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R12: SS Team 8 - Reading Eight Days A Week
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Maddie
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Nov 19, 2020 08:23PM
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Completion post: Spot 71Death by a Honeybee by Abigail Keam
Read 11/20
Qualification: 1st in a series
Rating 4 stars
Review: ’m really glad (after having read book #4) that I decided to go back to read the first book of the series. It’s a great introduction to the characters and it explains the beginning of the animosity between Josiah and O’Nan. The writing is good and the mystery was interesting. I like that Josiah is a beekeeper (interesting job!!) and you learn something about beekeeping from the beginning. I will definitely read 2 & 3 -- it seems like a lot happens between 1 and 4. LOL! =)
If Maddie doesn't get her review posted in the next 90 minutes, I'll have to use the free pass.
Week 9 (Spot 71) Completion
Pages: 359
Standalone
Date read: 21/11/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I think now that maybe these kinds of thrillers aren't for me. While they're interesting enough to read, I just don't feel like a whole lot happens throughout. I might need to start trying horror books, or just psychological domestic thrillers...
This book flew by as I was reading it, and I love the writing style and run-on sentences, and OMG the change of POVs is absolutely perfect. I loved how unstable Noelle was, and how we see inside her mind, and also inside Floyd's. I love Poppy as a kid, she's just so exciting and unique. Can't wait for more Lisa Jewell
We rolled a 7 this week, putting us on space 78.Can read series #7, series #8 or series #78.
Alternate is a mostly yellow or gold cover.
Week 10 (Spot 78) Selection
Pages: 412
How it fits: Gold foiled cover
Mod
SELECTION POST
Spot: 78
Book: The Detachment by Barry Eisler
Qualification: John Rain #7
Pages: 325
Selection Post: Week 10 - Spot 78
Book: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: Kate Daniels #7
Pages: 381
Sam -- I'm going to read the same book for both groups this time. Just an FYI
Completion Post: Spot 78
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: Kate Daniels #7
Read: 11/22/20
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Best book in the series hands down. This book was insanity from beginning to end. The stakes are extremely high here and there were a lot of moments that took me by surprise. Andrews’ did a lot of things in this one that had my jaw on the floor and I went through a lot of emotions.
Kate’s character development is fantastic and consistent. She’s grown so much but she still feels like the same Kate that I fell in love with in book one, just much more wiser. Her and Curran spend about half of the book apart but when he showed up it was wonderful. They have a great relationship. I particularly loved the end and what he did. I swooned so hard. This review is a mess and all over the place but I don’t want to give any spoilers. Just know that this is my favorite book in the series. I can’t believe I’m so close to being finished with this series, it’s amazing and I'm going to be sad when I get to the end.
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) wrote: "Completion Post: Spot 78Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: Kate Daniels #7
Read: 11/22/20
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Best book ..."
Yes after a ho-hum start this series got better and better, #8 is even better!
Completion post -- Spot 78The Last Place by Laura Lippman
Read 11/22
Qualification: 7th in Tess Monaghan series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I have to give this series credit. It’s not usual to be able to jump around, read out of order, and like each book — but that is the case here. Each book is a story in itself with Tess Monaghan being the central character. Based in Baltimore, which I love, book #7 finds Tess investigating a series of unsolved homicides that, at first, seem to be unrelated and a bunch of dead ends. But nothing is as it seems and it’s up to Tess to find the truth. Very good page-turner.
Loriidae wrote: "Yes after a ho-hum start this series got better and better, #8 is even better!"Book 8 is even better?? 😮 That makes me want to drop everything and just read that one right now. LOL.
Mod
Spot: 78
Book: The Detachment by Barry Eisler
Qualification: John Rain #7
Pages: 325
Finished: 23 Nov 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Was this seriously the fourth time I've read this? Well, if GR says so I guess it must be true... not that I'm complaining, this is one of those books I can read over and over without it ever getting boring. The action and suspense never fail to grip me despite already knowing how it all turns out, and putting all these compelling, fascinating characters from two series together was an absolute stroke of genius of Eisler's that always makes for a great read. I went with the audio version this time around, read by the author who clearly had a good time narrating the story.
Completion Post Spot: #78
Book: Road to Danger
Author: Olivia Jaymes
Pages: 280
Spot: #78
How it fits: #8 Danger Incorporated
Date Read: Nov 22 ★★★★✰
Review: I really enjoyed this installment. Carter and Mallory got off to a rocky start. A leaking tyre on the way home from a very mediocre first date is the catalyst that places them in danger and brings Mallory to the attention of a serial killer. I liked that Carter was an ordinary guy, that didn't suddenly become the super hero that saved the day. He relied on his family's law enforcement connections instead. Even though it was insta-love, much of the relationship was realistic, they had a fight, he drove away in a huff, but turned around and came back to talk things through. I liked that. A very nice 4 stars.
Completion postSpot: 78
Book: The Ghoul Next Door- Victoria Laurie
Qualification: Ghost Hunter Mystery #8
Date read: 11/25/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Our ghost busting gang are back in Boston on a break from their TV show. MJ's ex-boyfriend, Steven, asks for her help because his fiancee's brother is being haunted. Our gang investigate just in time to find Luke covered in blood with a murder a couple of blocks away. The gang is convinced of his innocence and are determined to eliminate the ghost. I really liked this one. It was a chance for MJ and Steven to truly say good-bye. I think that MJ and Heath make a great couple. I found this ghost fascinating and enjoyed the ending, though it was a little bittersweet. I really like this series and look forward to the next one.
Maddie has 11 hours to get her book read. If she doesn't post her review in time, I'll use the free pass.
I'll always get my book read in time :) Completion post is on the way.
Week 10 (Spot 78) Completion
Pages: 412
How it fits: Gold foiled cover
Date read: 27/11/20
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I wasn't even anticipating this book so highly, and I'm glad I wasn't, because I always tend to rate books higher when they're not really on my radar. But man oh man this book blew me away. I thought I was over YA fantasy but this sucked me right back in. I am, however, mad at the blurb. It makes it sound so damn generic, when this book was anything but. This is a book all YA lovers need to read, and I feel like they won't with that blurb. This book deserves all of the attention.
There is a bit of a chosen one trope, but it just feels so different from the other books. This has a much darker feel, and the romance really took a back seat. The sisterly bond in this book was so beautiful and the loyalty and discipline was so awesome. I loved the depth I felt when I was reading this book. I felt like I could picture everything, the writing style just flowed, and I need the second one!
Mod
We rolled a 7 this week, putting us on space 85.Can read series #5, series #8, or series #85
Alternate choice is a main character who is in their 20s.
Selection Post: Week 11 - Spot 85
Book: A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
Qualification: Alternate: MC, Penelope, is in her late twenties
Pages: 386
Mod
The first team to finish and post reviews for all their books for a spot past 100 wins.
For us, there's a slight chance to be part of the race. We'll get another bonus point for not using alternates (I know I haven't, and probably others on the team too), so we'll have 5 points available. We'd need to roll 11 or 12 to make it to a winning spot. Here's hoping Sam will have great luck with the dice! :)
I haven't used any alternates. :D
I haven't used alternates either
Mod
Denise wrote: "We'd need to roll 11 or 12 to make it to a winning spot. Here's hoping Sam will have great luck with the dice!."I have had horrible luck with the dice this game.
Mod
All we need is one player to qualify for the bonus point, so no worries. :D
Mod
Spot: 85
Book: Der Weg des Kriegers by Laura Joh Rowland
Qualification: Sano Ichiro #5
Pages: 400
Completion Post: Spot 85
A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
Qualification: Alternate: MC, Penelope, is 28 years old
Read: 11/28/20
Rating: ★★
Review: The romance in this did nothing for me as there was no chemistry between the two. Penelope is the pursuer the entire time while Michael is just an unlikable block of ice who continuously pushes her away up until the very end. Wasn’t my idea of fun or romantic. The ending was rushed and not justified.
This wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read but the main characters and their “love” story fell completely flat. I was way more interested in the guys at the gaming hell and Penelope’s sisters. They were the saving grace here. I will definitely pick up book two since it follows Cross (one of the guys from the gaming hell), and Pippa (one of Penelope’s sisters) and they at least seem like way more interesting characters.
Week 11 (Spot 85) Selection
Pages: 385
#5 in series
Maddie wrote: "That was speedy!"LOL. It was one of those "This is not very good but I must know what happens next!" type of reads. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop.
Fair enough haha. I plan to get through mine on my work breaks :)
Sam wrote: "Denise wrote: "We'd need to roll 11 or 12 to make it to a winning spot. Here's hoping Sam will have great luck with the dice!."I have had horrible luck with the dice this game."
You're fine Sam! It's just the luck of the dice. It's not easy being the captain and being responsible for dice luck!! LOL You've been a great team leader :)
Completion Post Spot: #85
Book: Deliverance
Author: Pippa DaCosta
Pages: 153
Spot: #85
How it fits: #5 Girl from Above
Date Read: Dec 2 ★★★✰✰
Review: I found the dual 1st person POV quite difficult to read. It has been for me one of the negative aspects of this series. Those books that I have been able to source on audio have been more enjoyable with male and female narrators helping to accentuate the many changes in POV.
This book continues the trail of betrayals as Caleb and One navigate the fall of both the governing body of the nine system and the dismantling of the AI's. Caleb is a self destructive anti hero on a downward spiral, his brother is missing and he believes that One is dead. This book is a new story arc, continuing on from the first arc so it is not suitable as a stand alone. 3 stars
Completion postSpot: 85
Book: Evan's Gate- Rhys Bowen
Qualification: Constable Evans #8
Date read: 12/2/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Evan is working on the case of a missing child and then finds the skeleton of a child in the garden of the cottage that he is rebuilding. This reminds him that when he was a child, a friend of his went missing and he worries that this skeleton is that child. Then he worries that the current case has something to do with that old case. He is determined to solve both mysteries. I really like Evan. He is incredibly lucky and sometimes makes great leaps of intuition. The flashbacks to his childhood were nice to see; he must have been a wonderful kid. This book had a different feel that the murder mysteries, but I still enjoyed it. Will definitely be continuing this series.
I will be done with my book this evening
Mod
Spot: 85
Book: Der Weg des Kriegers by Laura Joh Rowland
Qualification: Sano Ichiro #5
Pages: 400
Finished: 03 Dec 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Sano is sent to Miyako to investigate the murder by mysterious means of a highranking courtier at the Imperial Court. Yanagisawa, as ever, sees an opportunity to scheme and plot Sano's downfall. Unlike usually when the two sworn enemies cross paths, however, this time they end up joining forces when it becomes clear that not only is there a murderer on the loose, but also a rebellion in the making.
I'd been meaning to re-read this one for ages. While I generally prefer the books in this series that deal with merely mundane matters instead of including supernatural elements as this one does, it's still one of my favourite volumes in the series, both because I so enjoy the "enemies forced to work together" trope and because giving Yanagisawa a proper love interest makes an already fascinating character even more so.
Completion post: Spot 85By a Spider's Thread Laura Lippman
Read 12/3
Qualification: 8th in the Tess Monaghan series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: To me, this book was a bit different from others in the series because a lot of it is focused on Judaism and gives the reader a chance to learn more about that. In this book, Tess is hired to find a "missing" woman and her children. But all us definitely not what it seems; her client Mark Rubin and his wife have lots of secrets. It is a very interesting plot. I'm happy that Tess's dogs are still around, however I like it better when she and Crow are together. Another good book in this series!!!
Mod
We've got a couple of teams over 100 already, so the race is on!
Aaaahhhh I just got home! :o I told my parents I had to be home most of today as I had things to do, but we all went out as a family and just got back! I didn't have time to finish my book :( Can we use the free pass?
Sorry guys. I only rolled a 9 this week. That puts on us on space 94. We have 5 bonus points, but that puts us on 99 so I didn't use them.For 94, we can read series #4, series #9, or series #94.
For alternate, we can read a book with an author initial of W.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Rum Runner (other topics)Rum Runner (other topics)
By a Spider's Thread (other topics)
Deliverance (other topics)
Evan's Gate (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.A. Konrath (other topics)J.A. Konrath (other topics)
Sarah MacLean (other topics)
Laura Joh Rowland (other topics)
Pippa DaCosta (other topics)
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