The book module is not a bad for version 0.x. It has some potential. I would also  like to see the ability to create templates and change layouts. I wasn't too hampered on book pages, although I had to keep reapplying my text style.  I didn't like the cover templates selections or more importantly the linking of the front and back covers. There was a front cover and a back cover I would consider.  Unfortunately they weren't on the same template.

I accept this is beta 0.x.

Feeedback. 

Text Boxes.

The handling of text boxes is unworkable.  If I auto fill a text box with a caption larger than the text box, you cannot select the text or adjust the text. If I make the text smaller, then the text that is not visible retains the previous font size.

One cannot select all the text in a text box by triple clicking (a standard way to select text). This is completely unworkable.

No clear way(I can see)  of setting default font styles for text. There is an option at autoload, but I cannot enter a text style I have created.  Not sure rules for default text in text boxes.

Great to see Title and Caption partial autoload facility.  However at a min it should also include Headline (used instead of Title by many) and why limit to just those fields).

Edit Page Layouts.

I second all the comments above  re adjusting picture or text box position, styles and default behaviour  and saving your own templates. There should also be an option in text boxes to auto-fill with a configurable metatdata field.  I am really really frustrated that  the print module is still incomplete at version 4, where I cannot properly  place metadata where I want on a template.  I have great fears that exactly the same will happen with this new module, where a lot of real good work is done, but crippled by not properly completing the basic feature set required.

In my view, without these basic features in the Book module is not usable. I was going to do a trial book using Lightroom 4 and Blurb, but have abandoned that idea now.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the final version will add the vital last important bits.

I have made over 20 books and published with Blurb.  I started with BookSmart and found it to be too restrictive, so I moved on to InDesign.  To be honest InDesign is overkill for what I do.  When LR Beta was released i shouted hallelula all my prayers are answered.  I did not realise that it did not have the basic capability of BookSmart which was to create your own page templates and save them.  I am not sure who designed the templates both for text and images, but they are way out of touch with what other people I have spoken to want and need to have a successful, simple publishing experience.  You need to provide the ability to create page templates, or just DROP the book module.  Please provide this featrue for the commercial release!  All othe other fetures are too good,but without this it stop me from buying it.

I have already voted for this feature.  I really like the idea of getting templates working correctly in the print module and then migrate to the book module. Genius. 

I have already used InDesign  to create a Blurb Book.  Completely overkill and suffers from one major disadvantage…. One cannot create templates, which will transfer the metadata from the underlying images, so you have to transcribe all your text.  I assume similar challenges for Illustrator.