By Dianna Booher Reading widely and writing book reviews either on your blog or at online bookstores serves your career and your colleagues well. But have you ever read a book review that was totally unhelpful? Certainly you’ve seen some of those posted on Amazon that have never been clicked as “helpful.” Why unhelpful? Think about these review comments: “I …
Write a Book Review That Helps, Not Hinders-Part 1
By Dianna Booher Sooner or later, either passion or generosity (or marketing savvy) will push you to review someone’s book. Passion: You either love or hate the book so much that you must tell the world. Generosity: You know the book’s message will help others. Or, you want to help the author sell books and understand that reviews help sell …
One Rule for Handling Book Reviews
by Beth K. Vogt I had a rough day a couple of weeks ago. My daughter fell and badly sprained her ankle. My 96-year-old mother-in-law fell in her kitchen, which I’ve determined is her personal Bermuda Triangle. After 4 firefighters came and helped her back up, I went and checked on her Two falls before noon. Yes, gravity behaved badly …
Book Review: A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California
Title: A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California Author: Keli Gwyn Publisher: Barbour Books Date: July 2012 ISBN: 978-1616265830 Genre: Historical Romance Reviewed by: Holly Weiss Delightful Old West Romance Widow Elenora Watkins relocates with her daughter, Tildy, to California’s Sierra foothills to be an associate in a mercantile. When he finds out she is a woman, prospective partner …
Book Review: Maggie’s Journey
Title: Maggie’s Journey (McKenna’s Daughters, Book 1) Author: Lena Nelson Dooley Publisher: Realms Date: October 2011 ISBN: 978161638589 Genre: Historical Fiction Reviewed by: Cara Putman With Maggie’s Journey, Lena Nelson Dooley crafts an engaging first book in a story of triplets separated at birth. Maggie Caine is approaching her 18th birthday, living under the stress of a mother who can’t …
Book Review: Cooking the Books
Title: Cooking the Books (Sloane Templeton Mystery. Book 1) Author: Bonnie Calhoun Publisher: Abingdon Press Date: April 2012 ISBN: 978-1426733888 Genre: Contemporary Fiction Reviewed by: Cara Putman Sloane Templeton’s life is chaos in Cooking the Books. Her mom’s died, she’s running a business she doesn’t want, and she longs to get back to computer forensics. Instead, she’s trying to avoid …
Book Review: Treasuring Emma
Title: Treasuring Emma Author: Kathleen Fuller Publisher: Thomas Nelson Date: August 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59554-775-0 Genre: Inspirational/Amish Reviewed by: Laura V. Hilton Emma Shetler has just lost her mamm to a long battle with cancer. The funeral is happening, yet Emma, kicked out of everywhere, is left with nothing to do but mourn, while her sister, Clara King, runs the funeral. …
Book Review: “Replication”
Title: Replication: The Jason Experiment Author: Jill Williamson Publisher: Zonderkids Date: December 2011 ISBN: 978-0310727583 Genre: YA Reviewed by: Lisa J. Lickel In Fishhook, Alaska, Jason Farms doesn’t grow your typical crops. Seventeen-year-old Abby Goyer is half-orphaned; though with a dad whose work consumes him after the death of Abby’s mom, and she feels truly alone. A sudden move from …
Book Review: Trauma Plan
Title: Trauma Plan Author: Candace Calvert Publisher: Tyndale House Date: April 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4143-6111-6 Genre: Suspense Reviewed by: Holly Wolfe Killer opening. Maybe because I read this after focusing on contest entries and those first pages, but I was wowed by Candace Calvert’s opening scene. If you want to know how to hook ’em, study this one. Each word is …
Book Review: Over the Edge
Title: Over the Edge Author: Brandilyn Collins Publisher: B&H Books Date: May 2011 ISBN: 978-1433671623 Genre: Christian Suspense Reviewed by: Lisa Lickel I live and play in rural Wisconsin where ticks are a nuisance. After reading this book, I will take the “tick check” a whole lot more seriously. Brandilyn Collins gets up close and personal with Over the Edge. …