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R12: SSS Team 2 - Love 2 Read
Mod
Roll 1: Spot 59
Title: Illumination by Susannah Sandlin
Qualification: Penton Legacy, Book 5
Pages: 366 pages
Read: 11/7
Rating & Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love this series but I wish this last book didn’t come years after the last one. The events are so connected that I had to work to recall essential details.
At the end of last book, Aiden and the Penton Legacy residents barely escaped the devastating attack by the ruthless vampire Frank. They are still recovering and trying to rebuild when Frank resurfaced with yet another scheme to aid vampires in subjugating both the supernatural as well as the human citizens of the US.
This time, a new leader Nick Dimitru, emerged to guide when Aiden was still vulnerable. Nick was one of the new hybrids, shifter and vampire, so his strengths are still being figured out.Nick represented Aiden in a meeting and soon was front and center in this renewed fight with Frank.
Frank had begun a program where he was trying to breed super vampires and their first test subject was Shay Underwood who was kidnapped and impregnated. But she was no wilting flower. She was not going to be a willing participant her in this war. She fights back and soon Nick is there for the rescue.
I won’t tell you the rest but this battle was not an easy one. I was hoping the author would do more with Penton and the Omega series (spin-off) but it doesn’t look like it.
Either way, she wrapped up the series with the good guys prevailing.
I'll have my book done in a couple hours - I haven't been feeling great plus needed to write 5 exams. I have about 2.5 written now- but it's just not all going to happen today. I thought I'd get a lot read at urgent care - but they were fast - not that I'm complaining :) Anyway, it's been a great book so far, and probably just what I needed. Haha I'm glad I didn't pick a plague book or something this roll.
Completion Post - Spot 59
Book: A Gift from the Comfort Food Café
Author: Debbie Johnson
Pages: 401
How it fits: Comfort Food Cafe #5
Date Read: 11/7/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I've loved every book in this series - and really the "comfort" part of the series title is well done- they are comfort reads - good to have on election week and a stressful weekend. This one focuses on Katie, who is a single mom, and her adorable son Saul. We've seen Katie in previous books, and she was always a bit standoffish, and in this one we find out why. She grew up in a VERY dysfunctional family and has a lot to overcome. She's also very attracted to a guy named Van, who is perfect for her. We actually don't see tons of Van - Katie has a lot to work out first. I thought the author did a pretty good job or portraying Katie's issues and her need to run, without making her feel whiney. And of course, the folks at the cafe were there all the way to support.
Special shout out to 3-year-old Saul. He was absolutely adorable and pretty much stole the show.
Mod
I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. I hope you feel better. As far as the exams, yikes, that’s a lot of work. Goodluck
Tami-Lee hasn’t been on GR since Wednesday Nov 4th. She hasn’t logged on at all. I hope she’s okay maybe some internet issues. I hope it’s not health issues
I hope its internet too! that's frustrating but beats health issues. one thing I like about (most) books is we generally doing out what happens and things resolve. i wish real life was that neat!
So, if I understand correctly, we can see if Tamie-Lee checks in before midnight. If so, we can roll/check in as normal. If not, then we wait til midnight, then she hasn't checked in twice, so she is out, and we can roll (since we all have our reviews in) and check in.I hope that is correct, but if not, I'm sure Denise will sort us out :)
Mod
Week 8 Roll 2 (Sunday)) Roll: 5
Previous Spot: 59
New Spot: 64
Task:
#6 in series
#4 in series
Alternate: 64. New to You Author
Reviews
Denise The Shadow Patrol
EzinwanyiRoyal Holiday
PallaviA Woman is No Man
SuzanneVerse and Vengeance
Total Bonus points earned: 4
Bonus points this week:
Bonus points used: 1
Bonus Point Tracking
(view spoiler)
Mod
Spot: 64
Book: The Shadow Patrol by Alex Berenson
Qualification: John Wells #6
Pages: 400
Selection PostSpot: 64
Book: Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower
Qualification: Magical Bookshop Mystery #4
Pages: 260
I happily got this on sale over the weekend so may as well finish the series! SO glad I paid $1.99 instead of $7.99
Mod
Spot 64
Title: Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Qualifications: Book 4, The Wedding Date
Pages: 304
Mod
Spot: 64
Book: The Shadow Patrol by Alex Berenson
Qualification: John Wells #6
Pages: 400
Finished: 09 Nov 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Wells returns to Afghanistan in this one on personal request from CIA director Duto. The CIA station there has been a mess since a suicide bomber took out several officers after gaining their trust two years earlier - and things have been getting even more messy lately, leading the higher-ups at Langley to suspect a mole might be leaking information to the Taliban. Elsewhere in the country, a massive drug smuggling operation involving members of the military is underway, potentially linked to Wells's investigation.
A solid entry in the series that kept me entertained, though less fastpaced than some of the previous books. Was the Exley cameo really necessary? That woman just keeps popping back up for no particular reason.
Hi team! Checking in for the open spot.
I started A Woman Is No Man yesterday, 9th Nov GMT. It fits under "new to you author" .
Will it qualify?
Do I have to chose another book?
Mod
You can use any book started after the team rolled (which was about 6am GMT yesterday morning), so I'm sure it's fine.
Mod
Checking in for the open spot."
Hi Pallavi.
Welcome to our team.
Mod
Spot 64
Title: Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Qualifications: Book 4, The Wedding Date
Pages: 304
Read: 11/10
Rating & Review: 4.5 stars
Royal Holiday is a two-week holiday fling that turned out to be more. As they say at Church, I really need to hear this one. It hits so close to home and it gave me the hope and inspiration that I desperately needed. I don’t think I have ever read a romance featuring a woman who is over fifty years old and this one was written so well that I was picturing this happy ending for my mom.
Vivian Forest is the mom of the heroine (Maddie) from the prior book, The Wedding Party. Vivian was 54-year-old divorcee, who was taking care of her sick sister and as well as a constant support system for her daughter Maddie.
When her stylist daughter was given an opportunity of a lifetime, to style the British Royal family for the Christmas holiday, Maddie invited her mom Vivian to come along with her. After all, they always spend the holidays together, and her mom can get a much-needed break from caring for the sick sister.
When Vivian gets to Sandringham estate, it’s like a whole new world, very different from Northern California and Vivian is determined to experience everything she could in that week. She didn’t count on meeting the Queen’s private Secretary Malcolm Hudson, whom she found herself attracted to. Malcolm returned these feelings and the rest of the book is their journey towards a second chance at love.
What I love about this book is that both characters are comfortable in life, their respective divorce were long ago, and at a point in their lives where they can freely follow their heart’s desire.
This holiday story had sweet banter, interesting vacation spots and foods. It had two mature people making the most of their second chance at romance and the author wrote it so gracefully.
This book is a wonderful holiday story that will leave you feeling hopeful for love in older ages.
Completion PostSpot: 64
Book: Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower
Qualification: Magical Bookshop Mystery #4
Pages: 260
Date Read: 11/10/20
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Well yay - I finished this series - at least until she writes another one - there's no indication this will be the end.
This book started at a weird place after the last one - if I hadn't read it so recently, I would have thought I missed a book. One of the corners of the love triangle has disappeared - I have no idea why. (Well I have an idea, but there was nothing said at all in this book.) Grandma Daisy has a new huge job. And the main character is in a steady, serious relationship with the other corner of the love triangle. When did this happen!? I can see that it was probably easier not to write all that drama, but it felt a little abrupt to me.
Walt Whitman was the clue author in this book, and I enjoyed that. I know very little of him and his work, but it was fun reading some of it.
The mystery was ok. It made sense anyway. I'm glad I picked up the series - it was a bunch of rather fast reads, and I really do like the idea of a magical bookshop, although really all bookshops and libraries are magical!
Completion post- Week 8 roll 2 Book:A Woman Is No Man
Author:Etaf Rum
Read:11/11/20
How it fits: Author new to me
Rating:5 stars
Page:339
Review:
A powerful book! I just finished the book and I can't express what I feel right now. Too many emotions. But one thing I feel deep within me is an unshakeable hope.
Stories narrated back and forth by Isra and Deya, a mother and daughter pair, about life of an Arab Muslim women in different time zones.
Isra's mother was always sad. Her job was to cook, clean the house, take care of the children and listen to every demand made by the husband and take the beating from him occasionally.
This is a woman's destiny everywhere they said.
Isra promised herself she would never be like that.
She married off and started her life in Brooklyn.
No matter how hard she tried, her life was exactly like her mother's..only much worse.
And it will be same for her daughters..unless fight for their will.
This novel takes us into vile thoughts of some most disgusting people on earth. Makes me wonder the harshness our female ancestors had to go through and how lucky we are to be able to live our life the way we want.
Great review! and great reminder- I think I take much of my freedom for granted!
Mod
Book:A Woman Is No Man
Author:Etaf Rum
Rating:5 stars"
I've been wanting to read this - now I've got extra motivation!
Mod
Book:A Woman Is No Man
Author:Etaf Rum"
I have been eying that book for a while
Suzanne wrote: "Great review! and great reminder- I think I take much of my freedom for granted!"Thank you!!
Yes we do take our freedom for granted.
Also, we forget how much power we have.
Ezinwanyi wrote: "Pallavi wrote: " Completion post- Week 8 roll 2 Book:A Woman Is No Man
Author:Etaf Rum"
I have been eying that book for a while"
Please read.
I knew it would make me lose my sleep and it did. I can't get the horror out of my mind.
It's the reality for some people sadly.
I only read because of this challenge and I am extremely glad that it happened
Ezinwanyi wrote: "Pallavi wrote: " Completion post- Week 8 roll 2 Book:A Woman Is No Man
Author:Etaf Rum"
I have been eying that book for a while"
Do read it. It's one of those must read books.
Though some pages make me cringe so bad I couldn't continue, I am happy that I continued due to this challenge.
I have our reviews linked and will roll in about an hour :)
Week 9 Roll 1 (Thursday)) Roll: 1
Previous Spot: 64
New Spot: 65
Task:
#6 in series
#5in series
Alternate: 65. Published 2013-2014
Reviews
Denise Stasi Winter
Suzanne The Cat of Christmas Past
Ezinwanyi Sunshine on Silver Lake
Pallavi The Rosie Project
Total Bonus points earned: 4
Bonus points this week:
Bonus points used: 1
Bonus Point Tracking
(view spoiler)
Darn - what a crappy roll! But I suppose they can't all be high numbers :( Sorry team!
Mod
SELECTION POST
Spot: 65
Book: Stasi Winter by David Young
Qualification: Karin Müller #5
Pages: 269
Mod
Lol yeah I guess it does. My bad roll is sure pushing our abilities to find #5 and #6 in series!
Mod
Spot 65
Title: Sunshine on Silver Lake: Includes a bonus novella by Annie Rains
Qualifications: Book 5, Sweetwater Springs
Pages: 432
Mod
Spot: 65
Book: Stasi Winter by David Young
Qualification: Karin Müller #5
Pages: 269
Finished: 13 Nov 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
During one of the worst winters the GDR endured, Karin and her colleagues are sent back to Rügen to look into the death of a woman who ostensibly died of exposure but soon turns out to have been murdered. A number of familiar faces from the first book make a reappearance, including Irma Behrendt, who is now secretly plotting a second attempt at escaping to the West along with a few conscripts.
I wasn't super thrilled with the set-up for this book. After Karin quit her job with the People's Police in a dramatic gesture at the end of the previous installment, Young now promptly backtracked and she's right back in her old job, with her old colleagues and problems thanks to her after all not former boss. Some of the plot was a little over the top, but nevertheless engaging. Catching up with some of the characters from the first book several years later was interesting, and I found myself rooting for Irma a lot more than anyone else involved - Karin included. Excellent ending though, and looks like the next one will be quite intriguing.
Selection Post - Week 9, roll 1Spot 65
Book: The Cat of Christmas Past by Kathi Daley
Qualification Whales and Tails Mystery #6
Pages: 244
Completion Post - Week 9, roll 1Spot 65
Book: The Cat of Christmas Past by Kathi Daley
Qualification Whales and Tails Mystery #6
Pages: 244
Date Read: 11/14
Rating 3.5 stars
Review: So, not really a lot happened in this book, but it was an enjoyable holiday read. The main character is putting together a church Christmas pageant, and doing all the other holiday necessities, when she finds out the local mogul is evicting a low-income apartment building in order to build condos. She visits him, reads to him (A Christmas Carol), and makes a deal with him that involves her solving a 20-year-old cold case. It was a good holiday read.
Mod
Spot 65
Title: Sunshine on Silver Lake: Includes a bonus novella by Annie Rains
Qualifications: Book 5, Sweetwater Springs
Pages: 432
Read: 11/13
Rating & Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not a fan of second chance romances because usually it’s some bogus misunderstanding that drove the couple apart and a little communication could have helped.
This is wasn’t as bad. While it was clear communication would have helped, Emma St. James and Jack Hershey both needed to grow and heal some wounds before they could fully give their hearts.
Emma and Jack cared for each other in high school but Jack didn’t show up to take her to the Senior Prom and that ended their relationship.
As adults, Emma working in her cafe and Jack as a park ranger, their paths cross again. They are different people now, Emma still grieving the loss of her mother to cancer and Jack is raising his nephew as his sister deals with her addiction issues. I liked this book because it reminds me of Kristan Higgins or Robyn Carr style story telling. It has small town, families, secrets and love. Jack and Emma were good together, I just wish she had asked what happened and I wish he had told her all those years ago.
Jack and Emma embark on a new friendship and the old feelings resurface. These two make peace with their past and find new strength in who they are now.
I have the reviews so far linked and will do my best to watch tomorrow for the last one, but we will have company and I have a lot of cooking and socializing to do, so if you see a roll not happening, feel free.
Mod
Have you picked a book? I don’t see your selection post
I did message her about 4-5 hours ago and asked about that & reminded her about deadlines - so hopefully we'll hear back soon.
Mod
Ezinwanyi wrote: "Hey Pallavi,Have you picked a book? I don’t see your selection post"
Hi yes picked The Rosie Project!
Would be done in 2-3 hrs.
Thanks Pallavi - and thank you for getting back to me! The Rosie Project has been on my to-read list forever - I'm interested in your review.
Mod
Have you picked a book? I don’t see your selection post"
Hi yes picked The Rosie Project!
Would be done in 2-3 hrs."
It was a good book. There is a movie coming out based on this story as well
Completion post: Week 9 roll 1Book:The Rosie Project
Author:Graeme Simsion
Completion date:15/11/20
Page:295
How it fits: published in 2013-2014
Ratings:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review:
What a lovely read!
Very witty, funny and adorable read
I feel so happy and light after reading. The protagonist gave a Sheldon Cooper vibe. Being a huge fan of BBT, I pictured Sheldon enacting every scenes in that quirky way of his.
Dr. Don Tillman, uncharacteristically charming and socially inept professor of genetics follows his life by set of rules; jotting down and preplanning his every hour of every day right down to eating and drinking.
One fine day he decides to get married and to check the probability of a compatible mate, he prepares a questionnaire that he secretly fills out everytime he goes on a date. He wants his partner to be intelligent, punctual, non smoker, non drinker, with good BMI and definitely not a barmaid.
He accidentally meets Rosie Jarman, a PhD student and a bartender who smokes, drinks and is always late.
She is on a quest to find her biological father with the help of Don ofcourse!
Don's Wife Project takes a backfoot to the Father Project.
An unlikely friendship blooms and Dom falls in love.
Collecting DNA samples from unsuspected possible candidates to beating up not one but two bouncers to dancing with a skeleton this book takes you on a joyful ride.
I wish they make a movie
Sorry for the delay guys!We have a festive week of Diwali going on here in India.
Ezinwanyi wrote: "Pallavi wrote: "Ezinwanyi wrote: "Hey Pallavi,Have you picked a book? I don’t see your selection post"
Hi yes picked The Rosie Project!
Would be done in 2-3 hrs."
It was a good b..."
Is there!!
I have a short break - lol hiding from all the commotion - so I'll go ahead and roll and stuff.And no worries Pallavi - thanks for the review. I hope you have a wonderful Diwali. I know very little about it, but I've been seeing some posts, and the idea of light in the world is a happy one to me.
The Challenge Factory
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Spot: 59
Book: In the Requiem by Hailey Turner
Qualification: Metahuman Files #5
Pages: 434
Finished: 07 Nov 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Holy hell. Part of me just wants to rage and scream at Hailey Turner for putting my heart through the wringer like that, but... well, I guess she made up for it in the end. And we all need a good cry and emotional-rollercoaster-induced heart attack every once in a while, right? This book certainly delivered all of that and more. Just be prepared to not be able to put the book down (or, y'know, breathe) during pretty much the entire second half and you're in for one hell of a ride. While there's still a handful of novellas and one more novel to come, this already felt like the big finale - but you never know what further
supreme character-torturing evilentertaining plot twists Turner might have in store.