Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

2017 September PIFM Challenge

What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?

The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.

The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.

You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!

After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.

In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to keep your profile private, it is your responsibility to send a friend request to the person picking for you as soon as possible after the matchups are posted. Whether your profile is private or not, it is also very important that your profile be set to receive Private Messages (PMs) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mods, organizer etc.)

Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!

Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
✱ The books picked for you are not yet released.
✱ If you have already read the chosen book(s) and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
✱ If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.

You may NOT ask for repicks because:
✱ A book is not available at your library.
✱ A genre or author you don’t enjoy.

INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:

✱✱ How much heat do you like? ✱✱

Red, hot and steamy
I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned
No heat, I just want romance

✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱

IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until August 26th (2 pm US EDT).
For your convenience a Time Zone Converter.

You’ll have until August 29th (10 pm US EDT) to make your recommendations.

Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.

If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!


✱Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!✱

TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!


Pickees
✱ To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed (Did Not Finish) or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorite books and authors. In addition, you might consider updating your profile. You can include info about your favorite books, authors, genres, themes or tropes (or themes/tropes you dislike – i.e. secret baby).
✱ Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread. This information will not be included in the pairings and your pickee may not see your message and does not need to rely on that information when making picks.

Pickers
✱ Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group. Thus, most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are various sub genres within the romance category - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy. If your pickee reads a wide variety, you could add a non-romance as a choice.

✱ Choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them (not found on any of their shelves) or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work previously.

A few hints to help with book selection:
✱ Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
✱ Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has created. (e.g., 'to read next', 'favorites' ‘didn’t like’)
✱ Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
✱ Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read or read the most. Reviewing their ‘read’ shelf might help you in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
✱ If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) Contact the Mods or the month's organizer for guidance.
✱ Include a variety of books (e.g., shorter page count, new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book on their 'to-read' shelf) This variety gives your pickee options when choosing the book or books they will be reading this month. Use the sort feature within their shelves to determine date a book was added, published or read; page numbers, ratings, etc.

If you want to volunteer to make repicks:
✱ We love that you want to help out, but please remember those who need picks have been waiting for a long time already. Please only volunteer if you are able to make the repicks within a few hours of the deadline. Thank you!

2017 September PIFM Challenge - Participants

Hidden to reduce confusion.(view spoiler)[
Red, hot and steamy:
Shelby - Current Challenge To Reads
KathyD - pick-shelf-owned
Danielle Gypsy Soul - Possible books to read next
Stacie - august-september
Elke - on-deck-4-chlges
Nancy H
LaurLa - 04-challenges-to-pick
Ashley
Fran(Private) - a-pifm-shelf
MountainKat - to-read-asap
Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress - Meet & Greet shelf or Pick for Me
~KarenH~ - cant-wait-to-read
PointedlyBlunt
Crystal
Tpagirl - challenge 2017 selected meet and gr
Romanticbookworm
Rachel C.

I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned:
Pam - PIFM
Mary-Megan - august-september
Diane ~Firefly~ - mng-picking/a>
Rebecca
Carrie - Soonish
Nicolina
Irene - pifm
Sonja - On-Deck-to-Read
Heather - 0-pifm
Alexis - PIFM books
Leigh - pick-it-for-me-challenge
Vandhana - Chack this list
Kait - up-next
Suzanne
Kristen
Misskim
Carina (hide spoiler)]

2017 September PIFM Challenge - Pairings

Please pick for the person below you in your group. The last person will pick for the first person, for example Romanticbookworm picks for Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress.

✓ = Picks made. Updated 8.29.17, message #143

Red, hot and steamy:
✓ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress - Meet & Greet shelf or Pick for Me
✓ Stacie - august-september
✓ Elke - on-deck-4-chlges
✓ Tpagirl - challenge 2017 selected meet and gr
✓ ~KarenH~ - cant-wait-to-read
✓ KathyD - pick-shelf-owned
✓ Danielle Gypsy Soul - Possible books to read next
✓ Shelby - Current Challenge To Reads
✓ MountainKat - to-read-asap
✓ LaurLa - 04-challenges-to-pick
✓ Ashley
✓ Nancy H
✓ Crystal
✓ Fran(Private) - a-pifm-shelf
✓ PointedlyBlunt
✓ Rachel C.
✓ Romanticbookworm


I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned:
✓ Nicolina
✓ Pam - PIFM
✓ Vandhana - Check this list
✓ Kait - up-next
✓ Heather - 0-pifm
✓ Diane ~Firefly~ - mng-picking
✓ Sonja - On-Deck-to-Read
✓ Rebecca
✓ Misskim
✓ Irene - pifm
✓ Alexis - PIFM books
✓ Leigh - pick-it-for-me-challenge
✓ Carrie - Soonish
Kristen
✓ Suzanne
✓ Mary-Megan - august-september
✓ Carina

Latecomers: Please pick for each other!
Samantha - pifm-sept-2017
Andrew

Repicks:
Mary-Megan picks for Suzanne

Repick Volunteers: Thank you!
Mary-Megan
Tpagirl
Sonja
Rebecca

2017 September PIFM Challenge - Rules


September is traditionally the time for back to school, football, crisp weather and pumpkin spice everything, but here in SoCal it also brings the Santa Ana Winds. Santa Anas are a weather phenomenon that can occur year round, but really makes themselves known in the fall. The hot dry winds blow in from the desert and just get hotter as they head west to the coast. They are miserable to endure, but by far their biggest danger is wildfire! Numerous fires have been caused by the Devil Winds as they are also known, but the one biggest fires in California history is the Cedar Fire in 2003. That fire burned over 100,000 acres in just 12 hours, destroyed more than 2200 homes overall, was responsible for 15 deaths including a firefighter. The Cedar Fire burned for 10 days advancing across the county and back again before there was full containment. The combined wildfires in San Diego county that fall burned over 20% of the entire county!

Is it hot in here? - We are still wearing our shorts and flip flops in the fall in SoCal! Recommend a book with naked or nearly naked people on the cover.

Time to head to the beach! - The water is the place to be to try to cool off! Pick a book with water on the cover or set near a body of water.

This is fall weather? - We have a different idea of fall weather in this part of the world. Suggest a book with any weather term in the title or with some sort of weather (sun, clouds, wind, rain, snow) on the cover.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas! - It's only going to happen in our dreams, or in the mountains! Recommend a book set in winter or cold weather.

Great Balls of Fire - Fire is a constant threat, but especially with the hot, dry winds. Pick a book with flames on the cover or an orange/red cover.

Do I Stay or Do I Go? - If I go there will be trouble, if I stay it will be double - that rings true to anyone who has ever faced evacuations for any reason. Suggest a road trip book, a book with any mode of transport on the cover or one that takes place in multiple locations.

Football Weather? - That usually conjures up the image of sweatshirts and rain, not bright sunshine and fans in bikini tops and shorts! The Cedar Fire also forced an NFL game to be relocated because the stadium was being used as an evacuation center. Pick a sports themed romance or one where exercise is part of the story.

Back to School! - The most wonderful time of year for parents! But really hard for kids to focus during the Santa Anas and schools have been closed due to wildfires. Recommend a book with a child/children, a teacher, an NA or a YA story.

Make sure you select at least 4 new to them picks and at least 4 picks from their preferred or to-read shelf!

2017 September PIFM Challenge

In for September and I like a little heat.
Shelf PIFM

I'm in! I'd say I like the happy medium - a little heat but I don't want to get burned.

Please use august-september

I'm open to any and all of those options but I guess I'll go with Hot & Steamy this time. :)

Current Challenge To Reads

i'm in....i like it red, hot, and steamy
pick-shelf-owned

I like all three but I'm going to pick Red Hot & Steamy.

Possible books to read next OR Next in Series

A little heat, but I don't want to get burned

mng_picking shelf

I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned

I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned

Please pick from my Soonish shelf.

Red hot and steamy!

august-september

I am in!

Red, Hot, and Steamy for me! ;)

Please pick from my On deck 4 chlges

Definitely Red, Hot, and Steamy!

A little heat but I don't want to get burned

This will be my first challenge in here, I believe :)

Sign me up for I like it a little hot, but I don't want to get burned, thanks

I'm in!
Depends on my mood. Red, hot n steamy sometimes, but other times I just wanna romance.
So I say B: A little heat, but I don't wanna get burned

Please use my On-Deck-to-Read shelf when picking! I'll update it right before the picking... Thank you for hosting, MountainKat!
And BTW, I cannot pick until Monday the 28th, but if you still need an extra picker that day, I can do it! Just LMK

I little bit hot please. A good shelf: 0-pifm

I'm in for B. a little bit hot.

please pick from my PIFM books shelf.

Well, I'll take any but I do like me some Red, hot and steamy!!!
04-challenges-to-pick

Red, hot and steamy

I'm in. I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm in! I like it all, but I will say .......Red, hot and steamy
(Private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)

PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I am in.
I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned.
Check this list

I'm in BRB with shelf :)

Meet & Greet shelf

Or

Pick for Me

I'll go with 'I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned' since I love steam but it needs lots of romance elements too for me to become invested.

Preferred shelf: up-next

I guess I better sign up too! I will read it all, but I do prefer my romance Red, hot and steamy!

My preferred shelf is my to-read-asap shelf. =)

I'm in!

I like a little heat, but I don't want to get burned

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I'm in BRB with shelf :)

Meet & Greet shelf

Or

Pick for Me"

Which category Carmen? =)

Count me in! A little heat but I don't want to get burned.

MountainKat wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I'm in BRB with shelf :)

Meet & Greet shelf

Or

Pick for Me"

Which category Carmen? =)"

Oops sorry. Red, hot and steamy ;)

Gotcha Carmen! Participants list updated through here, please double check your shelf link to make sure I have the right shelf. Thanks, I appreciate the double check - it's easy to make a mistake trying to get everyone's link. =)

Danielle Gypsy Soul, you listed two shelves, but your links went to the same one - if you want another shelf included please provide a new link.

Oh, almost forgot, I'll be away the next two days, but I will try to update again Friday night before doing to the pairings on Saturday.

I'm in! I'll read from all categories, but depending on my mood I mostly go back and forth between a little heat and steamy, so since it's the smaller group at this point, I'll go with Red, hot and steamy!

Please use my cant-wait-to-read shelf...thanks!

Actually, can I have a shelf added? This one here https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Thanks so much

Gotcha Karen and added your shelf Irene!

Just about 12 hours left until pairs are assigned. =)

I like it hot but not getting burnt. Any shelf :)

Red, hot and steamy, please. I like surprises!

I'm in. I like a little heat but don't want to get burned.

Red , hot , and steamy!!

Red, Hot and Steamy! Please use the following shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

count me in for Red hot and steamy. please use my pick for me shelf.

Red, hot and steamy (although I do like a good slow burn)

Participant list updated, just a little while left!

Sign up is closed, I will be posting the pairings and rules shortly.

Pairings are in message #4 and rules are in message #5 above.

Carina
Here are your picks. You have a lot of authors I enjoy reading on your To Read list, so hopefully you enjoy the suggestions.

Is it hot in here?
TBR - Summer House - Naked legs
New - Heat Exchange - Nearly naked man (ooh la la)


Time to head to the beach!
TBR - Dream Lake (water on the cover)
New - At the Water's Edge (near water - it surprised me how much I enjoyed this book)
New - The Winter Sea (near water - also really enjoyed this book)


This is fall weather?
TBR - When Lightning Strikes (weather term)
New - One Snowy Night (weather term)


I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!
TBR - Snow Angel Cove (winter)
New - Sleigh Bells in the Snow (winter)


Great Balls of Fire
TBR - Red Lily (red/orange cover)
New - Playing with Fire (Flames and red/orange cover)


Do I Stay or Do I Go?
TBR - The Girl From the Train (Train on cover and multiple locations)
New - One Plus One (road trip)


Football Weather?
TBR - Heaven, Texas (ex-jock)
New - Simply Irresistible (hockey player)


Back to School!
TBR - The Nanny Diaries (involving children)
New - Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (YA book, also fits for the road trip category)


Happy reading!

LaurLa, I'll be working on your picks today - should have them done by tonight.

Shelby,

Wow finding new books for you was hard since we have read a TON of the same stuff. So hopefully you'll like the new ones I found since our tastes seem to be similar.

Is It Hot in Here
TBR: The Strongest Steel
New: Broken Pieces - I'm not usually a fan of menages they just don't work for me but I liked this one.


Time to Head to the Beach
TBR: River Marked - Love this series
TBR: Trust with a Chaser - Really want to read this
New: Body of Evidence - One of the best RS books I've read (No need to read book 1 first)


This is Fall Weather
TBR: Magic Breaks - One of my favorite series
New: A Cold Dark Place - Another good romantic suspense/thriller


I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
New: Exposure - Been a long time since I read this but I remember really liking it
New: The Gamble - My Favorite Kristin Ashley book


Great Balls of Fire
TBR: Mine to Possess - Another great series
TBR: Me Before You - Heard good things about this one


Do I Stay or Do I Go
TBR: Dragon Bound - My all-time favorite book
TBR: A Restored Man - I want to read this
New: Radiance - Great book and really different


Football Weather?
New: The Weight of It All - Really liked this one
New: Touchdown - Another good M/M Sports book
New: Reading the Signs - Not a big baseball fan but this one almost made me love it
New: He Loves Lucy - I don't love a lot of contemporary but I loved this one


Back to School
New: Kick at the Darkness - Zombies are not my thing but I really enjoyed this one
New: Christmas with the Sheriff - A good contemporary holiday romance