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R10: SSS Team 3rd Option (3)
Completion PostWeek 3, Roll 2 - Spot 28
Book: Lord of Shadows
How it fits: The Dark Artifices #2
Pages: 701 pages
Date Read: 10/02/2018
Rating: 5 stars
Review: My soul aches in such a way right now that I can scarcely breathe. Time has stopped and all thought has become transcendent. I am a bloody mess right now. This book, this story, these characters...OMG, send help. I feel like my chest has been mauled. I feel savagely broken. I thought that Lady Midnight broke me, but Lord of Shadows has gone beyond that. I never feel quite so happy to be so shattered inside as I do when I read a Cassandra Clare book. And her books get better and better with each passing title in the Shadowhunters universe.
Clare's books are full of so many emotions. The well-written characters play an important role in her books. Her characters have incredible growth and fascinating story arcs. They are so vivid that they are completely believable. You will feel like you are in the same room with these characters living alongside them. Clare is extremely talented in crafting strong relationships between her characters. Their every interaction will evoke emotions in you. And what I like about Clare's books is that no character is unimportant. The side characters are equally as moving as the main characters. Sometimes even more so. Her characters become ingrained in every part of you until you are breathing them like air. I urge you to let these characters become your oxygen. Experiencing a Cassandra Clare book is like making new lifelong friends. Her characters are special. I don't know how else to put it.
The other thing that pulls emotion into her stories is the masterful way she plots them. Everything happens for a reason and everything is linked in one way or another. Her plotting is clever, purposeful, and I can't even fathom her brilliance in crafting stories. She is an unparalleled storyteller. She can truly plot her heart out and do it better than most authors out there. The details, the foreshadowing, the wonder woven into her books, all of it!
I enjoyed the world building in this one. We've all read at least one Shadowhunter book before Lord of Shadows so we know that aspect of the world building already. It's there, it's awesome. What I liked more about the world building in this book is the way that Clare brought the political issues of the Clave to the forefront of the story. Prejudice and bigotry are powerful themes in this series, and Clare has shown that the Shadowhunter world is not just about slaying demons. These people are real. Just because they are Nephilim does not mean that they don't experience the same things that mundanes do. There are a lot of political ideas expressed in the book. This part of the world building is done extremely well and it sets the tone for the book marvelously.
I loved the transgender representation. I thought that the character's story was told very well. I liked that it had a purpose and wasn't just thrown in for shock value. It also shines a light on more Shadowhunter rules and laws that are unjust and outdated, which ties into the already pressing issues with the hate surrounding Downworlders and the Cold Peace.
The romance in this book will mar your heart so thoroughly. I love Julian and Emma's tragic love story. It has brought me so many feels. And I adore the strange relationship between Mark, Cristina, and Kieran. The way that the three of them are coming together is so beautiful and I can only hope that it will end with a polyamorous relationship. I would LOVE to see that representation in Clare's books. I also adore the growing relationship between Ty and Kit, though I am unsure what type of relationship it is becoming. I kind of like that I don't know yet, and honestly, I don't care if it is romance or friendship because it is beautiful to the core. And I don't know if Jaime is going to pan out for Dru, but I can only hope so. I love that girl.
And that ending shook me to the core. I just...oh god. December can't come fast enough for me so that I can read the final book of this series.
Overall, I urge you to put this book on the top of your TBR list! Clare's books are so good that they could be a religion. I gladly worship her genius. Her stories stay with you long after you finish reading. If you enjoy books that make you feel something then Clare is the author for you. Being tortured by her books is a privilege. I will always volunteer as tribute!
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Week 3 ~ Roll 2, Spot 28
Book: Sentinel of Darkness by Katie Reus
Qualification: Guardians #8
Pages: 251
Read: 10/3
Rating & Review: ★★★★½
I loved this one! This story was written in a way that was endearing and heartwarming. Katie Reus delivers another winner in this awesome dragon shifter series.
Dagen Hunter was everything! He was a protective male without being bossy. He was attentive and considerate and he COMMUNICATED very clearly. Wow. He actually shared what he was thinking and what he wanted with the object of his affection. Imagine that, an alpha male who growls and talks too!
"You make it hard to breathe...I don't think you realize what you mean to me Keva."Keva Sheehan, a jewelry maker, lived in the Conall’s (dragon) territory after surviving an attack by her ex-boyfriend, a wolf shifter. While on business meeting for his alpha Conall, Dagen runs into Keva and immediately scents her as his mate. His dilemma became how to communicate to a skittish human that she was his mate despite her history of being brutalized by a werewolf shifter.
What I loved about the heroine was that she drew strength from her past of being abused. Keva had prepared mentally and physically for how she would react and defend herself if confronted by an attacker. She showed courage in the midst of her fear knowing that shifters are much stronger than humans. Dagen was just so cute and sweet. He showed that a dragon can be an alpha male without dictating or being aggressive. His honesty seemed almost childlike and made the trust develop quickly. He protected his mate and took care of her, and he gave her room to draw her own conclusions. Keva seemed to draw strength from his supportive stance and her confidence grew as the dragons subtly protected her and extended friendship her by letting her know things about their clan. Many of the past characters made appearances and Keva found camaraderie amongst even the most ancient of dragons. This story was cohesive and had a steady flow. It was everything I love about paranormal romances without being overly heavy. One of the best stories I’ve read all year.
Completion PostWeek 3, Roll 2 - Spot 28
Book: Cold Shadows by J.L. Bryan 10/3/18
How it fits: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #2
Pages: 179
Review
Ellie and Stacey are off on their next job where a family is being haunted by multiple ghosts. As with the first book, I go into it expecting it to be light and maybe a bit cheesy but then get totally sucked into it. We get everything. Crazy Dad ghost with a whip, slightly demonic children ghosts that love to play with toys, Mom ghost who is straight from the pond, and a poltergeist. These ghosts are no joke, but there is still enough humor to keep it a fun story. I really need to read the next book soon!
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Yes please. I’m actually in bed so I don’t think I’ll make it to midnight. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I’ll check but I’m tired 😴
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Yes please. I’m actually in bed so I don’t think I’ll make it to midnight. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I’ll check but I’m tired 😴"
Will do.
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You can read #3, #2, #32, or a book published in 2018.
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New Spot is 32
Read a book that is 2nd, 3rd or 32nd in a series OR Alternate Read: Book published in 2018
Book Choices
☑ Ezinwanyi: Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3) ~ (Review)
☑ Lanelle: Hickory Dickory Dock (Hercule Poirot #32) ~ (Review)
☑ Sunshine✰✰✰: Better Read Than Dead (Psychic Eye Mystery #2) ~ (Review)
☑ Susan A: Two Weeks and a Day (Finn's Pub Romance #2) ~ (Review)
☑ Vanessa: The Barrier Between (Collector #2) ~ (Review)
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Week 4 ~ Roll 1, Spot 32
Book: Beneath These Chains by Meghan March
Qualification: Beneath #3
Pages: 358
SELECTION POSTWEEK 4: ROLL 1 - spot 32
Book:Two Weeks and a Day
How it fits: Finn's Pub Romance #2
Pages 212 pg
Selection PostWeek 4, Roll 1 - Spot 32
Book: The Skeleton in the Closet by Angie Fox
How it fits: Southern Ghost Hunter, #2
Pages: 251
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You can read #3, #2, #32, or a book published in 2018."
Thank you Lanelle 🙏🏾
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Week 4 -Spot 32
Hickory Dickory Dock (Hercule Poirot #32)
Pages: 259"
I don’t have any series that I have read past 20. Wow!!
LOL. I haven't read anything past 8 :-D
COMPLETION POSTWEEK 4: ROLL 1 - spot 32
Book:Two Weeks and a Day
How it fits: Finn's Pub Romance #2
Pages 212 pg
Date Read: 10/4/18
Rating: 3 STARS
Review:
I'm on a bad run here. Frankly, I completely disliked this book, but there wasn't actually anything wrong with the book. I disliked Brendan and was hoping that Miller would end up with ANYONE else. A grown man with the nickname Millie...just doesn't seem at all plausible and reading it drove me crazy. Brendan was extremely promiscuous but with women only and one day he wakes up and realizes he is love with his male best friend, so he sabotages the friend's relationship and says horribly mean things to him...and I lost interest at this point.
SELECTION PostWeek 4 ~ Roll 1, Spot 32
Book: The Barrier Between
Qualification: Collector #2
Pages: 416
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I don't think you have read these mysteries in order. I certainly haven't :)
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Week 4, Roll 1 - Spot 32
Book: Hickory Dickory Dock
How it fits: Hercule Poirot #32
Pages: 259
Date finished: 10/5/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: You can never go wrong my an Agatha Christie mystery. Hercule Poirot's involvement was not huge in this story. And the author put a lot of red herrings in the story. I think it's not fair when the suspects lie, and we tend to believe them :)
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Week 4 ~ Roll 1, Spot 32
Book: Beneath These Chains by Meghan March
Qualification: Beneath #3
Pages: 358
Read: 10/5
Rating & Review: ★★★½
*sighing* This book and series could be so much more if the authors lightened up on the emphasis on sex. These characters start off all hot and bothered in the beginning, and we don’t get to really know what makes them tick until mid way in the story.
We met Lord and Elle in the last book
. Lord is the older brother to Conn, the hero of the last book and Elle is the best friend to Vanessa, heroine of the last book.
Elle is doing everything she can do annoy her mom and stepdad because of their snobbish, hypocritical and controlling attitudes. Elle’s mom married a couple of weeks after Elle’s dad passed away and she never really got a chance to deal with it.
Lord’s mom died when he was 8 and that began a painful childhood that saw Lord separated from his younger brother Conn.
Just like the last book, the characters are likable once you get to know them and have very compelling stories. It’s just overshadowed by their casual sexual behaviors. Their chemistry was okay as they fit well into each other’s lives. It was an okay book
Completion PostWeek 4, Roll 1 - Spot 32
Book: The Barrier Between
How it fits: Collector #2
Pages: 416
Date Read: 10/05/2018
Rating: 5 stars
Review: The first book in this series greatly impressed me, but this book was even better! I adore this fictional world where fae come in all different shapes, sizes, and races and are hidden from (most) humans.
This book leaves off right where City in Embers left off so there is no time lapse in between books. I was glad for it. The plot really expands so much in the second book. It gets way more intense and so many things come to light. I was so compelled to read it that I finished the entire book in one sitting, just as I did with the first book. There were some plot twists that I did not foresee that I was jazzed about. I hate to see them coming so I was pleased that I didn't. The foreshadowing and mystery were woven into the story very well. At times you really didn't know who was ally or foe. I also loved the many different "villains" in the story, because there are a lot! There are three main groups of villains and then there were other threats as well. I liked the balance and how each threat played into the story as a whole.
I love the world-building in this! Most of the book is set in Peru and the descriptions are just lovely. I felt like I was personally walking through the rainforest, seeing Machu Picchu, going to dive bars, and eating in quaint diners. It was very atmospheric.
I loved the new characters in the book and how they contributed to and changed the dynamic and the chemistry between the characters. SO MUCH DRAMA, YA'LL! And it is so tasty! Hehe. There were girl feuds that got my blood boiling and bro fights that riled me up. The environment created by the characters was intoxicating. The character growth of the main characters in this book has a lot of depth. They are constantly showing their cards and their true natures, even if they have to go through their own obstacles to get there. The demons that they face in themselves helps them to overcome their obstacles and makes them really decide on what they truly want.
The romance in this book is damn hot! I don't think that there is any other way to put it. This series had a slow-burn romance, which I love. I adore the way that the two main characters come together and get to know each other so completely. They wrestle with themselves over their feelings though, never really admitting that they have them for one another but definitely showing *ahem, physically, cough* that they actually do. There is a lot of body language and dialogue between the characters that shows their true feelings. And it is glorious!
Overall, this series is quickly lodging itself into my heart. I have fallen in love with these characters and this creative fantasy world. I definitely have a new favorite author! Stacey Marie Brown is a talented storyteller that you won't want to miss out on!
I switched my book.Completion Post
Week 4, Roll 1 - Spot 32
ook: Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie 10/6/18
How it fits: Psychic Eye Mystery, #2
Pages: 296
Rating: 4 Stars
Review
Abby's friend calls in a favor for her to be a second Tarot Card reader at a wedding. Turns out the wedding was for the daughter of a Greek mob boss. While trying hard to dodge working for the guy (he was very persuasive), Abby is also trying to help the police catch a serial rapist. Abby & Dutch's relationship didn't move forward at all like I hoped after how the first book ended. In fact, you could even say it went backwards a bit. I love listening to Abby's inner "guys" as they help her. Even when she herself lies they like to say, Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. :-) Abby's facing a new beginning in the next book and I hope I can get myself to read it soon!
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New Spot is 35
Read a book that is 3rd, 5th or 35th in a series OR Alternate Read: Author G (first or last name begins with "G")
(view spoiler)
Book Choices
☑ Ezinwanyi: Vengeance ~ (Review)
☑ Lanelle: The Leper of Saint Giles ~ (Review)
☑ Sunshine✰✰✰: Jared ~ (Review)
☑ Susan A: Life In Union ~ (Review)
Vanessa: Phoenix Unbound
Selection PostWeek 4, Roll 2 - Spot 35
Book: Jared by Alisa Woods
How it fits: River Pack Wolves, #3
Pages: 286
Selection PostWeek 4, Roll 2 - Spot 35
Book: Phoenix Unbound
How it fits: Author first name starts with G
Pages: 400
COMPLETION POSTWEEK 4: ROLL 2 - Spot 35
Book: Life In Union
How it fits: Summit City #3
Pages 257 pgs
Date Read: 10/7/18
Rating: 3 STARS
Review:
Book 3 in the Summit series is a rather disjointed story which features several holidays and the finally the wedding of Boone and Wade. I read book 1 back in 2012 and it was nice to have a final sense of HEA for these guys.
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Week 4: Roll 2 -Spot 35
Book: The Leper of Saint Giles
How it fits: Brother Cadfael #5
Pages: 223
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Week 4: Roll 2 -Spot 35
Book: The Leper of Saint Giles
How it fits: Brother Cadfael #5
Pages: 223
Date read: 10/8/18 ****
Review: Historical novels are tricky in my mind. To be an effective story, the author needs to capture the tone of the time period by using the proper verbiage. Ellis Peters does a great job of making you feel like you're in medieval England. But because we're not used to such language, it doesn't make for a quick read :)
Completion PostWeek 4, Roll 2 - Spot 35
Book: Jared by Alisa Woods 10/8/18
How it fits: River Pack Wolves, #3
Pages: 286
Rating: 3 Stars
Review
This was the final book in the trilogy and we finally got the bad guy in the whole overarching story line. The MC's in this story were Jared, the 3rd River brother, and Grace. Grace is the daughter of Senator Krepky, the man who's pushing for a bill that will make all shifters be registered and therefore endangered.
Jared had a mate who died in a car crash so he had a hard time accepting his feelings for Grace. He wanted to be with her but wasn't sure that "mating" was the way to go. Grace grew up unable to handle her wolf and hiding it at the same time. She didn't know any other shifters, so when she met Jared, everything she felt was instinctual. She wanted to be his mate and couldn't understand why he held back.
While we got our MC's happy ending, and we got the bad guys(s) of the series, the ending was a set up to the spin off series.
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Week 4 ~ Roll 2, Spot 35
Book: Vengeance by Sloane Kennedy
Qualification: The Protectors #5
Pages: 494
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Week 4 ~ Roll 2, Spot 35
Book: Vengeance by Sloane Kennedy
Qualification: The Protectors #5
Pages: 494
Read: 10/10
Rating & Review: ★★★
This is book 5 in this series and I am still chasing that angst, stomach in a knots feelings that I had in book 1.
This book had three love interests like book 1, but their journey to love was overwhelmed by so much sex.
In the last book, Brennan had been attacked by bad guys looking for his roommate. Memphis had rescued him and a bond formed between Brennan and Memphis. The first half of the book was Brennan and Memphis hooking up while Memphis tried to keep it strictly physical. Then Brennan's crush, Tristan, came into the picture and all of a sudden there was a threesome.
All characters were dealing with pretty heavy emotional baggage and thus there was a need for an emotional connection. I just didn't feel that chemisty. It was hot between Memphis and Brennan, I didn't feel it with Tristan other than they were trying to including the leftout kid.
It was okay, but it made me want to go back and listen to book 1. That book was everything! I will keep going with this series though
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Does anyone know if she is in an area effected by the hurricane?
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According to Vanessa's profile, she lives in Nebraska.
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I don’t know if Vanessa will be able to post in time. I sent a pm to her but i haven’t heard back. I hope she is okay. As she’s in Nebraska, i don’t think she’s affected by the weather. So her family is probably sick again.
I am going to just use our free pass because we are in danger of losing a turn.
So I hope that’s okay with all of you.
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Team 3: Third Option will like to use our pass for Week 4, roll 2
Thank you
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I rolled a “2” for Week 5, Roll 1. New spot 37
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New Spot is 37
Read a book that is 3rd, 7th or 37th in a series OR Alternate Read: Number in the Title (i.e. Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
(view spoiler)
Book Choices
☑ Ezinwanyi: Dead By Midnight: An I-Team Christmas (I-Team #7.5) ~ (Review)
☑ Lanelle: French Leave (Weaver #3) ~ (Review)
☑ Sunshine✰✰✰: The Crawling Darkness (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #3) ~ (Review)
☑ Susan A: Connection Error (#gaymers #3) ~ (Review)
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Week 5 ~ Roll 1, Spot 37
Book: Dead By Midnight: An I-Team Christmas by Pamela Clare
Qualification: I-Team #7.5
Pages: 236
WEEK 5: ROLL 1 - Spot 37
Book: Leaning Into Forever
How it fits: #7 Leaning Into
Pages 261pgs
Sorry Ezi! I think I need to pick an audiobookSELECTION POST
WEEK 5: ROLL 1 - 37
Book: Connection Error
How it fits: #gaymers #3
Pages 245pgs
No we aren't near the hurricane, but we have been having heavy rains every day and some flooding. It's been awful. =/ Sorry you guys had to use the pass. =(SELECTION Post
Week 5 ~ Roll 1, Spot 37
Book: The Fall Of The King
How it fits: Lightness #3
Pages: 423
Mod
..."
Hey Vanessa,
I’m glad you and your family are relatively keeping safe as Hurricane Michael has been wrecking havoc this week.
I didn’t know think you would get your book in because you didn’t respond to my PM. In the interest of the other team players, I thought it wouldn’t be cool to miss a turn.
The Challenge Factory
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Week 3 ~ Roll 2, Spot 28
Book: Sentinel of Darkness by Katie Reus
Qualification: Guardians #8
Pages: 251