In late June I was notified that I had been chosen to participate in a Tryazon giveaway from Bestway.  Tryazon is an amazing company that allows participants to use and review specific products by throwing parties or hosting get togethers during which the product is used.  I was chosen to review a Bestway Inflatable Madrid Saluspa.  This week we filled it up, and tonight we had some family over to give it a go.  I have to say—it is an incredible product!

First, the tub we got, the Madrid, is a smaller model.  It says it will fit four comfortably, but you’d have to be pretty good friends to want to be that close!  We managed three at a time, but for a couple, it would be perfect.  We were able to get the water to a temperate 104 degrees F, and even with many of us in and out, the tub retained the heat. The bubbles were surprisingly strong for a plug and play spa, and it was truly therapeutic for my bad knees.  

Set up was a breeze, even though the instructions were sketches only (I would have preferred a narrative), but the online videos helped with a few things about which we had questions.  The unit self inflated using the included pump in less than four minutes.  Filling took about 3 hours, and getting it to the right temp took about 20 hours, with the included cover clipped down.  We then treated the water and added a few submersible lights for ambiance.  All in all, a super easy, stress-free process.  

With all the angst we’ve had in our lives, it was lovely to simply relax.  Thanks to Tryazon and Bestway for a wonderful opportunity.  

@Tryazon @BestwayUS

 #BestwayUS #BestwaySoothingSpaParty #Tryazon

Amazon Throws Down the Gauntlet

And so, like a whiny two year old on the verge of a major meltdown, the powers-that-be at Amazon have crossed their collective arms, stomped their collective feet and, simultaneously, stuck out their bottom lips.  Yes folks, Amazon has taken their toys and gone home, coveting the Vine program as it throws all other honest reviewing sites under the proverbial bus.  But what's that?  A loophole?  Of course!

So Bezos et al have decided that sellers can no longer offer discounts or free products in exchange for reviews.  Seems fairly straight forward, and yet the cracks in this plan are larger than those in Shel Silverstein's sidewalk.   All one needs do to skirt this nifty new policy is to offer the discount, watch for those who don't VOLUNTARILY review and cull them from the reviewing herd.  And yet, something tells me the policy will have a more chilling effect on the reviewing community.

The reality is this--Amazon needs only to crosscheck the promotional codes with the person publishing the review.  Receive a code and write a review and wham, bam, next thing you know you're on the outside looking in, without a single remaining published word on the site.  It doesn't matter that the seller didn't ASK you to write the review.  The upshot is that if Amazon pulls the plug on you, they can SAY you were asked.  Proof?  Who needs it?  Certainly not the head honchos at Amazon.  With a reviewer rank of just over 500, and over 1300 published reviews, someone there got a wild hair and decided I had a personal relationship with a seller.  Which seller?  Who knows!  What kind of relationship?  The kind that made my reviews unacceptable.  The kind that gave Amazonian asshats carte blanche  to summarily dismiss me without even a handshake or severance pay.

So while many of us were handed our hats over the past year, I fear a larger purge is just over the horizon.  I applaud those sellers who are turning to other sites, like Walmart, and entertaining more blogger input and reviews.  I like that they are playing by the rules but remaining proactive and basically saying "fuck you" to the Amazon gods.  I have to voice my distaste, however, for those sellers who are trying to lure honest reviewers like myself by still demanding reviews and offering substantial payouts to break Amazon's TOS.  If Bezos wants to pout and circle the wagons to protect his precious, severely flawed, Vine program, respect the ridiculousness.  It's his company, and nothing speaks to a company guru louder than a loss of business.  Begin to explore other avenues for your products, and those of us who review justly will follow you.

Happy reviewing!

Oh Mr. Coben--You've Now Fooled Me Once

Fool Me Once: A Review

I have to begin by saying that I adore Harlan Coben. Whilst I've read virtually everything the man has ever written, it is perhaps the antics of Myron Bolitar which appeal to me most. The humor in those novels is always beautifully woven into the intricate plot lines, and the pages just seem to turn themselves. Perhaps it is my love of those pieces that prejudiced me when reading Fool Me Once. I just didn't close the book feeling any sense of resolve or satisfaction. The loose ends were certainly tied up; the plot was extremely well written; and the realistic dialogue was typical Coben--fast paced and shot from the proverbial hip. What seemed to pervade every page, however, was an overwhelming sense of despair--a dispiriting shroud of gray that only allowed momentary snapshots of color and substance to bleed through the desolation. 

Maya is a recently widowed ex-military pilot who married into a wealthy matriarchal family. She is suffering from PTSD that is fueled by her own guilt, stemming from an incident of which we become aware in bits and pieces as the story progresses. Her mission is no longer of the military variety but rather to unravel the murder of her husband, which incidentally had followed on the heels of her sister's brutal murder.

Each character to whom we are introduced seems to be tainted by death and self-destruction, with the exception of Lily, Maya's daughter. She is the only glimpse of joy we see and the only splash of color in the otherwise monochrome landscape. From Isabella, the nanny, to Maya's sister-in-law Caroline, every single player in this maze of chaos and lies is tainted with character flaws that are predictive of their eventual downfall. At the close of the final chapter, I was left unable to feel any empathy for any of them. They all played a part in the bleak and disturbing climax, when the plot is finally turned on its head and the truth is revealed. 

If you're looking for a plot that twists and turns, and you don't mind the lack of any joy, you may really enjoy this. Technically, it certainly reflects the artistry of Coben. If, however, you read Coben for his infusion of humor as well as his ability to tell one hell of a story. you might want to keep looking. I'm still depressed.