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R14: SSS Team 1 - One More Chapter
message 101:
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Susan A
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Feb 12, 2023 01:59PM
I’m planning on no alternates.
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Alright, awesome. I can do the 2-in-1 bonus this week then :)
Mod
Spot: 19
Book: When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw
Qualification: Alternate: Young Adult/New Adult - MPG Young Adult
Pages: 368
Selection PostSpot: 19
Book: The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Qualification: Alternate: Young Adult/New Adult
Pages: 368
Completion PostSpot: 19
BOOK READ: Secret Prey
AUTHOR: John Sandford
#9 Lucas Davenport series
DATE READ: 2/13/22
RATING: 4
REVIEW
I'm pretty sure I first read some of the books in this series in the 90s when they were first published. Not sure where I stopped. I re-started this series last year, starting at book 1.
I wasn't sure if I could continue the series. The occasional casual racist and homophobic remarks were jarring. The sexism is disturbing and a reminder of how much things have changed. I liked the mysteries and I found the characters interesting despite this. I think these books reflect what was acceptable at the time and as I progress through the series I think the instances I find bothersome are declining.
The mysteries never disappoint. Lucas' personal life is a train wreck as always, but as I didn't particularly like the girlfriend/fiancee I guess I'm glad he's moved on. I would say Lucas has terrible taste in women, but I think the problem is he has no specific tastes at all. It seems like any woman will do.
Happy Valentine's Day, everybody! TY for making this such a nice team to be on :)
Mod
Spot: 19
Book: When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw
Qualification: Alternate: Young Adult/New Adult - MPG Young Adult
Pages: 368
Finished: 15 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Beautiful and heartbreaking. Set in 1990, this coming of age story about two gay teens in New York at the height of the AIDS epidemic draws heavily on the author own experiences, and it shows in settings and atmosphere perfectly coming to life. This is, as one might expect from the subject matter, not an easy book to read... but it is an important one. I would recommend not making the mistake I did and reading the last quarter of it on public transport, because it absolutely will make you cry.
Week 3: Roll 2Spot: 19
Book: The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Qualification: Alternate: Young Adult/New Adult
Pages: 368
Finished: 02/15/2023
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Lina is forced to work with her ex fiancé's brother to further her career. The brother that was the reason for the breakup is now dealing with a petty closed off Lina. After reading both of these books based on this Brazilian family, the three mom/sisters are the gems in these books. They are hilarious! This was a cute predictable rom com that was the perfect afternoon book escape.
Completion PostSpot: 19
Book: Summer Love by Diane Schwemm
How It Fits: Silver Beach series #1
*fits with alternate Young Adult as well
Date Read: 2/15/2023
Rating: 2.5 stars
Review: This book was a fast read. It had the potential to be a lot better than it actually was though. I had 2 main problems with it: there wasn't actually a lot of summer love in it. There was cheating though. Ugh. And 2) I didn't like any of the characters. I understood their motivations, yes, but I thought they were all crummy, self-involved, unlikeable people who deserved a royal comeuppance. There are two more books in this series. Hopefully, they are a lot better than this one.
Claiming 2-in-1 bonus point
Week 3, Roll 2Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post *2-in-1 bonus point earned
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
Hello, Team! I rolled a five this time!! That puts us on Spot 24. You can read:#2 in a series
#4 in a series
#24 in a series
- or - alternate: Title 'R'
Selection PostSpot: 24
A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors by A.J. Sherwood
255 pages
R'iyah Family Archives #2
Completion PostSpot: 24
A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors by A.J. Sherwood
255 pages
R'iyah Family Archives #2
2/16/23
4 stars
Review
This series is fun. It's pretty ridiculous. It is perhaps formulaic for this author, but it works for me. We get Bel's back story in this book, a new creature to hunt, a visit from grandfather and his hounds and more Wicky. And...it looks like Wicky is getting his own story later this year. I'm looking forward to that.
I prefer this type of book in audio form. I don't like it much at all in ebook form and generally do not read them . The audio, performed Tim Paige, Greg Boudreuax and Michael Ferraiuolo, was excellent.
(I am so bad at writing these few required sentences.)
Mod
Spot: 24
Book: Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey
Qualification: Alternate: Title 'R'
Pages: 331
Mod
Spot: 24
Book: Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey
Qualification: Alternate: Title 'R'
Pages: 331
Finished: 18 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
A romance between a romance author and a bookstore owner? I'll have it, thank you!
I loved Rosie from the start, and while it took me a while longer to warm up to Jane, this was just absolutely charming all in all. I enjoyed that there were neither magical fixes for the problems the characters dealt with, but nor was there gratuitous drama. Looking forward to the sequel!
Week 4, Roll 1Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel
Susan - completion post
Completion PostSpot: 24
Book: Summer Lies by Diane Schwemm
How It Fits: Silver Beach series #2
Date Read: 2/18/23
Rating: 2 stars
Review: Have you ever read a book where every single character worked every single one of your nerves? Well, that is the case with this book! I wanted to line them all up in a row & shake them. Or punch them in the throat! And I'm not a violent person, I swear. The book is a quick, easy read, but it's not enjoyable because all the characters were weak, unrootable, and impossibly self-serving. Ugh.
Hey, all. I messaged Raquel. Hopefully, everything is okay. :)
Okay, I'm going to check us in. We'll have to use our free pass tonight.As for the new roll, we got a three. This puts us on Spot 27. This means you can read:
Series #2
Series #7
Series #27
- or - Alternate: Author 'J'
Reminder: completion reports are due Thursday, but ideally, I would like to have them posted by Wednesday evening. TY!
Mod
Week 4: Roll 2
Spot: 27
Book: Dropship by Jonathan Yanez
Qualification: Alternate: Author 'J'
Pages: 212
Finished: 20 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Exactly the sort of thing I'm in the mood for when I don't want to have to do too much thinking while reading. Fastpaced military sci-fi that is pretty much nonstop action, with just enough breaks to get a bit of a feel for the characters. An entertaining read that came with a couple of interesting plot twists - I'm intrigued to see what's next for Daniel Hunt.
Mod
Selection PostSpot: 27 (exactly the number I was hoping for!)
An Impossible Impostorby Deanna Raybourn
325 pages
#7 Veronica Speedwell
I apologize team. It's just a weird week and alot happening that I haven't had a chance to get in front of a computer quick enough! I did finish my book on Friday and just never got around to jumping on pc. Do I still need to post a completion post? Going forward there should be no issues from me. Again, sorry team.
Raquel wrote: "I apologize team. It's just a weird week and alot happening that I haven't had a chance to get in front of a computer quick enough! I did finish my book on Friday and just never got around to jumpi..."Hey, there. Glad you're alright. Sorry about your weird week. Not sure about the completion post. Denise will have to answer that. We're happy you're here :)
Mod
No need for the completion post.
CompletionSpot: 27
BOOK READ: An Impossible Impostor
AUTHOR: Deanna Raybourn
DATE READ: 2/20/23
RATING: 5
REVIEW
I think this one might be my favorite in the series. We learn a major part of Veronica's past -- something that very much explains why she is the way she is. I can't say I like Veronica very much but I like the series despite this. I like the series and I very much like Stoker.
Completion
Spot: 27
Book: Creep by Jennifer Hillier
Read 02/21/2023
Rating: 4
Review
A fast paced thriller that will have you hooked from the beginning. Dr Sheila Tao, a sex addict, gets involved with her grad student Ethan (who is crazy). When trying to get uninvolved, he decides to make that difficult for her. Engaging read and def recommend.
Week 4, Roll 2Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
Completion PostSpot: 27
Book: Their Night to Remember by Judy Duarte
How It Fits: Rancho Esperanza #2
Date Read: 2/22/23
Rating: 2.5 stars
Review: This book had backroom business deals, amnesia, and pregnancies conceived via 'steamy' one-night stands, but yet with all those dramatic ingredients, it still lacked excitement somehow. The writing itself was quite dry. And the couple honestly did not have the level of chemistry the writer told us they did. This was overall a "just okay" read.
Hello, Team! I rolled a four. This puts us on Spot 31. You can read:A standalone
Series #1
Series #3
Series #31
- or - Alternate: A book published between 2016-2019
Reminder: completion reports are due Sunday, but ideally, I would like to have them posted by Saturday evening.
Keep up the good work :)
Mod
Spot: 31
Book: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Qualification: Alternate: Published 2016-2019 - Published 28 Feb 2017
Pages: 311
Selection PostSpot 31
Book: The Lady in the Attic by Tara Randel
How It Fits: Annie's Attic Mysteries #1
Completion PostSpot 31
The Sceptic by Lily Morton
365 pages
#1 Arcana Books
2/23/23
4 stars?
I don't know ...I found this frustrating. Not the story, but rather the narration.
I listened to the audiobook. I had to slow it down to 1.7 (I usually listen at 2.0 - 2.5 speed) because I had a hard time understanding the narrator. The narrator did not differentiate enough for the MCs. This meant every time I stopped the audio, which happens very frequently, I had a hard time figuring out what was going on since I didn't know who was speaking. Sometimes I had to re-listen to parts when I started up again. Even when the MCs were speaking to each other, I had difficulty keeping track. I listen to lots of audiobooks. I've even listened to lots of audiobooks by this narrator. I don't think this was a me problem.
So rating the story is hard. RIght now, I'm just glad I'm finished so I don't have to hyper-focus on this anymore.
Mod
Spot: 31
Book: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Qualification: Alternate: Published 2016-2019 - Published 28 Feb 2017
Pages: 311
Finished: 25 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★
Review:
Note to self: No more Tricia Levenseller books for me. This sounded like so much fun: Pirates! Badass female protagonist! Secret mission to steal a treasure map! And did I mention? Pirates!! Alas, I didn't care for it.
Alosa, the supposedly oh-so-tough and clever protagonist, is an arrogant idiot with a severely inflated opinion of herself who irritated me like nobody's business. The romance did nothing for me - am I meant to believe these two have chemistry? Riden has barely any personality to speak of, and what there is is chiefly annoying. On the whole, the plot is just as flimsy as the worldbuilding and failed to properly engage me at any time.
I think this author just isn't for me.
Completion PostSpot: 31
Book: The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
Qualification: Alternate: Published 2016-2019- 08/23/2016
Pages: 289
Finished: 02/24/2023
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
What a fascinating read! Story alternates between Darby and Esme, women from the 1960's who lived/worked at the famous Barbizon hotel for women in NYC and journalist Rose who in current time also living at the Barbizon (now turned modern condos). I loved the sweetness but also the NYC grittiness detail of this story and how it all tied together. If you love reading stories set in NYC, this is a must.
Completion PostSpot: 31
Book: The Lady in the Attic by Tara Randel
How It Fits: Annie's Attic Mysteries #1
Date Read: 2/25/23
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This was a little low-stakes mystery set in Maine. There was zero blood, guts, or murder. It was just about a group of women trying to figure out the identity of another woman whose face appeared on an old stitchery. I totally guessed the ending. This was rather slow-moving at parts. I am not sure I would read another one of these books. It was all a little too sweet & simple for my liking.
Week 5, Roll 1Tracking Post
Spot: 31
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
Hello, Teammates. I am sad to report that I only rolled a two this time. That puts us on Spot 33 which means you can read:- Series #3
- Series #33
- or - Alternate: a Re-read
Reminder: completion reports are due Thursday, but ideally, I would like to have them posted by Wednesday evening. Thanks! :)
Mod
Spot: 33
Book: The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
Qualification: Alternate: Re-read
Pages: 462
BONUS optionsI am just waiting on a 8 to be rolled, then I'll complete the 3 books in a series.
Are there any other bonus point tasks we need to complete?
These are the bonus tasks open & complete:✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
✸
✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one.
✸
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate list. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90. ***
✸ One point can be earned for always picking a book from the alternate list. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90. ***
*** in-progress
Thanks D.L.!I'm working on the first bonus task and I plan to do the no alternates bonus task as well.
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