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R11: Team Five Star Readers (5)
Hahaha yeah I don’t read a lot of large series!
Completion PostWeek #1: Spot 8
Book: Midnight's Kiss
Author: Thea Harrison
Read: 08/31/19
Rated: 4 stars
Review: Julian and Melisande weren't the best of friends since their affair ended years before but when Melisande is held captive. When Julian does come for her, Melisande couldn't believe that he did but now they both have to work together to try and escape from Justine. When these two get together it's not all fun and forgiveness but some secrets do come out and things change. This was entertaining throughout the story and I can't wait to get to the next book in this series.
Week 1 - Completion PostRoll/Spot: Spot 8
Task: Alternate: Character has a pet
Book: Accidental Tryst ~ Natasha Boyd
How it fits: Emmy has a pet cat
Pages: 346
Date Read: 08.31
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
This was a completely new author for me. It was fun and funny and I'm glad it was recommended to me. Even there was a lot about the story that was pretty typical and Tryst was a little too perfect (in spite of himself), the meet cute was somewhat original and the MCs interactions after that were fun. There were some poignant moments with Emmy's foster uncle too. The characters were all slightly deeper than surface level - enough to make me care about them but the angst in the book was light. In all, it was an enjoyable read and I'll definitely be looking up Book 2.
Completion PostWeek 1 - Roll 8
Space: 8
Rumpel's Prize by Marie Hall
Date Read: 9/4
Rating: ★★★★½
I really enjoy this series. The whole thing are quick reads, but I enjoy the fact that all the characters are misunderstood bad boys. Of course this time it's Rumpelstiltskin, the demon imp deal master. His deals are notorious as is the man, but he has a secret and he's determined no matter what to find battle the curse he's under. And he's determined that Shayera is the woman who can maybe finally be the one.
Shayera is determined to save her father from Rumpelstiltskin's threat and go with the imp. But she has a secret herself and it's made her life difficult for too many years. She has never been able to be close to anyone but her family for fear of their reactions to her nature.
I really enjoyed this story. I liked Shayera and Rumpel's reactions to each other and since these are fairytale stories you know it's all going to work out in the end.
Week 1 - Completion PostRoll/Spot: Spot 8
Task: Alternate: Character has a pet
Book: Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds
How it fits: MC, November, has a dog named Beast
Pages: 291
Date read: 9/3
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Review: It has been so long that I read a book with a “Alpha” male, that I forgot how much I loved them. Asher love being a Alpha male, but wasn’t looking for someone just to dominate. So, I figured out “who done it” at about 46% into the book. But, I liked the story and how November pushed Asher buttons.
Have you guys done this challenge before? Since it’s round 11 I was wondering how often a round is like if they do this once a year and how long it usually lasts!
Katelyn wrote: "Have you guys done this challenge before? Since it’s round 11 I was wondering how often a round is like if they do this once a year and how long it usually lasts!"I have but its been awhile. I know its a few years so I feel like I'm learning all over again. LOL
Hahaha are you also doing the SSS one? I’m not sure what the difference is!
Katelyn wrote: "Hahaha are you also doing the SSS one? I’m not sure what the difference is!"The only difference is the number of calls per week. The rules are all the same, but while SS only has one call on Friday, SSS has 2, one Thursday and one Sunday. You still have to read you're book before the next call and post. Same choices either the series number or the alternate category, though I believe the alternate lists are different.
I don't play every round, but I play fairly often and I think they do at least 2 rounds a year. It all depends on timing of things I think. As for how long they last, it varies a little bit based on how often you get high rolls to get to the end, but usually in the 10-12 week range.
Oh no not me. That would mean I would have to add more reading and I still didn’t get my list in old yet. LOL
Mod
Aw yay!! Are we able to roll again anytime after midnight on Friday central time zone?
Mod
You're good to go!
Hey CarmenAre you able to roll for us or would you like someone else to do it this week? Thanks!!
Hi ladies. I'm on it ☺
You rolled 2 dice:5, 2
Timestamp: 2019-09-06 22:42:19 UTC
To Read:
#1 or #5 in a series
Alternate: 15. Book that one of your teammates read shelf rated a 5-star
Week 2Spot: 15
Raining Cat Sitters and Dogs by Blaize Clement
How It Fits: #5 in series A Dixie Hemmingway Mystery
Date Finished-9/8/19
Rating-5 Stars
Review:
Another in the series of ex-cop turned pet sitter, Dixie Hemmingway's(no relation to you know)life of Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida. Innocently at the Veterinarian hospital to pick up her latest charge, a parrot, she becomes involved with a young girl bringing an injured rabbit for care. From that moment on, she is faced with gang members from L.A., ransom drop for a high school friend's husband and so much more. Add to this the flaring of a romance with the local Sarasota County handsome police detective and it becomes one interesting read. Dixie has a terribly sad background story as she lost her husband and young daughter at the hands of a incapacitated driver. Will she finally be able to become emotionally involved again? Perhaps this question in answered.
Week 2 - Selection PostRoll/Spot: Spot 15
Task: series #1
Book: The One Real Thing ~ Samantha Young
How it fits: #1 in Hart's Boardwalk series
Pages: 382
Mod
Completion Post - Week 2Spot #15
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
How it qualifies: standalone, one of my teammates rated 5 stars(Shelby!)
Pages: 433
Completed: 9/10/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I really liked this book! It had all these tropes that I didn’t even know I loved in books until now like twins, college life, and writing! This book totally made me wanna write something even though I’m a horrible writer ha! One of my favorite parts of the story was that towards the beginning I actually didn’t know who the love interest was which may have been obvious for some from the start but I really wasn’t sure! I have to say I wasn’t as invested in the world of Simon and Baz and found those parts the most boring but that’s just me! I think Reagan was my favorite character but I just loved the character growth that we see with Cath, Wren, and her father!
Selection Post - Week 2Spot 15
Fearless by Carly Phillips
Pages: 266
How it qualifies: Rosewood Bay #1
Completion Post - Week 2Spot 15
Fearless by Carly Phillips
Pages: 266
How it qualifies: Rosewood Bay #1
Completed: 9/8/19
Rating: 4 /5
Review: Kane Harmon owns the local auto repair shop, and is surprised when he gets a call to help out reclusive Halley Ward when her car breaks down. She's more beautiful than he remembers, but still as closed off. And Kane decides to wage a campaign to break down her barriers. Halley spent her early years in foster care, until her aunt brought her and her sister, Phoebe, to Rosewood Bay. Halley hasn't been able to get past some of her experiences and keeps to herself now, working as an artist. But somehow Kane doesn't feel threatening to her, and the two start seeing each other. But then Halley's mother shows up out of the blue and throws a wrench into things! I really enjoyed this story. I'm not usually a fan of the "something happened to me when I was little so I can never love" trope, but this story was able to overcome my reservations and made me feel for Halley and really like her.
Denise wrote: "Carmen, how do you get "#2 or #5 in series"? It always goes by the spot you're on, not the dice roll itself, so it should be "standalone, #1 or #5 in series". :)"LOL I thought I fixed that, guess not but all done :)
Week 2 - Completion PostRoll/Spot: Spot 15
Task: series #1
Book: The One Real Thing ~ Samantha Young
How it fits: #1 in Hart's Boardwalk series
Pages: 382
Date Read: 09.07
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Even though this is one of my favorite authors, I started out a little iffy on the MC. She seemed really unemotional and disconnected. And then I realized she was supposed to come across that way... so kudos to Ms Young for pulling that off! As the heroine realized the emptiness in her life and began to open herself to others, she definitely started to allow her emotions out. This was good start to a new series (for me) from Samantha Young. We got to know all the characters and teased for their books at the same time being fully invested in couple for this book. There's a larger arc in the series as well about the town villain which will make things interesting along the way too.
Hey guys I hope everyone is having a good week!
Well I had to drive for nearly 2 half hours but it’s ok. I like a long drive to finish an audio. LOL I hope you’re having a good week.
Oh no I actually also drove 2 and a half hours yesterday! I had my first driving class ever 😂😂
How did it go @Katelyn? I hope you had fun and weren't too stressed!!
I was totally stressed out before but I did pretty good!! No accidents or almost accidents!!
Completion PostWeek 2 - Roll 2
Space: 15
Loving Vin by Sloane Kennedy
Date Read: 9/9
Rating: ★★★★½
So this book picks up right where the last one left off even though it's really the start of a new series. One that finds Vin coming home to find his house taken over by a menagerie and one damaged girl. A girl he's never managed to get out of his head after helping save her weeks before from the house where her father had her hidden away and restrained. Really only helping to save, because ultimately she saved herself, murdering her father in order to help those her father had kidnapped. She snapped the chains that bound her to giver them all a chance.
Mia has such an inner strength. One that's allowed her to bend not break under the terror inflicted upon her by her father's abuse. Now she's hiding from the press and the world that clammers to know her story at the one safe space in the storm. Her one release is taking care of the abandoned animals, Riley's provided to her from the shelter. But now Vin's home and stirs up all kinds of feelings she doesn't know how to process.
Vin's never been able to forget the damaged girl he helped liberate before running off on the last clue to his brothers whereabouts. But seeing her his home isn't helping him keep his hands off her. She deserves so much better in his mind that the older man that he is.
This series always reads so fast, but the darkness in each book is helps balance out the simple love stories quite well. I'm always sucked in and enjoy myself with the read. This was no exception. I was happy for Vin and Mia to help each other heal. They're each others port in the storm and well her menagerie and the dogs made me smile. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Katelyn wrote: "I was totally stressed out before but I did pretty good!! No accidents or almost accidents!!"Yay Katelyn!!! I used to love to drive, but I live in LA and now I hate it - so much traffic and aggressive drivers around here. The only thing that saves me is listening to audio books if I have to go any distance.
Great review, @Shelby! I have this book on my tbr and now I need to make time to read it!!
SandyL wrote: "Katelyn wrote: "I was totally stressed out before but I did pretty good!! No accidents or almost accidents!!"Yay Katelyn!!! I used to love to drive, but I live in LA and now I hate it - so much t..."
Oh god Sandy I know exactly what you mean. I used to drive from Burbank to Venice each day for work and it completely soured me on ever driving again. I've become such a homebody here and hate getting on the freeways. I have great friends on the Westside and I barely ever see them as the thought of driving over there is in itself draining.
Completion PostWeek 2 - Roll 2
Spot: 15
Book: If I Stay
Read: 9/6
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This has been on my TBR for a while. I thought it would be a bit a fluff and a quick read. It was a quick read, but found the book grabbed me from the start. The premise was intriguing. Although some parts of the story droned on, I enjoyed it. So much, that I’ll read the next book to find out Where She Went
Wow - small world @Shelby - I'm in Burbank too! I used to work in Westwood, but now I get to work close to home. And, just like you, I don't see my friends on the west side much anymore either!
Hey CarmenJust checking to see if you're able to roll today? Thanks and sorry to bug you!!
Has everyone submitted their review? :)
Sorry team I’m away and will get in late. Can someone post please and I’ll get completion up later tonight or in the morning
Are we allowed to roll before all of the reviews are in?
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Sorry team I’m away and will get in late. Can someone post please and I’ll get completion up later tonight or in the morning"Hey Carmen - I think we need you to do your completion post before we can roll. :-)
SandyL wrote: "Wow - small world @Shelby - I'm in Burbank too! I used to work in Westwood, but now I get to work close to home. And, just like you, I don't see my friends on the west side much anymore either!"Oh wow! I love knowing there's another reader around here. I don't know a lot of people who read like I do. :)
Ok just got home. Give me a few minutes to post my completion
Completion PostWeek 2: Spot: 15
Book: Murder by the Slice
Author: Mary Maxwell
Read: 9/13/19
Rated: 4 stars
Review: This was a good start to this series. Kate returns home to take over her family's bakery but what turns out to be a new start becomes chaos. Someone in her past is killed with something her bakery making her prime suspect. A good start to this cozy.
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Team I've added our first week call in my post above. As you post your selection I will add it to the tracking post..."
LOL I know how you feel but I just happened to be lucky since I had a BR with a group that is working through 3-4 series and each month we cover a book and of course Aug is the 8th month so the 8th books in the series. So I had a few to pick from ;-)