How to Create a Book Review

Hi, I'm KatherineT and I'm your Host Moderator for the Book Challenge.  

If you are new to the eHarlequin Community, you will need to be a Community Member before you can add content to the eHarlequin website.  So if you have not done so already, please register to become a Member.  You can register by clicking here.    Once you are a Community Member you will have privileges that will allow you to create your own personal blogs, create book reviews, participate in forum discussions, and comment on other member's blogs and reviews.    

You can create a book review from two locations in the Community.  On the Book Challenge home page (click on Book Challenge on the bar above) you will find a link to add a book review.  More easily from the right side bar, just below your Community name, you will see Create Content, and there is Book Review as an option.

Simply click on Book Review and the Submit Book Reivew template will open. 

"Title* " is for the title of your book review.  This is the title that will show on the Recent Posts list, on your personal blog and on RSS feeds. So chose your title carefully.  Many are using the title of the book along with the author's name.  Others are putting the title of the book along with a descriptive like "riviting romantic suspense" 

The next section is "Categories".   Book Series is to indicate which of the Harlequin imprints the book may belong.  Click on tje arrow to open the drop down list and make your selection.  If the book is a Harlequin and it's imprint does not appear, you may chose Harlequin Special Release or Silhouette Special Release.  If the book belongs to another publisher, simply select Other.   Book Author(s)* is a mandatory field.  Please type in the author name as first name then last.  If there is more than one author separate the names with a comma.  Please use only a comma to separate the names as this will tell the template to create separate tags for each author.  Tags are descriptives of the book that may be useful to yourself or other members in searching for books that have common themes.  To learn more about tagging, check out my blog About those Nifty Tags.   Book Format is to indicate which media ie print, ebook, audio.

Next is the "Book Information" section.  The Book Title field is mandatory, and just as it says it is for the actual title of the book.  If you are reviewing several short stories type in the title for each book separated with a comma.  

Book Image is a tool used to upload and add a book cover image to your review.  Book covers are completely optional, and you may just skip this step if you wish.  However, if you'd like to add a cover image to your review, I've set up a special thread to discuss this process, How to add Book Covers.

Book Rating is another field that is completely optional.  To share your rating simply click on appropriate heart, one being less and five being the best.   If you've placed a rating by accident, simply click on the black heart and this will remove it.

Finally, there's your Review.   Your review can be as detailed as you'd like it to be.  There are no right or wrong ways to review a book, nor is it expected that you will enjoy every book you read.  If a book didn't work for you, you can say that.  However, please always show respect to the author, the author's beliefs and the beliefs of others; attacks will not be permitted.  If you are providing details of the book, try not to reveal vital plot points that may spoil the book for others who have not yet read it.   Sometimes though we just have to squeek out some details, so for those occasions please head your review with a warning that notifies others that your review "Contains Spoilers".   Also, if you have only put a sentence or two in the "review" section, or nothing at all, please add "NFM".  This stands for "no further message" and lets the readers know that there is nothing further added at that point so they do not have to open your review to read more.

Once you have completed the above fields, you have two options.  Preview and Submit.   Clicking on Preview allows you a sneak peak on how your review will look.  Please note, should you receive an error message this usually indicates that you have missed completing one of the mandatory fields.  So go back over your review and make sure all the fields with the Red * are complete.   When you click on Submit this publishes your review to the eHarlequin website and your review is added to the Challenge counter and to your own personal counter that appears on your Profile page.   Should you notice after you've submitted your review a few errors you'd like to correct, simply click on Edit and make your adjustments.

This completes the general procedures for creating a book review.   If you have any questions or think there should be something added to the above, please comment below for discussion or you may email me, Katherine-eHarlequin

If you'd like to make a commitment to the Book Challenge, please 1>  read carefully the Guidelines and Rules for participation  and 2> follow the directions to Sign Up for the 2009 Book Challenge.  Registered participants in the Book Challenge will receive a monthy email with news about the Challenge and also a coupon code for 10% off in the eHarlequin Book Store or the eHarlequin eBook Store.   In order to receive the incentive discount you must be an active registered participant. 

If you have questions not related to How to Create a Book Review, please visit me over in the

Have a question about the Blogs or the Challenge?  Ask Katherine  ... thanks!

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KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog