R6: Team #16 ~ License to Read

[Josie]

That was exactly the same for me! The trouble with the male-lead shelf is that after the first page or so, only 1 person shelves the books as male-lead whereas it's usually 20 people rate the same book as a certain genre/category, which gives a better selection. Also, I just don't read as many books with a male-lead - I'm more inclined to read a strong heroine ;)

[~Leslie~]

These are the three I found I could read. Two of them I have on my nook and the Deborah Cooke one is a series I've been slowly reading and I like okay.

[Mandy]

I picked a male lead book last round and it was never called, so I still have it available :-)

[Mandy]

For 2012 I am going to listen to The Next Always.

[Mandy]

Shelf: 2012
Finished: 11/12/2012
Rating: *****

Nora Roberts has become a feel-good author for me and this book is no exception. Each character feels unique and I fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other. In this particular story, the Inn that is being restored and it's ghost are minor characters as well, and I enjoyed them almost as much as the heroine, hero, and the three children, as well as the siblings and friends. I look forward to reading more about the Inn Boonsboro and the Montgomerys :)

[Samantha]

I'm glad you liked that one, Mandy! I've been meaning to read more from her.

Josie, could you change my book to , I wasn't in the mood for that genre and it's due back at the library today, anyway. Thanks!

[~Leslie~]

Mandy, I love Nora Roberts and I read this book awhile ago and really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to get to the next one, and just haven't. But she is always an author I can depend on to have a good story and interesting characters.

[Josie]

Sure, Samantha. I'll be interested to see what you make of Birthright #2 :)

[Josie]

Title/Author: Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
Date finished: 14th November
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Review: I liked this one even more than the previous. In the last book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Sabine but I surprisingly enjoyed her as a character. I loved how she was so opposite to Ryd. Plus, some smoking scenes throughout the book - usually I don't really care for them but these were hot!
I'm most looking forward to Lanthe and Thronos though! Very exciting but I don't think they've got their book yet, maybe they'll still be around in the next ones.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, License to Read!
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

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Licensees!

[Kimberly]

2012: The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires
Finished 13 Nov
4 Stars

At first, I wasn't feeling the connection between Cal and Iris. She has so many rules about contact with vampires that she's closed off to the point of being a smart ass towards Cal. He, on the other hand, is so used to being isolated from human contact that he comes across as arrogant. The more I read, the more they started to get along and the more I started to like them.
This book has the usual Molly Harper charm that had me laughing out loud at some parts. There are some really good one liners that I can't remember at the moment but they're really good! I didn't know Cletus was a Greek name!
I'm looking forward to the rest of this series because the characters are so much fun.

[Kimberly]

Congratulations on our stamp!!!

*stamp dance*
*stamp dance*
*stamp dance*

[~Leslie~]

Yay for another stamp!!! I'm dancing as fast as I can!

I will be finished with my book later today and post the review.

Josie, that is one series I started and never seem to get around to reading again. I read the first one so long ago, I can barely remember it. I think I need to start it again.

[~Leslie~]

Shelf: 2012 11/14/12 ***1/2 stars

3.5 stars This is the first in the Sentinel Series and I liked it quite a bit but it did have some problems in my opinion. Helen has visions of dying by fire and she is confronted by the man in her vision and attempts to escape him. The minute Drake touches her she brings him instant relief from his constant pain. He will not let her leave him. This sets the stage for a book filled with alternating agenda's and miscommunication between Helen and Drake. Neither one of them is easy to like. And the author doles out information on the world she is building in somewhat the same way, slowly and painfully. For all that, the story is good and world she has created quite unique. And while the writing is rather sparse and utilitarian, quite enjoyable.

[Josie]

I like your review, Leslie :)

I wrote something about IAD but it just didn't make sense lol! I'm kind of tired so I think I'll sleep :P

[~Leslie~]

Thanks, Josie. They are not always easy to write - alot of mine don't make sense!

[Josie]

Lol! All I said was that I personally quite like the IAD series. It's not my fave (that goes to Psy-Changeling!) and when I read the first short story, The Warlord Wants Forever I wasn't blown away and wondered if the series was for me.
But I do really like it! I've read that the vamps are a lot of people's fave supes in the series but for me, they're probably my least favourite to read about (although I still quite like them). So anyway, hope you enjoy them!

[Samantha]

2012


Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin
Date Finished: November 16
Rating: ★★★
Although not as interesting as the first, I feel the this series has definitely grown. Anya begins to open her eyes and see that she can be the catalyst instead of always being at the mercy of others actions. The detour to Mexico to see cacao production was a wonderful way to add color and character to the story and I look forward to seeing some characters again in the next book. Even so, some of the characters and their actions were too dramatic for my tastes and the way they went from point A to point B to solve a problem was too convoluted. I was able to look past it for the most part and all in all it's a nice follow-up and I'll be continuing with the series when the next book is out.

[Samantha]

Hopefully Saturday will bring us a winning shelf! *fingers crossed*

[Gea]

2012
Book: Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

Rating: ★★★★★
Finished: 16-Nov-12
Review: The book was good but not as good as the previous one so I was a bit disappointed. I thought there could be at least one scene with Virgin Scribe and maybe some reconciliation with her kids but I guess that was just wishful thinking from me.

I started the series with this challenge and I managed to fit 4 out of 9 books for weekly shelves. If not for the BSB challenge I probably wouldn't have made it that far that fast with the series, but now I'm almost caught up with the series so I can "patiently" wait for Blay&Qhuinn book.

[Josie]

So proud of everyone! We're all set for tomorrow :D

Off to get our stamp, here's our list:

Week ⑨ (11th November)
2012 → 6/6 completed
✔ Gea: Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward » 16th Nov ǁ ★★★★★
✔ Kimberly: The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper » 13th Nov ǁ ★★★★
✔ Josie: Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole » 14th Nov ǁ ★★★★1/2
✔ Mandy: The Next Always by Nora Roberts » 12th Nov ǁ ★★★★★
✔ Samantha: Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin » 16th Nov ǁ ★★★
✔ Leslie: Burning Alive by Shannon Butcher » 14th Nov ǁ ★★★1/2

[Josie]

@Gea: You reading the BDB series has really encouraged me to keep going with it! I've always liked the books but they've got so long and are often now not really about the main pairing. I've read up to #8 and just lost steam but I'm going to read it soon hopefully!

I got today (I buy them when I'm at uni, then come home to a pile of packages, it's like Christmas lol!) - how nice is the cover? But I am restraining myself for the shelf tomorrow!

[Mandy]

Congrats on the stamps, team! We're rocking along!

[~Leslie~]

Josie wrote: "@Gea: You reading the BDB series has really encouraged me to keep going with it! I've always liked the books but they've got so long and are often now not really about the main pairing. I've read u..."
Josie, I loved Kiss of Steel!! Gave it 5 stars. I'll be really interested to read what you think! I hope we get a good shelf!!

And more stamp dancing, Team. My husband is looking at me funny!!

[Josie]

GTK, Leslie! It's just sitting there, looking at me! I so want to read it and I can't even distract myself with the books that I'm currently reading since I left them at uni :(

[Josie]

Lol! I get those "looks" all the time :P

[~Leslie~]

Sorry, Josie! I meant to say it's a terrible book - you'll hate it!! Worst book I ever read.

[Kimberly]

Another stamp?!!
WOO HOO Team 16!!!
All this dancing is great because it will help for Thanksgiving next week!

[Josie]

Too late, Leslie! :P

[~Leslie~]

Okay, Peeps!! Shelf is called and it's SHIFTERS. Not what we wanted, but at least it's an easy shelf to find a book! I will be reading

[Gea]

Too bad for the shelf, but if I'm not mistaken it's not a finishing shelf for any of the other teams so we can enjoy and read more books :)

I'll be reading for this shelf

[Samantha]

If Team #10 can catch-up then it should be a winning shelf for them, I think they have a couple of people on two of the stamps and then they need this week's, so there's a chance they could do it.

I have to think of which genre I want to read for this one, PNR vs UF. I'll have to come back with my pick later.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, License to Read!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on '2012'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[~Leslie~]

More stamp dancing! If Team 10 doesn't catch up then we are in a really good place for next week.

[Mandy]

I think I'm going to read Go Fetch! if I can get from the person I'm trying to borrow it from.

[Josie]

They've caught up so it looks like they're going to get Bingo this week. It's a shame for us (I personally think we were the best team!) but it was a lot of fun!

I'll browse the list for our last shelf *sniffle*

[Mandy]

It was fun while it lasted :)

[Josie]

It definitely was and I had such an easy job as team captain - I didn't even get worried about someone not reading/falling behind once :)

[Samantha]

Josie wrote: "(I personally think we were the best team!)"

Same here, this was a wonderful round for my first time playing BSB! You ladies rock!

[Kimberly]

This was so much fun and we did so much dancing! It was great playing with all of you!

[~Leslie~]

Oh, so sad!! I loved this team and really enjoyed reading all the reviews and chatting! For those here in the US, have a very Happy Thanksgiving! And Gea, good luck with school.

[Mandy]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[Gea]

Shifters
Book: Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims

Rating: ★★★★★
Finished: 19-Nov-12
Review: Since I first noticed this book I wanted to read it but somehow didn't manage to before this challenge gave me the chance. It was a great book and I can't wait to read the next book about heroine's sister and how she adapts in wolf pack.

[Josie]

I've finished for the shifters shelf.

Title/Author: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster
Date finished: 19th November
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I don't really know what to say apart from I loved this book! It's like a PNR-steampunk and didn't overdo it on either aspect.
Even though it has supes in it, there's different, interesting twists on everything. The story was sharp and never dragged and I loved Honoria and Blade, especially their interactions. Heart of Iron is definitely going onto my pre-order list :)

[Josie]

Don't feel like you have to read your book this week - I only read mine because I was going to read it anyway and it fit, plus I wanted to finish all the shelves :)

[Gea]

It was nice playing with you all :)
I loved this challenge mostly because it gave me incentive to read books that would otherwise sit on my TBR shelf a lot longer. I also liked reading your reviews and this way seeing if certain book is for me or not.

Happy holidays everyone

[Gea]

Josie, for me personally it's a good feeling that I managed to read all of the shelves, even if the challenge is almost over :)

[Josie]

Great timing, Gea :P

It was a good game, hope to play again with you all in the future.

[~Leslie~]

Josie, I knew you would love that book!! So glad you read it and I got to read your review. Great team effort everyone. Hope I'm on a team with y'all again!