Tag: blog review

Books, indie author, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews, scifi, Urban Fantasy

The Pre-Review

Karen

I have a conundrum. I hate pre-reviews. You know the reviews that people put up on books before they are released. The 5 star ratings that say “I CAN’T WAIT!!!” with unicorns and rainbows, but they haven’t actually read the book yet. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. They make me so crazy for these top three reasons:

  1. They dilute any real ARC reviews. If I’m looking at reviews to purchase a book, I can’t trust the rating because who knows how many 5 stars are just people that are excited to get a book. The ARC readers could be rating it 5 stars but now the true average is skewed.
  2. It hurts the authors and publishers. They tend to get alot of likes, so they are at the top. This is a problem because when I’m looking for an actual review, all I find is…OMG when am I going to get this book!!!! and not anything with substance. After awhile I get sick of shifting through them all and sometimes just give up. The sad part is after a book comes out, some of these 5 stars will get changed to lower ratings once the book is read.
  3. They use the likes later for a real review. You see people like those “I can’t wait reviews” because neither can they. And they can build up to a 100 likes in a year. But here is the twisted part, the reviewer can then edit it to a real review and keep the likes automatically becoming a top review, without any work (or sometimes without a good review) because they keep those likes. Then they get more for the actual review, it’s like getting double points, or let’s just call a spade a spade it’s like cheating.

But here is my problem, you have sites like Amazon that “fixed” this problem by just not allowing reviews of any book before its release. Now when I go to review any ARC I receive I can’t put a review on Amazon. I always intend to go back, but you know what they say about good intentions.

So which way is better, let anyone review anytime or only allow reviews once the book is released to stop all the 5 star previews that haven’t read? Les suggested giving the ARC readers a code to allow them to review, but who would we get the code from and would you need  one for every site? I don’t know the solution or which way is better, frankly I see pros and cons in both system but you guys always have the best feedback so I figured I’d put it out there and see what you have to say…

Books, great reads, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews

Happy Pants Cafe by: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Les

Well just look at the name. I have to admit I love Mimi Jean Pamfiloff books. I read one book and I was done for. I love the way she writes, and the story lines.

Ok, so two reporters are at a wedding of a famous movie star, where no press is allowed. They are both trying to get an exclusive with the bride and things turn into a disaster. Albeit, a hilarious one, but a disaster none the less.

After being kicked out of the wedding, Harper convinces her editor that she has a better story. She is going to find out the story behind the happy pants café, where all these celebrities are meeting their husbands.

She arrives in town and the line is down the street for the café. She then bumps into the Austin (the other reporter from the wedding). They argue and of course things get out of hand. There are arrests, community service, cookies, parties, crazy people, always crazy people, a farm and a sheriff that just wants them gone. People are getting fired and others getting offers, however nothing is as it seems at the Happy Pants Café.

They get into so much trouble together, it is amazing. As per my usual Harper gets on my nerves sometimes. I won’t tell you anymore. You need to read it for yourself. It is hilarious, crazy, and you won’t want to put it down. I think I read this story in one day.

I told you there were some books I wish I had found sooner, and this is one of them.

Give it a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Peace,

Les

Books, great reads, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews

Sorry Guys!

Les

I am so sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I have been super busy with work! So a little run down on what I have been up to:

I have been building a new reservation system for work, along with my regular demanding duties as well as training two new people, conference calls, meetings, crazy girl drama. Isn’t it funny an office full of girls always seems to have weird drama.

So after months of this I am finally done with the system, and basically finished training the newest girl, although in light of today, we do have some things to discuss.

But do not worry I have been reading when I can, because I mean I had previous deadline commitments to meet. I have so many books to go over with you guys. The great ones, the good ones and the bad ones. Ones I feel duped into reading and ones I know I am totally to blame. Some I wish I would have found sooner.

So I promise to have a blog for you guys tomorrow, and Tuesday I think I will blog and I have a Meredith Wild giveaway offer for you guys.

Until Tomorrow!

Peace

Les

Books, great reads, Reviews

Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster

debra

Ms. Foster is one of my favorite go-to authors.  I love her writing.  You see her characters as real people that you just can’t help but grow to care about.

We finally have the story for Armie and Rissy and Ms. Foster does not disappoint! Fighting Dirty is the fourth and final installment of her Ultimate Series.  This series follows the lives of several fighters in the SBC, a fictional ultimate fighting company. In many series, I think there is one character that seems to capture the imagination and affection of the readers and all of us wait for that character’s book.  In Ms. Foster’s Ultimate Series that character is Armie.   I, along with a lot of her readers, have been fascinated by Armie from the very beginning. We have seen small snippets of their story throughout the prior books in this series.  He is a character with a dark secret in his past, an uninhibited outlook on physical relationships and he absolutely has a heart of gold towards people he cares about.  He has been in love with Rissy for years, yet he never admitted it and never pursued her due to his belief that he wasn’t the right man for her.  Rissy is the little sister of Cannon Colter (the hero from No Limits), Armie’s best friend who has stood by him through everything—including Armie’s past.  That alone made Rissy off limits for him.  Coupled with the fact that Rissy is a “good girl” in Armie’s book, he knows that they will never have a future.  What he did not count on was Rissy herself and her views on things.  Rissy loves Armie just as he is and accepts him for who he is.  I was glad that Armie shared his secret with Rissy early on and I thought her acceptance of Armie was a well-written scene.  Rissy is a strong female lead and a great match for Armie.  There is also a suspense plotline ranging from a bank robbery where Armie saves everyone to an attack on one of the characters just to keep things  interesting.

I loved this story.  Both Armie and Rissy are great characters and the chemistry between them is smokin’ hot yet there is also a sense of sweetness about them.  You actually root for these characters to make it.  This story also has some nice humor in it.  I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous books  in this book. I have always enjoyed Ms. Foster’s dialogue in her stories.  The dialogue is believable and well-written.  I hate to see this series end but am always looking forward to the next series she writes.

I received an ARC of Fighting Dirty in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Reading,

Debra