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R3: SS Awesome Fireballs (3)
I will go with the standalone option -
by Kristin Hannah
I should have my book picked out later tonight. I want to wait and see what the theme is for another reading challenge I'm doing and see if I can kill two birds with one stone :)
I'm going to read
by Janet Evanovich which is has a blue cover and is #3 in the Elsie Hawkins series.
Ok going to try something different this week
. Standalone book and is bluish
(standalone)5 stars
Completed September 21, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. Very sad but made me think a lot about what the world is really like for somebody who has never experienced it, especially during foundational years. Things that seem so simple and get taken for granted everyday are actually pretty complicated if you have no experience with them. Things as simple as sidewalks, other people, other parts of the world, even different rooms. Very psychological, made me think a lot about development.
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Week 4, spot 30 (standalone)
Finished 9/23/14
4 stars
I must say I don't know anything about military and I can honestly say I'm more of an anti-war person, a pacifist in my beliefs and picking up this book knowing the subject matter, I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
But this is not a book about a war itself. This is a book about what war does to families left behind waiting their loved ones to return. Book about marriage tested to the limit by the wife's deployment.
For me “Home Front” was mostly about the second half of the book and a hard truth the Zarkades family faced with their wife and mother Jo returning from Iraq – how could it be harder to come home than to go to war? How can a person recover from the things you can't forget and make unseen. It was truly heartbreaking.
There is a reason Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. She makes the story so relatable and close as you would really know the characters personally and go through the events in book alongside with them. This is almost always very emotional journey.
“Home Front” really messed with my head, broke my heart and made me feel the pain and despair the characters felt. I cried. And I don't cry easily. There are very few books from hundreds I have read so far, that have made me cry. Couple of those books have been written by Kristin Hannah.
Week 4: spot 30 (#3 in series and blue cover)
Wife for Hire - Janet Evanovich
Finished 9/24/14
4 stars
I loved both Maggie and Hank. Hank from a tiny Vermont town and Maggie from a tiny New Jersey town. Both outcasts who don't exactly live up to their hometown image of how a young person should behave. What starts out as a marriage of convenience (Hank needs a bride to show he's stable so he can get a loan to expand his apple orchard) turns into a full-blown romance when these two cuckoos come together.
These early novels by Ms. Evanovich are quirky and fun.
Week 4: standalone
by Ben Monopolifinished 9/24/14
rating 4 star
review Review: I wasn't sure about this book when especially since it was my first M/M book. I needn't have worried. I LOVED this book. It was heart achingly beautiful. The last part of the book had me crying my eyes out. I love how I was immediately transported into this book. I could feel the cold and practically smell the snow during the blizzard. I could smell the comic books. Speaking of which I love that Vince worked at a comic book store. I love that this was normal every day guys. They weren't just hunky guys. I would love to read more books like this whether it be gay or straight or bi love stories. This was just awesome and I plan on reading more books by Monopoli
Team : Awesome FireballsRoll 4: rolled 6 (3+3)
Space: 30
Kelsi - Room by Emma Donoghue (standalone) 9/21/14 review
Skandia - Home Front by Kristin Hannah (standalone) 9/23/14 review
Barbara - Wife for Hire (Elsie Hawkins #3) by Janet Evanovich 9/24/14 review
Melissa - The Cranberry Hush by Ben Monopoli (standalone) 9/24/14 review
Cathy - Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson by Particia Briggs (Blue cover) 9/25/14 review
Only one review to go for this week!Cathy, how is your book going?
Week 4Space 30: Blue Cover
by Patricia Briggs4 Stars
Completed 9/25/14
This anthology is from the Mercy Thompson series but she is only in one of the stories. That was a little disappointing to me but the stories were good even without her.
Silver: 4 stars tells about the history between Samuel and Ariana- well done but sad
Fairy Gifts: 3 stars didn't like these characters as well- probably would have liked it better with more development of them
Gray: 4 stars very sad
Seeing Eye: 4 stars I enjoyed the interaction between these characters
Alpha and Omega: 5 stars Looove Charles and Anna
Star of David: 4 stars
Roses in Winter: 5 stars
In Red with Pearls: 4 stars I like Warren but I think this needed to be longer-include more info to feed the mystery.
Redemption: 5 stars I always did like Ben and this gives more insight into his character.
Hollow:4 stars Looove Mercy- no so much about the ghosts
I have rolled for week 5. I rolled a 3 (2+1).We are now on spot 33
- read a book #3 in series
- read a book #33 in series
- read a book H title
Sry for a lousy roll :(
I'll read
which is #3 in the Everneath series.
I'll go with H-title 
by Lish McBride
I am going to read
(H title)
(H title)
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Week 5, spot 33 (H title)
Finished 9/28/14
4 stars
Sam LaCroix is a normal young man having a pretty simple life. Until a strange and creepy guy walks into his work place one evening and recognizes his aura as necromancer's, Sam has had no idea he has any special powers at all.
Douglas Montgomery is a master necromancer and means business. Either Sam starts to help him with his shady business or he will kill him.
Sam has to start learning about his powers quickly to even stand a smallest chance against Douglas.
Things get violent and even more confusing fast so he has to find a solution to fight off Douglas quickly.
Good enjoyable story with different PN characters and just a right amount of action. Reminded me a little about Samantha Young's Lunarmorte series but I enjoyed both stories, so that didn't bother me much.
It's always a great feeling when a book surprises you. Who would have thought I would like a necromancer book :)
Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry
Week 5- H title
Finished 9/29/14
2.5 stars
I went into this book without much in the way of expectations. This was a Harlequin book afterall and it has been nearly 15 years since the last time I've read one. But this has been on my TBR pile for a while because I love friends to lovers theme.
The plot wasn't bad and I liked the premise however I never truly saw the spark between them. I saw her yearning for him and his pining over his ex-wife. It just never fully connected for me. It wasn't bad but it was pretty much what I expected.
Evertrue - Brodi Ashton
Week 5 - #3 in series
Finished 9/29/14
4 stars
I must say that I really liked Cole in this one. It's a damn shame he's the bad guy. The ending was wonderful and terrible at the same time (hence the four stars). I won't give anything away but I will say that it is a good ending for the series itself. I don't like love triangles but this isn't strictly a love triangle especially since one of the love interests is actively trying to kill the heroine. I though Ms. Ashton did a good job of balancing the good with the bad to create a thoroughly enjoyable series.
Team : Awesome FireballsRoll 5: rolled 3 (2+1)
Space: 33
Skandia - Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride 9/28/14 review
Melissa - Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry 9/29/14 review
Barbara - Evertrue (Everneath #3) by Brodi Ashton 9/29/14 review
Kelsi - The Hiding Place by Corrie den Boom 10/01/14 review
Cathy - Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls 10/02/14 review
The Hiding Place
Week #5: H Title
Finished 10/1/2014
4 stars
From the point of view of learning about WWII I loved this book. It felt like Anne Frank from the perspective of those doing the hiding. I don't read a lot of biographies or non-fiction and felt like this one was fantastic. It read like a story rather than history.
The one thing that I had an issue with was the excessive religion. I understand that it was probably the only reason they held on to any hope and managed to get through all of this alive but it felt like propaganda to me (as I am not personally religious, I felt like I was being preached to for a lot of the book.)
Overall though, for anyone interested in history in general and WWII in particular, this book is absolutely worth a read.
Week #5: H Title
Finished 10/1/2014
4 stars
From the point of view of learning about WWII I loved this book. It felt like Anne Frank from the perspective of those doing the hiding. I don't read a lot of biographies or non-fiction and felt like this one was fantastic. It read like a story rather than history.
The one thing that I had an issue with was the excessive religion. I understand that it was probably the only reason they held on to any hope and managed to get through all of this alive but it felt like propaganda to me (as I am not personally religious, I felt like I was being preached to for a lot of the book.)
Overall though, for anyone interested in history in general and WWII in particular, this book is absolutely worth a read.
Only one review to go for this week! I hope I can roll on time. I have a pretty busy weekend ahead so I need to get to reading soon!Cathy, how is your book going?
Week 5Space 33
Title beginning with H
Completed 10/2/14
Rating 4 stars
Review: This is not my normal choice of read but I really enjoyed it. The main character, Lily, is based on the author's grandmother. I had no idea times were so tough in the early 1900's in the west. It amazed me to read about her life and she would reference poor people. She wasn't talking about herself even though she lived in a dirt hovel and owned two sets of clothing because they had enough to eat (even if it was beans). Very strong woman.
If one of you would like to go ahead and roll you can I know it's getting late.
I rolled and got a 5 (4+1) which puts us on space 38.
Our options are:
-2014
-3rd in a series
-8th in a series
Did I miss anything Jenne?
Our options are:
-2014
-3rd in a series
-8th in a series
Did I miss anything Jenne?
Nope only a 38th lol if anyone reads the in death books. I've yet to see anyone read a book that's more than a lower 20 :)
Jenne wrote: "Nope only a 38th lol if anyone reads the in death books. I've yet to see anyone read a book that's more than a lower 20 :)"
Lol I can't imagine reading a series with 38 books in it...I have thought of starting the Diskworld books a few times and it's just so daunting I haven't had the gumption to do it yet!
Lol I can't imagine reading a series with 38 books in it...I have thought of starting the Diskworld books a few times and it's just so daunting I haven't had the gumption to do it yet!
Kelsi wrote: "Jenne wrote: "Nope only a 38th lol if anyone reads the in death books. I've yet to see anyone read a book that's more than a lower 20 :)"Lol I can't imagine reading a series with 38 books in it...."
My husband loves the Discworld books. I think a number of them can be read out of order.
Melissa wrote: "Kelsi wrote: "Jenne wrote: "Nope only a 38th lol if anyone reads the in death books. I've yet to see anyone read a book that's more than a lower 20 :)"
Lol I can't imagine reading a series with 3..."
I will definitely be reading them eventually, I am waiting until I have the time to dedicate to such a massive series though. I have so many books I want to get to that big series tend to get bumped unfortunately.
Lol I can't imagine reading a series with 3..."
I will definitely be reading them eventually, I am waiting until I have the time to dedicate to such a massive series though. I have so many books I want to get to that big series tend to get bumped unfortunately.
I have that one on my list and I agree the cover is amazing! Can't wait to hear what you think of it :)
I changed my mind since I just saw it is not available at my library....right now I have to stick with stuff I already have or can get from there. I'm on a no book buying hiatus till xmas
Ya I am having the same problem right now, new books are super expensive, I only buy them as a treat.
LOL Ok gonna change my mind again. I have some amazon credit and I really want to read it so I'm going to be bad and go ahead and buy it. Just don't tell my hubby LOL2014-
Kelsi wrote: "Ya I am having the same problem right now, new books are super expensive, I only buy them as a treat."I have so many free books (I spend a lot of time looking on amazon/smashwords for them) cause i just hate to overspend on books. But I decided to buy it as part of my birthday present to myself. Even though my birthday isn't till the end of October. I'm still justifying the purchase heehe
haha! Enjoy! Its good to buy something frivolous once in a while :)
Good morning, ladies!Thank you , Kelsi, for rolling. Nice team work! I'll go and post our reviews.
Cathy, I hope that next coming weeks you can finish your book a little earlier and not cut it that close to deadline. It's a team challenge and we all depend on each other and want to have fun with our reading!
I will be reading
by Sandra Brown for 2014
Jenne wrote: "Nope only a 38th lol if anyone reads the in death books. I've yet to see anyone read a book that's more than a lower 20 :)"I'm reading this series but I'm up to #39 so no go.
I'll read
- published 9/2/14. BTW it's #26 in the series. :)
Haha you're brave Barbara! That Dark series does look good though, I added it to my list! Hopefully I will get to if eventually :p
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The Challenge Factory
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I rolled 6 (3+3) and we are now on spot 30.
Reading options:
- book #3 in series
- book #30 in series
- standalone book
- book with a BLUE cover