R9: Team #8 ~ Don't H8te the Winners

[~Melissa~]

Sorry for being MIA this weekend. The party is done and fun was had by all. I'm so frickin tired :)

Free Space: - off of Group Bookshelf

Shifter: OR

[Nichole]

I've finished my book but I'm having the hardest time writing a review :( Too many spoilerish things! I'll try to have something written up later.

[Ezi]

Nichole wrote: "I've finished my book but I'm having the hardest time writing a review :( Too many spoilerish things! I'll try to have something written up later."

I am not LOL'ing at my book and i really wanted to be amused

[Nichole]

What! But she is famous for that. :(

[Nichole]

Book: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
Shelf: Shifter
Finished: 5/27/14
Rating: ★★★★☆

Review:

10 months and some odd days. That's how long I have to wait until the next book, tentatively. It can't get here soon enough! This is another series that straddles the line between genres. I'm going to call it Dark Paranormal Fantasy. The only reason this got 4 stars was because I got lost a few times and had to rewind. There were quite a few new characters and new places introduced. For the next one, I'll buy the book also.

While the first book seemed to be more focused on the Others and the world building, this book seemed more focused on the humans. And not in a good way. The Others rule Thasia. They are the top predators but have allowed humans to live among them with an uneasy truce. The humans have gotten bold in their rebellions by introducing 2 drugs into the Courtyards with devastating results. Did I mention how scary the Others can be? Yeah. Humans are prey/meat and vastly outnumbered.

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn is having overwhelming urges to speak prophecies. Something is coming and she needs to see it. How much destruction can be avoided if they piece together the prophecy in time?

This is a complex world full of fascinating and terrible creatures. It's not a light and fluffy read, but it has plenty of humor. This isn't romance, although there may be in the future. It's so many things combined to make one truly amazing series. It's wonderful. I strongly recommend anyone who likes Fantasy or Paranormal to give it a shot. I think you will be surprised.

[~Melissa~]

Ezi - if I remember correctly - you didn't think the first in the series was that funny or was that a different one of her series??

[Ezi]

Week 2: Shifters

Book: The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston
Read: 5/28/14
Rating & Review: ★★★☆☆. I liked book 1 better, but this series is still a miss for me.
In this sequel, Bobby Ray Smith "Smitty" runs in his childhood friend Jessie Ann Ward, when Mason & Bobby are contracted to run security at one of Jessie's business functions. Smitty used to be Jessie's only real friend as Jessie was bullied by the other shifters. As a dog shifter and alpha of her pack, Jessie had a lot of responsibility, and getting with a werewolf would not please her pack.
But Smitty and Jessie Ann have unfinished business that started 15 years ago...and this is their time.

I was expecting funny and it wasn't that for me. The story was okay but not emotionally engaging. I can see how it is amusing to some because the Smith family is CRAZY! I liked Bobby Ray and Jesssie, but I didn't engage with them emotionally. This book was just okay.

[Belinda]

Shelf: shifters

Finished: 29/5/14
Stars: 4.5

Review:

What a great start to this series. Now I now why so many people rave about this series. It follows Merit as she is turned into a vampire in a world where only the vampires are out to the humans, but there are other supernatural creatures our there. It follows here adjustment, learning curve and flourishing within her new world.

[Mary X]

I thought we already had our demons shelf stamp.

I am ready for a new audiobook so going to start this for the shifter shelf:

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

You do already have your Demons stamp.

Belinda, do you need to change your review of Some Girls Bite to Free Space??

[Mary X]

Shelf: Free Space

On the best audiobook series thread linked in the Free Space Rules post.



Finished: 5/29/14
Stars: 4

I don't think I've read a Kleyas book that I didn't like and this was no exception. Excellent narrator. Love the Hathaways and all their crazy quirkiness. Kleypas is a master at taking an unlikeable hero and making me love him despite all his seemingly irredeemable badness. Harry was no exception. But I loved him anyway and was rewarded in the end. I would have liked for Poppy to make him suffer a little more but great book.

[Ezi]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Shelf: Free Space

On the best audiobook series thread linked in the Free Space Rules post.

I don't think I've read a Kleyas ..."

Agreed. Rosalyn Landor is definitely an awesome reader. This is a really good series!

[Belinda]

Oh crap, no that was shifters....! Changing it now

[~Melissa~]

Free Space
- SOS Group Bookshelf
5/29/14
4♥

Review: With each book I love Roan and his crazy cast of characters more and more. Roan is trying to deal with him becoming more lion or lion becoming more him - he's not really sure. His virus is adapting or he is adapting to his virus - again he's not sure. Along the way he figures out two cases - one a murdered trans women where he makes friends with almost the whole Falcons hockey team. The other a pretentious asshole looking for his missing son. Dylan gives him an ultimatum. His house gets mozoltov cocktailed by Nazi supremacists. Fun times with Holden aka Fox. Yep - this book has it all. Along with glimpses of Paris in Roan's dreams. Loved it - looking forward to the next one.

[Ezi]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Free Space
- SOS Group Bookshelf
5/29/14
4♥

Review: With each book I love Roan and his crazy cast of characters more and more. Roan is trying to deal with him becoming ..."

Good review Melissa

[~Melissa~]

Ezinwanyi~still loves Spartacus wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Free Space
- SOS Group Bookshelf
5/29/14
4♥

Review: With each book I love Roan and his crazy cast of characters more and more. Roan is trying to deal ..."

It was a fun read - would have been done sooner if not for all the family stuff this week :)

[Belinda]

Updated to here. Let me know if I missed anything

[Mary X]

I should finish my shifter audiobook tomorrow if I don't laze out skip the yard and housework I have planned for the weekend.

I'm going out tonight so I might not see the new shelf until tomorrow depending on when they call it an dhow late I'm out.

[Nichole]

I sure wish it was shelf time :( I'm about to finish my audiobook and I needs a new one!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

You've got about 9.5 hours to go :)

[Nichole]

No early roll for good behavior?? :D

Can't blame a girl for trying!

[Mary X]

That's how I was last Saturday but I was able to start my Free Space one instead. But I am done with that one now.

I'm really hoping a non-shelf related space is called. So I can use one of my non-paranormal library ebooks that are expiring.

I forgot to charge my IPOD last night and it died 3/4 into my dog walk. Going to mow the lawn while it charges so I can listen while I do some housework.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Nichole wrote: "No early roll for good behavior?? :D

Can't blame a girl for trying!"


Missy Judithe would get out that whip, so no dice!!!

[Belinda]

shelf announcement!! Yellow/orange cover


Remember to look at alternate covers too ;)

[Ezi]

Week 3:
Shelf: 'Yellow/Orange Cover Colour'
(436 pages per goodreads) or (391 pages per goodreads)

[~Melissa~]

Week 3:
Shelf: Yellow/Orange Cover

[~Melissa~]

I will get my shifter book done this week as well as this one so I'm back up to date. Sorry for the delay. Too much end of year and family stuff going on.

[Ezi]

~Melissa~ wrote: "I will get my shifter book done this week as well as this one so I'm back up to date. Sorry for the delay. Too much end of year and family stuff going on."

We are doing ok. My hubby's bday is tomorrow so it's been busy today and will be tomorrow.
Let me know how that Jill Shalvis book is beucase it's on my wishlist.

P.S. you are reading that with Pat right?

[~Melissa~]

Ezinwanyi~still loves Spartacus wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "I will get my shifter book done this week as well as this one so I'm back up to date. Sorry for the delay. Too much end of year and family stuff going on."

We are doing ok. My hu..."

Yep - I'm going to finish my shifter book first though - so probably won't start til mid week. I let them know at the buddy thread. I'm pretty sure Pat and Deb were planning to start tomorrow. So I'll be a tad behind. Brother in law ended up in the ER last night so not a lot of reading done. He's fine - he has a sinus infection and got sent home with antibiotics and breathing treatments - it's just about 5 yrs ago he had to have open heart surgery and a valve replacement. We, along with the doctors, all tend to worry if he gets sick.

[Mary X]

I have 4 hours left on my shifter audiobook and should finish it tomorrow between walking the dog and house/yardwork.

OK off to check my library ebook covers for an orange/yellow edition.

[Mary X]

Going to use this for yellow cover: Dreaming of the Bones



It's the one expiring the soonest so that worked out good.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Lucky Mary!!!

[Nichole]

Ugh. My team challenges aren't lining up this week. Or I'm just feeling blah today. However, that gif in the discussion thread made me LOL and my husband had to see it. Exactly how I feel, you hit it right on the head Ezi :)

I don't know what I'll be reading yet.

* I just listened to last week. It was cute.

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "Ugh. My team challenges aren't lining up this week. Or I'm just feeling blah today. However, that gif in the discussion thread made me LOL and my husband had to see it. Exactly how I feel, you hit ..."

I know how you feel - I was glad that for my other Bingo Challenge I was able to make a short work for this week ~ 46 pgs and I'm already done :)

Do you have #2 of the Jill Shalvis series because it has a yellow cover. Not sure if you wanted to follow up with #2 so quick but....

[Nichole]

Thanks Melissa, I added it to the pile. And the library has that too, bonus points.

I think I'm going to read/listen to though. It was picked for me for 3 challenges so yay! It is yellow enough don't you think?

[~Melissa~]

It should be yellow enough - that is a wonderful series! Hope you enjoy it. I did the whole series as a buddy read on GR with ~Leslie~.

[Nichole]

Good to know! I need to read for the other challenges first so it will still be a couple of days before I start.

In other news....

Ha! I just freaked my husband out with my squeeling. Our team made a correct cover guess in the NBRC team challenge and I got all excited. Gah, I'm such a nerd!! Yes, I get excited from GR stuff :)(I'm still excited can you tell? lol)

[~Melissa~]

Nice going! I'd be just as excited!! Afraid to ask - what team did you guess cover for?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats Nichole! And what cover did you guess?

[Nichole]

Team Colombina :)

[Belinda]

Heading home after a wonderful morning at the food & wine show. Lots of goodies sampled and bought!
Now to go home and sort through my covers :)

[~Melissa~]

Belinda wrote: "Heading home after a wonderful morning at the food & wine show. Lots of goodies sampled and bought!
Now to go home and sort through my covers :)"

Sounds like a good time :)

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "Team Colombina :)



"

Awesome! Phew - not on that team :)

[Ezi]

I am on Team Colombina.
Go away Nichole! (that's what my 2yr old says when he is mad. Go away Sydney!)LOL
But before you do, the Christine Feehan Ghostwalker series book 1 was an enjoyable audio for me. I didn't care for her Dark Series, and stopped after 3 books. Ghostwalker Book 2 was chosen for Meet-Greet 4, so I will be continuing that series.
**My Challenges this week aren't aligning either:(

@Melissa, I hope your BIL will be okay.

[Belinda]

I'll be reading but using this cover: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Mary X]

Shelf: Shifter



Finished: 6/2/14
5 Stars


Another winner. Loving this series so far. Excellent audiobook narrator. I don't really have any complaints. A little more sex in this one than the last. Not a bad thing to me but some might not like that. Callihan is great with conveying the Gothic Victorian setting without getting overly wordy and descriptive. Another plus for me is that these are in 3rd person. I am not a big fan of 1st person romances which is what most Ghothics seem to be and these are not.

[~Melissa~]

Ezinwanyi~still loves Spartacus wrote: "I am on Team Colombina.
Go away Nichole! (that's what my 2yr old says when he is mad. Go away Sydney!)LOL
But before you do, the Christine Feehan Ghostwalker series book 1 was an enjoyable audio fo..."

Sorry - my team's book got unveiled too *stomps foot*

BiL is home and doing fine - whining of course but doing better :)

[Nichole]

I'm going to have to move that book up the list, Mary.

Just about finished with 2 of the books for other team challenges. Yippee. Even if *ahem* one of them is making me cry! Should be starting my Bingo book tomorrow.

I'm glad your BiL is doing okay! He's a man so whining comes naturally, right? :)

[~Melissa~]

Nichole wrote: "I'm going to have to move that book up the list, Mary.

Just about finished with 2 of the books for other team challenges. Yippee. Even if *ahem* one of them is making me cry! Should be starting m..."

Pretty much - good thing they can't have kids - wow we'd all be childless :)

[Ezi]

Men are the worst patients. Plus, it's a convenient excuse to be pampered.
I am glad he is getting better though