Professional Book Reviews

Top Relationship Book Review

2010-02-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

By J. Keys

So you're a woman who has been looking for some relationship help when dealing with men, but aren't sure whether it's worth investing the $29-$49 for an e-book. There are a lot that are duds and should be avoided, but for the sake of altruism, I've selected the top three in the online market.

1. "The Women Men Adore" - Dr Bob Grant

This e-book is the result of two decades of experience in working with women who have sought advice in dealing with men. They may have been single at the time or desperately trying to hold together a rusting relationship with a man they couldn't afford to lose. Dr Bob Grant has been affectionately referred to as, "The Relationship Doctor" for his prowess in understanding women and their problems.

His approach in "The Women Men Adore" is not to belittle women by "perfecting them" in the eyes of men. Rather, it's what Dr Grant deems is the best response to women's wishes to attract or keep their man. He proposed that the only way that a woman could successfully keep a man for the long-term is if she changed from the inside-out; Grant does not believe in "quick-fix" schemes for women, but empowering women in "The Women Men Adore". Hence, the bonus of buying and reading, "The Women Men Adore" is that women receive life-long skills that can be applied to other situations, such as career and family.

2. "Passion Keys" - Steve Ubah

Ubah does not possess the credibility that Grant wields, yet his unorthodox style in "Passion Keys" is something to be reckoned with. Unlike Grant who focuses on women, Ubah deals with what he is good at, that is, understanding his own male mind. He proposes that all males have 33 "Passion Keys" that, when "tapped" correctly, will unlock pent-up passion that's been hidden even from the man himself. This is all to the female's benefit, of course.

Eccentric techniques such as "ego caressing" and "making love to the male mind" might seem familiar to most women, yet Ubah explains it in such a way that many women have exclaimed that each time they read the "Passion Key" they can think of new ways to attract their man. "Passion Keys" is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

3. "Men Made Easy" - Dr Kara Oh

Many men may scoff at the slightly sexist title, but really, this little tome is a book written by a woman, for women. Oh holds a PhD and thus is an expert in her field. She travelled the United States, talking to average women who simpled wanted to land their ideal guy. Being female, she obviously could empathize much better with her clients and this is shown in "Men Made Easy".

Oh adopts a sisterly yet stern tone in addressing women who struggle to understand why their relationships with men keep falling apart. If you're single or in a relationship, this e-book will help improve your relationship with your man many-fold. She corrects common behaviour amongst females, such as talking to girlfriends about "guy problems" and alerts women to many things they do that they think attract men, but really it drives them away. I can account for this; purchasing the book and reading it myself, I found myself nodding and agreeing to many of the things suggested in "Men Made Easy" (I'm male by the way).

Hopefully you've found this relationship book review of use to you. If you think you're in need of some quick relationship advice, investing in "The Women Men Adore", "Passion Keys" or "Men Made Easy" are your go-to books.
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How to Write a Book Review

2010-02-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Dries Cronje

One of my favorite pastimes is reading. I literally devour books, up to 6 per month. As I am reading, I often realize that what the author is sharing is a profound truth that needs to be realized, and implemented, by more people in our world.

I do not have enough reading friends (to tell about the book) to feel satisfied that I played my part in spreading this truth. The solution? I write reviews online.

When you write a book review online, you are spreading the news about it. You are creating awareness, and promoting the book. As people see and read your review, they will most probably be enticed to read the book (if it's a good review) and the message of the book is spread further and wider.

The only question that remains is "How do I write a successful, high-quality book review?" I hope to answer that in the rest of this article.

Firstly, a set recipe for creating a book review is not necessarily a good idea. Organic is the new way. People like to read something from the heart, something natural and authentic. Something organic. Therefore, let your emotions and your heart be your guide.

Write about books that you feel passionate about (why in the world create a buzz about something you dislike?), but also write the review in a way that communicates your strongest emotions on the subject matter.

Secondly, use short, sharp sentences and paragraphs of four or fewer sentences. Reading an online review is something that you are supposed to enjoy. Fancy, difficult-to-grasp words, complicated sentences or paragraphs that look like pages hardly ever contribute to my enjoyment of reading anything online.

I prefer lots of white space, and writing that communicates FAST.

As a third point, I will consider adding a section on how the book read. You will agree with me that some books read easier than others. Is this book long? Did you need to fetch the dictionary once or twice? How long are the pages? What is the font size used?

How many footnotes were used? Did that distract you? All these things are factors contributing to the reading experience. And where better to talk about a reading experience than in a book review?

Fourthly, I would consider making the main aim of my review to share the main message of the book. What sells a book is its message, or topic. Share with you readers what this is, in your opinion, and share with them why you are excited about this message.

I prefer never to write about books that I am not excited about, or that I would like to criticize. I am not a criticizer... I just want to promote quality, useful books. Books that will make a difference in other people's lives.

Finally, add some structure to your review. Share your main thoughts in the first few paragraphs, while making sure you introduce the book thoroughly. End the review with a Conclusion, maybe right after telling readers what the book meant to you personally.

What better proof is there of the fact that a book is life changing than the testimony of someone who read it? Go on, share your story. Tell those readers how and why this book made a positive impact on your life.

Good reviews conform to certain accepted length guidelines. I would call a 300 word review short, an 800 word review solid, and a 1,300 word review long.

So, there you have it. My advice for writing an online book review. What do you do once you have completed it? Good question. You can post it on your own blog, or website.

If you are going to publish reviews on your own site or blog, consider rating the reviews. Five stars to a good review and four stars to a fair review. If a book deserves less stars than that, I will not write about it.

You can also post reviews on the Amazon website.

Or, you can post it at one of the numerous free article directories. Here you are sure to get the word out, as webmasters and newsletter authors will pick up your review publish it.

Have fun reading! And then next time you discover one of those real life-changing books, why don't you take a bit of time to do a review on it? It might just be a blessing to someone who really needs it.
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Book Review for Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

2010-02-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

By John Woolf

Coming on strong after the success of his Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond's new book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is a tome of intriguing insight to the other side of the coin. While Guns, Germs and Steel examined how some societies thrived, due to their respective geographic and environmental endowments, this book examines why ancient societies have collapsed so often in the past, in part for the same reasons. To support this thesis, the book delves into a variety of past civilizations, including the Anasazi of the American Southwest, the Maya and the Viking colonies of Greenland to illustrate that collapse of a society is no respecter of geography. Nor is it a respecter of time. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed also looks at modern-day societies such as Rwanda to explain the catastrophe that recently befell this afflicted nation, as well as it depicts present-day Montana and the fascinating factors rendering this once wealthy state into one of the poorest.

Could Montana be a microcosm for the U.S. at large? The book asks how once astute societies that built magnificent monuments testifying of their social and economic prowess, could suddenly vanish or be rendered impotent. Not lost on the reader throughout these case studies is the nagging thought that perhaps this fate might also befall our own wealthy country. In fact, it is the seminal point of this provocative book. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed hopes to stir our collective consciousness to an understanding what lies before us so that we may be saved, as evidenced, from the pitfalls of the past. In essence, we cannot separate the economy from the environment if we hope to avoid devastation.

Perhaps this is best depicted in the book's treatise of the Anasazi. Their vast ruins in what is now northern New Mexico echo a well-ordered, sophisticated society in a fragile desert environment that lasted over 600 years. To put this into perspective, they lasted longer than any European society in the Americas to date. However, over time the Anasazi of the Chaco Canyon complex became ever more specialized in the tasks of the society. This in turn allowed them to make gains in economies of efficiency while making them equally interdependent as a culture. More and more the main complex at Chaco Canyon depended on outlying communities and outposts for their support, not unlike London or Rome today. These cities served as governmental and religious centers to facilitate the management their respective societies. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed describes how, like many of our cities of today, "Chaco Canyon became a black hole into which goods were imported but from which nothing tangible was exported." As the population grew so did the demands on the surrounding environment. Fuel and other essential resources became ever more distant; coupled with soil depletion and erosion in the surrounding farmlands.

In essence, they became increasingly close to living on the margin of what the environment could reasonably support. The final straw was a prolonged drought. No longer able to support or feed themselves, the society suddenly collapsed into open revolt and total civil warfare, culminating in cannibalism and ultimately total abandonment of the site. The moral lesson is that while they "adopted solutions that were brilliantly successful and understandable in the 'short term' (they) created fatal problems in the long run." The analogy to our present day situation of overextending ourselves is obvious.

While Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed seems to make a strong connection between collapse of a society and it's environment, this book is not all about eco-meltdowns. He also measures four other critical factors involving the demise of societies as well; including hostile neighbors; loss of trading partners; climate change and perhaps most importantly, a society's responses to its challenges. In this vein, this book also looks at several past success stories where societies in Japan and the highlands of New Guinea had the insight to change fundamental, traditional values and restore a positive balance with nature, trading partners etc. and thrive.

In its conclusion, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed presents a cautious optimism for our own future. The book concludes that because we are the creators our own problems, we also have the power to amend the quandaries we have made. This, the book maintains, will not be easy and will require profound courage; but necessary if we are to have hope for the future.
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Book Reviews - Are They Really Necessary?

2010-02-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

By Irene N. Watson

You have just received your masterpiece in print, and it's both exciting and scary at the same. Perhaps you've just realized that you aren't the only new author out there, and nobody knows who you are. Perhaps you've just asked yourself, "How competitive is the book publishing industry anyway?"

The statistics may surprise you. According to a recent survey of the top book publishers, an estimated 25 million people in the United States consider themselves writers, but only 5% have actually been published. Even more surprising is the fact that an astonishing 5 to 6 million manuscripts are still looking for a publishing home at any given time.

So the real question is, in this flooded field of book writers, how would a lesser-known novelist get noticed? In this highly competitive industry, how can you, as a first-time author, turn your dreams of having a best seller into a reality?

Possibly the most important step you can take in ensuring the success of your book is to be actively involved in your own promotion. If you have just written your first, or even second, book and you are not yet well-known in the literary world, your chances of getting signed by a major agent who could "take you all the way" are pretty slim. Once it's published, promoting your own book takes hard work and diligence, and you have to be resilient.

As your own book promoter, it is common to be anxious and you may want to start your book tour right away, or begin scheduling book-signings at retail bookstores nationwide. However, getting stores and retail outlets to promote a book that no one has heard of is unlikely. So, now what do you do?

One of your first tasks is to get your book reviewed. If you are like many other new authors, you have probably always thought that book reviews are typically unsolicited. Now that your book is in hand and ready for sale, however, you don't have time to wait for the local columnist to stumble across your book, read it at his leisure and then hopefully be inspired enough to write a review in the town paper.

In the real world of book publishing, reviews are indeed solicited and are sometimes a fee-based service to newly published authors. Contracting a professional book reviewer has many benefits; the first and most obvious is a well-written book review. The book reviewer will not only critique the book, but the author as well. It's important the review be favorable, as a less-than-favorable review would be detrimental to not just you and the sale of your book, but also your publisher.

Your professional book review will probably be posted on many review sites, directories, and online bookstores. The review can also be used in all of your promotional material. If you acquire a book reviewer prior to publication, the endorsement can be included in the book cover. Typically, the review should be the foundation of your campaign.

Book reviews are by far the best way to let the public know your book is available, and is worthy of being read; the review can be vital in the success of your book. Using a book review service is a good idea, especially if you are a self-published author, as it is extremely difficult to grab the attention of media and potential readers in this saturated industry. Be sure your book review is not a sales pitch; that's your job. A book review should entice a reader to pick up your book, and hopefully not want to put it down.
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Can Breathwork Really Reduce Stress? A Book Review of Breathing Space - For the Modern Woman

2010-02-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

By Allison Frederick

Yogis, relaxation experts and Buddhists all extol the virtues of breath for stress relief and claim breath work unlocks health-compromising stress patterns. I've never been able to experience the power of breath, as they say. I take a few breaths and then do feel calmer, sometimes even more centered but to make a daily habit of breathing deeply never appealed to me. Quite frequently, I forget to take the time to breathe deeply.

The 2009 book, "Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman" by yoga teacher Katrina Repka and yogi master Alan Finger finally opened my eyes (and my lungs) to the potential of breathing techniques.

Repka is an early thirty-something woman who leaves her marketing career and hometown of Calgary in Canada to test her merits in New York City. Her friends and family, baffled by her decision, wondered, "How can she uproot herself like that at the time when she should be settling down and starting a family? How could she give up a good job, promising romantic prospects, and more importantly, us?" Though her motivations were not understood by her family, Repka had been drawn to New York City since childhood. One day, with all her courage and little support, she set off for the big city.

"My life in Manhattan was supposed to be the complete opposite of my life in Calgary, Alberta. I would be thinner, smarter, happier, hipper. My work would be glamorous, my days and nights filled with excitement and fascinating new friends. I wasn't going to settle for the comfortable routine that had threatened to stifle me in my old hometown." *

Once she settled in New York and adjusted to the pace and attractions she discovered that she brought her old Calgary self all the way to New York. Her new, glamorous New York self wasn't as easy to keep on, no matter how many Prada shoes she purchased. Old insecurities and reservations bombarded her, screeching more loudly than the big city's noise. Her old self doubt and restlessness was getting in the way. She wrestled with old questions about who she really was and what she wanted her life to be like. The answers, just as they did in Calgary, evaded her.

Her frustration continued until she met yogi master Alan Finger. Finger ran a yoga studio in NYC. The studio had many yoga classes and Finger also offered private breathing consultations, that in Repka's case, closely resembled psycho-therapy sessions.

The book, Breathing Space, is broken into chapters that focus on different areas of self growth so the reader can quickly go to a chapter of relevance for themselves. Some of the titles are:

Focus: The power of breath to help you see yourself clearly;
Criticism: The power of breath to erased self-destructive tendencies;
Faith: The power of breath to overcome hesitation and connect with your truth.

As a woman in my thirties, I found Repka's journey especially relevant to my own journey and quest for a fulfilling life. Repka is self effacing and willing to share embarrassing moments and mistakes with her readers but don't be put off by her age. Her explorations, struggles, and victories are common among all women struggling with their identity and for those demanding an enriched life.For other information visit--> http://arsandy.wordpress.com

What Readers Look For in Book Reviews

2010-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

By Preston Bennett

A book review lets a reader know if the writing is worth reading. It can draw the reader into the world that the author has created and leave him or her hungering for more. A book review should tell the reader a bit about the book, the basic premise, the gist of the plot and the positive aspects of reading the work. It should not reveal the entire plot to the reader, but should leave the reader wanting to read more. Good book reviews are written by professional book reviewers and are used to sell books.

Whereas an author who has several bestsellers under his or her belt will not have a hard time finding a book reviewer for their work, a new author who is perhaps self publishing his or her novel may have a difficult time getting book reviewers to take notice of their novel. This is much to the chagrin of the new authors who really want to get their work noticed and know that book reviews are the way to do this. In such cases, authors often pay a book review service for reviews.

A book review company can process book reviews for authors that are professionally written and tell the public what they want to know regarding the work. Unless they are written by fellow authors, which they seldom are, book reviews are anonymous. People do not read the name of the book reviewer, but the writing itself to see if the book is something that they will want to read. While there are a few authors who have a following and are assured to get readers no matter what type of book they publish, most have to work for readers. The best part about getting a book review for your writing is that no one cares who wrote the review. In these cases, people will be more inclined to pay attention to what the review actually says, rather than who did the writing.

A good book review should discuss the merits of the book, give a basic outline as to what the book is about and talk about the characters and writing style. It should not give away the entire plot, or the twists and turns, if any. This is for the reader to discover. Good book reviewers can be found working freelance as well as for major magazines and newspapers. Most people do not pay attention to the name of the reviewers, but do read the notices. If the book reviews seem encouraging and of interest to the readers, they are more inclined to buy the work. For this reason, it is in the best interest of any author to get as many book reviews published of their work as possible. Readers look for book reviews to tell them if the book is worth reading. If they feel that it is, they will then buy the book.
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Who Uses a Book Review Company?

2010-01-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

You might wonder who uses a book review company to review books. There are a variety of different people who might want to use a book review company. Most of them are unknown authors who have published through self publishing or through a small press.

The face of book publishing has changed dramatically over the past few years. There are more smaller publishing houses and self publishing houses available today more than ever. Because these companies are able to print on demand, using computers instead of presses, it is now more affordable than ever for someone to self publish and easier to find smaller publishing houses that will publish your book for you.

The problem is that some of the very good books that are being published by small presses and individuals are not getting the recognition that some of them deserve. There are stories of people sending classic novels to large publishing houses to see if they even read manuscripts submitted by unknown authors, only to find them returned with a rejection letter. It is very difficult for an unknown author to be able to get their work noticed by any of the big publication houses. For this reason, many people are choosing to publish their own novel rather than compete with noted authors who are on contract for serious money to produce books for larger publishing houses.

So how does an unknown author who has published his or her first book by use of small press or self publishing get noticed? One way is to use a book review company. A book review has two purposes - it will give the reader a taste of what the book is about and why they should buy it and also recommend the book. Both of them steer the reader of the book review into buy the book.

A book review company will be able to let others know what the book is about. Even if your book is listed online in a prominent place, people will want to know what the book is about before they buy the book. Also, because a book review company will give a favorable review of the book, this will add to the marketing plan.

Books are not like other products as no two are a like. This makes them tough to market. Book reviews are the primary source of book marketing but it can be tough for a self published author to get their book reviewed by the New York Times, if not close to impossible. This is why a new author needs the services of a book review company.
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What Do Book Reviewers Do?

2010-01-25T20:09:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

Book reviewers are those that read books and review them, either on an amateur basis or as a professional. There are plenty of professional book reviewers that read books for a living and then write articles about these books, either recommending them or not recommending them. Book reviewers will read the book and then give a prospective reading a quick synopsis of the book without giving away any spoilers.

The book reviewers will usually tell the reader that they either liked the book or did not like the book within the first few paragraphs. The reader of the review will also be privy to why the reviewer did not like the book, without any many secrets or twists to the plot.

Because of the internet, there are amateur book reviewers all over the place. Anyone can review a book online. If you are looking for a start in this career, you can do so by reviewing books online. Although you will not get paid for this, you can use your reviews as clippings if you are looking for a job as a reviewer.

Book reviewers do not have the most glamorous of professions but it is steady work. Many book reviewers go on to write their own books, eventually, If you are considering writing your own book, one of the best ways to get started is by reading other books in the genre. If you become somewhat of an expert on the genre, you can then become one of the many book reviewers to whom others turn when they consider purchasing a book. Just as movie reviewers can have somewhat of an influence over the movie industry, you can have somewhat of an influence if you begin to publish your book reviews in places like The New Yorker or the New York times, both of which feature the top book reviewers.

If you have a book that you want reviewed, you can ask others who read in this genre to give your book a review. Some writers will have several book reviewers that they will use to tell them if they need changes in a story such as the plotline is too thin or the characters too one dimensional. Book reviewers also work as readers in large publishing houses to determine whether to recommend them to the publisher.

Book reviewers work in all types of capacities, both as professional and non professional. Anywhere you can find books for sale, you can usually find book reviewers. You might even get started in this field by reviewing books for your local book store. Again, this would most likely be a non-paying job, although you might work out a deal with them to allow you to get the latest releases for free.
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What Are Book Reviews?

2010-01-22T20:07:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

Book reviews are probably the best way that any author can promote their book for sale. In order for the public to want to buy a book, they have to know what it is about. While some of the known authors will develop a following and people will read anything that they publish, lesser known authors and especially first time authors will rely on book reviews to get the message of their book to the public.

The book reviews have two purposes. The first is to let others know what the book is about. In order for anyone to want to buy your book, they are going to have to learn what it is about. This is where book reviews come in. They give the reader a little glimpse of what the book is about. They may relate the book reviews to other similar books or they may just review it on their own. Generally, the public will read book reviews to get ideas on which books to buy an buy those that feature book reviews that reveal a subject matter or plot of interest to them.

Many book reviews will critique the book and the author, although most book reviews are generally favorable towards the author. There are a few that are panned, but this is not like a movie review where a movie is panned by critics but still rakes in money at the box office. A negative book review can be devastating for an author but more importantly, for a publisher. For this reason, book reviews do not pan a book as they might a movie. The exception is when a book is written by a well known writer that does not live up to previous works.

If you are an unknown author, you will most likely do anything to get book reviews about your book, just to get the idea of the story out there to the public. The most frustrating part of a being a writer is that you may have a very good story that is collecting dust on the shelves of a book store or even online book store, while more celebrated writers get kudos for mediocre work. If you get book reviews by a book review company, you can at least get the story out to the public and hope that others will be enticed into buying your book.

Books are one product that are still marketed primarily through viral marketing. They are similar to restaurants in this respect in that no two are the same. This is why new authors are often willing to pay for book reviews just as new restaurant owners are willing to pay for restaurant reviews - more than anything, to let the public know that you are there.
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How to Use Book Reviewers to Promote Your Book

2010-01-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

Book reviewers can come in handy when you are promoting your book. One way to do this is to get your book to individuals who will write about your book for the general public to read. Reviews should be specific about the writing style of the book, how the story flows, the plotline development and the character development without giving away the ending. A book review is not just a synopsis of a book, but a chance for anyone who is thinking of reading the book to get an idea that he or she is putting their money out for something they will like.

In a way, book reviewers are similar to movie critics who critique a film before it comes out to the general public. In most cases, movie critics can accurately predict the bombs and those that will receive notice from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts. While not everyone listens to movie critics and they often differ in opinion when it comes to films, they can usually spot a very good film or very poor one. It is the same way with reviews about books.

If you have been published before, you have a better chance of getting more noted individuals to review your book. Many authors use these reviews that they get prior to the publication of the book to put on the dust jacket as a form of advertisement. Those who are noted usually work for publications such as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and the New York Times, all of which have large book review sections. In such cases, the book reviewers will give their names, but the dust jacket will also read the publication that they are associated with. Reviews from a publication like the New York Times are considered coveted by authors who eagerly put positive comments on their book.

Needless to say, there are plenty of books out there that have not been subjected to reviewing. Many people today are using smaller publishing houses as well as self publishing to get their books out to the public. In such cases, book reviewers can be anyone who reads and is willing to write about the book for those who are considering buying it. There are websites where amateurs can write their reviews for your book and rate it. In order to get people to read your book, however, you will have to give them copies of the book so that they can create an accurate review. Doing this can allow you to use book reviewers to promote your book.
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Writing a Book Review Essay

2010-01-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

By Sarah Brodie

In such a case, the main aim will be to appraise and include new discoveries or ideas to make the old work look better than any previous writing. One thing about this type of writing is that it must not be done only when the complete book has been written. It can be done at any point in the research and writing process. It can be done without even finishing the whole book. A chapter or even a whole section of the book can be reviewed.

You should begin by establishing a purpose for your writing. Every book review must have a unique purpose and reviewing for a purpose means that your review must really brings about whatever you want to evaluate. This means that as soon as you write something different from the earlier one, you should stop and reflect if it achieves the purpose. And also remember that while reviewing a book, your purpose may also be different from what was conceived in the previous writing. But you should be able to assess if the original writer ends up saying what was intended at the start.

Before you begin to write, you must know everything about the book. There is no alternative in doing this than to read and understand the whole book. Remember that you must know everything about the whole book. Do not think that knowing a bit of everything about the whole book will lead you to success. This is the more reason why you should start writing as soon as the topic is known. This will be a time consuming activity. You should work with time and not against time. For this reason, you should develop an outline. This is one of the most obvious tools that will take you through start to finish.

Consider the type of readers you have. What is the previous book all about? Is it a scholastic work or simply a fiction? Who are the class of readers? Will they be able to make out what you have reviewed and will they be able to appreciate what you have reviewed more than what obtains in the book?

Consider the whole outlook of the reviewed work. Does your reviewed material incorporate all and even more of what is in the old work? Is there anything new in the new work and is it reflective of current events?

Book review essay writing should often be revised and edited and this should preferably be done by another writer. However, the writer should be knowledgeable enough on what is found in the previous work. Remember that a genuine criticism must be made on what you have written. If you find out that a rewrite will be possible, you should not hesitate in doing so. Keep in mind that rewriting is one of the most perfect forms of writing. Edit your book review to make sure that the structure of what you have written is superb. Revising and editing for structure is very important because these are the very causes of almost all book reviews.
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Used Books Reviews and Why You Need Them

2010-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

By Victor Epand

You might be one of those people that need to know everything about a book before you buy them, whether it's a new or used book. The best place to look for that kind of information is in a book review, but where do you find them and why do you need one?

Getting a used books review is not that hard and you should be able to find them all over the place. You just have to know where to look and what you need to look for. The best place to look for book reviews is on the Internet.

The Internet has all kinds of people that are reading all kinds of new and used books, so this is one of the best places to find book reviews that are going to tell you more about the book than you thought. These reviews are normally from a person that has nothing to gain from letting you, their reader, know what is in the book as well as what is good about the book. You might also be able to find groups that read new and used books and then give the opinions that they have on the books. This can help you to make a choice as to whether the books is really what you want to read.

Another good place to look is in your local papers. Often times they will have reviews on the hot new books as well as those that you might want to revisit as used books. They will give you their point of view and will tell you a little about the book as well as the reviewers on the Internet. You might even be able to write in to these reviewers and tell them what book it is that you want them to review and they might just do that for you.

There are many things that you can learn from used books reviews. You just have to know what you want to get out of the book that you are looking at. This will help you to really pay attention to that part of the review that you are reading. Once you find one review, take some time to find a couple more, that way you are getting a good vision of the book and what it's about and you will know if it's good for what you need.
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Book Review - Queen by Cynthia White For Triple Crown Publications

2010-01-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

By Joey Pinkney

Queen is the debut novel from one of Triple Crown Publications' newest authors, Cynthia White. The namesake of this alluring novel is daddy's little girl. Queen's daddy just happens to be Hershey Aaron, the Boss of St. Louis' most powerful organization, the Black Mafia.

The murder of her unfaithful mother sends Hershey to death row and Queen's life on a tailspin full of lovers, killers and high-priced shopping sprees. Her striking beauty and intelligence are matched by her determination to keep alive the empire her father founded. But Queen is a teenager, exploring both her sexuality and her desire to love and be loved. The fine line that separates right from wrong is definitely blurred. What's a teenage daughter of a boss to do?

Queen must deal with cops trying to shut down her father's operation, various men vying for the opportunity to be her king, rival organizations on the come up, and her not wanting to turn into the deceased mother she despised. One thing is definitely true about this book. If you have to put it down for whatever reason, rest assured that something new and unexpected will develop when you start reading again.

Murder, sex and lies...these are the things that Queen must navigate through in order to survive. Love, life and liberty...these are the things that Queen slowly begins to realize are much more valuable. From manslaughter to motherhood, Queen struggles to make sense of the unyielding pace of her life.

Cynthia White has set the bar high for her future endeavors. This quality piece of street literature has aligned this new recruit with some of Triple Crown Publications' veteran squad in terms of talent. Full of high fashion, expensive jewelry, unorthodox plot twists, arousing sexual encounters and quality characters, Queen may be seen as a street lit classic in the future.

This book review can also be seen here: http://joeypinkney.com/criticism/book-review-queen-by-cynthia-white-for-triple-crown-publications.php
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Book Review - Keeper of the Flame by Catherine Chase

2010-01-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

By Michelle L Devon

Book Description

The mystical land of Draecus-a land closed off from all others for generations. In Mikaelia, it is remembered only in bedtime stories passed down through the ages. With the war for the lands of Mikaelia now over, the human female Jarnell fights her family's wishes of marriage to unite two noble houses and strengthen the family holdings. Running away, she seeks out her elven friend, Dekion, and gains a startling traveling companion in the form of a half-orscha warrior, Sahri-tah. Coming together after the devastating wars between the races of their land, the three of them battle against their own distrusts of each other's races to search for Dekion's father, who was lost during wars. Following their only lead, given to them by a crazed man in the streets of Sel Lorst, they find themselves in the lost, magical land of Draecus where a war between humans and orscha has just begun. While they wait, the companions become caught up in the war that crosses the once peaceful Draecus. They must fight to stay alive long enough for the portals to open again and allow them passage back to their own land. At the same time, Jarnell, a follower of the Goddess of passion, fights the desire to stay in the arms of Daedic, the only man to ever bring to life the flames of passion in her body, mind, and soul.

Book Review

Ms. Chase has written a novel that intricately weaves several storylines together skillfully into one cohesive story, spanning over several years, that while it stands alone, leaves the reader begging to know more. This is good, since there are rumors of another book along the same historical time line as this one from Ms. Chase.

With fanciful but believable characters, races such as the elves, orscha, and a race of people known as the Aishtoullar, which are similar to characters we have seen in other fantasy novels, but with a new twist that is unlike anything a reader might find in any other fantasy novel - the characters of Keeper of the Flame will not fail to delight and keep you drawn into the story, and they are not the same tired fantasy fiction races you might be used to reading in recent fantasy books.

The story begins with the birth of Jarnell, our unlikely heroine, who came into this world and into her station in a rather chaotic way, to fulfill a destiny, unknown to her, her family, or her companions - a destiny known only to that Goddess she serves, but to whom she has never committed herself or her sword completely - a destiny that Jarnell is not too sure she can fulfill.

From there, we are introduced to a variety of characters, all linked to Jarnell in some way, and we watch their adventures as they travel on their quest, a quest that, should they fail, would ultimately mean the destruction of two worlds. On this quest, we are taken through a series of events that show us war and destruction but also love and friendship, and the bonds of blood, family, not to mention a great romance thrown in the middle of all the other chaos. It's a good balance, and a believable plot with which any reader can relate.

Keeper of the Flame is a story about passion... passion for life, passion for love, passion for following one's destiny, in spite of all the obstacles.

The writing style of this book is almost poetic in nature, but it is very easy to read. The imagery is beautiful, the lands created drawn as pictures through words. The editing is superb. The formatting of the book is neat, attractive and clean. The binding is strong, with a full color paperback high gloss cover, with bold colors.

I highly recommend this novel and look forward to more of Ms. Chase's creations.

Keeper of the Flame,

by Catherine Chase
* Paperback: 296 pages
* Publisher: Oculus Media Group, LLC (July 3, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1934677019
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Momfulness - Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion, and Grace - Book Review

2010-01-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

By Susie Cortright

As mothers, we all know that there is a thread of magic that runs just beneath even the most mundane moments of our lives. But sometimes, we have to do something to find it. We have to do something to remember how very lucky we are to be running around in a mess of a house making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Denise Roy's new book teaches how to find this thread – and gives us practical suggestions for pulling it up to reveal the grace and the beauty that motherhood brings into our experience as nothing else can.

Denise Roy is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a mother of five. She is also an experienced spiritual guide for mothers. Her previous book, My Monastery is a Minivan, has been a title on my shelf that I have returned to again and again. This book is a series of essays, straight from Roy's real life, which help to bring my focus back to my spiritual center when I get off balance.

In Momfulness, Roy's approach is somewhat different. Just as motherhood is a continual back-and-forth between the practical and the sublime, the routine and the transcendent, the nose-wipes and the deep-snuggles – Roy's new book alternates between reflections and practical tips; stories and suggestions.

Momfulness is arranged around a series of lessons that most of would agree are natural to the journey of motherhood: presence, attention, compassion, embodiment, the sacred in all things, and community. There are six chapters devoted to each of the lessons, and each begins with a quotation (including those from some of my own favorite writers, such as Brenda Ueland, Anne Lamott, and Thich Nhat Hahn) followed by a story or essay. Each chapter concludes with practical steps you can take to weave this lesson into your daily life.

The reflective pieces are where Roy really shines. Roy's honesty is refreshing, and she is skilled at showing how even the most ordinary moments can present a pathway to a richer world if we can take the time to notice and to embrace them.

Such a book is a gift for those times when we need to be able to look on our children with a renewed appreciation and to see the gifts that they present to us in every moment of motherhood.

Momfulness is a quick read and great for study groups, particularly a regular church group or mom's group.
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Book Reviews - Buyer Beware

2010-01-01T19:24:00.000-08:00

By Molly Lundquist

If you're looking for a good book to read-either for your own enjoyment or a book club suggestion-what's one of the first things you do? You can ask a friend. But word-of-mouth recommendations depend to a large extent on personal taste. If you want a more reliable gauge, you'll want to find book reviews.

Let's say you're at a bookstore and you're holding a book in your hand. Invariably, you turn to the back cover where you find excerpts of mainstream media reviews. They're glowing, of course- "Characters with heart!" "A non-stop page-turner!" "A major new voice in fiction!"

There might even be a quotation or two from well-known authors: "Characters with heart!" "A non-stop page-turner!" ... and so on. Authors are frequently asked by their publishers to write favorably about new imprints on the trade list. Some authors have admitted they don't actually read the books they're asked to review (gasp!), but they're willing to go along because...well, they're generous people. And they want the same treatment for their own books.

Don't confuse these kinds of book comments with genuine book reviews: what you see on the book covers are promotional blurbs, carefully culled by publishers from longer reviews, that may-or may not-be altogether positive. A blurb's purpose is to sell books, not to inform readers.

What's worse, media outlets sometimes come under pressure to write glowing comments so as not to offend their advertising clients, the publishers whose books they review. It can be a cozy, if sometimes uncomfortable, relationship for publishers and authors-but not particularly helpful for readers.

When looking for a good book review, look for one that turns a critical eye on a book's style and content. A genuine book review considers the following elements:

Characters-are main characters convincing? Do they have emotional and psychological complexity and act according to authentic motivation? Or are they flat and one-dimensional with little detail of their inner lives?

Plot-is the plot predictable or does it surprise, going where you least expect it? Are there interesting plot twists? Do events unfold organically, naturally? Or are they forced-leaving you feeling manipulated. Does the ending wrap up loose ends? Does it wrap up things too neatly, to the point of being pat or trite? Or does it leave issues unresolved, open to different interpretations?

Ideas-does the book offer an exploration of ideas-perhaps a moral or ethical problem, or the meaning of relationships (familial, romantic, or friendship-based)? Does it offer interesting insights or a fresh perspective?

Style-is the writing heavy handed,...uninspired with over-written or even cliched phrases . Or is the writing feel fresh, even inspired? Is the writing funny or witty?

Where do you find helpful reviews? The best, most in-depth are from major daily newspapers: the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times, just to mention some. Look also in periodicals like Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Atlantic Monthly.

You can head to your public library and dig through past issues of newspapers and periodicals. Better yet, many libraries subscribe to online databases that carry the full texts of articles from the major papers and magazines.

You can also go online at home. But most newspapers and magazines require subscriptions to get into their archives, so you won't always have access to full articles-although sometimes you get lucky and find them on right on Google.

You can also go to customer reviews at the big online booksellers-Amazon and Barnes & Noble. But customer reviews tend to be all over the place and are highly idiocentric. They can be helpful but not always reliable.

The best bet is to find an online book site you can trust, a website with an index of titles, reading guides, and book reviews. Look especially for ones that carry complete reviews-not just blurbs-by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and especially Kirkus Reviews. Libraries subscribe to these review publications, so they tend to be forthright in their assessments of books-after all, it's what libraries pay them for.

Nothing's a guarantee, but knowing where to look for reliable book reviews-rather than promotional blurbs-can go a long way to ensuring a worthwhile read.
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Who Uses a Book Review Service?

2009-12-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

New authors can benefit most from using a book review service. A book review service is one where the book is reviewed by someone who reads the book and then gives a review of what they have read. Because a new author has a more difficult time getting their books read by the mainstream book reviewers in the press, they can use a book review service to help them spread the word about their book.

The internet has changed the way that we do things today. Self publishing is no longer rare and does not cost the substantial amount of money that it used to cost years ago. The internet has made it possible for self published authors to get their books on sites that sell mainstream published books. This means that those who are self published are no longer confined to small book stores, but are able to mix with authors that are published by the large publishing houses. Most sites that sell books sell anything that has an ISBN number, which is not difficult to get.

Once you have your book self published, however, you will want to make sure that people read it. The book is usually written to be read en masse. The more people you reach with your book, the more you become noted as well as the more books that you sell. Very few new authors are writing a book for the money. Most of them are looking for some sort of notice for their work. But they cannot get this without others reading their book.

What determines which books get read and which stay on the shelves? Recommendations. People who are perusing through a book catalog will read book reviews by those who recommend the book. The larger publishing houses get their books reviewed in large, noted publications. Authors who are not well noted will often use a book review service as a way to promote their book. The author gives the book to the book review service and someone at the service reads the book and then writes a review. This is then posted at various places online and is a form of advertising to promote the book. A new author will therefore look at a book review service as a marketing tool, a very good tool, to promote the sale of their book and get their name as an author out to the public.
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How Can a Book Reviewer Help Promote Your Book?

2009-12-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

A book reviewer can help you promote your sales. This is because most people, when buying a book, want one that others have read and recommended. Sometimes people look for a familiar person who reviews books in a certain magazine or other publication while others will just take the recommendation of people who are just like them. A review can do wonders to promote your writing.

It is very difficult for a new author to get started when it comes to book promotion. The competition is very fierce when it comes to book sales and authors will go through great extents to stand out. One way that they can stand out a bit from the rest is to get their book reviewed by a someone who others listen to. This can be someone who works for a publication like the New York Times, New Yorker or Vanity Fair. Others may look for book clubs to sponsor them, such as the Oprah Book Club. In these cases, the reader is actually giving the author an endorsement.

You have to realize that reviewers usually read the books that are published by the major publishing houses. Chances are that they will not be reviewing books that are not published by the large publishing houses or have not stirred a lot of attention. A famous celebrity may be able to get their book reviewed by the New York Times, but the average author who uses a small publishing house or even self publishes has virtually no chance of this happening.

A good review, however, can help you promote your book. One way to get your book promoted is to give it to others for their comments prior to publication. If they like the book, you can then put their comments on the dust jacket. As dust jackets are printed after the book, this is not difficult to do.

Even a review online can help you sell your book. As more and more are being sold online, you can find someone who is willing to read your book and review it for you. If you pay a reviewer service to give an honest review of your book, you will get a more lengthy review of the book rather than just someone saying that it was a good read. Again, you will want a review to get into why the book is so good and make the reader want to purchase the book.

A reviewer can help you promote your book in several different ways. Whether you are fortunate enough to get a prominent person to look at your book, or even if you use a service, this can help potential readers want to purchase your book.
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Internet Book Reviewers Give Rise to Author Marketing

2009-12-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

By Neil Kokemuller

As have many other businesses and creative types, aspiring and developing authors have seized advantages offered by the growth of the internet and the expansion of marketing opportunities. Competing for the attention of mid-to-large sized publishing companies as a newer author is extremely tough. Many companies review hundreds and thousands of manuscripts each year.

The internet has greatly multiplied the population of book reviewers that have shared their passion of books and ability to write with reading audiences. Professional book review web sites that specialize in such popular book genres as fiction, Christian fiction, historical fiction, biographies, and memoirs have evolved into a great resource for authors and book readers. In essence, online book review sites have created a medium to connect good authors and good books with avid readers looking for the next great read.

Many new authors now turn to self-publishing as a practical alternative to the rigorous and sometimes unsatisfying experiences offered by big publishers. Self publishing or small press publishing puts the author and small publisher in a role of having to self-promote their work. While it is more challenging to promote a new book by a new author without the support of big publisher connections, online book reviewers have given rise to greater equality.

Many professional book review web sites invite new authors and smaller market publishers to share their books for review. Simply by sending the reviewer a free copy of an advanced release copy of print copy of the new book, many reviewers are happy to provide a professional, unbiased description and recommendation of the book. Obviously, the busier the book reviewer, the more discerning they are as to which books they accept for review. However, quality writers in popular genres have great opportunity.

Professional book reviewers also often belong to book review networks or groups and add tremendous media exposure and value to authors and books considering the only cost is a copy of the book. Some reviewers submit their reviews to Amazon, social networks, and other online forums to expand the promotion for their sites and reviews, and the books they review.

Discerning readers are always looking to peers and quality book reviews to help them figure out which books are worth an investment of free time. Book review sites are fun for readers and provide a great promotion medium for any book and author, but especially for those quality writers seeking a fair shake.
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Father's Touch by Donald D'Haene; Book Review

2009-12-20T19:08:00.000-08:00

By Kathryn Lively

Book Review

Father's Touch by Donald D'Haene

American Book Publishing, 1589821122, $22.00

I finished this book weeks ago, and now I am finally sitting down to write the review. The delay in this turnover cannot be entirely attributed to my schedule, I must admit, for book reviews come easy to me. Reviewing Father's Touch, Donald D'Haene's memoir of growing up as a first generation Canadian to Belgian immigrants, has been one of the most difficult things I have had to do. It is not because I disliked the story; as you might suspect, my delay concerns mainly the actual subject matter of the story. This is no ordinary memoir.

True-life stories of sexual abuse at the hands of parents are not very populous in the published world, and there is a part of me that wishes books like Father's Touch and Sue William Silverman's Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You (reviewed elsewhere) did not have to be written, that the authors did not have to be subjected to the terror that inspired such work. On the flip side, one must commend D'Haene for his courage and his decision to share his story, if only to serve as a reminder that abuse does happen and that inaction among others does not erase the problem.

Donald D'Haene and his siblings were first generation Canadians, born to Belgian parents who crossed the Atlantic for the promise of a new life in a new world. Yet for the matron D'Haene there was little solace in a marriage where her husband had established control soon after exchanging vows. When Daniel D'Haene decided to join the Jehovah's Witnesses, the family came along with no questions asked. As the family grew, so expanded the senior D'Haene's tyrany, which would eventually manifest itself in unsavory activities with his children, including one in particular Donald called "The Game."

Throughout much of his childhood, Donald and his siblings were unwilling participants in The Game. It was not until the refusal of the youngest child to be initiated into these secret rituals that Donald's mother learned of the abuse. Subsequent reports to Kingdom's Hall resulted in investigations, disfellowship for Daniel and much harrumphing, but little action beyond that. Never during the course of the abuse and the time thereafter (during which the D'Haenes divorced and Donald moved his mother and siblings elsewhere) was the family informed that legal action could be taken against Daniel D'Haene. When the elder D'Haene finally was accused, the end result for the adult Donald was a botched case and a sentence that hardly befitted the crime of many years of sexual and psychological abuse.

Father's Touch angered me, as well it should have. This is a story written in parts, beginning in the present where Donald and a companion travel back to the places of his childhood. Vivid memories of fellow parishoners - now strangers - and former homes segue vividly into D'Haene's flashback narration, which features somebody D'Haene refers to as "the Other Donald," the numbed self the real Donald left to the mercy of his father to withstand the abuse. Reading Father's Touch, I could not help but wonder how common this phenomenon is among sexually abused youth (Silverman, in her memoir, writes of "Dina," an identity associated with her own experiences).

D'Haene writes honestly, and shows great skill for detail and narrative. Father's Touch is a raw, emotional story of survival, coming to terms with a traumatic past and moving beyond for a better present.
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Gas Prices Do Not Bother Me, Cuz I am Rich - BOOK REVIEW - Internet Marketing Book

2009-12-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

By Mz Collins

Gas Prices Do Not Bother Me, Cuz I am Rich (my words) BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of an End User of The NEW Secret Book Going Around on the Web

Just over a year ago, I was spending an average of $12,000 per month buying my way to the top of the Google search engines with Pay Per Clicks (PPC). Some months we spent almost $15,000! We were happy to do it, the exposure it brought our company was worth it. We were spending 12K and the sales from being at or near the top brought in over 20K, so as you can see we were making 6-8K a month in profit.

I sold the company to a guy and we had to hire an additional person to handle the traffic (he is still with me). The buyer had some personal situations that forced him to get out of the business and so I ended up with it back. During that time, I was attempting to learn all I could about how Google and their AdWord system worked. I just wanted to manage our efforts and make sure we were doing all we could to maximize our resources.

Well to say the least, I have spent almost 4 months now researching all I could find out about how I could get higher position in a web search and do it the most cost effective way! And in the meantime I became somewhat proficient at designing basic web pages (I put myself through Adobe Dreamweaver step by step education course, from their book course) and tons of other books, courses etc. I did go a little crazy, but hey it is not my fault, there is so much disinformation out there, it is hard to tell what is real.

Then I came across a guy named Jon and his book (I printed his internet report from a PDF file he sent) It is almost 2 inches thick! And started to devour it! I stayed up all night the first night.

I already knew a little about Google AdWords, because I had spent a fortune on them myself! And, that gave me enough insight to realize that what Jon was claiming in his book was absolutely true! He revealed a way I could enjoy the top positions in Google without paying a dime of my own money! (that meant I would have an additional 12-15K per month to keep in my company!)

I probably went overboard with the info. I got so excited, I started to devote more and more time to what he revealed and doing what he said. Well, I can tell you this, as a direct result of what Jon teaches in his book, I am now putting together a system of over 56 websites (7 individual ones and the other 49 are variations of the first template I put together). (I am on target to make many times more than just the 12K I was looking to save!)

Look, the guy is a genius! I do not care what anyone says, I have firsthand knowledge and experience of what he says in his book and I would suggest that if you are ambitious at all and have any kind of vision, you will see what I saw, when you read his book!

I was looking at a way to get my company website in front of more people and at least be on the first or second page of Google! Remember when I was spending almost 15K a month for one of the top one to four spots. And, with this book from Jon, I can now be back on top for zero dollars!

If you have your own business that could benefit from more exposure and sales from the internet, then make sure you know about this stuff right now! I would not say it is a secret, but you will feel like it is when you read it. If you are looking for a way to earn more money from home or even replace your current job, you gotta check this out.

I chose to share this review because I can tell you it works. It is everything Jon says it is and more. Do not take my word for it. Take this review to heart, look at his website (see above) and make up your own mind.

Coming from the inside I can tell you most of the on-line money making deals are not all they are cracked up to be, they are either scams, too hard for the average person, or just plain confusing at best. But in this report, Jon spends time explaining line by line how to do exactly what it takes. I do not even remember what I paid for the report, I think he still sells it for under 70 bucks! What a bargain.

He is truly a man of his word and you will love his report. If you are not into this stuff, send it to someone who you might like to see get a good deal for once, it is that good.

Good Luck in all you do and your endeavors to make the Internet your new best friend. (and Jon too).

Start your new program of placing yourself at the top of the Google search (what everyone of the 80 million websites is looking for) today with these little known secrets. I am here to tell you, it really works.

If you have questions for me you can always reach me through my website and I can tell you how to get in touch with Jon, his specific techniques and his research. You will be so happy you did!
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What is a Book Review Service?

2009-12-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

A book review service will help you get the word out about your book and hopefully make others want to read it. If you look at top novels, you will notice that there are usually quotes from reviews from publications from the New York Times or other papers. This often happens with noted authors that have books published in large publishing houses. But how does the new author who has perhaps self published or is published with a very small publishing house get noticed? Very often, they use a book review service.

As you know, an increasing number of books are now sold online. This goes for movies and music as well. And most of the online websites that offer books also encourage book reviews. There are several places online where you can review books.

A book review service will read the book and then give an honest review of the book in various places online. These will be posted and may help you promote your book. While it is a nice idea to rely on those who read the book to actually post a review, people do not always do this. As a matter of fact, it is rare for the average person, even when prompted, to write a book review. Most of the book reviews that you see online are the result of a book review service.

A book review service will not just say that the book is good, but why. This is done in a way without giving away the ending of the book. The purpose of the book review service is to get others to want to buy the book. If you are trying to promote a book using the internet, the use of a book review service really makes sense. It may end up costing you a few dollars to promote your book in this manner, but it will work out for you in the end. A book review service is one of the best routes you can take if you are a new author trying to get others to read your book.

Using a book review service is similar to any other type of marketing. The marketing technique of the bandwagon effect is in force when it comes to book reviews. This is the concept that others will want something if they know that other people like it. It is a very old and very effective form of marketing and is used in all forms of advertising. Using a book review service is a way that you can market your book to the general public without it seeming like an ad.
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New Book Review on Kate Rizor's The Governor's Wife

2009-12-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

By Veronica Grant House

To this day, I still do not know who gave me this book. It has a big blue cover with a gorgeous front design on it.

Then, I opened it. I read and read and read and read this book. I think supper burned but oh well because I wasn't going to put this book down.

I brought this book to my book club meeting and of course, we assigned it a date. It was totally amazing because most of the same people said the same thing, 'totally capivating'.

I couldn't agree more.

Here's the review:

Wow! What a talented author. From the minute you meet the main character Andra, she is a major mean spirited woman. Tanner Thornburg, her husband of some years has taken her out to a restaurant to ask her for a divorce. He's chosen this venue because he thinks she will make a scene and somehow the restaurant will stop her, after all there are all kinds of people in the high society within the restaurant.

She doesn't care though. She makes a scene and abuses the wait staff terribly when he makes a little mistake. All of this negative action, Tanner Thornburg tries to reign in but he can't stop her and in a moment of high drama, he just blurts it out. "I want a divorce."

For only a mere moment in this fast paced book, Andra lets us have a glimpse of her character. She is negotiating with him, trying to keep him. When nothing works, she leaves the restaurant.

Lately, there have been attempts at abduction and as Andra settles into the car, she finds out that her chauffeur and bodyguard are not going the right way. As she figures out the worst information she can, she realizes she is in trouble.

That's it.

We meet Andra later but she's Andie, living on the streets of Detroit, barely keeping to herself and in need of medical attention for a cough. For these chapters, we are made to live her life on the streets where she doesn't even have a name and it's unpleasant to say the least.

Suddenly, a chance encounter at the police station with a cop with attentive eyes changes the whole story. Rather than doing the whole down and out bit, instead, she is identified as the governor's wife. at the beginning of the book, he wasn't a governor. This is ten years later and now Andie has a choice to make. Come in from out of the cold or stay on the streets.

I don't want to give away the ending of course but this is a five star book all the way. The tension, the sexual tension, the drama, the violence peppered in with a social message make this book one of the best books I've read in a long time.

If you have a chance, pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed.

Kate Rizor, New Book - The Governor's Wife
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Guide to Healthy Relationships - New Book Review Helps You Find Your Tribe and Change Your Love Life

2009-12-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

By Hadley Finch

Do you ever feel like you've lost your tribe? There's no reason to feel alone or isolated any longer. Thanks to a new trend on the internet, you can connect and create healthy relationships with people who share your passion and purpose anywhere in the world. Learn how to find your tribe and change your love life with my review of a new book, Tribe, by Seth Godin.

What is a tribe?

Godin defines a tribe as a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea that inspires their passion.

Godin reminds us that human beings have a need to belong, to be part of a tribe, to contribute to (and take from) a group of like-minded people. We are drawn to leaders and to their ideas, and we can't resist the rush of belonging and the thrill of the new.

How do you find or form a tribe?

Godin says anyone can find or form a tribe and lead it. All you need is you, your vision and your passion to share your message and assemble like-minded people who support your vision and each other.

Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Craigslist are the tools you use to find, form or lead a tribe.

How does a tribe choose a leader?

Leadership is a primary focus of Godin's book. He says that nobody chooses you to be a leader; you choose yourself. How?

You tell a story about something important that needs changing. You can't change it alone but by creating a movement -- by leading and connecting people who yearn to commit to your group and to your vision for change.

Why is the tribal leader called a "heretic"?

When Godin calls the tribal leader a heretic, it's not the old kind of heretic who was condemned or burned at the stake for challenging the status quo.

Godin's "heretics" are engaged, passionate, and more powerful and happier than everyone else. They reach out to others and put their ideas on the line. And they have a tribe that they support (and supports them in turn).

How many people do you need to form a tribe?

It's not a mass thing. Small tribes can form around small silos of interests, including work, hobbies, talents, dining, arts, politics and relationships.

According to Godin, to form a tribe you simply need to tell a story about something worth changing, and connect some people who yearn to be connected and be part of the change you seek. Who are you connecting? Who are you leading? Who is telling your story?

I often tell our online community that we've connected to create an adventure in meeting the love of our life and living our dreams now.

What is your vision for a tribe you'd like to find, form or lead? Seth Godin's book will help you clarify your vision and reconnect with your lost tribe.
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New Book Review Sites Appeal To Readers Of Many Genres

2009-12-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

By Neil Kokemuller

With the expansion of the internet, book review sites have become common place on the world wide web. Many readers and book connaiseurs are looking to share their passion, and their hobby, with others. Book blogs and book review sites offer readers and opportunity to bond with others, learn about new or interesting books, and keep up to date on new developments in the literary arena.

A book review is simply a way for one avid book expert or reader to share his or her thoughts on literature with others. Some book reviews provide a detailed overview of the title, including character and plot outlines. Others simply highlight the key points about the book and the author as sort of a tease to entice the reader to want to consider, or not consider, the book.

Some newer sites explore current books as well as other popular titles from recent months. Along with features on newer titles, some sites also maintain a library of reviews on fiction, historical fiction, Christian non-fiction, biographies, and more. This allows readers to search for titles and a book review in genres they prefer.

The good news for readers is that information on new books and authors is also more readily available. Many leading authors due proactive publicity tours well in advance of book publication. Readers can keep current on new developments and be prepared for titles before their date of publication. This helps the reader not only to be familiar with publishing dates for popular releases, but also helps them to be aware of lesser publicized titles.

Reading is a very pleasurable and relieving hobby for many people. The ability to find the right book on the right topic and in the right genre is the key to a relaxing and rewarding reading experience. Finding a reliable and trusted source for information on new and current titles makes the likelihood of a good read much more likely.
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How to Get Your Self Published Book Noticed

2009-12-02T18:29:00.000-08:00

By Preston Bennett

If you have a self published book that you want to get others to notice, you can do so by getting book reviews of the work. Book reviews will tell others if the writing is worth reading. They should be written by professional book reviewers who are used to writing notices that give readers a glimpse of the book without giving away the ending or the plot turns.

Anyone who self publishes a book has already done the hard work that it takes to get the work into the limelight - they have written the book. Writing a book is difficult work and authors should be commended for completing such a daunting task. However, the hard work may be behind the author, but there is still more work to go. After the works have been self published, the author must then market the property so that the public will buy it. One way to do this is to get reviews written about the novel by a review company. Using a review service is one way to spread the word about your writing.

Another way that a book author can use for self published marketing is to send the work to various bookstores so that they will sell it. Local bookstores will most likely want to feature a local author at a book signing. New authors should be happy to sign their books at these signings. Most book stores are eager to get customers into the store and will be glad to feature a local author. Publicity for the signing can be given in local newspapers.

All book marketing is viral. It can be difficult for a new author to break in, but once someone reads the book and likes it, they will most likely want to recommend it to others. This is how books are marketed. And reviews are an advertising vehicle that few authors can do without. Reviews are a way of someone reading the work and then recommending it to a whole group of people.

Getting the book reviewed from a review company can be a wise investment for a new author as it can help the writing get noticed by readers. A book review service can let the public in the on the secret of this new literary find and the author may find themselves being discovered by the public. Many famous authors self published their first novel. The best way to go about self published book marketing is to get self published book reviews from a review company.
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How Can You Use a Book Review Company

2009-11-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Spoils

You can use a book review company to promote your book as a marketing tool. A book is like any other type of product and has to be marketed in order to sell. But although some book ads are used in publications, these products are not like other products and marketing for books tends to consist more of viral marketing, such as word of mouth. This is where such a company can help you.

A review company will take a look at your book, read it and then write an article about it. They can then post the review anywhere online where you book is for sale. Most of the people who use a service are those who are self published or have published their work at a small publishing house. They might not be getting the recognition that they would get if they published their book in a large publishing house.

Anyone who has published their book through self publishing or has used a small publishing house to publish their writing should consider using a professional review company to promote their book. The company will have someone read the book and then write a review. This review will be posted all over the internet where the book is being sold. The review has a purpose and that is to entice readers to want to read the book. Reviews by such services are generally favorable.

When others see a little about what the book is about and the fact that someone else liked the writing, they are more inclined to buy the book. When you have a book in a bookstore, people can browse the dust jacket to see if the product interests them. They can even read a couple of pages. But when you have a book listed online, no one will know what it is about or why they should read it, unless you have book reviews posted. And the best way to do this is through a professional review service.

Book review services or companies can get word of your book out there to those who are looking for books to purchase. This is the best way that anyone who is self published or published by a small publishing house can use to market their product. The more people understand what your book is about, the more they will be inclined to read it.
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Writing a Book Review Essay

2009-11-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

Book Reviews - 5 Steps To Creating A Killer Review That Sells Books

2009-11-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

By Jan Verhoeff

I'm often asked how to write a professional book review. It's quite simple and follows a basic format. My reviews are well read, often sell books, and not always positive. It's possible to write a negative review and still sell books! You must know how to put the words into organized thoughts and promote as you write.

First Step: The Hook

This is my favorite part of the review. Create a hook from the book that brings the reader back. This is usually a single line with a few sentences of support that gives the reader the gist of the book, without telling the ending, and offers a profound peek at what's inside the book. This isn't about you or the author, it's about the book.

A black aging finger rotting to bone lying on the sand was just an indication of more to come. Can you imagine the anguish of the person who located the finger as the story unfolded to reveal the slaughter of a human body, bit by bit? Untold mysteries brought prognosis and speculation, on each page of the book.

Second Step: The Title Pages

This offers the reader information about the book, including where the book is published, the author's name, the title of the book, and if an option, where you purchased the book and it's value. I rarely give actual price in this portion of the review, but rather choose to mention value.

This is an excellent read and left me wanting to read more by this author who has published numerous other books including: (list titles of other books here).

Third Step: The Storyline & Plot

Here I choose to give a glimpse of the plot, still without telling the ending of the story. I offer information about the story that might help the reader determine if this story is one they want to read.

This thriller novel bore little resemblance to horror, offering thrills instead by way of judification of the plot, intricate details of the characters in the plot, and selective factors of the investigation that led to the imprisonment of the wrong suspect. Twists and turns in the investigation reveal little of the actual crime but instead focus on how one man was seduced into a pleading that left him without recourse. And yet, he never pled guilty to murder.

Forth Step: About the Author

Tell your readers what the author offers by way of credentials. Give them a glimpse into the author's life and share a few details that bring the author and this rendition of a specific plot line to life.

The Author of this novel piques my interest because in prior writings, she's always presented authority figures in ways that leave you with an understanding of the workings behind the scene. This book was no different. Her detailed accounts of the investigation give you direct comprehension of the lag between real criminal activity and prosecution. You begin to understand that you don't have to be guilty to be accused of a crime, and they find ways to prove you guilty.

Fifth Step: The Wrap Up

Would you read it? Why should they buy the book? Is it worth the time and effort they'll spend on the book? What will they get out of it?

This book is a page turner. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down. You'll be flipping pages to see what happens next, even after you're done. It doesn't end... This book leaves you wondering what happens, because it never actually reveals who the killer is. Hints that the suspect behind bars isn't the killer are all through the book, but there's never a solution. Help! Somebody tell me how it ends!

Offer drama and closure with your final statement, and give your review reader a choice to buy the book or not. But more significantly, offer the reader of your review a purpose to go get this book in the review.

Reviews can be as few as 200 words, or as many as 2000. The choice is yours. How much do you want to write about what somebody else got paid to present?
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Book Reviews

2009-11-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

By Clare Lawrence

Many people of all ages enjoy reading books as a past time, books are one of the most accessible mediums of all and can be read by people anywhere and at anytime. One of the problems faced by someone who enjoys reading books is that there is such a sheer volume of books available from novels to biographies and recipe books to factual publications. This means that readers are faced with many choices on which book to start reading next and whether a book they read will be worth the time and money they spend on it.

One way that many readers can find out information about a book is to use online book reviews. Many websites, large and small provide these online book reviews for people to use free of charge. People who have read a particular book can write a review describing what they thought of the book, the strengths of the book, the weaknesses and even a short synopsis of the plot. Other users of the site can then read these reviews and decide whether they wish to read or indeed purchase the book. These sites also help readers by allowing them to read reviews by people with similar tastes in literature as themselves. Many people who post reviews will have a list of their favourite books or books that they have recently read to help narrow down the reviews they are interested in.

Many of these book review websites offer discounts for online book purchases which encourages users to purchase. This can help to increase interest in the site as well as encourage the people who have purchased the books to write a review and increase the size and popularity of the site. The percentage of books being sold online is increasing year by year due to the convenience offered by online retailers such as Amazon and WH Smiths website.

A major advantage of online book stores and online book reviews is that they are so very easily accessible. Rather than having to visit many stores in shopping malls or on the High Street in order to try and find out information on books or to purchase the books themselves, people can do all this from the comfort of their own homes. It allows users to make more informed decisions on the book they wish to purchase and also means that time is not an obstacle. Nobody has to rush round shops trying to find the book they require; they can instead read many book reviews by like minded people at their own leisure so to absorb more opinions and information about the books. This allows them to be more sure and more satisfied about the purchase they eventually make.
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Oh No! A Bad Book Review! Have No Fear...Advice For Dealing With The Blues Of A Bad Book Review

2009-11-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

By Laura Hickey

You've just been notified a review of your book has been posted. You're all excited and can't wait to see what has been written. You're clicking onto your book's page when...Oh no! They hated your book! This bad review is going to turn away customers from buying your book. Wait! This isn't the end of the world. Here's 3 tips to deal when you get a bad review.

1. You can't please everyone!

Example: One of my favorite authors is a bestseller but the author didn't receive such hot customer reviews.

Another example: I was reading some book reviews and one of the books had one of the worst ratings ever. I clicked the link with curiosity to find over 20 customers had reviewed the book and loved it. In life, you can't please everyone. Will a bad review discourage future customers? On to my next tip.

2. A bad review doesn't have to mean bad profit.

Not all customers look at a bad review as their only guide to buying. In fact, if your review is so awful, they may even buy the book to see if it's really as bad as the reviewer rated it. There's the saying that curiosity killed the cat, curiosity in this case could help you. Customers also realize that everyone has different tastes. Maybe the reviewer didn't like your book, but who's to say someone different won't? It may be bad publicity, but none the less it may help you. In fact, sometimes a customer may have read the bad review but only remembers your name and or the book's title.

3. If you're getting more than one bad review.

It's understandable if you're disappointed. It's expected, but do not allow yourself to become discouraged. If you've published an e-book and can easily edit your work, bad reviews can actually help your writing. Now don't go crazy and change everything! But if reviews are constantly pin pointing on one certain area, review your work and see if and how you could improve it. I know reviewing repeatedly can be hurtful but if it can help your e-book, isn't it worth considering? Also, don't start picking apart reviews right away, give yourself time to go over them. Picking apart your reviews the moment you receive them could prove fatal to your self esteem.
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Book Reviews - Buyer Beware

2009-11-14T18:12:00.000-08:00

Citizen Reviewers

2009-11-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

By William Hazelgrove

How many people read the New York Times Book Review? Raise your hands. Hmmm...small crowd. How many people go and buy the books after reading a NYT Book Review? Extremely small crowd. My novel was reviewed in the New York Times and I did regard it as a benchmark, a status symbol of the novelist finally arrived. I do read the New York Times Book Review. Religiously. Every Sunday. But I must confess to a feeling akin to reading short stories in The Saturday Evening Post and that is I am reading something that belongs to a different time. The books reviewed are of a certain staple: fiction, international fiction with protagonists who overcome incredible odds in war torn regions. Biographies of long lost literary figures or Teddy Roosevelt. Alec Baldwin's diatribe on his divorce. Up and coming novelists on the back pages. Literary lions no one has heard of outside the literary lion circles. Historical fiction. Not that this is bad content....but it is no secret that book sections in the major newspapers are vanishing.

The Chicago Tribune's book section was marginalized to the Saturday edition. The Washington Post Book World was practically eliminated. The New York Times Book Review is one of the last holdouts and thank God for that. So, the question is where are people going to find out about books now? An answer might be they are going nowhere to find out about books. Or we might believe what Steven Jobs said who proclaimed no one reads anymore--a self serving observation from Mr. IPOD. But the fact is people are still reading and reading a lot. I know. I have been to land over the rainbow and it is a bit like OZ. Strange new munchkins called Citizen Reviewers are reading and writing the reviews in cyber land and this is what people are reading. It is not only the big Book Blog sites that are claiming the attention of the reader, it is the ordinary posts of the ordinary reader. If books are still sold in the fundamental way of word of mouth then it makes perfect sense that the middleman paid reviewer would become antiquated in age of the Internet. We now have the direct links for readers to click on to find out to what the most relevant class of reviewers think--other readers.

The obvious site for this well of reviews is Amazon where readers post directly to the book they just read. A book with fifty some reviews will give the reader a more balanced view of a book then the opinion of one Ivory Tower reader. Consensus is the word of the day in cyberland. Other sites like Library Thing, Shelfari, Goodreaders all work off consensus reviews. A hundred people read a book and rate it and then you get an average. The fringe reviewer who doesn't like anything and the over the top reviewer who loves everything are marginalized by a healthy discerning middle. No one is getting paid and yes you will have the author friends and enemies weighing in, but in there also will be people with honest opinions. The result is much more democratic and that makes sense in a democracy. Art by the people and for the people and reviewed by the people. It doesn't matter really if we like it or not because it is here. The argument for a paid reviewer is one that he or she is trained to review. Maybe. But don't you get a skewed viewpoint by a single rarefied person reading books they prefer? Getting through the literary gates of most heavy hitter review publications is reserved for those who catch an editors whim who is literally deluged with books. We can't expect a fair and judicial process from harried overworked reviewers or editors who have even less staff today. So, by default, we end up with a polyglot of books being reviewed by a polyglot of readers. The New York Times Book Review will always be the benchmark for the literary world and I think that is a good thing. But the Citizen Reviewer will certainly be a second opinion...something everyone should have.
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How Readers Can Promote Your Book

2009-11-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

By Preston Bennett

Readers will do more to promote your book than any ad. But in order to get readers to read your book, they have to know that it exists. This is what book reviews are for. These reviews let readers in on the big secret - which is the fact that you wrote a book.

Whether you have written a book that was published by a publishing house or self published, you have to do what you can to promote your work. Even well known authors are under contract to do promotion for their books. Anyone who writes a book must do what they can do promote it to other readers. One way to do this is to procure book reviews. Reviews tell readers that your book is out there, what it is about, and why they should read it. Every author depends upon book reviews to get their book known to the public.

Once the book is read by someone, they will most likely tell another person about it. Book reading is not a secret and is something that spreads virally. Most people will talk about books that they have read to others and recommend those that they enjoy. The publishing world depends very much on readers telling other readers about a book that they liked.

A reader can not read a book if he or she does not know that it exists. This is why reviews are so important to the writer. Book reviews let everyone know about your book and where they can get it. They whet the appetite for the reader and leave him or her wanting more. Very few new writers, however, can hope to have their books reviewed in prominent venues such as the New York Times or New Yorker. Most of the reviews that are done today are done online. These work just as well for writers as the word gets out about their book and the notices inspire others to want to read them.

In order to get readers to want to read your book, a writer should look for book reviews. These notices can be procured through a book review service or book review company. Once the book reviews have been published, others will read them and decide, based upon what is said by the book reviewers, if they want to read the book. If they decide to read the work, chances are that they will tell others about it. As the book reviewers touch others with their notices, readers who read these reviews and then the books also help spread the word about the work for the writer. The more people who read a book, the more publicity the writer will get.
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Do Book Reviews Help Sell a Book?

2009-11-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

By Preston Bennett

Do book reviews help sell a novel? Definitely. Reviews are based upon an impression that a reader has of a work. Professional book reviewers read books and then write about them, based upon what they have read. If they like the work, they say so. If they do not feel that the book has merit, they will also say so. However, more often than not, book reviews are favorable.

Anyone who wants to sell their writing should seek out book reviews for this purpose. If the author knows a book reviewer, this can be easy. More often than not, the writers who write these notices are not known to the authors. While major publishing houses can easily get book reviews about new works, it can be difficult for the self published author to do the same. A self published author has to try to get self published book reviews for their novel through self published book marketing.

Book reviews are an essential part of marketing. In fact, they are so important that most publishers will send works out for book reviews before printing up the dust jacket so that the notices can be displayed on the covers. Book reviews give readers a look into the work so that they can see if it is something that they will enjoy reading. These notices are not sales pitches, but a review of the plot, the writing style and the characterization in the book. They should not give away the secrets of the work. They are used to tell prospective readers a bit about the book so that readers can make up their minds whether or not they want to buy the work.

An author of a self published book has virtually no chance of getting the work reviewed by a book reviewer and having it published in a large publication. Self published authors have to embark on self published book marketing and should seek out a book review company. A service will help authors get discovered by writing reviews as well as publishing them in various venues. In this respect, authors can get the publicity for their works that they seek.

Book reviews are the most basic advertising vehicle for a book and are the way that the public knows about the writing as well as whether or not they want to buy it. Anyone who writes a novel, whether it is self published or published through a publishing house, depends upon book reviews to sell the work.
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Why Book Reviews Are So Important to Book Marketing

2009-11-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

By Preston Bennett

Book reviews are not only important to book marketing, but they are crucial, especially when it comes to self published book marketing. Most writers should do whatever they can do to get favorable self published book reviews in order to promote their writing.

Most book reviewers write for a living. They work freelance at this type of job, read books and write about them professionally. They know how to write about a book without giving away an ending or too much about the plot. Good book reviews should leave the reader wanting to read more, they should give a reader a glimpse into the writing that can help the reader make a decision as to whether or not they want to buy the tome.

If a writer has a self published book, it can be difficult to get a writer to write a review. Not so if the writer sends the work to a book review service. A book review company can allow for the writer to be heard in that someone will read the work and write a professional review about it. Some services will allow for more than one review to be written about the work. And these are important as many people base their decision on whether or not to buy the book on the reviews. If a novel comes highly recommended by reviewers, it is much more likely to sell than one that no one has ever heard about.

It is in the best interest of any writer to see to it that their book is reviewed by professional book reviewers and is given a proper notice as this can be vital to the success of a book. Using a book review service is a good idea, especially in the case of a self published author as they will not have a good chance of getting a professional writer to look at their work without using this type of service. Book reviews are the way that the public gets to know if the novel or writing is something that will interest them. They should not be a sales pitch for the writing, but should just discuss the plot of the book, the writing style used by the writer and the strengths of the book for the reader. It will then be up to the reader to decide on whether or not to read this novel, based upon what is said in book reviews.
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Who Uses a Book Review Service?

2009-10-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

How Book Reviews Can Help You Sell Your Book

2009-10-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

By Michelle Spoils

Do not underestimate book reviews in that they can help you sell your book. If you are a newly published author, one who is unknown or one who is self published, you may find it difficult to get to the base of people that you need to make your book profitable and read. More than anything, most new writers want their work to be read - even more than receiving the money for the book.

But you will have a difficult time getting your book reviewed by Vanity Fair or the New Yorker if you are an unknown writer who is self published. Chances are that you will not get any book reviews unless you are willing to pay for them.

The idea of paying for book reviews may seem like cheating to some writers, but they work. And if your purpose is to get more widely read, then you will see that after you have accomplished this and you get enough people reading your work, you will not have to pay for book reviews as they will be automatic. But in order to reach this pinnacle of success, you have to usually go up the hard way. And the way to do that is to use a book review company to provide you with book reviews.

People will look for books based upon the genre, the name of the author and what they heard was a good book. Many people base their decision to buy a book on the book reviews for the book. Those who enjoy books will read book reviews in print and online before making a selection. Once they read a few favorable reviews, they begin to think that they might like the book if someone else liked it as well.

The book world still pretty much relies on viral marketing to sell books. While you will often see books advertised, they are usually those by noted authors, alerting the public that a new book is on its way so that they can buy it. For the most part, authors depend on book reviews to get their ideas and the fact that they have a book in print out there to the general public. If no one knows you as an author, they will not be looking for anything that you have written. Book reviews can help you get the story line of your book out to the readers as well as entice them to read the book.
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Internet Book Reviewers Give Rise to Author Marketing

2009-10-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

How to Write a Book Review

2009-10-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Book Reviews - Are They Really Necessary?

2009-10-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

What Are Book Reviews?

2009-10-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

How to Choose the Right Book For You

2009-10-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

By Irene N. Watson

Reading is one of America's biggest pastimes across all age groups. However, not everyone finds it easy to decide on what book to read next. Do you solely scan the New York Times Bestsellers' List and make your choice based upon it? What if the New York Times Bestsellers' List leaves you reading a book that you are bored of before you even finish it?

It may be difficult to determine which book would be the most interesting by reading the jacket of a book cover only. A summary will not speak about the plot, characters, twist except in vague terms. It is tough to measure the quality of a book by the author's summary. Instead, you may choose to read a few lines in a chapter; however, a few lines in a chapter is not adequate when attempting to grasp the content, level of excitement and whether the book is even worth reading or not. The best way to verify if a book is perfect fit for you or not is by reading a book review.

Movie goers utilize movie critiques, so why shouldn't a book reader use a book review?

Book reviews are detailed descriptions about the plot, characters and settings in a manner beyond the summary. A review may touch on the details of why a certain aspect in the book works and doesn't. A book review offers an opinion by someone that has already read the book and not found anywhere else. You shall receive several opinions on the same subject. One review may applaud a certain aspect while another may claim the same aspect is the biggest downfall of the book. The advantage to reading both conflicting reviews is you may take both opinions, absorb the review, and conclude if the book is worth your time or not. As a result, the book review becomes a guide when revealing the pros and cons of each book and should be used as such.

Another benefit to reading book reviews as a means of how to decide on a book is the various opinions. For book reviews are written by readers like you. Book reviews expand on why a reader likes or dislikes a portion of text. It presents information not known prior to reading making it easier to exercise if the book is suitable for you or not. The wide array of opinions is what aides you in formulating whether the book is your cup of tea or not. Readers from all walks of life are offering opinions and the more reviews you have the easier it is to decide on the book.

Furthermore, book ratings are insufficient grades for books. Book ratings do not explain the range of traits a book exhibits. It will not notate what successfully works, doesn't and why. It simply displays a grade.

The number one way to resolve your book electing dilemma is to read book reviews. Nothing is as thorough, and covers a true representation of the best and worst of the next book you are choosing to read than a book review.
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Publishing and Marketing Your Own Book

2009-10-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

By Preston Bennett

Many people today are choosing to self publish their own book. If you have written something that you feel is worth reading and want others to read as well, you should consider self publishing the book. If you do self publish, you should be prepared for self published book marketing. This type of marketing entails getting self published book reviews from a book review company.

It is not very costly to self publish a book any longer - the cost of self publishing has decreased as technology has advanced. There are many companies that offer print on demand publishing for authors. A self published author can get an ISBN for their book and get it into bookstores as well as on sites like Amazon on their own. Many authors today are self publishing rather than try to break into the every decreasing world of large print publishing.

After publishing your book you are going to want others to read your work. One way that you can get publicity for your book so that the public knows that it exists is through book reviews. Book reviews are the main marketing vehicle for the publishing world. Book reviewers read novels and then write about them online and in newspapers and magazines.

A self published author can get book reviews about their own work by seeking out a review company. This service will hire reviewers to write notices about the work that can be used to promote the literary creation. The time to get a book review company to take a look at your book is before you complete publication as excerpts from the notices are often used on the jackets of newly published books.

Getting reviewers to read your work is not difficult if you hire a review company. In this way, the review service will have a reviewer read the work and write an honest, but flattering depiction of it, meant to tempt others into buying the work. Using reviewers to market your book is the smartest thing that you can do to garner publicity about your writing. You will then be equal with those who have been published through large publishing houses.

If you have a story that is worth telling, do not wait until your book is published by a large company. Get your story out to the people by self publishing and using a review company to help promote your writing. Many people today are gaining success in the literary world through self publishing and the use of review services.
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Marketing Your Self Published Book

2009-10-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

By Preston Bennett

If you have a self published book, you need to market it to the public using a variety of different methods. One of the ways that you can get the word out about your book is to use the services of a book review company. A book review service can have readers read your work and highlight the positive aspects so that other readers may be interested in reading your work as well.

Self published book reviews are vital to the lifeblood of any self published author. While books that are published by the large publishing houses are often give the privilege of getting reviewed by the main book reviewers, a self published novel has little chance of being reviewed by a mainstream book reviewer. Book notices are generated by relationships between magazine and newspapers editors and those in the publishing industry. It can be very difficult for a self published author to break into this circle.

With a good marketing plan, however, a new author can get the novel out to the public. The more people who read the work, the more of an interest there will be. In addition to seeking out self published book reviews, a self publisher should also promote their book through signings in stores and at fairs. The more the word gets out about the book and the more people who read it, the easier the self published book marketing will flow.

Using a book review company is an ideal way for a self published author to market their own work. A book review service will not only give the work a positive notice, but will also post these reviews in areas where others are likely to see them. The author should ideally use the book review company prior to the final print of the cover so that some of the notices can be included on the cover of the novel.

When readers see that a book reviewer has already read the work and given it a positive review, they are more inclined to want to read the work themselves. This is why many self published book authors choose this method of self published book marketing. Others get a chance to read the work, give an opinion on it that is positive and share that opinion with others. The author can use these book reviews to effectively advertise his or her book on the back cover, letting readers know that others have read and enjoyed this work. Book reviews are a very effective way at marketing your self published book.
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Who Uses a Book Review Company?

2009-10-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

What to Look for and What to Avoid in LSAT Review Books

2009-09-30T17:31:00.000-07:00

By Miodrag Trajkovic

LSAT preparation is important for anyone who is looking to get into law school. After all, a good LSAT score will make one more likely to get into a law school. There are all sorts of different LSAT review books that can be useful. But there will also be plenty that will not be as good. Some of them won't use questions that actually show up in the LSAT and others will only focus on certain aspects of the test. Some books are also outdated. There are some things to watch for LSAT preparation in books for the LSAT test.

A book that has actual LSAT questions should be used for preparation. Real questions will come from books authorized by Law Services. A notice on the copyright page of the LSAT review book will notify whether or not authentic questions were used. The Law School Admission Council will have full approval of books that use real LSAT questions.

Bad books that work with LSAT review strategies will talk about general strategies to use in the test. They will not give any emphasis on actual items that can be found in the test. This will be a clear sign that the author of the LSAT book does not have enough information on questions and ideas that will be covered in the LSAT test itself, and this can really hurt LSAT preparation.

Some books will put more of an emphasis on certain parts of the test. For instance, some will emphasize the writing parts of the test. These books should be avoided because the writing sample does not have any scoring methods like the rest of the test does. A good review book will only have a short description of the writing parts and will not go into detail. When a book goes into heavy detail it's just a way of compensating for a lack of knowledge of other parts of the test.

Reasoning methods should be used in LSAT review books. The logical reasoning, cause and effect and other forms of reasoning should be used in review books for LSAT preparation. This is because the test will require plenty of strategies that use these methods of reasoning.

There are some books that talk about out of date strategies that are no longer covered in the LSAT test. Venn diagrams, family tree systems and numerical classification systems are not covered in the LSAT test today. Any book that goes over these strategies should be avoided.

Those are all important tips to use for finding LSAT review books. Good review books for LSAT preparation should have a full emphasis on all parts of the test that will be graded and should feature actual questions that are used in the test. Books that cover out of date systems should be avoided. By using these tips it will be easier to find a better book.
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Book Review - Book Proposals That Sell

2009-09-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

By Theresa V. Wilson

In Book Proposals That Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success, author Terry Whalin uses a personal approach to address an impersonal topic--writing a nonfiction book proposal. Mr. Whalin provides examples of his personal experience, that enable readers to view the real life of editors while offering the best strategies for getting your work in front of the publishers of choice. I used many of the the suggestions recommended by Mr. Whalin resulting in my receiving an award for one the best proposal submissions at Delaware Christian Writers Conference.

In this detailed book, Mr. Whalin not only describes what editors look for when reviewing proposals, he takes readers behind the scenes into the world of traditional publishing so they gain clarify about the acquisitions process including: details about how publishers seek new titles; why their first "acquisitions strategy" is returning to their existing authors first; why new authors face the challenges they do when submitting their work.

Mr. Whalin explained that editors are more comfortable with authors who have an "established following and a successful sales track record." Does this mean first time authors have an uphill challenge? Yes. However, your chances are improved if you are able to provide a personal marketing plan which demonstrates a strong email or internet following, and plans for extensive outreach through conferences and speaking engagements. New authors, who can offer detailed plans like these, will improve their chances.

When authors submit book proposals and manuscripts, there is a level of anxiety while waiting for a response. Like many others, I am a product of the "waiting challenge." Mr. Whalin provided clarity by describing a typical day in the life of an editor includes title meetings, editorial planning meetings, concept meetings, publication board, and marketing and sales meetings. At each level, a proposal can be rejected. His detailed description of each meeting reinforced the importance of following strategies that will provide the best possible opportunity for success.

Book proposals That Sell provides more than a "how to" perspective. It is a personalized conversation from an experienced editor who cares about those who sincerely want to follow the rules and get published.
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What Are Characteristics Of A Good RN NCLEX Review Book?

2009-09-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

By Mary Kaufman

Many of you are out there right now, trying to figure out what NCLEX review book to buy, how you can afford 1 or 2 or 3 and which one will give you the most for your dollar. Here are some tips.

First, you don't have to buy a book. Many college or university libraries may have several. I just ordered several for our library. You may or may not be able to check these books out, but you can try most of them out at the library. You can also get with your buddies and share books. Someone from last year's class may be willing to give away or sell a book cheap. Also, you can buy a book and have unlimited access.

Here are some characteristics to look for when picking a good NCLEX book.

1. current copyright. Anything more than 2 years old may not give you the most up to date question formats.

2. a CD or DVD disk. This disk should simulate what the experience of taking the test is like. In other words, how will it look on the screen, how will you need to use your mouse. This will also decrease your anxiety because you will be familiar with it when you take the exam.

3. study tips. A good book gives you study tips and suggestions on how to best use their book.

4. a variety of questions using the various formats.

5. rationales for the answers and why the distractors are not correct.

Good luck!! Practice completing many questions. It is always best to do at least a few a day.
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Reviewing Books Makes You a Better Writer

2009-09-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

By Renee Kirchner

I have a suggestion for all of the unpublished or little published writers our there. If you want to improve your writing skills, read more books and get writing credits, you might want to apply to be a children’s book reviewer. I decided to become a book reviewer over a year ago and it has helped me in many ways.

FREE BOOKS

I knew this would get your attention. Did you know that book reviewers receive FREE BOOKS in the mail? It’s true. The publication that you work for will send you a list of books that need reviewing every month or quarter. You then choose books that look interesting and after the publication gets feedback from all of their reviewers, they mail books to each of you. The first time I got home and found a Federal Express envelope on my doorstep with a free book inside, my heart beat a little faster. Most months I receive 2 or 3 children’s books that need reviewing. The books are usually hardcover, but not always. They are also new books and you will get to read them before the general public. I don’t know about you, but that is exciting to me.

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEWERS ARE IN DEMAND

We all have one thing in common: we love children’s books. We wouldn’t be trying to write for children if we didn’t. Most book reviewers are in this business for the free books, but most of them want to read adult fiction. I like adult fiction, but my skills were needed on the children’s side. The publishers get too many volunteers to review adult fiction.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Getting started is surprisingly easy. I write reviews for both Kidsreads.com and Teenreads.com. I originally queried on the Internet to find companies that review books. You might want to start with an online review service and later offer your skills to a print newspaper or magazine. The online review services provide reviewers with free books, but generally do not pay them. Later you could become a paid reviewer when you have clips of your reviews to send to a magazine or newspaper. I wrote a sample review for a middle grade novel I had read. I sent the sample review to several on line review services and I was accepted as a reviewer soon after that.

MEETING DEADLINES

I have learned valuable time management skills as a reviewer. With each book that I receive, I get a review deadline. I usually have about one month to read and write my review of each book, but it is sometimes shorter. This has sharpened my time management skills and it has made me a faster reader. Writing reviews also forces you to cut through the book and write a tight summary. This skill could come in handy if you ever need to write a query letter or a synopsis of a novel.

READERS MAKE BETTER WRITERS

Every writer has heard that you won’t have the skills to write unless you read. I now read at least thirty-six children’s novels each year in order to write my reviews. Most of the books I have reviewed have been quite good. I have had the thrill of being one of the first to read new books by Patricia Reilly Giff and Walter Dean Myers.

If you like to read children’s books as much as I do, I think you might enjoy being a book reviewer. It forces you to read and write on schedule. You will be surprised that when your writing life becomes more structured, you will be a much more productive writer. Good luck and happy reading!
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How to Get Your Book Reviewed

2009-09-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

When planing your book, there is one critical thing that most authors forget - marketing. In the case of book reviewers this means pre-marketing.
This means that book reviewers have a huge backlog.
What if your book has already been published?
Is it too late to get a book reviewer to review your book? There is an easy way to get your book reviewed without calling it a review.
Book Reviewers:

Terrie Bittner
Bellaonline.com: Children's Books
childrenbooks@bellaonline.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/entertainment/children.html

Categories: Children, Children’s Religion, Young Adult - Children Query first.

Sandy Cummins
Writers Exchange Book Reviews
PO Box 372
Atherton, QLD 4883
writers@writers-exchange.com
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~pjcsjc/book-review.htm

Categories: Computer/Internet/Technology, Children, Christian, Fiction, How-To, Non-Fiction, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing

Anne Douglas
http://www.bookideas.com
emailanned@yahoo.com
http://www.bookideas.com

Categories: Art, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Pop Culture, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Parenting. Particularly interested in American art and children's books.

Apryl Duncan
FictionAddiction.NET
Box 876
Chattanooga, TN 37343
ReviewRequest@FictionAddiction.NET
http://www.FictionAddiction.NET

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Adventure, Horror
Melanie C. Duncan

Bookdragaon Review (ISSN 1527-0157)
444 Forest Hill Road, #813

Macon, GA 31210
MCDuncan@bookdragonreview.com
http://www.bookdragonreview.com

Categories: Fiction, Young Adult - Children Comments: All genres fiction only. Please query before sending an e-book. Linda Eberharter

Fiction Forest
7042 Cohasset Ct.
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Phone: 317-549-3038
linda@atlanticbridge.net
http://www.atlanticbridge.net

Categories: Children, Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks

Detra Fitch

Huntress Book Reviews
205 Dana Drive
Easley, SC 29642
huntress@huntressreviews.com
http://www.huntressreviews.com

Categories: Children, Fiction, General, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Adventure, Horror

Denise Fleischer
Gotta Write Online
515 E. Thacker

Hoffman Estates, IL 60194
Phone: 847 882-8054
Netera@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/gwnlitmag/

Categories: Mystery, Romance, Young Adult - Children, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing. Jessica Holmes

Romance At Its Best, Midnight Reviews
owner@romanceatitsbest.com
http://www.romanceatitsbest.com/

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Fiction, General, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political, Adventure, Horror

Dave Jenkinson
CM/Canadian Review Materials

Faculty of Education,
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Phone: 204-474-8780
e-Mail: jenkinson@ms.umanitoba.ca
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/

Categories: Audiobooks; General, Children, Young Adults

Jeanette Lambert
Tennessee Tribune
6940 Sunderland Circle

Nashville, TN 37221-4621
Phone: 615-321-3268
jbl96@aol.com

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, General, How-To, Library, Lifestyle, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Sociology, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education

Jennifer L. B. Leese
AStoryWeaver's Book Reviews
311 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
AStoryWeaver@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html

Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children. Please supply all information needed to properly review your book and where to send the review when done. Cathi Dunn MacRae, Editor

VOYA

Scarecrow Press
4720 Boston Way
Lanham, MD 20706
voya@voya.com
http://www.voya.com

Categories: Young Adult & Children
Sandra J. Morgan

Cloudy Mountain Books/The Fiction Forest

2 Bow Mills Road
Center Barnstead, NH 03225
Phone: 603 776 0123
sandi@fictionforest.com
http://www.fictionforest.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Australian Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial

Metapsychology Online Review
c/o Philosophy Dept

Dowling College
Oakdale , NY 11769
Phone: 631-244-3349
metapsychology@mentalhelp.net
http://mentalhelp.net/books/

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, General, Health, Humanities, Literature, Metaphysical, Mystery, Pop Culture, Sociology, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Comics, Science
Puala Rohrlick

KLIATT Young Adult Paperback Book Guide
33 Bay State Rd.,

Welesley, MA 02481
Phone: 781-237-7577
kliatt@aol.com
http://www.hometown.aol.com/kliatt

Categories: Young Adult - Children
Geoff Rotunno
the boox review
PO Box 211

Santa Ynez, CA 93460
geoff@thebooxreview.com
http://www.thebooxreview.com

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Children’s Religion, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, History/Political Comments: Seeking review copies of all genres except romance.

Beverly J. Rowe
myshelf.com
102 Copper Lane
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone: (907) 283-2840
bevbooks@aol.com

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education, History/Political. Prefers hard copies.

J.B. Scott
Sydney, NSW 2148
ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au
http://www.geocities.com/ebook_review

Categories: Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks
E-mail all review requests to ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au with "REVIEW REQUEST" in the subject header.

Sandra Simmons-Maike
Freelance
Rt. 2 Box 152
Alma, KS 66401
Phone: 785-765-3861
sandcogroup@aol.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Library, Lifestyle, Marketing, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help. Roger Sutton, Editor

Horn Book Magazine
56 Roland Street, Suite 200
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-628-0225

Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children
Niki Taylor
Freelance
nat0607@hotmail.com
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/book_reviews

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, eBooks, Theater, Film History, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political
Boletín electronico y crítico de literatura

Eiximenis, 6
Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona 08810
Phone: + 34 93 896 25 04
aserra@ctv.es

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education
Christopher Warner

EFP - Spratt Publishing
4924 Balboa Blvd
Suite 304
Los Angeles, CA 91316
Phone: 818-881-7053
efp@dslextreme.com

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children's Book, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, Scholarly, History/Political, Adventure, Nature, Horror, Photography
Brenda Weeaks

MyShelf.Com
reviews@myshelf.com
http://www.myshelf.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Gardening
Once a few book reviewers write about your book, other book reviewers will follow. Be prepared for these subsequent book reviewers. Have copies of your book ready to send out with your author packet.

Finding a Christian at Christmas
They say the most stressful time of year is during the holidays. Thanksgiving.....Christmas....they're supposed to be happy and fun, you know.....almost Norman Rockwell like..... but somewhere along the way the stress, the unrealistic expectations, the unreasonable demands, and all that other negative stuff show ups and the next thing you know.....you're depressed, over-tired, and dreading one more day during the so-called "holiday season".

Amazingly enough, Christians seem to have the exact same issues as non-Christians. There is no apparent difference in the way they act or talk or handle the stress of the holidays. I could tell you that simplifying things to make it easier is a good idea, but then I'm pretty sure tipping over the Christmas tree, throwing out the lights, and using the family egg nog recipe as fireplace kindling wouldn't count in the whole "simplifying" concept.

How do you satisfy your family and friends, and still be able to keep your focus on what's truly important?
Decide what is truly important and necessary as a family. Having Christian priorities means putting "all that's Christian" at the top of the holiday list. This is a great time to teach your kids the difference between giving and receiving. When your kids see that your priorities are centered around truly celebrating the real purpose of the season, it will get easier and easier for them to be a Christian at Christmas too.

Teaching your kids about giving and receiving doesn't mean you can tell your kids to tell Aunt Martha they can't "receive" her favorite fruitcake because it exceeds the airline weight requirement for the trip home, and that she should "give" it to the starving children in a foreign country.
• Let other family and extended family members know well in advance of your holiday season plans. Explain that as a family, you've decided to change your focus to things that can make a difference for someone else. Perhaps that means there will be less gift giving amongst family members and more to needy families. Or perhaps it means you won't be spending every available dollar on decorations and holiday parties, but rather on things that will make your family truly understand and appreciate the intent of the season. It is important to set the example for all those extended family members.
• As a family, evaluate all your scheduled holiday activities. Only participate in those that you can honestly say you're attending because they bring you joy and contribute to your Christian holiday season. If, on the other hand, you're dreading that party or that holiday event and only attend because you feel pressure to meet the expectations of other people, then perhaps it's time to let people in on your change in direction. It may upset some people initially, but taking back control of your holidays won't always make everyone else happy. Pleasing God and keeping your sanity have got to have the highest priority.
There will always be pressure from other people coming at you from all directions during the holidays. Being a Christian at Christmas means you have to fight your way through the noise to get to all that's Christian about the season. The holiday season is a great opportunity to let others see you "walk the walk" and "talk the talk".
• Give other people a break. If people can't make it to your holiday gathering, the world won't stop turning. Cutting people some slack will go a long way toward doing what you can to help others reduce their holiday stress level.
• As a family, discuss your financial status and make a commitment not to overspend. There is nothing Christian about getting into debt just to satisfy a lot of unreasonable demands and expectations. God always looks at motive, no matter what you do. Now is the time to re-evaluate what you're spending, and why you're spending it. For example, in my family gift giving takes the form of an olympic event. Having received belly-button lights which my brother helpfully described as "great for reading", and slippers made from Kotex pads, and oh yes....let's not forget the talking fish that was already moving under the wrapping paper before I even opened it.....well, let's just say the attempts to out-give each other really do reach olympic proportions.

Being a "Christian at Christmas" has to be a deliberate, concentrated effort.

Skin Care Book Reviews

2009-09-15T01:01:00.000-07:00

The Wrinkle Cure

By Nicholas Perricone, MD
Let's start with a label that says "Dermatologist Tested". Well that Could mean that the product was tested but they may not have liked it. Dr. Perricone did most of His testing and as the book goes along he admits what worked and what did not work. Working from there makes changes to make it work better. Before you can take care of your skin one needs to know what kind of skin you have. Not only knowing if you have oily or dry skin Dr. Perricone has a good chapter on skin tone. With case studies on the different skin tones you can get tips on the do's and don'ts for your skin tips.

After reading his book I came away with a better understanding of how our skin is affected by our enviroment and the foods that we eat. If you do not understand the antioxidants and free radicals, well this is a good book to start understanding their relationship.

Starting with taking a multivitamin, eating yogurt and granola in the Morning. As you read through the book Dr. Perricone does use many words from the Medical field. It does break up the flow of your reading. I read all the way through the book and then went back through with a note pad. The book comes in two different sizes, I got the smaller book for traveling. With the larger book you could high light it as you read through it. With only 218 pages it is a short book packed with information. You are sure to make at least one change to your daily regime
after reading this book. Even Wayne'r the no brainer made some changes.

For October 2005
Beauty the new basics
By Rona Berg

Being a former beauty editor for The New York Times Magazine, Editorial director forELLE magazine and has written for many Other magazines such as, Vogue, Instyle, Cosmopolitan, Mirabella, Self, and Mademoiselle. This book shows the years that she has taken to research, write, and live in a life full of beauty. Just start at the end of the book with her acknowledgments. These are some of the best people in their fields, be it doctors, hairstylist, makeup artists, aestheticians, or the fashion industry insiders.

This really is a head to toe book, from hair cuts, color and styling; to facials, skin regimens for the different stages of life.
Do not use this book as a coffee table book; your friends will pick it up for sure. A Wayne'r keeper My first book on natural skin care was:

Ageless Natural Beauty
By Sally Freeman

I'm not sure if it is because it was in the beginning and I did not know much, but I still think it was a great start. Like the back of the book says "Open your kitchen, grab hold of nature's bounty, do a little mixing and stirring, and bask in the blow of the best beauty treatments money can't buy". A Wayne'r thumbs up.
Another book that I got in the beginning was:

The complete Woman's Herbal
By Anne Mc Intyre

I lucked out with this book as well. this is really a book from A to Z on herbs. Taking all the stages of life in from uses in infant care, menopause, through the
aging process.

Young Skin for Life
By Julie Davis

Her book your guide to smoother, clearer, more Beautiful skin-at any age.
Is a good book and very easy to read. This is a book that you can read and is not overwhelming. A Wayne'r thumbs up! Looking Good at Any Age

By Amy E. Newburger, MD

This book is one that I would check out at the library. Some books that I read will spark an interest to lead me into more information. After reading this book I was left with the feeling "OK".

Safe in the Sun
by Mary-Ellen Siegel

I could not say it better by Carolyn L. Ellner, Ph. D.
"This book should be read by all educators and its message addressed in all our classrooms as part of good health education."
If you have young children this book is for you. I wish mom had read this Book when I was young. A Wayne'r 2 thumbs up Women & Beauty

By Sophia Loren

Ok I like Sophia Loren any way. And probably seen every movie at lest 3 times. If there is one person to get beauty tips from, she is a Wayne'r no brainer.
As Part of http://www.Natural-Skin-Care-Info.com I read a book a month with a review.

16 Christian Book Reviews
For those of you are who are looking for some good reading covering a wide variety of topics, here is a list of some very good books covering some very interesting topics. Each one of these authors are truly anointed in their teachings and you cannot go wrong with their specific teachings on the subjects they are discussing in each of these books.
1. "Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone" by Joyce Meyer
I believe Joyce Meyer to be one of the very best Bible teachers we have in the Body to-date. Many people have been set free from her teachings and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has this particular problem in their thinking and how they relate and interact with others.

2. "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer
Another very solid book from Joyce Meyer. As a result, our minds are the battlefield between God, the devil and our flesh. Each Christian has to learn to how to walk in the Spirit and the ways of our God and stay away from wrong type of thinking that can eventually lead us into trouble that can end up bringing down major misfortune and trouble into our lives.

3. "Be Anxious For Nothing: The Art of Casting Your Cares and Resting in God" by Joyce Meyer
In the fast-paced, high-stress world in which we now all live in, many people are having a hard time in finding any true peace. Joyce does a very good job in covering the appropriate Scripture verses on this command and some of the ways you can learn how to do this in your own personal life.

4. "Your Best Life Now" by Joel Osteen
This book has become a national bestseller. This man truly flows with knowledge and revelation from the Lord and you cannot go wrong with any of his solid biblical teachings. I know some have criticized him as being too seeker-sensitive in some of his sermons, but I believe this man is truly anointed by the Lord and this book will give you much practical, down-to-earth knowledge and wisdom on how to get the most out of your life in the Lord with what He is calling you to do for Him.

5. "God's Generals: Why They Succeeded" by Roberts Liardon
For those of you who would like to learn about some of the saints in the past who have walked with higher levels of the anointing such as Smith Wigglesworth, Kathryn Kuhlmann, Aimee Semple Mcpherson and Marie Woodworth-Etter - this book will give you all of the basic fact of their ministries, how they all got started and some of the incredible things that had occurred in their ministries for the Lord.

This book is a fascinating read into saints who were not afraid to push the envelope with God and how they learned how to walk with some of the highest levels of the anointing that any human has ever walked before.

6. "The Holy Spirit" by Billy Graham
A very good, solid book on the Holy Spirit from one of the greatest evangelists of all time. He goes into the 9 gifts and 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit, along with showing you how the Holy Spirit convicts and leads sinners to the Lord for eternal salvation. This book is solid teaching from start to finish covering everything from who the Holy Spirit is and how He will work to lead us into a deeper and closer walk with the Lord. I believe this book to be one of the best teaching books on the Holy Spirit and the personal ministry that He has with each one of us as we journey through this life.

7. "Maximizing the Moment: God's Action Plan for Your Life" by T. D. Jakes
To those of you who have seen him preach and teach on his regular TV show, he is one of the most anointed speakers in the area of motivating the saints to become everything that God is calling them to become in Him in this life. This book goes into very good detail on how to maximize with whatever God is calling you to do for Him in this life. He covers how to get released from your hurtful past and how to face and overcome obstacles and roadblocks that will come your way once you fully submit to God and start to walk in the divine destiny that He has set up for your life.

8. "Loose That Man and Let Him Go!" by T. D. Jakes
Another great book - especially geared for men.

9 "Called to Be God's Leaders" by Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
A great insightful book into Joshua and how and why he became so successful in everything that he accomplished for the Lord as he was the leader that led the Israelites from the wilderness into the Promised Land. This is a great book for all saints who who called by God to enter into any type of leadership position in the Body. The two subtitles of the book are "Lessons From the Life of Joshua" and "How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership." Joshua was one of the greatest men in God with everything that he accomplished in his life and these two authors do a great job in isolating the specific factors that were some of the reasons for his major success in the Lord.

10. "The Devil's Door" by John Bevere
John Bevere is another great author and teacher in the Body today. In this great book, he covers how the saints need to stay out of the dark side of this life and what can happen if we do not stay on our side of the fence with the Lord. He also covers whether or not a Christian can lose his salvation in the Lord. Very good practical insight on living a good and righteous life for the Lord.
11. "Elijah" by Charles Swindoll
This man has written several powerful books on some of the greatest saints of the Bible. This one is on Elijah, who probably walked with one of the greatest anointings that any man has ever walked with in both the OT and NT. Probably one of the best books ever written on Elijah's life and what we can all learn from this saint's amazing journey and adventures with the Lord.

12. "Joseph" by Charles Swindoll
Another great book from Mr. Swindoll, with this one being on the life of Joseph. This books goes into very good detail on everything that occurred in this Joseph's life and how we all need to hold fast to the Lord like Joseph did even in the most trying of circumstances - and if we do, then sooner or later we will be rewarded by the Lord.

13. "Paul" by Charles Swindoll
This book from Mr. Swindoll is on the life of Paul. I believe Paul to be the greatest of all of the NT apostles and this book gives you all of the basic facts of this man's journey and adventure with the Lord. Again, there is much to learn from his story in the Lord and much we can incorporate into our own personal walks and journeys with the Lord.

14. "David: A Man of Passion and Destiny" by Charles Swindoll
God gave this man two of the highest compliments when He said that David was a man after His own heart and that David was a man who would do all of the will of God for his life. Mr. Swindoll once again goes into very good basic detail on the main parts of this man's life in the Lord and why he ended up becoming one of the greatest saints in the OT.

15. "Handbook of Todays' Religions" by Josh McDowell
This book even goes into some of the basic secular areas such as atheism, Marxism and secular humanism. Very solid book that provides a wealth of information and knowledge right at your fingertips on all of these different areas. To be forewarned with knowledge is to be properly armed - especially in the type of world we live in with so may people falling into some these heavy demonic areas.

16. "Sparkling Gems From the Greek" by Rick Renner
This book is an excellent daily devotional. Rick Renner is one of the very best teachers in the Body of Christ. In this gem of a book, he has a specific teaching for every day of the week. In the 365 daily devotions that are in this book are more than 1000 in-depth Greek word studies so as to help you understand the specific words being used in each of the Scripture verses he is teaching on. Rick covers a wide variety of topics in this very anointed book. The Bible tells us to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Savior - and you will definitely grow in the knowledge of God if you meditate on many of this man's and teachings and writings.

Book Review: A History of the World in 6 Glasses

2009-09-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

World History is a long and complex topic. Though many accomplished authors such as Bill Bryson and H. G. Wells have attempted to condense history into a single book, very few have succeeded. Happily, A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage succeeds where others have failed. Standage's book does this by sacrificing the breadth of every possible topic for an impressive depth and focus. Instead of trying to sum up the complete history of man, this book spotlights a single topic, in this case beverages, and then takes the reader on a journey through time to see how his topic interweaves the past. Standage is a delightful writer, mixing his light hearted style with exceptional historical savvy not just on the topic of drinks, but throughout.

Not only am I skeptical of any book claiming to sum up the antiquity of man in 300 pages or less, but I myself do not drink any of the 6 beverages this book discusses. As such, learning the history of these drinks did not sound immediately appealing. However, what I quickly learned is that this book is not a history of 6 drinks, but rather just as the title states, a history of the world, told through the story of 6 drinks. As the book points out in the introduction, second only to air, liquid is the most vital substance to man's survival. The availability of water and other drinking sources have "constrained and guided humankind's progress" and "have continued to shape human history". A History of the World in 6 Glasses is broken down into six sections, one for each drink, the first of which is beer. Man's first civilizations where founded on surplus cereal production, much of which was brewed. Ancient day beers were high in vitamin B, a vitamin previously only obtained through meat. This allowed the population to focus their nutrition efforts more and more on cereals, effectively ushering in the transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers. Additionally, because early beers were boiled (to convert more starch into sugars), the beer was significantly safer to drink than water. Wine, the next beverage in the book, played a major role in the flourishing Greek and Roman cultures. As wine did not originate from the Mediterranean, the Greek's desire for this drink opened up vast seaborne trade, which spread their philosophy, politics, science and literature far and wide, and still underpins modern Western thought. A History of the World in 6 Glasses points out how these advancements originated and grew at formal Greek drinking parties, called symposia. As the book notes, if you trace the wine drinking areas of the world on a map, you will find you have traced the Roman empire at its height.

After a thousand years of hibernation, Western civilization was awakened by the rediscovery of ancient knowledge, long safeguarded in the Arab world. However, in an attempt to circumvent this Arab monopoly, European monarchs launched massive fleets into the sea. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes how these condensed forms of alcohol (namely Brandy, Whiskey and Rum) were so popular, especially in the new American colonies, that "they played a key role in the establishment of the United States."

The fourth beverage presented in this book is coffee. Replacing taverns as the sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse "led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought, particularly in France." A History of the World in 6 Glasses goes on to recount the intricate effect coffeehouses had on Victorian culture, going so far as to dedicate an entire chapter to what the book calls "The Coffeehouse Internet".

Once established as England's national drink, the importing of tea from first China and then India led to trade and industrialization on an unprecedented scale. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes the immense power of the British East India Company, which "generated more revenue than the British government and ruled over far more people", wielding more power than any other corporation in history. This imbalance of power had an enormous, far-reaching effect on British foreign policy, and ultimately contributed to the independence of the United States.

Like most of the drinks discussed in A History of the World in 6 Glasses, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America's "vibrant consumer capitalism". According to the book, Coca-Cola still accounts for "around 30 percent of all liquid consumption" today.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses makes it clear that the history of mankind is a history of our consumption. Whether we are drinking "liquid bread" in Mesopotamia, pondering revolution in a Coffeehouse in Paris, or throwing tea leafs into the ocean in Boston, these drinks have had a profound impact on who we are. As Standage says in the introduction to his book "They survive in our homes today as living reminders of bygone eras, fluid testaments to the forces that shaped the modern world. I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for knowledge about the world around them... or even if they're just thirsty for a good drink.

Martial Arts Book Review: Zen Combat by Jay Gluck
Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Jay Gluck’s, "Zen Combat."

The copy I have I ended up finding in an old book store several years ago. This book gives you some outstanding information on the history of primarily the Japanese martial arts and their philosophy.

1. The Bull Story; Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama and Kyokushin-kai Karate:
This section covers a lot of, although brief, biography of Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama and how he came to learn the art of Karate. There is also a story about how Mas and the author visited with another famous Karate master, Gogen “Cat” Yamaguchi.
This section of the book concludes with some basic information from Mas on training techniques and methods, etiquette and principles of karate, descriptions on various punches, blocks and kicks, kata or forms with Heian or Pinan Nidan being described and illustrated. Of particular note, there is a terrific section on how to form a proper Shuto or knifehand strike, and on how to condition your hands for delivering powerful blows.

2. Why the Zen of Zen Combat; Martial Arts Philosophy:
This section is primarily devoted to the early history of the martial arts and their philosophy, and how Zen compliments them. This is really a very good although brief section on the history of martial arts.
In addition to Musashi, he also talks about the art of Kendo and the samurai sword, and the basic techniques that are used when yielding a samurai sword. These techniques include; the proper grip, en-garde, touché, and the I-ai or “quick draw.”
The rest of this particular section is devoted to various weapons used by the samurai such as; the naginata, bo staff, spears, etc.

3. Kyudo; The Way of Archery:
This section starts out with a brief history of the bow in Japanese history and then quickly dives right in to how Zen became incorporated with Japanese archery and why it is still practiced that way even today.
The author gives a very detailed explanation on the equipment, ritual, and techniques associated with Japanese archery. This is a very thorough and well presented, yet basic, analysis of this very impressive art form.

4. Dancing; Dervishes of Strength:
We begin this section with a trip to Iran and its traditional dance at their House of Strength. The author also discusses the importance of dance and music to the martial arts if one truly wants to master them.
There is a terrific section included here that deals with how to breath and training your body through the use of certain breathing techniques. It also has a section devoted to the purifying of the body through the use of “cold training.” This section finishes with a brief history on the art of ninjitsu.

5. Aiki; Luke: 4-28:
This is perhaps the best section in this book and covers the art of Aikido and its master, Morihei Ueshiba. This section is quite detailed and recounts several exploits of the Aikido master. It also briefly explains some of the techniques and principles associated with this amazing art form.

Selling Books on Amazon

2009-09-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Amazon is perhaps one of the most successful businesses that the web has furnished since the Internet Boom. Known for selling books online, the website attracts millions of visitors every day. Some buy books while others just surf and look for new ones in the market. Although it is set-up like any other online store in the country, the Amazon provides great service that is hard to surpass.

Whether it is because of their strength in the market or the continuous upgrading of their site, Amazon has remained to be a market leader for years. What makes Amazon such a hit ? What makes their service different from other sites ? Selling Books on Amazon teaches you how to create your own cash generating business. Discover just how exciting your life can become

1. Visual representations
One important element that Amazon has in its website is the use of visuals and photographs of books. This is a good way to entice people into buying their books. It is also a good guide for people who are purchasing books that have different editions and versions. For instance, a business book will have different editions depending on where it is published and what publishing house made it. People who are looking for a specific version will find the pictures a big help.

2. Professional reviews
Another advantage of selling books on amazon is that other websites has in its site reviews of the book from professionals who are really adept in analyzing and critiquing novels and various kinds of literature.

3. User reviews
Amazon.com also has user review corners, which anybody can make use of. People who want to have their opinions about the book heard can upload their reviews, comments or whatever else that they want to say about the book.

4. Easy payment system
Amazon is convenience in your fingertips. With just clicking the book and then supplying your credit card information, you can already have the book delivered at your doorstep. Of course, the price can be pretty expensive if you add up the delivery charge but this is perfect for people who just do not have the time to shop but have lots of money to burn.

5. Cut-off prices
Amazon oftentimes cut off their prices especially for book, which are not so saleable but have lots of stocks left. Hard to find books can sometimes be found here.

6. Synopsis and other details
Amazon provides the complete details of the book, sometimes even posting an excerpt of the book. The experience is actually like shopping inside a bookstore except that you are inside your house and clicking the mouse instead of turning the pages.

7. Speed of connection
The Trouble With Book Reviews
To judge by a flyer from the just-inaugurated New York Center for Independent Publishing, book reviewers are in trouble. “SAVE OUR BOOK REVIEWS!” pleads its headline. At dozens of papers, book coverage has been cut back or slashed altogether, puffed up with wire copy, or generally treated as expendable. The Board of the National Book Critics Circle has launched a campaign to try to combat these changes.”

First of all, just to stave off precipitous decline, it makes sense to assure investors of the overall viability of the enterprise, and ask them to advance additional funds to help restore its profitability. Book reviews being hardly a strong profit earner, it would be less then realistic to put much hope into this step.

Of far greater importance is the second step to be taken – expanding customer base to increase the value of the enterprise. At present, reviewers are servants of big publishers. Rather than sifting through the mass of newly-published books in search of interesting and original ideas to present to the public, and acting as referees of merit, today’s book reviewers earn their bread by hyping up books published by big houses, and turning them into “bestsellers.” Some book-covers are just plastered with admiring quotes from reviews, with ecstatic “oh!”s, “ah!”s spilling from the covers to the first few pages of the text itself, while other books earn not a single review. Are the former adorned with superlatives because their merits were obvious to every reviewer in the country, while the latter were found, upon being read by the same reviewers, sadly devoid of merit? The lucky break came after the author came into contact with Stephen King while making an audio book for him. A nod from Mr. King did the alchemical trick of turning trash into gold – and, when time came to hype the book into bestsellership, every major reviewer published an opinion – an opinion of a book which would never have reached his desk had the author published it himself – since major reviewers have a stated policy of not considering author-published books for review. “The Memory of Running” made it not because of what was in it – that never changed since its trash years – but because it was published by people who were in a position to make book reviewers jump.

About half a year ago, during a panel discussion by the New York Times book review staff, I had a more direct confirmation that this is how book reviewers operate. I was eager to ask a simple question – “if all review submissions were made anonymously, leaving no clue as to the identity of author or publisher, wouldn’t an altogether different set of books be chosen for review?” Interestingly, this is precisely how book reviewers used to work in the past. In early 1900s it was possible for a book anonymously published by its author to get some half dozen magazine reviews simply on the merit of its provocative ideas. In the current book review climate, however, this would be inconceivable, reviews being an exclusive prerogative of publishing establishment, and having nothing whatsoever to do with book’s quality and merit.

Perhaps, to save their industry, book reviewers should seriously consider extricating themselves from the far-too-close embrace of big publishers, and of choosing as customers the public, instead of the publishers – by basing their selection, just as it used to be a hundred years ago, only on merit, and completely ignoring irrelevances such as the identity of author and of publisher.

The public would be grateful to book reviewers for worthwhile ideas brought to its attention, the fellow-journalists would respect reviewers for pursuing newsworthy material, and the management would see that book reviews are an asset, and not a liability.

Which is, to think of it, the only reasonable way for book reviews to flourish, rather than wither.

Everything You Should Know About Pay to Review Services

2009-09-06T00:41:00.000-07:00

Should you pay to have someone review your book? This is a question many small press, self published, or POD published authors are going to have to ask. With the entrance of the pay to review model many authors who could never get their books reviewed by the “mainstream” review outlets now have the opportunity to get that necessary and all important book review. Well, that all depends on what you expect when you decide to enlist a paid service to review your book.

Guaranteed Review – Your book is guaranteed to be reviewed when you use one of the pay services. There is no waiting around wondering whether or not your book is going to be one of the few chosen to make the review pages. You’re paying for a service and once you have paid you’ll get what you’ve paid for.

Quick Turnaround Time - Anyone who has gone the traditional review route knows that it can take months, if ever, for a book to be reviewed. However, many of the pay services will review a book for you in a matter of days or weeks. From ten days to six weeks you can have a professional, signed review. Mainstream review outlets can’t compete with that.
Ownership of the Review – When you commission someone to write a review for you, you own that review. Which means you can use that review anyway you see fit. Most services require that anytime you use the review you acknowledge the particular writer and service that wrote the review but other than that it is yours to do with as you please.

Aid in Promotion – The New York Times Book Review is a promotion machine in and of itself. If they give you a good review then you may be on the road to bestseller status. And the same is true for the other major review markets. Paid review services can help you with this. Many of them will submit your review to other media sources which will give your book added exposure. So not only are you getting the review for your money but you will also gain extra promotional and marketing exposure you may not have had access to otherwise.

Any Book, Anytime – Backlist titles, books that have already been released, pay review services will review them all. If your book has been released longer than ninety days many reviewers won’t touch it. A pay review service is a way to still get that all important review regardless of when the book was released.

Good Review vs. Honest Review - This is what the controversy surrounding pay review services centers on: how can you possibly get an honest, objective review of your book if you’re paying someone to write it. There are services that will give you a glowing review regardless of what you write. And considering that some pay review services charge as much as $350 dollars per review, it isn’t a surprise that an author would expect a positive review. But a book review isn’t only about hearing glowing reviews of your work.

A good book review should cover what works and what doesn’t work with your book, what improvements need to be made and how well you told the story you were trying to tell.

Lots of High School Choices in the New York City Schools
Looking for a high school for your child that concentrates on preparing for higher academics? The New York City schools have five such high schools.
If you have a child now in elementary or middle school, live or plan to live in New York City, and you would like to see your child excel in high school and college, begin planning now for his or her enrollment in one of five specialized New York City schools.

Three of these New York City schools have been around for the better part of the last century. They are Peter Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, and Brooklyn Technical. To enroll your child, a New York City schools exam is given in December of the school year prior to attending. The special exam concentrates on mathematics and reading comprehension. If you wish your child to take the rigorous New York City schools exam for one of these specialized schools, begin preparing him or her in the early grades, ensuring that math, reading and science are learning priorities. Then, the child should take a test prep course, such as the Kaplan, before taking the exam, as well as checking out test review books from the New York City schools. In order to take the New York City schools exam, your child needs a permission slip from a guidance counselor or have the child’s current school administration register him or her at the special test centers in either Manhattan or Queens.

Each specialized school has its own score requirements. Stuyvesant has the highest score requirements and is the hardest to gain acceptance, followed by Bronx Science and then Brooklyn Technical.

All facilities for these New York City schools are the best, receiving a lot of private funding. A fourth top academic school is Townsend Harris, located on the Queens College campus. Once accepted, your child can expect long school hours and rigorous coursework.

Any New York City schools student is eligible for these four top academic schools, but one other such school exists with restricted eligibility — Staten Island Tech. Students already in a New York City schools on Staten Island are eligible to attend. Though the school does not carry the same prestige as the other schools, it is still a very excellent academic school and acceptance is difficult.

Class sizes are smaller than in other New York City schools, and most students already know each other, having come from the same neighborhoods.
This information on New York City schools is brought to you by www.schoolsk-12.com.

Sea of Hope by Penelope Marzec; Book Review

2009-09-03T23:56:00.000-07:00

Book Review
Sea of Hope by Penelope Marzec
Awe-Struck E-Books, 1587490447, $4.50 disk or download

Paperback version $11.95
To say Doria Hanrahan is experiencing loss is putting things rather mildly. A recent mugging which left bruises on her body and memory compels Doria to leave her tony New York City apartment and job for the security of a sleepy harbor town she once despised. Back home, there is nobody to comfort Doria as she grieves the loss of her father; at least, Doria perceives there is nobody there. Doria suffers the loss of companionship.

Doria's suffering experiences new heights, however, when she learns her father willed the boat to Murray Santoro, and he does not want to sell. Tensions rise when cash-strapped Doria insists on joining the trawler's crew as cook for a brief excursion, and when she learns some disturbing common knowledge about Murray she wonders if he is more threatening than the stormy weather tossing the ship around the coast.

Mending fences with humankind as well as God is the central focus of Sea of Hope. Through Doria, author Marzec personfies the fragility of the human spirit as it is haunted by loss - by death, crime, and suspicion - and healed with faith. The elements of romance are strong in the tense scenes between Doria and Murray, through Marzec also offers readers some very well-written adventure scenes as Doria's harbor hometown braces for the storm. Sea of Hope is a book that appeals to any reader.

A. The View From the Grass Roots by Gregory J. Rummo; Book Review
Book Review
The View From the Grass Roots by Gregory J. Rummo
Millennial Mind Publishing, 1589821017, $22.00
Picture Erma Bombeck and George Will having a child who grew up, moved to New Jersey, and got a dog named Chewbacca. Readers in the New Jersey area will know Rummo from his many years as a regular contributor to regional newspapers, where his work tackles a variety of topics, personal and political. The Amy Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting Christian-influenced journalism in secular newspapers and magazines, has seen fit to bestow a number of awards on Rummo's work. The book's title, Rummo explains in the introduction, is meant to emphasize Rummo's position as a writer. To call Rummo "ordinary" would be a misnomer, however. A perfunctory glance at the contents of View presents the reader with a look into a life both blessed and challenged, a life appreciative of God's creations - everything from the rough beauty of rural New Jersey to the child growing in a mother's womb. Rummo's style is common sense and easy on the eye; a column on the logistics of coaching his son's soccer team may illicit a few chuckles while at the same time warm a reader's heart as Rummo explains how his son refuses to let his deafness become an obstacle while playing. His thoughts on past and present Presidential administrations may, depending on one's political leanings, leave a reader nodding in agreement or shaking his head.

Whatever your view on religion, the government, and life in general, it is well worth the time to see these things from Rummo's point of View.

B. Father's Touch by Donald D'Haene; Book Review
Book Review
Father's Touch by Donald D'Haene
American Book Publishing, 1589821122, $22.00
Reviewing Father's Touch, Donald D'Haene's memoir of growing up as a first generation Canadian to Belgian immigrants, has been one of the most difficult things I have had to do. It is not because I disliked the story; as you might suspect, my delay concerns mainly the actual subject matter of the story. True-life stories of sexual abuse at the hands of parents are not very populous in the published world, and there is a part of me that wishes books like Father's Touch and Sue William Silverman's Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You (reviewed elsewhere) did not have to be written, that the authors did not have to be subjected to the terror that inspired such work. Donald D'Haene and his siblings were first generation Canadians, born to Belgian parents who crossed the Atlantic for the promise of a new life in a new world. Yet for the matron D'Haene there was little solace in a marriage where her husband had established control soon after exchanging vows. As the family grew, so expanded the senior D'Haene's tyrany, which would eventually manifest itself in unsavory activities with his children, including one in particular Donald called "The Game."

Throughout much of his childhood, Donald and his siblings were unwilling participants in The Game. Subsequent reports to Kingdom's Hall resulted in investigations, disfellowship for Daniel and much harrumphing, but little action beyond that. Never during the course of the abuse and the time thereafter (during which the D'Haenes divorced and Donald moved his mother and siblings elsewhere) was the family informed that legal action could be taken against Daniel D'Haene. When the elder D'Haene finally was accused, the end result for the adult Donald was a botched case and a sentence that hardly befitted the crime of many years of sexual and psychological abuse.

Father's Touch angered me, as well it should have. Vivid memories of fellow parishoners - now strangers - and former homes segue vividly into D'Haene's flashback narration, which features somebody D'Haene refers to as "the Other Donald," the numbed self the real Donald left to the mercy of his father to withstand the abuse. Reading Father's Touch, I could not help but wonder how common this phenomenon is among sexually abused youth (Silverman, in her memoir, writes of "Dina," an identity associated with her own experiences).
D'Haene writes honestly, and shows great skill for detail and narrative. Father's Touch is a raw, emotional story of survival, coming to terms with a traumatic past and moving beyond for a better present.

Review for Broken Angel, by SW Vaughn

2009-08-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

Broken Angel, by SW Vaughn, breathes with an insistent life of its own, pulling readers along through the dark underworld of barbaric fight clubs and prostitution.
The story unfolds as twenty-two year old Gabriel Morgan, destitute and starving, discovers a lead to his missing sister’s whereabouts deep in the seedy underbelly of Manhattan. Slade, cold-hearted leader of an underground street fighting society, has been waiting for the unsuspecting Gabriel. Lillith dangles like a spider’s prey in his web, luring Gabe into Slade’s trap.
Beneath the glamour and glitz of Fifth Avenue pulses a world fraught with greed, violence, and cruelty. Captured, tortured and held in a secret complex beneath Fifth Avenue, Gabe is chained to a wall in his own private dungeon, where he discovers his fate. Terms for release: ten million dollars. Broke and desperate, Gabe is forced to fight for Slade in exchange for his sister’s freedom.

Jenner, slithering and sadistic, delights in torturing Gabriel, calling him his “angel.” The name sticks. Slade bills Angel as his newest weapon; sure that he’ll make millions in the no-holds-barred events.

Angel grows stronger and more resilient as the months pass under Jenner’s vicious tutelage. Jenner tattoos an elaborate set of wings on Angel’s back, driving him into a pain-induced coma. After an excruciating recovery, fight follows fight as Angel strikes blows for freedom. Befriended by Akuma, an exotic and lithe fighter, Angel welcomes the brief moments of companionship as he works his way through the human cockfights.

Vaughn has created a fascinating, yet disturbed world. The tight writing flows effortlessly and propels the reader forward, mesmerized and horrified, to the startling ending.

Review Text Books: Under Review
This occurred when a State run Text Book Committee recently decided to review their text books that were being used in the class rooms. This has obvious implications for students and teachers, the quality of learning can often be compromised by a lacking in text books, but the cost of revamping those text books can be astronomical.

The typical time for text books to review is in the late summer time, when publishers have published all the books for the upcoming school year. These text books are typically reviewed by the text book review committee. Public Citizens are able to review the books during the open review process that each state holds. Comments can be made and there are many public hearings that last approximately 2-4 weeks which can help the committee develop a plan for purchasing text books.

The terms for a committee are often 2-5 years, depending on the state. Reviews of text books are often done on a 4-6 year cycle depending on the funding and the need. Libraries are required to hold on to the text books until the state committee has conducted the most recent study and review of text books.

Ebook Review: The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay!

2009-08-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

EBOOK DETAILS
File Size: 1,709kb Zipped, 2,383kb Unzipped.
Number of Pages: 136
Format: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
Subject: A guide to using eBay traffic to create "Silent Sales Machines."
Other Information: Can be bought with Jim Cockrum's other ebook "How to turn Auction Traffic Cash" as a discounted, package deal.

ABOUT JIM COCKRUM (AUTHOR OF THE SILENT SALES MACHINE)
The author Jim Cockrum, is a self confessed eBay freak. He also runs "Creative Ebay Selling," the internets largest eBay success newsletter with over 90,000 subscribers and growing by the day. Jim has helped launch multiple internet businesses and has used the internet as his sole source of income since 2002.

ABOUT THE EBOOK
The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay is a guide on how to gaining massively from the huge levels of eBay traffic. The topics covered include:
• How to earn Money!!
• One of Jim's Silent Sales Machines dissected!!
• How to utilise your About Me page effectively!!
• How to get traffic to your Silent Sales Machine!!
• Improving your Silent Sales Machine!!
• How to utilise all the above on eBay whilst sticking to eBay policy!!

This includes "What should I sell on eBay" which is a collection of thousands of creative ideas submitted by Jim's newsletter subscribers, and "Power Tips for eBay Sellers" which is a collection of useful tips for eBay sellers plus four bonus articles.

The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay is definitely aimed at those who are currently limited to selling solely on eBay. If you are in this situation then it is most likely that you view your business activities as "If I sell one item on eBay I get one buyer and one sale" (I know I was). Jim however, says that "One auction can potentially bring you hundreds of buyers before, during, and after the sale WITHOUT violating eBay policy." He then expands on this by dissecting one of his Silent Sales Machines to show you how he did it, and then providing many more creative ideas that you could possibly use to set up your own Silent Sales Machine using this principle. Implementing the ideas in The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay can provide you with multiple benefits and hugely expand your business. If you can put in the time and effort then the ideas in the Silent Sales Machine are definitely worthwhile.

GOOD POINTS
• If you are currently only selling on eBay, The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay lays wide open the huge opportunities you are missing out on, by not looking at the bigger picture.
• The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay provides you with methods that will direct the huge amounts of traffic on eBay, to your product outside of eBay, whilst sticking to eBay policy.
• The huge amount of creative ideas listed mean you should be able to think of a Silent Sales Machine that you can run alongside your current product and seriously increase your sales.
• Setting up Silent Sales Machines balances the risk of your business. If your business on eBay is not doing so well this is weighed up against your business off eBay which may be doing better and vice versa.

BAD POINTS
• A lot of time, effort, and research can be required initially to set up an effective Silent Sales Machine.
• Although a website is not essential for some Silent Sales Machines, most of them do require one, which is an added expense.
• You may have to become familiar with using affiliate programs in order to set up your Silent Sales Machine.
• The benefits gained from setting up a Silent Sales Machine are slightly over-exaggerated in this ebook.

HOW I HAVE GAINED FROM THE SILENT SALES MACHINE HIDING ON EBAY
The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay is the ebook that convinced me to finally get a website. Not only could I use it to promote my eBay store, and use my eBay store to promote my website, but taking this first step led me to look at even more ways of setting up Silent Sales Machines outside of eBay. I now firmly believe that everyone who sells on eBay should set up their own website. Without a website you would go out of business too.

A. Ebook Review: How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash!
EBOOK DETAILS
File Size: 1,071kb Zipped, 1,122b Unzipped.
Number of Pages: 45
Format: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
Subject: A guide to using eBay traffic to create a lifetime customer base for virtually any business.

Other Information: Can be bought with Jim Cockrum's other ebook "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" as a discounted, package deal.
ABOUT JIM COCKRUM (AUTHOR OF HOW TO TURN AUCTION TRAFFIC INTO CASH)
The author Jim Cockrum, is a self confessed eBay freak. He also runs "Creative Ebay Selling," the Internets largest eBay success newsletter with over 90,000 subscribers and growing by the day. Jim has helped launch multiple internet businesses and has used the internet as his sole source of income since 2002.

ABOUT THE EBOOK
How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash is Jim Cockrum's followup to the hugely successful "Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay." Just like it's predecessor, How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash is a guide to gaining massively from eBay's huge amounts of traffic. This time instead of using this traffic to promote Silent Sales Machines, Jim shows you how to use this traffic to build up your mailing list. The topics covered in How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash include:
• The real power of eBay!!
• The rules of the eBay game!!
• Tapping into the power step by step!!
• A step by step guide to setting up your newsletter and subscription forms on eBay whilst complying with eBay policy!!
Like with "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" the main selling point of this ebook is that you can utilise the huge amounts of traffic on eBay to build up a mailing list. This amount of traffic would take a huge amount of time, effort, and money to gain using other means. Like I said in my review of "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" if you are willing to put the time and effort in, then you will find this ebook useful.

GOOD POINTS
• If you are currently only selling on eBay and not following up on auction visitors, How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash lays wide open the huge opportunities you are missing out on.
• How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash tells you utilise eBay's huge levels of traffic, and build up a mailing list, (which in turn provides you with many benefits), whilst sticking to eBay policy.
• The ebook provides a step-by-step guide to setting up a newsletter system in your eBay auctions complete with screen shots.
• Building up a mailing list of subscribers provides you with many benefits including customer loyalty, customer trust, a highly targeted source of traffic, and the ability to sell products outside of eBay (meaning no eBay fees).
• Once the webforms and followup messages are in place, building your mailing list is virtually automated.

BAD POINTS
• To build a mailing list requires additional monthly expenditure on an autoresponder service.
• If you are running lots of auctions they will all need to be edited to implement these ideas, which can be very time consuming.
• The growth rate of your mailing list when using these methods is slightly exaggerated in this ebook.

HOW I HAVE GAINED FROM HOW TO TURN AUCTION TRAFFIC INTO CASH
How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash is the ebook that ked to me setting up my own mailing list. Prior to this I had been using eBay's basic Shop Newsletter tool which really cannot compete with a proper autoresponder service. Using the ideas in How to turn Auction Traffic into Cash I have been able to place web sign up forms on all my eBay pages as well as all my website pages, which has allowed me to maximise my subscription rate.

B. Ebook Review: An Interview with Sara Brown
EBOOK DETAILS
File Size: 455kb Zipped, 513kb Unzipped.
Number of Pages: 36
Format: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
Subject: Interview Ebook with Sara Brown (see about the author for more details)

Other Information: Also comes with "Internet Marketing Success: Off the Record" - An interview with Tony Shepherd" who is author of 'The One Month Magnate.' This interview ebook is 18 pages long.

ABOUT SARA BROWN
Sara Brown is one of the UK's top internet marketers she sells on eBay at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Jobhaters-Marketplace and also runs a variety of websites which can all be accessed from http://www.sara-brown.com/choices/.

ABOUT THE EBOOK
The title of the ebook pretty much explains what this ebook is; An Interview with Sara Brown. Inside Sara divulges a lot of key information which many an Internet Marketer would find useful.
In the ebook Sara discusses:
• Her best discovery about the Internet!
• How easy it is to set up an Income Stream!
• Her first major success in Internet Marketing!
• The most important money making skill a person can have as an Internet Marketer!
• Why some people aren't successful Online!
• Some of the real life income streams she has used in the past and uses Today!

I found this ebook an interesting read. The ebook starts with general questions about Sara's past achievements, jobs, and income streams. Towards the middle of the ebook and until the end Sara talks in detail about some of the income streams she has set up in the past.
The most interesting parts of the ebook I found were about Sara's offline income streams. These are a classic example of an idea that involved 'Thinking Outside the Box' and ones that get your mind rolling for similar ideas. One of them was an ingenious idea involving a car boot sale and the other involving winches. Other interesting things covered in this ebook include the rumour that Sara Brown is in fact Tony Shepherd.

GOOD POINTS
• Provides real life examples of income streams Sara has used both on and offline to generate an income.
• An additional interview ebook with Tony Shepherd is provided absolutely FREE.
• Relatively low priced in comparison to similar ebooks.
• Relatively short when compared to other ebooks (only 36 pages).

HOW I HAVE GAINED FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH SARA BROWN
The main thing I gained from An Interview with Sara Brown is from her offline income streams. A quick search of the forums helped me formulate a simple idea which was initially spawned from reading this interview.

C. Ebook Review: The One Month Magnate
EBOOK DETAILS
File Size: 1.55mb Unzipped.
Number of Pages: 1 long scrolling page.
Format: Executable (.exe)
Subject: The One Month Magnate is a step by step guide to how Tony Shepherd created a product to sell on the internet starting from scratch. That means no mailing list and no website, just his past experience.

ABOUT TONY SHEPHERD (AUTHOR OF THE ONE MONTH MAGNATE)
Tony Shepherd is one of the UK's most private Internet Marketers. Co-owner of Laycock Publishing with marketing guru Sara Brown, Tony has written several books and made his living from the Internet for a number of years.

ABOUT THE EBOOK
The One Month Magnate shows how Tony Shepherd given a computer and an Internet connection went from earning nothing to over $4,000 in 30 days. The ebook tells in great detail, with screenshots and links, how Tony did this. In the ebook Tony discusses:
• How most Internet users willingly tell you what they're prepared to pay money for, without you even realising!!
• The blueprint he uses to launch all his new businesses!!
• Why he will never work for an Employer again!!
• How to become an Expert in your chosen field!!
• How to use free gifts to make Money!!
• How experts can help you make money for Free!!

The process Tony follows involves three main stages; Research, Becoming an Expert, and Marketing and Selling the Product. In the research stage, Tony tells you all the tools he uses to decide upon and research his product. Finally, Tony tells you the methods he would use to market and sell his product (without a website remember). On top of this there is even a bonus section outlining what Tony would have done if he had an extra 11 days to market his product.

Upon reading this ebook I was very impressed. Firstly, impressed about the amount of money Tony actually made, and secondly I was impressed about the level of honesty and detail within the ebook. For example, Tony admits that he didn't set up a website to promote his product because he didn't have time. It definitely gives you an interesting idea on how 30 days hard work could potentially provide you with a regular income.

This ebook is aimed at readers who have a reasonable knowledge of Internet Marketing. You can easily do this by searching on http://www.google.com/. Obviously, if you had longer you would be able to market your product in much greater depth and perhaps use more methods to do so, but given the short-time period, this is a seriously impressive ebook.

GOOD POINTS
• Gives readers a step by step system with screenshots that can easily be applied to almost any product.
• The section on how to become an expert with no prior knowledge of the field is particularly useful. With this information, the products you could release are virtually limitless.
• All the methods of promotion outlined are very effective yet require no financial expenditure.
• The methods used will generate residual income i.e. Tony would have generated at least the same amount of money every consecutive month, following this blueprint.
• The text is broken up by images making it easier to read.

BAD POINTS
• The ebook is mainly aimed at the short-term even though Tony does say what he would have done in the next 10 days (medium-term). It does not discuss more long-term forms of Internet Marketing.
• Although it touches on a lot of key Internet Marketing methods, it does not go into great detail on them.
• It leaves you wondering what other ebooks Tony Shepherd has written (under his other aliases) with no way to find out.

HOW I HAVE GAINED FROM THE ONE MONTH MAGNATE
At the moment I have not implemented the ideas from The One Month Magnate, as I am focusing at the moment on creating an ebook on a field in which I am quite knowledgeable. However, this ebook is definitely going to be useful for future reference. I can definitely see myself creating some successful products by following Tony's blueprint.

Writing Lots of Book Reviews for Article Marketing Results

2009-08-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

It is a well known fact that Book Review articles on online article submission sites seem to get more traffic then you might imagine. Therefore it makes sense to write a lot of book reviews. Obviously you own lots of books, but how many book reviews have you actually written? You need to take an inventory of the books that you have already read and make some book reviews of them.

One recommendation I have is to go through your library, office and house and make a list of all the books you have. You can download a Template free from Microsoft. Go to MSN and search "Microsoft Office Templates" then search "Book Lists.

Then take a yellow highlighter and mark the book reviews you wish to do first. Start a word file and put those titles and the authors at the top of the Word Files, one for each;

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Book Review from You
Next please make five sentences that summarize what you most got out of the book. Space the sentences out with three spaces. Then put a paragraph between each of those sub-titles and an intro-paragraph about the author or a general reason why this book was important to your life, business, writing, family, career or whatever.
I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

Writers of Books Should be Allowed to Write Book Reviews of their Literary Work
Most believe that it is problematic for an author to write book reviews about a book that they indeed wrote. There are many reasons for this, such as self promotion, conflict of interest and hype or buzz-ful insincerity. Sure all that makes sense for the reasons why we have created this social norm and expect authors to abide by it. Yet, in fact it is absurd that everyone else in the world can write book reviews expect the author who knows the most about the work.

This is a Matter of Principle actually, not whether one will be perceived in a negative mindset or not. My point is that it is absurd and unfortunate that the author is some how considered less of an information source about their work than Joe Blow writing a book review about it.

Personally, I want to read all that an author has to say about their book. This information is invaluable to the reader in their understanding, observations and insights learned from a work.
I ask you the reader who is more qualified to write a relevant book review? And whose opinion do you think you would value more? I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

How to Write a Book Review

2009-08-22T02:52:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION
Open with a statement that will really grab the reader's attention. Be sure to write something that will make the reader of the review want to read this book.

SYNOPSIS
Give a brief synopsis of the book. Tell the readers what you enjoyed about the book and if you didn't like something mention that too. Don't be afraid to say anything negative. Most books have good points and a couple of bad points. Just don't state that you enjoyed the book because the characters were excellent. Tell the reader why the characters were excellent, etc!

SUMMARY
Sum up your review in a few sentences with your recommendation. Once again, state why or why not you would recommend this book and be sure to give some detail.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
Don't ever copy anyone's review. You should never use copyright material.
People tend to get bored by a long review.

A Mystery Book Review Club!
If you have ever been involved in a book club you know how rewarding they can be. If you are a book lover, belonging to a reading group is a MUST. Here's a twist on the normal reading group. How about a Mystery Book Review Club? Most readers love a good mystery. You can host a mystery and thriller book club a couple of different ways.
1. You can choose to follow the normal book group guidelines except focusing on just the mystery genre.
2. Follow the normal meeting and hosting procedures but choose just one mystery author at a time and read four or more of their books. Discuss at each meeting.
3. The real fun - at each meeting (or every other one) host a "whodunit" dinner with the help of a murder mystery party game! Generally your book discussion will be shorter than the norm so supplementing with a murder mystery dinner is a great option. Plus, it helps expand your analytical thinking skills so you can be the first to figure out "whodunit" in your next book club selection!