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R7: SS Goal Diggers (8)***Winners***
Week 7 ~ Roll ~ 7 Spot 64 Alternate ~ BrownMandy ~ Accidentally, Undead Again Review
Debbie (Doc) ~ Hillbilly Rockstar -Review
Marty ~ Until Thy Wrath Review
Dawn ~ Captive Witness - Review
Kim ~ Son by - Review
5 of 5 complete
We have a hour before we can roll but we are ready to rock! Roll as soon as we can someone if anyone is awake if not when you get up.
Week 8 - Team 8's Goal DiggersRoll: 5 + 6 = 11
Moved to spot 75
Read series 7, 5, or 75
Alternate: published in 2009 (A book may have different publication years as long as for this task you use an edition published in 2009. Make sure to link the correct edition to show it is one published in that year.) The above link is the one provided on the "alternates" list. It lists books which were popular in 2009. I noticed a lot of books on that list were not actually published in 2009.
Maybe this list will be more helpful?
Orange Prize for Fiction Longlist 2009
Or maybe this?
Best Books of 2009
Mandy wrote: "Week 7 spot 64Read
"
I picked up a couple of these books simply because the covers were so pretty. I guess I need to pull them out and start on the series.
Dawn wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Week 7 spot 64Read
"
I picked up a couple of these books simply because the covers were so pretty. I guess I need to pull them out and ..."
I think I own them all. Or at least the current one but I've only read the first 6. I love the covers =D
Someone remind me of the minimum page count...
Space 75I will read
#5 in the Thirds series
220 Pages
Kim wrote: "Someone remind me of the minimum page count..."I think it is 150 pages
Kim wrote: "Someone remind me of the minimum page count..."150
Thanks guys. I have one to read that's published in 2009, but it is only 199 pages so wanted to check that min page count. It's called When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. I'm in the NICU on the app, so can't link my book. Sorry!
Kim wrote: "Thanks guys. I have one to read that's published in 2009, but it is only 199 pages so wanted to check that min page count. It's called When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. I'm in the NICU on the app..."Link to Kim's book:
When You Reach Me Rebecca Stead
Kim, I hope you are seeing improvement with the baby and your SIL's recovery.
I'm going to read:Kiss & Hell Dakota Cassidy, #1 Hell series
FYI, Mandy, I have four of the books from the "Accidentally" series by this author, but they were random ones and none were the first in the series, but I did have this one which was published in 2009!
Dawn wrote: "I'm going to read:Kiss & Hell Dakota Cassidy, #1 Hell series
FYI, Mandy, I have four of the books from the "Accidentally" series by this author, bu..."
I actually haven't read this one yet. I hope you like it =D
Completion PostWeek 8
Spot: 75
Book: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Qualification: Alternate - Pub 2009
Rating & Review: 3 Stars
I don't really know how to feel about this one. It was kind of strange. I didn't realize until the very end that this was a time travel book. I guess if I paid better attention to book synopsis and Goodreads' book tags, I would have known. So, I was trying to figure out the mystery of what was happening, but didn't have my mind set to even contemplate that time travel was even an option. So, when that bomb was dropped it was a definite WTF? moment. I felt like it was really reaching for an explanation and it annoyed me. Again, had I realized ahead of time that that was even an option/premise, maybe it wouldn't have annoyed me so much.
Spot 75: 7th in a series (Sam Jones)Pretty Boy by Lauren Henderson
Rating: four stars
Sam Jones is a sculptor by trade and an amateur sleuth by accident...mostly. In this episode, a New Year's Eve visit to Lesser Swinfold results in Sam's long-time friend Tom being accused of murdering his girlfriend, single mother Janine and Sam becoming obsessed with the beautiful young Alan, who was Janine's friend.
As usual, there are plenty of potential perpetrators but very little evidence. Tom is under suspicion since he and Janine had a very public fight the night she was murdered. Tom has no alibi and the village inhabitants have all but convicted him. Sam has plenty of alternative suspects in mind - Janine's smothering, hot tempered brother, a rejected suitor, the mysterious father of Janine's son, Pitt.
Added to the mix are Tom's maternal landlady, Emma, her acerbic sister Sheila, Janine's well-meaning sister-in-law, Tamsin, the freeloading American hippies Ethan and Laura, Alan's less than blissfully married parents, and the married owner of a local pub who might have been closer than Janine than anyone knew.
This was a pretty good book. Sam's obsession with Alan seemed a bit unnecessary to the plot, other than as a device to highlight her shaky relationship with her boyfriend Hugo. This isn't my favorite of the series, but it was a good mystery and a very quick airplane read.
Week 8, Spot 75, published in 2009Kiss & Hell Dakota Cassidy, #1 Hell, 3-9-16 (3*)
Delaney Markham is a 30-something medium who lives a fairly lonely life. She has her brother, Kellen, and her BFF, Marcella (who just so happens to be an actual demon from hell, although she's there because of a poor choice rather than true evil intentions). Delaney's life turned upside down as a teenager when she started seeing ghosts who had unfinished business on this plane, so she began helping them cross over into the light. Unfortunately, when they pop up at inopportune moments, that makes it difficult for her to carry on a normal life because people think she is suddenly just talking to herself. She has resigned herself to evenings watching The Ghost Whisperer surrounded by her six scruffy and damaged rescue dogs.
Clyde Atwell repeatedly visits Delaney, but it is not until he appears in true physical form that she learns he is not a ghost but a demon. He seems harmless, and is even followed around with obsessive devotion by her dogs, but she knows the trickery and deception used by demons and it takes him several tries to be able to say what he's come to say to her. He eventually admits he has been sent to drag her back to hell. Somehow she has ticked off the Evil One and got on his list of people to deal with NOW. Clyde is persistent and won't go away, and eventually admits that he needs her help because he, too, like Marcella, really shouldn't have ended up in Lucifer's domain. He agrees to help keep her out of Satan's grasp if she will help him figure out what went wrong when he died to get him sent south.
Honestly, the first third of the book I wanted to stop reading it. I didn't like Delaney at all. Her sharp barbs and inability to let Clyde even finish a sentence without trying to send him away (by burning him with some kind of prism) got old fast. It took that long to even learn what Clyde needed from her because she wouldn't let him talk. She was rude, incredibly vulgar, and constantly used juvenile and/or offensive terms, i.e. all variations of "tard".
Once Clyde's story was told and they started working together and eventually let a romantic relationship happen, then Delaney became more likable. Clyde was awesome from the beginning, so he pretty much made the story enjoyable for me. There were interesting twists at the end regarding other people in their life which works as a good segue into at least one more story. I felt like once I got past the bumps in the beginning and Delaney cleaned up her act, then the story got better and better. It turned out to be a cute romance with enough left to make me want to read book two in the series.
Completed 3/5/16
3 stars
This is book #5 in the Thirds series. I have really enjoyed this series but didn’t like this one as much. However, this installment did answer some lingering questions regarding Cael and Ash’s relationship.
At times, it felt as if Ash was a love struck teenager rather than the fiercest Defense Agent of the Thirds. Ash is foul mouthed and foul tempered but is a gentle as a kitten when it comes to Cael. I do realize that these two are in love, but it is highly illogical for two Destructive Delta members to call each other sweetheart, babe, and honey. I also had issue with the narrator. His voice sounded like a winy kid.
All in all, I enjoyed the storyline and will plug away at this series.
Week 8, Spot 75, 5th in series
Finished 3.10
Rating 4 star
Review
I like Zoey a lot she’s one of my favorite characters in the urban fantasy world. While she may be human she has some magic up her sleeves as an empath and protector of the hidden. Over the years she’s made some strong friendship’s even bringing her friends into the hidden world like Sara. I found Sara’s aspect in the story very intriguing and was hoping that things would work out for her. I’m such a fan of Zoey and Riley they just complement each other so well even if things haven’t been working out I have hope.
Demons in my Driveway is the 5th installment in the Monster Haven series. First off I love the concept for the Monster Haven Series it’s unique and each novel gives us a new insight into the hidden world. I admit I’m not a huge fan of demons so I was a little skeptical as to the role they would play in this book. However, Demons in my Driveway doesn’t disappoint it’s action packed, filled with mystery and just enough romance to leave you wanting more. The characters are great I’ve fallen in love with Zoey and Maurice and secretly hope that one day I’ll find a house with my very own closet monster. The author has created another beautifully done installment in the Monster Haven series and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.
Week 8 ~ Roll ~ 11 Spot 75 Alternate ~ Published 09Mandy ~ Demons in my Driveway - Review
Debbie (Doc) ~ Against The Grain - Review
Marty ~ Pretty Boy - Review
Dawn ~ Kiss and Hell - Review
Kim ~ When You Reach Me - Review
5 of 5 complete
Week 9 - Team 8's Goal DiggersRoll: 6 + 5 = 11
Moved to spot 86
Read series 8, 6, or 86
Alternate: Cover Item/Moon
150+ pgs.
(Why can't it be circus or St. Patty's Day related???? Huh?? Why??)
I may wait under Sunday to see the roll for SSS. I'll post my book soon.
Debbie, I think I'm going to do the same. I have a few to choose from and I'm going to see if I can knock out two birds with one stone.
Kim wrote: "Debbie, I think I'm going to do the same. I have a few to choose from and I'm going to see if I can knock out two birds with one stone."Good luck to both of us on finding one book that will work!
Spot 86
Qualifies: #6 in the Thunder Point Series
Week 9, Spot 86I'll be reading Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb (#8 in "In Death" series)
Don't groan... I just realized it was a #8 or I wouldn't put you through this series again! haha
Week 9 Spot 86 Read
Altenate with Moon on the cover. Finished 3/13
Rating 5 Stars
Review
Chai is a gypsy matchmaker she inherited the family business from her grandmother and has worked hard to have a perfect 100% success rate. When a recent client ends up pregnant and her husband is claiming he’s not the father she’s pulled in by the alpha werewolf to figure out what went wrong. Chai has never had a issue before where the Bandhati Sacrament was preformed and this situation would come up. She was so sure the match was perfect that after the ceremony they should have been bound together.
Arriving back home with her assistant Yas in hand they arrive at the alpha’s home in hopes of quickly getting to the bottom of what’s really going on. However it’s clear something happened because the groom is clearly interested in more than just Chai fixing his marriage. After speaking to the bride who has just delivered two healthy baby boys she’s admit she hasn’t been with anyone. Will Chai be able to figure out what is really going on? What about the blast from the past that just shows up to win her attentions.
I adore Chai not to be confused with the drink but don’t call her Latte either. While she may be a matchmaker who wears designer shoes that doesn’t stop her from doing what needs to be done. Like traveling into the spirit world to bring her grandmother back to give her some help with a spell. She’s also joined by Yas her assistant who is the only reason that Chai has her life together. I wanted to dislike Jarret but the more we get to know him the harder it is after all he’s smitten with Chai and clearly things didn’t go as planned with his marriage.
I’ve had Forgotten Alpha only on my kindle for a short time but have been curious to check it out for a while. When the chance to read it came up for my SS game I just had to go with it after all I’ve not read many Gypsy books so it was calling my name. The concept for a matchmaker who pairs up supernatural beings was really unique and I loved the idea that someone like Chai was doing it. Forbidden Alpha is an action packed novel loaded with supernatural beings, good guys and bad guys, plus a mystery that could cost Chai her life. I really enjoyed the authors writing style it’s smooth creating a hard to put down novel that captured my attention right from the start. I think the author did an excellent job taking the supernatural world and putting her own twist on it. I can’t wait to check out more books in the series. Perfect for fans of the Urban Fantasy world with just enough romance and mystery to keep you wanting more.
Oops. Never said what I was reading. I'm going to read
, which has a moon on the cover.
Completion PostWeek 9
Spot: 86
Book: Wake by Amanda Hocking
Qualification: Alternate: Cover Item/Moon
Rating & Review: 3 Stars
So, I love audiobooks. Like I LOVE audiobooks. There are many instances where I enjoy a book more than I probably would have had I read the dead-tree format because the production and narrator(s) are so good. This was not one of those instances. The characters (especially the female characters) all came across very whiny to me anyways, but the narrator gave them all super whiny voices and I found myself cringing though the whole book. When I can't relate to or fall in love with the characters, a book is kind of a flop for me. I had anticipated giving this a 2 star rating (I never rate anything 1 star unless I absolutely positively can not finish it), but the ending was enough that it made me want to know what happened next so, I upped the star rating to a three and intend to listen to the next in series... reluctantly.
Kim wrote: "Completion Post"
Yikes, I watched the video trailer for this book. It looks freaky!!! I think I own it. I'll have to check it out. Other reviews say the second book is much better but there's a lot of background info. you need to read in the first book for it all to make sense.
It was decent. I would just highly recommend to read it, not listen to the audio. I haven't read anything else by her yet. I own
, which my daughter and sister swear is much, much better, so I'll have to give that a go soon.
Week 9, Spot 86Conspiracy in Death J.D. Robb, #8 "In Death" series (4*), 3-16-16, review
Lt. Eve Dallas is after another serial killer, this one a talented physician with a god complex who is preying on people who live on the streets. Dallas also has a run-in with a jealous underling who has had it in for her since they were in the police academy together. One thing leads to another, and that officer's complaints end up with Dallas being asked to turn in her badge. There's still a serial killer on the loose. What else is she to do? She has to go rogue, of course.
Another goody in the series.
Kim wrote: "It was decent. I would just highly recommend to read it, not listen to the audio. I haven't read anything else by her yet. I own , which my daughter and sister swear is ..."I see her books pop up a lot in challenges so there must be a lot of people reading her.
Spot 86 - Completed
Completed 3/16/16
4 stars
Review:
Book 6 in the Thunder Point series and Thunder Point Oregon is still going strong. In this installment, two new characters of Thunder Point are introduced - Iris and Seth. While Seth was mentioned in book 6, not much detail was given. Seth was destined for fame and fortune. Unfortunately a tragic accident, took Seth’s career as a pro-football player away. Seth decides to return home to begin a new career as sheriff since Mac was promoted. Seth and his father have been estranged for many years, and Seth knows that returning home to win back is father is not going to be an easy task. Seth also has to win back his ex-best friend and neighbor, Iris. Due to poor communication 17 years ago, neither have spoken.
While I have really enjoyed this series, this one felt a little off. The other folks in Thunder Point were barely mentioned. I also found in hard to believe that Seth would not have spoken to Iris to find out why she broke off their friendship. 17 years seems a bit long to carry a grudge. All in all, I still love the series and plan on reading book 7 soon.
Debbie (Doc) wrote: "Spot 86 - CompletedWhile I have really enjoyed this series, this one felt a little off. The other folks in Thunder Point were barely mentioned. "
I felt the same way when I read it, Debbie. I thought it didn't feel connected to the other books in the series. I wondered at the time if someone besides Carr wrote this one.
Hi everyone. I'll be reading down to the wire tonight. Sorry, it's been a rough week.
Marty wrote: "Hi everyone. I'll be reading down to the wire tonight. Sorry, it's been a rough week."Been there, Marty. Don't stress. This is supposed to be fun. ;)
Spot 86 - 8th in a series (Maisie Dobbs)
A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear
Rating: four stars
Maisie Dobbs has lost her beloved mentor, Maurice Blanche, who has left her a small fortune. She's been followed by two men and a woman for the past few weeks. As this episode in the series opens, Maisie cleverly traps the two men into revealing their identities (they're policemen) and sends them off to inform Chief Inspector MacFarland that she's made them.
It turns out that this is a test of Maisie's detective abilities in preparation for turning her into an undercover agent in his Majesty's Secret Service. Her assignment is to investigate the activities of the pacifist professor and author Grenville Liddicote, the founder of a private college in Cambridge, who is suspected of having political ties that are dangerous to national security.
Maisie poses as a professor of philosophy to gain employment at the college and goes to work infiltrating Liddicote inner circle. Unfortunately, Liddicote is murdered before she can make much progress. To make matters worse, she faces resistance from the very agency who employed her, especially when she turns up some not so savory facts about Britain's conduct during WWI. The National Socialist Workers' Party (the Nazis) rears its ugly head in this episode as well.
I'm assuming that Winspear is going to pair Maisie's regular detective work with spying from here on. It's the 1930s and we're heading for WWII at this point in the series. It'll be interesting to see what Maisie is in for, once Hitler comes to power.
I've never heard of this series. It looks good. I'm going to try to find the first one. Thanks, Marty!
Week 9 ~ Roll ~ 11 Spot 86 Alternate ~ Moon Item/CoverMandy ~ Forbidden Alpha - Review
Debbie (Doc) ~ The Homecoming - Reviews
Marty ~ A Lesson in Secrets - Reviews
Dawn ~ Conspiracy in Death - Reviews
Kim ~ Wake - Reviews
5 of 5 complete
Ready for someone to roll..... Sorry I had a crazy day yesterday and crashed while reading lol
Current Space 86Rollled 4 + 4
New space 94
Read Book 9 in a series
Read Book 4 in a series
Alt: Cover Item Weapon(s)
I'm going to read
for weapon on the cover.
The Challenge Factory
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Read
Finished 3/3/16
Rating 5 star
Review
I love that the prior girls keep showing up in each new book but we do have a couple that takes center stage. The chemistry between Sam and Phoebe is hot but at first she thinks he's in drag lol. It's a good thing that changes and they pair don't have to deny the attraction between them. Only Sam has a secret that may change everything that is if they make it out alive.
I've been a huge fan of the Accidental Friends series each book just keeps getting better and has new supernatural beings plus we get the prior characters intertwined. The urban fantasy concept is one of my favorite add in a happy ever after and a little humor it all just works out perfectly. I really enjoyed the twist on the vampires in Accidentally Dead, Again it jut works great. The characters are well developed and easy to connect with I just adore all the girls and the guys have all redeemed themselves. One of my favorite series each novel is captivating hard to put down and a beautifully written happy ever after. Highly recommend.