R10: Team Reading FOUR the Win (4)

[Karen ♐]

Sorry, ladies. We will be missing our turn this week.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Thanks for staying up Karen.

[Karen ♐]

Loriidae wrote: "Thanks for staying up Karen."

No problem, Loriidae. I'm a night owl!

[Book Concierge]

Bummer ....

Did you even hear back from Vickie at all? Hope there's nothing seriously wrong in her life.

[Karen ♐]

No, I haven’t heard back. In my message, I said I hope you’re okay. Since this has never happened in a group I was in before, I’ll ask Denise what I need to do next.

[Karen ♐]

I've heard back from Denise and hopefully Vickie will post this week but regardless, we will roll on Friday.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Quick Reminder:

We'll be taking a break next week due to Thanksgiving.

Teams will roll this Friday, 11/16. No roll on 11/23. Reviews are due and the next roll will be on 11/30, at which point the game resumes its normal schedule.

For those playing both games, please note that the holiday scheduling works differently on SS and SSS.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!

[Book Concierge]

Morning team ... I'm up so I went ahead and rolled

Week 10
Rolled: 3 + 6 = 9
OLD spot: 68
New spot: 77

Series # 7 or Alternate: Title begins with a 'C'


NOTE: There is no roll next Friday due to Thanksgiving Holiday. So you have until Thursday, Nov 29 at 11:59 p.m. to get your reviews in.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

You have to hold off on rolling until the deadline has passed (or Vickie has turned up and posted) again. I'm sorry you guys are having so much trouble this round.

[Book Concierge]

Denise wrote: "You have to hold off on rolling until the deadline has passed (or Vickie has turned up and posted) again. I'm sorry you guys are having so much trouble this round."

We MISSED this round entirely .... in a previous group you allowed them to roll right away since they had missed a round.

[Book Concierge]

Denise .... See Your response on this issue when it affected that team. It was post # 92.

And after missing the week, the team rolled just after midnight on Friday morning.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Sorry, I wasn't paying attention there and forgot that you had missed the previous round. In that case, you were of course fine to go ahead and roll.

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 10
Spot 77

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
How it fits: Title begins with 'C'
Date finished: 27 Nov18
Rating: 3***
Review:
Philippa Gregory certainly knows how to write historical fiction. In this book she turns her attentions to Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. Even though I know the outcome of the story, Gregory still pulled me into it and captured my attention. I hadn't realized what a strong woman Katherine was, and I enjoyed learning more about her. However ... the plot dragged in places and I found myself growing bored. I listened to the audio, capably performed by Jill Tanner. But the text uses italics to clearly delineate Katherine's inner thoughts (or letters / diary journals she is writing). That's not so clear when listening and can lead to some confusion.

[Allison Ann]

If it makes you guys feel any better, you missed an entire week and you are still ahead of us on the board. :D Clearly dice-rolling is not our super power.

[Book Concierge]

We did have a couple of really lucky rolls ... and we used some bonus points earlier as well.

[Karen ♐]

Sorry, Team. I thought we had to wait until after midnight tonight. Thanks, BC.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

My fault. Apologies for the confusion! :(

[Karen ♐]

No problem, Denise.

[Karen ♐]

Week 10 - Spot 77

Outrageous by Marie Force
How It Qualifies: #7 in series
Date Finished: 11/26/18
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I loved this book. Emmett is the lawyer in this group of friends and Leah is the PA for Marlowe. She is strong and lets Emmett know that she wants him. Emmett feels that the 10 years between their ages is too much and he only has one night stands. I loved how Leah got Emmett over to her way of thinking.

[Book Concierge]

Denise wrote: "My fault. Apologies for the confusion! :("

I'm amazed at the job you do keeping all the teams in SS and SSS straight!

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Selection Post - Week Ten - Spot 77

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic Meghan Ciana Doidge
Pages: 232
How it fits: Alternate: Title begins with C

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Completion Post - Week Ten - Spot 77

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic Meghan Ciana Doidge
Pages: 232
How it fits: Alternate: Title begins with C
Review:
I'm not sure how to rate this book it's not a two maybe a low three stars . It's a strange mix of mystery and paranormal striving to be an Urban fantasy, but not really a cosy either . The main character, a dowser who draws magic to her, was quite difficult to like. She oscillates between fabulous business woman and complete TS TL . I guess it just felt like another one of those books where the heroine is really special but she doesn't know why. She's been kept in the dark her whole life and suddenly there are hints about her true heritage. Overall I think it's probably worth trying out the second one because there were some interesting elements even though the mystery part was quite obvious .
Read: Nov 21
Rating: ★★★✰✰

[Book Concierge]

Yay, Loriidae! Whatever will you do with all your time this next week, waiting for our next roll?!

I'm moving along listening to the CD of Constant Princess (16 discs). I had already planned to listen to it at this time, so it was lucky that the spot we landed on accommodated it. (However, I had a series # 7 and a series # 8 waiting in the wings just in case.)

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Oh my 16 discs! I lucked out, it fits another challenge in a different group that needed a review by today, so I thought post now otherwise I would probably forget.

As to filling in my time. Well there are plenty of year long challenges to work on, but knowing me I will probably start a new series!

[Karen ♐]

16 Discs??? Wow! I haven't started mine yet. Have one more to finish before I can get to it. It's slow going this week with getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow.

[Book Concierge]

Karen ♐ wrote: "16 Discs??? Wow! I haven't started mine yet. Have one more to finish before I can get to it. It's slow going this week with getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow."

I spent an hour driving aimlessly around the city today so I could get an extra disc listened to. Won't be listening tomorrow because of the holiday.

I have the text as well, and I sometimes read a chapter at home in the evening, so it's going faster than just listening. Think I'll have it done by Wednesday, Nov 28.

[Book Concierge]

Karen ... did you ever hear back from Vickie? I hope everything is okay with her. She's always been such a reliable team member.

[Karen ♐]

No, I sent her a message a few times and didn't hear back. I hope everything is okay too.

[Book Concierge]

Update Message 213 - Book finished / review written

[Amanda A]

Spot 77

Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle (Coffeehouse Mystery #7)
Date Read: 11/27
Rating: ★★★★

Another entertaining installment in this series. I always enjoy Clare's investigations and all of the trouble she manages to get herself into. The focus of this book was more on her ex-husband Matteo and Breanne, since they are getting married and the murders are related to Breanne. I enjoyed the New York setting but it got away from the Village Blend more, which I missed. The coffee talk in this series is always interesting to me and I plan to continue with it.

[Karen ♐]

Week 10 Reviews

Amanda A - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book Concierge - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Brenna - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Karen - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Loriidae - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
M - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Brenna]

Week 10:
Spot 77
Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas

How it Qualifies: Starts with C (Alternate)
Date Finished: 11/29
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Wow, I think I liked this book even more than the first book in the series! All of the characters are so well developed and my heart broke so many times for all of the characters. Despite the pain, I could not stop turning pages; the story was so good! Knowing some of the characters motives and ideas is also very interesting, especially at the very end when Chaol makes what I feel like was a mistake in sending Caelena away because of what I know from her point of view, but I guess I will have to read the next one to find out!

[M]

Week 10:
Spot 77
Dragon on a Pedestal
Author: Piers Anthony

Rating: **
Review:
There is trouble in Xanth (again) and the Gap Dragon has escaped. Princess Ivy is lost and needs to be found. She manages to survive an is not as helpless as it seems.
This is not much of a review. Why? I felt like my sanity was being tested my the amount of puns in this book. One or two are fine, but there is so many that you almost don't notice the wash, rinse, repeat of the story line. Xanth may have been a wonderful place of my childhood but as an adult I think I need a drink after reading this one.

[Karen ♐]

Team 4 - Reading FOUR The Win
Week 11
Previous Spot: 77
Rolled: 10
Current Spot: 87

Series # 8, 7, 87 or Alternate: Cover Item: Dress

[Karen ♐]

Week 11 - Spot 87

Wound Tight: A Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® Crossover by Lorelei James
How It Qualifies: #87 in series
Date Finished: 12/5/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Justin and Callie meet at the ranch. Callie is 22 and Justin is 40. It takes Callie some convincing for them to get together. This is a great addition to the Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys series.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Selection Post - Week Eleven - Spot 87

Sweet Revenge Christy Reece
Pages: 375
How it fits: #8 Last Chance Rescue

[Book Concierge]

WEEK 11 (Thanksgiving holiday)
Week 12
Spot 87

A Deal to Die For by Josie Belle
How It Fits: ALTERNATE: Cover item: Dress
Date finished:
Rating:
Review:


BONUS POINT - this is the third book from the Good Buy Girls series that I've read during this challenge

[Brenna]

Week 11:
Spot 87
Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas

How it Qualifies: Dress Cover Item (Alternate)
Date Finished:
Rating:
Review:

I'm excited that I can read the third book in this series next!

[Karen ♐]

Week 11 Reviews

Amanda A - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book Concierge -
Brenna -
Karen - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Loriidae - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
M - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[lorii (Loriidae)]

Completion Post - Week Eleven - Spot 87

Sweet Revenge Christy Reece
Pages: 375
How it fits: #8 Last Chance Rescue
Review:
Jaime, the victim of a human trafficker is determined to gather information to convict him. She turns to her rescuer, Dylan for help. At #8 in the series, it's a familiar storyline in the last Chance Rescue series of victim and rescuer. I did like that it was a couple of months before Jaime and Dylan fell into bed, even though they were virtually stranded at the cabin. Plotwise, I felt there were several of the basic building blocks of the story that were quite unrealistic. (view spoiler)[ Why go to your rescuers for help and then keep vital information from them? (hide spoiler)] Overall it started slow, but picked up around 50%.
Read: Dec 6
Rating: ★★★✰✰

[Book Concierge]

I'm off for our trip to Texas. I'll have my book finished by Friday and post my review from my brother's house that afternoon/evening. Sorry for the delay.

[Amanda A]

Spot 87

Among the Wicked by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder #8)
Date Read: 12/5
Rating: ★★★★

This series is one of my favorite thriller series and this book was another enjoyable, fast paced read. The Amish culture is explored and I enjoy learning more about it in each book. Kate is a strong character who never backs down from a case. As a former Amish herself, she is asked to go undercover in an upstate New York Amish community to investigate the suspicious death of a teen girl. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat and I did not see the big twist at the end coming at all.

[M]

Completion post - spot 87 week 11

Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
How it Qualifies: Dress Cover Item (Alternate)
Date Finished: 6-12-2018
Rating: ****
Review:
Set in the 1300's in Bohemia
Raised by the Abbott at the Telpa Abbey Mouse is a girl born with supernatural abilities. Smart and trained as a healer there are many that call her a witch but the Abbot calls her "his angel".
The young King of Bohemia Ottokar is wounded by an arrow and is brought to the Abbey. Disobeying the Abbot, Mouse uses her abilities to heal him. He appoints Mouse as his royal healer and re-names her Lady Emma. She joins him at court where she is thrown into the politics and the back stabbing of a war for the crown.
This is only book one, there are two more is the series. They have gone onto my "must buy" list.

[Karen ♐]

Book Concierge wrote: "I'm off for our trip to Texas. I'll have my book finished by Friday and post my review from my brother's house that afternoon/evening. Sorry for the delay."

No problem, BC...Have a wonderful time. One of the teams is over 100, so assuming they all post their reviews, the game will probably be over.

[Brenna]

I'm in a bit of a time crunch as well, I'm in the middle of my first finals week in college and I had a big project due this morning that left me almost no time to read this week. I should be able to get my review in by tomorrow afternoon, though.

[Karen ♐]

Denise has put an announcement in the main thread that a winner has been announced.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Team 2 "Double the Pleasure ~ Double the Fun" have finished all their books for spot 101 on time and take the victory for this round. Congrats on the win!

Thank you everyone for playing! We've had a few troubles this round (some teams more than others), but I hope you all nevertheless had fun. :)"

[Book Concierge]

I did finish my book today ... just got into our hotel and saw that another team already won. That's life ...

Happy holidays.

[lorii (Loriidae)]

I really enjoyed my part after coming in as a stand by. I will definitely be in from the start next time,.

Thanks Karen for captaining. Enjoyed meeting some new faces. : )

[M]

I had a lot of fun and I was glad to meet new people. Have a Good Yule everyone

[Brenna]

I didn't get a chance to finish my book either :(

I did really enjoy this round though and thank you for being a great captain Karen! I hope to see you guys around again the next round and happy holidays :)