2011 Highlights & 2nd Blogoversary Giveaway

Today is actually my second blogoversary and I've had so many amazing experiences thanks to the blog.  I thought it would be nice to have a quick look back at some of the highlights of 2011 before I celebrate the blog birthday with a giveaway.

Most importantly I've made some wonderful friends through blogging and I don't know what I'd do without you all.  I'm too scared to list you all here because I just know I'd forget someone important but you all know who you are!  I love you all & can't wait to see more of you in 2012!

Particular highlights this year have included going to stay with Kirsty in Norfolk and sharing the experience of spending a night at Hogwarts (Alnwick Castle) with her and some of my other favourite bloggers, afternoon tea with the Duchess of Northumberland and dinner in an amazing tree house restaurant - how can you beat that?  You can read all about it here.

Jenny, Carla, Ana, Vicki, Amanda, Kirsty, Lynsey, Liz, me & Susan

Vicki, Susan, Kirsty & me

I love these girls!

Then of course there was the Authors After Dark con where I got to meet two of my favourite authors ever - Lara Adrian and Larissa Ione along with many, many more authors and some wonderful international bloggers.  I finally posted my write up for AAD yesterday (read it here) and without a doubt it was one of the best parts of 2011.

With Lara Adrian

With Larissa Ione

I had the opportunity to meet so many different authors last year that I can't possibly list them all here but I'd like to thank all of the publishers (and publicists) who have gone to the effort of organising wonderful events for us bloggers.  Thanks also for sending me so many wonderful books to review, I have tried so many new books - even ones outside my normal comfort zones - because of you all and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

I never dreamed that blogging would bring all the wonderful opportunities that it has done.  I just wanted a place to keep a record of the books I'd been reading and never dreamed that so many people would actually be interested in what I've got to say.  Thank you to every single person who has ever visited the blog, whether you've commented or not I appreciate every single one of you (although I have to say a special thanks to those who have commented - I love reading your messages!).

Now it's time for a giveaway, I can't afford to do the same kind of blogoversary giveaway that I did last year (I wish I could but the postage costs nearly killed me & I'm still low on funds after the cost of Christmas).  I struggled for ages trying to decide which book/s to give away but in the end I decided to go with a voucher so the winner can choose something that they really want to read.

Giveaway Details:

There will be one winner and they can choose ONE of the following prizes:

• A £10 Voucher for Amazon UK
• OR books of their choice up to the value of £10 from The Book Depository (only available if they offer free delivery to where you live - check here to make sure)

Giveaway terms & conditions:

• Giveaway is international (anyone can win the £10 Amazon voucher but the Book Depository option is only available to the countries detailed at the link above)
• Giveaway closes on the 15th of January at 12:01 EST and the winner will be contacted by email soon afterwards
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entries received
• The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email confirming which prize they would like or a new winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway