It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since I set up Books of My Heart and spent two months dual posting here and to The Book Nympho. For those who don’t know, I spent a year blogging at Yummy Men & KickAss Chicks with the amazing Julie, followed by 3 years blogging at The Book Nympho with the awesome Jennifer (and Jonetta). These women were so kind to me and taught me about all kinds of things. I appreciate them so much.
There are many to thank and I won’t remember everyone, sadly. There’s Ashley at Nose Graze, Felicia at the Geeky Blogger, Michelle at Because Reading and Limabean Designs, and Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer to name just a few people.
I’m not sure what I expected but I quickly came to see it would be a long and slow process to build readers. Here are some current stats:
Blog email subscribers: 75
(this does not include subscribers through WordPress; I don’t know how to find that number)
Facebook followers: 102
Goodreads friends / followers: 200/63
Twitter followers: Northwomn – 775 BooksofMyHeart- 146
Total comments on the blog: 3,997 Total page views: 16, 898
Total unique visitors: 5,022
Netgalley: Total feedback sent: 216 Feedback ratio: 96%
Here’s our usual schedule, in case anyone besides me, wants to know. Occasionally , we have to juggle things for a blog tour or scheduling issues.
Monday: Robin’s reviews
Tuesday: Anne’s reviews
Wednesday: Melanie’s reviews
Thursday: Anne’s Reviews, Thrifty Thursday
Friday: KC’s reviews, ICYMI posts, Friends on Friday, Read-along posts, Anne’s reviews
Saturday: Series on Saturday, Anne’s extra audio reviews, Anne’s library or purchased book reviews
Sunday: Sunday post, Challenge update posts, Anne’s library or purchased book reviews
Thrifty Thursday, Friends on Friday and Series on Saturday are memes we originated. The Read-along is an annual event where we read a series together, post reviews, have giveaways, discussions and games.
I have been debating the 2019 Read-along series for an entire year. I want to choose a series I personally haven’t read so my questions are fresh. I also want it to be a series you will read with me. I only plan to do about one book a month so there is plenty of time to participate. So I’m looking for a series with 8- 13 primary works. Here is what I have found, please add your ideas, as perhaps I am forgetting something.
Please note I have already read Riley Jensen, Kitty Norville, Jane Yellowrock, Sookie Stackhouse, Charley Davidson, The Night Huntress, Mercy Thompson, Harry Dresden, Harry Potter, and The Others. I have hosted Read-alongs for the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, and The Hollows by Kim Harrison.
I am so grateful for the amazing team I have here with me. Melanie, Robin and KC – I love being on this journey with you. Thank you for all your work and help. I hope you are having some fun, too!
Now for the Giveaways:
The first prize is for a $10 Amazon Gift Card. This is open to anyone 18 or older who can receive one by email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The next prize is a bit of an odd thing. I ordered a Kindle Paperwhite for myself last fall when my really old Kindle Fire stopped charging overnight. Since I only read and look at Goodreads I thought it would be perfect. It is lighter and easier to read the screen. But … I don’t like it. I ordered myself a new model Kindle Fire and it has sat for almost a year. So I am giving it away. It is used, but not much, I will deregister it from my account so whoever wins it can set it up for themselves. If you are not interested, don’t enter this giveaway. US only.
The last prize is a Mystery box of ARCs, books, and swag. Please be sure to enter the information on genres you prefer so I can send things you will enjoy! US only.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Sunday Post – 23 March 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com@readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - March 23, 2025
- 🎧 Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben @harlancoben.bsky.social @justjanuary.bsky.social #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks @HarlanCoben @justjanuary - March 22, 2025
- Read-along & #Giveaway:Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @reneeraudman@acebookspub.bsky.social @tantoraudio.bsky.social @angelsbooknook17.bsky.social @natalienaudus.bsky.social @nyliterary.bsky.social #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks @ilonaandrews @AceBooksPub @AudibleStudios @natalienaudus @TantorAudio@nyliterary - March 21, 2025
I like to read about reviews, and sales.
We do reviews pretty much 6-7 days a week here. I try to do only one post a day unless they are related like the first four books in the series I did yesterday or the HoHoHoRAT freebies I read.
The sales and cover reveals and other cool book cartoons and memes are on the facebook page. There I post whatever comes up on a particular day as far as sales or cute things.
I love my Kindle Paperwhite, although, im curious about the new model that has the audible feature!
I’m happy you love it. I just couldn’t get the hang of the screen and menus. I’m apparently too attached to the way my Kindle Fire worked. I figured it was better to give it away than let it sit on the shelf unused any longer.
Congrats on your blogiversary! I like your Thrifty Thursday idea!
Thank you! I had to do something! Otherwise I wouldn’t even get to 1 a month. There is always so much I want to read. You are welcome to read one freebie a month and link up your review to my post. I’d be happy to have you.
Happy Blogaversary!
Thank you! I really appreciate what a great reader and supporter you have been. You don’t know how grateful I am to see you on Goodreads and Twitter and now here.
“What kind of posts do you like to read?” Posts about interesting fantasy / sci-fi books!
Well sci-fi and fantasy are big favorites of the team here. Altho we also like urban fantasy, paranormal romance and plain old romance or mystery. We do almost totally reviews here. The Sunday posts are my more personal ones. And occasionally a discussion post, usually about audiobooks or Goodreads. Thanks for visiting.
Happy blogoversary!
Thank you! I appreciate you visiting!
Congratulations on your anniversary! It’s hard to believe it’s been a year. You’ve created a wonderful space here and I love visiting daily.
I don’t have a particular type of post I prefer as I tend to enjoy your content overall. I’m not a fan of cover reveals unless they’re extraordinary and recaps of what you’ve already posted lose my interest, especially if I’m visiting daily.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks Jonetta – it means a lot from you! I don’t do cover reveals here (only once in a while on facebook) and the only recap is this month’s reviews on the sidebar so I’m avoiding those posts which don’t interest you!
I like concise reviews of movies, and books. Also neat things here and there.
Most of my reviews are not overly wordy. We don’t really review movies here; I don’t even go to them much. Thanks for stopping by.
Congratulations on your blogaversary! It’s always exciting to have one of those. I like review posts and then fun posts on book series or tell us more about a book. ^_^
Thank you! I appreciate all the support, tweets and comments you’ve given me. We stick mostly to reviews. A few different memes or challenges but mostly reviews. Any of the other stuff I post to facebook like freebies, the infrequent cover reveal, or book funnies.
Happy blogoversary!! Seems like you’ve managed to build your blog up quite nicely. Here’s wishing you many more years of blogging!
For the giveaway, I was supposed to say what kind of posts I like to read—discussions are my favorite, but I like all types of posts. 🙂
Thank you! We don’t do too many discussion posts but that is a part of the Read-alongs. I appreciate your visiting and your comments.
Congrats on your blogiversary! This is a wonderful post and a terrific celebration of your accomplishments! I love when I see a post of yours pop up in my feed! ♥️
Thank you! I enjoy your posts as well because they are out of my usual box and I like that. I’ve said many times I don’t read x genre and then I do. I seem to like to read all kinds of things.
Happy Blogaversary, Anne. I have such fun visiting your posts each day. And I’m looking forward to many more!
Thank you Laura! I appreciate your posts even with ones in a different genres as they help expand my perspectives.
Happy Blogoversary, Anne! Here’s to many years to come – and while the numbers might feel slow, you’re doing great! <3
Than you! I appreciate all your comments, tweets and other support.
Congrats on one year blogiversary! Can’t wait to read upcoming reviews and posts Anne! ❤️❤️
Thank you Dani! I’m glad if you find things interesting to you.
Happy Birthday !!!
Thank you!
Happy blogaversary! I enjoy book reviews, especially mysteries and fiction.
Well book reviews are 90% or more of what we post. Have you tired the Cor O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger? It’s my new mystery favorite. Or The Max Rupert series by Allen Eskens? They are both series I have found and loved this year. I’m still working my way through Cork because there are like 14 books. Thanks for commenting and coming to visit my blog.
Happy blogaversary! You are doing great!
I enjoy reading both reviews and discussion posts. (And Sunday Posts, because it’s a chance to get to know the blogger a little.
As for reading a series with you, the only one you listed that I have on my TBR list is the October Daye series. I’m not sure I’m ready to commit to buddy-reading a whole series, but that one does intrigue me. I was trying to think of other series to recommend, but either they have fewer books, or too many. Although… Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series might work. And if you’re willing to drop down to 5 books, Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamourist Histories are good (I’ve only read the first one, but everything else she has written is very good, so I’m assuming these are of similar quality.)
Thank you!
Thanks for the series info. I hope it won’t be too bad reading a book every 4 weeks to a month. I actually thought about the Kevin Hearne series but I thought it might be too heavy for some readers. That is one I want to listen to.
CONGRATS!! I can’t believe it’s been a year already. Wow, time flies so quickly! I love visiting your blog and reading your thoughts and the reviews.
I would love a listen along series, if you pick one! I look forward to seeing what wins.
Thanks Jen! I appreciate it so much.
Any of the series can be reading or listening if they have an audio version. This year we did Kate Daniels and several of us reviewed the audio version. I think all of the series except 12 Kingdoms have audio. In fact, if the chosen series is Pride or Alex Verus I am definitely doing their audio versions.
WOW it’s been a year already?! Time flies. Glad we got to work together for a few years and actually got to meet in person. Hoping we get to see other again!
Thanks for everything Jennifer. I do hope we get to see each other again. I’m going to try to make a spreadsheet of book cons/ comic cons so I can decide which ones make sense and go to 2 or so a year. I’m signed up for Book bonanza in August 2019. I’d love to go back to DragonCon or go to Emerald City Comic Con. Are there any you would love to do?
Happy Blogaversary! Time does fly. Your first-year stats are great. I am looking forward to many more 🙂
Thanks Carole. I try to do posts I would enjoy, so hopefully others would also enjoy them. It is almost all reviews with any news, meme cartoons, freebies and cover reveals on facebook / twitter.
I love to read book reviews. Thank you for the giveaway! 🙂
Well book reviews are 90% of what happens here so you should be fine. Thanks for reading!
I love reading book reviews; thanks for the giveaway and Happy Blogoversary! 🙂
I hope you’ll enjoy reading the reviews from us. Thanks for visiting!
I always enjoy the reviews and finding new books that interest me, and especially freebies! Happy blogaversary and thank you for all that you do!
I started reading blogs to find new books. Now I find too many I want to read. Thanks for visiting!