Monthly Reader Statistics: MAY 2015

This series of blog posts is as the title suggests; monthly statistics for the latest completed month with a year to date summary of my reading. I actually look at my reader stats every so often, more out of curiosity as opposed to using them to achieve a goal. I like to know how many of the books I've read are for review verses how many I have read just 'cos (those I purchased or borrowed) or the difference between physical books and kindle ebooks. As I don't tend to make a conscious decision to read an ebook verses a physical book or read a book given to me for review verses something from my tbr, it's just what attracts me at the time - I thought these statistics would prove a useful 'nice-to-know' and an interesting footnote in my 2015 reading journey. 

Monthly Reads (books completed reading): 14

Re-reads: 3
Review books: 5
Audio books: 0
*Just 'cos reads: 6
Kindle: 4
2015 published: 3

Year To Date Reads: 63

Re-reads: 8

Review books: 26

Audio books: 3

*Just ‘cos reads: 25

Kindle: 18

2015 published: 19

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*doesn't include re-reads/audio
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Best Reads of May:

       

Review Links:

HOLD THE DARK by William Giraldi

WATCHED by CJ Lyons

THE FAT MEXICAN by Alex Caine

BORDERLINE by Lawrence Block

Friday Finds (6 February 2015)

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading where you share the book titles you discovered or heard about during the past week. These can be books you were told about, books you discovered while browsing blogs/bookstores (physical or online), or books that you actually purchased. I think this is a great idea and a way to share my enthusiasm of discovering new books.

The interesting and exciting thing about this weeks' installment of Friday Finds is that all the books are authors new to me. This year I've had a lot of success with my new author reads and hope the trend continues.  

This week I received the following for review:

WHEN YOU RUN WITH WOLVES by Robert White (many thanks to Number Thirteen Press)

Kidnap, robbery, bombs and guns. Then it all went wrong...

Jack Trichaud only wanted a quiet life in small town Ohio. But when you’re in possession of nearly a million dollars from a bank robbery gone wrong, life is anything but quiet. On the one hand, Agent Pippin is searching for the evidence that will pin the robbery on Jack and send him away for a good long time. On the other hand, violent White Power thug Calderone – aided by his merciless girlfriend and Jack’s own long lost brother – wants the money and he doesn’t care who he has to hurt to get it. In fact, the more pain Jack suffers the happier Calderone will be.

Jack has more than a few cards up his sleeve, but blood will be spilled and he’s going to need every trick in the book to make sure it’s not his. Or not too much of it, anyway.

WATCHED by C.J. Lyons (many thanks to New South Books)

When hackers can hijack any cellphone or computer webcam, no one is safe - including Jesse.

Jesse seems like a normal sixteen-year-old, but he isn't. He is a victim of King - a ruthless hacker who has been blackmailing Jesse with incriminating screen photos and videos. So far, Jesse's given in to King's demands in order to protect his family. But now King wants something that's too horrible to contemplate- and if he doesn't get it, King will kill Jesse's little sister.

Terrified and helpless, the answer to Jesse's prayers arrives in the form of a plain manila envelope. Inside there's a phone number and a note: I can help.

ASK THE DARK by Henry Turner (many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) 

Billy Zeets has a story to tell.

About being a vandal and petty thief.

About missing boys and an elusive killer.

And about what happens if a boy who breaks all the rules is the only person who can piece together the truth.

Gripping and powerful, this masterful debut novel comes to vivid life through the unique voice of a hero as unlikely as he is unforgettable.