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R11: Team Twice as Fast (2) ***Winning Team***
Mod
Week: 9 Roll: 1
Spot: 70
Book: Aunt Bessie Goes
Qualification: Isle of Man #7
Pages: 237
Mod
Spot: 70
Book: Dark Flag by Kevin Wignall
Qualification: Standalone
Pages: 244
Finished: 25 Oct 2019
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Sam Webster has left the shady world of doing seriously questionable work for the government behind. Then an old university friend of his is murdered in Copenhagen shortly after telling Sam that he's involved in something dangerous and fears for his life. Determined to uncover what led to his friend's death, Sam begins to look into the matter. The Danish police aren't keen on his meddling, and a CIA officer who has inserted himself into the investigation and seems to know a lot more than he lets on tells Sam to back off, but he refuses to be deterred - and might just have stumbled on a massive conspiracy that endangers anyone who knows about it.
Another intriguing, fastpaced thriller from Wignall. I feel a little ambivalent about the ending, but on the whole this was a thoroughly entertaining read.
Week 9~Thursday RollSpot #70
by Nancy WarrenQualifications:Cover Item Animal
Pages:219
Finished:10/24/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:I saw someone else read this book and thought it looked like a fun read. I'm a knitter which I've only been knitting for about 5 years going on 6. I'm in love with this series and how unique it is. I definitely want these books for my own bookshelf. I'm on the hunt for them in paperback.
Mod
Week: 9 Roll: 1
Spot: 70
Book: Aunt Bessie Goes
Qualification: Isle of Man #7
Pages: 237
Finished: 10/26/19
Rating: ****
Review: I think I complained in my review of book #5 of this series that there was a loose end that I didn't like. Well, imagine my surprise when that loose end was solved! But there was another loose unresolved in this story :( I guess the author has taken to doing that to keep up interest in her books.
I have now read books 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the series.
Week 9~Sunday Roll: Old Spot #70 Rolled 6New Spot #76
Alternative #76~Cover:Orange
Mod
Roll: 6
Current Spot: 76, Alternate: Cover: Orange
✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Outpouring by C.S. Johnson (The Starlight Chronicles #6) Review
✔ Maddie: Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (Alternate: Cover Orange) Review
✔ Denise: Headhunters by Mark Dawson (John Milton #7) Review
✔ Lanelle: Kiss and Spell by Shanna Swendson (Enchanted, Inc. #7) Review
Bonus earned: Angie - Halloween Bonus
Mod
Mod
Unfortunately I can't cover that one.
Week 9 Roll 2 (Spot 76) Selection
How it fits: Orange according to TinEye
Pages: 358
Mod
I bet Angie has something that fits, or I might if she doesn't.
Hey, how did your exams go?
Okay cool, I did have a look, but I'm also working 25 hours over the next 3 days so it's a full few days for me so I had to go with something average length rather than longer.They went pretty well thanks! I think I passed!
Mod
Fingers crossed! When do you get the results?
I'm not too sure, hopefully won't take them too long!
Week 9 Roll 2 (Spot 76) Selection Edit
How it fits: Orange
Pages: 317
Denise wrote: "✸ Halloween Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy book for the roll on 10/27."
is listed as a fantasy on Goodreads. Will this work for Halloween Bonus? Does the book have to be a new one or will a re~read work?
Week 9~Sunday RollSpot #76
by C.S. JohnsonQualifications:Starlight Chronicles Book #6 and Halloween Bonus
Pages:320
Finished:10/30/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:Hamilton Dinger is looking to the future without Draco and Sinisters much to the dismay of Raiya. Will there be a future? Find out in Outpouring.
Mod
is listed as a fantasy on Goodreads. Will this work for Halloween Bonus? Does the book have to be a new one or will a re~read work?"A re-read is fine. The fantasy tag wouldn't work, but it's also tagged paranormal-romance-urban-fantasy, and that qualifies. :)
Mod
Week: 9 Roll:
Spot: 76
Book: Kiss and Spell
Qualification: Enchanted, Inc. #7
Pages: 204
this book is shelved as Fantasy, Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fantasy
Mod
Week 9 Roll: 2
Spot: 76
Book: Kiss and Spell
Pages: 204
Qualification: 7th the the Enchanted Inc. series
Read: 10/29
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is good addition to a great series. We get to see Katie and Owen's relationship grow and strengthen. I thought the concept of cheesy romantic comedy movies and TV shows a marvelous plot device for the story. It certainly brought to mind plenty of movies and TV shows that I have watched. I loved the ending!
Mod
Spot: 76
Book: Headhunters by Mark Dawson
Qualification: John Milton #7
Pages: 394
Finished: 30 Oct 2019
Rating: ★★★
Review:
Having convinced himself that Milton killed his wife, former Mossad operative Avi Bachmann has gotten himself broken out of prison and is hellbent on revenge. Blackmailing his former employers into providing assistance, he's tracked Milton to Australia and doesn't care whether an innocent bystander might get caught up in his thirst for vengeance.
Eh, this one was pretty much that overblown "two super Alpha killers facing off" climax from the previous book repeated and stretched out into an entire novel. While I liked that we finally got some more international settings again, and having Ziggy, who was a fun character in the previous book as well, back in the mix made things more entertaining, I still felt this one was too longwinded and Avi two one-dimensional a character to make for a truly interesting adversary.
Week 9 Roll 2 (Spot 76) Completion
Pages: 317
How it fits: Orange cover
Date read: 31/10/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I loved how this continued on from Goose Girl, and I didn't feel lose as it's been a while since I read #1. I enjoyed learning about Enna and her life in the forest, and also how she comes to learn about fire-speak and learn it! Nice easy quick read
Mod
Roll: 4
Current Spot: 80, Alternate: Cover Item: Furniture
✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Spring Blessings by S.C. Houff (Standalone) Review
✔ Maddie: Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay (Standalone) Review
✔ Denise: Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré (Standalone) Review
✔ Lanelle: Winter Wish by Dixie Minor (Standalone) Review
Week 10 Roll 1 (Spot 80) Selection
How it fits: Standalone
Pages: 464 (will re-read the pages that I've already read)
Week 10~Thursday RollSpot #80
by S.C. HouffQualifications:Standalone
Pages:308
Finished:11/2/19
Rating:4 Stars
Review:I've never read a book where the author is an active member of the story through out the whole book. It did make the story more interesting to say the least. I look forward to my next adventure with this author.
Mod
Week: 10 Roll: 1
Spot: 80
Book: Winter Wish
Qualification: a standalone
Pages: 224
Date read: 11/1/19
Rating: ***
Review: From the blurb, I thought that this story was going to be some sort of alien encounter. Nope, just a coming-of-age, teenage drama type of book. It was kind of slow reading how the main character came to understand herself.
There was a bit of tension when she came across a wannabe militia guy who was kinda wacko. But that ended peacefully after some more drama.
That writing was good, but it's not something that I'd ever read again. Unless it was for a challenge :)
Just to double check, can someone please tell me how many hours we have until the final deadline for this roll? And what time in what time zone is it?
Mod
Mod
Spot: 80
Book: Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
Qualification: Standalone
Pages: 282
Finished: 02 Nov 2019
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
When the grand master of the spy thriller genre has a new book out, it's sure to be an immediate addition to my TBR. Set very much in the present, amidst the political turbulence of Brexit and Trump, the story follows a middle-aged spy nearing the end of his career who is unwittingly pulled into very troublesome waters by his badminton partner, a volatile young man with forceful political opinions. Clever, timely, with plenty of twists and brilliantly written.
Thank you Denise, I'll check my time zone :)
Okay cool so it's tomorrow night, not tonight, the deadline. That's good! Working 51.5hr is very tough and leaves not much time for other things!
Mod
Yes but also the govt thanks me for my tax contribution -_-
Mod
Oh gotcha, I'll check again!I'll have it done no worries. I think it shifted for the better for me, making it 7pm rather than 6pm! Assuming that there's around 7hr from now?
Week 10 Roll 1 (Spot 80) Completion
How it fits: Standalone
Pages: 464 (will re-read the pages that I've already read)
Date read: 4/11/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: It's not often that I read types of books like this, but I really need to get more into thrillers, or just books that aren't fantasy/contemporary in general XD I know I'll love the more creepy thrillers!
I enjoyed the short chapters, really motivating, as well as the different POVs (although I did get a little confused at the start). It took a while to get into, and there were many different relationships in the story, but I did enjoy it! I couldn't think of anything worse than being in an elevator and it plunging to the ground and killing me!
Week 10~Sunday Roll:Old Spot #80 Rolled 6New Spot #86
Alternative #86~Title E
Mod
Roll: 6
Current Spot: 86, Alternate: Title E
✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: Everlasting by C.S. Johnson (Alternate: Title E) Review
✔ Denise: The Ninth Step by Mark Dawson (John Milton #8) Review
✔ Lanelle: Poppy Done to Death by Charlaine Harris (Aurora Teagarden #8) Review
Week 10 Roll 2 (Spot 86) Selection
Pages: 256
How it fits: E title
I'm just finding random books at this point XD Don't have any series up high enough
Mod
Hi team :) After speaking with Denise, I've decided to drop out of this challenge. Life is very stressful for me right now, exams just over, work taking my days away, and now I'm job hunting before I move back home in 2 weeks time. I've got a lot going on and I don't want to keep hindering the team, and stressing myself out unnecessarily. Sorry to have to do this, as I do look forward to this challenge each year, but it's just not working out at this point.
Mod
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Roll: 5
Current Spot: 70, Alternate: Cover Item: Animal
✔ Angie ~aka Reading Machine~: The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren (Alternate: Cover Item Animal) Review
Maddie: Pre-arranged absence
✔ Denise: Dark Flag by Kevin Wignall (Standalone) Review
✔ Lanelle: Aunt Bessie Goes by Diana Xarissa (Isle of Man #7) Review