Book Review: Triple My Listings by Knolly Williams

 

I received a free copy of this book--paying only shipping cost--from an advertisement in a program at a real estate conference. Honestly, I don't have high expectations of free material that says these tips will increase your sales volume. While you may pick up some good advice, it is usually buried inside a sales pitch for the author's services. Triple My Listings by Knolly Williams falls into that category.

Don't get me wrong. There are a ton of free resources offered. You can join Knolly's Mentorship Masters program for free, the book is filled with QR codes linking to free videos, some neat scripts are included, and there is a fabulous recommended book list, but the point is to get you to the author's website, where he talks about his brokerage and all they have to offer.

No one can deny that Knolly has the experience to share his knowledge, but there are few new ideas in this book and nothing replaces the discipline of focusing on lead generation day in and day out. Knolly even opens with developing the daily lead generation habit, because that is what we all know makes the difference. 

I loved Idea #13 - "Create Your Pre-Listing Package (Your Press Kit)," and if you don't want to do all that work yourself, you can order his "Overnight Celebrity" Done-For-You Toolkit. The challenge I have is with the title. There is no such thing as overnight success. Success comes from hard work. 

As a writer, I take issue with Idea #14 - "Write Your Seller BOOK (or license Knolly's for FREE)." There are companies out there that create books on how to sell your home or work with you to create them. You can get a license and slap your name, picture, and information on the covers and then you hand those to property owners to entice them to sell with you. Nothing wrong with offering information. As a published author, I'm not a fan of the how it cheapens the process of writing and publishing a book, and if all you are doing is buying/securing a license to use someone else's book, I hope you at least read it to know what's inside so that you sound like you know what you're talking about if a seller asks any questions.

In the end, if Triple My Listings encourages you to try something new or motivates you to commit to daily lead generation, then it is easily worth buying for less than $10 (as of right now). 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08N8QPT5C
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (November 8, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 154 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8561066221

 

Book Review: Winter at a Summer House by Mary Beth Hines

 

In this beautiful debut collection, award-winning poet Mary Beth Hines creates a rhythm of life set to stunning imagery. Broken down into six sections, Winter at a Summer House brings the reader from infancy through adulthood--a world filled with first words, family, romance, and a multitude of life experiences.

I'm sure part of why this collection spoke to me is because nature and water imagery fill its pages. From "Scarborough Sail" to "Before the Blizzard" and a unique offering told from the perspective of an alligator, each poem drew me in deeper until I polished off the last poem that gives this collection its name. That last one was so moving and so beautiful that I had to read it over again. Other favorites of mine from this collection are "First Words" and "Honeymoon." 

The cover art, designed by Hines's sister, catches the eye since you have the summer house by the shore with a woman walking back into shore while looking out at herself floating. 

If you love moving poetry that will stir up all kinds of emotions, pick up a copy of Winter at a Summer House today.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kelsay Books (November 4, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 102 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 163980045X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639800452
• Purchase from Amazon
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• I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
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First Chapter Review: If They Can't Kiss Right: Surviving Online Dating by Shannon Yingst

 

I received the first chapter of If They Can't Kiss Right: Surviving Online Dating by Shannon Yingst through Pump Up Your Book.

BLURB:  Warning: Adult Content 

Online dating: the new way of life. It seems like the only logical way to meet people anymore. The rest of our lives are on the internet, so why not our love lives too? Because if you wait for your friends to set you up, you'll only be disappointed with their choice of Roger from accounting, the epitome of mouth breathing, booger eating morons.

Fortunately, there are no Rogers from accounting in this tale. There are, however, many other bad choices. But along the way, I learned what I want, and what I don’t want in a relationship. I learned good qualities to seek and bad qualities to leave behind. I also learned a lot about myself in the process, too. The biggest gain I got from my foray into online dating, though? Writing this book and passing along some of the life lessons I discovered through a painful trial-and-error process.

If you think your dating life is bad, take a gander at mine. Relive the awkward moments, soak in the unnecessary drama, and don't forget to learn a thing or two. Men and women alike will be able to read this and take-home solid dating advice for the future.

Laugh. Learn. Love. Question why some humans are so insane. Maybe even see yourself in some of the pages. But above all, take to heart all the things I figured out along the way. It’ll save you the heartache and trouble. Trust me. 

COVER: Clever. I like the crushed red heart lollipop image which reminds the reader of love, Valentine's Day, and sweets. 

FIRST CHAPTER: The author brings you through a tumultuous long-distance relationship she had with a guy in the UK while she lived in the States. 

KEEP READING: Probably. I enjoyed the author's no-nonsense, conversational style and appreciated her willingness to share her life. Most of us have been in a less than ideal relationship, which makes the author's story easily relatable. I am glad Yingst ended the first chapter with a disclaimer of what is to come, so that the reader can make a decision if they want to proceed. Despite the four F-bombs in the first chapter, I would continue, but I have a feeling that eventually what the disclaimer warns me of would interfere with my overall enjoyment. However, the book has received excellent reviews and readers find it totally relatable to anyone who has wandered through the world of online dating, so the author obviously knows her market and connects with them. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HXQ6HHC
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tyburn Hill Media Co. (September 30, 2018)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2018
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1232 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 150 pages
• Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

I received the first chapter from Pump Up Your Book. This first chapter review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

ORDER YOUR COPY FROM AMAZON 

Shannon Yingst is a woman with dreams far beyond her reach. Not because she isn’t ambitious, but because she is short, and her dreams are on the high shelves. On her tip toes reaching for those dusty aspirations, she hopes to achieve the daunting task of entertaining the masses with the written word. Shannon likes to write while listening to Star Wars soundtracks, stand outside while it snows, and get confused playing board games. She would love to spend her days reading on the beach with a waiter bringing her frozen margaritas and snacks as the sun moves about the sky, but for now, she will continue to work at her desk in Jersey.

You can visit her blog at https://waitstophelp.blogspot.com/ or connect with her on Twitter.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

We are back to Tuesday again. This week's topic is a fun one--New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021. Many of the new authors I discovered were in children's literature, but I did find some that I reviewed here as well. So, without further ado...

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Jan 24

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Well, this week passed by in a blur. How was yours? With meetings, media interviews, showings, and a new listing, my brain is a bit tired. I'm also working on an editing project. Not a lot of reading going on right now. I am sticking with my Bible plan, but not a lot else. 

I will review the first chapter of this one on Tuesday.

My review of this book will appear here on Wednesday.

I need to read these.

I need to tackle these two books in February.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This book that I am reviewing in February arrived last week.

Self-care is a buzzword often mentioned when people seek to optimize their health. Suggested self-care practices tend to include activities such as exercising, getting a massage, or eating a healthy diet. While all of these actions have their place, none of them are sufficient enough to provide the soul-care we need to maximize our self-care. Self-care without soul-care equates to temporary solutions that leave us searching for the next new thing. However, when Christ becomes the center of our holistic health journey, we not only find fulfillment in Him but also a dependency on and trust in Him to truly live our best lives-emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Please remind me that I promised I would not request too many virtual book tour titles this year. LOL!

Hope you share what you're reading this week. 

First Story Review: 5 Funny Detective Stories by Benjamin Sobieck

 

This short story collection, which I think has been updated since I grabbed it as a Kindle freebie in 2014, contains originally five, now appears to be eight, short detective stories.

BLURB: Fans of funny detective stories, meet Maynard Soloman, gal-damn detective. Some would say he's crusty, profane and clueless. But if you ask him, he solves the world's problems one case at time. Once you experience his 1930s-style of doing business in a 21st century world, you just might agree.

COVER: Fairly basic and plain, but the bold and vibrant text draws your attention to the cover. The bonus material mention might help it sell.

FIRST STORY: After a brief introduction from the main character, Maynard Soloman, the reader is dropped into the first story, which finds Maynard sleeping in his Winnebago in the Wal-Mart parking lot when he is disturbed by a horrible racket. He soon finds himself in the middle of the war on drugs.

KEEP READING: If you are into crude talk, satire, and crotchety old men, then this might be a story collection for you. It's really not my thing. Some of the expressions and references may be deemed offensive by modern readers. 

I would like to think that the author was going for an older, wisecracking detective that finds himself in the middle of idiotic and, sometimes ironic, situations. I just don't know if he hit the mark as well as he could have. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00G2LKT20
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 20, 2013
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1462 KB

I picked this up as a Kindle freebie in 2014. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Added to My Goodreads Shelf in 2021 But Didn't Get To Read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I love Top Ten Tuesday. It has always been one of my favorite memes. I haven't participated yet this year, but I want to participate as much as I can despite my increased work responsibilities. 

This week's topic is supposed to be 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To, but since I rarely read books in the year they release, I decided to take this in a slightly different direction. Today, I will share my...

Top Ten Books I Added to My Goodreads Shelf in 2021 But Didn't Get To Read

What do you think of my list? Have you read any of these books? Which one would you recommend I read first?