Header PromotionWhere There's Smoke by M. J. Fredrick... QC #388
Where There's Smoke by M. J. Fredrick, The Wild Rose Press/Champagne Rose, March 2008
Test- This is a test review of what I'm thinking Jayne wants for the new site. Opinions would be appreciated from Jayne and other challengers.
I had so much fun reading this. Even though this story touched on a lot of serious subjects, there was a bunch of humour in the book. I really liked the lead characters. Seth wasn't afraid of expressing his feelings in either words or emotions. Lauren also expressed her feelings. She didn't pull any punches about letting Seth know her feelings. These two didn't rush into sex. They weighed the impact how sex may affect their friendship and the impact it would have on the family, because the two families were close too. I did think the ending was a bit rushed. But I really liked it. Because this book was about 300 pages, it seems we had more insight to the character's psyche. We had a better knowledge of these character's actions.
Includes Quoted Scene
Excellence Rating- Great
Steaminess Rating- Sensual
Lauren Stokes and Seth Escamilla have been friends forever, but Seth also makes her motor hum. Then she is injured in a football game, and it is his fault. Then news came of her parents were getting a divorce, and it was Seth that was there to comfort her. The little voices in their head's are screaming not to act on their feelings because it might ruin the friendship. Both Lauren and Seth know he isn't a long lasting guy. None of his relationships have lasted over a month. Can he be a better man for Lauren? Can he commit? And what does Seth's father have to do with the break-up of Lauren's parent's split?
Quoted Scene
(Nancy- You'll appreciate this
)
He rolled onto his back, one arm crooked behind his head, and watched her watching him. Her gaze drifted from his throat over his bare chest-no hair at all until his navel and the thin line of hair that led to-wow. Wow.
Personal total- 200 ~ harl/sil- 151 ~ other- 49
Oct. - harl/sil- 7 ~ other- 3
Ratio of TBR/ new- Totals since Jan 1= 75/125 ~ 0ct. = 2/8
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
LOL, yum...ahem, clearing
LOL, yum...ahem, clearing my throat
Nice imagery in your quoted scene Christa.
Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009
Hi Christa, Since the
Hi Christa,
Since the title and author appear in the headline, you won't need to repeat it in the body of your review. The feed is going to pull the first 100 characters of your blog entry so you're going to want to jump right into your thoughts on the book so that when it's displayed on the book detail pages, it's interesting and pulls readers into your blog in our Community so you'll get more comments.
Jayne
Community Manager
eHarlequin.com
Hey Christa!
Congrats on hitting 200!!
I guess I need to start reorganizing my reviews as well. Thanks for the reminder!
Take Care,
Tammy
"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves"...Anna Quindlen
Where There's Smoke
Nancy- I thought that one went nicely with your "happy trail"
Jayne- I changed the title in my next review. Thanks for the input
Tammy- Thanks for the congrats. I thought I'd start changing the look of the review now and work out kinks before the changes are implicated.
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
OMG--I completely missed
OMG--I completely missed this was your 200th book.
CONGRATS!
Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009
Jayne, just to clarify . . .
Jayne said,
So, the first 100 characters includes the title field?
Penn
Penn-eHarlequin ~ Alternative Formats Host
Join the Book (Reading) Challenge!!! It’s for a good cause and it’s FUN!
Christa
Congratulations on the 200th review. Love the quote. Glad you are putting you review out for discussion as it will help carify it for all of us. I got a book for you today. Didn't chicken out. LOL
February 2009 Member of the Month
When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus
Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause the most inconvenience.--Pam Brown
re: test review
Ditto on the thanks for putting up a test review, Christa. This is great and really helpful (as is Jayne's feedback about not repeating the title--I currently repeat my titles, so I will change that).
Nancy, Kaelee, Lady_A
Nancy- Thanks
Kaelee- Thanks for the congrats. thanks for getting the book and not chickening out LOL Now you'll be an old pro when it comes to book signings.
Lady_A- I guess I'm a planner I like to try and work all the kinks out before a change.
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
Way to go, Christa!
Congratulations on your 200th Read!
KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog
Thanks Katherine
Hope you don't have to work to hard after blowing up all those balloons
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
So Jayne if I've understood correctly, you would have liked her
review to start directly with
I had so much fun reading this. Even though this story touched on a lot of serious subjects, there was a bunch of humour in the book. I really liked the lead characters.
and what would be pulled up for the link would be (approximately)
"I had so much fun reading this. Even though this story touched on a lot of serious subj"
Let me know if I've misunderstood
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Congratulations
on your 200th book Christa!
And your test review is awesome... definitely going to be watching for more comments to see exactly how it is done... What a fantastic heads-up... Thank you!
_______________________________________________________________
"No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading,
or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” ~ Confucius
~ Books, gotta love 'em
playing
in the next few reviews I'll be playing with a look that looks good to me and that might be ok to Jayne.
Thanks for the congrats kalyko
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
New format will work out easily for me .....
I usually begin my reviews with the cover pic and beside it my Star rating and a sentence or two that sums up my feelings on the book ..... so now, I'll put my star rating with my sentence or two first ... leave a few blank lines and then put the cover pic and book info and my review just as always
for an example, see my updated review for Billionaire's Marriage Bargain
KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog
Jayne, a question about pictures
do they mess up the new link/flow? I like putting my picture of the cover first, so that people looking via a page that shows previews can see it. Do I need to do it after the first paragraph?
Penn
Penn-eHarlequin ~ Alternative Formats Host
Join the Book (Reading) Challenge!!! It’s for a good cause and it’s FUN!
Congratulations!!!! Christa,
Another milestone! Hurrah!!!!
Thank you for doing the test review, I saw your more recent review also, you make it easier for me to revise the way I do the reviews.
Happy reading! Keep up with the good work.
Orchid
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
"Love is Blind, Greed is Insatiable" ~ Chinese Proverbs
thanks Orchid
I just played again using Katherine's method. I really like that one. I don't really need to change much with that one
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
A BIG "Congratulations" on
A BIG "Congratulations" on reading 200 books so far this year Christa! WTG!
I'm also very relieved to see your posted practice review...so i can learn how to do my own reviews when the time comes.
TC,
~ Kathy D - Team member of Novel Obsession
Kathy D
Thank you for the congrats.
I've still been practicing. I think I'm going with Katherine's method http://community.eharlequin.com/category/tags/quiet-canadians (first page, paragraph starting with ?? Stars)
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008-2009 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page