I started 2018 with absolutely no expectations for myself except to try to read. I had no idea how many books I was going to read, I just wanted to read. I wasn’t planning on reading new authors, new genres, new anything really. If I did, that was great. 2018 turned out to be much better than I anticipated, especially toward the end (December notwithstanding).
I found a lot of new authors. I highly enjoyed loved loved our Summer Reading Challenge because I was introduced to Ilona Andrews. Although Sarina Bowen didn’t take at that time, I decided to give her another try and am glad I did. I loved Patricia Briggs. Those aren’t the only new-to-me authors. Nalini Singh didn’t make my Best Of lists which hasn’t happened since, well, since she first burst onto the romance scene. That has seriously affected me.
I got over my allergy of first person! I’m so glad I did because I am really liking alternating first person. It’s really just like third but a little better actually. Most of the books I read in the second half of the year were in first person. I’m actually very proud of myself for that. There was a lot that I was missing by not reading first person.
Quick Stats for the Year
eARCs Read: 21 | Books Reviewed: 70 | Audiobooks Read: 16
Pages Read: 25446 | Time Listened: 150 hours, 18 minutes
Debut Reads: 1 | Backlist Reads: 41
New to Me Authors: 10
The Breakdown
For some reason, my books by month don’t match my GR stats. I’m stymied.
By Month
- January 2018 (2)
- February 2018 (3)
- March 2018 (2)
- April 2018 (4)
- May 2018 (1)
- June 2018 (7)
- July 2018 (5)
- August 2018 (6)
- September 2018 (15)
- October 2018 (14)
- November 2018 (5)
- December 2018 (7)
By Genre
- Contemporary (33)
- Historical (0)
- New Adult (0)
- Paranormal (20)
- Romantic Suspense (5)
- Urban Fantasy (13)
- Young Adult (2)
By Format
- Hardcover (0)
- Paperback (0)
- Audiobook (16)
- eBook (57)
Monthly Breakdown
January
Books Reviewed
Books Read
Year One by Nora Roberts
Judgement Road by Christine Feehan
Favorite and Least Favorite
I was really excited to read Year One by Nora Roberts, but I was also disappointed. My favorite book of the two was Judgement Road by Christine Feehan. I loved the characters and although it had a few things I didn’t care for, overall I really enjoyed it.
February
Books Reviewed
- Memories of Us (Hearts of the South #5) by Linda Winfree
- Year One (Chronicles of The One #1) by Nora Roberts
- Blood Fury by J.R. Ward
- Abandon the Night by Colleen Gleason
- The Girl Most Likely To... by Susan Donovan
- Devil's Cut by J.R. Ward
Books Read
Devil’s Cut by J.R. Ward
Blood Fury by J.R. Ward
Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh
Favorite and Least Favorite
I was disappointed by both Devil’s Cut by J.R. Ward and Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh. By default by favorite of the month is Blood Fury by J.R. Ward.
March
Books Reviewed
Books Read
Covert Game by Christine Feehan
Shadow Keeper by Christine Feehan
Favorite and Least Favorite
My favorite book was Covert Game. It bums me out that there is only one GhostWalker book per year.
April
Books Reviewed
- Covert Game by Christine Feehan
- Warrior by Angela Knight
- Dark Legacy (Dark, #31) by Christine Feehan
- Storm Gathering by Rebecca Zanetti
Books Read
Dark Legacy by Christine Feehan
Storm Gathering by Rebecca Zanetti
Winter Igniting by Rebecca Zanetti
The Thief by J.R. Ward
Favorite and Least Favorite
My favorite reads were definitely the Rebecca Zanetti books. I was surprised that Winter Igniting came in before Storm Gathering.
May
Books Reviewed
- Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
- Winter Igniting by Rebecca Zanetti
- Shadow Keeper by Christine Feehan
- Evermore by Lynn Viehl
Books Read
Fated by Rebecca Zanetti
Favorite and Least Favorite
Is there really anything to say here? ONE book.
June
Books Reviewed
- Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr
- The Thief by J.R. Ward
- Fated (Dark Protectors, #1) by Rebecca Zanetti
- Ocean Light by Nalini Singh
Books Read
Claimed by Rebecca Zanetti
Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti
Ocean Light by Nalini Singh
The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter
Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti
Twisted by Rebecca Zanetti
Shadowed by Rebecca Zanetti
Favorite and Least Favorite
I can’t choose a favorite out of all the amazing books I read. There is just no way.
July
Books Reviewed
- The Darkest Warrior (Lords of the Underworld, #14) by Gena Showalter
- Claimed (Dark Protectors, #2) by Rebecca Zanetti
- Hunted (Dark Protectors, #3) by Rebecca Zanetti
- The Year We Hid Away (The Ivy Years, #2) by Sarina Bowen
- Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) by Rebecca Zanetti
- Provoked (Dark Protectors, #5) by Rebecca Zanetti
Books Read
Shadowed by Rebecca Zanetti
Marked by Rebecca Zanetti
Vampire’s Faith by Rebecca Zanetti
The Year We Hid Away by Sarina Bowen
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Favorite and Least Favorite
My favorite read of the month was definitely The Deal by Elle Kennedy. Loved, loved, loved it.
August
Books Reviewed
- Marked (Dark Protectors, #7) by Rebecca Zanetti
- Shadowed (Dark Protectors, #6) by Rebecca Zanetti
- Sustained (The Legal Briefs, #2) by Emma Chase
- Dark Warrior Unleashed (Talions, #1) by Alexis Morgan
- Dark Slayer (Dark, #17) by Christine Feehan
- The Deal (Off-Campus, #1) by Elle Kennedy
- Vampire's Faith (Dark Protectors, #8) by Rebecca Zanetti
Books Read
Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan
Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Cross Breed by Lora Leigh
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (audio)
Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti
Favorite and Least Favorite
I loved every book except for the Feehan. That one was just meh. I am also so happy that I finally “read” Harry Potter. The narrator was really good and the eight hours flew by while I was listening. My favorite book of the month is a cross between Cry Wolf and Cross Breed with Hidden coming in next.
September
Books Reviewed
- Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs
- Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
- Order of Protection (Courting Justice #1) by Lexi Blake
- Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, #1) by Ilona Andrews
- Dark Sentinel (Dark #28) by Christine Feehan
- Hope's Folly (Dock Five Universe, #3) by Linnea Sinclair
- Cross Breed (Breeds, #23) by Lora Leigh
- Hidden (Deep Ops, #1) by Rebecca Zanetti
- The Woman Left Behind (GO-Team, #2) by Linda Howard
- Born to Be Wilde (The Wildes of Lindow Castle, #3) by Eloisa James
Books Read
Order of Protection by Lexi Blake
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (audio)
Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard (audio)
Monster in the Closet by Karen Rose (audio)
White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne (audio)
Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne (audio)
Someone Like You by Lauren Layne
Consumed by J.R. Ward
Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen (audio)
Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh
Favorite and Least Favorite
I can easily say that my very least favorite read of the month was Consumed by J.R. Ward. I wish I didn’t care, but I wasted precious time reading that book. My favorite reads were definitely all the Ilona Andrews & the two Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy reads. Those two are an ace team. I heart them. Here’s to hoping that October is as good as September!
October
Books Reviewed
- Monster in the Closet (Baltimore, #5) by Karen Rose
- Consumed (Firefighters, #1) by J.R. Ward
- Cry No More by Linda Howard
- Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne
- Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, #3) by Ilona Andrews
- I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne
Books Read
Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter
Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh
Rock Hard by Nalini Singh
Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh
Rock Wedding by Nalini Singh
Steadfast by Sarina Bowen (audio)
Keepsake by Sarina Bowen (audio)
Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Seduction in Session by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Bountiful by Sarina Bowen (audio)
Big Easy Temptation by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (audio)
Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen (audio)
Smoke and Sin by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Favorite and Least Favorite
My very, very, very favorite book of the month was Seduction in Session by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake. Wow. This writing team is dynamite. Surprisingly, one of my least favorite books was Bountiful by Sarina Bowen. I was really looking forward to reading Zara’s book, but it just didn’t do it for me. I was highly disappointed by Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter because I’ve come to expect only the very best from her.
November
Books Reviewed
- Someone like You by Lauren Layne
- Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen
- Steadfast by Sarina Bowen
- Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss, #1) by Nalini Singh
- Rock Hard (Rock Kiss, #2) by Nalini Singh
- Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss, #3) by Nalini Singh
- Rock Wedding (Rock Kiss, #4) by Nalini Singh
- Keepsake by Sarina Bowen
- Bountiful by Sarina Bowen
- Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Us (Him, #2) by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1) by Nalini Singh
- Scandal Never Sleeps (The Perfect Gentlemen, #1) by Shayla Black, Lexi Blake
- Seduction in Session (The Perfect Gentlemen, #2) by Shayla Black, Lexi Blake
- Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen, #3) by Shayla Black, Lexi Blake
Books Read
Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven (audiobook)
Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen (audiobook)
Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh (reread on audio)
Mornings on Main by Jodi Thomas
Archangel’s Prophecy by Nalini Singh (audiobook)
Favorite and Least Favorite
My favorite book in November was Archangel’s Heart and I don’t even care that it was a reread. I adore that book. Love it. I would marry it if I could. My least favorite, hands down, was Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen. Holy hell, the heroine of that book was horrific. I loved the hero which honestly made the whole thing worse.
December
Books Reviewed
- Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh
- Smoke and Sin (The Perfect Gentlemen, #4) by Shayla Black, Lexi Blake
- Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen
- Mornings on Main by Jodi Thomas
- Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One, #2) by Nora Roberts
Books Read
Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan
Hate Note by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward (audiobook)
Worth the Fight by Vi Keeland (audiobook)
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren (audiobook)
Too Far Gone by Christy Reece
Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
Demon’s Mercy by Rebecca Zanetti
Favorite and Least Favorite
My favorite read of the month was definitely Demon’s Mercy by Rebecca Zanetti. I just adore the Dark Protectors series. My least favorite was Worth the Fight by Vi Keeland. I’m not really sure if it was because the audio was so horrific or because it was actually a bad story. I’ve thought about reading it, but I don’t really care that much about it.
Do you track your reading each year? How did your year in books look? Share in the comments!
Wow, Casee, what an impressive post! As for me, I don’t track my reading; I simply read and enjoy.
Casee! I also got over my allergy to 1st person. And like you, I love alternating 1st person. So many of the sports romances I love are written that way, Though I think I still prefer 3rd person. And I’m so glad you seem to be over your long slump 🙂