I Live in the Stone Age

Back when I started tracking how many books I read each year and keeping a list of books, authors, and ratings, I used an advanced method known as a notebook and pen. Every few months, I'd transfer the information to a spreadsheet I used at the end of the year to come up with my stats. Transferring the info always took a while, so a few years ago I decided to cut out the middle man (the notebook) and just use the spreadsheet.

It's taken a while, but I've discovered that doesn't work for me. Updating a spreadsheet every time I finish a book feels too much like work, and I do enough of that during the day.

What this means is that I have no year-in-review to share this time around, but I do have a new goal.

For 2008, I'm going back to the notebook.

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!

Favorite 20 in 2005

I'm well past the point of looking for positive things about being sick. Now, I'm just praying for death. I'm not sure if my aching head is an indication that I am moving through the stages of this bug or if it means I need to go to the doctor. We'll see how I feel tomorrow morning, I suppose. I should mention that I have been incredibly blessed with family support. Several siblings have stopped by with food, flavored water (I'm so sick of regular water I could scream), and (the latest offering) a humidifier.

Now, if my keys would turn up, I could go back to being only sick instead of sick and worried.

On to other things. Last year I did a long post about the books I read in 2004. I plan to do the same this year, but while I'm compiling it, I thought I'd join many others who are posting their favorite books of the current year. So here they are, my top 20 books with a 2005 copyright date. They are in alphabetical order. I've provided links to my reviews or blog entries.

Melani Blazer: Hot Rod Heaven

Pamela Clare: Ride the Fire
Apparently I didn't write a review for this book. It's quite good--a historical romance with a tortured hero and a strong heroine.

Sylvia Day: Catching Caroline, Kiss of the Night, Wish List
Technically, she should get three spots on the list, since I'm listing three books, but I'm going to use the flimsy excuse that they are all novellas. That way, I can count them as one and make room for others on this list. That doesn't diminish how much I liked them, though. Day is very much a comfort read for me.

Amy Garvey: Murder in the Hamptons

Lori Handeland: Hunter's Moon

Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, Meljean Brook, and Shiloh Walker: Hot Spell

Linda Howard: To Die For
Although I hadn't picked up Linda Howard in years, I decided to try To Die For, and I'm so glad I did.

Deanna Lee: Blood Moon
I was intrigued by Still Waters, the first book in Lee's Kyra Moray series, but I really liked the second one. Sadly, it looks like there will be a bit of a wait for the third. I'm planning to buy her next book (unrelated to the Moray series), Undressing Mercy, which has an artistically beautiful cover, even if it's not one I would be comfortable reading in public.

Marjorie M. Liu: Tiger Eye

Sarah Mayberry: Can't Get Enough

Erin McCarthy: "Fuzzy Logic" and The Pregnancy Test

Patti O'Shea: Through a Crimson Veil

J.D. Robb: Origin in Death

Jill Shalvis: Get a Clue

Gena Showalter: Awaken Me Darkly and Heart of the Dragon

Carrie Vaughn: Kitty & The Midnight Hour

Evelyn Vaughn: Contact

J.R. Ward: Dark Lover

Nancy Warren: Private Relations

Sasha White: The Devil Inside
I can't find a review in my archives; I suppose I didn't review it. Don't let that stop you from giving it a try. It's a fun and intense contemporary romance with a little paranormal element to give it some zing.

There you have it--my favorite 20 reads from 2005. Watch for a more detailed year-in-review in the next few days. Feel free to send healthy vibes my way.

2004 Year in Review

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

5 Hearts: 31
4 Hearts: 178
3 Hearts: 82
2 Hearts: 17
1 Hearts: 4
Total: 312

There are a surprising number of 4s and 5s, but I discovered several new-to-me authors this year. If I had read their books in the years they were released, they would have been spread out a bit more.

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

Albert, Michele: Getting Her Man
Ashworth, Adele: My Darling Caroline
Atkins, Dawn: Friendly Persuasion
Balogh, Mary: Slightly Dangerous*
Brockmann, Suzanne: Bodyguard
Brockmann, Suzanne: Get Lucky
Brockmann, Suzanne: Hero Under Cover
Brockmann, Suzanne: Nightwatch
Brockmann, Suzanne: Out of Control
Brockmann, Suzanne: Over the Edge
Brockmann, Suzanne: Prince Joe
Chase, Loretta: Lord of Scoundrels
Claybourne, Casey: A Thing of Beauty
Corey, Ryanne: Lady with a Past
Dain, Claudia: The Marriage Bed
D'Alessandro, Jacquie: We've Got Tonight*
Davidson, MaryJanice: Undead and Unwed*
Guhrke, Laura Lee: Guilty Pleasures*
Harris, Charlaine: Dead to the World*
Harris, Charlaine: Living Dead in Dallas
Kauffman, Donna: Sean
Kauffman, Donna: Surrender the Dark
Kelly, Leslie: Wickedly Hot*
Kent, Alison: The Grinch Makes Good
Price, Maggie: Hidden Agenda*
Price, Maggie: The Man She Almost Married
Quinn, Julia: When He Was Wicked*
Ranney, Karen: My True Love
Roberts, Nora: Face the Fire
Roberts, Nora: Inner Harbor
Shayne, Maggie, et. al.: Night's Edge*
Simmons, Deborah: The Vicar's Daughter

I put an asterisk next to the books with a 2004 release date. In fact, I may go back to my spreadsheet and add it to all 2004 releases. I think it will put the list in perspective.

Favorite Discoveries
I've already written about several of these authors. I linked to previous blog entries when applicable.

Suzanne Brockmann: What can I say--I really like the way she portrays men. I'd be thrilled to have a Sam or Cosmo of my own. :)

Jacquie D'Alessandro: I discovered her books late in the year, and I've enjoyed everything I've read so far. D'Alessandro's dialogue really shines.

Charlaine Harris: The Sookie Stackhouse series offers just the right mix of mystery, humor, and romance. Oh, and Eric is too beautiful for words.

Leslie Kelly: Her plots may not be particularly realistic, but Kelly creates fascinating characters.

Alison Kent: Here's one writer who recognizes that readers enjoy reading about complex characters. Her Smithson Group series is particularly compelling.

Erin McCarthy: I just finished Mouth to Mouth, and it confirmed the fact that McCarthy writes interesting, versatile, and sexy stories.

Julia Quinn: It took me long enough to discover her, but I'm so glad I did. Her books are fun, compelling, and unique.

Least Favorites
Dr. Yes by Lisa Cach.

The Lipstick Diaries by Lori Soard.

Biggest Disappointments
Killer Cowboy Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson.

Drive Me Crazy by Nancy Warren.

While both ended up being 3 reads, I hoped for better from both books.

I hope you enjoy this review. It gave me a few ideas for future blog topics. (Not that I seem to have trouble coming up with things to say.)

Take care, and I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Alyssa

I Take That Back

In this blog entry, I mention my worst read of the year from the books I reviewed for The Romance Reader. I must now state that I was incorrect. Today I read the new worst read of the year: Lori Soard's The Lipstick Diaries. What's so bad about it? Flat characters, inane actions, and UGH! I could keep going, but it's just too painful. I'm working on the review now.

My head hurts.

Alyssa

Reviewing Year in Review

Every year the reviewers at The Romance Reader share their year in review with each other. Here's my year in review:

5 Hearts: 1
4 Hearts: 11
3 Hearts: 6
2 Hearts: 6
1 Heart: 2
Total: 26

Yikes! Am I missing some? I did stop writing reviews for a few months in the spring because of work commitments, and I haven't finished my December reviews, but I thought I'd done more than that. Ah, well, there's always next year. Anyway, here are the specifics:

Top Reads

Charlaine Harris: Dead to the World
The fourth book in her Sookie Stackhouse series. I think Harris just gets better and better.

Erin McCarthy: Smart Mouth
McCarthy has a talent for balancing humor and drama. Not to mention spicy love scenes.

Alison Kent: The Bane Affair
This is Kent's first book in her Smithson Group series. The characters really come to life, complexities and all.

Linda Lael Miller: Don't Look Now
I hadn't read Miller in years, and this book was a great way to revisit her. It's an interesting romantic suspense, the first in a trilogy.

Most Disappointing Read

Nancy Warren: Drive Me Crazy
The book earned a 3, but the characters seemed terribly shallow at first. It took some time before they seemed to be normal human beings.

Worst Read

Sari Robins: One Wicked Night
In one word: frustrating.

I'm still trying to read try my next review book, which is failing the put down-pick up test.

I will provide a complete book-reading year in review in late December or early January.

Alyssa