R4: Seven Wonders of the Reading World (7)

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Roll 3
Spot 27
Tattoo on the cover
Strange Addiction

Read:11/27/14
Rating: ★★★

First of all this book was my first by Sandrine Gasq-Dion and I honestly can say she didn't live up my expectation. Part of the 3 stars is totally my fault, I read this book without knowing what it was about and that it was part of a series. I let myself be mislead by the cover. I appreciated the plot but I found it confusing in some parts and there were too many second characters. then there was the continuous change in the POV, it was destabilizing. Nope, not for me.

[~Melissa~]

Sorry - thread jumping - now I totally see what you mean about the cover and why you picked the book for this :) Wow

alright, back to my original thread......

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Stella, this series is a spin off from the Assassin/Shifter series and it totally needs to be read in order and with having read the A/S series. Everything follows on

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

~Melissa~ (~Cainis~ the Elf) wrote: "Sorry - thread jumping - now I totally see what you mean about the cover and why you picked the book for this :) Wow

alright, back to my original thread......"

LOL

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

✼Danielle✼ wrote: "Stella, this series is a spin off from the Assassin/Shifter series and it totally needs to be read in order and with having read the A/S series. Everything follows on"

Now I know about it LOL

[Allison Ann]

ROLL #2, SPOT #21
Series: A. Shaw #1

by David Baldacci

Book: The Whole Truth
Series: #1
Date finished: 11/27/14
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Another slow start but the story got more enjoyable as it continued. A somewhat silly ending solely to lead into a new series.

[Marty]

Hope everyone had a nice Turkey Day. I'm going to take my overfed self to bed. Night!

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 3
Space 27
Alternate: tattoo on cover



Read: 29/11/14
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
I liked this one. I enjoyed it more than the authors Marked Men series. Bax was an interesting character, very realistic. Bax and Dovie were opposites, but they complimented each other. Definitely looking forward to Race's book.

[Marty]

Roll 3
Space 27
Book: The Key by Simon Toyne- #2 in the Sancti Trilogy
Date Finished: 11/30/14
Rating: Four stars
Review:

I read the first installment of the Sancti Trilogy, Sanctus, three years ago and spent the first few chapters of this book getting reacquainted with the original premise. Crime reporter Liv Anderson and former military man-turned-philanthropist Gabriel Mann have survived the explosion at the Citadel near the Turkish town of Ruin. The Citadel is a rabbit warren of secret chambers and passageways inhabited by a mysterious order of monks who guard a particularly powerful sacrament: none other than the immortal spirit of Eve, whom the leaders somehow managed to both preserve and imprison since time began. Liv had come to Ruin to investigate her brother's suicide - he had been a novice monk there, before he dove off of the summit, unable to live with the order's horrible secret.

In the last novel, the spirit of Eve was released - in this novel it is revealed that the spirit has taken up residence in Liv. According to a recently revealed prophecy, in order to avoid the onset of the Apocalypse foretold in Revelation, Eve's spirit must to the site of the original Eden, within the phase of the current moon. The problem is finding the location of Eden. While Liv struggles to figure out what is happening to her mind (she's having visions) and Gabriel tries to protect himself and his mother, it becomes apparent that the survivors of the blast are being picked off one by one by assassins.

A high ranking Cardinal from the Vatican, several prominent world businessmen and more than a few corrupt officials are in league to make sure that no one who came out of the blast alive reveals the Citadel's secrets. Gabriel's mother and two other survivors are killed, as well as Liz's boss, merely because she spoke to him over the phone.

Meanwhile, apocalyptic events are already occurring - first in the forms of earthquakes and wild, devastating storms in various parts of the world. Then several of the monks in the Citadel become afflicted with a plague of boils that eventually proves fatal. The monastery's leadership is complete decimated, the lone survivor of the Sancti eventually being stricken with the plague himself.

It's a hard plot to explain, there are so many twists and turns and so many players. This was a much more complex novel than the first. It will be quite a feat to top this installment.

[Allison Ann]

ROLL #3, SPOT #28
Series: Discworld #2

by Terry Pratchett

Book: The Light Fantastic
Series: #2
Date finished: 12/03/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I don't know why I waited so long to read this series, it's just so light and delightful. I don't know where I am going to find the rest of the series, but I'll be looking.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

All roll 3 reviews in. Only Joeera's needed for roll 2.

[Joeera]

I all ready did it chech Nov.25 i read a Standalone

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Joeera wrote: "I all ready did it chech Nov.25 i read a Standalone"

Sorry...totally missed it

[✿~Danielle~✿]

We're all ready for tomorrow's roll

[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.

[Allison Ann]

I don't have any #3 in a series handy, so I'm hoping for a good alternate. :)

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 4 (5 December 2014)

I rolled a 12 (6 + 6) , so now on space 39

Options
☞ Book 3 in a series
☞ Book 9 in a series
☞ Book 39 in a series
☞ A book from shelf USA

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 4
Space 39
(Series: 3, 9, 39, or alternate shelf USA )

| #3 in series | Danielle's review

| alternate shelf usa | Allison Ann's review

| #3 in series | Joeera's review

| alternate usa shelf | Marty's review

| #3 in series | Stella's review

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 4
Space 39
#3 in series

[Marty]

I'll go with the USA shelf option:
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Danielle, so far I have no idea what I'm going to read cause no one of the books I have to read on Dec fit these categories. I'll let you know soon

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Stella ╰☆╮the Queen of Multitasking╰☆╮ wrote: "Danielle, so far I have no idea what I'm going to read cause no one of the books I have to read on Dec fit these categories. I'll let you know soon"

Okay Stella.

[Allison Ann]

That USA is a weird shelf with a lot of random books on it. :) I'll figure out which one I'll be reading by tonight. It will not be The Great Gatsby though.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Roll 4

Space 39
#3 in series

[Allison Ann]

Way down that list on page 16 I finally found one I want to read - Still Alice.

[Book Concierge]

Allison Ann wrote: "Way down that list on page 16 I finally found one I want to read - Still Alice."

GREAT book - have LOTS of tissues handy.

[Allison Ann]

I will BC, I'm hoping I can get through it at all. I have serious issues with Alzheimer's Disease, I'm fairly sure this book will destroy me. I'm saving it for my day off.

[Book Concierge]

Allison Ann wrote: "I will BC, I'm hoping I can get through it at all. I have serious issues with Alzheimer's Disease, I'm fairly sure this book will destroy me. I'm saving it for my day off."

My mother passed away from Alzheimer's in June. Obviously this book was very close to me. I've told my brothers and sister-in-law about it, but they refuse to read it. Of course, there's s difference between the early-onset Alzheimer's that Alice suffers, and the old-age Alzheimer's my mother had. Still ...

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Roll 4

Space 39
#3 in series

★★★

Read:12/09/14

I didn't enjoy this one like the previous ones. I honestly found it boring. Apart from the sex scene between Jude and Will, the rest of the book focused on the other couples' problems. Not what I'm used to when I read a book written by Mercy. And it needs a better edit. I'm so disappointed!

[Allison Ann]

ROLL #4, SPOT #39
Alternate: Shelf USA

by Lisa Genova

Book: Still Alice
Alternate: Shelf USA - page 16
Date finished: 12/10/14
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Finished this book at two o'clock this morning, couldn't stop reading once I started. I was worried this would trigger too many memories about my grandmothers but I was good for most of it. The POV focusing on the patient and not the caregivers was perfect for me, straightforward, not overly emotional and very true. Then they named the baby Allison Anne and my mother's name is Alice and it felt too personal and I sobbed until the end. Excellent book and highly recommended.

[Book Concierge]

Allison Ann wrote: "ROLL #4, SPOT #39
Alternate: Shelf USA

by Lisa Genova

Book: Still Alice
Alternate: Shelf USA - page 16
Date finished: 12/10/14
Rati..."

Glad you liked it. I also thought that having the book told by Alice was very effective. When I lost it was when she gave the speech and said basically to live in the moment ... and later when she read the letter to herself.

[Allison Ann]

The speech was excellent, I really thought it might backfire and only be good in Alice's own perception but I'm glad she had that (maybe last) triumph.

[Joeera]

Roll 4 Spot 39

#3 ( r-f-Nov 9-10 )

5 stars

Review

I was sucked right into this book from the start like i was with the two pervious book in this series. I loved this book. Clare has a way with wordsit felt like you are drawn into the Shadowhunter world. This book did not disappoint me in nany way things happen at the perfect pace. So mauch information, so many details, so many jaw dropping moments! I absoulutely loved all the relationships in this story.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 4
Space 39
#3 in series



Read: 11/12/14
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review
My least favourite of the trilogy, but still enjoyable. I have liked reading about Yelena, she is a strong character. I wish for more Valek. Love their relationship. I like this world.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Missing Marty's review, hopefully she'll post soon. I'll check back in later and see if we've heard from her.

[Marty]

Sorry, it's been a crazy week.

Roll 4
Space 39
Option: USA
Title: Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Read: 12/11/13
Rating:Four stars

Review: I loved Brooks' A Year of Wonders so I was really looking forward to this novel. I wasn't disappointed. The novel is loosely based on the life of a young Native American man from Martha's Vineyard who was converted to Christianity in the 1660's and sent to Harvard to study, becoming the first Native American to graduate from this prestigious university. The book is narrated by Bethia Mayfield, a young girl of Puritan background who befriended Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck when she was twelve. She and he share a love of learning, but extended formal education is closed to her since it is not a woman's place to be more learned than her husband. Bethia manages to continue her education by sneaking her brother's books out of the house.
Tragedy strikes Bethia over and over. Her mother dies, then her father. She, her brother Makepeace and sister Solace are left penniless. Bethia becomes the indentured servant of her brother's tutor, an arduous job but one that allows her to remain close to Caleb and his fellow convert, Joel. It is also here that she meets her future lover and husband, Samuel.
You can't help admiring Bethia. She's smart, strong and a survivor. She also worries about her soul and tends to be far too severe on herself. Her cruel, intellectually lazy brother heaps on the abuse, making matters worse. Caleb is a sympathetic and tragic character as well. A year after graduation, he dies of tuberculosis, which was true of the real Caleb.
Brooks does a great job of evoking this time period, including the dialect of the 17th century Puritans. Since so little is known about the real Caleb, the book is an imaginative fleshing out of his life story through Bethia's eyes.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 5 (12 December 2014)

I rolled a 8 (2 + 6) , so now on space 47

Options
☞ Book 4 in a series
☞ Book 7 in a series
☞ Book 47 in a series
☞ Book title starting with letter R

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 5
Space 47
(Series: 4, 7, 47, or alternate title R)

| Title R | Danielle's review

| #4 in series | Allison Ann's review

| #4 in series | Joeera's review

| #7 in series | Marty's review

| alternate Title R | Stella's review

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 4
Space 47
Title R

[Marty]

My choice: The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear - #7 in the Maisie Dobbs series.

[Allison Ann]

I think I'll be reading Cruel Intent - Ali Reynolds #4.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

@Danielle is it okay if I read a book in my language?

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Stella ╰☆╮the Queen of Multitasking╰☆╮ wrote: "@Danielle is it okay if I read a book in my language?"

I've asked Jenne, I'll comment as soon as she answers.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

✼Danielle✼ wrote: "Stella ╰☆╮the Queen of Multitasking╰☆╮ wrote: "@Danielle is it okay if I read a book in my language?"

I've asked Jenne, I'll comment as soon as she answers."

I chose this one Rules of Engagement and I already own it in Italian. In other challenges I don't have problem, but I prefer to ask. this is the one in Italian Le regole del gioco, it starts with the R too, LE is like THE.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Stella ╰☆╮the Queen of Multitasking╰☆╮ wrote: "✼Danielle✼ wrote: "Stella ╰☆╮the Queen of Multitasking╰☆╮ wrote: "@Danielle is it okay if I read a book in my language?"

I've asked Jenne, I'll comment as soon as she answers."

I chose this one [..."

It's no problem. Jenne said yes.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Thank you Danielle! :D

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮]

Roll 5
Space 47
Book title starting with letter R

Le regole del gioco by L.A. Witt

Just finished! first of all I have to say that I read this book in my language, Italian and I liked the translation a lot. I'm used to read in English and sometimes I have some difficulties when I start reread in Italian. In this case, no! Beautiful translation! Let's say that I love the book, I gave it 4 stars. Considering that it's about two years I read only mm books and I like to read about sex (otherwise I would not be crazy about it!), I think the beginning is a little too focused on sex. I was afraid of being in one of those books "all sex and no plot"(PWP). Instead things definitely improve late in the story. I have a limit: I don't like to read about (view spoiler)[betrayal; even if the MCs break up or are in pause, call it whatever you like, if a MC has sex with someone else I consider it betrayal. (hide spoiler)] In this case it doesn't bother me, because I saw it as perhaps the only way Dustin could go back to Brandon and finally become aware of what he was losing.

[Allison Ann]

ROLL #5, SPOT #47
Series: Ali Reynolds #4

by J.A. Jance

Book: Cruel Intent
Series: #4
Date finished: 12/15/14
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This series seems to be getting better as it progresses, which is a nice change for me. :) There's always a bit too much about her personal life and a bit too little about the actual mystery, but Jance kept the ridiculous down to a dull roar this time out. Plus I like Brooks, so I'm glad he got a bigger part in this book.

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Roll 5
Space 47
Title R



Read: 18/12/14
Rating: 5 stars

Review:
Loved. What a great conclusion to the series. So happy with the way it ended. But sad that it's the end and no more Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch. Loved Ally and Ren together. Both were awesome. Great to catch up with all the previous characters. Liked the Darius story. Great epilogue.

[Joeera]

Roll 5 Space 47

#4 ( r-f-Nov 16-17 )

5 stars

Review

I loved this book it included everything. Romance,Pain,Humor,Action,Adventure,and supence and all perfectuly blended. This series will always be one of my favorites. I enjoyed getting back into this world and see what Jace,Clary,Simon,and the rest of the gang was up to. After finishing City Of Gold i found there is something about Clare's writting that draws me into each of her books and leaves me hungry for more.