Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Here is where we post our official lists and update our progress.

1. April: Read a book which title starts with "A."

2. Birthday: Read a book from an April B-day celebrant.

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Iowa.

4. Spring Theme: Read a book that has flower, flowers or garden on the cover; or has the word "flower", "flowers", or any type of flower as part of its title.

5. Earth Day: In the spirit of recycling, reread an old favorite or reuse a book that you have posted in a previous challenge but never got around to reading.

6. Creative Arts Theme: Read a book that has a character that is involved in any type of arts (music, dance, literature, etc).

7. With April as the fourth month, read a book that has received an average of 4 stars or more here in Goodreads.

8. Romance Genre: Read a fantasy romance.

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book that is shelved within the first 10 pages of GR's romance shelf
(http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/r...)

10. Reader's Choice

Challenge Duration: April 1 - April 30, 2010

You can choose 3, 5, 8 or all 10 categories depending on your reading speed, books availability and/or time commitment.

Books done: 3/8

1. April: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2. Birthday: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (Judah)

4. Spring Theme: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

6. Creative Arts Theme: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

7. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

8. Romance Genre: Dracula by Bram Stoker

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Hey, Yz, can you post a link here to the birthday list? I can never seem to find it.

So to participate u have to pick at least 3 catogories? And can u combine them like I have a book that fits into 2 of the catogories.

Leah *~*Pherocious*~* wrote: "Hey, Yz, can you post a link here to the birthday list? I can never seem to find it."

Here is a link to the thread with the birthday profiles:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

Leah *~*Pherocious*~* wrote: "Hey, Yz, can you post a link here to the birthday list? I can never seem to find it."

Leah, you can find April birthdays in this thread - message 5 :)

Katie wrote: "So to participate u have to pick at least 3 catogories? And can u combine them like I have a book that fits into 2 of the catogories."

You can attempt as many as you can of the 10 categories. However, you cannot combine categories. It is one book per category.

Katie wrote: "So to participate u have to pick at least 3 catogories? And can u combine them like I have a book that fits into 2 of the catogories."

At least 3 categories yes, but they have to be different books for each category, Katie :)

Completed 0/10

1. April: Read a book which title starts with "A."

2. Birthday: Read a book from an April B-day celebrant.

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Iowa.

4. Spring Theme: Read a book that has flower, flowers or garden on the cover; or has the word "flower", "flowers", or any type of flower as part of its title.

5. Earth Day: In the spirit of recycling, reread an old favorite or reuse a book that you have posted in a previous challenge but never got around to reading.

6. Creative Arts Theme: Read a book that has a character that is involved in any type of arts (music, dance, literature, etc).

7. With April as the fourth month, read a book that has received an average of 4 stars or more here in Goodreads.

8. Romance Genre: Read a fantasy romance.

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book that is shelved within the first 10 pages of GR's romance shelf
(http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/roma...)

10. Reader's Choice

I'm in. Will list as I go.

My list ... subject to change :)

0/10 read

1. "A": All The Queen's Men by Linda Howard
2. April B'Day - Tasha: Never Too Much by Lori Foster
3. Geography - Iowa: Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood
4. Spring Theme: Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
5. Earth Day: Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts
6. Creative Arts: Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts
7. 4 stars or more: Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts
8. Fantasy: Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole
9. Of Lists & Shelves: Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts
10. Reader's Choice: Mercy by Julie Garwood

I'm in.. have some ideas what to read already.. will post the rest as I go


April Challenge

1. April: Read a book which title starts with "A."
Agnes and the hitman - Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

2. Birthday: Read a book from an April B-day celebrant.
Undead and Unwed (Undead, #1) by Mary Janice Davidson (Sarah's shelf)

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Iowa.
Jinx - Meg Cabot

4. Spring Theme: Read a book that has flower, flowers or garden on the cover; or has the word "flower", "flowers", or any type of flower as part of its title.

5. Earth Day: In the spirit of recycling, reread an old favorite or reuse a book that you have posted in a previous challenge but never got around to reading.


6. Creative Arts Theme: Read a book that has a character that is involved in any type of arts (music, dance, literature, etc).

7. With April as the fourth month, read a book that has received an average of 4 stars or more here in Goodreads.
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

8. Romance Genre: Read a fantasy romance.

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book that is shelved within the first 10 pages of GR's romance shelf
(http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/roma...)
Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare

10. Reader's Choice

Thank you, Yz and Mel, for the link :)

Count me in. I'll post as I go.

1. "A": Archangel's Kiss - Nalini Singh
2. April B'Day: Jamie:Darklight - Lesley Livingston
3. Geography-Iowa: Whisper No Lies - Cindy Gerard
4. Spring Theme: Garden of Darkness - Anne Frasier
5. Earth Day: Lover Avenged - J.R. Ward
6. Creative Arts: A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing - Deborah MacGillivray (painter)
7. 4 stars or more: Born of Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon
8. Fantasy:Silver Borne (Mercedes Thompson, #5) - Patricia Briggs
9. Of Lists & Shelves: Dark Slayer - Christine Feehan
10. Reader's Choice:On the Edge - Illona Andrews

I'm in, but I have a question. Can someone define fantasy romance for me? Is it the same as paranormal romance or something different?

I'm in. I'll post as I go.

I'm in again :)

1. Starts with A: Addicted by Charlotte Featherstone
2. Birthday (Sarah): Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
3. Iowa: Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish
4. Flower: Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney
5. Recycle (Royal Line): My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley
6. Books/Dance: Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead
7. Avg 4 stars+: Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead
8. Fantasy Romance: Silver Borne (Mercedes Thompson, #5) by Patricia Briggs
9. GR Romance Shelf: The Bride by Julie Garwood
10. Reader's Pick: Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham

Read: 5/5


1. "A": Artemis Fowl Finished 3/11/10
2. April B'Day - Tasha: Agnes and the Hitmanby Jennie Cruise & Bob mayer 3/7/10
3. Geography - Iowa:
4. Spring Theme:
5. Earth Day:
6. Creative Arts:
7. 4 stars or more:
8. Fantasy: Warrior Ascended by Addison Fox (3/2)
9. Of Lists & Shelves: The Duke And Iby Julia Quinn Finished 3/15/10
10. Reader's Choice: Wild Ride by Jennie Cruise & Bob Mayer (Finished 3/25/10)

Fantasy Romance!? Does that mean if it's my fantasy? *wiggles eyebrows suggestively and goes back to the erotica section*

Progress: 4/5

1. "A." Nick Hornby, About a Boy
2. Birthday: Sarah, Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
7. 4 Stars or more: Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
8. Fantasy Romance: Gregory MaGuire,Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
10. Reader's Choice Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Oh Photojim, such a great question and so well put!

Diane wrote: "I'm in, but I have a question. Can someone define fantasy romance for me? Is it the same as paranormal romance or something different?"

Good question with a not-so-clear answer. : )

Fantasy romance is a subgenre of fantasy novels.

An official defintion I've found defines fantasy novels as "any book that contains unrealistic settings, or magic, often set in a medieval universe, or possibly involving mythical beings or supernatural forms as a primary element of the plot, theme, or setting. Something magical is almost always part of fantasy and magic may be seen in the setting or in the plot. It may even be practiced by the characters." Of course, adding the word romance, demands a happily-ever-after between a hero and heroine.

Would I consider PNR as fantasy? Some may fall into the category, but not all. For a shortcut differentiation, and this is "my" definition, I classify a book "fantasy" romance if the setting happens in a place that only exists in the author's imagination. Like I would consider Snyder's Poison Study and C.L. Wilson's Tairen Soul series as fantasy romance but Ward's BlackDaggerBrotherhood remains PNR for me (after all, New York, even though Caldwell is fictitious, is still part of our real geography).

Again, the differentiation is mine, and is not inclusive of what other definitions will say. You can use it if you like...or hey, Photojim's definition might work, too. :)

lol, thanks for the clarification Yz.

I'm in, though this list is very tentative.
Read: 0/10

1. April: Read a book which title starts with "A."
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

2. Birthday: Read a book from an April B-day celebrant.
Dark Possession by Christine Feehan

3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Iowa.


4. Spring Theme: Read a book that has flower, flowers or garden on the cover; or has the word "flower", "flowers", or any type of flower as part of its title.
Primavera by Francesca Lia Block

5. Earth Day: In the spirit of recycling, reread an old favorite or reuse a book that you have posted in a previous challenge but never got around to reading.
The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton

6. Creative Arts Theme: Read a book that has a character that is involved in any type of arts (music, dance, literature, etc).
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

7. With April as the fourth month, read a book that has received an average of 4 stars or more here in Goodreads.
Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

8. Romance Genre: Read a fantasy romance.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book that is shelved within the first 10 pages of GR's romance shelf
The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

10. Reader's Choice
Kiss Me While I Sleep: A Novel by Linda Howard

"Good question with a not-so-clear answer. ..."

Thanks, that cleared it up for me.

4/8

I'm only doing eight this time.

1. April: Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin Completed 4/12

2. Birthday: If You Desire by Kresley Cole Completed: 4/22

4. Spring Theme: Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey Completed 4/7

5. Earth Day: Royal Harlot: A Novel of the Countess Castlemaine and King Charles II by Susan Holloway Scott Completed 4/19

7. 4 Stars: Omnibus: Postmortem / Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell Completed 4/17

8. Romance Genre: Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts Completed 4/30

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Vision in White by Nora Roberts Completed 4/14

10. Reader's Choice: Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon Completed 4/3
Read:

I'm in, but no list yet!

Im in but I do not have a list yet

I'm in too, but will have to figure out a list.

Yz the Whyz wrote: "Here is a link to the thread with the birthday profiles:
http://www.goodreads..."

Hi, Yz! I wasn't sure if I should tell you or someone else, but I thought I was missing from the birthday list at first until I searched and saw that I'm actually listed under the May birthdays instead of November. I had the date as 11/5/1981 in my intro, and I think the month/date got confused.

I'm in (as always). The list is (again, as always) subject to change.


1. April: Almost Forever by Linda Howard
2. Birthday: The Third Circle by Amanda Quick (B-day girl: Sarah ~Sehrenity~)
3. Geography (Iowa): Tempting the Tycoon by Cindy Gerard
4. Spring Theme: Seduced by Virginia Henley
5. Earth Day: Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
6. Creative Arts Theme: Chain Reaction by Dee Davis
7. 4 stars: Out of Mind by Stella Cameron

        
8. Romance Genre (Fantasy): Hunting Evander by Kim Knox
9. Of Lists and Shelves: Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz (page 10)
10. Reader's Choice: Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure by India Grey

I'm in! Only doing three because I have a few other challenges going on. Here is my list:

1. 4 stars or more: Sylvester - Georgette Heyer
2. Fantasy Romance: Heart Thief (Celta’s Heart Mates #2) - Robin D. Owens
3. Of Lists and Shelves: Austenland - Shannon Hale



(Subject to change.)

0/10 My tentative list:

1. April: Read a book which title starts with "A."
Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter
2. Birthday: Read a book from an April B-day celebrant.
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (Jacqueline's shelf)
3. Geography: Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Iowa.
Jinx by Meg Cabot
4. Spring Theme: Read a book that has flower, flowers or garden on the cover; or has the word "flower", "flowers", or any type of flower as part of its title.
Zinnia by Jayne Castle
5. Earth Day: In the spirit of recycling, reread an old favorite or reuse a book that you have posted in a previous challenge but never got around to reading.
Frostbite by Richelle Mead
6. Creative Arts Theme: Read a book that has a character that is involved in any type of arts (music, dance, literature, etc).
I Want You To Want Me by Kathy Love
7. With April as the fourth month, read a book that has received an average of 4 stars or more here in Goodreads.
Pan Lodowego Ogrodu by Jarosław Grzędowicz
8. Romance Genre: Read a fantasy romance.
Queen of Dragons by Shana Abé
9. Of Lists and Shelves: Read a book that is shelved within the first 10 pages of GR's romance shelf
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts
10. Reader's Choice
TBR

RRR April '10 Challenge

0/3

Earth Day - The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Off the Shelf - Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole
Readers Choice - Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward



Read

Count me in, I'll post my list later.

RRRC APRIL 2010 Challenge

1/10 Completed

1. A - All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire
2. B'day - (Regina) - Kiss of Crimson
3. Iowa - A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
4. Flower - Promises in Death 1/4/10★★★★
5. Re-read - Two Can Play
6. Arty character (photographer) - Second Sight
7. 4 Stars - The Dragon's Demon
8. Fantasy Romance - Changeless
9. First 10 pgs of Romance List - Single White Vampire
10. Choice - Primal Encounter

I'll go for 8 this time.

April: Atlantis Redeemed - Alyssa Day
Birthday: Generation 18 - Keri Arthur (Michelle)
Spring: Blood Rose - Sharon Page
Creative Arts: Any Way You Want It - Kathy Love
Four: Rises The Night - Colleen Gleason
Romance: Shifting Plains - Jean Johnson
Shelves: Lover Enshrined - J.R. Ward
Readers Choice: I'm The Vampire, That's Why - Michele Bardsley

1. "A": After - Amy Efaw 4/18
2. April Birthday: Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner (Melissa) 4/1
3. Geography-Iowa: The Moment Between - Nicole Baart
4. Spring Theme: Dance Upon the Air - Nora Roberts4/12
5. Earth Day: Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen4/29
6. Creative Arts: A Dance of Sisters - Tracey Porter
7. 4 stars or more: Crank - Ellen Hopkins 4/9
8. Fantasy: Midnight Sun - Stephanie Meyer
9. Of Lists & Shelves: Bet Me - Jennifer Crusie 4/23
10. Reader's Choice: Beyond the Grave - Jude Watson 4/2

1/5

1. Title starts with "A": and Falling, Fly -- Skyler White

4. Spring Theme: The Betrayal of the Blood Lily -- Lauren Willig

7. 4 stars or more: Something About You -- Julie James

9. Of Lists and Shelves: Shiver -- Maggie Stiefvater

10. Reader's Choice: Start Me Up -- Victoria Dahl

Harper wrote: "I'm in! Only doing three because I have a few other challenges going on. Here is my list:

Can you interchange them - so you can count them here as well as your other challenges? That is what I do a lot of . :) - It also makes it fun because you have to really think about the books you read to make them work in multiple challenges (IMO) just a thought.

I'm in of course. I'll come up with my categories when I post my first book of the month.

Looks to be a tough month though. Iowa? Really? That nearly qualifies as fantasy romance by your definition, "I classify a book "fantasy" romance if the setting happens in a place that only exists in the author's imagination." Iowa isn't really a place people live is it? (Of course I'm just kidding. Calm down all of you people from Iowa. That's right, both of you.)

*humble voice* I live in iowa... Don't worry, Photojim. I'm calm. Most days. hehee

April (0 Done)

[image error]

1. "A" for April: TBD
2. B-day (Michelle): Cruel and Unusual (Kay Scarpetta 4) by Patricia Cornwell
3. Geography, Iowa: I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
4. Spring, flowers: TBD
5. Reuse a book: TBD
6. Creative Arts Theme: Succubus Shadows (Georgina Kincaid 5) by Richelle Mead
7. Average of min. 4 stars: Silver Borne (Mercedes Thompson 5) by Patricia Briggs
8. Fantasy romance: Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate 2) by Gail Carriger
9. Top of romance shelf: Angels' Blood (Guild Hunters 1) by Nalini Singh
- or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- or Possession by A.S. Byatt
10. Reader's Choice: TBD

If you like Bill Bryson (I find him hilarious), I know he's from Iowa..

Oh Photojim, lol, I think I needed a giggle this morning. Most of my family is from Iowa, but I am still worried about finding a book for that category also.

Oh Photojim you do give me a good laugh :)

Might Change later
0/10 ((But might do less then 10))

"A":
April B-day:
Iowa:
Spring:
Earth day:
Creative Arts:
4 Stars:
Fantasy:
Off Lists&Shelves:
Reader's Choice:

Just so I'm clear you dont have to do all 10 but you can? You have to at least do three of them?

You've got it!