Lola’s Ramblings is a feature on my blog Lola’s Reviews where I ramble on about a book related or a non-book related topic. These are discussion type of posts where I talk about a topic and readers can weigh in on the topic in the comments. Usually these posts are everything that doesn’t fall under any standard header, like tours, cover reveals, memes, challenges, recaps or reviews. Lola’s Ramblings posts are discussions of a certain topic and my point of view on them. The banner for this feature is designed by Michelle from Limabean Designs.
At the start of the new year I listed ten new releases I was hoping to read this year. I thought it was fun to look back at the end of the year to see which of these books I actually managed to read. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised, I am a planning person and can plan everything, but not what I read. I am too much of a moodreader for that. So while I set goals they usually are broad or wide goals instead of specific ones. But I actually managed to 9 of the 10 books I had hoped to read this year, it probably helps that these were all books I was really looking forward to. Okay let’s look at the books in question.
Which of the Ten New Releases did I actually read in 2016
- The Daydreamer Detective by SJ Pajonas. I read this one as soon as I got my hands on a copy and really enjoyed it! You can read my review of The Daydreamer Detective here.
- Grilled for Murder (Country Store Mysteries #2) by Maddie Day. Also got this read, pretty early in the year even. I enjoyed book 1 and book 2 was just as good, looking forward to book 3 next year! Read my review of Grilled for Murder.
- Saven: Disclosure (Saven #2) and Saven: Defiance (Saven #3) by Siobhan Davis. Yup got both of these read! I continue to enjoy this series! I can’t wait to see how this series ends in book 4. If you enjoy a good YA sci-fi romance book, I would recommend this series. Read my review of Saven Disclosure here and my review of Saven Defiance here.
- City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong. Yes, read this one and loved it! It was my first 5 star read of the year. And I am so glad this book will be turned into a series. I already have book 2 pre-ordered. Read my review of City of the Lost here.
- Bright Blaze of Magic (Black Blade #3) by Jennifer Estep. This is the only book I didn’t manage to read of my list, which makes me a bit sad as I have book 2 and 3 in this series and haven’t read them despite loving book 1. Hopefully I can get around to finishing this series next year.
- Nobody But You (Cedar Ridge #3) by Jill Shalvis. I read this one early in the year and it was a great third and last book in the series. I even got some more of her books read this year and she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. I really like how she writes romances. Read my review of Nobody but You here.
- Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4) by Paula Berinstein. Yes read this one! It was a great book in the series! You can read my review of Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret here.
- The Illusory Prophet (Singularity #3) by Susan Kaye Quinn. Yes read this one and it was so good! One of the best books I read this year. Read my review of The Illusory Prophet.
- Betrayals (Cainsville #4) by Kelley Armstrong. I am glad that I managed to read this one still in this year as well, it was a great read and one of my few 5 star reads as well. I did read in later int he year, but I am glad I managed to fit it in this year. I am so curious about book 5! Read review of Betrayals here.
- A Disguise to Die For (Costume Shop Mystery #1) by Diane Vallere. Yes read this one! I pre-ordered it and it won a my to-be read list poll in march. I really enjoyed it! I own book 2 as well, but haven’t read that one yet. Read my review of A Disguise to Die For here.
Not bad!!! I think you did great considering you’re a moodreader. I am the same, but also made a list of books for the Romance Roundabout Challenge. I read all, but two of the sixty I planned to read. These two are misses for the second year in a row. I’ve started one and just can’t get interested so I might not ever get them read. I decided to make a specific list again for this year so we’ll see how it goes- moods and all.
Congrats again for doing so well with the new releases.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Dragon Spawn by Eileen Wilks
Indeed, as a moodreader it can be hard to set goals like this, so it’s nice to see how well i did. Most of these were books I was really looking forward to and was pretty sure I would make time for.
Only two of the sixty to read sounds really good to me! I don’t think I would be able to do so well with a larger read. I am not sure if I will make a specific list again next year, but it was fun this year, so who knows.
I met my number of books read target for the year and did pretty well overall except the summer reading slump. I want to get more read next year though but I haven’t put numbers on it except for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I need to tackle more ebooks and series I’ve started! I think you did well on your challenge. Every book you read here is one less on the tbr!
chucklesthescot recently posted…Chuckles 2017 Series Read Challenge
Those reading slumps can really be nasty, but I am glad to hear you made your books read target. I always join the goodreads challenge as well, although I set my goal pretty low this year and almost doubled it.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #210
I see two Kelley Armstrong books here! I should try that author! 🙂 Especially considering you gave Lost City 5 starts! I’m into small town wit dark secrets lately so sounds like a good one to try 🙂
Dragonly @ Our Familiarium recently posted…Book Review: It Ends with Us
Both City of the Lost and Betrayals got 5 stars. She’s one of my favorite authors. I think you might enjoy City of the Lost!
I don’t really plan the books I read, unless they are ARCS. I’m also a moodreader, so it’s always more fun to go with the flow. 🙂 I’m glad you read the books you wanted to! ~Aleen
Lampshade Reader recently posted…Shady Talk: Most Notable Book Boyfriends of 2016
I usually do the same, but I thought it was fun to share ten books I had hoped to read this year and then see how many of them I actually managed to read.
Not bad. I didn’t set any book related goals because I’ve been so busy and a little stressed out.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Review: Walmart Beauty Box- December 2016
I did set some goals for this year, but not sure if I will do many for next year.
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Ramblings: Which of my planned ten New Releases in 2016 did I actually read?
I think you’ve done really well – I set myself some numerical challenges, but not to read specific books as you have done. I can also testify to the great quality of City of the Lost – however, I haven’t read ‘Betrayals’ and I must do as I’ve read the first three of the Cainsville series and really enjoyed them. Have a great Christmas, Lola – and I’ll be interested to see what reading challenges you set yourself in the new year:).
sjhigbee recently posted…While the Morning Stars Sing
It wasn’t quite meant as a challenge at first, more a top ten list to feature which books I was excited for this year and hoped to read, but I thought it was fun to look back now and see how many I read. I actually planned to do one for recipes to, but only made one recipe from the last. I am not setting as much goals for next year, I am only joining two reading challenges.
I really enjoyed City of the Lost and Betrayals was awesome too. I hope you get to read Betrayals soon as you already read the first 3 books.
That’s what I should do with my massive tbr pile. Make a list of ones I want to get read and go way back to the ones that have been sitting there for years literally. I am afraid I would drop out fairly early on because I tend to one click and read books rather than going back years. I applaud you for being able to do this Lola, and you did so well!
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Gift by Dannika Dark (@Mollykatie112, @DannikaDark)
Most of these were new releases, I do better at reading those than the books that have been there for a while now. It can help to make a list now and then.
I didn’t have a goal of certain books to read, but rather a number with the Goodreads challenge, and I over went that so I’m happy! That’s awesome you got 9 out of the 10 you really wanted to read this year though!
Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance recently posted…Glass Tidings by Amy Jo Cousins
I always join the Goodreads Challenge as well, I almost doubled my goal as I set it way to low. So I know to set it a bit higher next year. I am glad I did so well on these ten books.
It is fun looking back on goals at the end of the year! And that’s awesome that you got 9/10 read. Plus it sounds like you really enjoyed them all, so that’s even better!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Bookish Musings: Top Ten Female Characters from Books I Read in 2016
Yes they were all good ones, although most of these were books I was pretty sure I would enjoy as they were by authors I already knew.
So, I listed like 73 books that I wanted to read in 2016 so obviously no, I didn’t haha. But I also noticed that I listed on some thing or another a list of books I hadn’t gotten to in 2015 either, and I have only read 1.5 of them as of today (currently reading one, yay!) so.. not doing great! BUT as for new releases, I actually didn’t do *too* badly! I am pretty glad about that. And most of the ones I didn’t read yet are because I am still behind on their series 😉 Glad that you read 9, that is awesome!!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Review: The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova
73 is a lot, I am glad I limited myself to ten else I never would’ve made it either. These were all books I was really looking forward to, so i am glad I managed to read most of them.
Hi Lola, good to see you again 🙂 You did pretty well here though compared to me haha, I’m a mood reader as well. City of the Lost sounds pretty interesting!
Nice to see you again! Luckily these were all books I was pretty sure I would be in the mood for this year.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #210
Dang, Lola! That is an awesome job! I don’t do anything like this since I really don’t plan what I read that far in advance but how neat to look back and have gotten nearly all of them done. Hope you get that last one in soon!
anna @ herding cats & burning soup recently posted…AFTH w/ Anna Bradley– Anna’s List of the Nicest Naughty Things about Romance
It stated out as a way to list ten new releases I was excited for, but I thought it was fun to look back and see which of these I actually read. I didn’t expect to actually read so many of them.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #210
I’ve not been very good some of the new releases that have come out. I’ve gotten several books behind on the Cainsville series and really all Kelley Armstrong books. I love the Black Blade series by Jennifer Estep. I hope you’ll be able to get to those last two books.
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons recently posted…The Gift Audiobook by Dannika Dark (REVIEW)
I am glad I at least managed to keep up to date with these new releases as there are a bunch of books as well I didn’t get to. I loved the first Black Blade book, so I hope I can finish the series soon.
You got to read a lot of new releases this year! Congrats!
S. J. Pajonas recently posted…Sunday Update – December 25, 2016
Yes I did and I am happy I got most of these read as those were the books I was most looking forward to at the start of the year 🙂
Lola recently posted…Review: The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
Wow you did great! 9 out of the 10 you set is pretty fantastic. WTG! 😀
AngelErin recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday- Top Ten Books Released In 2016
Thanks! I think so too. Although these were all books I was really looking forward to.