BookLikes Snakes and Ladders | Dice Roll #4

Well, it seems that I'm lagging behind a bit in this game, still hovering at the beginning of the board, though at least I'm on the third row now.  I was never lucky with this game when I was younger, though in truth, we played it as 'Chutes and Ladders', so I was hoping my cruddy luck with that version wouldn't roll over to this version.  But alas!  No ladders yet, and apparently I'm taking my sweet time with reading my books.

And then, as I'd mentioned before, I'm stubborn enough to search out specific books that will fit each square's prompt... at least until I can't.  I will rue the day I land on '95. Memoir' or '56. Published more than 100 years ago.'  I don't have immediate possibilities for these squares... not that I couldn't find them.  It's stuff like 'someone travels by plane,' or 'someone travels by train,' that may take a bit more research.

Anyway, I've finished reading two other books that I'm saving for possible future squares.  It's entirely possible, they'll just end up being used for the sake of being used.

And so here's the next update, now that I've finished reading Etiquette & Espionage!  A lovely book that took place in an elongated dirigible of a finishing school.  This book was so much fun!  I will have a review out soon.

BookLikes Snakes and Ladders

hosted by Moonlight Reader & Obsidian Blue

Rules/Gameplay | Q&A | Master List of Players

My next roll got me a 9, bringing me to Square 28: 'Set during WWI or WWII.'

I'm... going to take some liberties with this one.  Since this isn't a very restrictive game, I'm going to go ahead and insert Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld into this square.  Leviathan is an alternate reality steampunk fantasy that takes place during World War I.  Or at least it seems that World War I is brewing as the book progresses.

Of course, my only disadvantage is that I'm currently listening to this as an audio book, which usually takes me longer to finish than print books do.  Although truthfully, I'm not really too concerned with that, as I'll probably have hoarded a few more books to insert into future squares I may land on by then.  Then maybe I can just roll about three or four times in a row.  And also, I'm already halfway through the book and things are starting to get interesting (finally), so maybe I'll finish it earlier than I think I'd first thought.

Currently Reading

Books Hoarded Read For Future Square Use

My Progress

Dates for each dice roll corresponds with respective update post.
Book titles link to reviews if written.
Completed books' covers (read and used for squares) following table.

Date	Dice Roll	Square/Prompt	Book Title / Author	Fits Square?
02/20	na	1.  Author is a woman	Sweet Release by Pamela Clare	Yes
02/22 (#1)	(2 + 4) 6	7.  Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D.	Carnal Gift by Pamela Clare	Yes
02/24 (#2)	(2 + 3) 5	12.  Author's last name begins with the letters T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z.	SEAL for Her Protection by Paige Tyler	Yes
02/27 (#3)	(2 + 4) 6	18. Set in a school	Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger	Yes
03/09 (#4)	(4 + 5) 9	27. Set during WWI or WWII	Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld	Yes
TBA
TBA
TBA

Reading Update for Furry Logic | Chapter 2

Furry Logic: The Physics of Animal Life

by Matin Durrani & Liz Kalaugher

~ Goodreads ~


Chapter 2: Forces: The Big Push

It's interesting how much physics can be used to describe certain animal characteristics--stuff that you probably don't think much about if you were strictly a biologist.  As I've mentioned before, this book is pretty informative, and I found the sections about the gecko and the trap jaw ant the most engrossing.

Though while I'm finding this book an easy read, it doesn't escape my notice that the chapters meander a lot from one subject to another.  The subject transitions aren't exactly smooth, and I sometimes find myself a little lost.

Meanwhile, I found this tidbit the most interesting:

'When you squirt a gecko with water, the water just flies off,' says Stark.  'It's really hard to wet a gecko.  The toe-pads are superhydrophobic and you can see the water beaded on top.'  In extremely wet conditions, the same property that makes the water bead up creates small pockets of air around gecko feet, according to Stark.  'If you push a foot that's really water-repellent through water, you've now got an air bubble around that material so that when they press down they stay dry and can make that close contact still.'

I would love some of that gecko trait in my next rain coat, please.

Here's a bit of ScienceNews I stumbled across while doing a cursory search of gecko's and their water-repellent feet:

Brief Thoughts: Thunder on the Right

Thunder on the Right

by Mary Stewart

~ Goodreads ~

Rating:  3.0 Stars

Artist Jennifer Silver has come to the picturesque, secluded Valley of the Storms in the French Pyrenees to meet with a young cousin who is about to enter the convent there — only to discover that the young woman has died in a dreadful car accident.  Or did she?

Lies abound in this strange and frightening place, but seeking the truth could lead Jennifer to her own violent death.

This was probably not the better of the Mary Stewart books I've previously read, though to be honest, I had chosen to read this book based on random accessibility, whereas I went out of my way to pick a couple of Stewart's more widely loved novels to begin with before this one.  The truth is, this book was sort of filled with a lot of over dramatic scenes as the book progressed, which is a pity since the premise, the introduction, and the writing were all excellent to begin with.

Meanwhile, the characters didn't really do much for me, nor did the barely existent romance.

I will say, this book had a great sense of forward movement, as there was action and anticipation almost at every scene's end, so there was no dallying in that respect.  This book started in on the story and just kept moving forward; coupled with the well-written, yet somewhat purple-y prose, it made for a rather easy to read experience.

Nonetheless, I don't think I've come across a Mary Stewart novel I didn't like, and this one is no different.  It may not have been her best, but it certainly was entertaining.

Brief Thoughts: Ride the Fire

Ride the Fire

by Pamela Clare
Book 3 (final) of Blakewell/Kenleigh Family trilogy

~ Goodreads ~

Rating:  4.0  Stars

Sometimes survival isn't just about staying alive...

Widowed and alone on the frontier, Elspeth Stewart will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her unborn child from the dangers of the wilderness and of men.  Though her youthful beauty doesn't show it, she is broken and scarred from the way men have treated her.  So when a stranger wanders onto Bethie's land, wounded and needing her aid, she takes no risks, tying him to the bed and hiding his weapons before ministering to his injuries.

But Bethie's defenses cannot keep Nicholas Kenleigh from breaking down her emotional walls.  The scars on his body speak of a violent past, but his gentleness, warmth, and piercing eyes arouse longings in her that she never imagined she had.  As Nicholas and Bethie reveal to each other both their hidden desires and their tortured secrets, they discover that riding the flames of their passion might be the key to burning away the nightmare of their pasts.

Whether it was because of the non-stop action, or the survival story line, Ride the Fire ended up being my favorite of the three Blakewell/Kenleigh Family trilogy books.  Nicholas ended up being my favorite of the three heroes presented in this trilogy.  Bethie, on the other hand, was really standard for a romance novel heroine, as a damsel in distress, and the kindhearted, innocent angel.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the romance in this book more than I did the previous two books.  In a way, the two main characters were more on equal footing at the beginning, with Bethie not knowing Nicholas's true identity, only knowing that he's a trapper and frontiersman.  Unlike the previous two books, there was no sense that one party had more power than the other, that one side was more subordinate to the other.  Aside from all the kept secrets, the two of them seemed to get along quite sincerely and honestly.

Meanwhile, Ride the Fire also seemed more like an adventurous journey, as we followed our main couple through the frontier towards the east back to safer ground, away from the wars and battles between the Indians, the frontiersmen, and the British army.

In spite of the book being first and foremost a romance, this was also quite fun to follow.  In a way, it also kind of reminded me of one of Pamela Clare's contemporary romantic suspense novels, Breaking Point, if only because the main couple spends a good chunk of time trying to survive the harsh wilderness while avoiding human predators.  And the danger just never seemed to let up.

As I'd stated the adventure part really drew me in, and to be frank, after the two reach civilization, the book kind of plateaus.  And the battle scenes were pretty well-outlined, to be honest.  The romantic angst might have been overdone a bit.  And finally, the ending managed to wrench some FEELS out of me.  The reunion scene between Nicholas and his family was all sorts of heart-warming--kudos!

I really, really enjoyed reading this book.  And a lot more of the typical Pamela Clare style is starting to shine through--at least what I'm familiar with from what I've already read of her books.

Reading Update for Furry Logic | Intro and Chapter 1

Furry Logic: The Physics of Animal Life

by Matin Durrani & Liz Kalaugher

~ Goodreads ~


Introduction:  Furry Physics
Chapter 1: Heat: The Warm-Up Chapter

I've been swamped with books and some non-bookish activities lately, so I hadn't really had time to make any updates, even though I've been thinking about it.

Mainly, I'm finding that Furry Logic isn't too bad, reading-wise.  It's an extremely chatty book with some rather lame attempts at humor, but ultimately, it's quite informative.  Unlike some of the previous Flat Book Society reads, I like that this book is more focused on its subject, despite the outline being a little meandering.

Colleagues and other biologists, as well as other persons of interests are mentioned here and there, and their contribution to the subject at hand is talked about.  But the authors refrain from inserting too much of their own interpretations of these people's personal lives, which I appreciate.

Overall, I AM finding this book rather informative and easy to read.  The badly executed humor is probably the biggest of this book's problems.  Otherwise, I'm finding this book pretty interesting in some aspects.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? | 3/4/2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself.  It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile!  So welcome in everyone.  This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey.  Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.  And here we are!

This week's 'It's Monday?' is a bit lackluster, but that's just because there hasn't been a lot of activity outside of BookLikes Snakes and Ladders and a bit of reading.  I was hoping to have Thunder on the Right finished this past weekend, both because I need to have the book turned in within the next few days, and because I wanted to add it to my numbers of what I read last week.  But I got distracted.  I suspect I'll have the book finished by tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest, depending on how readily I let myself get distracted again--there isn't a whole lot left to read, but I've got some non-reading plans and activities going on, drat them.

Meanwhile, I started reading a whole slew of books, so I figure I'd finish those eventually and feel much more productive!

What I Read Last Week

What I'm Currently Reading

What I'm Planning to Read Next

Other Plans On the Blog

So, I highly doubt that I'll actually be starting any new reads this coming week, what with my little line-up of current reads.  But the proposed three books above are what I'm looking at next on my list.  After I finish Thunder on the Right, I'm determined to focus on Etiquette & Espionage--of which I've enjoyed the first two chapters and am eager to slide back into it.  Furry Logic seems a easy to read book and I have no complaints about it so far, outside of it being a bit chatty with some rather lame attempts at jokes, but otherwise, it's been quite informative.  Unfortunately, as a non-fiction book, I usually have to take those in small doses as I read.

I will have one review ready to post soon, and if I can finish Etiquette & Espionage in a timely manner, I get to roll again for BookLikes Snakes and Ladders!  I'm totally looking forward to that.  Otherwise, that's about it for this coming week, and maybe as each of my current reads drop off my list, I'll have more reviews ready to go.

Monthly Reading Wrap Up -- February 2019

Ahh...  February was a great month for reading.  More in tune with my usual numbers, even if not quite there yet.  I'm super happy about that especially since there was at least one book that was kind of slow going, and a lot of side distractions.  But with BookLikes Snakes and Ladders starting up, it makes a person want to finish books so what you can roll again for a new prompt.

The excitement is real!

In other news, we are done hosting my brothers doggy at our home, and after three weeks, Yogi will be going home.  I've become a little attached to him, so I'm really going to miss having him around the house.

I suppose we'll just have to visit at some point in the future, though that'll take some vacation planning since they live in a different state.

At least Baby can stop being jealous now.

February Reads

Books Dropped/Put On Hold

DROPPED

Currently Reading

February Reading Stats

Total works read: 11

• 11 print/e-book novels

Average rating: 3.41 Stars

• Highest Rated:  3 books // 4.0 Stars
• (1) Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
• (2) Lie by Moonlight by Amanda Quick
• (3) Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare
• Lowest Rated:  SEAL for Her Protection by Paige Tyler // 2.0 Stars

Series I started reading:

• Copper Ridge by Maisey Yates
• Nikolai duology by Leigh Bardugo
• SEALs of Coronado by Paige Tyler

Series I completed:

• Vanza by Amanda Quick
• Blakewell/Kenleigh Family trilogy by Pamela Clare

Series I have made progress on:

• Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith
• Discworld by Terry Pratchett

Favorite reads:  The truth is, I didn't have any overly favorite books for February, but I did find a few particular books extra enjoyable, so I'm going with that.  The last books of the two series I finished this month, Lie by Moonlight by Amanda Quick, and Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare were exceptionally likable.  And I also enjoyed King of Scars, Lethal White, and Equal Rites.

Disappointing reads:  I was more or less disappointed with King of Scars as well, if only because I might have over-hyped myself and it wasn't what I'd expected.  I could probably say the same of SEAL for Her Protection, but to be honest, I didn't know what to expect from it.  Then there was Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick, which, despite having some of the usual Amanda Quick charm, wasn't exactly her best in work.

Reviews & Notable Posts

Reviews Written

• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
• Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates
• Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
• King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
• The Ebony Swan by Phyllis A. Whitney
• Vanza series by Amanda Quick
• Sweet Release by Pamela Clare
• Carnal Gift by Pamela Clare
• SEAL for Her Protection by Paige Tyler

Memes

• It's Monday! What are you reading? | 2/4/2019
• It's Monday! What are you reading? | 2/11/2019
• It's Monday! What are you reading? | 2/18/2019
• It's Monday! What are you reading? | 2/25/2019

Other Posts

• Starting: King of Scars
• BookLikes Snakes and Ladders | Let's Do This!
• BookLikes Snakes and Ladders | Dice Roll #1
• BookLikes Snakes and Ladders | Dice Roll #2
• BookLikes Snakes and Ladders | Dice Roll #3

Coming Up In March

Tentative TBR

Other Stuff

I haven't decided all the books I'll be reading in March yet, but the above are fairly certain.  One, because I just checked out Untouchable from the e-book library, so it will get read.  Two books for my Amanda Quick / Professor AuthorLuv Reading Assignment reads.  And two historical books chosen so far for the Professor Genre Reading Assignment reads.  I'm considering employing a random book draw for the last of the Professor Genre historical picks... mainly because I have at least three books I'm interested in reading and I can't seem to decide which one.

But, that's right!  We've got BookLikes Snakes and Ladders going, so obviously I'll be able to employ the game to help me choose what book to read next, right?  At least I hope so.

Lots of plans for this month including continuous updates for BL-SnL, continued 'It's Monday!' updates, and a few reviews being drafted and planned for posting.

I think I'm getting back into the groove of blogging, and I certainly hope this lasts for some time!

2018 Wrap-Ups 

Past Monthly Reading Wrap Ups (2016 / 2017)
See Also: 2015 Reading Wrap-Up posts (scroll to bottom of page)

(updated as year progresses by month)
January | February | March | April | May | June
July | August | September | October | November | December