Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team members


Penney
Susan A
Carla
* Tabs
Jasmin
Runell

* Team Captain

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Definitely let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.

2. Pick a Team Captain. The team captain will track the books read by the team and double-check that your book selection complies with the rules - eg make sure that the selection and completion posts are as per the formatting and information requested below (msg 3).

Anyone is free to ask questions in the Q&A/Announcement thread - here. If you are unsure, please ask.

Once a Captain has been decided, the Team Captain should reserve a couple of posts in this thread to track their team's book selection and completion.

3. Name your team. This is not mandatory, but it is fun. Given we are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)

Please PM your name to me by 28 May.

4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2.

5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough.

You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.

I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called. This is different from Round 1.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you except to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation.

7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.

8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.

9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)

10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A/Announcement thread. The full list of past themes will be maintained in msg 1.


The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 4 weeks.
* This means that two team members will miss using a pass in each 4 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.

Posting format

For the initial selection post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies

For the completion post I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in the post. It needs to be super clear.

As a change from the last round, I will maintain the final tracking of each team's completed books in a separate thread.

I still need the Team Captain to track for their team as I will be using this list to check with my list :)

Please be patient while you wait for me to update each team and their books. I am sometimes out of internet range, so it can take time to manage this process. As the modbot though, I'm hoping to rope in some of the other moderators sometimes ;)

*reserved*

Hey Susan,
I see you have Runnell on your team so you should be ok with another MM reader.
I have Breann on mine, so I'm ok too. Just waiting to see if Shannon has one.

// edited.
I just saw that Shannon has Katie in her team, so she is good to go as well.

I have no idea where everyone lives but I'll say good morning anyway...Morning Team!! I pretty much suck in the am, my brain is still shut down so I'll check back a little later ;-)

Hi Team!

I live in EST. I participated in this challenge the last round; it was lots of fun.

I am currently on an m/m romance kick, so my shelves are mostly filled with those books. I have read lots of m/f in the past, mostly historicals and thriller/serial killer type of books.

Names...I am not very good with, but I will try.

*Waves* Hi guys, I'm Runell (it's pronounced Rue-nell).

I live in Georgia, so I'm of the EST variety as well.

I've been in a book slump lately, but I'm pretty sure that I've clawed my way out of it.

I love M/M and that's my preferred genre, but that doesn't mean I won't read any M/F. I'll read almost anything as long as romance is involved in one way or another.

Hi, I'm Tabs and I live in Pennsylvania so am another EST person.

Contemporary is my sub-genre of choice but I also read heavily in erotic, paranormal and historical. I pretty much read a little bit of everything, though.

Just Jasmin now to check in. She was in the last round, so I'm sure she will be here soon...

I'm also on the east coast, NJ to be exact. I read everything and anything depending on my mood. Although if you're really into m/m, chances are you won't find anything new to you on my shelves. I'm still pretty new to the genre, but enjoying it :-)
I'm not very good at the naming thing either but I came up with a few options based on team #8...
The Eighth Wonders
Team Eight Ball
The Eighth Circle (...of pleasure?)
Eight Ways to Heaven

I know I can up with more, but I forgot to write them down. Never a good thing.

I like keeping 8 in the name. I like Eighth Wonders.

Who wants to be captain?

Eight Wonders sounds good to me. I can volunteer to captain unless someone else really wants to. This is my first round playing but the rules are laid out pretty explicitly so I don't think it'll be a problem.

I'm cool with The Eighth Wonders.

And I'm down with anyone being captain. :)

I can't commit to the captain job; I'd be very grateful to whomever takes on the job.

You've got my vote Tabs! Jane is awesome when it comes to spelling out the rules, but we're here too should you need us :-)

There have been a couple of comments in other team threads about not chatting in the thread too much.

Please please please chat - the only time I don't want extraneous chat is IN the actual posts when you select or finish a book. When you post your selected or completed book, please just follow the format in msg 3 at the front of your team thread and click post. You can then start a lengthy conversation, no prob. I just need the actual FINAL book seletion and completion posts to be 'clean' so that I can see them easily.

Hi, I'm sorry I'm posting sooo late! i didn't realise Teams were already up! >.<

I'm Jasmin, I'm 21 and I'm on CET :)
I actually don't read m/m (I just watched like 2-3 m/m animes, but I#m not a big fan of that either lol), so don't try looking for m/m on my shelf.
Currently I'm mostly reading YA, but I also enjoy other genres mostly Paranormal Romance, lately I'm starting to be a fan of Chick Lit though :)

Eight Wonders sounds like a great Team Name :) (and I'm making way too many :) here lol)

Tabs is our Captain, congrats Tabs! As for the name, is it..
The Eight Wonders or The Eighth Wonders?
I meant it as a play off of The 7 Wonders of the World, with us of course, being the eighth. But either one works :)

How about the 8th Wonder(s?) of the World then? :)

Hi, just crashing your thread.
Any MM readers, please do not forget to update the May, what are you reading thread, just in case we need the books for a challenge.

Week #9 Theme: MC is Mega-Wealthy
Option 2 Cut-Off Date: January 22nd, 2014



Penney - Consequences by Aleatha Romig
✔Susan A - The Ivy League Rake by Ryan Field
✔Tabs - Unwound by Lorelei James
Jasmin - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Runell - Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Overall Challenge Progress

Week #1: First in a new-to-you series

✔Penney - Release Me by J. Kenner
✔Susan A - Way Off Plan by Alexa Land
✔Carla - The Lord Next Door byGayle Callen
✔Tabs - Last Hit by Jessica Clare
✔Jasmin - Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
✔Runell - The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley


Week #2 Theme: Author's first or last name starts with a 'J'

✔Penney - Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
✔Susan A - When Love Comes To Town by Jacob Z. Flores
✔Carla - A Misguided Lord by Jane Charles
✔Tabs: It Happened One Wedding by Julie James
✔Jasmin - Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
✔Runell - Say the Word by Julie Johnson


Week #3 Theme: 450+ pages

✔Penney - The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz
✔Susan A - Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
✔Carla - Sempre by J.M. Darhower
✔Tabs - The Witness by Nora Roberts
✔Jasmin - The Novice by Trudi Canavan
✔Runell - Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare


Week #4 Theme: Main character has a pet

✔Penney - Southern Fried Blues by Jamie Farrell
✔Susan A - A Change of Pace by J.M. Cartwright
✔CarlaThe Rancher's Rules by Lucy Monroe
✔Tabs - Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey
✔Jasmin - Passed
✔Runell - Wait for You by J. Lynn

Week #5 Theme: Set on a ranch/property which uses/raises horses

✔Penney - Texas Pride by Kindle Alexander
✔Susan A - Duncan's World by T.A. Chase
✔Carla - Righteous Lies by Patricia Watters
✔Tabs - Can't Hurry Love by Molly O'Keefe
✔Jasmin - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Runell - Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Week #6 Theme: MC is a musician


✔Penney - Lick by Kylie Scott
✔Susan A - The Replacement Guitarist by Lori Toland
✔Carla - White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert
✔Tabs - Gateway to Heaven by Beth Kery
✔Jasmin - Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
✔Runell - If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Week #7 Theme: 2014 What Are You Reading?


✔Penney - Make Me, Sir by Cherise Sinclair
✔Susan A - Consort - The House of Silence by J.A. Jaken
✔Carla - Six Brothers by Lili St. Germain
✔Tabs - No Souvenirs by K.A. Mitchell
✔Jasmin - The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
✔Runell - passed

Week #8 Theme: Set on an Island


✔Penney - Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
✔Susan A - A Sticky End by James Lear
Carla - Bargain Bride, Billionaire Groom by Lelani Black WITHDRAWN
✔Tabs - Crazy For Love by Victoria Dahl
Jasmin - The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
✔Runell - Uncharted by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Week #9 Theme: MC is Mega-Wealthy


Penney - Consequences by Aleatha Romig
✔Susan A - The Ivy League Rake by Ryan Field
✔Tabs - Unwound by Lorelei James
Jasmin - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Runell - Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Everyone good with "The Eight Wonders"?

Tabs wrote: "Everyone good with "The Eight Wonders"?"


Yes

Lisa - President of Challengeaholics Anon and Challenge Enabler wrote: "Hi, just crashing your thread.
Any MM readers, please do not forget to update the May, what are you reading thread, just in case we need the books for a challenge."


Thanks Lisa. Off to do so now.

Carla wrote: "Tabs wrote: "Everyone good with "The Eight Wonders"?"

Yes..

What is the theme for this week?"


First theme released on Friday May 30th I think.

Susan, I see you read Promises this month. What did you think? It's one of my all time favorite. MM books.

Lisa - President of Challengeaholics Anon and Challenge Enabler wrote: "Susan, I see you read Promises this month. What did you think? It's one of my all time favorite. MM books."

It was a re-read for me. I liked it a bunch the first time. It was one of my first mm books. I was hesitant to re-read because I thought I might not like it as much the 2nd time, in part because I didn't love the rest of that series, and in part because since I was new to mm I figured maybe my standards were different then than they are now.

Well..I liked it even more than I did then.

Thr first category will be released early -- Wednesday between 6-9 EST.

Week #1
Way Off Plan
Page numbers 346 pgs/ GR Kindle version
Book 1 Firsts and Forever Series

Man, Susan is quick on the draw. :)

The Week 1 theme has been announced and it is:

Theme: 7 - Read the first book of a new (to you) series
Option 2 key date: 27 November 2013 (must be rated at least 3 stars, and you can't go back further than this 'date read' if you select from a team-member's bookshelf)

Thanks Tabs!

Week 1: Release Me, 352 pages as per GR
Stark Trilogy #1 (Theme 7)

I was waiting all day reading short stories, just waiting for the category to be called :)

Week #1

Oryx and Crake
374 pages per GR
MaddAddam Trilogy #1

Susan, I loved that book.

I decided to challenge myself a little out of the gate with a book from my "Unread Bookshelves of Doom" shelf that happens to be... dystopian literary fiction. A genre I read never.

Let's see how it goes!

If I'm not making progress, I've got Anna and the French Kiss ready to swap in before the selection period is up.

Lisa - President of Challengeaholics Anon and Challenge Enabler wrote: "Susan, I loved that book."

Alexa Land is author of the month in the mm grp...so I'm cheating a little and starting early. Maybe I'll like it so much I'll read book 2 in June.

Tabs wrote: "I decided to challenge myself a little out of the gate with a book from my "Unread Bookshelves of Doom" shelf that happens to be... dystopian literary fiction. A genre I read never.

Let's see how ..."

Margaret Atwood is meant to be a great writer, but I've never read her work... Good luck Tabs :)

The posts all look great here :)

I read the The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and liked it. Looking forward to your review.

Tabs - could you please PM me your team's name? Thanks!

Susan, didn't realize there was a book 2. Need to add it to my qtr 3 GB list.

After much deliberation, as I always do when I start a new series, I've decided to go with:


Week 1: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Page #: 338
Qualification: Book one in Highland Pleasure series

Week 1: Read the first book of a new (to you) series
Hex Hall
323 pgs per GR
Hex Hall Series Book 1

Runell wrote: "After much deliberation, as I always do when I start a new series, I've decided to go with:


Week 1: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Page #: 338
Qualification: Book one in Highla..."

Great choice Runell! I love historicals that don't fit the mold and Madness is definitely one of them.

Week 1: new series
Way Off Plan by Alexa Land
3 stars

Review:
I chose this book because Alexa Land was chosen as an author of the month in the mm group. I hadn't read anything else by this author and the blurb looked good.

A few weeks ago, when reviewing another book, I wondered, how much does my mood effect my opinion of the book? Since I usually read a book start to finish in one or two days at most, I've come to realize that my mood definitely effects my opinion, and I don't think that is a good thing.

Way Off Plan is a silly book, by intent. It is a light, funny, easy read. It is filled with pop culture references, which are only funny if you actually get them, and many of them I didn't. There is insta-love in this book, which I very much dislike. I think on a different day, in a more cheerful mood, I may have found this book incredibly funny. However, other than when the MC meets the ex-boyfriend, much of the humor I recognized, but didn't quite work for me.

The author clearly sets up Book 2. She has successfully intrigued me enough to add it to my TBR, despite my lackluster opinion of this book.

Runell wrote: "After much deliberation, as I always do when I start a new series, I've decided to go with:


Week 1: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Page #: 338
Qualification: Book one in Highla..."

Runell, your pick reminded me how much I enjoy that series so I totally put my book down and picked up The Duke's Perfect Wife instead.

Now back to my regularly scheduled reading...