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R8: SSS Team Order of the Phoenix (5)
Shelby wrote: "Week 8.5Axel's Pup by Kim Dare
How Fits: Series: #1
Read: (9/4)
Rating: ★★★★★
Oh wow! Ok so I've been avoiding reading this boo..."
Great review! I love when books are so good you just don't want to put them down!
Week 8: Sunday RollSpot: 71
(Domestic Diva #7)Pages: 289
Week 8: Sunday Roll
Spot: 71
Book: The Diva Frosts a Cupcake(Domestic Diva #7)
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This is not one of my favorite books in the series. I thought that the situation with Wolf ended abruptly and then he was just a quick mention about the relationship ending nine months ago. Then we moved on quickly and next thing you know, Sophie is making eyes at the newcomer as she and Humphrey go back and forth over who's love interest did or did not commit the crime.
Natasha is still a ridiculously spoiled brat and I don't understand why people let her get away with it. And Clarissa, oh Clarissa she actually made Natasha look halfway reasonable with her ridiculous antics.
Also, if someone is dating a man and everyone believes that man's wife is dead. Yes, dead. That woman is not a husband stealer. Seriously. What the heck? I think she could even have been given a bit of leeway had she continued dating Wolf after discovering his wife was still alive. She isn't the other woman for Pete's sake! It's been several years and the wife left Wolf and had all of the time in the world to return if she wanted to. Or contact her family rather than letting everyone believe she was dead! That whole situation with Wolf and his...wife(?) is weird and for most people would have ended in a divorce.
Roll 16: 71 - 7th in a series
Book: Fade Out by Rachel Caine
Pages: 237
Read: 9.7.16
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This one was better. Not enough to make me rate it higher than the last, but it was still better.
Now that Mr. Bishop is no longer in Morganville everyone is trying to clean up and repair the town. Amelie is still depressed over a certain death in the last book, which effects Claire in ways no one imagined.
Ada, a vampire student of Myrnin's turned into an AI, has gone crazy. Perhaps from brain damage or from being turned into a machine. Either way, she's out to kill Claire because she's Myrnin's new student.
There's a new sect of Vamps that are dissatisfied with the way things have gone since Mr. Bishop's sweep through Morganville. They feel like Amelie can't handle being the leader anymore.
Plus, there's the new girl Kim. She is Eve's new best friend, and Claire feels threatened. But Kim's real motives are completely unexpected.
Overall, I'm glad these books are so quick to get through. Makes it a lot easier to just push to the end. Still not sure where Caine is going with this, but I'm more interested now than I was before.
Thursday RollI rolled a 5, puts us on 76.
-76th in a series
- 7th in a series
- 6th in a series
- Alternative: Has at least one child
Week 9, Thursday RollSpot: 76
Alternative: Has at least one child
Erin: The Abominable Man (Martin Beck #7) Review
Maya: LaRose (Alternative) Review
Sarah: Point of Retreat (Alternative) Review
Shelby: Magic Strikes (Alternative) Review
I might read Haunted by Kelley Armstrong. 4th in a series, 495 pages, MC Eve has a daughter named Savannah.
Week 9: Thursday Roll
Spot: 76
Book: The Abominable Man(Martin Beck #7)
Pages: 216
Read: 9/8
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
These are always a quick read. As a police procedural, the writing isn't overly complex, but it can be rather dull. This one was more interesting than most as they delved into police corruption and whether or not it's dangerous to be a police officer.
As always, Beck isn't at the center of the crime or the investigation, but all of the characters are developed well. It was a good book to read while at home sick for the day.
Swapping. I'm the worst. Review Saturday though
Ok changed my mind again! I'm going with Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover, Lake is takes care of her little brother (who I believe is under the age of 10). 302 pages, 2nd in the Slammed series.
I will probably have my book done tomorrow, and I will roll then unless we are waiting for more reviews. Hope all of you are enjoying your books!
I'm just going to do mine tomorrow. Way too tired right now & I'll be on early tomorrow
Roll 17: 76 - Alternative: Has at least one child
Book: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
Pages: 302
Read: 9.10.16
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I never know how long a Colleen Hoover book is going to take me. I started this book today, and even though it is relatively short I didn't think I'd finish it today. Boy, was I wrong!
I could not put this book down! It's been quite some time since I read the first book Slammed, but I remembered some of the major points. I applaud Colleen Hoover. I love her style of writing.
I didn't forget Layken's circumstances leaving her with responsibility over her younger brother. She is his sole guardian, the last person he has on earth. At 19, she's become a mother to her almost 11 year old brother. She has more resilience than imaginable for this type of situation. There were a few touchy moments, involving Layken's mother that I almost didn't feel I could handle, having lost my mom a year ago. But while I feel her loss while reading this book, I can see her in the things Layken's mother has done for her children because she knew she was going to die.
Things between Will and Lake seem like they couldn't get better. But what happens if they reasons they are together are circumstantial? How can Lake really know if Will loves her for her, or if he loves her because they are both going through the same things?
Week 9Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
How Fits: MC: Has adopted child
Read: (9/8)
Rating: ★★★★★
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I laughed out loud multiple times in this story while being dragged along on the most crazy awesome adventure yet for Kate and her crew. I adore Kate so much as a female lead character. She is kickass and take no prisoners. She's always willing to step up to the plate no matter how dangerous it is and fight for what's right.
I was grinning at the steps forward in the relationship between Kate and Curran. It's great how she doesn't back down and doesn't cater to his whims. He doesn't always seem to know what to do with her as she never shows him an fear. This story has her running on the opposite side from Curran as some of the shifters under his rule have gone rogue, for good reason.
Curran has forbidden any of his shifters from participating in the Midnight Games, but there are strange things going on in the games. A team called The Reapers is fighting in the games, and while they register as humans their powers prove they're no such thing. Derek, the werewolf Kate had become close to was almost killed by the team for looking into them, he's barely clinging on to life. Kate is determined to find a way to save him, find out why the Reapers are really here, and stop them, even if it means revealing her true background.
This was kick butt from the get go. I loved seeing Julie again in this book. Grabbing her from her school was hysterical. Though admittedly I think my favorite moment from the entire book was Jim's reactions after their first bout in the pit. I was rolling. This book just hit all of my "YAY!" buttons. So worth the read and can't wait to get to the next book.
I love the Kate Daniels series! I really need to re-read them so I can catch up!
LaRose by Louise Erdich
finished 9/10/2016
Rating : 2 stars
How it fits : Children prominent (info in description)
I just could NOT get into this one at all. It was really disappointing because I've heard nothing but good things about Erdich as an author, and I was really looking forward to enjoying her as well. There's just some things I can't get around though - the lack of quotation marks, for one. They're there for a reason! Use it to mark your conversations so the reader can actually READ the book and not have to pick at it!
The concept and storyline was interesting enough, but if all of her books are like this - I don't think I'll be reading any more of hers.
Sunday RollI rolled a 6, puts us on 82
- 82nd in a series
- 8th in a series
- 2nd in a series
- Alternative: Cover - Yellow/Gold
Week 9, Sunday RollSpot: 82
Alternative: Cover - Yellow/Gold
- Erin: The Locked Room (Martin Beck #8) Review
- Maya: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Yellow) Review
- Sarah: The Curse of Tenth Grave (Yellow) Review
- Shelby: Firecracker (Yellow) Review
(Martin Beck #8) - 291 pages.I may actually finish this series yet :)
Erin wrote: " (Martin Beck #8) - 291 pages.I may actually finish this series yet :)"
I love when things work out like that! Last game I got to work through the Charley Davidson series, and this time around I'm sort of working my way through the Morganville Vampires series.
I was really hesitant about this since I didn't think I had that many series. I absolutely love it though!
The harder numbers for me are usually 4-9 because I have a tendency to start a lot of series, but not continue them.
Early on, I think I grabbed a couple mid series books out of order for that reason
Week 9: Sunday RollSpot: 82
(Martin Beck #8)Pages: 291
Read: 9/13
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
This is an odd book for me to give 5 stars too. I felt little emotional connection to the characters and after eight books in the series, I was expecting it to be just like the previous 7.
In some ways it is. We have police officers plodding along doing their work in a somewhat dry narrative. Like other books, the officers are not infallible and we have a brief moment of hilarity when they clumsily break into an empty apartment to apprehend bank robbers. Mayhem ensues and I actually chuckled.
The ending in this one is also unusual (spoiler ahead) in that they arrest the murderer, but he doesn't actually go to prison for the murder. He goes to prison for a bank robbery he didn't commit. The person who did rob the bank gets away and ends the book in Italy.
These books aren't super interesting and gripping. They're police procedurals and unlike what you see on TV, the police do a lot of boring work between the crime and when they arrest someone. And sometimes they just get lucky. Or unlucky.
I gave it 5 stars because the writing is good, the characters develop, yet maintain their flaws and because it didn't follow the typical formula for these and the surprises were refreshing.
Roll 18: 82 - Alternate: Yellow Cover
Book: The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones
Pages: 346
Read: 9.15.16
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I really liked this one a lot more than the last book in the series. It feels much more like the earlier books, which I really enjoyed. There weren't too many dead people in this one, although there were still some.
Charley had to rely more on her senses as a PI than the guidance of the departed, since the suspected victim never appeared to her. This made Charley much more human, which is difficult since she's so far from human.
There were a lot of things pieced together, but it only brought many more questions. Huge questions. I like the direction the series is going and I hope Darynda Jones has many more up her sleeve.
Maya & Shelby, just checking to see if your reviews will be in today (Thursday)? Hope you're enjoying your books!! :)
I'll be finished and posted some time today. Been a busy week in RL. Just got home right now. Bit behind on my reading, but I'll power through and be posted. :)
I thought I posted! Sorry! No computer today so small review.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Fin 9.13
2.5 stars
I really don't get what the hype was about this book. It was more like 100 pages of story and 500 pages of filler. The twist wasn't particularly twisty (saw it coming way far away) and it was just overall very boring. My best example of this was watching the movie straight after - within about 20 minutes of movie, the first 300 pages were covered.
I only read the second because it was already on my shelf and have no intention on reading the third.
Maya wrote: "I thought I posted! Sorry! No computer today so small review.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Fin 9.13
2.5 stars
I really don't get what the hype was about this book. It was more l..."
I didn't read the third for a long time, and I agree with your review. That said, I actually didn't mind the books, but read a lot of it thinking the author could just shut up and get around to it :)
That was pretty much my general thought. We watched the American version of the movie while I polished off the second one and I got so outraged. Twenty minutes into the movie and it covered about 200-250 pages of novel! It's unfair! Unjust!
Week 9.5Firecracker by Charles R. Verhey
How Fits: Cover: Yellow/Gold
Read: (9/15)
Rating: ★★★★
This is a quick review as I'm running out the door again to another meeting.
I enjoyed this book and the take on psy powers. I really felt for Cass as she was trying to figure out her powers and her place. Having such a powerful talent has made things difficult for her and all she's really ever wanted was a place to fit in. Enjoyable read.
Thursday RollI rolled a 5, puts us on 87
- 87th in a series
- 8th in a series
- 7th in a series
- Alternative: Author F
Week 10, Thursday RollSpot: 87
Alternative: Author F
- Erin: The Diva Wraps It Up (Domestic Diva #8) Review
- Maya: The Looking Glass Wars (Author F) Review
- Sarah: Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires #8) Review
- Shelby: Casket of Souls (Nightrunner #6) Review
I'm probably going to go with Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine, 8th in the Morganville Vampires series, 241 pages. I'm just waiting until there's a roll in for my SS team.
Mod
That's set in Texas, right? I couldn't get past book 1
Yeah it is. I really enjoyed the first two. I'm pushing through the rest since I bought them. This is what I get for buying an entire series before reading far enough into it. LOL. Won't be the first time, won't be the last.
Maya wrote: "I'll be reading The Looking Glass Wars, author F."I loved this series! I need to finish it.
So far, I'm liking it better than the original, but I'm starting to think Wonderland is just not for me.
Week 10 - Thursday RollSpot: 87
(Domestic Diva #8)Pages: 304
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
finished 9/16/2016
Rating : 3 stars
How it fits : Author F
I liked this one, overall. I'm not a fan of Alice in Wonderland but this telling was a little bit different and intriguing. I don't have a lot to say about it, so this review is gonna be short and sweet. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. I don't think that I'll be picking up any more in this series unless I need to.
The Diva Wraps It Up by Krista Davis
Finished: 9/17/2016
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: Domestic Diva #8
This series has been a fun one as Sophie and her childhood nemesis continue to battle it out. To be honest, Natasha doesn't irritate me as much as she used to, but I really don't understand why Mars is with her instead of Sophie. I also miss Wolf and I'm not feeling it for the new love interest - Alex.
The mystery in this one was well written overall, but all of the surprise family connections at the end were a little too unbelievable for me - everyone just kind of ends up there in the end and voila - instant family. It was a little too weird for me.
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Axel's Pup by Kim Dare
How Fits: Series: #1
Read: (9/4)
Rating: ★★★★★
Oh wow! Ok so I've been avoiding reading this book for ages out of no real reason...so maybe their was a little bit of a reason, the last biker book I read was really not my cup of tea so I was hesitant about diving into this one. BIG MISTAKE! This book was fantastic. I completely adored it. It read really fast for such a long book. I was absolutely enthralled once I got started. This is precisely the way an erotica book should be, super sexy with incredibly hot sex scenes...but you still got me with the feels. Oh the FEELS!
First of all, I was incredible impressed with this take on werewolves. This isn't your typical werewolf book. Such an interesting idea, werewolves having been exposed were put into essentially concentration camps, and even though they've since been released they are shunned and basically have no rights under the law. They can't even congregate with more than two wolves under one roof. Humans have completely outlawed the packs.
The things that Bayden has done in order to survive and support his family are so sad, but unfortunately the norm for most werewolves. Immediately I felt for him. Yet, the way that werewolf nature is described was so interesting. I loved Axel figuring out all the ways that Bayden reacted to him, not in a human manner, but due to his werewolf instincts. Bayden's natural ranking of humans in the same hierarchy that he would have wolves, immediately knowing which have more (Axel) or less (practically everyone else) power/strength than he did made his interactions way more interesting and gave a framework for how he handled himself. Every time he lashed out or threw out the snark you understood why. It also explained why his reactions to Axel were so different.
So yes, this is a BDSM novel and yes it is not a minor part of this story. But while there is a fair bit of violence and the mis-use of BDSM it's all to show exactly what Bayden is doing wrong in his life. He uses his abilities to tolerate pain and shut everyone out to make money on bets. Axel is determined to show him how his submission can be his strength. I loved that between the two of them this story is much more about power struggles and domination and submission rather than about the trappings of BDSM.
All in all this book was absolutely fantastic. I loved all the guys in the Black Dragons Motorcycle Club. They had each other's backs no matter what. I can't wait to check out another book in this series. I hope Ms. Dare writes one soon.