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R15: SS Team 5 - Serial Readers
Selection Post - Week 6Spot: 38
Task: Series book #3
Book/Author: Vanished by Tim Weaver
Qualification: David Raker #3
Pages: 483
Selection post- week 6Spot 38
Task: series book #3
by Rebecca ZanettiQualification: Laurel Snow #3
Pages: 354
Selection PostWeek 6 - Spot 38
Task: Series book #3
Book/Author: The Dragons of Archenfield by Edward Marston
How it fits: Domesday #3
Pages: 320
Week 6 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #3
Book/Author: Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: 3rd in the Wallflowers series
# of pgs: 368
Week 6 Selection PostLaura (2) | You Can Die | Rebecca Zanetti | Laurel Snow #3
Steph | Yes Please | Amy Poehler | Alternate: Title Y
Tory | The Dragons of Archenfield | Edward Marston | Domesday #3
Denise (mod) | It Ends with Knight | Yasmin Angoe | Nina Knight #3
Heli | Vanished | Tim Weaver | David Raker #3
Shan ~ A~ | Devil in Winter | Lisa Kleypas | Wallflowers #3
Completion postWeek 6 spot 38
Task: #3 in series
by Rebecca ZanettiPages: 354
Rating: 4 stars
Fits: # 3 in series
Review: This series just keeps getting better and better. Zanetti is great with suspense because the whole "Abigail" situation just keeps the reader guessing. Is she capable of murder? Maybe. Zanetti throws a twist in the relationship between Laurel and Huck that continues to make you root for them. Laurel's team is a great cast of secondary characters. Can't wait to read the next book.
Week 6 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #3
Book/Author: Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: 3rd in the Wallflowers series
# of pgs: 368
Finished: 03/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get past Sebastian's actions in the previous book, but witnessing his behavior with Evie definitely warmed me to him.
Even when he was acting like his arrogant self in the beginning he saw to her comfort, and it just got better from there.
I completely understand why Evie with to Sebastian even after what he did to Lillian. She was living in the house with people who were supposed to love her but were much worse than Sebastian. He was the lessor of two evils. Luckily, he turned out to be much better than expected.
And just to say it's been a while since I read Cam's story, but I didn't realize or I forget if it was mentioned, that he had a relationship with these characters. It was a nice surprise to see him here.
Mod
Week 6
Spot: 38
Task: #3 in series
Book: It Ends with Knight by Yasmin Angoe
Qualification: Nena Knight #3
Pages: 381
Finished: 24 Mar 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
The conclusion to this actionpacked trilogy which sees Nena grow into the leadership role she was thrust into following her mentor's betrayal, struggle through an unusual mission beset with difficulties, and confront one last ghost from her past. Seeing her stand up for herself against an assortment of assholes (both Cort and Noble very much included at various times in this book) was immensely satisfying, as was the book as a whole. A good ending for this trilogy - looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.
Week 6 Completion PostTask - Title Y
Book/Author - Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
Rating - 3 stars
Review - I felt like this book was really disorganized. This caused me to want to flip back and try to remember the order of events that happened in her life. Not a bad story overall, but i wasnt totally enrthalled the whole time either.
Completion post - Week 6Spot: 38
Task: #3 in series
Book: Vanished by Tim Weaver
Qualification: David Raker #3
Pages: 483
Finished: 3/26/24
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
David Raker is asked to search for a missing man, who stepped on a tube to go to work and was never seen again. Elsewhere the police investigate abductions of several men. The abductor leaves the hair of their victims behind.
I've liked the previous books in this series. There is nothing wrong with this book, but the storyline was not interesting enough for me. Often I could predict which way the story would turn, and that's why the mystery did not feel so intense. I also did not like that the book ended in a cliffhanger. There's no place for cliffhangers in a series like this, IMHO. Other than that, this was a good book about finding missing people and police procedural.
I had to change my book due to an inter-loan error. Luckily I hit up the library's book sale and hit the jackpot in Loren Estleman books. And it was a bag sale!Completion Post
Week 6
Spot: 38
Downriver by Loren D. Estleman
Qualification: Amos Walker #8
Pages: 214
Finished: 27 Mar 2024
Rating: ***
Review:
I'm a sucker for a historical novel set in Detroit. Throw in a detective and you've got me hook, line, and sinker. Especially when they feature the auto industry. This one had me caught from the beginning when a private eye goes to pick up an ex-inmate from Marquette prison. I did give a little side-eye when they ended up near (in?) Keweenaw Bay on their way from Marquette to Detroit. That would have been quite the detour. I appreciated the half-finished Zilwaukee Bridge getting a shout out.
Estleman knows how to write. He's great at setting the scene. The plot was pretty straight forward and predictable at times. There was a decent twist at the end. By the time we got there I was just waiting to see how the antagonist would get killed. I knew, being in a factory with the machinery just started back up, it would be something interesting and it didn't disappoint.
All in all I enjoyed it. It's a good, gritty noir.
Week 6 Completion PostLaura (2) | You Can Die | Rebecca Zanetti | Laurel Snow #3 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Steph | Yes Please | Amy Poehler | Alternate: Title Y | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Tory | Downriver | Loren D. Estleman | Amos Walker #8 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Denise (mod) | It Ends with Knight | Yasmin Angoe | Nina Knight #3 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Heli | Vanished | Tim Weaver | David Raker #3 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~ A~ | Devil in Winter | Lisa Kleypas | Wallflowers #3 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I love library sales. Ours do 0.50 a bag. Most of the books I own most likely came from one of those sales.
Week 7Dice Roll: 6+2=8
Previous Space: 38
New Space: 46
Task Options:
Series: #4, #6, #46
Alternate: Cover Item: One person
Week 7 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #4
Book/Author: Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: 4th in the Wallflowers series
# of pgs: 374
Week 7 ~ Selection PostTask: alternate cover item: 1 person
Book/Author: The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
How it fits: 1 person on the cover
Mod
Spot: 46
Task: #4 in series
Book: Westin's Prince by Jocelynn Drake
Qualification: Shadow Elite #4
Pages: 280
* Bonus: Starting and finishing a series
Selection Post - Week 7Spot: 46
Task: Series book #4
Book/Author: Gallows Rock by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #4
Pages: 416
Completion post - Week 7Spot: 46
Task: #4 in series
Book: Gallows Rock by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #4
Pages: 416
Finished: 3/30/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
A man is found murdered outside Reykjavik. When the police go to the victim's apartment, they find a four year old boy there. His parents are missing and he does not know why he is in the apartment. This was another enjoyable book in this series. The story unravels slowly and is rather awful. But this author has the ability to write a narrative that's also really entertaining and makes me smile. I absolutely love these characters and their relationships are the glue of the story.
Mod
Week 7
Spot: 46
Task: #4 in series
Book: Westin's Prince by Jocelynn Drake
Qualification: Shadow Elite #4
Pages: 280
Finished: 30 Mar 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I'm not usually a fan of the "inventing a whole new country and sticking it willy-nilly into the existing landscape, thus completely ignoring geopolitical realities" gimmick, nor do I care for too-good-to-be-true utopias... but once I just accepted that this is more Disney fairytale-land than realistic-ish thriller, never mind the guns and explosions, the story started to work for me. And much as I loved Kairo and Isidore, this was also my standout favourite among the couples in this series. The romance is sweet (almost too sweet, really) and I loved both protagonists and the way they related to each other.
Was this absolutely the most ridiculously unrealistic, cheesy, over the top book in this unrealistic, over the top series? Yes. Was it nevertheless my hands-down favourite? Also, very much yes.
* Bonus: Starting and finishing a series
Selection PostWeek 7 - Spot 46
Task: Series book #4
Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley
How it fits: Sisters Grimm #4
Pages: 296
Week 7 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #4
Book/Author: Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: 4th in the Wallflowers series
# of pgs: 374
Finished: 03/31
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Daisy is the last of the Wallflowers left on the marriage mart. Now her father has decided to put his foot down and gives her until the end of the season to find a husband or he wants her to marry Matthew Swift. His protege.
Daisy doesn't like Matthew. She remembers him as being this annoying, over ambitious guy.
Matthew didn't know he was being offered up for marriage until Daisy questions him, but he refuses to marry her. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he's afraid of what may happen if his past comes back to haunt him.
Too bad Daisy is more determined than he is.
I love that there was someone who knew Daisy before she came to England and loved her quirks and all. She deserved that. And I loved her willingness to stick with her decision, even though the person closest to her didn't agree.
This was a great closing to this series. I only wish the epilogue had showed a bit longer into their future.
Week 7 ~ Completion PostTask: alternate cover item: 1 person
Book/Author: The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
How it fits: 1 person on the cover
Rating - 2 stars
Review - i read a lot of good things about this book. I also waited weeks to be able to read this book. I honestly couldn't get into it at all. It felt so slow and so scattered. Halfway through i was just counting down the pages until i could be done with it.
I'm going to finish my book tomorrowI am traveling and have a 6 hr layover
Laura wrote: "I'm going to finish my book tomorrowI am traveling and have a 6 hr layover"
Awesome! Although you still have plenty of time.
Shan ~A~ wrote: "Laura wrote: "I'm going to finish my book tomorrowI am traveling and have a 6 hr layover"
Awesome! Although you still have plenty of time."
Just wanted to give a heads up
Completion post week 7Spot 46
Task: 4 th in series
by Catherine BybeeRead: April 4th
Pages: 363
Fits: 4 in series
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I enjoyed all the books in this series and this one was no different. Even though it was quick I enjoyed the romance and relationship between Ryan and Selena. Selena didn't lose her independence as they started to see each other more. I like that Bybee writes stories that are realistic as she shows us the relationship between Selena and her family which isn't perfect. I can't wait to read my next Bybee book.
Completion PostWeek 7
Spot: 46
Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley
Qualification: Sisters Grimm #4
Pages: 296
Finished: 4 Apr 2024
Rating: ***
Review:
This is going to repetitive, much like the series. The main character is still insanely obnoxious, the plot is thin. These books have so many interesting ideas, but throw them away for more teenage angst.
This one brought us to a new setting which brought us new characters. Characters that we barely get to see, as per usual. I liked the fairy crime family (the fairy godfathers), Sinbad was an interesting addition, Long John Silver and crew as Wall Street pirates was fun, Scrooge as a medium was definitely unexpected. The Wicked Witch robot was cool but such a short scene. The dwarfs were a neat addition.
There was a lot packed into this. I feel like there was so much
going on without much actually happening.
Much as I hate to admit it, I have to continue. I'm invested now.
Completion Post✅Laura (2) | The Whole Time | Catherine Bybee | The D'Angelos #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Steph | The Mars Room | Rachel Kushner | Alternate: Cover Item: One person | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Tory | Once Upon a Crime | Michael Buckley | Sisters Grimm #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Denise (mod) | Westin's Prince | Jocelynn Drake | Shadow Elite #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... | Bonus: Starting and finishing a series
✅Heli | Gallows Rock | Yrsa Sigurdardottir | Children's House #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Shan ~ A~ | Scandal in Spring | Lisa Kleypas | Wallflowers #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Week 8Dice Roll: 1+6=7
Previous Space: 46
New Space: 53
Task Options:
Series: #3, #5, #53
Alternate: Cover Item: Weapon
Week 8 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #3
Book/Author: The Trouble with Runaway Brides by Piper Rayne
How it fits: 3rd in the Lake Starlight series
# of pgs: 264
Week 8 ~ Selection PostTask: weapon on Cover
Book/Author: The Terminal List by Jack Carr
How it fits: There is a gun on the cover
Mod
Spot: 53
Task: Cover Item: Weapon
Book: Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore
Qualification: Knives on cover
Pages: 336
Selection Post - Week 8Spot: 53
Task: Series book #5
Book/Author: The Doll by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #5
Pages: 455
Completion post week 8Spot 53
Task : series 5 book
by Kendra ElliotPages: 380
Fits: 5 in series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I love this series. I'm happy Truman, Mercy & Ollie made huge character appearances in this story. Lots of suspense and some action. The ending was definitely a surprise. I can't wait for the next book.
Mod
Week 8
Spot: 53
Task: Cover Item: Weapon
Book: Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore
Qualification: Knives on cover
Pages: 336
Finished: 08 Apr 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
A transgender prince playing double for his brother and a bigender lady-in-waiting/assassin on opposing sides that have long been at war are the protagonists in this intriguing and imaginative standalone fantasy. I absolutely love the representation, and the world is fascinating, though the author somehow managed to both have too much going on all at once and still have the pace drag at times. I was very much here for the main romance, the secondary one I didn't much care for - Patrick was just too damn useless and unlikable. On the whole an enjoyable read, though.
Completion post - Week 8Spot: 53
Task: #5 in series
Book: The Doll by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #5
Pages: 455
Finished: 4/8/24
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I was happy to reunite with Huldar and Freyja, but unfortunately this book was not my favorite in this series. The plot is all too complicated and unbelievable and the narrative lacks the shrewd dry humor of the previous books. I like these characters, though and there was one surprise development that I'm interested in finding more about in the next and last book in the series.
Selection PostWeek 8 - Spot 53
Task: Series book #5
Magic and Other Misdemeanors by Michael Buckley
How it fits: Sisters Grimm #5
Pages: 304
Week 8 ~ Completion PostTask: weapon on Cover
Book/Author: The Terminal List by Jack Carr
How it fits: There is a gun on the cover
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
If you have ever seen the TV show based off of this book, they so a great job of following the story. The book itself is great. The writing flows well and the stkry captures your attention from start to finish. It did feel rushed at some points but overall a great read.
Completion PostWeek 8
Spot: 53
Magic and Other Misdemeanors by Michael Buckley
Qualification: Sisters Grimm #5
Pages: 304
Finished: 8 Apr 2024
Rating: ***
Review:
The series has finally started to take off. I enjoyed the time travel aspects, seeing the future and past of Ferryport Landing. Wouldn't mind seeing more of that. Cinderella's story was pretty good. I loved Prince Charming's role. He's been sidelined too long. The ending was perfect, the Scarlet Hand really feeling like an actual threat now. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Sabrina was a bit more laid back this time around. She even apologized for previously being a jerk. Now it's time to change up Daphne.
Week 8 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #3
Book/Author: The Trouble with Runaway Brides by Piper Rayne
How it fits: 3rd in the Lake Starlight series
# of pgs: 264
Finished: 04/08
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Lance and Kenzie were high school sweethearts, until it was decided, by Lance, that they should break up while in college. His plan was that they would get back together once they were done.
Things did not go to plan.
Now years later Kenzie is engaged and planning her wedding. After years of not seeing each other, she and Lance run into one another, and he mentions Lake Starlight for her possible wedding destination.
Her reception after going back to Lake Starlight was mixed, as you can imagine when a lot of the people living there are related to her ex, and they blame her for hurting him. Then add to the fact that they are forced together to plan her wedding to someone else.
Week 8 Completion Posts✅Laura (2) | At the River | Kendra Elliot | Columbia River #5 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Steph | The Terminal List | Jack Carr | Alternate: Cover Item: Weapon (Gun) | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Tory | Magic and Other Misdemeanors |Michael Buckley | Sisters Grimm #5 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Denise (mod) | Venom & Vow | Anna-Marie McLemore | Alternate: Cover Item: Weapon (Knife) | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Heli | The Doll | Yrsa Sigurdardottir | Children's House #5 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅Shan ~ A~ | The Trouble with Runaway Brides | Piper Rayne | Lake Starlight #3 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 5: Serial Readers ~ Week 9Dice Roll: 5+6=11
Previous Space: 53
New Space: 64
Task Options:
Series: #4, #6, #64
Alternate: Oceania
Mod
Spot: 64
Task: #6 in series
Book: Heroes at Odds by Moira J. Moore
Qualification: Hero #6
Pages: 352
Selection Post Week 9Spot: 64
Title & Author: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Alternate Task: Oceania
Week 9 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #4
Book/Author: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: The Hathaways #4
Selection Post - Week 9Spot: 64
Task: Series book #6
Book/Author: The Fallout by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #6
Pages: 409
The Challenge Factory
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Jeff Lindsay (other topics)
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Spot: 38
Task: #3 in series
Book: It Ends with Knight by Yasmin Angoe
Qualification: Nena Knight #3
Pages: 381