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R7: SS "Seriously Challenged" (12)
Week 7I rolled a 2+3=5
We are now on spot 41
You can read a book that is...
♦1st in series
♦4th in series
♦41st in series
♦Enemies to lovers (must state how book qualifies i.e. listopia or precis)
Week 7Stay with Me by S.E. Harmon
Qualification: Series #1
Read: (2/26)
Rating: ★★★★★
First I have to say I had absolutely no expectations going into this book. I had picked it up to read as I needed to fill a few challenges and this fit the bill and I am attempting to actually manage to read all the MM Romance Groups authors of the month this year. But I didn't even really read the description before starting this. Yet I loved it.
Look Mac has his issues and the man really needs to learn to talk about things instead of running away from his problems, but his little snarky mouth had me falling quickly in love with him. I'm a sucker for a guy with a quick wit. And Jordan, well sure he's perfect and wonderful and is just to damn perfect for his own good but I don't care.
I get Mac's head-space in this book. The more real things get for him the more he spirals out of control in his mood. He doesn't know how to handle things in a real and true way. His fears still own him. I never questioned his reactions even when I wanted to smack him and tell him to just TALK to the man. I got where Jordan was at too. Whether Mac knew it or not he was into the relationship he just had accepted everything that entailed and was working up to it. It was never a lack of commitment to Mac, once he was in Jordan was in, but acknowledging it all to the world would take time.
If this book lacked anything for me it was that we didn't get to see much of the reactions of Jordan getting introduced around in Mac's life and vice versa. I enjoyed the introduction to Mac's family and would have loved to see more of those sorts of relationships explored. The side characters in this story were really great.
On top of that this is one of the first PI books I've read where I felt like the guys were really real PI's. Their cases weren't some trumped up case that really the police would be handling. These were the day to day, often boring, spying on spouses type cases. Somehow that was really appealing to me.
All in all I really enjoyed this read. It might lose a little in the over all wanting more from it category as I would have liked those other interactions, but for a first book I think it's bloody fantastic.
Yes I was that idiot who stayed up all night reading instead of going to bed and getting the actual sleep she needed.
Shelby wrote: "Yes I was that idiot who stayed up all night reading instead of going to bed and getting the actual sleep she needed."Well, in this place you are far from the only one who does that. :D
LOL! Tell me about it!!! At least today is Friday!!!
I'm going to read 4th in series book:
Week 7: Spot 41 (alternate ~ Enemies to Lovers)Shelby ~ Stay with Me by SE Harmon (2/26) ~ 1st in series
Annika ~ Heartless by Gail Carriger (2/27) ~ 4th is series
Danielle ~ Chaos Station by Jenn Burke (2/27) ~ 1st in series
K-Terror ~ A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter (2/27) ~ 4th in series
Shannon ~ A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes (2/28) ~ 1st in series
Jennifer ~ Devoted in Death by JD Robb (2/28) ~ 41st in series
Sunshine ~ Fallen by Callie Hart (3/2) ~ 4th in series
K~Terror wrote: "LOL! Tell me about it!!! At least today is Friday!!!"Yeah that just means a longer shift at work today. ;) I don't exactly get a true weekend. The joy of waiting tables in between film gigs. :-p
Week 7 - spot 41
Heartless by Gail Carriger
How it fits: Parasol Protectorate #4
Read: 27/2
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
This series is always interesting in a strange and quirky way. The books are always quick and easy to read, and Alexis antics and reasoning are always entertaining. There are many twists and turns, that keeps the plot going and interesting.
Week 7Space 41
Qualification: Chaos Station #1
Date Read: 27 February
Rating: 4 stars
I enjoyed this book very much. The MC's haven't seen each other in 9 years, with one of them thinking the other is dead. I loved reading them reconnect and learn the changes and what they have been through. The secondary characters were interesting too and added to the book. I'll definitely read more in this series, especially as it's seams that Zed and Felix are the series leads.
Shelby wrote: "K~Terror wrote: "LOL! Tell me about it!!! At least today is Friday!!!"Yeah that just means a longer shift at work today. ;) I don't exactly get a true weekend. The joy of waiting tables in betwee..."
That is really cool you do films!
*** Completion Post ***Week #7 - Spot 41
A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter
Read: 02/27/2016
Rating: 3.5*s
-------------------------------
This was the 4th and final book to the series. Although I enjoyed the story, it was a little different getting into it since it wasn't from the typical points-of-view of Ali & Cole only, but expanded to include Kat, Frosty, Milla... But once I got used to all the different voices, it was easier to follow and it made the story interesting and brought the series to a nice closure. -- And, of course, there was lots of kick ass zombie fighting action!
Week 7 Completion Post
A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes
Read: 2/28/16
Rating: ★★★★
So we met Rand in the last "Better Than" book and he was not a great character in that one. He was Seth's best friend and kind of a douche. Well not in this one. We get to really meet him and he's a great mix of bohemian artist and control freak. Then he takes guitar lessons from Will and that's all she wrote. Will was such a great character. Shy, sweet, nerdy....and a virgin! I love that!! This wasn't a quick into the sack type of book but a slower build. Not too slow, just right. They were actually perfect together. Like they balanced each other out. Will's family were a bunch of assholes and I loved that he didn't let them win. Very sweet romance with some good smexing and low angst.
Week 7
Devoted in Death by JD Robb
#41 in series
Finished: 2/28/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
I have run out of thing to say about this series other than I love it. One more great story in the Eve Dallas series. Bad guys you can't wait for Eve to catch and victims you hope she will rush in to save. I can't wait for more.
Week 7Space: 41
Fallen by Callie Hart
#4 in the series
Finished 3/2/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
I love this series. The writing and action is great.
Sloane gets Zeth, finally. Zeth can be my Prince Charming anytime.
Week 8I rolled an 8
We are now on spot 49
You can read a book that is...
♦4th in series
♦9th in series
♦49th in series
♦in New York
Week 8Him by Sarina Bowen
Qualification: Location: New York
Read: (3/5)
Rating: ★★★★½
This is one of those sugary sweet, but oh so well written novels that drags you in and doesn't let you go. There's plenty of humor, super hot sexy times, and oodles of heart as well. What there isn't a lot of is a ton of angst. Sure there's a little, enough to keep it interesting, but neither of these boys really wallows in the woe is me and what the hell am I doings.
Wes and Jamie met as kids at a summer camp for hockey's up and coming superstars. They quickly became best friends and spent 6 weeks together every summer. But that's all their relationship was. Those 6 weeks. They lived on opposite sides of the country and other than camp weren't able to spend time together during the school year. They were inseparable when together. Everything changed though the last summer before they were to start college. One silly stupid little bet drove them apart and they haven't spoken since.
But now they're in their final year at college and the world is conspiring to throw them back together. Both boys are playing in the college hockey final four for their respective teams. Seeing each other for the first time in four years and everything comes rushing back. Wes knows he owes Jamie an apology for the way he disappeared after everything that went down. Now he just has to man up and deliver it.
There were so many really great things about this book. The writing style was really smooth and engaging. I enjoyed reading about these two. They were funny and felt age appropriate. Two 20-something guys have the hots for each other...yeah sure there's going to be lots of sex. ;) I really appreciated as well that the authors took the time to have Jamie really explore what his attraction to Wes meant. This isn't a straight gay for you story, he discovers his bi-sexuality in a manner that was appropriate and understandable.
I appreciated how torn up about things Wes was. He felt terrible about what he pushed Jamie into in the past (or felt he pushed him into) and that guilt colored his interpretations of things for a long while. I never doubted that he'd loved Jamie for ages. He had to learn to trust that what Jamie was feeling and telling him was real, honest and true.
Loved these boys and their burgeoning relationship. I really felt like this was two guys finally growing up and into themselves as they moved away from college and into real life. Their decisions on what they wanted to do with their future made sense for both of them and I can't wait to see how things develop in the sequel. Theirs still a lot of growth that needs to happen. Not just between them, but they're still essentially hiding their relationship even if it's not from everyone. A professional hockey player openly being gay has still yet to be announced to the world. :)
Week 8: Spot 49 (alternate ~ New York)Shelby ~ Him by Sarina Bowen (3/5) ~ New York
Shannon ~ Finding Forgiveness by Sloane Kennedy (3/5) ~ 4th in series
Annika ~ Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder (3/6) ~ 4th in series
Jennifer ~ Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren (3/5) ~ New York
K-Terror ~ Truce by RL Mathewson (3/6) ~ 4th in series
Danielle ~ Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (3/9) ~ 4th in series
Sunshine ~ Fall from India Place by Samantha Young (3/8) ~ 4th in series
Week 8 - Completion Post
Finding Forgiveness by Sloane Kennedy
Pages: 211
Qualifies: Finding Series #4
Read: 3/5/16
Rating: ★★★★
I don't know if this is the end of this series but I loved every one of these books. This one was about Hunter and Roman. Hunter is the boy Finn (from book 1) was caught kissing which ruined him in their little town and Roman is the brother of Grey (from book 3) who is kind of estranged and certainly pissed off at Grey. Roman first meets Hunter and a bar during something horrible then again the next day when he looking for land to develop. What a surprise! Anyways, Hunter is in the closet with his family but Roman is so yummy and yada yada. I just love how the villains from a previous book get to tell their stories in later books. I do believe these should be read in order just to understand who everyone is. I got weepy quite a few times and we had us some lovely smexing so all is good in my world.
Shannon, the Alternate option for this week is New York #49
Jenn I think she just forgot to change the reasoning why it works. She has it listed as a #4 in series up above and she's on my SSS team as well and last round our Alt was College. :)
Week 8 - spot 49
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
How it fits: The Chronicles of Ixia #4
Date: 6/3
Rating: 3,5 stars
Review:
This book starts off 4 years after the last book in the series and focuses on Opal and her glass making instead of Yelena and soul finding. It was an interesting diversion and it can turn out to be a good continuation to the series, some of the old aspect were kept and quite a few new ones introduced and continue on as the series continue. I found Opal to be annoying at times but hopefully that will change in the next book.
Shelby wrote: "Jenn I think she just forgot to change the reasoning why it works. She has it listed as a #4 in series up above and she's on my SSS team as well and last round our Alt was College. :)"Thanks for letting me know, Shelby :)
Week 8 ~ Spot 49
Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren
Finished: 3/5/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Takes place in New York
Sara Dillon leaves her cheating fiance and moves to New York City to start over. When she is out dancing with her girlfriends (one of them being Chloe from Beautiful Bastard) she runs into a smooth talking stranger with a British accent that catches her fancy. Determined to start over and to live her life differently she decides to take a chance on him.
Beautiful Stranger was a compelling, sexy, funny read. I had my worries going into it that it wouldn't stand up to Beautiful Bastard. But the author was able to create an interesting storyline from both characters that weaved very well together. Max, the beautiful stranger, really came alive in my mind. Looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
In this series, my favorite couple.Love Max
Sunshine wrote: "In this series, my favorite couple.Love Max"
I know I liked Max much more than Bennett :)
Jennifer ♔Princess Penguin♔ wrote: "Shannon, the Alternate option for this week is New York #49"Ha! And that's why I shouldn't just copy and paste. I'll fix it now. :)
Week 8: Spot 49==========================
Book: Truce by R.L. Mathewson
How it Fits: 4th in Series
Read: 03/06/2016
Rating: 4*s
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Although this is the fourth book in the series, it was so different than the other 3 that it took me by surprise. R L Mathewson's books are always entertaining with lots of angst and quick wit. However, it was odd this book was also historical fiction. I'm typically not a fan of HF but totally adored this book and found the time period making this 'angst' even that much better. I've downloaded the next 2 books in this series and anxious to get to them.
Shelby wrote: "Week 8Him by Sarina Bowen
Qualification: Location: New York
Read: (3/5)
Rating: ★★★★½
This is one of those sugary sweet, but oh so well ..."
I'm glad you liked it, Shelby! I have this one too and can't wait to read it!
Week 8
Qualification: The Others #4
Date Read: 9 March
Rating: 5 stars
This series just keeps getting better. The story kept me reading. I loved seeing Meg and Simon's relationship grow. The world was expanded here and we get some new characters. So can't wait for book 5
Week 8: Spot 49==========================
Fall from India Place by Samantha Young
Qualifications: #4 in the series
Date Read: 3/8
Rating: 4 Stars
REview:
I like catching up with everyone in this series. I felt I been away for sooooo long. In fact, I guess it has been 5 years. Time does fly, between books!!! Now it's five years later and Hannah is out of college and still thinking about Marco!
I like Marco, he seamed real to me. I loved his story.
I need to make finishing this series a priority.
Week 9Woo hoo! I rolled a 12
We are now on spot 61
You can read a book that....
♦is 1st in series
♦is 6th in series
♦is 61st in series
♦has an animal on the cover
Week 9 
Qualification: L'Ange #1
Date Read: 11 March
Rating: 4 stars
Getting the world was a little confusing, until get used to how thing work. The romance between them was so great. I liked the shifter world too. What was also good about this book was the secondary characters, I really liked Quade's mother, his sister and his niece. There was some mystery to Roman's head of security. Must read the next book soon.
✼Danielle✼ wrote: "Nice roll Jennifer!"Right? She has magic mouse clicking abilities. :)
Week 9: Spot #61============================
Book: Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain
How it Fits: 1st in Series
It was about time after all those crappy rolls :)
Week 9: Spot 61 (alternate ~ Animal on cover)Danielle ~ Old Loyalty, New Love by Mary Calmes (3/11) ~ 1st in series
Annika ~ Crossroads by Riley Hart (3/12) ~ 1st series
Week 9: spot 61
Crossroads by Riley Hart
How it fits: #1 in series
Date: 12/3
Rating: 3,5 stars
If you are looking for something sweet and low on angst, this is the book to read. It was a good plot with good characters, but I would've liked to see a bit more development and more show than tell, but it was a nice read all the same. I will definitely read Rod's story, it has got to be hilarious - just imagine all the customers and questions he'll get - those will probably fill a couple of books by themselves ;-)
The Challenge Factory
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Book: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
How it fits: Audiobooks shelf
Read: 23/2
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
This book was hilarious and the audiobook was brilliant! Even though dealing with a lot of heavy subjects (depression, various mental illnesses etc) it was written in such a way that it was both educational but also highly entertaining. Read it!