2018 IN REVIEW

2018 IN REVIEW

I am so happy to finally get rid of 2018.  Overall a difficult year for me having lost everything in a fire and being displaced.  That is not to say there have not been any highlights.

My blog has been active just over ONE YEAR!  

My blogging journey has been quite the whirlwind.  Learning to use the blogger platform, NetGalley and Edelweiss.  Learning how to post on my blog and where to get promo info and ARCs.  All these, although not perfected, are all positives in my book.  There is, however, so much growth that I want and need to be done both as a reviewer and a blogger.

As many of you must know.  I’m not very good at posting original content; conversation pieces.  This I aim to change in the New Year with your help!  I so need the encouragement and voices of other bloggers and authors!

With that being said, here is 2018 in review for Sue’s Romance Reviews.

Completion of my GoodReads Challenge:  Wow!  So I have completed it with flying colors!  Since this was my first year joining the challenge, I did not know how many books I could actually read in a year.  With this, I pledged a smaller amount of 75 books.  I have surpassed that total and I am happy with my results!

https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/10422607

Taking part in the 2018 Foster An Author Event:  

This was eye-opening, fun and informative.  Seeing the blogger community connecting with the author community was surreal.  Fostering two wonderful authors Fiona Morgan and Madison Quinn was amazing and humbling!  All thanks to Jo & Isa loves books and Natasha at Read, Review, Repeat.  If I hadn’t said it already, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing event!  Here’s to more years!

Review Requests from Authors: In 2018, I have had at least a dozen requests from new-to-me authors, to review their books.  Every time I get one of these requests, I am in awe and I get SO excited!  I am also very humbled.  It means so much to me that an author has reached out and trusted me to review something that is so important and vital to them.  Thank you for your trust it means the world to me 😊.

Followers:  I am very thankful to everyone who has followed me on social media.  Whether that be on FB, Twitter or Blogger.  I aim to reach out and connect more with all of you this coming year and all the years to come.

Quoted reviews:  I've been quoted at least a half dozen times this year.  This for me is like the HIGHEST praise and high I could ever get.  When an author has quoted one of my reviews, it is like crack.  The high lasts for days and I’m always looking for my next fix!  It is amazing when someone appreciates a review or post you have worked on.

I’m very proud of my accomplishments for this past year.  What do you think?  Are you ready for another year?  What have your accomplishments been?  Whether big or small, be proud!  There’s no one that can do or say the things exactly as you do!  You are an ORIGINAL!

TOP TEN BOOKS 2018

Happy New Year, Everyone.  Where were you and who were you when the clock struck midnight?  I can tell you that almost anything you did will be more interesting that my night shift at work.  As for New Year’s day, it will be spent sleeping the day away in preparation for another night shift.  Maybe not better than yours!  What a GREAT way to start of my new year.   Yeah Right!

As you may know from a previous post, I am aiming to share a lot more with all of you this year.  For today’s post, I will share with you my TEN TOP READS OF 2018

10- Your Sound by Katia Rose.  This is a contemporary romance and the third book in the Sherbrooke Station series.  This book made me laugh and the main characters were quirky and fun.  The female character has social anxiety and our main hero, I must say he was one of the most romantic that I have EVER read.  Click here for my full review.

9- The Hellion by Christi Caldwell.  This is a historical romance and it was both engaging and exciting.  I loved the verbal sparring between the two main characters.  One so very small and the other a big brute. Click here for my full review.

8- Desolate by Autumn Grey.  This story was so very poignant and pulled at my heartstring.  The trope of priest and someone falling in love is not a trope I read often.  For whatever reason, however, I picked this up and absolutely LOVED it.  Full of angst and forbidden love.  Click here for my full review.

7- Confess by A. Zavarelli.  This book was all-consuming as I read it.  I loved the world created and the characters.  I laughed, I cried and I fell in love.  Love between a woman who uses men for their money and an unfeeling lawyer that catches her in the act!  Click here for my full review.

6- Possessive by Willow Winters.  Have you read a book from Willow Winters?  If not, this is a wonderful place to start.  This book will give you all the feels and will definitely leave you breathless.  A second chance romance.  Click here for my full review.

5. Sergio by Natasha Knight.  This book, wow!  Although this can be read as a standalone you may want to read the first two in the series first as it may prepare you for the outcome of this book.  This book was gut-wrenching and had me shedding a few tears.  For those who do not have a faint heart and have an open mind.  Click here for my full review.

4- Ven by Ker Dukey & K. Webster.  This book needed to be on this list.  Not only is the writing stellar.  It is action-pack and has one helluva kick-ass heroine that at this point has no compare!  She is strong, a fighter and resilient.  I swear I still have a crush on her!  This is a dark read and may have triggers.  Click here for my full review.

3- The Girl & Her Ren by Pepper Winters.  This is a YA and is the second book in a duet.  Heart-wrenching and emotionally gripping this story is UNFORGETTABLE!  Click here for my full review.

2- My Torin by K Webster. This is a story about love, family, fate and prejudice.  An absolutely wonderful.  I read this book in January 2018 and it still resonates with me.  This book just gripped my heart, my soul my being. This book is charming, delightful, exquisite. It’s a true gem. I recommend this book to everyone.  Click here for my full review.

1- The Boy & His Ribbon by Pepper Winters.  The first part of The Ribbon Duet.  From the very moment I picked up this book, I knew.  I knew this book was something special.  As I continued turning the pages, I became consumed with Ren and Della’s story.  It is truly unique and deserves insurmountable praise.  Click here for my full review.

That’s my Top 10 reads of 2018!  Did any of these match your favorites?  Are there any you’ll be adding to your TBR?  Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite read of 2018!  Thank you to That Artsy Reader Girl for providing the inspiration for this post.

2019 BLOGGING RESOLUTIONS

At this time every year, there are thousands upon thousands who make resolutions to do something or quit something.  This year I WANT TO DO SOMETHING!  Many somethings.  Most pertain to my blog but some – well some include a change in me as well.

Without further ado, here are my pledges (promises) to myself that I will try to achieve.

1-   Become a more interactive blog.  I want to share with people.  Share ideas and thoughts about books.  For anyone who knows me, this is a difficult task.  I am shy and introverted and very private about my life but this goes against my blogging goals.  To change this, I promise myself that I will post AT LEAST ONE discussion piece per week – something that IS NOT promo or a review.  This may seem small but for someone who doesn’t normally share much of anything this is asking a lot.  Hopefully as time goes by, it will be come easier and the creative juices will flow 😊. Thanks to Evelina@avalinahsbooks for being a sounding board and giving me inspiration for upcoming posts!

2-           Make myself known on social media.  This title is vague but it has many facets.  To make my presence known on social media, not only does my blog need to be more interactive but I NEED TO BE MORE INTERACTIVE.  I need to post interesting posts but also comment and engage with other bloggers as well as their posts.  Thanks to Nandini@unputdownablebooks for making me feel part of the blogging community and not just an obscure, no good blog.  Also for making me feel like anything is possible this year!

3-      Increase number of followers. Hopefully by achieving the above two goals, this will take care of itself.  Fingers crossed!

4-           Increase the number of views/visits to my blog.  Sometimes people need a “kick in the teeth” and that is what I needed.  After seeing the amount of views/visits on other blogs, I realized my views don’t even compare.  It’s a sad state of affairs but understandable due to my lack of engagement both socially and personally.  I’m banking on the fact that this will increase exponentially once all the above goals have been achieved.

This is it for me.  Not a lot really but definitely a change for me as a whole.  What are your goals/resolutions this year?  Do any of them match my own?  Here’s to a great New Year and to hoping all your goals and mine are achieved!