The Art of writing of reviews

Hello!
Do you read reviews for books before you buy a book? I will admit that I do occasionally. I do compare the good and the bad reviews for a book if I'm on the fence. That does not say that I use reviews as the only deciding factor for my purchases, but I keep them in mind. As an indie author, we do thrive on reviews, so please do not think this post is about, "WRITE REVIEWS FOR ME NOW". I swear that is not my intention. I was going through reviews for End of the Line because I will be posting reviews for it, for an upcoming project. I see just stars, there is no such thing as an expert reviewer. Next time you read any indie author (go through my own reviews for suggestions or comment here and I can try to give you a list!) write a couple of words on Amazon, Goodreads, Bn, or where you get your books. 

Write a little, a little can go a long way:
-I loved it!
-Really enjoyed the book
-Ew this book had awful characters.

Think of the good!
-Characters were fun!
-Good vocabulary.
-The setting made me wish that I was there.

You can mention the bad.
-Whinny characters (a big problem with me!)
-Too many typos
-The writing was choppy

I like to try to mention the good and the bad to make it should like I wasn't paid to read it. I think there should always be a balance. Even if the balance is the plot, characters, or author's style of writing. I personally like to have two paragraphs. The first being a short summary, maybe a little about the characters. The second being about the author's style, issues or things that I liked. So, get reading and writing ;)
~Ottilie

NA Crush Tournament

Good Morning!
So I just wanted to share this for you since I did reviews for Faith Sullivan. Her character Eric is up for NA Crush Tournament. On July 3rd you'll be able to vote for him at: here. Be sure to vote for Eric. I mean who wouldn't vote for that?

Beta Read

Good Afternoon!
So, I join a group the other month were I get to talk to authors, we share tips, places where to get reviews, and beta readers. I have this one story that I wrote when I was 14, and for some reason that story scares me more than any other. You'd think three published novels would make someone more confident, but in reality each story is its own. Project US has an odd plot, which might turn off some readers, and I'm probably over thinking it more than anything. I got six pages back from the beta reader of compliments (by the way she loved this story, hearing that does make me a little less nervous), suggestions, and some grammar suggestions. Poor woman might regret enjoying beta reading for me! I printed out her notes and I'll be going through them more after I finish my final project and my final. She had a couple plot holes that I need to fill in, one major one that I have to figure out how to work in. All of which were good and valid points. I'm excited to dive in as soon as the homework will accept defeat! While I'm doing homework though I will be waiting for the three grammar books that I ordered and one cook book. Hey, the learning never ends :)
~Ottilie

Review ~ The Runner by J. M. Johnson

Good Morning,
I have a review of a Young Adult novel (I know it's been a bit since I did that!). This is an indie author, J.M. Johnson. This is a post-apocalyptic that has a little bit of sci-fi feel at the end.

Are you strong enough to survive? Electricity is gone. Government has been broken down. People are scattered, doing whatever they can do to survive. Avi is a runner, someone who is between the age of 13-17 who runs errands from one 'town' to another for their community, risking her life every time she leaves the fenced in area. Avi lives in the star town of the new world, but when things go hay wire, she is the first to volunteer to rise up to find answers that will save lives.

This is the first piece that I am reading by J.M. Johnson, and I enjoy reading indie books because there are some creative pieces that are not as well known. These are characters that are willing to do whatever it takes to survive, and helps the readers see despite all the bad in the world, even a smile can make a difference. She does give you detail that helps you understand the new world that she has created for The Runner. The only issue I had was that I felt like I was being talked to, rather than reading in some parts. However, the second book is released and I will probably be picking that up at some point :)

Kindle $2.99
Amazon Paperback $9.30

Barnes&Nobles
Smashwords

Review ~ The Lost Centurion by Monica La Porta

Good Morning!
So I've been pretty bad lately. I had all these reviews all at once and tried to space them a little bit. Only to forget one! I feel bad because this story I volunteered for and just spaced on almost two weeks ago. No I did not forget because the book was bad. Sorry Monica La Porta! You should check out this book though if you are over 18 years old. :)

** Not suitable for those under 18 **

If the one you loved was killed, how long would you seek revenge? Marcus is a Centurion and his wife was killed back when ancient Rome, wasn't ancient. Marcus has spent his immortal life seeking for the name of the vampire that killed his wife, but in the progress he comes across a brand new vampire that is on the verge of death. In saving her, he has broken not only rules, but pacts between the two races. The two have an adventure that they did not plan for that night.

I have read one or two other works by Monica La Porta, and her writing never disappoints. It flows in a natural flow, the beginning took me a little pit, but then the story grabs you. It was interesting to read the point of view where the girl was the vampire instead of the guy, fresh idea. This is coming from a girl who wouldn't read anything (minus one series) with a vampire in it. The development between the two characters are a natural progress, not an instant love. I would highly suggest anyone who loves paranormal romance to read this.

Kindle $0.99
Amazon Paperback $9.49

BN Paperback $9.30
Monica La Porta's Website

Giveaway Ended

Good morning!
The winners were picked and I'll be contacting them. Meanwhile if you do not hear from me you can enter to win an e-book copy of Beneath the Scars from me on Angela's blog!
Ottilie

Cover Revealing ~ Blood Beyond Darkness

Good Afternoon!
I get to be part of a cover revealing! This is more towards over 18 crowed (sorry!). For those old enough keep scrolling!

We are so excited to be able to participate in the unveiling to the world the cover of the 4th book of the Darkness Series by the amazing Stacey Marie Brown!

BLOOD BEYOND DARKNESS

SYNOPSIS
After months of searching, Ember and her friends have finally located the Sword of Light, the only weapon capable of destroying Queen Aneira and ending her rule. This is Ember’s destiny. Or so she thought. Now a pact to save the man she loves changes everything.

In this final installment in the Darkness Series, when the truth comes to light, Ember will learn some things are better left in the dark as her world is ripped even further apart. It is no longer a rabbit hole, but a never-ending black void full of endless lies, betrayals, and secrets.

The fight for Earth has begun, and Ember will have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save millions of innocent lives and those she loves.

But this price may be too high—even for her.

Releases August 2014

Add it to your Goodreads

TEASER

Other Books in the Series

all purchase links are on Stacey's Amazon Author Page 

Darkness of Light (Book 1)

Freak. Witch. Crazy. Schizo.

Ember Brycin has been called them all. She’s always known she’s different. No one has ever called her normal, even under the best circumstances. Bizarre and inexplicable things continually happen to her, and having two different colored eyes, strange hair, and an unusual tattoo only contributes to the gossip about her.

When the latest school explosion lands her in a facility for trouble teens, she meets Eli Dragen, who’s hot as hell and darkly mysterious. Their connection is full of passion, danger, and secrets. Secrets that will not only change her life, but what and who she is—leading her down a path she never imagined possible.

Between Light and Dark, Ember finds a world where truth and knowledge are power and no one can be trusted. But her survival depends on finding out the truth about herself. In her pursuit, she is forced between love and destiny and good and evil, even when the differences between them aren’t always clear. At worst, she will incite a war that could destroy both worlds. At best, she will not only lose her heart but her life and everyone she loves. Once the truth is out, however, there will be no going back. And she’ll definitely wish she could.

Fire in the Darkness (Book 2)

It's been four weeks since Ember Brycin witnessed what her powers are capable of. The Electrical Current Storm (ECS) has turned Seattle, Washington into a natural disaster zone. The death toll is in the thousands with countless others homeless and hungry.

And Ember is the one who caused it. Something she will have to live with every day.

Those people who were unable to escape either turned quickly into gangs or live in shelters. Ember, on the other hand, can’t do either. With a price on her head and a Dark Dweller on her ass, she is constantly on the move. Both Light and Dark are hunting her for their own purpose to use her as a weapon or a pawn in the war between the Unseelie King of the Dark and the Seelie Queen of the Light.

Em needs help but doesn’t know who to trust: Lars, the mystery man Torin told her to find? Torin, the Seelie Queen’s personal knight, who has sworn to keep Em safe? Or Eli, who wants to turn her over to the Unseelie King, but whom she has an undeniable, intense connection with?

No matter what she chooses she will probably lose—her life or everything and everyone she loves.

Beast in the Darkness (Eli Novellette)

*Meant to be read after Fire In The Darkness*

Beast In The Darkness (An Elighan Dragen Novelette)

We know the story from Ember's POV, but what happens to Eli after Ember disappears? Crawl inside Eli's mind and experience what he goes through. Be warned his mind in not a fuzzy warm place to be....

**Warning this contains sexual content and language.
**Contains Spoilers if you have not previously read Darkness Of Light or Fire In The Darkness.

Dwellers of Darkness (Book 3)

Some days feel like years, but in Ember Brycin’s case just the opposite is true. She had only been in the Otherworld for a day or two when she escaped with her mom, Kennedy, and Jared to the Earth realm. But it’s three years later on Earth. Em would be 22 now—if she was a human. But she’s not. She is a Dae—part Demon and part Fay—with a little Dark Dweller thrown in to make her even more of a freak.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her undeniable connection to Eli Dragen, who is sexy, gorgeous, and even more frustrating. But her problems go way past him.

The Seelie Queen of the Otherworld still holds Mark, Em’s father, and her friends, Ryan, and Josh as hostages. Em needs to rescue them without, once again, getting caught and being used as a pawn to help the Queen regain possession of Earth. At the same time Lars, the Unseelie King, reminds Em she is bound to him and has to locate the Sword of Light to fulfill the prophesy and kill the Queen.

As the tension for war mounts between the Seelie and Unseelie (Light and Dark), the tension at the Dark Dweller’s compound mounts even more as they prepare to obtain the sword no matter what the price. But is Ember the answer to the location of the sword? Is she the one to fulfill the prophecy? As usual nothing is ever what it seems.

Author Bio

Stacey Marie Brown by day is an Interior/Set Designer, by night a writer of Paranormal Fantasy, Adventure, and Literary Fiction. She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts. Even before she could write, she was creating stories and making up intricate fantasies. Writing came as easy as breathing. She later turned that passion into acting, living and traveling abroad, and designing. Though she had never stopped writing, moving back to San Francisco seemed to have brought it back to the forefront and this time it would not be ignored.

When she’s not writing she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, traveling, listening to music, or designing.


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