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Team 2 - C-JA(A)BS

Captain: Apoorv
Shan ~A~
AnnMarie
Jennifer
BarbaraAnn
Christina T




Bonus Points:
Earned: 5
Used: 0

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll: (2 dice on Fridays, US Central Time)
R13 SS Post Your Spot
R13 SS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter:

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)


2. Male Author
3. Cover: Red
4. MC has a pet
5. Mystery/Thriller
6. Set in space
7. Cover: Orange
8. Cover Item: One person
9. Several authors
10. Cover: Pink
11. Author 'N'
12. Cover Item: Book
13. Title 'B'
14. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
15. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
16. Asia
17. Title 'D'
18. Set in a place you've visited
19. Less than 100 ratings
20. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
21. Favorite Author
22. Set anytime between 1837-1901
23. South America
24. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
25. Published 2011-2015
26. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
27. Title 'Y'
28. Europe
29. MC is older than 60
30. Author 'E'
31. Set on an island
32. Title 'L'
33. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
34. MC travels by airplane
35. New to You Author
36. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
37. Title 'M'
38. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
39. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
40. Cover Item: Building
41. Author 'V'
42. MC travels by train
43. Set anytime between 1600-1837
44. Book with a funeral in it
45. Title has a subtitle
46. Cover: Yellow/Gold
47. Science Fiction
48. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
49. Author 'Z'
50. MC has at least one child
51. Title 'O'
52. Originally published in a language other than English
53. Cover: Purple
54. Australia
55. Cover Item: Umbrella/Parasol
56. Author uses a pseudonym
57. Young Adult/New Adult
58. Cover Item: Jewelry
59. Non-Fiction
60. Cover: Brown
61. Title 'H'
62. North America
63. Set in the future
64. Published 2021
65. Author 'G'
66. Fantasy
67. Cover Item: Food/Drink
68. LGBTQ+
69. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
70. Published 2016-2019
71. Author 'F'
72. Romance
73. Africa
74. Title 'S'
75. Published 2001-2010
76. Cover Item: Animal
77. Author 'L'
78. MC is in their 20's
79. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
80. Published before 1950
81. Title 'P'
82. Author 'B'
83. Published between 1950 and 1999
84. Title 'W'
85. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
86. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
87. Title 'R'
88. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
89. Set sometime before 1600 AD
90. Author 'G'
91. GR average rating >4.0
92. Cover: Blue
93. Award Winner (must state which/when)
94. Cover Item: Weapon
95. Author 'T'
96. Published 2020
97. Title 'I'
98. Book with a wedding in it
99. Cover: Black
100. Author 'J'
101. Cover: White
102. Female Author
103. Title 'F'
104. Cover Item: Water
105. Cover Item: Two or more people
106. Published the year you were born
107. Cover Item: Furniture
108. Author 'C'
109. Debut Novel or Debut Author
110. Cover Item: Dress
111. Cover: Green
112. School/College/University

A couple of things to keep in mind:

�� Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

�� Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

�� If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain week, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the week in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

�� If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

�� We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

�� If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

�� The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

�� The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role every week, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

�� Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

�� Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

�� If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

�� The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Hello! Hello!
The team of victors, the team of champions - hello!!

Some familiar faces, some new ones - this sure is going to be fun!
I'm excited!! :D

Hope everyone has been doing well and staying safe. I'm Apoorv and I live in Boston, Massachusetts in The United States - I have done this challenge 6 times before and absolutely love how it makes me read more series books. :)

Here are some team names for our discussion:

JA(A)BS (that is actually the first letter of all our names - and is fairly relevant with the times somehow) :P
2 Hot 2 Handle
Double Trouble
Ready Player 2
Two Can Keep a Secret
Two for the Win
Two Eternity and Beyond
Where is my Two-Two?

----------------

�� Week 1: Spot 8
�� Week 2: Spot 17
�� Week 3: Spot 22
�� Week 4: Spot 31
�� Week 5: Spot 38
�� Week 6: Spot 46
�� Week 7: Spot 56
�� Week 8: Spot 63
�� Week 9: Spot 72
�� Week 10: Spot 81
�� Week 11: Spot 87

Hi -- I'm Jennifer, from Florida, and this is my first time doing this so someone nudge me if I screw it up!

Hi everyone! I'm BarbaraAnn and I live in Illinois in the United States. This is one of my favorite games and I'm excited for this round.

I like JA(A)BS for a name, but don't have any new names to add to the list.

Hi all! I'm Shan. I live in Louisiana. I'm super excited about this challenge. I've done it before, but not sure of the number of times. It's always fun..

I like:
JA(A)BS
2 Hot 2 Handle
Two Can Keep a Secret
Two Eternity and Beyond

Nothing new to add

HI, I am AnnMarie. I live in New Jersey, the southern part just outside of Philadelphia. This is the first time playing this but I prefer reading series so I am looking forward to this.

I am terrible with names but I am good with JA(A)BS :)

Yaay! We got everyone.
And it seems like JA(A)BS is our winner for the group name.

Anyone wants to be the captain?

Also, do you folks have a specific series you'd be reading this challenge? We get an extra point for reading 3+ books from a series and another one for starting and finishing a 4+ book series.

Reinforcements incoming! Christina T will be joining you. :)

Hi all! I'm ChristinaT from Iowa. I've done this challenge several times but it's been a while since I participated. I just had a reading challenge/game end so of course I needed to add one to replace it 😁.

I'm also doing The Bachelor game in the RRRC group and a bingo game is starting soon in my Cozy mystery group but each game only requires 1 book a week so yay for reading challenge addiction!

I see some familiar names (Hi!) and I'm happy to meet everyone else. I'm super laid back when it comes to team decisions so whatever team name the majority wants I'm ok 👍🏻. Sorry I can't commit to being captain. It's too difficult with my work schedule.

I can't wait until we start!

I bow to you ChristinaT! I'm currently playing bingo in the Turn of a Page group, but two team games at a time is my limit. I also don't think I can be captain as I work at night so would not be able to be online from mid-afternoon to about 2am (central time). If whoever is captain wants help, I'd be happy to update things in the early afternoon on Fridays. I can also commit to the "read a fully completed series" bonus if no one else wants it.

I am down to being the captain and updating things, if no one else wants to. I am captaining UNO in the other group, so can tie in both just fine. No worries!

Christina T wrote: "I'm also doing The Bachelor game in the RRRC group and a bingo game is starting soon in my Cozy mystery group but each game only requires 1 book a week so yay for reading challenge addiction!"

Christina, which is the RRRC group? One more group with team challenges - sign me up! Haha! :P

Apoorv wrote: "Here are some team names for our discussion:

JA(A)BS (that is actually the first letter of all our names - and is fairly relevant with the times somehow) :P
2 Hot 2 Handle
Double Trouble
Ready Player 2
Two Can Keep a Secret
Two for the Win
Two Eternity and Beyond
Where is my Two-Two?"

Oh, I just realized that JA(A)BS wouldn't work, so new suggestion with all our names is,
C-JA(A)BS

Eeks, this is getting eerily relevant now. :P

Apoorv the RRRC group is the Romance Readers Reading Challenge group I belong to. The majority of the books I read are romance but I also enjoy mysteries which is why I also like this group... all genres tend to work.

I should not be captain as I've never done this before. So it may end up being you by default, Apoorv!

Christina T wrote: "Apoorv the RRRC group is the Romance Readers Reading Challenge group I belong to. The majority of the books I read are romance but I also enjoy mysteries which is why I also like this group... all ..."

Oh wow! How had I not heard of this group until now? Now, I am going to do explore this one. Thanks Christina! Gah, as if I needed more groups to keep a track off. *shakes head* :P

Okay, so we are starting on the 21st, so I will just go ahead and tell the Mods that our name is C-JA(A)BS and I will step in as the captain, just to get things in order. Hope that is okay.

Fine with me!

Sounds good, thanks :)

Sounds good Apoorv

Ok with me

We are less than 12 hours away from the start! Yaay! :D
We start at Midnight Central US Time.

That is 1am my time, but I should be up by then - if not, I will roll first thing in the morning tomorrow.

So excited! :D

BONUS POINTS:

�� One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series. - Shan ~A~

�� One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages. - Christina

�� �� One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ��4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one. - AnnMarie

�� 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on. - AnnMarie

�� One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90. - AnnMarie, BarbaraAnn, Christina, Shan ~A~

�� Valentine's Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Romance book for the roll on 02/11.. - AnnMarie

Week 1 - Roll 1
Number Rolled: 5+3 = 8
Post Your Roll - Post

----------------------------------------
Spot: 8

Book Choice:

Read 8th book in a series

Alternate Choice:

Read a book with Cover Item: One person

Note the bonus points!
-----------------------------------------
Books Read (Alphabetically)

�� AnnMarie | His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC | Sex & Mayhem #8 | Review | 26-Jan-2022 ��
�� Apoorv | Conspiracy in Death | In Death #8 | Review | 25-Jan-2022
�� BarbaraAnn | Stress and the Modern Dad | Mannies Incorporated #8 | Review | 27-Jan-2022
�� Christina | Shelter for Sophie | Badge of Honor Texas Heroes #8 | Review | 26-Jan-2022
�� Jennifer | Death in the Stacks | Library Lover's Mystery #8 | Review | 23-Jan-2022
�� Shan ~A~ | Misadventures of a College Girl | Misadventures #8 | Review | 25-Jan-2022

�� BONUS: 2-in-1: Series #8 (Sex & Mayhem) & Alternate Spot #8 (one person on the cover).

I'm going to read Stress and the Modern Dad by Sean Michael #8 in the Mannies Incorporated series

I'm reading You Can Have My Heart, but Don't Touch My Dog #8 in Domestic Equalizers, because I also need a "Y" title to finish off a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long challenge.

I was wondering if we needed to post a selection I couldn't remember from the last time.

I'm reading . It's 8th in the Misadventures series according to GR.

Shan ~A~ wrote: "I was wondering if we needed to post a selection I couldn't remember from the last time."

It helps to know that everyone has checked the roll, but you don't have to as long the completion posts come through before the deadline.

BarbaraAnn wrote: "I'm going to read Stress and the Modern Dad by Sean Michael #8 in the Mannies Incorporated series"

I am very intrigued by this series, BarbaraAnn. Could you tell me how do you like it?

I'll read His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC by K.A. Merikan. Would that qualify for the bonus point:

�� 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.

Well, I won't be reading You Can Have My Heart, but Don't Touch My Dog because it turns out that I already read it, didn't like it, and had so little memory of it that I didn't realize I'd already read it (despite my having marked it read on gr....sigh...) until I turned on the audio and all I heard was audio's standard end tagline -- "audible hopes you've enjoyed this program."

Off to find something else!

I'll be reading Death in the Stacks, #8 in the Library Lover's Mystery series.

Book read: Death in the Stacks

Jenn McKinlay
Read 01/22/2022
4 stars
How it fits: Book 8 in "Library Lover's Mysteries"

Review
I know everyone always says you're not supposed to wish someone dead. That's true in real life. But it's actually one reason why I like cozy mysteries -- so many of them have a fictional character in them that I freely and whole-heartedly, and with no guilt whatsoever, can wish dead. Nice targets for my free-floating hostility LOL. Olive, the victim in this cozy, was no different. By the end of the first or second chapter I couldn't wait for some Good Samaritan to come commit a public-service homicide and leave the woman circling the drain. Fortunately, a GS (who, of course, turned out to be anything but good or samaritan-like) came along and obliged me forthwith.

This mystery was also enlivened by visits from the characters of two of McKinlay's other mystery series, both of which I've read. So it was like a reunion lunch with old friends, and a nice opportunity to see what was going on with the Brits from her hat shop series, which had been on hiatus when this mystery was written. (McKinlay has since put out another volume in the hat shop series but it was several years after this book came out.)

I'm undecided as to what book I'm reading so far. I have so many series that I started but left off at books 2, 3, or 4.....8 is a bit harder. My Bachelor prompt is in half an hour... I'll see what it is and hopefully find one that works for both 😊

I'm reading

I'm half way through my book. Most of my reading occurs on my days off which unfortunately is Thursday and Friday with more reading happening on Thursday overnight into Friday. Not great for reading for this particular challenge but excellent for rolling. I'm in Central time zone and awake most of the night so I could roll at midnight if that won't step on anyone's toes.

Week #1 - Roll #1
Number Rolled: 8

Book Read: Conspiracy in Death | J.D. Robb
Date Read: 25-Jan-2022
How it Fits: In Death #8
Rating: ★★★★

Review
The biggest victory of this addition to the series was how it cemented Eve and Roarke's relation. For what felt like a power play with underlying affection for the longest time in the preceding books, now seems to have blossomed into something more earthen and grounded. There are such beautifully poignant moments in this book between the two it somehow changed the narrative dynamic of the series for me, and for the good. After 8 books, the series seems to have settled in on itself and J.D. Robb has convincingly managed to make me want to explore more in this long series with these appealing characters, and with more vigor and interest.

This felt like the rawest book of the series so far and to see the normally head-strong, take-no-shit, kickass Eve Dallas be vulnerable, broken, and beaten truly humanized the character for me. Ceremony in Death was the first time when Eve's realities took prominent shape for me and I was truly invested in everything that happens with her, and this book delved into them with a lot more depth and significance. To see Eve's past and present collide in on each other only to have the resultant explosion shatter her potential future was heart-wrenching to see, but to witness Eve's fight back while being down was absolutely heart-warming.

J.D. Robb continues to create these characters with a wonderful layer of meat on them, all while making them cry, laugh, bleed, hurt, angry, horny, mad like any other human being. To see Eve and Roarke play the perfect fiddle to each other and working seamlessly as a team where one holds the fort while the other is down is fantastic. Eve is hot as fire, and Roarke is cold as ice - but together they just blend perfectly without overshadowing each other. And then that supporting cast! Ah! This series has to be one of the best literary works that I have read with such an eclectic cast, all of whom are a worthwhile addition to the mix.

The mystery this time though was not up to snuff, and while there was a lot of drama that surrounded Eve personally because of that, it did not hit me as hard. Maybe Ms. Robb focused more on Eve's interpersonal relationships as opposed to solidifying the mystery, but I would have loved a more darker, meatier suspense angel that would have had a more graver impact.

But, in turn we get a wonderfully layered emotional upheaval where the main characters truly had to dig deep to sustain, and I can't complain of the direction this book took. I wanted to give Eve a massive hug and Roarke a... well, let's not get derailed with that thought. Here is hoping to see more of them and the team. We are just getting started, Ms. Robb!

Update

Hope your respective reads are coming along well. I was certainly happy with mine :)

Reviews are due at the latest by end of day on Friday - 11.59pm Central Time, but the earliest we can get them in, we can roll earlier on Friday.

Please drop in a word here or let me know in messages if real life is acting up and you are not going to be able to meet the deadline and we can work something out.

Christina T wrote: "I'm half way through my book. Most of my reading occurs on my days off which unfortunately is Thursday and Friday with more reading happening on Thursday overnight into Friday. Not great for readin..."

Thanks for the update, Christina.
Also thanks for offering to do the rolls. If we have all our reviews done by Thursday night, you can definitely go ahead and do the rolls. If the reviews bleed into Friday, I should be able to roll in the day.

I might have a week or so where I might be tied up on that Friday, so I might definitely trouble you then. Haha! Thanks again! :)

I have 2 hours left on the audiobook so I will be able to post a review later tonight.

Week 1
Spot #8


His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC by K.A. Merikan
Qualification: #8 in series
Finished: 1/26
Rating:

Review: I can't believe I am saying this but I was surprised that this book was not more OTT. I read the preceeding books in this series quite some time ago and I was a little hesitant because I am not so much into dark themes any longer but for some reason I really enjoy these authors and their crazy stories! There is a unusual fetish that is a huge part of the story so this may not be for everyone. I thought I had the identity of the villain figured out and was pleasantly surprised I was not right. I have really enjoyed the books in this series, I may revisit this and the authors' Guns n Boys series to do one huge re-read and finish both series once I figure out where the crossovers happen. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

�� 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.

Book Choice:

Read 8th book in a series

Alternate Choice:

Read a book with Cover Item: One person

Is there something to do for a bonus? I believe my book qualifies for one of them :)

AnnMarie wrote: "Is there something to do for a bonus? I believe my book qualifies for one of them :)"

Just note in your review post which one it qualifies for. :)

Completion Post ~ Week 1 - Roll 1
Number Rolled: 5+3 = 8
Spot: 8
Task: Read 8th book in a series
Book: Misadventures of a College Girl
Author: Lauren Rowe
Finished: 01/25
How it fits: 8th in the Misadventures series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I have to say that I loved every scene that Zooey and Tyler had together. So luckily there were a lot of those throughout the book.

The funny thing is I almost decided to stop reading when it was just Zooey and the roommate in the beginning, because I found myself rolling my eyes throughout their interactions.

I was glad to the correlation of how Zooey and her roommate decided the best way for Zooey to meet a boy to take/give her v card to the assignment that Tyler and Zooey decided to do. That effortlessly allowed them to address one of the problems I had before our hero & heroine actually had their first conversation.

So besides the first small part, this story was really well done.

Denise wrote: "AnnMarie wrote: "Is there something to do for a bonus? I believe my book qualifies for one of them :)"

Just note in your review post which one it qualifies for. :)"

Thanks!!!!

Week 1 - Spot #8

Stress and the Modern Dad by Sean Michael
#8 in Mannies Incorporated Series
read 1/27/22
****

Sometimes it's nice to read a sweet story with a minimum amount of angst. This is the perfect low-angst story about a man who's sister passed away from cancer. The man took in her children, but was overwhelmed by the responsibilities. He met Cor Dawson, who handled a toddler hour at the local community center and they quickly became friends. Cor offered to be the Mannie for the children and the rest is history.