Updates & Feature

Hi Everyone,

Firstly, Sorry there haven't been as many reviews up recently. I am still reading, but mostly I am finishing books ready for upcoming blog tours. So the reviews I write have to be delayed to coincide with the tour.

Next -  I am featured today on 'One A Day Y.A', run by the lovely Erika.
Every Sunday she does a feature called 'Under The Cover Sunday' which reveals the designs printed on Hardback books that are hidden under the jackets. I took a picture of 'Department 19' by Will Hill for her and it is featuring today. So go check it out, she has a lovely blog, it's definitely worth a look!


I need opinions/ideas from you my readers.
I am thinking of changing my rating system. I originally did a mark out 10 because I thought 5 was too limited, but I hardly ever award below 7, and recently I've been thinking that a lot of books are scoring the same but don't actually achieve the same level of writing etc. How can I justify between an 8 or an 8 and a half. There are so many things that factor in that a simple number does not convey it properly. This is where I need your help for ideas.

I want something similar to emoticon pictures. but I want something original - not just smiley faces.

I want the five things to basically represent this:

- LOVED IT - ON MY SHELVES FOREVER!

- REALLY ENJOYED IT

- WAS OK, NOT SURE I WOULD READ IT AGAIN

- JUST MANAGED TO FINISH IT, DIDN'T ENJOY

- HATED IT, COULDN'T FINISH

This tends to be the main outlines of my emotions but it's more general/accepting than a concrete number.
I've seen some great designs for example 'Down The Rabbit Hole' run by Amber has bunny ear ratings with expressions relating to Alice In Wonderland - the theme of her blog.
'Book Soulmates' has love hearts with expressions of romance - the theme of their blog.
There are many more examples and I love them all.
My blog doesn't really have a concrete theme, but features butterflies on my header, and reviews mostly paranormal and contemporary YA. I want something pretty simple but eye catching and memorable. I adore the Lion King, Harry Potter, Glee, but worry these are too specific if I chose one of them as a theme.
So has anyone got any ideas? Or should I just stick with smiley faces?
Also if I find an idea I like - is there anyone here who would make the icons for me. I'm not majorly artistic or good with HTML. I am willing to pay as long as it's not too expensive.

Thanks a lot. I look forward to your response. :D

I hope you've all had a fab weekend.
Here is what I spent my evening tonight doing:

We have a new Manager starting at work tomorrow so I made her a welcome cake. It's shaped like a book, since I work in a library. It turned out much better than I thought it would, though these pictures don't do it justice. :P
It's a chocolate chip cake with vanilla icing for the pages and chocolate icing for the book cover.
I hope she likes it. It took me ages!
Now - who's hungry. :D