Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up October 24th-30th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

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Hi guys,

I have been quiet for a while. I skipped the last two Sunday Posts. The reason for that is: I haven’t been feeling well. I was too tired, spent most of my weekends in bed, caughing all the time. It was just exhausting. It wasn’t covid (I tested negative) but whatever it was took too long to finally end. I feel better since Thursday, so let’s hope it is the end game for whatever it is.
If nothing, this experience made me think of my body and how I treat it and I should take more care about my health.

I haven’t been blogging for a while. Most of the posts were pre scheduled and now I have lots of comments and blog visits to keep up. I hope I’ll do it til Wednesday. Unfortunately I have to go to work on Monday.

Last week on Book Dust Magic:

Tuesday: I reviewed The Shaadi Set-Up by Lille Vale
Wednesday: I talked about Sunkissed by Kasie West
Friday: I gave an early review for the novel Never Rescue a Rouge by Virginia Heath

Next week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

Book Haul:

I got two books for review from the publishers and I also won one in the contest organised on my work place.

Currently reading:

I am reading this ya novel for ages now. It is a solid coming of age story but I am ready to finally finish it, which I hope will be today (so I can read something scary for Halloween).

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up September 26th-October2nd) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys,

This is my first Sunday Post in years. You might notice, but my blogging wasn’t the best for the last three years. There are always some distractions in my personal life ever since I became a mother and it wears me off. I feel like the person I was before was taken from me and I can’t bring her back no matter how much I miss her.
That theme is also hard to talk about because people often don’t have the tolerance and I should be happy to be a mother. Maybe one day I will talk more about it.
For now, I decided to at least give myself a pleasure to visit my previous life and blog because I used to love it so much. My blog to me used to mean more then a day job or any other hobbies.

So here I am, writing my Sunday Post in hope I will keep up with all of your new words and that somehow life won’t get in a way this time.
In October I decided to host Blogtober on my blog and I am still hopeful I will keep up with all of my blogging plans.

Last week on Book Dust Magic:

Sunday: I announced Blogtober

Next week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

the very secret society of irregular witches book cover US edition
Me Time Movie Cover
My Brillian Friend by Ellena Ferrante book cover

Currently reading:

One Thousand Stars and You Isabelle Broom book cover

I am reading One Thousend Stars and You by Isabelle Broom. I started it last month and my plan is to finish it before I start the spooky season. I am 25% in and so far it’s good.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 18th-24th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys!

This week was slow and relaxing. I feel like I have less and less energy in me. I think it’s because of pregnancy.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with my friend Monika. We went into Chinese restaurant for lunch, and after that in a really nice caffee for Pumpkin Spice Late.
I had best intention to take pictures and then I simply forgot. I guess we’ll have to go back at some point!

Today I plan to watch a Christmas movie on tv, answer to every comment on my blog and to finish a book I’m reading.
So I guess it will be a slow, relaxing Sunday.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: In Movie Monday I talked about A Christmas Detour    
Wednesday: I gave you my thoughts on The Hunting of Hill House Netflix show
Thursday: I reviewed The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Friday: I talked about the time I met Katherine Arden
Saturday: I reviewed Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Next Week on Book Dust Magic

Upcoming reviews:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover, UK edition One Winter Morning by Isabelle Broom book cover
I am also preparing some lifestyle posts.

Currently reading:

Bid my Soul Farewell by Beth Revis book cover I am reading the second and final book in Give the Dark my Love duology and I am in love with everything. If you ask me, this is one of the best fantasy series out there.

Giveaway:

I am hosting an international giveaway in which you can win a signed copy of The Bear and the Nightingale. You can enter here.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 11th-17th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys!

This has been an interesting week in bookish community, to say the least.

If you’re on twitter, you couldn’t escape that drama everyone was talking about. Some true colors showed up, and that is all I’m going to say because I had enough negativity on my feed this whole year.

When it comes to me personally, one of author’s minions decided to spam my goodreads review for Olive, Again. I usually like to get comments from people with different opinions, but when a profile is created just for sake of spamming, I will not tolerate that. And it is so obvious that “Armando” is fake account that it makes me question the intelligence of a person behind it.
I think they even flagged my review as spam because I noticed people “like” it and I get an email about it, but then it is not in my notifications. I can’t say for sure, though!

The question is: When will authors, their publicists and relatives realize that book reviews are subjective and written for other readers??

I, as a reviewer, don’t owe positive review to anyone!!

We, bloggers, do this for free in most cases, so at least what we can get is little respect. Unfortunately, it often lacked this year when it comes to my personal experience.

Then I got declined for two Netgalley requests, and mentally sent everything to hell, purchased two ebooks I wanted to read and took a break from my review copies.
I am not sure for how long this break will last, but there is so many books I want to read that just sit on my shelf or I never even purchased them because of review copies I wanted to read first.

It is the last day of HoHoHo readathon and I am about to finish my third book. It’s not amazing result, but it is enough, for all I care!

Also, I had some technical problems so two blog posts that should have been posted this week will go live next week, including giveaway for signed copy of The Bear and the Nightingale.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: I talked about The Lion King movie
Tuesday: I reviewed Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Wednesday: I talked about changes I noticed on my body during pregnancy
Saturday: I reviewed Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

Next Week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

The Hunting of Hill House netflix cover The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman book cover US edition Well Met by Jen DeLuca book cover

There will also be my post about meeting Katherine Arden including a giveawy.

Book Haul:

I purchased these two ebooks:

shadowsong by s. jae jones book cover the trouble with christmas by amy andrews

Currently reading:

shadowsong by s. jae jones book cover I am reading this sequel to Wintersong and am loving it so much.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

 

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 4th-10th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys,

I hope you have a lovely Sunday.
It’s raining here in Zagreb and I love it. It’s the perfect weather to stay at home and read all the books, and since HoHoHo readathon is going on at the moment, it makes me appreciate it even more.
My plan is to finish my book today. I started readathon with the biggest book from my tbr (500+ pages) and blog hop. In other words, to have one relaxing Sunday.

The only thing that’s new in my life is we got a new fridge. We wanted to get one that is big enough for family of three, since we have a baby on the way, so we decided to go with 185×60 cm dimensions.
If we had bigger apartment, we’d go with two-winged one because they are much more practical and beautiful, but we have to go with what we have.
It’s a downside of living in a small space, but this apartment makes me happy because it is ours, and truth be told, I have never felt at more peace then I do now.

I also won one giveaway on Twitter, which was unexpected. Now I’ll have one more signed book in my (small) collection.

There’s only one thing that makes me mad: The birthday package I sent to my friend Amanda is still somewhere in Croatia even though I paid for it to be delivered per avion, in 5 days. I have sent it last month.
Our post office got really miserable in the last two years, I think it’s because so many people are underpaid and they don’t want to do their job, but it is no excuse.
The saddest thing about it is that I don’t have alternatives, and I’ll have to send Christmas presents via the same company, so I hope they won’t get lost.
I plan to send them at the very beginning of December, just in case.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: I reviewed The Hustle movie
Tuesday: I posted my HoHoHo Readathon TBR
Wednesday: I reviwed The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams
Thursday: I talked about products I use to prevent stretch marks
Friday: I reviewed One Chrstmas Star by Mandy Baggot
Saturday: I revealed the gender of my baby

Next Week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

The Lion King 2019 movie cover Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones book cover The Hunting of Hill House netflix cover Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout book cover US edition

I will also talk about changes on my body during pregnancy, and about how I met Katherine Arden + there will be a giveaway for her signed book The Bear and the Nightingale.

Currently reading:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover, UK edition I am currently reading The Christmas Invitation and it is my first read for HOHOHO readathon. It is okay but tbh. I hoped I’d be more interested in the story. I have more then half book to go, and it is getting better so let’s hope it will be a pleasant surprise in the end.

Book Haul:

One Night on Ice by Mandy Baggot book cover 2019 edition I was approved for One Night on Ice via Netgalley, and I plan to read it during HoHoHo readathon.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up October 28th – November 3rd) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys,

It has been a while since I participated in Sunday Post meme. I’ve been lacking as a blogger for some time now, so I wanted to get back on track, and Sunday posts always make me stick to my schedule.

I know November only started, but I am already getting into Christmas mood. I signed up for HoHoHoRAT that starts this week (on Friday). I had so much fun participating last year so I didn’t want to miss it for the world!

I also signed up for the Secret Santa project on Twitter, #baublesandbooks .

As for my private life, I am mostly at home, enjoying books, The Hunting of Hill House, the Netflix show and playing with GiGi ( my cat).
I am 23 weeks pregnant now and I can feel the baby moving inside me, which is an experience!!

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

I only had two blog posts.

Friday: I reviewed A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley
Saturday: I talked about books I read in October

Next Week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

The Hustle movie cover The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams book cover One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot book cover

I will also talk about my plans for HoHoHo readathon, talk about products I use to prevent stretch marks and reveal gender of my baby.

Currently reading:

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver book cover, UK edition, penguin I am so happy to have an opportunity to read this new novel by Josie Silver, an author who wrote One Day in December. I only started it so it’s too early for me to say is it good or not, but my hopes are pretty high.
The book comes out next year, but I just couldn’t wait any longer.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up April 29th-May 5th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys!

Long time no see! If you noticed, I stepped away from blogging for a while, and that is because I was working on  new design for my blog. I wanted to focus only on that to make sure I did it right. I hope you like how it turned out!

Now with the new domain and fresh look, I am happy to announce that new posts will be live regularly, and there will be 3-4 posts per week.

As for my private life, there is not much going on. I was really sick on Friday, my throat hurt so badly I almost didn’t go to work, but I decided to try my best to make through that one day and see if it will develop into something more serious. I think it was just a bad cold, because I couldn’t breathe either, but there is nothing that warm bath can’t cure, so I am much better now, and I will be ready to go to work tomorrow.
My nose is still running, but with warm baths, paracetamol, vitamin C and Septolete, this cold is pretty much under control.

Last week on Book Dust Magic:

Saturday: I launched Book Dust Magic 2.0 and I also reviewed The Evidence Agains You by Gillian McAllister

Next week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

The Curse of La Llorna movie cover horror thomas wildus and the book of sorrows by j.m. bergen book cover

I will also talk about books I read in April and how I visited Zoo park in Zagreb.

Currently reading:

thomas wildus and the book of sorrows by j.m. bergen book coverThis middle grade novel talks about magic and I am really enjoying it so far!

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Welcome to Book Dust Magic 2.0! #bloggers #lifestyle #bookbloggers

Book Dust Magic blog logo

Hi Guys!

I just wanted to quickly mention that Book Dust Magic is now updated to it’s own domain.
I want to say thank you to everyone who was looking forward to see it’s new design, and I hope you like it.

I am still working on small changes and updates, but I hope everything will be complete this weekend.

As for the blog itself, new posts will be published regularly from Monday on. There will be 3-4 blog posts per week, in which I will talk about books, movies, places, products and everything my heart is with.

However, there will be one book review posted later today, because I host the blog tour, and there will be Sunday post tomorrow.

I hope you’re all having a lovely time and I am looking forward to hang out with you here on Book Dust Magic in the future.

Take care,

Irena

I plan to self-host my blog #BloggingTips #Lifestyle #Business

cozy workplace freepik picture blogging tips

 

It has been three years since I started blogging and in those three years, I had my ups and downs, but what is most important, I learned a lot.

When I first launched Book Dust Magic my main goal was to be part of reading community, and to improve my English as much as possible.
It was a hobby I gained so much from.

Now, after three years, I want to upgrade my blog to a next level.
I already stated that Book Dust Magic will become book/lifestyle blog.

I am taking my blog serious as if it was my second job, and I want to invest into Book Dust Magic like I would in my business.

Therefore, I decided to say goodbye to my free wordpress page and buy myself a new domain, to go self host.
I know I could upgrade my wordpress to next level, but after some thinking I decided to self host, and in all honesty, the main reason for that are plugins and freedom that comes with self hosting.

I already contacted several web hosting platforms to be sure in my decision.

Why am I telling you all that?

Firstly, because Book Dust Magic will be available on new address https://bookdustmagic.com from May 1st.

Secondly, I will try to move all of my followers to my new domain, but if you follow me via email, you will probably not get new emails every time I post something new, so make sure to subscribe to my blog after May 1st on my new domain.
If you follow me on wordpress, you should be able to see my new posts on your wordpress dashboard (if everything goes right, that is!).

I will try to make the transition on my own, so let’s hope I’ll succeed (and that I won’t lose my content).

You are probably curious why would I do it all on my own?

Well, I want to see if I can do it. And if I can, it will be one more skill I learned.
If I don’t, I will ask for help from professional.

Plans for the future…

Book Dust Magic will run on this web address until April 15th and then it will be launched on it’s new domain bookdustmagic.com on May 1st.

I hope everything will go well!
Please wish me luck and I hope we will have an amazing time on my new domain.

From May 1st you can expect to see Book Dust Magic in new, better, more professional and better looking version.
I can’t wait to see you there!

Business photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Let’s talk: What my reading/blogging will be like in 2017

When I was on my “blogging vacation” I gave myself some time to look back on my reading/blogging in 2016.

What I realized was that most books I read was from the same genre: women’s fiction.
There’s nothing wrong or strange about that, since that is my favorite genre, but I was still surprised to see how few books from other genres I read (especially literaly fiction and non-fiction).

I don’t want to bother you too much with my rambling, but since I made some decisions/planned my blogging schedule, I figured out it would be fair to let you know about them, so you’d know what you can expect on Book Dust Magic this year.

1. There will be blogging schedule

I decided to plan a blogging schedule and to stick to it.
There will be 3-4 blog posts per week + on Sundays.
Posts will go live on Mondays, Wednesdays and either on Thursdays and Saturdays (4 times per week schedule) or on Fridays (3 times per week schedule) + Sundays.
In those posts, I’ll try to include 1-2 book reviews per week and will be happy to include movie reviews too (in my Movie Monday posts, but those won’t go live every single Monday).
Sometimes, I will post WoW meme, sometimes book (or other) tag, and will try to write discussion posts from time to time.
Sometimes, I will just ramble what’s on my mind (like now).

I will try to schedule my blog posts on regular basis.

2. I will read (and review) books from more genres

I came to the point where I started missing ya, and started craving for non-fiction, so you can expect me to review books from those genres more often.
I also want to read more challenging books and to go out of my comfort zone sometimes.
I won’t stop reading women’s fiction, but I would like to explore more genres on a deeper level then I do now.

3. I won’t be reviewing every single book I read

I don’t want to stress myself about reviewing. I love writing reviews, but I don’t want to write them just for sake of writing them.
If I accepted a book for review, it will be reviewed, don’t worry!
But when I read a book on my own, I don’t want to feel obligated to write a review, especially if there is not much to say about the book.
Also, sometimes I will write one review for the whole book series, instead of reviewing every single book in it.
Rereading is something I enjoy, so that is also one of the reasons I won’t be reviewing every single book (if I already reviewed it, I see no point in doing it again).

4. I’ll try to make more personal posts from time to time

There’s not much to say about this decision.
I’ll try to write something that will mirror my personality, from time to time.
Maybe that way, you’ll get to know me better.

5. I’ll only post what I’d like to read on other blogs

There won’t be book blitzes or cover reveals, at least not for now.
I realized I don’t enjoy reading them on other blogs, so decided not to post them on mine.
I want to put the content I enjoy reading myself, even if it means less posts per week.

6. I will read and review more backlist titles

This decision is the result of my book buying habit. I own many backlists that I paid with my own money, and they are just sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read.
I realized that the only way to make my money worth is to actually read them, so that is why you’ll be seeing more titles released two or more years ago.
I will still review new titles, don’t worry, just not exclusively.

 

That is it.
Please tell me what do you think about my decisions and if you made ones yourself, feel free to tell me what they are?