Review Policies

Most of the books I review are titles and authors I’ve found on my own, but I do sometimes accept review request. I’m really picky though and my reading/review time for new authors is limited. Therefore, your odds of getting reviewed here by using this process is slim.

However, if after your read the information below you think I’d love your book, please complete this form. DO NOT SEND YOUR BOOK until you receive a reply from me.

Things to know:

  • I am most interested in mystery/suspense, speculative, and young adult books. I sometimes review middle grade, as well.
  • I almost never accept a review request for a romance, historical, or general fiction—unless I’m already familiar with the author and have liked their previous books.
  • I prefer .mobi copies, but will also accept print books.
  • If I accept your request, that is no guarantee of a review. I give you 30 pages. If I like it, I keep reading. If I don’t, I stop.
  • If I don’t finish your book, I won’t review it, but I will email to let you know.
  • The fact that I don’t like your book well enough to finish it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good book. It means it’s not a good match for me—and I only review books that I love.
  • If I finish your book, I’ll tag it as read on GoodReads, even if I don’t do a review.
  • If I can give your book a 4 or 5 star review, I’ll post it here, on Amazon and on GoodReads.
  • I am 100% committed to my readers and I won’t fudge a review.
  • If someone is going to spend their money to purchase a book I recommend, then I need to read the version of the book that they will be getting when they plunk down their money. That means, no ARCs, no beta-reader versions, no Word documents.
  • I sometimes participate in review tours, but only if I have plenty of advance notice and  only if I’m pretty sure I’ll like it.

 

 

My Background

I’ve been in the publishing industry since the early 1980s, working as a writer, editor, typesetter, and publisher. At one time, I was also a professional book reviewer for a local newspaper. For that reason, I’m going to be pickier than your average reader. I’m going to notice the flaws. I can’t help it. It’s an occupational hazard.

Don’t let that scare you too much. Experience has taught me that there is no such thing as a perfect book. I’m not going to say anything if there are a couple of typos or if I noticed some flaws but they didn’t bother me enough to stop reading and make a note of them. However, do expect me to mention both the things that I liked and the things that pulled me out of the story, especially if there are a lot of typos or structural errors. (Although if there are really a lot, I won’t finish the book and I won’t post a reviews.)