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R15: SS Team 1 - Ready Reader One
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Samantha
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Mar 31, 2024 04:43AM
I can roll since I have this week off ☺️
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My book is ready to be picked up from the library, so going to start reading it today!
Completion Post - Week 7Space: 49
Book: Wilted Orchid
Date Read: 4/1
Rating: 3 stars
How it works: Mafia Wars #4
Review: I hate to say it, but Valentina forgave wayyyyyyyy too easily. Sal's actions were something that would be really hard for most people to come back from. And his reasoning was really crappy. I knew, based on how many pages were left, that Val was going to forgive and move forward without any real show of remorse on his part. It wasn't much more than, "I'm sorry. I did what I thought was right. And, by the way, here's the reason I hate your father and have been taking it out on you." It was BS. I liked her until that point. That's why it only got 3 stars. Or maybe more like 2.5, but rounded up instead of down.
Mama's Ready Reader One Completion Post 
Week #7 ~ Spot #49
Book ~ Long Lost 3.5* ✔️ 4/2
Author ~ Lexi Blake
Pages ~ 336 pages
How qualifies ~ Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #4
Review ~ I liked it. And of course it's Lexi Blake so I got to see a bunch of my favorite characters. I love how she keeps them all in and out of each other's lives. I wanted Tucker's book to be better. Maybe I was just in the mood for a darker book. Maybe it was that I thought his character would have a darker story. Maybe it was because my last Lexi Blake book was off the charts.
I know this makes it sound like I didn't like the book or I was mad about it. That's not the case at all. I just don't think it meant my expectations as much as I was hoping it was going to. Mainly because he was supposed to be this real bad bad character and he wasn't. And I can't say too much or give too much away because if I do it will be a big spoiler.
These books have to be read in order. They are a spin-off of the main series and they have to be read along with that other Series in the order they're supposed to be. Because there is a big story arc and if you Skip One book, you will be lost. I think the next book we will finally get rid of this big bad and a new one will pop up. Let's hope so anyway cause I'm getting tired of Levi Green.
I’ve been having a good week - extremely thankful to have some time off to get some important time-consuming tasks done. I picked up 3 different books within 24 hours 🙃, but finished one already. Looking to make a bunch of progress on my book for this challenge today and tomorrow. I’m reading The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore.
Completion post. Week #6 Week #6: Spot 49
Book: The Tyrant’s Tomb
Pages: 439
How it fits: #4 in Trials of Apollo
Rating: 5/5
Nostalgia!!! I remember how it felt to go to school and read Rick's books in the afternoon. It just has everything: good plot, nice arcs, amazing characters and it's just so fun to read.
Completion Post:Week 6Alternate 'P'
Book/AuthorPoison Study/Maria V. Snyder
Pages: 361
How it fits: Alternate 'P'
Dates Read:April 1-4, 2024
Rating 5 stars
Review:
Yelena Zaltana was imprisoned in a dungeon and sentenced to be executed for killing the son of a general. Never mind that this General (Brazell) and his son, Reyad had tortured her. According to the laws of Ixia, the next to be executed could become the food taster for the Commander (Ambrose). Valek, the Commander's Chief of Security, taught and tested her in the art of becoming the food taster. She is a quick study and not only is she loyal to Valek, but the Commander as well. She excels in her position and they end up falling in love.
She is selected for a 'fugitive hunt' as training for the soldiers, winning the loyalty of Ari and Janco by putting in a favorable word to the Commander for them and they are granted a promotion. They teach her how to fight so she can defend herself, which comes in handy later on.
A little about Yelena, she was an orphan in General Brazell's manor among others. Near the end of the story, we find out that the children were kidnapped from Sitia, a bordering country/district, who were magicians. and they were taken because of the magician Mogkan whose name was Kangom. He came to the General's home with the children and used them as a source of magic to become powerful and to overthrow the Commander. The Sitian leader, Irys, comes to the palace to meet with the Commander, and she tells Yelena more about her magic, which she did not realize she had.
Yelena has to go back to the manor where she was tortured and has to relive the horrors of her captors again, but this time she exposes the General for planning to overthrow the Commander and also for saving his life. She and the other 'orphans' go with Irys back to Sitia, where they will learn how to control their magic.
I found this book hard to put down. I think I had started reading it once before and then had to return it to the library and never finished...until now. I thought that Yelena's character developed throughout the story and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
So are we just waiting on Samantha & Michelle to roll?
Week 7 Spot 49
Book - Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by
Author - Seanan McGuire
Date - 4/5/24
Week 7
Spot - 49
Rating - 3 Stars
How it fits - Wayward Children Series #9
Review - With the dinosaurs on the cover I was hoping this would have been better than it was. I'm sad to say I was really disappointed. There was very little action and what was there was not really all that great. You would think running from dinosaurs would be more exciting, but it was short lived and overshadowed by too much repetitive dialogue between the characters about the same old issue. If it wasn't for the one chapter Sumi this would have been sadly, a 1 star rating.
WEEK 7 SPOT 49 COMPLETION POSTSLAURA
Book - Wilted Orchid
Author - Loxley Savage
Date Read: 4/1
Rating: 3 stars
How it works: Mafia Wars #4
Review: I hate to say it, but Valentina forgave wayyyyyyyy too easily. Sal's actions were something that would be really hard for most people to come back from. And his reasoning was really crappy. I knew, based on how many pages were left, that Val was going to forgive and move forward without any real show of remorse on his part. It wasn't much more than, "I'm sorry. I did what I thought was right. And, by the way, here's the reason I hate your father and have been taking it out on you." It was BS. I liked her until that point. That's why it only got 3 stars. Or maybe more like 2.5, but rounded up instead of down
MAMACITA
Book - Long Lost
Author - Lexi Blake
Week #7 ~ Spot #49
Read - 4/2/24
Pages ~ 336 pages
How qualifies ~ Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #4
Review ~ I liked it. And of course it's Lexi Blake so I got to see a bunch of my favorite characters. I love how she keeps them all in and out of each other's lives. I wanted Tucker's book to be better. Maybe I was just in the mood for a darker book. Maybe it was that I thought his character would have a darker story. Maybe it was because my last Lexi Blake book was off the charts.
I know this makes it sound like I didn't like the book or I was mad about it. That's not the case at all. I just don't think it meant my expectations as much as I was hoping it was going to. Mainly because he was supposed to be this real bad bad character and he wasn't. And I can't say too much or give too much away because if I do it will be a big spoiler.
These books have to be read in order. They are a spin-off of the main series and they have to be read along with that other Series in the order they're supposed to be. Because there is a big story arc and if you Skip One book, you will be lost. I think the next book we will finally get rid of this big bad and a new one will pop up. Let's hope so anyway cause I'm getting tired of Levi Green.
MICHELLE
Book - The Tyrant’s Tomb
Author - Rick Riordan
Pages: 439
How it fits: #4 in Trials of Apollo
Rating: 5/5
Nostalgia!!! I remember how it felt to go to school and read Rick's books in the afternoon. It just has everything: good plot, nice arcs, amazing characters and it's just so fun to read.
STORMIE
Book - Poison Study
Author - Maria V. Snyder
Pages: 361
How it fits: Alternate 'P'
Dates Read:April 1-4, 2024
Rating 5 stars
Review:
Yelena Zaltana was imprisoned in a dungeon and sentenced to be executed for killing the son of a general. Never mind that this General (Brazell) and his son, Reyad had tortured her. According to the laws of Ixia, the next to be executed could become the food taster for the Commander (Ambrose). Valek, the Commander's Chief of Security, taught and tested her in the art of becoming the food taster. She is a quick study and not only is she loyal to Valek, but the Commander as well. She excels in her position and they end up falling in love.
She is selected for a 'fugitive hunt' as training for the soldiers, winning the loyalty of Ari and Janco by putting in a favorable word to the Commander for them and they are granted a promotion. They teach her how to fight so she can defend herself, which comes in handy later on.
A little about Yelena, she was an orphan in General Brazell's manor among others. Near the end of the story, we find out that the children were kidnapped from Sitia, a bordering country/district, who were magicians. and they were taken because of the magician Mogkan whose name was Kangom. He came to the General's home with the children and used them as a source of magic to become powerful and to overthrow the Commander. The Sitian leader, Irys, comes to the palace to meet with the Commander, and she tells Yelena more about her magic, which she did not realize she had.
Yelena has to go back to the manor where she was tortured and has to relive the horrors of her captors again, but this time she exposes the General for planning to overthrow the Commander and also for saving his life. She and the other 'orphans' go with Irys back to Sitia, where they will learn how to control their magic.
I found this book hard to put down. I think I had started reading it once before and then had to return it to the library and never finished...until now. I thought that Yelena's character developed throughout the story and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
MICHELLE
Book - Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by
Author - Seanan McGuire
Date - 4/5/24
Week 7
Spot - 49
Rating - 3 Stars
How it fits - Wayward Children Series #9
Review - With the dinosaurs on the cover I was hoping this would have been better than it was. I'm sad to say I was really disappointed. There was very little action and what was there was not really all that great. You would think running from dinosaurs would be more exciting, but it was short lived and overshadowed by too much repetitive dialogue between the characters about the same old issue. If it wasn't for the one characyer, Sumi, this would have been sadly, a 1 star rating.
SAMANTHA
Book - The Crystal Shard
Author - R.A. Salvatore
Date: 4/5/24
Pages: 344
Rating: ****
How it fits: The Legend of Drizzt series #4
Review: I absolutely love the Drizzt series and was so happy to have the opportunity to keep reading it. This was the start of a new series within a series, so there was a lot more building going on at the beginning that I wasn't expecting, so it was a little slow. As the book goes on, the action picks up and, of course, get to see more of Drizzt interacting with others and building those relationships, which is one of the things I love most about this series. It's not Brandon Sanderson, but is just as enjoyable a read.
Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "So are we just waiting on Samantha & Michelle to roll?"I just posted and Samantha still has quite a bit of time before the deadline.
BONUS POINTSTo use or not to use or shall we wait till Samantha rolls and then we can discuss?
I think we should wait to see the roll.
Laura wrote: "I think we should wait to see the roll."I agree
Sorry for the delay! Been doing some serious reading and just haven’t updated. Give me about an hour and I should be ready 🥰
Unless the alternate is a really awful task, I think bonus points don’t need to be used unless the second number in our space is over 5. It’s the 6-9s that are harder. Otherwise, we save them until we’re in the 80s or 90s. Keeping in mind that we can’t use them to put us over 100.
Samantha wrote: "Sorry for the delay! Been doing some serious reading and just haven’t updated. Give me about an hour and I should be ready 🥰"No problem. We still have about 6 hours.
Week 7 Completion Post
Book: The Crystal Shard
Author: R.A. Salvatore
Date: 4/5/24
Pages: 344
Rating: ****
How it fits: The Legend of Drizzt series #4
Review: I absolutely love the Drizzt series and was so happy to have the opportunity to keep reading it. This was the start of a new series within a series, so there was a lot more building going on at the beginning that I wasn't expecting, so it was a little slow. As the book goes on, the action picks up and, of course, get to see more of Drizzt interacting with others and building those relationships, which is one of the things I love most about this series. It's not Brandon Sanderson, but is just as enjoyable a read.
I rolled 8, so 57 mates. What do we think?Alternative task is
57. Published 2016-2020
I'm good with what the majority would like to do.
To make that better for those of us reading series, we would need to use too many bonus points, in my opinion. I vote to stay where we are.
I usually keep vampire hours so I will keep checking back to see what the verdict will be.
I agree - we would have to use too many bonus points to make it an easier number. Plus the alternative task is a relatively easy one to pick. I’m cool with staying at 57
I am also okay with staying at 57.
I'm going to read The Conference of the Birds which is #5 in The Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Series.
Mod
You absolutely can, though!
I thought we couldn’t. That’s good to know!
I’m going to be reading Lady Friday (#5 of the Keys to the Kingdom series) by Garth Nix
I will be reading Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare published in 2016.This will take me a few days, it is over 600 pages.
Mama's Ready Reader One Completion Post 
Week #7 ~ Spot #57
Book ~ Wicked Bite 4.5* ✔️ 4/11
Author ~ Rebecca Zanetti
Pages ~ 297 pages
How qualifies ~ Realm Enforcers Series #5
Review ~ so we finally found out who was behind the manufacturing of the Apollo drug that was made to kill all the witches and why. This was the only book in realm enforceers that I really like. I just been really sick this week and totally could not concentrate so it took me a while to read it and do my review. I was worried that Bear wasn't going to get a book because he's a shifter not a witch. Noone of the Shifters have had books yet. Here's hoping Bear's half-brother, Flynn the Dragon gets a book.
Realm Enforcers Series are all about the witches. It's actually a spin-off of Dark Protectors Series that starts fitting in after book #7. I'm actually on #11 now in that series and it's wearing on me. I'll be so glad when I'm through these next couple of books. I'm looking forward to Garrett's book and Hope's book which is #15 & #16.
Still listening to my book. I should be done tomorrow.
Completion Post - Week 8Space: 57
Book: Blaze of Wrath
Date Read: 4/11
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: Phoenix Rising #5
Review: It's been awhile since I read book 4, but I was able to pick it right back up. I really enjoy the characters, although this book focused a lot on events, and not a lot on characters. I have loved seeing Nix healing and learning how to be in relationships despite her past trauma/abuse. This one felt a bit rushed, but based on that ending, I think the authors were trying to get us to the next book. Which wasn't a bad thing, but I missed the hanging out.
Completion Post - Week 8
Space: 57
Book: Lady Friday
Author: Garth Nix
Date Finished: 4/11/24
Rating: ***
How it fits: Keys to the Kingdom #5
Review: This book was all right. Lady Friday wasn't mentioned (really) at all throughout the series, so there really wasn't any build-up to her character or her interactions in the House. It was interesting to see how things turn for Arthur (not going into details because spoilers) and I'm curious to see how it plays out for the rest of the series. On top of that, there has been a lot of mention of Saturday and she really seems to be the head of the operation (or at least the active head), so I'm looking forward to reading the next book. Hopefully it's more action-packed like the first couple books.
Still reading my book, I may do a shorter one as I am not sure this will be done in time today.
Completion post. Week #8Week #8: Spot 57
Book: Jane in Love
Pages: 434
How it fits: Published between 2016-2020
Rating: 5/5
I'm a huge fan of famous writers in modern day settings. This book feels like a huge great fanfiction in a way.
Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Mama's Ready Reader One Completion Post Week #7 ~ Spot #57
Book ~ Wicked Bite 4.5* ✔️ 4/11
Author ~ Rebecca Zanetti
Pages ~ 297..."
Don't forget to add your review!
Week 8 Spot 57
Book - The Conference of the Birds by
Author - Ransom Riggs
Date - 4/12/24
Week 8
Spot - 57
Rating - 5 Stars
How it fits - Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #5
Review - Jacob and the crew are still trying to save peculiardom from the wights, hollowgasts, and a peculiar named Caul. But now they have a new peculiar as part of their group named Noor, who is also who is part of the prophecy. Jacob and Noor are a couple and they are honestly kinda cute. I was sad when he and Emma broke up in the last book, but it was for the best. The next book is the last in the series and I'm a bit sad. I love this world and I also love the photo's that are included in the book.
WEEK 8 SPOT 57 COMPLETION POSTS MAMACITA
Book - Wicked Bite
Author - Rebecca Zanetti
Rating - 4.5*
Date Read - 4/11/24
Pages ~ 297 pages
How qualifies ~ Realm Enforcers Series #5
Review ~ so we finally found out who was behind the manufacturing of the Apollo drug that was made to kill all the witches and why. This was the only book in realm enforceers that I really like. I just been really sick this week and totally could not concentrate so it took me a while to read it and do my review. I was worried that Bear wasn't going to get a book because he's a shifter not a witch. Noone of the Shifters have had books yet. Here's hoping Bear's half-brother, Flynn the Dragon gets a book.
Realm Enforcers Series are all about the witches. It's actually a spin-off of Dark Protectors Series that starts fitting in after book #7. I'm actually on #11 now in that series and it's wearing on me. I'll be so glad when I'm through these next couple of books. I'm looking forward to Garrett's book and Hope's book which is #15 & #16
LAURA
Book - Blaze of Wrath
Author - Quinn Arthurs
Date Read: 4/11
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: Phoenix Rising #5
Review: It's been awhile since I read book 4, but I was able to pick it right back up. I really enjoy the characters, although this book focused a lot on events, and not a lot on characters. I have loved seeing Nix healing and learning how to be in relationships despite her past trauma/abuse. This one felt a bit rushed, but based on that ending, I think the authors were trying to get us to the next book. Which wasn't a bad thing, but I missed the hanging out.
SAMANTHA
Book - Lady Friday
Author - Garth Nix
Date Finished: 4/11/24
Rating: ***
How it fits: Keys to the Kingdom #5
Review: This book was all right. Lady Friday wasn't mentioned (really) at all throughout the series, so there really wasn't any build-up to her character or her interactions in the House. It was interesting to see how things turn for Arthur (not going into details because spoilers) and I'm curious to see how it plays out for the rest of the series. On top of that, there has been a lot of mention of Saturday and she really seems to be the head of the operation (or at least the active head), so I'm looking forward to reading the next book. Hopefully it's more action-packed like the first couple books.
Michelle
Book - Jane in Love
Author - Rachel Givney
Pages: 434
How it fits: Published between 2016-2020
Rating: 5/5
I'm a huge fan of famous writers in modern day settings. This book feels like a huge great fanfiction in a way.
MICHELLE
Week 8 Spot 57
Book - The Conference of the Birds by
Author - Ransom Riggs
Date - 4/12/24
Week 8
Spot - 57
Rating - 5 Stars
How it fits - Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #5
Review - Jacob and the crew are still trying to save peculiardom from the wights, hollowgasts, and a peculiar named Caul. But now they have a new peculiar as part of their group named Noor, who is also who is part of the prophecy. Jacob and Noor are a couple and they are honestly kinda cute. I was sad when he and Emma broke up in the last book, but it was for the best. The next book is the last in the series and I'm a bit sad. I love this world and I also love the photo's that are included in the book.
STORMIE
Book - Verity
Author - Colleen Hoover
Rating 5 stars
How it fits: published in 2018
Review:
Lowen is on her way to a meeting when she sees someone hit and killed by a vehicle. She is covered in his blood and a man stops to help her by taking her to a coffee shop so that she can clean herself up. He gives her his shirt to wear as hers is covered in blood. She manages to make her meeting on time only to discover she was told to be there a half-hour earlier. The meeting is with the man she met on the street who gave her his shirt. His name is Jeremy Crawford. He wants to hire her to finish his wife's, Verity, contract with the publisher.
Lowen Ashleigh is a writer, but she has spent the last six months taking care of her mother who had cancer. She has no money coming in and is about to be evicted from her apartment. She agrees to finish out the series that Verity started. So, she goes with Jeremy to Vermont to go through his wife's office so that she can get started. Jeremy's wife had an accident and is catatonic (or so they think). While she is trying to find Verity's notes, she comes across a manuscript that is an autobiography with some damaging confessions.
Jeremy and Verity had twins Chastin and Harper. Verity was jealous that Jeremy loved the girls more than her. But she came to love Chastin more while he loved Harper more. Both girls had died, Chastin from a peanut allergy, and Harper was drowned. Harper had Aspbergers, but she still felt that she killed Chastin. Verity had tied to kill Harper when she was a baby by sticking her fingers in her mouth, but was almost caught by Jeremy. They had a son, Crew, who had a bit of psychotic or is it sociopathic tendencies as well. Anyway, Lowen starts to get creeped out, because she correctly suspects that Verity is faking her condition. Jeremy doesn't believe her at first, but then he sees that she is faking.
Jeremy and Lowen end up falling in love and having a girl, Nova. They move to North Carolina, he changes his last name to Ashleigh and Lowen writes under the pen name of Laura Chase. Crew kept saying his mother told him not to tell Lowen anything if she asked questions, which, combined with the autobiography, Lowen suspected she was faking it.
Verity had plans to leave once the advance for the book came in as Lowen was co-writer and Jeremy would be paying her. But they did not know that Verity had opened up a checking account online and planned to disappear with Crew once the money hit the account.
After showing the autobiography to Jeremy, he, along with Lowen kills Verity. He had tried to kill her before by driving into a tree and then placing her in the driver's seat, but she lived and recovered enough to be able to function well enough, but she had to keep up the act if she was leaving.
Jeremy and Lowen decide to leave Vermont and before they do, Crew wants to get the pictures he drew for his mother out of the floor in her room. So Lowen looks for them and then finds a letter in the floorboards to Jeremy. Verity says that the autobiography was an exercise, and Lowen feels bad for helping to murder her.
I read this book in a few hours it was that good! This is the second book of Hoover's that I have read, and now I try to read as many as I can.
@ Samantha - since you rolled for Michelle this week, will you be rolling again today?
Sorry that I am still behind. I have a major project that I have to finish today for a non-profit that I am with. I am not sure what time I have to have the review in, but I am trying to get the book finished so that I can get my review posted.
I think you have about 5 hours. It’s midnight Central Time. Unless I’m mixing up challenges.
Laura wrote: "I think you have about 5 hours. It’s midnight Central Time. Unless I’m mixing up challenges."You are correct.
Laura wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Mama's Ready Reader One Completion Post Week #7 ~ Spot #57
Book ~ Wicked Bite 4.5* ✔️ 4/11
Author ~ [author:Rebecca Z..."
Oh crap I totally forgot. Doing it now
Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Done"Thanks..I hope you are feeling better.
Stormie ~ Book Dragon ~ wrote: "Sorry that I am still behind. I have a major project that I have to finish today for a non-profit that I am with. I am not sure what time I have to have the review in, but I am trying to get the bo..."You have about 35 minutes left to get your review in. Technically 40, but I need that extra 5 minutes to post.
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