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R2: Smokin' Quintet (3)
Great review, Steph Ann. I'm also not a Rick fan and Bruiser would be perfect if not for the whole pesky blood servant thing :0(Looking forward to reading this book!
Lauren wrote: "Great review, Steph Ann. I'm also not a Rick fan and Bruiser would be perfect if not for the whole pesky blood servant thing :0(Looking forward to reading this book!"
The blood servant thing does definitely get in the way, lol.
Well I am hoping we roll a three next because I am addicted to this series! LOL.
Rating: 4 stars
Read: May 13, 2014
This is the second book in the Charley Davidson series. Charley is a PI, and also, by the way, the grim reaper. The story opens with Cookie, Charley's good friend and assistant coming to Charley for help. Her good friend is missing, and she wants Charley to find her fast. Charley takes on the case, while also trying to locate the mysterious Reyes. What ensues is a roller coaster ride that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
I really enjoyed this book, and feel the author has really developed her characters in this second book. Charley is sexy, smart, and crazy brave, taking on the living and the dead in her quest to solve cases. Filled with smart humorous writing, you will have fun catching all the innuendo the authored weaves in. A good story-teller, I am going out to get the next book to see what Charley gets into next. I definitely recommend the series, and enjoyed the second book a little more than the first as the author's story line develops.
Week 4Spot: 25
Read: 5/12/14
Rating: 3 stars
Review
This book was okay, but I thought it dragged in the middle. I am addicted to HEA historical romances but I do like a little more variety in the plot. This was a little over done on the "she's too good for me so I'll let her go for her own good" and then the abrupt change toward the end.
Week #4: 2nd in Series
by Elizabeth HoytRead: May 14th
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
Loved this book! Harry and George are fantastic together and the mystery plot only adds to the tension. The villain is seriously smarmy and my one and only nitpick is that he could have suffered more.
Sorry for taking so long these past weeks. I've had a horrible flu and I get absolutely nothing done on time. Luckily it's getting better now. Review coming up shortly :)
Week #4: 2nd in series
by Camilla Läckberg
Read: May 16th
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
Camilla Läckberg is one of my new favorite murder mystery authors. I discovered her after reading the Millenium-trilogy by Stig Larsson and getting into the Swedish mystery books. I really like Swedish mysteries. I like the style.
All Läckberg's mysteries are located in an idyllic village of Fjällbacka. Patrick Hedström is the police officer trying to solve the murder cases and Erica Falck is his very pregnant wife and a journalist and author with a knack of finding herself mixed in the investigation.
The story begins with a young boy sneaking out of the house to play a knight and finding a dead naked woman. When the coroner is preparing to move the body, they discover bones of two other women underneath it. These bones turn out to belong to women who were reported missing in the 1970s. There was a suspect at the time, but he has since committed suicide. So the police is now wondering if he was the murderer back then or if in fact they have a murderer who is alive and has been dormant for over 20 years.
The book moves between the past and now and the stories intertwine together moment by moment. From Camilla I've come to expect a lot of characters, whose stories seem separate but in the end come together to form the picture of the how, why, when and who of the murder. This story situated in different times was refreshing change. There were a lot of characters once again, but in this book they had their place in the story and didn't feel like they were just placed there to confuse the reader. In the beginning the amount of people you need to remember often gets a little confusing, but this story grabbed me from the very first page and the various characters didn't bother me as much as with the previous mystery I read, Olycksfågeln.
Preacher was the third book by Camilla Läckberg that I read and I think I liked this one the best. I really enjoyed the good mystery and all the twists and turns. I never guess the murderer right and this time I was so sure I knew who it is.
Week #5: rolled a 6 and moved to spot 311st or 3rd in a series or alternatively a book set in New York
I will read this one that I bought on a whim at the airport some years ago :) Set in New York.
Hooray for a 3! Next Charley Davidson book:
Pat wrote: "Hooray for a 3! Next Charley Davidson book:"You're on a roll with this series, Pat!
I'll pick my book later this weekend once the SOS Bingo shelf is called in hopes that I can find a book that will work for both challenges.I'm hoping to read one of these:
Ok, I'm going with
, #3 in the Black Wings series.
Week 5Spot: 31
by Christie CraigRead: 5/17/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This book is a fun little romance. The main character, Lacy, is very quirky and comes across as a bit of ditz. However, that is part of the fun. Chase, her romantic interest, is being set up by another police officer and takes refuge in her house. A home also occupied by a dog and 3 cats. It all lends to the humor. I really enjoyed it.
Week 5Spot: 31
Read: 5/18/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that ending! This series seems to be getting better with each book, and I always end up being surprised as to where the story takes me. As always, my favorite character is still Beezle. His snarky comments during serious moments are always very good mood lighteners. There were definitely some dark moments in this book, and I'm very curious to see how Maddy deals with everything that happened. The next book should definitely be interesting!
Week 5Spot: 31
Read:05/18/14
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the third book in the Charley Davidson series, private investigator and grim reaper. Charley is hired to find a local Doctor's missing wife. While taking on this case she is also trying to clear the name of her romantic interest, who has been in prison
for ten years for killing his father. Charley is a hip, modern girl, witty, funny and loads of fun. The book dabbles in the supernatural, with characters alive and dead, good and evil.
I love these books. They have it all- good vs evil, romance, mystery and adventure, all wrapped up in smart writing and great characterization. Looking forward to the next book!
Week #5: 3rd in Series
by Rachel CaineRead: May 18th
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
Overall, a satisfying conclusion to the series, but does not really live up to the promise of the first two books.
To begin with, the entire first half with Bryn & Co. on the run is a series of disjointed capture/escape scenes strung together for no apparent reason. There are also one or two plot discrepancies (view spoiler), and the mystery of Bryn and Annie’s sister Sharon comes out of nowhere. There is also no follow up to the Mercer and Fast Freddy storyline.
Thankfully, the plot development improves at the halfway mark with the search for a “cure”, and the resolution to the Returne epidemic is realistic although somewhat Deus Ex Machina (view spoiler). Finally, Jane’s comeuppance is exceedingly gratifying as is the ending to Bryn and Pat’s romance.
Week #5: Spot 31 Reviews✔ Lauren: Terminated by Rachel Caine, May 18th, 3.5★, Review
✔ Steph Ann: Black Howl by Christina Henry, May 18th, 4★, Review
✔ Cathy: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christine Craig, May 17th, 4★, Review
✔ Pat: Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones, May 18th, 4★, Review
✔ Minttu: Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart, May 23rd, 5★, Review
Week #5: Set in New York
by Marjorie HartRead: May 23rd 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I love historical novels and even though this is a memoir, it could just as well be a fictional story. It is written kind of like a fairytale set in the 1940s New York City. The author says on the very first pages that this was the best summer of her life and she wanted to share that time with everyone.
Marjorie and her best friend Marty travel to New York City, hoping to land a great job at one of the big stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. They are turned among many other hopeful girls, but since they have come all the way to New York to spend their summer working, they decide they will not give up. The girls eventually find themselves at the legendary Tiffany store and boldened by all the refusals from the other stores they talk their way into being among the first women to ever work on the sales floor at Tiffany. They are paid just pennies to model the jewellery and work among the diamonds, but it is a dream come true to them.
I have never been to New York myself, but if I could travel back in time I'd visit it during the 1940s. This book paints such a vivid and magical picture of New York City that you can't help but to wish you could have part of that exciting summer to yourself.
This is such a feel good book. I will no doubt read it again on a moment when I need some more happiness into my life. I absolutely loved this one.
Week #6: rolled a 9 and moved to spot 404th in a series or a standalone or alternatively a book published in 2007
OK, going to do a standalone. This is one of those books that most people read when they are in high school or early in college but for some reason I never got around to it. Can't wait to cross this one off my to-read list.
I loved Mockingbird! I hope you enjoy it Pat :)
It's one of my daughter's favorite books, so am really looking forward to it! Thanks Minttu!
Minttu wrote: "Week #5: Set in New York by Marjorie HartRead: May 23rd 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I love historical novels and even though this is a memoir, it could ..."
Putting this onto my to-read list! Thanks!
Minttu wrote: "Week #5: Set in New York by Marjorie HartRead: May 23rd 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I love historical novels and even though this is a memoir, it could ..."
Putting this onto my to-read list! Thanks!
I'm trying to decide between these three:
Hopefully the Bingo shelf that gets called this weekend will help me make up my mind lol.
I'm going with standalone and a book that has been on my to read list for ages. I love that this challenge gives me a good reason to finally get to those books that get passed over for so long.
Lost in Translation by Nicole Mones
Week #6: Spot 40 Reviews✔ Lauren: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn, May 25th, 4★ Review
✔ Steph Ann: Tricked by Kevin Hearne, May 27th, 4★, Review
✔ Cathy: A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, May 27th, 4★, Review
✔ Pat: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, May 26th, 5★, Review
✔ Minttu: Lost in Translation by Nicole Mones, May 29th, 3.5★, Review
I love long weekends when I can really dive into a good book.
Week #6 - Standalone
Read: May 26, 2014
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
Drift back in time to the mid-thirties, to a small Alabama town where everyone knows everyone else. Written in the language of that time period, this story is told from the perspective of young girl, just starting first grade and covers a three year period. Her family consists of her father, Atticus, a widowed lawyer working in a sleepy town with little trade, her brother Jem, and their housekeeper, Calpurnia, a negro who lives across town in the negro quarters. the book covers a slow awakening of conscience in the town when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a negro, in the rape of a white woman.
I loved this book. Told from an inquisitive child's perspective where right and wrong are more defined, and where the adults around her have the burden of teaching her about life, we see a town in transit. Much like today, there are people who have very different ideas of right and wrong. Well written with a story that unfolds rather than preaches, this book should be on everyone's to-read list if you haven't read it yet. A big 5 star for writing, character development and for depth.
Week #6: Published in 2007
by Julia QuinnRead: May 25th
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Betrayed by his deceased wife, Nigel Bevelstoke, Lord Turner, vows never to marry again and certainly has no interest in his younger sister’s best friend, Miranda Cheever, who has loved him since childhood. Fate, it would seem, has different ideas, and Turner and Miranda find themselves thrown together and forced to wed, but can Turner get past the hurt of his first marriage and learn to love again?
I’ve been working my way through Quinn’s backlist and on the whole have been unimpressed by her earlier. The Secret Diaries of Miss Amanda Cheever is one of her more recent books, and the style is reminiscent of the absolutely amazing Bridgertons series, particularly Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
Miranda’s unrequited love for Turner calls to mind Penelope’s relationship with Colin, and it is impossible not to lover her sweet nature and independent spirit. Turner doesn’t quite reach the heights of perfection that Colin does, but he is, nevertheless, an appealing hero. While he is somewhat of an emotional cripple, who needs to be slapped upside the head for some of his actions, he does manage to redeem himself by the end.
All in all, a cute and charming read and it should be fun reading Olivia’s story.
Week 6Spot: 40
, #4 in the Iron Druid ChroniclesRead: 5/27/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review
I'm so glad I gave this series a chance even though I'm not always fond of books with a male lead. I really enjoy this world that Hearne has created, and every book seems to grab my attention right away (although I will admit to not enjoying book 3 in the series as much as I enjoyed the first 2). This installment was no different, starting off with Atticus having to fake his own death in order to get the gods of Asgard off his tail. From that moment on, I was hooked. Oberon makes up for his absence in book 3 by being present most of the time here, and as usual, he provides a lot of entertainment. I'm very interested to see where the series goes from here!
Week 6Spot: 40
by Elizabeth BunceRead: 5/27/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review:I love retold fairy tales so I was really looking forward to this version of Rumplestilskin. Going into it with that in mind, I was surprised when it didn't really follow the story as closely as I thought it would. However, I think I like this one even more. It did drag on a bit at the beginning, and I wanted to smack Charlotte a couple of times over the way she treated Randall, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Week 6
by Nicole MonesRead: 29th May 2014
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
Lost in Translation is a story of an American interpreter Alice, who lives in Beijing. She leads rather promiscuous life, spending nights at smoky bars, looking for company for the night, but never wanting anything more.
Then she is hired by an archeologist searching for the bones of Peking Man. Through her work, Alice meets Lin, a man she finally wants to actually spend time with.
This is a beautiful love story and well written. I think for me this was not the right time to read this book. I'm moving to another city and have a million lists & thoughts in my head and I couldn't really give this book and the beautiful story the attention it needed. I should've chosen something lighter to read.
I felt like I couldn't really get into the story. It didn't grab me at all and I kind of had to force myself to go back to the book. While I read it, I did enjoy the language and especially the description of Beijing and the way the cultural differences were painted. But I just didn't get into this book and it was not because the book is not worthy of reading, but rather my own scattered state of mind.
Perhaps I was also a little discouraged by the way the story started immediately with a meaningless one night stand. I enjoy sexy stories, but I like a little build up before the action starts and I think my first reaction made me dislike the story before it even really began.
3.5 stars for the way the novel was written and the storyline.
Week #7: rolled a 11 and moved to spot 511st or 5th in a series or alternatively a book with gray/silver cover
I'll most likely be reading
. If that changes, I'll let you know! :)
Going for the first in a series, keeping with the teen category so I can relate to students, I will be reading
I'll go with the silver/gray colored cover
By Alexandra Brown
I hope it is gray enough :)
I'm switching my book so I can make it work for two challenges. I'll be reading
, which is 5th in the series.
Week #7: First in series
by Christina DoddRead: June 1st
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
As a fan of Dodd’s paranormal and historical romance, I was eager to try one of her romantic suspense books and was not disappointed. Dodd’s writing is as captivating in this genre as in the others and the romance and mystery are highly entertaining.
Brooke and Rafe have captivating chemistry and the glimpses into the development of their relationship over the years contributes both to their individual characterization and to the complexity and intensity of their romance. The secondary character development is also excellent, and the relationship between the Di Luca brothers and other family members leads to some laugh-out-loud moments.
The mystery is intriguing although not very original and the background is unnecessarily dragged out. Moreover, the hero and heroine exhibit some questionable behavior.
The setting of an exclusive resort in California wine country is vivid and adds an extra dimension to the atmosphere of the story. The intro into the next book is very enticing and I look forward to reading Eli’s story.
Week 7Spot: 51
, #5 in The Guardians seriesRead: 6/5/14
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review
This was a hard one for me to rate. On one hand, I loved everything that didn't have to do with the romance plot. It was full of action, suspense, and all the characters I've grown to love over the course of the series. One particular scene at the end had me in tears (granted, I'm full of pregnancy hormones at the moment, so that could have had something to do with it, lol). On the other hand, the romance just fell flat for me. I liked both Irena and Alejandro, but I just didn't feel invested in whether they would get their HEA, which is why I can't give the book a full four stars. I'm still enjoying the series, and after the way it ended, I'm definitely interested to see what happens next. Hopefully, I'll feel more invested in the next couple!
Week 7Spot 51
, 1st in a SeriesRead: 06/05/14
Rating: 4 Stars
Review
The Maze Runner starts off with a bang, with a group of young boys trapped in the center of a huge maze. The story unfolds into how the boys survive, threatened by unmercifully monsters, and their attempts to understand and escape the trap that they live in.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies", the author weaves a believable tale set in a dystopian world. I would definitely recommend this to our young teen readers who are looking for a good horror story, but it is very satisfying for the adult reader as well. This is not one with deep character development, but an action-packed entertainment novel, well written, and the first in a series. I look forward to reading the second book.
Week #7: Spot 51 Reviews✔ Lauren: Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd, June 1st, 4★ Review
✔ Steph Ann: Demon Forged by Meljean Brook, June 5th, 3.5★ Review
✔ Cathy: Reaver by Larissa Ione, June 6th, 4★ Review
✔ Pat: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, June 5th, 4★ Review
✔ Minttu: Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown, June 6th, 4★ Review
I'm posting my review as soon as I get home to my computer from work. Within 2 hours I think. Quite possibly less than that.
Week 7Gray cover
by Alexandra Brown
Read: 6th June
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Our heroine Georgina "Georgie" Hart works as a sales assistant on the women's accessories floor at Carrington's; a charming department store with long history. She loves her job and Carrington's. She also has a bit of a problem with dept and is very much reliant on keeping her job.
Carrington's is facing difficult financial times and their sales have been declining. The owner decides to bring in Maxine, femme fatale much alike Joan from Mad Men. Georgie is soon afraid of losing her job and friends as Maxine makes the employees compete against each other in sales numbers, insinuating that no one is safe from getting fired.
What makes the situation even more perilous for Georgie is that her boss James is flirty with her and he is still married and has a history with Maxine. And then there is Tom, who is so hot that he sets everyone on fire, but who no one really knows anything about.
This was a wonderful light read, a chick lit with enough substance besides the romance. The characters are vibrant and I love the subtle hints dropped here and there that make you wonder what is going on that we don't know about, because clearly something is. Eddie, the PA of the big boss Heff and self-titled Queen of Carrington's has a mystery man Smith. Ciaran seems to be flirting with Georgie, but is actually engaged to Tina. Georgie's boss James is showering her with attention, but is married and used to date Maxine. A lot is brewing behind the scenes and as a reader you are dying to now exactly what it is.
I really liked this book. It wasn't mindblowingly amazing piece of literature, but it was very entertaining and positive read. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes chick lit type of novels.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Firefly Lane (other topics)Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (other topics)
Pursuit (other topics)
Unnatural Exposure (other topics)
Mortal Sins (other topics)
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Spot: 25
Read: 5/11/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review
With each subsequent book in the Jane Yellowrock series I read, the happier I am that I did not give up on it after book 1. I came very close to giving this one 5 stars, but the first 10% of the book really dragged for me for some reason, so I dropped the rating down to 4. Still, this is an excellent addition to the series, full of action and a lot of intense moments.
Someone is spreading a plague amongst vampires, specifically vampires connected to Leo. The vampire behind the plague promises a cure if they swear to pledge their loyalty to him rather than Leo. Jane's tasked with helping figure out who's behind all this, while she also has to deal with repercussions from her actions in the previous book. Suffice to say, she has a lot going on.
As I said before, once I got through the first 10% of the book, everything began moving very quickly. Jane hardly has any time to take a break, and she brings the reader right along with her. On the romance front, there is a whole lot of Bruiser here, which is always good in my opinion since I'm not a big Rick fan. We also have a third possibility for romance introduced here, Eli, and so far, I like him. Some major things happen towards the end of the book that leave me anxious to find out what's going to happen next. I will most likely be picking up book 6 sooner rather than later!