in the first book but once we get to know him, he became very likable. The character growth of Cordelia was very well done and Dallas was very supportive of her growth. The western setting is such an inherent part of the book that it was almost like being in that era. The only major negative point is the epilogue. I really wish they had left that out.

OK, here a number that I've read:

Books where there is a child but not their own: (either siblings or other baby's kids): Not sure if this is allowed. Needs approval)
1. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas - female lead raises her very young sister practically from infancy.
2. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas - female lead raises her sister's baby.
3. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
4. Frederica by Georgette Heyer
5. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Contemporary:
1. The Next Always by Nora Roberts
2. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
3. Chesapeake Quartet - First Three books feature Seth, the young brother(?) of the male leads. The second book has a female lead with a baby.
4. Seventh Heaven by Catherine Anderson
5. The Will by Kristen Ashley
6. Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
7. Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper

{There are more Nora Roberts/Kristen Ashley books with kids. Need to dig though)

Historical:
1. Night in Eden by Candice Proctor - I really liked it.
2. Tempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas (#3 in Fitzhugh Trilogy. Just throwing it out here)
3. Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase
4. Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly

These are about the ones I can say off the top of my head. If you give me more specifics, I can tell you more.

Amy J. wrote: "I need help with romance with a child. Any one have suggestions for that genre?"

Do you read M/M because I've read a few there that are good. Last First Kiss comes to mind off the top of my head; I'm going to read The Guy From Glamour, it's on my tbr for next month already.

I think the best Kristen Ashley with a child is Sweet Dreams, but I also loved Wild Man Golden Trail, Games of the Heart and At Peace

Amy J. wrote: "I need help with romance with a child. Any one have suggestions for that genre?"

Hi Amy J!

I recently read 2 shorter romances with children involved that I really liked. They are part of a series but each can be stand-alone. Different couple for each book. I was able to borrow the ebooks from my library website.

Both Susan Mallery-
Part-Time Wife
One in a Million

Vi wrote: "OK, here a number that I've read:

Books where there is a child but not their own: (either siblings or other baby's kids): Not sure if this is allowed. Needs approval)
1. Sugar Daddy ..."

Wow Vi!
Awesome list!

romance with child(ren) - the child needs to play some sort of role in the romance between the mc's - so like Sugar Daddy would work because the younger sister plays a fairly sig. role from what I remember

Dee, can the child be an infant? In case of Smooth Talking Stranger, it is maybe 2 or 3 months old. Though the baby does indirectly play a role.

Another question is how old can the child be? I think in KA's books, they are mostly teens or hitting teenage years. Will they work?

Thanks, Fran! Now there's only one problem - I need a book for that category. :D

Read 5/5

RANKED IN ORDER

✓ 1st LGBT: Willow Bend, 8/8/14, 4 stars

✓ 2nd YA: The Sky Is Dead, 8/4/14, 3.5 stars

✓ 3rd Romance w/ child: Who We Are, 8/3/14, 3.5 stars

✓ 4th Western: Texas Winter, 8/3/14, 3.5 stars

✓ 5th Sports: In Dreams He Came, 8/6/14, 3 stars

Great suggestions, thanks everyone!

Dawn wrote: "I think the best Kristen Ashley with a child is Sweet Dreams, but I also loved Wild Man. "

Dawn, did Sweet Dreams have a child? I don't remember this one as having one..

Vi wrote: "Dawn, did Sweet Dreams have a child? I don't remember this one as having one.."

Tate's son comes to live with them and becomes pretty important to her.

Dawn wrote: "Vi wrote: "Dawn, did Sweet Dreams have a child? I don't remember this one as having one.."

Tate's son comes to live with them and becomes pretty important to her."

Ohh. Why am I blanking out on him? I remember the ex and a kid but no specifics. So weird.

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! I'll have a look through them and I'm sure I can find something that looks good!

Vi wrote: "Dee, can the child be an infant? In case of Smooth Talking Stranger, it is maybe 2 or 3 months old. Though the baby does indirectly play a role.

Another question is how old can the ..."

a baby works

i've never read KA - but if the child plays a role (and is under 18/living at home) - i'll take it

1. sports: Extreme Love by Abby Niles ★★★
2. romance with a child: Rocky Mountain Haven by Vivian Arend ★★★★
3. YA Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade ★★★
4. LGBT: The Nothingness of Ben Brad Boney ★★★
5. Western: Matthew by Emma Lang ★★★1/2

Final Rankings:
1. Western
2. Sports
3. Romance w/ a child
4. LGBT
5. YA

Vi wrote: Ohh. Why am I blanking out on him? I remember the ex and a kid but no specifics. So weird.

(view spoiler)[Tate' s big thing is trying to get custody of Jonah. They have him for a weekend first, but the ex is big trouble. Eventually they go to court for him and win. (hide spoiler)]

Ezi's Spot
Reading 5/5

☑Sports: The River Leith (Done 8/8) ★★★★★
☑Romance w/child: Come Away with Me (Done 8/2) ★★★
☑YA: Surviving Raine (Done 8/19) ★★★★★
☑LGBT: Beyond Duty (Done 8/7) ★★★
☑Western: Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Done 8/9) ★★



Ranking this Genre
1. YA
2. Sports
3. LGBT
4. Romance with Child
5. Western

Romance with Kids: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

LGBT: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

YA: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Completed: 5/5

✔Sports - Bender by Stacy Borel (3/8) *****
✔Romance with child - Until Lilly by Aurora Rose Reynolds (2/8) ****
✔YA - Undeclared by Jen Frederick (10/8) ***
✔LGBT - The Cat’s Meow by Stormy Glenn (5/8) ***
✔Western - Against the Rules by Linda Howard (8/8) *****

Completed 5/5

✔Sports – It Had to Be You8/22
✔romance w/ child – 8/5The Sweet Gum Tree4.5*
✔YA - Onyx - 8/10
✔LGBT – Cross & Crown3* 8/16
✔western – The Trouble with Cowboys4*8/19

Rating

1.romance w/ child
2.Sports
3. LGBT
4. Young Adult
5. Western

What I have so far -

sports - title
romance w/ child - Shaking the Sugar Tree
YA - What Binds Us
LGBT - By Chance Met
western - Clouds and Rain

I may end up changing my LGBT book, depending on how fast I end up reading my first group.

sports- It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Finished 8/4 **
romance w/ child Night in Eden by Candice Proctor Finished 8/23 ***
YA-The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead Finished 8/12 ****
LGBT- Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas (shelved as M/M) Finished 8/18 **
western Long Hard Ride by Long Hard Ride Finished 8/7 ***

World Cup of Romance Reading - Phase 1 - Round Robin
Group F

sports: Maverick - Anna Cruise
romance w/ child: The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life - Michelle Pace
YA: How to Seduce a Band Geek - Cassie Mae
LGBT: The Current Between Us - Kindle Alexander
western:Texas Danger: The Marshalls - Jean Brashear

Completed: 5/5

✔ sports - Out in the Field by Kate McMurray - 06.08.14 - ★★★
✔ romance w/ child - Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood - 05.08.14 - ★★★
✔ YA - Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 02.08.14 - ★★★
✔ LGBT - American Love Songs by Ashlyn Kane - 03.08.14 - ★★★★
✔ western - Texas Winter by R.J. Scott - 18.08.14 - ★★★★

Completed 5 of 5

sports 8-1-14 4 Stars

romance w/ child 8-7-14 4 Stars (beats Western but not sports)

YA 8-7-14 5 stars

LGBT 8-1-14 2 Stars

western 8-6-14 4* (sports beats western)

i just realized there were 2 jamies signed up - but thankfully, this Jamie is the right one ;)

Dee wrote: "i just realized there were 2 jamies signed up - but thankfully, this Jamie is the right one ;)"

Whew... didn't even notice there was another!

niether did I until just now, when I organized the list alphabetically - you are Jamie NY (just so you know)

Perfect, thanks

completed 1 of 5
Body Check - Deirdre Martin
Binding Arbitration - Elizabeth Marx
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
Without Reservations - JL Langley 7/31 - 2 stars
The Touch of Fire - Linda Howard

Cathy wrote: "completed 1 of 5
Body Check - Deirdre Martin
Binding Arbitration - Elizabeth Marx
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
Without Reservations - JL Langley 7/31 - 2 stars
The Touch of Fire - Linda Howard"

Cathy, I think you were supposed to wait until today to start.

oops! Well I'll read another-I didn't like that one anyway!

Cathy wrote: "oops! Well I'll read another-I didn't like that one anyway!"

LOL! Well, July 31 was almost August, LOL.
I will start a book soon :D

Genre
sports
romance w/ child
YA
LGBT
western

My picks

Completed: 5 of 5

Group F
sports - Game for Love (Bad Boys of Football #1) 8/18/14
romance w/ child - Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers #1) 8/23/14
YA - The Opportunist (Love Me with Lies 8/10/14
LGBT - Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) 8/14/14
western - Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15). 8/9/14

Love cowboys.

OK, Completed all 5 books and here is my ranking.

1. YA-
2. Sports
3. Romance w/child
4. Western
5. LGBT

I'm done with my 5 books. My reviews are in this post. My final ranking:

1. YA: The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn
2. Romance w/ child: Her Kind of Trouble by Sarah Mayberry
3. Western: Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath
4. LGBT: Promises by Marie Sexton
5. Sports: Just This Once by Rosalind James

I'm also done, and here's my list:

1. Sports - Bender by Stacy Borel
2. Western - Against the Rules by Linda Howard
3. Romance with child - Until Lilly by Aurora Rose Reynolds
4. YA - Undeclared by Jen Frederick
5. LGBT - The Cat’s Meow by Stormy Glenn

I got one more book, my YA and I will be done!

I'm finished with my books, and my rankings are:

1 LGBT - Sticks and Stones by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux
2 Sports - Body Check by Deirdre Martin
3 YA - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
4 Western - The Touch of Fire by Linda Howard
5 Romance w/child - Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx

Based on a better understanding of the rules I am changing my rankings.

1 Sports - Body Check by Deidre Martin - 3 stars
2 YA - The Iron Kin by Julie Kagawa - 3 stars
3 LGBT - Sticks and Stones by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux - 4 stars
4 Western - Touch of Fire by Linda Howard - 3 stars
5 Romance w/child - Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx - 2 stars

New to this group

LBGT: Dark Space Aug 17 ★★★★★
western: Measuring the Rein Aug 19 ★★★
sports: Spring, Bax & Butterflies Aug 19 ★★★★
kids: Count Your Blessings Aug 21 ★★★★★
YA: Trouble & the Wallflower Aug 21 ★★★
------------------------------------------------------------------

Rankings:

1. LBGT: Dark Space Aug 17 ★★★★★
2. romance with kids: Count Your Blessings Aug 21 ★★★★★
3. sports: Spring, Bax & Butterflies Aug 19 ★★★★
4. western: Measuring the Rein Aug 19 ★★★
5. YA: Trouble & the Wallflower Aug 21 ★★★

Finished books.
My ranking:

1. LGBT - American Love Songs by Ashlyn Kane - 03.08.14 - ★★★★
2. western - Texas Winter by R.J. Scott - 18.08.14 - ★★★★
3. sports - Out in the Field by Kate McMurray - 06.08.14 - ★★★
4. YA - Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 02.08.14 - ★★★
5. romance w/ child - Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood - 05.08.14 - ★★★

Final Ranking

1. Sports - Out in the Field - 08/19-20/14 ★★★★
2. LGBT - By Chance Met - 08/10-11/14 ★★★★
3. YA - What Binds Us - 08/13/14 ★★★★★
4. Romance w/ child - Shaking the Sugar Tree- 08/13-14/14 ★★
5. Western - Clouds and Rain - 08/09/14 ★★

when it comes to ranking your final books - consider 2 things - 1) your enjoyment of the book and 2) how well the theme was presented/reflected through-out - so you could have a book that you enjoyed more, be lower ranked than one with the theme being a stronger role - if you have any questions, let me know