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Reviews

11/28/2020 0 Comments

12 Days of a Literary Christmas

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Come back December 1st for the beginning of 12 Days of a Literary Christmas where I feature 12 different categories with 12 hand selected items for the book lover in your life. 
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11/27/2020 0 Comments

The Road to Woop Woop Blog Tour Giveaway

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"Eugen Bacon’s work is cheeky with a fierce intelligence, in prose that’s resplendent, delicious, dark and evocative. NPR called her novel Claiming T-Mo ‘a confounding mysterious tour de force’. The Road to Woop Woop and Other Stories imbues the same lushness in a writerly language that is Bacon’s own. This peculiar hybrid of the untraditional, the extraordinary within, without and along the borders of normalcy will hypnotise and absorb the reader with tales that refuse to be labelled. The stories in this collection are dirges that cross genres in astounding ways. Over 20 provocative tales, with seven original to this collection, by an award-winning African Australian author."

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11/21/2020 0 Comments

The Case for Paid Book Reviews

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Paid book reviews are not an industry standard because some feel that it poses an ethics problem, but I believe that NOT paying reviewers for their time is equally problematic. Why should those that do it, do it for free, or in exchange for an advanced eBook or physical copy? Factor in the time it takes to read an average novel (dependent on the reader) and the time it takes to write a concise and in-depth review, and that equals to less $5 an hour. I know that the time I spend carefully reading and analyzing a novel and writing a thoughtful review is worth more than that, especially when you consider the sales that the author may receive due to my review and/or promotion on my various social media pages.

“Paid” doesn’t necessarily mean “paid off”. Authors are paying for the reviewer’s time; just because someone enjoys reading, doesn’t mean that their time isn’t valuable, and reviews, when done well, take time and planning. Sometimes the author wants a well-written review from someone who will read objectively or from an educated standpoint. A good reviewer also knows how to give constructive criticism, not just, “I didn’t like it,” which is harmful. Expert reviewers know that some writing styles may not be to their taste but that doesn’t mean that a good story isn’t there, or that there is an audience for that particular style. There are many people on social media promoting books through pictures and reviews, but a proficient review is what elevates a book from a “like” to “checkout”.
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Paying for a review doesn’t call into question an author’s credibility, it means that the author values a reviewer’s time and opinion. To expect reviewers to “work for books” is an industry standard that needs to be changed.

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11/20/2020 0 Comments

Book Cover Reveal

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I was so excited to be asked to be part of the cover reveal for Jackie Kabler's newest book! I absolutely loved The Perfect Couple and I look forward to reading The Happy Family. 
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11/20/2020 0 Comments

New Logo

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It was time to get rid of my outdated (but lovely) profile picture on some of my social media and upgrading to a sleek new logo! In the new year I will be focusing more on advertising for my paid reviews and tours.

Reviewers are worth more than a free book, and while we may love the book and our authors, our time is valuable and the words we provide are essential to the success and visibility of any book. Necessary services are compensated accordingly, and it's time that paid reviews are more common! 

If you need your book read and reviewed, or a tour organized, you can find more info here! 
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11/9/2020 0 Comments

The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot's Revenge by Holly Rae Garcia

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The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot's RevengeThe Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot's Revenge by Holly Rae Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grisly, gory, and glorious! I’m a fan of creature features and this was the perfect snack of hairy and smelly monsters. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, I can appreciate a good Bigfoot story, having been called by the moniker a few times myself. I fully enjoyed this story, from the sweeping mountain landscapes, to the disturbing scenes of torn limbs and vengeful actions. My only complaint is that this story wasn’t longer.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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11/9/2020 0 Comments

In the Clearing by J.P. Pomare

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In the ClearingIn the Clearing by J.P. Pomare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cults and the psychology behind their leaders and followers has fascinated me for years, so I was excited to read this book. The split narrations adds an interesting depth to the story. The pace moves quickly and surprises pop up on a regular basis, keeping it engaging and fun. The author manages to capture all the elements of the typical cult experience while adding a necessary personal touch to keep it relevant and original. This was an entertaining and enjoyable weekend read.

Thank you, Mulholland Books, for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

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11/9/2020 0 Comments

It Will Just Be Us by Jo Kaplan

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It Will Just Be UsIt Will Just Be Us by Jo Kaplan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Spooky yet unremarkable. Fraught with familial drama and generic tropes, I found reading this book to be a bit of a chore. I’m always a fan of scary houses and strange histories, but this one was tough to wrap my head around, and the overall dysthymia of the book was more annoying than atmospheric.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

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11/9/2020 0 Comments

The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter

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The PreserveThe Preserve by Ariel S. Winter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An entertaining social commentary on politics and advancing technology, I felt it lacked depth and left a lot unexplained. I would have enjoyed knowing more of the backstory as it felt like I picked up a book in the middle of a series. Characters and relationships were dynamic but the story was often confusing or hard to follow. This story has a lot to offer and lots of room to grow.

Thank you, Atria Books, for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

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11/9/2020 0 Comments

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

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The Drowning KindThe Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jennifer McMahon is one of my absolute favorite authors for spooky reading and The Drowning Kind did not disappoint.

Jax is a character I can relate to in an almost scary personal level. We both have a deceased sibling that suffered from bipolar disorder, and we come from a family that prefers to keep things in the dark and in the past. I immediately understood the frustration of handling someone with erratic behaviors, the highs and lows of mania and the subsequent depression. I won’t even get into my other family issues, but already knowing where Jax was coming from made this story hit a little bit different.

McMahon’s method of storytelling takes the reader back and forth from the present and the past in a way that slowly peels back the layers of mystery and reveals the frightening conclusion. Even if you think you have predicted the ending, there are still a few unforeseen surprises. Each character brings a necessary component and is fully and expertly developed.

I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and I will agonizingly await for McMahon’s next creation.

Thank you, Gallery Books, for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

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