Blogging & News
Blog and Self-Hosted: So this past month, I haven’t been able to read or be as social as I would like to be. With the recent transfer, I am still working on getting everything polished on here. But hopefully, I just have another week or two and then I am done, and I can focus on other things that I love. I did have troubles with Bloglovin at the beginning of the month, but eventually I got it worked out. I have been making some changes. Adding some new features that I hope y’all enjoy!! Loving the new plugins from Nosegraze and boy do I love the UBB!! Makes writing reviews so much easier. I am loving being on a self hosted site though. I have noticed it requires more maintenance, but since I spend so much time working on blogging…it is worth it! This is my passion and I LOVE it!!
HISTROM101—I have been waiting for months to participate in our twitter chat. I am hoping we do this every few months because it was a blast discussing my favorite genre of books to read. There was a good group of us, talking romance, history, characters, plots, fun story lines and so much more!! We are having another one in October which should be awesome. So if any of you enjoy historical romance and need some good recommendation…come on over and join!! If you want to see what you missed out on just head on over to twitter #HistRom101
New Features Added:Â
- At A Glance–Monthly Recaps
- Tea & Biscuits Book Discussion–I have been wanting to post a weekly book discussion and now I have done it…looking forward to future topics. Should be fun sharing my own thoughts and hearing from my readers what they think too!!
- Grab It–Will be posted every Tuesday and this is where I will post all the Tuesday Book Releases.
Books Read & Book Reviews
Close To Heart–My ReviewÂ
Chaos–My Review
Archangel’s Consort–My Review
Dare To Rock=-My Review
With Every Heartbeat–My Review
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews–This is a series I am loving…love Kate and Curran! One of the best couples to read. It is quite entertaining to seeing them trying to balance everything out in their relationship. Both have Alpha type personalities, so it tends to cause some issues and drama but boy I am soaking it all in.
Wolf Trouble–My Review
Bear Naked–My Review
A Radical Arrangement–My Review
Dirty Thoughts–My Review
Bad Wolf by Jennifer Ashley–a fun and unique novella from this series. It was a bit different but I loved it. We get to see more from previous plot questions that weren’t answered in other books. We see more from TIGER or Tigger…as some of the cubs like to call him. Can I just say he is my favorite character, and I love how frank he is and so sincere about everything he does. He says it how it is, and doesn’t care if you agree or not. Do you like Tiger like I do?
Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley–I am really loving the series so far. Ashley knows how to write her MC romances right? Excited for the third book now.
Magic Bleeds by Illona Andrews–this is where it really gets good between Curran and Kate, the earlier books have been slowly building up to this point and it doesn’t disappoint. But oh the drama…it is never as simple as kiss and make up with these two!! LOL
Hot For Fireman–My Review
The Warlord’s Wife–My Review
Archangel’s Kiss–My Review
Put Up Your Duke–My Review
I Want You To Want Me–My Review
You Really Got Me–My Review
All The Ways To Ruin A Rogue–My Review
The Art of Sinning–My Review
A Sword For His Lady–My Review
Black Silk by Judith Ivory–I had a hard time reading this one, I think I just wasn’t in the mood for a story like this. I do plan on returning back to it though.
Earth Bound--My Review
Do Not Forsake Me–My Review
Outlaw Hearts–My Review
When A Beta Roars by Eve Langlais–This series has been so much fun and I am loving the humor and lions are so lively.
How To Marry A Royal Highlander–My Review
SEAL Wolf Hunting–My Review
Hunter’s Moon–My Review
The Lord of Vengeance–My Review
Bengal’s Quest–My Review
White Knight by Kelly Meade–a wonderful shifter trilogy, that is one of my favorites now!! Great emotion, fabulous characters and just grabs at the reader. Loved every moment. Hoping Meade writes more.
Blog Tours
Close To Heart
Chaos
Put Up Your Duke
How To Marry A Royal Highlander
Reading Challenges
Goodreads 232/400 books read this year. 58% Done
Historical Romance Reading Challenge: 82/100
New To You Reading Challenge: 75/100
TBR Aged Pile: Take A Bite Reading Challenge: 8/20
Book Favorites Of The Month
The Warlord’s Wife by Sandra Lake
You Really Got Me by Erika Kelly
Wolf Trouble by Paige Tyler
A Sword For His Lady by Mary Wine
Outlaw Hearts and Do Not Forsake Me by Rosanne Bittner
I love what you are doing to your site, the new feature posts, and its fun to see your month all in one. I shared several of the same favorites with you. 🙂
Thanks Sophia!! Its been a adventure, but been fun too!! But I am looking forward to getting back to my regular routine. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
I switched from blogger to WP and went self hosted a few months ago. Love it also. Did you have Nose Graze do the transfer? Did she help with the design also? I had her do my transfer but am still fiddling around with design. Yours is very classy and original. I really like the damask background. I’d appreciate your input.
I actually didn’t have her do the transfer. I did it myself, I only discovered Nose Graze after I transferred over. I just used the Tweak Me theme (which is pretty customizable and I have noticed that other bloggers who use this theme their design looks pretty classy but different too!!) 🙂 and did my own design through Canvas.
WOW! Now I’m really impressed with your tech abilities.
Congrats on the move,Renee. I love the UBB as well, it’s like I can’t even remember how much work it was to write a review before 😀
You’ve been very busy with your challenges, and on track for all of them, too!
Have a great weekend and happy reading.
Thanks Lexxie. My challenges are keeping me busy. I am pretty glad over the move and I just love Nosegraze..makes things so much easier.
I am glad to hear you figured out your way with self hosting. I agree it’s a bit more work and maintenance, but there’s also more options. And it’s nice owning your own site completely.
I really should go and follow that historical romance hashtag, I can always use some good recommendations in that genre as I am still so new to this genre.
Those new features all sounds fun, I don’t think I read any of your discussion posts yet, will have to see if I can find the latest one. I hope August is a great month for you!
Yeah it took some time, but it was worth it. I like not having to worry about google or wordpress doing something to my site. Go and follow that hashtag…this month we talked about different genres of historical romance and lots of new recommendations, if you want something more than regency.
Woo look at all those reviews! That’s amazing, Renee! I loved 3 of your favorites– Wolf Trouble, Do Not Forsake Me and You Really Got Me. I need to read that first book still in that series. Glad to see it on your list 🙂
Yay for the new features. Hope you have a good time with them!
yeah it wasn’t too bad of a month!! LOL I just love Erika Kelly…I can’t wait for the next book to come out and the same goes for Bittner’s book too!!
You had a busy July! It took me a while to get used to switching to self hosted but it is worth it. I’m with you on how the blog is your passion and now we both have total control over it. Ashley is amazing and all her products make blogging so much easier. Your blog looks great!
I can’t wait to read your Tea & Biscuits Book Discussion. Have a great week!
Congrats on your UBB upgrade! How exciting 🙂 You got a ton accomplished in July! You must be so proud of yourself!!!
Lindy@ A Bookish Escape