FL1: Team #8 ~ Epic Eights

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

This week because I'm on a highlander mindset...

[Carrie]

I'm going to be reading , not as pretty as the cover of mine but this one works for green.

[Barbara ★]

I'm going to read .

[Carrie]

I can't wait to see what you think Barbara, I picked that up last month at the used bookstore, a dollar for a hardcover in perfect condition.

[Kerstin]

Hmm, not sure what to read yet. I think either or

[Barbara ★]

Carrie wrote: "I can't wait to see what you think Barbara, I picked that up last month at the used bookstore, a dollar for a hardcover in perfect condition."

I loved it.

[Barbara ★]

Week #5
Color: green
Read: February 24, 2013
★★★★

Review:
Frank Balenger joins a group of modern urban explorers "creepers" in entering an abandoned hotel, The Paragon in Asbury Park New Jersey. The hotel is designed by an agoraphobic man, Morgan Carlisle, who once inside never leaves the building which resembles a Mayan pyramid. The creep factor starts before they even enter the hotel from a long abandoned tunnel where mutated albino rats and cats stalk them. The suspense grows as the story of each character is slowly disseminated while they work their way to the penthouse. This is a book that I started at 8pm on a Sunday and was sucked in so far so fast that I didn't put the book down until I read the last page at 11:59pm while chewing my fingernails to nubs. Yeah it's that suspenseful!

I've read David Morrell before and really liked his books but usually he writes stand-alones so this is the first that is actually part of a series. I really liked Frank Balenger's character so I will definitely be following him on another adventure, specifically Scavenger.

[Lauren]

Great review Barbara. I love a good horror story. Adding it to my TBR.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Week #5
Color: Green
Book: Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
Read:24/02/2013
# pages: 394 pages
Rating:★★★★

Review: I really liked this book because it contained many leads/hints to the Fever series which I`ve already read before starting this series.

The plot was kind of fun because you never knew when Cian was going to be recalled into the mirror (obvious leaving the heroine excessively sexually frustrated). Of all the heroines of the series I think Jessi is the one I liked less because she was a bit too needy. It did set the stage about all those Unseelie Hallows for the Fever series. Overall the plot was predictable but I loved reading about the sexy MacKelter family....but they are not Barrons.

[Carrie]

Week #5
Card: 3 of Clubs
Space #: 91
Color: Green

Finished: Feb 27th
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: The Lion,the Witch and the Wardrobe is a great representation of childhood innocence.

I can remember Narnia from my childhood, I can not recall if I read this book myself or had it told to me. I believe all children should step in the wardrobe at least once, and if you are a grown up child and haven't ventured in, it's never to late. You are never to old for fairy tales, you are never to old to believe in magic and magical places.

[Kerstin]

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Week: #5
Space: Green
Date: 27/2/13
Rating: ★★★★★

I loved the movie, so I thought it was about time to read the book...and I wasn't disappointed. This was a magical, sweet and funny story, that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were all lovable and quirky, the story engaging and I was sucked in right from beginning.
Sophie is an adorable, bossy and cranky old lady and Howl a glamorous drama queen. They had me laugh quite a bit throughout my time with them.
This is certainly a book I would recommend for kids and adults alike. Who doesn't want to be transported away to fantastical lands in a flying castle?

[Lauren]

Done with my book. Review will be up later today.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I loved the movie too Kerstin ;)

[Lauren]

Week #5: 3 of Clubs
Space: Green
Book: Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen
Finished: February 27th
Rating: 3★
Review: In one word - disappointing.

The world building based on the countdown to the Mayan Apocalypse is one of the most compelling aspects of this series. Unfortunately, in this installment the ongoing conflict with the Order of Xilbalban and the Banal Kox takes a back seat to Jade and Lucius's personal angst.

Lucius is an intriguing character in the first three books but his own story falls flat. The plot revolving around Lucius and Jade coming into their personal magic and discovering their value to the Nightkeepers is slow and repetitious. Moreover, the romance is lackluster without the passion and intimacy of the couples in the previous books.

The subplot involving the search for the Nightkeeper library has potential but is underdeveloped and the buildup toward the climax is excessively detailed (who really cares about Mayan ball games?). That said. the climax and resolution are well written and exciting, and somehow manage to leave the reader satisfied despite the book's shortcomings.

Patience and Brandt's book is next. Little is known about them other than the fact that they met and married before the series begins but I look forward to finding out more about them.

[Lauren]

This week's reviews:

Week #5: Green

✔Barbara ★: Creepers by David Morrell (Feb 25, 4 Stars) - Review
✔Lauren: Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen (Feb 27, 3 Stars) - Review
✔Carrie: Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (Feb 27, 5 Stars) - Review
✔Valerie ~ Val Hall ~: Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (Feb 24, 4 Stars) - Review
✔Kerstin: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (Feb 27, 5 Stars) - Review

[Lauren]

This week's draw:

Week #6
Card: 4 of Clubs
Space #: 92
Color: Yellow

[Lauren]

I will read either or

Will decide tomorrow morning.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

This week I'll be reading .

[Carrie]

I'm going to continue my journey in Narnia, and read . Cover has been approved.

[Kerstin]

I'll be reading .

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay! One of my favs Kerstin, hope you enjoy it!

[Kerstin]

Yay, that's sounds promising, Sandra!

[Carrie]

Week #6
Card: 4 of Clubs
Space #: 92
Color: Yellow

Finished: March 3rd
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: What a delightful story. I rather enjoyed the whole thing. A tale for young and old, although at times while reading I got to thinking, that perhaps this story might be too much for children to read. Meaning, at least at the start, some of the wording might be a little difficult to understand. But I believe that was only a chapter or so I thought it.

I loved Bree, in my head he was very proper sounding horse.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Week #6
Color: Yellow
Book: Eternal Beast by Laura Wright
Read: 04/03/2013
# pages: 355 pages
Rating:★★★★

Review: Even if this series has a few flaws the male characters are a delight to read. I was a bit concerned about the romance content of this book because Gray and Dillon issues where always a part of the story since book one. I was pleased to see that not all the issues where neatly tied until the very end of the book. There is nothing more off putting than a miraculous resolution.

I'm pleased to see that the mutores will have their books as well.

[Barbara ★]

Sorry totally spaced on this. I will read . Is that enough yellow?

If not I could read .

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Goliath is fine Barbara ;)

[Barbara ★]

good I've been reading that since yesterday. I might finish tomorrow but it will probably be Wednesday.

[Lauren]

Week #5: 4 of Clubs
Space: Yellow
Book: Shades of Gray by Maya Banks
Finished: March 6th
Rating: 3.5★
Review: A fun read despite the glaring plot holes and inconsistencies.

Cole and P.J. have been secondary characters in the series until now and it was great to finally have them get together. That said, there is something not quite right about their personalities and their relationship.

While Cole is sweet and sexy, he is far to open and understanding for an alleged alpha male. Moreover, he gets captured very easily for a supposedly skilled operative. P.J. is a kick-ass heroine but goes from a skilled sniper to sultry seductress to all out vigilante warrior in the blink of an eye. These drastic changes all leave the reader rubbing their head and thinking "what just happened?"

The storyline deals with difficult issues - human trafficking in children, sexual abuse and trauma. While one cannot help feeling for P.J. in light of her suffering, it is impossible to ignore the moral repercussions of her actions. While the title of the book seems to suggest this, the shades of gray are in actuality conveniently glossed over in the characterization and the plot.

Overall, an action packed and entertaining romance but misses the mark in its attempts at conveying stronger psychological and ethical messages.

[Barbara ★]

Week #5: 4 of Clubs
Space: Yellow
Book: Goliath - Scott Westerfeld
Finished: March 5th
Rating: ★★★★★

What a wonderful ending to a spectacular trilogy. Young Alek is so unlike the usual YA hero - he's serious and honorable yet endearingly naive. Irreverent, brave Ms. Sharp is a far cry from the average angsty teenager with her outrageous behavior and longing to serve her country. I really liked these two characters - their personalities mesh well and her spontaneity trumps his laid-back-ness.

I loved the way Westerfeld introduced the famous icons of that era into the story - Nikola Tesla, Pancho Vila and William Hearst. What a wonderful concoction that was so enjoyable to experience. Bravo!

It's been fun the last three months reading these books with a buddy. I rarely remember what I read but this story will definitely stick with me. I don't even like history and definitely not WWI but this was presented in such a way as to be enjoyable while giving facts and embellishing certain things. Truly wonderful.

[Kerstin]

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch
Week: #6
Space: Yellow
Date: 07/3/13
Rating: ★★★★

This book was lot of fun! It had sexy aliens in Armani suits, a lot of witty banter, monsters, explosions, non-stop action, terrorists, romance...and in the middle of all of this, Kitty, our kick-ass heroine. She is a funny and snarky young woman, that soon shows the aliens how to take on an invasion of parasites, while getting hot and steamy with one of the before mentioned sexy aliens, as well as discovering a big family secret. I really enjoyed the roller coaster ride this story was and am looking forward to the next book.

That said, there were a few things that stopped me from outright loving this story. First of all the love interest: he was just that little bit too much with his constant marriage proposals, his jealousy and declarations of love. He actually started annoying me pretty early on. Another thing was how Kitty just basically took over and ran the show, figuring things out in a couple of days, that an entire population of aliens wasn't able to solve in decades. She did make me laugh while she was at it though and the sex scenes were yummy, so I can forgive those points to a degree. There were some massive info dumps throughout this book that were wearing me down a little, but hopefully that means that the next books will run a lot smoother.

And just a quick word on the cover: I absolutely love it! Just like everything by Daniel dos Santos.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay!!!!

And I agree, Daniel does all the covers and he is damn good!

[Kerstin]

:) I can't wait to get my hands on the next few books, this one was just so much fun! I think a bit of a book buying spree is in order...

[Lauren]

Here are our reviews for the week:

Week #6: Yellow

✔Barbara ★: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (Mar 6, 5 Stars) - Review
✔Lauren: Shades of Gray by Maya Banks (Mar 6, 3.5 Stars) - Review
✔Carrie: The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (Mar 3, 5 Stars) - Review
✔Valerie ~ Val Hall ~: Eternal Beast by Laura Wright (Mar 4, 4 Stars) - Review
✔Kerstin: Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch (Mar 7, 4 Stars)- Review

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Now that the weekend is approaching...I want to read . Is there any color I could try to pass it for FL? Too bad it's so white and it's not an admissible color.

[Carrie]

The other cover for it is kinda blueish, so cross your fingers we get blue. :)

[Lauren]

The title is red and so are the break lights.

[Lauren]

This week's draw:

Week #6
Card: 4 of Diamonds
Space #: 98
Color: Yellow ... again!

[Carrie]

Dang, I was hoping for red, lol.

[Lauren]

So was I *sigh*

[Barbara ★]

Guess I get to read after all.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

I so don't know what to read.

[Carrie]

I'll be reading

[Lauren]

This week's reads:

Barbara ★: Dark Predator by Christine Feehan
Lauren: Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Carrie: Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~: Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper
Kerstin: Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas

[Lauren]

Looking at our overs together, looks very red.

Barbara, would you mind asking Sandra in the questions thread if it would work for yellow? Sorry.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I agree it does look red, however the copy on CF's website looks more yellow, so I'll OK it ;)

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Not sure that I want to read this one but that's what I'll have for now (and yes it's approved).
Edit: Changed to

[Kerstin]

I'm going to read

[Lauren]

Week #5: 4 of Diamonds
Space: Yellow
Book: Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Finished: March 10th
Rating: 2★
Review: Pages and pages of repetitive whining that I could have done without - at least it was short.

Aidan is a successful actor whose family turned on him and he has since become a recluse believing that everyone he knows will betray him at some point. Granted, his brother does try to kill him by summoning the God of Pain but there is only so much whinging that I can take - get over yourself!

Leta has potential as a kick-ass heroine, however, the speed at which she falls for Aidan the whiner is unbelievable even for a paranormal romance - less than a day!

The villain isn't nearly as smarmy as he could have been and is dispatched quite easily.

On the whole, The Dream Hunter series is pretty lackluster compared to the Dark Hunters and add little to the overall story arc.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I agree Lauren, much preferred the Dark Hunters ;)

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Week #7
Color: Yellow
Book: Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu
Read: 13/03/2013
# pages: 303 pages
Rating:★★★

Review: Second book in the Hunter Kiss series. I had forgotten how much of an info dump those books are with a peppering of seemingly unrelated facts thrown in for good measure. The take on demons and the peril for the human race is interesting and fun to uncover but some structure would not have gone amiss. I guess my main problem with this story is Grant, from the beginning they knew it was a trap and they still went overseas with all the problems that caused to Maxine. We also see another side to Maxine's boys so that in their own way they care very much.

I'm hoping that the next book has a straighter path than this one.