R9: Team TENacious. (10)

[Joyce]

Good roll I think I'll read Winter's Tale. It is a long one, and it is available in Kindle unlimited as book and audio so I can go back and forth with it.

[Linda C]

I need to read A Gentleman in Moscow for my F2F book group next Thursday, so I'll do a stand alone

[Cait S]

Week: 7
Spot: 40
Book: Born Survivors by Wendy Holden
Qualification: Stand alone novel
Finished: 7/20/2017
Pages: 385
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I always start my non fic reviews with the statement that I am not a non fic reader. In fact, I would go so far as to say that on 98 out of 100 days I vehemently dislike it. It bores me.

This is one of those other 2 days. I love that Wendy Holden didn't sugar coat any of this, didn't spare our feelings. The horror of the situations these women were in is laid out very clearly and their emotions done justice. I'm not a big history buff (see again my feelings on non fic) so some of this was new information for me, or at least told in a way I hadn't heard before so that was very interesting.

Well written in a way that is accessible but again, delivers the facts with deep feeling. It was tough to read in places but I think that's a positive. I'm glad I gave it a chance, I ended up really enjoying the read.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I finished my book I just need to post my completion :)

[Elena]

Week: 7
Spot: 40
Book: Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: The Edge #4
Finished: 7/20/2017
Pages: 388
Rating: ★★★1/2
Review:

Steel's Edge is the fourth and final book in The Edge series. As per series tradition it introduces a new female lead – Charlotte – who is paired up with a secondary character from one of previous books – Richard. And I liked them both very much (except for Richard's unprovoked burst of jealousy at the worst time!). The book itself started out great - the raid on the slave market was very engaging and full of action and drama - but fell a bit short in the second half. (view spoiler)[The confrontation I was expecting didn’t take place until the very end and was very underwhelming. And the whole scheme with Richard’s disguise seemed very improbable and would be impossible to pull in RL in my opinion. (hide spoiler)] And even though I understand that series’ main focus in on each couple’s separate story I was still hoping for a conclusion that would tie all books together a little better.

[Linda C]

Week: 7
Spot: 40
Book: A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
Qualification: 0=stand alone
Finished: 7/20/2017
Pages: 462
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
In 1922 Count Alexander Rostov is brought before the Bolshevik Tribunal and charged with being an unrepentant aristocrat and would have been sentenced to death had it not been for a poem he wrote in 1913 that has been hailed as a call to revolution. Instead he is sentenced to live out his days at the Metropol Hotel. When he returns to the Hotel he finds he has been moved from his suite to an old servants room under the eaves. He determines to adjust and carry on as a 'gentleman' should. Through the years he witnesses history, people watches, and becomes friends with staff and guests, influencing and be influenced by a broad cast of characters. Enthralling to see this man of leisure morph over the years but retain his core as the world changes all around him. Highly recommended.

[Joyce]

Week 7
Spot 40
Book: The Beach House by James Patterson
How it fits: 0 for stand alone book
Finished 7/19/2017
Pages: 356
Rating 5 stars
Review:
Jack's brother Peter is killed but it is ruled a suicide by the police. Jack knows Peter would never kill himself. He finds the utmost corruption running throughout his community he grew up in. The lies and cover ups of wealthy and connected people amaze him. He embarks on a mission to find out what really happened and why. I could not put this book down. I have to look for more of these authors

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Week: 7
Spot: 40
Book: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Qualification: stand alone
Finished: 7/19/2017
Pages: 404
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I found some parts in this story funny but I als enjoyed how strong Samantha became. She made being a lawyer a major part of her life that she forgot to take time for herself. When an error happens and she runs away to hide from her embarrassment, thats when she finally sees what she really wants in life. An enjoyable book.

[Plethora]

Completion Post


Week: 7
Spot: 40

The Rx Carousel by Anthony G. Tebbutt
Fits: Standalone
Date read: 07/17/17
Rating: 3.5
Review
This was more a 3.5, but not quite enough to bump to a 4. I found this to be very readable, I was a little concerned before I got underway that it might struggle to be relatable. The struggle read real enough to come in as CEO of a drug company and clean house, navigating the waters to bring the young company up to snuff. There was parts of the side story a little over the top but they kept the story moving but played into the reason I didn't bump up to a 4.

[Elena]

Team TENacious Week 7 Book Report

Roll: 7, Spot: 40 - standalone, book 0, 4 or 40 in series/ alt. - Title E

✔ Elena - Steel's Edge (The Edge, #4) | Ilona Andrews - Review
✔ Joyce - The Beach House (standalone) | James Patterson - Review
✔ Cait S - Born Survivors (standalone) | Wendy Holden - Review
✔ ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - The Undomestic Goddess (standalone) | Sophie Kinsella - Review
✔ Plethora - The Rx Carousel (sandalone) | Anthony G. Tebbutt - Review
✔ Linda C - A Gentleman in Moscow (standalone) | Amor Towles - Review



BONUS POINT - 1 point for starting and finishing a series - The Edge series (4 books) by Ilona Andrews (reviews for Book 1, Book 2, Book 3)

[Elena]

Hi team! Sorry, I couldn't stay up late enough last night to roll. Our new spot is:

Week 8
Roll: 11 (!!!!!!!)
Old Spot: 40
New spot: 51

Standalone
Book 1 in series
Book 5 in series
Book 51 in series
Alternate - New York

And we have a bonus point which when used will put us one spot ahead. We can use it now or save it for later, what would you guys prefer? I'll wait to post in the official thread until we decide.

Just in case, alternate for 52 is -
Two Word Title excluding like A, An, The (i.e. Deadly Silence or The Hunger Games)

[Plethora]

Alternate should be for 51--new York right?

[Cait S]

That's what's listed under our roll, Plethora. She was just adding the 52 alternate in case we decide to use our extra point.

I say hang onto it, Elena. This is an easy week to fill.

[Plethora]

Oh...i see that now. My eye was drawn to the bold and I wasn't processing that was a what if ...

[Cait S]

I think I'm going to read The Book of Three, #1 in the Chronicles of Prydain series :)

[Elena]

Sorry, Plethora, didn't mean to make it more confusing :)

We can also do standalone for 1, I forgot to add it before.

I'll be reading The Blood of Olympus, #5 in Heroes of Olympus series, and it's over 500 pages which is another bonus point!

[Linda C]

I will read Her Perfect Mate - Paige Tyler. It is #1 in the X-Ops series.

[Joyce]

I think we should hang on to it in case we get something that really sucks

[Joyce]

I think I'll read At Any Price book #1 or possiblyWinter's Tale it is set in New York and a stand alone. have to see what works best with some of my other stuff. The last one is a long one (768 pages) and we can get an additional point for that if I can finish it in time.

[Linda C]

Rules for bonus points says
****Each of those can only be earned ONCE. So That is a FREE PASS and a total of 4 bonus points****

Elena and Joyce - so only one of those books over 500 pages counts for a point - keep that in mind when you're deciding what to read

[Linda C]

so far I haven't used an alternate for any of my reads, so I am going to try for that point

rule says
One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists (earned week before winning roll)

not sure when this can go in, if other teams are way ahead

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Week: 8
Spot: 51
Book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Author: Alan Bradley
Qualification: book #1 series
Finished: 7/25/2017
Pages: 374
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Flavia is a fun and interesting character. She's also pretty smart for her age but as any young teen she is nosy and gets herself it a bit of trouble and the banter between her and her sister is also funny. An enjoyable start to the series.

[Linda C]

Week: 8
Spot: 51
Book: Her Perfect Mate
Author: Paige Tyler
Qualification: book #1 series
Finished: 7/26/2017
Pages: 316
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is pulled from his operation in Afghanistan and transferred to a secret department in Homeland Security. He is partnered with Ivy Halliwell, a feline shifter, something Landon has never heard of. They are trained and sent on a mission to rescue kidnapped biologists and find out why they are being kidnapped. The action is continuous and their encounters sexy. What a great start to a series.

[Joyce]

Week 8
spot 51
Book: At Any Price
Author: Brenna Aubrey
Pages: 391
Rating: 4/5
Finished 7/27/2017
Qualification: 1st in series
Review: Mia Strong still has her virginity at age 22 and is in dire need of money for Med School and her mothers cancer treatments. She decides to have an auction for giving it up. Adam Drake wins the auction. Things keep getting in the way for them to consummate the deed. Adam is the creator of her favorite MMORPG game so they have that in common at least. She finds she is falling for him and vows to just get it over with.

I don't really usually read straight up romance but this one is very well written and has interesting characters, although I want to smack Mia's friend Heath. I might just read the next in the series.

[Elena]

Week: 8
Spot: 51
Book: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Qualification: The Heroes of Olympus, #5
Finished: 7/27/2017
Pages: 516
Rating: ★★★★
Review:

Fifth and final book in the series and I thought it was a good way to finish it. Started a bit slow for me but once I got to the second half I couldn’t put it down. Tons of action (too much for me at times but not complaining since I’m not exactly target audience :)) and still plenty of character development. The ending was very satisfying but I wouldn’t mind a couple of follow up stories. The final battle with (view spoiler)[Gaea (or lack thereof) was kinda underwhelming. I mean this was what the whole series has been leading up to and it was over almost before it began. (hide spoiler)] Overall I really enjoyed reading Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series and would recommend to those looking for great adventure packed with action, humor and superpowers.

[Plethora]

Completion Post


Week: 8
Spot: 51

I, Ripper: A Novel by Stephen Hunter
Fits: Standalone
Date read: 07/25/17
Rating: 3.5
Review
I'm still debating on my final rating for this book. I think I had higher hopes and expectations but I'm not sure it fell entirely flat either. The diary sections written by "The Ripper" are not for the faint of heart, it details out his penchant for his deeds. I had to find out if the use of the word (view spoiler)[jizz (hide spoiler)] was time period accurate, as it was driving me nuts as I read wondering if was. Apparently so, however not likely with that spelling. Dangerous internet search for that word origin!

[Cait S]

Week: 8
Spot: 51
Book: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Qualification: #1 in the Chronicles of Prydain series
Finished: 7/27/2017
Pages: 224
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was very likable right from the start. The characters are well developed and easily distinguishable, although the MC does get a bit whiny places. I suppose you expect that from a preteen Assistant Pig-Keeper.

I enjoyed the plot and think it set up nicely for a full series to follow. I plan to keep going with it!

[Elena]

Team TENacious Week 8 Book Report

Roll: 11, Spot: 51 - standalone, book 1, 5, 51 in series/ alt. - New York

✔ Elena - The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus, #5) | Rick Riordan - Review
✔ Joyce - At Any Price (Gaming the System, #1) | Brenna Aubrey - Review
✔ Cait S - The Book of Three (the Chronicles of Prydain, #1) | Lloyd Alexander - Review
✔ ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) | Alan Bradley - Review
✔ Plethora - I, Ripper: A Novel (standalone) | Stephen Hunter - Review
✔ Linda C - Her Perfect Mate (X-Ops, #1) | Paige Tyler - Review



BONUS POINT - 1 point for reading a book that > 500 pages - The Blood of Olympus (516 pages)

[Elena]

Hi team!
Our roll for week 9 is: 8
Putting us on spot 59 - books 5, 9, 59 in series or alternate - Goodreads Choice Awards 2013

Or with 2 bonus points we can move to 60 (standalone, 0, 6, 60, alternate - Title S) or 61 (standalone, 1, 6, 61, alternate - Author L).

My vote is to use at least one point, 59 is a tough one! What say you? :)

[Plethora]

I'll go with whatever the majority wants. I can easily find a 5 or 9 to a cozy mystery series.

[Cait S]

I'm good with 59 too. I've been wanting to read Clockwork Princess which works for the 2013 spot.

[Elena]

Actually, after I posted I remembered I have a 9 book I can read - How the Light Gets In - so 59 works for me too :)

[Linda C]

I have a #5, so 59 is good for me also

[Elena]

So, does everyone have a book they can read for spot 59? Carmen, Joyce, let us know if you can, please! :)

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I can find something that works :)

[Joyce]

I will find something. Did we get an early roll?

[Joyce]

I can find anything for 5 , 9 , or 6 so whatever works for anyone

[Elena]

Awesome, thanks! Just wanted to make sure our current position is good for everyone since we have a couple of options :) Happy reading, team!

[Linda C]

Week: 9
Spot: 59
Book: The Silence of the Library
Author: Miranda James
Qualification: book #5 in Cat in the Stacks series
Finished: 8/2/2017
Pages: 320
Rating: ★★★
Review: For National Library Week, the Athena Public Library where Charlie Harris volunteers is planning an exhibit on Electra Barnes Cartwright, author of the Veronica Thane series, who would have 100 this year. She was born locally but moved to Connecticut. To their surprise they find she is still alive and they invite her to speak. This starts a chain of events that brings fanatical collectors, publishers and fans to the area. When the head of the fan club is murdered, Charlie does his usual side investigation. His Maine coon cat, Diesel is a major character in the story. OK mystery; too much cat.

[Cait S]

Week: 9
Spot: 59
Book: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Qualification: Nominee from 2013 Goodreads Choice
Finished: 8/3/2017
Pages: 567
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
So as I said in my review of the first book of this series-- I don't like Cassandra Clare. She is a truly awful human being, I don't agree with/support the way she's behaved, and frankly, I picked up this series expecting and wanting to hate it.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR MY MORALITY-- I loved it. I loved all three books but this one here was the best of the three by far. I loved that it's told by all the characters and that I was never disappointed when a new narrator would chime in. Don't you hate those books when you only enjoy like every third chapter because half the characters suck? I do. I'll cop to favoring Will (in every aspect and way possible. Will Herondale is my Gale Hawthorne of this series. And being my Gale Hawthorne is a very serious thing indeed.)

I love the emphasis put on the importance of relationships. Not just romantic but family and friends and the people you choose for your family and friends. It adds a depth that's missing in so many other YA books that just go hard at the "Romantic love is the most important thing that will ever happen to you angle."

The story itself is intriguing and keeps your attention. Each new piece fits perfectly and never left me with that "Wait what the hell--" that I get with some series. If I had to complain about anything at all, it's that I find it utterly unlikely that Will and Jem would not have both known about their feelings for Tessa. Jem knows Will better than he knows himself and Will is a great liar-- But not that great. It just didn't seem feasible to me that these brothers would know every other thing about each other, but miss something that every other character picked up on.

As with the other books, I laughed a lot, I cried a little, and I'm ANGRY THAT I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Damn, dude. Unfair, uncool, unnecessary.

But seriously, f**k me up, Will Herondale.

[Plethora]

Completion Post


Week: 9
Spot: 59

Book: The Dangerous Ladies Affair by Marcia Muller
Fits: #5
Date read: 08/03/17
Rating: 3
Review
Meah....I just want overly interested in this. The two detectives go about working on separate cases, so you jump between cases. The underlying romance pining between the two detectives almost is talked about more than the cases.

[Joyce]

Week 9
Spot 59

Book: Cold Days by Jim Butcher
How it fits: Alternate choice 2013 Goodreads Choice
Date Finished 8/3/2017
Pages: 515
Rating: 5/5
Review: Harry Dresden was dead but brought back to life by Mab the Winter Queen. He has to fight back the nature of being the Winter Knight and its base instincts. He finds he has to save his magical island and all of Chicago. He reconnects with his old allies and enemies in the process. I still love this series 14 books in and it still interests me. Poor Harry is always getting beat up and beat down. Of course I will only listen to it on audio book as I love it being read by James Marsters. He just seems to do the character justice.

[Elena]

Week: 9
Spot: 59
Book: How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Qualification: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #9
Finished: 8/3/2017
Pages: 405
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:

An excellent continuation to one of my favorite series and one of the best books in it so far. I would definitely recommend reading this one in order - even though every book is a separate mystery, the characters and the long story arc have been developing from book one and are too good to miss. Murder investigation takes Inspector Gamache back to Three Pines and I was very happy to see some of my favorites back in the picture. Very emotional, superbly written and immensely enjoyable literary mystery set in the coziest fictional place ever.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Week 9
Spot 59
Book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Qualifies: Nominee from 2013 Goodreads Choice
Read: 8/3/17
Pages 259
Rated 4 stars
Review: This was a quick read but such a magical story. I enjoyed it and as always a well written book by the author. It made you feel all kinds of emotion from the death, family and love.

[Elena]

Team TENacious Week 9 Book Report

Roll: 8, Spot: 59 - book 5, 9 or 59 in series/ alt. - Goodreads Choice Award 2013

✔ Elena - How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #9) | Louise Penny - Review
✔ Joyce - Cold Days (alternate) | Jim Butcher - Review
✔ Cait S - Clockwork Princess (alternate) | Cassandra Clare - Review
✔ ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - The Ocean at the End of the Lane (alternate) | Neil Gaiman - Review
✔ Plethora - The Dangerous Ladies Affair (A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery, #5) | Marcia Muller - Review
✔ Linda C - The Silence of the Library (Cat in the Stacks, #5) | Miranda James - Review

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Oh good! My completion post has made it! I've been having issues with posting anything on GR and it's driving me crazy.

[Elena]

Hello everyone! New roll time! :)

Week 10
Roll: 9
New Spot: 68 - book 6, 8 or 68 in series or
Alternate - Sports/Athletes

And our other possibilities if we decide to use bonus points:
69 - 6, 9 or 69 in series, alt. - Cover: Green
70 - standalone, 0, 7 or 70 in series, alt. - Space Opera

[Cait S]

I'd be down for moving up to 70. It would be the easiest to fill for sure but if everyone else has something for our current spot, I'll figure one out :)

[Joyce]

I'm open to just about any number. I have too much on my tbr list. I'll check later to see what I have for each.

[Linda C]

I say go to 70. Sounds like there are teams in upper 70s and lower 80s so we want to get closer and hope for another big number next time.