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R11: Team Serious Series Lovers (11)
Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Week 2 ~ Spot #19Book: ?? Still debating on what of many options to use.
Qualification: 1st in series
Pages: ??"
I am in the same position. Too many series I want to start.
I am debating if I am going to try for a book over 500 pages that gives us a point.
Spot 19The 9th Judgment by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (Women's Murder Club #9)
Date Read: 9/7
Rating: ★★★
This installment was my least favorite in the series so far. The murders involved children and were gruesome. I liked the other storylines though. The ending left me wanting to find out what is next for Lindsey.
Ira wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Week 2 ~ Spot #19Book: ?? Still debating on what of many options to use.
Qualification: 1st in series
Pages: ??"
I am in the same position. Too many series I want to..."
That would be nice if you have yhe time to read something that long. I signed up for a long challenge that requires volume not length of books, so I am unlikely to read a long one in the next few months.
:-)
It would take some commitment on my part but I think it is doable.Here is my selection.
Spot 19
Book: The Red Knight
Author: Miles Cameron
Pages: 650
Qualification: #1 of the Traitor Son Cycle
Ira, that's on my TBR, I will be interested to see what you think.
How's everyone's weekend going? I'm participating in a few readathons for the month. And no other plans besides reading :) and hanging out with my kids.
Week 2 spot 19Book: Gnarled Hollow by Charlotte Greene
Qualification: standalone
Read: 9/8/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review
Emily is feeling down after losing her job as an English professor at a University. She gets good news about a once in a lifetime chance for researching an author little is known about. Weird things happpen immediately at the Estate causing her and her colleagues to wonder whats going on. I enjoyed the mystery and wondering what was going to happen next. The romance between Emily and June was lacking chemistry.
Week 2 - spot 19Book: Tennessee Takedown - Lena Diaz
Qualification: #1 in Tennessee SWAT series
Read: 9/9/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: CPA Ashley Parrish is finishing up an audit when the company is shot up by a gunman, leaving 8 dead. Within 24 hours she is again attacked and kidnapped. Dillon Gray leads the SWAT team that brought down the gunman then gets a tip about the kidnapping and goes in pursuit. Who is after Ashley? When the FBI then show up convinced Ashley is an embezzler and her pursuers are miffed partners, Ashley is stunned and Dillon again comes to her aid. A very fast-action plot with great characters. Like this author a lot and look forward to more in this series.
Week 2 - Spot: 19Completion Post
A Fashionable Affair by Caroline Linden
Qualification: Standalone
Pages: 147
Review: Evan, the earl of Carmathen faces the dilemma of falling in love with a lady "in trade. " A sweet tale that crosses the boundaries of class in Regency London. I enjoyed the two main characters, and their love match while unrealistic for the time period worked for me.This is not a story for those who prefer historical accuracy. The ending was very rushed, with a few loose ends glossed over. Very good character development for a novella,
Read: Sep 7
Rating: ★★★✰✰
Completion Post ~ Week 2 ~ Spot #19Book:
The Silver Stag (The Wild Hunt #1) by Yasmine GalenornQualification: 1st in series
Pages: 318
Finished: Sept 9th
Review:I have been very entertained in the past by this author, and she did it again with the story. Sadly, whoever was supposed to edit it totally fell down on the job. However, as with a lot of her other series she was able to take something familiar and spin a new twist on it. In this case it is The Wild Hunt. Also as is typical with her books a sexy kick ass heroin, and secondary characters.
Completion post spot 19Book: The Red Knight
Author:Miles Cameron
Pages: 650
Date read: 12/9/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Miles Cameron succeds in making a world that is gritty and realistic. The word building is good and not too difficult to understand. He is not using too much exposition, and that can be good or bad depending on preference. You are kind of thrown into the world and figuring things out as you go.I really liked the conflict of the story and the fact that no part is presented as the villain. Both sides are shown to be brutal and not kind to the opposite side. It is a story told through many points of view and it is unclear how important all of the characters are. I have a suspicion that characters that seem unimportant in the first book will play an important role later in the story. The many characters may be a negative for a lot of people because you don't get much time to know each character, and you spend little time with the Red Knight, but I was engaged with the plot and the main conflict that I didn't really care. All in all I thought this to be a solid first book in a series and I will continue reading, but maybe not immediatelly after I finished this one because it was pretty dark and violent, so I think it is one of those series that I will need a break between books (I don't think I will be binge reading the series)
Great job team. All reviews are in and completion post updated. I will be rolling at midnight.week 2
Week 3Roll: 4+2=6
Previous Spot: 19
Current Spot: 25
Bonus Points Earned: 2
Bonus Points Used: 0
#2 or #5 in a series
Alt: 25. Published 2015
7/7
Delitealex Ouroboros by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge 9/19/19 4 stars Review
Loriidae Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow 9/17/19 4 stars Review
Linda C Mountain Witness by Lena Diaz 9/17/19 4 stars Review
Amanda A New Leash on Life by Roxanne St Claire 9/14/19 5 stars Review
Ira Shift by Hugh Howey 9/19/19 3 stars Review
Rosaline Prince Caspian by C S Lewis 9/19/19 2 stars Review
Alison (Lady Coffin) On the Plus Side by Alison Bliss 9/19/19 Review
Week 3 ~ Spot #25
Oak & Thorns (The Wild Hunt #2) by Yasmine GalenornQualification: 2nd in series
Pages: 394
Having to change my book, could not get to the other
Book:
On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison BlissQualification: 2nd in series
Pages: 297
Week 3Spot #25
Book: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Qualification: #2 in The Chronicles of Narnia
Pages: 240
Finished: Sep 19
Rating: ☆☆
Review:
Not my favorite! This book brings back so many memories of my childhood. I used to be obsessed with the movies. However, I sadly believe that this is one of those books where the movie is better than the book.
As much as I love the story itself, I could not stand the writing. It was like a bedtime story, but not in a good way. I think I'll go and watch the movies again.
Week 3 ~ Spot #25
Book: Mountain Witness - Lena Diaz
Qualification: #2 in Tennessee SWAT series
Pages: 288
Spot 25New Leash on Life by Roxanne St. Claire (The Dogfather #2)
Date Read: 9/14
Rating: ★★★★★
I love this series and the Kilcannon family. Shane was hit hard by his mother's premature death and was determined not to fall in love after seeing how her death affected his father. Chloe certainly changed that mindset for him and I enjoyed the development of their relationship. I also liked that Shane made a dog-lover out of Chloe and he tried to educate people about the pit bull breed and remove that stigma. I am looking forward to Liam and Andi's story in the next book and learning more about their history as well.
Completion PostWeek 3 - Spot: 25
Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow
Qualification: #5 Jill Kismet series
Pages: 193
Review: Jill is a hunter, she has made a bargain with a demon for enriched powers to hunt down the paranormal evil creatures that threaten humans. Her lover, Saul a werecat, has been kidnapped, and Jill has to work her way through a mystery of evil beings and their twisted activities in order to discover his location, while also dealing with revelations about her past.
As it is #5 in the series it cannot be read as a standalone and relies heavily on the events of previous books. Jill is one tough lady, and I am heavily invested in her relationship, not only with Saul but with the other people she relies on to help keep mankind safe. As with the previous four books there is a intricate mystery to be solved and great characterisation to back up the plot lines. I am very glad that the series is finished as the cliffhanger ending (hence 4 stars) has made me eager to read the sixth and final book in the Jill Kismet series.
Read: Sep 17
Rating: ★★★★✰
Week 3 ~ Spot #25Completion Post
Book: Mountain Witness - Lena Diaz
Qualification: #2 in Tennessee SWAT series
Pages: 288
Finished: 9/17/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Unfriendly Julie Webb moves in next door to Police Detective Chris Downing. But Chris suspects fear rather than lack of neighborliness. Shrieks and a man with a knife bring Chris running and a confrontation that leaves the assailant dead. This is only the beginning of a complex investigation when the assailant is confirmed to be Julie's estranged husband. More attempts are made on her life forcing Chris to become her full time protector. Action packed, slightly unbelievable, but a great read.
Review: Completion Post ~ Week 3 ~ Spot #25Book:
On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison BlissQualification: 2nd in series
Pages: 297
Finished: Sept 19th
Review: An interesting read. However, it is basically just a quick read romance. The story line moves along fast and steady. The concept of the book was tempting, I enjoy this kind of plot, but sadly the book was just ok. Way too often the mc, as well as her brother and the male love interest, just anoyed me way too much.
Completion Post - Week 3 - Spot 25Book: Shift
Author: Hugh Howey
Pages: 570
Finished: Sept. 19
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This book was not what I expected. Instead of continuing where the first book left of this book, goes back in time and explains how people come to live in Silos. Only in the end of the book do we get to know some things that happens after book 1. We are following Donald that was one of the people who designed the Silos before and after people started living there. We have several time jumps as we see what happens mainly in Silo 18 when it has uprisings and is reset.For what it was I enjoyed the read and I found that I was interested in what was happening, it just took some time to get used to the new characters and timelines.
Week 3 Spot 25Ouroboros by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Qualification: #2 in a series
Pages: 378
Read: 9/19/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review
I'm enjoyng this series. We see more of Syl and Rouen being cute together between all the dangerous situations they get into. I loved the action and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I can't wait to read book 3.
see msg 70 - Rosaline updated her selection message with her review
Week 4Roll: 6+1 =7
Previous Spot: 25
Current Spot: 32
Bonus Points Earned: 2
Bonus Points Used: 0
#3 or #2 in a series
Alt: 32 Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
7/7
Delitealex Green-Eyed Demon by Jae Wells 9/27/19 4 stars Review
Loriidae The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells 9/24/19 3 stars Review
Linda C Secret Stalker by Lena Diaz 9/27/19 3 stars Review
Amanda A Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews 9/21/19 3 stars Review
Ira Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith 9/26/19 3 stars Review
Rosaline Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M Martin 9/27/19 3 stars Review
Alison (Lady Coffin) A Deadly Dealer by JB Stanley 9/24/19 Review
Week 3 ~ Spot #32Selection Post
Book: Secret Stalker - Lena Diaz
Qualification: #3 in Tennessee SWAT series
Pages: 265
Oh! Ladies great choice on a series! Make sure to read the in between novellas also.:-)
Week 4 ~ Spot #32 Oak & Thorns (The Wild Hunt #2) by Yasmine GalenornQualification: 2nd in series
Pages: 394
Fingers crossed I can get to it, and not have to fall back on an audio again.
Book:
A Deadly Dealer (A Collectible Mystery, #3) by J.B. StanleyQualification: 3rd in series
Pages: 208 pages
Spot 32Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow #2)
Date Read: 9/21
Rating: ★★★
This installment was OK, just not as entertaining as the first book to me. I like the quirky characters and Meg's wacky family. The mystery was a little all over the place and the way it was wrapped up was in the same vein. I will give the next book in the series a shot at some point though.
Spot 32Book:Career of Evil
Author: Robert Galbraith
Pages: 494
Qualification: #3 in the Cormoran Strike Series
Week 4 - Spot: 32
The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells
Qualification: #2 Sabina Kane series
Pages: 328
Review: Sabina is part vampire part mage. Raised by her vampire family, in the last book she discovered the existence of a twin sister Masie, who has been raised by the mage side of the family. Set a week after last story Sabina goes to New York to meet her twin sister. There is constant action as Sabina becomes involved in one fight after another. Then Masie reveals that there is a prophecy, and of course Sabina is meant to be the "Chosen One " who will “Overcome centuries of hostility among the races, bring us all together peacefully, and lead us.” The minor villain was easily guessed and the hints of a love triangle annoying. The cliffhanger cemented my 3 star rating.
Read: Sep 24
Rating: ★★★✰✰
Loriidae wrote: " Week 4 - Spot: 32The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells..."
Sorry you did not find it more enjoyable.
Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Loriidae wrote: " Week 4 - Spot: 32The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells..."
Sorry you did not find it more enjoyable."
Hmmm it was ok but not as enjoyable or as well constructed as her Prospero's War series which was written after this.
Yes, I do agree on that point. I like Kate a whole lot better. Have you read her other series? I have not, so was just wondering.
I just spent the last 18 hours in bed with a migraine so am running behind and a bit out of it. When are books due? Is it midnight tonight (Pacific)?
Hope you feel better soon. Officially "Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline."
The captain's deadline is "Reviews are due at the latest by end of day on Friday - 23.59pm Central Time"
But it may need to be earlier to give Delitrealex time to post and make it to bed at a decent hour! :)
Hope that helps until Delite can answer officially.
So not today, but tomorrow?If ao then maybe I can still get to that book, but it is going to hurt me in another challenge.
Just to eliminate the added stress for myself and others I changed my selection post up in message 88.Sorry for my drama
Review: Completion Post ~ Week 4 ~ Spot #32Book:
A Deadly Dealer (A Collectible Mystery, #3) by J.B. StanleyQualification: 3rd in series
Pages: 208
Finished: Sept 24th
Review:
In this 3rd book th mc Molly's assignment for her magazine takes her off to Nashville and she brings her mother with her. They go to the Gaylord Opryland Resort for an annual Heart of Dixie antiques show.
These as with so many other cozy mysteries stick to a basic formula, and it is expected, but at times can make a book repetative. This one did nowever have a bit of an unique villain. I enjoyed the interesting historical facts that the author adds to this series, in this case I learned a lot about gadget canes and walking sticks.
Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "I just spent the last 18 hours in bed with a migraine so am running behind and a bit out of it. When are books due? Is it midnight tonight (Pacific)?" I hope you are feeling better. Thanks Loriidae for answering :)
I like to try to roll by midnight but we have all day Friday to get reviews in. If something comes up just let me know.
The Challenge Factory
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Book:
Qualification: 1st in series
Pages: 318