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R1: SS ■ The One's to Beat! ■ *Winning Team!!!*
message 251:
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Sheila
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Mar 22, 2014 03:25PM
Thanks Monica - I love the Stephanie Plum books
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I have only read the first book but that was years ago. I need to start them again. Sorry it took me so long to choose one.
No problem. That is a series that I have actually read ALL of. Actually I have listened to them. I love the way the narrator does the different characters voices especially Lula.
I should try the audio books. I will have to see if my library has them on audio.
Week #7 - Dice roll: 8 - Game Spot #60 (Alternate P)
by Christine WarrenFinished: March 25th
Rating: 2 Stars
Review:
On assignment from her boss to locate his wayward granddaughter, Danice Carter has no idea that she is about to have a close encounter with a hunky PI with ties to the Others. McIntyre “Mac” Callahan is a Changeling, half-human and half-fae, hired by a mysterious Other to track down Danice’s client. Soon these two unlikely allies will have to work together to survive the machinations of some rather vicious Fae …
Prince Charming Doesn’t Live Here is another of Warren’s novel length re-writes of a novella first written for the Fixed series. Similar to the first two attempts, the plot is mediocre and the characterization virtually non-existent. There is also absolutely no connection between the title and the contents of the book.
While there is sufficient foundation for Danice and Mac to be interesting characters (Danice’s struggles with her ethnicity and her job, and Mac’s issues with the Fae side of his nature are both promising plot points), neither is adequately fleshed out. Moreover, their relationship lacks chemistry and their sudden “I Love Yous” makes no sense at it is unclear what exactly they see in each other.
The journey into Faerie storyline also has potential but develops too slowly, and Danice has a bad case of “foot-in-mouth” disease and TSTL syndrome once they get there. That said, the climax is well-written and exciting, but the ending returns one again to the realm of the boring and the mundane.
All in all, an uninspired addition to the series.
I finished my book and updated post #250.
Finished my book and updated post #255 with my review.
updated post 247 with review.
UPDATED Post # 246 ... Book Finished for Week 7Ready for Week 8
NOTE: I'm going to be on the road to Texas on Thursday and will have limited internet access. I have books to take along that will cover me for any roll from 2 to 12. I'll check in from my brother's house sometime on Friday or Saturday and let you know what I'm reading. I'll be back home Monday afternoon, so posting my review on time won't be a problem.
On March 28 ■ The One's to Beat! ■ rolled an 11 which moves us to spot 71Alternate option: standalones
■ The One's to Beat! ■ March 28th ReviewsSheila -
- Post 265Lauren -
- Post 269Book Concierge -
- Post 266Turtlecollector -
- Post 268Monica Happy Reading All! -
- Post 270
Week #8 / Dice roll 11 / Game Spot # 71
Unwanted by Kristina OhlssonFinished 4/1/14 ★★★★
This was a new author to me in the Nordic crime noir and this is book 1 in the (Fredrika Bergman and Alex Recht, book 1) series. Set in Stockhom, Sweden it starts out when a little girl travelling with her mother by train disappears from the train. The investigation focuses on the estranged father but the deeper the team digs the more involved the case becomes. The team discovers that this little girl isn't the only one to have disappeared. This was a really intense story and I will definitely be continuing with this series.
Week #8 / Dice roll 11 / Game Spot # 71#1 in a series, #7 in series, stand alone, alternate "standalones"
I'll read a stand alone
✔ 01April14Chocolates for Breakfast by Pamela Moore – 3***
Pamela Moore was only eighteen when this debut novel was first published in 1956. At the time it was considered scandalous for the references to homosexuality, divorce and suicide. Apparently all the drinking, smoking and teenager/older man sex didn’t seem unusual. Major book reviews have called it “Permeated with sadness and existential longing” (Los Angeles Review of Books), or “A gem of adolescent disaffection featuring a Holden Caulfield-like heroine” (Vogue). In a sense I agree with these assessments, but I didn’t find it sensational, moving, or terribly interesting. I just found it sad, in the way that I feel sad when reading about any young person who is so very lost.
This Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
BC since we are on 71 it could be a book 1 of a series as well.
Space 71
by Carolyn BrownHonky Tonk #1
read 3/28/14 - 4 stars
This was a fun romance between a stubborn barmaid/vet tech/bar owner who had sworn off romance and a rancher who had vowed never to get involved with a barmaid. They come from very different social and economic backgrounds and are brought together by a chance encounter in the bar and wily machinations of a dying uncle. I thought the book also did well with setting up other characters to have future books in the series.
Week #8 - Dice roll: 11 - Game Spot #71 (First in series)
by Nora RobertsFinished: March 30th
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
Iona Sheehan travels to Ireland not only to find her roots but the place where she belongs. Together with her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer, Iona must battle an ancient evil using the magical abilities inherited from the first Dark Witch. In time, Iona comes to find family, friends and love in County Mayo but will her new life survive the malicious intent of a powerful dark force that once destroyed her ancestor...
The Irish setting and paranormal elements are charming although the descriptions of the magical spells, tools and incantations become repetitive and excessive. Moreover, the characters’ internal dialogue is overly sentimental.
Iona is a sweet and engaging heroine and her hero, Boyle McGrath, is the gruff and sexy silent type who is surprised when love hits him over the head. Unfortunately, their romance isn’t that appealing mainly because their chemistry is virtually non-existent and their emotional connection feels forced.
The secondary cast comprised of Iona’s cousins and their love interests has definite potential, especially Branna and Fin who share an intriguing past that will make for compelling reading when their book comes.
All in all, not one of Nora’s best works but entertaining enough to continue with the series.
Week 8: Dice Roll 11: Spot 71#7, #1 in series, Alternate: Standalones
by F. Scott Fitzgerald (I have been wanting to read this book since last year. Glad it was on the standalones list)Finished: March 31, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I finally got around to reading this book. I enjoyed the story of Gatsby. My daughter had me watch one of the movies before I read the book. I have to say that it seems like the book and the movie were pretty much the same.
Gatsby is a man that makes something of himself for a woman that he loves. He wants to be rich like she is and has to work to get there. Mr. Carroway is the only one who really becomes his friend in the whole book.
I did not care for Tom Buchanan in the book or movie. I found him very self absorbed and annoying. It is interesting to read about how life was in the early 1900's in fiction.
Edited post 268. I am all set for next week. I have a book 7 or a book 8 depending on what you roll.
Updated post 269 with my review.
Message # 266 updated - Book review for week # 8ON to Week # 9 and the possible win!
Great job everyone. Yes the next roll will probably be for the race to win. I hope everyone is able to put on their running shoes and read fast. We are all fast readers anyway but this is when it really counts.
Sheila wrote: "Week #8 / Dice roll 11 / Game Spot # 71
Unwanted by Kristina OhlssonFinished 4/1/14 ★★★★
This was a new author to me in the N..."
I am so glad you liked it. I am waiting for my library to process the third one. It is sitting on the cataloging shelves, tempting me to take it early.
I am going to look at the possible reads to see what I can read so that I can finish it quickly.
TC I am definitely going to read the rest of her books.
On April 4th ■ The One's to Beat! ■ rolled an 8 which moves us to spot 79 and will complete the game for us.Alternate for 79 is Maybe and the link is here https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
This week is all about speed since all the teams have the potential to finish the challenge this week and the first team to post all their reviews will win. So now my competitive juices are churning.
Unfortunately I will be traveling this weekend and will have little or no internet access until Sunday night so whenever the 5th person posts their review could they also do a post saying we are finished?
We have all been really fast readers/posters throughout the challenge that chances are we will all post over the weekend. I'll try to read my book on Friday and post before I leave at the crack of dawn on Saturday.
Thank you all for being great teammates. I have really enjoyed meeting you all.
■ The One's to Beat! ■ April 4th ReviewsSheila -
- Post 281 ✔Lauren -
- Post 283Book Concierge -
- Post 284 ✔Turtlecollector -
- Post 285Monica Happy Reading All! -
- Post 282
I read
Friends in High Places by Donna Leon (Commissario Brunetti, #9)The book is set in Italy where Commissario Brunetti is a top cop. This one starts out with a housing official coming to Brunetti's 4th floor apartment to inform him that the paperwork for the city of Venice doesn't show there is a 4th floor even on the building. Evidently they have huge fines AND the work that has been done on a building has to be undone.
Then a few days later the building inspector is found dead and Brunetti investigates. Several seemingly unrelated murders follow but it all comes together at the end.
Finished 4/4 3 stars
I have a few choices. I am trying to find the books: I will be reading the Alternate:Week #9 / Dice Roll 8 / Game Spot #79
#7, #9 or #79 in series, Alternate Maybe
by Louise Rennison Finished April 5, 2014
Rating 5 stars
Review:
This book was awesome!! I was chuckling to myself while reading it. This is the diary of Georgia Nicolson from England. She is a 14 year old girl.
You follow her through her holidays and school. She talks about boys, lesbians and life as a teenager. I had originally bought this book because of the glossary in the back to learn some English words while reading Harry Potter. I now can't wait to read the other books in this series.
Week #9 - Dice roll: 8 - Game Spot #79 (Alternate "maybe")
by Thea HarrisonFinished: April 5th
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Love/Hate relationships are one of my absolute favorite tropes and this one is fantastic. Aryal and Quentin despise one another but are forced to work together and their intense chemistry takes on a life of its own.
The mystery of the Elven land is interesting but it is Quentin and Aryal's romance that takes center stage and it is fun watching them work through their animosity and misconceptions to become true partners and lovers.
Week #9 / Dice roll 8 / Game Spot # 79#7 in a series, #9 in series, # 79 in a series, alternate "maybe"
I'll read the alternate - "maybe"
✔ -04April14A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gadwitz – 3***
What a wild – and disturbingly scary – ride! Gadwitz returns to the original Grimm tales, which were much darker and violent that what we commonly tell our children today, and makes them even scarier, darker, more violent, disturbing and nightmare-producing. As Hansel and Gretel make their way through the book they are tortured, starved (or fattened), cold, hungry, alone and frightened. There is no one they can trust, as adult after adult betrays them. It is a bleak world, indeed, this kingdom of Grimm. It’s also quite an adventure and the children are brave, steadfast, intelligent, and pure.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am reading
Body Farm #7
read 4/5/14 - 4 stars
I like the forensic parts of these books. The main character is a professor who has a Body Farm that studies how people's bodies decay in different situations. This is to help in investigations to get time/manner of death correct, etc. In this book, he is called to France to help determine the origin a set of bones found in a really old church. Several theories are put forth, but the book also follows along with the events in the 14th century to help explain what happened. I wish the book did not have as many flashbacks to the past and stayed with the main story more, but overall a very enjoyable book for me.
@ Jenne. I have to be traveling this weekend and without internet so will not be able to monitor how the team is doing in "The Big Race". As soon as the 4th person posts their review we would like to use our free pass to finish. Will you be able to monitor that?
Turtlecollector wrote: "I am reading"Love that series. I'm actually caught up on that one.
Sheila wrote: "@ Jenne. I have to be traveling this weekend and without internet so will not be able to monitor how the team is doing in "The Big Race". As soon as the 4th person posts their review we would lik..."Sheila ... why would we need a free pass? I thought that as Soon as person # 4 finishes/posts review we are DONE.
Because there are 5 of us I figured we would finish faster after the 4th person is done if we use the free pass for the 5th person. Does that make sense?It probably isn't an issue with our team but in previous games we sure would have liked to have a free pass for that last person. One season we had a 16 year old on our team and she got GROUNDED from the internet and never did post her review that last week.
Sheila wrote: "Because there are 5 of us I figured we would finish faster after the 4th person is done if we use the free pass for the 5th person. Does that make sense?..."Oh .... I though I saw on another post that the free pass is ONLY for the next roll.
I'm sure Jenne will clarify.
Can't use the pass for the win, I'll keep my eye on things though and anyone if y'all can be co/back up captain.
It basically let's you roll with a missing review and all of the rolling is done now. This was the first time using it and there's some kinks to work out for the next round :)
Thanks Jenne I guess I didn't understand about the free pass. I thought it was meant for using when a member of the team didn't finish/post their book.
so does anyone have to do anything after the final person posts?
It is, that way a team wouldn't be penalized and miss a roll. I'd hate for everyone to read their hearts out and then find out a pass was used instead if letting them finish for the win.
Not really, you don't have to post but it would be helpful (not necessary) for the last person to post something to the effect of being the last review in.
Update message # 284 - Week 9 book completed & reviewed!Looks like two of our five players are done. Go Team!
Good luck team! I'll be back Sunday night. A whole weekend without internet access. I wonder if I can survive?
I've updated the linking post and am putting it on the next page. Could whomever posts the last update please post a message saying we are finished and that the linking post in post # 301?
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