Top Ten Reads of 2021

 It's bittersweet to read my top reads post of last year and then to see how little has changed since 2020.  We are still here - still dealing with the pandemic - but when I wrote that post I still had hope that the end was in sight and that things would be getting back to "normal" soon (not sure really what normal is anymore).  Alas, we are still dealing with the pandemic and numbers are skyrocketing again.  Boo!  Happily,  books were still there for me as they always are.  My number of books read has continued to drop - I finished 55 books in total in 2021.  This is the lowest number of books read since I started tracking so many years ago, but I continued to really enjoy the majority of what I read.  I'll take quality over quantity always.  My blogging continues to be sporadic at best.  I'm not sure that I'll ever post as consistently as I used to when book blogging was at the height of popularity.  And that's okay.  But I'm also not sure that I'll ever give it up either.  I just love sharing my thoughts on the books that I read in written form here.  If you don't already, I'm much more of a consistent poster on Instagram so would love if you followed me there too.  But for now let's move on to the top ten books that I read in 2021:

Shiver by Allie Reynolds - This book was exactly what I look for in a winter thriller!  I loved the isolated, suspenseful atmosphere that the author created.  I read this one with snow on the ground in the middle of winter and just lost myself within its' pages.  The author did an amazing job of creating a suspenseful read that kept me guessing until the very end.  I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten - This was my first read of 2021 and I knew instantly after finishing that it would make my top reads list for the year.  It was just so good!  It was a slow burning, suspenseful read that I couldn't set down.  There was this constant feeling of dread that seeped through the pages that I just adored.  I have found that I need all of the creepy, atmospheric reads like this in my life so give me read-alike recommendations if you have them.  Another author that I am so excited to read more from in 2022 with her next release!

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner - Mystery lovers, you are seriously missing out if you haven't tried out Gardner's books yet! This was originally supposed to be a standalone but is now being turned into a series - and for good reason!  This book was just SO good!  I loved Frankie's character - there is just something about flawed main characters in my mysteries that I can't seem to get enough of.  I'm so excited for the next book in this series and highly recommend this one if you haven't had the chance to check it out!

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson - Fans of The Chestnut Man and dark mysteries need to pick this book up!  I was absolutely blown away by this series debut.  There is nothing better in my opinion than finding a new standout police procedural and this is definitely one of them.  As I'm thinking back on the books I loved from last year - it is the characters, the atmosphere, and the storylines that stick out for me.  This book had it all and then some.  I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in this series when it releases!

Gone For Good by Joanna Schaffhausen - Schaffhausen is another author that has become a favorite of mine over the past couple of years for good reason.  I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I absolutely LOVED this first book in her new series!  She just has a way with writing mysteries that I cannot set down and that keep me guessing the entire time.  The best part of this book though is the way that I thought I had this book figured out....when really I didn't at all.  Yet another series that I'm super hyped to continue on with in 2022!

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - This is the 2nd year in a row that one of Simone St. James' books have landed on my top ten reads list.  Let me tell you that she is another author (really this statement is true for all of these authors) where you are missing out if you haven't tried her books yet.  I love that she really has something more to say when it comes to violence against women and that is present in her books.  The two timelines of this book were tied together perfectly and the hint of ghosts ensured that I absolutely loved this book.  SO good!

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon - This book reminded me exactly why I consider McMahon to be one of my favorite authors.  It's actually been a few years since I read one of her books - and this book made me wonder why I haven't picked anything up by her recently because her books are just SO GOOD!  This book had this sense of dread and foreboding that just built up page by page.  And then that ending.  Ugh - this book was perfection and was the slap in the face I needed to want to pick up everything that McMahon has ever written.  I should have done this already but at least I have more to look forward to in 2022 by her!

One by One by Ruth Ware - This is my first book by Ware (despite the fact that I own like all of her books) but it certainly won't be my last!  I also want to take a minute to appreciate the fact that this was another winter thriller that made my top reads list - and it also was a variation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.  I loved this one from the very first page until the last.  It left me absolutely kicking myself for never trying Ware's books until now.  Yet another author whose backlist I need to work on catching up on ASAP.

Broken Places by Tracy Clark - Out of all of the books on my top reads list, this book deserves WAY more hype than I've seen it getting.  It's SO good!  I am always here for a good mystery and this one was a standout beginning to this new to me mystery series.  The characters were perfection and I loved that this author also used this book to look at both unjustified police shootings and police corruption.  I am repeating myself throughout this post but this is yet another series that I plan on reading more from in 2022!

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor - If you love spooky, atmospheric reads then this is the book for you!  Actually, there are a few on this list like that (I have a type).  I LOVED this book for so many reasons but the main one was the spooky setting that the author created within these pages.  Hints of witchcraft, a small town filled with secrets, a small church that is possibly haunted....this book had it all.  And I ate it up with a spoon asking for more!  I've read two books now by Tudor and they both were standouts.  Yet another author whose backlist I need to read all of (story of my life at this point).

There you have it - my top 10 reads list for 2021.  There were SO many other books that I rated 4.5 stars and could have been included here so I'm not even bothering including honorable mentions because the list would be ridiculous.  What did I learn about myself as a reader from writing up this post?  That I love mysteries, creepy, atmospheric reads, and winter thrillers.  If you have any recommendations that relate to these three things - feel free to share them in the comments.  I have some goals for the new year so I plan on eventually sharing them all in their own post.  But mostly it comes down to reading the types of books that I love.  After two years living through a pandemic, it makes sense to read as much of the things that I love as possible rather than saving them for a rainy day.  

What book or books were your favorites of 2021?

Top Ten Reads of 2017

2017 seems to have flown by and here we are again with the best of lists coming out all over the place.  I absolutely adore seeing what books other bloggers loved in 2017.  My holds list at the library is a bit ridiculous thanks to all of these posts but I just can't seem to resist putting just one more book on hold.  It wasn't my best year of reading but quality wise it was a very strong year.  I ended up finishing 59 books in 2017.  This wasn't my lowest year numbers wise but it was pretty darn close to it.  I'm already looking towards ways of changing this in 2018 but that is for a different post.  I read a ton of really great books this year (actually the majority of the books I read were four star reads) so that makes me very happy.  My top reads for 2017 were the following:

The Doll's House by M.J. Arlidge is book three in this amazing series and also makes this the 3rd year in a row that this series has hit my top 10 reads list.  I am such a huge fan of this series and each book has been a five star read for me.  That should tell you all that you need to know - this is a must read series for me to catch up on in the new year!

Two Can Play by Kate Kessler is the second book in what is fast becoming another favorite mystery series of mine.  The cover quote says "Deliciously twisted" and I can't agree more!  While I think the first book was slightly better than this one, I still found this to be a five star read.  Audrey's character is a favorite of mine and I can't wait to continue on with this series in 2018 as well!

A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman was yet another amazing read by this author.  This is also the 3rd year in a row that this series has hit my top 10 reads list - I'm a lucky girl to have found so many great series that I love so much!  I haven't yet seen anything for the next book in the series but I sure do have my fingers crossed that it happens in 2018!

Dark Saturday by Nicci French was a dark, thrilling read that I couldn't get enough of!  This is my first time reading anything in this series (of which I read this one completely out of order).  It was just so good and now I plan to go back to the beginning and read the rest of the books in this series.  I loved this one and can't wait to read more!

Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell wasn't the only book in this series that I read and adored in 2017.  I would actually have put both books on this list but I'm cheating and just including this one (the other was From Potter's Field).  Both were fast paced and intense five star reads for me.  This is a series that I can't read fast enough but am also trying to savor.  Highly recommended!

Asylum by Jeannette De Beauvoir was a mystery series were the dual storylines ended up blowing me away - especially after realizing that the author based this book off of true events.  It was a book that left me thinking about it long after I finished.  There looks to only be two books in this series so far but I won't be waiting long to read that 2nd book in 2018!

Into The Drowning Deep by Mira Grant was everything that I had hoped it would be and even more.  I've loved Grant's Newflesh trilogy previously and after loving this book just as much....well, I basically feel like I will love everything that she writes!  I cannot say enough good things about this book or this author.  You'll just have to try her for yourself!

Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary was the beginning to a new to me mystery series that I just adored!  I am so thrilled that I have more books to look forward to after loving this book so much!  It was unexpected in the way that the author handled the mystery but I loved this book all the more because of it.  I will be continuing on with this series in 2018!

Final Girls by Riley Sager was everything that I enjoy in a good thriller - it was dark, intense, and one of those books that I just couldn't put down!  It had a horror movie vibe to it that I just couldn't get enough of.  I am so excited about this author and will be there for anything that he writes!  This was just that good and deserving of all of the attention that it got!

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter wins the award for the darkest and most thrilling book that I read this year (which says something after you've seen some of the other books that I've read in 2017).  This book was just so completely intense and full of twists and turns.  Slaughter's books are all now on my must read list after reading and loving two of her books this year.

There are so many amazing books on this list!  I plan on reading books by ALL of these authors in 2018!  There were so many other books that I read in 2017 that I really could have included on this list as well.  The following are honorable mentions (*by authors not included above):

• All The Secret Places by Anna Carlisle 
• The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal
• A Season to Lie by Emily Littlejohn
• The Breakdown by B.A. Shapiro

I better stop there or I will end up listing the majority of the books that I read and enjoyed in 2017.  I am hoping for a better year quantity wise in 2018 but I would love to have just as great of a year quality wise.  I plan on stretching myself in 2018 with my reading so here is to a wonderful year in books in 2018!  May you and your family have an amazing and wonderful year in 2018!

Happy Reading!

Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Keeping secrets, telling lies, they require the same skill. Both become a habit, almost an addiction, that's hard to break even with the people closest to you, out of the business. For example, they say never trust a woman who tells you her age; if she can't keep that secret, she can't keep yours. I'm fifty-nine."

Brigid Quinn's experiences in hunting sexual predators for the FBI have left her with memories she wishes she didn't have and lethal skills she hopes never to need again. Having been pushed into early retirement by events she thinks she's put firmly behind her, Brigid keeps telling herself she is settling down nicely in Tucson with a wonderful new husband, Carlo, and their dogs.

But the past intervenes when a man named Floyd Lynch confesses to the worst unsolved case of Brigid's career—the disappearance and presumed murder of her young protégée, Jessica. Floyd knows things about that terrible night that were never made public, and offers to lead the cops to Jessica's body in return for a plea bargain.

It should finally be the end of a dark chapter in Brigid's life. Except…the new FBI agent on the case, Laura Coleman, thinks the confession is fake, and Brigid finds she cannot walk away from violence and retribution after all, no matter what the cost."

My Thoughts:

Two books in and this author has already jumped on to my must-read, favorite authors list.  I love these books!  I love this series!  This is one of those authors and series that I cannot recommend highly enough (obviously as I've already started gushing)!  And honestly, I really feel like this series is a bit underrated at least as far as I have seen in the blogging world.  Why aren't more bloggers reading and loving this series as much as I am?  I don't know other than the fact that it is fairly new with only two books so far and a third coming soon.  Maybe I should stop rambling on how much I love this series though and actually tell you what I loved about this book.  Ha!  Let's start off with the fact that I couldn't stop reading  this book.  Like I literally started reading this one and was just as hooked as I had been with Fear the Darkness.  To be clear, I read this series out of order.  Rage Against the Dying is the first book in the series and because I loved the second book so much I had to pick up this book.  This book was just as good as I had hoped it would be.  Heck I can't even seem to write clearly about this book because I loved it so much!

One of the things that I love most about this series is the main character Brigid Quinn.  She is former FBI and the things that she experienced as an agent seem to haunt her.  There is this unreliable feel to her where you are never quite sure what she is doing and why.  Or if she is being honest about everything as well.  It is quite the combination in a main character and I find it to be so compelling.  I can't stop reading because I have to see what she is going to do next.  This book was just as much of a page turner as the second book was.  I found myself reading at one of those frantic paces where you just can't stop because you NEED to know what is going to happen next.  The mystery portion was really well done....I was left guessing until the very end.  And I really can't tell you anymore than that as I don't want to spoil anything about this book.  Your just going to have to read it so you can fall in love with this series as much as I have!

Obviously I loved this one.  It made my top ten reads of 2016 easily and I'm just pining away for the third book which releases this year.  At this point I will read anything and everything that this author writes.  I just need that third book and my reading life will be complete.  LOL!  I would recommend this series and author to mystery and thriller fans alike.  I think those readers that enjoy Tana French should give this book a try.  You can read these books out of order but I really think that you should read them both as they were both that good.  Highly, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  One of the best thrillers that I read in 2016.  Enough said.

Disclosure:  I checked this book out from my local library.      

Top Ten Reads of 2016

Wow!  Last year I held out until the very last minute on posting my top reads for the year and it worked- my very last read made it on my top reads list.  This year I know that I'm not going to finish any more books before the new year begins so I've been thinking about my top reads list for weeks now.  It is so crazy to think that we are beginning a new year already but here we are.  I had another solid year of reading in 2016 as I finished 80 books for the year.  It wasn't the 85 that I had originally hoped for but I went ahead and lowered my Goodread's goal to 80 so I could count that as a win.  Ha!  One of these years I swear that I will finally hit a hundred books....that is one of those goals in the back of my head every year.  I've come close but haven't yet hit the hundred mark.  My reading year overall was pretty solid.  I'm still on a thriller/mystery kick but with other genres tossed in there to keep things interesting.  But let's move on to the important things- the best books I read in 2016:

It Takes One by Kate Kessler was easily one of those books that I knew instantly after finishing would make my top reads list for this year.  It was everything that I enjoy as it contained a thrilling mystery along with characters that I couldn't get enough of.  Out of all the books that I read this year, this is one that I felt deserved WAY more attention then it actually got.  I really hope that other readers find this series soon!

Find Her by Lisa Gardner was one of the most twisted and dark books that I read this year.  I also found that I couldn't stop reading it and thought about it long after I finished.  I started right in the middle of a series with this one but don't let that stop you.  It obviously didn't affect my enjoyment in the slightest as this was another book that easily made my top reads list.

City of Light by Keri Arthur began a new urban fantasy/science fiction series that I absolutely adored.  I couldn't get enough of this world which meant it had to be on my top reads list for 2016.  I would include the 2nd book as well but that feels a bit like cheating (and this is my favorite of the two).  I love the world that Arthur has created and cannot wait for more!

Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge is the second book in this series AND the second time that this author has been on my top reads list for the year.  I am loving this series and author so much!  This book was just as intense and page turning as the first book was which left me as one very happy reader.  At this point I will be reading anything and everything that this author writes because these books are just that good!

The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne easily wins the award for best romance read in 2016.  This book was so FREAKING good and I just can't say anything other than that.  I was swept away by this romance which was so unlikely yet so perfect.  I've got all of this author's other books on my TBR list just waiting to be read and enjoyed.  If you haven't tried Kerrigan Byrne yet, you're missing out!

Rage Against The Dying by Becky Masterman cemented my love of this series and these characters (just an FYI that this is book one in the series- I read the 2nd book last year first).  I seriously wish Ms. Masterman wrote faster because the wait for the third book is just about killing me.  Brigid Quinn is one of my very favorite characters to read about and this is another mystery series that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves.  I love it and can't get enough!  Highly, highly recommended.

The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell was one of the harder choices as I went back and forth between this book and Cruel and Unusual by Cornwell.  Really I enjoyed each of these books equally but it was the introduction of Carrie Grethren in this book that made this book the clear winner.  I'm loving this series so much that part of me just wants to read them all straight through and the other part wants to take my time and savor them.  So, so good!

Evil Games by Angela Marsons is the second book in yet another series on this list (I'm sensing a theme here).  It was another amazing follow-up to the first book and I'm so lucky that I have found all of these amazing authors to read.  This book was just as intense and thrilling as I had hoped it would be.  I can't say enough good things about this series as well!

The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigurdardottir was one of the books that stayed with me the longest.  This was such a haunting thriller that felt reminiscent of Agatha Christie in some of the best ways.  I didn't know what was going on until the very end....and even then I found myself surprised with how it all turned out.  Readers should not miss this book in my opinion!

Inherit the Bones by Emily Littlejohn was the mystery with the most gorgeous writing in comparison to all of the other books that I read this year.  This author's way with words just blew me away and I loved every minute of reading this book because of it.  If I was giving out awards for most surprisingly chilling reads, this book would also be the clear winner.  Another author that I will be watching out for in 2017!

This was a really, really tough list to make this year!  I had quite a few other books that could have/should have made my list of top reads but I stayed firm with only sharing ten.  Here are the other books that deserve honorable mention at least:

• The House at Seas End by Elly Griffiths
• The Body Reader by Anne Frasier
• A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley
• Mercury Striking by Rebecca Zanetti

And so many, many more.  I looked back at the books I finished this year and couldn't get over how many good books were on this list.  Obviously I'm hoping to have just as great of a year of reading in 2017.  There are already way too many books that I'm looking forward to in the new year (but that is another post).  I'll end this post wishing all of year a wonderful coming new year!  May you and your families have an amazing year in 2017.

Happy Reading!

Pop Goes The Weasel by M.J. Arlidge (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"The body of a middle-aged man is discovered in Southampton's red-light district - horrifically mutilated, with his heart removed.

Hours later - and barely cold - the heart arrives with his wife and children by courier.

A pattern emerges when another male victim is found dead and eviscerated, his heart delivered soon afterwards.

The media call it Jack the Ripper in reverse; revenge against the men who lead sordid double lives visiting prostitutes. For Grace, only one thing is certain: there's a vicious serial-killer at large who must be halted at all costs . . ."

My Thoughts:

This book!  This series!  Oh my goodness- I can't even.  It has been decided two books in that this is one of those rare authors that has jumped on to my must read/will read anything written by this author list.  I love a dark and thrilling read and this book didn't disappoint!  I'm preparing to gush for the entirety of this review so I'm warning you now to be prepared.  The first book in this series, Eeny Meeny, knocked my socks off as my final read of 2015.  Heck, it easily made my top ten reads list of the year without any hesitation.  I fully admit going into reading this book with ridiculously high expectations because I loved book one so much.  It didn't matter though because Pop Goes the Weasel was just as addictive, thrilling, and heart pounding as the first one.  I am hooked and I loved every minute of it!  I read this book entirely too fast stay while staying up way too late just so that I could finish.  It was worth the loss of sleep just to see how it was all going to end!  Seriously, all I can say is if you are a mystery/thriller fan then you need to check this series out soon!

One of the things that the author has done so well is creating a main character that I can't help but like even when I don't fully understand all of her motivations.  Helen makes questionable choices at times but it makes the book that much more intense and suspenseful because of it.  I never know what she is going to do which make the book so interesting.  I'm constantly asking myself how in the heck is she going to handle/deal/get herself out of the situations that she finds herself in.  I'm trying not to share too much because I don't want to spoil anything for those readers that haven't had a chance yet to try this series.  This book was just as intense as the first book but in a different way.  I'm trying really hard here not to share too much so you are just going to have to trust me on this.  The way this book ended was so completely not what I was expecting which caused me to love this book even more!  Gah- I wish that I could tell you more but I just really can't.  I will leave off with all of the reasons that I love this series instead.  One, it has great characters that the author isn't afraid to put through the wringer.  Two, it has mysteries that keep me guessing the entire time which means that I read as fast as possible.  And finally, these books are dark and twisted- I just cannot get enough of them!

Overall, this is a superb follow-up to the first book in this series and has rocketed this series on to my must read list!  I love it so very much!!  Which feels really weird to say when you think about the subject matter but let's not look too closely on what that says about me.  Ha!  I've already been recommending this series and author to just about everyone, and after finishing this book I can tell this isn't going to stop anytime soon.  Try this series if you are a fan of thrillers and mysteries but definitely start with book one.  This could be read as a stand-alone but I feel like you would be missing out on some of Helen's history if you don't read book one first.  Don't worry as both books are completely worth it and you will be pining for the next book along with me.  Highly, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  This book is almost guaranteed to be my on top reads list for 2016! So good!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a Goodread's giveaway.

Here are my thoughts on Eeny Meeny if you are interested (book 1).

Top Ten Reads of 2015

Whew!  For the first time ever (and just under the deadline) I met my Goodread's goal of reading eighty books!  I had held out until the very end to create my top reads post with the hope that I would sneak one more read in.  It is a good thing that I did as that last read was really great and is going on this list.  I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling pretty accomplished if only for today.  Bring on my new goal of reading 85 books in 2016!   2015 was a pretty strong year of reading for me in terms of both numbers and quality.  It felt like a good reading year and thankfully I also spent lots of quality time with the family.  I'm going to hope for the same in the new year!  Now on to the best books that I read last year:

 
Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman was one of those books that I knew instantly after finishing that it would end up on my top reads list for the year.  It was also the first book that I read in 2015 and it started what would be a year long streak of reading mysteries and thrillers.  This book was such a page turner and so intense!  I still find myself unable to fully put into words how much I loved this book!

Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge was my final read for 2015 and also quite a doozy!  Both dark and twisted, this was a book that I couldn't set down (and I didn't).  I managed to finish this one yesterday and I'm still reeling from it.  It was SO good and this author has instantly jumped on to my must read list!

Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell was one of those books that left me breathless when I finished.  It almost feels like cheating to just include this book in my top reads when I loved ALL of the books in this series that I read this year which would have taken three of the spots on this list so I'm cheating and including them all here.  This one though was the best of the three and now I just NEED the next book as soon as possible!

Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters marks the second year in a row that this series and her books have made it on my top reads list.  This wasn't even my favorite book in the series and it was STILL by far better then the majority of the books that I read in 2015.  That just goes to show you how much I love and enjoy this series!  They always make me laugh and are just a joy to read!

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons was a book that I just could not read fast enough!  As soon as I finished I added this author to my auto-read list and all of her books to my TBR list. It was heart pounding, intense, and basically all of the things that I am looking for in a good mystery/thriller.  Goal for the new year is to read the other two books in this series because I simply must (and because I need more Kim Stone in my life)!

The Daughter by Jane Shemilt was a book left me with a bookish hangover for days afterwards.  I used words like haunting and engrossing in my review so how could I not love it?  It really struck a chord with me and is one of those books that I won't be forgetting any time soon.  Another author that I want to read more of in the future!

A Dark and Twisted Tide by Sharon Bolton was yet another amazing book by this author!  She is STILL one of my very favorite authors and this is at least the 3rd (or maybe 4th) year in a row where one of her books has made in on my top reads list.  It wouldn't feel like a top reads list if I didn't have one of her books on it at this point.  I cannot recommend this series or this author enough!!

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan was such an intense and emotionally wrenching read!  I swear this book made me feel all of the emotions and left me thinking about it long after finishing.  I cannot get over the fact that this is the author's debut novel...what will she come up with next??  I can tell you that I will certainly be reading her next book because this book was just that good!

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths is the second book in yet another series that I have come to love.  The characters in this series are one of the main things that makes this series so great for me.  There is just something about Ruth that I can't help but relate to and it made this book such a great reading experience.  The mystery itself was also very well done and I just overall loved this book!  I can't wait to continue on with this series as well in 2016!

Charlotte's Story by Laura Benedict was a book that just sucked me into and didn't let go.  I'm a sucker for a good gothic novel and this book had all of the elements that I love about those type of novels.  It was another reading experience that I won't be forgetting about any time soon!  Luckily for me I have another novel by this author to look forward to in the new year. 

Wow!  I really had a hard time making up my list for this year as there were just so many good books that I read and loved.  Honorable mentions to the following:

• Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves (another new mystery series that I adored!)
• Firelight by Kristen Callihan (PNR that was so completely original and fun to read!)
• Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander (I loved this cozy mystery series- all three of the books that I read this year for it were really great!)

And so many more but if I don't cut myself off I will end up listing the majority of the books that I read last year!  It really was a great year of reading and I can only hope that 2016 is just as amazing!  I wanted to take a second to thank all of you who take the time to read and comment on this blog of mine.  It is a joy to share my love of reading with all of you.  Even when life gets crazy this is just one of those things that helps relieve the stress.  I value those friendships that I have created with all of you!  I wish you all a Happy New Year and as always:

Happy Reading!!