R5: Team #3 ~ Vamps, and shifters, and demons! Oh my!

[Jennifer]

I read it straight through! It only took me like three hours :)

[Josie]

Some fast reading, Jennifer :D

[Josie]

Title/Author: Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole
Date finished: 30th July
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: I didn't think I'd like this book, probably because the heroine was a ghost and the hero a vamp. I was pleasantly surprised, in fact I couldn't put it down. I loved the slow build of the relatonship - there was no jumping into bed since she was incorporeal. I also loved both the main characters (unusual for me), Neomi was so confident and full of life (a bit oxymoronic since she's dead) and I loved Conrad's madness. In all I can't wait to keep going with this series, Kresley Cole is a very talented writer.

[booklovinrn]

SHELF : Urban Fantasy
TITLE/Author : Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep
DATE FINISHED : July 31 ★★★★★

Wow this series just keeps getting better with each book. Another fun, fast and furious Gin Blanco story from one of my favorite authors. I love Gin she is such a kick ass interesting character - an assassin with a developing heart of gold. As usual there is tons of adventure, great snappy dialogue, some naughty bits and lots of Finn. I found Tangled Threads to easily be the best of the series to date. I love where Finn and Bria are, I love where Gin and Owen are and I love that Gin is almost ready for her big showdown with Mab.

[Heather]

Finished: Magic Bites
Date: 7/30/12
Shelf: Urban Fantasy
Rating: ★★★

Review:

First off, I will definitely be reading more of this series, even if this one didn't knock my socks off. I liked the characters, I liked the world and the general writing, I just got hung up on (petty?) annoyances.

For example, there were some things that seemed to be explained multiple times in almost the exact same words. What made it seem even worse to me was that the explanations were always in her head so there wasn't even the excuse of her trying to get anther character to understand.

With Curran I wasn't sure what was going on with him all the time. It sounded to me as though he were the one suggesting that Crest could be the bad guy and yet once they are all in the guys apartment, Curran is claiming that it was all Kate's idea and he was just dragged along.

Finally, I wasn't always sure how the characters were coming to the conclusions they were, especially when they were right. It made me feel as though I was missing parts of the book where there would be a reason for this thought or the other...

[Josie]

Heather, I've seen Ilona Andrews say something about wanting to re-write Magic Bites and lots of other people say that it's ok, nothing mind blowing. Hopefully though you will love the rest, personally I can't decide if my fave is #3 and 4 :)

[Heather]

Yeah, I was reading through other reviews and saw that. Other authors that done rewrites and reedits so hopefully their publisher will allow that someday.

[Lala]

Finished:Magic to the Bone
Date: 02.08.12
Shelf: Urban Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★
Review: I liked that this book was just about magic and nothing more. There where no vampires, werewolves or any other supernatural creatures. It was refreshing to read about people, only that they used magic like we use electricity. This book took you completely different world, world of magic.

[Josie]

Yay, team! It's good we did that before the next shelf, just in case kick-ass heroine comes up ;)

Urban Fantasy → 5/5 completed

✔ Heather: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews - ★★★
Review 7/30/12
✔ Jennifer: Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton - ★★★★
Review 7/30/12
✔ Josie: Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole - ★★★★★
Review 7/30/12
✔ Cathy: Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep - ★★★★★
Review 7/31/12
✔ Laura: Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk - ★★★★
Review 8/02/12

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, VS&D!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'demons' and 'urban-fantasy'.

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on both stamps VSDOM!

[Heather]

Shelf is series-up. I' ll choose later, my brothers gf is about to make me an auntie again. ^.^

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the new little one Heather, and congrats to brother & gf too :D

[booklovinrn]

I am going to read The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts for the Series Catch Up Shelf.

[Josie]

Many happy wishes to you and your fam, Heather.

Week 8 (5th August)
Series Catch-Up → 5/5 completed
✔ Heather: The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter - ★★★★
Review 8/08/12
✔ Jennifer: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa - ★★★★
Review 8/08/12
✔ Josie: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn - ★★★★1/2
Review 7/08/12
✔ Cathy: The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts - ★★★★
Review 7/08/12
✔ Laura: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - ★★★★★
Review 7/08/12

[Lala]

i will read

[Josie]

I've read , will review in the morning because I'm sleepy now :)

[Jennifer]

I will read

[Josie]

Title/Author: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
Date finished: 6th August
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Review: Another great addition to the Bridgerton series. These are so easy to read and it's nice to see the whole family again.
I liked the whole meeting each other by letter and ended up reading it in a few hours. I'm looking forward to the next one with Francesca in Scotland :)

[Lala]

Done :)



Title/Author: Demonglass/Rachel Hawkins
Date finished: 07.08.12
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: "Demonglass" is one of the best YA books i have read. There wasn't one dull moment in it. As first book Sophie got herself in a mess (in Hex Hall), but in this one she goes to England for summer holiday with her friends and dad. She gets got up in a new mystery about demons.

[Jennifer]

Finished: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
DATE: 08/08/2012
RATING: FOUR STARS
REVIEW : in the last book they are exiled from nevernever, but in this installment she is asked back along with ash and Puck for a mission that only she can complete- defeat the false king. If she lives the exile will be lifted.

I liked the ending of this book. I enjoyed it. It kind of dragged in the beginning but after that it picked up and was enjoyable.

[booklovinrn]

SHELF : Series Catch Up
TITLE/Author : The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
DATE FINISHED : August 7 ★★★★

Ok I have to admit it: I am a Nora Roberts addict. I have read 60-70 of her books and listened to several of her trilogies. On top of that I have read and listened to the entire J D Robb In Death series, which at last count I believe is 42 or 43 stories strong. Her books are always just so readable, I feel as if I'm slipping into the world these people live as well as dipping into their lives and I love it. Still a part of me wonders every time I pick up one of her books whether she'll be able to make me happy again.


The second in the Inn at Boonsboro Trilogy in which three brothers who run their own construction company (we're talking gorgeous men in toolbelts!) find the loves of their lives in the scenic little Maryland town of Boonsboro while rehabbing an historic inn (with a resident ghost!). This book follows Avery MacTavish, pizza restaurateur and serial hair-dyer, and her journey to Love (cap L) with the man she has loved (small l) since she was about 5, namely middle brother Owen Montgomery. The book wasn't the least bit boring, as it is so rich in character detail and community. Nora Roberts does Male Banter brilliantly but she pretty much turns it into an art form in this book when the three brothers get together and talk sex, and ghosts and women. There were so many fun moments in this book that had me smiling as I read. As I suspected, once again I was not disappointed, I really enjoyed The Last Boyfriend and am eagerly anticipating The Perfect Hope release.

[Lala]

for angel shelf i will read

[Jennifer]

im reading this

[booklovinrn]

I am going to read Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione for the Angels Shelf.

[Josie]

A good shelf for us, giving us 2 four-in-a-rows. We've read so many books as a team, so many in fact that the Master List is full lol. I'm going to have to try to cut it down to fit this weeks, last weeks and next weeks into it :)

Week 9 (12th August)
Angels → 5/5 completed
✔ Heather: Demon by Kristina Douglas - ★★
Review 14/08/12
✔ Jennifer: Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison - ★★★★
Review 11/08/12
✔ Josie: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh - ★★★
Review 22/08/12
✔ Cathy: Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter - ★★★★★
Review 17/08/12
✔ Laura: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto - ★
Review 19/08/12

[Heather]

Been ridiculously busy all last week @.@

I'll be reading

[Heather]

Finished: The Darkest Passion
Date: 8/8/12
Shelf: Series Catch Up
Rating: ★★★★

Review:
I really liked this addition to the series. While there were several plot points that were obvious in their conclusions, how they ended up the way they did was very interesting. My one problem was that the end didn't seem completely resolved; almost as if there should have been either another chapter or an epilogue.

[Jennifer]

Finished: By Kim Harrison
Date: 8/11/12
Shelf: Angels
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I really liked this book. It takes place just after the first book, and she is trying to prove to everybody that by being the timekeeper she still believes in choice. So she is trying to find who she is supposed to 'scythe' so that she can try to convince him to be good. All while staying under the radar so the light timekeeper, Ron, doesn't know what she's doing.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Vamps, Shifters & Demons!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'Series Catch-Up'.

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamp VSDOM!

[booklovinrn]

SHELF : Angels
TITLE/Author : Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter
DATE FINISHED : August 17 ★★★★★


Wicked Nights, is the first book of Angels of The Dark, spin-off series from Lords of The Underworld. Wicked Nights is wicked awesome. Gena continually gets better with every book she writes. Zacharel is cold, calculating, has a massive ego and refuses to feel any real emotion. He’s in charge of an army of angels who have angered the Deity, they are all rejects, and Zacharel is in charge of keeping them in line while they battle the demons of the underworld that cause havoc on Earth. Annabelle is fierce, strong, no weeping hides in the corner, TSTL heroine. She fights back with everything inside of her. Her strength is what attracts Zacharel to her. What I really loved about Wicked Nights was the slow building of the romance. I can't wait to read Koldo's book, which is Beauty Awakened, and read more about the angels. This series is looking very promising.



*I changed my book from Lethal Rider to Wicked Nights*

[Josie]

No problem, Cathy. For some reason I've missed everyone's update for Angels. Silly me! Or silly goodreads :P
Will update everything in the morning, shelf day tomorrow!

[Lala]

hopefully i'll be done with my book tomorrow...it's killing me :(

[Josie]

Oh no, Laura! I was tempted by the cover of Halo but knew we wouldn't suit. You know, I think you can DNF it if you're having that much trouble with it. I'll go check the rules.

[Lala]

i have already read half of it, so i wanna finish it.

[Josie]

Okay then, good luck! Just let me know if you want to mark it as DNF - I think I've seen it somewhere that it's allowed :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

That doesn't ring a bell Josie, but I'll check.

[Josie]

I checked the Q&A but it's not there. Maybe it was mentioned once unofficially. If not, then it would be good to have it down as yes or no, whatever you, Steph etc. decides. Thanks, Sandra :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I've checked all the rule type threads and no mention of it Josie. I certainly don't remember it anywhere and it would go against the tone of the game. I personally have always picked another book if I wasn't into the first choice.

So the answer would be no, you can't DNF a book and still get credit for reading it.

[Lala]

i'll read

[Jennifer]

Ill read this Hex Hall

[booklovinrn]

I am going to read Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh for the 2011 Shelf

[Lala]

19.08 *
Shelf: Angel
Author :Alexandra Adornetto

Well this was big disappointment...What is it with books that have gorgeous covers, but the story is never good. When i start a new book i usually dont read what its about. I like surprises :D well this time i just read a little, part that said angels are coming to earth to fight evil forses, of course i was thinking young angiel kicking some evil ass, but this book was more about puppy love. The main character was more obsessed about her guy then anything else and i think when demon comes and bite her from the ass she wouldn't notice it

[Heather]

Finished: Demon
Date: 8/14/12
Shelf: Angels
Rating: ★★

Review:
This book I sum up as "meh". I know that there were several things that I liked but can't gather the energy to try and remember them.

The one outstanding positive was the mythos. It's obvious the author put in a lot of time researching the various Lilith myths, both ancient and more recent. As hers is one of my favorite mythos this impresses me.

Unfortunately that is about all that does. I found myself predicting each plot development and twist before it happened. I also couldn't feel even the uncontrollable lust, let alone eventual love between Rachel and Azazel. Also, while I DID like the two POVs I felt as though there should have been more of Azazel's thoughts so as to be equally told.

I'll probably still read the next books but this is more for the interpretations than the story.

[Heather]

I'm reading

[Jennifer]

Finished: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Date: 8/19/2012
Shelf: 2011
Rating: five stars
Review: At first i was kind oft of skeptical, because how many Ya books take place in some type of boarding school. As I read on though this one was different and had plenty of surprises that kept me on the edgeof my seat. Sophie was a dark witch raised by her mortal mother, and has never met her father. She gets in trouble when she does a love spell and it goes wrong so she gets sent to this reform school. Where she finds out more than she bargains for about her family.

[booklovinrn]

SHELF : 2011
TITLE/Author : Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh
DATE FINISHED : August 19 ★★★★★

Another amazing installment in Nalini Singh’s phenomenal, original, and brilliantly crafted Psy-Changeling series. I’m always impressed by the unique, intriguing, and complex characters that are impossible not to fall in love with, as well as the deeply emotional, passionate romance in each of these books.

Max and Sophia are a perfect pair. They are both wounded on the inside and they both must look deeper to see their soulmates. Max has all the traits I love in a hero: keen intelligence, possessiveness, strong-minded, a good sense of humor, an infallible sense of justice, and the insight to see the beauty in a wounded Psy like Sophia. Sophia is a heroine who definitely deserves her HEA. I liked that she knew her time was limited that she would be rehabilitated soon, and decided to grab life by the horns and experience it. I loved that Max and Sophia worked together as a unit against the situations in the book. It was very refreshing to see a couple that just let their love unfurl, rather than run away from it or fight it.

[Heather]

Finished: Seduce Me In Dreams
Date: 8/20/12
Shelf: 2011
Rating: ★★★★

Review:

This was a nice, if not particularly original, book. I liked the story line admired how all of the characters were able to get along. Unfortunately, there wasn't much that stands out within the book so I am left with a sense that I really liked the book, but that I'm not sure exactly WHY...

I will read more of this series though, if only because I want to find out what happens to everyone later on.

[Josie]

Hi guys! Sorry I've been a bit MIA recently but it's good to see lots of reading being done :P. I'll post my reviews in a bit. Also, I've continued the list on the first page here (a couple of posts after the other one)

Week 10 (19th August)
2011 → 5/5 completed
✔ Heather: Seduce Me in Dreams by Jacquelyn Frank - ★★★★
Review 20/08/12
✔ Jennifer: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - ★★★★★
Review 19/08/12
✔ Josie: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - ★★★★★
Review 21/08/12
✔ Cathy: Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh - ★★★★★
Review 19/08/12
✔ Laura: Vision in White by Nora Roberts - ★★★
Review 26/08/12