R4: SSS Fried Brainiacs (3)

[Jenne]

Captain: Shelby

Jonquil
Gea
Suzanne

[Jenne]

Helpful Links:
Dice Roll (1 die on Thursdays and Sundays US Central Time)
Time Zone Converter
Post Your Spot
R4: Spreadsheet
Discussion Thread

[Jenne]

[Jenne]

The alternates:
Each number corresponds with the spot on the board.
For colors: The cover has to be at least 50%
For locations: As long as the book takes part at all in the given location .
For Shelves: Any book on the given shelf
For Publication Years: I'll be using how GR has it's publication date listed.
For Authors Names: The first, middle, or last name of the author is ok.
For Cover Items: Must have the given item on the cover
For Titles: Only the first word of the title. A, An, And, and The do not count.
So if the letter is B: The Best Day would be ok. Dear Betty would not be ok.

1. New Mexico
2. White
3. 2004
4. Adult
5. Title R
6. Cover Item tattoo
7. Author J
8. New York
9. Green
10. 2002
11. Cover Love
12. Title C
13. Cover Item Smoke
14. Author W
15. Italy
16. Silver/Gray
17. 2001
18. Book Boyfriends
19. Title N
20. Cover Item Mode of Transportation
21. Author I
22. Australia
23. Yellow
24. 2010
25. Reviewed
26. Title E
27. Cover Item 2 People
28. Author T
29. Nevada
30. Blue
31. 1999
32. 3 Star
33. Title H
34. Cover Item Moon
35. Author K
36. Louisiana
37. Pink
38. 2014
39. Got It
40. Title O
41. Cover Item Beach
42. Author E
43. Illinois
44. Red
45. 2012
46. On Kindle
47. Title B
48. Cover Item No People
49. Author L
50. Texas
51. Orange
52. 2008
53. Fun
54. Title S
55. Cover Item Building(s)
56. Author A
57. England
58. Black
59. 2013
60. 4 Stars
61. Title K
62. Cover Item Animal
63. Author S
64. Massachusetts
65. Purple
66. 2011
67. Signed
68. Title T
69. Cover Item One Person
70. Author D
71. France
72. Multi-colored (more than 3 colors)
73. 2009
74. Did Not Finish
75. Title F

(view spoiler)[76. Did Not Finish
77. Title T
78. Cover Item 2 People
79. Yellow
80. Cover Item Mode of Transportation
81. Author D (hide spoiler)]

[Jonquil]

Hey, y'all from Nashville, TN. Really excited about this; eager for Sunday! Working 2 jobs, so can't captain, but second job perfect for listening to audiobooks.

[Jenne]

I just edited the dice info in post 2, what's there now is correct (copy and paste gets me into trouble!)

[Jonquil]

Jenne wrote: "I just edited the dice info in post 2, what's there now is correct (copy and paste gets me into trouble!)"
you've mentioned that before. I have trouble with it and with auto-correct. :-)

[Gea]

Hello team :)

I'm very happy that my favorite challenge re-started and I'm looking forward to get my series in better order. I don't mind being a captain if no one else wants to take that place as I will have more time in September and October.

[Jonquil]

Hi, Gea!
I'm happy to hear that you'll have time to be captain, if needed.
I'm not sure what happened to Shelby and Suzanne. They may be cleaning up last minute details from their August challenges.
I'm guessing we should wait one more day and then send out a search party.

[Shelby]

Sorry guys - Didn't realize teams had gone up. With finishing up the Celebration in the MM Romance Group and getting new categories out for the Scavenger Hunt plus the new DBML book I've been running a little crazy not to mention you know real life. But I'm here. :D

[Jonquil]

Hi Shelby, I guessed it was month-end craziness. Now we just need Suzanne to fight her way to safety and we're all set.

[Shelby]

The fun of being a mod in one of the largest groups on GR. Let me tell you. End of the month craziness for sure.

[Suzanne]

*Gasp* I'm hear! I've come up for air from real life and ready to get started!

Had a girl scout meeting last night and I've spent all week trying to find materials for sit-upons. You would not believe how hard it is to find vinyl fabric! Oh and paper holes punchers do not work well on vinyl, but if you make your husband punch holes in 9 pieces of fabric it's a lot easier :)

[Jonquil]

Suzanne wrote: " but if you make your husband..."

Suzanne- I think the husband thing works for all sorts of real-world challenges!!

[Jonquil]

Now that we're all accounted for, it looks like Gea may be the person with the most availability to be captain.

Gea-will the time zone (Central time USA) be an issue for you?

Or, is anyone else itching to be captain?

[Gea]

If the time frame is the same as was in previous rounds that won't be a problem as I usually get up about an hour after we can roll.

Any ideas about the name? :P

[Shelby]

I'm open to anything, but with everything going on this week I admit my brain is pretty much fried out and no sudden inspirational spark is coming to me.

[Jonquil]

Shelby wrote: "I'm open to anything, but with everything going on this week I admit my brain is pretty much fried out and no sudden inspirational spark is coming to me."

Fried Brainiacs
Inspirational Sparks
Serial Gluttons
Serial Exterminators
Serial Obliterators
Serial Decimators


I really need a vacation, sigh...

[Suzanne]

When I saw the serial names, I thought they said sexual and I was like HA!

I like Fried Brainiacs, it's fitting at least for me :)

[Shelby]

I'm down for Fried Brainiacs. It's fun!

Btw Gea are you taking the captaincy?

If Gea doesn't want to be captain I can take it on...I'm PST so I'm easy to roll and behind almost everyone else. But I'm good either way. :D

[Jonquil]

I proudly declare my status as a fried brainiac--thanks for the inspiration Shelby, I'm hoping Gea is on board. I giggled as I typed it, but I suspect it will stay true as we work our way through the challenge. :-)

It's a shame we won't need T-shirts--it'd make a great one!!

[Gea]

Shelby, you can be a captain if you wish I don't mind :P I have a picnic this afternoon anyway and I probably won't be back before lunch tomorrow so I wouldn't be able to roll.

Fried Brainiacs sounds good :D

[Shelby]

Alright I'll take the Captaincy. :D Off to go announce our name to the world. ;) I'll be getting off work in perfect time to roll tonight so I'll have it posted as quickly as I can. :D

[Shelby]

Alright my dears we rolled a nice solid 5 to kick things off! :D

So #5 in a series or Title: R

[Jonquil]

Thanks, Shelby!
Okay, Ladies, since I need an "R" book for two other challenges, I'm gonna try: Ready or Not

[Gea]

I'll read A Game of Chance (Mackenzie Family #5) by Linda Howard

[Jonquil]

Disappointing start Ready or Not 9/1 ★★

It was only after Samantha kept referring to her celebrity that I realized Ready or Not is book 2 of a series. The library site’s blurb mentioned a White House job, so I expected a twenty-something protagonist, so I was confused that Sam sounded like a 12-year-old. Actually, Sam is a high school junior. I’ve read other Meg Cabot high-schooler books, so I know she can write teens that sound like my expectation of a contemporary teen’s voice—Sam doesn’t. “Ready or not” refers to Sam’s conflict about going to the next level with her boyfriend, the President’s son. Cabot could have done so much with this— president’s son, Washington DC, artist, Thanksgiving—yet, I was BORED!!! Sam’s struggle to decide what to do is tiresome, and is dully rehashed for the first 60% of the book. Her confrontation of the President on live TV, and her subsequent argument with the school Mean Girl, were the only strong scenes in the book. The final 25% of the book was not as painful to read, but I can’t recommend this tedious book.

[Gea]

Space 5

Book: A Game of Chance (Mackenzie Family #5) by Linda Howard
Read: 01-Sep-2014
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
I was really looking forward to read Chance's story as he was always saying he will never get marry or have children. In the end this became my favorite book from the series, even better than the first one. I loved how we met the entire Mackenzie family again and specially Zane's twins. I'm sad this is the end of the series as it was one of the best ones I've read.

[Suzanne]

I'm working on

[Shelby]

Week 1: (Title: R) Russian Prey - 211pgs/GR

[Suzanne]

Week 1:
Space 5: Title R



Read: Rock Chick Rescue by Kristen Ashley
Date: 9/2/2014
Rating: *****
Review: These books are so good, I love love love them on audio! These books are so funny and original. I really liked the main character because she reminds me a lot of my real world best friend. She's a giver to a fault and I don't deserve her. I'll have to get onto Amazon and queue up the next book in the series.

[Shelby]

Changing my book so I can finish today. :D

[Jonquil]

Shelby wrote: "Changing my book so I can finish today. :D"
That did seem ambitious!

[Shelby]

If I didn't have class tonight it would have been fine. I read ridiculously fast. :-p. But I'm out of commission in about 3 hours.

[Shelby]

I'll be back in time to roll though. :)

[Shelby]

Week 1
Space 5 - Title: "R"
Russian Prey by Sandrine Gasq-Dion


Read: 9/3
Rating: ★★★★★

I will never get tired of reading this series! I love every single book. Vicious Vince Markov is just plain drool worthy and I love how adorable Keegan is even though he's a big bad FBI agent. They're just the perfect blend of bad ass tough guy destruction and sweet and endearing couple. The whole book is just plain yummy!!!

[Shelby]

Alright my dears rolled a 5 again so we're on spot 10. :)

Series 1, Stand Alone or Published 2002

[Jonquil]

Trying a new-to-me mystery series Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave (The Shakespeare Mysteries #1)

[Gea]

I don't know yet what will I read as there are too many possibilities :D

[Shelby]

I'm having the same problem Gea - but I think I'm going to pick one of the books I need to read for another challenge...the only question is which one. ;)

[Shelby]

Alright decision made.

Week 1.5 (10) Series #1 Black Gold by Clancy Nacht - 154pgs/GR

[Suzanne]

I'm choosing between .

[Jonquil]

Review
Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave 9/4 ★★★
Reads like a first book-choppy in places, a mix of too little detail or too much information, unrealistic situations and unsupported leaps. Twelve-year-old Colophon plays the victim with her slightly older bully brother, but we're supposed to accept her assertiveness with an adult male cousin she's just met and then travels abroad with. The cousin (and dozens of ancestors) have devoted fruitless years to solving the puzzles that lead to the family treasure, but Colophon quickly solves riddle after riddle and always seems to be in just the right place, doing just the right thing, to find the next clue.

I didn't dislike this book, but I doubt I'll read the next installment.

Has wonderful pen and ink illustrations.

[Shelby]

Week 1.5
Space 10 - Series #1
Black Gold by Clancy Nacht and Thursday Euclid


Read: 9/5
Rating: ★★★

This book has a few of my immediate *shudder* situations going on and while normally I really enjoy the rocker stories this fell a bit short for me. There was a bit too much gag me with a spoon insane immediate obsession type love talking going on for my tastes. The writing style wasn’t bad, it flowed well enough, and never jarred me out of the story. My problem with this isn’t so much that the book wasn’t good as it had more things that detracted from my enjoyment than added to it. Some of them are more personal pet peeves though.

Billy “Goldie” Goldean is at the top of his game, he’s an international pop sensation with fan girls screaming his name around the world. Yet no matter how non subtly he puts his titles together no one has ever gathered the truth together, Billy is gay. He’s never been out and proud about it, never had a reason to be, but if anyone was going to tempt him it’d be the unabashedly blunt and slightly nasty lead singer from one of the top underground punk bands out there.

Jethro “Jett” Black has a hatred for all things mainstream and sell out about his business. He’s been with his band for years and they have made a name for themselves in the underground clubs. His band though wants the limelight and they don’t care how they get it. Jett isn’t going to be a sell out though. Despite his hatred for anything mainstream he still finds himself drawn to the brightest star in the pop world and when Rolling Stone asked him what celebrity he’d want to fuck only one name came to mind. Doesn’t matter that he’s always been straight, Goldie is the only name he could think to say. He never really expected to meet the boy.

Alright first of all I did enjoy the basic plot elements of this story. I really loved the way that Billy and Jett first met. It was a sweet honest moment between two people who rarely get to just be themselves. I liked the way these two came together and how their careers changed. The way they helped each other become more confident and settled in who each of them was. They definitely made each other better. I just really disliked the insta-love aspect of it all. It was way to intense way to fast to be believable. Insta-love is never my favorite trope any way and this was way beyond over the top. This was on par with a paranormal instant clicking mate bond (which is about the only way insta-love makes sense to me). Add in that this is a gfy story and it makes it hard for me to like. I would have loved to see this relationship really develop between these two instead of being so instantly wrapped up in each other.

My other big problem with this story is definitely a personal pet peeve. I really hate drug use in my books. Even when it’s a “rocker” story where drug use is justifiably true to the genre it just bugs the crap out of me. I would have enjoyed the character of Jett so much more if he’d admitted he had a problem and been trying to quit and get help. His devil may care attitude about it all bugged me. Frankly I wouldn’t have minded the blatant alcoholism if the prolific drug use wasn’t there. But combine them both, with not even a hint of a want or a will to change and it really detracts from my ability to like a character.

Admittedly this book is full of hot air…loads of it being blown out of the mouth of one punk god who has no idea how to shut his mouth. Now a lot of the time I enjoyed his mouthing off, generally when it was in defense of Goldie, but the amount of talking and talking and talking that goes on between the two of them trips into the unbelievable for two rock star type guys. Granted not much of anything other than I need you, I want you, I love you, is being said…over and over again ad naseum. Well that and anti-establishment rhetoric that really doesn’t say much other than look at me I’m bucking the trend.

So yeah, I enjoyed the bones of the story, but the details still left something to be desired for me. I liked the characters but not how quickly they came together. This was a mixed bag of ups and downs for me. Didn’t hate it, but I’m not running out the door to read the sequel either.

[Gea]

Space 10

Book: Tangled (Tangled #1) by Emma Chase
Read: 06-Sep-2014
Rating: ★★★
Review:
I never intended to read this book, but when I saw it translated in my library I decided to give it a try. It's not my usual reading material and if it wasn't translated I wouldn't have gotten past the first two chapters.
I heavily disliked Drew and Kate wasn't much better. There were some nice moments in the book but nothing special for me to wish to continue with the series.

[Shelby]

Suzanne as soon as you post your review we can roll. :)

[Suzanne]

I'm Here!!!

Week 1.5
Space 10 - Series #1



Read: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Date: 9/7/2014
Rating: ***
Review: So I didn't really get into this book, but I rarely like the first book in a series. It reminded me too much of Twilight, and that book erked me a lot. I don't care for the "I'm only attracted to assholes" logic or the "He's openly hostile to me so that must mean he likes me." I'll keep reading but it's not my cup of tea. I'm more of the Ilona Andrews/Patricia Briggs "He's an asshole so I'm going to annoy the hell out of him because it's fun" type of girl.

[Shelby]

Yay!!! I had told Jenne I was going to give you until around now before rolling. You have excellent timing my dear! :D

I'm going to go roll now.

[Shelby]

Week 1.5, Spot 10 COMPLETE


Jonquil - Msg. 43 -
Gea - Msg. 45 -
Suzanne - Msg. 47 -
Shelby - Msg. 44 -

[Shelby]

Rolled a 4 so we are on spot 14 :D


Series #1, Series #4, Stand Alone or Author: "W"