R14: Team #1 ~ Reading Aces

[Sam]

I think I'm going to read Glass Sword- Victoria Aveyard for my next in series book.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Reading Aces!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'futuristic'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp RA!

[Sam]

Status update:
We are 5 away from bingo, twice.
One way, we need science fiction, magic, angels, available at library and series finished.
Other way, we need 5 stars, next in series, UF, kickass heroine, and series to start.
We also have every called shelf read, which is a new requirement for bingo.

Team 2 is 5 away from bingo.
They need series to start, next in series, magic, kickass heroine and steampunk.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 3 is 6 away from bingo.
They are caught up on shelves.

Team 4 is 4 away from bingo.
They need steampunk, shifters, 5 stars, and series to start.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 5 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need available at library, owned not yet read, UF, shifters, and science fiction.
Or they need series to start, fae, science fiction, series finished and steampunk.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 6 is 4 away from bingo.
They need 5 stars, owned not yet read, UF and angels.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 7 is 5 away from bingo.
They need fae, kickass heroine, owned not yet read, next in series and angels.
They are 5 shelves behind.

Team 8 is 5 away from bingo.
They need angels, assassins, series to start, UF and magic.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 9 is 5 away from bingo.
They need assassins, UF, series to start, series finished and owned not yet read.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 10 is 4 away from bingo.
They need kickass heroine, angels, magic, and fae.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 11 is 6 away from bingo.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 12 is 6 away from bingo.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 13 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need steampunk, shifters, angels, assassins and magic.
Or they need magic, UF, 5 stars, angels, owned not yet read, and science fiction.
They are 5 shelves behind.

Team 14 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need series finished, available at library, next in series, series to start, and shifters.
Or they need fae, magic, UF, 5 stars, and series to start.
They are 4 shelves behind.

Team 15 is 6 away from bingo.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 16 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need 5 stars, series finished, shifter, science fiction, and owned not read yet.
Or they need UF, available at library, shifters, science fiction and kickass heroine.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 17 is 6 away from bingo.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 18 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need kickass heroine, series to start, magic, assassins, and science fiction.
Or they need steampunk, shifters, next in series, steampunk, and series finished.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 19 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need kickass heroine, angels, steampunk, assassins and fae.
Or they need series finished, series to start, owned not yet read, science fiction and next in series.
They are caught up on shelves.

Team 20 is 4 away from bingo.
They need owned not yet read, angels, UF and series to start.
They are caught up on shelves.

Team 21 is 5 away from bingo.
They need magic, science fiction, shifters, series finished and 5 stars.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 22 is 5 away from bingo.
They need series to start, shifters, angels, magic and assassins.
They are 1 shelf behind.


And this time, I remembered the tails :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Well done Sam!

Please put this on the discussion thread as well, it might help people to see their airplanes :)

[Sam]

OK, Sandra. It is now in the discussion thread as well.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Thanks Sam :)

[Sam]

You're welcome.

[Katie]

Week 10: Next in Series
Into the Fire
3/25/17
3 stars

Not really the best book to go out on, but it wasn't bad. This series doesn't really hold a candle to the Night Huntress series. I have to say that I'm looking forward to Ian's series, though. I usually enjoy Vlad and Leila, but something was off in this book. Vlad was too Vlad-ish and Leila was too stupid. I'll just hope for better from Ian.

[Regina]

I am reading French Pressed by Cleo Coyle for this week's shelf. I am almost done.

[Regina]

Shelf: Next in Series
Week: 10
Book: French Pressed by Cleo Coyle
Date Read: 3/26
Rating: 3.5/5



I love listening to this series and when I do, I always drink more coffee. :) Two things I love are Manhattan and coffee. I also love stories of persona re-invention. This mystery-lite series has all of that. Its nothing special or overwhelming wonderful, but I think it is fun.

This installment repeated old elements (how many murders can Claire witness? how many people close to her can be arrested and charged and then sent to Rikers? how long until her and Quinn close the deal?). But it is still fun and passes the time. I have already requested the next two from the library.

[Natalie]

Week 11: 5-stars!

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

This should be a fun shelf :)

[Natalie]

Tracking:

Team 1 - Reading Aces:
(view spoiler)[Free Space - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 1:
Hunters - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 2:
Paranormal Romance - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 3:
Guilty Pleasures - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 4:
Favorite Series - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 5:
Vampires - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 6:
Mythology - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 7:
Futuristic - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 8:
Snarky Heroine + Snarky - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 9:
Kickass Hero - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here
(hide spoiler)]

Week 10:
Next in Series - 4/4
Tracked here

Week 11: 5 Stars - 4/4
Katie - Protecting What's His by Tessa Bailey - Review - ★★★
Regina - Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø - Review - ★★★
Natalie - Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop - Review - ★★★★★
Sam - Frostbite by Richelle Mead - Review - ★★★★

[Sam]

I think I'm going to read Frostbite by Richelle Mead on page 2 of the shelf.

[Katie]

I'll read Protecting What's His, but won't be able to start until 4/1. Just an FYI in case I'm late. :)

[Regina]

I'm looking still - I feel like I have read so many on this list.

[Natalie]

Updated above. I can't finish either of mine until after the first either. I'm looking forward to a fun reading weekend :)

[Katie]

I loved Etched in Bone, Natalie! You ARE going to have an awesome reading weekend. :P

[Regina]

I am going to read for this week's shelf Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

[Katie]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you think, Regina. I have that one on my TBR and I keep avoiding it because I typically read romance, but it sounded good to me.

[Regina]

I am addicted to the HBO series! So I know I love the storyline. :)

[Natalie]

Week 10: Next in series
Book: Kings Rising
Date Read: 4/1
Rating: 4.5/5

Review:

While I enjoyed the second book, I said I felt most of it was building up to its last page. I had a few ideas of how the reaction would play out. I was incorrect which I love. I enjoy predicting what will happen in books but I love good surprises.

I don't want to go too much into the plot, but part of me wants to reread the series knowing what I know now.

I loved this book. There were great twists, and I enjoyed how everything worked out. I will have to track down The Summer Palace to read the epilogue.

[Regina]

Typical for me I changed my book, but I finished it. :)

Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø



I will do my review next post.

[Regina]

Shelf: Five Stars
Week: 11
Book: Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø
Date Read: 4/03/17
Rating: 3/5



I listened to this book. It was a really quick read. I like the setting (Norway/Denmark/Sweden). The culture immersion is interesting. I was inspired to read this series because this author is visiting a book store local to me and I read the first two in this series over the weekend.

Decent characters, involves crime but moral questions surrounding the crime. I am definitely looking into this author's other books.

[Natalie]

Week 11: 5 stars
Book: Etched in Bone
Date Read: 4/4
Rating: 4.5/5

My favorite thing about this series is the world building. I always enjoy seeing how magic and fantastical beings are weaved into our world, but I still have not seen one with the setup that I find in The Others series. If you enjoy UF and haven't picked up the first book (Written in Red), please do.

Anne Bishop also takes a different path than I find with most UF (and regular fantasy books). Usually they ramp up to a giant fight/conflict. But that happened in the last book. This book is more about what happens next. The Elders have kicked out all the obviously bad humans of the country, but are the rest really safe to stay? Overall I really enjoyed this book and while I'm sad to say goodbye to Laketown, I'm thrilled she's writing more.

(view spoiler)[One thing I didn't like. Early on when Jimmy is arriving in town they specifically talk about keeping Meg away from him so he doesn't try to exploit her. And that's exactly what happens. It's not like it a surprise that it would happen, but they literally talk about the possibility early on and not in a vague foreshadowing way.

I am also a bit sad at the reaction I see on the book page. I think the two reasons are 1) This is a slower pace book, especially compared to the last one. 2) Only a kiss at the end. I am content with that. Romance has never been the forefront of this series and honestly a graphic sex scene between the two of them just seems off for me in the context of the books. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Week 12: Series Finished

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Natalie]

Tracking:

Team 1 - Reading Aces:
(view spoiler)[Free Space - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 1:
Hunters - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 2:
Paranormal Romance - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 3:
Guilty Pleasures - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 4:
Favorite Series - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 5:
Vampires - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 6:
Mythology - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here

Week 7:
Futuristic - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 8:
Snarky Heroine + Snarky - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked here

Week 9:
Kickass Hero - 4/4 - Stamped!
Tracked Here
(hide spoiler)]

Week 10:
Next in Series - 4/4
Tracked here

Week 11:
5 Stars - 4/4
Tracked Here

Week 12: Series Finished - 4/4
Katie - His Alone by Alexa Riley - Review - ★★★★
Regina - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin - Review - ★★★★
Natalie - Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder - Review - ★★★★
Sam - Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong - Review - ★★★★

[Regina]

Week 11 -- wow! Thanks Natalie.

[Sam]

Sorry I'm behind. I should be caught up before the end of the weekend. I have lots of reading time then to catch up on this challenge.

[Sam]

I'm going to read Thirteen- Kelley Armstrong for my series finished book. It is on page 8 of the shelf.

[Natalie]

No worries for getting caught up, though I think they try have us stay no more than three behind.

I did a quick check through the google sheet with all the cards and it doesn't look like any of the groups with will have more than 8 of the 11 needed categories for any of the shapes, but I'll wait for Sam or someone to do a breakdown. Which would mean that we have at least 3 more weeks before someone could call bingo.

Also I'm not bitter at all that we have TWO 5-in-a-rows called and this never happens to me in normal bingo. Not bitter at all....

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I could look at that all day *sigh*

[Regina]

Love it!

I am so irritated, despite the huge shelf I can't find anything!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

So think of a book you want to read, where the series is finished and see if its on the shelf.

[Regina]

That is a great suggestion. I have just spent an hour doing that. I am going to go back to the drawing board and think of other series I have been meaning to try.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay! Cause it doesn't have to be a last book, lots of #1s on the shelf I noticed.

In fact the 4 possibles I had were all 1sts.

[Sam]

Ask and you shall receive.

Status update:
We are 3 away from bingo.
We need UF, kickass heroine, and series to start.
We are two shelves behind (thanks to me).

Team 2 is 3 away from bingo.
They need shifters, science fiction and series to start.
They are 5 shelves behind.

Team 3 is 5 away from bingo in all directions.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 4 is 3 away from bingo, twice.
They need assassins, magic, owned not read.
Or they need shifters, steampunk, series to start.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 5 is 4 away from bingo, twice.
They need series to start, fae, science fiction, and steampunk.
Or they need UF, series to start, available at library and assassins.
They are 4 shelves behind.

Team 6 is 3 away from bingo.
They need owned not yet read, UF and angels.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 7 is 4 away from bingo.
They need fae, kickass heroine, owned not yet read, and angels.
They are 5 shelves behind.

Team 8 is 4 away from bingo.
They need kickass heroine, shifters, steampunk and series to start.
They are 3 shelves behind.

Team 9 is 4 away from bingo.
They need assassins, UF, series to start, and owned not yet read.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 10 is 4 away from bingo.
They need kickass heroine, angels, magic, and fae.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 11 is 4 away from bingo.
They need shifters, angels, kickass heroine, and UF.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 12 is 5 away from bingo.
They need assassins, owned not read, UF, kickass heroine, and magic.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 13 is 5 away from bingo in all directions.
They are 4 shelves behind.

Team 14 is 3 away from bingo.
They need available at library, series to start, and shifters.
They are 6 shelves behind.

Team 15 is 5 away from bingo, twice.
They need science fiction, fae, shifters, magic and UF.
Or they need owned not read, available at library, shifters, assassins, and science fiction.
They are 4 shelves behind.

Team 16 is 3 away from bingo.
They need shifters, science fiction, and owned not read yet.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 17 is 4 away from bingo.
They need kickass heroine, science fiction, shifters and magic.
They are 4 shelves behind.

Team 18 is 3 away from bingo.
They need steampunk, shifters, and UF.
They are 2 shelves behind.

Team 19 is 3 away from bingo.
They need series to start, owned not yet read, and science fiction.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 20 is 4 away from bingo.
They need owned not yet read, angels, UF and series to start.
They are 1 shelf behind.

Team 21 is 3 away from bingo.
They need magic, science fiction, and shifters.
They are caught up on shelves.

Team 22 is 3 away from bingo.
They need owned not read, steampunk and UF.
They are 1 shelf behind.

[Sam]

This is a very close game and will take at least 3 more weeks to complete.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Wow Sam, I didn't realise so many teams are only 3 away, incl my own. LOL.

Did you add it to Discussion Thread? If not, please :D

[Regina]

Thank you for the analaysis!

[Natalie]

Great! Thanks for putting that together. It doesn't look like any team needs the same shelves as we do so if it goes our way we shouldn't have any to race against.

If only I could find some appropriate bribes...

[Regina]

Lol.

Maybe we all plan out our boos now, this week before the call for those three shelves? I may plan two books for each shelf to accommodate my fickleness.

[Natalie]

If anyone wants to start planning (I am way too much of a mood/what other challenges am I doing reader) here are the shelf links.

UF:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Kickass Heroine:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Series to Start:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Regina]

Thank you!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Unfortunately I don't Mr R can be bribed, though you can try and us Mods will be sure to mention it to him, whilst munching the chocolate :D

[Katie]

Week 11: 5 Stars
Protecting What's His
4/7/17
3 stars

Well, for finding this on the 5 Star shelf, it wasn't what I was hoping for. The hero was alpha to the point of being rude and annoying and the heroine had a sad case of TSTL. I won't be continuing the series.

[Katie]

I'll read His Alone for Week 12.

[Katie]

Week 12: Series Finished
His Alone
4/7/17
4 stars

This is one of those books where you feel like you shouldn't have liked it as much as you did. In the past, I've only read Alexa Riley's shorts and was never overly impressed with them. Their full length novels, though, have really changed my mind about them. Their over the top alphas and strong heroines work for me and I really enjoyed this book and series.

[Natalie]

Week 12: Series Finished
Book: Poison Study
Date Read: 4/9
Rating: 4/5

I always find myself in a weird position for having read her Healer series before this one. I think I had the first of both series, and ended up reading the other one first and then kept hearing about this one. I always meant to read it, but it just took a bit of time for me to get to it.

Poison Study follows Yelena who is about to be executed after killing a General's son. As next to be executed, she is also next in line for another offer. The commander's taste tester recently died and given she was going to die anyway, she can be trained as the new one. She chooses to take the position.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to finishing the series :)

[Sam]

SOS Bingo
Completion post:
Book: Glass Sword- Victoria Aveyard
Shelf: next in series
How it fits: on page 1 of the shelf
Date read: 4/10/17
Rating: 4 stars

This is the second book in the Red Queen series. Mare and Cal are on the run from Maven, the new king. They have joined up with the Scarlet Guard and decide to rescue/recruit the newbloods in their war against Maven. Mare still has feelings for the boy she thought Maven was, but she is developing feelings for Cal as well. She is also losing her ability to care for others due to her increasing feelings of guilt. There was a lot of sorrow in this book and the ending fit that theme. I am looking forward to seeing what happens now that a certain someone is dead and how this affects everyone remaining. I will definitely be continuing this series.