Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I'm in between books right now, trying to decide what to read next. Perhaps some historical fiction. I was planning to finally start Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, it looks promissing but I haven't been in the mood for reading for the past few days :/
Hope that will pass soon.

I've just started City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. Am looking forward to it

I'm still reading Ice Blue by Anne Stuart but I also started The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann for the May/December entry for the monthly challenge. It's my first Brockmann and I've got the sneaking suspicion it won't be my last. hehe

I've just started Lover Avenged

I am just starting A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

I am currently reading by Ann Rice/A.N. Roquelaure.

I am not sure how I feel about this book. On PAGE 3 the sex and degradation begins and although I am only about 1/2 way through, it has pretty much continued. I am not a prude by any stretch, I am just thinking this is not the book for me. The sub/dom theme is just a little much for me--especially since there seems to be little to no relief in sight for the sub. The book, thus far has succeeded in making me feel turned off, angry, sad and repulsed.

I can see the interested in sub/dom, bdsm if it is played out like it is in --you know where you play the role and then go back to your regular life. Not when you LIVE the role constantly. The verdict is still out...

im starting Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, #7)

Kasia, hope your book-reading mojo re-appears soon!

I finished up Open Season by Linda Howard this afternoon - I found it hilarious with a little bit of suspense thrown in. I'm about to start A Very Gothic Christmas by Christine Feehan and Melanie George :)

Thanks Mel, fingers crossed. In the meantime I'm listening to audiobook (Enna Burining a continuation of The Goose Girl of sorts), that's kinda like reading... sorta.... not entirely...

I'm reading Two Weeks With a Stranger by Debra Mullins. I just started it this morning and I'm already on page 180 (I'm on vacation so I don't have anything else to do).

M, hope you enjoy your vacation. Have fun.

Mel, I have "Open Season" on my TBR, but keep passing it up for some reason. Will have to get to it soon. It sounds like a good read.

Kasia, sorry to hear about your reading (or lack thereof) situation. I'm just about there myself. I'm literally forcing myself to read....not a good sign. Honestly, I think I've just done way too much of it lately.

I just started Abide with Me by Una McManus to finish up my A-Z Author challenge.

I can't start reading all of my christmas themed romance novels until I've finished decorating the christmas tree. I don't have a fireplace but I like to read my xmas books by the twinkling of the tree lights with a cup of hot chocolate.

Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "I can't start reading all of my christmas themed romance novels until I've finished decorating the christmas tree. I don't have a fireplace but I like to read my xmas books by the twinkling of the ..."

before I got my 2 electric fire places (dining room and fam room) I would have candles lit

I just started Dead and Kicking by Wendy Roberts,Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia,Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie, and Kiss of Furyby Deborah Cooke

Just finished Water For Elephants, now reading Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas.

I am reading "The Lion Among Men"

Rumors by Anna Godbersen for both of my December challenges and Serial Reader Challenege.

reading also reading

Ransom Julie Garwood

I finished up The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann, which was AMAZING. And now I'm debating on whether I want to get enthralled in another of hers or finish up Ice Blue by Anne Stuart first. I almost wish I'd waited until the 1st to start reading the Anne Stuart, I can't use it for the monthly challenge now.

Kasia wrote: "Thanks Mel, fingers crossed. In the meantime I'm listening to audiobook (Enna Burining a continuation of The Goose Girl of sorts), that's kinda like reading... sorta.... not entirely..."

Hey, its an audiobook - that's reading :)

I finished up A Very Gothic Christmas late last night. I'm kinda wary of anthologies but this one was really good. The second novella made me cry :)

I'm on to Witch Fire by Anya Bast now - new author to me - liking it so far.

I have 60 books to get through this month *gulps* Not enough reading hours in my day, week, month, year, life LOL Am currently reading Yule Be Mine anthology by Lori Foster. Funny stories. One in particular was about a psychic who could read animals' minds and the hero was well-endowed. Like, seriously, I'm guessing because there were a fair few references to it LOL

I finished and really liked it. I'm now reading

Two Weeks with a Stranger was really good. I read the whole thing in 1 day! Now I'm reading The Erotic Secrets of a French Maid. It's not an "erotic" book it's more of a romance book, but it's still pretty good so far.

I'm reading Duchess By Night by Eloisa James.

I started the first story in A Snowball's Chance/ A Christmas Carol by Nikki Rivers & Kathleen O'Reilly.

...it started out with a bang. I am sure there are more good things to come.

Just finished Witch Fire by Anya Bast ... steamy, and I loved it :)

Starting the second in the series, Witch Blood.

Have just finished Burn by Linda Howard, Boardroom Baby Surprise by Jackie Braun, Black Hills by Nora Roberts & Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann. And about to head back for another go at my huge TBR pile for this month :)

I just finished Well unfortunately I can only say this first book was just OK for me. I found the two female characters kinda annoying and childish. I did think there was some smart and witty writing so I will try the next book in the series and hopefully it will get better. I'm now moving on to

Started yesterday. We got it in early at work and we can check out strict on sale titles so I'm glad I brought back Under the Dome on Thursday!

Currently reading and

Have just finished a Harlequin Mills & Boon for my May/December affair - Sophie's Secret by Tara Taylor Quinn and Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle for the M of my Read the month of December challenge. Taking time out and reading non-challenge related books :) Oohh I love 4-day weekends!

I'm currently reading Before We Were Free, its great so far about what is happening in the compound. ( inside joke for people who read.)

Just now finished reading Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and am about to start on Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan. Keeping on track for this month (probably go haywire a little bit further into the month geez).

Slight edit to the above post: have just now finished Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan and I think I liked this one quite a bit because the alpha male was not an alphole (that's a Beyond Heaving Bosoms reference by Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan where the alpha is soooo alpha he's an a**hole LOL).

Ick! I just had a revelation. From the last 10 books that I "read" I actually read only 3, the rest is in audio format. And I'm about to finish yet another audiobook. While poor Leviathan has been sittin on my shelf for over a week now and I've read 2 pages of it only. And I'd love to have a go at that book, dammit.

This says something about my life latety, doesn't it? First I did not feel like reading much. Then I stopped having free time. I want my reading time back. I want it now. But I'm afraid I still have a few crazy days left.

Ok, now that my rant's over please continue.

The book that I'm not reading, is Leviathan, what are you reading/not reading?

Everybody's Hero by Tracy Kelleher

Finally reading ..once again, I can't figure out why I kept putting this book on the back burner.

I am struggling with Dogs and Goddesses. I've been working on this book for a week. Couldn't concentrate before I went in for surgery last Wed. Mostly too drugged to read since then. Four days with a morphine drip equals one page read 10 times. Current narcotics regimen means I read a chapter, I nap for an hour. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Dogs and Goddesses could be the perfect book for this month as it could qualify for so many things. It starts with a D for December, it takes place in Ohio for geography, and it is humorous for the Pick-A-Shelf group. I certainly don't see a 20 book month for me this month but I'll spend my recovery time well.

Oh and thanks for all the good wishes before I went in. All went well and I'll be 100% recovered in a little under a month. Here's to finishing books and seeing you all a little more again.

Photojim wrote: "I am struggling with Dogs and Goddesses. I've been working on this book for a week. Couldn't concentrate before I went in for surgery last Wed. Mostly too drugged to read since th..."

Oh, gosh. I had no idea you were to have a surgery! Quick recovery Jim! I hope you'll get to ditch the morphine and be pain free soon. Best wishes. And so sorry you have to go through this all.

No worries. They pulled the morphine drip when I got my discharge papers. Now it's one 5-325 MG Percocet every two hours. Even these I'm cutting back on. My scars look like a C-section scar with four (five?) other 1" holes where they did the laproscopic surgery. I'm doing great and can walk around on my own and will be perfect in a couple of short weeks.

In the meantime, everyone I know has bought me a book to read while I recover. We'll see how many I get through in the next month.

While I was on vacation I read a lot! I finished Six by Opal Carew, Two Weeks With a Stranger by Debra Mullins, The Girl Most Likely To... by Susan Donovan, The Erotic Secrets of a French Maid by Lisa Cach, Return to Me by Julia Templeton, and Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.
I am now reading The Dark Queen A Novel by Susan Carroll

Kahlan wrote: "Cherra wrote: "I am currently reading by Ann Rice/A.N. Roquelaure.

I am not sure how I feel about this book. On PAGE 3 the se..."

i often get very emotionally involved with the books I read--when i find I am cringing more than enjoying the content, I realize it is probably not for me. I think I might have been able to read the trilogy if the story hadn't been so focused on the degredation. Oh well, to each his own...

Kahlan, Cherra, I just finished The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (it was my December Pick-it-for-me book) and I actually really liked it. Yup, I'm a bit of a perv, I know it, and it cannot be helped. But I know what you both mean. Roquelaure is not for everybody. BDSM is not for everybody, and so is m/m.

Kasia wrote: "Kahlan, Cherra, I just finished The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (it was my December Pick-it-for-me book) and I actually really liked it. Yup, I'm a bit of a perv, I know it, and it cannot be helped..."


Like I said, to each his own. I don't have a problem with bdsm/dom-sub...and although I don't seek out m-m, i don't mind it if it happens to be in a book I am reading. I just felt so...stressed out for the subs constantly as I was reading because I just knew there was no reprieve for them. I also hated how the characters mind set changed as they were literally beat into submission. I think that is why I didn't like it.

Have you read any other books by Ann Rice? do the Vampire Chronicles have a similiar feel?

Vampire Chronicles is quite different than Beauty series, Cherra. :)

FlibBityFLooB wrote: "Vampire Chronicles is quite different than Beauty series, Cherra. :)"

I figured as much--especially since she wrote under 2 different names...

Cherra wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Kahlan, Cherra, I just finished The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (it was my December Pick-it-for-me book) and I actually really liked it. Yup, I'm a bit of a perv, I know it, and it ca..."

I've read only the 1st one, Interview with the Vampire and it's nothing like this. I mean Ann Rice published Sleeping Beauty under a pen name for a reason. While Beauty is a brutal SM flick with little consequence, I found the Vampire Chronicle more serious, with a depth to it. There's no explicit sex or violence like in Sleeping Beauty. It's a precursor to all the modern urban fanctasy books. With some character study, vampire power strugles and historical backdrop.