R2: ♪ Teal We Read Again

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I'm going to read I'll get points for shelf and name :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Week 3 - ♬ You've Got a Friend by James Taylor (1971)

Damiellar: Branded as Trouble by Lorelei James ♬ POINTS: Name + Shelf + Plot + Word = 11 points ♬ Review Here

Christal: Nightwalker by Allyson James ♬ POINTS: Name + Cover + Plot + Setting= 16 points ♬ Review Here

Catherine: A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware ♬ POINTS: Name + Setting + Plot + Cover + word = 17 points ♬ Review Here proof of word in book

JenniferJ: Big Girls Don't Cry by Taylor Lee POINTS: Plot + Name + Setting + Word = 15 points Review Here

Susan: The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James ♬ POINTS: Shelf + Name + Cover + Plot = 11 points ♬ Review here

[Christal]

Looking at the discussion thread, I think I can claim setting for my book too as most of it takes place outdoors in the desert, but I will wait until after I read it just to be sure.

[Phoenix (Online Elf), Moderator]

Susan (susayq) wrote: "I'm going to read I'll get points for shelf and name :)"

Miss Susan, you would get points for the cover, too. Man-made lake/"pool" in the background garden.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Thanks, mr. Elf!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Christal wrote: "Looking at the discussion thread, I think I can claim setting for my book too as most of it takes place outdoors in the desert, but I will wait until after I read it just to be sure."

Be sure to let me know when you finish it so I can make adjustments as necessary :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

FYI, I may take a few days to get this read. Tomorrow I'll be driving for about 9 hours to get to Louisiana. Then, I have family to see on Sunday afternoon, so I may not get a chance to read again until Sunday night. Of course, I'm reading today, but I still need to grocery shop and pack.

[Christal]

No worries, Susan. Enjoy your trip!

I added my points wrong; it should be 10. I'll let you know about the setting as soon as I finish my book.

[Catherine]

Mr. Elf posted this cheat sheet since this was a harder song for many.

Every week the mods get together to decide what would work for the song links. The reason we don't usually post it, is because often some of you are able to come up with new ideas that have a lot of merit, something we hadn't thought of, that you may have limited yourselves to if you'd only looked at our outline.

Well, that, and we don't want to make the game too easy.

This week only however, due to the difficulty in both the setting and cover links, we've decided to let you in on the Mod's cheat sheet below. Good luck!

Elishia: You've Got a Friend by James Taylor (1971). Lyrics No Video
Shelf: Friends To Lovers (Shelf linked only, Shelves with similar names will not count. eg, Friends-Lovers, Friends2Lovers etc)
Cover:
(link to lyrics) – Phone; beach or pool scene; tree with leaves falling; garden of flowers (must still be in the earth); snow or rain; a dark, cloudy/stormy sky; a hand knocking on a door; someone running.
Plot: Friends to lovers; A book where the main characters are somehow living off the land, or spending a lot of time outside as part of the profession eg farmers, fishing, hunting, ranching; A book where one of the main characters becomes part of a new community; A book where one of then main characters is trying to help a friend out of trouble.
Title: Anything that has the words YOU'VE GOT A or YOU GOT or FRIEND.
Name: Author or Character with the first name or surname JAMES or TAYLOR. Because of the amount of points involved with this link, differences in spelling will be allowed, however name variations will not. eg, Tailah= 5 points, Tahlia= no points.
Setting: Any book written in 1971 or set mainly outdoors eg Road trips, Western/Frontier, lakeside cottage, cabin in the woods etc.
Word: shimmy (needs quote included, and page number or ebook location given)


I "borrowed" this from one of the other teams :) I snuck in under the radar, and out again! lol so...it's more of a guide for me...but you guys can use it for help too :)

[Catherine]

how about would this work? one of the characters is named James, and as title says.."Cottage" by the sea..have to looks and see what else...but if this isn't a good choice...must take a gander at my list! :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Sounds good to me, Catherine :)

[Catherine]

my book is good? YAY! :)

[Gisela, Moderator]

I agree it sounds good. If, as the title implies, most of the story takes place by the sea you can claim setting points for it.

[Gisela, Moderator]

Btw, Susan I'm stealing your book! ;) It's the only one I have on hand right now, well I also have but for the life of me I can't remeber were it is.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Go ahead, Gisela. I started reading it earlier (I'm in car line to pick up girls from school) and I already like it. I'm just starting ch 3

[Gisela, Moderator]

Woohoo! Thanks!

[Dami]

Book:
Branded as Trouble - Lorelei James

Rating: ★★★★
Finished: 18-Jan-2013

Review:
For significant time the measure of whether a book is something I really enjoy is if it sends me to an extreme of emotion at some stage. If I laugh out loud or catch myself crying, it's a good book.

This book is the sixth in a series however I found no difficulty at all in not having read the previous installments (not that I don't intend to backfill when I can). Colt and Indy both have backgrounds which led them to AA (where they initially came to know each other) but this isn't a story where they become each others crutch. They are both individuals who could cope without the other but they don't want to. I like that. They have arguments and then make up (although personally if my man disappeared for 2-3 days after a disagrement and didn't tell me, sparks would most definitely fly).

There were a lot of family dynamics involved (which quite likely are closing of story arcs from previous books) but they worked. The characters were nicely rounded even if we only saw relatively little of them. I really liked this one.

Links:

SHELF - on "friends-to-lovers" shelf
PLOT - Colt and Indy have been 'only friends' for 3 years. When they discover that the attraction is mutual they move through dating (with no sex which was led to some fun close calls) to lovers to the accepted proposal (which was the perfect place to end this story.
NAME - author's surname (Lorelei James) matches singers first name (James Taylor)
WORD - 'shimmy': performing a whole body shimmy - Kindle location 2894

Individual points: Shelf(1) + Plot(3) + Name(5)+ Word (1) = 11 points

[Dami]

Susan (susayq) wrote: "I haven't picked a book yet! Great going, Damiellar!"

I'm just lucky that so far the timing of the song is about 30mins before I go to bed on a Friday evening. I just need to pick an ebook which fits, download it and then indulge myself in reading when I don't need to worry about getting up for work the next day.

(it helps that I'm a bit of an insomniac as well)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

that is lucky, Damiellar. The song is called around 5 am my time. I've not only got to pick a book, but then wake my kiddos and get them to school before I can start reading :)

[Lina]

Great review Damiellar!! BTW, for setting, does this count as a Western setting?

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

that would be some mega points if it did!!

[Dami]

It definitely is a Western setting but it mainly takes place within the town rather than on the ranch. ?would that count I didn't want to push it as it's not really an outdoors setting

[JenniferJ]

Ladies my internet is down until Monday but will try my best to get back to make a post Sunday. I'm not at home so I can't choose a book to post yet.

[JenniferJ]

I was able to slip on for a few minutes. I had a book picked out but after being a bit nosy I may swap to another because it would be worth more points and I been wanting to start the series anyhow. hmm. Either way I will either be using or which I see is worth 17 points!

[Christal]

♬ Week 3 Song: "You've Got a Friend in Me" by James Taylor (1971)



Book: Nightwalker by Allyson James
Rating: ★★★★
Finished: 21-Jan-2013
Review: I love the Stormwalker series and I am so glad that Allyson James decided to continue it self-published. Janet was a complete badass in this book and it is really enjoyable to see her develop her powers. I wish that she and Mick had more sexy time in this book but I did love their conversation about love vs possession. I hope that there will be another book in this series; I need more answers!

*Links:
PLOT: Book is about Janet helping out her friend, Ansel
COVER: Dark, stormy night sky
NAME: Author last name matches singer last name
SETTING: Book mainly takes place outside in the desert and canyons of New Mexico

Individual points: Cover(2) + Plot(3) + Name(5) + Setting (6) = 16 points

[Catherine]

hope to be finished by tomorrow :) am halfway through now...how are the rest of you faring? I see Christal has already finished...I wish I could read faster....but....I also have work...which really does interfere with my reading time!! lol :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

I Finished mine today. I'll be doing the review in a little bit :)

[Catherine]

hey...just noticed...I didn't get points for the cover....(cliff-side at the ocean?!?!? :(

[Catherine]

Also....two of the characters start out as friend...and become more

[JenniferJ]

Week 3 - ♬ You've Got a Friend by James Taylor (1971)



Book: Big Girls Don't Cry by Taylor Lee
Rating: ****
Finished: 1/19/13
Review: Very awesome story! Lexi is a tough heroine but she has had to be with her background. At 16 and a runaway she was introduced to dancing at a strip club for survival until her older brother finds her and sets her up in a friends dojo where she learns how to fight and fend for herself. It gives her inner as well as a physical strength which will come in handy in the years to come.

Her brother, a treasured army man/cop is found mutilated on the army base and Lexi feeling that not enough is being done to capture his murderer tosses herself headlong into a dangerous situation where one of her brothers beloved co-workers/friends, Jake, falls in love with her and teams up with her to find the ones responsible.

Lexi and Jake were perfectly matched here both being strong and hard headed. I felt it was a good give and take on both sides and it wasn't one of those love at first sight deals which I found refreshing.

Links:

3 Points - PLOT: Hero helps his friend out of heaps of trouble by teaming up with her to find her brothers killer.
5 Points - NAME: Author named Taylor.
6 Points - SETTING: Most of the action takes place ouside traveling in her camaro or his motorcycle as they work the streets during their investigation.
1 Points - Word: (Shimmy) With a provocative shimmy she inched the shot glass up her chest. (Location 1564)

If all is correct should be 15 Points. :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Week 3 - You've Got a Friend by James Taylor (1971)



The ugly Duchess by Eloisa James
Rating: 3 stars
finished: 1/21/13
review: Well, this definitely wasn't my favorite book by her. I'm strongly anti-cheating for my heroes and this one cheated with three different women during their seven year separation. Fortunately, we didn't have to read anything other than something like "he met a lovely widow in Bombay who taught him the art of love"...you get my drift. Had it been anymore in depth than a few sentences naming the women and where they were around the globe I would have stopped reading. Ultimately, James didn't beg for forgiveness enough, in my opinion and Daisy forgave him too easily and took him back too easily.

Links:
Shelf: 1 point
Plot: 3 points - James and Daisy were friends who became lovers
Name: 5 points - hero was named James, and author's last name
Cover: 2 points - a lake or pool outside the window she's looking through

11 points

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Catherine, I'll change your points when you post your review and show how you've claimed them :)

[Christal]

Hi Susan, can you update my points to 16. I did claim the setting for my book. Thanks!

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Sure, Christal, sorry I didn't catch that.

[Christal]

No worries, thanks for the update :-)

[Catherine]

thanks Susan...:) hopefully tonight! :) if I can stay awake! I am sooooooo exhausted! :)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

Catherine wrote: "thanks Susan...:) hopefully tonight! :) if I can stay awake! I am sooooooo exhausted! :)"

Why?

[Catherine]

work!!! :) too much of it! lol need a holiday already and it's only January! :)

[Lisa Kay, Moderator]

I hope you get one, Catherine.

[Catherine]

me too! :)

[Catherine]

FINISHED! :)

Book:A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware

Links:
title: A Cottage by the Sea,
setting: a cottage on the coast of Cornwall,
cover: seaside view,
plot: Blythe and Lucas Teague start out as aquaintances, become friends, and then fall in love.
word: pg 516: "Blythe kicked off her boots, and shimmied out of her jeansa and panties...."



REVIEW: well...I have to say, I do love a good historical romance....especially when it entwines past and present, as though they are connected by a thread. this story starts out with a bitter divorce, forcing Blythe Barton Stowe to "flee"...more or less...from her home and the prying eyes of the press. what she finds is a beautiful and quiet refuge in a cottage on an estate, run by the (now single) lord of the manner. she discovers snippets of history that somehow seem to reflect on stories that have been told to her by her Grandmother...and finds herself enmeshed (somehow) in the history itself....without realising, she discovers that her family history (and that of her ex husband)seem to come to a culmination of events that all began at this estate!
now...I am particularly biased, because I love English history, and I am from Dorset, which if you are not aware, is only a hop skip and a jump from Corwall..but I digress. lol if you love books that are not strictly history, but enmesh present and past..so that you find it hard to separate them...you are sure to love this story :)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Great review, Catherine! I updated your points in our weekly post. I didn't realize you were from Dorset. You're in America now?

[Catherine]

Well...actually a New York City girl.....but my mum is from Herts, and we have a house in Shaftesbury.....went to school in Blandford and Wincanton(Wilts)....I am trying to get back there....somewhere.....and away from here :( I miss it very much

[Catherine]

Susan...does "shimmied" count as well? if so I have that too!

pg 516: "Blythe kicked off her boots, and shimmied out of her jeansa and panties...."

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Catherine wrote: "Susan...does "shimmied" count as well? if so I have that too!

pg 516: "Blythe kicked off her boots, and shimmied out of her jeansa and panties....""

Yes! Go add it to your review post and I'll change your points :)

[Catherine]

YAY!!! :)

[Catherine]

so...I snuck a peek at the song choices....:)

Week #4 Playlist Choices - The Violent Femmes
Mr Randomizer will choose one song from the list below, and we will post it here on Friday 25th January.

Pieces of Me by Ledisi (2011) lyrics youtube
Bad Romance by Lady Gaga (2009) lyrics youtube
Thong Song by Sisqo (2000) lyrics youtube
Set Fire to the Rain by Adele (2011) lyrics youtube
Beautiful Stranger by Madonna (1999)lyrics youtube

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Thanks for posting that, Catherine. I always forget.

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Happy Friday! The new song is up, but there is a question about the video. I'll leave the link to the video that is with it, if it changes, I'll change it here and in a new post.

Week 4 - ♬ Set Fire to the Rain by Adele (2011)


Possible Links
Lyrics: Click Here
Video: Click here
Shelf: Love Triangle
Word: Bus-stop*

Good luck!

*(we will also accept the two words consecutively without the hyphen)

[Susan (susayq ~), Moderator]

Shelf link has been changed to this...

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/l...

I'll change the link in the above post :)

No change was made to the video :)