I’ve decided to change the way I review books here on my blog. For the last few years, I’ve done pretty much the same kind of review for every book — a paragraph or two summarizing the plot and then I talked about what I did or didn’t like about the book.

It’s an okay system, but as my writing schedule has gotten busier and busier, it seems like I’ve gotten farther and farther behind on my reviews. So I’ve decided to try a more streamlined format in hopes that it will let me review the books I read in a more timely manner. Plus, I think folks like being able to look at a review and read the highlights that they want to.

Here’s a rough idea of the kind of review I’m going to go to. These are the areas/sections that I plan to highlight and talk about:

Book

Author

Series

Genre

Summary

First line

Cover thoughts

What I liked

What I didn’t like

Overall

Would I read this author again

My grade

I’ve also added a box on the blog sidebar with my review grades and what they mean (scroll down the page to see it). Here it is:

A: Loved it and would highly recommend it.

B: Really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

C: Enjoyed it and would recommend it with perhaps a few reservations or caveats.

D: An okay read and would recommend it with several reservations or caveats.

F: Didn’t work for me for whatever reason.

I’ll probably start the new review system after the blog tour for Dark Frost wraps up in mid-June. Until then, happy reading!

Finished Baby, Don’t Go by Stephanie Bond. This is the third book in her Southern Roads contemporary romance trilogy.

Marcus Armstrong and his brothers have slowly rebuilt the town of Sweetness, Georgia after a devastating tornado. Now, Marcus is feeling the pressure to make sure that everything goes well for some upcoming government inspections that will determine the future of the town. What he doesn’t realize is that someone in Sweetness is watching him and the other residents and reporting on their lives and relationships. Alicia Randall writes for a feminist magazine and has come to Sweetness to see what Marcus and his brothers are up to. Alicia doesn’t believe in marriage, given all the failed relationships her divorced parents have been in over the years, but she finds herself attracted to Marcus, even though she knows that she won’t be staying in town for long …

I’ve read the other books in this series, and I wanted to finish out the trilogy. However, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the others in the series.

I didn’t really connect with either Alicia or Marcus as characters. Marcus was very closed off and reserved, which is understandable given the pressure that he’s under, while Alicia came off as a bit calculating. At first, she’s determined to get the story and further her career no matter what. Even when she starts to fall for Marcus, she still goes ahead with her articles. It didn’t make her all that likable to me.

Also, the ending felt a little abrupt. I would have liked to have seen more of Alicia and Marcus resolving their differences and her working to regain the trust of everyone in town after they realize that she’s been writing articles about them without their knowledge.

Overall, this book didn’t work for me, but if you like contemporary romance, you may want to check it out.

My grade: F

Would I read this author again: Yes. This book didn’t work for me, but I’ve enjoyed other books by Bond.

Memorable quote: “The place is called Sweetness. Isn’t that great? I can’t make this stuff up.”

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Myth, the Universe, and Everything

I now have bookmarks available for Widow’s Web, the seventh book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that will be out on Aug. 21.

Shown at left is the front of the bookmark. The back features the covers of the other Elemental Assassin books. The bookmark design was done by Kim at HOT DAMN Designs, and I think it looks really cool.

Bookmarks are free to readers, bookstores, libraries, reading groups, etc. However, please note that I ask folks to send me a self-addressed stamped envelope with two first-class U.S. stamps (90 cents) on it in order to get the bookmarks (this helps me cover postage costs). If you are overseas, I ask that you send me a SASE with at least $2 in U.S. postage on it or include that much in international postage coupons with your envelope. Also, whether you are in the U.S. or overseas, be sure your return envelope is large enough to hold the bookmarks, which are 2 by 8 inches. 

I still have bookmarks available for the other books in the Elemental Assassin series, as well as for those in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. You can get bookmarks for either series or for both. Just include a note in your SASE stating which bookmarks you want. To find out how to get the bookmarks, e-mail me.

Here’s a little more info about Widow’s Web. Please note that there are a few mild spoilers here, if you haven’t read By a Thread yet:

My name is Gin, and I kill people. It’s something I’ve been doing for years as the assassin called Spider, but now, it’s turned into a necessity on my part just to survive all the lowlifes in Ashland who are gunning for me. The underworld is still in turmoil, and I seem to be on everyone’s hit list these days.

To add to Gin’s problems, her lover Owen’s ex is in town. Salina is back in Ashland to reclaim an old family legacy — and she thinks that Owen is hers for the taking. Also in the mix is Phillip Kincaid, a casino owner and all-around shady character who has a mysterious connection to both Owen and Salina.

Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but there’s more to her than meets the eye. Her water elemental magic makes her a dangerous enemy — and someone who can go toe-to-toe with Gin’s Ice and Stone power. But Gin is determined to get to the bottom of Salina’s deadly scheme, even though it just might cost her everything … including Owen.

Widow’s Web is up for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and other booksellers. Hope everyone enjoys the book when it comes out.

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Golden Apple YA Book Reviews