R9: Team #4 ~ Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies **WINNING TEAM**

[Suzanne]

Free Space Pick
BEST OF: Young Adult Fantasy Series here.



Read: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Rating: ****
Date: 5/21/2014
Review: I liked this book but the first half of the story was kinda slow. I kept wondering why she was getting so friendly with his family knowing what her mission was. All the characters in the story seemed to be filler, but I did enjoy the last half. I'm interested in seeing how the rest of series develops :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOVE the name, Ladies! :D

[~Leslie~]

Thanks, Steph! It's one of my favorites as well!

[~Leslie~]

Hi Duckies! Hope everyone is having a good week. I will be heading out for New Orleans tomorrow for Memorial Day Weekend. I will have computer access and so will be checking in.

I'm reading my Free Space book now and should be finished in a day or so. Packing is getting in the way of reading at the moment!

[Daffodil]

Steph wrote: "LOVE the name, Ladies! :D"

We only appear sweet and innocent. LOL.

[Daffodil]

I'm hoping to finish my Demons book tonight and write the review over the weekend. And hopefully, with an extra day off, I can read the next one much quicker.

Sounds like fun Leslie! Have a good time.

[Josie]

Have fun, Leslie! I hope you don't leave packing until the last minute like I do lol! Hope everyone's liking their reading choices. Can't wait for the next shelf :D

[Suzanne]

I'll have my Demon pick finished either tonight or tomorrow, I'm almost done!

[~Leslie~]

We made it and I got to read quite a bit of my free space book. And yes, Daffodil - I definitely leave my packing for last minute!

[~Leslie~]

Free Space Book


5/24/14 4.5★
Review:
This book, while in the same world as The Black Jewels trilogy, features different characters and Daemon only makes occasional appearances. It was a little slow to get started but once I got into it, I was every bit as hooked into the storytelling as I was for AB's other books. She is simply amazing, in my opinion. I love the world she has created, the characters and the flow of her language. There is such a sensual quality to her writing. It's beautiful and I just want to languish in it all day.

[Rachel-RN]

update:
Free Space 3/5
Leslie: The Invisible Ring SOS Bookshelf May 24th ****1/2 Review
Rachel: This Side of the Grave SOS Bookshelf
Josie: Bloodmagic SOS Bookshelf May 19th **** Review
Daffodil
Suzanne: Blood Promise Best of YA Fantasy May 21st **** Review


Week 1: Demons 3/5
Leslie: IcedMay 18th *** Review
Rachel: Mark of the DemonMay 19th **** Review
Josie: BloodfireMay 18th ****1/2 Review
Daffodil: Unchained
Suzanne: Clockwork Prince

[Rachel-RN]

Hope to be done with free space by tonight. This afternoon? gah! Today.

[Rachel-RN]

Shelf: Shifter

[Rachel-RN]

Lots of people liked this one. Hopefully I will too. Found 1st page.

[Daffodil]

~Leslie~ wrote: "Free Space Book


5/24/14 4.5★
Review:
This book, while in the same world as The Black Jewels trilogy, features different characters and Daemon only makes occas..."

I love Anne Bishop. Just recently read Murder of Crows.

Do you know about the two Surreal short stories she had published in anthologies. "By the Time the Witchblood Blooms" was originally in , OOP but reprinted in . "The Price" is in .

[Daffodil]

I have a graduation to watch later today, followed by a party. I'll post my review for afterward. I brought with me this weekend, thinking I could use it for the free space read. Since I haven't started it yet and it is on the new shelf, I will use it for my shifter read. I'll pick something else for the Free space. Unless I change my mind again, of course. :D

[Rachel-RN]

This Side of the Grave
May 25th 4* Free Space
Cat's coming into her own. Love the way Cat and Bones relate to each other. Slowly, but surely. Mencheres and Vlad have decent decent size roles in this one. Spade and Ian not so much. This does make me look forward to Vlad's story (do recommend reading in order- using the "Night Huntress Universe" order)
Never really though of using hot candle was in THAT way before.
Marie is intriguing. Could be an interesting story there.
Favorite quotes:

"Ask me if I sparkle and I will kill you where you stand."

"Lucifer's bloody ball sack."

[~Leslie~]

I've only read her Black Jewel trilogy so far. I absolutely love her!! I will definitely look for those books. She was recommended to me a while ago on GR and now I have my oldest daughter hooked on her as well.

Have a great time at the graduation, Daffodil!

[Josie]

Hi team! Just checking in, not sure what I will be reading, but the good news is that it's the bank holiday tomorrow so no work(even though I had to work today)!

[Suzanne]

Week 1: Demons



Read: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Rating: *****
Date: 5/24/2014
Review: I had to reread the manga version of book 1 before I started this one! Plus it's been forever since I've read the parallel series to this one so I have a lot to catch up on. This is one of the best love triangle's that I've read in a long time! These book have so much detail and depth that I loved every minute of it! Definitely worth buying the manga version for review :)

[Suzanne]

~Leslie~ wrote: "Free Space Book


5/24/14 4.5★
Review:
This book, while in the same world as The Black Jewels trilogy, features different characters and Daemon only makes occas..."

I've been wanting to read her books for awhile!

[Suzanne]

For Shifters, I'm going to read

[Daffodil]

Demons
Unchained, Sharon Ashwood, 5-25-14
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Every time I read a book in this series, I wonder why it's taken me so long to continue and vow not to wait so long before reading the next one. Hmmm, 2 years between books 1 and 2, 9 months between books 2 and 3 - as long as I read book 4 before October, I'll be good.

I'll admit, I didn't particularly care for Ashe in book 1. She didn't come across as very sympathetic and was an obstacle in her sister Holly's romance with Alessandro. But then, she does have her reasons. An ill-advised spell attempted as a teenager broke her magic, adversely affected her sister and had tragic personal consequences. For a very long time, she didn't feel she deserved love or other good things in her life. Also, her life as a rogue vampire hunter has hardened her outwardly and makes it difficult for her to trust.

In book 2, Reynard had to make some tough decisions as head of The Castle (supernatural prison realm) guard. His brief interaction with Ashe toward the end of that book has been on both of their minds. We slowly learn about his personal history over the course of this book and I loved the additional information we received about his initiation into the guard.

Ashe and Reynard continually get thrown together in the beginning of the book and working together they begin to realize that all the disparate incidents they've stumbled across are connected in complicated ways. They have to contend with a prison escape, a Collector Demon, a vampire king with dreams of empire building and a lawyer with questionable morals, all while dealing with a stolen soul and a custody battle. One scene with a carnivorous rabbit had me thinking a holy hand grenade might have come in handy. LOL.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The world Ashwood has created is fascinating and there are some interesting secondary characters. I wish this series had been more popular, because it appears the next book is the last. I'll definitely be reading it. I'm interested to see how romance between a hellhound and a vampire works.

[Josie]

Woo hoo! Go team! First shelf done :D

[~Leslie~]

Sorry, I missed the shelf being called.

I will be reading Wolfishly Yours which 3 people (thank you!) shelved as shifters.

And yay!! I can double up with another team challenge. Makes me so happy when that happens.

[Rachel-RN]

Delicate Freakn' Flower
Shifter 3* May 25th
Naomi was a bit annoying. First she thinks all athletes are idiots. "Not stupid, exactly, but come on, you're an athlete, not an intellectual." "...dumb jocks."
Secondly, she also wants someone who isn't violent. When something happens to her car (her baby), she gets upset that they are not ready to go beat something or somebody up. "Why did they keep ignoring that fact she'd been victimized? At least her brothers wanted to hunt something down and kill it." Can't have it both ways sweetie! They do work out a happy medium (take it outside or to the gym!).
Now (of course this being a romance with a HEA) she does come around.
I did like how Ethan and Javier wooed her.
Phrases I hope to never read again (but in all probability will read again and again):
"...turgid cock."
"...quivering channel..."

[Rachel-RN]

Demons stamp requested
Week 1: Demons 5/5
Leslie: Iced May 18th *** Review
Rachel: Mark of the Demon May 19th **** Review
Josie: Bloodfire May 18th ****1/2 Review
Daffodil: Unchained May 25th **** Review
Suzanne: Clockwork Prince May 24th ***** Review

[~Leslie~]

Great review! And I absolutely agree - I can do without those phrases!! You made me giggle! Turgid is just not a good word - ever. And a "quivering channel" just sounds unpleasant.

[Josie]

Hey team, I've decided what I'm going for this week. I'll be reading - I'm just currently reading the short before it before I start :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'demons'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Firery Ducks!

[~Leslie~]

Shelf Two: Shifter

5/29/14 3.5★

Review:Enjoyable entry into this light, historical paranormal series. The characters from New Orleans were actually the most unbelievable part of the story. But it was a fun, easy read though sometimes a little confusing with all the many different characters from the previous books visiting. Felt a little rushed at times.

[~Leslie~]

Yay Duckies!!! Way to go!! Thanks, Sandra :}

Josie - love that series - it's a lot of fun!!

[Daffodil]

Finished this morning and will write review today. Started for the Free Space read.

[Daffodil]

Shifter
Kinked, Thea Harrison, 5-29-14
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Another wonderful read in the Elder Races series.

Aryal has a temperamental nature at the best of times. Lately, she's been a lot worse. She knows Quentin is up to no good and is frustrated by the lack of proof. Quentin's finally had enough of the harpy's suspicions, investigations into his activities and snarky comments. Dragos, fed up with rising tensions in his headquarters, send them out on a mission with instructions to work it out or don't come back. They both head out with ulterior motives, but when the investigation turns out to be more dangerous than it first appears, they have to work together.

There are a lot of great little moments in this book: Aryal's decision about how to treat Pia because of the baby. And Aryal's words to Pia at the end of the book are hilarious. Aryal's revelation of her past promise to any future mate she might have. Aryal & Quentin's night in the cabin.

I love that as they become closer, Aryal and Quentin's personalities don't drastically change. She's still wild and untamed, with a slightly insane side. He still enjoys annoying her. For them it works. It works well. Quentin sums it up nicely,

"She quieted that internal whip that drove him because she became the whip, her soul as sharp as a knife.
He could cut himself on her, wrap her in his arms and be her buffer. Heal her from herself, bruise himself on her.
Let her heal him. Let her be his buffer.
They were so unapologetic, so kinked.
He said, 'We're perfect.'"

I'll definitely continue to read books in this series.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Great review Daffodil!

[Suzanne]

Daffodil wrote: "Shifter
Kinked, Thea Harrison, 5-29-14
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Another wonderful read in the Elder Races series.

Aryal has a temperamental nature at the best of tim..."

I may have to pick up that series again, I've only read the first one but then I got side-tracked.

[~Leslie~]

I love that series and recently started re-reading it. Better the second time around!

[Rachel-RN]

Shelf #3: 'Yellow/Orange Cover Color'
The majority of the cover must be yellow or orange.

[Rachel-RN]

Here's where we are at:
Need 1 for Free Space
Need 2 for Shifter

Free Space 4/5
Leslie: The Invisible Ring SOS Bookshelf May 24th ****1/2 Review
Rachel: This Side of the Grave May 25th **** Review SOS Bookshelf
Josie: Bloodmagic SOS Bookshelf May 19th **** Review
Daffodil
Suzanne: Blood Promise Best of YA Fantasy May 21st **** Review



Week 2: Shifter 3/5
Leslie: Wolfishly Yours May 29th ***1/2 Review
Rachel: Delicate Freakn' Flower May 25th *** Review
Josie
Daffodil: Kinked May 29th **** Review
Suzanne: Courting Darkness

[~Leslie~]

Hello Team!! Looks like we are doing great so far.

I will be reading for my book this week

[Daffodil]

I see my May luck is holding out. I'm reading right now for the free shelf. Just look at that beautiful yellow cover. SMH.

I'm considering (it's past time for me to read PJ & Cole's story). Then again & are both on my PIFM list and June starts in just a few hours. Do you think The Spider is orange/yellow enough? Cause that's the one I'm leaning toward. I'll let you know my final decision.

[Josie]

I've finished my shifter book, will write a review and choose my book for this week tomorrow :)

[~Leslie~]

Started my yellow cover book. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

[Suzanne]

Weekend was good! I'll have my shifter book review posted tomorrow!

[Daffodil]

Free Space
Rule Breaker, Lora Leigh, 6-1-14
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I love Lora Leigh's Breeds series, so it's hard to admit (even to myself) that this one is only getting 3 stars. Rule and Gypsy are wonderful characters, both with traumatic pasts that break your heart when you read about them. They're both exactly the right one for the other. Lora Leigh writes very explicit scenes, but when that's what I'm in the mood for, it's great.

So what lost this book a star? The plot. Not the plot involving the main characters, or even the ongoing Amber plot. Those were right on target. It was trying to keep track of all the other information that killed it for me. Jonas is a tricky guy, with lots of maneuvering going on behind the scenes. Trying to keep track of his machinations is hard enough ... and usually enjoyable. But this time? This time, it seemed that every other character had a hidden agenda. Or two. Or more. It was frustrating to have to stop reading and try to recall the events discussed or remember who knew which secrets. There were a few I never did remember the whole backstory on and I think maybe they were referring to events from the Ellora's Cave books. I haven't been able to read all of them yet, though I have read all of the mass market paperbacks. I believe this book would have benefited from a "the story so far" synopsis at the beginning. Or an appendix at the back with a brief bio on all the mated couples. I definitely think before book 30 comes out, I'm going to have to build my own little cheat sheet.

If you love the Breeds, have read all the books and have retained a lot of details from over the series -- you're gonna love this one.

[Daffodil]

In honor of completing my Free Space read and the fact we can get another stamp, I thought I'd give a little PSA.

Please take a minute after posting your reviews to see if your book is on the group bookshelf. This will continue to grow the pool of possible Free Space reads for future games. I admit I don't always remember right away myself and then end up checking for 2-3 books at a time.

[Josie]

For shifter shelf:


Title/Author: Heart of Iron
Date finished: 1st June
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: It took me a little while to get into this, but the last half of the book, I practically read in one sitting.

Just a bit of background for those who haven't read/heard of this series. The best label I can put on it is paranormal steampunk, similar to the 'Darkest London' series. You have the Echelon, who are the ruling class, humans, verwulfen and mech people.

What I liked about it was the introduction of more players to the political storyline. The characters and their motives are well fleshed out, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Daffodil wrote: "In honor of completing my Free Space read and the fact we can get another stamp, I thought I'd give a little PSA.

Please take a minute after posting your reviews to see if your book is on the grou..."


Love it Daffodil, and that is so, so true!!!

So please do as Daffodil has suggested and add your books to the bookshelf.

[~Leslie~]

Nice review, Josie! Love that series!

And Daffodil, I have to admit to never checking the group bookshelf. So I will go and do that. Thanks for the reminder.