Chain_36 “General” (May-Aug) -OPEN- > Likes and Comments

This is a "General" chain.
Any & all types of books, both fiction & non-fiction, are acceptable here. This means you might be reading anything from a book about tax returns to creative nonfiction to horror or erotica & anything in between. ARC files are fine, as long as your book can be reviewed in at least one other place in addition to Goodreads.

Sign-ups for this chain are open! For 4 months, through August.

Please post your review no later than four weeks from the date you're added to the chain in message 2. You can always post reviews earlier & that's encouraged.

In Review Chains, participants post reviews to two places: to Goodreads & at least one place elsewhere as requested by the author, such as BookBub, LibraryThing, IG, Twitter, B&N, FB, Kobo, Amazon, etc. Posting the review to more than two places can be arranged between reviewer & reviewee, if they like.

When posting a review to places like IG, Twitter, etc., review in a new post on your own account. Don’t go to the author's account & paste your review as a comment on one of their posts - that comment's too easily lost.

Any indie/SP author may join a chain & you may join a chain even if you’re currently involved in a read/review round.

Before you sign up, please make sure that:

1. You’ve thoroughly read & understand How Read/Review Chains Work (The Rules). Participating in the chain indicates your understanding & acceptance of the rules & compliance with them.

2. You’ve claimed your Goodreads author page.
If you’re on a regular Goodreads user account, rather than an author account, you need to do this before joining a chain. Find the directions for claiming your author profile page here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/program.

3. You’ve completed any current commitment for any other read/review chains in this group (including a prior commitment in this one). Note: you can join a chain without having yet completed any current commitment for a read/review round.

4. Your book is fit & ready to be reviewed.
If it’s not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews.

5. You're ready to get started reading & have enough time to read & review a book within the chain timeframe.

6. Your book fits the chain theme.

7. You can provide — & accept — at least PDF files.
You’re not expected or required to buy the books you’re scheduled to read, although that’s a nice gesture (you certainly may buy or borrow the book, if you want). Each participant is responsible for getting a review copy of their book to their reader in the chain & must be able to provide — & accept — at least PDF files. Many provide & accept other formats as well. Please ask your reader’s preference if you can provide files in a variety of formats. And many authors have books available via KU; others might provide Smashwords coupons.

Note that International Copyright laws apply: you cannot sell or give away material you’ve received, without the author’s express permission.

8. If you are signing up to review a book whose author has requested a review be posted to Amazon, you must be able to submit reviews to your local Amazon store.

(On Amazon, only people who have spent $50 in the last year can leave reviews in each of their stores. If you're uncertain about your Amazon reviewer status, try to post a "test" review before you sign up for the chain. If you're unable to post reviews on Amazon, please don't sign up to review someone who's requested that their second review be posted to Amazon.)

9. You have NO conflict with reviewing the person in the chain before you (see message 2 of this thread), i.e. they have NOT previously reviewed you, nor are you from the same household, or an editor, relative, or close friend of the author.

The first part is to avoid reciprocal reviewing. The second is because it’s a more-professional practice to avoid reviews from people in those relationships to the author.

To check for reciprocal reviews:
Go to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait) & search for the other author’s name. Check if someone has reviewed you in the same way… through their profile, searching for your name.

To sign up for this read/review chain, please:

1. Reply to this thread with the following details

a) Your Goodreads Profile link, including any additional names/profiles under which you publish, to help the other participants check for & avoid reciprocal reviewing.

b) Your Goodreads Book info link for your preferred book to get reviewed

Note: if you have other books, you need to be open to having one of them reviewed instead, to help keep the chain from stalling, since someone who has already reviewed that book can sign up & review a different book of yours.

c) Confirmation that you haven't been previously reviewed by the author you'll be reviewing (the one who'll be directly above you in the chain when you're added to it).

d) The second place you'd like the reviewer of your book to post their review, such as BookBub, LibraryThing, IG, Twitter, B&N, FB, Kobo, Amazon, etc. (Note, you're already set to get a review on Goodreads by joining the chain)

And if you're open to reviews in other locations, feel free to list those as alternates, for example: "2nd review location: Amazon (or LibraryThing or BookBub)".

AND

2. Provide contact information via this form - https://forms.gle/KjqB9uuHuYbPwpfG8 - to allow for sending/receiving a review copy, if needed, as well as to allow the Mod to contact you about your reviewing commitment, if needed.

If you want to create a new email account only for use for this review group, see Getting a review copy for a list of the supposedly best free email providers.

By joining this chain, you agree to accept for reading & reviewing whatever book you are scheduled for. Please note that it’s possible that the book you’re scheduled to read may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. You are expected to finish the book — that’s only fair. If you can't commit to this, please don’t sign up.

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Each author reviews the book of the person who signed up directly before them on the chain, with the author in position #1 being the only exception... so person 2 reviews 1, person 3 reviews 2, etc. Because you'll have just 4 weeks from the time you sign up to post your review, please begin reading/reviewing as soon as possible upon being added to the chain. Authors please get your book to your reviewer as soon as you can manage, to facilitate this.

The chain, showing participants & book links, is in message 2 of this thread. (Mods try to keep this updated as expediently as they can.)

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Chain Parameters:

-Complete reading the book(s) & post your review(s) no later than four (4) weeks from the date you're added to the chain in message 2.

-If you need to get a review copy of the book you are to read & review, post in the chain requesting a review copy from the author of the book you're to review. Then the Mod will email both of you (using the contact information you provided in the form when you signed up to the chain) to pass along contact information so you can send/receive the review copy. Don’t post your email in the chain - it’s an open forum from which scammers can get that information.

Note, if you are signing for position #2 & the book in position #1 came from The Book List, that author might not be visiting the group regularly. You may post in the chain to try to coordinate for a review copy, but because it came off that list, the author isn’t required to provide a review copy. If they can’t/don’t, you might need to buy the book or read it via KU (if available).

-Please make sure your reviewer has gotten a copy of your book as soon as possible so they can start reading.

-As soon as you have gotten a copy of the book, through whatever means, please post in the chain that you've got the copy of the book.

-Read the entire book & write your unbiased & honest review of the book, making every attempt to avoid spoilers if possible, & post it.

For what constitutes a book review for this group (& for reviewing tips), please see Reviewing in RWR Club.

Note that if you are going to be late posting your review, you need to post to the chain topic about the delay.

-After your review is posted, please reply to this thread with the links to your reviews (not the book page) so you can be "signed off" for reviewing. Please shorten the links (always a good practice for any social media). See Finding review links to post them in the group for specific tips.

-If you've completed your previous chain-reviewing commitment(s) & it doesn't put you at the end of more than one chain, you may join an additional chain. (The only exception: you may be at the end of one "Audible" chain & one of the "non-Audible" chains at the same time.) Or you can sign up again in the current chain. So you can join a specific chain more than once.

- The chain is open for sign-ups for four months, at the end of which it will close & a new one will open.

Additional Notes:

-Note that if the second review is going on Amazon, it can sometimes take days for the review to show up there. So you might want to wait until the Amazon review appears, then review the book on Goodreads, and then post both links together in one message in the chain. If you don't have the Goodreads and Amazon links on the same date, please don't edit your original post to add the second link as it's unlikely the Mod will see that. Create a new post with the link.

-You can leave a disclaimer in your review, if you want. Just note that reviews stating you received a copy "in return" or "in exchange" for a review might be removed/disallowed by some retailers. If you wish to add a disclaimer, the following would be more acceptable: "I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review".

-Your Goodreads details & chains you participate in may be recorded by Mods on a database. We don’t retain details of email addresses, etc. For the good of all, participants in any type of chain who persistently fail to post reviews, or DNF reviews, will find Mods less than willing to allow them in subsequent chains.

Questions? Please review How Read/Review Chains Work (The Rules) & check Questions about Review Chains for an answer. Still have questions? Please ask before signing up. If you need to talk to Mod about a sensitive subject (i.e. privately), post a message to that effect to coordinate with the Mod for that communication.

Chain #36 “General”

Participants, Book Links, & Requested Review Location
You have 4 weeks to post your review from the time you’re signed up, so please begin reading/reviewing as soon as possible upon being added to this chain. To facilitate this, reviewers and authors please coordinate to make sure the reviewer has a copy of the book as soon as possible.

Also be sure to check back periodically, so you don't miss out on posts in the chain (note that Goodreads notifications aren't reliable).

1. Old San Antone: “Dawn Of The Legend”. {from the end of closed Chain#34} (2-Bru Krew)
2nd review @ Amz (hopefully eventually)

2. Amber Daulton✓ {reviewed #1}
preferred book: Acoustic Embrace (Embracing You Book 1): A Steamy Halloween One-Night Stand Romance (or an alternate)
2nd review @ Amz US

3. Seth Hobbs✓ {reviewed #2}
preferred book: Black Powder, Black Heart: A Dark Flintlock Fantasy Novel
2nd review @ Amazon

4. {reviews #3}
preferred book:
2nd review @...

etc.

(Symbols key:
✓ participant is completely done with that review commitment
✍︎ participant has provided one review link but hasn't yet posted the other link )

Note: all books will be reviewed on Goodreads. The 2nd review is an additional place to post the review.

Hi S. Lynn! Thanks for getting me in this new chain. I appreciate it! :)

2-Bru wrote: "Hi S. Lynn! Thanks for getting me in this new chain. I appreciate it! :)"

You're very welcome! :)

S. Lynn - since I reviewed a book in the last chain and no one reviewed me in the last chain, and I am now top of the list in this chain, do I need to review anyone in this chain? Or am I good to just chill and not review anyone in this chain? Thanx :)

2-Bru wrote: "S. Lynn - since I reviewed a book in the last chain and no one reviewed me in the last chain, and I am now top of the list in this chain, do I need to review anyone in this chain? Or am I good to j..."

2-Bru, as the chain stands now, you don't need to review anyone here.

However, as others sign-up, you can choose to join the chain again, if you like, by signing up again. If you do that, then you'd need to review the person immediately above you in the list, like you did in the last chain. Does that make sense?

sounds good. thanks! :)

May I join with Acoustic Embrace (Embracing You Book 1): A Steamy Halloween One-Night Stand Romance or an alternate?

I haven't read from 2-Bru before, nor has he read from me.

Thanks!

Amber wrote: "May I join with Acoustic Embrace (Embracing You Book 1): A Steamy Halloween One-Night Stand Romance or an alternate?
I haven't read from 2-Bru before, nor has he read from me..."

Amber, I'm happy to add you to the chain, but to be able to do so, I need you to please finish the sign-up tasks as listed in message 1. Specifically...

>> Provide the second place you'd like the reviewer of your book to post their review (#1d under "To sign up for this read/review chain")

>> Provide contact information via the form linked in message 1 (#2 under "To sign up for this read/review chain")

Thanks!

Amazon US

Form filled out.

Thanks!

Amber wrote: "Amazon US
Form filled out.
Thanks!"

Thank you Amber and welcome to the chain. Please post your review of book #1 no later than June 6. Thanks!

Also, since Goodreads notifications aren't reliable, please be sure to check back from time to time, so you don't miss out on anything posted in the chain.

Thanks, Lynn. I need to request a review copy. Can you get me in contact with 2-Bru?

Amber wrote: "Thanks, Lynn. I need to request a review copy. Can you get me in contact with 2-Bru?"

Absolutely. I'll email you both each other's contact info.

Hi Amber, I sent you an email with a copy of my book. Thanks for taking the time to read and review it. I truly appreciate it. :)

Thanks for connecting us, Lynn.

You're so welcome, 2-Bru. I got your book. Looking forward to it. :)

Amber wrote: "Thanks for connecting us, Lynn..."

You're very welcome!

Hi Amber - I just read your review of my book "Old San Antone" - that you posted on Goodreads. Wow - it is awesome! Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Have you posted the review to Amazon too? :)

2-Bru wrote: "...Have you posted the review to Amazon too? :)..."

2-Bru, Amazon sometimes takes a very long time to post reviews that people submit (2 weeks isn't uncommon). Amber will post the link to her review when it comes through.

thanks! This is so awesome and exciting! :) I appreciate it all so much! :)

Hey, 2-Bru.

Yeah, Lynn is right. It often takes Amazon awhile to approve. I might as well post my GR link now since I'm here...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I enjoyed your book. Thank you for letting me read it.
~ Amber

Thank you again, Amber. It really means the world to me. You are amazing!

Hey Everyone, can I join with Black Powder, Black Heart? Lynn, if you need to take me off of Group 127 Mature Rounds, that is ok. Unfortunately, it has been sitting dormant for an extremely long time, which is unusual. Thanks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...?

Seth wrote: "Hey Everyone, can I join with Black Powder, Black Heart? Lynn, if you need to take me off of Group 127 Mature Rounds, that is ok. Unfortunately, it has been sitting dormant for an extremely long ti..."

Seth, I'm happy to add you to the chain but to be able to do so, I need the rest of the sign-up information please, as stated in message 1 under " To sign up for this read/review chain", namely parts 1. c) and d), and part 2. Thanks.

Also, an author can be in a round and a chain at the same time. But if you want to leave that round, please post there to that effect (I'm not modding that round and so can't remove you from it.)

I can stay in both the round and the chain. No worries there. I would like reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. I am set to review 2--Bru's book in the Mature 127 Round but have never had interactions with them before. I have reviewed Amber before, but I think she has more books I have yet to read. So, it looks good on my end, from what I can tell. Sorry, I missed the criteria earlier. Thanks, Lynn!

And I filled out the email form

Hi, Seth.

If Lynn adds you to the chain, would you like to read the next book in my Arresting Onyx series, book 2.5 Ryan's Temptation (you've read the previous ones), or the book I listed above, Acoustic Embrace, which is book 1 in my Embracing You series. I'd be happy to send either one along.

Thanks!

Amber

Seth wrote: "...I would like reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. I am set to review 2--Bru's book in the Mature 127 Round... I have reviewed Amber before, but I think she has more books I have yet to read... And I filled out the email form"

Thank you and welcome to the chain, Seth. Please post your review of book #2 no later than June 15.

And if you and Amber decide on a different book of hers you'll review, please let me know and I'll update the list in message 2. Thanks!

Also, since Goodreads notifications aren't reliable, please be sure to check back periodically, so you don't miss out on anything posted in the chain.

Acoustic Embrace sounds great. Thanks.

Hi S. Lynn and Seth - just wanted to give you guys a heads up, on the other Round - Round_127 "Mature" (reviews on GR & Amz)-FORMING - we got a post for someone who wants to join to fill the fourth slot. Check out the notifications of that round. : )

2-Bru wrote: "Hi S. Lynn and Seth - just wanted to give you guys a heads up, on the other Round - Round_127 "Mature" (reviews on GR & Amz)-FORMING - we got a post for someone who wants to join to fill the fourth..."

Thanks, I saw that. :)

I just sent Seth my book, Acoustic Embrace.

Still no word from Amazon about my review for 2-Bru. I'll message them to see what's going on.

Thanks for following up on that, Amber. I appreciate it. :)

Thanks, Everyone. Thanks, Lynn!

Amber wrote: "I just sent Seth my book, Acoustic Embrace."
👍


Seth wrote: "Thanks, Everyone. Thanks, Lynn!"
👍

Hi Amber Daulton - your review of my book on amazon still hasn't posted. I know you were gonna follow up - have you tried re-submitting it? i've found that sometimes that works. thanks :)

2-Bru wrote: "Hi Amber Daulton - your review of my book on amazon still hasn't posted. I know you were gonna follow up - have you tried re-submitting it? i've found that sometimes that works. thanks :)"

2-Bru, Amazon sometimes takes quite a while and often isn't the most responsive. Please be patient. Thank you.

Sure, no problemo. :) Thanks. :)

Hi, 2-Bru and Lynn.

Amazon has been so frustrating. I posted my review for 2-Bru (and other reviews for books and various stuff) on May 11. All of them but the one for Old San Antone was approved, but I never got a rejection email from the ‘Zon. I’ve posted several reviews since then that were quickly accepted, so I know my account is in good standing. I went back to the book to try to leave the review again, and an error message popped up saying my account isn’t eligible to review the book. I contacted customer support who kept transferring me from person to person until one of them finally gave me an email address to report my problem. I emailed them and never heard back. That was over a week ago. Two days ago, I contacted customer support again, and the man said the “review team” would email me with a solution within 24 hours. No big surprise, but I haven’t heard back from them.

What’s even crazier is that there seems to be some kind of block with the book. I wasn’t able to download it to my Kindle or the Kindle app on my computer, and I kept getting an error message. I had to read it in Amazon’s Kindle Library. When I click on the Order page, I get another error message, so I can’t even see the order. This has never happened to me before, and I’ve bought or received as gifts soooo many ebooks that worked out perfectly.

I’m so sorry, 2-Bru, but Amazon just won’t let me post my review for your book. This especially stinks because you gifted me a copy and spent money on that. It’s not right or fair, but there’s nothing else I can do.

To try to make up for this, I posted my review on Bookbub and LibraryThing. I also searched B&N, Kobo, and Google Play, but your book wasn’t there. Here are my links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.librarything.com/work/363...
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/22934...

If some miracle happens and Amazon’s so-called customer support fixes the problem, I’ll be sure to let you guys know.

Thanks. And I'm sorry for the long message. I just wanted to explain the situation as best as I could.
Amber

no worries, Amber - you went above and beyond, and truly appreciate it very much. Thanks for letting me know. Zon is gonna Zon, and it is what it is, but I super-appreciate all your efforts and time, and really thank you for the posts on library thing and bookbub. That's so kool! Being an author, I know that time is our most valuable commodity and I thank you for investing so much time on my book. You are not just a great author, you are a great person for making this effort. Thanks again, Amber! You are awesome! :)

I have submitted my review today, hoping I don't run into any issues. Fingers crossed!

Seth wrote: "I have submitted my review today, hoping I don't run into any issues. Fingers crossed!"

Fingers crossed here, too! :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2-Bru wrote: "no worries, Amber - you went above and beyond, and truly appreciate it very much. Thanks for letting me know. Zon is gonna Zon, and it is what it is, but I super-appreciate all your efforts and tim..."

Yes, thank you Amber and thanks also for those review links. I'm sorry Amazon's being so frustrating for that review.

2-Bru, I'm inclined to accept Amber's reviews at non-Amazon sites for your book for completing her commitment here. Is that okay with you, too? (If so, I can mark her done.)

Absolutely! No problemo at all. Mark her done. Amber did amazing, and went above and beyond. I even feel like I made a new friend! :) I appreciate all Amber did and all you've done as moderator of this round, S. Lynn! :)

https://www.amazon.com/review/RU8XWGZ...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here are my reviews for Amber's book. Thanks, Everyone!

2-Bru wrote: "Absolutely! No problemo at all. Mark her done. Amber did amazing, and went above and beyond. I even feel like I made a new friend! :) I appreciate all Amber did and all you've done as moderator of ..."

Fantastic.

Amber, you're done with that reviewing commitment for the chain. Since that's done now, please delete any email contact information that you received for use for this chain. Thank you!


And 2-Bru, all mod-collected email contact information for you for this chain has been deleted.

Seth wrote: "https://www.amazon.com/review/RU8XWGZ...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here are my reviews for Amber's book. Thanks, Everyone!"

Thank you for those review links, Seth. You're all done with that reviewing commitment for the chain. Please delete any email contact information that you received for use for this chain. Thank you!


And Amber, all mod-collected email contact information for you for this chain has been deleted.

2-Bru -- You're very welcome. I really did enjoy your book. Thank you so much for being so understanding.

Lynn -- Thanks for marking me as complete. I appreciate that.

Seth -- I'm so happy you enjoyed my book. Thanks a lot!