2012 August Pick It For Me! Challenge

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

I finished Black Ice this morning. I've been reading a fair amount of romantic suspense lately but this really didn't do it for me. I HATED the hero throughout. Sorry that this didn't work out for me.

[Carla]

I just finished ,my second challenge book read this month. I really enjoyed this steamy romance between two strong characters who are trying to solve the mystery of the woman's abduction. I will definitely be reading more of this series--thanks, Elise [Macwolf1] for the recommendation!

[Dee]

from what i hear Jim, AS is the epitome of the anti-hero...I remember her house of rohan series being similar

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Dee, I was just surprised that he was so very unlikable. I don't mind my heroes doing questionable things. However, I do have lines that they cannot cross. The 'hero' here crossed so many of those lines that I was really cheering for anything bad that happened to him. What sort of lines? I can get beyond the infidelity, the killing of others, the lying, the cheating, and the stealing. I don't think I can get beyond the cold blooded murder, the mental abuse, the betrayal, or the rape. But the most unforgivable was giving someone over to a sadistic torturer for several hours before going to check to see if they were still alive (and if so, kill them). That is his idea of being a good person? That should tell you all you need to know about our 'hero'.

[Dee]

The guy in book 3 of the house of Rohan was similar trying to set her heroine up for gang rape and murder her brother

[Megan L]

Hi Breann,

I finished Lover Reborn. Thank you for the pick I am glad I finally read it. Now I am anticipating the next book!

[Vi]

Jim, I hated the heroine more than the hero. She was so spineless. I went into the book knowing I wouldn't like the hero but I ended up liking him better than the hero. I bailed on the rest of the series but I'm on the fence about the Stuart's historicals.

[Irina]

I finished reading Grave Mercy my Buddy Read with Emily. It was an average read. I was barely skating by the book I kept checking for when it would end. I wanted a stronger romance between the two main characters. All in all the book failed to deliver all that it promised.

[Ty]

done with Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. It reminded me of MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series, only before it started sucking (pun intended). Good read tho, will definitely continue with the series!

Done:

[Amy J.]

I finished Claimed, which was a buddy read. Although, I there were parts I thought were cheesy, I enjoyed it overall. I will continue the series.

[SandyC]

I finished a buddy read of Gentle Rogue with Ruth Ann. Glad to have it off my TBR since I've owned it for more than a year!

[Skandia]

Finished my second book , a buddy read with Cathy C - . I loved it, I think I found a new favorite author in Kristen Ashley.
Thank you Cathy C for a wonderful rec and for reading it with me :)

[~Leslie~]

Hi Ashley, I just finished one of your picks for me . I really liked it and gave it 4 stars. I read the first one a while ago so it took me a little bit to get back into it. But it was alot of fun! Thanks!!

[~Melissa~]

Photojim wrote: "Dee, I was just surprised that he was so very unlikable. I don't mind my heroes doing questionable things. However, I do have lines that they cannot cross. The 'hero' here crossed so many of tho..."

I'm going to have to seriously rethink these books now - I have them on my TBR - not sure I want to spend waste the time. Are all the heroes in this series like this or just the first book? Anyone know?

[Dee]

I don't know Melissa - I know I have it in the pile for an audiobook and plan on trying it - i've heard equally as many people like it as dislike it - so it might be an either or

[~Melissa~]

MountainKat wrote: "Melissa, I finished my first pick - Into the Dreaming. I really liked it, thank you so much for a reason to finally read it! I hope to get to a couple of other picks this month too!"

Glad you liked it ~ I think I'm up to #4 in this series by her.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Glad you liked it ~ I think I'm up to #4 in this series by her. "

Then you are just getting to the really, really good ones!!

[Vi]

Melissa, most of my friends gave 4 stars at the minimum. Some gave 5 stars stating that AS made the (anti-)hero so lovable. So really, it depends on your taste. You could give it a try.

[~Melissa~]

Thanks ladies; I think I have the first one in paperback on my bookshelf - someone gave it to mewhen they were done so I may give it a try...

[Dee]

it has a 3.74 average among my friends and like 96 of them have read/rated it

[Ashley]

I did my Graceling buddy read and gave it 3.75 stars!

[Emily]

Irina wrote: "I finished reading Grave Mercy my Buddy Read with Emily. It was an average read. I was barely skating by the book I kept checking for when it would end. I wanted a stronger romance between the two ..."

I also finished this book. I really didnt enjoy the book. The overall story never lived up to everyones reviews. Will not be reading the next in the series.

[Breann]

Megan L wrote: "Hi Breann,

I finished Lover Reborn. Thank you for the pick I am glad I finally read it. Now I am anticipating the next book!"

Yay Megan! I'm glad you liked it! I know what you mean,I am dying for the next one!

[Kami]

I finished Storm of Visions. I didn't really like it. I thought it was okay, so I am giving it three stars. But most of it was seriously contrived, derivative and bordering on the ridiculous. My suspension of disbelief can only go so far.

[Vi]

A little late but it is stats time.

We had 70 participants this time with 1003 recommendation (681 unique recommendation)

Top Titles:

1. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs - 8
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 8
3. The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton - 7
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - 6
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 6
6. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - 6
7. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - 6
8. Angelfall by Susan Ee - 6
9. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward - 6
10. Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill - 6

Top Authors:

1. Lisa Kleypas - 20
2. Nalini Singh - 19
3. J.R. Ward - 19
4. Jeaniene Frost - 17
5. Ilona Andrews - 15
6. J.D. Robb - 14
7. Patricia Briggs - 14
8. Richelle Mead - 14
9. Karen Marie Moning - 13
10. Nora Roberts - 12

[Vi]

Covers!!

[Vi]

Edit: I'm stopping with one covers post because I've got another post full of just covers and it'll really slow the page load time.

[~Leslie~]

Love the covers!! Thanks, Vi!

[[deleted user]]

Hey Gigi,

I also read Stolen Fury and The Many Sins of Lord Cameron. Both reads weren't as good as my first read (About That Night by Julie James). But I don't regret reading them. They definitely had their moments and gorgeous endings. Thanks for the recs!

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Vi, love the covers. It's fun to look down over the list going, "read it. read it. read it. nah. read it. Oooh, that looks interesting!"

[Emily]

Tiffanny wrote: "Emily

It took me a while to look to all the books you have in your list. I think I'm going to have to go through and add a few more books =) Anywho, I hope that you find at least one book that y..."

Tiffany,
I just finished When You Dare. I loved the story. I will be reading the next in the series. Thanks for the recs.

[Pam]

~Melissa~ wrote: "Photojim wrote: "Dee, I was just surprised that he was so very unlikable. I don't mind my heroes doing questionable things. However, I do have lines that they cannot cross. The 'hero' here cross..."
I read all the but last book a while ago. If I remember correctly, I started with the second one. I liked them enough to read five but I would guess they were 3s for me--I think at the time though there weren't as many people writing this kind of fiction

[Elke]

Joyce,

I read my pick Dream Lake !!

Again thanks so much for the great picks!

[~KarenH~, Moderator]

I finished my third pick last night - Bloodfever. I liked it but didn't think it was anything really special, except for the fact that I know it's leading to bigger and better things! Thanks for the great picks, Amy J. - I'm hoping to get through one or two more this month, but life isn't cooperating as much as I'd like, so I'm not sure I will.

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Valerie,

I finished a couple of days ago. It was typical Nora Roberts writing and I enjoyed it. Thanks for the push to get it off my TBR.

Also, I started . I hope I'll get to finish it before the month ends.

[booklovinrn]

AUGUST 2012 PICK IT FOR ME CHALLENGE


Love Me to Death by Allison Brennan
Changeless by Gail Carriger 8/15 ★★★★
Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy (Buddy Read with Pollyanna)
The Gamble by Krsten Ashley (Buddy Read with Skandia) 8/10 ★★★★★

[Vi]

Thanks, Leslie & Jim! I was also analyzing the list. It was fun :)

[Isabella]

I finished reading Bloodfever and I liked that I did, I enjoyed reading it. This book is killing me to find out Barrons mystery, it doesn't give us any clue and leave us with more unanswered questions about the world the author created.
As for Firefly Lane I ordered it and I'm still waiting it...

[Katie]

Sue -- I just finished up Visions of Heat. I'm really enjoying this series...have to go get the next few now. :) Thanks so much for the recommendation!

[Sue]

Katie wrote: "Sue -- I just finished up Visions of Heat. I'm really enjoying this series...have to go get the next few now. :) Thanks so much for the recommendation!"

I'm so glad you liked it! That is one series that I like to read as soon as the new book comes out!

[Sue]

Penney,

I finished Angels of Darkness last night. It had four short stories, two that were written by authors I really like, and two by authors I've never read before. I'm pleased to say that I really liked the fourth author a lot and have ordered one of her books from the library! So thanks!!

[Brett]

I finished my third read, Master of the Mountain. It was ok. I had a hard time relating to Rebecca.

[Suzanne]

@Layla - I finished and it was alright. I had a couple of complaints with this book. I had completely forgotten the plot from the first book, so I wish she had recapped what had happened in the story a little better. There are too many angels to keep track of. I still have no idea which angels are which and who belongs to who and it's feeling a bit like Laurel K. Hamilton. I didn't get into this story until about 1/2 through. I kept trying to figure out what was going on. Other than that, it was enjoyable.

[Ty]

finished . was not a fan - it reminded me too much of why I left the world of Anita Blake, although this one actually had a plot. either way, pretty sure I've finished what I could of this month's picks by Dawn. thanks again!

[Penney]

Hi Kimmy!. I finished Bossypants yesterday and nearly peed my pants laughing so hard! Thanks for the push :)

[Ruth Ann]

I finished my buddy read book The Many Sins of Lord Cameron. Rena finished a couple days before me. It was ok, slow in parts, but a beautiful love story. And I have a soft spot for Scots in Kilts.

[[deleted user]]

Ruth Ann wrote: "I finished my buddy read book The Many Sins of Lord Cameron. Rena finished a couple days before me. It was ok, slow in parts, but a beautiful love story. And I have a soft spot for Scots in Kilts."

Yay for kilts! =)

[Ruth Ann]

Finished The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson. Loved the humor! My knd of Royal Family-down to Earth, real!!

[Ashley]

finished my other buddy read. Iron King

[[deleted user]]

Ruth Ann wrote: "Finished The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson. Loved the humor! My knd of Royal Family-down to Earth, real!!"

I'm so glad you liked it!