Hi! My name is Danielle, mostly known as Dani, and I am here to talk to you a bit about Love Bytes (review blog).
First of all thank you to Miss R.J. Scott for giving us bloggers this opportunity to talk about our blogs, our passion J
Love Bytes started out as the Blog of Sid Love in April of 2013 under the guidance of my friend Sid Love. When I joined this blog as a reviewer I didn’t expect to be running and owning this blog one day! When things got too busy for Sid to handle, I became part owner of the blog in January 2014 and took over the blog in april 2014 when the name also changed to the current name “Love Bytes “ ( reviews).
So who and what is Love Bytes? I hope that’s what you all want to know J Well first of all LB is a fantastic team of reviewers! Currently consisting of Elizabetta, Taylor, Carissa, Cindy , Roberta, Donna, Vicki, Colette, Irene (though on a hiatus at the moment), new reviewer Petra and guest reviewers Paul and Marieke. Without them there wouldn’t be a Love Bytes!
What is LB and what do you find with us?
Well as it says on our banner we are a same sex review blog, meaning we review any book that has a coupling of the same gender in it. Our main focus is on m/m but we are hoping to add some (more) f/f to the mix in the future.
We review every sort of book: contemporary to bdsm, historical to scifi, fantasy to a menage (on occasion). Name it and one of us has stepped into the genre you are talking about.
Besides having a average of two reviews a day, we also post at least one event post a day consisting of either a guestpost, an interview, or a promo/spotlight post — often accompanied with a giveaway.
What more is there to say? We have a pretty open and easy policy. I think we are open to a lot J
You can reach me anytime for a request for a review on reviews@lovebytesreviews.com, or for a request for any guestpost/ interview/giveaway etc on owner@lovebytesreviews.com.
Besides the reviews and events we also host an authors page spotlight on our blog. Sid started this being the first blog to ask authors if they wanted to do a monthly featured blogpost. Up until this day we still have authors doing a monthly post on a regular basis. (Authors: If you are interested in filling one of the open dates in the month , drop me a mail).
For a blog that started a little more than one and a half years ago and changing layout and name (and owner) just 4 months ago, I am proud, happy, and honored for our loyal base of readers and supporters who visit our blog so regularly.
With the changes happening quite fast and me being not a computer expert, I still feel myself needing to learn some of the different aspects of owning a blog, like working with WordPress for example.
Thanks to the help of others (also other bloggers, I would like to mention that!) I have gotten better and am still eagerly learning. I do want to take this opportunity to thank my friends for having my back especially at the moments that I thought I would get buried under everything that came my way.
All those people, along with my awesome reviewer team, are the reason Love Bytes is up and runs the way it does.
I am not going to name all the friends I am talking about (they know) but I am going to name one because without him, Love Bytes wouldn’t have a banner or images, for example, on top of the fact what he does for me behind the screens. Ash, thank you!
At Love Bytes we also have the opportunity for authors to run advertisements on our blog. You can find them on our page in the left column.
For me the joys of owning this blog are the communications with readers, reviewers, authors, publishers and bloggers, the ability to help in making books known, sharing the pleasures in reading and the joys you can find in a good book, a good review, or a nice post.
So what is a blog post without a giveaway right?
Below you will find a rafflecopter giveaway for a 10 dollar gift card.
To enter there are a few options, I added one specific one to the mix: A question for you to answer.
“What is it that you would like to see or see more of on Love Bytes same sex review blog?“
Good Luck,
Dani J
Email(s): owner@lovebytesreviews.com
reviews@lovebytesreviews.com
Blog: www.lovebytesreviews.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoveBytesReviews
Twitter: @lovebytesreview
Kim Williams says
I check the Love Bytes reviews frequently. The only thing I wish for is I would like to see the number of stars for a review before I go click into the review. Sometimes I only want to read the review if it is a really good book.
Danielle Maas says
The reason we choose to not do this is exactly the reason you mention yourself 🙂 I mean wouldnt it be very sad for a reviewer to spend all that time on writing a review and then people wont read it because it isnt a 5 star rating ? But I will keep it in mind 🙂
Thanks Dani 🙂
Carissa says
As someone who has written some of those lower starred reviews, it is nice to know that they get a chance to be read as much as the higher rated ones. I know they are not going to get as many views as the ones 4-5stars, since what author in their right mind would want to band those about, but they can be some of the more informative and entertaining reviews we have. Sometimes a reviewers taste just don't work well with the story, and from the review you might be able to see if you are a better fit.
Plus, I just spent hours writing the damn thing, it needs a little love and attention too.
(–A Completely Biased Reviewer)
Danielle Maas says
Amen 🙂
Jen CW says
I love your site. I check it daily on top of following it on social media. I can't really think of much other than more reviews. 🙂 Although having seen Kim's entry above, I do have to admit that having the star rating at the beginning would be really nice. I also think a section of recommended reads would be great too!
Danielle Maas says
Aww thank you , that is really nice to say 🙂 We are trying to get some more reviewers so hopefully there will be a bit more reviews coming 🙂 About Kim;s comment I replied to that above
and if you scroll a bit lower on the homepage you will find recommendations below the review and event section there 🙂 Thanks! Dani
Jen CW says
Oh. I looked and didn't see the recommended reads section; guess I need to have my eyes checked. 🙂
Danielle Maas says
All good 😉
Debby says
I visit your blog regularly. I am happy with it the way it. You are doing a great job.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you so much 🙂
Dani
ardent.ereader says
I read your review blog daily! I love the variety of reviews and interviews etc. I think you are doing a fabulous job and cant think of any recommendations.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you 🙂
ShirleyAnn says
I visit your blog every day and get the e-mail notices. I've enjoyed reading your reviews and interviews and of course Giveaways. I think the site is really great I can't think of anything that I would change.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Danielle Maas says
Thanks 🙂
Antonia says
I really enjoy the blog. Just keep the reviews coming! 🙂 Thanks!
Danielle Maas says
Thank you and we will 🙂
Elayne says
I also visit the blog regularly and rely on the reviews for buying inspiration I think you and the team are doing a grand job. So just keep doing what you are doing.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you ! I indeed have an awesome team as mentioned 🙂
Jen says
I also check the blog regularly and especially appreciate the email notifications. I really can't think of anything to change. Please just keep it going! Thanks!!
Danielle Maas says
Thank You !
Anonymous says
I love Love Bytes as it is…though sometimes it would be fun to hear more about gay movies and get recommendations (I know there are a lot of lackluster ones out there)!
Trix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
Carissa says
God, I would love to review some gay movies–mainly because I hardly ever get a chance to watch them because I can't afford it. Don't even know how we would go about that though. (And yeah, there are some pretty bad ones out there, but there are also some I love quite a bit)
Danielle Maas says
I wish there was a way to get to that but unfortunately it would mean having to buy the movies themselves .
Perhaps the onces that are there on Youtube ?
Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Barbra says
I've been following this blog for quite a while and I really can't think of anything I'd change. Keep up the good work. 🙂
Danielle Maas says
Thanks so much !
Lisa G says
Love your blog! Your reviews and recommendations are great. I really enjoy the author interviews – would love to see more.
Danielle Maas says
Thanks for the nice respons I will keep that in mind 🙂
Sherry says
I can't think of anything you need to change about your blog. The reviews are great and I've found sound great books after reading them and of course I love the contest.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you ! I am glad it is how you like it 🙂
Katy Beth McKee says
Oh cool another cool blog to follow.
Danielle Maas says
Would love to have you following 🙂
everybody is welcome 🙂
Serena91291 says
One of the first review blogs I found. I think it's a great site and to me it's good they way it is… Maybe more reviews, lol, cause I really enjoy them 😉
Danielle Maas says
Thank you for the compliment 🙂 I am glad you found us and we try 😉
kathy p says
Love your blog as is! I have found so many great authors and books through this blog!
Danielle Maas says
Thank you that is great to hear 🙂
Jbst says
I enjoy your blog very much. My suggestion would be to add some occasional book reviews of older published books. There are a bunch of good ones that we may have been forgotten and some readers may not know or remember them. New sequels to a series remind readers about that series and author, but can be forgotten over time when the series has ended a few years or more ago.
Carissa says
Personally, I wouldn't mind doing this, but there are just so many books out there to read sometimes it is harder to go back than it is to keep up with what is coming out right this minute. Was there anything is particular that you were thinking of?
Danielle Maas says
I think that is a great idea Jbst . I will be sure to keep it in mind even if it is just something for an occasional thing 🙂
And I hope you answers Carissa's question because I am curious what you would like , also feel free to drop me a mail on one of the above mails !
Thanks Dani
Colette says
Maybe we can each pick an older book that is a special favorite and once a month do a classic reread? That would be one way to get more recommendations out to readers.
Danielle Maas says
Yes was thinking about that I know some do a kind of trowback thing
VThompson says
That would be a great idea….
Jbst says
I agree with Carissa that there are so many interesting books that come out currently or in the last recent months that grab my and other people's attention.
Personally, my TBR pile on my Kindle is huge, but I still can't resist knowing about another good book (new or old) and buying it later.
It wouldn't have to be a regular or monthly event. Maybe, it could be based on a series or single book by an author that one of the team members really enjoyed or loved and wanted to highlight based on certain authors who get forgotten due to not having stories out on a regular or frequent basis. Suggestions by readers could be sent in too.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you so much for suggesting this We will definitely think about this and keep it in mind 🙂
so any suggestions are welcome considering this subject
Thanks! ( also for your mail 🙂 )
Dani
Jill Prand says
I love your blog…….it is one of my favorites for m/m reads! I would love to hear what other readers are thinking by maybe a survey each month to their number one read.
Danielle Maas says
Thanks Jill what a nice compliment 🙂
Thanks for the tip I like that idea . Will have to see how I could manage that 🙂
H.B. says
I've been following the blog regularly since coming upon it. I think you all have a good selections of books reviewed. If anything a good once in a while thing to do would be to focus on writers who aren't better known yet in the m/m genre.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you H.B 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion Thats has been something we have been pondering about before .
Danielle Maas says
Congrats H.B Rafflecopter choose you as the winner !
Paul says
I read almost every post on the Blog. And as a occasional reviewer (sadly my time is sparse), I try to do the writer justice by reviewing the book on its own merits. Sometimes the theme of a book isn't my thing, but then I still think there are readers out there that love the theme. My personal taste and the raw quality of the writing are two separate things. I try to focus on both in a review. Love the suggestion of doing some older books, because it might show us that the genre is evolving and getting better in time, thanks to some of the brilliant authors out there
Ashley E says
I would love to see more F/F on the blog!
Danielle Maas says
I am trying hard but it is so hard to get a f/f reviewer!
If anyone is interested or willing or knows someone Please!! point them to me 🙂
mail me on : reviews@lovebytesreviews.com
Allison Hickman says
I visit the blog all the time, probably every week day at least. I think it covers everything it needs to and is very well done. Perhaps covering books that don't fall strictly into the romance category would be an interesting way to expand.
Danielle Maas says
Thank you allison 🙂 for the compliment and the suggestion 🙂
Rodney Batterman says
I love your blog. One thing I might like to see is a monthly or weekly recommendation of your top reads.
Danielle Maas says
Thanks for the suggestion Rod!