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Natasha Chamberlain isn’t sure what’s worse, being on the run from a crime boss or dealing with Striker, her overprotective fiancé, who insists on being her bodyguard. Striker’s committed to keeping Natasha safe, even at the cost of his own life, but Natasha’s not willing for him to make that sacrifice. Can the two work together long enough to keep Natasha alive or will their problems interfere?
With the fifth book in her Bodyguard Series, Ms. French has secured her name as a thriller/romantic suspense author to be reckoned with. Not only is the action non-stop, the thrills gripping, the humor laugh-out-loud, and the characters fully developed, but miracle of miracles, Ms. French has brought Natasha and Striker back together again, despite their reluctance to be together—something I didn’t think could happen after the last book. And while she’s at it, she’s brought the character of Natasha to a whole new level, one where this reviewer can clearly see Natasha’s point of view and sympathize with her desire to be her own woman.
In The Bodyguard and the Bodyguard, the reader is treated to what I consider Ms. French’s superb ability to let her characters grow at their own speed. If you read through the first four books in this series, The Bodyguard, The Bodyguard and the Show Dog, The Bodyguard and the Rock Star, and The Bodyguard and the Snitch, you can see with each one how Natasha matures both personally and professionally and her determination to learn her craft to the level where she is not only a bodyguard but one of the best in the business
I’ll be honest and tell you that up until this installment of the series, I tended to lean toward Striker’s point of view when it came to Natasha and her chosen profession. But as I read The Bodyguard and the Bodyguard, one thing was glaringly clear, Natasha has gotten better at her job and she’s no longer a bodyguard wannabe. She may not be topnotch at her profession yet, but she’s to the point where she doesn’t act on impulse as she has in the previous books, but instead thinks about what is happening and takes the time to consider her actions and figure out the best way to handle herself. She’s come a very long way from the person she was in the first book in this series.
So, sorry Striker, but I am now firmly on Natasha’s side in this battle of wills between the two of you. My opinion? Cut her some slack, trust her to do her job and quit pressuring her to give it up to, as Natasha says, play “wife to big daddy.”
Now on to the rest of the story: Striker is as hot as ever—even if I find myself irritated with him because he won’t give Natasha the chance to prove herself!—Pit and Bigun are back and as funny as ever, and as always, Ms. French has a wonderful secondary character in the form of Striker’s cousin, Ned. Ned is from the Cherokee side of Striker’s family and is a little mysterious, wise beyond his years, and, again as always, I fell a little in love with him and found myself hoping Ms. French will give him his own book, or at least include him in future Bodyguard books.
The action, as I mentioned above, is fast and furious—another as always with Ms. French’s books—and the reader will have a hard time putting this one down until they’ve reached the last page. I know I read it all in one sitting and only got up to take my dog out and I wouldn’t have done that except he was looking a little desperate. Sorry, Des!
Terrific protagonists that you can’t help but root for, wonderful and lovable secondary characters, scary villain who’s also a little, okay make that a lot, crazy, and a story that grabs you by the throat and won’t let go—what more can you ask for? The next Bodyguard book from Christy Tillery French, that’s what! And oh, judging by Ms. Fench’s customary teaser at the end of The Bodyguard and the Bodyguard, the next one, The Bodyguard and Bridezilla, is going to be another winner! Can’t wait!
Are you terrified of writing reviews for books you enjoy? Do you not know how to start, or why it’s even important? You aren’t alone. Few readers bother to write online reviews, and fewer still realize just how important they are to authors and their books. One of the greatest challenges a writer will face is convincing people who truly love their work to express that satisfaction online.
In fact, it may seem counterintuitive, but the most daunting tasks an author faces over the lifespan of their books seem to occur after publication. To non-writers, the writing itself must seem the struggle. The daily chore of bending over a keyboard and pressing life into characters and worlds one stroke at a time seems like sorcery, or at the very least an exhibition of mettle and concentration few readers feel they might themselves possess. For writers though, this act of creation is the ultimate calling. To not write would be infinitely more tedious.
What follows the writing, for those of us who perform such sorcery with ease, is often much more uncomfortable. There’s the web of social media to untangle; there’s the “author’s platform” to construct, plank by arduous plank; there are the business-like query letters to fashion; the rejection to stomach; the contracts to pore over; the expectations of publishers to meet; the talks to give; the books to sign. Okay, that last one bothers few authors, but anything spent not writing can feel torturous. Of all these, however, two non-writing tasks loom the highest and most fearsome: The first is convincing readers to give your story a try, even when you know they’ll love it. The second (and most frustrating) is getting readers to rate and review your book, even after they tell you how much they did indeed enjoy it!
Why do reviews matter, and why do so few readers write them? Reviews matter more than just for sales, even though they play a crucial role in them. When Amazon and Barnes and Noble suggest titles for readers, their websites pull first from those with many positive reviews. And more and more readers are turning to their online peers for advice on what to read next. With each purchase and expense mattering more and more (not to mention the time invested in reading a book), the tendency is to read whatever tops a list or garners lots of praise. My Molly Fyde series is an excellent example. The more reviews the book gets, the more sales that trickle out the digital divide. One hopes these sales lead to more reviews, and the trickle begins a flood, but as stated before, one of the few tasks more difficult than selling a book is coaxing a review out of a reader.
Before listing my theories on why such is the case (and tips on alleviating these barriers), I’d like to touch on another reason reviews are so important to writers, an even more important reason. And that is validation. What fuels me as a writer is knowing my words are being read and enjoyed by others. I have to resist the urge to give away my books, just to urge more imaginations into the lands I’ve created. I want feedback on every page, on every twist of the plot, on each hero and villain. I want to hear what readers liked and disliked, and I think there are few authors who would disagree with these sentiments. So much time and energy goes into our works, hundreds and hundreds of hours of labor, of strained concentration, of sleepless nights with a pen scratching on a notepad and waking our spouses. What is the reward expected? For a handful of writers, perhaps money ranks over this need for validation, this desire to have company in our imaginary lands. I haven’t met any such writers, myself.
So: books sell because of reviews, and authors almost literally subsist on them. Why, then, when I recently asked a college classroom of admittedly avid readers how many had ever written an Amazon review, did only one hand go up? Partly, it’s because few appreciate the value of their opinions both to the author’s ego and the work’s selling success. Mostly, though, I believe it’s because of a fear of the pen and a general unfamiliarity with how to wield it. I hope my transparently desperate pleadings have settled the first matter of a review’s importance. I would now like to dispel the psychological and skill-based blockades that might still prevent good reviews from going up and rewarding a writer and a good book.
Imagine the paralysis: You’ve just read an amazing story full of wonderful prose, uplifting messages, snappy dialog, and characters that practically stir the pages with their exhalations. Now you’re sitting in front of your computer, wondering what to say about the book, trying to reward its creator, but nothing comes to mind. You think your words will come across as trite or silly. You worry about your grammar and spelling. How can you do the book justice?
And so you don’t even try.
It’s such a sad and far too common story. So let me assure you, the reader, that there’s no such thing as a bad review when the intentions are positive. You’re not writing for the Times; you’re just expressing your opinion. So let it out! Make it as conversational and relaxed as an email. If it helps, write a review as a list of likes and dislikes. For instance, if I was writing a review for my latest novel, Molly Fyde and the Fight for Peace, it might hypothetically go something like this:
Liked: Awesome action. Loved the flashbacks, so much more of the characters! Thought it wrapped up a ton of the previous questions and plots really well. The ending was awesome!!
Disliked: That it ended. 
That’s it. Sentence fragments are fine. Use as much grammar as a ninth grader might breathe into a text message. It doesn’t matter! Just give the book as many stars as it deserves (five, in this hypothetical case), and write a few thoughts. If I wanted to go on longer, I could, but it isn’t necessary. Another nice touch is to list books, movies, TV shows, and anything else the work reminded you of. That lets readers with similar interests latch onto books they’re likely to enjoy. Hearing that my first book was a blend of Alice in Wonderland and the TV show Firefly was perfect. The reviewer could’ve stopped right there. I was ecstatic and ready to get up the next morning and write some more.
So, now that we see how easy the actual writing bit can be, what other roadblocks prevent every happy reader from rewarding the author with an honest review? Well, there’s also the technical hurdles to sort out. Which is why I’ve included the following, handy tutorial for those of you who have never written a review on Amazon.
The first step is to go to the book’s page. That’s as easy as searching for it on Amazon as if you were shopping for extra copies for friends and family (an excellent idea!)
Scroll down, and you’ll come across the first reviews for the book you’ve chosen. Off to the right, click button “Create your own review.”
The rest is simple. State that you’re over 13 years of age, click the number of stars you think the book deserves, then write a few thoughts in the text box below. As I explained earlier, keep it as simple as you like. Don’t stress about the quality of the review, just give the author a bit of praise for keeping you entertained!
When you’re done, you can add “tags” if you like, but it isn’t necessary. There are suggested tags below the box if you want to just click a few. Amazon will add them for you, and it’ll help classify the book for other readers. Nifty, eh?
The final step is to click the “Preview your review” button. This will give you one final chance to look over what you’ve written. If you’re satisfied, click the button that says “Publish your review,” and you’re done! You can also choose to edit your review further, but I bet it was perfect the first time.
See how easy it is? And now that you know how crucial these reviews are for a book’s success and an author’s sanity, perhaps it will compel you to take a few minutes after a good read to share your thoughts. Remember: there isn’t any pressure to write a perfect review (the only mistake is to not write one at all). And the steps required are few in number and pleasantly simple to follow. So what are you waiting on? Sit down right now and pay back those hours and hours an author spent writing with just a few minutes of your own. Start with the last good book you read. Trust me, the author will read what you write, and they will not judge you. They’ll be too busy dancing around the room and cheering in the company of another imaginative soul who has joined them in the world they toiled to create.
Hugh Howey is the author of the critically acclaimed Molly Fyde series, which landed on several Best of 2009 lists. The YA Book Queen named the first book, Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue her Best Book of the Year. The series follows the adventures and exploits of a small group of orphans, cast out from their diverse cultures, only to find one another and form a new family: The crew of the starship Parsona. http://hughhowey.com
J. H. Sweet …
What a treat …
Writing about fairies,
she can’t be beat.
Book one was pure delight;
Book two is “out of sight.”
Book three is a kid’s dream,
Book four will make them beam.
But wait till you see what’s in store;
of fairy books, she has plenty more.
Each of this author’s books stands alone as far as story-line, and I discovered something new about fairies and fairy lore in each one. She’s a fine writer, so good at her craft that the fairies practically fly off the pages, straight into your heart. Interesting story-lines, contemporary children, colorful characters in an exciting, entertaining format.
I have this entire series, including the first few that were published by another publisher…which are collector’s items now. I’m always pleased to find the latest “fairies” flying around in my mailbox after ordering the latest release from Amazon.
I’m saving these special books for great-great-granddaughter Melissa, including this latest, Snapdragon and the Odyssey of Élan (Fairy Chronicles). Highly recommended. Grab ‘em while you can.
Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, July 25, 2010
Author of: “Dream Reachers” (co-author Chase Von)and other books
Do you remember your young, innocent days when you learned about “the birds and the bees” and couldn’t conceive of your parents ever having done anything like “that?” That was just too gross! It was something a kid could not consider…or even think about.
I suppose we all wanted our parents to be Saints, far removed from lesser mortals…
And heaven forbid that our grandparents ever “did it,” as we called the act in those days.
Well, this is the problem faced by Peter Leroy, the narrator of this witty, heartwarming book, when he learns that his beloved grandparents were in the “coarse goods” trade. On the day of his Gumma’s funeral, three years following the death of his Guppa, he learns about it from her best friend, May Castle.
He is stunned when May gives him a box filled with erotic jewelry; it’s all Peter can do to get through the funeral where he has to speak. He has his own image of his typical, down-to-earth grandparents and he treasures those `50s memories. In his own words from the book: “To learn that my grandparents had played a leading role in the development of erotic jewelry in their time was much too much to handle at one time.”
Another thing that bothers Peter is that he’s the last to learn about it. This sets the course of this book as Peter sets out to learn everything he can about their lives and get to the truth of the matter.
What adds to the hilarity of Herb ‘n’ Lorna–set during the period prior to World War I–is that Lorna keeps her artistry in carving the erotic figures from her husband Herb, and Herb keeps his secret from her. Herb constructs and designs the mechanisms that animate the erotic, intertwined figures carved by Lorna. The subterfuge that each undertakes to keep their secrets is hilarious.
And you’ll never believe what happens on the night Herb and Lorna finally decide to confess. (Yes, both were ashamed of their secret life, even while each delighted in their individual skills. This was a more Puritanical time, after all…)
I won’t reveal more of the plot, but believe me when I say that Peter Leroy uncovers their entire story, relating it with grace, dignity and gut-busting, bawdy humor.
This is much more than a romantic comedy; it’s a masterpiece of literature, depicting the great love Herb and Lorna share throughout their lifetime. Peter does such a thorough job uncovering his Gumma and Guppa’s lives that I think of this as two superb character studies.
I agree with The Washington Post review on the front cover: “Herb ‘n’ Lorna is the happiest of books–not to mention the sexiest…The kind of sweetness and passion and laughter Kraft draws from these ordinary lives is rare and enduring.”
Accolades to the author, Eric Kraft, for bringing readers hours of fun and excitement as we enter the lives of Herb ‘n’ Lorna.
Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 30, 2010
Author of “Dream Reachers” (with Chase Von) and other books
RELATIVELY CRAZY
by Ellen Dye
L&L Dreamspell
Spring, TX
ISBN: 9781603181662
Wanda Jo Ashton grew up in a small town in West Virginia with one goal in mind: to get as far away from her penny-pinching life as she could. Twenty years later, on her 40th birthday, Wanda Jo, who now calls herself Ashton and lives in San Francisco, is expecting an expensive birthday gift from her attorney husband, Reed, only to be rejected by him on a popular TV talk show. Reed, choosing to assume the role of boy toy to a wealthy elderly woman, leaves Wanda Jo destitute and desperate. With her 16-year-old daughter in tow, Wanda Jo returns to her hometown and eccentric family, where she tries to figure out what to do with her life while expecting her husband to eventually rescue her. But what Wanda Jo thinks she wants may not be what she actually gets.
Relatively Crazy is, as we say in the South, a hoot and a half. Filled with fun characters and witty dialogue, it starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up. This humorous tale of a woman’s journey as she deals with a broken marriage while beginning a new and completely different life than the one she led is heart-warming and thoroughly entertaining. There’s a touch of romance, which spices up the story, along with a refreshing dose of camaraderie among some of the women characters. A book readers will truly enjoy (and not want to put down).
UNDER THE DOME
by Stephen King
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 9781439148501
Iraq veteran Dale (Barbie) Barbara is on his way out of Chester’s Mill when an invisible shield drops down, running along the small town’s boundaries. Planes, cars and birds crash into it, people run into it, and no one can figure out what it is. The US military’s calculations are that a large force field in the shape of a dome has settled over Chester’s Mill, cutting the town off from the rest of the country. Their efforts to destroy the dome are fruitless, as are their attempts to figure out who did this. The president places Barbie in charge of Chester’s Mill but that doesn’t set well with second selectman Big Jim Rennie, who likes being a big fish in a small pond and isn’t about to let anyone else assume control. Besides, Jesus told the sanctimonious Big Jim that he’s the one in charge. In an effort to keep Barbie from taking over, Rennie maneuvers behind the scenes, manipulating the people of Chester’s Mill with the aid of his new police chief and several newly appointed deputies. As the air turns bad and greenery dies, Big Jim’s focus remains on using Barbie as a scapegoat for several unexplained murders, while Barbie and several others, on the run from Big Jim and his minions, try to put an end to the dome.
This lengthy novel is well worth the time, reminding this reviewer of King’s best novel, The Stand, following the same basic concept: good versus evil, although this battle is among humans. The large cast of characters works well; each is well-developed and essential to the storyline. The thrilling plot is fast-paced, filled with suspense and action. Absolutely one of King’s best in recent years.
GONE TOMORROW
by Lee Child
Bantam Dell
New York, NY
ISBN: 9780385340571
Jack Reacher, riding a New York subway in the early morning hours, notices a woman passenger acting strangely. Reacher watches her, ticking off the 12 points identifying her as a suicide bomber. When Reacher approaches her, she pulls a gun and kills herself. Since Reacher was the last one to speak to the woman, he’s taken to the police station for questioning. When the feds show up, Reacher suspects there’s more to this story than a depressed woman committing suicide. This is confirmed when he’s approached by governmental and foreign organizations wanting to know what the woman passed to him before she died. Curious about what everyone is looking for, Reacher begins his own investigation which puts him at odds with law enforcement and leads him to the White House and its past connection to the Soviet war in Afghanistan during the ‘80s.
Lee Child’s 13th offering in the Reacher series is a tense thriller with plenty of bad guys and ample graphic violence. Reacher is a dangerous man confident in his abilities and with his own sense of justice. He isn’t timid when dealing with the FBI, Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and terrorists, all of whom are after him. His brusque, at times edifying narrative, as always, carries the plot forward in an intriguing, entertaining way, and readers will root for Reacher to take care of matters in the way only Reacher can.
HAMILTON SWOOP
WIZARD OF GREEN RIDGE
by L. Stewart Hearl
L&L Dreamspell
Spring, TX
ISBN: 978163181129
As a youngster, Hamilton Swoop apprenticed under Master Wizard Obsidian. At 20, subsequent to Obsidian’s death, Hamilton returned home after being stripped of his magic by the Wizards Guild. Forty years later, he owns his own antiques business and lives a paltry life with a cat as his only companion. But his life changes when he unpacks a trunk purchased at an estate sale containing a mysterious orb, cloak and the bones of Obsidian. Hamilton sets out for Center City where he intends to turn Obsidian’s bones over to the Wizards Guild. Once there, he learns the new Guildmaster of the Guild of Magic Users and Wizards has been waiting for his return, hoping he will destroy a magical dragon wreaking havoc on the city. Hamilton is reluctant to help an organization that turned its back on him, but when he is offered his magic back, he agrees. From that point, he faces extreme danger as he tries to find a way to battle the dragon and a mysterious, very powerful wizard.
Hamilton Swoop is an interesting character, a passive man with powerful magical abilities. The plot moves quickly, with moments of great suspense. The telepathic communications Hamilton shares with his cat lend humor to this intriguing story. Consider this one of those unique books for youngsters and adults alike who enjoy an exciting story filled with magic and suspense.
STORM SHADOWS
by Caitlyn Hunter
L&L Dreamspell
Friendsville, TX
ISBN: 978-1603182065
Long ago, four Cherokee cousins were cursed by the Shamans to eternal life after violating the laws of their tribe. Matt, Luke, Marc and Jon Tassel also possess psychic abilities and each can shift into the form of the animal they are destined to watch over. For years, Marc, a cougar shape-shifter, has had visions of a woman with storm-colored eyes tending to him at his death, but sometimes, in these dreams, the woman dies instead. Betty Sue Corn grew up under the shadow of a beautiful sister and considers herself merely ordinary, with a tendency toward awkwardness to the point of constantly having bruises and cuts from her stumbles. When Jon inadvertently causes Betty Sue’s suspension from her job, he offers her his cabin on Eternity Mountain, where Betty Sue hopes to chase a dream or two. When Betty Sue meets Marc by accident, the chemistry between them is intense. Marc, however, realizing Betty Sue is the woman in his dreams, tries to keep his distance from her due to his fear he may cause her death but finds this near-impossible. Betty Sue, tired of her prior timid existence, is not frightened by Marc’s ability to shift or his vision of death, and is willing to risk her life to prove this.
The genteel cadence of Hunter’s poetic prose draws the reader into a lovely story steeped in Cherokee legend, filled with romance sweet and heady and tantalizing. The plot excels, along with characters strong and vivid and intriguing. Betty Sue is fresh and fun, and many women will identify with and root for her. The four Cherokee cousins are not only endowed with pulchritude but each has an appealing persona readers will love. This well-written paranormal romance, book 2 in the Eternal Shadows series, rises above others of its genre due to the author’s unique voice as well as her prolific skill with characterization, dialogue and narration. Highly recommended.
THE COLD ROOM
by J.T. Ellison
MIRA Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario M3B3K9
Canada
ISBN: 9780778327141
Due to restructuring of the Nashville Metro Police Department, homicide detective Taylor Jackson’s been demoted from her prior position of lieutenant. If that isn’t bad enough, she’s being pursued by a serial killer called the Pretender. Now another serial killer’s in Nashville, one who abducts young black women, starves them to death and, after performing necrophilia, poses them per scenes from famous paintings. It isn’t long before Jackson’s fiancé, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, connects Jackson’s serial killer to one he’s been investigating in Europe named the Conductor. Jackson and Baldwin team up with Scotland Yard detective James “Memphis” Highsmythe, and the chase is on as the three try to determine if they’re dealing with only one killer or perhaps two. As the investigation proceeds, Jackson’s trying not to be distracted by the chemistry between her and Highsmythe, which is unexpected and confusing, and her superior’s strange actions, which are hampering her efforts to investigate her case.
This fourth installment of the Taylor Jackson series is as suspenseful and intriguing as the first. This psychological thriller is gritty and realistic and filled with intense action. The chemistry between Jackson and Highsmythe, although not expected, is nicely delivered. Jackson’s a great character, a woman who’s tough mentally and physically but a real softy on the inside. The colorful backdrop of Nashville is a bonus to readers, as is Ellison’s intelligent writing.
