Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Summer is here, and it's too hard to think. :)

So July's challenge is all about what's hot and popular and caters to your own preference. This month we are going to explore GR's Recommendation page which is 'supposedly' generated based on your book ratings.

We will call this July's Hot Summer Reads Challenge.

OPTION ONE:
The challenge is to read 10 books that appear in your Recommendation page.

To find your recommendation page, it's on the top menu between 'groups' and 'explore'.

For those who are not entirely happy with their recommendation page, you may try

OPTION TWO:
Read 4 books from your GR recommendation page
Read 4 books that were recommended to you by GR friends
Read 2 books that were recommended to you be personal friends (not from GR)

Have fun choosing and reading.

I'm in, will post as I go. Looks like I will be starting a lot of new series this month.
10/10

1. Destiny Binds07/05
2. On the Prowl 07/04
3. Devil Without a Cause 07/08
4. Rock 'n' Roll is Undead 07/13
5. Destiny Kills07/07
6. Tall, Dark & Dead07/21
7. Kindling the Moon 07/22
8. Ascension 07/23
9. Pleasure Unbound07/25
10 Unholy Ghosts 07/30

Okay, this one was really hard. I just hope I can get to them all with my other challenges included.

Read: 10/10 **DONE**

1.Magic Bites 7/30
2.The Darkest Whisper 7/15
3.Once Burned 7/14
4.Bear Meets Girl 7/5
5.Blonde with a Wand 7/11
6.Desire Unchained 7/24
7.The Wallflower 7/12
8.Heart's Blood 7/17
9.Dragon's Kiss 7/9
10.The Dark Prince 7/6


Read:
 

To Read:

I'll try, but this will be difficult for me!

Completed 0/10

1.

I've read

4 in the past 2 days

I want to join.

Done!

Completed 10/10

1. Clockwork Heart
2. The Spirit Thief
3. Angels' Blood
4. Love in the Time of Dragons
5. Sins of the Heart
6. The Dark Divine
7. Personal Demons
8. Deadpool: Secret Invasion
9. Black Wings
10. Eternal Hunger

I'm going to try but it's giving me terrible recommendations so not sure how many I'll really get to. Even harder since I'm trying to only read winter/Christmas books and it won't give me any recommendations from that bookshelf. Grr.



Alright. I think I'm out this month too. I'm having no luck even with messing around with shelf names/etc. Just not finding any I'd really like to read and would rather spend money on my actual book shopping list than one I'm not too excited about.

I'm in, option 2

10/10 complete

OPTION TWO:
Read 4 books from your GR recommendation page
✔1. Kiss of MidnightCOMPLETED 7/13***3 stars
✔2. Kiss of CrimsonCOMPLETED 7/16***3.5 stars
✔3. Midnight AwakeningCOMPLETED 7/22****4 stars
✔4. Because of YouCOMPLETED 7/25****4 stars

Read 4 books that were recommended to you by GR friends
✔1. Avoiding CommitmentCOMPLETED 7/2****4 stars
✔2. Addicted to YouCOMPLETED 7/10***3 stars
✔3. The Future of Our PastCOMPLETED 7/9***3 stars
✔4. Die for MeCOMPLETED 7/19****3.5 stars

Read 2 books that were recommended to you be personal friends (not from GR)
✔1. Once BurnedCOMPLETED 7/26***3 stars
✔2. Lover RebornCOMPLETED 7/7****4 stars

✔FINISHED

Unfortunately, there's only about two books I would consider reading on my recommendations page. I'm going to have to pass this month.

Angie (Mind Malfunction) wrote: "Unfortunately, there's only about two books I would consider reading on my recommendations page. I'm going to have to pass this month."

If you create more shelves it will give you more of a selection.

This one is tough as I am in the middle of some series and want to continue them. I am glad it isn't the same as last years July challenge as I didn't have any books for that one though.

6/10 Completed

Read 4 books from your GR recommendation page
1. Rippler by Cindy Swanson - Finished July 3rd
2. Chameleon by Cindy Swanson - Finished July 24th
3. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep - Finished July 15th
4. Long Night Moon by SM Reine - Finished July 6th
(The first book was a recommendation from Goodreads and now I am farther in, but I think it counts).

Read 4 books that were recommended to you by GR friends
5. Undone by Rachel Caine
6. Awake: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey
7. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa - Finished July 30th
8. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine

Read 2 books that were recommended to you be personal friends (not from GR)
9. Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep - Finished July 13th
10.

Hmmm, i don't know about this one. i usually don't like the books GR recommends. I will be back.

I'm in!

GR Rec.
1. The Mermaid's Mirror
2. The Maze Runner
3.
4.
GR friends Rec.
5. Grimspace
6.
7.
8.
Personal Friend
9. Insurgent
10.

I'm in. Though I recently raped my reccomendations shelf and added a lot to the to read so things I really want to read are no longer on it. boo hoo. Plus trying to find what is actually on my library and sounds good was hard also.

read 1. Evernight
read 2.My Soul to take
read 3. Iron king
read 4 Summoning
read 5 Unearthly
read 6 Nightshade
read 7 Something from Nightside
read 8 Magic Bites
read 9 Urban Shaman
read 810 Hallowed

This one was hard as not only did it seem to keep wanting to reccommend books I'd already read (had my rating underneath and everything!) but I don't have half the books and with being on holiday for half the month I don't know if I'll be able to source them. But that's half the fun :)

1 - Seduce Me In Dreams - Jacquelyn Frank
2 - Once and Again - Lauren Dane
3 - Naked Truth - Amy J Fetzer
4 - Dragon Bound – Thea Harrison
5 - Marked By Moonlight - Sharie Kohler
6 - Bonded By Blood – Laurie London
7 - Once Burned - Jeaniene Frost
8 - Extreme Exposure – Pamela Clare
9 - Touch of Power - Maria V Snyder
10 - The Mane Event – Shelly Laurenston

Angie wrote: "This one was hard as not only did it seem to keep wanting to reccommend books I'd already read (had my rating underneath and everything!) but I don't have half the books and with being on holiday f..."

How in the world did you get such good recommendations?! Mine seemed to only want to recommend books written a decade plus ago, ones that won't be released for months or what's looking like self published books. It's not looking good for this one.

I am in!
1. Angels Blood - Nalini Singh
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

I think it's a great idea for a challenge....but I am super cheap. I own all the books I read so I'm going to swing by the used bookstore with the list of books and authors I would actually read from my recommendations and see if I can't find them. Wish me luck!

I'm in! I'm like Danielle as I usually try to read from my TBR pile, so it's gonna be an expensive month for me, but I'm hoping to get a few less expensively via ebook than paperback.

I'm going to list as I go since I have over 20 pages of recommendations to go through! The good news is that I see quite a few that I've either heard of or have gotten a second glance from me before! :-)

MARTINA'S JULY HOT SUMMER READS CHALLENGE - 1/10

1. Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors, #1) by Ashlyn Chase - 7/3 - ★★★
2. Touched by an Alien (Alien, #1) by Gini Koch
3. Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites, #1) by Michelle Rowan
4. Grave Witch (Alex Craft, #1) by Kalayna Price
5. Lord of the Fading Lands (Tarien Soul, #1) by C.L. Wilson - reading now
6. Duncan, Son of Sagira (Children of Sagira, #1) by E.L. Holley
7. Emily, Alone: A Novel by Stewart O'Nan (non-PNR)

I'm in, but this will be hard :(

0/10

OK :-)

1. First Lady; by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 07.03.12
2. Anyone But You; by Jennifer Crusie - 07.03.12
3. Simply Irresistible; by Rachel Gibson - 07.07.12
4. Sex, Lies & Online Dating; by Rachel Gibson - 07.09.12
5. Daisy's Back In Town; by Rachel Gibson - 07.10.12
6. The Rock Star's Daughter; by Caitlyn Duffy - 07.12.12
7. Anathema; by Megg Jensen - 07.14.12
8. Sugar Daddy; by Lisa Kleyaps - 07.20.12
9. Calamity Jayne; by Kathleen Bacus - 07.13.12
10. Simply Irresistible; by Jill Shalvis - 07.21.12

Herding Cats wrote: "I'm going to try but it's giving me terrible recommendations so not sure how many I'll really get to. Even harder since I'm trying to only read winter/Christmas books and it won't give me any recom..."

For winter/Christmas stuff look at lists like http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/45... , http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/45... ,
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/49... and add books on those lists to a shelf (you can call it "checkout Christmas" or something )but if you go to my books then make that only shelf you get recommendations for ... That should do it.

Make sure under "my books" you check/uncheck what shelves are used for recommendations column. (until I figured that one out, I was getting recommendations off my "did not finish" and "ugh never again" shelves).

Make sure to go thru and Click "not interested" and "want to read" under recommended books. That starts improving what goodreads recommends.

Create shelves and more shelves with more standard labels. My "genre paranormal" "genre fantasy" titles netted nothing but "paranormal" and "fantasy" rename worked.

Plus at right in section beneath "Recommendations by shelf" go to "community recommendations" and with "ask for recommendations" you can write a descriptive paragraph specifying what you are looking for (that nets reader responses; you can click "like" or "ignore" but if specific in your request it can really pull some right on target. Stating some favorite books in the request can help.)

Guess I'll give it a miss this month. I have a book buying ban on.

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "Guess I'll give it a miss this month. I have a book buying ban on."

same :)

Well, all I do is read (I got really sick awhile ago), so that's where all my money goes. So anyone who wants to do the challenge is free to browse my shelves and email me and I'll loan you anything you want to read.

Oh! I'm e-reading on a kindle format, so that's the one hold-up. If you can use that format, email me and I'll loan it to you!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

I'm sitting this one out, too. :/ My recommendations are AWFUL and I'm not ready to start 10 new series.

I'm going to sit this one out as well. I'm trying hard to whittle down my tbr mountain...

I'm in. As I prefer to read a series (with few acceptions) and when I go to the "Recommendations" and there is a series recommended I feel that it is for the whole series not just the one book. So I have listed more than 10 books if you count each book in the series. Which means I will mix and match as I go along and what books I end up reading will be the books I end up reading. Oh, and I'm not sure I will get done as I want to read some of my other BOM from my other groups, as well, this month ;-D

July 2012 Monthly Reading Challenge Recommendations

1. Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
2. The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld Series)
3. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
4. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers Series - My Soul To Save, To Keep, To Steal, If I Die)
5. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
6. Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout (Lux Series - Shadows, Onyx)
7. Grave Witch by Kalayna Price (Alex Craft Series - Grave Dance, Grave Memory)
8. Touch of Power by Maria Snyder (Healer Series)
9. Need by Carrie Jones (Need Series - Captivate, Entice)
10. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (13 Books so far in Women of the Otherworld)

TO READ - POSSIBILITIES

I'm in...

Sorry to say that I have to pass this month as well. It being the middle of summer and no money for books. Good luck to all and see you next month.

0/10


1. Trinity by Lauren Dane
2. Samson's Lovely Mortal by Tina Folsom
3. Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow
4. Lipstick and Handguns by Gabrielle Evans
5. Eternal Seduction by Jennifer Turner
6. Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper
7. Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall
8. Tainted by D.J. Manly
9. The Devil's Fire by Sara Bell
10. Caution: Contents Under Pressure by Gabrielle Evans

GR Recommendations
0/10



1. My Soul to Take By Rachel Vincent
2. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
3. Born at Midnight By C.C. Hunter
4. Thirst No. 1 By Christopher Pike
5. The shifter by Janice Hardy
6. Shadows By Jennifer L. Armentrout
7. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
8. Bared to you by Sylvia Day
9. The darkest seduction By Gena Showalter
10. Perfect Chemistry By Simone Elkeles

TO READ



READ

I Think I can do this one.

1. Dragon Aster
2. Howl
3. The Red Pyramid
4. From Vegas with Blood
5. Vampire Academy
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Stephanie wrote: "Angie (Mind Malfunction) wrote: "Unfortunately, there's only about two books I would consider reading on my recommendations page. I'm going to have to pass this month."

If you create more shelves..."

I have thousands of books on my shelves and added four shelves of my own. I have a wide range of interests, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Fantasy, Erotica, but my favourites are YA, PNR, and UF. My books aren't the problem, its the goodreads recommendations.

Okay, wait, I'm being harsh...not all of the recommendations are crummy. The YA ones look pretty good, but there's only a couple and I couldn't possibly find 10 that I'd want to read.

Could we alter the challenge to recommendations from anyone; goodreads, GR friends, friends, coworkers, family, etc?

In.

10/10

1. To Kill a Warlock 7/2
2. 'Til We Meet Again 7/11
3. Fallen 7/14
4. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble 7/18
5. Strange Neighbors 7/19
6. The Boy Next Door 7/20
7. Bound 7/21
8. Drink, Slay, Love 7/24
9. Bad to the Bone 7/26
10. Sleeping with Paris 7/27

I'm in. List to come later. Yay vacation!

In

0/10 done

1. Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter
2. Dressed to Slay by Harper Allen
3. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep
4. Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
6. Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
7. Ascension by Caris Roane
8. Nicolas: The Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber
*9. The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks
*10. Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

*May change*

I'm in.
9/10
GR Recs:
1. Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost -- Read 7/8
2. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins -- Read 7/22
3. Psych Major Syndromeby Alicia Thompson -- Read 7/24
4. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare -- Read 7/3
GR Friends' Recs:
5. Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane -- Read 7/5
6. A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison -- Read 7/11
7. Heartless by Gail Carriger
8. Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead -- Read 7/19
RL Friends' Recs:
9. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead -- Read 7/13
10. Forgiven by Jana Oliver -- Read 7/16

I'm out this month need to read books from library and some favorite series that are not recommended.

I'm in as usual. Will post as I go.

Progress: 0/10

It didn't happen at all this month! Will try again next!

July Challenge - Hot Summer Reads
July 1st - July 31st, 2012

0/10

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
2. Pride by Rachel Vincent
3. The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong
4. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
5. Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead
6. Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead
7. Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
8. The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt
9. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
10. Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

PR & UF July 2012 ~ Hot Summer Reads Challenge
Option: Two
Completed: 10/10

GR Recommendations
1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore 7/20 ★★★★☆
2. Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson 7/22 ★★☆☆☆
3. Tempest's Fury by Nicole Peeler 7/11 ★★★★★
4. Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells 7/18 ★★★★★

GR Friends' Recommendations
5. The Trouble with Demons by Lisa Shearin 7/19 ★★★★★
6. Bewitched & Betrayed by Lisa Shearin 7/25 ★★★★★
7. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley 7/13 ★★★★★
8. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa 7/15 ★★★☆☆

RL Friends' Recommendations
9. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake 7/16 ★★★☆☆
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth 7/7 ★★★★★

Not sure how many I'll get done, but I'll give it a try. Will post my list as I go. I pick option A.


1. Tall Tales and Wedding Veils Jane Graves read 7-16-12
2. Monster High Lisi Harrison read 7-17-12
3. The Missing Ink Karen E. Olson read 7-18-12
4. Happy Hour at Casa Dracula Marta Acosta read 7-19-12
5. True Love Whitney Gaskell read 7-21-12
6. Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) Kimberly Pauley read 7-22-12
7. Demon Hunting in Dixie Lexi George read 7-25-12
8. The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even Julie Kenner read 7-25-12
9. Witch Way to Murder Shirley Damsgaard read 7-29-12
10. Sex and the Psychic Witch Annette Blair read 7-30-12

If anyone wants to recommend a book to me I'll return the favor!

Jessica -- how about ? I really enjoyed it -- the hero of this one is my fave in her series.

Yz the Whyz wrote: "Summer is here, and it's too hard to think. :)

So July's challenge is all about what's hot and popular and caters to your own preference. This month we are going to explore GR's Recommendation p..."

Yz - Is it possible to make OPTION TWO a mix of recommendations? I'd like to participate, but I can't find 4 books from the recommendations page that I would want to read.

Jessica- Saw it was on your list of TBRs :) Mind Games by Carolyn Crane is excellent. That series is one of my favorite UF.

I Think I can do this one.

1. Dragon Aster - 7.03
2. Howl
3. The Red Pyramid
4. From Vegas with Blood
5. Vampire Academy
6. Serenity: Those Left Behind
7.
8.
9.
10.

Hot Summer Reads Challenge
OPTION TWO:

2\10

Read 4 books from your GR recommendation page
1. In Bed With A Highlander (McCabe Trilogy #1) by Maya Banks - 2.07.12
2. Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1) by J.D. Tyler - 3.07.12
3.
4.

Read 4 books that were recommended to you by GR friends
5.
6.
7.
8.

Read 2 books that were recommended to you be personal friends (not from GR)
9.
10.

I'm in. Now to get a list together...