Mini Review: The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners

The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners (Goodreads)

 

 

The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners is an excellent book for the newbie to social media. I found it very informative, and it contains a lot of step-by-step pointers with wonderful helpful pictures.

 

Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ are all touched upon enough to give even the greenest computer wiz the confidence to start using them.

 

I highly recommend this book for youth, adults, and seniors that may want to start working in these social media realms. It may also be helpful for the intermediate user to hone their skills.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

 

Book Review: Gemini The Heir by Kristen DaRay

 

Gemini The Heir (Goodreads)

 

This is the second book in Kristen DaRay's Gemini trilogy. It takes place a year after the first book ends. Carson is getting more comfortable with her new life as Princess Carsona of Emreiana. Having become proficient in the Emreian language, Carson and her mother are working on how to win the war on planets. Meanwhile, Carson is trying to stall her bonding ceremony with her betrothed, Aaronmon. The chemistry between Carson and Aaron is growing stronger, and more tests are appear around every corner. Will Carson be able to love Aaron in the way she desires? Will Aaron ever be the greatest love in Carson's heart?

 

With an ongoing and enjoyable plot, Kristen DaRay has done better with the editing process in this book than in the first. There is still further work to be done in spelling, grammar, and word choice but I am pleased at the ease I was able to enjoy this story. The plot build was much quicker in this book and made for a smooth, easy read.

 

I am looking forward to the third book in this series. The story has grabbed hold of me, the characters are likable and enjoyable, and I am anticipating good things to come with Kristen DaRay's next installment.

 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads



Book Review: Gemini of Emreiana by Kristen DaRay

Gemini of Emreiana (Goodreads)

Carson Emrel is eighteen years old with top grades, great friends, and is in love with her boyfriend. She has been raised by her aunt since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was just a baby. Putting together her valedictorian speech and looking into college should be her biggest issues in the near future.

 

Things change when Carson starts having strange dreams about a guy who later shows up in her kitchen, with her aunt, and informs her she is an alien. The guy from the dream is not only her bodyguard, sent to Earth by her very much alive mother, but he is also her betrothed husband to be. It seems that Carson's life just got a little more complicated.

 

Carson turns out to be the Princess of Emreiana, her birth planet. She is in danger, has to keep secrets from her friends and boyfriend, and is wondering how to trust her aunt that has lied to her for eighteen years. Carson is an enjoyable character and has a humorous, yet strained, relationship growing with her new betrothed, Aaronmon. His character is a great addition that helps round out Carson, move the plot along, and the relationship that grows between Carson and Aaronmon is a critical piece to understanding the story behind the storyline.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the story that Kristen DaRay has created in Gemini of Emreiana. Unfortunately, the grammar, spelling, and incorrect wording that fills the book was a hindrance to that enjoyment. I would love to see this manuscript again after a full edit. Leaving the book as is could hinder the book from getting the positive reviews that Kristen DaRay's story deserves. With a turtle-pace start because of the errors, some readers may be turned off and not give it the chance it deserves. The second half of the story builds up nicely and is quite enjoyable. I felt there were some descriptions during the main scene later on that were a little more graphic than I would have expected within the flow of this story. I also felt that having the definitions at the beginning of the story or on each page that the words appear for the first time would be very helpful. Being at the end of the book was pointless for me as I had already figured out what they meant myself.

 

Overall, I like Kristen DaRay's story idea that she presents in Gemini of Emreiana enough that I was happy to have the second edition to read right after finishing this one. I stand by the though that a good editing will raise the positive reviews for this book, and bring more followers to DaRay's trilogy.

 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

WWW Wednesdays - January 15, 2014

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

The Rough Guide to Social Media for beginners

The Fellowship of the Ring

Gemini of Emreiana

 

 

• What did you recently finish reading?

 

 

My reviews of these can be found here: Beyond My Bookshelf



• What do you think you’ll read next?

 
I have an ever-growing To Be Read shelf on Goodreads of over 2300 books. I also have 17 indie books waiting to be read and blogged. So many words; only one pair of eyes!

I am doing the Lord of the Rings read & discussion at Tolkien Readalong from January to June 2014. If you are a Tolkien fan, come join the fun.

Besides that, there are many things I must read. Romance, mystery, paranormal, humour, fiction, non-fiction, biographies, and everything else! I love the printed word!

Now, what about you? What are you reading? 

Book Review: Cloaked in Fur by T.F. Walsh

Cloaked in Fur, T.F. Walsh

Set in Romania, Daciana, or Daci as everyone calls her, works at the Animal Research Institute where she tracks animals and their behaviour as an animal specialist. She sometimes lends herself to the police on animal attack crimes. Her boyfriend, Connell, is on the police force and is bothered that all the latest attack victims are linked to Daci. Not to mention that Daci has been hiding any information about herself from Connell. One piece he might want to know about is that his girlfriend is a Wulfkin - half wolf, half human.

Deep in the forest is where Daci's wolf pack resides. Sandulf is the Alpha, or pack leader, and he has a few secrets of his own. One of them could be very deadly if it isn't discovered soon. Enre, Daci's friend and former lover, is still very much in love with her. He intends to help Daci get the secret elixir that will make her completely human. But time is running out, and they still have to find the recipe for the elixir and stop whatever is killing humans just outside their wolf den.

I am happily surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I love wolves, romance, and a good storyline with some mystery thrown in here and there. And that's what I received when I was drawn in by the first paragraph. Cloaked in Fur is filled with action throughout, and just when you think you have it figured out, T.F. Walsh throws a wrench in to stir it up. I like sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what the next chapter will bring. I was more than satisfied with this novel. It was fun, a quick read, and T.F. Walsh gained a new fan. I look forward to see what else this author can string together.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

Book Review: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

This is a historical novel about a young woman from a bankrupt family that is promised to the deceased son of the very wealthy Lim family. An arranged marriage between a living person and a dead one was not the most intriguing idea to Li Lan, but her father saw it as the best way out of his debt situation. Li Lan tries to change her father's mind since she has fallen in love with Tian Bai, the new heir to the Lim family fortune.

 

This story is intertwined with beliefs from Chinese afterlife, historic Malaysia under British rule, and traditions of long past. These details fold out nicely within this beautiful tale of forbidden love. It gives a strong setting for such a diverse cast of characters.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghost Bride's patriarchal family issues, assumptions of murder, incredible ghost cities and offerings, and twists within the main love plot. Yangsze Choo kept me anxiously turning pages right up until the final plot twist. The Ghost Bride will definitely stay on my shelf to be read again. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, paranormal ghost activity, Asian influence, and a touch of romance thrown in. A wonderful read.

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

Book Review: A Christmas Wish by Joseph Pittman

A sweet Christmas read if I have ever read one. A Christmas Wish by Joseph Pittman was a heartwarming delight. After losing her mother in a storm, Janey is left to be taken care of by Brian, a man who was just passing through the little town of Linden Corners until he fell in love with Janey's mom Annie, and the magical windmill that brought them all together.

This story is the second in a series, but is a wonderful read on its own. This is a fast paced easy read that is filled with great descriptions, Christmas sentiment, and just enough childhood angst and former life tension from the main characters to sustain wonder for the next chapter. This was a most enjoyable read to relax with during the stress of the holidays. Linden Corners is a place I plan to revisit in Pittman's other novels soon.

~ cross-posted at Goodreads - A Christmas Wish