Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Super-Duper Host
✔Louise

Couch-Slouchers
✔Heather (Heatso)
✔Karen (kmk)
✔Leah
✔Nayara
✔Courtney

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories 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 Couch Surfing, come up with a fun name. Given 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 5 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. (It will also help with one of the categories in this round!)

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 links 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 in 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, etc.

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/Announcement 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 Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)

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


For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.


For the completion post I need:
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.

A summary chart will be posted in the last week to let teams know their progress against other teams :)

Brief Rules/Guidelines

• Themes will be announced between 3-6pm US EST. (8-11pm UK)
• Minimum Pg count 100
• Books must be started after the theme call.
• Selection Post must be posted after the shelf call.
• Completion post please ensure rating and review is posted

The Themes

1. Couchsurfing is a global app that connects travellers with couches in new locations

* Read a book with furniture on the cover.

2. For a small fee each month, you access a global database of couches.

* Read a book you bought on sale, at no charge, or you accessed for free (Kindle Unlimited counts).

3. Not sure about you, but those couches sounds dirty!

* Read a book with a 'dirty' colour on the cover - eg black, brown, tan.

4. "You have friends all over the world, you just haven't met them yet."

* From this round's players, find another member whose books interest you - select a book (any book, does not have to be one that they have read) to read from their bookshelves and become friends. Select your book from a player who is not already a friend.
You may friend each other and use each other's bookshelves - but it must be a new connection since the beginning of this round. A player in your team that you friended at the beginning of the challenge counts.
You must link to the bookshelf of your new friend to show their book that you have selected.

5. Couches are available all over the world.

* Read a book where at least one MC travels to a new location (on holiday, for work, relocate - whatever).
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

6. Couchsurfing is a global community of 12-14 million people in more than 200,000 cities who share their life, their world, their journey. There are 550,000 events across the world to meet up with members.

* That's a lot of numbers! Read a book with at least three zeros in its page numbers, average rating, total ratings and publication date combined.
This may alter during the week that you read the book (in the case of ratings), so please take a screenshot or have it verified by your Captain, another team member or me - whoever is available. You may use any edition of the book, but please make sure the link goes through to the correct edition that is to be verified.

7. The concept was created when Casey Fenton found a cheap flight to Iceland but didn't have anywhere to stay. Being an enterprising fellow, instead of settling for a pricey hotel Fenton hacked into the University of Iceland’s student database and e-mailed 1,500 students asking for a place to stay. Almost 100 people replied.

* Read a book on one of the following lists (sadly, the hacker lists aren't long enough ;):
Gay Romance with Bookish, Nerdy, Geeky Characters
I love your quirks - Best Romance Heroines that are odd in a good way
Romance novels with STEM heroines
Nerdgasms
Jazzy Creature Feature - Nerds, Geeks, Geniuses, Hackers, Klutzes

8. The app was created by Casey Fenton, Daniel Hoffer, Sebastian Le Tuan and Leonardo Bassani da Silveira - encouraging a mingling of cultures.

* Read a book with interracial/interspecies MCs.
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

9. Rediscover your own city.

* Read a book set on your continent.
Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand can combine to allow a greater book selection.
Please state your region in your post.

10. This is an adventure!

* Read a book tagged 'adventure'.
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

11. One of Couchsurfing's values is to 'stay curious'.

* Read a book that is not currently on your bookshelves.
The DATE that you add the book to your bookshelf must be in the week that this task is announced. State the date you added the book to your shelves.

12. So now I digress - its time to just surf!

* Read a book set in a beach town or on the coast.
Cities that sit on the ocean will count.
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

13. Surf your own shelves.

* On your preferred TBR shelf, look at the beige bar at the bottom of the page - on the sort function, click on 'random' and then read one of the first 3 books that now appear at the top of your shelf.

14. Surf GR

Click on the drop-down Browse menu (next to My Books in the top GR banner), click on Explore, click on Romance under the Genres listing on the far right, click on your preferred type of romance (keep refining as wished using the Genre lists).

* Read any of the books that appear on that actual page without clicking further on the lists, OR read a book by one of the authors that appear on that page. If you select the author option, you many read any book by that author.

15. Finally, no matter where you stay on your adventures when couchsurfing or otherwise, please keep your wits about you.

* Read a book with the letters W I T S in the title, series and/or author's name (any combination).

Week 1 - Completed
4. "You have friends all over the world, you just haven't met them yet."

Louise - Principles of Spookology Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - One Perfect Summer Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Three Simple Rules Selection Completion
Leah - Torkel's Chosen Selection Completion
Nayara - Six of Crows Selection Completion
Courtney - Hail Mary Selection Completion

Week 2 - Completed
12. So now I digress - its time to just surf!
Louise - Beach Colors Selection Completion Post
Heather (Heatso) - Beautiful Bastard Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - After the Kiss Selection Completion
Leah - Love on Beach Avenue Selection Completion
Nayara - Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny Selection Completion
Courtney - Keeping It Selection Completion

Week 3
2. For a small fee each month, you access a global database of couches.

Louise - Highland Burn Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - Clap When You Land Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Mafia Lullaby Selection Completion
Leah - Outmatched Completion
Nayara - Moment of Truth Selection Completion
Courtney - Scoring With the Wrong Twin Selection Completion

Week 4

10. This is an adventure!
Louise - All the Tea in China Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - An Offer From a Gentleman Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Bad in Boots Selection Completion
Leah - Gunpowder Chowder Selection Completion
Nayara - King of Scars Selection Completion
Courtney - Stranded with the SEAL Selection Completion

Week 5
9. Rediscover your own city.
Louise - Greek Island Escape Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - Romancing Mister Bridgerton Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - The MacGregor Brides Selection Completion
Leah - Jock Row Selection Completion
Nayara -
Courtney - Playing by Her Rules Selection Completion

Week 6
14. Surf GR
Louise - Head Over Heels Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - Only Mostly Devastated Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - The King Selection Completion
Leah - Rejected Selection Completion
Nayara -
Courtney - An English Bride in Scotland Selection Completion

Week 7
15. No matter where you stay on your adventures when couchsurfing or otherwise, please keep your wits about you.
Louise - The Women of Primrose Square Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Hide & Seek Selection Completion
Leah - Reclaimed Selection Completon
Nayara -
Courtney - The Ex-Boyfriend Agreement Selection Completion

Week 8
Option 1:
5. Couches are available all over the world.
Louise - One in a Million Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - Austenland Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Avoiding Commitment Selection Completion
Leah - Dragons Don't Eat Meat Selection Completion
Nayara -
Courtney - Passions and Peonies: Spring Selection Completion

Week 9
3. Not sure about you, but those couches sounds dirty!
Louise - Feral Sins Selection Completion
Heather (Heatso) - The Friend Zone Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Divine Evil Selection Completion
Leah - Dervishes Don't Dance Selection Completion
Nayara -
Courtney - Need for Speed Selection Completion

Week 10

11. One of Couchsurfing's values is to 'stay curious'.

Louise - Once Upon a Kiss Selection
Heather (Heatso) - Float Plan Selection Completion
Karen (kmk) - Barefoot Bride for Three Selection Completion
Leah - Shadow Witch Selection Completion
Nayara -
Courtney - 6-Pack Rancher Selection Completion

Week 11
13. Surf your own shelves.
Louise -
Heather (Heatso) -
Karen (kmk) -
Leah -
Nayara -
Courtney

Hi All, I’m Louise from South Wales, I‘ve lost track of how many times I’ve played this 5 or 6 times. I’m a bit of a challenge addict and have a number of team challenges on the go. Trying to find the one book that fits all the challenges I’m in is a challenge in itself.
First theme is announced Friday 5th March. Please ensure you post your selection by Sunday evening so I can keep track.

Any ideas for Team Names?

Hey everyone! I'm Nayara from Brazil. It's my second time doing this challenge and I love it, I've read some really good books because of my teammates shelves.

I'm horrible with names, but I'll try to think of something.

Hi everyone! I'm Courtney. I'm a US expat living in Taiwan. Looks like we're all across the world for this one!

I love getting new book recommendations (my TBR is ridiculous!), so I look forward to seeing what kinds of books everyone enjoys.

I'm a total challenge addict, too. I think I can't pick a new book to read unless I have a task to complete now 🤣.

I'm really not good with names, either. Something with cheap travel?

Stingy Sightseers
Thrifty Globe-trotters
Bargain-Basement Backpackers
Mooching Adventurers

🤣🤣

Hello! I'm Heather and I live in California. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've participated in this, but its been awhile since the last time.

I'm also a challenge fiend, and wouldn't know how to pick my next read out by myself anymore I don't think 🤣

I'm really terrible with names too, but I really like Bargain Basement Backpackers for the alliteration.

I’m good with Bargain-Basement Backpackers alliteration definitely appeals. We’ll wait for Karen and Leah to weigh in 😊

Sorry I'm late checking in. This is my 4th time playing and I love it.
I live in Chicago with my hubby, am retired and I am addicted to challenges!

I really like Bargain Basement Backpackers too!

Hi Checking in, sorry for being late! Im good with any name🤓

I live in Texas. I hardly ever do anything on goodreads during the weekend. This is my second time doing this challenge i believe. Looking foward to an amazing challenge with y'all.

How are you going with the 'name calling' 🤣

Looks like you are all happy with Bargain-Basement Backpackers?

Jane (PS) wrote: "How are you going with the 'name calling' 🤣

Looks like you are all happy with Bargain-Basement Backpackers?"

I think so, it seems to be the one settled on 😊

Looks like first task is up!

Week 1

Option 1:
4. "You have friends all over the world, you just haven't met them yet."

* From this round's players, find another member whose books interest you - select a book (any book, does not have to be one that they have read) to read from their bookshelves and become friends. Select your book from a player who is not already a friend.
This doesn't have to be from your team - it can be anyone who is playing in this round.

You may friend each other and use each other's bookshelves - but it must be a new connection since the beginning of this round - from sign up - NOT from today. A player in your team that you friended at the beginning of the challenge counts.
You must link to the bookshelf of your new friend to show their book that you have selected. If linking to a bookshelf is hard, note the date that they added the book to their shelves.
Note the date you became friends (which you can find on your friend list). I don't need to see a link or other justification - just the date.
The series rule can be applied to this task - that is, you may use the next book that you are up to in a series to the one you find on your new friend's shelf.

Option 2:
Key date - 4 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.

Selection Post - Week 1


Hail Mary

Pages: 323 (Kindle Edition)

How the book qualifies:
From Leah's shelf
Date friended: March 5, 2021

I just sent you a friend request, Leah! 🤣

You actually had a lot on your shelf that's on my TBR, but I'm in a total sports mood for some reason, so went with one I hadn't heard of before!

Selection Post - Option 1


Three Simple Rules Nikki Sloane
Pages: 332
Qualification: Nayara's shelf
Date friended: 3/5/21

Nayara I’ve sent you a friend request🙂

Selection Post - Option 1
Week #1


Six of Crows
479 pages
Qualification: Louise Shelves (friends since March 5th 2021)

Selection Post - Week 1
Option 1

Principles of Spookology by S.E. Harmon
Pages: 332
How It Fits: Nayara’s Read Shelf (friends since March 5th 2021)

Karen ♐ wrote: "Selection Post - Option 1


Three Simple Rules Nikki Sloane
Pages: 332
Qualification: Nayara's Shelf - https://www.goodreads...."

Karen can you add the friend date please as per:

Note the date you became friends (which you can find on your friend list). I don't need to see a link or other justification - just the date.

Selection Post - Week 1


One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Pages: 464
How it fits: Karen's Shelf
Friends since 3/5/21

Selection Post - Week 1

Option 1


Torkel's Chosen by Michelle Howard
Pages: 257
How it fits: Courtney's Read Shelf
Friends since 3/5/21

Courtney wrote: "I just sent you a friend request, Leah! 🤣

You actually had a lot on your shelf that's on my TBR, but I'm in a total sports mood for some reason, so went with one I hadn't heard of before!"

Im glad you found something! I did enjoy that book. I will say my ratings for a lot of books would be different if we could give half stars lol

Though I do feel that one is a solid 4.

Leah wrote: "Im glad you found something! I did enjoy that book. I will say my ratings for a lot of books would be different if we could give half stars lol

Though I do feel that one is a solid 4.."

Sooo many books I wish there was a half star for!

I actually kept going back and forth between Hail Mary and Possessed, but I've been a bit heavy on the sci-fi lately, so I figured I'd do something a bit different. I'll have to try and fit that into another challenge.

I really loved Torkel's Chosen. I can't wait to see what you think of it. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think a lot of people don't end up liking Torkel very much. I thought it was interesting how the author handled everything, though.

Everyone's choices have been linked. Happy Reading all :)

Completion Post - Week 1

Option 1


Hail Mary

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

I really enjoyed this one. It was my first by this author, and I liked her style. Loved the dialogue, loads of funny parts, and the MCs were a great pair.



Mary and Jimmy meet while boxing at a local gym. Mary is a little firecracker and totally wipes the floor with him. (I loved all her "Atta-boy" taunts 🤣) He's immediately smitten, not only because she's super tough, fun, and beautiful, but also because she has no idea who he is. Of course, she finds out pretty soon because she ends up getting hired by the Bears to do some PT for Jimmy, but it was a sweet little start to their relationship. Mary ends up questioning for a short while if she can really be with a celebrity with a past like Jimmy's, and then there are a few parts where she worries over whether the relationship is moving too fast, but all the drama in the story is resolved quite quick. I assume so the author could fit in more banging. Because they bang a lot in this book. Really a lot.



Truthfully, it was right on the line of almost being too much for me. By the last one, I was mostly just skimming so I could see how the story would end.

The drama with Jimmy's brother and his niece, I was a little meh about. It was a good idea for some outside drama, but it just never really came together for me. I kept feeling like Jimmy should have done more to get custody of his niece or really had it out with his brother. I assume all of it was really just put in there for the big wall punching scene at the end, but as that was the one part of the book that I felt was kind of unnecessary, that's probably why none of it really worked for me.

Overall, though, I thought the story was well done. There were a few cheeseball moments - like when Mary planned to chill Jimmy out for the game with some tantric sex and biggest fear confessions.



And I think the honey and champagne scene could give a girl a vaginal infection just by reading it.



But I just really liked Jimmy and Mary. While there is definitely some "love at first sight" going on here, it never felt like ridiculous, unbelievable insta-love to me. Both characters were interesting and fun, and the relationship was cute and steamy. Just a sweet little romance.

I just realized my selection post doesn't direct to the kindle edition. The page count is the same, but it doesn't specify the edition. Should I repost my selection post?

Courtney wrote: "Completion Post - Week 1

Option 1


Hail Mary

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

I really enjoyed this one. It was my first by this author, and I liked her s..."

Very nice review! I tend to skim like 99%of sex parts of books lol if it seems like a lot i tend to take a star off

Completion Post

Option 1


Torkel's Chosen by Michelle Howard
Pages: 257
How it fits: Courtney's Read Shelf
Friends since 3/5/21

Read : 3/9/21
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall this was an enjoyable book.
So Earth suffered some type of virus that killed off most of the male population. In this series women have a chance to apply for being a wife/mate/chosen of different alien races. The MC of this book chose to go to a planet named Enotia. Where that majority of the population is blond hair blue eyed, though she chooses someone that was adopted. He is from a race that is not well liked. I say she chose, but really she is bribed to choose him.

I took a star away just because the leading lady is super naive. She clearly doesn't fully think things through. She just went along with what was happening and didn't think to try and change it. I will say she is strong in will.

I liked the difference in personalities. Not all the men thought and seemed the same which is nice. I am interested in knowing what will happen in the next book. The author left a few things hanging in the ait and I want to know what happens. This is not a cliffhanger, just a few things that weren't fully resolved.

Courtney wrote: "I just realized my selection post doesn't direct to the kindle edition. The page count is the same, but it doesn't specify the edition. Should I repost my selection post?"

Just update the selection post - don't worry about reposting :)

Completion Post - Week 1

Option 1:

One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or maybe 3.5)

Review: I'll fully admit this isn't usually the type of book I pick up, I lean more towards full romance than chick lit, but the premise intrigued me so I thought I'd check out a new author. I'm not sure it fully worked for me or that I'll pick up another book by her, but I definitely found the book kept my interest and I breezed through it. I LOVED the relationship formed between the sisters, I would have liked to see the very beginning of them finding each other but that's a small complaint. The way they rallied together so quickly and bonded during the summer while trying to figure out how they were related was just very heartwarming. Bonus points for location, I would go to Lake Tahoe as a child so always fun to read books set in places you're familiar with.

Few small nit picks, it could have been a tad shorter if we didn't get weird random details thrown in that were unnecessary and also the obsession with naming what the car type was every single time it was mentioned. Also the idea of one of the romances icked me a bit at first, but grew on me towards the end, even if its still a kind of weird.

Completion Post - Option 1


Three Simple Rules Nikki Sloane
Pages: 332
Finished: 3/11
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Qualification: Nayara's shelf
Date friended: 3/5/21
Review: Evie works at an advertising firm which she loves and she makes a big mistake where she needs quite a bit of money to pay for a re-run of the advertising material for a client. So she tells her boss, Logan, that she will personally pay for it to be re-run so that management doesn't know the mistake she made. He agrees. The only way she can make that much money quickly is to work for one night at the club her friend works at having sex and spending one night with someone for a big payoff.

Yes, you guessed it. The person that "buys her for the night" is none other than her boss, Logan. She finds out that he has wanted to ask her out for quite some time but thought she had a boyfriend. They have some ups and downs but do end up together at the end. There is a cliffhanger at the end so I will definitely need to read the next book soon! I really love this author. This is the 2nd series I have started of hers and her books are definitely hard to put down!

Leah wrote: "Very nice review! I tend to skim like 99%of sex parts of books lol if it seems like a lot i tend to take a star off"

When the book is on the shorter side, it doesn't bother me too much, but in a more full-length book, I can get a bit fatigued by it. I just readBeautiful Bastard last week, and I was a bit done by the three-quarter mark.

Leah wrote: "Completion Post

Option 1


Torkel's Chosen by Michelle Howard
Pages: 257
How it fits: Courtney's Read Shelf
Friends since 3/5..."


So glad you liked it! I really enjoyed it, and I was surprised it had so many negative reviews. I think it made perfect sense why Torkel didn't go after her. I liked how it was an unexpected turn. The heroine is definitely naive, and it can be a bit much, but I do get why she didn't tell Torkel right away. He had so many self-esteem issues; it would have crushed him to find out he got picked just because of a bribe.

I really like all the side characters in this one, too. All really different. I can't wait to read more in the series.

Heather (Heatso) wrote: "Completion Post - Week 1

Option 1:

One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or maybe 3.5)

Review: I'll fully admit this..."


I've yet to read a Brenda Novack 🙈. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one 🤣. I don't normally do chick lit either. It always seems the hardest for me to get really excited about picking up for some reason.

Karen ♐ wrote: "Completion Post - Option 1


Three Simple Rules Nikki Sloane
Pages: 332
Finished: 3/11
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Qualification: Nayara..."

Is the cliffhanger with the main couple? I haven't read anything by this author before, either, so I put on my TBR 😄.