R12: Team #8 ~ Vor8ious Readers

[Nichole]

I really need to check that series out, Melissa. I've had the first book on audio for 2-3 years now.

Shelf! Shelf!... Too soon? :D

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "I really need to check that series out, Melissa. I've had the first book on audio for 2-3 years now.

Shelf! Shelf!... Too soon? :D"

LOL - hours to go :)

I ♥ this series - fun characters and quick reads w/lots of action. Nothing earth shattering - just entertaining

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

Yes,but still playing catchup from the time spent -- durn real life. Will get my book info posted before shelf call. Pretty typical UF/PNR first-in-series overall.

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

PNR Space
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Finished: September 22, 2015
Series: Jane Yellowrock, #1
Rating: ★★½☆☆
Number of pages: 336

Review: I liked this well enough to continue with the series at least another book. It's the first book of a PNR/UF series and doesn't really stand out for me from all the other PNR/UF series -- a couple of decades ago I might have found it more original with the skinwalker legend, the vampires, the "beast" or soul within, the New Orleans setting and the vampire politics. Jane is kickass and potentially interesting once you get past all the inner "talk," infodumps and murky who-is-the-bad-guy stuff (I'm not a fan of the "solve the mystery" part of most series anyway). Not sure I bought the Native American aspects of the character; but, that could be because I'm not very familiar with the Cherokee nation's skinwalker beliefs.

It really picked up towards the ending so hopefully the issues I had with the book's uninterestingly light worldbuilding, infodumps and murky things are just first-book-itis. "All my friends ..." are posting such interesting things about the next books (and so many favorite UF series were non-addictive in first book) that I think I will be finding out.

[Elizabeth]

Off to claim our eleventh stamp!

Shelf #10 ~ 16 Sept: Paranormal Romance 4/4
D.A.: Skinwalker 9/22/2015, ★★1/2, Review
Elizabeth: Tall, Dark & Lonely, 9/18/2015, ★★★, Review
Melissa: Night Unbound, 9/21/2015, ★★★★, Review
Nichole: A Red-Rose Chain, 9/18/2015, ★★★ Review

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Vor8ious Readers!
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

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Steph!

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

Shelf = cover love. Decisions, decisions, ...

[Elizabeth]

Shelf #11 ~ 23 Sept: Cover Love
Read a book: that features cover art you love

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

will be my "cover love" book. A library ebook download I need to get to anyway.

[Nichole]

Ummmm... I'll be back.

[Elizabeth]

I'll choose tomorrow, after I finish Infinity + One.

[Nichole]

How are you liking that?

[Elizabeth]

I'm at 67% and liking it very much and I'm enjoying the narration. Did you listen to it?

[Nichole]

No, I actually read that one but I've listened to the others. I like Tavia Gilbert as a narrator. Except her voice for Bones. It's atrocious!

[Elizabeth]

Nichole wrote: "No, I actually read that one but I've listened to the others. I like Tavia Gilbert as a narrator. Except her voice for Bones. It's atrocious!"

LOL! This is the first book by Amy Harmon I read but I've listened Tavia Gilbert narrating more than 15 books. She's singing in this one!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp V8 Readers!

[Nichole]

Thanks Sandra! And Steph!

[Nichole]

I've read 4 of her books. I love her writing, it's very lyrical. I think I read somewhere that she was a song writer?? I'm not sure about that though. It would make sense!

You should definitely read !! I also really loved .

[Elizabeth]

Nichole wrote: "I've read 4 of her books. I love her writing, it's very lyrical. I think I read somewhere that she was a song writer?? I'm not sure about that though. It would make sense!

You should definitely re..."

I have got both e-books but they're kind of long, so I might get the audio.

[Nichole]

*Nods head* :D

[Nichole]

Back to Bingo stuff...

For Cover Love, I'll be reading

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

Where I think we are with potential wins:


| |
  5 of 9  |   4 of 9   |   4 of 9 already stamped.

This week's "Cover Love" call will get 6-of-9 for leftmost "\" pattern.

[~Melissa~]

Shelf - Cover Love - not sure yet what I'm going to go with...... decisions decisions :)

[Elizabeth]

I'll be reading for Cover Love.

[~Melissa~]

I'll be going with for Cover Love shelf

[Elizabeth]

Shelf 11 - Cover Love


The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter
Date finished: 9/28/2015
Rating: ★★★★
Review: I enjoyed listening to this book, the world was really interesting, it had both romance and action, it was set in several areas of Turkey I've heard and read about and it finished with a cliff hunger. I'll be reading next book very soon.

[~Melissa~]

Shelf 11 ~ Cover Love


by Anne Bishop
Finished: 9/29/15

Rating ♥♥♥♥♥

Review: This is my first book by Anne Bishop and I listened to this on audio. I loved loved loved this book. I'd say this is my favorite book of the year! I was immediately drawn into the book and had a hard time stopping lol. Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet has run away from her Controller, given herself a new name and now with the cold and a storm brewing needs somewhere to stay. She has made it to the Lakeside Courtyard, a business district run by the "Others" and sees a job posted for Human Liaison on one of the stores. Cue meeting Simon Wolfgard, shapeshifter and leader of the Courtyard who is unsure about her but gives her the job anyway. I loved getting to know all the characters of the Courtyard - we have shifters, vampires, elementals, Tess (never really revealed 'what' she is but something old and Bad!!). Watching Meg win them over with her sweet odd ways was fun to watch. Meg helping Sam learn to be outside was endearing. Simon has such a hard time with Meg since ' she doesn't smell like prey' - he's not sure what box she fits in. Fun watching him realize that Meg makes him feel content. The bad guys were typical horrid bad guys. Asia Crane - you stupid stupid b*tch - I think you got off easy - really I wanted you to be ripped apart by the wolves - I'm sorry that sounds bloodthirsty doesn't it - Oops - my bad - not! Unfortunately the one who hired the bad guys if still out there. I'm so looking forward to book #2 and wish I hadn't put it on one of my October Challenges as I want to start it now!!

[Nichole]

I love that series! Although, I liked the first book the best because it was so refreshing. It's one of those that I pre-order and read right away though!

I've finished my book and will try to get my review up tonight or maybe tomorrow. My niece is with me right now and we're about to browse Pinterest for some Christmas Craft projects :)

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "I love that series! Although, I liked the first book the best because it was so refreshing. It's one of those that I pre-order and read right away though!

I've finished my book and will try to get my review up tonight or maybe tomorrow. My niece is with me right now and we're about to browse Pinterest for some Christmas Craft projects :) "

Have fun :)
I know I'm gonna be upset since I'm sure I will gobble up #2 & 3 of series and then have to wait for #4 lol

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

I'm almost finished with mine. I've been quiet because reading ...

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

Cover Love Space
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Finished: September 30, 2015
Series: Cantos, #1
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Number of pages: 548

Review: This was one of those books I vacillated between wanting to checkout some day or completely avoid because of all the hype and endless award-garnering. A too good to be true reputation that turned out to be 100% accurate. Big juicy old-fashioned science fiction with "other" and space federation politics and farflung outposts and ... right up my alley. Creepy elements and reading somewhat like an anthology of short stories -- not so much (not flash fiction, this had enough length to flesh out the "stories"). A non-ending that could have cost a star if I hadn't known about it going in.

I'll read more of this series and authors other works. I wanted to rate this one higher but—as good as it was and as hooked as I now am on series—I didn't really recover from thinking there should have been a prequel fleshing out the worldbuilding/characters and it mixed in so many elements and beings that the story lacked a "flow" that would have made it a 4-5 star read for me.

[Nichole]

Shelf: Cover Love
Book:
Finished: 9/29/15
Rating: 3.5 Stars

After barely surviving a werewolf attack and feeling betrayed by his wife's secrets, Winston takes a holiday to Paris to pull himself together. Feeling lost, he knows he must return and find out the whole truth of Poppy's other life.

While Winston and Poppy try to work things out between them, a demon is on the hunt and he's looking for Winston. It seems that Winston has secrets of his own and it's coming out in the open now. There's always a price to pay when bargaining with the devil.

I really enjoy this series. It has that HR-PNR combo that I love. Another thing that I really like is that you get a good mix of Supes, not just vamps and werewolves. And steamy sex scenes- Bonus!

I think the only reason I rated this at 3.5 stars is that I was too distracted while reading this. I had a very busy few days and the constant start/stop affected my enjoyment. I'm really looking forward to the next book and fully expect to enjoy each one in the series. Onward!

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

*drumroll* (stalking shelf call)

[Elizabeth]

Shelf #11 ~ 23 Sept: Cover Love 4/4
D.A.: Hyperion 9/30/2015, ★★★, Review
Elizabeth: The Scribe, 9/28/2015, ★★★★, Review
Melissa: Written in Red, 9/29/2015, ★★★★★, Review
Nichole: Winterblaze, 9/29/2015, ★★★1/2 Review

[Elizabeth]

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

[Elizabeth]

Not really in the mood for this theme :(

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

I suppose I should slog thru the third Dresden book that everyone tells me will hook me on the series. Dresden is a wizard which should qualify it.

Not really in the mood either, but I use BINGO partly to make me get around to the books I've been meaning to get around to.

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher.

[~Melissa~]

I totally forgot it was shelf call day ~ I've been a little absent minded lol


I'm hopefully going to read OR

I'm going to see what is called this Friday for Scavenger Hunt and see if one will work for both :)

[Elizabeth]

I'll decide tomorrow but just checked and I found a few books that fit
or or or

[Nichole]

I feel the same way about Harry. I'm even on that book. I always hear about how great it is but it hasn't caught with me yet. I enjoyed the first 2 but I always find other shiny books to read instead.

Good choices Ladies. It's always so hard to decide!

[Nichole]

Since I have a BR for this book and it has Magic as a main page genre, I think I'll read .

[~Melissa~]

D.A.—currently in Readathon mode wrote: "I suppose I should slog thru the third Dresden book that everyone tells me will hook me on the series. Dresden is a wizard which should qualify it.

Not really in the mood either, but I use BINGO ..."

LOL - ummm is it bad to say I stopped after that book. Not that it was bad because it wasn't - just a lot of other books (oh my shiny) keep my interest more BUT once I start a Harry book I enjoy it. Kind of like Kevin Hearne series for me....maybe it is just male authors...good but not enough romance

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

Nichole wrote: "I feel the same way about Harry. I'm even on that book. I always hear about how great it is but it hasn't caught with me yet. I enjoyed the first 2 but I always find other shiny books to read inste..."

The first two were good enough -- but pretty typical urban fantasy where the supernatural mixes in with what otherwise would be a fairly typical mystery or detective novel. I mostly liked main character well enough but had moments where annoyed me. And I don't like very many detective novels or mysteries (law enforcement or crime heavy UF not always my thing either).

Like you, I found "shiny" other books (and activities) that made it very easy to put down. Which is barely a step or three above "boring."

I've grown to love other series with slow starts, so am willing to chance it. Kinda over the rave posts from people who seem to have just discovered contemporary urban fantasy and think this series is the epitome that deserves more attention (there was a tv miniseries based on for goodness sake -- discovery time is rather over and UF isn't new ...) and should be the example for other UF authors...yet, all saying it took three books to get going. I hate the idea that authors should try to achieve writing a good book 3-4 books into a series rather than writing a good book from the start.

*ack* Butcher's get a new steampunk series just out so I'm seeing a lot of posts and one too many acting like it's either the only UF series out there or the only one that gets it right. I have a few hundred fave UF series myself ... most of which did not take three books before getting good. Which made me remember this series but which may mean I picked the wrong time to read the book and post about it.

[~Melissa~]

Never knew he had his own tv series...I'm so out of it, lol. Granted I don't watch a lot of tv. It is a series on my "list" to get back to at some point.

[Nichole]

I'm the same way with the Iron Druid series too. I enjoy them while I'm listening to them but I could walk away without a backwards glance too. Maybe it is the lack of Romance? Who knows!

My husband watched the TV series and really liked it. I halfway watched it which translates to I was reading and glanced up for parts here and there :)

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

~Melissa~ wrote: "Never knew he had his own tv series...I'm so out of it, lol. Granted I don't watch a lot of tv. It is a series on my "list" to get back to at some point."

Show details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486657/ .

My husband liked it, too. I didn't watch past first episode because wanted to finish reading further in series; I liked it as much as I liked any other detective/mystery centered tv show (well, with the exception of Rockford Files of course...). Seemed grittier, darker than the books.

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "My husband watched the TV series and really liked it. I halfway watched it which translates to I was reading and glanced up for parts here and there :)
"

My kids hate when I do this - which is pretty much all the time - unless we are watching TWD.
I'm going to "try" to watch Blindspot as I watched the other night and it seemed interesting. We'll see how long it lasts, lol

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I bought the DVD (it was in the bargain bin too) but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. Don't think it was on TV here.

[Nichole]

I think it was on Netflix. I might check it out myself, although I'm not big on TV either. I only have 2 shows- TWD & GoT.