PtP - Plots-a-Percolating (7)

[bamaace83]

Sending thoughts and prayers to your family Avigail. It's a horrible situation and I truly hope everything turns out okay for Israel and your family.

[Avigail]

Avigail wrote: "ForTheLoveofBrishen wrote: "Avigail wrote: "I will do my best to finish the book as soon as possible. Due to the war situation, we have in Israel. Could you please keep us in your thoughts and pray..."
What I meant is that our hostages live in inhuman situations. We believe that the terrorist killed parent in front of their children. Please keep us in your prayers and positive thoughts.

[Avigail]

bamaace83 wrote: "Sending thoughts and prayers to your family Avigail. It's a horrible situation and I truly hope everything turns out okay for Israel and your family."

Thank you Anna for your thoughts and prayers. I really appreciate it with all my heart.

[bamaace83]

Selection Post Week 3



Call ➖ 6. Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown Read a book with green and brown on the cover. Both colors must be on the cover.
Task ➖ Read a book with green and brown on the cover
Book ➖ Of Beast And Burden
Pages ➖ 280 pages ebook linked
How it fits ➖ green vines, brown violin

[*book:Of Beast And Burden|55685524]

[Avigail]

Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am not in a competitive mood. Please understand me and good luck

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Avigail wrote: "Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am not in a competit..."

Stay safe Avigail and I'll keep you in my prayers.

[Vi]

Avigail wrote: "Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am not in a competit..."

Stay safe Avigail. Prayers for you and everyone.

[Vi]

Week 3 Selection Post Option 1



Week #: 3 - Read a book with green and brown on the cover
Bookcover/link: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Page numbers: 412
How the book qualifies: has brown and green on the cover

[book*:The Curse of Chalion|1142011]

[Vi]

Week 3 Completion Post



Week #: 3 - Read a book with green and brown on the cover
Bookcover/link: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Page numbers: 512
Date Read: 9 Oct
Rating: 4 stars. I wasn't sure whether I would like the book but it kinda blew me away. The male MC is not a young, everything awesome king/prince but a jaded person who has suffered and wanted to just live comfortably. I loved the story progression - it was organic and the story intelligent. Also, the audiobook narrator is great. Highly recommend the audio version.
How the book qualifies: has green and brown on cover

[*book:The Curse of Chalion|1142011]

[Avigail]

ForTheLoveofBrishen wrote: "Avigail wrote: "Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am n..."

Thank you and good luck

[Avigail]

Vi wrote: "Avigail wrote: "Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am n..."

Thank you and good luck

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Completion Post
☕Week #3: Read a book with green and brown on the cover.

☕Bookcover/link: The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L Jensen
☕How Book Qualifies; Cover has the colors Green and Brown
☕Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
☕Date Read: October 12th
☕Review:
You always look like you want to kill someone,” he remarked. “Possibly me.” - and we're off! This book shut down my Romantasy fatigue fast.

Plot/Storyline: Great worldbuilding and playing both sides up to the reader. I can't hate the Ithicanians even though they're in a position of power but the cracks are there and no one knows this because massive masked soldiers make one hell of a PR statement: "Caution, we're could be demons."  I can't trust the Maridrinian Royals fully- even Lara. And then, there are the surrounding kingdoms all ready to pounce on either nation.

Dialogue - 0.5. Honestly, the initial language and prose used in the dialogue between the characters was really time-period appropriate.  At some point it shifted, and I can't explain it but sometimes it would yank me out of the immersion. Captain Jor is hilarious though.

Poker was a lazy game to add to this world. I would have loved to see a game that is as unique as the first description of the bridge.

Characters:
■Vitex is the best cat ever. I wonder if he is a Maine Coon.
■I've given up trying to be weary of Aren.  He's just a good man who'd rather play soldier but has to be king - I find him endearing.
■ Lara came out swinging in the act and I'm not entirely convinced that she is not the ultimate snake on a jungle full of snakes. Crawling through the castle naked to find Ithicana's secrets after drugging two key characters has cemented her to my FMC Badass Hall of Fame talk about a committed spy.

All in all, I loved it so much I am reading the rest of the series this weekend.

[bamaace83]

Completion Post Week 3



Call ➖ 6. Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown Read a book with green and brown on the cover. Both colors must be on the cover.
Task ➖ Read a book with green and brown on the cover
Book ➖ Of Beast And Burden
Pages ➖ 280 pages ebook linked
How it fits ➖ green vines, brown violin
Date Read - 10-13-23
Rating - 3 Stars

[*book:Of Beast And Burden|55685524]

Review:
I'll start off with saying that I normally would not have picked up this book but I somehow managed to get myself in some weird challenges and it worked for multiple things. Faye was a fun character to read and learn about. I haven't read many faerie books and this one kept my attention. I liked the romance pieces that were tossed into the story. My favorite male character was Gage. I will try to keep reading the series just to find out more about the characters. Overall, solid book.

[LaurLa]

Avigail - if you are still checking the thread here - I was traveling this past week so wasn't checking in so am so sorry I missed your earlier posts. Please know my prayers are with you and your loved ones and all involved in the horrible situation over there. Even though you aren't playing we will be thinking of you - please let us know how you are doing.

[LaurLa]

Completion Post ➖ Week 3
Option 1


Call ➖ 6. Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown
Task ➖ Read a book with green and brown on the cover
Book ➖ The Runaway Bride
Pages ➖ 275 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ➖ green in the leaves; brown on the heel of the shoes
Date Read ➖ 10.11 ★★★
Review ➖
I'm meh about this story. Judi's justification for pretending to have amnesia was thin but for the purposes of the book, it worked out okay. I did like her interactions with Becky, the MMC's little sister - I thought her advice and interactions with her were great. The ending was kind of thin also - but since this wasn't an actual romantic suspense book, I was okay with the not-really-dangerous aspect of the smuggling gang. Overall, the plot was meh but I liked the characters and how they interacted together.

[LaurLa]

@Vi - I can't believe I didn't notice this before now but part of the rules are to include a small review with your completion post (from the challenge rules: "Each team member must return to their team thread and post a short review of the book that they read. This review should be enough to indicate that the member DID read the book. A couple of sentences is sufficient. "I liked it" is not.")

Can you add a quick review to each of your completion posts before we get too much further into the challenge and we both forget?

[LaurLa]

For week 3, we just need Em's selection and completion - but especially selection before the call. I've sent a message reminding her.

[Vi]

LaurLa wrote: "@Vi - I can't believe I didn't notice this before now but part of the rules are to include a small review with your completion post (from the challenge rules: "Each team member must return to their..."

Oops, I didn't notice either. I've edited both my posts to add the review. Thanks LaurLa!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Avigail wrote: "Dear team, I am sorry to tell you that I have to withdraw from this fantastic reading challenge due to the situation here in Israel, my reading has slowed to non-existent and I am not in a competit..."

Best wishes and thinking of you and your loved ones, Avigail. I hope this conflict ends soon and without more loss of lives. Horrible situation.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Hopefully Em will post soon. I'll send her a PM.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

💫

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Em wrote: "I think I did that right lol

I get it now that I figured it out. Thanks for your help, team!!"

Well done Em!! Now we need your week 3 selection asap :)

[Em]

About to post my selection. I’m sorry. I missed that part of the rules. I selected and read the book. Just been anxious and overwhelmed this week and didn’t get online as much.

[Em]

Week #3 Selection Post
☕️ Option 1
☕️ Task: Green coffee beans must be roasted prior to consumption, which is when they turn brown- Read a book with green and brown on the cover
☕️ Book: The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever (Bevelstroke Series #1) by Julia Quinn
☕️ Link: [book*:The Secret Diaries Of Miss Miranda Cheever|58617808]
☕️ Page numbers: 373
☕️ How the book qualifies: Book has a cover with green and brown

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Em wrote: "About to post my selection. I’m sorry. I missed that part of the rules. I selected and read the book. Just been anxious and overwhelmed this week and didn’t get online as much."

No worries - and thanks :)

[Em]

Week #3 Completion Post
☕️ Book: The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever (Bevelstroke Series #1) by Julia Quinn
☕️ Link: [book*:The Secret Diaries Of Miss Miranda Cheever|58617808]
☕️ Rating: 😡
☕️ Review: 0 starts. I ended up HATING this book. The book normalized abusive behavior as acceptable. Turner’s (male love interest) behavior in Scotland is domestic violence and abuse. He threatens her in multiple ways, uses love bombing and flowery words to manipulate her, talks down to her like a child, controls her actions, manipulates her family, and finally forces her to marry him. She initially puts up a fight and is angry at him, but then gives up when he forces sexual intimacy and she acts like he never did all the abusive and controlling behaviors for the rest of the book. Unacceptable.

[Em]

Week 4
Option 1
8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated
Read a book from one of the following lists:
Hero & Heroine Both Virgin
The Gut Wrenchers
Starchy Hero Gets Un-Starched
Clean Romances with Witty Worthwhile Women
Taking the Veil - Heroine in Convent or Disguised in Habit
Gay Romance Going to the Chapel
Gay Romance with a Straight Hero

If you chose option 1, you must read a book from one of the above lists.


Option 2
Key date: 14 April 2023
State date your teammate read the book and their rating
Book from your teammate's shelf must have been read on or after this date, and rated at least 3 stars.)


Option 3
Pass
Allowed one person per team per week, and once every 4 weeks per person

[Em]

Week #4 Selection Post
☕️ Option 1
☕️ Task: Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated
Read a book from one of the provided lists
☕️ Book: Someone to Wed (Westcott #3) by Mary Balogh
☕️ Link: [book*:Someone to Wed|34318337]
☕️ Page numbers: 361
☕️ How the book qualifies: Book is from the following list: Starchy Hero Gets Un-Starched

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Thank you Em! uhm Team, I really want to read Traitor Queen (Danielle L Jensen) - both the heroes are supposedly going through hell in this book. One hero is imprisoned and one exiled

does this count as: Starchy Hero gets unstarched?

(also I'm so new to romance I'm really have no cooking clue what some of these tropes are lol)

[Vi]

ForTheLoveofBrishen wrote: "Thank you Em! uhm Team, I really want to read Traitor Queen (Danielle L Jensen) - both the heroes are supposedly going through hell in this book. One hero is imprisoned and one exiled

does this co..."

For this task, you HAVE to choose a book from these lists. You can check if your book is in any of the lists.,.

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Vi wrote: "ForTheLoveofBrishen wrote: "Thank you Em! uhm Team, I really want to read Traitor Queen (Danielle L Jensen) - both the heroes are supposedly going through hell in this book. One hero is imprisoned ..."

I realize that in the original post there are links for each trope. (had to go onto the desktop version to see this) So disregard my question. I just clicked the links.

Thanks

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Selection Post
Week 4: For the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated: Choose a book from List.

Option 1: Starchy Hero Gets Unstarched


Week #: 4
Bookcover/link: Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard
Page numbers: 256
How the book qualifies: 221 - Starchy Hero gets unstarched list

[LaurLa]

Selection Post ➖ Week 4
Option 1


Call ➖ 8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated
Task ➖ Read a book from one of the following lists
Book ➖ Secretly Yours
Pages ➖ 380 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ➖ #390 on Starchy Hero Gets Un-Starched

[*book:Secretly Yours|61278765]

[Vi]

Week 4 Selection Post Option 1



Week #: 4 - Read a book from one of the following lists
Bookcover/link: The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
Page numbers: 304
How the book qualifies: #42 on Gut Wrenchers List

[*book:The Sweet Gum Tree|2761356]

[Vi]

Week 4 Completion Post



Week #: 4 - Read a book from one of the following lists.
Bookcover/link: The Sweet Gum Tree
Page numbers: 304
Date Read: 15 Oct
Rating: 2 stars. The book started off well-enough but it unfortunately didn't captivate me fully. I couldn't honestly get a feel of the male MC. And the misunderstanding? It was one of the stupidest thing ever.
How the book qualifies: #42 on Gut Wrenchers List

[*book:The Sweet Gum Tree|2761356]

[bamaace83]

Selection Post ➖ Week 4
Option 1



Call ➖ 8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated
Task ➖ Read a book from one of the following lists
Book ➖ Viper's Run
Pages ➖ 282 pages
How it fits ➖ #157 on Gut Wrenchers list

[*book:Viper's Run|18192699]

[bamaace83]

Completion Post ➖ Week 4
Option 1



Call ➖ 8. Espresso - for the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated
Task ➖ Read a book from one of the following lists
Book ➖ Viper's Run
Pages ➖ 282 pages
How it fits ➖ #157 on Gut Wrenchers list
Date Read - 10-15-23
Rating - 1 Star

Review:
Y'all that book was bad. I would've tossed it back if I hadn't already posted a selection post. Viper totally used Winter as collateral for two years before the story really started. When the current storyline started, Winter was not my favorite character. Viper has two different sides of personalities and he really rubbed me the wrong way when he was around certain people. I don't mind reading steamy romances but this one had just too much and really grated on my nerves. Totally a 1 star and I'm not going to read any others from this series.

[*book:Viper's Run|18192699]

[Em]

Week #4 Completion Post
☕️ Book: Someone to Wed (Westcott #3) by Mary Balogh
☕️ Link: Someone to Wed
☕️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
☕️ Review: 3.5 stars. I am enjoying this series and getting to read the love stories of characters from previous books. The beginning of this book started out too slow & the miscommunication between the couple went on too long, but I liked the unique storyline and the fact that the main characters are 40 years old.

[LaurLa]

Week 5
Link to Jane's post in Q&A https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Option 1
10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
Read a book longer than 300 pages.

Option 2
Key date: 21 April 2023
Book from your teammate's shelf must have been read on or after this date, rated at least 3★
State date your teammate read the book and their rating
Please note all three pieces of information on your post - teamie, date & rating.

Option 3
Pass
Allowed one person per team per week, and once every 4 weeks per person

[LaurLa]

For Week 4 - Sue (ForTheLoveofBrishen) and I need to read our books. I'm running behind this week but should be able to catch up next week.

This week seems an easy find so hopefully we all find something fun!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

🎋

[LaurLa]

Selection Post ➖ Week 5
Option 1


Call ➖ 10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
Task ➖ Read a book longer than 300 pages
Book ➖ Shopaholic to the Stars
Pages ➖ 497 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ➖ 497 pp

[*book:Shopaholic to the Stars|23351142]

[LaurLa]

Completion Post ➖ Week 5
Option 1


Call ➖ 10. Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
Task ➖ Read a book longer than 300 pages
Book ➖ Shopaholic to the Stars
Pages ➖ 497 pp (GR kindle, linked edition)
How it fits ➖ 497 pp
Date Read ➖ 10.22 ★★★
Review ➖
Not crazy about this series - Becky is just TSTL sometimes and I get frustrated with her. But I've stepped away from the series for a couple of years. so I was able to get through this one without too may eyerolls. As usual, Becky gets caught up in the "shiny things" LA has to offer and trying to become a Hollywood stylist (on her own) makes for some funny hijinks. She learns her lessons though (of course) and we have a happy resolution of sorts for this book. Ends on a slight cliff-hanger about her father.

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Completion Post
Week 4: For the serious/straight coffee drinker, and unadulterated: Choose a book from List.
Option 1: Starchy Hero Gets Unstarched

Midnight Rainbow (Rescues, #1) by Linda Howard
Week #: 4
Bookcover/link: Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard
Page numbers: 256
How the book qualifies: 221 - Starchy Hero gets unstarched list
Date Read: October 21st, Saturday
Rating<: 3.5 stars
Review:

Another one of my "Picked for the cover" reading selections without reading the blurb. I loved that this was pleasantly surprising and a quick fun read.

Romance: I did love watching two characters who seemed like they would NEVER overcome their situation fall head over heels in love with each other. Not swoon-worthy, but close enough.
Plot/Storyline: I love that this was my third attempt at a contemporary romance novel and from all three, this one did keep me hooked.
Characters: The characters didn't fall into the stereotypical Feisty-but weak FMC and Grumpy Strong Big Softie MMC.  Grant is somewhat broken but seems honorable and focused on the task at hand.  Jane is free as a bird, whip smart and witty.
Favorite scene/quote: Jane and Grant, in the Jungle with the Anaconda (not what you think hehehe).  
■Quotes: Grant slowly shook his head, staring at her. She was a constant paradox ,an unpredictable blend of innocence and contrariness, of surprising prudery and amazing boldness. In no way was she what he’d expected

[ForTheLoveofBrishen]

Selection Post

Week 5: Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water

Option 1: Read a book longer than 300 pages



Week #: 5
Bookcover/link: The Traitor Queen by Danielle Jensen
Page numbers: 352
How the book qualifies: Read a book with more than 300 pages

[Em]

☕️ Week #5 Selection Post
☕️ Option 1
☕️ Task: Long Black - Double espresso with twice the water
☕️ Book: Someone Perfect (Westcott #9) by Mary Balogh
☕️ Link: [book*:Someone Perfect|57280561]
☕️ Page numbers: 429
☕️ How the book qualifies: Book is more than 300 pages

[Em]

LaurLa wrote: "For Week 4 - Sue (ForTheLoveofBrishen) and I need to read our books. I'm running behind this week but should be able to catch up next week.

This week seems an easy find so hopefully we all find so..."

Very few of my books are less than 300 pages. I didn’t even have to search for this week’s book. It was just the next one in the series. Now I have to pick which series to read next!

[LaurLa]

Em wrote: "Very few of my books are less than 300 pages. I didn’t even have to search for this week’s book. It was just the next one in the series. Now I have to pick which series to read next!"

Yes! I was grateful for an easy week this week with trying to finish up some other challenges!

[Em]

Week #5 Completion Post
☕️ Book: Someone Perfect (Westcott #9) by Mary Balogh
☕️ Link: [book*:Someone Perfect|57280561]
☕️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️3/4
☕️ Review: 2.75 stars. I have enjoyed this series a lot, but this book is my least favorite. The story was slow. The book didn’t follow the same pattern of the first 8 books in the series. I hate when the last book of the series is a let down. Just unsatisfying.

[Vi]

Week 5 Selection Post Option 1



Week #: 4 - Read a book longer than 300 pages
Bookcover/link: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
Page numbers: 320
How the book qualifies: Page count is more than 300 pages.

[*book:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251]