The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 3 - All Booked

Captain: Suzanne 2
Ezinwanyi
Namita
Amanda A

(view spoiler)[

Used 10/13 (hide spoiler)]

Bonus Points:
Earned: 4
Used: 2

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll (1 die on Thursdays & Sundays, US Central Time)
R11 SSS Post Your Spot
R11 SSS Discussion Thread
Time Zone Converter

ALTERNATES:
*Titles exclude leading articles like A, An, The)
❀Each number corresponds with the spot on the board.
❀ Colors: The cover has to be at least 50% Guidelines
❀ Locations: As long as the book takes part at all in the given location.
❀ Publication Years: Any edition so long as it is published in the given year according to GR.
❀ Authors' Names: The first, middle, or last name of the author is ok.
❀ Cover Items: Must have the given item on the cover
❀ Titles: Only the first word of the title. A, An, and The do not count.


LIST:
1. Favorite Author
2. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
3. New to you author
4. One Word Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. The Witness or Divergent)
5. Cover Item: Book
6. School/College/University
7. Title B
8. North America
9. Author D
10. Cover Item: Food/Drink
11. Author P
12. Female Author
13. Cover: Blue
14. Published 2015
15. Book that one of your teammates read shelf rated a 5-star
16. Title C
17. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
18. Cover Item: Instrument
19. GR average rating >4.0
20. Author A
21. Europe
22. Cover: Yellow/Gold
23. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
24. Title G
25. Cover: Pink
26. Published 2013
27. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
28. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies i.e. listopia or precis)
29. Title T
30. Cover Item: Weapon
31. Character has a pet
32. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
33. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
34. Cover Item: One person
35. Debut Novel or Debut Author
36. Award winner (must state which/when)
37. Number in the Title (i.e. Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
38. Author L
39. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
40. Male Author
41.Title J
42. Four or more Words Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
43. Cover Item: Jewellery
44. Published 2016
45. Romance
46. Set in a place you've visited
47. Author R
48. Two Word Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. Deadly Silence or The Hunger Games )
49. Cover Item: Plant
50. Young Adult/New Adult
51. Published between 2001 and 2010
52. Title F
53. Cover: White
54. Author W
55. Cover Item: Water
56. Three Word Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone)
57. Title K
58. LGBTQ+
59. Cover: Green
60. Sci-Fi
61. Africa
62. Author M
63. Published between 1950 and 2000
64. Title N
65. Cover: Grey/Silver
66. Published before 1950
67. Historical
68. Author I
69. Multi-Colored (3 or More Colors)
70. Cover Item: Animal
71. Several authors
72. Published 2014
73. Asia
74. Cover Item: Dress
75. South America
76. Cover: Orange
77. GR average rating <3.6
78. Fantasy
79. Title V
80. Cover Item: Furniture
81. Published 2011-2012
82. Author S
83. Australia
84. Cover: Purple
85. Mystery/Thriller
86. Title E
87. Cover: Black
88. Non-Fiction
89. Published the year you were born
90. Author O
91. Cover Item: Two or more people
92. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
93. Character has at least one child
94. Author H
95. Published 2019
96. Cover Item: Building
97. Cover: Red
98. Published 2017
99. Originally published in a language other than English
100. Cover: Brown
101. GR average rating >4.0
102. Cover Item: Book
103. Title A
104. Author E
105. Cover: White
106. Book that one of your teammates read shelf rated a 5-star
107. Debut Novel or Debut Author
108. Title D
109. Published 2017
110. Three Word Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone)
111. Author C

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Wednesday/Saturday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Thursday/Sunday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain period of time, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the time period in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role for every roll, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Team Tracking

Bonus Tasks:
✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
✸ One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages.
✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one.
✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on. Week 1 Roll 2
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
✸ Halloween Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy book for the roll on 10/27.

Links to checkin posts

Hi everyone!! First time playing this game, looking forward to it.

Hey Ladies,
I love this challenge. I have played this game every round except the one where I was the moderator.
I can't wait

Hi Ezi!!

Hi everyone, looking forward to playing this round with all of you.

Ezi, I nominate you for our Team Captain....lol

This starts tomorrow, correct??

Namita wrote: "This starts tomorrow, correct??"

Yep! It'd be good if you could pick a captain until then. :)

Ladies, anyone wants to be the Captain??

Hmm...I could probably do it, but I usually couldnt post/roll til Thursday or Sunday afternoons mountain time - my mornings are completely booked those days. If someone else has a better schedule, then please volunteer :) I MAY need a substitute a couple weekends but I'm usually back Sundays. :)

I can't do either...Thursdays are my early morning start for work and straight into a meeting every Thursday!!

Sunday, I honestly think I will forget as it's the one day with my family and I usually am offline.

But if no one can...we could take turns and figure it out!!

Ok! I will plan on doing it unless someone chimes in that wants to. Does anyone have a team name you love??

Name suggestions:

The Whiners
The RUMagers
Book Warriors
Uterial Motives
All Booked
Book Wizards
Raging Readers

Thanks for the great name suggestions! Lets see what everyone thinks! My personal favorite is "All Booked" because that is how I've been feeling lately. Although, my challenge addiction is still very strong :)

I made my first post in this thread a tracking post. If anyone is planning on a bonus task, especially one of the "read a series" ones, let us know. I know that can be tricky to get the series with the rolls.

I don't see times posted, which I'm pretty sure means I can do our first roll as soon as it is Thursday US Central time. I will do that right around then (for sure I'll be working that late) - so watch for our first roll! If we can get our books read/reviewed/checked in early, I can always roll first thing - and if not, well we shall deal. I'm sure we will have a mix of both depending on the week :)

Please speak up any time during the game if I'm missing something - I've played this before, but I haven't captained it before, so I'm sure there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff I never noticed.

Suzanne wrote: "I don't see times posted, which I'm pretty sure means I can do our first roll as soon as it is Thursday US Central time."

Yep, you can start rolling right after midnight :)

Yay for Suzanne!! Thanks for being the Captain. I've never played before and I'm excited!!

I like Raging Reader and All Booked....lets's see what the rest of the team have to say!!

All Booked is cute and I can also relate to feeling like that lately. Thanks for offering to be captain, Suzanne.

First Roll!

Our first roll is a 3!
Spot: 3

So: Read a #3 in series or the alternate task is:
3. New to you author.

If possible, reviews should be in by Saturday midnight :)

Week:1 Roll:1
Roll: 3
Previous Spot: 0
Current Spot: 3
Bonus Points Earned: 0
Bonus Points Used:0

To Read
#3 in series
Alternate: 3. New to you author

Reviews
Suzanne 2 One & Only You
Ezinwanyi Here Comes Trouble
Namita A Cutthroat Business
Amanda A Legend

Off to look for a book!! Thanks, Suzanne!

@Suzanne, you gotta save a spot on the thread. The link is on Msg #: 2

I think it's safe to say we are All Booked.

We should get our name updated by Denise.

Thank you. Suzanne!!

Got your team name updated. :)

I'm reading the alternate task:

3. New to you author -

Yup I posted our spot in the Post your spot thread last night. first one!!

Suzanne wrote: "Yup I posted our spot in the Post your spot thread last night. first one!!"

I'm sorry...I'm on a detox today...I'm seeing food everywhere....lol

Okay. Sorry I’ve been traveling.

Thank you Suzanne for stepping up. Let me go search for my book right now

Welcome back!

Review: Week: 1; Roll: 1; Spot: 3

Book: One & Only You by Cindy Kirk
Qualification: Hazel Green Book #3
Finished: 8/30/2019
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
I think One & Only You is my favorite in the series so far- it kept me reading way past my bedtime :) This one focuses on Rachel, who we saw briefly in the first two books of the series with her annoying boyfriend Marc. None of Rachel's friends liked Marc, but they put up with him for Rachel's sake (I suspect we've all seen/been in that situation at times - hopefully I haven't been the annoying one everyone puts up with!) Early in this book, Rachel breaks up with Marc, and at the same time a growing friendship with Dixon develops.

Some of the things I really liked about this book: I thought the emotional abuse/manipulation was well described. Rachel was very strong, and handled things well - but I liked how the book showed how persuasive and convincing abusers can be. I also liked that Rachel and Dixon were friends and he supported her- it wasn't insta-romance. And I loved seeing characters from the past books and how their families and relationships are developing. This book would be fine as a stand-alone, but it gives extra satisfaction to catch up with previously loved characters.

SELECTION POST. Week 1, Post 1

Book: Here Comes Trouble by A.E. Via
Pages: 296 pages
Qualification:Nothing Special, Book 3

Completion Post - Week: 1

Spot 3: - New to you author (Alternate Task)
Book: A Cutthroat Business by Jenna Bennett
Qualification: New to me Author
Finished: 8/30
Rating: 3 ★'s
Review: This was an okay book. Nothing special. I liked it well enough. I did love the characters. It could have been better but the mystery was good enough. I would definitely read this author.

Nice review!

Spot 3

Legend by Sawyer Bennett (Arizona Vengeance #3)
Date Read: 8/30
Rating: ★★★★

I liked Legend and Pepper's characters from the previous books in the series. It was fun to watch their progression from enemies to lovers and he finally got over her wacky lawn decorations. The surprise baby trope was well done and Legend was very sweet with baby Charlie as he navigated learning how to be a father. I also like the structure of this series with previous couples still making appearances in later books to catch up with them. I am looking forward to Dax and Regan's story in the next book.

Thanks Amanda!

COMPLETION POST. Week 1, Post 1

Book: Here Comes Trouble by A.E. Via
Pages: 296 pages
Qualification:Nothing Special, Book 3
Read: 8/31
Rating & Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this one. It’s a true friends to lovers story. This story really forced on the interpersonal relationships more than the actual crime fighting nature of the Atlanta Narcotics Task Force. I continue to enjoy the story because I love the journey both men made in understanding and accepting their romantic feelings. I can just imagine what it was like for the women around them who were interested in them but had to deal with this whole “joined at the hip” thing Chris and Mark has going.

Officers Chris Green and Mark Ruxberg are both partners and best friends working on the special Narcotics task force being headed up by God and Day from Book 1. They were known as the muscle of the task force and they did almost everything together.

Changes in their personal life lead to the exploration and admittance of their feelings for each other. In addition, when a young kid Curtis who was a personal assistant to all of them faced a family tragedy, Mark and Chris, in addition to the whole task force stepped up assist Curtis.

Aiden Snow’s narration really enhances the sexiness of these goofy guys. He added a layer to the story as we got another couple in the Nothing special series.

It's so great that everyone read and got reviews in so promptly - thank you! I will roll again as soon as it is Sunday in Central Time :)

Looking forward to the next roll!!

Week:1 Roll:2
Roll: 5
Previous Spot: 3
Current Spot: 8
Bonus Points Earned: 0
Bonus Points Used:0

To Read
#8 in series
Alternate: 8. North America

Reviews
Suzanne 2 Hospitality & Homicide
Ezinwanyi The Athlete
Namita Bonds of Justice
Amanda A Burning Lamp

*** Earned Bonus Point ✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on. for Suzanne's book ***

SELECTION POST. Week 1, Post 2
Spot: 8

Book: The Athlete by Elin Peer
Pages: 297 pages
Qualification:Men of the North, Book 8

Selection Post: Spot 8

Book: Hospitality and Homicide by Lynn Cahoon
Pages: 217
Qualification: A Tourist Trap Mystery #8
Also fits the alternate: set in North America (set in California) for the 1 bonus point (I suspect several of us will have that same situation this week)

Selection Post: Week 1: Post 2

Spot: 8
Book:
Pages: 348
Qualification: #8 in the Psy-Changeling series

You've earned your free pass, it's been added to the top post. :)

Yay! Way to start out!

Spot 8

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick (Arcane Society, #8)
Date: 9/1
Rating: ★★★

This book was ok for me. I have really enjoyed most of the Arcane Society books and I love how they move back and forth between Jayne Ann Krentz (contemporary settings) and Amanda Quick (historical settings). The story in this one felt similar to the previous book, Fired Up, except it was a contemporary setting in that book. Griffin is a crime lord and Adelaide is a social reformer in Victorian England, so they are an unlikely pair and I didn't really connect to the characters until later in the story. The dreamlight is an intriguing idea and I am interested to find out how the trilogy concludes in the next book. It is written under the author's Jayne Castle name so I just hope it is not the same story again in a futuristic setting.

Thanks Amanda! I don't think I've read much Amanda Quick (if any) - that's interesting how the author switches names depending on the setting!