Carole Rae's Random Ramblings: Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

Showing posts with label Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge. Show all posts

Monday, December 30

2019 Challenge Wrap-Up

And here we are again....the end of the year. 2019 is turning to 2020 in just a little while. Woah. Let us take a look at how I did in my 2019 challenges!

Challenge 1:
Read 30 - 40 Audiobooks

This year I ended up at....................60!!!!

Blew past that goal. Woot!

Challenge 2:
Goodreads reading challenge to read overall 140 books

This year I ended up at...................

Challenge 3:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge to read 16-25 books

This year I read..........21!!

Challenge 4:

Historical Romance Reading Challenge. Try to get a bingo.

Got 1 bingo. Close to a couple of them though. :)

Challenge 5:

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge. Try to get at least one bingo.

Waahhh Didn't get a bingo for this one. I slightly let this one go whoops. D:

Blog Goal:

Had a couple of challenges I did for blog posts. One was Blog All About It. Had to post the prompt each month.

Jan- First

Feb- Pink

Mar- Luck

April- Sweet

May- Bloom

June- Risk

July- Heat

Aug- Sky

Sept- Crunch

Oct- Shiver

Nov- Thankful

Dec- Twinkle

If you wanna check them out, here is the link!

Did a Get Your Shit Together challenge in October. I got a lot done. Not everything off the list, but a lot. Here is the link to check them out!

Personal Life Goals:

I wanted to stay active this year. I've done pretty okay. The last two months I've been bad, but I feel decent. I even started a Jillian Michaels work out DVD. :)

I also wanted to paint more. I've done some painting. More so at the beginning of the year, but pretty constant. I've even done some crafting!

I will be announcing my favorites of 2019 Jan 1st :) Keep an eye on that! Also, I'll be announcing my challenges soon too (still deciding what to join this upcoming year).

Thanks, everyone for the love and support in 2019! See you in 2020!

Thursday, December 5

Book Review: Corporate Christmas by Bernadette Marie

Author: Bernadette Marie
Title: Corporate Christmas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: ebook
Publication Date: November 5th 2019
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Chloe Richardson had just landed the biggest client of her career. A promotion was in her future, or so she thought until the handsome Jason Mitchell walked into her office with his gorgeous smile and searing blue eyes—and took her job.

Losing her job so close to Christmas, Chloe’s only choice was to go back home to Aubrey Heights, where the Christmas spirit is celebrated in a tourist loving, wonderland. Perhaps she can pull herself together before the new year—before her new career search.

However, Jason follows her to Aubrey Heights—with a mission of his own. First he stole her job—now he wants to steal her heart.

Is the spirit of Christmas alive enough in her to let that happen?

'Tis the season for holiday books!! Couldn't resist this one!

The story follows Chloe who has spent years being groomed for great things by her former boss. Now that he has retired, Chloe is working like a madwoman for the new boss. However, that promotion that she deserved is given to an external hire named Jason. Things happen and now Chloe goes back home to Aubrey Heights for the holidays to get her head straight and find a new path. Jason follows her there to steal her heart.

As I mentioned, I was intrigued by this book right away. However, I did have my worries about how Jason would steal her job and then her heart. Luckily he wasn't a huge jerk like I thought. It really wasn't his fault he got the job and not her. I was also really worried that HOW he was going to win her heart. She has every right to be upset.

I liked Chloe and I liked Jason. They were cute and I just wanted them to be happy but I wasn't sure how they were going to get their HEA.

The town of Aubrey Heights is cute. I wanna go there! So cute and small.

The beginning was a little slow there for me to really get hooked, but as soon as I was hooked I was hooked. I got this done in a couple of sittings. Short, but good overall.

In the end, I really did like this. A little slow at the beginning and I was worried about how Chloe was ever going to get with Jason. If you are looking for a quick, cute xmas book this is the one for you. I'll stamp this with 4 stars.

I'm going to consider this a enemies to lovers.

Wednesday, September 25

Blog All About It: it's CRUNCH time

This month's prompt is: Crunch

This is going to be a stretch on the prompt for sure, but I think it fits.So please follow me through this. This is going to be a check-in on my book goals since we only have a few weeks left of the year. We are officially in crunch time mode!

It is September (what???? WHENN????) and the end of the year is creeping on us. SHOULD I START CHRISTMAS SHOPPING? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN???? I AM TURNING A YEAR OLDER! BF AND I ARE CELEBRATING ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY! IT IS NEARLY 2020!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Okay...momentary freak out is over.....soooo it is CRUNCH time to get these challenges done. Only so many months left. So many days left....so many hours left. *hyperventilating with a smile on my face and a thumbs up*

Here is where I am for the year with my challenges and goals:

Books overall: I am 3 books ahead at this current rate. So doing good, doing good.

Audiobook Challenge: Goal is to listen to 30 this year 41!!!! Hot dang! Completed THAT challenge.

I had picked the Detective level for this which is 16/25 books. I am at 18. I hit the minimum of the goal! Now I'm gonna try and hit the 25!

Contemporary Romance Challenge: 13 left. No BINGOs so I need to get on this and get at least one Bingo.

Historical Romance Challenge: 12 boxes left. I have one BINGO. WOOT. Hopefully I can get one or two more BINGOs.

Crunch time initiated! I think I am going to try and really focus on my BINGOs. I have some lined up that should fit the categories. I did get off base for a while with these. Can't help myself when there is a book that calls my name ;)

Good luck everyone in the last few weeks of 2019! IT IS CRUNCH TIME!!!!! WE CAN DO IT!

Friday, August 9

Audiobook Review: The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston

Author: Shelly Laurenston
Narrator: Charlotte Kane

Title: The Mane Event
(Pride #1)

Genre: Paranormal Romance & fantasy
Pages: Audiobook
Published: September 25th 2007
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Mace Llewellyn. Brendon Shaw. Two tall, gorgeous, sexy alpha heroes who are 100% male―with a little something extra. Lion-shifters, to be exact, who can unleash every woman's animal side and still look good―make that spectacular―in a suit... and even better out of it...

NYPD cop Desiree "Dez" MacDermot knows she's changed a lot since she palled around with her childhood buddy, Mace. But it's fair to say that Mace has changed even more. It isn't just those too-sexy gold eyes, or the six-four, built-like-a-Navy Seal body. It's something in the way he sniffs her neck and purrs, making her entire body tingle...

Meanwhile, for Tennessean Ronnie Lee Reed, New York City is the place where any girl―even one who runs with a Pack―can redefine herself. First order of business: find a mate, settle down, and stop using men for sex. Even big, gorgeous, lion shifter men like Brendon Shaw. But she needn't worry, because now that Brendon's set his sights on her, the predator in him is ready to pounce and never let go...

This was an interesting format. Two couples. One book. Why not?

First we get Mace and Dez. They had been childhood friends and they come across each other years and years later. Dez is a cop. Mace is a rich boy who is just coming back from the Navy. The two meet and sparks fly. Next, we have Ronnie and Brendon. Ronnie is a flighty Southern gal and Brendon is newly rich and looking for his brother.

I did like how the two stories are intertwined. It was like a two-in-one. Right after Mace and Dez get their HEA we start right up with Ronnie and Brendon. I didn't think I'd like it, but it worked.

I will say I liked Ronnie and Brendon better. D and M were okay...but they were annoying at points. R and B were cuter and funnier. Plus I got a kick out of two opposite shifters coming together. One is wolf and one is Lion. Loved all the jokes.

The biggest issue I had though was the copy and pasting especially in the first story. Ugh. WE GET IT. We promise. I got so annoyed with all the repeating. The second story had SOME but not as bad as the first one. Ugh.

Other than that I had no real issues.

I adored the narrator. She made this fun and funny. I think I would've been annoyed if I had to read this, especially with the copy-paste bits. The narrator was awesome. I want to listen to more by her.

Overall, I did like this story. The repeating elements got old and M and D annoyed me at some points. However, the narrator really pulled everything together for me. And I did really like R and B It was enjoyable. I'll give this 4 stars.

Wednesday, July 24

Audiobook Review: Hope Ignites by Jaci Burton

Author: Jaci Burton
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Title: Hope Ignites
(Hope #2)

Genre:Contemporary Romance, Western
Pages: Audiobook
Published: March 25th 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Logan McCormack likes his isolated life on the ranch, until a movie crew starts filming there. When actress Desiree Jenkins blows into his life, she wrecks it harder than the Oklahoma winds with her brutal honesty and soft touch. Des knows this is a temporary stay, but she loves the open freedom of the land, and for the first time in her life, Des feels like she might have found a place she can call home, with a man she might be falling in love with. But Logan’s heart is tougher than the soil beneath them—can she convince him that they belong together?

Book 2 in the series. I was super excited this one, because I had liked Logan in the last book.

Logan is rancher who only loves his family and his ranch and his dogs. He accepts a contract with a movie crew to film their movie on part of his land. Why not? Extra cash! He then meets Desiree/Des Jenkins who is an actress. There is lust and maybe a hope of love?

Logan was a snotball, but I get why. His parents had a crappy marriage because his mom did not want the rancher life. She just wanted to be in the city and be glamorous...sooo a hot actress breezing into town? Lots of flags there. But after a point c'mon man. Get that stubborn head out of your butt. She loves you. You love her. She loves the town. She loves the ranch. She loves the animals. IT IS PERFECT! Sure she may do some movies here and there but you guys can make it work.

Des was okay. I didn't get a lot of her motives...but I liked her.

LOVED Colt. He stole my little heart. His relationship with Tony was cute. I would love a little short story for those too. I want more Colt/Tony.

Now...I did have issues with the length and how long they took to be together. Sure lots of smexy times and lots of hanging out and being couple-y. But it took until the last 10 mins for them to realize they love each other. So frustrating. I would've loved to see them make the commitment and see a touch of their arrangement or something. Just something. It got....a bit boring. Sighs. They kept going on how they don't BS each other and they are honest with their feelings...but they refuse to talk about the elephant in the room. Gah.

The narrator was awesome too....as per normal. She is so fun!

All-in-all I did like this. I wish there had been some more to see the dynamic once they realized they loved each other. I liked them together, but it was an easy fix and they dragged it out too long. Not as good as the first book. I'll stamp this with 3 stars.

Pet/Animal on the cover

Thursday, July 11

Audiobook Review: Hope Flames by Jaci Burton

Author: Jaci Burton
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Title: Hope Flames
(Hope #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: Audiobook
Published: January 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she's not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.

That's fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he's devoted to the only faithful companion in his life - his police dog. Still, there's something about Emma he can't shake.

When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they're giving each other something they thought they'd lost forever... hope

Mainly picked this up because it will give me a stamp on my bingo sheet, but then the story dragged me in.

The story follows Luke and Emma. Luke is divorced and only dedicated to two things: his job and his police dog. He isn't looking for love. Emma just got her life in order after an abusive and controlling relationship. She has her vet practice open and her dog by her side. She isn't looking for love. Well...you know how these things end up.

I liked Luke and I liked Emma. I liked their dogs. I liked the families. I liked their friends. I liked this book a lot. A good story and a good plot. Two people who got screwed over and they find each other. It was a nice story.

There was a touch of mystery. There was a touch of drama. It worked well. Nothing over-the-top cheesy or annoying. A nice blend of romance and serious stuff.

Emma did need a shaking at the end there. I get her feelings...but....Luke is not your ex. Love him dammit!

I had no issues with the story. It was sweet with a touch of dark. A nice balance.

The narrator was good. Loved her voices. They fit nice.

Overall, a really good story. No faults except for stubborn Emma! Haha. But you can hardly blame her for needing extra time. I'll give this 5 stars.

Wednesday, July 3

Historical and Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge Mid-Year Check-In

We are over half-way through the year! I think it is time for a nice check-in with our Bingo Romance reading challenge!

Let's start with the historical romance one first!