The Challenge Factory discussion

WEEK 4: Roll 1: 6
New Spot: 25
Read a book that is 2nd, 5th or 25th in a series Alternate Read: China

Book Choices

Amanda A If Forever Comes, #2 Take this Regret review post 108
Kme_17 The Dragon of Handale, #5 An Abbess of Meaux Mystery review post 107
Roger The Enlightenment of Daniel, #2 Sex in Seattle review post 106
Susan A Down and Dirty, #5 Cole McGinnis review post 105

#5 Cole McGinnis

I plan to read #2 in a series

I will read The Enlightenment of Daniel 160 pages #2 Sex in Seattle

Down and Dirty
#5 Cole McGinnis
finished 4/10
4 stars

Book #5 in the Cole McGinnis series features Cole's BF and younger brother. While I enjoyed the book, there wasn't much to it. I wasn't too keen on the central plot -- two adults feeling like they needed to hide their relationship from a rather important person in their lives. Despite this, I seem to just enjoy author Rhy FOrd's writing, so still 4 stars.

The Enlightenment of Daniel
#2 Sex in Seattle
Started 4/10 Finished 4/10

5 stars

Book 2 in this wonderful series with a connection too the expanded horizion sex clinic. this one is only tangently connected in that one of the characters goes there when he realizes at the age of 34 that he is gay he never paid much attention thinking that he had to be the perfect (straight) boy of his two Type A parents. Daniel and Nick are best friends and business partners. Nick is and has always been Bisexual. Daniel assumed that he was straight because he had to be perfect. Nick is unhappily married and Daniel is divoreced. Daniel start to be sexually attracted to Nick. so much happens in this story. including the most complete turnaround of a secondary character when she get a message from hear dead father that her mother kept hidden from her. She goes from wanting to contest the divorce to granting it with contest. and in the epilogue we learn that she has turned 180 degrees from her conserative straight laced ways to being more adventorous and accepting. seems like getting out from under her mother's thumb was all it took.

The Dragon of Handaleby Cassandra Clark

done : 4/11/2015
rating 4 stars


This book is a mystery set in medieval times. That is enough for me to be interested in this book. I really like this book. It is the fifth in series but definitely easy for me to jump in as some that has read any of the others series. I really like Hildegard. She a strong willed women. She also very independent for this time period. A real fun read. I will definitely read more in this series.

Spot 25

Finished: 4/11/15
Rating: ★★★★

This book is a satisfying conclusion to the series. Christian and Elizabeth's loss was heartbreaking but I loved the ending. And Lizzie was just adorable. I will look for more of this author's books in the future.

WEEK 4: Roll 2: 6
New Spot: 31
Read a book that is 1st, or 3rd in a series or standalone Alternate Read: Author Z

Book Choices

Amanda A Desperate Duchesses #1 Desperate Duchesses review post 118
Kme_17 The Queendom of Evlantis, #1 Unfallen review post 117
Roger My Cowboy Homecoming , Author Z.A. Maxfield review post 116
Susan A Power Exchange #1 Power Exchange series review post 114

we rolled a six so we are on 31

Power Exchange book 1 in Power Exchange series

I plan to read #3 in a series

I am going to read unfallen #1

Week 4 Roll 2, Spot 31

Power Exchange
finished 4/12/15
2.5 stars

This book was on my TBR because book 3 in this series was a 2014 MM Group Member's Choice Award winner and it is my intention to read all of the MC winners. I was actively dreading this book because I do not like to read BDSM books. Despite having read several of them, I just do not understand the whys of it and when I read a BDSM book, it is so alien to me that it all seems unreal. (This doesn't mean I have any disrespect for this life-style.)

So…okay, yes I disliked the book. However, it wasn't the BDSM that topped my list of why I disliked it. I have to say, I am honestly surprised by the great reviews this book gets.
1. I was happy with the police and mystery solving aspects in the first 1/3 of the book only and then the MC, DeGrassi, became TSTL. (view spoiler)[ Why would he ignore an unsolved fairly recent BDSM murder? There cannot be so many of them that it would be deemed as not even worth a minute's time. In addition, why didn't he do even a cursory background check on his witnesses? And finally, the killer had an appt scheduled with every single victim and that wasn't worth investigating? (hide spoiler)]
2. The relationship:(view spoiler)[
a) Ummm…what happened with the divorce? Fastest divorce ever? And, sure he had a photo of his wife's infidelity, but I think starting a new relationship minutes after you find out does not provide you with enough protection -- they weren't legally separated, that means he's unfaithful too. I suppose this isn't very important in the story, but it bugged me.
B) Really, first time ever with a man and the whole shebang in an all out wild kind of way? And in just a few days he's comfortable kneeling and being treated like a pet in public? Nope, not buying that. (hide spoiler)]

3) The epilogue was just terrible. Hey reader, here is everything I should have resolved in the story but didn't so I'll just tell you about it in a few sentences. (view spoiler)[I was waiting the entire book for Gavin to come out to his family and instead I have the author telling me about in a post script. (hide spoiler)]
4) As for the BDSM scenes themselves - -I have no idea. I don't find them hot, still just incomprehensible to me. They were no better or worse than any other I've read.

Last, I found the constant usage of "vanilla" somewhat offensive, as in BDSM is superior to the vanilla world; it was a put down. It was annoying and over-used. Vanilla marriage, vanilla relationship, vanilla world, vanilla sex, vanilla cream cheese - -wait does this count? I never heard of vanilla cream cheese before - - does the author mean vanilla flavored cream cheese or regular cream cheese? Since I noticed the vanilla cream cheese line, this mean I was reading the word vanilla too often.

Will read the Alternate Author Z My Cowboy Homecoming by Z.A. Maxfield 317 pages/GR

Actually I think it is also third in a series-- yes The Cowboys #3

Week 4.5 Spot 31:

My Cowboy Homecoming
Finished 4/14/15
Rating 4 stars

Review:

I love cowboys, I love a good redemption story. I wanted to say this story was Amazing but it hit a couple of off note so while I loved it; it wasn't a blow my mind read Like I was hoping for.

Calvin Tripplehorn "Tripp" is returning home from serving in Afghanistan; after his younger brother died in a car crash. With his father in prison for arson, he has to take care of his mother. He get picked up from the bus station by a cowboy of a friend of his mother and they also have to pick up an injured cowboy to take back to the ranch. Lucho Reyes' family restaurant was burned down by Tripp's father there is an attraction that get put aside at the time when Lucho realizes who Tripp is. Tripp takes a job at J-Bar Ranch and soon is calming animals and proving to Lucho that Tripp is not Tripp's father.
they soon are helpless against their passion for each other.
All I have to say is that Tripp's father is one hurtful egotistical all about me piece of work. He terrorizes his wife from prison and is blackmailing his lawyer. He forces his wife to smuggle in cellphones and drugs.

Week 4 Roll 2, Spot 31



The Queendom of Evlantis by Juliet Y. Mark

4/14/2015

5 stars

This was a wonderful read. It is about an society that is run by unusual women. I just love all the twist , turns and surprises in this book. It took a little bit for me to get into. However very soon I could not put this one down. Such a great fantasy read! I will definitely read more in this series.

I changed my book to #1 in a series that I read earlier this week because I will not have Lover Awakened finished today.

Spot 31

Finished: 4/13/15
Rating: ★★★

I liked this book enough that I will continue with the series. I have heard good things about this author so I am hoping that the series gets better. This one had a slow start but I eventually began to like the heroine and pull for her to realize she belonged with Damon. It just seemed like there were too many storylines within the plot, almost like a soap opera. I was happy with the ending though.

WEEK 5: Roll 1: 3
New Spot: 34
Read a book that is 3rd or 4th in a series. Alternate Read: Red

Book Choices

Amanda A Gone Missing #4 Kate Burkholder review post 127
Kme_17 Hello, Darkness, red cover review post 126
Roger A Helping of Love #3 Of Love review post 128
Susan A Strength of the Mate #3 The Tameness of the Wolf review post 123

we rolled a three so on spot 34

going with the alt as a red cover

Strength of the Mate #3 The Tameness of the Wolf

Week 5 Roll 1
Strength of the Mate
3 stars

This is the 3rd in a series about military wolf shifters. I enjoyed the first two books. I enjoyed the the first and last 1/3 of the book. The middle 1/3 just bored me.

I plan to read #4 in a series

Week 5 roll 1: I am going to read A Helping of Love 3rd in the Of Love Series

Week 5 Roll 1



Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown

3 stars 4/17/2015

This one was not my favorite Sandra brown book. It still was a very good book. I just hard time with heroine. She was hard for me to root for. However, the writing was well done. Also the mystery was great.

Spot 34

Finished: 4/17/15
Rating: ★★★★
I really enjoy the glimpse of Amish life that this series provides. It is very interesting. Amish teens who are on Rumspringa are kidnapped and Kate and Tomasetti try to solve the case. The mystery was well-crafted and I had no idea who the culprit was until it was revealed. Kate and Tomasetti's relationship progresses a little in this book and I like where it is headed.

Week 5, Roll 1: A Helping of Love
Read 4/18/15
Rating 5 stars

Review I love this series by Andrew Grey In this one peter is a restaurant supplier who is trying to get the Café Belgie account and the company has just been contacted by them because they are opening a new restaurant that is greek in theme. Russ will be the New head Chef at the new restaurant. they are attracted to each other, but each have some issues Peter was in an accident and is in a wheelchair. Russ is in and then just left an abusive relationship. Peter also learns that he has a half sister that his mother was force to give up to adoption before she was married and when he has trouble finding her through normal means he is contacted to be a bone marrow donor for a woman is Florida and you guessed it -- it turns out to be his half sister and also the adopted sister of Russ's abusive lover. turns out that the sister doesn't like the bastard Barry anymore than most people who have met him.

WEEK 5, Roll 2: 6
New Spot: 40
Read a book that is 4th in a series or a stand alone. Alternate Read: text item envelope

Book Choices

Amanda A The Precious One, stand alone review posy 137
Kme_17 Magno Girl, stand alone review post 138
Roger Plan B, stand alone review post 136
Susan A The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise, text item envelope, review post 135

okay guys we rolled a six so we are on 40

Week 5 Roll 2
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise

text item envelope. location calibre 328.1/426

"She grabbed a stack of printouts, dumped them into an oversized manila envelope, and tossed it at Doug."

week 5 roll 2 spot 40:

Plan B 182 pages/GR standalone

week 5 roll 2 spot 40:

308 pages standalone

I plan to read a standalone

Week 5 Roll 2
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise
5 stars, 4/19/15

text item envelope. location calibre 328.1/426

"She grabbed a stack of printouts, dumped them into an oversized manila envelope, and tossed it at Doug."


All you need is love...no not true at all. Relationships require commitment, communication and compromise as we see here in book 3 of Least Likely Partnership series. Looks like there is a book 4 on the horizon. I'll be looking for it.

Week 5 Roll 2:
Plan B

5 stars 4/21/15
stand alone

In this stand alone by S.J.D. Peterson Danny is a proud out Gay Student of musical theater. and Lance is a straight(?)/closeted(?) jock. they meet in college and then meet again three years later when Danny best friend marries Lance's sister. they were in a secret relationship in college Lance only dream was to be A NFL player and he had no plan B. he also goes to getting Danny back after the separation when they meet again with No plan B. failure is not an option for Lance.

Spot 40

Finished: 4/20/15
Rating: ★★★★
This book was a wonderful family saga. The characters are engaging and easy to relate to. Taisy and Willow both grew over the course of the book and I love the relationship they cultivated as sisters in the end. At first, Willow came across as a spoiled teenage brat but she ultimately redeemed herself. And I enjoyed how they each found love in the end.

spot 40



Magno Girl by Joe Canzano

finished 4/22/15

rating 3 stars

This one was very different then I thought it would be. However, it was good read. I did have a little trouble getting into it at first but after while it was a very fast pace easy read. I love that the superhero was a girl and that she had flaws like all of us. A fun read.

we rolled a 4 so we are on 44

WEEK 6, Roll 1: 4
New Spot: 44
Read a book that is 4th in a series. Alternate Read: ereader

Book Choices

Amanda A Not Quite Forever #4 Not Quite review post 149
Kme_17 Water for Elephants ereader list pg 5 review post 147
Roger Legal Tender #4 Art Series review post 145
Susan A Manipulation #4 Diversion Series review post 144

Manipulation #4 Diversion

I will be reading Legal Tender 200 pages/GR #4 Art Series

is the alternate ereader on page five

Week 6 Roll 1
Manipulation #4
5 stars 4/24/15

Great installment in the story of Lucky, former trafficker turned agent, and his partner Bo. According to the author's website, there are 8 books planned so far for this series. I am eagerly awaiting book 5.

Spot 44:

Read:
Finished 4/25
rating 5 stars.


Timothy is cleaning up his new house (his grandfather left it to him) when he finds a bag of Gold US coins. including a very rare never was supposed to be issued 1933 Golden Eagle. Most of the ones that were out had been confiscated by the treasury. the only two known to be out one was in the Smithsonian and one owned by wealthy foreigner. He goes to his best friend Dieter's partner, Gerald who is a Lawyer to try to keep his legally in his possession. there he meets Joyner a relatively new lawyer who is assigned to take lead on this case with Gerald advising and ready to step in if needed. they meet about again by accident at the Pink Triangle a gay geek bar. Their Romance starts out slow because Timothy was raped when in his mid teens so his mother, a drug addict, could get her fix. both the legal case that make the background story and the romance are very interesting and well handled by Andrew Grey.

Kme_17 wrote: "is the alternate ereader on page five"

I read that and hope you enjoy it more than I did.

spot 44



Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

4/25/2015
2 stars

I had some trouble getting into this one. I had a high hope for this one. I was let down a little. It just didn't click with me. I did like how it kept going back and for changing the Pov with the young Jacob and old Jacob. I just really did not root for the romance in this book. Not my favorite

Kme_17 wrote: "spot 44



Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

4/25/2015
2 stars

I had some trouble getting into this one. I had a high hope for thi..."

yeah I didn't like it either.

Spot 44

Finished: 4/25/15
Rating: ★★★★
I enjoyed this installment in the Not Quite series. Dakota and Walt were adorable together. Catherine Bybee's romances are sweet and funny and her characters are always easy to relate to. I will read her other series and wait for a fifth book in this series.

we rolled a six so we are on fifty : )