Among the Muses: 1/17/10

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Challenges

100+ Reading Challenge

36 / 100 books. 36% done!

Outlander Series Challenge

3 / 7 books. 42.8% done!

2010 eBook Challenge

20 / 20 books. 100% done!

2010 Blogger Recommendation Challenge

1 / 10 books. 0% done!

Erotica Romance Challenge

5 / 10 books. 50% done!

About Me/Contact Information

Contact Me:

If you would like to contact me to solicit a review or just to say hello, please email me at: amongthemuses @ gmail.com

If you are an author or publisher, you may also find it useful to check out my review policy.

About Me:

I'm a teacher by profession, a Grad student by ambition, and a reader by obsession. And, that's what reading is to me -- a consuming passion! It amazes me that you can be in one place in your life -- whether good or bad -- and whisked away into another, all through the creativity of written expression by others!

As for my 'specifics': I'm 32, engaged, no kids -- my classroom full of raging hormonal teens works just fine for me right now :P I have recently started my own business, while pursuing my MBA. I grew up in southern Michigan, lived a couple of years in central North Carolina, and now live close to the Hudson River in New Jersey!

Because of my occupation, so many of the books that I've spent my time reading are middle grade level and some YA. But, now I'm trying to spend more time in the 'adult' world that I've missed so much. Thus, the creation of this blog. I wanted a place to share my love of reading and the respect for the authors that share their gifts with us all.

Now-a-days, my love lies with everything romance! Whether it's paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, historical, or erotic - as long as it has an HEA, or HFN, I'm all sorts of happy!! I simply can't get enough of these genres!

The MacCarrick Brothers Trilogy by Kresley Cole

#1 If You Dare

#2 If You Desire

#3 If You Deceive

Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole

#1 Playing Easy To Get

#2 A Hunger Like No Other

#3 No Rest For the Wicked

#4 Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night

#5 Dark Needs at Nights Edge

#6 Dark Desires After Dusk

#7 Kiss of a Demon King

#8 Deep Kiss of Winter -- also with Gena Showalter

#9 Pleasure of a Dark Prince

#10 Demon from the Dark - coming August 24, 2010

Review Request Submissin & Policy

I accept books for review in the following genres:

Paranormal Romance
Urban Fantasy Romance
Dark Urban Fantasy
Historical Romance
Contemporary Romance
Erotica Romance of any sub-genre
If there is a book that you feel may fall within these genres, please contact me.

Unless otherwise stated, all reviews will be posted at Among The Muses, Goodreads, and Amazon. You may request other platforms for reviews to be posted at.

I accept both print and ebooks.

If you would like to promote your book with a Q&A, giveaway, and/or guest post, please let me know!

If you are requesting a review, please make sure to include the following information (or fill out the form at the bottom of this post):

Name, Contact Information, Association with book (author, publisher, other)
Genre
Format (print or ebook)
Description of book
If it is part of a series. If it is, and it is not the first book in the series, I would prefer to have read the books prior to reading the one you are requesting the review on.

I will reply to any request as quickly as possible. I also reserve the right to turn down a review due to the fact that this is not something I am able to do full-time.

You may contact me at: amongthemuses@gmail.com

FTC Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, all books reviewed are purchased personally by me (Tanya @ Among The Muses).

Rating a Review

How Do I Review?

In my reviews, I include either a summary within the review or the synopsis (usually from Goodreads, but not always) at the top prior to my personal review.

The review consists of a my personal reflections and thoughts on the characters (strengths, weaknesses, do I connect with them?), settings, plot, writing style (including tone and language), imagery, and enjoyability of the book. Each book is unique and interesting in its own right-- just like the authors who create such illustrative worlds with dynamic characters. Therefore, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all method of rating. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I look at each book as an individual entity. I want to see how that single book displays those components.

I also try to find things that grab my attention. Maybe it's the use of strong metaphors or analogies. Maybe it's the tragic, yet undeniable romantic connection between the heroine and hero, or the unique alternate universe, the urban 'underworld, or the ability to make me believe in the unbelievable. Whatever the case may be, I try to highlight those qualities that stand out to me -- which may include me citing a sentence or two that I found particularly amazing.

I do try to be honest and fair, with keeping in mind that it is someone's creation, passion, and love. With that being said, the most important thing to keep in mind with any review, is that it is personal. These are my thoughts and no one else.

Rating Scale:

I also give half points if I feel as though it shouldn't be a whole number. For example, maybe I felt as though a book exceeded my expectations of a '4', but wasn't quite a '5' do to some issues-- I would then rate the book a '4.5'.