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R14: SSS Team 1 - One More Chapter
message 201:
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D.L.
(new)
Mar 08, 2023 08:53PM
The completion reports are all done now. Denise, you're good to roll at midnight CST. Thanks :)
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Week: 7 - Roll: 1
Previous Spot: 42
Roll: 5
New Spot: 47
Reading options:
- #4 in series
- #7 in series
- #47 in series
- Alternate: Award Winner (must state which/when)
Selection PostSpot: 47
Book: Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death by M.C. Beaton
How It Fits: Agatha Raisin #7
Mod
Spot: 47
Book: The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
Qualification: Alternate: Award Winner - Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography (2013), etc.
Pages: 414
Completion PostSpot 47
Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon
199 pages
#7 Secrets and Scrabbles
3/9/23
4 stars
Cozy mystery set in Pirate's Cove on Buck Island, Rhode Island. The setting is great, the characters interesting. The slow burn romance has been building over the seven books. There's a bit of a surprise at the end that leaves me really hoping that this author meets her May deadline...her track record is dreadful.
Mod
Spot: 47
Book: The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
Qualification: Alternate: Award Winner - Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography (2013), etc.
Pages: 414
Finished: 10 Mar 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
General Alex Dumas, father and grandfather respectively of the novelist and the playwright sharing his name, led an incredibly fascinating life and ought to be as well known as his famous descendants. Born the son of a marquis and an enslaved black woman in Saint-Domingue, he was brought to France by his father after having first been conditionally sold into slavery to finance the man's own return journey to the country of his birth. Thrust into this very different world from what he had known thus far, Alex learned the fencing skills befitting a member of the French aristocracy and later enlisted as a common soldier, rising swiftly through the ranks during the French Revolution and becoming a war hero in command of tens of thousands of soldiers.
This was a truly engrossing read, and I loved learning how many iconic scenes and themes of Alexandre Dumas's famous novels were inspired by his father's incredible life.
Completion PostSpot 47
Tinsel by Devney Perry
386 pages
How it fits: Lark Cove Series #4
Finished: 03/10/2023
Review:
Book four of the Lark Cove series follows Sophia Kendrick, the snootiest of them all. By no means is this series life changing but I've really enjoyed getting to know the Lark Cove community. So far all books have followed the same formula of couple meets, has chemistry, ie lots of sex, but can't be together long term, break up, something tragic and then all ends well, but I'm a sucker for a cheesy love story with some spice thrown in so here I am. Sophia the upscale New York socialite needs a change and heads to Lark Cove and meets Dakota, the local bartender. Sophia has alot of character growth when she goes from snooty brat to humble heiress. All in all a good one.
Week 7, Roll 1Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
Hey, Team, it's been one hell of a week. I haven't had the chance to finish my book yet. I probably won't be able to complete it until Sunday afternoon. I just wanted you to know. TY for your patience!!
Mod
Completion PostSpot: 47
Book: Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death by M.C. Beaton
How It Fits: #7 Agatha Raisin
Date Read: 3-12-23
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I always enjoy reading about the character of Agatha because she's such a kick in the pants, as the saying goes. She's so brusque and bawdy, but also so hungry to be loved that you can't help but root for her. The mystery itself in this book was rather slow-moving and plodding so it wasn't one of my favorite whodunits that she's solved, but the ending surprised me so I appreciated that. I, of course, will read more books in this series. Oh, and can I just say, I still hate James Lacey?!
I'm super sorry for the lateness of this post! But I am happy to report I actually rolled a 5!Week: 7 - Roll: 2
Previous Spot: 47
Roll: 5
New Spot: 52
Reading options:
- #2 in series
- #5 in series
- #52 in series
- Alternate: 52. Author 'C'
Selection PostSpot 52
The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
401 pages
#2 Nora Kelly
Mod
Mod
Yay! Maybe the curse is finally broken? :D
Mod
Spot: 52
Book: The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso
Qualification: Alternate: Author 'C'
Pages: 483
Denise wrote: "D.L. wrote: "I'm super sorry for the lateness of this post! But I am happy to report I actually rolled a 5!"Yay! Maybe the curse is finally broken? :D"
We'll see lol
Selection PostSpot: 52
Book: Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates
How It Fits: Magical Bakery Mystery #2
Completion PostSpot 52
The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
401 pages
#2 Nora Kelly
3/13/23
5 stars
I am continually amazed by the stories of authors Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. They are thrilling and fascinating. I've read 28 books by these authors in the past year and I haven't been disappointed once.
Susan A wrote: "Completion PostSpot 52
The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
401 pages
#2 Nora Kelly
3/13/23
5 stars
I..."
My mom loves these authors. She devours their books as well :)
Completion PostSpot 52
Timeless by Devney Perry
Pages: 184 pages
How it fits: Lark Cove Book #5
Review:
I believe this is the conclusion to this series and much shorter than the rest. Follows the younger Kendrick sibling finding love in the midst of a very busy and demanding career. A cute and spicy little finish to this series.
Mod
Spot: 52
Book: The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso
Qualification: Alternate: Author 'C'
Pages: 483
Finished: 15 Mar 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Fantasy just the way I like it: Well executed worldbuilding with some interesting magic concepts, lots of political maneuvering and backstabbing, and an intriguing high stakes plot that had me hooked from the start. Some of the twists were a bit predictable, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story. Loved the cast of characters, too - I'm very much looking forward to spending more quality time with them and getting to see some more of this world.
Completion PostSpot: 52
Book: First Comes Baby... by Christine Rimmer
How It Fits: Wild Rose Sisters #2
Date Read: 3-15-23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I liked book 2 of this series much better than the first one. The characters just felt more relateable & I liked the storyline better too. But honestly, I usually enjoy Rimmer's books overall. I plan to read all of them eventually. She's great at blending emotion & sensuality. I firmly believe Rimmer deserves to be as well-known and widely published as Linda Lael Miller & other romance authors like that. Anyway, I will definitely read book 3 of this series.
Week 7, Roll 2Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
I think I might go to sleep earlier tonight so whoever comes on after midnight CST, please roll for us. TY! :)
Mod
Previous Spot: 52
Roll: 5
New Spot: 57
Reading options:
- #5 in series
- #7 in series
- #57 in series
- Alternate: 57. Set in a place you've visited
Mod
Spot: 57
Book: Red London by Alma Katsu
Qualification: Alternate: Set in a place you've visited - Set in London, which I've visited multiple times
Pages: 352
Completion PostSpot 57
Dearly Despised by Alessandra Hazard
#5 Calluvia's Royalty
245 pages
3/16/23
4 stars
I like author Alessandra Hazard's twisted stuff. I was slightly disappointed with this book because I thought the relationship of MCs Warrehn and Samir was a little undeveloped and that the relationship of secondary characters Dalatteya and Emyr was fascinating (and twisted). I wanted more...of both of the relationships. The bonus content provided an excellent ending.
Mod
Spot: 57
Book: Red London by Alma Katsu
Qualification: Alternate: Set in a place you've visited - Set in London, which I've visited multiple times
Pages: 352
Finished: 17 Mar 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
In the sequel to Red Widow, Lyndsey Duncan is stationed in London to function as handler to Dmitri Tarasenko, a Russian war criminal who has been coerced into becoming a CIA asset. While there, she is also asked to become part of a joint MI6 and CIA operation targeting Russian oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg. To obtain information on him, Lyndsey needs to forge a friendship with Rotenberg's wife Emily - a task that is made harder when the oligarch takes excessive interest in her.
Not quite as gripping as the previous book, but nevertheless a very good read. Lyndsey makes some questionable choices in this one and at times trusts perhaps a little too easily for someone in her position. The ending makes it clear that there's another book in this series in the works - I'll be looking forward to it.
Completion PostSpot 57
My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle
Pages: 352
Finished: 03/17/2023
How it fits: Alternate-setting somewhere you have visited. Book setting in Atlanta which I have visited.
Review:
Eehh this was okay, but a bit slow and a disappointing ending. Cam a celebrity chef has to deal with a home invasion taking place at his home where his wife Jade and two kids are taken hostage. There is a lot of back story as to why Cam and Jade are targeted and Cam has a lot of skeletons in his closet that Jade is on the verge of discovering. There wasn't really any twists which is what I think make a good thriller. It was decent but not a favorite.
Week 8, Roll 1Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
Completion PostSpot: 57
Healing the Forest Ranger by Leigh Bale
How It Fits: The Forest Rangers #5
Date Read: 3-18-23
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: While the couple in this book left me feeling kind of cold (there wasn't a lot of chemistry between them; they would honestly probably make better friends than lovers), I did enjoy the storyline & the writing itself. It was pretty unique for a Love Inspired book (usually, they all sound quite alike). Wild horses, forest "ranging", and a child learning about a new way of life with a prosthetic limb all made for an interesting story.
I rolled for us. We got a four.Week: 8 - Roll: 2
Previous Spot: 57
Roll: 4
New Spot: 61
Reading options:
- A standalone
- #1 in series
- #6 in series
- #61 in series
- Alternate: Cover Item: Water
Mod
Spot: 61
Book: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
Qualification: Alternate: Cover Item: Water
Pages: 368
Yikes! I forgot to check this morning.Selection Post
Spot 61
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles
#1 The Doomsday Books
352 pages
I'm still tracking that I need to read a #8 to finish the bonus point
Selection PostSpot 61
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
How it fits: Standalone
444 pages
Completion PostSpot 61
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles
#1 The Doomsday Books
352 pages
4 stars
3/20/23
If you are interested in this book, I recommend the ebook. The narration was irritating. I borrowed the audiobook through Libby.
Had I bought this, I would have returned it immediately. (I've only returned 1 audiobook.) The narrator's strange pauses and cadence was difficult to get accustomed to and interfered with my enjoyment of the story. I am sorry that I stuck it out and listened to the whole thing. I should have just stopped and switched to the ebook. I know I would have liked it more. The story was really good and as I type this, I'm just more aggravated with myself.
Fun story, great characters - - I'll definitely read the next book in this series.
Mod
Spot: 61
Book: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
Qualification: Alternate: Cover Item: Water
Pages: 368
Finished: 21 Mar 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Review:
Did somebody say Latinx YA pirate fantasy with a transmasc nonbinary protagonist, narrated by Vico Ortiz? You better believe I clicked "preorder" on this one faster than you can blink!
There's so much to love here - pirate adventure, queer rep, found family theme, friendship and romance blossoming among a wonderful cast of characters, fascinating magic, and also, did I mention Vico Ortiz? I knew that they were generally awesome, period, but I'm thrilled to find out they're also an amazing narrator.
Suffice it to say, I adored this book from start to finish!
Completion PostSpot 61
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Qualification: Standalone
444 Pages
Finished 03/21/2023
Review:
Not quite what I was expecting, but a really interesting concept and read. Addie Larue makes a deal with the "devil" to have the life she chooses, but she ends up being cursed for centuries and forgotten by everyone she meets. Her life is an adventure but lonely as well. It is a little too long and I felt like the middle was a little repetitive. But all in all a good one.
Completion PostSpot: 61
Book: Welcome to Camden Falls by Ann M. Martin
How It Fits: Main Street #1
Date Read: 3/22/23
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: I honestly was expecting this book to be like Martin's Baby-sitters Club series, only set in the world of knitting circles. That is definitely *not* the case. It's a lot heavier in tone than the BSC books. There isn't the cheesy, fun humor, nor does it have the instant cast camaraderie. It took me half the book to warm up to these characters and their plights. I almost think the subject matter is too serious for a middle-grade book, but what do I know? I do want to find out what happens next (there was one of those dreaded cliffhangers at the end) so I'll read book 2.
Week 8, Roll 2Tracking Thread
D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan - completion post
I rolled. We got a one. Oy. Sorry. Someone else can go next time ;)Week: 9 - Roll: 1
Previous Spot: 61
Roll: 1
New Spot: 62
Reading options:
- #2 in series
- #6 in series
- #62 in series
- Alternate: Title 'D'
Well. You beat me to posting. I also rolled one, so it was destined to be!
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