R10: Team Nine Banded Armadillos (9)

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

As soon as Leslie finishes we will be done for the week :)

[Leslie Ann]

Completion Post
Week 7 spot 49
Magic Bleeds
Ilona Andrews
10/31/2018
how it fits: 4th book in the series
rating: 4 stars
Review:
I liked this book. This is the best one of the series so far. I really enjoyed learning more about both Kate and Curran. I am started to understand some of the other characters. Kate is a badass!

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 8~Old Spot #49 Rolled 8 New Spot #57
Alternative #57~ Australia

[Jenny]

Can any of you make Martha Wells quickly publish the fifth book in her murderbot series for me please? I don't care that she isn't planning to do a fifth. *whines*

[Annika]

Sadly that's not one of my powers ;)

[Jenny]

Damn. Worth asking though.

[Annika]

It would be a great power to have though... Imagine all the books that'd be written!

[Cait S]

I'm going to read The Dry by Jane Harper for the alternate option of set in Australia. This week was a tough one!

[Jenny]

I will reread The Human Division by John Scalzi, fifth in the "Old Man's War" series.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

We earned our bonus point for Halloween!

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I'm going to read . It's a #5.

I will read the #6 when we roll a 6 and that will give me 3 books in one series for this challenge and we can earn that point as well :)

[Leslie Ann]

Perfect , I will read
Trapped

#5

[Leslie Ann]

Cait S wrote: "I'm going to read The Dry by Jane Harper for the alternate option of set in Australia. This week was a tough one!"

I really enjoyed the Dry.

[Annika]

Completion post
spot 57


Coach's Challenge
Read: November 3
Rating: 2 stars
Series: Scoring Chances #5

I think this is the end of the road for me and this series. I just finished it and find myself asking what it was about and was there really a plot to it? It never hooked me and I never cared one way or another.

[Annika]

We seem to be missing one of our bonus points?

Haven't we earned 3 of them?

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Sorry, I hadn't gotten around to updating yet. It's there now! :)

[Annika]

Denise wrote: "Sorry, I hadn't gotten around to updating yet. It's there now! :)"

I did not mean to stress you for updates!

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

No worries! I'm glad if teams are keeping an eye on these things to make sure I don't miss anything. :)

[Jenny]

Completion post-

John Scalzi
5th in "The Old Man's War" series
11/3/18
5 stars
This is reread for me. It was originally rolled out as a serial on Kindle, one chapter at a time, then released as the complete book. I adore this series, and this book is as good as the rest.
When people turn 75 on Earth, they can join the Colonial Union- basically the army, but in space. They are given a new young body, and go out into the stars defending humanity against hostile races. This story starts with a diplomatic mission going wrong, and the humans of the colonies (other planets inhabited by humans) and the humans of Earth being at loggerheads. Other alien races are trying to woo the Earth people into an alliance, and the Colonial Union doesn't want to lose the Earth as a recruiting center.

I am not making this sound as good as it is. Scalzi's writing is engaging. His characters are fun and interesting. He is one of my favorite scifi writers. If you like a good yarn, give "Old Man's War" a try.

[Cait S]

Week 8~Spot #57
by Jane Harper
Qualifications: Set in Australia
Finished: 11/4/2018
Rating: 3 stars
Review:

I was expecting to like this one more than I did. In the end, I didn't really find any of the characters to be all that compelling except for one of the ones who was already did. I read the book quickly but that was completely due to being interested in the plot and needing to know how it turned out. With better characterization, this would have gotten another star. But do have to hand it to the author, that she tied in past and present and two different mysteries incredibly well, and had me guessing until the end.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Week 8 - Spot 57 Completion Post

Book: Jackalopes and Woofen-Poofs by Angel Martinez
How it Fits: #5 in Offbeat Crimes
Finished: 11/7
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This is such an unusual series with really quirky characters that I really enjoy. I love Wolf and Jason and in this book we get to see a lot more of their relationship and how Jason's family and his insecurity along with Wolf's not understanding some human actions such as the vampire captain's flirting effect their relationship. This book actually takes place in a very condensed time frame and the two work their way through the outside influences. Another fun and unusual case that the 77th is dragged into. This is such a great series to just sit back relax, and smile while you read it.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 8~Spot #57
by Gena Showalter
Qualifications:Fifth book in the series
Finished:11/8/18
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Aeron is The Keeper of Wrath, whose known he's been watched by someone. Olivia is an angel that takes The Fall for Aeron to protect him from harm. She couldn't do what was asked of her. Can she really protect Aeron? Will Aeron given to his and Wrath's desires? Find out in The Darkest Passion.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Right now everyone complete for Week 8 except Denise and Leslie. Please let me know if I missed your post or will continue to look for it sometime today :)

[Leslie Ann]

Week 8 - Spot #57
Trapped
Kevin Hearne
pages 290
11/7/2018
4 stars
5th in the series

Review:
I love this series. I think this is my favorite so far. I enjoy Oberon and I miss him when he is not in the books. So Glad that Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his apprentice, Granuaile. I like the fact that the Granuaile character is starting to develop. I will definitely continue on.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

We can roll in 2 hours if Denise finishes and posts her book :)

[Annika]

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "We can roll in 2 hours if Denise finishes and posts her book :)"

It doesn't look like she's checked in at all this round. Has anyone heard from her?

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I haven't. We can use our pass since we earned one

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I sent her a PM

[Denise]

Completion post
Spot 57
Vodka and Chocolate Drops
Book 5 in the series
11/8
4 stars

Another predictable book. It had many laugh out loud moments. I enjoyed it, but i would have liked it a little more if the main character had more of a backbone from the beginning.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 9~Old Spot #57 Rolled 12 New Spot #69
Alternative #69~Award winner (must state which/when)

[Jenny]

Seriously? We land on spot 69 and we are all pretending that we are sober, unamused adults, and not giggling? Let me be the first...

Teehee.

[Cait S]

I'm going to read When the Moon Was Ours for the alternate option :)

[Jenny]

I will reread
6th in the "Old Man's War" series.

[Leslie Ann]

I will read
Hunted
Number 6 in the series

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I'll read All The World's An Undead Stage which is #6 and the 3rd book in that series I've read for this challenge so we'll get that point.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Jenny wrote: "Seriously? We land on spot 69 and we are all pretending that we are sober, unamused adults, and not giggling? Let me be the first...

Teehee."

I am highly amused and smiling at our spot :)

[Annika]

Completion post
Spot 69


Play Dead
Read: 11/9
Rating: 4 stars
Series: Andy Carpenter #6

This book was a mix of the cute and a mystery. I loved how Andy went to court to save a golden retriever from being put down (or from death row as he put it). Saving Yogi sets off unforseen events and soon Andy is trying to get an innocent man out of jail.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to see what else this series brings.

[Denise]

His Christmas Cowgirl is book 6 in the series. I'll be reading that

[Jenny]

Completion post-
Spot 69
Sixth in series

John Scalzi
380 pages (audio edition)
11/12/18

The latest in the "Old Man's War" series. This one, like the last has several entwined story lines, the coolest of them being the brain in the box. In this future world, conscienceless can be transferred from one body to another. It is how the old men (and women) of the series title end up as army recruits at the age of 75- their consciousness is put into a new cloned body. In this story, however, a pilot's brain is put in a box in order to "become" a spaceship. It is not his idea, nor his choice. He is to be used as a weapon, but he has other ideas. Again, I am not making this sound as cool as it is. There is espionage, diplomacy, amazing characters, many many alien species, and lots of snark. I love this author.

[Cait S]

Week 9~Spot #69
by Colleen Hoover
Qualifications: Novel won an award (Goodreads Choice Award winner for Romance 2017)
Finished: 11/14/2018
Rating: 2 stars
Review:

This was my first Colleen Hoover novel. I see in a lot of reviews people saying that it's much different than what she usually writes. If that's so, it's probably for the best. I didn't find any of the characters relatable or even likable. I never felt sorry for any of them or empathy for their problems because they were all such terrible people that I didn't really care.

It felt like the author bit off more than she could chew with how many issues she tried to touch on. Most were either neatly wrapped up or just ignored at the end. And there were random scenes where it felt like the character dialogue about said issues was just copy pasted from articles on WebMD.

Too long of a book to be as not great as it was.

[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!

[Leslie Ann]

Week9 spot 69
Hunted
Kevin Hearne
Page 325
11/14/2018
6th book in the series
Rating 4 stars

I am enjoying this series more and more. I am enjoying the development of Granuaile character. Oberon was funny as usual.
Overall a very enjoyable book.

[Denise]

Completion post, spot 69

His Christmas Cowgirl
Read 11/15
4 stars
Sixth in the series

Another predictable book. But, the journey is what makes the story. Peta comes home from a vacation and finds that the temporary ranch hand has to move into the main house. Within the first chapter, the reader knew exactly what was going to happen. We just had to read through the journey. I did enjoy the journey, though.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 9~Spot #69
by Cora Seton
Qualifications: Ninth and final book of this series
Finished:11/10/18
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Cole Linden and Sunshine Patterson are coming back home to Chance Creek. But each of them has a Christmas surprise for the other. Will they be able to keep it a secret? Find out in The Cowboy's Christmas Bride.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Week 9 - Spot 69

Book: All The World's An Undead Stage by Angel Martinez
Finished: 11/14
How it Fits: #6 in Offbeat Crimes
Review: 3.5 Stars
Review: This was a nice ending to the series at least I think this will be the last book. I have to admit Carrington is probably my least favorite character but I enjoyed the wrap of the team and the mystery was pretty good although I knew who the black magic user was from the beginning.

Bonus: Third book read in this series for this challenge

[Denise]

No roll yet?

[Cait S]

Are there rules about who can roll and who can't for a team? I'm happy to do it, I just don't want to screw anything up/break a rule I can't seem to find.

[Jenny]

I don't know, but I can't imagine it makes a difference who rolls for the team. Did we all finish our books?

[Cait S]

There's 7 of us and I count 7 reviews, so we should be good to go in that regard.

[Jenny]

I'd say just roll. She must be busy.