Meet Book Blogger Bree of Bibliophile Reviews

 

Hi Bree! Thank you for visiting the Inkwell! 

Debra asks: How long have you been reviewing and how did you decide on the theme for your blog?

Bree replies: Hi Debra, thanks for having me today. I started reviewing book back in 2015, when my blog was more family focused than book focused. I found myself feeling pulled to review the books more than adding my life and took  a break to revamp the blog in the early months of 2016.  BIBLIOPHILE REVIEWS was born a little over a year ago. My theme is all encompassing so I hope that other Bibliophiles stop by and see a book or author they just have to have in their lives.

Wow! You've done so much in such a short time, really, and I think it's because you really promote the stories you've enjoyed. What’s the best part of being a reviewer?

I love finding the piece in the book to share. I am not a blogger that summarizes the book in a review. That isn’t what authors are looking for. I am a reviewer that finds a part of the book or a character to share about. It is like a treasure hunt where I always find the treasure.

That's a great way to put it! Reviewing can be simple (and, as an author I'll say we'd love more reviews. Simple AND the 'professional' kind!) but it's a special skill to be able to write those awesome reviews that really nail what is compelling about a story! What’s the most difficult part of the ‘the job’?

For me, it is hard to say “no”. I am starting  a new AUTHOR FORM to help make it easier to see if a book would really fit the blog and my reading style. I do enjoy reading more than mysteries and Christian fiction, but sometimes a book just doesn’t jive with me and it hurts to turn an author down.

I completely understand! 

Seriously.

What was the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?

I have really loved reading two books lately. A Perfect Manhattan Murder by Tracy Kiely was cheeky and fun. That is what draws a reader to cozy mysteries, when the humor and characters outshine the shadows of murder.

I also really enjoyed  The Beloved Hope Chest, by Amy Clipston. If there was ever the perfect example of how to conclude a well-loved series, it would be this book. I was in tears not for it ending, but for the story alone. It was very touching to read.

 

 

I love to check in on your blog because mystery is my favorite genre! 

What do you do when you aren’t making authors happy? (Reviews. We live for Reviews.)

My life is a windy Spring day.  I have my daughter Valentina (who is turning 3 next month! look for a blog celebration of books!) and she is obviously my reason for always striving for more. If we aren’t reading, we are outside with the horses and grandma or just walking. Yoga is a habit that I try to incorporate into our lives as well, and cooking. I really enjoy cooking.  And with all of this I continue to work at the school district in town, and have just started back to school for my 2nd bachelor degree.

It sounds wonderful! I know you are treasuring the time with your daughter, but oh my! Wow. Working, being a mom and blogging is enough. SCHOOL TOO!? 

What would you like to share about yourself that few people know?

I come off as an extrovert, but honestly I am an ambivert, where I have strength of both extrovert and introvert.  

That works so well with blogging, doesn't it? 

Help Yourselves to a Croissant

Bree, what is your favorite…setting? Place and time? Genre’?

Oh, this is a tough question. I love a variety of settings for different reasons. I think it comes down to how the author approaches each setting.  If I had the perfect library filled with books (and I didn’t have an eclectic taste) they would be historical fiction, I really love to see the research done for these books. But thankfully, I read any type of time period. Genre- I really enjoy Christian fiction and Cozy mysteries.  

Oh yes! I pretty much picked up my love of history through fiction. Not through school! When I read a good historical, I end up researching the setting and background just to learn more about it.

If you had a rainy afternoon alone to watch a movie what would it be? And what meal would you have delivered if that afternoon included a quiet evening as well?

I adore You’ve Got Mail. That movie will always pick me up or give me a smile. With the movie I enjoy really good Chinese takeout, and ice cream, but don’t tell Valentina!

If you could wiggle your nose and be in a new career, what would it be?
A pastry chef and chef, trained and living in France. Not Paris. A beautiful little village with a darling school, where my bakery could be the hub. I would even have a little library inside. Can you smell the coffee and croissants? 

Yes, I can. Maybe because I watched that American Girl Doll movie GRACE. My granddaughter wanted the 1812 Doll but then Grace came out and she switched. Grace, the American Girl, is a pastry chef who goes to Paris. But I'd prefer the village myself. And I must say, you look like a beautiful French pastry chef. Does that help? OH OH and have you seen The Hundred Foot Journey?  Would that village work for your bakery?

Creative Commons Public Domain

What piece of advice would you offer authors who are just starting out?

Authors, we know that each book is a piece of you. And with that you are entrusting us, reviewers, with that piece. Take time to have it well edited. We want to enjoy reading your book and not be buggered up with issues overlooked. It is rare that a reviewer will actually review poorly based on edits, but it has happened.  And also, please remember that if we didn’t love your book, that you asked for OUR opinion, not for us to agree 100% with you.

Same for new reviewers--

Reviewers, follow the genres you love and as a dear friend reminded me “swim in your own lane”. It is great to see other blogs but don’t strive to have your blog be like theirs. It needs to fit you!

I've learned just how much one person can love a book and the next one can be 'meh' about it.  We all have things that we are going to love and not love in fiction. And ugh. Typos. Ugh. I don't want to talk about it. Even after edits they seem to crawl out and show up AFTER they go out in public. But enough about me...

 
Bree is offering a $10. Amazon Gift Card to one of you who comments here and (click) contacts her on her blog   or (click) follows her on Twitter.  Mention your interest in the comments, and on June 1, one of you will be randomly selected!  We'll post the winner here and Bree will contact you. 

You've been a delightful visitor! Thank you!

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Follow Bree around Cyberspace at:
Facebook - Bibliophile Reviews
Twitter - BreeReviews
Instagram - Breannagolightly
Website - Bibliophile Reviews



Readers can always practice reviewing by contacting me, Debra E. Marvin, somewhere...maybe Facebook or debra (at) debraemarvin .com
Thanks for stopping in. Have another croissant!