Review: Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787 by Winston Graham

After being wounded while fighting in the American Revolutionary War, Ross Poldark returns home to Cornwall, England to find his father dead, his sweetheart engaged to his spoiled cousin, his estate in ruins, and that everyone believed him dead in Virginia. But it takes more than that to keep Ross Poldark down, and he determines to rebuild his life almost entirely from scratch.

The BBC love Poldark - they made a TV series of it in 1975 and now they are remaking it (aired on PBS in the US), and the publishers are reissuing the books along with it. I have been watching the new series and it inspired me to pick up the books. Surprisingly, I have to say this is one of those rare moments when the "movie" is better than the books.

It's a great story with great characters and that is owed to the books, but the narrative of the books is a little stilted at times, which is something I find is common with books written and originally published in the 1940s and 1950s. Maybe it was just a different style of writing that isn't easy for modern readers to appreciate but regardless it takes getting used to.

It also seems the TV series follows the books fairly closely, so that there is not a huge amount of difference between them. Such a rarity means that while it may be enjoyable for people who have already read the books to watch a visual enactment of it, the reverse doesn't hold much for viewers who read the books after watching it. I tend to read the book after seeing the movie because I like to see everything the movie wasn't able to cover. In this case, because it so closely follows the books, reading them doesn't really give you anything the show doesn't. There's a little bit more to Jinny and Jim's story and we get to see more of Demelza's endearing, childlike antics which were mostly removed from the TV show, I think in order to make her seem older (she is only 13 at the start of the books). However, the internal dialogue doesn't really tell us anything the show isn't able to convey. At least, that was the case with the first book. I will likely carry on with the rest of the book series, especially if the TV series doesn't make it all the way to the end (though it likely will), but not right now.

I'm not saying the book wasn't enjoyable, just that it would perhaps have been more enjoyable to read it first, then watch the TV show, but unfortunately I've done it the other way around.

How To Get More NetGalley Approvals

NetGalley is a website that connects publishers and authors with readers and reviewers, providing free digital copies of books for feedback and promotion (though reviewers are not required to like the book or say positive things about it). Reviewers request titles made available on NetGalley and publishers approve or decline them on a case by case basis. The topic of how to increase approvals is one that comes up a lot in NetGalley social circles. Here's some tips I've picked up.

First, the common reasons for approvals and declines aren't some big secret. Most publishers provide information on how they decide whether to approve or decline. You can find this info on NetGalley by going to "Browse Publishers", selecting a publisher, and then clicking on "Approval Preferences". Granted, some publishers have minimal info and others have none at all, but many have a lot of detail which might apply to other publishers too, even if they don't advertise it. Just from reading over the approval preferences of some of the publishers I request from the most, I gleamed the following:

• Start a blog. In my experience, the biggest reason for receiving a decline is due to not having a blog. Many publishers (Penguin, for example) clearly state that in order to be approved, you must have a blog (and provide a link to it in your profile) - posting reviews to Goodreads and/or Amazon just isn't enough. Before I started my blog, I had 8 approvals and 13 declines, and since starting my blog, I've had 21 approvals and only 6 declines. So my approval rate went from 38% to 78% just from having a blog.
• Request early. Keep in mind that many books/publishers have a maximum amount of approvals and if you don't get your request in there soon enough, you may be declined simply because they've maxed out their approvals. The only way to reduce the chance of this happening is to check NetGalley for new titles often and request ASAP. Some publishers will tell you in their decline email that they've maxed out, but not always.
• Request books in your country. Another big reason for decline is requesting a book not available in your country. There have been occasions when, for example, someone in the US requested a UK book and got approved, but that's rare in my experience. It depends on who has the distribution rights for the country you're in.
• Keep your ratio up. NetGalley recommends you keep your ratio of feedback to approvals above 80%, while at the same time there's lots of reports that the ratio isn't all that important. So which is it? Well, it depends on the publisher. You will likely still get some approvals even if your ratio is below 80%, but at the same time there are publishers who want to see that you will review their book, sometimes within a certain time frame, which is less likely to happen if you have a bazillion NetGalley titles still waiting to receive feedback. Particularly, if you already have unread approvals from the same publisher you're requesting from again, they may not approve you until they see you followed through with the ones they already gave you. St. Martin's Press, for example, makes it clear in their approval preferences that your ratio is very important to them. So while you may still get approvals even with your ratio below 80%, it is best to keep it above 80%.
• Provide your blog stats. Some publishers want to see that not only do you have a blog, but that it's active and gets enough regular traffic to make an approval worth their while. For example, Kensington Books, Ballantine, and Bantam Dell all say that your blog "should be updated daily or almost daily and have a significant number of followers". Berkley/NAL/Signet want to see a mention in your NetGalley profile of an average or approximate number of unique visitors to your blog per month, and how many reviews you post per week. They also make it clear they are currently only approving blogs which have 1,000+ followers. So provide as many stats on your blog in your NetGalley profile as possible, and if your stats don't meet their requirements, don't expect an approval.
• Keep your blog content relevant. Many publishers want to make sure that your reviews are reaching the right people. Personal blogs that include non-book related content like where you went for vacation last week will often get declines. They want to see your blog is dedicated to books reviews/promotion. Additionally, if your blog is dedicated to a specific genre of books, such as mine is dedicated to history related books, do not request books outside this genre. I'm unlikely to get approved for the next Janet Evanovich book when I run a blog strictly for historical fiction and history books.
• Publish your review around the time of the release date. The whole reason most publishers do this is to build up a buzz around the book during the time of it's release. Different publishers request different timelines. Some may instruct that you post a review no sooner than one week before the release date, others may say two weeks, or one month. Without wishing to check the publisher's preferences every time, I play it safe and always try to post within a week before or after the release date. If a publisher finds that you're posting reviews too far in advance, they might start declining you.
• Make sure your valid email address is visible. In your NetGalley profile, you have the option to make your email private or visible to publishers. Many publishers require for approval that your email address is valid and visible to them so they can contact you if need be.
• Include your Facebook/Twitter handles in your NG profile. Push your blog reviews out to your Facebook and Twitter feeds and make sure your handles are listed on your NetGalley profile, including stats on how many followers you have. This may not always been a requirement but publishers like to see that your reviews are reaching as many people as possible, utilizing social media to the full extent.

Not all publishers have all of these requirements but it's good to include them all if you want to maximize your chances of getting approved. Please comment below if you've come across any other factors that might influence your approval rating!

Review: HFVBT Presents Donna Thorland’s Mistress Firebrand Blog Tour, April 6-May 8

Publication Date: March 3, 2015
NAL Trade
Formats: eBook, Paperback
416 Pages

Series: Renegades of the American Revolution (Book 3)
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance



British Occupied Manhattan, 1777. American actress Jenny Leighton has been packing the John Street Theater with her witty comedies, but she longs to escape the provincial circuit for the glamour of the London stage. When the playwright General John Burgoyne visits the city, fresh from a recent success in the capitol, she seizes the opportunity to court his patronage. But her plan is foiled by British intelligence officer Severin Devere.

Severin’s mission is to keep the pleasure-loving general focused on the war effort…and away from pretty young actresses. But the tables are turned when Severin himself can’t resist Jenny Leighton…

Months later, Jenny has abandoned her dreams of stage glory and begun writing seditious plays for the Rebels under the pen name “Cornelia,” ridiculing “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne and his army—and undermining the crown’s campaign to take Albany. With Jenny’s name now on the hanging list, Severin is ordered to find her—and deliver her to certain death. Soon, the two are launched on a desperate journey through the wilderness, toward an uncertain future shaped by the revolution—and their passion for each other…

My Review

It amazed me how much Thorland was able to pack into only about 400 pages, and I don't just mean the plot, but also the character development, politics, history, etc. There is so much attention to detail and yet even with all that, it never gets bogged down and instead remains a fun, quick read.

While it's told from the third person points of view of the two, very likable and believable main characters, Jenny and Severin, the side characters are never neglected. Fully developed with interesting background and individual personalities, the side characters help make this novel richer and fuller. Weaving historical events into the plot, and with the inclusion not only of historical figures but also fictional characters inspired by or loosely based on other historical individuals, really helps bring the history to life.

Thorland is obviously an expert on colonial history, not just political but also cultural, working them both effortlessly into a story of two people struggling to find themselves and survive in the political unrest and upheaval of the American Revolution.

With politics, espionage, romance, and action, it's sure to please a wide range of readers.

Buy Mistress Firebrand

Amazon (Kindle)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
iTunes
IndieBound
Powell's

About the Author

A native of Bergenfield, New Jersey, Donna graduated from Yale with a degree in Classics and Art History. For many years she managed architecture and interpretation at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, and wrote and directed the Witch City’s most popular Halloween theater festival, Eerie Events. She later earned an MFA in film production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Donna has been a sorority house mother, a Disney/ABC Television Writing Fellow, a WGA Writer’s Access Project Honoree, and a writer on the ABC primetime drama, Cupid. Her screenwriting credits include episodes of the animated series, Tron: Uprising. Her short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Albedo One. The director of several award-winning short films, her most recent project, The Night Caller, aired on WNET Channel 13 and was featured on Ain’t It Cool News. Currently she is a writer on the WGN drama SALEM. She is married with one cat and divides her time between the real Salem and Los Angeles.

For more information visit Donna Thorland's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Mistress Firebrand Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, April 6
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Excerpt & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, April 7
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, April 8
Interview at The Maiden's Court

Thursday, April 9
Guest Post & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing

Friday, April 10
Spotlight at Broken Teepee

Sunday, April 12
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Monday, April 13
Spotlight, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, April 16
Review at Caroline Wilson Writes

Friday, April 17
Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading

Saturday, April 18
Excerpt & Giveaway at A Dream Within a Dream

Monday, April 20
Review at Book Nerd

Tuesday, April 21
Guest Post & Giveaway at Book Babe

Wednesday, April 22
Guest Post & Excerpt at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, April 23
Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Friday, April 24
Review at Back Porchervations

Monday, April 27
Review at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, April 28
Review at Historical Readings & Reviews

Wednesday, April 29
Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews

Thursday, April 30
Review at Bookramblings

Friday, May 1
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Drey's Library
Spotlight at Genre Queen

Sunday, May 3
Review at Forever Ashley

Monday, May 4
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Guest Post & Giveaway at To Read, or Not to Read

Tuesday, May 5
Excerpt at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, May 6
Review at Unabridged Chick

Thursday, May 7
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Friday, May 8
Interview at Scandalous Woman

Historical Fiction Upcoming Releases

Bloodline (The Wars of the Roses) by Conn Iggulden

UK Release Date: October 8, 2015

US Release Date: November 10, 2015

The third beautifully written novel in the War of the Roses series by bestselling author Conn Iggulden.

This novel from bestselling author Conn Iggulden is the third book in the critically acclaimed Wars of the Roses series. Following Stormbird and Trinity this novel will continue through the brutal Civil War that we now know as the Wars of the Roses.

Bloodline sees the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions clash at the battle of Towton -- the single most bloody conflict ever fought on British soil. The victorious Edward of York seals his claim to the English throne.

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Hearts of Stone by Simon Scarrow

Release Date: June 4, 2015

The fierce courage of the men and women of the Greek Resistance is brought to vivid life in Sunday Times bestseller Simon Scarrow's powerful new novel of World War II.

1938. A perfect summer on the Greek island of Lefkas for three young people untroubled by the simmering politics of Europe. Peter, visiting from Germany while his father leads an archaeological dig, has become close friends with locals Andreas and Eleni. As the world slides towards conflict and Peter is forced to leave, they swear to meet again.

1943: Andreas and Eleni have joined the partisan forces resisting the German invasion. Peter has returned - now a dangerously well-informed enemy intelligence officer. A friendship formed in peace will turn into a desperate battle between enemies sworn to sacrifice everything for the countries that they love...

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Uprising (Bravehearts Chronicles) by Jack Whyte

Release Date: July 30, 2015

In the spring of 1297, the two great Scottish heroes meet in Ayr: William Wallace, legendary champion of the common man, and Robert Bruce, who would perfect the guerrilla warfare developed by Wallace and use it to cement his place in history as Scotland's greatest king.

Each is determined to defy the ambitions of England and its malignant king, Edward Plantagenet, whose lust to conquer and consume the realm of Scotland by blood and fury is unyielding. Their anger is about to unleash a storm that will last for sixteen years.

From Jack Whyte, the master of the sweeping historical epic, comes the continuing story of two heroes who changed the entire destiny of Scotland by defying the might and power of the king of England.

Ebook Deals

Click the cover to view and buy the book in the Kindle store. While I only post links to the Kindle store, often times you can find the same titles on sale at other stores.

Disclaimer: Ebook prices are subject to change anytime. I can only promise they are under a certain price at the time I post them.

US Kindle Deals, fiction under $4, non-fiction under $6:

Books 1 to 6 of the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell is on sale for $1.99 each:

           

Additionally, the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is on sale, book 1 is $1.99, books 2 to 7 are $4 each:

             

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UK Kindle Deals, fiction under £3, non-fiction under £4:

                             

History Books Upcoming Releases

War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel That Stunned the Nation by John Sedgwick

Release Date: November 3, 2015

A provocative and penetrating investigation into the rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, whose infamous duel left the Founding Father dead and turned a sitting Vice President into a fugitive.

In the summer of 1804, two of America’s most eminent statesmen squared off, pistols raised, on a bluff along the Hudson River. That two such men would risk not only their lives but the stability of the young country they helped forge is almost beyond comprehension. Yet we know that it happened. The question is why.

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The Washingtons: George and Martha, "Join'd by Friendship, Crown'd by Love" by Flora Fraser

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Here are the socially awkward young soldier and the charming and very rich young widow he wooed and won; the early years of their marriage at Mount Vernon; his inflexible determination and iron will throughout the long war; she, joining him every year in Valley Forge and the army's other winter quarters, essential to his personal well-being but also a commanding and admired figure in her own right; and, finally, the eight years of America's first presidency: he, the reluctant president, and she, the faultless first lady, both longing to return to their beloved Mount Vernon. Here, too, are the domestic Washingtons--Martha presiding over dinners for foreign dignitaries, keeping careful control of her children and her inheritance; George, even while commanding the revolutionary army, always concerned about her welfare and safety, worrying about his stepchildren, and when the rare occasion arose, dancing the night away with any pretty woman he could find. A major, and vastly appealing, contribution to the literature of our founding fathers...and founding mother.

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Brand Luther: How an Unheralded Monk Turned His Small Town into a Center of Publishing, Made Himself the Most Famous Man in Europe--and Started the Protestant Reformation by Andrew Pettegree

Release Date: October 27, 2015

A revolutionary look at Martin Luther, the Reformation, and the birth of publishing, on the eve of the Reformation’s 500th anniversary

When an obscure monk named Martin Luther tacked his “theses” on the door of the Wittenberg church in 1517, protesting corrupt practices, he was virtually unknown. Within months, his ideas spread across Germany, then all of Europe; within years, their author was not just famous, but infamous, responsible for catalyzing the violent wave of religious reform that would come to be known as the Protestant Reformation and engulfing Europe in decades of bloody war.

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Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland

UK Release Date: September 3, 2015

US Release Date: October 20, 2015

Author and historian Tom Holland returns to his roots in Roman history and the audience he cultivated with Rubicon—his masterful, witty, brilliantly researched popular history of perhaps the greatest civilization ever—with Dynasty.

Dynasty continues Rubicon's story, opening where that book ended: with the murder of Julius Caesar. This is the period of the great Roman Emperors, the first Roman Emperors, and, astonishingly, no writer has tackled such an obvious commercial history recently—and it's a colorful story, running from the rise of Augustus through to the death of Nero. Holland's expansive history also has shades of I Claudius, with five wonderfully colorful (and in three cases, thoroughly depraved) Emperors—Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—featured along such fascinating secondary characters as Livia, Agrippina, and Germanicus. Intrigue, murder, naked ambition and treachery, greed, gluttony, lust, incest, pageantry, decadence—what's not to like?