2005 Year in Review

I feel considerably better today. With luck, that will continue. (Knock on wood.) I also found a spare car key, so I might be able to go somewhere eventually.

In any case, onward.

I'm pleased to present my complete reading year in review:

5 Hearts: 10
4.5 Hearts: 38
4 Hearts: 136
3.5 Hearts: 47
3 Hearts: 52
2.5 Hearts: 4
2 Hearts: 7
1.5 Hearts: 1
1 Hearts: 0
Total: 295

I am not as surprised this year to see so many 4s and 5s; the same thing happened last year. I'm not sure why there are so many. When I look at my low scores, most of them are books I reviewed. I have a hunch that I am getting good at judging whether I will like a book or not when I read a review or blog entry. In addition, I have many auto-buy authors whose books I like most of the time.

I do have a stack of books in my room that I haven't finished. Perhaps if I finished them, the number of books with lower ratings would be lower? I'm not sure.

Here are the books that received 5s. They are:

Day, Sylvia: Bad Boys Ahoy!
Day, Sylvia: Wish List*
Gaffney, Patricia: To Love and to Cherish
Heath, Lorraine: Always to Remember
Howard, Linda: To Die For*
LaBrecque, Jennifer: Better Than Chocolate . . .
Robb, J.D.: Origin in Death*
Shalvis, Jill: Get a Clue*
Vaughn, Evelyn: A.K.A. Goddess
Vaughn, Evelyn: Contact*

And here are the books that received 4.5:

Anthology: Hot Spell*
Blazer, Melani: Hot Rod Heaven*
Blazer, Melani: Legend of the Leopard
Blazer, Melani: When I Close My Eyes*
Clare, Pamela: Ride the Fire*
Day, Sylvia: "Catching Caroline"*
Day, Sylvia: Kiss of the Night*
Denton, Jamie: Hard to Handle
Fetzer, Amy J.: Tell It to the Marines
Fisher, Ellen: Never Love a Stranger
Handeland, Lori: Blue Moon
Kenner, Julie: Silent Confessions
Kenyon, Sherrilyn: Fantasy Lover
Lee, Deanna: Blood Moon*
Leigh, Jo: Suspect
Leigh, Jo: Truth or Dare
Liu, Marjorie M.: Tiger Eye*
MacGregor, Kinley: Born in Sin
Mayberry, Sarah: Can't Get Enough*
McCarthy, Erin: The Pregnancy Test*
McMinn, Suzanne: The Honeymoon Man
O'Shea, Patti: Through a Crimson Veil*
Ranney, Karen: A Promise of Love
Richards, Emilie: The Trouble with Joe
Shalvis, Jill: For the Love of Nick
Shalvis, Jill: Naughty but Nice
Shalvis, Jill: Seduce Me
Shalvis, Jill: Show Me the Way
Shalvis, Jill: Ultimate Surrender
Showalter, Gena: Awaken Me Darkly*
Showalter, Gena: Heart of the Dragon*
Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty & The Midnight Hour*
Vaughn, Evelyn: Her Kind of Trouble
Vaughn, Evelyn: The Player
Ward, J.R.: Dark Lover*
Warren, Nancy: Private Relations*
White, Sasha: The Devil Inside*

I put an asterisk next to the books with a 2005 release date.

Favorite Discoveries
Melani Blazer: Blazer has had several books published, but I only discovered her in the past few months. I love her smooth writing style and memorable characters.

Sylvia Day: I've blogged about her books several times and probably will in the future. She's just terrific, and it amazes me that she was first published this year. Seems like she's been around longer.

Jo Leigh: Did I really only discover her just this year? That's what my spreadsheet says. What I like best about her books is that they are all so different, and she is not afraid to take risks.

Jill Shalvis: I bought more books by Shalvis this year than by anyone else, something she can vouch for, since she signed a bunch of them at this year's RWA. Her stories are emotional and compelling. She's a buried treasure, and I hope other people discover her in the upcoming year.

Gena Showalter: Here's an author who writes intriguing paranormal romance. I love the ones I've read so far and look forward to the ones to come.

Evelyn Vaughn: If you're looking for unique romance, often with a paranormal element, you can't go wrong with Evelyn Vaughn. I've always had a strong emotional reaction to her books. Contact might be my favorite book of the year.

Least Favorites
When the Lights Go Out by Barbara Daly.

Twice Burned by Jan Coffey.

Biggest Disappointments
Only for a Knight by Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
I liked the previous book I reviewed and was hoping to like this one, too. It ultimately received a 2.

Trigger Effect by Maggie Price.
I've enjoyed some of Price's previous books, so I was disappointed that this one seemed bland. It received a 3.

Here's my review. It's hard to believe that 2006 is only two days away, but I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve!