R12: Team #3 ~ Insomniacs Who Love to Read

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Insomniacs!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'cover love'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

[Rachel-RN]

Shelf #12 ~ 30 Sept: Itchy Witch
Read a book: featuring a witch/warlock or any form of magic

[Rachel-RN]

I'm going with

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Thanks Steph :)

I'm not sure what I'll read, possibly

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Well, I started and its going well, so I'll go with this one Rachel :)

[Moondance]

I can't decide! Looking at and . A couple work for other challenges. Or i could try The Hollows again and read .

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I'm no help, I haven't read any of them :)

[Moondance]

Sandra wrote: "I'm no help, I haven't read any of them :)"

Darn!!

[Alisa]

Moondance wrote: "I can't decide! Looking at and [bookcover:Silv..."

The Hollows is the only one I've read

[Moondance]

Alisa wrote: "Moondance wrote: "I can't decide! Looking at a..."

I really struggled with The Hollows. I so wanted to like it.

[Alisa]

If you don't like it now I don't think you're going to. It was good for me till book 5 or 6 then went progressively down hill each book.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Finished my book, but it'll take a little while to decide my rating and write a review.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Itchy Witch Shelf
Date: 1/10/15
Rating: ★★★★

First time reading this author and I quite enjoyed it. Slight overtones of Secret McQueen, but only in a general way.

Addison Kittner is a PI/Bounty Hunter, registers as human, but has some strange abilities, and has a cat named Wizard. She's living a fairly hand to mouth existence when she rescues a girl in the back alley behind her place from 3 vamps. She catches 2 and 1 escapes. Addy calls in Paranormal FBI, and her old squeeze werewolf Cooper Daine turns up to haul off the vamps. The escaped vamp turns up dead the next morning and Addy gets sucked into the investigation, against her better judgment.

There are lots of supes in this story, the vamps & werewolves hate each other, the practioners (magic users) work for the highest bidder, demons (dimensional beings) and of course humans. Then there's Addy. Addy was abandoned as a baby and whilst she always scans as a human, she isn't one and no one knows what she is. She pretends to herself that she's human and almost believes it.

This was a fairly enjoyable story and I'll be reading the next one.

[Moondance]

I finally decided to read . It fits a couple of challenges and my brain is too full (and tired) this week to go with anything heavy.

[Alisa]

Ok I need some witch book suggestions.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Alisa, check out my witch magic fae shelf , you don't have to have witches, magic will do.

[Moondance]

Alisa wrote: "Ok I need some witch book suggestions."

Kelley Armstrong has some good books. Anya Bast Elemental Witches

On the lighter side: Vicki Lewis Thompson has a couple of series
Heather Blake Wishcrafter series

I found a list with best witchy books too. I can't seem to link to it on my tablet.

[Rachel-RN]

Itchy Witch
Oct 4th 4*


Much better than book 4. I liked that more of Raine's family was in this one. I enjoyed the dynamic between everyone (now if all families were that loving and supportive of each other). I liked that, despite everything, those that know Raine, know she would never do anything that would hurt them. Nice twist (and resolution) with the assassin(s). A bit of a cliffhanger at the end. We will see how book 6, All Spell Break Loose wraps everything up.
(Potentially a 7th book that's a WIP now. Looks like it will be self-published.)
One of the funniest parts was when Raine glamoured herself to look like a certain man.
"I felt his/my chest and grimaced. Then I quickly unbuttoned the front enough to take a look. The man had a bird chest. I flexed my right thigh against my left and then my left against my right.
"Ah, hell with it." I pulled my trouser out from my waist and looked down."

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Glad you enjoyed it Rachel, I've bought the series but haven't read any of them yet :)

[Alisa]

Thx for the recommends you guys. Holy moly Sandra...you have a lot of books on that shelf.

I have a ton of series I need to catch up on. I just can't seem to make a decision. I think since I can use magic instead of witches I'm going with

[Moondance]

Sandra wrote: "Alisa, check out my witch magic fae shelf , you don't have to have witches, magic will do."

Oh Sandra! I should have stayed away from your bookshelf. My wishlist and TBR pile is growing by leaps and bounds!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

LOL There was only 560 odd titles there to choose from :D

[Moondance]

I hope to post my review before shelf is called this afternoon. I feel like I have been swimming upstream against the masses for the past week. Here's to a better week with a better attitude!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Shelf #13 ~ 7 Oct: New2You Series
Read: the first book in a new2you series



I've got a list of possibles for this shelf, I'll go find it.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Possibilites


or something else entirely. LOL

Anyone got any thoughts on this lot?

[Alisa]

I love God Save the Queen. It's only a trilogy so you won't be starting some big new long series. It's good on audio too btw.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I've actually got all 3 in hardback, 2nd hand. :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Just realised I could also read I might go with that, we'll see. Might take it for a test run first.

[Rachel-RN]

I will read .
Maybe.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yep, going with just got sucked right into the story, already at 14%.

[Alisa]

Start a new series is the last category Alisa needs.

[Moondance]

I think I have finally made a decision for New2You series. I have and on my lap. And the winner is...The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

New2You Series shelf
Date: 8/10/15
Rating: ★★★★1/2

4.5 droolworthy stars

Spiral of Need basically starts where Dark Instincts ends. Roni of Mercury Pack and Marcus of Phoenix are mated and sharing themselves between packs. We see all the happy couples from both packs intermingling throughout the book. And that's a whole lot of fun.

Derren, Beta of Mercury gets a call from someone he owes a big favor, Cain a psychotic wolf who saved Derren back when they and Nick his Alpha were in juvie. The favor - to look after Ally, who is a wolf & a seer, until Cain is out of prison in 4 mths. Derren hates seers.

Suzanne Wright writes so well you believe these wolves are real people. They have quirks, snarky humor, cute babies, hot smokin sex and people that hate them just because, they also have loyal friends who also don't mind disposing of said haters, if only they could find them.

Love everything Suzanne Wright writes so definitely continuing with the series.

[Alisa]

Itchy Witch Shelf


3 stars
finished 10/9

This was my least favorite in the series so far. The first half was really slow and actually a little confusing to me a in a few places. It picks up when they get to the shopping mall from hell and start working to keep the gods are there own side of the veil. Overall I enjoyed it. I love Sandman and his cynical, snarky attitude.

[Alisa]

New 2 You Series

I know it says it's "prefered" that we do pnr/uf but we don't have to. I'm just swamped this right now and needed to read this first in a series book for an ARC so I'm coloring outside the lines this week.


5 stars
finsished 10/8

I really can't fan girl hard enough over how much I loved this book. It took a serious look at a serious subject matter but did so with a lot of thought and a lot of humor. I wasn't expecting the level of humor that this book had. (I mean it's JA. I thought this was going to be dark) I literally laughed out loud more times that I can count. I lost track of how many pages I marked with funny things I wanted to remember. David is a fabulous narrator. His internal monologues are the best. (The stuff he says out loud was just as funny.)

David is the MC and he is a sub. He has a group of close friends who he shares the lifestyle with. They've all been through a very hard time as a member of their group was recently killed during a scene due to a Dom's negligence. After finding out the Dom has been admitted back to the club they go to, they all go through a series of emotions. David decides to channel his anger into creating The Subs Club, an online, private group where subs can discuss Doms in the community. His motivation is a pure one, to protect subs from harm. Unfortunately the issue isn't as clear cut as it would first appear and the website quickly spirals out of control.

In addition David has met a Dom he's interested in. A Dom he calls Pornstache. Pornstache is David's total opposite and the two men simutaneously annoy the daylights out of each other and turn each other on. Their relationship development is a key plotline in the story and it was done really well. No insta love. No easy road. These two work for what they have and the story slowly built the BDSM component in a way I found believable.

David's friends are great side characters and they were key factors into the plot. I felt like I got to know them all just enough that I can't wait to get to their stories.

For me this book had everything. Unique plot, some serious moments, a sweet love story, some sexy scenes and a lot of funny. This was a stellar read for me.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

No worries Alisa, as long as it meets the criteria, and it does, that all that matters :)

[Alisa]

Sandra wrote: "No worries Alisa, as long as it meets the criteria, and it does, that all that matters :)"

I have 14 ARC's that need to be done and I have 12 books on my currently reading shelf that are still waiting for me to do simple GR reviews on them. O_O

Soo.....starting yet another new series? *sigh* yeah, not this week.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

That's one reason I don't do ARCs. I don't like the pressure to read something if I'm not in the mood. And then they'd pile up on me and there would be more pressure :(

Life is too short and reading is meant to be fun :)

[Alisa]

Sandra wrote: "That's one reason I don't do ARCs. I don't like the pressure to read something if I'm not in the mood. And then they'd pile up on me and there would be more pressure :(

Life is too short and read..."

That's how I'm feeling lately. It was all good till my daughter's surgery. That and the aftermath threw me way behind and it's just snowballed since then.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yep, RL does have a habit of getting in the way.

And lets face it your daughter is much more important than reviews of books. How is she getting on now? I can't imagine the aftereffects of major surgery on both of you.

[Rachel-RN]

New2You series

Oct 11 2*

Well, huh. There were parts that were funny/amusing (like the blood supply coming from the funeral home) and not (all the damn Twilight references). I kinda/somewhat liked Daniella; however, she talked way too much and did act stupidly at times. Nick was a jerk at times.
I was thinking about a 3* rating and then this happened: "If you don't have sex with me, you're doing to die." How romantic! No need to worry, the sex was orgasmic. Whatever.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yucky Rachel. Another one to avoid :)

[Rachel-RN]

Just need one more for each.

Shelf # 12 Itchy Witch 3/4
Alisa: Kill City Blues Oct 9th 3* Review
Cheryl: A Witch Before Dying
Rachel: Con & Conjure Oct 4th 4* Review
Sandra: Shifty Magic Oct 1st 4*Review



Shelf # 13 New 2 You Series 3/4
Alisa: The Subs Club Oct 8th 5* Review
Cheryl: The Gathering
Rachel: Sleeping with the Entity Oct 11th 2* Review
Sandra: Spiral of Need Oct 8th 4.5* Review



List is found in Message 7 and 13

[Moondance]

I will get both reviews in this evening. I knew that taking time off would be not be in my best interest! I've been working 16+ hours a day since I got back. I will do this as soon as I get home today. That will be shortly because I am packing it in so that I can make a run for it!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Wow, 16+ hrs are killer, hope it slows down for you soon Cheryl :)

[Moondance]

I pitched a bit of a fit last week so I now have an assistant to help with non clinical duties. Being in surgery is a whole different story. I left home at 6 am yesterday and returned at midnight. I'm getting too old for that!!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay, an assistant!!!!

[Moondance]

Shelf 12: ITCHY WITCH

A Witch Before Dying by Heather Blake


Read: 10.7.15
Rating: 3 stars
Review:

"It's going to be a horrible job, Darcy."

Darcy and her sister Heather moved to The Enchanted Village after the death of their father and learned that they were Wishcrafters. The Enchanted Village is a themed neighborhood of Salem which is home to hundreds of witches or Crafters. Darcy is able to grant wishes through a spell to those that seek her assistance. A local Crafter hires Darcy to clean her mom's house which has been empty since her disappearance almost two years prior. The house is a prime example of a true hoarder. Unfortunately, Darcy solves the mystery of the owner's disappearance when she stumbles over a body stuffed in a suitcase.

This is a cute series that I hope will gather momentum as it goes. The characters are enjoyable and well defined. Sometimes it is a little confusing who is a Crafter, who is a half Crafter and who is neither. There is a good mystery surrounding an amulet which led to the death of the resident hoarder. I find it entertaining that the police force drives Cooper Minis to not distract from the village atmosphere. I really wanted to see the police chief, Nick, in the pink one! The romance between Nick and Darcy is progressing nicely. I appreciate that he is putting his daughter first and taking things slowly.

Interesting characters, a lovely setting and a hunky thoughtful police officer. I think I will keep reading this series.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Sounds like a cute world Cheryl :)

[Moondance]

Shelf 13: NEW TO YOU SERIES

by Kelley Armstrong
The Gathering

Read: 10.11.15
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:

Serena stood on the rock ledge twenty feet above the lake, singing in a voice known to bring tears to the eyes of everyone who heard it.

This is the first book in the Darkness Rising series. The first sentence of the book led me to believe that the supernatural powers would involve a siren. Not true! As least not yet. The small town of Salmon Creek is located on Vancouver Island. It boasts a grand total of about 200 residents. The town is owned by the St. Cloud Corporation which has a medical research facility on site. Everyone in town was handpicked by the St. Clouds to live and work there.

Sixteen year old Maya moved to Salmon Creek when she was five after her dad was hired as the park ranger/game warden. She rescues and rehabilitates animals from the surrounding forest. Big cats in particular seem to gravitate towards her. Maya refuses to believe that her friend Serena accidentally drowned. An unusual birthmark and uncertainty regarding her biological family lead her on a quest for answers.

Rafe is the resident bad boy that recently moved to Salmon Creek. He attempts to get close to Maya because he knows something about her past that she needs to know.

I found the set up of the town to be a bit creepy. The corporation approves or disapproves who lives there. Each of the teenagers has a yearly physical with a visiting doctor that involves "vaccines". Big red flags as to their true identity!

The teenagers are well written and experience the usual angst. I like Maya's friend Daniel who also arrived in Salmon Creek at age five. He is her biggest supporter and greatest champion. The birthmark was a huge clue to Maya's true self.

The story ends with a cliffhanger which normally drives me nuts!! I was not terribly annoyed by this one. It actually makes me want to read the next book fairly soon to see where the story is going.

I enjoy Kelley Armstrong's world building in her other series and look forward to learning more about Salmon Creek.