Oct 1 - Dec 31 2017: Alternate Ancient England/Arthurian Aesthetic Author Cross-Read

[Petrea]

Ah, I get it. My bad. I didn't realize I was supposed to do them in a particular order, so I started reading in the order in which I received them. I've already started Robert's book, and I'll do my best to correct the error. Thanks, S.W.

[Robert]

S.W. wrote: "Three good reviews so far, two good reviews-in-progress, three private notes, and unknown status from Molly & Susan [as of 10-17-17].

Petrea reviewed Rusty a bit out of order, so he has 2 reviews ..."

I'm about half-way through J.M. intriguing novel and will have a review ready in a week or two.

Best,

Bob

[M.L.]

With Cheryl Carpinello's entertaining read, Young Knights of the Round Table: The King's Ransom, I have completed my three books for our group read.

M.L.'s review of Young Knights of the Round Table: The King's Ransom: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

I would like to thank all of the authors who gave me a copy of their books to read and voluntarily review. I am very much looking forward to reading more great works in the Spring read in the new year!

[Robert]

Dear All,

I just posted my review of Islands in the Mist on all three sites. Now on to the next novel, which also promises to be stimulating and entertaining.

Best,

Bob

[S.W.]

Thank you M.L., Robert, and Rusty for your most recent feedback. I still have yet to hear from Molly or Susan. I sent a pm last night, so hopefully they haven't left Goodreads....

[J.M.]

I just posted up my second review on all 3 sites for Logres, Ms. Mackworth-Praed's novel - I enjoyed it!

Now, on to Eric Tanafon's Wolf's Head.

I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am :)

[S.W.]

Yes J.M., I think this H'ween read-party is largely a success. Two readers seem to have become ghosts though--hopefully that's just accidental?

[M.L.]

I am happy to pick up another read if we have readers missing in action since I’m already finished. Let me know!

[S.W.]

Okay--thx M.L.!

[Brian]

I'd be happy to try and jump in here to help if there are books that still need reviewing. Also be happy to add my own Arthurian origins story with a Princess Bride tone to the mix.

Or I can wait for a follow-up to this current review cycle. I know S.W. talked about doing this again in the spring.

[Cheryl]

Hi all. I've finished reading Petrea and Molly's books. Sending PMs to each. I'm behind, as I have just started S.W.'s book.

[S.W.]

You're fine Cheryl, you needed only read/review one book for each of Oct/Nov/Dec, but it's nice when authors finish early.

M.L. and Brian, I might take you up on your offer. To avoid cross and duplicate reviews:

EDITED 11-2-17
M.L. would get Petrea's and J.M.'s to read.
Brian would get Cheryl's and Robert's to read.
Then I'd get Brian's "Knights #1 & #2" and also M.L.'s to read.

If that sounds ok, I'll email everyone involved.

[Brian]

Sounds good to me.

[J.M.]

I ended up mailing a physical copy of my book to Molly, as she did not have a Kindle or e-reader...perhaps she simply doesn't spend much time on the internet. I'll try reaching out to her via email instead to check in with her.

[S.W.]

Thanks J.M. Molly mentioned work was crazy-busy last month, so I'd expect one or two readers to not finish just from scheduling reasons.

[Brian]

Okay, I'll stay in the bullpen for now. Looking forward, if you run another one of these, to being more involved next time.

[S.W.]

S.W. wrote: "EDITED 11-2-17
M.L. would get Petrea's and J.M.'s to read.
Brian would get Cheryl's and Robert's to read.
Then I'd get Brian's "Knights #1 & #2" and also M.L.'s to read."

Everyone has been emailed. :=)

[Petrea]

I've finished Bob's "Freya and Wulf," and posted reviews at Amazon and Goodreads. This is a novella, with much to recommend it.
AmazonUK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freya-Wulf-9...
AmazonUS
https://www.amazon.com/Freya-Wulf-9th...
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[S.W.]

Thanks Petrea. Also a disclaimer remind for all:

For posts on Amazon, a Goodreads member stated this eloquently: My reviews are not being deleted and I read at least 4-5 books per week. Remember to say at the end of your review: "I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me." This solves the two requirements from Amazon. 1) that you are not forced to leave a review in exchange for the copy of the book; and 2) that you disclose you received a free copy.

[Petrea]

Agh. I knew there was something I forgot.

[S.W.]

Molly had to bow-out, but she's doing the review for the first book by J.M.

Cheryl and Robert, please send your .mobi to Brian. I messaged you both his email.

[M.L.]

Whilst previously I have been able to accept Kindle Gifts from authors using Amazon US through my Amazon UK account, I tried today and was blocked from redeeming two titles sent the same way and told that neither title was available in my country. It says on Amazon that you may not be able to redeem a Kindle Gift if the gifter uses a different site to the giftee, but this wasn't an issue a few weeks ago. Has anyone else noticed this change?

[S.W.]

Hi M.L., Amazon has been really busy the last two months changing just about how everything works for authors: gift cards are no longer verified purchases, Kindle purchases no longer auto-update when authors do revisions (the covers still seem to though), U.K. review pages are coded differently now, etc etc. No doubt the gift options have changed in that regard too (besides many others). Authors might very well have to send you their .mobi files directly now.

[M.L.]

Hey S.W., thanks for the info. It must be part of what they've changed. It seems they're determined to make life as difficult as possible for Indie authors. The issue has been resolved by going through Smashwords, and I'm in the process of converting the US gift card into a UK one (which for some reason takes up to seven days) so I can purchase the same book on the UK website. Why it makes any difference to Amazon this way, I don't know. I hope UK/US readers will still be able to post their reviews on both websites!

[M.L.]

My review for Camelot & Vine.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

I really enjoyed reading this book and thank the author for sharing it with me!

[M.L.]

My review for Islands in the Mist.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

This concludes (for the second time!) my role in the group read. I'd like to thank each author for sharing their novels with me and would also like to thank S.W. for arranging such a fun and engaging reading group. I've discovered several new authors whose future projects I will now be following with great interest, and I look forward to discovering more great works in the spring!

[Brian]

You rock, M.L.!

[M.L.]

Brian wrote: "You rock, M.L.!"

Why thank you, Brian! :)

[Petrea]

Thanks, M.L.!

[Rusty]

My review for Robin Hood: Wolf's Head

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/RJ2FVO1...

[Eric]

My review for Bards of Fantasia: A Poem for Britain

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2BR0Z0...

[Rusty]

I had the opportunity to guest blog today about my novel in this reading cycle: Kaffka, The Holy Grail, and a Woman Who Reads: the Quests of Sir Kay. Joanne Guidoccio, my author friend who owns the blog, does a really nice job of featuring other authors. Check it out if you have a chance.

https://joanneguidoccio.com/2017/11/1...

[S.W.]

Great work so far everyone. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Brian]

My 4* review for King's Ransom: Young Knights of the Round Table

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

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/customer-...

[J.M.]

I've just posted my review of Robin Hood - Wolf's Head!

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

[Eric]

My review of The King's Ransom: Young Knights of the Round Table:

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

Thanks to everyone, and especially S.W. for setting up the group read!

[Petrea]

I am running late on my third review, which I think is due by December 1st. Just to let you know I haven't flaked! I'm reading and taking notes and will have it done as soon as I can.

[S.W.]

Actually Petrea you have until the end of Dec. :=)

[Petrea]

Oh, yay! I don't like missing deadlines. :)

[Robert]

Dear All,

I just posted my review of Kaffka, the Holy Grail, and a Woman Who Reads. Great fun!

Best,

Bob

[S.W.]

Robert wrote: "Dear All, I just posted my review of Kaffka, the Holy Grail, and a Woman Who Reads. Great fun!..."

And quite the in-depth and erudite review it was, Bob. :=)

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R2A0...

[Brian]

My 4* review of Freya and Wulf.

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

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/customer-...

[S.W.]

Thx Bri, I'm due to review Robert by month's end.

BTW Brian, I've filled-up the 10 slots for the Winter Read (rather than spring, since I'll be snowed-in anyway: Ogden winters look like Conan's Cimmeria...), and I added you. Is that okay? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Brian]

S.W. wrote: "Thx Bri, I'm due to review Robert by month's end.

BTW Brian, I've filled-up the 10 slots for the Winter Read (rather than spring, since I'll be snowed-in anyway: Ogden winters look like Conan's C..."

Yep, that's ok. Thanks!

[Robert]

Brian wrote: "My 4* review of Freya and Wulf.

Thank you, Brian, for the review and the sage advice.

Best,

Bob

[S.W.]

Especially to those not continuing on to the winter Northern Heroes read, I want to recommend a Tudor adventure series by Samantha Burnell. In a feedback group I mod, she has generously given 15 reviews/beta-reads of group authors, but has only received 4 in return. She also is an Amazon marketing expert and can help you maximize your browse paths and keywords.

[S.W.]

Okay, I've done double-duty with 5 posted reviews, and I still need to do "Knights #2" for Brian. Looks like all we need are

1) #3 from Petrea who's reviewing J.M.'s "Islands in the Mist"
2) #3 from Robert who's reviewing M.L.'s "Logres"
3) All 3 from Cheryl.
(Again, a total no-show from Molly and Susan, but their duties were covered by myself, Brian, and M.L. -- thanks guys!)

[Brian]

S.W. wrote: "Okay, I've done double-duty with 5 posted reviews, and I still need to do "Knights #2" for Brian. Looks like all we need are

1) #3 from Petrea who's reviewing J.M.'s "Islands in the Mist"
2) #3 fr..."

And #3 from me. I'm almost 3/4 through your Poem for Britain.

[Robert]

I just posted my review of "Logres." That completes my mission, I believe. Happy Holidays.

[Petrea]

I'm still plugging. Almost there.