Lately I have found myself reading a lot of romance.  So I thought, why not join a reading challenge focused on romance.  I find this challenge interesting because it's supposed to be straight romance, no paranormal, no fantasy, etc.  This will make it much more difficult and hopefully give me some more authors and series to check out. The reading challenge can be found at Romance Book Maven.  Here's the introduction and guidelines:

Last year Pearl of Pearl’s World of Romance hosted the first Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge. With the new job she started recently, she decided not to host the challenge this year but I offered to host it in her place because this was one challenge I really enjoyed doing this year and I didn’t want to see it end already. Pearl had no problem with my suggestion so I’m pleased to say that CRRC2011 will still be around.

I’m basically copying what Pearl had for the challenge last year because I’m not changing anything of the challenge. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, you know?

1. By contemporary romance I mean straight contemporary, so without paranormal, fantasy or time-travel elements. Sexy, steamy contemporaries are eligible and so are category romances. (i.e. Harlequin Blaze, Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Super Romances, Silhoutte Desires, etc.)

2. Read at least 10 contemporaries between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011

3. You don’t have to pre-select your books, you can just add them as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. Nothing is set in stone! Also, the books you choose can crossover into or from other challenges you are participating in.

4. Feel free to grab the button below for the sidebar of your blog. It would be great if you would link it back to this post so others can find their way back to this post and join the challenge.

5. If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others and feel free to add a link back to this post so others can join in the fun.

6. Add your name and post URL to Mr. Linky below.

Have fun & Happy Reading!!

My choices for the reading challenge (with any cross listings):

1. Impulsive - HelenKay Dimon
2. Seven Day Loan - Tiffany Reisz
3. Precious and Fragile Things - Megan Hart
4. The Icing on the Cake - Alison Kent
5. Inside Out - Lauren Dane
6. Holding Out for a Hero - HelenKay Dimon
7. Shaken - Dee Tenorio (A to Z: T)
8. Hard to Hold - Julie Leto
9. Personal Research - Cari Quinn (A to Z: Q)
10. Jinxed - Inez Kelley

Reviews will follow.  I may change some of these choices as the challenge begins.  Just wait and see.