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R15: SSS Team 3 - The LIP Readers
Completion Week 3/Sunday RollSpot 11
Book: An Inheritance of Magic
Author: Benedict Jacka
Qualification: # 1 in the Inheritance of Magic Series
Rating: 3,5 stars
Review:
This is a solid start to a new series. I liked the main character and the magic system is interesting. The start of the book was interesting with a lot of action and the ending was very good. The middle is the part where you get all the info about the magic world and how the system works. I found it interesting, but this is where the plot slows down. What makes it up is that we get to learn more about magic and the abilities of the main character. All in all it was a good start to a new series and I think I will read the next one when it comes out.
Completion Post Week 3/Sunday Roll
Spot 11
Qualification: Stand alone
Read: 2/29
Rating: 3🌟
Review: Lauren and Jack are a married couple with two kids, Michael and Maddie. Lauren and Jack's marriage has been on the rocks and divorce has been weighing on Lauren's mind. Michael and Maddie are aware that their parents marriage is in trouble and with the help of Michael's dad, they come up with a plan to try to save their marriage. When I read what this book was about, it reminded me of The Parent Trap and that was all it took to convince me to read it. I haven't read many marriage in trouble stories, it's just not a trope that I gravitate towards but after reading this one, I'm starting to think this trope might not be for me. I didn't think there was anything bad about this story, I liked the characters and I thought it had its funny moments. The main issue that I had with this story was the romance but if you are a marriage in trouble fan you probably won't have much of an issue with it. The issue that I had with the romance is that Lauren and Jack were already married and in love, they just needed something to reignite that spark and that's what we were watching as the story went along. This story has taught me that I am more of a fan of going along the journey with the characters when they fall in love instead of meeting them when they are already in love and living in their happily ever after. I wish that we could have seen Lauren and Jack when they were struggling with their marriage, instead there is one flashback and then a time jump to the present. I feel that if I could have seen more of what their struggles were instead of them just telling me what they went through, it would have been more believable for the marriage in crisis trope. Even though the characters were telling me the struggles they were having with their marriage, I still felt like they were living out their happily ever after because they were together for most of the book as a happy family and looking back, I feel that I didn't see any moments where they were apart. I read this on audio and it was a quick read, I read it in two sittings. I would recommend the audio and I would recommend the story to anyone who is a fan of The Parent Trap and loves the marriage in crisis trope in small town settings.
If you love these tropes, you could love this book:
💫Marriage in Crisis
💫Second Chance Romance
💫Small Town Romance
💫Fans of The Parent Trap
Team 3Week 2 / Thursday Roll
Current Spot: 11
Roll: 3
New spot: 14
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2 for 1 bonus earned by Patti
Spot 1414th in series
1st in series
stand alone
4th in series
Title 'H'
Books due Sunday, March 3rd
Team 3 / CompletionsWeek 2 / Thursday Roll
New spot: 14
✅✅ Allie https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion postWeek 2/Thursday Roll
Post 14
Book: A Wrinkle in Time
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Qualification: # 1 in the Time Quintet
Date read: 3/3/24
Rating: 3,5 stars
Review:
I have always been curious about this one, since it is considered a childrens classic a lot of people have grown up with. I am obviously but overall it was a pleasant experience. Science fiction is not really my thing and there were a lot scifi elements in the book, but overall I found it an engaging book. It dealt with some heavy themes and the adventures of the children were interesting. I felt some of the religious elements were not needed, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I have no idea why I dind't read it when I was younger. I think if I had read it as a child I would maybe have rated it higher, because I wasn't as critical then. I really enjoyed the book and if I have nothing better to read, I may continue with the series.
Completion Week 2 / Thursday Roll
Spot 14
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Read 3/3
3 stars
Qualification: stand alone
Review:
This one was just “ok” for me. While I loved Noah, Sally fell kind of flat. I didn’t think she was all that funny; she was incredibly snarky, inflexible and insecure, and I just never got how Noah fell for her. This is nothing to do with the fact that he was a huge star and she wasn’t a gorgeous model. It had everything to do with the fact that he was a great guy and she was just — not so great. Ever see a couple and the guy is amazing — good looking, nice, fun personality, good job — and he’s with this mediocre looking biotch? Well, this book is them ……
Completion Post Week 2/Thursday Roll
Spot 14
Qualification: 1st in series
Read: 3/3
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review: Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
An Heir Comes to Rise immediately captivated me in Faythe's world from the start and it wasn't long before I found myself completely invested in the character's lives and needing to know what happens next. I went into this story blind and knowing nothing about the plot and I think that was for the best. I found it interesting how this plot centers around dreams and having the ability to be present in other people's dreams which is known as being a Nightwalker. One of my favorite tropes is when the love interest is present in the main character's dreams and even though it's my favorite trope I don't really see it much in stories so I was happy to see it in this one. The "who hurt you?" trope is also present in this and that scene had me giggling and kicking my feet. This is categorized as Young Adult but it didn't read as Young Adult to me which I think could have also encouraged my enjoyment of it. I picked up this story not knowing what to expect from it and it definitely surprised me! I will be continuing on in the series at some point.
If you love these tropes, you could love this book:
💫Fantasy Romance
💫Revolves around dreams and the mind
💫"Who hurt you?"
💫FMC present in LI's dreams
Team 3 / Week 3 / Sunday RollCurrent Space: 14
Roll: 3
New Space: 17
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spot 17:17th in series
Stand alone
1st in series
7th in series
17. Cover: Orange
Books due Thursday, March 7th
Completion / Week 3 / Sunday rollSpace: 17
Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
Read 3/5
Qualification: 1st in series
3 stars
Review:
This was just for fun. It’s an easy, entertaining read with a very likable MC. It’s definitely not as good — or laugh out loud — as the Stephanie Plum series, so don’t expect that or you’ll be disappointed. While it was completely unbelievable and borderline stupid in parts, I did have a good time with it. It’s not gonna change your life, but it was a fun escape.
Team 3 / Week 3 / Sunday RollSpace: 17
✅✅ Allie: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Ira: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion Post/Week 3/Sunday RollSpot 17
Book: The Word is Murder
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Qualification: #1 in the Hawthorne & Horowitz series
Read: 7/3/24
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This one was a mixed bag for me. The mystery part of the book and the detective work were really well done and angaging. This part kept my interest all the way. I thought the working and personal relationship between Hawthorne and Horowitz was good and I could clearly see the dynamic the author was going for. There were some nice twist and turns in the narrative and the list of suspects was interesting. Were I think it dragged was when Horowitz was tslkin about his background, and the work he had done, it was the least interesting part of the book, and i just wanted to move on to the main plot. Overall I enjoyed this book but, I did not love it. I will probably continue with the series and hope my problems with it will not be as bad, as we are now finished with the introductions of the two main characters.
I have an hour left of my audio and then I'll post
Completion Post/Week 3/Sunday Roll Spot 17
Qualification: #1 in the Lady of Darkness series
Read: 3/7
Rating: 5🌟
Review: Everything is coming together but I am also left with even more questions! How is that possible? I don't know how to go about writing a review for this story because there is so much that goes into it and how it is told is perfect in my eyes. It is safe to say that I will definitely be continuing in this series because I am deeply invested in these characters' lives and I feel connected to all of these characters. I need to know what is going to happen next on these characters journey. I listened to the audio and I feel like that did a good job of making me feel all of the emotions that the characters were feeling. There were a lot of moments in this story where the author was putting the characters through the ringer, and I was right along beside them going through it too. I thought towards the end that this story had excellent PTSD rep and it was making me feel even more for Scarlett and what she was going through. Even though I knew who the love interest was in this book, I was having a hard time choosing but in the end I loved witnessing the ups and downs of Ryker and Scarlett's love story. What I loved most about their love story is that Scarlett always felt that she was never given any choices or options, she always is given demands and is told what to do but Ryker proves to her that's not always the case and she is allowed to have options and make her own choices. I thought that it was beautiful how whenever the horrible things that have happened in her past come to visit her and her mind is just buzzing and she can't figure out how to silence the thoughts, Ryker is always the one to help put those thoughts to rest and silence those thoughts. Scarlett has always said throughout the book that Cassius, her best friend, has always been her safe space and while I believe that's true, I also believe that Ryker is her safe space because he does more for her than Cassius can do: Ryker is the one that can calm her racing mind when the dark thoughts get a little too much and I thought that was beautiful. At the end of the day, I believe that's what love is all about and how you really know if someone is your safe space.
If you love these tropes, you could love this book:
💫PTSD Rep
💫Enemies to Lovers
💫MMC heals FMC when hurt
💫Badass heroine
💫Forced proximity
💫Possessive Fae Men
Audio:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Team 3 Week: 4 - Thursday Roll Completions
Space: 23
Allie
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I hope I’m not too late to roll. I think I read somewhere if you’re asleep when the last review comes in you can roll in the morning.Maybe from now on the last person to post can roll? Will that work for you guys?
Spot 23 23rd in series
2nd in series
3rd in series
23. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
Mod
Maybe from now on the last person to post can roll? Will that ..."
No worries, you're good. :) All reviews were in before the deadline, that's what counts.
Denise wrote: "Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "I hope I’m not too late to roll. I think I read somewhere if you’re asleep when the last review comes in you can roll in the morning.Maybe from now on the last person to..."
Ok. Thanks Denise!
Compltion Post: Week 4/Thursday RollSpot 23
Book: Cursed
Author: Benedict Jacka
Qualification: # 2 in the Alex Verus Series
Read: 10/3/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I find myself really enjoying this series. Ireally like the main character. I like his abilities and their limitations, I also like the fact that he is not really on the dark or the light side. He is forging his own path. The supporting characters are also very interesting. I really like how Luna is developing, and I like Sonder as well. This book was full of action and a real pageturner. I am sure I will continue with this series.
Compltion Post: Week 4/Thursday RollSpot 23
Meet Me In Scotland by Patience Griffin
Read 3/10
Qualification: 2nd in Kilts and Quilts series
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This was just ok for me. I think the main problem I had was that I really didn’t like the MC Emma from the very start, which is always difficult to get past. And then, I didn’t love Emma’s best friend Claire either, which made it even worse. I did like the male MC, Gabe. But I wasn’t really rooting for the romance between Gabe and Emma, because of, well, Emma. I was disappointed I didn’t like this more; I was looking forward to a fun Scottish romance with charming characters.
I was on track to finish my book in time but then something came up and now I don't think I'm going to be able to finish in time. Currently, I have 3 hours of audio left.
Mod
For the rest of the team, that would mean you can roll and continue with 2 players for now. Give Allie until the deadline has expired though!
Mod
Patti & Ira, you'll keep going as a duo for now. I'll try to find you a back-up player.
Denise wrote: "... Turns out I failed to take into account that the US switched to Daylight Saving Time and the deadline had already expired at the time of my previous post. (In my defense, I live on a different ..."Ok thanks Denise. ;)
Ira— hope that’s ok with you. I’ll roll for us. 🎲
🎲🎲🎲 Bad roll! 🎲🎲🎲I rolled a 1. Sorry, Ira!
Team 3 RollWeek: 4 - Sunday Roll
Previous Space: 23
Roll: 1
New Space: 24
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spot 2424th in series
2nd in series
4th in series
24. Several authors
Mod
Can someone fill me in on who is focusing on which bonus points, like never reading an alternate, 500+ pages, or finishing a series?
Also, let me know how I can help. I live in Arizona, so it's only 10:00 pm my time when it's midnight. Or I can fill in with Captain duties.
Lanelle wrote: "Hello Ira and Patti. Denise has asked me to join your team. I'm so excited to participate in this challenge! Go Team 3!Can someone fill me in on who is focusing on which bonus points, like never ..."
Hi Lanelle! Thanks so much for joining us!
As for bonuses — I was going to do the one where you never read from the alternate list but feel free to do that if you want. I was going to do the full series one but I messed up and didn’t start when we were in the teens 🙄. But once we get a 1 — I can do that too. Of course you can do that one if it works better for you.
So in other words — the bonuses are pretty much up for grabs. lol.
Do we have to read the full series in order? Like can I start with 2 and then go back to #1 when we get a 1?
Mod
As far as I know, the series does not have to be read in order, so you should definitely go for it.
I'm not a huge series reader, so I'll go for "always picking a book from the alternate list". And I'll keep my eyes open for 500+ page books.
Lanelle wrote: "Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "Do we have to read the full series in order? Like can I start with 2 and then go back to #1 when we get a 1?"As far as I know, the series does not have to be read in ord..."
Great ;). Thanks again for joining us.
Sorry! Forgot to post that books are due Thursday. ;)
Lanelle wrote: "Hello Ira and Patti. Denise has asked me to join your team. I'm so excited to participate in this challenge! Go Team 3!Can someone fill me in on who is focusing on which bonus points, like never ..."
Hi.
Welcome to our team.
I can try reading a 500+ pages book. I read a lot of fantasy so a lot of books on my list fit.
Mod
Awesome!
Mod
Lanelle wrote: "I've noticed that our team doesn't have a name. What do you think of LIP Readers? (Our initials are L, I, and P :)"Love it! 😍 Thanks Lanelle!
Mod
Mod
Week: 4 - Sunday Roll
Spot: 24
Book: Winter Collection
Pages: 310
Read: 3/12/24
Rating: ***
Task: Read a book that has several authors
How it fits: The book has six authors (Sarah M. Eden, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, Joyce DiPastena, Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore)
Review: Each of the short stories in the book were good. And I think that's unusual for most anthologies. Usually there is at least one dud in the mix. My favorites stories were by Eden, Ashworth and Hatch, but the other stories were almost as good.
Completion Week 4 — Sunday roll
Spot 24
Book: The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley
Date read: 3/14
Pages: 513
Qualification: 2nd in series
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I’ve had this series on my TBR for a long time and I’m glad I finally dug in. First let me say that I read this 2nd installment first and I never felt that I wished I had read the 1st one first. It’s nice to have books in a series that can be read as stand alone, and this one didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed Ally’s journey and I can’t wait to learn more about the other sisters and especially Pa Salt! The mystery around Ally’s birth brought us into a story of music, love and loss. I enjoyed the history here, and the writing was very good as well. I’m excited to keep going but will definitely save Pa Salt’s book for last!
Hey Team — can someone else roll after Ira is done? I’m away for a long weekend and today is a busy day. I might not get a chance to look at GRs until tomorrow afternoon. Thanks!
CompletionWeek 4/Sunday Roll
Spot 24
Book: The Shadow Casket
Author: Chris Wooding
Pages: 832
Qualification: # 2 in the Darkwater Legacy Series
Read: 14/3/24
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I really loved the first book in this series. It had a good plot and very interesting characters, and many things happened in the last part that made me want to read the next book. Still it took me over a year to get to it. I think the length of over 800 pages had something to do with it. In this book we have a time jump of three years after the events of the first book and things are not going well, in fact quite the opposite. There are alot of charecters to follow, some old and some new. This book has a lot of excellent character moments, where character get to develop, learn more about their strengths and weaknesses and about each other. You never know wich characters are trustworthy and some change aliances and there is a lot of betrayal going on. There is also a lot of action in the book, and I have to say the author is not afraid to kill of characters. The finale of the book is excellent and explosive. All in all this book is a solid continuation of the first book, and I am very interested to see what happens next. I hope the next book is released soon and not in ten years.
Team 3 RollWeek: 5 - Thursday Roll
Previous Space: 24
Roll: 2
New Space: 26
Link to reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Team 3Week: 4 - Sunday Roll Completions
Space: 24
✅✅ Ira https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Lanelle https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✅✅ Patti https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2626th in series
2nd in series
6th in series
26. Cover: Green
Due Sunday, March 17th
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Butcher & Blackbird (other topics)The Silent Girl (other topics)
Marked (other topics)
Don't Look Back (other topics)
Don't Look Back (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Brynne Weaver (other topics)Tess Gerritsen (other topics)
Benedict Jacka (other topics)
Benedict Jacka (other topics)
Lucinda Riley (other topics)
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Spot #11
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
Read 2/29
T..."
Oh crap! I forgot. Thanks, Denise!