Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2011 Challenge Archive
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A Year of J.D. Robb
Wow I just came upon this thread. Just started this series and I'm loving it!I guessed I won't be able to catch up to the group's reading so soon. I'm taking October off from some bookclubs' reads so hopefully I can spend more time on this series.
Leslie wrote: "Okay, I have a serious problem with one aspect of the story - but I'll wait till everyone's finished to ask my question."I bet I know what it is.... Despite Peabody's assertion, you just don't believe McNabb's ass is not so much 'boney' as 'tight'.
Yes, Christine - that is it!! HaHa. And Juliet - welcome!! We try and hide spoilers, so please join in wherever you are in reading. We have some who are way ahead and just waiting for us to catch up.
Hi Juliet. Even if you're on a different book from us, we're happy to chat about our beloved characters.
I think what made the scene with Dr. Mira and Eve so funny was that Dr. Mira is usually so cool and collected and professional. To see her getting so hot and bothered by Eve's story, to the point of saying "Oh My" and then apologizing for her 'unprofessional reaction' was just too much. Plus the he pulled out his own weapon metaphorically speaking. I think she shocked Eve with that one.Plus, this shows how far Eve herself has come in regards to her relationships with others. Eve from the first few books never would have opened up about that stuff to Mavis or Dr. Mira and certainly wouldn't have gone into such intimate detail.
A few books from now, I'll probably never be able to remember which book it was, but I'll always remember THAT scene with Eve and Dr. Mira.
I know! And Dr. Mira was so sweet - I'm such a sucker for a mother figure in books. I guess because Eve makes me want to mother her sometimes! She's so confused - it's endearing.My problem has to do with Roarke and Ricker. (view spoiler)
I don't know Leslie that didn't bother me too much. Roarke was trying to protect Eve and he was mad at her at the time. He could have mentioned something earlier but I don't know... they were both trying to protect each other and they just muck things up when they try to keep each other safe.
I'm hoping to finish this tonight. Then I can click on that tempting spoiler...
Just finished! Hurry up, Christine LOL!! I have some other issues I want to discuss.I gave it 5 stars - loved this one.
And Kami, I hear you.
OMG! I read a little over lunch and got to the part where Eve has a flashback to her time with her father and remembers (view spoiler)
I think for me what became so apparent in this story - is that they are really the same person. I think Dr. Mira pegged it perfectly. They are strong, passionate people who are crazy in love with each other. So they are both trying to protect the other, and save the other. And they are both so hard-headed!
I agree. There is so much in this story about how strong willed protective people the two of them are. Eve gets mad at Roarke when he gets in her way and he gets mad at her when she lies to protect him. It's not like they can wrap each other up in bubble wrap.
I'm about a quarter of the way through this one. It's a re-read for me but a lot of it feels new again because I read it nearly eight years ago. I'm at the part where Eve is meeting Ricker. He is the epitome of slimy! I have a feeling (and perhaps I'm just remembering) that Roarke is going to be seriously angry that Even went to meet Ricker on her own. She didn't even take Peabody! That seems kind of unwise to me considering what she knows about Ricker.
Hi Sheery! You're right about Roarke becoming "seriously angry". But I'm not totally clear on what he was most angry about: that she went alone and purposely endangered herself or that she lied about the flowers and tried to keep Roarke from finding out what she did. Or was it the combination of the two that really put him over the edge?
Finished! Can you believe I fell asleep with two pages left to go?! Two pages!? Oh, well, it's not the first time I've done that and certainly won't be the last. I actually fell asleep once in the middle of the last paragraph of a book. I think you're right that Eve and Roarke are basically the same person. They are both so strong-willed and protective of what they consider "mine", and it's no wonder they butt heads so gloriously at times. But I like that they eventually fight it out. None of this lingering on it for days. I was a little put off by the cold shoulder Roarke was giving Eve there for a day or two, but I'm glad she finally forced a confrontation and on her terms instead of his. Interesting that all of their fights seem to be about putting themselves in danger or being over protective of the other. As marital disagreements go, that's actually pretty good.
This is the first time I think she's asked Roarke if he could dig up information about her childhood. She says she doesn't need to know, but I'm wondering how long before we go back to that? I know I've read things in other threads that indicate she does eventually look into her childhood, but I don't know how long it will be drawn out.
I'm also with you that I didn't see why Roarke 'didn't think to mention' who owned Purgatory before him. Especially when his name came up as a possible link in the case. Roarke just seems to smart and too sharp to have conveniently forgotten.
And how much longer is McNab going to tolerate Peabody's friendship with Charles?
oh you guys have some good books coming up ;) Peabody/Charles/McNabb; Eve's history; Rourke's history
I think it was the lying about it that put him over the top. I actually thought it was pretty funny that she tried to get Summerset to shred the flowers! A little humor might have diffused that situation! But I thought she handled the cold shoulder pretty well. I wouldn't have lasted that long. But in my marriage, I'm the one much more likely to hold a grudge.Okay, is everyone done? Can I talk about the end yet?
I'm done! Is anyone else still reading?
Yeah, like Summerset could get a huge thing of flowers past Roarke. And then Eve is all like, 'flowers? what flowers, never saw any flowers.' That was pretty stupid.Roarke may have failed to mention the Ricker connection with the club because he knew Eve would flip out. Also, he was mad at her, she didn't want his help and he wanted to take care of it on his own. Roarke doesn't always volunteer information I've noticed, he didn't mention it until Eve flat out asked him, 'why is he so interested in this club?'
Wasn't it funny in the beginning when Clooney handed the baby to Eve and she 'lost all the spit in her mouth'. Then put the baby in the hamper of laundry 'with the care of woman handling a homemade boomer'. Good thing the baby didn't start crying or fill its pants or Eve may have run from the room. So funny. I liked how Peabody took charge of the little boy and got him 'a soy dog, three chocolate sticks, and a fudgy cone.'What were your thoughts on Captain Roth?
I'm still reading the book but it's a re-read for me; so feel free to discuss. :)
I've met women like her who are so concerned with being discriminated against that they act like bigger b****es than they need to be. She was obviously having alot of personal problems and I think probably a decent cop once that stuff is out of the way.Yes, Roarke is protective of Eve, but at the time it seems he would have simply told her when he admitted that he had dealing with him. I just don't buy the slipped my mind thing. I love these books but some things are a little contrived.
Okay, and here was my other problem. (view spoiler) Something stinks to me. I just didn't buy the ending at all. Loved the book, but not the last couple of pages. Anyone else have this problem? Or am I being too picky? Which wouldn't be the first time. I am harder on Romantic Suspense than any other genre.
All of the In Death books seem to end with Eve neatly bagging the bad guy or girl and walking into the sunset. I am getting kind of used to the wrapped up in two pages kind of ending. Seems to be the style of writing. But yeah after what happened with Webster, you would think Eve wouldn't go in like that.
the later ones (I don't know how far you have read Kami), it seems more that the person is identified earlier on and then its a matter of chasing them down
I agree,Kami. And usually I don't have a problem with it. I like my endings wrapped up neatly. I just thought this one was way too neat. Literally. I mean "your wife is waiting to see you". What would you say to your spouse? "Honey, did you have to be quite so mean? Maybe you could have gone outside and chopped wood."
On the Roarke-Riker connection: I like the spin Kami put on it. If Roarke had neglected to mention it after Eve made a big stink of him staying out of her case I might have swallowed that a little better than 'I forgot and didn't think it important.' I did like that in this one he called her on wanting him to stay out of her work except when it's convenient to her. And I like that she started to realize how much pressure he's under managing his empire. As to the ending, I have mixed feelings as well. On the one hand I can appreciate the idea of a good cop manipulated in his grief and can understand wanting to cut him a little slack when it comes to taking him in. But on the other hand, this guy committed some heinous crimes. Even attempted to stab Eve and nearly killed what's-his-name when they came to pick him up the first time. And it's not like he was commiting crimes of passion. These were some very well thought out executions. He crossed the line from being cop to being judge, jury, and executioner. After a career as a good cop and upstanding citizen? And he had no other evidence of instability? So, yes the ending was a bit too neat and tidy and polite for me, but I also agree that most of the books wrap up pretty quickly in the last few pages. I did like the complexity of the investigation throughout the book though. As Eve tried to figure out the connection between Riker and the murders and gross corruption in the police force.
I agree, I thought the investigation part was actually one of the best I've read in this series. And I see Kami and your point of view about Roarke and why he might not have said anything.One of the things I like about this book is the fact that they are married. They fell in love so quickly and married so fast and now they have to figure out how to be a married couple. It's interesting to read and so different from other series. And you can see that in she never thought much about what he does and how it affects him. One of the things I learned in counseling abuse victims, is that they tend to be a little self-focused. And I think Eve demonstrates this.
I too like that we get to see their relationship develop and evolve. Usually in romances we just get the build up to the couple falling in love. All the fire and passion of the early romance and a presumed happily-ever-after. It's nice to stick with a couple and see how they interact day to day.
question for you guys...us mods were talking and in the last 2 years, we have done a year of reading Georgette Heyer and now the in death series...would you guys be interested in seeing another author in a similar challenge?
I would think it would depend on the author but I would be open to doing a similar challenge.
I agree - I think it would depend on the author. But I would be interested.And yes, I am also excited for the next one in this series.
Did we agree to continue with this next year?
I think we did decide to continue next year. If we do it a third year we might even almost catch up with the new releases!I agree, a monthly read would depend on the author. I've been meaning to reread Sue Grafton's series since it's been quite a few years since I read the early ones.
I've wanted to read the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. I've never read them but I know a lot of people who love them. I saw the movie and thought it was cute.And yeah we have to continue another year of JD Robb and the year after that. :)
we aren't sure if we would do a big series, or an author with a large backlist (at least 30+ titles)...we are open to suggestions
I've seen another challenge somewhere in another group where each participant picks their own author and and chooses to read a certain number of books by that author in the given year. I think the minimum was 10 and there were levels of 10+, 20+, 30+. Something like that makes it more flexible for more people. Or were you thinking something along a book-a-month buddy read?What about a 'first in series' book a month buddy read? Each month you'd read the first book from a different series. You could do them by theme: one for mystery lovers, one for contemporary romance, one for paranormal or urban fantasy, etc.
I'm not sure how you'd pick which series to use though? I guess folks could vote on their favorite series and the top 12 would be used for the given year.
we were going to be using a voting option...likely taking nominations, and then vote - just wanted to see what you guys thought about the ideaJane/Fran and I kind of do something similar in our monthly m/m reads - we rotate who picks the book - normally throw up a list of 3-4 and then decide what we want to read - and it seems to be working well
Excited to start Betrayal in death on Monday!
Me too! I'm waiting for McNab to put his foot down about Shebody continuing to see Charles. I just know it has to happen one of these days, and can't wait to see how she reacts. Somehow, I don't think it will go over very well.
I'm going to be late getting to this one this month, but I'm not sure how late just yet. And I've been so looking forward to it!
I will probably be starting this one tomorrow. I'm ready for it!!
I might finish it today. Can't quite figure out who is pulling the strings. I have a couple of theories but not sure how it all ties together.
I'm on page 76. So far, pretty good. Seems a little slow start. Interesting that we know who did it but not the why. I'm so bad at figuring out "who done it" that I never even try!
Done. I liked it. I am giving it four stars. It was slow and kind of convoluted at times but still really good. Redeems itself at the end.
Just finished. I liked it - gave it 4 stars. Was a little slow in spots but I really liked how vulnerable Roarke was at times and that Eve responded. And I love how she tried to be a good friend to Peabody. I want to shake both Peabody and McNabb! I figured out pretty early who was involved and I thought Eve became so focused on Yost that she lost sight of some pretty obvious stuff. But still really good.
The interaction between Eve and Peabody was pretty funny over the ice cream. Eve was trying. Eve's fear of Trina was pretty funny too and the bit with the breast cream. I felt bad for poor McNab, he does love his She-body.
Trina! I was just thinking today (I don't know what triggered it) that I kind of miss Trina. She cracks me up. Especially with the voice Susan Ericksen gives her in the audio versions. Sadly I don't think I'll be able to read this until next week!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Out of this World (other topics)Three in Death (other topics)
Interlude in Death (other topics)
Betrayal in Death (other topics)
Betrayal in Death (other topics)
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Eve's god voice to McNabb? Yeah that was funny too.