R4: Team Dublin

[Marty]

Thanks! Looking forward to the next category.

[~Leslie~]

Great job, Team!! We are just waiting on Laura to finish her book and post her review and we will have our points!!

[Vi]

Leslie,I have a question. Should all of ys finish our books and review before the next word is called?

[Lala]

I'll be reading Duchess By Night by Eloisa James

[Jenne]

Vi it has to be read and posted by this Friday night central time. Basically 16 hrs after the new word is called.

[~Leslie~]

Thanks Jenne, for answering the question. I appreciate your help!!

And thanks Laura for letting me know what you are going to be reading. Does it have both the WOW and BOW? And will you be able to finish by sometime tomorrow?

New Word is called tomorrow morning, Team!! Please be online so we can claim our letter. At this point we are doing first come first served.

[Lala]

Week 1 - E

by Eloisa James

4 Stars 16.07

Nest - page 171 -...velvet nest...

I like this book way more then the first one. It was funny and intriguing. I loved the main character and how see dared to do thing that where not proper for that time. Fantastic book :)

[Jenne]

^^^^^^little over 16 hours to have last weeks reviews in^^^^^^^^^

[Vi]

Thanks for the info, Jenne! I'm sure Leslie will have them up soon.

The WoW & Bonus words are announced

WoW: View
Bonus: Football

[Vi]

I'm looking through my books and I have an E coming up next with both words. I'll update if I can find books for the other letters.

ETA: I also have a V on hand if we can use series title. Found a W too. I'll take any of the three; preferably V if series title works.

[~Leslie~]

Thanks, Vi!! And thanks for posting the review, Laura!! I will post for our points soon!! Way to go team!!

In order to get maximum points, it is important to try and find books that have both words in them. If you need help or want one of us to switch our letters, just ask!!

I have a W book that has both words. But I will keep looking!!

V Laura
I MartyIstanbul Noir (both WOW and BOW)
E Vi (both WOW and BOW)
W Leslie Rev It Up(both WOW and BOW)

[Marty]

I found a book with both words for 'I'. Istanbul Noir by Mustafa Ziyalan

[~Leslie~]

Great job, Marty!! Hopefully Laura will be able to find a V with both words. But just in case I will keep looking.

[Vi]

I have a V, two E and one W book with both words. Laura can choose either V or E.

Just a note: I'll be reading E books on 30-31 July as I'm using them for another challenge starting August 1.

[~Leslie~]

I have found a V book but no football.

Keep looking!

[~Leslie~]

I posted for our points just a little while ago. Great job Team!!

I'm still looking for a V book with football. I might have to go trolling!

[Lala]

I'll take V then...

[~Leslie~]

Laura, does your V book have football in it?

[Vi]

I read a V book which has both words - Say No To Joe? (Visitation, North Carolina). I can use that for this challenge too.

[Lala]

Leslie wrote: "Laura, does your V book have football in it?"

I haven't looked for a book yet, but I'll find something. no worries

[~Leslie~]

I won't worry!! Have fun with the hunt!! And thanks Vi, for your help.

[Marty]

*Spoiler Alert! I'm giving away some of the twists in plots here!


Book: Istanbul Noir by Mustafa Ziyalan
Date: July 29
Rating: Four stars
Review:
This book of short stories is part of the Akashic Noir series. Short story collections are always hard for me to review since there are so many different plots and points of view. The quality tends to fluctuate from story to story, but this particular books is an exception.

Set in Istabul, Turkey, and its surrounding suburbs/towns/cities, the authors serve up an interesting mixture of love, revenge, petty crime, politics and murder. Often the endings are ambivalent and nothing is quite as it seems. The characters are as varied and bizarre as the situations they have either stumbled into/inflicted on themselves. A hitchhiker who dies during sex with the stranger who picked her up, a Hezbollah enforcer crowing about his piety while mutilating and torturing a dissident and his wife, a middle aged spinster who has a unique way of getting rid of unwanted suitors and low level street dealer who finds heaven in the oddest of places are just a few examples of what this book has to offer.

Noir is sometimes uncomfortable (to say the least) to read - which is the point - and this book certainly makes the hair on the back your neck stand up. I liked it very much.

WOW and Bonus Word
View: (Amazon) Page 42 - "She glanced to see if he had a ring on his left hand, but her view …."
Football: Page 146 - "…villages free from the ravages of tourists, football hooligans…"

[~Leslie~]

Hello Team!! How is everyone doing?

Great job, Marty on getting your book done early. I will starting mine today sometime or tomorrow morning.

Don't forget reviews have to be in by Friday evening.

[Vi]

I finished mine just earlier. I had to finish it on Aug 1. I'll post a review later today after my unplanned library visit

[~Leslie~]

Unplanned library visits are the best!! I'll look forward to seeing it.

[Vi]

Week 2: VIEW
Letter: E



Book: Envy by Sandra Brown
Date: 1 August
Rating:★★★★☆
Review:
I have read Sandra Brown's books some 7-8 years back but those were category length straight romance. The one book I remember reading a year back made me SO angry that I ranted about it everywhere. I wasn't thinking too favorably when I found Envy. Two of my friends gave great reviews about it and I was so much in the mood to read it.

Maris is a top Editor (I forgot her title) in the family publishing firm when she reads a unsolicited Manuscript titled "Envy". Straight away we get to read this Prologue and I was totally intrigued by it. The Prologue has two guys and a girl renting a boat/yatch but only one of them returns. Maris is too but the only info she has is P.M.E & he's from St.Anne's Island. We get the author's PoV where he acts hard to get so that he can get Maris to come down to him.

Oh and Maris is married to Noah who is also working in the firm. Throughout the book, chapters of Envy is also interspersed which tells us the story of the two guys in the Prologue (presumably) - Todd & Roark. Without giving away the plot details, we are hinted one of them is good and the other bad but we are not exactly sure who.

Sandra Brown wrote a really gripping RS. At times, I wanted to put the book down because the villain was easily subverting everything. He was really so despicable that you keep wanting someone to do something. But he always seemed to float away and you are not even sure if he is going to get his just dessert.

The other bonus was this book had some discussions on the publishing industry (not as much I wanted to) but enough that it was very fascinating. The biggest negative point is that this book very badly needed an epilogue. The ending was so abrupt! Bleh!

So this was the book that prompted an unplanned library visit and I picked up 3 more of Sandra Brown's RS books. I love when I discover a new author - so many of the backlist to go through.

Wow & Bonus Word
View: (Amazon) Page 59 - The ivy colored brick wall enclosing Daniel's patio blocked her view of the neighbouring....
Football: (Amazon) Page 69 - The football team was playing an away game.

[Vi]

And now I have to start another book but I'm not sure which book to start. And atleast 7-8 more hours to go for the next book.

[Lala]

5 Stars 02.08

View - page 95 -...little view...

The first book ended so amazingly and i had one of those moments why in hell i waited to read the second one so long. Jacinda and her family are going back pride and now Jacinda is not on the top, but in the bottom. She needs to prove herself. This book was great escape and full of excitement :)

[Vi]

Week 3:
WoW: Jail
Bonus Word: Chicken

[Vi]

I can take J or L which has both words. I'll check on A & I but my I book doesn't have any of the word.

[~Leslie~]

Good morning Team! I will post my review soon.

As to this week's word, I actually had not found any books yet with any of the letters so I will go on a hunt this morning.

Which letter would you prefer to read, Vi?

[Vi]

I'd prefer J as I'll be reading that first. But L is also no problem.

My I book - Magic Rises doesn't have ANY of the words. I was so surprised!

[Jenne]

Oh Vi it was such a good book! I devoured it the day it came out and still have a book hangover from it.

[Vi]

I had to finish a couple of books for a challenge and it's been like 3 days since I had the book. Now, I'm a little apprehensive to start. I hate putting off New Release especially from a fav series.

Jenne, out of curiosity, do you need to re-read the earlier books (& the Gunmetal Magic) for a few plot points?

[Jenne]

Not really although there is a cut chapter/novella at the end of the book. Read it first because it explains why Saiman owes Kate a favor.

[Vi]

Ah ok - for some reason, I can remember everything happening in the Kate Daniels series but I'm drawing blanks on Gunmetal Magic. I did remember not enjoying it as much as KD though.

[Vi]

Thanks, Jenne!

[Jenne]

Gunmetal didn't have anything crucial to contribute to the new KD book. The only thing would be (view spoiler)[Andrea's status to being second to Aunt B and her and Raphael making it official. (hide spoiler)]

[Vi]

Oh, that I remember (view spoiler)[ (otherwise what would be the point of that book?) (hide spoiler)] That's great. I'll skim through Magic Gifts and start Magic Rises then.

[Jenne]

Enjoy :)
This one was full of weird creatures!

[~Leslie~]

I'll be starting Magic Rises soon as well, Vi!!

@Jenne - I put Iron Kissed on my currently reading shelf, but due to RL wasn't able to start it until today. Can I use it for this weeks WOW

If I can use that book, then I have a book for each letter with the bonus word in it. We need to hear from our other teammates to find out what they have.

[Vi]

MR was supposed to be my I/A book but it failed spectacularly. Anyway, I started it - couldn't wait anymore. And I see to have plenty of S, Rbooks but the other A I have, I can't check words inside.

[~Leslie~]

Week 2: VIEW
Bonus Word: Football

8/1/13 **** stars
Review: Number 3 in the Black Knight series was really good. I loved the story of Jake and Michelle. She is the sister of the leader of the Black Knight security firm and has only recently been included with them. Jake is assigned to guard her when a mobster is looking to kill family members of the Black Knights. They have a history and the story revolves around them working out that history and thwarting the mobster. The action takes second place to the relationship but that's okay.

View: p. 245 "away from the view"
Football: p. 113 "guys were playing football"

[Marty]

I'll take L. Checking my books now.

[Jenne]

Leslie that's fine :)

[~Leslie~]

Thanks, Jenne!

Okay, Marty if you can take L that will leave A for Laura. I have an A book if Laura can't find one.

I posted for our points! Way to go, Team!!

[~Leslie~]

Week 3: JAIL
Bonus Word: Chicken

J ViThe Texan's Wager(both WOW and BOW)
A LauraKiss Me, Kill Me(both WOW and BOW)Review
I Leslie Iron Kissed(both WOW and BOW)
L MartyLuminarium(both WOW and BOW)

[Marty]

Found a book! Luminarium by Alex Shakar has both words.

[Vi]

Mine's By a Thread by Jennifer Estep

[Jenne]

I read that one last week Vi, it was good too :)