The schedule kind of crapped out at the end of the week. I had a tour book which just completely failed for me. I didn’t like any of the characters, I didn’t feel for anyone, and I just didn’t want those people taking up residence in my head. It happens. The tour operator wanted me to post a promo, and I just don’t do promos unless I’ve either already read the book (and liked it) or I have a relationship with either the author or the tour company. I do stuff for TLC Book Tours all the time because they generally have terrific books and they are just incredibly nice to work with as well as being thoroughly professional about the whole business.
Promos are so tempting, because there’s almost no work involved on the part of the blogger, but, it’s just not a temptation I want to give in to. I started this blog because I wanted to share books I enjoyed, and because I wanted to write. Too many promos, and promos for books I hated, just don’t fit into that.
But what do you think? Do you like to see lots of promos? Or what are you looking for when you read a book blog? This inquiring mind really wants to know!
Current Giveaways:
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
Winner Announcements:
The winner of The Blockade by Jean Johnson is Lysette L.
The winner of The Secrets of Worry Dolls by Amy Impellizzeri is Marjorie R.
Blog Recap:
A- Review: Hanging the Stars by Rhys Ford
B+ Review: Who Watcheth by Helene Tursten
Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Hero by Anna Hackett
B Review: Reluctant Mate by Lauren Dane
Stacking the Shelves (213)
Coming Next Week:
The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johnasen (blog tour review)
American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin (review)
Winter Holiday recipes (+ reads!): Guest Post from Maisey Yates (blog tour)
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (review)
The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder (review)
I usually do promos on social media, not the blog. And I’m with you-it tends to be authors I have read before. However, if I got an ARC and didn’t like it, I know that others might like it so I don’t mind a promo (again, on social media, not the blog).
Have a good week!
Samantha recently posted..Sunday Post: Week 49
I like to do promos because a lot of my visitors might not see the books otherwise. I’m selective though. It must be books that interest me or authors I’m familiar with. Plus it helps the authors to get noticed. There are so many books out there now:)
Laura Thomas recently posted..What’s New On My Bookshelf #185 and The Sunday Post
As a reader, promos don’t interest me that much. I will skim them, but unless it’s for an author I know and like, I usually don’t read them.
I am curious about what which book this one was for. I know it’s hard to post negative reviews and many bloggers won’t do it but I love it when bloggers do a quick round up of their DNFs or bad reads, especially if they can pinpoint what didn’t work for them. It makes it easier for me to figure out how much weight I should give a blogger’s opinion on books if I see at least a little bit of the bad along with all of the good and great reads. For example, on the book you didn’t like, I entirely agree with you that if all of the characters are unlikable, I will probably put the book down, but for some readers, that doesn’t bother them, so that wouldn’t put them off buying it.
I do post negative reviews, but obvious not for a tour. It has to be a review I can make sound interesting, or funny, or entertaining. My very negative review of The Right Bride is one of my most popular reviews on Goodreads. I also DNF’ed The Bourbon Kings and made an interesting review of it.
The book in question here was The Operator by Kim Harrison. I just didn’t want to let those characters have any more of my headspace. It wasn’t just that I didn’t find any of them likeable. They were all users, and all competing to see who could use the others the most. or worst. It didn’t feel like there was any upside or hope of redemption. Or just plain hope. YMMV
Marlene Harris recently posted..Review: American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin
I just looked the book up. I can see how you would have thought that this book would be something you’d like. Too bad it didn’t work for you. For me, time travel is a big no go, so I would never even consider reading it. It’s funny how we all have certain plots and tropes that we like and dislike. With time travel, I tend to get too tripped up by the inherent paradox and can’t suspend disbelief, so I just stay away from them altogether. I have so many books I want to read that it’s almost a relief to read a book description and realize that I have absolutely no interest in it LOL.