R10: SSS Team Two Hot Two Handle (2)

[[deleted user]]

Just checking in with an update. I changed my book to a different E author: The Power and The Fury by James Erith. I'll be finishing it tomorrow. I'm aiming for earlier rather than later.

[Shelby]

Week 11
Book: Bonds of Justice
Page Number: 348
How Fits: #8 in Psy-Changeling

[Shelby]

Sorry I've been a little MIA this weekend guys. I am filming all weekend and the last couple days have been crazy. Wearing multiple hats on this shoot, but most of my crazy ended yesterday. I still have one more shoot day today but my call time isn't until later this afternoon. Luckily finally got to read my book early this morning.

[Shelby]

Week 11: Roll 4
Spot: 86

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh


How Fits: #8 in Psy-Changeling
Finished: 12/2
Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

Such a great series. I love the subtle intrigue plot that is growing throughout this series. I know there are things I don't know yet and as each new piece gets brought to light I'm more and more interested. This book eeked light to a few more of those places.

Of course I enjoyed seeing Max get his happy in this one. He's always been the cop we respected in his appearances in other books. He's dedicated to truth and doesn't let the Psy control him, ok his mental shields help. ;) His fascination with the J psy he's only run into a few times is of course just what you'd want for him.

I liked Sophie more than I thought I would. I like that she was different than the other Psy characters in this series that have broken Silence. Her abilities were unique and it kept me interested even if the struggles were similar to other Psy characters.

I find myself looking forward more and more to the pieces that belong to the greater story rather than just the singular romance that each book is. I love all the pieces in the greater world.

[[deleted user]]

I should be done with my book in about an hour. Sorry for the delay!

[[deleted user]]

Week 11, Roll 1
Spot: 86
Alternate: Author E


Book: The Power and The Fury
Author: James Erith
How it fits: Alternate: Author E - Author's last name starts with E (Erith)
Date read: 12/02/18
Rating: ★★
Review: I decided to read this book because it is one of the many Kindle books that I have acquired over the years but have never read. So I wanted to make a dent in that virtual pile. The blurb made me think this book was going to be an adventure of three young people travelling the globe searching for the ancient Garden of Eden. What it was was a catastrophic flood sweeping through a small town and various young folks trying to survive. Yes, there was mention of the Garden of Eden and three siblings who are Heirs of Eden were given special powers, but that took a backseat to the flood. And while everyone trying to survive the flood was kind of interesting, I just didn't feel really invested in the plotline or the characters. So I ended up with mixed feelings. I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it. I wasn't intrigued enough to want to continue on to book #2.

[[deleted user]]

We rolled a 3, so I used just 2 of our bonus points to move us to 91 so that I can get another #1 book read. So we have 1 bonus point left to use in the next roll.

[[deleted user]]

Week 11, Roll 2
Previous Spot: 86
Roll: 3 + 2 bonus points
New Spot: 91

Options:
#1 in a series
#9 in a series
#91 in a series
✸Standalone books can be used for a 1 or a 0
Alternate: Cover Item: Two or more people

[[deleted user]]

Week 11, Roll 2 - REVIEWS
Spot: 91
Alternate: Cover Item: Two or more people


Amanda A - Christmas in Good Hope - Good Hope #1 - Review
Shelby - Seven - The Others Project #1 - Review
Talia - Death by Darjeeling - Tea Shop Mystery #1 - Review

[Shelby]

Sounds like a good plan Talia!

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Anybody manage to get the no alternates bonus?

[[deleted user]]

Denise wrote: "Anybody manage to get the no alternates bonus?"

Yes, both Shelby and Amanda A have not read any alternates.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Then since you're past 90 now, you've earned yourselves another bonus point. :)

[[deleted user]]

Woohoo! Nice job, ladies!

[[deleted user]]

For this roll I'll be reading Storm Glass, #1 in the Harbinger series. It has captured my interest right away, so hopefully I won't switch books this time!

[Amanda A]

Spot 91

Christmas in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk (Good Hope #1)
Date Read: 12/4
Rating: ★★★★

This book was a sweet small-town Christmas romance. The tragedies that Ami and Beck both endured were realistic. Her secret was predictable, but I liked how their conflict was resolved. They were perfect for each other and she helped him to move on and learn to enjoy Christmas again. I look forward to visiting Good Hope again in her sister, Prim's story.

[[deleted user]]

I did end up changing my book to Death by Darjeeling (Tea Shop Mystery #1). I'm trying to finish it tonight but if I fall asleep I'll finish it tomorrow morning.

[[deleted user]]

Week 11, Roll 2
Spot: 91


Book: Death by Darjeeling
Author: Laura Childs
How it fits: Tea Shop Mystery #1
Date read: 12/06/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Theodosia runs a tea shop in South Carolina and is catering a public event when a nasty local real estate developer keels over dead with her teacup in his hand. The police see Theodosia’s waitress for the day, Bethany, as their prime suspect and Theo’s tea as the murder weapon, but Theo is out to prove the innocence of the both Bethany and her tea. This was a solid cozy mystery. I had already read books 2 & 3 in this series so it was nice to go back to the beginning and see how the series started. The story was 3 stars but I love tea and all the info about tea in the book was great, so that garnered the extra fourth star.

[[deleted user]]

Shelby, any idea around when you'll be done with your book? Just checking since we haven't heard from you yet for this roll.

Edit: We did hear from you right after the roll, so hopefully you're reading! :)

[Shelby]

Hey :) So I just finished up my book last night on my break at work, but didn't get home till after 2am. Just got home from a meeting this morning. Typing up my review right now.

[Shelby]

Week 11.5
Book: Seven
Page Number: 325
How Fits: #1 in The Other's Project

[Shelby]

Week 11.5: Roll 3 + 2
Spot: 91

Seven by Adrienne Wilder


How Fits: #1 in The Other's Project
Finished: 12/5
Rating: ★★★★½

Review:

I actually really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The outside force manipulating everything got a little obvious as time went on. It didn't really keep anything hidden, you knew how things were going to get fixed even if you didn't know the details. But I liked Seven and Chase's relationship. Seven's quirks were interesting and I liked the way his idiosyncrasies were depicted.

The greater world story was pretty simple all told. It's an expected story with created psychic characters. Some evil group wants control of the psychics they create and those psychics have escaped and want to control their own lives.

As much as the deus ex machina was kinda obvious, I liked Nine's character. He was like the big brother that knows all and has no problem bossing around his little brothers.

This was a fun story that kept me entertained the entire time. I felt for all these guys and I definitely want to read more in this world.

[[deleted user]]

Week 12, Roll 1
Previous Spot: 91
Roll: 2 + 2 bonus points
New Spot: 95

Options:
#5 in a series
#9 in a series
#95 in a series
Alternate - Cover Item: Sun/Moon

[[deleted user]]

Darn, that roll stinks! Oh well, looks like we'll only have this roll and one more roll before a team makes it to 100. Almost to the finish line! Just hoping Sunday's roll is a high one!

[[deleted user]]

Week 12, Roll 1 - REVIEWS
Spot: 95
Alternate - Cover Item: Sun/Moon


Amanda A - Croissant Murder - Patisserie Mystery #5 - Review
Shelby - Moving Maverick - Made Marian #5 - Review
Talia - Unafraid: Mary - Lineage of Grace #5 - Review

[[deleted user]]

I'll be reading Unafraid: Mary, Lineage of Grace #5.

[[deleted user]]

Team 5 is reading for Spot 103 so this might be our last roll.

[Shelby]

I finished my book but not sure if it's worth posting since I imagine Team 5 will claim victory.

[[deleted user]]

Shelby wrote: "I finished my book but not sure if it's worth posting since I imagine Team 5 will claim victory."

Right, we only have a chance if they don’t post all their reviews by the deadline tomorrow but I’m sure they will. I’ll message you both if something changes and it seems like we have a chance.

[[deleted user]]

Two teams are currently racing towards the finish line. I’ll be posting my review in a few minutes. Amanda, were you able to read a book? I guess we should have hung in there and not assumed we didn’t have a shot! We can still roll today and see if we make it to 100 if you guys are able to post your reviews.

[Amanda A]

Spot 95

Croissant Murder by Harper Lin (A Patisserie Mystery #5)
Date Read: 12/9
Rating: ★★★

This book was just ok for me. The mystery was very simple and easy to figure out. I enjoy the descriptions of Paris and the bakery. There were typos and grammatical errors that grated on my nerves a bit though. I will continue the series the next time I need a book set in France or Europe for a challenge.

[[deleted user]]

Week 12, Roll 1
Spot 95


Book: Unafraid: Mary
Author: Francine Rivers
How it fits: Lineage of Grace #5
Date read: 12/09/18
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This is a fictionalized account of the life of Mary, mother of Jesus. This is good timing as we are in the Christmas season and this book tells the story of Christ’s birth. It was sad but understandable how Mary kept wanting Jesus to reveal who he truly was and vindicate her in front of all those who had gossiped about her being with child before she was married. She was expecting Jesus to overthrow the unjust Romans and make the world a better place, but he didn’t do anything how she was expecting. It was also sad to see a mother have to witness her son being executed. This whole series has been nice to read to make these familiar stories more relatable and the people involved feeling more real to me.

[[deleted user]]

Shelby, if you can post your review, we can roll. Sorry, I should have said go ahead and post it after you finished the book!

[Shelby]

Week 12
Book: Moving Maverick
Page Number: 279
How Fits: #5 in Made Marian

[Shelby]

Week 12: Roll 4
Spot: 95

Moving Maverick by Lucy Lennox


How Fits: #5 in Made Marian
Finished: 12/8
Rating: ★★★½

Review:

Ok so this is my least favorite so far of this series. It wasn't bad, but it just didn't quite have the charm of the other books in the series. I liked the backdrop of this story more than the story itself. Rabbit Island was so quaint and adorable. I wanted Maverick to see that sooner.

I think the thing that bothered me about this story most was that Beau and Maverick never really addressed anything between them. It just all ultimately worked out. They never really talked and their relationship was based on how they felt when the were 13. Maybe if they'd been older that would have felt more believable, but that felt a little too young to hold onto those feelings all those years.

I liked the quirky nature of the town and the obsession of our boys with their salt shakers. This one had less of the other Marian's as well. Still it was enjoyable. I'm happy to keep moving on in this series. It always makes me smile.

[[deleted user]]

Great! Going to roll now.

[[deleted user]]

Darn it, we rolled a 2! So we're on Spot 97.

[[deleted user]]

Week 12, Roll 2
Previous Spot: 95
Roll: 2
New Spot: 97

Options:
#7 in a series
#9 in a series
#97 in a series
Alternate - Cover: Red

[[deleted user]]

Week 12, Roll 2 - REVIEWS
Spot: 97
Alternate - Cover: Red


Amanda A -
Shelby -
Talia - Vicious - Alternate - Cover: Red

[[deleted user]]

I'm going to keep reading just in case by some fluke someone doesn't win today.

I'll be reading Vicious for the alternate, Cover: Red.

[[deleted user]]

Looks like Team 5 won.

[Shelby]

It was lovely playing with you guys! :)

[[deleted user]]

Same here! This was my first time playing SSS. I’m glad I gave it a try and actually kept up! Sometimes barely, but still! :P

[Amanda A]

I enjoyed playing this round with you ladies!