TART8 - Nobles of the Nineties (12)

[christene_littlelibrary]

Just got a copy of Madison Square Murders so I'll be reading it for this task

[Tracy]

Christene Paula✨ wrote: "Just got a copy of Madison Square Murders so I'll be reading it for this task"

I hope you like it! I really enjoyed Larkin, I thought he was a really fun Holmes-type

I think I’m going to do A Lady for a Duke from R~ska’s earlier rec post for me— I’ve been meaning to get to it forever so I’m looking forward to it!

[Tracy]

Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.
A Lady for a Duke
Pages: 481
Qualifications: recommended for me by R~wka
Date Completed: 10/6
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I have read a lot of romance novels where a lady’s companion with a secret past and a napoleonic war veteran with a drug problem and a bum leg get shoved together by a female relative and let me tell you this one blows them all out of the water. The setup is brilliant, with all the best bits of childhood best friends and a truly devastating, painful reason for Viola keep her secrets and for Gracewood to be hurt by them. The side characters are all delightful, with just the right amount of zaniness to balance out the heaviness without turning into shrieking caricatures. I cried. 5 stars. Best thing Alexis Hall has ever written.

[Aoife]

So sorry - there was a lot going on this week and I'm only getting to relax today. I've just started Divine Rivals

[R~wka]

Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

The King's Captive by K.M. Shea
Pages: 340
Qualifications: recommended by Aoife
Date Completed: 10/8
Rating: 5⭐️
Review: I love that I've picked this book. I enjoined it from start till the end. As a cat lover I enjoied the parts when she was in her cat form and the ending leave me with the need to read next books in series.

[Aoife]

Ahhh I'm so happy you liked the king's captive!! I devoured the series - read the first 2 books and was so sad I had to wait until the 3rd was released

[christene_littlelibrary]

Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

Madison Square Murders by C.S. Poe
Pages: 299
Fits: recommended by Tracy
Date Read: 10/8
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Loved the characters, the sunshine character of Doyle and how Larkin can remember things accurately by day. It was a complicated relationship as one of the mc is married but I enjoyed this a lot. Though the mystery part was so so it was amazing when Larkin do the deduction at the end and found the killer.

[Tracy]

Christene Paula✨ wrote: "Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.

Madison Square Murders by C.S. Poe
Pag..."

Yeah, that’s pretty much exactly how I felt about it! I don’t know if having one of the MCs in a mediocre-to-terrible relationship at the start is just a *thing* in romantic suspense or what— but Larkin charmed me so thoroughly that it didn’t bug me

[Aoife]

Completion Post

Task Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.



Book Divine Rivals
Pages 268
Date 10/10
How it fits Rec'd by Christene
Rating/Review 3.5/5
(view spoiler)[
this had really adorable vibes but why did thy get married at 19?? That's actually my main issue lol I know it's war etc but leave them be
(hide spoiler)]

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Aoife wrote: "
Completion Post


Task Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.



Book Divine Rivals
Pages 268
Date 10/..."

Please correct to the first edition Kindle page count (357). Thanks.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Here is your next task!

Task 6 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.

As a team, select a series listed on GR and everyone reads a book in that series. (Does not have to be a numbered series.) Please include the selected series in your completion posts. Teammates can read the same or different books for this task. No pass for this task.

[R~wka]

Same series... 😅 We didn't peek one...

[Tracy]

R~wka wrote: "Same series... 😅 We didn't peek one..."

We threw out a bunch of suggestions and didn’t settle on any of them, whoops— for this one we don’t have to all read different books, so it doesn’t have to be standalones. Christene has been reading through and enjoying the Neon Gods series, and I see that the first one is on both your tbr and Aoife’s, so I’d be down to do that— or Eloisa James’s fairy tales series, which everyone should be interested in?

[R~wka]

Neon Gods series is this series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/2985... ?
If yes I'm OK with reading it
Also I'm ok with Eloisa James’s fairy tales series

[christene_littlelibrary]

I'm cool with both. Though I'm intrigue with Eloisa James books

[Tracy]

Cool beans! I’m gonna make an executive decision to go for Dark Olympus (https://www.goodreads.com/series/2985...) and check out Radiant Sin— Aoife, let me know if you can’t get your hands on Neon Gods?

[christene_littlelibrary]

Wicked Beauty for me. :)

[R~wka]

I'm starting the first book, Neon Gods, the precis looks interesting and the firsts pages are tempting, but I can't read more until finishing my work shift 😅

[Aoife]

CORRECTION - Completion Post

Task Task 5 12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.



Book Divine Rivals
Pages 357
Date 10/10
How it fits Rec'd by Christene
Rating/Review 3.5/5
(view spoiler)[
this had really adorable vibes but why did thy get married at 19?? That's actually my main issue lol I know it's war etc but leave them be
(hide spoiler)]

[Aoife]

Have a copy of Neon gods! Sorry there's a lot going on this week - been trying to see if I could get a mortgage alone and my dentist thought I was going to have to lose a tooth (I don't thankfully, the current root should hold for another few years - it's already half fake so did think it would happen at some point but 7 years seems soon)

[Tracy]

Oof, I’ve heard the housing market in Dublin has gone haywire and tooth stuff is never fun— glad your tooth is holding on!

[Aoife]

Yeah the whole housing here is all over the place in general and Dublin is just worse. Not enough supply, massive prices for places that need a good amount of work on them afterwards :( sure there isn't even places to rent never mind buy! I got lucky with my place a few weeks ago but rent is about the same as the repayment if not less in some cases

A neighbour of my mam bought their house 5 years ago for under 270k and are now selling it for nearly 500k after doing nothing to it at all

[Tracy]

Task 6 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task.

Radiant Sin
Pages: 356
Qualifications: Dark Olympus series chosen by team
Date Completed: 10/12
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️❓
Review: y’all, I really don’t know about this one. Do I enjoy Katee Robert’s writing? Yes. Do I love the truly bananas premise of the Dark Olympus books despite the fact that it makes no sense? Yes. However, this one was super thin on the worldbuilding coherency (secret laws? secret legal murder laws that the governing body can’t repeal for ✨reasons✨?? it really strains credulity) the Greek myth parallel (where is the actual gift of prophecy? The rejection? Cassandra’s punishment at Apollo’s hand? I can understand leaving out the Ajax shit but STILL) and the romance (they’re both so crazy about the other at the outset that the romantic tension really had nowhere to go)

Nevertheless! Enjoyable, with plenty of hot sex scenes. Absolutely everyone on Olympus is hot, extravagantly bisexual, absolutely unhinged, and all up in each other’s business. It’s a good time!

[Tracy]

Howdy team! How’s it going? Are we enjoying Neon Gods and Wicked Beauty?

[Aoife]

Completion Post

Task Task 6 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task



Book Neon Gods
Pages 384
Date 14/10
How it fits Picked Dark Olympus series
Rating/Review 4/5
I listened and read the kindle version so it was fun to jump between the two mediums and see the difference in them! I really like the story, I enjoyed the fact Persophone was much bolder and headstrong, she was deciding her fate and wanted this as opposed to it being forced on her. The political side to the story was well done and made for an entertaining book overall.

I do think the Narrator for Persophone wasn't the best and did prefer reading her chapters by ebook. She was good for Persophone herself but as Hades??? Not for me

[Aoife]

Tracy wrote: "Howdy team! How’s it going? Are we enjoying Neon Gods and Wicked Beauty?"

I did! It was actually a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be?

[Tracy]

I’m glad to hear it! I think Katee Roberts can be really hit or miss for me, but unlike… many authors who write about them… I 100% believe that she has actually been to a sex club, which made Neon Gods for me 🤣

[R~wka]

I'm enjoying the Neon Gods book, just that I have it in physical form and was difficult to find time to read. But I'm sure I'll finish it tomorrow, I

[christene_littlelibrary]

Completion Post

Task 6 - 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
Page: 402
How book qualified: 3rd Book of Dark Olympus - chosen series of the team
Date Completed: 10/15
Rating/Review: 4 stars
This series is getting better and hotter. This book follows the modern retelling of Helen of troy, Achilles and Patroclus. Helen's only way to get the Ares title she entered a competition and Zeus makes Helen a prize to whoever wins that's where she met Achilles and Patroclus and make a connection.

[Aoife]

Tracy wrote: "I’m glad to hear it! I think Katee Roberts can be really hit or miss for me, but unlike… many authors who write about them… I 100% believe that she has actually been to a sex club, which made Neon ..."

this is only my second one by her but 100% believe she's in the know about sex clubs and isn't going off random incorrect stories about them lol

[R~wka]

Completion Post

Task Task 6 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task


Neon Gods by Katee Robert
Pages: 384
Date read: Oct 15
How it fits: Part of Dark Olympus series
Rating: 4.75⭐
Review:
I've seen it as an unique book. The good is evil and the evil is good. That is as I might say about this book. I liked the chemistry between the two from their first meeting.
Was my first book by the author and sure I'll read more.

[R~wka]

Goodreads is telling me that the book has limitation on review/ratings because of unusual behavior 😅. But why? I can't rate it 😆

[R~wka]

Completion post:
Task 6 9. Each player reads a book in the same series, teams decide. No pass for this task
Series: Dark Olympus: https://www.goodreads.com/series/2985...

Tracy: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Aoife: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Christene Paula✨: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
R~wka: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I will check your books tomorrow hopefully. The last of the stranglers are heading home then - except me. I'm the crazy one and not leaving for a couple more days. But in the meantime...

Here is your next task!

Task 7 - 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.

As a team select a month and year, then each teammate reads a book initially published in that month and year. Make sure you use the initial publication date. If there is a date at the top of the editions page, use it. Otherwise, I will be looking for the earliest dated English language edition regardless of format for the qualification. Please include the selected month/year combo in your completion posts.

[Tracy]

We decided on August, 2023 for our month! The books on my TBR I’m the *most* excited about are He Who Drowned the World and Labyrinth's Heart, which… are both pretty chunky reads. I might go with Marry Me by Midnight instead?

Here’s a list that might help if you’re looking for reads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Aoife]

R~wka wrote: "Goodreads is telling me that the book has limitation on review/ratings because of unusual behavior 😅. But why? I can't rate it 😆"

that's so weird lol

[Aoife]

Unveil - i'm going to check if I can get a copy of this later on tonight!

[Tracy]

Task 7: 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
Pages: 688
Qualifications: First published August, 2023 (team choice)
Date Completed: 10/16
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: A really enjoyable read that continued some of my favorite things from the first two installments but unfortunately lost me in the final chapters, which is a bummer because I was fully ready to slot this into my top 2023 reads during the first two thirds. I’ll be writing a full review later, once I’ve had a chance to sit with it for a bit, I think?

[R~wka]

I've finished my book 2 days ago, looks that I forgot to press the button "post" 😅. I'll make another post, jost that I'm bad at review 😅😅

[christene_littlelibrary]

I'm almost done with mine too

[R~wka]

I've started another book😒. The book I have read is originally published on July 2023 (the paperback edition that wasn't combined at the time I've started reading it... I Fond other book and hope to finish it until tomorrow

[Tracy]

R~wka wrote: "I've started another book😒. The book I have read is originally published on July 2023 (the paperback edition that wasn't combined at the time I've started reading it... I Fond other book and hope t..."

Oh noooo! I bet if you asked Kat you could get an exception but if you already have another book that you’re excited about, that’s good too.

[christene_littlelibrary]

Completion Post

Task 7: 49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.

In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
Page: 348
How book qualified: First published August 1, 2023
Date Completed: 10/20
Rating/Review: 4 stars
I totally like how this author writes, though the storyline on this one has also improved in terms of consistency compare to Fourth Wing which I loved and one of my best read this year. A second chance romance with multiple timeline and dual pov. No spicy scene but loved the chemistry between the mc's.

[Aoife]

R~wka wrote: "I've started another book😒. The book I have read is originally published on July 2023 (the paperback edition that wasn't combined at the time I've started reading it... I Fond other book and hope t..."

that's such a pain!! I really hate when the books are all over the shop like that

[Aoife]

Completion Post

Task 7 #49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.

Decision August 2023



Book Unveil
Pages 414
Date 10/10
How it fits Published August 2023 for the first time
Rating/Review 3.75/5

This was HOT. I liked that the age gap was a FMC in her mid 30s and MMC in his early 50s, both being career driven and successful. I do get tired of "established MMC & newly graduated FMC" so it was a lot of fun reading this. It was really well written, the flow made sense and I overall enjoyed their relationship and how it grew.

[R~wka]

Completion Post

Task 7 #49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task: August 2023

Kitty vs. Killer by Corrine Winters
191 pages, 1st. Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2023
Read on Oct 20 / 4⭐

Tessa can see ghost and the first ghost she sees is her sister's.... Her death is a Mysteries unresolved in this first book. Tessa, her talking pet and a grup of friends investing the case of Dr. Jack Monroe was the principal plot.
That subplot will make me reading the next book.

[R~wka]

Completion Post

Task 7 #49. Each teammate reads a book published in the same month and year, teams decide. No pass for this task.
August 2023
Tracy
Christene Paula✨
Aoife
R~wka

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I will check your books later - super long and hot day today!

Here is your next task!

Task 8 - 41. Read 6 books with over 10,000 ratings.

Books selected for this task need to have over 10,000 ratings (not reviews). You can find this info on the main book page under the title or you can add it to the settings for your shelves. Please include the number of ratings in your completion posts.

[Tracy]

Oh nice! My PtP pick for this week qualifies, as do a few other things on my library checkout list! I’m fine with reading two books for this one, no problem

[christene_littlelibrary]

Completion Post

Task 8 - 41. Read 6 books with over 10,000 ratings

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Page: 422
How book qualified: 184,155 ratings
Date Completed: 10/21
Rating/Review: 4 stars
I like how witty the mc's are in solving difficult situations. Cozies and romance are always my go to when I'm stuck or I'm trying to decide which book to read next. This book is not as good as the first one but liked it anyway.