Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Love, they say, is a many splendored thing. Well, so are romance books. They come in many forms and faces, but all celebrates the power of love.

Whether you are a veteran romance reader or a novice to the genre, here is a challenge designed to make you fall in love over and over again.

Duration: 6 months

Goal: Read one book for each romance sub-genre listed.

Total: 12 books

1. Contemporary Romance
2. Historical Romance
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance
4. Paranormal Romance
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance
6. Fantasy Romance
7. Time-travel Romance
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance
10. Erotic Romance
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc)
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction that includes a love story as a major part of its storyline.
(What is the difference between a 'love story' and a 'romance'? The former does not guarantee a happy ending. Examples: Love Story, The Bridges of Madison County, The Time Traveler's Wife, Nicholas Spark's books, etc)

Resource: Definitions

When signing up, don't forget to post your start and end dates.

I'm going to give this a try...I don't read much in some of these categories so maybe it will give me a chance to branch out a little :)

I'm in = ).

I'm in. This may be a tough one for me but it should pull me out of the rut I'm in (I start in one area of genre and forget to move to others)

I'm in. List as I go.

Wow. I think I'm in. I want to say a definite 'yes', but all the other challenges are banking up... I'll confirm later if/when I post a list! :)

i'm in...i will post as i go as well

Start: January 9, 2011
End: July 9, 2011

0/12

1. Contemporary Romance:
2. Historical Romance: Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance:
4. Paranormal Romance: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance:
6. Fantasy Romance:
7. Time-travel Romance:
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance:
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance:
10. Erotic Romance: Cowgirls Don't Cry by Lorelei James
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc):
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction:

Why count me in,doens't sound hard.

I'm in

I'll have to think about this one. I'll have trouble with some of the categories.

D.G. wrote: "I'll have to think about this one. I'll have trouble with some of the categories."

I'm gonna have some trouble too, D.G....But I do love a challenge! ;P

I *think* I'm in. Question. Can you use subgenres in subgenres? For example, can you use a paranormal erotic romance for Erotic Romance? Or a paranormal historical romance for Historical Romance?

LethalLovely~I'm Walking Into Spiderwebs wrote: "I *think* I'm in. Question. Can you use subgenres in subgenres? For example, can you use a paranormal erotic romance for Erotic Romance? Or a paranormal historical romance for Historical Romance?"

Yes - I was wondering about a contemporary erotic romance for Contemporary, or interracial PNR for Interracial...

Yes, that too! Oh, & what about YA? IIRC Perfect Chemistry is a interracial YA novel thats very romance-y.

LOL....you guys, just know how to complicate a pretty straight-forward challenge...

I'll leave it up to your discretion which sub-genre your choices will fall.

Another good interracial is Skin Game (hero is Hispanic.) But it is paranormal/sci-fish.

LethalLovely~I'm Walking Into Spiderwebs wrote: "Yes, that too! Oh, & what about YA? IIRC Perfect Chemistry is a interracial YA novel thats very romance-y."

I was thinking about reading the second one for Contemporary - so I'm wondering if teen is acceptable too.

Yz the Whyz wrote: "LOL....you guys, just know how to complicate a pretty straight-forward challenge...

I'll leave it up to your discretion which sub-genre your choices will fall."

*Lethal bats lashes* Aww, thanks Yz!

Thanks, D.G.! I've wanted to read Skin Game for a looong time but I did not know the hero was Hispanic. Sexy.

Yz the Whyz wrote: "LOL....you guys, just know how to complicate a pretty straight-forward challenge..."

I think we just wanted to know how strict you wanted to be with the categories. There ARE books that are from only one category and don't 'double dip' in another. :)

True. I wonder if I can find me a Christian romance with a vampire hero. That would AWESOME! Religious romances. Ugh.

LL - i'm not a fan of christian/inspirational romances either...but a couple that aren't too preachy - More Than Words (I read this in December for the category book - its religious in the sense that they are a religious community, but not real preachy, more every day type stuff) - also Love on a Dime - ditto on the not preachy...more, what to do when faced with doubt/indecision etc...

Thanks for the recs, Delicious Dee! I appreciate it. I'm gonna go see if my library carries one of them later because hell if I'm spending money on that particular subgenre.

*Lethal dies a little inside thinking about reading a book about Jebus*

lol...I have a copy of love on a dime, if you would like to borrow it...let me know...i actually grabbed the second one by her (because its set in Rhode Island and need it for my around the country challenge)

Yz the Whyz wrote: "11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc)"

This is the one I'm having trouble with. Does it just have to be under that imprint and/or publisher? I was thinking about reading Raintree: Inferno / Sanctuary / Haunted - it's the omnibus of three stories in Silhouette's Nocturne line.

A recommendation for "Christian/Inspirational/Historical" Romance that I've personally read is Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist. I classified it under Christian/Historical Romance because it is set in the late 1800's and it a Christian novel. It's listed under several shelves under this site, mainly christian fiction and historical romance so it falls under several categories. I really enjoyed the book so maybe someone else will :)

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
HISTORICAL ROMANCE: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
ROMANCE SUSPENSE: The Struggle by L.J. Smith
PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Crave by J.R. Ward COMPLETED 01.26.2011
SCIENCE FICITION: Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb READ
FANTASY ROMANCE: Soulless by Gail Carriger READ 04.24.2011
TIME-TRAVEL ROMANCE: An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
INSPIRATIONAL/CHRISTIAN ROMANCE: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
MULTI-CULTURAL ROMANCE: Running Fox by Cassie Edwards
EROTIC ROMANCE: Nauti Nights by Lora Leigh
SERIAL ROMANCE: Slow Hands (The Wrong Bed: Again and Again, #1) by Leslie Kelly
CLASSIC/MAINSTREAM ROMANCE: Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

question for you guys...I haven't read it yet - but I hear that the ending of A Knight in Shining Armor isn't a traditional romance HEA...can I use that for the last category...

i'm in. looks like i can do this challenge along with my others =)

Contemporary Eclipse Bay By Jayne Ann Krentz
Historical
Suspense All Night Long By Jayne Ann Krentz 01/27/11
Paranormal
Sci-Fi
Fantasy Morrigan's Cross By Nora Roberts 02/01/11
Time Travel
Christian
Interracial
Erotic Undercover By Lauren Dane
Serial
Mainstream

I'll try this out :) Not sure which ones I'll read but I'll make do.

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "lol...I have a copy of love on a dime, if you would like to borrow it...let me know...i actually grabbed the second one by her (because its set in Rhode Island and need it for my around the country..."

Thanks, Delicious Dee. That is so kind of you. =) Luckily, my library has them. I might go all out and actually read a LOVE INSPIRED romance though, since Harlequin category romances are usually really short. I looked at the ones my library carries &....yeah. It was like assisted suicide.

I'm going to read this hot mama ...or maybe this one ...or this one . There's just so many to choose from!

I think I'm going to try this one. Got to see.

yeah, I havent' read any of those (at least recently)...but I haven't read any harlequin's recently...I don't have so much of an issue with a CR/IR - IF I know its one...I don't like not knowing about it then running into it - like I did with another author...it was too preachy for me and I wasn't expecting KWIM

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "question for you guys...I haven't read it yet - but I hear that the ending of A Knight in Shining Armor isn't a traditional romance HEA...can I use that for the last category..."

*spoiler* I believe you are right - I started the book but didn't finish but I think they DON'T end up together... (I have a terrible habit of reading the last few pages of a book!) But I think Yz will need to adjudicate that one...

yay Sam!! lol!!

Samantha wrote: "I think I'm going to try this one. Got to see."

Ja, I know what you mean. I hate the IR/CR romances that sneak up on you. I was thisclose to buying one a couple of months ago, thinking it was a historical fiction novel. Then I read one of the reviews, where the reviewer stated "This book is a testament of the amazing power of GOD!" & I went "Oh shit."

IR/CR's are just not my thing. I grew up in an extremely religious family-on my mom's side-& had God & Jesus shoved down my throat ad nauseam. It messed me up. I haven't stepped foot in a church in 7 years unless it's for a funeral or wedding. It's not my bag. Plus, the sex scenes in IR/CR suck. I like dirty hawtness.

LethalLovely~I'm Walking Into Spiderwebs wrote: "True. I wonder if I can find me a Christian romance with a vampire hero. That would AWESOME! Religious romances. Ugh."

LOL! What a shame Twilight doesn't have a message at the end of it!

Thanks Yz! You can now count me in - and I'll warn in advance that I could be using some of that discretion. Feel free to pull me up! :)

yeah...i went to a parochial school...so I have church attendance on an account ;) my family isn't overly religious, but I went to a private school, which are all church based...

The challenge addict in me, says that I am in :o

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RRRC's Romance 101 Reading Challenge
Challenge Duration: January 9 - July 9, 2011

3/12 Done!

1. Contemporary Romance -
2. Historical Romance - Mine Till Midnight (Hathaways, #1) by Lisa Kleypas 01/18 ★★★★★
3. Suspenseful Romance -
4. Paranormal Romance -
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance -
6. Fantasy Romance -
7. Time-travel Romance - The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) by Diana Gabaldon 01/30 ★★★★★
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance -
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance - Jacob (Nightwalkers, #1) by Jacquelyn Frank 01/11 ★★★★☆
10. Erotic Romance -
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc) -
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction that includes a love story as a major part of its storyline -

I am in. Will post a date when I actually start and will post as I go along.

I'm going to think about this one. I'm not big on the category romances and the Christian romances (not enough spice for me). Also I don't think I have any Love-story type romances.

Oh great, another challenge, yippee, I'm in!

I think I'll make this my first challenge! I need some help though....

1. Contemporary Romance
2. Historical Romance Homespun Bride
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance Sacred Sins
4. Paranormal Romance
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
6. Fantasy Romance
7. Time-travel Romance
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance
10. Erotic Romance
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc) Slow Hands (The Wrong Bed: Again and Again, #1)
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction that includes a love story as a major part of its storyline.

Any suggestions? I don't know if I know the difference between fantasy/paranormal/futuristic/time travel...and I don't know if I can find them all! They seem similar to me. As far as #1 and #12, I just gotta look through my wish list - I'm sure I'll find one!

Thanks :)

Yz - Is Devraj Santos from Blaze of Memory sufficiently interracial (yes - a sub-genre from PNR)? He certainly sounds a mix of Spanish/Indian (or equivalents) background. But I haven't read the book, so I don't know yet if he qualifies...

I'm in and I'll post as I go.


Romance 101
Duration: January 9 - July 8

0/12 completed

1. Contemporary Romance:
2. Historical Romance:
3. Romantic Suspense or Suspenseful Romance:
4. Paranormal Romance:
5. Science-Fiction or Futuristic Romance:
6. Fantasy Romance:
7. Time-travel Romance:
8. Inspirational or Christian Romance:
9. Multi-cultural or Interracial Romance:
10. Erotic Romance: Raising Kane by Lorelei James
11. Serial or Category Romance (Silhouette, Harlequin, Mills&Boon, etc):
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction:

Let's see if I can answer the questions being thrown around.

@ The Holy Terror

Nocturne book, I think, are considered category romances. Same as Blaze, Intrigue, etc.

@ Delicious Dee

I swear I've read Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor a long, long time ago, but for the life of me, I can't remember anything about the ending. I still think it is a regular romance, though, unless someone tells me otherwise.

@ Jane

LOL...another way to sneak in a PNR book for a different category? Yes, he is of mixed blood in the story.

Raaayyy!! Thanks Yz. (My PNR spot was taken up by Dark Peril...)

Melisa Mayhue and Janet Chapman both have time-travel related romances. Linea Sinclair, Susan Grant, CJ Barry and Susan Kearny for sci-fi. Catherine Asaro for for fantasy romance. Champagne Rules by Susan Lyons is an interracial romance. I think some of the "Ice" books by Anne Stuart are also interacial.

I will probably end up doing this one-I jsut don't know when I'll start it-I have to think about a couple categories.

Romance 101 Reading Challenge
Duration: Jan/10 - Jul/10
12/12 completed

1. Contemporary Romance - Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts 03/20***
2. Historical Romance - The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn 01/25****
3. Romantic Suspense - Glory in Death by J.D. Robb 01/15*****
4. Paranormal Romance - If Angels Burn by Lynn Viehl 01/29*
5. Futuristic Romance - Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews 02/04****
6. Fantasy Romance - Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning 02/03****
7. Time-travel Romance - Master of Ecstasy by Nina Bangs 01/31*
8. Inspirational Romance - Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery 02/12**
9. Interracial Romance - Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian 01/18***
10. Erotic Romance - Enforcer by Lauren Dane 01/21*
11. Category Romance (Harlequin) - Off Limits by Jordan Summers 01/14***
12. Classic or Mainstream Fiction - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks 07/05*****

I found this paranormal book for the Christian/Inspirational category from my library who has it listed as Christian Fiction. It's , unless of course, Yz says no. I don't know if it involves a romance, though. It appears there's a hunk, so maybe.

Also, I have a question about the love story category. Where can we find books like these. I know we can't read the ending to find out if they end up together. Does goodreads have a category like this?