Goals for BoB 26:

4 Daily Challenges

4 IG Challenges

Participate in both chats due to new time zone

2500 pages

Monday, August 19th

Read: Nothing finished yet

Currently Reading: A Match of Wits (Ladies of Distinction #4) by Jen Turano

Reviewed: None

Daily Challenge: 

IG Challenge: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1XF6OSnelc/

Chat: Participated

Pages Read: 60/2500

Tuesday, August 20th

Read: A Match of Wits; I finished the series.

Currently Reading: Started A Body on the Beach (Sunrise Island Mystery #1) by Blythe Baker

Reviewed: None.

Daily Challenge: Adaptions Aspirations http://melissasteinman7.booklikes.com/post/1938565/bob26-daily-challenge-day-2-adaptions-aspirations

IG Challenge: Favorite Books https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZlwUzHobv/

Pages Read: 126/2500

Wednesday, August 21st

Read: A Body on the Beach

Currently Reading: Started The Secret of Seaside (Paige Comber Mystery #1) by Agatha Ball

Reviewed: Nothing

Daily Challenge: Skipped

IG Challenge: Skipped

Pages: 263/2500

Thursday, August 22nd

Read: Nothing finished

Currently Reading: The Secret of Seaside

Daily Challenge: If this, Then that

http://melissasteinman7.booklikes.com/post/1939753/bob26-day-4-if-this-then-that

IG Challenge: Favorite Genre https://www.instagram.com/p/B1e4SQEncVT/

Pages: 263/2500

Friday, August 23rd

Read: Nothing

Currently Reading: The Secret of Seaside

Reviewed: Nothing

Daily Challenge: http://melissasteinman7.booklikes.com/post/1940338/bob26-daily-challenge-day-5-i-want-this-book

IG Challenge: None

Pages: 263/2500

Saturday, August 24th

Read: The Secret of Seaside

Currently Reading: Nothing

Reviewed: A Match of Wits 

Daily Challenge: Review of A Match of Wits

IG Challenge: Book you are looking forward to reading after BoB https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kcLarniYb/

Pages: 391/2500

Chat: Participated in the morning Twitter chat

Sunday, August 25th

Read: nothing

Currently Reading: nothing

Reviewed: nothing

Daily Challenge: None given

IG Challenge: None

Wrap Up

Didn't make my page goal (16%) but I did complete all the other goals. Sunday was a bust due to my being sick (my head issues kicked into overdrive Saturday night). Looking forward to January's cycle!

At this point I am ending my summer reading and will be prepping my blog for the Halloween Bingo and fall/winter reading.

Date Published:

Format: NOOK

Source: Own copy

Date Read: August 5-20, 2019

Blurb:

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancee, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes--by hook or by crook--she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home . . . until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

***************************************************************************************************

Review

I was disappointed in this book, the last installment in the Ladies of Distinction series. Agatha Watson and Zayne Beckett have had this push-pull thing going on since book one and I was so rooting for them. This book started off with promise, but it became a slog around the 30% mark. And to keep the conflict going to fill pages, it seems every character had to take leave of their senses and intelligence. Over a year and half of searching for Agatha's stalker/potential killer and no one thought to look into her co-workers at the newspaper? The humor that added so much fun in reading the previous books felt forced in this one and had me skimming scenes; little Violet was just too much to be realistic and was more of an annoyance. The last 20% of the book did a lot to improve the story in my opinion and I was glad to see all the couples one last time.

Monday, August 5, 2019

1. Current Bank Value:$75.00

2a. Today's Roll

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-08-05 05:18:36 UTC

2b. Space 28 - Summer Romance. I chose A Match of Wits (Ladies of Distinction #4) by Jen Turano because finishing it means I am complete on two series this BL-opoly (261 pages = $3.00).

***************************************************************************************************

Saturday, August 3, 2019

1. DNF'd London Belles at 26% mark = $1.00

    Read In Perfect Time (432 pages) = $4.00

    Read All the President's Men (336 pages) = $3.00

    Read All I Am (384) = $3.00

    Passed Go! 2x = $10.00

2. Current Bank Value: $72.00

3. Today's Roll

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-08-04 03:21:06 UTC

4. Space 21 - The Cat. Since I can read anything for this space, I'm going to use the book I just finished today. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell by W. Kamau Bell is 340 pages long, adding another $3.00 to the bank. My next (and probably final) roll will be on Monday.

5. New Current Bank Value: $75.00 - this is the amount I was hoping to reach by the end of the game and a week early to boot!

**************************************************************************************************

Saturday, July 6, 2019

1. Finished A Talent for Trouble on June 30th; 264 = $3.00 to the bank

2. Current Bank Value: $51.00

3. Roll #10:  6+1 = 7 which lands me on Space 35 - Set in Europe. I choose London Belles (Article Row #1) by Annie Groves (292 pages); currently reading.

4. Fourth of July Rolls:

    1a) You rolled 2 dice:

          Timestamp: 2019-07-06 23:42:21 UTC

    1b) Space 8 - Race Car. I decided to use the card and went around to Space 34 - When? in title or historical fiction. I choose In Perfect Time (Wings of the Nightingale #3) by Sarah Sundin so that I can finish the trilogy. 432 pages. +$5.00 for passing Go.

     2a) You rolled 2 dice:

          Timestamp: 2019-07-06 23:50:17 UTC

     2b) Space 6 - Set in hometown, state, or country. I started reading All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward after the game began but need to put more effort in reading it (I am at page 47 out of 336 reading pages). Here's my opportunity! +$5.00 for passing Go.

     3a) You rolled 2 dice:

          Timestamp: 2019-07-07 00:10:17 UTC

    3b) Space 15 - Tree(s) on the cover or set in a mountain community. I choose All I Am (Farmers' Market Story #2) by Nicole Helm (384 pages).

Well, that should hold me over until my household goods arrive to our new house. Thanks MR for the extra rolls!

Tuesday, June 11th - Roll #9

1. DNF at a little over 17% (page 61) Hearts of Gold. Trigger Warning for violence and violence against women (on the page and a bit graphic). 80s romance didn't catch or keep my attention - I ended up cross stitching and binge watching season 11 of Big Bang Theory and season 3 of The Good Place rather than read the book.

2. Current Bank Value: $48.00

3. Roll #9

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-11 16:13:35 UTC

4. Space 34 - When? Time Travel, Historical Fiction, or has When? in the title. I chose A Talent for Trouble (Ladies of Distinction #3) by Jen Turano (historical romance). I really enjoy the series thus far and can count on the author to give me a great and fast read. 264 pages = $3.00 book value

Sunday, June 9th - Roll #8

1. Finished Rise of the Rocket Girls today. 326 pages = $3 to the bank.

2. Current Bank Value: $42.00

3a. Roll #8

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-09 17:16:13 UTC

3b. 

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-09 17:17:44 UTC

3c. 

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-09 17:21:25 UTC

4. So first roll, I landed on Space 32 - The Nordic Express. I have no books that fit the prompt. So I am skipping this space. Continuing on, I moved to the GO! square, pocketing $5.00. Continuing on, I move to Space 8, the Race Car and I decided to move to a space of my choosing, which is Space 28 - Summer Romance. I choose Hearts of Gold (The Hearts of California #1) by Phoebe Conn; 343 pages = $3 book value. The cover of my NOOK copy is not so 80s as the cover in BL's database. 

Wednesday, June 5th - Roll #7

1. Finished Very Strange Bedfellows last night. 365 pages = $3 to the bank.

2. Current Bank Value: $39.00

3. Roll #7

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-05 07:22:28 UTC

4. Space 27 - that has a word related to space in the title, such as star, planet, rocket. I chose Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars by Nathalia Holt. 326 NOOK pages = $3 value.

Saturday, June 1st - Roll #6

1. Finished The Dancing Lady: The Ninth Day (The 12 Days of Christmas Mail Order Brides #9) by Mimi Milan; 158 pages = $2.00 to the bank

2. Current Bank Value: $36.00

3. Roll #6

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-06-01 19:19:51 UTC

4. Space 21 - The cat: Be the cat. Read whatever the hell you want. So I chose Very Strange Bedfellows: The Short and Unhappy Marriage of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew by Jules Witcover. 365 pages (the rest is end notes and index) = $3.

Thursday, May 30 - Roll #5

1. Finished Gentleman of Her Dreams and Then Came You for a total of 239 pages and $3.00 to the bail fund.

2. Current Bank Value: $34.00

3. Roll #5

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-05-30 10:43:33 UTC

4. Space 18 - Read a Western, a book set in the West, or by an author from the region

I chose The Dancing Lady: The Ninth Day (The 12 Days of Christmas Mail Order Bride Series) by Mimi Milan, set in Colorado in 1876. 158 pages = $3.00 value.

Tuesday, May 28 - Updates and Roll #4

1. Finished reading A Change of Fortune ($3.00) and On Distant Shores ($5.00); DNF Summerset Abbey at the 25% mark (pg. 70) and taking my $1.00 + $5.00 for passing GO

2. Current Bank Value: $34.00

3. Roll #4

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-05-28 16:14:04 UTC

4. Just Visiting Space - read enough for $3.00 donation to bail fund. I'm reading Gentleman of Her Dreams (Ladies of Distinction #0.5) by Jen Turano (81 pages) and Then Came You (Bradford Sisters #0.5) by Becky Wade (158 pages).

Friday, May 24 - Memorial Day Rolls

A. Current Bank Value: $20.00

B. Used Random Dice Generator for roll #1

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-05-24 20:20:44 UTC

C. Space 35 - We Took the Ferry to France, Crossing the English Channel

I chose On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale #2) by Sarah Sundin (433 pages). It takes place in Sicily in 1943. 

D. Used Random Dice Generator for roll #2

You rolled 2 dice:

Timestamp: 2019-05-24 20:27:36 UTC

E. Space 7 - Read a book with a house on the cover

Passed GO, so when I finish this book I will add the $5.00. I chose Summerset Abbey (Summerset Abbey #1) by TJ Brown (322 pages).

Sunday, May 19th/Monday, May 20th: Day 1 of Game!

A. Current Bank Value: $20.00

B. Used Random Dice Generator

I decided to join in on TBR Thursday* so that I make sure to add new books to my "planning to read" shelf. Also, I am hoping to see if/when I do my book shopping is influenced by anything other than buying a book from my wish lists (such as in times of stress or loneliness - this deployment is in the final stretch). So here is what I have added to the pile (first ten listed on my NOOK under most recent):

If the Shoe Kills, Dressed to Kill, and Killer Run (Tourist Trap Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon because I read the first one and liked it enough to start picking up the series. I made the decision to read this cozy series over others after reading other less than awesome first books.

A Match of Wits (Ladies of Distinction #4) by Jen Turano. I really like this series of historical romance and I am working through the series. One of those 2016 challenges I am putting together for myself.

Out of Oz (Wicked Years #4) by Gregory Maguire. I think I was influenced to pick this up due to my new love for the show Once Upon A Time and my long term love with the musical Wicked. This was at sale price, so I figured I start picking up the books as they go on sale. Not planning on reading this one anytime soon; I prefer to have all the books ready to go before starting book one.

Trail of Kisses (Hot on the Trail #1) by Merry Farmer. I really love her writing and the twists she does on historical romance without going into crazy sauce. This is a new series and she put the book as free, a tactic she does with all her series (she also writes SF/F romance, which is not my bag). I still can't believe a traditional publishing house hasn't picked her up - or that she hasn't agreed to traditional publishing contract. She takes editing and proofing seriously.

Nightingales at War (The Nightingales #6) by Donna Douglas. I have picked up this series as books come up on the sale pages and now I only need book three to complete the series. This is my replacement series for Call the Midwife series (tv and book) by Jennifer Worth. I hope to knock out all six next year...just in time for book seven to come out.

The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit. I picked this one up due to my background career in the military (Nuc/Rad, Bio, and Chemical warfare defense) and just sheer whim. There is a lot of hype surrounding this book so I hope I am not disappointed.

The Widow of Larkspur Inn (The Gresham Chronicles #1) by Lawana Blackwell. Honestly, I picked this book up because it was on sale and the cover (not the one shown in the BL database) was beautiful.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts. Because when Nora goes on sale, you betcha I will pick it up - no questions or qualms.

This Wicked Gift (Carhart Series #.5) and Trial by Desire (Carhart Series #2) by Courtney Milan. I already had book one, so I picked up the other two to start the series in January, followed by the Brother Sinsters series so that I have 10 months of reading Milan. Yep, another reading challenge.

Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and Emma - picked up these for free to do my Austen challenge. I might add Lady Susan to the list. I also picked up for free Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte so I can start my Bronte sisters challenge as soon as the Austen challenge is complete. These challenges will take me deep into 2016. I hate looking for these books in the database so I didn't bother attaching book covers to this post.

*thanks to Moonlight Reader for starting this meme

Put aside the dukes, rakes, rogues, earls, and scoundrels of the English ballroom. Pick up a romance novel set during the Reign of Terror/French Revolution years. Let the uber angst begin!

Summary:

The injured young woman Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat. And in the midst of France's bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.

Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke's daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be….

Review:

This book is pretty high on the preachy scale (probably a 5-6 on a 1-10 scale) for me, yet it still worked for me. Forgiveness (of oneself, others, and the people responsible for Revolution) is the big theme of the book.

The history was greatly done, especially Michel's feelings of bitter disappointment after the Revolution did not fulfill the many promises it made to peasants.

However, the characters are all those you can root for out of the gate. Fully fleshed out and great realistic dialogue (could do with the half-hearted French sayings though). A bit suspenseful for a Harlequin Historical inspirational.

The ending is so totally Harlequin and is a little too neatly wrapped up, but I didn't mind since I was taken on a long bitter journey of forgiveness of two people who were genuinely good to each other and those around them.

Needs one more round of proof reading (NOOK copy) - there were punctuation errors and a few choses wrong words (county rather than country). I expect higher standards from Harlequin and the proof problems were noticeable at first glance.

4.5 solid. I would recommend this book so much, as long as the person I am recommending to can handle a good amount of prayer and Bible verses. I am going to archive this one (keeper shelf).