The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R15: SS Team 5 - Serial Readers
Mod
Week 9
Spot: 64
Task: #6 in series
Book: Heroes at Odds by Moira J. Moore
Qualification: Hero #6
Pages: 352
Finished: 13 Apr 2024
Rating: ★★★
Review:
I loved the first few books in this series, but these last few have been more chore than enjoyment to be honest. Dragging pace, so much idiocy and immaturity, and so much material that felt more like filler than driving the overarching storyline forward in any meaningful way. Taro just annoys me most of the time, as do many of the other characters. The introduction of Lee's family at least provided something new - I'd like to see more of her brothers. I'm not overly enamoured of the spellcasting plotline - Moore already had a perfectly good, vastly more interesting and unusual magic system going on, I'd rather be seeing more of that. Ah well... one more book to go, so I suppose I might as well finish the series now that I've gotten this far.
Completion post - Week 9Spot: 64
Task: #6 in series
Book: The Fallout by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Qualification: Children's House #6
Pages: 409
Finished: 4/15/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
After the minor disappointment of the previous book this one was back on track. Freyja is working as a liaison with the police and a woman's dismembered body is found from a trunk of an abandoned car. The case is really complicated and sad. In the end I think there were far too many unbelievable coincidences and twists in the story, but I enjoyed the ride anyway.
This is the last book in the series. I'm going to miss Huldar and Freyja and the rest of the gang and the eccentric humor of these books.
completion post - week 9spot : 64
task: series book #6
by Catherine Bybeepages: 322
qualification: The Weekday Brides #6
rating: 3 .5 stars
review: I always enjoy a Catherine Bybee book. She has strong female leads, an interesting story line and a happily ever after. I enjoyed watching Meg and Val's relationship develop. Michael and the cast of Alliance are great secondary characters which added to the story. A dash of suspense looking for Gabi pulls the whole story together for a fun read.
Completion Post Week 9Spot: 64
Title & Author: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Alternate Task: Oceania
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: I found it interesting to read the story from Dons point of view. I think that the author was trying to be humorous, but i just didnt find the book all too funny. Overall, a different romance story that ended up to be pretty damn cute.
Completion PostWeek 9
Spot: 64
Tales From the Hood by Michael Buckley
Pages: 279
Finished: 13 Apr 2024
Rating: ***
Review:
I'm starting to think the last book might have been a fluke. This one was decent, but just didn't feel like it really went anywhere. But there were some things I absolutely loved. Robin Hood and his Merry Men now have a law firm, "The Sherwood Group: Attorneys-at-law, suing the rich and giving to the poor since 1887." That really tickled me. The Mad Hatter being a mad judge. Bluebeard as prosecutor. The random guards that Puck has set around the house.
But they have this "weapon" to "control" the Big Bad Wolf, but don't use it until now? Really? The Three Little Pigs knew about it, knew that it would help, but don't use it until you absolutely have to? No, let's just let Mr. Canis suffer needlessly and pose a danger to everyone.
Also, I hated that Prince Charming's arc ended so soon. I really liked it and there was so much potential. There's three books left, he should have stayed with the Scarlet Hand for at least one more book. He could have done his heroic deed in this one and still kept his cover. Keep some suspense.
Week 9 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #4
Book/Author: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: The Hathaways #4
Finished: 04/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Leo and Catherine have been at odds from the beginning and that doesn't immediately change in this book. They argue about everything, but here you start to see that Leo is arguing for her wellbeing most of the time.
Besides these two going back and forth, there's the threat of the Hathaway's losing their home, due to a clause in the will since the house wasn't entailed. Plus, the ghosts of Catherine's past are coming back to haunt her.
Laura | Seduced by Sunday | Catherine Bybee | The Weekday Brides, #6 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Steph | The Rosie Project | Graeme Simsion | Alternate: Ocenia (Australia) | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Tory | Tales From the Hood | Michael Buckley | The Sisters Grimm, #6 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Denise | Heroes at Odds | Moira J. Moore Hero #6 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Heli | The Fallout | Yrsa Sigurdardottir | Children's House #6 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~A~ | Married by Morning | Lisa Kleypas | The Hathaways, #4 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 5: Serial Readers ~ Week 10Dice Roll: 5+1=6
Previous Space: 64
New Space: 70
Task Options:
Series: #7, #70, Standalone
Alternate: Published 2022
Week 10 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #7
Book/Author: Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson
How it fits: Undead #7
Week 10 Selection PostTask: published in 2022
Book/author: Book of Night by Holly Black
Mod
Spot: 70
Task: #7 in series
Book: The English Führer by Rory Clements
Qualification: Tom Wilde #7
Pages: 440
Selection Post - Week 10Spot: 70
Task: Published 2022
Book/Author: Finding Me by Viola Davis
Qualification: Published April 26 2022
Pages: 289
Selection post - week 10Spot 70
Task: standalone
Pages: 351
Qualification: standalone
Mod
Week 10
Spot: 70
Task: #7 in series
Book: The English Führer by Rory Clements
Qualification: Tom Wilde #7
Pages: 440
Finished: 21 Apr 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I was glad to see the (IMO) subpar previous book was indeed an outlier rather than an indication of the series going downhill after the end of the war. With this one, I was once again thoroughly glued to the page of what proved to be a thrilling post-war spy caper with a bunch of twists. Seeing Lydia get more page time and follow her dream of studying to become a doctor was great, and I hope to see her be a more active part of the overall plot in the future.
Completion post - Week 10Spot: 70
Task: Published 2022
Book: Finding Me by Viola Davis
Qualification: Published April 26 2022
Pages: 289
Finished: 4/22/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Viola Davis has not had it easy. It was so hard to read about her childhood, the poverty, violence and abuse she and her family had to endure. That kind of brutal honesty takes courage. Her journey to self descovery has not been easy. Fortunately there are also bright and happy memories. I think I'm going to need some time to think about what I just read.
Week 10 Completion PostTask: published in 2022
Book/author: Book of Night by Holly Black
Rating: 3 Stars
Review: i think that i woudve enjoyed this a lot more had i been im a better mood reading it. I feel like lately im just in a book slump. I think ill try this one again once i get out of the slump
Completion PostWeek 10
Spot: 70
Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner
Pages: 352
How it fits: Stand alone
Finished: 22 Apr 2024
Rating: 3.5
Review:
During my yearly watch of The Ten Commandments I decided to see if there were any books on it's making. This one popped up and had me intrigued.
While part of the filming was included, it wasn't the focus. Instead, the story was the beginning of the Egyptian revolution and a boy caught between family, friends, and Hollywood.
I enjoyed the story and learned some history. It was interesting how things were intertwined and I bought it for the most part, until the Exodus scene. That didn't quite work for me.
Week 10 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #7
Book/Author: Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson
How it fits: Undead #7
Finished: 04/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Being the vampire Queen is definitely not living up to the hype. Betsy can't catch a break. Newly married to Sinclair, but no time for newlywed bliss. Unbeknownst to her Garrett has been feeding the other fiends his blood and now they're coming after Betsy.
Being the person she is, she doesn't want to kill them, but some things can't be helped. Plus, her stepmom's ghost is visiting, and she doesn't know why. The woman gave her trouble in life and is now pestering her in death.
As usual she goes balls to the wall for the people she cares about, but this time she may not be able to save everyone.
I haven't figured out why the experienced vampires haven't schooled her more. At this far into the series she should be a bit more informed. Not to say that she isn't growing in her role, because you can see the progression of what she can do even if she doesn't always know how she does it.
Shan have we earned the free pass and if so may we use it for me?
Laura wrote: "Shan have we earned the free pass and if so may we use it for me?"FREE PASS
✸ Teams will have a chance to earn 1 Free Pass to roll. To earn your free pass your team has to complete their reads a day before the next roll (i.e. 11:59pm Thursday).
So, with that I think we have since we've been pretty consistent with getting our books done the day before.
I see no problem using it for you for this week's check in.
Completion post - week 10Spot 70
Task: standalone
by Vi KeelandPages: 351
Qualification: standalone
Review: I really liked this one. Everyone should live like Gram. The relationship between Gram and Nora was sweet. It was great to see them helping each other. Loved watching Nora and Beck's relationship progress. Enjoyable read
Sorry Laura, you meant for this coming week. 🤦🏽♀️
Completion PostLaura (2) | Something Unexpected | Vi Keeland | Standalone | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Steph | Book of Night | Holly Black | Alternate: Published 2022 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Tory | Picture in the Sand | Peter Blauner | Standalone | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Denise (mod) | The English Führer | Rory Clements | Tom Wilde #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Heli | Finding Me | Viola Davis | Alternate: Published 2022 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~ A~ | Undead and Unworthy | MaryJanice Davidson | Undead #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 5: Serial Readers ~ Week 11Dice Roll: 6+1=7
Previous Space: 70
New Space: 77
Task Options:
Series: #7, #77
Alternate: MC travels by train
Selection Post Week 11Space - 77
Task - MC travels by train
Book/Author - Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Week 11 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #7
Book/Author: Only and Forever by Chloe Liese
How it fits: Bergman Brothers #7
Mod
Spot: 77
Task: #7 in series
Book: Heroes' Reward by Moira J. Moore
Qualification: Hero #7
Pages: 332
Selection Post - Week 11Spot: 77
Task: #7 in series
Book/Author: The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel
Qualification: Louise Rick #7
Pages: 321
Shan ~A~ wrote: "Sorry Laura, you meant for this coming week. 🤦🏽♀️"Nope I wanted to use it for this week but I crunched and finished it.
selection post week 11spot 77
task: # 7 in series
Treasured by Thursday
fits: book 7 in series
pages: 370
completion post week 11spot 77
by Catherine Bybeetask: #7 in series
pages; 370
rating: 3 stars
fits: 7 th in Weekday Bride series
review: I enjoyed seeing Gabi turn her life around and heal from her past. Hunter was the perfect match for her. Bybee always does such a great job with the secondary cast of friends detailing a close knit group of friends who would do anything. I like the small dose of suspense that is sometimes in her books! I want to go back and read the books I missed in this series.
Mod
Week 11
Spot: 77
Task: #7 in series
Book: Heroes' Reward by Moira J. Moore
Qualification: Hero #7
Pages: 332
Finished: 28 Apr 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Apparently, the publisher chose to discontinue this series after book #6 (not that one can entirely blame them - the first three books were great, #4-6 much less so IMO), so Moore chose to self-publish a final volume to finish the story. It's therefore no wonder trying to tie up all loose ends in a single book feels a little rushed, especially after the tediously meandering pace of the previous installments. However, forcing a tighter focus and avoiding getting lost in unnecessary sideplots did this one a world of good, rendering it vastly more engaging and engrossing than had recently been the case. While I wasn't a fan of the silly, dragged out contest to determine the next ruler that didn't make for as satisfying a dénouement as I'd have liked, I otherwise enjoyed the way the story concluded. Definitely glad Moore got to finish it and leave her characters in a good place.
Completion post - Week 11Spot: 77
Task: #7 in series
Book: The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel
Qualification: #7 Louise Rick
Pages: 321
Finished: 4/30/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Louise Rick has a brand new job in a brand new Missing Persons Department. On the very first day a woman is found dead in the woods, but she's supposedly been dead for thirty years already. Shortly follow rapes and killings of more women in the area.
This is a really good police procedural, but the subject is really heavy. I'm not usually very squeamish when reading fiction, but this was hard one for me to read. It's a such a sad story overall.
Completion Post Week 11Space - 77
Task - MC travels by train
Book/Author - Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This was honestly one of the best historical fictions i have ever read.... thats not saying much since its not my favorite genre, but this book was fantastic. It moved at a very good pace and the story was captivating. Highly recommend to anyone whether they enjoy this genre or not
Completion PostCompletion Post
Week 11
Spot: 77
The Everafter War by Michael Buckley
Pages: 272
How it fits: Sister Grimm #7
Finished: 29 Apr 2024
Rating: 3
Review:
Well this series went right back to disappointing. The main characters are just so dumb when it comes down to it. The two sisters are kids, but sure don't sound like it and all the adults rely on them too much. Yes, I know it's a kid's series. Still.
Charming was awesome as always, Snow White is terrible. It was obvious who the spy was from the start, though the identity of the master was pretty good. The story is called The Everafter War but we don't see much of the war itself, just the after effects. Much telling, not showing.
Week 11 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #7
Book/Author: Only and Forever by Chloe Liese
How it fits: Bergman Brothers #7
Finished: 05/02
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Finally, Viggo's book. I have been anticipating this one since my first introduction to the Bergman family.
Viggo is the romantic, who actually loves to read romance books. In all of the other books he had the rest of the clan reading them while helping them with their romantic problems, well eventually they all help each other.
Of course, our romantic ends up being paired with someone who doesn't believe in love. It's understandable while Tallulah has a hard time believing that love is real or sustainable after everything she's been through.
I honestly didn't think that I would like her after knowing how it went years before when the first met, even getting her pov about it didn't soften me towards her. I was seeing her through Viggo's eyes as they got to know each other now.
How open they were with one another along the way. That was really beautiful.
Completion PostLaura (2) | Treasured by Thursday | Catherine Bybee | The Weekday Brides #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Steph | Orphan Train | Christina Baker Kline | Alternate: MC travels on train | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Tory | The Everafter War | Michael Buckley | Sister Grimm #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Denise (mod) | Heroes' Reward | Moira J. Moore | Hero #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Heli | The Forgotten Girls | Sara Blaedel | Louise Rick #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shan ~ A~ | Only and Forever | Chloe Liese | Bergman Brothers #7 | https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 5: Serial Readers ~ Week 12Dice Roll: 6+2=8
Previous Space: 77
New Space: 85
Task Options:
Series: #5, #8, #85
Alternate: South America
Week 12 ~ Selection PostTask: Series book #5
Book/Author: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: The Hathaways, #5
Week 12 Selection PostTask - South America
Book/Author - Illegal by John Dennehy
How it fits - MC travels to Ecuador
Mod
Spot: 85
Task: #5 in series
Book: London Rules by Mick Herron
Qualification: Slough House #5
Pages: 362
Selection Post - Week 12Spot: 85
Task: #5 in series
Book/Author: Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay
Qualification: Dexter #5
Pages: 440
Week 12 ~ Completion PostTask: Series book #5
Book/Author: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
How it fits: The Hathaways, #5
Finished: 05/03
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Beatrix is not your average female of that time, well really none of the Hathaways are which is why I love them. They are unconventional for that time.
Beatrix and Christopher basically fall in love by accident. Before she read his letter to her vapid, self-centered friend, she didn't even like him. As for Christopher, he thought he was falling for someone else.
I love how real everything felt when Christopher came home from war. He is experiencing signs of what we know today as PTSD, but of course at that time they didn't have a name for it. I was glad that Lisa Kleypas didn't make it seem like the things he went through didn't affect him in any way.
Mod
Week 12
Spot: 85
Task: #5 in series
Book: London Rules by Mick Herron
Qualification: Slough House #5
Pages: 362
Finished: 05 May 2024
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Hands down one of the best - perhaps even the best - in the series thus far. Clever, subversive, replete with dark humour, and absolutely engrossing. Herron's writing style is easily recognizable and an absolute joy.
Mod
It's been a lot of fun playing with you all! :)
So much fun! Thanks Shan for captaining us
Thank you! I had fun. The dice weren't on our side. But you guys kicked butt!!
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
London Rules (other topics)Love in the Afternoon (other topics)
How Much I Need (other topics)
Dexter is Delicious (other topics)
London Rules (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mick Herron (other topics)Lisa Kleypas (other topics)
Marie Force (other topics)
Jeff Lindsay (other topics)
Mick Herron (other topics)
More...
spot : 64
task: series book #6
pages: 322
qualification: The Weekday Brides #6