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How I Review

How does this whole reviewing thing work?

The ebooks reviewed here are chosen because they had ten or fewer reviews displayed at the Nook and/or Kindle ebookstores at the time I downloaded them. They're undiscovered tomes.

They also fall primarily under the genres of Fantasy or Paranormal fiction. I'll review ebooks that fall under other genres on occasion, but that will only happen if a title jumps out at me and demands that I give it my full attention. This won't happen often.

I don't do stars. I give ebooks no numeric values at all. Why not? Because everything I review is worth reading. You will never see anything on this blog that I would rate with only one or two stars.

That's right.

No horrible books that make people say, "What the hell was I thinking when I got this one???"

Well, ok. You might say that. But it won't be because the title has no merit. It'll be because it clashes with your personality, your personal worldview, etc.

I do, however, post starred reviews on Amazon, Nook, Smashwords, or Scribd, in addition to the review on this blog. I want these ebooks to gain readers, after all! The reviewed book is rated on the platform that I downloaded it from. I also tweet about it and post about it on facebook.

Any ebook you find here follows a few general rules:

  • It's proofread as well as what you find on the shelves of a bookstore (unless I state otherwise within the review),
  • The cover has a professional look to it,
  • the formatting is good, 
  • and the story flows. 

Whether you like it or not, however, is personal. I've read many books that I recognize as being very good, outstanding work. That doesn't necessarily mean I like them.

It does mean that I realize other people will like them, though, and I'll review those, as well as the ones I thoroughly enjoy.

Sometimes, though, I'll come across an ebook that sends me into a flurry of emotions. I'll laugh, cry, contemplate throwing my nook across the room, and glare at anyone who dares to ask a silly question like, "Are you okay?"

No. No, I'm not. 

The author has just ripped my heart out, thrown it on the floor, stomped on it, then shoved it back into my chest with a smile...

...And I smiled back as I begged for more.


You know what I'm talking about. You've been there. Admit it.

Those are the special ones. They deserve to have special acknowledgement, so if I come across one of those rare, undiscovered tomes, I'll let you know with a simple picture:

I'd like to introduce you to the Treasured Tome:


If you see this image anywhere within the text of a review, the ebook in question was flipping amazing. It drew me into it, triggered emotions I didn’t know I had, and left me screaming for more. I began raving about it to everyone that foolishly crossed my path. I was personally offended that the author could be so cruel as to end it.

To be a Treasured Tome, I need to feel that the world is so real that I'm there. I must feel a personal stake in what happens to the characters. I should feel that anything that distracts me while I read is a crime.

It's a high expectation, I know... but I'm a ravenous reader, so it'll happen. I'll find them, and I'll bring my reviews to you.

Are you an author with an ebook that has gone undiscovered? Are you a reader that feels an ebook you read deserves more attention? Fill out the contact form on the sidebar and tell me about it!

*A special note to authors: You're free to use my review of your work to promote yourself. Contact me with any requests to confirm my words, if needed, and I'll be sure to make time for it. You've earned that. 





16 comments:

  1. Hi! I think it's great what you're doing here, reviewing books written by indie authors. I was wondering if you would you be willing to take a look at my novel Mila? I haven't published it yet, but I could send it to you in an email. It's about a young mother who is captured during Rome's conquest of Britain and must fight as a gladiator to gain her freedom and find her son. If you're interested, you can email me at aliyamcreynolds@gmail.com :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Aliya! I'll send an email your way soon, and we can talk about it. The novel sounds like it has an interesting premise.

      Delete
  2. Hello,
    My name is Amy L. Gale and I'm a newbie author. My debut novel, Blissful Tragedy, was released February 20th and only has 4 Barnes and Noble reviews :( It's a contemporary/new adult romance novel. Would you be interested in reviewing it?

    Sometimes love is more than tragedy or bliss.

    Ambitious 22-year-old Lexie Waters is intent on taking the advertising world by storm. When she’s offered the soon to be open position she’s been vying for at a swanky advertising agency, there’s only one last summer separating her from dreams of corporate success. Still bitter from catching her boyfriend cheating, she heads out for a night of fun to see her favorite band, Devil’s Garden, but fun turns into utter embarrassment when she insults the enticingly confident lead singer, Van Sinclair. Van is intrigued by Lexie’s ability to resist his charm and secretly obtains her cell number. Shocked but eager to get to know this captivating rocker, Lexie accepts Van’s invitation to see his next show, which requires an overnight stay. The overwhelming feelings that follow take them both by surprise, and with two months left before starting her sought after new position, Lexie joins the tour. As she’s catapulted into the world of groupies and wild parties, she questions Van’s commitment to her. So what happens at summer’s end when time runs out?

    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blissful-tragedy-amy-l-gale/1118598512?ean=2940148116790

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Amy!

      I'm not sure that I'm the best choice for reviewing a general romance (I tend to read fantasy and sci-fi), but if you fill out the contact form on the sidebar (so we can discuss it via email), I'd be happy to talk it over with you. Occasionally, I do like to read something different from my norm.

      Delete
  3. Hello,

    I go by my pen name, B.K. Maxwell. I've always been a fan or mystery books, from a young child into my adult years. I was always told by teachers and family members and friends that I have a gift for story telling and finally took the leap into writing my own stories.

    The Young Mystery Series centers on the sibling duo, Kia and Marcus Young. The older sister Kia is the brains and Marcus is along as the brawn.

    Also here is the synopsis which is on the back cover of this book:

    Delicious PB& J sandwiches, meetings in the restrooms, wandering in the hallways, inappropriate behavior on the playground, giants in the lunch room and the best sleepover ever; what is going on at Rydell Elementary?

    Well there’s nothing Kia and Marcus Young of The Young Detective Agency can’t handle.
    New to the Detective scene, this sister and brother duo are on the case, helping their friend Dennis find out who has been taking his lunch, not just any lunch, a lunch that could make any and everyone at Rydell Elementary a suspect.


    Book info:


    List Price: $6.99
    Black & White on Cream paper
    142 pages
    SBN-13: 978-1499632859 (CreateSpace-Assigned)
    ISBN-10: 1499632851
    BISAC: Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories



    If you do choose to review my book please contact me with your book format preference and I will get it to you as soon as possible. Also, I would like to thank you at this time for your time.

    Sincerely,

    B.K. Maxwell

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there!

      I love juvenile detective fiction. When I was in elementary school, I couldn't get enough of it! Unfortunately, this site was designed with fantasy and Sci Fi in mind, so I'm probably not the best choice to review your work. My recommendation would be to go to the IndieView and go through their list of reviewers, paying special attention to their interests. You could probably find a great match there. Just head over to the section of my right sidebar entitled "Other Great Links" and you'll find the link to it. The IndieView is a *great* place to start, and I think you'll find people that are more than willing to read your work.

      Giants in the lunchroom are definitely something that caught my attention, though. Hopefully Kia and Marcus get to the bottom of that one! :-D

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  4. Hello, my name is Darren Simon and I am the author of a new middle-grade/young adult fantasy novel titled, Guardian's Nightmare, the first in a three-part series titled, The Last Princess of Latara. It was published by a small independent publisher, Divertir Publishing. It is the story of a 13-year-old girl who must unravel dark family secrets to learn her true identity and save the world from an evil only she can defeat. It is an evil she mistakenly allows into this world. Along the way, she will have the help of a mysterious gift, one she would rather ditch in an alley.

    I learned about your blog from an SCBWI post and I was drawn in by the name of the blog. I love the name and enjoyed your reviews. I would appreciate if you might consider reviewing my novel.

    To learn more about me and the book see my author website at www-darren-simon.com. You can learn about publisher at www.divertirpublishing.com.

    Thank you for your time and consideration.

    Darren

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Darren!

    Guardian's Nightmare sounds fascinating. On the right sidebar of the blog you'll find a contact form. Please send me a message about it via that method so I can be sure to have this information where I know I won't lose it... or forget. I'm slightly scatterbrained, so I need all the extra memory safeguards I can get!

    And, wow! I had no idea that SCBWI even knew my review blog existed. ::doing the happy dance::

    I can't wait to visit your website!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Rebecca,

    I noticed others introducing themselves here in this section and decided to do the same :)

    So, my name is Turhan and back in April I self published my Fantasy genre novel, 'Don't Let The Demons Eat Your Heart' ... It is part 1 of a planned trilogy called 'Daughters of Darkness' and I have just recently started the 2nd in the series. The ebook is at Amazon Books here http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=don%27t+let+the+demons+eat+your+heart&sprefix=Don%27t+Let+The+dem%2Cstripbooks%2C789 along with the print book I just recently published with Createspace.

    Here's the blurb: Twenty three year old Kylar, has finally had enough of the demonic nightmares that have been plaguing him since childhood. Deciding to learn why some of them have turned so sexual, he seeks answers at a close friends occult bookstore where she reveals to him that he has been used by demons to father three girls while in a semi-state of sleeping. Soon after, he also learns that he has two estranged sisters that have incredible powers, and together they set out on a journey that takes them to literal Hell and back, in an effort to rescue his daughters.

    While embarking on this quest, he struggles internally with an existing relationship with his current girlfriend. It becomes further complicated when an ex-girlfriend, Sin-dy, that has never given up on the idea that one day they would be together again, also joins him as they face off several times with the demon Ophelexa and her sidekicks.

    One of his daughters, a natural born warrior, fifteen year old Amber, becomes an integral part of the battle to take back home, not just her siblings, but millions of other teen-aged virgin girls held in a ‘Paradise’ in Hell, that are destined to be used in a fiendish plot to give birth to more demons and ultimately control all of Earths inhabitants.

    Risking everything, for everyone, comes along with a heavy price that is paid by all that set out on this epic battle, that has more beginnings than endings.

    I'm a member at Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8119749.Turhan_Halil
    I'm also a member at Absolute Write Water Cooler.
    In the last couple of weeks I started setting up a Wordpress website to review 'indie books' and the link for that is here: http://www.indiebookblurb.com/ but I haven't posted a single review on it yet because I'm still trying to work out a glitch with a plugin I want to use there, plus my graphic header went missing! Yikes!

    Anyhow, I wanted to know if you'd consider reviewing my book and if not, well that would be fine and I'd like to thank you for putting yourself out there with the offer.

    Regards
    Turhan

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi my name is Dominic R. Daniels,

    I am a Dark Fantasy/ Urban Fantasy / Horror Author.

    I am doing submissions to book bloggers for reviews.

    If you loved: The Crow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Batman,
    Disney's Gargoyles and Frank Millers Sin City, you will enjoy The
    Damascus Chronicles. Vampires, Angels, Demons, CIA Agents & the Mafia.
    Oh My!


    The first book in the series, The Damascus Chronicles takes place in
    an alternate futuristic dystopian Las Vegas. Michael Damascus, a
    former government agent turned professional assassin for the Italian
    Mafia, is trapped between the worlds of organized crime and the
    supernatural. Betrayed by his family and government, Michael unites
    with a seven centuries old coven and his mob families' international
    organization, to defeat a criminal consortium and global secret
    society of occultists. While preventing the destruction of all
    creation, he must also protect his orphaned kid-niece who he has taken
    in (and an ex-love who can't let him go) from his dark gift and double
    life, with the police commissioner hot on his trail.



    Free Promotion from Sept 15-20th, download a free copy of The Damascus
    Chronicles on Amazon Kindle Unlimited!

    http://amazon.com/dp/B00N5C4CQS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It looks like a lot of fun! I'll mention it on the great, wide social mediaverse, as well!

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  8. Thank you Rebecca! You are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Rebecca,
    I tried several times to use your contact form but it won't send. Since I don't see any other way to contact you on this page, do you accept review requests through this form?
    Thanks,
    Noel Fiems
    oompsta@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Noel!

      I'm sorry that you're having problems with the contact form. I'll be sure to look into that and see if I can figure out why yours isn't going through. I'll send an email your way as soon as I can!

      Delete

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