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R4: ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ (1)
DONE! :)Week 6 - Spot 50 - Standalone
by Erzebet YellowBoyDate Finished: 1/1/15
Rating: ★★★
Wellllll... This is kinda a Sleeping Beauty retelling. Helena is the baby born and lives under the care of her 7 aunts. They each give her special "gifts." Beauty, Intellect, Grace, Song & Dance, and Music. These gifts of course have her growing up knowing how to get her own way and, actually several times in the book, Helena refers to herself as a god. The "evil," oldest uninvited 8th aunt gave her...Death? You remain pretty confused on this gift throughout the rest of the book since it doesn't emerge until 3/4 of the way through. So that leaves the last aunt who gives the gift of Sleep to counteract (hopefully) against the Death gift.
The story bounces back between the present and the past, when the 8 sisters were little girls and had a brother. It does this smothly so the whole things reads smoothly and it was great knowing what made Kitty (8th sister) who she is.
I found the last bit and ending of the story confusing and left me wishing for more clarity. But, with all that said, it was still a nice story....But just keep in mind, it is NO WAY the traditional fairy tale.
For Week 8 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ rolled a 9 and moved to Spot 63
Alternate 63. Author T
Week 8 - Spot 63 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ Reviews ■
■ Sheila -
- Post 205 ■ Book Concierge -
- Post 206 ■ Jane -
- Post 216 ■ Sunshine -
Post 217 ■ Tayajay -
- Post 210
Week 8 - Spot 63 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ ◆
Hemlock Bay by Catherine Coulter (FBI Thriller #6) 1/3/15 ✿✿✿This is # 6 in the FBI Thriller series. Married FBI agents Sherlock and Dillon Savitch are involved in a bizarre case that involves a master illusionist who is also a serial killer. It gets personal when the hunted becomes the hunter and goes after our heroes.
Meanwhile Dillon's sister Lily is targeted to die because a ruthless collector wants her paintings by her famous painter grandmother. Could her husband and his parents be involved? ✿✿✿
Team 1 - Ones to BeatWeek 8 - Rolled 9 - Now on spot 63
I'll read a series # 6
✔ 06Jan151*
This series really has run out of ideas. They're fast reads and fulfill the challenge, but they're really a waste of time. This is really just a novella - the entire mystery takes only 168 pages of the 341 pages in the book. The rest of the book is the "potluck cookbook" - and THIS cook doesn't find many recipes worth trying. Clearly there are several mistakes in them. For example one shows this ingredient:
8 50-ounces cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
Using the convention of recipe ingredient lists, this would be 8 cans, 50 ounces EACH, of soup. Even undiluted this is over 12 quarts of soup. And you're supposed to put this into a 5-quart slow-cooker!
Anyway ... like I said, just a waste of time. (Although some of the dessert recipes DO sound good, so that gets 1 star ...)
I will read
Oldest City Vampire #3
I will be back later tonight with my choiceHmm, I haven't found anything yet. I will be back as soon as I do.
Week 8 | Spot 63: Here Comes Trouble (Nothing Special #3), 298 pgs./GRDate Finished: January 2, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I will start off by saying that I like this story much more than book 2. This story flowed a lot better for me and kind of remind of why I loved the first book. As always the cop parts seemed unrealistic. Even though I have no clue about being one. I mean would you really tuck a loaded gun into your pants. I have to say that I'm glad this book focus was less stuck on the crime but good googly moogly when it was still overly dramatic at some part.
Ruxs and Green were funny and cheesy together. I know in the past that I have not like a story where best friends were too touchy feely with one another and still oblivious if the other is gay. But apparently I don't treat all author's works equally. I read this author book for entertaining value not strictly base in fiction reality. I just look at inaccuracies as part of its charm to a certain point.
As for Curtis, he was a character I didn't think that was going to get expanded on. But I'm glad he was.He was stated to be seventeen years old but at times treat like he a preteen. With all the head noogie going around. I would expect that he'll be characterized to be slightly more mature for someone his age. Since he was as far as reader know supporting his ailing mother almost single handedly since his early teens. I was surprised at how much he got his ass handed to him with the amount of time he hang with "Super" cops. I'm very much for his story with God's young brother but hopefully his character is less cheesy with some of the dialogue.
Overall, I love this series and still praying for Ro and Johnson's book.
Jane wrote: "I will be back later tonight with my choiceHmm, I haven't found anything yet. I will be back as soon as I do."
What have you decided upon Jane?
For Week 8 ◆ rolled a 9 and moved to Spot 63Alternate 63. Author T
I will read alternate: author T
Shenanigans by T.B. Bond
Updated message # 206. Book finished, rated and reviewed.Hope everyone else is having a better read this week...
Book Concierge wrote: "Team 1 - Ones to BeatWeek 8 - Rolled 9 - Now on spot 63
I'll read a series # 6
✔ 06Jan151*
This series really has run out of ideas. They're fast reads a..."
Maybe it meant one 8.5 oz can of soup. haha
I just wish Hannah would make up her mind between suitors. That drives me nuts.
Sheila wrote: "Maybe it meant one 8.5 oz can of soup. haha..."I have been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what the correct quantity is. I don't even have a slow cooker, and I would never use mushroom soup in any recipe, so I don't know why I'm so obsessed with this! ARRRRRGH....
I think I'll go have a little chocolate to get my equilibrium back ...
Week 8 - Rolled 9 - Now on Spot 63I have read alternate: author T
Shenanigans by T.B. BondDate Finished: 1/8-15
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was okay but it is at the very low end of three stars. I like the family in this one. Father is human but very special and basically has 6 daughters with 6 different paranormal women. All the girls live with him and have male names. Edward the main character of this book is a succubus but she is young and does not kill people. But because of her, Jackson got turned into a werewolf. 4 years later they meet again and are drawn to each other.
The story didn't feel finished and I am sure that Edward and Jackson's story will continue in the next book though according to the blurb it is one of Edward's sisters and Jackson's room-mate that are going to be the main characters of that book.
Week 8 - Spot 63 by Nancy HaddockDate Finished: 1/8/15
Rating: ★★★
Of the 3 books in this series, I think this was my least favorite. Triton, Cesca, & Saber had to do some magical training to prepare for the fight against the Void. It seemed pointless to me cause they got everything done right almost right away. And who wants Smell as a super power? Cesca takes her Maid-of-Honor duties very seriously for her best friend's wedding, and that was the whole side plot, but we didn't see too much of Maggie and Neil in this story.
For Week 9 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ rolled a 10 and moved to Spot 73Alternate 73. 2009
Week 9 - Spot 73 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ Reviews ■
■ Sheila -
- Post 220 ■ Book Concierge -
- Post 221 ■ Jane -
- Post 244 ■ Sunshine -
- Post 245 ■ Tayajay -
- Post 240
Week 9 - Spot 73 Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter (FBI Thriller #7)1/10/15 ★★★★★
In this book in the series, Dillon and Sherlock have minor roles. Instead one of their coworkers, Dane Carver is called from DC to LA when his identical twin brother - Father Michael is murdered while hearing the confession of his killer.
There is a witness, homeless Nicola. It turns out that Nicola is actually a college professor on the run. On investigation there have been a series of seemingly unrelated murders except the one connection is that they are similar to those murders that are profiled on a TV show along the line of Dateline Mysteries.
Excellent, fast moving story. I give it ★★★★★
Team 1 - Ones to BeatWeek 9 - Rolled 10 - Now on spot 73
I'll read alternate - published in 2009
✔ - 15Jan15Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith – 3*
Book # 2 in the Isabel Dalhousie series has our philosopher investigating mysteries of the heart – both literally and figuratively. I enjoy the philosophical / ethical / moral dilemmas (both real and imagined) that Isabel contemplates. And I really like her relationship with the various characters. But it is a gentle, thoughtful read with endearing characters and some food for thought. Davinia Porter does a fine job performing the audio.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What does 2009 mean? First Published?
Eh, doesn't matter :)I'll read
Allie Beckstrom #7
Sunshine wrote: "What does 2009 mean? First Published?"Published in that year .... can be any edition, does not have to be the first published (as per previous question to Jenne and her response)
At the moment I am having trouble finding books as I want them to fit more things. But I will be back and I will finish in time.
Book Concierge wrote: "Sunshine wrote: "What does 2009 mean? First Published?"Published in that year .... can be any edition, does not have to be the first published (as per previous question to Jenne and her response)"
I am confused now. I have always used first published for that option.
Does that mean I can only use the year published on my edition?
Or can I just use whichever option fits? My actual edition or first published.
I have tried to find the response you mention from Jenne in Q&A but can't find it.
The book I just found to read is:
Bewitching You by Viola Estrella Published May 9th 2012 (first published 2009)
Will this book work?
Thanks Jenne.
So Jane are you reading Bewitching You this week? Just be sure to put the first pub. in 2009 in your review.
Update to post 221 ... Changed my book as the audio MP3 player for Friends, Lovers, Chocolate arrived at the library and it was published in 2009! Yippee Skippee ...(I was really stressing on how I would read three text books this week ...)
Book Concierge wrote: "Update to post 221 ... Changed my book as the audio MP3 player for Friends, Lovers, Chocolate arrived at the library and it was published in 2009! Yippee Skippee ...(I was really st..."
Got it!
Sheila wrote: "So Jane are you reading Bewitching You this week? Just be sure to put the first pub. in 2009 in your review."Yes I am, and I will make sure to put the right pub. date in.
Wow, Sheila ... just realized you finished your book and posted over the weekend! I'm about 2/3 through and on target for finishing Thursday. I'd be done tonight but I have book club meeting, so won't be listening this evening. But Thursday evening I'm taking down the third (and last) Christmas tree .. and listening to Friends, Lovers, Chocolate is the perfect way to make that chore seem less like work.
I just completed my last deChristmasing thing yesterday. I have glass blocks filled with white lights that I finally put away.
Glad I'm not the only one that just finished lol. Finally got the tree into the attic this weekend...
Nooooo! I left my kindle at work! :( Good thing I'm listening to an audiobook so I can play it on my computer, but I still loose out on good travel reading time. Grrr.
Sunshine wrote: "Nooooo! I left my kindle at work! :( Good thing I'm listening to an audiobook so I can play it on my computer, but I still loose out on good travel reading time. Grrr."
Oh No!! I hate when I do that!
Week 9 | Spot 73In a Stranger's Eyes (Haven #7), 165p/GR
Date Finished: 1/14
Rating: 3 star
This is reread for me. This is type of book I have read in early days of discovering goodreads and back to the times I used to choose my books base on Amazon's 100 list. I actually rated this book up since I last read it two years ago. This book was funny and bit smutty. I probably never read it again. I just kind of over insta love especially because they are mate.
Message # 221 updated Week 9 / spot 73 book finished, rated & reviewed.
Is it just me ... or did this week seems to go by faster than usual? We roll tomorrow!
Yes, fast week. Don't know why though.
Week 9 - Rolled 10 - Now on Spot 73I have read alternate: 2009
Bewitching You by Viola Estrella (first published 2009)Date Finished: 1/15-15
Rating: ★★★
Review:
This was quite fun with an interfering grandmother and a mother who hates men and a meddling ghost. Sofia has visions and usually she sees her dates married to other women but now she has had visions, explicit sexual visions, about her future husband. Problem is that she hasn't met him yet and when she does, he is engaged. A fun enough read that I might read more from this author.
Week 9 - Spot 73 by Devon MonkFinished: 1/15/15
Rating: ★★★★★
This series is getting So Good!! I can't wait to read the next! The new Head of the Authority has shown up to clean up the Portland Branch after the big ol' mess from last book. He is an ass. Really. He's all I'm-in-charge-that's-why. He removes key people and not just from being in charge. Something has gone wrong with magic. People are getting sick, dying, and the Veiled are popping up, and out, of everywhere. Allie herself has black-outs and Davy's sick. After bringing all this to the attention of the Authority and the police to no avail, Allie and the gang take matters in their own hands. This brings consequences and freedom. So much happens in this book, I don't know how to not give it all away!
For Week 10 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ rolled a 4 and moved to Spot 77Alternate 77. Author L
Week 10 - Spot 77 ◆ The Ones to Beat! ◆ Reviews ■
■ Sheila -
- Post 255 Book Concierge -
- Post ?? Jane -
- Post ?? Sunshine -
- Post ?? Tayajay -
- Post ??
Week 10 - Rolled 4 - Now on spot 77I'll read alternate - Author L
✔ - 20Jan15The Sugar House by Laura Lippman
3***
Book # 5 in the Tess Monaghan series has the former reporter turned private investigator taking on a job as a favor to her Dad. I like this series and I really like Tess. She’s intelligent, strong willed, confident, resourceful and tenacious; and she doesn’t rely on some “strong, handsome type” to get her out of a jam. Lippman fills the books with local references giving the reader a definite feel for the location. And, since Tess was an English major, the novel is also full of references to books. All in all, a solid mystery read.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm only on book 3 of that series but I like it. You should get bonus points for double L's.
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Week 6 / spot 50 book finished, rated & reviewed.
...
Off to start taking down the Christmas trees.