The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R7: SS "Perfect 10" (10)
message 151:
by
Dora
(last edited Feb 13, 2016 02:31AM)
(new)
Feb 13, 2016 02:31AM


reply
|
flag

Week 5
Spot 40
Alternate text computer
The Wrong Man 220 pages
where I could bury my head in computer work and hide... ~ Loc. 1537

Alternate Computer
How it fits: Location 1161 Diallo pulled out a handheld computer and started sorting through data.
Completion
Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities

read Feb 13 through Feb 15
rating 5 stars
Review:
Liam and Ondry are back. I love the second book of this series.
Liam is more confident of his place but still can be set back. Fortunately Commander Thackery is gone but the special ops replacement who is also a linguist is Susan and she may be even more dangerous because she thinks she know more than she does. She is brilliant but unless really uncertain afraid to ask questions directly trying to find round about way to get the information she needs to complete her mission. that bring Liam and Ondry into Danger but never underestimate there Love and ability to survive.

Spot 40
Alternate text computer
The Wrong Man 220 pages
Qualifies: where I could bury my head in computer work and hide... ~ Loc. 1537
Read: 2/15/16
5 stars
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. Brandon was fun but seemed a bit shallow in The Right Words. Turns out he has so much more to him. He is a loyal friend, a great boss, and cares deeply about people. Unfortunately he was badly hurt when very young. As a result he won't let anyone get too close in a relationship for fear of being hurt again. He's net even really aware of his walls. When Jake comes along he has to try to get through Brandon's walls. Only reason he finds a crack is because his super sweet dog Mack makes one for him. Watching these two wonderful men rediscover each other was such fun. They both have to let go of the past so that they can find their future together. It was sweet, and funny, and so heartbreakingly romantic at times. I highly recommend this.

Roll 4 + 5 = 9
New Spot = #40

Date Read : 2/16/2016
Rating :★★★★
How Fits : Alternate Text - "computer"
Page 66 - "Their heating and light are run by a computer inside a little shed..."
Review : I wasn't really sure what to expect of this book...I've never read anything by this author (Margaret Atwood) but have heard of several other books of hers. I hadn't heard of this particular book and no GR friends had reviewed it...however it was one of the only books I could find for another challenge that fit the category (GR Award Nominee for Science Fiction) that sounded interesting to me. I really enjoyed it...the premise of the book doesn't seem too completely impossible (in the not too distant future, when people have mostly all lost their jobs and things are very difficult to come by) a married couple who have been living in their car for quite some time decide to take up an offer for housing and a job....the only catch is they have a home for a month, then the following month go into prison....then back to their home, then back to prison.
While at first, things are perfect (Stan and Charmaine have an actual home...have food...have jobs...etc), they soon come to realize that there are more opportunities out there, beyond what they'd ever think of, and it causes issues for them and their marriage.
There were some really funny parts of the books, and other parts that make me really wonder if this could happen at some point (wouldn't surprise me if it could happen), which kind of scared me. But overall, a good book and glad I picked it.

Spot = #40

Date Read : 2/13/2016
Rating :★★★
A standalone
Book about an aftermath of terrible accident with two teenage girls told in three different POVs - by 2 girls in past/present and by one girl's mother in present.
I liked that the story was told this way. It gave an interesting insight into family dynamics from child's and from parent's perspective. An overly controlling mother, a need to be accepted and popular, a pressure to meet high expectations and the cost of achieving the goals. So many difficult choices for a young person with developing sense of her own personality and too little life experience to make better choices.
When the decisions made by parents, that from the first glance have nothing to do with lives of their children, suddenly start a tragic chain of events, two young lives will change forever.
This was a really good story with great potential but I felt like something was missing and there were things that didn't quite add up with plain logic.


Read: Heart of Evil by Heather Graham
Date: 2/17/2016
Rating: ***
Review: This book was ok, it was entertaining but I didn't think it was as good as the first one. I'll keep reading the series though because I still liked it. I like ghost story romance novels.
Computer: "Ashley swung around in the chair, hitting the on button on the computer that sat on a stand next to the desk." Page 178


A Standalone
Rating: 5 stars
Date Read: 18. 02. 2016
Review: The book shows one day of a life in a concentration camp in Soviet Russia. The prisoner Ivan Denisovich ends up there falsely accused as a German spy and, when not forced to work on some useless constructions, tries to stay warm, out of trouble, get enough food and smuggle tobacco and some objects he is not allowed to have.
5 stars because the author belongs to rare ones who spoke about the communist crimes and their concentration camps, which were equally horrible as the German ons, but even today are still overlooked.

Week 5 Spot 40
Book: Reaping Angels by Laura Thalassa.
Date Read: 2/16/16
Rating: 4 Stars
Theme: standalone
Review:
This is my first book by the author and I really really liked it. First of all, its a book about superheroes. And secondly, our super villain, X falls for our super heroine, Angel. And there is still another super villain. The book was pretty superficial or I would have given it all 5 stars, but it was still entertaining. I wish the author would do more world building, and a little more romance between the hero and the heroine. But it was a quick, entertaining read.

Spot #47
I Author

finished 2/21/16
4 stars
It's been a while when I last read a Kate Daniels book. I didn't care for it much then. I guess my taste in paranormal books has changed since or this third installment in series was just that much better.
I liked the action in this book and given a back story about Kate's real parentage, she didn't look so carelessly stupid in her actions anymore. Her reckless moves were legit in a view of her real power to back them off.


Read: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Date: 2/20/2016
Rating: *****
Review: I was pretty sure that the previous book was going to be the last book in the series for some reason. So I was super happy to when this book came out! Love Katie and Curran, they are my most favorite UF couple :)

Spot #47

2/24/16
4.5 stars
I don't know why I drug my feet for so long when it came to this series. I am loving it. Sometimes my stubborn streak just ends up working against me. ;)
I enjoyed the hell out of this book. The story was great, plenty of action, forward progress for Dex and Sloane, and lots more info on the side couples.
For me, one of the best things about this book was Sloane. I'm not sure why I loved him more here than the previous books but I did. He was so not in control of himself. Between meds, worry for Dex, and worry for the rest of his team he was seriously having issues for a good portion of the book. I loved the vulnerability that came through from him.
Dex kinda bugged me in this one though. It was less funny Dex and way more dark and out of control Dex. Necessary maybe, but way less fun. There were also quite a few moments I just wanted to smack him and tell him to engage his brain. His multitude of stupid moments were why I knocked off half a star. This book ends with Sloane and Dex in a really good place in their relationship and it made me so happy.
This book sets things up nicely for Calvin & Hobbs and Ash & Cael's stories. I am so looking forward to both books. I have really developed a thing for Ash and Hobbs, for very different reasons of course since those two couldn't be more different. =D
I have to say though, for all the great things going on here, the best scene in the book is the very last one. I had such a good time and just had to laugh at Tony, Sloane, and Ash!! Too funny!!

Spot 47
The Chronicles of Darius: Changing Times

Finished 2/25/16
rated 4.5 stars
Well I came into this story not having read any of the others in this series so I was expecting to miss some back story and I do want to read the previous books to see what I missed. The author has this written as if one of the MC is telling us his history in person not the worst style but not my favorite either. Lots of adventure and people are making statement as if we know the back history but again expected this. Ends at a logical point and doesn't have the cliffhanger feel. I hate series where the stories end in a cliffhanger and we have to buy the next story to finish the logical story. a nice fantasy/sci-fi crossbreed.

Roll 1 + 6 = 7
New Spot = #47

Date Read : 2/25/2016
Rating :★★★★
How Fits : #4 in series/I author
Review : My favorite book in the series so far...I love that we are seeing Kate and Curran really coming together and expressing how the feel (even in the way thats funny). Makes me think of a boy who likes a girl and pulls on her ponytail! The banter between the two is fun and I'm excited to read the next book and see where they go!

#4 in a series

Date Read: 26. 2. 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The moral of this story is to read carefully next time and don't trust anyone, not even your own narrator. I like Christie better than Doyle because she lets you at least follow the crime and gives you all informations you need but twists and turns the plot in a way a reader can't come easily to the right conclusion.

Week 6 Spot 47
Book: Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux.
Date Read: 2/20/16
Rating: 5 Stars
Theme: Book 7 of Cut & Run Series.
Review:
I love this book! But I love the whole series as well. I love Ty and Zane. This book was jammed packed with action, drama, a little tears, and mostly romance and Ty's sidewinder team is in it. Both TY and Zane's past are catching up to them and someone wants them dead. It was a great read. The ending was sad and awesome at the same time, since they are finally coming out. But it also means we are coming to an end of the series which makes me sad.

Roll: 6+6=12
New Spot: 59
#5 in a series
#9 in a series
#59 in a series
Goodreads Choice Awards 2012

Spot # 59

2/28/16
3 stars
I have no idea how to start this review. My feelings are all over the place so forgive me if this makes no sense at all.
I liked this book, but I most certainly didn't love it like I was hoping to. I'm actually quite disappointed because this was the couple I was most excited to read about. Even though he comes off as a giant asshole sometimes, I really like Ash. I was eager to delve into him and find out why he was pushing Cael away. His reasons ended up seeming pretty flimsy to me. For the first half the book or so, it was like a roller coaster. He loves Cael and wants him, but is afraid to show it to others and afraid Cael will end up hurting him. All reasonable fears. Then a switch is flipped and suddenly Ash is over it all. I didn't buy the suddenness with which the change occurred. And Cael bugged the shit out of me at times. I was dying for him to stand up to everyone, Ash included, and make them all stop babying him. Never happened though. He did kind of stand up to Ash a bit, but not like I wanted him to. And he still needs to handle his father and brother.
I was also disappointed in the lack of heat in this book. I was hoping for some off-the-charts smoking hot sex. Not so much. There were some sweet moments that I really enjoyed though.
Luckily there was a bit of Dex to liven things up, and a dash of Dex and Sloane sexiness as seen through Ash and Cael's eyes.
I did enjoy the other part of the storyline. I like where things are going with Sparks and Austen. I think it is going to open the door to many great storyline for future books.

Roll 6 + 6 = 12
New Spot = #59

Date Read : 2/28/2016
Rating :★★★★
How Fits : #5 in series
Review : This was the final book in the Unfinished Heroes series....I have enjoyed the series as a whole, and while many of Kristen Ashley's heroes sometimes feel interchangeable within the books (they all have a similar feel, language, etc), this particular series was a bit grittier and you don't always like the Hero....
For this being the final book, I was a bit disappointed. We first met Nick Sebring (the MC) in the first book of the series where his brother was the MC. He was not a very nice guy and we often didn't even like him because he was a douche. As he is shown thorughout the series, we know there is more to him, so I was really hoping we'd see more in this last book. Unfortunately, I feel it was missing something and the book was more about Olivia and her past/issues/etc. As always, I love seeing little bits of characters from other books, and this one we saw inside some of their heads....and I felt a sense of one of the characters possibly leading to a spin-off series that has been in the works for a bit (fingers crossed).

Week 7 Crash & Burn

Book #9 in Cut & Run Series"
I am going to be reading that too. :)

#5 in a series

Read: 1.3.2016
Rating: 4 stars
Review: At the 38% of the book after meeting all relevant characters you don't need Sherlock Holmes anymore to tell you who's the villain here (finally!). But the tension was built up nicely here, so it's still enjoyable. After 7 titles in this series I've sadly come to the conclusion that this crimes were meant for Sherlock to solve them and not the readers. :/ (guess I should stick with Christie)


Read: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Date: 3/2/2016
Rating: *****
Review: Such an inspirational book! I loved this! She's so flawed and honest about it, it made me care about her and root for her. Now to watch the movie!
She came to our conference at work. I was home with sick kid but coworkers said Cheryl was moving and inspirational. She signed some books too.

Week 7 Crash & Burn

Book #9 in Cut & Run Series"
Confirming Just borrowed it.

Spot #59

Virgin River #9
3/3/2016
2,5 stars
I'm sad. This used to be one of my favorite series. At least until book 4 this was wonderful, warm and cozy small town saga.
Now it was a chore to finish. The story was boring, very dry and all telling without the slightest imagination. Also the characters were one dimensional cardboard cut-outs. Flat and dull. So perfect without any flaws, always doing the right thing and acting inhumanly perfect all the time. I'm thrown off also the Christian Fiction angle taking over this series. I like my characters real and human. With imperfections and mistakes.
I think it's time for me to move on and concentrate on other stories and series.
It was great to be a fly on a wall in Virgin River until it wasn't anymore.

Crash & Burn
Cut and Run #9
3/3/2016
4.5 stars
So hard to review this as I am already in mourning for this series to be over. And unlike people who bought this series, I borrowed each one and I do not know when I will return but this story brought back almost every side character in the series and it is such a tour of force that to stay alive they really need to rally all the troops even though somewhere there is a mole and they don't know who it is. so much from each character back story come out in this tome.

Week 7 Spot 59
Book: Crash & Burn by Abigail Roux.
Date Read: 3/4/16
Rating: 5 Stars
Theme: Book 9 of Cut & Run Series.
Review:
This was happy and sad for me, happy because I always love reading about Ty and Zane and sad that it is the last book in the series and an end to Ty's antics. This story seemed to be a big reunions of the Sidewinder group, some favorite past characters and the ending of who the mole really is. I wasn't a fan of everyone Ty and Zane loved and respected was turning out to be bad guys. There is a lot more background on the other characters, which I had mixed feelings about, because I liked knowing about them, but at the same time felt it was taking away from Ty and Zane's story. Some places in the story just felt like it was just there to promote the Sidewinder series and I didn't like that. But regardless of the very few things I didn't like, and it was more of a nuisance, I still loved the book, all the characters and sad to see it end. I will definitely be reading the Sidewinder's series next, and eventually will come back to read this series again.
Books mentioned in this topic
Hemovore (other topics)Royal's Child (other topics)
Cut & Run (other topics)
Vision in Silver (other topics)
Dirty Laundry (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Abigail Roux (other topics)Jane Green (other topics)
Cherise Sinclair (other topics)
Kresley Cole (other topics)
Nicole Edwards (other topics)
More...