CJLeger

Catch all my reviews on CJLeger.com This was one of the hardest books to dive into, the process he uses to write this book just has the reader riding on the surface of the pages, completely unable to soak up the meaningless words he's written. It almost seems as if Sparks was disinterested himself, when he wrote this book. There was an utter and complete lack of passion, flow, and connect-ability.

 

I read a previous review where a goodreads member says the book was full of stereotypes, which is true, as if trying to rush, the author created these personalities based on basic knowledge, stereotypical passable facts and just space fillers. Reading this book was like reading a forced book in school, where you have no choice but to finish it, but in this case, I did no such thing.

 

I am not Sparks' biggest fan, but I do regard him as a good author, however, he dropped the ball on this one. His descriptions of settings and interactions are rather vague, leaving you struggling to picture the events in your head; for a book, this is suicide. Readers choose books because they can create their own visions of scenes based on the helpful descriptive writing from the author, with this book you are on your own.

 

Furthermore, this love story, while unique in its actual plot, has been written in such a chewed up, regular, basic, recycled manner, that it just seems like you are rereading every romance novel ever written, compiled into this one book.

 

The only reason I gave this book 2 stars was because I genuinely liked the plot and how the main character actually comes to connect with the leading lady, it's very unique and rides along this new "paranormal" line that is increasingly present in Nicholas Sparks books, such as Safe Haven, (I won't go into detail because it would be a spoiler for this book).

 

Overall, I do not recommend this book as a first-time Nicholas Sparks read. I do not recommend this as a first time romance read, or fiction read, or anything.

 

 

 

View all my reviews on Goodreads

As I have always stated before, I do not like authors who do not connect with the readers. And this is exactly the reason why I love Brian Freeman as an author. So, one of our favorite books happens to be Immoral by Brian Freeman; it’s the first in the series collection of Detective Jonathan Stride.

 

We recently did a review on Immoral and posted it to our Twitter page, and that very same day Author Brian Freeman and his lovely wife read our review and liked our post. I was more than humbled when he took the time to retweeted it.

 

 

We wanted to bring this to our readers and thank the author for engaging with me. I’m a firm believer in engaging with our readers and bringing you updates on everything that goes on with us, because in the end, reading is a time consuming activity, and those who choose to do this rather than watching TV (which would be easier) deserve to be a part of the stories they help bring to life. Without readers, there would be no one to write for. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

This is, by far, one of the best and thought-provoking books in the young-adult and fiction genre. There are a plethora of books published about perfect worlds and societies, where change is unacceptable and cookie-cutter human beings have become part of forced living communities, as a result of the leadership’s fear of human will and their determination to right the wrong courses society had taken in the past. The giver is one of them, but unlike the many that surround it, it stands out as one of my top picks for meaningful and thought-provoking books appropriate for young adults and the young-adult genre.

The book is centered around Jonas, a young boy who lives within a community of perfect individuals and families, void of sickness and differences, where, although, it is all they know, society is not actually what it seems.

 

Jonas’ curiosity throws him in the path of his mother and the chief elder, which spirals his life into a bubble of questions, revelations, and a thought-provoking analysis of his community and his life.

 

Once meeting The Giver, an older man who lives outside of the realm of Jonas’ community, he is faced with the reality of the “perfect” society in which he lives and is enlightened to the realm of possibilities that exist outside of the rules set in place by the elder community.

 

The Giver, which is the holder of all the memories associated with the community, walks a fine line between accepting his responsibility as the keeper of all these memories, advising the elders on their decisions, and exploring the possibility that maybe these memories are rightfully belonging to the members of this censored community.

 

I recommend this book to all individuals aged 12 and older, and for more context, I would recommend also watching the movie after you’ve read the book, as it does cast some critically acclaimed and academy award winning actors as well. This is my review on The Giver, and you can find this review posted on my LeafMarks, BookLikes, GoodReads, and BookBlogging profiles soon.

 

ISBN-10 0544336267
ISBN-13 978-0544336261
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes & Noble

C.J. Leger's LeafMarks Profile

 

I'm always updating new projects I'm working on and accreditations I receive across the board, while not and academic accreditation, I have just received Librarian Status on the LeafMarks reading network. I will be regularly updating the LeafMarks book database with corrected information and linking versions where possible. If you are on LeafMarks and have a book lacking information or a photo on your roster, or that you've come by, please send me a shout and I will put it on my to-edit list. Thanks!

Most of the the entries on this list were discovered through my Twitter network. I am currently working on a novel, and I often look for services that promote new authors. I figured I’d pass on the research I’ve done, so without further ado, here’s my list of new author and book promotion services and a little bit about them. (Don’t have time to read? Watch the video on my YouTube Channel)

 

Buzz Bookstore

 

Buzz Bookstore is a different type of venue if you’re looking for book promotions. The individual running this website mainly discovers and collects rare and vintage books, some even from the early 1800s and 1700s. Recently they’ve opened up a portal for the promotion of new authors. You can contact them through their website, and they’re mainly looking for books that fit into their readership an audience. So keep in mind, that the audience that will be following Buzz Bookstore are individuals who are looking for old books, vintage books, rare books, and classics. I can’t quite say exactly what their audience consists of, but I think it may be a fair guess to say that those in the historical novel genre or nonfiction genres may fit in.

 

Book Tweeters

 

Book Tweeters has a very fairly priced package variety for individuals trying to promote their books. The packages range of between $19 and $75, between one and five days of book promotion via tweets. Their main platform for promotion is Twitter, and they do not accept erotica books or books that include hate speeches or content.

 

eBooks Habit

 

eBook Habit only accepts submissions for books that are currently free or going to be free in the future. This is a great service for authors are trying to promote their book via a free sale, and if you submit your book on time with the proper details it may be listed on the site near the day when you will be running your free sale. The service does not accept erotica books. All books submitted must have at least three reviews at the time of your promotion/sale, and all books will be verified to prove that they are being offered for free.

 

Being Author

 

Being author has amazing book promotion packages, some raging from just $9.90. If you follow the link you’ll be taken to a page where you can input the title of your book, the links to your book, the links to your website, your Twitter handle, your book blurb, which is a short post about the book which will be featured on their website, and your author bio along with a photo of you. Last time I checked, their package is good for 30 days. Their website also includes various tweets to them from other authors, one of which included a thank you for getting their book to be a number one bestseller on Amazon.

 

Ebook Promotor

 

E-book promoter, as I understand it, exclusively promotes e-books. They currently only have four slots left on their promotion sign up. Their page claims to reach 350,000 people via various promotional forces such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. There breakdown is as follows in regards to the number of people they reach per service:

 

• Twitter | 61,000
• Facebook | 205,000
• LinkedIn | 320,000

The service will also promote your book on Facebook  top 10 book promotion pages.

And that’s a short list of some of the book promotion services I’ve come across through my Twitter network, which I decided to share with all of you, because I know that most of my readers are also writers and it’s very hard to find good book promotion services at a great price. I hope this helps you out a bit, and remember where you heard it from, and stay tuned because my next blog will be about services that gain you more Twitter followers and one for services that will garner you some book reviews!

Most of the the entries on this list were discovered through my Twitter network. I am currently working on a novel, and I often look for services that promote new authors. I figured I’d pass on the research I’ve done, so without further ado, here’s my list of new author and book promotion services and a little bit about them. (Don’t have time to read? Watch the video on my YouTube Channel)

 

Buzz Bookstore

 

Buzz Bookstore is a different type of venue if you’re looking for book promotions. The individual running this website mainly discovers and collects rare and vintage books, some even from the early 1800s and 1700s. Recently they’ve opened up a portal for the promotion of new authors. You can contact them through their website, and they’re mainly looking for books that fit into their readership an audience. So keep in mind, that the audience that will be following Buzz Bookstore are individuals who are looking for old books, vintage books, rare books, and classics. I can’t quite say exactly what their audience consists of, but I think it may be a fair guess to say that those in the historical novel genre or nonfiction genres may fit in.

 

Book Tweeters

 

Book Tweeters has a very fairly priced package variety for individuals trying to promote their books. The packages range of between $19 and $75, between one and five days of book promotion via tweets. Their main platform for promotion is Twitter, and they do not accept erotica books or books that include hate speeches or content.

 

eBooks Habit

 

eBook Habit only accepts submissions for books that are currently free or going to be free in the future. This is a great service for authors are trying to promote their book via a free sale, and if you submit your book on time with the proper details it may be listed on the site near the day when you will be running your free sale. The service does not accept erotica books. All books submitted must have at least three reviews at the time of your promotion/sale, and all books will be verified to prove that they are being offered for free.

 

Being Author

 

Being author has amazing book promotion packages, some raging from just $9.90. If you follow the link you’ll be taken to a page where you can input the title of your book, the links to your book, the links to your website, your Twitter handle, your book blurb, which is a short post about the book which will be featured on their website, and your author bio along with a photo of you. Last time I checked, their package is good for 30 days. Their website also includes various tweets to them from other authors, one of which included a thank you for getting their book to be a number one bestseller on Amazon.

 

Ebook Promotor

 

E-book promoter, as I understand it, exclusively promotes e-books. They currently only have four slots left on their promotion sign up. Their page claims to reach 350,000 people via various promotional forces such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. There breakdown is as follows in regards to the number of people they reach per service:

 

• Twitter | 61,000
• Facebook | 205,000
• LinkedIn | 320,000

 

The service will also promote your book on Facebook  top 10 book promotion pages.

And that’s a short list of some of the book promotion services I’ve come across through my Twitter network, which I decided to share with all of you, because I know that most of my readers are also writers and it’s very hard to find good book promotion services at a great price. I hope this helps you out a bit, and remember where you heard it from, and stay tuned because my next blog will be about services that gain you more Twitter followers and one for services that will garner you some book reviews!

A writing space is the one thing a writer cannot do without even if all other items on their “to get” list are impossible. What makes it so important? Well, the simple fact that it really is a section of space that can be designed to bring you into a state of mind that can allow you to jot down everything you feel and see, while at the same time being completely invisible to you once you get going. So, let’s get personal; I’m always saying how I hate writers who do not engage with their readers. I mean, what is the point of pouring your heart out onto these pages if you’re not even going to let the people who read these words into your life just a tiny bit. So while I explain, I’ll be letting you into my writing world. Let’s begin; every writing space needs a few things:

 

Point of Focus

 

My writing space is my home office on the second story of my home, and everything in it is strategically placed to surround one of my two windows. When I sit at my desk, which looks out towards the front of my home, I have the perfect view of an old arched door that is attached to an old coral brick home that sits behind the house that’s directly across the street from ours. Why do I love this view and this door? Because it calls to me; I can only see the last sliver of this home and the door itself is barely visible, covered by a small tree in the backyard.

 

I am usually a history writer in some form or shape, and this home is a gorgeous colonial one, with the style and wonder attributed to that era, barely changed since then. When I look at this door, with its eloquently shaped arch design atop, I am always drawn to it expecting to see someone in old dress form walk out of it. But no one ever does, its almost completely abandoned, which makes it void of distraction and makes me wonder enough about its hidden mysteriousness to drive me into this timeframe in my mind. Once I lock onto it, I’m lost in the pages of what I am writing.

 

If I look to the right of that view, past the house directly in front of mine, I see rolling mountains with houses and lights pristinely visible in the night. If i focus on this, it takes me to a whole new genre. Whatever it is, every riding space should have a point of focus; whether that point is used to remind you of why you are writing or to just spin you into a different dimension, is up to the writer.

 

Design According to your Genre

 

Most writers, not all, usually stick to a specific genre and sub-genres when they write. Its only fair that you surround yourself with design that represents that style. Personally, my writing space includes a wrought iron lamp with a scalloped bowl design up top and a beautifully sculpted pedestal base; colored in a deep bronze, this lamp is venetian/florentine and its right in front on my face, which amplifies my mind’s mistaken though process that tells it I’m in another time. Behind me I have a bookshelf full of history books adorned by a draping vine plant and cork boards, rather than dry erase boards, to keep that wine feel alive. Everything from the throw over my reading chair to the decorative boxes on my desk that hold my papers, are chosen to fit this theme.

 

Ambiance & Solitude

 

Just because you bought the furniture does not mean you’ve brought the space alive. I do so by purchasing ambient-specific items. My lamp, described above, has a low-wattage, glow emission. I purchase imported candles, my favorite being Pecksniff’s Brand, and I make it as comfortable as possible. I invest in a music subscription (Google Play) and I sit and pick a suggested playlist offered depending on what day and time it is. I usually choose the Stargazers category and continue to “Into the Cosmos with Neil deGrass Tyson”; this is my favorite writing playlist, full of dreamy classical music with lively tones, and the scenes in my books just come alive to them.

 

Finally, I rarely choose a space that has no windows. I must see the weather, snow, rain, trees, and I enjoy being up high, so I usually love second story spaces.

I read a lot of books, and I always try to bring you a review on whatever it is that I’m reading. Currently I have my eyes set on a book I’ve wanted for a very long time, “Isabella the Warrior Queen” by Kirstin Downey.

 

 

© C. J. Leger January 28, 2015 CJLeger.com

Currently, we have onboard:

 

Rome’s Revolution 

Death of the Republic & Birth of the Empire

 

by Richard Alston

 

Publisher: Oxford University Press

 

I have the prepublication uncorrected copy, which I will be reading and posting a review about here and on NetGalley. The book is set for publication in June of this year. Stay tuned.

I originally reviewed this on my website C. J. Leger Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an avid fan of anything Tutor related, and most especially, anything related to the great Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII's first wife.

Carolly's book is subtitled "A Novel of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon" and of the many books related to the tutor dynasty, is the first I have encountered that encompasses the story between Henry and Catherine pre-Anne Boleyn.

While Henry, in all his glory, left behind a legend of a dynasty, so did Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon; as the most powerful rulers the world had ever seen. However not much is written about their daughter Catherine, deserving of an attached trail to their legacy as well, except for the fact that she was loved by the people of England and made her parents proud by being a gracious and obedient queen in her new realm.

This book takes us back to Catherine of Aragon before she was Catherine; when she was revered as Infanta Catalina, the daughter of the great Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, financiers of the discovery of the new world and its conquests. During this setting the reader can greatly appreciate the grandeur of the Court of Granada and understand that in and of herself, Catherine was a force in history, and understand why such ferocity was used by the Bishop of Rome, the Emperor of Rome, and the Court of France to defend her during "The King's Great Matter".

It is a great book for those who want to know more about this woman, who was such a prime part of one of the most historically altering events in Europe. It also gives us an inside look at the true nature of her life in England, as a betrothed girl, wife, widow, and then prisoner alongside Henry VIII by His father, who too wanted to marry her; until the death of her mother, caused her to be discarded until further use for her could be found.

This book does a great job of explaining the type of life Catherine endured before actually becoming Queen of England, and the life of women during that time.

This book is, however, a novel, made to trap historical fact and dramatization together in a bound vessel. It does have historically accurate events, but is mostly fictional text.

Parts I Do Not Like

My main quarrel of this book is the way Queen Isabella of Castile is portrayed. She is written as a grand woman deserving of her crown, but weak in the presence of her husband and submissive to him. History knows that Isabella was the heir to the throne and she made it quite clear that Ferdinand was King consort. All envoys who went to their court for approval of anything, spoke directly to her and she made the decisions on almost everything. To portray such a strong woman in history as a feeble wife is just horrendous. She was her predecessor's successor, in all her might and glory, in her kingdom and her marriage.

The formatting on pages 104-107 are off. The last line reaches all the way to the bottom of the pages which is odd and uncomfortable.

Overall, this book lack just a hint of umph that would take it over the edge, but is still a page turner for me. I enjoy that someone somewhere wrote a book about such a magnificent queen like Catherine, who endured so much after being sent to the English court. I would recommend this book as a great addition to a Tutor library collection, which encompasses a fictional, entertaining text with historical accuracy and another side to the Tutor Court.

I originally reviewed this on my website C.J. Leger. Anyone who is a fan of medieval and Renaissance history must encounter the Tutors somewhere along the way; and whether partial to them or not, it cannot be said that this family was not a staple in the word history itself. As a Tutor fan myself, I look for many writings that cover the rein of the Henry's and their successors, and thus I nabbed this book by Judith Jones. I cannot say that I am in love with this book, because I simply am not.

This book, like many of the others I have reviewed, is a reference book more than a novel type book. I contains many of the picture references expected of a Sterling Metro Book and informational side tables; much like those of A World History by Phillip Parker, for which I also did a review.

However, where Parker’s book offers cohesive and well timed reference panels, John’s book does not. This book offers great information in terms of the early years of the Tutor rein and circumstances and of the dynasty as a whole, however it is not put together well, or written in a way that flows well.

This book is written in a fashion, as to say, a writer who has so many collected thoughts and wants to express them to you, but stops every so often to talk about something else, as not to forget it later. While this works well in a conversation, it is horrible in a book. Constantly bouncing back and fourth between the main text and “oh let me just tell you this detail before I continue”, just makes it seem like the author did not properly outline her work well before she started and was just writing off the top of her head. And I am astonished that an editor at Sterling Publishing did not capture this.

Again, the information offered is good and different from what most books have in ways, but it does not offer a compelling difference, enough to endure the torturous lack of formatting.

The information panels in this book are also horribly formatted, often starting in the middle of a sentient on one page, to locate the panel on the next page, and then finishing the sentence in the following page; rather than locating the panels at the end of sections, or paragraphs like most Metro Books.

So,e of the information is inaccurate as well, which seems that the production team on this book did not bother to fact check. On one page a photograph of a letter is described by the author as a letter from King Henry VII to Queen Isabella, in reference to the betrothed of their children. When in fact, any Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, or French speaking person can read on the document, that is it a love letter to Catherine of Aragon by Prince Arthur.

It saddens me that this book is available for sale to readers who may not know much of the Tutors and are going to be fed erroneous information within bad, confusing formatting.

My final thought: this book needs an overhaul. I do not recommend it. Purchase a more accurate reference book that flows well. This is a sad addition to the “A Dark History” collection and a sad day for the Tutors.

© C. J. Leger October 16, 2014

Read my original review on CJLeger . Where do I start? I have been asking myself why no one has made a widely sold book that spans the entirety of our human history and explains it all. That was until I found, and fell in love with, Phillip Parker’s version, published in 2010 by Sterling Publishing.

Unlike most history books which only cover specific eras in great detail, this title brings us all the way back to the prehistoric age and covers the first ever recorded humanoid, Australopithecus; and travels down to Homo Habilis and Homo Erectus, before covering the well known Neanderthal. The book spends less time detailing aspects of each era and can be used more like a timeline guide for history; speaking of which, the book does include a handy timeline conveniently placed at the commencement of the book and a reference guide towards the end; detailing every war, battle and ruler on respective tables.

In my personal opinion, this book is the perfect companion piece to any history text book used in college or high school. Most classes have a standard text book and a companion book to go with it; this book could eliminate all other companion books used for history courses, as it covers every era and presents all the reference guides one would ever need.

However, I’d also recommend this book for those not currently enrolled in a course, and seems to be the perfect alternative for someone who is interested in history, would like to know how and when certain things happened, but doesn't want to spend too much time figuring it out.

On average, the book spends 1-4 pages on each civilization which is divided into 3 sections for each historical occurrence for that time period. But as the book is a reference for the whole of human history, it covers each culture various times throughout, as the centuries progress. It is divided into 7 main chapters that begin with the prehistoric world and ends in the modern world.

An example of its breakdown is seen clearer in the chapter labeled “The Classical World” which spans between 400 BCE to 600 CE, in which Celtic and Germanic Europe, India and The People of Steppes are all covered in 6 pages as follows:

Celtic and Germanic Europe

-The Celts’
-Successor States to Rome

People of Steppes

-The Scythians
-The Huns
-The Kushans

India

-Chandragupta and the Rise of the Mauryans
-Ashoka and Buddhism
-Gupta India

Before entering into a periodical, 2 page centerfold examination of other interesting occurrences or relevant information, not directly covered in the book. There are a few of these that give the reader a bit more reference to understand what they are reading. This book is perfect for the person looking to get their information and go; all of these events were covered in just 8 pages and gave me the meat and potatoes of what I wanted and needed to know.

It covers the discovery of the Americas, all it’s voyages and details the great navigators of the time. Later on the modern world is covered, including the current world wars and conflicts. Everything you would ever want to know, about any time in history, is covered in this convenient 512 page book, that is small enough to fit in any small bag or purse.

The book comes complete with visual guides, pictures and captions relevant to the current text and opens with an explanation of what the meaning of history is.

Overall I would recommend this book, which I purchased at Barnes and Noble, and would recommend it as an essential companion piece to any history course.

Read the original review on CJLeger
Not enough is said about the trials and tribulations of love when you're in the military; and even less about the struggles one faces with aging family back home. But this books makes a perfect example about the real-life sacrifices and choices service members often have to make in order to serve.

Set in a comfortable and memorable beach background, John Tyree is portrayed as a lovable yet reluctant romantic, who falls for Savannah Curtis, and begins exchanging letters with her while deployed. John must face the challenge of dating Savannah in a long stance relationship while they both change as people, and manage the progression of his father's Asberger Syndrome.

Nicholas Spark's use of Johns relationship with Savannah strengthens the attachment of the reader, in his many mentions of Savannah's training with Autistic children; a condition very similar to Asberger, and how she helps John along with things he did not understand about his father before she enlightened him.

The story also tears at the heart strings of anyone who has ever been in a relationship where circumstance often plays a large role in its outcome. Overall this book opens a door to readers about what it's like to love so terribly strong, and how military life plays a part in who someone is at their core and how it helps them succeed; but all in return for an immense amount of sacrifice and experience.

Be prepared to be taken back to a time in your life when you were old enough to love anyone you wanted, yet young enough to still enjoy a carefree relationship, full of summer romance and memories with "that amazing guy" who wears a military standard and uniform to add to his appeal and lovableness. The story takes place in a time that everyone has encountered at one point or another, meeting summer love and making memories that never fade, long after both lives may have gone their separate ways. It enhances those "alone" moments in the rain and makes the reader feel a part of the events as if experiencing their own affairs all over again.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a tale of romance that encourages both excitement and sadness in the reader; for a well rounded experience.

Read original review on C. J. Leger.There are a few editions of this great book, but by far the best one is the 2nd edition, which still cost more than its successors on most platforms. This book is an indispensable resource for writers, and while it focuses on writing for college students, it offers incredible reference for later in life.

This edition of the book includes a new section for multimedia assignments, which its predecessor did not; and it includes tabs for APA and Chicago MLA writing styles. This edition of A Writer’s Resource boasts 13 tab sections immaculately separated and are as follows:

-mhee.com online resource code
-Learning across the curriculum
-Writing and designing papers
-Common assignments across the curriculum
-The tab sections that follow these are geared towards writing after college,

and are what make this book a necessary resource for writers after they’re on their own.

-Writing beyond College
-Researching
-MLA Documentation Style
-APA Documentation Style
-Other Documentation Styles
-Editing for Clarity
-Editing for Grammar Conventions
-Editing for Correctness
-Basic Grammar Review
-Further Resources for Learning

Each tab also includes sub-tabs which cover everything from comma placements to sentence restructuring. On the back flap of this book, the reader will find a column stile rundown of resources within the book that writers can use. This section highlights resources such as how to avoid writer’s block which is found on page 53, comma splices and run-ons, located on page 471.

Similar to World History, for which I also did a review, A Writer’s Resource placed a handy world map towards the back of the book, along with a timeline of world history, which covers the founding of Babylon in 3000 BCE to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A glossary for selected terms follows the timeline, explaining terms like Fascism, Modernism and The Big Bang Theory. Furthermore, right before the index, the reader will find a resource for multilingual writers which explains articles, verbs and sentence structure in depth.

Overall I recommend this book to any writer who is managing the production of their books, articles, and stories on their own without the help of an editor. This book is an invaluable resource for writers with limited resources and want to get their content right; but it also makes a great companion for any author who wants to hone their technical skills to match their creative prowess.