R11: Team SMMACKLe (8)

[Karen ♐]

I'm going to look at all of my books too to find a short one.

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

I was thinking the minimum was 150 for some reason, but it's actually 140pages. Need to go back and look for 8 & 9 again because those are the only 2 that are tripping me up. Should have saved my last book just in case...

[~Melissa~]

Lanelle wrote: "⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "I'm going to scan all my TBR shelves right now for a book that..."

I've got mine picked out and ready to read."

I’ve got mine ready to go, too.

[~Melissa~]

Ok - I have to go to sleep. Anybody can go ahead and roll if Carrie posts her review 😊

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

I just asked on the Q&A thread about potential reads (was eyeing a #10 at one point and wanted clarification) and incidentally found out that as long as Carrie is reading a series book - not an alternate option - that means we earned the final extra bonus point. YAY! So, 6 more than whatever our roll turns out to be.

Here's hoping it's not double 1s since we have to be at 101 or higher to be in contention to win. (Seriously looking for ~140 page books now...even ones not on my TBR...so that I am not the one holding up the team from a potential win!)

[Apoorv]

So, it says we can't use our free pass FOR the win.
If we use it now, I think we should be fine - because we are going to read FOR the win this week and our free pass would be for the penultimate week.

I'm almost tempted to use it and get us over the line since two teams are reading for spot 102 right now!!

What do you guys think? Denise, are we okay doing so?

[~Melissa~]

If Denise says Yes - I'd go for it :)

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

Agreed

[Carrie]

⚣Michaelle⚣ wrote: "I just asked on the Q&A thread about potential reads (was eyeing a #10 at one point and wanted clarification) and incidentally found out that as long as Carrie is reading a series book - not an alt..."

I am reading a series book.

[Carrie]

Apoorv wrote: "So, it says we can't use our free pass FOR the win.
If we use it now, I think we should be fine - because we are going to read FOR the win this week and our free pass would be for the penultimate ..."

I won't get my book done for until later on this evening. So do whatever.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

You can go ahead and use the free pass. It just can't be used to let you claim the win before you have all team members' reviews for a winning spot.

[Apoorv]

Cool beans! Thanks, Denise!! :D
Let's do this!! Rolling now...

[Apoorv]

Rolled a 7 (2+5)

That takes us to 99 + 6 bonus = 105!
Yaaaaay!!
Time to hit the road running...

[Apoorv]

Week 12 - Roll 12
Number Rolled: 2+5 = 7 +6 BONUS = 13
Post Your Roll - Post

----------------------------------------
Spot: 105

Book Choice:

Read a standalone book.
Read 1st book in a series.
Read 5th book in a series.
Read 105th book in a series

Alternate Choice:

Read a book with a L Title.

Note the bonus points!
-----------------------------------------
Books Read (Alphabetically)

Apoorv | Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love | Standalone | Review | 15-Nov-2019
Carrie |
Karen |
Lanelle | Valor | Greystone #1 | Review | 15-Nov-2019
Melissa | Snowbound | Secret Heart Ink #1 | Review | 15-Nov-2019
Michaelle | The Vampire's Omega | Vampire's Omega #1 | Review | 15-Nov-2019
Sunshine |

[Karen ♐]

I'm confused...so do we read for 99 or for the 105?

[~Melissa~]

For the Win Selection Post
Spot 105


Snowbound by Deborah Cooke
#1 Secret Heart Ink series
148 pgs

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

Selection Post

Week 12 - Spot 105

The Vampire's Omega by L.C. Davis
Page Count: 153/GR
How it Qualifies: #1 of The Vampire's Omega series

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Karen ♐ wrote: "I'm confused...so do we read for 99 or for the 105?"

105

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Selection Post

Week 12 - Spot 105

by Taylor Longford
Page Count: 155
How it Qualifies: Greystone #1

[Sunshine✰✰✰]

Selection Post

Week 12; Spot 105

Book: The Sea Queen by Jovee Winters
Pages: 182
How it Fits: The Dark Queens #1

[Karen ♐]

SELECTION POST
Week 12 - Spot 105


Steele Savannah May
Pages: 148
Hot it Fits: Army Brothers #1

[Carrie]

SELECTION POST
Week 12 - Spot 105


Keep Calm And Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew

Pages: 147
How it fits: Standalone

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

COMPLETION POST

Week 12 - Spot 105

The Vampire's Omega by L.C. Davis
Page Count: 153/GR
How it Qualifies: #1 of The Vampire's Omega series
Date Completed: 15Nov2019
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: Well, that was an interesting take on the ABO genre.

I've only read one other with the Vampire distinction, and like that one was the details are fuzzy on the whys and hows. At least here we get a reasonable excuse: All their information was gathered from a sample set too small to account for possible variation. Props for Science!

LOVED that Henry wasn't what most would call ideal, and that Lyle was attracted to someone society would deem as less than perfect. Also appreciated that there wasn't a lot of story spent with Henry angsting too much about it either. Henry had a lot of heart, and was quite funny in unexpected ways. And I adored how the author made Lyle so vulnerable and so human when he opened up to Henry about his mother.

One thing that I thought would get a bit annoying - Henry's Catholicism repeatedly used to repudiate all things Vampire - actually wasn't all that insufferable. There were a few instances of decision making that seemed pigeon-holed into fitting religious beliefs, but could be handwaved away if were framed in a more spiritual mindset rather than adhering to dogma.

I think what kept this from rating slightly higher (for me) were a handful of inconsistencies that threw me out of the story...and that, for once, I think I was more interested in the het side characters & their tragic love.

[~Melissa~]

For the Win Selection Post
Spot 105


Snowbound by Deborah Cooke
#1 Secret Heart Ink series
148 pgs
Completed 11/15/19
Rating 3 - 3.5 stars

Review - this was a short and sweet start to a trilogy involving a new tattoo shop and a bit a magic to find true love. We have Liv who is scientific and unromantic whose had a crush on her best friends older brother for a while. Spencer is a chef and a romantic. Watching him try to change her mind was fun. Fun, short and sweet.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Completion Post

Week 12 - Spot 105

by Taylor Longford
Page Count: 155
How it Qualifies: Greystone #1
Date finished: 11/15/19
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Review: This is an interesting concept. And I think the author did a pretty good job of writing it. The characters were fleshed out well. there were just too many of them. There were just few details that didn't seem realistic. One of my favorite characters was the dog :)

[Apoorv]

Week #12 - Roll #12
Number Rolled: 105

Book Read: Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love | Jonathan Van Ness
Date Read: 15-Nov-2019
How it Fits: Standalone
Rating: ★★★★

Review
Oh, how I love this little ball of energy. I love my Queer Eye magicians and anytime I get to read or listen about them, I'm a happy camper. Its a very positive show in a glaringly not-to-subtly negative environment and I love nit just what it stands for but for what it achieves. Jonathan Van Ness is the life of that little group, and he was just as irreverent and charming in this book.

Pause to think that so much has happened in his life, sometimes out of ill-fortune, many times because of his own doing - but it provides a great perspective behind the cheery face, and flipping face of JVN. There are a lot of moments that have happened in JVNs life that you wouldn't wish even on your worst enemy, but he has soldered through them to get to where he is today. And it was very heartwarming to read.

All I wish for him is a lot of love, all the warmth he needs, and some stunning Blahnik shoes! He can sure rock them like nobody's business!

[Apoorv]

Arrrrghh!! The challenge has a winner!!
Another team just finished all their reads for this round, and they seem to have successfully perched on their spot past 100!!

This was sooooo intense. Damn!

[Karen ♐]

COMPLETION POST
Week 12 - Spot 105


Steele Savannah May
Finished: Nov 15
Pages: 148
Rating: 2.5 stars
Hot it Fits: Army Brothers #1
Review: This story starts with Scherri coming home after leaving 5 years ago to visit her ailing grandmother. Her mother is now married to Steele's father. Steele was her best friend who she was in love with when she left to be with her father when the marriage broke up. Steele comes home at the same time after serving time in the army. They reconnect. There is a lot of really hot sex in this book. After Steele and Scherri get together, his buddy, Bolt, comes for a visit. Yes, you guessed it. There's a menage, of course. Thankfully, this was a short book!

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

Apoorv wrote: "Arrrrghh!! The challenge has a winner!!
Another team just finished all their reads for this round, and they seem to have successfully perched on their spot past 100!!

This was sooooo intense. Damn!"

Oh man, so close!!!

Great job team, and thanks for playing!

[Karen ♐]

It was really close. Really enjoyed playing with all of you.

[~Melissa~]

Awww well all good things must come to an end 😊
Was wonderful that we were in contention for the win! I had a blast playing with you all

[Book Concierge]

Congratulations to you all as well. Game well played! It really was a "race to the finish"!

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Aproov, thanks for taking care of our Team. I know it was a lot of work.

[Apoorv]

Carrie, Karen, Lanelle, Melissa, Michaelle, Sunshine - It was such a joy to play with all of you. You are a fantastic team and we did SO GOOD - we were there right till the end.

I see a lot of you read some fantastic books throughout the last 3 months, I'm totally going to add the best ones in my TBR! Haha!

Thank you for being such a great sport. I'm sure we'll run into each other in other beautiful corners of GoodReads. :D

[Sunshine✰✰✰]

Darn! I just came to post my review... It was awesome we came so close to winning!

[Carrie]

We had a good run, it was lovely playing with you all. I know I'll see you around the wonderful world of goodreads.