December 2016 in Reflection - Best and Worst Reads

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Let's reflect on the best and worst of the previous month's books.....

I know I can get so focused on what is next that I forget about all the wonderful books I read for the previous month's challenges! Well, the New Year is here and the old one is done - time just keeps on marching whether you are ready for it or not! This month, I want to know what your standouts were for December, but also all of 2016. Did you find some holiday goodies or just lumps of coal? What was your favorite book from last year? We all want to know!

Did you find some gems? DNF a few? Find your new book boyfriend or a heroine who personifies TSTL? Come on, we all want to know! What were your standouts for December and all of 2016? And Happy New Year!!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Wow, I had 25 Five Star books in 2016! I never would have guessed! I saw several Pamela Clare, J.D. Robb, Lorelei James and Emma Chase on that list. And Laura Kaye too. It would be really hard to pick just one favorite, but Pamela Clare's new series, Colorado High Country (Barely Breathing and Slow Burn), is a stand out for me. I have some of MM on the list too, a couple of very different books - Into Deep Waters, so emotional, and The Lightning-Struck Heart, just hilarious! And even one non-romance, I finally read To Kill a Mockingbird and thought it was wonderful.

So many wonderful holiday stories for December - The Stocking was Hung, Unwrapping Hank, Turkey in the Snow, One Snowy Night and more. Non holiday goodies included Well Hung and How to Wish Upon a Star. No duds in December for me. =)

What about you?

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

November or December MKat?

My highest rated book was by the same author as one of my lowest rated books - and in the same series!

(book 1 in the Romanus series) was only a low 3 stars for me. Normally I love Mary Calmes books but this was disjointed. I think the author didn't have a clear picture as to how the world created really worked, or at least couldn't describe it. It was choppy and unsatisfying.

is book 2 in the same series and I just loved it. 5 stars. I didn't want it to end. Calmes had the setting and events well set out and produced a very entertaining read.

The other two books I really enjoyed were ~ a gentle but lovely story of an 'ugly' giant and his happy ending; and where an agrophobe and military gamer meet on line and develop their friendship.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

You know, I had it right and then my browser froze and I had to restart it and messed it up! Oops!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "You know, I had it right and then my browser froze and I had to restart it and messed it up! Oops!"

Sounds very familiar :D

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

MountainKat wrote: "Wow, I had 25 Five Star books in 2016! I never would have guessed! I saw several Pamela Clare, J.D. Robb, Lorelei James and Emma Chase on that list. And Laura Kaye too. It would be really hard to p..."

I hadn't thought to do some stats, but great idea.

I had 36 five star books however 10 of those books were rereads :D ...I must have needed some comfort ;) My favourite author was Mary Calmes (of course) but Kim Fielding, NR Walker, Eli Easton, Cardeno C and TJ Klune were right up there as well.

I only had 1 one star read, and 9 two star reads. That's pretty good I think!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

A couple of mine were rereads too, I don't do it often so I would hope it was one I loved!

[Cyliena]

I didn't read a ton in December, but my one five-star book came from a series I didn't expect to fall in love with: Ice Planet Barbarians #11, Barbarian's Choice. I had a few four star books as well: Do You Want to Start a Scandal, To Redeem a Rake, and The Emperor's Soul (fantasy).

I didn't have any one star reads in December. However, I finished The Three-Body Problem (sci-fi) for a course at the end of November that I wanted to rate at one star, but rated two because despite its flaws the author put thoughtful time into researching for the book.

Then there's one more book, Venom & Vanilla, I started on the 31st and finished on Jan 1 that I nearly rated one star because the heroine is so terribly written, but gave it two due to interesting world building. Though listed as a fantasy and a paranormal romance, it's extremely light on the romance part and may have been mildly better without it.

Looking at the whole year, I think that Gladly Beyond, 667 Ways to F*ck Up My Life, and Duke of Sin were my romance highlights. The Bands of Mourning was my fantasy highlight.

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Sounds like you had some winners and some losers last month and year Ann!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Ann wrote: "I didn't read a ton in December, but my one five-star book came from a series I didn't expect to fall in love with: Ice Planet Barbarians #11, Barbarian's Choice. I had a few four s..."

It's so hard working out what to give a 1 star! Unless I really disliked the book, I rate them 2 stars... I've only rated a few books with 1 star ~ roughly one each year, although 2009 had a few! Must have been annoyed with things generally ;)

The one book I didn't rate was Outlander (back in 2014) ~ I loved the beginning of it (25%), but then it just descended into repetition and I gave up at 50%. Didn't seem fair to rate it.

[Cyliena]

Jane (PS) wrote: "It's so hard working out what to give a 1 star! Unless I really disliked the book, I rate them 2 stars... I've only rated a few books with 1 star..."

Definitely! I think I've only rated a few that way as well, though I didn't start using Goodreads until late November 2015. Even if I don't like the characters or the story I try to give it the benefit of the doubt and find *some* redeeming quality that makes it more worthy of 2+ stars. :)

[Chan]

Looking back at 2016 I read two books that I really did not like:
- horrible editorial issues
- extremely disturbing

As far as favorites, I can't really name just one. I kind of have them separated in my mind into categories. For instance the funniest book that I read last year was

Best dirty talk

Best action

Just to list a couple of categories. Overall, I had a pretty good year as it relates to romance novels. :o)

[Fran, Moderator]

I didn't have any duds for December. My standout read was Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe . My daughter suggested it, mostly because everyone else seemed to love it and she didn't. She wanted to know what I thought. I kind of loved it, lol.

Some of my other goodies I read in 2016 were......
Several YA gems:
You Know Me Well
Highly Illogical Behavior
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
A few graphic novels:
Afterlife with Archie, Vol. 1: Escape from Riverdale
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal
A few sweet and fun ones:
It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol
Apples Should Be Red
Turkey in the Snow

[MountainKat, Moderator]

Chan wrote: "Best action Black Ice (Ice, #1) by Anne Stuart The Darkest Hour (KGI, #1) by Maya Banks"

Funny - I loved one of those!! And the other, I really struggled with the hero - I never knew whether he was going to kill the heroine or kiss her! I'm sure you know which was which!

[MountainKat, Moderator]

I liked a few of those too Fran!

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Fran wrote: "I didn't have any duds for December. My standout read was Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe[bookcover:Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe..."

Had to add some of these! Why not a bit of YA for a change? I rarely read it, but if its in audio I may dip my toe in ;)