As of 8 AM today, I've read over 300 books this year. My GoodReads count is 319, but it only counts one read per book per year, and I'm a BIG re-reader, and I count re-reads, even if I read Acheron 7 times in two months. Don't judge me!!
I absolutely LOVE all the indie authors I've found this year. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of them - Colleen Hoover, Heidi McLaughlin, Tina Reber, Cora Carmack, Jen Sterling, KA Tucker, Tessa Teevan, Mia Sheridan, Tia Louise, Mahalia Levey, Amber Nation, Savannah Stewart, A.D. Ellis, ROCHELLE PAIGE! : ) I want to meet more (CP Smith, Skye Turner), and see these guys again, and ... and... and! There are a few book events in 2015 that I'd love to get to, but we'll see how well they mesh w/ vacation time & money. Both important when planning trips, ya know?!
So, I don't know how ppl pick their favorites through a year of reading. Of course, if you know me at all, you know that I have a hard time picking a favorite ANYTHING. I have many best friends, can't put one on the top of a list. I have many favorite foods, drinks (well, okay, COFFEE, but there are many places I like to get my coffee from...? LOL), movies, books, authors... I thought about doing a top 10 of the year, then I keep shifting things, so ... one of my other bloggy peeps is part of a hop doing a top 14 of 14. They actually are doing all sorts of fun things AND have nifty pictures of the books. (I'm still not tech savvy enough to know how to do that, but I'll figure it out eventually! LOL)
For me - I'm just going to look at the books on my GR list & pull out some favorites from that. The one that I just finished today, Change of Hart by M.E. Carter, gets special props because it was FANTASTIC & completely (except the epilogue) from the male POV & I loved it lots!! : )
The year started off w/ a book I didn't really like at all (which was sad, because it was one I'd been anticipating for months!), so I needed a recovery read right away (Acheron again!). But then I did some re-reads of Laura Kaye's Hearts of the Anemoi series, in anticipation of the final book, East of Ecstasy. This series blew me away with its world-building & depth of the characters and stories. Highly recommend this series (and actually, her Hard Ink series is completely different, but also highly loved and recommended by moi!). : )
There was Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken, which is sorta an apt name as I loved it so much it sort of RUINED other books for me for awhile. Hangover, but the best kind. I discovered more of Tess Oliver & was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Dray. I re-read Freefall just because. It's still my favorite of the series (Nix & Scotlyn: The Wedding came out this month & it was BRILLIANTLY done!). : )
I discovered the amaaaazing KATY REGNERY!!!! I don't even know what to say about Katy, other than she is an awesome person and I've loved every single book of hers that I've read. Check her out, NOW! *grin* And while you're at it - Annalisa Nicole. *swoon* I won a signed paperback from her, and after reading it immediately wanted MORE. Happily, it was book 1 in a marvelous series, so I got right on that. *laugh* Both these ladies write sweet, somewhat intense stories that will leave you w/ the feels but the happy feels. Like a breath of fresh air. Or a hug. I love hugs. : D
I fell even more in love with Cambria Hebert's Take It Off (TIO) series, reading Tipsy more than once because it's awesomely sweet & fun. All of her books in this series (with the exception of Tempt, which I didn't really like as much) are re-reads for sure!
I devoured everything put out by Rochelle & Crystal (Aurora Rose Reynolds), Harper Sloan, Kristen Proby, Hilary Storm, Heidi McLaughlin, Tammy Falkner, KC Lynn... I love falling in love with good books, and I ADORE connecting w/ the writers of these stories on FB. Or anywhere, really. It's just amazing to me that they have these fantastic stories up in their heads & they're able to GET IT ALL OUT on paper. Or, computer, whatevs. *laugh*
And in February - I can't even believe it's not been a year yet. In February I discovered Kristen Ashley.
I can't even begin to describe how hard I fell for her writing. Her stories pull me in deep & don't want to let go. They are long, they are passionate, they make me want to know her characters for reals. : ) And because I read ARR first, KA reminds me of her. I fell so hard for the cadence of ARR's writing, when I read KA's Law Man & felt the same type of story-telling... I was sold. I was IN. I was hooked.
I can't wait to see what stories 2015 will bring. I'm excited to be devouring these stories. I'm excited to meet more authors & tell them THANK YOU! I'm excited to read the words. And to see what new authors I can add to my long list of favorites. : )
Do you have some authors or books you've discovered this year? Share share share! The best way to show authors you love that you love them and their writing is to be vocal about it! One of the best feelings is when someone comes to me & says, "hey, thank you for that recommendation - I LOVE xyz!" : )
TTFN!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Pre-Ordering is Fun!
So, how does everyone feel about pre-orders? Love them? Hate them? Take or leave them?
I have a love-hate relationship w/ pre-orders.
On the one hand, I love when they're available! When it's a book I know I want (like, say, part of a series I adore or an auto-buy author), it's a brilliant option because then I don't have to worry about "missing" it.
However... when there are several books releasing on the same day & I don't quite realize it as I'm just one-click-pre-ordering away...
Well, then, something like THIS happens:
Carrie's List of Books That Popped Up On Her Kindle Today
Wild About Weston by Katy Regnery
Slammed by Skyla Madi
Forever With Me by Kristen Proby
(I also ordered a signed PB of this from Kristen's website!)
Brown County: The Complete Series by Amber Nation
Ready or Not by J.L. Berg
Zip, Zero, Zilch by Tammy Falkner
Yeah, that's six books that just *poof* appeared!
Super cool, but I'm glad I had the money to cover them, because normally I try to spread my pre-orders out so they don't all hit at once.
ON TOP OF THAT!
I had a package waiting for me when I got home, containing:
Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Outside the Box by Rochelle Paige
So, whew! Lots of great reading to get to!
Currently reading A Reason To Breathe by CP Smith & really enjoying it!
What've you pre-ordered lately?
ttfn!
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