Happy 2014 from Better Read Than Dead

Well, the New Year is upon us, and I for one couldn't be more excited to put this year behind me and usher in a fresh and joyous new start.

Just before Christmas, my husband lost his job of 22 years and reality is finally starting to set in. I've never been particularly superstitious, but as he lost his job on Friday December 13th, 2013, I may find myself being a little more leery around things involving the number 13, so bring on 2014. Of course, life moves on and we persevere. Our family always has and will always continue to do so.

While 2013 ended in disaster, there are also so many things I'm thankful for. Tried & true friends like Robin, Kelly M, and my girls at Starbooks, especially the Mafia. Brand new friends like Francesca. Series finales such as Goddess by Josephine Angelini, Allegient by Veronica Roth (though I haven't read it yet), and so many others. CATCHING FIRE blew my mind and Jennifer Lawrence continues to entertain me in her movies and interviews. I've discovered some of the best music in years: Fun., Imagine Dragons—Demons being my current personal anthem, Thirty Seconds to Mars new album: LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS. And last, but certainly not least, my husband and two daughters. Without them, I couldn't, wouldn't be here.

And each and every single one of my followers for sticking with me!

There are so many things I'm looking forward to in the year to come. New books, new movies, new projects, and new friends! I mean DIVERGENT is coming to the big screen, the final Mortal Instruments book—The City of Heavenly Fire—releases, I personally will be querying for agents and publishers, and with all those things I hope to find new people who share my passions for books, movies, writing, and music. There'll be changes to the blog and amazing reviews to share.

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, in reality they're promises begging to be broken. All I wish is to be a better person, more goal oriented and patient, than in the past.

With that... I wish each of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR & may all your dreams come true!

The Merriest of Holidays to You

All of us at Better Read Than Dead want to wish you a Merry Holiday season. No matter what holiday you celebrate, or if you celebrate none, enjoy the festivities, your family and friends, and don't forget to pick up a book or two.

Over the next couple of weeks things here might be a little sporadic as we all have families flying in and vacations to enjoy. Kids will be home from school and up my, well, you know, for the next two weeks. We'll be visiting and playing games and over-stuffing ourselves. I can only speak for myself on this one, but I will have very, very little free time to be on the computer, though I hope to get a couple reviews written so we're not just dead space!

Starting at the first of the year, we'll have some new additions to the blog we hope you'll love and participate in. While Kelly M, Kelly C, and myself continue to work to make this blog better, we're always open to suggestions! We love comments, so if you read a review you love or a review you hate, leave a comment. We just ask that you always be tasteful in anything you have to say.

With that...we wish you the Happiest of Holidays!

Live, Love, and Read
Because when you read, you learn,
and when you learn, your mind opens
and the things you were once scared of, scamper off into the night,
leaving you a wiser, more tolerant person!
~Kristin

Happy New Year from Me to You

Well, it's a few short hours from 2012 and I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Years. 

 2011 brought with it many things...both good and bad. Looking back, though, it has been a supremely amazing year. I started this blog thing here, not realizing what I was getting myself into. LOL. If I had known, I wouldn't have put it off so long. The characters, co-bloggers, authors, and followers I have met are amazing. You see...a book is nothing without out characters and well, it is tough to have characters without amazing authors. Sort of like, I can write all the reviews in the world, but if people don't read them...what's the point? So thanks to the authors who give me books to review AND thanks to my followers for reading those reviews.
A new year means a new set of goals and promises that often go unchecked. I am hoping 2012 will prove to be better than the last (this is my typical resolution). More specifically though, I do have some things I hope to improve on regarding the blog thing.
1. I am participating in more challenges this year. You can check out my Challenges page to see what those are. And April...I promise to participate weekly in the TBR Intervention Challenge. (See, you are priority number 1. LOL)
2. I am going to add a feature or two. I have a couple of ideas...you will see next week, so stay tuned. 
3. Oh my...I am going to work on commenting more on other blogs as well as responding to comments on my own blog. Be sure however you sign in to comment that you leave an email. Who knows when I might just say "You won..." (hint, hint, hint)
I think for now, I will stick with three. I know for certain there are many other changes coming.