Rejected Amazon Reviews

I am new to AW and searched through the threads for a little bit to see if I could find any similar threads on this subject, so please forgive me if I'm repeating a question that has already been answered.

I just released my first novella a week ago via Amazon, CreateSpace, and Smashwords. I have made some sales, nothing big, but still enough to make me happy that someone actually wanted to read something I wrote. On my Facebook writer fan page, I got a message from a reader who bought my book in eBook form on Amazon. They said they tried to leave a review (5 stars, yes!), but they're review was rejected.

Has anyone ever experienced this?

They forwarded me the review and I asked Amazon. Amazon told me their guidelines were 1. No profanity, 2. Over 20 words/under 500, 3. No external links, 4. No promotion of other product on a review for this product. This review met all those guidelines. My father tried to test this on his own then (he bought an eBook copy) and his review was also rejected. He emailed Amazon's review appeals and they responded that anyone that is family or friends with the author are not allowed to do reviews.

First off, the person that brought it to my attention isn't someone I personally knew. They added me on my Facebook fan page after they bought and tried to review the book. And in the case of my dad, how do they even know he's family? Yes he has my same last name, but many people will review books with authors that have the same last name. Doesn't mean they're related. I wouldn't want to go this route, but I've even seen authors who reviewed their own book or/and had a spouse that did so.

I'm just in a kind of shock. I would love reviews on my book (especially a 5 star), but I have to wonder if any of the other people that purchased my book also had trouble.

Sorry about placing this topic in the wrong category.

This is the review that the person sent to my Facebook page, alerting me that it was rejected. I personally don't know this person. They are not a friend or family member and don't even have a name close to mine. My name is Daniel Millhouse and their name is Chis Jankowski.

"I liked this book. It's a novella, so it's a quick read. It's listed as a ghost story, but isn't a gory/bloody storyline. Very subtle and has spooky elements behind it. I like the story's antagonist. It isn't apparent right away that he's the antagonist, but when it comes out that he is, his actions become disturbing. Definitely something to check out if you like fiction and/or ghost stories that aren't too bloody. Definitely something I would recommend."

After being alerted that this review was rejected by my reader, my father tried to review it too and was also rejected with this review...
"It's a good book. An enjoyable read for late at night. It's like a book version of those classic horror movies where what you didn't see is scarier than what you did see. An easy read."

The Amazon appeals people claimed it's because they reject all family and friends' reviews. I would understand if my father's was rejected (although he lives at a different address and uses a different last name), but the first person to bring it to my attention has no connection to me beyond my book.

Thank you for any suggestions. I appreciate the support.

I agree Old Hack.

I honestly want reviews and would love 5 star reviews like this person wanted to give me, but I also want the review there so other people can see what other readers thought of my work and what they liked or disliked about it. I mean, I could promote my book on various sites, etc. and say I think it's great, but obviously that comes with a bias. I think the Amazon review lets other potential readers know why they may like or hate the book.

Also from my standpoint, if I notice many complaints on the same subject, it may help me avoid that pitfall/mistake in my future writing.

Pikko...I was fortunate that someone liked my book enough to "like" my Facebook fan page and then inform me that their book review was rejected. I don't know if any other readers had the same problem. My dad tested it and they rejected it on the basis of his relation to me. Other than my last name, not sure how they know whether or not he is related when we don't live at the same address or even close by. I understand his review being rejected otherwise, but I doubt Amazon has people performing background checks on their writers to ensure whether or not the reviewers are related to the writers (i.e. I'm sure someone with the last name Brown has reviewed a Dan Brown book).

Just a week ago, a guy who worked with my old company I worked for a couple of years ago, found out I wrote a book and bought the eBook version. I've maybe met him twice since we didn't work at the same location, but through a mutual friend found out his review was rejected too. He was going to give me a three star review, but I'm fine with that.

Just frustrating when honest reviews are rejected when I know of a couple of other authors that have their own spouses with the same last name/address leaving 5 star reviews. I don't even care if it's 5 star, just want the review from "verified purchase" readers.