SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R27 Team #4 ~ Prose and Cons
Completion Post
X/Z - XOXO / eXcited -or- Zealous / Z
Book: Last Strand by Jennifer Estep
Pages: 368
Date Read: 23rd April
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: character name contains an O - Gin Blanco
Review:
I stand by what I said for the previous book. It's about time the series comes to an end. A fun romp as always with a few interesting stunts, especially when Finn states on the very first page that he always wanted to rob a bank - the guy who works at a bank haha.
But I found that the Big Evil fell flat in the end. So many of the other villains in the series were far more convincing in their villainy than Mason Mitchell was. He was a megalomaniac, sure, someone who was used to having other people doing his dirty work for him, but at some point, I felt like he was being portrayed like a petulant child and that took away the edge from him really feeling like that big final boss that needs to be vanquished in order to win the game.
Besides, while I'm all for a happy end, I found it started to be a little uneventful, for lack of a better word, that Gin and all her friends always survive, no matter how battered they might be. The final fight was almost boring, unfortunately. But it was still a decent end to a series that I spent quite some time with.
"He was a megalomaniac, sure, someone who was used to having other people doing his dirty work for him, but at some point, I felt like he was being portrayed like a petulant child"Reminds me of someone who is on the news nearly every night :(
😊 WTG! Your request to stamp X/Z Shelf has been approved; if you have any issues stamping your card, let me know. Once you’ve stamped your card, go to the Captain’s Log and share a link with us. Thx!
Sandra wrote: ""He was a megalomaniac, sure, someone who was used to having other people doing his dirty work for him, but at some point, I felt like he was being portrayed like a petulant child"Reminds me of s..."
Huh... Yeah that brings a sad chuckle to my lips.
Completion Post
Q - Quirky / Queen
Book: Wounded by Shannon Mayer
Pages: 288
Date Read: 24th April
Rating: 3.5 stars
How it fits: non-linear narrative - switches between two points of view (Rylee, Liam and Pamela)
Review:
Not the best book in the series and it took me ages to read. I can't quite pinpoint why. I might not have been much in the mood for this after all so picking it up felt like an effort at times, but when I did read, it was quick.
The action was full-on, as expected, and it started right where the last book left off, so there wasn't much of a lull before the next battle hit the pages. What frustrated me though was the "planning" around the prophecies. And then the utterly useless sacrifice towards the end. Bloody hell, that had me almost rage-quit for a bit. It was a lovely ending though but left faaaaar too much hanging. Sometimes Rylee, for all she sacrifices and does in order to protect the people she loves, can be a selfish cow. There, it needed to be said.
Obviously though I am invested and want to know how it all ends. Two more books to go, and both probably pumped full of action from the first page to the last.
Aaaand that's the next stamp requested, which means we're all caught up again :-)
Eldarwen wrote: "Haha, with the next shelf, you'll be at the same place as me in the series ;-))I cannot wait to read your review for this one because you always pick great quotes and this one has a few very good..."
Woohoo! I’m definitely making good progress and enjoying it.
Thx 😊 & 🤔 challenge accepted
Sandra wrote: ""He was a megalomaniac, sure, someone who was used to having other people doing his dirty work for him, but at some point, I felt like he was being portrayed like a petulant child"Reminds me of s..."
Petulant child for f*ing sure! 😠
Yay for our stamp! 😊 WTG! Your request to stamp Q has been approved; if you have any issues stamping your card, let me know. Once you’ve stamped your card, go to the Captain’s Log and share a link with us. Thx!
Eldarwen wrote: "It's about time the series comes to an end."Sucks when an author doesn’t know when it’s time to say bye-bye.
Steph wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "It's about time the series comes to an end."Sucks when an author doesn’t know when it’s time to say bye-bye."
I stopped reading at #9, though I've got the next 5 books, so I always meant to return to the series, sometime. Sometime just keeps getting further and further away.
As per usual, shall stamp when I'm home after work :-)
Selection Post
A - Anniversary / Alpha Male
Book: Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Pages: 392
How it fits: first published in January 2011 (Jan being my birthday month)
Selection PostShelf #Shelf #9 ~ 23 Apr: A - Anniversary / Alpha Male
Book: The Hookup Mix-up by Riley Hart
Pages: 243
How it fits: First published June 7, 2024 (June is my birthday month)
Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb
Shelf #9: A - Alpha Male (@ GR https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...)
Read: 26 April
Rating: ✮✮✮½
My Review:
In death there were many layers. Violent death added more. It was her job to sift through those layers and find cause. In cause, to meet justice.This was the first book in the series I had a difficult time picking up after putting it down and sticking with once I'd gotten back into it. It was different, but no less interesting, in that it's the first where we know who the murderer is very quickly, with the hunt for him the challenge. Eve's process is always a joy to read, seeing how her mind works, the challenges she has with Roarke since he's or one of his properties/aquaintences are always somehow also impacted/involved and the continued growth between Eve and her coworkers/subordinates/bosses.
"Fuck me, Roarke, if I'm not proud of you." It struck Roarke, oddly, that no one who had known the boy had ever said those words to the man.Major foreshadowing when an old friend of Roarke's shows up. Mick's one of his longtime friends, one of only two left from those wild days in the streets of Dublin. It was fun watching these two interacting and reminiscing, especially in front of Eve.
"You're never going to tell me you've retired those magic hands of yours."Mick's a guest in their home, but with them both busy with the current case he's left to his own devices most of the time. He tests Roarke's willingness to have a bit of good-ole-days fun, but quickly learns Roarke's cop has changed him maybe a bit more than he was expecting.
"Let's just say I've put them to different uses. Legal ones."
"Do you want to see this data?"These two are a trip! Eve may not understand that Roarke needs to keep a toe in the grey, but she's slowly accepting of the fact that the help he offers is invaluable. Since falling for his cop, he's made sure his businesses are above board, but his computer skills and the top of the line equipment he uses continue to provide answers her team can't or don't have time to find in most cases. Finding creative ways to clean and import that knowledge into her reports remains a challenge though.
"Are we going to be arrested, fined, and imprisoned?"
"We can insist on adjoining cells."
The inclusion of FBI Special Agents James Jacoby and Karen Stowe added some additional frustrations for Eve. She has her process and they're f*king it up. Top that off with Jacoby being "that guy" and she's got her hands full of BS she doesn't have the time or patience for, now or ever. Stowe proves to be more helpful, nevertheless bothersome for Eve.
"He said I was--"Poor Peabody. She holds Eve in the highest regard and knows Eve's extreme aversion to anything to do with her relationships, but in a weak moment she begins to share. Eve quickly puts a stop to any discussion, but is later reminded by Roarke that, as a friend, Peabody just needs a friendly ear. I completely understand Peabody's stance and hope things work out between these two.
"No!" Eve threw up her arms as if warding off an incoming meteorite.
"No, uh-uh, forget it. You are not dumping it on me. I don't want to hear about it, don't want to know about it, don't want to think about it."
"I want you out of the city, and now. If the chalet doesn't suit you, go where you like. But you will go."One of the best scenes in this one was the interaction between Roarke and Summerset following an incident with the murderer. It perfectly reflected the intensity of the relationship between the two and reminds you (and them) that losing one or the other would be beyond devastating to one who remained. And, how funny it was that Eve finally hears the words she's been longing to hear, but knows he's reacting only out of fear.
"I have no intention of going anywhere."
"Fuck it. You're fired."
[...]
"Just my luck, you finally say the words I've been waiting over a year to hear and I can't do my happy dance.
"You think when you're in the middle of this kind of mess he's just going to bop over to Switzerland and yodel, or whatever the hell they do there?"
The past can circle back on us no matter what kind of maze we build.Despite my difficulty with this installment, which was mostlikely a me-thing, I did enjoy it and will most definitely be continuing on.
That is a loooong review for a book you had some issues with. "Just my luck, you finally say the words I've been waiting over a year to hear and I can't do my happy dance."
This had me grinning from ear to ear. Eve does love Summerset, even if she loves to hate him (or so she tells herself). Just like Summerset enjoys to piss her off to no end but cares deeply for her.
I felt compelled to put all the quotes that resonated into it 😉 Something about that installment was off for me, but I think it was just a me-thing. Right?! They are a hoot and I feel their respect for eachother's love of Roarke will eventually bring them closer.
Steph wrote: "Right?! They are a hoot and I feel their respect for eachother's love of Roarke will eventually bring them closer...."My lips are sealed!!!
Weeeeeell weeeeell, that statement leaves a bit of leeway for interpretation and it's making me grin :-)
Sure does 😆 And, Robb mentioned it briefly in one of the mini interview episodes. I've been really lucky that there have only been very small spoilers in those so far. 😬🤞🏼
New shelf 🤓Shelf #10 ~ 30 Apr: S - Secret Admirer / series to finish
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...
*For Secret Admirer, read a book featuring flowers, gifts or candy on the cover, an author with initials S.A. or 'secret' in the series name or title
* For series to finish, read a book on the following shelf: GR series to finish
I lucked out, my next ID book has flowers on one of the covers 😁 I’ll be reading
And still not a winning shelf call it seems, how cool :-)
Which edition will you be reading, Steph? Just so I know which one to add to the log :-)
Selection Post
S - Secret Admirer / Series to Finish
Book: Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
Pages: 371
How it fits: flowers on cover
Eldarwen wrote: "Which edition will you be reading, Steph? Just so I know which one to add to the log :-)":) This one >>
👍🏼😊This is a particularly nasty one 😝
Steph wrote: "👍🏼😊This is a particularly nasty one 😝"
Yes, it's not a very nice one at all - but Eve kicks ass all the way through.
Completion PostShelf #Shelf #9 ~ 23 Apr: A - Anniversary / Alpha Male
Book: The Hookup Mix-up by Riley Hart
Pages: 243
How it fits: First published June 7, 2024 (June is my birthday month)
Date Read: 4/29
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: This was a cute story - nothing really heavy, which was a nice change after reading so many murder mysteries in a row. Two college boys meet at a party, one is sweet, kind, and has absolutely no clue about himself, and the other is hot, gay, and totally into guy 1. Guy 1 thinks they're just friends at first, but then realizes that Guy 2 has been hitting on him the whole time and gets really flustered, because of course, he's never thought of guys in that way before. Predictable sexual awakening ensues, but with sincerely sweet overtones and lots of clever dialogue, so the story didn't completely rely on overdone tropes and cliches. And saying that, I'm changing my rating from a 4 to a 3, because honestly, there were a lot of cliches to wade through. But one thing I did really like was that Guy 1, the sweet clueless boy, didn't get all spooked and run away from his feelings once he realized what they were. He stood by his guy and came out to his friends and parents. I also liked how all of the characters in the book stood up for him and his right to come out in his own time and his own way. That was really refreshing. So now, after that, I'm gonna change the rating again to 3.5 stars. 😉
Selection PostShelf #Shelf #10 ~ 30 Apr: S - Secret Admirer / series to finish
Series to Finish
Book: A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 712
How it fits: shelved 57 times as series-to-finish
👍🏼 As she tends to do 😎That one sounds sweet ☺️
Completion Post
S - Secret Admirer / Series to Finish
Book: Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
Pages: 371
Date Read: 3rd May 2025
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: flowers on cover
Review:
The fact that I've been through this one so very quickly - it is a bank holiday weekend so I have a lot of time - gives away that I've enjoyed it. While this once again one of those installment where we know who the murderer is, Eve's hunt is no less interesting.
Eve also has to, or actually partially wants to, face her past, which will hopefully make her sleep a little easier from now on. The anniversary celebrations had me grinning. For someone so very pragmatic, Eve can be a mush.
Peabody's mother is a hoot! "I don't know how it happened" hehe. And yay for Peabody getting her first semi-solo case.
So many nice things happened in this book, despite some of the nasty memories.
I'm going to spend the rest of my long weekend diving into a massive doorstop (Rhythm of War) so I'll be slower with finishing my last Bingo book, but will be done around the next shelf call :-)
👍🏼😊 My husband read that series. Looking forward to meeting Peabody’s mom 😁
I've finished my BSB book, but I'll have to work on my review tomorrow.
At first I read BDB and was confused hehe. Probably just my bad conscience telling me that BDB is another series I should finally continue reading ;-)
Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #13
Shelf #9: A - Alpha male
Read: 3 May
Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆
My Review:
... they'd created their own world, their own rules. The primary rule was never, never to be bored.This installment was more disturbing because of these two "challenging" each other. It'd be understandable should fans of the series find this one unreadable. Robb's writing pulls you into the scenes and they can be tough to read.
[...]
'Turns at bat' is an accurate analogy. He, or they, are game players. There's a need here to dominate women, to debase them, but to do so with what is perceived as style and charm.
"Officer Peabody, will you verify the asshole's opinion?"But, Eve is there, as always, to bring justice to the perpetrators. In spite of her past, she pushes through the nightmares and faces the evil to, once again, stand for the dead.
"Yes, sir, Lieutenant, the asshole is correct. You are the supreme bitch cop."
"Big deal when you're tall and thin with jungle-cat eyes and have a sexy little dent in your chin."My love for Peabody is growing with each book. She's the perfect aide for Eve. She's tough with a soft center, hardworking with a wicked sense of humor and has a very respectable love of food. She's shocked when McNab comes crashing back into her personal life all battered and bruised. He's made assumptions about her relationship with Charles and jumps to her defense, sweetly, but unnecessarily. All of it a hoot! Maybe now they're both ready to admit their feelings.
"You coming onto me, Peabody?"
"My love for you is a fearsome thing, Dallas. But I've given up dating cops."
I've been so connected to these characters that it feels weird leaving them for any other series. "So many books, so little time" So very true!!
Told you so!!!!Couldn't resist :D
You did 😁 and I thank you
I found that particular installment a tad difficult to read as I very often felt the need to reach through the pages to bitch-slap the little arrogant and egotistical assholes.But that is what is so well done about her writing.
Yes. I loved Peabody's comment ..."Sick bastard creep ought to have his balls scooped off with a rusty spoon."
New shelf’s up 😊Shelf #11 ~ 7 May: Happy / humorous -or- Infatuation / 'In Death'
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...
* For Happy, read a "feel good" book (can be a humorous read, a cozy mystery, etc), "happy" in the title or series, or a smiling character on the cover
* For humorous, read a book from either shelf: GR humorous/SOS humor
*For Infatuation, read a book featuring a book boyfriend, written by an author you adore, or featuring a cover you love
* For 'In Death', read a book on the following shelf: GR In Death (yes, this is a nod to all my SOSers who gave me friendly pokes to start this series; for an 'In Death' book to qualify, it must be found on this shelf; if it's a book in the series, but not shelved here, it won't count)
I’ve been waiting for this one 😆
I’m gonna read
200+ ppl shelved it as ‘in-death’
I have them all on my 'in death' :D
Steph wrote: "Yes. I loved Peabody's comment ..."Sick bastard creep ought to have his balls scooped off with a rusty spoon."
"
I whole-heartedly agreed with that one!!
Oh yay, one more week of Bingo before it's a winning shelf call :-DI can then continue my relaxing pace for Rivers of London, and I'm almost certain this shelf will be another In Death book hehe.
🫣My husband & I listened to a bunch of RoL books, but haven't been back in bit. I'll have to remind him of it to return to. I think we stopped around book #4 or 5.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Easton (other topics)Easton (other topics)
Easton (other topics)
Portrait in Death (other topics)
Imitation in Death (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.D. Robb (other topics)Amanda Bouchet (other topics)
J.D. Robb (other topics)
Amanda Bouchet (other topics)
J.D. Robb (other topics)
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I cannot wait to read your review for this one because you always pick great quotes and this one has a few very good ones hehehe.