Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members


Captain Salty
✓ Ariel

The Peppercorns
✓ C
✓ Fran
✓ CB
✓ Maddie
✓ Aoife

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. Lead Rapper - 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 Black & White, 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 7 September.

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 selection post Option 1 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please note which qualifying bookshelf/list you are using or the tags that justifies that it works.
If the theme is based off the bookcover, post the cover. If there is a letter count in the title, publication date etc, please note these details.

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

For selection post Option 3 you must have:
Week #
PASS


For the completion post you must have:
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.

IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT A POST FOR MISSING INFORMATION or because the didn't qualify etc, please REPOST this information in a NEW post. I don't want to have to keep going backwards in the thread.

Weekly Topic List

Week 1:
Option 1: Read a book with an animal on the cover. All animals other than humans will count, including mythical creatures.
OR
Option 2: Read a book that a team read on or after MARCH 11, 2022 and rated at least 3 stars.
OR
Option 3: PASS.

Week 2:
Option 1: Read an interracial romance.
Option 2: Read a book that a teammate read on or after MARCH 11, 2022 and rated at least 3 stars.
Option 3>: PASS.

Weekly Selection Posts

Week #1
Ariel: Comment #40
C: Comment #35
Fran: Comment #28
CB: Comment #58
Maddie: Comment #31
Aoife: Comment #62

Week #2:
CB: Comment #73
Maddie: Comment 74
Ariel: Comment #75
Fran: Comment #76
Aiofe: Comment #77
C: Comment #81

Week #3
C: Comment #97
Ariel: Comment #98
Aoife: Comment #101
Maddie: Comment #102
Fran" Comment #104
CB: Comment #105

Week #4
Aoife: Comment #118
Maddie: Comment #120
CB Comment #124
C: Comment #125
Fran: Comment #126
Ariel: Comment #128

Week #5
Maddie : Comment #141
C: Comment #147
Aoife: Comment #148
Ariel: Comment #150
CB: Comment #135
Fran : Comment #152

Week #6
Maddie: Comment #166
CB: Comment 167

Weekly Completion Posts

Week #2
Ariel
C
Fran
CB
Maddie
Aoife

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Hello team! I am new to this particular challenge but I have captained other challenges and am looking forward to this one.

As far as introductions go, my name is Ariel. I am 27 and live in the southern United States. I am a substitute teacher and while I do have my teaching degree, I really do love subbing. I get to return the kids at the end of the day. LOL

In terms of entertainment, my favorite genres are romance, mystery, romantic suspense, etc. I also love reality food shows (Top Chef, Guys Grocery Games, etc). I can't wait to know more about you guys.

We do need to come up with a team name. The theme is 'black and white' so if anyone has any ideas for it, let's hear it. Some that come to my mind are:

- The Dominoes
- The Aces of Spades


Reminders:
- Reread the rules (like I had to) to make sure everything if clear.
- Make sure when you post selection and completions to follow the format that Jane has given.
- We have until the 7th to come up with a team name so any and all ideas are welcome. THEME: Black and White.
- Start day is the 9th (a week from today - the 2nd).
- Let's have fun! <3

Hi Ariel! I've been here for a few years but I always have the same questions haha

I'm Maddie, 25 in 3 weeks, and I live in New Zealand (hence why most of my questions are to do with time zones haha)

I read mostly anything apart from classics and mysteries of any kind.

I like Dominos!

Hi team!

I’m Fran, I live in NY, and I have kids that are your ages, Ariel and Maddie! Like Ariel, I’m also a teacher, but have taken some time off during the pandemic.

I love reading romance, with humorous, sweet, stranded, and holiday themes as favorites. Suspense and mystery are my least favorites, but I will read them occasionally. These days it’s a sweet HEA for me! I like spice too! Sweet and spicy!

A few team name ideas-

Cookies and Cream Dream Team
Lucky Seven (for black and white dice and our team #)

I like The Dominoes too!

*I have read the rules and understand them :)

Hi Team 7!
I’m Caitlyn, 29 soon to be 30 🙈, and I live in New Orleans, LA.
I’m a recruiter and I work from home but totally wish I had more time to read! I decided to join a reading challenge to get myself reading more as it truly is an enjoyable hobby for me.
I’m married and I have a toddler whose the best ever!

I enjoy reading romance (of course). I’ll pretty much read any type of romance. I do tend to read books that are anksty & spicy (including eroticas) and lean away from sweet romances but I have read some.
I also love mystery/thrillers!
I like Frans cookies and cream name idea!

Hey everyone! My name is Aoife (ee-fa) I'm 24 and from Ireland. I read a lot of sports romance and historical romance but I love mysteries and thrillers too. Cosy mysteries usually hit the spot for getting everything in. I do like sweet romances but I like a bit of spice in there too sometimes!

I work as an environmental consultant after graduating earlier this year. I use a lot of audio books during the day since I spend a lot of time on excel and like to have some noise while I do things. I'm in a few challenges to keep me occupied since I wfh and miss being around people

I like the The Dominoes and Lucky Seven! I was thinking of something with Dalmatians but I did just watch 101 dalmatians last night so it is on my mind

It's nice to meet everyone! I love sports romance as well, Aoife. I only really got into it this year but I definitely fell in love. LOL

I will say that I love Fran's ideas as well.

So far we have:

1. The Dominoes
2. Lucky Seven
3. Cookies and Cream Dream Team

If I had to pick one for a vote, I'd go with Lucky Seven.

Hi everyone - sorry I’m a bit late checking in, I just got back from a hiking trip. I live in Northeast Ohio and am in the financial industry.

I primarily read Urban Fantasy, PNR, Fantasy Romance, and Contemporary.

I think all of the team name suggestions are great and would be happy with any of them, but would probably pick Lucky Seven as my top choice.

I’m thinking we may want to let Jane know our team name as soon as possible. Another team already has a domino name.

Ariel, are you good with Lucky Seven? I think it has the most votes.
If all of the teams get their names in before or by Wednesday Jane might call this week’s theme early :)

I am more than okay with that. As long as no last minute objections come in, I'll post it in the main thread.

Ariel wrote: "I am more than okay with that. As long as no last minute objections come in, I'll post it in the main thread."

Great!

PS - I have read the rules and understand them

Week 1 - Selection Post-
3. Zebra, Border Collie, Holstein Cow, Panda
Option 1

Dancing Bearfoot

Page numbers: 120
How the book qualifies: bear on cover

Oh I need to find the task

eek 1

Option 1
3. Zebra, Border Collie, Holstein Cow, Panda 🦓🐩🐮🐼

* Read a book with an animal on the cover.
All animals other than humans will count, including mythical creatures.


Option 2
Key date: 11 March 2022
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars


Option 3
Pass

Week 1 (Option 1) Selection

Pages: 356
Counts: Horse on cover

A few questions:
1. Can we read the same book? Like if I see someone from the group posts a book that I’m super interested in reading can I read it too?
2. How long do we have to read the book? 1 week right? Then we post our review?
3. Do we post our review in this chat or somewhere else?

I’ll try and have my choice on book made by tonight!

@C:
1. Yep you can read the same book!
2. Yes one week
3. Our reviews get posted here :)

Not to put down your choice Aoife but I thought we had to choose a romance book? Since it’s a Romance group we’re doing this challenge in?
I really struggled with finding a book choice last night in romance so that’s why I definitely want to make sure it has to be a romance! Lol

Week 1:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Page Numbers: 416
How the book qualifies: has a dog on cover front and center

C wrote: "Not to put down your choice Aoife but I thought we had to choose a romance book? Since it’s a Romance group we’re doing this challenge in?
I really struggled with finding a book choice last night ..."

Oh I think you're right... Well back to the drawing board for me!! Thank you!! Would have been worse if I was further into it

Does this count as an animal on the cover?

This is in the Q&A section of the Q&A thread for this challenge-

Q: Does the book have to be a romance?
A: No, but it does have to be a novel. Textbooks will not count. Biographies and autobiographies are OK.

Aoife wrote: "

Does this count as an animal on the cover?"

Yes, a wolf counts.

Week #1 Selection
Book: Shifting and Shenanigans by Elizabeth Pantley

Pages: 210
Qualifications: It has a cat on the cover (see above).

Yeah I didn't think it had to be a romance, so your initial books can count ladies!

I'm reading my pick now! Just a coincidence that it was a romance haha it's not often I read straight romance

Good to know it doesn’t have to be straight romance thank y’all! Sorry for the incorrect info!
Can y’all see the book cover on my pick for week 1? I keep checking back and don’t see it but it seems I can see everyone else’s. Unsure what I did wrong? granted I use the Goodreads app which is awful. Maybe I need to use it on a computer?

I have never used the app so I don't know what it looks like. If you end up using it on the computer, you need click 'add book/author' (located above the textbox) and search for your novel. Once you find your novel in the search, make sure the book cover check mark is checked before pressing the add button. Now that I think about it, I don't think you can add the cover via the app/mobile.

C wrote: "Good to know it doesn’t have to be straight romance thank y’all! Sorry for the incorrect info!
Can y’all see the book cover on my pick for week 1? I keep checking back and don’t see it but it seems..."

Yeah you need to use the computer to add the bookcover, what you've done on the app is okay

Okay thank y’all! I’ll use that method for next week. I also realized when using the app you can’t reply directly to the message so I just have to post as a new comment, if that makes sense.

C wrote: "Okay thank y’all! I’ll use that method for next week. I also realized when using the app you can’t reply directly to the message so I just have to post as a new comment, if that makes sense."

C, if you would rather use your phone than a computer you can access the desktop site from your phone’s browser. You get all of the functionality of the website - I hope that helps!

Thank you so much Fran! That’s a great idea. Never even thought of that 😅

C wrote: "Thank you so much Fran! That’s a great idea. Never even thought of that 😅"

You’re very welcome!
I use the regular site from my phone browser all the time- the app is practically useless!

Aoife wrote: "C wrote: "Not to put down your choice Aoife but I thought we had to choose a romance book? Since it’s a Romance group we’re doing this challenge in?
I really struggled with finding a book choice l..."

It doesn't have to be romance for this challenge. It just preferred that it is. It can be any fiction or non-fiction but not school text books or cookbooks etc. For example, non-fiction biographies are accepted.

C wrote: "Week 1:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Page Numbers: 416
How the book qualifies: has a dog on cover front and center"

Hi C - could you please add the book cover to your selection post?

Ariel added directions on how to do it if you use the desktop site on your phone or computer. There are also directions here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks!