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R15: SS Team 8 - Party of Eight
Selection PostWeek 2: Spot 15
273 pgs
How it fits: 1st in the Dogwood Cove series
Joeera, not sure if it was just missed but your post is missing the Review portion.
Carmen, any update on your book? It's due today.
There's a little under 3 hours until the end of day so if Carmen doesn't post by about 10 minutes before the deadline then I will use our Free Pass so we can roll.
Melanie wrote: "There's a little under 3 hours until the end of day so if Carmen doesn't post by about 10 minutes before the deadline then I will use our Free Pass so we can roll."👍
Melanie wrote: "There's a little under 3 hours until the end of day so if Carmen doesn't post by about 10 minutes before the deadline then I will use our Free Pass so we can roll."Agree
Melanie wrote: "There's a little under 3 hours until the end of day so if Carmen doesn't post by about 10 minutes before the deadline then I will use our Free Pass so we can roll."Sounds good
Week 2 Reviews: Spot 15Joeera: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Catsalive: In Death #15
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎: N/A
- Using Free Pass to cover
Anne: The Elements #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Melanie: K-9s on Patrol #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Moondance: Busted #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Here's our new roll.Week: 3
Previous Space: 15
Roll: 5 + 3 = 8
New Space: 23
You can read any of the following:
- 2nd book in a series
- 3rd book in a series
- 23rd book in a series
- Alternate task 23. Cover Item: Book
Deadline: Friday March 8, 2024
Mod
Selection PostWeek 3: Spot 23
Cheddar Off Dead Julia Buckley
287 pages
How it fits: Book #2 in Undercover Dish Mystery series
I’m so so sorry. My grandson was sick and new parents were in a panic. Thank goodness it wasn’t serious but a really long night. I’m ready for the next roll.
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I’m so so sorry. My grandson was sick and new parents were in a panic. Thank goodness it wasn’t serious but a really long night. I’m ready for the next roll."
Perfectly understandable. I hope they are better today!
Selection Post Week 3-Spot 23
Book: Terra by Tracy Korn
Pages: 518
Task: 2nd in series
How it fits: #2 in The Elements series
Anne wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I’m so so sorry. My grandson was sick and new parents were in a panic. Thank goodness it wasn’t serious but a really long night. I’m ready for the ne..."
He's feeling better today. Not sure what caused the spike in temperature and for him not want to eat is very unusual. Thank you
Selection Post Week 3Spot 23
Book: Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes
Pages: 336
Task: 2nd in series
How it fits: A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series
Week 3 Completion: Spot 23
Book: The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan
Date: 5/3 1.5★
Qualification: Alternate - Cover Item: Book
Pages: 368
Review:
What a slog! I didn't like this at all. I felt no connection with the irritating, unsympathetic characters, & their uninteresting, pretentious lives. Addison Hunt, Clover Love, Mia Zane & Jane Streeter: trust-fund, hippie, actress, Vietnamese adoptee, all Harvard graduates, tedious & unlikeable. A bit of humour might have helped, but it just made me tired.
Completion Post: Week 3 Spot 23
Book: Terra by Tracy Korn
How it Fits: The Elements #2
Finished: 03/05/24
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviews:
This one was probably more of a 3.5 but like always I round up. I ended up enjoying Terra for the most part. I liked getting to learn more about the people who inhabited the underworld and the group's trip through the biomes was exciting. The best part of this series for me though is the world-building. I love the world that Korn has created and how many layers there are to discover. I do have two critiques. One, this story is too long. I think it could have been cut down and it would have made for a better read, there were whole sections where the story just dragged. Two, the love triangle was more front and center in this book. I am about all done with Jaz, Arco, and Liddick's drama. I like all three characters and it seems like they finally figured out who belongs with whom in this book, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't continue into the next one. On the whole, I am really enjoying this series and hope to continue on to book three here soon.
#completion post #3 week 3 spot 23 Fr2Book
The Viscount Who Loved Me: The 2nd Epilogue Julia QuinnHow it fits ( Bridgerton #2 )
Read ( March 3-4 )
Rated 5 stars
Pages ( 445 )
Review:
This is a srory that has been told countless times. A gentleman with a title decides to marry but not for love. And then like always love slaps nim in the face and he doesn't want to fall in love so he fights it. There were moments were i found it had a lot of witty banter but, also heartwrenching at times as well.
Completion PostWeek 3: Spot 23
Cheddar Off Dead Julia Buckley
287 pages
How it fits: Book #2 in Undercover Dish Mystery series
Read: 03.06.24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Bing Crosby was crooning "White Christmas" as I tried to fasten a Santa hat on the large skull of my chocolate Labrador, Mick.
Lilah is delivering mac and cheese to a school for her friend jenny's Christmas party. A chance meeting with Santa has Lilah thinking about second chances just before he is gunned down. Lilah gets drawn into the investigation when she and her family are next in the crosshairs.
This is the second book in the Undercover dish series. I enjoyed it just as much as the first. It was good catching up with previous characters and meeting new ones.
The mystery is well done and I suspected the wrong person pretty much the entire book. The pool of suspects includes actors and potential mobsters. All of which could lie convincingly.
Jay irritated me off and on throughout the story line until he finally talked to Lilah about their misunderstanding. I enjoyed the addition of Wendy as Lilah's bodyguard and hope that she will be featured in future books.
Of course, Mick is a star! I can imagine his facial expressions when Lilah talks to him. I love how everyone that meets him fawns over what a good boy he is.
Lilah's family is amazing. You can feel the love when they are all together. It's wonderful how her mom welcomes everyone into her home and life.
The recipes that Lilah uses sound amazing and I appreciate the addition of them in the back of the book. Now if I could just find a good vegan pizzelle recipe.
This is a very good series that I look forward to continuing.
Completion Post: Week 3 - Spot 23
Book: When Gods Die by C.S. Harris
How it fits?: Sebastian St. Cyr #2
Date finished: 3/6/2024
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
When Gods Die was a reread for me as I plan to finally catch up on the series this year and I decided to restart from the beginning. This one has an excellent mystery with a political plot that proved to be incredibly interesting. I liked how the author connected the political plot to the murder of a young woman. I still however do not enjoy the romance between Sebastian and Kat and hope that goes away at some point in the series (I've only read the first three books so I'm not sure how that plays out).
Completion Post Week 3:
Spot 23
Book: Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes
Read: 3/8/24
Rated: 3.5 stars
Review: I didn't enjoy this as much as the first but I still enjoy the food. Miriam always seems to find herself in a mess and caught in some kind of murder even when she's not trying but its a fun banter between her and the detective. Her son Manny is so cute and I love his fun and innocence. The other characters are also enjoyable and make the book more fun to read.
Sorry for the delay rolling, it's my husband's birthday and we were out of the house all day. Rolling now.
Week 3 Reviews: Spot 23Joeera: Bridgerton #2
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Catsalive: Alternate - Cover Item: Book
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎: Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #2
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Anne: The Elements #2
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Melanie: Sebastian St. Cyr #2
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Moondance: Undercover Dish Mystery #2
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Here's our new roll.Week: 4
Previous Space: 23
Roll: 4 + 4 = 8
New Space: 31
You can read any of the following:
- 1st book in a series
- 3rd book in a series
- 31st book in a series
- Standalone
- Alternate task 31. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
Deadline: Friday March 15, 2024
Selection Post Week 4-Spot 31
Book: Aer by Tracy Korn
Pages: 419
Task: 3rd in series
How it fits: #3 in The Elements series
Selection PostWeek 4: Spot 31
One Poison Pie Lynn Cahoon
272 pages
How it fits: Book #1 in the Kitchen Witch series
Selection Post Week: 4
Space: 31
Pages: 355
How it fits : 1st in the Slaughter Creek series
Completion PostWeek 4: Spot 31
One Poison Pie Lynn Cahoon
272 pages
How it fits: Book #1 in the Kitchen Witch series
Read: 03.09.24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Karma sucks.
Mia Malone has bought a former school in Magic Springs, Idaho that she intends to turn into a culinary school and catering business. This is an ideal situation as Mia is a kitchen witch. Her first catering job goes very wrong when the client suddenly changes the menu at the last minute and then turns up dead the day of the event.
So, I was happily listening to this book when several comments made me realize that there must be a prequel. I did go back and read it before continuing with the story.
Mia has only been in Magic Springs for a couple of months and is trying to get Mia's Morsels off the ground. The death of a wealthy client who was not very well liked throws Mia's plans into a tailspin. She has recently broken up with her long time boyfriend and is trying to make it on her on in the culinary world. She has also taken in her ex's younger sister as she is estranged from the family.
I enjoyed reading about Mia's magical background as a kitchen witch. I love that she also includes world peace in her spells. She has the ability to "hear" when people are lying. This is helpful in her budding investigation to discover who killed Adele.
Trent Majors and his brother Levi are excellent additions to the story. It was interesting that we don't learn important facts about Trent until a good ways into the story.
The mystery has plenty of twists and turns with red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing. An old mystery is discussed that plays a role in the current situation.
This book has a bit of everything. We have witches, a possessed cat, a ghost, a murder, and a little romance. Overall, it is a great start to the series. I look forward to visiting Magic Springs again soon.
Week 4 Completion: Spot 31
Book: Intrigues by Sharon Green
Date: 12/3 3.5★
Qualification: Alternate - Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
Pages: 432
Review:
Tamrissa Domon, Jovvi Hafford, Naran Whist, Rion Mardimil, Lorand Coll & Valant Ro have come to terms with the Astindans & are creeping up on becoming the Seated Blending, however, there's just that little issue of it becoming the Sixfold Throne, rather than the Five. The idea of Sight Magic has people running scared & those who would create a new nobility are striving for control over the Blending. In typical fashion, Tamma tells the civic leaders that it's her way or the highway, obstacles are surmounted & our Blending is finally seated on the Gandistran throne.
Not a moment too soon, there is trouble coming from former Nobles outside the capital & from neighbouring country, Gracely. With great relief, the Blending takes off to investigate leaving government in other capable hands. While they're off adventuring, those at home in Gan Garee are having troubles of their own with those who would start the New Nobility & new Magic users gone rogue.
The premise is good, the magic interesting, but the execution is poor. The writing is stodgy, most of the characters lack development & are as irritating as ever, but I still want to see what happens.
Completion Post: Week 4 Spot 3
Book: Aer
How it Fits: The Elements #3
Finished: 03/11/24
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviews:
Aer is the third book in The Elements series. Of the three that I have read, I really didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. The group was fractured in the last book and was kept separate for pretty much all of this one. Apparently, the group dynamic was a bigger part of my enjoyment than I had thought. It just felt like everyone was running around for the sake of running around but not in an interesting way. Also, the ending is one giant cliffhanger which I guess makes sense as it is prepping for the conclusion in Ignis, but I still hate cliffhangers. And I finally understand why so many reviews I have read for this book have said a variation of, "Poor Liddick," because the teen goes through it. I am pretty sure I will end up reading the fourth book here soon as I want to know how it ends.
Completion post #4 week #4 spot 23 Friday Oo,:
An Offer From a Gentleman Julia Quinn How it fits ( Bridgertons #3 ,
Read ( Mar 12-13 )
Rated 6 stars
Pages ( 390 )
Review
I love this book it was a cute retelling of Cinderella. I found there was so much angst between Benedict and sophie a d i also liked involved Violet was in there lives. This entire family is so endering and i just love the mystery and intrigue of a masquerade ball, a storyline similar to Cinderella with p,enty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I am going on a mimi vac from Mar 27 to April 2 so i will be absent for that Friday roll
Joeera wrote: "I am going on a mimi vac from Mar 27 to April 2 so i will be absent for that Friday roll"Just double checking which roll you're missing so I know which to mark down. Will you be missing for the roll on the 22nd that's due by the 29th? Or missing the roll on the 29th that's due on the 5th? Or both?
The 22
Completion Post: Week 4 - Spot31
Book: Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris
How it fits?: Sebastian St. Cyr #3
Date finished: 3/14/2024
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Why Mermaids Sing was the last reread for me in the Sebastian St. Cyr series and everything after this one will be new to me. The mystery in this one is my favorite of the first three books. After several young men are murdered, Sebastian is brought in to help solve the case by the local magistrate. With seemingly no connection between the victims, Sebastian has a hard time finding what the victims have in common that attracted the killer. The direction the plot goes was entirely unexpected and I was fascinated by how this one played out. I still don't like Sebastian and Kat's relationship and after some revelations in this book, I'm interested to see what happens with it going forward. Overall this was a great addition to the series and I'm looking forward to picking up book 4 soon.
I will be done with my book soon and will post.
Completion Post Week: 4
Space: 31
Pages: 355
Read: 3/15/23
Rated: 4 stars
Review: Wow this was a crazy mess between mental illness and murders. I have to say Sadie tried to be strong and believe her twin but with all the different information and secrets being told to her it can get pretty twisted but family is family so you do whatever is needed to protect them. This was entertaining and kept my interest throughout the story.
Week 4 Reviews: Spot 31Joeera: Bridgerton #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Catsalive: Alternate - Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎: Slaughter Creek #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Anne: The Elements #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Melanie: Sebastian St. Cyr #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Moondance: Kitchen Witch Mysteries #1
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Here's our new roll.Week: 5
Previous Space: 31
Roll: 2 + 3 = 5
New Space: 36
You can read any of the following:
- 3rd book in a series
- 6th book in a series
- 36th book in a series
- Alternate task 36. Author 'E'
Deadline: Friday March 22, 2024
Selection Post Week 5-Spot 36
Book: Mr. Monk and The Blue Flu Lee Goldberg
Pages: 288
Task: 3rd in series
How it fits: #3 in the Mr. Monk series
Selection PostWeek:5 Spot 36
Pudding Up With Murder Julia Buckley
293 pages
How it fits: Undercover Dish Mystery #3
Completion Post: Week 5 Spot 36
Book: Mr. Monk and The Blue Flu by Lee Goldberg 03/17/24
How it Fits: Monk series #3
Finished: 03/17/24
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviews:
I really enjoyed the Monk TV show when it was on and so I have been reading the books when I get a chance. This was a quick read with Monk getting a chance to not only become a cop again but also being captain to a squad of ex-cops who have their own set of issues. It was interesting to see Monk try to lead the detectives as they try to solve the city's homicides. Overall, I liked it as it reminded me of the show.
Completion Post: Week 5 - Spot 36
Book: The Seeker by Melinda Metz
How it fits?: Roswell High #3
Date finished: 3/17/2024
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
The Seeker was a fantastic read that deals with the fallout from the events at the end of The Wild One.
Maria DeLuca still hasn't told her friends about the ring she found with the strange stone that occasionally glows. And when she suddenly develops psychic abilities, she's afraid no one will believe her but now she has the chance to be more than a simple human. And if she can find out how Michael feels about her along the way, that's even better. But what Maria doesn't know is that every time she uses her new abilities, she's drawing danger to Roswell and her friends.
I have been enjoying the Roswell High series and making comparisons to the nineties show as it's one of my favorites. The Seeker has a plot that largely focuses on Maria and is a unique plot that wasn't adapted for the show. At the end of The Wild One Maria finds a ring when the group goes to look for Isabel and Nikolas and it initially slips her mind with everything going on. Then at the start of this book, she unexpectedly develops some psychic powers but is unsure how everyone will react so she doesn't mention them. It was neat seeing Maria use her newfound powers and what happens as a result. I wasn't expecting the direction this plot would go and I found it to be really interesting. I'm curious to see what kind of consequences there will be in future books based on how this one ended.
I liked that we got to focus on Maria in this book as I feel like we haven't gotten enough time with her in the first two books. We also got quite a bit of development in her and Michael's relationship which I loved as I really enjoy those two together. They have such a great friendship and I'm really liking seeing their relationship progress. Isabel is still dealing with the affects of what happened in the previous book and it took a bit of time for her to work past what happened, largely with Alex's help. I like those two together as well and I'm hoping to see more romance between them in future books. Max and Liz are pretty much in the same place they were in the last book with little happening between them and I'm hoping we get some change on that front in the next book.
Overall The Seeker was a great follow-up to The Wild One and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series soon.
Selection PostWeek:5 Spot 36
320 pages
Fits: 3rd in A Caribbean Kitchen
Week 5 Completion: Spot 36
Book: Miss Dornton's Hero by Elisabeth Fairchild
Date: 19/3 2★
Qualification: Alternate - E author
Pages: 212
Review:
I'm not sure I like what I expected to be a light-hearted Regency romance taking on such a sombre subject, that of PTSD. In this it is the effects of the bloodbath that was Waterloo on our hero, Captain Lord Evelyn Dade, who earns himself the moniker "Lord Dead" in his post-war life, & not just because he was the only one of his regiment to survive. On his return to England, Dade seeks out the dark & macabre, speaks to no one & avoids old friends & family - a way of life ill-conducive to wellness at the best of times.
Miss Margaret "Magpie/Pearl" Dornton has experienced trauma in her own life, witnessing the death of her brother at a young age. She seeks out the brightness in life & a hero. She sees her hero in Dade, despite his darkness, wanting him to speak about his experiences but taking the first opportunity to do just the opposite. Pearl is a bit of a romantic idiot, putting herself in dangerous (physically & socially) situations, & I found her rather too naive & gormless for comfort. Deus ex machina in the form of Lady Jersey saves her reputation in the end, a rather ludicrous idea, really.
Too ridiculous on one hand, & too sombre on the other - an interesting direction to take with a Regency, but it failed in the execution. The final author's note is worth a read, it's truly hard to imagine the gruesome aftermath of that final battle at Waterloo, the horror & filth of it all.
Completion post #5 Week #5 Friday Book:
Slightly Scandalous Mary BaloghHow it fits ( Bedwyn Saga '3 )
Read ( Mar 18-19 )
Rated 5 stars
Pages ( 374 )
Revisw:
I loved everything about this book it was really intristed in seeing how the author would not only write the story but develop it as well and how it would be different from the previous books. I loved the charm and the higher le el of heat that she managed to create and how she uses it in the story. We see a story that just has this gritty feel to it with the same le el of cham.
Completion PostWeek:5 Spot 36
Pudding Up With Murder Julia Buckley
293 pages
How it fits: Undercover Dish Mystery #3
Read: 03.19.24
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review:
A warm breeze wafted in through my car window as I drove down Breville Road.
Lilah is once again at the scene of a murder with one of her undercover dishes. Lilah has joined her friend Ellie (Jay's mom) at a birthday party for Ellie's neighbor. He had invited Lilah in order to meet her dog Mick. Lilah's interaction with the man leave her feeling a bit odd due to his eccentric behavior. He ends up face down in her rice pudding and Lilah immediately goes into sleuth mode.
I'm enjoying this series but took a half star off because I wanted to smack both Lilah and Jay. For two adults, they have the most unstable relationship. I know it is fairly new, but they both need to learn how to trust.
The mystery was quite good. The victim had multiple children with three different wives. Each had a reason to be the culprit. I enjoyed getting to know each of them. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. My favorite character was the granddaughter, Peach. She was wise beyond her years and fabulous in a tiara. She is an avid reader and has her own book club with a series she loves.
It was good to revisit with characters from the previous books. I missed seeing Lilah's mom. She was mentioned only briefly.
There was a bit more romance in this book that previous ones. Perhaps because it is Spring and there was love in the air.
I hope that Lilah and Jay have worked out their issues so there is not so much strife in the next book. I look forward to reading it soon.
Completion PostWeek:5 Spot 36
320 pages
Read: 3/21/24
Rated: 4 stars
Review: Even a simple vacation from real life to see family after some time being awhile doesn't work out for Miriam. She seems to get in some type of trouble. This series is fun but the food is making me feel like I'm the one who's gaining the weight. LOL Now I need to see what's next for Miriam and her friends who are so funny.
Week 5 Reviews: Spot 36Joeera: Bedwyn Saga #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Catsalive: Alternate - E author
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎: Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Anne: Mr. Monk #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Melanie: Roswell High #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Moondance: Undercover Dish Mystery #3
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Book:
How it fits ( #1 in the series )
Read ( Fwb 26-27 )
Rated 5 stars
Pages ( 416 )
Review:
This story that Sarah J. Mass created was in my opinion amazing in its aspect of both the building of the characters and the world surrounding it. I was completely enthralled from the beginning i foundit to be so rich, dark, but also, hopeful and full ov .ight, and romanc. I enjoyed every moment of it