Monday, March 22, 2021

One Author's Relationship with Reviews

 


TOMORROW my newest book releases! #39!! The Indebted Earl, book three in the Serendipity & Secrets Regency series officially comes out, though review copies went out a few weeks ago and some retail places have shipped early. I’m so excited for this book to get into readers hands, and to find out what people think about it. Which got me to thinking about reviews and my relationship with them.

There are lots of things to say and think about book reviews, and I’ll try to bullet point them here for clarity. I apologize for the long post, but there are so many things to say!




What is a book review?

  • Simply, it’s a reader’s thoughts on a book. What they liked or didn’t like, felt, or enjoyed about a book. Would they recommend this book? Why or why not?
  • It often includes a rating…one to five stars, one being “BLECH, hated this,” five being “BEST book ever!” Amazon now allows you to rate a book without leaving a review...but the written review means more and is more helpful to both the author and the consumer than just a star rating.
  • Posted on social media, often in a variety of places. Book sellers, blogs, Instagram, Facebook, or other social platform. The wider the dispersion of reviews, the more people can be reached with word about the book!
 



What does a book review do for an author? (This is not an exhaustive list, but it should cover most of the basics.)

  • Increases visibility in different ways. The more written reviews a book has on retail sites like amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Christianbook, the more these platforms will spread the word about the book. It will be seen in the “Also bought” ribbon across the middle of other book listings, it will appear as suggested for you on people’s amazon home pages and it becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more popular a book is, the more it will be promoted, and thus become more popular. In addition, a book that is shared on Instagram or FB is seen by thousands as it gains momentum. In one three day ‘Social Media Takeover Tour’ I participated in, my book cover was seen by nearly 90,000 people who otherwise wouldn’t have known about my story. I received word from several people that they "just had to buy the book, because they were seeing it EVERYWHERE!" Yay! Just the result for which I hoped!
  • It gives the author feedback. Reviews are a good way for an author to get feedback on their stories. When our books go to press, we have very little way to know if the story is resonating with readers other than by reviews and feedback. We can judge whether we've hit the mark with our story, is it being well received, is there anything we should change in the next one based on what readers are saying?
  • Encouragement (and discouragement upon occasion) Writing is a solitary existence. Authors are in their heads, creating story worlds, and not knowing the impact our words will have, until we hear through reviews that we’ve nailed it…or not. (More about that later.)
  • Gives a good metric to our publishers on how the books are doing. If you’re getting lots of good feedback through reviews, the publisher is more likely to sign you to another contract than if there are terrible reviews or worse…crickets.
  • The number of reviews a book has can edge it into promotional goldmine territory such as BookBub. In order to qualify for some promotions on sites like BookBub, a book needs to have already gained a certain amount of traction via reviews.
  • Positive book reviews increase sales. People are more likely to buy a book that has many positive reviews than one that has very few. People are more likely to see a book on a retail site if it has positive reviews. There are certain benchmarks that the amazon algorithm has that increases visibility for books that have 50, 100, 200 reviews.



What does a book review do for a reader?

  • Saves time and money. Reading reviews, especially well-crafted reviews, helps a consumer know whether they will like a product.
  • Introduces the reader to unknown-to-them authors. Through increased visibility, it’s easier for readers to find you on the retail sites.
  • Gives comparisons so readers can identify easily the style of book they're thinking of buying. Often a book review will state “Readers of _____________ will enjoy this book.
  • Word of mouth is still the best way to sell something, and by leaving reviews, it’s like word of mouth advertising that allows you to reach WAY more people than if you just stood on a street corner and talked to passers by!



What makes a good, well-written book review?

  • A good book review will include what you liked and didn’t like. It’s okay to say you didn’t LOVE everything about a book. Was the middle a bit slow? Did it take you some time to get into the story? Did you want to smack the heroine at the beginning? But also include what you DID like. Was the action exciting? Was the romance swoony? Did you relate to the characters’ struggles? A balanced review is more trustworthy than a hit job or a book gush.
  • Keep your review focused on the book, not the author. No personal attacks, please! If you didn’t like the book, it’s okay to say, this turned out not to be to my taste, and to say why, but don’t say something like “This author couldn’t write her way out of a wet paper bag.” That’s just mean.
  • Don’t give away the plot/spoilers. Keep the secrets of the book. You can say, “I never saw the ending coming!” or “The plot twisted more than a rattler slipping through a prickly pear patch!” but don’t give away all the secrets of the book. Knowing all the plot twists and surprises ruins the experience for the next reader and also deflates an author who worked so hard to surprise readers only to have the gaff blown by a reviewer.
  • Please don’t leave a review for something that is outside the author’s control. If the book arrived damaged in the mail, don’t give it a one-star review. The author can’t help what happens in the USPS, and your one star review will bring down the book’s rating average like a cinderblock in a lake.
  • If you received the book through a review program from the publisher, note that at the end of your review, and state that all your opinions are your own. You’re not obligated to leave a favorable review just because you were gifted the book. But you do have to let people know if you received a free copy.



The relationships of authors and reviews:

  • · I’ll say it up front. It can be difficult when someone says your baby is ugly. Especially the first time you hear it. You can walk in the humiliation of it all day. And for some authors, they never get over reading an unfavorable review.
  • It is LOVELY to read a review that not only is positive, but one where you KNOW the reader totally got what you were trying to say in telling your story.
  • Both the total number and the number of positive reviews can be so encouraging to an author (for the reasons stated above.)
  • There are dangers for authors reading reviews. If you are sensitive to comments about your work that are less than praiseworthy, my advice is to not read them. Let a friend read them and report back if there are any trends or common issues. A trusted friend, not a frienemy who will delight in your pain! Don’t let negative comments derail you, keep you from writing new words, or make you want to answer back…and also…NEVER answer a reviewer back. Ultimately, Reviews are for Readers! Authors can certainly use them, but reviews are for helping potential customers decide whether to buy your book. It’s a bad look if you come spitting out of the gate to contest every review you don’t like. On the flip side, don’t let your ego become inflated by positive reviews praising your work. Certainly enjoy that readers are liking what you wrote, be encouraged, but also remember, the results of your work are in God’s hands, and He deserves the praise. 




Tips for when you get a bad review:  
  • Stop. Take a breath. Walk away from the computer/phone/screen if necessary.
  • When you can be objective, consider if there is any truth to the review. Is there something you need to take under advisement.
  • Remember that art is subjective, and not everyone is going to respond the same way. You have likes and dislikes when it comes to fiction reading, so allow others to have the same preferences.
  • Take a peek at that person's other reviews. Do they consistently leave bad reviews and slate people? Is your book an outlier, or is this a pattern? If it's a pattern, write it off as someone else's problem, not yours.
  • Remember that there is not a single troll out there leaving mean reviews who is living a better life than you. They might be having a bad day, a bad patch, or just be a negative person, but you don't need to give them the power to turn you into the same.
  • If a review is particularly nasty, there are a couple things you can do. If it's on Goodreads, and the review violates their community guidelines, you can flag the review and Goodreads will take a look at it and see if it needs reviewed. If it's just a star rating, there isn't anything you can do about that. Readers are welcome to rate your book however they like, but they are not welcome to attack you in a written review in a way that violates the guidelines. When I checked amazon, here's what they had to say: "If a Product review is in violation of any of those outlined on the link above, simply click the 'Report Abuse' link found just below the review (near the helpful vote buttons), and report it. When it comes to product reviews, Amazon provides a bit of anonymity for buyers who wish to leave Product Reviews." Another site suggested this: "Go to the product details page of your product, find the questionable review, and click “report abuse”. Alternatively, you can send an email to community-help@amazon.com and indicate the ASIN of your product, the date and time of the review, the name/pseudonym of the reviewer, and, ideally, a link to the review." Both Goodreads and Amazon strongly suggest you not respond to the negative review yourself, as this just tends to escalate things, and you never come off looking very good.



So there you have it. As reviews come in for my newest release, I’m trying to take my own advice! And if you have read/are reading/will read The Indebted Earl…help a girl out! Leave a review and tell your friends!



My question for you….Do you write and post reviews? Do you read reviews before buying a book? If you’re an author, do you read your reviews?

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man’s grieving fiancée and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!

 



44 comments:

  1. Hi Erica! You are one of my favorite authors, you have a way with words and I love your writing voice, congrats on #39! This post on reviews is a good one, you hit all the points leaving very little unsaid. I do read and write reviews mostly on Goodreads and my reviews are "short, sweet and simple." I do not write the content that can be found on the book blurbs (or very little), to me it's redundant. I prefer to write and read about other things a reader might like to know about the book. And I never write anything negative!! Most times if I do not like a book it's because of the author's voice not because of the story plot or characters. Again, congratulations and best wishes always with your writing!

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    1. Thank you so much, Karen! Thank you for reading and reviewing. And thank you for thinking about your reader as you write reviews!

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  2. Good morning Erica. I enjoyed reading this and hope I’m getting my reviews done right. I’m reading The Indebted Earl and loving. Thank you for all the pointers. Blessings

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  3. Erica, thanks for a good post. The whole review scenarios can be tricky and I'm developing a thicker skin as I go. Most of the time when it's negative I chalk it up to the fact that it wasn't the book for that reader at that time. Reading is so subjective.
    I honed my skills for this in my newspaper career and to never, never fight back. It isn't worth it.
    U, what are "crickets"?
    Having a good week. About halfway through the draft for my WIP, which isn't bad since it takes place in a period I have never touched before. Got the Johnson and Johnson shot so there's that, although my life hasn't changed that much since. I always did go places. It's a miracle I'm still alive.
    May be back later,
    KB

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    1. You do have to let some things go as a writer, rather than shoot back, don't you?

      Crickets means no sound, nothing happening...all you can hear is the crickets chirping in the background. :)

      Yay for getting vaccinated! and yay for progress on your WIP!

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  4. This is a wonderful look at the writing of reviews... why they've gained in importance, what they mean, and what they mean to other readers.

    I tend to stay away from reviews personally for my own books... because I want readers to feel free to express themselves. And if you write consistently and write well, I figure the good will outweigh the bad, right??? And I don't have to face it! :)

    Having said that, I use reviews on everything I buy these days... and if someone seems overly negative or positive, I pretend I'm a gymnastics judge and toss the high/low and go for the majority. So I don't generally read anything (sorry, reviewers!!!) I look at how many 5 and 4 star reviews are there and if there are over 90% of the people (adding the numbers) that give 4 or 5, I'm in... because 90%+ of anything brings something to "A" status. Then I'm willing to take a chance because if something comes broken, I'll return it. I'm good at that by necessity!

    But for book reviews, I just go by the combination of numbers.

    The interesting thing is that few reviews give heat levels and we all know I'm conservative. I gave up spicy books a long time ago, and I've noticed that sensuality isn't always mentioned and that folks use "sweet" and "heartwarming" for some really hot tamales!

    So that's an interesting shift in dynamics. Are they trying to tempt conservative readers in? Would readers like that?

    I've noticed that in young adult and some "Wholesome" books/reviews, that the book isn't always what it seems in the blurb. Now that's disconcerting and would get sent back... but I am crazy grateful for folks taking time to leave reviews because we all look for them. It's a huge help to all of us!

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    1. I read reviews on things I buy, too! And I am always more interested in the 3 and 4 star reviews. They tend to be well-thought out and address issues I am interested in. :)

      You have to be so careful these days, don't you? When buying reading material that isn't recommended by someone you know? Everyone has a different idea of what 'sweet' or 'clean' or 'wholesome' is!

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    2. Ruthy, I agree about trying to ignore the best and the worst reviews of a product. We are looking at grills online and I get frustrated because somebody is always going to leave a bad review, or you get completely opposite responses. Someone says it is terrible because it is so hard to clean, and someone else says it is wonderful because it is so easy to clean! Looking at the overall percentage is a good idea.

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  5. Erica, I’m so glad you wrote this post. It’s always difficult to know how many or how few words to use in writing a review. Personally, I never read long reviews. I also appreciated how an author can use reviews to spread the word about your books. Thanks for the lesson!

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    1. Hi, Barbara! I don't care for long-winded book reviews myself, for fear of reading a spoiler or having to endure a rant. :)

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  6. Wow! 39 books! Congratulations, Erica! This was such a well-thought-out post. I appreciate your insights and your perspective. I do leave reviews, but not nearly as often as I should. I hate leaving bad reviews, so there has to be a really strong reason for me to do that. But I love leaving reviews on books I loved. I appreciate you explaining some of the algorithms and how effective sharing on other social media platforms is for helping a book to become known.

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    1. Hi, Jeanne! Thank you! I never would have dreamed I'd get to 39 books!

      I don't leave bad reviews on books. I have left some that I hope were balanced, with things I liked and some things I didn't care for, but I have never trashed a book wholeheartedly!

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  7. I'm with Jeanne - WOW! 39 books! Congratulations!

    Thanks for this great post. Writing reviews is something I need to do more often, which is one reason why I've started doing a monthly book review on my website. Out of all the books I read in a month, at least one will get a review!

    I need to read this again to catch up all the social media connections and how they affect our books. That part of the business is one of my learning goals for 2021 - and it's an ever-changing field!

    Thanks again!

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    1. Mastering social media does seem to be a moving target, doesn't it? I'm glad amazon has a reminder email for books and products I've purchased to let me know I still haven't left a review. I did a string of reviews just this weekend!

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  8. Thanks for sharing Erica. I started reviewing books a few years ago (before I hopped on the writing train). I try to post something positive about books I can't get into - even if it's "the cover is really nice". I try to be kind with what I didn't like I.e. I just didn't connect with the character (translation: it lacked depth or deep point of view or characters were plastic or totally unrelatable. Then I try to emphasize what I really liked about the story.

    It is hard to write reviews of books I couldn't finish, but I think it's helpful for the author to know what readers struggled with so they can focus on strengthening those aspects in the next book.

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    1. Thank you for reviewing books, and for being thoughtful with your words. Not every book is for every reader, and I, too, have struggled to come up with the write words for a review I found difficult. Still, the balance of good and not so appealing is a good way to handle it! :)

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  9. I didn't know that about the 'also bought' ribbon. I'd heard once you get more than fifty reviews SOMETHING good happens but I never really knew what. I'll bet this is it.

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    1. I read it in a book marketing blog awhile back. And it was reiterated in a marketing class I took. :)

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  10. I have to mention this...in the reviews of Braced for love, one after the other.
    THREE STARS...I used to love Connelly's historical rom coms, but lately (note my name is mispelled!?
    The very next one...FIVE STARS...This my new favorite Mary Connealy book. What a fantastic start to her new series!
    So I take reviews for what they're worth. Common sense seems to dictate that if you believe one, you have to believe them all.

    But I don't read them that way. First of all, I often don't even think to check them, but when I do...I try and learn what I can. If there is a recurring complaint in one area, I take notice of that.

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    1. That sort of review roller coaster can be frustrating. I tend to check reviews on my author central page at amazon on Fridays when the new info comes out. :)

      I think my only complaint about a Connealy book is that they are all TOO SHORT!

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  11. Also I got email notification like...Thursday or Friday or Saturday??? That The Indebted Earl has shipped. Yes, I've read it before, but I want it to keep forever. Loved that whole series

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    1. Squee! I can't believe it's finally almost release day!

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  12. And now, reading your blurb about it, I realize I have to re-read it. I love this new Regency phase, Erica. Very cool.

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    1. It's your fault, so you might as well enjoy it! If you hadn't recommended some Regency books to me a few years ago, I wouldn't have gotten the wild hare...hair? I never know which one it is...they both make sense... to try it out!

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  13. Erica I loved this information. I hope lots of reviewers read it. I never knew how important reviews were until I started publishing my own books. One of the problems I am running into is that most of the people reading my books (yes, sorry to say I know most of the people reading my books because I don't know how to market and no one knows the books are out there), anyway, most of these people love, LOVE my books and keep coming back for the next in the series, but they are older and don't use a computer. So, I am sunk!

    Once upon a time I never left reviews. Didn't really think about it or couldn't find the time. Now, knowing how important they are, I leave a review for all (except for the really bad ones, if I can't say something nice, I say nothing at all.)

    I am thinking about going back and reviewing some that I have read through the years that really stuck with me, (watch out Mary, a lot of reviews will be coming your way!)

    This article was very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

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    1. Hi, Lynne, Perhaps you could ask some of those older readers to write out a review and get their permission to share them online. You could put them on your website, and you could make graphics and share them on your social media platforms. It won't help with your amazon review numbers, but it will help with visibility, and perhaps then readers who DO leave reviews will get your book and review it.

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    2. Great idea! I will try that!

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  14. I am fairly good at leaving reviews on Goodreads, but then get lazy about leaving them elsewhere. I need to be better about that because I want people to leave my books reviews, too. My worst review so far simply said she didn't think people actually described guys as dreamy anymore. I can handle it. Especially since I meant it as a joke in the book. :-) I am sure worse will come.
    And I need to go read your whole series. It's still on my TBR list, but it looks so good!

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    1. Hi, Amy! I think lots of reviewers have favorite sites to leave reviews and to read reviews. My favorite is amazon, but others love B&N, christianbook.com and Goodreads. No author will complain as long as the review is favorable. :) And you can always cut and paste your Goodreads review onto other sites. No author will complain about that either.


      And I think there are lots of guys who are dreamy. :D :D :D

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  15. Erica, this post is packed with great tips about reviews! Thanks for including so much info! I need to write more reviews. Shame on me! Is there ever enough time? NO!!!

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    1. I hear you! I tend to write reviews in batches! :)

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  16. Great post, Erica. I never used to write reviews until I started following Seekerville and learned how important reviews are for the authors. I especially feel I need to write reviews for books I win. I feel like I don't write very good reviews, sometimes, but I try to say what I really liked about the book. Thanks for the suggestions about what to write for books that weren't my favorite. I will admit I don't worry about writing reviews for the big name authors who have thousands and thousands of review for their book.

    As for those people who rate a book badly because it arrived in bad shape, I think they honestly don't realize that they are supposed to be reviewing the book itself. They feel like they need to rate the quality of the item, like they would another product they ordered. But no matter what it is, they don't need to rate it down if it arrives broken or in bad shape. Just contact Amazon to get a product that isn't broken. I don't understand some people sometimes!

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    1. Thank you for reviewing books! And especially books you win, since spreading the word about the books is why books are given as prizes in the first place! :)

      I agree, I don't think people realize that rating a book for its content and rating a vase you ordered that arrived broken aren't the same thing.

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  17. I forgot to mention that it drives me nuts when somebody gives a book one star and says it was a wonderful book. They can't seem to figure out that one is the worst. I wonder why Amazon can't see that and throw those out.

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    1. That can be VERY frustrating to an author!!!!

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  18. Great points! I loved this line: “I’ll say it up front. It can be difficult when someone says your baby is ugly.“ Oh, how true that can be (thankfully no one has ever said that about my human babies). 😊 Thanks for sharing your experiences and wisdom. Can’t wait to celebrate your new release tomorrow!!

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  19. What a wonderful, well-written post, Erica! I give it 5 stars!

    I read over 100 books last year and left reviews for all of them. I usually post the review on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, LibraryThing, Barnes & Noble, and Books-a-Million. I also post on NetGalley, if I received the book from there. I love promoting my favorite authors.

    Congratulations on your new book baby! I'm looking forward to reading it soon. I loved the first two books in the series! (Left reviews for them, too) :)

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    1. Winnie, you are a reviewing rock star and an author's dream reader! I am showering you in virtual confetti and ticker tape! Woohoo!!!

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    2. Thanks, Erica! I'm glad the confetti and ticker tape are virtual! I don't have the energy to clean it up today! LOL

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  20. Hi Erica, congratulations! I'm so excited to read The Indebted Earl. In answer to your questions: When I was at the library, reviews were a big help when we were purchasing books, and now, I often check reviews when I'm considering a major purchase. I also write reviews. After my retirement, I promised myself that I wouldn't stop promoting reading, and reviews are one of the ways I can do this. If just one person decides that they'd like to read a book that I've mentioned, I consider it a good day!

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