Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive - Pass The Parcel
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PtP Double Booked (T10)

2. Tour Guide (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, 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 4 April
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 :)

For selection post Option 1 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please note which qualifying bookshelf/list you are using or the tags that justifies that it works.
If the theme is based off the bookcover, post the cover. If there is a letter count in the title, publication date etc, please note these details.
For selection post Option 2 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.
For selection post Option 3 you must have:
Week #
PASS
For the completion post you must have:
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.
IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT A POST FOR MISSING INFORMATION or because the didn't qualify etc, please REPOST this information in a NEW post. Its difficult to find older posts when going backwards in the threads.

Theme: 14. Tourist destination
Read a book set in one of the following cities - London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #25 A Discovery of Witches
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #37 How to Solve Your Own Murder
✅Steph: Selection Msg #34 Butcher & Blackbird
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #40 The Duke and I
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #33 Flirting with Forever
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #41 The Dark One
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #52
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #53
✅Steph: Completion Msg #35
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #49
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #42
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #84
Week 2
Theme: 1. Mainland Europe
Read a book set in mainland Europe (aka Continental Europe)
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #73 Time's Convert
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #79 Up To Snow Good
✅Steph: Selection Msg #69
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #70 Girl with a Pearl Earring
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #60
✅Darkness: Selection Msg # 59 Butcher & Blackbird
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #92
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #80
✅Steph: Completion Msg #74
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #72
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #75
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #104

Theme: 16. Around the World in 80 Days
Read a book with 8 and 0 in the publication date of the book's first Kindle edition
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #91 The Highland Fling
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #95 A House With Good Bones
✅Steph: Selection Msg #90 The Fortunate Son
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #93 Band Sinister
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #89
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #99
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #94
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #102
✅Steph: Completion Msg #100
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #96
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #98
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #105
Week 4
Theme: 15. BUS
Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the name of the title, series and/or author.
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #112Mr. Mayfair
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #118Inevitable Disclosure
✅Steph: Selection Msg #111Perfectly Imperfect Pixie
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #122Yellowface
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #113
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #125
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #120
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #124
✅Steph: Completion Msg #115
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #126
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #121
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #146

Theme: 3. The Americas
Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #135
Tumble
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #130His Holiday Crush
✅Steph: Selection Msg #131
Learning Curve
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #143
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #129
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #140
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #142
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #139
✅Steph: Completion Msg #134
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #137
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #138
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #147
📚Week 6📚
Theme: 8. Country
Read a book set in the country e.g. farm, ranch
For all the location/setting tasks, the book does not have to be solely set in that location; it simply needs at least one scene set there. The usual precise, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #160
The Start of Something Good
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #156 Dirt Road Secrets
✅Steph: Selection Msg #150 Good Behavior
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #158
To Sir Phillip, With Love
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #152
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #149
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #161
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #162
✅Steph: Completion Msg #157
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #163
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #159
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #176

Theme: 2. UK & Ireland
Read a book set in the British Isles
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #166
The Lord's Desperate Pledge
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #174
Str8 B8
✅Steph: Selection Msg #167
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #169
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #168
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #179
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #171
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #175
✅Steph: Completion Msg #173
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #170
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #172
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #192
📚Week 8📚
Theme: 13. Vehicles ~ plane / boat / motorcycle / train / car / truck / bus. Read a book with a vehicle on the bookcover (any edition).
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #193
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #183
✅Steph: Selection Msg #184
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #185
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #181
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #180
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #202
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #191
✅Steph: Completion Msg #190
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #188
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #187
✅Darkness: Completion Msg #216

Theme:9. Small town - Read a book set in a small town
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #213 Ashes of You
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #210
✅Steph: Selection Msg #207
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #205
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #204
✅Darkness: Selection Msg #217
✅Hazel: Completion Msg #214
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #212
✅Steph: Completion Msg #209
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #208
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #206
Darkness: Completion Msg #
📚Week 10📚
Theme: 12. Glasses / gloves / hat / bag / phone / watch
Read a book with one of these items on the cover.
✅Hazel: Selection Msg #231
✅Krissy: Selection Msg #227 Oye
✅Steph: Selection Msg #225 Funny Story
✅Eugenia: Selection Msg #232 Red Dirt Heart
✅Darcy: Selection Msg #229
Darkness: Selection Msg #
Hazel: Completion Msg #
✅Krissy: Completion Msg #234
✅Steph: Completion Msg #228
✅Eugenia: Completion Msg #233
✅Darcy: Completion Msg #230
Darkness: Completion Msg #

✈️🚊 Travel 🚗 🛳️
This rounds is going to focus on travel - where we can go, how we can get there and what we need for our journey!
For all the location/setting tasks, the book does not have to be solely set in that location; it simply needs at least one scene set there. The usual precise, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.
COUNTRIES:
✅1. Mainland Europe
Read a book set in mainland Europe
2. UK & Ireland
Read a book set in the British Isles
3. The Americas
Read a book set in a country in North America or South America
4. Africa & Asia
Read a book set in Africa, the Middle East or Asia
5. The Pacific
Read a book set in Australia, New Zealand or one of the other countries in the Pacific region.
LOCATIONS:
6. Wilderness
Read a book with a wilderness setting
‼️Lists that might help‼️
Nature Lovers
Wilderness Romance
7. Beach
Read a book with a beach setting
8. Country
Read a book set in the country eg farm, ranch
9. Small town (eg visiting relatives / friends)
Read a book set in a small town
10. Skiing / Winter sports
Read a book set in a winter resort or with winter sports as a feature (eg ice skating, skiing)
WHAT TO TAKE:
11. Clothes
Read a book with clothes on the cover
12. Glasses / gloves / hat / bag / phone / watch
Read a book with one of these items on the cover
13. Vehicles ~ plane / boat / motorcycle / train / car / truck / bus
Read a book with a vehicle on the cover
OTHER:
✅14. Tourist destination
Read a book set in one of the following cities - London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong
15. BUS
Read a book with the letters B, U and S in the title, series name and/or author
✅16. Around the World in 80 Days
Read a book with 8 and 0 in the publication date of the book's first Kindle edition
17. Rain, Hail or Shine
Read a book clearly showing 'weather' on the cover eg sun, snow, clouds.

Reading is my escape and I enjoy every genre except horror. I prefer my books with some romance. I generally stick with MF books.
I’ll be sending friend requests so that our option 2 picks are easier, you may want to do the same.
Here are my suggestions for team names please let me know if you have any in your intro post. We don’t have long to decide.
Double Booked ✔️✔️
Tome Travellers
Flight of Fantasy✔️
The Readers Lounge

I love reading, I typically do audiobooks so I can multitask. I prefer MM Romance but will read all other pairings. The only subgenres of romance I don't like are romantic suspense, mafia, and MC. For the most part all other subgenres are a go.
I don't have any ideas for a team name but really like Double Booked or Flight of Fantasy from Hazel's choices. :)

I love all kinds of romance and characters--if it's a good story, I'm in, unless it goes too far into darkness.
I haven't done this challenge before and am excited to play. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

I mostly read MM (all sub genres) but also like historical MF romance.

I love all kinds of romances and these few days I have gravitated toward fantasy romance but otherwise, I will read anything. No picky. But love to have audiobooks as I do multitask can't sit in peace and just read. Love Ku as it has so many good romances that are underrated so I love to read them on Kindle while listening to audiobooks or some playlist that is in some kind of way connected to books.
I participated in this challenge more than once and I enjoyed it.
For name I am okey with Double Booked

I read a little bit of everything but my go to genres are MM and mystery/thriller.
I have played this challenge for many years and i look forward to playing again! Double Booked works for me

I’m looking forward to playing with you all.

Option 1
14. Tourist destination
Read a book set in one of the following cities - London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong.
For all the location/setting tasks, the book does not have to be solely set in that location; it simply needs at least one scene set there. The usual precise, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.
If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Option 2
Key date: 29 September 2023
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars
Option 3
Pass
A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.

Option 1📚
Book:

Pages: 594
How it qualifies: Main page setting states New York
[*book:A Discovery of Witches|9774199]

Thanks


Option 2
Book Butcher & Blackbird
Pages 355
Qualifies Hazel read and rated 4 ⭐
[*book:Butcher & Blackbird|196864520]

Option 2
Book Butcher & Blackbird
Pages 355
Qualifies Hazel read and rated 4 ⭐
[*book:Butcher & Blackbird|196864520]"
Hi Steph - could you please add in your post WHEN (date) Hazel read the book so that I don't need to go beyond your initial post every time? Thanks!

Sure can! In this challenge do we repost or edit the original?

Sure can! In this challenge ..."
Generally repost, but because you will update so quickly, just do it in the post :)

I had it on my shelf for ages before I got a chance to read it. I was really looking forward to it and I loved it. I loved the whole series.
I hope you like Butcher & Blackbird. I read it because I absolutely love The Risk this series.

Book:

Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Set in New York City (Brooklyn) It's mentioned on the cover summary ("So when a regular customer at her trendy Brooklyn boutique wants to set Mary up on a blind date with her son, she gives a hesitant yes") and also throughout the book (example, page 12-13, discussing Brooklyn D.A. office and public defender). Shelved as "New York" https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

Option 2
Book Butcher & Blackbird
Pages 355
Qualifies Hazel read and rated 4 ⭐ (Date read Dec. 21, 2023)
[*book:Butcher & Blackbird|196864520]

Option 2 Week 1
Book Butcher & Blackbird
Pages 355
Qualifies Hazel read and rated 4 ⭐ (Date read Dec. 21, 2023)
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
Review
Disclaimer
I purchased the audiobook pre-Joe Arden allegations and hadn't gotten around to listening. I did not return it bc we support authors here. Since I'd already made the purchase I listened. I will not be disclosing how I felt about the audio due to said allegations this review is for the story only.
I actually listened to this book twice. I zoned out so much during the first go round I wasn't entirely sure what actually happened. I did enjoy it for the most part. However, I don't think it was as good as was hyped. I don't think there was enough danger for the MCs. They're literally slicing people up and hanging pieces of them in art pieces. The use of latex gloves and bleach isn't enough precaution to avoid being caught imo.
[*book:Butcher & Blackbird|196864520]

I've read every other book the author has written under different pen names (Highly recommend The Sterling Shore series even though it will remain forever unfinished books 1-3 aren't the best but 4-12 are great) but never got around to reading The Risk. After the author passed I couldn't get myself to read new to me books by her for some reason.

Week 1, Option 1

My Choice: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin 🎧
Pages: 368
How it Fits: MP setting London, England
[*book:How to Solve Your Own Murder|181350367]

Yes I’ve read everything under all her pen names. I was really sad to hear she had passed. I was loving the Wild Ones series.
You should definitely try The Risk I read all 5 books over 2 days, I just couldn’t put them down.

Option 2 Week 1
Book Butcher & Blackbird
Pages 355
Qualifies Hazel read and rated 4 ⭐ (Date read Dec. 21, 2023)
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
Review
Disclaimer
I purchased the audio..."
This book was one I wish GR would allow you half stars for as I think my opinion was similar to yours and I would have given it 3.5 but usually round up.

WEEK 1 - Option 1
14. Tourist destination
Read a book set in one of the following cities - London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
433 pp
How it fits: MP Setting - London
[*book:The Duke and I|25322247]

Option 2
Book : The Dark One
Pages: 226
Qualifies : Read by Steph on 27.2.202, Rated - 3 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
[*book:The Dark One|60503280]

Option 1
Book:

Pages: 384
Qualifies: Set in New York (Brooklyn). It's mentioned on the cover summary ("So when a regular customer at her trendy Brooklyn boutique wants to set Mary up on a blind date with her son, she gives a hesitant yes") and also throughout the book (example, page 12-13, discussing Brooklyn D.A. office and public defender). Shelved as "New York" https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
Rating: 4 stars
It started off a little slow, but I ended up really enjoying it, mainly because of how much I liked the two main characters, Mary and John. They're both New Yorkers with interesting stories and lives. They meet on a disastrous blind date but end up becoming friends. Both are such thoughtful, genuinely good people who just get in their own ways when it comes to relationships and each other. By the time I got to end, I was just smiling so much.

Book:

Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Set in New York City (Brooklyn)"
Hi Darcy - could you please update your selection post to explain where the information came from - eg, main page setting, in the precis, on a list (link to the list) or tagged/shelved by other readers (page and name)?
Thanks!

Darcy sorry I missed that you hadn’t explained how we know the setting is NY. You will need to repost selection and completion posts.

Book:

Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Set in New York City (Brooklyn)"
Hi Dar..."
Sorry about that! I edited my post to add what I hope is sufficient information. Please let me know if it needs more. Thanks!

Book:

Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Set in New York City (..."
Hi Darcy - its almost right ~ the information should have been updated in the SELECTION post and not the Completion post. I'm happy to leave as is for this week :)
So basically what we need each week when you show how it qualifies is an indication that anyone who doesn't own/borrow the book can see. It can't be from text within the book (as you have in your second example.)
Proof can be found:
*on the main page (including in the precis as you pointed out, but also in the setting or in the genres list)
*in a tag (in the shelves 'behind' the genres); or
*on a list (which you can find if you scroll to the very bottom of the book's main page after the reviews).
We are all happy to help you along as you get the hang of the game :)
Generally I ask that you REPOST either the selection or completion post, depending on where the issue is, since it takes me time to scroll back through the threads to find the updated post, and its very easy for me to miss it. So we just ask for it to be reposted :)

Book:

Pages: 384
How it Qualifies: Set in N..."
Ok, one of these days I will get it! Thanks for being so patient as I figure out what to do and sorry for making your life harder! For this week I'll just edit my selection post too, and for next week I promise I'll do the posts the right way. :)


WEEK 1 - Option 1
14. Tourist destination
Read a book set in one of the following cities - London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
433 pp
How it fits: MP Setting - London
Read 7 April
4 Stars
A fun re-listen!
[*book:The Duke and I|25322247]
Books mentioned in this topic
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Just Haven't Met You Yet (other topics)
The Charming Jezebel (other topics)
Fall With Me (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Carissa Broadbent (other topics)N.R. Walker (other topics)
N.R. Walker (other topics)
F.T. Lukens (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
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Tour Guide (Captain)
🛺 Hazel
Guests
🚲 Krissy
🚲 Steph
🚲 Eugenia
🚲 Darcy
🚲 Darkness