How have we already reached 2017? I keep thinking 2010 wasn’t that long ago. Well, even if time has flown past, I think the majority of us are very happy to see the back of 2016. December was a very busy month for me. With 3 family birthdays, all the extended family making their annual visit, work and the Chritmas holiday, our house was the definition of chaotic.

Sadly, with all this chaos I found myself entering another slump. I only read 2 books in December, thankfully they were both enjoyable though. A Promise of Fire was an epic fantasy with a hate to love romance and a sprinkle of Greek mythology. Iron to Iron was a just as enjoyable and helped fill the gaps of Luka and Adele’s story. However, I also read this book after finishing Blood for Blood and my heart was still healing for the pain of that book. Luka will forever be a favourite of mine. 

So, despite ending the year in a bit of a slump I must say I loved the festivities. They always add a bit of magic to the world.

A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) by Amanda Bouchet: 4/5 Stars

Iron to Iron (Wolf by Wolf  #1.5) by Ryan Graudin: 4.5/5 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday
6th December: New to me Authors 2016
13th December: Most Anticipated Books for 2017 pt. 1
20th December: Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under the Tree
27th December: Favourite Books Read in 2016

Waiting on Wednesday
7th December: The Bear and the Nightingale
14th December: Dividing Eden
21st December: Alex, Approximately
28th December: In a Perfect World

Tag/Awards
15th December: The Jingle Bell Tag

Discussion
19th December: Dream Book Conference Panel

Reviews
1st December: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Favourite Posts in December

Krysta @ Pages Unbound tells us to stop apologizing for all the books we haven’t read yet.

Reg @ She Latitude provides some handy tips on how to find new blogs to follow.

Nick @ Nick and Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist talks about the 5 thoughts she first had as an international student in the US.

Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight discusses the effects of becoming a book person.

Emily @ Rose Read wonders if bloggers are too nice.

2017 Goals

Where to even begin. I’ve not made any resolutions for the year because I usually forget about them by the end of the year. However, I have a few goals I want to accomplish for the year, both bookish and personal. 

In terms of my blogging goals I want to try and write some more discussion posts. I have plenty of ideas but finding the time to write them up escaped me. I also want to up my blog-hopping game. I’ve not been doing the best job at commenting as of late and I want to improve on that. 

I’ve not set a reading target on Goodreads yet because I’ve started the new year in a terrible slump. I’m doubtful that I’ll be able to read another 40 books this year but we’ll see how things go. 

Personally, I have quite a few ideas on what I want to do. To start, I want to do more traveling. My New Zealand experience was incredible and I loved the freedom I felt when I was out there. My destination for 2017/early 2018 is Canada, I just need to save up and do some planning. 

I also want to take more chances. I’m the type of person that always thinks about the concerns of others before my own and it’s exhausting. More than that I’ve found that I’ve let those thoughts hold me back. I’m tired of having to justify my actions or apologize for being a 22 year old who’s just trying to be her own person. It won’t be easy to shut off that part of me that worries about the feelings of others before my own but I am putting my foot down this year and I am going to do the things I want to do, challenge myself and explore. Is that a terrifying thought, yes, but so was taking that leap and doing a month long stint in New Zealand and that ended up being the highlight of my year. The things that scare us are usually the most rewarding journeys and I don’t want to let my fears stop me from doing things I’ll ultimately benefit from. 

I hope you all had a very Happy New Year and that 2017 is a kick ass year for all of you. 😀

December was a reading low for me but a joyful one regardless.
What was your highlight of 2016? Have you made any resolutions for 2017?