Happy Book Birthday to this one today! I was honored to receive early access to this one on NetGalley. I enjoyed the story and about thinking about solo travel. I would recommend this one for anyone experiencing wanderlust!
Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
A Trip of One's Own
Monday, May 2, 2022
Friday, March 18, 2022
Hi All,
Stopping by to let you know about a great book! I was able to get early access to this one and I really enjoyed it. I hope you will get a chance to pick it up soon.
Author: Marissa Moss
Summary:
The full and unbridled inside story of the last twenty years of country music through the lens of Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, and Kacey Musgraves—their peers and inspirations, their paths to stardom, and their battles against a deeply embedded boys’ club, as well as their efforts to transform the genre into a more inclusive place for all (and not just white men in trucker hats), as told by award-winning Nashville journalist Marissa R. Moss.
It was only two decades ago, but, for the women of country music, 1999 seems like an entirely different universe. With Shania Twain, country’s biggest award winner and star, and The Chicks topping every chart, country music was a woman’s world: specifically, country radio and Nashville’s Music Row.
Cut to 2021, when women are only played on country radio 16% of the time, on a good day, and when only men have won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards for a decade. To a world where artists like Kacey Musgraves sell out arenas but barely score a single second of airplay. But also to a world where these women are infinitely bigger live draws than most male counterparts, having massive pop crossover hits like Maren Morris’s “The Middle,” pushing the industry to confront its deeply embedded racial biases with Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me,” winning heaps of Grammy nominations, banding up in supergroups like The Highwomen and taking complete control of their own careers, on their own terms. When the rules stopped working for the women of country music, they threw them out and made their own: and changed the genre forever, and for better.
Her Country is veteran Nashville journalist Marissa R. Moss’s story of how in the past two decades, country’s women fought back against systems designed to keep them down, armed with their art and never willing to just shut up and sing: how women like Kacey, Mickey, Maren, The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Rissi Palmer, Brandy Clark, LeAnn Rimes, Brandi Carlile, Margo Price and many more have reinvented the rules to find their place in an industry stacked against them, how they’ve ruled the century when it comes to artistic output—and about how women can and do belong in the mainstream of country music, even if their voices aren’t being heard as loudly.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
Summary:
In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother's death and her hidden past--a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake.
In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family, and themselves.
Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor's true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right?” Will their mother's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?
Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.
Personal Review:
For anyone who has experience or likes to read about situations with a complicated family, this may be a book that resonates for you. The book covers the emotional situation of grief and the follow up that happens. It was interesting to see the story from such different views and the information that lead to each decision along the way. I found this to be a captivating take on how individuals process through the events of their lives and the stories that happen as a result. Thank you for the opportunity to read.
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher/Net Galley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Author: Laurie Zaleski
Summary:
An inspiring and moving memoir of the author's turbulent life with 600 rescue animals.
Laurie Zaleski never aspired to run an animal rescue; that was her mother Annie’s dream. But from girlhood, Laurie was determined to make the dream come true. Thirty years later as a successful businesswoman, she did it, buying a 15-acre farm deep in the Pinelands of South Jersey. She was planning to relocate Annie and her caravan of ragtag rescues―horses and goats, dogs and cats, chickens and pigs―when Annie died, just two weeks before moving day. In her heartbreak, Laurie resolved to make her mother's dream her own. In 2001, she established the Funny Farm Animal Rescue outside Mays Landing, New Jersey. Today, she carries on Annie’s mission to save abused and neglected animals.
Funny Farm is Laurie’s story: of promises kept, dreams fulfilled, and animals lost and found. It’s the story of Annie McNulty, who fled a nightmarish marriage with few skills, no money and no resources, dragging three kids behind her, and accumulating hundreds of cast-off animals on the way. And lastly, it's the story of the brave, incredible, and adorable animals that were rescued.
Personal Review:
They had me with the cute photos on the front and the mention of a memoir. I loved that this story followed Annie's journey throughout her new adventures. Cliche... the phrase about who rescuing who...but this story played that out. I enjoyed the book and I love that is based on a real place that provides 24/7 support for the animals. All of my animal-loving friends should go get this book, please :).
More information here:
http://funnyfarmrescue.org/
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher/Net Galley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Author: Sara Gottfriend
Summary from Amaon:
New York Times best-selling author Dr. Sara Gottfried shares a new, female-friendly Keto diet that addresses women’s unique hormonal needs, so readers can shed pounds and maintain the loss more easily.
Most diet plans were created by men for men, but women’s bodies don’t work the same way. Popular programs can actually make it harder for women to lose weight, because they can wreak havoc on a woman’s complex and delicate hormonal system. New York Times best-selling author Dr. Sara Gottfried has spent her career demystifying hormones and helping patients improve their health more broadly with personalized medicine. In Women, Food, and Hormones, Dr. Gottfried presents a groundbreaking new plan that helps women balance their hormones so they can lose excess weight and feel better. Featuring hormonal detoxification combined with a ketogenic diet that is tailor-made for women, coupled with an intermittent fasting protocol and over 50 delicious and filling recipes, this book shares a fat-burning solution that gets results.
Personal Review:
I had not really considered the differences in diet based on gender before this book. It was interesting to understand the information behind this approach. My favorite part was the recipes at the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from Net Galley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Author: Dr. Curtis Odom
Summary:
In the following pages, you will find over two decades of professional insights, lessons learned, and personal experiences as captured by a student in my class who gave me the greatest gift of my career: a transcript of me putting my entire career's worth of context into the content of academic lectures taught over a fall semester in a college classroom. This engaged student distilled the insights heard in what I said-as his professor-into simple statements that most impacted him. Clear proof that words matter.
Personal Review:
As someone who considers the idea of being an adjunct faculty member some day, I really wanted to read this one. It was interesting to hear the perspectives and learn about the experiences in the classroom. It shows you that not only does the teacher teach, but the teacher learns too!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from NetGalley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Friday, February 19, 2021
Author: Dr. Marty Goldstein
Summary from Amazon:
The Spirit of Animal Healing is the follow up to Dr. Marty Goldstein's bestselling book on holistic veterinary medicine, The Nature of Animal Healing.
It is chock full of the very latest integrative medical knowledge (which combines conventional therapies with complementary and alternative medicine). Coupled with the vast amount of specialized expertise and learning Dr. Marty has gained from his own practice over the past 45 years, the book takes readers on a journey to the leading edge of integrative veterinary understanding to achieve greater insight into the minds and bodies of their animal companions.
However, this book is not simply a new edition of Dr. Marty's first book with some refreshed content. It is a completely new book in which Dr. Marty turns the traditional approach to animal care upside down. The Spirit of Animal Healing provides readers with the most up to-date tools and knowledge they need to keep their dogs and cats healthy and prevent disease from occurring in the first place, instead of just treating their animal companions when they are sick.
Topics covered include:
*Nutrition and supplements
*Integrative remedies and harmful treatments
*Cutting edge therapies
*The truth about vaccinations
*The latest in cancer treatments
*The spiritual nature of animals
*True, mind-blowing cases from over the years
-And much more!
Personal Review:
The cover was what drew me into this book. Anyone who knows me, knows I am always up for the healing power of animals' stories. This one was very detailed and much more than what I could have imagined. I enjoyed reading it.
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book through NetGalley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Monday, February 15, 2021
Happy Mardi Gras! This one seemed to fit the bill so I hope that you all enjoy! :) I am still in process of reading it myself.
Author: Marilee Evans
Summary from Amazon:
Born during World War II, Marilee Eaves has long struggled to fit into the New Orleans elite―secret Mardi Gras societies that ruled the city―into which she was born. Then, as a student at Wellesley, she’s hospitalized at McLean psychiatric hospital, where she begins to realize how much of herself she’s sacrificed to blend into and be fully accepted by the exclusive and exclusionary white Uptown New Orleans culture to which she supposedly belongs.
In Singing Out Loud, Eaves tells of her journey to stand on her own two feet―to find a way to be grounded and evolved in the midst of that culture. Along the way, she wrestles with bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and the effects of her bad (heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious) choices. Raw and funny, this book offers hope and encouragement to those willing to be vulnerable, address their issues, and laugh at themself in order to embrace who they truly are.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Author: Ernest Cline
Summary from Amazon:
AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY?
Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.
Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous—and addictive—than even Wade dreamed possible.
With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest—a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.
And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.
Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again.
Personal Review:
As my regular readers know, Ready Player One is one of my favorite books. To that end, when I found out that there was to be a second one. I goobled this one up in a day. I enjoyed it very much.
One of the elements that I appreciate about Ernest Cline is the way that he weaves in culture along with adventure. This one had me turning the pages as though I wanted to be sure that the adventure would deliver and that they would be able to solve it. That it certainly did.
I enjoyed this one!
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Author: Shawn Buckley and Oscar Chavez
Summary from Goodreads:
A big, inside look at the shocking lack of regulation within the pet food industry, and how readers can dramatically improve the quality of their dogs' lives through diet.
What's really going into commercial dog food? The answer is horrifying.
Big Kibble is big business: $75 billion globally. A handful of multi-national corporations dominate the industry and together own as many as 80% of all brands. This comes as a surprise to most people, but what's even more shocking is how lax the regulations and guidelines are around these products. The guidelines--or lack thereof--for pet food allow producers to include ever-cheaper ingredients, and create ever-larger earnings. For example, "legal" ingredients in kibble include poultry feces, saw dust, expired food, and diseased meat, among other horrors. Many vets still don't know that kibble is not the best food for dogs because Big Kibble funds the nutrition research. So far, these corporations have been able to cut corners and still market and promote feed-grade food as if it were healthful and beneficial--until now.
Just as you are what you eat, so is your dog. Once you stop feeding your dog the junk that's in kibble or cans, you have taken the first steps to improving your dog's health, behavior and happiness.
You know the unsavory side of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Now Shawn Buckley, Dr. Oscar Chavez, and Wendy Paris explain all you need to know about unsavory Big Kibble--and offer a brighter path forward for you and your pet.
Personal Review:
I am not even sure how many times, I have tried to figure out what the best food is for my pets. I have tried to google and do my homework so to say about what different things are good for them. Everytime I hear a scary story on the news, it triggers another search. So when I was offered this book, I said yes I want to read it.
I found the book informative and interesting. It is sad when something terrible happens to a pet, so trigger warning for that. But I think it is important information to get out there. Thanks for the opportunity to read. I appreciated all of the insights!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book as part of the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Author: Spencer Quinn
Summary from Goodreads: Spencer Quinn's Of Mutts and Men is the latest in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series that the Los Angeles Times called “nothing short of masterful"…
When Chet the dog, “the most lovable narrator in all of crime fiction” (Boston Globe), and his partner, PI Bernie Little of the desert-based Little Detective Agency, arrive to a meeting with hydrologist Wendell Nero, they are in for a shocking sight―Wendell has come to a violent and mysterious end. What did the hydrologist want to see them about? Is his death a random robbery, or something more? Chet and Bernie, working for nothing more than an eight-pack of Slim Jims, are on the case.
Bernie might be the only one who thinks the police have arrested the wrong man, including the perp’s own defense attorney. Chet and Bernie begin to look into Wendell’s work, a search that leads to a struggling winemaker who has received an offer he can’t refuse. Meanwhile, Chet is smelling water where there is no water, and soon Chet and Bernie are in danger like never before.
Personal Review:Did you see that cover? I had to read this one, if nothing else for the dog! I enjoyed the story and the mystery throughout. I love to hear about working dogs even if in the fictionalized setting.
This was a quick read and perfect for a relaxing day at the lake. Out on July 7th, get your copy today!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Author: Kristen Howerton
Summary from Goodreads: Filled with her signature blend of humor, vulnerability, and insight, Rage Against the Minivan is the handbook Kristen Howerton wishes she'd had when she was a new mom. At its heart, it is about parents learning how to love better by letting themselves off the hook.
With her hard-earned knowledge gained from having four kids in four years, she navigates the emotional and sometimes messy waters of motherhood: the expectations, the anxiety, the total lack of control, and yes, the indignities of driving a minivan (which now sits in her driveway covered in crushed Cheerios and the remnants of her self-esteem).
Howerton shares her unexpected journey through motherhood, from infertility to adoption to divorce, and how she learned to quell her inner anxiety to do it all perfectly. As a mom of both white and black children, Howerton is an advocate for social justice, foster care reform, and helping fellow parents to step up to hard conversations about race with their kids. Her writing speaks to the thorny issues parents deal with every day while reminding them they are not alone on this unpredictable ride.
Rage Against the Minivan serves as a quiet resistance against the superficial obsessions of motherhood, from the kind of car we drive to looking like we've got it all together. Infused with heart and humor, it's a permission slip to allow yourself to be a "good-enough" parent.
Personal Review:First of all, I have to acknowledge that I am not a parent. However, that is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. I think that all of everything that goes into parenthood is complicated and parents deserve all of the good things for raising tiny humans in today's world.
I found the book to be full of moments of every emotion: happiness, stressed, being real. It is those qualities that made it worth the read.
For all of you parents-thank you!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Author:
Summary from Goodreads: “Pippa is a magnetic heroine, funny and good-hearted.”―Booklist
Readers will cheer on Korean American Pippa Park in this compelling middle grade reimagining of Great Expectations. Navigating friendships and cyberbullying at a new school, Pippa reinvents herself and discovers who she really is.
Life is full of great expectations for Korean American Pippa Park. It seems like everyone, from her family to the other kids at school, has a plan for how her life should look. So when Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to Lakeview Private, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself by following the “Rules of Cool.”
At Lakeview, Pippa juggles old and new friends, an unrequited crush, and the pressure to perform academically and athletically while keeping her past and her family’s laundromat a secret from her elite new classmates. But when Pippa begins to receive a string of hateful, anonymous messages via social media, her carefully built persona is threatened.
As things begin to spiral out of control, Pippa discovers the real reason she was admitted to Lakeview and wonders if she can keep her old and new lives separate, or if she should even try.
Personal Review:
I enjoyed this book. I found it a good book about thinking about who you are, who your friends are, and what does it mean to be in a new place. I find that those could be really powerful themes for students as they think about school.
The book was upbeat and we watched as Pippa dealt with a variety of issues that can be very tough to navigate. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the Publisher Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Author: Dave Doroghy
Summary:
A lighthearted, self-deprecating account of one fledgling beekeeper’s misadventures. With wit and warning in equal measure, this informative, refreshingly honest narrative will resonate with any new beekeeper.
When Dave Doroghy’s sister gave him 15,000 honey bees as a Christmas gift, his practical knowledge of beekeeping would have fit on the proverbial backend of an Apis mellifera. He spent the next two years learning everything he needed to know to keep that beehive alive and well—he attended a beekeeping conference, joined a bee club, and even went to bee school. But bad things still happened—he sustained multiple stings, wasps attacked his hive, he fought an ongoing battle with killer varroa mites, and even lost his queen—twice!
In Show Me the Honey Doroghy recounts his often tension-filled misadventures in beekeeping with self-deprecating humour and lightheartedness. Whether it’s the impending chaos of transferring tens of thousands of insects to an outyard, the horror of discovering bees on the inside of his beekeeping suit, or just wondering if he will end up with even an ounce of honey for all his efforts, Doroghy shares the joy, the surprises, and the less-acknowledged financial sting of keeping bees. Above all, he relishes in the details of keeping a hive and getting to know the fascinating little creatures that inhabit those mysterious wooden boxes.
Personal Review:Who knew? This was my first exposure to world of beekeeping and I really enjoyed it. I learned alot and really appreciate the author's humor throughout the book.
I can see the value in bees, but honestly it maybe makes me a bit nervous? How do you make sure you dont get stung? There is so many different experiences out there-events, training, etc. The author has done them all.
A very interesting read!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Happy Mardi Gras!!
You better believe that we are doing King's Cake and Red Beans/Rice in this household today. YUMMY!
To get you further in the mood, I came across this book. I knew I needed it in my life. Since I just started it, I don't have my review yet, but wanted to pass along details about it. I will try to remember to come back and get this updated once I finish.
Author: Marilee Eaves
Summary from Amazon: Born during World War II, Marilee Eaves has long struggled to fit into the New Orleans elite―secret Mardi Gras societies that ruled the city―into which she was born. Then, as a student at Wellesley, she’s hospitalized at McLean psychiatric hospital, where she begins to realize how much of herself she’s sacrificed to blend into and be fully accepted by the exclusive and exclusionary white Uptown New Orleans culture to which she supposedly belongs.
Have you read it? What were your thoughts?
Happy Reading!
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Author: Minnie Darke
Summary from Amazon:When childhood sweethearts Justine (Sagittarius and serious skeptic) and Nick (Aquarius and true believer) bump into each other as adults, a life-changing love affair seems inevitable. To Justine, anyway. Especially when she learns Nick is an astrological devotee, whose decisions are guided by the stars, and more specifically, by the horoscopes in his favorite magazine. The same magazine Justine happens to write for. As Nick continues to not fall headlong in love with her, Justine decides to take Nick’s horoscope, and Fate itself, into her own hands. But, of course, Nick is not the only Aquarius making important life choices according to what is written in the stars.
Charting the ripple effects of Justine’s astrological meddling, Star-Crossed is a delicious, intelligent, and affecting love story about friendship, chance, and how we all navigate the kinds of choices that are hard to face alone.
Personal Review:When I saw this one, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. If you believe in horoscopes, astrology...this one is the one for you. I really enjoyed this book and the interesting story that follows. (#spoilerfreezone!) Thank you for the opportunity!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Authors: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Harstark
Summary from Amazon:
The highly anticipated first book by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the voices behind the #1 hit podcast My Favorite Murder!
Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation.
In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ or ‘helpful.’ They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and beyond to discuss meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness.
“My Favorite Murder started as a way for Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark to work through their fears. Now it’s a worldwide community…. Even its darkest moments are lightened by Karen and Georgia's effortlessly funny banter and genuine empathy.” —RollingStone.com
I like podcasts. They are entertaining and fun. They expose me to others and their worldviews. I had never heard of this particular podcast, but I figured I would try it out. If you want dark honesty from two perspectives, this may be the one for you. I enjoyed the variety of the book and now need to go check out the podcast. Thanks for the opportunity!
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Author: Christina June
Summary from Goodreads:
Ashlyn Zanotti has big plans for the summer. She’s just spent a year at boarding school and can’t wait to get home. But when Ashlyn’s father is arrested for tax evasion and her mother enters a rehab facility for “exhaustion,” a.k.a. depression, her life is turned upside down.
The cherry on top? Ashlyn’s father sends her to work with a cousin she doesn’t even know at a rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. A self-proclaimed “indoor girl,” not even Ash’s habit of leaving breadcrumb quotes—inspirational sayings she scribbles everywhere—can help her cope.
With a dangerously careless camp manager doling out grunt work, an overbearing father trying to control her even from prison, and more than a little boy drama to struggle with, the summer is full of challenges. And Ashlyn must make the toughest decision of her life: keep quiet and follow her dad’s marching orders, or find the courage to finally stand up to her father to have any hope of finding her way back home.
Personal Review:
Oh my goodness you guys, Christina is back and I am so glad! This book was just what I needed. I read it in two sittings, only because I had to take a break and do some things. This one was one that kept me turning the pages and I wanted to know what Ashlyn would decide to do. I really enjoyed this one and I am so glad I had the chance to read it.
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from NetGalley. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 25, 2019
Hi Everyone!
Let me introduce you to Let's Make Pom Poms! This adorable book was offered as a blog tour and I knew I needed to get involved.
Author: Katie Scott
Personal Review:We have started doing crafts regularly with our nieces and one of them introduced me to pom poms. So when I saw this book, I knew that I needed to read it. This book is positively adorable. There are many cute craft pom poms in the book! I enjoyed looking at the pictures and trying to find out a plan for making them in the future.
If you are looking for a book that offers you a fun project to do with your family, this may be the book for you. Disclaimer: I was awarded a copy of this book, but the reviews are my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.
Be sure to check out others on the tour:
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 18, 2019
Hi Everyone! I am excited to be here to tell you about a really fun book and share with you a mini review. Let's start with details about the book!
************************************************
************************************************
How
often do you pick up a book because of the cover? I do it all the time. It’s
what makes me take the time to look at the description, read the first few
paragraphs, and, if I like all that I see, decide to buy it.
So,
is it any wonder that covers cause us authors so much angst? They might even
make us more nervous than writing the book itself. That’s because writing is an
evolutionary process. It takes months to do, plus there are many rounds of
editing. But the cover is the instant, one-and-only first impression your book
will make. It’s like getting ready for a first date with someone that you
really really want to impress! You’ve only got one chance.
Every
single author I know holds her breath when that email comes through from the publisher
saying “Here’s the cover art and we hope you’ll love it as much as we do.”
So
here it is: my one chance. These are the two covers we’ve chosen to make a
first impression for The Truth About
Love and Dogs. What do you think? They’re very different from one another,
aren’t they? That’s because tastes in romcom covers in the UK are so different
from preferences in the US.
For
the US cover – the basket of pups – we wanted something fun and eye-catching
that conveys the book’s tone rather than the story exactly. Publishers go for
the look and feel more than an image that literally tells you what the story is
about (that’s the job of the title and the description). There are pugs in the
book, by the way!
The
UK cover might have a very different look, but its tone is the same. There, we
wanted to project a cover the reader can fall into, with intriguing groupings
of people that provoke curiosity.
I
always ask my Facebook friends and newsletter followers for their feedback
about my proposed covers, and the US readers mostly go for a photographic cover
while UK readers love the illustrated ones. Does that hold true for you? Which
do you like better?
Whichever
cover grabs you most, I hope you’ll love the story inside!
Happy
reading!
Lilly
xo
If
you want to connect with me on Facebook or through my newsletter then you can
get involved in my next cover choices!
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/dr5RGX
Author
Bio:
Michele
writes books packed with heart and humour, best friends and girl power. Call
them beach books, summer reads, romantic comedy or chick lit... readers and
reviewers call them "feel good", "thought-provoking" and
"laugh out loud". She is both a Sunday Times and a USA Today
bestselling author, raised in the US and living in London with her husband. She
is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films.
Michele also writes cosy chick lit under the pen-name Lilly Bartlett. Lilly’s books are full of warmth, romance, quirky characters and guaranteed happily-ever-afters.
Michele also writes cosy chick lit under the pen-name Lilly Bartlett. Lilly’s books are full of warmth, romance, quirky characters and guaranteed happily-ever-afters.
******************
Personal Review:
I really enjoyed this book! First of all, of course the covers pulled me in. Who doesn't love a cute dog and a love story? This book kept my attention throughout and I really appreciated the opportunity to read.
Disclaimer: I was awarded this book from the author. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.****
Happy Reading!
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