Year In Review - Favorites of 2017

This year I read six less books than last year, and maybe these lovelies played a part, but totally worth it!  Two grand sons joined the family this summer. Cameron joined brother Cole.  Milo joined sisters Janessa and Nora.

First Book of the year:  Last Book of the year:



Total Read: 230

Fiction - 229
Non Fiction - 1
Audio - 97
Young Adult - 10
Debut Books - 11
Men - 25
Women - 131
Repeat Authors:
James Patterson - 7
Jill Shalvis - 4
Karen White - 4
Katy Evans - 5
Lori Foster - 5
Meghan March - 4


New to Me Authors - 70
Shortest book - The Deal of A Lifetime 66 pages
Longest Book - Blood Vow by J.R. Ward 487 pages
Oldest Book - 1989 Hot Touch by Deborah Smith
Longest Audio - Mississippi Blood 28 hours
Shortest Audio - Love and Always  2.5 hours

Stand Alone Books - 86

Where I Read: 41 of 50 States, Australia, Belize,  Canada, Cuba,  England,  France,  Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Romania, Russia, Scotland,  and Sweden

Genres: 23 with the most in suspense/thriller, romance and contemporary

Here are a few of my favorites that I read/listened in 2017:


Adult Fiction



Debut Fiction


New To Me Authors



Audio Books



Narrators:
January LaVoy:



Terry Schnaulbelt:


Scott Brick:



My first book for 2018 will be The Midnight Line by Lee Child

Year End Survey

December in Review

Titles Read:
A Snow Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller (audio)
An Ounce of Hope by Sophie Jackson (audio)
Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh
Darker by E.L. James
Fate and Forever by Sophie Jackson (audio)
Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis
Racer by Katy Evans (audio)
The Assassin Next Door by Eve Langlais (audio)
The Deal of A Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd (audio)
The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Wilde In Love by Eloisa James (audio)
Without Merit by Colleen Hoover (audio)
Worth The Wait by Lori Foster
Wyoming Winter by Diana Palmer

•Total Read: 15

•Adult: 13
•YA: 2
•Audios: 8
•New to me authors: 4
•Debut authors: 0
•Series Books: 11
•Women Authors: 14
•Men Authors: 1
•Shortest: 65 pages
•Longest: 400 pages

•YTD - 230

•Favorite Book(s) of the Month: Lost and Found Sisters, The Indigo Girl

Where I've Read This Month: California, Florida, New York (2), Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming (2), England (2), Italy, Spain, Sweden,

Genres read: Contemporary (4), historical (2), romance (10), YA (2)

What I am looking forward to next month:

The Midnight Line by Lee Child












Linking up with Kathryn at The Book Date's Month In Review

2017 Challenges

2017 Challenges

First Book of 2017

Outdo Myself Challenge 230/237

Where Am I Reading? 41/50

Favorites 2017

Goodreads 230/236

Tuesday Intro/Teaser

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea every Tuesday. To participate share the opening paragraph or two of a book you've decided to read based on that paragraph. Please feel free to join in, First Chapter~First Paragraph~Tuesday Intros.

Isaiah was seventeen years old when his older brother, Marcus, was killed in a hit-and-run. Isaiah dropped out of school and spent months trying to track down the driver of the Honda Accord that left Marcus lying on the pavement smashed to pieces, his life-force draining into the gutter His brother was his mentor, his friend, his guide through life, his only family. Everything. Eight years later, he was at TK's wrecking yard when he stumbled upon the Accord. It was dusk.



Righteous by Joe Ide (IQ #2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker


This was no accident. This was a hit.

Weekly Reading Wrap Up (SP/IMWAYR?)

An Ounce of Hope by Sophie Jackson (audio) #2

Max has finally come to the realization that he must address his addiction. At rehab he works through what he went through with his former love and rediscovers  his love of painting. However, when he returns home to, he realizes that he just can't stay and continue working through his stuff. He goes to stay with his aunt and uncle. He meets Grace and his heart begins to thaw, but he is cautious because of his past. Grace's past causes her to be reluctant as well. They start out as friends and slowly build towards more. Sebastian York narrated this emotional, at times raw, second chance love story.

Fate and Forever by Sophie Jackson (audio) #2.5

A short look into the lives of Kat and Carter after they say "I Do". We touch base with Grace and Max and learn more about Riley. Narrated by Grace Grant.

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd (audio)

Young Eliza has helped her father on their plantations since she was a young girl. She is now given a huge unheard of responsibility to keep the South Carolina plantation running while her father returns to Antigua to ignite his political career. Her mother does not offer her any support as she wants her daughter to make a good match. Eliza has a desire to grow indigo as a means to revive their fortunes. Thankfully her father sends her help and she also has the support of a botanist neighbor. What happens makes this an exceptional story that is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. I could not stop listening.

*Thank you to Blackstone Audio for this review copy*

Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis #1

Quinn is struggling through grief. She loves her job, has a boyfriend ready to get engaged, but.... When she is approached by a lawyer and told she has an inheritance. This inheritance reveals a lie her parents have kept that devastates her further.  Getting away is just what she may need to work through it all.  She is blindsided by a revelation that further complicates her life.  What will Quinn decide to do? Sweet story with great characters.

The Assassin Next Door by Eve Langlais (audio)

Lily is recently divorced.  She and her daughter have moved into the neighborhood to start their new life. Her next door neighbor Calvin is nice and quiet.  Calvin works for Bad Boys, Inc. problem solvers when needed.  His assignment is to figure out who is running the local drug ring. He is intrigued by his new neighbor and helps out when he can.  As Lily and Calvin get to know each other, her ex gets involved and it leads to some edge of your seat action. Fast paced narrated by Rebecca Mitchell.

*Thanks to Tantor Audio for this review copy*

Worth the Wait by Lori Foster #2

Hogan and his son Colt are settling in to their new routine since the death of his mother. Hogan is determined to make these last few years that Colt is home his focus. Violet owns Screwy Louie's her family's restaurant.  Hogan moonlights at the restaurant cooking his famous ribs.  As he begins to help business booms, Violet wants him to commit to more than weekends. Their friendship grows as well.  Hogan is holding back until Violet makes him an offer he can't pass up.  Will he take her up on it and if so, where will it lead?  Meanwhile, Sheriff Nathan is intrigued by the new girl in town.  Romantic fun!

Racer by Katy Evans (audio) #7

Lana wants nothing more than to help her father's dream of winning a Formula One race come true.  Since his diagnosis, she is more than determined.  All the team needs is a quality driver.  She travels to Florida to offer the job to Racer Tate, an illegal street racer making a name for himself.  There is definitely an attraction for both of them, but Lana hesitates as she doesn't want anything to disrupt her dream. Racer won't give up and plans to accomplish both of his goals. Told in alternating voices of Lana and Racer narrated by Grace Grant and Sebastian York.  

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover (audio)

Merit is an identical twin and is completely opposite from her sister. She has quit going to school and thinks no one is the wiser. Her family would be perfect for a poster of dysfunction and she is tired of no one talking about what is going on. Plenty of quirky characters, teenage angst that has plenty of feel good moments.  Candance Thaxton's narration kept me engaged in the story.

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Wyoming Winter by Diana Palmer

Classic DP novel about a betrayed man trying to fight his attraction to a younger innocent woman with plenty of misunderstandings that finally work themselves out to a happy ending.

Up Next:
Righteous by Joe Ide
Heart of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green


I took an unintended break.  Early in the month my daughter, grandsons and I took a trip to Florida for a family reunion/wedding. It was so much fun to get together with family who hadn't been together in quite a few years. When we returned it was a mad dash to start and finish Christmas shopping.  With holiday festivities, something had to bend and it was the blog.  It was nice to be unplugged for a couple of weeks, but am glad to be back to close out the year.  Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas! 

Linking to these memes:

Kathryn at Book Date hosts IMWAYR?, a place to  meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great opportunity to organize yourself, visit, comment, and add to that every growing TBR pile.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.