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R11: Team Just ONE More Chapter (1) ***Winning Team***
message 251:
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[deleted user]
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Oct 24, 2019 12:27PM
I’ll be done before midnight tonight. And I changed my book to
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Updated my post with completion info.
Finished my book and added my review to post 233.
Okay everyone. I got my Review Posted and the main Week 8 post updated. We still need Louise and then we will be ready to roll tomorrow :) I'll be up in the morning to update the Review post. Its been a long week and I can't keep my eyes open any longer. lol
It's the middle of the night in the UK, where Louise is .... so I doubt she'll post before midnight US central time zone. I'll stay up late tonight just in case ....
Great team work!
Okay ... Louise is probably off to work by now. As soon as she posts her review, I'll roll.
sounds great. I'll update the main post as soon as I'm off work. I'll be off at about 2.30pm CST.
Week: 9 Roll: 3 + 5 = 8
Previous Spot: 63
Current Spot: 71
Bonus Points Earned: 5 - (view spoiler)
Bonus Points Used: 0
To Read:
#7 in series, # 1 in series -or- standalone
Alternate: Title F
Reviews
✔ Book Concierge - Standalone - The House Next Door - Review Post 263 - HALLOWEEN BONUS
✔ Cait S - Standalone - The Size of the Truth - Review Post 265
✔ Danielle Gypsy Soul - Series # 1 - Home - Review Post 268
✔ Jackie - Series # 1 - The Baker Street Letters - Review Post 266
✔ Kayla - Series # 1 - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Review Post 279
✔ Louise - Series # 1 - Throne of Glass - Review Post 262
✔ Talia - Series # 7 - Better Late Than Never - Review Post 264
.
Oh, and remember that we can get another bonus point if your book has PARANORMAL or HORROR on the main page genre list.Please let me know if your chosen book for this week might qualify.
If more than one person is reading a qualifying book, the bonus point will be claimed when the first qualifying review is up.
Completion PostSpot: 71
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 404
How It Fits: Throne of Glass #1
Date Read: 10/30
Rating: 4*
I really enjoyed this and can understand the fascination with the series. The characters were strong and well-rounded and the plot moved along quickly. There was also a good mix of fantasy romance and mystery with enough unanswered questions to pick up the next book.
COMPLETION PostWeek 9
Spot: 71
Book:
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers SiddonsPages: 368
How it fits: Standalone
Halloween BONUS: Main page genre - Paranormal
Date finished: 31Oct19
Rating: 4****
Review:
Slow to start but once it gets going it's riveting! I stayed up way too late a couple of nights "waiting for that other shoe to drop." It left me on edge and vaguely anxious; spooked by noises in the night (or in the daytime). Reminds me of the hoopla around The Amityville Horror - a book I read when it first came out in the late '70s. A perfect Halloween read!
Week 9
Spot: 71
Book:
Better Late Than Never
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover's Mystery #7
Date read: 10/27/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Lindsey Norris, the director of Briar Creek Public Library, is hosting an amnesty day where no fines will be charged for overdue books and she is shocked when she receives a book 20 years overdue. Ms. Cole, one of the librarians, is also shocked to see that the book was borrowed by a high school teacher on the day that she was murdered. Now Lindsey’s interest is really piqued because she thinks the murdered is probably the one who returned the book. So after giving the book to the police she starts investigating who could have killed the teacher.
I love the cover art for this series and I like all the characters. Not love though, just like. This series has a book club that meets and discusses books while doing crafts which sounds like a club I would love! I skipped all the way up to number 7 in this series so I will be going back and reading the previous books
Spot: 71
Book:
Better Late Than NeverAuthor: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover's Mystery #7
Date read: 10/27/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Lindsey Norris, the director of Briar Creek Public Library, is hosting an amnesty day where no fines will be charged for overdue books and she is shocked when she receives a book 20 years overdue. Ms. Cole, one of the librarians, is also shocked to see that the book was borrowed by a high school teacher on the day that she was murdered. Now Lindsey’s interest is really piqued because she thinks the murdered is probably the one who returned the book. So after giving the book to the police she starts investigating who could have killed the teacher.
I love the cover art for this series and I like all the characters. Not love though, just like. This series has a book club that meets and discusses books while doing crafts which sounds like a club I would love! I skipped all the way up to number 7 in this series so I will be going back and reading the previous books
Andrew Smith
272 pages
Read: 10/31/2019
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Loved this! The character voice drew me in right away and made me love Sam and sympathize with him. He's so witty and mature for his age (um....probably due to trauma. Which, hard relate.) And I just really enjoyed reading about him. I love that this is only the first in the series because I look forward to hearing more. Great writing, great characters. Will definitely look at more of Andrew Smith's stuff in the near future.
Completion PostWeek 9
Spot: 71
Book: The Baker Street Letters
Author: Michael Robertson
Pages: 277
Qualification: Baker Street Letters #1
Finished: 10/28/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is an entertaining first in a series about two brothers who are lawyers and have their office on Baker Street in London. Along with the lease comes an interesting situation -- they often receive mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes. One of the brothers finds a letter from 20 years ago from a little girl asking Sherlock Holmes to find her father who has disappeared. Even though part of the lease requirements is to simply file the letters and not act on them, Nigel goes off to Los Angeles to find the girl, now a young woman. Unknowingly, he leaves behind a murdered man in his office. So the other brother, Reggie, follows after to find Nigel and clear him of a possible murder charge. This felt quite a bit like a Sherlock Holmes story, and I will definitely read more in the series.
I finished my book and updated post 264.
Selection PostWeek 9
Spot: 71
Book: Home
Author: Cara Dee
Pages: 218
Qualification: Camassia Cove #1
Finished: 10/30
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: 3.5 Stars. I really loved Dominic and Adrian so I'm rounding up. This was a really good book I think the issue for me was that the first part of the book was dark and gritty and very hard to read at points but excellent. I loved it. The second part was light and fluffy and sweet and I loved it! So I loved both parts but my issue was that I needed an intermediate layer to tie the two halves together. The flip from rentboy, living on the streets for YEARS to moving in with Adrian, falling in love and being happy happened a bit suddenly. It seemed he didn't really miss a beat and had no issues from his time living on the street. I needed a slower change from Dominic to really see him grown and open up slowly for it to be a 5 star book for me. Still I enjoyed this one a lot and will definitely read more in the series.
Talia wrote: "I finished my book and updated post 264."That was speedy!
Book Concierge wrote: "Talia wrote: "I finished my book and updated post 264."
That was speedy!"
I was determined to finish my book early for once! lol
That was speedy!"
I was determined to finish my book early for once! lol
So quick question does anyone know if a non fiction book would count for a stand alone book?
I've started reading one book but would love to read this non fiction book if it would count for a stand alone. :)
Kayla wrote: "So quick question does anyone know if a non fiction book would count for a stand alone book?"Any stand-alone will work. But just be sure it is stand-alone. A very few nonfiction works are series ....
In what I'm sure is a shocking surprise to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE--I have changed my book lol
Cait S wrote: "In what I'm sure is a shocking surprise to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE--
I have changed my book lol"
LOL I had felt like I was doing that every week! :P
I have changed my book lol"
LOL I had felt like I was doing that every week! :P
Cait S wrote: "In what I'm sure is a shocking surprise to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE--I have changed my book lol"
Ha HA HA!
I'm considering switching as well. My original choice (with the Horror main page genre) was moving So Slowly .... I realized I had started on Saturday and finished Monday an audio of a series # 1 that would also work. If my horror book doesn't pick up, I may just post the series # 1 book that I've already finished.
I thought it would be but just wanted to make sure. It's a marie Kondo one. lol I'm needing some organization in my life. hahaha
Week 9 Spot 71
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō
How it fits: 1st in series
Pages: 206
Date Read: 10-31-19
Rating: 2 star
Review: I'm sorry but this book was a huge disappointment. I'm all for tiding up but some of the things she said I didn't agree with. Especially that my clothes got better as I touched them. I do think you need to keep the things that you love or spark joy but ya. I just wasn't a huge fan of this book at all which is sad because I really really wanted to be.
I am so glad I double checked because it is the first in a series. hahaha. I got one of those rare non fiction ones that does have a sequel. :)
Kayla wrote: "I am so glad I double checked because it is the first in a series. hahaha. I got one of those rare non fiction ones that does have a sequel. :)"Well, # 1 in a series still works for this week, so you're still good to go.
Finished and posted my completion - msg 266.
Finished my "spooktacular" read! Halloween Bonus claimed.
Done - Message 268 Updated
Updated my post with completion info AND ANOTHER BOOK CHAAAANGE.
Cait S wrote: "Updated my post with completion info AND ANOTHER BOOK CHAAAANGE."You crack me up! Got it.
Week: 10 Roll: 5 + 5 = 10
Previous Spot: 71
Current Spot: 81
Bonus Points Earned: 5 - (view spoiler)
Bonus Points Used: 0
To Read:
#8 in series, # 1 in series -or- standalone
Alternate: Title K
(Kayla's going to take charge next week .. so she'll create a tracking post and will roll and post our spot next Friday.)
Yay I was just about to check in. great roll!
James Herbert
Stand Alone
Read: 11/7/2019
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I love the pacing here so much. The inside peak we get into each character, just long enough to feel like we understand them before they are HORRIBLY MAIMED AND EATEN...fantastic. There's no shying away from the gore or the skin crawly grossness of the rats.
My big complaint is that this was written by an old white man in the 70s. Ergo it's racist and misogynistic. The "coloreds" are poor and dirty. The women are there for preparing meals and having sex with. The big heroes of the moments are always competent, middle aged white men. So if this type of language is an absolute no go for you, I would pass this book up. For me, I just rolled my eyes and muttered "fuck all men" and kept going.
Anyway! Creepy, gross, recommended for animal horror lovers.
COMPLETION PostWeek 10
Spot: 81
Book:
Here Today, Gone Tamale by Rebecca AdlerPages: 304
How it fits: Series # 1
Finished ✔ 07Nov19
Rating 2**
Review
Josie Callahan has lost her journalist job in Austin AND had her former fiancé unfriend her on Facebook. So she returns, tail between her legs, to Broken Boot, Texas. She’s living above her Aunt and Uncle’s restaurant, with her long-haired chihuahua, Lenny, and waiting tables to make ends meet. The town’s Wild Wild West Festival is a big tourist attraction, and businesses count on the increased traffic to keep going. But when a local artist is found behind the restaurant, one of their staff is arrested for her murder. Josie doesn’t think the Sheriff is up to the task of investigating, so she uses her reporting skills to ferret out information that will point to the real killer. As cozies go, this is okay, but the plot is weak and Josie seems too clueless to be a big-city reporter. Also I was irritated beyond words that they didn’t use the proper spellings / alphabet for Spanish words that are used; e.g. Senora vs señora. Still, I’ll probably read another just to see how the possible romantic dilemma works out. There are some decent recipes included at the end.
Is anyone still on track for earning this bonus point?✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
Sorry, I haven't been keeping track for the team. (Though I know that I will NOT qualify for this one)
I'll look through today and see who might have it. I think I might. But I'll double check the thread.
I haven't picked from the alternate list.
Completion PostWeek 10
Spot: 81
Book: Homeland
Author: R.A. Salvatore
Pages: 343
How it fits: The Legend of Drizzt #1
Finished: 11/7/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is book #1 of the Legend of Drizzt trilogy. I had read and enjoyed the Icewind Dale trilogy earlier so I decided to read this trilogy which gives the story of Drizzt's earlier life. Drizzt is a drow elf and it's hard to imagine a nastier species. The political dealings and manipulations are the way of life, and cruelty and killing is second nature. You can kill an entire family (house) and as long as no one remains alive from that family, it's all good and the killing house can move up in the crazy hierarchy. In fact, in that case, the killing didn't even happen and the family wiped out never existed. Into all this, Drizzt is born and raised to be a killer and taught to hate every other species. But Drizzt is completely different and this is his story from his birth to young adulthood when he decides to leave and wander other lands knowing that his kind are hated. A good book even though hard to take in places because of the cruelty. I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.
Book Concierge wrote: "Is anyone still on track for earning this bonus point?
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90..."
I haven’t used any alternates.
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90..."
I haven’t used any alternates.
I haven't used any alternates either.
Completion PostWeek 10
Spot 81
Book: Take Me Home by Sloan Parker
Pages: 283
How it Fits: Stand Alone
Date Read: 11/6
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Review: I'm usually a fan of Sloan Parker but this book just didn't work for me. Evan and Kyle were both nice guys and had been best friends since high school. Evan has always had a thing for Kyle (supposedly even during his 10 year relationship with someone else). Now that Evan and his long time boyfriend have broken up he's moved in with Kyle. Kyle starts to notice his best friend in more than a friendly way but he doesn't do relationships. This is actually one of my least favorite plot points.
The two end up taking a trip together which ordinarily is one of my favorites. However, the continual conversations about Kyle not being a relationship guy and the whole I won't hurt you were so repetitive I began to not care whether they ended up together or not. Add to that the continuous disruptions and it just got a bit ridiculous. I just wanted them to get on with it or not. You would think traveling with each other and staying in a cabin during a blizzard they would have plenty of time to talk but it was so much talk, misunderstanding, interruption.
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