R13: SS Team 1 - All Series Start With One

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "I should check with Denise to make sure that bonus could be used basically the week it is tallied."

You can. :)

[Truitt_T]

I have a large number of choices, too. I'll decide on something by Sunday, I suspect.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Denise wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "I should check with Denise to make sure that bonus could be used basically the week it is tallied."

You can. :)"

Awesome, thanks, now I do not need to go ask. 😁

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Truitt_T wrote: "I have a large number of choices, too. I'll decide on something by Sunday, I suspect."

👍🤓

[Donna, Chief Inspector]

Selection Post: week 10, spot 85

Biting Bad
#8 in Chicagoland Vampires

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Selection Post: week 10, spot 85

Wine Tastings Are Murder
book 5 in Poppy McAlister Mystery series

[Mandiann]

im still trying to pick.

[Mandiann]

Does anyone have any suggestions or a list for book series that can be read out of order or standalone series? I am down to 10 series in progress and running out of options, LOL.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Mandiann wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions or a list for book series that can be read out of order or standalone series? I am down to 10 series in progress and running out of options, LOL."

Not off the top of my head, but what about an anthology? Because you can use one of the stories if it falls as a 5.? or an 8.? as long as you read the whole anthology.
Or a re-read? Even thought I know you would prefer not to.
Or maybe go troll the other teams to see what 5th or 8th books they have read in the past 10 weeks.
Sorry, but I will think on what could be read as a standalone in a series, or a start of a new series but that fits in a universe as a who as a 5th or 8th book. 🤔

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Still digging for somewith the standalone in a series, but I did go off on a side quest and found Hand and Glove

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Found one, but no promises.
Romance book in a series that can be read as standalone

[Mandiann]

good idea to check my rereads. i will do that tonight, as soon as the kids are in bed.

[Allison Ann]

Selection Post

Spot: 85
Book: A Tangled Yarn by Betty Hechtman - 304 pages
How It Fits: Yarn Retreat Mystery #5

[Mandiann]

Going to read Timeless by Gail Carriger, 5th in Soulless series.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

COMPLETION POST ~ Week Ten

Spot: 85
Bitter Harvest (Orchard Mystery #5) by Sheila Connolly
Completed: March 27th
Fits: 5th book in series
Rating: ✯✯✯✯
Review: In this fifth book in the series the main character Meg Corey is not under suspicion of murder nor is anyone she knows, and she did not stunble on a dead body. Instead in this installment of the series she is having all sorts of (view spoiler)[small incidents or odd accidents and together they add up to something, then someone shoots out her kitchen window while she and her male friend Seth Chapman are in the kitchen. (hide spoiler)] Meg, Seth and Bree the Orchard manager, set out to find out who or what is at fault and why. It is a nice twist on the normal way that cozy mysteries have a murder as the central theme to be figured out.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Week Ten

Truitt - ❓

Alison - Bitter Harvest (Orchard Mystery #5) - completion post

Mandiann - Timeless - 5th in Soulless series

Allison Ann - A Tangled Yarn - Yarn Retreat Mystery #5

Diane - Wine Tastings Are Murder - Poppy McAlister Mystery #5

Donna - Biting Bad -#8 in Chicagoland Vampires

[Truitt_T]

My show is over (the final 4 performances were the past weekend, plus set strike and associated socializing) and I still haven't piced a book. I have lots of choices, but it will probably be Loyalty in Death Conspiracy in Death, In Death #8. I'll confirm a bit later.

Sorry to be so indecisive!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

So if I'm understanding the rules correctly, if we roll at 10 or higher and use all our points, we will be past 100 and in the running for the win?

Is the winner the first team past 100 to read their books or the teams that rolls highest past 100?

Also, what series numbers are we looking at for 101 or 102? Is it 1 or 2?

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Completion Post: week 10, spot 85


finished: 3/27/22
how it fits: book 5 in Poppy McAlister Mystery series
rating: 3 stars

review: An interesting mystery as someone is killed during a wine tasting event, Kim begs Poppy to help save the business she invested in and Poppy is in the ideal spot as the widow, daughter and son-in-law are staying at her B&B.

When the series started, Poppy was more positive about her weight and working more towards being healthy than losing weight, however she tried 2 different fad diets this time and was constantly going on about it. It got annoying.

Then add the horrible love triangle where it is very obvious which suitor actually cares for Poppy and which cares more for his business. It was FINALLY resolved this book only to have (view spoiler)[a surprise wife show up??? (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Truitt_T wrote: "My show is over (the final 4 performances were the past weekend, plus set strike and associated socializing) and I still haven't piced a book. I have lots of choices, but it will probably be Loyalt..."

I hope your show went well!

[Truitt_T]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Truitt_T wrote: "My show is over (the final 4 performances were the past weekend, plus set strike and associated socializing) and I still haven't piced a book. I have lots of choices, but it will p..."

The show went really well, thank you! I loved my role. I'm sad it's over - it was a great cast and crew. I want to do another, but it's always hard to get the timing to work. Plus, I have to get cast, lol.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Truitt_T wrote: "My show is over (the final 4 performances were the past weekend, plus set strike and associated socializing) and I still haven't piced a book. I have lots of choices, but it will probably be Loyalt..."

Sounds like fun. I understand the indecisiveness, I am often afflicted with it as well. As long as you will have time to complete a book by Thursday night it is all good. 🤓

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "...
Is the winner the first team past 100 to read their books or the teams that rolls highest past 100?

Also, what series numbers are we looking at for 101 or 102? Is it 1 or 2?"

I honestly do not know. Hummmm🤔 If Denise does not stop by our thread tonight or in the morning we can ask in the the Help & Discussion thread.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Diane, the only thing I found in any of the explinations is " ✸ Bonus points may be used for the win. Example: Your team rolls and lands on spot 97. Your team has earned 4 bonus points. You can use your bonus points to move to spot 101 and compete for the win.
So not sure.
Also, the alt tasks go up thru 112. So again, not sure. I do not remember ever being on a team that competed for the win. 😕

[Diane ~Firefly~]

We should find out before the roll, if we are going to possibly be in a reading race, it would be good to know ahead of time.

[Truitt_T]

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Diane, the only thing I found in any of the explinations is "
✸ Bonus points may be used for the win. Example: Your team rolls and lands on spot 97. Your team has earned 4 bonus points. You can u..."

Interesting. The Board only goes to 100, so I'm guessing you have to pass 100, and complete the final read. Since it would be possible to be on 100 and roll a 12, it would make sense that there are alternate tasks up to 112.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

yeah, I've never been on a team competing for the win in this challenge either

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "We should find out before the roll, if we are going to possibly be in a reading race, it would be good to know ahead of time."

If Denise does not stop by and answer the questions you posed about how we go about winning and if it is a race for who finishes first or what then I will ask some questions tomorrow.

[Denise, Manufacturing Director]

Truitt_T wrote: "The Board only goes to 100, so I'm guessing you have to pass 100, and complete the final read. Since it would be possible to be on 100 and roll a 12, it would make sense that there are alternate tasks up to 112."

That's exactly it. :) Basically, the first team to complete their reads for a spot above 100 wins. So if several teams roll above 100 during the same week, it'll be a race to see who finishes all their books first. (As with the deadline, timestamp on the last team review posted counts.)

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Also, what series numbers are we looking at for 101 or 102? Is it 1 or 2?"

You can take it apart into single digits like with any other spot: 1, 0, 1 or 1, 0, 2 with the usual reading options.
I seem to recall we had the question of whether you can use #10 come up in a previous round, but I'll have to dig through the archive to check on that when I'm not about to rush off to work.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

So it seems to me that if each of us had a book ready to cover 1 or 0 already picked out that could be finished quickly it might make winning a better possibility. Then it is all about what the dice does.

[Allison Ann]

Completion Post

Week 10
Spot: 85
Book: A Tangled Yarn by Betty Hechtman
Qualification: Yarn Retreat Mystery #5
Finished: 3/27/22
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I do love the idea of the yarn retreats that Casey puts on, though this one felt very disjointed and incomplete, which I guess was the point as the retreat itself was impacted by the murder. Also Casey is an absolutely terrible leader. Just open a PI business and let the Early Birds run the retreats already. :D So many things left unfinished at the end, what will happen with the Delacortes, with Kevin, with Sammy's magic. Can't wait to read on and find out.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Denise wrote: "Truitt_T wrote: "The Board only goes to 100, so I'm guessing you have to pass 100, and complete the final read. Since it would be possible to be on 100 and roll a 12, it would make sense that there..."

Thanks Denise!

[Truitt_T]

So we need to look for a standalone or first in series that's at least 140 pages, but ideally not much more, right?

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Truitt_T wrote: "So we need to look for a standalone or first in series that's at least 140 pages, but ideally not much more, right?"

Sure, those both work for 0 and 1 and the min page count is 140 for this challenge.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Week Ten

Truitt - Conspiracy in Death - In Death series #8 - completion post

Alison - Bitter Harvest (Orchard Mystery #5) - completion post

Mandiann - Timeless - 5th in Soulless series

Allison Ann - A Tangled Yarn - Yarn Retreat Mystery #5 - completion post

Diane - Wine Tastings Are Murder - Poppy McAlister Mystery #5 - completion post

Donna - Biting Bad -#8 in Chicagoland Vampires

[Allison Ann]

I have an 187 page first in series lined up, should we need it. I will check in tomorrow morning if we have a new roll and my robotic voiced tablet can read to me while I bake bread. :D

Nope, today is Wednesday, I will check in Friday morning. :D

[Diane ~Firefly~]

I can read during lunch Fri, but won't be able to finish the book until after work at the earliest.

[Truitt_T]

Completion Post
Week 10
Spot 85
Book: Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
Pages: 372 per GR
How It Fits: It's the 8th book in the In Death series.
Completed: 3/30/2022
Rating: 3 stars

Review: This in not my favorite book in the In Death series. The mystery never really resonated with me, and I hated that (view spoiler)[ Eve came under suspicion, however ludicrous the accusations (hide spoiler)]. There's a lot of wallowing in Eve's past, which I never particularly enjoy. I'll continue with my reread of the series, but I'm in no particular hurry. Book 9 may come quickly, though, if I need it for this Challenge.

[Truitt_T]

I have my book figured out for whenever we need our rush read - this Friday or the next.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Sounds good gals.
🙃

[Donna, Chief Inspector]

Completion Post
Week 10
Spot 85
Book: Biting Bad
Pages: 368
How It Fits: #8 in Chicagoland Vampires
Completed: 3/31/2022
Rating: 5 stars

Review: The last book was good, don't get me wrong, but this book reminded me of the earlier books in the series. I was very happy to stay up all night reading once again. The book drew me in and just didn't let go. There was so much happening and of course, it left lots to dig into for the next book. I can't wait to read the next book!

[Mandiann]

I am done my book. Will get a review up today.

[Mandiann]

Completion Post
Week 10
Spot 85
Book: Timeless by Gail Carriger
How it fits: 5th in the Parasol Protectorate Series
Completed: 3/31
Rating: 4 stars
Review: A delightful and tidy end to a rich and hilarious series. I love the romance this book sets up, it is one of my favourite of the whole parasoloverse. I also noticed so many lovely tidbits that tease at the next series upon rereading this one. I would highly recommend this series to almost anyone.

[Truitt_T]

It's still three hours until we can roll, and I'm hesitant to start a new book - what if it's what I need, lol?

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Team 1 ~ Week 10
⚅ + ⚁ = 8 + 77 = 85 New Spot

5th, 8th or 85th in a series or alternate task: 85. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)

Truitt - Conspiracy in Death - In Death series #8 - Completion Post

Alison - Bitter Harvest (Orchard Mystery #5) - Completion Post

Mandiann - Timeless - 5th in Soulless series - Completion Post

Allison Ann - A Tangled Yarn - Yarn Retreat Mystery #5 - Completion Post

Diane - Wine Tastings Are Murder - Poppy McAlister Mystery #5 - Completion Post

Donna - Biting Bad -#8 in Chicagoland Vampires - Completion Post

✸ Claimed ✸ Start & Finish a series, 3+ in Series, Valentine's Bonus, 2 in 1 & >500 pages

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

WEEK ELEVEN ROLL

⚂ + ⚂ = 6
Old spot ~ 85 + 6 = 91 New Spot

This week it is 1st, 9th or 91st in a series
Or alternate task: 91. GR average rating >4.0

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

Ok, sorry I did not roll way higher.
But with this we can get the last Bonus, so if we use all 6 bonus points and roll at least a 3 we will be in the hundreds on the next roll.
This is assuming no one makes it this week and wins the game.

[Alison (Lady Coffin)]

SELECTION POST - Week Eleven

Spot: 91
Sure Shot (Brooklyn Bruisers #9 & Brooklyn #4) by Sarina Bowen
Fits: 9th book in series

[Allison Ann]

Sorry I didn't check in earlier. It's been a very bad day on the personal front. I did look at our roll first thing and saw that it wouldn't be a race to the end. So I'll save my short ebook for next week and read a real book this week.

Selection Post

Spot: 91
Book: The Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page - 240 pages
How It Fits: Faith Fairchild #1

[Mandiann]

Selection Post

Witch Child (Witch Child #1)
How it fits: 1st in series