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R6: Team #13 ~ Lucky 13
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JenniferJ
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Oct 07, 2012 08:51AM

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That was a good book! Loved both Leila and Vlad.
JenniferJ wrote: "Have either of you read any of this series? Do they get ANY better?"
Nope, but I tried reading another book by Cast and never got through it.

Book: The Renfield Syndrome
Shelf: Vampires
Finished: 10/7/12
Rating: 4 stars
Minor spoilers from the first book, Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between.
This was a quick, engaging read. Continuing right from where book one ended, Rhiannon has just been screwed over by a demon and sent 101 years into the future. While I don't generally buy the time travel business in stories, this one worked for me.
Rhiannon finds herself in a post-apocalypic world where humans are going extinct and creepy crawlies run the place. She meets Carter, who decides in a non-attractive alpha way that Rhiannon is to be his mate, she needs to find Disco to fulfill the terms of her demon debt and if possible, find a way to go back in time to undo some damage. A lot to deal with in a short amount of time.
Disco is absent from a lot of the book, but we get to know Paine, his second in command a lot better. I like his character a lot, but not sure I like where the story went with him. Hoping we don't head into a love triangle situation with him, Rhiannon and Disco.
This series is on the darker side, there's a lot of violence and crappy people who have done terrible things to others. A good example is with Rhiannon's sister Jennifer, whose story is heartbreaking. I'm hoping Rhiannon gets some closure with her past at some point. It's not all depressing and sad though, the book is actually really fun and entertaining, despite the dark moments.
I'm a bit unsatisfied with the ending since so many storylines are left open. I almost feel like I stopped in the middle of a book instead of the end. But I guess that means book 3 will be read soon!


Shelf = Vampires
Book Read = Natural Instincts by S.J. Frost
Date Finished = 10/7/12
Rating = ★★★★½
Basic Review
This was a fun book with vampires that I would have had no clue about based on the cover. It certainly didn't make me think that this would be a paranormal book.
I liked the action in this book, and the unrequited love of an old friend of one of the heros. I loved that the author left me unsure in the story if he would be good or bad.
The reason I knocked off ½ a star was because I was a little frustrated that one of the heros got away with something I didn't think he should have...
Since I don't want to spoil the plot, I will substitute in my own story to convey my frustration :)
Teenager is asked by mother and father where the cookie jar has gone to. Teenager cooly tells mother and father that she surely didn't eat any cookies. How would she know? She's on a diet.
Later that night, mother and father walk into the kitchen and see cookie-bits scattered throughout the kitchen and the cookie jar laying on the floor. The teenager sits next to the jar with cookie-crumbs smeared all over her face.
Instead of the mother and father acknowledging that clearly the teenager knew the cookie jar was there, and has now caused all sorts of cookie-chaos, instead they thank the teenager and say: "It's a good think you remembered to buy the milk we asked for at the grocery store. Cookies deserve milk".
Yes, this story has nothing to do with the plot of the book, but I think you would understand why I would be wondering why the parents would not acknowledge that the teenager was sitting in a pile of cookies after outright lying a few hours earlier and saying she wouldn't deign to eat them.
Putting that aside, it was a great book and I plan to continue the series. :)

I haven't...I've kind of been reluctant to pick it up for some reason.

Updated to here. Hope everybody had a nice weekend! :)

Yep, hubby is a great randomiser!! Although he may have been biased this time round as the night huntress series were originally his and I'm reading them after several recommendations.....

You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'urban-fantasy'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D

Belinda, Saturday was my first free day in weeks, so I sat home and just read. It was pretty fantastical :D

I love P.C. Cast but I am not fond of this series...


Book: once burned by jeaniene frost
Finished:9/10/12
Shelf: vampires
Stars: 4
Review:
Not one of the best jeaniene frost novels. I'd heard so many good reports, maybe my expectations were too high. There were a few laugh out moments but they seemed to confined to one area of the book. A nice quick read and the cameo by cat and bones was oh so short. Overall a good read, I did enjoy learning more about vlad's past thou.


Death's Mistress by Karen Chance
Shelf: Vampires
Date finished: 10/9/12
Rating: ★★★★★
Thoughts:
I love Dory! There is no Pritkin, but Dorina, combined with L-C make up for it. I'm so tempted to just end this review right here by saying, "It's great. Read it." "NOW...unless you haven't read Midnight's Daughter, in which case, read it, NOW." End.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Karen Chance's novels since my arm got twisted into reading them (*whine* but I've got so many started series to catch up on...can't possibly start this one yet...well...I'm caught up on hers, except for the pretty-pretty copy of Fury's Kiss that's awaiting me...SHELF!) and kicking myself because I'm gonna be caught up real soon on Dorina, and then waiting....waiting...waiting.
Dorina is kick-*ss from the start...and when she's around, the action never, seriously~NEVER, lets up. Someone is going after senate members, and dhampir Dorina had better figure out who really, really fast or most of those she rather reluctantly cares about will end up dead. At some point in the book, you can't help but suspect WHO/WHAT is doing them in, but the trip to the unveiling is filled with nice little twists, hilarious moments and some touching points.
Many favorite moments, but this one has me DYING to read the next one (SHELF!)..."What are you saying? That I can't corrupt you?" Well...my vote is to give it 110% effort.
I'll be reading the next one. Just trying to decide if I can wait a bit, or will dive in tomorrow! (tonight?)


○Shelf = Free Space
○Book: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
○Completed: 10/9/2012
○Rating: ****
○Review: I love Merecedes, but I wasn't as impressed with this book than I was with the other ones. My favorite is still Iron Kissed, but I liked Sam's plot line in this book. Will definately start the next one ASAP.





○Shelf = Favorite Author
○Book: River Marked by Patricia Briggs
○Completed: 10/11/2012
○Rating: ****
○Review: I don't think I liked this book as much as the others, Adam gets in the way a lot. I like that she's married and happy now, but I felt like this whole book was nothing but Adam worrying about Mercy. I enjoyed it though, I'll definately read the next one. I read the first book from her other series and I liked that one a lot too. I hope her two series don't become so similar that they're predictable. I like how Mercedes was a loner and Alpha & Omega were a team.




Shelf #5 ~ 10/14/12: 'Series Catch-up'
DIRECT LINK: This is a personal shelf, not a Goodreads shelf.
This is a personal shelf, not a GR shelf. So, as long as the book is 200+ pgs, part of a series and book 2 or higher in that series it's acceptable.
Also, it is not a "winning shelf", and not really spectacular for us this week (but who knows what Mr. R will toss out next week!)

What a good one! I've got the new BDB calling so I'll be reading lover reborn by J.R. Ward


Shelf #5 ~ 10/14/12: 'Series Catch-up'
I'm going to read Insurgent by Veronica Roth.



And yay for the new stamp!!"
Tohrment's book? That's the one that arrived today....
I finished my book, but haven't had time to write a review! Probably tomorrow night. In about 7 hours, I'm "single" for the next some odd months! Packing is done. Loose ends are mostly tied up, have a new address for spouse (and contacts just in case..he's going to do re-construction (diving-type) in an area devastated by the 3/11 earthquake/tsunami), and wishing he weren't such a technophobe...speaking is great, but some things I'd rather he just sent as cell-mail...and he's a little "challenged" that way! After the last few stressful months, this is definitely a CHEERS moment! So review will wait until the bottle of wine is finished and slept off!
ETA: He's headed to work...and we're quite happy about this job! If it works out well, there will be more, much more...whew.

Midnight's Daughter
Finished 10.15.12
2.5 stars
Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I just don't care much for Karen Chance. I read two of the Cassie Palmer books and only know that because I rated them. Since they left no lasting impression on me, I'm guessing this author isn't ever going to get on my favorites list.
Back to Midnight's Daughter. There was so much going on in this book, it was just too much for my simple brain. Dory starts off trying to find her missing roommate, gets coerced into hunting down Uncle Dracula by her father, and is forced to work with a well-sculpted vampire who scorns her for what she is. I was fine with that. Then came Fae drama, war with the mages, mutated animals, and an out of nowhere attraction between her and Louis Cesare. And the flashbacks, endlessly getting beat to almost death, and the blackout rages. No kitchen sink, but there was a bubble bath in a fountain followed by magical wine.
There was a lot going on, and I found myself losing interest and skimming paragraphs at a time. That's not usually a good thing in a book this short.
Some random thoughts:
Claire's return and story was a bit of a wtf moment.
The sudden attraction and feelings between Dory and Frenchie weren't believable.
Radu might be one of my favorite characters to come out of the book.
And I might have a soft spot for Stinky.
There was a lot of time devoted to a struggle between Dory and flying carpet chair thing.
Though it seems like I didn't enjoy this much, I am slightly curious to see if I would like the next one more. If I don't, I think my time with this author will be over.

Updated to here. As always double check your progress behind me. Progress List

My series catch-up will be


You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'Free Space' and 'Favorite Author'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D


Not at all...ditto that, but there is another hardback out/coming out...can't remember!
But, which kind of "slow" is it... a "killing me cause things are interfering with my reading" or "no prob at all?
Trying to figure out what to pick up after the current read...


Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine
Shelf: Series Catch Up
Date finished: 10/14/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
I quite enjoy Rachel Caine's series', but it is ALWAYS a good idea to have the next on hand. She seems to like cliffhangers, a lot. The action does pick up almost immediately in the next book, without too much background so it's not painful to read them back-to-back.
However, I've been reading Morganville vamps through the library. A couple of slow readers/months(!) later, this finally arrived in my bookreader. (I DID read it immediately, and quickly return it for the sake of the other 5 or 6 wait-listed people behind me). The next two are on-hold...still waiting.
This was a nice, twisty addition to Claire Danvers' vampire adventures. Amelie's nasty vamp dad has come to town, and set everyone on edge. The Long Game is in play, but Claire, with her very mortal viewpoint, is not so happy with what the vamps consider "acceptable" losses/sacrifices. She jumps in, and along with the usual gang, things go from bad to insane...and have to wait for the next book to find out how it will play out with Daddy-not-so-dearest.
That sounds a bit...hmmm...but I enjoy these reads quite a bit. They're quick and fun, and hard to put down. The bad part is waiting when you want to pick up the next one immediately!



I read a little of my book during a break today and I decided 20 minutes of reading is NOT better than nothing. It's like a teaser and a little unsatisfying, lol. I much prefer to have an actual large chunk of time to read, even though that usually ends up late at night and cutting into sleep hours.





At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost
Shelf: Vampires
Finished: 10/18/2012
Rating: ***
Review: I had a hard time getting into this one. I think the missions kept distracting me, so now that she's quit her FBI job and is going to focus on Bone's lineage will make the storyline better.
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