This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.
Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
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I’m back. Those of you who follow my blog probably noticed that WordPress shut me down. I was guilty of violating their Terms Of Service. I admit, I was. But still not too sure what all I did wrong. They don’t go into detail, so I suspect it’s like a form letter they send out when they shut you down.
So, now I’m self-hosted and free to do as I please, at some cost.It was worth it to be able to transfer all of my content. I was horrified when I was shut down. All those lovely posts and reviews, gone! But, I have them back and now I’m looking forward to sharing more with ya’ll. Still trying to figure out how to change to Leave a reply thingie at the bottom. Is it odd for you to comment and does anyone know how I can personalize it? I’ve searched everywhere in my dashboard and can’t find a way to change it.
Last Sunday Post I mentioned rearranging my living room and now having no place for my Christmas tree. I took Katherine’s and Trisha’s advice and moved some things into the guest room and now have the perfect spot! But first, I had to get the new bed for my sons room out of there, so I finally finished his room and everything looks good.
I had a huge dilemma at the grocery store. They were out of my favorite tea, Twinings Irish Breakfast and also the English Breakfast Tea I fall back on. So, I bought some Earl Gray and it tastes odd. There’s a lingering aftertaste, spicy and heavy that I can’t figure out. Not liking it much but since I spent the money on it, I’ll probably drink it.
My oldest brother and my mother came down from Michigan last week and they brought that winter vortex with them. We had some frigid days here on the Gulf Coast and it brought back memories of the ice age we experienced last year. LOL Now it’s blustery and cloudy and humid as hell. Around the 70’s and sticky! Funny how quickly the weather shifts near the water.
I hope you all had a great week and lets get to some of what I’ve been doing book wise. Not as much as I couldn’t post, but I did a lot of reading.
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Here are my new books for review.
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New ones just for me!
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And here are some freebies for ya!
Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.
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Books I reviewed this week.
Click on the covers for my reviews.
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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.
I have a few more, just not sure which ones I’ll post about this week. And working on some others.
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What I won this past couple of weeks.
I won a print copy from the giveaway on Beckie’s blog Bittersweet Enchantment
Thanks so much Beckie and thank you Barbara Holstein
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I won a print copy of this book from a giveaway on Shellie’s blog Layers of Thought
Thanks so much Shellie and thank you Washington Irving.
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I won a print copy of this book from a giveaway on Erin’s blog Jump Into Books
Thanks so much Erin and thank you Kerry Smith
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Other Posts this week. Not too many as I’ve just started up my new blog.
Christmas in Dogtown ~ Blitz Review and Giveaway
M9B Friday Reveal and Giveaway ~ The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl
The Friday 56 #45 ~ Torn ~ A Fire Born Novel
The Afterworld Series ~ Recruitz & Alibiz ~ Tour Giveaway
Twinkle by S J Parkinson ~ A Sci Fi Thriller Review
Blitz Giveaway ~ Come celebrate Tony Bertauski’s new release ~ Flury: Journey of the Snowman #3
Christmas, Actually ~ Mistletoe Kisses Grand Finale Blitz Giveaway
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For all of my 2014 reviews go HERE
For a list of free books go HERE
For all of my giveaways go HERE
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So, what did you get to read this week?
Got any recommendations?
I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.
I am so glad you are back!!!!!
Thanks so much Lori. I’ve missed blogging and all of my bloggin mates!
So glad you are up and running. Commenting works fine. Hope you like being on the dark side. I love it here.
Thanks Kim. I love it here on the dark side. Now I’m wondering why it took me so long. LOL
My blog is not selfhosted, so I have no idea if your dashboard looks like mine (mine is also in german, so I’m just translating), but on mine you can personalize it under “settings” and then “discussions” and then on the end of it. Hope it helps 🙂
You nailed it Emalie. I was in the right place but I didn’t scroll far enough down the page. I fixed it to say what I wanted. Thanks so very much:)
So glad you got all your posts back and you are up and running again. I got one of those notifications from WordPress once and asked them what I’d done wrong and they reinstated it stating that they thought I was posting spam! That is one stack of books you have there, I hope you get some English Tea soon, Earl Grey isn’t for me either. 😉
Thanks Cleo! I’m not happy it happened but I am happy it happened. Now I don’t have to worry anymore. I can’t drink the Earl Gray. Ended up dumping it out. I do have two tea bags of my English so I should be good to go until Monday.
😀 – top of the list! <3
Yippee! I have some fresh ideas for us gals. I’ll be in touch. I think you’ll like them:)
What a lovely list of books! And I’m glad you found a spot for the tree.
Now I am afraid…I guess I should double check those Terms of Service. Glad you were able to retrieve your posts.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
They shut down a blog I co-host on last year and they also got my sister’s blog and some friends. You can’t do tours of any kind or they will eventually get you. Anything that directs your readers to a third party is a violation.
That’s annoying your blog got shut down, but yay for self hosting! I am still happy I made the switch earlier this year.
There are different plugins to install to change how the commentign looks like. I am using Commetluv on my site. You can also install disguis and I know there are some other plugins around that change the comment area. But bsically you’ll need a plugin to change it, you can’t do it on the dashboard itself.
Earl Grey Tea is my favourite tea flavour and I don’t like english breakfast tea. I also like fruit teas, but earl grey tea is my favourite. I’ve never tastes Irish brekafast tea before.
I hope you havea great week and enjoy your new books 🙂
Thanks Lola. I’ve been wanting to add the Commentluv. It’s a nice gesture to followers.
The English and Irish are very similar black teas. There’s some lingering after taste in the Earl Gray that doesn’t sit well with me. maybe if I got used to it.
I love the cover of The Truth. Now, what’s your secret for reviewing 4 books/week?
Sometimes I do more. I make myself sit down and start organizing my notes. As soon as I start doing that, the story pops back in my head, the notes are forgotten and I just start writing. I like to mix my own synopsis into my thoughts and it usually flows easily. It’s making myself get started that’s the hard part. I sometimes get stuck for quite a while before that first sentence comes to me.
Thanks for stopping by my Sunday Post earlier! Wow you’ve had a lot going on this week. I can’t imagine having my blog shut down. I would have freaked out. I’m totally with you though. I love Irish and English Breakfast tea. My husband drinks Earl Grey, but I don’t like it. I hope you have a great week and enjoy your new books!
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
I’m having such luck with my book choices. I haven’t run itot one that I don’t like yet!
It’s funny, but I didn’t really freak out. My sister even commented on that. I knew I might have to start all over but I wasn’t giving up. Luckily I was able to transfer my content and I’m back!
The Earl Grey tea has a strange after taste. I’ll be sticking to me Irish and English. I’m not big on flavored or sweetened drinks.
Wow, glad everything got straightened out with your blog. I love being self hosted on wordpress. I was on free blogger at first but after a year got too frustrated with it. I guess it’s the CommentLuv plugin that allows visitors to enter their URL so their most recent post gets populated under the comment. I have always had it so guess I never thought about that the plugin made it that way. Thanks for stopping by my blog and hope you linked up your book posts/giveaways!
Thanks so much. It’s nice to have so much freedom now and lots of plugins. I’m considering the Commentluv. Always thought it was nice when fellow blogs had it.
How do you get everything read? You must be a champion speed reader! Lots of love, Emily
Actually I am a speed reader. Took courses in it a long time ago. I have to force myself to slow down sometimes so I can enjoy the anticipation more. LOL My passion is words and I’m loving being able to share books and talk books!
So many great books! Enjoy them and have a great week!
Thanks Yvonne. I’m enjoying them! Have a great week too:)
I’m also on self hosted wordpress and after being on the free site for a while I felt like I had to find my way once again. Plugins are what everyone who helps me out points me to.
I don’t like Earl Grey Tea either. From memory I think it has something called bergamot orange in it and that’s that lingering aftertaste.
Hope you have a great week.
Sharon @ Sharon’s Book Nook!
I love having a self-hosted sight. Getting ready to play with all the new plugins and stuff now:)
Welcome back! It was in the 40’s today so all that snow is a distant memory… although probably not for long! 70’s sound good although I’m not a big fan of humidity. Good luck with the tree, ours takes up a lot of room so every year we struggle with that.
Thanks Greg:) We’ve had a warm up and then a cool down again. yesterday I was in shorts and barefoot. Today I was layered up and the wind cut right through me. You never know.
If you did any tours, “adult” materials, or ran ads you would have violated the terms. Otherwise, Who knows?
I am self-hosted and find it very stressful to maintain.
Earl grey is flavored. Organic or natural teas will use a natural bergamot or citrus to flavor it and others will use artificial. Natural doesn’t always taste better. Bergamot is a citrus thing or bee balm or, again, who knows.
Thank you fro visiting Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust.
From what I can tell your comments section is working great – so you probably already got help from someone. Sorry you got shut down, but I bet you’ll love being self hosted. Plugins!! You’ve probably already heard of Ashley’s UBB plugin – its $35 I think, but when you can, I totally recommend it. It makes blogging so easy. And comment luv is free and great. Oh and I love the editorial calendar! LOL, I know you didn’t ask. Sorry, I’m excited for you 😉
Sounds like you’ve been really busy, getting ready for the Xmas tree and all. We have to do some moving around this week for the Christmas tree too. Anywho, have a great week!
I’ll have to check out those plugins. Can’t wait to start playing around with this new site:)
Trial run sounds like it will be a good read. Hope you enjoy and have a good week and happy thanksgiving.
being shut down much have been scary, but glad that you are back up
Trial run is wonderful. I love Ella’s books!
Welcome back!! I switched from a free Blogger to a self-hosting. It was a big adjustment (and expense) but I love having total control of my blog. You have a lot of great books, so happy reading and have a great week!
Thank you. It’s good to be back. Now I have freedom and look forward to exploring what I can do with it.
Damn, glad you had all your stuff backed up. I haven’t backed my blog up … I know, I’m just asking for trouble. Enjoy your books.
I had it backed up but I couldn’t keep my followers so I paid to have it transferred for me and it’s as good as new, almost. Still got to play with it.
Oh! That’s awful that they’ve shutdown your account and didn’t provide you a clear answer as to why, but it’s good that you can do anything now since you’re self hosted. I am thinking of self hosting my blog too but it would probably not in the near future. Glad your back ♥
WeeklyWrap@EverythingNyze
Just be careful if you are doing tours or third party promos. That’s what they are shutting people down for the most. Blogger has done it too.
I picked up a few freebies. Couldn’t help myself. I am sure you can figure out one of them. LOL
Was it Blood Forest?!!
Them trees! The horror! The Horror! LOL
Can’t believe your blog got shut down, it makes me think I should check the terms of service as I’m now starting to wonder if it’s okay to post links to books on Goodreads etc…
I absolutely love Twinings English Breakfast tea, it’s my favourite drink for when I settle down to read 🙂
Have a great week!
That’s what confused me. That’s sending someone to another link too. They never really clarify the terms. I think you’ll be alright, but I don’t know for sure.
I like Twining’s Irish and English. I go through withdrawal without them. LOL
Looks like a pretty good haul this week! i kind of have a space for a Christmas tree, but one of my dogs, he is only 2, so kind of still a puppy, would probably pee on it. Or chew on it. So I’ll go with a small one on the fireplace mantle again this year.
Check out my Sunday Post
Yep. Lots of goodies this week:)
I’ve adopted my sisters cat and I put my tree up with just one wooden decoration dangling down to test what she would do. She’s in her 20s so I guess that explains why she sniffed it and then ignored it. LOL
I haven’t figured out why WordPress is so strict on that. You basically can’t post for tours or blitzes if you have the free WordPress. I had a beta site to format posts for Prism that I had as private, so it wasn’t even public and I wasn’t allowed to do that and I didn’t want to pay $100 a year for it. I’m sorry you had to switch things over.
You got some great books added to your shelves! Looks like you’re still fairly busy. 🙂
It’s all for the best now. It was costly to move but that’s a one time thing. Glad to be back and free!
Hmmmm . . . Ella Medler’s romance novels look interesting. I checked out some of your reviews and they sound wonderful! Adding them to my TBR list!
I loved Not Juliet. She’s got a couple more in this collection coming out too. Her thrillers and fantasy books are wonderful too, Taylor.
It’s a shame you were shut down! Lucky you are back!
Loads of reads up there! Good luck reading them all 😉
Thanx for visiting My Weekly Wrap-Up!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
It’s all good now!
I’m so glad you’re back up and things are all good! I’ve been rearranging my living room as well. It’s an awkward space, very rectangular because it’s suppose to be formal living and dining. We don’t have a dining room table though. So I got a new desk and made the dining half my office but I’m still moving the furniture around in the other half looking for the perfect fit.
Wow, you got a lot of amazing looking books! I want to try the Ghost Hunter series. 🙂
I loved Ellie Jordan and her ghost trapping crew. I was excited about getting the second book and now have the third on my waiting list.
It’s so good to be back blogging. I felt lost without it.
Got my tree up and starting to go through all of my boxes to sort what I’m going to use this year, what I’ll get rid of, and what’s just trash. LOL
OMG, your freebie section is so hurting my ereader…lol. I think I got half of them as some where not free anymore..but so much for cleaning out my ereader..hehehe. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my blog! 🙂
Sorry about that. I try hard not to grab some for myself when I’m shopping around for freebies to share. This week I couldn’t resist a few:)
I did notice the lack of posts coming into my inbox. It worries me that wordpress can shut down a blog so easily. I’d be horrified too, but glad it’s sorted now and you’re self hosted.
No warning, just bam, shut down and nothing I could do about it. I’m loving that I have my own blog and can do what I want with it without fear.
There you are! I’m not a big Earl Grey fan either. To me it tastes a little like drinking perfume. I’ve had some decent luck baking with it though. I’m like you and hate getting rid of things I paid money for. Have you tried Lady Grey? I like that one much better! Glad the rearranging works for you to get your tree in. It’s always weird when you put everything back though. It’s getting time for me to start moving stuff around as well. I always love having the tree but hate the prep!
I think I’ll just stick with me Irish and English Breakfast Teas. I don’t like flavored beverages much. The smell won’t come out of my tea cup now! LOL
Got my tree up and the lights on. I always put it up for my son’s birthday. We’ll decorate it this weekend, then start on the outside stuff.
I’m glad you were able to salvage all your posts and comments, Laura! It’s so scary when something like that happens.
You got lots and lots of great-looking books last week! I’m always incapable of resisting free or very cheap books, so I was kind of skipping over your freebie section.
Have a terrific Thursday!
So many wins this week, lucky you! And what a sicker about your blog but now that you are self hosted that just can’t happen. I love the security of that.
Glad you managed to squeeze the tree in, I’m still debating whether to put one up or not. I do a swag over my fireplace with lights and I might just go with that.