Flesh & Bone Buddy Read!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Jenny, Heidi and I are starting a buddy read on Wednesday of the third book in the Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura) series!! All are welcome to join :)

Read at your own pace and use spoiler tabs where necessary. But most of all, HAVE FUN!! Can't wait to dig my teeth into this one (like a zombie going for brains *lurch, drool, stagger, chomp*)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

I started today because I have another wedding that's going to seriously cut into my reading time (and because I'm a cheater lol!)

15%
(view spoiler)[ Wow, love the action to start and the whole zombies dropping into the gully with him was awesome, I could totally picture them wearing farmers’ overalls and cheerleader outfits and soldier uniforms, loved it!! What is with that random girl who almost seemed to be a shepherd for the zombies? Oh and the fast ones are starting to freak me out, although Lilah can handle them, she’s totally badass!

My only gripe which I sort of noticed and lived with in the last book: Stop with the warrior strong thing! It’s getting a bit redundant and I feel it’s going to get worse because it’s part of what he remembers about Tom. But anyway, it’s minor and I still laughed when he made the joke and said “more like warrior dumbass” Ha! Great start!

This is probably obvious, but the “growly horses” and “people with angel wings on their fronts” are probably Hell’s Angels motorcycle riders. Just a guess… (hide spoiler)]

[Heidi]

Gah David! Here I was hoping to finish my cozy mystery tonight so I could jump right into this tomorrow and you go and beat me to it! What kind of welcome into the world of buddy reading is that?? Huh? (just kidding!)

[Karen’s Library]

If David tells you the buddy read starts on a Wednesday, just plan to start on Tuesday. Or if Friday, start on Thursday! Just deduct a day off the start date! ;-D We've all learned his "trick"! Hahahahhah...!!!

[Heidi]

Karen wrote: "If David tells you the buddy read starts on a Wednesday, just plan to start on Tuesday. Or if Friday, start on Thursday! Just deduct a day off the start date! ;-D We've all learned his "trick"..."

Ahhhh I see! It's a pattern!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Haha! It really has become a pattern, I can't deny it! It's the same with my release dates, my books are always out early :)

I'm sure you all will catch up when the wedding festivities start!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

David wrote: "Jenny, Heidi and I are starting a buddy read on Wednesday of the third book in the Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura) series!! All are welcome to join :)

Read at your own pace and use spoiler tabs where nec..."

LOL, Zombie David ;) Along with Cheater David! lol

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I have to finish the 5th Wave, and then I can start! 100 pages left!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Ha!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, I finally started...oh, wait, I'm not late, it just feels like it because David was early ;)

26% in (view spoiler)[ I've gotten to the part where we find out about this weird religious cult...and I was just thinking..another one??? This one seems much worse, though. I loved the whole gulch sequence, that was awesome! And I laughed about the whole "warrior dumbass" thing! When the heck is Benny going to grow a brain? We've still got this theme of stupid boys, smart girls going on. Not sure what is up with Nix, you would think she would be a little more sympathetic with Benny dealing with his brother dying. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Oh, and I forgot to mention, did you read the author's note in the beginning? I was crying already just reading that!

[Heidi]

Hahahaha Jenny! Loved your dig at David! I can not start until tonight so I will join in later today or tomorrow morning about my early thoughts. Jenny I will make sure to read the note!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Lol! And aww, yeah, the beginning note was sad :(

30% (view spoiler)[ I thought the same thing about the cult. What? Again? They're sorta different, sorta the same. I was really hoping for a gang like Hells Angels ha! And I wonder what's up with this Sanctuary place. Weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

David (view spoiler)[ Hell's Angels would have been AWESOME!!! Hmmm...maybe you could use that idea somewhere in a future book...;) (hide spoiler)]

Maybe its just because of where I am at right now, but that note had me out and out crying! I had to actually put the book down for a sec! Luckily, we are onto all kinds of action all ready...I was like, great, I really don't need a book to cry through right now! I really hope no more main characters get killed off in this book, or I may lose it!!!

[Heidi]

Ok I started it. I only read about 80 pages because I also read some more of the cozy I am nearly done with and want to get that finished up. Nothing major has happened yet except for that ravine thing with Benny - I will wait to check the spoilers until I have read some more because I think you all are ahead of me.

Jenny I read the note at the beginning and it had me tear up too. It reminded me of when I was 13 and my mom passed away and I thought I should hold it all in because some adult told me to "be strong for you dad". p.s. Life lesson - NEVER tell a child to be strong for a parent when their other parent dies.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I agree, Heidi that is so cruel! You poor thing! *hugs

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Jenny wrote: "David [spoilers removed]

Maybe its just because of where I am at right now, but that note had me out and out crying! I had to actually put the book down for a sec! Luckily, we are onto all kinds..."

Maybe I will! Hehe

@Heidi- wow, I can't even imagine. That is such crap advice, terrible!!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I'm now 51% of the way in. (view spoiler)[ WOW, things are just getting crazy! I felt so bad for Carter and Eve and that family. What is up with this crazy cult? Poor Lilah, I hope she ends up okay! (hide spoiler)]

[Heidi]

Jenny wrote: "I'm now 51% of the way in. [spoilers removed]"

Your killing me Smalls! Ugh! I am so behind. Stupid work.

[Heidi]

Ok I am on page 200 so around 40% in?? Anywho I read all the spoilers. David I agree with the warrior strong stuff 100% - enough!! This new group of people is even crazier than the last! I hope we get some answers about the fast zoms and other questions. I think there are to be 4 books in this series correct?? So tick tock the clock is ticking on some answers Jonathan!

[Heidi]

Also I liked the back story with Lilla and Tom and that we are kind of seeing what Lilla was/is thinking -- we don't get enough of her thoughts IMO. Chong needs to pull his head out of his butt sometimes! Ugh!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I finished it, and I loved it! The ending was craziness! And Heidi, we got a lot of answers, but still a lot is up in the air! (view spoiler)[ CHONG...he was so brave at the end, its beyond cruel to kill him that way! Benny was beyond brilliant as well! I'm glad that Rose chick is dead, but that one killer, is it Brother John? Sounds like he is going to go create terror in those towns....I really wish he had gotten killed as well! So much happened at the end, in regard to finding all the research on the virus, and finding Sanctuary, which actually seemed like a hopeless place. I wonder if they are going to go check out the new government next? (hide spoiler)]

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

I'm at about 40% too but minimal reading time as I'm trying to get The Earth Dwellers ready for betas while attending wedding festivities lol! I may be lucky last on this one!

Hehe, I thought you'd agree about the warrior smart repetition, Heidi.

There will be four books so yeah, we need some answers as some major new stuff has been added to the plot. Fast zoms! Um yeah, they're wacko! The whole Saint John thing where he thought Nix was some goddess spelled Nyx, what was that?


Loved Lilah's backstory in this one much more than the last one where she was bawling and completely out of the fight for most of it.

Chong...yeah they keeping saying he's smart but then he doesn't do much to show us that! But at least he adds some humor to a lot of scary stuff :)

Want. To. Peek. At. Jenny's. spoilers. Must. Resist!!

[Karen’s Library]

Noooo. Do. Not. Peek! :-P

I can not wait for book 4!!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

^ What she said ^ Haha, I just love tempting you!

Yeah, I agree Lilah is back to her awesome self in this one! Nix frustrated me for a good chunk of the book this time around! (view spoiler)[ I guess if anyone was due for a nervous breakdown, it was her! (hide spoiler)]

I hope you are having fun with the wedding, David! I'm doing about the exact opposite, tomorrow starts visitation with family, and then Saturday is my mother-in-laws funeral. I'd much rather be at a wedding!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

I won't! Hehe

Hmm yeah, I'm just getting a taste for Nix's brattiness, it's annoying me!

Ugh. So sorry Jenny :(

[Gwennie]

Jenny, (view spoiler)[Everyone is saying that they think Chong is dead. I don't believe he is! I think Jonathon wants us to THINK he's dead, but I have a feeling he's still alive. I think he's going to be a half zom like that one guy. Also, he just found the bow and arrow, and he's just finding his courage and strength. I don't think he's dead. I think he'll be in the next book (hide spoiler)].

Chong is book smart, he's just not WARRIOR strong! :D (I couldn't resist!)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

David--thank you, its all right, just have fun for me! :)

Wendy--I hope you are right!!!

[Heidi]

Ugh Jenny! How do you read so fast? After work I can only read for about 1-2 hours and then I am zonked out! I hope to read a lot more this weekend. David I am up to that whole Nyx part (actually that is where I stopped last night) and it is just plain weird. I am excited that some others saw the jumbo jet as well. I am terrible with character name spellings so I think I spelled Lilla's name wrong here - David had it as Lilah. Anywho bear with me on that stuff because I listened to the first two in the series on audiobook :) Must. Resist. Spoilers.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I had pretty much a free day yesterday, so I got a lot of reading done! All I had to do was laundry, and cook dinner! Last night, I watched Les Miserables with Alison, it was my first time watching it, and I loved it! I really should have seen that one in the theater!

I also wanted to finish yesterday because I am very busy the next 4 days.

No worries on spellings, Heidi, I figured it out without a problem :)

The jet...you haven't even scratched the surface yet! I can't wait till you guys get farther in! Squee!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Lol! Heidi and I are both trying to sneak in some reading time! We're going to have dinner with the groom's family tonight but I'm hoping to get home early enough to watch the Voice singing finale (haven't even found out who won yet!) and then get some reading time in too!

Edited about 75 manuscript pages on The Earth Dwellers though so today was productive!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Wendy F wrote: "Jenny, [spoilers removed].

Chong is book smart, he's just not WARRIOR strong! :D (I couldn't resist!)"

Ha! True true :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

David wrote: "Lol! Heidi and I are both trying to sneak in some reading time! We're going to have dinner with the groom's family tonight but I'm hoping to get home early enough to watch the Voice singing finale ..."

Woot, woot for a productive day!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Lol thanks! Got back late :( so might only squeeze in ten minutes of reading before bed booooo!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Jenny wrote: "I'm now 51% of the way in. [spoilers removed]"

Ok 53%! (view spoiler)[ Yeah, I like the Saint John chapters because it shows he really believes in what he's doing, which is freaking scary!

Those giant zom hogs were weird too! Lilah's in trouble!

Uh Nix is being too snippy with Benny who's finally being smart. (hide spoiler)]

[Heidi]

I am 72% in now. David I agree with all your comments. This new batch of people are crazytown! I don't know who is the worst yet!

[Heidi]

Done! Yay I could finally read the spoilers! I am not sure about this buddy read thing because I feel so pressured to keep up and all I want to do is read the spoilers! Anywho I agree with Wendy about (view spoiler)[ Chong being alive. I think the doctors will use him to come up with a cure - at least I hope so because no one deserves that much death! (hide spoiler)]. Great book - can't wait for book 4 to see how it all ends. I hope they release it on audiobook because I kept hearing the narrators voice in my head while I read this one.

[Karen’s Library]

Yup the pressure is part of the fun, Heidi. I find myself reading rather than doing something stupid just so I can read spoilers! And when you buddy read with speed readers like Jenny and Jen, yowza!!

But seriously, don't feel pressured that you HAVE to keep up. I've finished days or even weeks behind the others sometimes! Life tends to get in the way sometimes! I just always want to read spoilers! I keep checking to see where the next spoiler is so I can get to that part and read it and then add my 2 cents! Even if I am way behind everyone else!

[Karen’s Library]

Heidi (Seriously. Trust me.) wrote: "Done! Yay I could finally read the spoilers! I am not sure about this buddy read thing because I feel so pressured to keep up and all I want to do is read the spoilers! Anywho I agree with Wendy..."

And that's my hope too, Heidi, (view spoiler)[about Chong (hide spoiler)]!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Yay, Heidi, I'm glad you finished! I really really hope so (view spoiler)[ about Chong (hide spoiler)]

[Heidi]

Karen wrote: "Yup the pressure is part of the fun, Heidi. I find myself reading rather than doing something stupid just so I can read spoilers! And when you buddy read with speed readers like Jenny and Jen, yowz..."

It was all self imposed pressure. I had to read those spoiler tags!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

LOL I'm the slow poke this time, I'm only at 58% now so I'll be the one late in reading the spoilers and commenting. But I love hearing what you guys think!! I'm not feeling the pressure though, the wedding was awesome and had a late night of dancing and good food, so now I can relax and start catching up :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Yay, I'm so glad you had fun!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Thanks ;) Estonia is really cool and the people are SO GENEROUS.

[Heidi]

Glad you had fun David :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Thanks Heidi! It was great!! Oh and we're finally watching The Voice results show so we can compare notes :)

[Karen’s Library]

Awe, so glad you're having some fun down time, David! You deserve it!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Hehe thanks, I'm nervously awaiting my beta feedback for The Earth Dwellers :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

And I finished this book!! It was really good!! As all of you have said, we got some answers but there are still plenty of other things we don't know yet :) which should make for an awesome final book! My final thoughts (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty sure Chong is still alive in some way, shape or form...when Maberry kills someone, he makes it pretty clear they're dead, like Tom (sob). At the same time, SOMETHING bad had to happen to Chong as it would be highly unrealistic for him to once again (and miraculously) make it through unscathed (like with the zom bite in the last book).

Sidenote: does anyone else completely not believe the romance with Lilah and Chong? And was it just me or did Riot almost seem interested in Chong?

Benny and Nix: Glad Nix seemed to come around at the end and open up about what she's been hiding inside. But still, I felt ZERO love between the two of them the whole way, I'm not sure how things are supposed to last...

On Benny, I actually liked him the best of all the books in this one, as he was extremely aware of things and almost everything he said was right, even when Nix thought he was wrong. I think he really stepped up. Proud of Benny :)

The ending: Perhaps a little less dramatic when compared to the last book. Certainly seemed easier and less suspenseful as all it took was one shot from a powerful weapon, but still was exciting. I loved the scene where the match was lit and the zoms were strapped to the chairs!

Oh and I loved that Sanctuary is Area 51!! (hide spoiler)]

The final book has MASSIVE potential, I can't wait to read it with all of you awesome people, thanks for a fun buddy read and I'm glad you could join us, Heidi!! Hope it's not the last one...(don't feel the pressure to read quickly!)

[Heidi]

So glad you finished it David! I agree - I think Benny was his best in this book. He seemed more mature. I also liked the Sanctuary location! There were just so many open issues left in this one I can't wait for the final book! (view spoiler)[ I didn't get the love vibe with Chong and Riot but I wasn't really paying attention to that. I do think Nix and Benny's love story is more believable that Lilah and Chongs. (hide spoiler)]