Review Requests - Disclosures - Policies and Procedures - and rules for entering Giveaways, Contests, Blog Hops, etc.
This page PUBLICLY states all disclosures, policies and procedures that I follow and apply to this "BOOK BLOG",
"Laurie Here - Contemporary Fiction and MORE - Book Reviews".
If you would like to learn more details about "Me", please click on that TAB up above called "About Me". Thanks!
This page covers:
Book Reviews I will do, Posting of the Book Reviews, FTC Regulations Law, File Formats I accept and do not accept, Disclosure that Monies are NEVER Accepted, WHY I write Book Reviews, Entering and RULES for ALL Contests, Giveaways, Blog Hop Rules, and/or any other offer for BOOKS on my Blog, How to Enter ANY of the aforementioned, and my Reservation of Rights to change my policies at any time, and anything I may have forgotten to include. If something has been forgotten, it will end up being on a case by case decision made by myself. Thanks!!!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING ME REVIEW A BOOK FOR YOU?
I would LOVE to!
However, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ the "GENRES I REVIEW" and my requests all written HERE ON THIS PAGE prior to sending your request. Thanks!
.jpg)
I accept books from Publishers, Authors, Book Publicists and more. PLEASE read the GENRES I REVIEW first before you contact me. Thanks! I 'FULLY' SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AUTHORS who self-publish their books! You are VERY important people to me, and, you never know what GEMS can be found with them, and I have been SO grateful for those hidden gems in the pile! Thank you, Indie authors!
*As long as your book fits these Genres of interest I love to read and write reviews about, I'm GAME!
Also please note the section of genres I do NOT review as well. I find this the most efficient and proactive way of finding out if I'll review your book right off the bat! Thanks!
GENRES I "DO" review are:
FICTION: Adult Contemporary/NA/(NO Erotica, please!) Women's/Popular/Chick-Lit/Amish/Historical/Coming of Age/and one of my FAVORITE genres is Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thrillers! (I do not get into Horror.) Every now and then, maybe some 'VERY' light Paranormal, usually as it pertains to Christmas or romance stories. Witches and ghosts are on a case by case basis - NO VAMPIRES AND NO YA, please!
I also LOVE to review ANY AND ALL CHRISTMAS BOOKS at any time of the year. Children's books, too, or as long as the topic interests me. I like all of these genres, and not necessarily in the order listed. However, there ARE some books I do NOT like to read. Those are listed next.
GENRES I DO NOT REVIEW ARE:
No Memoirs/AutoBiographies/Biographies/Young Adult/YA/Middle Grade/NO Vampires/NO Werewolves/NO Zombies/NO Horror/NO Supernatural/Complete Paranormal/or other 'strange, way out there' stuff and the likes of it, except as stated above.) No Black Magic/No Fantasy/No Urban Fantasy/No Futuristic/No Apocalyptic/No Science Fiction/No Graphic Novels and Absolutely NO EROTICA "OR" other sexually explicit materials - NONE!
File Formats I accept for review: for ebooks for review, I ONLY ACCEPT THE MOBI VERSION for the Kindle and PDF files because I can have Amazon convert them for myself when I send them via email TO AMAZON for my Kindle.
I do NOT ACCEPT ANY 'Word Documents' AT ALL either on paper NOR as a computer file.
There are times when I might request physical hard copies of books, i.e., hard copies mean the actual book itself.
I CANNOT READ BOOKS ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN as I have a vision problems. I have 2 sets of double vision with shadowing and two permanent blind spots in my left eye in the field of vision which is not easy to read black against a bright white background. My eyes do NOT make tears, either. I have that 'dry eye' disease and have to use Restasis to try and help my eyes produce tears, and even with this medication, it does not help a lot at all. I CANNOT read books on the computer because of these physical limitations. It is IMPOSSIBLE.
I CANNOT READ BOOKS ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN as I have a vision problems. I have 2 sets of double vision with shadowing and two permanent blind spots in my left eye in the field of vision which is not easy to read black against a bright white background. My eyes do NOT make tears, either. I have that 'dry eye' disease and have to use Restasis to try and help my eyes produce tears, and even with this medication, it does not help a lot at all. I CANNOT read books on the computer because of these physical limitations. It is IMPOSSIBLE.
*Depending on the number of requests I have at the time you place your book review request will determine if I am able to review your book for you, or "when and in what time frame" I would be able to do the review for you. There ARE times when I am or have been requested to review reading materials and just cannot fit your request in at that particular time, but in that event, I will let you know, or even ask you 'when' you would expect a review to be done by, or you may not care 'when' the review is done, just as long as I do it for you.
ALL REVIEWS ARE POSTED ON my blog, on my blog's Archive Page, Amazon, Goodreads, or any other Retailer's site at YOUR REQUEST, so you must request what site it is you want the review posted at other than these listed here. Thanks!
If I am unable to review your book, WAIT! There ARE other avenues we can take! We can do a "Book Spotlight", "Guest Post", "Cover Reveal", "Author Interview" OR you might want to provide copies of your book as prizes (to be seen by thousands!) for the MANY BLOG HOPS GIVEAWAYS I participate in! So, let's talk! You can see ALL the Blog Hop Giveaways I participate in in the RIGHT SIDE COLUMN. Usually, I try my best, to post ALL of the UPCOMING Blog Hops that are coming. If there are not any listed, or only '1', then I have not yet had the opportunity to UPDATE them YET.
I review books for large Publishers, Publicists, Book Tour Companies, Blog Tour Companies, Independent Authors and more.
This is a "generic" statement/policy which I follow, and am posting this as guidelines to you, but it does not cover everything and it also covers too MUCH! (For instance, the ONLY compensation I receive from ANYONE to do BOOK REVIEWS are the actual 'books or reading material itself', as I cannot read your book unless I have it!
I am Totally and Permanently Disabled and am unable to work, so I do this Book Blog for my own personal enjoyment/hobby/book obsession which I LOVE to do! I do NOT EVER accept ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION, NOR IS IT LEGAL TO DO SO!
Besides, everyone needs something to do to keep their minds sharp, entertained, and healthy!
I have a very rare neurological muscle disease called Stiff Person Syndrome that causes severe and debilitating muscle spasms. I am TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED because of this disease, meaning I am completely UNABLE TO WORK "ANY" TYPE OF JOB that would allow me to earn ANY type of income.
THIS BLOG IS "NOT" A JOB. I DO IT COMPLETELY FOR 'MY' PERSONAL PLEASURE, ENJOYMENT FOR MYSELF AND MYSELF ONLY, and hopefully for the people who follow my blog to enjoy it as much as I do!
This Book Blog is a hobby that I joke around about with "being obsessed with books", but I am! I LOVE to read! I am truly serious about that when I say I LOVE to read! Yes! I AM truly "Book Obsessed"! It is a WONDERFUL escape from life! If I did NOT have a Book Blog, I would NOT have access to ALL these amazing books I do, and I flat out LOVE! It is a privilege to be able to get books to read and write reviews about! If I did not have this Book Blog, I would NEVER have access to ALL these AMAZING books that I do. I LOVE IT!
Every person on this earth needs some type of outlet for personal enjoyment, and since physically I am SO limited, even home bound, especially in the winter, and really at most everything, I "should" be able to do something I truly enjoy!
DISCLOSURE POLICY written to the best of my ability, along with the help of DisclosurePolicy.org:
This policy is valid from 10 March 2010 to today's current date and into the future, continuously . . .
This blog is a personal blog written of my opinion and edited by myself.
For questions about this blog, or to ask for a review, please contact Laurie at laurieisreading at gmail dot com.
This blog does not accept ANY form of income, nor income for advertising, sponsorship, or paid topics. However, I will and do accept free products, (products being books only and once it was a puzzle coaster) - written materials (and ZERO monies ever) in return for a written review. I am NOT paid ANY MONIES WHATSOEVER to review books, a short story, novella's, poems, or whatever it is that I may have written a review about.
All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network you see on my blog which is through Google.
My husband is an Amazon Associate which does give me extra privileges on the Amazon and Book Depository website, meaning I may get information ahead of the public, and it also means he'll set it up for people to click through links to Amazon for purchases of books and/or products. I have nothing to do with the linking. I write the reviews!
Anything written on this blog regarding the authors of the reading material I receive is strictly related ONLY to the reading material provided to me. Nothing should ever be taken or meant to be taken personally, nor should it EVER be taken as personally. I do not endorse talking about people in ANY way, and if it sounds like I am, then I worded what I said the wrong way. I NEVER want to hurt anyone's feelings, and no one should ever think I am trying to do so. I do not play games like that. Heck, we ALL graduated High School, and if we did that, then we ALL have been through that at least once in our lives, and we NEVER want to go through that again! Nor do I want to be accused of putting anyone through that! With that said, this blog ONLY gives 'opinions' related to reading material ONLY. Not personal attacks, nor do I EVER expect any other person to personally attack anyone, either. If any comment is left and that has been done, it will be removed immediately.
BOOKS/BOOK REVIEWS/POSTING REVIEWS/COMPENSATION - "FTC GUIDELINES"
I received this book for “FREE” from ____________________, through their Book Reviewers Program in exchange to read the book and write a review about the it. It is NOT required for the review to be either positive or negative, but, “of my own opinion.” I was provided with “NO MONIES” to read and write a review for this book, except for the pure enjoyment of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16
Again, the only time I do not use this endorsement are for books I have chosen to read for my own personal enjoyment.
When POSTING BOOK REVIEWS: ALL Book Reviews ARE posted here on my Blog: http://www.lauriehere.com , and can also be found alphabetically on the Book Review Archive PAGE. ALL of the books on that page do refer to that book's review. I also post ALL my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I try to post them on LibraryThing.com if time permits, but I have fallen way behind on that website. Plus, I don't see the purpose in 'double' posting between Goodreads and LibraryThing, as it makes a LOT more work for me, but if I do have a chance to do so, I will TRY. Don't expect it though unless you specifically ask me to do so. I spend a LOT of time on Goodreads! I LOVE that site! You can reach me on Goodreads at this link: http://www.goodreads.com/lauriehere
If you would like your review to be posted anywhere else, in addition to the places I have listed above, please advise me in your initial contact email.
The FIRST AND FOREMOST DISCLOSURE REGARDING PAYMENT OF MONIES:
There are NONE! NO MONIES! NO ONE EVER PAYS ME MONEY TO READ AND WRITE REVIEWS ABOUT THE BOOKS you see done on on my blog or anywhere else on the internet! No Book Reviewers/Book Bloggers are even allowed to earn/make ANY money of ANY kind when a book is given to me/them to read and write a review for whoever may ask. It's against the law!
Why? There is an FTC Law, listed above under the heading of Books/Book Reviews/Posting Reviews/Compensation/FTC GUIDELINES, that prohibits this legally. I have the LINK to that law posted above. NO monies are paid to ANY PERSON, NOR CAN ANY PERSON ACCEPT PAYMENT for reviewing books without breaking the FTC Law. However, sometimes you WILL see companies out there that DO take money for reviews, but I am NOT ABOUT TO DO SO WHATSOEVER! I am NOT going to jail for one, and two, I can't physically work a job per my doctors as they will NOT allow me to do so AT ALL. I MUST follow THEIR directions for the best outcome of health issues for myself. (See the tab About Me if you are wondering what the heck is wrong with her! LOL!)
Therefore, due to this, I am NOT paid ANY money EVER to read ANY book OR to write a review, OR to make ANY Post I Publish. I am NOT paid money to READ POSTS, NOR AM I PAID MONEY TO POST POSTS. I am NOT paid money to read books. I am NOT paid money to write reviews on the books I have written reviews about. I don't EVER accept or take money for ANYTHING except from my husband! LOL!
I am NOT paid money to do anything on this Blog, whatsoever.
I HAVE "NO SPONSORS SPONSORING THIS BLOG". This is "MY" Blog that "I" have "CHOSEN" to do AS A "HOBBY, A BOOK OBSESSION". This "HOBBY/BOOK OBSESSION" I HAVE IS FOR "MY" LOVE OF READING BOOKS, THE WRITTEN WORD, AND WRITING REVIEWS TO SHARE THAT LOVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE BOOKS I HAVE READ ABOUT, TO SHARE WHAT "MY OPINION" OF WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE BOOKS I HAVE READ ARE, AS WELL AS ENDORSING LITERACY.
I also LOVE the socializing with other people who LOVE what I LOVE! "EVERYTHING" ON THIS BLOG "I" HAVE DONE, "I" HAVE WRITTEN, "I" HAVE PUT HERE and/or PUBLISHED HAS BEEN DONE ON MY OWN."
You will see a COPYRIGHT NOTICE in the LEFT SIDE-COLUMN.
I have written everything that is posted on this blog in my book reviews, and I would hope ANYONE WILL RESPECT THIS AND 'NOT' USE WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN AS THEIRS.
This is a FREE Blog website available for ANYONE to do on ANY subject through BLOGGER, which is a part of GOOGLE. Anyone is able to get a blog address and write a blog FOR FREE through Google's Blogger, which is what I have done.
I am posting this because I DO NOT want anyone to think I am being paid OR that I am employed by anyone to do this blog. I am NOT. It is done on my own free time, when I am ABLE TO for my OWN ENJOYMENT. Also, it IS against the law, and punishable TO ACCEPT MONEY TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS as we just covered above. This Blog is meant for MY OWN FUN AND ENJOYMENT "ONLY". I AM NOT PAID, AS IS DISCLOSED.
Besides, who needs money to do this? Not me! I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing this!!! Read a book and write a review and share it with other people!! What could be ANY better?! I LOVE IT!!!
If you would like to me to help you, or to help me run a Blog Hop/Contest/Giveaway or anything else pertaining to a BOOK or BOOKS, I AM available via email at laurieisreading at gmail dot com. I would "LOVE" TO PROVIDE OR GET ANY HELP to do so, "if I am able to!!" I would love to give my time and/or possibly get some help to run some of these fun events, or even to help to provide some materials for contests/giveaways from you or if you are interested in donating some of your books for Blog Hops, this would help YOU get more attention for your book(s)! It IS MORE than welcomed!! I LOVE helping authors get their books noticed! This is, after all, what we are all here for! For the LOVE OF READING, AND SHARING IT! To help and support one another! I look forward to it!!! I cannot commit to a weekly meme except the Sunday one I do for the Bestsellers. I forget the days of the week! LOL! I DO! The weekend is much easier to remember!
****RULES FOR ENTERING:
CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS/CHALLENGES and more!****
I reserve the right to change these policies at any time.
I will ONLY ship books to the US (and Canada but ONLY if it is posted stating I will do so) in ALL my Giveaways. For other countries, when I do give a book away, I do use Book Depository. It is also very common that I give away ebooks. It is much easier for me to give away ebooks because I am not able to drive, so getting to the Post Office is left up to my husband to do for me. It is another errand he has to do for me, and he does offer to do so, but I don't want to take advantage of him doing this for me, either.
It is UP TO YOU to make sure YOU CAN receive books/ebooks with FREE SHIPPING. Since I do NOT MAKE MONEY from this blog, I cannot afford the postage to mail books to other countries.
I LOVE my friends from the UK! Hi there!
SOMETIMES I 'DO' RUN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAYS! These are 'all' run at my discretion, or possibly an Author's, as well, if they want me to host their book in a Giveaway! It is up to that Author if they are willing to ship a book to any particular places. Most of the time these books are in the ebook format.
If I see something I am interested in, I will often enter into a Blog Tour or Hop, run a contest on my site sometimes at my own cost, or possibly an author will provide me with extra copies of books at their expense for my blog contests/giveaways/challenges, etc., or in other ways, shapes or forms, such as possibly an ebook or even an audiobook.
Again, I am NOT paid any monies WHATSOEVER, nor am I persuaded in any form to run a contest/giveaway/challenge. Again, it is at my own discretion, or the author's or the publisher's, too.
I will often run a contest/giveaway/challenge that runs along the SAME time-frame that a Publisher or Author is running a Virtual Book Tour, Virtual Blog Tour, etc., or if I have read and reviewed a book that coincides with a specific contest someone is running, I will join them and use that book for that particular contest as well.
IF YOU HAVE WON A BOOK AND DID NOT RECEIVE IT, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL!
laurieisreading at g mail dot com - There is one book I have currently that I LOST the name and address of the person who won this book. I am HOPING she will notice this post, and contact me! I am SO sorry I did this. IF THIS EVER HAPPENS, PLEASE EMAIL ME!!! Thanks! (As of 11-7-15 I STILL have NOT heard from this person!)
***IF I AM RUNNING ANY TYPE OF CONTEST/GIVEAWAY/GIFT CARD OR AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY USING BOOK DEPOSITORY OR ANY OTHER PLACE,- THIS IS RUN AT 'MY COST'. NO ONE GIVES ME MONEY TO RUN THESE CONTESTS. IT IS OUT OF "MY POCKET".
***RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS ENTERING MY CONTESTS/GIVEAWAY/OR ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO RECEIVING PRODUCTS: ONLY PARTICIPANTS OF THE COUNTRIES ENTERING ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THEY CAN ENTER THE GIVEAWAYS TO WIN, AND "EVERY" CONTEST/GIVEAWAY IS DIFFERENT!!! WATCH "EVERY" ONE TO SEE IF "YOU" QUALIFY TO ENTER! Some countries don't all allow ebooks, so it is up to you to see if you can receive them if you are a winner. If you do win but cannot receive an ebook, you do have to forfeit the prize as I would not be able to afford the postage to your country to send the paper version of the book unless the Book Depository has it available. I am not going to check to see if every book I give away is available from the Book Depository which is why I have YOU check to see if your country allows ebooks.
FOR INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAYS - PRIZES 'WILL' EITHER BE IN EBOOK FORMAT OR IT WILL CHANGE TO THE "BOOK DEPOSITORY"! IT IS UP TO YOU TO CHECK AND SEE IF AMAZON WILL ALLOW EBOOKS TO BE DELIVERED TO YOUR COUNTRY. "YOU" MUST MAKE SURE THEY SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR FREE. THIS IS 'YOUR' RESPONSIBILITY, OR YOU RISK NOT WINNING. THEY USUALLY SHIP FOR "FREE" TO MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, SO, AS LONG AS THEY DELIVER/SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FREE OF CHARGE TO ME - THE FREE BOOK IS YOURS IF YOU ARE THE WINNER! REMEMBER - IT IS UP TO "YOU" TO MAKE SURE THEY SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR FREE!
***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER GIVEAWAY/CONTEST/ETC.!!
***ALL ENTRANTS AND /OR WINNERS MUST BE AGE 18 OR OVER, per the FTC, LEGALLY!!!
I WILL STATE THE MINIMUM AGE FOR EACH GIVEAWAY I HOST ON MY BLOG ACCORDING TO THE CONTENT IN THE BOOK. The FTC Guideline law is you must be at least "18 OR OVER" IN ORDER TO ENTER.HOWEVER, I DO USE MY OWN DISCRETION ABOUT EACH BOOK. IF I FEEL A BOOK SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN TO A PERSON AT THE AGE OF 17+, OR 18+ YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, I WILL STATE THAT. WHEN I CONTACT YOU, I WILL ASK FOR THE YEAR OF YOUR BIRTH TO VERIFY IF YOU QUALIFY TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. A LETTER FROM YOUR PARENT MAY BE REQUIRED. Most of the books I read ARE 'adult themed', being that they are Women's Fiction, Best Sellers, or Adult Themed. Adult Themed does NOT mean erotica, NOR content with sexual matter, or anything in that regard, EVER. This Blog is a "CLEAN" Blog, but sometimes the subject matter DOES end up being Adult-themed. It WILL state that in each event.
TO ENTER THE CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS/ETC.
Just ENTER the ENTIRE FORM on the Giveaways page for that particular Giveaway/Contest/Blog Hop, or whatever it is!! That's it! All the questions NEED to be filled out and it varies from Event to Event.
You can leave a comment if you would like, too, or if it is required.
I LOVE COMMENTS!!! Leave them even if they are NOT required! COMMENTS DO ‘NOT’ COUNT FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES!!! Thank you!!!
I LOVE COMMENTS!!! Leave them even if they are NOT required! COMMENTS DO ‘NOT’ COUNT FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES!!! Thank you!!!
I appreciate your compliance to these RULES! The 'main' purpose of these rules are so I may contact you if you win. I had one contest where I could NOT contact some of the people who won. "I" learned the hard way! This is for "YOUR" benefit!
Thanks SO much!
All in all, I want this to be FUN!!! These are just the nitty-gritty rules that do need to be published to cover myself, as well as any and all legal guidelines according to the FTC, etc.
My goal: FUN, FUN, FUN!!!! I LOVE reading and writing reviews! I LOVE running the Giveaways/Contests as I get to meet new people as they Follow Me and I get to visit their Blogs and become a Followers! I absolutely LOVE this! That is why I do this, otherwise, I would not.
Regarding "Posting a Comment"
Thanking you in advance for the following! I have NOT had ANY problems whatsoever so far! THANK YOU!!!
I AM REQUESTING NO FOUL LANGUAGE BE USED ON MY SITE, ANYWHERE WHEN POSTING COMMENTS. ALSO, PLEASE BE KIND TO OTHER PEOPLE! NO CRITICIZING, NO ARGUING, NO FIGHTING, NO CAUSING TROUBLE, NO FORCING YOUR VIEWS ON OTHERS, ETC . Let's let this site be a comfortable AND a "SAFE" site you want to keep coming back to and enjoy visiting! If any of the above 'not wanted' occurs, you WILL BE REMOVED and NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ANY LONGER! The Comments Moderation utility will be turned on, and your comment may NOT be published.
Also, CONCERNING ADVERTISING OF YOUR PRODUCTS IN MY COMMENTS SECTIONS - IS NOT ALLOWED! I don't advertise products here on this blog, and I ask you not to, either. Thanks!
I want to continue to keep this site a very interesting, informative and a very communicative site! A FUN place to come and visit! I want it to be VERY ENJOYABLE, AND TO BE A SAFE PLACE TO COME AND VISIT! I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY! Thank You!!!
Click on the Tab "About Me". You get to learn about my disability will see WHY and HOW I ended up doing a Book Blog!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this! Now that we have all this nitty-gritty boring stuff out of the way . . .
LET'S GET TO READING AND HAVING FUN!!!
