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R11: Team SMMACKLe (8)
Apoorv wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "Susan Ericksen is a fantastic narrator for the ID series, Melissa!"Susan Ericksen IS Eve Dallas!
I cannot imagine another voice for her.
She embodies the character in her voice."
YES! I hope/pray Ms Rob(b)erts never has to pick a new narrator for this series! She is the best
We're just waiting on Carrie. But since she might be dealing with her family issues - I'm inclined to give her a pass this round since we have one, and give her the time she needs.
I will check back in an hour (since I'm out for a couple of hours after that), and roll for the next round.
I'll be on the computer all night tonight so if you want to hold out as long as possible before using the pass I can do the roll... either just before the deadline to give Carrie as much time as possible to post or to do it after she posts of you're not online.
Apoorv wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "Susan Ericksen is a fantastic narrator for the ID series, Melissa!"Susan Ericksen IS Eve Dallas!
I cannot imagine another voice for her.
She embodies the character in her voice."
Me either! And I love how she does all the supporting characters voices.
Completion PostWeek 7
Spot 54
Book:
Pages: 323
How it fits: book 5
Read: Oct 18
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Hunted takes up just after the events of the last book. Al kinds of "bullpoopi" as Zoey likes to say is going down in the House of Night, and in the whole town of Tulsa. Ice storm, power outage, and Raven Mockers are everywhere.
Slow starting but as the book goes on it picks up and get's better. Which is good as this is one of my favorite series.
Will I go on with the series? Yeah I do own all the books unless something happens in a later one to make me stop wanting to.
Week 8 - Roll 8
Number Rolled: 5+1 = 6
Post Your Roll - Post
----------------------------------------
Spot: 60
Book Choice:
Read a standalone book.Alternate Choice:
Read 6th book in a series.
Read 60th book in a series
Read a book set in Asia.Note the bonus points!
-----------------------------------------
Books Read (Alphabetically)
Apoorv | Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life. | Standalone | Review | 21-Oct-2019
Carrie | The Wicked Deep | Standalone | Review | 25-Oct-2019
Karen | Save the Date | Standalone | Review | 23-Oct-2019
Lanelle | Aunt Bessie Finds | Isle of Man #6 | Review | 19-Oct-2019
Melissa | Is It Over Yet? | Standalone | Review | 19-Oct-2019
Michaelle | Criminal Past | Hazard & Somerset #6 | Review | 23-Oct-2019
Sunshine | Tracker | Rylee Adamson #6 | Review | 25-Oct-2019
YAY! I just posted (and deleted) an offer to do the roll...so glad you were here - I'd have only done the roll and left all that tracking thread coding to you!
⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "YAY! I just posted (and deleted) an offer to do the roll...so glad you were here - I'd have only done the roll and left all that tracking thread coding to you!"Thank you so much for being there to do the roll, Michaelle. Totally appreciate it. My rolls are completely trash - maybe next time you can roll something nice for us. Haha.
Selection PostWeek 8, Spot 60
Criminal Past by Gregory Ashe
Page Count: 589/GR
How it Qualifies: Book #6 in the Hazard & Somerset Series
BONUS: Start and Finish a Series; final (numbered & released) book in the series. (Checked with mod in Q&A thread for confirmation.)
Apoorv wrote: "Thank you so much for being there to do the roll, Michaelle. Totally appreciate it. My rolls are completely trash - maybe next time you can roll something nice for us. Haha."No problem; like I said, I was already going to be on/around the computer so I just periodically checked in.
Also, OMGNO! Your rolls have been great! Well, at least for me...I've gotten hooked on my series and with this one we'll have another bonus point - AND that frees me up to be able to read a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy for next week's roll. I've got something in mind for each and every possibility!
Edited to add: And gorramit, if I'd waited for this one I could have used it in my Bingo read, too. Oh well, for that one I already doubled up "Sparkly" with "Musician" for PtP.
Carrie wrote: "Thank you for putting up with me."Nothing to put up with :)
Selection Post ~ Week 8: Spot 60
Is It Over Yet? by L.A. Witt
176 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Standalone
[ book:Is It Over Yet?|43184087]
Completion Post ~ Week 8: Spot 60
Is It Over Yet? by L.A. Witt
176 pgs/GR
Qualifies: Stand alone
Finished 10/19/19
Rating 3 stars
Review: this reminded me of one of the books from LA Witt's Wilde's series. Easy read with mild amount of angst with most of it blowing up at the wedding - which I knew was going to happen. They are able to come back and have a HEA. It was exactly the type of easy book I needed this week that I was able to make work for 2 challenges.
Mod
Week: 8
Spot: 60
Aunt Bessie Finds
Qualifications: Isle of Man #6
Pages: 241
Date finished: 10/19/19
Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Review: This was an odd story. Bessie's friend complains to her about some unusual happenings in her apartment complex. Bessie agrees to pretend to be interested in buying one of the apartments so she can be on-hand to investigate. The lie grows and becomes somewhat of a reality. The unusual happenings continue and Bessie is stumped. The ending was rushed and unsatisfactory. There are a lot of loose ends left. It's not a good addition to the series.
Selection Post ~ Week 8: Spot 60Book:
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Pages: 310
How it fits: Standalone
Selection PostWeek 8; Spot 60
Book: Tracker by Shannon Mayer
Pages: 270
How it Fits: Rylee Adamson, #6
COMPLETION POSTWeek 8
Spot 60
Save the Date Annabeth Albert
Finished: 10/23
Pages: 153
Rating: 3.5 stars
How It Qualifies: Standalone
Review: Hunter and Randall meet at a bar. They have a one night stand and then discover that they are both members of the wedding party they are attending that weekend. There is a lot of back and forth. Randall, a virgin (that part is hilarious), reacts at times immaturely and Hunter starts out as a bit of a manwhore, but, of course, eventually they end up together.
Completion PostWeek 8; Spot 60
Book: Tracker by Shannon Mayer
Pages: 270
How it Fits: Rylee Adamson, #6
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Rylee is forced to go with Faris earlier than originally agreed but it actually a good thing since we find out that the Child Empress has turned Jack into a vampire and they are also off to find the Blood. Rylee and Doran come up with Plan C as a way to save Berget and put the right vampire in charge. Yay! Damn girl! You just fulfilled another prophecy. :-D
While they are off saving the world from a potential vampire apocalypse, Liam and the witches are on the hunt for the new guns that are able to shoot straight at the paranormal.
While there was lots of action, I felt like this book wasn't as gut wrenching as the previous. More like sliding some more pieces together for building up to the major war with Orion.
COMPLETION POSTWeek 8, Spot 60
Criminal Past by Gregory Ashe
Page Count: 589/GR
How it Qualifies: Book #6 in the Hazard & Somerset Series
BONUS: Start and Finish a Series; final (numbered & released) book in the series. (Checked with mod in Q&A thread for confirmation.)
Date Completed: 23Oct2019
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: These books just keep getting better and better.
Gregory Ashe really knows how to weave a story so that I have no clue about what's important to the case, no idea who's involved or how deep it goes, no real guess as to motive. I can't stress how much I love that...because sometimes it's just too easy to guess the culprit in a whodunit. That's never the case here. Which, for me, adds to the tension, to the stress and drama. It ratchets up my anxiety and in a weird way makes it feel more real.
And wow, was this one chocked full of "real." JFC, I thought the first one was hard to read/listen to. Nope, this is the most difficult to deal with given those flashback details, the violence both H&S endure...and the sheer greed, gluttony and evil that permeates that town, while almost OTT, is completely plausible.
I love how H&S continue to grow together, and that JH's bullying of 'Ree when they were teens hasn't been swept under the rug. There's always a bit of mistrust (by both) about the past and that they struggle with it now shows it was a more powerful influence on each of them than they would like it to have. Glad they've been more open with each other, talking more...and the sex has been positively scorching.
Can't wait to see where the next one goes because, if nothing else, Emory seems more content. Dare I say, even a little more happy? He did what he came back to that shitty town to do and now it doesn't have a hold on him. ADORED that clock metaphor SO HARD.
Amazing series that I can't recommend strong enough. Bravo GA, and I don't know if it was your choice or the publisher, but I am so glad that Tristan James is the narrator. Great job all around.
Week #8 - Roll #8Number Rolled: 60
Book Read: Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life. | Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown
Date Read: 21-Oct-2019
How it Fits: Standalone
Rating: ★★★★
Review
Well, its no surprise that the show is a massive hit and the boys are the internet sweethearts across the globe. They are funny, reverent, affectionate, warm, hard working, and no-nonsense goofballs. Each one of them has a distinct personality and it shows through the their work and talk. Reading a Queer Eye conception book was just the lighthearted fun I needed.
The show has made me cry ugly tears so often that anytime I get to smile with these crazy guys, I'm a happy camper. This book was a nice one-stop shop for all the cool tricks and tips the Fab 5 give. I'm for sure using some of them, especially the ones by Jonathan and Tan.
As soon as Carrie gets her review in, I will do the next roll.Going out for a couple of hours - so, if anyone gets in in the interim and sees her post, don't hesitate to roll. :)
Book:
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Pages: 310
How it fits: Standalone
Read: Oct 25
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
First off, I love the cover.
The opening of this book, drew me in. I was excited with the idea of this story. Three sisters drowned, accused of being witches, only to come back each year on the same day in the bodies of other girls. To take revenge on the town that killed them. What a great idea. Wonderful, enchanting....but it's not a perfect story. There are moments when I thought things didn't mesh, and that's okay I still liked it. I still thought the over all story was something that can make you curl up and forget to do other daily things because you enraptured.
Hi all~ I see everyone has posted reviews so I went ahead and rolled for us 😊I rolled: 5 + 6
So new Spot: 71
We can read a 7,1, 71 or a stand alone
Alternate : Title F
Selection PostWeek 9 - Spot 71
Some Kind of Magic by R. Cooper
Page Count: 192/GR
How it Qualifies: Book 1 of Being(s) in Love series
BONUS: MPG Paranormal for Halloween
Week 9 - Roll 9
Number Rolled: 5+6 = 11
Post Your Roll - Post
----------------------------------------
Spot: 71
Book Choice:
Read a standalone book.Alternate Choice:
Read 1st book in a series.
Read 7th book in a series.
Read 71st book in a series
Read a book with title F.Note the bonus points!
-----------------------------------------
Books Read (Alphabetically)
Apoorv | Awakened | Awakened #1 | Review | 29-Oct-2019 ✱
Carrie | Dark Lord of Derkholm | Derkholm #1 | Review | 01-Nov-2019
Karen | I Don't | Enamorado #1 | Review | 27-Oct-2019
Lanelle | The Nomad Harp | Standalone | Review | 27-Oct-2019
Melissa | The Wolf at the Door | Big Bad Wolf #1 | Review | 30-Oct-2019 ✱
Michaelle | Some Kind of Magic | Being(s) in Love #1 | Review | 30-Oct-2019 ✱
Sunshine | Veiled Threat | Rylee Adamson #7 | Review | 31-Oct-2019
✱ Halloween Bonus:
Apoorv: Tagged Horror by 116 users.
Michaelle: Tagged Paranormal by 139 users
Melissa: Tagged Paranormal by 122 users
Selection Post: Week 9 - Roll 9
Spot 71
Book:
Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
Pages: 509
How it fits: Book 1 of a series
Selection Post: Week 9 - Spot 71
The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara
288 pgs/GR
Qualifies: #1 Big Bad Wolf series
Bonus: MPG Paranormal for Halloween
[ book:The Wolf at the Door|36480253]
COMPLETION POSTWeek 9
Spot 71
I Don't Ella Fox
Finished: 10/27
Pages: 268
Rating: 4 stars
How It Qualifies: #1 in Enamorado series
Review: This book goes back and forth between the present and four years ago until it catches up. It was interesting trying to figure out what broke up this couple. Ava keeps trying to get away from her fiance, Mateo and she can't remember exactly what happened to break them up. I really enjoyed this book. It was very different. I love Ella Fox's books and I will definitely continue on in this series. These are all standalone stories so there is no CH which was great.
Mod
Week 9
Spot 71
The Nomad Harp
Pages: 224
How it fits: a standalone
Finished: 10/27/19
Rating: ***
Review: This was an odd story. It started out very unemotional. I might have been tempted to quit reading, but I generally love Regency novels, so I continued.
It got better as the story progressed. It was definitely a slow burn type of love story. I'm not a fan of insta-love, but I don't think I like the slow burn variety either. At least not in a story.
Selection PostWeek 9; Spot 71
Book: Veiled Threat by Shannon Mayer
Pages: 285
How it Fits: Rylee Adamson, #7
Completion Post: Week 9 - Spot 71
The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara
288 pgs/GR
*Bonus: MPG Paranormal for Halloween
Finished 10/30/19
Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4 on GR
Review: FBI Agent Cooper Dayton has survived a werewolf attack. After that he was transferred to the BSI. They are sent in when dealing with the supernatural. He is being partnered with Agent Park from the Trust to find out who is killing werewolves. I gotta say I knew from the beginning the who but the story along the way was fun. I'm looking forward to more of Agent Dayton and Ollie.
Completion PostWeek 9; Spot 71
Book: Veiled Threat by Shannon Mayer 10/31/19
Pages: 285
How it Fits: Rylee Adamson, #7
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
War is getting closer. Rylee's trying to get all the supernatural allies together as she can. This includes another dragon and a long lost uncle, a slayer who can teach her some things she needs to know on how to defeat demons.
Millie & Pamela are pulled into the deep veil, where, it turns out, it's awfully hard to get to. The castle with all the veil jump points, has been attacked and all but a small few doors are destroyed. This is a huge problem, but nothing Rylee can't get around. The problem is how to keep Orion from breaking down the deep veil door and entering the world.
We have known for a while that Liam is not going to make it to the end and I think we just got a clue what his death is going to be. Ugh! To top it off, Rylee hasn't quite been herself and some are starting to notice. (if you read Guardian then you know what it is!)
Week #9 - Roll #9Number Rolled: 71
Book Read: Awakened | James S. Murray-Darren Wearmouth
Date Read: 29-Oct-2019
How it Fits: Awakened #1
Rating: ★★★★
Bonus: Tagged "Horror" 121 times
Review
So! Did I like this one? Yes! Was it gripping and did it make me gobble up the pages? Heck yeah! But was it path-breaking or unique? Not really. Did it have banality in the plot and did it progress in a certain obvious way? Yes indeed! But, I had fun and that definitely counts big time.
This was like reading a James Patterson thriller, written by slightly novice authors - and honestly, I didnt mind. James Murray, one of the authors, is popularly known as "Murr" on the comedy TV Reality show "Impractical Jokers" and I legitimately did not expect a novel with this thrilling element from him. Certain kudos to him for coming up with a very real world and very unique problem (one that may come true given humanities progression towards technological advancement and all).
The book grips you from the get go and successfully manages to hold on to your attention till the very last page. Its fast, its action-packed, and it will make your heart race as various sets of people try to find a way towards safety and life, amidst a gruesome reality and manic horror.
I will read the next book in the series, because the cliffhanger truly raised a lot of questions - and I need answers!!
COMPLETION POSTWeek 9 - Spot 71
Some Kind of Magic by R. Cooper
Page Count: 192/GR
How it Qualifies: Book 1 of Being(s) in Love series
BONUS: MPG Paranormal for Halloween
Date Completed: 30Oct2019
Rating: 3.25 Stars
Review: I thought I would like it more than I did, but the seemingly unnecessary longing/push-pull between the MCs had me as frustrated as they were! Ray is definitely your Alpha werewolf, and Cal is positively adorable with his candy/suckers and flirty nature. The crime-solving element (challenge read requirement) was a bit boilerplate and took a backseat to the sweet and sexy inter-species romance. I just wish they'd resolved the tension by having a conversation a little earlier in the story.
Maybe it was listening to this rather than reading it (even speeding up the playback faster than ANY BOOK so far) but the conversations felt stilted and a little awkward at times, and it was hard to tell when the story moved to flashback scenes. I think I'll put it on the re-read shelf in case I want to continue on with the series.
Yaaay! As soon as we have Carrie's review - we will be all set.We are all coming close to the end here. 2 maybe 3 more weeks - one team is already in the 80s. I hope our rolls turn out to be good the next couple of rounds.
If anyone wants to do the rolls please feel free. My rolls have been very blah throughout - maybe you guys have better luck. Haha! :)
Completion Post:Week 9 - Roll 9
Spot 71
Book:
Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
Pages: 509
How it fits: Book 1 of a series
Read: Nov 1
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Imagine being able to take tours of another world, another world that appears to be evil and sinister. Seeing demons and dragons, battles. Except this world isn't really like that and the people who reside are getting tired of the act they have to put on each tour.
I found this book to be delightful, entertaining and funny. I felt so bad for our main character, Wizard Derk, now this years Dark Lord. Derk is a kind wizard, who just wants to breed different animals and zero interest in pretending to be evil.
Yeah - glad you found a 5 star book to read Carrie :)
I went ahead and rolled for us:I rolled 12 ( 6+6)
New Spot 83
Can read an 8, 3, 83 or Alternate
83. Published between 1950 and 2000
Selection Post Week 10Spot 83
Snowed In: Hunter's Story by Adira August
148 pgs/GR
#3 in Cam & Hunt4ever series
[ book:Snowed In: Hunter's Story|38279382]
Mod
I rolled 12 ( 6+6)"
Nice roll, Melissa!
Week 10 - Roll 10
Number Rolled: 6+6 = 12
Post Your Roll - Post
----------------------------------------
Spot: 83
Book Choice:
Read 3rd book in a series.Alternate Choice:
Read 8th book in a series.
Read 83rd book in a series
Read a book pubslished between 1950 and 2000.Note the bonus points!
-----------------------------------------
Books Read (Alphabetically)
Apoorv | Still Me | Me Before You #3 | Review | 08-Nov-2019
Carrie | Key of Valor | Key Trilogy #3 | Review | 07-Nov-2019
Karen | Target on Our Backs | Monster in His Eyes #3 | Review | 07-Nov-2019
Lanelle | Frogs and Kisses | Enchanted Inc. #8 | Review | 03-Nov-2019
Melissa | Snowed In: Hunter's Story | Hunt&Cam4Ever #3 | Review | 05-Nov-2019
Michaelle | Beneath This Mask | Enhanced #3 | Review | 07-Nov-2019
Sunshine | Wounded | Rylee Adamson #8 | Review | 08-Nov-2019
~Melissa~ wrote: "I went ahead and rolled for us:I rolled 12 ( 6+6)
New Spot 83 "
That's it, Melissa! You are rolling for everything now onwards. Haha! :)
Thanks ~ sometimes they're good ....sometimes they're not. Just lucky last two were good : )
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I tried to be as spoiler free as possible, sorry! And lol, yeah...holding out 'til we get the new roll before I buy it because I don't want to be tempted into starting it yet.