R4: Team Dublin

[Vi]

Ugh. Copy Paste mistake + Laziness = mistsake. I changed it now. Thanks for catching that, Leslie!

[Vi]

I just checked out my books and I have books for all the words with both bonuses. Also, I have loads of 'B' books and ALL of them are series books. Huh.

Anyway, my preference order is B, Y, A.

This week's words are awesome. I have sooo many choices.

[~Leslie~]

Now on to WOW for Week 7.

I have a B book that has both words and an A book with both words. My Y books are historical, so I have to keep looking. It's double points week, so it's important we pick books that we will finish on time!!

B LeslieBone Crossed
A Marty Abdication
B Vi or Laura
Y Laura or Vi

[~Leslie~]

I do have a Y book I can check out from the library that has both words. So now I have all the letters. Let me know!!

[Marty]

I have an A book with baby and hotel in it: Abdication by Juliet Nicolson. Does it need to have motel as well?

[Jenne]

No it doesn't I just worded it like that so everyone would know either would work :)

[~Leslie~]

Sounds good, Marty! You get A then! Anyone else want to choose a letter?

And Jenne - we obviously had a mind meld, as Vi calls it!!

[Vi]

Leslie, go ahead and choose a letter. I'll take the one that's left. It's either B or Y and I'm reading both this week anyway.

[~Leslie~]

Sounds good, Vi! We haven't heard from Laura yet.

But I will take B and will be reading

[Vi]

Oh, Bone Crossed was good Leslie. Especially after the events of Iron Kissed (though I'm still conflicted over it). And, I've got to say, I (mostly) love the Mercy Thompson covers just because of the tattoos :D

[Vi]

I hope Laura checks in soon. I need to know which book I have to finish first.

[Lala]

Jenne wrote: "Laura wrote: " by Gaelen Foley

30.08 5 stars

Flag -page 148 -...ancient flag...
Barn - page 101 -...end of the barn...

This book was just amazing :) I loved th..."

I updated my post, sorry guys :( I don't know what planet I was on when i wrote this post. Also sorry that I haven't checked in before, but I have had crazy back pain.

[Lala]

I would take B and read Blood on the Moon and I have both words

[Vi]

Oh, that's alright, Laura. I hope you are feeling better now. Back pain is no fun.

And we are obviously in sync because I just started my Y book - You Belong to Me

[~Leslie~]

I'm so sorry you are in pain, Laura. Back pain is the worst! But thanks for checking in. Looks like everyone is set with their books for the week. Enjoy!

[~Leslie~]

Week 7: BABY
Bonus Word: Hotel/Motel
Double Points Week

B LeslieBone Crossed(both WOW and BOW)Review
A Marty Abdication(both WOW and BOW)Review
B LauraRise Again: A Zombie Thriller(both WOW and BOW) Review
Y ViYou Belong to Me(both WOW and BOW)Review

[Vi]

I finished my Y books and I'll post my review later today. Once I'm more fully awake.

[~Leslie~]

Great!! Thanks Vi.

I have posted for Week 6 points. Sorry, Team!! I forgot to do this.

[~Leslie~]

It's Thursday!! How are we doing Team? I finished my book just have to write the review and post.

[~Leslie~]

Week 7: BABY
Bonus Word: Hotel/Motel

9/5/13 **** stars
Review:
3rd book in the Mercy Thompson series and the issue of who Mercy is mated to is finally resolved and she is also dealing with the aftermath of her attack in the previous book. The Vampire Leader however is now after her and Mercy thinks its best to get out of town, so when she is asked to help a friend in Spokane get rid of ghost, she thinks it's a great idea. NOT!! This is a fast paced book with lots of action and great emotional resonance. Can't wait for the next one!

Baby ...I slept like a baby." p. 135
Hotel/Motel "... you need to get Chad out of here and into a hotel ..." p. 160

[Vi]

Week 6: BABY
Letter: Y
Bonus Word: hotel



Book: You Belong to Me by Karen Rose
Date: 3 September
Rating:★★★★☆
Review:
Pressed for time so a very short review.

A very good Romantic suspense by Karen Rose. The last book I read by her was ok but this was much, much better. I'll definitely be picking the next book in the series.

WoW & BW:
Baby: (Amazon, Pg 32) ..favors, like keeping an eye on her baby sister.
Hotel: (Amazon, Pg 34) I'll get the name of the hotel Nicki used when she went down there.

[Vi]

WEEK 8:

WoW - Quit
Bonus - Pie

[Vi]

I'm searching my TBR and so far I've found: Q (both words)

[~Leslie~]

Good morning (Afternoon)!! I'm so glad you found Q as I was having problems with that letter.
So far I only have T with both words - I will keep looking.

[~Leslie~]

I now found an I with both words.

[~Leslie~]

And I now found a U with both words. I would prefer to read the T, but I can do the others as well.

Laura and Marty - check in some time today and let us know what books you have.

[Vi]

Sorry ladies but I have only my iPad and I don't have access to the comp. I really can't search properly without a comp. I'll check out my other options when it's my turn at the comp.

[~Leslie~]

Vi, since you found a Q book and that would be the hardest letter, I don't think you need to look for anything else. Go ahead and read that one.

And I've never read Karen Rose. I may have to look into her.

[Lala]

Hey! Can I take I. I'll finish my book later today.

[Marty]

Book: Abdication by Juliet Nicolson
Date: September 6th, 2013
Rating:Four stars
Review:
This book's plot centers on May Thomas, a young chauffeur and Evangeline Nettlefold, the poor godchild of May's employer's wife. May has escaped a dangerous home situation in Barbados with her brother, Sam, to make a new life. Evangeline, lonely, poor and plain, is visiting her godmother, Lady Joan Blunt. The two are thrown together when Evangeline needs a driver to take her to see an old school friend, who just happens to be the infamous Wallace Warfield Simpson, for whom the soon-to-be King Edward the VIII will abdicate for.

The mid-1930's scandal of Wallace's and Edward's relationship swirls in the background, along with the rising tensions with Hitler's Germany and the virulent anti-Semitic preachings of Oswald Mosley.
Wallace is portrayed as hard, calculating and manipulative, but also uncertain about her relationship with the royal heir she calls David.
Edward/David is superficial and entitled, but also pathetically in love with her.

May and Evangeline are smitten by Julian Richardson, a young Socialist -leaning friend of the Blunt's boorish son, Rupert. It is May that wins the day with Julian, after he overcomes some lingering snobbism about her and her background. Evangeline, by contrast, is transformed into a vindictive, pitiable outcast when she lets her jealousy run away with her.

The ending was predictable, but still satisfying. I had a very hard time feeling much more than contempt for the utterly silly and self-destructive Evangeline. And I think May probably could have done better than Julian, but I was glad that things worked out the way they did in the novel.

WoW & BoW:
Baby: (Amazon) "..an extravagance usually reserved for the birth of a new baby..." p. 55
Hotel: (Amazon) "..Evangeline and Joan had been out to tea at the Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane..." p. 92

[~Leslie~]

Thanks Marty!! Great review!!

And Laura - it's okay with me if you take the letter I. And I will look forward to seeing your review. Marty and I can fight it out over T and U. Either one works for me.

We are doing great, Team!!

[Marty]

I've found a 'U' book that has both words: The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma. I'll read it.

[~Leslie~]

Here's where we stand, Team.

Tied for 1st place (137 points): 8 Teams
2nd place (134 points): 1 Team (us)
3rd Place (119 points): 1 team
4th place (115 points): 1 team

[Lala]

I changed my book to Rise Again: A Zombie Thriller by Ben Tripp

08.09 5 Stars

Baby - page 52 -...she was a baby girl...
Hotel - page 142 - old brick hotel...

OMG, this book is amazing! I'm not a big fan of zombies book, but this one was great! It shows how zombies become to be in the beginning and in the point of view of a small town. Through the book you can see the people who survived from the town and their adventure to safety.

[Lala]

Can bonus word be in plural?

[Lala]

I found a book with both words :) Immortal Beloved

[Lala]

Immortal Beloved

5 Stars 11.09

Quit - page 59 - that I quit trying....
Pie - page 115 - apple pie....

Nastasya is a party girl, also she is a immortal. One night she is out with her friends and one of her friends will do something that wakes her up and she cant stay there any more. That's when her soul searching begins.

[Vi]

Drat! Almost forgot to post my review.

QUIT & Pie Week.

Book: Rendezvous by Amanda Quick
Date: Sep 7
Review: Another really good book by Amanda Quick. She's such a comfort read for me; almost always never disappointing me.

WoW & Bonus Word:
Quit: (Amazon, Pg 98) ...just as she was getting ready to quit the table and return to the ballroom.
Pie; (Amazon, Pg 182) Meredith's finger froze around a pie.

[Vi]

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and I'm not sure if I'll be able to check in during my stay. I've sent my planned books to Leslie. I'll do my best to check in between.

[~Leslie~]

Have a great time, Vi!! And no worries - we will pick out a great book for you to read!

And Laura - I posted an answer to your question about bonus words, but GR saw fit to remove it. And the answer is yes. Again.

Thanks for the reviews!

[Lala]

Vi wrote: "I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and I'm not sure if I'll be able to check in during my stay. I've sent my planned books to Leslie. I'll do my best to check in between."

Have a great vacation :)

[~Leslie~]

Week 8: QUIT
Bonus Word: Pie

Q Vi Rendezvous(both WOW and BOW)
U MartyThe Unchangeable Spots of Leopards(both WOW and BOW)
I LauraImmortal Beloved(both WOW and BOW)
T LeslieTouch of Frost(both WOW and BOW)

[~Leslie~]

How are we doing Team? I'm reading my book now.
I totally forgot to mention that I have to work tomorrow and won't be able to check the thread until the afternoon. Sorry about that. I I'll get on as soon as possible. Happy Reading!

[Marty]

Book: The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma
Date: September 12th, 2013
Rating: Three stars
Review:

This book did not show much promise when I slogged through the first few chapters. It sounded like another book about an envious, angst-ridden young author and his more angst-ridden, more talented friend Julian (who, to turn the knife both ways, comes from huge amounts of money) and the emotionally cold, but beautiful 'girl who got away' named Evelyn. Of course she's an actress too. I thought I was in for yet another predictable snore of a book.

And it was, during the first half. Then the main character begins to get interesting. First he loses Evelyn to a boring but successful scientist who just happens to be the son of minor Indian royalty. He then plots to ruin the wedding, which, insult to injury he's been hired to write about. He has a violent fight with Julian over sleeping with Julian's sham wife (she's an escort he's hired to pose as a spouse at Evelyn's wedding). Worse, Julian accurately asserts that he's not seeing things as they really, not himself, or Evelyn or even Julian - and that's at the root of his writing issues.

The narrator breaks off on his own, first donning the identity of an absentee journalism professor who's AWOL from their shared apartment. He takes a job at a minor college, turning their journalism classes upside down with his creative, cynical teaching approach. Eventually his ruse is discovered, after which he accepts a student's offer to have his wealthy father pulls strings to get the narrator hired at a university in Dubai. It's get more absurd and more interesting as the book draws to a close. That's why I gave it three stars - it did wind up pretty well.

WOW & BOW
Quit (Amazon):"Let me tell you something. Winners never quit." pg. 68
Pie: "trading our cedis for mincemeat pie..." pg. 163

[Lala]

Wide
Bonus:
Attorney/lawyer
Double word week

[Lala]

I would like to take W if it's okay with everyone

[Marty]

I'd like to take D. Devotion: A novel based on the life of Winnie Davis, Daughter of the Confederacy by Julia Oliver. It has 'wide' and 'attorney.

[~Leslie~]

Thanks, Laura!! I appreciate you stepping up. I'm sorry I've been out of pocket all day long. It's been a crazy week. So this is what we have. Looks good!

Week 8: WIDE
Bonus: Attorney/Lawyer
W Laura
I Vi (both WOW and BOW)Loyalty in Death(In Death)
D Marty (both WOW and BOW)Devotion: A novel based on the life of Winnie Davis, Daughter of the Confederacy
E LeslieHeart of Venom(Jennifer Estep)(both WOW and BOW)

[~Leslie~]

I finished my book today and will be posting the review soon. Great job everyone on getting their review in!! I will post for our points soon.

[~Leslie~]

Congratulations to Team Digging for Books for a First Place Win!!

That means the challenge is officially over. I had so much as your captain and enjoyed getting to know y'all! Hope to see you around other challenges!! Great job, Team Dublin!!