Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Right-e-o! We are underway.


1. You are free to name your team. This is not mandatory, but it is fun. 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 me by 1 Feb.

2. Pick a Team Captain. The team captain will track the books read by the team and notify me in a separate thread of the team's completions. They will also double-check that your book selection complies with the rules - eg make sure that the post is as per the formatting and information requested below (msg 3).

Anyone is free to ask questions in the Q&A/Announcement thread - here. If you are unsure, please ask.

Once a Captain has been decided, the Team Captain should reserve a couple of posts in this thread to track the book selection and completion.

3. Introduce yourself to your team. Definitely 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.

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.

5. Please make sure you post your book selection 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 (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you except to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation.

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 :)


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 4 weeks.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.

Team members


Hina
* Nikita
Nichole
Susan A


Themes Announced

Week 1: Book set in the UK or Ireland
Option 2 key date: 7 August 2013

Week 2: Main character from the corporate world
Option 2 key date: 16 August 2013

Week 3: A book with children in the plot-line
Option 2 key date: 23 August 2013

Week 4: MC wears a uniform
Option 2 key date: 30 August 2013

Week 5: Enemies to lovers
Option 2 key date: 6 September 2013

Week 6: Book with less than 200 ratings (per GR)
Option 2 key date: 13 September 2013

Week 7: Historical setting (more than 50 years ago)
Option 2 key date: 20 September 2013

Week 8: Book published for the first time in the last 6 months
Option 2 key date: 27 September 2013

Week 9: ?
Option 2 key date: 4 October 2013
No passes allowed

Posting formats:

Following is a sample post showing how everyone should post their book choices in their team threads once the game starts.


Theme - book starting with the letter 'G'

Sample post - selection

Week 1: The Gamble - 629 pages per goodreads


****
Theme - Hurt/Comfort/Grieving

Sample post - selection

Week 3: Flowers from the Storm - 533 pages per goodreads
Shelf 'tortured hero' - /genres/tort...
or
Shelf 'tear-jerker' - /genres/tear...
or
Shelf 'illness' - /genres/illness


****
Theme - Hurt/Comfort/Grieving
Same theme but just a reference to the precis:


Week 3: Dark Desire - 369 pages per goodreads.
Precis covers the theme.

*


Sample post - completion

Week 3: Dark Desire - 4 stars.

I found this book a bit dark. (Huh - well perhaps I should have expected that!) However once I settled into the 'theme' of more extreme violence and I knew what to expect, I really enjoyed it. I can't handle too many scary scenes! (Yes, I read vampire books voluntarily...)

**reserved**

Week 9: Book from the RRRC's shapeshifter shelf.


Hina: Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims, 384 pages - review
Theme: Book from the RRRC's shapeshifter shelf.

Nikita: Always On My Mind by Jill Shalvis, 352 pages - review
Theme: Option 2 (key date: 4 October 2013) - Hina, Jan. 26th, 2014 - 4 stars

Nichole: Skinwalker by Faith Hunter, 320 pages - review
Theme: Book from the RRRC's shapeshifter shelf.

Susan A: Unthinkable by Vicktor Alexander, 103 pages - review
Theme: Book from the RRRC's shapeshifter shelf.

Week 8: Book published for the first time in the last 6 months - 27 September 2013


Hina: The Bridesmaid by Julia London, 160 pages - review
Theme: Published February 13th 2014 per precis Published: October 1st, 2013

Nikita: Pass

Nichole: Transcendence by Shay Savage, 312 pages - review
Theme: Published February 13th 2014 per precis

Susan A: Cupcakes by Sean Michael, 188 pages - review
Theme: Published January 8th 2014 per precis

PASS

Hi guys,

So glad we are up and running on this. I am pretty open to any genre, my least read would probably be YA or MM, but if its good I will definetly get around to reading it. I have done the captain gig before, so if no one else wants to, I would be okay doing it, but I dont mind if someone else is interested.

Hi Teammies!

This will only be my third team challenge and I'm so excited. I'm also glad that we have volunteers for the captain gig because I don't particularly want to do it, lol. I'm pretty shy, so the leader role doesn't come naturally to me. Anyways, I live in Oklahoma City-CST. Looks like I might be the slow reader in the bunch too. Which sounds weird considering I still read a fair amount of books :) Don't worry, I can easily manage a book a week.

I pretty much rotate between my favorite genres. Romance-Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, Erotic and Urban Fantasy with the occasional YA thrown in the mix. I'm still pretty green with MM, though it is something I would like to try more of. I might have to stalk your shelves Susan :)

I'm sure I'll feel dumb after finding out, but what does PWP stand for?

So, are we going to name our Team? If so, do you want to play on 14 or something random? Here is a link to a site.

Is anyone else a compulsive list maker, like me? I haven't started my list for the shelves yet but I plan on doing that today. *chuckles* Of course after I get a shiny list together, I will most likely change it a hundred times, LOL!

Okay, I'm done with my essay and off to shop theme shelves for now.

PWP = porn without plot

Susan A wrote: "I fell into m/m romance by accident. I've read lots of m/f regency romance and contemporary romance -- none of the shifter or vampire stuff. I read a few m/f/m books and then I read a m/m/f book..."


I definitely haven't crossed m/m off my list, I probably even have a couple of them added to my TBR pile but I guess I just haven't had any motivation to pick any of them up but I think I might just try some of the ones that you recommend Susan.

So it looks like Nikita and Hina can decide on the captain?

Do you guys want to choose a name for the team? I'm not very creative with that but I played around with the name generator. Here are a few...

The Vigorous Cougars
The Unruly Ponies
The Blushing Banshees
Top Gunners
The Dominating Nymphs

Any ideas? Or are we just gonna go with 14?

The Blushing Banshees

I like this one

I like it too

I volunteered for the captaincy just because I've done it previously and I wanted to do it as I would also have the time for it right now as I am on a month long holiday break before I have to go back to uni but if you really want to do it Hina then that’s fine too.

I also like The Blushing Banshees for our team name

So it looks like Nikita is the captain? and our name is The Blushing Banshees! I'm ready to start :)

I'm ready to start as well. Hmmm..a whole week to wait.

I can't wait to start either.

We still need to PM Jane and reserve a spot in the team progress thread. I'll go ahead and do that once Hina has checked in, in case she has any objections to our team name or me being captain.

Both works for me! My notification is so messed up. I haven't been getting any updates from here. I had to come check out what's happening.

Nicole, I so have an obsession with lists and challenges. lol.

I'm going to PM Jane with our team name and I'll reserve a few posts over here.

Completed Posts


�Week 1: Book set in the UK or Ireland

Hina: The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick, 375 pages - review
Theme: Set in England per precis

Nikita: Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young, 432 pages - review
Theme: Set in Scotland per precis

Nichole: The Wedding by Julie Garwood, 384 pages - review
Theme: Set in Scotland per precis

Susan A: Death by Silver by Melissa Scott, 272 pages - review
Theme: Set in England per precis




�Week 2: Main character from the corporate world (business man or woman; small business counts and ppl who work in offices, eg clerks, accountants, managers)

Hina: Quinn by Andria Large, 138 pages - review
Theme: Listopia - Office Romances & Hero is an architect and heroine is an interior designer per precis

Nikita: Entwined with You by Sylvia Day, 356 pages - review
Theme: Shelf ceo & Ceo Hero

Nichole: The Proposition by Katie Ashley, 316 pages - review
Theme: Listopia - Office Romances

Susan A: True Colors by Clare London, 256 pages - review
Theme: MC is an entrepreneur per precis




�Week 3: A book with children in the plot-line

Hina: The Italian's Stolen Bride by Emma Darcy, 185 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Popular Prominent Kids Children Books

Nikita: After the Storm by Maya Banks, 392 pages - review
Theme: Shelf children-babies-kids

Nichole: The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred, 304 pages - review
Theme: children in plot-line per precis

Susan A: Just What the Truth Is by Cardeno C., 194 pages - review
Theme: Listopia #73 - Best Gay Books Dealing With Children

Completed Posts


� Week 4: Main character wears a uniform

Hina: Nobody's Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, 374 pages - review
Theme: MC is a football player per precis

Nikita: Melting The Ice by Jaci Burton, 336 pages - review
Theme: MC is a Hockey Player per precis

Nichole: Protecting What's His by Tessa Bailey, 160 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Men In Uniform

Susan A: A Minor Inconvenience by Sarah Granger, 264 pages - review
Theme: men in uniform in book per precis




� Week 5: Enemies to Lovers

Hina: No More Sweet Surrender by Caitlin Crews, 192 pages - review
Theme: Found in precis

Nikita: Only Mine by Susan Mallery, 379 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Enemies To Lovers Opposites Attract

Nichole: Playing for Keeps by R.L. Mathewson, 220 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Popular Enemies To Lovers Books

Susan A: A Little Bit Country by S.J. Frost, 188 pages - review
Theme: Listopia - Best Gay Enemies/Rivals/Opposites Become Lovers



� Week 6: Book with less than 200 ratings (per GR)

Hina: His Valentine Bride by Cindy Kirk, 220 pages - review
Theme: 33 ratings per GR

Nikita: The Wedding Date: A Christmas Novella by Cara Connelly, 192 pages - review
Theme: 74 ratings per GR

Nichole: The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood, 360 pages - review
Theme: Option 2 (key date: 13 September 2013) - Nikita, Dec. 19th, 2013 - 3 stars

Susan A: At Your Service by Amy Jo Cousins, 185 pages - review
Theme: 18 ratings per GR

Completed Posts


� Week 7: Historical Setting (in any period more than 50 years ago)

Hina: Seduction by Amanda Quick, 354 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Historical Romance

Nikita: Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas, 373 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Historical Romance

Nichole: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, 375 pages - review
Theme: Shelf - Popular Historical Romance Books

Susan A: End of the Trail by Jane Elliot, 186 pages - review
Theme: Listopia - Best Gay Historical Romance




� Week 8: Book published for the first time in the last 6 months - 27 September 2013

Hina: The Bridesmaid by Julia London, 160 pages - review
Theme: Published February 13th 2014 per precis Published: October 1st, 2013

Nikita: Pass

Nichole: Transcendence by Shay Savage, 312 pages - review
Theme: Published February 13th 2014 per precis

Susan A: Cupcakes by Sean Michael, 188 pages - review
Theme: Published January 8th 2014 per precis

PASS

PASSES USED


Week 1: No passes used
Week 2: No passes used
Week 3: No passes used
Week 4: No passes used
Week 5: No passes used
Week 6: No passes used
Week 7: No passes used
Week 8: Pass: Nikita
Week 9: NO PASSES ALLOWED

Since everyone is ready to start and I under-estimated the organisational skills of all these groups as well as myself, I will call the first theme (category) early on Wednesday between 6-9pm US EST. (That is Thursday 9am - 12pm Australian EST :)

This means everyone will have 9 days to read their first book. I will revert to Friday in week 2.

Please watch the Q&A/Announcement thread for the call or any other updates :)

Yay! I'm so ready.

Woohoo!

It's getting closer!



I should finish up one of my books tonight! Perfect timing :)

On a side note, it's 12(F) degrees outside with a wind chill of -6, and it's windy. Same thing tomorrow too. Brrrrrrr!

Week 1

Book set in the UK or Ireland

I think I'll be reading...

Week 1
- 356p.
Theme: Set in the UK (Scotland)
"A powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle."-precis

Or maybe

Week 1
-384p.
Theme: Set in the UK (Scotland)
"Journeying from England to Scotland to wed a highlander, Lady Brenna had resigned herself to the arranged match."-precis

Oohhh Nichole -- have you read The Wedding? It is one of my favorite romance books. I loved Julie Garwood's historicals...and I miss them. I am not a fan of her contemporary novels.

Week 1 Death by Silver 272 pages/GR


Theme: set in UK

Susan A wrote: "Oohhh Nichole -- have you read The Wedding? It is one of my favorite romance books. I loved Julie Garwood's historicals...and I miss them. I am not a fan of her contemporary novels."

I haven't read it yet, but I'm going to. I actually picked up A Hunger Like No Other today. It will be my next audio book. I can get the ebook of The Wedding from the library, so it's really just a matter of what I get to first.

I'm trying really hard not to one-click so much this year. But. There is nothing better than listening to a highlander novel, if done right. We'll see if I succumb to the audible call, lol.

And yes, JG is my favorite HR author. I'm on a mission to read all of hers. I'm not a fan of romantic suspense, so I really have no interest in her other books. Have you read Rebellious Desire? So far, that's her only HR that I haven't loved!

I'll be reading either

Before Jamaica Lane - 432 pages
Theme: Set in Edinburgh, Scotland

OR

The Prize - 408 pages
Theme: set in England

Nikita, would you like us to move or delete our beginning posts so your reserved posts get moved up? Just let me know!

Yay to starting early...didn't see this before I started my book today. Currently reading... and then I will be reading which from the description seems like have a setting in England.

by Nichole wrote:"I haven't read it yet, but I'm going to. I actually picked up A Hunger Like No Other today. It will be my next audio book. I can get the ebook of The Wedding from the library, so it's really just a matter of what I get to first. "


Julie Garwood's Wedding and Bride are my all time favorites of hers. I also recently read Hunger like no other and I really liked it as well. Love the hero.

Nichole wrote: "Nikita, would you like us to move or delete our beginning posts so your reserved posts get moved up? Just let me know!"

I should be fine with the ones that I reserved from post 24 but if you would like our teams weekly updates to be further up, I could always use my intro message in post 6 & 7.

Hina will you be reading The Paid Companion for this challenge? If so could you please post your book selection in the correct format.

Nikita wrote: "Nichole wrote: "Nikita, would you like us to move or delete our beginning posts so your reserved posts get moved up? Just let me know!"

I should be fine with the ones that I reserved from post 24 ..."


I can delete message 5, and then they will be right at the top. Will it mess up anything?

I like the idea of having it at the top.

Nichole wrote: And yes, JG is my favorite HR author. I'm on a mission to read all of hers. I'm not a fan of romantic suspense, so I really have no interest in her other books. Have you read Rebellious Desire? So far, that's her only HR that I haven't loved! "

I know that I read it, because I've read all of the historicals. However, even reading the blurb doesn't bring back any memories of it, so my guess is, no I didn't love that one. Looks like I read it in high school based on the publication date...ahhh, good times. My mom would buy the book, read it in one day, pass it on to me to read and then from me to my little sister, who honestly, was WAY TOO YOUNG to be reading this stuff. I think I'd have heart failure if my 12 yr old was reading this!


My favorite is The Wedding, then Ransom, then The Bride, The Gift. Bizarrely, I remember that my sister's favorite book of all time was The Bride and her other favorite was The Lion's LadyThe Lion's Lady

Susan A wrote: "Nikita wrote: "Nichole wrote: "Nikita, would you like us to move or delete our beginning posts so your reserved posts get moved up? Just let me know!"

I should be fine with the ones that I reserve..."

It will probably make it easier to see if it's at the top so I'll use those top posts for our updates and I don't think it should mess up anything if you remove that post Susan.

Post removed

Susan A wrote: "Post removed"

Thanks Susan.

Well okay, with all the JG love, I think I'll be reading The Wedding. :)

Susan, I loved Ransom too! And I have The Lion's Lady on deck for a March challenge.

Week 1: The Paid Companion - 444 pages
Theme: Set in England

(Hina - your post looks great now :)

Following is a post going in all threads. Please read :)

Please use the format for posting your books as per msg 3 of this team thread. Please make a separate post (without chatter ;) for that selection AND for when you post your completion. This will make it MUCH easier for the Captain to track your books.

And please remember to mark each selection and completion post with the week number as well. This is really important, especially when we reach week 7, and book reviews and selections could cover from week 5 through to week 7.

(Selections still have to happen in the week of the theme announcement, but members can fall behind on posting their book completion by up to 2 weeks. At 3 weeks they are eliminated from the challenge.)

Week 1
Death by Silver
5 stars


Death by Silver is a historical/alternative world murder mystery, set in late 1800's Victorian England. Lots of detail and a complicated murder mystery make this an excellent read. There was a developing romance between the 2 MC, who were childhood friends who lived through some shared horror at school. I am hoping that the authors intend to write more about this duo.

I'm not sure that I am posting correctly. I don't understand Jane's message in post 48.