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R:8 - Red-Hot Reads
message 51:
by
Jennifer H
(new)
Jul 27, 2014 06:26PM
Has anyone heard from Dyllan? She said in post 39 that she was finished with her book and would post asap but she never did. I tried to pm her but she doesn't accept messages. I will give her a couple more days and if we don't hear from her I will assign a substitute player.
reply
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I've started reading
Items:
Ocean: “What didn’t quite make sense about Sawyer De Luca was his platinum hair, darker at the roots and brighter at the sun-bleached tips like a swimmer who never had to come in from the ocean and go to school.”
Diamond: “What drew me in despite my misgivings was the diamond stud in his ear.”
Beer: “Harper told me you were back here sitting on the beer.”
Pupil: “He said, ‘Your eyes are so dark, I can't see your pupils. Do you even have pupils?’”
Brown: “His brown hair fell long across his forehead.”
I have not heard from Dylan...but she was on GR.com a couple days ago....
Katya wrote: "I have not heard from Dylan...but she was on GR.com a couple days ago...."Haven't heard either
Hello ladies, I'm so sorry for not posting before Friday. we're having some heavy rain and last week some cables were down and I was out of internet and TV and some places had no power. cables were set up again today a few hours ago. I'm really mad because I've read my book so early in the week and didn't post it. It's 3am now, so I'll post tomorrow for sure. Sorry again, I'm really committed to this challenge.
Week Two: Jaw
Book: Die For Me
Author:Karen Rose
Date Read 07/21/2014
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: Die for Me is a gripping tale of a madman, and what he will do to get revenge of those he thinks wronged him.
Die for me has the story by diferent POVs, which I really like, because it gives an insight on the character mind, and how you can, or not, identify with him or her. This killer likes to tell a story when he kills. His murders are pain filled, and he likes them to be on display, considering himself an arist.
It's up to Vito and Nick to get this guy and put him behind bars, or 6 feet under.
The murderer created a santuary underground for his victims, and the detectives use all the help they can get, including Sophie an archeologist. Things escalates when the madman finds out his graveyard has been discovered, and he will do anything to make sure he isn't discovered until he can say checkmate.
I really liked this story, it's one that makes you wonder, and takes you through spins on what happens, and what will happen next. Really good read.
Items Found:
Jaw: Savard cocked her jaw. LOC 772
Yellow: The yellow police tape and CSU van were my first clues. LOC: 79
Earth: The thrill of the hunt, of finding secrets hidden below the surface of the earth... LOC: 71
Crystal: "All those crystals? One is a camera. Now you'll know if Nurse Marco is really mean." LOC: 730
Heart: Sophie's thumping heart stopped. LOC: 767
Week Three: Sea
Book: Inside
Author:Brenda Novak
Date Read 07/28/2014
Rating: 2 Stars
Review: I had high expectations for this book, and somehow it just felt flat. I wanted a kickass heroin, didn't get one. I wanted a angst filled hero, didn't get one. I wanted a heavy plot full of violence and stuff, and only got half of it. The story had a good plotline in theory. However, i don't think the author managed to deliver an action packed story. I expected so much more from the get go, and it stalled and stalled, so when it felt like it was beginning, it was close to the end, and by that I just didn't care anymore. Not a bad book, it just didn't what I like the most in suspense. 2 Stars.
SEA: Swinging back around, he braced against the salt air sweeping in off the sea and started toward the water again. 624
BROWN Shelley, her administrative assistant, poked her curly brown head into the room. 39
EYEBROW His eyebrows slid up 78
BEER He tapped his skull before taking a pull of beer. 184
DIAMOND Wallace’s wedding band wasn’t nearly as impressive as the heavy gold and diamond ring he’d bought to celebrate his recent promotion. 32
Thanks for checking in, Dyllan! Acts of God and cables down are outside of your realm of control, totally understand!
I'm re-reading
for this week, and I've already found this week's words. Should be done (most likely) tomorrow or Thrusday at the latest
I wanted to let everyone know that something has come up for me tomorrow and I won't be able to post the items at noon est so I will be posting them at 9:45 am est. You can still claim your items for this week up til noon. Thank you in advance for understanding :)
If we don't post by the next announcement is there a penalty?
No, it is the same as always, you have to post by noon est. I'm just moving up the time I will post the items.
Week Three: Ocean/SeaHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. RowlingFinished: 12:45am 8/1/14
Rating: 5 'Alas, Earwax' ♥'s
Review:
How I just adore this book. Even on (yet another) re-read... I had waited far too long for another dose of Hogwarts and the world of Harry Potter. I had forgotten some of the things that don't appear in the movie, and it was a delight to relive getting his letters, and his wand, and meeting Voldemorte. I don't think I had re-read the series after the last book, in fact. Has it really been that long? So, to look at everything, especially Snape with new eyes was a delight. I'm still firmly waiting for my own letter... no matter if I'm a far cry from school age any longer!
Items
Ocean/Sea Pg 43 "'Found the perfect place!' he said. 'Come on! Everone out!' It was very cold outside the car. Uncle Vernon was pointing at what looking like a large rock way out to sea."
Ruby pg 73 "Harry watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals."
Candy pg 296 "He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop."
Mustache Pg 25 "He turned right around in his seat and yelled at Harry, his face like a gigantic beet with a mustache: 'MOTORCYCLES DON'T FLY!'"
Bonus: Brown Pg 24 "Another time, Aunt Petunia had been trying to forse him into a revolting old sweater of Dudley's (brown with orange puff balls)."
Week 4 AnnouncementElement
Bonus: Leaf
Bummer... already got element... was bound to happen sooner or later!
Week Three: Ocean/Sea
Read: Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols
Rating: *****
Date: 7/31/2014
Review: For a YA book, this was REALLY GOOD! I was worried that this book would be corny or just plain bad but it was awesome! The main characters Tia and Will were fun to read about and I enjoyed their chemistry a lot more than I do some adult novels. It had drama but it was angsty or annoying. I just plain loved it.
Items:
Ocean: “What didn’t quite make sense about Sawyer De Luca was his platinum hair, darker at the roots and brighter at the sun-bleached tips like a swimmer who never had to come in from the ocean and go to school.”
Diamond: “What drew me in despite my misgivings was the diamond stud in his ear.”
Beer: “Harper told me you were back here sitting on the beer.”
Pupil: “He said, ‘Your eyes are so dark, I can't see your pupils. Do you even have pupils?’”
Brown: “His brown hair fell long across his forehead.”
Week 4: Element, Bonus-Leaf
The Billionaire's Command by Bec Linder Read: August 1st 3.95 Stars
~~~ Review ~~~
I can't believe I read this and that I actually liked it!
I generally stray away from "Stripper/Sex Worker meets Billionaire" stories. They seem so unlikely to me. But this is a modern twist on the Cinderella (plus the sex) story.
Girl is trying to support a mom and family back home, comes to the city, works in a strip/sex club for rich men and attracts the attention of the owner, who eventually starts to see her as a person and less like a piece of @$$ for hire. (I know it is crude way to put it but that is exactly how he starts out viewing her.)
He hires her for a month to keep him company sexually and promises to give her a quarter of a million dollars at the end. Enough for her to finally quit, go home, buy her mom a house and put her sibling through college.
As he get's to know her, he realizes this woman is not doing what she is doing because she enjoys it but because she needs the money and it is good money and hard to walk away from. As he starts to see her as a human being with charm, grace, a mind and personality.
They start spending more time together, even time that does not include sex and they develop feelings for one another. He knows that at the end of this month she will go back to her job in the club and he doesn't like it. She has changed in his mind from a "sex for hire" employee to a woman he loves......what to do?
Add in that she knows she is out of her league and he would never build a real relationship with her. She knows it is over at the end of the month. Emotionally she is sad...how can these two ever figure it out? Will they? You'll have to read it yourself to see what happens.
I enjoyed the reading despite the spelling errors which were at times a bit distracting. I liked the humor and banter between the characters and overall story which the author made very plausible. I think taking a story that would normally not happen...AKA the movie "Pretty Woman" was what sold it for me. Actually a very good read!!!
Scavenger Items:
4 Elements: Element - (Page 136) "But there was certainly an element of guilt involved."
Gemstones: Jewelry - (Page 145) "What should I buy her? Jewelry? Expensive Perfume?."
Holidays: Flag - (Page 172) "She hooked the scrap of fabric with one finger and raised it above her head, dangling it like a flag."
The Head: Freckle - (Page 176) "It turned out that she freckled delightfully with a little bit of sun."
Bonus: Leaf - (Page 150) "I walked home in the late afternoon light, through the bustling, leafy streets of the West Village, replaying my encounter with The Owner in my head and cursing myself for all the stupid things I had said and done."
Hey Guys, don't forget we are a team and if you are finding it difficult to find a book to read which takes advantage of the maximum amount of points...ask us. We can do some brain storming for you. It is super important not to give anything away in this competition. :-)
I'll be reading
and should have it finished by tonight.Items:
Element: "And for the fifth element, spirit, I would use my mother's silver pentacle amulet." Loc 824
Crystal: "A geode the size of my fist, its internal crystals vibrant shades of purple and green, for earth." Loc 821
Egg: "He had eyes the color of robin's eggs, spectacles, a comfortable heavy build, and wore black slacks and a black shirt." Loc 3155
Skull: "I had a nice, deep-down body ache to go along with the bruised skull." Loc 494
Leaf: "Lily held up a small, intricately detailed oak leaf of pure silver." Loc 6347
Week 4: ElementBonus: Leaf
Read: Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher
Date: 8/4/2014
Rating: *****
Review: Every book just gets better and better, I have no idea what I'm going to do when I finish this series! I'm so glad to be back with the Carpenters in this book, I really wanted to know more about them because I'm a sucker for big families. Without giving anything away, I want to see more about Charity in the series! I think she is a really interesting character :)
Items:
Element: "And for the fifth element, spirit, I would use my mother's silver pentacle amulet." Loc 824
Crystal: "A geode the size of my fist, its internal crystals vibrant shades of purple and green, for earth." Loc 821
Egg: "He had eyes the color of robin's eggs, spectacles, a comfortable heavy build, and wore black slacks and a black shirt." Loc 3155
Skull: "I had a nice, deep-down body ache to go along with the bruised skull." Loc 494
Leaf: "Lily held up a small, intricately detailed oak leaf of pure silver." Loc 6347
Week Four: Element/Leaf
Book: Remember Me
Author: Sharon Sala
Date Read 08/06/2014
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: This is a reread of a book I really like. Remember Me is the story of Francesca and Clay LeGrand. Everyting in their lives is perfect, and they just made one year of married. Suddenly, Francesca disappears out of thin air, and Clay is the prime suspect of her murder. Two years passes, and once again suddenly Francesca shows up as if time has never passed. Now that she's back, she's got some big questions to answer. Why did she leave? Why did she got back? And most important of all, where has she been all that time she's been gone? Clay and the police want those answers and fast, however there is someone else looking for her, and they might not be as safe as they seem to think.
ITEMS FOUND
ELEMENT: Isis, in ancient Egypt, wife to Osiris and revered as mother of all things, lady of the elements, the beginning of time. LOC: 166
LEAF: faded denims and blue chambray shirts had molded themselves to his tall, muscled body like the fig leaf on Adam... LOC: 173
ONYX: Behind her, an onyx statue suddenly toppled from its pedestal onto the floor,... LOC: 147
TONGUE: She felt the warm, wet stroke of his tongue against her neck,... LOC: 269
EGG: At least I don’t put mustard on my scrambled eggs . LOC: 284
Week Four: Element; Bonus: Leaf
Winters Heat by Cristin HarberFinished: 8/5/14
Rating: 3¾ 'She Got Kidnapped AGAIN' ♥'s
Review:
Alpha, military male; girl kidnapped... repeatedly. Smack a helping of insta-love and 'trying to do the best thing' for the other person douchy military cohorts and Columbian cartel for good measure... and there you have it. It entertained, was pretty much what I expected, but didn't knock my socks off. It got the job done.
Items
Element Pg 172 "Winter's try-the-handle-first tactic gave him the element of surprise."
Jewelry pg 264 "A woman in a golden dress and sparkled-out jewelry that's make royalty jealous wrapped her arm..."
Champagne pg 60 "Right about now, that was worthy of a champagne toast and a kiss on the lips."
Ear Pg 54 "She turned up the static on the radio loud enough it hurt his ears."
Bonus: Leaf Pg 181 "Branches and jungle leaves scratched at the windshield."
Dyllan, you already claimed jaw. Pick something else and I'll change it.
Lol i hadnt checked but ill change it.asap ;)
Jennifer ♔Princess Penguin♔ wrote: "Dyllan, you already claimed jaw. Pick something else and I'll change it."Just changed Jaw for Tongue.
Week 5Stone
Bonus: Smoke
Week 5: Stone, Bonus-Smoke
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James Re-Read: August 8th/9th
6 Stars!!!!
~~~ Review ~~~
Wow...I can't tell you how much I loved this installment. I decided to go back and read the trilogy after the teaser film trailer came out this past week. I saw things in this that were not there before. These are two people how are struggling through pain, insecurity and mistrust to stay together and at the end of the day it is the beauty of unconditional love that holds them together....I know alot of folks are rolling their eyes but this is really a great story.
Scavenger Items:
4 Elements: Earth - (Page 50) "I would move heaven and earth to avoid feeling like that again."
Gemstones: Stone - (Page 116) "I pull his shirt open and move to his cuffs, removing his black polished stone cufflinks one at a time."
Holidays: Fireworks - (Page 106) "The fireworks start in five minutes."
The Head: skull - (Page 200) "He taps his skull."
Bonus: Smoke - (Page 357) "He blows the smoke out in a long exhale, finishing with two smoke rings that dissolve in front of him, pale and ghostly in the moonlight."
I'll read
Items:
Elements: Water:
"The rate squirmed once, shuddered, and floated on the water." Page 19
Gemstones: Stone:
"Her voice was not wind in leaves as she said it, but wind on stone." Page 8
Holidays: Flag:
"Then carrying the parley flag he came out on the hillside, facing the Long Cairn, alone." Page 24
The Head: Tongue:
"I took some pains to keep him away from my father when his tongue was flapping." Page 3
Bonus: Smoke:
"The track grew to a cart road, and to a highroad that ran between plowlands, and then before them, smoke-wreathed and red-roofed on its sunny hillside, stood the town of Dunet." Page 36
I'm reading an ARC:
It has stone, smoke, beer, rock, and eyelash- and I have until noon (Eastern time?) on Friday to post everything... correct?
Week Five: STONE/SMOKE
Book: Against the Dark
Author: Carolyn Crane
Date Read 08/13/2014
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: This book has been totally up my alley I just love this genre. Great story, great characters, great suspense. Great eight pack, but who's counting? And no, I can't get enough of it.
This is my first book by Carolyn Crane and I really liked her style, she's one of my faves already, can't wait for the next! 5 stars, no brainer. :) Big smilling happy reader's face
ITEMS FOUND
STONE: "So you have the stones?" she said. LOC: 107
SMOKE: He hadn’t been blowing smoke up Angel’s ass. LOC: 34
AIR: The air was moist and tropical; LOC: 168
FLAG: That was sometimes a flag. LOC: 177
EARLOBE: He tipped his head up as she bit his earlobe . LOC: 209
Changed my book choice- found the words I needed in another, and got a book hangover, so I couldn't finish my original choice... anyhow, here ya go:Week 5: Stone; Bonus - Smoke
Archetype: A Novel
by M.D. WatersFinished: August 14th
Rating: 5 Mind-blown Heart-wrenching ♥'s
Review:
I've seen slightly mixed (but edging towards the favorable side) reviews on this, so when I saw this available on a BOGO sale at Audible I figured, "Why not?" Ended up listening to it almost immediately (within a day or two of purse) and I was hooked. You've got 'futuristic' elements such as intensive holograms and teleporters, you've got romance, you've got mystery as Emma tries to figure out herself, her dreams, her lost memories of her husband and her life before an 'accident', add a hospital and dystopian world and stir.
I can't give away much, because - you know- spoilers! But my heart ached, physically ached after finishing this book. I was crying, I was so touched and emotional that even my husband was asking me just from one minute on the phone, "What's wrong?" I finished my book and it tore my heart out in the best way- that's what's wrong!
I don't often get a book hangover, but this one left me so raw that I had to balm my soul with some music, and then it turned into an Archetype playlist of sorts... and I had to share:
Going Under ~ Evanescence
Untouchable Face ~ Ani Difranco
Hold On ~ Sarah McLauchlan
Yellow ~ Coldplay
Broken ~ Seether featurig Amy Lee
Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn't) ~ Buzzcocks
Romeo and Juliet ~ Dire Straights
Pictures of You ~ The Cure
In Dreams ~ Roy Orbison
I NEED Prototype (the next book in the series) but I'm fearful of it at the same time. If it cuts me like Archetype did, I may not survive it. Although, death at the hands of a book might be a great way to go...
Items Found
Stone Location 2832 "I do not turn toward the utter stillness - the man of stone - standing to my right."
Air Location 1500 "The wind blows through, rustling the grss, but I feel nothing but still, warm air."
Heart Location 226 "My heart drums like a timpani in my ears."
Eyelash Location 107 "I ask him, casually raising my gaze to peer at him through my eyelashes."
Bonus: Smoke Location 2565 "He shook his head and grinned, flashing teeth that were dark from smoking too much tobacco."
Week 5Freckle
Bonus: Chair
Suzanne wrote: "I'll read Items:
Elements: Water:
"The rate squirmed once, shuddered, and floated on the water." Page 19
Gemstones: Stone:
"Her voice was not wind in leaves as she said it,..."
It's already too late for the bonus word, but don't forget you won't get points for your findings until you mark the date finished, the rating, and include a short review.
Alana ~ The Book Pimp wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I'll read Items:
Elements: Water:
"The rate squirmed once, shuddered, and floated on the water." Page 19
Gemstones: Stone:
"Her voice was not wind in leaves..."
I'm Sorry!! I've been at a convention this week and I thought I would've been able to finish but it didn't happen. I'll keep working on it and post as soon as I can.
Week 5: Stone Bonus: Smoke
Read: Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin
Date: 8/19/2014
Rating: ***
Review: The first half of this book was painful, I just couldn't get into it because she went into so much detail and world building. After she got through with all of that, then it was interesting. The book is about two children who were born of families with certain gifts and how they struggle with the burden of them and the responsibilities that go with them. I might not read the next one, but now that the world building part is out of they way I may give it a shot.
Items:
Elements: Water:
"The rate squirmed once, shuddered, and floated on the water." Page 19
Gemstones: Stone:
"Her voice was not wind in leaves as she said it, but wind on stone." Page 8
Holidays: Flag:
"Then carrying the parley flag he came out on the hillside, facing the Long Cairn, alone." Page 24
The Head: Tongue:
"I took some pains to keep him away from my father when his tongue was flapping." Page 3
Bonus: Smoke:
"The track grew to a cart road, and to a highroad that ran between plowlands, and then before them, smoke-wreathed and red-roofed on its sunny hillside, stood the town of Dunet." Page 36
*and there was much rejoicing*=)
I didn't know Janet Evanovich's daughter had written any books.
Week 6: Freckle, Bonus-Chair
Kodiak's Claim by Eve LanglaisRead: August 20/21
4.2 Stars!!!!
~~~ Review ~~~
Cranky, ornery, tough, shifter meets sassy, fun city girl. I enjoyed this story from the first page. I love the author's writing style. It is fun and easy to slip right into the story. Tammy is an insurance investigator sent to Alaska to look into Reid's business. At the same time he has a supernatural uprising on his hands and these two come together like fireworks. Fun read! Look forward to the next in this series.
Scavenger Items:
4 Elements: Flame - (Page 154) "It shot like a rocket toward the wall of flame."
Gemstones: Crystal - (Page 61) "She blinked in the sudden glare, and the crystals on her lashes melted leaving her with perfect-and unfortunate-vision."
Holidays: Soldier - (Page 167) "Gene would not be the first soldier to survive a trauma and blame others for his ordeal."
The Head: Freckle - (Page 33) "Freckles, messy hair, and a perky nose; check."
Bonus: Chair - (Page 37) "Follow me and we'll go somewhere there are actual stools and chairs."
Katya, for the head category the word of the week is freckle. So, you can't use ear.
Week 6: Freckle, Bonus: Chair
Read: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
Rating: *****
Date: 8/22/2014
Review: This book was awesome! It did not disappoint :) It was funny and everything I had hoped for. I loved the story, Holly lost her husband to cancer and gained a lot of weight and lost her self-confidence afterwards. On a plane ride home, she sits next to hot bachelor personal trainer Logan who makes her an offer to help her loose weight and gain her groove back. Along the way, Logan starts to see her differently and questions why he wanted to be a bachelor in the first place. It was refreshing to read a romance with a character who doesn't who the typical romance heroine mold!
Items:
Elements: Air:
"Once they were safely in the air and Holly's panic passed, she noticed how perfectly groomed he was." Loc 106
Gemstones: Emerald:
"Her newly cut bob was gelled back and still wet-looking, making her eyes look like shiny emeralds." Loc 1895
Holidays: Candy:
"The scrumptious candy bar consumed her every thought on the drive home." Loc 839
The Head: Freckle:
"Logan looked down at her, her freckled upturned nose, her green eyes sparkling, lashes still wet." Loc 2485
Bonus Words: Chair
"Holly shifted in her chair, and with that movement, shifted her thoughts as well." Loc 172
Week 5: Freckle; Bonus - ChairOutpost
by Ann AguirreFinished: August 22nd (early AM)
Rating: 4½ Razor-sharp ♥'s
Review:
I'm actually quite surprised that it's gotten such mixed reviews. Yes, we get to see Duece's softer side in this book, but then again she's in a new place with new rules. I didn't quite cry, but my heart bled for Duece and her friends. I must admit, I liked the supporting characters so much better in this second book compared to the first. I really didn't like the Enclave, though it's all relative. There is evil everywhere, from the Freaks chasing them to the ugly hate and desire to saddle someone, anyone, as a scapegoat. Sadly, that always seems to fall to Duece. This is definitely a 'razorland'. I keep getting reminded of a meme
... um, yeah, though I'm sucked into this series, I'm totally OK. NO need to live in that world. And I still stand by my original comparison: the Freaks are totally Reavers from Firefly/Serenity. *Shiver*
Items Found
Freckle Page 98 "...was shorter than me with straight red hair and a mess of freckles."
Flame Page 168 "Theyroasted flesh of some kind over the flames, and the..."
Pearl Page 48 "...and after we escaped from his gang with Tegan, he hunted us, using Pearl as bait."
Soldier Page 302 "...as if I might prove useful - I scrambled into my soldier gear,..."
Bonus: Chair Page 19 "I arranged myself in the chair next to her desk,..."
Week 6
Firework
Bonus:Sun
Week Six: FRECKLE/CHAIR
Book: Off the Edge
Author: Carolyn Crane
Date Read 08/20/2014
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: What a great story. I'm loving this new series. Macmillan is a total linguist nerd. He's lost all his family ten years ago, and now works as an Associate, which is a organization that can infiltrate the worst hell holes to take out bad guys.
He didn't expect to ever again fall for someone, much less a woman in the run. Laney is a strong woman hiding from her crazy ex. She thinks she's safe in Bangkok, but not everything is what it looks like.
Packed with action, totally love it. Can't wait for Thorne!!
Items Found:
FRECKLE: A smattering of freckles covered her nose. LOC: 53
CHAIR: He sat quietly in his chair during the show. LOC: 59
FLAME: flames danced on the corrugated metal behind her. LOC: 428
JEWELRY: Laney unwrapped the box and pulled up a necklace. LOC: 268
CANDY: Her candy bar flew. LOC: 255
Week 7Firework
Bonus:Sun
The Lost Challenges
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