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R10: SSS Team Two Hot Two Handle (2)
Just checking in with an update. I’m reading tonight but probably won’t finish my book until tomorrow morning.
Completion - Spot 7The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Date Read: 9/22
Rating: ★★★½
Elvi Black is an accidental vampire. She was turned after a car wreck in Mexico and woke up as a vampire. Victor Argeneau comes to Port Henry to investigate a vampire who placed a singles ad looking for a mate. It turns out that Elvi's mortal friends placed the ad so she would not be alone after they died. This was not my favorite installment of this series so far because the story seemed to move slow for me. I liked the main characters and their romance but some of the secondary characters were up to crazy antics. I always like Lynsay Sands' spin on vampires in this series and I plan to continue with it.
Week 2
Spot: 7
Book: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Qualification: Mercy Thompson #7
Finished: Sept. 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★
Review:
While coyote-shifter Mercy Thompson is out shopping on Black Friday with her stepdaughter, Jesse, her husband and werewolf pack leader Adam is being captured along with the rest of the pack by men claiming to be federal agents. Only Ben is able to escape and find Mercy to warn her. Mercy must get Jesse somewhere safe and find Adam and his kidnappers. Meanwhile, Adam is being harangued by the fake FBI agents to kill a senator who is outspoken against fae in order to further their mysterious plans.
I haven't read a Mercy Thompson book in a while, so it was nice to get back into her world. I like that she's tough and willing to help fight to protect those she loves. The beginning and ending of the book were exciting, but I did get a little bored in the middle. But it was still worth the read and coming back to this series.
Spot: 7
Book: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Qualification: Mercy Thompson #7
Finished: Sept. 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★
Review:
While coyote-shifter Mercy Thompson is out shopping on Black Friday with her stepdaughter, Jesse, her husband and werewolf pack leader Adam is being captured along with the rest of the pack by men claiming to be federal agents. Only Ben is able to escape and find Mercy to warn her. Mercy must get Jesse somewhere safe and find Adam and his kidnappers. Meanwhile, Adam is being harangued by the fake FBI agents to kill a senator who is outspoken against fae in order to further their mysterious plans.
I haven't read a Mercy Thompson book in a while, so it was nice to get back into her world. I like that she's tough and willing to help fight to protect those she loves. The beginning and ending of the book were exciting, but I did get a little bored in the middle. But it was still worth the read and coming back to this series.
I ended up going with a #7 book after all. Jessica, just wanted to make sure that you saw that I ended up reading Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs, #7 in the Mercy Thompson series.
Yeah. I did. I'll update it when I get back.
Mod
Mod
I don’t mind being captain. I’ll roll for us.
Week 2 - Reviews for Thursday’s Roll
Spot: 7
Alternate: Author B
Amanda A: #7 -
The Accidental Vampire - Review
Katherine: Author B -
Critical Failures IV by Robert Bevan - Review
Shelby: #7 -
Dead Beat - Review
Talia: #7 -
Frost Burned - Review
Spot: 7
Alternate: Author B
Amanda A: #7 -
The Accidental Vampire - ReviewKatherine: Author B -
Critical Failures IV by Robert Bevan - ReviewShelby: #7 -
Dead Beat - ReviewTalia: #7 -
Frost Burned - Review
Week 2 - Sunday’s Roll
Roll: 5
New Spot: 12
Alternate: Female Author
Roll: 5
New Spot: 12
Alternate: Female Author
Week 2, Roll 2 -- REVIEWS for Sunday's Roll
Spot: 12
Alternate: Female Author
Amanda A: #2 -
Lowcountry Bombshell - Review
Katherine: Female Author -
How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury by Cressida Cowell - Review
Shelby: #1 -
By Fairy Means or Foul - Review
Talia: #2 -
Umberland - Review
Spot: 12
Alternate: Female Author
Amanda A: #2 -
Lowcountry Bombshell - ReviewKatherine: Female Author -
How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury by Cressida Cowell - ReviewShelby: #1 -
By Fairy Means or Foul - ReviewTalia: #2 -
Umberland - Review
Week 2.5 SelectionBook: How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury
Page numbers: 416 pages
How Fits: Female Author: Cressida Cowell
Talia wrote: "I don’t mind being captain. I’ll roll for us."Thanks, Talia!
Amanda A wrote: "Talia wrote: "I don’t mind being captain. I’ll roll for us."
Thanks, Talia!"
No prob!
Thanks, Talia!"
No prob!
Week 2
Spot 12
Book: Umberland
Author: Wendy Spinale
Qualification: Everland #2
Finished: Sept. 26, 2018
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Pete, Gwen, and the Lost Boys have escaped Everland and have been living in the Queen’s castle in Northumberland for the past two months. The Queen jumped on having the antidote that Pete brought administered to everyone before Doc could do more testing and it has mutated the virus and given everyone some new illness now that even Gwen’s not immune too. Doc discovers in the Professor’s notes that the Horologia virus was actually a poison made from a poisoned apple and they need to find the apple in order to make an antidote. Otherwise everyone will die. So they have to find this rare apple tree and in Germany, Hook is being sent off to find the tree as well. It’s a race to see which side will come up with the antidote first.
This was a retelling of Alice in Wonderland which I am also currently reading so i wish I had finished Alice already to appreciate all the references. And I’m sorry but Pete needs to be fired as leader of the Lost Boys! He was driving me nuts constantly refusing to leave with the group and getting more people killed. Just so unnecessary to try to fight a losing battle and end up retreating anyway after a bunch of his friends are now dead. Speaking of which there was a lot of killing in this book which was a little disturbing since they were all kids, but I still enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how the story ends in book 3.
Spot 12
Book: Umberland
Author: Wendy Spinale
Qualification: Everland #2
Finished: Sept. 26, 2018
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Pete, Gwen, and the Lost Boys have escaped Everland and have been living in the Queen’s castle in Northumberland for the past two months. The Queen jumped on having the antidote that Pete brought administered to everyone before Doc could do more testing and it has mutated the virus and given everyone some new illness now that even Gwen’s not immune too. Doc discovers in the Professor’s notes that the Horologia virus was actually a poison made from a poisoned apple and they need to find the apple in order to make an antidote. Otherwise everyone will die. So they have to find this rare apple tree and in Germany, Hook is being sent off to find the tree as well. It’s a race to see which side will come up with the antidote first.
This was a retelling of Alice in Wonderland which I am also currently reading so i wish I had finished Alice already to appreciate all the references. And I’m sorry but Pete needs to be fired as leader of the Lost Boys! He was driving me nuts constantly refusing to leave with the group and getting more people killed. Just so unnecessary to try to fight a losing battle and end up retreating anyway after a bunch of his friends are now dead. Speaking of which there was a lot of killing in this book which was a little disturbing since they were all kids, but I still enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how the story ends in book 3.
Completion - Spot 12 (changed my book)
Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer (Liz Talbot Mystery #2)
Date Read: 9/24
Rating: ★★★★
This is a fun mystery series set on a fictional island off the coast of South Carolina, but I can picture the places mentioned in the story. Liz is asked to help Calista, a Marilyn Monroe look-alike who fears her death is imminent. The mystery moves at a pretty good pace and kept me guessing on the culprit. I love the quirky characters, especially Liz and Nate. It will be interesting to see where their relationship heads in the next installment.
Week 2.5: Completion Book: How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury
Qualification: Female Author: Cressida Cowell
Date Read: 26th September
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
This is the 12th and last book in the epic viking and dragon series and an epic final is given to it! The Doomsday of Yule has arrived, and the dragons future lies with one boy name Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. The dragon rebellion has begun and Hiccup needs to get to the island of Tomorrow to be crown King. It's been so long since reading book one and I will never forget these characters that I love. It was such a heart-touching ending full of hope and friendship. I love the ending words saying that the future may need a hero and that hero could be you; after all Hiccup was the most unlikely hero to ever be one and he still saved the day - so why can't you be the next hero!
Nice job, team! Amanda, I updated your book. Shelby, I'll keep an eye out for your review coming today or tomorrow.
Hey Talia! I'm going to change my pick. I'm on the same spot for SS and SSS so just so we're ready to roll tomorrow, I'm going to post a different book for here and when I finish A World Without Princes I'll post that for SS. :)
Shelby wrote: "Hey Talia! I'm going to change my pick. I'm on the same spot for SS and SSS so just so we're ready to roll tomorrow, I'm going to post a different book for here and when I finish A World Without Pr..."
Got it. Thanks for the update!
Got it. Thanks for the update!
Week 2.5: Roll 7Spot: 12
By Fairy Means or Foul by Meghan Maslow
How Fits: Starfig Investigations #1
Finished: 9/26
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Ok this was just pure fun. I was thoroughly entertained throughout. :) I loved both Twig and Quinn. The absurd names and the crazy different fairies in this book were just loads of fun. Twig's dad was just as entertaining. The perfect equivalent of the fairy bureaucrat. I giggled more than once in this story. Ghost pirates, and ogres, and witches what more could you ask for?
I loved that unicorns were all not sugarplums and rainbows and ogres were the nicest people encountered in this story. Demon vegetarians made me smile and I can't wait to read more in this series. Twig and Quinn were adorable together and I loved how much stronger they came to be together. Without each other they're only half as strong as they are together. Woohoo and awesome! I'm sure there's going to be acres more to discover in the next book.
Nice job, everyone! I'll try to stay up until midnight Central to roll for us but if I fall asleep I'll roll first thing in the morning.
Week 3, Roll 1
Previous Spot: 12
Roll = 6
New Spot: 18
Options:
#1 in series
#8 in series
#18 in series
Standalone
Alternate = Cover Item: Instrument
Previous Spot: 12
Roll = 6
New Spot: 18
Options:
#1 in series
#8 in series
#18 in series
Standalone
Alternate = Cover Item: Instrument
Week 3, Roll 1 - Reviews
Spot: 18
Alternate = Cover Item: Instrument
Review requirements:
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda A - #1 - Tattered - Review
Katherine - Standalone - Drink, Slay, Love - Review
Shelby - Standalone - The Guardian - Review
Talia - #1 - Dragonflight - Review
Spot: 18
Alternate = Cover Item: Instrument
Review requirements:
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda A - #1 - Tattered - Review
Katherine - Standalone - Drink, Slay, Love - Review
Shelby - Standalone - The Guardian - Review
Talia - #1 - Dragonflight - Review
Denise added an addendum to the rules that reviews must include the following:
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda, can you add a cover and author to your last review post? All the other reviews look okay. Thanks!
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda, can you add a cover and author to your last review post? All the other reviews look okay. Thanks!
Week 3, Roll 1
Spot: 18
Book title: Dragonflight
Author: Anne McCaffrey
How it qualifies: Dragonriders of Pern #1
Date finished: 09/27/18
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Earthlings long ago colonized a planet called Pern and every so often it is invaded by silver threads that fall from the sky from a nearby planet and burrow into the dirt sucking the life out of the planet. To combat this, the humans on Pern have developed a relationship with planet-native dragons that can fly and burn the Threads from the sky before they reach land. At the time of this story, there haven't been any threads seen in 400 years, so people no longer value the few remaining dragons or the dragonmen who ride them and they are not ready when the ancient threat returns.
I'm glad I finally read this book as it is one of those SF/F classics that I have often heard about. At first I was a little bored. I felt like this book was just introducing us to the world of Pern, a bit of its history and how life was conducted there now but that there wasn't an intriguing conflict to keep me interested. I also didn't really care for either of the main characters. But things got considerably more exciting near the end, so I was quickly turning pages then. So the ending was great, but I still gave the book only 3 stars due to the mediocre beginning.
Spot: 18
Book title: Dragonflight
Author: Anne McCaffrey
How it qualifies: Dragonriders of Pern #1
Date finished: 09/27/18
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Earthlings long ago colonized a planet called Pern and every so often it is invaded by silver threads that fall from the sky from a nearby planet and burrow into the dirt sucking the life out of the planet. To combat this, the humans on Pern have developed a relationship with planet-native dragons that can fly and burn the Threads from the sky before they reach land. At the time of this story, there haven't been any threads seen in 400 years, so people no longer value the few remaining dragons or the dragonmen who ride them and they are not ready when the ancient threat returns.
I'm glad I finally read this book as it is one of those SF/F classics that I have often heard about. At first I was a little bored. I felt like this book was just introducing us to the world of Pern, a bit of its history and how life was conducted there now but that there wasn't an intriguing conflict to keep me interested. I also didn't really care for either of the main characters. But things got considerably more exciting near the end, so I was quickly turning pages then. So the ending was great, but I still gave the book only 3 stars due to the mediocre beginning.
Spot 18
Tattered by Devney Perry (Lark Cove #1)
Date Read: 9/28
Rating: ★★★★
This book is a sweet second chance romance. Logan and Thea reconnect six years later after a one night stand. I loved how Logan jumped right in to get to know Charlie and be a hands-on father. Charlie is a very cute little girl and I liked how she was always the priority for Logan and Thea. The stalker situation added a little bit of suspense but I don't think it was really necessary, other than to bring Jackson and Logan together in a truce because of their concern for Thea. I have read a couple of books by Devney Perry and I really like her small town romances. I will be reading more of her books.
Week 3: Roll 6Spot: 18
The Guardian by Mary Calmes
How Fits: Standalone
Finished: 9/28
Rating: ★★
Review:
Ok, so yeah, I just don't know what to do with Mary Calmes anymore. Some of her books I absolutely love, and yet others drive me batshit. This one drove me batshit. This is the bad side of her adorable twink boy trope that everyone is obsessed with. No one, male or female, can resist them, but their devotion to their chosen one is all consuming. So insta-love with everyone wanting one person...yeah so not real. Sometimes strangely I'm ok with, mostly because I liked the couples or the story. But most of the time it drives me nuts.
This one absolutely drove me nuts. The story was on the absurd side. Shifting that really never went anywhere. A different world that seemed rather purposeless in the end. Eoin's character seemed perfectly fine with the modern world as a dog, but then all of a sudden reverts to this old world warrior type with strange speech and a baffled nature. Again, ugh. Jude is just a bad version of her other perfect boys. Never thrown by being in this other world. But willing to wait for any scrap thrown his way. Yeah, really didn't enjoy this one.
I've just finished my book and I'm now writing my review.
Woohoo! I’ll be ready to roll for us as soon as you’re done.
Week 3: Completion Book: Drink, Slay, Love
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Qualification: Standalone book
Date Read: 30th September
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Pearl is a 16 year old vampire who's fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil...until the night a unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Even more shocking is when she finds out that she can withstand the sun without dying. Pearl's new mission in life is to enroll into a high school, make lots of human friends and then lure them to the King’s feast to feet upon but can she do that when the time comes, especially when she's growing a conscience. I found this book to be enjoyable, dark, fun and romantic with none of all the usual paranormal YA cliches that I detest so much. Our heroine Pearl is...well evil and a bit crazy, and her love interest Evan is a really good person, he's compassionate and caring which makes a change form the usual YA 'bad boy' love interest. The story was a bit ridiculous but in a fun way - YES!!!
Katherine, can you add the author's name to your post?
Week 3, Roll 2
Previous spot: 18
Roll: 4
New spot: 22
Options
#2 in a series
#22 in a series
Alternate: Australia
Previous spot: 18
Roll: 4
New spot: 22
Options
#2 in a series
#22 in a series
Alternate: Australia
Week 3, Roll 2 - Reviews
Spot: 22
Alternate = Australia
Review requirements:
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda A - #2 - A Fitting End - Review
Katherine - #2 - Kiss and Spell - Review
Shelby - #2 - Bayou Moon - Review
Talia - #2 - Midnight Jewel - Review
Spot: 22
Alternate = Australia
Review requirements:
Book title
Author
Cover
How it qualifies
Date finished
Rating
Review (min. 3 sentences)
Amanda A - #2 - A Fitting End - Review
Katherine - #2 - Kiss and Spell - Review
Shelby - #2 - Bayou Moon - Review
Talia - #2 - Midnight Jewel - Review
Spot 22
A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery #2)
Date Read: 9/30
Rating: ★★★★
The local golf pro at the country club is murdered with Harlow's scissors and one of her clients is arrested for the crime. Harlow investigates to clear her name, all while stepping in to help organize the Margaret festival for debutantes and designing dresses for a few participants. Secrets are revealed along the way that make the characters more interesting. I really like Harlow and her relationship with Will and Gracie. I also enjoy the "gifts" the women in her family possess as well as her great-grandmother's ghostly visits. The mystery was well done and surprised me with the culprit after I thought I had it figured out. I plan to continue with this charming series and look forward to the next book.
Week 3.5 SelectionBook: Kiss and Spell
Page numbers: 224 pages
How Fits: Book #2 in the Ever After series.
The Challenge Factory
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Book: Critical Failures IV
Qualification: Author B: by Robert Bevan
Date Read: 22nd September
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
The gang of misfit friends are back again and the perfect group of friends; Cooper, Tim, Julian and Dave. Tim doesn't get that his sister needs some support now that she's an elven vampire! OMG Dennis and Randy need to be together, I didn't like them at first for obvious reason but NOW I want them to be a couple; they are kind of in that sort of relationship already so... make it official guys! Tony the Elf, you just crack me up with your sass and your humor. I feel so bad for Chaz, the poor bard - he's doing his best with what he has! I love Ravenus, Julian's familiar, he is such a good bird companion; I love how innocent he is and that he takes everything literally. I do feel sorry for Tim in the end, I hope he makes up with his friends and all is forgiven because I feel like he needs to be redeemed from his bad choices.