Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team members

Train Conductor:
★ Lisa

Travellers:
★ UnusualChild (beppy) - check in Monday
★ ~Melissa
★ Michaelle
★ Liz (Bug)
★ Emilie

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Let your team members know where you are from. This is a great to know when themes are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.

2. Team Captain - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. Using this round's theme of Around The World in 80 Days, come up with a fun name. We are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)

Please PM your name to Jane(PS) by early Wednesday 6 March.

4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2.

5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies including names to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!

* don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full within that post.

You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.

I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply with the format rules of the challenge.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you expect to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation.

7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.

8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.

9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)

10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A Annoucement thread. The full list of themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.


The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week if Option 2 is used, members must select their book from another team. This will be advised in the week 11 announcement.

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


The format for selection posts Option 1:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please link or name the qualifying bookshelf/list where applicable (link if possible).
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

The format for selection posts Option 2:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.


Format for completion posts:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

I'll be tracking each team's progress separately, using the Captain's summary in each team's thread to check for accuracy.

Weeks 1 to 6

Week 1. Complete.
(view spoiler)[Author or MC with same first name and last name initial

✓ Lisa The World As He Sees It Option 1
✓ UnusualChild Beppy What the Librarian Did Option 1
✓ Melissa How to Howl at the Moon Option 1
✓ Michaelle Pathfinder Option 1
✓ Liz The Kiss Quotient Option 1
✓ Emeli Pride and Pregnancy Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 2. Complete
(view spoiler)[
Book with a number
✓ Lisa Alpha Unit One, New York. Option 1
✓ UnusualChild (beppy) Slade. Option 1
✓ ~Melissa Midnight Run. Option 1
✓ Michaelle The Gladiator's Master. Option 1
✓ Liz (Bug) The Wolf at the Door. Option 1
✓ Emeli Wanted, A Gentleman Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 3 Complete.
(view spoiler)[Book available in a foreign language.
✓ Lisa Snowblind. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy Bone to Pick. Option 1
✓ Melissa Enemies of the State. Option 1
✓ Michaelle Chase in Shadow. Option 1
✓ Liz The Wolf at Bay. Option 2 read by UC Beppy on 2/17/19 and rated 4 stars.
✓ Emeli The Good Fight. Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 4. Complete
(view spoiler)[Animal on cover
✓ Lisa Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace!. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy Skin and Bone. Option 1
✓ Melissa The Magpie Lord. Option 1
✓ Michaelle Hairy Harry's Car Seat. Option 1
✓ Liz Bone to Pick. Option 1
✓ Emeli The Vampire's Wolf. Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 5. Complete
(view spoiler)[Bet or wealthy MC.
✓ Lisa Pass
✓ Unusualchild Beppy The Billionaire’s Wake-up-call Girl Option 1
✓ Melissa Married for a Month Option 1
✓ Michaelle Bad Attitude Option 1
✓ Liz Trick Play Option 1
✓ Emeli The Billionaire's Boyfriend Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 6 . Complete
(view spoiler)[
✓ Lisa A Purrfect Match. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy Loving Luki Vásquez. Option 1
✓ Melissa Grimspace Option 1
✓ Michaelle Natural Enemies Option 1
✓ Liz Rag and Bone Option 1
✓ Emeli Loving Hector Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Weeks 7 to 11

Week 7. Complete
(view spoiler)[
Added to your tbr in last 80 days
✓ Lisa Wrong Way Home - Criminal Delights: Taken. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy His Client. Option 1
✓ Melissa I.N.E.T.. Option 1
✓ Michaelle Stella and the Wolf. Option 1
✓ Liz A Ferry of Bones & Gold. Option 2 Read by Michaelle 3/29/19, 5 stars
✓ Emeli Stay With Us, Omega. Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 8. Servants
✓ Lisa Deefur Dog. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy An Uncommon Whore. Option 1
✓ Melissa Daddy, Daddy and Me. Option 1
✓ Michaelle The Virgin Manny. Option 1
Liz All Souls Near & Nigh. Option 2. Read by Michaelle 3/31/19, 5 stars
✓ Emelie A Fool and His Manny. Option 1

Week 9. Complete
(view spoiler)[Friend
✓ Lisa Risk Taker. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy The Bravest Thing. Option 1
✓ Melissa Psycho Romeo. Option 2. Read by Lisa 1/27/18 rated 5 stars
✓ Michaelle Double or Nothing. Option 1
✓ Liz Pounding Skin. Option 1
✓ Emeli The Bond-Cut Omega: A Nerds Who Knot Companion Book. Option 1 (hide spoiler)]

Week 10. 2 x 1 in published date
✓ Lisa No Quick Fix. Option 1
✓ Unusualchild Beppy Silver-Tongued Devil. Option 1
✓ Melissa Glory in Death. Option 1
Michaelle Elements of Retrofit. Option 2. Read by UC Beppy. read 02Apr2019 (Rated 4 Stars)
Liz Witchbane Option 1
✓ Emeli Noble and Strong. Option 1

Hi Team,
My name is Lisa and I am a New Englander who lives in London, England.
This is the only challenge I usually take part in as I am the team challenge moderator in another group and that takes a lot of my time.
I read MM exclusively.

Tell us a little about yourselves and then we need to decide on a team name.

How about Fogg Off as a team name suggestion? Or do you think thats a little close to the wind?

HI! I'm Michaelle and live in Las Vegas. This is the only team challenge I'm signed up for right now - which is a huge departure from usual (as our Captain can probably attest as most of those other challenges are in that group, too). But, with only one title required per week, it's more my speed right now. Hopefully that will change as I am an admitted challenge-aholic.

I read almost exclusively MM...but every now and again I'll pick up an MMF menage book. Rarely MF, but I did make a resolution to branch out this year...so maybe for this challenge? We'll see.

And I am absolute crap at team names. So long as it does NOT tie back to the incidentally assigned "team 2" designation with some riff on two, twice, second, etc...I'm all good.

Lisa wrote: "How about Fogg Off as a team name suggestion? Or do you think thats a little close to the wind?"

I'm good with that as a name :) Not too close to the wind for me...

Hi Everyone my name is emeli and I come from sweden where i live with my boyfriend and our cat seymour i Read mostly mm but Every now and again i Read mf and I'm fine with fogg of as a team name

Hey everyone!! Excited for PtP to start. I have this and then another team challenge in another group that is supposed to start later this month. Both are just one book a week so I should be all good :)
hmm....so far seems like I might be the only one that reads both MF and MM routinely, lol. Should be interesting if I want to pick from shelves. I may end up adding some more MM to my tbr. Not like there isn't enough already on there. I live outside of Chicago - so I'm in Central Time. I work full time but spend a fair amount of time on here.

Names....not my strong suit. I do like Fogg Off if we go with that.

Hi everyone, sorry I’m late! I totally spaced that the challenge started this weekend! Lots of familiar faces on this team! I’m also mainly an mm romance reader, though I’m also trying to branch out a bit and get back to some of the UF series I used to read (Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, Alpha and Omega). I’m also in a bit of a reading slump right now which totally sucks. I usually read 10 - 12 books per month but I think that’s all I’ve read so far this year. 😕
This challenge should help though and be totally doable since it’s only one book a week. 😊 I’m in California, so Pacific time and usually I’m much better about checking in for my team challenges!

I like Fogg Off as the team name. Lol!

Hi, I'm beppy.

I live in Northern British Columbia, where we have had a fairly mild (comparatively, although the last 3 weeks haven't been as warm) winter. I will mostly be on PST, since the area I live in doesn't do the time change, and that is coming up this weekend.

As for names, I had some good ones, and now I completely forget. They were awesome though, since no one can prove otherwise.

Ummm.
Phunny Foggs?
Phearsome Foggs?

@Melissa, I do read m/f regularly, although I read m/m, too.

Hi Everybody.
We have all checked in. Just need to decide on a name

4 of us like Fogg Off as the team name.
If noone objects or offers another name in the next few hours, Ill let Jane know thats our name.

UnusualChild{beppy} wrote: "@Melissa, I do read m/f regularly, although I read m/m, too...."

I was sure that was the case but I didn't want to promise Melissa until you commented LOL!! Hopefully there will be enough Option 2s for you both to pick from :D

Lisa wrote: "4 of us like Fogg Off as the team name.
If noone objects or offers another name in the next few hours, Ill let Jane know thats our name."

I'm good with it!

Ok, going to confirm our name to Jane.

Jane (PS) wrote: "UnusualChild{beppy} wrote: "@Melissa, I do read m/f regularly, although I read m/m, too...."

I was sure that was the case but I didn't want to promise Melissa until you commented LOL!! Hopefully t..."

even if no MF readers in the group I'd be fine and figure something out ....but thanks for thinking of me :D

Yeah ~ we have a name!
@beppy - I'm sure your team names were great ...and I'll check out your and Liz's shelves later for MF's :)

Selection Post

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter.

Option 1
Bookcover/link: Pathfinder by J.A. Jaken

Page numbers: 225
How the book qualifies: Author Name J.A. Jaken

Selection Post

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter.

Option 1
How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton
323 pgs

How qualifies: Author name is Eli Easton ~ same letters first/last name

Selection Post

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter

Superhero
144 pages
How qualifies: Author name is Eli Easton ~ same letters first/last name

Week 1

The World As He Sees It by A.M. Arthur
280 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author has same first name and last name initial - A

Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound like they start with the same letter.

New selection post in Message 41.

Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound like they start with the same letter."

I was thinking about this series too for this :)

Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound like they start with the same letter."

For some reason I keep thinking her last name is Knightsbridge - no idea why...

~Melissa~ wrote: "Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound like they start wi..."

I was going to pick it as option two but then I remembered the letters sounding the same worked too. I may use option two for next week -- the final book comes out on Monday and if I can pace myself I'll be ready to read it when it's time for the next call.

Jane (PS) wrote: "Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound like they start wi...
For some reason I keep thinking her last name is Knightsbridge - no idea why..."

I do too, Jane! Not sure why, except I know it's a part of London?

Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first name and last name sound ..."

We must be three of a kind because I always look up Knightsbridge first before I remember, lol 😂

I started reading a book on Wednesday, after the call, and several chapters in, I thought to myself that I should check the H's name. I did and it wasn't a go for this category, but then I decided to double check the h's name, which I thought was Rachel Harrison. It was Rachel Robinson. I win!

Week 1: Selection Post - first and last name start with the same letter

Book: What the Librarian Did
Pages: 256
How it qualifies: h's name is Rachel Robinson

COMPLETION POST

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter.

Option 1
Bookcover/link: Pathfinder by J.A. Jaken

Page numbers: 225
How the book qualifies: Author Name J.A. Jaken
Date Complete: 08Mar2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Criminally underrated as whole here at GR.
(view spoiler)[But I will say that several of the reviews do make a point - that there is a subtle lack of emotional connection between Shai & Lorne, and what there was seemed to be rooted in the Pathfinder/Guide bond; really would have liked to read more of them developing as a couple in order to believe in the romance. (As horrible and abusive as he was, I almost felt there was more chemistry between Kalil and Shai.)

I LOVED the dystopian setting, and pointing out how even the syndicate with "noble" intentions, one rooted in the old ways and scientific advancement, still fostered a cartel-like atmosphere in order to compete with the "gangs" was a nice touch. The road to hell and all that...

A follow-up book would not go remiss, especially considering how the Outriders are so intent on founding a new, independent city...that story could be interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter
I Changed my book to

Pride and Pregnancy
224 pages
Crista Crown
Author first and last name starts with c

UnusualChild{beppy} wrote: "I started reading a book on Wednesday, after the call, and several chapters in, I thought to myself that I should check the H's name. I did and it wasn't a go for this category, but then I decided ..."

I love when this happens!!

Completion Post

Week 1: Read a book where: the author or one of the MCs have their first and last name starting with the same letter.

Option 1
How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton
323 pgs
Finished 3/9/19
Rating 3.5 ish rounded up to 4 on GR
How qualifies: Author name is Eli Easton ~ same letters first/last name

Review: I think maybe I was expecting more from all the great reviews. Could have been the narrator who IMO was just ok. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book. You just knew where it was going when Lance/Chance 'acted' hurt with his paw in the air. (view spoiler)[ and when you find out lance's mom took Tim's seeds.....yeah that was going to end bad....duh!?! I was wondering why she hadn't taken Tim under her wing and got the towns people to help with his vegetable patch. (hide spoiler)] Anyway, as others have said in reviews that last sex scene ~ Yowza :)

Week 1 - completion post
The World As He Sees It
Date read: 3/9/19
4 stars
I liked reading Tristians story, we first met him in book 1. The 3 years since the bashing must have been awful. Not being able to remember more than 30 mins ago in his short term memory and having to write everything down. However, he had good friends who stood by him.
I liked seeing him with Gabe and how their relationship developed.
The only thing thatI couldn't understand was how Tristian reacted to Gabe being a oart time porn star.
He seemed totally alright with it. I am not sure that I could accept that in my partner and to know he was off making porn. Maybe there really are people who can accept it but I really don't know.

Week 1 completion

Finished 10/3
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this mm take on one of my favourite books and I liked the Mpreg twist so all in all a Great twist on a classic

Just letting you know that I have finished my book, but I do not have time to do the actual review this week. It's crazy busy at work for me. I will probably be able to do it next week.

Week 1

Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
336 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author first name and last name start with the letter "H."

Lisa, I had to change my book to something I could listen to. New selection post is above and I left the other one but crossed it out.

Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Lisa, I had to change my book to something I could listen to. New selection post is above and I left the other one but crossed it out."

got it Liz.

~Melissa~ wrote: "Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Jane (PS) wrote: "Liz (Bugetta) wrote: "Week 1

Book: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
339 pages / GR
How it qualifies: Author’s first nam..."

How weird is that?!!!

Week 1: Completion Post

Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
336 pages / GR
Date Read: 3/15/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This was so good. I really loved the MCs, and thought the romance developed so well given all the baggage they both brought with them. Stella’s autism was handled really well and Daniel was swoon worthy. I did want to knock them both upside the head towards the end when their mistaken assumptions go in the way of their HEA (especially Daniel!!!), but it was necessary. Loved the epilogue and I can’t wait for the next book!

Week 2 ~ Call

Option1
3. Read a book with a number:
* in the title or
* in the series title (not the number that the book is in the series) or
* in the precis (summary of the book on the main GR page).
Eg : Two for the Show - TWO
Stardust (Celebrate! ..2014 Advent Calendar) - 2014
Safe and Sound ..."that one night is just that." - ONE

Please show HOW this fits in the selection post given there are three options in this category.

Option 2
Book chosen from a team member's shelf that was read on the date below or more recently and rated at least 3 stars.
Key Date: September 14, 2018


Please ensure you follow the format shown in msg 3 of your team threads. when you post your selection and completion posts.

I think I've found one but checking to make sure it's accepted before I post

Week 2 Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book with a number

Midnight Run by Lisa Marie Rice
242 pgs

How it qualifies from the precis: 'he's definitely keeping this one.'

[*book:Midnight Run|8616299]

Week 2 Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book with a number

Knowing Me, Knowing You
244 pages

Can friends turned occasional lovers move beyond past mistakes and wrong assumptions to build something that can last?

Quiet bookworm Shane has a big secret—one he’s kept for fifteen years. AFL superstar Ambrose Jakoby grew up next door to Shane. They were close friends, and Shane supported Ambrose through school.

One night, everything changed

Selection Post

Week 2: Read a book with a number:
* in the title or
* in the series title (not the number that the book is in the series) or
* in the precis (summary of the book on the main GR page)..

Option 1
Bookcover/link: The Gladiator's Master by Fae Sutherland

Page numbers: 244
How the book qualifies: "When Roman politician Caelius inherits a stable of gladiators, there is one who captures his attention above the others..." (From Precis)