2020 ended up being a better reading year than expected. My goal was to read 50 books. I finished reading 58 books. Hooray!
New This Year for Me
Two new things happened for me this way in my Reading World.
The first is that I was introduced to the LIBBY app by my sister. Her daughter discovered Libby! Libby is an app that you can use with any (I think!) local Library card. Simply log in, enter your library card number, connect to your Library and you are all set to read OR listen to books that are available at your local library. Totally brilliant! How did I not know about this before? In any case, Libby has allowed me to get back to reading some of my favorite authors that I refuse to pay an arm and a leg for on Kindle.
Kindle is the second new thing — Kindle Unlimited offered 2 months for 99 cents! It was a no-brainer to try it. I enjoyed quite a few favorite authors AND began reading a new favorite author (stay tuned for 2021 Book Reading Review for that big reveal!) who I cannot find on Libby (darn it!). I decided not to continue using Kindle Unlimited due to cost and the availability of a lot of good books through Libby for free. I’ve been quite pleased with what I can find on Libby.
2020 Reading List
Without further ado, here is the complete list of books that I read. Please don’t count them because there are more than 58 and I don’t know why. This list was exported from Goodreads, which I continue to recommend! It’s such a great way to track your reading and set goals.
Title
Author
My Rating
Laundry Man (The Jack Shepherd Novels #1)
Jake Needham
4
Energy Goddess Teaches Telepathy: For Love, Charm, and influence
Jennifer Keir
5
Winston Churchill: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Winston S. Churchill
Captivating History
4
Kidnapped (Edgers Family, #1)
Suzanne Ferrell
4
The Soul Summoner (The Soul Summoner, #1)
Elicia Hyder
4
Marked (Hostage Rescue Team #1)
Kaylea Cross
3
Vegas to Varanasi (Fortytude Series Book 1)
Shelly Hickman
4
Carter (The Sinner Saints, #1)
Adrienne Bell
4
Fallen Out (Jesse McDermitt Caribbean Adventure #1)
Wayne Stinnett
3
Power Words: Igniting Your Life with Lightning Force
Sharon Anne Klingler
5
Beach Town Boogie
Bart Hopkins Jr.
4
Who Hates Marigold Flowers? (A Cornwall & Company Mystery Book 1)
Sara M. Barton
4
The Devil in Jalalabad (A Cat Ballentine Spy Thriller Book 1)
S.M. Barton
4
The Lady Who Sang High (Reed Ferguson #7)
Renee Pawlish
4
Guarding Suzannah (Serve and Protect, #1)
Norah Wilson
4
No Hitmen in Heaven (Jake Hancock Universe #8)
Dan Taylor
4
The Price of Time
Tim Tigner
4
Not Your Everyday Housewife (That Second Chance, #5)
Mary Campisi
4
One Way (Sam Archer, #5)
Tom Barber
4
Business Blocks: Transform Your Self-Sabotaging Mind Gremlins, Awaken Your Inner Mentor, and Allow Your Business Brilliance to Shine
Holly Worton
5
Final Verdict (Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez Mystery, #4)
Sheldon Siegel
4
Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers, #1)
Kathleen Brooks
4
Deadly Gamble (Charlie Parker #1)
Connie Shelton
4
Bad To The Bones (Evan Buckley Thriller, #1)
James Harper
4
Blessed Are the Weird: A Manifesto for Creatives
Jacob Nordby
4
The Broken Rules of Ten: Tenzing Norbu’s First Mystery
Gay Hendricks
4
Fractured (Southern Alphas, #2)
Lori Sjoberg
4
Night School (Jack Reacher #21)
Lee Child
5
Off the Edge (The Associates, #2)
Annika Martin
4
The Business Side of a Spiritual Practice: A Marketing & Public Relations Guide for the Spiritual Business
Linn Random
5
The Highwayman Incident (The Witching Well, #1)
Kristy Tate
3
Walking the Edge (Corpus Brides #1)
Zee Monodee
4
Persuasion Secrets of the World’s Most Charismatic & Influential Villains
Ben Settle
4
Staying in Alignment: Life in the Higher Realms Series – Book Two
Karen Bishop
5
House on Fire
Joseph Finder
4
Past Tense (Jack Reacher, #23)
Lee Child
4
Maui Widow Waltz (Islands of Aloha Mystery, #1)
JoAnn Bassett
4
To Kill a Labrador (Marcia Banks and Buddy Mysteries #1)
A First Date with Death (A Love Or Money Mystery #1)
Diana Orgain
4
Bloody Mary (Jack Daniels Mystery, #2)
J.A. Konrath
4
The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
Edward B. Burger
5
Detective Cross (Alex Cross, #24.5)
James Patterson
4
Better Read Than Dead (Psychic Eye Mystery, #2)
Victoria Laurie
4
Make Me (Jack Reacher, #20)
Lee Child
4
Vibe: Unlock the Energetic Frequencies of Limitless Health, Love & Success
Robyn Openshaw
4
I read a lot of great books as you can see from the ratings. Sadly, I’m not really recognizing a lot of them and if it weren’t for my reviews I wouldn’t remember why I enjoyed them so much and gave them high ratings!
My goal remains to read more Metaphysical books which seems to not be happening regardless of purchasing them through Hay House’s deals! I will definitely make a conscious effort this year to get with it!! Roar!
BOOK REVIEWS
Considering I’m NOT a History buff in the least, I rather enjoyed the book on Winston Churchill. Besides being a Big Name in History, Churchill was a strong leader and accomplished a lot in his life. What I liked the most was being able to learn about his very human side. I might add reading more History to the 2021 Reading Goals.
A possibly controversial book is Ben Rehder’s THE DRIVING LESSON. I don’t want to give any Spoilers but it was very poignant, thought-provoking, and tender. A lot of life lesson golden nuggets throughout. I will be so bold as to say it is a Must Read in this day and age.
FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR
I’m always looking for great paranormal and psychic mysteries. Most leave me disappointed and bailing after the first chapter. Still, I try!
Well, Victoria Laurie has quenched my thirst in her Psychic Eye Mystery series! It’s believable and relatable (as a fellow psychic myself!). The characters are endearing. The mysteries are mysterious. I’m working my way through the whole series!
BEST BOOK AWARD
The BEST BOOK READ was hands down Sharon Anne Klingler’s POWER WORDS. I’m an Energy Girl and a Word Girl so this book was right up my alley.
I whole-heartedly agree with the premise that words have an energy to them and can either uplift you…or not! If you want to look at words in a more meaningful way AND begin to USE your words in a more meaningful AND powerful way, definitely read this! POWER WORDS ROCKED MY WORLD!!!