Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge
Hole in One!
February 7, 2026 through April 11, 2026

Team 14 Members:

✓ Captain - Jamie

✓ ☘KathyD☘
✓ Grace
✓ Mrsgeo

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge
Hole in One!
February 7, 2026 through April 11, 2026

Welcome to RRRC’s version of Cornhole! This is the reading version of the classic lawn game where instead of tossing beanbags, you will be attempting to get your book in the hole.

Challenge Dates:
Signups open until Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 6 PM US ET.
Teams Allocated January 31st after signups close, please allow several hours.
First Inning Begins on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 6 PM US ET.
Last Inning Ends on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 6 PM US ET, completions will not be accepted after this time.

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge is a 9 week team challenge. Each week you and your team will be playing an inning of Cornhole. Innings will run from Saturday to Saturday at 6 PM US ET. Each player will need to read one book per week. Each inning 3 prompts will be given. Prompts will build in detail. Prompts must be compiled in order - the book has to fit the first prompt before you can add the second and must fit the first and second before adding the third. Second and third prompts can’t be done separately. Books must be completed within each inning, there is no carryover. Points will be tallied at the end of each inning. The teams with the most points at the end of the 9 innings wins.

Scoring for each inning:
On the Ground: Your selected book meets the first prompt - 1 Point.
On the Board: Your selected book meets the first and second prompts - 3 Points.
In the Hole: Your selected book meets the first, second and third prompts - 5 Points.

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge
Hole in One!
February 7, 2026 through April 11, 2026

Information required when posting your selection:

Inning Number and Task.
Book/cover link, please include the author.
First Edition Kindle page count.
How book qualified for first prompt, with links or cover as necessary.
How book qualified for second prompt, as above if necessary.
How book qualified for second prompt, as above if necessary.


Information required when posting your completion:

Inning Number and Task.
Book/cover link, please include the author.
First Edition Kindle page count.
How book qualified for first prompt, with links or cover as necessary.
How book qualified for second prompt, as above if necessary.
How book qualified for second prompt, as above if necessary.
Date Completed.
Rating.
Review.


**Remember to use the first edition Kindle page count only! If your page count comes from a Kindle edition published on the initial publication date on the editions page, it will count. If your page count comes from a Kindle edition labeled '1st edition', it will count. If your page count comes from the earliest dated English language Kindle edition, it will count. I am looking for one of those three things when confirming your books! As long the page count you list is correct, I will accept any link to the book. Ebook page count will be acceptable if no Kindle page count available. The acceptability of other page counts will be made on an individual basis.**

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge
Hole in One!
February 7, 2026 through April 11, 2026

I will be tracking each team's completions and using the captains' tracking to confirm before tallying points at the end of each inning.

Captains, anything you can do to help is appreciated! Simply listing the completions with message number is great - links are not required, but always appreciated. 😊

RRRC’s Cornhole Team Challenge
Hole in One!
February 7, 2026 through April 11, 2026

Captains, please reserve a few spaces for tracking.

Introduce yourselves to your teammates. Let then know where you are from, what your interests are in life and in books! Consider friending each other, that makes it easier to follow the goings on.

Your first task as a team is to come up with a team name. The theme is Hole in One and your team name should relate to that. Captains, please post your team name in the Q&A thread when you have decided.

Inning Prompts:

Please note only the first prompt will be revealed before the inning begins!

1st Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Historical Romance.
Second Prompt - Read a book that fits the first prompt and is set in the US.
Third Prompt - Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and has a non-English language edition.

2nd Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Fantasy.
Second Prompt - Read a book that fits the first prompt and is over 300 pages, first edition Kindle page count.
Third Prompt - Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and features a child in the story.

3rd Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Small Town Romance.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

4th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Suspense.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

5th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Shifter.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

6th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Sports Romance.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

7th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Urban Fantasy.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

8th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Paranormal.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

9th Inning:
First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Contemporary Romance.
Second Prompt -
Third Prompt -

**Prompts will be explained in detail when each inning begins.**

1st Inning: Total Points
Jamie - selection msg 19| completed msg 29
☘KathyD☘ - selection msg 26| completed msg 31
Grace - selection msg 24| completed msg 28
Mrsgeo - selection msg 22| completed msg 32

2nd Inning: Total Points
Jamie - selection msg 35| completion msg 47
☘KathyD☘ - selection msg 41
Grace - selection msg 36
Mrsgeo - selection msg 37| completion msg 42

3rd Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

4th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

5th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

6th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

7th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

8th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

9th Inning: Total Points
Jamie -
☘KathyD☘ -
Grace -
Mrsgeo -

reserved

Hi team! I'm excited to read with ya'll.

A little about me: My name is Jamie. I live in Alabama (Central Time Zone) with my hubby, kids, and 2 furbabies. I read pretty much anything at least once. But my main preference is anything romance.

I'm not great at team names, but some options that came up while searching the internet were:

The Hole Seekers
Cornhole Crushers
The Hole Hitters
The Toss Bosses

Hi, Jamie, everyone. I'm Sheena from Scotland - a retired geography teacher, currently recovering from one knee replacement surgery & patiently waiting for the second which won't happen until April at the earliest. I like Cornhole Crushers but happy to go with majority.

Hey Sheena! Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Hello team! I'm Grace and live in San Diego. I read primarily romance and am a mood reader. I like to jump around the different subgenres of romance. I'm excited that each of the first prompts have a different theme, since that's really how I read. I'm a self-described Disney adult and love that I live close to the parks. I also like doing puzzles and baking.

I'm not the best at names and honestly don't know much about sports so I'm good with Cornhole Crushers.

Hey Grace! I love all things Disney too! We used to live in Ft. Irwin so we were at Disneyland a lot. I miss those days.

Hi all! I’m Kathy and I live in the southeast suburbs of Chicago (central time) with my husband, two dogs, and one cat. My husband has some health issues that keep me away from my computer, so I may respond late to posts…if a decision needs to be made, please don’t wait for me…I’ll read just about anything!

My main reading choice is anything romance, although in the last year or so I’ve been diving into more mystery/thrillers (with or without romance).

I’m also not good with names…IRL, I refer to this game as toss across! Cornhole Crushers works for me! Looking forward to crushing it over the next nine weeks! 😁

Hey Kathy! Sounds like Cornhole Crushers is the winner!

I'll submit our name over :)

Prompt Announcements for the 1st Inning

This inning begins on February 7th at 6 PM US ET and ends on February 14th at 6 PM US ET. No posts will be accepted after this time.


First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Historical Romance.

Books selected for this prompt need to be MPG Historical Romance. 'Historical' and 'Romance' do not need to be combined and can be combined with other words like 'MM Romance', but both must be MPG.

Second Prompt - Read a book that fits the first prompt and is set in the US.

Books selected for this prompt need to meet the qualifications for the first prompt and be set in the US. You can use the book details on the main page, title, precis, tags or lists as your qualification. Remember to let me know how you know your books qualify, I need to know where to look to confirm you books! Please include any necessary links and information in your completion posts.

Third Prompt - Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and has a non-English language edition.

Books selected for this prompt need to meet the qualifications for the first and second prompts and also be published in a language besides English. Please include a link to the non-English language edition in your completion posts.


Please remember books can't be started before the inning begins and must be finished before the inning ends! Please ensure that your selection and completion posts conform to message #3 of your team thread. There is a 100 page minimum for books (first edition Kindle). Players may read the same or different books than teammates for each inning, but each player can only read a specific book once during the challenge. Books do not have to be romance, but must be fiction.

Selection Post: 1st Inning


The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Pages: 1,709
First Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
Second Prompt: set in the US| Blurb - "the Colony of North Carolina stands in an uneasy balance, with the rich, colonial aristocracy on one side and the struggling pioneers of the backcountry on the other."
Third Prompt: has a non-English language edition| Das flammende Kreuz [*book:Das flammende Kreuz|1263033]

I have a couple options that would fit all 3. I'll wait till im back home tomorrow to decide and will post my selection.

I believe I have a few options also and will post my selection tomorrow!

Selection Post: 1st inning


Marry Me by Sundown by Johanna Lindsey
368/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
2nd Prompt: set in USA - Montana (MPG Setting)
3rd Prompt: Spanish edition - Te amaré hasta el amanecer

😊

Selection Post: 1st Inning

Book:Truce by R.L. Mathewson
Page Count: 314
1st Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
2nd Prompt: tagged "setting-in-state-of-massachusetts" on page 21 1 time
3rd Prompt: Italian Edition ~Tutta colpa del destino

😊

Inning 1
Selection Post


The Prince of Broadway, Joanna Shupe
first-edition Kindle ➔ 384 pages
how the book qualifies
💈 prompt 1 ➔ main page genre historical romance
🗽 prompt 2 ➔ main page setting New York City
🌎 prompt 3 ➔ Spanish Kindle edition

📚

Completion Post: 1st Inning

Book:Truce by R.L. Mathewson
Page Count: 314
1st Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
2nd Prompt: tagged "setting-in-state-of-massachusetts" on page 21 1 time
3rd Prompt: Italian Edition ~Tutta colpa del destino
Date Read: February 11th
Rating: ⭐⭐1/2
Review: R.L. Mathewson can be hit and miss for me. I generally like the contemporary books and stay away from the paranormal. I know this was a one off situation, but as a historical romance novel it just doesn't work at all. It is very much forcing in some points to a time period to "explain" the modern Bradfords. Some of it was cute and I was willing to go along with it, other parts no.

A minor complaint, Robert and Elizabeth need to be the same age or only a couple years between them. I do not buy any story where a 14 year old boy and 8 year old girl act the way they did. Make Robert only 2 years older and so much of the story works better. I will die on this hill.

A major problem is the middle part and the "why" Bradfords have the types of weddings they do. Hated that wedding and the immediate scenes after it, honestly ruined Robert for me and made me not enjoy what was a pretty charming though unrealistic last third of a story. A good historical can do the forced marriage so much better and not have the main characters become complete assholes.

Completion Post: 1st Inning


The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Pages: 1,709
First Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
Second Prompt: set in the US| Blurb - "the Colony of North Carolina stands in an uneasy balance, with the rich, colonial aristocracy on one side and the struggling pioneers of the backcountry on the other."
Third Prompt: has a non-English language edition| Das flammende Kreuz [*book:Das flammende Kreuz|1263033]

Finished: 2/13/26
Rating: 5 ★★★★★
Review: This is my second time through this book and I still loved it. This is one of the larger books in the series, so it's a feat to get through, but it's so worth it.

My love for these characters continue to grow. Roger pulls at my heartstrings throughout this book. He is constantly having things thrown at him, but he perseveres.

I forgot that Ian comes back at the end of this one! I'm so excited to see him back in this world. I missed him so much in this book. And Rolo. I love that dog!

I know I sound like a broken record, but this is one of my favorite series. Jamie Fraser will forever be one of my favorite characters.

📚

Inning 1
Completion Post


The Prince of Broadway, Joanna Shupe – 2/13/26 – ✮✮✮✮✰
first-edition Kindle ➔ 384 pages
how the book qualifies
💈 prompt 1 ➔ main page genre historical romance
🗽 prompt 2 ➔ main page setting New York City
🌎 prompt 3 ➔ Spanish Kindle edition
Review — Another Greene sister, another fun ride! I love how bold and independent Florence is. It’s fun to see Clay get tangled in her web then watch them get tangled with each other!

Completion Post: 1st inning


Marry Me by Sundown by Johanna Lindsey
368/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Historical Romance
2nd Prompt: set in USA - Montana (MPG Setting)
3rd Prompt: Spanish edition - Te amaré hasta el amanecer
*** 14/2/26
Review: I don't think I've read any Johanna Lindsey books previously and this one certainly won't encourage me to read any more. The whole premis of the book hinges on two brothers living in Philadelphia, writing to their younger sister in London, that they have seen twice in the previous nine years, so that she'll deal with their father 's disappearance in Montana. And that her guardian allowed her to go. In Victorian or Edwardian society. Unbelievable!
However, as a straightforward western, it would have worked very well although there were a few more holes in the plot that a horse could easily have ridden through. As a romance... not so much. There wasn't much chemistry between the couple until well into the second half of the book. Violet also spends too much time thinking about the English lord she intends to marry and I found this also really hard to believe. She's eighteen, had only met him once for a few hours and since then has been transported to Montana where everything must have been completely different to anything she had experienced previously. I can't see her having much time to think about anything else.

😊

Prompt Announcements for the 2nd Inning

This inning begins on February 14th at 6 PM US ET and ends on February 21st at 6 PM US ET. No posts will be accepted after this time.

First Prompt - Read a book that is MPG Fantasy.

Books selected for this prompt need to be MPG Fantasy. 'Fantasy' can be combined with other words, but must be Main Page Genre.

Second Prompt - Read a book that fits the first prompt and is over 300 pages, first edition Kindle page count.

Pretty self explanatory. Remember to use the first edition Kindle page count!

Third Prompt - Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and features a child in the story.

To qualify for this prompt, the title, précis, list or tag would need to include the words 'infant', 'baby', 'child/ren' or 'kid/s' or the equivalent. A child would need to be a minor, grown children would not qualify. These words need to be in context, 'baby, it's cold outside' does not work. 'Childrens' as in children's books (books written for kids) is specifically excluded from this prompt. 'Childrens' will not be an acceptable qualifier even if the book is clearly not a children's book.

Please remember books can't be started before the inning begins and must be finished before the inning ends! Please ensure that your selection and completion posts conform to message #3 of your team thread. There is a 100 page minimum for books (first edition Kindle). Players may read the same or different books than teammates for each inning, but each player can only read a specific book once during the challenge. Books do not have to be romance, but must be fiction.

Selection Post: 2nd Inning


Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehrich
Pages: 538
First Prompt: Read a book that is MPG Fantasy
Second Prompt: Read a book that fits the first prompt and is over 300 pages, first edition Kindle page count
Third Prompt: Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and features a child in the story| précis "But when children begin disappearing from her home..."

Selection Post: 2nd Inning

Book: Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan
Page Count: 324
1st Prompt: MPG tagged fantasy
2nd Prompt: Over 300 pages (324)
3rd Prompt: tagged "baby" 6 time on page 1

Selection Post: 2nd inning


Found by A.M. Arthur
336pp/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Fantasy
2nd Prompt: more than 300 pages
3rd Prompt: child mentioned in the precis - "pregnant with another alpha’s child"

just checking...can the qualifier for prompt 1 be urban fantasy...also, does surprise pregnancy qualify for prompt 3?

You might want to ask about the urban fantasy. I would assume that it should qualify, but I'm not 100%. But I'm not sure that she'll take pregnancy. I've seen some of her answers on the other questions, and she has said that the tags need to say child/children/kid/baby or something like that in order to qualify.

got it! thanks, Jamie!

Inning 2
Selection Post


Deja Demon, Julie Kenner
first-edition Kindle ➔ 332 pages
how the book qualifies
🦄 prompt 1 ➔ main page genre fantasy
📚 prompt 2 ➔ 332 pages
🍼 prompt 3 ➔ from the précis: ...“her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and a stiletto, pottytraining a toddler, and her…”

Completion Post: 2nd inning


Found by A.M. Arthur
336pp/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Fantasy
2nd Prompt: more than 300 pages
3rd Prompt: child mentioned in the precis - "pregnant with another alpha’s child"
**** 15/2/26
Review: This is #4 of the Breaking Free series and features Isa, a widowed senior police constable with three sons and Liam, the victim of a forced pregnancy/fighting ring. Although there are dark themes - abuse, rape, omega and newborn deaths, and a big age gap - I enjoyed the book very much. It brought to a natural close some of the issues raised in earlier books which was good as sometimes authors stretch these out too long. It was a slow burn romance and that felt natural, too, given the problems both of the MCs were facing. Overall, it was my favourite so far and I would thoroughly recommend the whole series, if you enjoy Mpreg/Omegaverse.

Mrsgeo wrote: "Selection Post: 2nd inning


Found by A.M. Arthur
336pp/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Fantasy
2nd Prompt: more than 300 pages
3rd Pro..."

This is really close in the qualification. Pregnancy is not included in the prompt. That said, it does appear that the baby is a significant part of the story and the precis says 'child' - so it will work.

Good thing too since you've already finished it! (I had thought that all through before I saw your completion post.)

MountainKat wrote: "Mrsgeo wrote: "Selection Post: 2nd inning


Found by A.M. Arthur
336pp/ GR 1st ed Kindle
1st Prompt: MPG Fantasy
2nd Prompt: more than 30..."

It also had ''kids' in the tags but I didn't use that because of 'child' in the precis.

You are double golden then! 😊

1st Inning Scoring: 20 Points

Jamie - 5
KathyD - 5
Grace - 5
Mrsgeo - 5

Completion Post: 2nd Inning


Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehrich
Pages: 538
First Prompt: Read a book that is MPG Fantasy
Second Prompt: Read a book that fits the first prompt and is over 300 pages, first edition Kindle page count
Third Prompt: Read a book that fits the first and second prompts and features a child in the story| précis "But when children begin disappearing from her home..."

Finished: 2/17/26
Rating: 4 ★★★★
Review: This is one of those series for me that I'm enjoying so much more this second time around. Scarlett and Sorin dance around one another for a good bit of this one, but once they figure it out, I love it. These two were made for one another.

I'm also loving these secondary characters: Rayner, Eliza, Cyrus, Briar, Ashtine, and even Azrael.

I forgot this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Ugh...I guess I'll have to start the next one right away lol

Inning 2
Completion Post


Deja Demon, Julie Kenner – 2/19/26 – ✮✮✮✮✰
first-edition Kindle ➔ 332 pages
how the book qualifies
🦄 prompt 1 ➔ main page genre fantasy
📚 prompt 2 ➔ 332 pages
🍼 prompt 3 ➔ from the précis: ...“her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and a stiletto, pottytraining a toddler, and her…”
Review — Poor Kate just can’t catch a break! In addition to being a mom to her teenage daughter and toddler son, she’s trying to fight the newest big bad and organize Easter festivities in her neighborhood. There is a ton of humor, which I always expect in these books, but there is also a lot of angst. The last fourth of the book was pretty intense, so I’m looking forward to seeing how things shake out in the next book.

😊

Completion Post: 2nd Inning

Book: Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan
Page Count: 324
1st Prompt: MPG tagged fantasy
2nd Prompt: Over 300 pages (324)
3rd Prompt: tagged "baby" 6 time on page 1
Date Read: 2/21/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: This one was okay. I felt that the relationship Melanie and Tristian went from hate to love pretty quickly and I would have like a few more scenes were they actually showed the development of their relationship.