Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly
1/10/15 338 pages

Henry is a genius in the field of micro technology. He owns his own company that is on the verge of a major breakthrough with Proteus. He is a confirmed workaholic which causes his relationship with Nicole to go bad.
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So now Henry has moved to a small apartment and is starting over including a new phone number. As soon as his new number goes live he starts getting a lot of phone calls from men wanting to talk to Lily. He soon realizes that he has been given the phone number of a call girl and decides to investigate and find out who this Lily is. He soon finds himself drawn into a very different and dangerous world than he is used to.

Not all is what it seems in this mystery. I loved it and gave it ★★★★★

Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter (FBI Thriller #7)
1/10/15 347 pages ★★★★★

In this book in the series, Dillon and Sherlock have minor roles. Instead one of their coworkers, Dane Carver is called from DC to LA when his identical twin brother - Father Michael is murdered while hearing the confession of his killer.

There is a witness, homeless Nicola. It turns out that Nicola is actually a college professor on the run. On investigation there have been a series of seemingly unrelated murders except the one connection is that they are similar to those murders that are profiled on a TV show along the line of Dateline Mysteries.

Excellent, fast moving story. I give it ★★★★★

**(FBI Thriller #7) for the climbing challenge

576 pages,★★★★★

This was supposed to be a buddy read but none of the other readers have their copies of the book yet. I'll monitor the thread, though.

This book was an emotional roller coaster ride, an excellent romance, thriller, and period piece. I'm sure I'll read it again. (I say that to all my favorite books, but rarely do it. Like saying 'I'll call you' and getting busy with other things).

Finished by Diana Wynne Jones 10/01/2015 - ★★★★★ - 201 pages (ebook version? not sure how accurate GR is)
Review: Last installment in the Howl's Moving Castle series. Not as good as the first two but still enjoyable.

288 pages, ★★★★, Buddy Read

A great heroic fantasy that is fast paced and not overly epic. No need to take 500 pages to do what can be done just as well in 300. I had a good feel for the world, the politics, and the people, but it wasn't a burden to the story. Great job, Joe. Those other guys must get paid by the page.

|| 373 pages || Buddy Read || ★★★★

I stayed up til wee hours to finish it. Excellent fantasy read!

416 pages, ★★★★

Finally, an Agent Pendergast novel I can enjoy! I was so tired of Corrie Swanson. I'm pleased to say she makes no appearance in this installment. I almost want to give it 5 stars for that alone.

◆ A Good American by Alex George 1/11/15 392 pages ★★★

by Wilkie Collins, 672 pages, BuddyRead

finished 1/11/15 , 3,5 stars

Over Her Dead Body by Kate White 1/11/15 384 pages ★★

(Bailey Weggins Mystery #4) for climbing challenge

352 pages, ★★★★, Buddy Read
Ruth Galloway Featured Series Read

370 pages, ★★★★, Buddy Read
Atonement Buddy Read

466 pages,★★, Buddy Read
AShfall Buddy Read

487 pages, ★★★★★, Buddy Read

Couldn't put it down. Except to make dinner and walk the dogs. Those weren't negotiable.

by Jennifer L.Armentrout, 364 pages,
finished 1/13/15, 4 stars
also book #4 in Lux series

Nancy and Lauren - I'm missing BR points for The Woman in White and I think I can claim them now. There was some interaction in this BR thread finally!

240 pages, ★★★★★

I always said when I give McEwan 5 stars, I'll know I'm old. I'd like to change that 'old' to 'not 25 anymore'.

This book was the perfect palate cleanser after two please-don't-make-me-finish books. I may have the strength to finish one of them if we're in dire need of points, but it would be a terrible sacrifice.

|| Buddy Read || ★★★ || 482 pages

Drawn in Blood by Andrea Kane 418 pages 1/14/15 ★★



Waking the Dead by Heather Graham 368 pages 1/14/15 ★★★

by Tarryn Fisher,273 pages
Finished 1/15/15, 4 stars

Finished by Rachel Hartman 15/01/2015 ★★★ 467 pages
Buddy Read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell1024 pages, ★★★, Buddy Read

It was an entertaining book, but incredibly long. I started this book several times before finishing it, which means it didn't grab me from the start. It seems like a book about magic for people who don't read fantasy novels, and they probably call it historical fiction.

◆ Die Again: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen 352 pages 1/15/15 ★★★★★

Sheila wrote: "◆ Die Again: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen 352 pages 1/15/15 ★★★★★"

I have an ARC of that novel and I still haven't read and reviewed...BAD ME!

452 pages, ★★★★
Loved this book and I'm straight off to read the 2nd book. The premise is familiar - scant portion of the population is born with unusual gifts, graded by strength into tiers. The 'brilliants' are tracked with a microchip in the neck, and the best of them (or most dangerous) are taken away and put into academies(prison camps complete with name change and brain washing). That won't lead to terrorism and war will it? It did in The Darkest Minds, but the MCs are adult so it's a totally different story(sex and more cursing). Seriously, it has a different pace and tone, and I did enjoy it more than the YA version.

182 pages, ★★★
Read this just to add to the tally, but it was enjoyable enough. I would like it with more action and less action. But it wouldn't be a paranormal romance, then would it?

Finished - 4 Stars. Buddy read here

Southern Discomfort by Margaret Maron 1/16/15 202 pages ★★★

392 pages,★★★★
2nd book in the Brilliance Saga.

337 pages, ★★★★
Set in the New Orleans in the 1960s, and written by a New Orleans author so it has a lot of local flavor. I never thought I would read about a chicken drop in a novel.

259 pages,★★★★

Buddy reads updated to here (post 397)

Finished 1/17/15 349 pages ★★★★

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline

This was a great thriller that I think anyone could relate to. Decisions that are made under extreme stress take over your life.

When Jake lets his teenage son drive outside the rules of his learners permit so he could be the "cool" dad there are unforeseen consequences when he hits a jogger on a deserted highway. When he reveals he had smoked mj before he got behind the wheel the dad makes the decision to say he was driving instead of his son before calling 911.

But when they realize the girl is dead and think the accident wasn't witnessed they don't make the call. The coverups and stress cause this family to disintegrate. Very intense and made me wonder if I were faced with this scenario, what would I do?

Finished - Back room BR.

159 miserable pages. Most pointless book I've ever read. 1 star, and I wish I could give it less. Thank Bob I didn't buy it.

464 pages,★★★★★ (This was a buddy read, but it's a little quiet. I've only posted once.)

I requested this book from the library before it was released, and somehow I was the first one to read it!!! Very lucky, considering I'm 38/50 on the waitlist for The First Wife. Now I just have to wait a year (or more) for the next one! GAAAAH!

, 862 pages, ★★★★, 1/18/14, Buddy Read

Absolutely love everything Rutherfurd writes. Great book!

Finished by C.S. Harris 18/01/2015 - ★★★★ - 352 pages
9th book in my favourite historical mystery. I'm still really enjoying it so far.

I've updated the spreadsheet and we're sitting pretty at 15400 points.

Thank you also, Audrey Jane for the recommendation of the C.S. Harris series. That's another one added to my TBR/Fictfact...

I hope you enjoy NancyHelen!

431 pages, ★★★

Very creative PA world. This is the first book of a trilogy. I like trilogies. I don't have to wonder how many years I'll devote to a series, always waiting for resolution when there is none forthcoming as long as the books still sell.

374 pages,★★★★

Nice little sci-fi romance. I'm interested enough to continue with the series.

Can you tell I'm trying to finish off all my library books?
Even the awful ones.
608 pages,★
Please don't read this book. It is so poorly written that I assumed this was something from early in Mira Grant's writing career. It's not. It was published a couple of months ago. So sad. Almost as sad as the 3.67 star rating this book has managed, presumably from all the people that worship Mira Grant and would pay $10 for her last week's To Do List.

Critical by Robin Cook 452 pages 1/19/15 ★★★

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke 384 pages 1/20/15 ★★★★

Finished by Ilona Andrews - 20/01/2015 - ★★★★ - 400 pages

A Paranormal/Urban-fantasy series by one of my favourite authors (I think this one leans more towards the UF genre). The book is situated somewhere between their paranormal romance, The Edge series, and their fantastic UF series, Kate Daniels. It's not that heavily focused on the romance so that's a plus but it is present. There's a lot of action, banter between the characters, and intrigue going on. A very enjoyable read. I'm definitely planning to continue this series!

P.S.: The cover is misleading, it's not as cheesy as it seems ;)

Thanks for the review, Audrey Jane. I love Kate Daniels and am eager to start their new series.

, 415 pages,BuddyRead
finished 1/21/15, 3 stars

Not as good as the first Rosie book. There were some funny events courtesy of Don, but Rosie wasn't very pleasant person this time around.

Lauren wrote: "Thanks for the review, Audrey Jane. I love Kate Daniels and am eager to start their new series."

I like that Ilona Andrews create strong heroines I can root for, I really liked the MC and her family in this book. I hope you enjoy it Lauren :)

, 304 pages
finished 1/22/15, 1 star

I hate this story with a passion. I hate the way it was told, I hate the angle it took to a very serious topic - teens suicide.
"When I'm gone, you'll all be sorry" attitude and the selfish, stupid, irreversible act done for lack of perspective.

◆ Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay 417 pages 1/22/15 ★★★★

Finished by Deborah Blake 22/01/2015 ★★1/2 - 352 pages

Not bad but nothing groundbreaking in the PNR/UF genre. I might continue the series but I'm not in a hurry.

343 pages, ★★★★

Short little YA book. Interesting enough for me to read the sequel.

page56
'Natural daddy stuff,' she said, opening her eyes, 'to worry about me at school, but I could take on the football team without too much trouble.'

|| ★★★★ || 562 pages

Guilty pleasure read!

|| ★★★★ || 316 pages

Entertaining (it sounds so wrong to say that when the crime was heinous... VERY)

I read this I got from Amazon... I have no idea how many pages it is. If it's so much a bother, it's okay we don't have to include it.

1/23/15 ★★★★ 400 pages

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

When Colin Thatcher agrees to kidnap a 25 year old teacher and turn her over to some thugs to ask for a ransom from her judge father, he realizes it is not going to end well for Mia. So instead of turning her over as planned he takes her to a remote cabin in the north woods.

Over 3 months time Colin and Mia become more than they ever thought possible. No longer adversaries, they form a strong bond. Really surprising ending that I sure didn't see coming.

For scavenger hunt - Colin

You don't have a clue about Colin Thatcher?

location 282