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R12: SS Team 1 - Alices in 1derland
I should be finishing my book on Thursday. Will post a better update or my review tomorrow (Thursday).
Happy Thanksgiving to our American teammates!
Happy Thanksgiving to our American teammates!
Thanks, Talia, for the update! And Happy Thanksgiving to our teammates in the U.S.!
I’m not going to be able to finish until tomorrow
No problem. Thanks for letting me know!
Sorry - I meant to get this up yesterday but was totally jammed.Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating this year.
Totally weird here as I'm cooking just for my little family of four. I've never done this, lol
Week 10 Completion Post: Spot 83
You Only Love Twice by Lexi Blake
360 pgs/GR
Finished 11/24/20 4 stars
Review: Oh Phoebe girl, you've been lying to the wrong peeps. She has been working undercover in Big Tag's organization as an accountant gathering info. Little does Big Tag know that she is Ten's (CIA) sister. So fun (and a little sad) watching Jessie and Phoebe get their HEA. I loved these two together - they are perfect for each other,
Same here, Melissa. Only 3 of us for Thanksgiving this year. My sister, my husband and I.
Completion Post
Week 10, Spot 83
Book:
Fatal Roots
Author: Sheila Connolly
Qualification: County Cork #8
Date read: 11/26/20
Rating: ★★
Review: American ex-pat and Irish pub owner Maura is visited by a grad student who asks to search Maura’s land for fairy rings. One of the accompanying students disappears, and while searching for him Maura finds a body that has been dead for some time. In discovering the identity of this man, Maura learns the truth about her family history and why her grandmother left Ireland in the first place.
I’ve only read the first book in this series previously, and this book was reminding me a lot of that one, down to the body found in the bog. I felt like I was having deja vu reading this. I wanted to learn more about Ireland through this series and I did learn a little, but not much. This one just kind of bored me. It wasn’t very exciting or interesting. So this is another cozy series that I’ll give one more try. I might just need to step away from cozies next year if I keep not being entertained by them.
Week 10, Spot 83
Book:
Fatal Roots Author: Sheila Connolly
Qualification: County Cork #8
Date read: 11/26/20
Rating: ★★
Review: American ex-pat and Irish pub owner Maura is visited by a grad student who asks to search Maura’s land for fairy rings. One of the accompanying students disappears, and while searching for him Maura finds a body that has been dead for some time. In discovering the identity of this man, Maura learns the truth about her family history and why her grandmother left Ireland in the first place.
I’ve only read the first book in this series previously, and this book was reminding me a lot of that one, down to the body found in the bog. I felt like I was having deja vu reading this. I wanted to learn more about Ireland through this series and I did learn a little, but not much. This one just kind of bored me. It wasn’t very exciting or interesting. So this is another cozy series that I’ll give one more try. I might just need to step away from cozies next year if I keep not being entertained by them.
UGH>>>>> SO SORRY!!!!I totally got distracted in the morning prepping some food and then I did work last night and just completely let it slip my mind. It also didn't feel like Thursday since I didn't work my day job...so I kept thinking it was Saturday all day......
I really don't like holiday's in the middle of the week, totally messes me up.
I'll post in a few....need to sign into my work desktop first so I can clock in and then I'll post real quick while getting my email and stuff going.
Completion PostSpot 83
Book: Borrowed Crime
Author: Laurie Cass
Pages: 330
Fits: #3 in A Bookmobile Cat Mystery series
Read: 11/27/2020
Rating: 4
Review: I've jumped all around in this series. What's not to like, a story that centers around a librarian with a bookmobile. Her sidekick cat, Eddie also tends to have some serious intuition to help nudge her in weird ways. Minnie is fighting to keep the bookmobile dream alive while the library director is out to cut her pet project. The death of a volunteer along the route could be the final nail in the coffin for the project if Minnie can't prove this had nothing to do with library and bookmobile. How random would an unexpected husband being the volunteer getting shot at a bathroom break in a "hunting accident", that just sounds suspicious from the get-go! Another fun adventure as you follow Minnie and Eddie along for catching the culprit in this accident.
Plethora wrote: "UGH>>>>> SO SORRY!!!!I totally got distracted in the morning prepping some food and then I did work last night and just completely let it slip my mind. It also didn't feel like Thursday since I d..."
Thanks! Don’t worry. I think most of us have a hard time keeping track during holidays.
Has anyone NOT used an alternate option? I ask since that is the only bonus point we haven’t earned. I am also thinking of using our bonus points with this week’s dice roll. I think we are nearing the end of the game. Any thoughts on this?
Completion PostSpace: 83
Murder, Money & Marzipan by Leighann Dobbs
Pages: 170
Date Read: 11/27
How It Fits: #3 Lexy Baker Mystery
Review
This is the 3rd in the Lexy Baker series which is quite an easy read. Lexy finds herself a person of suspicion when she stumbles across the body of the judge of the american baker competition she has entered. The story was cute if a little far-fetched, especially when the leading detective sends her co-detective to trail Lexy in the hope of that she would lead them to the murderer. Not a bad cozy but not great.
Geri wrote: "Has anyone NOT used an alternate option? I ask since that is the only bonus point we haven’t earned. I am also thinking of using our bonus points with this week’s dice roll. I think we are nearin..."
I haven't used the alternate option
Thanks, Louise. I will add a bonus point to this week’s check in.
OK team. We rolled an 8. I used the 5 bonus points. So we are at spot 96. Alternate option is Mystery Thriller.
Also, just so I understand. Once a team goes past 100, the game is over? Or do we need to read a book for that spot and the first team to finish all the books win? (If there are more than 1 team past spot 100)
Geri wrote: "Also, just so I understand. Once a team goes past 100, the game is over? Or do we need to read a book for that spot and the first team to finish all the books win? (If there are more than 1 team pa..."I'm pretty sure we go past 100 and read that spot. We would also have to be the first to have all books done I believe.
Mod
Yes, the first team to finish and post reviews for all their books for a spot past 100 wins.
Week 11 Tracking PostSpot: 96
✔️Melissa’s Review Post
✔️Steph’s Review Post
✔️Talia’s Review Post
✔️Louise’s Review Post
✔️Plethora’s Review Post
✔️Geri’s Review Post
Steph wrote: "Selection Post
Spot 96
. The Silent Patient
How it fits: mystery thriller genre"
This book was one of my favorite reads of this year. I hope you enjoy it!
Spot 96
. The Silent PatientHow it fits: mystery thriller genre"
This book was one of my favorite reads of this year. I hope you enjoy it!
Completion PostWeek 11
Spot: 96
Book:
A Season to LieQualification: MPG Mystery/Thriller
Finished: 11/29
Rating: 4⭐️
Review:
It’s taken me awhile to get back to this series. I’m very glad I did since I really enjoyed it. Littlejohn’s writing is good. And the mystery was interesting, dealing with the death of a famous writer. Gemma’s relationships with her work partner and life partner are complicated. I definitely want to see how this series evolves.
Completion PostWeek 11
The Silent PatientQualification: mystery thriller
Finished: 11/30
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I must say that I truly did not expect that ending at all. I was pulled in from the beginning and I couldn't wait to get to the end. There were many parts of this book that I did not expect but I am very happy that I decided to pick it up. I highly recommend this book.
Hey ream! Our next dice roll will likely take us past spot 100. Please try to get your reviews in by Thursday night if possible. We still have a free pass. I’ll use it if we have 1 review not done. We also have 1 bonus point to use. I will use it if the next spot is better than the one we originally land on. As Denise confirmed, the first team to finish their books wins!
Geri wrote: "Hey ream! Our next dice roll will likely take us past spot 100. Please try to get your reviews in by Thursday night if possible. We still have a free pass. I’ll use it if we have 1 review not done...."
Oh, I forgot we still had the free pass! Should we just use it this week since we can't use it for our final week past 100?
Oh, I forgot we still had the free pass! Should we just use it this week since we can't use it for our final week past 100?
I didn’t realize we couldn’t use it the final week. I think we missed our chance to use it. Everyone was so great at getting the reviews done on time. The bonus point is still available to use. We just earned it after we went past 90.
Geri wrote: "I didn’t realize we couldn’t use it the final week. I think we missed our chance to use it. Everyone was so great at getting the reviews done on time. The bonus point is still available to use. We ..."
I think we can't use the free pass for the final week, but I'll double check the rules to make sure.
I think we can't use the free pass for the final week, but I'll double check the rules to make sure.
Ok, this is from the rules:
✸ The free pass may not be used for the win.
So we can use it Thursday night if someone's review is not in. We just can't use it for the final week. So you had it right in your first post. Just disregard me confusing things. :)
I'm aiming to have my book done by Wednesday.
✸ The free pass may not be used for the win.
So we can use it Thursday night if someone's review is not in. We just can't use it for the final week. So you had it right in your first post. Just disregard me confusing things. :)
I'm aiming to have my book done by Wednesday.
Talia wrote: "Ok, this is from the rules: ✸ The free pass may not be used for the win.
So we can use it Thursday night if someone's review is not in. We just can't use it for the final week. So you had it righ..."
We can't use it this week, we should have used it last week as my review was late. If we use it we can't win.
Yes, this week will be the last week. I think 4 or 5 teams are in the 90s right now. I can’t use the free pass. I didn’t use it last week since you, Louise, did say you’d finish by Friday. I think the pass is if a teammate doesn’t finish by Friday. So I realize now I can’t use it Friday at midnight anyway.LOL
Geri wrote: "Has anyone NOT used an alternate option? I ask since that is the only bonus point we haven’t earned. I am also thinking of using our bonus points with this week’s dice roll. I think we are nearin..."
I haven't used the alternate option either
Week 11: Selection Post Spot 96 I'm sure you're shocked
Master No by Lexi Blake
350 pgs/ GR
#9 Masters & Mercenaries series
[ book:Master No|24965021]
Mod
Technically, nothing prevents you from using it this Friday if a team member won't have their book finished by Thursday night. You can't roll before Friday, but there is no rule saying you would have to wait until end of day Friday to use the free pass. One might make an argument that, well, it's not very sporting to use it to give you an advantage in the final race, but it's not outside the rules. I think the only reason we've never had this question come up before is that teams tend to either have used up the free pass before the last week or function like clockwork and have all reviews in on Thursdays.
What you absolutely can't do is claim the win with five reviews in plus the free pass to cover the last one.
Denise wrote: "To weigh in on the free pass debate:Technically, nothing prevents you from using it this Friday if a team member won't have their book finished by Thursday night. You can't roll before Friday, bu..."
Thanks for clarifying!
Week 11: Selection Post Spot 96
Master No by Lexi Blake
350 pgs/ GR
#9 Masters & Mercenaries series
Finished: 12/3/20 4 stars
Review: I was surprised how much I enjoyed Ten's book as I hadn't really liked him in previous books. He's a bit of an asshole. Hilarious that he had to take lessons to be a Dom to get in with Faith McDonald after all his comments at Ian and the rest of the Masters. Watching these two grow together was fun. OMG though I have no idea how Faith never saw that her sister is a total psycho bitch - how do you miss that??
Completion PostSpot 96
Book: A Tale of Two Kitties
Author: Sofie Kelly
Pages: 326
Fits: #9 in Magical Cats Mystery series
Read: 12/03/2020
Rating: 4
Review: I've been reading lots of cat mysteries this round! Since September I've read 2 from the Bookmobile Cat series and 3 prior to this one from the Magical Cats...lol
I guess that shows you how much I enjoy these two series. In this edition Kathleen finds solving the mystery of who killed Leo. However, is his death somehow tied to the death of his wife twenty years earlier? Town history, rumors and feelings swirling around can muddy the investigation.
Completion Post
Week 11, Spot 96
Book:
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller
Author: Cleo Coyle
Qualification: Haunted Bookshop Mystery #6
Date read: 12/03/20
Rating: ★★★
Review: A customer in Penelope's bookstore is shocked when she sees the author photo on the back of a new book and claims that it's her. She rushes out with the unpurchased book before Pen can stop her. When Pen goes to the woman's home to retrieve the book, she finds her dead of an apparent suicide. But Pen suspects murder and, with some encouragement from her private detective ghost Jack, decides to investigate.
This book was interesting with the way Jack can take Pen into his life in the past sort of while she's dreaming. I've only read the first book in this series previously and I don't remember him doing that. It was funny hearing the way Jack talks, like calling women "dames". It seems so weird that people used to talk that way. Anyway, I love reading a book about a booklover and getting lots of references to other novels, so this was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't mind reading more in the series.
Week 11, Spot 96
Book:
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller Author: Cleo Coyle
Qualification: Haunted Bookshop Mystery #6
Date read: 12/03/20
Rating: ★★★
Review: A customer in Penelope's bookstore is shocked when she sees the author photo on the back of a new book and claims that it's her. She rushes out with the unpurchased book before Pen can stop her. When Pen goes to the woman's home to retrieve the book, she finds her dead of an apparent suicide. But Pen suspects murder and, with some encouragement from her private detective ghost Jack, decides to investigate.
This book was interesting with the way Jack can take Pen into his life in the past sort of while she's dreaming. I've only read the first book in this series previously and I don't remember him doing that. It was funny hearing the way Jack talks, like calling women "dames". It seems so weird that people used to talk that way. Anyway, I love reading a book about a booklover and getting lots of references to other novels, so this was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't mind reading more in the series.
Completion PostSpace: 96
Broken by Robert J. Crane
Date Read: 12/3
Rating: 4*
How It Fits: #6 Girl in the Box
Review
This is the 6th installment of the Girl in the box series. Although shorter than the previous books in the series it was no less fast paced. Sienna is left broken after the directorate is destroyed and old man winter and his bodyguards force Sienna, a succubus, to kill her boyfriend. This book follows Sienna’s journey as she avenges Zack’s death by going after those that held her down and used her touch to kill Zach. This was an enjoyable book and a necessary part of the story to show where Sienna must go next.
Final dice roll is 7. Current spot 103. You can read book 1, 10, 3 in a series, or a standalone. Alternate option published in 2020. Good luck team!
Week 12 Tracking PostSpot: 103
✔️Melissa’s Review Post
✔️Steph’s Review Post
✔️Talia’s Review Post
✔️Louise’s Review Post
Plethora’s Review Post
✔️Geri’s Review Post
Well, when I couldn't sleep last night I figured I'd log on and see if we had a new spot. I'm glad I did as I read this one ...then I got tired and was able to go back to bed for a couple of hours. It's gonna be a rough day at work today, lol.Week 12: Spot 103 Selection & Completion Post
Devoted by Lexi Blake
179 pgs/ GR
#10.5 of Masters & Mercenaries series
[ book:Devoted|28108566]
Finished 12/4/20 3 - 3.5 stars
Review: this is Bridget's (Cherished) sister Amy's book. Amy has ousted her Dad from the company and joined the training program at Sanctum. She feels like she is coming into her own and all would be well if she could just figure out who her business rival is. Enter Flynn Adler (Mitch Bradford's brother - these weave so many people together I think I may need a 'family tree' to keep everybody straight - at least all the secondary characters anyhoo) - Flynn kind of reminded me of Derek with his jealous behavior and had a few too many asshole moments. The sex was hot, the main storyline progressed through tis book and of course a happy ending.
Ok ladies, I'm off to work w/ my jumbo size cup of coffee :)
Thanks, Melissa! I couldn’t sleep either. LOL But fortunately, I don’t have to work. It may be a 2 coffee day for you. 🙂
Completion PostWeek 12
Spot: 103
Book:
Shakespeare's ChristmasQualification: Lily Bard book 3
Finished: 12/4
Rating: 4⭐️
Review:
This is a good series. In book 3, Lily goes home for her sister’s wedding and helps to solve a series of murders. Her new boyfriend, Jack, an investigator, ends up in Lily’s hometown too. He is looking for a missing girl. Lily and Jack work together to solve both cases. There wasn’t much “Christmas” in this book. But I did enjoy it and will continue the series.
Completion PostSpot: 103
Unmasking Miss Appleby by Emily Larkin
Date Read: 12/4
Rating: 4*
How It Fits: #1 Baleful Godmother
Review
This is an interesting twist on a historical romance with a fairytale retelling. Charlotte is living with her uncle when on her 25th Birthday she is visited by a fairy who bestows on her a gift of her choice. Wanting independence she chooses metamorphosis after seeing an advertisement for a gentleman's secretary. What follows is an amusing tale of Charlotte re-inventing herself as Charlie and becoming Marcus Cosgroves secretary. There is also a bit of a mystery wrapped up which Charlie is helping Marcus solve which provides some amusement as Charlie gets to grip with her masculine side.
Completion Post
Week 12 - Spot 103
Book:
The Christmas Letter
Author: Kathi Daley
Qualification: Tess and Tilly #1
Date read: 12/04/20
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Tess is the mail carrier in a small town in Montana. When she and her dog Tilly stop to visit with an elderly man on her route, Tess finds him lying dead in his bedroom, shot in the back. Donny is arrested for the murder, the new-ish boyfriend of Tess’s bff Bree. Bree can’t believe that Donny is a murderer, so Tess agrees to help her prove his innocence.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series although not the first by this author. I enjoyed it. Tess is a friendly character and the fact that she’s a mailman is unique. They are setting her up for a love triangle in the future, but both guys seem nice so I don’t think I’ll mind that. A nice Christmas story to kick off December with.
Week 12 - Spot 103
Book:
The Christmas LetterAuthor: Kathi Daley
Qualification: Tess and Tilly #1
Date read: 12/04/20
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Tess is the mail carrier in a small town in Montana. When she and her dog Tilly stop to visit with an elderly man on her route, Tess finds him lying dead in his bedroom, shot in the back. Donny is arrested for the murder, the new-ish boyfriend of Tess’s bff Bree. Bree can’t believe that Donny is a murderer, so Tess agrees to help her prove his innocence.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series although not the first by this author. I enjoyed it. Tess is a friendly character and the fact that she’s a mailman is unique. They are setting her up for a love triangle in the future, but both guys seem nice so I don’t think I’ll mind that. A nice Christmas story to kick off December with.
Completion PostWeek 12
Lord of the FliesFinished: 12/4
Rating: 2 stars
Review
I seen this movie in high school and I don't remember it being as slow as this book was for me. I was really hoping that this would be a nice relaxing quick read for our last book. I actually had to push myself through it, the 2 stars is just for the fact that I like the idea of the story.
Yikes. I started my book yesterday morning but ended up working a crazy insane day!Worked 5:30a-12a....and here it is 6am and getting ready to go to work again.
Making me the reason you didn't win yesterday.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Lord of the Flies (other topics)The Christmas Letter (other topics)
Unmasking Miss Appleby (other topics)
The Christmas Letter (other topics)
Shakespeare's Christmas (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Kathi Daley (other topics)Emily Larkin (other topics)
Lexi Blake (other topics)
Robert J. Crane (other topics)
Cleo Coyle (other topics)
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Week 10
Spot: 83
Book:
Qualification: Devil’s Night book 3
Finished: 11/24
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Review:
Devil’s Night is a dark bully/erotic romance series. I enjoyed book 1 and 2. Book 3 not so much. Mostly I had a hard time with Damon. He was a little too dark and perverted for me. Yes, there were some reasons why. But it didn’t really help me to warm up to hm. The book also felt too long. I am still invested in the series, though. And will continue with the series.