2018 EOY Wrap Up

At the end of every year and the beginning of the next, I go into contemplative mode. I think about the past year. What happened? What changed in my life? What were the big things that I accomplished? What did I spend my time doing or thinking about? And then I think about the upcoming one as well. What do I want to see happen? What do I want to change in my life? What big things do I want to accomplish? What do I want to spend my time doing and thinking about? What things about last year do I really want to see change in the upcoming one?

If 2017 was all about change, then 2018 was all about adaptation. 2018 started with me having a 3 month old and a 2 year old. The first portion of the year was a struggle to get consistent sleep. That's not unusual or unexpected given the age of my children. As Spring moved into Summer, we were settling into even more of a routine and new normal. My son was sleeping through the night. But he was still very needy and dependent. Again completely normal. Through the end of the summer through the beginning of fall, he started to crawl and then walk which helped him gain some independence. By the time we've reached December 2018, I feel quite free. He still wants to snuggle way more than my daughter ever did. But we've reached the point where we're passed breastfeeding. I'm thankful to have been able to nurse both of my children. Yet, I'm thankful we've weaned and we're done with nursing until our next (and prayerfully last) child. I struggle with the newborn phase, but I've found with both of my children that I enjoy each and every stage that comes next more and more enjoyable than the one before. (Please don't tell me to enjoy this time while they're young...I AM! I can enjoy the time and look forward to every new stage at the same time. I'm not wishing my time away. I'm snuggling all the snuggles. I'm loving how Husband and I are their heroes. But I can also appreciate being able to walk from one room to the other without having one of them meltdown.)

As for reading and blogging, I'm doing the best I can. I struggle knowing how much I was able to do before I had kids, but honestly, I wouldn't change any of it. I'm keeping up. I'm reading when I get a chance and blogging hasn't ended or tapered to the point of near non-existence. I'm still able to keep up. And that's with doing some side projects that I'm excited about at home. Going in 2019, I'm excited.

EOM Wrap Up Posts for 2018

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Blogging Highlights from 2018

Holly and I successfully hosted the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge. This was our fifth year. We are returning for 2019 also.

Celebrated my 7th Blogoversary.

October was my 6th annual All Things Halloween event of Halloween-ish book reviews and such.

I continued a feature created in previous years: Discussions Only We Know. Although, I didn't get any Series DNF, Cover Doubles, Upon Further Review, Problems Only We Know, or From the Ashes posts done.

I started a new featuring in 2018: Mountains Out of Molehills that zeroes in on political, religious, etc statements made by authors, publishers, etc that really don't have anything to do with the overall story, plot, or character growth of a book (or other medium).

I ran my first survey, and then I posted the results.

I didn't review any movies this year.

I listen to 4 audiobooks.

I didn't re-read any book this year.

I exceeded my Goodreads total books read challenge with 88 out of 52 books read (a portion of these were children's books).

I completed my Bible-in-a-year reading plan for the 7th year in a row.

But I did fall a little short on my Series Enders goal of 10-12 books with 7 series enders read.

Books Read in 2018

*These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.

Lucky in Love by Kasie West
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
*The Last Star (The 5th Wave, # 3) by Rick Yancey
The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2) by Jennifer Delamere
In Another Time by Caroline Leech
Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White
How to Teach Your Baby to Swim by Douglas Doman
Wild Blue Wonder by Carlie Sorosiak
Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E Ladd
All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire
A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, # 8) by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany
If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L Armentrout
100 Days of Thanks by Thomas Nelson
Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose by Sadie Robertson
One Small Thing by Erin Watt
Sons of Blackbird Mountain (Blackbird Mountain, # 1) by Joanne Bischof
When We Were Young by Anna Benoit
The Simple Wild by KA Tucker
*Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton
*Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells
That Night by Amy Giles
Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
Meet the Sky by McCall Hoyle
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
*The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson
*The Song of David (The Law of Moses, # 2) by Amy Harmon
The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy by Abbey Sy
Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones
Healing Hearts by Sarah M Eden (review coming soon)
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West (review coming soon)
The Roses of Feldstone by Esther Hatch
Anywhere, Anytime Art: Colored Pencil by Cara Hanley
Ten-Step Drawing: Flowers by Walter Foster Creative Team
The Curiosity Keeper (Treasures of Surrey, # 1) by Sarah E Ladd
Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock
When It's Real by Erin Watt
The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away, # 3) by Roni Loren
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn (review coming soon)
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Tricky Twenty-Two (Stephanie Plum, # 22) by Janet Evanovich (review coming soon)
Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts, # 1) by Emma Scott
*Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts, # 2) by Emma Scott (review coming soon)
Verity by Colleen Hoover (review coming soon)
The Sound of Drowning by Katherine Fleet (review coming soon)

Books DNF'D

Before I Let You Go by Kirsten Wreggitt (DNF @ 25%)
Heart of Thorns (Heart of Thorns, # 1) by Bree Barton (DNF @ 75%)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily XR Pan (DNF @ pg 136)
The Resolutions by Mia Garcia (DNF @ 4%)

How was your 2018? Are you exciting about moving on to 2019? Let me know!

2018 EOY Book Survey

Jamie, The Perpetual Page Turner created this EOY Book Survey. I've participated several years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016), but I missed last year due to having a newborn and potty training a 2 year old. But I enjoy the survey so much that I am here again for 2018. I've discussed in the past how difficult narrowing down these are for me, but I'm going to try to do better keeping each category to one selection. Some of these get out of hand. Oh and feel free to join in and do your own survey. Just link back to Jamie.

2018 Reading Stats

84 books read so far (including a few children's books)
0 book re-read
Genre Read the Most From? YA Contemporary

Books

1. Best book you read in 2018?

Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

The Curiosity Keeper (Treasures of Surrey, # 1) by Sarah E Ladd

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read in 2018?

That Night by Amy Giles

4. Book you read in 2018 that you recommended to people the most?

Simple Wild by KA Tucker

5. Best series discovered in 2018? Best Sequel? Best series ender?

Series: Beautiful Hearts Duet by Emma Scott

Sequel: I didn't read many sequels this year and the ones I did were just 3 Star ratings.

Ender: Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

Erin Watt

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Verity by Colleen Hoover

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2018?

Bring Down the Stars & Long Live the Beautiful Hearts by Emma Scott

9. Book you read in 2018 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

No time for re-reads probably.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson

11. Most memorable character in 2018?

Verity Crawford (Verity by Colleen Hoover)

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

Bring Down the Stars by Emma Scott

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2018?

100 Days of Thanks by Thomas Nelson Publishing (helped get my perspective back in focus during the struggles of having a young baby and frequent lack of sleep)

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?

Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2018?

For you, I would
bring down the stars,
wreath their fire
around your neck
like diamonds,
and watch them
pulse
to the beat of your heart

For you, I would
capture the candlelight
in the palm of my hand
Give my breath
to give it life
A whisper,
"My love"
So that it may grow
Bright and hot
And burn me

For you, I would
drink the salted oceans
Until their depths
Were swallowed
into the depths of me
How deep it is, the life
This love, for you
I cannot touch bottom
I never will

For you, I would
mine the stony earth
Until it relinquished
The secrets of time
Cracks in the stone
wrinkles of the Earth
As she turns her face
to another new day
And so I wish to live
Every one of mine
With you

For you, I would
be myself
At long last
I would live in my skin
And breathe my words
in my own voice
Tinged with the accent
Of a child calling to a car
that will never stop
And in the fading echo
Nothing remains but the truth
of me
that is the love
of you

I have loved you with both
Hands tied behind my back
Bound with pen and ink
Paper and words
Sealed with someone else's name
until this moment
in which I am nothing
but a man
who loves a woman
There is nothing left to say
Except to give
all of my heart
For you

Bring Down the Stars by Emmma Scott

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2018?

Longest: The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson 679 pages
Shortest (not including children's books): How to Teach Your Baby to Swim: From Birth to Age Six by Douglas Doman 120 pages

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (Updated to: Book that shocked you the most?)

Verity by Colleen Hoover

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2018 (romantic)?

Jase & Kazi (Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson)

19. Favorite relationship (non-romantic) from a book you read in 2018?

Kate & Alanna from Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

20. Favorite book you read in 2018 from an author you’ve read previously?

Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

21. Best book you read in 2018 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?

When It's Real by Erin Watt

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

Surprisingly none. I mean I liked a few of the guys I read, but none of them fall into the category of book boyfriend.

23. Best debut you read in 2018?

The Roses of Feldstone by Esther Hatch

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2018?

Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2018?

Tricky Twenty-Two (Stephanie Plum, # 22) by Janet Evanovich

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2018?

The Simple Wild by KA Tucker

27. Book you read in 2018 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?

Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Verity by Colleen Hoover

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones

Blogging

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2018?

These aren't exactly new discoveries, but I've really been trying to focus on the blogs that visit and comment on my blog regularly.

AJ @ Read All the Things

Sherry @ Fundinmental

Laura @ FUOnlyKnew

Mary @ Stacking My Book Shelves

Barb @ Booker T's Farm

Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog

Eve @ Functioning Insanity

Jenea @ Jenea's Book Obsession

Jo @ Book Lover's Blog

Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

Angela @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer

2. Favorite review you wrote in 2018?

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover - Because this book touched me on a personal level and the review got to share a little bit of my personal connection to the characters.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

My review of All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire got the most comments and discussion. I mean the number and quality of the comments on this review exceeds any other review I've ever done. I don't even know that my review is particularly good so much as the book sparked a lot of thoughts and discussion.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signing, festivals, virtual events, meme’s, etc)

N/A

5. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2018?

Exceeding my reading goal is always a good thing. I've been trying to keep things on kind of an even-kill until I move into a different season of life that allows for more focus on reading and blogging..

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Well at the beginning of 2018 my son was only 3 months old. The first twelve months are physically exhausting. Not that the other years aren't, but after the first year babies become more and more physically independent. Having a newborn and very young baby doesn't allow for much extra time for reading and blogging.

7. Most popular post this year on your blog (views or comments)?

See my response to question 3.

8. Post you wished got a little more love?

Really any of my discussion posts. I didn't do many this year, and I guess I'd rather them get no comments than to get into some heated debate. One in particular: Discussions Only We Know: Mountains Out of Molehills

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, stores)?

Again...no new real discoveries this year.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of the year?

My Goodreads challenge (84 books of 52), Series Enders Reading Challenge (I fell slightly short of my goal of 10-12 books), Reading the Bible in a Year (Succeeded)

Looking ahead…

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2018 but will be your number 1 priority in 2019?

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

2. Book you are most anticipating in 2019 (non-debut)?

Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

3. 2019 Debut you are most anticipating?

No debuts are currently on my radar I don't think. Or they might be, but I really don't make note of that when I'm adding to my TBR list.

4. Series ending you are more anticipating in 2019? Sequel?

Sequel: A Return of Devotion (Haven Manor, # 2) by Kristi Ann Hunter

Ender: Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 2) by Mary E Pearson (no cover yet)

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2019?

This has been my main goal for the last two/three years...Just keep going. With dwindling time to read and blog I'm hoping to just hang tight and keep doing the best that I can until another season in life comes that will allow me more time to do both.

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn

What would your answers be to the 2018 EOY Book Survey? Leave me your link so I can check out your post. Or just leave me a comment! Let me know!