Books Read in 2018

It was my goal to read 100 books in 2018. At final count, I read a total of 136 books - the most I've read in a year during the 8 years I've had this blog. I listened to more audiobooks this year and made great use of my library. Overdrive and Hoopla are awesome! 

I binged on books by authors who I wanted to meet at Book Bonanza. I sought solace in stories and experienced the comfort of getting lost in a good book when life got a little too tough to handle. I discovered a lot of new-to-me authors and added some "forever favorite" books to my shelves. I reread books that make my heart feel full and more connected to myself.

Below is list of all of the books I read in 2018. The date listed is when I finished the book.

January
3: Together at Midnight by Jennifer Castle #
9: Notes from Ghost Town/Girl Unseen by Kate Ellison
10: Where I Belong by J. Daniels +
11: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (audiobook) *
14: All I Want by J. Daniels +
21: Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann #
21: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin ***
24: Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
28: The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren
31: Shattered Fear by Tara Thomas +

February
5: Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia #
9: Melt by Selene Castrovilla ***
12: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling (audiobook) *
12: My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (audiobook) *
18: The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane + 
25: Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton +

March
1: Darkest Night by Tara Thomas #
5: Dear Martin by Nic Stone (audiobook) *
7: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
9: She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton *
12: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer ***
17: The Secrets We Bury by Stacie Ramey
18: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (audiobook) *
29: The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed
31: The Backup Plan by Jen McLaughlin

April
7: High Note by Jen Luerssen +
7: Dirty by Kylie Scott (audiobook) ***
9: The Summer of Broken Things by Margaret Peterson Haddix
12: Trouble Is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly (audiobook) *
13: My Unexpected Love by Heidi McLaughlin
15: Girl, Wash Youd Face by Rachel Hollis (audiobook) *
17: Chaser by Kylie Scott #
20: The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One by Amanda Lovelace
21: The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace *
22: Notes from a Public Typewriter by M. Gustafson
25: Dropkick Romance by Cyrus Parker *
26: A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall #
27: Poet Anderson ... Of Nightmares by Tom DeLonge and Suzanne Young ***
28: Poet Anderson, The Dream Walker by Tom DeLonge *

May
7: Poet Anderson ...In Darkness by Tom DeLonge and Suzanne Young
13: What If by Rebecca Donovan
15: Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty ***
17: Sexcation by Heidi McLaughlin (audiobook) *
18: Summer Unplugged by Amy Sparling (audiobook)
21: Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June
22: Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
25: For Everyone by Jason Reynolds *
28: A Thousand Boys Kisses by Tillie Coe +
31: The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez +

June
5: The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren #
8: Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi #
8: The Brightest Sunset by Aly Martinez (audiobook) *
9: Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav *
13: You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston (audiobook)*
17: Ghostgirl by JB Salsbury #
18: Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams #
20: Clear by Jessica Park ***
23: One and Only by Jenny Holiday
27: The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson

July
1: From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Merion (audiobook) *
6: Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James *
7: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
12: Bright Side by Kim Holden (audiobook) *
12: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui *
13: The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
13: The Fall of Grace by Amy Hellner Dominy
14: Letters to the Moon by J.R. Rogue
15: Simon Vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli
16: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee ***
17: All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover (audiobook)

August
2: T0 All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (audiobook) ***
7: Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams +
12: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (audiobook) *
20: Cry Baby by Ginger Scott
23: Still Lives by Maria HAmmel (audiobook) *

September
3: The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda (audiobook) *
3: From Here to You by Jamie McGuire
8: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (audiobook) *
8: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy +
12: Liar and Spy by Rebecca Snead 
16: I Wanna Text You Up by Teagan Hunter
21: This Girl by Colleen Hoover
22: Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis (audiobook) *
26: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
30: Secrets We Told the City by J.R.Rogue and Kat Savage

October 
4: When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica (audiobook) *
5: Piper Perish by Kayla Cagan
6: Mean Girls by Micol Ostow (audiobook) *
9: Chasing My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin
11: Leah On the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (audiobook) *
13: Art Boss by Kayla Cagan
15: to make monsters out of girls by Amanda Lovelace
17: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (audiobook) *
18: The Leading Edge of Now by Marci Lyn Curtis
19: Fairest by Marissa Meyer (audiobook) *
25: Sadie by Courtney Summers *
26: The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane (audiobook) ***
27: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
27: So Much More by J. Daniels +
29: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

November 
7: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni ***
9: Maybe Now by Colleen Hoover +
10: Dear Heartbreak ed. by Heather Demetrios #
13: It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday 
15: Once Upon a Bride by Jenny Holiday +
16: Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen
18: Check Please #1 by Ngozi Ukazu *
19: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (audiobook) ***
21: Darcy Swipes Left by Courtney Carbone and Jane Austen
21: Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday
24: Scrooge #WorstGiftEver by Brett Wright
24: I Hope This Makes You Uncomfortable by Kat Savage
24: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (audiobook) ***
24: Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen *
26: Big Bad Cowboy by Carly Bloom
27: Little Moments of Love by Catana Chetwynd *
29: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier *
29: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (audiobook) *
30: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier *

December
1: A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle and Hope Larson *
1: Girls Like Me by Lola St. Vil *
2: Learning to Speak by Kat Savage
2: Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal *
9: Verity by Colleen Hoover +
9: Keeping Her Under the Mistletoe by M. Robinson +
10: Once by Alice Walker *
12: Atheists Who Kneel and Pray by Tarryn Fisher +
13: Sheets by Brenna Thummler *
16: Anne of Green Gables by Mariah Marsden *
19: The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur *
25: Becoming Unbecoming by Una *
26: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare *
26: My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies by Ed Brubaker *
28: Claudia and Mean Janine (BSC #4) by Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier
28: All Summer Long by Hope Larson *
31: Everything Must Go by Jenny Fran Davis (audiobook) *

*Library Book

**Borrowed from a friend

***reread
+ e-book 

# Advanced Reader Copy (ARC)

Review and Excerpt: VERITY by Colleen Hoover

VERITY

by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: December 7, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense; 250 pages

"Sublimely creepy with a true Hoover pulse. I've been waiting on a thriller like this for years." Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author

Verity, an all-new romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, is available now!

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity likely didn't intend for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night their family was forever altered.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

MY THOUGHTS

Colleen Hoover has masterfully crafted a mind-boggling story. I loved trying to decifer the clues of what really happened with this family. I had so many theories and was sure that I had "figured it all out" several times - only to be surprised until the end. That is one of my favorites part about reading suspenseful books. 

I hope that she continues to write more in the genre because she does it so well. Another impressive novel from Colleen Hoover.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tv0cZg

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Verity

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2zksQUq

EXCERPT

“What are you wearing?” Corey is staring down at my shirt, perplexed, just now noticing it despite having spent the last fifteen minutes with me.

I look down at my oversized shirt. For a moment, I forgot how ridiculous I look. “I spilled coffee on my other shirt this morning and had to change.”

“Whose shirt is that?”

I shrug. “Probably yours. It was in my closet.”

“You left your house in that? There wasn’t something else you could have worn?”

“It doesn’t look high fashion?” I’m being sarcastic, but he doesn’t catch it.

He makes a face. “No. Is it supposed to?”

Such an ass. But he’s good in bed, like most assholes.

I’m actually relieved when the conference room door opens and a woman walks in. She’s followed, almost comically, by an older man walking so closely behind her, he bumps into the back of her when she stops.

“Goddammit, Barron,” I hear her mumble.

I almost smile at the idea of Goddammit Barron actually being his name.

Jeremy enters last. He gives me a small nod that goes unnoticed by everyone else.

The woman is dressed more appropriately than I am on my best day, with short black hair and lipstick so red, it’s a little jarring at nine thirty in the morning. She seems to be the one in charge as she reaches for Corey’s hand, and then mine, while Goddammit Barron looks on. “Amanda Thomas,” she says. “I’m an editor with Pantem Press. This is Barron Stephens, our lawyer, and Jeremy Crawford, our client.”

Jeremy and I shake hands, and he does a good job of pretending we didn’t share an extremely bizarre morning. He quietly takes the seat across from me. I try not to look at him, but it’s the only place my eyes seem to want to travel. I have no idea why I’m more curious about him than I am about this meeting.

Amanda pulls folders out of her briefcase and slides them in front of Corey and me.

“Thank you for meeting with us,” she says. “We don’t want to waste your time, so I’ll cut right to the chase. One of our authors is unable to fulfill a contract due to medical reasons, and we’re in search of a writer with experience in the same genre who may be interested in completing the three remaining books in her series.”

I glance at Jeremy, but his stoic expression doesn’t hint at his role in this meeting.

“Who is the author?” Corey asks.

“We’re happy to go over the details and terms with you, but we do ask that you sign the non-disclosure agreement. We would like to keep our author’s current situation out of the media.”

“Of course,” Corey says.

I acquiesce, but I say nothing as we both look over the forms and then sign them. Corey slides them back to Amanda.

“Her name is Verity Crawford,” she says. “I’m sure you’re familiar with her work.”

Corey stiffens as soon as they mention Verity’s name. Of course we’re familiar with her work. Everyone is. I hazard a glance in Jeremy’s direction. Is Verity his wife? They share a last name. He said downstairs that his wife is a writer. But why would he be in a meeting about her? A meeting she isn’t even here for?

“We’re familiar with the name,” Corey says, holding his cards close.

“Verity has a very successful series we would hate to see go unfinished,” Amanda continues. “Our goal is to bring in a writer who is willing to step in, finish the series, complete the book tours, press releases, and whatever else is normally required of Verity. We plan to put out a press release introducing the new co-writer while also preserving as much of Verity’s privacy as possible.”

About Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of thirteen novels and multiple novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Connect with Colleen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2FZ7GAI

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2L1LuoI

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-hoover

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenhoover/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleenhoover

SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/colleenhoover

Join her reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/colleenhooverscohorts/

https://www.colleenhoover.com

Available Now: VERITY by Colleen Hoover

I'm already devouring this new release from 

Colleen Hoover!

"Sublimely creepy with a true Hoover pulse. I've been waiting on a thriller like this for years." Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author

Verity, an all-new romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, is available now!

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity likely didn't intend for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night their family was forever altered. 

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

 

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tv0cZg

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Verity

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2zksQUq

About Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of thirteen novels and multiple novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Connect with Colleen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2FZ7GAI

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2L1LuoI

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-hoover

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenhoover/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleenhoover

SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/colleenhoover

Join her reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/colleenhooverscohorts/

https://www.colleenhoover.com

It's Release Day!! ACROSS THE HORIZON by Aly Martinez

     

It's Release Day for Aly Martinez'a new book ACROSS THE HORIZON. I'm looking forward to reading Tanner's story. I've just started reading Aly's books - The Darkest Sunrise and The Brightest Sunset duet were my first reads, and I thought they were great! I'm ready to read more! 

“Sometimes love happens when you least expect it.” That was what my husband’s mistress told me the day I found out about their affair.

I didn’t believe it until five minutes later when mouth-watering celebrity chef Tanner Reese walked up, tossed his arm around my shoulders, and told my cheating husband to take a hike. Tanner and I couldn’t have been more different. He spent his weekends at clubs, rubbing elbows with fellow A-listers. I spent mine in yoga pants with cheese boards and a glass of wine—or six. Our relationship shouldn’t have worked, but it did. That is until Tanner proved to me that even though love happens when you least expect it... So does heartbreak.

ADD TO GOODREADS

AVAILABLE NOW 

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | AMAZON CA

         

 About the Author

         

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children. Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person. She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side. 

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