Book Reviews & WHY They Matter
As an avid reader, I have spent the last few years reviewing books on my blog and on other websites that help to promote Indy Authors. It has been an honor to read and review over one hundred and forty books in the last couple of years.
There are several reasons why I engaged in the review process:
- Writing a review has been my way of saying thank you to the author. Writing a book is a long and detailed process, and as an author, I know how much work I put into my own writing. I can think of no better way to let an author know that I appreciated all the hard work they put into writing a novel other than helping to spread the word of their success.
- My reviews contributed to spreading the word to other readers about authors and books that I enjoyed. I have always felt that I was performing a public service to other readers by sharing my thoughts in our blogging community.
- I have written reviews in such a way as to not damage the reputation of the author. Even if I did not like the book, I found ways to express my opinion in a nice way. In fact, there have not been many books that I haven’t enjoyed. This just goes to show the quality of authors and material in the Indy community.
- Reviews help the author, and those positive rankings play into the Amazon algorithm. More reviews = More sales, which lead to a higher ranking in the Amazon community. The end result is exposure to more people interested in buying books.
- I have solicited and received free manuscripts and copies of most of the books I reviewed. If you love to read, this is the best incentive yet, to start reviewing books.
Image Credit: ElizabethNoyesWrites.com
Image credit: DeborahJayAuthor.com
Check out these links for more information on writing reviews:
Tips for Writing Amazon Reviews
Amazon Community Review Guidelines
So, the next time you are reading a novel, think about leaving a review. Indy authors everywhere will thank you.
I am always looking for reviews of The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy. If you’re interested, leave me a reply in the comments section.
ATTENTION AUTHORS & BOOK REVIEWERS
In fact, if you are an author looking for a review, leave a comment with a link to your book. That will enable readers with a way to contact you. HAPPY REVIEWING! ❤
Gotta DASH! Time to write some more reviews!
SO beautifully said! I just started my book review blog and others and I am grateful to find some pointers as to what others are doing and why, and how. Thanks
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Ohhh, I must check you out. ❤
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Thanks for this ode to reviewing, Colleen! I love it too!
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It is so necessary. Thanks, Olga. You are an excellent reviewer. ❤
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I’m a reviewing fan too! Couldn’t agree more Colleen. 🙂
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Thanks, Marje. I check the reviews now before I buy anything. 😊
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I love reading and sharing books with other readers. Since I started writing and blogging, Blogging has taken over and I spend less time reading. Sigh. Reviews ARE valuable as I used to search them out when choosing a book to read. Maybe some day I’ll get to read more and then happily review. ❤
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I hope you do. We provide a much needed service to all authors. ❤
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Sigh. Maybe I’m just disorganized. Maybe I’ve been out of the house too much.
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You have a great life. Enjoy while you can ❤
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Excellent post, Colleen. Reviews are so important to authors. I’d love to find reviewers for my novel set in Afghanistan, No More Mulberries: https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Mulberries-Mary-Smith-ebook/dp/B005RRDZ12/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1489077638&sr=1-1&keywords=no+more+mulberries
And/or my memoir Drunk Chickens and Burnt Macaroni: Real Stories of Afghan Women which is about my work in Afghanistan and soem of the amazing women I met: https://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Chickens-Burnt-Macaroni-Smith-ebook/dp/B009XIL5FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1489077762&sr=1-1&keywords=drunk+chickens+and+burnt+macaroni
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I couldn’t agree more. I am going to spread this post all over in the hopes of peeking some interest. Thanks, Mary. I loved your book, No More Mulberries! ❤
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Thank you, Colleen. I remember your lovely review of it.
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In fact, today I will tweet and share my review of your book. I should do this on a daily basis for all my reviews. ❤
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This is a beautiful book!
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I agree. ❤️
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must add a word in here to say Mary’s books are excellent, Ive read and reviewed both of them 🙂
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I agree. It is the age old problem of getting the word out to people who read books. Thanks for your comments. ❤
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I appreciate your article on book reviews. It is written to provoke thought. I will be in need of a review of my next book and am not sure how to request reviews prior to it being published. Do you have suggestions??? Thanks
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I would start with people you have met on your blog. There are various Facebook groups where you could solicit some reviewers too. Try: LitworldInterviews.com and LiteraryKornerPublishing.net to start. Ask blog friends for reviews. Don’t be shy. Offer a free copy of your book and go for it. ❤
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Thanks for following my blog – linesoflisteningblog.wordpress.com. It is appreciated. Joyce
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You are so welcome. ❤
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Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
A wonderful post from Colleen about why we need reviews.
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And I will be reviewing your lovely book new week, Adele. ❤ Thanks for sharing.
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Reblogged this on Pearls Before Swine and commented:
Colleen talks the importance of leaving reviews. FYI. I would love to review The Heartstone Chronicles ; )
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I will send you a mobi copy. By the way, do you use Calibre? Thanks Yecheilyah. ❤
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You’re welcome. It will be awhile before I get to it though. I’m still closed due my TBR pile but I’m happy to say I’m making a dent. No, I do not use Calibre. I’ve heard of it, is it useful?
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Yes. It makes PDF’s, Ebooks, Mobi’s. I will send you a link. ❤
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OK excellent. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on When Angels Fly.
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Thank you for sharing! ❤
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Welcome!
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Reblogged this on Lonely Power Poles.
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Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated. ❤
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Reblogged this on P.C. Zick – Author/Editor and commented:
Generous offer from Colleen Chesebro regarding reviews.
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Thanks so much for writing this. Book reviews are the best gift you can give an author. Please review if you read!
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Absolutely. We must get the word out for sure! ❤
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Reblogged this on Nutsrok and commented:
Wonderful post from Colleen.
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Thank you for sharing. We all need reviews. They are so important. ❤
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Coleen contact me I’d be happy to review your book. And I’m going to put 2 links in here so you may choose one if you would? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E8HSNDW or http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LWFIO5K I’m a frantic reviewer as well. 🙂
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Thanks for your love .
I have launched my website
Pls visit
http://www.nandkishorlodhi.com
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Lovely blog Colleen, I actually love reading book reviews and write them myself too via goodreads.com
Will have a look out for your books too seeing you are an author too.
Kind regards, Agnes
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Thank you so much, Agnes. How nice to meet you. I will look for you also. I can’t imagine not reading… or leaving a review. How do people do that? LOL! ❤
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Indeed Colleen, cannot live without books to read 🙂
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Thank you for the delightful post. I’d love to have you review my novella “It Was Her Eyes” and I will be happy to email the KDP formatted text or text in word to you. I appreciate your kind offer.
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Hello, Russ. I have about 35 books to review right now. My plea was for reviews of my own novel and for anyone else who was looking for reviews. All we can do is support each other as authors. Do you do book reviews?
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No worries, Colleen. I understand. I often review books for authors and have a similar reading backlog so am not requesting additional titles at this time.
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Great. You review also. I would like to have a page of reviewers on my blog that folks could contact for reviews. I will think about that and compile something soon. ❤ Thanks.
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Per your suggestion I see I was supposed to leave a link in the comments section so readers can contact me. I can be reached at http://russtowne.com.
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Thanks, Russ. I am sharing these requests on Facebook too. You just never know where you will find a reviewer. ❤
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Pingback: Amazon Prime – Is it Worth My Time? – Colleen Chesebro ~ Fairy Whisperer
As an Indie author, I know just how difficult marketing is and how valuable reviews are – the word of mouth that promotes sales. I’m currently writing a sequel to When the Sun was Mine. You may want to check it out. It has 9 reviews – all five star – which makes me very proud.
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com/when_the_sun_was_mine.html
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Thanks, Darlene. I will do that. 😘❤
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Reblogged this on EMANDYVES .
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Many thanks for your share. 💖
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Thank you for this great post. I don’t think many readers realize the importance of reviews. I would love some reviews on my latest book, Amanda on the Danube-The Sounds of Music. http://www.darlenefoster.ca
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Excellent Darlene. I will share this on Facebook too. 😘
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Thanks so much!!
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I would love to review your work for you, colleen.
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Oh, thank you Eileen. Please email me at colleenchesebro3@gmail.com and I will provide you with a copy and other links. ❤️
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Colleen, you and a few other bloggers/authors got me started on featuring a book review once a month on my blog! I thoroughly enjoy sharing fellow writers’ works to get more eyes on their hard work!
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That’s wonderful, Terri! That is exactly what we need. Thank you for supporting authors. We all must take care of each other. You’re the best! ❤
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Great post Colleen. Without reviewers like you, so many might miss some great opportunities to read some great books. Many people are swayed to book by reviews. ❤
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Thanks, Deby. I feel like our ranks are shrinking. We need more reviewers! 😁❤️
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I think we may always feel like we need more reviewers. I think there are plenty, it’s just directing them to our books, lol. ❤ 🙂
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I think you might be right. In fact, I have a review to write on your newest novel too! ❤ OH, and today I'm working on my interview questions. I had a pipe burst yesterday and have had a mess to clean up in my living room. (Eye-roll). LOL! ❤
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Grr on the pipe! And wow, on reviewing my book yay! ❤ It's 90 degrees here, when supposed to be 75 lol. Bring it on! ❤
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i am so behind with my book reading at the moment, but I understand the importance of reviewing books that I have read and do review them once I have reead them 🙂
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I read constantly, but am just starting to review. Would love any advice! Thanks for the great blog!
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Hi, Jody. My best advice is to be truthful. I tend to discuss the plot with detail, but not enough to give away the climax. The reader should discover that your themselves. Reading is emotional for me so I like to talk about the emotions the book evoked in me. Go to my menu and click on the book reviews tab. I like the format I use because I give links to the author’s amazon author page, the amazon book page, Goodreads, etc. I have a book I would love to have reviewed. Are you interested? If so, email me at colleenchesebro3@gmail.com. ❤
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This is outstanding. Followed.
This strikes a chord with me as I’ve just published my first novel and am now looking at the long uphill slog involved in getting someone (anyone!!!) to notice. If you’re interested at all, you can find details at the following link:
https://joshuagayou.wordpress.com/commune-book-1/
I’m also ready and willing for some turn about. If you like, I can go track down your work and get cracking or we can see about trading manuscripts via e-mail. I’m up for however you’d like to handle it. Additionally, my wife is a voracious YA reader who loves a good fantasy setting; I’m fairly sure I can rope her in as well 🙂
You can also get me at joshgayou@gmail.com.
Best Regards!
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Thanks, Josh. Nice to meet you. This is one of the ways I am drawing attention to my book, The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy. The more you write the more folks will want to check out your book. Thanks for stopping by. ❤
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Your post is very true. I just began reviewing books but on my blog. It’s actually great to share your feelings about the book too. I wrote a book and it’s on amazon now. Thanks for sharing this with us!
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You are very welcome. Thanks for reviewing. ❤️
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No worries 😁
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Pingback: Amazon Prime – Is it Worth My Time? – SBJ
Pingback: Book Reviews | Flesh and Bone
Reblogged this on The intangible world of the literary mind.
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Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated. ❤️
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I’m always happy to share 😊
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Thanks Colleen; interesting insights. Hopefully reviews also contribute to further raising he standards of books, whether Indie or trad published.
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True, although I promote predominantly Indie (Indy) books. Most traditionally published books have advertising and the power of the publisher behind them. The Indies need us most. ❤
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Shared to the #ABRSC Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club Colleen. Couldn’t agree more. 🙂
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Thanks, Marje. We all need to review. 😍❤️
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Yes indeed. 🙂
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Hello Colleen. I am an indie author, and I am asking reviews for my book. I am writing short stories, genre drama, and romance, based on real events.
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I’m sorry I don’t take book review requests any longer. I only review what I buy. Thanks and best wishes. I also have two books that need reviews so I understand. ❤️
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Thank you for following blog.
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You’re welcome.
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