Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

This is the thread where we ask questions, discuss, and make suggestions for the challenge.

Special thanks to the members who regularly stop by at the Suggestions Thread and share their input. It definitely helped me a lot when I put together the monthly categories. Thanks, guys.

1. June: Read a book which title starts with "J."

2. Birthday: Read a book from a June B-day celebrant. (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...)

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Georgia.

4.Gemini Connection: Read a book where there is a twin/s character in the story or the word twin/s in the title.

5. Great Outdoors Month: Read book where a character’s profession requires him/her to spend most of the time outdoors, or read a book which have a man vs nature theme, or read a book where majority of the story takes place outdoors..

6. Already Wed June is from Juno, goddess of Marriage. Read a book where the main couple is already married, including marriage of convenience, husband/wife disappearance, marriage by mistake, etc.

7. Repeat Day (June3) Read a book where the first letter repeats for both an author’s first and last name. (Ex. Lora Leigh, Amanda Ashley, Beverly Barton, etc)

8. Romance Genre: Read an erotic romance. (Adjust level of steaminess to one ‘s taste.)

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book from our group’s bookshelf.

10. Reader's Choice

Challenge Duration: June - June 30, 2010

if anyone wants some advice on Erotic Romance you can shoot me a PM - I read predominantly those, so if you have a certain comfort zone you want to stick in, or want to push the boundaries...let me know and i'll try to help!

I've read quite a few ER's myself so I can also help in that department. Thank God I ordered a batch of ER's earlier this month so I can have a new one to read for June.

Does count as erotica? I read another book by her previously and it was way outside my comfort zone, but I still own this book, so if it counts, I figure I can give it a try.

Emma Holly, I've heard, is considered an erotica author. So that can work.

I've never read erotic romance before. I'm equal parts nervous and excited. Somebody hold me!!!! :)~

maybe it would help if perhaps someone could post a few ER authors? I know it would help me alot...thanks

Here are some authors of erotic romance I have read. Most of them are paranormals because that is what I like to read.

Joey W. Hill
Sydney Croft
Lauren Dane
Lora Leigh
Sharon Page
Elizabeth Amber
Emma Holly
Charlene Teglia
Charlotte Featherstone

Super LL to the rescue!!*puts on cape*
Sharon Page
Lora Leigh(Kinda like contemp ER)
Lauren Dane
Lacey Alexander
Joey W. Hill
Maya Banks
Shayla Black's Wicked Lovers series
Jaci Burton
Eden Bradley
Delilah Devlin
Tymber Dalton
Kate Douglas
Celia May Hart
Charlotte Featherstone
Shelly Laurenston
Susan Lyons
Vonna Harper
Melissa MacNeal
Alyssa Brooks
I consider Megan Hart as one
Jet Mykles
Devyn Quinn
Jess Michaels
Charlene Teglia
Kimberly Kaye Terry
Saskia Walker
Sasha White
Cathy Yardley
Beth Williamson
Tawny Taylor
Leda Swann
Sandy Lynn
Portia Da Costa
Lilli Feisty
Lacey Danes
Lorelei James
Sarah McCarty

And many more. These were just the ones on my Erotica shelf.

Yz the Whyz wrote: "Emma Holly, I've heard, is considered an erotica author. So that can work."

Thanks!

Does anyone have any recommendations for Georgia? I'm basically open to any genre that isn't non-fiction. :)

I would add Lorelei James and Sarah McCarty to the list...of the list LL posted - I would recommend Maya Banks; Tymber Dalton (5 stars - she hasn't written one yet that has disappointed me)

Beth - Lauren Dane has a series set in GA called the Chase Brothers (the first one is Making Chase - I think); also I think that Ilona Andrews series is set in Atlanta...but i've never read them

Yes, Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series is set in Atlanta, it's an awesome UF series--one of my faves. And the fourth one comes out in 4 days. Can't wait!




I've never read erotica, but I've had Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series on my TBR list forever, and a lot of people have that series categorized as erotica. It's more straight fantasy than paranormal. There are 7 books in the series so far, but she writes them as trilogies--the 1st three books have the same main character, then the 2nd three books are in the same world but with a different main character. Here are the 1st three:

Also, Mac from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series is from Georgia. UF with the 5th & final book coming out in December. Another one of my fave UF series, but beware, they have major cliffhangers. :)



I also remember another series set in Atlanta--let me go browse my shelves and see what I can find.

Don't forget that there is an erotica shelf in the group bookshelves below.

For the geography category, Georgia, Kay Hooper's Hiding in the Shadows is set in Atlanta. It's the second in her BCU series but I think the only recurring character is the FBI agent so it could probably be read as a standalone.

This may help also ...

Georgia Romance Authors - Published Authors List

Mel W wrote: "For the geography category, Georgia, Kay Hooper's Hiding in the Shadows is set in Atlanta. It's the second in her BCU series but I think the only recurring character is..."

That link is great, Mel W. Thanks.

I was scrolling through my massive TBR list looking for an author with the same letter for first & last name and here are a bunch I found:

First off, here are 3 that I have read and totally recommend:

Melina Marchetta - really wonderful YA books


Ann Aguirre - great sci-fi series with awesome characters, reads like a UF


Moira J. Moore - charming fantasy/UF series with horrendous covers


And here are a bunch more authors:
Cassandra Clare
Chelsea Campbell
Dorothy Dunnett
John Jakes
Kathryne Kennedy
Lois Lowry
Margaret Mitchell
Melissa Marr
Philip Pullman
Rick Riordan
Sharon Shinn
Shelena Shorts
Sherwood Smith

I also read Erotica so I can give any recommendations. :)

To help you better, it would be good if you think what kind of erotica you'd like to try...something scorching but with a main couple? Are you curious about menages but wouldn't like the whole book to be about them? Or would you want read about BDSM?

I never participate in the monthly challenges but I'd like to try it for June...however, I have a question...does #10 mean that I can read whatever I want?

D.G. wrote: "I never participate in the monthly challenges but I'd like to try it for June...however, I have a question...does #10 mean that I can read whatever I want?"

Yep.

Books with Marriage of Convenience Themes:

http://www.likesbooks.com/moc.html

Books with Troubled Marriages Themes:

http://www.likesbooks.com/troubled.html

Books with Twins:

http://www.likesbooks.com/twins.html

Cabin and Road Romances might be a good place to look for the Outdoors category:

http://www.likesbooks.com/cabinroad.html

just want to add something briefly, since i don't know if it was my post on this thread that resulted in it or if i'm just being targetted by random author spamming...yes, I will help people if they want help finding books...and no I do not do book reviews for indie authors!

What about settings, characters or authors from Georgia.

ETA: Oh, I see your post Dee! You know I love your recs, so I guess Lauren Dane's Chase books is going on my list :)

Samantha wrote: "What about settings, characters or authors from Georgia.

ETA: Oh, I see your post Dee! You know I love your recs, so I guess Lauren Dane's Chase books is going on my list :)"

See Mel W's post, #17, for Georgia Authors link.

Thanks! I might have to use SK instead of LD. I need to read her book for another challenge anyway :)

the chase brothers books are good - but they were written early in her career, so they aren't as good as her later ones...as a heads up

Samantha wrote: "What about settings, characters or authors from Georgia.

ETA: Oh, I see your post Dee! You know I love your recs, so I guess Lauren Dane's Chase books is going on my list :)"

Thanks for the info. I know you mentioned her in another of our groups. I already purchased them. It's a toss up between her and SK right now.

SK? i'm reading an Ilona Andrews one - the first in her series that is set in an Alternate Atlanta...people have said its good, but i haven't tried them yet

Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have to read a book for her for another challenge. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. I already stole your Wild Heat idea. I've been dying to read this and I actually read a Bella Andre book before.

Terri Garey's Nicki Styx books are set in Atlanta, Georgia. They are all very good. Nicki Styx, dies, comes back to life and can see and talk to dead people - who aren't always very nice. (So can also be used for the Quarterly Challenge re games for Oujii Board). Love interest is her doctor who brought her back to life.

Dead Girls Are Easy
A Match Made in Hell
You're the One that I Haunt

Yz the Whyz wrote: "Books with Marriage of Convenience Themes:

http://www.likesbooks.com/moc.html

Books with Troubled Marriages Themes:

http://www.likesbooks.com/troubled.html

Books with Twins:

http://www.likesbo..."

Great lists, thanks, Yz!

And here are books people have shelved as "twins" here on goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show?s...

And if you need an outdoors book and haven't read The Hunger Games yet, it & it's sequel Catching Fire fit, and they're awesome. Probably my #1 recommended book.

Sandra wrote: "Terri Garey's Nicki Styx books are set in Atlanta, Georgia. They are all very good. Nicki Styx, dies, comes back to life and can see and talk to dead people - who aren't always very nice. (So can a..."

Nicki also has a twin sister, so you can use these books for the Gemini challenge as well.

Yes, I should have said that she has a twin. Who pops up in the second book, which I just finished last night.

This is a cool idea.. so do i have to read from all of the catagories or just 1 ??

ANg - you can pick any number of categories you want out of 3, 5, 8 or 10...I know I normally list 10 books, but hope to finish 8

Ok cool i think i understand..lol.
I so wanna take up the notch in the erotica romance... i read wolf tales and i was like,this is cool...any recs?

ANg - wanna PM me and we can talk...I've never read Wolf Tales, but I can try to help you find something

COOL I WILL DO IT Thanks this should be fun to chat about..lol

D.G. wrote: "I also read Erotica so I can give any recommendations. :)

To help you better, it would be good if you think what kind of erotica you'd like to try...something scorching but with a main couple? A..."

oh can i have some rec just for non reading challenge..lmao

Ok i need some help with J... All recs welcomed please :)

i'm reading a book by Beth Williamson - Jake

Something I do, if i'm struggling on a letter is take a look at the group bookshelf - organize it by title letter and then scroll through the letter that I need and try to find something interesting (I do the same on my TBR pile)

Oi will do that...hehe

I still cant pick my J???

lol Ang - when it doubt start looking at the books other participants are reading and see if they have something that catches your eye

Thanks Yz!

I had a question about the group bookshelf but I found the answer!

hahaha thats what i did, and then i remember i am starting to read the jr ward series :)

I'm new to erotica as well, but I'm getting older and so heck, I might as well go for it. And so I'm picking Lora Leigh, though I'm shying away from the paranormal stuff. And though I'm not a big fan of AS, I'm going to go all the way (at least for me at this point, and pardon the pun,) and read a book from her Bound Hearts series.