Nine Things That Help Me Decide To Read A Book

 

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I love to read! And though my To Be Read stack never seems to get smaller, I'm always looking for more stories. Here are nine things I consider before committing to a book.

1. The Author
Any books released by my favorite authors go straight to the top of my list. If I start hearing a lot of buzz about a new author I will also be intrigued and more likely to try their work.

2. Cover Art
I'm not ashamed to admit that I do judge books by their covers. If you can tell that not a lot of thought went to the front of a book, it tends to be a good indication of what you can find inside.

3. Recommendations from Friends or Trusted Sources
There are certain people I know or follow who have similar reading tastes to my own, so if they liked a story I will keep that in mind for the future.

4. Bad Reviews on Amazon
It's true -- if a book has caught my eye, I go straight to those 1- and 2-star reviews to find out more. Why? They tend to be written by real and honest readers. I hate writing bad reviews, as does every reviewer I know! So if someone went to the mental anguish to compose a post about why they didn't like a title, that's worth paying attention to. Sometimes they will mention something that I know would bother me, but other times there is nothing that I find objectionable. If there are zero bad reviews, it could mean the book is too recently released to have found an audience beyond the author's family members or friends, and that also needs to be kept in mind.

5. The Publisher
I do pay attention to publishers. Some publishing houses have earned my trust, while others have earned side-eyes. I am also very hesitant to try a self-published book unless these other factors I've listed above are in its favor. I usually regret it otherwise. That said, once I have a good experience or two with an author who self-publishes, I will be a loyal follower.

6. What's The Hook?
If I'm still trying to make up my mind, there's always the opportunity to read the book's blurb to see what it will be about. Is there a unique and intriguing premise, or does it sound pretty boring and similar to any old plot out there? 

7. Genre
Everyone has their favorite genres, and I am no exception. In order to avoid an unpleasant reading experience and having to write an agonizing bad review, I steer clear of the genres I know I don't care for.

8. Setting
A story that is set in a time period or location I enjoy - or one which I'd like to learn more about - is one I'll be much more likely to pick up. 

9. Price
Okay, let's be honest - if a book is on ebook promotion or paperback clearance, that alone isn't enough to get me to buy it, but it will cause me to check out the above qualifications more closely. That's why some authors have a permanently free book or two (often the first book in a series), or take part in programs like Kindle Unlimited. They want readers to give them a chance. Good books are worth full price, and supporting authors is important. If you do take advantage of deals (and we all do!), try to give back by posting honest reviews, and if you liked the book, follow and promote the author as you can. They'll appreciate you and be reminded why they go to the effort of writing these books in the first place! 😊

Find more Top Ten Tuesday posts at That Artsy Reader Girl.

"The Sky Above Us" by Sarah Sundin

 


Violet Lindstrom is committed to going to the mission field. A broken engagement and a world war have stalled her plans, but a heart to serve has led her to join the Red Cross and hopefully minister to British children who have been evacuated to the countryside. Dismayed to discover her plans are once again thwarted and she's been assigned to run an Aeroclub for American pilots, Violet struggles to see the men as more than a disruption and a poor substitute to her true calling.

Like his brother, whom we met in The Sea Before Us, Adler Paxton is estranged from his family. Having betrayed everyone he loves, Adler's personal ambition drives him to become an ace pilot. Assigned to be a wingman instead, he struggles to accept his place - just as he has his whole life. He's refused to acknowledge the pain that came with his fiancee's death and his subsequent actions towards his family, but caring friends and God's work in his heart prompt Adler to open up and wrestle with the Almighty just like Jacob of old.

There's a thief among the Aeroclub volunteers, and Violet may lose her job - and any hope of a mission board accepting her - if she can't prove that she's not the one selling Red Cross supplies on the black market. Meanwhile a tall Texas gentleman with a tortured past has caught her eye and become the friend she needs during this difficult assignment. If only she can help him as he confronts his personal demons and comes face to face with the consequences of his actions. Is there hope for a Paxton family reconciliation? Violet wants to see Adler become whole again.

Dreams, ambitions, failures, and faults are on full display in this second book in Sarah Sundin's Sunrise at Normandy series. You'll ache and cry with the heartaches faced, and worry about the safety of Violet, Adler, and the others at Leiston Army Airfield. This is another spectacularly written, well-researched WWII novel from one of my favorite authors. I can hardly wait to see how this series concludes when The Land Beneath Us releases next year!