Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Wedding Planner
🔔Chiara

Partiers
🍾CB
🍾Trip
🍾Trio
🍾Amber

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. Wedding Planner (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 16 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/Calls 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 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, particularly when the request is more than a day old. Its difficult to find older posts when going backwards in the threads.

(view spoiler)[
💒💍Weddings💍💒

We are a romance group and so ... time for a wedding based challenge!! Weddings have many different variations but are ultimately centred on love and commitment... So here we go, off into wedded bliss ;)

**Please note the tasks below are generalised; not all weddings, traditions, social groups or cultures follow the norms outlined below. Variations not included on these tasks are both acknowledged and accepted.**

The usual bookcover, precis, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies.


1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used.
Please link to the series page.

2. Rings are exchanged
Read a book with a ring on the cover. Any type of ring ~ eg wedding ring, smoke ring, donut. It must be round and have a clear empty middle.

3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.)
Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.
These are: full stop (aka period), question mark, exclamation mark, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark and ellipsis.
A combined 'title: series' name will work. The proof can be on the main page of GR or on the bookcover. It must be limited to the actual title and/or actual series name. Tangential sentences to the title or series will not work.

4. Music is played ~ before, during or after
Read a book with an MC who is a musician.

5. The ceremony follows well established rituals
Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.
This must be on the main page and not after you extend the genres to a full page list.

6. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly across cultures, religions and social groups
Read a book set in a country outside the USA.
The country must be stated in the precis or on the main page.

7. A wedding takes extensive planning
Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books.
Please link to the series page.

8. Marriage is a legal contract
Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer.

9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.

10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country OR read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).

11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

12. At the end of the vows, the couple will kiss
Read a book with a kiss on the cover by the models, or with the word 'kiss' in the title.

13. Traditionally parents paid for the wedding
Read a book tagged with 'parent'.

14. Family and friends are invited to attend the ceremony
Read a book from a series where each new book is centred on a different couple.
A couple may be repeated in another book in the series, but only once. A compilation catch up, eg a Christmas book with multiple couples is fine.

15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life
Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'.

16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged 'hea'
(hide spoiler)]

💍WEEK #1💍
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

💍WEEK #2💍
5. The ceremony follows well established rituals
Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.
This must be on the main page and not after you extend the genres to a full page list.

💍WEEK #3💍
8. Marriage is a legal contract
Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer.

💍WEEK #4💍
3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.)
Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.
These are: full stop (aka period), question mark, exclamation mark, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark and ellipsis.

💍WEEK #5💍
7. A wedding takes extensive planning
Read a book:
* with a character who is a wedding planner OR
* from a series of more than 5 books.

💍WEEK #6💍
16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged 'hea'.
Please include a link to the page where the tag appears (or to the tag specifically). (The shelves are accessed after clicking on the 'more' on the genres for the book page.)

💍WEEK #7💍
10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country
OR
Read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%)

💍WEEK #8💍
1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used.
Please link to the series page.

💍WEEK #9💍
9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.

💍WEEK #10💍
15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life.
Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'. These are the only tags that will work.
So this can be a genre on the main page or on the book's shelves. A list will not work.

💍WEEK #11💍

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #42
✅CB Msg #49
✅ Trip Msg #47 and Msg #86
✅ Trio Msg #43
✅ Amber Msg #48

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #51
✅ CB Msg #69
✅ Trip Msg #98
✅ Trio Msg #50
✅ Amber Msg #75
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #55
✅ CB Msg #70
✅ Trip Msg #76
✅ Trio Msg #84
✅ Amber Msg #68

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #71
✅ CB Msg #102
✅ Trip Msg #77
✅ Trio Msg #89
✅ Amber Msg #95
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #91
✅ CB Msg #103 (option 2)
✅ Trip PASS
✅ Trio Msg #105
✅ Amber Msg #94

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #100
✅ CB Msg #127
✅ Trip PASS
✅ Trio Msg #149
✅ Amber Msg #99
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #108
✅ CB Msg #121
✅ Trip Msg #109
✅ Trio Msg #112
✅ Amber Msg #111

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #114
✅ CB Msg #131
✅ Trip Msg #110
✅ Trio Msg #113
✅ Amber Msg #116
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #124
✅ CB Msg #133
✅ Trip Msg #134
✅ Trio Msg #125
✅ Amber Msg #126

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #128
✅ CB Msg #171
Trip dropped out
✅ Trio Msg #132
✅ Amber Msg #130
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #142
✅ CB PASS
✅ Trip Msg #139
✅ Trio Msg #144
✅ Amber Msg #140

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #145
✅ CB PASS
✅ Trip Msg #143
✅ Trio Msg #144
✅ Amber Msg #165
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[

SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #150
✅ CB Msg #179
✅ Trio Msg #167
✅ Amber Msg #166

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #173
✅ CB Msg #183
✅ Trio Msg #168
✅ Amber Trio Msg #186
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE
(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #174
✅ CB Msg #172
✅ Trio Msg #180
✅ Amber Msg #177

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #181
✅ CB Msg #184
✅ Trio Msg #193
✅ Amber Msg #195
(hide spoiler)]

COMPLETE

(view spoiler)[
SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #194
✅ CB Msg #192
✅ Trio Msg #197
✅ Amber Msg #191

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #200
✅ CB Msg #206
✅ Trio Msg #207
✅ Amber Msg #210
(hide spoiler)]

SELECTION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #204
CB
✅ Trio Msg #205
✅ Amber Msg #201

COMPLETION POST
✅ Chiara Msg #211
CB
✅ Trio Msg #207
✅ Amber Msg #212

SELECTION POST
Chiara
CB
Trio
Amber

COMPLETION POST
Chiara
CB
Trio
Amber

- Tying the plot
- Till reads do us part
- Aisle be there for you
- The book-maids

Hi everyone and welcome to Team #4!
My name is Chiara and I'm from Italy. I work in the education system, I'm not married and I have no human kids, but I have 6 fur babies at home plus at least 20 stray cats I take care of in the area where I live.
I read a bit of everything but mainly contemporary romance.

I love this challenge but it's my first time as captain, so I hope I won't be too bad at it!!!
Since I live in Italy, my time zone is GMT+2 so the tasks will be called around midnight my time, but luckily I don't work during the weekend so I should be able to post them when they're announced!

The first task we have as a group is to find a name and the theme as you probably already know is "Weddings". I'm not too good at it, but here are some options I've came up with:
- Tying the plot
- Till reads do us part
- Aisle be there for you
- The book-maids

Please give me your suggestions so I can add them to the list! And if you have any questions or doubts don't hesitate to ask!

Hey team! 😊

It's been a while since done this challenge, so excited to play again. The themes are always fun and I enjoy checking out teammates shelves for 2ne options, found great reads ✨

I read all sorts as long as some form of romance, but do adore MM, fantasy & paranormal for the most part these days.

I'm from the UK, so BST.

Hey Everyone!

My name's Amber and this is my second ever group challenge. I recently participated in the Bachelor Challenge and had a lot of fun!

I live in Michigan (so EST here) with my husband, 2 year old son, and fur-baby. I work as an accountant in the music industry. I have read anything and everything, but mostly contemporary romance (also love me a cowboy romance 🤠). Since this is my first time playing pass the parcel, I may have some questions, so please bare with me!

I like the team names you suggested Chiara. Being a fan of the TV show Friends, "Aisle Be There For You" is my fav.

I look forward to working with you all on this challenge!

I love Till reads do us part or aisle be there for you ✨

Trip wrote: "Hey team! 😊

It's been a while since done this challenge, so excited to play again. The themes are always fun and I enjoy checking out teammates shelves for 2ne options, found great reads ✨

I read..."

Hi Trip and Amber! I don't think we've been on a team together before, so nice to meet you both :)

Trip we're both in Europe so in a similar time zone! About the 2nd option, every week I will include on the weekly tracking posts (messages 6-16) our "read" shelves so it will be easier to find books in case someone goes with option #2.

Amber, nice to meet you! If you have any question, please don't hesitate to ask!! I'm a big Friends fan too!

We're still waiting for CB and Trio to check-in and then we can decide on a name, but so far I think Aisle be there for you is getting the most votes!

Hi Team!

I’m CB and I live in Louisiana so I’m in CST.
I’ve played this challenge a few times and have always had fun!
I read pretty much all genres within romance. Sometimes I tend to read more of one genre for a while but I’m not opposed to reading others. I’m just 100% a mood reader! lol
I love the Aisle name and the one about the maids haha.

Hi Team! First of thanks to Chiara for captaining us!
Also - I LOVE Aisle Be There For You! 100% greatest name ever.

I haven't played PtP in ages, but I got a wild urge so I'm back :)

I live in NYC which is Eastern Time. I love historical fiction, humor, autobiographies, and mysteries.

BTW, bless you Chiara for taking care of so many kitties! I adopted a kitten from a shelter a year ago and I'm so glad I did 😺😸😻😽🐱. I'm super allergic, but I've been doing the allergy shots and I take a pill every day. I've also got two Cavalier King Charles spaniels whom I adore xoxo.

I'll send friend requests to any on the team I'm not already friends with.

Hi CB and Trio!!
@Trio I love animals and taking care of them gives me a purpose (even if it's not always easy!). You're amazing for taking care of a kitten even if you're allergic!

It seems that everyone has checked-in, so the team is complete :)
It also looks like "Aisle be there for you" is the winner, so I will inform Jane!

I have a cat too! We seem to be the cat group! 🐈😹

CB wrote: "I have a cat too! We seem to be the cat group! 🐈😹"

Yay, that's great!

What's your cat called CB? Mine is Finn (we named him after the character from Adventure Time).

And my dogs are Sgt. Pepper and Lucy Skye Diamond (but we call them Pepper and Lucy) from the Beatles songs.

Everyone chime in with their pets' names - it will keep us active till the first call :)
🐱🐶🐰

Haha sorry to say while I do adore cats, I have a dog 😂

His called Murphy 🐕my sister named based on peaky blinders TV show I believe.

Oh, I love that name, so cute!

Love all the pet names! Trio, you have cavalier spaniels?! They are the best breed, so sweet! I have a Cavapoo named Lenny. I wish I had a cat, but I fear they would not get along well with my dog. He likes cats, but I’ve never met one who likes him 😂

We've only had the cat a year now - this Friday is actually our 1 year anniversary of adopting him 💖. My dogs were SO good when we brought him home! Lucy is almost 4 and Pepper will be 8 on Sunday and they were like "huh, okay, I guess he's here now" - and they didn't bother him at all. Truly, all three of them think they're all the same critter - one big family.

Everyone has great pet names! My cats name is Milo. He’s your typical asshole cat so we are unable to get more animals, otherwise I would 100%. He prefers to be a one man show lol.

@Trip and @Amber dogs are amazing too! All animals are :)
And all your pets' names are adorable!!

My 6 indoor cats are (from older to younger, so from 16yrs to 9 months old) Camilla, Maya, Gipsy, Martino and then I have two brothers: Leo and Cecio (which can be translated in Chickpea because he's very small compared to his brother)

There’s a chance that the first call could be anticipated if everyone checks-in. I’m a planner so I’ve already prepared a list of books for each prompt..but I’m also a mood reader so it could happen that once the theme is called I’m not in the mood to read the book I had previously chosen so I’ll have to find another one!! What about you? Do you usually plan in advance or you find a book only after the prompt has been called?!

In case some of you decide to go with option #2 for this round, in message #6 you can find everyone's "read" shelves sorted by date. Remember that in this case the book you choose must have been read by your teammate in the last 6 months and rated by them at least 3 stars.

I used to plan in advance and I do have some in mind for certain categories, but I'm very much a mood reader these days. So I will probably pick once find out task 😊

I already had a look through everyone's shelves using that ✨

I’m a mood reader too, lol. I’m playing a year long bingo with some GR friends and I had pre-planned out my book options, even giving myself 3 options for each task, and out of the 55 books I’ve read this year so far like 12 of them stuck to that list 😂. I haven’t even read all of the tasks yet lol.

I do a lot of reviewing on Netgalley so I usually have my fingers crossed that one of my arcs will work each week. Otherwise, I try to line up with another challenge's requirements 😅.

Trip wrote: "I used to plan in advance and I do have some in mind for certain categories, but I'm very much a mood reader these days. So I will probably pick once find out task 😊

I already had a look through e..."

I want to apologize because unfortunately my shelf won't be too useful since in the last few months I've been busy finishing my master degree and writing my thesis so the majority of the books I've read in 2025 so far are about medieval history. Luckily I've completed my degree last week so from now on I'll read almost esclusively romance!!

Aww it's ok! If anything just means I should get through books on my tbr 😂

💍WEEK #1💍

Option 1
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

[From Wiki: Semi-formal wear or half dress is a grouping of dress codes indicating the sort of clothes worn to events with a level of formality between informal wear and formal wear. The typical interpretation for men is black tie for evening wear and black lounge suit for day wear, corresponded by either a pant suit or an evening gown for women.

In addition, equivalent versions may be permitted such as ceremonial dresses (including court dress, diplomatic uniforms and academic dress), religious clothing, national costumes, and military mess dress.]

I will be looking for tuxedos or suits (with tie/bowtie), organza, silk and flow/long dresses. Pant suits are also acceptable, along with military dress etc. per above. Men in shirts that are open-necked/undone will not work.

If there are multiple cover-models, only one needs to be dressed per above.

Please show the cover of your book in your selection post.

Option 2
Key date: 18 October 2024
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 option

Week #1 - Option 1 – SELECTION POST
Book: Right Where I Want You

Pages: 402 (Kindle edition)
How the book qualifies: man in a suit on the cover

Selection Post, Week 1
Option 1
Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise
377 pages
How it Fits: formal gown on cover

Trio wrote: "Selection Post, Week 1
Option 1
Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise
pages
How it Fits: formal gown on cover
"

Don't forget to add the page numbers Trio :)

haha, thanks Jane! I was checking to make sure I had the correct edition but forgot to finish it all up :)

🍀

Week #1 - Selection

Book: Wickedly Yours by Jennifer Chipman
Pages: 364
How the book qualifies: Dress & suit on cover

Week #1 - Selection Post

Book: My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Pages: 327 pages
How It Fits: Suit on Cover

Week # 1
Bookcover/link: Ravishing in Red
Page numbers: 350
How the book qualifies:
Fancy red dress

Completion Post, Week 1
Option 1
Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise
377 pages
How it Fits: formal gown on cover

Read: 21 Apr
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Lindsay Lovise's Never Gamble Your Heart is the second book in her Secret Society of Governess Spies book. I haven't read the first book in this series, but I had no trouble following this clever, fast moving tale of secrets and spies. I'm definitely going back to find Never Blow a Kiss as soon as possible!

This is a fun, exciting, and unique historical romance with tons of action and a great mystery.

The audio version of Never Gamble Your Heart is beautifully performed by Ella Lynch and Rupert Channing. These two do a marvelous job with this exciting tale!