
So it is that time. When we pass from one month into another. When we say goodbye to January and all it offered us, hug what we learned close to out hearts, and move ever forward into (if you’re in the Midwest) frozen future of February.
Were you able to finish everything you hoped you would in January? Anything left undone that you’re moving to the new month? Personally, I wasn’t able to finish everything I strived to in January, but I am moving some of them forward to try and finish them in February.
Lets reevaluate my goals for 2018 and see how well I did in January.
- Write/plot 3 times a week
This one, sadly, hasn’t been in full force. I DID get chapter one of my drafted novel edited though. So we are moving forward. I just need to work a little harder to carve out more writing/plotting time.
This one I most assuredly am doing well at. I was able to slide through five books in January. What are they? Keep reading to find out, I do list them below.
- Post a Book Review on the blog twice a month
So, this one was half completed. I didn’t get through the plethora of books this month until late in the month. Literally, I consumed three books in three days. Which, being so late in the month, leaves little time to get those reviews up. But. With reading going better, I’m hoping to get a few reviews in the drafted and scheduled folder so as I read I’ll just keep sliding them into the line to be pushed out. And who knows. If I can keep up the reading as I am, I may try to squeeze in a third review a month. But that’s more down the line as I see how the year pans out. I already know a couple months will be a little busier than others due to annual things going on in my life.
So grand overview, I’m not terrible in working to fulfill my goals, but there’s definitely room for improvement. Here’s to February showing some of that improvement.
January Wrap Up
So, wrapping up January, like I said I read five books. That’s three more this month than I had planned, in the grand goal of reading. But it’s actually two short of my January TBR list.
I was able to finish the following books:
- Shattered Circle by Cassandra Larsen
- Twisted Fate by Jessi Elliott
- Paper Princess by Erin Watt
- Broken Prince by Erin Watt
- The Selection by Kiera Cass
Broken Prince wasn’t on my January TBR list, but after the way Paper Princess ended I couldn’t stop myself from devouring the second book.
The reviews for Paper Princess&Broken Prince by Erin Watt and Twisted Fate by Jessi Elliott will be up this month. So make sure to watch for those. I’m doing both The Royals books together, because I read both of them in less than 48 hours. That’s not to say they were short books, they just caught my attention that well.
The two books I didn’t get through are:
- Message of the Crow by Ellen Dugan
- Resurrection by Tucker Malarkey
For Message of the Crow, I just didn’t get to it before the month ended. If I hadn’t chosen to read Broken Prince this month, I might have had the time to finish it. But alas, I was just too enamored by the The Royals to stop. Though I was able to tear myself away to read The Selection.
Resurrection isn’t a lack of time for not finishing. I did try. I just couldn’t get into the writing and the book. Nothing against it or the author, it just wasn’t my cup of tea so I won’t be finishing the book.
January Book Haul
Because I thought it would be fun too, I figured I’d share all the books I purchased in January. It’s almost a sickness. I read five books, but I ended up purchasing 27 books due to sales on Amazon a lot of times.
- Rune Service by J.B. Garner
- Once in a Blue Rune by J.B. Garner
- Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie (Anthology)
- Mojitos & Murder by Sara Bourgeois
- Pirate’s Vengeance by LJ Andrews
- Aveline by Lizzy Ford
- Charred Heart by Lizzy Ford
- Hinder by Kristin Ping
- Soul of the Witch by Deanna Chase
- Gifted by the Moon by Lilith Black
- Shadow Queen by Harlow Thomas & Anastasia James
- Spear of Destiny by Ines Johnson
- The Haunting of Willow House by Anthony M. Strong
- Blood and Magic by Ilana Waters
- Marked by Power by Cece Rose & G. Bailey
- Winter’s Guardian by G. Bailey
- Sapient Salvation by Jayne Faith
- Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
- Queen of Gods by Scarlett Dawn and Katherine Rhodes
- The Lunar Effect by C.J. Pinard
- Moon Cursed by Tori Centanni
- Daughter of Magic by Teresa Roman
- Stolen Ink by Holly Evans
- Broken Prince by Erin Watt
- Twisted Palace by Erin Watt
- Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
I also started an Owl Crate subscription, and their January Fearsome Fairytales box so I received a special cover book:
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
It’s a super long list of books. It’s an addiction, really. Most of those, at least, are ebook so at least they’re not taking up floor space because my shelves are full.
February TBR
Just like January, I’m going to be ambitious for February. Now, I realize this month is shorter than any other month but after the amount I was able to read in January, and looking at most of my calendar for February and finding it relatively absent of anything but writing goals, I have faith in myself to find the time to read these books.
I am looking to finish:
- Message of the Crow by Ellen Dugan
My not getting to it in January is by no means because I wasn’t interested in it, but merely because I wanted to read something different. Paper Princess and The Selection are both more Contemporary than I normally read. There’s no magic, there’s no wizard or spell or werewolf or vampire. And while i do love my urban fantasy, and high fantasy, and I always will, it was kind of nice to step out of that box for a little while.
I’m also looking to read:
- A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest
- Daughter of Magic by Teresa Roman
- Twisted Palace by Erin Watt
- The Elite by Kiera Cass
- Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Six books. And if you’re reading this carefully you’ll recognize two author from January. Twisted Palace is The Royals book three, and closes the sage for the characters that make up the first two books. So I’m really looking forward to seeing how their story ends. There is a book four, and a book five that’s pending release, that I may pick up later because I am interested in that world, but it’s narrated by a different person in that world so I won’t feel as compelled to continue it immediately. The Elite is book two of The Selection Series, and I’m curious but ready to jump into America’s story as she moves forward in the Selection. Both of those worlds, while there is no magic involved, have captured my undivided attention. But I’m excited to get through all five of my books.
Did you get any amazing books in January? What are your reading plans for February? Let me know down in the comments!