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R9: One-Hit Wonder (1)
Thanks Laura - I'll try for the 3 in a series bonus point. If someone else gets it done before me, no worries!
I am hoping to get the bonus for using only series books.
I sent Bryn a message. She'll be stopping by tomorrow to let us know what she's going to read.
Mod
I did
Cathy wrote: "I am hoping to get the bonus for using only series books."That's great! Between the two of us trying, one of us should be able to do it. :)
Sandy wrote: "Is anyone trying for the bonus points, either three books in a series and/or read a complete series? I've been looking for a book that can work for one/both of these but wanted to see if anyone els..."The book I've read for this week is 1st in series and it has two more. I'll be reading them soon as well so it can count toward that goal.
Space 31Book: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Series: #1 in Black Dagger Brotherhood series
Read: 6/25/17
Rating:: 4 stars
Review:
I really enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I loved the chemistry between Wrath and Beth. Steamy romance, vampires, and slayers. What else can you ask for in a summer read?
Jenny,I love that whole series (and the spin off as well:-)
Space 31Book: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
Series: #1 Brothers Sinister
Read: 6/26/17
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I had forgotten how much I like Courtney Milan's books.
This one was a tear-jerker for me and I loved every minute of it. The emotions felt real and the problems were more involved than many of this genre. I enjoyed the characters, both main characters, as well as the supporting cast who will gain their own HEA later in the series. I am looking forward to continuing with them.
Week 4 - Completion PostSpot 31
Nuts by Alice Clayton
Pages: 308
How it fits: Hudson Valley #1
Read: 6/25/17
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This was a fun story. Roxie Callahan left her small upstate NY town to become a chef, rather than working in her mom's diner. But she finds being at the whim of the Los Angeles elite is not a good thing when she gets fired, and then fired, and then fired - one mistake and almost all her clients bail! At the same time her mom begs her to come home and take care of the diner while she participates on The Amazing Race. Roxie reluctantly returns home, but finds things aren't as bad as she thought. Especially with local sustainable farmer Leo Maxwell nearby! Roxie was funny and Leo was swoony and it was a great match. Roxie's mom was loopy and the rest of the supporting characters were interesting and fun. I wish some of the recipes Roxie made had been included in the book - they made me hungry!!!! :D Can't wait for Oscar's story! I partly read and partly listened to this book - it took a little while to get used to the narrator's voice.
Week 4 Selection postSpace 31
Book: The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny.
How it works: #3 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. Also three word title.
Pages: 311
I am also about 200 pages into The Handmaid's Tale which is about 300 pages long so I hope to finish it and do a make up post for week 3.
Thank you all for being so patient with me! I was in a car accident last week and incurred a back injury. I'll be okay, it's a temporary injury but I spent half of last week in pain, sleeping or at doctor's appointments. I'm back to reading now though and I will get this week's challenge done.Also, I'm trying to read as many books as I can in the chief inspector gamache series so I can maybe complete the three or more books in a series challenge as well.
Hope you get well soon Bryn! So sorry about your accident!
Bryn that is terrible! Get better soon:-)
I am readingThe Body in the Library which is Miss Marple number 3. Sorry I didn't post this sooner. Bryan- sorry about your car accident ! Hope you get better soon'
Leslie wrote: "I am readingThe Body in the Library which is Miss Marple number 3. Sorry I didn't post this sooner. Bryan- sorry about your car accident ! Hope you get better soon'"
After I messaged you I saw it on your currently reading shelf and figured that was what you were reading for this week. :)
Bryn sorry to hear about your accident but glad you are okay.
Completion PostThe Body in the Library
Agatha Christie
pages:224
finished: 6/27/2016
3rd Miss Marple
4 stars
Review;
Love these books. I read most of these years ago and have recently started rereading these. They hold up quite well. Some of the language is dated however it doesn't take away from the story. I love Miss Marple and hope to be like her. I will continue reading Dame Christie!
Week 4Spot: 31
Book: On the Edge
Qualification: The Edge #1
Date Read: 6/28
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Ilona Andrews hits it out of the park again! This husband & wife team has quickly become my favorite author. The world building in this book is incredible, the characters are awesome, and the story is riveting. I'm hooked. The library is currently holding the next three in the series for me!
Bryn & Gea, how are your books coming?
Laura, I have that on my TBR list since I love the Kate Daniels series. I just have so many series already started that I haven't wanted to dive into another one. (The book I read this week I had read the 0.5 for :D )
I can't wait to read the rest! And I'm anxiously awaiting the third Hidden Legacy book!
Week 4 Completion PostSpace 31
Book: The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny.
How it works: #3 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. Also three word title.
Pages: 311
Finished: June 29th
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: this is the third book in a cozy mystery series set in the fictional town of Three Pines. This book follows chief inspector Gamache as he tries to find the killer when a woman dies mysteriously at a seance in a creepy house. While I really enjoyed the premise of this book, I found the actual mystery part to be a bit predictable, more so than in the two previous novels in this series. However, this book does go more into Gamache's past, which includes its own mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the story. I gave this book 3.5 stars.
My computer crapped out right in the middle of my post. Review: this is the third book in a cozy mystery series set in the fictional town of Three Pines. This book follows chief inspector Gamache as he tries to find the killer when a woman dies mysteriously at a seance in a creepy house. While I really enjoyed the premise of this book, I found the actual mystery part to be a bit predictable, more so than in the two previous novels in this series. However, this book does go more into Gamache's past, which includes its own mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the story. I gave this book 3.5 stars.
Bryn wrote: "My computer crapped out right in the middle of my post. Review: this is the third book in a cozy mystery series set in the fictional town of Three Pines. This book follows chief inspector Gamache..."
I figured you were planning to come back and edit it once you knew what you wanted to say. :)
Space 31
Book: Rough Ride by Cynthia Rayne
#1 in series
Read: 24-Jun-2017
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was my third series from the author and even though it wasn't nearly as good as her biker/mafia series, it was still a very enjoyable read. It was a romance at work place between the boss and an intern and it had some bdsm elements. It was rather rushed but still a very good introduction to a promising series.
Laura wrote: "Bryn wrote: "My computer crapped out right in the middle of my post. Review: this is the third book in a cozy mystery series set in the fictional town of Three Pines. This book follows chief insp..."
I fixed it! Sorry. Haha. I have an old laptop and it sometimes randomly decides to go crazy.
We're all done for the week! So I'll roll before I go to bed tonight. Crossing my fingers that I get to read the next book in the series for the one I read this week!
Week 3 make up postSpot: 26
Book: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Pages: 295
How it fits: Science fiction (alternate challenge)
Read: June 29, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I don't read much science fiction so I was a little wary going into this book but I knew it was well loved and I wanted to read the novel before I watched the new show on Netflix. The Handmaid's Tale is a story about an alternate world that is fucked up and also fully possible. There are no inventions that haven't taken place, it's not in space; it is a novel that shows where we could end up if we make the wrong political choices. The concept behind the novel was astounding, however, I found the writing to be a bit overwrought. It's one of those novels where you understand it's importance but isn't compulsively readable. With that said, I struggled through the first half of the book, but was riveted while reading the last 95 pages. I ended up giving it 4 stars, because while I understand it's importance and was impacted by the novel, I didn't quite enjoy it enough to give it 5 stars.
Bryn wrote: "Week 3 make up postSpot: 26
Book: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Pages: 295
How it fits: Science fiction (alternate challenge)
Read: June 29, 2017
Rating: 4 sta..."
I've added it to our tracking post. You're all caught up! :)
I may or may not have squealed (just a little) when I rolled what I was praying for. I so want to read the next book in that series I started this week!
New Roll, Week 5Roll: 11 (6, 5)
Space landed on: 42 (4th, 2nd, 42nd book in series, or alternate Dystopian)
Laura:
| 2nd in series | ReviewLeslie:
| Tagged Dystopian | ReviewCathy:
| 4th in series | ReviewBryn:
| 2nd in series | ReviewSandy:
| 2nd in series | ReviewGea:
| 2nd in series | ReviewJenny:
| Tagged Dystopian | Review
Selection PostWeek: 5
Spot: 42
Book: Joshua's Mission
# of pages: 337
How it works: #2 in Plain and Simple Miracles series
Week 5 - Selection PostSpot 42
Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
Pages: 320
How it fits: Hudson Valley #2
Week 5 Selection PostSpot 42
Book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition
Pages: 259
How it fits: Harry Potter #2
Week 5 - Completion PostSpot 42
Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
Pages: 320
How it fits: Hudson Valley #2
Completed: 7/2/17
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Oscar Mendoza is a hot dairy farmer who makes artisanal cheeses in Bailey Falls, NY. Natalie Grayson is an ad executive who lives in Manhattan, and sees Oscar at a weekend farmer's market. She's had a crush on him for months, and then finds out that her friend Roxie knows him! Natalie is a big girl with a big personality and big confidence. She gets a job running an ad campaign for tourism to Bailey Falls, and ends up seeing Oscar. At first I liked Natalie a lot - she was fun and funny. But after awhile she just wore me out - she was just too much! I did like Oscar, although it seemed a bit farfetched that no one in town knew his history. Fun and sexy book, although I liked the first one a bit more.
Week 5Spot: 42
Book: Bayou Moon
Qualification: The Edge #2
Date Read: 7/4
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Ah, William. *sigh* This troubled werewolf (sorry, changeling) is just what the world needs. He keeps such a tight leash on himself, afraid to give in to his nature/desires because he fears mis-interpreting human reactions. But when he falls in love, he falls hard. And the romantic sighs can be heard for miles around.
I was a little disappointed when I realized that this wasn't like I.A.'s other series. That rather than follow one couple through all the books we'll have different couples in each book. But William quickly helped me get over that!
Completion postWeek 5 spot 42, alternate: dystopia
booK:The Testing
how it fits: dystopian novel
read: 7/2/2017
4 stars
I really enjoyed this novel especially the main character, Malencia (Cia) Vale. Cia is the main narrator. I love the fact that Cia is one tough cookie. She doesn't rely on her looks to get by. She is smart and resourceful. She excels in Engineering and Science. I really enjoy seeing these strong women characters in YA fiction. So much of YA fiction has these girls who fall for the mysterious brooding older man who ignores them. I will be reading the others in this series.
Completion PostWeek 5
Spot 42
Book: Yours for the Taking
How it fits: book 4 in Domestic Gods series
368 pages
3 stars
7/5/17
Review: This is the last of a series and it took me longer to get into it than the others. Gina had been introduced in an earlier book and was not presented in a good light then. That kind of put me off her. Ben, the other main character, did act as expected based on the first three books either. Together, they made an unlikely pair and I had a hard time with the changes to their characters. I finally was able to go with it but I didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of the series.
I changed my book to the Alternate: DystopianCompletion Post
Week 5
Spot 42 (Alternate Dystopian)
Book: Allegiant
How it fits: MPG of dystopian
Rating: 5 stars
Date Finished: 7/5
Review: Wow! I only saw the movie before...and wasn't expecting the story in the book to be so different. I really liked the book version much better, although I can see why Hollywood changed it to make a more happy ending in the movie version. This book had me wanting to cry near the end but I think the ending was much more profound and made a lot more sense.
Jenny wrote: "I changed my book to the Alternate: DystopianCompletion Post
Week 5
Spot 42 (Alternate Dystopian)
Book: Allegiant
How it fits: MPG of dystopian
Rati..."
I think they're doing another movie. They like to split the last book into 2 movies these days! I thought this movie was much better done than the 2nd movie. My husband almost had to remove me from the theater, I was so upset by the changes they made. :)
Laura wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I changed my book to the Alternate: DystopianCompletion Post
Week 5
Spot 42 (Alternate Dystopian)
Book: Allegiant
How it fits: MPG of ..."
I know it was so different. I was listening to the book and thinking "what, wait a minute, she didn't do that in the movie!). The book made much more sense in terms of a narrative plot line and characters. I'm so glad I finally read the book!
The Challenge Factory
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I'm reading On the Edge this week. There are 4 books in that series. Seeing as how the author is Ilona Andrews, I'm sure I'll want to read them all. So I'll try for the complete series bonus point.
We've already earned the long book bonus point!
And my goal is to always read series books, never the alternate. :)