Make Money While You Sleep,How to Turn Your Knowledge into Online Courses That Make You Money 24hrs a Day, Lucy Griffiths

Make Money While You Sleep,How to Turn Your Knowledge into Online Courses That Make You Money 24hrs a Day, Lucy Griffiths

Genre: business & investing, self help

Well, most of us need more cash, and the idea of making money while we sleep….intriguing. I’ve read a few articles on passive income streaming, and the idea is sound.
As always though you need an idea, a product that people want to buy. This book does give some practical advice over that, and how to set your course against others in the same genre to see how it stands up. That was good to see, others I’ve read seem to skip much in the way of real practicalities.
Of course that’s the rub isn’t it? Why does someone want to buy Your course and not an already established one? That’s a tough hurdle and I think this book does tend to gloss over the hard parts of online course making.

I’m an artist, I’ve online friends who have set up online courses in different mediums and in different ways. Some as one off courses, some as monthly subscription types, some as free instruction videos. Some have been successful, others not. Those who have most success seem to be the ones where the blog/video/course is free and the income comes from ads. Possibly Lucy covers this later in the book but I have to be honest, I found it hard reading. Of those who go the course for sale route few have succeeded, even though as artists they are very good. Its a pretty saturated market too.

I’m not convinced with YouTube, Insta, Tiktok all offering free help that there’s a solid place for paid courses anymore. Certainly its not a quick easy route to riches. Yes, you will – if successful- be generating money while asleep, but before this there is a lot, seriously a lot, of very hard work and follow up marketing. Lucy does give some excellent practical advice on this which I was glad to see. Many self help books seem to live in a world where one has an idea, tweaks a few keys, types a few lines and hey presto its done.

Its a mixed bag for me, the bit I did read was useful, though I still feel that paid courses really are limited in application when set against whats free. I know when I want to learn something its Youtube for me, there are videos on every subject you can imagine – and lots you can’t….
I’ve tried to think of an idea where courses would work better. Maybe a specific beginners course, like the “idiots guide…” in computing. I know when I’ve started something new that’s always been the hard part, and once past that I can find everything I need for free. Very little online seems to be aimed solely at beginners and speaking from experience we can make expensive mistakes trying to keep up with more advanced videos. I think that’s one area where it could help.

I didn’t finish the book though, I may someday but its quite dry, dense, tough reading. Being divided into chapters with headings would help – I have an ARC so maybe the final book will have this. That way one can read the part that’s currently of interest, jump around to what appeals at the time.

Stars: 3. An interesting read, but as always there’s lots of work before you – may possibly – make money while you sleep.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Saving Wentworth Hall, A Long Island Novel, Rosalinda Morgan

Saving Wentworth Hall, A Long Island Novel, Rosalinda Morgan

Genre: Historical, Romance

Well, I wanted to love this book, I really enjoy historical reads, especially those with a romantic slant. Sadly it wasn’t to be.

Its not a bad book, but for me it felt very superficial. The characters all felt a little shallow, undeveloped. It takes til nearly 25% before we even learn the reason Spencer has to return home. The major points seemed to have promise but just didn’t live up to them. Likewise the romance, that took some turns that I didn’t expect, which is always fun, but which sadly didn’t feel genuine.

Maybe I’m just the wrong reader. Another reviewer compared the writing style to Danielle Steel. I’ve only read one book by her a long time ago and found the same issues that I had here. So perhaps if you like Danielle Steel that’s an indication this could be a book for you.

Stars: Two and a half, I think its one of those not the book but the reader issues. Not all readers will like all books. I try to choose carefully but sometimes I get it wrong.

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers

Edge of the Woods, Moonrise Book 1, Jules Kelley

Edge of the Woods, Moonrise Book 1, Jules Kelley

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci-fi & Fantasy

I love this kind of fantasy, and was keen to read this book. A whole new series, love that idea. I did enjoy the story, do want to read more but felt there were things here that ( for me ) could have been better.

Haley – love her but…she’s Alpha but it takes til right at the end before she really seems to believe or act like it.
Leland, the new sheriff, was a great guy, loved the interaction and attraction between him and Hayley but….I do find stories where the supernatural is hidden a little hard to take. That’s personal on my side, of course, but it just seems so difficult to ensure a secret of that magnitude stays secret.
Diego, he’s a great kid, coped well with what happened and I do hope the tentative moves towards a romance follows through. Given who the other person is that would really tie supernatural ends together.
,
I’d like to see more of the Pack, we really only meet Hayley, Michelle. Jo and Diego and I would like to see more interaction with other members. I didn’t guess who was moving things, driving the murder story line and would have liked to see more motivations. There was some explanation but it wouldn’t have been the whole story. It felt a little out of character from the little we learned, I wanted to know the back story.

Of course first books in a series have a lot to ask, a good story line to keep the reader engrossed, while delivering a new world setting and group(s) of characters. That’s tough, and I think this novel delivers pretty well, my comments aside. I’m a reader, not an author – that’s something way beyond my skill set!
I’m looking forward to seeing where this story line goes next.

Stars: Three and a half, its a good start but I have a few things that didn’t sit well with me.

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers

The Liar’s Knot, Rook and Rose Book Two, M. A. Carrick

The Liar’s Knot, Rook and Rose Book Two, M. A. Carrick

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy,

Well, book one was a great read, but this book just blew me away. Usually I read fantasy to one or two sittings. I found though, as with book one, this was so complex, so many characters involved, just so much going on that it was best if I read a section, then spent time absorbing what I’d read. So I read this in maybe 5-6 sittings, unheard of for me but it worked really well.
I understood so much more of the world and its characters this time round. I know this will become a series I’ll want to reread, and immerse myself in a back to back fantasy fest.
** Warning. Spoilers for book one***

This section is centred mainly around fewer main characters, some having a major part to play, while others are more “behind the scenes” people.
The characters have grown so much, but there is still so much misunderstanding, so many mixed motives, characters who are more than they seem, with Ren being Ren, Renata, Arenza and now the Black rose, and The Rook also having another face. Giuna has really grown up in this part, and plays her part when needed. Tess and Sedge are the same loyal, clever siblings and support to Ren they’ve always been. We learn more about Vargo and his origins, and I understand him much better – though I always have a sneaking regard for the Bad Boys anyway…and of course there’s clever Alsius.
Old enemies become – well, not friends but the enemy of my enemy is my friend type of relationship, not trusting each other but working for a shared goal. Its more plots within plots, more where what seems like a passing comment turns out to have a major significance.
There’s more pattern, numinatra, and understanding how this magic shapes and controls the world. I find that so fascinating, its become almost real to me. There’s a logic to Numinatra, and a sense of fate and destiny with pattern that appeals to me.
The last quarter of the story carries some real dangers and huge surprises, and I’m so keen to know what happens next. I could write so much more – but without revealing spoilers I just can’t. However I will say if you love an intense, detailed fantasy read this is just perfect.

Stars: Five, a fantastic middle book. Absorbing, Intense, Magical in all senses of the word. It follows book one perfectly and sets up for the final showdown. And I can’t wait for that! I hope that’s well under way!

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers

From Fame to Ruin, Jina S. Bazzar

From Fame to Ruin, Jina S. Bazzar

Genre: Romance, suspense.

I really enjoyed this story though romantic suspense isn’t my usual taste. But…rock-star. My weakness.

There’s such a lot going on right from the off. Carol is facing trying to save her family empire and get out of an arranged marriage. Ricardo has just finished with a thoroughly unpleasant legal situation with an ex and is feeling – well – bitter about it. When they meet the tension sizzles, the chemistry jumps off the page and I was sure I was in for a five star read. Then we jump forward four years and its all change, Carol and Ricardo are not only estranged after all that promise, but actively hate each other.

I have a couple of niggles about the novel. I kept forgetting how different characters fitted within the story, there were such a lot of them belonging to all the multi stranded plots of course, and my other issue, the constant past/present format didn’t help.
I’m really not a fan of alternating timelines, just as I get one timeline straight in my head we jump forward, and its as if the characters are totally different. Then we jump back again and all is perfect for a while. In this book its happening constantly, and I did struggle. Its a personal issue, many folk aren’t bothered by this and of course that will make a perfect read for them. Its really a case of me not the story.

There are multiple plots all going on at the same time, issues linking to the past, betrayals and circumstances that affect how the characters behave and felt, and slowly they were joining up. While I understood why those betrayals etc shaped their decisions it didn’t stop me from getting angry, wanting to shake them. That’s good really, shows how real those people felt. I really liked the characters, even as I was angry at them. I like a story that raises emotions in me, makes me feel the story is real. I love a story that doesn’t depend on one basic plot too, but brings in many sides to it so that was perfect even if it did lead to confusion and a bit of back tracking at times…

I so wanted things to come right between Carol and Ricardo, but the greater part of the novel felt like they were angry still, and I wish they’d talked sooner. I’m glad for the epilogue though it seemed a huge jump forward in time, missing a big gap that I’d have liked expanded a bit.

Stars: Four, a story I really enjoyed even though I was a bit lost by the changing timelines.

ARC supplied by Author