R11: Team Just ONE More Chapter (1) ***Winning Team***

[Book Concierge]

Okay, Talia .. thanks for letting me know. I'll be up late, so I can roll as soon as you've posted your review.

[[deleted user]]

Done! And my review has been added.

[Book Concierge]

Week: 7

Roll: 5 & 2 = 7
Previous Spot: 51
Current Spot: 58

Bonus Points Earned: 4 - (view spoiler)[2-in-one Bonus Point - Week 1, Danielle Gypsy Soul // >500 pg Bonus Point - Week 2, Talia // 3 books from a single series - Week 5, Danielle Gypsy Soul // Start & finish a series with at least 4 books- Week 5, Louise (hide spoiler)]
Bonus Points Used: 0

To Read:
#5 in series -or- #8 in series
Alternate: Mystery/Thriller

Reviews
✔ Book Concierge - Alternate Mystery/Thriller - The Prisoner of Heaven - Review Post 207
✔ Cait S - Alternate Mystery/Thriller - After Anna - Review Post 209
✔ Danielle Gypsy Soul - Series # 5 - One Salt Sea - Review Post 211
✔ Jackie - Series # 5 - Storm of Lightning - Review Post 208
✔ Kayla - Series # 5 - At Last - Review Post 215
✔ Louise - Series # 5 - The Brigadier's Runaway Bride - Review Post 212
✔ Talia - Series # 5 - Empire of Storms - Review Post 210



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[Louise]

Book Concierge we’re missing a bonus point from last week, posted here complete series read 😉

[Louise]

Typical I’m halfway through a #5

[Book Concierge]

Louise wrote: "Book Concierge we’re missing a bonus point from last week, posted here complete series read 😉"

Oops .. I copy/pasted an earlier version of the final post.... but I DID do it correctly initially and we DO have that credit. I'll correct this post.

[Book Concierge]

COMPLETION Post

Week 7
Spot # 58
Book: The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
How it fits: Mystery main page genre
Pages 278
Date finished: 14Oct19
Rating: 3***
Review:
Book 3 in the "Cemetery of Lost Books" series definitely ties up some loose strings and provides a more solid connection between the three books in the series thus far. I was a little confused listening to the audio because of the long flashback as Fermin told his story. I think I may have to re-read the entire series in a tighter time frame to really keep it together. Still, it's an excellent book. Very atmospheric. The city of Barcelona is practically a character. Having been there, I recognized references to streets, plazas and even certain restaurants that are mentioned.

[Jackie]

Completion Post
Week 7
Spot # 58

Book: Storm of Lightning
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Pages: 320
Qualification: Michael Vey #5

Finished: 10/14/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: There wasn't as much action in this book as in the first four. However, it was still good. The safe house has been destroyed by the Elgin, and Michael and Ostin believed their parents died in the attack. Hatch has got to be one of the most evil villains that I've read about and he continues his quest of world domination. The Elgin are trying to lure Taylor and the rest of the Electroclan kids out by framing Taylor's mom. This book seemed to set things up for a big showdown. Two more books in the series and I can't wait to see Hatch get taken down.

[Cait S]

Book:
Author: Alex Lake
Pages: 407
Qualification: Mystery on main page.

Date Finished: 10/17/2019
Rating: 2 stars
Review:

Is there a single person out there who has read this book and did not see the big twist coming? It was so blatantly obvious from so early on that I wanted to punch the main character. WHO, by the way, was god awful. I kept thinking there must be a reason for her being so unlikable, such a shitty human (she refers to an overweight woman as a blubbering whale at one point. There's so much fatphobia in this book, I cannot even tell you.), but there's not. Julia is just...awful. Full stop. No point to it. Just is.

There's no mystery because as soon as Anna is returned, the reason why she was taken is obvious. There's some juvenile attempts at red herrings that never receive enough attention to actually become red herrings.

Just disappointing overall and unless this is literally your first EVER mystery thriller, I don't recommend it.

[[deleted user]]

Week 7
Spot: 58

Book: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Qualification: Throne of Glass #5
Read: 10/17/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Wow, this was a looong book (almost 700 pages). Manon has totally stolen the show from Celaena. I'm always sad when the storyline switches from Manon's to anyone else's. And Celaena's storyline was a little boring at first with all the political machinations and trying to find allies. Boring! But Manon's was exciting and unpredictable. At the end (view spoiler)[everyone parted ways to find armies to join the cause (hide spoiler)] so I don't know what to expect in the next book. I've heard that it tells what Chaol was up to since he wasn't in this book, but I'm hoping I get more Manon in the next book. And I'm glad to only have two books left in this series because it feels like I've been reading this series forever! Looking forward to finally getting to an ending.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Week Seven
Spot: 58


Book: One Salt Sea
Author: Seanan McGuire
Qualification: #5 of October Daye
Read: 10/ 16
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: 3.5 Stars. I still don't love this series but for this particular book I think it's mostly because Connor plays such a large part and I'm just not a fan. I don't like the romance between Connor and Toby and while I like Connor just fine he isn't a very strong character. So the fact that a great deal of this book focuses on their relationship made it less enjoyable for me. I did like the mystery and although the villain was fairly obvious and I'm glad that by the end of this book we've wrapped that particular thread up I did enjoy it. So the mystery was well done, the world building is interesting and with the way this one wrapped up I have high hopes for the next book.

[Louise]

Completion Post
Spot: 58

The Brigadier's Runaway Bride by Erica Ridley
Pages: 210
How It Fits: #5 The Dukes of War
Date Read: 10/12
Rating: 3*

This was slightly different to other romances of this genre. Sarah is about to marry Duke Ravenwood in order to ensure her unborn child is legitimitate when the father of her child, Edmund returns from the dead to stop the ceremony. What follows is a sweet romance shown from both POVs as they struggle to come to terms with a hasty marriage and parenthood. They learn to bridge the divide that has grown since they were last together to make their love stronger. Although part of a series this can be read as a stand-alone.

[Cait S]

I changed my book.

[Book Concierge]

Got it! Thanks, Cait.

[Kayla]

Week 7 Spot 58

At Last by Jill Shalvis
How it fits: 5th in Lucky Harbor Series
Date read: 10-17-19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Wow!!! This was a really good read. It was a quick one but wow not going to lie I felt most of the book was just sexual tension between the two main characters. Lol Tho I did really enjoy the extra mystery with one of the characters. I honestly cant wait to read the next one. They are just great effortless books to read.

[Book Concierge]

Finished my book ...

Also noticed that Louise has finished hers this week as well.

Be sure to post a new message when you've finished because I don't get notifications when you edit your original post.

And, Kayla, your book looks like a fast, fun read. Enjoy!

[Book Concierge]

Louise ... can you edit your post to read "completion" rather than selection?

[Jackie]

Completed my book and updated my post #208.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I'm going to be chaperoning my daughter on a leadership camp/retreat with my daughter so I won't have internet connectivity while I'm gone. I'll be back Friday afternoon so I'll finish my book while I'm gone and post as soon as I get home Friday.

[Book Concierge]

Thanks for letting us know, Danielle. Not to worry, we'll wait for you.

[Louise]

Book Concierge wrote: "Louise ... can you edit your post to read "completion" rather than selection?"

Done 😊

[Book Concierge]

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "I'm going to be chaperoning my daughter on a leadership camp/retreat with my daughter so I won't have internet connectivity while I'm gone. I'll be back Friday afternoon so I'll finish my book whil..."

Oh ... and have fun on the camp/retreat!

[[deleted user]]

I finished my book and added my review to post 210.

[Cait S]

Edited my post with completion info.

[Kayla]

edited my post with completion

[Book Concierge]

Great job, team. Danielle will be back in the land of internet connection this afternoon ... once she posts her completion we can roll.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Updated Message 211 with review.

[Kayla]

wahoooo. awesome I'll roll quick :) Bool Concierge if you could update your post. I can post our spot. :)

[Kayla]

Week 8
Current spot: 58
Dice Roll: 2 + 3 = 5
New Space: 63

What Fits: 6th in a series, 3rd in a series, 63rd in a series
Alternative : Award Winner (must state which/when)

✔Book Concierge: Heart of a Samurai (Alternate) Review
✔Danielle Gypsy Soul: Cold as the Clay (#6 in Series) Review
✔ Cait S: We Are Okay (Alternate) Review
✔ Talia: The Chocolate Frog Frame-Up (#3 in series) Review
✔Louise: The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress (#3 in series) Review
✔Jackie:Wicked Fix (#3 in series) Review
✔Kayla: Forever and a Day (#6 in series) Review

[Book Concierge]

Thanks, Kayla!

I'll get the reviews posted.

[Kayla]

Thank you Book Concierge! Thanks for being such an awesome Captain!!!!

[Book Concierge]

COMPLETION Post

Week 8
Post 63
Heart of a Samurai byMargi Preus
How it fits: ALTERNATE: Award Winner: 2010 - Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Children
Finished reading: 22Oct19
Rating: 4****

Review:
This young adult novel is marvelous historical fiction based on a real person. Manjiro was only 14 when he left his small village intent on getting food for his family. Setting out with some local fishermen they were caught in a storm and wound up on a deserted island. Ultimately rescued by an American whaling ship, Manjiro became the captain's favorite, due to his enthusiasm and willingness to learn, and was renamed John Mung. The novel details his adventures which took him to America, on several sea voyages, and ultimately back to his native Japan where he helped usher in a new era of tolerance towards foreigners, and witnessed the end of Japan's 250-year policy of isolation. Several of Mung's drawings depicting whaling, and life in America and Japan in the mid 19th century are included.


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[[deleted user]]

Week 8
Spot: 63

Book: The Chocolate Frog Frame-Up
Author: JoAnna Carl
Qualification: Chocoholic Mystery #3
Read: 10/24/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Lee and Joe try to spend some time together to see where this “relationship” is going but they keep being interrupted by crime scenes, dead bodies, and someone trying to kill them in this third Chocoholic Mystery centered around TenHuis Chocolade in the vacation town of Warner’s Pier, Michigan. Being a newcomer to Michigan and having visited the Lake Michigan coast several times now it was nice to feel like the setting was very realistic. I loved the chocolate trivia included at the end of some of the chapters. The chocolate shop wasn’t very involved in the mystery but it was still a nice whodunit for Lee to solve.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Week 8
Spot: 63

Book: Cold as the Clay
Author: Stephen Osborne
Qualification: #6 in Duncan Andrews Thrillers
Read: 10/20
Rating: 3 Star
Review: I have loved this series but I struggled a bit to get into this story. Maybe because a lot of it was told from one of the villains POV and I just didn't connect/care as much about those parts. Maybe because Duncan threw himself into a situation he had no idea how to handle and that seemed like a demon that had so much more power than him that he shouldn't be able to defeat it. I do get frustrated with him rushing in on his own without asking for help from his friends/Robbie. So yes I struggled a bit more with this book but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. Daisy and Gina are probably two of my favorite secondary characters and I love when the whole gang gets together to defeat evil. Ends on a bit of a cliff hanger so obviously not the last book in the series and I will definitely read the next one when it gets published.

[Jackie]

Completion Post
Week 8
Spot: 63

Book: Wicked Fix
Author: Sarah Graves
Pages: 304
Qualification: Home Repair Is Homicide #3

Finished: 10/24/19
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This book was okay, but not great. The third book in the series, the characters are an interesting lot but to be honest, not all that likeable. This book was about an evil guy who terrorized everybody as he was growing up, even to the point of murder which was never proven. Now he's back in town and back up to his tricks. He is promptly murdered and the MC's ex-husband is arrested for the crime. The MC proceeds to prove his innocence, not because she still cares for her ex (who is a jerk) but because she has all her money invested in the trauma clinic that he's trying to start. All in all, it was okay but I really don't like any of the characters much. I'll probably read another in the series at some point but probably not anytime soon.

[Louise]

Selection Post
Spot: 63

The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress by Erica Ridley
Pages: 206
How It Fits: Dukes of War #3
Date Read: 10/25
Rating: 3*

Review
This is the 3rd in the Dukes of War series which follows Dukes returning from the horrors of war and finding love an peace in the most unlikely places. Xavier has returned from war and is fighting his demons to give himself peace of mind. Jane is a spinster who knows what she wants and sets out to get it. As Jane sets her sights on Xavier we are treated to an easy read where Jane’s strength shows through as she brings peace to Xavier, whilst he aims to protect her honour.

[Cait S]

Nina LaCour
Won the 2018 Printz award.

Finished: 10/24/2019
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:

Contemporary isn’t really my wheelhouse so I probably should have expected to not love this. It was a total cover buy for me. It’s a beautiful little book so I picked it up even though the summary didn’t necessarily grab me. It felt to me as though it took too long for the reasons for Marin’s feelings to come out. It was hard for me to relate and become invested when we had no idea why she was the way she was. And then once we find out, the book is just over.

So I know this book has a lot of hype behind it and really resonated with a lot of people, which is awesome. It just didn’t do the same for me.

[Book Concierge]

Just a reminder for NEXT WEEK's ROLL
✸ Halloween Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy book for the roll on 10/25.

You might want to plan ahead and get a book (or books) lined up that will qualify for this bonus for any space covered by a roll between 2 and 12.

Possible spaces for week beginning Fri 10/25 ...
65. Published 2013
66. Title V
67. Cover Item: Book
68. Published the year you were born
69. Title C
70. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
71. Title F
72. Published between 2001 and 2010
73. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
74. Book to Movie/TV
75. Male Author

[Cait S]

Is the point earned by anyone doing it or by everyone doing it?

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Only one person needs to fulfill the requirements to earn the point.

[Book Concierge]

Thanks, Denise.

I know I have ONE book in my current stack out from the library that would fit at least two of the possible rolls and that has "horror" M.p.g.

Just thought I'd give everyone a bit of a heads up, so other team members might have something on hand ready to go when the roll happens on Friday.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I read a ton of paranormal and Urban Fantasy so I'm sure just about any roll will fit :)

[Kayla]

I personally don't read a lot of Halloween type books so I'm pretty much out. lol I tend to over think when I read them and it doesn't help me sleep. HAHAHA

[Kayla]

Week 8 Spot 63


Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis
How it Fits: #6 in Lucky Harbor Series
Pages: 321
Date Read: 10-24-19
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: I love Jill Shalvis's writing because they are great cute little chick flick books that are great reads. I love the relationship that the main character Grace pulls out of all the other characters. How her relationship is more than just with Josh but also with his son and his sister. I honestly think my favorite relationship in this book is Grace and Anna, the sister. Anna is going through a rough time has been for many years and Grace not only just tells her how it is but also inspires her as well. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone.

[Cait S]

I read a ton of horror so I should be able to cover most anything if someone else can't.

Changed my book for this week. I ordered my original choice and it's still not here so gonna go with something I already have on hand. It's short so I'll still be done in plenty of time.

[Book Concierge]

Update Message # 232 - This week's book complete!

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Updated Message #234 My book for this week is complete.

[Kayla]

How is everyone doing on their books this week?

[Jackie]

Mine is almost finished. I'll post later today.

[Jackie]

Finished and updated. Message 235