I want to thank everyone who has worked with me and supported me and read the blog as we now reach 6 years. I am so grateful for all the support and connection with the amazing blog community.
I appreciate my team which writes reviews, retweets posts, joins me on Read-alongs, and helps with memes like Series on Saturday and Top 10. That’s just to name a few things. It’s a pleasure to have such good friends to join me in this blogging community. Thanks so very much to Robin, Melanie, KC and Sophia!
A little bit about Books of My Heart:
Even though we have been 6 years, I was able to bring over all my posts from my 3 years reviewing at The Book Nympho and have republished the ones from my year at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks. So I have 10 years of reviews. I do this as a hobby; I don’t make money on anything. I spend my own money on prizes or get things donated by publishers or authors.
Books of My Heart is the co-sponsor of the Library Love Challenge. I’m a big fan and avid user of the library so I am thrilled to be involved. This feature has its own tab on the top menu bar. Most of the work is by Angela at Angel’s Book Nook.
Thrifty Thursday is a new challenge in 2023 to encourage us all to read those freebies we love to click, gifts or giveaway wins. I do a monthly post where I share some reviews of freebies. Participants in the challenge can also link up their reviews and get more entries towards prizes. Learn more about Thrifty Thursday HERE.
There are several other features, under the Feature tab on the top menu bar, which I am proud to have developed.
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- Thrifty Thursday – where I review Kindle or Audio freebies. I started this all the way back at Yummy Men & Kickass Chicks.
- Friends on Friday – where I will be inviting blogger friends to contribute and link up reviews with their blogs (because friends is a big reason why I blog). We did this more in the early years but not as much lately, although I still like the concept.
- Series on Saturday – This one is so much fun. We discuss monthly the best in a genre or theme. There is a vote for favorite series and you can share ones I didn’t choose in your comments.
- Sunday Series Satisfaction– My new Meme to encourage myself to finish series or read series I have always wanted to read.
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- Top 10 – This is a meme I took on since others stopped doing it. The lists run Christmas week in December. They include: Top 10 Books, Top 10 Audiobooks, Top 10 Characters, Top 10 Book Covers, Top 10 Books I Want Next Year and Top 10 your choice. We share our lists for the year and let you link up your lists (one or all). It’s really fun to see everyone’s lists!
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Read-along – This is another one of my favorite things! Each year I pick a series where we read about one book a month. We have discussions, games and prizes. Each month there is a prize and there is a grand prize. Usually the publishers donate something and I buy the rest of the prizes. I alternate between series I have read and series I have NOT read. I also did The Hollows by Kim Harrison in 2014 when I was at Yummy Men & Kickass Chicks and it was new to me.
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- 2018 – Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews (re-read)
- 2019 – Alex Verus by Benedict Jacka (new to me)
- 2020 – Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs (re-read)
- 2021 – Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh (new to me)
- 2022 – Night Huntress world by Jeaniene Frost (half re-read, half new to me)
- 2023 – Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne (new to me)
- 2024 – White Trash Zombies by Diana Rowland (new to me)
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Some of us participate in Challenges. I always do COYER, but have also joined in the New Release Challenge, Beat the Backlist Challenge, the Audiobook Challenge. and of course, the Library Love Challenge.
Mostly on the blog we do reviews, features and occasionally discussions. Cover reveals, spotlights and daily deals are posted on the Facebook page and to Instagram, Mastodon, and sometimes Twitter.
So I hope you will like us on the Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram, Mastodon, Twitter and Goodreads, and subscribe to our blog. There are options on the right sidebar to subscribe by email to all posts or a weekly digest, or to follow through Bloglovin or Feedly.
History of how I ended up with Books of My Heart:
The first blog I subscribed to was Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks. I mean, seriously, that’s what I want to read. Somehow, I realized it was published by a Canadian and when I was riding my Harley up there for an event, I asked Julie if she lived nearby. It turned out she was right on my route, only 50Km from where I was staying, so I could meet her for dinner. She invited me to review on her blog, which I did for the next year until she closed. She taught me a lot and was a joy to have in my daily life.
A week later, somehow, Jennifer, invited me to review at The Book Nympho. I was there for three years. Jennifer and Jonetta were amazing. Jennifer was kind enough to let me dabble in pretty much any genre. I am so grateful for all her help and support. I have learned and admired much from her. Jennifer closed The Book Nympho at the end of 2017. Jonetta has her own new bog, The Blue Mood Cafe.
So I started my own book blog. I am challenged by graphics and know little about WordPress, so there are some bobbles here. Michelle at Limabean Designs is handling my graphics as she is a professional. Ashley at NoseGraze has helped me through my additional learning about Ultimate Book Blogger and WordPress.
Giveaway:
I am going to choose multiple winners and you will have your choice of items remaining on the list. Each winner can only win once. To keep this open to Intl readers, I will offer them up to a $15 book at Better World Books. US readers will choose from the list below. You need to be willing to provide your address for some prizes to be sent to you.
Prize list:
Up to $15 book from Better World Books (Intl only)- One Audible audiobook (I’ll gift to you with a credit)
- $5 Amazon gift card
- MP3CD – Secrets in Death by JD Robb, narrated by Susan Erickson
- MP3CD – Harlan Coben: Just One Look and The Woods
- CDs – Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
- CDs – Heart of Evil by Heather Graham, narrated by Luke Daniels
- MP3 CD set – 4 abridged audios by Heather Graham, narrated by Luke Daniels
- New Hardcover – Phantom Game by Christine Feehan
- New Hardcover – Sweetwater & the Witch by Jayne Ann Krentz
New paperback – Back to Your Love by Kianna Alexander- New paperback – A Small Town Bride by Hope Ramsey
- New paperback – The Second Christmas by Marta Perry
- New Paperback – Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
- New paperback – The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews
- New paperback – Ricochet by Krista & Becca Ritchie
- New paperback – Deep Tide by Laura Griffin
- New paperback – Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca
- New paperback – The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Verant
- New paperback – Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot
- New paperback – The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton
- New paperback – Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
- New paperback – Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
- New paperback – Lovelight Farms by BK Borison
- New paperback – Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
- New paperback – Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
- New paperback – The Fenmere Job by Marshall Ryan Maresca
- Used paperback – Under Fire by Scarlett Cole (read once)
New ARC – Winter’s End by Paige Shelton- New ARC – Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong
- New ARC – Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg
- New ARC – Ignite on Contact by Jaci Burton
- New ARC – It’s in His Kiss
- New ARC – The Wolf’s Call by Anthony Ryan
- New ARC – The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
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.
- Read-along & #Giveaway: Shine by Dannika Dark @DannikaDark#NicolePoole @TantorAudio #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks @kimbacaffeinate - November 15, 2024
- First Light by Elizabeth Hunter @EHunterWrites#KindleUnlimited - November 14, 2024
- 🎧Toto by AJ Hackwith @ajhackwith @Andreonthemic @AceBooksPub @BerkleyPub @PRHAudio #LoveAudiobooks - November 12, 2024
Happy Blogoversary, Anne! I enjoy all your features and your posts! I’ve really enjoyed our chats lately! We really do have similar tastes in books and have a lot of the same opinions on what we’re reading. It’s been a pleasure finding and connecting with you! What a wonderful mega giveaway!
I’ll come back and read your Sunday Post later. As I type this it’s 1am and I need to get to bed!
Thank you Rachel. I am thrilled to have found and connected with you also. From my photos you can understand I am bad at graphics and why I don’t pose those lovelies on Instagram. lol
Happy blogoversary, Anne! You’ve definitely had a journey, and I hope to see you here for many years to come😁
Thank you Tammy. While I don’t always read exactly the same books, that is why I read your blog to expand that area in my reading with more options.
Happy Blogoversary!!! Enjoy reading your blog.
To answer the form question I am thankful for my family and we are healthy.
Thank you for reading Elaine.
Happy blogoversary! It’s always so exciting to celebrate! I love all your co-bloggers. I think about that sometimes, but I’m just too much of a control freak and don’t know if I could give up that much, lol. I also love Michelle at LimaBean Designs which you recommended and now she makes great graphics for my blog. And Ashley at NoseGraze is a lifesaver as well! Here’s to at least 6 (10) more years!
Thank you Lisa! It’s easy to work with these co-bloggers. It’s also great they’ve been with me the whole time.
Cheers and virtual confetti for celebrating one more wonderful year of Books of My Heart. I’m so glad to be part of your team, Anne, and the fun challenges and posts. 🙂 Wishing you many more years.
Thank you Sophia! I couldn’t do it without you. I appreciate your help and support.
Congrats Anne!
Thank you Kimberly!
Congratulations on six years, I am thankful for life, my job and my family.
Thank you Nadene. Those are all wonderful things .
Congratulations, Anne💜 You’re amazing!
Thank you Jonetta. I learned so much from you.
Congratulations on 6 years! I am so glad that we have become friends through blogging. Here’s to many more years of chatting books.
Thank you Carole. I am so happy to have come to know you through blogging. The friends are the best part, book friends. I’m lucky enough to have met many in person before the whole Covid thing.
Congrats on six years of blogging!!!!!!!!
Thank you Melissa. It’s really flown by.
Happy blogoversary Anne! I am thankful for my family, friends, work and health.
Thank you for reading. You have much to be thankful.
Congratulations on your blogoversary! I’m thankful for my family and friends.
Thank you Janie. I’m, thankful to have readers like you.
Congrats on your blogoversary! I am thankful everyday for my family and friends and their health!
Thank you Maria. I’m so glad you are a reader.
Congratulations on your blogoversary! May you have many more. Thanks for sharing how you got started & the cool features you created. Happy Reading!!
Thank you Angela. I tend to share stuff every year like that because I have new readers and bloggers who are recent connections. Plus it shows my variety of interests.
Happy 6 year Blogoversary!!! I’m thankful for your blog and all the awesome posts you post! Wishing you 6 more years!!!
Thank you Elizabeth. I appreciate having you as a reader of my blog.
Happy Blogoversary! I’m thankful work allowed me to work 100% remote so I could move out of state. Would have hated to job hunt at my age and never would have matched the salary and benefits after 22 years.
Thanks Anne. I am so glad you are a reader and active participant on the blog.
Congrats! Another year down!
Thank you! It’s been fun and we keep trying to improve.
Congrats! I’m thankful to have found so many great bloggers to visit and read their posts.
Thank you Mary. It’s an amazing community. I wish I could do better at getting around to everyone.
Happy anniversary!!
Thank you!
That is awesome! Happy blogoversary! I certainly enjoy visiting your blog.
Thank you ! I appreciate your reading and participating.
Congratulations, Anne! You’ve done so much for the blogging world over the past decade. You are one of my go-tos for recommendations, thoughts, and ideas. Thanks for keeping us all going!
Thank you Jen. That means so much from you. I look to you on many things.
YAY! Happy blogoversary! 🙂 I am thankful for my family 🙂
Thank you Megan!
Congrats on 6 (but really more) years!!
Thank you! I’m now into the dole out prizes phase which is also fun.