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R10: SSS Team Two Hot Two Handle (2)
Week 9: Roll 1Spot: 70
Murmuration by T.J. Klune
How Fits: Standalone
Finished: 11/10
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
So I'm not going to say much in this review because it would spoil everything about this book. This is one you need to go into knowing nothing and go on the journey with Mike as you read it. As ever with T.J. Klune this is fantastically well written. It's stunning his writing style really. I'm always fascinated by it.
The story keeps you thinking throughout. There were a lot of options for what could really be going on and you had to really wait to the end to see what option was going to be the case. The book loses a little for me in the repetition of certain things and (view spoiler) Both things were arguably necessary for the book but took away from my enjoyment of the story being as full as possible. This will not stand as my favorite book by Mr. Klune, but it was still fantastic and well worth the read.
Mod
Week 9, Roll 2
Previous Spot: 70
Roll: 3
New Spot: 73
Options:
#3 in series
#7 in series
#73 in series
Alternate: Asia
Previous Spot: 70
Roll: 3
New Spot: 73
Options:
#3 in series
#7 in series
#73 in series
Alternate: Asia
Week 9, Roll 2 - REVIEWS
Spot 73
Alternate: Asia
Amanda A - Sisters in White - Snow Sisters #3 - Review
Shelby - Fate's Edge - The Edge #3 - Review
Talia - The Vegetarian - Alternate: Asia - Review
Spot 73
Alternate: Asia
Amanda A - Sisters in White - Snow Sisters #3 - Review
Shelby - Fate's Edge - The Edge #3 - Review
Talia - The Vegetarian - Alternate: Asia - Review
Mod
Denise wrote: "I don't have any backup players available, so it'll be just the three of you for now. Hope you don't mind. :)"I'm sure we'll muddle through Denise. :) Thanks!
I think I'm going to have to flip a coin on whether to read a #3 or a #7. I have two books I really want to read.
Yeah, I was debating between three #3 books. I went with the shortest one.
Spot 73
Sisters in White by Melissa Foster (Snow Sisters #3)
Date Read: 11/13
Rating: ★★★
I liked Danica and Kaylie in the first two books of the series but they seemed a little too dramatic in this one. Of course, they are getting married in a double wedding so that and their family was the cause of a lot of their drama. There were hints of the Bradens who are the subject of the next several books in the series that were intriguing. The Snow Sisters portion of the Love in Bloom series was the same main characters in each book, which got old. I prefer it when there is a different couple as the main characters so I will read the Bradens series at some point.
Mod
We'll be taking a break next week due to Thanksgiving.
Teams will roll tomorrow (11/15), reviews due as usual on Sunday (11/18). No roll on Sunday (11/18) and Thursday (11/22). The next roll will be next Sunday (11/25) and at this point the game resumes its normal schedule.
Note: This means that should a team have a review missing by end of day this Sunday, they will be unable to roll next Sunday.
For those playing both games, please note that the holiday scheduling works differently on SS and SSS.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!
Just checking in with an update. I couldn't get into any of my #3 books so I switched to
The Vegetarian for the alternate: Asia (takes place in Korea). I plan to finish it by late tonight.
The Vegetarian for the alternate: Asia (takes place in Korea). I plan to finish it by late tonight.
Week 9.5: Roll 3Spot: 73
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
How Fits: #3 in The Edge
Finished: 11/14
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I adore this series. Each of the stories has had a wonderful duo of main characters and fun side characters. This is no exception. I loved getting to see Jack and George again. They were so much fun in this story. Jack is a little ferocious adorable monster and I love him. George is so careful and thinks things out. He's quietly got a devious mind churning under everything. Ok so enough adoration poured towards the kids.
I really adored Kaldar in the last book. He was snarky and sneaky and wonderful. Oh this book just made me love him more. He's so sneaky his feelings just snuck up on him in this one. He had no idea what hit him when Audrey showed up in his life. For someone who grew up with the family she did, Audrey is still very sweet and almost innocent. Within her cat burglar type skill set and such she's a demon, but the nasty that the world can through at you from the Edge or the Weird she's still so unmarred by it all.
I loved how Audrey stood up to Kaldar though of course all that did was intrigue him more. The respect they had for each others skills was lovely. Plus you know it's always fun with both your characters are the sneaky type. ;)
I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
Finished my book. Will be back in about an hour to post my review.
Week 9, Roll 2
Spot: 73
Alternate: Asia
Book: The Vegetarian
Author: Han Kang
How it fits: Alternate: Asia - Takes place in Korea.
Date read: 11/14/18
Rating: ★★
Review: What in the world did I just read, and why did I read it!? I just picked a random book off of Goodreads's Asia shelf and my library had this book available, so I read it, but I had never heard of it before. I don't know why this would be in the top 10 on the Asia shelf because it was weird. There are three parts all narrated by a different relative of a woman who decides to become a vegetarian because of a dream she had, and the three people tell their story of how they interacted with her. First it's her husband who thinks she's weird because she wants to be a vegetarian. I didn't feel any love coming from him toward her at all. They barely even spoke. And of course he ends up divorcing her. Next was her sister's husband, and he develops a weird attraction to her and ends up sleeping with her and filming it! Of course his wife, her sister, finds the tape and watches it, and poof, out of the picture he goes. The last part is told by the vegetarian's sister as she visits her in the psychiatric hospital that her family has placed her in because by now she hates eating anything at all. So the vegetarian was a very troubled lady and didn't have much loving support except sort of from her sister, but I didn't really get anything out of the book. It was just odd. Although if it was related to a true story, I do feel bad for the MC having anorexia. But otherwise, weird book.
Spot: 73
Alternate: Asia
Book: The Vegetarian
Author: Han Kang
How it fits: Alternate: Asia - Takes place in Korea.
Date read: 11/14/18
Rating: ★★
Review: What in the world did I just read, and why did I read it!? I just picked a random book off of Goodreads's Asia shelf and my library had this book available, so I read it, but I had never heard of it before. I don't know why this would be in the top 10 on the Asia shelf because it was weird. There are three parts all narrated by a different relative of a woman who decides to become a vegetarian because of a dream she had, and the three people tell their story of how they interacted with her. First it's her husband who thinks she's weird because she wants to be a vegetarian. I didn't feel any love coming from him toward her at all. They barely even spoke. And of course he ends up divorcing her. Next was her sister's husband, and he develops a weird attraction to her and ends up sleeping with her and filming it! Of course his wife, her sister, finds the tape and watches it, and poof, out of the picture he goes. The last part is told by the vegetarian's sister as she visits her in the psychiatric hospital that her family has placed her in because by now she hates eating anything at all. So the vegetarian was a very troubled lady and didn't have much loving support except sort of from her sister, but I didn't really get anything out of the book. It was just odd. Although if it was related to a true story, I do feel bad for the MC having anorexia. But otherwise, weird book.
Our reviews are all in. I don't know if I'll be up at midnight Central Time to roll as that's 1am for me, so if anyone else is up, feel free to roll for us. Otherwise I'll roll as soon as I wake up in the morning.
Week 10, Roll 1
Previous Spot: 73
Roll: 3
New Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Options:
#6 in a series
#7 in a series
#76 in a series
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Previous Spot: 73
Roll: 3
New Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Options:
#6 in a series
#7 in a series
#76 in a series
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Week 10, Roll 1 - REVIEWS
Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Amanda A - Still the One - Animal Magnetism #6 - Review
Shelby - Treasure for Treasure - Being(s) in Love #7 - Review
Talia -
Evidence of Mercy - Alternate: Orange Cover - Review
Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Amanda A - Still the One - Animal Magnetism #6 - Review
Shelby - Treasure for Treasure - Being(s) in Love #7 - Review
Talia -
Evidence of Mercy - Alternate: Orange Cover - Review
If you guys ever want us to use our bonus points to move forward to a different spot, let me know. I want to land on another space with a 1 sometime, so I’d like to use one if it would get us there. Otherwise we can save them for when we’re in the 90s.
I'll be reading
Chasing Ivan for the alternate: orange cover.
Edit: I'm changing my book to
Evidence of Mercy, still for orange cover.
Chasing Ivan for the alternate: orange cover.Edit: I'm changing my book to
Evidence of Mercy, still for orange cover.
I'm good with whatever honestly. I've got plenty of series books to read so most numbers will be fine for me. :)
Week 10: Roll 3Spot: 76
Treasure for Treasure by R. Cooper
How Fits: #7 in Being(s) in Love
Finished: 11/16
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I do so love this series. And this book was adorable. I absolutely loved how awkward and unsure Zarrin was, but he was so determined to do right by his town. It's his. He knows he needs to step up and he's determined to do it. He may have been ridiculed by his family for being small and not dragon enough, but he's not going to let his town down. He's going to be their dragon, even if he doesn't think he can live up to his relatives legacy.
Watching Zarrin come in every day to the coffee shop to see his Joe and try to court him was just the cutest thing ever. He just doesn't know how to talk to humans or how to relate to anyone. I loved Maria showing up and adding in her werewolf two cents. Joe is so defensive but still intrigued. Sweetest of sweetness in this one. I want another book with these two to see Zarrin grow and the town get everything they need. Plus gotta say his sister needs her story told. ;)
Spot 76
Still the One by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #6)
Date Read: 11/17
Rating: ★★★★
I always love Jill Shalvis' humorous writing style. Darcy and A.J. were entertaining characters. They each endured trauma in their past and were reluctant to fall in love, but their relationship was fun to watch as they eventually gave in. The banter between them was great too. Looking forward to the last book in this series and Zoe's story.
I’ll be done with my book in a couple hours at most.
Week 10, Roll 1
Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Book: Evidence of Mercy
Author: Terri Blackstock
How it fits: Orange Cover
Date read: 11/17/18
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Linda and Jake go for a test flight of her plane that she is selling but when they start to land the landing gear won’t go down. The plane has been sabotaged and they have to make a crash landing. They both survive the crash but Jake loses an eye, ending his career as a pilot, and he may never walk again. While Linda is recuperating in the hospital from her minor injuries she is contacted by her client Paige who is hiding from her abusive ex-husband who is trying to take their daughter away from her. The story follows Paige’s case as well as Jake dealing with the aftermath of his injuries. Jake was a cocky jerk at the beginning but by the end he was more humble and caring and I actually liked him. I’m interested to know what happens to these characters next so I plan to continue with this series.
Spot: 76
Alternate - Cover: Orange
Book: Evidence of Mercy
Author: Terri Blackstock
How it fits: Orange Cover
Date read: 11/17/18
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Linda and Jake go for a test flight of her plane that she is selling but when they start to land the landing gear won’t go down. The plane has been sabotaged and they have to make a crash landing. They both survive the crash but Jake loses an eye, ending his career as a pilot, and he may never walk again. While Linda is recuperating in the hospital from her minor injuries she is contacted by her client Paige who is hiding from her abusive ex-husband who is trying to take their daughter away from her. The story follows Paige’s case as well as Jake dealing with the aftermath of his injuries. Jake was a cocky jerk at the beginning but by the end he was more humble and caring and I actually liked him. I’m interested to know what happens to these characters next so I plan to continue with this series.
I’ll link our reviews when I get to a computer but all our reviews are in for this roll. No new roll tomorrow or on Thursday so I’ll see you guys back here in a week! Happy Thanksgiving!
Dratted that's right. :( I was thinking we got one more roll before holding off. Oh well. I'll have to manage my books carefully this week and stick to only series books under #3 since I have loads of those. ;)
Antsy for tomorrow! Looking forward to the roll!
Me too Talia! I'm been avoiding so many books I want to read because they're going to fit these high rolls. Bring it on!
Week 10, Roll 2
Previous Spot: 76
Roll: 6
New Spot: 82
Options:
#2 in a series
#8 in a series
#82 in a series
Alternate: Title S
Previous Spot: 76
Roll: 6
New Spot: 82
Options:
#2 in a series
#8 in a series
#82 in a series
Alternate: Title S
Week 10, Roll 2 - REVIEWS
Spot: 82
Alternate: Title S
Amanda A - Filthy English - English #2 - Review
Shelby - His Mossy Boy - Being(s) in Love #8 - Review
Talia - Alphas and Airships - Steampunk Red Riding Hood #2 - Review
Spot: 82
Alternate: Title S
Amanda A - Filthy English - English #2 - Review
Shelby - His Mossy Boy - Being(s) in Love #8 - Review
Talia - Alphas and Airships - Steampunk Red Riding Hood #2 - Review
I am probably going to read
(English #2) because E's and I's are needed for another team challenge this week.
I was trying to read Dragonquest to go for a bonus, but the series only has 3 books, so that bonus is already done. So I'm switching my selection to
Alphas and Airships, Steampunk Red Riding Hood #2.
Alphas and Airships, Steampunk Red Riding Hood #2.
Talia wrote: "I was trying to read Dragonquest to go for a bonus, but the series only has 3 books, so that bonus is already done. So I'm switching my selection to [bookcover:Alphas and Airships|398..."Ok well you 100% caught my attention with a series title like that. Sounds super fun.
Week 10.5: Roll 6Spot: 82
His Mossy Boy by R. Cooper
How Fits: #8 in Being(s) in Love
Finished: 11/27
Rating: ★★★★½
Review:
So while this series jumps around into different areas and has a whole bunch of relatively unrelated stories (other than they exist in the same world) this one is a direct sequel to the last one which I just finished. Albeit with a different duo of main characters. Thus why I couldn't put off reading it and had to jump in right away.
I really love this little town and the cast of characters we are getting to know. I kinda hope we stay here for awhile and get more beings coming into town so we can hear more about how Zarrin and Joe and Ian & Martin are getting on. The premise is wonderful and the town is changing as Zarrin and Ian are really coming into their own.
I didn't love this book quite as much as the last one, really only because I wanted a bit more growth in the characters of Ian and Martin. While they are wonderful together and Martin's bumbles are just so cute, I wanted to see them start to be more and more comfortable with each other and it really only happened right at the end. I wanted Martin to really start to own who he was. It's part of why I really hope we come back to this town. I want to see more of his character. I wouldn't hate a direct sequel with these two at all. :)
Shelby wrote: "Talia wrote: "I was trying to read Dragonquest to go for a bonus, but the series only has 3 books, so that bonus is already done. So I'm switching my selection to [bookcover:Alphas an..."
I was a fun, quick read! And available on Kindle Unlimited!
I was a fun, quick read! And available on Kindle Unlimited!
Week 10, Roll 2
Spot: 82
Alternate: S Title
Book: Alphas and Airships
Author: Melanie Karsak
How it fits: #2 in the Steampunk Red Riding Hood series
Date read:11/28/18
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Clemeny Louvel of the Red Cape Society is in Scotland for this second entry in the series, on an airship chasing down werewolf pirates who have been attacking airships and recently robbed one of the Queen's "aether armada". I loved the imagery of being on an airship sailing through the clouds as well as the excitement of the battles between ships and pirates jumping back and forth and abandoning ship. It made the book fun and exciting to read. The cover art is also beautiful and helped me picture being on an airship. I like the main character, Clemency, and how even though she is a tough fighter she still gets embarrassed about crushing on her boss, Agent Hunter. My only problem with the book was the similarity between the names of Agent Hunter and Agent Harper. I kept getting these two confused throughout the whole book! So I would always have to pause and think which one was which. But other than that this was a great book and I'd recommend it to all fantasy fans who are looking for a quick, fun read to wet their whistle.
Spot: 82
Alternate: S Title
Book: Alphas and Airships
Author: Melanie Karsak
How it fits: #2 in the Steampunk Red Riding Hood series
Date read:11/28/18
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Clemeny Louvel of the Red Cape Society is in Scotland for this second entry in the series, on an airship chasing down werewolf pirates who have been attacking airships and recently robbed one of the Queen's "aether armada". I loved the imagery of being on an airship sailing through the clouds as well as the excitement of the battles between ships and pirates jumping back and forth and abandoning ship. It made the book fun and exciting to read. The cover art is also beautiful and helped me picture being on an airship. I like the main character, Clemency, and how even though she is a tough fighter she still gets embarrassed about crushing on her boss, Agent Hunter. My only problem with the book was the similarity between the names of Agent Hunter and Agent Harper. I kept getting these two confused throughout the whole book! So I would always have to pause and think which one was which. But other than that this was a great book and I'd recommend it to all fantasy fans who are looking for a quick, fun read to wet their whistle.
Spot 82
Filthy English by Ilsa Madden-Mills (English #2)
Date Read: 11/28
Rating: ★★★★
This book was an interesting spin on a second chance romance. I liked that Dax and Remi were realistic characters and the banter between them. I also enjoyed the appearances by Declan and Elizabeth from the first book. The Romeo & Juliet inspiration with the modern twist made it a sweet story overall. Ilsa Madden-Mills has become an author I look for as I have enjoyed all of her books that I have read so far.
Week 11, Roll 1
Previous Spot: 82
Roll: 4
New Spot: 86
Options:
#6 in series
#8 in series
#86 in series
Alternate: Author E
Previous Spot: 82
Roll: 4
New Spot: 86
Options:
#6 in series
#8 in series
#86 in series
Alternate: Author E
Week 11, Roll 1 - REVIEWS
Spot: 86
Alternate: Author E
Amanda A - The Twelve Clues of Christmas - Her Royal Smoothness #6 - Review
Shelby - Bonds of Justice - Psy-Changeling #8 - Review
Talia - The Power and The Fury by James Erith - Alternate: Author E - Review
Spot: 86
Alternate: Author E
Amanda A - The Twelve Clues of Christmas - Her Royal Smoothness #6 - Review
Shelby - Bonds of Justice - Psy-Changeling #8 - Review
Talia - The Power and The Fury by James Erith - Alternate: Author E - Review
It looks like the game might only have 2-3 rolls left, so I think we should use our 3 bonus points with the next roll.
Spot 86
The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #6)
Date Read: 12/1
Rating: ★★★★
Another enjoyable installment in one of my favorite mystery series. The time period, characters, and setting make each book an entertaining read. Lady Georgiana is a likable character who manages to get herself into some crazy situations and her interactions with Darcy are usually quite humorous. I look forward to seeing what happens for them next after that ending. The mystery was clever and kept me guessing until Georgie figured it out.
Talia wrote: "It looks like the game might only have 2-3 rolls left, so I think we should use our 3 bonus points with the next roll."That's fine with me.
The Challenge Factory
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Book: Murmuration
Page Number: 300
How Fits: Standalone