The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 2

Captain:
Jen K
AliciaJ
Karen ♐
Melanie
Taya:)
Laura

(view spoiler)[
Used 02/06 (hide spoiler)]

Bonus Points:
Earned: 4
Used: 0

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll: https://www.random.org/dice/ (2 dice on Fridays, US Central Time)
R16 SS Post Your Spot
R16 SS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)

2. Author F
3. Number in the Title (e.g.Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
4. Young Adult/New Adult
5. Award Winner (must state which/when)
6. Set in a place you've visited
7. Title G
8. Several authors
9. MC travels by train
10. Author K
11. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
12. Set on an island
13. Asia
14. Title L
15. Book with a funeral in it
16. Set in space
17. Published 2021-2026
18. Author T
19. Cover Item: Sky
20. Published 2011-2020
21. Title Y
22. Author R
23. Movie/TV Tie-in (i.e. a book based on a movie/tv show)
24. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
25. Cover Item: Fire
26. Published 2001-2010
27. Title Z
28. Science Fiction
29. Oceania
30. Cover Item: Weapon
31. Author U
32. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) (e.g. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
33. Title D
34. Cover Item: Jewelry
35. LGBTQ+
36. Author W
37. Less than 100 ratings
38. Title H
39. South America
40. Author O
41. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) (e.g.Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone)
42. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
43. Title has a subtitle
44. Cover: Yellow/Gold
45. Set in the 20th century
46. Title N
47. Africa
48. Author P
49. Cover: Orange
50. New to You Author
51. Originally published in a language other than English
52. Cover Item: Building
53. Published before 1950
54. Title I
55. Author uses a pseudonym
56. Cover: Brown
57. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) (e.g. The Witness or Divergent)
58. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
59. North America
60. Re-Read
61. Cover Item: Food/Drink
62. Fantasy
63. Set in the future
64. Cover Item: Water
65. Cover: Black
66. Romance
67. Cover: Blue
68. History/Historical Fiction
69. Author E
70. Set anytime before 1600
71. Cover Item: Flower
72. Debut Novel or Debut Author
73. Title V
74. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
75. Cover Item: Two or more people
76. Europe
77. Cover Item: Money or other form of payment
78. Published 1950-2000
79. Author C
80. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
81. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
82. Title Q
83. Cover: Purple
84. Mystery/Thriller
85. MC is a child
86. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
87. Cover: Red
88. Cover Item: One person
89. Author B
90. Nonfiction
91. Cover: White
92. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
93. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) (e.g. Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games)
94. GR average rating <3.7
95. Book with a wedding in it
96. Cover Item: Animal
97. GR average rating >4.0
98. Set anytime between 1600-1900
99. Title M
100. Cover: Grey/Silver
101. Author S
102. School/College/University setting
103. MC travels by boat/ship
104. Title J
105. MC is 60+
106. Cover Item: Book
107. MC has a pet
108. Cover: Green
109. Author A
110. MC travels by airplane
111. Cover: Pink
112. Title F

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain week, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the week in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role every week, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Hi, everyone. Checking in.

Hi team, look forward to playing the challenge with you all.

Hi everyone!

Hello Team!

Hi team, checking in!

I don't mind captaining if there's no one else that wants to, I've done it in previous years.

Melanie wrote: "Hi team, checking in!

I don't mind captaining if there's no one else that wants to, I've done it in previous years."

Thanks for offering! That would be great!

Melanie wrote: "Hi team, checking in!

I don't mind captaining if there's no one else that wants to, I've done it in previous years."

Thanks, Melanie!

Melanie wrote: "Hi team, checking in!

I don't mind captaining if there's no one else that wants to, I've done it in previous years."

Sounds great.

Hi Team, checking in. Thanks for volunteering as captain Melanie😊

Thanks Melanie for offering to captain!

It might be helpful before we start to know if anyone is planning on reading from just the alternate's list, just reading series books, or any of the other bonus tasks

Team name suggestions
Seeing Double
2 Fast 2 Furious

I like 2 fast 2 furious

Laura wrote: "It might be helpful before we start to know if anyone is planning on reading from just the alternate's list, just reading series books, or any of the other bonus tasks"

I’m going to try to read just series books

I never read from the alternate list so if someone else covered that it would be appreciated.

I also like 2 Fast 2 Furious for the name.

I'm hoping to read something over 500 pages but if someone beats me to it I won't be upset.
I hope not to use the alternate list and hoping to start and finish a series

Here's our first roll.

Week: 1
Previous Space: Start
Roll: 3 + 5 = 8
New Space: 8

You can read any of the following:
- 8th book in a series
- Alternate task 8. Several authors

Deadline: Friday January 23, 2026

Selection post- week 1
Spot 8
by Karen Rose
Pages: 436
Qualification: # 8 in series

That's a great book Laura, I hope you enjoy it!

Melanie wrote: "That's a great book Laura, I hope you enjoy it!"

I'm sure I will. This is one series I've read out of order , I'm all over the place and haven't disliked a book yet.

If no one else wants it, I'll do the alternate list only since I'm mostly caught up on all my current series. Also, I like 2 Fast 2 Furious as well for the team name.

Great Alicia! I also plan to read all series. Maybe I might manage the 3 books in the same series but not the start to finish one.

My book this week will be Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews which should meet the 2 in 1 bonus as Andrews is a wife/ husband reading team.

I'm on work travel this week so I will not be early with my read but plan to finish by Thursday.

ETA: also fine with 2 Fast 2 Furious

Completion post: week 1
Spot 8
by Karen Rose
Pages: 436
Qualification: # 8 in series
Review: 3.5 stars read. I have been reading this series out of order since I started it. This book has all the makings of a great read for me. There's some suspense, mystery, romance and a story line. I like how everything is tied up neatly at the end but a few strings left to pull which hopefully is addressed in other books

Completion post: week 1
Spot 8 - Alternate List


Book: Wild & Steamy by Meljean Brook, Jill Myles, and Carolyn Crane
Pages: 160
Qualification: Several authors
Date Read: 1/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This had three short stories, one by each author. I really enjoyed all three, but the story by Meljean Brook was undoubtedly the best. It was set as part of her Iron Seas series, but with minor characters. She was able to convey so much within just a short span of pages, making me really care about the characters and how they found their way back to each other after facing horrible danger together. The second story, Vixen by Jill Myles, was about shapeshifters, but it was a menage scenario, which I really don't care for. I read it, but found it to be a struggle to get through, thankfully it was very short. The last story by Carolyn Crane was another gem though. I love urban fantasy, but this also had the added element of dystopia, which just made it even more intriguing. I loved the imaginative setting, the characters, and how the author managed to bring them to life within just a few pages. She was able to portray their angst, despair, and betrayal so convincingly that I immediately looked up her other books after I finished this one because I wanted more. Thankfully there is a whole series set in this world, so I'm pretty excited to get started.

Completion post: week 1
Spot 8
by Julie Ann Walker
Pages: 416
Qualification: # 8 in series
Review: 3 stars - I enjoyed this book but didn't feel it was great. It took quite a while for things to get moving. This is a second chance romance which was enjoyable. Penni has some pretty important news to share with Dan and they end up in the middle of this op chasing a rogue CIA agent. Of course, things end up working out for this couple.

Just updating that I will have my book done tomorrow afternoon.

Completion Post: Week 1 - Spot 8



Book: Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert
How it fits?: #8 in Blue Ridge Library Mystery series
# Pages: 262 pages
Date finished: 1/22/2026
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Murder Checks Out was another excellent installment in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series following Amy as she solves a murder set at Christmastime.

This book picks up a little over five years after the events of Death in the Margins as Amy found out she was pregnant at the end of that book and her twins are now five. The big time gap was interesting as the lives of some of the characters have changed a bit in the missing years and I enjoyed getting to see what was different for everyone. The plot in this one, the murder of the festival chair, immediately pulled me in as it was clear from the start that the woman had enemies. In her job as a real estate developer she upset a lot of people and I wondered if that was what led to her death or if it was something else. With Ethan being a suspect, Amy immediately set out to help and she quickly uncovered a number of other possible suspects. I wasn't completely surprised by the identity of the killer as the character had acted suspiciously multiple times throughout the book but the reveal of why they did it was well done.

Amy continues to be a fantastic main character and she's come so far since the first book. A lot of the information and connections Amy finds in this book were in large part due to her research skills as a librarian. The killers in this series are always so surprised by how much she's able to dig up which is something I enjoy. One thing that sets this series apart from several other cozy mystery series I've read is that Amy actively keeps law enforcement informed about what she finds and what she's doing. She doesn't rush off head-on into danger like some main characters which is something I appreciate. Amy and Richard's relationship continues to be wonderful and their kids were an absolute delight.

Overall Murder Checks Out was a great read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series, Death and the Librarian, soon.

Jen K and Taya:) - How are you two doing with your books? The deadline is tomorrow.

Week 1
Spot: 8

Book: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: Kate Daniels #8
Pages: 343
Finished: 22 January 2026
Rating: ★★★★

Review: So happy to get nudged back to the Kate Daniels series. This is the first book after (view spoiler)[ Curran steps down as Beast Lord (hide spoiler)]. Life in the burbs trying to be ordinary neighbors is only successful for a short bit before pack squabbles and fearsome foes land on their step. The Guild is back in an interesting way and always love when the friend group is fully included. It will be interesting to see how they move forward. I did enjoy the family dinner quite a bit. I really need to finish up this series this year.

Bonus ✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.---- Andrews is a a husband/wife writing team.

Melanie wrote: "Jen K and Taya:) - How are you two doing with your books? The deadline is tomorrow."

Sorry, the end of my trip got busy. Got invited out to two dinners last night. Headed home today. I think it is still Thursday in US? Fingers crossed.

Jen K wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Jen K and Taya:) - How are you two doing with your books? The deadline is tomorrow."

Sorry, the end of my trip got busy. Got invited out to two dinners last night. Headed home toda..."

Yeah, you were still good as it's Thursday night here. I just wanted to check in since we were close to the end of the round.

Melanie wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Jen K and Taya:) - How are you two doing with your books? The deadline is tomorrow."

Sorry, the end of my trip got busy. Got invited out to two dinners last night. He..."

I appreciate the check!!!

Completion Post - Read 1/22
Week 1 - Spot 8

Royal Captive - Shannon West
230pp

Review:
I started this series at Book 8 and have never stopped loving it after all these years. I reread it and found it didn't stick in my memory for the most part. I enjoy my time reading it, but it's forgettable. 3 stars

Perfect, we've all checked in before midnight on Friday so we earned our Free Pass! I will roll as soon as it hits midnight CST.

Week 1 Reviews: Spot 8

Jen K: Kate Daniels #8
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2 in 1 Bonus: Ilona Andrews is a a husband/wife writing team.

AliciaJ: Alternate - Several authors
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Karen ♐: Black Knights Inc. #8
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Melanie: Blue Ridge Library Mystery #8
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Taya:): Mate of the Tyger Prince #8
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Laura: Romantic Suspense #8
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Free Pass Earned

Here's our roll.

Week: 2
Previous Space: 8
Roll: 4 + 4 = 8
New Space: 16

You can read any of the following:
- Standalone
- 1st book in a series
- 6th book in a series
- 16th book in a series
- Alternate task 16. Set in space

Deadline: Friday January 30, 2026

I think I'm going to read by Devney Perry
#1 in series

Laura wrote: "I think I'm going to read by Devney Perry
#1 in series"

Oh, Laura, you're tempting me...

Karen ♐ wrote: "Laura wrote: "I think I'm going to read by Devney Perry
#1 in series"

Oh, Laura, you're tempting me..."

Lol...just a teeny tiny twist
Come on, Karen🤣🤣🤣

Yay I get to read a scifi book! I think I'll go with .

Laura wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "Laura wrote: "I think I'm going to read by Devney Perry
#1 in series"

Oh, Laura, you're tempting me..."

Lol...just a teeny tiny twist
Come on, Kare..."

You convinced me...lol

@Karen

😂 Lol, that didn't take much. I did know you enjoy a Devney Perry book!

Week 2
Spot: 16

Book: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
Qualification: The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1
Pages: 373
Finished: 23 January 2026
Rating: ★★★ and half

Review: Frustrated with the vicious feud between his largest and most loyal 2 clans, he decrees a marriage and truce to take place. Eveline is the cherished daughter of the Armstrongs and drawing even more protection after a serious accident and illness 3 years prior left her "daft". When Eveline meets the impressive Graeme Montgomery, she decides to make the most of the marriage and possible fresh start but the hatred between clans is fierce and hard to get past and fragile enough to cause continued problems.

I haven't read a non fantasy romance in a bit and this was a good one. I appreciated that the main challenges were outside of the couple and most communication issues/ secrets were sorted fairly quickly rather than festering with frustration. It made some parts seem a bit too good to be be true but I enjoyed. Always love a good Scot warrior too, no kilts involved though.

Laura wrote: "@Karen

😂 Lol, that didn't take much. I did know you enjoy a Devney Perry book!"

I love all her books!

Completion Post: Week 2 - Spot 16



Book: Without Sanction by Don Bentley
How it fits?: #1 in Matt Drake series
# Pages: 373 pages
Date finished: 1/24/2026
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Without Sanction was a great start to a thriller series following DIA agent Matt Drake as he attempts to extract a scientist working for ISIS.

Without Sanction opens with Matt in Austin where he is accosted by federal agents and brought back to D.C. as he's been avoiding his boss's calls for three months. After learning about the situation with the scientist, he agrees to come back to work. I was very curious about why the scientist was so insistent that Matt was the only person he would surrender himself to. When Matt arrives in Syria pretty much everything that could go wrong, goes wrong. In addition to needing to find the scientist and the weapons lab, there is a CIA agent who is currently being held captive that Matt also hopes to rescue. With so much going on the book moves pretty rapidly and there was a lot of action-packed scenes that kept me invested in finding out what would happen next. The ending is perfectly done with just the right amount of tension to keep you guessing

Matt was an interesting character to follow as he's still dealing with survivor's guilt over what happened in Syria three months ago. He's convinced that what happened was his fault and he's had a hard time moving past it. He's initially very reluctant to get involved when he first arrives in D.C. but once he committed, he was all in which I appreciated. He has a very unique way of doing things and he isn't afraid to break the rules if it means doing the right thing. That was one thing I really liked about Drake's character, he had his own moral compass and stuck to it even when things got tough.

Overall Without Sanction was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series, The Outside Man, soon.