One year into reviewing - My thoughts on my reviews

It’s been a little over a year since I first started reviewing books. I’ve learned quite a lot during this past year. Let me share what I’ve learned and how I like each publisher’s blogging program.

What I’ve Learned

The biggest thing I’ve learned is to keep my reviews short. My first review was really wordy. And I think it was too wordy. Here is my first review. So instead of trying to tell the entire story, I’ll do a brief summary, a paragraph of what I liked/didn’t like about the book. And who I’d recommend it to.

My early reviews also didn’t have me rating them. I saw on another blog that I follow that the author gives each book an xx star out of 5 star rating. So I snagged that idea. I then decided I wanted to add a picture of the stars into my blog post. I googled star images, but didn’t find any I liked. Then I had a brainstorm! I could utilize the drawing tools in Word and make my stars. So I did. I created a new document, drew my stars, filled them with green, and saved the document. My next dilemma – how to save them as a JPEG or GIF file? Another brainstorm – use Paint. So I did. And it was really very simple.

Blog Tours. I’d had no idea what one was before I did my first one for Promise Me This. It’s a book review tour that the publisher sets up on various blogs to promote the book. I really enjoyed being a part of that one. It made it easy on me that I was given a specific date I had to post my review on my blog.

I’ve learned how to schedule posts. If I’ve finished a book, and I’m not allowed to post the review until such and such a date, then not a problem. I just schedule the post to hit my blog on the date I need it to. Kinda nice really. Then all I have to do is go back and copy my review from my blog onto amazon & goodreads.

Best part of reviewing books – I get to keep them! Seriously, I’ve not spent over $500 on books. I’ve also discovered some really great authors that I probably wouldn’t have picked up at the store otherwise. Authors like Jody Hedlund, Regina Jennings, Shannon Dittmoore, Katie Ganshert, Cathy Gohlke, and others. I’ve had so much fun reading new authors or new to me authors.

I’ve discovered it’s fun to reward my followers with a giveaway. I don’t do them often, usually about once a month, and I’m terrible at remembering to mail the prize. But I’m working on that. A lot of the books I’ll give away will be ones I’ve reviewed and I’ve decided to share the book with others. They may books that for whatever weren’t my absolute favorites, or ones that I didn’t loan out to my cousin or my mom or a friend, but I figure that even if I didn’t really enjoy the book, someone else may. I’ve seen a couple of different tools for giveaways. One is random.org. This is a random number generator and is really simple to use. Another one I’ve seen, and it tracks entries, is rafflecopter. I’ve not tried it yet, but I’m intrigued by it.

Publisher Blogging Programs

While there may be things I don’t really care for in these programs, I still enjoy the overall program and will continue to be a part of it. These are just my thoughts on the different publisher’s programs. All of the programs require me to post a review on my blog & a retailer’s website. I have also gotten into the habit of posting my reviews on Goodreads. I’m slowly starting to post them on Pintrest, Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Blogging for Books – This is the blog program for Waterbrook/Multnomah. It’s pretty easy to understand. I told them what types of books I enjoy, and books that fall into those categories are available for me to review. There are usually both print copies and e-copies of the books. As part of their program, reviews are posted on their site, my personal blog, and a retailer site. I typically post them on amazon.

I’ve read several really good books from Waterbrook/Multnomah. I’ve also read a few that I didn’t care for. The communication is great. If I have any questions at all, I just shoot out an email, and I get a reply really quickly. I like the fact that other readers can rank each review. It’s kinda fun to see the rankings on my reviews when I go and manage my reviews. There are a couple of things I don’t like about the program. One is I can only have one book out at a time. Most of the time that’s a good thing since I always have a TON to read. But there are times when I see two titles and I want to review them both. I also don’t really like Klout. I’ve yet to figure out how Klout increases my reviews, but whatever.

Booksneeze – This is the blog program for Thomas Nelson. Every time I log on to their site, I have a chance to see all of the titles available to review. I love that. I also have found the monthly emails really helpful. They tell me what books are available and what dates they will be released. All I have to do in this program is post my links on their website.

What I don’t like about it, the fiction titles go fast! So in order for me to get the fiction title I want, I either have to stay up til midnight or wake up early. With my needing to leave my home by 6:30 in the mornings to drive in to work, I’ve not yet had the problem of not having any titles I want to review being gone. I also see in their monthly email several titles I’d like to review, but I’m only allowed to request one at a time. So that’s something I don’t really care for on that. I think that I’ve only read 2 books from Thomas Nelson that aren’t “keepers.”

Tyndale Blog Network – This is the program for Tyndale. When I first applied to it, I had to wait a month or so before I was approved to join in. And that’s because I had just started my blog, so I had very few followers. On their site, I post my links to my review on my blog and on Amazon.

I don’t like having to enter a word verification each time I log onto their site to post a review. I’m also not too thrilled with links must be approved before I can request another title. I’ve gotten 4 books so far through this program. The one nonfiction one I’ve gotten has been passed around to some of my Mary Kay sisters. What I’ve liked about this program is that the books have been really pretty good. Each of the four are by authors I’d not read (or have read very little from). So I’m exposed to new authors.

Bethany House Publishers – This is one that I get an email anytime there are books available and I am allowed to select one per email. So I typically have 2 or 3 books from them out at a time. I’m part of both their contemporary fiction & historical fiction groups.

With the exception of one book, I’ve really enjoyed each and every one I’ve reviewed for Bethany House. Once I’ve read the book, I send an email to Bethany House and enclose my links. What I wish was better is the communication between the editor and myself. I may email to ask a question, and I don’t really get a response.

Revell Books – This is the program for Revell Books, a division of Baker Book House. This is an invitation only program. I’ve only been doing this one since May, and I love it. I get an email each time that there is a blog tour. I’m given a chance to participate in it. If I don’t want to, then I don’t reply to the email.

What I love the most about this, is like Bethany House, I can have more than one book out at a time. I also like being given a specific date range in which I must post my review. This makes me actually read the book by that date. Once I have my review posted, I send an email to them and enclose my links. The communication has been great. Any time I’ve had questions, I shoot out an email, and I get a reply within a couple of days.

Overall, I’ve loved being a part of these review programs. And I’ve had several authors stop by my blog too. It’s rather fun. I look forward to what the next year brings as far as books.

Some of friends have also started to ask me to review this book or that book. I don't have a problem doing that as long as they are aware that it may take me a bit to get to those books.

*There are links to the publishers websites and review programs on the page called "Publishers I Review For."

Fools Rush In - A Review

Bella Rossi has taken over her family's wedding business. She's busy planning her first themed wedding - a Boot Scootin' Wedding. Between knowing nothing about cowboys, Western decor, and country music, she's got her work cut out for her. Add into the mix her pasta-loving Italian family, a bird that needs to be reformed, an ex-boyfriend who hasn't figured out she's moved on, and a handsome cowboy that makes her melt, she's starting to wonder if she's taken on more than she can handle. But evidently God has a sense of humor as He gently shows Bella all her worries are for naught.

After reading one of Janice Thompson's Backstage Pass series, I knew I had to read this one. Especially since I'd gotten it as a free Kindle download. This book is hilarious. I felt at times that Bella's family was straight out of one of the Italian mafia movies, only in a good way. I'll be quickly adding the rest of the series onto my reading pile.

I read the Kindle edition when it was a free download.

Rating - 4 stars

If this book is still free on the Kindle and you've not gotten it yet, I highly recommend it. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.

Prophet - A Review

Ela of Parne loves the Infinite. When He calls her to become His prophet, she doesn't refuse. With her sister, she sets out to follow the will of the Infinite. When she's thrown into prison for speaking the Word, she meets a young Tracelander, Kein Lantec, and they form an unlikely partnership. He is one of the few she's come into contact with that actually seeks the Infinite. Ela knows that prophets die young. Will her fate be death at seventeen or will the Infinite in His mercy have other plans for her and Kein?

It's hard to break into Christian fantasy. Yet, I feel that R. J. Larson has written a novel that does just that - break into Christian fantasy with a fresh voice. Early into the book, around the third page, I was captivated. My personal favorite character Was Ela's destroyer horse, Pet. The way that Pet protected her and was reluctant to let her out of his sight was quite funny. Even when Pet had been ordered to obey Kein. I recognized several Old Testament prophets and their stories in Ela's story. One thing that I picked up on, was that Ela understood the depths of her Creator's love. And she realized that she was worthless without Him.

I'm looking forward to book 2, Judge.

I recommend this book to Christian fantasy fans, fans of JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Brandon Sanderson, and fantasy lovers everywhere.

I received this book for free from the publisher, Bethany House, for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars

The Gifted - A Review

Jessamine Brady has spent the majority of her life in the quiet Shaker village. Her natural curiosity about life and the things of the world are considered sinful. When she happens to save the life of a man of the world, her entire foundation is questioned. Tristan Cooper is running from a future he's not sure of when he wakes up in the Shaker village. Drawn by their quiet ways, he uses the time to think about his life and the direction it's taking. A startling revelation from a forgotten letter set events into motion that Jessamine is helpless to stop. Will she find the love and happiness that she longs for or will she learn to be content in the village where she's grown up in?

I have never read anything by Ann Gabhart before or about the Shakers. While I did have some trouble wrapping my head around some of the Shaker beliefs, I allowed myself to get immersed into the story. Jessamine's curiosity about the world parallels Tristan's search for answers. They both long to be free. She to use her imagination and he to live his own life. There is a refrain that the Shakers sing at their meetings that is the biggest theme of the book - the gift to be free and the gift to be simple. Both Jessamine and Tristan come to understand those gifts in their own way. I especially loved the secondary character of Sister Sophrena and her journal entries. Through her we see the struggle that Jessamine goes through. Overall this was a very good book and I'll probably try to find the others in the series to read.


I received this book for free from Revell publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.


The Gifted is available in July, 2012 from your favorite bookseller courtesy of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


Rating - 4 stars

Director's Cut - A Review

Tia Morales is the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide. On the set, she's the one calling the shots and in control. Yet her life off of the set is anything but controlled. Her family has their own problems and somehow Tia's in the center of them all. Yet when she admits to herself that she's got feelings for camerman Jason Harris, she finds herself out of her comfort zone. Will she let down her guard long enough to let love in? Or will she fight a tug-of-war battle with the God of the universe who wants to show her who is really in control?

I've never read anything Janice Thompson has written until now. Yes this is the third book in the Backstage Pass series, but I didn't have to read the others to know what was going on. This book had me laughing so much. Of course it took me until chapter four to realize that the chapter titles were really television shows. Tia struggles with the same things that so many of us struggle with, and that is allowing God to take control of our lives and for us to let go. Yet the moment that she comes to the realization that she needs to let go, it was beautiful. While I do wish that there was more of the romance between Jason & Tia in the story, overall the book was a great read. It's a romantic comedy that teaches some good lessons.


I look forward to reading both the Weddings By Bella Series and the other books in the Backstage Pass series.

This book is available in June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell Publishing Group, a division of Baker Publishing. 

I received this book for free from Revell for the purpose of reviewing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars

Extra goodies from the publisher
The author, Janice Thompson has spent time in Hollywood as a director. This blog post tells of some of her experiences.  

Also Family Fiction magazine has published an article about the Backstage Pass series. The article can be found here.

Prize mailings

For my giveaway winners from May & June, Sharisa (May), Nicole & Laura (June):

I've not mailed your prizes yet girls. They're here. Just not yet made it to the post office to drop them in the mail. You will get them soon as I hope to make it to the post office this week.

Starring Me - A Review

Kara McCormick is one of ten girls selected to audition in a new teen variety show. The girls don't know who their co-star will be. The ten girls spend a month living together in a house with an eccentric housemother while going through a series of different auditions. Chad Beacon, popular teen singer, wants to expand his horizons and try his hand at acting and writing in addition to singing. With his parents, he's agreed to allow family friend Flora supervise the auditions of the girls who will be his co-star. The biggest condition that the family has is that the girl be a Christian. Kara isn't too sure about God, but He's sure about her. Will she allow the pettiness of the girls in the house to influence her and change her or will the people that God has placed in her life, including Chad, draw her to a forever relationship with the God of the universe?

I was delighted to see a book about Kara. I'd met her in Krista McGee's first book, First Date where Kara was a minor character. Kara is a delightful, spunky, and not afraid to admit that she's skeptical of God. Chad's faith is strong, and it's nice to see a teen male who respects the wishes of his parents. This book was a delightful read and I look forward to Krista McGee's third book due out in the winter.

I recommend this to teens, preteens, and anyone who enjoys a fun story.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 5 stars