GraphicStock - Friend or Foe? A Review From a User

Did you receive this in your email box recently?

Obviously I did. After I checked it out a little, I decided to take the plunge and see if it's something I would like. I'm always on the lookout for graphics for work and home, so why not?

Pros:
- As stated in their terms of use, I can use these graphics and pictures for commercial as well as personal purposes. Plus 2.

- There's a lot to choose from. You will have lots and lots and lots to look at. Plus 1.

- You create an account, which is quick and easy (you do have to fill out payment information just in case you go past your 7 days free they can conveniently bill you. Personally, I dislike that part, but I see that it is necessary. Make sure to write your start date down and be prepared to cancel after your last 20 downloads on your last day!) They provide folders for you to save what you like for future daily downloads. Plus 1.

- The graphics, vectors and illustrations are nice. Overall, I'm pleased with them. I have found a few that were a little risque, but on the whole, they seem to be family-friendly. Plus 2.
 
- Compared to other sites out there, the yearly membership fee for this one is by far the best priced. Plus 2.

Cons:
- Their pricing scale was not easily identifiable on their website. I did have to do a lot of searching before I found it. I would have signed up quicker if they had been upfront with costs. Minus 1.

- You only get 20 downloads per day. While this in itself isn't a bad thing, if you don't use up your 20 downloads on one day, they do not roll over. You must download 20 or you will lose them. Minus 2. I say minus 2 because that just seems dishonest. Face it, it's not going to break their bank account if they allow me to actually download 140 graphics. Can I get an Amen?

- Be careful when you download to note what you're actually getting. I have four duplicate downloads. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?! Honestly, the first two were my fault. I relied on the site to say something like 'you have previously downloaded this file'. But that feature only worked half the time, which is why I'm very careful now before downloading because guess what? Yep. The duplicates count against your 20. The second two duplicate files, weirdly those just showed up. No, I didn't double click and I know I didn't download them twice. Makes me go hmm. But seriously, at this point, it's their word against mine. Would they even listen to me if I complained? Don't know. I'll send them a nice email and see what happens. Minus 2.

- You will spend a lot of time on this site. With 2 jobs, homeschooling, running a house and karate, I don't have a lot of time, but if I only get 20 downloads a day and those don't roll over, yeah. I'm going to get my 20. See point 2 above. Neutral score as I knew I didn't have a lot of time going into this.

- When you join, make sure to note what time zone you are. I thought I had time to get back upstairs and finish my 20 downloads for the day after we watched a movie as a family, but sadly I was mistaken. I'm in the Central time zone and they are in Eastern time. Which I found on the bottom of their contact us email page. They did not post that on the front page of their site and make it clear what time they're going by. Because this happened, I lost out on 8 downloads. Not happy Bob. Minus 8.  

Overall:
At the moment, Foe.  I did write them an email regarding the rollover time issue. We'll see if anything happens. My opinion? Be cautious before proceeding with this GraphicStock offer and be tedious to learn the details. I won't be coming back. 

The Body Under the Bridge - Book Review

The Body Under the Bridge

A Father Gilbert Mystery

By Paul McCusker

9781782641070 | $14.99 | Paperback | Lion Fiction

About the book:

First in a series of modern whodunits from an accomplished author with a worldwide following

A former Scotland Yard detective, Father Gilbert knows about death. But, now a priest of a modest Anglican church in the small town of Hailsham, he didn't expect it to show up like this--in the suicide of a man who threw himself off the church tower, and in the discovery of a two-hundred-year-old body beneath an ancient bridge.

The deaths are linked. The mummified corpse under the bridge, a murder victim, reignites a centuries-old battle between two local families--the Todds and the aristocratic Hayshams. Then both David Todd and Lord Haysham begin to act strangely. They are fearful for reasons they won’t explain.

When Lord Haysham is murdered, David Todd is the prime suspect. But Todd is maniacal, claiming great forces of evil are at work. An entire history of violence and depravity begins to emerge, interweaving the history of several local families with a secret occult society that engages in Black Masses. Has the Society emerged again?

My Review:

Let me preface this review by stating that thoughts on books are highly subjective. What I like, you may not, and vice versa. My purpose for writing these book reviews is to let other parents/adults know what is in them. Just in case someone out there is as picky as I am.

With that said, here we go.

Pros:

I was very excited to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Kregel. The cover is striking; it sparked my interest and made me want to delve into this mystery. 

There were plenty of twists and turns in this plot. This propelled the story forward.

The author wrote about new things I haven't seen in print before. However, to be blatantly honest, I don't read a ton of books. I simply don't have time, so I could be wrong about that.

Cons:

I was very disappointed on how much the author delved into sexual thoughts. While those thoughts weren't acted upon, the point was there and it was uncomfortable. I don't read books with sexual overtones. I have raised my children to know that if a book is here in my library, they are more than welcome to read it. This is one that I feel I have to hide. There's quite enough in the world to make child rearing difficult that I don't need to put temptation in their path. Home should be a place of safety and refuge, not refuse (garbage).

I picked this book because I knew the author was associated with Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey series. This isn't something that settles well with me. I understand wanting to branch out, believe me. I myself am writing a speculative fiction novel that deals with unexplainable things that some Christians may not accept. But I do not delve into the sexual. I feel the Bible expressly discourages such subjects as sex was made only for marriage so I treat it as a subject that shouldn't be in Christian novels. If I wanted to read a worldly book, there are plenty for me to choose from.

I also understand that this review is harsh and I do apologize. I feel terrible for that, but I cannot in good conscience with God nor myself recommend this book. If I'm uncomfortable having this book on my shelf, I feel it is my duty to warn others that may feel the same as I do. I won't be reading any more Father Gilbert books.