PtP - Team Chewbooka (11)

[Logan]

Completion Post - Week 1
Option 1


Pages: 352 - Kindle 1st ed linked above
Date read: 9/6/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I’m giving it 4 stars because once I picked it up I was so curious I had to keep reading. Stayed up late this weekend to finish it.

But ugh that ending was so frustrating! The problem with unreliable narrators is we can never be truly sure what is going on and in this case it became very convoluted with the 4 characters. There were a lot of pieces of information introduced so late in the story that then never had time to resolve. Were they red herrings? Are we to make our own conclusions? I ended up going with the latter and forming my own opinions for certain character choices and motivations, but I feel the author could have given us just a bit more to work with.

I also felt that for the genre, this one was very light on suspense or danger. I was never really worried about our heroine, just curious about what she would find out. I feel like Fisher tried to introduce some of this in the middle of the book but I never saw that person as a true threat.

Overall a pleasant read but also a teensy bit disappointing.

[LaurLa]

Completion Post ~~ Week 1
Option 1


Call: 8. The Star Wars movies are a major attraction to the streaming service
Task: Read a book with Science Fiction as a main page genre
Book: Time Trap
Pages: 337
How it fits: mpg science fiction
Date Read: 09.08 ★★★
Review:
Not my usual genre x2: sci fi and young adult. But it was still interesting and not overly angsty for being YA. As the reader we are left as completely in the dark about what was happening to the characters as they were themselves. Not always my favorite approach in a fantasy book without any frame of reference for the world but it put us on equal footing with the main character, Rayen. It's very well done and once we started getting other character POVs, things began to make more sense to the reader and started to understand how it all fit together. It doesn't end exactly on a cliff-hanger but there is definitely unfinished business!

[LaurLa]

We should get a new call today!


@CB and @ Sarah - how are your books coming?

[CB]

I’m waiting for my book from my e-library, which I have should have any day. Won’t take me long to knock it out when I do.

[Shinnie]

LaurLa wrote: "We should get a new call today!"

I can't wait, you guys! I finally managed to get through the 8th book in the Wheel of Time series. There aren't many books that I struggled with this much.

[[deleted user]]

Completion Post - Week 1
Option 1


Pages: 532 - Penguin Classic Edition
Date read: September 10th, 2020
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
I enjoyed this but as I find most classics, it was a dense read. I enjoyed the plot and the character of Jane. What I loved so much is realizing that Daphne du Maurier used this novel as inspiration to Rebecca (which is one of my favorite books) and I'm very happy now to have read the source material and get another classic under my belt.

[LaurLa]

Week 2


Option 1:
2. Disney+ debuted in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019.
* Read a book published in November 2019.
You must quote the date of publication - any edition's date of publication will count.

Option 2:
Key date - 11 March 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.

[Mariana]

SELECTION POST
Option 2, Week #2

One Hot Italian Summer
Pages: 382 (GR)
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book: CB, 4 stars, read in September 7th

[[deleted user]]

Selection Post - Week 2
Option 1


His Royal Highness by R.S. Grey
[*book:His Royal Highness|48748760]
Pages: 326 (KINDLE)
How it qualifies: Published November 14th, 2019

[Shinnie]

Selection Post - Week 2
Option 1


Book: Leave Me Breathless
[*book:Leave Me Breathless|45023235]
Pages: Kindle Edition, 416 pages
How it qualifies: Published November 5th 2019 by Orion

[Logan]

Selection Post - Week 2
Option 1


The Bromance Book Club
[*book:The Bromance Book Club|44019067]
Pages: 352, Kindle 1st Ed linked above
How it fits: Published on November 5th, 2019

[CB]

Mariana wrote: "SELECTION POST
Option 2, Week #2

One Hot Italian Summer
Pages: 382 (GR)
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book: CB, 4 stars, read in September 7th"

I hope you enjoy this one as well, Mariana! Although you can’t see it from GR’s limited star rating system, I personally rated this one 4.5 stars. Such a good book.

[CB]

Selection Post - Week 2
Option 1


Veils: A Killers Novel Book 4 by Brynne Asher
[*book:Veils: A Killers Novel Book 4|48642310]
Pages: 334 (Amazon)
How it qualifies: Published November 1st, 2019

[CB]

Shinnie wrote: "LaurLa wrote: "We should get a new call today!"

I can't wait, you guys! I finally managed to get through the 8th book in the Wheel of Time series. There aren't many books that I struggled with thi..."

I have been rereading the entire WoT series this year - next up for me is Book 12.

[Mariana]

CB wrote: "Mariana wrote: "SELECTION POST
Option 2, Week #2

One Hot Italian Summer
Pages: 382 (GR)
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book: CB, 4 stars, read i..."

Thank you! It seems really good according to the reviews I read.

[LaurLa]

Selection Post ~~ Week 2
Option 1


Call: 2. Disney+ debuted in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019
Task: Read a book published in November 2019
Book: All Fired Up
Pages: 384 (kindle)
How it fits: Published November 19th 2019 by HQN Books

[*book:All Fired Up|43861516]

[Shinnie]

You guys, this book is amazing. I can't wait to write the review. I don't remember the last time I laughed this hard reading a book. 10/10 would recommend.

[CB]

Completion Post - Week 1



Pathfinder's Way by T.A. White
Pages: 442 (GR)
Date Completed: 9/13/2020
Rating: 4.5⭐️

I have become such a huge fan of TA White - I know before stepping into the pages that it will be a complex sci-fi or fantasy world with romantic elements and well-crafted, interesting characters I come to greatly care for, and can’t wait to read about in the next book in the series. And this book was no exception. The author created an interesting world with beasts and fantastical dark creatures that kill off unsuspecting villagers, and only the Pathfinders from some mysterious guild have been trained enough to guide such villagers passage through the dangerous Highland and Lowland territories. The main character, Shea, is such a Pathfinder, and this is her story, or at least the beginning of it. She has experienced such distrust from the village she is assigned to, yet she is loyal to her charges, and quite gifted in her craft, she saves their lives multiple times, including that of a stranger, and it is that action that sets the ball rolling and changes her life forever. I highly enjoyed how Shea spent so much time in disguise and was able to prove herself and earn the respect of the army that had captured her and then learn to respect them in turn as well. I thought this was an excellent launch to the series, and can’t wait to start reading the next book to learn more about Shea’s background, the Pathfinder guild, and the plans for the army’s and Fallon’s next moves. 4.5 stars.

[LaurLa]

We're all caught up on reading and posts! Great job team!


I had to find a November 2019 and a September 2019 book this week for different RRRC challenges! Seems they could have helped me out a little and hit the same month ;-)

[Shinnie]

Completion Post - Week 2
Option 1


Book: Leave Me Breathless
[*book:Leave Me Breathless|45023235]
Pages: Kindle Edition, 416 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Date Completed: 15th of September 2020
Review:This book was a wild ride to get through. I loved it. I have to say that I profoundly disagree with the people about how boring this book is. I don't remember the last time I laughed this hard while reading a book. I enjoyed myself so much, I finished it and started on the audible version to experience it all over again and laughing even more. It was great. 10/10 would recommend.

For. All. The. Wrong. Reasons.

Mostly.

First, I want to start out by saying that the book is very fluidly written. I am not a big fan of stories being written in the first person perspective, even in other forms of literature, but I have to give points here for it still being written well enough that I never hit a narrative hiccup or stumble point. The writing itself was never bad or jarring.

Second, I don't think it was boring at all. It was a slow-burn, for sure. The secrets are finally being revealed in the last third of the book and from there it's a rush, but honestly I'm glad we got a bit more time with the couple becoming a couple and I'm glad that their relationship and feelings were solidified and expressed before the dramatic climax because it shows that they love each other for the sake of each other and not because she was saved from the baddie.

Third, the content and details of the story are far from flawless but the premise and the characters were fun and engaging and the mystery sucked me in to the point that I couldn't put it down until I was done. Reading the final words of the author, that's exactly what they aimed for and I would say mission accomplished.

If you're interested, you can find the rest of my review with lots of spoilers here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have to point out that the read was fun enough despite the things I pointed out in my full review. I haven't read anything else by JEM but at least in this one the author managed to suck me in to the point that I couldn't put it down until I was done.

[CB]

Completion Post - Week 2



Veils: A Killers Novel Book 4 by Brynne Asher
Date Completed: 9/15/2020
Rating: 3⭐️

So I seem to be in the minority on this one, in that I did not love this book. And I’m a big fan of both this series and this author. To me it was like there were two distinct halves to this book, and I did not at all like the first half. I just couldn’t connect with the heroine in the first half - Gracie was just so determined to keep Noah as a one-night stand, she was emotionally closed off from him for pretty much the first half of the book and I felt that as well. And for so much of that first half, they were also apart, and it was all this texting between them, which I have zero interest in reading. That portion of the book was like one big snooze. Then because of various events, they are abruptly back together, and everything changes for them and we have the opportunity to see them fall in love. We also finally begin to understand some of the motivation behind some of the heroine’s earlier actions. That’s where the second half of the book felt completely different to me, and I mostly enjoyed it, although not quite enough to make up for the disconnected first half.

Another thing I have to say I don’t like is when in a series follow up book the author makes me starts to dislike a previous book’s hero or heroine, and unfortunately that was the case here with book 2’s Grady, whom I had loved, and I had rated that book 5 stars - I just think authors need to be a bit more careful in their writing of prior characters, although I cannot imagine how hard of a delicate balancing act that must be.

[LaurLa]

Week 3


Option 1:
12. The Simpsons back catalogue is available for more of Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa et al! ...Have you noticed how all the names are short? Even the writers' names are short - Matt, James, Dan, Al, Sam, Mike, John etc (Yes, I am conveniently leaving out a few names for the sake of this category ;)
*Read a book with an MC whose first name is less than 6 letters long
Qualification must be quoted in the précis; please provide an extract. Nicknames will work.

Option 2:
Key date - 18 March 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.

Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.

[Mariana]

SELECTION POST
Week #3, Option 1

Book:
Pages: 374 (GR)
How it qualifies: from the précis: "But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth..."

[[deleted user]]

Completion Post - Week 2
Option 1

His Royal Highness by R.S. Grey
Pages: 326 - Kindle
Date read: September 18th, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This one was cute. It wasn't my favorite by this author, but it was still a fun and entertaining read.

I didn't love Whitney, the female lead. She tended to come off as being a bit childish, but I did appreciate her back story with her parents and sister. I liked Derek, not at first mind you, but he came around later.

Overall cute and sweet. I highly recommend if you are a fan of the Disney princesses as this whole story basically takes place in a Disney-like theme park.

[[deleted user]]

Selection Post - Week 3
Option 1


Christmas at Holiday House by RaeAnne Thayne
[*book:Christmas at Holiday House|50644678]
Pages: 384 (KINDLE)
How it qualifies: From the précis: Abby Powell becomes enamored with the heartwarming small-town...

[CB]

Selection Post - Week 3
Option 1 - Read a book with an MC whose first name is less than 6 letters long


Ghost's Whisper by Ella Summers
[*book:Ghost's Whisper|54388945]
Pages: 361 (GR)
How it qualifies: From the précis “Life has never been better for Leda Pandora, the Angel of Chaos.”

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

For Option 1:

Please make sure you include an excerpt from the precis (blurb) quoting your MC's name that is less than 6 letters.

*a lot of ppl are missing this little detail, so this will be posted in all teams

[Shinnie]

Selection Post - Week 3
Option 1


Book: Dark Lover
[*book:Dark Lover|7889607]
Pages: ebook, 393 pages
How it qualifies: [From the précis:] "Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes."

[Logan]

Completion Post - Week 2
Option 1


The Bromance Book Club
Pages: 352 Kindle 1st ed.
How it fits: Published 11/5/19
Date read: 9/19/20
Rating: 5 stars
Review: It’s been awhile since a book made me laugh out loud. The “bros” totally killed me. Braden is hilarious, the Russian has the best comic relief, and I adored the whole gang.

The idea of the book club is a fun and fresh spin. I really liked getting so much of the story from the male perspective. I also enjoyed the snippets of the book they were reading. Totally cute and fun!

I wasn’t all that crazy about Thea, but it was nice seeing her come to accept her own faults and get some revenge on the nasty wives who made life hard for her.

But the whole cast of characters was amazing and I would love this to be a TV series. Looking forward to Braden’s book!

[LaurLa]

Selection Post ~~ Week 3
Option 1


Call: 12. The Simpsons back catalogue is available for more of Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa!
Task: Read a book with an MC whose first name is less than 6 letters long
Book: Naughty in Norway
Pages: 178 (kindle)
How it fits: Vail Fillion has left her home in Huntington Beach, California

[*book:Naughty in Norway|18926185]

[LaurLa]

Completion Post ~~ Week 3
Option 1


Call: 12. The Simpsons back catalogue is available for more of Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa!
Task: Read a book with an MC whose first name is less than 6 letters long
Book: Naughty in Norway
Pages: 178 (kindle)
How it fits: Vail Fillion has left her home in Huntington Beach, California
Date Read: 09.19 ★★★
Review:
Think of this as the 'little BDSM book that tried'. It wasn't horrible, it wasn't great either. Some of the descriptions of scenic Norway were good (I REALLY want to see the Northern Lights some day!) and there was a visit to a Viking living museum that was interesting too. But the author couldn't decide if her hardened biker was really a bad-ass dude or not, so things felt off the whole book. I have to give credit that she did a good job making the heroine, Vail, actually question her sanity because of her attraction to Alreck, her biker kidnapper. How they resolve that is somewhat realistic. Overall, I'll go back to this author for challenge purposes when I need a book in another country that's not England but if not for that I wouldn't seek her out again.

[CB]

Completion Post - Week 3



Ghost's Whisper by Ella Summers
Date Completed: 9/20/2020
Rating: 3.5⭐️

Another solid entry in the Legion of Angels series, although admittedly not one of my favorites. I love the relationship between Leda and Nero, and having a fake fight between them for half the book that one of them didn’t know was fake, even if it was for that individual’s protection, I found annoying. I also love Leda’s ingenuity and corresponding chaos, especially in the face of all the other rule-following angels, but unfortunately didn’t see as much as it in this book, especially with the villain at the end. Great ending to the book, though, which has me very excited for the next installment in the series.

[Logan]

Selection Post - Week 3
Option 1


Some Enchanted Éclair
Pages: 336 Kindle 1st ed.
How it fits: MC Katie is 5 letters, from the précis: “ When Hollywood invades Savannah’s historic district to film a Revolutionary War movie, magical baker Katie Lightfoot, and her witches’ coven, the Spellbook Club, take a break from casting spells for casting calls.”

[LaurLa]

Completion Post ~~ Week 2
Option 1


Call: 2. Disney+ debuted in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019
Task: Read a book published in November 2019
Book: All Fired Up
Pages: 384 (kindle)
How it fits: Published November 19th 2019 by HQN Books
Date Read: 09.20 ★★★★
Review:
Like coming home - favorite genre by a favorite author! This was the last in a short trilogy about a family who has an unusual transport/pick-up business. Just the right amount of intrigue, smexy times and awesome alpha heroes who don't tip over into being alpha-holes. This last one was unknown half-brother Mitch's story with 'like-a-sister' Charlotte. Mitch had a lot of baggage but he had decided to get past it before the story even started so his story arc was more about working through said baggage rather than figuring out the baggage, if that makes sense. My only negative to the book was the way the father story arc was resolved - too pat, too easy. But not enough to deter me!

[Mariana]

COMPLETION POST

Week #2, Option 2

Book: One Hot Italian Summer
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: This book feels like a romance writer’s wildest dream.

It was a very light book, it was an easy read. That italian summer feeling, man that has got to be the best trend ever. It did felt very insta-love and it is very cliché, but oh well, been there done that

I really liked the way the author expresses Grace’s liberation. It is nice to see her just having fun and knowing what she likes, what is her writing style. Who she is without Robyn. I wished she had more time alone to figure herself out, but I liked it anyway.

I also really liked Claudio. He’s very confident, but not a cocky confident, he’s very nice. And the way he talked dirty, oh my my. What a man.

There are things I didn’t enjoy: the writing doesn’t really feel scottish. Actually, it feels very american, none of the characters seem european. Plus, even though it was very easy and light, it me forever to read this. I just wasn’t being able to get into the story.

It got too intense too fast. And Vanni should’ve been more present and more developed, he had so much potential. His relationship with Claudio could’ve been much better.

I really appreciate the author for transporting me to Italy’s culture and to the summer vibe.

[Mariana]

COMPLETION POST

Week #3, Option 1

Book:
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I have no words for how beautiful this was.

I loved this book so much, I was laughing then sobbing, and I just could identify so easily with these characters and their insecurities, even though we have such different stories.

How the author brought such different visions on adoption? I absolutely loved it. It was my favorite part of the story, no doubt. The three perspectives were so needed to tell this, and I'm grateful for it.

I am not the biggest fan of YA's, but for the past couple of months, I've read some great hard-hitting ones that have really sat with me.

Of course, I do think it was a bit romanticized, and it reminded me a lot of that movie Instant Family, the fuzzy feeling at the same time there were some romaticized stuff.

I recommend this so much, it brings up many important topics, like teen pregnancy, adoption, racism and some other topics of importance.

[Shinnie]

Completion Post - Week 3
Option 1


Book: Dark Lover
[*book:Dark Lover|7889607]
Pages: ebook, 393 pages
How it qualifies: [From the précis:] "Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes."
Date Read: 24/09/2020
Rating: 3-3.5⭐️
Review: Honestly, I thought I was going to get a similar experience like I had during week one with Fury... except that Dark Lover was actually good. It's a bit of a twist to the usual vampire romance as the vampires in this world do not feed on humans unless they absolutely have to and even then it doesn't really do much for them. They have to feed on each other in F/M pairings, usually on their bonded mates.

The cheesy names (Wrath, Phury, Rhage, etc.) aside, I didn't mind these guys being over the top beefcakes because it was logically explained, meaning that they have been bred among the strongest of the strongest to create the ultimate vampire warriors to protect the civilian vampires from being hunted, hurt and killed.

The story was really intruiging and Beth was believably badass. Unlike in Leave Me Breathless, I would've had no issue believing that Beth is capable shooting a dude point blank in the face without even blinking. Despite her fighting spirit, the moments when she does fight do not come off as over the top capable. There is tension. There is uncertainty. She is not suddenly a born warrior who knows exactly what to do which makes the moments when she fails and gets captured very realistic.

My biggest issue with the book would be the rushed ending. It took a good third, if not half, of the book to get the plot going properly. Then we finally get going and suddenly it's a sprint to the finish line. So many things happened so fast that I genuinely wished the author would've taken more time to bulk it up properly and give each thread the time it deserves.

I also loved that we got all these different POVs from the side-characters, some of which weren't immediately obvious in the sense of where the story was headed. I recommend this book and I will probably read more books in this series.

[Logan]

Week 3 Completion Post
Option 1


Some Enchanted Éclair by Bailey Cates
Series: Magical Bakery Mystery #4
Date Read: 9/23/20
Rating: 2 stars
Review: I really really want to love this series but something just isn’t connecting. The mystery here didn’t catch my interest. There was no real secret to unfold just a plain whodunit with very little action. This was a disappointing read unfortunately. Too many characters, too much description. I love the witchcraft and am intrigued by Katie’s powers but it has been 4 books now. I’m ready for some excitement and big reveals!

[[deleted user]]

Completion Post - Week 3
Option 1

Christmas at Holiday House by RaeAnne Thayne
Date Read: September 24th, 2020
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
I did enjoy this holiday book by RaeAnne Thayne a great deal, but had a hard time classifying what 'genre' it would be. I definitely feel it was a contemporary romance as there was a lot of romantic aspects in the book, but it was more so a women's fiction novel as it dealt a lot with Abby changing her life around for herself and her son.

It was a wonderful, feel-good holiday story and my favorite character was the Grandmother Winnie, she was an absolute delight!

[LaurLa]

Well done my Chewies!!! We are all caught up :-)

[LaurLa]

Week 4 CALL


Option 1:
7. There are a lot of 'classic' movies and serials on Disney+
* Read a 'classic' book from one of the following lists:
Great Romance Novels
I Don't Understand All That Fuss
Timeless MM romance
Teen Girl Classics

If you use Option 1, your book must be selected from one of these lists. Please QUOTE THE LIST and PLACE NUMBER on that list for qualification - a link is preferred but otherwise just type out the name.


Option 2:
Key date - 25 March 2020
A book on your team mates 'read' list AND rated at least 3 stars and read on or after the key date.


Option 3:
Pass
This can only be used once each 5 weeks. Only one team mate can use this option each week.

[Mariana]

SELECTION POST

Week #4, Option 1

Book: The Hating Game
Pages: 387 (GR)
How it fits: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... number 131 on the list

[Shinnie]

Selection Post - Week 4
Option 1


Book: Into This River I Drown
[*book:Into This River I Drown|17213054]
Pages: ebook, 400 pages
How it qualifies: #69 on Timeless MM or Gay romance

I am very excited about reading this. I glanced at the first two pages and it reads like sitting on the porch with an intimate friend while they are telling you one of those stories where you just sit there and listen, too afraid to interrupt. I can almost smell the rain...

[[deleted user]]

Selection Post - Week 4
Option 1

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
[*book:Anne of Green Gables|20312870]
Pages: 384 pages (pages)
How it qualifies: #1 on Teen Girl Classica


I am taking a chance and picking this one up. I have it on my shelf and sad to say (especially as a Canadian) I have never read it. May as well now lol

[LaurLa]

Selection Post ~~ Week 4
Option 1


Call: 7. There are a lot of 'classic' movies and serials on Disney+
Task: Read a 'classic' book from one of the following lists
Book: Pride and Prejudice
Pages: 334 (GR paperback)
How it fits: #1 on Great Romance Novels

[CB]

Selection Post - Week 4
Option 1 - Read a 'classic' book from one of the included lists.


Soulless by Gail Carriger
[*book:Soulless|8135928]
Pages: 388 (GR)
How it qualifies: #636 on the Great Romance Novels list

[[deleted user]]

Selection Post - Week 4 - CHANGING
Option 1

I can change my origional selection, right? I just couldn't get into Anne of Green Gables...


Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie
[*book:Manhunting|18867792]
Pages: 288 pages (KINDLE)
How it qualifies: #360 on Great Romance Novels

[CB]

Sarah {The Bookish Knitter} wrote: "Selection Post - Week 4 - CHANGING
Option 1

I can change my origional selection, right? I just couldn't get into Anne of Green Gables...


[book:Manhunting|18867792..."

Hi Sarah, yes, since we’re still in the midst of Week 4, you can change your selection. I would recommend doing a strike through on your original selection post just to make it clear that is no longer your selection.

[[deleted user]]

CB wrote: "Sarah {The Bookish Knitter} wrote: "Selection Post - Week 4 - CHANGING
Option 1

I can change my origional selection, right? I just couldn't get into Anne of Green Gables...

[bookcover:Manhunting..."

Done, thanks!

[Logan]

Selection Post - Week 4
Option 1


The Silent Patient
Pages: 325 (Kindle 1st ed)
How it fits: #478 in I Don’t Understand All That Fuss list