R12: Team #5 ~ Ravishing Tarts

[KarenF]

I'm waiting for an OK from the judges but if it works I think I'm going to read

[KarenF]

Tiger-Bear hybrid is OK so Bite Me it is!

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Enjoy it Karen. I loved it myself. :)

[Vivian]

Cristina (a book away from an episode of hoarders) wrote: "A helpful list if you're looking for ideas for this week's shelf.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/ca..."

I was browsing groups for ideas. The link was helpful thanks!

[Michelle]

Shelf: Favourite



Read: 10/9/15
Rated: 5 Stars

My Review: If ever there is a book that deserves more than 5 stars, then this is it for me. I love immersing myself within the pages of any Nalini Singh book, she has an outstanding talent for bringing worlds to life with vivid imagery, larger than life characters and a fast paced action packed plot that keeps you gripped to the pages dying to get to the end while wishing it would go on forever.

I knew there was a danger of Naasir capturing my heart after the last book but I truly wasn't prepared for the rollercoaster that was Archangel's Enigma. I need time to savour it and digest, this book ticked all my boxes and I truly wish I could go back to the beginning and experience it for the first time all over again.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Well said Michelle!

[Thenia]

Congrats team ~ our Favorite stamp is on the way!

[Michelle]

Sandra wrote: "Well said Michelle!"

:)

Thenia wrote: "Congrats team ~ our Favorite stamp is on the way!"

Woo Hoo!

I will be reading for Meow and seeing as I signed myself up for the RAT to hopefully get my butt in gear in regards to actually reading a book rather than sitting staring at them wondering which one to pick up, I hope to actually finish this one early.

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Thenia, do the cat-sidhe in the October Daye series count? Because if so, I'd like to start on it and I've got Rosemary & Rue staring me in the face.

I was wondering if there were other cat shifters in the series or if you were using Tybalt and the other cat sidhe for the shelf.

I'm probably going to change my book regardless because the Feral Warriors are just a bit ridiculous for me right now.

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Switched my book to . I'm about halfway through it.

[Thenia]

Cristina (a book away from an episode of hoarders) wrote: "Thenia, do the cat-sidhe in the October Daye series count? Because if so, I'd like to start on it and I've got Rosemary & Rue staring me in the face.

I was wondering if there were other cat shift..."

I don't see why Tybalt (who is awesome in a big cat way) wouldn't count and you should definitely start the series! Just keep in mind that the first couple of books require some patience.

[Thenia]

Shelf #9 ~ 9 Sept: Meow!

Chimes at Midnight - Seanan McGuire ~ ★★★★ (9/13/2015)

Review:

Another adventure for Toby who manages to get herself deep in trouble once again.

In an effort to stop goblin fruit, a highly addictive drug that kills changelings in the area, Toby goes to the Queen of Mists, who (view spoiler)[turns out to be the distributor, who is disinclined to stop and (hide spoiler)] has no intention of helping. On the contrary, she exiles Toby, giving her three days to pack up and leave everyone she knows behind.

Not willing to leave without a fight, Toby looks to her allies for help and ends up (view spoiler)[discovering that the queen has no true claim to the throne, finding the rightful queen and organizing an insurrection.

Halfway through her attempts, an attack from someone sent from the queen gets her addicted to goblin fruit and dealing with the effects of the addiction makes everything that much worse.

(hide spoiler)].

An interesting world, an engaging plot and a great set of characters make this series one of my favorite, despite not being generally a fan of fae.

Looking forward to the next book, The Winter Long.

[Thenia]

Free Space

Son of the Morning ~ ★★★ (9/9/2015) (group bookshelf)

Review:

A mix of genres and timelines, from contemporary suspense to medieval knights, paranormal elements and time-travel with mystery and romance as a backdrop.



Grace, a scholar specializing in ancient languages, stumbles upon something she shouldn't and as a result loses her family and her quiet, happy life and goes on the run. She knows that the papers she's been working on are at the center of what happened, and she's determined to translate them and somehow get revenge on the man responsible.

She learns how to survive on the run while she completes her translations that are mostly about Black Niall, the guardian, a mysterious hero larger than life, whom she keeps dreaming about and who becomes the focus of her new life.

Her discoveries lead her to believe (view spoiler)[that trying the outlandish method that would allow her to time-travel transcribed in her papers is her only way of getting to what the villain wants before he does. To her surprise, it works and she ends up in Niall’s back yard, faced with bloody battles and suspicious warriors (hide spoiler)].

The romance part of the story (view spoiler)[barely begins a third before the story ends, as this is when the two actually meet (hide spoiler)], and while it made sense, I still would have liked it to have played a bigger part in the story.

Regardless, an engaging book with a lot of character growth and a plot involving a ruthless villain and a couple of twists.

[Thenia]

Looks like I'm finally all caught up!

We are one book away from our Free Space stamp and we'll be caught up until the current shelf.

Speaking of the current shelf, how are your books going?

[Michelle]

Shelf: Meow



Rated: 3.5 Stars
Read: 14/9/15

My Review: It's no secret that big cat shifters are one of my guilty pleasures, I did like this one but I didn't love it. I do see potential in the series though and I will read the next one. I found it a little repetitive at times but I do want to get to the bottom of what was going on with Wade.

[Michelle]

It's my free space book still to be read. I am going to change my selection to . It is also on the group bookshelf, I think it will be easier for me to find time with my kindle rather than a hardback right now.

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

I'll be done with my book today sometime. :)

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Shelf: Meow
Tiger Magic
Date Read: 09/14/15
Rating: ****



Review: Five years ago, the first book of this series was a Book of the Month read. It sounded interesting and it was available at my library. I had no idea at the time that in less than 24 hours I would be so invested in this world.

I love the group of Shifters that inhabit it. I'm all indignant on their behalf that they are treated like second class citizens. Everything from having to live in Shiftertowns, the collars they are forced to wear, and the luxuries that they can't have because they're not human.

After five books, I'm still disgusted by the inhumane treatment that they are subjected to by the humans. Tiger's book is an example of that. Tiger was created, tortured and experimented on, before being abandoned in the last book. The MIB are after him in this one but he finds unexpected allies and his mate to help him.

We do discover what he was made for, thankfully no cliffhanger there, and he gets his HEA. Carly and Tiger are sweet together and I'm hoping that Carly convinces him to take a different name before their cub is born.

All in all, I loved it and will continue to buy and read this series.

[Michelle]

I finished my free space book, review will be up by morning .

[KarenF]

I'm coming down with some cold/sinus thing so I've been sleeping more than reading. :)

But I think I'm almost done with my book. I'll try to have a coherent review done tonight or tomorrow.

[Michelle]

KarenF wrote: "I'm coming down with some cold/sinus thing so I've been sleeping more than reading. :)

But I think I'm almost done with my book. I'll try to have a coherent review done tonight or tomorrow."

Hope you feel better soon, definitely lots going about just now. I have been stuck in with a poorly little one, so one arm for cuddling and one hand free for my kindle.

[Thenia]

KarenF wrote: "I'm coming down with some cold/sinus thing so I've been sleeping more than reading. :)

But I think I'm almost done with my book. I'll try to have a coherent review done tonight or tomorrow."

Oh don't say sinus thing! I've been having issues for years and years so I feel you.

Feel better soon!

[Thenia]

Michelle wrote: "KarenF wrote: "I'm coming down with some cold/sinus thing so I've been sleeping more than reading. :)

But I think I'm almost done with my book. I'll try to have a coherent review done tonight or ..."

I hope your little one feels better soon too Michelle.

[Michelle]

Thenia wrote: "I hope your little one feels better soon too Michelle. "

Thanks, she's back at school today thankfully. Her fever broke yesterday but she's left with an awful cough. Hoping she's ok, didn't want her to miss school today though as she was looking forward to getting her class photo taken for the newspaper.

[Michelle]

Shelf: Free Space



Read: 14/9/15
Rated: 5 Stars

My Review: This book surprised me in a lot of ways, for one it didn't go the way I expected it too. Fallon was another surprise, I actually liked her.

In some ways it felt as if the series came full circle, we saw some of our favourite characters from the series and the battle itself was purposefully reminiscent of the earliest ones. It's definitely sad to see the series end and my only complaint was that there was too little Jagr. I don't have many complaints at all, which is rare. I really don't want to spoil anything.

[Michelle]

I am actually all caught up, go me! :) I expected life to calm down long before now but a few unexpected bumps along the way. I knew I would get caught up before it became an issue, just glad it has finally happened. For the first time I actually want to start chanting Shelf!

[Thenia]

Congrats team ~ our Free Space stamp is on the way!

Once Karen's review is up we'll be all caught up with everything!

Way to go!

...and now we wait...

[KarenF]

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! I have terrible fall allergies so I almost always have some sort of sinus thing this time of year.

Michelle - I hope you're little one is better as well. At least I know why I don't feel good and hopefully I don't get too fussy. :)

Review coming up...

[KarenF]

Book: Bite Me by Shelly Larenston
Shelf: Meow
Date Finished: 9/14/15
Rating: 4 stars

I have to admit that the bear shifters are my favorite in this series. I love how big & calm they are. They're just big lugs until someone they love is threatened. So I was predisposed to love Vic, even though he's a hybrid he really mostly acts like a bear (as he often points out) And Livy, well, I love the Laurenston alpha females as well. Livy is pretty mellow for a honey badger. But she's still not one to be messed with. I really enjoyed how the honey badgers had their own separate law unto themselves outside of the rest of the shifter breeds. I was so intrigued I actually stopped reading at one point and looked up honey badgers. Wow, they really are bad ass. I knew badgers were in general but man...

Anyway, distractions aside, this was another fun entry in this series. I think with Laurenston/Aiken her style is so so unique. You either click with it or you don't. I really do. I love the humor and the OTT violence. I'm actually not that big a fan of most violence in my reading but it's kind of cartoonish in nature for the most part so I'm OK with it. I'm sad that this is the last one in the series (for now) but at least we still have the dragons and now the crows to enjoy.

[Thenia]

Congrats team ~ our Meow! shelf stamp is on the way and now we're all caught up and ready for the next shelf!

High-fives all around! :)

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Shelf is up.

Shelf #10 ~ 16 Sept: Paranormal Romance

[Michelle]

I will be reading

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Jealous!

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

I'll be reading

I'm still putting off reading Shadowfever but I'll get to it eventually.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Ravishing Tarts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'UF', 'favorite', 'free space' and 'meow!'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamps Ravening Tartlets!

[KarenF]

Yay! Stamps!

For Paranormal Romance I'm going to read

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Shelf: Paranormal Romance
Shadows Strike
Read: 09/18/2015
Rating: ****



Review:

I sincerely love this series. I love all the Immortals and their seconds and this world. However, I don't love Ethan. I don't dislike him but other than being hard headed (ha ha) and being fwb with Lisette for a century, I don't really know much about him. Even though this book is about Ethan and Heather, I still don't feel like I know too much about him. I'm happy for him and Heather and I think that Heather's father, the General, will have a larger role to play in the future. He's a good ally to have on their side.

I'm not too sure how I feel about the Jared development. And I sincerely hope that Cliff can be with us for many more books to come. I feel for the guy and I really like him.

I'm hoping the next book with be about Aiden. *throws gifts of chocolates to Ms. Duvall* I'd love for him to get his HEA soon, even in just a novella. He seems like such a nice guy. Isn't 3000 years alone enough?

[Michelle]

Shelf: Paranormal Romance



Read: 20/9/15
Rated: 5 Stars

My Review: Spiral of Need centres around Derren, when an old friend calls in a favour and asks him to look after Ally for him until he is able to do so himself. Now Ally, is a seer, and that isn't highly accepted by Shifters and a lot of the Mercury Pack and their friends have pre-conceived notions about Seer's due to their experiences in the past.

Spiral of Need follows the same formula that all Suzanne's books do, her males are dominant, her females are kick ass and, as always, you can count on Greta's put downs and Dominic's come-on's to put a smile on your face. I liked Ally, I often found myself smiling as she interacted with the others. I found this book a little darker than the rest, in the sense that people do get what's coming to them and I was feeling bloodthirsty enough to thoroughly enjoy that!

I wholeheartedly recommend reading this after you have read the Phoenix Pack series as a lot of the characters we have met before and this will give you a greater insight into the different characters as well as pack dynamics and the ongoing story arcs that have been going on. The last couple of books aren't quite as good as the rest, especially Carnal Secrets but, in my eyes, this one definitely made up for that.

[KarenF]

Book: Tempest's Legacy
Shelf: Paranormal Romance
Date Finished: 9/20/15
Rating: 4 stars

This is another fun outing for Jane True (and her libido). I say "fun" despite some darker elements that run throughout the series. What happens to the people who have been captured isn't shied away from, but it isn't dwelled on either. It hit the right tone for me. I'm not a fan of too much grimmness. Jane has a fun voice but her determination for justice is real. So there are lighter moments mixed in with the darker ones.

Jane and the gang team up again to find out what is going on with the "labs" and missing people (both halflings and purebloods this time). Jane is coming into her own magically and she grows a lot in this book as far as her control and her powers go. We also find out more about the society in the Borderlands, where society isn't as rigid with regard to the different races. I liked the characters we met there and I hope we see more of them in the future.

There's a big power shift in this book as well as a big (but pretty well telegraphed) switch in Jane's love life. I came to this series kind of late but that just means that I don't have to wait for the next one!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Glad you loved it Michelle, really looking forward to it :)

Also glad you really liked Jane #3 Karen, I've only read the 1st one so you aren't as late as me :D

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

Shelf 10 - Paranormal Romance

✔ Cristina - Shadows Strike~ ★★★★ - review (9/18/2015)
✔ Karen - Tempest's Legacy ~ ★★★★ - review (9/20/2015)
✔ Michelle - Spiral of Need ~ ★★★★★ review (9/20/2015)
✔ Thenia - Death Angel ~ ★★★★ - review (9/20/2015)

[Thenia]

Shelf #10 ~ 16 Sept: Paranormal Romance

Death Angel - Linda Howard ~ ★★★★ (9/20/2015)

Review:

A story about two anti-heroes, Drea, a woman who pretends to be stupid arm candy and lives as a mistress of a drug dealer, and an unrepentant assassin, who changes her life.



Initially I had no patience for Drea, who is a compact package of things I dislike in a character: manipulative, fake, materialistic and immoral, among other things. When her drug lord protector "gives her" to the assassin in order to close a deal, she realizes that she barely has any worth in his eyes and after being treated with kindness by a most unexpected source, the assassin, she finally stumbles onto some self-respect. (view spoiler)[Well, almost... She first tries to have him take her with him, but he's having none of it, so by the time he leaves, she's left with eyes wide open, looking at herself as she's become and not liking what she sees one bit (hide spoiler)].

As a result, she leaves her protector but because old habits die hard, and she hasn't become a different person in one day, she steals two million from him on her way out. On the run and with an enraged drug lord wanting her dead, she finds herself trying to stay one step ahead from the assassin, who is enjoying the hunt and hasn't made up his mind if he'll take the job or not.

In an unexpected twist, (view spoiler)[she actually dies and goes to "a beautiful place" where she meets a version of the stillborn son she had when she was fifteen, who intervenes so she'll get a second chance in life in order to be able to actually go there when she eventually dies again.

Upset about her accidental death, Simon, the assassin, looks for her grave and discovers that somehow she is alive. Shocked to his core by that miracle, he takes no more jobs and secretly looks after her, making sure she is safe as her self-appointed bodyguard.

Having a second chance that she doesn't intend to waste, she knows that she must do everything in her power to get the drug lord off the streets and so goes to the FBI. Simon, whom she discovered looking out for her and who explained that he doesn't intend her any harm, after stopping her from fleeing in terror once again, tries to stop her, but she is determined to see her goal through.

Unwilling to have her risk her life, he once again does what he did best and assassinates the drug lord, taking her and leaving straight after, determined to start over somewhere, as their new selves (hide spoiler)].

Having gone through all that, the two finally get together, living their own version of a happily ever after.

Despite not particularly liking the heroine's character, especially at first, and having a hero who is essentially a sociopath, I couldn't help but root for the two.

An original story, that kept me engaged and curious about how it would end.

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

We're ready for our stamp already! I love my team :D


I just finished my audiobook and I've got no idea what I want to listen to next. *sigh*

[Thenia]

Shelf #10 ~ 16 Sept: Paranormal Romance

✔ Christina - Shadows Strike - Dianne DuvallGena Showalter ~ ★★★★ Review (9/18/2015)
✔ Karen F - Tempest's Legacy - Nicole Peeler ~ ★★★★ Review (9/20/2015)
✔ Michelle - Spiral of Need - Suzanne Wright ~ ★★★★★ Review (9/20/2015)
✔ Thenia - Death Angel - Linda Howard ~ ★★★★ Review (9/20/2015)


Done: 4/4 ~ stamp requested

[Thenia]

Congrats team ~ our Paranormal Romance stamp is on the way! We're all caught up once again.

[Michelle]

Sandra wrote: "Glad you loved it Michelle, really looking forward to it :)

Also glad you really liked Jane #3 Karen, I've only read the 1st one so you aren't as late as me :D"

It was just what I was looking for if I am honest. I found myself giggling out loud and getting pissed off on the characters behalf. I'll definitely be picking up a print copy to get signed next year :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Ravishing Tarts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'PNR'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Ravening Tartlets!

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

All we need are Itchy Witch, Series to Start and Dragons to be called and we could win this in less than three weeks. *fingers crossed*