R8: Team #7 ~ Seven Deadly Speed Demons

[Paris]

So here are the latest numbers from Rachael.

Updated:
Of the 12 shelves left, 10 are winning: 2013 (6 and 7), Favorite (1 and 8), Urban Fantasy (2 and 5), Part of a Series (3, 5 and 7), Shapeshifters (3), Werewolves (4 and 8), Magic (1), Paranormal (5), Guilty Pleasures (6) and Alpha Male (4 and 6)
Series to Read and Favorite Series are the only 2 non-winning shelves.
83% chance of game winning shelf call.

[Paris]

So, we have winning chances if 2013 or Part of a Series are picked next week. If they are, we will be in a race for the finish so see if you can pick a book now in case they are.

Also, we need to finish Supernatural and First, Second or Third before the next call since those are what will give us 5 in a row if Part of a Series is picked.

[Brittany Lynn]

Almost done with one more book. I will be able (hoping anyway) to get one or two more books knocked out tomorrow night since I have to stay up from midnight until 630am Monday morning (have to keep my 2yr old up this whole time too) because he has to be at the hospital for an EEG at 7am.

[Paris]

Oh no Brittany that sucks. It's hard enough to keep yourself up, but to have to keep your kid up too. And poor thing has to have an EEG? I hope everything is okay and that you guys make it through unscathed.

[Brittany Lynn]

Thanks. The doctors think he is having absent seizures etc

[Paris]

Oh my gosh that's horrible. I'm sorry.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Good luck (((Brittany)))

[[deleted user]]

For the Readers Choice shelf, I'll be reading . Still searching for Supernaturals shelf.

Do ARCs count?
is not released yet. But I have an ARC with me, and this book is present in the Supernatural shelf. Does this count?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yes, answered on the discussion thread Preethi.

[[deleted user]]

Shelf 9: 5 Stars


The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Finished: Dec 8
Rating: ★★★★★

REVIEW


Have you ever read a book that was so awesome you wanted to gobble it up as quickly as you can, at the same time read it as slow as possible to savour it?

Well, that was exactly how I felt reading this book. Maggie Stiefvater's style of writing is so lyrical, its beautiful.

This is not a book of any specific person really. It contains the point of view of all three Raven boys and Blue. There is no guessing which direction this book goes really. It keeps you on you toes bouncing up and down for more.

I can't help feeling sorry for Adam and what he faces. And Gansey! Blue slowly realises that she does not have a crush on Adam but on Gansey. It is so heart-wrenching, since we keep being reminded that Gansey would die sometime soon.

I can go on and on raving about why I loved this book, and how much, but sometimes, it suffices to say, THIS BOOK WAS SOOO AWESOME!

I really really cannot wait for the next book to be out.

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

Supernatural Shelf
Bewitching: The Kendra Chronicles by Alex Flinn
Series: The Kendra Chronicles, #2
Finished: December 8, 2013
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Number of pages: 304

Review: I wound up liking this book, but it was an uneven start to this sort of mashup of the Cinderella story. On the fence with a lot of like/dislike moments while reading. I really liked Kendra but she was not the main character. Emma was the main character and I did not really get into her until towards the end of the book. It was definitely an interesting take on the old Cinderella story and well written.

After a giveaway brought it to my attention and an interesting blurb (I'm a sucker for a fairytale retelling), I downloaded a sample that hooked me (Kendra POV and her backstory) so I bought. Then put off reading until now because found out was a sequel to first book in series, Beastly, very definitely a YA hit. After the brief intro with Kendra, nearly the first third of the book turned typical high school angst-fest including mean girl clique. Debated dropping but needed for this challenge, was a quick read, and table of contents did have headings indicating Kendra's voice would be back—persevered.

Main story is that immortal witch Kendra comes to new town and high school (no idea why Kendra goes through high school more than once even if she's a sucker for helping people) and decides to help Emma who has had her life upturned by new stepsister Lisette. Wavers back and forth at first as to who the bad sister is (everyone but naive Emma sees how Lisette is setting her up, blaming her for everything while taking all that's hers). Emma in the first third was so ignorant that between that and the high school stuff I almost gave up on the story although well written.

Bits and Pieces of Kendra's voice, her past, and her take on familiar fairy tales and history were the best parts of the book. If I were a fan of short stories, those bits would have been enough to make me finish the book. Alas, I stayed unsure as I am not a fan of most short stories. The too little Kendra and choppy bits lost the book a star.

Halfway through the book, I liked it. Because Emma got a clue and stayed away from clique, the mean girls, stopped pining for the boyfriend Lisette stole but did not really want, etc.

85% through the book, Emma caught on that new BFF Kendra was a witch and things got interesting enough to almost make up for the first third with the boring mean girl shtick (but not quite; lost two stars for that chunk of book —going to be a l-o-n-g stretch of time before I am willing to touch another YA).

Kendra is very up front with Emma about how very often her good intentions and using magic to resolve issues backfires (fun examples) and offers a variety of fixes from the traditional make Emma über-hot to win back the guy to having something dreadful happen to Lisette. Instead, Emma comes up with a completely effective but non-malicious twist that would be a complete spoiler if I detailed it here. That concept gained the book back another star rating.

Then the final interaction between stepsisters and closing paragraphs lost the book a half star; lucky for it goodreads doesn't allow half stars so since was a quick read I rounded back up to be a 3-star read. The stepsisters (view spoiler)[agree to a truce with Emma still feeling sorry for Lisette (hide spoiler)]; the last paragraphs (cue the violins it is sappy) note how Kendra (view spoiler)[finally has a friend (hide spoiler)].

Not likely to pursue reading book one Beastly or three Toweringunless for some odd reason a mood to read YA or short stories hits. Except for Beastly, they do have purty covers.

[[deleted user]]

Shelf 11: Reader's Choice



Charred Heart by Lizzy Ford
Finished: Dec 9
Rating : ★★★✩✩

REVIEW:

Let me admit, I picked up this book because of its cover. Something about this cover is very interesting.

I wanted to love this book. I really did. It had a lot of potential. But, it somehow fell short for me.

Chase is a thousand year old dragon shifter. Tired of outliving all his friends and associates, he makes a deal with Mr. Nothing who agrees to make him human again in exchange for what Chase thinks is not much- just all that he has. And right then Chase only had his magic. So made the disastrous deal...

Skylar is the only dragon slayer alive, or so she has been told. Intent on capturing the elusive Teal Dragon (Chase) for 'rehabilitation', Skylar and her co-workers- Mason and Dillion track the Teal Dragon to a bar. Skylar, not knowing that the bar is a shifter-run bar- a last resort and only current gathering place for the shifters who are not taken and 'rehabilitated' by the Slayers, enters the bar, and ends up with a one-night-stand with none other than Chase himself. Chase gives her a hickey, which after a few weeks turns into a tattoo of a dragon, similar to the tattoo Chase has in his chest.

Chase ends up kidnapping Skylar, who begins to get strange memory like dreams. There was something fishy going on with the whole slayers-shifters-protectors-rehabilitation thing and Skylar is forced into the middle of all this turmoil.


There were certain parts of this story I loved- like the shifter bar and Chase's cabin which can be moved to any location though Chase's magic... His sentient, slightly rebellious, magic Cabin which listens to Chase's wishes/orders... Chase's dragon form- the size of his dragon form depends entirely on how his magic pushes him to be.. It can be as small as a dragonfly to as big as the size of a building... These are interesting things I found about this book.

Now for the bad part. The first half of the book was totally irritating. And the last half I spent being alternatingly outraged by the foolishness of the totally wrong choices the characters make, shocked and frustrated.

I mean, yes that's absolutely right, betray the person who saves you from certain death in the rehab facility, and who is supposedly the other half of your heart, and the reason your heart has started beating again! That's surely a wonderful way to solve problems, right????!!! Ask them ten times if they trust you, and then leave her at the hands of a crazy person, with no idea what will happen to her at all! Wonderful way to build a relationship!

How much selfish can person be? Well, Chase is the maximum limit of how much!Even after he betrays her, all he can think about is,

'He lost the part of him that made him feel whole? ... He deserved to live old and alone...'

Gah! As Skylar says " What is wrong with you people??? "

Still, hope Chase redeems himself in the next book. Though it might take a looong time for both Skylar and me to warm up to him!

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

Reader's Choice Shelf
Here Comes the Vampireby Kimberly Raye
Series: Dead End Dating, #6
Finished: December 9, 2013
Rating: ★★★★✩
Number of pages: 221

Review: This whole series is nothing but screwball comedy chick-lit style, nevermind the supernatural stuff tossed in. I was pretty sure I already knew how it would end barely a few pages in; but, that may be because I read the first five books and got the formula. But, they strike my funny bone just right since an author on a panel at a book expo was joking about what next "vampire cowboys?" and a reader said, sure, over on that table caused a bunch of us to check out. Then sneaking a peek at first few pages ... hmmm ... sounds kind of fun.

Mostly the series has been fun. In a Jersey girl with domineering and matchmaking family upset she is still single girl in the city and pressuring for grandbabies and pushing potential husbnads at her.

In this one, a solid 3-1/2 star read rounded up, our heroine Lillian she who is soul mated to hunky lower caste vampire Ty wakes up hungover and apparently married (vampires call it committed) to exactly the rich, neighboring from old world family scion her mom has been pushing her towards. Lily has zero recollection of anything of the sort other than a vague fantasy of making out with an Elvis impersonator in the elevators. Family steamrolls over everything and Lily's solution is two-fold - steal the surveillance footage DVDs to watch for evidence and become the ultimate Vampzilla to stall all the reception and grandbaby plans (partly as the only way she can think of to handle her mom and partly to turn the groom off where he would confess if they had not really consummated the commitment as vampires, once consummated, do not divorce).

Mayhem of course ensues. A bit stream of consciousness in Lily's head and way too much brand name shopping (although that's usual for chick lit). Ty made a cameo towards the end and was sorely missed as some beefcake was needed. I'm not going to reveal the ending, but as typical for the series it was satisfying.

That cover -- argh -- looks like someone on goodreads new profile picture where they are protesting the new review and shelf name censorship by black-barring or duct-taping their mouth. But there's a backstory behind it. And it used to have a way better cover when Ballantine was publishing. (Author fought back the rights to the books when Ballantine discontinued the series when she missed a deadline due to death in the family but apparently not cover rights). I have been attempting to preorder the book forever (partly, I admit, in sympathy for the author but I really do get a chuckle from these books and really like the Lily character). Finally I was able to preorder but the publication date kept changing and changing and changing. Just last month it had five different release dates added but finally downloaded last week of November. I was starting to think it had not been written yet. Book ends with author saying there would be more in the series.

[Brittany Lynn]

Today was long very long and exhausting. Will have three reviews up in the am. Just can't keep my eyes open any longer and lucky me I get to do it all over again Wednesday night for Thursday :/

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Brittany, the worry, sleeplessness, and knowing you've got to do it all over again is horrible, but at least you can try and distract yourself with books. Hope they were good ones ;)

[Paris]

Brittany, I second what Sandra said. I'm so sorry you have to do it all over again.

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

My sympathies, too, Brittany. Did they tell you when you'd get the results?

[[deleted user]]

Brittany wrote: "Today was long very long and exhausting. Will have three reviews up in the am. Just can't keep my eyes open any longer and lucky me I get to do it all over again Wednesday night for Thursday :/"

Hope things get better soon, Brittany.

[Josie]

Oh Brittany, I hope things improve for you and your son very soon, it must be such a stressful time.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Hang in there, Brittany!! Hoping for the best for you all!

[Paris]

First, Second or Third

by Kiera Cass
Rating: 3 Stars
Finished: 12/10/13
Review:
I wasn’t as enthralled with The Elite as I was The Selection. I couldn’t put The Selection down, but I kept trying to find reasons to stop reading The Elite. I think part of that was because nothing really seemed to change much. America was all over the place and so incredibly naïve. Maxon was all “I want to be with you America” and she was all “Me too” and then they both went off to do stupid things and question the others feelings. Aspen seemed whiney and prone to stupidity too. Even after the crap that happens with one contestant breaking the rules, Aspen gets America to break the rules, not even caring what might happen to them. Ugh.

At the 35% mark I had to put it down for a while because I was annoyed. I read some reviews with spoilers and read the last few pages of the book and was even more annoyed. It doesn’t seem like in the whole of the book, any of the characters change at all. After continuing the book, I realize that they don’t. I really wanted to smack all of them around, even more than I had ever wanted to smack around Celeste. America gets all hurt because Maxon is actually entertaining the idea of the other girls in the competition. Well of course he is. She’s still in love with Aspen and she won’t commit fully to Maxon even though he has laid it out there for her and has told her that he would choose her in a heartbeat if she would just say the word. She always seems to wait too freaking long to realize what is going on and what’s best for her.

I really would have liked there to be more intrigue; to learn more about the rebels and the politics and what was really going on. The moment in the woods, with America and the girl with the books would have been a great way for America to learn more about what the people were after. It kind of gave her an inkling of what was going on, but she was too thick headed to really realize until almost the end. I really hope The One has more of the politics and less of the back and forth love crap. She made her choice in the end of The Elite and she better freaking stick with it or I might throw the book out the window.

[[deleted user]]

Shelf 12: Supernatural



Secret by Brigid Kemmerer
Finished:Dec10
Rating: ★★★★★

REVIEW

Before I read Breathless, I had always wondered what could possibly be in a whole book for Nick- Perfect score in school, brainy, calm and collected, the go-to guy for all- He's perfect, right? I couldn't have been more wrong.

I have never liked Quinn much in the previous books. But this book proved a pivotal point in more than one ways. This book throws light on the actual aspects and struggles involved both Quinn's and Nick's lives.

I have never read a book about gay characters before- I was not really comfortable about those before reading this book. The way Brigid Kemmerer describes Nick's relationship with Adam is so ... heartwarming? romantic? may be both... Nick struggles to accept this aspect of himself- he's scared of how others will react, is confused of his feelings for Adam, and is protective of Quinn, and goes through a lot in general- Nick feels so real in this book- which endears one to Nick all the more. I am not going to be prejudiced about gay characters any more, that's for sure!

This is as much Quinn's book as Nick's. An antagonistic character changes a bit in this book- still not sure what to feel about the character. ( I'm not going to say more! Read the book to know!)

This is, by far, my more favourite book of the series till now. Brigid Kemmerer definitely excells in describing the issues faced by teens, and this book is no different- both Quinn and Nick face a lot of struggles and challenges in this book-especially Quinn's home life? Shocking!

Hats off to Ms. Kemmerer for this wonderful book. Now I really really really want to read the third book!

[Paris]

Supernatural Shelf

by Karina Halle
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Finished: 12/10/13
Review:
The beginning of Darkhouse reads like a bad YA with a humongous information dump too soon. There are a lot of things that I didn’t care about knowing at that point, mostly about Perry and her family. It took a while to really get the story going. Even when Dex and Perry were setting up their plans to film the pilot to the possible web series, things still seemed to be progressing at a snail’s pace. And I really didn’t feel much of a connection to either character (holy cow, I wanted to smack Dex every time he called Perry “kiddo”) although I did kind of like Perry’s edginess and sarcastic nature, she just seemed too young most of the time.

Once things started to pick up though, they really got going. I’m not easy to creep out, but the second trip to the lighthouse was creepy and that third trip…holy cow. I couldn’t wait to keep reading to figure out what was happening. And then the lady and the cryptic messages about Dex and Perry and watching each other. What the heck? Even though things started to pick up, I still got really annoyed with Dex every once in a while. I totally called his situation, so when it was revealed I wasn’t surprised. I’d like to know more about him though and why he is the way he is. I’m pretty intrigued about both Dex and Perry actually. I don’t feel like, despite some of the early info drops, we learned much about either of them.

While the creep factor was pretty high in this book, it wasn’t as high as I was expecting and it didn’t last for much of the book. This book really seemed like more of a set up book for the series, than a really strong first book, but it did what it needed to do. I’m hooked and will definitely be reading the next book…hopefully soon.

[Paris]

Preethi wrote: " Shelf 12: Supernatural



Secret by Brigid Kemmerer
Finished: Nov 10
Rating: ★★★★★

REVIEW

Before I read Breathless, I had always wondered what could ..."

Hey Preethi can you update your review with the correct date please? I'm guessing you read this in December and not November right?

Thanks!!

[Paris]

Alright ladies, we are about halfway through the week and I just wanted to give you an update on where we stand on the shelves we have yet to finish.

Vampires (2 Away)
Demons (1 Away)
5 Stars (1 Away)
First, Second or Third (2 Away)
Readers Choice (3 Away)
Supernatural (2 Away)

Please try to get your reviews in soon so that we can race to the finish if one of our possible winning shelves are called this weekend. Thanks!

[Josie]

I've read Secret Unleashed this week but I'm not sure which shelf to put it as - which shelves are the priority this week?

[Josie]

Oh and how many rereads are allowed?

[Paris]

I think you can do however many rereads as you want as long as they are on the shelf for the week.

Supernatural and First, Second or Third are the biggest priorities since those give us a chance at Bingo if Part of a Series is called. We already have stamps on the 4 that will get us a Bingo if 2013 is called.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

As Paris said, re-reads aren't an issue. As many as you want.

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

I'm terrible sometimes about not knowing it's a re-read until far into a book. Particularly nowadays where I read a lot of downloaded samples before buying an ebook so of course it sounds familiar! Big reason I used to keep a through book catalog on goodreads. Or losing track of a series reading before I tracked on fictfact and goodreads.

Now with new amazon shelf name policies and that weird adding/rating books bug happened to vandalize my goodreads catalog ... grrr...I need to remember to check on the other sites I'm testing for keeping a book catalog. I have a very few comfort reads I'll re-read but otherwise I don't re-read deliberately. At best, I might skim back over and read ending of the previous book in series when the new one releases if it took a long time to publish.

[No, I never had shelves threatening authors; just had so many books with ratings (I wasn't using star ratings on my books so that's how I spotted easily that books were adding to my shelves and then others were marking themselves as read that should have stayed on my to read shelves) showing up plus got unlucky with having shelves being interpreted "in context as against the tone of the community" like my P2P shelf of nonfiction computer peer to peer networking books and due-to-author where I out the first author I read in a genre that got me hooked on that genre or favorite ones that hooked me on reading = both were verboten under new not-sitewide-anniunced although support said they had reconsidered allowing due-to-authir as a shelf name -- I just gave up and dumped everything onto one shelf and thanked my lucky stars I'd been making csv exports regularly just from disaster-recovery habits from working in IT field.]

Bottom line -- I almost reread eight books this year (and two I did go ahead and re-read). I'm getting better at remembering to check my csv spreadsheet or other sites; will get easier as I get my books in goodreads deleted after moving comments/status etc. suff that csv doesn't backup.

Good for taking down the TBR anytime I go back through booklists so there's a bright side.

And this challenge came along just in time to enjoy one last fun time on goodreads.

[Paris]

Debbie, I have the same problem with the Kindle samples. I read them and then sometimes can't remember if I did, so I request them and end up reading them again. I think I added a shelf on here about it so that I could keep track of it. Of course I never remember to use it.

[Paris]

Reader's Choice

by A. Meredith Walters
Rating: 4 Stars
Finished: 12/11/13
Review:
This book was like a punch in the gut. I felt like I was the one in the middle of a manic episode. Up and down, up and down. I didn’t know what to feel or what to do. I was both heartbroken and happy for Maggie and Clay. I was also so very worried for both of them and what Clay’s situation was going to do to them and to those around them.

A. Meredith Walters did such an amazing job with this sensitive topic. I’ve read books that have handled the issue before, but never one with characters so young. I really wasn’t sure how things would work out. I hated that Maggie couldn’t explain how she felt to her family and friends. That it wasn’t about Clay exactly, but that she liked who she was better since him than she had before. At one point she says she didn’t want to be the girl before Clay, the one that was boring and disinterested in life. I think that her people would have understood her choices better if they knew that she had felt that way before she met Clay. They thought she was happy back then.

I think that if she had just told her parents Clay’s secret sooner, her life might have been a little easier. They may have understood her changes and they may have been able to help her. Maybe help Clay to keep him from being around his parents. I love that both Maggie and her mother tried standing up to Clay’s mom, but she’s just too blind and clueless. I think that his parents wouldn’t really mind that much if they lost their son, which is too freaking sad.

This book was an intense rollercoaster ride and I really can’t wait to continue with the series. I hope that Maggie and Clay get their happy ending. They deserve it.

[[deleted user]]

Paris wrote: "Preethi wrote: " Shelf 12: Supernatural



Secret by Brigid Kemmerer
Finished: Nov 10
Rating: ★★★★★

REVIEW

Before I read Breathless, I had always won..."


oops... corrected it. :)

[Paris]

Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Shelf :First, Second, Third

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams
Finished: Dec 12
Rating :5 stars

REVIEW:

This book continues where the first book left off. The rebels have taken over the palace. But not all high nobles support Lena as queen. Without their support,Lena cannot be considered an official queen. Added to that McKenzie's only human friend Paige goes missing, and there is evidence that she had been taken by the remnants.

When the human aids of the remnants are found horriby slaughtered, the rebels have their full. In the midst of all this,McKenzie tries to spend what little time she can with Aren. But things get out of hand when she has to come to terms with Aren's black past.

This is one of my favourite series of all time. Sandy Williams' writing is terse and tight.
While there is romance and heartache too, this is mainly a plot based story.

I am eagerly waiting for the third book. I am hoping Aren will stop being stubborn at least in the next book.

[[deleted user]]

I think I am finally up-to-date with my shelves. I am posting this from my mobile. Hence no cover of the book for the last review.

My PC has currently broken down:(: I'll update my review with the book cover when my computer starts functioning again.

[Brittany Lynn]

Reader's Choice
by Katy Evans

Rating: 5 Stars
Read: 12/7/13
Review:
IT’S WAS AMAZING, I loved the POV. It started out in the present on their wedding day with Remy’s flashbacks from the first two books in the Real series. If a book can get any more passionate and heart wrenching this one can! Remy’s perspective in everything just blows me away. His more powerful, emotional and RAW! I just fell in love with him even more. This book is everything if not more than what you would expect... you will be in tears by the end.

The way Remy feels thru his point of view on how he loves Brooke it’s truly amazing. She's his soul mate in every way possible and he will do anything in his power to keep her. She makes him fight everyday to control his sickness from controlling him. This book was well executed and it felt like a new story to me. It was like meeting Remy and Brooke all-over again. It was a perfect ending to a great love story. Katy Evans is a great Author!

[Brittany Lynn]

Vampires Shelf
by Richelle Mead

Rating: 5 Stars
Read: 12/8/13
Review:
Having already gone through the Vampire Academy series, I knew THE FIERY HEART was going to be an emotional roller-coaster. I wasn't disappointed. There was even a primal scream at the end and a depressing glance at my calendar to gauge how much time between now and July, when the next book comes out. There was also a brief mental flogging for not waiting until the series was finished before starting it to save myself these horrendous waits. I’m not that strong.

The dynamic of the Bloodlines series changed a lot with THE FIERY HEART in that, for the first time, we have dual points of view. I will admit to being very, very leery about this but that pessimism went unrewarded. I loved Adrian’s chapters almost as much as Sydney’s. I’m also thankful that Richelle Mead didn’t fall into the dual POV trap of retelling the same scene from each viewpoint. Each chapter moves the story forward. And Adrian, I’m happy to say, is just as snarky in his own head as he is through Sydney’s eyes.

This being a mid-series book, it’s very hard to talk plot without massive spoilers but I can say this much: THE FIERY HEART makes good on every expectation I had going in with the added bonus of being so much more than I hoped to get. Mead shows once again that she can move a story arc forward while furthering subplots – picking up little nuggets of information she dropped two books ago that are suddenly back to the forefront with a vengeance. Mostly, she doesn’t fall into the other long-series trap of having a middle book read like nothing more than filler to stretch a thin plot out into more books. There’s so much going on, so much movement on the chess board that you’re too caught up for a single “get on with it” thought. You just want more. And you want it yesterday.

In the end, I was left with my usual book hangover and frequent trips back into the story to reread the bookmarked sections as well as other more action-centric and plotty ones just to experience them again. THE FIERY HEART is another stellar addition to the already great Bloodlines series and one that is, in my opinion, richer and more intriguing than the precursor Vampire Academy series.

[Brittany Lynn]

5 Star Shelf
by Julie Kagawa

Rating: 5 Stars
Read: 12/8/13
Review:
When I first bought this book, I was alittle apprehensive about if I would like it or not. Well turns out that I didn't like it, LOVED it! It always keeps you guessing and wanting more. I read it in 3 hours, skipping breakfast and lunch. When i finished reading it, I was sad because there wasn't more. And a little mad because i read it too fast. But I loved every word and every page. If you want to read a vampire book that you will want to read more, this book is 100% the book you want. Can't wait for the next book to read.

[Brittany Lynn]

Supernatural Shelf
by Kelley Armstrong

Rating: 5 Star
Read: 12/11/13
Review:
The Summoning is the first novel in a new trilogy by popular fantasy author Kelley Armstrong. The Darkest Powers trilogy marks a new chapter (apologies for the pun) for Kelley Armstrong as she branches out into the Young Adult genre.
I have to confess at this point that there are no vampires in The Summoning but since this book is set in the same universe as Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series (for adult readers) there is always the potential for them to crop up at some point. Fantasy fans won’t be mourning the loss of vampires for long however, since the Otherworld is populated by plenty of other types of supernatural beings.
The Summoning is written in the same style as the Otherworld books, only this time the story is narrated in first person by fifteen year old protagonist Chloe, rather than by an adult. It follows the story of teenage supernaturals coming into their different powers without help or guidance from someone they can trust. Sex and violence has been toned down for the teen audience but The Summoning still has plenty of supernatural thrills and chills.

[Brittany Lynn]

First, Second, Third Shelf
by Sylvain Reynard

Rating: 5 Star
Read: 12/11/13
Review:
picks up approximately 6 months after Gabriel & Julia’s wedding in ‘Rapture’. They are living the newlywed life, romance & great sex ( damn these two were ALL OVER each other in this book!) and pressure from both their college careers. Julia is in her graduate program at Harvard and on her way to becoming a Professor and Gabriel has settled into his job at Boston College. As things are in place, Gabriel feels it’s time to talk kids and expand their family. Julia, not so much. With the demands of her graduate program, Julia just doesn’t think it’s the right time. After a tragic chain of events that occur, Gabriel starts to wonder if he is even ready or worthy of that second chance to be a father again. With this, Gabriel starts to dig into his past and research his family history. In order to learn the truth of where he came from and what the future could possibly hold for him and Julia.

[Paris]

Oh no Preethi, I hope your computer starts working again soon.

Great job on the reviews Brittany. How's your son? How are you?

I'll update our lists when I get to work even though I'm not supposed to.

[Brittany Lynn]

He's good. Slowly getting back in schedule. I'm exhausted though.

[Paris]

I hope you get to catch up on some rest soon and that your son continues to do well.

[Paris]

Preethi wrote: "Shelf :First, Second, Third

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams


Preethi, I got to beta read The Sharpest Blade (book 3) and it is one of the most satisfying series finales I've ever read. I can't wait to read it again.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Seven Deadly Speed Demons!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'First, Second or Third' and '5-stars'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Demons!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats Brittany on catching up on all those reviews.

Glad the news on your son is better!!! Get some rest!!!

[Paris]

Thanks Steph and Sandra!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

:D Welcome!