R12: Team #8 ~ Vor8ious Readers

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Just checking in while obsessively refreshing the shelf announcement thread ...

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Ooh...a book published in 2015 is shelf call "Happy Birthday" -- have some sorting to do to pick one.

[Nichole]

Yeah, like half of everyone (probably) I'll be reading . Hopefully it comes out on audio by release day!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder will be my read for "Happy Birthday."

[Elizabeth]

A bit late but here it is:

Shelf #3 ~ 29 July: Happy Birthday!
Read a book: published in 2015 (any month)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

All three shelves (Strong Heroine, A Bloody Mess, and Happy Birthday) have been just one square in each of the three possible winning patterns. So no "two in a row" or "three in a row" gains for us yet.

[Nichole]

I haven't even looked at that yet. Bummer! Hopefully, things line up from this point on!

[~Melissa~]

Week 2
Shelf: Bloody Mess

Finished 7/30/15
Rating 4♥'s

Review - The Dark Protectors series just keeps getting better and better. This addition to the series is no different. I've been waiting not so patiently to get to Jordan and Katie's book. Alpha male lion shifter with strong female lioness shifter who lost her ability to shift when infected with virus manufactured by the Kurjans. Book starts approx 10 yrs after last book - nice to see some of the kids have grown up. This book was as hot as expected between these two with further development of the Janie/Kalin/Zane storyline. We got glimpses of all the other couples as well.

[~Melissa~]

Shelf #3 ~ 29 July: Happy Birthday!

Pretty sure I'm going to go with - just published 7/28/15....hot off the presses :)

If I change my mind I'll repost

[Elizabeth]

Reading for Happy Birthday shelf. Released March 2015.

[Elizabeth]

Off to request our second stamp!!

Shelf #2 ~ 22 July: A Bloody Mess 4/4
D.A.: Hex Appeal (vampires), 7/28/2015, ★1/2, Review
Elizabeth: Silver Shadows (Bloodlines series), 7/24/2015, ★★★ Review
Melissa: Consumed (vampires), 7/30/2015, ★★★★ Review
Nichole: Demon from the Dark (vampires), 7/25/2015, ★★★★ Review

[Elizabeth]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Shelf #3 ~ 29 July: Happy Birthday!

Pretty sure I'm going to go with - just published 7/28/15....hot off the presses :)

If I change my mind I'll repost"

Hope you'll enjoy! I still haven't read book #6 :(

[Elizabeth]

Shelf 3 - Happy birthday


Johnnie by Cardeno C.
Date finished: 7/30/2015
Rating: ★★1/2
Review: This was a different take on shifters and it was ok.
Originally, there's a lion pride, an oblivious Premier/alpha and a poor ignored siphon, a lion who's siphoning Premier's extra energy and allows him to live longer.
Ten years and several suicide attempts later there's a bit of action, a bit of loving, a bit of sweetness.
This was my first book by Cardeno C. and supposedly this is her style but I'll give her another chance.

[~Melissa~]

Wow Elizabeth - you are speedy - sorry you didn't really like it. I don't think I've read that author yet.

[~Melissa~]

Elizabeth wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Shelf #3 ~ 29 July: Happy Birthday!

Pretty sure I'm going to go with - just published 7/28/15....hot off the presses :)

If I change my..."

So far I've really enjoyed all the books in the series. Hoping I like Mistress Anne's book :D

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I'm more than halfway through and enjoying this one but I'm already getting the feeling it's not going to wrap much of the story arc up in just this volume.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Space (published 2/24/2015)
Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
Finished: July 30, 2015
Series: Soulfinders #1, Study #4, Chronicles of Ixia #7
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Number of pages: 384

Review: I did get immediately caught back up in Yelena and Valek's world. I'm not sure that someone new to them (meaning haven't read the Study series) would have liked this at all. I'm a huge fan and it was a very odd mix of heavy-handed clues and murky, vagueness that wasn't really a clear story arc. Yelena and Valek were both more vulnerable in this one (which didn't work for me) and somehow a tension or urgency was missing even with all the villainous goings on. Engrossing story but left way too much hanging at the end (not even in a good cliffhanger way, just all muddy and murky even as to Valek and the Commander's trust/untrust issues) -- then *poof* a supposed to be surprise one liner thrown in at the end. I'm hooked, so I'm looking forward to reading the next books -- but, I think someone new to the Ixia/Stigia world should definitely not start here and would be even more disappointed at the non-ending.

[Elizabeth]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Wow Elizabeth - you are speedy - sorry you didn't really like it. I don't think I've read that author yet."

This one was just 5 hours in audio, although +200 pages.
I have a couple books of her, in audio and e-book, I hope I'll enjoy those more.

[Elizabeth]

D.A.— warn me if there's a love triangle or drama w/ book wrote: "


HAPPY BIRTHDAY Space (published 2/24/2015)

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
Finished: July 30, 2015
Series: Soulfinders #1, S..."

I was wondering why they promote this as Soulfinders #1. I loved the two first books, the third not so much. I need to read books #3.5 and 3.6 in order to continue on this one, hopefully I'll fit it in one of the following shelves!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I haven't read any of Cardeno C.'s works.

I also didn't read 3.5 and 3.6 of the Study books unless was part of all the emailed short stories Snyder sends out to her mailing lists. I doubt they're essential. And Shadow Study wasn't bad exactly -- it just wasn't a full story and some of what plot there was (and POV jumps) seemed a bit forced with other parts reading like should have been short stories in an anthology rather than part of the novel. I still want to know what happens next although if next book drags me about going nowhere with the story I may ditch the series. I would have liked it much better if the main characters had been together more instead of just during the opening and ending chapters.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Vor8ious Readers!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'a bloody mess'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Vor8ious Readers!

Debbie, I found nearly all the books in the Study series were the same ie main characters were in different countries much of the time. There really wasn't enough interaction between them for me and I stopped at #3. Tried the Glass series and didn't like it either.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

@Elizabeth, back in message 7 (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ) the link to my review of Dragon Bound (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) is behaving oddly. Could be just me from the device I was on.

[~Melissa~]

Week 3 - Shelf 3 - Happy birthday


Finished 8/3/15
4♥

Review: So I'm a total fan girl of the Shadowlands series. Squee!! This is Mistress Anne and 'vanilla' security guard Ben's story. It was great to be back in the club. Who knew Ben could be kinky. So many layers to Mistress Anne that nobody realizes. This was fabulous. We got to see Jessica and Z. A new baby being born and glimpses at the other couples. Can't wait for her to finish writing the next one.

[Elizabeth]

D.A.— warn me if there's a love triangle or drama w/ book wrote: "@Elizabeth, back in message 7 (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ) the link to my review of Dragon Bound (https://www.goodre..."

I fixed it, although I didn't find what the problem was. I just copied-pasted again.

[Elizabeth]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Week 3 - Shelf 3 - Happy birthday


Finished 8/3/15
4♥

Review: So I'm a total fan girl of the Shadowlands series. Squee!! This is Mistress Anne and 'vanill..."

I'm glad it was a good one ;)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Glad you had a good read Melissa!

[~Melissa~]

Thanks : )

[~Melissa~]

I'm going to change my free read book - not sure which one I will go with yet but they are all located on the Group Shelf. I will wait for this week's shelf to be called before I choose. Choices are:

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Just checking in ... guess have another 3½ hours or so to shelf call.

[Nichole]

I finished up this morning at work. I just need to write a spoiler free review. It won't be easy!!

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "I finished up this morning at work. I just need to write a spoiler free review. It won't be easy!!"

You can put stuff in < spoiler > format - I promise I won't peek :) Not sure about the others. It's so hard when a book first comes out to not 'talk' about it when you are done lol

[Nichole]

Yeah! And it was fabulous!

[~Melissa~]

Shelf #4 ~ 4 Aug: Series Catch-up
Read a book: in a series you've already started ~ book #2+

[Elizabeth]

Thanks, Melissa ;)

[~Melissa~]

Shelf #4 Series Catch up




Free Space book off of Group shelf - changed to

[Nichole]

Shelf: Happy Birthday!

Book: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Finished: 8/5/15
Rating:★★★★★★★★

Magic Shifts picks up shortly after the last book, with Kate and Curran starting their lives outside of the pack. They're immediately thrown into action and you get to see them work together, not as Beast Lord and Consort but as Kate and Curran. No politics, just bad ass mercenaries. I have to say, Curran is one scary Lion.

Just remember, you can leave the pack but the pack won't leave you. When a member of the pack goes missing and nothing is being done about it due to the political mumbo jumbo, members seek out the help of Kate and Curran. It's not long before the dots start connecting and they discover a new and powerful enemy is in the neighborhood.

Impossible as it seems, these characters are still growing into themselves. Kate is getting more confident in her powers and is growing stronger because of it. Curran is still the Beast Lord even though he doesn't carry that title any longer. The rest of them, well, they're still a big part of their lives and give us that comedic relief that we love.

I'm amazed that Ilona Andrews is able to make fundamental changes to the story arc (Beast Lord & Consort) and still make me want more! I feel like we're just getting started and I couldn't be happier. Yes, I loved this book and can't wait for the next one!

[Elizabeth]

Nichole wrote: "Shelf: Happy Birthday!

Book: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Finished: 8/5/15
Rating:★★★★★★★★

Magic Shifts picks up shortly after the..."

LOL, still counting your stars! I can't wait to read it!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I saw shelf announcement, oh so many to choose from. Will pick after dinner.

[Nichole]

:D

[Elizabeth]

I'll pick tomorrow. Going to sleep soon!

[Nichole]

I'm going with for shelf #4!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

] No Quest For The Wicked by Shanna Swendson is my pick for next in series.

If cannot get into for some reason, will switch to The Broken Kingdoms or Doubleblind.

[Elizabeth]

For Shelf #4 Series Catch up i'm going to read

[Elizabeth]

Ready for our third stamp!

Shelf #3 ~ 29 July: Happy Birthday! 4/4
D.A.: Shadow Study (Feb 2015), 7/31/2015, ★★★ Review
Elizabeth: Johnnie (Mar 2015), 7/30/2015, ★★1/2 Review
Melissa: Servicing the Target (Jul 2015), 8/3/2015, ★★★★, Review
Nichole: Magic Shifts (Aug 2015), 8/5/2015, ★★★★★, Review

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "Shelf: Happy Birthday!

Book: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Finished: 8/5/15
Rating:★★★★★★★★

Magic Shifts picks up shortly after the..."


I'd say you did pretty good with a spoiler free review :)

That's a lot of stars LOL - I'm gonna have to see if I can fit it in this month or early Sept....

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Series Catchup and Happy Birthday are in same winning pattern -- guess those stamps will be the equivalent of 2-in-a-row.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Vor8ious Readers!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'happy birthday'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Finished; have guests over. Will collect my thoughts to review and post later.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Vor8ious Readers!