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R12: SS Team 9 - Three Trilogies
Review round up for check in:✔ Shy The WidowMaker - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jen K - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ ☮️❤️Celia❤️☮️ - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Erin - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jade aka MrsTosh - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Suzanne 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
New dice roll!Current Spot: 10
Roll: 1 + 2 = 3
New Spot: 13
Task Options:
- Standalone, #1 or #3 in a series
- Published in 2019
Completion Posts:
✔ Shy The WidowMaker - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jen K - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Celia - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Erin - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jade aka MrsTosh - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Suzanne 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I’ll be back with my selection for the week soon.
I'll be reading
for this week (standalone), you can count this as my official selection post.
Okay finally decided on my pick. I have so many standalones and #1s on my shelf it was hard to choose!I'll be reading The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and it's a standlone
Also struggling to decide as I have #1's, #3's and standalone. I think that I will go with the one due to the soonest to the library, Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams which is a stand alone but will definitely decide by the end of the weekend.* Edit, promptly changed my mind :)
Selection Post: Week 2Spot: 13
Book: The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
Qualification: All for the Game #1
CompletionBook: The Silent Patient
Date Read: 9/26
Rating: 3.5 stars
How it fits: Standalone
Review: So I definitely was intrigued by the main storyline of what happened with the main girl, Alicia. Unfortunately the first 300 pages of this book were really dragged down by the narrator. I didn't love being in side his head for most all the chapters. And the author also failed to get me to care at all about Theo's personal live issues. I also for the majority of the book was missing the "can't put it down" aspect that I super want for the rare times I picked up thrillers. Yes, I finished this in one day, but that was a product of me sitting around my house with nothing better to do all day and not the book really sucking me in like that. There was a lot of pauses every few chapters. And then without saying spoilers for the ending there were things about the ending that I really liked and a few things I didn't, but it did shock me
Ok going with
#1 in series also published in 2019 so can get bonus too.
Not sure which I will go for this week, will have a look at my kindle and decide.
Completion Post:Week 2 - Spot 13
Book: The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
Date Read: 26 September
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: All for the Game #1
Review: Neil, not his real name, has been on the run most of his life, hiding to keep his life safe from his father and his father's mafia world. When his mother dies, he indulges himself by joining the local high school Exy team. Exy is a (made up) combination of lacrosse with ice hockey body checks but played with rackets. Neil has always been obsessed with the sport and the 2 leading champions of the sport, Kevin and Riko, whom he met as a child in his original life. Despite trying to pretend to be a novice, Neil catches the eye of Kevin who is now with the Palmetto State Foxes and is offered his dream of playing Exy in a real stadium, league and with the star skills of Kevin. Despite knowing that he needs to stay out of the spotlight and away from his past, he chooses to play Exy. Neil heads to SC to meet the team of misfits, all chosen for their need for a second chance. Most of the team, including Neil, are damaged from abusive childhoods causing as much trouble within the team beyond actually being competitive in the league.
The writing isn't great and there are lots of unrealistic and even untrue to character situations, the end really bothered me as unlikely, but somehow the Foxes are a very compelling group. I was immediately drawn to these poor hurt boys and I'm interested to understand more and see where they end up.
I will be reading
book 1 in the Calhouns series
Completion Post (different than what I said I'd read in selection post)Week 2 - Spot 13
by Lucy TempestDate read: 9/27
How it fits: published 9/24/2019
Rating: 5 stars
Review excerpt: I loved this, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, and honestly I was worried up until the end that the characters would not meet the happy ending I know I can expect and love in retellings. Another beautifully written installment!
Full review: Beauty of Rosemead Review
Completion PostWeek 2 - Spot 13
Book: The Language of Good-bye by Maribeth Fischer
Date: 9/28/2020
Pages: 343
How it fits: Standalone
Rating: ***
Review: This book was a slog, I had a hard time getting into it and then caring about the characters. The only one I really cared about was the Korean student because she had some trauma that she was recovering from.
Should be finished with my read later today
I’m finished with my book. I’ll have my review up by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.
Completion Post:Week 2 Spot 13
How it Fits: 1 in Series
Bonus: Published in 2019
3 Stars
Date Read; 9/30
I have to say I went into this one not really knowing what to expect but being pleasantly surprised. This was a fun and quick read and I liked the main character Tara enough to be interested in her. She has a lot on her shoulders and loved that she was ok with doing it all. I do feel like she has moments where she pities herself too much and it becomes a little annoying. I didn't really care for Judah much as the maybe maybe not love interest. I feel like the story could flow without adding any of that in. Overall I liked it enough to read the next in the series.
Once Jade finishes her book we can roll for today
Completion SpotWeek2 Spot 13
How it fits: First in a series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Date read: 1st Oct
Review:
Whenever I pick up a Nora Roberts book I know I won’t be disappointed. This is the first book in the Calhoun series, which follows 3 very close but different Sisters who live with their Aunt in their own family home. This story follows Cici the youngest of the Calhoun Sisters, she runs and owns a motor repair shop. I love that her characters are always strong headed women who have amazing support around them from other amazing family and friends. This series also has an air of the paranormal about it which I think I will find out more about as the books progress, I am guessing each sister has her own story to tell. I will definitely be reading the next one soon.
Sorry for the delay guys, I actually posted last night but it didn’t save. Sorry!
No worries, you still posted within the deadline so you're good! I will go do our roll now
New dice roll!Current Spot: 13
Roll: 6 + 2 = 8
New Spot: 21
Task Options:
- Standalone, #1 or #2 in a series
- Cover Item: One person
Completion Posts:
✔ Shy The WidowMaker - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jen K - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Celia - FREE PASS
✔ Erin - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jade aka MrsTosh - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Suzanne - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I will be back with my book soon.
Selection Post: Week 3Spot 21
- 2nd in a series
Completion SpotWeek 3 - Spot 21
A Man for Amanda
How it fits: 2nd in a series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Date read: 4th Oct
Review:
I loved this book, it reminded me just why Nora Roberts has become one of my favourite authors. She paints such a vivid picture with her words that I feel as thought I am drawn in as more that just a reader. This is the second book in the Calhouns series and follows the story of Amanda another strong, feisty Sister. The books give you a glimpse of each sister and leaves you wanting to read there story next to find out what is going to happen. In this instalment fiery Amanda meets Sloane, a hot headed architect who pushes all her buttons in the right and wrong way.
Selection Post: Week 3Spot: 21
Book: Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory
Qualification: #1 in Series
So I ended up reading my other stand alone first so I'm going to post that one to be set for the week.
Completion Post:Week 3 - Spot 21
Book: Sula by Toni Morrison
Date Read: 5 October
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: Stand Alone
Review: Set in Medallion, Ohio in the area on the hill reserved for the black residents of the town, set apart to fend for itself despite a desperate lack of opportunities. Two lonely girls coming of age in the 20's, both only children in families of strong but very different women, find each other on the playground one day creating a strong bond of friendship. Sula and Nel grow up together taking in what it means to be a girl and then women. Until one day Nel marries and Sula takes off to see what is outside of their home in the "Bottoms". Sula eventually returns to the community but she is quickly spurned for not following society's rules.
The book is a bit dark as it explores family, friendship, race, love and societal norms. The community believes in magic and evil because they don't have a reason not to and indeed there is some magic and signs found in the book. There are number of community members that counter the friendship of Nel and Sula and later Sula's differences. The community comes together to spurn Sula and falls apart when she leaves them again. While not entirely enjoyable, the book and characters are so thoughtfully written and considered.
Completion Post Week 3 - Spot 21
Book: Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
Finished on: October 7th
Qualification: #1 in Series
Review: This book was super cute and perfect for reading in October! It took me a bit to get into it but in the end I really loved it. I liked the feisty main character and the mystery was interesting as well.
Completion Post:Week 3 Spot 21
Rating: 3 Star
Finished: October 6
Qualification: #1 in series
Review:
This was a cute fun cozy mystery with a sprinkling of coffee talk mixed in. I liked the main character and I'm interested in learning more about her so will continue with the series.
Completion Post:Week 3, Spot 21
Rating: 3.5 stars
Date Read: 10/8
How it Fits: #2 in the Murderbot series
Review: I liked this less than the first one. I think that was in part because the human characters that I had started to get attached to in the first novella were absent in this one. In addition the plot of this one just didn't really hook me. I'm very glad it was a novella as it was the perfect length for me to end it still overall enjoying it and wanting to read more in the series eventually.
I do still really like Murderbot as a character, and I loved the addition of ART as a character in this one and hope we get to see more ART in future installments
Once Celia posts her review I will roll our new spot!
Erin wrote: "Once Celia posts her review I will roll our new spot!"This week's been really bad for me especially with notifications being down. I kinda forgot about reading for this week. How much longer do I have to get my book in?
Celia wrote: "Erin wrote: "Once Celia posts her review I will roll our new spot!"This week's been really bad for me especially with notifications being down. I kinda forgot about reading for this week. How muc..."
Yeah notifications being down has been rough in multiple challenges I've been in.
Reviews are supposed to be in by the end of today.
However, we do have a free pass we can use. I don't know how much you would have to read to finish, so if you'd prefer to just use the free pass this week that's definitely not a big deal at all just let me know. Reading should be fun, not stressful
If you all don't mind using the free pass, I'd prefer that. I'll stay on task for next week. Thanks.
No worries! I'll go roll our next spot now.And for the future weeks I think I'll post a check in on like Tues/Wed as a midweek reminder for everyone just in case real world gets distracting
Week 4 Roll:Previous Spot: 21
Roll: 5 + 6 = 11
New Spot: 32
Task Options:
- #2 or #3 in a series
- Author 'S'
Reviews:
✔ Shy The WidowMaker - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jen K - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Celia -https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Erin - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Jade aka MrsTosh - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔ Suzanne 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My book is by Ramona Nehring-Silver. Does this count as S author? Since it's the second part of the hyphenated name, I mean?
The Challenge Factory
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Week 1 - Spot 10
Book: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Date Read: 22 September
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: The Brown Sisters #1
Review: Chloe Brown developed fibromyalgia as a young adult faced with a new way of life living with chronic pain and fatigue. As she adjusted to surviving, she cuts out everything deemed unsafe or causing potential additional pain included friend and fun. When she is almost hit by a drunk driver, Chloe reassesses how she has been living her life and creates a list to try to live again beyond just surviving. First step is her own flat which leads her to Red Morgan and the real fun begins.
Red and Chloe are great characters representing real people with insecurities, hurts that are not visible and enough baggage to require meds and therapy. They are really fun to follow on a predictable but still very fun adventure as they help each other out of the bubbles they created for themselves. This was a cute and fun read. It was a bit more explicit than expected but good on them.