2018 Reading Stats

I got this end of the Year reading stats from Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner

**2018 READING STATS**

Number Of Books You Read: 291
Number of Re-Reads: 0
Genre You Read The Most From: Cozy Mysteries

 Best In Books 

1. Best Book You Read In 2018?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2018 release vs. backlist)

Thief of  Corinth by Tessa Afshar

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

In a good way- The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Santa Fe Mourning by Amanda Allen  

 5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

Best Series Ender- An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

 Shannon McNear

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

 Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason

 9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

 The Lacemarker by Laura Frantz

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

 Barclay Pearce

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

 Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillian

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

 Most Thought Provoking- The Librarians Guide to Homelessness by Ryan J Dowd   (had to read for work)

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? 

 Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

“One’s true friends are revealed in a calamity such as this.” The Lacemarker by Laura Frantz

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Shortest book- Because I Love you by Max Lucado

Longest book- Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

How I did this: Went to my read books on Goodreads and sorted by page number and just looked for what I knew I read this year that was the shortest and longest.

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Called to Protect by Lynette Eason

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

 Rose McNeil and Oliver Thorne

 from Rose In Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillian

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

 Cat and Shanua from Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

 The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

 The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson  

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

 Thomas Bledsoe from The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

 Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Hearts of Iron by Ashley Poston

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

 A toss up between Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox and The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?

 Called to Protect by Lynette Eason

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

 Nickolas Claus: Ghosts of Christmas Past by Kelly Creagh

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 Don’t Forget me by Victoria Stevens

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

 The Reader’s Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer (had to read for work)

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

  Your bookish/blogging Life 

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?

 Rose Reads

2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?

 Christmas Past, Present and Future 

3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018:

View this post on Instagram

Escaping Houdini third book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. Not my favorite of the series that belongs to Hunting Prince Dracula. I spent half the book wanting to yell at one character while wanting to hug another. #stalkingjacktheripperseries #kerrimaniscalco can’t what for the fourth book.

A post shared by Carissa (@belovedgraceful) on Oct 19, 2018 at 4:53pm PDT

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

 Being apart of Tessa Afshar's street team for the release of Thief of Corinth 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?

Being able to be part of a few blog tours this year.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Finding time to read and blog while balancing work life with a personal life.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

 Christmas Past, Present and Future

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 WWII Personal Post

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Modern Mrs Darcy

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

My normal goodreads goal.

 Looking Ahead 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

 Room for Cream: A Maya Davis novel by Erynn Mangum 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz 

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 Don't have one 

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?

 Code of Valor by Lynnette Eason 

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?

 Do more book related post that aren't always book reviews. 

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

Top Reads of 2018

I've yet to read a book of hers that I haven't loved. 

This book reminded me of the TV show Blood Blues. 

This was my favorite of the series. I just love Barclay 

The Heroines favorite drink is also my favorite drink. This book gave me my new favorite OTP

Gave me Nancy Drew feels 

Loved this retelling of Oliver Twist 

She's fast becoming a favorite author of mine

No Matter when I read her books, its always the right time. 

This is the first historical fiction that I've read about what happened to survivors of the French Revolution 

My first book by this author, but it will not be  my last.  This book was a new twist on Colonial Frontier Novels. Looking at a different ethnic group that followed the Wilderness trail to Kentucky.
A Few favorite Novellas I've read this year   I love Amber's sweet stories

 Such a sweet story as well as  a Hallmark movie

 Loved this retelling of A Christmas Carol

 Loved Kelly's twist in this Christmas story

Reading this week

Finished last two weeks

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox

Nickolas Claus: Ghosts of Christmas Past by Kelly Creagh

The Librarians and the Pot of Gold by Greg Cox

The Novel Art of Murder by V.M. Burns

Alabama Spitfire by Bethany Hegedus

 Who I am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

 Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

 The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon

A Moment in Crime by Amanda Allen

Reading

Non-fiction reading

Classic

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

All Made Up by Kara Isaac

Room for Cream by Erynn Mangum

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

A Moment in Crime by Amanda Allen

Reviewing

Devotional reading

When God Calls the Heart at Christmas by Brian Bird

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Death and Daisies

Title: Death and Daisies

Author: Amanda Flower

Series: A Magic Garden Mystery book 2

 

Chapters: 37 plus epilogue

Pages: 307

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Death and Daisies is the second A Magic Garden Mystery by Amanda Flower. Fiona Knox is settling to live in Duncreigan Scotland preparing to open her Flower Shop The Climbing Rose when her sister   Isla shows up on her doorstep.   To make matters worse the body of the parish minster is found washed up on the beach. It's no secret that he didn't like Fiona.  Fiona is bound and determined to prove no only that she didn't kill the minster but find his killer, but to make her flower shop a success. And to find out what's going on with her younger sister. It's not going to be easy.

I enjoyed this book more than the first, probably because as the second book it flows faster because the setting and the characters are already established.  Fiona is an easy character to relate to.  I can relate to the whole being 9 to 10 years older than your younger sister who's just finished college, because I'm 9 years older than my sister who just finished college this year and she like Isla doesn't really know what she wants to do with life.  The village and the villagers are how I picture a small village in Scotland being like. But I have to say that I didn't see that twist at the end coming.  

This book is great for cozy mystery fans as well as fans of book series set in Scotland.  I look forward to the next book in this series as well as more books by this author. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of A Scandal in Scarlet

Title: A Scandal in Scarlet

Author: Vicki Delany

Series: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop book 4

 

Chapters:

Pages:

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 3.5 stars

A Scandal in Scarlet is the fourth book in the A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series by Vicki Delany. Gemma Doyle has promised herself and her police detective boyfriend that she will quit getting involved in trying to solve mysteries.  But when she is the one to find the West London Museum in flames while out walking her dog violet one evening, and with following events, she finds herself in the middle of another mystery.  

This is a fast paced cozy mystery with a Sherlock Holmes like Detective in Gemma Doyle. whose brain works almost like Sherlock Holmes.  I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first books in the series but it was still an enjoyable read.  Fans of Sherlock Holmes, cozy mysteries about bookshops will enjoy this one.  And even though I didn't love it I still look forward to new books in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of The Christmas Star

Title:  The Christmas Star

Author: Donna VanLiere

Series: Christmas Hope book 9

 

Chapters: 39

Pages: 226

Genre: Christmas

Rating: 4 stars

The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere is the ninth book in the Christmas Hope series. It is a sweet Christmas romance with a seven-year-old matchmaker named Bella.  She takes it upon herself to match up Gabe the maintenance man with Amy a volunteer at Glory's Place.  But Amy just so happens to be Gabe's ex-wife and they didn't end on a good note.  Can these two forgive the past and look to the future to give a seven-year-old the gift she wants for Christmas.

I enjoyed this Halllmark Channel movie like book, that would actually make a great Christmas movie.  Donna VanLiere has become along with Debbie Macomber my go to for sweet Christmas Romances.  The books are short sweet reads that pack a punch but in a good way.  And I always look forward to them every year. 

Review of 'Twas The Knife Before Christmas

Title: ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas

Author: Jacqueline Frost

Series: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery book 2

 

Chapters: 25

Pages: 309

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Christmas

Rating: 4 stars

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas is the second book in the A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series by Jacqueline Frost we are back in Mistletoe Maine for another Christmas season with Holly White and the rest of Mistletoe. When Holly finds herself involved in another murder. This time it’s not Holly or her dad as the prime suspect instead it’s her best friend Caroline as the prime suspect. Holly is determined to clear her friends name and find the real murderer even if the town's sheriff doesn't want her involved. 

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas combines two of my favorite book genres into one book; Christmas stories and cozy mysteries. It was neat getting to return to town in Maine for the Christmas season. As well as seeing lovable characters again.  This is a sweet cozy Christmas mystery that is just perfect to read with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night.  I loved the character in the book that Caroline thought was Santa Claus though to Holly he's just the guy that her parents hired to build the inn.  Even if none of his employees are over 5 feet is Holly going to entertain the possibility that Christopher is indeed Santa Claus.  

Though I read this towards the beginning of November I recommend you read it in December. This book is perfect for those reads who love cozy mysteries and Christmas.  I hope that next year's Christmas season bring a new book in the series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Winter TBR (December, January, February)

Rereads

The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz

Finish

Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox

Nickolas Claus: Ghosts of Christmas Past by Kelly Creagh

Hearts of Iron by Ashley Poston

Read

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

The Liberians and the Pot of Gold by Greg Cox

Room for Cream by Erynn Mangum

All Made up by Kara Isaac

Code of Valor by Lynette Eason