logo
Wrong email address or username
Wrong email address or username
Incorrect verification code
back to top
Search tags: 2017-march-posts
Load new posts () and activity
Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
text 2017-03-03 23:14
Monthly Reading Wrap Up -- February 2017

February came and went a lot faster than I had anticipated, though to be fair, the majority of my February was spent battling bronchitis and fatigue, as I've stated in other posts.  If it weren't for audio books, I may not have finished as many books as I did.

And also, I absolutely couldn't help but to read some new releases that I'd been waiting forever to come out--Laura Griffin and Pamela Clare, I'm looking at you!  And, of course, I enjoyed myself.

As far as 2017 being the year of the Laid Back Reading Plans, I think I'm sticking to it pretty well.  I haven't pulled the DNF trigger on any books I probably should have, but I'm also not forcing myself to rush through books just to meet my previously established normal average of 14 books per month.  Unfortunately, at the rate that I'm going (10 books in January, 11 books in February), I won't be meeting my usual yearly reading goal of 150 books either, unless I break out some short stories and novellas... which I probably will end up doing.  Or I could just try to increase my monthly number... or maybe take a week's vacation to do a personal readathon... or something like that.

2017 for my Reading Assignment Challenge has been a bit embarrassing; however, if I were honest with myself, I'm both glad I dropped to two books a month (rather than kept with the four books a month goal I've always signed up for), as well as glad that this is the year of the Laid Back Reading Plans.  Because I've already botched the first two months for Reading Assignment, and frankly, I'm actually quite okay with that.  Normally, I'd be quite upset with myself for not meeting all my goals in a timely manner.

I guess I'm slowly learning to lay off on the anal retentive need to finish every challenge with high scores... or whatever.  Or I just quit caring because I've been so tired.

 

In other news, with Booklikes looking more promising (the page loads have been satisfyingly quick), I may begin to cross-post here once more.  Look forward to a mass onslaught of book reviews to come...

Well... maybe, because I could end up getting lazy, y'know.

 

(FYI, all links in this post will link back to my main blog at Blogspot since I haven't posted reviews here at BL since the beginning of the year.)

 

 

February Reads

 


 

 

Books Dropped/Put On Hold

 

None this month!  Yay!
 

 

Currently Reading

 

 

 

February Reading Stats

 

Total works read: 11

  • 7 print/e-book novels
  • 4 audio books


Average rating: 3.5 Stars

  • Highest Rated:  5 books // 4.0 Stars
    • (1) The Moon-spinners by Mary Stewart
    • (2) Tempted into Danger by Melissa Cutler
    • (3) Sweet Bea by Sarah Hegger
    • (4) At Close Range by Laura Griffin
    • (5) Falling Hard by Pamela Clare
  • Lowest Rated:  Highlander Claimed by Juliette Miller // 2.5 Stars


Series I started reading:

  • Clan McKenzie by Juliette Miller
  • ICE: Black Ops Defenders by Melissa Cutler
  • Sir Arthur's Legacy by Sarah Hegger
  • Heartbreaker Bay by Jill Shalvis
  • Fairy Tales by Eloisa James

 

Series I completed:

  • For Me by Cynthia Eden

 

Series I have made progress on:

  • Tracers by Laura Griffin
  • Colorado High Country by Pamela Clare


Favorite reads:  It actually looks like I had a lot of high rated, 4-Star reads, so February wasn't a bust, really.  My favorite reads for February, obviously, included Pamela Clare's newest release Falling Hard--I never get tired of Pamela and her lovely world of good people.  I also enjoyed The Search by Nora Roberts.  Even though other books were 4-Star reads, I don't know if I'd list them as personal favorites.  4.5-Star and higher is where I start my squealy, fangirl mode, honestly.

Disappointing reads:  While Highlander Claimed was the lowest rated book for February, I suppose I wasn't too entirely disappointed with it since I hadn't really gone into it expecting much.  Nonetheless, it wasn't what I was expecting.  But my biggest disappointment would probably be The Switch by Lynsay Sands, if only because I'm a huge fan of the cross-dressing trope, and when the story itself wasn't what I'd been expecting, I might had deflated a bit.

 

 

Reviews & Notable Posts

 

Reviews Written

 

Memes

  • None

 

Other Posts

 

 

Coming Up In March

 

Tentative TBR

 

Other Stuff

Once again, aside from 2017 being the year of the Laid Back Reading Plans, it is also the year that I try to clean up my messes, a.k.a., the year that I try my best to finish all those series I've started and left hanging.  I know that it doesn't help that I managed to start about five more series in February, but I've got a plan, and I really hope my plan pans out for me.  I figure if I hold myself accountable with a reading challenge, I can keep listing all the new series (and old) that need to be finished, and make myself keep up.

Otherwise, I really don't have any other plans for the next couple months, unless I stumble across another mini-challenge that looks tempting.

March will also mark the anniversary of Ani's Book Abyss at Blogspot!  Yay!  And no, I'm not planning anything special.  Maybe just a short "Yay Me!" post to make myself happy.

 

 

2017 Wrap-Ups 

 

Past Monthly Reading Wrap Ups
See Also: 2015 Reading Wrap-Up posts (scroll to bottom of page)

(updated as year progresses by month)
January | February | March | April | May | June
July | August | September | October | November | December

 

 

Source: anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2017/03/monthly-reading-wrap-up-february-2017.html
Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
text 2017-03-02 00:13
Romance Bingo 2017 | Wrap Up

When January came to an end and I wasn't even a good ways into this Bingo card, I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to Blackout.  My personal life kind of got in the way, and while I'm not one to cast blame, being sick for a month and a half--starting with a cold, maybe some sinusitis, and ending in bronchitis--really put a dent in any and all motivation to do anything at all.

Reading became a backseat priority after getting some sleep (or not getting sleep, really).  Blogging was definitely something I wasn't getting into.

Truth be told, I probably could have gotten at least one or two Bingos, but my book selections didn't really take me in that direction.  And also, two or three of the books I read, I didn't really want to stretch too many liberties trying to get them to fit some of the more vague squares such as 'Blown Away' or 'Key to My Heart.'  I'm quite surprised I didn't find a book to fill in 'Insta-love'--well, actually I read several books with insta-love in it, but I had read those books for other squares, and my mindset was quite stubborn against moving them around.

Maybe I could have done some shuffling.

Maybe not.

Still, I had a good amount of fun, started a few new series, and found some great books, even if I also found a lot of cruddy books.

I look forward to the next Reading Bingo, definitely!

Click here for my Romance Bingo 2017 summary page, and to see the original, unmarked card.

 



Books:
Insta-love:
Too Stupid To Live:  Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti
"Headless" Woman:  Sweet Bea by Sarah Hegger
Love is Murder:  Die for Me by Cynthia Eden
New Adult:  Overruled by Emma Chase

Young Adult:
Regency Romance:
Eyeshadow and Heaving Bosom:  A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
Virgin & Best First Time:  A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
Gothic Romance:  The Moon-spinners by Mary Stewart

Blown Away:
Man in a Kilt:  Highlander Claimed by Juliette Miller
Love (Free Space):  The Search by Nora Roberts
Rogue:  A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare
Historical Romance:

Secret Billionaire:
Twins:  The Switch by Lynsay Sands
Fairy Tale Retelling:
Wedding Bells:
Second Chances:  Fear for Me by Cynthia Eden

Key to My Heart:
Pirates Argh:
Guy/Girl Next Door:  Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis
Interracial Couple:  Tempted into Danger by Melissa Cutler
Urban Fantasy Romance:  Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep


Currently Reading:
Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier || Pirates Argh

Reads I Never Got To:
A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare || Historical Romance
That's Amore! anthology || Wedding Bells
By Your Side by Kasie West || Young Adult
Treasures Lost, Treasures Found by Nora Roberts || Key to My Heart


Squares I Never Chose Books For:

  • Insta-love -- I thought at least one of the Rom-Suspense books I read would have insta-love in it, and while they did, I used them for other squares.
  • Regency Romance -- So many Regency romances... didn't choose a one... or just didn't get around to reading for this category.
  • Blown Away -- Had one book, but it might have been stretching it.
  • Secret Billionaire -- Had no idea what to read for this square.
  • Fairy Tale Retelling -- I had decided to read Cybele's Secret for this square until I found out that it's not really a retelling.  Nixed the idea of reading Daughter of the Forest for Bingo since I wouldn't be able to finish it.  At least Cybele's Secret ended up having a pirate (see above), even though I haven't finished reading it yet.


See Also:  My Romance Bingo 2017 Page

Source: anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2017/03/romance-bingo-2017-wrap-up.html
More posts
Your Dashboard view:
Need help?