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R9: SSS Team Series Sirens (4)
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Krissy
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Jul 29, 2017 10:16PM
As soon as Katherine makes her post I can roll :)
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Completion Post: WEEK #9 - ThursdaySpot: 62
Book: Playing with Fire
Pages: 404 pages
How it Fits: 2nd in a series: Skulduggery Pleasant, #2
Date Read: 30th July
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Skulduggery and Valkyrie are on one of their toughest adventures yet with more dead bodies turning up as well as more vampires showing up all over Ireland. I still enjoy the main characters interaction, and I love it that Skully, (that's my new nickname for Skulduggery) treats her his equal even through she is so much younger than him. There were loose ends tied up from the first book which is nice.
Stephanie Edgely/Valkyrie Cain is now 13 years old and she spends most of her time with Skully, her mentor, solving crimes and also her trainer of the magic arts. As well as practicing her physical abilities with Tanith Low. Skulduggery Pleasant is still the leader through the story that helps to carry the plot along as any good detective should. The it's self was enjoyable and I can't wait to see what happen's next!
WEEK #9 - SUNDAYRolled: 5
Spot: 67
-6th in a series
-7th in a series
-67th in a series
-Alt: Standalone
SELECTION POSTWeek #9 - Sunday
Spot: 67
My Choice: Heart of the Steal
Pages: 296
How it Fits: Alt: Standalone
Selection PostWeek #9 - Sunday
Spot: 62
Book: A.W.O.L.
Pages: 194
how it fits: Mad Dogs #6
date read: 7/31/17
rating: 2 stars
Although I had enjoyed the previous books in this series, with this one I spent most of the time frustrated and lost. The conspiracy is too convoluted. I don't understand who the bad guys are. Actually, I don't think I quite understand what the bad guys and good guys are fighting about. There are too many characters with special skills to keep track of. I still don't understand what is happening to B, M and Duke. Sad part is, I think I no longer care. I'm not sure that I'll bother with book 7.
Selection Post: WEEK #9 - SundaySpot: 67
Book: The Magician's Nephew
Pages: 221 pages
How it Fits: 6th in a series: Chronicles of Narnia, #6
COMPLETION POSTWeek #9 - Sunday
Heart of the Steal
Completed: 8/01
Rating: ★★★
Review: Cute book but kind of dragged in the middle. The MCs got together pretty early on and Vaughn promised to stop stealing artwork so the rest of the book was just watching them "date" and have sex. Not much else. There is a little drama towards the end because Will is an overreacting drama queen. At least in my opinion he is. Vaughn ended up apologizing and saying Will was right but honestly I thought Will just overreacted to the situation. The blame shouldn't have been all on Vaughn's shoulders.
CompletionSpot 67
Book: Night's Honor
Date Read: 8/2/17
Rating: ★★★
This installment of the Elder Races series was mediocre to me. I liked Xavier but Tess was not my favorite heroine. It felt like something was missing without appearances by regular characters in the series. The epilogue left me curious about Melisande and Julian's story in the next book. I will finish the series but I enjoyed the first books in this series more than this one. I hope it will finish strong in the last couple of books.
Week #9 Sunday Reviews✓Krissy: Msg 259
Heart of the Steal, Alt: Standalone
✓Susan A: Msg 256
A.W.O.L., Mad Dogs #6
✓Amanda A: Msg 260
Night's Honor, Elder Races #7
✓Katherine: Msg 263
The Magician's Nephew, Chronicles of Narnia #6
As soon as we get Katherine's completion post I'll roll again :)
Completion Post: WEEK #9 - SundaySpot: 67
Book: The Magician's Nephew
Pages: 221 pages
How it Fits: 6th in a series: Chronicles of Narnia, #6
Date Read: 3rd August
Rating: ★★★
Review:
When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Digory's Uncle is such a heartless, cowardly, selfish asshole that uses others, including family members, as his test subjects! I didn't like him at the beginning and I hate him now! The White Witch is the best character in the series. I enjoyed the Witch and her backstory, I've always liked her for not being a stereotypical villain that are as ugly as they are evil, she's actually good looking - you can even say she's beautiful. I like the origins of a lot of things you read about in the first book but my favourite origins stories is the wardrobe and the lamp post.
WEEK #10 - THURSDAYRolled: 3
Spot: 70
-7th in a series
-70th in a series
-Standalone
-Alt: Author S
Selection Post: WEEK #10 - ThursdaySpot: 70
Book: United States Of Apocalypse
Pages: 296 pages
How it Fits: Standalone
SELECTION POSTWeek #10 - Thursday
Spot: 70
My Choice: Come Unto These Yellow Sands
Pages: 161
How it Fits: Standalone
Krissy - I requested a vacation waiver hereWaiver will start week 12 Thursday (Aug 17). I can start up again on Week 15 Sunday (Sept 10) if the game is still running.
In case the challenge does end before I get back:
Bonus Points
✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series - NONE
✸ One point can be earned One point can be earned for reading a book that > 500 pages NONE
✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series (there must be more than 4 books in that series...I will entertain series with spin-offs) ~ no re-reads on this one. NONE
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists Yes, but as I will miss weeks, I am probably not eligible
I don't expect these answers to change over the next few calls.
Week #10 Thursday Reviews✓Krissy: Msg 271
Come Unto These Yellow Sands, Standalone
✓Susan A: Msg 273
His Quiet Agent, Standalone
✓Amanda A: Msg 274
Until Harry, Standalone
Katherine: Msg 276
United States Of Apocalypse, Standalone
COMPLETION POSTWeek #10 - Thursday
Come Unto These Yellow Sands
Completed: 8/05
Rating: ★★★★
Review: I usually enjoy Josh Lanyon's books. This one is no different. Though normally I don't like established couples/relationships. Lanyon seems to like that though. It just would have been more impactful when Max finally declares his love if we would have been able to watch his feelings build up to that point. I wish this book was a little more steamier as well. But I still enjoyed it despite that.
Selection PostWeek #10 - Thursday
Spot: 70
Book: His Quiet Agent
Pages: 156
how it fits: standalone
date read: 8/5/17
rating: 5 stars
I am struggling ... I read this book almost straight through, only putting it down when necessary. No sex, no touching, not even any desire, and yet there was romance and love and strong emotions. Different from most of the MM books I read. A lot is left unsaid, but the not knowing everything somehow makes the story stronger. This is a standalone, but I did not want to come to the end of this couple's story.
CompletionBook: Until Harry
Date Read: 8/5/17
Rating: ★★★½
This was a sweet friends to lovers romance with plenty of drama. I felt sorry for Kale and all of the tragedy he endured. I liked Lane and how Uncle Harry influenced her life. I was not a fan of all of the flashbacks but I would have liked to read Kale's POV of the past and present as well. This was the first book by this author that I have read but I would give another book a try.
Still waiting on Katherine. I'm sure she'll post soon.
Completion Post: WEEK #10 - ThursdaySpot: 70
Book: United States Of Apocalypse
Pages: 296 pages
How it Fits: Standalone
Date Read: 6th August
Rating: ★★★
Review:
When World War 3 erupts in American some less than likely heroes to band together any and all enemy's that come against them, and a desperate bid for survival for our main characters. I love Michael Talbot, the giant cat and L. Tynes (he doesn't like to be referred to his first name - don't ask!), I loved their banta and how they become friends in this universe. I like how the story gripped me but that bloody cliffhanger. No!!!!! Is there going to be a second book?
WEEK #10 - SUNDAYRolled: 1
Spot: 71
-1st in a series
-7th in a series
-71st in a series
-Standalone
-Alt: Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
Selection Post: WEEK #10 - SundaySpot: 71
Book: Birth of a Killer
Pages: 261 pages
How it Fits: 1st in a series: The Saga of Larten Crepsley #1
Selection PostWeek #10 - Sunday
Spot: 71
Book: Summer Heat
Pages: 205
how it fits: standalone
date read: 8/7/17
rating: 4 stars
Classic friends to lovers. Smokin' hot scenes. Author Jay Northcote's books are an auto buy for me.
SELECTION POSTWeek #10 - Sunday
Spot: 71
My Choice: The Clue in the Diary
Pages: 202
How it Fits: Nancy Drew #7
Week #10 Sunday Reviews✓Krissy: Msg 284
The Clue in the Diary, Nancy Drew #7
✓Susan A: Msg 280
Summer Heat, Standalone
✓Amanda A: Msg 285
Speak No Evil, No Evil Trilogy #1
✓Katherine: Msg 287
Birth of a Killer, The Saga of Larten Crepsley #1
COMPLETION POSTWeek #10 - Sunday
The Clue in the Diary
Completed: 8/09
Rating: ★★★
Review: Typical Nancy Drew story. I read them for nostalgic sake mostly. Plus they are easy and quick. Laura Linney needs some work on her accents because they were almost laughable in this book.
CompletionBook: Speak No Evil
Date Read: 8/8/17
Rating: ★★★★
This was a page-turner suspense story. The serial killer was one very twisted individual. Some of the descriptions were graphic and disturbing but the writing kept me intrigued until the end. A little romance was thrown in as well but it seemed very rushed. I will definitely read more books by Allison Brennan.
Hopefully Katherine will post soon so I can roll.
Completion Post: WEEK #10 - SundaySpot: 71
Book: Birth of a Killer
Pages: 261 pages
How it Fits: 1st in a series: The Saga of Larten Crepsley, #1
Date Read: 11th August
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Before Cirque Du Freak and the vampire war - we go WAY back in time to how Larten became a vampire and his childhood/upbringing. Larten Crepsley was a boy of 8 years old and doing child labor with his cousin. He did his job well and without complaint, until the foreman killed his cousin that he loved the most - so he killed the child murder as vengeance! Forced to run, he sleeps in crypts and finds a vampire named Seba who offers him protection and training as a vampire's assistant - and Larten takes it.
THAT was amazing!! Larten has a dozen brothers and sisters. But the one he loves is his orphan cousin, Vur. I enjoy the inclusion of the Cirque Du Freak and how cruel and gritty the past of one of my favourite vampires came to be the way he was. I am interested to find out more of Lartens story, I need to read the rest of the books soon. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers on the edge of their seat - needing more!
I'm so sorry for being so late. :(
WEEK #11 - THURSDAYRolled: 4
Spot: 75
-5th in a series
-7th in a series
-75th in a series
-Alt: Cover: Black
Pick short ones, ladies! We only have 26.5 hours to read our picks. Good luck!
Selection PostWeek #11 - Thursday
Spot: 75
Book: Shoulda Been a Cowboy
Pages: 240
how it fits: #7 Rough Riders
SELECTION POSTWeek #11 - Thursday
Spot: 75
My Choice: Desert Foxe
Pages: 232
How it Fits: Skyler Foxe Mysteries #5
Selection Post: WEEK #11 - ThursdaySpot: 75
Book: The Road to Oz
Pages: 261 pages
How it Fits: 5th in a series: Oz #5
Completion PostWeek #11 - Thursday
Spot: 75
Book: Shoulda Been a Cowboy
Pages: 240
how it fits: #7 Rough Riders
date read: 8/12/17
rating: 4 stars
This was a re-read for me. Lots of sex, and although typical for this series, it doesn't get old. I've only read up to book 8 in this series and I'm not sure why I stopped. Books 1 & 7 are my favorites. I really like Cam. In other reviews, people have noted they they didn't like how Cam treats Anton. However, this seemed real to me, and through the course of the book, Cam becomes a better person and a real father. I liked reading the development of this character.
Tonight's call is my last one before my vacation. I really need the call to be somewhat on-time in order to finish it before I leave. I think you can assume if the call isn't made by Sunday night, I won't be reading it.
Hopefully we can all get our posts done in time. I'm almost done with my book so I'll be posting soon.
Week #11 Thursday Reviews✓Krissy: Msg 299
Desert Foxe, Skyler Foxe Mysteries #5
✓Susan A: Msg 295
Shoulda Been a Cowboy, Rough Riders #7
✓Amanda A: Msg 301
Undeniably Yours, Lucy Valentine #5
✓Katherine: Msg 300
The Road to Oz, Oz #5
COMPLETION POSTWeek #11 - Thursday
Desert Foxe
Completed: 8/12
Rating: ★★★★
Review: I am really enjoying this series. Joel Leslie is an excellent narrator. I liked getting all the secondary characters POVs in this book. It was nice getting a little glimpse into their relationships. Bring on book 6!
Completion Post: WEEK #11 - ThursdaySpot: 75
Book: The Road to Oz
Pages: 261 pages
How it Fits: 5th in a series: Oz, #5
Date Read: 12th August
Rating: ★★★
Review:
In this installment of the book series we meet Dorothy's new friends, the Shaggy Man, Button Bright and Polychrome, as you travel with them to the Emerald City and find out how they are able to cross the Deadly Desert. A shaggy-looking guy called Shaggy Man asked Dorothy for directions, (Dorothy has lost her way) and they end up in a magical land - not Oz, but somewhere close to it. Dorothy's travelling companions are kind of boring, only the Shaggy Man is the most interesting one in her group but he remains a bit undeveloped. All we know about Poly is that she dances a lot and drinks morning dew. Button Bright and Polly are useless to the story - they just are!
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