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R13: SSS Team 1 - The Quick and the Read
Completion Post: Week 1 Sunday - Spot 6
Book: Fall Back by Zoe York
How it fits?: #6 in SEALs Undone series
Date finished?: 1/25/2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
Fall Back was a great read following a romance between a woman who wants to honor her mother and the Navy SEAL who helps her.
Melissa Vincent has been training for a two-day endurance race in Hawaii for years. Mel's mother completed the race twenty-five years ago and this is the final year the race follows the same path. When her partner drops out at the last minute, Navy SEAL Cade Duncan offers to step in and help her complete the race. As the two spend time together in paradise, the attraction building between them threatens to consume them both.
Mel and Cade meet through mutual friends and the pair are both immediately attracted to one another. But Mel has trust issues so she fights the attraction between them while Cade is all in pretty much immediately. I enjoyed watching Mel slowly fall for Cade while they're in Hawaii getting ready for the race. When the pair do give into their attraction, it's quite steamy and the scenes were well done. The endurance race parts of the book were fun and I liked watching the two work together to get through the race. My only complaint about the pair's relationship was that Mel's trust issues were frustrating at times. She's slow to trust and open up which drags things out a bit longer than necessary.
Overall Fall Back was a fun read and I will definitely be checking out more of the series in the future.
Thursday's Roll: 4New Spot: 10
You can read a standalone, a #1 or #10 in a series, or a book by a female author.
I'll be reading The Princess Trials
I'm reading
, #1 in Southern Charms series and written by a female author.
Read: Moonshine & Magic
Bella Falls
Read 01/27/2022
How it fits: #1 in Southern Charm series, also
Bonus: Written by a female author
Review:
This "series first" handles the inevitable "meeting a community full of strangers" situation of all "series firsts" by having the main character, Charli, newly arriving home after a years-long self-imposed absence and seeing how everyone has or hasn't changed. She arrives on a traditional town celebration night, and is barely through the gate, figuratively speaking, when her great uncle is found murdered. Throw in an ex-boyfriend who is publicly asking her bitchy cousin to marry him when he suddenly realizes Charli has returned, an attractive and over-protective shifter, her brother the warden, and some family history and magic, and you have the makings of a good Southern paranormal mystery. The magic is interesting (I always marvel at the imagination behind some of the magic in paranormal mysteries) and the way the situation with the ex-boyfriend was resolved was refreshing. The book ended with a question that promises to fuel a future volume. 3.5 stars.
Week 2: Thursday Roll
Spot: 10
Book: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh
Qualification: Guild Hunter #10
Finished: 1/29/2022
Rating: ★★�
Review: Holly, who used to go by Sorrow, is still grappling with exactly what she is after being tortured by the archangel Uram. Not quite human, not quite vampire, and with occasional angel-like qualities, life isn't easy, especially now someone's put a bounty out for her. Teaming up with snake-like vampire Venom becomes necessary, even if he drives her mad. Oh, and she's also being pulled by an inner force toward something, which will lead to even bigger danger. The dance between Venom and Holly was fun to watch, even if their inevitable romance was obviously coming, but the story wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes.
Week 2, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 10
Jennifer: Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls (Southern Charms Cozy Mystery #1: Post 57)
Melanie: A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman (Ruthless Rivals #1: Post 63)
Theo: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #10: Post 58)
Wolf (Alpha): The Princess Trials by Cordelia K. Castel (The Princess Trials #1: Post 62)
posting as soon as I can. I'm not currently home
I'll be done with my book later tonight and will post then.
Week 1: Thursday RollSpot: 10
[bookcover:The Princess Trials]
Book: The Princess Trials
Qualification: #1 in series
Finished: 1/29/22
Rating:
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I love how independent Zea is and how she doesn't want to be like the rest of the girls, trying to fight over who gets to marry the prince. I love how she goes into the Trials and is a complete badass. I can't wait to continue the series
Completion Post: Week 2 Thursday - Spot 10
Book: A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman
How it fits?: #1 in Ruthless Rivals series
Date finished?: 1/29/2022
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
A Reckless Match was a fantastic read featuring a romance between two people on opposite sides of a feud.
The Davies and Montgomery families have been feuding for centuries. Despite the feud Madeline Montgomery has always had a soft spot for Gryffud Davies even if he did torment her in their youth. With her family on the verge of financial ruin, Maddie needs a miracle to save them. After returning to his family home after a duel gone wrong, Gryff runs into Maddie and is instantly charmed by the woman she's grown into. When the pair discover a series of underground tunnels and evidence of a smuggling ring on their shared land, the pair decide to set aside the feud and work together to bring down the criminals. With danger lurking and an attraction blossoming between them, Gryff and Maddie will realize there's a fine line between hate and love.
The premise of this story immediately drew me in, I mean what's not to like about an adventure between sworn enemies through secret underground tunnels while thwarting a dangerous smuggling ring in the process. The book opens with the pair attending the annual meeting on their shared land to continue the truce for another year. The chemistry between Maddie and Gryff was fantastic and there's some great banter. Both Maddie and Gryff had feelings for each other when they were younger but never expressed them as it was forbidden to fall for someone on the opposite side of the feud. I liked how quickly they came to trust one another despite the fact they're supposed to be enemies and that they never tried to trick one another. There were a few steamy scenes throughout the book that were very well done. Thankfully there wasn't a ton of drama surrounding them getting together although there is some hesitation on both sides. I was happy with the way the pair worked things out and overall really enjoyed their romance.
Overall A Reckless Match was an excellent read a great start to the series and I would recommend it to readers looking for some adventure in their historical romance. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Daring Pursuit, when it releases later this year.
Sunday's Roll: 5New Spot: 15
You can read a standalone, a #1, #5 or #15 in a series, or a book with a hat, helmet, or other headwear on the cover.
Book read: Doggie Day Care Murder
Laurien Berenson
Read: 01/30/2022
How it fits: #15 in the Melanie Travis Mystery series
Review:
Melanie is fresh from having her second child in this entry and the family is adjusting to life with a new baby. Melanie's aunt, concerned that Melanie's older child might need some new diversion because the baby is getting so much attention, starts teaching him how to show dogs in competition. Meanwhile, Melanie gets embroiled in another murder while doing a favor for a friend, more or less by being in the wrong place at the wrong time at a dog day kennel whose owner is shot in his office. She starts to put the pieces together while talking to the surviving owner, who has no business sense at all, and even less discretion. Throw in some doggie common sense and a foolish reaction to an accident, and you have a nice little mystery. 4 stars.
Week 2: Sunday Roll
Spot: 15
Book: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Qualification: Mercy Thompson #5
Finished: 1/30/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Things are never easy for Mercy Thompson, but now she's surrounded by trouble. Someone is messing with the bond between she and her mate, her roommate is losing it, and the fae are after her too. Even with all of these complications, Mercy (and the author) find a believable way to patch everything up by the end of the story.
Week 2, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 15
Jennifer: Doggie Day Care Murder by Laurien Berenson (Melanie Travis #15: Post 66)
Melanie: The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid (The Intelligence Unit #1: Post 70)
Theo: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #5: Post 67)
As we're finishing up the second week of the challenge, I wanted to remind everyone that there are some bonus points available to earn. Wolf earned the 500+ page bonus point and I earned the 2-in-1 bonus point on the first roll, but that leaves:� Read three or more books in a series.
� Start and finish a series with at least 4 books (if there are more than 9 books, you earn the point for reading books 1-9).
� Never pick a book from the alternate list (awarded after you roll past 90).
� Valentine's Bonus: Read a Romance for the roll on 02/13.
Completion Post: Week 2 Sunday - Spot 15
Book: The Rookie by Kimberly Kincaid
How it fits?: #1 in The Intelligence Unit series
Date finished?: 2/1/2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
The Rookie was an enjoyable read featuring a romance between an A.D.A. and a rookie cop working together to catch a killer.
When A.D.A. Tara Kingston receives a phone call as she's leaving the office from one of her confidential informants, she knows something is wrong and rushes to the woman's home to find that she has been attacked. With her case against a notorious crime boss coming up, Tara knows the man will do anything to derail the trial including going after their key witness. The police agree to place the woman in a safe house and police recruit Xander Matthews is assigned to her detail after he's the only person who can get the witness to open up about her attack. Tara and Xander have a history and their newfound attraction threatens to consume them both. As the date of the trial draws near and with danger mounting, Tara and Xander will have to decide how far they're willing to go for love.
Two years ago Tara tried to prosecute Xander in connection with an arson case leading to a tense first meeting between the pair in this book. Despite their initial animosity, it doesn't take long for an attraction to develop between them. Their chemistry is fantastic and I loved how much they were into each other. When their relationship progresses physically it's steamy and very well done. There are some hurdles to the pair's romance which mostly relate to the couple's different backgrounds. Xander expresses on a number of occasions that he thinks Tara is too good for him and deserves better despite her not feeling that way. While I did understand why Xander felt that way due to his background, that's not a trope I enjoy in my romances. Ultimately the pair worked through their issues though which I was happy with. The suspense plot wasn't at the forefront for most of the book and went in a few directions I didn't see coming. I thought the ending and final confrontation with the bad guy was well done.
The Intelligence Unit series is a spin-off of the author's Station Seventeen and Remington Medical series. The Rookie works well as a standalone despite being connected to two other series. There are a number of side characters in this book from the other two series which definitely has me interested in picking up those books.
Overall The Rookie was a good start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Guardian, soon.
Still no sign of Wolf. I'll send her a PM to check in.
I'm asking to be removed from the team. I work and have a kid so I'm constantly busy. And I'm tired of being rushed every week.
I've always posted my book and review on time. So I'm not sure why I keep getting rushed
Mod
I'm sorry that you've felt rushed on this team, Wolf. That was never my intention.
Thursday's Roll: 4New Spot: 19
You can read a standalone, a #1, #9 or #19 in a series, or a book set anytime between 1600-1837.
Well, since I'm trying to knock out as much as I can of the Melanie Travis series while it's still free on Audible Plus, I'll read Hot Dog, #9 in Melanie Travis.
And I didn't think you were rushing her. I'm sorry she felt that way. But if someone doesn't post anything, you don't even know for sure they got the last roll and are working on it. It's not wrong to check on that.
Mod
Jennifer wrote: "And I didn't think you were rushing her. I'm sorry she felt that way. But if someone doesn't post anything, you don't even know for sure they got the last roll and are working on it. It's not wrong..."Thanks Jennifer. As captain, I feel responsible for the team and want to keep in contact with everyone to make sure we're all on the same page. I intend for my reminders to be friendly, so I apologize if that has ever been lost in translation!
I'm going with a standalone this week: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson.
Bonus-wise: I probably won't be able to do the no alternates bonus but the rest, I'd be totally game to do.
Just as a reminder to everyone (especially since we have a new team mate!), we roll on Sundays and Thursdays. If everyone can get their reviews in by Saturday and Wednesday, I can roll right at midnight CST. If it looks like you won't get your review posted on Saturday/Wednesday, check in so that we know you need a little extra time. We also have one free pass, so if life gets in the way and you can't finish, let us know and we can use that. Hope everyone is enjoying their books for spot 19!
I'm definitely aiming to complete the challenge without using an alternate, so I'll claim responsibility for that bonus point!
Book read: Hot Dog
by Laurien Berenson
How it fits: #9 in Melanie Travis
Read 02/04/2022
Review:
This turns out to be one of my favorites in this long-running series so far. Melanie, fed up with the shenanigans of her ex-husband and her somewhat boyfriend, finds herself the caretaker of a puppy that is being fought over by two estranged spouses in the middle of a divorce. Then she finds herself the target of several people with stalkerish tendencies, not the least of whom is a TV journalist who is convinced that if she just follows Melanie around, she'll get the next big murder scoop. Instead, plenty of other mysterious things happen, and the personal lives of everyone in the Travis milieu are moved forward entertainingly -- but, alas, the journalist is still waiting. Berenson injects this volume with some of her usual humor -- both funny lines and humorous situations. There are several people that it's fun to dislike who make an appearance here - I always like that in a cozy mystery! Also, I always like how Berenson introduces breeds other than her mainstay poodles into these books: I find I learn something about them and about how the business of showing dogs works in every volume. 4 stars.
Week 3: Thursday Roll
Spot: 19
Book: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
Qualification: Standalone
Finished: 2/5/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Erik Larson is known for his nonfiction that reads like fiction, and in this book, he definitely crafts a narrative that is just as compelling as any novel. I enjoyed the way he wove together the two parallel narratives of a man creating a beautiful haven in the midst of a struggling city, while another man sought to wallow in the darkness. Unfortunately, I think all of the extraneous threads that are part of real life detracted from the focus of the book, like the asides about Dreiser, which didn't really add anything.
Week 3, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 19
Jennifer: Hot Dog by Laurien Berenson (Melanie Travis #9: Post 87)
Melanie: The Girl in the White Van by April Henry (Standalone: Post 90)
☘Mǰ徱�: Damnation Code by William Massa (Occult Assassin #1: Post 91)
Theo: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (Standalone: Post 88)
Completion Post: Week 3 Thursday - Spot 19
Book: The Girl in the White Van by April Henry
How it fits?: Standalone
Date finished?: 2/4/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
The Girl in the White Van was a fast-paced read following a sixteen-year-old girl who is kidnapped and held hostage with her kidnapper's previous victim.
Savannah Taylor is used to moving from town to town as her mother moves from man to man, but she likes Portland and doesn't want to move again. After a fight with her mother's boyfriend, Savannah is dreading going home after her kung fu class only to be snatched by a man in a white van on her way home. Locked in a trailer, hidden from the world, Savannah vows to escape. But Savannah isn't alone. Locked inside the trailer with her is Jenny Dowd, the girl the man kidnapped ten months ago. Savannah and Jenny quickly join forces to find a way out even if it means they'll die trying.
The plot in this book is very fast paced with the events of the book taking place over the course of just a few days. Savannah fights back when the kidnapper comes after her which leads to her getting injured. This means means she has to rely on the help of Jenny, the other victim, when it comes to formulating an escape plan. The fast-paced nature of the story helped build the bond between the girls and helped keep me engaged with the book. I liked that the book was on the shorter side as that meant there wasn't any unnecessary filler just for the sake of making the book longer. I don't want to spoil what happens, so I will just say I liked how the girls worked together and thought the plan they came up with was a good one. The ending is suspenseful with just the right amount of tension to keep you guessing as to how everything will work out.
The Girl in the White Van is told from multiple points of view including the kidnappers. Initially we don't know much about the kidnapper other than he is looking for the "perfect" girl and that he has been searching for a while. As the book goes on, we learn more about his motives and I have to say the guy was a massive creep. The two girls, Savannah and Jenny, are quite different from one another. Jenny is more docile while Savannah is a fighter. I liked seeing Savannah help Jenny find a will to fight and that she worked with her to show her some defensive moves. The two work well together and the bond that quickly formed between them felt realistic given the circumstances.
Overall The Girl in the White Van was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great YA thriller.
Week 3 - Thursday Roll Completion by Sunday Post - Spot: 19Book:
Damnation CodeQualificaton: 1
Date finished: Feb 6
Rating: 5
Review: Noire & tech.
Now, this is a boilerplate thriller-y thingy with an extra take on the occult and the tech simultaneously. Not much on terms of tech-y stuff which is more than overcorrected by all the 'roboboy' vibe, a technothriller cult, murder cult, suicide pacts, binariezed Devil-y stuff, the apocalyptic setting and boatloads of angst.
Q:
Did the cult gather at Apple Stores to spread its wacky gospel and recruit new members? (c) Sure they do! I knew it all along!
Sunday's Roll: 3New Spot: 22
You can read a #2 or #22 in a series, or a book set in Australia.
Week 3: Sunday Roll
Spot: 22
Book: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Qualification: Anna #2
Finished: 2/6/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: After the events of the first book in this duology, Cas, a ghost hunter, should have moved on, but here he is, still in Thunder Bay, at the same high school with real friends for the first time in his life. Things might actually be going right, until that is he starts seeing Anna, a ghost he's in love with, but who crossed over in an epic fight at the end of the last book. He knows something's wrong, but everyone else seems to think he should just move on. This was a fun mix of horror, adventure, and dark humor.
Read: Reading Between the Crimes
Kate Young
Fits: #2 in Jane Doe Book Club Mysteries
Read: 02/06/2022
Wow. I really liked the first book in this series (I read a LOT of cozies, so for one to stand out really says something) and this second entry did not disappoint. A fairly ordinary murder starts an investigation that triggers odd behavior in nearly everyone in Lyla's family and circle. Ultimately she must solve not only the murder but the mysteries behind everyone's reactions to it. The closer she gets to the killer, the more people around her get hurt. The end is just crazy. Fun read!
Week 3 - Sunday Roll Completion by Thursday Post - Spot: 22Book:
Apocalypse SoldierQualificaton: 2
Date finished: Feb 8
Rating: 5
Review: Demon possession and repossession. Soul banking a la hell. Talon being as obtuse and difficult as ever (after all, someone needs to make hell repay all the repayments, in souls). It's all a bit too boilerplate but then that's what I wanted to read ;) Anyway, finding one's occult feet has never been as fun as this time around.
Completion Post: Week 3 Sunday - Spot 22
Book: Body of Evidence by Rachel Grant
How it fits?: #2 in Evidence series
Date finished?: 2/7/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Body of Evidence was a fantastic read featuring a romance between a woman convicted of spying and the man who rescues her.
When archaeologist Mara Garrett traveled to North Korea to retrieve the remains of soldiers lost in combat, she never imagined she'd be arrested and convicted of spying. Sentenced to death by firing squad, Mara is saved at the last minute by US attorney Curt Dominick. But Curt has his own reasons for wanting Mara back on US soil, she could be the key to his case against the corrupt former Vice President who happens to be Mara's uncle. But someone doesn't want Mara to reach Washington to testify. Dodging danger every step of the way, Curt and Mara must fight the attraction building between them if they're to have any hope of surviving.
When Mara was a teenager she lost her father in a plane crash and was subsequently raised by her uncle. Mara has a very close relationship with her uncle and doesn't buy the idea that he was somehow involved in corruption of any kind. After graduating college, Mara became involved in JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) to search for the remains of soldiers. Mara is passionate about her work and I admired how dedicated she was to bringing the bodies of soldiers home. Curt grew up as a scholarship kid before making his way to Harvard. An incident in Curt's teens put him on the path to becoming a lawyer and I admire how much he tries to make a difference through his work.
Mara and Curt's relationship has its' challenges. Initially Mara sees him as a hero due to him rescuing her literally seconds before she was to be executed. On the other hand, Curt is the man out to jail her beloved uncle. Curt tries to tell Mara that he's not a hero but due to the circumstances they met under, she doesn't buy his protests. It doesn't take long for the pair to develop an attraction but due to the fact that anything between them could damage Curt's case, that attraction initially doesn't go anywhere. Despite the obstacles to their relationship, the pair had fantastic chemistry and I enjoyed the slow build up in their romance. Their journey across the world to get back to D.C. was suspenseful and the danger helped build the tension between the couple. Ultimately I thought the suspense plot was well done and there were several twists along the way I didn't see coming.
Overall Body of Evidence was an excellent romantic suspense and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be continuing on with the series and picking up the next book in the series, Withholding Evidence, soon.
Week 3, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 22
Jennifer: Reading Between the Crimes by Kate Young (Jane Doe Book Club Mystery #2: Post 96)
Melanie: Body of Evidence by Rachel Grant (Evidence #2: Post 98)
☘Mǰ徱�: Apocalypse Soldier by William Massa (Occult Assassin #2: Post 97)
Theo: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (Anna #2: Post 95)
Great reading everyone! We finished with lots of time to spare this roll!
The Challenge Factory
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Spot 6
Blameless
Book: Blameless by Gail Carriger
Qualification: Starts with B
Finished: 1/26/21
Rating: ****
Review: This book was pretty good. There were several trigger warning such as (view spoiler) I loved all the vampire, werewolf stuff and how it all tied together and worked out. I loved Alexia so much and how she tries to keep herself happy even throughout everything happening in her life. Lore Maccon was an ass and I didn't particularly like him. Great read and can't wait to continue the series.