3 Key Elements to Crappy #Book #Blurbs

Image from Bing.com

I’m not being mean when I say I’ve seen some horrible book blurbs out there. Mostly by self published indie authors. If a blurb isn’t good, then what’s the indication that the book will be? Um... I figure none.

When I’m cruising Twitter or FB and a tweet catches my attention I’ll click on the link to see where it takes me. I’m adventurous like that. After a glance at the cover I head down to the blurb. There are three things that will make me leave the page without considering a purchase.

1. There is a mistake in the blurb. Just one misplaced letter, and I won’t even contemplate reading the book. Come on. If the editor or individual can’t catch a mistake in a short blurb, which is everyone’s first impression of the book, what are the chances I’ll go through the book without gritting my teeth making corrections in my head?

2. The story sounds good, in theory, but the blurb isn’t appealing enough to make me dive in. The blurb tells it straight without adding any verve or intrigue.

3. The blurb makes no sense. The kind of writing where you question what you know about English and have to look it up. There are no typos, but the English isn’t sound so there’s no hope. 

The lesson? Spend some time on the blurb. As the experts say, its one of the two things that will draw a reader to buy a book.

Is there anything else about a blurb that makes you stay away from a book?

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A to Z: 2013 Challenge

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. My stomach is full to bursting with butterflies, but I’m excited about it participating. 

Starting April 1^st for the whole month of April, everyday except for Sundays, I will write a post starting with the letter of the alphabet.  Twenty six posts all together each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. That's a lot of posts.

Since I write about romance related topics and books I will continue in this vein, but please forgive me if I digress and meander in a totally different direction for a few of the posts such as for Q, X, Y an Z – those are some tough letters to write about, but I’m up for the challenge.

I hope you will enjoy my posts during the month of April as much as I will enjoy writing them.  If anyone wants to join the challenge it’s not too late. Click on the link and it will take you to where you can register (Sorry I couldn't make the banner link you. I'm still developing my skills).

Loads of people have signed up and I'm looking forward to getting to know some new blogs.

Another Great Blog: Off the Keyboard

This week’s featured great blog is Off the Keyboard. Their motto is: Smart women read romance…We write it.  The visuals on the blog are amazing. The baby blue background is soothing, but the two caricatures that represent the two authors of the blog (Sarah and Amie) drinking coffee, tea, or a hot toddy, are adorable. Even though the blog is aesthetically pleasing, it’s the content that makes me return to each new post.

Their blogs are entertaining, short, and to the point. Oh yeah, let me mention consistent. I have found a couple of books to add to my Kindle because of them and I appreciate the introduction to good authors.

Off the Keyboard is a cool blog to follow. Check them out and see for yourself.

Book Review: Destiny’s Mark (The Guardians of Eden Book 3) by KH LeMoyne

Destiny's Mark by KH LeMoyne was fantastic. Jai Dashkov and Tsu Halan are two intense, past laden-ed  individuals who are destined to come together to create a love so great it transcends both of them as individuals. I love the premise of destiny and ‘mates’ and KH LeMoyne’s aspect of the age old concept did not disappoint. 

LeMoyne’s writing is descriptive and action packed. She immediately drew me into the story and kept me there. It wasn’t just her description about the beautiful surroundings that captured me, but her ability to write about martial arts in such a fluid yet lethal way that it made me wonder if she was a martial artist herself. Tsu is deadly and yet we see that in the love scenes with Jai an opposite demeanor is displayed. He is gentle, loving, patient and giving. Sigh.

Sign me up for superpowers. The Guardian’s are a fascinating race of people who’s powers are so realistic that it seems they can actually exist in this human world of ours (not just on the fictional level). I was initially lost about this whole Guardian race business, after not having read books 1 or 2, but LeMoyne gradually found me and caught me up to speed.

If you want a book with a love story that will leave you knowing that love does truly exist, brilliant martial arts, gorgeous scenery, and a truly well written book then Destiny’s Mark is for you. I give it four out of five chocolate bars. Yum.

 

What attracted me to Destiny’s Mark? (As a side note)

1. I will honestly tell you that the cover was my initial focus. It’s beautiful, and the guy is hot.

2. I’m a sucker for any title with 'destiny' in it.

3. But I’m not all that shallow, it was the interesting blurb that cinched me.

I bought this book at Amazon and I’m headed over to buy the first book in the series Betrayal’s Shadow. Happy reading everyone.

Here's the book cover and blurb that hooked me like a fish.

The only difference between fate and destiny is choice.

Tsu Halan, Guardian defense master, has honed his skills and waited patiently over the centuries for the covenant’s promise of a mate to share his soul and a family to cherish. Close enough to taste fulfillment, the dark echoes of the past threaten with danger and death.

Jai Dashkov harbors her own painful secrets of harsh betrayal and tender loss. Her desperate search to reclaim her life doesn’t allow room in her heart to deviate for love.

Together they are stronger than apart, but the promise of the covenant is a perpetual test. One that Tsu and Jai must conquer in time or suffer an eternity for their failure.

The Book of Love

One of my favorite songs is ‘Book of Love’ as sung by Peter Gabriel. The words are so romantic and sweet I could, and often times do, listen to it for hours at a time.

The book of love is long and boring and written very long ago

It’s full of love and heart shaped boxes and things we’re all too young to know

But I, I love it when you give me things

And you, you ought to give me wedding rings

Sigh.

The melody is soothing and melodic. It inspires me to dance closely with my man, laying my head on his shoulder and just swaying to the romance of the music (like in the movie Shall We Dance? with Richard Gere where he dances with Susan Sarandan). Enjoying just being held by the man I love.

   As romance writers we write extended versions of the book of love. A book written long ago is updated, continued, and altered every time a romance novel is written and shared. Every time we read a romance novel we are reading more about the book of love.

Sigh.

For me love keeps life going and reading and writing romance novels helps me to remember to love everyone. Not just one man, but everyone I come into contact with.

But I, I love it when you read to me

And you, you can read me anything

Is there a song that stirs up such romantic images for you that all you want to do is freeze time and dance with the one you love?