About Reviews

First? The legal stuff!


Disclosure: I DO NOT receive money for these reviews. I either have purchased these books myself or received them free from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Whew. Okay, that out of the way.


What I will review:


Primarily self-published ebooks. I'll consider ebooks from small presses, if you make a case for it. On rare occasion, I may find a big press book that I really like and want to tell the world about, so maybe will toss one or two in from time to time. Otherwise, just indie ebooks.


I will review almost any genre: science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, mystery, suspense/thriller, horror, romance, erotica and so forth. I do, however, have a strange affliction which makes some post-apocalyptic stuff difficult to read, so I might turn those down if it sounds like I'll struggle with it. It's not personal. It's just My Crazy. I'll review Young Adult, but will note that I often have trouble connecting to teenage main characters and this may color my view of a book.


Addendum to the above: I've recently learned that books involving bad things happening to small children are also very hard for me, unless the writer can assure me that we won't see anything bad happen ultimately. For example, I'll read a book about a kidnapping, but if that kid dies, I probably won't forgive the author. Books where something like that is part of a back story, I probably can deal with. If My Crazy takes over, I'll let you know.


Formats: I prefer epub above all, but a pdf is okay too. I can read Kindle, but it's off my computer so that takes longer. I've learned my ereader will read rtf files, though, so that's an option if you want to send me the "raw" version because you don't have an epub or pdf. I will try to be as accommodating as I can be, but if I can't read it off my ereader, I'll take longer to get to it. Just so you know.


Anyways. I can promise two things with every review: 1. I will endeavor to point out any good points I see, even if I end up writing an ultimately negative review. 2. I'll be honest.


Also, I will reply to every review request I get, if to do nothing else than acknowledge receipt of your email.


With books that I purchased on my own, I'll post the reviews on this blog and on my GoodReads account. If it's a book I received from an author to review, I'll post on Smashwords and/or Amazon as applicable. All of the latter will be from my Author Ego Mia Darien because that's what the accounts are under.


I can't always promise a super fast time frame. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I promise I will do it as quick as I'm able, but I can't assure that means, say, a two day turn around.


Now, a lot of blogs for reviewers don't want to review self-published authors any more because some of us have reacted badly to negative reviews. As someone who strives to handle negativity with grace, this annoys me and I won't tolerate it here.


I will not let anyone "preview" a review of their book or have any say in whether I post it. If I want to post it, I'll post it. If you decide you don't like what I say, keep it to yourself. If someone sends me a nasty email about a review, you run the risk of my posting it here. I don't want to be a bitch, but I also don't want to be trashed for having an opinion either. You have been warned.


I will assure you, however, that even if I do post a negative review, I will never come after the author. I might say that the book wasn't very good, or had not good elements, or I'm not sure what the author's reasons were, but I'll never trash the author. I won't ever get personal. My reviews will be about the story.


So, if you can't handle a potentially negative review, don't email me. Or, if I purchased your book on my own and didn't review it great, don't email me about it. I spent the time and/or money to get your book, and time to read it and write about it. It's a free country and I'm allowed to have an opinion. So don't even try to talk down to me about it.


Fire mages are known for exploding, after all. ;-)


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If you would like a book reviewed, would like to make a suggestion to read, or have any questions... email me at: boom.baby83 (at) gmail.com

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