SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

One For the Money
2011 Shelf
19 August 12
★★★

Where to start? This book was just okay.  There was one thing that really bothered me.  Though the book was written in 1994, it seemed to be set in the '80's (i.e., biker shorts, ratted up hair, blue eyeliner). It was just weird because the author never eluded to the story being set during that time.  

The main character, Stephanie, was likable. The writing wasn't bad. I guess I'm just trying to figure out how the book managed to be made into a movie. It was good, but far from movie good.  I may read the next book in the series, but I'm not in a rush.

Jennifer wrote: "

One For the Money
2011 Shelf
19 August 12
★★★"

Jennifer,
I thought the first book was okay, a bit slow to start. But then I read the others and really enjoyed the series up until the last few books. Some in the middle I found myself laughing out loud, and I don't do that very often!

Sue wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "

One For the Money
2011 Shelf
19 August 12
★★★"

Jennifer,
I thought the first book was okay, a bit slow to start. But then I read the others and rea..."

Glad to know. I guess I'll try out the second book in the series. Thanks!

2011:
I10 Shelf Announced 19/8/12
5/5 Completed Stamp Requested 28/8/12

Sandra Undead and Unworthy 19/8/12 ★★★ Review
Jennifer One For The Money 19/8/12 ★★★ Review
Sue Moon Dance 22/8/12 ★★★ Review
Caroline Blood Red Road 27/8/12 ★★★ Review
Lis Heart of Steel 23/8/12 ★★★1/2 Review

Just thought I'd make it easier to see where we're up to :)

Finished my read for the week... I will post my review later.

OK Lis ;)

I finished my book last night!

Book: Moon Dance
Date Finished: 8/22/12
Shelf: 2011
Rating: 3/5

For this shelf I had a bit of trouble finding a book that I already own (or already have from the library) that wasn't too long and looked interesting. I thought "Moon Dance" would fit the bill. It's about a vampire private eye. But it starts out with her having been turned a vampire six years previously, and her and her husband dealing with the changes (since there is no one else around to help or turn to). In this book vampires are sluggish in the day, do get burned easy in the sun (lots of sunscreen and big hats) and do not have a reflection in the mirror. That said, she goes about a regular life of doing house work, picking up her kids from school, and running her private eye business from her house. As she stays young and deals with the changes, her husband can't and is afraid of her and worries about the kids. I think being a mother I had trouble with that part of the story. I like strong female characters that have faults but learn and grow. I don't like a mom being torn from her kids. I was worried about that through the whole book. I won't give away the ending, but I also won't be reading any more in the series because this is a struggle that I just don't want to read about in my fantasy books. In other books that are just about that, yes I'll read those. But not those about vampires and night creatures. I read those to really get away from the world, not worry about it!

Finished: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
Shelf: 2011
Read: 8/23/2012
Pages: 311
Rating: ★★★1/2✩

Review: This picks up after the story of Captain Yasmeen and Archimedes Fox left off with her sending him over the side of her air ship into zombie infested Venice. He appears on the scene after Yasmeen has written him off as dead or infected and they battle over the treasured da Vinci sketch. AF also informs her of his intension to fall in love with her but most of this story is about loss, revenge and fictional historical politics. It's very creative world building and Brooks goes into great detail about her Steampunk world. I struggled with this book a little in the beginning, but once I got into it was ok. The romance slowly builds but it's definitely not a easy fluff and love read and you have to be in the mood for it.

Well, interesting this week so far we've all rated our books as either 3 or 3.5 stars.

We've had an early shelf announcement due to a typhoon heading towards Steph.

The shelf is Magic

Wow that is early... Hope its not a bad one. Off to browse.

I'm undecided. Leaning towards as most of the others on my tbr for his shelf are new series. Will decide tomorrow I think.

Short list so far and

And this gives us 4 in a row finally!

Yep, finally :DDDDD

I love the Cassie Palmer books and I've got Nightfall but haven't read it yet. It got good reviews so I'll be interested no mater which one you pick, Lis.

I can't believe it...a shelf that gives us a chance! Did someone make a sacrifice?????

Put me done for , please.

Yeah!!

I'll go with Darlin' Druid. It seems a different kind of book and it's on the shelf!

Yay! Gunmetal Magic, hope you like it Jennifer, I loved it but some have mixed feelings.

Sue, I don't know that one at all, interesting :DDDD

Magic:
N11 Shelf Announced 25/8/12
5/5 Completed

Sandra Grave Dance 27/8/12 ★★★★ Review
Jennifer Gunmetal Magic 31/8/12 ★★★★ Review
Sue Darlin' Druid 31/8/12 ★★ Review
Caroline Eternal Rider 1/9/12 ★★★★ Review
Lis Courting Carolina 30/8/12 ★★★★ Review

I think I need a Cassie Palmer cheat sheet or the cliff notes version. I think I got lost in the last book when they took a trip to fairy in the spinning tattoo parlor and haven't found my way out.

Lis wrote: "I think I need a Cassie Palmer cheat sheet or the cliff notes version. I think I got lost in the last book when they took a trip to fairy in the spinning tattoo parlor and haven't found my way out."

Ha! Completely agree. One of the reasons I rated it so low.

LOL. I just went with the flow. I read them fairly close together so it seemed OK to me at the time :DD

I'm trying Embrace the Night but doing a quick re-listen of Claimed By Shadow to see if I can figure where it left off. If I cannot get into it by Tuesday then I'm switching to because its been shelved once as "magic" and it will be a guaranteed fast read... Chapman is one of my go to gals for fun fluff reads.

I'll wait and see then. LOL

My Courting Carolina isn't out yet *pout*

Just over halfway finished Grave Dance and enjoying it :DD

Magic Shelf
27/8/12 ★★★★

This is the 2nd book in the series and we are still learning all about Alex Craft's world along with her.

Alex is a Grave Witch, PI, and has just learned she is part Fae, but of course hasn't mentioned "that" to anyone. Her friends include a Reaper who has been visiting her since she was little and she named Death, Caleb a Fae who is her landlord, Holly the Assistant DA who is a witch and Tamara the Chief Medical Officer for Nekros City.

Falin Andrews, Fae, Head of FIB (Fae Investigation Bureau), the Winter Queen's Bloody Hands (ie assassin), and sometimes lover of Alex has been gone a month with no explanation. The plot thickens.

Alex is called in when left feet begin appearing in the river, the police are worried there is a serial killer. The police want her to raise a shade of the dead but unfortunately there isn't enough left.

Lots of Fae political stuff, bad witches, bad reapers, fae not telling Alex stuff she wants to know to solve the case, lots of soul stealing, cute bald dog hanging out in handbags, and lots of fanatical madness from millionaire's who should know better.

Sandra wrote: "I'll wait and see then. LOL

My Courting Carolina isn't out yet *pout*"

it is released on Tues here and pre-ordered so if I'm not any more into Cassie she's going back on the shelf and Spellbound Falls here I come...

2011 SHELF
3 STARS
FINISHED 27/08/12

Saba and lugh are twins. Lugh is kidnapped and Saba can do nothing else but chase after him to get him back.
This start a story that is a bit Beyond the Thunderdome/crossed with a western. Post apocalyptic with crossbows and horses.
I really like the story, I loved some of the characters Jack, Nero, Maev. I laughed and shed a tear, but I had huge problems with the writing style. If the style had been better I would probably have given it a 4.

Well, you had to keep it to a 3 to match the rest of us Caroline. LOL.

Off to request our 2011 Stamp :D

Lis, I preordered too but the pb & its coming from UK ;)

Didn't want to stand out from the crowd :o)

Think I'll read for my magic shelf

I liked that one Caroline, hope you do too ;)

Yay Caroline and yay team, another stamp...

it is for my magic read.

CONGRATULATIONS, Divine Nine!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on '2011'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Thanks Steph!

Welcome!

Sandra wrote: "I liked that one Caroline, hope you do too ;)"
Me too. I love her Demonica series.

How's everyone's reads coming along?

Remember if we finish the Magic shelf it'll give us 4-in-a-row & a shot for next week's winning shelf :)))

93% done... Just got to the HEA part and have to go to work...

Excellent Lis ;DDD

Sandra wrote: "How's everyone's reads coming along?

Remember if we finish the Magic shelf it'll give us 4-in-a-row & a shot for next week's winning shelf :)))"

I'm just barely into the book, but plan to read a lot tonight and tomorrow. I should have it done before the next shelf is announced!

Oh captain, oh captain... Already stressing about "readers choice" being called on Saturday and trying to squeeze it in around all the family functions I have to attend during the holiday weekend, yikes!

So I'm trying to get my selection lined up, just in case. Does it have to be a PNR or UF series read, or can it be another series book in just romance? I'm trying to think of books I know will go fast.

Finished: Courting Carolina by Janet Chapman
Shelf: Magic
Read: 8/30/2012
Pages: 274
Rating: ★★★★✩

Review: This book was definitely magical. This starts out with our heroine trying to escape her kidnappers by running up a mountain and Alec MacKeage saving her with the help of her "wolf". Long story short, she's princess Carolina Oceanus whose been on the run for two years from her fathers attempt to marry her off to a warrior from another century. Alec is hiding out in the woods creating the nature trails for Olivia's new Maine resort and is living miles from civilization. So he agrees to let "Jane Smith" hide out for a week or so... Needless to say, love strikes and Alec feels unworthy from the actions he took as a military spy for years. Very exciting little story with all the added humor components Ms Chapman adds. Probably not my favorite of the series, but being a biased Chapman fan still gets 4 stars.

What brought tears to my eyes was her personal wrap up letter at the end talking about her own family magic and her dad's sister, to quote: So if magic is not real, then explain a ninety-eight-year-old waking up one morning a poet! And she then shares the poems her aunt started writing about meeting family members in heaven. Very sweet!

Glad its good Lis, I'd better read Charmed by his Love first, LOL.

As to your book choice, pnr/uf is preferred but is not obligatory, as long as the book is on the shelf, or if a personal shelf pick, it meets the criteria :)

Go Sue Go!!

I finished!

Book: Darlin' Druid
Shelf: Magic
Read: 8/31/12
Rating: 2/5
Comments:
I like westerns, and I like magic, but this book did not combine them well. If I had not started it so late I would have put it down and picked another book. The main character, Jessie, is a young woman who has visions (only one main one throughout the book) and follows her vision out west to find the man who loves her, who she will be able to tell by his eyes. I found her to be a very young character that I dont think was a match for a strong, mature man. She often went into fits of jealousy for no reason, and when confronted with the villain she faints. It does have an HEA ending, but I just couldn't feel for the characters.

I will be watching for the shelf announcement tomorrow and will be quick with a pick if it's the winning shelf!

Hmmm, one to avoid rather than add to the tbr. Sue, have you read anything else by this author and if so how did they compare?

No, this is the first I have read by her. It has a 4 rating from Goodreads, but I just don't see it. If you like strong female characters then I would avoid this book. Maybe it's my age, but I just kept wanting to tell her to grow up! I hope I am not insulting anyone who liked it.

I think I'd be even harder than you, Sue. Stupid young-acting heroines just don't do it for me either.

Has anyone picked a "readers choice" book yet?

Gunmetal Magic
Magic Shelf
31 August 12
★★★★

Andrea Nash is a beastkin who is Kate Daniels' business partner. She has recently had to deal with coming to terms with her hyena self that she has fought to hide most of her life. Andrea is still in love with her ex, Raphael, the bouda  clan is after her to join them and she finds herself neck deep in a murder investigation. 

I liked this book, though it took me a while to finish it. The writing is good and the character/world building by the author works. I guess I just felt is was the "same song, different verse." Does that make any sense? I'll probably read the next book in the series if I have time.

Yay Jennifer!!