Review Guidelines

TO GET REVIEWED
On Genre Reviews, I mainly review novels for adults, young adults, and middle grade in the following genre: fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, romantic suspense, and historical romance. (I also have a nonfiction book blog and a Christian nonfiction book blog. Review guidelines for them are on those blogs.)

If you wish, feel free to run the back cover blurb by me first (in the body of the e-mail me (GenreReviewsDTDP (at) gmail (dot) com)) to see if I'm interested in reviewing a book. I'm sorry, but I no longer review self-published novels. I receive so many book review requests that there's no way I can read even a fraction of them, and it's rare that I've found a self-published novel that I'm interested in reviewing.

I review all books that I request. I post all of my book reviews here, on Amazon, and on Goodreads. I also Twitter about them as I read them.

Please note, I'm under no obligation to review any books sent that I haven't requested. I'm also under no obligation to give the book a good review.


SPECIFIC INTERESTS
I'm not getting paid for this and have limited time, so I have to draw the line somewhere. I enjoy the following genre, but I'll also warn you what types of books I'm less interested in and therefore less likely to review or give good reviews to:

In fantasy, I like traditional or heroic fantasy. I'm less interested in fantasy set in modern day (unless it's alternate history). I'm also generally not interested in books with witchcraft though I'm okay with "magic." [I know, it sounds like a stupid preference, but witchcraft is real (though novels rarely portray witchcraft correctly) while magic isn't.] See the romance section if the novel contains a romance or is a paranormal romance.

In science fiction, I generally prefer books that don't have aliens in them. I'm more interested in human conflicts. See the romance section if the novel contains a romance.

In mystery, I prefer the main character to be clever and focused on solving the mystery. I've read mysteries where the main character simply stumbles across all the needed clues while focused on doing something else, and I'm really not interested in that type of story.

In suspense or thrillers, read the romance section if there is a romance involved.

In romance, I'm a hard sell. Read the "don't send me" list carefully. I'm more interested in a historical romance than a modern romance, but I will read either. I don't want the focus of the woman's life to be "I must have that handsome hunk." The woman doesn't have to be kick-ass, but I don't like authors who make their smart women suddenly act like an imbecile ("Gee, I know he's trying to kill me, but maybe I should walk right up to him so he can grab me" sort of stupid) just so the hero can come save the day.

Since paranormal romances are popular, I'll state that I don't find it appealing when vampires, werewolves, zombies, demons, or other traditionally evil beings are portrayed as good. If they are evil, then I'm okay with it. If all of their kind but them are evil, then I'm willing to consider it. If they're what traditional fantasy once called shape-shifters, then I don't care if they're good or evil.

In horror, western, women's fiction, or other unlisted genre, I'm probably not interested in reviewing them on this blog, so please don't send them without checking with me first.


DON'T SEND ME
I have some rather strong personal preferences. I'm not interested in reading books that contain explicit sexual material (a body-part by body-part description of sex). I also don't like reading novels where people have sex at the drop of a hat and there are no consequences (STDs, pregnancy risks; emotional trauma) to doing so afterward. If there are realistic consequences, then I'm fine with it.

I also don't like books where there is a lot of cussing or swearing. Books that use "he swore" or only have a few cuss words in the entire book are okay. However, I'm not interested in reading a book with one or more cuss words on every page.


WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REVIEW COPIES
When I'm done reading a review copy sent to me by a publisher, author, or publicist, I either run a giveaway for it on my blog or donate it to my local jail or a state prison. I'm involved in prison ministry, and the inmates really look forward to these books.