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R7: SSS "First Class Readers" (1)
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Week 10 Roll 2Rolled 6
Spot 84
Series #4
Read 03/22/16
Rating 3 stars
Page Count 377
Upon a Winter's Night by Karen Harper (Home Valley, #4)Though she is deeply loved by her parents, the fact that Lydia Brand is adopted has always made her feel different—an outsider. But as Christmas approaches and she begins to search for answers about her biological parents, more questions surface.
Soon it seems that the deaths of two women in her small town may not be coincidences, after all. And her pursuit of the truth has left her only with hints of a dark secret—and threats from an unseen adversary.
While she does her best to stave off advances from her parents' preferred suitor, Lydia discovers that her heart truly belongs to the man who's been there all along: her friend Josh Yoder. It's only with his help that Lydia can ensure that the stillness of a winter's night means peace…and not danger.
This was the last book in the series and I was hoping for a great story....but it was just okay. All the details of the Amish traditions was there, the love story was okay, the characters not so good. I just could not connect to them or the mystery of the storyline. Oh well at least I finished the series!
Mod
Spot: 84
Book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Qualification: Alternate: I Don't Understand All That Fuss (Page 2)
Finished: 21 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
A funeral brings the nameless protagonist back to his childhood home for the first time in decades. There, he finds himself recalling long forgotten memories from when he was all of seven years old - memories of strange and fantastical events and a girl who lived at the end of the lane and was far more than she seemed.
A dark and creepy fairytale, strangely enthralling although not the author's best work IMO.
Mod
Roll: 6
Current Spot: 84, Alternate: I Don't Understand All That Fuss
✔ Denise: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (Alternate: I Don't Understand All That Fuss) Review
✔ Jamie: The King of Forever by Kirby Crow (Scarlet and the White Wolf #4) Review
✔ NayNay: Upon a Winter's Night by Karen Harper (Home Valley #4) Review
I'll have mine read and reviewed by later today
Week 10.5# on Dice: 6
New Spot: 84
The King of Forever by Kirby Crow
198 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #4 in series
Finished: 3/23/2016
Rating: 4 stars
Arghh.... I thought this was the final book in the series and I'm reading it thinking, hunh, only 20% left to go... how can they wrap all of this up in 40 pages or so... And of course, to be continued in part 5.... and it's not published yet, hopefully midsummer. So... part of the frustration is that the story was getting really good, I loved Book 1 of this series but Book 2 was a disappointment and while Book 3 was better there was still a bit too much battling between Liall and Scarlet. In Book 4 they're still battling but at least it's more verbal sparring and not cold shoulders. I think the author properly rectified criticism of the earlier books. We also get a lot more world building which was sort of driving me crazy because I thought the series was ending... but in retrospect it is nicely building to a potentially good climax. I think it's pretty clear where it's going but that's okay if the journey is enjoyable. As always, Kirby Crow writes very nicely and it's a pleasure to read. The secondary characters are well drawn and I once again love both Scarlet and Liall. But now I have to WAIT!!!
Mod
Rolled: 3
New Spot: 87
Reading Options:
- #7 in series
- #8 in series
- Alternate: Author F
Mod
Book: The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday
Qualification: Alternate: Author F
Pages: 288
Week 11# on Dice: 3
New Spot: 87
A Way Back To Then by Robert Halliwell
200 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #7 in series
Mod
Spot: 87
Book: The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday
Qualification: Alternate: Author F
Finished: 25 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Ira Adler, former rent-boy and current kept lover of crime lord Cain Goddard, is reasonably content with his lot in life, but a blackmailer threatens to destroy all that. Sent by Goddard to retrieve a porcelain dog containing just the evidence the blackmailer would need to send Goddard himself, and by extension likely Ira as well, to prison, Ira soon finds himself pulled into a wide-reaching web of criminal activity in the underworld of Victorian London, encountering a bitter ex-lover, an old friend in danger, and more. Some of what he learns there includes some very unwelcome realisations about the true extent of the dirty business his lover is mixed up in.
Violent crime, prostitution and the opium trade in the most sordid parts of Victorian London with some M/M romance thrown in. A quick read that sucked me in right from the start - doubtless a series I'll be continueing to read.
Week 11# on Dice: 3
New Spot: 87
A Way Back To Then by Robert Halliwell
200 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #7 in series
Finished: 3/26/2016
Rating: 4 stars
The 7th book in the Tales From Foster High series tells the story of an important secondary character in the earlier books. It's also written by a different author from the rest of the series. Robbie was a great secondary character and I liked getting the continuation of his story. Robbie's first love had a tragic ending so for him to get a HEA was going to be tricky. The author pulled off the new relationship well. I liked Robbie's voice in this book, he's funny, snarky and makes lots of references to Broadway and Disney. I also loved the references to Long Island and Fire Island (I too have slept on that beach Robbie!) Robbie's character was consistent with the earlier books. I felt some of the scenes were a little cartoonish though and that took a little away from this book. The entire character of Sean was ridiculous and even Uncle James didn't seem that real when he had dialogue.
Mod
Roll: 3
Current Spot: 87, Alternate: Author F
✔ Denise: The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday (Alternate: Author F) Review
✔ Jamie: A Way Back To Then by Robert Halliwell (Tales from Foster High #7) Review
✔ NayNay: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Alternate: Author F) Review
Week 11: Roll 1Rolled: 3
New Spot: 87
Alternate: Author F
Read 03/26/16
Rating 4 stars
Page Count 254
Sharp Objects by Gillian FlynnGillian Flynn is an author who can surely shock her readers!! Many times I found myself with my mouth fallen open. Not to mentions using a few F bombs out loud while reading.
Flynn does a great job with the writing and detail description, and also with the creep factor. The killer was a total shock...I don't even know what to write here, it was just a f***ing mind game for the reader.
Mod
Rolled: 5
New Spot: 92
Reading Options:
- #2 in series
- #9 in series
- Alternate: Author E
Week 11.5# on Dice: 5
New Spot: 92
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale by A.J. Thomas
250 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #2 in series
Week 11: Roll 2Rolled: 5
New Spot: 92
#2 in series - The Callahans Series by Lora Leigh
Page Count 376
Deadly Sins by Lora Leigh
Mod
Spot: 92
Book: The Hero Strikes Back by Moira J. Moore
Qualification: Hero #2
Finished: 27 Mar 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Lee and Taro are back on duty in High Scape, where once again things are not quite normal. Rather than an unusually high number of catastrophic events, it is the weather that is going crazy this time, with a sudden cold snap and deep snow in the middle of summer. The populace is not at all thrilled to hear that there's nothing the Sources and Shields can do about the strange phenomenon, and aggressive behaviour against anyone belonging to the Triple S service begins to mount. Meanwhile, both our heroes' mothers are in town - Lee's, to properly get to know her daughter after their long separation and show her how to live in the "real world" by means of matchmaking attempts and criticising her wardrobe choices, much to Lee's consternation; and Taro's, to register her extreme displeasure at the fact that he dared turn down the title of Duke of Westsea and bully him into changing his mind, never mind that so much as stating he might be inclined to take the title after all could get him imprisoned or executed. And like that's not enough trouble to be dealing with, members of the aristocracy are disappearing, prompting rumours of a serial killer at work in the city...
Another fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure romp - even better than the first book in the series. Looking forward to seeing what fate has in store next for these characters I'm already very much in love with.
Mod
Roll: 5
Current Spot: 92, Alternate: Author E
✔ Denise: The Hero Strikes Back by Moira J. Moore (Hero #2) Review
✔ Jamie: Holding Out for a Fairy Tale by A.J. Thomas (Least Likely Partnership #2) Review
✔ NayNay: Deadly Sins by Lora Leigh (The Callahans #2) Review
Week 11: Roll 2Rolled: 5
New Spot: 92
#2 in series - The Callahans Series by Lora Leigh
Page Count 376
Read 03/28/16
Rating 3 stars
Deadly Sins by Lora LeighLogan Callahan has fought hard to forget what happened that fateful day, so long ago. But every night he tries to sleep, he relives the nightmare. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees the woman whose life he could not save…
A newcomer in town, Skye O’Brien is a mystery to Logan. Like him, she is a night owl. Like him, she is fighting her own demons. Like him, she hides a secret in her eyes—a fire that consumes him with every glance. Could she be the one to heal him?
When Logan’s ex-girlfriend is brutally murdered, his past implicates him as suspect—and his new neighbor Skye may be the only person he can turn to. Together, they share an attraction that can’t be denied. But as he searches for the real killer, he discovers that Skye is tracking down a murderer too—and she intends to use him to do it…
The book had what I expected.....suspense, murder, betrayal, mystery and lots of hot sex. But I just found it okay, it was a typical Lora Leigh book. I found with this author her series tend to be the same just with different character names. I knew what was coming before I got there.
Week 11.5# on Dice: 5
New Spot: 92
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale by A.J. Thomas
250 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #2 in series
Finished: 3/28/2016
Rating: 3.5 stars
I remember really liking book 1 (and I gave it 4 stars) and I was looking forward to this because Ray was a great secondary character in the first book. He's still great here and I liked the other MC, Elliot, too. I think the story just was a bit bogged down by a plot that I didn't care about that ultimately didn't make total sense. And Ray's supposed to be a great detective and yet they didn't solve the plot, circumstances happened which got them to the end. I think basically the plot was just there to move the story along and instead it got in the way. And it took away from the building of the MC's relationship and that wasn't a good thing in this case. There is a third book that goes back to the story of the 1st book's MCs, so maybe we'll get more.
Mod
Rolled: 4
New Spot: 96
Reading Options:
- #6 in series
- #9 in series
- Alternate: Text Item: Mountain
Mod
IT WAS FUN!Week 12: Roll 1
Rolled: 4
New Spot: 96
#6 in SHADOW AGENTS series
The Girl Next Door by Cynthia Eden
Hi Ladies!!! It really was fun to be on team with you! I'm sorry we came a bit short in the end :-( But I think we gave it a good go anyways! Hope to see you all around in other challenges!
We were close at least! Thanks everyone, this was lots of fun
Mod
Thank you ladies for a great game, had lots of fun with the three of you. :)
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
The Girl Next Door (other topics)A Shiver of Light (other topics)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (other topics)
Deadly Sins (other topics)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Cynthia Eden (other topics)Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)
A.J. Thomas (other topics)
Lora Leigh (other topics)
Moira J. Moore (other topics)
More...
# on Dice: 6
New Spot: 84
The King of Forever by Kirby Crow
198 pgs / GR
How It Fits: #4 in series