FL1: Team #7 ~ Curious Raccoons

[Vi]

Stay safe and warm, Karen!

[Breann]

Yay! I posted our updated reviews for week 2:


Week 2 ~ Yellow
KarenF: How to Drive a Dragon Crazy by G.A. Aiken February 7th ★★★½✩ Review
Breann: Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward February 4th ★★★★✩ Review
Alyssa: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto ★★★★✩ February 9th Review
Vi: Stained Glass Monsters by Andrea K. Höst Februaru 7th ★★★★✩ Review
Sandy: Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern February 5th ★★★★✩ Review



So in aboooouuuuut... 7 hours (a little less) I will draw a new card!

[Breann]

And currently we're in last place :/ And I mean REALLY last place LOL. There are a couple teams back here with us, but not many! :)

[SandyC]

Oh, well, maybe today we'll get one of those "jump up 100 spaces cards," but if not we're still having fun! :-)

[Breann]

You called it Sandy! We drew the Queen of clubs, which moved us to the wing ~ space 101!

Free read for us!!!!

[SandyC]

Sweet!!
I will read .

[Breann]

Good idea Sandy! I think I'll read that for this week too.

[KarenF]

Too many choices, too many choices.

I almost jumped on the Elliot McBride bandwagon as well but I'll stick with what I need for my other team challenge:

[Breann]

Good choice Karen! That's a fun book.

[Vi]

Yay! That was cool. I was about to start which I can use for this.

[SandyC]

If anyone is interested in our buddy read of ,
click here

[KarenF]

Week 3: Free Read
Book: Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones
Date Finished: 2/10/13
Rating: ★★★★★




This one is definitely my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed the first two but found that the humor could be jarring at times. Despite the vein of humor that runs throughout there are some pretty serious story lines here, involving child abuse, domestic violence and betrayal by loved ones. In this book I found the humor much more well balanced. It certainly lightened up what were some grim situations and revelations but it didn't poke its head right into the middle of them, lessening their impact. For that reason I found myself much more emotionally invested in this one.

Charley & Cookie are still a hoot and I've always liked that Charley is a competent P.I. (even if she does have a bit of an unfair advantage). The case was interesting and given the recent glut of completely controlling romance "heroes" lately it was good to see a more realistic portrayal of that personality type.

And I couldn't go the whole review without mentioning Reyes. The son of Satan is such a complex character, heartbreaking one minute, rage inducing the next. I went back and forth between wanting them to be together and wanting Charley to hit him in the head with a lead pipe and run away. Of course, I still think I want them together long term but homeboy needs to pay a bit for his actions here. For me, this book turned the series from something I liked reading into something that I'm excited for the next installment.

[Breann]

KarenF wrote: "And I couldn't go the whole review without mentioning Reyes. The son of Satan is such a complex character, heartbreaking one minute, rage inducing the next. I went back and forth between wanting them to be together and wanting Charley to hit him in the head with a lead pipe and run away. Of course, I still think I want them together long term but homeboy needs to pay a bit for his actions here. "

I totally agree. Even after reading the latest one I'm still on the fence about Reyes.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I totally agree about Reyes as well. LOL. Love the lead pipe analogy, but could she run fast enough. LMAO

[KarenF]

Maybe if she accessed some of those superpowers people are always hinting that she has. :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I'm surprised she hasn't tried to find out a bit more about them, or at least experiment. LOL

[Vi]

Week 3: Free Read

Book:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Date Read 10 February
Rating:★★★
Review:
I went into this expecting it to be like some Book version of
Ready Player One which sadly, it was not. We have the narrator, Clay who is out of a job and gets a night-clerk job at a quirky little bookstore. This shop doesn't seem to have that many patrons and the few little regulars that do visit them seem highly weird. And it doesn't stock that many recent books either. The books these regulars borrow are weird too with weird titles. Clay is curious about this whole process. With the help of his friends and (Google) technology, he digs deeper trying to discover the secret of this bookstore.

Clay is a likeable narrator whilst also being a little too annoying. Things are little bit convenient - he seems to know all sorts of people when he just needs them. All the characters seemed two-dimensional especially the "bad-guy". I didn't understand why Clay was interested in Kat. It seemed to me that it was forced. But the technology references in this book made me giggle because I knew them and I've sometimes even tried them!

On the whole, an engaging read though it left me a little disappointed.

[Alyssa]

I just finished for the wing space. I'll get my review up tomorrow after work. Don't let me forget! :-)

[SandyC]

Week 3: Free Read
Book:
Date Finished: 2/14/13
Rating: ★★★

Jennifer Ashley tackles PTSD in the 5th installment of the Highland Pleasures series. Jilted at the alter, Juliana St. John has the opportunity to marry Elliot McBride, whom she has loved just about her entire life. She then finds herself mistress of a ramshackle mansion in Scotland, and the wife of a severely troubled man who was held prisoner and tortured. There is much to admire about Juliana who puts up with way more than she bargained for. Elliot has always loved Juliana and wants to be a good husband to her, but the demons of his past haunt him. The details of his imprisonment are brutal and one can't help but feel for him and understand why he is having trouble adjusting to the real world. I liked the secondary characters, especially Mahindar, Elliot's Sikh servant who is treated more like family. I'm already looking forward to the next installment about Daniel Mackenzie. I can't help wondering if Inspector Fellowes will ever get his own book!

[Breann]

Free Read: The Seduction of Elliot McBride
2/15/13
★★★✩✩

Jennifer Ashley is basically an auto buy author for me. I love this highlander series. I really liked Elliot & Juliana's characters but I just didn't feel the chemsitry as much as I usually do with her books. They have loved each other since childhood and have a great history with one another and I would have liked to know more about that. The author kept telling me and telling me about their love and their shared history, but I would have liked her to show me. Of course, I will be continuing to read Daniel's book. I'm hoping Fellows get his own book as well!

[Alyssa]

Week 3 - Free Read

I finished on 2/14/13.

Rating: ★★★★★

Review: Freakin' awesome. Sad ending, though. Dying for the next one to come out.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Not long to wait now Alyssa :)

[Breann]

Week 3 is updated and I'll draw a new card in a little over an hour!


Week 3 ~ Free Read
KarenF: Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones February 10th ★★★★★ Review
Breann: The Seduction of Elliot McBride by Jennifer Ashley February 15th ★★★✩✩ Review
Alyssa: Crimson Frost by Jennifer EstepFebruary 14th ★★★★★ Review
Vi: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan February 10th ★★★✩✩ Review
Sandy: The Seduction of Elliot McBride by Jennifer Ashley February 14th ★★★✩✩ Review

[Breann]

We drew another 4, so find those yellow covers again! We moved to space 105.

[Breann]

Yellow? Ya think?

[SandyC]

Looks like it fits the spectrum, Breann.

Would this be stretching it ?

[Breann]

Looks more yellow than mine. So I would say yes.

[SandyC]

:-)

[KarenF]

I'm going with an alternate cover. It's not the book I have but I think it's the UK version.

It's kind of disturbing (what's up with that lady's giant face?) but I think it's yellow enough?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Breann, KarenF yes.

Sandy use the Bulgarian cover, its much more yellow.

[Breann]

I'm changing my book to

[Breann]

KarenF wrote: "It's kind of disturbing (what's up with that lady's giant face?)"

LOL Karen!

[SandyC]

Sandra wrote: "Breann, KarenF yes.

Sandy use the Bulgarian cover, its much more yellow."

Thanks for the tip, Sandra!

[Alyssa]

*curses* Freakin' yellow! I wanted blue...... :-(

[Vi]

Are any of this yellow? , ?

EDIT: I guess the second is. What about the first?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Vi, I'd say the first one is more orange. Read JAK, you'll enjoy it ;)

[Vi]

Ah, thought so! Thanks, Sandra. JAK, it is.

[Breann]

Alyssa wrote: "*curses* Freakin' yellow! I wanted blue...... :-("

I was a little bummed about yellow too...

[Breann]

I will not be around later in the week to post our reviews and to draw our card next weekend. Sandy, will you still be able to sub for me?

[SandyC]

Alyssa wrote: "*curses* Freakin' yellow! I wanted blue...... :-("

Ha! I wanted blue also, since I just bought

[SandyC]

Breann wrote: "I will not be around later in the week to post our reviews and to draw our card next weekend. Sandy, will you still be able to sub for me?"

Sure! Have a fun trip!

[Alyssa]

Sandy wrote: "Alyssa wrote: "*curses* Freakin' yellow! I wanted blue...... :-("

Ha! I wanted blue also, since I just bought "

That's what I wanted to read too!

[Breann]

Week 4 ~ Yellow Sacred Fate
2/19/13
★★★★✩

I love epic fantasy. I love creative world building. I love a good sweet romance. So, this book was perfect for me! When reading the blurb and knowing that Lassen was to be taken by the King, Rohyr, as the king's paramour I was expecting a reluctant romance to blossom. Not at all. Lassen took what was thrown at him in stride. He didn't resent his position nor did Rohyr press him for more than he was ready for.

In this world that was created the king is welcome to his concubine, but must have a proper mate, one of status. The king shouldn't be falling in love with his lover or having children with them. Yes, I said children and yes this is M/M fantasy. I'll get back to that. Naturally, the King must follow the tradition and marry into a loveless marriage but is able to keep Lassen as his lover.

I adored Lassen and Rohyr's relationship. Lassen was more than ready to do his duty to the king, no matter how inexperienced he was. Rohyr knew of his inexperience and seduced Lassen slowly. They were always so much more than king and concubine, they were lovers and mates from the beginning. On hundred percent devoted to one another in everything. I loved it.

I did have some slight issues with the mpreg. The reason this bothered me is because I felt like I sometimes forgot that this was a M/M book.In this world, there are men and men who are hermaphrodites. If one can get pregnant, what's the point of them both being male? I like to KNOW it's two men in my romance, I don't want to forget.

This was definitely different than I expected, but it was a nice surprise to find such romance in this fantasy story.

[SandyC]

Week 4: Yellow
Book:
Date Finished: 2/21/13
Rating: ★★★

This is the fourth book in the Cousins' War series that focuses on England's Wars of the Roses. The story is told from the point of view of Anne Neville, whose father was instrumental in putting Edward IV on the throne, then later turned against him and tried to restore Henry VI. Marriages are made for beneficial alliances and inheritances. Anne first marries the son of Henry VI, but after his death, she marries the man who would become King Richard III (they had been friends since childhood and Gregory paints their marriage as a love match as well as a political one). I find it hard to understand why anyone would want to be King or Queen in Medieval England since the position is so precarious. Alliances change, turncoats emerge, and people find themselves going from top of the world to imprisonment in record time. This book is basically The White Queen told from Anne's point of view and it portrays Elizabeth Woodville as the villainess rather than the heroine. Gregory also portrays Richard in a much more sympathetic light than most literature. With the recent disovery of the king's remains, and after reading this, I have a renewed interest in learning more about him and his short reign. I'm also amazed by Anne and what she had to endure in her short lifetime. She was married at 14 and then 15, her family was in favor with the King, and then not; they were in constant danger of imprisonment or execution; her father was killed in battle; she lost her only son at the age of 10. That's a lot for a young woman to deal with! I love historical fiction and each time I read a fictionalized account of an interesting life, it prompts me to read more about the real story. I will be looking for more information about Anne and Richard and the dangerous times in which they lived.

[Vi]

Week 4: Yellow

Book: by Jayne Ann Krentz
Date Read 17 February
Rating:★★★
Review:
This is a typical JAK book. We have the heroine who is, um, flighty but intelligent. We have the tall, dark, brooding hero. Jessica is pushed towards Sam so that he can taken over his father's company and it'll still be in the family. Everyone is her family is sure that she and Hatch would be a good match. Jessica, on the other hand, is not so sure.

The crux of the story is how Jessica and Hatch work it out with a side of cult investigation. I thought it was an ok book - not the best by her but good enough. I'll definitely be re-reading other books by her.

[KarenF]

Week 4: Yellow
Book: The Lost Night by Jayne Castle
Date Finished: 2/18/13
Rating: ★★★★



This was an entertaining Jayne Castle read. As typical the plot was both intriguing and a little kooky. I know that some people have an issue with the paranormal lite aspect of these books but it doesn't bother me. As usual the romance was solid, if not my favorite couple ever.

Overall, I'd actually probably rate it closer to 3 stars but I bumped it up one because I just love the dust bunnies. Darwina has such personality (and saves the day) that she just made the book that much more enjoyable.

[Alyssa]

Week 4 - Yellow

I finished Fool Moon by Jim Butcher on 2/23/13.

Rating: ★★★★½

Review: Another good one. Poor Harry. He gets into soo much trouble. Plan to read the third one when I have time.

[SandyC]

Team #7 - Week 4 Reviews - Yellow

KarenF: The Lost Night by Jayne Castle 2/18/13 ★★★★ Review
Breann: Sacred Fate by Eresse 2/19/13 ★★★★ Review
Alyssa: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher 2/23/13 ★★★★1/2 Review
Vi: Sweet Fortune by Jayne Anne Krentz 2/17/13 ★★★ Review
Sandy: Kingmakers Daughter by Philippa Gregory 2/21/13 ★★★ Review

[SandyC]

Team, I have posted our reviews for Week 4. I'll draw a card later this afternoon. Hope it's a good one!

[Alyssa]

Blue!!!!