[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

And which one out of that list would you say was the best read of the year?

I'd probably give the edge to Shalvis' The Trouble with Mistletoe because even though technically part of a series, it works well as a stand-alone. Whereas Allegiance of Honor you really need to have read the previous books in the Psy/Chageling series. But I've reread Allegiance of Honor twice already, so...

This is why I can never pick just one favorite. It depends on my mood and what criteria I'm judging by.

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't go by what I rated it but how well I liked it and how much I want others to read it.

I tend to assign the number of stars by my immediate/how-much-I-am-enjoying-it-while-actually-reading reaction. Then plot/character issues determine the letter grade within the star rating.

Spoiler:

• 5 stars = A- or A range = A real favorite! Can still have flaws, but a book where I really love the characters and the story (at least for the most part). I don’t differentiate between A and A+.
• 4 stars = B or B+ range = A very enjoyable read that just misses being five stars for various reasons, but overall I really like the h/h and/or plot. Or a book I like a lot that is missing the elusive something that would make it a 5 star. A number of 4 star books could still qualify as a favorite, but I often hold my auto-buy authors to a higher standard. Or an above average book where the plot is somewhat lackluster but I really like the couple.
• 3 stars = C+ or B- range = An average or slightly above average read where I liked the characters but the book had plot flaws or where I really love the hero and not the heroine or vice versa but the plot was fairly good. Or an uneven read, but with more good than bad.
• 2 stars = D+ or C- or C range = Often still an average or slightly below average book, just with more flaws than a 3 star. I may have disliked major parts of the plot or really disliked either the h/h or both or they did a lot of TSTL stuff. Or an uneven read with likeable parts, but where the plot or characters make it more disappointing than not. Or a below average book which has enough redeeming qualities that keep it from being a 1 star.
• 1 star = F or D- or D range = A book in which I really didn’t like the characters plus poorly plotted or even where it had a promising start and likeable characters, but the author totally blew it. For the most part I will only keep 1 star book by my absolute favorite authors and/or if they are part of a series.

But I also tend to rate my autobuy favorite authors "tougher" than a new-to-me author. Each author is basically rated against other books by that particular author. So while I may rate a JD Robb book as a 2 star, it may be a better book than a 3 star by an author I hadn't read before.

How much we like a book/rate it is always subjective. How much do I like the author's other books? Am I coming out of a reading slump? Do I like the characters enough to overlook plot issues or are plot issues continually yanking me out of the story? I don't tend to grade on an author's writing style as their voice is either working for a book or it's not.