R20: Team #2 ~ Too Hot to Handle

[Katharine]

Steph-- Work is hell. Wanting a different job but I have so much seniority in my position, I think I'd only want to give it up for something perfect...does that exist?

[D.G.]

Hello Hotties! I'm back and had a really good time!

I see we got the winning shelf for another team and it's a team that has all their (other) shelves stamped already so no chance we'll make it another week!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

That sucks, Katharine. Yeah, once you get seniority it makes a job shift decision that much harder. I'm not sure perfect exists, but nearly perfect, more enjoyable should definitely. Hope you're able to find that and/or things improve at your current place.

[Katharine]

D.G. wrote: "@Katharine - Let us know how you're doing. Please let us know if you can catch up by next Wednesday - it's likely we don't much to go in the game and we'd like to be ready if our winning shelf - Fi..."

I thought I was pretty well caught up except for one shelf....what am I missing?

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I finished my vamp book, but no time to write up review right now. I'll get 'er done this week.

Happy May, y'all!

[D.G.]

Katharine wrote: "I thought I was pretty well caught up except for one shelf....what am I missing? "

When I wrote that comment, only I had read the book for Alpha Male so all of you needed to read that shelf to totally catch up. But our winning shelf wasn't called and somebody else's was so no need to catch up unless people want to...

That other team is totally catch up (except for the last shelf) so it's unlikely we'll get another shelf called.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Thanks so much for keepin' track of our reads, DG!

I enjoyed reading along with y'all. I've got some good new additions to my TBR list :)

I'm gonna post my vamp review soon. We'll get a "yay! you got all R20 stamps" stamp, if we all do, but it's totally up to y'all.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar by Seana Kelly
Series: Sam Quinn #1
Shelf #10: vampire(s) (shelved by 12 people)
Read: 30 Apr
Rating: ✮✮✮☆☆

My Review:

The Slaughtered Lamb, hung down from the carved entrance. It was an exact replica of the one in the film An American Werewolf in London. It was my nerdy nod to being an American werewolf behind the bar. The Slaughtered Lamb was for supernaturals only. After all, everyone needed a strong drink and a good book.

The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar is owned and operated by Sam Quinn (sole werewolf shifter in San Fran). Her employees include "Owen, [her] trusty boy Friday and wicche extraordinaire" and "Dave, [her] half-demon short order cook".

It was better to be fearsome than fearful.

Seven years ago she survived a horrific attack. Since then, she's been keeping to herself and enjoying her business until a dead body appears outside her bar window. In the victim, she sees some similarities to herself. Suddenly, attacks - both mental and physical - occur, which she struggles through with the help of Clive, vampire master of the city, as well as her employees and bar regulars. She must find out why these attacks are happening and who is perpetrating them before they kill her.

I absolutely loved the concept of Sam's bookstore and bar! I mean, what booklover wouldn't? I liked Sam, though at times some of her naivety rubbed me the wrong way. At least a few times, I felt like seven years in she should've known xyz. But, she's a very likable character, so I pushed past it. I really liked the side characters as well. There's a big, interesting mix of supernaturals, some whose character was well-rounded and really added to the story. I'll continue with the series to see how Sam progresses in the future now that she has more knowledge about her past.

[D.G.]

Didn't realize we were going for all the stamps!!

Two books I'm planning to read this week happen to work for this - Wild Sign & Staked - but I have 3 interviews for 2 different jobs on Thursday and Friday so unlikely to read anything until the weekend...if you guys are good with that, I can definitely read the Vampire book then!

Also, post 9 is updated with all our reads.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Weekend+ is fine D.G. :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

:)

[Katharine]

Sorry ladies...what's the shelf for this week? I'll get my reviews done by this weekend.

[Deanna]

Paranormal Nonsense by Steve Higgs
Shelf 10: MPG Vampires
Date read: 4/30
Rating: ★★★★★

Review: Paranormal Nonsense is not a really paranormal story. Tempest intended to be a private investigator, but his first newspaper ad was mistakenly typed up as paranormal investigator. His new title gets him cases that no one else is willing to touch. Basically he investigates what his clients assume to be a paranormal problem and finds the real logical explanation for the problem. It's a delightfully entertaining premise and very well plotted. I recommend starting with Under a Blue Moon, which is a prequel to the series. 5 stars

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Katharine wrote: "Sorry ladies...what's the shelf for this week? I'll get my reviews done by this weekend."

The final shelf is Vampire(s) ~ you picked Vampire Academy

ETA: Do you still have to review Rock Chick for Alpha Male, Katherine?

Remember, you can change your picks as long as they match the criteria for the shelves.

[D.G.]

So now I have interviews on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday (still in the run for both jobs). I'm taking today off from interview stuff so I'll start the book. Hopefully I can finish it by tomorrow...

[Katharine]

Posting Rock Chick review soon.


Vampire Academy
Richelle Mead
Shelf #10 -- Vampires
finished 5/7/21
Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I sorta have to go back on what I said about vampire-only books not really being my thing. Still not my go-to, but I had somehow forgotten this series was a spin-off of a series I devoured--Bloodlines. I loved going back to the past to see how Lissa and Rose formed their relationship and everything they went through to get there. It put even more perspective on the Bloodlines series. Definitely will be reading the rest of the series.

[D.G.]

Shelf #10: Vampires (shelved by 47 readers)
Date finished/Rating: 5/8 ★★
Review: The women in this book were so freaking DUMB!!
The Heroine - Gets temporarily "married" to the hero for 3 months to protect herself from villain #1 and then after a misunderstanding, "divorces" him just after a month without trying to clear anything up - which, surprise! Leaves her unprotected. She also gravely offends villain #2 and without knowing any of their customs and against the hero's advice, agrees to a meeting where she thinks that she'll solve everything by apologizing. Guess what happens!!
The Witch - Does multiple dangerous rituals without thinking of consequences. And her excuse is all...I did it because she asked me to!! You're supposed to be the expert, you dummy!!
Both of the female villains - who ignore everybody and their dog telling them that the hero was DANGEROUS. Both we're like...that's superstition!! Until CHOMP!! (That was so stupid that it actually made me laugh.)

[D.G.]

Requested the vampire(s) stamp! Once Katharine posts the review for Rock Chick, I'll be ready to request that stamp as well. :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Katharine wrote: "Posting Rock Chick review soon.


Vampire Academy
Richelle Mead
Shelf #10 -- Vampires
finished 5/7/21
Rating: 4 stars"

Glad you ended up enjoying it, Katharine. I started that spin-off, but looking back I see I only read book 1. And, wow!, that was 10 years ago. I might return to it since you enjoyed it :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

D.G. wrote: "
Shelf #10: Vampires (shelved by 47 readers)
Date finished/Rating: 5/8 ★★
Review: The women in this book were so freaking DUMB!!
The Heroine - Gets temporarily "mar..."

Sorry you didn't care for yours, DG. Dumb heroines are the worst!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

D.G. wrote: "So now I have interviews on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday (still in the run for both jobs). I'm taking today off from interview stuff so I'll start the book. Hopefully I can finish it by tomorrow..."

Good luck!!

[D.G.]

Thanks! I'm reading today and continue to prep for tomorrow. The most difficult thing is that the jobs are different so it's difficult to put yourself in the mindset of one vs. the other.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Yeah, that's always difficult - showing the sides of yourself (skills, etc) that'll best shine in an interview. You got this! Good luck!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Hotties!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'vampire(s)'. 

[Our updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Yay!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp Hotties!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Thanks :)

[Katharine]

Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley
Shelf: #9 - Alpha Male
Date finished: 4/26/21
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review:

OMG! There are so many series out there to start but I think I've only finished one series in the past few years and started so much more! This is another one to add to my TBR, but not necessarily immediately. I found Indy Savage (the MC), a policeman's daughter and a in love with Lee Nightingale, a PI, to be annoying at times; so much so, I wanted to scream at her and throw the book against the wall. BUT, the story and plot points are solid and I didn't want to give up on finding out if Indy can find the missing diamonds before Lee; along with the interplay between them. I will give #2 a chance, sometime next year, probably (of course, when I've forgotten what has happened in #1...maybe I won't wait that long).

[Katharine]

Can't wait for the next BSB, Steph. Hopefully that one will last a bit longer (and my team will WIN, buah hah hah).

[D.G.]

Last stamp requested!! Thank you Steph & Sandra for hosting and Deanna, Steph and Katharine for a great game! I've never been part of a team that reads all the stamps (without winning!)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Katharine, you'll have to talk it over with Mr. R 😆

Yay! Thanks for keeping track of our reads, DG! Stamped card coming up!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, M'Hotties!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'alpha male'. 

[Our updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Yay, team!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp & completing all the shelves Hotties!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Way to go, Too Hot to Handle (T#2)
Steph, Deanna, (Captain) D.G. and Katharine

You received a stamp for every shelf!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Woohoo! He’s so cute! WTG, Hotties! Thanks for a fun round!

[D.G.]

Thank you Steph for the stamp and see you in the next round.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

😁