2014 Books I've Read

My good friend Jill wrote about the books she read last year and she kept a list the entire year! I thought it was such a great idea, that I decided to keep a list of all the books I've read in 2014.

My list is below and I'll comment on a few of my favorites afterward.

2014 Books I've Read

1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot*
2. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
4. Never Con a Corgi - Edie Claire
5. Honeymoon for one - Chris Keniston
6. Catching the Bad Guy - Marie Astor
7. Trouble in Mudbug - Jana DeLeon
8. Finding Pride - Jill Sanders
9. Discovering Pride - Jill Sanders
10. Just This Once - Rosalind James
11. Scarlet Nights - Jude Deveraux
12. Louisiana Longshot - Jana DeLeon**
13. Lethal Bayou Beauty - Jana DeLeon
14. Swamp Sniper - Jana DeLeon
15. The Honeymoon Cottage - Barbara Cool Lee
16. The Big, Not-so-Small, Curvy Girls Dating Agency - Ava Catori
17. In Search of a Love Story - Rachel Schurig
18. Innocent in Las Vegas - A.R. Winters
19. Drive Me Crazy - Marquita Valentine
20. The Tycoon's Make-Believe Fiancee - Elizabeth Lennox
21. Life After Life - Kate Atkinson***
22. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling****
23. Beautiful On the Mountain - Jeannie Light
24. Swamp Team 3 - Jana DeLeon
25. The Color of Heaven - Julianne MacLean
26. Peaches Monroe Stardust - Mimi Strong
27. A Curvy Coldwater Christmas - Jenn Roseton
28. Butterfly Garden - Annette Blair
29. Gator Bait - Jana DeLeo
30. You Had Me At Merlot - Marley Gibson
31. How the In-Laws Wrecked Christmas - Fiona Gibson
32. Six Months in Montana - Pamela Kelley
33. Married for Christmas - Noelle Adams
34. Killer Christmas - Harper Lin
35. The Right Choice - Carly Phillips
36. To Helen Back - Susan McBride

*The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - This book was recommended by someone and was awesome! It's one of two non-fiction books on my list and it's about Henrietta's (involuntary) contributions to science and how HeLa cells helped develop the Polio vaccine and countless other major breakthroughs in science. Click here to read the summary on Amazon.

**Louisiana Longshot - This is the first in the Miss Fortune Series by Jana DeLeon. I really have enjoyed this series so far. It's about a CIA Assassin who is sent into "hiding" in rural Louisana. She must learn about the inner workings of life ina Southern small town and ends up getting involved in some crime-solving escapades while she's there. This series is funny, witty and kept me interested! Click here to read the summary on Amazon.

***Life After Life - This was recommended to me by my friend Amie and it certainly did not disappoint. I can't really do a summary justice, so I'll let Amazon do it for me: On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war.
Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she? Click here to read the summary on Amazon.

****Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - This is the other non-fiction book on my list. I've long been a fan of Mindy since her days as Kelly on The Office and love her show The Mindy Project. Her first book had me laughing AND tearing up. Her commentary on life, love, fame, etc. is witty and inspiring and I often find myself thinking some of the exact same things. Growing up as an Indian child in America also provides some excellent banter for her in this memoir. If you enjoy sarcastic and witty humor, you will enjoy this book. Click here to read the summary on Amazon.

Overall thoughts on my book list: First, I'm a little disappointed that there are only 34 on the list. I'm a voracious reader but lately my reading seems to have taken a backseat to other things like social media surfing and TwoDots playing on my phone before bed. One of my 2015 resolutions will be spend less time mindlessly on my phone and more time intentionally reading or learning. Don't judge me by my 34...okay?

If you are a reader, I encourage you to keep track of your books next year. It's great to look back on those books that made an impact on you...and then realize how forgetful your beach or vacation reading really is. :) (there are books I read on my honeymoon in the list above that I couldn't begin to summarize for you...in one ear and out the other, I guess.)

What are some memorable books you read this year?

A quick shout-out! Today is M's birthday. Happy Birthday my love!! :)