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R2: Tzameti (13)
Crossed by Ally CondieMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked the story but it didn't stand up to Matched. I feel there is still a lot we are missing. We are introduced to new characters, Vick, Indie and Eli being the main ones. This book is told in two pov's Ky's and Cassia's, which makes sense in this book. The characters are well defined although it takes a while to learn more about some of them. I am looking forward to finding what happens in the next book.
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Week 4, spot 30
Finished: 5/15/14
Rating: ★★★★
Critics generally don't believe that E A Poe and the poet Frances Osgood were lovers, but this novel imagines that they were, and how their relationship must have affected their friends and family, most notably Virginia Poe. Mrs. Poe was 13 years younger than Poe, and they married when she was merely 13 years old. (Not to mention they were cousins.)
When Osgood meets Poe, she is separated from her philandering husband and living with friends. I was touched by how she struggled to support her two young daughters while her husband was living with other women. She and Poe awaken a passion in each other that neither has ever known. Of course, there is no happy ending as both historical figures died young (he was 40, she was 38). If anything, this book has made me want to re-visit Poe's works and learn more about him.
Week 4 Reviews: Spot 30Rosina:Good Grief ***Review
Christine:In Too Deep ***Review
Karla: Girlchild *** Review
Dalene: Crossed *** Review
Sandy: Mrs. Poe *** Review
Week 4, spot 30Option Stand alone book Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
Finished 5/15/2014
Review: **
I'm not sure what to think of this book. If you like chronological order, this book will drive you nuts! It is set in the 80s, but jumps around the main character, Rory Dawn, being 4, 10, and 15. Rory lives with her mom in a trailer, in Nevada. Rory's mom works in bars and casinos, while Rory is babysat by her grandma or a neighbor, The Hardware Man, or his daughter, Carol. I don't want to say too much, don't want to give away spoilers.
Nice job, team!So when can we roll?
Midnight? (I'm in Central time zone)
Yep anytime midnight or after central time
I probably won't be up at midnight so I can roll in the morning.
Good morning and Happy Friday!I rolled a 6, so we are on Spot 36.
Read 3rd in series, 6th in series, or 36th in series.
Alternate: Title begins with D
Good luck!
hmmm. i need a bit more time to check my shelves to find something suitable
I have a couple options but will decide later today which way Im going....narrowed it down to 3rd in series or Title starts with D
I'm reading a third in series:
I have to read it to complete another challenge.
Sandy wrote: "Good morning and Happy Friday!I rolled a 6, so we are on Spot 36.
Read 3rd in series, 6th in series, or 36th in series.
Alternate: Title begins with D
Good luck!"
Just wondering, did you roll two dice or one?
Week 5, spot 36Option Third in series The Truth About Stacey
Finished 5/17/2014
Review: ***An easy read. This book is told from Stacey's point of view. The Babysitters have some competition! A group of older students have started the Babysitters Agency. Being older, they can sit longer, and are taking some of the Babysitters' clients! What are the girls going to do! It's a good book for preteen girls.
Karla wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Good morning and Happy Friday!I rolled a 6, so we are on Spot 36.
Read 3rd in series, 6th in series, or 36th in series.
Alternate: Title begins with D
Good luck!"
Just wondering,..."
I rolled 2 dice, Karla.
Week 5, Spot 36: 3rd in Series
Finished 5/18/14
Rating: ★★★★
This book has a lot of scathing reviews, so I was a little worried about picking it up. I really enjoyed it! It was very funny (although the premise is tragic) and it was fun to see Bridget as a 52-year-old single mum struggling with dating a boy toy, competitive mothers, trying to write a screenplay, and dealing with widowhood. The ending was a bit contrived but overall I laughed out loud several times and found it very entertaining.
Week 5 Reviews: Spot 36Rosina: Dark Bayou *** Review
Christine: All He Ever Dreamed *** Review
Karla:The Truth About Stacey *** Review
Dalene:Reached *** Review
Sandy:Mad About the Boy***Review
Just a note to let you know I will be traveling and probably won't be able to post much the next few days, especially Thursday. I will roll on Friday morning (assuming we have all reviews in).
Sandy wrote: "Karla wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Good morning and Happy Friday!I rolled a 6, so we are on Spot 36.
Read 3rd in series, 6th in series, or 36th in series.
Alternate: Title begins with D
Good luck!"
J..."
I figured you had. I hope we get a bigger number next time!
Me too, Karla. I'll blow on the dice next time. ;-)
Sandy wrote: "Me too, Karla. I'll blow on the dice next time. ;-)":)
Week 5 - Spot 36 - 6th in seriesAll He Ever Dreamed by Shannon Stacey
date finished: May 20
rating: 2 stars
review:
I finally decided to read the 6th book of the Kowalski Family series. I postponed reading Josh & Katie' story for a long time and now I know why.
I know a lot of people who like to read "friends become lovers" romance books but I am not one of them. This truth revealed itself again when I read All he ever dreamed. This book was a huge disappointment for me. It goes so far as I can say now that I started to dislike both Katie and Josh after spending a while reading about them.
Josh always wanted to escape the lodge he inherited together with his siblings in equal parts from his father as well as the small town he lives in. All his siblings left home and he was the only one who put up with the business. He felt stuck and unhappy.
Katie has been his best friend since kindergarten and she has been in love with him for a long time. She owns a hair dressing shop in the small town and her mother Rosie is living in the lodge with Josh as the good soul who does everything and cares about everyone.
Katie has put off her love life for a long time dreaming about Josh and their future but Josh did not see her as a woman at all but as his best buddy hanging with the guys. *ouch* He doesn't treat her like a woman. *double ouch* She is constantly dreaming and drooling over him at any point of time and this state of mind made me angry as time passed. She did not act out her feelings for him and I seriously don't know why someone would wait until being in their thirties to give it a try. She was waiting for him to make the first step? Seriously? Which century are we in again? ...
Katie was not the only one who made jackass moves, Josh was in it as well. Maybe Josh did me even more in than Katie. It's hard to say at this point.
This book pissed me off more than I can say. Sure, there were some parts I actually could go with but for the most part it was a huge disappointment.
I just noticed that I forgot to post what I was reading
Reached by Ally CondieMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I expected more, but what we got was simple. I enjoyed the story none the less. The characters are well written. In this book we get three pov's; Ky, Cassia and Xander's. Simple is good, but I like more and somewhat complicated.
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Dalene wrote: "Reached by Ally Condie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I expected more, but what we got was simple. I enjoyed the story none the less. The characters are well written. In this book we get three pov'..."
I was very disappointed in this one. It started off so well, then got progressively less interesting.
just finished a book for another challenge now to finish the book for this team....should be done tomorrow and review posted after work....
Week 5 - Spot 36 - Alternate - starts with D
by Nancy K. Duplechainfinished May 22
Rating 3 stars
Review:
I really did enjoy this story. At first I thought it was going to drag along but was pleasantly surprised. Leigh returns home to Louisiana to her brother and SIL funerals. She is living in Los Angeles after having attended med school. Both her parents were dead. her niece is 10 and Leigh decides to return home to Louisiana to look after her neice. There is the old high school crush Lucas who has a small boy who is mentally handicapped and the mother left because of the boys disability. The paranormal part of the story is that these people are descendants of Charlemagne and are paladins. There are dark forces who are trying to wipe out the paladins. There is a sequel and I may just continue with it. I like books about Louisiana and the mystery that surrounds that area.
I read either alt: purchased
or 4th in series
Week 6, Spot 47
(7th in series)Date Finished 5/25/14
Rating: ★★★★
I didn't know until after I finished that this is the last Cat and Bones book. I'm a little disappointed! I liked this one much more than the previous two installments. There is a lot of action and suspense. Most of the chapters ended on a cliffhanger that kept me turning the pages when I really needed to be doing other things. I'm sure C & B will show up in the spinoff books, but I'll miss them being the focus.
Week 6, Spot 47 (4th in series)Date finished 26.05.
Rating ♥♥♥♥
review:
I love this series! Harmony's residents fall in love left and right along the road and every book has a little suspense in it as well.
Reagan is the common theme since the first book and I adore her character. She has grown so strong, I want to hug her all the time. *lol*
This book is about the new doctor in town Addison and the rancher Tinch, who learns that he has a little nephew Jamie who brings along a lot of troube.
It was a light and fun read!
Sandy wrote: "Dalene wrote: "Reached by Ally Condie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I expected more, but what we got was simple. I enjoyed the story none the less. The characters are well written. In this book we..."
I feel that happened with the whole trilogy, Matched started off great and each book didn't stand up to the next, so for the whole trilogy very disappointing.
Divergent by Veronica RothMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well developed and written. The story line is good. The world building could have been done much better as you feel Chicago is the whole world here. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
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Week 6, Spot 47Rosina:Prince of Wolves** Review
Christine:Just Down the Road** Review
Karla:Mary Anne Saves the Day** Review
Dalene:Divergent ** Review
Sandy:Up From the Grave ** Review
Week 6, spot 47Option: Fourth in series Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin
Finished: 5/26/2014
Review: ***
Another installment of the Babysitters Club, this one told from Mary Anne's perspective. During one meeting, the members of the BSC get into a huge fight. When a child Mary Anne is sitting gets really sick, she can't call one of her BSC friends, so what will she do? It was an easy read, when I needed one. Mary Anne was my favorite when I was a child, and still is. She's the nicest of them all.
Week 6 spot 47Option: alternate purchased
finished: may 29th
review: 3 stars
This book did pique my interest and I think is well suited for tweens.
it was quick and easy to read has the potential for a very interesting world. I liked the pack dynamics, names and heritage. What bugged me was that there were lots of editing errors (It can be painful at times). Way too much pointless conversational filler. The banter between the 3 girls gets annoying (too much of it).
OK, I rolled 7 so we are now on spot 54Read 5th in series, 4th in series, Alternate Title "R"
Good luck!
week 7 spot 54I will read either
#5 or
#4
I'm going to try
, even though reviews aren't too great!
Week 7, Spot 54: Alternate "R" Title
Date Finished: 6/2/14
Rating: ★★★
Ten years after her year in hell working for Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, Andy Sachs is now married and running a highly successful wedding magazine with former Co-worker (and sworn enemy) Emily Charlton. Andy is still traumatized by her experiences working at Runway, having frequent nightmares and PTSD symptoms when she sees or discusses Miranda. When Runway (Miranda) wants to acquire Andy's magazine, it provides the opportunity to make a fortune, but also means she'll have to work for the ice queen again. I liked this book in general. I thought it was entertaining, even though Andy's neurotic behavior got a bit annoying. I couldn't blame her for her attitude toward Miranda given the horrible treatment she endured. I thought the ending was contrived and that Andy made some major life decisions too quickly. I think what I like best about the book is the NYC setting. I could see myself strolling the streets and frequenting the bistros and coffee shops.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Oracle's Moon (other topics)Oracle's Moon (other topics)
The Miracle at Speedy Motors (other topics)
The Feud: The Hatfields and McCoys, The True Story (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Bryan Davis (other topics)Mark Young (other topics)
Veronica Roth (other topics)
Nancy K. Duplechain (other topics)
Shannon Stacey (other topics)
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In Too Deep
date finished: May 13
rating: ♥♥♥♥
review:
Emma is going to attend her BFF's wedding. At the last minute, Alyssa (the to be bride) and Chase (the to be husband) change plans and drive to the place by car which leaves Emma and Alyssa's brother Drake to fly together to the island where the wedding will take place.
Emma has had a crush on Drake since years but Drake comes over cold, distant and silent. Emma feels uncomfortable to be left alone with him and at the same time longs to be alone with him and be recognized by him.
It's made clear that Drake and his family are stinking rich and there is a lot of info dumping about the family, the place, the past etc. The high society bla bla did not interest me that much but I did not skip anything.
The really good part for me came when they finally made a step towards each other and (view spoiler)[have sex on the beach (hide spoiler)]. For me the plot would have worked as well without the paranormal angle of him being a werewolf. There was no new twist on the shapeshifting werewolf side. However, Emma is another topic. (view spoiler)[She is half-mermaid (hide spoiler)] I've never read a book before with a (view spoiler)[mermaid (hide spoiler)] and werewolf.
I enjoyed it enough to try another book of Mrs Gissendaner.