The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R14: SS Team 1 - The One-stoppables
date
newest »
newest »
A five or a nine, hmm. I think I'll need to visit either Nalini Singh or JD Robb this time around 😁
Completion Post🔹Week 9Spot🔹59
Book🔹The Night Is Watching
How it fits🔹#5 Jackson Falls
Date Read🔹03.29 ★★★★
Review🔹
Each book in this series treats the occult, ghosts, as friendly. Maybe not friendly but not as evil entities out to do harm and generally are still around as ghosts because they have unfinished business here - usually to do with who killed them or their loved ones. This story was fun and interesting, not nearly as eerie or scary as the cover looks. I was slightly surprised by the ending, so that's a good mystery! As usually, the romance was quiet and not intrusive to the main story but enough for romance lovers to be engaged.
WEEK 9
Spot & Prompt: #59, Alternate: Three Word Title (excludes A, An, The)
Book:Back to Before
Cover:
How it qualifies: Alternate: Three Word Title
Pages: 179 pages
Completed: 31 Mar 2023
Rating: 5 stars
REVIEW
31 Mar 2023
Actual Rating: 5 stars, because I am surgically attached to these characters and this was a great "what if" premise.
Due to the nature of the story, spoilers will be unmarked.
1. So uh. Despite starting grim and ending grimmer, that was actually a genuinely great story to read. Of course, part of that lies in how much I love these characters (i still think about them regularly to THIS DAY and the series ended more than 20 years ago). I also love what-ifs and alternate realities and stuff so win/win. Pretty much the only complaint I can think of is the near-complete lack of humor (I am used to my Animorphs books being funny, and also thank you ax for making me laugh in the middle of this dark ass shit.) but it's not even a real complaint because this book is so fucking dark that any humor would have been out of place.
2. This is set in the later stages of the war, where everyone (with the possible exceptions of Cassie and Ax) are slowly and surely losing it. The Berensons, in particular, are two steps and one horrific murder away from complete breakdown. As is proved when Jake takes Crayak's deal to never have the whole met-a-dying-alien-who-gave-us-superpowers-and-trauma happen to any of them. he broke, and ngl I cannot blame him. It was a long time a-coming.
3. It's pretty fascinating to see glimpses of the kids true (original?) selves in a context where they do not have direct knowledge of the war. Stuff like how Rachel was always waiting for something new to come into her life, and how the shopping isn't a girly thing for the products as much as it is a variation of hunting because BOY did that make a lot of sense. The book also showed how easy it was for someone with no support structure or happiness to join a cult. And let's be real, Tobias did technically join a death cult in canon too. He was the guy who was all in on the Animorphs in the first place. Also wow everything from Tobias's pov in here was a straight up scifi horror story. I guess the rest of it is too, but the Tobias part was really disturbing. (Also, honey, whatever you started out as, you were not voluntary. If this is the bar for voluntary, I'm betting a ton of voluntaries are involuntary too.) Also, Rachel using a severed head of a hork-bajir to attack controllers is so on brand. That's my girl- there's a reason you are and will always be the OG badass in my head. Also Ax was pretty spectacular in this one. Are suicidal tendencies channeled via badassery a Fangor extended family thing bc I wanna know.
4. Anyway! Wonderful character study of what the kids would be like without the powers and the intergalactic war. Everything is terrible and everyone is dead, and they don't even get to be non-traumatized. I do think the premise (not the story) cheated a bit because Cassie's temporal thing mans that what the kids experienced would not be the same as what they would have experienced if they'd never taken that shortcut. The Ellimist really Xanatos Gambitted this one, huh?
5. //pins "BADASS" badges on Ax and Rachel before signing off.
Completion PostWeek 9
Spot 59
Book: Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Pages: 392/GR
How it fits: #5 in Hidden Legacy series
Date Read: 3/30
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is one of my favorites in this series. Catalina has come into her power and has gained the confidence she needs to be the Head of her House. The one fly in her ointment is Alessandro, the assassin who deserted her after making her fall in love with him. He's back and has sworn to protect her from a killer who's hunting her now. I love how she doesn't just fall into his arms and let him back into her heart right off the bat. She makes him work for it, demanding that he be honest and real with her before she opens herself back up to him. But what I really love about this story isn't just the romance between these two, but also the nonstop action from the very first page. The imagination of the authors runs wild with the crazy monsters and plots and subplots twisting and turning throughout the story. Definitely an unputdownable book.
Completion PostWeek #9
Spot: 59
Give Me Forever by Heidi McLaughlinDate Read: 03/30/23
Pages: 247
How It Fits: Book #5 in the Beaumont: Next Generaton series
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I pretty much read this all in one sitting, staying up until 4 in the morning to finish. Elle and Ben have been best friends since high school, and while Ben has been in love with her since day one, Elle didn't realize she shared the same feelings until book 3 of the series. Now we start book 5 with them getting into a fight and ending their engagement. A few weeks later, Ben is (view spoiler) and we see them slowly make their way back together. I love that Elle is there for him, despite them still being broken up, because he was her best friend first and there was no way she could not be there to support him. The rest of the Beaumont cast is there as well, and as always it's always so much fun to see how everyone else is doing. I love this series and hope there is more to come.
Week 10
Previous Spot: 59
Roll: 5 + 1
New Spot: 65
Books That Qualify
#5 in series
#6 in series
#65 in series
Alternate: Cover Item: Food/Drink
Completion Posts
Laila Jane - Resolution (Mason Family #5) - Completion Post
Sha - Seduction and Snacks (Alternate - Cover Item: Food/Drink) - Completion Post
AliciaJ - Ruby Fever (Hidden Legacy #6) - Completion Post
LaurLa - No Breaking My Heart (Barefoot William Beach #5) - Completion Post
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 3/6
I'm really struggling with these higher series numbers lol. I finished a lot of my higher series numbered books last year, and now I'm struggling to find what I have left
Laila Jane wrote: "I'm really struggling with these higher series numbers lol. I finished a lot of my higher series numbered books last year, and now I'm struggling to find what I have left"I definitely have plenty of series in the higher numbers, so if you need to do the alternate task, we'll still get our bonus.
I'm going to read the next book in the Hidden Legacy series,
WEEK 10
Spot & Prompt: #65, Alternate: Cover Item: Food/Drink
Book:Seduction and Snacks
Cover:
How it qualifies:Alternate: Cover Item: Food/Drink: There's a chocolate bar on the cover.
Pages: 286 pages
Completed: 03 Apr 2023
Rating: 2 stars
03 April 2023
Girl who accidentally got pregnant with her son during a college hookup meets her babydaddy again four years later, toddler in tow. Romance ensues.
1. Ooooh mixed feelings so many mixed feelings.
2. I do like how unhinged all the characters are. Everyone is loud and dramatic and well- kinda vulgar, if that's your thing. Which it is for me if it's done by people from both genders, which was the case here. The leads and their friends + protagonists for future books are not exactly what I'd call delightful (they are just really weird sometimes) or real (they are very over the top) but they are well-matched.
3. Listen, idk what to tell you, but idiot/idiot romances are waaaay better than idiot/smart person romances. And this had a lot of idiot/idiot vibes. Which you know, is kinda refreshing in its own way because a majority of romance MLs are just sexy lamps with a few masculine character traits and you get tired of it after a while. Oh, and an FL who was genuinely kinda foul-mouthed and vulgar (that word again; it has negative connotations and I don't like that but idk what else to use) was good too.
4. I suspect the TRUE idiot/idiot ship is in book 2 and that compels me a bit, but I really didn't like this one enough to read another book by this author. The first two pages of the book were pretty funny, but it got very old very fast. While it did occasionally make me let out a chuckle or two, that wasn't enough to make up for the pages and pages of pure slogging.
I finished my book tonight, but I'm exhausted. I'll post my review in the morning.
I'll be done this afternoon - I'll get posted in time for sure.
Completion Post🔹Week 10Spot🔹65
Book🔹No Breaking My Heart
How it fits🔹#5 Barefoot Williams
Date Read🔹04.07 ★★★★
Review🔹
I loved the story - I'm a sucker for sports romances - and I especially loved the interaction of Halo and Alyn with her injured pug whose back legs were paralyzed so he was in a doggie wheelchair/cart. There was much pet love in this story which made it sweet for me. It's always fun to watch a playboy fall in love and struggle to get the woman and his friends to take him seriously with all his new found feels.
Completion PostWeek 10
Spot 65
Book: Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews
Pages: 380/GR
How it fits: #6 in Hidden Legacy series
Date Read: 4/6
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Another wonderfully satisfying read from this author. Catalina and Alessandro have finally committed to one another, but they are still facing great danger from the assassin that's after Catalina. It's non-stop action as they have to deal with a pushy Russian prince, Alessandro's surprise fiancé, and lots of family secrets that come to light. The big finale battle is outstanding, with the whole family and some surprise guests showing up to help crush the enemy. But what I really loved was the wonderful epilogue, where Catalina and Alessandro literally run off into the sunset together. It was perfect.
LaurLa wrote: "Completion Post🔹Week 10Spot🔹65
Book🔹No Breaking My Heart
How it fits🔹#5 Barefoot Williams
Date Read🔹04.07 ★★★★
Review🔹
I loved the story ..."
This sounds lovely, I love stories with reformed playboys/rakes. Great review LaurLa!
Completion PostWeek #10
Spot: 65
Resolution by Adriana LockeDate Read: 04/07/24
Pages: 387
How It Fits: Book #5 in the Mason Family series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Adriana Locke is another author whose books I've slowly been reading through. I've been reading the Mason Family series out of order, so I was a little confused in the beginning about exactly who was who. I still really enjoyed this one and thought it was a great addition to the series. This book was about Wade, who is the oldest of the Mason brothers, and the most serious and responsible. Dara was more outgoing and cheerful, and really challenged Wade. I loved their banter and thought they were a great couple.
Week 11
Previous Spot: 65
Roll: 4 + 2
New Spot: 71
Books That Qualify
Standalone
#1 in series
#7 in series
#71 in series
Alternate: Favorite Author
Completion Posts
Laila Jane - Close to Me (The Callahans #1) - Completion Post
Sha - A House with Good Bones (Alternate: Favorite Author) - Completion Post
AliciaJ - A Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain #1) - Completion Post
LaurLa - Knight (Unfinished Hero #1) - Completion Post
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 3/6
How favorite is favorite because I have a LOT of favorites.
//desperately checks if Bujold has a new book coming outOH WAIT THERE'S A NEW T KINGFISHER HORROR NOVEL I HAVEN'T READ YET that could work.
Haha I struggle with this same question!!
I've got lots of #1s for the roll this week... But if I had to choose a favorite author, I'd be struggling with who to pick too!
Completion Post🔹Week 11Spot🔹71
Book🔹Knight
How it fits🔹#1 Unfinished Hero
Date Read🔹04.12 ★★★★
Review🔹
This was typical Kristen Ashley which is like crack to me. You know exactly what you're getting with her books and as long as that's what you want to be reading, it extremely satisfying. Knight is technically a bad boy hero but he's definitely an all heart guy wrapped in a alpha personality. He's involved in some illegal things and has no intention of changing them even for Anya. He's not put to the test with that - but Anya is put to the test of accepting this about him. The author purposely doesn't want to redeem the male MC but she does wrap him up with good intentions for his illegal activities, so I'm not sure she accomplished her goal of an unfinished hero. He's not really hard core bad. That would be a true test for the female mc - could she accept a guy who loves her to distraction but is into illegal life because for less than altruistic reasons. Maybe there's more to explore in future books in the series.
Week 11Spot & Prompt: #71, Favorite Author
Book: A House with Good Bones
Cover:
How it qualifies: I've liked or loved every single T Kingfisher book I've read and I've read pretty much all of her many books.
Pages: 247 pages
Completed: 14 Apr 2023
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
14 Apr 2023
1. Archeoentomologist has to temporarily stay with her mom in her grandma's old house. Her grandma used to be uh... difficult, in a 50s-values kinda way, but what's disturbing is how her mom seems to be exhibiting behaviors more associated with her grandmother. Also, the house is just very creepy in general.
2. So anyway, the horror element in this one is partly (view spoiler) Anyway fun times all around.
3. The author mentioned in the notes that the central image of the story she started from was the creepy dinner party and I don't blame her one bit. That was easily the most iconic scene. I was hooked when it happened. The buildup to it was pretty good too, but less you know-hooky. By design, yes, but the story started off slightly slow imo.
4. I was quite fond of all of the characters too, which is no mean feat in a story where they are mostly vehicles for the horror of the plot. Horror and mystery are mostly like that- there's no internal transformation, and the plot and setting have to carry most of the weight. And this book managed to do so pretty well. Again, props to all of the creepy imagery and the gradual buildup of information.
Completion PostWeek 11
Spot 71
A Little Too Late by Sarina Bowen
Read: 4/13
Pages: 302
Rating: 4 Stars
Fits: #1 in Madigan Mountain series
Review:
This started out a little slow, but I quickly got caught up in the relationship between Ava and Reed. I really liked the glimpses we got into their past history and how they came to the point where they hadn't seen each other for 10 years. But what really surprised me was how the relationship between Reed and his dad tugged at my heartstrings. I have a difficult relationship with my dad too, so it really got to me when they had such a hard time communicating. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and will probably go ahead and pick up the next two books in the series to see how Reed's brothers find their HEAs too.
Completion PostWeek #11
Spot: 71
Close to Me by Monica MurphyDate Read: 04/14/23
Pages: 382
How It Fits: Book #1 in The Callahans series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is the first book in The Callahans series, but not the first book in the series that I've read. I really liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite in the series. I had trouble getting through Autumn and Ash's back and forth relationship. I just wanted them to be an official couple already, which didn't happen until halfway through the book. Instead, we got them in relationships with other people, which was a little boring for me. What I did love was that this was a spin-off series to the One Week Girlfriend series. Drew and Fable were the main characters in that series, and this new series is based on the lives of their children. I just loved seeing how life turned out for Drew and Fable, and how they really did have a happily-ever-after. I can't wait to read the other books in the series that I haven't gotten to yet.
Week 11
Previous Spot: 71
Roll: 6 + 3 (+3 bonus)
New Spot: 83
Books That Qualify
#3 in series
#8 in series
#83 in series
Alternate: Author 'P'
Completion Posts
Laila Jane
Sha
AliciaJ
LaurLa
Free Pass: Unearned
Bonus Points: 3/6 (3 used)
It looks like another team rolled past 100, so I went ahead and used our 3 bonus points so that they didn't go to waste. Hope that's okay
Laila Jane wrote: "It looks like another team rolled past 100, so I went ahead and used our 3 bonus points so that they didn't go to waste. Hope that's okay"Sounds good to me!
Probably won't matter but I'll be reading for 3 with Heart of the Sea, #3 Gallaghers of Ardmore
I’m actually not sure lol. Does anyone else know if we keep going til we get to 100, or is it over now? Or is this the final week and we still read for it?
Mod
We'll have a winner by the end of this week barring anything very unexpected and unusual happening. Mostly teams choose to stop once a winner is announced, though you absolutely can keep going until you've reached the finish line. Your choice! :)
I have to read regardless, so I'll when I'm done unless the winner has been announced by then.
Thank you everyone for a fun game! I'm bummed we didn't win, but I still had a great time. Hope to see you all in other challenges!
Thanks for being captain Laila Jane, and thanks everyone for a great game. This was my first time playing, and I had a great time. Hope to see you all around GR!
I did like it here, but I'd probably find it hard to read without the added pressure/fun. Thanks, everyone. But especially you, Laila. This was fun.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Heart of the Sea (other topics)A Little Too Late (other topics)
A House with Good Bones (other topics)
Knight (other topics)
Close to Me (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarina Bowen (other topics)Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Josh Lanyon (other topics)
Josh Lanyon (other topics)
More...
Week #8
Spot: 51
Date Read: 03/24/23
Pages: 384
How It Fits: Book #1 in the The Gamblers of Craven'..."
One of my very faves by Lisa. I love her historicals.