2022 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

February 21, 2023 11:39 AM Posted by juliannadouglas

Play of Passion Book Cover

Sorry it’s late this year, but I always say better late than never. It’s time once again for my annual Best of the Year giveaway. Ever since I started my review site, The Hope Chest Reviews, in 2008, I’ve been posting a Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. As always, I have an eclectic group of books on it from a wide variety of genres. Since I’m a romance writer and nearly life-long romance reader, my focus is mostly on romance, but I also have a nice selection of other books, including historical fiction, fantasy, YA, children’s, biography/memoirs, and non-fiction. I'm a pretty slow reader, so I rarely have time to read books when they're released, although sometimes I do. That being the case, I compile the list from the books I read during the previous year. This makes for a well-rounded list of brand new books, mixed with older ones, and a little bit of everything in between.

I read just over seventy books and novellas in 2021, and a little over half of them made it to my keeper shelf, meaning that they earned 4.5 to 5 stars from me. These are the books that make my “Best of …” lists in the individual genres. I've also nominated books (though never any that I rated less than four stars) in a wide variety of other categories, including best characters, best quotes, and best covers. I hope you'll check out my full list and perhaps find your next great read.

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, Larissa Ione, Nalini Singh


2021 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

January 18, 2022 04:00 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

Reaver Book Cover

It’s January, which means that it’s time once again for my annual Best of the Year giveaway. Ever since I started my review site, The Hope Chest Reviews, in 2008, I’ve been posting a Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. As always, I have an eclectic group of books on it from a wide variety of genres. Since I’m a romance writer and nearly life-long romance reader, my focus is mostly on romance, but I also have a nice selection of other books, including fantasy, YA, children’s, biography/memoirs, and non-fiction. I'm a pretty slow reader, so I rarely have time to read books when they're released, although sometimes I do. That being the case, I compile the list from the books I read during the previous year. This makes for a well-rounded list of brand new titles, mixed with older ones, and a little bit of everything in between.

I read nearly seventy books and novellas in 2021, and just over half of them made it to my keeper shelf, meaning that they earned 4.5 to 5 stars from me. These are the books that make my “Best of …” lists in the individual genres. I've also nominated books in a wide variety of other categories, including best characters, best quotes, and best covers. I hope you'll check out my full list and perhaps find your next great read.

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, Jim Butcher, Larissa Ione


2020 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

January 17, 2021 06:14 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

After being an avid reader all my life, in 2008, I decided to start reviewing books, as well. That’s when I joined GoodReads and founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews. Since becoming a published author, I haven’t stopped writing reviews of the books I read for pleasure, in part, because I’m now more aware than ever just how important reviews can be to an author in helping readers discover them. 

Ever since I started my review site, I’ve had an annual tradition of posting my Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. As in past years, I have an eclectic group of books on it from a wide variety of genres. Since I’m a romance writer and long-time romance reader, my focus is mostly on romance, but I also have a nice selection of other books, including fantasy, science fiction, YA, children’s, historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction. I'm a pretty slow reader, so I rarely have time to read books when they're released, although sometimes I do. That being the case, I compile the list from the books I read during the previous year. This makes for a well-rounded list of brand new books, mixed with older ones, and a little bit of everything in between. I read nearly seventy books and novellas in 2020, and a little over half of them made it to my keeper shelf, meaning that they earned 4.5 to 5 stars from me.

The Duke Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, Gaelen Foley, Jim Butcher


2019 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

January 25, 2020 06:45 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

After being an avid reader all my life, in 2008, I decided to start reviewing books, as well. That’s when I joined GoodReads and founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews. Since becoming a published author, I haven’t stopped writing reviews of the books I read for pleasure, in part, because I’m now more aware than ever just how important reviews can be to an author in helping readers discover them.

Ever since I started my review site, I’ve had an annual tradition of posting my Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. As in past years, I have an eclectic group of books on it from a wide variety of genres. Since I’m a romance writer and long-time romance reader, my focus is mostly on romance, but I also have a nice selection of other books, including fantasy, YA, historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction.

Breaking Dawn Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, Nalini Singh, Stephenie Meyer


2018 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

January 22, 2019 12:50 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and in 2008, I decided to start reviewing books, as well. That’s when I founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews. Since becoming a published author, I haven’t stopped writing reviews of the books I read for pleasure, in part, because I’m now more aware than ever just how important reviews can be to a author in helping readers discover them. That’s why I stubbornly insist upon keeping this up indefinitely, despite the extra time it takes.

Ever since I started my review site, I’ve had an annual tradition of posting my Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. As in past years, I have an eclectic group of books on it from a wide variety of genres.

Consumed Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, J. R. Ward, Jessica Bird, Lisa Kleypas


2017 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

January 15, 2018 04:22 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

Long before becoming a writer I was an avid reader, and in 2008, I decided to start reviewing books, as well. That’s when I founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews. Since becoming a published author, I haven’t stopped writing reviews of the books I read for pleasure, in part because I’m now more aware than ever just how important reviews can be to a author in helping readers discover them. That’s why I stubbornly insist upon keeping this up indefinitely, despite the extra time it takes.

Ever since I started my review site, I’ve followed the annual tradition of posting my Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. Once again, I have an eclectic group of books from a wide variety of genres.

Lady Sophia's Lover Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year, J. R. Ward, Jessica Bird, Lisa Kleypas


2016 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

February 16, 2017 01:33 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

Long before I started writing my own novels, I was a reader/reviewer. I founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews, in 2008, and despite now being a busy writer, I’ve continued to write and post reviews there for all the book that I read for pleasure. At the end of my first year, I started my Best of the Year list. Back then it was actually called the Best & Worst of the Year list, but let’s face it, nobody wants to see their book on a Worst of the Year list. I know I certainly don’t, so last year, I changed the name and started posting only the very best of my reading. After all, as a reader, that’s what I would want to know. Which books are worth taking a closer look at? And as for which to possibly stay away from? Well, the reviews can speak for themselves.

The Beast Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year


2015 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway

February 19, 2016 03:58 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

I'm a little late getting this posted, but better late than never. I've put together my 2015 Best of the Year Reading List, and as usual, it's an eclectic group of books. Since I'm such a slow reader and rarely have time to read books when they're released, I compile the list from the books I read during the previous year. This makes for a nicely rounded list of brand new books, mixed with older ones, and a little bit of everything in between. I primarily read romance, but on the occasions that I step away from it, I also read a wide variety of other genres. Therefore, my list has lots of romances along with a little bit of everything else, including fantasy, YA, children's, graphic novels, and non-fiction. I've also nominated books in a variety of categories, including best characters, best lines, and prettiest covers. I hope you'll check out my full list and perhaps find your next great read.

Dearest Rogue Book Cover

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Categories: Giveaways

Tags: Best of the Year