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Roll #7, Spot #45 - E Title
by Ann Aguirre 5/8/15Rating: ✮✮✮
I liked the beginning but about 2/3 into the book it just got slow and annoying. I know it's a YA book but the writing felt more towards preteen, explaining everything and stating the obvious. The way it ended, though, has me interested enough in reading the next book, but I don't hold any promises.
The idea of living below ground because the world went to hell is what made me interested. The enclave is split into 3 groups. Breeders, Builders, and Hunters. Part of the hunters job was to kill the "Freaks," creatures with sharp teeth and claws that ate people. Guess you could say zombieish. There's no explanation on why people live underground, which we can figure out as old subway tunnels, or where these creatures came from. The 2 biggest things that annoyed me was their term for the creatures was "Freaks" and they also referred to their children as "Brats." For a society that dies of old age at 25, they acted like breeders were the lowest class and seemed annoyed when dealing with the brats.
I think getting into the next book will explain what happened to the world and hopefully will see these 3 characters grow as they understand more then the narrow views they grew up in.
Does this count for 2 people on the cover?
That's ok. I kinda thought that afterwards. I'll read
(Joe Pitt #5) and that will finish out this series :D
I'm going to read
- book #4 in a series
Roll #8, Spot #542 people on the cover
Book: Then Came You by Jill Shalvis
Series or Alternate: 2 people of the cover
Date Completed: 05/9/15
Rating: 3 star
Review: I have read a lot of Jill Shalvis books and I always like them but they are basically all the same. As a result I try to space them out so that way I don't get sick of them. This one was about a girl who had a one night stand with her boss before realizing that he was going to be her boss (very grey's anatomy). I liked the idea behind it but I wanted something more to happen. The big drama of the book only lasted a couple pages.
QuestionCan this be considered as two people on the cover ?
Roll #8, Spot #54Read
by Kiera Cass (05/12/15)Series or Alternate: Book #4 in series
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
This is the 4th book in The Selection series, which overall I enjoyed way more than I thought I would. The main character in this book is Eadlyn, the daughter of Maxon and America, the main characters in the first 3 books. Eadlyn is first in line to be Queen of Illea and it is her turn to go through the Selection, a Bachelor type competition where the winner will eventually be her husband.
As soon as I heard this book was being written, I couldn't wait for it to come out. But within the first couple chapters I was disappointed. The main character, Eadlyn, made me so mad. There were just so many times I wanted to smack her. She came off as so spoiled, so selfish, and so self-involved. But as the story wove on, and her character started to grow a little more emotionally, I started to warm up to her. The dates with all the boys really helped the book fly by. I really don't know which boy I want to win because so many are my favorites. I eventually rated this 4 stars, despite my feelings in the beginning, because this author just has a way of writing that sucks me right into the story and before I know it the whole book is done. Will definitely read the next one as soon as it comes out.
Week # 8Thank you so much for the affirmation, Sadie ! I just love it when I book I read automatically ends up fitting a challenge. :)
Number Called : 54
Requirement : Two People on the Cover
Book Read : Will Grayson, Will Grayson | John Green-David Levithan | 12May2015
Rating : ★★★★
Review
Two authors who I have grown to love so much over the past year, join hands and create a delightful saga of friendship and love. John Green and David Levithan are indeed the quintessential YA writers of today and I adore them. I am a tad bit of a bigger fan of David than John (though John, Fault in Our Stars topples most of the YA books I have ever read), and somewhere my liking is justified in this book.
This book is about two Will Graysons, written by John and David, in alternating chapters. The first Will Grayson (JG) is a teen who really doesn't want to be noticed. He has two rules: shut up and don't care. He is the polar opposite of his best friend, the great and fabulous Tiny Cooper, possibly the world's largest gay person. Tiny Cooper is one of those flamboyant, in-yo-face gays, who is consumed with the task of producing a play about and written by himself. And then there is the second Will Grayson (DL), a depressed, angry teen, who deep down, really just wants to be loved. The two Will Graysons, out of all places, meet in a porn shop, and from then on their lives are tied together by the giant sparkly bow of Tiny.
The story itself is a great blend of Green's and Levithan's styles. Essentially, it is about both Will's romantic entanglements, their struggles to connect, to commit and to move on. There are great, difficult friendships and realistic parents. There are gay characters that are not cliches. And there is a fantastical, over-the-top, gay-licious ending in a form of a high school musical (I bet, courtesy of David Levithan).
That being said, David Levithan's Will Grayson rocked. He's an angsty "I hate the world" type of guy and it's just effin' hilarious. One of my favourite parts is the part near the beginning where he's having a rant about people using things like "lol" on the internet:
"or ttyl. bitch, you're not actually talking. that would require actual vocal contact. or <3. you think that looks like a heart? if you do, that's only because you've never seen a scrotum.
rofl! what? are you really rolling on the floor laughing? well, please stay down there a sec while I KICK YOUR ASS"
This book, of course, was hysterical. These two writers have a gift of perfectly capturing each moment. They see the humor, beauty, and truth in life. They would have me laughing one moment and pondering the meaning of life the next. I really really liked Levithan's humor. In fact, I just really like him as an author, I'm yet to be disappointed by his writing.
I am not an audiobook guy but I am SO GLAD I read this as an audiobook.. MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl, I am absolutely in love with you guys ! Masterpiece Narration ! One of the best things about the audio was hearing Will Grayson (DL)'s poetry read first hand and hearing that narrators sing interpretations of the songs that Tiny Cooper wrote for his musical. The only major fail of the audio though was how the IM chats were recorded with the screen names being said over and over again, faster every time. A few of the dialogue sections felt the same way with quick switching back and forth between the characters, but you don't notice it once you adapt to it.
We're just waiting for one more right?
I just sent her one as well. Sadie I'm not sure what time zone you're in but if you're needing to get to bed no worries about staying up checking. If she's a little late with her review it'll be ok and y'all can roll in the am. Hope everything is ok!
Team I am So Sorry! It was a case of forgetting what day it was. I had gotten Friday off, which I never do, so I kept thinking it was Saturday until this morning when I realized it actually was Saturday. :( :( :(
Team I am So Sorry! It was a case of forgetting what day it was. I had gotten Friday off, which I never do, so I kept thinking it was Saturday until this morning when I realized it actually was Saturday. :( :( :(
Team I am So Sorry! It was a case of forgetting what day it was. I had gotten Friday off, which I never do, so I kept thinking it was Saturday until this morning when I realized it actually was Saturday. :( :( :(
Aaaaand I posted that 3 times.....
Grrr. I wrote it but it didn't post. Roll 8: Spot 54
My Dead Body by Charlie Huston
Finished 5/15/15
3 Stars
I was kinda disappointed with this ending to the series. It was one of those lets-just-kill-everyone-and-call-it-done kind of stories. Like the other books, it has it's own standalone storyline which was actually interesting but it didn't have that big climax you'd expect for a series finale.
I'm going to read
- book #2 in the series.
Week # 9What are the scores ? Need to go check the spreadsheet !
Number Called : 62
Requirement : Series 2nd
Book Read : 2nd Chance | James Patterson | 17May2015
Rating : ★★★★
Review
Lindsay, Cindy, Claire, and Jill are back for the second outing as the Women's Murder Club, and this time the murderer is going to hit them right at home.
Lindsay has recovered from the shock of losing her love at the end of the previous book and finds herself in a new role. She is now the Lieutenant in charge of Homicide, thanks to the prestige of bringing an end to the bride and groom murderer. Her next nemesis might even be considered even more evil.
His work starts on the grounds of a local church, where a youth choir group is just getting out of practice. As they start heading about their business, a rain of fire falls down upon them as a lone gunman seemed to want to instill fear with the randomness of the shots. In fact, only one of the young people falls victim, as an 11-year-old girl is killed. Few people expect it to be more than random violence until a pattern starts to form.
A short time earlier, an African American woman hung herself in her home. She was the widow of a former police officer of the San Francisco police department, as was the young girl's uncle. To tighten the connections between the two incidents, the image of a chimera is found in evidence in both locations. One was on the getaway van at the church and the other was drawn in chalk. And so starts the hunt for Chimera, the serial killers nom de guerre.
As more victims fall to the city's newest monster, it quickly becomes clear that he is tied to the dark history of the police department, in particular, that of a local cop who killed a young man with questionable ties to drugs 20 years previously.
History also starts to play a role in Lindsay's personal life, when her father pops up out of the blue after being missing since she was 13 years old. It is a tough reunion since she felt betrayed and abandoned. Now, he has hopes of rebuilding their relationship. The fact that he was also a former police officer with a dark history doesn't help things out, particularly with all of Chimera's victims popping up dead all over the place.
The real question about the case that is preventing Lindsay, her team from Homicide, and the members of the club from figuring it out is some confusion about whether or not the murders are racially connected. All of the victims are African Americans, but the connections start being made. Before that can be done, though, not before Claire is shot at, Cindy falls in love, Jill has some difficulties with her pregnancy, and Lindsay goes head-to-head with Chimera himself.
This was a nice sequel to the previous book, 1st to Die. I did think that the story was less of a group tale since it focused a lot more on Lindsay herself. The other ladies had roles to play, but they were definitely more of a supporting cast in this volume. I did really enjoy this book, all the same.
Roll #9, Spot #62Series: #6 in a series
Book: Accidentally Dead, Again by Dakota Cassidy
Series or Alternate: #6 in a series
Date Completed: 05/19/15
Rating: 2 stars
Review: This book was lame. I did not like anyone. I found Nina to be extremely unlikable. Which is a shame because I liked her in her book. I also thought that Sam had a stick up his ass and had no right to be so mad at her when he is the one who lied.
Roll #9, Spot #62 - Lucy Stone Mystery #2
by Leslie Meier 5/19/15Rating ✮✮✮
This wasn't your typical cozy mystery. The murder didn't happen until a third of the way into the story and that wasn't even the focus. The main mystery was the case of the missing woman, Caroline Hutton. It was also more about spousal abuse and child abuse. Mental, physical and sexual. I realize these are serious topics but that is not what I'm looking for in reading a light, fun cozy mystery. I gave it 3 stars because it was still a quick read and the rest of the story had its light humor.
Roll #9, Spot #62Read
(05/21/15)
Series or Alternate: Book #2 in series
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
I ended up changing my book. I got stuck in a historical romance kick this week and thankfully just happened to read a book that would fit this challenge. This one was a nice, quick, easy read. Sherry Thomas is my go-to when it comes to historical romance. I just love how her characters always end up in these unconventional situations and she just makes it work. In this one, Fitz and Millie are in an arranged marriage and have become platonic best friends. They had made a pact that they wouldn't consummate their marriage and produce an heir until their 8th year of marriage, when they both felt they would be ready to be parents. But just weeks away from that event, Fitz's first love comes back to town, recently widowed. Now he must decide between his wife and his first love, who he believes is his only love. I enjoyed the conflict and Fitz's slow realization of which woman he really belonged with. And I love how all her characters in all her books exist in the same world, so we always get a glimpse into how characters from her other books are doing.
Does this book count as multi colored?
Roll #10, Spot #74Alternative: Multicolored
Book: Thorn by Intisar Khanani
Series or Alternate: Multicolored
Date Completed: 05/23/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Let me first start by saying that I am a complete and utter sucker for fairy tale retellings. I loved the Thorn's character and was impressed by the levels of maturity in this YA novel. The only thing lacking for me was the ending. It left an opening for them to be happy and in love in the future but did not actually give me that. I would have loved a prologue. Or a second book. If he had either one it would have been 4 stars and I do say that lightly as I am extremely critically with the amount of stars I give. I am sad its over.
Sadie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Does this book count as multi colored?"Yes, Ashley, it will work!"
Thank you.
Roll #10, Spot #74 - Alternate: Multi-Colored
by Nancy A. Collins 5/28/15Rating ✮✮✮
I found this second run of Sonja Blue better than the first book. Now that we know the nitty gritty (and I mean gritty) background of Sonja's "birth", we move forward in her chase of Morgan. I did find it odd, though, that the main POV was from Palmer and not Sonja. I hope it goes back to her as it is her series. :)
PI Palmer gets roped into finding Sonja and delivering a letter. She ends up saving his life and he decides to stay with her to learn about the Real World which has been opened up to him. This is good for both of them. They each need the companionship of someone who (kinda) understands and this brings a little piece of happiness to the story. Sonja finally hunts down Morgan and she discovers two other vampires who are not dead, like her. This makes her so happy that she is not alone. They are a couple and Anise is pregnant. You know this baby is going to be important later on.
Roll #10, Spot #74Read
by Wendy Higgins(05/28/15)
Series or Alternate: Multi-colored
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
This was supposed to be the final book in The Sweet Trilogy series. I don't know what took me so long to finally read it! I finished this one in 24 hours because I just could not put it down. The main character, Anna, has been prophesized to be the one to rid Earth of all the demons, aka The Dukes. The final showdown takes place in this book and it does not disappoint. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I sat in my seat in anticipation. I loved where Anna and Kaidan's relationship was taken in this book. They are definitely up there as one of my favorite book couples. My favorite scenes have to be the ones with Anna's dad, Belial. I was dying of laughter pretty much every time he made an appearance. I loved how this series ended. It was bittersweet, but very satisfying. And thankfully the author has decided to write one more book in Kaidan's POV, because I want more!
Week # 10We had a nice roll this week.. I hope that puts us in a higher position now on the Spreadsheet.
Number Called : 74
Requirement : Multi-colored Cover
Book Read : The Girl on the Train | Paula Hawkins | 26May2015
Rating : ★★★★
Review
Rachel caught the same train into London each morning; the same train home again at night. But she was keeping a secret from her flatmate/landlord Cathy. And on each journey she looked into the same backyards – she had got to the stage of thinking she knew the residents of those houses. Watching the young woman she had named Jess and the loving interaction she had with her obviously devoted husband, the man she called Jason, she felt their lives were perfect. So the morning that she saw something different – something unexpected, she was shocked. She needed to find out more…
Rachel was lonely; she missed her ex-husband Tom – of course she still loved him. She needed him; he couldn’t have moved on; but of course he had. With a new wife and now a baby, Rachel had been hitting the drink to numb her thoughts. But her dependency on alcohol was getting greater; she was unable to hide it from Cathy any more. And the black holes in her memories were getting more frequent – she blacked out far too often; she had no idea how she managed to get bruises; cuts and blood on her clothes. Why couldn’t she remember? What had happened?
As Rachel insinuated herself into the lives of the residents on the train tracks she felt her importance grow. She wasn’t just a girl on a train now, was she? But the danger; the evil was coming closer. What was happening to her?
The Girl on the Train is an incredible debut psychological thriller with suspense and tension rippling through the pages. The plot was excellent; the pace and intrigue spell-binding. It has everything we love about thrillers, including a protagonist who wasn’t that likeable. She fitted the role perfectly! I have no hesitation in recommending this one highly.
Week # 11Guess we have only one or two weeks left in this challenge.
Number Called : 81
Requirement : Series 1st
Book Read : Primal Passions | Stephani Hecht | 30May2015
Rating : ★★.5
Review
I was very disappointed but am aware that this was the first book in a very long-lived series that may have improved. The writing was so amateurish and the emotional content so unexplored and simplistic. I felt like the book needed to be much longer to develop the characters' situation and feelings. Some things were just silly--who asks for lots of explanations (obvious device for giving background in big chunks) when bullets are flying and things are so insane? There were some great one-liners and other humor but everyone had them instead of them becoming the voice or personality of a single character. If I knew it wouldn't mess anything up too badly to read out of order, I might try reading one of the more current novels to see what the quality now is like.
Week 11, Spot #81Series: #1 in a series
Book: Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter
Series or Alternate: #1 in a series
Date Completed: 05/31/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: So while I liked this book I found it to be too long. It got to the point where I was tempted to skip pages just to get to the escape part. I always didn't like how he magically appeared with zero explanation at the end. If X said it was impossible how did he do it?
Week 11, Spot #81: Standalone by Iain Rob Wright 5/30/15Rating ✮✮✮✮
Blake Price took his son out to the backyard with a metal detector and, lo and behold, they find a picture frame. (come to think of it, the frame was made of wood and glass, yet they found it with a metal detector?) Ricky loves it. He cleans it up and puts a picture of their beloved dog in it. Meer minutes later, the poor animal gets hit by a car and dies. Blake's wife, Liz, replaces the picture with a family photo. The next day... another death.
I have always been a fan of Iain Rob Wright and was so excited to pick up this book. I loved this story. It kept moving and kept you interested. Made me think a bit of the movie Final Destination. Death is coming for you and there's no escape. (dun, dun, dun...) The ending was a little annoying. I was screaming "No, you idiot!"
I was about to post on here and say that I wouldn't be able to finish the book I'm reading until tomorrow, but then I re-checked the reading requirements for the week and realized I could also read a standalone. The last book I finished works for this week. I'm heading in to work now, but as soon as I get a chance I'll post my review.
Roll #11, Spot #81Read
by Kate McCarthySeries or Alternate: Standalone
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
This was the first book I've read by this author, and it definitely won't be the last. I got sucked right into the story right from the beginning and could not put it down, finishing within 2 days. The story is about Finlay and Ryan, who have loved each other since they first locked eyes as elementary school children. We follow them into adulthood, where they finally give into their feelings for each other. Their relationship was not easy, with both characters having their own issues to deal with, but the love they had for each other was effortless and unconditional. If you're a romance reader, I would highly recommend this.
Looks like another team won. This was a fun challenge! It was great working through this with you guys. Happy reading! I'm sure I'll see you guys around the boards, and possible in another team challenge in the future =)
It was fun. I am sad it is over. This really helped me get to some books that I have been putting off.
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The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Fighting Redemption (other topics)The Picture Frame (other topics)
Last Kiss Goodnight (other topics)
Primal Passions (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Iain Rob Wright (other topics)Gena Showalter (other topics)
Stephani Hecht (other topics)
Paula Hawkins (other topics)
Nancy A. Collins (other topics)
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I am so glad to be on this team.. and we are doing fine in this challenge, so yaay ! :)