Dec. Month in Review/Jan. Preview

I haven't changed my banner over yet, but "Week in Review" is changing to "Month in Review/Month in Preview.

I'm doing away with the book loot/IMM/Stacking the Shelves component of it while revamping everything.

I've never enjoyed doing book loot posts, hated them really.  I only participated because I understood why it was beneficial to the publishers for me to spotlight books that I bought/borrowed from the library/received as ARCs that I may or may not have time to read.  It's still publicity.  

But I hate the way some bloggers are so extreme.  I've seen people get crazy jealous, or wonder why one blogger got something and s/he didn't.  There's a huge sense of entitlement.  "I have more followers/I've been around longer/Why not ME?"  ARCS cost money, even online, and the publishers ARE allowed to be choosy.  Maybe a smaller blog with less followers is more deserving because better reviews are being written there than on your own blog, or maybe the blogger can promote the books in ways you can't and has worked something out with the publisher. Etc, etc. 

So in 2013, I'm finally doing away with this hated feature.  I still love the idea of a wrap-up post, but it can be very time consuming to do every week.  I'd rather do it the first Sunday of each month and wrap up a month at once.

I also plan to feature ARCs I receive alongside books I hear about or cover reveals in book spotlighting posts, but it will be a mix of stuff, so it won't focus on ARCs and possession!  I'll also link to them once a month if I'm planning to read them that month!

I would love it if you leave me a comment with your thoughts on these changes?  Does this feel like a good idea to you?   What about the Spotlight? Should I get rid of the wrap-up all together because you don't read that part anyway?  Will you miss the book loot too much?

I'm really hoping for some feedback from you this week! ^_^


And, finally....December was lame.  Between work, holiday prep, and getting sick, I didn't blog much.  This whole year in general was spotty for me because there was so much upheaval in my life.

Here's to a better, more productive 2013!

ONGOING GIVEAWAYS:

*Sourcebooks Offering Free Ebook from Anna Staniszewski 's My Very UnFairy Tale Life Series!! 
{No entry required! Download FREE now!}
*Freebies from Marissa Meyer and Jessica Day George
{No entry required! Download FREE now!  One of the Meyer options is no longer available, but the other is!}

Check out the following January Blog Tour Schedule for more giveaways!

 JANUARY BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

*THE CADET OF TILDOR by Alex Lidell {1/9 review}
*RELEASE by M.R. Merrick {1/17 review & guest post}
*SCARLET by Marissa Meyer {1/27 and 1/28 review & guest post}
*NOBODY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes {TBA}

READING NOW:
{All links to Goodreads!}

*THE CADET OF TILDOR by Alex Lidell {YA}
{Upcoming blog tour stop! Stop back on Wednesday to see my review!}
*HANA by Lauren Oliver {novella}
*RELEASE by M.R. Merrick
{Upcoming blog tour stop! Stop back next week to see my review!}

PLANNING TO READ IN JANUARY:
{Some of this will realistically be read in Feb...}

Definitely everything on the left.  The right is indulgence if I'm ahead because
I need to read what's coming out soonest first.  But oh, the wants!
ASUNDER, PIVOT POINT, NOBODY, PROPHECY, THE ESSENCE, THE DARKEST MINDS, THE TRAGEDY PAPER, INK, APOLLYON, DARK TRIUMPH, and UNREMEMBERED are YA. 
THE PROMISE OF STARDUST, THE WAXING MOON, THE WOODCUTTER, and COLLATERAL are adult fiction.
THE 13th SIGN, SELLING HOPE, and THE SCHOOL OF GOOD AND EVIL are MG.

{not pictured above}

*SCARLET by Marissa Meyer {YA}
*REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver {YA}
*BOUNDLESS by Cynthia Hand {YA}
*SPLINTERED by A.G. Howard {YA}
*ALTERED by Jennifer Rush {YA}
*LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans {YA}
*THE ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab {YA}
*THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult {adult fiction}
*POISON by Bridget Zinn {YA}
*RELEASE by M.R. Merrick

[link to my GoodReads account so you can see my blurb feed as I read]

READ IN DECEMBER:
{All links to Goodreads!}

*DARKER STILL by Leanna Renee Hieber {YA}
*RADIANT by Cynthia Hand {YA novella}
*THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART by Leanna Renee Hieber {YA}
*PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS by Jessica Day George {YA}
*EVERY DAY by David Levithan {YA}
*THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green {YA}
*GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn {adult fiction}
*ONE BREATH AWAY by Heather Gudenkauf {adult fiction}
*IRISES by Francisco X. Stork {YA}
*CURVEBALL: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick {YA}
*SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington {YA}
*AMONG THE NAMELESS STARS by Diana Peterfreund {YA novella}
*AFTER THE BALL by Sarah Cross {YA novella}

REVIEWED IN DECEMBER:
{All links to my review!}

*INSURGENT by Veronica Roth {flash review}
*HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand {flash review}
*PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver {flash review}
*FEVER by Lauren DeStefano {flash review}
*SPELL BOUND by Rachel Hawkins {flash review}
*DARKER STILL by Leanna Renee Hieber
*THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART by Leanna Renee Hieber
*RADIANT by Cynthia Hand {flash review}
*PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS by Jessica Day George
*GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
*SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington

FEATURES IN DECEMBER:

*{Excerpt} STARFLOWER by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
*{The Scribbler} NaNoWriMo and the Thrill of a New Idea
*{Interview/Giveaway} Author Michelle Madow on Cover Design
*Sourcebooks Offering Free Ebook from Anna Staniszewski 's My Very UnFairy Tale Life Series!!
*{The Scribbler} Perfect Gift for Aspiring Young Writers
*Real Mermaids Love The Holidays Tour: Making Peanut Butter Cup S’mores
*Freebies from Marissa Meyer and Jessica Day George
*End of Year Book Survey -- 2012