Posted to YouTube on 5 Feb 2023.
Looking back at my 2022 Reads
I appreciate how GoodReads helps me record the books I wish to read, let’s me track my progress of my current reads, and stores my ratings and reviews of read books.
In addition, I love how I can set a reading goal and Goodreads lets me know how close I am to achieving it. This year I read 14 books OVER my goal.
Not only that but Goodreads provides interesting analytics about my reads.
My Year in Books 2022
The Top 5 Reads of 2022
On Kofi, I will be sharing Shorts on my top 5 2022 reads every week, and a full length video will be coming to YouTube in early February.
My 2022 Reads Analytics.
I love how I started and ended the year with an Indie Book. Both were books I loved.
First book of the year was: Forever Burn by Trinity Lemm
https://lde.tuq.mybluehost.me/book-review-forever-burn-by-trinity-lemm/
Last book of the year was: Shadows of the Circus by JD Groom
https://lde.tuq.mybluehost.me/book-review-shadows-of-the-circus-by-j-d-groom/
My longest book was: Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
https://lde.tuq.mybluehost.me/book-review-empire-of-the-vampire-by-jay-kristoff/
My shortest book was: Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
https://lde.tuq.mybluehost.me/book-review-romancing-the-beat-by-gwen-hayes/
The most shelved (popular) book was: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
https://lde.tuq.mybluehost.me/book-review-the-cruel-prince-by-holly-black/
My 2023 Reading Goal
I think I got carried away with reading this year and it impacted my writing goals. I want to be more productive towards my publishing goals this year so I’m setting my goal at 18 books.
There’s still plenty of books on my TBR that I didn’t get to. I’m going to shortlist the ones I want to read most – I don’t think this will be easy.
I’m excited for all the books I will get to read this year and wish you a Happy 2023. Feel free to friend my on Goodreads – the more the merrier.
[kofi]
Book Review: What Are Friends For? by Sarah Sutton
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
I’ve wanted to read this book for ages. As someone who is married to their best friend, I was attracted to this friends to lovers romance.
When the MC accidentally kisses her best friend instead of her crush it makes everything complicated and awkward. Her best friend has no idea it was her he kissed.
Sarah executes the set up in a believable way, and the emotions that follow are raw and real. All the characters are well developed with their own drives and challenges.
The chapter art is snowflakes, and this little touch makes sense once you’ve read the book. I loved the ending, and the book left me feeling warm and happy.
Read it for Friends to Lovers, a sweet romance, and a happy ending.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can buy this book from:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EaqlGs
If you enjoyed this, check out this:
[Kofi]
Book Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
Initially I gave this book five stars but then when I came to write my review it dropped to 4 stars, but it is almost 5 stars.
I loved the set up of this book, and the world building. All the characters are well thought out with their own desires and intentions, making them interesting and realistic.
The majority of the story is set in fairy land. The Fae are cruel to humans, especially Prince Cardan. This makes fairy school hard for Jude and her twin sisters who are mortal. With no magical abilities like their half Fae sister, they are constantly trying to prove their worth.
Jude is clever and ambitious. She is determined to get the Fae kind to see she’s not powerless and trains for the tournament to become a knight. But when a battle for the crown starts up, she sees her opportunity to turn the tables.
The plot, motives, and descriptions were amazing. For some reason I thought there would be romance. There is some romance that adds to the plot, but it was too brief for my tastes.
Read it for sisters and blended family, fans of Fae, and if you love a smart strong spirited female lead.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can buy this book from:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UNQel8
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If you enjoyed this, check out this:
[Kofi]
Book Review: The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
This book is told like a beautiful full length fairytale. Three children are adopted and believed to have been found in a shell, under an Apple tree, and delivered by a stork. The MC is Clara, the child delivered by a stork.
Her sister, Maren loves the water, and slowly begins to turn into a mermaid. Just a few scales at first, but once her legs begin to fuse together she needs to be kept in water. They realise they must return her to the sea.
Due to old magic and curses, the only ones able to take on this quest is Clara and O’Neil. On their journey the pair are tested and run into danger slowing their progress. The clock is ticking for Maren to survive.
Clara and Maren both call O’Neil their brother but grew up more like cousins that see each other for holidays. Maren is a beautiful mermaid that can bewitch men to love her without trying. O’Neil wants to bargain with the Sea King to return Maren to her human form. Clara loves her sister but it’s painful to see her flirting with O’Neil when she craves him for herself.
This story was filled with magic and a slow burning romance. I really enjoyed it and need to thank my sister for gifting this book to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
[kofi]
If you enjoyed this, you will like:
Book Review: Shadows of the Circus by J D Groom
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
This book is a prequel to the Sorceress of Truth series by J.D. Groom.
Blackpool, 1894, and a deadly creature lurks in the shadows…
Shadows of the Circus by J.D. Groom
My thoughts
This is my first Historical Fantasy. The story is set in Blackpool, 1894, and tells the story of vampire Kylan.
Kylan is working at Blackpool Tower in construction and getting things ready for the grand opening of the famous landmark. He is struggling with managing his vampire urges.
Then he meets Mary, a well established vampire who takes him under her wing and gives him a crash course in control. When Kylan finds Mary in a dangerous situation, the fangs come out and everything is ruined.
Although this novel is a prequel to Sorceress of Truth (YA Contemporary Fantasy), this has a different feel with a male voice, more adult themes, spicy scenes and violence. There is a glossary of Victorian slang at the end, I particularly liked the words for idiot.
Read it for vampires, historical settings, and a little spice and gore.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can get this book from:
This book is currently only availabile for free direct from the authors website by joining her newsletter: https://jdgroom.com
If you enjoyed this, check out this:
[kofi]
Book Review: Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
Frankie lives next door to her bestie. Together they love to hang out in their tree house planning to take pictures of the moon. But, they don’t agree on everything. Her BFF is boy crazy, and Frankie finds it embarrassing.
There is an internship at the Planetarium and there’s a few hoops to jump through to get the role. Both girls decide to go for it. Frankie works hard on her essay and gets her science teacher to check it over and write her reference.
When she finds out her BFF sent an inappropriate photo to the science teacher instead of an essay, Frankie worries how their friendship will affect her reference. Her BFF knows she screwed up and is hurt that Frankie won’t stand by her side when she needs her most. The girls have a massive fight and are no longer friends.
To make matters worse, her now ex-BFF tells their mutual friends her version of what happened, and now Frankie is alone. Being alone enables Benjamin to get to know Frankie better. The pair get closer, and closer, and one thing leads to another.
The best feeling in the world, rapidly turns into a dirty secret. Someone knows the sordid details of what Frankie and Benjamin did that afternoon. And, now it’s all over the internet, one meme after another.
How can Frankie get the bullies to stop and who can she trust? This is a fast paced emotionally driven story of friendship, bullying, and first love. With an epic ending.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you want to buy this book you can get it from:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eHxoeO
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If you enjoyed this review you might like:
[Kofi]
Book Review: Balanced Scales by Laura Greenwood
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
This started off feeling very reminiscent of the Little Mermaid story that is so popular, but then it turned into something else.
Instead of loosing her voice, she loses her soul. Now she’s on a mission to get it back. This brave mer might get more than she anticipated. An unexpected, but enjoyable quick read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PJsfji
[Kofi]
If you enjoyed this, you might like:
Book Review – Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew
Book Review: The Steel Princess by April Grace
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclosure page for more information.
About the book
My thoughts
This story is told through two POVs. The MC is Silver, and the other is Eden. Their missions are similar – to find their mother – but their journeys are different.
Silver is a very loveable character. She is a gynoid that was raised within a human rebel camp. She knows very little about her kind, and embraces her mission and all the challenges it encompasses. Her training involves rooms with virtual scenarios but real life consequences.
Eden is a human with a mechanical heart. He grew up within the cruel gynoid queen’s castle and trained as a tinker. Although he isn’t in a jail or guarded, he isn’t free. When he finds himself outside the castle walls, he takes the opportunity to escape and find his mum. This leads him on an adventure of pirates, sirens, and man eating giants – just to name a few.
If you love fantasy and adventure, and want something a little different, this is well worth checking out! Plus, the cover is stunning and there is character art inside.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can buy this book from Amazon: Steel Princess
[kofi]
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