2018 Reading Wrap-Up | Goals, Favorite Reads, and Top Releases I Meant To Read.

Happy New Years' Eve! I can't believe 2018 is nearly over. This year went by so quickly. There were some amazing releases and I added several books to my TBR.

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I had four bookish goals for 2018. I'm happy to say that I completed all of them!

• Get NetGalley ratio to 65%. 
• Finish at least 12 nonfiction books (hopefully 1 each month).
• Finish at least 5 series.
• Finish at least 20 Love Inspired books.

The toughest one for me was, unsurprisingly, the NetGalley ratio goal. I just made it to 65% this month and hope to just keep adding to that.

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Favorite Reads of 2018:

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Review: Every Wicked Man by Steven James

About the book:

A criminal mastermind's chilling terrorist plot forces FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers to the brink in the latest thriller from bestselling novelist Steven James. 

When a senator's son takes his own life and posts the video live online, Agent Bowers is drawn into a complex web of lies that begins to threaten the people he loves the most. As he races to unravel the mystery behind the suicide and a centuries-old code that might help shed light on the case, he finds a dark pathway laced with twists and deadly secrets that touch a little too close to home.

A fast-paced, intelligent thriller, Every Wicked Man will have readers racing through the pages to its thundering conclusion.

My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

Every Wicked Man surpassed my expectations, which were incredibly high, and was a thrilling ride. You may already know this, but the Bowers Files is my favorite series and I have loved all eleven books. When I heard about this new release, I instantly added it to my "must read" list. I heard that this is the final Bowers book, but I'm holding out hope for more someday as I absolutely love these characters and am not ready to say goodbye forever.

The suspense in Every Wicked Man was heart-pounding. There were scenes that had me so nervous about what was to come; but, what surprised me the most was how emotional I got while reading this story. It actually brought tears to my eyes at one point.

I loved getting this glimpse of Patrick while he was married to his wife and seeing his relationship with his stepdaughter, Tessa, during the "early years".

I could list several other things that I loved, but I will end with this: Every Wicked Man was a phenomenal read and, if you enjoy thrillers, I highly recommend it. This is my favorite read of 2018 by far.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Find the book on:
Amazon, Goodreads

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

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Review: A Temporary Family (Prairie Courtships #7) by Sherri Shackelford

About the book:

MAKE-BELIEVE MARRIAGE

When Tilly Hargreaves and her three nieces are stranded at his small stagecoach station in an abandoned town and threatened by outlaws, Nolan West must protect them. And the only way he can do that is by pretending he's married to Tilly. But can the former solider, whose only wish is for solitude, stop himself from growing attached to his temporary family?

Tilly knows the charade is necessary to keep her and the girls safe, but now her heart is in danger. The longer she pretends the stoic station agent is her husband, the more genuine their union feels. Nolan believes he's better off alone, but Tilly's certain that if he'd only open his heart to his make-believe family, he'd want to claim them as his for real.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Weekend Wrap-Up (December 14) / Kindle Deal Spotlight

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and my reading plans for the coming week. 

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've read this past week. :)

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Review: More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

About the book:

When Her Family Is Threatened, She Doesn't Expect Falling in Love to Be Their Best Defense

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Evangeline has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Evangeline has two--Seth and Zach, fellow orphans she now counts as brothers.

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. And when Hamilton's unique sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time they cross paths, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Review: Tell Her No Lies by Kelly Irvin

About the book:

Combining romance and suspense, bestselling author Kelly Irvin’s Tell Her No Lies is a high-stakes race for the truth.

“A moving and compelling tale about the power of grace and forgiveness that reminds us how we become strongest in our most broken moments.”—Library Journal review of Upon a Spring Breeze

Even the most admired families have secrets to hide . . .

Nina Fischer carries a camera wherever she goes—so she can view life through a filter. Safely. After her mother abandoned her to the streets, Nina has kept people at a distance, including her uncle, who adopted Nina and her sister. Wealthy and proud, he is a good man, a fair judge, and someone many in San Antonio admire.

But when he is murdered, and the detective assigned to the case accuses Nina of the crime, she knows she must act. She’s determined to use her journalism background to find the real killer. The two men in her life want to help, but can she trust them? She’s known Rick since they were children, but now he’s an attorney whose political aspirations seem more important than Nina’s tragic loss. And then there’s Aaron, a news videographer; using their friendship could break the biggest story of his career.

Following the evidence leads Nina on a journey of discovery into her father’s shocking masquerade as a law-abiding, family-loving Christian. Unlocking these secrets could prove fatal, but it’s the only way Nina will ever be able to trust love again.

Combining romance and suspense, bestselling author Kelly Irvin’s Tell Her No Lies is a high-stakes race for the truth.

My rating:

3.5 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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My To-Be Read List (#MyTBRL) -- And The Winner Is...December

 Hosted by Because Reading. On the first Saturday of the month you pick three books from your TBR list and ask for help from your followers and the people on the linky to help you choose which book to read that month. Then, on the second Saturday, you announce the results and get to reading. :) The goal is to review said book on the last Saturday of the month.

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Last week I chose three books with "Christmas" in the title and you guys voted. :)

The winner was...

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Weekend Wrap-Up (December 7) / Kindle Deal Spotlight

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and my reading plans for the coming week. 

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've read this past week. :)

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Review: Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

About the book:

The Final Countdown to Stop an Imminent Attack Has Begun.

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target's latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.


Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next mark?

My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Review: Bodyguard for Christmas by Carol J. Post

About the book:

Someone’s after his little boy.

She has one chance to save them both.

When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though ex-military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached.

But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Review: Christmas at the Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

About the book:

One blizzard. Two friends. Three days to fall in love.

Lifelong islander Brooke Kane doesn’t know what to do with her college degree, her dreams, or her future, but she knows better than to venture far from home when there’s a storm brewing. But a promise to check on Rose’s Red Door Inn prompts Brooke to venture out. By the time she arrives at the inn, the snow is knee-deep and visibility almost non-existent. She settles in to spend a few days alone at the inn until a familiar figure appears at the door.

Pastor Chuck O’Flannigan has never felt like a bigger fool. So focused on his recent decision to leave Prince Edward Island, he’s caught unaware by the blizzard while on a walk. He can only see the inn’s red door, a promise of safety. But when he discovers that Brooke—the only woman who could tempt him to stay on the island—is also taking refuge there, he knows he’s in trouble.

With Christmas only three days away, Brooke is determined that they’ll celebrate—even if it’s just the two of them. Happy to play Scrooge to her Tiny Tim, Chuck wiles away his hours dreaming of a return to Ireland—praying that God may have plans for him there. After all, God seems to have forgotten him in North Rustico. But as Brooke brings Christmas to life, her joy makes him wonder if God may not have forgotten him. In fact, God may have big plans for both of them—if they can only survive Christmas at the Red Door Inn.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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Monthly Reflections ~ November 2018

Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

How I Did With My November Goals:

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My To-Be Read List -- December Voting #MyTBRL

 Hosted by Because Reading. On the first Saturday of the month you pick three books from your TBR list and ask for help from your followers and the people on the linky to help you choose which book to read that month. Then, on the second Saturday, you announce the results and get to reading. :) The goal is to review said book on the last Saturday of the month.

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