R7: SS "Frog Squad" (6)

[D.G.]

Oh that's too bad, Mary. Will it take you long to recuperate? I've had a sprained ankle for a couple of weeks now and it's taken so long to heal! I can't imagine with surgery.

[Mary X]

I caught my bare foot under a door a few years ago and really wrenched the big toe. It looks perfectly normal except for a knot that has now formed on top of my foot where the big toe connects to the foot. So they have to remove the bone spur as it's pulling my toe out of alignment and really affecting my mobility. Well not so much as my mobility but my ability to wear most footwear and exercise.

They normally say driving after a few days but it's my right foot and therefore my driving foot. So might be a little longer. I'll be on crutches for about a week and then a walking cast for a couple more.

[Mary X]

They set me up to work from home a few weeks ago in case the weather is bad so I don't even really need to lose any work time but next Friday.

[D.G.]

That's really good, Mary. One less thing to worry about.

[Mary X]

Yes. I was almost disappointed that we got nothing with the blizzard last weekend. I would have loved to have worked from home in my pjs on Monday.

I bugged them to set me up that way. We got hit a few times with snow badly last year and there was no reason for me to be there other than to answer the phone. I can forward that to my cell.

[Heather]

I'm going to read



(A standalone)

[D.G.]

Week 3 - Spot #: 21
Series #: 2
Date finished/Rating: 1/31 ★★★½
Review: I listened the first book many years ago and unlike most people, wasn't crazy about the narration. That's why it's taken me so long to get back to the series. I'm glad I finally got back to it although I'm still annoyed that Harry still thinks everything is his fault - Murphy has a lot of more of the blame for all the dead people. Anyhow, liked the world and the plot and definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

[Mary X]

I'll be posting my review some time today.

[Jamie]

Week 3
Roll: 8
Spot: 21


Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #2 in series
Finished: 1/29/16
Rating: 3.5 stars

The 2nd in the Pennyroyal Green series this story focuses more on the Redmonds (vs the Everseas in the first book). There is some mention of characters from Book 1 but not a lot, and there is of course mention of the big series mystery, what happened to Lyon. (And of course the reason I'm finally reading this series is because Lyon's book has been published). I liked this book better than the previous book, partly because it's set at a house party and the goings on just seemed more plausible historically. There were still a number of things that were anachronistic but I can let them slide so long as the overall all plot seems like something that could happen. I also like slow burn sorts of stories and the build up of the relationship between Cynthia and Miles was nicely done. These two felt an immediate frisson of attraction but due to societal circumstances they don't think they can be together at first. Some reviews note they don't like Cynthia, and I agree she is very mercenary at times. But, I actually think that was probably a little realistic, she's in a tough position. So all in all I liked this one and I'm looking forward to the next.

[Mary X]

Forgot to post this yesterday:

Roll: 8
Spot: 21

4 stars



I-Team #2

It's been awhile since I read the first book and I almost had the feeling that I had missed one in between. But I only see a short story that takes place between book 1 and 2. I wasn't too lost to follow the story though as there wasn't much of an ongoing theme other than coworkers. This a great romantic suspense but it's got a disturbing story to go with it about the trafficking of teenage girls. So if someone is squeamish about stuff like that they might want to skip this one. The hero can also be a real ass sometimes but not in a way that makes him irredeemable.

[Nichole]

Week 3: Spot 21
Series #: 2
Book: by Pierce Brown
Pages: 464
Read: 2/2/16
Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Wow! So much happened in this one! And it starts with a bang.

Darrow has been working for his enemy since he left the Academy. He continues his work with the rebels by rising in power with the Golds so that he can, hopefully, one day destroy them. It's not an easy road and he loses so much along the way.

This book reminded me so much of Game of Thrones! It was full of dirty politics and death. How many times can they kill him? How many times will he be betrayed? Who will he betray? Will the good guys prevail? Are there any good guys? Who is Ares? Well, that at least was answered.

I'm so glad the last book comes out next week! We had a gut wrenching cliffhanger ending and I MUST KNOW how it all ends!!!

[D.G.]

Woohoo!

[Heather]

Jeez, you all make me feel like I'm the slowest reader ever. Which, in my real life, I don't know anyone who reads like I do! Lol

But don't worry...I'm almost done! ;)

[Amanda A]

Spot 21
(Standalone)
Finished 2/1/16
Rating: ★★★★
An enjoyable debut novel. Peter Ash is a Marine veteran suffering from PTSD. When he finds out his fellow Marine and friend, Jimmy, has committed suicide, he visits Milwaukee to help out Jimmy's widow with home improvements in an attempt to overcome his own feelings of guilt. He discovers hidden cash and explosives that leads him to investigate where it came from and begin to question if Jimmy's death was really a suicide. The action is fast-paced and the characters are likable and well-developed. I liked that even one of the bad guy's perspectives was included at various points and that there was humor interjected throughout. I will definitely read more books by this author in the future and I hope he writes more books featuring Peter Ash.

[Amy]

My book is so painful to read....I'll be done on time, just struggling

[D.G.]

Sally wrote: "My book is so painful to read....I'll be done on time, just struggling"

That's too bad, Sally. :( Remember that standalones are allowed in this roll, so feel free to change it to something else if you think you can be done on time.

[Mary X]

So are we going to be able to roll tomorrow? I'll check in the morning but I might not pick a book until after my surgery.

[Amy]

Week 3
Roll: 8
Spot: 21
by Mindy Kaling
Book: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Qualification: Alternate - Title W
Finished: 02/04/16
Rating & Review: ★★½

Ughhhh I wanted to love this book....I wanted to like it even. Idk if I just don't understand her humor or if it's just bad. I didn't understand the point to the book. Her 'advice' was asinine in my opinion. It skipped around a million different subjects. I enjoyed some of the layouts in the chapters and the photos but that was about it.

Some parts made me laugh but honestly the book as a whole was so hard for me to get through. I love female comedians but I'm finding with the more books I read from them they are either really good or really not good....no in between.

Meh.

[Heather]

Week 3
Spot 21


Misconduct by Penelope Douglas
How it fits: standalone
Pages: 368
Finished: February 4
Rating: 5*

Review: As always this was another great book by Penelope Douglas. Out of all her books this was my least favorite but I still gave it 5*. She just knows how to write such amazing characters that you can't help but fall in love with. The story was different than most New Adult books that I read. Another fantastic read by my favorite author!

[D.G.]

Ladies - I'll roll in an hour or so!

[D.G.]

Good morning, Froggies! Our roll is 9 (yay! another good roll!) As we were in spot 21 last week that lands us in...

Week 4: Spot 30
Series #: 30, 3 or a standalone
Alternate: Cover Item Water - Must have the given item on the cover

Completed: 7 / 7
✔ D.G.: A Place to Call Home (St) | 2/12 ★★★ | review
✔ Sally: The Choice (St) | 2/10 ★★★ | review
✔ Heather: Terrorscape (#3) | 2/10 ★★★★★ | review
✔ Jamie: Cast Off (#3) | 2/8 ★★½ | review
✔ Nichole: Fangirl (St) | 2/11 ★★★★ | review
✔ Amanda A: Finding It (#3) | 2/10 ★★★ | review
✔ Mary: Death of a Liar (#30) | 2/10 ★★★½ | review

[Mary X]

I see the roll but waiting to get called in for my foot surgery. Not sure what I will read yet.

[Amy]

Yay I'm excited! I'm going to Vegas this weekend so I was planning on taking this book with to read in the airport :) I'm glad it fits the challenge as a standalone.
by Nicholas Sparks

[Jamie]

Week 4
Roll: 9
Spot: 30



Since the Surrender by Julie Anne Long
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #3 in series

[D.G.]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I see the roll but waiting to get called in for my foot surgery. Not sure what I will read yet."

Good luck, Mary!

[Mary X]

We can read an actual #30 too right? Because I have this:



Hamish Macbeth #30

[D.G.]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "We can read an actual #30 too right? Because I have this:



Hamish Macbeth #30"

I think so! I mean, if you can read a 10 when we landed on 10, we should have been able to read a 30! But let me confirm with Ezi. :)

[Nichole]

I hope everything went okay, Mary!!

I'm still trying to decide what I want to read. I'll decide after I finish my current book. Should be tonight or tomorrow.

[Mary X]

Everything went well. They actually found 2 more small bone spurs on the same toe and removed them. I'm watching TV with my daughter now and my foot up.

It snowed today while I was at the hospital an my daughter shoved the whole driveway and walkway by herself so I could get through. Then she made me a sandwich and a cup of tea.

[Nichole]

I'm glad everything went well. And what a good daughter!!

[Jamie]

Glad to hear your procedure went well Mary

[D.G.]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "We can read an actual #30 too right? Because I have this:



Hamish Macbeth #30"

Confirmed! You can read a #30. :) This is so cool, LOL! And I'm glad everything went well with your surgery.

[D.G.]

I don't know know yet what I'll read. I'm reading 2 books right now...I also have a standalone on my currently read shelf which I read like two lines so if I may continue that one and use it for this shelf. Or read Harry Dresden #3! I felt like continuing the series after I finished book #2.

[Mary X]

I have another book to finish before I read my book for this. But both are short so will finish in plenty of time.

[Mary X]

Oh cool. I have an out of state library card with the Brooklyn Public library. It's 50/year. It's where I got Hard Evidence on audio. They only had the first 2 of that series in their system and a few days ago I recommended they buy book #3. They did and the next 2 in the series on audio as well.

I need to start doing that more often with my libraries because they seem to so often have some of a series but not all. It's especially annoying when they'll have maybe 1,2 and then 5,6 but not the ones in between.

[D.G.]

The Brooklyn library is amazing with the recommendations. Most of the time I recommend a book, and they get it in 4-5 days! Just today I got a notice to download a book I recommended.

[Mary X]

Best thing is that there wasn't a wait for either book so I checked the next 2 in the series out. Need a couple of loans to expire before I get #3.

[Jamie]

Is Brooklyn the same as NY public library? I use them and they are great about recommendations as well

[D.G.]

Jamie wrote: "Is Brooklyn the same as NY public library? I use them and they are great about recommendations as well"

It isn't the same - Brooklyn has a separate library system (Queens has one too). For digital stuff, Brooklyn is WAY better than the NYPL. Almost never any wait in line and they get pretty much every book you recommend them.

Any New Yorker can get a library card to the BPL, so I totally recommend you stop by Brooklyn some time and get one! (The first time you get one, you have to go to a branch.)

[Heather]

Week 4
Spot 30

(#3 in Series)


Terrorscape by Nenia Campbell

[Mary X]

BPL has an amazing digital collection. Well worth the $50 a year for an out of state card for me. I also have one from Philadelphia. Between those 2 and my much smaller library system, I very rarely buy any books. Usually if I do it's just a cheap audible upgrade of a library e-book.

I've even been able to use the libraries for some school work. Borrowed my last text book from BPL.

[Nichole]

Finally decided!

Week 4: Spot 30
Series #: Standalone

by Naomi Novik

[Jamie]

Thanks for the info on BPL DG and Mary.

Sounds like a trip to Brooklyn is in my future

[D.G.]

I don't know yet what I'll read. Soo many choices! I think I'll just pick up my Kindle and pick the first standalone that catches my fancy. ;)

[Jamie]

D.G. wrote: "I don't know yet what I'll read. Soo many choices! I think I'll just pick up my Kindle and pick the first standalone that catches my fancy. ;)"

I like doing that some times!

[D.G.]

Ok, I made my pick. I'll be reading , a standalone.

It also fits a couple of other challenges so I'll be killing a few birds with one book! (After I wrote that, I got an image of myself hurling a book at birds!! hahahaha!)

[Jamie]

Changed Book

Week 4
Roll: 9
Spot: 30



Cast Off by K.C. Burn
200 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #3 in series
Finished: 2/8/16
Rating: 2.5 stars

Bleh, I'm glad I finished this series because I didn't like it very much. Here we take up the story of 2 characters we've previously met, Rick who is a commitment phobe and Ian who comes out of the closet at the start of the book. Nothing in this story felt organic, the characters didn't make sense. Ian has supposedly never had a relationship because he couldn't tell his family he was gay, then all of a sudden here he's so wise as to get Rick to be "friends" without benefits in order to get him to realize he wants to be in a relationship after all. And Rick has this deep dark secret he doesn't even tell his best friends but he blurts it out to Ian the first time Ian asks him about it. I just didn't think it felt at all realistic and it wasn't entertaining enough to make up for it.

[Nichole]

D.G. you're so pretty! LOL! I'm so sorry but I need to change my book again >.< I've been listening to it for 2 days and I'm not even HALFWAY!! I just can't, lol.

New book- , standalone.

[D.G.]

Nichole wrote: "D.G. you're so pretty! LOL! I'm so sorry but I need to change my book again >.< I've been listening to it for 2 days and I'm not even HALFWAY!! I just can't, lol."

LOL, I'm gorgeous! Hahahaha!

I've seen many people like Uprooted but I started it and was meh so I put it aside. I'm planning to come back to it later though.

[Nichole]

I bought the audio and the narrator has a thick Russian accent. I could finish it out by actually reading it but I just don't care at this point. It's not bad and I can certainly see why people like it so much. I'll try again later...