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R7: SSS "First Class Readers" (1)
Week 3, Roll 1: 5Spot 17:
Book: A Lady's Plight - Katy Walters
How it fits: technically #1 in Lords of Sussex but there are no other books listed in series so could be standalone ;-)
Pages: 228
Week 3, Roll 1: 5Spot 17: standalone, 1 in series, 7 in series; Alternate Ohio
Book: A Lady's Plight - Katy Walters
How it fits: standalone; 1 in Lord's of Sussex
Pages: 228
Read: 01.29
Rating: ★★★
Review:
I wasn't crazy about this book. There was random punctuation all through the book that drove me crazy... random hyphens, misplaced quotation marks... enough to irritate me into wanting to lower my rating which I hardly ever do for ebook quality. If the book had been better, I might have not noticed the stray quote marks. Or maybe if there weren't so many weird hyphens, I might have enjoyed the book more. Either way I was glad it was relatively short. I didn't really like the heroine - she wanted to be a feminist in Regency England but her rebellions bordered on plain old brattiness most of the time. And the villain... please. This is the second book I've read in a week where the bad guy (view spoiler). I don't like that as a resolution - it's too convenient and trite as I said the first time. Either the bad guy is killed by the good guys or the bad guy has a real change of heart and figures out how to redeem himself. This escaping justice (view spoiler) feels like a cop-out to me and lazy by the author. Hmm. Guess I should end rant now.
The more I think on it the less I like the book. I better move on before I'm compelled to lower my rating....
by Cindy GerardWeek 3 Roll 1
Rolled 5
Spot 17
Book 7 in Black Ops Series
Read 01/28/16
Rated 4 stars
Last Man Standing Was a good ending to a series I really enjoyed. It was a drama-filled romance with heart-stopping action
to boot! This series took me on one hell of a fantastic
adventure.
Week 3Roll: 5
Spot: 17
It's Complicated by L.A. Witt
196 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #7 in series
Finished: 1/28/16
Rating:: 2 stars
A disappointing end to the Tucker Springs series. First, about the series, it's billed as a number of books set in one town but other than some casual mentions in most cases it really never felt like much of a series. A few of the books leading up to this mentioned the lead couple here, Brad and Jeff and most mentions indicated that they were on again/off again. So now we have their "complicated" story. And... blah, it's not clear why their relationship exists. There are lots of fights and misunderstandings interspersed with scenes of them "making up". No real clue is given as to what's wrong with the relationship. The alternating POVs didn't work particularly well because I wasn't ever sure which character was which. I did think the ending was sweet but that's about it.
Mod
Spot: 17
Book: White Bones by Graham Masterton
Qualification: Katie Maguire #1
Finished: 29 Jan 2016
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
On a farm in Cork, Ireland, the skeletons of 11 women are found. According to the medical examiner, the flesh was meticulously stripped from their bones before the remains were buried. The Garda already fears a serial killer when it turns out that the bodies have been in the ground since 1915 and Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is ordered to drop the case. She can't shake the feeling that she should keep investigating, however - and when but a few days later the remains of a fresh victim, following the same MO as the historical case, are found on the very same farm, it becomes clear that whatever happened here in the past is about to repeat itself.
I'm really not squeamish when it comes to graphic violence and grisly murders in fiction, but there were a few scenes here that almost made this the first book to ever make me throw up. Definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach. I guessed the identity of the murderer a while before any of the characters did, but nevertheless found the book hard to put down. Good series opener, will be back for more.
Once again we're all ready to go with tons of time to spare!!!
Mod
Don't forget ladies...if you don't here from me Sunday, I will be home Monday and post. Internet is not that great here.
Ready to roll!! Reminder, I doubt I stay up until 1:00 am my time to roll (not until we near the end, at least). It will likely be early-ish Sunday morning when I wake up. Denise, if you get anxious, I'm posting the review post so you can copy.
Week 3: Roll 1: 5Spot 17:
LaurLa
Book: A Lady's Plight - Katy Walters
Review: post 106
Denise
Book: White Bones - Graham Masterton
Review: post 109
Jamie
Book: It's Complicated - L.A. Witt
Review: post 108
NayNay
Book: Last Man Standing - Cindy Gerard
Review: post 107
Mod
Denise wrote: "This one's definitely all yours, LaurLa! It's my birthday and I'm throwing a party, so I fully expect to be entirely useless tomorrow. *lol*"Happy birthday Denise! Have fun
Denise wrote: "This one's definitely all yours, LaurLa! It's my birthday and I'm throwing a party, so I fully expect to be entirely useless tomorrow. *lol*"Woohoo - enjyoy! Happy Birthday!
Mod
Week 3, Roll 2: 5New Spot: 22
2 in series
22 in series (anyone got that?)
Alternate: Best Book Boyfriends
Week 3, Roll 2: 5Spot 22:2 in series, 22 in series; Alternate Best Book Boyfriend listopia
Book: Getting Rid Of Bradley - Jennifer Crusie
How it fits: #5701 on Best Book Boyfriends list
Pages: 256
Week 3.5Roll: 5
Spot: 22
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alternate - #722 on Best Book Boyfriends list
Another great roll, thanks captains!I've had this one on my TBR forever. I started it last night and I already enjoy it (not surprising since Kleypas is amazing)
Mod
Roll: 5
Current Spot: 22, Alternate: Best Book Boyfriends
✔ Denise:Apprentice by Rachel E. Carter (The Black Mage #2) Review
✔ Jamie: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas (Alternate: Best Book Boyfriends) Review
✔ LaurLa: Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie (Alternate: Best Book Boyfriends) Review
✔ NayNay: Love Beyond Reason by Bethany Claire (Morna's Legacy #2) Review
Week 3.5Roll: 5
Spot: 22
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alternate - #722 on Best Book Boyfriends list
Finished: 2/1/2016
Rating: 4 stars
When Liberty and her mother move to a trailer park Liberty meets Hardy and she begins an infatuation with him. But Hardy doesn't want to stay in his poor town, he has to get away or else fall into the same trap that got his father. He helps Liberty out, but he won't commit to her. Liberty grows up, experiences tragedy but doesn't let it stop her. She's determined to make a life for her sister and herself and she does. Eventually she is hired by a very wealthy man and starts a relationship with one of his sons. This is a romance but it's more about the experiences and choices of the heroine and less about the romance. It IS still a fantasy LOL. I really like Kleypas' historical romances and I think this might have been her first contemporary and I appreciated the effort. She's also setting up a whole series here but that wasn't obtrusive. There is one aspect of the story that perhaps played out the way it did only to serve the series but again, this is fantasy and fiction. I read it for escape and Kleypas certainly made me do that!
Mod
Roll: 5
Spot: 22
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alternate - #722 on Best Book Boyfriends list
Finished: 2/..."
I am planning on listening to book 2 next week. fellow GR readers assume me that Hardy was redeemed in book 2
ThatEzi wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Week 3.5Roll: 5
Spot: 22
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
371 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alternate - #722 on Best Book Boyfriends lis..."
Yes, I was intrigued by that, mainly because Kleypas does redemption well (I love St Vincent!) I'll be curious to see your review.
Week 3 Roll 2Rolled 5
Spot 22
by Bethany Claire Fits Mornas Legacy Series #2
Pages 192
Rating 4 stars
I'm really not into Scottish Historical Fiction, but this series is pretty good. Not to mention there's the ability to travel through time (I love time travel books)
This was a nice quick read, with a sweet romance, it made me happy and made me sad. A very nice addition to the series. Defiantly going to read book 3,4,5,6, & 7.
Week 3, Roll 2: 5Spot 22:2 in series, 22 in series; Alternate Best Book Boyfriend listopia
Book: Getting Rid Of Bradley - Jennifer Crusie
How it fits: #5701 on Best Book Boyfriends list
Pages: 256
Read: 02.02
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
This was an old reread for me and Jennifer Crusie is pretty dang close to the top of my favorite author list, if not at the top, but that doesn't mean the 5 stars was a gimme. But reading it again, it held up for me. The heroine was just flighty enough to be cute and feisty enough to not be a pushover. I loved the interactions with the hero - who was also just the right mix of alpha and protector. The suspense story line was a little hard to follow at times but then I think that's because it was meant to be as confusing to us as the detectives (one of whom is our hero). As always with Jennifer Crusie, this book left me feeling like I just wanted to hug it!
Mod
Spot: 22
Book: Apprentice by Rachel E. Carter
Qualification: The Black Mage #2
Finished: 03 Feb 2016
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Ryiah has succeeded in securing an apprenticeship in her desired faction, Combat, but her struggles on the way to her goal of becoming a mage are far from over. The second book in the Black Mage series follows her through the four years of her apprenticeship as she hones her skills, gets her first tastes of battle alongside fully trained mages and soldiers, and goes through a seemingly endless emotional rollercoaster ride dealing with Ian, the older apprentice who is trying the court her, and Prince Darren, whose constant personality 180s are extremely confusing and frustrating for both Ryiah and the reader.
I found the middle part of the book with all its love triangle glory to be a bit of an exercise in frustration. Not that I didn't expect a full blown love triangle as soon as Ian stepped back on the page (because we all know that thanks to the ultimate and exceedingly unfortunate law of YA fiction, there must be a love triangle in absolutely everything), but the endless back and forth and heartbreak all around eroded my patience rather quickly. However, the end result of this book on that front ((view spoiler)) makes me hopeful that we'll move away from all that in the third book and get more action instead because all my griping about love triangle annoyances aside, I absolutely love the action in this series with its great combination of magic and combat skills and am looking forward to seeing a lot more of that with the direction the overall plot seems to be headed from here. The last battle in this book was a thrilling pageturner of a scene, promising even more epic awesomeness in the future as the stakes rise for Ryiah and her fellow mages.
Mod
Rolled: 6
New Spot: 28
Reading Options:
- #2 in series
- #8 in series
- #28 in series
- Alternate: Alternate: Amazing
Nice roll!Will figure out my book in a bit
Week 4, Roll 1: 6Spot 28:
Book: Sinful Seduction - Katie Reus
How it fits: 8 in Red Stone Security
Pages: 140
Mod
Mod
Spot: 28
Book: Broken Angels by Graham Masterton
Qualification: Katie Maguire #2
Finished: 05 Feb 2016
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Instead of salmon, two local fishermen fish the dead body of a priest out of the Blackwater River. Not only was he garroted, but also castrated - and not in that order. While Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire launches her investigation into his death, a second body turns up. Another priest, killed even more brutally than the first. Katie suspects a connection to the child abuse scandal that broke several years ago, but the true motive behind the killing could be even more disturbing. The Catholic Church is less than helpful and quite likely actively attempting to impede the investigation as the body count rises and the Garda are slowly unravelling the secret the Church is trying to protect.
Graham Masterton is distressingly good at imagining extremely gruesome ways of murdering people and has no compunction about describing them in all their grisly details. While this book didn't get me quite as close to throwing up as the first one, I suspect some male readers might feel differently. I'm not a fan of the deus ex machina ending, it felt awfully contrived. Other than that, however, this was a thrilling read with taut suspense from start to (almost) finish.
Week 4Roll: 6
Spot: 28
The Bones of Summer by Anne Brooke
252 pgs/GR
How it Fits: #2 in series
Finished: 2/6/16
Rating: 3 stars
I read book 1 a long time ago and really liked it. At the time I marked book 2 for TBR but put it off because the reviews indicated people were disappointed. I get it now. This book is about Craig who is introduced in Book 1 as a one night stand to Paul, the MC. There are hints of complications in Craig's past. So here Craig and Paul start up a relationship. Paul is a PI and Craig has a mystery. The mystery is easy to figure out and involves all sorts of stereotypes. Craig is sort of an annoying character and didn't feel real. There wasn't enough Paul and that Is too bad because I liked him. But even his personality seemed missing here. So not bad but not good.
Week 4 Roll 1Rolled 6
Spot 28
Series Kowalski Family #8
Pages 336
by Shannon StaceyI really enjoy the Kowalski Family Series. They are fun, quick reads that have the right amount of humor, romance, and a good solid plot.
And TAKEN WITH YOU is a lovely addition to the series, no different then the others in the series, it was filled with fun characters, a nice plot, and a cute romance. For any fan of this genre I highly recommend this series.
NayNay wrote: "Week 4 Roll 1Rolled 6
Spot 28
Series Kowalski Family #8
Pages 336
by Shannon StaceyI really enjoy the Kowalski Family Series. They are fun, q..."
I like series like that, you know what you will get yet it is a new story
Week 4, Roll 1: 6Spot 28:
Book: Wicked Cravings - Suzanne Wright
How it fits: 2 in The Phoenix Pack
Pages: 389
Read: 02.07
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
This was a nice second act for the series, not really the couple I thought would be focused on from the first though. This one was about the Beta of the pack and a new member who joined as a result of the challenge from the first book. What I am finding interesting about these books is that the stories are about how these shifters handle/overcome problems with their wolves. They have to deal with the regular human baggage we all bring to relationships but also have to deal with issues regarding their wolves and how that affects their place in shifter culture. I like that they aren't perfect specimans - as humans or as wolves! Looking forward to the next...
Week 4: Roll 1: 6Spot 28:
LaurLa
Book: Wicked Cravings - Suzanne Wright
Review: post 144
Denise
Book: Broken Angels - Graham Masterton
Review: post 140
Jamie
Book: The Bones of Summer - Anne Brooke
Review: post 141
NayNay
Book: Taken with You - Shannon Stacey
Review: post 142
Week 4, Roll 2 2New Spot: 30
Standalone
3 in series
30 in series (anyone got that?)
Alternate: Cover Item Water
Denise wrote: "LaurLa, page limit is 150! Though apparently the paperback version of the book has 178, so it might still work."I was getting my groups and challenges confused... too many, I guess. The page limit over at A Million More Pages is always 125 so that's what gets stuck in my head when I'm looking at options.
I didn't feel right changing the edition when I know I wouldn't be reading it, so spent the evening (and a large portion of the night) reading something different. Thanks for noticing!
Mod
I was experiencing an extreme case of "a library full of nothing to read" until I found one of my many "it's practically free, so why not" second hand purchases that I'm suddenly in the mood to read, so:
Spot: 30
Book: The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith
Qualification: Standalone
Pages: 480
The Challenge Factory
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Rolled: 5
New Spot: 17
Reading Options:
- Standalone
- #1 in series
- #7 in series
- #17 in series
- Alternate: Ohio