Romantic Paintings Spell Challenge

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 5
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

CThe Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
U
P
I
DMatilda by Roald Dahl

February 2021 Spell Challenge – Romantic Paintings
Duration: Feb 01, 2021 – Feb 28, 2021

To complement Suzanne’s scavenger challenge about romantic paintings, we’ve got a number of word choices for this month’s spell challenge. The rules are simple, pick a word and read a book for every letter using the first letter of the title (ignore A, An and The) or the first or last initial of the author (not the middle).

Allegory
Beauty
Botticelli
Bouguereau
Cupid

de Toulouse-Lautrec
Desire
Dreamy
Erotic
Fisherman
Flaming June

Imagery
Innocence
Intimacy
Japanese
Klimt

Leighton
Longing
Love
Manet
Monet
Mosaic

Passion
Renoir
Romantic
Roses
Sensual
Syren

Tender
The Kiss
Venice
Venus
Vienna

CHALLENGE RULES – PLEASE READ!
See this thread for more detailed rules for CCC challenges.

❖ Books must be at least 150 pages long (unless they are graphic novels, see below) and may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged.

❖ Graphic novels must be at least 300 pages long, but two books can be combined to make up the page count as long as they both meet the same criteria.

❖ For each book you read, please post a link to the title and mention the author and the date you finished reading it.*

❖ If you want the challenge moderator to verify those books as you post them, please copy/paste your update into a new message. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your formatting, etc. too. It will make it easier on the moderators if we won’t have to scroll back through the entire thread looking for “message #15,” or to follow links back to an original post.

❖ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read 🙂 If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.

❖ Rereads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not just skim the best portions! 🙂

* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions HERE.

The Struggle of Good and Evil

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 3
Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches

February 2021: The Struggle of Good and Evil
Duration: 2/1/2021-2/28/2021

There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task.

February
1. Read a book featuring someone you admire (famous historical figure, character who has qualities you admire, author you admire, etc.) – Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (Nayna)
2. Read a book featuring a power struggle – Matilda by Roald Dahl
3. Read a hard-hitting book or a character who is morally grey. – The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid (Bryan and alcoholism)

Rules
~Books must be read during the selected time period.
~Post the date you finished the book.
~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge.
~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice.
~At the end of the challenge, it will be closed for commenting and moved to the archives folder
~Use the add book/author tool to tag your book within your challenge.

Night Spawn Bingo

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 9
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
February-Bingo
description

Welcome to Night Spawn BINGO. Each month a new BINGO game will be posted with new tasks to complete. Get three in a row (Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal) to receive your Vampire Heart.

Rules:
Complete three tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

Read 3 books that have one of the following Supernatural Beings in it (Must be in a Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal pattern).

Top Row:

Vampires~ Werewolves~ Witches

Middle Row:

Ghost~ Demon~ Fae

Bottom Row:

Shifter~ Necromancer~ Angel
Necromancer – Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

description

Moonlight Serenade

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Moonlight Serenade

Duration: February 1 – 28

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count

M

1. Released in February of any year – The Flyaway Bride by Langley Gray
2. With water on the cover – The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
3. That is between 5 and 6 hours or that has a 5 or 6 in the page count – The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid (306 pp.)
4. With an MPG of Romance – The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
5. With a paranormal character – Megan’s Mark by Lora Leigh
6. That has a cover that has pink or red on it – Matilda by Roald Dahl

Funko Vamps – February 2021

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

February
Read a book with a sweet story – The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
Read a book from your favourite series/author – The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
Read a book with a fun character – Matilda by Roald Dahl
Read a book published in February of any year – The Flyaway Bride by Langley Gray
Read a book tagged paranormal – Megan’s Mark by Lora Leigh
Read a book with a vampire – Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

Year of the Ox

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Year of the Ox

Duration
February 1st – 28th 2021

Rule
Complete at least 2 tasks to get the heart
No minimum page count
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
A different book must be used for each task

description

‣ Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise.
Recent years of the Ox are: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

• Read a book published in any of those years

‣ Metal – 1961, 2021 – These Oxen face obstacles early on, although there are no financial worries. Friends and family aren’t much help, but they will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement.
• Read a book with a retired character or where a character doesn’t get along with their family – Matilda by Roald Dahl

‣ Water – 1973, 2033 – These Oxen have a comfortable early life and are respected their entire life. They will have a loving family, but it’s recommended to marry late.
• Read a book with a family or marriage – The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

‣ Wood – 1925, 1985 – These Oxen are multitalented and live like a breeze. There are some difficulties in the beginning, but everything smooths out.
• Read a book with a dramatic story or cliffhangerThe Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

‣ Fire – 1937, 1997 – These Oxen are friendly and social. There are no financial worries their entire life.
• Read a book with a wealthy character or that was expensive – Beard in Mind by Penny Reid

‣ Earth – 1949, 2009 – These Oxen are detailed and like being the leader. They usually make a lot of money, but can’t seem to hold onto it. However, they are able to slow down and enjoy their later years.
• Read a book where someone loses something or with a slow-burn romance – Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh

Opposites Attract

Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021
Number of books: 10
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

♥ Duration:
Starts: February 1st
Ends: February 28th

♥ How It Works:
Max is 10 books each month. But there are 5 different levels. Select which level you want and that’s how many items you will need to check off.

♥ Levels:
Transitional – 2 books
Baby Vamp – 4 books
Vampire minion – 6 books
Master – 8 books
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books or more

1. Not your traditional February Love theme…
Read a book that starts with a letter in OPPOSITES OR
Read a book whose author’s initial can be found in ATTRACT

The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

2. February 1 ~ Spunky Old Broads Day
Read a book whose MC is a spunky old broad OR
Read a book whose MC is a “spring chicken” (young person)

3. February 2 ~ Ground Hogs Day
Read a book with repeating words in the title OR
Read a book with no words beginning with the same letter in the title

Beard in Mind by Penny Reid

4. February 7 ~ Superbowl Sunday
Read a book with red, blue or silver on the cover (NFL logo) OR
Read a book with no teamwork (your interpretation)

Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

5. February 11 ~ White T-shirt day
Read a book with a white shirt on the cover OR
Read a book with a bare chest on the cover

Megan’s Mark by Lora Leigh

6. February 13 ~ Get a Different Name Day
Read a book where someone gets married OR
Read a book with a character that has a nickname

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh

7. February 14 ~ Valentine’s Day
Read a book with a heart on the cover OR
Read a book with a couple that bickers or fights often

8. February 16 ~ Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday
Read a fat book…one with over 300 pages OR
Read a skinny book…one with less than 100 pages

The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid (306 pp.)

9. February 25 ~ Pistol Patent Day
Read a book with a weapon on the cover OR
Read a non-violent book

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

10. February 26 ~ Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Read a book that is a retelling OR
Read a book that does not have a Paranormal or Fantasy tag

The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

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December 2020

December Month Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

December, as always, was nuts. So not as much reading as I would like…

But. Wow. What a year.

I’m also a little annoyed at myself, because I had all these grand plans to get my 2020 Reading Challenges completed… but at least I made my reading goal!!!

Series

Short story collections

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Image source: Shutterstock

Elizabeth’s Wolf by Lora Leigh

Overview
Elizabeth's Wolf by Lora Leigh - Penguin Books New Zealand

Title: Elizabeth’s Wolf
Author: Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #3
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: EroticaParanormal romance, Romantic suspense
Dates read: 28th – 29th December 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: Even his balls tightened at the smell.

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to the “highly charged and carnal” (Fresh Fiction) world of her Breeds novels with an expanded edition of Elizabeth’s Wolf, a paranormal romance that awakens the beast within…

Special Forces soldier Dash has all but given up his will to live – until an innocent letter from a little girl brings him back to life. Cassie writes to him every week, strengthening his resolve to recover from the devastating loss of his unit. But when the letter suddenly stop arriving, Dash instinctively knows Cassie and her mother are in critical danger.

Elizabeth and her daughter are on the run from a dark and bloody past that refuses to let them go. The stakes are too high for Elizabeth to fall for this dangerous man who just walked into her life, but, now more than ever, she needs help.

Saving his mate and her daughter calls Dash’s beast to the forefront and transforms the lone wolf into an alpha protector; he becomes Elizabeth’s wolf.

Thoughts

The Breeds series is one that I have a bit of a tendency to pick up, and then put back down again. Not because it isn’t amazing. But it is most definitely graphic. And not the kind of books that I like to read with other people around… there’s a little too much toe-curling spice in it to have witnesses to my reading. Which means that its been quite a while since I picked up a Breeds novel.

Elizabeth’s Wolf may be my favourite Breeds novel yet. It was a little bit more romantic and relationship based than the others. Less of that raw, animalistic frenzy to mate. Which, whilst enjoyable, is a little bit intense. Instead, Elizabeth and Dash work slowly towards trust. And, whilst they do start ripping each other’s clothes off with abandon, it takes that little bit longer.

There is something gorgeous about a child setting up their parent and creating their happily ever after. Somehow, Cassie is much, much better at this and more manipulative than most of the children I’ve had in my other romances who do this. So much better at it. And a lot more entertaining. She’s an absolute delight and often steals the show. Which makes her backstory and all of the horrible things that happen to her that much more heart wrenching.

I could not get enough of the emotional rollercoaster that this novel took me on. It had all of the fun emotions in it that I’m used to in some of my favourite books. And although it was still erotic and incredibly graphic, the greater build up to these moments made me want it that much more. And seriously helped me to fall further in love with all of the characters.

<- The Man WithinKiss of Heat ->

Image source: Penguin NZ

The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands & Jeaniene Frost

Overview
The Bite Before Christmas Large Print :HarperCollins Australia

Title: The Bite Before Christmas
Author: Lynsay Sands & Jeaniene Frost
In: The Bite Before Christmas (Lynsay Sands & Jeaniene Frost)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 20th – 26th December 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d worked with Mabel to try to find Elvi a mate, had planned and arranged local fairs with Elvi.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

This holiday season, two of today’s most popular paranormal authors invite you into their worlds—where creatures are always stirring . . . and no one sleeps through the night.

Thoughts

I was surprised that this “collection” only contained two novellas. I had half expected it to have more like most of the other collections of this varietal. But somehow it just worked perfectly. I love that both stories are Christmas vampire stories. That they feature long nights and a whole lot of love. And lust. Because there should always be some lust involved…

Both of these stories are so different from one another. The Gift is a beautiful, slow burn romance that leaves you feeling very happy, and just a little bit tingly. Home for the Holidays on the other hand is a little bit more of an action-packed story. One that constantly gets your heart racing and leaves you turning the pages at record speed.

These two novellas were wonderful Christmas stories. They were fun and intriguing. Engaging and definitely a collection that I will be reading again and again in the future.

<- Home for the HolidaysThe Gift ->

Image source: HarperCollins Australia