Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Monthly and 1st Quarter Wrap Up


Instead of just a monthly wrap up, I thought I would do a quarterly wrap up as well.

So for this quarter I have read 170 books, and have read a total of 56,452 pages.

I will start with my March wrap-up, then my 1st quarter wrap up and my April TBR:


1st quarter stats
Total # of books read: 170/500
Total # of pages read: 56,452

January # of books read: 50
January # of pages read: 17,562

February # of books read: 60
February # of pages read: 19,680

March # of books read: 60
March # of pages read: 21,411 

Pages per book:  328
Pages per day:  697

I am just about at two books per day average; there are some days I read just one book; others, three books in a day. 

Books read each month so far:

March
Mirror Image by Sandra Brown Flight Risk by Cara C. Putman Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer Double Blind (Kendra Michaels, #6) by Iris Johansen Hindsight (Kendra Michaels, #7) by Iris Johansen The Naked Eye (Kendra Michaels, #3) by Iris Johansen Night Watch (Kendra Michaels, #4) by Iris Johansen Look Behind You (Kendra Michaels, #5) by Iris Johansen Sight Unseen (Kendra Michaels, #2) by Iris Johansen Duke Darcy's Castle (Dare to Defy, #3) by Syrie James Close Your Eyes (Kendra Michaels, #1) by Iris Johansen Vendetta (Catherine Ling, #5) by Iris Johansen Your Next Breath (Catherine Ling, #4) by Iris Johansen Live to See Tomorrow (Catherine Ling, #3) by Iris Johansen What Doesn't Kill You (Catherine Ling, #2) by Iris Johansen Smokescreen (Eve Duncan, #25) by Iris Johansen Dark Tribute (Eve Duncan, #24) by Iris Johansen Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan, #23) by Iris Johansen Mind Game (Eve Duncan, #22) by Iris JohansenShadow Play (Eve Duncan, #19) by Iris Johansen Hide Away (Eve Duncan, #20) by Iris Johansen Night and Day (Eve Duncan, #21) by Iris Johansen Silencing Eve (Eve Duncan, #18) by Iris Johansen Hunting Eve (Eve Duncan, #17) by Iris JohansenTaking Eve (Eve Duncan, #16) by Iris Johansen Sleep No More (Eve Duncan, #15) by Iris Johansen Bonnie (Eve Duncan, #14; Eve, Quinn and Bonnie #3) by Iris Johansen Quinn by Iris Johansen Eve (Eve Duncan, #12; Eve, Quinn & Bonnie, #1) by Iris Johansen Chasing The Night (Eve Duncan, #11; Catherine Ling, #1) by Iris Johansen Eight Days To Live (Eve Duncan, #10) by Iris Johansen Don't Breathe a Word (Texas Justice, #2) by Christie Craig A Simple Wedding by Leigh Duncan Daughters of Wild Rose Bay (Sandy Cove, #4) by Susanne O'Leary Ritual in Death (In Death, #27.5) by J.D. Robb Salvation in Death (In Death, #27) by J.D. Robb Strangers in Death (In Death, #26) by J.D. Robb Buried Deep by Susan Wilkins Creation in Death (In Death, #25) by J.D. Robb The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor The Last Tourist (Milo Weaver #4) by Olen Steinhauer A Cold Dark Place (Cold Justice, #1) by Toni Anderson Hers to Tame (NOLA Knights, #2) by Rhenna Morgan A Very English Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #1) by Verity Bright Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark Santa Cruise A Holiday Mystery at Sea (Regan Reilly Mysteries, #12) by Mary Higgins ClarkHis to Defend A Mafia Romance by Rhenna Morgan The Murder of Patience Brooke (Charles Dickens Investigations #1) by J.C. Briggs Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1) by Amie Kaufman One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) by Janet Evanovich I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Fearless Girl by Emma Tallon With Kisses From Cécile by Anne Armistead The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren Mackenzie's Mountain (Mackenzie Family, #1) by Linda Howard Blood Game (Eve Duncan, #9) by Iris Johansen The First Wife by Jill Childs One Of Us Is Lying by Shalini Boland

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February


Quicksand (Eve Duncan, #8) by Iris Johansen The Lilac House (Lake Summers, #1) by Barbara Josselsohn The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne Promised by Leah Garriott Summer on Moonlight Bay / Then There Was You by Hope Ramsay The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan Whisper Network by Chandler Baker Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date, #4) by Jasmine Guillory The Good Daughter (Good Daughter, #1) by Karin Slaughter Last Breath (Good Daughter, #0.5) by Karin Slaughter Little Girls Sleeping (Detective Katie Scott, #1) by Jennifer Chase Her Last Whisper (Detective Katie Scott #2) by Jennifer Chase Flowers on Her Grave by Jennifer Chase Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer The Road to Delano by John DeSimone His Unexpected Amish Twins (Unexpected Amish Blessings #1) by Rachel J. Good Photos of You by Tammy Robinson The Girl You Gave Away by Jess Ryder Thin Ice (Alaska Wild Mysteries #1) by Paige Shelton Well Met (Well Met, #1) by Jen DeLuca The Highland Rogue (Lords of the Highlands, #7) by Amy Jarecki The Darkness We Hide (The Undertaker's Daughter, #3) by Debra Webb Revelations of a Secret Princess (Harlequin Presents) by Annie West An Amish Wife for Christmas (North Country Amish #1) by Patricia Davids Shelter from the Storm (North Country Amish #2) by Patricia Davids The Amish Teacher's Dilemma (North Country Amish #3) by Patricia Davids Eternity in Death (In Death #25.5) by J.D. Robb Before He Vanished by Debra Webb Innocent in Death (In Death, #24) by J.D. Robb Starting Over at Blueberry Creek (Sweetwater Springs Book 4) / Sealed with a Kiss by Annie Rains The Somerset Girls A Novel by Lori Foster The Secret Admirer (Detective Natalie Ward #6) by Carol Wyer The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard Head Over Paws (Rescue Me, #5) by Debbie Burns The Man I Loved Before by Anna Mansell Born in Death (In Death, #23) by J.D. Robb Some Days Are Dark by Miranda Smith A Dog's Hope by Casey Wilson Our Last Letter by Liz Trenow Haunted in Death (In Death, #22.5) by J.D. Robb The Orphan Sisters by Shirley Dickson Memory in Death (In Death, #22) by J.D. Robb Origin in Death (In Death, #21) by J.D. Robb Survivor In Death (In Death, #20) by J.D. Robb The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Visions in Death (In Death, #19) by J.D. Robb The Measure of a Man A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poitier Born a Crime Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah Night of the Scoundrel (The Devils of Dover, #3.5) by Kelly Bowen Cherry Slice by Jennifer Stone To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1) by Jenny Han Becoming by Michelle Obama The Break Up by Tilly Tennant An American Marriage by Tayari Jones The Prince of Broadway (Uptown Girls, #2) by Joanna Shupe Shall We Dance? (Dance With Me #1) by Shelley Shepard Gray Almost Just Friends (Wildstone, #4) by Jill Shalvis Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell Forever Strong (True Heroes, #6) by Piper J. Drake The Last Real Cowboy (Cold River Ranch, #3) by Caitlin Crews
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January



Hot to the Touch (Brotherhood by Fire, #1) by Jaci Burton Ignite on Contact (Brotherhood by Fire, #2) by Jaci Burton Hillary's Back! (DI Hillary Greene, #18) by Faith Martin Hillary's Final Case (DI Hillary Greene, #17) by Faith Martin Jace (Kings of Country, #1) by Sasha Summers Stalemate (Eve Duncan, #7) by Iris Johansen Cowboy Firefighter Heat (Smokin' Hot Cowboys, #6) by Kim Redford Witness Protection Widow (Winchester, Tennessee #5) by Debra Webb Her Homecoming Wish by Jo McNally Revolver Road (Harper McClain, #3) by Christi Daugherty Invitation Only Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #26) by Leslie Meier Silver Anniversary Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #25) by Leslie Meier Turkey Trot Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #24) by Leslie Meier Eggnog Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #23.5) by Leslie Meier British Manor Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #23) by Leslie Meier Candy Corn Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #22) by Leslie Meier Divided in Death (In Death, #18) by J.D. Robb Unforgiven (Loveless, Texas #2) by Jay Crownover Justified (Loveless, Texas #1) by Jay Crownover Cold Nose, Warm Heart (Fur Haven Dog Park, #1) by Mara Wells The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo Whiteout (Survival Instincts, #1) by Adriana Anders The Tuscan Girl Completely gripping WW2 historical fiction by Angela Petch When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman A Hope For Emily by Kate Hewitt The Matrimonial Advertisement (Parish Orphans of Devon #1) by Mimi Matthews A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, #2) by Mimi Matthews The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon, #4) by Mimi Matthews Wild, Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6) by Janna MacGregor About an Earl by Diana Lloyd Dead Wrong (DC Maggie Jamieson #2) by Noelle Holten Big Jack (In Death, #17.5) by J.D. Robb The Forgotten Girls by Lizzie Page A Million Dreams An absolutely heartbreaking page turner by Dani Atkins The Dilemma by B.A. ParisThe Wives by Tarryn Fisher French Pastry Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #21) by Leslie Meier You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery, #1) by Cleo Coyle Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4) by Ilona Andrews Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1) by Kevin Kwan The Orphan's Daughter by Sandy Taylor Imitation in Death (In Death, #17) by J.D. Robb The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Portrait in Death (In Death, #16) by J.D. Robb The Billionaire in Boots (Princes of Texas, #3) by Julia London The Devil in the Saddle (Princes of Texas, #2) by Julia London The Charmer in Chaps (Princes of Texas, #1) by Julia London Purity in Death (In Death, #15) by J.D. Robb

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This has been a very good reading year so far. To start with, there is one very unusual thing about it. I have read more audiobooks in this quarter than I did in the last calendar year. The reason why I have is because I decided to binge read a few series. One is the J. D. Robb In Death books, and have read 27 of 51 thus far, including the novellas. I finished the Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier. I also binge-read three series by Iris Johansen - Eve Duncan, Kendra Michaels and Catherine Ling.


I have read some standout books this year already. The first one that comes to mine is Photos of You by Tammy Robinson. This book was tragic because there was no surprise as to how it would end but it proved to be very captivating and very well-written.

The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor was another excellent book. This was great because it was a buddy read and we read the book in four sections and then discussed each section as we moved on. This book managed to surprise me, even though we thoroughly analyzed it as we read.

Two of the highly anticipated books for 2020 were The Wives by Tarryn Fisher and The Dilemma by B. A. Harris. Both were excellent books for me. I know The Wives has not always been the readers’ favorite, but I enjoyed it and I gave it five stars. The Dilemma was a four star book for me because I felt the incredible lack of communication between the protagonists to be very annoying.


Another excellent book I read was Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. This book was downloaded to my Audible account by my daughter last year, and I listened to it because it fit a criteria for a challenge I was doing in February. My ignorance was major as to the intensity and hatred that existed in South Africa during the Apartheid. I am glad my eyes were opened to this difficult past so many millions had to deal with.

Those are just a small sampling of highlights for the first three months of 2020. I have a Goodreads goal of 500 for this year, and I am already ahead. I might raise the goal mid-year if I continue reading at this pace.

I hope to read as much in April as I have in previous months and have enjoying lining up my TBR.


Here is my April TBR. Although I put a lot of thought into planning what books to read, no doubt I will veer from some of these books. I will roll any of these unread over into May.



The Silent Wife (Will Trent, #10) by Karin Slaughter The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner, #2) by James Dashner The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) by James Dashner The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1) by Kristin Hannah Fly Away (Firefly Lane, #2) by Kristin Hannah Stop at Nothing by Michael Ledwidge Diver's Paradise by Davin Goodwin The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman The Orphan's Gift by Renita D'Silva The Sister-in-Law by Sue Watson Promises in Death (In Death, #28) by J.D. Robb Kindred in Death (In Death, #29) by J.D. Robb Missing in Death (In Death, #29.5) by J.D. Robb Fantasy in Death (In Death, #30) by J.D. Robb Vanishing Girls (Detective Josie Quinn, #1) by Lisa Regan Lady Notorious (Royal Rewards, #4) by Theresa Romain The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew by Milly Johnson Love and Marriage at Harpers A heartwarming saga from bestseller Rosie Clarke (Welcome To Harpers Emporium Book 2) by Rosie Clarke Find Her Alive (Detective Josie Quinn, #8) by Lisa Regan Can You See Her? by S.E. Lynes Sunrise over Sapphire Bay by Holly Martin The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill Follow Me by Kathleen Barber A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux Death by Darjeeling (A Tea Shop Mystery, #1) by Laura Childs The Night Swim by Megan Goldin Hideaway by Nora Roberts A Duke Too Far (The Way to a Lord's Heart, #4) by Jane Ashford When You See Me (Detective D.D. Warren, #11; Gardner Universe, #20) by Lisa Gardner The Hollows (Kinship #2) by Jess Montgomery Almost Just Friends (Wildstone, #4) by Jill Shalvis The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica The Second Wife by Rebecca Fleet Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins Light Shines on Promise Lodge (Promise Lodge #5) by Charlotte Hubbard Cowboy Come Home (Once Upon a Time in Texas, #2) by Carly Bloom  Can't Hurry Love (Sunshine Valley #1) by Melinda Curtis Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) by Allison Brennan Thursday's Bride by Patricia Johns Envious (Forever Family #1-3) by Lisa Jackson A Fatal Yarn (A Knit & Nibble Mystery #5) by Peggy Ehrhart Fearless by Fern Michaels Buried Deep by Susan Wilkins The Stolen Letter (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #5) by Paige Shelton One Fatal Flaw (Daniel Pitt #3) by Anne Perry Copycat Killer (True Blue K-9 Unit Brooklyn #1) by Laura Scott Gone With the Rogue (First Comes Love, #2) by Amelia Grey Promise at Pebble Creek (Hope Chest of Dreams #6) by Lisa Jones Baker The Split by Sharon J. Bolton The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman All I Ask by Corinne Michaels Lakeshire Park by Megan Walker The Apartment by K. L. Slater My Kind of Cowboy (Wranglers of Wyoming, #1) by R.C. Ryan