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Jane, I am on route to Paris with an overnight stay in a hotel as they cancelled my London train.
I am going to get caught up to ight in my lonely hotel room...lol

I'm good with any of the options you all have come up with. Would love to go with the Annabeth Albert series though.

Shannon wrote: "I'm good with any of the options you all have come up with. Would love to go with the Annabeth Albert series though."

Thats ok by me

I'm good with that, too. I've got access to all those Out of Uniform audio books via hoopla and my library.

Also, if I can add Rhys to the author list? I've got some audiobooks to catch up on from her.

Lisa wrote: "Jane, I am on route to Paris with an overnight stay in a hotel as they cancelled my London train.
I am going to get caught up to ight in my lonely hotel room...lol"

Have fun in 'gay Parie' Lisa! So appropriate!

Great everyone - we are under control! And I'll add Rhys Ford to the author list :)

I'll be headed home at category call time, so I'll check in at 330 PDT

I think its pretty soon, yes? In 15mins or so?

🎉🎆���

TASK 1

0. As a team select your favorite month of 2019 (because 2020 basically SUCKS!) and each player reads a book initially published in that month. No pass for this task.


For this task we are using the initial publication date. If one is listed at the top of the editions page, use that. Otherwise I will be looking for the first published date of an English language edition. Remember to use the first English language Kindle edition for your page count and ensure that your completion posts contain all the required information listed in message #3 of your team thread.

Ooo - a curve ball!!

September 2019 and November 2019 suit me best...

OH MAN WHY DIDN'T I WAIT? I could have used Cabrini 2 for November.

Lemme look at September. Too many holiday titles in November.

Edited to add: Yep, lots of TBR books on the September release list. I like that one best.

OK - lets go September 2019 😁

I'm sure the others will find plenty of reading fodder in that month!

Ok! Whittling it down now...

Got one...are we doing selection posts or just completions?

⚣M�����󲹱�������� wrote: "Got one...are we doing selection posts or just completions?"

Just completions I think :)

And this time around we have to add a completion date and rating.

(Can't remember the details of last time but I know there wasn't a rating despite us nearly always adding one.)

What does everyone else prefer? I was tracking our selections to completions in the first round, but I don't think we need to...

Either way works for me. I'll probably post here what I'm reading just so I'll remember what I'm reading it for!!

Reading Conspiracy Theory

Reading The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes

Great idea Shannon...

Shannon wrote: "Reading Conspiracy Theory"

Hi Shannon - this was published in October.

We are reading one published September 2019!!

Task 1 -Selection Post
Published September 2019
The Monster of Elendhaven
160 pages /GR
How it fits: published 24th September 2019

Jane (PS) wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Reading Conspiracy Theory"

Hi Shannon - this was published in October.

We are reading one published September 2019!!"

September, October...what's the dif? *headdesk*

I haven't started it yet so let me do this the correct way....Aaaand this is why I post what I'm going to read.

Jane, text me and I'll send you the vid of my corgi getting his wheelchair yesterday!! lol

Ok Lisa, I'm going in...and a little scared I might enjoy this too much.

Task 1 Selection Post
September 2019


Secrets & Lies by Nicky James
Pages: 259
Qualification: Pub 9/26/19

[*book:Secrets & Lies|49623527]

Task 1 Completion Post
September 2019


Secrets & Lies by Nicky James
Pages: 259
Qualification: Pub 9/26/19
Read: 9/14/20
Rating: ★★��

I wanted to rate this one higher but didn't feel it as much as I was hoping. It wasn't the taboo nature that didn't work for me but the connection. I felt it when TJ was younger but not as much when he was adult. Until the very end at least. That I really enjoyed.

[*book:Secrets & Lies|49623527]

Task 1 Completion Post
Published September 2019
The Monster of Elendhaven
160 pages /GR
How it fits: published 24th September 2019
Date read: 09/14/20
3 stars

A strange book which was good until the very last part and then I had a WTF moment, where I was totally confused at the end. I think I might have to go back and reread the last 20 pages or so to see if it makes more sense.
You couldn't call this a romance. Only a msall kiss. If anything else went on, it was off the page and wasn't eluded to.

Selection/Completion Post

Week 1: Published September 2019

Tanner by Shaw Montgomery
Page Count: 206
How it Qualifies: Published September 6th 2019
Date Completed: 14Sep2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: You know, I always expect SM/MAI to bring it with the hot & dirty sexy times, but this time they also brought some thought-provoking social commentary.

At first, the cultural construct was a little difficult to grab. It was quite different than the usual ABO trope with a heavy emphasis on how proper equality between the genders was to be approached. Which, okay, I get that. But the author also touched on how it was often the Betas that were pushing this agenda, almost infantilizing Omegas in trying so hard to "protect" them. Seemingly without taking the Omegas' opinions into consideration. Yes, I'm sure it was a tough road to hoe for Omegas to get that equality but by instituting corruption laws and making it so that Omegas couldn't own their own sexuality...well, it was taking the Omegas' power away in another way. It took away their choices to step outside these prescribed roles and negated any say they had in their own agency.

But here we get a group of Omega friends challenging that, wanting to explore submission within their own boundaries, within their own bedrooms, and having to face how difficult every aspect of that would be. From find discrete contractors to build their BDSM club, to finding open-minded Alphas willing to explore submission with them.

Very much looking forward to the next books to eventually see how these guys get their HEAs, and maybe clueing in society at large that they don't need meddling with.

[*book:Tanner|52254787]

I almost picked that book Michaelle.

LOL, and I only picked it because I got it for free back in February (I think) and I'll trying to stick to books I own, can get from library/hoopla, or are KU.

It was definitely interesting and I'm more eager to read several of the other Omegas' stories given what we learn about each of them in this one.

I forgot to mark the progress thread for notification and without that I am having a hard time checking to see if any teams have completed the first challenge yet... stupid app is stupid.

Okay, I'm home now so I marked the progress/update thread for notifications.

⚣M�����󲹱�������� wrote: "I forgot to mark the progress thread for notification and without that I am having a hard time checking to see if any teams have completed the first challenge yet... stupid app is stupid."

Team 11 has completed the first task...

I have about 2-3 hours left on my audio. Had to brand cattle this morning and I'm working. *sigh*

...But I'm getting there :)

Task 1 - Published September 2019


The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes
Page numbers: 336 pages per GR
Qualifies: published 26 September 2019 (refer booklink above)
Date Completed: 15 September 2020
Rating/Review: 4 stars

Enjoyable light fun. A lot of silly joking but very easy to listen to. Excellent narration by Michael Ferraiuolo.

[*book:The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes|51958880]

Task 1 - Published September 2019
Completion Posts

Jane - The Hitman's Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes - msg 84
Shannon - Secrets & Lies - msg 76
Lisa - The Monster of Elendhaven - msg 77
Michaelle - Tanner - msg 78

Jane (PS) wrote: "Team 11 has completed the first task...

I have about 2-3 hours left on my audio. Had to brand cattle this morning and I'm working. *sigh*

...But I'm getting there :)"

No stress!

As long as we stay on pace to finish before the next category call, we're good. It's only that last day that matters, anyway. We just have to have a plan for that one to finish first!!!

Here is Task 2:

2. Each player reads the first book in a series, can be same or different series - no pass for this task.

The book you choose needs to be #1 or lower in a series listed on GR. Prequels count as long as they meet the challenge requirements. Please include a link to the series page in your completion.

Task 2 - Selection Post
#1 in a series
A Kiss Before Christmas
157 pages / GR
Rory & Jack series page

[*book:A Kiss Before Christmas|42413469]

I have asked if the series can be just the first book available as long as labelled as (name of series #1)

Selection Post

Task 2: First book in a series

Smash & Grab by Maz Maddox
Page Count: 179
How it Qualifies: Relic #1

[*book:Smash & Grab|54500501]

Lisa wrote: "I have asked if the series can be just the first book available as long as labelled as (name of series #1)"

I hope so; if not I'll be back to change my selection.

Task 2 - First book in a series
Selection


The Last Sun
Page numbers: 368 pages per GR
Qualifies: The Tarot Sequence #1

[*book:The Last Sun|36466732]

Task 2 Selection Post
First Book in Series


Saving the Senator's Son by Jacki James
Pages: 251
Qualification: #1 in Hart Security

[*book:Saving the Senator's Son|54897768]

Task 2 - First book in a series
COMPLETION


The Last Sun
Page numbers: 368 pages per GR
Qualifies: The Tarot Sequence #1
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This is a complex fast-moving story that I will need to reread to really grasp the finer details. I wouldn't describe it as romance however I suppose the story has romantic aspects to it. There's a great line up of characters with personality and meaning.

The real longer term interest is how Lord Sun will develop into his powers and position, and gain revenge to end his lifelong quest. For that alone, I will continue to read the series.

[*book:The Last Sun|36466732]

Selection/Completion

Task 2: First book of a series

Jonah's Compass by Annabella Stone
Page Count: 435pgs
How it Fits: Delta Force: Team Panther Book 1
Completion Date: 16Sep2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: The initial handful of chapters were jump cuts in time and while it was good to get a more thorough back story for the couple (and their team) it felt disjointed compared to the rest of book (which spanned several days). Some editing errors, but not enough to throw me out of the tale.

What did throw me out was one particular plot point: Jonah's plane had a bedroom that was repeatedly said to be soundproof (as to make the sexy times more private when the rest of the guys were traveling with them)...and then near the end of the book Matt & Jonah were having a conversation with someone else through the closed door of said "soundproof" room. Yeah, I know it's a small complaint but don't make a big deal out of something and then toss it out the window when it's convenient.

That said, the characters were interesting and complicated and I liked that. Were I Jonah, I'd have made Matt grovel a bit more before forgiving him. Gonna put the next one on the TBR though after reading the preview and the summaries of the following books.

[*book:Jonah's Compass|39590850]

Ended up changing my selection since my Bingo book fit.

Task 2 Completion Post
First Book in Series


Saving the Senator's Son by Jacki James
Pages: 251
Qualification: #1 in Hart Security
Read: 9/16/20
Rating: ★★★★

Another great book! I'm on a roll. I didn't think I'd like this one so much but Trey just broke my heart. That poor guy. Living someone else's life. No worries, Roman comes in and saves him. Like for real saves him. I didn't figure out the stalker until it was revealed which was lovely and I loved every minute of Trey and Roman's story.

[*book:Saving the Senator's Son|54897768]

Task 2 - Completion Post
#1 in a series
A Kiss Before Christmas
157 pages / GR
Rory & Jack series page
Date read: 09/16/20
4 stars

A fake to real boyfriend story. Found huddled in his doorway, Jack invites Ryan inside to get warm and have something to eat.
Eventually they come up
the idea of fake boyfriends, so Jack can take him ho to his parents for Xmas.
A quick read and a little insta-love but a nice xmas story.

[*book:A Kiss Before Christmas|42413469]

Task 2 Completion Post
Team 3 - Still Loitering Layabouts - The Goid Edition

Read book #1 in a series.
Jane - The Last Sun - Message 92
Michaelle - Jonah's Compass - Message 95
Shannon - Saving the Senator's Son - - Message 97
Lisa - A Kiss Before Christmas - Message 98

Posted in main tracking thread

Thanks Lisa! I only have one more book that I absolutely need to fit to one of these tasks or get read before the end of the month now. And the longer books are done! 😅