R4: SS A Novel Idea (3)

[Nicole]

No wait, I'm going to change my mind already, and read Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Core which is set in San Francisco, California, and scrapes in at 160 pages for this week.

[V_Nerdbooks]

Haha decisions decisions

[Lauren]

I'm going with the alternate and will read , which is set in the Hollywood Hills.

[Book Concierge]

Nicole wrote: "I will be reading Paula, by Isabelle Aliende which is number 68 on this very helpful page on Goodreads, if anyone is looking for California reads http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/39......"

I know you already changed your mind, Nicole. But just want to let others know ...
I just read Paula .. most of it takes place in South America and Europe. Only a small part takes place in CA. It's a great book, though!

I do NOT think that Jenne requires that the entire book be in the setting, as long as part of it is ... so if anyone wants to read it, be sure to check with her.

[V_Nerdbooks]

Thanks BC i'll have a look at that, yet another one for my TBR pile !!!

I'll be reading set in California.

Wow this was a tough one !!

[Book Concierge]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "Thanks BC i'll have a look at that, yet another one for my TBR pile !!!"

You can find my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carrie]

Lol I was so hoping to land on 2 or 12. Hmm time to see what I can find.

[V_Nerdbooks]

I know me too Carrie, I found this really difficult lol

[Nicole]

Really really difficult! Looking forward to it tho

[Lauren]

is a DNF. I slogged through 21% of the repetitious dialogue, idiotic characterization and unoriginal plot and called it quits!

I'm going to read (set in California) instead.

[V_Nerdbooks]

Haha Lauren you and me both, my book was just mehhh, too much information, I'll try again at another date.

Going to be reading (set in Los Angeles) instead.

[Nicole]

Oh dear, I've gone from having no books set in Cali to having two books set there that I would love to read. Since one of them is a graphic novel, maybe I will have a chance to read both this week. *laughs*

[V_Nerdbooks]

lol good luck with that!

[Carrie]

Im headed to the library in about an hour, hopefully I find something. Wish me luck!

[V_Nerdbooks]

lol good luck Carrie

[Nicole]

Good luck!

[Carrie]

Im going with .

[Nicole]

Would you be able to tell me what that story is like? I've been wanting to read it.

[Book Concierge]

Carrie (ICanHasBooks?) wrote: "Im going with ."

Great book!

[Carrie]

Good to know. I hate reading books for challegnges that end up being boring or bad. Especially when you have deadlines for them. Well I dont really like bad or boring as rule now anyways lol.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

It's been years since I've read it, but I remember enjoying it a lot. :)

[Lauren]

Week #1: Spot 8 - Alternate set in California

Book: Crash and Burn by Allison Brennan & Laura Griffin
Read: Nov 16th, 2014
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:

Three years ago, LAPD Detective Scarlet Moreno and Officer Krista Hart were almost killed in a sting operation that went wrong. Now partners in a private investigation firm, Moreno & Hart find themselves in two very different, but just as deadly situations. Scarlet investigates the murders of several college students while Hart is hired to locate a missing witness.

This is the first writing collaboration between romantic suspense authors, Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin. While the stories are linked by setting and characters, they can also be read as separate novellas.

As short stories are not really my cup of tea, my expectations for this book were not all that high. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the solid characterization and entertaining suspense plots although Griffin’s contribution, Burn, has a slight edge on Brennan’s Crash for a couple of reasons.

First, Crash is comprised of two unrelated subplots and there is simply too much going on all at once. In contrast, the story in Burn is more cohesive and intense, which results in a more gripping reading.

Second, the romantic element in both installments have similar love-hate relationships, but Krista and rival PI, RJ Flynn, have better chemistry than Scarlet and detective Alex Bishop.

All in all, the premise is compelling, the characters are well-developed within the format and the mysteries are interesting. I look forward to seeing what is up next for Moreno & Hart.

[V_Nerdbooks]

woohoo Go Lauren!!

[Nicole]

Week #1 -- California:

**** to Pink Smog

I love love loved this book. Okay, I can see how non-fans of Francesca wouldn't love the hell out of this little novel, coming more than a decade after the original Weetzie Bat books, but for this little punk pixie who has been trying to find a way into Dangerous Angels for 10 years, I was very happy to have this world unfurl for me in the months immediately after Weetzie's father left and watch her grow up from a teen into a young independent.

I also love that, for the first time, I understand the nick-name of Weetzie Bat--Louise, Louitzie, Louitzie Bat, Weetzie Bat--and that, instead of seeming ridiculous and childish, it sounds kind of endearing.

So that's the first hurdle that I'd always had with Weetzie Bat. The second was the kind of magic, kind of real, and where do you draw the lines when they are this blurred?

That was handled perfectly in this novel. Winter is introduced fairly early, and although he interacts with the other characters, you are left wondering if it's just that none of them are aware of his inherent magicalness. And that is okay, because Winter neither explicitly confirms or denies whether he is the guardian angel Weetzie thinks of him from the start. Thus, it is left to the reader's imagination, which I found I was very comfortable with.

Likewise, I was wondering how the introduction of Lily and Bobby was going to change the friendship group I knew existed in the middle of Dangerous Angels, but between eating disorders and prostitution, these questions were also answered.

I might mention here that never let it be said that Francesca is too fanciful in her stories. The magic and whimsy is there to dull the hard realities of the worlds she introduces. It's how I learned a lot of stuff that teachers don't teach in your teens. And I always love it when Francesca introduces a "gay character" as just a "character".

Alright Dangerous Angels, I might just be ready to read you now.

[V_Nerdbooks]

Week 1
Spot #8
Alternative – Set in California
Book
Finished 19th November
Rating ****
Review


Sleep on a floor in a derelict house?

Struggle to feed yourself every day?

Are you underweight due to the lack of food you are eating?

Do you hate being unclean and smelly?

Do you want to be beautiful?

Then all YOU need to do is pop down to PRIME DESTINATIONS and we can solve all of your problems.

Small print …….Prime Destinations will insert a microchip into your brain and hook you up to another person so they can be you, the other person is an “Ender” (an old rich person who's age is on average 100 yrs old). Here the Ender will leave their body wired up and enter your body, becoming you for a week/month/year……however long you signed up to rent your body out for. You will of course be paid well for this “donating” and we will also make you beautiful again. Your new body user will sign a contract to make sure that they use your body in the best possible way without damaging it at all

Come on down to PRIME DESTINATIONS to make your dreams or being rich a reality.


Callie is aware of Prime Destinations (the body bank for short!) Her and her brother Tyler are starving, and he is really ill, she finds that she has no choice but to donate her body for a time to get money to pay for her little brothers treatment, and to get enough money for them to maybe buy a home for them both…………This was a bad mistake, she knew it as soon as she leaves Prime Destinations, she knows it as soon as she starts to black out, she definitely knows it when she wakes up with a gun in her hand.!

Good book with a story that kept me engaged all the way through, a couple of good twists too that I didn’t see coming, I will definitely look out for the 2nd book in the series to find out what happens.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Current Spot: 8
Read:
The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #8)
Finished: 19 November 2014
Rating: *****

After every book in this series I think they can't possibly get any better, and every time Seanan McGuire proves me wrong by delivering a sequel even more thrilling and intense. This one is definitely a gamechanger, in which Toby learns some truths that have been kept from her for years, discovers that some things she took for granted were deceptions with huge implications for herself and all those she holds dear, and delves deeper into her magical potential than ever before. A flawlessly woven, intricate and absolutely compelling plot combined with wonderful character development, perfect pacing and twists delivered with expert timing are the ingredients that make this series one of my favourites in the UF genre, and this book once again delivers them all. And then of course there's the ending, at which I just may have literally squealed in joy. A little. While on public transportation, which gained me many weird looks, but who cares? Can't wait for the next book!

[Nicole]

Does that mean we now have all the reviews we need, ready to roll the dice on Friday?

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

I think Carrie's is not in yet. Or else I'm too blind to see it right now. XD

[Nicole]

Haha, very possible. It's late here too *grins*

No, hang on, you're definitely right: there are five people on the team, and only four reviews.

[V_Nerdbooks]

yeah we are just waiting for Carrie and then we are all done Yay!!

[Jenne]

Just a reminder:


Thanksgiving-Teams will roll the Friday before (11/21) two times for two spots. No roll on 11/28. Both book's deadline will be Friday (12/5) and then the game resumes it's normal schedule.

[Carrie]

I'll have my book done later on tonight, was watching the uni's page all day, course registration day for me you see.

[V_Nerdbooks]

No probs thanks Carrie

Okay someone will have to give me a nudge on the Thanksgiving thing, we don't have it here in the UK so I'll probably forget and roll as normal haha

[Carrie]

Roll 1
Space 8:
Alt: California
Book:
Finished:November 20th
Rating: 3 Stars
Rieview: Daughter of Fortune was a little to long winded for me. I felt as if the author dragged some parts out longer then need be. I found myself growing bored at certain sections of the book. The only overly interesting parts was Eliza, her adventures in California dressed as a man even made me grow tired. All I could think is why are chasing after him. Its been so long, silly child.

Needless to say I was not enthralled with the book and what of the end. I was expecting to see Miss Rose as earlier indications led me to belive I would. Like few things hinted at in the ealier pages made think they would apper in this one. I guess one needs to read the next book in the series.

[Nicole]

Oh well that's a disappointing review. Maybe I won't read it after all. :/

[V_Nerdbooks]

WEEK 2 ROLL
6+3=9
LANDING US ON SPOT 17

THIS WEEK WE CAN READ

A stand alone
#1 In a series
#7 in a series
#17 in a series

Alternative ......2001.


Reviews need to be in by 5th December evening latest for us to be able to roll again Friday morning.

REVIEWS

V Audio Nerd - Review
Lauren - Review
Nicole - Review
Denise - Review
Carrie (ICanHasBooks?)Review

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

I'll read for that one.

Also, here's your Thanksgiving thing reminder: You need to roll a second time today, with both books to be read and reviewed by 5 December, we're not rolling next week. :)

[Lauren]

I'm going to read - it is a stand alone

[V_Nerdbooks]

WEEK 3 ROLL

6+1=7

LANDING US ON SPOT

24

THIS WEEK WE CAN READ 


#2 In a series
#4 in a series
#24 in a series

Alternative ......2010


Reviews need to be in by 5th December evening latest for us to be able to roll again Friday morning.

REVIEWS

V Audio Nerd - Review
Lauren - Review
Nicole - Review
Denise - Review
Carrie (ICanHasBooks?)  - Review

[V_Nerdbooks]

I'll read
#1 in a series Week 2

#4 in a series Week 3

[Nicole]

#1 in a series Week 2

Alternative ......2010 Week 3

[Carrie]

Week 2: book 1

[Lauren]

Week #1: - 1st in series
Week #2: - published 2010

[Jenne]

Congrats y'all earned your free pass last roll :)


Also wanted to clarify that you can read the two spots in whatever order you'd like. And if anyone thinks they might not be able to make the deadline due to traveling, cooking, cleaning etc lol. Just please let me or your captain know. Thanks!

[Jenne]

Y'all are the most international team of the game lol, so should be smooth sailing for you :)

[V_Nerdbooks]

Wahoo thanks Jenne

[Lauren]

Thanks Jenne :0)

[Nicole]

Hhah, awesome Jenne.

[V_Nerdbooks]

Week 3 book
Spot #24

Book 
Finished 23rd November
Rating ♡♡♡♡♡

Review 

Another one on my favourite list, I absolutely love this series.

Yes it's silly, yes it's unbelievable but I love them.

I've already told my GR buddies that I'm moving to Denver, I had LOTS of volunteers to show me the way and come on the love bus haha! 

This book is about Vance and Jules aka The Law.
In true Denver style Jules stands no chance after Vance chooses that she is his, and nothing that she does can dissuade him.

This book was a little bit different as near the end we hear the POV from all of the main characters which I loved, and even though this story was just as funny (and sexy) as the others, it seemed a lot more serious.

I can't wait to start the next book, and move onto some of her others to see if they are just as good.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Week 2

Current Spot: 17
Read:
Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville #7)
Finished: 24 November 2014
Rating: ****

When Kitty agrees to participate in an all supernatural reality TV show, little does she suspect that instead of silly entertainment for the masses, she and her fellow participants are in for a real life horror movie that leaves one body after another on the ground. Cut off from the outside world, the group must do whatever it takes to figure out what is going on and survive...
This series never fails to entertain, but this was definitely one of the best books in the series so far IMO, with non-stop action, humour, and a few of my favourite characters from previous books like Odysseus and Tina showing up again.