The Long Game (American Gypsy #1) by J.L. Fynn → Start Date: November 25, 2013

[Kathy]

Please join Vicki and I for this buddy read! :D

Can't wait!

[Vicki]

Yay! We're reading it! Thanks for creating the post. I am really excited to see how this new author's book is. I am really hopeful!

[Kathy]

You're welcome!

Me too! I like the idea of it! A lot!!! lol! :D

[Kathy]

Vicki, are you ready for this one?

We could take it slow

5 chapters a day?

[Vicki]

Sure. I'd forgotten to put this one in my phone calendar. But sounds good to me. :)

[Kathy]

Ok, sounds good! I'll start later tonight after I get back from having dinner with my sister and her in-laws! :)

[Vicki]

Okay, I'll do the same. I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with my daughters and all of their kids today. :o) I love it when I get so many of my kids and grandkids together. I'll have 3 of my 5 children and 9 of my 19 grandkids there, plus my two "adopted" grandkids. My daughter Heather has gotten guardianship of 2 sisters that have lived with her since March. They've become a part of the family now. :o)

[Kathy]

Aw!! That's so sweet! I love to hear about your family! They sound awesome!! Hope you have a wonderful time! :D

[Kathy]

I finially started! I'm only 1 chapter in and it's pretty good so far. Hope you been having an awesome break! :)

[Kathy]

Ok I'm only a couple of chapters in

The Village (view spoiler)[ How do they have such nice houses, mansions even if they can't let anyone know how they live? I mean how do they have them built, have utilites and everything else if nobody in town knows about them?

Also, the clan's hierarchy is kind of scary and mob-like? I mean, what did Shay's dad do to get himself killed? And I guess that is why Maggie wants to stay in the trailer instead of the house? And I can't imagine someone being an outcast because they finished school? You're definitely not going to like that! lol!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

7 chapters in and it's a little slow, but it's all world building. This life Shay leads is really differnt with all the weird language for the 'jobs' they do and the clan's hierarchy.

Shay (view spoiler)[ That guy he sold the trailer to? Not the sharpest tool in the shed that's for sure! I mean who in their right mind is going to hand over that much money and not even look inside before handing it over???

And this 'job' Pop is sending him on isn't a good thing! Revenge?? It stinks! Really bad! I'm a little anxious for Shay and his brother! Pop and his sons scare me, a lot! (hide spoiler)]

I'll read more tomorrow so I can maybe finish another book and start another! lol! :D

[Vicki]

I'm frustrated reading it on my Kindle app because there are no page numbers. LOL I've read 8% whatever that means. I'm enjoying it so far though.

I'll try reading as much as I can tonight. As always I am BEHIND!! I'm never letting anyone see my face! LOL

[Kathy]

I know how you feel! I'm so behind too! It's a good thing this one is a short one! I love it when they're short!! lol!! :D

[Vicki]

LOL I hear ya! I am in the season of finals at school, making study guides, etc. I will be SO excited for vacation. I always think I'll have SO much reading time but something always seems to get in the way.

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "7 chapters in and it's a little slow, but it's all world building. This life Shay leads is really differnt with all the weird language for the 'jobs' they do and the clan's hierarchy.

Shay That g..."

Oh, I know! LOL I was like, what the heck?

Finished with ch. 8

Pop: (view spoiler)[ He sure doesn't seem to care about his female offspring much. I guess Rosie has "dropped some hints" but he's basing giving her hand in marriage on Shay being able to exact revenge on his behalf? I don't like that at all. (hide spoiler)]

Jimmy Boy: (view spoiler)[ He is really protective, don't you think? He took a beating from Judd. What's Judd have against these boys? (hide spoiler)]

Da: (view spoiler)[ I'm sure it said in the beginning of the book, but is that Jimmy Boy and Shay's father? (hide spoiler)]

Maggie: (view spoiler)[ She is like a mama bear, right? LOL Fairly small in stature but growls loud enough to make the Sheedy boys tuck their tails between their legs. LOL (hide spoiler)]

Clarification: (view spoiler)[ Okay, I read the first couple chapters on day 1 so I (can you imagine) forgot some. Is Maggie Shay and Jimmy Boy's biological mother? Is Pop Sheedy the HEAD of the entire clan? Why do they call Judd "Prince"? And is Da Shay's and Jimmy Boy's father? (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished ch. 15

Spencer: (view spoiler)[ She's fallen for Shay...oh gee, how did I know that was going to happen? LOL I think she's a fun person...loved the fountain scene. (hide spoiler)]

Shay: (view spoiler)[ He loves Spence right back. Now what? I think he will back out of his "deal" with Pop because I don't think he'll follow through and hurt Spencer because he loves her. His family also doesn't want him going for revenge, so I think maybe that's not going to happen. (hide spoiler)]

Tommy: (view spoiler)[ I haven't actually met him yet, but I have a feeling he's going to be scary and intimidating! He reminds me of a thug for some reason. LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I finished the book (hallelujah)! I didn't love it, but I thought it was well-written, no errors technically. But for me it was a little too slow, I guess. The end had too many predictable turns, and in some ways unrealistic. I wanted to be able to rate this one five stars, but it wasn't a 5 for me.

[Kathy]

I'm on chapter 10

Da (view spoiler)[ That is an Irish indearment for dad so yes he is Shay and Jimmy Boy's dad. (hide spoiler)]

Pop (view spoiler)[ I don't think he thinks much of women period! Yes, he is the 'leader' of their clan and the fact that he says he 'allowed' Shay to finish school really ticks me off! That isn't right! (hide spoiler)]

Judd (view spoiler)[ Not sure if he has something against Shay and Jimmy Boy, he just may have a chip on his shoulder because he's the youngest? He thinks he can do what he wants? I don't know, but the name 'Prince' seemed like it was an insult than anything else. (hide spoiler)]

Maggie (view spoiler)[ I like her! She's feisty! I loved how she yelled at those boys! (hide spoiler)]

Yay! And you finished before me! Glad you liked it at least, I'll read more in a little bit! :D

[Vicki]

I didn't know that about Da, so thanks for the info. There is more reason to Judd's attitude toward Shay and Jim Boy in a round about way. LOVED Maggie!

I finished it because it was a quick read and I had the time yesterday. I wanted to LOVE it but I just liked it. This is my friend's daughter's first book, but I had to give my review honestly. She's had about 50% give it a 5, so maybe it's just me. I'm anxious to hear what you think. Maybe I was too harsh.

[Kathy]

You're welcome! Also have you ever had potato cakes? They are a favorite of mine since I was a child, my mom would make them with leftover mashed potatos and fry them up! So good! But we didn't call them boxty! lol!!

I wonder what the ledger has in it, because Pop sure was adamant about Shay not opening it. Makes me think there is something about his dad in there?

[Vicki]

I know the answer! But I can't say.

[Kathy]

Ok I'm done! I wanted to like it more too! It was insta-love and I don't mind so much, but...I don't know, I just thought it was alright.

Huge cliffhanger though! I know there is a book about Jimmy Boy and the cashier at the hardware store and another one which is a prequel about Tommy and Maggie, but surely there will be another one to settle this issue of where Maggie and Jimmy Boy are and what's going to happen with the ledger and Pop Sheedy?

[Vicki]

Yeah, I'm sure we'll find out more about them. :)