Rowena: Book Binge turns 5 today.
Can you guys believe we’ve been running Book Binge for 5 years? It seems like just yesterday that you (Holly) talked me into starting this new bookish adventure with you. Come to think of it, you didn’t talk me into it. You forced me. Can’t say that I’m sorry though.
Holly: Forced? Ha. Well..ok, maybe I gently pushed you into starting something new, but I don’t remember you kicking and screaming along the way.
I remember the very first review we posted was a Loretta Chase review. Talk about starting off on the right foot. Remember that horrible template we had? Eep.
Rowena: I was probably scared for my life so in my book (H: Dramatic much?), that counts as the same thing. Has it really been five years since I read Lord of Scoundrels? Man, it seems like just yesterday.
What template could you be talking about? Are you talking about this one?
Holly: shudder
Rowena: Hey! I worked hard on that template….haha.
Casee: 5 years? How have you two done it? I came in a little later in the game. 2-3 years ago? At the time I was reviewing on my own blog because I’m so opinionated (H: coughUnderstatementcough) and I wanted to share my opinions with the world. My reviews have changed a bit (and are few and far between these days) though my opinions are just as loud.
Forget Lord of Scoundrels. I’m thinking of the Bet Me ambush by you two. Forget that I ended up liking the book. That was just evil.
Holly: You’re welcome for that, by the way. Too bad it didn’t work out as well when she shamed talked Lori into reading it.
Rowena: I’ve been pouring over past blog posts and even looking at our stats. Our stats are pretty boring. Check it out:
Our top posts of all time are:
- Reviews (Our Grading System)
- Guest Author: Susan Sey
- Free eBooks from Random House
- My review of The Other Boyfriend by Sylvia Massara (or as Casee calls it, that damn review)
- Free eBooks from Harlequin
Our readers sure do love their free eBooks, huh? Either we’re boring bloggers or our readers all totally normal people because our top keywords for search engines are:
- The Book Binge
- Book Binge
- bookbinge
- Happy Birthday
- Nook vs Kindle review
While I was searching through our archives, I had a good laugh because remember these posts?
- Edited: Readers Beware of Unprofessional Authors
- A Letter in Which Holly Gets “Nasty”
- To Review or Not to Review
Most of the posts that had me cracking up were all written by Holly, go figure. =P
Holly: What are you trying to imply, exactly?
We went on an unofficial hiatus the last 6-9 months. Casee was having marital problems, Rowena lost her mom and I had a baby. We want to thank you for sticking with us as we slowed down and neglected the blog.
Rowena: It’s been a helluva 5 years, don’t you think? I mean, we’ve had loads of ups and heaps of downs but we’re still around. We’ve come a long way and I couldn’t be more proud of the blog that we put together. What better way to celebrate than by giving away books.
Come help us celebrate by leaving a comment on this post, letting us know where you’re from. We know we have readers from all over the world. Let’s do a roll call. Anyone who leaves a comment (even if it’s to say hi) will be entered to win some free books.
Which books?
These books:
- The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
- A signed copy of Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre
- A signed copy of Unveiled by Courtney Milan
Contest ends April 30, 2012 @ 11:59pm. Please note: You must include a valid email address with your comment to be eligible. Be sure to check back tomorrow and the rest of the week, as we’ll be doing more giveaways. We’re also gearing up to do a big Spring Fling giveaway throughout the month of May!
Happy Birthday! Congrats on 5 years – keeping a blog going can be tough, and it sounds like you all have had some extra challenges this year too…but you made it to 5! Best wishes on the next 5.
Saying hi from somewhere between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Congrats on 5 years! Life takes precedence over blogging for almost all bloggers at one time or another. Wishing all the bookbinge ladies all the best!
Happy Birthday! Congratulations on 5 years. I love your blog.
I am from KY
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com
*clears throat*
*starts screeching*
HhhhaaaaAAAAAaaaaapppp…
*dogs start howling all over the neighborhood*
Okay, I’ll refrain.
Happy bloggiversary, ladies, and thank you for continuing to share your reviews and opinions with us!
*raising coffee mug*
(I was going to be rightful and pass on the giveaway…then I saw the books—sorry! greedy me is in like Flynn)
azteclady1 at gmail dot com
Thank you!
Happy anniversary! Big congrats! I enjoy your site 🙂
(don’t enter me!)
Love,Love,Love Book Binge. Congrats on five years!!!
mojostables at yahoo dot com
Wow 5 years! Congratulations on that milestone 🙂 Thanks for bringing us great content!
bas1chsemail at gmail dot com
Happy birthday! I remember when you guys first started (Didn’t you have another group blog before this one?) and I love that you’re still going strong. Keep up the great work and I’m going to eat a piece of cake on your behalf. 😀
Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more.
Happy Birthday Guys! It’s great that you all have been around so long!
Thanks for letting me a little part of it all. 🙂
Here’s to another wonderful 5!
Happy blogiversary, ladies! I’ve been enjoying BB for quite some time now.
Happy Blogiversary!! I can’t believe its been 5 years! Congrats, ladies!
Saying hey from chilly southern Minnesota.
Happy Anniversary!! I hope everyone is doing better after your difficult year. I’m from the northeastern part of the US.
penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Congrats on 5 wonderful years! Chocolate cake and champagne (and books, lots of books) all around.
I am from sunny, humid south Texas.
mochfly(at)swbell(dot)net
Congratulations on reaching 5 years I hope you stay around for at least another 5 😀
I’m from Wales (it’s so wet here maybe I should be spelling that Whales? LOL)
ilona
felinewyvern at googlemail dot com
Happy blog birthday! Thanks for sharing it with us. 😀
I’m from sunny California!
julieguan AT gmail DOT com
Happy birthday! I think it was Holly’s post that got me here. I liked what I saw and this blog is one of my regular stops every day. May there be many more years of blogging in your future.
M.
Happy birthday!! This is a great blog i regularly check out!
Oh i am from sunny Malta Mediterranean, Europe
info AT ilovebooks DOT com DOT mt
Happy Blog Birthday!
I am from Oregon, USA
kissinoak at frontier dot com
I am married to a military man so where I am from is a bit catchy..live in Wyoming, resident of Alaska, and raised in North Carolina!
Grats on 5 years!! Here’s to another 5!
Happy Birthday! And here’s to many more!
It’s kinda cold and cloudy here in Northern California; I hope you’re having better weather.
ironss [at] gmail [dot] com
Congrats and Happy 5th Birthday!!!
I’m in Ontario Canada
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Here’s wishing you a Happy Birthday, and Congratulations on your five years. Thanks for having this giveaway.
I am from Georgia.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Wow! Happy 5 years ladies! I’ve known you less than a year but yours is one of my favorite blog.
Indonesian follower 😉
smile_1773@yahoo.com
Happy Birthday and Congratulations on 5 years. That is something to be proud of!
I am from the Amish country of Lancaster, Pa.
ldwrncpn@comcast.net
Happy Anniversary!! Love this blog.
Happy Anniversary from Birmingham, Alabama! Roll Tide!
Congratulations and happy 5th! This is one of the first romance blogs I visited, and it remains to be one of my favorites! 🙂
I’m from the south– Mississippi
🙂
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Wow! Five Years – Congrats & Thanks for all your hard work!
I’m from the rolling hills of New Jersey!
sallans d at yahoo dot com
Many congratulations to you on your fifth birthday.
I’m from London, England, but now live in sunny Florida.
Thank you for this great giveaway opportunity.
dpd333 (at) aol dot com
Saying hi from the Oregon coast! Happy Birthday! Love ya guys!
Happy blogiversary ladies! I followed you from your previous blog and have enjoyed reading your posts from day one!
I am stalking, I mean, following your from Melbourne, Australia!
Thanks everyone for the well wishes, we’re very appreciative of you all and good luck at winning some free books! =)
Happy 5th Birthday to the Book Binge. Hope you’re enjoying some cake. I’m in NYC.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
Cool happy 5th everyone , thanks for the giveaways , whoo
Kimh
Happy Blogoversary! Here’s wishing you many more and best wishes 🙂
LOL… I’ve only been following for a little while now and had to go back and read your “best of” posts. Laughed sooooo hard and long! You gals are awesome!!!!
Thanks! And don’t stop!
from Omaha,NE
Happy Anniv from northern VA 🙂 congrats on making it 5 yrs, & wishing you many more 🙂
Happy Birthday Book Binge ladies! Hope the next 5 years are wonderful both blog-wise and personally.
No need to include me in this giveaway, but I wanted to stop by and congratulate you on your achievement. 🙂
I start reading romance books 4 years ago when I gave birth to my daughter and I had more time to read (I stayed home on maternity leave a year and a half). So, the first thing I did was to look on the internet blogs about books to see what the world reads. The Book Binge was the FIRST blog that I read, and it is the FIRST blog that I check for new books that I want to read.
I am BIG fan, so Happy Birthday and many years into the future!!!
I am from Romania.
nutelena@rdslink.ro
Congratulations on 5 years!!
I am from QLD, AUSTRALIA.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Congratulations on 5 years! Happy Birthday from South Australia.
Congrats on the past five years from Philadelphia, PA!!!
It can be tough to keep blogging at times but you girls have done well. It’s the friendship and camaraderie that makes your blog worth reading. And the reviews of course 🙂
Thanks for the contest and here’s to many more years of blogging.
jennygirl73[at]gmail[dot]com
Happy birthday!! I’m from Milwaukee, WI and really enjoy your blog!
Dina
dlsmilad at yahoo dot com
Happy Birthday! Your blog was one of the first I found a few years ago when I was looking for romance blogs. I live in the SF Bay Area.
Happy Birthday! I can’t remember how I found your blog but I was instantly hooked on your reviews! 🙂 Well done, all of you!
I’m from Germany.
claudigc at msn dot com
Congrats on 5 years. What an accomplishment. Love the blog.
Saying Hi from central Iowa.
Joanne B
e.balinski(at0att(dot)net
I’m from SF.
Diana
ISRAEL2 at hotmail dot com
Oh happy 5th blogoversary! Its surprised me to see blog that still active after 5 years, but you all do this! I start my own blog a few months ago, and hope can survive until my first blogoversary, LOL!
I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia 🙂
Ren
sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com
Happy Bday!
Here’s from Indonesia.
😀
lady_milano3 at yahoo dot com
Wow! Five years? I’ve been reading for about 3 years now (Casee was already posting).
I love the reviews because I find them so honest.
I’m from Western Washington!
goddessani@gmail dot com
Happy Birthday from Finland 😀
booksforlife01 gmail dot com
This was one of the first romance bogs I found 🙂
Happy bday! I’m only sad that I joined the group so late. Enjoying a late snow here in MT.
Happy birthday ! The book binge is a awesome place! Your doing a fantastic job ,keep it coming ! I am from South Africa !
desere_steenberg@yahoo.com
Happy birthday, Casee, Holly & Rowena!
I can’t believe it’s been five years already! I believe I found you soon after Casee joined? Has it really been that long?
I’m reading this in Frankfurt, Germany, by the way. Love love love it! 😀
I never win anything, no matter what. But just in case: kathrin.p AT gmail DOT com
5 years is a huge milestone. Many congrats to you!
I am in North Seattle.
geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
Happy Birthday! 5 years? Awesome! Congrats!!! Wishing you many more! I live in Michigan.
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy Birthday! 🙂
I’m in Wisconsin.
slandon9903(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy 5th Birthday! It’s always a pleasure to read your reviews and see what you have been reading. I am from Pennsylvania.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi,
Happy 5th Birthday
I’m from Medan, Indonesia and love reading book 🙂
eli_y83@yahoo.com
Happy birthday! Congrats on your 5 years online!
I’m fron Spain.
spav05(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Congrats on 5 years!
Greetings from Northern California!
rcbrodrick88@yahoo.com
HELLO!:)
Congratulations, girls!
I admire all the work bloggers do. I know I could never do it myself, couldn’t find the time, but I love coming around & checking the place 🙂
I’m from Mexico, btw 😉
@Monikarw
monika_restivow(at)yahoo.com
Oh my gosh – 5 years? That’s amazing – congrats to you all for keeping it up! Happy Birthday!!!
lovesfabromance at cox dot net
Congrats on the 5 year anniversary!
I’m in Southern Cali 🙂 It’s amazing seeing all the places everyone is at.
sharocks13@yahoo.com
Wow, 5 years blogging, congratulations! That’s certainly no mean feat–it takes so much effort and dedication. Keep at it, ladies.
Wishing you well from Down Under (or Melbourne, Australia). ;D
jen@eveninghour.org
This comment has been removed by the author.
happy birthday book binge!! wow!! 5 years is amazing 😀
i’m from honolulu, hi
chelleyreads AT gmail DOT com