(Last updated September 2010)
Disclaimer: First and foremost, I want to state that I buy ALL of my books. I don’t even use libraries (long story). That being said, books are expensive so I’m definitely selective when choosing books to purchase. I base my decision on reviews, buzz and of course, the author. So if you see a lot of 5 or 4 and a half star reviews, please know that they ARE genuine. I swear. It’s basically all due to my selective choosing--I’m just a great book picker. Come on, who wants to buy a bad book? :)
What I read: I read/review primarily YA but I'll switch it up from time to time, depending on the book. Some of the other genres I'm interested in include "Chick lit" (ehh.. not partial to that term), paranormal and... that's about it. Just to give you an idea, a few authors I love include: Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead, Rachel Vincent, Kristin Harmel, Emily Giffin and Jodi Picoult.
Review Copies: I do accept ARCs (and finished copies) for review. I usually receive them either through publishers or publicists that contact me. And of course, contests. I don’t usually request ARCs, but I HAVE requested a few that I’ve been absolutely excited for, that I really wanted to not only review, but have a few contests and features for as well. As for reviewing, I am 110% honest when reviewing an ARC that’s been given to me. If I like the book, I ALWAYS go out and buy a copy for myself, and often times I’ll buy multiple for friends or giveaways. I definitely think ARCs are a privilege, one I believe shouldn’t be abused by people who are just looking for free books. Please note: I do not accept e-books, especially with my horrible eyesight.
About Reviewing: My reviewing strategy is pretty basic. I want my reviews to be simply that--a review for people who haven’t read a book and are possibly looking for an incentive to, or to simply shed light on a book that someone doesn’t know much about. I provide a summary that’s either located on or inside the book or the author’s website, so I don’t have to summarize the book myself. In my reviews I try to highlight my favorite scenes, characters, etc., comment on the author’s writing style and I also include a rating (which is located on my sidebar). All of my reviews are spoiler-free unless noted, and I don’t often go into too much detail in the review either. I HATE spoilers and would hate to ruin someone’s reading experience. I also like to include links to relative sites such as amazon, where blog readers may purchase the book, as well the author's website and social networking sites.
Giveaways: The prizes for contests and giveaways I have are ALL provided by me, as well as all of the costs/expenses. If an author contacts me and asks me to host a giveaway, I’d be happy to. And I will clearly state & credit them as the prize provider.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. My e-mail: breesbooks@gmail.com
Thank you.
