The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R14: *** WINNING TEAM *** SS Team 3 - Serious about Series


Book: Indelible /Karin Slaughter
How it fits: #4 in series
Date:3/8/23
Rating 3 stars
Review:
This book is the 4th in the grant county series. It is my least favorite book. It focused on my least favorite character, Jeffrey. I didn't like Jeffrey going into this book and nothing in this one made me like him more... actually I like him less. I will continue on with the series because I really like all the other characters.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #6
Spot: #49

Pages: 259 pages
Fits: Treasure Hunter Security Series #4
Bonus: Not Yet
Review ~
I didn't care enough about the book to put much work into the review.

So here it comes...

Meh. Overall impression.

I liked Zach & that he was determined to win Morgan. Boy knew how to dirty talk.
[image error]

Silk Road is still giving THS problems & we found D one of the 3 villains. But, I felt like some things were just skimmed over. Or wrapped up faster than take out.





Alternate: School/College/University

Book: Hard Lessons
How it fits: MPG College
In precis: "The private college I work at has strict rules about professor-student relationships."
And also shelved college-setting https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Date: Mar 08
Rating 3 stars
Review:
The book is a student teacher relationships. In a unrealistic way but was a ok read. Nothing new, nothing interesting but wasn't a bad book. I don't know what else to say about the book 😅

Alternate: School/College/University

Book: The Deal by Elle Kennedy
How it fits: Set in a university
Date finished: Mar. 9, 2023
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
The cliche premise, a romance between a hockey jock and a smart girl, didn't give me a good initial impression of the novel, but I figured that the stellar reviews and high ratings weren't there without a reason and wanted to give it a try. And indeed, they weren't unwarranted, because I ended up enjoying the book. It goes to show that well-written characters can make even an overused romantic trope shine. The main characters were very likable, and I found myself smiling at some of their interactions. The dialogue can be charming and witty at times. The romance progression also felt natural; the pacing was good.

Week: #6
Spot: 49
Mama's Review Post #153
Eunice's Review Post #155
R~wka's Review Post #154
Mouse333's Review Post #151
Leslie Ann's Review Post #152
Bonus Points: 3
Earned: 0
Used: 0
Working on Bonuses... (view spoiler)

Week # 7
Roll: 5 + 5 = 10
Old Spot + New = 49 + 10 = 59
New Spot: 59
Timestamp 2023-03-10 07:22:22 UTC
Options
#5 in series & #9 in series
Alternate: 59. Three Word Title
*(excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
Last Week's Review Links
***Bonus pts 3
Posted Our Spot


Book: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: #5 in The Hathaways
Date finished: 12 Mar 2023
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I really liked this book, but something happens at the end that I would have wanted to see in more detail.
I liked Beatrix and how she didn’t let Christopher tell her what to do, although I thought that there could have been more scenes with her animals. I liked Christopher, but I didn’t like how he wouldn’t even try with Beatrix near the end. He decided that he was bad for her and that was it.
My favourite scenes were with Beatrix’s family. They were hilarious and I wanted to see more scenes with them.
While this series hasn’t been my favourite, this book and Cam’s book were the best. Also, I’m curious about Audrey and Bennett, and I wouldn’t mind reading their book, if they have one.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #7
Spot: #59

Book: The Protector 4.5* ✔️ 3/12
Pages: 278 pages
Fits: Norcross Security Series #9
Bonus: Not Yet
Review ~
I finished the Norcross Security Series

Finally Cam got his Happily Ever After. Damn, I loved him like I did Vander & Hunt.


At the end of The Medic, we found out Cam had a call from Saskia & knew she was in trouble. Saskia was Hunt's Girl BFF. Well Miss Ballerina got kidnapped by a Russian Bad Guy.

We need more story & pages of the Villains & kidnappings before all the rescues.

Now the 2nd kidnapping was better. Killian's Sentinel Security Team was introduced into more detail in this book as he is Saskia's brother. Kill was absolutely awesome. He's gonna be another Vander for sure.


The 1st book in Sentinel Security Series, which is Wolf, is a spin-off of the Norcross Security Series . & Wolf Baby, I'm coming for you.



Alternate: 59. Three Word Title

Book: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
How it fits: Three Word Title
Date finished: Mar 16
Rating: 4,25 stars
Review:
I have previously read Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1) and because I want to know more about Zayne and his past I have to read this book. Is a love triangle (but I can rot for Layla and Zayne, because I know Zayne has his love in The Harbinger series) Roth and Layla make a good couple. The story its very interesting, making my wanting to read more, and that is what I will do next, finish this series then go to the next, in order XD

Alternate Task - Three Word Title

Book: Ax to Grind by Amelia Morgan
How it fits: Three words in the title
Date finished: 14 Mar 2023
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
This is the second novel in a cozy mystery series. From the first two books, the mysteries have been short and straightforward. I liked the first book, but this one was too similar to the first book in terms of the general sequence of events that it felt formulaic. Thinking about all the suspects in the case, visiting and interrogating each suspect, and then suddenly having a eureka moment. Moreover, the eureka moment here felt weak and lacking in sense; it felt like a weak reason to declare for certain that a certain person was the killer when you compare their motive to the possible motives of the other suspects.


Alternate Task - Three Word Title
Not a Happy Family
3/16/23
3 word title excluding a
4 stars
Review:
I loved this book. It was a fun suspenseful book. Loved all the characters and the plot was fun. Kept me guessing too.


Week: #7
Spot: 59
Mama's Review Post #159
Eunice's Review Post #162
R~wka's Review Post #161
Mouse333's Review Post #158
Leslie Ann's Review Post #168
Bonus Points: 3
Earned: 0
Used: 0
Working on Bonuses... (view spoiler)

Week # 8
Roll: 6 + 6 = 12
Old Spot + New = 59 + 12 = 71
New Spot: 71
Timestamp 2023-03-18 05:23:16 UTC
Options
#1 in series, #7 in series, or standalone
Alternate: 71. Favorite Author



I don't even even have a a decent excuse this week. While Hulk had spring break, we were having a stay home for a staycaction & I wasn't even paying attention to the day of the Week.



Book: Troublemaker by Linda Howard
How it fits: #1 in GO-Team
Date finished: 19 Mar 2023
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
I liked this book, but I was a bit bored.
Bo was fine, and I liked Morgan, but not much happens.
Morgan has just left the hospital so he’s still weak, but I liked the scenes where Bo helps him, or when he’s trying to rebuild his strength.
There are some really short scenes with side characters.
I really liked Tricks as she had her own personality, which was clearly shown.
The plot was a bit boring as nothing happens until the last few chapters.

Book: All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
How it fits: standalone
Date finished: 3/19/23
4 stars
Review:
I enjoyed this book by a debut author. It had me guessing till the end. There were lots of twist and turns. I really liked the main character Margot and her uncle.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #
Spot: #

Book: Maniac 4.5* ✔️ 3/21
Pages: 387 pages
Fits: Necessary Evils Series #7
Bonus: Not Yet
Review ~ 4.5*

OK, So first off people, I don't get all the bad reviews saying that it was too fast and too easy.




It took 7 damn books people. 7 books.


Anywhore... I loved this series. The only thing I felt this book needed, was more of how they tracked down the accomplices. However, she did say you can get those on her patron which I have. Other people will have to pay extra for it. But I get it. This is what puts groceries on the table for her.
These are just some of the things I loved about the book...
#1 Aiden.
“But listen very carefully. It’s taken me twenty fucking years to get to this point with your father. If you make him feel weird about our relationship, I will put every single fucking one of you through a goddamn woodchipper. Got it?”
#2 Calliope. I love how all the boys went Gaga over her. I love how she jus slapped the shit out of Thomas. They are psychopathic serial killers & Calliope scared them a little. ROFLMAO!! Her & Lola together were a hoot.

3. Calling all the significant others The Feelings Faction.
"The feelings faction is going to cry”

All in all...


Alternate: 71. Favorite Author

BOOK: It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
How it fits: Julia Quinn is one of my favorite authors
Date: Mar 22
Rating 5 stars
Review:
This book is about Hyacinth, the youngest sister of Bridgerton Family. Gareth need help for translating a diary writen in Italian, and Hyacinth will help him...to translate the love in his life :)))
I'm sad that I'm getting closer to the end of the series...just one book and done. Bridgerton Family I don't want to end so quickly the feeling of Bridgerton Family. A lovely family.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #
Spot: #

Book: Maniac 4.5* ✔️ 3/21
Pages: 387 pages
Fits: Necessary Evils Series #7
Bonus: No..."
I just started that series!
I'm reading book 4 right now, but I think my favourites are still Adam and Noah.

Alternate: 71. Favorite Author

BOOK: Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
How it fits: J.D. Robb is one of my favorite authors because of the In Death series
Date: Mar 23
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This book is different from the other books I've read in the series, in that the culprits are revealed to the readers almost at the beginning and we get to see their POV every once in a while. Though of course, the police and the MC have no clue, so it feels like a game of cat and mouse. I thought I would be somewhat put off by it, but it turned out to be an interesting spin in conjunction with the case. In this case, the police have all the evidence to incriminate someone for the murder. Only they have no one to incriminate because the culprit is a master of disguise, both digitally and physically. They obscured their digital info very thoroughly and completely changed their face through external tools like wigs, makeup, and clay, so CCTV footage of them ended up being not very useful in terms of face identification. I didn't enjoy it as much as other books I've read from the series, but it was still a fun read.

Week: #8
Spot: 71
Mama's Review Post #178
Eunice's Review Post #181
R~wka's Review Post #179
Mouse333's Review Post #176
Leslie Ann's Review Post #177
Bonus Points: 3
Earned: 0
Used: 0
Working on Bonuses...(view spoiler)

Roll: 1 + 3 = 4
Old Spot + New = 71 + 4 = 75
New Spot: 75
Timestamp 2023-03-24 08:23:17 UTC
Options
#5 in series, #7 in series
Alternate: 75. Title 'G'


Book: Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth
How it fits: #5 in Springbrook Hills
Date finished: 25 Mar 2023
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
This book was fine, but I didn’t like the deception.
I liked seeing how Abbie slowly became her own person again, and I liked how understanding and helpful Damien was.
I liked most of the side characters, but they weren’t shown a lot. I didn’t really like Cam, and it wasn’t just about her man hating thing, because I agreed with Abbie and Kat that she needed to talk to someone about it. My problem with her was that she didn’t listen to Abbie at all, and was making her continue with the plan because she was living out her own revenge without caring about Abbie’s real life.
I really didn’t like the deception/plan. From the beginning, it was obvious that Damien was laid back and really didn’t like Richard, so I think that if Abbie had just told him, he would have gone along with it and their relationship still could have progressed similarly. The few times near the end where she tries to tell Damien were half-hearted at best, and I was really hoping she would confess.
Another option I was considering was that Damien would have figured it out, especially after meeting Abbie’s sister and brother-in-law, but he doesn’t, which was disappointing after all the talk of him being able to read people.
This book was fine, but I kind of stopped caring when they get to the party and Abbie doesn’t say anything. She insists that there wasn’t any time, but she could have talked to Damien at any point before it, or even on the drive to the party, but she didn’t.

Alternate: 75. Title 'G'

Book: Ghostly Paws by Leighann Dobbs
How it fits: Title start with G
Date finished: Mar 26
Rating: 4⭐
Review:
I just found an interesting Cozy Mystery with cats. Willa (Wilhelmina Chance), a former crime journalist who because of an accident she can see ghost 👻. She inherited from her grandmother a bookstore, a home and and a cat (Pandora). A special cat who help her figure out clues. I think I see a potential live interest for Willa as a slide story. Is a 8 book series and I'm willing to finish it.


Book: The Black Book
How it fits: 5th in the Inspector Rebus
Date finished: 3/28/23
Rating:4 stars
Review:
Siobhan Clarke is a new partner for Rebus , I really enjoyed her devotion to Rebus . Michale Rebus’s brother gets out of prison and moves in with Rebus, I loved the interactions between the two brothers, it added more dimension to the Rebus character. I really like how this series is progressing. I will definitely continue on.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #9
Spot: #75

Book: Unconditional 4.5* ✔️ 3/26
Pages: 149 pages
Fits: Masters and Mercenaries #5.5
Bonus: Not Yet
Review ~ Ashley is a single mom who works @ Sanctum. Keith has a tragedy happen to make him stir clear of not only relationships but also keeps him from getting close to anybody anymore.
Matchmaking Ian is at it again by asking Ashley to let let Keith train her. So they are just starting to find their groove when Ashley's past comes for her & her baby & only Keith can keep them safe.

Alternate: 75. Title 'G'

Book: The Good Lie by A.R. Torre
How it fits: Title starts with G
Date finished: Mar 30
Rating: 4
Review:
This book had such an unassuming and vague synopsis that reading it took me by surprise. What a delightfully twisted read. So we have a serial killer called the Bloody Heart killer that specifically targets rich, white, and jock-type teenage boys. They've killed six people already, but somehow, the seventh victim was able to escape from the killer's grasp and survived to return home and pinpoint someone as the killer. However, the father of one of the murdered victims suspects that the apprehended suspect wasn't the actual killer and enlists the help of a psychiatrist.

Week: #9
Roll: 75
Mama's Review Post #190
Eunice's Review Post #191
R~wka's Review Post #186
Mouse333's Review Post #185
Leslie Ann's Review Post #188
Bonus Points: 3
Earned: 0
Used: 0
Working on Bonuses... (view spoiler)

Week # 10
Roll: 4 + 5 = 9
Old Spot + New = 75 + 9 = 84
New Spot: 84
Timestamp 2023-03-31 20:22:51 UTC
Options
#8 in series & #4 in series
Alternate:
*84. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
Last Week's Review Links
***Bonus 3
Working on Bonuses... (view spoiler)
Mama Posted Our Spot


New Spot: 84
Alternate:
*84. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
Butterfly / V.C. Andrews
4/5/23
Author uses middle initial
3 stars
Review:
The main character in this book is charming and in some ways, relatable. The author did a great job being descriptive. I enjoyed the ending. I like the cliff hanger. I will have to read the next one to find out what happens.

Weekly Completion Post
Week #10
Spot: #84

Book: Lost in Bliss 4* ✔️ 4/4/23
Pages: 402 pages
Fits: Nights in Bliss, Colorado Series #4
Bonus: Not Yet
Review ~ 5 years ago, there was a serial killer who kidnapped Laura and tortured her. She was in the FBI with Cam & Rafe. She put a profile together that it was someone on her team, but no one believed her. Because she was getting so close, the killer took her & tortured her.



She got away from him & then she ran away from Cam & Rafe as well as quitting the FBI. She had been in hiding from them for 5 years. They finally found her & caught up to her, but so did the killer.

The thing I really like about Lexi Blake besides the fact that she's Fuckin Hilarious, is that she kept me guessing which one was the killer, right up to the point Cam & Rafer were figuring it out. She's really good about make you 2nd guessing your own theories.











Book: The Love You Deserve by Jen Morris
How it fits: #4 in Love in the City
Date finished: 06 Apr 2023
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
This book was fine, but the miscommunications and problems Cory and Josie had were boring and dragged.
Not much actually happens in this book apart from Cory and Josie struggling to communicate. At first, they pretend they don’t want to date each other, then Cory says he doesn’t deserve Josie, then their relationship is fine for a bit until Cory listens to his uncle that his genes will make him cheat on Josie and he breaks up with her again. I didn’t really care about their relationship by the end because of the constant back and forth.
There were some vague background characters, but they weren’t fully developed. It could also just be that I haven’t read the previous books in this series.
I was bored and I probably won’t read other books in this series, or by this author.
Books mentioned in this topic
Amy Snow (other topics)Seaside Secrets (other topics)
Killing Sarai (other topics)
Breaking the Lore (other topics)
The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Tracy Rees (other topics)Cindy Bell (other topics)
Dianne Freeman (other topics)
Jojo Moyes (other topics)
Kristen Ashley (other topics)
More...
Book: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: #4 in The Hathaways
Date finished: 08 Mar 2023
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
This book was fine, but it kind of dragged.
I liked Leo as he was funny, and I liked his interactions with Catherine. Catherine was fine, but I got annoyed with her near the end of the book as I didn’t understand why she kept rejecting Leo.
I liked the few scenes with Dodger, but he could have been shown more. There weren’t really any other characters. I wanted to see more scenes with the rest of the Hathaways.
I am a bit curious about Bea’s story, mostly because I want to see the animals she takes in, but I’m hoping that her book will be better than this one.