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R11: Team Just ONE More Chapter (1) ***Winning Team***
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Louise
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Nov 02, 2019 02:01PM

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Daylight Savings Time has ended in the USA ... So be sure you have the right time frame for next week's deadline.
(Not usually a problem in this group as we are usually all done at latest on Friday afternoon, central time zone.)

Week 10
Spot: 81
Book:
Death in the Stacks
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover's Mystery #8
Date read: 11/07/19
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: As Lindsey prepares for Briar Creek Public Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser, the newly elected president of the library board, Olive, threatens to make sweeping changes to the library including replacing Lindsey. During the dinner Olive tries to humiliate Lindsey in front of everyone and accuses library clerk Paula of being a violent criminal. When Lindsey walks in on Paula standing over Olive’s dead body holding a knife, Paula is sure everyone will think she’s guilty but she claims to have found Olive that way. Lindsey believes her and despite swearing off sleuthing after she almost died in the last book, she’s on the case to clear Paula’s name. Olive was such a snooty jerk to everyone that the possible suspects are endless, but as everyone’s past secrets are revealed Lindsey and Sully figure out whodunit right before the killer comes after them. I enjoyed the story as I feel like I’m really getting to know the town and the locals but my favorite part was when Ms. Cole came in to join the crafternoon book club! The ice queen is finally melting! 😁
Spot: 81
Book:

Author: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover's Mystery #8
Date read: 11/07/19
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: As Lindsey prepares for Briar Creek Public Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser, the newly elected president of the library board, Olive, threatens to make sweeping changes to the library including replacing Lindsey. During the dinner Olive tries to humiliate Lindsey in front of everyone and accuses library clerk Paula of being a violent criminal. When Lindsey walks in on Paula standing over Olive’s dead body holding a knife, Paula is sure everyone will think she’s guilty but she claims to have found Olive that way. Lindsey believes her and despite swearing off sleuthing after she almost died in the last book, she’s on the case to clear Paula’s name. Olive was such a snooty jerk to everyone that the possible suspects are endless, but as everyone’s past secrets are revealed Lindsey and Sully figure out whodunit right before the killer comes after them. I enjoyed the story as I feel like I’m really getting to know the town and the locals but my favorite part was when Ms. Cole came in to join the crafternoon book club! The ice queen is finally melting! 😁

Spot 81

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
How it fits: Standalone
Pages: 256 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Review: So I'm a huge Debbie Macomber fan because she always has feel good happy romance books. I love that her books keep me effortlessly wanting to read more. I loved this book just because of how stubborn the main male character is. Tho is was a classic love story of the don't wanna fall in love but just can't help it, I still enjoyed every bit of it.

Previous Spot 71
Roll: 5 + 5+ 10
New Spot 81
Bonus Points Earned: 5
Bonus Points Used: 0
Reviews:
Kayla- Starry Night Standalone Review
Louise- Cut & Run #1 in series Review
Talia- Death in the Stacks 8th in series Review
Book Concierge- Here Today, Gone Tamale 1st in series Review
Jackie- Homeland #1 in series Review
Danielle Gypsy Soul- Take Me Home Standalone Review
Cait S- The Rats Standalone Review
I’m aiming to finish mine tonight before midnight.
I finished my book and updated post 304.

Spot: 81

Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban
Pages: 376
How It Fits: #1 Cut & Run
Date Read: 11/5
Rating: 4*
This was a re-Read for me and although it was the beginning of last year when I Read I don’t think I took much of it in as it was like reading for the first time. I enjoyed the interaction between Ty and Zane as they tried to deal with their troubled past and their growing attraction to each other. The serial killer plot kept me guessing until nearly the end, when I realised who it was. Definitely continuing on with the series.

Great Job Everyone!!!!

old spot- 81
roll- 5 +6 =11
new spot 92
to read- 9th in series, 2nd in series,
Alternste-- A three word title excluding a, an, the


Week 11
Spot 92
Book:
Hitting the Books
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover’s Mystery #9
Date read: 11/09/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Librarian Lindsey Norris witnesses a speeding car run down local tennis coach Theresa and drive off. She runs out of the library to help Theresa and Charlie soon shows up saying he was almost run over by the same car. After the police and EMTs have come and gone, Lindsey wonders was this just an accident or was someone trying to kill Theresa. And if the latter, who would want to kill a tennis coach? So her curiosity prompts her to investigate. The villain in this book was a bit more dastardly and downright evil than what I usually encounter in cozy mysteries but I'm glad the book ended on a happy note (view spoiler) ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
Spot 92
Book:

Author: Jenn McKinlay
Qualification: Library Lover’s Mystery #9
Date read: 11/09/19
Rating: ★★★
Review: Librarian Lindsey Norris witnesses a speeding car run down local tennis coach Theresa and drive off. She runs out of the library to help Theresa and Charlie soon shows up saying he was almost run over by the same car. After the police and EMTs have come and gone, Lindsey wonders was this just an accident or was someone trying to kill Theresa. And if the latter, who would want to kill a tennis coach? So her curiosity prompts her to investigate. The villain in this book was a bit more dastardly and downright evil than what I usually encounter in cozy mysteries but I'm glad the book ended on a happy note (view spoiler) ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

Roll: 5 & 6 = 11
Previous Spot: 81
Current Spot: 92
Bonus Points Earned: 6 - (view spoiler)
Bonus Points Used: 0
To Read:
#9 in series, # 2 in series -or- , # 92 (!) in series
Alternate: Three-word title (Excl: A, An, The)
Reviews
✔ Book Concierge - Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Yr-Old Man - Series # 2 - Review Post 325
✔ Cait S - A Madness So Discreet - Three-word title - Review Post 347
✔ Danielle Gypsy Soul - The Mystery of the Curiosities - Series # 2 - Review Post 326 -BONUS - never using an alternate
✔ Jackie - To Davy Jones Below - Series # 9 - Review Post 330
✔ Kayla - Flowers on Main - Series # 2 - Review post 348
✔ Louise - The Girl Who Played with Fire - Series # 2 - Review Post 328
✔ Talia - Hitting the Books - Series # 9 - Review Post 322
.

Week 11
Spot: 92
Book:

Pages: 448
How it fits: Series # 2
Date finished: 11Nov19
Rating: 3.5***
Review:
Allan Karlsson rides again! Delightful and completely ridiculous. It begins when Allan and Julius go for a balloon ride in celebration of Allan's 101st birthday. But the balloon goes astray and they wind up ditching in the Indian Ocean, only to be picked up by a passing North Korean ship. Well, at least they were able to drink the three bottles of champagne. "Going with the flow" is Allan's great gift and he certainly uses it here as they travel from North Korea to the USA (the meeting with Trump is very funny), to Sweden, Denmark, Germany and on to Africa. All I can say is I'll never eat asparagus again without thinking of Allan and his crew.

Week 11
Spot: 92

Book: The Mystery of the Curiosities by C.S. Poe
Pages: 200
How it Fits: #2 in Snow & Winter
Date Finished: 11/8
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: I am really struggling with my rating for this book. Honestly I enjoyed it and I really like the characters even though Sebastian frustrated me so much I wanted to reach out and smack him! I also figured out who the villain was REALLY early. Also frustrating was that the plot didn't make a lot of sense - why Sebastian kept investigating the crimes was never explained to any satisfaction. So he likes mysteries - lots of people do but we don't go charging into crime scenes, touching dead bodies, stealing evidence and putting ourselves in danger. At one point Sebastian realizes that his behavior is actually making Calvin's PTSD worse. Calvin is really struggling and Sebastian is worried about him. He realizes that putting himself in danger is triggering Calvin's PTSD to become even worse. I completely expected him to change his behavior but no - he continues on but now he just lies to Calvin about what he's doing. He has all these expectations for Calvin to get help but won't change his behavior at all. It's hard to believe he really loves Calvin given that he keeps racing off into danger and lying to Calvin without concern or a thought to how Calvin feels.
I really hated that about this book - and yet I found myself engrossed in it and turning the pages to find out what happened next. I also know that I will continue this series as well.
Bonus Point for never picking from alternates

Spot: 92

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Pages: 569
How It Fits: #2 Millenium
Date Read: 11/14
Rating: 5*
Review
I really enjoyed this book we see more into Lisbeth’s character as she continues to foil the system. A kick- ass heroine who uses whatever is necessary to ensure her own brand of justice is dealt out. Looking forward to #3.

Week 11
Spot: 92
Book: To Davy Jones Below

Author: Carola Dunn
Pages: 256
How it fits: Daisy Dalrymple #9
Date read: 11/12/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is #9 in the entertaining Daisy Dalrymple series. Set in the 1920s in England, this book finds Daisy finally married to Scotland Yard detective, Alec Fletcher. Alec is requested to go to America as a Scotland Yard consultant, and both he and Daisy will sail to America on a cruise ship. During the journey, some mysterious deaths occur so Alec and Daisy must figure out what's going on. This mystery is pretty predictable but the characters are interesting and I enjoy books set in this time period.


The other team is on spot 91, and with fewer bonus points.
But both these teams have a chance (as do we) of getting to a winning spot next week. If I roll at least a 3, then with our bonus points I can get us to spot 101.
Key will be to get our books THIS week read and reviews posted by Thursday, so I can roll immediately at 12.01 Friday morning. If more than one team is in a winning position, then the team to get all their reviews posted and spot claimed wins.
So plan strategically for a #1 in series or standalone that will be short and fast read and you'll be able to get review posted in as short a time as possible.
And pray that I do NOT roll snake eyes!

Finished my book and updated post 322 with my review. And I'm planning to set aside reading time next Friday to finish my book asap!


If Kayla and Cait S get their reviews in tonight ... I'll roll right after midnight. Already have my alarm set for 12.01a.m. in case I fall asleep.

Selection:

Qualification: Three words excluding A.
Read: 11/14
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
I LOVED THIS. Strangely, I picked it up after drppping Stalking Jack the Ripper and THIS is exactly what I had been wanting from THAT. These characters had so much life and depth, the main character was traumatized but competent and bright. The pacing was wonderful, the writing was eerie and awesome. It was just perfectly entertaining and I couldn’t put it down. I think Mindy McGinnis is becoming a must read all of for me.

Week 11 Spot 92

Flowers on Main by Sherryl Woods
How it fits: 2nd in series
Pages: 388
Date Read- 11/14/19
Rating- 4 stars
Review:
This is only the second book I've read by Sherryl Woods and I'm not going to lie. I've already become a huge fan. I loved this feel good romance because I got to watch the characters grow as individuals, as a family, and as love interests. lol Sherryl Woods painted an amazing picture between the two main characters of Jake and Bree. I also loved the underlying stories that I'm hoping continue into the next books. I can't wait to pick up the next book in the Chesapeake Shores series.

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