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R7: SSS "First Class Readers" (1)
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Jamie
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Mar 08, 2016 05:15AM
I'm just starting my book but I'll have it read in time
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Spot: 64
Book: Magic on the Hunt by Devon Monk
Qualification: Allie Beckstrom #6
Finished: 08 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Leander, the long-dead powerful magic user who followed Allie through the gate back from death and has been wreaking havoc in shadow form, is searching for a body to possess. While Allie and friends are on the move trying to stop him, someone even higher up the food chain in the Authority than the still missing Sedra is heading to Portland to demand explanations for all the chaos that's been happening there lately. And despite the fact the Victor and Shame have succeeded in temporarily binding Daniel to obey Allie's orders instead of taking control of her at will, he is far from done with pursuing his own agenda...
Lots of action, lots of ever more convoluted plotting by Allie's dad (and I do so wish we could finally be done with that because I'm getting a little tired of endless scenes of dear old deceased dad being a manipulative bastard in her head), lots of Zay being bossy (which never ceases to annoy me). I was happy to see the Hounds getting a little bit more time on the page this time, hopefully that's a trend that will continue in the next book. All in all, another good read despite minor annoyances.
Mod
Roll: 2
Current Spot: 64, Alternate: Brown Cover
✔ Denise: Magic on the Hunt by Devon Monk (Allie Beckstrom #6) Review
✔ Jamie: Necropolis by Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborne & Griffin #4) Review
✔ LaurLa: Family Secrets by Jamie Hill (Alternate: Brown Cover) Review
✔ NayNay: The Handfasted Wife by Carol McGrath (Alternate: Brown Cover) Review
Book finished, I'll review it tomorrow!
Week 8, Roll 2: 2Spot 64:
Book: Family Secrets - Jamie Hill
How it fits: Alternate: Cover: Brown
Pages: 302
Read: 03.08
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was an okay book. It was an easy, comfortable read. There was a suspense story-line and while somewhat interesting, it never produced any tension. The love story was, as I said, easy and comfortable. No conflict between them, nothing that created any tension in them either. The characters weren't quite cardboard characters, there was some development and growth in them, but for the most part everybody played their part and did what they were supposed to in the story and we ended up with our HEA. I have the series and will likely finish it if the books work for challenges, but I won't be in a hurry. The author didn't make me want to read more of her world or more of her, really.
Week 8.5# on Dice: 2
Spot: 64
Necropolis by Jordan L. Hawk
200 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #4 in series
3/8/2016
Rating: 4 stars
The 4th book in a series and by now the story follows a somewhat established plot line. Established couple Griffin and Whyborne are called to Egypt to help their friend Christine. I'm not usually very enamored of ghoulish zombie types but these stories always manage to pull it off without being too gruesome and I really like the relationship between G&W. The whole series is building to some sort of resolution about Whyborne's sorcerer abilities and we made some progress on that here as well although it's clear he still doesn't really understand exactly what those powers are and why he has them. So a bit predictable, the villain wasn't too surprising but another entertaining installment in a good series.
Mod
Rolled: 5
New Spot: 69
Reading Options:
- #6 in series
- #9 in series
- #69 in series
- Alternate: Cover: Green
Week 9, Roll 1: 5Spot 69:
Book: Legal Briefs - N.M. Silber
How it fits: Alternate: Cover: Green
Pages: 335
*Double checking with Ezi that this book is green enough. Looks olive greeny to me but that could just be me...
Week 9# on Dice: 5
Spot: 69
Douglas: Lord of Heartache by Grace Burrowes
375 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alt - Green Cover
Mod
Spot: 69
Book: A Lady of Spirit by Shelley Adina
Qualification: Magnificent Devices #6
Finished: 10 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
After the revelations about their backgrounds they received in A Lady of Resources, Maggie and Lizzie, along with Claire, Andrew, Tigg, and Lizzie's half-brother Claude, are headed to Penzance to visit their maternal grandparents. The reception, however, especially for Maggie, is a lot less warm and welcoming than expected. Hoping to learn more about the parents she has never known, Maggie soon hears two conflicting stories regarding her father's identity and her own conception with no way to tell which one is the truth. And on top of all the family drama, the girls also manage to stumble across a sinister undertaking at the beach that puts everyone they care about in the utmost danger and might have consequences that could change history - and it's up to Maggie to prevent a catastrophy.
This might just be my favourite book in the series so far. It has absolutely everything I love about these books, and lots of it: action and adventure, a great cast of characters (and yay for the return of the adventurous chickens!), ingenious devices, humour, consistent and ever ongoing character development, a dash of romance, ... While something about the previous book felt a little off to me, the full extent of the series' awesomeness is back with a vengeance in this one. An absolutely engrossing read I had great difficulty putting down.
Finished my book. I will probably review tomorrow, tired tonight
Week 9, Roll 1: 5Spot 69:
Book: Legal Briefs - N.M. Silber
How it fits: Alternate: Cover: Green
Pages: 335
Read: 03.12
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Laugh out loud funny! Is that enough of a review? Prolly not... The smexy was good, really good. Oh, and the player turned boyfriend was really sweet and hot. This was overall just a really fun book - the whole series is. Ms. Silber does a great job writing humor. There is some OTT scenarios done just for the humor but at the same time they are subtle enough that you can accept them as part of the story. I don't know it that makes sense but it does in my mind. Anyway, there was a touch of suspense in this one as there are in all of them in the series, just enough to give a zing to the love story line. Overall, as I said, LOL funny!
Week 9# on Dice: 5
Spot: 69
Douglas: Lord of Heartache by Grace Burrowes
375 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alt - Green Cover
Finished: 3/11/2016
Rating: 3 stars
This is part of a long series and apparently in the other books the two main characters here, Douglas and Gwen, are a bit prickly. Perhaps that's why the book isn't that engrossing or enjoyable, I found both of them to be a bit boring and off putting. They have legitimate reasons for their standoffishness, Gwen has an illegitimate child and was ill used by an upper crust gentleman. Douglas has had some troubles that weren't of his own making (family members who haven't done well with maintaining estates and money) and he's lost a few of his family members. Fortunately for him he's being helped by the other families in this series. Those others set about doing a bit of match making and arrange to have Douglas and Gwen meet. In some ways I did enjoy Douglas' attempts to seduce Gwen, he is very correct and yet very persuasive. I also liked the interactions with Gwen's daughter, Rose. But it just felt a bit anachronistic to me and a bit contrived so I never really warmed to it. Pleasant enough and it's probably a nice addition to the series if you read the whole series.
Week 9: Roll 1Rolled: 5
New Spot: 69
Alternate: Cover: Green
357 pages
Read 03/11/16
Rating 5 stars
by Kathryn Le VequeSynopsis
1471 A.D. - Ten years after the Battle of Towton, Sir Kenton le Bec (THE LION OF THE NORTH) serves Warwick, "The Kingmaker", as the man's attack dog. There is no fiercer knight in Warwick's arsenal than Kenton le Bec, a powerful and cunning fighter. Kenton has been tasked with securing Babylon Castle, a fortress that secures a road between Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is a strategic castle and currently in the hands of Edward's forces. When Kenton and his army move in, all of that changes. Yet things are not always clear-cut....
Lady Nicola Aubrey-Thorne is the widow of a great Edwardian supporter. When Kenton conquers her home of Babylon Castle, she offers him nothing but resistance and hatred. Kenton sees a beautiful, spoiled woman who fights him on every turn, yet the spark of attraction is there. It has been since the beginning. As Kenton comes to learn the darker secrets of Babylon, he comes to understand Lady Thorne and her sorrows. And his attraction towards her grows beyond his control.
Join Kenton and Nicola in a world of opposing loyalties yet united attraction. Their lives become irrevocably intertwined even if their loyalties to the men who would be king differ. The passion they feel for one another, and the love, is something few people ever experience. It is a complicated and complex situation, one where difficult decisions must be made if Kenton and Nicola are to remain together.
When Kenton is captured by enemy soldiers, Nicola must do all she can to save the man who she once considered her enemy. Will she be too late?
I enjoy Kathryn Le Veque books for so many reasons, one of those reasons is she writes timeless romances. They are so beautiful and touching, what every romance readers want. Her main characters, Kenton and Nicola are so well developed that I found myself liking them immediately. The book was filled with brave knights, some twist and turns, and a heartfelt romance. Walls of Babylon was a nice afternoon read.
Week 9: Roll 1: 5Spot 69:
LaurLa
Book: Legal Briefs - N.M. Silber
Review: post 264
Denise
Book: A Lady of Spirit - Shelley Adina
Review: post 262
Jamie
Book: Douglas: Lord of Heartache - Grace Burrowes
Review: post 265
NayNay
Book: Walls of Babylon: De Wolfe Pack/Great Lords of le Bec - Kathryn Le Veque
Review: post 266
Week 9, Roll 2: 3New Spot: 72
7 in series
2 in series
Alternate: Text Item Midnight
Week 9, Roll 2: 3Spot 72:
Book: Holiday in Death - J.D. Robb
How it fits: 7 in In Death series
Pages: 340
Mod
Spot: 72
Book: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Qualification: Shades of Magic #2
Pages: 508
Week 9, Roll 2: 3New Spot: 72
Alternate: Text Item Midnight
360 pages
Fall from Pride by Karen Harper
Denise wrote: "Hey, you're up early today! I didn't even think to check before now! :D Yay, extra reading time for me this Sunday, so I can go for a longer book. <3Spot: 72
[bookcover:A Gathering of Shadows|254..."
Not up early on Sunday... Up laaaaate on Saturday! Remember, our 1:00 am is your 8:00 am (or something like that!) :-)
Glad to give you extra reading time!
Mod
Mod
Spot: 72
Book: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Qualification: Shades of Magic #2
Finished: 13 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Review:
It's been four months since Kell and Lila met, travelled across universes, defeated the Dane twins in White London, and parted ways again. Four months since Kell bound Rhy's life to his own in order to save him. Four months since Lila followed her dream and made her way onto a pirate ship, leaving behind all the Londons she's been to for the vastness and freedom of the seas. Now Red London is about to host the Element Games, a huge competition of magic drawing competitors from three empires and providing a spectacle unlike any other. And our players from different Londons are about to cross paths again while a new power has claimed the White throne, flooding a frozen world with new life.
After immediately and irrevocably falling in love with A Darker Shade of Magic last year, its sequel was easily one of my most anticipated books for this year. I was thrilled the moment I saw it in the stores on release day, and even more thrilled reading it today - absolutely unputdownable, it sucked me right back into this truly amazing world and even managed to surpass the first part. Suffice it to say, even without the cliffhanger at the end it certainly assures the next book a place at the very top of my most wanted list of books to be released in future.
I'll pick a book later today or tomorrowI can't believe we're up to the 70s already!
Week 9, Roll 2: 3New Spot: 72
Alternate: Text Item Midnight
360 pages
Read 03/14/16
Rating 4 stars
Fall from Pride by Karen Harpertext item Midnight page 280
"Are you managing to stay awake?" Sarah asked Nate as she came quietly into the room around midnight.
I really enjoy Karen Harper's books, she is so good at suspense, she keeps the reader guessing till the very end. Her detailed description of the Amish and the countryside is vivid and bright. This was a intriguing story, with well written characters, suspense, and a sweet romance. Harper's books are always fast paced, heart pumping, wholesome stories.
Hello my fellow First Class Ladies!I am going to be on a vacation starting this Saturday (3/20) and will be gone through the following Sunday (3/27). It's a cruise so I will have very limited, if any, internet access starting mid-day on the first Sunday. I really thought I had things planned out but it looks like one of the rolls that I will miss will be at a crucial point - likely the week that will tip teams over the 100 mark, or very very close. I'd like to say I might be able to sneak in some internet time while on the cruise, but I don't want to mess up the team if that doesn't happen. So I think the best thing would be for me to withdraw from the team. That way my tardiness on getting a book posted in time for the 3/27 roll won't hurt you guys.
I'm really sorry to leave. This is one of my favorite challenges and while I knew I was going to be gone when we started, I didn't really think we'd be this far along to where being gone would affect things.
I can still read and post for the roll we're on but I'll PM Ezi that I'll be withdrawing as of the 3/17 roll.
Mod
Week 9.5# on Dice: 3
Spot: 72
Collision Course by K.A. Mitchell
256 pgs/GR
How It Fits: #2 in series
Finished: 3/15/2016
Rating: 2 stars
I really liked Joey, he's an endearing character. I also liked the secondary characters in this story, in the form of Aaron's siblings. I did not like Aaron very much and there is no relationship here beyond a lot of sex scenes. It's not clear what Aaron's motivations are and he's not nice to Joey once he's had his way with him. And it's really not clear what makes him decide to actually have a relationship with Joey. Perfectly acceptable prose, I just can't with 2 dimensional relationships any more.
Mod
Roll: 3
Current Spot: 72, Alternate: Text Item: Midnight
✔ Denise: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #2) Review
✔ Jamie: Collision Course by K.A. Mitchell (Florida Books #2) Review
✔ LaurLa: Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #7) Review
✔ NayNay: Fall from Pride by Karen Harper (Alternate: Text Item: Midnight) Review
Completion Post
Week 9, Roll 2: 3
Spot 72:
Book: Holiday in Death - J.D. Robb
How it fits: 7 in In Death series
Pages: 340
Read: 03.16
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Another great book for the series. It was kind of sad to see Eve struggle trying to understand how to get through the Christmas season. Sad to think she never had a reason to celebrate or family to care. But also gratifying to see her accept that now she has both. The mystery/suspense was good. Had me a little fooled in the middle because I wanted to follow Eve where she went even though I knew she had to be wrong. Kind of funny how the author can convince you you're wrong when you know you aren't. Anyway, I'm about to start on the books I haven't read in the series so I'll definitely be in the dark going forward.
Mod
Rolled: 6
New Spot: 78
Reading Options:
- #7 in series
- #8 in series
- Alternate: Cover Item: No People
Woo nice roll!Back with a pick in a bit
Week 10# on Dice: 6
Spot: 78
Fall into You by Roni Loren
336 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alt - No people on cover
Good luck, Ladies! Ezi offered me a 'vacation' pass to stay in the game, but I really think it will be all but decided by the time I get back... so I wish you guys happy reading and good luck - Go for the WIN!!!
Week 10: Roll 1Rolled: 6
New Spot: 78
Alternate: Cover Item: No People
Read 03/18/16
Rating 4 stars
Ricochet by Sandra BrownSynopsis
When Detective Sergeant Duncan Hatcher is summoned to the home of Judge Cato Laird in the middle of the night to investigate a fatal shooting, he knows that discretion and kid-glove treatment are the keys to staying in the judge's good graces and keeping his job.
At first glance, the case appears open-and-shut: Elise, the judge's trophy wife, interrupted a burglary in progress and killed the intruder in self-defense. But Duncan is immediately suspicious of Elise's innocent act. His gut feeling is that her account of the shooting is only partially true -- and it's the parts she's leaving out that bother him.
Determined to learn the dead man's connection to the Lairds and get at the truth, Duncan investigates further and quickly finds his career, as well as his integrity, in jeopardy -- because he can't deny his increasing attraction to Elise Laird, even if she is a married woman, a proven liar, and a murder suspect.
When Elise seeks Duncan out privately and makes an incredible allegation, he initially dismisses it as the manipulative lie of a guilty woman. But what if she's telling the truth? Then that single fatal gunshot at her home takes on even more sinister significance, possibly involving Duncan's nemesis, the brutal crime lord Robert Savich.
And then Elise goes missing . . .
It was crazy , a lot of action, twist and turns, and steamy sex scenes. The story is so fast and furiously that the book is very easy to read. And it was impossible to guess every twist and turn, I love that, I think that makes for a good read when it keeps you guessing till the end. I would have given it 5 stars, but the ending was not the big bang I thought it would be, but still worth the read.
Have a great trip LaurLa! We'll miss you.
Jamie wrote: "Have a great trip LaurLa! We'll miss you."THANKS!!!
Have fun Laurla...I hope it's somewhere relaxing and wonderful
Reading... Should be finished and posted in a bit
Mod
Spot: 78
Book: Magic on the Line by Devon Monk
Qualification: Allie Beckstrom #7
Finished: 19 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Something has poisoned magic in Portland, with Allie herself getting sick every time she tries to use it, and the Veiled are possessing people and spreading a deadly infection throughout the city. Bartholomew Wray, who has taken over control of the Authority in Portland and whose uncompromising methods and bullying are not endearing him to anyone, refuses to believe in any such thing as magic poisoning and has no intention of doing anything about it. It's up to Allie and her allies to do find a way stop it - and a way to stop Bartholomew before he destroys everything the Authority is supposed to stand for.
This one's a gamechanger, with another extremely evil cliffhanger at the end. Lots of action, ever fluctuating loyalties and a lot of hard choices for all the characters at the center of the story - one of the best books in the series so far IMO.
Mod
Roll: 6
Current Spot: 78, Alternate: Cover Item: No People
✔ Denise: Magic on the Line by Devon Monk (Allie Beckstrom #7) Review
✔ Jamie: Fall into You by Roni Loren (Alternate: Cover Item: No People) Review
✔ NayNay: Ricochet by Sandra Brown (Alternate: Cover Item: No People) Review
Week 10# on Dice: 6
Spot: 78
Fall into You by Roni Loren
336 pgs/GR
How It Fits: Alt - No people on cover
Finished: 3/19/2016
Rating: 3.5 stars
I recently read book 5 in this series and I only gave it 2 stars. I was hesitant about reading this one but since I own it and my goal is to actually read books I own and it fit the Alternate I dove in. I'm glad I did, I liked this so much better than the other. It does look like it's one of the more popular in the series and I wonder if things went downhill a bit after. There was still way too many erotic scenes for my liking although they were quite good and not TOO over the top. The BDSM seemed to fit although as always I question how these neophyte subs seem to be able to handle so much immediately but this is fantasy. I liked the character of Charli and I liked the way Grant was with her although Grant was a little frustrating. Since we knew what he was thinking though I think it worked. Roni Loren is a pretty good writer and I wasn't ever bored. I think it just comes down to believing in the characters with her work for me.
Mod
Rolled: 6
New Spot: 84
Reading Options:
- #4 in series
- #8 in series
- Alternate: I Don't Understand All That Fuss
Mod
Book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Qualification: Alternate: I Don't Understand All That Fuss (Page 2)
Pages: 181
I have 4 options but I'm waiting to see what I have to read for another challenge, I'll know later today
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