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R13: SSS Team 1 - The Quick and the Read
I'm going to go with
, Mercy Thompson #7.
Read: Knot on Your Life
Betty Hechtman
Finished: 02/28/2022
Another entertaining entry in this series. One interesting thing about this series is a plot device I've seldom seen anywhere else: Casey usually has phone contact with her old boss, who is a private detective, to go over clues and get advice about what steps to take next. This is not only believable, it also allows for forward progress to be made in the plot relatively quickly, without having to have a lot of scenes that slow the story while providing only minor detail, and keeps the story moving quickly to its conclusion. We can also see how Casey is learning more about investigating in each book, and hear her thought process through dialogue rather than just being in her head. Still waiting for Kevin St. James to get his comeuppance, though! It was hinted at near the end of this book but not revealed. Maybe in the next book?
Week 6: Sunday Roll
Spot: 47
Book: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Qualification: Mercy Thompson #7
Finished: 2/28/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: While Black Friday shopping, and after an unexpected panic causes her to rear-end another car, Mercy sees a cryptic text from Bran on her phone. Quickly realizing the pack is in danger, Mercy must call on friends to figure out what is going on. Who could have coordinated the attack, and why? Another solid installment with enough twists to keep things interesting. I enjoy how this series brings together werewolves, fae, vampires, and other paranormal entities in a way that feels both dangerous and fun.
Completion Post: Week 6 Sunday - Spot 47
Book: Holiday Amnesia by Lynette Eason
How it fits?: #7 in Wrangler's Corner series
Date finished?: 3/2/2022
Rating: 2 Stars
Review:
Holiday Amnesia features a romance between a woman who gets amnesia after witnessing a crime and the man who protects her.
Robin Hardy is working late on her research in the university lab when she hears two men arguing. After she goes to check it out, she witnesses the two men being killed before the killer chases her through the building before he sets off an explosion. Injured in the blast, Robin loses all memory of the attack as well as the last six months of her life. Under the protection of Toby Potter, former CIA and a colleague of Robin's, Robin works to regain her memories as her attackers continue to chase them. With her attackers dogging them at every turn, Robin and Toby need to find somewhere safe to hide long enough for Robin's memory to return.
The Love Inspired Suspense line isn't my favorite of Harlequin's lines but the premise of this story, a Christmas romance featuring amnesia, intrigued me enough to want to check it out. The suspense plot was interesting and I liked the constant danger surrounding Robin as it kept things fast paced. I also thought the threat of a potential bioweapon was a good choice as it increased the need for Robin to get her memory back. Unfortunately I thought the person ultimately behind everything was a bit too obvious and I called them as the bad guy pretty much immediately. That kind of killed off the suspense as it was not just a matter of waiting for them to make their move. The romance between Robin and Toby is extremely minor to the story. While they do individually express their feelings for each other, it's almost background filler in that it's so unimportant to what's going on. Also, the holiday aspect of the story was very minor which was a bit of a disappointment.
Ultimately Holiday Amnesia ended up not working for me and showed me I should trust my instincts and probably avoid Love Inspired Suspense books in the future.
Week 6, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 47
Jennifer: Knot on Your Life by Betty Hechtman (Yarn Retreat Mystery #7: Post 154)
Melanie: Holiday Amnesia by Lynette Eason (Wrangler's Corner #7: Post 156)
☘Mǰ徱�: Harley Street by Lynne Connolly (Richard and Rose #4: Post 158)
Theo: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #7: Post 155)
Completion Post: Week 6 Th roll - Spot 47Book:
Harley StreetHow it fits: #4
Date finished: Mar 3
Rating: 5
Review:
Oh, another reread of R&R. I needed it to take my mind off things which definitely are challenging.
What can I say: they are such good people, so caring of each other and people surrounding them. I was sort of sad to see Rose holding stuff in: I think she needed to have a go at Rich, maybe went a bit... But no, they are too good towards each other and much too disinclined to rant, wend, quarrel, play psychological games on each other.
I'm not sure their caring would be maintained under the major lithmus test of all our lives: time. Sometimes the best people just take too much care of orhers and ... forget about themselves and their own emotional needs. I hope this is not the case (it's fantasy, after all!) and towards the end of the series we'll see the same R&R being their wonderful, beautiful, tenderly loving and endearing selves.
(Okay, I need to finish this now before I get too maudlin. This series has this effect on me. Embarassing.)
Thursday's Roll: 4New Spot: 51
You can read a standalone, #1, #5, or #51 in a series, or a book with a seasonal theme (Christmas, Halloween, etc.).
Read: Murder's No Votive Confidence
Christin BrecherRead 3/4/22
Fits: #1 in Nantucket Candlemaker series
This is Brecher's debut novel. She spent a great deal of time in the Nantucket area while growing up and her book has the feel of familiarity with the setting. She also has a good plot device to push the main character into situations in this story that she might not ordinarily have been privy to, and a cast of interesting characters to interact with - including a visiting star from Hollywood's heyday. She doesn't spend a lot of time talking about candle-making itself -- interesting, because usually a "specialty" cozy series has some instructive information woven through the prose. (Fine with me if it comes out gradually through the series: too often the author wants to dump everything they've learned into the first volume and it feels forced.) I'll be reading book two.
I hope everyone's having a great weekend! I spent the day with family, so I haven't finished my book yet. I'll post as soon as I'm done tomorrow.
Completion Post: Week _ - Spot 51Book:
Follow the Money: The Shocking Deep State Connections of the Anti-Trump CabalHow it fits: standalone
Date finished: Mar 6
Rating: 5
Review:
Q:
“They can hire Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, or Sherlock Holmes—you can’t find what doesn’t exist,� (c)
A lot of political innuendo, traipsing between the realm of unreasonable and the realm of meshugge, undercover coverage covering bullshit that just doesn't want to get covered. And Ukraine, yet, that Ukraine that from the amount of tinkering the US seems to do with it one could decide it was placed closer to the US than Mexico... All the while the politico schemes seem to be as crazy as ever... while the crouds are as gullible as ever... and the societies as corrupted as ever. Viva la lobbying, or, as they say in the less sophisticated places, corruption.
Quite a fun expose, overall.
Q:
let’s zoom in on Ukraine. Why is this nation so important? Why is it a magnet for trouble?(c)
Q:
Ukraine is a giant, twenty-four-hour ATM. A broken slot machine that spewed out money to greedy politicos, lobbyists, and, yes, a son of the vice president of the United States. (c)
Week 7: Thursday Roll
Spot: 51
Book: Educated by Tara Westover
Qualification: Standalone
Finished: 3/6/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Tara Westover had a very atypical childhood in rural Idaho. Raised by a father who mistrusted the government, including public education, she didn't go to a formal classroom until entering college as a teenager. Her struggle to make sense of the world with her family's strong influence was an extreme version of the coming of age every adult faces as they grow up. In the same vein as The Glass Castle, a powerful story of confronting and protecting a troubled family dynamic.
Week 7, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 51
Jennifer: Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher (Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery #1: Post 161)
Melanie: Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #5: Post 166)
☘Mǰ徱�: Follow the Money: The Shocking Deep State Connections of the Anti-Trump Cabal by Dan Bongino (Standalone: Post 163)
Theo: Educated by Tara Westover (Standalone: Post 164)
Completion Post: Week 7 Thursday - Spot 51
Book: Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas
How it fits?: #5 in Lady Sherlock series
Date finished?: 3/6/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Murder on Cold Street was an excellent read following Charlotte as she works to clear a friend's name in a double homicide.
Inspector Robert Treadles has been charged with murder after being found locked in a room with two dead men. As the urging of Mrs. Treadles, Charlotte Holmes as the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes takes up the case to uncover the truth. Both victims worked with Mrs. Treadles at the manufacturing enterprise she recently inherited and there were rumors she was more involved with one of the men. Complicating matters is the fact the Inspector refuses to speak on his own behalf despite the evidence against him. In a case full of lies and secrets, Charlotte will have her work cut out for her to uncover the truth.
Murder on Cold Street picks up right where The Art of Theft left off with Mrs. Treadles showing up at Charlotte's residence to ask for the assistance of Sherlock Holmes. It's clear from the first interview with Mrs. Treadles that she's holding back information and it doesn't take long for Charlotte to uncover what she was hiding. Operating under the assumption that the Inspector is innocent, Charlotte turns her attentions to Cousins Manufacturing as a possible motive for the murders. With the help of Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Treadles gets access to the company's financials to give them a starting point. It quickly becomes apparent that all was not as it seemed at the company and both men were keeping a lot of secrets from those around them. Each member of Charlotte's team is assigned a lead to follow and I enjoyed following each member as they dig into the victims' lives. The ending went in a direction I wasn't expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed.
Charlotte remains one of my favorite main characters in a mystery series. Her ability to discern information and puzzle things out are extraordinary. Without the help of the man they're trying to prove innocent, Charlotte and the team have to work without a firsthand account of what happened the night of the murders. I enjoyed watching the team follow various leads and I like that Charlotte recognizes everyone's strengths when assigning them their roles for the investigation. The scene where Charlotte reveals to everyone her theory of what happened was very well done and really showcases Charlotte's talents as an investigator. Charlotte and Lord Ingram's friendship continues to evolve and I'm loving watching these two build up to something more. I'm very interested to see where their relationship goes in future books.
Overall Murder on Cold Street was a fantastic read and I will be picking up the next book in the series, Miss Moriarty, I Presume?, soon. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great mysteries.
Sunday's Roll: 2New Spot: 53
You can read a #3, #5, or #53 in a series, or a book with a pink cover.
Read: The Fast and the Furriest
Sofie Ryan
Read 3/7
How it fits: #5 in Second Chance Cat
Sarah Grayson and her band of elderly sleuths dive into a crime that hits their nearest and dearest when their friend Mack, always secretive about his life, turns out to have a tragic past and someone from that past reaches out to him. This book had a little less use of the "cat test" (those of you who know the series know what I'm talking about, and I won't spoil it for the rest of you) than some of her other entries in the series. The mystery in some ways takes a back seat to the character development (which in a longish series seems to be necessary at times). This book seemed like a good opportunity to fill in some backstory detail of other characters too, as long as the main plot driver was going to be Mack's past anyway. But the story was engaging and I liked where everyone ended up. 4 stars.
Hey team! I've got a long day tomorrow, and I don't think that I will be able to finish my book before I need to hit the hay. It will probably be late tomorrow night before I can get my review posted, but I promise to have it done before the deadline!
Sounds good, Theo!
I'll also have my book done tomorrow night. I'll probably have it around 8 or 9 pm EST.
Hey, think it's pink enough?
Tineeye says it's either white (which it defs isn't) or pink (which is does look). Should be pastel pink, methinks.Just checking it fits, will post the review a bit later.
Mod
Denise wrote: "Go ahead and use it, if Tineye can't make up its mind feel free to use the result that works better for your purposes. :D" Yay! Cool, thanks!
Completion Post: Week _ - Spot 53Book:
Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal PenisHow it fits: pink cover
Date finished: Mar 10
Rating: 5
Review:
Have you ever heard about that super-duper-lame study of how strippers get more money for performances when they are ovulating? And the on-birth-control ones don't? The author also had and she's got loads to say about it, including just how darn lame that study was, how badly organised and how misinforming overall.
Have you ever stumbled on all those 'does size mater' quizzes/articles (spoiler: looks like virgins and lesbians and people with very limited experience were a large chunk of responders), 'how human sexuality happened' studies and all that? Yeah, the author's providing us with a book that's a giant rant (an extremely entertaining and illuminating one!).
I probably could say that this must be a poster case of penis envy but I guess I won't and will applaud instead since she actually made this topic into a case for feminism.
Q:
Washburn did both. He pointed to nonhuman primates as examples of the necessary power of males and the dependence of females in social and economic exchanges. Like so many of his kind, he used military language to characterize the males, even if they were baboons, and cast the females as passive. Like Peterson with his lobsters, Washburn argued that this (inaccurate) interpretation of baboon interpersonal and intersexual dynamics clearly indicated that among primates, the males drive progress and the females just drag along behind, periodically undulating in a prehistoric version of the lap dance. Humans must therefore have followed a similar pattern. It’s the most insidious of Lobster Traps. (c)
Sorry, running a little behind. Just finished my book, so I'll have the review up shortly.
Week 7: Sunday Roll
Spot: 53
Book: Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper
Qualification: The Dark Is Rising #5
Finished: 3/10/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: I've finally gotten around to finishing this series! It's been about 3.5 years since I read #4, so it took me awhile to remember who everyone was and where we were in the story. There was a lot of buildup in this one that could have been condensed and I don't think the Drew children were incorporated enough into this one, but it was a satisfying ending to the series. I didn't read this one as a kid, but I wish that I had!
Week 7, Sunday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 53
Jennifer: The Fast and the Furriest by Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat Mystery #5: Post 170)
Melanie: High-Priority Asset by Juno Rushdan (Hard Core Justice #3: Post 181)
☘Mǰ徱�: Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis by Emily Willingham (Pink Cover: Post 177)
Theo: Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper (The Dark Is Rising #5: Post 179)
Completion Post: Week 7 Sunday - Spot 53
Book: High-Priority Asset by Juno Rushdan
How it fits?: #3 in Hard Core Justice series
Date finished?: 3/10/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
High-Priority Asset was a fast-paced and suspenseful read featuring a romance between a US Marshal and the woman he's assigned to get close to.
With the safety of every person in California's Witness Protection Program at risk, US Marshal Horatio "Dutch" Haas is assigned to get close to Isabel Vargas, the niece of the man who stole classified information regarding the program. Dutch doesn't like lying to Isabel but with so many lives on the line, he isn't given a choice. It doesn't take long for Dutch to fall for Isabel though and soon they're working together to find the intel. But when someone from Isabel's past shows up, the couple will find themselves facing danger on multiple fronts.
The plot in High-Priority Asset moves quickly, building in intensity as the book goes on. We first meet Isabel as she's leaving her gallery for the night when she's attacked by a mugger. After Isabel fights back, she chases the man to get her purse back when Dutch intervenes and assists. From there, we learn that Dutch has been assigned to get close to Isabel because of who she's related to. Isabel's uncle is the leader of a dangerous drug cartel and is in possession of a list containing the location of every person in WitSec in California. The stakes are incredibly high to get the list back before it's auctioned and it ultimately takes Dutch and Isabel working together to accomplish this goal. On top of the search for the WitSec list, Isabel is dealing with a stalker who terrorizes her throughout the book. The danger on two fronts made for an action-packed finale and I enjoyed how both plots were wrapped up.
Dutch and Isabel's relationship gets off to an interesting start. I loved the pair's first meeting when he helped her with the mugger she was chasing. There's some great banter and flirting in the scene which was fantastic. The chemistry between these two was great and I loved all of their scenes together. Dutch struggles with having to lie to Isabel, so I liked that he was the one to come clean about why they met and that Isabel didn't learn about it from someone else. It's clear pretty early on that Dutch has fallen for Isabel and I thought it was great that he clearly fell first. Once Dutch tells Isabel everything, the pair start working together which they did very well. Dutch trusts Isabel to do her part and doesn't try to take over.
Overall High-Priority Asset was a great read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series, Innocent Hostage, soon.
Thursday's Roll: 5New Spot: 58
You can read a #5, #8, or #58 in a series, or a book with an animal on the cover.
I'm going to read
which has two animals on the cover. :)
Read: The Plot Is Murder
by V.M. Burns
Read 3/11
How it fits: animal on cover
Review:
This is the first book I've read by this author. Ordinarily I don't like "book within book" plots (where the author switches back and forth between the main story and a story being written by a character) but in this case it's an effective plot device and a subtle way of revealing the main character's opinions of those around her. And one of the red herrings serves the double purpose of heightening the tension/furthering the plot and introducing someone I suspect will become a prominent character in the series. I'll be reading more of this series. @VM Burns -- something your editor should have caught: pictures are hung. People are HANGED. :-). 4 stars.
Completion Post: Week 8 Thursday - Spot 58
Book: A New Beginning by Olivia Miles
How it fits?: #8 in Blue Harbor series
Date finished?: 3/11/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
A New Beginning was a delightful read featuring a sweet romance between a bookstore owner and an author struggling to write his next book.
With spring in full swing, Bella Clark is looking forward to the start of busy season for her small bookstore. When a popular author comes into the store, Bella tries to convince the man to host an event at her store. But Craig Rowe is struggling to write his next book after his last one bombed and he wants to avoid all publicity while in Blue Harbor. After Bella offers to help Craig with his research while in town, the two begin spending a lot of time together. With the end of Craig's trip looming, Bella and Craig will have to decide how they want their future to look.
The premise of A New Beginning immediately intrigued me, I mean what's not to love about a romance between a bookstore owner and an author. Bella hasn't had time for dating as all of her spare time is spent making her store a success. With increasing costs, Bella has to find new ways to drum up business if she's to keep her store running. Craig has had a rough year personally which bled over into his writing, leading to his last book performing poorly. Bella and Craig's first meeting doesn't go well which leads to Bella reaching out to fix things. From there, the two begin spending time together with Bella showing Craig around town to help with research for his book. I loved the friendship the two developed and how they helped each other open up. There was a bit of a misunderstanding between Bella and Craig near the end of the book, but it was thankfully dealt with quickly and I was happy with the pair's romance. Just an FYI, this book doesn't contain explicit scenes and while I prefer my romances to have them, readers who like no steam would enjoy this book.
Overall A New Beginning was a fun read and I will definitely be checking out more of the series in the future.
Week 8: Thursday Roll
Spot: 58
Book: Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz
Qualification: Alex Rider #8
Finished: 3/13/2022
Rating: ★★�
Review: We're told at the novel's opening that the title comes from the belief that crocodiles will pretend to cry in order to attract their victims, and then the first chapter tells of a man who has been convinced to sabotage the nuclear power plant where he works, and a charity that steps in to save the day (and raise a lot of money). The setup for the bad guy is clear and we know Alex is going to get involved, especially when he remarks that he had a whole semester at school as a completely normal student with normal concerns. That kind of talk is definitely tempting fate when you've been coerced into working for spy agencies around the globe. These aren't groundbreaking stories, but they have all the fun of James Bond for a younger audience. They're fast-paced and full of action.
We're still waiting on ☘Mǰ徱� review, so I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that we're now using Central Daylight Time for rolling.
Completion Post: Week _ - Spot 58Book:
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixHow it fits: #5
Date finished: Mar 13
Rating: 5
Review:
Q: Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure. (c) RR must have been quite a hoot!
Q: Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect. (c) If only.
Here's to dearest Harry Potter who's having lots of teen, preteen, postteen and plain old otherworldly troubles. Doesn't mean I'm not exasperated at him and everyone else having communication troubles. In all seriousness, they could've solved stuff with some well-placed and well-timed phone calls. Can't help thinking that if Hermione was less clever, Harry wouldn't have made it that far on his own... and it would've been best for everyone. Shoulda woulda coulda... The mirror...
I dunno which HP reread of mine this is but this series never fails to hook me in. I guess I'm in for another round of rereads. I think this makes it abundantly clear that I'm a harcore, die-hard Rowling and HP fan. A lifey, probably.
Each time I pay attention to smth new and wonderful and find me some new baubles to enjoy. My shiny baubles from this time around:
Q:
Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have. (c)
Q:
“Why were you lurking under our window?"
"Yes - yes, good point, Petunia! What were you doing under our windows, boy?"
"Listening to the news," said Harry in a resigned voice.
His aunt and uncle exchanged looks of outrage.
"Listening to the news! Again?"
"Well, it changes every day, you see," said Harry.� (c) One would've thought he was smoking crack or smth.
Q:
By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many. (c) How come I've never before considered that Dumbledore could've been a compulsive hoarder?
Theo wrote: "We're still waiting on ☘Mǰ徱� review, so I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that we're now using Central Daylight Time for rolling."Sorry, posted.
☘Mǰ徱� wrote: "Theo wrote: "We're still waiting on ☘Mǰ徱� review, so I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that we're now using Central Daylight Time for rolling."Sorry, posted."No worries! I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page as far as the time change went since what was midnight last night, would be 1am tonight.
Week 8, Thursday Roll Team Reviews PostSpot: 58
Jennifer: The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns (Cover Item: Animal: Post 185)
Melanie: A New Beginning by Olivia Miles (Blue Harbor #8: Post 186)
☘Mǰ徱�: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #5: Post 189)
Theo: Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider #8: Post 187)
Sunday's Roll: 5New Spot: 63
You can read a #3, #6, or #63 in a series, or a book with a book on the cover.
Theo wrote: "No worries! I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page as far as the time change went since what was midnight last night, would be 1am tonight."Thanks! I totally could've missed that! Especially with the warm Harry Potter read afterglow :)
I'll be reading
which has books on the cover.
I'm going with Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, #3 in the Anna and the French Kiss series.
Read: The Sign of Death
Callie Hutton
Date read: 3/14/22
How it fits: Books on the cover
Review - This second in the "Victorian Book Club Mystery" series has Amy and William trying to solve the murder of William's unscrupulous business manager before William himself is charged with it. The two first became friends in volume 1, when William became privy to a secret the rest of their mutual book club members don't know.
There is the usual "male trying to protect the female" Victorian posturing throughout this book, and the equally usual "I'm going no matter what you say" female reaction. But it's obvious William is only toeing the line society expects him to toe, and he has no expectation that he'll get anywhere with it.
The mystery plot was very good. And surrounding it -- and Amy and William -- on all sides are people who either assume they're going to wind up married or who are intent on making that happen. It's almost comic the way the reader starts expecting that reaction from their compadres (just like if you see two people and one of them is holding a pie in one hand, you expect the other to be wearing it before it's over with).
This book gripped me much more than the first in the series. I'm glad I gave it another shot. And I'm interested to see what happens when the world finds out Amy's secret, a development that was hinted at in this volume.
4 stars.
I'm still reading, so it will probably be tomorrow morning before I get my review posted.
The Challenge Factory
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Sunday's Roll: 6
New Spot: 47
You can read #4, #7, or #47 in a series, or a book set in Africa.