MobileRead Book Challenges discussion
2011 Individual Challenges
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Lauren's Challenge
003. Seduction / Amanda Quick (343 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (14 Jan), Comments: Charming and amusing to read.004. One Grave Too Many / Beverly Connor (400 pages),Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (15 Jan), Comments: Fast paced and absorbing.
005. All The Pretty Girls / J.T. Ellison (416 pages) Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (21 Jan), Comments: An intelligent approach to the traditional serial killer storyline.
006. Black Hills / Nora Roberts (472 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (28 Jan), Comments: OK thriller with an amazing backstory involving an animal refuge for cougars and other large cats.
007. The Cove / Catherine Coulter (384 pages), Rating: 2/5, Status: Complete (30 Jan), Comments: Ridiculous and implausible plot with annoying lead characters. 008. The Tunnels / Michelle Gagnon (304 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (24 Jan), Comments: Engrossing and original plot based on Norse mythology.
009. Mistress of the Art of Death/Ariana Franklin (384 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (4 Feb). Comments: Fantastic book - CSI in the Middle Ages.
010. Vision in White/Nora Roberts (343 pages), Rating: 3/4, Status: Complete (9 Feb), Comments: Sweet but lacking buildup and action. 011. After Dark/Wendy Etherington (224 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (11 Feb), Comments: Reads like a sexy cozy mystery.
012. The Soul Catcher/Alex Kava (416 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (13 Feb), Comments: Strong premise and good character development. Some strong language may not be for everyone.
013. The Unsung Hero/Suzanne Brockmann (312 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (16 Feb), Comments: Slightly complex plot with fantastic dialogue.
014. Deadly Fear/Cynthia Eden (385 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (18 Feb), Comments: The gripping serial killer plot and excellent characterization more than compensate for any shortcomings in writing skill.
015. The Haunting of Hill House/Shirley Jackson (182 pages), Rating: 1/5, Status: Complete (19 Feb), Comments: Writing is excessively descriptive and boring, and the characters are obnoxious.
016. Second Sight/Amanda Quick (301 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (21 Feb), Comments: A quick and entertaining read. The mystery outweighed the romance.
017. The Body Finder/Kimberly Derting (336 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (24 Feb), Comments: A great debut novel. Unique plot element, flowing style and strong characters.
018.Scent of Darkness/Christina Dodd (392 pages), Rating 4/5, Status: Complete (25 Feb), Comments: A good romance with an amazing mythology.
019. Dead Guilty/Beverly Connor (400 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete: (2 March), Comments: Good buildup but fizzled at the end.
020. Bed of Roses / Nora Roberts (358 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (5 March), Comments: A straightforward and relaxing romance with no spectacular twists.
021. White Lies/Jayne Ann Krentz (384 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (8 March), Comments: The banter between the main characters and the feisty heroine transform a mediocre plot into a great story.
022.My Immortal/Erin McCarthy (320 pages), Rating:3/5, Status: Complete (11 March), Comments: An intriguing premise and quite steamy. The development and resolution of the paranormal aspects are lacking.
023. The Alienist/Caleb Carr (512 pages), Rating:5/5, Status: Complete (16 March), Comments: A well-researched read with excellent characterization, interesting scientific detail and a profound message about humanity and society.
024. Fantasy Lover/Sherrilyn Kenyon (337 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (18 March), Comments: Cute story but the dialogue is juvenile and the hero's angst becomes repetitive.
025. Touch of Darkness/Christina Dodd (378 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (19 March), Comments: Starts out a bit slow but increases in pace as the quest/adventure proceeds.
026. Riding the Storm/Sydney Croft (352 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (20 March), Comments: An interesting X-Men like mythology. The sex scenes tend to overshadow the plot, though.
027. Deadly Heat/Cynthia Eden (388 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (26 March), Comments: A good romantic thriller but the first installment was better. Beware as it has some racy scenes.
028. At the Stroke of Madness/Alex Kava (384 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (31 March), Comments: Enjoyable plot, likable new characters, and intriguing motivation. However, why doesn't Maggie learn from her mistakes?
029. The Dirty Secrets Club/Meg Gardiner (352 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (4 April), Comments: Non-stop action with plenty of twists and turns and a thrilling conclusion.
030. The Search/Nora Roberts (488 pages), Rating:4/5, Status: Complete (9 April), Comments: a typical Nora story, engaging characters, good build up of tension but somewhat anticlimactic.
031. Night Pleasures/Sherrilyn Kenyon (336 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (12 April), Comments: An improvement on the first book in terms of both characters and dialogue. The elements from Greek mythology are enjoyable.
032. The Surgeon/Tess Gerritsen (416 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (15 April), Comments: Thrilling and perfectly paced plot, excellent characterization.
033. Into The Shadow/Christina Dodd (378 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (16 April), Comments: The best in the series so far.
034. Kiss of Midnight/Lara Adrian (402 pages), Rating: 3.5/4, Status: Complete (18 April), Comments: An OK read but it reminds me of why I am not a fan of vampires - too much blood sucking and flesh burning.
035. The Serpent's Tale/Ariana Franklin (371 pages), Rating:4/5, Status: Complete (19 April), Comments: Gets off to a slow start but flows once it gets going and packs a wallop at the end.
036. Texas Destiny/Lorraine Heath (384 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (21 April), Comments: A sweet romance. The first half of the book is better than the second half.
037. Deadly Lies/Cynthia Eden (369 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (22 April), Comments: A clever plot premise and a sizzling romance. My only nitpick is the obvious identity of the killer.
038. Unleashing the Storm/Sydney Croft (310 pages), Rating: 2/5, Status: Complete (23 April), Comments: Characters lack emotional attachment until the very end and then it is too little, too late.
039. Tempting the Beast/Lora Leigh (252 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (24 April), Comments: really good premise but would have been better with more plot and less sex.
040. A Necessary Evil/Alex Kava (496 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (28 April), Comments: Slow start but gains momentum as the threads come together and has a satisfying conclusion.
041. Assassin's Honor/Monica Burns (342 pages), Rating: 4.5/5, Status: Complete (30 April), Comments: Amazing plot and excellent characterization. My only small quibble is the somewhat repetitive writing style.
042. Extreme Exposure/Pamela Clare (335 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (4 May), Comments: A worthwhile read but I was not left with that satisfied feeling.
043. Kiss of Crimson/Lara Adrian (416 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (5 May), Comments: Glad I stuck with the series because this book is so much better than the first.
044. Boneyard/Michelle Gagnon (384 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (6 May), Comments: Very disappointing. No character development and the killer is way too obvious. Hopefully the next one will be better.
045. Dark Protector/Alexis Morgan (322 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (9 May), Comments: A good story and interesting characters. I'm still on the fence about the world Morgan has created.
046. Into the Flame/Christina Dodd (377 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (11 May), Comments: A satisfying end to the series.
047. The Ideal Man/Julie Garwood (352 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (13 May), Comments: Not a bad book but not a must read either.
048. Wicked Enchantment/Anya Bast (336 pages), Rating:4.5/5, Status: Complete (14 May), Comments: Imaginative plot, intricate world weaving and strong character development make this a highly entertaining read.
049. Seduced by the Storm/Sydney Croft (368 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (17 May), Comments: Best in the series so far.050. Killing Fear/Allison Brennan (421 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (20 May), Comments: One of the most evil killers I've ever read about.
051. The Man Within/Lora Leigh (236 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete (21 May), Comments: Steamy with some interesting twists at the end. 052. Phantom Evil/Heather Graham (368 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (23 May), Comments: Does not live up to its potential.
053. Eye of the Beholder/Jayne Ann Krentz (400 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete (26 May), Comments: A solid read but I was not swept away.
054. Assassin's Heart/Monica Burns (384 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (27 May), Comments: Outstanding!055. The Mercenary/Cherry Adair (250 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (28 May), Comments: A light, quick and entertaining read.
056. Heart of Evil/Heather Graham (400 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (June 2), Comments: Plot has good foundations but the execution is weak. 057. Elizabeth's Wolf/Lora Leigh (304 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (June 3): Well balanced plot.
058. Nightkeepers/Jessica Andersen (464 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, status: Complete (June 5) Great story but a bit drawn out.
059.Desire Untamed/Pamela Palmer (363 pages), Rating: 4.5/5, Status: Complete (June 7), Comments: Phenomenal story that grabs you and won't let go until the very end.060.Chasing Fire/Nora Roberts (472 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete (June 10), Comments: Begins really well but fizzles. The fire fighting scenes become tedious after a while.
061.Midnight Awakening/Lara Adrian (400 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (June 11), Comments: Best story in the series so far.
062. Cruel Enchantment/Anya Bast (336 pages), Rating: 5/5, Status: Complete (June 13), Comments: An exhilarating, heart stopping story, expert writing, a gorgeous hero and a kick ass heroine.063. Taming the Fire/Sydney Croft (308 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (June 14), Comments: Solid read but not the best.
064. Night Embrace/Sherrilyn Kenyon (408 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete (June 17), Comments: Characterization is Kenyon's strong suit and it definitely shows in this book.
065. Samson's Lovely Mortal/Tina Folsom (268 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (June 18), Comments: An engaging mix of romance, paranormal and suspense.
066. Behind Closed Doors/Shannon McKenna (430 pages), Rating: 3.5/5, Status: Complete (June 21), Obnoxious hero and irritating heroine. The book is saved by the plot.
067. Sins of the Heart/Eve Silver (377 pages), Rating: 4/5, Status: Complete (June 25), Comments: Starts slow but picks up. Great characters and plot.
MobileRead Book Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Burning Alive (other topics)Chosen Prey (other topics)
14 (other topics)
Lord of the Vampires (other topics)
Passion Untamed (other topics)
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These are the books I have read and the ones that are in progress (slow beginning)
001. Split Second (Maggie O'Dell, #2) / Alex Kava (416 pages), Rating: 3/5, Status: Complete (6 Jan), Comments: Enjoyable yet predictable.
002. Ghost Shadow / Heather Graham (400 pages), Rating: 2/5, Status: Complete (9 Jan), Comments: Hard to get into and annoying at times.