Category: About Me

2022 End of Year Book Survey

Posted December 30, 2022 by Jana in About Me, Personal / 16 Comments

I love doing Jamie’s End of Year Book Survey every year, although I’ve added a few of my own questions and removed some of hers in order to make it work a little better for me. This survey helps me look back and remember all the wonderful (and terrible) books I’ve read throughout the year! Also… buh bye 2022. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Can 2023 please be better?

2022 Reading Stats

Number of books you read: 64
Number of re-reads: 2
Number of books you DNFed: 67
Number of pages you read: 20,775 (not counting the books I DNFed)
Most read genre: Adult historical romance. I read 22 of them!
Number of new-to-you authors you discovered: 28

Firsts and Lasts

First book you read: Eighty Days to Elsewhere by K.C. Dyer
Last book you read: The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne
First 2022 release you read: On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk

Best In Books

1. Best book you read in 2022:
This is REALLY hard. Because I was so willing to DNF this year, I loved so many books! So… my FAVORITE book of the year is probably Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas because it basically made me go on a huge LK reading spree and I found my new favorite author.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t:
Doctor Dearest by R.S. Grey. I have loved nearly everything I’ve read by this author, and Hotshot Doc was my first of her books (and one of my favorites ever). I loved the doctor aspect of that book, so when I saw that there was another one I actually saved it for a long time for when I really needed a good romance and this one was a major disappointment. I gave it one star, but almost DNFed. And I can now honestly say I remember nothing about it other than that I hated it. lol.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read:
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle. I’m not going to lie, I was surprised that Sarah Hogle could craft such a wild, zany story that both warmed my heart and confused me greatly at times. What a trip!

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did):
Probably The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams. I got two friends to read it, and they loved it as much as I did! And my mom plans to read it soon!

5. Best first book in a series you started in 2022. Best sequel of 2022. Best series ender of 2022.
Started: Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas (I read this entire series this year and loved it so much.)
Sequel: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (re-read)
Ender: Well Traveled by Jenn DeLuca (end of the Well Met series)

6. Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2022:
Lisa Kleypas! Without question!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone:
The Huntress by Kate Quinn. I’ve never been much of a historical fiction reader, but this was enthralling. I loved it and could not stop listening to it!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year:
Eighty Days to Elsewhere by K.C. Dyer. This was action-packed not in the way most people would expect. It’s basically Around the World in Eighty Days, Amazing Race style. The characters are flitting all over the world, rushing around to various destinations and it was amazing! So thrilling and exciting and I could not turn the pages fast enough to learn where they ended up next.

9. Book you read in 2022 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
This is a super hard question because this was a great reading year for me. I will definitely listen to The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams again because it’s a hug in a book. Enemies Abroad by R.S. Grey was also amazing, and full of Italy and swoons. And I will definitely be re-reading The Ravenels series soon because I love it so so much. Oh, and Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel because it’s perfect festive goodness and I know I’ll be craving it next holiday season.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2022:
I adore the cover of Holiday With You by Claudia Burgoa and Graham Claire because it’s so cozy and festive.

11. Most memorable character of 2022:
It has to be Hall from Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle. He’s the actual Christmas spirit personified, and he’s so happy and sweet and precious and wholesome. I couldn’t help but beam when I read about him.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022:
Honestly, my first thought is A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Her worldbuilding and descriptions are so stunning. I never get tired of reading and re-reading her books!

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2022:
Nothing hit me that hard this year, actually. Books taught me things, but nothing really changed my life or made me think overly deeply.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read:
Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas. lol.

15. Favorite quote from a book you read in 2022:
“Building a generation is like building a wall—one good well-made brick at a time, one good well-made child at a time. Enough good bricks, you have a good wall. Enough good children, you have a generation that won’t start a world-enveloping war.”
― Kate Quinn, The Huntress

16. Shortest and longest books you read in 2022:
Shortest: Making Merry by Erica Ridley (37 pages)
Longest: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (624 pages)

17. Book that shocked you the most:
I was shocked at how bad Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne was. I expected it to be a little strange, but this book was extremely uncomfortable and honestly pretty gross for me. Angelika creates her ideal man from body parts she steals from the morgue. She finds a handsome man’s body, but his manhood is way too small for her so she finds a big one from another corpse and sews it on. After he comes to life, he’s in excruciating pain from what she has done. And apparently the fact that she forces him into a relationship with her that he doesn’t want, objectifies him, strips away his humanity, and will not allow him to not love her is supposed to be funny and romantic. This is in no way, shape, or form romantic. It’s disgusting. This man is not a new person like in Mary Shelley’s book, which this book is very loosely inspired by. He recovers memories from his former life and mourns for that loss. The physical and emotional pain of coming back to life but to one he did not want, where he has not consented to surgical enhancements, and is not allowed to make any of his own decisions is, quite frankly, upsetting. Everything he feels for and about Angelika is quite literally against his will. I was honestly worried I was going to get to a scene where she actually forces him to consummate their relationship. I DNFed at 15%. I just never expected this from this author.

18. OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!):
Dr. Garrett Gibson and Ethan Ransom from Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. Garrett is the most amazing woman, and Ethan is a swoony, mysterious, kind of dangerous man. I loved them together.

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
The friendships in Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison are amazing. I also love the strong friendships and support found in the sweet group of wallflowers from Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflowers series.

20. Favorite book you read in 2022 from an author you’ve read previously:
Enemies Abroad by R.S. Grey. I DNFed a few books by this author this year, which broke my heart because I have loved everything of hers I’ve read until now, but this was AMAZING and so so wonderful.

21. Best book you read in 2022 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else:
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen. I’d kind of been considering this one, but several of my friends pushed it on me when I was looking for adult romantic fantasy and so I did it! I read the entire collection of currently-released books back to back to back, and it was so much fun!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022:
Miles Taylor from Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel. He’s perfect. He’s sarcastic and sweet and adorable, and so caring and loving. The way he treats Olive, and the things he says… and the kissing… the heartwarming moments between the two of them. I have no words! I’m such a jumble of thoughts.

23. Best 2022 debut you read:
*sigh* I only read one 2022 debut this year, and I didn’t love it. A Brush With Love by Mazey Eddings. The writing was fine, and I love following this author on social media because she is a gem. But I didn’t love the characters very much.

24. Most vivid setting you read this year:
I really, really REALLY love the Night Court in A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Like, I LOVE it so much. I would go visit right away if I could (especially if Rhys were there)! But since it’s a re-read, I felt like I needed to pick something else and well! The landscape in Something Wilder by Christina Lauren was so beautifully described, and came to life even though I live in Utah and have seen a lot of it before. lol.

25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read:
Well oops. lol. I try not to re-use answers, much less in back-to-back questions, but I felt like the adventure in Something Wilder by Christina Lauren was so much fun. There was some suspense and mystery, plus love and great characters. It was just what I needed, when I needed it!

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2022:
As is always my goal, I did not cry this year. lol.

27. Hidden gem of the year:
Take Me Back by Meghan March! It wasn’t released this year, but I had never heard of this book until I stumbled across it on Audible while I was looking for books read by narrators I love. This was so much fun! It’s romantic suspense and a bit of a second chance love story as well. I was very entertained, and would definitely listen to it again.

28. Most unique book you read in 2022:
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle. I have never read a book like this, and I don’t think I will ever find another book this unique again!

39. Book that made you the maddest (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it):
LOL. I’m not sure it’s in my best interest to discuss the book that made me so mad all over again, so just refer to my answer for question number 17!.

My Blogging/Bookish Life

1. Favorite review that you wrote in 2022:
My review of Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas wasn’t anything super special, but it perfectly showcases my feelings of elation when I find a book or an author I love. I love reading about the joy I felt reading this series this year.

2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog:
My Top Ten Tuesday post on my favorite Ukrainian-owned Etsy shops made me really happy. I loved writing it. I follow so many of these shop owners on Instagram, and their stories and updates have touched my heart so much. They are going through unimaginable pain, loss, and fear, but their hope and faith is astounding. The Ukrainian people truly inspire me, and I think about them everyday. I hope and pray for their freedom.

3. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.):
No events this year.

6. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views):
My Top Ten Dynamic Duos in Literature got the most comments this year! 44!

8. Post you wished got a little more love:
All of my reviews, really. Blogs aren’t as popular as they used to be, and now that Google has officially discontinued Feedburner and I don’t have an alternative, I’ve lost traffic that came from my email subscribers.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.):
It’s not a discovery, but I got Kindle Unlimited this year (the first time I got it for like a dollar a month for 3 months and the second time I got three free months with my new Kindle Paperwhite I got for Christmas!)!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year:
I surpassed my Goodreads goal of 52 books by reading 64!

Looking Ahead

1. Book you are most anticipating in 2023 (non-debut):
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren and Practice Makers Perfect by Sarah Adams! And I already have review copies of both, so yay!

2. 2023 debut you are most anticipating:
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce. Fun fact: This is the author who made me read Lisa Kleypas. So I am SO EXCITED about her book!

3. Sequel you are most anticipating in 2023:
I’m very excited for Graphic Audio to release A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas. Does that count?

4. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2023?
Post more reviews! I have not loved writing them lately. lol.

Do we have any answers in common?

Pick a question or two and answer them in the comments! Let’s discuss!

Ten Qualities I Look for In a Comfort Read

Posted May 30, 2022 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 11 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is all about comfort reads: the books that feel like home and make me warm and fuzzy when I read them. Since I don’t re-read much, I decided to share qualities I look for when I’m on the hunt for a comfort read. Obviously, I can’t find all ten of these qualities in every book I choose. Sometimes I’ll get 2-3 and that’s good enough for me! I can’t wait to see what you consider to be a comfort read, and just know that this topic is going to add a bunch of books to my to-read list!

The Necessities:

These are the non-negotiable qualities that a book must have for me to consider it a comfort read.

There’s got to be some kind of romance going on.
It doesn’t even have to be the main storyline! A thriller with a small sprinkling of romance would definitely make the cut.
Overall, it needs to be happy.
I have have heard that some people find comfort in reading stories where the characters are suffering or struggling with the same things they are, because it makes them feel less alone. I’m the opposite. I don’t like commiserating with characters in my books, and would rather read something happy that takes my mind off my life.
I need to be in the mood for it.
I’m a major mood reader. I can want to read a book so badly, but if I’m not in the mood for it at the time I sit down to read it then I’m not going to like it.

The Bonuses:

These are the qualities that push a book even further into the “comfort read” zone for me. Sometimes a book will have several of these, and that’s pretty exciting!

It takes place at Christmas time.
The character(s) is on vacation somewhere I love or would love to visit someday.
It’s set in a world unlike mine. I also love fantasy and sci-fi, which both transport me to completely different and exciting places!
It has one or several of my favorite romance tropes: fake dating/engagement/marriage, friends to lovers, best friend’s sibling/sibling’s best friend, or forced proximity.
It’s funny! I love witty banter or hilarious situations.
The characters are super loveable.
It’s written by one of my favorite authors. I love Lisa Kleypas, Christina Lauren, Sarah Morgenthaler, Sarah Hogle, R.S. Grey, Tessa Dare, Julia Quinn, Sarah Morgan, Jenn Deluca, Riley Sager, and Mary Higgins-Clark.

Books That Fit the Bill:

I know I said I don’t re-read often, but I do have a list of books I have re-read (and will continue to do so) and books I want to re-read soon! Here’s a few of them:

What makes a book a comfort read for you?
What’s your ultimate comfort read? I’d love some recommendations!

2021 End of Year Book Survey

Posted January 2, 2022 by Jana in About Me / 10 Comments

I love doing Jamie’s End of Year Book Survey every year! It helps me look back and remember all the wonderful (and terrible) books I’ve read throughout the year! Also… buh bye 2021. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Can 2022 please be better?

2021 Reading Stats

Number of books you read: 64
Number of re-reads: 2
Number of books you DNFed: 57
Most read genre: Adult contemporary romance (I read 38 of them).

Best In Books

1. Best book you read in 2020:
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t:
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James. I loved Sun-Down Motel and heard from so many people that this one was even more amazing and I couldn’t even finish it. It’s super disappointing because I’d been wanting to read it for ages!

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I had no idea I would love it as much as I did, but I was riveted.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did):
I think my answer is the same as last year! I’ve really been pushing the Moose Springs, AK series by Sarah Morgenthaler on everyone I know. I’ve been pushing this on everyone and have forced quite a few people to read it!

5. Best series you started in 2021. Best sequel of 2021. Best series ender of 2021.
Started: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Sequel: An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (book #3 in Bridgertons)
Ender: Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2021:
R.S. Grey!!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir! I’m not usually one for sci-fi or books with no romance, but this was fabulous and I’m excited for Andy to write more books!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year:
Hanover House by Brenda Novak. I ended up reading the entire series back to back because I had to know what happened!

9. Book you read in 2021 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I’d love to listen to The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss again next year. It was so perfect for Christmastime!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2021:

11. Most memorable character of 2021:
Wesley from Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle. Such a sweet, sweet cinnamon roll. I think about him all the time.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2021:
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. The descriptions of the scenery were stunning.

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2021:
N/A

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2021 to finally read:
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.

15. Favorite quote from a book you read in 2020:
I rarely mark my favorite quotes. I should change that.

16. Shortest and longest books you read in 2020:
Shortest: A Christmas Bun for Ulysses by Sarah Morgenthaler (10 pages)
Longest: Winter King by C.L. Wilson (594 pages)

17. Book that shocked you the most:
Really, I’m just shocked by how many books I expected to love and DNFed instead.

18. OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!):
Maybell and Wesley of Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle.

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
Ryland and the Rocky the alien in Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I loved their friendship.

20. Favorite book you read in 2021 from an author you’ve read previously:
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle. I didn’t realize I’d mention this book so much this year!

21. Best book you read in 2021 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else:
Fluffy by Julia Kent was recommended to me by my friend Kate! I was afraid of the… fluffy part of it, but this book ended up being so good!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2021:
Noel from Snowflakes At the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans.

23. Best 2021 debut you read:
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

24. Most vivid setting you read this year:
Summerlea in The Winter King by C.L. Wilson.

25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read:
Call Me Maybe by Cara Bastone was a re-read for me this year, and I loved it just as much the second time.

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2021:
Nope! No crying this year!

27. Hidden gem of the year:
Hotshot Doc by R.S. Grey. LOVED it.

28. Book that crushed your soul:
Honestly can’t think of any.

29. Most unique book you read in 2021:
Maybe not unique for everyone, but for me? The Winter King by C.L. Wilson. It’s the only romantic fantasy I’ve read that wasn’t YA, and I just loved it.

30. Book that made you the maddest (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it):
Really, the entire Winter Black series by Mary Stone. I feel like each book never actually ended because the author just wanted to string us along and spend more money on her books. I finally just quit after book 3.

My Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2021:
I didn’t venture outside my usuals this year. It was just too exhausting.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2021:
Nothing is standing out, to be honest.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog:
All of the TTTs, really.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.):
Ha! There was nothing. I really thought COVID would have ended but NO.

6. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views):
My Bookish Wishes Top Ten Tuesday that celebrated my birthday got 60 comments.

8. Post you wished got a little more love:
All my reviews, pretty much. lol

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.):
I didn’t discover anything new this year.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year:
I completed my Goodreads goal of reading 52 books this year. I read 63, which is a huge miracle because I had two major eye surgeries and haven’t been able to see very well for most of the year.

Looking Ahead

1. Book you are most anticipating in 2022 (non-debut):
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle and the 4th Moose Springs book by Sarah Morganthaler and Something Wilder by Christina Lauren!

2. 2022 debut you are most anticipating:
A Brush With Love by Mazey Eddings!

3. Sequel you are most anticipating in 2022:
Love On the Brain by Ali Hazelwood.

4. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2022?
I really want to read through my physical book collection to make sure I want to keep all of the books I own. If not, I need to get rid of them to make room for more!

Do we have any answers in common?

Pick a question or two and answer them in the comments! Let’s discuss!

Happy 2022!

Posted January 1, 2022 by Jana in About Me / 8 Comments

Happy New Year! It’s my hope and prayer that 2022 is full of good health, kindness, love, and many good books for us all. Best wishes for you and yours as you gear up to write another chapter of your story.

Banner photo taken by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Top Ten Bookish Memories

Posted November 29, 2021 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 11 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving this past week, if you celebrate! This week’s topic is all about nostalgia and reminiscing. I don’t know about you, but the holidays always make me think back to the really good times in my life. So I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my favorite bookish memories today! These memories can be stories of your reading life as a child, events you’ve gone to, books that made an impression on you, noteworthy experiences with books, authors you’ve met, etc. I’m excited to get to know all of you better!

1. I loved reading as a child, but then fell out of love with it in elementary and middle school, when my teachers made me read books I hated (some of them were very upsetting) and then write essays on them. But then when I was in college, Twilight came out. My mom and I bought copies and binged them. And then we went to the New Moon midnight release at our local Borders bookstore (RIP) so we could get the newest one immediately. All of a sudden, I’d fallen in love with reading again! I went hunting for more books like Twilight and discovered YA, a genre I fell in love with and read almost exclusively for about 7 years.

2. From the time I was very little, my mom would buy a couple new Christmas picture books each year for our family collection. Each year, when it was time to decorate for Christmas, I would pull out the box of Christmas books and read my favorites by the Christmas tree. I’ve done this every year, and the only reason I haven’t the last couple of years is because we got two rambunctious cats that chew on everything! We’ve left them in the box in the Christmas closet to keep them safe from kitty teeth.

3. I remember being 4-5 years old laying on a blanket on the floor reading Sherlock Chick books to my baby sister. She couldn’t even talk yet and pretty much just wiggled and pulled my hair, but I was sure she knew exactly what was going on.

4. I remember the very first ARC I requested from a publisher and actually received! It was the most amazing surprise to check my mail and find a shiny envelope with Of Poseidon by Anna Banks in it. A publicist (hi, Ksenia!) had finally taken a chance on me, and you better believed I dropped everything and read it immediately.

5. Probably the most special experience I’ve had with a book was with Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. I don’t even completely understand it! The heroine, Bria, goes on an off-the-beaten-path backpacking journey through Belize and has some amazing experiences and learns a lot about herself. I connected with Bria so, so much and I guess I read the book at the exact right time for me. It inspired me to really want to take a big trip that took me out of my comfort zone a little. My mom and I finally got to do that when we traveled through Europe for a few weeks and I, too, learned so much about myself and my life. So did she! It was amazing!

6. I went to ALA in Las Vegas, NV (my second time!) and I was in Mary E. Pearson’s signing line for her upcoming release, The Kiss of Deception, which I had already read and LOVED. When I got to the front of the line she saw my name tag and jumped up, screamed my name, and grabbed me for a hug. Everyone started looking at me and my name tag to try and figure out who I was. LOL.

7. Tracey Garvis-Graves was the first author to mention me by name in the acknowledgments of a book! You can find my name in Uncharted (the sequel to On the Island). Several other authors have mentioned me in their books since, and I’m always so, so honored and driven to tears each time. Authors are some of the sweetest people!

8. Tracey was also the first (and only, so far!) author to use me as a subject matter expert while writing a book! It was the coolest experience ever, and I was so flattered that she wanted to chat with me about some things that she ultimately included in her book, The Girl He Used to Know.

9. I loved going to Scholastic book fairs in school soooooo much and I always look back on those times as some of my favorite school memories.

10. After college, I worked in an elementary school as a reading teacher for children who were reading below grade level. We experienced so many amazing victories together and they all helped me realize how much of a gift it is to know how to read.

What are some of your favorite bookish memories?
Have you ever had a really special experience with a book?