Romantic Novelists' Association

Michelle Cunliffe: Boonies123 Blog

10 September 2018

I’m delighted to welcome to the blog Michelle Cunliffe – book blogger and Mills and Boon insider. She’s also a fellow East Yorkshire person (yay!).

Hi Michelle, welcome to the RNA blog. Can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?

I have been married to my husband Jay Cunliffe for 18 years, I’m also his carer. When Jay has a bad day I do all my reading and write reviews.

 

What made you start to review/blog?

Because I’m a carer for my husband I wanted to have a hobby and I like being on social media, also I love reading this was perfect for me and I could fit in while looking after my husband.

 

What’s the best and worst thing about running a blog?

The best is being able to write reviews and tell other readers who great the book is, and from this I have had people thanking me for recommending the books I have been reading.

The worst is trying to get people to go to my blog and read the reviews, and thinking of ways to make the blog more interesting.

 

What is your review policy? Are there any genres you don’t read?

If I have already reviewed for an author, then I will automatically review again, if the author wants me to.  Depending on how much I have to read and review I will ask new authors or they come to me.

The genres that I don’t read are Sci-fi, Fantasy, adventure and medical.

 

I see you’re a Mills and Boon Insider – can you tell us a bit about that?

It was January 2017 when Mills and Boon on Facebook asked for reviewers, I went to their web page and filled in the form and it was over a month later I received a letter to say they have accepted me.

I what have to do is M&B send me a email with either 3 or 4 books and if you want to review them then you request them through Netgalley, and the reviews have to be done for the book release, then you are adding the reviews on Amazon UK

and Goodreads.   What I get back in return is, apart from getting books before they are released, I occasionally get a surprise this could be a box with some treats or a free book and some chocolate.

 

Do you ever read just for fun or do you review every book you read?

I have noticed that every book I read whether that’s for fun or for author/publisher I do leave a review now.  I suppose, having been a reviewer for a year I have just got into the habit of leaving one.

 

What do you like to do when you’re not working or reading?

My favourite programme is Poldark especially Aidan Turner.  I think I have bored everyone on Facebook and Twitter about how fabulous he is LOL.

I also like watching 24 hours A&E, Police Interceptors and police dramas. The current favourite is Unforgotten.  I love baking and watching cooking programmes.

 

We often ask our guests what they consider to be the next “big thing” – what do you hope to see more of in 2018 – 2019?

I would love to see more authors from different cultures writing romance.

 

Thank you so much for coming and chatting to us, Michelle.

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You can find Michelle’s book reviews on her blog.

You can also catch up with her on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

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Rhoda Baxter writes feel good stories about strong women and nice guy heroes. She especially likes it when they make her laugh. She also writes multi-cultural romances as Jeevani Charika. You can find out more about her award nominated books and mentoring services on www.rhodabaxter.com