ŷ������

I thought I updated all my challenges last night when I finished Lotus. Guess I missed one. I'll be right back with my completion post.

Completion Post - Shelf #1

Shelf: National Food Day
Book:
Date Read: 10/23
Rating: 2 stars
How it fits: Ice cream on cover; MPG Paranormal Romance
Review: This is the first book in the Silver Springs Universe that I have rated under 3 stars. The Library books were supposed to be completed, but the author won a contest and her book was added to the series. This is her first book, and it shows. I hated the main character. "I'm an independent woman. How dare you offer to get me coffee from next door and make me a waffle? I can do it myself!" Usually with insta-love/mates the author makes an effort to have their character be someone we like, but not here. And the guys weren't particularly like-able either, but that faded with the hatred I felt for the female!

Aaaand our first stamp has been requested! :-D

Eldarwen wrote: "My next Jane book will be #5, so Laura will overtake me soon hehe. I always let a lot of time elapse between books in certain series. Not sure why, but it works for me, and then it's always nice to..."

I have a bunch of auto-buys that I keep up with as they come out. Others I let slide and forget about them until someone mentions them, many times during BSB.

it's always nice to go back to the world and characters Totally agree!

CONGRATULATIONS, Prose Before Bros!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'Nat'l Food Day'. 

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

Yay!! :D

I've got Cat o' Nine Tales planned for 2 different challenges this week, so I'm really hoping it fits tomorrow's shelf call!

Steph wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "My next Jane book will be #5, so Laura will overtake me soon hehe. I always let a lot of time elapse between books in certain series. Not sure why, but it works for me, and then it..."

Ilona Andrews is an autobuy for me. And Guild Hunters and Psy-Changeling. Although I have the audio but haven't read the latest Psy-changeling. My mom said it was a bit disappointing.

Nooo nooo, Psy-Changeling is always good ;-))

I have to catch up on that one as well. My next one will be Alpha Night. But those two series are auto-buys for me as well. I have the two next ones on pre-order. Ilona Andrews is auto-buy for me as well but I don't pre-order anymore since they self-publish the paperbacks. They're far too expensive when bought immediately. At least the price drops a little bit after a few months, if really only a little.

Mercy Thompson is auto-buy for me as well, but there may be issues in future with the Ace paperback edition... unless they've reverted back to globally shipping/selling them, which wasn't the case for my pre-order of Soul Taken. Fortunately a work colleague was on holiday in the States this summer and got me a copy. Ordering via Amazon.us costs a fortune... and the UK paperback edition by Orbit is not as pretty and not the same size! It would ruin the whole optic of the series :-((

Sorry, I'm crying over third world problems here but my favourite series need to fit! :-p

Yay, stamp! :-D

Laura wrote: "I've got Cat o' Nine Tales planned for 2 different challenges this week, so I'm really hoping it fits tomorrow's shelf call!"

Fingers crossed!!

Eldarwen wrote: "Nooo nooo, Psy-Changeling is always good ;-))

I have to catch up on that one as well. My next one will be Alpha Night. But those two series are auto-buys for me as well. I have the..."

I have the same problem here, particularly with the Guild Hunter series, the Piatkus books (UK, Aus) are pitiful covers, so I read the library copy & wait to buy the US edition, usually. Glad it isn't just me.

I replaced most of my UK Mercy copies last year, with the US one bc I love the artist

Cassie Cruel wrote: "I replaced most of my UK Mercy copies last year, with the US one bc I love the artist"

I love that artist too, I've got 3 "bad ones", River Marked, Shifting Shadows & Fair Game (Alpha & Omega). All 3 of those are Orbit, & 2 are oversized as well. Sigh.

I'll have to see if I can do the same as you and switch them out :)

I got most of mine off of eBay or AbeBooks, though some came with the right cover but in hard back, eek

Oversized... *shudder* I really do not like those editions!

Eldarwen wrote: "Nooo nooo, Psy-Changeling is always good ;-))

I have to catch up on that one as well. My next one will be Alpha Night. But those two series are auto-buys for me as well. I have the..."

I take what my mom says with a grain of salt. She has turned me on to many great series, but I know there are several she has stopped reading that I still enjoy. Dresden is one that comes to mind. And she never really enjoyed BDB, so I still plan to listen to it. Hopefully it will fit a shelf call here soon!

Laura wrote: "I've got Cat o' Nine Tales planned for 2 different challenges this week, so I'm really hoping it fits tomorrow's shelf call!"

🤞🏼 for ya

Eldarwen wrote: "Nooo nooo, Psy-Changeling is always good ;-))

I have to catch up on that one as well. My next one will be Alpha Night. But those two series are auto-buys for me as well. I have the..."

Agree!

Same auto-buys for me 😊

No apologies needed! When we lived overseas, I felt some of the same pains and know how high prices can be. I sympathize.

I bought several oversized AU covers while there b/c I couldn't wait to read a books. I regret it now b/c they don't match my US editions. I've just not taken the time to replace them. Now, I'm 99% kindle and don't have that worry. I miss DTBs but space was limited and I've grown accustomed to the kindle.

Laura, I have listened to all but 2 BDB books and they are SO much better in audio. The narrator is great! ... Unless they've changed, I'm pretty far behind on that series.

BDB audios. Gotta check those out!

��🏼😁
The repetitive things felt less annoying when read in that voice. 😆

Really? I've never tried a DBD audio, but then, I'm also very picky with the voices I listen to :-)

And I should absolutely be in bed...

I liked it and hopefully y’all will.

Sleep well!

Next up��
Category #2 ~ 25 Oct:
Requirement ~ Reader's Choice - Read a book found on one of the five shelves, 200+ pages, genre must be part of a fantasy subgenre (PNR, UF, PN-Mystery, Sci-Fi Fantasy, SFR, etc)

Yay! I’m definitely diving into

Can I do Cat O’Nine Tales? It’s audio only. But it is 13 hours long.

We've never had someone check on an audio-only book choice. I'll get back to ya soon with our decision.

Steph wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS, Prose Before Bros!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'Nat'l Food Day'. 

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

Yay!! :D"

Congratulations on the stamp, Prose before Bros!

Laura, you’re good to go with that one. Sandra determined shorts add up over 200pgs 😊

Sandra wrote: "Congratulations on the stamp, Prose before Bros"

Thx 😊

Yay!

Uh, reader's choice! :-D
That means I can fit The House of Shattered Wings in for Bingo.

Selection Post
Reader's Choice


Book: The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
Pages: 417
How it fits: Urban Fantasy MPG

That sounds really good. I look forward to your review.

I really hope that it will be good! I've had it sitting on my shelves for a while - a signed copy no less as I hunted down the author for an autograph at a con haha.

Lots of her books sound very interesting, so I'm finally going to read this one because if I like her writing, lots more new books incoming to read! (Because my TBR is not yet large enough :-p)

;)

I hope it is!

I've finished mine, but review to come later.

Hope y'all have a great day/night!

Killer's Kiss by Keri Arthur
Series: Lizzie Grace #10
Shelf: GR @ urban-fantasy
Category #2: Nat'l Book Month - Reader's Choice
Read: 27 Oct
Rating: ✮✮✮✮��

My Review:

�� Love was worth it. Love would always be worth it. ��

Killer's Kiss appears to be the penultimate installment in Lizzie's story. We fans of the series are gifted with the Q&A we've been waiting for - and early on in the story. I found I had mixed feelings for the first time regarding Aiden's past actions, but I was happy (mostly) with the changes in their relationship. His statement, "Love was worth it. Love would always be worth it," made me scratch my head because obviously it waasn't always worth it. *shrug* The "mostly" refers to (view spoiler)[ Lizzie's pregnancy (hide spoiler)]. This was another not-sure-how-I-feel-about-it moment for me. (view spoiler)[I'm thrilled for her and Aiden, but I wish she'd told him as soon as he proposed. I wasn't thrilled she waited at all, but felt she shouldn't have waited past their engagement. And, I was kinda surprised he took the news as well as he did considering it was dropped on him when she said it in his presence but not to him first. (hide spoiler)]

Aside from those moments, which might be is-it-just-me moments, I really enjoyed this installment. I have always been intrigued by Maelle and her "relationship" with Roger, so it was fun having them more involved in this installment. And, a basilisk?! Loved it!

The series is always a fun mix of friendship, family, love and action. I'm already sad knowing the ending is coming with Shadow's End next year, but equally thankful more is to come.

Basilisk! That is cool :-)
The spoilers sound less cool. It's the kind of thing I hate in books.

I'm torn by Keri Arthur anyway. I read Darkness Unbound a few years ago and thought there were some things that were really good and others put me off. I wanted to read the second book but the longer I left it, the less I wanted to continue. Maybe some day. If I find a secondhand copy of the second book, who knows :-)

Completion Post - Shelf #2

Task: Reader's Choice
Book: Cat o' Nine Tales
Shelf: MPG Urban Fantasy
Date Read: 10/31
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I wish I hadn't read this for challenges. If I was reading simply for pleasure, I would have stopped and read book #4 before finishing. I feel like I've received some major spoilers for the next book! I didn't think it would be a big deal, but now I know that (view spoiler)[Jane and Molly are no longer friends! (hide spoiler)]

I did enjoy the stories as stories, outside of the spoiler issue. The other POVs were interesting.

Eldarwen wrote: "Basilisk! That is cool :-)
The spoilers sound less cool. It's the kind of thing I hate in books.

I'm torn by Keri Arthur anyway. I read Darkness Unbound a few years ago and thought..."

It was cool. 😊

I like Keri Arthur's books - mostly - though I didn't really like her Dark Angels series (the one you mentioned). I've read her for a while, so lots of oldies. Lizzie Grace is definitely one of my favorites of hers. Maybe you'd like another one of her series, if you ever feel like checking out a different series.

Laura wrote: "I wish I hadn't read this for challenges. If I was reading simply for pleasure, I would have stopped and read book #4 before finishing. I feel like I've received some major spoilers for the next book! I didn't think it would be a big deal, but now I know ..."

Bummer. Sucks when you get spoiled.

That sucks, Laura :-(

I'm behind on my reading, eurgh. But diving into the Wings book today! I've already read the first five pages and I am intrigued! The writing flows nicely so far :-)

Glad you’re enjoying the start of yours, Eldarwen.

Our next shelf ��
Category #3 ~ 1 Nov: Nat’l Boyfriend Day
Requirement ~ Read a book featuring your book boyfriend

I’m going for 😁

I just got the latest In Death book from the library. I’ll have to check if it’s got the shelves!

Nice 🤞🏻😊

Selection Post - Nat'l Boyfriend Day

Book: Payback in Death
How it fits: Roarke is one of my book boyfriends! And it's shelved Paranormal Romance by 1 person. Also tagged Sci Fi Romance by 3 people, but the link to that one goes to a different shelf than the link provided in the shelf requirements, Science Fiction Romance, so I'm not sure it works that way.

Hahah, Roarke.. classic :-)

I'm considering switching my Free Space book to this because almost all the men in the Guild Hunter books are yum haha.Then I'd choose something else for Free Space. Sometimes it's a good thing that I am slow :-p

LOL! Guild Hunter is always a good choice!

I've finished my book and will try to get my review done today. Hope y'all have a great weekend!

The Viper’s Nest Roadhouse & Cafe by Seana Kelly
Series: Sam Quinn #6
Shelf: SOS' UFR shelf
Category #3: Nat'l Boyfriend Day
Read: 3 Nov
Rating: ★★★★��

My Review:

I [am] just a bookish werewolf. Why [do] I seem to attract so much trouble?

The Viper's Nest Roadhouse & Cafe is Stheno's new venture.

“I forget how much I hate working. Times goes by, I get bored, and then I watched you and it seemed like fun, so I suggested our next business venture be a bar. I need to hire people to do this shit so I can just sit in a booth and drink like my sister.��

😆 Stheno cracks me up!

While attending the soft opening, Sam meets Thoth, an interesting God and one that will help her greatly. It's also there that they learn humans are being killed by vampires who are leaving fang marks in their neck, which could draw the attention of humans. Worse, Clive's business card is found on one, so whomever is responsible wants Clive to be implicated.

More worrisome, Garyn, Clive's super old and powerful maker, has just requested to visit Russell's nocturne. With her in town, you know things are about to get dicey. No one could've predicted just how dicey - (view spoiler)[seems Garyn can and does influence all the vampires in the nocturne including Clive. Thankfully, Sam's able to push off her compulsion and reign Clive in as well as alert Russell and the others to her abilities (hide spoiler)].

“When you need to protect others, the self-doubt falls away and what is left is a canny warrior. You need to put those skills to work in protecting yourself the way you do others.��

One of Sam's lesser known abilities allows her to learn more about Garyn that she'd like. Will it be enough to stop her and her plan to reclaim what (or who) she wants? Sam's circle has grown exponentially and, when the time comes, she has dragons, gorgons, a wicche, a demon, a fae soldier and countless vampires on her side.

I loved this installment. It was full of great Sam + Clive moments, booknerdery, Sam learning more about her abilities, a new God thrown in the mix and a wackadoo vampire who gets what she deserves and it ain't Clive.


Where do I get my hands of the recipe for Dave’s meringue cookies? Sam's binges created a craving!

Fans of Sam Quinn should also check out:
�� The Sea Witch Chronicles (#1 Bewicched) - featuring Arwyn, Sam's Corey wicche cousin
�� All I Want for Christmas is a Dragon - featuring Owen, Sam's wicchey friend and the Slaughtered Lamb's manager and George, his dragon-shifter beau
�� The Banshee & the Blade - featuring half-demon Dave and his banshee girlfriend Maggie.

Selection Post
Nat'l Boyfriend Day


Book: Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh
Pages: 386
How it fits: MPG Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Yes, I've decided to switch it out :-)

I'll just have to decide on a new Free Space book now.