SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Did it suck you in and leave you breathless for more? Or leave a hole in the wall after you chucked the sucker across the room? Join us as we check out and share our favorite, and not-so-favorite, new series!


*Read 12 books that are the first novel in a new-to-you series.
*Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
*Make a MAIN post. This is for your full year list. Please UPDATE this list, not re-post it! Thanks! (links to each Participants' MAIN Lists below).
*Post monthly updates (new posts, please!) on your great/not-so-great "first" read.
*Prequels, "half numbers" (i.e. 1.5 by GR numbering) and anthologies are not allowed; they're just appetizers, not the "first course"!


For MONTHLY updates, include the following:

**Blatantly stole borrowed Steph's & Lethal Lovely's new series write-ups~THANKS!....If you haven't peeked, pop on over to the members' threads to check them out! **Warning, do not read when consuming liquids~LL's especially~unless your PC is insured...**

COVER (#)

Title/Author:
Series:
Read: (Date)
Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★✩ / ★★★✩✩ / ★★✩✩✩
First time author?
To-Be-Continued?
Review: (Just a sentence or so of what you thought about it!)

Also Read: (feel free to add other firsts you enjoyed each month with ratings, etc. optional)

Participants List



Ames
Cassandra
Charlotte
Cristina
Debbie
Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron
Joanne♥~Bookworm Extraordinaire
Judithe
Kerstin
LL
Lis
Midu
Purple
Suzanne
Valerie
Zakiya

Oh....I wanna wanna join! For our July book, can we include ones read before this went up as long as it's still in the calendar month?

me! me! me!

hey Judith!

Of course Judithe!

I'm definitely in!

SOS Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read Challenge
Duration: 1 July 2013 - 30 June 2014

Finished: 12/12

July: Demon Hunting in Dixie **** 07/02/13
August: Rise of the Fallen *** 08/11/13
September: Pleating for Mercy **** 09/06/13
October: Hex Hall **** 10/02/13
November: My Life as a White Trash Zombie **** 11/10/13
December: My Bluegrass Baby *** 12/20/13
January: Nearly Departed in Deadwood **** 01/27/14
February: In Deep Voodoo **** 02/14/14
March: Croak ***.5 03/06/14
April: Dorothy Must Die **** 04/25/14
May: I Scream, You Scream *** 05/02/14
June: Bad Girls Don't Die **** 06/04/14



Also Read First in Series books:

Wow! 2014 already??? :D I'm in!

Title/Author: Demon Hunting in Dixie by Lexi George
Series: Demon Hunting
Read: 07/02/13
Rating: ****
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes

Review: I totally enjoyed this book. It definitely fell into the insta-love category though so if that bugs you, avoid this one.

It was a humorous PnR full of southern stereotypes (just because it’s a stereotype, doesn’t mean it isn’t accurate). Everything involving Dwight Farris’ funeral, and his loved ones, made me chuckle inappropriately.

Hannah ALA is quite the supernatural hot spot and two immortal warriors have come to town to investigate, and defeat the EVIL. (Muah ha ha) I loved Adara, her family and friends (and most of the town, for that matter). Even her animal companions were likable.

I’m definitely gonna read the next one because I really liked Evie too and Blondy needs to get his ass in gear, suck it up and get back in the game.

I'm in!
Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014 - 12/12 Read - DONE!
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014
✔July: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James - 7/3 - Monthly Update
✔August: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland - 8/7 - Monthly Update
✔September: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr - 9/21 - Monthly Update
✔October: Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn - 10/4 - Monthly Update
✔November: The Pretender by Celeste Bradley - 11/4 - Monthly Update
✔December: Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon - 12/11 - Monthly Update
✔January: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke - 1/8 - Monthly Update
✔February: Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts - 2/2 - Monthly Update
✔March: March: To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt - 3/21 - Monthly Update
✔April: Mark of the Witch by Maggie Shayne - 4/28 - Monthly Update
✔May: Something About You by Julie James - 5/6 - Monthly Update
✔June: Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts - 6/21 - Monthly Update

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Jul:
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec:
Jan:
Feb:
Mar:
Apr:
May:
Jun:

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: 1 July 2013 - 30 June 2014

July:Cut & Run by Abigail Roux, 16/07/2013 ★★★★
August:Demon Lost by Connie Suttle, 10/08/2013 ★★★★
September:Rush by Eve Silver, 26/09/2013 ★★★
October:Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:

Other books: 4★

I was going to give this one a miss this year, but I just can't help myself. I still have stacks of firsts to get through.

I'm in.

OMG, I'm so far behind on my 2013 challenges. :/ Guess I need to make time to see if I've completed any or mussed them all up good. ;)

I think I'm gonna join this challenge. It's been awhile since I participated in the one birthed by Steph & I, so why not?

SOS "Love or Hate @ First Sight Read 2014" Challenge
Duration: July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014
Goal: 1/12 Completed

July 2013


Title/Author: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Series: Lies Beneath
Read: July 7th
Rating: ★★★★☆
First time author? Yep.
To-Be-Continued? Mmmmhmm.
Review:

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: mermaids/sirens freak me the hell out. They fascinate me as well though which makes reading a book involving one akin to that time I watched "The Ring" from the cracks between my fingers. So LB, which features a homicidal, psychotic merman? Just WOW. It was boring at times but it still captured-and kept-my attention. I noticed that A LOT of people didn't like Calder. But I did, mostly because I DO NOT see him as a love interest. He's a psycho ho, after all. But I'm okay with that. I don't want to see him have little sparkly-finned babies or coo to his lady love about how much he adores her. I want to see him salivating over his desire to kill young college girls and keeping the peace between the other mermaid killers. He's an anti-hero. One I'm content to read about and not stupid enough to invite into my bed. All in all, a pretty good read & one of the better ones featuring mermaids (unlike Forgive My Fins, which was like assisted suicide for me).

LethalLovely~I Was Born in a Big Gray Cloud wrote: "I think I'm gonna join this challenge. It's been awhile since I participated in the one birthed by Steph & I, so why not?"

;)

*hey, Midu!*

SOS - Love/Hate at First Sight 2014

1st July 2013 - 30th June 2014

July - Casino Royale by Ian Fleming - 27th July
August - The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss - 15th August
September - A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton - 11th September
October - The Awakening by L.J. Smith - 26th October
November - Call for the Dead by John le Carré - 10th November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June

To Choose From
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Stray by Rachel Vincent
Covet by J.R. Ward
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Read 2 of 12

JULY's Book:
Title/Author: by Kristen Painter (view spoiler)[
Series: House of Comarré
Read: (7/12)
Rating: ★★★★½
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: I loved it. It was really different. This book reminded me of Memoirs of a Geisha Girl, but with a complex Urban Fantasy plot and kickass heroine.
Also Read (1st in series):
(★★★½); (★★★); (★★★); (★★★★½);
(★★★½); (★★★½); (★★★★½); (★★★★);
(★★★★) (hide spoiler)]


AUGUST's Book:
Title/Author: by Molly Harper. (view spoiler)[
Series: Half Moon Hollow
Read: (8/4)
Rating: ★★★★½
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: I loved it. It was light and fluffy. A perfect read after Magic Rises (Kate Daniels). It was nice and predictable but so sweet.
Also Read (1st in series):
(★★★);(★★★); (★★★★½);(★★★★); (hide spoiler)]

SEPTEMBER's Book:
Title/Author: by Lisa Kleypas(view spoiler)[
Series: Travis Family
Read: (9/2)
Rating: ★★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: this was a good book, but my least favorite LK series. It was heavier than I was used to. But I admire Liberty. If you had 2 basically hard working guys, one had Mercedes money and the other had Honda Accord money, it's not rocket science on whom most people would get with.
Especially if you grew up without for most of your life. I feel like money won out here.

I think I am pissed off actually. This is the most different LK book I've read it. While I really liked it, it's probably my least favorite series beginning. I loved Liberty's evolution but I don't like how LK tried to villianize Hardy. I won't let you do him like that LK!

Also Read (1st in series): (★★★½); (★★); (Done 9/19) ★★½ ; (Done 9/24)★★ ★★; ; ; ; (hide spoiler)]

OCTOBER's Book:
Title/Author: by Tahereh Mafi (view spoiler)[
Series: Shatter Me
Read: 10/9
Rating: ★★½
First time author? yes
To-Be-Continued? NO!
Review: I really had to fight to finish this book. I like young love, and I really liked Adam Kent, but Juliette was just hard to digest. She was in a lot of pain and I felt bad for her...but I didn't like the book.
Also Read (1st in series):
; ;; (hide spoiler)]

NOVEMBER's Book:
Title/Author: by Kresley Cole(view spoiler)[
Series: Arcana Chronicles
Read: 11/3
Rating: ★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: I don't know how I felt about this one. It was okay, but i think my feelings were affected by the fact that I read Allegiant & Horde this past week. So a 3rd YA Dystopian was just overkill in a week. I'm YA Dystopian out.
Plus, Evangeline didn't quite measure up to Tris or Deuce. She was their opposite as she wasn't really a "heroine" yet. She was unsure, scared, and just a follower for all except the last chapter. She wasn't resourceful and she didn't think quick on her feet. She's not a fighter, not a leader, ,she really is a "resource suck" as Jackson often called her.It's hard to see why she was the "Empress", but she came into her own at the very end of the book.

One thing that annoyed me is the high school speak and lingo, it was just annoying because i had to think to figure out what the heck they were saying. It was like watching "Bring it On" with the cheerleaders. Luckily, that ended as world changed..

I wasn't sure if this world was an earth taken over by zombies, or an earth where supernaturals staged a game giving various characters powers to battle it out for survival. I think that is why I wasn't as drawn in to this plot. I will read book 2 before I decide what I think about this series. In addition, the lack of progress between Evie and Jackson was problematic for me. But like i said, I will give Kresley Cole book 2 to get me on board

Also Read (1st in series):
; (hide spoiler)]

DECEMBER's Book:
Title/Author: ★★★★★ by Julia Quinn (view spoiler)[
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet Series
Read: (12/12)
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: I loved this book.

Honoria Smythe-Smith is the youngest and annoying tagalong with her older siblings. She is a pest they call bug, and they are so annoyed with her. Everyone except her brother Daniel's best friend Marcus Holroyd, the Earl of Chatteris.

What struck me about this book was that I don't think I have ever read two people completely in sync with each other from the beginning. The ease of their friendship or relationship was like the comfort of putting on your favorite flannel pajamas--familiar and cozy. It was just a great read, and easy journey to the realization that they are in love with each other.

Rosalyn Landor the narrator is the BEST at historical romances. She just brings stories to life and I get sucked in once I hear her voice. I can't wait for book

Also Read (1st in series):
★★★★ ; ★★★★ ; ★★★★; (hide spoiler)]

JANUARY 2014's Book:
Title/Author: by J.M Darhower (view spoiler)[
Series: Forever Series
Read: 1/8
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: As soon as I read chapter 1, I thought to myself, not another child slavery book. But this book was much more than child slavery. It was a story of people trying to grow and move out of the shadows of their parents.

If you want a New Adult book that isn’t wrought with cliché drama and dialogue, then this book is for you.

Also Read (1st in series):
★★★1/2; ★★★★; ★★★1/2; ★★★1/2; ★; ★★★1/2; ★★★; ★★★★ (hide spoiler)]


FEBRUARY 2014's Book:
Title/Author: by Jay Bell(view spoiler)[
Series: Seasons Series
Read: 2/6
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: This book was really amazing. It exceeded my expectations. This book was a journey of self discovery and love. It wasn't easy or comfortable but it was authentic.
Bravo Jay Bell.
This book featured Ben Bentley, a high schooler that came out at 14. He found love with a closeted jock but it ended abruptly as fear of real life forced Tim Wyman to make a painful choice to remain closeted. Fast forward to College and Ben has a mature relationship with Jace. This new relationship is 3 years strong until the past, specifically Tim comes back and wants Ben back. Past & young love versus Current & mature love, who will be Ben's future? Can he have both men in his life without hurting anyone? Tough choice!

Well written, engaging characters, loved the best friend Allison, loved the pace. I found myself fully inverted in Ben. Awesome coming of age book and a book about a subsequent chance at getting love right. Everyone in this book really evolved and matured. That is one of the things I enjoy, witnessing growth in the characters. I really want to read the subsequent book soon. (hide spoiler)]

MARCH's Book:
Title/Author: by Rebecca Zanetti (view spoiler)[
Series: Sin Brothers
Read: March 15
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? YES, YES, YES!
Review: Just loved this one. Rebecca Zanetti has now gone on my auto-buy list.

Out of the blue Major Shane Dean (marine) was brought by a police officer to his estranged wife's job. Apparently Shane has walked out on his wife Josie 2 years ago to places unknown. Now he is back but with amnesia. This begins their journey to a second chance at love.

This book was exciting, intriguing and pretty hot. Zanetti tells an interested romantic suspense. I stayed up last to find out why Shane left Josie and why he is back and why he has amnesia. There was so much to this story and it was pretty good stuff. Shane was a military man, but Josie wasn't the damsel in distress he took his wife to be. Obviously they had to really learn to forgive and trust, but they had to get to know the real person they married. I enjoyed Shane having to put everything on the line and trust his wife.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't find this story to be predictable or cliche. It was an interesting concept and it was action packed from page one. I just couldn't put it down so I think I will read book 2 tomorrow.

Also Read (1st in series):
★★★1/2; ★★★★; ★★★; ★★★½ (hide spoiler)]

APRIL 2014:
Title/Author: by Courtney Milan
Series: Brothers Sinister
Read: 4/11
Rating: ★★★★½
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definitely
Review: This book was good though it took a while to develop. I liked Minnie and I didn't think the past scandal was that bad. What made this book a 4 star for me was Robert's thoughtfulness and need to fix some society wrongs. He was brave and I am glad he stood up for those unable to fight for themselves.

Also Read (1st in series):
★★★★; ★★★★ ; ★★★½; ★★; ★★★;

(view spoiler)[ May:
June: (hide spoiler)]

YUSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I was seriously hoping you would restart this challenge. *takes breather* Thanks :)

4/12 completed

July: Between 4/7/2013
August: Need 9/8/2013
September: Open Minds 12/9/2013
October: Changeling 5/10/2013
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:



Also Read:
July: 4/7 8/7 10/7 13/7 14/7 14/7 16/7 20/7 21/7 25/7 31/7
Aug: 17/8 23/8
Sept: 13/9 21/9
Oct:
______________________________________________

Month Update - ?/12 completed

Title/Author:
Series:
Read:
Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★✩ / ★★★✩✩ / ★★✩✩✩
First time author?
To-Be-Continued?
Review:

July Update - 1/12 completed

Title/Author: Between by Cyndi Tefft
Series: Between #1
Read: 4/7/2013
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Nope! I've actually read this one before, and wanted to reread before I continued the series.
To-Be-Continued? Definitely!
Review: LoveloveLOVE this book! It makes me remember why I love to read so much, all the traveling and experiencing a completely different world. It draws you in automatically, and the romance between Aiden and Lindsay is too wonderful to even speak of without me telling it all wrong. I definitely recommend! (I sent my friend a copy as a Christmas present, and now she desperately wants the second. Mission accomplished.)

I'm in!

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014 - 2/12 Read
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

✔July: Blood Double by Connie Suttle 7/2/13 ★★★1/2☆
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:



Also Read:
July: 4★ 3★ 3★

SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: 7/1/2013 - 6/30/2014

Progress: 12 out of 12

July: The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens
August: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
September: On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
October: Rush by Maya Banks
November: The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
December: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
January: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
February: Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands - *** - 2/11/2014
March: The Awakening by Christine Feehan - *** - 3/3/2014
April: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews - ***** - 4/1/2014
May: The Maze Runner by James Dashner - *** - 5/6/2014
June: Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin - ***** - 6/8/2014 - 300 Pages



Title/Author: The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Series: Black Cobra Quartet #1
Read: 7/19/2013
Rating: ★★★✩✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: This book was ok, but I think I should of read of Bastian Club books before I started this series. They overlapped a bit and I was kinda lost!



Title/Author: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Series: Outlander #1
Read: 8/4/2013
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: Love love love love this book! So long, but so worth it ;)



Title/Author: On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
Series: On the Island #1
Read: 9/2/2013
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: Loved it! I read it in less than 24 hours!



Title/Author: Rush by Maya Banks
Series: Breathless #1
Read: 10/3/2013
Rating: ★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: This book was alright, it was too similar to 50 shades for me to really enjoy it.



Title/Author: The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
Series: Ruby Oliver #1
Read: 11/7/2013
Rating: ★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Maybe, if I need it for a challenge
Review: This book was ok, but I get annoyed with authors who have characters that don't cuss. I don't know why, it just rings as unrealistic when characters get REALLY mad at each other and then call each cheezy insults. But maybe that's me, but even though I try not to cuss all the time, my internal dialogue swears like a drunken sailor.



Title/Author: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Series: Love at Stake #1
Read: 12/5/2013
Rating: *****
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definately!
Review: This book surprised me! I thought it was going to be really cheesy but it was only mildly cheesy. I can take a little cheese as long as it's humorous and this book made me giggle! I'll definately be reading the next book in the series :)



Title/Author: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars #1
Read: 1/14/2014
Rating: *****
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Definately!
Review: I'm not sure this is something that I would want my daughter to read. The main characters are bratty that make bad decisions but I actually liked it! I'm intrigued, I want to read the next one!



Title/Author: Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands
Series: Devil of the Highlands #1
Read: 2/11/2014
Rating: ***
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Maybe, if I need it for a challenge
Review: This was a pretty cut and dry historical romance novel, I liked it but nothing really stood out and made it memorable.



Title/Author: The Awakening by Christine Feehan
Series: Leopard People #1
Read: 3/3/2014
Rating: ***
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Maybe, if I need it for a challenge
Review: It was ok, maybe I'll get into the series more if I read a longer version but this was a short prequel that was labeled book 1 so it was kind of short of content.



Title/Author: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Series: The Edge #1
Read: 4/1/2014
Rating: *****
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Definately!
Review: I've read other books by Ilona Andrews so I knew what to expect when I started this. The world was a little confusing, but she creates really intricate worlds with strict magic rules. I enjoyed the witty banter between the main characters and I the story was entertaining.



Title/Author: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Series: The Maze Runner #1
Read: 5/6/2014
Rating: ***
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Doubt it
Review: I found this book too predictable and the substitute curse words just annoyed me. I'm sorry if your surrounded by death and horror and gore, using the word Clunk instead of Shit is not going to convince me that they're all still innocent teenagers. It would've been better to just use Shit and Fuck and publish it as an adult fiction, rather than replace them and go YA.



Title/Author: Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin
Series: Once Upon a Time in the West #1
Read: 6/8/2014
Rating: *****
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Sure
Review: Very cute story set in the old west. Loved it, will definitely continue with the next book.

July 2013 Update

Title/Author: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
Series: Fairy Tales
Read: July 3, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes (already done so!)
Review: I loved this book. The characters were a lot of fun and I loved Kate.

I am in! I actually started a new-to-me series in July, so I'm very excited that I already have one task complete for this. Now, to come up with 11 more series to begin!

Love or Hate @ FIRST Read 2014
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

(view spoiler)[Did it suck you in and leave you breathless for more? Or leave a hole in the wall after you chucked the sucker across the room? Join us as we check out and share our favorite, and not-so-favorite, new series!

*Read 12 books that are the first novel in a new-to-you series.
*Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
*Make a MAIN post. This is for your full year list. Please UPDATE this list, not re-post it! Thanks! (links to each Participants' MAIN Lists below).
*Post monthly updates (new posts, please!) on your great/not-so-great "first" read.
*Prequels, "half numbers" (i.e. 1.5 by GR numbering) and anthologies are not allowed; they're just appetizers, not the "first course"!

For MONTHLY updates, include the following:

COVER (#)

Title/Author:
Series:
Read: (Date)
Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★✩ / ★★★✩✩ / ★★✩✩✩
First time author?
To-Be-Continued?
Review: (Just a sentence or so of what you thought about it!)

Also Read: (feel free to add other firsts you enjoyed each month with ratings, etc. optional)

**Blatantly stole borrowed Steph's & Lethal Lovely's new series write-ups~THANKS!....If you haven't peeked, pop on over to the members' threads to check them out! **Warning, do not read when consuming liquids~LL's especially~unless your PC is insured...** (hide spoiler)]

Progress: 4/12

Monthly Updates:
JULY 2013



Title/Author: Second Sight, by Amanda Quick
Series: Arcane Society
Read: July 16, 2013
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes!
Review: I enjoyed this book; loved the main character because she was a strong, independent woman with her own career; her ability to see auras in a 'negative' image was unique to me and it fit with her natural talents as a photographer.

DECEMBER 2013
by David Baldacci
Series: The Camel Club
Read: December 29, 2013
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: I had a little bit of trouble keeping some of the characters and their motives straight but once I got settled in, I couldn't put it down. Will read more of this series for sure.

JANUARY 2014
by Chelsea Cain
Series: Gretchen Lowell & Archie Sheridan
Read: January 16, 2014
Rating: ★★★★✩
First-time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: What a F-ed up relationship.

"Because what could be more calming than spending quality time with a woman who repeatedly drove a nail into your chest?" Indeed...

Well, this was a really good book and to me, a unique and interesting insight into the relationship between a serial killer and the one victim she released. Except, he's not really free, is he? I'm definitely reading more of this series.
Also read in January: ★★★★✩ - will continue
★★★★✩ - will continue

MARCH 2014
by David Baldacci
Series: John Puller
Read: March 27, 2014
Rating: ★★★✩✩
First-time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: I liked it enough to continue the series but I did have to suspend my disbelief a lot.

July 2013
Progress: 1/12



Title/Author: Second Sight, by Amanda Quick
Series: Arcane Society
Read: July 16, 2013
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes!
Review: I enjoyed this book; loved the main character because she was a strong, independent woman with her own career; her ability to see auras in a 'negative' image was unique to me and it fit with her natural talents as a photographer.

Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight READ 2014

July 2013 - June 2014

July: Embattled Hearts 07/16/2013
August: Demons at Deadnight 08/05/2013
September: The False Prince 09/01/2013
October: Skulduggery Pleasant 10/10/2013
November: Breaking Nova

Oh I am so in!

July: by Steven dos Santos ★★★★★, 7/27/13

August: by Karen Ann Hopkins ★★★★★, 8/20/13

September: by Tessa Gratton ★★★, 9/2/13

October: by Wayne Simmons ★★★, 10/6/13

November:

December:

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

other 1st in a series read

★★★★★ 8/20/13
★★★★★ 8/27/13
★★★★ 9/7/13

July 2013


Title/Author: Embattled Hearts by J.M. Madden
Series: Lost and Found
Read: 07/16/2013
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes! :)
Review:

Triple Treat. Sweet, sexy and short. Perfectly imperfect.

I'm in again!
Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2014
Duration: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014
6/12 Read

Jul: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 10/7/13 ★★★★★
Aug: The Gamble by Kristen Ashley 9/8/13 ★★★
Sep: Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis 1/9/13 ★★★★
Oct: Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey 21/10/13 ★★★★
Nov: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole 30/11/13 ★★★★
Dec: The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle ★★★★
Jan:
Feb:
Mar:
Apr:
May:
Jun:



Also read:
Jul: 3★ 3★ Sep: 4★ Dec: 2★

Title/Author: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Series: MaddAddam Trilogy
Read: 10/7/13
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: Great story about a man remebering how the downfall of humanity came about and what he had to do with it. Great writing and a great story that deals with a number of ethical and moral issues

Title/Author: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
Series: James Bond
Read: 27th July
Rating: ★★★✩✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: I have a soft spot for James Bond, the later Bonds especially (I'm not a Sean Connery fan) and Casino Royale is one of my favourites (the image of Daniel Craig emerging from the sea in those blue swimming trunks is burning into my memory). I was surprised how closely the movie stuck to the book, right down to the character names. The book was good fun, if rather dated. But I just couldn't care about Vespa, all she did was look moody and cry - why Bond didn't figure it out a lot sooner I will never know.

Title/Author: The Culling by Steven Dos Santos
Series: The Torch Keeper
Read: 7/27/13
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: OMG I love loved loved this book. It was so amazing!It had everything a great dystopian book should have: a repressive government, family love, a love interest, friends, hardships, violence and success. It had characters you love and characters you hate. It makes you fell an array of emotions: love, hate, sadness, happiness, despair.

August 2013 Update

Title/Author: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Series: White Trash Zombie
Read: 8/7/2013
Rating: ★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for a while and never got to. I'm so glad I did after finishing it! I've never read a book that has a zombie as the main character, so that was new. I ended up really liking Angel as the book went on, although I was really worried about her pill habit (it reminded me of Chess from Unholy Ghosts and as much as I love Chess, I don't think I could handle two drug addict heroines!) Poor Angel freaked when she realized she wanted to eat brains! Can't blame her, but it was still funny.

August Update - 2/12 completed

Title/Author: Need by Carrie Jones
Series: Need, #1
Read: 9/8/2013
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Sure!
Review: It was a lovely book to me! I haven't read something with pixies in a while. Fairies, yes; pixies, no. So in that sense it was a great little break in between everything else. Also, my favorite part of the book, Zara had an obsession with knowing the names to phobias. It honestly seemed to me like she knew every phobia ever named. Because there were so many....wow. Think I might start a list. Just in case it continues in the next book. Oh, and her name started with a Z. Wooh!

Title/Author: The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss
Series: Lucifer Box
Read: 15th August
Rating: ★★✩✩✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? No
Review: The central character loved himself way too much. It was cheesy and full of just about every spy cliché known to man - right down to incredibly bad character names. The only way I'd read the next in the series is if someone gave it to me for free.

Ohhh, Charlotte, I got excited when I saw Mark Gatiss, then sad when I read your review. I haven't read anything by him, but I know he has written some excellent Dr Who scripts and of course co-wrote Sherlock.

I've been a fan of his ever since The League of Gentlemen in '99, it was an excellent series and says a lot about my sense of humour. I've had the book for quite a while and never got round to it before now. I was really disappointed, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who really like it.

The next one is set in the 1920's, so could be completely different, I'm just in no rush to find out.

July:


Title/Author: Blood DoubleConnie Suttle
Series: God Wars #1
Read: 7/2/2013
Rating: ★★★1/2✩
First time author?: No
To-Be-Continued?: Yes, Definitely
Review:

Still addicted to this first in the new series of these series and happy that it continues. Enjoyed the new set of characters which brings some minor players in previous books to the forefront. The negative, I know that the heroines must go thru hardship to develop into the strong powerful chosen ones they are meant to be, but a little disappointed with the treatment of Breanne. At one point I hoped she'd just mist them all and call it a day... This is 2nd spin off of the Blood Destiny series (10 books) and follows High Demon series (6 books). What's nice is that this author still seems obscure enough and not tracked well on Goodreads or Fictfact, so that when I discover a new release its like Christmas when I find that there actually several new ones I missed.

August 2013

Title/Author: by A&E Kirk
Series: Divinicus Hex #1
Read: 8/5/2013
Rating: ★★★★
First time author?: Yes
To-Be-Continued?: Yes, Definitely
Review:

This is a combination of Elementals and Demons. Steamy, funny, and action-packed. I liked it.

@Lis, the upside is that Connie seems to publish a lot in a year. I've read Reah's books almost back to back so I'm going to wait a bit until more books are out before delving into them 'cause I can't seem to stop myself.

Title/Author: Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins
Series: Temptation
Read: 8/20/13
Rating: ★★★★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: Love it. A sweet romance between a amish boy and english (non-amish) girl and the problems they have to face to be together. Love the characters and story line

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1/12
August Update:




Title/Author: Starcrossed: Perigee by Tracey Lee Campbell
Series: Starcrossed
Read: 01/08
Rating: ★★
To-Be-Continued? Not really
Review:
* How many times has this been done: out-of-this-world cute guy, not so hot but very special girl and the whole world (& then some) after them?
* Aliens have been done millions of time too
* It had strong Twilight undertones as well.
* Also the guy had way too many superpowers!

Whoops, I did not read a book for this in August. I didn't read much at all in August. I'll just make a point to read for this in September.

August update:


Title/Author: The Gamble by Kristen Ashley
Series: Colorado Mountain
Read: 9/8/13
Rating: ★★★✩✩
First time author? No
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: At over 600 pages, this was just way too long for a contemporary romance. Too many side characters and sub-plots and not enough time spend with the main couple. The hero was a little too much for me (apparently I like alpha heroes only in a supernatural setting), the heroine was ok.

September update:


Title/Author: Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
Series: Milkweed Triptych
Read: 1/9/13
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: Alternate history set in WWII, in which Nazi X-men battle British warlocks. A dark story, with multiple POV's from each side of the war. There were some interesting plot-lines set up, that will hopefully be explored in the next instalment. The characters were my main problem, none of them were likeable or relateable.

COVER (#)

Title/Author: The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton
Series: United States of Asgard
Read: 9/2/13
Rating: ★★★✩✩
First time author? yes
To-Be-Continued? yes
Review: I loved the Norse mythology in the book. The Main character is ok but complains about his power a lot which annoyed me

SOS "Love or Hate @ First Sight Read 2014" Challenge
Duration: July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014
Goal: 2/12 Completed

August 2013


Title/Author: Nightlife by Rob Thurman
Series: Cal Leandros
Read: August 23rd
Rating: ★★★★☆
First time author? Yep.
To-Be-Continued? Hell yeah.
Review:

I've had this series on my TBR since March 2011 mostly because of my avoidance of books with male protagonists. Somehow I've convinced myself that if the MC is a guy (especially a young guy), there's gonna be a lot of wanking going on (don't judge me!). So I was NOT expecting to like Nightlife, but I did. It has a Supernatural (the TV show) feel to it, with brothers who love each other big time fighting the things that go bump in the night. Cal, the younger brother, is snarky as hells but I enjoyed his sense of humor. He's also fighting some pretty big personal demons, like who he is and what it means. Niko, the older brother, is more stern, strict and serious (and also a health food junkie). Though he's the older brother (and around my age), I'm not really feeling him at this point. It's probably the hair (I'm sorry but the long blonde ponytail look does NOTHING for me). So I'm left crushing on Cal, which-although he's only 4 years younger than I-makes me feel slightly like a pedo. I think it's because he acts like an immature teen more times than not, which downgrades is age from 19 to 14.

But I digress (I do that a lot. My mind hops from subject to subject, from lollipops to Ghost Recon & you're left wondering "WTF is wrong with you, LL?"). Nightlife was awesomesauce. I'm gonna keep reading this series until I get sick of it and between the reading, I'm gonna daydream about Jensen Ackles and the things I'd love to do to him in his Chevy Impala.

July
(view spoiler)[July 2013


Title/Author: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Series: Lies Beneath
Read: July 7th
Rating: ★★★★☆
First time author? Yep.
To-Be-Continued? Mmmmhmm.
Review:

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: mermaids/sirens freak me the hell out. They fascinate me as well though which makes reading a book involving one akin to that time I watched "The Ring" from the cracks between my fingers. So LB, which features a homicidal, psychotic merman? Just WOW. It was boring at times but it still captured-and kept-my attention. I noticed that A LOT of people didn't like Calder. But I did, mostly because I DO NOT see him as a love interest. He's a psycho ho, after all. But I'm okay with that. I don't want to see him have little sparkly-finned babies or coo to his lady love about how much he adores her. I want to see him salivating over his desire to kill young college girls and keeping the peace between the other mermaid killers. He's an anti-hero. One I'm content to read about and not stupid enough to invite into my bed. All in all, a pretty good read & one of the better ones featuring mermaids (unlike Forgive My Fins, which was like assisted suicide for me). (hide spoiler)]

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