Pick Your Thon Mini Challenge

This is not a new idea. Pieces are from experience, others from Bloggiesta.

Getting Your Review Post Ready

Book reviewing is fun but the "paperwork" can be a real drag. I started off with a notebook and a sheet for each book received. That was nice for a while, put it's hard to put an electronic note in a physical notebook.

I'm on the computer....most of the information is on the computer....how do I take advantage of this?

Most of the books have been organized (which would be a whole post, or two, by itself) but there was still the pesky stuff needed before a review could be posted. Things like, publisher, ISBN, number of pages.... Stuff that could be gathered ahead of time, stuff I was writing in my notebook, stuff that could be looked up once AND ENTERED INTO A DRAFT POSTING!

I have blogger and am able to schedule posts years in advance. My post is saved as a draft with a far off date so it always shows up at the top. Waiting for me to fill in my thoughts and hit publish.

I wanted a more uniform look to my reviews. I played around with what information I'd like to tell you and how I wanted things to look and started typing.

The post "Thoughts on...title by author" is saved as a draft to be copied and then pasted into a new post for each review. There is a generic picture where the cover goes. A listing of possible labels. The general layout is ready for whatever info I have. I put "Title", formatted how I wanted the title to look with size and color, where I wanted it to go. Don't forget the FTC declaration. It's all ready to go, including reminders to myself.

It is wonderful to be able to fill in my thoughts on a book and hit publish without having to look up publishing details.

The Mini Challenge is this.....

Complete three drafts of books you'll be reviewing
AND
write a post about the experience
(if you already do something similar, tell us what you do to keep on top of your reviews)

Reward? You mean besides the satisfaction of a job well done? ;-) You'll get an extra name in the pot for Book of Choice at The Book Monsters!



I guess it should start off with....Do you have a uniform format for your book reviews? Even if your reviews look different, do you often include the same information? Seeing the draft at the top of my listings is also a great reminder that I haven't gotten the review posted yet.

Now, back to why we do this...

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Quinn by R. C. Ryan

Sometimes I pick up a book simply because I like the cover. Isn't that what the publishers want? A cover/title that catches your attention?

Quinn....perfect title for an A to Z Reading Challenge and I've found two of them. The other was the middle book in a trilogy and this one was the first in a series.

Sexy cowboy? Spy?

New to me author? Favorite?

The deciding point came down to.... I needed to read a western this year. It doesn't hurt that this one sound just right for the mood I was in. ;-)

Book finished. Disappointed? Yes.

WAIT..... disappointed because the next book doesn't come out until October! ...wiping my brow that I don't have to wait until next year...

Quinn caught my attention at the prologue and didn't want to let go. How best to tell you about it?

The brothers have been wondering around their ranch and the neighboring countryside when they come across a den of wolf cubs. No mother? Play time! Have you seen a litter of puppies and small boys playing? Same thing. Sigh, only when the boys leave to go home, excitedly talking about the fun they had with the cubs, glad they had seen the mother coming back, wishing their mother would, they hear gunshots.

Racing back to the den, they find the rancher who owns that area with a shotgun, having just done what ranchers have done for years. Once he leaves the boys bury the mother and cubs before heading home themselves.

I know the rancher was protecting his cattle but I ached for the boys. Reading more, hoping I'd learn about their mother, chapter one starts with the boys all grown up. And, wow, have they grown up!

Quinn is now a wolf researcher, studying a pack for the last five years. When the alpha is shot by a rancher, he's no boy to stand by and marches to avenge the wolf.

So, um, romance novel right? So, yeah, the rancher is female. Strong, smart, beautiful, stubborn.

They face off, sort it out, get to know each other, ahem, what's with the fire? Another one?

I know ranching can be hard but there seems to be an unusual amount of bad luck at Cheyenne's ranch.

And old foe? New suspects? Nice twist! Rescue and happy ever after. No spoiler, romance novel, remember? Don't they always have a HEA?

I absolutely love Quinn's family and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Josh. He does search and rescue and is the man to call when other efforts fail.


Disclaimer: This title is from my personal library. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of publisher.


Quinn
by R. C. Ryan

publisher: Grand Central Publishing
series: Wyoming Sky
format: Mass Market Paperback
genre: romance, western
319 pages
age range: 16+

Grade: B+


Product Description:

The Truth Can Be an Irresistible Temptation . . .

As a young boy, Quinn Conway was shattered by his mother's mysterious disappearance. Today, as the oldest of the Conway brothers, his only concern is protecting his family and their ranch. One look at beautiful, strong-willed Cheyenne O'Brien tells him she's also no stranger to tragedy. A series of increasingly dangerous "accidents" are plaguing her and her land, and Quinn can't stand idly by while a woman is in danger. Fiercely independent, Cheyenne isn't one to lean on others, yet she can't deny her attraction to the rugged rancher offering help. Soon, the passion building between them proves as wild and untamed as the land she loves-and just as impossible to resist. But a relentless enemy is about to make one final devastating move. To survive, Quinn and Cheyenne must put their cherished freedom-and their hearts-at risk . . .

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011