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--Author Christopher Benson

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010 - A Year In Review Including My Best Books of 2010


This sure has been a wonderful year.  I am so glad I have embarked on this blogging adventure.  I have "met" some truly wonderful people because of this blog and know now that this is the perfect place for me to be.

IN 2010:
  • I read 184 books. (my goal was 140)
  • I reviewed 126 of them 
  • I hosted 45 giveaways
  • I posted 40 random thoughts
  • Completed many book related challenges.
  • I have received several blog awards
  • I participated in 2 major Blog Events.
  • There have been 12 guest posts on Dollycas's Thoughts
  • I participated in a variety of Memes and have hosted a few.  Enquiring Minds Want To Know is still happening and new people join every week.
  • Dollycas's Thoughts has almost 500 followers from all over the world. 
 I have had page hits from:

United States
12,043
Canada
657
United Kingdom
511
Denmark
207
France
161
Russia
135
Germany
122
Australia
86
Netherlands
63
Philippines
59
Slovenia
19
Latvia
10
Indonesia
8
Hungary
5
Poland
5
Switzerland
4
Malaysia
4


 (totals shown are from May - December 30, 2010)

I have thought about how to present my best books of 2010 for the past few weeks.  I will not be doing a top ten list because I loved so many books this past year putting them in order would be impossible so I have chosen my BEST #1 in four categories and then will recap the ones that earned my " I LOVED IT" rating (5 stars) and those that earned my "I LIKED IT" rating (4 stars).  These are all books I RECOMMEND YOU SHOULD READ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

Caught








The Cat, The Professor and the Poison: A Cats in Trouble Mystery

MY REVIEW







The Island: A Novel

MY REVIEW









The 19th Element: A James Becker Nuclear Thriller

MY REVIEW







A Killer Plot  Ellery Adams
Where is God? Dr. John Townsend
Lye in Wait Cricket McRae
Heaver Preserve Us Cricket McRae
Fatal Fixer Upper Jennie Bentley
spackled and Spooked Jennie Bentley
The Noticer Andy Andrews
The Shack Wm. Paul Young
Sprinkle with Murder Jenn McKinlay
The Lost Quilter Jennifer Chiaverini
The Quilter's Kitchen Jennifer Chiaverini
Caught Harlan Coben
plaster and POISON Jennie Bentley
No Time To Waive Goodbye Jacquelyn Mitchard
Happy Hour  Michelle Scott
Sink Trap Christy Evans
Lead Pipe Cinch Christy Evans
The Cat, The Professor and The Poison Leann Sweeney
Parting River Jordan ML Barnes
Moon Spinners Sally Goldenbaum
A Cutthroat Business Bente Gallagher
Adulation Tiara Wilkens
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County Tiffany Baker
Sophie Redesigned Karen Dahood
The Missing Element John L. Betcher
Half Price Homicide Elaine Viets
Toast Mortem  Claudia Bishop
Grace Under Pressure Julie Hyzy
The Island Elin Hilderbrand
Murder is Binding Lorna Barrett
Bookmarked For Death Lorna Barrett
Swimsuit James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The Days of our Lives Ken Corday
Bookplate Special Lorna Barrett
The Long Quiche Goodbye Avery Aames
Delicious and Suspicious Riley Adams
The 19th Element John L. Betcher
How To Host A Killer Party Penny Warner
Red Hook Road Ayelet Waldman
False Impressions Terri Thayer
How To Crash A Killer Bash Penny Warner
Murder Past Due Miranda James
Buzz Off Hannah Reed
The Way of the Guilty Jennifer Stanley
Pieces of Happiness Irene Zutell
The Ring: Bobby's Story Robert LaClaire
I Scream, You Scream Wendy Lyn Watson
Scoop To Kill Wendy Lyn Watson
The Missing Ink Karen E. Olson
Pretty in Ink Karen E. Olson
Driven To Ink Karen E. Olson
Don't Blink James Patterson
Murder at the PTA Laura Alden
The Chocolate Cupid Killigs JoAnna Carl
The Chocolate Pirate Plot JoAnna Carl
Sleeping With Anemone Kate Collins
Dirty Rotten tendrils Kate Collins
Sew Deadly Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Death Threads Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Pinned For Murder Elizabeth Lynn Casey
A Holiday Yarn Sally Goldenbaum
Snow Day  Billy Coffey
Once Wicked Always Dead T.Marie Benchley
The Fashion Hound Murders Elaine Viets
An Uplifting Murder Elaine Viets
Silent Kill David Fingerman
God's Guest List  Debbie Macomber
Starlit Lisa Rinna
The Double Cross Clare O'Donohue
Rescue Anita Shreve
Bedeviled Eggs Laura Childs
A Killer Crop Sheila Connelly
The Fat Man A Tale of North Pole Noir Ken Harmon
Run For Your Life  James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Step on A Crack James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Worst Case James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Chapter & Hearse Lorna Barrett
The Diva Paints the Town Krista Davis
Buttercream Bump Off Jenn McKinlay
The Christmas Journey  Donna VanLiere
State of the Onion Julie Hyzy
Hail to the Chef Julie Hyzy
Eggsecutive Orders Julie Hyzy
Buffalo West Wings Julie Hyzy


The Cat, The Quilt and the Corpse LeAnn Sweeney
The Body in the Sleigh Katherine Hall Page
High Anxiety Charlotte Hughes
The Fixer Upper Mary Kay Andrews
Leftover Dead Jimmie Ruth Evans
Cockatiels at Seven Donna Andews
Six Geese a-Slaying Donna Andews
Stirring Up Strife Jennifer Stanley
Love Mercy Earlene Fowler
Murder on the Rocks Karen MacInerney
Dead and Buried Karen MacInerney
The Summer Hideaway Susan Wiggs
Miss Julia Renews Her Vows Ann B. Ross
Patterns in the Sand Sally Goldbaum
Farm Fresh Murder Paige Shelton
Sand Sharks Margaret Maron
Dolled Up for Muder Deb Baker
Goodbye Dolly Deb Baker
Hand of Fate Lis Wiehl with April Henry
Dolly Departed  Deb Baker
Hannah's List Debbie Macomber
State Fair Earlene Fowler
Dead Man of the Year  Stephen Hawley Martin
Killer Cuts Elaine Viets
Just Don't Call Me Ma'am Anna Mitchael
Fleece Navidad Maggie Sefton
Dropped Dead Stitch Maggie Sefton
The Heart Mender Andy Andrews
Quicksand Marilyn Randall
The Case of the Great Granny Thomas Emmons Pisano
Amanda Memories Dr. Joel R. Gecht
Population:485 Michael Perry
Unbreakable Hostage LE Harvey
Death in Daytime Eileen Davidson
Dial Emmy for Murder Eileen Davidson
Diva Las Vegas Eileen Davidson
How To Wash A Cat  Rebecca M. Hale
Nine Lives Lasts Forever Rebecca M. Hale
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake Aimee Bender
The Postcard Killers James Patterson 
Into Protection  Terry Chaudhuri
The Quick and the Thread Amanda Lee
Sketch Me If You Can Sharon Pape
Heat Wave Richard Castle
Wrinkles, Waistlines, and Wet Pants Jeanne R. Kraus
A Deadly Row Casey Mayes
Wicked Weaves Joyce & Jim Lavene
Ghastly Glass Joyce & Jim Lavene
Deadly Daggers Joyce & Jim Lavene
Out Live Your Life  Max Lucado
Call Me Mrs. Miracle Debbie Macomber
Dead Renegade Victoria Houston
A Truth for a Truth Emilie Richards
The False Friend Myla Goldberg
Blood Over Badge Wayne Farquhar
Homicide In Hardcover Kate Carlisle
If Books Could Kill Kate Carlisle
The Lies That Bind Kate Carlisle
The Lover's Knot Clare O'Donohue
The Drunkard's Path Clare O'Donohue
Eggs In Purgatory Laura Childs
Eggs Benedict Arnold Laura Childs
One Bad Apple Sheila Connelly
Rotten To The Core Sheila Connelly
Red Delicious Death Sheila Connelly
If Walls Could Talk Juliet Blackwell
The Diva Runs Out Of Thyme Krista Davis
The Diva Takes The Cake Krista Davis
India Black Carol K. Carr
Uncommon Grpunds Sandra Balzo
Murder Most Maine Karen MacInerney


As you can see from these lists picking 10 or 20 and putting them in order would have been a monumental task.  It really is true, there are "so many good books and so little time".  I am really looking forward to all the wonderful books coming out in 2011.  I hope you will continue to stop by Dollycas's Thoughts often for Book Reviews, Recommendations, Random Thoughts and Giveaways, but even more importantly I hope you find time to "Escape Into A Good Book!" hopefully many good books.
 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent


14 comments:

Sheila Deeth said...

I was planning to get more organized about reading and reviewing. Wow do you put me to shame!!! This is wonderful!

Carol said...

Happy New Year, Lori!

I need to tidy up my blog a little and get my reading in order. Unfortunately with a busy family my reading comes last.....2011 is the year to sort that out! :)

All the best
Carol

Cat said...

Happy New Year - wishing you lots of great books in 2011.

Anonymous said...

Lori, I enjoyed looking at your lists. Lots of great books. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year. Hope 2011 is full of joy and a lot of great reading!!

Kaye said...

Wow, you have some great cozies on your love it list. Some I've read and agree with you and some I want to read and am happy to see you loved them. You are definitely an inspiration. Happy New Year from one cozy lover to another.

Elaine Viets said...

There goes 2011! You've given me so many good books to read. I'm delighted to find my books on your list and honored to be in such good company.
Congratulations on your one-year blogoversary -- and many more.

Marce said...

Wowsa, I'm so glad you did this list I couldn't remember who I found the Tatto shop mysteries from, I going to try them this year.

Happy New Year to you

Here is my favourite list

http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-time-with-marce-2010-list-of.html

Dru said...

Happy New Year!

Looking forward to your upcoming reviews.

Pain SUX said...

Happy New Year from your newest follower!! Your blog looks awesome, I'll be back often, that's for sure.

If you get a chance, stop by and follow me back. Thanks.

What I'm wondering...is how you get those percentage done boxes under your challenges on your side bar?? I keep seeing them on other blogs...I am signed up for four challenges, but I'd love to be able to post them on my side bar.

Thanks, have a great day.

~Steph
http://fortheluvofsanity.blogspot.com

Jackie said...

Lori this past year has indeed been something else, lots of good books, lots of good internet contacts and most of all it is now over and a bright new year is beginning for us all!

After ringing in the New Year last night thanks to my persistently loud neighbors I woke up very late but hope 2011 brings you more book reading joy and more fun blogging than you ever dreamed!
jackie >_<

Pain SUX said...

Lori,

Thanks so much with your help on the boxes below the reading challenges!! I really appreciate it.

~Steph
4 the LUV of SaNiTy

John Betcher said...

Thanks for the award for The 19th Element, Lori. YOU ROCK! All the best to you and yours in 2011.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

You are so organized! This is an awesome post Lori! Happy new Year!

gautami tripathy said...

I could read only 95 books. But that's ok. I was in a reading slump for more than four months.

Happy New Year to you and your family. Have a great reading year in 2011!!!

Here are my Best Reads of 2010.