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R10: Team Nine Banded Armadillos (9)
Week 1 Spot #3Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Sweet Romance
Qualification: Author Letter O
Finish: 9/20
Rating:4
Review: I found this book rather predictable, but i enjoyed the fact that the main character was more interested in bettering her life than being hung up on her potential love interest. It really bothered me, though, that she really was adamant about not getting together with her best friend. There really wasn't a reason at all for her to not act on her feelings.
It was a quick, fun read, despite the self imposed drama of the main character.
Week 1Spot: 3
Book: Skim Blood and Savage Verse
Qualification: Offbeat Crimes #3
Finished: 9/16
Rating: ★★★
Review: I really enjoy this series - it's a bit bizarre and funny but I admit that Carr isn't my favorite character. He's a bit too woe is me when a lot of issues are self inflicting. I also really wanted him to stand up to his mother at some point in this book.
The mystery was another crazy and unusual one. Books that actually physically attacked you with their words. I liked Ras as the nerdy librarian who was excited to help in the case. I enjoyed the team working on the case and the dynamics between the whole department. There wasn't a lot of romance/relationship in this book as Carr decides to date someone else for the first half of this book. It's very obvious that he is not right for Carr and you just want to shake Carr to stop going for guys who have nothing but looks going for them. So for this book Carr drove me a bit crazy but I did like that he grew and seemed to acknowledge where he was going wrong. I have high hopes that I'll like Carr a lot more now and in future books.
I updated my post with bonus point
Completion Post Week 1 spot 3Book: Magic Strikes
Author: Ilona Andrews
Date read: 9/18/2018
Rating: 3 stars
3 in the series
Review:
I started reading this series because of all the 5 star ratings. I am trying hard to continue. I really enjoyed the Innkeeper series. This book had moments of me enjoying what I was listening too and moments of not. I like the characters, not sure what exactly I am not enjoying. I think I will read and not listen to the 4th book. There must be something I am not getting.
Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ wrote: "I updated my post with bonus point"Thanks - that makes it much easier to keep track of :)
Completion postWeek 1; spot 3
The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy
Read: September 17
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: Meryton Mystery #3
This series has been a twist of Pride and Prejudice. The same characters, setting and timeline. Only with a cozy mystery feel to it and Elizabeth Bennett ends up trying to solve murders and the like It for sure had a lot of intrigue and drama, and I enjoyed listening to the book. At the same time, I do prefer the original version to this retelling.
Week 1 Spot #3The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Qualification:Third book in the series
Finish: 9/20/18
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: This one took me a little longer to get into than the first two. However I was excited to finally meet Nico who I've heard about from the Percy Jackson fandom for about 938 years. Also I really enjoyed this interpretation of Artemis and Apollo, who are my personal favorites of the gods. Good book overall and will obviously be continuing on the with the series.
I am almost done and I will have the completion post done this afternoon/evening.
Denise wrote: "I am almost done and I will have the completion post done this afternoon/evening."Great if both you and Jenny get your completion posts done before midnight I will roll at midnight -(Central time) otherwise I won't be able to roll until Friday morning (I live in Arizona so I'm 2 hours before central time meaning the earliest you will see me roll central time is 9:30am since I'm busy getting the kids off to school before that)
For anyone I'm not already friends with I sent you a friend request so it's easier to communicate :)
I will have my post done before midnight, no problem.
Week One Spot 3
Martha Wells
Third in the series
Finished 9/20/18
Rating 5 stars
How I wish these books were longer. This series which was recommended to me by a fellow GR teammate, has become one of my favorite Sci-fi series ever.
Murderbot, the main character is a security "cyborg" that is not supposed to have independent thought, or suffer an existential crisis, or care for the people it protects. But, it is one of the most human non-humans I have encountered in the genre. Murderbot watches bad TV, doesn't suffer fools gladly, and wants to be a better "person".
The world building is vivid and believable, the characters interesting and sympathetic.
I highly recommend!!!!!
Hey all - please make a new post when you do your completion vs. updating your selection post. The new post will trigger a notification so I know that you are done :)I checked us in and since we all finished and posted in time we earned the free pass :)
I rolled a 9 putting us on spot 12 so we must:
Read a Stand Alone Book (Can be used for the 1)
Read a book that is #1 in a Series (For the 1)
Read a book that is #2 in a Series (for the 2)
OR
Spot #12 Read a book with a title that begins with L
Ah I love a spot with a one in it. Not sure what I'll read but it's an easy fill :D
Question, can't we read for the spot as well, in this case 12 or is it only the individual numbers that count?
Mod
Completion postWeek 2 Spot 12
158 pages
H.L. Burke
Rating- 4 stars
First in a series- (for the one)
I liked this a lot. until recently, I had not read any steampunk, and it turns out that I like the genre a lot. This book took me through a haunted-ish house, a topiary garden and a room with animated armored suits. With robots and sentient computers. Very fun. Nyssa is an exiting character, and I look forward to seeing where the next book takes her.
Annika wrote: "Question, can't we read for the spot as well, in this case 12 or is it only the individual numbers that count?"It's listed above in the message - title starts with L
Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Annika wrote: "Question, can't we read for the spot as well, in this case 12 or is it only the individual numbers that count?"It's listed above in the message - title starts with L"
No I meant a #12 in a series. The rules kinda said both yes and no.
Annika wrote: "Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Annika wrote: "Question, can't we read for the spot as well, in this case 12 or is it only the individual numbers that count?"It's listed above in the message - title ..."
Ah - gotcha I didn't even think of that :)
Not that I had a #12 to read, but I figured I'd check for future rolls, I do have some longer series that might work. :)
Completion postSpot 12
His Name Is John
Read: September 23
Rating: 3,5 stars
Elliott Smith #1
Elliot Smith wakes up in the hospital with a head injury. Little did he know that he also picked up the ability to sense and communicate with the dead. Or at least one recently murdered person. A person with no memory of who he was except for his name; John. Unsure if John is a figment of his imagination, a residue from the head injury or really there, he decides to try to figure out who John was and what happened to him.
There were parts of this book that I loved and disliked. I loved the mystery, loved the twists and turns and trying to figure out how it all fit together. I love mysteries that aren't obvious from page 1. Sure the culprit was the obvious one, but the mystery was written in such a way that it could’ve been someone else, unrelated.
What I didn't like was the distance between the reader and the story and characters. I want to live and be a part of the book, feel what the characters are feeling. That never happened with this book, it felt more like a retelling of events rather than living them as they happened, telling the reader instead of showing, That being said, I did enjoy the book more than I think that I normally would. Maybe because it wasn't as focused on the characters and their feelings and doings etc but rather focusing on solving the mystery of John.
My Name is John was a good mystery and a good start for a series that I will definitely read more of.
Realized I forgot to confirm I was reading a book. Reading
for a #1 in a series.
Completion postWeek 2 Spot 12
The Dinner List
read 9/25
4 stars
Standalone book
This book was a little confusing at first, but by the second or third chapter, I realized what was going on. Then, by the middle of the book, I realized that what I thought was going on, wasn't. I loved the guessing game that continued throughout the book. It was a great concept.
Completion PostWeek 2 Spot 12
Book: Phoenix Unbound
Date Read: 9/24
How it Fits: #1 in Fallen Empire
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: It's hard to get the first book in a fantasy series just right as there is a whole bunch of world building that needs to be done and the introduction of the characters but this book got it perfectly IMO!
This is an epic story of a Gladiator type character that will go down as one of my favorites. Azarion was sold into slavery and forced to fight in an arena for the past ten years. He has also been subject to torture and rape from the empress. He finally sees an opportunity to escape when he notices that one of the girls that is sacrificed in the annual Rites of Spring is the same women year after year. Gilene has a special brand of magic that not only allows her to cast an illusion making herself look different but also to control fire and therefore survive being burned during the Rites of Spring. Every year, the empire collects a woman from each town and burns them during the rites.
Gilene takes on that roll for her town year after year and no one except the people of her town are aware of the deception until Azarion.
Azarion forces Gilene to help him escape and then kidnaps her to take back to his people to help him regain his rightful place as leader of his people. This is an enemy to lovers story that is a wonderfully slow build. The relationship between Azarion and Gilene takes time to develop as they slowly begin to form a connection and Gilene begins to see more of Azarion then just the person who essentially forced her to help him. There is plenty of action as the two journey back to his homeland and still more as Azarion fights to reclaim his place. The book is full of lies, schemes and epic battles all perfectly balanced with a beautiful romance.
I was on the edge of my seat for parts of this book and while I wanted to rush through to find out what happened I also wanted to savor the experience. This book had everything I want in a fantasy - epic battles, great world building, a satisfying romance, scheming characters, villains you can't wait to see defeated and of course some humor thrown in as well. I haven't looked forward to a fantasy series this much since Kate Daniels.
Week 2~Spot #12
by Gena ShowalterQualifications:Second book in the series
Finished:9/26/18
Rating:4 Stars
Review:I had forgotten what it's like to read one of Gena Showalter's book. This book full of wit, passion, and humor. I loved Anya Goddess of Anarchy! She was the perfect mate for Lucien and Spirit of Death. Can't wait to read more of this series.
Week 2~Spot #12
by Alexandra MonirQualifications: #1 in a series
Finished:9/27/18
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
I'm in the middle on this one. I wasn't a big fan of Naomi, while at the same time think she's a great YA heroine. Touch, brilliant, family love before romantic love, etc. But some of the stuff she did and how arrogantly she believed she would just get away with it, like it was all no big deal with zero consequences, was extremely frustrating to sit through.
I actually wanted more of the villain. I wanted him in more scenes, doing more villain-y stuff. For some reason I'm intrigued by him, or maybe it was just because I needed more conflict to break up the constant scientific stuff. There weren't much in the ways of twists, any that appeared weren't exactly surprises, so I came away feeling like I needed more drama along with my science.
I do plan to read the next one though and I'm curious to see what will happen next.
Pretty quiet around here. How is everyone getting on? Are we going to finish our books in time?
I'm not sure if everyone has posted their book yet, otherwise we'd be able to roll today.
Yeah, that's what I'm wondering about. I think we're still missing 3?
I think only one is missing, 6 have been posted. Not that it matter much as we still can't roll yet. :(
My bad, you're right. Looks like just Leslie is missing. That's always the most stressful part of this challenge in particular, when you're not sure where someone's at/if you'll get to roll. Hopefully everything's good and she's able to post soon!
I haven't. I didn't want to step on any captain toes or anything :)
Hi all. Anyone have Leslie on their friends list? I have to say that I really like the fact that reviews are included on the completion post. I love finding out if books are enjoyed, or not, and whether to add them to my overlong TBR list.
And Happy Friday to all!
Completion PostThe Program
Suzanne Young
9/28/2018
number 1 in the series
3 stars
Review: I enjoyed this book. I liked the plot and the characters. I would of really liked more information on the disease and how it is spreading, perhaps that will be in future book. Over all a enjoyable book.
Jenny wrote: "Hi all. Anyone have Leslie on their friends list? I have to say that I really like the fact that reviews are included on the completion post. I love finding out if books are enjoyed, or not, and ..."
I just finished. I am in several challenges, so I will take a week to finish. I thought this was just 1 book a week challenge? If not I will gladly drop this one. I might be addicted to challenges.
Leslie wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Hi all. Anyone have Leslie on their friends list? I have to say that I really like the fact that reviews are included on the completion post. I love finding out if books are enjoyed..."
You still need to include a review with your completion post before it's considered complete :) We can't roll without it.
It's "technically" a week, in that we can roll any time on Friday but members are generally expected to have their review in by Thursday so that the team has as much time as possible to find and begin their books.
Cait S wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Hi all. Anyone have Leslie on their friends list? I have to say that I really like the fact that reviews are included on the completion post. I love finding out if bo..."
Cait S wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Hi all. Anyone have Leslie on their friends list?
oops, sorry... I had Fridays as the completion day..... adding review now
Yep, all we need is a captain to post and make the roll :)
Okay I will post, check us in and then roll not what we have everything in :)
Rolled a 7 putting us on spot 19So the following works
Stand Alone
#1 in a Series
#9 in a Series
#19 in a Series
Space 19: Character has a pet
The Challenge Factory
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Qualification:Third book in the series
Finish:9/7/18
Rating:4 Stars
Review:I love this book so much! The characters are so real that you wish you were them. This is my second time reading this book and just because I knew what to expect didn't mean that I wasn't sucked into the story like a first time reader.
Bonus Point~Book with over 500 pages - 870 pages