R4: 4ever Reading (4)

[Samantha McNulty]

Cait wrote: "I'm EST, so the earliest I can roll is 1 am my time (midnight central). But I won't be doing it until 6 or so my time, so you have a handful of extra hours :)"

So, I'm okay to post my review and that tomorrow - BEFORE you roll, right? I'm GMT. So that's EST +5. I think. :/

[Cait S]

I have no idea about time zones to be totally honest but yes your review needs to be in before I can roll.

[Hilary]

Week One

Finished: 11/20/14
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
I am torn between 3 and 4 stars here...

Literally the first half of the book is the history of anxiety, what it is, who has it, etc etc etc. That part of the book alternated between boring and stressful. Boring because it was stuff I already knew, or had more technical info than I cared to know... Stressful because there were "fill in the blank" type exercises that asked the reader to "Name" their anxiety and determine what "type" of anxiety they have. As someone who has suffered from anxiety for basically all of my life, these type of exercises seemed to provoke my anxiety by causing me to over-analyze, and then reanalyze my possible types of anxiety, sources of anxiety, etc etc. Another thing that did not always jive with me was that some of the descriptions and tips just did not seem to fit with "my" anxiety. I know everyone is different, but it did not bring me a sense of peace to feel that I was somehow abnormal compared to the "real" anxiety sufferers out there.

I enjoyed the last half of the book, that focused more on the actual yoga for anxiety (meditations, poses and breathing exercises). The yoga poses included here are very easy, and the author stresses that anyone could do them. I found the last half of the book to be inspiring, and there were plenty of tips that I feel I could incorporate into my own life.

Overall, the authors have a very kind and compassionate tone, and just really encourage the reader to try their best and that is all that matters.

[Cait S]

Cait's Week One Review
by Maria V. Snyder
Date Finished: 11/20/2014
Rating: ★★

Ugh. I started this book off thinking I was going to love it. The first...ten chapters? I was super into it. Totally behind the story line, interested in where it was going, full steam ahead okay I'm on board.

Somewhere along the way... It became a complete chore to read. I had to force myself to finish it. It's repetitive, Yelena whines a lot, the only likable characters are barely ever on the screen, and she has a creepy relationship with a dude twice her age.

No thank you. Definitely will not be picking up the rest of the series. Ever.

[Cait S]

Yay! That's just about everyone. As soon as Samantha's review is in tomorrow I will do our double roll for our next two spots. Thank you, everyone, for checking in and getting your reviews in <3

[Hilary]

Cait wrote: "Cait's Week One Review
by Maria V. Snyder
Date Finished: 11/20/2014
Rating: ★★

Ugh. I started this book off thinking I was going to love it. The fi..."

Oh no! I have read a lot of mixed reviews on this one! I am torn as to whether I should try . My teenage daughter loves this series and had read the books we have until they fell apart! (part of the reason I wanted the eBook!) I might still at least try it someday...

[Samantha McNulty]

Week One

by Stephanie Perkins
Date Finished: 21/11/2014
Rating: ★★★

I had high hopes for Isla and the Happily Ever After especially as Anna and the French Kiss is one of my favourite books. However, though really enjoyable and cute, the story of Isla and Josh just didn't pull me in like Anna's story did back when I read it in 2011.

Overall, Isla and the Happily Ever After is a likable, contemporary romance that is perfect for those long summer nights on the beach.

[Cait S]

Week Two
What We Rolled: 9
We Are On Spot: 18
What You Can Read:
- book #1 in a series
- book #8 in a series
- book #18 in a series
- a book found on this shelf: Tbr Own

Hillary- The Housewife Assassin's Handbook by Josie Brown :: #1 :: Review

Fairlee- Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan :: #1

Samantha- The Silence of Six by E.C. Myers :: Stand Alone :: Review

Danielle- The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn :: #1 :: Review

Cait- Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks :: Stand Alone :: Review

[Cait S]

Week Three
What We Rolled: 6
We Are On Spot: 24
What You Can Read:
- book #2 in a series
- book #4 in a series
- book #24 in a series
- a book published in 2010

Hillary- Up Close And Personal by Leonie Fox :: 2010 :: Review

Fairlee- A Crafty Christmas by Mollie Cox Bryan :: #4

Samantha- Captive by Aimee Carter :: #2 :: Review

Danielle- The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead :: #2 :: Review

Cait- Caught by Harlan Coben :: 2010 :: Review

[Cait S]

Okay guys! There are the rolls for the next two weeks. They are both due by Dec. 5th. I know the holidays are busy for everyone so I won't worry if I don't hear from you all too much :)

Check in with the books you've chosen whenever you know them! Have a great weekend! :D

[Cait S]

For spot 18 I'll be reading: by Huntley Fitzpatrick, #1 in a series.

For spot 24 I'll be reading: by Harlan Coben, a book published in 2010.

[Jenne]

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!

[Hilary]

Week Two
Spot: 18
I will Read:
- book #1 in a series:




Week Three
Spot: 24
I will Read:
- a book published in 2010:

[Samantha McNulty]

My reading for the next two weeks is as follows:

Week Two: The Silence of Six by E.C. Myers

Week Three: Captive by Aimee Carter

[Cait S]

Samantha, for your first book, is that found on the TBR Own shelf that I listed? Just trying to verify so I can add it to the post. Also if it's on a page that's farther back it's helpful if you can let them know which one so no one has to dig for it :) Thank you!

[Fairlee]

week2-Paper, Scissors, Deathby joanne campbell slan- number 1 in the Kiki Lowensties scrap and craft week3-A Crafty Christmasby mollie cox #4 in series

[Danielle]

Okay so for week two I will be reading as it is the first in a series and for week three it will be since it is book two in a different series.

[Cait S]

That's everyone! Thanks all! I hope you enjoy your books :)

[Samantha McNulty]

Cait wrote: "Samantha, for your first book, is that found on the TBR Own shelf that I listed? Just trying to verify so I can add it to the post. Also if it's on a page that's farther back it's helpful if you ca..."

The Silence of Six is currently a standalone, and Captive is #2 in a series :)

[Cait S]

Got it! Thanks :) It looks interesting, I hope it's good!

[Cait S]

Swapping out books, instead of My Life Next Door I'm going to read:

, a stand alone novel.

[Cait S]

Cait's Week Three Review
by Harlan Coben
Date Finished: 11/24/2014
Rating: ★★★★

Sometimes I finish a book and I just want to sigh and indulge in some bad habit, like an after sex cigarette if I smoked but I don't, because it was so damn satisfying that the world just seems right for a moment. That's pretty much how I feel here.

I had no idea how this book would end, up to the last few pages, there were still pieces falling together. Every question was answered and none of them in the way I thought they would be. You cannot ask more from a mystery than that.

I fully plan on reading as many more of Harlan Coben's books as I can get my hands on.

[Hilary]

Week 2
The Housewife Assassin's Handbook
Finished 11/25/14
Rating: 3 Stars
This story follows Donna and her unusual life. On the surface, she appears to be an average stay at home mom living a pretty advantaged life... but the reader/listener soon learns there is more to the story than that! Donna is actually a pretty gutsy lady who has to take down bad guys while her kids are in school.

Listening to Donna's adventures was interesting. During the day she is out killing bad people, and somehow makes it to her kids school in time to pick them up! There was not usually too much detail involved in describing her escapades, and I think this helped make the story flow better. Otherwise I would have been sidetracked by wondering how realistic her lifestyle was.

There was a bit of romance, but it was not overly predictable. A couple of times I was a little shocked by what Donna was doing! There are some mature scenes, so keep that in mind when you are listening (might want headphones!).

This story was somewhat suspenseful, with several little twists that I sort of saw coming. The storyline was easy to follow. I liked the way Donna and Carl's back story is shared while the story is in progress. I had the sense that I knew everything and understood what was going on. Overall, the story made sense and I enjoyed listening to it.


This story was certainly suitable for audiobook production. There is a single narrator, and while she does have a dynamic voice, there was not much of a voice and accent variation between characters. There was enough differentiation between male and female voices that it was easy to tell them apart.

There is a short little song played at the start of each chapter during which a "helpful" housekeeping tip is shared. The song, as well as the tip, help to provide some comic relief and help to lighten the tone of the story.

The sound quality was good. The narrator was easy to understand. Her rate of speech was perfect.

[Danielle]

Week Two:

Read: by Julia Quinn
Date Finished: 26th November
Rating: 2 Stars

Review:

I had high hopes for the novel as I had heard promising things about Julia Quinn's novels (and have been meaning to read one for a while now) but overall found it to be a disappointment. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more if I was less familiar with the overused formula for a historical romance. It tends to be very: add one 'unique' heroine who is smart and witty (and therefore not suited to that era) but while not hideous falls closer to the wallflower scheme of things(she also has a best friend who has a ton of potential suitors to showcase the contrast), one reformed or soon to be reformed rake (who has a title but also usually an unhappy past) that is very anti marriage, a ton of chemistry that after a few close calls leads to the heroine been wholly compromised and then a duty induced proposal from the hero of the story which leads to a somewhat comfortable marriage where their chemistry is the highlight before one or both (usually just the hero though) realises they are actually in love etc. I think that unfortunately pretty much sums up a lot of the historical romances I have read and The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever was no different. I think the overused formula would have been more forgiveable had it at least been executed well. I honestly struggled to find Miranda's feelings for Turner believable; I think I would have been less sceptical had Miranda acknowledged her original feelings were a crush and then had fell for the real Turner as she got to know him (as she really didn't know him anymore-if ever at all really- though considering his actions throughout the novel I suppose unless it had played out differently that perhaps would have wound up been even more unrealistic...).

[Danielle]

So I was going to read but wound up reading instead (not a good choice as it turns out). Is okay to just swap them out or are they locked in after they are first selected? (if not I can definitely still read Halfway to the Grave before the deadline- otherwise The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever is the first in a series)

[Cait S]

No that's totally fine! I just like to keep everything listed and organized so everyone can tell at a glance what's going on and where we are at. You can change your book any time :)

[Danielle]

Week Three:

Read: by Richelle Mead
Date Finished: 23rd November
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This was a reread of what I consider to be the turning point of a series I am very fond of so I wound up reading it (and the following book in the series despite it not counting for this challenge) without many breaks. It was one reread that definitely held up to a second viewing and had a few very memorable scenes. As always with this series- any scene with Adrian in it was a highlight.

[Danielle]

Okay great. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly about that Cait. :-)

[Cait S]

All the new reviews have been added :D Thanks Danielle and Hillary!

And you're very welcome :) I'm on Goodreads far, far too much for my own good but it does make for faster commenting lol

[Cait S]

Cait's Week Two Review
by Geraldine Brooks
Date Finished: 11/27/2014
Rating: ★★★

I'm usually pretty mehhh about Historical Fiction as a genre in general. I tend to find it really tedious and a chore to suffer through reading. 75% of this book was the total opposite of that. I really enjoyed all the characters (minus the Rector who, might I say, was a total prick) and the story had plenty of messed up stuff to make it interesting. I mean the Plague? Come on. But that wasn't even the whole of it.

The last 25% turned into what I usually get with Historical Fiction and I definitely had to force myself to keep going. I wanted to know how it all ended but good god, did it get long winded and dreadful.

I'd say if for some reason you need a historical fiction book, this is a good one since it for the most part really is a good read. And if you love historical fiction, you'd probably enjoy all of it.

[Samantha McNulty]

Week Two

by E.C. Myers
Date Finished: 27/11/14
Rating: ★★★

When his friend, Evan, commits suicide during a live presidential debate, Max is thrown head first into a dangerous and complicated web of lies, deceit and hackers.

I'm not a huge mystery lover, but the synopsis of this book really caught my attention. Max, the protagonist, used to be a hacker alongside his friend Evan. They drifted apart, and the last message Evan receives from his friend is cryptic and unsettling - especially when soon after Evan shoots himself in the head.

A most enjoyable and mysterious novel that was well written. Not overly scary, but with just enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing.

[Danielle]

I am really loving this challenge so far- I was actually really disappointed when I remembered there was not another roll this week.

[Cait S]

Danielle wrote: "I am really loving this challenge so far- I was actually really disappointed when I remembered there was not another roll this week."

That's great! I'm so glad you're having fun with it :D

All day today I kept feeling like I was forgetting something and then I realized I was waiting for myself to roll haha Next week! Hopefully we get a good one to make up for the agony of waiting ;)

[Cait S]

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday break. Just a quick reminder that our next roll is this coming Friday, December 5th. It would be great if we could have all our reviews done by Thursday night so I can roll right away on Friday, but if you need the extra time, any time on Friday is okay too.

Here are the reviews we need as of right now-

Week Two:
Fairlee

Week Three:
Fairlee


Can't wait to get our new roll! Feels like we've all been away for so long haha

[Samantha McNulty]

Week Three

by Aimee Carter
Date Finished: 1/12/14
Rating: ★★★★

Captive was an amazing, action packed sequel to Pawn, which I read earlier this year. Main character, Kitty Doe, is once again a wonderful protagonist with a voice that is unique. The trails and tribulations Aimee Carter puts Kitty through in this second installment are just as heart pumping and adrenaline racing as ever. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I'm waiting on tenterhooks until the final book and conclusion to the trilogy is released in 2015.

[Jenne]

Just a reminder, we roll tomorrow. If anyone has a team mate that hasn't checked in lately, captains go ahead and send a pm.

[Hilary]

Week Three
12/4/14
Date Finished 12/4/14
Rating: 2 Stars
Review:
This story did not work for me. Dante and Juliette's relationship seemed unrealistic, as did most of the things that went on around them. I had a really hard time picturing anything like that actually happening in real life. I didn't care for either character. Their dialogue was really fake seeming. Nicole and Connor's goings on were more interesting, but still had somewhat of a hokey/cheesy feel, especially Connor. I feel the story could have been a little better if the writing style didn't feel so hokey to me. Sometimes, the way the characters were portrayed, especially Connor and Dante, was so silly that they seemed much younger than I suppose they were supposed to be. Probably my favorite parts of the book included Nicole and Bear. Overall, I didn't enjoy the story because the entire thing just seemed really unlikely.

[Cait S]

Hi guys,

Just letting you know I'm here and ready to do the roll. Unfortunately we're still missing both of Fairlee's reviews so I can't post that until we get them. So hopefully we hear from her soon! Have a good start to your week, everyone :)

[Cait S]

We got the okay from Jenne to go ahead and roll so here is our next spot!

Week Four
What We Rolled: 6
We Are On Spot: 30
What You Can Read:
- book #3 in a series
- a stand alone novel
- a book with a blue cover (at least 50%)

Hilary- Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison :: #3 :: Review

Samantha- Fracture by C.J. Daugherty :: #3

Danielle- How to Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan :: #3 :: Review

Cait- Black Lies by Alessandra Torre :: Stand Alone :: Review

[Cait S]

My choice for the week is going to be by Alessandra Torre, which is a stand alone novel.

[Hilary]

I am going to read Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas which is #3 in the series.

[Samantha McNulty]

I'll get back to you. Have to search bookshelves...

[Cait S]

No problem! Just let me know whenever you find one :) We got time.

[Danielle]

I haven't picked a book yet as I am madly trying to finish an university assignment due tomorrow. I will probably post my pick sometime tomorrow as well (I am a quick reader so will definitely still have the book done way before Friday).

[Samantha McNulty]

Okay, so I'm hoping to read Fracture by C.J. Daugherty

#3 in the Night School series

[Cait S]

Got it!

[Danielle]

Okay I am going to read this week (book 3 in a series)

[Cait S]

Great! That's everyone. Enjoy your books, ladies! :D

[Cait S]

Cait's Week Four Review
by Alessandra Torre
Date Finished: 12/7/2014
Rating: ★★★

This was a pretty enjoyable read, considering I feel like a lot of erotic novels are strictly sex with no storyline at all. So having any bit of story was a good start. I figured out The Big Secret about 20 chapters before it was revealed, which was mildly disappointing but I did still like how the author went about playing it out.

The biggest problem I had with it was I felt like she had inconsistencies within her characters. Like...big, glaring ones. At the beginning, we're told how Layana is super intelligent and went to Stanford and has this incredibly prestigious degree....and then never once in the story does she do one smart thing. At all. In any way. She does nothing. Why bother telling us how incredibly brilliant this woman is when you plan on writing her like every other spoiled princess rich kid?

And then Brant. Upon meeting him, Layana goes on and on about how intense his focus on her is. How, when she speaks, she does not doubt for an instant that he hears and understands and is processing all of it. And then somewhere along the way she starts complaining about how his eyes are always drifting and he's spacey and etc. ...What? What happened to laser focus? If this is a side effect of The Big Secret, then explain that later, because right now it just looks like poor writing.

Without the character wobbliness, this would probably have gotten another star.

[Danielle]

Week Four:

Read: by Sophie Jordan
Date Finished: 9th December
Rating: 2 Stars

Review:

I have been on a bit of a historical romance kick at the moment and had high hopes for this novel mainly because the plot was unique(which is especially unusual for that genre). However, I actually found it to be a disappointing read; there is nothing particularly objectionable about this novel but there is also nothing that stood out in a positive way either (other than the actual base plot concept). The characters were just so... average and even their relationship was predictable (that said I felt she should have told him the truth way before she did). There was not a single scene nor line in the entire novel that stood out to me; it was not a terrible book I just found it utterly forgettable.