Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

Did you just finish a book that you really loved or really hated? Share your thoughts about the truly exceptional or truly distasteful reads in this thread!

((Please note: this is NOT a "dump every book I read this year in here" thread! We're only looking for the books you felt very strongly about!))

I’ve become obsessed with the Zodiac Academy series by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti. I honestly haven’t re-read a series as much since Twilight and I am desperate for the next one to come out next month.

The set-up is a magic world parallel to our own in which all people (fae) are magic - they control of one or more elements (fire, air etc) and have some general abilities like healing; they also have an “order” which determines how they replenish their powers and gives them extra abilities eg Vampires are super strong and drink other fae’s blood, sirens can manipulate emotions and feed off emotional energy; they even have Sphinxes that replenish by reading!

There are two series on the go at the moment both with romances taking place in a university setting where fae learn to control their magic. In the first (prequel) series - Elise is a kick-ass vampire who lives in a city torn apart by gang violence. She’s devoted her life to trying to avenge her brother’s death, but finds herself falling in love with all four of her prime suspects - two of whom are the local gang leaders - who happen to be a Dragon shifter, a Lion shifter, a Harpy and a Basilisk.

In the other (main series) - after the King was assassinated with his family, the four most powerful families have raised their eldest sons to take over the throne. The boys are at university preparing for this when, out of the blue, the king’s twin daughters are found. The girls are the most powerful face potentially ever to have existed and the true heirs to the throne, but they had no idea they were magical until they were brought to the Academy. They can’t take the throne unless they graduate, and the boys will do anything to force them out. That should be easy as the girls have no training, no defences and don’t know their order, so don’t know how to replenish their magic. Falling in love with the girls may make matters rather complicated.

In the Dark by Loreth Anne White 5-Stars
No one does mystery-thriller-suspense better.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Today I finished The Restorer by Amanda Stevens. This book has been around for a few years. I'm sorry I waited so long to pick it up.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Playing Dead by Allison Brennan 5-Stars
Great suspense plot.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich 5-Stars
Ranger needs Stephanie's help to find his daughter.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hard Justice by Pamela Clare 5-Stars
Friends to Lovers in a Hot Romantic-Suspense
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Robin wrote: "Today I finished The Restorer by Amanda Stevens. This book has been around for a few years. I'm sorry I waited so long to pick it up.
..."


It's a fantastic book and series

I would recommend a book called Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Work in Progress: Unconventional Thoughts on Designing an Extraordinary Life by Steve Ford and Leanne Ford DNF
Fascinating duo, but lousy book.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot 4-Stars
A gruesome murder unmasks twenty year old secrets
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang DNF at 60% 2-Stars
I have got to stop attempting to read Chick-Lit. It rarely ends well.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne 5-Stars
Sometimes "the safest place to be is at the side of a violent man."
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Anita wrote: " Work in Progress: Unconventional Thoughts on Designing an Extraordinary Life by [au..."

Kiss Quotient didn't work for me either.

I have a lot of trouble with "Contemporary Romance". I either love it or hate it. The Kiss Quotient just didn't work for me.

Anita wrote: "I have a lot of trouble with "Contemporary Romance". I either love it or hate it. The Kiss Quotient just didn't work for me."

I love most Contemporary Romance and The Kiss Quotient didn't work for me either. It felt a little... passionless. Except it wasn't. But the passion felt forced, which was okay at the start but it never grew into something more if that makes sense. I guess just never connected with the main characters even though I wanted to.

Yes, passionless. I never felt any heat and I didn't connect with the main characters either.

Whiteout by Adriana Anders 4-Stars
It's all about survival and finding love
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dangerous Desires by Dawn Altieri 4-Stars
Forbidden Romance with a side of Mystery
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Snow on the Bayou by Sandra Hill 5-Stars
Sweet second chance romance
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Forever Strong by Piper J. Drake 3 1/2-Stars
Great action/mystery but weak romance
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Deadly Promises by Sherrilyn Kenyon 4-Stars
Audio trio of great Romantic-Suspense Novellas
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

DISTANT MEMORY by Maureen A. Miller 3 1/2-Stars
The memory is a tricky thing
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Anita you love to read lol

Yes, I do Christine! Although that may change as a good friend has asked me to consider taking on some part time work. We'll see.

A Highlander in a Pickup Laura Trentham 3 1/2-Stars
Patient and Steady wins the Fair Lady
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Angel by Janie Crouch 3 1/2-Stars
Angst, a side of martyr with TSTL for dessert.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich 5-Stars
Diesel is back and Stephanie is loving it, NOT!
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Navy SEAL Newlywed by Elle James 5-Stars
Hot romance and great suspense plot
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble 4 1/2-Stars
Great Christian Fiction Suspense
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hostile Pursuit by Juno Rushdan 5-Stars
Action packed from beginning to end, except for the mushy parts.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh
Awesome start to a new Series
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James 3 1/2-Stars
A modern Gothic tale for lovers of Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney and Daphne du Maurier.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams 5-Stars
Wonderful, warm, funny Contemporary Romance
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's in His Kiss byJulia Quinn 5-Stars
Delightful and fun
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I highly recommend The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fatal Secrets by Allison Brennan 3-Stars
Human trafficking trope, lackluster romance and predictable plot
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne 5-Stars
Great story for Gavin and Sam
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Heartbreaker by B.J. Daniels 3-Stars
Awesome Plot
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Anita I’m glad that you like to read and Anita I agree with your friend that you should take a part time work and Anita I have that book called A Highlander in a Pickup by Laura Trentham and Anita I’m a huge fan of Elle James and I’m a huge fan of Melinda Leigh and I’m a huge fan of Allison Brennan and I’m a huge fan of B.J. Daniels

Great authors all! When I pick up one of their books I know I'm going to enjoy it.

Time Enough for Love by Suzanne Brockmann 4-Stars
Time-Travel Romance
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Six Minutes To Midnight by Elle James 4-Stars
Great story, last in the series
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare 5-Stars
A game of Clue anybody?
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I love the whole Hugo Marston series by Mark Pryor. The Bookseller is the first in the series that takes place mostly in Paris. 😁 I was lucky enough to meet Mark Pryor in Paris!!

Also love the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Outlander is the first in this series.. she sticks pretty well to history even as she is dding the fictional characters in. 😁

Another good series is the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal..Mr. Churchill's Secretary is the first in this series. 😁

If you are a James Herriot fan, you might also.enjoy this series...Irish Country Doctor..Patrick Taylor. Yes.Patrick Taylor is Irish, but he writes with the same humourous style as James Herriot and will have you laughing from page 1, and like James Herriot, these books bring to life his real experiences! An Irish Country Doctor is the first one in this series. 😁

Another really lovely author is Ciji Ware.. thenfirst book of hers that I read was A Cottage by the Sea. All her books integrate history and the present. 😁

Heat of the Moment by Elle Kennedy 4-Stars
Hot, hot, hot SEAL Ménage à Trois Romance
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pivot by Kat Martin Rebecca Zanetti and Alexandra Ivy 4-Stars
Three awesome connected stories
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Airman's E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton 3 1/2-Stars
This hero needs to grow a spine
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wild Jinx by Sandra Hill 5-Stars
Tee-John is finally struck by the Thunderbolt of Love!
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Edge of Danger by Cherry Adair 2-Stars
Bad, just really, really bad.
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Four Nights With the Duke by Eloisa James 4-Stars
Vander and Mia have a lot to overcome on the road to HEA
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...