The Lost Challenges discussion

Great haul! Enjoy!

Jennifer♔Princess Penguin♔ wrote: "What a sale! You hit the jackpot!

I'm sure you will enjoy the series and if you don't at least you didn't pay that much :)"
Thats what i thought too now just need time to read

Finished my book. Much darker and grittier than my usual fare.
Review will be up tomorrow.

Week 6: True Blood



Book: A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
Finished: Apr 13th
Rating: ★★★
Review: Much darker and grittier than my usual urban fantasy fare. The world building is original and compelling, the characters intense and the story engrossing. Nevertheless, I cannot say that I enjoyed the book - it was simply too strange.

The story revolves around Dante, a vampire/rock star, and the obsession that every single character, whether good or evil, has with him. As someone who finds this type of hero-worship anathema, it was difficult to identify with any of the characters not even the heroine, a no-nonsense FBI agent (my favorite type).

The serial killer plot is gripping at first. Unfortunately, it is soon put on the back-burner in favor of the mythology and the above mentioned preoccupation with Dante and his tortured past. While the former is well-develeoped and fascinating, the latter is undermined by Dante's amnesia, which results in the reader becoming distanced from the horrific events of his childhood.

As a fan of the gothic and the macabre, the book has potential. However, even I found it a tad too sadistic and disturbing. Not sure if I will continue with the series.

Total points: 12

Shelf: Supernatural (1 point)
Cover: Smoke (2 points)
Plot: Mystery (3 points)
Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana (6 points)

Wtg, Lauren!!

I should be done by tonight :)

Great job Lauren!! I should have my book finished by tomorrow at the latest!

Hoping to be done tonite also.

Week 6: True Blood



A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
Finished:4/14
Rating:♥♥♥♥♥

Review:
First off I want to state this book is over 150 pages. This book is a compilation of the first five Sookie short stories. I hadn't read any of these because I don't normally read anthologies so when I stumbled on this book at the library I was very pleased. The short stories are as follows...
♦Fairy Dust (Sookie 4.1)
♦Dracula Night (Sookie 4.3)
♦One Word Answers (Sookie 5.1)
♦Lucky (Sookie 7.1)
♦Gift Wrap (Sookie 8.1)

They were all great and gave a little extra insighted into the Sookieverse. I enjoy "Dracula Night" best. It was quite funny. The only one, in my opinion, that should have actually been part of a regular book is "One Word Answer". It has a lot of info on Hadley and how she died.
It makes me sad when I read that people do not like the books anymore because they've gotten to ridiculous for lack of a better word. I'm a loyal fan and I can't wait to read Dead Ever After to see how everything ends for Sookie and friends (and enemies).

Points:
Shelf: Supernatural (1 point)
Cover: Blood (2 points)
Plot: Psychic (3 points)
Title: Part of the True Blood Series (4 points)
Name: Sookie (5 points)
Setting: Louisiana (6 points)

Total Points: 21

Week 6 - True Blood



Read: 4/15/13
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review

This is my second time reading this book. I wasn't hugely thrilled with it the first time around, but I enjoyed it more this time. The characters are still great, and the fact that I can get so frustrated with some of them is a sign that Harris is doing something right. You can definitely tell that things are starting to rap up, and I'm interested to see how it's all going to end in the next book.

Points:
shelf - supernatural (1 point)
Cover - Blood (2 points)
plot psychic, mystery (3 points)
Title - True Blood series (4 points)
Name - Sookie (5 points)
setting - Bon Temps, LA (6 points)

Total points: 21

Week 6 - True Blood

by Charlaine Harris

Read: 4/15/13
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review:

First time reading this book for me. I did enjoy the story but I think that if I hadnt seen the series I wouldnt have enjoyed it as much. I missed Lafayette's cousin. In the TV show I adored her and Lafayette story lines. As far as the book I thought the writing was not as advanced as I had hoped. I will continue to read the series.

Points:
shelf - supernatural (1 point)
Cover - Blood (2 points)
plot psychic, mystery (3 points)
Title - True Blood series (4 points)
Name - Sookie (5 points)
setting - Bon Temps, LA (6 points)

Total points: 21

Wtg, Steph Ann and Zina

Great work everyone!

Week 7: Gunsmoke


Shelf: Historical
Cover: Horse, cowboy hat, horse drawn wagon
Plot: Western, Law-enforcement
Title: Gun, Smoke
Name: Matt Dillon, Charles Adams, Kitty Russell
Setting: Published in 1955, Set in Kansas

Gunsmoke title Sequence

I have one I really, really want to read but it's only worth 6 points (maybe 9 if law-enforcement plays a big enough part).

I have one that is worth 9 points:




Cover: Mountain (2 points)
Plot: Law-enforcement (3 points)
Title: Gun (series name) (4 points)

Still looking for something that may be worth more points.

Dawn just FYI'd that she has removed mountain from cover points she said she's not sure why it was there

Bummer. White Heat is only worth 7 points then *sigh*

Don't fret about it, Lauren. If you really want to read it go for it :)

Found a book for 15 points...have never read the author or the genre...this should be interesting...

reserved at library so hopefully can pick up tomorrow...

I'm posting from my phone so I can't add a link to the book, but I'll be reading Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn.

Awesome Zina and Steph Ann, I'm interested to find out what your book is Zina :)

I can't make up my mind what to read :/

I have a few choices to pick from.

My book is

I'm trying to avoid westerns. They are just not my style.

I'm not a fan of westerns either but I hope you enjoy it, Zina.

I am the same but will read unless I find something else. Ohhh just thought what about that Kitty series. Kitty goes to Washington. Will check out more today.

I do believe Kitty's Big Trouble is the one set in Kansas.

Week 7: Gunsmoke



In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Finished: 4/20
Rating: ♥♥♥

Review:
While the point of view was interesting and different, I thought that the story was way too top-heavy. The endless flood of details at first added to the book, but eventually seemed to drag it down. The way he describes his characters, though is really well done, making us feel sorry for Perry and being able to understand him. But otherwise, it seemed to be a rather dry book.

Points:
Shelf: Historical (1 point)
Plot: Law Enforcement (3 points)
Name: Alvin Adams Dewey (5 points)
Setting: Kansas (6 points)

Total Points: 15 points

I forgot that In Cold Blood is set in Kansas. I should have done a re- read.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it Jennifer. For me, it was exceptionally well written and insightful but then I like that kind of detail.

Week 7: Gunsmoke



Book: White Heat by Brenda Novak
Finished: Apr 20th
Rating: ★★★
Review: Similar premise to Cheyenne McCray's Chosen Prey although the balance between the romance and suspense is slightly off.

The cult and its leader are suitably creepy and depraved but the only reason they pose a threat is because Nate and Rachel are so woefully unprepared for their assignment. The lack of background on Department 6 and its operatives, the wobbly professionalism of the undercover agents and the heroine's somewhat TSTL actions all undermine the promise of the plot.

Nate and Rachel's romance is also weak. They have intense chemistry but it remains unfulfilled as they are constantly at each others' throats and their love scenes fizzle out completely. Nate's reasons for initially rejecting Rachel are never sufficiently explained and his transition from holding her at arms length to accepting that he loves her is sudden and lacking foundation.

This is my first Brenda Novak and it was entertaining enough to continue with the series.

Total points: 7

Plot: Law Enforcement (3 points)
Title: Series name (4 points)

Nicely done, Lauren!

Steph Ann, I just noticed that the 15th was your birthday...Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you had a great one!

Happy belated birthday, Steph Ann

Week 7 - Gunsmoke



Read: 4/21/13
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review

It's been a long time since I read any of the Kitty books, so I was worried I would have a hard time following what was going on. Thankfully, I didn't have any trouble getting back into Kitty's world. These books are always quick and fun reads, and this one was no exception. I love how much Kitty has grown since the first book, and I also enjoy seeing her relationship with Ben evolve.

If I had to say one negative thing about this book, the trip to Kansas (while great for points), didn't really move the story along too much, and when viewed in comparison to the rest of the book, it seems sort of out of place. Other than that, I really enjoyed everything, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

Points:

Name - Kitty (5 points)
Setting - Kansas (6 points)

Total Points: 11

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I had a great day! Took some time off from work and had a nice long, relaxing weekend. :)

Week 7 - Gunsmoke


Read: 4/25/13
Rating: 2 stars

Review:
I have never read Westerns. I am a fan of some western movies. One of my favorite is Tombstone. So i was familiar with the story of the OK Corral. So I was anticipating an enjoyable read, but I was so so wrong. The author has belabored every historical fact with ad nauseum storytelling. I thought I would be reading about Doc Holliday not everyone he crossed paths during his life. The author jumps from one character to the next and you feel like your must have missed a chapter because most of the time you don't know what she is talking about. I just didnt like this book. Oh well you win some, you lose some.


Name: 5
Shelf:1
Plot: 3
Setting:6
Cover:2
Total: 17 pts

WTG, Girls! Tomorrow is the last tv show and it will either be Roseanne or The Tonight Show :)

Week 8: Roseanne


Shelf: Dysfunctional Family
Cover:A family or House
Plot: Dysfunctional Family
Title: Rose, Anne or Roseanne
Name: Roseanne,Dan,Jackie,D.J.,Darlene, or Becky
Setting: Illinois, Pub in 1988

Roseanne Title Sequences

OK, I'm going to read Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning worth 11 points

Cover: (2 points)
Alternate covers have castles on them:


Plot: Dysfunctional Family (The MacKeltars) (3 points)
Setting: Chicago, Illinois (6 points)

I'm going to read by Jen Lancaster it's 8 possibly 11 points.

I'm going to read . It should get points for Cover, Name (Author first name Dan), and Setting, so 13 points. :)

hmmm, I didn't realize we could use the author's name. I thought it had to be a character's name. I might have read different books - oh well, of course I would figure that out now that the game is almost over :0/

Just checking in Zina to see how the hunt goes.

I am thinking of going with Gone, Baby, Goneunless I can think of something else..

Should be finished my book tonight. Been suffering from a headache all day and haven't been up to reading too much.

Lauren wrote: "Should be finished my book tonight. Been suffering from a headache all day and haven't been up to reading too much."

Sorry to hear your not feeling well. Take you time if you need to.

Week 8: Roseanne



If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster
Finished: 4/26
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Review:
Mia and Mac decide to buy a house and what they end up with is the money pit from hell. This was a fun, quirky, easy read. If you love home improvement and HGTV, I highly recommend this book.

Points:
Cover: House (2 points)
Plot: A dysfunctional husband and wife and their crazy Polish grandmother (3 points)
Setting: Illinois (6 points)

Total: 11 points

Week 8: Roseanne



Book: Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
Finished: Apr 28th
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Repeats familiar tropes from the previous installments, i.e., a hunky highlander suffering under some sort of curse and a virgin heroine who just happens to be his one true love. Nevertheless, the basic premise is quite entertaining as long as you don't take it too seriously, and the references to the Unseelie Hallows and hints at events to come in the Fever series are enjoyable.

Cian is an enigmatic amalgamation of opposites. On the one hand, he is primitive and barbaric with no compunction against using Voice to compel others to his bidding or even to force Jessi into having sex with him (although he probably wouldn't have done so). On the other hand, he has an ingrained sense of honor and is willing to die to atone for his past crimes and rid the world of a dangerous threat.

Jessi is feisty and adorable. She takes the revelations concerning the existence of magic, druids and the fae in stride, approaching the issues with a logical mind and reasoning it all out in her head. She is also more than capable of holding her own against the domineering Cian, and their banter and chemistry are a highlight of the story.

The return of Drustan & Gwen, and Daegus & Chloe is an added bonus and the lead into the Fever series is seamless and smooth. All in all, a solid conclusion to a delightful series.

Total points: 11

Cover: Castle (2 points)
Plot: Dysfunctional family - Jessi's mother has been married 4 times and is currently looking for husband #5. She also has a huge brood of full, half and step siblings (3 points)
Setting: Chicago, Illinois (6 points)

Well Done, Lauren!!

Thanks Jennifer!
This challenge has been fun. I've knocked quite a few books off my TBR. Of course, I also added a few, so it all balances out :0)