SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

Team #5
Captain: Louise

Members:
Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon
Louise
Logan

Just a Hop, Skip & Click Away
Happy Reading!

Shelf Announcements ~ Check for the latest shelf announcement & review the requirements for each shelf
Captain's Log ~ Share team shelf stats prior to requesting a stamp
Stamp Me! ~ Request a stamp for your bingo card
Discussions ~ Throughout the game, head here to chat with other players & shelf chant til your heart's content
Bingo Rules ~ Rules of the game
Free Space Rules ~ Where to look when pickin' your free space book
Bingo FAQ ~ Don't hesitate! If you have a question, let us know.

Hiya, Team Caps! Thanks for volunteering to guide your team through a round of BookShelf Bingo!

Your job, should you choose to accept it, will require a few things:
1 ~ Be our go-to person should we have any questions about your team
2 ~ Organize your teammate's weekly reads for each shelf/category so that the BSB Ninjas can quickly and easily verify and approve your stamp request(s)
2a ~ Create a master list in a post (preferably on the first page of your team's thread) and update it weekly or as often as necessary
2b ~ Post your team's stats on the Captain's Log prior to requesting a stamp
3 ~ Encourage and motivate your team (you may also ask to borrow Judithe's whip whenever necessary)
4 ~ Post regularly to ensure your team is communicating and on track each week
4a ~ Send them a PM and friendly poke if they haven't posted at least once a week, noted their book choice, and/or appear to have dropped out of webspace
5 ~ Send us a PM (Steph or Sandra) should you need us for any reason throughout the game

Link to print a copy of your bingo card: https://imgur.com/ZNXGqrk.jpg

...

Hi team! I'm Logan and I live in Denver/Mountain Time.

I'd really prefer not to captain but I can probably make it work if needed.

For names do we want a spooky theme?

hiya I am Nikki and I am in Sydney, Australia.

I would prefer not to captain this round if possible.

A spooky team name would be great though currently i can't think of any LOL

First call is in!

Category #1 ~ 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day
Requirement ~ Read a book featuring any type of food on the cover

Hi team I’m here I can captain if needed. I like a spooky name 😊

Free Space
Louise - Dark in Death
Logan - Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb 11/13 3* Review
Nikki

Shelf 1. 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day
Louise - The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter 10/31 3* Review
Logan - Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Nikki - Cookie Dough, Snow & Wands Aglow by Erin Johnson 11/4 3* Review

Shelf 2. National Book Day - Reader's Choice
Louise - Glass Houses by Rachel Caine 10/27 4* Review
Logan - Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs 11/8 3* Review
Nikki -

Shelf 3
Louise - A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Logan - Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
Nikki -

Shelf 4
Louise - Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
Logan - Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
Nikki -

Res

Selection Post
Shelf: Free Space

The Sinner by J.R. Ward
How It Fits: #2 on Best of PNR

Selection Post
Shelf: 1 ~ 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter
How It Fits: Pumpkin on cover

**updated - disregard**

Completion Post
Shelf: 1 ~ 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day


Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke
[~book:Cherry Cheesecake Murder|33437]
How it fits: Yummy cheesecake on cover! 🤤
Date read: 10/20/23
Rating: 2 stars
Review: I love the recipes in these but every time I read one in this series I'm reminded why I don't like them. Hannah and the town population are perfect cozy mystery characters. I love Lake Eden and The Cookie Jar. But the endless love triangle that becomes a quadrangle in this book is annoying. I get zero sexual chemistry out of any of the characters and the series would be much stronger with an implied attraction versus these weird relationships that do nothing for the story.

This particular entry was a boring slog. The opening scene is the murder and then we flash back to the days prior. We don't get back to the murder scene until 50% into the book(!!!) and only then does a half-assed investigation ensue that leads to an inevitable and obvious conclusion.

Logan, that book doesn't look like it applies to the National Food Day shelf as its contemporary.

For this round of Bingo, you need to add which of the 5 category shelves that apply, as well as the weekly shelf.


"SHELF & CATEGORY QUICK REFERENCE:
(New for R24) Players must choose a book which fits one of the weekly awareness category requirements using any of the following five shelves. The same five shelves (with links to GR, SOS &/or Amazon) will be used throughout the game. The weekly shelf announcement will include an awareness category only.

NOTE: You must include which of the five shelves/genres you used when posting your review.

⋙ R24 Shelves ⋘
(1) Urban fantasy
(2) Paranormal Romance
(3) Sci-Fi Romance
(4) Paranormal Mystery
(5) Supernatural Thriller"

If you can find one of the 5 categories on the book page list, please post it here and I'll verify it for you.

Otherwise you'll have to read something else for Food. If you do need to pick something else, the links are on the announcement thread.

Sandra wrote: "Logan, that book doesn't look like it applies to the National Food Day shelf as its contemporary.

For this round of Bingo, you need to add which of the 5 category shelves that apply, as well as th..."

Thank you Sandra!! I totally misread that. Facepalmmmmm lol

I'll pick a new one!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Logan.

Team #5 you still need to pick a name.

Category #2 ~ 25 Oct: National Book Month
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)

Sandra wrote: "Team #5 you still need to pick a name."

The Team with No Name

You'd be the 3rd team with that name if you go with that one.

Selection Post
Shelf: National Book Month

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
How It Fits: MPG PNR/ Urban Fantasy

Last team without a name.

Stay Alive Team 5
Squad Ghouls
Fang-tastic Readers
Creeping It Real

Some possible names?

Selection Post - Shelf 1
National Food Day


Legends & Lattes
[~book:Legends & Lattes|61242426]
How it fits: 39 people tagged as urban-fantasy, baked goods on cover

Logan wrote: "Stay Alive Team 5
Squad Ghouls
Fang-tastic Readers
Creeping It Real

Some possible names?"

I like creeping it real

Selection Post
Shelf: 1 ~ 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day

Cookie Dough, Snow & Wands Aglow by Erin Johnson
How It Fits: cookies on cover

Nikki, this round you also need to add which of the 5 Category shelves you've used.

SHELF & CATEGORY QUICK REFERENCE:
(New for R24) Players must choose a book which fits one of the weekly awareness category requirements using any of the following five shelves. The same five shelves (with links to GR, SOS &/or Amazon) will be used throughout the game. The weekly shelf announcement will include an awareness category only.

NOTE: You must include which of the five shelves/genres you used when posting your review.

⋙ R24 Shelves ⋘
(1) Urban fantasy
(2) Paranormal Romance
(3) Sci-Fi Romance
(4) Paranormal Mystery
(5) Supernatural Thriller

Your pick is on the Paranormal Romance shelf, so its ok. Just wanted to let you know for the next shelf.

Selection Post
Free Space


Concealed in Death
[~book:Concealed in Death|18079757]

How it fits: #37 on the SOS Best of Sci-Fi Fantasy list

Selection Post
Shelf 2 - National Book Day - Reader's Choice


Storm Cursed
[~book:Storm Cursed|25026912]

How it fits: Urban Fantasy MPG

Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "Logan wrote: "Stay Alive Team 5
Squad Ghouls
Fang-tastic Readers
Creeping It Real

Some possible names?"

I like creeping it real"

Works for me!

Creeping It Real added :)

Sandra wrote: "Nikki, this round you also need to add which of the 5 Category shelves you've used.

SHELF & CATEGORY QUICK REFERENCE:
(New for R24) Players must choose a book which fits one of the weekly awarenes..."



thanks Sandra I did make sure it was on a shelf just forgot to put it in the selection post. I will remember for my next one

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

Cookie Dough, Snow & Wands Aglow by Erin Johnson
Series: Spells & Caramels #4
Shelf:Paranormal-romance (shelved by 1 person)
Category #1: Nat'l Food Day - food item on the cover
Read: 4 November 2023
Rating: ✮✮✮☆☆

My Review:
It's been a while since I last picked up this series and I also realised halfway through the first chapter that i had not yet read book 3 but that being said it was still relatively easy to get back into the swing of the series. The mystery itself was relatively basic but i liked that we got more information on the overall arc and I suspect had i previously read book 3, I would have appreciated ow much it moved the story even more. While i did enjoy the read the storry itself was a little clunky and the series in general in some ways. At times it feels very contrived and you can almost ee the hand of the author moving the pieces around the board. I will keep reading though as I am interested in seeing where the author goes with the series after this book.

Selection Post
Shelf 2 - National Book Day - Reader's Choice


We Sold Our Souls
[*book:We Sold Our Souls|37715859]

How it fits: Urban Fantasy (shelved by 15 people)

Completion Post
Shelf: 1 ~ 18 Oct: Nat'l Food Day

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter
Shelf: Paranormal Romance MPG
How It Fits: Pumpkin on cover
Date Read: 10/31
Rating: 3*

Review
This was a fun read with an introduction to some new characters in the nocturnal falls series. Nick and Willa are unexpectedly bound together and as they try to unbind themselves from each other they grow closer. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

Louise you also need to add the category shelf (1 of 5, uf, pnr etc) to your review.

Completion Post
Shelf 2 - National Book Day - Reader's Choice


Storm Cursed
[~book:Storm Cursed|25026912]
How it fits: Urban Fantasy MPG

Read: 11/8/23
Rating: 3 stars
Review: There is a lot going on for Mercy and the pack in this one, so it felt a bit all over the place. The growing tension with the Grey Lords is moving at a snail's pace and all of the political maneuvering isnt all that interesting to me.

The book shined during its action sequences. I thought the bit with the aide at Mike's pub to be really gross and fun. And who doesn't like the thought of Mercy having to take on zombie baby goats and sadistic witches? I enjoyed it but also felt like I had seen some variations of these scenes in other books which had me scratching my head as to whether I read this already. Good entry in the series, just didnt quite connect with me.

Selection Post
Shelf 3 - Nat’l Boyfriend Day
Read a book featuring your book boyfriend


Wildfire
[~book:Wildfire|27422533]

How it fits: Sexy male romantic interest, shelved as book boyfriend by 22 people
Shelf: Urban Fantasy MPG

Category #4 ~ 8 Nov: Nat'l Savings Day
Requirement ~ Read a book you got as a freebie, a gift, a library or Kindle unlimited loaner

Selection Post
Shelf 4 - Nat'l Savings Day
Read a book you got as a freebie, a gift, a library or Kindle unlimited loaner


Biting Cold
[~book:Biting Cold|11746102]

How it fits: Borrowed ebook from library
Shelf: Urban Fantasy MPG

Completion Post
Free Space


Concealed in Death
[~book:Concealed in Death|18079757]

How it fits: #37 on the SOS Best of Sci-Fi Fantasy list
Date finished: 11/13/23
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I feel like we are in the middle slump of the series here. The case wasn't too exciting, and the killer wasn't really a surprise. Eve worked it very methodically with little effort, so it came off a little boring.

I did really enjoy the side characters, particularly Lonna and Quilla. I hope it's not the last we see of them. I also loved the introduction to DeWinter the forensic anthropologist. And am I sensing a future love match with Morris? Time will tell.

Completion Post
Shelf: National Book Month

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
How It Fits: MPG PNR/ Urban Fantasy
Date Read: 10/27
Rating: 4*

Review
This was a good fun start to the series. I’ve read a lot of vampire novels and this had a different perspective. Clare is in college in Morganville and has become the target of the college bully who wants her dead. She also becomes the target of the Morganville vampires who run the town. When she moves into Glass house she quickly bonds with her new roommates to fight against the danger that lurks beyond the door.

Changing my free spa e selection

Selection Post
Shelf: Free Space

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb
How it Fits: #37 Best of SOS - Fantasy

Selection Post
Shelf: Nat’l Boyfriend Day

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fireby Jennifer L. Armentrout
Shelf: MPG Paranormal
How It Fits: Tagged book boyfriends 78 times

Selection Post
Shelf: Nat'l Savings Day

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
Shelf: Urban Fantasy
How It Fits: Borrowed audio from library

Selection Post
Shelf 4 - Nat'l Savings Day
Read a book you got as a freebie, a gift, a library or Kindle unlimited loaner

As the Cookie Crumbles by Amanda M. Lee
Shelf: MPG Paranormal
How it fits: Kindle Unlimited

Category #5 ~ 15 Nov: Nat'l Cat Day
Requirement ~ Read a book featuring a werecat shifter

Completion Post - Shelf 1
National Food Day


Legends & Lattes
[~book:Legends & Lattes|61242426]
How it fits: 39 people tagged as urban-fantasy, baked goods on cover

Finished: 11/18/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I never would have picked this up on my own, but too many friends loved it so I gave it a try. I ended up really enjoying the characters and setting. It was fun to see Viv's process of getting her coffee shop open in this fantasy world where coffee is fairly unknown. The crew she assembles and the friendships she forms are endearing with a good sprinkling of humor. My only real complaint is that there wasn't much plot, yet it kept me reading so he did something right! :)