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R7: SSS "First Class Readers" (1)
Week 4.5Roll: 2
Spot: 30
Heat Trap by J.L. Merrow
255 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #3 in series
Finished: 2/9/2016
Rating: 4 stars
This is a solid 4 stars. I love the voice of Tom, the MC. He's funny and snarky and just puts it all out there. The book is very British and I like trying to figure out exactly what Tom is saying sometimes. The mystery was good, although the resolution seemed a bit of an after thought. I did feel while there was a lot of action in the relationship between Tom and Phil we didn't get a lot of depth. With the book ending as it does I have high hopes a 4th will be published.
Mod
Spot: 30
Book: The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith
Qualification: Standalone
Finished: 09 Feb 2016
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Three formidable ladies, each of whom has been traded in by their husbands for a younger trophy wife, band together to get revenge on their former spouses and the man who drove their friend to suicide. Together, Annie, who is far too nice for her own good and has let people walk all over her for far too long, Brenda, the obese daughter of a mafia family whose solution to every problem is to eat more, and Elise, the aging actress with a drinking problem, form the First Wives Club - an association with the stated aim of hitting each of their exes where it will hurt them the most.
Chick lit is not a genre I read much, but every once in a while I'm in the mood for something different from my usual fare. Almost 25 years after first being published, this is pretty much a classic of the genre by now - and it hasn't lost any of its appeal. A deliciously mean, utterly satisfying novel about an unlikely trio you cannot help but root for.
Week 4, Roll 2: 2Spot 30:
Book: Undeniably You - Jewel E. Ann
How it fits: standalone
Pages: 382
Read: 02.09
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
This book pretty much ran me through the gamut of emotions. Based on the cover and the blurb, I wasn't expecting such an intense emotional book. There was lots of heartbreak and some fear that the author wasn't going to actually create an HEA that we could live with so there was an underlying tension throughout the entire thing.
I loved Sydney, our heroine. She was determined to live life on her terms, she was independent, snarky but loving and willing to feel, even though she didn't believe it would turn out well. I was angry at her for how she handled a major plot point and I was also angry that she didn't have faith in the Lautner's feelings for her. But even through that, I still felt for her and cried when she cried. I didn't like some of her choices but I also knew they were true to her character and she had to go through them and their consequences to come out better on the other side.
This book was really about Sydney and her growth. Lautner was awesome and pretty much the perfect H and boyfriend. If he hadn't been exactly as he was, then Sydney wouldn't have had to make choices, be heartbroken and grow up so he was the perfect character foil for hers. That's not to say he was a cardboard character - he was not. The by-play between them was awesome, he was as determined as she was and as heartbroken. But if he had had baggage and brought it to their relationship, there wouldn't have been a relationship... and no story! Being almost perfect was what the story needed.
In the end, the author did not betray her readers and the HEA was exactly as it needed to be. I especially liked how we get a glimpse of life after the HEA because I was quite ready to let them all go ;-)
LaurLa wrote: "Week 4, Roll 2: 2Spot 30:
Book: Undeniably You - Jewel E. Ann
How it fits: standalone
Pages: 382
Read: 02.09
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
This book pr..."
Yeah I definitely wouldn't get 5 stars from that cover! Interesting review.
Week 4: Roll 2: 2Spot 30:
LaurLa
Book: Undeniably You - Jewel E. Ann
Review: post 154
Denise
Book: The First Wives Club - Olivia Goldsmith
Review: post 153
Jamie
Book: Heat Trap - J.L. Merrow
Review: post 152
NayNay
Book: Seven Year Switch - Claire Cook
Review: post 151
Week 5, Roll 1: 5New Spot: 35
3 in series
5 in series
35 in series
Alternate: 35. Law Enforcement/Military
Week 5, Roll 1: 5Spot 35:
Book: Risk No Secrets - Cindy Gerard
How it fits: 5th in Black Ops series
Pages: 388
Nice roll!I'll be back with a book in a bit
LaurLa wrote: "Week 5, Roll 1: 5Spot 35:
Book: Risk No Secrets - Cindy Gerard
How it fits: 5th in Black Ops series
Pages: 388"
I love this series, and I loved Wyatt Savage!
NayNay wrote: "LaurLa wrote: "Week 5, Roll 1: 5Spot 35:
Book: Risk No Secrets - Cindy Gerard
How it fits: 5th in Black Ops series
Pages: 388"
I love this seri..."
I read the first 3 a couple of years ago and #4 just a few weeks ago. While I was able to enjoy it, I felt disconnected because I had lost the thread of the series - how everyone is connected. But that's not holding me back! I'm looking forward to #5!!
Week 5, Roll 1: 5Spot 35:
Book: Risk No Secrets - Cindy Gerard
How it fits: 5th in Black Ops series
Pages: 402
Read: 02.11
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I'm going to have to agree with NayNay and say that I LOVED Wyatt Savage! And I loved this book even though I had (mostly) figured out the bad guy about midway through, but that was okay. I didn't completely love Sophie which is what kept me from giving 5 stars. I thought she was a little selfish and using Wyatt for comfort more that once without considering how it could hurt him. She came through nicely in the end so we have our HEA and for me the epilogue cleaned away any bad feelings I had about her not being completely joyful at loving Wyatt - we got to see her joy (and his) at being together which was definitely needed, I thought, to cement the reader's belief in their HEA. We also had a little side-romance that was easy and without the stress of the main story, so that was a nice diversion when needed :-) Can't wait to get to the next one... Doc maybe? (I know, I could just go look...)
Mod
Spot: 35
Book: Red Light by Graham Masterton
Qualification: Katie Maguire #3
Finished: 12 Feb 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
The third book in the series delves into the dark and disturbing world of illegal prostitution and sex trafficking. A handless body is found in Cork, identification made particularly hard by the fact that the man's face has been shattered by several shotgun blasts. The only witness to the crime is a terrified and half-starved girl who can only tell the responding officers that the killer was an unknown woman. Eventually the Garda manage to identify the victim as a pimp operating in the area, and several more bodies in a similar state follow in short order. As the investigation progresses, Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire realises that there's a vigilante at work, ridding the city of criminal scum she's been trying to put behind bars for years. Nevertheless, she can't allow a killer to run loose in her city.
The best entry in the series so far IMO. It contains the by now expected gory scenes of graphic violence, but either I'm getting used to them by now or they're becoming a bit less disturbing with each book. The ending was somewhat open, leaving some story threads unfinished that I'd like to see continued in the next part.
I'll be finished soon and will post a review in a bit
Week 5 Roll 1Rolled 5
Spot 35
Alternate Law Enforcement/Military
Pages 262
Finished 02/13/16
Rating 5 stars
by Susan Stoker Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes SeriesOh I can see this being a great series, book number one set the bar really high, I really enjoyed it!!
I thought the characters were well developed, you could feel that Dax and Mack were meant to be together, they were a great couple. And of course the romantic build up was worth it the sex was hot. The storyline was interesting with just the right amount of suspense. Everything was very believable, while reading I was thinking all this could really happen, which makes for a great book. I am glad I chose this one to read (manly because of the yummy man on the cover) but it turned into a great read, I am definitely picking up book 2
JUSTICE FOR MICKIE.
Week 5Roll: 5
Spot: 35
The Burnt Toast B&B by Heidi Belleau
241 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #5 in series
Finished: 2/13/16
Rating: 3.5 stars
Derrick has inherited a B&B from his parents but he has very mixed feelings about it and is rapidly losing customers. Ginsburg is a stuntman on the TV show that links the books in this series. He has been sidelined by a broken arm and decides to stay at the B&B because it's cheap. Ginsburg has a lot of optimism and finds himself helping Derrick, not just with the business but also with some mixed up feelings about what it means to be a man. The book handles the trans aspect well but Derrick's character didn't make complete sense and while I felt the friendship between these two I was less convinced about the romance. A good entry for the series though.
Week 5: Roll 1: 5Spot 35:
LaurLa
Book: Risk No Secrets - Cindy Gerard
Review: post 165
Denise
Book: Red Light - Graham Masterton
Review: post 166
Jamie
Book: The Burnt Toast B&B - Heidi Belleau
Review: post 169
NayNay
Book: Justice for Mackenzie - Susan Stoker
Review: post 168
Week 5, Roll 2: 5New Spot: 40
4 in series
Standalone
Alternate - Text Item: Computer
Week 5, Roll 2: 5Spot 40:
Book: Rebellious Desire - Julie Garwood
How it fits: Standalone
Pages: 324
Read: 02.14
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I've been burned lately by some pretty long, tedious historical romances lately (mostly old skool), so I was a little hesitant to read this one. But I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was an easy read without being simple. The characters and story were well developed with a little suspense thrown in for fun. There wasn't conflict after conflict thrown at the main couple as many of the older historical I've read lately have had. I liked the MCs a lot as well as some of the other support characters and was kind of sad that this isn't a series so I could spend more time with them.
Mod
I finished my book. I will post review tomorrow
Week 5 Roll 2Rolled 5
Spot 40
Fits STANDALONE
Finished 02/15/16
Rating 4 stars
by Elin HilderbrandThe Rumor is a light read, the book was written in multiple points of view. Like all of Elin Hilderbrand books, the setting is Nantucket, there's always a marriage in trouble, always infedelities, teenagers that need a good kick in the ass, friendships on the brink of disaster, LOL, but I still enjoyed it!
Week 5.5Roll: 5
Spot: 40
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
375 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #4 in series
Finished: 2/14/16
Rating: 3.5 stars
I think Tessa Dare can be very funny and witty. I always find her characters intelligent. Here we have Griffin, a duke with a secret, pushed by his mother to get married. Griff decides to teach his mother a lesson and picks the most unsuitable girl, Pauline. She's a serving girl in Spindle Cove. Of course the whole thing gets turned around on Griff. There's always a hint of modern snark in any of the Dare books I've read and while it's entertaining I do sometimes get a bit irritated. While some aspects are completely historical, the hero and heroine typically don't act in any way as they would historically. So you have to just suspend disbelief and go with the entertainment and quick flow of the writing. We get bits of Cinderella and Pretty Woman but I just feel the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
Okay, so totally random question (sort of)... Is anyone else's GR message timestamps off? I noticed it on Friday. Or maybe I've just never noticed it before... but I always thought the timestamp converted to your timezone. the more I think on it though, i'm not sure GR is sophisticated enough for that - i mean, it doesn't ask for your timezone anywhere and I don't think it's require to put in a zip code, so how would it know? so, okay, nevermind...
Mod
Spot: 40
Book: The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn
Qualification: Standalone
Finished: 17 Feb 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Maneuvered onto the throne against her will by ambitious relatives, Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for all of nine days before being ousted by her cousin Mary, eldest daughter of Henry VIII. This novel covers the period of Jane's captivity in the Tower until her execution, told through the eyes of Elizabeth Tilney, a teenage girl who has volunteered to keep Jane company for reasons of her own.
With the setting, much like the characters themselves, being confined to the Tower for most of the novel with the exception of Elizabeth's flashback scenes and the girls' lives in near solitude not offering much in the way of action, the book is rather slow-paced and more a character study than anything else. That's not to say that I found it boring - on the contrary, I enjoyed the portrayals of the characters and their interactions which formed the heart of the novel. Jane Grey is a figure I've always found interesting, so I didn't find the lack of action disturbing in the least.
Mod
I have no idea what timezone those timestamps are supposed to be in, but it sure isn't mine. According to those timestamps, I'm apparently on GR in my sleep all the time. XD
Mod
Roll: 5
Current Spot: 40, Alternate: Text Item: Computer
✔ Denise: The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn (Standalone) Review
✔ Jamie: Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare (Spindle Cove #4) Review
✔ LaurLa: Rebellious Desire by Julie Garwood (Standalone) Review
✔ NayNay: The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand (Standalone) Review
Mod
Rolled: 4
New Spot: 44
Reading Options:
- #4 in series
- #44 in series
- Alternate: New Release (first Published on or after November 1, 2015)
Denise wrote: "Spot: 44
Book: Unnatural by Joanna Chambers
Qualification: Enlightenment #4
Pages: 230"
I love Joanna Chambers, I have been putting off reading the rest of the Enlightenment series until I have a moment to really enjoy it but it's been forever! I should just read them :-)
Denise wrote: "LaurLa wrote: "Okay, so totally random question (sort of)... Is anyone else's GR message timestamps off? I noticed it on Friday. Or maybe I've just never noticed it before... but I always thought t..."I think I only noticed it because I happened to be up reading late and decided to just go ahead and stay up to do our roll, so was purposely waiting for 1:00 am... then I went back and saw the time stamp a day later and thought WHAT? But it's probably always been that way and I just never really noticed.... No t that it matters ;-)
Week 6Roll: 4
Spot: 44
240 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #4 in series
Week 6: Roll 1Rolled: 4
New Spot: 44
#4 in series - Barefoot Bay Series by Roxanne St. Clair
Pg 434
Week 6, Roll 1: 4Spot 44:
Book: Sliding Home - Kate Angell
How it fits: 4 in Richmond Rogue series
Pages: 294
Mod
Spot: 44
Book: Unnatural by Joanna Chambers
Qualification: Enlightenment #4
Finished: 20 Feb 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
With Murdo and David having found their HEA, the fourth book in the series follows Murdo's friend Captain Iain Sinclair. Having just resigned his commission, Iain is about to leave for India to take up a position as a government agent that will keep him away from home for years, but he can't bear to leave without trying to mend the friendship he had with his closest companion from childhood. James and he haven't spoken since a passionate encounter and the quarrel thaf followed it several years ago. An invitation to a house party in the country that James will attend gives Iain the perfect opportunity to attempt to restore their friendship - but friendship may not be enough for either of them.
The book is made up of a mixture of 'now' and 'then' scenes, driving the present day storyline forward while so catching the reader up on the characters' background and their relationship to date. Iain has a lot of self-searching to do before being able to admit to himself as well as to James what he truly wants. Another wonderful historical M/M romance from Joanna Chambers, who has yet to disappoint.
Week 6, Roll 1: 4Spot 44:
Book: Sliding Home - Kate Angell
How it fits: 4 in Richmond Rogue series
Pages: 294
Read: 02.19
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I love sports romances so much for some reason that I can't explain. Probably something to do with humanizing bigger than life sports stars. I do know that I always think twice now when I read about sports stars in real life - wondering what's really going on in their lives that we don't know about that might be contributing to their (bad) behavior. But back to this book - it didn't disappoint. We have a closed off ass-holey hero who is really a big marshmellow underneath and a down on her luck heroine who is pushy and stubborn and won't let the hero be an ass-hole any longer. There was some too convenient plot points but overall the development of their relationship was fun to read.
There was a side romance in this book as well. I enjoyed how it was built but I felt it's resolution was given short shrift. I got invested in this couple as much as the main couple and I didn't feel like we got the full affect of them coming together as a couple. It was enough I was just left feeling like I wanted one more scene with them to seal the deal, so to speak.
One more to go and this series will be done - always a great feeling of accomplishment!!
Week 6Roll: 4
Spot: 44
240 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #4 in series
Finished 2/20/16
Rating 4 stars
The 4th in a series about Trent the romance writer and Reed the FBI agent whose investigations into stolen antiquities often lead to internAtional travel. I really like the travel aspects of these stories and the attention to detail. The stories are easy and entertaining and the dialogue is humorous. This story involves domestic abuse and some family issues which felt a little contrived and Trent doesn't always read as "real" but I can suspend disbelief enough.
Week 6: Roll 1Rolled: 4
New Spot: 44
#4 in series - Barefoot Bay Series by Roxanne St. Clair
Pg 434
finished 02/20/16
Rating 4 stars
Tessa Galloway has watched her three best friends find love and happiness, and having babies. Tessa desperately wants to have a baby of her own, but she doesn’t necessarily want the man.
John Brown aka Ian Browning. Has spent the last three years of his life in hell. After seeing the man who murdered his wife sent to prison, Ian/John and his toddler twins, Shiloh and Sam, have been put into the UK Protected Persons Service program and separated, and time is running out for them to be reunited.
And of course the storyline for John and Tessa is whether or not their chemistry is good enough to turn into true love and survive the lies they are both telling each other.
I enjoyed Barefoot by the Sea, a nice ending to a good series. You will have a good laugh, maybe a tear or two. One of the lol moments is when Tessa says you just can't say to a guy (referring to wanting a sperm donation) “Hey, smokin’-hot bad ass sex god with the long hair and deadly tattoos, can you fill ’er up with some of your potent liquid gold?”
I sure do enjoy St. Claire, I loved her Bullet Catcher series, and her standalone Tropical Getaway. She one of my favourites....keep them coming!
Week 6: Roll 1: 4Spot 44:
LaurLa
Book: Sliding Home - Kate Angell
Review: post 193
Denise
Book: Unnatural - Joanna Chambers
Review: post 192
Jamie
Book: 24-Karat Conspiracy - E.M. Lynley
Review: post 194
NayNay
Book: Barefoot by the Sea - Roxanne St. Claire
Review: post 195
Week 6, Roll 2: 5New Spot: 49
4 in series
9 in series
Alternate - New York
Week 6, Roll 2: 5Spot 49:
Book: Vengeance in Death - J.D. Robb
How it fits: set in futuristic NYC
Pages: 388
Mod
Book: Diplomats and Fugitives by Lindsay Buroker
Qualification: The Emperor's Edge #9
Pages: 368
The Challenge Factory
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Cynthia Eden (other topics)Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)
A.J. Thomas (other topics)
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Moira J. Moore (other topics)
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Rolled2
Spot: 30
Alternate: Cover Item Water
Pages 256
Rating 3 stars
Claire Cook is an author that is hit and miss for me, I love her books or I don't. This was an okay quick read, cute story, some funny parts, but not much character depth. Not a book I would recommend.