R11: Team Twice as Fast (2) ***Winning Team***

[Maddie]

Thanks :)

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Lanelle wrote: "Denise, I changed my book from #2 in the series to #3.

Completion Post

Week: 4 Roll: 2
Spot: 32

Book: Aunt Bessie Considers
Qualification..."

Got it! :) You've still got the cover for #2 linked, could you change that when you have a minute?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Denise wrote: "You've still got the cover for #2 linked, could you change that when you have a minute?"

Sorry about that. I've fixed it.

[Maddie]

Week 4 Roll 2 (Spot 32) Completion

How it fits: #3 in series
Pages: 309
Rating: 4 stars
Date read: 26/9/19

Review: This was another great book! I liked the depth of the characters, once again, especially Jenna with her broken marriage, and her finding herself. Her and Ethan had a definite instant connection, no one can deny that, but it felt like a different connection to his brothers'. I was surprised with how different Ethan was in this one, as I knew him to be happy and calm!

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 5~Thursday Roll: Old Spot #32 Rolled 6
New Spot #38
Alternative #38~Author L

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 5: Roll 1

Roll: 6
Current Spot: 38, Alternate: Author L

✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Riding Home by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Alternate: Author L) Review
Maddie: Pre-arranged absence
✔ Denise: Crossfire by David Hagberg (Kirk McGarvey #3) Review
✔ Lanelle: Aunt Bessie's Holiday by Diana Xarissa (Isle of Man #8) Review

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Guess I might as well keep going with these and see which series I get tired of first... XD

Spot: 38

Book: Crossfire by David Hagberg
Qualification: Kirk McGarvey #3
Pages: 448

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Selection Post

Week: 5 Roll: 1
Spot: 38

Book: Aunt Bessie's Holiday
Qualification: Isle of Man #8
Pages: 251

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Completion Post


Book: Aunt Bessie's Holiday
How it fits: 8th in the series
Pages: 251
Rating: 3 stars
Review: The writing in this books seemed a bit smoother. I can tell that the author has had more experience. I really didn't care for the overall theme of marital fidelity. I also didn't care for the ending. It felt like there were missing pieces.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 5: Roll 1
Spot: 38

Book: Crossfire by David Hagberg
Qualification: Kirk McGarvey #3
Pages: 448
Finished: 28 Sep 2019
Rating: ★★★

Review:
A KGB general decides to acquire some much needed funds for his organization by stealing a US shipment of gold to Iran with the help of one Arkady Kurshin, who happens to be considerably less dead than previously believed. As a distraction, Kurshin bombs the CIA's Paris station and frames McGarvey, planning to follow this attack up with several more of the kind across Europe. And while this would have made for a very interesting plot to spin the whole book around, instead more than half of it involves McGarvey running off with the supremely irritating love interest of the week to play treasure hunt and find a Nazi sub that disappeared off the coast of Argentina back in 1945.

The actually interesting part of the plot is relegated to the background and takes up maybe a third of the book, if even that much. Did we really need that hunting Nazi gold subplot? I'm so very tired of this entirely overused plot cliché - if I never encounter it in a book, movie or TV show again, it'll be too soon. Also, I very much hope that as we get closer to books written in this century, Hagberg at some point learns to write interesting, complex, nuanced female characters who exist for reasons other than sleeping with McGarvey and committing acts of utter stupidity. Thus far, he is very much stuck on the list of authors who make me wonder if they've ever even met an actual woman.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 5~Thursday Roll
Spot #38
by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Qualifications:Author L
Pages:224
Finished:9/26/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Zach Powell left his high-stressed lawyer job to become a ranch hand at Last Chance Ranch. When he spies Jeannette Trenton being affectionate with a horse he's intrigued. Jeannette knows that she's persona non grata but she's trying to make amends for her actions. Meeting Zach sends sparks of passion she didn't think possible. Can Jeannette make amends? Will Zach renew his passion for the law? Find out in Riding Home.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 5~Sunday Roll: Old Spot #38 Rolled 4
New Spot #42
Alternative #42~Four or more Words Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 5~Sunday Roll
Spot #42
by C.S. Johnson
Qualifications:Starlight Chronicles Book #2
Pages:338
Finished:9/30/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Hamilton Dinger thinks only of himself learns a very hard lesson in Calling. He will discover a side of himself that he never knew. Will it change him for better or worse?

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 5: Roll 2

Roll: 4
Current Spot: 42, Alternate: Four or more Words Title excluding articles like A, An, The (i.e. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Calling by C.S. Johnson (The Starlight Chronicles #2) Review
✔Maddie: Playing with Her Heart by Lauren Blakely (Alternate: 4 word title) Review
✔ Denise: Ghosts by Mark Dawson (John Milton #4) Review
✔ Lanelle: Aunt Bessie Believes by Diana Xarissa (Isle of Man #2) Review

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ wrote: "Week 5~Sunday Roll
Spot #42
by W. Winters
Qualifications:Hard to Love Book #2
Pages:198
Finished:
Rating:
Review:"

Any chance you could get the author or a GR librarian to get this officially marked as #2 in that series? It does say it is in the book description, but since I just quoted the "✸ Series # will be based on how GR has it listed." rule to Maddie last week, it's a little dodgy as is.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Spot: 42

Book: Ghosts by Mark Dawson
Qualification: John Milton #4
Pages: 273

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Selection Post

Week: 5 Roll: 2
Spot: 42

Book: Aunt Bessie Believes
Qualification: Isle of Man #2
Pages: 213

[Maddie]

Week 5 Roll 2 (Spot 42) Selection

Pages: 248
How it fits: #2

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 5: Roll 2
Spot: 42

Book: Ghosts by Mark Dawson
Qualification: John Milton #4
Pages: 273
Finished: 01 Oct 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Review:
After managing to get himself arrested for a bar brawl in Texas, Milton is bailed out by a (cliché alert!) beautiful Russian agent, who spirits him away to Moscow to meet her boss, a colonel in the SVR. Having taken Milton's old friend and former colleague Michael Pope prisoner during a botched attempt to kill him, said colonel now uses Pope to blackmail Milton into helping him take down a mutual enemy. As a first step, Milton must track down his mentor and predecessor, who disappeared eight years ago.

A vast improvement over the previous book. This one delves deeper into Milton's past and introduces the protagonist of one of Dawson's other series, a former assassin with an agenda of vengeance by the name of Beatrix Rose - a series I'll be sure to check out as well.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Denise wrote: "Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ wrote: "Week 5~Sunday Roll

I changed my book because the author isn't ready to name the series yet. I asked her assistant that was what I was told. I've also posted my review with the new book as well. Sorry for the confusion.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Ok, no problem :)

[Maddie]

I really need to get reading today! Aaahhh

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Completion Post

Week: 5 Roll: 2
Spot: 42

Book: Aunt Bessie Believes
Qualification: Isle of Man #2
Pages: 213
Date finished: 10/1/19
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I'm learning quite a lot about the Isle of Man and British terms reading this series. And amazingly, the bad guy actually did commit the crime! There were still enough twists and turns and tension at the end to be enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading another story in the series.

[Maddie]

Week 5 Roll 2 (Spot 42) Selection Edit

Pages: 300
How it fits: Alternate (4 words in title)

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

How's your book coming, Maddie? :)

[Maddie]

Sorry I have finished it I just need to post, I was working and was busy while I was listening to the audio! Will post in a few minutes!

[Maddie]

Week 5 Roll 2 (Spot 42) Completion

Pages: 300
How it fits: Alternate (4 words in title)
Date read: 3/10/19
Rating: 4 stars

Review: I loved the crossovers from other characters in the series. And I really liked how passionate Jill was about her acting, it was so nice to see her pursuing her dreams and discovering herself! While the denial was frustrating, this book did have some good banter

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Yay! Middle of the night for Angie, I believe, so I'll roll for us.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

... ugh, that was a terrible idea. >. < Rolled 1, new spot is 43. Alternate: Cover Item: Jewellery.

Uhm... I apologise? XD

[Maddie]

Hahahaha uh oh! Hmmmmm I'll get back to you!

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 6: Roll 1

Roll: 1
Current Spot: 43, Alternate: Cover Item: Jewellery

✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Submerging by C.S. Johnson (The Starlight Chronicles #3) Review
✔ Maddie: Siren's Song by Ella Summers (Legion Of Angels #3) Review
✔ Denise: Learning Curve by Kaje Harper (Life Lessons #4) Review
✔ Lanelle: Aunt Bessie Decides by Diana Xarissa (Isle of Man #4) Review

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Spot: 43

Book: Learning Curve by Kaje Harper
Qualification: Life Lessons #4
Pages: 343

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Denise wrote: "... ugh, that was a terrible idea. >. <

Rolled 1... Uhm... I apologise? XD"

*grin* It sounds like something I'd do! I completely sympathize.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Week 6~Thursday Roll
Spot #43
by C.S. Johnson
Qualifications: Starlight Chronciles Book #3
Pages:328
Finished:10/5/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Hamilton Dinger has accepted his roll as a Starlight Warrior. He's taking steps to improve hi abilities. Starry Knight is a puzzle to him that he really wants to figure out. Can he keep up with everything on his plate?

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Selection Post

Week: 6 Roll: 1
Spot: 43

Book: Aunt Bessie Decides
Qualification: Isle of Man #4
Pages: 278

[Maddie]

Week 6 Roll 1 (Spot 43) Selection

How it fits: #3
Pages: 272

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 6: Roll 1
Spot: 43

Book: Learning Curve by Kaje Harper
Qualification: Life Lessons #4
Pages: 343
Finished: 04 Oct 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Review:
Mac is recovering from getting shot, but he still has a ways to go before he can be cleared to return to duty. While he is eager to get back to the Homicide department, Tony is dreading the day Mac goes back to work and he himself inevitably goes back to worrying each day whether his husband will come home. Consulting on a case involving a murder, a missing man, and one of Tony's students gives them both a taste of what their lives will be again once Mac goes back on the job. Meanwhile, there's an adoption to process, a trial to attend, and Mac's family popping back into his life without an invitation.

The final part in the series, this book has a bunch of loose ends to tie up. Harper does a great job of it, too, bringing Mac and Tony's story to an all around satisfying conclusion. The character and relationship development which I've so enjoyed following through these books continues in this one and leaves the couple as well as their family in a good place at the end.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Completion Post

Week: 6 Roll: 1
Spot: 43

Book: Aunt Bessie Decides
Qualification: Isle of Man #4
Pages: 278
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This story involves a Shakespearean acting troupe visiting from America, which makes too many new characters to remember. I got confused easily. And since these new characters are actors, their lying was superior. But of course Aunt Bessie solves the mystery in the end :)

Denise, I have now read books 2, 3, 4, and 8 of this series. Shall I keep trying for the bonus point requirement for the first 9 of a series?

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

If you're enjoying it, absolutely! Since you can read them out of order, you might get there much sooner than I will reading a series in order. :)

[Maddie]

I'll have my book done before deadline, sorry been crazy busy!

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Ok, I'll keep an eye on the thread (and surely Angie will as well once she's up) so we can roll as soon as possible after you post your review. Or if you want, you can roll for us right away after your review is up.

[Maddie]

Yeah I'll do that, but will just post it here :)

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

That's fine, I'll take care of getting the new roll posted to the Post Your Spot thread when I'm up. :)

[Maddie]

Perfect, will get it posted up in a few minutes. Got another hour 10 I believe right? I've been making the most of sorting out other stuff this morning.

[Maddie]

Week 6 Roll 1 (Spot 43) Completion

How it fits: #3
Pages: 272
Date read: 7/10/19
Rating: 4 stars

Review: I'm so glad I picked up this obscure urban fantasy from KU! I was very hesitant to try urban fantasy, as it's always been something I just assumed I'd hate. But you know what they say about assuming things :p I love the twists and turns this story takes, and while some things were a little bit predictable, you're always going to get predictable things in these series. The progress on her training and the relationships in these books are just so great, will definitely continue!

[Maddie]

We rolled a 2

Old Spot: 43
Roll: 2
New Spot: 45
Alternative: Romance

[Maddie]

Week 6 Roll 2 (Spot 45) Selection

How it fits: #4
Pages: 270

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 6: Roll 2

Roll: 2
Current Spot: 45, Alternate: Romance

✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Remembering by C.S. Johnson (The Starlight Chronicles #4) Review
✔ Maddie: Dragon's Storm by Ella Summers (Legion of Angels #4) Review
✔ Denise: All the Devils by Barry Eisler (Livia Lone #4) Review
✔Lanelle: Aunt Bessie Enjoys by Diana Xarissa (Isle of Man #5) Review

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Spot: 45

Book: All the Devils by Barry Eisler
Qualification: Livia Lone #4
Pages: 364

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 6: Roll 2
Spot: 45

Book: All the Devils by Barry Eisler
Qualification: Livia Lone #4
Pages: 364
Finished: 08 Oct 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Review:
For ten years, Homeland Security Investigations agent B.D. Little has been obsessed with finding out what happened to his daughter who vanished without a trace. He believes he's found a series of other girls whose disappearances fit a similar pattern - and after a long break, another girl has just gone missing, her case seemingly also bearing the same signature. With his own efforts to investigate blocked by his superiors, Little turns to Seattle Sex Crimes Detective Livia Lone for help. Just when it looks like a number of Livia's recent forays far outside the law might be coming back to haunt her, the last thing she should be doing is getting involved in another off-the-books operation. But there's no way she can walk away from the hunt for a team of serial rapists and murderers - especially not ones with powerful protection who believe themselves to be completely untouchable.

Another excellent read - timely subject, taut suspense, thrilling action, and as usual, impossible to put down. Eisler just never disappoints.