Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

Yearly: ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge.

This idea comes from Yz’s A-Z challenges in the RRRC Group and Pamela’s ABC Medieval here at HEA.

This challenge is the same concept, only using your favorite genre.

Number of Books: 26

Duration: This is a yearly challenge and starts from the date of your original individual post or from the start of the month in which you begin; your choice. You can sign up any time. You can edit your original post to update, or repost each time.

Guidelines:
The challenge here is to read your favorite genre by going through the alphabet by title, author, setting, hero or heroine’s name or other major character, and series name. Even the narrator is fine, if you are listening to an audiobook. Ignore articles such as a, an, and the.

What is your favorite genre? Medieval? Western/Frontier? Contemporary? Steampunk? Chick-lit? Dragons? Supernatural? Pick one and challenge yourself to read 26 over the next year. (I’m going for Western/Frontier because Westerns are coming back in fashion! No, I’m not in denial, they are! And I’m not going to restrict myself to historical, in order to open the field.)

Example: Western/Frontier

A - Angel Creek, by Linda Howard*
B - Bailee Moore, heroine in The Texan's Wager, by Jodi Thomas
C - Caroline and the Raider, by Linda Lael Miller
D - Davidson, Carolyn, author of A Convenient Wife
… etc.

For the letter X, you can use a title, author, setting, hero or heroine’s name, or even narrator that has the letter X in it.

*Note that Angel Creek could also be used for the “W” as it is part of Ms. Howard’s Western Ladies series.

General rules:
*Must be from one genre, your favorite! (You can blend a sub-genre, say Young Adult Chick Lit & Adult Chick Lit, or Romantic Suspense/Mysteries With a Touch of Romance; as long as they are closely related or overlap.)
*Must be a “Happily Ever After” (HEA) ending, not a “Happy For Now” (HFN).
*Books from other challenges may be used.
*Rereads are allowed, if it has been six months since you've read it.
*Book length of at least 100 pages.
*Audiobooks are fine.
*Your list may be posted in advance or as you go. You may swap books on your list around if you have pre-posted.

Can’t decide and feeling ambitious? Do the challenge twice. Or thrice. Do the ABC’s of contemporary romance and concurrently do the ABC’s of Regency.

Don't know how reliable this is but Shelfari has a way of searching books by character name, e.g. Ava: http://www.shelfari.com/characters/ava

HEA Yearly: ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge.

0/26
Favorite Genre:
Start Date:
Updated:

A –
B –
C –
D –
E –
F –
G –
H –
I –
J –
K –
L –
M –
N –
O –
P –
Q –
R –
S –
T –
U –
V –
W –
X –
Y –
Z –

HEA Yearly: ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge.

Participants	Genre				Completed
Pamela		Romantic Suspense		26/26 - Done!	
Pamela		American West			22/26
Lisa Kay	Western/Frontier		23/26
Lisa Kay	RS/Mysteries/Touch of Romance	26/26 - Done!
Marijayne	Light & Fun Romance		10/26
Lisa		Chick Lit: YA & Adult	 	17/26 	
CaroB		Paranormal Romance	 	25/26 
CaroB		Historical Romance	 	21/26
Heather		Romantic Suspense	 	26/26 - Done!
Heather		Paranormal Romantic	 	24/26
Lauren 		Paranormal Romance	 	17/26
Robin 		Inspirational Romance	 	00/26

                                        GRAND TOTAL             =                              237/312 books!

Participant's Post #3 updated 05/07/12 @ 8:32 a.m., PST.
Added Robin to book total, May 28, 2012
Please let me know of any errors. Thanks!

Reserved.

Reserved.

So we can't cheat and start in Jan of 2011? lol
Okay I'll do this.
26/26
Favorite Genre: Romantic Suspense
Start Date: 7-1-2011
Updated: 2-29-2012

A – Anything But Mine by Linda Winfree 10/20
B – Brad, hero in A Killer's Agenda by Anita Whiting ebook 9/9
C – CIA Agent Ana Burton, heroine in Deadly Little Secrets by Jeanne Adams 10/27
D – Deadly Mistakes by Denise Belinda McDonald, ebook 7/11
E – Eddie, hero in Cool Shade Teresa Weir 10/23
F – Forget Me Not by Marliss Melton reread 8/6
G – Guardian Angelinos series, Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire 8/1
H – Himalayans, location of Darkness at Dawn by Elizabeth Jennings 10/17
I – In Too Deep by Cherry Adair 2/3
J – Jackson, hero of Savor the Danger by Lori Foster 7/21
K – Kell Sabin, hero in Diamond Bay by Linda Howard 10/24
L – Leave Me Breathless by Helenkay Dimon, PB 7/11
M – Missouri, location in Blood Trails by Sharon Sala 10/10
N – Nathan Kelly, hero in Whispers in the Dark by Maya Banks 1/5
O – O'Toole, Claire, heroine in In Close by Brenda Novak 1/17
P – Preston, hero in Every Waking Moment by Brenda Novak 11/3
Q – Quigley, hero in Guarding Suzannah by Norah Wilson 1/22
R – Reus, Katie, author of His Secret Past 1/30
S – Sala, Sharon - Blood Ties 7/31
T – Tall, Dark and Deadly: Get Lucky and Taylor's Temptation by Suzanne Brockmann 9/8
U – United Kingdom, location of Sea of Suspicion by Toni Anderson 1/18
V – Virgil, hero in Inside by Brenda Novak 10/22
W – Washington, location in Beg for Mercy by Jamie Alden 10/4
X – TeXas, location of Snapped by Laura Griffin 11/19
Y – Young, Cameran Edge of Survival by Toni Anderson 1/5
Z - Zoe, heroine in Tall, Dark and Daring: The Admiral's Bride\Identity: Unknown by Suzanne Brockmann 10/21
Not going to list on here until read. Got too many and subject to change.
Finito/finished/done

Great, Pam! You can start from the beginning of this month, if you want. :)

HEA Yearly: ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge.


Favorite Genre: Western/Frontier
Start Date: 7/1/11

23/26

✔ A – Adele Donnelly in The Comeback Cowboy, by Cathy McDavid ★★★★☆ PB 7/7
✔ B – Burton, Mary = The Colorado Bride ★★★★☆ PB 8/7
✔ C – Caroline and the Raider, by Linda Lael Miller ★★★★½ PB 7/28
✔ D – Davidson, Carolyn = A Convenient Wife★★★★☆ PB 9/10
✔ E – Edwina Ladoux, heroine in Heartbreak Creek, by Kaki Warner ★★★★½ PB 8/11
✔ F – Frontier Bride, by Ann Carberry ★★★½✩ PB 5/6
✔ G – Loree Grant, heroine in Texas Splendor, by Lorraine Heath ★★★★★ HC 3/3
✔ H – Heath, Lorraine = Texas Destiny ★★★★★ HC 11/18 “buddy read”
I – Illinois, setting for The Moon Looked Down, by Dorothy Garlock (OD audio)
✔ J – Jodi Thomas = The Texan's Wager ★★★★★ PB 9/2
✔ K – Kaki Warner = Colorado Dawn ★★★★¼ PB 1/21
✔ L – Texas Hold Him, by Lisa Cooke ★★★★✩Kindle 10/10
✔ M – Maggie Osborne = Silver Lining, by ★★★★★ Kindle 12/12 “buddy read”
✔ N – Nate in The Wives of Bowie Stone, by Maggie Osborne ★★★★½ PB 4/23
✔ O – Osborne, Maggie = Silver Lining ★★★★★ Kindle 12/12
P – Paterson, Lewton, hero in Texas Blue, by Jodi Thomas (PB)
✔ Q – Quinton, Jake; character in Brides of Prairie Gold,
              by Maggie Osborne ★★★★½ both HC & OD audio 7/26
✔ R – Rainey, heroine in Texas Rain, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 3/18 “buddy read”
✔ S – St.John, Cheryl = The Tenderfoot Bride ★★★★½ PB 7/29
✔ T – A Texan's Luck, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★☆ PB 8/13
U – Under the Desert Moon, by Marsha Canham (PB)
✔ V – Valerie (Baker's daughter who likes Allie's brother, John Catlin)
             To Wed in Texas, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★✩ PB 2/23
✔ W – Wife Lottery Series, #2 - When a Texan Gambles, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★½ PB 11/4
✔ X – To Kiss a Texan, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★¼ PB 9/21
✔ Y – Yankee Doctor, Adam McLain, character in The Texan's Touch,
             by Jodi Thomas ★★★★½ PB 9/12
✔ Z – Zoe is character in Land Of Dreams, by Cheryl St.John ★★★★✩ PB 2/2

Read:



Currently Reading or Listening To:
N/A

To Choose From:

Decided to do 2 genres.
22/26
Favorite Genre: HR American West
Start Date: 7/1/2011
Updated: 11/4/2011

A – Another Dawn by Sandra Brown 7/18/2011
B – Bear or Ben , heroes of I Do, I Do, I Do by Maggie Osborne 9/26
C – Cook, Libby Ross ofA Taste Of Heaven by Alexis Harrington 9/20
D – Devlin, Linda Cash 7/22
E – Eliza, heroine in Ruthless Heart by Emma Lang 8/30
F – For the Roses by Julie Garwood reread 7/6
G – Grey, Zane, Wildfire 9/6
H – Hell's Eight #4 Tracker's Sin by Sarah McCarty 7/9
I – Indentured Bride Bride Series Book 1 by Regan Taylor 7/16
J – Jed by Linda Devlin 7/21
K – Kansas, location of The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne 11/3
L – Low Down, heroine in Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne 8/19
M – Marshal In Petticoats by Paty Jager 7/17
N –
O – Oregon, location of Allie's Moon by Alexis Harrington 7/23
P – The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne
Q – Quinn, hero in Lawmen And Outlaws by Lauri Robinson, Linda Carroll-Bradd, Loretta Rogers, Helen Hardt 7/27
R – Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory 9/6
S – Seven Shorter sisters, in One Day, My Prince by Linda Jones 7/29
T – Travis, hero in Homeward Hearts by Alexis Harrington 8/4
U –
V –
W – Western Ladies #3 The Touch Of Fire by Linda Howard 7/23
X –
Y – Yukon, location of Harper's Bride by Alexis Harrington 7/30
Z – Zander, hero in Captive Legacy by Theresa Scott 7/25

Wooah, Pam, you're doing it twice? Now I want to! Must think about this. Regency or romantic suspense? Hmmmm...

Pam, in my search for a "Y", I came across an Yvonne in . Dick Francis is always pretty good for adding a smidgen of romance to his mysteries; however, I don't know if that is the case here. There are also characters for "V" and "Z": Valentine Clark, several with the last name of Visborough, and a Ziggy.

Ahhh... Found an Yvonne in a romatic suspense . I guess I'm in.

Thanks I'll keep it in mind.

HEA Yearly: ~ ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge ~

26/26

Favorite Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mysteries with a Touch of Romance
Start Date: 7/1/11

✔ A – And Only to Deceive, by Tasha Alexander ★★★★✩ Kindle 1/30 “buddy read”
✔ B – Blue Dahlia, byNora Roberts ★★★★✩ OD audio 10/31
✔ C – Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters ★★★★★ PB 7/6
✔ D – Die for You, by Lisa Unger ★★★★✩OD audio 8/3
✔ E – Evanovich, Janet = Finger Lickin' Fifteen ★★★★✩ OD audio 9/17
✔ F – Fearless Fourteen, by Janet Evanovich ★★★★½ OV audio 9/16
✔ G – Glory in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ library CD to iPod 10/11
✔ H – Hot Rocks, by Nora Roberts★★★★✩ OD audio 8/23
✔ I – Ice, by Linda Howard ★★★★✩ OD audio-iPod/Touch 1/27
✔ J – J.D. Robb = Rapture in Death ★★★★★ OD audio 9/1
✔ K – Kay Hooper = Rafferty's Wife ★★½✩✩ OD audio 8/25
✔ L – Lean Mean Thirteen, by Janet Evanovich ★★★★☆ OD audio 9/2
✔ M – Murder Uncorked, by Michele Scott ★★★★☆ PB 8/11
✔ N – Nora Roberts = Risky Business ★★★★✩ OD audio 9/30
✔ O – One of Those Malibu Nights, by Elizabeth Adler ★★★☆☆ OD audio 8/16
✔ P – Plum Spooky, by Janet Evanovich ★★★★✩ OD audio 9/29
✔ Q – Quick, Amanda = Second Sight ★★★½☆ OD audio 7/31
✔ R – Rose, Karen = Die For Me ★★★★★ PB & MiL audio 7/18
✔ S – The Search, by Nora Roberts ★★★★½ OD audio 7/7
✔ T – Twisted Creek, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★✩ PB 7/2
✔ U – Unforgettable, by Meryl Sawyer ★★★★✩ PB 12/24
✔ V – Vengeance in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ OD audio 11/13
✔ W – When You Dare, by Lori Foster ★★★★☆ PB 8/22
✔ X – Sizzling Sixteen, by Janet Evanovich ★★★½✩ OD audio 1/2
✔ Y – Young, Donna = Black Ops Bodyguard ★★★✩✩ Library PB 2/25
✔ Z – Zerzura, the lost city The Other Guy's Bride, by Connie Brockway
             ★★★★½ audible.com 1/22 “b.r.”

Read:

I thought I'd read just about everything by Linda Howard, but I somehow missed Veil of Night. Luckily, my library has the audio; I think I'll give it a try.

I added this to the first post:


Don't know how reliable this is but Shelfari has a way of searching books by character name, e.g. Ava: http://www.shelfari.com/characters/ava

I liked that one, Lisa Kay. It reminded me a little of Mr Perfect but not quite as good.

Man-oh-man! I need a "V" for my Western/Frontier challenge. Any Violet, Vitoria, Vicki, or Virginia are in another genre. Now trying to find something set in Virginia City.

this might help... got to do a little research to find out the genre.

http://www.historicalromancewriters.c...

oops I gave the wrong one...

http://www.historicalromancewriters.c...

Thanks, Pam!

Pam, I used both links you posted. Character types worked b/c I could look up "cowboy, lawman," etc. Thanks.

ur welcome

HEA Yearly: ABC's of Your Favorite Genre Challenge.
completed - 5/26

Favorite Genre: Light & Fun Romance
Start Date: 7/1/11
Updated: 7/21/11

A - Almost A Spinster Jenna Petersen
✔ B - Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves
✔ C - THE CURE FOR LOVE De-ann Black
✔ D - Jacquie D'Alessandro,Jinxed!
E- Caught in the Billionaire's EmbraceElizabeth Bevarly
✔ F - Tina Folsom The Wrong Suitor
✔ G - Go Small or Go Home Heather Wardell
✔ H - Her Perfect RevengeAnna Mara
I- IcebreakerDeirdre Martin
J
✔K- Kissing KelliKathy Carmichael
L - A Little Ray of SunshineLani Diane Rich
✔ M - Theresa Medeiros, Goodnight Tweetheart
N
O
P - Carly PhillipsMidnight Angel
Q
R
✔ S - Second Chance at the Sugar ShackCandis Terry
T
U
V
✔ W - Heather WardellSeven Exes Are Eight Too Many
X
Y
Z

✔

hehe, I found me a Z for my American West! lol Just hope its good

That's great, Pamela! What is it?

Captive Legacy by Theresa Scott

Sounds interesting; will await your review. :)

I would like to be in on this challange. My Genre is Chick Lit - can it be both young adult and adult chick lit?

Welcome, Lisa. I don't see why it couldn't be both. Good Luck with it :)

Lisa wrote: "I would like to be in on this challange. My Genre is Chick Lit - can it be both young adult and adult chick lit?"

Sure, Lisa, why not? :) I blended Western and Frontier (two of my books are not American West, but one set in the Australian frontier, the other set in the Canadian frontier. Then I did it again with RS & mystery with a touch of romance.

OK...here is my list...
Completed 17/26
A - Ann Brasheirs - The Last Summer of You and Me 7/26/11***
B - Beautiful Between - Alyssa B. Sheinmel
C - Carribean Cruising - Rachel Hawthorne
D - Daryanda Jones - First Grave on the Right9/26/11*****
E - Elin Hilderbrang - Silver Girl8/6/11***
F - Forget me Knot - Sue Margolis8/1/11*****
G - Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen8/1/11 ***
H - Harbor Lights - Sherryl Woods8/23/11 *****
I - Insatable - Meg Cabot
J - Jordan, Sophie - Firelight10/12/11*****
K - Kade, Stacey - The Ghost and the Goth
L - Love the One Your With - Emily Griffin8/1/11***
M - Making Waves - Tawna Fenske9/5/11 *****
N - Nancy Thayer - Heat Wave8/2/11****
O - Outlander - Diane Gabaldon8/8/11 *
P - Phillips, Susan Elizabeth - Nobody's Baby But Mine10/1/11 ***
Q - Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
R - Rice, Luann - The Silver Boat8/1/11***
S - Someone Like You - Sarah DessenAugust 11, 2011 ****
T - The Gathering - Kelly Armstrong10/6/11 *****
U - Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurer9/1/11*
V - Vanish - Sophie Jordan
W - Weiner, Jennifer -Best Friends Forever
X - Flat Out Sexy - Erin McCarthy
Y - Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles10/6/11 ****
Z - Angie Frazier - Everlasting

I don't really know that genre but if you can find something with an X in the title or author name or even a major character name or location/setting would work.

Lisa, I've read & enjoyed:
- chicklit/romantic-suspense - funny series! I'm ready to start #4.

I haven't read, but they have an X in the title or the author's name:

Lots of authors I haven't heard of. Looking forward to checking them out.

I think I did all the updates on post #3; let me know if I didn't! Thanks. :)

How's everyone doing? Doing great myself :)

I'm doing good. I'm a little tired b/c I stayed up too late on GR and then reading in bed.

It's really humid here - we're not used to humidity in CA. Trying to get a new above ground pool up but it's been slow. I have lots of work to finish this weekend still as well - life of a contractor. But we're on vacation countdown so the light is at the end of the tunnel! Whoo hoo!

I love our pool. Its been great! lots of sunburns this summer though. A/C can't keep up and is running continuously.

I updated again, as of 8/3/11 at 1:21 a.m. (Post #3.) Please let me know if I messed up. Thanks!

looks good for me

Lisa Kay, you are putting me to shame! Too much work leading up to vacation.

Marijayne, me ? Pamela is beating the pants off everyone, LOL!

Hopefully I will get some good reading time in on the beach this next week. I'll come back and update mine!

That, and a tan! :)

I hope so! I've spent too much time inside this summer.

Lisa Kay wrote: "Marijayne, me? Pamela is beating the pants off everyone, LOL!"

lol... I HAVE been hitting the westerns lately. Reading another one now. Homeward Hearts Too hot to go outside here. It got up to about 108-110 here today.

That is yucky! And you probably have humidity to go with it. I'm originally a San Francisco Bay Area girl so I grew up with mild weather. I've been in SoCal for 30 years now but still have not completely adjusted to the heat. Last summer we had a really mild summer and it was great. Unfortunately this summer we've had the heat and humidity. We are not used to humidity here at all (ours probably hovers in the teens to low 20s most of the year). Sunday we had 60% humidity. It was really miserable. Today the humidity seems to have moved out of the area and it is quite nice with a little breeze.

I'm up on a mountain and we get a little breeze up here but hasn't helped much.