TBR Challenge March 2023 – Baggage

By |2023-03-15T08:28:58-04:00March 15th, 2023|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , |

When the month’s TBR prompt is “baggage”, you know that you’ll be dealing with emotional stories. While Lynn’s pick is much lighter than Caz’s, both feature characters that need to deal with their pasts in order to have a future together. So, when you think of “baggage,” do you need a real tearjerker of a story or do you think it’s something inherent in most romance conflicts?

Sweet as Pie by Alicia Hunter Pace

Ever have one of those months where the TBR prompt doesn’t match your mood?  Normally  a prompt like “baggage” would have me hauling out quite the angst fest. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Deeply emotional stories, often with leads who have to really work for that HEA. Maybe it’s the winter blahs or maybe it’s my dumpster fire of a […]

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TBR Challenge January 2023 – Starting Over

By |2023-01-17T10:57:47-05:00January 18th, 2023|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , |

It’s 2023, and time for a fresh start to the TBR Challenge year! This month’s prompt is “starting over”, and we both found great ways to explore that theme. Lynn read a contemporary category romance featuring a heroine in need of a fresh start, both personally and professionally, while Caz picked up a historical m/m novella featuring leads getting a second chance at their relationship. Whatever you’re in the mood for, fresh starts and second chances abound in romance, so dig in and start reading!

Her Hometown Detective by Elizabeth Mowers

“Starting over” is a popular theme in small town category romances, so that’s where I immediately started looking when I saw this month’s TBR Challenge theme. Her Hometown Detective by Elizabeth Mowers is an […]

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TBR Challenge, October 2022 – Flirting With Danger

By |2022-10-19T09:14:04-04:00October 19th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , |

“Flirting With Danger” sounded like a sure-fire win from the TBR prompt standpoint. We both enjoy romantic suspense, and there are some very talented authors working in the genre. Caz and I both chose category romance titles this month. While our picks were published almost twenty years apart, they had one thing in common – the suspense was great but the romance needed work.  Hopefully, we’ll have better luck next time. In the meantime, who are some of your favorite romantic suspense authors?

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TBR Challenge August 2022 – Blue Collar

By |2022-08-16T14:22:31-04:00August 17th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , |

If you are one of the romance readers who are pretty much over reading about billionaires, this month’s TBR prompt is right up your alley. Since the prompt was “blue collar”, I started by digging into my stash of category romances. I tend to like stories about everyday, non-billionaire people, so I figured this would be an easy prompt for me as I tend to pick up a fair number of books that could qualify. Oh, I was so wrong. After a few false starts (including a book where apparently the conflict sprang from one lead’s parent having murdered the other), I switched gears and took a look at my Kindle TBR.  Almost immediately, I found a romantic comedy that was a winner. If you’re not in the mood for comedy, Caz found a very moving and emotional m/m romance featuring a couple affected by a traumatic, life-changing injury. And the blue collar prompt? Well, both of these […]

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TBR Challenge July 2022 – Vintage

By |2022-07-20T06:36:13-04:00July 20th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , |

Back in law school, I used to buy boxes of old category romances at library sales, and I still have many of these hanging around. When I want to try out some 80s/90s romances, these can be great fun. And while we love many of the historicals coming out today, there are some treasures to be found among the old school books as well. This time around, I dug into my category romance stash while Caz tried a vintage trad. Regency. Our results were mixed, but it was a fun prompt to explore.

Handful of Sky by Tory Cates

I always look forward to the vintage or ‘old school’ romance prompt. I usually pick up a Betty Neels or a nineties historical, but this time around, I decided to switch it up. I’m not sure how I originally came […]

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TBR Challenge May 2022 – Tales of Old

By |2022-05-18T08:01:17-04:00May 18th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , , |

For someone who started out their romance reading career with historicals, a prompt like “Tales of Old” is the perfect catnip. Lynn and Caz took this prompt in rather different directions, with Lynn heading way back into the past with a tale of ninth century Vikings carving out a living in what is now Scotland, while Caz headed for Victorian England. So, where do you like to travel for your Tales of Old?

Tempted by Her Viking Enemy by Terri Brisbin

The prompt Tales of Old made me think of medieval right off the bat. I hit my TBR piles eagerly – and ended up DNF-ing a few medievals, so after that experience, I just wanted an author whose books normally work for me. Terri Brisbin’s books usually hit the spot, and while not my favorite […]

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TBR Challenge March 2022 – Grumpy

By |2022-03-15T16:43:35-04:00March 16th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , |

This month’s TBR challenge prompt of “grumpy” yielded almost an embarrassment of riches. After all, grouchy heroes aren’t exactly a rare find in Romlandia. And grumpy/sunshine romances are having a bit of a moment now, too. Lynn read a recent release that she had been longing to try. That one turns the trope on its head a bit, with the heroine playing the part of the grouch. Caz found a workplace romance starring a grumpy boss, and both books were winners. […]

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TBR Challenge February 2022 – Fairy Tale

By |2022-02-16T06:58:10-05:00February 16th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , , , , |

Fairy tale romance – now there’s a TBR prompt that can go in all kinds of different directions. When we talk about romance, we often talk about “fairytale romances.”  Lynn and Caz took this one to very different places this month. Caz picked a m/m paranormal with a spin on the Rumpelstiltskin story, while Lynn went with a lush historical that picked up motifs from Little Red Riding Hood. […]

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TBR Challenge January 2022 – Quickie

By |2022-01-18T13:52:14-05:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: Caz AAR, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading, TBR Challenge|Tags: , , , |

We’re midway through January 2022, and I still feel like I’m playing catch-up from 2021.  Who’s with me? The “Quickie”  TBR theme was exactly what I needed because my brain just doesn’t have bandwidth for more. I used this month to try a novella from a 2019 trilogy I’ve been meaning to read while Caz went for some suspense in the novella she selected. Both ended up being solid reads. […]

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December 2021 TBR Challenge – Festive

By |2021-12-14T13:36:08-05:00December 15th, 2021|Categories: Caz AAR, Christmas, Lynn Spencer, Romance reading|Tags: , , , |

I love that this year’s TBR Challenge for December is not entirely Christmas. We just have to be “festive” and there are so many ways to do that. This year, Caz went for a magical Christmas story, while Lynn sank into a sweet Hanukkah romance she’s been wanted to read for a while. Both were winners, and we hope you find some good reads, too. Happy holidays! […]

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