Monday, March 29, 2010
Author Interviews
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Mistresses of Henry VIII
Written by Kelly Hart, this book is SO rich in detail and also fact, there are alot of books on the Tudor period, and as I am a Renny, and love dresses of that period, I have to say that this book so much captures the feel of that period for me as a reader.
The book is detailed and chronicles not the well known wives like Ann and Mary, this book detailes other women, and there were alot of them.
Henry the VIIIth was basically a man whore. He liked women and was not picky about how they looked, or how there standing was in society. He had to have variety, and maybe this is where the present Princes of England get it from ;-)
The editing is spotless, the writing superb, and also the HUGE stand out is that this author chronicles the average woman, the woman who this jerk took advantage of, he used them all and after having his pleasure he simply tossed them aside and considered them used. There is a theory that he fthered hundreds of kids from hundreds of women. So you never know if your lineage goes back to that time, old Henry may be your GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGreat Grampa.
This books due to its quality writing, richness of historical fact, and the writers OBVIOUS dedication to her craft earns it a SOLID!!!
5 Stars
King, Ship and Sword
The story was pretty frenectic in a good way. The action was well written, and you (or I) caught myself actually pausing once in awhile from reading to think about the richness I just read.
Something I had no idea about is that I guess this is part of an ongoing series that has been going on for a lot of books. The thing is.. I didnt feel I was left without anything. You really do not notice that you are reading like book 12 or 20.... The only problem with the book is that he leaves alot of little things unresolved, however when I did my internet research on this author, it seems he does that because well... He writes about the main character alot.
The writing is well done, and well rounded, editing is spot on, and he mixes just the right amount of romance, action(lots of this) and solid rich plot to make you want to read another book. Although I wish he would not leave so "much" loose.....
This books gets a solid.
5 Stars
Monday, March 15, 2010
I LOVE Queeen. And when I sw this at Discount book in Kalamazoo, I was so excited as I have never read a story about this so talented man. And to then read that it carried his own words... I got the book and then attacked it.
First off there is a very well written and touching forward by his own Mother. The most touching thing about that is she so misses him, and you can read that in every word she wrote.
The book is not really a story per se, it is more a series of stories and thoughts, analogies mostly by him. He was such a powerful man on stage, so out there, so much the showman, however behind closed doors he was so private and so afraid of interviews. He was a man before his time even back then as he knew what the press usually does to ones words....
This book was very interesting as he detailed alot of the behind closed doors fighting that the band did, he detailed there talks, there private lives, and his own fears and worries. The book was edited very well, and the writers who put together all of this actually did a very nice job at doing it.
The book is insightful without being trashy as he was gay, and even though they mentioned his "laisons" they did it in a way that was tactful, and respected the man and his legacy. I only found one serious issue with this book, and that was the multiple editors, and writers. You can tell when someone else takes over the writing. That made the "flow" disruptive and took some of the enjoyment out of the book. Other than that I would say get this one it is a very good read, and this one gets a well deserved
4 Stars
Blood Ties
I was anxious to get this one, but was let down. So this one gets a solid.
3 Stars
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Tech Wench
I am Kim, and I am part also of this sisterhood we call the guild. I am a little more advanced in my book tatstes than the other ladies as I read only E-Books. I will be osting reviews here for the various E-Books and readers that are on the market.
I own several E-Book readers and am currently workin on a review for the Nook and Kindle as well as for the Aztak EZ Reader. So pay a visit back for my reviews. I also will be the tech blogger here, and I plan to write some reviews for some of the tecnological based tools and such that are available to Authors and Publishers.
Toodles !
History of the knights Templar
Written by Susie Hodge this book is essentially an illustrated history as it touts itself to be. What is compelling about this book is that the author does not fall into the traps that other authors fall into when writing about the Templars.
She does not use this as a religious spring board for her beliefs, instead she gives clear and concise reference material, and she backs up her statements and information with a very nice Appendix and reference section.
I am alover of history and the Templars are one of the most misunderstood and misreported parts of our world history. Not all were saints, and instead alot of them were just plain cold blooded murderers, and she reports this in her book with a neutrality that is refreshing and nice to see.
The art work in this book is very cool, as she takes period art and drawings an incorporates them into her book nicley. The book is nicely editied with only some minor issues that take nothing from it. Thus we have awarded this book both an BLUE NEBULA award for writing, and also a DAVINCI AWARD for her illustrations and artwork presentation.
Thus this book get a solid
4.5 Stars
Advance to Adventure
Sheridan Book Binding
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Well.... Sharpen doth claws I do......
Now as I do this review I am posting this not as a "Purchaser", I am posting this review as an Author who uses their services.
I must say that I wish there was a better alternative to sell books online that offered their exposure and customer data base. I was very excited when I contacted them and they welcomed me with open arms into the folds of the Amazon Author family. Well that was until two things happened.
First off they informed me that they take 55 percent of EVERY book I sell as their fee. That is the price off of retail. My book retails for 9.99 so for the pleasure of using their site for every book I sell they take 5.00 of it. I called them and got an Author rep, they informed me this is due to their storage of my books.
I am self published (so far).. and they only take ONE book at a time from people like me, so if I sell 10 books in a week they take 5.00 from every book, even though I have to send it via mail at 2.50 per book.. OH WAIT I cant do that as they give INSANELY short "Order Due" times, so I have to send it via Priority mail, that costs me 4.85.
So as a small Author I am basically screwed by them. I asked her (author rep) if they would let me send in 24 books, or other amount, so I wouldnt have to ship all the time and basically LOSE money.. They told me NOPE !!!
I guess if you are not from a Publisher they treat you like crap, OH WAIT !! they treat you nicely as they want your 55 percent. They just use a screwed up logic set to do their small self published author work. I think I may go to a Publisher and pay a fee... in the end I save money then.
A VERY WELL DESERVED
2 Stars
Behold The Future
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Writers Tool Box
Whitesmoke Editing Software
The Oort Perimeter
Blitz Cat
Sherlock & Elf
However this book falls flat with me. The premise is simple, two cats that long to see the other side of their masters kitchen window, get their chance once their master go on vacation. Once they are able they have a series of adventures.
Ghastly Glass
This book is written by a husband and wife team named Joyce and Jim Levene. This is a very enjoyable book and one that I think would make a fairly decent trilogy or ongoing story. Murders are happening at a ren faire, and no one knows who is comitting them.
Well, once the old reaper is knocked off then it is up the main character Jesse to find out who is killing people. The book starts off slow with some un-needed background info, however this doesnt detract from the book at all as the story is intersting and fun.
Even though the subject is serious the book is written in such a way that the writers make it fun and a breeze to read. Now the interesting thing is that these people are actually fairly well known "real" journalists. They have won awards for their reporting. So the writing is clear and editing which is a pet peeve of mine is spot on. I havent tried any of the 25 other some odd books they have written, however I was impressed with this one. I do wish character development was a bit better, however I was told by my local librarian that there are other books with this character, so I wont deduct points for that.
I can honestly and solidly give this book.
4.5 Stars
Life Death and Sex in Prison
Murder in a Cathedral
Science Fiction Stories and Contexts
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