Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Super-Duper Host
✔Diane

Couch-Slouchers
✔Caipi
✔Sassafrass
✔Sherece
✔Shannon
✔Bailey

1. Introduce yourself to your team. 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. Team Captain - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. Using this round's theme of Couch Surfing, come up with a fun name. 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 Jane(PS) by 5 March.

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. (It will also help with one of the categories in this round!)

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 including links to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!

* don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full in that post.

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 with the format rules of the challenge.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.

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

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 themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.


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 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


For the initial selection post Option 1 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please insert a link to the qualifying bookshelf/list.
If the theme is based off the bookcover or a letter in the title etc, please just repeat the theme.

For the initial selection post Option 2 I need:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.


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


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

I'll be tracking each team's progress separately, using the Captain's summary in each team's thread to check for accuracy.

A summary chart will be posted in the last week to let teams know their progress against other teams :)

Themes

Week #1:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
4. "You have friends all over the world, you just haven't met them yet."

* From this round's players, find another member whose books interest you - select a book (any book, does not have to be one that they have read) to read from their bookshelves and become friends. Select your book from a player who is not already a friend.
This doesn't have to be from your team - it can be anyone who is playing in this round.

You may friend each other and use each other's bookshelves - but it must be a new connection since the beginning of this round - from sign up - NOT from today. A player in your team that you friended at the beginning of the challenge counts.
You must link to the bookshelf of your new friend to show their book that you have selected. If linking to a bookshelf is hard, note the date that they added the book to their shelves.
Note the date you became friends (which you can find on your friend list). I don't need to see a link or other justification - just the date.
The series rule can be applied to this task - that is, you may use the next book that you are up to in a series to the one you find on your new friend's shelf.

Option 2:
Key date - 4 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #2:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
12. So now I digress - its time to just surf!

* Read a book set in a beach town or on the coast.
Cities that sit on the ocean will count.
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

Option 2:
Key date - 11 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #3:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
2. For a small fee each month, you access a global database of couches.

* Read a book you bought on sale, at no charge, or you accessed for free (Kindle Unlimited counts).
Gifts and presents count.
Please state WHY it was cheap or free in your selection post.

Option 2:
Key date - 18 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #4:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
10. This is an adventure!

* Read a book tagged 'adventure'.
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

Option 2:
Key date - 25 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #5:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
9. Rediscover your own city.

* Read a book set on your continent.
Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand can combine to allow a greater book selection.
Please state your region in your post.

Option 2:
Key date - 2 October 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #6:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
14. Surf GR
Click on the drop-down Browse menu (next to My Books in the top GR banner), click on Explore, click on Romance under the Genres listing on the far right, click on your preferred type of romance (keep refining as wished using the Genre lists).
* Read any of the books that appear on that actual page without clicking further on the lists#, OR read a book by one of the authors that appear on that page. If you select the author option, you many read any book by that author.
# = meaning don't click on the lists at the base of the page and read a book from that list. If it appears on the page though as the part of the list showing, you can read it.

Option 2: Key date - 9 October 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #7:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
15. No matter where you stay on your adventures when couchsurfing or otherwise, please keep your wits about you.

* Read a book with the letters W I T S in the title, series and/or author's name (any combination).

Option 2:
Key date - 16 October 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #8:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
5. Couches are available all over the world.

* Read a book where at least one MC travels to a new location (on holiday, for work, relocate - whatever).
Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.

Option 2:
Key date - 23 October 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #9:
(view spoiler)[Option 1:
3. Not sure about you, but those couches sounds dirty!

* Read a book with a 'dirty' colour on the cover - eg black, brown, tan.

Option 2:
Key date - 30 October 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #10:

Option 1:
(view spoiler)[11. One of Couchsurfing's values is to 'stay curious'.

* Read a book that is not currently on your bookshelves.
State the date that you added the book to your shelves IN YOUR SELECTION POST.
The DATE that you add the book to your bookshelf must be in the week that this task is announced.

Option 2:
Key date - 6 November 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week. (hide spoiler)]

Week #11:
Option 1
13. Surf your own shelves.

* On your preferred TBR shelf, look at the beige bar at the bottom of the page - on the sort function, click on 'random' and then read one of the first 3 books that now appear at the top of your shelf.
You may use any of your TBR shelves so long as there are at least 15 books on that shelf. If the page count for any of the three books does not qualify for the challenge (that is, is less than 100 pages), you may select the next book that has appeared randomly on the list. You must use a list that does not contain books that you have already read IF you do not want to read them again. You cannot substitute for the next book on the list, as allowed with the page count. If 3 books are at the top of your list that you have already read, you must select one of them.
Please note again - there must be at least 15 books on your TBR shelf.

Option 2
Key date: 13 November 2020

If you use this option, this week you must select your book from the team shelves immediately below your team in this list. The last team picks from the first team.

10 Couch Potatoes
7 The Lounging Lovelies
3 Couch Cruisers
8 Relax, Ride and Read
5 Have Books, Will Travel
4 My Couch or Yours
2 Surfing the Stacks
6 Our Couch Pulls Out, But We Don't
11 CouchSurfers Wipeout
1 Bargain Basement Backpackers
9 Six Slouching Surfers

Eg. Team 10 picks from team 7's members bookshelves. Team 9 picks from team 10's members bookshelves.

DO NOT PICK from a team member who has left the team during the game. Picks must come from current members.

Week 1-4 Selection Posts

Week #1:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:Sebastian|25072476] by Sam Argent (Caipi's Read List)
Caipi: [*book:Of Secrets and Wolves|56689609] by Alice Winters (Diane's Read List (became friends 3/5))
Sassafrass: [*book:Melt for You|36564103] by J.T. Geissinger (Bailey's Read List (became friends 3/5))
Sherece: [*book:Chasing Ghosts|53805065] by Dean Cole (Diane's Read List)
Shannon: [*book:Pretty Boy|55845680] by K.M. Neuhold (Caipi's Read List)
Bailey: [*book:Sloth|45321824] by Ella James (Sassafrass' Read List (became friends 3/5)) (hide spoiler)]

Week #2:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:The Enforcer Enigma|42091427] by G.L. Carriger (San Francisco)
Caipi: [*book:The Boy with the Painful Tattoo|23124602] by Josh Lanyon (San Francisco)
Sassafrass: [*book:Purity in Death|57235733] by J.D. Robb (New York)
Sherece: [*book:Island Affair|49348205] by Priscilla Oliveras (Key West)
Shannon: [*book:BTW: By the Way|43983268] by Lucy Lennox (Cape Cod)
Bailey: [*book:Bayside Desires|32595084] by Melissa Foster (Cape Cod) (hide spoiler)]

Week #3:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:True Knight|57282457] Patricia Logan (ARC GRR)
Caipi: [*book:Private Charter|41444984] by Private Charter by N.R. Walker (purchased on sale for .99)
Sassafrass: [*book:Love Hacked|49998841] by Penny Reid (free from audible plus)
Sherece: [*book:Legacy|35889058] by L.J. Swallow (free on Amazon in the past)
Shannon: [*book:Virtually Screwed|52351436] by Isla Olsen (KU)
Bailey: [*book:Take a Hint, Dani Brown|49976087] by Talia Hibbert (public library) (hide spoiler)]

Week #4:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:Southernmost Murder|34891811] by C.S. Poe (shelved 3 times as adventure)
Caipi: [*book:The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings|48752448] by Lily Morton (shelved 4 times as adventure)
Sassafrass: [*book:Divided in Death|50177197] by J.D. Robb (shelved 5 times as adventure)
Sherece: [^book:Burn for Me|20705702] by Ilona Andrews (shelved 50 times as adventure)
Shannon: [*book:Exposed|54637851] by H.L. Day (Exposed is a 132k action/adventure story)
Bailey: [*book:Strange the Dreamer|28449207] by Laini Taylor (shelved 230 times as adventure) (hide spoiler)]

Week 1-4 Completion Posts

Week #1:
Diane: msg #36
Caipi: msg #52
Sassafrass: msg #37
Sherece: msg #42
Shannon: msg #35
Bailey: msg #40

Week #2:
Diane: msg #53
Caipi: msg #60
Sassafrass: msg #50
Sherece: msg #63
Shannon: msg #55
Bailey: msg #61

Week #3:
Diane: msg #74
Caipi: msg #72
Sassafrass: msg #75
Sherece: msg #73
Shannon: msg #71
Bailey: msg #76

Week #4:
Diane: msg #90
Caipi: msg #109
Sassafrass: msg #87
Sherece: msg #103
Shannon: msg #89
Bailey: msg #115

Week 5-8 Selection Posts

Week #5:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:An Echo in the Sorrow|56394746] by Hailey Turner (Set in North America, live in North America)
Caipi: [*book:Fakers|53554265] by Lucy Lennox (read by Shannon Nov 20, 2020 ★★★★)
Sassafrass: [*book:Hard Sell|37971515]by Hard Sell (Set in North America, live in North America)
Sherece: [*book:The Revenge Pact|55930049] by Ilsa Madden-Mills (Sassafrass read list Feb 16, 2021 ★★★★)
Shannon: Click by Nora Phoenix (Set in North America, live in North America)
Bailey: Pass (hide spoiler)]

Week #6:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:The Quiet House|57437366] by Lily Morton (MM Paranormal Romance)
Caipi: [*book:Love You Senseless|23350137] by Susan Mac Nicol (Read by Diane Feb. 11, 2021 ★★★★)
Sassafrass: [*book:Defending Allye|37646585] by Susan Stoker (Susan Stoker Romantic Suspense)
Sherece: [*book:Vow of Deception|56897024] by Rina Kent (Erotic Romance)
Shannon: [*book:Schooling the Jock|56922755] by Eli Easton (MM Contemporary Romance)
Bailey: [*book:Kind of Cursed|48754850] by Stephanie Fournet (Interracial Romance) (hide spoiler)]

Week #7:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:His Runaway Mate|54610747] by Brea Alepoú (hIS runaWay maTe)
Caipi: [*book:Watching and Wanting|33870017] by Jay Northcote (WatchIng and wanTing, houSemates series)
Sassafrass: [*book:Safe With Me|35506466] by Stephanie Nicole Norris (Safe WITh me)
Sherece: [*book:White Hot|22303684] by Ilona Andrews (WhIT hot by ilona andrewS)
Shannon: [*book:Settling the Score|11421598] by Eden Winters (WInTerS)
Bailey: [*book:Written on His Skin|35651398] by Simone Stark (WrITten on hiS skin) (hide spoiler)]

Week #8:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*book:True Mate|57767811] by Patricia Logan (When I moved to Prosper Woods, California a couple of weeks ago...)
Caipi: [*book:Fake It 'til You Make Out|51057368] by Isla Olsen (read by Shannon, Jan 12, 2021, rated 4 stars)
Sassafrass: [*bookcover:Haven|34745311] by Rebekah Weatherspoon (A week-long getaway…City girl Claudia Cade's carefree life is plunged into chaos when a camping trip with her brother in the national forests of Northern California...)
Sherece: [*book:The Romantic Pact|55930052] by Meghan Quinn (I haven't seen her in three years. I haven't talked to her since the kiss. So why am I on a plane, flying across the world to spend a week with her in Germany?)
Shannon: Cutting It Close by Reese Knightley (When Maddox deploys on a mission...)
Bailey: [*book:The Earl Takes All|26029545] by Lorraine Heath (After her husband returns from a two-month sojourn, Julia finds him changed) (hide spoiler)]

Week 5-8 Completion Posts

Week #5:
Diane: msg #106
Caipi: msg #113
Sassafrass: msg #99
Sherece: msg #116
Shannon: msg #119
Bailey: Pass

Week #6:
Diane: msg #137
Caipi: msg #133
Sassafrass: msg #128
Sherece: msg #129
Shannon: msg #130
Bailey: msg #136

Week #7:
Diane: msg #149
Caipi: msg #147
Sassafrass: msg #145
Sherece: msg #146
Shannon: msg #152
Bailey: msg #148

Week #8:
Diane: msg #162
Caipi: msg #166
Sassafrass: msg #156
Sherece: msg #168
Shannon: msg #164
Bailey: msg #165

Week 9-11 Selection Posts

Week #9:
(view spoiler)[Diane: [*bookcover:Red Hail|50491468] by Jamie Killen (69% black)
Caipi: [*bookcover:Deke|43482251] by Eden Finley (54.8% black)
Sassafrass: [*bookcover:British Banger|53677691] by Jennifer Woodhull (60.5% black/dark grey)
Sherece: [*bookcover:Rise of the Witch|56481094] by C. Rochelle (77.8% black)
Shannon: [*bookcover:Broken Silence|45770120] by Felice Stevens (66.4% black & brown)
Bailey: [*bookcover:Sweet Agony|24381552] by Charlotte Stein (53.9% Black/brown/grey) (hide spoiler)]

Week #10:
Diane: [*bookcover:Ghost Ship|57902140] by Pandora Pine (Added 5/7/2021)
Caipi: [*bookcover:Silk|36332246] by K.C. Wells (added 5/8/2021)
Sassafrass: [*bookcover:Puck Aholic|35100598] by Lili Valente (added 5/8/21)
Sherece: [*bookcover:Lilac|56180769] by B.B. Reid (added 5/7/2021
Shannon: [*bookcover:To Touch the Light|48894801] by E.M. Lindsey (added 5/8/21)
Bailey: [*bookcover:The Roommate Risk|57963881] by Talia Hibbert (added 5/11/21)

Week #11:
Diane: [*bookcover:The Capital|52651076] by A.H. Lee (2,518 books on "MM" + "TBR" shelves)
Caipi: [*bookcover:Blame the Fireworks|25719146] by Riina Y.T. (971 books on "want to read" shelf)
Sassafrass: [*bookcover:The Blind Date|18372555] by Delaney Diamond (26 books on "aa-author" shelf)
Sherece: [*bookcover:Beautiful Beginning|17831619] by Christina Lauren (87 books on "to read" shelf)
Shannon: [*bookcover:Coaching the Nerd|56922875] by Eli Easton (52 books on "read right now" shelf)
Bailey: [*bookcover:Beast's Castle|54632149] by Ella Goode (799 books on "TBR" shelf)

Week 9-11 Completion Posts

Week #9:
Diane: msg #180
Caipi: msg #175
Sassafrass: msg #172
Sherece: msg #178
Shannon: msg #179
Bailey: msg #177

Week #10:
Diane: msg #191
Caipi: msg #197
Sassafrass: msg #188
Sherece: msg #209
Shannon: msg #190
Bailey: msg #199

Week #11:
Diane: msg #214
Caipi: msg #212
Sassafrass: msg #208
Sherece:
Shannon:
Bailey: msg #213

Hey all, welcome to another round of PTP. I'm Diane and I live in Northeast Ohio (which is eastern standard time) with my husband of 34 years. I am a mother of 2 daughters and a grandmother of 2 grandsons. I am a fur mommy to a very spoiled female cat named Angel and a fur grandmother to a very spoiled male cat named Skyler. I love to read and listen to audio books. During the day, and while I work on my diamond paintings, I listen to audio books. At the end of the day I love to read. I read mostly MM books of all kinds, but really I will read most anything except for historical; not a big fan of having to hide your love. I don't really care for YA where they are still in high school. But there are always exceptions.

First order of business, please introduce yourselves. Secondly, we have to come up with a name. I'm really horrible at this so I'm counting on y'all's input. I have listed some thoughts below. Just remember it has to be something related to Couch Surfing

The Reader's Couch (was a play off of TV showed called The People's Couch)
My Couch or Yours
The Reader Surfers
Couch Surfing Club


Please note in msg #3 above how Jane wants the layouts of the selection & completion posts. Please make sure you follow that. Also, please do not put both your selection & completion posts in the same posting. We have to submit our name by March 5, which is also the first call. If this is your first round of PTP, please read Jane's rules very carefully, they are listed on the sign-up page.

I will list each weeks theme in msg #5. If for some reason I am not around when the theme is called, please note it in a post & I will add it when I do get on.

Most importantly, lets all have some fun & maybe we will find more books to add to our ever growing tbr shelves!

xx

Hi all, I'm Sassafrass. I live right outside of Philadelphia (also EST). I have played every round of PtP and it's one of my favorites.

I'm a doctor, a wife (we just celebrated 20 years), and have been quarantining with 2 teenagers (14 and 16) for the last year or so life has been a joy!

I read almost anything. I tend to stay away from historical, horror, and Christian/Inspirational. Anything else is a go. But even in those that genres I don't read much (or any) of, I can usually find something that I like if I look hard enough.

I'm rubbish with names. So whatever is good with me.


I look forward to playing.

Hi everyone, I'm Sherece. I'm from Belize (Central Standard Time UTC -6), and this is my first time doing the challenge. I mostly read romance (paranormal and rh being my fav) with the occasional mystery or thriller thrown in. This year I decided that I wanted to diversify my reading to include other genres. I like My Couch or Yours.

Hello Everyone!! I'm Shannon and live outside of Portland, Oregon. Mom of two teenage (young adult) girls, 3 dogs and 2 cats and have also been stuck in a house with their hormones and hair for almost a year now. Wife of 26 years, stay at home mom and spend most of my time cleaning, watching Youtube and reading. Super productive, right? I only read MM anymore but will read just about any genre if it's a good read. Can't wait to start this round!!

Love "My Couch or Yours".

Hi everyone! Nice to meet you all. I’m Bailey, and I live in Texas (central time) with my husband and our fur-baby, a mini Aussie named Bobby.

This is my second time doing PTP- I had so much fun last time that I could hardly wait for this round to start! I read primarily romance of all sub genres, but I branch out to literary fiction, mystery/thriller, and YA now and then.

I’m currently in school getting my degree in Information & Library Science with the goal of becoming an academic librarian. I also work part time at a community college in the English Department helping students in developmental and ESL courses.

In my spare time, I like to read (of course!), take walks with my husband and our dog, and journal.

Oops! Forgot to say that I like the name “My Couch or Yours.”

Hi team, glad to meet you all! 👋
I'm Caipi, married for 26 years and stay at home mom. Our three kids are already adults but one of them still lives at home and one lives more at home than at the shared student apartment due to all the covid restrictions.
I'm from Germany and my timezone is Central European Time (UTC+1).
For several years now I've been reading exclusively mm romance. My favorites subgenres are contemporary and mystery, not a fan of ya, historical and bdsm.
I too like the name “My Couch or Yours.”

Welcome all - can't wait to get started. Looks like we have a winner with My Couch or Yours. I will let Jane know. Have a great week!!

WOW, we got checked in early. Maybe everyone else will too and we will be able to start early this coming week!

Hello everyone!! I'm excited to play, can you tell?

Woohoo guys, did you see that Jane already posted our first theme yesterday! :)

Week 1

Option 1:
4. "You have friends all over the world, you just haven't met them yet."

* From this round's players, find another member whose books interest you - select a book (any book, does not have to be one that they have read) to read from their bookshelves and become friends. Select your book from a player who is not already a friend.
This doesn't have to be from your team - it can be anyone who is playing in this round.

You may friend each other and use each other's bookshelves - but it must be a new connection since the beginning of this round - from sign up - NOT from today. A player in your team that you friended at the beginning of the challenge counts.
You must link to the bookshelf of your new friend to show their book that you have selected. If linking to a bookshelf is hard, note the date that they added the book to their shelves.
Note the date you became friends (which you can find on your friend list). I don't need to see a link or other justification - just the date.
The series rule can be applied to this task - that is, you may use the next book that you are up to in a series to the one you find on your new friend's shelf.

Option 2:
Key date - 4 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.

YES!

Selection Post

Week #1:

Option 2: Key date - 4 September 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.
Bookcover/link: Sebastian by Sam Argent
Page numbers: 324 pgs/goodreads (audio)
How the book qualifies: Caipi finished it 2/6/21 & rated it 4 stars
Caipi's Read List

[*book:Sebastian|25072476]

Selection Post Week 1
Option 2: Key Date - 9/4/20


Pretty Boy by KM Neuhold
Pages: 164
Qualification: Read by Caipi on 1/7/21 Rated ★★★
Caipi's Read Shelf

[*book:Pretty Boy|55845680]

Selection Post ~ Week 1 ~ Option 2


Chasing Ghosts by Dean Cole
Pages: 282/kindle edition
Qualification: Read by Diane ~ Nov 21, 2020 ~ Rated ★★★★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Week 1: Selection
Option 1

Melt for You
Pages: 344/GR
How it fits: on Bailey's shelves and we became friends on 3/5/21

Sassafrass wrote: "
Week 1: Selection

Option 1

Melt for You
Pages: 344/GR
How it fits: on Bailey's shelves and we became friends on 3/5/21"

I don't think this will qualify, it states: from sign up - NOT from today. I think we would have to have all friend each other when the teams were assigned. I would double check with Jane.

It qualifies. I checked in the Q&A thread before posting and this is what she said:

So you may not look at this task until tomorrow, but if you friended someone somewhere between 16 February through to when you choose your book, that 'friending' is good to be used.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Selection Post: Week 1, Option 1

Book: Sloth
Pages: 512 (kindle ed.)
Qualification: Sassafrass's KU shelf
Became friends 3/5/21

Sassafrass wrote: "It qualifies. I checked in the Q&A thread before posting and this is what she said:

So you may not look at this task until tomorrow, but if you friended someone somewhere between 16 February throu..."

Sweet - just didn't want you to finish it & then she states that it didn't :D

No problem but i always check and double check before posting. :)

Selection Post Week #1, Option 1

Of Secrets and Wolves by Alice Winters
Pages: 345/GR
How it qualifies: On Diane's shelf, we became friends yesterday

[*book:Of Secrets and Wolves|56689609]

Completion Post Week 1
Option 2: Key Date - 9/4/20


Pretty Boy by KM Neuhold
Pages: 164
Qualification: Read by Caipi on 1/7/21 Rated ★★★
Caipi's Read Shelf
Read: 3/6/21
Rating: ★★★★

Wow, I didn't realized there may still be places that treat people with what sounds like a port wine stain with such disdain. It seems crazy but anything's possible. Really enjoyed the two distinct voices in this book. Super Cinderfellaish but I like that crap so fun read for me.

[*book:Pretty Boy|55845680]

Completion Post

Week #1: Option 2: Key date: 4 September 2020
Bookcover/link: Sebastian by Sam Argent
Rating (1-5): 3.5 stars
Review: Overall I did like the story, I just think that there was way too much going on & at times I kind of zoned off. So we have Sebastian who hides his looks behind a spelled cloak, he also hides his magic. He doesn't let anyone see him. All he wants to do is distance himself from his conniving family. Though I didn't like his parents in the beginning, by the end I did. He finds the prince near death & saves him. Apparently they have known each other since children. Turren has never seen Sebastian as he has been wearing the cloak since a young child. Turren does prove that he doesn't care what Sebastian looks like under the cloak. I loved the mirror sex (since there are no phones :D). There is an evil villain that they have to defeat & that was really my favorite part of the story. We do get a HEA between these two & I can't wait for more in this series.

[*book:Sebastian|25072476]

Week 1: Completion
Option 1

Melt for You
Pages: 344/GR
How it fits: on Bailey's shelves and we became friends on 3/5/21
Date completed: 3/7/21
Rating: *4 STARS*

I thought this was cute. I think I enjoyed it more because of the audio. The audio definitely brought Cameron to life way more than I could of. I appreciated the "Ugly Duckling" theme here but it was frustrating that a woman of 36 hadn't gotten to the comfortable in her own skin part of age. As a woman in my 40's I can't remember if that happened in my late thirties or in my early 40's. But, I felt like Joellen was too young to be 36 if that makes any sense.

Loved Cam, Michael was a prick, and Portia was the biggest surprise of them all!

My biggest complaint though was the epilogue. The author is killing me because I seriously need more! I had the same complaint with the first book in this series and I wonder what's going to happen in the third Because you know I am going to have to read the third one!

[*book:Melt for You|36564103]

Do we need to add those broken book links to our posts, Diane? Does that make it easier for you?

ETA: never mind. I'm going to do it since you did it in yours. :)

Sassafrass wrote: "Do we need to add those broken book links to our posts, Diane? Does that make it easier for you?

ETA: never mind. I'm going to do it since you did it in yours. :)"

I think it's easier for Jane to add to her spreadsheet. I know in Bingo it helps :)

Week 1: Completion Post
Option 1

Book: Sloth by Ella James
Pages: 512 (kindle ed)
Qualification: Sassafrass's KU Shelf
Became friends 3/5/21
Date Finished: 3/8/21
Rating: ★★★ (3 stars)
Review:
This book was a bit too 'all over the place' for me! Had it focused more on one or two of the plot points, I think it would have been a much more enjoyable read; instead, it left me with more questions than answers. Despite the craziness, it did manage to get me teary-eyed a few times and really pulled on my heartstrings. I enjoyed the writing style and the New Adult feel to the characters, I just wish it had a tidier plot. Not great, but not bad- on the plus side, it was suuuuper steamy for the first half of the book.

I'll also include a broken link if it makes it easier! [*book:Sloth|45321824]

Diane wrote: "Sassafrass wrote: "
Week 1: Selection

Option 1

Melt for You
Pages: 344/GR
How it fits: on Bailey's shelves and we became friends on 3/5/21"

I d..."

Yes - it qualifies. When i said 'not from today', i meant it could be earlier - that is, anytime from 16 February. Language can be such a pain sometimes 🤓

Completion Post ~ Week 1 ~ Option 2


Chasing Ghosts
Rating: ★★★★
Review: To be honest, this story took a while for me to get into because it's not something that I would typically read [paranormal mystery]. The story starts off with the MC, Quentin Strange, starting a new job. He's partnering with Kat, a journalist, to capture the events from a scheduled ghost hunt at the haunted Hinderley Manor. Quentin has had some experience with the supernatural, and that's part of the reason he decided to go on the weekend ghost hunt. He's open-minded but also a tad bit melancholic. I appreciated the amount of time and research that the author put into making the ghost hunt feel authentic [I'm basing this off my watching Supernatural... lol] In the end, I enjoyed this story because it went in a completely different direction than I thought it would. There were moments in the story that gave me all the feels. I loved the depth of the story and the perfect balance between the philosophical and scary aspects. I'll definitely be continuing with Quentin's journey.

[*book:Chasing Ghosts|53805065]

Selection Post
Week #2:

Option 1: So now I digress - its time to just surf! Read a book set in a beach town or on the coast. Cities that sit on the ocean will count. Qualification may be found in precis, main page, tag/shelf or list.
Bookcover/link: The Enforcer Enigma by G.L. Carriger
Page numbers: 341 pgs (audio)
How the book qualifies: (précis) The San Andreas Shifter stories include blue language, dirty deeds, and outright admiration for the San Francisco Bay Area. Not for the faint of heart (or mouth or tongue).

[*book:The Enforcer Enigma|42091427]

Week 2: Selection
Option 1

Purity in Death
Pages: 362/GR
How it fits: location is New York City, New York (on the main page)

[*book:Purity in Death|57235733]

Sassafrass wrote: "
Week 2: Selection

Option 1

Purity in Death
Pages: 362/GR
How it fits: location is New York City, New York (on the main page)

[*book:Purit..."

I love this series and relisten to all of them right before a new one hits!

that's what I'm doing right now. I've started over again. :)

Selection Post: Week 2, Option 1

Book: Bayside Desires by Melissa Foster
Pages: 260 (kindle ed.)
Qualification: Found in the précis... "Spending time with his family is great, but being back on Cape Cod has unearthed painful memories."

[*book:Bayside Desires|32595084]

Selection Post ~ Week 2 ~ Option 1


Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras
Pages: 283/GR
Qualification: (from precis) So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro—a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiancé... Luis’s big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island’s laidback style...

[*book:Island Affair|49348205]

Week 2 Selection Post
Option 1: Read a book set in a beach town or on the coast.


Out on the Serve by Lane Hayes
Pages: 210
Qualification: Precis Moving to Long Beach seems like a no brainer.

[*book:Out on the Serve|54436199]

Week 2: Completion
Option 1

Purity in Death
Pages: 362/GR
How it fits: location is New York City, New York (on the main page)
Date completed: 3/13/21
Rating: *4.5 STARS*

I really love this series. I love Susan Eriksen narrating it even more. It doesn't seem to matter how many times I reread the series, it's just so good.

In this one, this whole concept of the Purity Seekers was eerie and so fitting even for today. It was interesting. People thinking that they have the right of it and go out and make their own justice, especially when they may not even be in the right. But they have convinced themselves that they are the only people who could possibly be right. Sound familiar?

Eve's sense of right and wrong was really pushed to her limit here. I know how hard the case must have been. She couldn't have been too fond of the people that were being targeted but because she does her job, she put those feelings aside to catch the killers.

Then there was Mavis's big news! Totally MAG!

Add to that, McNabb and Peabody's issues during the book, and this one was great.

On to the next! I can't wait!