My Thoughts on Ratings

Let me start by saying I read and review for pleasure. I do not get paid (too bad *sigh*) except for value of the books that are sent to me for review. I am willing to invest my time in reading and reviewing because I truly enjoy it and I like to help encourage and promote authors!

I do not have an elaborate list of check marks for grading as I think that would diminish my enjoyment. I try to note things like settings, character development, plot uniqueness, author voice and general "feel" of the books I review. I have started making notes as I read because otherwise all of the thoughts would be in retrospect. I may not comment on all of those aspects in each review but at least those that strike me.

A reasonable and pretty common rating guide is the 1-5 scale. The 1-5 definitions below are compiled from several sites that I review for. The "in between" entries are my own vague degrees of liking based on my comparing the book to others I have read!

5 - very rare, extraordinary read; a TOP read or GOTTA read

4.25 - 4.75 - better than just a 4 and ranging towards a 5.

4 - a keeper; a FANTASTIC read or NEED to read

3.25-3.75 - better than just good but not quite reaching Need or 4.

3 - good read; MEMORABLE GOOD or WANT to read

2.25-2.75 - better than a Could read ranging up to want.

2 - has several problems; Entertaining or COULD read

1 - very poor read; Leave it on the Shelf

I often get offered a selection of books to review so I am likely to pick in the genres I like and from blurbs I like. Even when I am assigned books, the moderator will have an idea as to my preferences so I am usually going to get books I expect to like.

Any book that gets rated 3 or up is a good solid read! Some will just grab me more than others! I expect I will have a lot in the 4-5 range and a few 3s and a few 5s. I will try to say what I did like as well as comment on specifics I did not like.


If I have a book that falls anywhere in the 2-3 range I will try to be even more specific as to what I did not like about it. It may well be that it is a book that was not for me but it might be a great book for someone else! We all have different tastes and this is a matter of subjectives! My goal will always be to encourage an author with positive feedback and constructive criticism if I think appropriate. I will never bash a book as I would rather just say - "that one wasn't for me."


I doubt that I will have any 1 books for two reasons. First: If I get to pick the books I review it is unlikely that I will pick ones I don't expect to enjoy and that I can't find something redeeming in. Second: If a book made it to publication, it indicates that someone out there liked it so it wouldn't be "left on the shelf" for everyone. BUT I will be honest and say if I ever cannot finish a book or had to force myself to finish. That hasn't happened since I have been reviewing but it has happened maybe three times I can recall over the past several years.


So this is my story on ratings and I'm sticking to it... for now anyway! :)

Sunday Words of Encouragement

I am reminded every Sunday morning of God's power and grace! I have decided to share a song and verse for encouragement on Sundays.

Today's song is Made Me Glad - You are My Shield by Hillsong United. This particular Video has the embedding disabled but I hope you will check out the url or you can scroll to the bottom of my blog and play the clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Zc_VWJJoI

I will bless the Lord forever,

And I will trust Him at all times.

He has delivered me from all things,

And He has set my feet upon the Rock.

I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:

You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion,

Deliverer, my Shelter, Strong Tower,

my very present help in time of need.

Whom have I in Heaven but you.

There's no one I desire beside You.

You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:

You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion,

Deliverer, my Shelter, Strong Tower,

my very present help in time of need.

**********************************

The verse is from our Pastor's message "God's Promises" and it is one of my favorite:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This morning I prayed for several online and church friends who are suffering with back pain. You know who you are, but more importantly, God knows who you are and He knows your needs. Be encouraged!

2009-10 Random Reading Challenge

I think I really need this challenge to help me read some of my own TBR books!

Caribou's Mom says:

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you always find yourself reading from set lists or feeling committed to reading one book while another book screams at you from your TBR mountain? Has your reading become completely scheduled? If so, the Random Reading Challenge may be just the thing to put the spontaneity back into your reading.
For this challenge, readers will be choosing books randomly from their TBR stacks.

For full details and to sign up go here:

http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/07/22/random-reading-challenge/#comments

I was thinking about doing level II for 9 books but I have decided that I should shoot for the full 12! After all - that is only one a month!

My Mailbox Week of July 27 2009

I still haven't found a meme for a Mail Box on Friday or Saturday! I want to do it at the end of the week since I already have What are you Reading on Monday. Well - for now I will be a nonconformist!

Here are books I got this past week!

This is the TJ Bennett RITA Tote #10!! Wonderful books including Susan Wiggs Audio Book, Snowfall at Willow Lake!

http://tjbsopinion.blogspot.com/2009/07/rita-nominated-giveaway-tote-10.html

Thank you again TJ!

And below is Prime Time which I won from Hank Phillipi Ryan visiting at Romance B(u)y the Book:

http://romancebytheblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/feature-review-prime-time-by-hank.html

Thank you Bellas, Hank and Michelle!

and Love at First Flight by Marie Force from J. Kaye's Book Blog July Giveaways!

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/monthly-raffle-winners-at-j-kayes-book.html

Thank you Marie and J. Kaye!!

Not sure when I will squeeze these books in between review books but I will!

My July Reading List

Martha's Reading July 2009 Books 95-108
Ratings 1-5

MBS (Martha’s Bookshelf) reviews posted at:
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

YGR (You Gotta Read Reviews) reviews posted at: http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/MarthaE

BTL (Between the Lines Reviews - WRDF) reviews posted at:
http://blog.lyndacoker.net/ (put title in quick search)

95. Stella by Colin Galbraith (eBook short) Thriller 3.75 YGR
96. No Greater Love by K. Bruce Justice (eBook short) Paranormal 3.75 YGR
97. Embrace the Night by Karen Chance (Cassandra Palmer # 3) (Audible) Paranormal 4.0
98. Never Seduce A Scoundrel by Sabrina Jeffries (Heiresses Book #1) Historical Romance 4.0 YGR
99. Children of the Mist by Hywela Lynn (eBook) SciFi 4.5 YGR
100. Dancing in Time by Violet Rightmire (eBook) Paranormal -Time Travel 4.5 YGR
101. Don’t Bargain with the Devil by Sabrina Jeffries (Heiresses Book #5) Historical Romance 5.0 YGR
102. March Upcountry by David Weber and John Ringo (Audible) Sci Fi 4.25
103. Eternally His by Carol North (eBook) Paranormal – Ghost 4.5 YGR
104. Blind Fortune by Joanna Waugh Historical Romance 4.75 MBS
105. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison (The Hallows #6) (Audible) Paranormal 4.0
106. Night Waves by Wendy Davy (eBook) Inspirational Romantic Suspense 4.5 YGR
107. Waiting for An Eclipse Book 2 of Wounded Warriors Series by Karen Wiesner (eBook) Contemporary Romance 4.75 YGR
108. Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong (ARC) Women’s Fiction 5 soon to be posted at YGR