Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

December Monthly Challenge


This thread is for suggestions and questions for the various categories. The thread for participants is HERE.

1. 'D' is for December: Read a book that starts with 'D' or by an author whose first or last name begins with 'D'.

2. Happy Birthday!: Read a book from a December birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose name/nickname starts with the same letter as yours. If no one has the same letter, choose someone with the closest letter to yours alphabetically. RRRC December Birthday List

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Wisconsin. Wisconsin is best known for the Green Bay Packers (the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the United States), their Cheeseheads (Wisconsin is known as America's Dairyland) and all the beer they drink (Milwaukee was once home to four of the world's largest breweries). I may have stretched the truth there a bit, but for this category you can also read a sports related book or one in which food/alcohol plays a large part in the story.

4. Winter (Southern) Solstice, Dec.21: The solstice brings us the shortest day of the year, so read a short book - one under 200 pages.

5. Winter (Southern) Solstice, Dec.21: The solstice also brings us the longest night, so read a book over 300 pages.

For those of you on the south side of the equator, just reverse those! =)

6. Humbug Day, Dec.21: Read a book with an unhappy, cynical or Scrooge like character.

7. Look on the Bright Side Day, Dec. 21: Read a book that features a happy, optimistic or Pollyanna like character.

8. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: Out with the old… Read a book that has been neglected on your TBR, one that gets you current in a series, or an old favorite either book, author, or series.

9. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: And in with the new! Read something new to you - a new release, a new author or a new series.

10. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice.

You can choose 3, 5, 8 or all 10 categories, depending on your reading speed, book availability and/or time commitments.

When posting your progress, please make sure to put the date you finished each book.

Please repost your progress as it helps with updating!

Happy Reading!

Some (hopefully) helpful links:


GR List of books set in Wisconsin

Books set in... - You will need to search "North America" and use "Wisconsin" as your keyword.

Wisconsin Authors

More Wisconsin Authors

And still more Wisconsin Authors

Any suggestions for books with optimistic characters? A bit lost there.. :(

Irina wrote: "Any suggestions for books with optimistic characters? A bit lost there.. :("

How about funny romances? most of those heroines are very optimistic. Here's my humor shelf, maybe you can find something here.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Thanks Barbara! That would probably be the easiest - a funny, light hearted romance. Other ideas might be fairy tale like stories or a book where someone believes in something that others don't, where they have faith that the good will come. Character examples could be Anne of Green Gables or anyone that believes in Santa or guardian angels or fairy godmothers.

I hope that helps, I think I need some caffeine to think more clearly!

Thanks Barbara I managed to pick a book from your list.. :)

Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?

Brandilyn wrote: "Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?"

LOL, this is the first time that I just skipped that category. I couldn't find any on the one shelf that started with a B.

Breann wrote: "Brandilyn wrote: "Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?"

LOL, this is the first time that I just skipped that category. I couldn't find any on the one shelf that started with a B."

Yeah, I am thinking I will have to skip it... it doesn't help that there is 1 "b"

Oh for MM readers Here is list of MM books by state:

Around the Country - Master List

Brandilyn wrote: "Breann wrote: "Brandilyn wrote: "Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?"

LOL, this is the first time that I just skipped that category. I couldn't find any on the one shelf that start..."

OO she has a couple

Above the Dungeon and Collared

I liked Above the Dungeon, Brandilyn, if you haven't read it yet.

Brandilyn wrote: "Breann wrote: "Brandilyn wrote: "Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?"

LOL, this is the first time that I just skipped that category. I couldn't find any on the one shelf that start..."


If there is very limited choice for the birthday category, you can use a letter closest to yours instead. So Breann and Brandilyn, check out the 'A' and 'C' birthday celebrants for December, you may have more luck.

I'm not sure if Yz's rule on that is there has to be absolutely no match to your letter in order to choose a close one, but I'm going out on a Mod limb here and saying that it's fine to do it if there is very limited choice. After all, this is supposed to be fun and I'm very flexible!

Fran wrote: "...After all, this is supposed to be fun and I'm very flexible! "

And we love that about you, Fran! :D

~KarenH~ wrote: "Fran wrote: "...After all, this is supposed to be fun and I'm very flexible! "

And we love that about you, Fran! :D"

Yes definitely!

MountainKat wrote: "~KarenH~ wrote: "Fran wrote: "...After all, this is supposed to be fun and I'm very flexible! "

And we love that about you, Fran! :D"

Yes definitely!"

Feeling is mutual!

Fran wrote: "Brandilyn wrote: "Breann wrote: "Brandilyn wrote: "Any of the Birthday people have M/M on their shelf?"

LOL, this is the first time that I just skipped that category. I couldn't find any on the on..."

yay, thanks Fran. I will take a look.. I can't believe there is only 1 B and she has only like 200 books... all BDSM

Breann - I haven't, but I already own collared so I think I am going to go with that. Sadly I looked at all the A and C names with no success if I want to avoid girly bits

In the past we have used something other than the first letter of your name for the Birthday category. We have used the exact/closest birthdate to your own in that month's birthday celebrants. For example, my birthday is on the 26th of the month, so if it's December, I would read a book from a Dec. birthday that is on the 26th or close.

Would you guys like to go back to the date rather than the letter of your name? Just to change it up a bit?

Fran wrote: "In the past we have used something other than the first letter of your name for the Birthday category. We have used the exact/closest birthdate to your own in that month's birthday celebrants. For ..."

Total cop out here, maybe, but what about an either/or situation. Pick You first initial OR Your Birthday. If you can't find a match THEN you can go for a close match...

For example, for me that leaves 2 people choices, (one initial and 1 birthday... well there are 2 birthdays but one is private)

That sounds good Brandilyn, I'll check it out with Yz :)

Fran wrote: "Would you guys like to go back to the date rather than the letter of your name? Just to change it up a bit? "

Karen and I were talking about this the other day and wondering what it was going to be for next year. Personally, I would like some change from year to year just to give you something different from the year before. Either/Or seems like a good idea.

I like change too. Any other ideas for the birthday category besides either/or date, first letter of name? I will pass all ideas onto Yz and chat with the other Mods about it.

Brandilyn wrote: "I want to avoid girly bits"

I hear you there, my friend.

If anyone is looking for a Wisconsin author ( sorry my m/m friends, this one is not for you ;) - Stacey Joy Netzel is from Wisconsin and she has a few freebies on Amazon right now including a cute holiday story.

These 3 are free-
A Fair to Remember
Mistletoe Mischief
Holding Out For a Hero

Lost In Italy- free for Prime members

Fran wrote: "If anyone is looking for a Wisconsin author ( sorry my m/m friends, this one is not for you ;) - Stacey Joy Netzel is from Wisconsin and she has a few freebies on Amazon right now including a cute ..."

Fran, you are awesome!!

Thanks Fran, I dl Mistletoe Mischief for Wisconsin :D

Sandra wrote: "Thanks Fran, I dl Mistletoe Mischief for Wisconsin :D"

No problem, Sandra :)

I picked it up too- it looks cute, I hope it's good!

I'm crossing my fingers. LOL.

I am in this month for 9....





1. D is for December: Dragonborn

2. Happy Birthday Shyloh!: Explosive Eighteen

3. SKIPPED

4. Winter Solstice: In Bed With Beauty

5. Winter Solstice: One Hot Cowboy Wedding

6. Humbug Day: Simply Love

7. Look on the Bright Side: The Christmas She Always Wanted

8. New Years Eve: Shelter Mountain

9. New Years Eve: Thief of Shadows

10. Readers Choice: Keys to the Castle

Shannon wrote: "I am in this month for 9...."

Shannon, this is the suggestion thread. You want to post your list/progress HERE.

Fran wrote: "I like change too. Any other ideas for the birthday category besides either/or date, first letter of name? I will pass all ideas onto Yz and chat with the other Mods about it."

I just read this post. I like the idea...we can make this as our new rule for 2013.

Great, thanks Yz.