CONFUSED BY STAR RATINGS

Have you wondered about star ratings for products like I have? I finally did a little research for my favorite book sites to get a better understanding.

In my opinion, AMAZON gives a completely vague definition of its star ratings. Hovering over the stars does not help as there are no pop-ups.

“Amazon calculates a product’s star ratings based on a machine-learned model instead of a raw data average. The model takes into account factors including the age of a rating, whether the ratings are from verified purchasers, and factors that establish reviewer trustworthiness.”

GOODREADS STAR RATINGS: 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

B&N: 1= Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Average, 4= Good, 5=Excellent

GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS: 1= Hated it, 2=Didn’t like it, 3=Just Ok, 4= Liked it, 5=Loved it

KOBO: 1= I Hated it, 2=I didn’t like it, 3=It was ok, 4= I liked it, 5=I loved it

NetGalley (Would you recommend?): 1= No, 2=Not Really, 3=Maybe, 4= Yes, 5=Strongly

CBD: 1= Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Average, 4= Good, 5=Excellent (they also ask for a separate 5 bubble review of; Product Quality, Value, Meets Expectation)
Additionally, CBD now requires reviews to be done via Word Pad or Notepad stating in an email to me when I questioned why copy/pasting from MsWord was no longer working for me: “this process was changed recently for security reasons on our site.”

Side note from Christianbook: “Since 1978, Christianbook has been your go-to for Everything Christian for Less.

When we started as Christian Book Distributors, the acronym CBD became common reference for our many devoted customers. In recent years however, it’s become important for us to distinguish ourselves from other CBD-branded businesses.  Since launching on the web in the 1990s we have always been Christianbook.com. We also had the CBD.com site that has always automatically redirected to our official Christianbook.com site. With the potential for brand confusion mentioned above, we’ve decided to stop using the long-standing CBD.com address.

Our online home will now only be at Christianbook.com. We are not moving physical locations or modifying our award-winning services otherwise.  For our customers who reach us by CBD.com, we kindly request that you update your browser bookmarks or favorites to the Christianbook.com address.”

I think it's important to note what a rating on each site means, whether you are shopping or leaving a review.  I have decided if it fits on the site, I will include the site definition for my rating at the bottom trying to stick with each site's system.  So while I may give a 4 on one site, it may only equal a 3 on another site.

Until next time,
Hugs and a cup of tea!  

POETRY and MORE

Seems my life has been so busy lately.  On this last day of September, I thought I would toss up a bunch of pictures here and see where they land... just to say HI!!!

RIGHT CLICK HERE AND OPEN IN NEW WINDOW FOR AUTUMN HYMNS TO PLAY IN BACKGROUND

Today 9/30/2016 is the anniversary of the writing of Little Women in 1868, per the click here--> Louisa May Alcott Orchard House museum.  I adore this story.  

I have not had this, because I do not favor plain green tea
but I think the idea is really cool! :-)
CLICK HERE FOR THE LOUISA MAY ALCOTT TEA

Find Garden Dolly by clicking here

This is Marigold.  I collaborated with the artist on fabric, ribbon, hair color and choice of name.  She adventured all the way from England to me.  Isn't she darling?

Sherry at The Charm of Home blog posted this photo,
which inspired me to write the following poem.
Check out her inspiring BLOG and IG some time.

MY KIND OF FREE

*by me, Heather G. 9/3/2016
🍁🍂🍃🍎☕🍯🍎📖✒🐦🌲🍃🍂🍁
Off to the woods, wild and free, that's where I wish that I could be. Picking an apple, dipping a toe, not caring which direction I go. Oh, for a breeze, and pine-scented trees. Ducks bobbing in ponds and birds that sing. A plaid thermos of tea I happened to bring. Perhaps a book in a secret nook, or a pad and a pen to write my thoughts in, my dreams, my prayers and doodles.  Oh to look up in wonder, content in all that surrounds, knowing He who created it, shall never fail or let me down.
🍁🍂🍃🍎☕🍯🍎📖✒🐦🌲🍃🍂🍁

🍃🌼💜 A MOSSY SPOT 💜🌼🍃
There is nothing like a mossy spot, 
To lose yourself in quiet thought.
Contemplating on art you've seen,
Knowing you're a daughter of the King.
Contentment comes easy,
In moments like these,
Ever so softly upon the breeze.
9/10/2016 -Heather G.
My beautiful  Heather doll sent all the way from Essex by the lovely @garden.dolly on IG & @gardendollys on FB. Many of her dolls have flower names & she named this one after me :-)

We collected leaves in the park today. We discussed how they look, smell and feel. The backsides were a soft, fuzzy texture, which was really cool!

"Come little leaves", said the Wind one day, "Come to the meadows with me and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; for summer is past, and the days grow cold." - George Cooper

From the book: Tea Party Today, Poems to Sip and Savor

My kitchen shelf decked out
for Autumn.

This is the prayer I made up, and I have taught
my daycare Littles for years :-)

"Father God,
Thank You for this food,
Thank You for this day,
Bless our food
And bless our friends,
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen."

From the book: A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Art by Tasha Tudor
I just ordered this book here and can not wait to receive it!

Orange/Cranberry

& clove muffins I made to go with our Poetry Tea Time to welcome the 1st day of 
A U T U M N

Lately it has been far too hot, but I
enjoyed some breezy Bible time last week :-)
The berries are a dark orange, but soon turn bright red.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT IT
CLICK HERE TO READ FOR FREE ONLINE

I started The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith last month, but paused to read a book for a book review I agreed to do.  Hoping to get back into it because it is very good. My copy is thought to be from the late 1800s and is notated in the front cover, Grace M. Marks, Nashua, Iowa, Dec. 25, 1897. Originally published in 1766, the amusing style reminds me of Jane Austen. 

Ch.2"When we had dined, to prevent the ladies leaving us, I generally ordered the table to be removed; and sometimes, with the music master's assistance, the girls would give us a very agreeable concert. Walking out, drinking tea, country dances, and forfeits, shortened the rest of the day..."

Ch.5"Here too we drank tea, which now was become an occasional banquet; and as we had it but seldom, it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions, our two little ones always read for us, and they were regularly served after we had done."

Well, friends, I do hope you have enjoyed my ramblings and pictures.  I pray you have a very pleasant October filled with crisp air, God's grace, wonderful reading, friends and family, and lots of tea. (-smile)