My Reading Year in 2019

We have reached that time of the year, where I look back to my reading year as a whole and make new plans for the new year. 

In this post, we will do a little recap of my 2019 reading year and see what my reading was like.

You can see my Goodreads reading year here

So, as you can see I read total of 73 books this year. With the average 350 page length.It was little less than my previous year, but I kind of expected that, given my reading slump.

Out of these 73 books, 6 were rereads, 67 first time read.

I mostly read Romance this year. Specially in the second half, as I was in a reading slump a lot during that time.

Overall,it was a good reading year for me. Most of them were 4 Stars and not single one below 2 stars.

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Best Books of the Year -

I am not including rereads from past years,these are all books I read this year only - in no particular order.

Also, I am really bummed that I did not manage to read much Fantasy in year, most of the good ones were rereads so did not include them.So you will see most of them are romance -

Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage -  My first random reading attempt for this author, and it was successful! I just loved the characters and their relationships -be it family relationship or romance. Pretty much all I want from a contemporary romance, and I got that in spades! Definitely one of my favourites of all time.

Pure Rapture (Pure/Dark Ones #5) by Aja James - This is a very good series for me which is only getting better as it is progressing. I love paranormal romance with expanding world and such great relationship dynamics and mystery elements with it. Only first book was okay for me, I have loved all books since then. Totally due for a reread in 2020, so that I can catch up with the released books in the series.

Grin & Beard it (Winston brothers #2) by Penny Reid  -  A new series I started this year. And I loved this book especially. Jethro surprised me, because I was pretty indifferent towards him in the previous books.But he was flawed but likable. I loved other books also in the series, but this one was my favourite out of all!

Her Rogue Alpha (X-Ops #5) by Tyler Paige  -  Another one awesome series I flew through this year.This is another paranormal series which improved with its expansion. This book especially, is about Layla and Jayson, whose story was building from last few books. So, getting this after all the buildup and my attachment to them played a very big part. I especially loved the action we got in this. Absolutely loved it! 

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson  -  I started my Brandon Sanderson read in 2019, this is my second read by him after 'Elantris'. Love everything about it!. You can see my full review here

Worst Books of the Year -

Storm (Ashes & Ember #1) by Carian Cole   - This is one series I started on a very negative note. It is also my worst book of this year. There are so many elements in this that I am quite bitter about. So many cliche elements of a rock romance, Cringy Insta- lust and love from both MC's and cheating (many will argue, but it was what it was). I did not like romance at all. I liked the band, that's why gave it 2 Stars instead of 1. 

Vandal (Ashes & Ember #2) by Carian Cole   - Continuing with the bad books, it was only a little better than the first one. I did not hate it, but there were so many unrealistic moments in this one for me. I had to completely suspend my disbelief to continue. And...I had trouble liking both the MC's. I liked everything else, hence 3 Stars!

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban - This one actually disappointed me a lot. I was really hoping to love the romance and mystery part of it, but these two things were so under-developed that I was not able to enjoy either of them.That plot line had so much potential but all ruined just to create some more drama in the story.Not a big fan of Ty, not going to continue this series at all.

2.75 Stars!

Beauty & the Mustache (Winston brothers #0.5) by Penny Reid - As a part Penny's  'Knitting in the city' series, this is kind of introduction to Winston brother series. And it was frankly my least favourite in the series. I did not like Ashley at all in this one. She was irritating and I did not like her chemistry with Drew (whom I adored) at all! She grew on me in another books, but this was not something I liked from Ms. Reid.

So, that's it for this post. Stay tuned for more such content!

A Very happy New Year! Hope you all have a fabulous reading year in 2020

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Review | Dark Pleasures (Pure/Dark Ones #4) by Aja James

This is my second read to refresh my memory for the fifth book and I loved it! I especially loved our main couple - Devlin and Grace. And the way they met for the first time, that whole scene and Devlin's reaction to Grace's behaviour during that encounter - It was funny!

I have adored all our heroes so far in the series and Devlin was clearly no exception, I loved him. He was my serious, old fashioned bookworm warrior with the mask of flirtatious rake on the surface.

"He’d learned how to fight, how to shoot the heart out of any target, how to unravel the most complicated puzzles. How to kill. He learned how to flirt too, because charm and friendliness opened doors and made connections better than introversion and bookishness. And he learned that being a charmer, a devil-may-care rake, was a fantastic disguise that sheltered the real man inside.”

I loved how despite suffering all the betrayals in the past, he still had the courage to open his heart again so beautifully. He was definitely one of the best parts of the book for me!

Usually, I tend to like my heroes more than their heroines, but Grace quickly won me over with her awkwardness and mad hacking skills. Her reaction (or lack thereof) after learning of Devlin non-human status was funny and great.

"He seemed like a “normal” guy if extraordinarily beautiful. Well, and there were the fangs and the bloodsucking. But nobody was perfect"

Apart from these two, I completely loved Tal! How my heart breaks for him!! He is my ultimate tortured precious hero and I honestly can say he is going to be one of the best parts of this whole series for me!!

I would also like to take a moment to appreciate Aja James's writing which is improving with her books, it was engaging as well as easy to follow. I especially love the balance she keeps between showing present and past lives of our characters, that's just perfect!

Apart from them, there are so many characters I would like to explore in future books!

This was definitely a great time to reread this one. I thoroughly enjoyed myself a lot and it also brought back so many things I need to know about in further books! Immediately picking Tal's book next!!

My Ratings - Full 5 Stars!

Pure/Dark Ones Series - All Reviews

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Review - Dark Desires (Pure/Dark Ones #3) by Aja James

Ryu Takamura is the Dark Ones’ Assassin. He has never missed his target…until now. Until her. Ava Monroe is a talented geneticist who holds the key to the vampire race’s future…and perhaps her own as well. Their attraction is explosive from the first. She would do anything to have him. He would sacrifice all to protect her. 

But will their love triumph over seemingly impossible odds as they battle enemies new and old? Especially the demons from Ryu’s past? And deep within his heart?

MY THOUGHTS - 

It was such a delight to read! I absolutely loved Ryu and Ava as our main protagonists. We met Ryu in the second book and Ava was introduced in this one. The story kind of continues from where we left in the previous book.  It was little insta - lovey but it did not bother me here that much as I really liked both the characters and chemistry between them.

Apart from the characters and romance, I really liked the description of Japan & their culture. I am an anime lover so all the interactions and the way our author beautifully described locations and their food, it really made me excited and I was able to visualize everything in my head. Reading all this made me wish to go and explore Tokyo on my own, especially to see cherry blossoms and eat Japanese food!

There were not that many other POV's or side stories (especially Sophia's ) so that was definitely a plus, it made me more focused on the main plot.

This is definitely my favourite one so far. I cannot wait to read Devlin's book next and see how the whole story will progress!

4.5 Stars!

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Review - Dark Longing (Pure/Evil Ones #2) by Aja James

Amazon Link (India)
Amazon Link (US)

About the Story

'Dark Longing' follows the story of Inanna, who is a Vampire Warrior and Gabriel, a human. When due to the ever changing circumstances they finally comes face to face, their souls recognizes each other even if they themselves fails to do so.

What follows after that is a revelation of a past they both seems to share but it is deep hidden in the shadows.What is it exactly and how that possibly can explain that longing they have for each other? 

Be sure to check that out as it is a long journey in the form of this 300+ pages of awesomeness!

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After finishing 'Pure Healing', I straight away picked this one and flew through it.I had mixed feeling for the first one but this book completely surprised me. My main problem with the first book was mainly Sophia and all the first POV chapters of hers and I was also not very impressed with the romance between Rain and Val, it was okay but not mind blowing. But this one completely changed my feeling and made me realized why I am a fan of adult paranormal romance (in spite of hating Teen/YA paranormal romance so much!)

It was such a quick and awesome read. I liked the main characters in this one more than the first book
 Really liked the romance and action packed plot. Less Sophia and her side story, thank god for that! It was my main issue in the first one.

But I am still looking for 'that favourite book' in the series which will tore my heart out and make me immensely in love with everything in between. Still... Overall, this book was surprisingly good with awesome romance and I have high hopes from the next books!Cannot wait to find out in further books!

☆☆☆☆1/2 Stars

BOOK 1 REVIEW  -  3.25 Stars

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Review - Pure Healing (Pure/Dark Ones #1) by Aja James

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Synopsis


In the world of Pure Ones, where sexual intercourse with anyone other than one’s Eternal Mate leads to a slow, painful death within thirty days, love comes with the warning label “fall at your own peril”… 

 Rain: the Healer
From the first time she beheld him, she yearned to sooth his pain and torment and nurtured a secret, selfish desire – to have him for her very own…

Valerius: the Protector
Despite their instant attraction, he has staunchly avoided applying to be the Healer’s Consort, haunted by the brutality and violence of his past…

As the decadal Phoenix Rite draws near, as threats from their vampire nemesis intensify, Rain and Valerius must decide whether they let their histories and duties dictate their destiny or whether they risk all for a chance at everlasting love

Summary

'Pure Healing' is one of the book I picked on whim based on my Goodreads friend's reviews and recommendation. This is a Paranormal/urban fantasy romance series which follows a world where we have Pure ones and dark ones, who lives among humans. First book follows Valerius and Rain, Valerius is part of elite team protecting the Pure Ones Queen, Sophia and Rain is a healer among them. Due to her life as a healer,Rain has to take different consorts for 30 days (called phoenix rite) in every 10 years, who can provide her nourishment by sexual intercourse and blood feeding. As you can guess, circumstances arises as such that Valerius, who is an ancient pure one and great match for this requirement, reluctantly applies for this rite as her consort but for only 30 days and never again.How they are going to get the chance for Happily Ever After like this? Especially with the circumstances and Valerius's traumatized past? Read this book to find out that answer! Of Course!!

MY THOUGHTS

It was an okay read. We have Val and Rain's chapters and other side character' s parts in between and first narration chapters of Sophia's. I really liked the back story between Val and Rain and chapters they were in. But the other chapters in between, especially Sophia's first POV, really distracted me from the main plot. Her chapters read too much like teen/YA paranormal romance books, which I usually do not like. I did not like her and the possibility of love triangle (another trope I hate with passion) in her story arc, these things really lessened my enjoyment. It also made me less invested in our main characters. But I really liked other secondary characters and really would like to see their individual stories in later books.

I liked the romance between both main characters but I was not blown away by it. The slow burn romance was not there and the whole love story felt little insta-lovey,especially from Val's side.I know that they have known each other for 10 years but little less sex before falling in love would have been better. It felt too physical and less emotional for me to get invested in their love story.

I really liked the whole concept of Pure and Dark Ones and can see the great potential of great and deep world building in future books! But this book only touched the surface.

Aja James's writing is okay and easy to follow, my main issue was with first narration POV of Sophia's which were included in between the third POV's of all other characters included our protagonists.


I was hoping for something similar to BDB series by JR ward or Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon (both have some great romance and character arcs), It was not exactly that but I can see the potential of the series and will definitely be continuing with the rest!
Characters - 3
Writing -3.5
World Building - 3.5
Romance -3
Plot - 3.25


Overall Rating - 3.25!

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