The 2017 Reading Frenzy ended at 79 books. The last few months of the year I was scrambling to read more as my goal was 90. Oh well! 79 is not too shabby! I don’t know if I will ever beat my 121 read in 2016 but will strain my eyes trying!!!
UPDATES and TIDBITS
I’m still using Goodreads and love it! I failed to use my “Stopped Reading” list though there were many that would be on it! I find that if I am not sucked into the story by the first page or two – or even the writing, the flow, the words – then I don’t want to read it. Is that picky of me? Well, it’s reality! Roar!
I’m finding less interest in reading violent or gruesome mysteries. I’ve had Adrian Hell #3 (James P Sumner) going since summer 2017 that I cannot seem to pick up again. I really liked that series too! I’m at 50% so stay tuned if it is on this years list!
I’m also turned off by excessive swearing and typically put those books down (figuratively speaking – still enjoying my Kindle!) as well.
Alright! I will no longer be declaring that I’m going to read more History, Spiritual, Metaphysical or Informational books. Why? Because I’m not being accountable to it. Reading is my escape. I read where the mood or interest takes me. No shoulds. No expectations. Just READ!!!
I’m working on reading faster this year – nothing too crazy just practicing.
I removed myself from my “free books” mailing lists (I was on bookbubs and fb.me or something like that). I decided to stop adding new books and read the ones I have (over 900??). Plus, decluttering the junk emails feels good!
I’m discovering that I’m not resonating or liking some of the authors I have liked for awhile….what is that about?!!?
FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR
I was just reviewing my list trying to figure out who this was (been a loooooong time since I’ve read those books – what the heck are they about? Good thing I rated them! OH YEAH, I REMEMBER!!!!!) and want to say a little something about what I look for in a book.
I previously mentioned that the writing and story have to jump off the page and grab my attention and interest.
I rate a book a 5 if I would read it again (and I’m not a big re-reader, especially if a mystery – what’s the point?). A 4 is really enjoyable – great story, great read, great writing, great feelings reading it. A 3 is alright but nothing to shout about.
Favorite New Author read in 2017 goes to………………………………..drum roll………………………………………NICK WARREN!
Warren’s book, Execution is Everything, had me from the first page, offered a unique and intriguing storyline, not to mention was a page-swiping psychological thriller mystery! It’s about a business psychologist, Jon Kaine, who travels to New York for a job, meets a beautiful woman in a bar and gets caught up “saving” her from bad guys. I was drawn to the psychological aspects and how he used his skills to navigate the situations he found himself in. I couldn’t read it fast enough and was left wanting more.
I’ve never done this before but I’m going to link you to it right now – it’s free – go get it and try it! Oops, that is the Novella link – short and sweet and free but totally leaves you hanging. Here is the full story for $4.99 or Free on Kindle Unlimited.
I’m happy dancing right now because I see the next books in the series are available (how did I miss that? I’m on his mailing list!)….and you know I don’t pay for books very often!!
READ AND ROAR!!!
READING GOALS FOR 2018
The reading goal for 2018 is 100 books. So far I’ve read 6. I better get cracking!!! I’ve been buying (!! I know! I have been known to purchase if it costs $2.99 or under. When Hay House has their $.99 sale I do look…) Spiritual books lately and of course, have a ton already so I’m hoping I actually get my focus though I’m not going to commit – just letting you know!!
THE 2017 READING LIST
Total pages read 18, 383! In case you actually count them you’ll notice there are only 77 books listed, not 79. I must have deleted a few on accident when editing the spreadsheet:
| Title | Author | Rating | Pages | Date Read |
| Dire (David Wolf #8) | Jeff Carson | 4 | 348 | 12/31/2017 |
| The Dead Man (Jack Davis Mystery, #2) | Joel Goldman | 4 | 417 | 12/21/2017 |
| Perplexity (The Pepperman Mystery Series Book 1) | Bill Briscoe | 3 | 230 | 12/14/2017 |
| The Innocent (Ryan Lock #5) | Sean Black | 3 | 305 | 12/10/2017 |
| Sex, Snow & Mistletoe (A Short Story) | Laura Barnard | 3 | 34 | 12/3/2017 |
| Flash | Tim Tigner | 4 | 330 | 12/3/2017 |
| Attract Money Now | Joe Vitale | 4 | 160 | 11/26/2017 |
| Soul Shifts: Transformative Wisdom for Creating a Life of Authentic Awakening, Emotional Freedom & Practical Spirituality | Barbara De Angelis | 3 | 341 | 11/23/2017 |
| Beatless | Amber L. Johnson | 4 | 213 | 11/21/2017 |
| Puddle Jumping (Puddle Jumping, #1) | Amber L. Johnson | 4 | 127 | 11/19/2017 |
| Chicago Blue (Red Riley #1) | Stephanie Andrews | 3 | 153 | 11/18/2017 |
| Three Seconds To Rush (Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery Book 1) | Danielle Stewart | 3 | 251 | 11/13/2017 |
| Water Under the Bridge (The Water Trilogy #1) | Britney King | 4 | 282 | 11/6/2017 |
| The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith | Gabrielle Bernstein | 3 | 205 | 11/4/2017 |
| False Identity | Jennifer Youngblood | 3 | 242 | 11/2/2017 |
| Snatched | Pamela Burford | 5 | 306 | 10/26/2017 |
| Death Turns a Trick (Rebecca Schwartz, #1) | Julie Smith | 2 | 176 | 10/21/2017 |
| The Blow-In (The Tipperary Series, #1) | Susanne O’Leary | 3 | 242 | 10/21/2017 |
| No Kiss Goodbye | Janelle Harris | 4 | 362 | 10/9/2017 |
| A Recipe for Disaster (Sarah Woods Mystery #16) | Jennifer L. Jennings | 3 | 106 | 10/5/2017 |
| Infinite Sacrifice (Infinite Series, #1) | L.E. Waters | 4 | 240 | 10/3/2017 |
| The Choose Yourself Guide To Wealth | James Altucher | 4 | 279 | 9/20/2017 |
| Exposed (Codename: Chandler, #0.2) | J.A. Konrath | 4 | 119 | 9/11/2017 |
| Silver Bullet (Preternatural Affairs, #2) | S.M. Reine | 3 | 243 | 9/6/2017 |
| Witch Hunt (Preternatural Affairs, #1) | S.M. Reine | 4 | 234 | 9/2/2017 |
| Case of the One-Eyed Tiger | J.M. Poole | 3 | 260 | 8/29/2017 |
| Heaven to Betsy (What Doesn’t Kill You #5) | Pamela Fagan Hutchins | 3 | 311 | 8/21/2017 |
| Ghost Of A Girl | Theo Cage | 4 | 359 | 8/19/2017 |
| Night of the Hunted (Reed Ferguson #11) | Renee Pawlish | 3 | 232 | 8/6/2017 |
| Kill Switch | Gordon Bonnet | 4 | 270 | 7/21/2017 |
| Reel Estate Rip-Off (Reed Ferguson Mystery #2) | Renee Pawlish | 3 | 244 | 7/23/2017 |
| Animal Lessons: Discovering Your Spiritual Connection with Animals | Danielle MacKinnon | 4 | 242 | 7/30/2017 |
| Solomon & Lord: Sink or Swim | Paul Levine | 2 | 133 | 7/1/2017 |
| Murder Uncorked (A Wine Lover’s Mystery #1) | Michele Scott | 4 | 203 | 7/7/2017 |
| Hollywood Killer (Hollywood Alphabet, #11) | M.Z. Kelly | 3 | 290 | 7/13/2017 |
| Life on Earth: Understanding Who We Are, How We Got Here, and What May Lie Ahead | Mike Dooley | 4 | 229 | 7/11/2017 |
| Playing With Poison (Cue Ball Mysteries, #1) | Cindy Blackburn | 4 | 251 | 7/10/2017 |
| The Art Of Letting Go | Thought Catalog | 2 | 94 | 7/1/2017 |
| Unbreakable Bond (Jamie Bond, #1) | Gemma Halliday | 4 | 184 | 7/2/2017 |
| Execution Is Everything (Jon Kaine #1) | Nick Warren | 5 | 120 | 6/5/2017 |
| An Island of Illusions (A Sarah Woods Mystery #3) | Jennifer L. Jennings | 3 | 225 | 4/5/2017 |
| On Assignment (Queenie Baby, #1) | Christina A. Burke | 4 | 220 | 4/7/2017 |
| Her Imaginary Husband | Lia London | 3 | 191 | 4/19/2017 |
| The Housewife Assassin’s Guide to Gracious Killing (Housewife Assassin #2) | Josie Brown | 3 | 278 | 5/10/2017 |
| 101 Facts… Ancient China (101 History Facts for Kids) | IP Factly | 3 | 57 | 5/10/2017 |
| Fifth Rule of Ten (Tenzing Norbu Mystery) | Gay Hendricks | 3 | 384 | 6/4/2017 |
| Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire | Jillianne Hamilton | 3 | 229 | 5/22/2017 |
| The Housewife Assassin’s Guide to Gracious Killing (Housewife Assassin, #2) | Josie Brown | 3 | 240 | 5/1/2017 |
| Serenity (Shelby Alexander, #1) | Craig A. Hart | 3 | 221 | 4/23/2017 |
| Taking Flight | Adrian R. Magnuson | 4 | 287 | 4/22/2017 |
| GOLDEN ECLIPSE: HEART DOG — A True Story | Howard Schultheis | 4 | 200 | 4/19/2017 |
| Flash Crash (Jake Rivett #1) | Denison Hatch | 4 | 300 | 4/18/2017 |
| Batter Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk Falls, #1) | Robyn Neeley | 4 | 172 | 4/16/2017 |
| Fashion, Lies, and Murder (Amber Fox, #1) | Sibel Hodge | 4 | 254 | 4/11/2017 |
| Messages From Shakti | Zinna Gupte | 3 | 61 | 3/29/2017 |
| Psychic Development: Develop Psychic Abilities, Auras, Third Eye, Empath +1 BONUS BOOK (psychic development for beginners, psychic medium development, mediumship 4) | Valerie W. Holt | 4 | 221 | 3/26/2017 |
| Turmeric: Learn the Health Benefits, Uses, Origins, and Recipes of Turmeric and Turmeric Essential Oil! (The Natural Health Benefits Series Book 7) | Miles Reise | 4 | 21 | 3/23/2017 |
| Get Busy Dying (Roy Ballard Mysteries, #2) | Ben Rehder | 3 | 285 | 3/23/2017 |
| If I Had A Nickel (Roy Ballard Mysteries Book 3) | Ben Rehder | 4 | 264 | 3/23/2017 |
| Now You See Him (Roy Ballard Book 4) | Ben Rehder | 4 | 272 | 3/26/2017 |
| Ting-A-Ling (Dev Haskell Mystery, #7) | Mike Faricy | 3 | 186 | 3/18/2017 |
| Tutti Frutti (Dev Haskell – Private Investigator, Book 5) | Mike Faricy | 4 | 329 | 3/12/2017 |
| Last Shot (Dev Haskell Mystery, #6) | Mike Faricy | 4 | 307 | 3/14/2017 |
| Bombshell (Dev Haskell – Private Investigator, Book 4) | Mike Faricy | 4 | 258 | 3/9/2017 |
| Bite Me (Devlin Haskell Mysteries #3) | Mike Faricy | 4 | 355 | 3/8/2017 |
| Mr. Swirlee (Dev Haskell Mystery, #2) | Mike Faricy | 3 | 312 | 3/6/2017 |
| Rippling Abs: Fired Up Body Series – Vol 7: Fired Up Body | Paul Martin | 3 | 33 | 2/21/2017 |
| Yellow Ribbon (Dev Haskell – Private Investigator Book 11) | Mike Faricy | 4 | 414 | 2/18/2017 |
| Emergence: Seven Steps for Radical Life Change | Derek Rydall | 3 | 257 | 2/19/2017 |
| Out of the Past (Reed Ferguson #5) | Renee Pawlish | 4 | 216 | 2/20/2017 |
| Naked Communication: Courageously Create the Relationships You Really Want | Sage B Hobbs | 3 | 171 | 2/20/2017 |
| And Then She Was Gone | Christopher Greyson | 3 | 309 | 1/30/2017 |
| Empath: The Little Known History of Empaths (Empath, Third Eye, Auras, Psychic) | Valerie W. Holt | 4 | 49 | 2/14/2017 |
| The Fourth Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery ( A Tenzing Norbu Mystery, #4) | Gay Hendricks | 3 | 347 | 2/12/2017 |
| I Just Want to Be ME Again: A Guide to Thriving Through Menopause | Jeanne D. Andrus | 4 | 107 | 1/23/2017 |
| Tahoe Dark (Owen McKenna #14) | Todd Borg | 4 | 341 | 1/22/2017 |
| Jack and the Giant Killer (Jack Stratton, #4) | Christopher Greyson | 3 | 303 | 1/13/2017 |
