R11: Team #12 ~ Twisted Twelfth ~

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Change your book....

[Danielle Book Boss]

Ez, is Night's Honor different from other TH books on Audio? Did they change narrators?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Ezi, stop reading reviews before you've read the book, its always fatal.

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

Week 1: favorite - Favorite Author

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews 22 Feb 15 ★★★★★

I've been a fan of this author since the first Kate Daniels book. And they didn't disappoint. More Urban Fantasy than Romance, so it's closer to Kate then the Edge series. Has strong characters and great word - building. If you've never read this author before this would be a good place to start. Looking forward to the next book.

[Ezi]

Judithe wrote: "Change your book...."

Thanks Judithe, DaniBoss, and Sandra.
People said in the reviews Night Honor didn't really get good until 75% into the book. So it's the story that's boring.
Stolen was more of the narrator issue, than the story. But a horrible narrator can ruin a good book, you know?

All 3 books work for other challenges like MeetnGreet too so I'm trying to kill 2 birds with one stone

[Ezi]

Christina (AKA Babbling) wrote: "Week 1: favorite - Favorite Author

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews 22 Feb 15 ★★★★★

I've been a fan of this author since the first Kate ..."

Well done Christina. I also enjoyed this one. Ilona Andrews gives good heroines

[Ezi]

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "I started my shelf 1 book and like it already.
I can't decide between or for my free shelf book because both books got iffy audio reviews."

I am half way on the audio of Stolen, I actually like it :D

How are you all doing?

[KarenF]

Book: Blood of the Demon
Shelf: Free Space (Group Bookshelf)
Date Finished: 2/23/15
Rating: ★★★★

I can't believe I waited so long since I read the first of this series. As soon as I started this one I remembered how much I liked the first one. This is a real mix of police procedural/detective novel and paranormal. I believe that Diana Rowland was a detective and a cop and I think it shows with a realism to Kara's work that is sometimes missing in books. For example, Kara often mentions the paperwork and is shown getting warrants and subpoenas. It doesn't sound exciting but I like characters who actually know their jobs. And I'm not a big fan of law enforcement circumventing citizens rights, even in fiction.

The paranormal element is equally interesting. The demons are not denizens of hell but rather of a different dimension. In fact, they somewhat remind me of how fae characters are sometimes portrayed. They are tricky but don't outright lie, honor is very important and they get prestige in their world by interacting in ours. Some of the demons that Kara summons are scary in that they have a great deal of power and she must take care with them. Some are amusing and I have to say that one is downright adorable.

For me, the weakest part is the romance. I'm not sold on either potential love interest at this point. But I've read reviews on books further along in the series and I believe big revelations are ahead. And that's a small nit to pick in a book and series that aren't predominately romances. This one has really sold me on the series and I need to not wait as long to read the third.

[Ezi]

KarenF wrote: "

Book: Blood of the Demon
Shelf: Free Space (Group Bookshelf)
Date Finished: 2/23/15
Rating: ★★★★

I can't believe I waited so long since I rea..."

I am adding it to my Starter pile for maybe April. I did like book 1 a lot but it got lost on my pile as well. Great review

[Ezi]

Shelf Free : Group Bookshelf & BON. Genre: Historical Romance

Book: Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, #2) by Kelley Armstrong
Finished: 2/23
Rating & Review: ★★★½.
Elena gets captured by a group experimenting on supernatural creatures and Elena and the other inmates have to figure out how to save themselves before this group creates a super monster. I liked it but it felt like a set up book. Elena and Clay are no longer at odds but have settles into a pattern.
Elena is forgotten how crazy Clay is when he can't help Elena. I liked the introduction of other supernaturals and I want to see how they are used,

The first book festured a defiant Elena, this book festured a scared ELena. She wasn't mouthy, sarcastic but a docile one. I'm glad her claws came out later.

[Ezi]

Team, how is your reading going?
A new shelf will be called tomorrow(Wednesday) afternoon.

[Danielle Book Boss]

Shelf 1: Favorite (genre)

Date Read: 2/24
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:

Boy! This book took some time to get going. I mean literally it took about 60% until I really started getting into the book. Much of the first half was spent on world-building. While I admire/applaud/love Ilona Andrew's worldbuilding capabilities, the info dumps made the struggle to get through the story all too real. I was feeling the same way I felt reading/listening to the first Kate Daniel's book. It was rough! But I also see elements for a very interesting story arc/plot/characters. It paid off to continue with Kate in a big way so I'm hoping I'll get a great return on investment from The Edge series as well.

Overall I really liked the characters but one issue I had with the format of the writing was that we got everyone's POV other than the hero's. I know he had to remain mysterious and all of that because a big part of the story line was Rose learning to trust him but this might as well have been written in first person POV for all of the insight we got from the hero. I really liked Rose. She is a character I think I could be friends with. Declan, other than having a kick ass name, was cool too. Strong macho man. Was great with Rose's brother. He definitely had some swoonworthy characteristics.

I'm continuing the series, I just think I need to switch to audio.

[Danielle Book Boss]

KarenF wrote: "

Book: Blood of the Demon
Shelf: Free Space (Group Bookshelf)
Date Finished: 2/23/15
Rating: ★★★★

I can't believe I waited so long since I rea..."

For some reason, I waited a long time to read that book after I finished the first one too. And now I'm taking forever to read the next one in the series. So many books, so little time!

[Ezi]

Danielle Book Mafia Enforcer wrote: "
Date Read: 2/24
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:

Boy! This book took some time to get going. I mean literally it took about 60% until I really started getting into the boo..."

Slow building up of the universe is Ilona Andrews style. I need to get back to this series as well

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

I've read 37% of . I hope I finish it by Friday. Because I need it for a couple of February Challenges.

[Ezi]

Ok Christina, good job everyone. This is our standing as of now.
Week 1 and Free Space. As soon as the new shelf is posted, I will let you all know.

[Ezi]

Shelf #2 ~ 25 Feb 2015: Demons
Book Choices:
Read 4 of 4: DONE
☑ Christina: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Review)
☑ Danielle: Rogue Rider (Review)
☑ Ezinwanyi: Night's Honor (Review)
☑ Karen F: Autumn Bones (Review)

[Ezi]

I am thinking I will try shelved 6times ..is that enough?

[Danielle Book Boss]

I'm debating between and

[Ezi]

Danielle Book Mafia Enforcer wrote: "I'm debating between and "

you already know what I say: RESEPH's BOOK: . LOL.

I spent 35 mins going through that shelf hoping to avoid reading Night honor. But I guess it was meant to get read this month. so I will start it tomorrow

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Ezi, only needs to be on the shelf once. LOL. Obviously meant to be :)

[Danielle Book Boss]

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "Danielle Book Mafia Enforcer wrote: "I'm debating between and "

you already know what I say: RESEPH's BOOK: [bookcover:Rogu..."

lol Ezi it's meant to be. I think I'll go with Reseph too since I already have it.

[KarenF]

I'm about 1/3 of the way through . It's a fast read but work isn't cooperating this week. I think I'll be done by Friday.

For "Demons" I think I'll read

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

my demon book is

[Ezi]

KarenF wrote: "I'm about 1/3 of the way through . It's a fast read but work isn't cooperating this week. I think I'll be done by Friday.

For "Demons" I think I'l..."

No problem. Work is RL, so it comes first!

[Ezi]

Sandra wrote: "Ezi, only needs to be on the shelf once. LOL. Obviously meant to be :)"

SMH. I really, really hoped to avoid it.

[KarenF]

Book: Midnight Blue-Light Special
Shelf: Favorite (Favorite Author)
Date Finished: 2/28/15
Rating: ★★★★

I am in awe of Seanan McGuire's imagination. Between this series and the Toby Daye series the worlds are so full and there are so many different fairy and cryptid races that it boggles the mind. This series is lighter in tone than the Toby Daye series but it is just as rich. Any book with talking mice who perform constant religious ceremonies is bound to make you smile. In the first book Verity comes to New York to try to balance her love of ballroom dancing and her family's business of cryptozoology. She meets a man who works for the enemy (the Covenant) and the story goes from there.

In this second installment, Verity and Dominic are still trying to balance their relationship with their duties. When the Covenant comes to town to check up on Dominic, all bets are off as to who he will side with. (view spoiler)[Truthfully, though, if I wanted betrayal, darkness & death I'd read some grimdark fantasy, not this. So I wasn't too worried. (hide spoiler)]. As Verity gathers her friends and family around her we're treated to Sarah's POV for a little bit of the book as well. It's interesting to see her with her powers of her own, even if she's not physically kickass like Verity.

So, talking mice, a rich world of cryptid inhabitants, a star crossed lovers romance, telepaths and plenty of action add up to another fun entry in this series. I'm looking forward to spending time with Verity's brother in the next two books.

[Ezi]

Good job Karen.

I'm reading Night Honor since we are snowed in here in Dallas Texas

[KarenF]

Sorry that took so long for me but I think we get a stamp now so - yay!

I'm going to change my demon shelf book to since it's due back to the library soon and it's on the shelf.

[Ezi]

As we have completed Shelf 1, I'll request our stamp. Team 12: Twisted Twelfth Shelf 1 Reviews

Hope shelf 2 and the free space books are coming along well. I hope to be done with my Shelf 2 book will be finished today.

[Ezi]

Hey team,
How's your book coming?
I'm halfway into mine and I actually like it.
I'm out of town so I won't be as accessible until I get to my hotel room. But feel free to ask me any questions if you need to.

2 days until Dead Heat and Visions in Silver!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Twisted Twelfth!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'favorite'. 

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

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats Twisties!

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

Free Space -SOS BOOKSHELF




Feed by Mira Grant 27 Feb 15 ★★★★

Interesting book. I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would, considering the zombies. They were not the main focus. The two lead characters, Georgia 'George' and Shaun Mason, are bloggers/Journalists in a future were the cures for cancer and the common cold, have created a new virus that reanimates the dead.

George and Shaun get the opportunity to cover the presidential campaign of Peter Ryman. Even with the possibility of zombie outbreaks, The Presidential hopefuls still hit the trails to bring their stances on the issues/"platforms" to the people. After a pair of disasters hit Ryman's campaign George and her team uncover a deadly plot

[Christina (AKA Babbling)]

I'm almost half way through my demon book.

[Danielle Book Boss]

I'm half way through Reseph's book and am going to start my free space soon.

I'm really enyoying Reseph's book. It's pretty hot compared to some others. It reads more like the earlier Demonica books to me. There are a few characters that just plain get on my nerves though.

[KarenF]

Book: Autumn Bones
Shelf: Week 2 - Demons
Date Finished: 3/1/15
Rating: ★★★

This 3* rating is a "there stuff I like and stuff I don't" 3* rather than a "meh" 3*. So, what do I like? I like the world and the ideas behind it, that certain areas have a functioning underworld and so supernatural (eldrich) species are drawn to it. Here Norse goddess Hel rules the underworld and Daisy is her liaison to the mundane community. I like the way it's out in the open and there's even a tourist bureau looking to boost the town economy by publicizing it. That's so different from so many other series where it's all about the secrecy.

As far as Daisy herself goes, well that depends on what is going on in the plot. She's pretty young and when she's working out her place in the world, her heritage or how to do her best to represent Hel's authority, I quite like her. The thing that doesn't go so well for me, and decreases my enjoyment of the entire book is her frequent referral to other women as "sluts" or "skanks". It's not everyone, it's quite clear when she doesn't approve of someone's behavior. And if it was just aimed at one character I could probably take it, but it's pervasive. It was in the first book too, but I think I was more enamored of the world building in that one and it didn't bug me so much. It set my teeth on edge constantly in this one.

So, I don't know if I'll read the third. I kind of want to, there are things I definitely enjoy about it. But to my mind women are judged enough in real life for having sex/not having sex/whatever that I really don't need it in my fiction. I'll read the reviews to see which way it's headed.

[Ezi]

Good morning team.
Today is a new shelf. Let's finish out the prior weeks business first,

Missing Reviews
Free Space Shelf: Danielle
Demon Shelf: everyone but Karen!

[Danielle Book Boss]

I'm posting my Demon Review today. In meetings all day just came on here to say that.

[Ezi]

Danielle Book Mafia Enforcer wrote: "I'm posting my Demon Review today. In meetings all day just came on here to say that."

Ok. How's your free space book coming?

[Ezi]

Shelf #2 : Demon

Book: Night's Honor (Elder Races, #7) by Thea Harrison
Finished: 3/4
Rating & Review: ★★★½.
It was a slow burner but I liked the story. I didn't really connect with Tess but I really liked Xavier. Tess is a woman whose had to survive, never fitting in anywhere and having to watch her own back. When her actions goes against her bosses interests, Tess runs from the Casino and the Djinn who owns it.

She shows up at the vampyre Ball and offers her Services as an attendant. Her answer catches Xavier attention and he gives her a trial period of a year. The rest is Tess working to do what's expected even though she doesn't really want to fulfill all the obligations. I feel like her reticence is part of reason Xavier is attracted to her. I will admit her tenacity maybe the other part.

The rest of the story finds Tess trying to navigate the Xavier's household and also hid from the Djinn. She soon learns that she can't do it alone and finally has to ask for help.

This story is better than Rune and Carling's story, but that's about it in my ranking. I don't feel the chemistry between these two. I'm not sure Tess is a team player so it makes it hard to like her in Xaviers household. This one did show us there's trouble brewing in the Nightkind Desmesne. The ending of this book definitely sets up a really juicy battle as Julian hunts Justine who tried to assassinate Julian's progeny--Xavier.

[Ezi]

Shelf #3 ~ 4 Mar 2015: Green/Teal
Read a book with a predominately green or teal cover
Read 4 of 4: DONE
Book Choices:
☑Christina: Blazing the Trail (Review)
☑Danielle: Karma Girl ( Review)
☑ Ezinwanyi: Beneath the Scars (Review)
☑ Karen F: Banishing the Dark (Review)

[Ezi]

Can I say that I am most displeased about this category?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

All complaints should be directed to Mr. R :)

[Ezi]

Sandra wrote: "All complaints should be directed to Mr. R :)"

I would like Mr. R to return that $20 I gave him last week! SMH, he didn't abide by our wink-wink agreement.

[Ezi]

Ezi's options:

I have been assured by Management that Meg is wearing a green jacket. It looks like a blue jean jacket in yellow light, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Hahahaha we don't want to start a blue/black or white/gold debate!

Blue & yellow makes green, so its good, should you choose to go that way.

[KarenF]

I'm waiting for management approval. And looking for Plan B if I don't get it. :)

[KarenF]

OK - got approval for my choice. I'll be reading for Green cover.

[Danielle Book Boss]

I think I'm gonna do a freebie for this one. Any thoughts on: