Armchair BEA Has Begun!

We are excited to be able to take part in  this year's Armchair BEA!  Armchair BEA is a virtual convention put together by a group of outstanding book bloggers.  It is a way for those who are unable to attend Book Expo America or the Book Blogger Convention to join in the fun. 

The first day of Armchair BEA is a day where we all get to know each other.  Below are five questions we chose to answer for Monday's Introduction.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

We are Shel, Bel and Nat.  We have known each other for many years but have been blogging since July 2010 (come back for our 1 year anniversary celebration)! We love to read and found that our post-movie pie sessions were spent discussing our most recent reads, thus, like a science experiment gone wrong, the BiblioJunkies were created...

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

Shel - Currently reading Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot.  Hmm, my favorite read in 2012?  Yikes.  I recently read the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter and thoroughly enjoyed those, Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep, Storm by Brigid Kemmerer, Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout, The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen, all of the Jill Shalvis books in all the land...  Hell, can you tell I have trouble with commitment? 

Bel - Favourite read so far in 2012: Chase In Shadow. It's not an easy read with virtually every chapter feeling like a swift punch to the gut but that's also why I love it so much. Amy Lane is an exceptional writer! She has a special gift for describing intense human emotions and making them come to life. The book has left a deep impression on me and I think about it and the characters often. And because of Amy Lane's magic, the characters of Chase and Tommy - so flawed and yet so beautiful - are real to me.

Nat - I am currently reading Straight Talk by Tera Lynn Childs.  I have three favorite reads so far this year:  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane and Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess).  As usual, I can't commit to just one favorite book.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

Shel - I could trip and fall on my face walking across a perfectly smooth surface.  Yes, I am that coordinated.  Also, my life tends toward the ridiculous (ask Nat about the time I threw my house keys in the dumpster *sigh*).

Bel -  In high school I was in a singing/dance group. We were a trio. Singing part I was okay at. Dance part I was rubbish at. Still it was a blast.

Nat  - I recently decided to watch the Spanish television show Física o Química sans subtitles.  My Spanish is rusty at best so it has been a learning experience.  Good thing all the actors and actresses are beautiful.  They are a lovely distraction when my brain fizzes out from all the internal translating.

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

We love Bel's Love Letter to Patch Cipriano.  It is also our most visited post.  Bel writes the best fictional love letters and surprises us with letters from our favorite hotties (and once got Shel smacked in the head by her Mom for one of these "letters!").  We hope we can include more in the future.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

Shel - I still read pretty much the same types of books.  I have always loved most categories of fiction so long as they entertain me or make me laugh.  For me a book is a success if I am able to completely lose myself in it.  I adore snarky, sarcastic characters; strong female heroines and dreamy (ie bad boy) heroes.  I do not necessarily need a happily ever after so long as I get to have a few chuckles along the way. 

Bel - My reading tastes have definitely changed. I'd say I'm more open to exploring new genres and writers. I like the fun fantasy/paranormal stuff but I've lately been drawn to stories about an individual's internal struggles. There's something riveting about going through that journey with a character and watching them make a breakthrough. In the past, I'd never have wanted to put myself through such an ordeal. So it's pretty amazing to me that my two favourite books since I started this blog are about characters wrestling with their personal demons and discovering themselves.

Nat - When we first started blogging, I had been reading mostly paranormal YA.  Since then I have developed a love for contemporary YA.  That is now my favorite genre in the YA category.   When it came to adult romance, I used to prefer historicals.  But now, much like my YA preferences, I gravitate towards contemporary romance, particularly m/m romance.