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R14: SS Team 8 - Never Ending Story
Suzanne wrote: "I'm back - thanks SO much for doing all the captaining stuff Logan!!I did check and the #1 Assassin book I read has 4 in the series and I should be able to finish that for this challenge. I had w..."
Welcome back! How was the trip?
I think I will try for the all alternates bonus point.
It was fun, but exhausting.Ah cool! I hope you don't get stuck with a really hard alternate!
Week 2 Completion PostSpot 16
Book Series #1
Assassin's Honor by Gail Z. Martin
Rating: 4 stars
Date read: 2/5/23
How it fits: #1 in the Assassins of Liandria series
Review:
This was an epic fantasy in a shortish (206 pages) form. I liked the story and the partnership of the main characters, and it really did feel like an epic fantasy. Rett and Ridge grew up together as orphans and are now partenered assassins working for the king. There is a lot of action and a little bit of supporting magic, which was a good mix.
I felt like the first few chapter transitions were a tiny bit rough as we were getting to know the characters, but the book worked for me and I'll be reading the series!
Suzanne wrote: "I'm back - thanks SO much for doing all the captaining stuff Logan!!I did check and the #1 Assassin book I read has 4 in the series and I should be able to finish that for this challenge. I had w..."
Murderbot is the best! Glad you had a great trip!! Awesome that you will manage the series.
Logan wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I'm back - thanks SO much for doing all the captaining stuff Logan!!I did check and the #1 Assassin book I read has 4 in the series and I should be able to finish that for this ch..."
Cool!! The alternates will be a fun challenge!
Completion Post: Week: 2Spot: 16
If She Knew by Blake Pierce
How It Fits: #1 Kate Wise
Date Read: 2/5
Rating: 3*
Review
This is the 1st in the Kate Wise series and it was actually rather enjoyable. Kate is a retired officer from the FBI and is struggling with coming to terms with her retirement. When a friend asks her to look into the death of her daughter. This is the exact thing she realises is missing and soon becomes involved in the case. A fast paced good start to the series.
Completion post 2 ( week 2 Friday ) ( previous spot 6 )Rolled 16
Read ( 5-6 )
Rated 5 stars
BOOK;
( the first book in the malory series )Pages
Review
I loved this book the romantic starts when Nicolas kidnaps Reggie by miskake that was not his intended target. I love a story of a marriage of convenience when it is done rignt. The best part was Reggies overprotective family especially her four uncle's who raised her and she wanted a husband just li,e them
Team 8 - Never Ending StoryTracking Post
Week 2 - Spot 16
Alternate - Title 'G'
Jen K - Review
Joeera - Review
Logan - Review
Louise - Review
Suzanne - Review
**Free pass earned this round**
Bonus Points Earned so far: 0
(view spoiler)
Well done everyone! I'll check us in tonight :)
Week #3 Roll: 2 + 5 = 7
New Spot: 23
Options:
#2 in series and #3 in series
Alternate:
*23. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
I will read
( the second book in the Malory series )
Thanks Suzanne (and team) for the early roll! I need to think a bit on my selection. I have a #3 that I really need to read but it is long and have other commitments this weekend. Decisions....
I'll do the #2 assassin book - committed to the series, which makes the choice easy!
Decided the less stressful route. Will read Miss Mayhem #2 of Rebel Belle series. Excited to get back to this one.
Oh that looks like a cool series! And probably choosing less stressful is wise!
Week 3Selection Post
Spot 23
Alternate: Number in title
Seven Days in June
Pages: 336
How it fits: Seven in title
Week 3- Completion PostSpot: 23
Book: Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins
Qualification: Rebel Belles #2
Finished: 11 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★★
Review: The second of the Rebel Belle series was okay. I enjoyed revisiting the fun characters and southern setting with ma'am's and proper manners. However this book was much too much teenage angst instead of action. Harper is forced to take on a set of trials to prove the she is a proper Paladin but even that fizzles a bit. The pageant practice and personalities definitely added to the fun and I wish there was more on it but the story is a bit of a filler as Harper, David and Ryan try to figure out their powers and the best way forward. It leave on a bit of cliffhanger so I will probably finish the trilogy but have slightly lower expectations now.
Week 3 - Completion PostSpot: 23
Book: Sellsword's Oath by Gail Z. Martin
Qualification: Assassins of Landria #2
Finished: 2/14/2023
Rating: ★★★
Review: I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first in there series. It was a big choppy feeling and I didn't get the sense of an overall arc. However, I did like the addition of Edvard the ghost as the leader of a ghost-spy network. The big bad is still out there, and I didn't feel like the protagonists made a lot of progress. But hopefully in book 3 things will be different!
Team 8 - Never Ending StoryTracking Post
Week 3 - Spot 23
Alternate - Number in the title
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Jen K - Review
Joeera - Review
Logan - Review
Louise - Review
Suzanne - Review
**Free pass earned: 1**
Bonus Points Earned so far: 0
(view spoiler)
Completion post 3 ( week 3 Friday ) ( previous spot 16 )Rolled 23
Read ( Feb 13-14 )
Rated 5 stars
Book:
( book 2 in the Malory series ),
Review:
I love this family ( Mlalory ) . The men are strong and unconventional, and the same could said about the women as well
ot only that but, they are strong and independent as well. Johanna Lindsay is a great author, she entwins the reader the reader in the storyand takes them on a journey where they afe constantly turning the pages u til the end.
Completion Post - Week 3 Spot: 23
If She Saw by Blake Pierce
Date Read: 2/16
Rating: 3*
How It Fits: #2 Kate Wise Mystery
This was the 2nd in the Kate Wise series and whilst babysitting her new grand-daughter she is called in to help the fbi with a serial killer who is targeting couples. We see more of Kate’s character development as she struggles with semi-retirement and juggling a new grand-daughter and love interest. Definitely a series that is improving. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
I will roll tonight if Logan finishes. Tomorrow I'll be at a wedding most of the day, so Logan if you don't finish until tomorrow can you go ahead and roll? Then if you want you can check us in and link my post above and your review. Otherwise, I'll check us in before the deadline tomorrow night once I'm back from the reception. I hope all of you have a great Friday/weekend!
I'll be finishing up tonight. I forgot we had movie tickets for Ant-Man but I'm on my way home to read!
I'm going to get to bed! I'll try to check on things in the morning but if I don't have time I will before the final deadline.
Week 3Completion Post
Spot 23
Alternate: Number in title
Seven Days in June
Pages: 336
How it fits: Seven in title
Date Read: 2/17/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I enjoyed the story and the slow reveal of these characters and their history. I felt so awful for Eva and her migraines, and it was so sweet how Shane wanted to care for her. These two have a complicated history and the misunderstood circumstances were heartbreaking. I liked it but didnt love it as much as I thought I would.
Week #4Roll: 2 + 3 = 5
Previous Spot: 23
New Spot: 28
Options:
#2 in series and #8 in series
Alternate: Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
Thanks for rolling Logan! And for finishing of course. I got us checked in - I ended up with plenty of time this morning because the stupid hotel bed hurt my back :)
Week 4- Completion PostSpot: 28
Book: The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
Qualification: Hercule Poirot #2
Finished: 19 Feb 2023
Rating: ★★★
Review: My second Poirot book, though not in order as the first was Murder on the Orient Express. Although the complexity of the murder solving wasn't quite at the level of the Orient Express, it was still a fairly complicated knot to unravel. Poirot is invited to support a gentleman in France with a note to hurry as he feared for himself but alas he was too late. The gentleman in question has already been found on golf course he was developing, stabbed in the back. There are numerous ladies in his life and lots of questions on what is actually happening.
I actually enjoyed Poirot much more in this book despite his constant admonishments for those around him to use their grey matter. Hastings was a bit insufferable as a know it all and they are all a bit dated and short sighted in their gender roles. I like the mix of characters. Some plot lines I figured out and others were surprising. I may continue to dabble in Poirot on occasion.
Bonus Point: (does the cover work with the feet and legs?)
✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.
Also per the Bonus Points, I think Joeera completed this one on her last completion by reading 3 of the Mallory series?✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
Oh nice - thanks Jen! For both those bonus points sightings!@Joeera - can you put in your completion post for that third book that you finished the bonus point :
✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
I will link to that and claim both bonus points this coming check-in.
Cool, I have to admit that mine was not intentional but glad it works!
I'm reading True Biz this week for hand on cover.
Completion Post - Week 4 Spot: 28
Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
How It Fits: #2 Alex Cross
Date Read: 2/19
Rating: 4*
This was the second in the Alex cross series and although it was a re-read It was still thoroughly enjoyable. Alex’s niece is missing and there are two serial killers hunting along the north and south coasts, Casanova and The Gentleman Caller. This novel had everything that I have come to expect from a Patterson novel. Fast paced with lots of twists that keep you guessing. Good character building. Can’t wait to delve into more of this series
Logan wrote: "I'm reading True Biz this week for hand on cover."I loved True Biz! Hope you enjoy!
Completion Post - Week 4 Spot: 28
Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton
How it fits: Mickey7 #2
Date: read: 2/22/23
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I loved Mickey7 last year and this was such a good follow-up!
Warm weather has finally come to the colony, but of course there are still problems. This book maybe (?) has a bit more action than the previous one - the plot is very humor and action driven (similar to book 1). I really liked how storylines were extended from book one. I like the character of Mickey7 a lot, and I liked seeing more of Berto and Nasha in this book.
The aliens are also interesting. In this sequel we see more of the planet and learn a lot more about its original inhabitants. There's room for another book in this universe, but all of the current problems are tied up nicely.
Team 8 - Never Ending StoryTracking Post
Week 4 - Spot 28
Alternate - Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs
Jen K - Review
Joeera - Review
Logan - Review
Louise - Review
Suzanne - Review
**Free pass earned: 1**
Bonus Points Earned so far: 2 -
✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.
Earned by Jen K - Review for this bonus
✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series. - Joeera has read 3 books in the Mallory series.
First book read
Second book read
Third book read
Remaining
(view spoiler)
Completion post 4 ( week 4 Friday ) ( previous spot 23 )Rolled 28
Read ( Feb 22-23 )
Rated 5 stars
Book;
( second in the series )Pages 481
Review:
I loved this so much i didn't want to put it down. It was an emotional rollercoster of a ride and it was also, a very engrossing. exciting, nonstop action, with all kinds threats, and a .ot of twist and turns. I found this book to be thrilling abd terrifying at the same time
Jen K wrote: "Logan wrote: "I'm reading True Biz this week for hand on cover."I loved True Biz! Hope you enjoy!"
It's so good!
Sitting down to finish tonight. I'll post when I'm done and I can roll for us if need be.
I'll make a placeholder comment so Suzanne can link it and I'll edit when I'm done.
Thanks Logan! And yeah feel free to roll when you're done and I'll get us checked in tomorrow morning. I'm glad the book is awesome!
Week 4Completion Post
Spot 28
Alternate: Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs
True Biz
How it fits: Hand on cover
Date Read: 2/24/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I learned so much about the Deaf community, its history, and the threats it faces. I loved Charlie, even if I didn't always understand the motivations behind her actions. I don't know why she hung out with Slash. I also found February's sections boring. But overall it really was a cool book with a great ending. I loved it.
Fell asleep last night but woke up and finished!
Week 5Roll: 2 + 3 = 5
Starting space: 28
Ending space: 33
Options: #3 or #33 in series
Alternate: Cover Item: Water
Selection Post- Week 5Spot 33
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
Pages: 259
How it fits: Earthsea Cycle #3
I've been excused for this week since I'll be on vacation to see my sister and nieces. I'm going to see if I can get a book read for it anyway, but if not don't wait for me and go ahead and roll.
The Challenge Factory
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Heart of the Night (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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J.A. Konrath (other topics)
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Spot 16
Alternate Title G
The Giver of Stars
Rating: 5 stars
Date read: 2/6/23
How it fits: Title starts with G
Review:
This beautiful, heartbreaking story had me completely captivated. It whisked me away into another world and I fell madly in love with this group of friends. So many tears. But so worth it.
I adored Alice, our heroine. The fish out of water trope worked brilliantly to show this amazing setting. it was fun to watch Alice find herself and her purpose while meeting challenges head on. She is selfless, protective, brave, and kind.
Margery was equally fascinating and easy to root for. Izzy and Beth didn't feel fully developed until the end of the novel, and early on I kept getting them confused despite Moyes' best attempts to give them distinguishing characteristics. Sophia and Margery were the ones I loved most, after Alice anyway.
The story is slow to unfold but worth the savoring while it gets there. The story is full of highs and lows and never fails to surprise as the tension ratchets up. Easily a new favorite book for me!