Spicy Romance Novels for your Summer TBR
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on April 30, 2024
If you’re a regular on the Hidden Gems blog, you’ll know that spicy romance is the most popular genre in the Hidden Gems ARC program. Our readers know that no two love stories are the same, so they scoop up new books every chance they get. From mafia romance to light hearted rom coms, if you are looking for a new novel to add to your summer reading TBR list, there’s something for every romance reader on this list! Savage Betrayal by Ivy Thorn With over 80+ ratings and a 4.6 star average, Savage Betrayal is the first installment of the Dark Redemption series, a mafia romance duet. Fans of age gap romance will love this novel and will want to dive right into book 2, Vicious Redemption, for the HEA you’ll surely be thirsting for. “Way better than five stars, this suspense filled story was full of secrets and… Read More >
The Author’s AI Toolkit – Prompting 101
By: Craig | Posted on April 26, 2024
Last month, I kicked off this new AI author toolkit series with a brief overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and its importance for writers, including some available options and a preview of key topics we’ll explore in future installments. To truly benefit from this series, however, it’s essential that you understand the basics of how to interact with AI. That is, via Prompts. By now, most people are at least familiar with the terms “AI Prompts” or “Prompting” or “Prompt Engineering”, but may not be clear about what they really mean or why they are so important to AI. Even among those that do understand what prompts are, some believe the whole concept to be overly complicated, scary, or too technical. After all, there are already a myriad of courses and degrees in Prompt Engineering, so they must be hard to use, right? Wrong. The Truth About Prompting First of… Read More >
Some Good Mystery Novels to Add to your TBR List
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on April 21, 2024
One of the most amazing things about the mystery genre is that there truly is something for everyone. No matter which side of the spectrum you prefer, we can all agree that page-turning intrigue is a must. If you’re looking for some good mystery novels to read, this list of books enjoyed by our Hidden Gems ARC readers is for you. Murder at Dawn by Patrick Kelly With 60+ ratings and a 4.7 star average, Murder at Dawn by Patrick Kelly is the final installment in the Wintergreen Mystery series. This series follows retired detective Bill O’Shea, after a murder takes place in Wintergreen, Virginia. JACW describes in their five star Amazon review why you should add this to your TBR list, “…I love Patrick Kelly’s writing style – I read the first two paragraphs of the book twice just because of the way he described a summer storm! His… Read More >
Using Facebook Ad Rules
By: Ginger | Posted on April 19, 2024
If you’ve ever wondered why some of your carefully crafted Facebook ads seem to rarely get shown, while others are capturing all the spotlight, you’re not alone. The ad giant’s algorithms are perplexing, and often leave authors both puzzled and frustrated as they struggle to promote their books. That’s why today, Ginger is diving into some of the reasons why not all of our ads are treated equally and what might be happening behind the scenes to cause this apparent imbalance. Fortunately, he’s also giving us some ideas on how to level the playing field. One of the most powerful tools to make strategic adjustments to your ads is Facebook ad Rules, but very few authors are even aware that these Rules exist, much less what they’re used for. Yet by tweaking them, you can transform the way you manage your campaigns, giving you greater control over which ads are… Read More >
Young Adult Stories To Enjoy This Spring
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on April 16, 2024
If you have a young reader in your family, or even if it is just a guilty pleasure of yours, we’ve rounded up a collection that includes a variety of young adult stories that have been popular and well-liked by Hidden Gems ARC readers. Dead Girl by Kerrie Faye Death has its advantages, or so Ember O’Neill discovers when a deadly prank transforms her from a bullied outcast to a school tyrant. Resurrected and secretly supernatural, she topples the reigning drama queen and wins the affections of the new heartthrob. But her newfound power attracts dangerous attention when an assassin from the heretical Order targets her. Ember faces a difficult choice about whether to reveal her abilities to protect herself and her friends, risking everything she’s gained, as her would-be killer draws near. “The characterization is well done. Ember is imperfect and relatable as are her closest friends Erick and… Read More >
Understanding the “Learning” Phases of Facebook Ads
By: Ginger | Posted on April 12, 2024
Maintaining a robust marketing and advertising strategy has become as crucial as writing a great book, and for many authors, Facebook remains the go-to platform for advertising. However, the complexity of Facebook’s ad interface can baffle even those who understand the basics of setting up an ad, especially when they find their ad in the “Learning” or “Learning Limited” state. Knowing how to optimize ads and take action when campaigns underperform is essential for campaign success. The “Learning” and “Learning Limited” phases indicate your ad’s performance and optimization stages, sometimes requiring action. Today, Ginger will explain what those terms mean, what actions to take when you encounter them, and how to optimize your ad campaigns to enhance visibility and achieve better results. Over the course of the last few years, the path to successful self-publishing has changed. Many authors used to find success simply by writing great books with a… Read More >
Fantasy Books That Take You to Another World
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on April 9, 2024
Venture into worlds unlike our own in these 5 fantasy titles recently read and reviewed by Hidden Gems ARC readers – and remember, if you want to receive free fantasy books like these – or others from 15 different genres – just sign up today and select your favorites. Bonding Fire by Ava Richardson When Prince Tagaris arrives at Gwen’s door seeking aid, she’s tempted to turn him away. Despite being banished from court with her mentor for failing to save the king years ago, Gwen can’t refuse his plea. Tagaris’s niece, Comnena, suffers from the same fatal illness that claimed the king’s life. Gwen soon discovers Comnena has been poisoned, a fact hidden by the dragon queen. To conceal Gwen’s true mission, Tagaris proposes a fake courtship. Though Gwen harbors no love for Tagaris, she must rely on him to cure Comnena. As they grow closer, their sham courtship… Read More >
A Guide to Using A+ Content
By: Ginger | Posted on April 5, 2024
Last week, Ginger discussed Amazon’s A+ Content and how it can amplify the conversion rate of visitors to your product page into buyers of your book. This time he’s going deeper, with a more tactical discussion of using A+ Content to elevate the visual and textual presentation of your book. Through practical examples, Ginger demonstrates the variety of available modules and how they can be used to go beyond the standard book description and provide a richer, more engaging experience for potential readers. From compelling text modules that highlight key selling points and author insights to visually striking image options and interactive features, A+ Content serves as your palette to paint a more enticing picture of your work. In a marketplace where differentiation is key, leveraging these tools can be the decisive factor in making a sale and earning yourself a lifelong fan of your work. Last week, I wrote… Read More >
Romantic Novels to Add a Little Spring To Your Heart
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on April 2, 2024
Are you looking for some romances to add a little spring to your heart? Today we’ve rounded up a collection that includes 5 romantic novels that have been popular and well-liked by Hidden Gems ARC readers recently. Ruthless Saints by Ella Jade Luciana convinces herself that her arranged marriage is merely a guise for espionage, but once drawn into Romero’s world, she realizes he exerts control over every aspect of her existence. Despite her initial resistance, she finds herself drawn to him. Is she becoming just another possession for a man accustomed to getting everything he desires, or is she an unwitting pawn in a dangerous game? As she spends more time with Romero, she discovers his disdain for traitors, a perilous revelation given her true motives. Saying no to her family seems dangerous, but the stakes intensify when Romero learns she’s there to set him up. “This is a… Read More >
