The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 8 - Reading Eight Days A Week

Captain: Sam
Maddie
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)
Loriidae
Denise (mod)
Maddielucy(Patti)

(view spoiler)[
Used 12/04 (hide spoiler)]


Bonus Points:
Earned: 6
Used: 1

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll (2 dice on Fridays, US Central Time)
R12 SS Post Your Spot
R12 SS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)

2. Title 'L'
3. Cover Item: Food/Drink
4. Author 'B'
5. North America
6. Cover: Red
7. Published 2015-2016
8. MC has a pet
9. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
10. Set in a place you've visited
11. Romance
12. MC has at least one child
13. Published 2019
14. Cover Item: Jewelry
15. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
16. Cover: Pink
17. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
18. MC is older than 60
19. South America
20. Title 'G'
21. Cover Item: One person
22. Set anytime between 1600-1837
23. Female Author
24. Cover: White
25. Set sometime before 1600 AD
26. Non-Fiction
27. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
28. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
29. Cover: Black
30. Cover Item: Animal
31. Young Adult/New Adult
32. Author 'S'
33. Australia
34. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
35. Author 'O'
36. GR average rating >4.0
37. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
38. Originally published in a language other than English
39. School/College/University
40. Cover Item: Furniture
41. Title 'E'
42. Cover Item: Weapon
43. Published 2011-2012
44. Author 'M'
45. LGBTQ+
46. Cover: Green
47. Set in the future
48. Africa
49. Author 'P'
50. Cover: Blue
51. Published 2017-2018
52. Cover Item: Water
53. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
54. Author 'I'
55. Set anytime between 1837-1901
56. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
57. Cover: Purple
58. Fantasy
59. Author H
60. Europe
61. Several authors
62. Author 'R'
63. Award Winner (must state which/when)
64. New to You Author
65. Published 2013-2014
66. Title 'T'
67. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
68. MC travels by train
69. Title has a subtitle
70. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
71. Title 'J'
72. Published 2001-2010
73. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
74. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
75. Male Author
76. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
77. Title 'F'
78. Cover: Yellow/Gold
79. Debut Novel or Debut Author
80. Author uses a pseudonym
81. Title 'C'
82. Cover Item: Building
83. Published between 1950 and 1999
84. Author 'D'
85. MC is in their 20's
86. Title 'V'
87. Cover Item: Book
88. Science Fiction
89. Title 'B'
90. Cover: Orange
91. Published 2020
92. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
93. Asia
94. Author 'W'
95. Cover Item: Dress
96. Mystery/Thriller
97. Cover Item: Two or more people
98. Published before 1950
99. MC travels by airplane
100. Author 'L'
101. Four or more Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
102. Cover: Brown
103. Published 2020
104. Author 'F'
105. Title 'G'
106. Romance
107. Anthology/Short Stories
108. Cover: Green
109. Title 'N'
110. Favorite Author
111. Author 'Y'

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain week, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the week in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role every week, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Hi team! Looking forward to getting started. :)

Hello! First time playing so I may have a lot of questions at first but I catch on quickly. Looking forward to playing with you all.

Heya! So good to be back! I look forward to this challenge every single year, and get excited when the message gets sent around! :D

Also what is the time zone for the challenge again so I can set up my converter?

Hi, team. Checking in. I'm excited to get started.

Tracking Post

Week 1
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson- 9/18/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova- 9/25/20- 4✮- Review
Jamie ~ Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews- 9/19/20- 4✮- Review
Lorii ~ Knight Awakening by Rebecca Zanetti- 9/19/20- 3✮- Review
Denise ~ The Death of Faith by Donna Leon- 9/19/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ Creamy Pumpkin Killer by Summer Prescott- 9/18/20- 4✮- Review

Week 2
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evans Above by Rhys Bowen- 9/29/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer- 9/30/20- 4✮- Review
Jamie ~ Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke- 9/28/20- 3✮- Review
Lorii ~ Edged Blade by J.C. Daniels- 9/30/20- 4✮- Review
Denise ~A Ferry of Bones & Gold by Hailey Turner- 9/26/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea by Melanie Cellier- 9/27/20- 4✮- Review

Week 3
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Monster Hunting 101: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure by Andrew Karevik- 10/4/20-3✮- Review
Maddie ~ Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen- 10/7/20- 4.5✮- Review
Jamie ~ The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins- 10/3/20- 4✮- Review
Lorii ~ The Diamond Throne by David Eddings- 10/6/20- 4✮- Review
Denise ~ A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry- 10/4/20- 5✮- Review
Patti ~ Butterscotch Dream Killer by Summer Prescott- 10/8/20- 3✮- Review

Week 4
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evan Help Us by Rhys Bowen- 10/15/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer- 10/15/20- 3✮- Review
Jamie ~ Coming to a Crossroads by Marie Ferrarella- 10/11/20- 4✮- Review
Lorii ~ Blaze by Dale Mayer- 10/14/20- 4✮- Review
Denise ~ All Souls Near & Nigh by Hailey Turner- 10/9/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood by Melanie Cellier- 10/11/20- 4✮- Review

Week 5
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evanly Choirs by Rhys Bowen- 10/22/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer-10/23/20- 4✮- Review
Jamie ~ The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman- 10/17/20- 2✮- Review
Lorii ~ Cade by Dale Mayer- 10/21/20- 2.5✮- Review
Denise ~ A Crown of Iron & Silver by Hailey Turner- 10/21/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ Love at the Lighthouse by Kay Correll- 10/18/20- 4✮- Review

Week 6
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evan and Elle by Rhys Bowen- 10/29/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer- 10/29/20- 3✮- Review
Jamie ~ Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco- 10/26/20- 3✮- Review
Lorii ~ Wicked- Cheryl Holt- 10/28/20- 2✮- Review
Denise ~ A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner- 10/29/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James- 10/25/20- 5✮- Review

Week 7
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evan Can Wait by Rhys Bowen- 11/4/20 11/4/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson- 11/3/20- 4.5✮- Review
Jamie ~ Fallen by Mia Sheridan- 11/1/20- 3✮- Review
Lorii ~ Hidden by Benedict Jacka- 11/1/20- 3✮- Review
Denise ~ On the Wings of War by Hailey Turner- 11/5/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown- 10/31/20- 4✮- Review

Week 8
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evans to Betsy by Rhys Bowen- 11/12/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ The Revolution of Jack Frost by K.M. Robinson- 11/13/20- 4✮- Review
Jamie ~ Enslaved by the Desert Trader by Greta Gilbert- 11/9/20- 3✮- Review
Lorii ~ Parker by Dale Mayer- 11/8/20- 2✮- Review
Denise ~ The Clothesline Swing by Danny Ramadan- 10/10/20- 5✮- Review
Patti ~ Recursion by Blake Crouch- 11/8/20- 5✮- Review

Hi everyone waving hello from Northern Australia. This is one of my favourite challenges.

P.S. call me lorii it's easier to type!

Sam wrote: "You have until Thursday midnight to post your review, though it's best if you try to get it done earlier ..."

Friday midnight. Well, Friday 11:59pm to be precise. But if at all possible, have it posted by Thursday midnight so that as Sam said we can roll as early as possible. :)

Denise wrote: "Friday midnight. Well, Friday 11:59pm to be precise. But if at all possible, have it posted by Thursday midnight so that as Sam said we can roll as early as possible. :).."

Hehe, when I was captain, I told my team they had to be in by midnight the day prior. I was a harsh taskmaster. Now it is so settled in my brain, that I think that's the correct time.

Tracking post continued

Week 9
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evan Only Knows by Rhys Bowen- 11/18/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell- 11/21/20- 4✮- Review
Jamie ~ The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt- 11/14/20- 3✮- Review
Lorii ~ Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard- 11/17/20- 3✮- Review
Denise ~ The Red Cobra by Rob Sinclair- 11/15/20- 3✮- Review
Patti ~ Death by a Honeybee by Abigail Keam- 11/20/20- 4✮- Review

Week 10
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ The Ghoul Next Door by Victoria Laurie- 11/25/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna- 11/27/20- 5✮- Review
Jamie ~ Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews- 11/22/20- 4✮- Review
Lorii ~ Road to Danger by Olivia Jaymes- 11/22/20- 4✮- Review
Denise ~ The Detachment by Barry Eisler- 11/23/20- 5✮- Review
Patti ~ The Last Place by Laura Lippman- 11/22/20- 4✮- Review

Week 11
SS Team 8- Reading Eight Days a Week
Sam ~ Evan's Gate by Rhys Bowen- 12/2/20- 4✮- Review
Maddie ~ FREE PASS USED
Jamie ~ A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean- 11/28/20- 2✮- Review
Lorii ~ Deliverance by Pippa DaCosta- 12/2/20- 3✮- Review
Denise ~ Der Weg des Kriegers by Laura Joh Rowland- 12/3/20- 4✮- Review
Patti ~ By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman- 12/3/20- 4✮- Review

Yeah but what time zone is that? Like PST?

Maddie wrote: "Yeah but what time zone is that? Like PST?"

US Central Time, CT.

Hi team!! I'm Patti Checking in! I've never played this before but looking forward to it!!

Yay, we're all here! :)

Anyone wanna volunteer as captain?

Team name suggestion: Reading Eight Days A Week (damn it, and now I can't get the Beatles out of my head)

I like that team name!!

I dont think I'm qualified to be a team captain (never played this before) but I'm happy to help out by keeping track of all of the completions in one post and checking us in! Thats if no one else wants to do it ;)

I like that name!

I'll pass on captain.

Oh thank you! So that's Thursday midnight, which is 5pm Friday for me. And I'll have to remember that I have daylight savings change next Sunday, and I can't remember if we go back or fowards XD I think backwards so 5pm will become 6pm.

Denise wrote: "...Team name suggestion: Reading Eight Days A Week (damn it, and now I can't get the Beatles out of my head)"

Love it!

Reading Eight Days a Week works for me.

I don't mind being captain if no one else wants to do it. I am a night owl.

Yay! Thanks Sam!

Denise wrote: "Team name suggestion: Reading Eight Days A Week (damn it, and now I can't get the Beatles out of my head)"

I love that name. It has my vote. :)

Sam wrote: "....I don't mind being captain if no one else wants to do it. I am a night owl."

Thanks Sam. :)

Okay, that's the majority. I'll post it in the discussion thread.

BTW, I don't need selection posts. Just your completion posts unless you want to confirm your selections.

First roll in a little over 8 hours. Almost time to get this game started.

Yay!! Looking forward to starting!!

Less than 2 hours to go.

Not off to a very good start
Our first roll is 6.
Series #6 or Alternate: red cover

Completion post: Spot 6
Book: Creamy Pumpkin Killer by Summer Prescott

Qualification: Cupcakes in Paradise #6
Read: 9/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Since this is the sixth in the series, the characters are becoming more defined and seem like old friends. What I like is that the author no longer has to spend much time on character development and can concentrate more on the mystery as well as character interaction. I think Beulah was a good addition. Also, I'm glad the Chas/Missy story line is becoming more than just her being accused of a crime she so clearly didn't commit and Chas coming to her defense. These books are fun, quick & easy reads.

FYI: I am using the same book for both games I'm playing. I did wait to start this book until after Sam rolled just in case I could use it for both. Wanted to let you know up front :)

Thanks for saying that, Patti. I would have asked. I was so excited to start SSS that I didn't wait and now I have to pick a new #6 book. Oh well, it helps get one more book off my TBR mountain.

Sam wrote: "Thanks for saying that, Patti. I would have asked. I was so excited to start SSS that I didn't wait and now I have to pick a new #6 book. Oh well, it helps get one more book off my TBR mountain."

Sure, Sam. I will always specify if I'm using the same book moving forward so you don't have to worry about that

Completion post
Spot: 6

Book: Murder on Marble Row- Victoria Thompson
Qualification: Gaslight Mystery #6
Date read: 9/18/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Frank is assigned to investigate the bombing murder of a prominent businessman, Gregory Van Dyke. He encounters Sarah at the Van Dyke house, where she is paying her respects. Of course, she insists on using her connections to help him with his investigations. I always enjoy these books. I love the look at early New York. I really enjoy the characters of Frank and Sarah. I was glad that he finally got to meet her family and they met him. This will be important if their relationship is ever going to develop. I wonder if Frank's talk with Sarah's father is going to have any effect; if it cleared things up or will cause more confusion. I thought I had the murder figured out, but was not expecting the twist. Great ending. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Completion Post: Spot 6

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Qualification: Kate Daniels #6
Read: 9/19/20
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Another fun and kick ass installment in the series. Though I will say that Curran pissed me off so bad in this. Kate forgave him a little too quickly and easily for me. He needed to grovel for what he put her through. But, he kinda made up for it in the end, so I still love him I just wanted to kick him for majority of the book. Kate was awesome as usual and she’s away from Curran a lot of the time here so she really gets to shine on her own which I loved. She’s such a great character and I think her character development gets stronger with each book. Not much to say about this one without spoilers, but I really enjoyed it. The ending was cute and makes me even more excited about the next book because I need to know how this is going to go.

Week 1
Spot: 6

Book: The Death of Faith by Donna Leon
Qualification: Commissario Brunetti #6
Pages: 310
Finished: 19 Sep 2020
Rating: ★★★★

Review:
Brunetti receives a visit from a former nun who suspects several patients at the nursing home she worked at have been murdered. While he begins looking into that, some Church-related troubles have also found their way into the Brunetti household, where the topic of religion is generally somewhat contentious.

It's been a while since I last took a literary trip to Venice in form of this series, which was clearly a grievous oversight on my part - highly entertaining and a wonderful way to revisit this beautiful city in my mind. Donna Leon packs a lot of (well deserved IMO) criticism of the Catholic Church into this book, so anyone who can't take negative comments about their precious religious nonsense might want to skip this one.

Oh wow a 6 XD That's great.

So sorry, finishing up at my job on Friday and so much crazy is happening!

Week 1 (Spot 6) Selection

Qualification: Red cover
Pages: 288

Is this red enough? I'll have it finished by Friday roll :)

Maddie wrote: "Is this red enough? I'll have it finished by Friday roll :)"

I'm afraid not. It needs to be at least 50% red, and this is nowhere near. :(

Completion Post Spot: #6

Book: Knight Awakening
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Date Read: Sep 19 ★★★✰✰
Pages: 368
Spot: #6
How it fits: #6 Scorpius Syndrome

This one came out as just ok. I have really enjoyed this series and was a little disappointed as the author attempted to wrap up the many over-reaching plot arcs from the first five books in the series. Some arcs were completely ignored and others felt rushed. For this reason, the romance of the main couple was side lined as the author concentrated on the many POV that made up the arcs. Read Sep 19 2.5 stars

Denise wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Is this red enough? I'll have it finished by Friday roll :)"

I'm afraid not. It needs to be at least 50% red, and this is nowhere near. :("

No worries :)

Week 1 (Spot 6) Selection Edit

Qualification: Red
Pages: 450

And we have until 11.59pm CT Friday to have completions in right?

Maddie wrote: "And we have until 11.59pm CT Friday to have completions in right?"

Technically yes, but it is preferable to have it done by 11:59pm CT Thursday so that we can roll right away on Friday. Otherwise, it won't be until late since I'm a night owl and won't see your completion post until I get up for the night.

That's surely red right!

If not, can someone please send me a PM and I'll just find an audiobook?

It'll be posted a few hours before Friday roll, but I'm not home at my computer at all Friday my time, which is Thursday for you guys I believe, so I can post on Saturday completion when I get home. Friday midnight is Saturday 5pm for me.

Maddie wrote: "That's surely red right!

If not, can someone please send me a PM and I'll just find an audiobook?"

I declare it red! :)

TinEye claims it's mainly brown, but I vehemently disagree - looks red to me, so I'm overruling in this case.

yeah TinEye said it was brown but I thought I'd try my luck as well haha thank you!

I'm going to bed now, but as soon as I get up this evening I'll check to see if Maddie has posted her completion and do our roll.

I'm still watching. Maddie has about 5 hours to get her review in or we don't get to roll this week.

Week 1 (Spot 6) Completion Post

Qualification: Red cover
Pages: 450
Date read: 25.9.2020
Rating: 4 stars

Review: This book was so interesting! Before this book I was slumping, but I think I just needed this challenge to motivate me to pick up something random, and this book has been staring at me for a long time. The indepth fantasy elements, the different magical powers, the rich history, it was so well entwined. And that Prologue just really set me off, needing to know what happened.

I love the rich cast of characters, how different everyone was but how they all worked together to protect and stick to their task. Their loyalty to each other was admirable.

I also loved the relationship in this, it felt so deep and honest, and the bit of denial at the start was perfect

Sorry for being late! :o But I'm job-free for at least a week so I plan to get a lot read!

Week 2 roll is 8, putting us on space 14.

Can read standalone, #1, #4 or #14.
Alternate: jewelry on the cover