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R13: SS Team 1 - All Series Start With One

Spot: 65

Fits: 6th book in series

Alison - Miss Frost Chills The Cheater (Jayne Frost #6) - Completion Post
Truitt - You Are Cordially Invited - 5th book in the Auckland Med series - Completion Post
Donna - Freedom From the Evil Dead - Soul Catcher #5
Allison Ann - The Bluebonnet Betrayal - Potting Shed Mystery #5 - Completion Post
Mandiann - Deadline - alternate task: Author 'G' - Mira Grant - Completion Post
Diane - A Stranger in Town - book 6 in Rockton (or Casey Duncan) series - Completion Post

Spot: 65

Completed: March 13th
Fits: 6th book in series
Rating: ✯✯✯✯
Review: This sixth book in the series centers around a visit that Jayne and Sinclair make to the North Pole so Sin can see what being part of the royle family is like. Stuff happens, the two of them investigate, and go thru a bunch of interesting and sort crazy things, eventually finding the responsibile party.
It was an enjoyable read, and I loved all the things the author came up with surrounding how the North Pole would be, with Santas workshop and all the elves, and the culture it would create.

Spot: 65
Book: Deadline by Mira Grant
Date: 3/13
How it fits: alternate task: Author 'G'
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review:
I thoroughly enjoy this world. It is quick moving but still detailed and never lost my interest. I immediately wanted to pick up book 3 because how could I not after that ending (although I did not find the ending surprising). I can't wait to see what else Mira Grant has in store for us in this rich world she has built.

Week 8
Spot: 65
Book:

Qualification: Potting Shed Mystery #5
Finished: 3/14/22
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: Not quite 4 stars but only because there wasn't enough gardening for my taste. I love cozies where the MC has a focus - gardening, baking, spoon collecting, martial arts, dressing up like frogs, whatever. I read those books because I enjoy learning about different things - like gardening in England where apparently they actually have dirt instead of rocks and things grow without Herculean efforts. It's fascinating to me. But it seems after a few, the author either runs out of things to say, or thinks we will be bored, or whatever the case it, and the focus of the books disappears. That is a loss for me, and while I still enjoyed the mystery and the characters and the setting, I missed the gardening talk. Less biofuel, more Chelsea Flower Show please.
Completion Post
Spot: 65
Book:Freedom From the Evil Dead by Mary Abshire
Date: 3/17/22
How it fits: # 5 in the soul catcher series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I really enjoyed this addition to the series. As much as I liked Drake in the previous books, I liked Jeremy more in this book. Drake didn't seem to understand that those vampires couldn't be reasoned with. I was really annoyed with Drake in this book. I can't wait to see how Jessie's life is going in book 6 now that she has finally given Jeremy a chance.
Spot: 65
Book:Freedom From the Evil Dead by Mary Abshire
Date: 3/17/22
How it fits: # 5 in the soul catcher series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I really enjoyed this addition to the series. As much as I liked Drake in the previous books, I liked Jeremy more in this book. Drake didn't seem to understand that those vampires couldn't be reasoned with. I was really annoyed with Drake in this book. I can't wait to see how Jessie's life is going in book 6 now that she has finally given Jeremy a chance.


Team 1 ~ Week 8
⚂ + ⚅ = 9 + 56 = New Spot 65
This week it is 5th, 6th or 65th in a series or alternate task: 65. Author 'G'
Alison - Miss Frost Chills The Cheater - Jayne Frost #6 - Completion Post
Truitt - You Are Cordially Invited - Auckland Med #5 - Completion Post
Donna - Freedom From the Evil Dead - Soul Catcher #5 - Completion Post
Allison Ann - The Bluebonnet Betrayal - Potting Shed Mystery #5 - Completion Post
Mandiann - Deadline - alternate task: Author 'G' - Mira Grant - Completion Post
Diane - A Stranger in Town - Rockton (or Casey Duncan) #6 - Completion Post
✸ Claimed ✸ Start & Finish a series, 3+ in Series, Valentine's Bonus, 2 in 1 & >500 pages


WEEK NINE ROLL
⚅ + ⚅ = 12
Old spot ~ 65 + 12 = 77 New Spot
This week it is 7th or 77th in a series
Or alternate task: 77. Author 'L'

Not to say I was unhappy about such a high roll, but after I added it....ouch!
If not maybe this will be helpful, Authors With A Last Name Starting With "L"
Please post ASAP if you will not be able to cover one of those. Because we could use a Bonus point to move up to 78, but personally I would rather save them for a roll over 90.

Spot: 77
Option: 🤔
??Witching Hour - The Wild Hunt #7 & Ante-Fae Adventure #1
??Grave War - Alex Craft #7
??Pasta Mortem Supper Club Mysteries #7
??Miss Frost Says I Do - Jayne Frost #7
??Burned - Alex Verus #7




Gals any questions please go ask in the help and discussion thread so you do not have to wait longer to know.

Donna - House Rules - Chicagoland Vampires book 7
Truitt - The October Man - Rivers of London #7.5
Diane - Double Dog Dare - Davis Way Crime Caper #7 - completion post
Mandiann - Life Signs by James Lovegrove
Allison Ann - Heirs and Graces - Her Royal Spyness #7 - completion post
Alison - Grave War - Alex Craft #7 - completion post

Truitt - I've got several 7 possibilities √
Diane - Double Dog Dare - book 7 in the Davis Way Crime Caper series
Denise - "First, middle or last." ???
Mandiann - find ..."
I think Denise was answering my question with that comment...


Team High 5 Roll Report ~ New Spot: 78
Team 1 ~ New Spot: 77 ★us★
Team 12 - Librarians of the Galaxy ~ New Spot: 72
Team 9 - Adventures In Bookland ~ Current Spot: 72
Team 2 - C-JA(A)BS ~ Spot: 72
Team 10 - Just 10 More Minutes ~ New Spot: 70
*other teams under 69
Checked in 5, 12, 1, 9, 2, 10, 3, 7, 6, 13
??? 4, 8, 11 (these three have not checked-in, so likely not in the running)

Spot: 77

Completed: March 20th
Fits: 7th book in series
Rating: ✯✯✯✯
Review: Even a day after finishing this I have very mixed feeling about the ending, and how or how not it was wrapped up. I felt we got a lot of surprises in this one and some of them finished or wrapped up question from earlier books, but other left me still wondering. While still others opened up new questions for me. I just looked and I do not see a related series that looks like it is a spin off of some of the characters that I felt had unfinished stories. So, as much as I liked the series as a whole, at the moment I am still feeling overall a little let down.

Week 9 - Spot 77
Book: The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch
Pages: 192 per GR
How It Fits: It's book #7.5 (which counts as #7) in the Rivers of London series.


how it fits: book 7 in the Davis Way Crime Caper series
finished: 3/20/22
rating: 4 stars
review: Davis's sister is kidnapped by the local preacher while her sister's best friend and town witch invade Davis's space which leads to Davis hosting the dog from hell and lots of crazy shenanigans as usual in the casino. Davis was a little slow figuring things out this time around but overall a fun story. And her twins are adorable.

Thanks for the heads up!


how it fits: book 7 in the Davis Way Crime Caper series
finished: 3/20/22
rating: 4 stars
review: Davis's sister is kidnapped..."
Diane, would you put what you have read of the series in a similar four star rating? I keep wanting to read those, but have not yet because of availability.


how it fits: book 7 in the Davis Way Crime Caper series
finished: 3/20/22
rating: 4 stars
review: Dav..."
I've given 4 stars to all in series from 1-7 except book 3 only got 3 stars. The series has crazy things ala Stepanie Plum but no love triangle and set in a casino in Mississippi. I do actually recommend reading in order as Davis's life changes over the series.

Week 9
Spot: 77
Book:

Qualification: Her Royal Spyness #7
Finished: 3/23/22
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I love when Georgie stays at the big fancy houses and we get full on British aristocracy details. Apparently I'm good on my mythology, because I figured out the mystery fairly early. Didn't stop my enjoyment of the story and the new characters in Georgie's life. Great series.
I started mine and hope to finish it today if my head stops hurting. If not, it will be tomorrow.

Mandiann wrote: "still working on mine. won't finish until tomorrow."
👍 Thanks gals!
🤞🏾 for the head to stop hurting.
Truitt, how are you doing?

Week 9
Spot 77
Book: The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch
Pages: 192 per GR
How It Fits: It's book #7.5 (which counts as #7) in the Rivers of London series.
Completed: 3/24/2022
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The October Man is a novella in the Peter Grant world, but Peter does not appear - he's only mentioned. Tobias Winter is in many ways Peter's counterpart in Germany. It's fun to see how Tobias percieves Peter - it's good to know Peter's reputation is an excellent one! I missed Peter, Nightingale, and the who London / Folly crew, but it was still an entertaing trip into magic.

Thanks"
My timing was lucky. :)
So when do we use our Bonus points? Do we start taking extra rolls at some point?

Week 9
Spot: 77
Book:

Qualification: Her Royal Spyness #7
Finished: 3/23/22
Rat..."
I love Georgie. It really is a great series.

So when do we use our Bonus points? Do we start taking extra rolls at some point?"
It is up to us as a team, so if you have a strategy, or anyone else has one, please speak up.
I was just going to hold on to them until we rolled in the upper 80's or into the 90's. But I am totally open to other suggestions.

One more point to be earned, taking us to 6 bonus points. I think Alison's suggestion is a good one. Roll to 90 whatever, earn the last bonus point and next roll, bam we're 6 pts higher. Skipping in the 100s doesn't usually affect anyone's book choices either.
Completion Post
Week 9
Spot: 77
Book: House Rules
Qualification: #7 in Chicagoland Vampires
Finished: 3/24/22
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I know Ethan is everyone's favorite and he is ok but I think I would like to see some of the other characters shine a bit more. I enjoyed seeing Merit and Mallory start to move past their issue. I think I want to see more of the RG. They have a purpose and I would like to see them spotlighted more. I do like this series but maybe it needs a bit of a shakeup and Jonah just might be the answer. Overall, an easy and fun read despite getting a bit predictable.
Week 9
Spot: 77
Book: House Rules
Qualification: #7 in Chicagoland Vampires
Finished: 3/24/22
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I know Ethan is everyone's favorite and he is ok but I think I would like to see some of the other characters shine a bit more. I enjoyed seeing Merit and Mallory start to move past their issue. I think I want to see more of the RG. They have a purpose and I would like to see them spotlighted more. I do like this series but maybe it needs a bit of a shakeup and Jonah just might be the answer. Overall, an easy and fun read despite getting a bit predictable.

Week: 9
Spot: 77
Book: Life Signs by James Lovegrove
Task: Alternate task - L Author - Lovegrove
Date finished: 3/24
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
Unnecessarily long winded. Would have benefited from being half the length because sometimes less is more. While I enjoyed some of the banter, splitting the crew up for almost the entirety of the whole book made it less enjoyable as the same interactions and situations kept getting repeated. I still love the world and will read the others but this one was blah.


Team 1 ~ Week 9
⚅ + ⚅ = 12 + 65 = New Spot 77
This week it is 7th or 77th in a series or alternate task: 77. Author 'L'
Donna - House Rules - Chicagoland Vampires #7 - Completion Post
Truitt - The October Man - Rivers of London #7.5 - Completion Post
Diane - Double Dog Dare - Davis Way Crime Caper #7 - Completion Post
Mandiann - Life Signs by James Lovegrove - Completion Post
Allison Ann - Heirs and Graces - Her Royal Spyness #7 - Completion Post
Alison - Grave War - Alex Craft #7 - Completion Post
✸ Claimed ✸ Start & Finish a series, 3+ in Series, Valentine's Bonus, 2 in 1 & >500 pages

So when do we use our Bonus points? Do we start taking extra rolls at some point?"
It is up to us as a team, so if you have a strategy, or anyone else has one, please speak up..."
I really didn't have any particular ideas - I was mostly wondering if we'd use our bonus in the 80s or 90s. I can see advantages to both, so the 90s are fine by me!


WEEK TEN ROLL
⚅ + ⚁ = 8
Old spot ~ 77 + 8 = 85 New Spot
This week it is 5th, 8th or 85th in a series
Or alternate task: 85. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)

✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
We will not receive it until after we complete the week where we read a book for a roll in the nineties. So, if I roll a 5 or above next week, week 11, we can earn it and likely use it for week 12. But do we want to use the other for next week to roll higher?
Also, I should check with Denise to make sure that bonus could be used basically the week it is tallied.
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Spot 65
Book: You Are Cordially Invited by Jay Hogan
Pages: 255 per GR
How It Fits: It's the 5th book in the Auckland Med series.
Completed: 3/12/2022
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Cam and Rueben were my favorite couple in this series, so it was lovely to revisit them. Wedding and general life craziness abound, but Cam remains his fabulous self. While this is supposed to be the final book, the author admits that two more books are possible; the setup for two more was definitely in place.