Friday, August 10, 2012

Best Blog Post Ever


In one week Ravishing Romances went from completely on time to totally behind.  Some serious stuff happened and family takes priority.  (Me and my immediates are all great and in good health.)  

To keep the blog active, let's pretend this is the best blog post ever and give stuff away!

Ravishing Romances has featured contemporary romances lately - continuing the trend: comment below (leave your email so I can contact you), follow my blog (links to your left) and enter to win:

Amber Lin's Giving It Up
(If you win this, you can email your receipt to Amber and receive free Giving It Up shower soap.  Rawr.)

Gina L. Maxwell's Seducing Cinderella

Jessica Scott's Because of You

-OR-

Marquita Valentine's Twice Tempted

There will be three winners, each winning one novel a piece.  eBooks will be sent via Amazon.

Contest ends Monday, August 13.


What's Taking so Long?


I have approximately 16 novels on my To-Be-Reviewed list.  I could technically post a review every other day and knock them out quickly.  But I won't.

Authors put their blood, sweat and tears into their novels and I refuse to give them anything less in return.

I don't skim. I don't speed read. I don't rush through a point just to throw up a post and move on.  

Writing a review is a very involved process.  Most books are given to me by the author and my reviews are discussed with them prior to any posting.  If I dislike their novel they usually wish to know why and we discuss it in great detail.  Before I criticize a section I double-check my facts.  If I find typos, I'm usually typing a 30 minute email showing them where the typos are.

To upload a post takes even more time.  The review is filled with links to their social media sites, book selling sites and previous interviews.  

It is a great compliment to receive any book for review and it will be treated as such.

If I have to review these novels 6 months after their published date - I'll do it if that's what is required to get the review right.  Ideal? No.  But I will not disrespect these talented people with giving them half of my attention or efforts.  

I recently received this Facebook post from an author, "This is a TERRIFIC review.  Wow.  Nailed it.  Thank you."

Time it took me to write his review?  3-4 hours (not including reading).

Time it took him to write his novel?  Probably months.

It's the least I can do.

Comment and Follow to win everyone!

32 comments:

  1. Great post, Sallie. As an author, I commend you for the time you take to reply and review. We appreciate your thoroughness. And family does come first. We agree on that as well. Take care, and have a good weekend! rleoauthor@gmail.com

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    1. Oh Rosanna, how awesome you are!

      You know you're on my list after The List, right? Me and your Greek Gods have a date.

      P.S. - You should guest blog on this site. Anytime, any subject!

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  2. Thanks For the Giveaway!! Corgikindlelover (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Sophia!

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    2. Sophia! You're one of our winners! Email coming soon.

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  3. Wow!That is a good post! I commend you for the time you take to write a review.And I totally agree with you that there's no need to rush. It's better to write few reviews that you've thought through & given your best than many quick jotted down reviews. All the best in catching up with your TBR. Off to read mine I think I almost have the same no. as you waiting to be reviewed..LOL
    Thanks for the giveaway :) ryjosy @ yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Thanks Rahey, and much luck to you. ;) Such a good problem for us to have.

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  4. Sallie - I so agree about writing a review. But taking the time to really think about it also honors the reader who comes to "you" wanting to know if the book is something interested in. A thoughtful review will do that for them, not one that is one line - "great book"

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    1. You are a doll. Any update on starting your own blog?

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    2. I decided to wait a bit as I don't want to have too much on my plate and a new job too. I need to decide what I want to accomplish - I think it is all about fostering the discussion about books and authors I love...

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  5. It is indeed one of your best blogs yet! Your show of respect to an author's work is admirable. Authors need more of your like, telling them of misspelled words, discussing what part of the book you don't like and the review itself before posting it. It was not asked of you but yes, it's the least you can do.

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  6. A thoughtful review process like yours is a gift to the author *and* to potential readers, Sallie. Your post reminds me of why I stopped reviewing movies on DVD, actually: I took so much time and care with the reviews that they became another full-time job! Brava to you for continuing to put your love and effort into providing quality reviews.

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    1. I didn't know you used to give DVD reviews. Wow, that sounds much harder.

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  7. You really do go above and beyond, and that's very commendable :) You make me want to be a better reviewer. I knew you were awesome! Thank you for the invite and for the giveaway, xoxo.

    msromanticreads(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. That means alot coming from a talented gal like you. So at the expense of sounding like a teenage love-sick couple, "No, YOU'RE awesome!"

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    2. LOL! Awww, what a nice way to start the day. And no, you're the awesomenest - I don't care that that isn't a word; I'm still using it!

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  8. Hi, hope you are doing ok. I think I just registered again lol!

    Just finished Because of You today and really liked it. Twice Tempted last weekend after reading all your tweets lol. Loved Seducing Cinderella also. Still have Giving It Up yet to go!

    Hope you're having a good weekend :-)

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    1. Thanks Steph!! What's your email?

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    2. Smwr324(at)yahoo(dot)com

      Thanks!

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    3. Steph you're one of our winners! Email coming soon.

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  9. Your reviews reflect the thought and time you put into them, Sallie. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Jill! I almost didn't recognize you without your koala bear!

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  10. Great Giveaway! I loved Giving It Up!! It was a great read but I havent heard of the others and its nice to see you spend such a great amount of timeinvolved in your writing!! With that kind of dedication your blog will be a huge sucess!!!

    viajeradelmar@aol.com

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    1. Nikki! I read your blog almost every day. (Rarely comment, I know. Bad, bad me.) It's cool to see you outside of Goodreads.

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    2. You're our third and last winner Nikki!

      Email coming soon.

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  11. Thank you for hosting this fabulous giveaway, Sallie! You have a talent for writing reviews and now I can see why. Looking forward to reading more and discovering some new books to check out. Thanks for all you do!

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    1. Oops...almost forgot! Chasingthemoon11(at)gmail(dot)com

      Thanks again!

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    2. So sweet of you, Jamie. Thanks.

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  12. I have read (and loved) everything except Twice Tempted. Always, always family comes first. I just found your blog and so far am loving it. Trishleroy49@gmail.com

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    1. We have similar reading interests, Trish. We should socially connect. (In a completely innocent way - though that just sounds dirty.)

      Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads?

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