The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R15: SS Team 4 - 4ever Reading Books
Selection Post - Spot 58
Book: Sweep of the Heart
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 456
How it Fits: 5th in the Innkeeper Chronicles series
Completion PostWeek 8
Spot: 58
Series: Beachwood Harbor Magic Mystery #5
Book: Lucky Witch by Danielle Garrett
Qualification: Book 5
Read: 4/7/24
Rating: ✶✶✶✶
Review:
Book 4 ended in a way I had to read book 5 quickly. I needed to know what happened to Nick, a newly made werewolf in Beachwood Harbor. There were some surprises in the story. But mostly this is a light, paranormal cozy. I enjoy the odd, colorful characters in the town. And the ultra light romances for Holly. This is a fun and entertaining series.
Week 8 completionSpot 58
Alternate..furniture on cover
Blue Christmas
Viva Gold
150 pgs
9 april
Fits ..chair on cover ( can see back of it where model sitting)
4.5 stars
This was a cute fairytale christmas story of Elvis ( a totally adorable & OTT salesman at an upmarket shoe shoe )
Loads of laughs as he tries.to.win the love of the owner of the retail park..Jonah 😍
Hey everyone. This week hasn't gone the way I planned. (insert eye roll) I'll have my book finished but not til Friday night sometime. I'm so sorry. It will get done tho. Just letting yall know.
No worries, Kayla! Life gets in the way of reading sometimes. 🙂
Completion Post - Spot 58
Book: Sweep of the Heart
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 456
How it Fits: 5th in the Innkeeper Chronicles series
Read: 4/11/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Dina and Sean are happily running the Gertrude Hunt Inn for Intergalactic visitors when Sean’s mentor, Wilmos is kidnapped. To free him they have to host a Bachelor contest for the Sovereign of the Seven Star Dominion. The cut is down to 12 and they are put through various tests to impress the Sovereign and then go on dates with him. Amongst all this the candidates are trying to kill each other. This part is very drawn out with lots of detail. The rest of the book deals with the actual rescue of Wilmos. There are some great characters, we find out about Caldenia’s crime and its reason, and there is a side romance. Good story but a little too long.
WEEK 8 | SPOT #58 - COMPLETION POST
Rebels of the Rink. BY Hayden Hall
How it Fits: Arctic Titans of Northwood U #5
Read: 4/12
Rating: 3 stars
219 p
Review: This was an easy but slightly boring read. Seb and Tyler were inevitable, the temporary breakup was unnecessary, and the ending was meh.
Completion PostSpot #58
Book: Wicked Wings
Author: Keri Arthur
Pages: 330
How it Fits: (#5 Lizzie Grace)
Date Read: Apr 12 ★★★✰✰
Review: Keri Arthur has created an interesting supernatural world set in rural Australia. Supernaturals are confined to reservations that are controlled by government appointed witches. The over-reaching story arc is continuing and more of Lizzie’s past is revealed. Once again the mystery is really interesting, with an unusual villain. Lizzie’s relationship with Aiden is probably the only fly in the ointment for me, there is such emphasis on “he is a werewolf and he has to mate with another werewolf, so this relationship with a witch is only temporary.” By the end of book #5, I am over it. Although, as I like the rest of the characters, I will probably continue the series. 3.5 stars.
Alright I'm done. I'm gonna quick write my review then all the things. Thanks so much for being understanding.
Week 8 Spot 58 
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis
Pages: 347
How it fits: 5th in Wildstone Series
Date Read: 4/12/24
Rating- 3.5 stars
Review: I started this series years ago and this was the perfect opportunity to keep it going. I absolutely adored this book about friendship. There were so many little twists and turns that it kept me interested. Eli and Brynn were friends from camp but hadn't seen each other in a decade or more. Kinsey and Brynn were enemies at the same summer camp. Eli and Kinsey were chosen family their entire lives. Yes this fun amazing little trio find ways for find their friendships after year and years of time between.
Week 8 Spot 58 Reviews Kayla- The Summer Deal (5th in series) Review
Loriidae- Wicked Wings (5th in a series) Review
Taya- Rebels of the Rink (5th in series) Review
Linda- Sweep of the Heart (5th in a series) Review
Janeylou- Blue Christmas
(Furniture on the cover) Review Geri- Lucky Witch (5th in a series) Review
Week -9 Previous spot: 58
Roll: 6 + 3 = 9
New Spot: 67
How it fits: 6th in a series, 7th in a series, 67th in a series, or the alternate: 67: Set in Africa
Selection Post - Spot 67
Book: Ruby Fever
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 380
How it Fits: #6 in the Hidden Legacy series
Kayla wrote: " Week -9 Previous spot: 58
Roll: 6 + 3 = 9
New Spot: 67
How it fits: 6th in a series, 7th in a series, 67th in a series, or the alternate: 67: Set in Africa"
Im going to have to go hunting
Completion PostWeek 9
Spot: 67
Series: Demonica #6, Lords of Deliverance #1 https://www.goodreads.com/series/4538...
Book: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione
Qualification: Book 6
Read: 4/16/24
Rating: ✶✶✶✶
Review:
This was a great continuation of the Demonica series. The Four Horseman/Lords of Deliverance is still set in the Demonica universe, but adds even more characters to the battle to save the world. I really enjoyed this book. It had all the things I enjoy most in paranormal romance, plenty of action and excitement, passion and an interesting fantasy world. I am so looking forward to the next book!
Geri wrote: "Completion PostWeek 9 Spot: 67 Series: Demonica #6, Lords of Deliverance #1
Book: Eternal Rider by..."
Great review. I have looked at this series many times over the years, maybe it's time to try it, as I am currently in a PNR phase.
Week 9 | Spot 67 - completion post
Book: If We Could Go Back by Cara Dee
how it fits : Series - Camassia Cove, #6
Pages: 367
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
If you are not comfortable with reading about cheating, then this book might not be for you. However, it's one of my favorite rereads. The book has a nice flow, and it portrays the angst of making adult friends in a realistic manner. I appreciate that the story spans over the years, and not everything happens in a matter of weeks. It's not a quick hello to the love of my life with no backstory. The author shows their life outside of their bubble, although Kiernan is mostly told after the fact. This is my only issue with the book, but overall, it's a good read. Otherwise, good read.
Completion post..week 9Spot 67
Alternate..set in Africa
Nowhere to Hide
J.P. Bowie
149 pgs
15 april
Fits ..set in dafur , which is in Sudan, North Africa
A little bit OTT for me . And american doctor Mark & australian soldier Jack meet while mark working at a refugee camp .Mark gets kinapped , Jack rescues him, Mark gets kidnapped again, Jack comes to the rescue again..not for me
Week 9 Spot 67 
Obsession by Stuart Woods
Pages 320
Date Finished: 4/15/24
How it Fits: Teddy Fay #6
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I have quickly fallen in love with Teddy Fay. Teddy was introduced while reading the Holly Baker series by Stuart Woods. I loved his character so much I quickly dove into his series. This personally wasn't one of my favorites of this series but still so good. There were so many twists and turn. I enjoyed following his story line as always.
Completion Post
Book: Catch Her Death
Author: Melinda Leigh
Pages: 304
How it Fits: #7 Bree Taggert
Date Read: Apr 19 ★★★★✰
Review
Catch Her Death was a excellent addition to the Bree Taggert Series. Bree has to work against the clock to clear her best friend after she is charged with murder. The story swiftly morphed into three intertwining plots, with Bree's attention split. I really enjoyed the addition of new secondary characters in the K-9 team. I liked the narrator as well.
Completion Post - Spot 67
Book: Ruby Fever
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 380
Rating: 5 stars
Read: 4/19/24
How it Fits: #6 in the Hidden Legacy series
Review: This is final volume in the second trilogy within the Hidden Legacy series featuring Catalina. When her boss is attacked she has to fill his role and handle all the complications affecting the magic population in Texas. And a lot of them pop up. I think every past major character appears here and gets involved in some way and past unresolved issues get attention especially the stolen Osiris serum.
Of course a few things have to be left open so there is room for Arabella to have her time (please), but nothing that would leave anyone disappointed with this volume. (No cliff hangers)
Week 9 Reviews Linda: Ruby Fever (6th in a series) Review
Loriidae: Catch Her Death (7th in a series) Review
Kayla: Obsession (6th in series) Review
Janeylou: Nowhere to Hide (Alternate: Africa) Review
Taya: If We Could Go Back (6th in a series) Review
Geri: Eternal Rider (6th in a series) Review
Week 10 Previous spot: 67
Dice Roll: 4 + 3 = 7
New Spot: 74
7th in a series, 4th in a series, 74th in a series, or the alternate: Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
Im not sure if its been done yet or not but i can do both this week .. have a few 4th in series with hats
It has not been done yet that I know of.
Is there anyone who hasn't picked from the alternate list besides me?
I haven't either, but that will probably change as we get into the higher numbers.
sweet. I'm gonna need to grab from the alternate list perhaps this week. Too many books so little time. hahaha
I haven't used the alternatives list also, but I already did one of the bonus point tasks
Selection Post - Spot 74
Book: Avion
Author: Eve Langlais
Pages: 178
How it Fits: #7 in the Cyborgs: More Than Machines series
I’ll read
Book 7 in Winston Brothers series.
Completion Post - Spot 74
Book: Avion
Author: Eve Langlais
Pages: 178
Rating: 3 stars
Read: 4/21/24
How it Fits: #7 in the Cyborgs: More Than Machines series
Review: Military made and controlled cyborgs have had their restraints severed by a freak phenomenon and are now gathering and staying away from those wanting to destroy them, while locating more of their kind. They are also trying to find a place to safely settle. In this volume, the last in the series, Avion, locates a prisoner whom he can connect to mentally, but it takes some time for him to rescue her. She is called One and is caged for being unstable and uncontrollable. But their connection is at risk because Avion has had his brain communicator destroyed and his nanotechnology is dying, and his physical systems are dying. One thinks she can save him by going back to the source of nanotechnology. Lots of space action and romance along the way. A creative ending to the series which I didn’t see coming.
Completion PostWeek 10
Spot: 74
Series: Winston Brothers #7
Book: Beard Necessities by Penny Reid
Qualification: Book 7
Read: 4/24/24
Rating: ✶✶✶✶
Review:
It was great to finally read Billy and Claire’s second chance romance. Book 6 was part 1 of their story, when they were teens. Now, they are grown, and the Winston Brothers and their wives are helping to get the two together. This was an emotional and passionate story. It was nice to get an HEA for Billy and Claire. I really enjoyed this series, and will definitely reread it from the beginning later.
Week 10 completionSpot 74
Alternate ..headwear on cover &
#4 in series
Foxe Fire
Haley Walsh
280 pgs
24 april
Fits # 4 in Skylar Foxe series
Fits helmet on cover
Skylar once again gets himself tangled up with another mystery and drags his friends along to.
Great bunch of friends who have lits of laughs together ..love this series ❤️
Completion PostSpot: 74
Book: The Gathering Storm
Author: Lynne McEwan
Pages: 316
How it Fits: #4 Detective Shona Oliver
Date Read: Apr 25 ★★★✰✰
Review:
Detective Inspector Shona Oliver is sidelined to serve as a security guard on a film set. Shona sees the assignment as a demotion and a complete waste of time until one of the actors is murdered. Once again McEwan winds together seemingly unrelated incidents into a cohesive and engaging mystery. McEwan combines small town police work with environmental concerns and smuggling, alll set in what appears to be a realistic slice of Scottish life. 3.75 stars.
Week 10 | Spot#47 - Completion Post Sinnerman by Mary Calmes
How it Fits: Series - Warders #4
150p
4/26/24
Review
Raphael's matter-of-fact way of speaking is refreshing to me. I like how he wormed his way into becoming claimed. The book has a nice flow, and I love to reread it several times throughout the years.
Week 10- Spot 74 
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery
How it fits: Hat on the cover
Pages: 448
Rating- 3.5 stars
Finished: 4/26/24
Review: I thought this book was so cute and sweet. It was such an easy read. I've been a fan of almost all of Susan Mallery books because of this reason. There were a few things that I started to guess when I first started reading. Like who I wanted everyone to end up with. There was one couple that is didn't want to end up together and thought he was cheating on her. I was wrong about half of it but the other half I was spot on. hahaha I really enjoyed this one and I kinda hope she writes another one to see how the characters are doing down the road. I'd absolutely recommend this to a friend who is in need of a light hearted read.
Week 10 Reviews Kayla: The Boardwalk Bookshop (Alternate: Hat on the cover) Review
Taya- Sinnerman (4th in a series) Review
Loriidae- The Gathering Storm (4th in a series) Review
Janeylou- Foxe Fire (Alternate: Helmet on cover and #4 in series) Review Bonus Point 2 in 1
Geri- Beard Necessities (7th in series) Review
Linda- Avion (7th in a series) Review
All Bonus Points: 2
Week 11: Previous Spot: 74
Dice Roll: 4 + 5 = 9
New Spot: 83
8th in a series, 3rd in a series, 83rd in a series, or the alternate: Main Character Travels on an Airplane
Selection Post - Spot 83
Book: Immortal in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Pages: 296
How It Fits: #3 in the In Death series
Completion PostWeek 11
Spot: 83
Series: NA, read for alternate option
Book: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
Qualification: MC travels on a plane from Paris to Los Angeles.
Read: 5/1/24
Rating: ✶✶✶
Review:
I really loved The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. So I was looking forward to this book. I enjoyed this book. But it wasn’t as great as the other book. Christa was a little quirky. I checked at her a few times. The romance between her and Nate was low key and sweet. Mostly, though, this was a family story about Christa’s father returning to his family over 20 years later, when the family thought he was dead. The surprise at the end about Christa’s father wasn’t very surprising. A solid 3 star read.
Week 11 Spot 83
Alternate...Main Character Travels on an Airplane
Honeymoon for One
Keira Andrews
286 pgs
1 may
Fits..Ethan flies to Australia to celebrate what should have been his honeymoon on his own
Super sweet , very little angst, two really nice MCs who you are cheering on right from the start. Just makes you feel good all over 😍
SS - Week Eleven - Spot #83 Alternate Task: Main Character Travels on an Airplane
Geri: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman Review (Alternate)
Janeylou: Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews Review (Alternate)
Kayla: Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich Review (#8 in series)
lorii: Chaos Reigning by Jessie Mihalik Review (#3 in series)
Linda C: The Medusa Game by Cindy Dees Review (#3 in series)
Taya: Duty & Devotion by Tere Michaels Review (#3 in series)
Completion Post
Book: Chaos Reigning
Author: Jessie Mihalik
Pages: 416
How it Fits: #3 Consortium Rebellion
Date Read: May 2 ★★★★✰
Review:
This was a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. It was Space Opera at its best. There were elite soldiers and strong heroines who engineered their own destiny despite their autocratic father. Chaos Reigning is Cat and Alex’s story. Each book is a separate couple, but the story arc over reaches all three books. Alex and Cat continue to unravel the political intrigues behind the kidnapping of Cat's brother that occurred in book #2. There is non-stop action, heavy with sexual tension. 4.5 stars
Changed my book. I had planned to read book 2 then 3 of the other series, but it wasn't possible. So I changed to another series with a #3 that I had up next.
Completion Post - Spot 83
Book: The Medusa Game
Author: Cindy Dees
Pages: 304
Rating: 4 stars
How It Fits: #3 in the Medusa Project series
Read: 5/2/24
Review: Isabella, a member of the Medusa Project, an all-female Special Forces team in the U.S. Air Force, is assigned to guard a figure skater in the Olympics. The girl is Muslim but raised in Australia in a more liberal manner. The moderate ruler of her home country has allowed her to represent the country in the Olympics, but the conservative Muslim community is opposed, and things may become violent towards her. She needs to be prepared for anything. But things get more complicated rapidly.
Lots of action throughout, especially females showing their stuff under male skepticism. Male MC is in a superior military position. The underlying plot was good, and the female team was great.
The information around the Muslim ideology was interesting but not sure how much of it was exact as often things were explained as 'some sects interpreted it this way and some another'. I think the author may have been hedging her bets against saying things wrong. The female MC who came from Mexican Catholicism and Iranian Muslim upbringing was opposed to the female control and expectations of both cultures.
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Duty & Devotion (other topics)Duty & Devotion (other topics)
Hard Eight (other topics)
The Medusa Game (other topics)
Hard Eight (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Tere Michaels (other topics)Tere Michaels (other topics)
Janet Evanovich (other topics)
Cindy Dees (other topics)
Cindy Dees (other topics)
More...
Previous Spot: 50
Dice Roll: 3 + 5 = 8
New Spot: 58
5th in a series, 8th in a series, 58th in a series or the alternate
58. Cover Item: Furniture