R2: Victorious Secret (8)

[~Melissa~]

Umm Tia - your book and the blurb - creepy! Hope it's a good read - I have to be in a mood for creepy but when done well they're good!


Final Decision - I will be going with - alternate published 2008

[[deleted user]]

:O) I know it is a little weird indeed. I love creepy so Im hoping I enjoy it , the story kind of reminds me a bit of so we will see. I put your choice on my TBR it looks really good I have another book by that author already there but haven't had a chance to read it yet so Im looking forward to your review on his writing.

[~Melissa~]

Hopefully it's good - this is a new to me author :)

[~Melissa~]

Ok I went to the blurb for Cemetery Girl - is that a graphic novel?? The cover makes it look like a book - was it good - the blurb sounds good

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Tia if you love that have you read Amanda Stevens The Graveyard Queen series? It was amazing

[~Melissa~]

Nika (Oh My Shelves) wrote: "Tia if you love that have you read Amanda Stevens The Graveyard Queen series? It was amazing"

I read #1 of that series - it was really good. Still need to read 2 & 3

[[deleted user]]

It is a graphic novel and a super fast read, I really enjoyed it and I will be checking out The Graveyard Series . Thank you it looks fantastic.

[~Melissa~]

I'll have to check out Cemetery Girl

[Anita Reads]

@Tia - I think your book sounds good, but creepy. I think I'll read it sometime, added it to my TBR list. So I can't wait to hear what you think.

[[deleted user]]

Great Anita ! :O) I will try to write a helpful review.

[[deleted user]]

Read :
5 stars !!!
Finished : June 2nd

Oh wow , this is gonna to be really hard to explain this story but this is probably going to be one of top ten of the year ! It was that good. The blurb though is a little deceiving because it makes it sound like a little ghost story around a cemetery and that is about 10% of this story. It is about so many things at once , it is an epic journey about a woman named Clara , who has had a horrific childhood. She is raised and abused by her ultra "religious" Grandmother , she also experiences horrible other things as she grows up and basically runs to the place that is the most peaceful, the cemetery. She works there and is not only responsible for mortician duties but she also goes and retrieves the bodies and transports them. This part of the book is very very detailed and would be hard for anyone with a unsteadied stomach, but really this whole book wouldn't be recommended for anyone that gets queasy. This hit every single thing that makes me cry and makes me upset. I really don't cry at books I even held myself together for the most part through A Fault in Our Stars but this one got me. Beyond all that though there is a romance with two very damaged people, there is a murder mystery, a fantastical look at glimpses of heaven, horrible crimes against children, lessons on forgiveness. I swear its impossible to really explain this in a little review because its just a lot. It also has a ton of information on the language of flowers . I just read The Language of Flowers and I didn't like that story but it did make me interested in what each flower means so that part of it made it even more interesting to me. The main character also has Trichotillomania which is a disorder that makes you need to pull out your hair and so they discuss that through out the book. I knew someone very close to me that suffered with that so again I felt at times this book just hit every single issue that made me sit up and pay attention. When I was done with the book I immediately felt like flipping back to the first page and starting again so I could see where I missed the clues because the end really came as a surprise to me which is rare too. Saying all this I don't know how others would receive this book because I just felt like so much of it was touching on personal aspects of my life but I do think the story is really strong in itself and I think the message is pretty universal. I really couldn't believe that this is the author's first published work and she packed so much of a story into 257 pages. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from her.

[Anita Reads]

Great Tia, nice job.

[Elle]

Week 7 - Spot 58
Completed: 06/2/14
Rated: 3.0★


This is my first Mary Higgins Clark book. I know she's been writing for a very long time but I never had an interest until a friend gave me a bunch of books recently. Her writing is enjoyable and creative so far. This story is a pretty good "who-dun-it". Most Mothers are thrilled to get a call on Mother's Day from their children. Olivia, however, gets a call from her son every Mother's Day but it is the only 1 minute call and communication she receives from him after he disappeared 10 years ago. Every year, he calls her on the same day and every year the anguish of her son's disappearance tortures her. Caroline, his sister, is determined to find out why he left and where he is. The case ran cold over the years of no leads, but Caroline opens it up and begins digging up past events. At the same time, there is a young woman who lives very close to Caroline who disappears. When she calls, she tells her father that she is o.k. and she will call on Mother's Day. This new disappearance makes the 10 year old case fresh again as everyone is scrambling to figure out what happened. Overall, not a bad read at all. Clark's way of writing is different than what I am accustomed to. She writes in many small chapters jumping from scene to scene. Her book actually reads like you are watching C.S.I on T.V. I enjoyed this format quite a bit actually. It kept the story moving along well and built the curiosity level. I will likely read more of her books.

[~Melissa~]

Nice job Tia and Sha.

Tia - sounds like your book has a lot of stuff going on in it :) - lots to digest.

Sha - I haven't read a Mary Higgins Clark book in a while. My very first was when I was a sophmore in high school. We got 'free' reading time but we had to go up and tell our teacher what the book was about. Almost the whole first row was listening to me explain the book to the teacher. I had to loan it to a few of the kids :) I can't remember which one. It was creepy

[Elle]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Nice job Tia and Sha.

Tia - sounds like your book has a lot of stuff going on in it :) - lots to digest.

Sha - I haven't read a Mary Higgins Clark book in a while. My very first was when I was a..."

Lol- I think I have 5 of them now. Should be interesting!

[Anita Reads]

Nice job Sha.

You all seem to be finishing early this week.

I haven't had much time to read this weekend. Went to a double birthday Friday, This festival thing Saturday, went to visit my brother on Sunday, and yesterday I had dinner at this gourmet restaurant with my colleagues after work. I'll try and catch up on some reading today.

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Good Job Ladies

[~Melissa~]

week 7: spot 58

Alternate - Published 2008
Finished 6/2/14
Rating: 3.75 - rounded up to4♥

Review: Kevin has closed himself off from his family since he had a psychic fiasco with his job and his Mom's death where his Dad made a horrible comment (that he really didn't mean but Kevin took to heart). He has a friends with benefits arrangement with his dog's vet/his best friend James. Until his brother in law brings him back home to help with a missing kids/kidnapping case of young boys. He is to stay with Connor, one of the other cops working the case while he does his voodoo. Connor thinks he's a fraud do to past history. Until Kevin "see's" Connor's dream with his then lover. Old case from Connor's childhood and current case end up being connected. Kevin and Connor end up becoming more than roommates during the process. Connor has to come out to both his parents/family as well as the family of the past case - who happens to be friends with his family and his first (15 yo) lover's parents - yikes! Especially since then he has gone on about his business as if he likes girls. Ouch to the girls he dated. Decent book and writing style. I figured out the perp at the moment of introduction into book??!? Anyway - still a good book. Kevin is one of those people who always assumes he knows what everyone else is thinking/needs. Gets him in trouble where opening his mouth would have saved a lot of problems.

[Anita Reads]

Nice job Melissa :)

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Nice

[~Melissa~]

Thanks. It was hard to write a review for as the book kind of went all over the place before it settled in. Hopefully that made sense.

[Anita Reads]

Week 7
On space: 58


Alternate: 2008
Rated it: 4★

Review:
It's a little difficult to give this a solid review. Maybe it's because I've seen the movie and knew what was going to happen. One of the good things is that the movie follows the book quite well compared to most other books that are made into movies. One of the things that stood out in the book though was that the relationship between Katniss and Peeta is better portrayed in the book. All of the emotions going through Katniss' head gave me a better view of what she was feeling. Where it's obvious parts of her really loves Peeta, but doesn't trust herself to let them show.
Suzanne are really good at writing so you get a clear pictures of what's going on. I definitely enjoyed the book, so therefore I gave it 4 stars.

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Week 7
Space 58
Book: The Graveyard Book
Alternate 2008
Rating 4 Stars
Review:
What a great book. I really enjoyed this story and how creepy, funny, and sad. This was an imaginative tale that captured me from the beginning. The only reason why I didn't give this book 5 Starts is cause it had it moments where it lagged and then there were moments where he grew up 2-3 years at a time and I was a little confused. I wished there was a book 2 so I can read more about where Nobody was going after his departure from the graveyard.

[[deleted user]]

Great Job ladies !

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

I posted the reviews on The Post Your Spot Thread incase I am not awake at 12:01

[Elle]

Great week everyone!

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

We rolled a 12. My cell phone is lucky tonight this puts us on 70

[Anita Reads]

@Nika - I really loved the Graveyard Book too. I liked Nobody's character, and the way he communicated with all the spirits on the graveyard.

[Anita Reads]

Nice roll again Nika!

I'm gonna pick a standalone. Either or

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

I'm reading Mercy #7

[[deleted user]]

I will read a standalone too Stalk Me .

[~Melissa~]

Oh no - I wanted a 6 lol I had a 6 all ready to go. figures - I should never plan ahead. I'll figure out my book in a bit.

Great roll Nika!

[~Melissa~]

FYI - if anyone needs 70 alternate is 2014

[~Melissa~]

Nika (Oh My Shelves) wrote: "I'm reading Mercy #7"

Enjoy :) I have #8 to get to this month

[Jenne]

I posted this in the discussion thread but thought I'd post it on each team's thread too.

All teams in post 4 of their thread have the winning alternates under the spoiler tag. They've been randomly selected and I'll post the list here too. So for any newbies to win you have to roll past 75, you can read the # you'd be on i.e. land on 89 you can read and 8th or a 9th or the new alternate.
76.Color: Pink
77. Location: Texas
78. Title: K
79. Location: France
80. 2007
81. Location: Italy
82. Color: Red
83. Title: C
84. Title: D
85. Title: P
86. Location: New Mexico
87. Lol

Here's an update on each team after the last roll:

1: 64
2: 71
3: 58
4: 51
5: 59
6: 67
7: 61
8: 70
9: 71
10: 58
11: 69
12: 64
13: 62

Teams 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, & 12 have the potential to go out next week.

[Elle]

I am reading stand alone

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

finished my book will update later

[~Melissa~]

I decided on using alternate 2014 book

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

~Melissa~ wrote: "I decided on using alternate 2014 book "

Good Idea!

[~Melissa~]

We'll see - I have put it off for a while as it has the ex wife in it - haven't been looking forward to it but a friend assures me I won't want to through my iPad across the room while reading. I'm not far in and she has already irritated me *%#$

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

I want to read it because I knew it was inevitable

[Anita Reads]

Week 8
Rolled: 12 - spot 70
Read:
Finished: 06/10/14
Rated it: 4★

Review:
This was a beautiful fairytale of Tritran Thorne who left home to find a fallen star for Victoria Forrest. If he brought it back she would do anything he wanted, be it marriage, a kiss, anything.
On the journey you meet a lot of great characters and sometimes things don't go as planned.
I really liked the book, Neil Gaiman has again written a great book. The only reason I give it 4 ★ is because, for the first time ever, I actually think the movie was better, but all in all a great book, and a light read.

[~Melissa~]

Week 8
Space 70: Alternate 2014
- alternate used
Finished 6/9/14
Rating 4♥
Review: Another solid action packed book for Mercedes and Adam. Have been putting this book off for a while as I knew that this story revolves around Adam's ex coming back to town. I should have listened to my friend. Once I got over my irritation of Christy being back at Adam and Mercedes house - oh, and putting herself in the bedroom right next to theirs and I found out how sad and insecure Christy really is I was much better. Christy has managed to get herself involved with a 'bad guy' (who is a volcano god?? - really those exist??) who beats the crap out of her and of course she runs to Adam. Christy is the epitome of 'the damsel in distress' and she is banking on Adam having a need to protect her as well as wrapping the rest of the pack around her finger. The Fae show up in the form of a Grey Lord wanting his walking stick back. Coyote shows up as well to 'help' Mercy with the Volcano God. Along the way Mercy meets a a 'half-brother' of hers from Coyote. Finds an unexpected supporter in one of the pack members. Of course Mercy saves the day and has her revenge on Christy *evil grin* loved it!!

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Go Ladies

[Elle]

Week 8
Space 70

Finished 6/12/14
Rating:★★★★

This is my first David Baldacci book. I've heard good things about his books. I like his writing so far. Robie is a very good assassin that abandons one of his assignments and for very good reason. Unfortunately, his reasons mean nothing to his superior and now Robie is running for his life. What complicates things is when he runs into a teenage girl who is also in danger. The two of them need each other to find the missing pieces to this puzzle of killers and dead people. It's suspenseful, intriguing and not predictable. My kind of book.

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Space 70
Book #7
Finished June 7th 2014
Rating 5 Stars
Review

This was a great addition to the Mercy series. I am really enjoying where this is going and how mature all the characters are getting. I love how Mercy is standing up for herself and how we are seeing more of Coyote. I love Coyote. I love how this series isn't focused on the sex but the romance. I can't wait to read book 8

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

Hey Tia! Hows it going

[~Melissa~]

Nice job ladies!!

We could use our Free Pass if Tia doesn't think she'll finish in time. Just a thought. I think there are 3-4 teams in contentions with us for going out with tomorrow's roll. We can't use the free pass for the last roll. I should be able to have tomorrow's book dome by tomorrow night. Unfortunately, I have to go to work tomorrow,lol.

[Nika ♥Marie♥]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Nice job ladies!!

We could use our Free Pass if Tia doesn't think she'll finish in time. Just a thought. I think there are 3-4 teams in contentions with us for going out with tomorrow's roll. We c..."

Me too. Well if we have to we can do that

[[deleted user]]

So sorry I just finished , I was planning to update but my charger just stopped working last night so I had to go and get a new one. Its still not charged so Ill have to do this from the phone .
Read for a stand alone option.
Stalk Me by Richard Parker 5 stars
Finished : June 12th

This is the second book Ive read from Mr. Parker and his first was one of the absolutelu scariest books I've ever read and this one is right behind it. He writes about such current topics including a lot of social media and internet related nightmare scenarios. Eventhough his three books are named in a similar fashion they are all stand alones with independent sets of characters. Stalk Me is about a woman who is involved in a fatal accident that eventually kills her husband. At the crash site though they are attacked and kicked by an unknown man. As the emergency vehiles approach a busload of teens and other people crowd around to gawk at the accident filming it on their phones with no consideration . She becomes enraged and screams at all of them so the teens get "revenge" by posting all of it on YouTube. The rest of the book she is trying to track down everyone that took video so she can figure out who the man was that attacked them. But someone else is getting to each of the witnesses and brutally killing them first. Things get crazy from there as she becomes obsessed wirh finding the answer to what her husbans had to do with this murderer and also trying to understand how people can be this hateful and money hungry to have no value in human life. This is a completely gory and disturbing look at socisl media and how it affects society but also serves a number of important messages about being part of the human race and how you can decide what role you play. I am looking forward to reading more by him very soon.