2018 Reading Year in Review: Casee

Posted January 23, 2019 by Casee in Features | 2 Comments

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

The Breakdown

For some reason, my books by month don’t match my GR stats. I’m stymied.

By Month

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

Dark Needs at Night's Edge (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole

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

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

Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

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

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

Books Read

Fated by Rebecca Zanetti

Favorite and Least Favorite

Is there really anything to say here? ONE book.

June

Books Reviewed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!