Computers hate me.  Yeah.  They really do.  *sigh*

I was going along, working like every day and out of nowhere *BAM*  *SMACK* … *Dead*

With the help of my computer whiz son over the last week we’ve pretty much rearranged this bad boy’s innards enough to get it working again… with a brand spanking new one on order.  So, for now, I’m workable… I think.  Guess time will tell.

So, with sincere apologies I’m now back at work writing up the reviews of the books I’ve had time to read (between doing computer surgery) while I was unplugged.  It really is no fun being unplugged when it’s not for a fun thing, like a vacation.  Nope.  Not one little bit.

I believe I’ve finally figured something out that has perplexed me for the 18 months or so that I’ve been reviewing what I read onto one of my blogs.  I do not read reviews before I post my own or read the book.  I want my view to be fresh and unbiased by others opinions.  I do, however, read the reviews on the site I’m posting at after mine is up and running.  Just to see what other reviewers and readers thought.  And I’m often struck by how often it seems that I’ve read a totally different book than some people have, based purely on their review or comments.  This puzzled me for quite some time.  But today, I have a theory on that difference.

What brought about this revelation was one book that I recently reviewed.  I gave it a high rating, not top dog but up there because I enjoyed the story, I was engaged and entertained by what I had read.  I was emotionally invested in the story of this couple.

There were two scathingly nasty reviews on Goodreads about this book.  And I mean get out the pitchforks and the tar – I actually felt badly for the author who had to read those words about their work.  Cringe worthy is a mild description.  And again, my first thought was, “Did we read the same freaking book cos that’s not what I got from it?!”  Their reviews focused on commas not being in the right places, grammar, words that should not have been capitalized, etc.  Really I would have expected this to be a red pen infused final paper for a freshman writing class instead of a review.  It was a critique of the worst sort, one that truly was nasty and intended to hurt and humiliate.

So, I sat for the longest time with a bitter acid feeling in my stomach trying to figure why our reactions were so different about the same book.  And I finally realized what might make me a very bad reviewer (but deal with it because I’m not changing my ways) is one very simple, fundamental difference.  I am an emotional reader.  I read to escape my reality for a short period of time.  I enjoy sharing my thoughts about what I’ve read, which is why my blogs exist – but it’s not my profession, it is my entertainment, my hobby, my fun time.

When I’m telling “you” about a book I’ve read, in my mind we are sitting at a table sharing coffee, wine or something stronger depending on the mood and I’m simply talking about this great, good, so-so book that I just finished.  Sharing the story with you is like sitting down with a friend and saying, “Hey I just finished this great book, you should try it.”  I’m not only sharing the story with you, I’m also sharing my emotional reaction to that story, the characters, the plot and the resolution of the twists and turns within that couple’s universe.  Oh, I may notice when there are too many or even worse a lack of commas – but that is not my focus.  I am becoming lost in, as well as a visitor to someone else’s world.  I’m experiencing the journey not the proper placement of commas.

Are you an emotional reader or a technical reader?  I suppose we need both in the world.  I know that I come down heavily on the emotions driven type of reader, and ultimately reviewer.  I don’t think one is better or worse than the other.  I do think we need to review the work and not the author.  Telling someone to go back to their day job just because you didn’t like their comma placements is simply… wrong.

I will freely admit that as a reviewer (hobby and fun passing along my opinions) – I do give a higher ratio of 5 – 4.5 – 4 – 3.5 – 3 star reviews.  The truth is I will request and/or buy the type of novels that I normally enjoy so I’m not surprised by that.  I fully expect to enjoy, on some level, what I’ve decided to read.

I have to tell you that as a READER – the number of stars matters not one little bit to me.  *gasp*  Perhaps I’ve said something impolite there – but truth nonetheless.  A well written, descriptive Story Blurb/Cover Description will make my decision to plop down my hard earned money faster than the number of stars some anonymous person gives a book.  (and yes, I know that I’m one of those antonymous persons)

It goes without saying that authors and publishing houses want as many stars as they can gather.  After all, the author has spent hours, bled tears and sweat, consumed copious amounts of coffee, torn their hair out and spent many a sleepless night delivering their book baby.  I am astonished by the ability of writers who can do what they do time and time again.  So, the number of stars on a review does reflect somewhat on how their baby has done out in the world – to a certain extent.

Yet, for me personally, as purely a reader – I base my interest on the description of the story I’m about to decide to read or not.  If I had one wish for authors it would be to please spend some time thinking about, designing that Cover Description – pique my interest, make me want to know more, ask me into your world because I’m going to love the experience.  I have seen Story Blurbs that come no where near the story that was within the pages – and honestly, it annoys me, feel kinda cheated in a way that I didn’t get the story I was expecting.

So my question to anyone who wanders in and discovers this discussion post – as a READER only… do the number of rating stars a book gets make a difference in your decision to buy or read that book?

It was a long road back, ten years to the day – but Lord Stanley’s Cup has returned to Pittsburgh.

Way to go guys – you worked hard and did us all proud.  So proud to be from Pittsburgh!

I am making a decision to post this link to a guest post written by an author, a successful businessman, an advocate for the disabled, an amazing man…  who also happens to be my son.

I think you can imagine what my reaction to his post is.  But I’m going to let his words speak for themselves in the hope that writers and readers will also look at an issue from the other side.

I AM NOT YOUR PLOT DEVICE

It all began with this little challenge:

“Wouldn’t you like a little wiggle room in your posting schedule for your blog?  Then the Blog Ahead event hosted by Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup is perfect for you.”

My answer was a resounding “Hells Yeah!”  With a year that has seen (so far) more time offline than online doing what I love, the idea of getting a bit ahead was a life line.  True, I did not do as well as last year’s event, but then I cannot sit at the computer desk as much or as long as I’d like right now.  But life moves on and we do the best we can.

So, this year I took a little different approach.  I am so far behind on my NetGalley reviews.  Perhaps it will teach me a life lesson to not request books that are really far out in release dates should the unthinkable happen once again.  This year I took books from my June releases on NetGalley and read and reviewed those in advance so they can drop on release day.  And actually, it’s a system that makes perfect sense and one that I intend to continue.  I would love to get one or two months worth of reviews in the pipeline – that way when life happens, the blog and the reviewed books do not suffer as well.

But for now, I’m content with the pipeline I’ve created with Blog Ahead 2016.  The day’s not over yet, and I might get another one or two done, but I’m going with the grand total of… *drum roll, please* … 17 books ready to drop on their release days.  It’s not bad, really – and thankfully a few of those were novellas which made my life a lot easier.  🙂

So, thank you Anna for another fun event.  And I’m looking forward to seeing the Fall Blog Ahead come along later this year – maybe I can get ahead on some holiday book reviews then.  *crossed fingers*

Wouldn’t you like a little wiggle room in your posting schedule for your blog?  Then the Blog Ahead event hosted by Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup is perfect for you.

From May 1 – 15, 2016 there is a challenge to write up blog posts for the future, to give yourself a break and just get a little bit ahead.  Some breathing room so to speak.  The goal is 15 additional posts during the event, that’s just one extra post per day (or you could decide your own number) – but the point is to do it, even make it a habit so that when life happens (and it always does) you’re prepared with posts that will pop onto your blog even though you’re nowhere around at the moment.

Last Blog Ahead I had gotten several weeks ahead and was breezing along just fine – then a sudden house move and knee surgery… and I was back at square one.  So I’ve got some catching up to do come May – but that’s okay, by then I’ll be physically able to sit at the computer for the time I’ll need to get ahead again.

There’s still plenty of time to think about it and plan what you might blog ahead about — but in the meantime, head on over to Anna’s and check out her Sign Up Post right here.  I think you’ll be glad you did.

In a couple hours I’m going to be offline for a while – not exactly sure just how long.  See at this time tomorrow I’ll be in an operating room having my right knee replaced.  So kinda hard to get reviews up when that’s happening.  *trying for ironic humor here :)*

Wish I could say I’m being all brave and happy about this – I’m not.  I am scared, more scared than I can ever remember being… and I’ve had some scary moments in my life.  And it’s not a fear for myself, what is to be will be I’ve long ago accepted that in my life.  It’s for that kid of mine – the 35 year old young man who is such an amazing person – even when a disease has kept him in a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator for his every breath… he’s still an upbeat, amazing kid of mine.  But I’ve always been there in the forefront and now in the background, his safety net so to speak – so this surgery, though totally necessary, is frightening for us both for perhaps different reasons.  I can already imagine the guilt for me when he needs something that I (for the moment) simply cannot do.  Or should there be complication to the surgery… hey, it happens there are no guarantees in life.

But there comes a time when a person simply has to take care of them first – even when it goes against every instinct.  Today I am in a level 9 on the 1 -10 pain level the doctors ask about.  It’s been that way, with spikes higher, consistently for two years now… I cannot do it any longer.  That level of pain is slowly wearing me down to the point of barely functioning.

Yes, the pain of the next few weeks will likely make that seem like a stroll in the park – but down the line, in a couple months, if I do what I need to do – then I can be almost pain free and get back to living life, doing what I need to do and those things that I want to do – like planting a garden, getting a puppy and taking long, energetic walks through the woods that border our back yard.  Simple things but things I want to do again.

So for the rest of today I’ll be getting my home in order, last minute trips to the grocery story – all those things that you do when you don’t really know what is coming but you’d better be prepared.  And trying not to overthink – trying to find that calm place where I can just go with the flow and hope for the best outcome.

Yep I’m scared… but determined.

See ya all when I can get back online and back to the stories that I love to tell you about.

Today, February 27, 2016, marks one year since Mr. Nimoy’s death.

It still feels like yesterday.

I wish I had some sage comments to make about my love of Star Trek and the character of Mr. Spock.  That both influenced my life on many levels is a truth that I cannot deny.  That sense of wonder, of believing that at some point humanity could reach the stars and be open about their place in them.  I doubt that I will see that in my lifetime, but it is a dream that I still cling to – in part because of the logical mind of a half-Vulcan who had more emotion in his little finger than anyone on the crew – he simply kept it contained because that was… logical for him.

It sounds odd to feel such a connection to a man that I never met – and knew only through the various expressions of his art, be it acting, directing, or making beautiful word paintings with his poetry.  Yet, I, like thousands of others did indeed connect with Spock, for whatever illogical reason.  And my world has been a little brighter for that connection.

One year ago today the magic of this world dimmed a little as an amazing, fascinating man passed on.  He is, and always will be, missed by those who loved a logical Vulcan, no matter how illogical that affection might have been.

I don’t normally post inspirational or motivational comments or meme’s on KEEPER BOOKSHELF, it is after all a book review blog.

But there are times when I see something that truly touches me – and I’m moved to share that.

This is the case with this graphic – absorb it into your soul and believe its truth:

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It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time to pack up the truck and get outta Dodge (this apartment complex).

I’ll be going Radio Silent in a couple hours – maybe I should say Internet Silent since I’ll hold onto that connection until it’s disconnected – Yes! I am addicted.  But maybe you are too since you’re reading this.  *totally evil grin*

Due to a water pipe break at the new house (yay – I can say “house” now) we’ll be staying at a hotel (landlord provided-great guy our new landlord) for a few days since our move out date here will not wait until they fix the problem caused by “someone” not shutting off the water to a vacant house in freezing weather.  *rolls eyes*  But maybe that’s not such a horrible thing really – gives us a chance to sit back, relax and unwind, take a breath before the unpacking and enjoyable chore of re-creating a brand new home.

Reviews are on hold – and I am sorry for that, but life happened – until I can get back online sometime next week.  *fingers tightly crossed*  And then I’ll have about three weeks until the next major upheaval happens… hopefully I can be better prepared for something I know is coming instead of this spur of the moment move.

So – Keeper Bookshelf – Haunted Bookshelf – Shifter Haven – Romance Is Ageless – Smexy Does It – Romantic Historicals — all my blogs are on Internet Silence for the next 10 days or so.

Yes, I know this is a basically unnecessary, useless, totally rambling post – but I’m excited, nervous, scared and again even more excited… and when that happens I turn to the keyboard.  🙂

You all have a great week – and I’ll catch up soon as I can sit my butt down in this computer chair and get back to the fun stuff – which is talking about the love of my life – romance.  Take Care.

If you’ve followed KEEPER BOOKSHELF through various social media you will have noticed that things around here have really slowed down in the past month.

There is a reason for that and I’d like to take a moment to explain.  (I know I don’t have to but I value every single visitor and you should know why I’ve been more quiet lately.)

1.  Cataracts – yeah need the left eye’s cataract removed so I can actually see again.
2.  Moving – we had the sudden opportunity to move from our apartment into a house and grabbed it with both hands – but that meant moving in under 4 weeks  Yikes!
3.  And the final nail yesterday – Knee Replacement Surgery in early March.  *sigh*

It seems that 2016 is hitting hard on the “needs to be taken care of NOW” kinda things in life.  Oh, I’m not complaining really – my life could be far, far worse so I’m grateful for the blessings I have – and the intervention on all of these things that will make it “all good” in time.  Time, there’s that word again.

So, we move in 6 1/2 days now  *gulp* and of course I’m not ready.  Wait for the internet connections shouldn’t be more than a day (fingers crossed) so hopefully I can get back on track and plan ahead for March/April within a week.

If you don’t see my reviews or these little comment rants of mine – don’t worry, I’ve not left the building, just stepped out of the room for a short break.  I keep telling myself that by Summer things will be so much better – it’s the getting there that’s the scary part.

I just finished reading a really good article for Indie writers on how to handle receiving bad reviews.  And it made me think that perhaps the Three Stars review has gotten kind of a bad rap lately.

Now I totally understand why every author wants to see Five Stars – I do, honestly.

But please, don’t look down on the Three Stars review as if that person didn’t like or worse, hated your baby.  It doesn’t mean that – to me, for certain – nor to most other reviewers either.

I can only speak for myself – but to me those Three Stars mean that your book was good, entertaining and I’d recommend it to a friend.  I see nothing wrong with that description.  I didn’t hate it.  I didn’t love it to pieces either.  But I liked it, I enjoyed my time in your world and I can honestly say to my best friend –  you gotta pick up this XYZ book ‘cos it’s really good.  There is no hate involved there, at all.  I “get” that to an author it’s always going to be somewhat personal because this is your creation.  But those lovely Three Stars simply mean that I liked it.

I doesn’t mean that those who review for the big news agencies or magazines and get paid for giving their opinion – or the new book blogger who is sitting at their home computer late in the night after the kids are in bed are that much different in their valued opinions either.  Any review is that particular person’s reaction to an author’s words.

(I’ll make an exception here for the obvious Trolls who wouldn’t know a good book if it hit them upside the head… they don’t count and never will.)

While I take the rating system of Goodreads or Amazon into consideration when deciding how many stars any book gets – ultimately what it comes down to is whether I’d tell my friend about your book.  Would I rave?  Would I say it’s great?  Would I tell them to run out and buy it ‘cos my copy is sacred now and cannot have a broken spine?  Is it a good fast read for those times you only have an hour or so of quiet time?  Is it something that will stick in your head long after the final word is read?  These are the things that tell me how many “stars” to award any book.  And, yeah, I’ve given my favorite author of all times a Three Stars review, because that particular novel deserved it… In My Opinion.

Authors, writers – please I beg you — think like Michael in The Godfather,  “It’s business, it’s not personal.”  My thoughts in a review of your precious baby are just that – my personal opinion.  I’m never “reviewing the author” – I’m talking about your book… and how I reacted to it.  Someone else may have a completely different reaction – and that is perfectly fine.  ‘Cos last time I checked we’re not robots just yet – and we all get to put in our two cents worth on what we think.  But it’s not the end of the world or a writer’s career.  It’s just my opinion and a Three Stars review is saying I liked what you did there, good job.

Have you ever had those moments when you read something and then just sat back and went.. what the______?

Yeah, me too – just now.  And I’m tired and annoyed enough to toss caution to the wind and say something about it.

I was putting up an Amazon review for a book I just finished and scheduled for later next month, and while there I looked over some of the other reviews (something I’ll do after I’ve gotten mine done and ready to drop – okay, so I’m nosy).

There was a glowing review for this story (and it is an amazing, fun, sexy and entertaining story) – but I’ll be damned if I believe we read the same story because some serious facts were, let’s say scrambled up a bit.

The review states that our hero, a bear shifter, walks into town and finds out that his secret of being a bear shifter has been discovered.  Ahmm… no.  He’s a sheriff who in the very first few pages of the book makes clear that this is a shifter friendly town, heck he even humorously wonders if the towns folk voted for him specifically because of the old “bear shifters are lucky to have around” legend.  So… no, no big shifter secret discovery.  The review goes on to note that our heroine looks up when the sheriff walks into the diner where she works and is excited to see him because she’s been attracted to him for some time now.  Ah, no.  She’s been framed, is on the run and when she sees the sheriff (for the very first time ever) enter through the door she is panicked and ready to run out the back but she holds it together on the off chance that he doesn’t know that she’s a fugitive.   *sigh*

Look, I know that often times we are reading three books in three different formats, and at times details get messed up.  All human here, we make mistakes.  I just… feel bad for the author when I run across that type of review.  Because the story this person talks about on Amazon isn’t the story that someone is going to read after they’ve purchased it based on this review.  And that is not going to reflect back on the reviewer, more than likely it’s going to point right back to the author.  And that’s not fair.

So, yeah – sometimes I wonder if I’ve read the same book as other people.  And it’s not just this one example but this one kind of broke the seal on my annoyance this morning.  Am I going to regret posting this?  Hmmm… no.  It’s my opinion and my blog so nope not regretting it one bit.  I simply wish that if a reader is going to take the time and effort to put up their thoughts on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or anywhere retail – that they actually tell the general facts of the story they’re talking about… not start writing a whole new book.  If I’m reading reviews before I plop down my hard earned money for something to read, I want to know about the actual book and not be disappointed when it doesn’t match up with the basic facts in a review.