Team 10: 10 More Minutes

[SandyL]

Week 4 - Suspense/Thriller 6/6 Completed

Alejandro - The Blue Zone - Completed 7/5/19 - Msg 286
Jen K- The Gloaming - Completed 6/29/19 - Msg 254
Mary - Not Without Risk - Completed 6/27/19 - Msg 263
Meg - Whiskey Sour - Completed 7/1/19 - Msg 267
Sandy - Rules of Prey - Completed 6/29/19 - Msg 258
Tiffany - The Forbidden Door - Completed 7/2/19 - Msg 271

[SandyL]

Selection Post - Week 4


Rules of Prey by John Sandford
Pages: 479
Qualification: MPG of Thriller

[SandyL]

How's everybody doing? And how are your books coming along? I should be done with mine today or tomorrow at the latest.

Does anyone have any fun plans for the weekend? Nothing much here - errands, cleaning and reading!

[Jen K]

COMPLETION POST

Shelf: Thriller/ Suspense
Book: The Gloaming by Melanie Finn
Pages: 318 pages
Read: 6/29
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Well written story about a woman while processing her husband leaving her gets into a car accident resulting in the death of 3 children. Still grieving and harassed by the village over the accident, she gets on a plane to Tanzania and disappears into the bush. The story is told through the several different POV and certainly didn't end as expected. Thoughtfully suspenseful and would recommend.

[Jen K]

Enjoyed my book and ready for the next. Will be cleaning, errands, meeting with friends and packing this weekend.

Headed out for work trip on Tuesday- 2 weeks in Addis Ababa and 2 weeks in Beirut. Will be busy trips but should be able to get in some good reading hours.

Hope everyone enjoys their books and weekends!

[Meg]

Jen K wrote: "Enjoyed my book and ready for the next. Will be cleaning, errands, meeting with friends and packing this weekend.

Headed out for work trip on Tuesday- 2 weeks in Addis Ababa and 2 weeks in Beirut..."
Have a good trip, Jen! Sounds like an adventurous one.

[Meg]

SandyL wrote: "How's everybody doing? And how are your books coming along? I should be done with mine today or tomorrow at the latest.

Does anyone have any fun plans for the weekend? Nothing much here - errands..."

Working on my book, along with a couple others. Hope to be done by Monday.

Hanging at home reading and doing stuff with family. Got a break from caregiving cuz sis flew in for couple of weeks to help out. I'm totally getting re-energized.

[SandyL]

Completion Post - Week 4


Rules of Prey by John Sandford
Pages: 479
Qualification: MPG of Thriller
Completed: 6/29/19
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I don't read much in the thriller or crime genre, but I loved this book! Lucas Davenport is a Minneapolis detective whose charm makes you overlook all the stuff he shouldn't be doing. He's a playboy, a manipulator, often doesn't do things by the book, but somehow gets away with things and still has most people liking him! This book was so interesting and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. Also going through my head while reading it is how things are so different now - political correctness, better technology and surveillance equipment would drastically change this story

[Tiffany]

I’m about halfway through with my book.

[SandyL]

Jen K wrote: "Enjoyed my book and ready for the next. Will be cleaning, errands, meeting with friends and packing this weekend.

Headed out for work trip on Tuesday- 2 weeks in Addis Ababa and 2 weeks in Beirut..."

Wow - what a trip Jen! What kind of work do you do?

[SandyL]

Tiffany wrote: "I’m about halfway through with my book."

Thanks for the update Tiffany!

[SandyL]

How was everyone's weekend? And how are you all coming along with your books? Hopefully you're enjoying them!!

[Mary X]

Completion:



shelf: Suspense
Fits: romantic suspense MPG
pages: 256
Read: 6/27/19
2 stars

This definitely read like a writer's early novel. I can only assume that Brockmann has gotten better considering how many books she's published. My main issue with this book is that everyone cries, like all the time and it got to be ridiculous. Also there was never really any explanation as to why the "bad guy" ever had any interest in the heroine to the point that they could use her as an "in" to get to him. They also seemed to take her word too easy, as someone who he was only casually dating, that he was a big time drug dealer. He wasn't even on the cops radar and boom they set up a big undercover operation.

[SandyL]

Week 5 Shelf Call - Pet/Animal

The call is out early as Ezi has some family things going on this week. The book should have an animal/pet in it.

[Jen K]

@ Meg, thanks and so glad you got a well deserved break! Enjoy!

@Sandy, non profit working in international education. Challenging but rewarding. I'm just glad they lifted the recent internet blackout in Addis.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and books!

[Jen K]

Selection Post

Shelf: Animals/ Pets
Book: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Pages: 337 pages
Qualification: tagged "dogs" which is a type of animal/pet

[Meg]

COMPLETION POST:
Shelf: Suspense/thriller
Book: Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
Pages: 298
Read: 07/01
Rating: 4*
Review: I don't usually read thrillers anymore as I've long been over reading gruesome and nitty gritty, and have moved on to cozy mysteries, instead. Once in a great, great while I'll make an exception, and this is one of them. This book has long languished in the good ole TBR mountain, and was finally unearthed for this challenge. Alternating between the ugly and the surprising humor, this turned out to be quite a good read. I have some more of the series buried in said TBR, and I hope to dig them out soon to get more of Jack and the characters who inhabit both her work and professional lives.

[Meg]

SELECTION POST:
Shelf: Animal/pet
Book: Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero
Pages: 343
Qualification: MC is a baker of organic pet treats, plus has a Maine coon cat

[SandyL]

@Meg - I'll have to remember your book when I need another thriller - it sounds good!

[Mary X]

I have multiple books that work for this and I'll post when I start one. Finishing up something else first.

[Tiffany]

Completion post:
Shelf: suspense/thriller
The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz
Pages: 480
Qualification: tagged as suspense and thriller
Completed: 7/2
Review: Jane Hawk continues on her mission to stop the Arcadians and their scheme to control the world. Only this time, she knows she needs to get to her son before they find him and without leading them directly to him. The Arcadians are branches out looking for Travis because they know if they have him, they’ll get her. This series is amazing and each book is more suspense than the one before it.

[Book Concierge]

Meg wrote: "COMPLETION POST:
Shelf: Suspense/thriller
Book: Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
Pages: 298
Read: 07/01
Rating: 4*
Review: I don't usually read thrillers anymore as I've long been over re..."

I read the first three in this series and then quit ... they become progressively more violent.
You can read My Review of # 3 HERE

[Tiffany]

As long as the book has a pet in it, it works?

[SandyL]

Tiffany wrote: "As long as the book has a pet in it, it works?"

The pet needs to play a significant role in the book

[Tiffany]

Ok. Will look for a book

[Tiffany]

Does the cat in the In Death books count?

[SandyL]

Tiffany wrote: "Does the cat in the In Death books count?"

I'm not familiar with that series, @Tiffany. I did look at several of the books and I don't see any reference to a cat in the book description or the first few pages of tags, though. You can ask on the Q&A thread, although Ezi said she'd be away for a few days.

[Tiffany]

Selection post:
Shelf: animal/pet
The Darkest Evening of the Year
Qualification: according to the description, a golden retriever plays a big part in the story

[SandyL]

Hi team! How's everyone doing? Does anyone have fun plans for the 4th celebrations? I've got dogs who don't like fireworks, so I'm always home trying to keep them calm. Although, my sister is coming over to BBQ this evening.

[Tiffany]

That sounds fun, Sandy! I’m working today from noon to midnight so I won’t be doing much. I’m sorry your dogs are afraid of the fireworks. Mine doesn’t really seem to notice them.

[Jen K]

It was a work day for me as well. Kind of happy to miss all the shenanigans in DC this year though. I hope the fireworks aren't too bad for the dogs. Enjoy the bbq!

[Mary X]

I picked something:



pages: 367

Fits: shelved "animals" and about a dog walker

[SandyL]

Week 5 - Animal/Pet 6/6 Completed

Alejandro - The Call of the Wild - Completed 7/9/19 - Msg 300
Jen K - The Dog Stars - Completed 7/6/19 - Msg 289
Mary - Unleashed - Completed 7/8/19 - Msg 309
Meg - Kneading to Die - Completed 7/7/19 - Msg 295
Sandy - All I Ever Wanted - Completed /9/19 - Msg 313
Tiffany - The Darkest Evening of the Year - Completed 7/10/19 - Msg 325

[SandyL]

How was everyone's 4th of July (If you're in the states?) We had some excitement in California with a pretty big earthquake yesterday, although it was far enough away there was no damage near where I live.

@Alejandro - how is your Week 4 book coming along? And your Free Space book? No rush, just trying to stay on top of things.

I'm still deciding which book I want to read. I may have to go with Tiffany's choice - I have golden retrievers!

[Alejandro]

Hope all had a happy 4th of July!
@SandyL free book is coming along. Working on Sus/ Thriller completion post.

[Alejandro]

Completion Post
Shelf: Sus/Thriller
Book: The Blue Zone by Adrew Gross
Pages: 338
Read: 7/05
Rating: 4 ☆☆☆☆
Review: This was a very fast paced story. Plenty of surprising plot twists and nail biting suspense. This was my second Andrew Gross read. He co-authored several with James Patterson. Point of view is a 23 yr. old Grad student whose life changes dramatically when her father is threatened by prosecution and her family enters into witness protection. She tries to cope with family separation and all the secrets that she uncovers or are reavealed to her. She struggles to figure out who and what she can trully trust. I plan to read other books by this author. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Alejandro]

@SandyL please request our Stamp for Sus/Thriller shelf. :D

[Alejandro]

Selection Post

Shelf: Animals/Pets
Book: Check out this book on Goodreads: The Call
of the Wild
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...
By Jack London
Pages: 172
Qualification: On Goodreads list of 'Great Dog Books'.

[Jen K]

COMPLETION POST

Shelf: Animal/ Pets
Book: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Pages: 318 pages
Read: 7/6/19
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Hig has survived the end of the world or at least a pandemic flu that has killed most people together with his beloved dog. He continues to survive by partnering with a real survivalist who believes in shooting first. An event forces him to take a risk and seek out more humanity. The writing style is a while understandable, slightly annoying but the book grew on me as I adjusted. I would recommend.

[Jen K]

I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekends. Any fun plans?

[Meg]

Jen K wrote: "I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekends. Any fun plans?"

Just hanging out and enjoying summer 😎

[Jen K]

Meg wrote: "Jen K wrote: "I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekends. Any fun plans?"

Just hanging out and enjoying summer 😎"

Sounds fabulous! :)

[Jen K]

Hey team, so living out of a hotel can be slightly boring :)

Just wanted to say that we are doing awesome!! We are really rocking the books and keeping up with the challenges! Excited to see Ezi catch up with the stamps on our board. Once we finish the free space, we will have 3 in a row and we are really in the running. I hope that that tomorrow's pick will be more of interest than the animals one and maybe even a fourth in a row?

Go team go and happy Monday!!!

PS. Sandy, Alejandro and Meg (3 Californians?), I hope the earthquakes weren't too bad!

[SandyL]

Selection Post - Week 5 - Animal/Pet


All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
Pages: 409
Qualification: tagged 'dogs' and MC is a veterarian

[Meg]

COMPLETION POST:
Shelf: Animal/pet
Book: Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero
Pages: 343
Read 07/07
Rating: 4*
Review: A very good start to series. I certainly envied the mc for her freedom to pursue what she really wanted professionally rather than having to deal any further with the corporate workforce. She was also a competent, likable character. The downside to the story was how eager law enforcement was to pin the crime on her, a newcomer with no motive. This happens too often in cozies, imo, and it gets wearing. I do plan to follow Stan's journey in her new life, and have the second book on the WL.

[SandyL]

I used to travel a lot for my job, @Jen, so I know what you mean! I would be gone from 6 weeks to 3 months and it does get boring!!!

The earthquakes were a bit scary - they are pretty far away, but I definitely felt them!!

How's everyone doing on their books? I finally found a book - I tried several and nothing was working for me. I usually love books with pets in them, but for some reason couldn't find anything I wanted to read!

[SandyL]

Alejandro wrote: "@SandyL please request our Stamp for Sus/Thriller shelf. :D"

Sorry for the delay - I've requested our stamp!!!

[Meg]

Jen K wrote: "Hey team, so living out of a hotel can be slightly boring :)

Just wanted to say that we are doing awesome!! We are really rocking the books and keeping up with the challenges! Excited to see Ezi ..."

Good to hear that all is well, Jen! Yep, our team is doing great.

We didn't really feel the earthquake at my mom's, where I'm currently staying while I take care of her. She lives about an hour from the Bay Area. Somehow it bypassed us but was felt in places close by.

Sandy and Alejandro, are you both ok?

[Alejandro]

Hello 10 More Minutes Team. Although far from the epicenter, felt it very intensely. A bit in on edge, as many are, but other than that all ok in my neck of the woods. Hope the rest of Californians in our group are ok also.

[Alejandro]

Completion Post

Shelf: Animals/Pets
Book: The Call of The Wild by Jack London
Pages: 172
Read: 07/09
Rating: 4☆☆☆☆
Review: Classic book about a dog named Buck. How Buck adapts to different masters and harsh environment in the Alaskan wilderness. His journey from a pet in a well to do home in California, to leading a sled dog team in Alaska was surprising and enjoyable. It is a short book but touches upon many themes. Lotta meat on the bones so to speak.
Relationship of master and pet are explored. Cruelty as well as good treatment of animals for example.
Interdependence between master and sled dog is also a theme. Buck overcomes many challenges and masters his environment. The authors travel and experience in Alaska helped shape his story telling. Moving and interesting story. Kind of story that will stay with me for a while, I suspect. Glad to have read this book.