Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2012)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Wow, where did Electra come from, LOL. They were holding their cards close to their chest!!

3rd is awesome though, we had such a great team. And special shout out to our Captains and Co-Captains. THANK U. 💕

See you next time for Tower Teams X!

It was a bit of a journey but I really enjoyed it and looking forward to the next book. Buddy read next year?

Ooh very tragic indeed! Well done.

Just finished my last book for the Challenge. It has been great reading with all you gals.

Can't say I'm enjoying the new book pages Goodreads has fiddled with though. What are everyone's thoughts?

Here's to a top 2 finish!

Hi dear Mods, as much as it pains me, I'll have to drop out of the volunteering for DQ's for this book as my copy hasn't come in from the library and won't be available to the end of the month at the earliest.

Well done Deanna. Very snazzy.😍

Original Message 121

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM BONUS

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Great! Keep reading everyone. 😁

Don't worry, Emma, Ariel and Vicky, it will all work once we start playing.

You really just have to note down all food items once we start. And maybe how many pages in the book you're reading. And we can combine different ingredients from different players to make complete meals. As it was two years ago we played, I'll probably have to refresh the rules too. You'll have fun, I promise!

Congratulations Tina on your new home. Hope things settle down for you soon.

And thanks to the Mods for our bubbling crumble picture. Anyone good with words who wants to write our Team Blurb, go right ahead!

Thanks Karolyn! All you Captains have done a magnificent job keeping us all in line. 😊 And a great team, it makes it so much more fun when everyone participates fully.

Here's to an amazing finish!

Hi Vicky,

I played last time and we just entered our finished books/meals on the provided spreadsheet. It seems complicated at first but once you've done it a few times it all falls into place.

Once TT9 is over I'm sure we can all chat more about how we want to do recording for this one. And some of the more tech savvy gals who played before might have some input about
tracking sheets. It's going to be a lot of fun. 😁

DQs Day 5: Ch 29-End

18. Stealing a quote from day 4: ‘Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a books finds a way to surprise you.’ Did this book surprise you? If it did, was it in a good or a bad way?

Didn't surprise me, no. But I thought the ending worked pretty well regardless.

19. Libby’s big secret surprised Nora. Was it what you expected? What are your thoughts on her keeping it secret and using the list to try to win Nora over?

No, but I knew the divorce was a red herring and mirroring Nora's insecurities about life. But as everyone has mentioned if they had just been up front about their feelings it would have saved a lot of angst.

20. What about Nadine and the cat? Did you appreciate this side story? How did you feel about how it played out in the novel?
I thought this was underdeveloped and actually went nowhere. Maybe I missed something..

22. I loved Nora’s interaction with Clint, what about you? Do you think she overstepped? Do you think it influenced the ending?

Just as well she did or Charlie and Nora probably would still be separated.

23. The ending. It is very much a Happily Ever After. Nora gets almost everything. Was it too HEA or just right and did you like it?

I liked it. But this sort of book isn't really my thing but well written for the genre. 3.5 stars.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM BONUS

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 4 - Aug 5
Chapters 21 - 28

14.) One of the most prevalent plot devices in romance books is misunderstandings being a primary driver in the conflict between MCs. I hate it because most of the issues could be resolved with one 15 minute conversation. Does this plot device annoy anyone else? Did you find it refreshing then that Nora cleared the air a bit in the library with Charles? At least before the grabby-hands started ;)

That's a coincidence, I was thinking when I finished this section that for two sisters who love each other there is zero honest communication. At least Nora spilled to Charlie so that's a plus.

15.) Were you surprised at anything revealed by Nora and Charles during their tent conversation? Did the tension with Shepard make even more sense with some backstory?
Charlie's parentage was a bit of a surprise although there were hints I think from their physical descriptions. And I think both Clint and Shepard were described as being very blond and athletic. I can see how there would have been tension between the two especially if Charlie felt he didn't measure up in the biology stakes.

16.) Any guesses on why Libby needed a lawyer's number? Do you think it's a divorce? I'm hoping that's a red herring and it's something with their dad or a basic need like wills for her and Brendan.

Yes, I'm thinking red herring here to emphasize lack of communication and Nora's insecurities.

17.) Any guesses as to what Nora will do about the editor job? Do you think Charlie will stay in his hometown, or will he make it back to NYC?

Surely it's got to end up in a HEA with both of them blissfully in the same place?

I'll finish all my books on the spreadsheet and will work out how many extra and what categories I can do over the weekend.

Day 3 Questions Chapter 14-20

10. Charlie and Nora make a bet that Nora can finish everything on the list but Nora is a tad doubtful but she's determined to push through for her sister. Have you ever made a bet where you're bound and determined to win but knowing deep down inside that you may be doomed from the start? (For example: If I took a bet where I had to do a tower of doom thingy at an amusement park, I'm going to need a blindfold, some alcohol, and some prayers, and not necessarily in that order!)
Nuh, not in my nature to make a bet I knew I couldn't deliver on. Interesting question, though.


11. We are starting to learn more about Frigid but I still want to know what the book is really about. Why do you think the cat has to stay?

That is the 64 million dollar question. I'm thinking the book is going to segue way into what an admirable person Nora is once you get to the heart of her. Not sure about the cat though.


12. Libby is a little bit of a hot/cold person. She can turn her emotions quickly and I'm not sure if all of that is due to the pregnancy. Any ideas on what has her so upset at times and why she needs to distant herself?

It's hinting at marriage problems but I think this might be a red herring. I think maybe Nora is projecting her own insecurities in this one.


13. Finally, we end this section with Nora and Charlie in Charlie's childhood bedroom. This is a two part question. One, do y'all still have bedrooms at your childhood home? Mine got repurposed after I graduated college but I always think it's interesting who still has one and who doesn't. Second, Charlie immediately sensed something had happened when he saw Nora in the room. What do you think of the progression of their friendship and do you think Nora will start to open up and lean on him more?

Wow, it's 37 years since I left my childhood home, so it's long gone. But my daughter moved out 5 years ago and her old room is still full of her stuff, LOL.
This is a classic enemies to lovers theme, their initial snarky rapport was a huge hint that they would end up as soulmates. The author is doing a good job of showing how they get there.

And nice questions, so no worries!

Original at message 132.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM CREDITS

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 DQUS
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 2: chapters 6 - 13

6. So, "Frigid", the book within a book being written by Dusty and edited by Charlie. Fan fiction or a brutal hatchet piece?

I hope it's fan fiction. It would be horrible after all these years working with Nora if Dusty was writing a revenge piece. 😒

7. We get more of the backstory of Nora's life. Does this history give you hope for her future as well as explain her current attitude towards love?

The backstory gives a big hint as to why Nora is so protective of Libby and controlling about life. We don't actually know what happened to her mother but it hints it was tragic and has impacted her daughters greatly. Like everyone Nora has her good and not so good points. But she makes entertaining reading.

8. Libby is at too much of a loose end - setting up a fake dating profile for Nora & everything!? What do you think this says about the sisters and their relationship?
I think someone mentioned co-dependent and this seems spot on. They need to give each other permission to be who they are as individuals but still loving each other as sisters.

9. So we've seen the failing business to be saved, been on a date to a karaoke night - are you enjoying seeing the Small-Town Romance cliches (and I loved that the song mutilated was the theme for that classic Small-Town, Second Chance Romance, Sweet Home Alabama!) being subverted?

Yes, it seems that Charlie and Nora will fall in love in spite of the small town cliches. The blind date was excruciating, as a long time married person I really feel for people who feel they have to put themselves through this. But I guess everyone always lives in hope they will find their special someone. 💕