Top 10 Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Can’t Believe I Read

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

This week’s topic is: Books I can’t believe I read..

• The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling and The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan..
  Reason: I’ve never been into the fantasy genre, but I admit that these two series are great.

• The Hidden Life (Amish Quilt, #2) by Adina Senft
  Reason: I never thought I’d get into Amish fiction, but after reading this book I’m hooked.

• Marley and Me: Life and Love With the Worlds Worst Dog by John Grogan
  Reason: Sad books with animals just destroy me. Especially when they remind me of my childhood dog. This one did have its amusing bits though.
• The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
  Reason: Books set in dystopian worlds aren’t my cup of tea, but this was a 5 star read for me.
• The Secrets of Islay: Golf, Marathons and Single Malt by Robert Kroeger
  Reason: I’m not really a golfer, the thought of me running a marathon is laughable and I don’t really drink.. So this book didn’t seem like it would be a good fit for me. However I gave it a shot and enjoyed it.

• Growing up Duggar: It’s All About Relationships by Jana Dugger et. al
  Reason: I’m not a religious person by any means, nor would I follow their strict rules for courtships, but for some reason the Duggar family fascinate me.
  

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  Reason: I don’t have a good track record with classic books. Thankfully I gave this one a shot and really enjoyed it.

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  Reason: I don’t get the hype..

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2017 Challenge Wrap-up

I started 2017 knowing that I wouldn’t have a record breaking reading year, but wanted to participate in some challenges anyway. Although I didn’t make regular updates with the hots blogs, I’d like to share my progress.

2017 Goodreads Reading Challenge: 28/45

Objective: To read Audiobooks.
Books Read:3/5

Objective: To read books with a release date prior to 2017
Books Read: 21

Objective: To read as many eBooks as possible.
Books Read: 16/10

Objective: To read books from my own shelves.
Books Read: 11/12

 

Top 10 Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Really Liked, but Can’t Remember Much About

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today I will share with you some books that I liked, but can’t remember much about. Perhaps its time for some re-reads..

1. The Hidden Life (Amish Quilt, #2) by Adina Senft

2. Appalachian Serenade (Appalachian Blessings 0.5) by Sarah Loudin Thomas

3. The Queen (The Selection, 0.4) by Kiera Cass

4. Breaking the Story (Scottie’s Adventures, #1) by Ashley Farley

5. Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

6. The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

7. My Canary Yellow Star by Eva Wiseman

8. The Castle in the Attic (The Castle in the Attic,#1) by Elizabeth Winthrop

9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

10. Random Passage (Random Passage, #1) by Bernice Morgan

Currently Reading: January 21, 2018

It’s been a while since I did a Currently Reading post. Time is absolutely flying.. my baby boy is 9 months old now! How did that happen? My tiny little baby has turned into a cheeky handful. And I’m loving every minute of it.

Another thing I haven’t done in a long time is upload a picture to Instagram. I’d really like to start using that more.. Here is my latest post:

Finally unpacked one box of books. This is all I have space for atm. 📚 #bookstagram #bookblogger #canadianbooks #canadianblogger #shelfie #booklover #momlife #charmedaroma #tbr #tbr2018 #toomanybookstoolittletime #laddershelf #homemade

A post shared by Melissa Lee (@melissaleesredhousereviews) on Jan 19, 2018 at 12:03pm PST

 

My Reading Progress

Last week I completed my first book of the year:

40-Love by Madeleine Wickham (Aka Sophie Kinsella) is a contemporary novel that does have its humorous moments but is chalk full of deplorable characters. I gave it 2.5 stars and my review will be posted in a couple weeks.

Currently Reading

Which is obviously much more enjoyable than a 2.5 star read. 🙂

What are you reading this week? Leave me a message in the comments.

Links

Hosted by: Book Date

 

2017 Recap: In the Stars

Check out the books I read, reviewed and rated in 2017.

January

Books Completed: 2

5 Stars

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

3.5 Stars
Skeletons in the Attic (Marketville Mystery. #1) by Judy Penz Sheluk 

February

Books Completed: 3

4 Stars

 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

A Race to Splendor by Ciji Ware

3 Stars
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan 

March

Books Completed: 2

4 Stars

The Empress Holds the Key (Jack Rogan Mysteries, #1) by Gabriel Farago

3 Stars
A Vote for Murder (Murder, She Wrote, #22) by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain, 

April

Books Completed: 1

3.5 Stars

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

May

Books Completed: 2

3.5 Stars

No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom, #1) by Elizabeth Ludwig

1.5 Stars
The Littlest Cowboy (The Texas Brands #1) by Maggie Shayne

June

Books Completed: 2

3.5 Stars

If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin

3 Stars
The Little Shadows by Marina Endicott 

July

Books Completed: 3

5 Stars

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 

4 Stars
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Day the  Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

August

Books Completed: 4

4 Stars

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) by JK Rowling
The Hangman (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #6.5) by Louise Penny

3 Stars
The Islands of Doctor Thomas by Franchoise Enguehard
The Luxe (Luxe, #1) by Anna Godbersen 

September

Books Completed: 1

3 Stars

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

 

October

Books Completed: 3

4 Stars

The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo

 

2.5 Stars
Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman

Not Rated
Newfie, Come Home! by David Belisle

November

Books Completed: 3

4 Stars

Down, Then Up: A Novella by Beth Labonte

 

3.5 Stars
The Measure of Katie Calloway (Michigan Northwoods,#1) by Serena B. Miller
The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas 

December

Books Completed: 2

4 Stars

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

 

3 Stars
Plum Lovin’ (Stephanie Plum #12.5) by Janet Evanovich 

Plum Lovin’ (Stephanie Plum, #12.5) by Janet Evanovich

Published: January 2007
Published By: St. Martin’s Press
Format Read: Kindle for PC, eBook

Rating: 3 Stars
♥♥♥

 

Synopsis

Plum Lovin’ is a holiday novella that falls between the full length novels Twelve Sharp and Lean Mean Thirteen. Set just before Valentines Day, business is slow in the bonds industry and there is only one large bail skip on Stephanie Plum’s list. In order to capture the skip, she must first help her friend Diesel and play cupid along the way.

My Thoughts 

The in between novellas in the Stephanie Plum series, aren’t exactly crucial reading, although it would have helped me to better understand Diesel’s character if I had read Visions of Sugar Plums (Stephanie Plum #8.5) first. I knew that he was a character from another series by Janet Evanovich, but I have yet to read any of those books.

It had been a while since I have read this series, so it was nice to revisit my favourite characters once again. Although a short story, it had the same humor I’ve come to enjoy. However I didn’t feel like the Diesel’s hint of paranormal powers fit into the Stephanie Plum world.

Still I would recommend Plum Lovin’ to fans of Janet Evanovich and the Stephanie Plum books.

Top 10 Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Meant to Read in 2017

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme that has been hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, since 2010. After this post, it will move on to its new hosting blog with That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today I am linking up to list 10 books I meant to read in 2017, but didn’t. Will I get to them in 2018? Only time will tell..

1. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2. Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich

3. Rumors (Luxe, #2) by Anna Godbersen

4. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by JK Rowling

6. The Devoted (The Bishops Family #3) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

7. The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

8. Nights at Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

9. Bear Town by Fredrick Backman

10. Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

2017 End of the Year Book Survey

The End of the Year Book Survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner.

2017 Reading Stats

Number of Books Read: 28
Number of Re-Reads: 3
Genre I Read the Most From: Contemporary fiction

Best in Books

1. 1. Best books I read in 2017: Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
   2. A book I was excited about and thought I was going to love more but, didn’t: The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas
   3. The most surprising (in a good way) book I read: Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 
   4. A book I pushed the most people to read: Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
   5. The best series I read in 2017: Harry Potter by JK Rowling (re-reads)
   6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2017: Jamie Ford
      
      
   7. Best book from a genre I don’t normally read: The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   8. The most action packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year: Harry Potter (#3,#4) by JK Rowling, Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
   9. Name a book read in 2017 that I would most likely re-read next year? I have too many books in my TBR to re-read any of these books again so soon.
   10. Favourite cover of a book read in 2017: Down, Then Up: A Novella by Beth Labonte
   11. Most memorable character of 2017: Solomon (Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley)
   12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford 
       
   13. Most thought provoking/life changing book read in 2017: Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
   14. A book I can’t believe I waited until 2017 to read: No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom, #1) by Elizabeth Ludwig
       

1. 1. Favourite passage/quote from a book I read this year:
       “The hardest choices in life aren’t between what’s right and what’s wrong but between what’s right and what’s best.”
      ― Jamie Ford, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
   2. The shortest and longest books read in 2017: Shortest Book: Down, Then Up: A Novella by Beth Labonte. Longest Book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling.
2. 1. The book that shocked me the most: The Fire By Night by Teresa Messineo
   2. OTP of the Year: Lauren and Jamie from Up, Then Down: A Novella by Beth Labonte
      
   3. Favourite non-romantic relationship of 2017: Solomon and Clark from Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
   4. Favourite book read in 2017 from an author I’ve read previously: The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   5. The best book I read in 2017 that I read solely based on a recommendation or peer pressure: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan
      
   6. Newest fictional crush from a book I read in 2017: None this year.
   7. Best 2017 debut I read: The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo
      
   8. Best world building/ most vivid setting I read in 2017: West Virginia, Myrtle Beach, Logan Kentucky (The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas)
   9. A book that put a smile on my face/ was the most fun to read: Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   10. A book that made me cry in 2017: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin
   11. Hidden gem of the year: Down, Then Up: A Novella by Beth Labonte
   12. A book that crushed my soul: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin.

1. The most unique book I read in 2017: Newfie, Come Home by David Belisle 
2. The book that made me the most mad: The Littlest Cowboy (The Texas Brands, #1) by Maggie Shayne 

Looking Ahead 

1. One book I didn’t get to in 2017, but will be my number one priority in 2018: Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich
2. A book I am most anticipating in 2018: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by JK Rowling
3. 2018 debut I am most anticipating: As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
   
4. Series ending/ a sequel I am most anticipating in 2018: Continuing the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.
5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in my reading/blogging life in 2018: I would like to listen to more audio books and be more consistent with my blog posts.

Monthly Wrap-up: December 2017

Here we are at the beginning of another year. 2017 was quite a whirlwind for me. Full of many ups and downs. But more importantly it blessed me with a beautiful son. This Christmas was by far one of the most memorable for me and my family. Charles has brought so much joy to our lives.

The past few weeks have been full of wonderful Christmas festivities and time spent with family. Of course it also included some reading..

Books Completed

• Plum Lovin’ (Stephanie Plum 12.5) by Janet Evanovich
  ♥♥♥ 3/5
  Genre: Novella, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance
• Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
  ♥♥♥♥ 4/5
  Genre: Contemporary fiction, Christmas Fiction, Holiday Fiction

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 2
Total Number of Fiction: 2
Total Number of Non-fiction: 0
Total Books Sent for Review: 0
Total Books Read from my Shelves: 2
Total Library Books Read: 0

Formats Read

Physical Books: 0
eBooks: 2
Audio Books: 0

Total Books Read in 2017: 27

Currently Reading

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and all the best for 2018.

 

Hosted by: Book Date