R5: Team #12 ~ The Dirty Dozen {1st Place}

[Tania]

Judithe

Yes it is me, your former teamie! We've got another great and inspired group.... What a blast we're going to have.

Hope things are great with you!

[Tania]

I am going to read for my "Young Adult Paranormal" read

For my free shelf I want to read the first book in the "Vampire Legacy" called Resurrected. It just came out on Friday so isn't on goodreads yet.

Happy Day to all!

[Valerie]

Shelf: young-adult-paranormal
Date finished: 6/18/12
Rating: ★★★
Thoughts: Hmmm.

At first glance, Enchanted is a retelling of The Princess and the Frog fairy tale -- the main character, Sunday Woodcutter, comes from a large family (she's the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and has a few older brothers) and encounters Grumble, a talking frog, in the enchanted forest by her house. Sunday was born with somewhat of a curse: if she writes down something that hasn't happened yet, it has a tendency to come true. As the original fairy tale goes, Grumble reverts back into his human form after she kisses him three times, but it happened out of her sight. Not only that, but it turns out that Sunday's family has an ongoing feud with his...

The transformed Prince Rumbold decides to host three balls, and invites every woman in the kingdom in order for him to track down Sunday again. (See where this is going?) One thing that surprised me was the darker tone through most of this book -- I went in expecting a light-hearted, cutesy read, but there's some pretty heavy stuff in here. One thing that ultimately prevents me from giving this a higher rating is that Kontis really went overboard on the fairy-tale references, to the point where they obscured the plot and character development. It got to a point where it didn't feel natural anymore. If you think of any fairy tale, it's probably been included at one point or another.

However, the author's writing itself is lovely -- she makes words flow. If you're in a mood for a giant fairy-tale reference, you might do well to check this out; I just expected to like it more. (Full disclosure: I kept wistfully thinking of Entwined by Heather Dixon, which is a fairy-tale retelling that I read earlier in the year that I enjoyed much, much more. Oh, well.)

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Wow! Ya'll have some great reviews here! I'm not sure mine will live up to the measure you've set LOL

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Shelf Young Adult Paranormal
Date finished 6/18/12
Rating 4 stars

I really enjoyed reading this. There were some laugh out loud moments. Sophie gets sent to Hecate Hall, or Hex Hall, because of a love spell gone wrong. And when she gets there, she learns a lot about herself, her family and the world she has never really lived in.

I'm probably obsessing over the fact that we don't know who Sophie's betrothed is LOL But in all honesty, since she's not really a witch, she may not have one and I am obsessing over something not important. I'm also curious where Archer went and if he really did have feelings for Sophie. I've already added the rest of the series to my TBR and I'll see if I can fit them in on another shelf :)

[Valerie]

Tania wrote: "For my free shelf I want to read the first book in the "Vampire Legacy" called Resurrected. It just came out on Friday so isn't on goodreads yet."

Would this qualify for the Free Space read, since it's not on the SOS Bookshelf or in any of the new release threads yet?

[Valerie]

Susan, your review makes me want to pick up that book even more. :) I'll see if I can read it this round.

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Thanks, Valerie!

[KarenF]

Shelf: Free Space
Date Finished: 6/18/12
Rating: 4 stars

I really enjoyed this series starter, even if it wasn't the most original UF I've ever read. I like that there doesn't appear to be every supernatural race under the sun in this world. So far, it's just populated with witches, fae and humans.

I also really like Alex, she's competent and smart and able to maintain healthy friendships (if not romantic relationships). For me, first person narration works as long as I really want to spend time with that narrator. Some of the world in this book reminded me of the Rachel Morgan books by Kim Harrison. Mainly in the use of charms and the FIB in Grave Witch seemed like the Inderland cops in that series. But while I love the world in Harrison's series, Rachel herself can be incredibly annoying in a way that Alex is not.

The only other criticism I have is that I'm just over love triangles as a plot device. I think it's the Stephanie Plum series that has just ruined them for me forever. It's only the first book so I'm willing to give it some time, I just hope it resolves quickly.

While it doesn't end on a cliffhanger there are enough dangling threads to entice me to read book 2 in short order.

[KarenF]

Judithe wrote: "KarenF wrote: "Oh noes! My most dreaded shelf comes first!

..."

So with you! LOL...guess we can say we get the hardest over first...though I'm still a bit worried about "male-lead"..."

That one is a little sparse for me too. But the Peter Grant series is on there. I really liked the first one so I'm saving the second in case that shelf is called. It's less, I dunno, dark? grim? macho? than some of the other male-lead books. The first one is Midnight Riot and I really enjoyed it.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

I've got that on my TBR (Midnight Riot)...whew. I might have something then! I've also been thinking I should start the Dresden Files (which is probably on there...been to busy/lazy to check!)

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Well, I have an unexpected "typhoon day" (like a snow day...no work, no school) so will get my Free Space read started. Just in case of power outages (not likely...fingers crossed!) I'll grab the one I have in paperback, By a Thread!

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Lovely reviews! But my TBR is safe....already had most on there! Now just gotta get reading...

[Valerie]

Enjoy the day off, Judithe! Hope your power doesn't go out -- that always sucks. My Free Space read will be Cape Storm.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Valerie wrote: "Tania wrote: "For my free shelf I want to read the first book in the "Vampire Legacy" called Resurrected. It just came out on Friday so isn't on goodreads yet."

Would this qualify for the Free Spa..."

Sadly no, it wouldn't count if it isn't on SOS bookshelf or BOM or on the new release threads. Tania, you'll have to pick another book.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Free Space:
★★★★☆
6/19/12
by Jennifer Estep

Well. Not sure what to say so this is spoiler free. Well... It's not. STOP READING if you're not up to Spider’s Revenge. Really. Stop.



OK. So, here we go. (view spoiler)[Mab is dead. Does that mean Gin can relax and enjoy time with her family, friends, and personal-hunk, Owen? Nope. Where would be the fun in reading about that? Finn convinces her she needs a vacation, and she realizes he's right. The peaceful vacation quickly goes belly-up when Bria's best friend, Callie, is in trouble. Ironically, that friend's fiance is no other than Donovan Caine. He's a character that it's easy to come to hate. (And have to say, one of the best moments is at the end of the book when he & Gin have their little confrontation. She was very mature indeed, though I'd have loved to see her twist the emotional knife a little bit more!)

Mab wasn't the only big baddy around, and one is lusting after Callie's land. Donovan, of course, wants to deal with it via purely legal channels, and is a stinker about Gin even being in town. It's obvious that a legal solution will not be an effective/permanent one, so Gin and the gang deal with it. Permanently. The interaction between them is great. Owen is just golden. (hide spoiler)] The finish is satisfying, and I can't wait for more.

BTW, there is a decent length review in there... honest!

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Valerie wrote: "Enjoy the day off, Judithe! Hope your power doesn't go out -- that always sucks. My Free Space read will be Cape Storm."

Thank you! I did. Immensely! I got nothing done on the "to-do" list, but did watch some movies and read a book. Lovely. No power worries, and it made landfall farther away than predicted! Hurray! Cool breezy weather and no real damage (here...haven't watched the news today~wanted to enjoy blissful ignorance if at all possible!)

[Valerie]

Shelf: Free Space
Date finished: 6/19/12
Rating: ★★★★
Thoughts: The second-to-last installment in the Weather Warden series, which makes me go "booooo" because I love this cast of characters so much. Since this is really far ahead in the series (#8), I'm not going to elaborate very much because I don't want to spoil anyone, but: old villains are back, as well as new, terrible problems. It's a book at sea, with all that entails: cruise ships, piracy, sharks, islands, and hurricanes. Joanne's still witty and awesome. The pace is breakneck as always, all action with very little time to stop and breathe.

In short: another solid addition to the series. Another cliffhanger ending, and I'm torn between wanting Total Eclipse ASAP and wanting to hold off, so I can spend a little more time with Joanne, David, Lewis, and co.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Love that Review Judithe, and yes I was qualified to read the spoiler :)

Valerie, looks like your book was echoing Judithe's RL storm :D

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Valerie, I haven't read that series. Are all of them good? I hadn't heard of it before.

[Valerie]

They're pretty good! I thought the weakest one was Thin Air (#6), but otherwise, the quality's remained pretty consistent. They're really fast-paced reads and I love the characters. First book is Ill Wind.

Sandra, I thought the same! Funny coincidence. :D

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Valerie, I love that series, too! Want to go back and read it again....and I did read it during typhoon season last year as well...it was really appropriate! LOL!

[KarenF]

I really need to get back to the Weather Warden series. I really liked the first two but I haven't picked up third yet.

Anyway, I'm switching my YA-P book. Graceling was taking too long to get transferred to my library from another in the network.

was at my library and I'm feeling into fae stories lately (because it's midsummer?) so I picked that up.

I'll be starting it tonight or tomorrow and should finish it pretty quickly.

[Tania]

Almost done my YA-P read and will post as soon as soon as I can. Everybody's done so fast I feel incompetent!

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Tania, I feel that way about the Freespace read. I spent yesterday driving home so I got NO reading done and I just can't read more than one book at a time.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Don't worry about it, Tania. (Though...I might say something different if we're in a race with another team to get the stamp for a bingo win, LOL)

Glad ya got home safely, Susan. Did everyone come home alive as well?

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Yes, everyone made it home alive...barely. If I have to look at my 19 year old anytime soon though, it may be another story. She rushed us packing the car yesterday morning so she could make it home; so much so that she was putting my grandkids in the car without them telling my mom goodbye! She had made a hair appointment for 6 pm and then had plans to go out with friends for the night!!! I was FURIOUS!! We made good time driving, so we stopped to shop for a new purse and shoes in Tuscaloosa, just to make her mad heehee This morning I texted her and asked what her hair looks like, and she had the NERVE to tell me she didn't get it done. The beautician had written it down for today and told her yesterday. GRRRR

In other, happier news, I've decided to read as my freespace read. It's off the SOS bookshelf. maybe that will help me be less mad at Jenna :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Lucky you and the kids made it back in one piece Susan :)

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Yep, Sandra, very lucky LOL

[KarenF]

Shelf: Young Adult Paranormal
Date Finished: 6/21/12
Rating: 4 stars

I enjoyed this YA take on fairy politics and power. I liked Marr's voice and it didn't have the romanticized toxic relationship so often portrayed in stories with teenagers. This dynamic is way older than Twilight and goes back to Romeo & Juliet or Cathy & Heathcliff. And I admit that it's a dynamic I loved as a teenager but it frankly annoys the hell out of me as an adult. Trip down memory lane over, I will say that if I have a criticism of Seth it's that he's a bit too perfect. I wish we had some scenes from his POV, rather than always seeing him from Aislinn's perspective - I think that may have humanized him more for me.

But for me the romance wasn't the draw or the biggest part of the story. At first Aislinn may seem like a bit of a passive heroine but I think it suits her story. She is coming to terms with a different world and beginning to question the advice her grandmother had given her her whole life. Aislinn's first tentative interactions with the fae are interesting. The fae of this world are different enough from other stories to be intriguing but familiar enough to anyone who reads enough of that mythology. I particularly enjoyed Donia's story, how she became the Winter Girl and the path she ends up on here.

I certainly liked it enough to pick up the next in the series and watch these characters continue their journey.

[Valerie]

Glad you liked it! JSYK, Ink Exchange follows a different cast of characters. :D

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

We're very close to two stamps! Hooray! And...it's getting very close to Sunday...how exciting! Hope everyone's been having a good week!

[Susan (susayq ~)]

I am anxious for the next shelf LOL I should finish my free space read today! And it has made me happy *sigh*

[Valerie]

BINGO R5: The Dirty Dozen
Shelf: 6/24 ~ favorite series (G18)
5/5; stamp requested 6/30; stamp received 6/30

Judithe: Light My Fire | finished 6/25/12 | 4 stars | review

Karen F: Oracle's Moon | finished 6/28/12 | 4 stars | review

Susan: Blaze of Memory | finished 6/26/12 | 5 stars | review

Tania: Spell Bound | finished 6/25/12 | 4 stars | review

Valerie: Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie | finished 6/30/12 | 4 stars | review

[Valerie]

New shelf! Please note that it's not a personal shelf - you have to choose a book that's shelved under the category. :)

I'll choose mine later tonight, I'm deciding between Hex Hall and Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie.

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Yay!! I've got a few to choose from. I'll let you know what I'm going to read when I finish my free space shelf...hopefully tonight, but more likely tomorrow since I'm at Hubs's place.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

For favorite series shelf, I'll be reading Light My Fire.

[KarenF]

For Favorite Series I'm going to read

[Tania]

Demon glass (Hex Hall # 2) by Rachel Hawkins
Young Adult Paranormal Read
Completed: June 23, 2012
Rating: 4.5

Review:

Really enjoyed this book.  I had read the first book in the series ages ago, so it took me a little bit to get back into the storyline.

This book was interesting, exciting and had me on the edge of my seat!  It kept me wanting more and by the ending, I was actually hyperventilating, I was so involved.  This story had it all, amazing characters, interesting storyline, well scripted, cool environments and an entourage of paranormal characters.

Love the characters in this series.  The main character, Sophie is a strong and amazingly sarcastic demon.  The other characters are interesting and so well thought out that it isn't hard to become invested in them.  The interactions between the characters were so well written, I found myself actually excited!

Would totally recommend this series to anyone, I've already got the next book ready to read on my iPad.

[Tania]

Will read: for this weeks shelf.

Awesome reviews everyone! Too many books, so little time

[Valerie]

I just requested our first stamp! :D

[Susan (susayq ~)]

shelf: free space - from the SOS bookshelf
rating: 5 star
6-24-12

Oh my God! I absolutely LOVE this series and this book was no exception to that! I hate that I'm reading these as monthly buddy reads in the Romance lovers for the Challenge Impaired group because I would gladly go to the next one immediately!

Mercy and Riley were so perfect for each other, even though they thought they wanted other qualities in a mate. I was Glad that neither had to give up their ties to their own packs just cause they mates. I think in the long run it will strengthen both the wolf and leopard packs to have this connection.

Once again, I loved the background story going on. I'm thinking the ghost is really Kaleb. But now, Councilor Tatianna has me wondering what she's up to. And we must now consider the humans in all this. They're more important than I originally thought.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, Dirty Dozen!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'young-adult-paranormal'.

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

Good Job!! :D

[Susan (susayq ~)]

I've decided to read for the favorite series shelf. I just can't wait till next month for the group to get to it LOL

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats Dirty!

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Hooray, Doz, on our first stamp!

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Good call, Susan! They're just great (besides...it's almost next month anyway....)

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

by Katie MacAlister

Shelf: Favorite Series
Date finished: 6/25/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:

A little laughter, a little fun, a lot of impossible situations, hot romance, and Effrijim...what a great combination!

After all the happenings in Budapest, Aisling has decided to take a break from her heart-breaking romance with Drake, and get on with her Guardian training. Of course, nothing ever seems to work out as she plans, and Drake, of course, is not ready to let his mate go. He follows her to London, where she has moved in with her mentor, Nora, and lots of other beings show up, too. Murderous imps, blood-thirsty demon lords, nefarious wyverns, and censorial councils, make for a very bad week for Aisling...not to mention a certain pesky little rumor that she keeps denying, but may (view spoiler)[(probably...I've read some of the spin-offs, so this didn't catch me by surprise!) (hide spoiler)] be a fact. I think she needs an weekend away at a pampering spa, no paranormals (except Drake) allowed.

It's fun, and I'll be reading the next (and final that is focused on Drake & Aisling) one very soon!

[Tania]

Yippee... our first stamp!

I will be trying to read for my free space read.

Half way done Spell Bound and loving it!

[Susan (susayq ~)]

Change of plans for my favorite shelf pick. As much as I wanted to read Blaze of Memory, I'm not :( the Barnes & Noble across the street doesn't have a copy of it. The little guy says he can order it for me, but I'll be back home before it would get here and I'm not buying a Kindle copy when I have it in the computer at home. Sooo, I'm going to read and I'll catch up with Nalini Singh at home Wednesday :)