What makes a good review?

Today, I'll be continuing my beastly BROKEN BRANCH FALLS blog tour by visiting Lexi at Book Bliss. I'll be talking about what makes a good review. I hope you'll stop by! (and be sure to enter the giveaway!)

My name is Lexi and I live and breathe the written word as often as I can. From reading, journalism and creative writing something to read is never far from me. What better way to share great books and get the word out then with a blog dedicated to book reviews, blog topics, industry interviews, giveaways and book tours

For Wednesday's IWSG, I talked about the decline of readers and you all brought some awesome discussion! Great points were raised! Here are just a few suggestions to keep folks reading:

• writers are the best readers - we are great influences on others!
• writers should keep writing to put great stories out there for readers!
• offer recommendations of good books or posting book reviews!
• readers can be found in new places now, not just reading hard copies of novels!
• and parents need to set limitations on the devices, giving kids (& themselves) the option and time to read more!

That last one is the hardest, especially with summer upon us! But, I have my trusty goal chart for daily reading, and assignments from school over the summer help too. Good luck to us!

Where have all the readers gone?

Here's my IWSG for June...

WHERE HAVE ALL THE READERS GONE???
Has anyone else noticed a trend of more authors and fewer readers?

More authors is great, with self-publishing there's no waiting to hear from agents or big publishers. But, as a reader, I feel some writers are publishing too soon and aren't taking the time to do a thorough job, which lessens quality. That, combined with the volume we have to choose from, it's harder for us to find a good book... (Please note, I am all for self-pub! The authors I know that I've read are doing an awesome job!)

As a writer, I fear the newer generations, though being forced to read, read, read in school, are coming out as non-reading adults. Many adults I know don't like to read or don't have time. They love their electronics for communication, entertainment, diversion, etc - y'all know how addicting it can be. So what's it gonna take to get people to read more and electronic device less? An apocalypse that wipes out electricity??? I miss the good old days of only five to ten channels, cartoons only on Saturday mornings, favorite TV shows on once a week, and corded telephones for home use only! I loved to read and still do whenever I can, and I use my e-devices to read, too!

What do you miss about the good old days? 
Any suggestions on how to make it COOL TO READ??

PS - here's where my BROKEN BRANCH FALLS TOUR is this week (with giveaway!):

6/1	Meli Landry	character/case study - cliques
6/3	Katie Teller	story inspirations
6/7	Lexi (Book Bliss)	what makes a solid review

And lest I forget, I wanted to give a shout for Tyrean Martinson!

Her book, CHAMPION IN FLIGHT is out!

A year after she won the battle for Septily, Clara feels trapped in Skycliff by the Allied Council. As the last pieces of information about the Healing Caves fall into place, Clara is attacked by an assassin. Covert Drinaii mercenaries and the Council aren’t going to stop Clara from her quest to heal her broken blade. As Champion of Aramatir, she must act.

Meanwhile, in the joint kingdoms of Rrysorria and Wylandria, the youngest and still cursed swan prince despairs of ever being whole again. In a moment of anger and desperation, Liam discovers a blood link between him and a dark sorceress. 

Clara won the battle for Septily, but her battle isn’t over.

Champion in Flight is the second book in The Champion Trilogy.

Smashwords

Amazon

Goodreads

The Beastly Blog Tour has Begun!

This week in Beast World...

Yesterday, Meli Landry kicked off my BROKEN BRANCH FALLS blog tour by hosting a guest post for me. I have been under the weather, so I didn't get my post up to talk about it until now...

Meli did a great job in the A to Z challenge by talking about the many facets of Prince Charming... it was a blast and I learned a lot! So, I offered to do a case study about high school cliques. Would love for you to check it out! My guest post.

MELI LANDRY:

Meli is a southern writer based out of the Texas Panhandle, peddling her chick lit wares wherever she may. She believes that there is a story behind everyone – it’s a writer’s task to discover it and make it be known. Therefore inspiration is pulled from the world around her.

(However any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.)

Tuesday, I'll be visiting Katie Teller talking about Story Inspirations. Her Kiya series is doing very well!

Katie Hamstead Teller

I'm a wife and mother first, and everything else later. I'm an Aussie living in the USA and just enjoying life as it comes! My debut novel is Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, published by Curiosity Quills. 

And Wednesday is IWSG day! I will have a lively article about how I see readers and writers today, compared to days gone by... I hope you'll join me!

Have a great week!