Reading Fanatic Reviews
Romantic FantasyI Dream of Darcy Book 1 by Andrea David
Available at Amazon, iBooks, Google Play, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Bol.de
I Dream of Darcy, Part 1*
Good Start to Serialized P&P JAFF Variation
I am a big fan of Jane Austen fanfiction, so I’m always on the lookout for new authors and new stories based around Pride and Prejudice. I have not read this author before, but I am glad to have found her.
The book itself right now is serialized, and this is the first part. It is actually still just about around decent novella length as it is. This book starts at the point where Jane is in London after the fiasco with Bingley. In a variation from canon, Elizabeth goes to London to help cheer Jane up and set things aright. Of course, while she’s there, she meets Mr. Darcy. As often happens, they meet at a bookstore in Mayfair. Miss Darcy is there as well.
There were several things that I found interesting in this variation. I liked how we saw some of Bingley’s melancholy as he was trying to get over Jane (before all parties meet again). Darcy actually gets involved with the Mary King affair, trying to keep her from harm. Georgiana, Jane, and Elizabeth become friends. There are some new people in the mix as well. There were a few parts that made me laugh out loud, like when Darcy tried to take Elizabeth’s coat after she’d been caught in a deluge. For this part of the serialization, Darcy is still strongly fighting his attraction to Elizabeth, but he is not doing well with that.
The book did have some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. For some reason, too, the author in some places called Georgiana “Giana.” This actually happened quite often. Miss Darcy enters the picture past the 10% mark, so I can’t check to see if this has been fixed in the published edition. (I received an advance reader copy.) Of course, the author might have meant it to be Darcy’s nickname for Georgiana, but that wasn’t made clear. Usually, if she is given a nickname in JAFF, it’s Georgie; I don’t think I’ve ever seen “Giana” as her nickname. There were also definitely issues with certain timelines. For instance, Darcy thinks of meeting Bingley not long after the fiasco where he cuts ties with Wickham (after his father’s death). Just a few Kindle swipes later, Darcy states that he met Bingley at Cambridge, from which Bingley graduated from at 16. ????
Sometimes serials don’t have a proper story arc; they feel like they are just a novel that has been cut into pieces. In this part of the serial, however, the author has created a natural story structure so that, while this part doesn’t tell the whole story of Darcy and Elizabeth, it does have a natural rise and fall that any good piece of fiction should have, the three-act structure that is the bedrock of good storytelling. I do like this part of the serialization, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. So far, so good.
The Minimalist Babe by Lola R. Marie
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
The Minimalist Babe*
Cut, Tidy, and Declutter Your Life
Minimalism is certainly a trendy topic right now, and in this book, the author shares her own personal journey and insights into returning to her minimalist roots. She states at the beginning that she believes that we are all born minimalist but become more maximalist as we become part of our culture.
The first section addresses why this topic could be important in your life, and then further chapters look at specific aspects of life, like mind, body, soul, environment, and money. Several topics are explored within these aspects (like the Soul part looking at spiritual practices as well as your social circle), and everywhere she encourages you to declutter and simplify all parts of your life. Not everything will relate to everyone. Not everyone is addicted to, say, taking selfies. But she does bring up much food for thought about where you might be over-complicating your life and perhaps causing yourself some distress. Parts of this book felt a little too personal for me. The author does not hesitate to share her own stories and her own minimalist journey. It does make sense in a book like this to share those kinds of details; it is still just mildly uncomfortable. That said, if you’re looking to live your life more minimally, this book could guide you to a more on that approach in several parts of your life.
Affiliate Marketing by Ankur Agarwal
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Bol.de
Affiliate Marketing*
Bare Bones Blueprint for Affiliate Marketing
It’s kind of funny, but just the day before this book became available on my favorite book review site, I actually bought access to some software produced by the author. So he does know affiliate marketing from the inside because he actually creates products that affiliates can buy and use, sell, and license. Unfortunately, in this book, he has oversold in the subtitle what he’s going to share. As someone who has done affiliate marketing in the past and is beginning to increase her efforts again, I can tell you that what he offers in this book is a solid, though bare bones, way to approach affiliate marketing in 2019. Everything he talks about in this book is indeed things you need to think about currently if you want to become an affiliate: niches, branding, products, lead pages, bonuses, email lists, social and other marketing, et. But the amount of information he gives in this book is really only just enough to get you started. In some of the areas he discusses, there is not really enough for you to truly get started; it’s more like he’s letting you know the parameters of the game but not giving the game away completely. You would still need to do quite a bit of research to get yourself up and running as an affiliate. I would call this a blueprint for affiliate marketing, but nothing beyond that—not even the rough frame, so to speak, to carry the architect metaphor further. But if you are interested in affiliate marketing, this book will definitely give you insight into what you need to consider if you are thinking about venturing into affiliate marketing.
Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Princess Avenger*
Fantasy Romance Fun
This story pulls you in right away, beginning with a scene where the princess is fleeing in a poor disguise after she has been injured. We soon learn more about her and her circumstances. I thought the author described things well, allowing you to feel you could see the scenes without it being overly descriptive. I thought, though, that some of her word choices weren’t appropriate, so it pulled me a little from the narrative flow as I was trying to determine why a particular word was being used and what the author was actually going for with it. The couple at the core of the story was fascinating to watch as their relationship grew and shifted and as they went up against those opposed to them. The book had some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage, but I didn’t feel overly distracted by them. All in all, this is an enjoyable fantasy romance that will keep you turning the pages, especially the closer you get to the end.
How to Learn by Jonathan Firth
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Bol.de
How to Learn*
Excellent Guide About How to Study
I have read a lot of nonfiction books lately where the author just seems to be attempting to cash in on the quick reads the categories on Amazon, producing a book that is light on content or perhaps even just cobbled together from a variety of websites. (I can’t tell you how many of those in particular I’ve seen lately.) So it was an absolute delight to see a nonfiction book, particularly one on learning, that has more steak than sizzle. This book is actually written by an instructor at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland who is also a researcher. So he’s got some bona fides. The book actually does deliver solid information on how to best learn while in university/college courses, much of it backed up by actual scientific studies.
The book follows a logical structure, first looking at flawed learning strategies and exploring what learning is. He even goes into some brain science throughout the book. Then he talks about study habits and ways to make learning last. Surprisingly, one of the chapters is called Focus and Passion, the latter being about emotionally engaging with the subject. Who would ever associate learning with passion? Final chapters look at exam preparation and examining your own learning.
I found one thing highly amusing, as a person who reads a lot of nonfiction aimed at the general public, especially in the self-help field. I’m used to seeing nonfiction book chapters end in a series of questions or tasks to do. But you can tell this guy is a university professor because his questions at the end of the chapter more test your knowledge about what you just read rather than have you act on it! For instance, his review question on the Pomodoro Technique didn’t ask you to use it but rather asked you what it is, how long the study sessions are, and how long the breaks are.
I don’t think the book is accurately titled, though the subtitle is accurate. This really isn’t a book about how to learn. Rather, it is a book about how to study for high school or college/university courses. I think there was one rather large omission. Since this book was so well done, I would have loved to have seen a little discussion about learning and the older student. Having been one who went to college for the first time at the age of 17 and then returned for more education at the age of 42, I know that learning is very different depending on your age, and your study habits have to change in order to accommodate an aging brain (though it appalls me to have to admit that!). All in all, this is a well-written and researched book from which, if you have a need to learn how to study for advanced high school classes, college, or university, you might glean some very beneficial insights.
Daily Guide to Help Rewire Your Brain by Milo Blake
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Daily Guide to Help Rewire Your Brain*
I Don’t Understand the High Reviews
My goodness, where to start with this book? I don’t quite understand how this has gotten so many high reviews here. It is barely a book, especially if you take out the repetitious information. I find the title a bit overblown for what the book is. It is about affirmations. The author just seemed to load the title with popular buzzwords and catchphrases like rewiring your brain, mind hacking, and positive thinking. The author does talk briefly about affirmations and the power of the mind, but honestly, some of it is actually laughable and just dead wrong. For instance, he stated rather boldly at the start of a paragraph in the introductory section that most people suffer from mental illness. I am a nurse, and I would strongly disagree with that statement.
The book is somewhat strangely organized. The bulk of the book, as you might imagine, is taken up with affirmations on typical topics like gratitude, passion, abundance, confidence, etc. But what is bizarre about this very short book is that, for whatever reason, the author lists the affirmations for each topic twice, the second repetition being the same sentences with the words “30 seconds of calm music” in between each affirmation, as if he were talking about a recording of the affirmations. Nowhere in the PDF I got as a review copy showed any links to meditation tracks from the author. What’s odd, too, is that one chapter is full of affirmations on a variety of topics, the ones I mentioned above. The next chapter is just on strength, just as short as those other topics (not expanded, which could make it need its own chapter). Why wasn’t this just included in that chapter, or conversely, why weren’t all those that were listed in the one chapter put out into their own chapters? It’s just rather strange. The affirmations themselves seem fine, but nothing groundbreaking on these topics.
For the issues mentioned above, I can’t recommend this book. If you are looking for affirmations, you would be better to look at other books or just go onto YouTube and search for the kind of affirmations that you’re looking for.
Turbulence by Lisa Colodny
Available at Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, 24 Symbols, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Turbulence*
Not Your Regular Time-Travel Romance
I enjoy time travel novels, so I was curious about this one when I read its description. It definitely seemed different from the typical ones I read. This one starts out in very modern times in the midst of a criminal situation. It actually is quite detailed in discussing the various people and agencies of law enforcement that are involved in all that is happening. The two law enforcement agents don’t get to the past until about 20% of the book, and they don’t realize they’re in the past until about the 33% mark. In fact, they spend their first night in late 1869 Nebraska just thinking that they’ve stumbled upon an older middle-aged couple with an aversion to technology, perhaps part of some kind of a cult.
Some of the modern couples adjustments to life so long ago, like outhouses and chamber pots, were amusing to watch. I could imagine what it would be like in that situation. One of the things that is different in this book, compared to other time-travel romances, is that the romance happens between the two modern characters who go back in time. There aren’t romances between modern individuals and the people back then. They’re very lucky to meet the couple talked about above, as they are good folks who take care of these strangers. The romance aspect was typical, with the push-me, pull-you dance that is always at the core of a love story. There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. I thought the book was a bit long. It could have done with the judicious hand of a good editor. Apparently, this was originally a longer manuscript that was split into two books. The ending isn’t really a cliffhanger, though; it feels more like this story is just paused.
Wings of Prey by J. P. McLean
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Wings of Prey*
And So It Ends
Over the past couple of months, I have read every book in this series, including the alternate version of book one. I wasn’t sure what I thought about the series at the beginning, but I’ve stuck with it. I am glad that I did. It is unusual in a most delightful way. The author does have a way of storytelling that is compelling; how she comes up with such a world is beyond me. Over the course of these seven books, she has created a very complex overarching plotline that was reflected well in each individual book of the series. She has managed to create characters who feel realistic even though they live in a fantastical world that is parallel to our own. In this particular book, there’s more emphasis on the paranormal/fantasy aspects of the story. If you are looking for another series to sink your teeth into and enjoy steamy thrillers with a touch of fantasy, this series could be right up your alley.
Negotiate without Negotiating by Aaron Leyshon
Available at Amazon, Kobo, Mondadori, and Angus & Robertson
Negotiation without Negotiating*
Some Good Techniques for Collaborative Negotiation, Introvert or Not
In this book, the author combines two topics, introversion and negotiation. I found his section on introversion to be not wholly correct. I am wondering where he got some of his information from. The section did mention, of course, the Myers-Briggs test and the different types of introversion defined by it as well as something I had never heard of that uses the acronym of STAR (social, thinking, anxious, and restrained types of introversion). About the first third of the book or so discusses introversion in general, not really relating it to negotiation at all.
The negotiation section of the book takes up the bulk of it. I didn’t really find it to be super specific to introverts in negotiation; he just seemed to share some good insights into the process that anyone could use. I found the title to be a bit disingenuous because, of course, the book is actually about negotiation. It is just that the style that he proposes is more collaborative than adversarial, but it is still negotiation. I enjoy nonfiction, and I read a lot of it, but I found myself completely surprised that the author used mild profanity throughout the whole book. I don’t like seeing profanity in fiction, and I don’t particularly appreciate it in nonfiction. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen this happen in a nonfiction book that is about a business topic. I hope it doesn’t become a trend, as it has in some genres of contemporary romance. All in all, the author did share some good techniques for collaborative negotiation.
101 Writing Prompts by Jenn Maxwell
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
101 Writing Prompts*
Nice Collection of Prompts
As the title states, this book has 101 writing prompts. Though the subtitle states that this will help you write your novel, only one chapter of prompts (about plots) specifically deals with things you can do with the characters in your work-in-progress novel. Most of the prompts give either a time or a word-number deadline. The author divides the book into several sections, like memories and the supernatural. Now and again, I enjoy working with writing prompts, and I thought that some of these were good suggestions. In fact, #99 is one of my favorites. Some prompts here, like #100, could inspire variations. Some were surprisingly creative. Somewhere not simple, requiring you to do some research either online or out in the real world. If you enjoy writing prompts, this book may be a good addition to your collection.
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