R1: The Terminat8rs

[jingles]

Thank you, Kat!

[Andrea]

Week 1: Space 10
Finished: Feb. 10, 2014
Rating:3 1/2 stars

(The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting

A strong female character who would do anything to protect her little sister, a couple of princes, an evil queen, some magic, a hint of feminism, and a rebellion...The Pledge had a lot going for it.

It had an interesting concept, and if developed further could be great. The characters were a bit underdeveloped and I felt like I didn't get a chance to really know them throughout the book. Although the plot and romance was predictable,overall The Pledge a good read. It was one of those reads that could have been better but was satisfying nonetheless.

I am currently undecided whether I want to read the rest of the series or not. I wouldn't mind knowing what happens next, but I'm not that much in a hurry to read the next.

[[deleted user]]

I have that series on my TBR Andrea I guess I'll be waiting a little long to read it :) since I have a lot of others that I currently want to read more.

[[deleted user]]

Ok team this is my last post until morning hopefully we will get the last 2 reviews in soon so I can roll in the morning, See you in the am :)

[SandyC]

2/13/14
★★★★★

This is an interesting, emotional, and very well-written memoir. Cheryl Strayed's mother died suddenly of cancer at the age of 45; Cheryl was 22. After this traumatic event, she traveled a road of promiscuity and drug abuse, eventually divorcing her husband, whom she loved deeply. Feeling lost to herself and wanting to find the person she once was, Cheryl decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in California--alone. Despite no hiking experience, she embarks on this mission and along the way encounters rattlesnakes, bears, unbearable hunger and thirst, lost toenails, blisters, a couple of mean people, and many, many kind souls who assist her along the way. On the one hand, I feel that she was very foolish to do this. After all, she could have died! On the other hand, I never would have attempted this when I was 26, and I admire her courage.

[[deleted user]]

OK team I have updated all our reviews unfortunately we are still waiting for Kay's review so until she posts my hands are tied as far as rolling the dice, but if and when she posts I'll roll ASAP :)

I've sent Kay a PM reminding her that her review needs to be in today so hopefully we'll hear from her soon

[Jenne]

Kat go ahead and roll. Kay isn't going to be able to participate any longer,

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for the update Jenne :) I hope everything Is ok with her.

I'll get our reviews together and roll shortly :)

[[deleted user]]

Alright team Jenne has informed me that Kay will no longer be playing with us so I've gone ahead and posted our reviews and rolled for our new space :)

Previous Space: 10
Roll: 6 + 2 = 8
New Space: 18
Space Requirement: 1st or 8th in series
Alternate: Title N

[jingles]

Great! So a series book #6 or #2, correct? Sorry I keep asking so many questions, just want to make sure I do it right :)

[[deleted user]]

Week 2
Rolled: 6+2
Space: 18
Requirements: 1st or 8th in series
Alternate: Title N

Reviews:

Kat: Kat's Review 3.5★ Feb 20,14
Nichole: Nichole's Review 3★ Feb 17,14
Andrea: Andrea's Review 4★ Feb 19,14
Sandy: Sandy's Review 4★ Feb 16,14
Jingles: Jingles Review 3★ Feb 17,14

Picks:

[[deleted user]]

It's a 1st or 8th in series Jingles it goes by the space number not the roll :)

and ask as many questions as you need it takes a little getting used to :D

[jingles]

Oh ok. Gotcha! Thanks, Kat.

[[deleted user]]

I'll either be reading or

My final decision depends on my other group challenge :)

[SandyC]

I'm going to try
(First in series)

[Nichole]

I'll be reading/listening to .

[jingles]

I will be reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

[SandyC]

Week 2: First in Series

Finished: 2/16/14
★★★★

Review: Set in England 1929-1933, this book follows the youth of Henry Clifton, the son of a dead dockworker, or possibly the son of the heir to a shipping fortune. We see Henry's story from multiple points of view and follow his academic rise via choral and merit scholarships. He becomes best friends with a boy who may be his half-brother, and of course, falls in love with a girl who may be his half-sister. The good guys are very good, and the bad guy is super-bad. There are twists and turns and a heck of a cliffhanger ending. This is my first experience reading Jeffrey Archer; his writing reminds me a great deal of Ken Follett. I enjoyed it very much and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of the Clifton chronicles.

[jingles]

WEEK 2 - SERIES FIRST
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley


Read from 02/14/14 - 02/17/14
Rating: ★★★

Brief Review
Flavia de Luce is a precocious, yet adorable 11 year old sleuth who must find a killer in order to save her father from being framed for murder. Flavia is an unusual child with a love for chemistry, a witty personality, and wise beyond her years. She can be lovable one minute and exasperating the next. While it doesn't take long to figure out who did it, it's the getting there that's fun.

What I liked: Flavia! I loved this adorable 11 year old! She made me laugh, tugged at my heart strings, yet exasperated me at times.

What I didn't like: It took me until almost half way through the book to become fully engaged in the story. The beginning seemed to be an overload of information that made the story drag.

Overall I loved the main character and will continue the series.

[jingles]

Good morning, team. I finally finished my book this morning and got the review posted. It was a working weekend for me so that was yucky.

How is everyone else doing? Did you have a good weekend?

[[deleted user]]

Anyone here from Andrea? she never checked in since we rolled :(

[Andrea]

Hello again! Sorry for worrying you guys. I was super busy over the holidays here in Alberta. Aside from he Valentine's Day last Friday, it was a rather long weekend since it's a holiday today, Monday, here in Alberta. It's Alberta Family Day today. My boyfriend has been working a 13-day-and-1-day-off shift since after the Christmas break so we never get to spend time together. The pipeline gave them a 4-day long weekend off because of the two holidays so I made sure I spent every minute with him. Sorry for making you guys worry. :) We won't have another holiday until Good Friday so worry not. :D

I started reading yesterday. It's the first book in The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. I'm hoping to finish it by tomorrow and get my review in.

Judging from the thread I haven't missed any deadlines, but let me know if I have. I wasn't meaning to.

[jingles]

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday and time together, Andrea.

[Nichole]

Week 2: Space 18 (First book in a series)
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt
Finished: 2/17/14
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Review:

Samuel Hartley, a self-made American, has traveled to England to find the traitor responsible for the massacre of his regiment. He seeks the aid of the beautiful Lady Emmaline Gordon, widowed sister to a victim of the massacre, in introducing his young sister to London society. Thus begins an explosive and forbidden love affair.

This is only the second book I've read from Elizabeth Hoyt. It was not as good as the first, The Raven Prince, but still an enjoyable read. She starts off each chapter with a passage of a fairytale, getting the whole story by the end of the book. I'm not sure if this is something she does in all of her books but it has been in both that I've read. It adds a little something extra to the story and I like it.

I really wasn't a fan of Emmaline, hence the 3 stars. She was a proper English Lady. In other words, an uppity snob. She came of as shrewish and kept picking little fights with Samuel. Usually just to get a reaction out him in the form of bruising kisses and the like.

Which brings me to the next topic. Elizabeth Hoyt writes sizzling sex scenes. This book was no exception. Now, I read mostly Romance-anything, so I'm no prude. However, some words should not be used in a sex scene. What promised to be a seriously hot scene turned into a cringefest for me. All because of one word, lol.

Warning: Spoiler may be offensive to some
(view spoiler)[ Bush. Please never refer to it as a BUSH!! Unless it is in a humorous setting, that is not a mental picture I want. *shudders*
(hide spoiler)]

Verdict: Not my favorite but I will definitely be reading more from her.

[jingles]

Nichole, you were much kinder than I was after reading my first EH book - Wicked Intentions :)

[Nichole]

Well, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. :D

[Andrea]

Week 2: Space 18
Finished: Feb. 19, 2014
Rating: 4 stars

(Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Although I had a hard time getting into the story as I have a slight aversion to fae stories, I found it enjoyable all the same. The characters, plot, writing, and flow all fit perfectly together. The characters were so well developed that they were believable. No one was perfect - they all had their strengths and weaknesses. The writer also made it easily readable and the flow of the story was in perfect sync with the plot.

This is a book I would recommend to others especially those who love fantasy and fae stories. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

[[deleted user]]

Good Job Team!!! I've Updated our review post :)

I'll be done with my book tonight, I've had a busy week here, what with bank appointments, and a dog with dental issues, plus work.. I've been running non stop but I'm off today so I'll be able to relax and finish my book finally....It's really good too!

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's roll :D

[jingles]

Woohoo! That means we will get the Free Pass thingy this week, right Kat?

[[deleted user]]

yes that's right!

[SandyC]

Nichole wrote: "Week 2: Space 18 (First book in a series)
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt
Finished: 2/17/14
Rating: ★★★☆☆



I liked your review! I enjoy EH, esp. The Raven Prince. Yes, she does do the fairy tale thing in her books (at least the ones I've read).

[Nichole]

Sandy wrote: "I liked your review! I enjoy EH, esp. The Raven Prince. Yes, she does do the fairy tale thing in her books (at least the ones I've read). "

Thanks! Did you click the spoiler? LOL! I figured she probably did, since it was in 2 different series.

@Andrea- I LOVE LOVE the Fever series. It's my favorite. I usually re-read it or at least the last 3 books every year. It's the series that got me hooked on Urban Fantasy. They get better!

If you like UF you should try Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane. I was not expecting to like it and it's now another favorite of mine.

[[deleted user]]

Week 2: Space 18(1st in series)

by Susan Dennard

Finished: Feb 20,14
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Something Strange and Deadly is going in Philadelphia and Eleanor Fitt seems to have fallen right in the middle of it. You see the dead are rising and Eleanor's brother Elijah seems to be tied to it some how. Now it's up to Eleanor to figure out the mystery of her missing brother, why the dead are rising and who is behind it all.

This is my first Steampunk novel and I enjoyed it a lot. The beginning was a little slow but once you got over that hump things started to pick and the action and mystery starting taking on a life of there own.I will definitely continue on with the next book in this trilogy as I'm sure things are only starting to heat up for Eleanor and her friends.

[[deleted user]]

Woo Hoo! we're all done and ready to roll, Good Job this week Team!

[jingles]

Wonderful! Yay for us!!

[Andrea]

Nichole wrote: "@Andrea- I LOVE LOVE the Fever series. It's my favorite. I usually re-read it or at least the last 3 books every year. It's the series that got me hooked on Urban Fantasy. They get better! ..."

Yeah, my sis has been bugging me to read it for some time now. I just never got to it until now. :)

[[deleted user]]

OK ladies we're all set to read, the new roll for this week is:


Previous Spot: 18
Rolled: 3 + 5 = 8
New Spot: 26
Requirements: 2nd or 6th in series
Alternate: Author: S

Reviews:

Kat: Kat's Review 5★ Feb 26,14
Nichole: Nichole's Review 3.5★ Feb 25,14
Andrea: Andrea's Review 3★ Feb 27,14
Sandy: Sandy's Review 4★ Feb 27,14
Jingles: Jingles Review 3★ Feb 24,14

Picks:

[SandyC]

I'll continue the series I started last week:

(2nd in series)

[[deleted user]]

I'm still looking for my book I'll be back in a bit when I finally decide on what I want to read :)

[Nichole]

I'm waiting on another team challenge. I'll have my decision posted this evening.

[Andrea]

I'm having a hard time deciding which book to read, ha ha! Any recommendations? I won't be able to start reading it until after the weekend anyway so yeah. :)

[Nichole]

That's a loaded question :) Is there a certain genre you're in the mood for?

[Andrea]

I guess that was pretty vague. I can't even decide which genre to read and although I've been reading a lot of dystopia lately, I haven't found anything interesting enough to actually read the second book, too, you know. I've also been looking for books that are like or . I really loved those two.

So yeah, I'm at a loss.

[Jenne]

Have you read Susan Ee's angelfall? It's great!

[jingles]

Hi team! I'm just now getting the opportunity to check in. I have to go to my sister's this evening, but hopefully will have time later tonight to post my choice of book.

[Nichole]

Jenne wrote: "Have you read Susan Ee's angelfall? It's great!"

I second that! I love that series. And it works for the alternate.

I haven't read either of those books Andrea. Sorry!

Maybe? Dreamless, Bk #2, I didn't see the first one on your shelves though.

Torment, Bk #2
Inside Out, Alternate

And of course, my 2 favorites that I already mentioned
Bloodfever, Bk #2
Unholy Ghosts, Alternate

[[deleted user]]

Funny You should mention Angelfall Jenne that's one of the books I'm planning to read for this weeks roll :D

right now it's a tie between &

[Nichole]

I'm having a hard time choosing which book I want to read. I have 2 books going right now that I should finish up today/tomorrow. We'll see what I'm in the mood for then. Too many choices!

[Jenne]

I really enjoyed Kat, I'd go with it :)

[jingles]

I will be reading No Control by Shannon K. Butcher