
March 20, 2009 to August 31, 2009
Welcome to the very first M/M Romance Challenge! This challenge is for those who enjoy reading Male/Male romances or those who are interested in starting. If you aren’t familiar with M/M romances, they are novels and other books where the main focus of the story is the romantic relationship between the male protagonists. There are all types of genres and themes available: historicals, fantasy, sci-fi, mysteries, detective stories, paranormal romances, vampires, shapeshifters, erotica, ménage à trois, time travel, BDSM, cowboys, cops, romantic comedies, even regency-sci-fi! There’s a wealth of material out there just waiting to be read.
Rules/Guidelines
1. Choose your sports euphemism (lol!):
- 1st Base – Read 4 M/M romances
- 2nd Base – Read 5 M/M romances
- 3rd Base – Read 6 M/M romances
- Go All The Way – Read 10 (or more) M/M romances
2. All genres are allowed.
- They can be a part of a series or stand-alones.
- They can be long or short.
- Some re-reads are allowed, but try to have at least 2 new-to-you books.
- Overlapping with other challenges is fine, even encouraged.
3. You can join at any time, but remember there is a deadline (August 31, 2009) so keep that in mind when you choose how many books you’d like to read.
4. You don’t have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to list them, you can change them as you go. Feel free to remove or add titles as needed.
5. You do NOT have to have a blog to participate.
- You can post a mini review or feedback in comments on the review post.
- Just remember to include your book title and author.
6. You do NOT have to review your books to participate.
7. You MUST be 18 years old or older to participate.
Extra Options
If you’d like to spice things up a bit, feel free to use the following suggestions when choosing what books you want to read. You can use as many as you want, depending on how many books you’ll be reading for the challenge. Feel free to expand on this list if you’d like.
- Read an anthology.
- Read an historical.
- Read a new release.
- Read a new-to-you author.
- Read the first book in a series.
- Read a book with a sports/athletics theme.
- Read a book outside your comfort level or from a genre you don’t normally read.
- Read a book where the shapeshifter isn’t a werewolf.
- Read a book that’s been in your TBR pile for longer than 2 months.
- Read any title by one of the first m/m authors you ever read.
Prizes/Awards
Everyone who signs up by April 31, 2009 will be eligible for a random drawing for the ebook of their choice by collaborating authors Barbara Sheridan and Anne Cain. Together they write male/male romances that are heavily influenced by yaoi. Anne has even done the cover art and inside illustrations for a number of their books.
Everyone who completes the challenge by the August 31st deadline will be eligible for a random drawing for $15 in eBook Bucks from All Romance Books.
The Phade message board is also hosting some fabulous prizes for this challenge. Their drawing is open to all Phade members who sign up for the M/M Romance Challenge and share their reading list in The Manhole on The Phade.
Sign Up
Enter your info into the Mr. Linky boxes below. Put your name or username in the first box. In the second, put a direct link to the post/page where your books will be listed. If you just list your blog’s URL, your link will be removed.
Bookstores & Publishers
Here is a list of publishers and online book stores that sell M/M romances. (If you have a site I haven’t listed, please comment and I’ll add it.)
Amazon.com
All Romance Books
Amber Allure
Blind Eye Books
Borders
Dreamspinner Press
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Extasy Books
FictionWise
Linden Bay Romance
Liquid Silver Books
Loose Id
Lyrical Press
MLR Press
Mobipocket
Phaze Books
Samhain Publishing
Shadowfire Press
Torquere Press
Total-E-Bound
Banners
If you’d like to link back to this post, here are a few banners you can use. Feel free to make your own as well!






Acknowledgments
My many thanks to the wonderful people at the M/M Romance Fans Yahoo Group for their time and advice, to Barbara Sheridan for so kindly offering one of her books for the challenge, and to the members of The Phade for doing such an excellent job of advertising the challenge. Thank you!
So, whether you’re a newbie who’s looking for somewhere to start, or a long-time reader just looking for something new, I hope you have fun and HAPPY READING!
= DNF.
= Poor.
= Fair.
= Good.
= Great.
= Excellent.
= Exceptional.



58 responses so far ↓
M/M Romance Challenge « Selah March // March 22, 2009 at 4:19 pm
[...] Selah March Romance of Dubious Virtue « Cadbury eggs are birthed from the loins of Satan himself. M/M Romance Challenge March 22, 2009 The M/M Romance Challenge, hosted by Anathezea at I ♥ Paperbacks. [...]
Selah March // March 22, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I’m in!
M/M romance challenge : The Bookkeeper // March 24, 2009 at 11:59 am
[...] is hosting a M/M romance challenge on her blog “I heart paperbacks”. A good way to start reading that genre if you are [...]
rikkiscraps // March 24, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Count me in.
Sloan Parker » Blog Archive » The M/M Romance Challenge // March 24, 2009 at 6:38 pm
[...] [...]
Meg Leigh // March 24, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I’ll join! :)
Sloan Parker // March 24, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Great contest idea. Count me in too. (I’m newer to reading this blog so hi to all. It’s nice to see the M/M reviews that you’ve got on the site).
Elisa // March 25, 2009 at 2:40 am
Great Idea. I will not join since I read 10 books in more or less two weeks, but it’s a great idea anyway. Elisa
Alex Beecroft // March 25, 2009 at 3:37 am
Me too!
Alex Beecroft // March 25, 2009 at 3:54 am
Oops, I forgot the link:
http://alexbeecroftblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/mm-romance-challenge/
Barb Sheridan // March 25, 2009 at 6:41 am
Can I add that Anne Cain co-wrote a number of m/m releases with me as well as doing the gorgeous covers
Anesthezea // March 25, 2009 at 10:39 am
Of course you can! :D /runs off to edit
Leigh Ellwood // March 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Blogged this, thanks!
Val Kovalin // March 25, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I’ll try it. I need to read more, faster, anyway. :) Here is my blog page where I’ll put the titles that I read:
http://obsidianbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-page.html
Angelia Sparrow // March 26, 2009 at 3:45 am
I’m doing the 50 book project at Livejournal.
Adding 10 m/ms to the pile can’t hurt.
http://valarltd.livejournal.com/934779.html is my list, and they’re tagged 50book.
Lynda // March 26, 2009 at 4:00 am
I’m in ;0)
http://lyndasbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge.html
Another Challenge « Cafe Shree // March 26, 2009 at 5:03 am
[...] 26, 2009 · No Comments Another challenge caught my eye. The M/M Romance Challenge hosted by iheartpaperbacks. Challenge runs through August and I think I can fit in 10 more books [...]
nettagyl // March 27, 2009 at 4:14 pm
This is an awesome challenge! Would love to participate as well but I’ve way past the point of reading at 1east 10. =) But I find this highly recommended as a way to push more readers to this worthy, and highly recommended cause!!
http://www.examiner.com/x-5465-San-Diego-Erotica-Books-Examiner
JSuarez // March 28, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Entered! 20 M/M reads for me… thanks!
Cboy_Junkie // March 28, 2009 at 6:30 pm
WOOT! Just signed-up for the challenge and here’s my list of 30 books:
http://cboy-junkie.livejournal.com/5334.html
Cboy_Junkie // March 28, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Correction all – list of 40 books not 30!!! LOL
boylove_addict // March 28, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I am with Cboy_Junkie. 40 books for me!
Elisa // March 29, 2009 at 3:40 am
All right, since I love the challenge, I decided to join: 40 books for me in 10 different categories… I will try!
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/568959.html
Elisa
Elisa // March 29, 2009 at 3:42 am
Mmm strange, I believe to have left a comment but didn’t see it. Anyway again, I join for 40 books in 10 different genres. Here is the link to the post where I will list the books:
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/568959.html
I will try to update it every week
Elisa // March 29, 2009 at 4:01 am
Try again. I join, 40 books at least that I will list here:
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/568959.html
lilygcs // March 29, 2009 at 8:48 am
I’ve joined the challenge to read at least 40 books.
http://lilygcs.livejournal.com/12884.html
Kassa // March 29, 2009 at 9:04 am
I joined with 40 books, list still under development.
http://kassa11.livejournal.com/19213.html
Tam // March 29, 2009 at 11:01 am
Ummm, I don’t have a blog, can I still do this? I’m confused with the linky thing. And 10 books? Umm, my self-imposed buying exile comes off Wed. so I’ll have 10 read by next weekend. LOL I like using the different categories.
Anyway, total blogging ignorant sole here so if you tell me how I can just post what I read (I’ll give it a thumbs up or down kind of thing – I’m not a reviewer) I’d appreciate it. Should I make a blog just for the list? Sigh. Maybe I should look at that. Anyway, count me in, (as of last week so I can count the books I’ve read. Is that cheating? :-)
Anesthezea // March 29, 2009 at 11:11 am
Hi Tam!
You don’t have to have a blog to participate. If you’d like to just post a thumbs up/thumbs down type of thing, just post your comments on the review post here: http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-book-reviews.html Don’t forget to include your book’s title and author. :D
Once you complete the challenge, simply post a comment on this post to let me know you’re finished: http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-completed.html
As for the Mr. Linky, I’ll enter your info for you. Thanks for joining the challenge!
Tam // March 29, 2009 at 11:47 am
Okay, I’m creating a blog. Thank god I have a 13 year old to show me how to do this. I figured it will just be easier for me to keep track of what I’m doing there than catch up with posts here. Thanks. Do I need to join myself again or can you alter my linky thing? Anyway, I promise I’ll be less of a PITA after this.
So the address is:
http://tamsreads.blogspot.com
Anesthezea // March 29, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I’ve updated your linky info with your blog address. :D
Cboy_Junkie // March 30, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I just updated my challenge list because I had forgotten to include two Phade registered authors. My revised list now stands at 41 books. Here’s the link to my revised list:
http://cboy-junkie.livejournal.com/5422.html
Lilli // March 31, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I’m in with 11 books. Believe it or not, that IS a challenge for me. ;o)
Have fun everybody!
Mountie // April 1, 2009 at 9:49 am
OK I am ready for the M/M Challenge now. I am committing (or should be commited :-?) for 40 books. I have posted my list in both The Phade and Live Journal.
Here is the LJ link: http://mountie123.livejournal.com/13398.html
Thanks for doing this Anesthezea!
Anesthezea // April 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Thanks for joining the challenge! I took a moment and added your name to the Mr. Linky signup thingy. :D
Anesthezea // April 2, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hope you enjoy the challenge (and your books)! :D
Anesthezea // April 2, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I updated your link. :D
cboy_junkie // April 7, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Just updated my list again. We’ve had more wonder M/M authors join The Phade and I wanted to include their books as part of my challenge. Here’s the link to my updated list:
http://cboy-junkie.livejournal.com/5924.html
Shanghi // April 10, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Okay I’m in…..Wheee! Now I can start reading! :D
*runs off*
Jessica Freely // April 19, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Great idea! I’m spreading the word about this on my blog.
latetocomics // April 21, 2009 at 7:43 pm
saw Jessica Freely’s note. This will be FUN!!!
for an additional publisher:
http://www.extasybooks.com/
Sue // May 1, 2009 at 10:08 am
Please remove enty #24 – had wrong blog entered. Correct one is #25.
MsMoonlight // May 4, 2009 at 9:09 am
I just started reading M/M this year and like it so I think I will give this challenge a try and read more M/M soon.
Gina // May 22, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I’ve already done the “Go all the Way” and have listed them on my blog
It’s missing some info and only goes through the end of April…. keep checking back, I’ll be adding more and hope to review also.
Gina // May 22, 2009 at 11:24 pm
maybe there needs to be “homerun”, “Over the fence/Out of the Park” “Shut Out”??? Or add a level of NO short stories?
Mountie // June 15, 2009 at 9:55 pm
LOL I keep getting side tracked by other good books. By the time I finish my challenge list will look nothing like what it did when I started.
Shanghi // June 15, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I’ve only read 5 on my list and about 4 that are not. *blushes*
Weekly Geeks 2009-23: Reading challenges | The Bookkeeper // June 20, 2009 at 9:09 am
[...] only challenge I’m participating in at the moment is Anesthezea’s m/m romance challenge. I didn’t use any of the hints or special options and just read what I feel like, but I have – [...]
Quick thought « Cafe Shree // July 19, 2009 at 3:46 pm
[...] to write the review, this makes it easy, I won’t have to! And I’m dropping out of the M/M Romance challenge also. I read one and am partway through the 2nd book, but I’ll never finish 8 books [...]
Shanghi // August 24, 2009 at 8:53 am
Well I finally got around to updating my reading list. Hope to be finished by the end of the month….have had a lot of fun!
Deadline Reminders! « The Reading Challenge Clearinghouse! // August 25, 2009 at 4:46 pm
[...] M/M Romance Challenge [...]
Shanghi // August 29, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Posting my updated list…..almost done! :D
Aurora Alexander // August 29, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Well, the challenge ends Monday. I have read 69 books/stories and it seems unlikely that I will be able to read any more before Tuesday morning. Besides, 69 seems an appropriate number to end the challenge. *snikers* Update posted here: http://boylove-addict.livejournal.com/45936.html
Mountie // August 30, 2009 at 7:47 am
Hey Anesthezea
Here is the link to my LJ with my updated list :D With my comfort re-reads the list is 80 books long. 57 of them are new reads.
http://mountie123.livejournal.com/14441.html
I’ll go put it in the Mr. Links page. thanks for doing this. it was great fun!
Mountie // August 30, 2009 at 7:53 am
Well that was fun now I have two entries in the Mr. Link page *blush*
The second entry has my completed list in it. :D
Shanghi // August 30, 2009 at 7:59 am
How do you get your link in your post? every time I try it, my post gets discarded. So my link is in my name….*sigh*
Shanghi // August 31, 2009 at 7:49 am
Well I’m finished……here’s my updated list.
ht tp://sha nghi65.livej ournal.com/1835 .html
Can’t get it to post the link as a link so just copy & paste and take out the spaces…*sighs*
Indigene (aka cboy_junkie) // August 31, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I am done!!! I completed the Challenge just under the wire. I started off with an original list of 40 books and ended the Challenge having read 59 books. Many thanks to Anasthezea and I Heart Paperbacks for organizing the Challenge. Here’s a link to my final M/M Challenge Reading List: http://cboy-junkie.livejournal.com/11037.html