R6: Team #3 ~ Triple Dog Dare Ya

[Amber]

Can't wait for that series to be done with.

[Amber]

DONE 4*
11/12/12 Dark fantasy self

WOW, what a story this was. I'm suprised I finished. Really not my cup of tea reading about body parts being ripped apart so visually. stranger yet, I will read the next book to find out the rest. ;)

[Jenne]

2012 Shelf:
I read by Ilona Andrews
Finished: 11/13/12
Rating: ★★★★☆

My Review:

      
  Rose lives in the edge with her two little brothers she's raising. The edge is a place where people with magic live that don't belong to the weird where the nobles and blue blood magic users live. Declan is hunting an old foe who is set on destroying the edge and consuming the people and their magic. Rose thinks Declan is there to cart her away and marry her in order to have kids with her magical abilities. They strike a bargain but Declan isn't always honest and likes to let Rose draw the wrong conclusions. Before they can consider a relationship though first they have to bring down their enemy and save the edge. It took me a minute to get into this one but it was still good. Rose and her brothers were great characters. I do prefer the Kate Daniels series to this one though.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yeah, I prefer Kate as well Jenne. Just a bit too fantasy for me, I think, more so in #2.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Triple Dog Dare Ya!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'demons'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Triple Dogs!

[Kerstin]

Shelf: 2012

Finished: 13/11/12
Rating: ★★★★

A great second instalment with lots of going ons. The different characters all follow their own little plot lines, which come together beautifully in a massive ending. That obviously calls for quite a lot of different POV's, which took me a while to get used to. I usually prefer to stick with one or maybe two narrators, but that's just me. In the end of the day it worked well and I enjoyed the book as much as the first one in the series.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Updating...

[Jenne]

Kerstin I really like that series. Such a unique and eclectic group of characters.

[Jenne]

So I guess if either one of our bingo shelves gets called its a bingo for another team too. I'm going to search my TBR for ones that'll fit both of our winning shelves that are around 200 pages.

[Stephanie]

Finished 11/15/12
Shelf: Dark Fantasy
4 stars

I enjoyed this one. There was a lot of humor, and the story was good. The down side is, I saw the plot twist coming the whole time. There was a lot of action, and little to no romance. Was refreshing. What I found the most annoying was there seemed to be a humorous line at the end of every chapter. It was nice and fun the first few chapters, but then you realize it is always coming. It loses its charm. Definitely recommend.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Off to update and put in for our Dark Fantasy shelf stamp!

(I'll have my own 2012 read up tonight or tomorrow; definitely before shelf call. I was unexpectedly not home much this week.)

[Jenne]

Woohoo!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Stamp Request post for DARK FANTASY SHELF


Jennifer: Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione, ★★★★☆, 11/8/2012, review is here.
Stephanie: Storm Front by Jim Butcher, ★★★★☆, 11/15/12, here.
Amber: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, ★★★★☆, 11/12/2012, review is here.
Deborah: Embrace the Night by Karen Chance, ★★☆☆☆, 11/7/2012, review is here.
Kerstin: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, ★★★★✩, 11/5/2012, here.
Jenne: Bloodshot by Cherie Priest, ★★★★☆, 11/5/2012, review is here.

[Jenne]

I've found a book for each of our winning shelves that are barely over 200 pages in case either is called tomorrow.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Jenne wrote: "I've found a book for each of our winning shelves that are barely over 200 pages in case either is called tomorrow."

Assuming the shelf names exactly match BINGO card square's spellings, eh?

[Jenne]

Yep double checked :)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Jenne wrote: "Yep double checked :)"

how do you double check (if not a personal shelf) the direct link called until it gets called? Do the shelf names have to exactly match BiNGO card squares? I did not see that in rules so just thought they were like categories and the shelf announcement would either direct to a shelf name in that category or say was personal choice.

(I've only played once; seems odd they'd bother with a direct link if just announcing shelf would do. And, if you know the shelf matches wording/spelling on card squares then you could just go to a book's page and see what it was shelved on without having to make sure it was listed on the link given. Sure would be easier to double check book selections if did not have to check them against the link but only had to go to a book's page and look at it's shelves.)

For example, I thought if card square said 2012 it could be a "2012" shelf, or a "read in 2012" shelf or any shelf that was 2012 related. "Ya paranormal" could be spelled "young adult" or "youngadult" paranormal shelves as well.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Debbie, you've always been able to go to a book's page and see if it is on the shelf named.

See the thread: Tips for Finding a BSB Book
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

As I said on the discussion thread, no lookalikes are allowed, that is why it is sometimes hard to find the shelves we use, cause they must have sufficient books to cater for everyone.

[Jenne]

Deborah what I did for example let's say young-adult-paranormal is called (crossing fingers that it just might be called today) I've had this one on my TBR forever and it's only 220something odd pages :) If you click on the link to bring the book's page up then click on genres it shows you everything it's been shelved as My Love Lies Bleeding Shelves 7 people shelved it as young-adult-paranormal

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I understand the no lookalikes rule; that the shelf has to match exactly the one on the shelf announcement thread.

I was just questioning if shelf announcements always matched the card squares wording/spelling exactly 'cause I never saw in the rules and always waited for shelf announcement in case the "2012" stamp on BINGO card might have a shelf announcement call of "2012 read" or something.

That is, do the announced/called shelfs always exactly match the wording/spelling on BINGO cards.

Zero confusion on whether or not lookalike shelves allowed; it was clear that only the shelf linked to in shelf announcement thread could be used.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

2012 Shelf
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
Finished: November 16, 2012
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Number of pages: 352
Review: I enjoyed and will read further in the series. Very interesting world building with supercivilized "psy" dependent on telepathic network versus the more animal shapeshifters/changelings. Would have rated higher if mystery a little more interesting versus knowing who bad guy was almost from the beginning and if a little lighter on the he-man-fated-mate-possessive type of romance.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Shelf announced, it's shifters and a potential win for team 10. Team 10 also needs to complete favorite series and 2012 shelves to get the win, so who knows.

I did not see where they posted a stamp request yet for either shelf.

[Jenne]

I just looked at their card they're short two stamps plus the new shelf. Wonder if they can get it done before it would be time for a new shelf? Wishful thinking I'm sure on my part

[Jenne]

I guess we were posting at the same time lol!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

LOL, oh well, was steph's turn for the win I guess.

All we can do is complete our reads by next Saturday and hope they fail to get the three shelf stamps needed before then with next Saturday call a winning one for us.

Discussion thread says that no schedule changes are being made for Thanksgiving holiday (despite what was said at signup). Could be good or bad depending on whether your holiday plans help you read by not being at work or make it impossible to read due to company, kids and travel plans.

I have put in stamp requests for all our completed shelves.

[Jenne]

I wonder how many on their team is behind a couple of shelves? If its several of their team we could still have a shot

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Shifters does give another 4 in a row to teams 2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Which could make for interesting race next Saturday if Team 10 fails to get 3 shelf stamps by Saturday.

The part of me that likes to win is glad no extensions are being given due to the holiday; the part of me that likes fairness thought they should have skipped next Saturday right up until a winning shelf was called for team 10 (a delay would give them catch up time and I'm not that generous ... plus would be very unfair to announce now after stating in previous discussions would not be doing).

[Regina]

Team 10 won't fail to get it. :D

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Regina wrote: "Team 10 won't fail to get it. :D"

I don't know; three whole shelves to get stamped? That's a lot of books to read in a week.

I think another week could be very, very interesting with all the four in a row shelves creating potentially a really big race.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I'm going for Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill of Chicago vampire series. It's also a November buddy read in this group; so works out nicely. I've heard a lot about and been interested in but kept back from reading due to ebook price ($13) and buddies with similar reading tastes complaining that the heroine was whiney and irritating.

[Kerstin]

Regina wrote: "Team 10 won't fail to get it. :D"

Well Regina, for my team's sake I hope you won't quite make it, but good luck anyway :)

You know what's (sort of funny) though; in my previous two Bingo rounds, I've always ended up on team #10, and when it's finally got a winning shot I'm not on it.

Anyway, I'm off to find a book for this weeks shelf!

[Jenne]

On my phone app So can't link book but I'm reading magic bleeds by Ilona Andrews

[Regina]

Well we just got one stamp and the next is close behind. :)

[Regina]

And we just requested the second. So now all we have is shifters. :)

Kerstin isn't it funny how luck plays a huge part? The true reward is the books I wouldn't have read but for mr R.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Triple Dog Dare Ya!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'dark-fantasy'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Regina]

Congrats team 3!!!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Well, I'm still reading for the shifters shelf. But, if Team 10 can finish up two shelves in the space of a few hours I'm sure the game is over.

[Stephanie]

I think I will be using this time to work on reading some books that i was reading before bingo. Maybe finish some of them up =)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Are you dropping out?

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Finished my shifters read. Will post tomorrow.

[Kerstin]

Regina wrote: "And we just requested the second. So now all we have is shifters. :)

Kerstin isn't it funny how luck plays a huge part? The true reward is the books I wouldn't have read but for mr R."

Congrats, Regina!

That's true, Mr R is very helpful that way! And going through everyone's reviews, my TBR pile has grown quite a bit again throughout this round.

[Kerstin]

That was quick, Debbie! I've looked through all my Kindle freebies that have sat unread for ages, to see if I find a book that fits. Came across and might give that a try, though I'm not too sure about shapeshifting dinosaurs, lol.

[Jennifer]

2012 Shelf



Finished: 17.11.2012
Rating: ★★★★✩

This will be a quick one. So, first of all I haven't read a historical novel in a while and now I know why I miss it. It's the details that matter and the backstory, the historical background which has to be developped before the characters can come out to play. I like the assassins angle. Not something you often find in a historical book. It's more often fantasy and suspence usually. I liked the story more than the characters though. For the simple reason that I'm still getting used to YA books. Somehow I find the characters have less dimensions and the ongoing angst often puts me off. Anyway it's not a stereotypical romance and I like the interaction between Ismae and Duval. I gave it four stars because it's a great story . I just wish some of these great YA stories weren't wasted on teens. That's all.

[Jennifer]

For the "Shifters" shelf I'll read . Her Feral Warriors Series has been on my TBR pile for ages.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Kerstin wrote: "That was quick, Debbie! I've looked through all my Kindle freebies that have sat unread for ages, to see if I find a book that fits. Came across and might give ..."

Well, sounds different.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

If message 590 means Stephanie dropped out, are we asking for an alternate or forfeiting?

Not likely, given how quickly they already got their two needed back-shelves caught up and immediately stamped, that team 10 won't win.

Game will go on until second or third place winner declared. I'm fine, holiday-plans-wise, going on—but, no hard feelings if most of you feel differently.

I'm alerting moderators on discussion thread in case we need to get an alternate.

[Jenne]

I'm good with continuing on.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Shifters Shelf
Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Finished: November 17, 2012
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Number of pages: 356

Review: An enjoyable take on the vampires-come-out-to-the-public type of urban fantasy. Not grim and over-heavy on conspiracy/politic end of the humans becoming aware of and dealing with the existence of supernaturals. I liked the main heroine (reader friends warned me she was whine-y and irritating but I don't agree); plot flowed very quickly and mostly plausibly once you accepted the basic world building.

I will (once they come down in price from the ridiculous $12.99 wanted for digital editions) be reading more in the series.

All the accolades I just wrote aside, there were three issues I did have with the book.

(1) the couple of graphics with the handwritten notes were a pain in the ass to read on my eInk kindle, even zoomed larger.

(2) the centuries old vampires did not ring true to their age (almost everyone in the book with possible exception of her grandfather came across as mostly-privileged twenty-somethings). Ethan, the master vampire who turned her, came close because author kept him mostly the strong dark silent type (and then did some very wimpy and some very hokey moments peppered in that ruined it. Gee, a vampire in Chicago quietly assimilated into human lifestyle for decades who never encountered a hot dog?). Another vampire, Lyndsay (may not be remembering name correctly), several centuries old meets Merit twice and then is taking her advice on whether or not to date this newly turned vampire like a giggly teenager with a crush (come on, and Merit a single newly turned possibly untrustworthy vamp who is single, has not a serious relationship and a more than a year dating slump ... right...that's plausible).

(3) About 72% thru the book, it morphed into a completely different book and character entirely. All of a sudden the heroine was a kickass soldier in basic training and perfectly adjusted to military life. Everyone all worried about potential "wars" breaking out. And she's the bodyguard for the master vampire (okay, hey, every English lit grad student who never did anything more physical than childhood ballet lessons goes that route).

An interesting heroine and worldbuilding for the first 70+% of the book; if second book continues like that will be a series I will follow. If next book is like last quarter of this one, will drop the series.

[Stephanie]

Oh i didnt realize the game continued on. My bad! Ill pick a shifters book later