PtP - Not the Droids You're Looking For (8)

[Courtney]

I think I'm good for next call 🤞. I've got books between 160 and 200 pages for each option (and back ups just in case 😂). The big thing I've learned through my searching is that there are sooooo many books with Down & Dirty in the title! 🤣🤣🤣

[MountainKat, Moderator]

That's funny Courtney!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

My options are in, 3 or 4 1/2 hours for the two different books at regular speed. I am usually listening at 1.5x right now and can easily do 2x for most books. So mine will take 1.5 - 3 hours to finish. 😊

At those speeds, I still enjoy the books. I read for enjoyment and even though I can be competitive - I've literally had selections ready and posted from my phone after listening to my book during the holiday parade at Disneyland - I still want to enjoy my books.

[Courtney]

Yeah, definitely!

I don't know how you guys all handle audiobooks, though! I totally can't do them. Whenever I try, I start doing other things at the same time, and then realize I've missed like everything they were talking about. I can only handle doing one thing at a time apparently. 🤣

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Week 10 Completion Post
#14


Honored Vow by Mary Calmes
Pages: 290
Date Read: 11/11
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: I really didn't like the first book in this series and the second one was just okay for me as well. I liked this one the best so far and while I can't say I enjoyed it because wow was it bloody and violent I was intrigued and it kept me very interested. It still had some of the same issues from the previous books - all the titles/words that I'd never heard before that you have to keep straight and SO MANY characters that I am constantly going back to figure out who they were because I couldn't remember. I liked the change for Domin both personally and in his role. It seems all my favorite characters are going along with that change so I'm sure I'll eventually read the 4th book. I seem to wait until I need these for a challenge but I always come back to them. I also liked that although everyone wanted Jin they didn't necessarily like him or even want to want him (which is a bit different for a Mary Calmes book). Jin made some mistakes along the way and was no where near perfect but I liked him all the better for that. The shifter world in this series is definitely different and I have to say not one I would want to live in but interesting all the same.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Awesome, thanks Danielle! Only need Shelby's completion now and she's already told us she has finished the book. 😊

Jane has posted her tracking doc in the Q&A thread, along with specific changes for the last theme call. I checked out the other teams and there are several teams about where we are, so it could be a real race to finish! Ideally, we can all have shorter books ready and will be able to read as soon as the theme is announced. I know real life interferes with the ideal sometimes though. And as long as we all do our best - that is all that could be asked. I don't want anyone stressing too much over it, it is all fun and games after all. I do have to say, I am looking forward to both of my books so I can't wait for tomorrow to get here!

[Shelby]

Week 10 - Things that are bad for you
Tied Up in Knots by Mary Calmes


Read: (11/8)

Rating: ★★★★★

I'm loving this series more all the time. The mystery/suspense elements were on the low key side for this story, well other than one big thing that hangs out there as a bit of a cliffhanger. But really this is all about the balance between these two as Miro and Ian are becoming more committed to each other. The question is can Miro live with Ian being gone all the time for unknown lengths of time while he's out with his special forces unit. The uncertainty and loneliness are draining Miro.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I really love Miro and Ian as a couple, I adore the friends and co-workers they have around them. The timing to read this one really couldn't be more perfect either as we're currently in the lead up to Thanksgiving and there's the holiday in the background of this one too. The was more than a little amused how Miro suddenly found himself on the hook to host a big huge Thanksgiving. All in all this was a really great read and I can't wait to get to the final book and see how this fantastic series concludes.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Thanks Shelby! You are making me want to read this series even more now. 😊

Tracking updated and we are ready to go for the last call tomorrow.🤞🏼

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Thanks Shelby! You are making me want to read this series even more now. 😊

Tracking updated and we are ready to go for the last call tomorrow.🤞🏼"

Its one of my favourite series 😍

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Jane (PS) wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "Thanks Shelby! You are making me want to read this series even more now. 😊

Tracking updated and we are ready to go for the last call tomorrow.🤞🏼"

Its one of my favourite series 😍"

All of Shelby's 5 star reviews and now this - moving up the list... 📚📚📚

[MountainKat, Moderator]

NEW THEME

Week 11

Jane's post with links.

Option 1
13. The Toy Story, Marvel and Frozen collections are huge hits with children.

* Read a book with kids in the storyline from one of the following lists:
Best Gay Books Dealing With Children
Romance With Kids in Tow
Littlies: Children in Contemporary Romance
Wee: Children in Historical Romance
Hilarious Kids in Romance
Single Fathers of Romance: Great Family Men

Option 2
Key date: 13 May 2020

If you use this option, this week you must select your book from the team shelves immediately below your team in this list. The last team picks from the first team.

2 Rah Rah Rapunzels
9 All Beauties and No Beast
13 Booklanda Forever
4 The Mandafourians
5 May the 5th Be With You
12 Love Is An Open Book
10 The Emperor's New Crew
11 Team Chewbooka
7 The Animators of Romance
3 Book, I Am Your Reader
8 Not the Droids You're Looking For
1 Cindereaders
6 The Minnie Skirts

Eg. Team 2 picks from team 9's members bookshelves. Team 6 picks from team 2's members bookshelves.

DO NOT PICK from a team member who has left the team during the game. Picks must come from current members.


Option 3
Not available this week

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here we go!

For Option 2, we pick from Team 1.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Week 11: 13. The Toy Story, Marvel and Frozen collections are huge hits with children.
Selection Post

Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb; 177 p. per GR
Option 2: #7.5 in series, #51 in series on Team 1 teammate Diane's read shelf, read 10.15.2020, rated 5 stars.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Selection Post
Week 11: 13

Option 1

Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane
Pages: 102
How it Fits: #80 on Best Gay Books Dealing with Children

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Week 11: 13. The Toy Story, Marvel and Frozen collections are huge hits with children.
Completion Post

Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb; 177 p. per GR
Option 2: #7.5 in series, #51 in series on Team 1 teammate Diane's read shelf, read 10.15.2020, rated 5 stars.

Completed 11.13.2020 *4 Stars*

Loved this holiday story. Watching Eve deal with 'feelings' is always enjoyable. Though in this one, it was fear for someone she cares about and we care about too. It ended quite simply, but with the good guys winning, that's ok with me!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

LOL, I just looked and this is the one I listened to last year at Disneyland! 😂

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Completion Post
Week 11: 13

Option 1

Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane
Pages: 102
Date Read: 11/13
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: I loved this just as much the second time around. It's definitely one of if not my favorite Christmas read. The characters are just so adorable and I love the slow burn romance. It makes me laugh and smile and all the good things for Christmas. This will stay on my list of books to re-read!

[Courtney]

Selection Post

Week 11, Option 1:

11. The Toy Story, Marvel and Frozen collections are huge hits with children.

* Read a book with kids in the storyline from one of the following lists:


Wintertime Heat

Pages: 150 (Kindle Edition)
How it qualifies: Number 175 on Single Fathers of Romance: Great Family Men

[Courtney]

Just woke up! (Time difference is a killer 🤣). I'll get started ASAP!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Selection Post
Week 11: 13

Option 1

Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane
Pages: 102
Date Read: 11/13
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: I lov..."

Danielle, please change Selection to Completion for this post!! Thanks!

[Shelby]

Week 11
Option 1
Book: Final Play
Page numbers: 200
How Fits: #289 Best Gay Books Dealing With Children

[Cathy M.]

Selection Post

Week 11: #13 Option 1

Uncaged by Harper Sloan
Pages: 132
How the book fits: #19 on Hilarious Kids in Romance/NA List

[Cathy M.]

Completion Post

Week 11: #13 Option 1

Uncaged by Harper Sloan
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:

So I read this book without reading the prior ones just because of this challenge so I missed a lot about the history of these characters. I imagine that if I did read the prior ones, it would've packed even more of a punch.

Don't get me wrong, it was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting the car accident that changed the whole tone mid-way thru. Of course I knew it would all end okay so I wasn't worried. And gotta mention how much I loved Cohen. Oh my god, I loved how he called his baby sisters "his girls". And the relationship Greg had with him was so freakin sweet! He was just a cute little dude.

I don't recommend reading this book without reading the prior ones if you could help it, just because it does mention prior events and for the emotions that would carry over, but for a quick read, it was good.

[Courtney]

Week 11 - Completion Post

Option 1:* Read a book with kids in the storyline from one of the following lists:


Wintertime Heat

Pages: 150 (Kindle Edition)
Date completed: 11/14
Rating: ★★

Review:



I was not a fan of this. I didn't like the characters, the plot was just a mash of cliches, and the book seriously needs an editor. Like really seriously. It's not just grammatical errors, like the constant nonsensical switching between present and past tense verbs throughout the story. That's a bit easy to get over. There are much bigger issues here.

Like, the author uses the term "sandwich batter" when she's describing the heroine mixing up eggs for egg salad sandwiches.



And Steven tells her he takes his son to Hawaii for Christmas every year to go to amusement parks?



And she has absolutely no concept of how the human body works. During one sex scene, she says Abby is riding Steven's c*ck with HER BACK TO HIS.



And don't get me started on the rape backstory the author threw in there with no lead in, and is never mentioned again, just to make Abby look damaged so Steven could save her one night, and they could have "rescue me" sex.



But, the coup de grâce of this book's madness was the fact that this billionaire sent his son to public school and would leave him there unattended for two hours after school ended every day, and NO ONE NOTICED until Abby found him on her first day of work. Seriously, what in the actual f*ck? And the author threw in the ridiculous "rival business wants to kidnap the businessman's son" plot at the end of the book at the Christmas fair while Steven was there, when they could have just picked the kid up from school at any time.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

We are one completion and one correction away from finishing!

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

I’m not home and on my phone and it won’t let me fix to day completion post

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Borrowed a iPad so it's fixed,

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Danielle Gypsy Soul wrote: "Borrowed a iPad so it's fixed,"

Awesome! Thanks Danielle! 😊

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Great work so far team! I'm about to head to bed, so I'll check in in the morning. (Unless I'm up during the night, and that wouldn't be surprising...) I've only been watching the other team that was complete going into this week and we are still in it! Other teams could have posted any missing books in the meantime, but I didn't have the brainpower to look there too.

Shelby, yours will be the last completion. After you post your completion, could you go and claim we finished in the Q&A thread? You don't need to list messages or anything - just Team 8 has finished is enough. Claim it even if another team beats us there. Until Jane confirms it, the game is still on!

[Shelby]

Week 11 - Children
Final Play by Eden Finley


Read: (11/14)

Rating: ★★★★½

This is a great little connection of happily ever after stories giving each one of the couples I feel in love with their moment in the sun. I really enjoyed the way this basically gave you one last look into each couple's heads' as they figure out exactly what they each want their HEA's to look like. I've enjoyed each one of these couples and this was just a feel good story all around.

[Diane]

Congrats :)

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Awesome job everyone!! And special kudos to Shelby for that extra effort after work to finish! I'm impressed!!

[Shelby]

Thanks MKat! Glad I picked a relatively short book that I could knock out. Gonna need a nap this afternoon after finishing my book and getting the updates done for NBRC's restaurant challenge. Need more sleep. ;)

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Shelby wrote: "Thanks MKat! Glad I picked a relatively short book that I could knock out. Gonna need a nap this afternoon after finishing my book and getting the updates done for NBRC's restaurant challenge. Need..."

Naps are good!

Is work going to be changing for you now that the numbers are getting worse in CA? LA has always been in the purple tier though right? SD just moved to purple for the first time - the new restrictions started after midnight this morning. I find I have to avoid the channels that have news at 10 because they act like we are being punished rather than focusing on what needs to be done to lower the numbers.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul]

Great job everyone! It was fun being on a team with all of you.

[Shelby]

MountainKat wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Thanks MKat! Glad I picked a relatively short book that I could knock out. Gonna need a nap this afternoon after finishing my book and getting the updates done for NBRC's restaurant ..."

Yeah we've never gotten out of purple. But our cases are climbing again. Right now they haven't imposed any new restrictions yet, but I admit I'm kinda waiting for them to shut everything back down again and go to to go's only. I'm sure they're hesitating because of how frustrated everyone is and they're worried about backlash, but I really feel like they should.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

I especially thought of you with this worsening CV situation Shelby - knowing your work is tied to being exposed throughout your work week.

Stay safe!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

The backlash is not pretty in SD, but this county is more conservative than a lot of SoCal so not completely surprising. Many businesses and even churches are refusing to shut down. I don't understand why they only focus on the 'tyranny of the government' but ignore those in the community that refuse to abide by even the simplest of public health guidelines! Though I will admit, I didn't see as many transgressions when I was getting groceries this week! So maybe there is hope. 🤞🏼

Please stay safe whatever happens!!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

And congrats to us team!! I have to say this has been probably my favorite round! Beyond the good discussions and recommendations, you all had great shelves for Option 2. You made being your Jedi Knight sooooo easy - this has been just fun for me!

[Courtney]

It was a lot of fun! I'm always happy with a challenge when I leave with a bunch of new things on my TBR 😄! Lots of great recommendations and discussions! I love it!


Hope to see you all in another challenge sometime. And hope you all stay safe!

[Courtney]

MountainKat wrote: "The backlash is not pretty in SD, but this county is more conservative than a lot of SoCal so not completely surprising. Many businesses and even churches are refusing to shut down. I don't understand why they only focus on the 'tyranny of the government' but ignore those in the community that refuse to abide by even the simplest of public health guidelines! "

Yeah, I don't get it either. In my mind, wearing a mask is no different than covering your mouth when you cough. It's just considerate to the people around you 🤷‍♀️. I've been in Asia for over a decade, and wearing masks is just the norm here when you're sick or there's something going around. My OBGYN even recommended I wear masks whenever I was in large groups when I was pregnant just to protect myself, so I did. Never seemed like a big deal.