Review Day: An Unproductive Woman

It's Review Day again!!!!!!!!!!

Title: An Unproductive Woman
Author: Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

(description from Smashwords)

After ten years of marriage, Asabe and Adam remain childless. Fueled by desperation and a long held secret, Adam marries a second wife. This decision acts as the catalyst to change no one could have predicted. Read An Unproductive Woman to learn what secrets Adam has withheld that would explain his unreasonable longing and pursuit of a son at all costs.(end)

*Some spoilers are included.*

Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali did an incredible job with this novel. The characters drive the plot forward and are definitely the main focus in this novel.  I formed strong opinions of the characters very early on.  Adam is a complete jerk, but makes the story interesting.  Asabe is such a sweet, caring and beautiful woman who just wants to give her husband Adam everything he wants, but when that isn't enough she even helps him with his other wives.  Asabe tries everything to keep her husbands attention, but he always falters and acts like a child.  Adam...he's very frustrating - all he cared about was having a son because he gave up the only son he already had.  Asabe had the patience of a saint to put up with Adam for sure.  Khaalidah wrote both of these characters as if they truly were soul mates! d'awwww....


This novel is like looking into the still-practiced religions that believe in polygamy, rely heavily on having a son, and the various marriage ceremonies/practices that come with them.  Khaalidah really developed each character to the fullest - you can really see these characters coming to life.  I felt bad for the characters, wanted to strangle and knock some sense into other characters, and sniffled away tears a few times.  Khaalidah showed the perspective of each character beautifully and flawlessly.  She shows you exactly what Adam, Asabe, the wives, their extended family, friends, neighbors, etc feel about everything that happens.  It's an incredible novel, and a must read for anyone who enjoys looking into different religions, romance, marriage, or simply what happens when you're obsesssed with having a certain gender of a child.


Why 4 stars?  Although I absolutely fell in love with this novel, I also fell out of love with it just as easily.  It's somewhat forgettable once you're finished with it.  Some of the chapters had too much detail that brought the chapters from exciting to too long.

Purchase a copy of An Unproductive Woman on Smashwords or Amazon for only $2.99 (Kindle edition).

Quick Tip! [From the Archives]

Today's Quick Tip [From the Archives] is....

deciding on when to read another book!  Scenario: You just finished a book.  It was amazing (or terrible...)!!  Give yourself time to bask in the glory (or dread) of the this book.  Wait at least until the next day before starting another book.  Waiting will let the story sink in and really end.  If you jump into another book too soon, you'll find yourself thinking more about the last book and less about the new book, missing important details or mixing up the two books.  Nobody wants that!  BUT if you just can't wait, and I know I do it too...then read something completely different from it (if possible).  For example, when you finish a particularly creepy book go read a romance or comedy novel to help push out the creepiness...or whatever feelings that are lingering.

(Click here to see the original Quick Tip.) 

Happy Reading!

Hey There Delilah: Kindle Touch Screen Sensitivity

Hey There Delilah is a *new* mini-series where I help solve Kindle problems.  I get asked all the time "So...something isn't working right on my Kindle and I have no idea why.  I don't have a warranty anymore...PLEASE help!"

Before you decide you hate your Kindle, want to return it and get a new one...ask me!  I've had many freak outs when I thought something with my precious little device was wrong...but really it was something simple.  Here is a common problem that I have come across for many people who use a Kindle and Kindle app.

Problem/Question: My Kindle Touch screen is not reacting very quickly when I touch it.  The battery is half charged - should I send it in?


My answer: Not yet! Try this first. Do not push harder or down on the screen to get it to work.  That will just break it and not all warranties cover that!

How to fix it: 1. Restart your Kindle: menu - settings restart OR menu - restart  2. Check for updates.  Yes this matters!  Simply turn on the WiFi or 3G; menu - settings - check for updates OR menu - check for updates  3.  If your screen still isn't responding well after the updates and restart, charge your Kindle completely.  Touch screens require more power, so the battery might be lower than it is showing it is.  Turn off your Kindle while charging.*  4.  If the screen still is not working properly after all of these steps, contact Kindle Customer Service about options.  If you still have a warranty then this issue is covered 100%, if not then CS can give you the options.

* Side note:  If steps 1-3 fix your problem, make sure you write down the date the issue occurred somewhere.  If this occurs more than once within a month or during the next full battery charge, you should contact Amazon.

How to prevent it:  Power down your Kindle at least once a week.  Do not leave the WiFi or 3G engaged 24/7 unless you are using it - it will drain the battery faster.  Make sure you update and/or check for updates on your Kindle at least once a month.  Only charge your Kindle Touch battery when the battery is low or if the device is getting noticeably slower.

Have a Kindle problem?  Ask me!  I love helping people figure out their Kindle issues.  *Please note, I can't solve all Kindle problems.  Some of them can't be fixed at home.*  Send me an email, tweet, message me on Facebook, or leave a comment and I will get back to you!  Happy Fixing!

Authors Not-So-Anonymous Week #15

Welcome everyone to the fifteenth Authors Not-So-Anonymous weekly meeting!! This weekly series is about authors from Twitter and Facebook!  This week, I would like to introduce V.L. Locey into Authors Not-So-Anonymous!

V.L. Locey is a adult author and blogger.  She works on her farm with her husband and daughter, takes care of numerous animal children, all the while maintaining her blog and writing career.  V.L. is a very talented writer, with a hilarious blog and now a brand new book!  Her biggest inspiration is her mother - "She took a floral arrangement class well into her sixties simply because it was something she had always wanted to do, but, raising three kids hadn`t left her time to do so before.  When the writing bug bit me and my daughter was in school, I remembered this about my mother, who passed several years ago, and decided to push ahead with this love of writing.  So yeah, Mom, this is for you.  Thanks for showing me that it`s never too late in life to do what you love."

Some V.L.'s favorite authors are J.R. Ward, Rick Riodan, J.K. Rowling and Edith Hamilton.  "I`m a rabid reader, love to write, adore Greek mythos, coffee, Marvel comics, playing X-Box games, am secretly (or not so secretly) in love with the boys on ‘Big Bang Theory’ and enjoy spending time with my family and our critters." An author after many of our hearts, VL is such a sweet woman and talented author.

V.L.'s book Of Gods and Goats just released on April 6, 2012.  This is the first book in the trilogy.  Here is an excerpt from her novel:

Thank you,” I said again. His fingers were tugging at the cover as he balled his fingers into a fist that could drop Godzilla. “I have some questions,” I added and pulled slightly to keep my chest covered. Not that he hadn`t seen all I had to show already but, you know, a woman has to have some modesty, right?

“I would be surprised if you did not,” he responded tightly. “Ask and I shall attempt to answer your queries, but first you must eat. Would you wish for me to feed you?”

I blinked at him for a moment in surprise then shook my head.

”No, I think I can manage to chew but thanks,” I muttered then looked down at where his arm was stretched across my stomach. “If you move that I can sit up and eat,” I pointed while Argus rose up on his back feet to check out the milk pitcher with very greedy feline eyes. Ares and I both lunged for the glass container at the same time as my cat reached up to dunk his paw into it. Ares` hand slapped down over mine on the handle as I rolled into his side. And then we sat there like a couple of drunken toads on a log.

I could see so much in his eyes in that moment: Hope and despair and fear and strength, eons of misery and laughter, anger and pleasure. All of that was there, and yet something was missing. I felt my blanket slipping downward but I couldn`t do a damned thing to stop it. I was too wrapped up in those godly eyes of his to care.

“You are a very special woman, Libby Simons,” he grunted as if the admission had cost him dearly. I made some sort of goofy sound then leaned forward slightly. I will swear on a stack of the Iliad or whatever it is Greek gods swear on, that my gesture was to make sure the pitcher didn`t hit the floor. I would swear and then I would be tossed into the Olympic jail for perjury. The real reason I drifted closer to him was because he was moving towards me and I really, really, REALLY wanted to taste his lips. (end)

oh look! A video!

Of Gods and Goats can be purchased on Smashwords in ebook format OR from the Of Gods and Goats site in paperback.  Follow V.L. Locey on Twitter, Facebook , Goodreads, and her blog Thoughts from A Yodeling Goatherder.


Have an author to nominate?  Send me a message via Twitter or leave a comment with the author(s) name and Twitter name and the tag #ANSA.  I'd love to add new members!  Happy Reading!