This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.
I’m also linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
~~~~~
Some chit chat.
I kid you not, when it rains it pours around here. My Facebook white screen of death issue has fixed itself. So, I’m relaxed and happy and then……. I went to post a review on Amazon and it says I don’t meet the eligibility requirements. They are that I must purchase at least $50 worth of products in 12 months and must use a valid credit or debit card to qualify. I just bought a new computer! What the????? I’m wondering if purchasing with a gift card doesn’t count? I receive a lot of Amazon Gift Cards and they accumulate quickly. I use them to make purchases. Makes sense right? Apparently not. Has anyone else come across this issue? Do I need to make a purchase with my credit or debit card and not my gift card balance to qualify? I sent in a query to Amazon and it says they will get back to me within 12-24 hours. If that miracle does happen, I wonder if they will even give me a helpful answer. I’m so tired of jumping through hoops. Sometimes I just want to throw in the towel. But….I love reviewing books and make it a point to cross post them where I can. I’ll get this sorted out!
Update. I did hear back from Amazon and they said pretty much the same thing that I read in their guidelines. I did learn that digital purchases don’t count. For purchases to count towards the $50 and over requirement, they must be items that are shipped. And using a gift card to buy them doesn’t count. Looks like I need to go shopping. LOL
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
~~~~~
My new books this week.
![Meows and Mistletoe: A Holiday Anthology (Cat's Paw Cove) by [Welfonder, Sue-Ellen, Buchbinder, Sharon, Colt, Candace, Devlon, Darcy, Ellas, Mia, Hollis, Kristal, Evelyn, Kerry, Jess, Debra]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51z1DkDVAKL._SY346_.jpg)
![Deadly Dog Days: Dog Days Mystery #1, A humorous cozy mystery by [Blair, Jamie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KoMjF-R0L._SY346_.jpg)
![Canal Days Calamity: Dog Days Mystery #2, A humorous cozy mystery by [Blair, Jamie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BPDGW-9JL._SY346_.jpg)
![Fatal Festival Days: Dog Days Mystery #3, A humorous cozy mystery by [Blair, Jamie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51eHdHL7-ZL._SY346_.jpg)
![Trash Day Tragedy : Dog Days Mystery #4, A humorous cozy mystery by [Blair, Jamie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51K6r9wcrtL.jpg)
~~~~~
And here are some FREEBIES for ya.
Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
![Wedding Bells Bundle: Four Fun Romantic Comedies by [Baird, Ginny]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bwuan0iKL._SY346_.jpg)
![I Temporarily Do: A Romantic Comedy (Cordially Invited Series Book 1) by [Cahill, Ellie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/419ZGPlodCL._SY346_.jpg)
![Renegade Valkyrie (Valhalla's Curse Book 1) by [Claflin, Stacy]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61qrFcqq6ZL._SY346_.jpg)
![Surviving Year One: A Reverse Harem Bully Romance (Grim Reaper Academy Book 1) by [Wylde, Cara]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514Tr1bH1ML._SY346_.jpg)
![Better Off Dead: An Epic Fantasy Romance Series (The Lily Harper Series Book 1) by [Mallory, H.P.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51m%2BjZB7O-L._SY346_.jpg)
![Captured: A Fantasy Romance (White Road Tale Novella Book 1) by [Castle, J. R.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Odc5vF-3L._SY346_.jpg)
![Brian Helsing: The World's Unlikeliest Vampire Hunter: Mission #1: Just Try Not To Die by [Pengelly, Gareth K]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51a-6YM%2B1AL._SY346_.jpg)
![Montenegro Book One: Cemetery Candles by [Perez, Estela Vazquez]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51AOUAfP2hL._SY346_.jpg)
~~~~~
This weeks reviews. Click on the covers to view them.
~~~~~
Other posts on my blog this week.
Murder At First Pitch by Nicole Asselin ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
The Health And Happiness Society ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
Origin Of The Vampire by Ruth Spencer ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Of Flame And Fury by Cecy Robson
Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey ~ Review and Giveaway
Those Who Came Before by J. H. Moncrieff ~ My Review
Wild Hunt by Nancy Kilpatrick ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
Divorce By Grand Canyon ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
~~~~~
Leave your link and I’ll come visit you.
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.
Glad to hear your Facebook issue fixed itself. I never heard of that Amazon requirement before, but it seems strange that digital purchases don’t count as a lot of book purchases nowadays are digital purchases. Hope you get it sorted. Happy reading, Laura! 🙂
I will get this sorted out with one shopping spree. LOL
Wow that’s interesting about Amazon! I didn’t know that. How weird. Anyway… hope you have a good weekend!
It seems like every time something is changed on a site, they find and make an example of me. LOL
I had heard that about Amazon. And I think it’s really weird. I buy mostly kindle books, so I have no idea how I stay eligible for reviewing. And as you, I receive quite a bit of GCs, as it’s a great way to be reimbursed for stuff – and of course, some of them are actual gifts, too.
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
I think it was just bad luck that my account was one of the ones they came across. They seem to randomly hit people.
Amazon really seems to want to take over from bulk outlets like Costco. I suspect that’s why they aren’t counting your digital purchases. Still, though…if you’re buying the books digitally, they should at least let you review them…
No reviewing of anything until I meet their guidelines. Which I will do soon:)
I have a similar issue with Amazon as well. I buy a lot with my country specific Amazon – more than I should admit and use my gift cards for .com site. Now I am not able to post on Amazon.com for a similar reason. It is so annoying. Hope we get it resolved. I hope you have a great week ahead.
Ah ha! I was wondering if someone had the same issues with them. It’s nonsense!
That guideline is such nonsense in my eyes! Why using a credit card to buy things when you are having so many giftcards? What do they fear? Oh well … Have a great Sunday.
I can’t make sense of it but I guess I’ll bow to their demands. I can easily spend $50 in a year. LOL
I’d never heard that Amazon rule but of course I’ve never went through their rules to find out what they are! It’s weird that digital purchases don’t count. What is the point in having a Kindle if buying stuff for it doesn’t count?
It seems like I’m always running into something and then I discover it’s been happening to a lot of people over the years. Just like the Facebook thing. I hope nothing else rears it’s ugly head at me for a while. LOL
That’s crazy! So, you buy a Kindle and stock it with books from Amazon – and that doesn’t entitle you to review those books??? I thought they were trying to stop sock puppets – how does THAT help? Just as well we buy other things, then – because we now buy ALL our books digitally, given the house is full of paper copies and we’re trying to be kinder to the environment!
Glad your FB white screen of death issue has fixed itself and I very much hope you have a less frazzled week, Laura!
You’d think after 8 years of reviewing they would trust that I’m honest. Oh well, I’ll fix it soon.
That is really weird about amazon because I almost only buy things from them with gift cards as I just don’t have book spending money so I wait till it goes free or I have a GC and I have never received that sort of notice.I don’t even think my GC purchases has ever been over $50 either. I have received the you can review books because they think I know the author, etc. when it’s a review book, but I argued with them and they fixed it…lol. It’s also one of the reasons I don’t post on amazon as much as other places. I would almost rather post anywhere but amazon.
Have a great day and happy reading!
Stormi
Week in Review
I think they randomly hit people with this and they hit me. I’m in no rush to fix it but they say as soon as I do purchase $50 worth with a credit or debit card, I can resume posting reviews. You only have to spend the $50 once a year. I can do that easily. LOL
“Looks like I need to go shopping.” Haha. It’s the only logical thing to do. 🙂
That’s what I’m thinking now. LOL
I didn’t know that about Amazon! That sucks that they force you to make purchases in order to post reviews. I also got a copy of Allegiance and now I need to start that series😁
I was really ticked off at first. Now I’m going to shop up to the $50 limit and go back to using my gift cards for a year.
Which is exactly why I don’t post at Amazon anymore. Being in Australia I only buy digital books and I only use gift cards so I’m out of luck.
Wishing you a great reading week
What’s odd is that it didn’t affect Goodreads reviewing since Amazon bought them out.
I spent $50 on amazon yesterday. Seriously, I will never have an issue with meeting that requirement. They could change it to $50 a week and I’d still be good. I have a problem.
I bought two computers! They didn’t count because I used my gift card balance to buy them. NUTS!!!!!
That’s weird Laura as on Amazon.com I only have digital purchases! Yet I can post. I know that I order for more than 50 USD on Amazon.fr with physical books but not on Amazon.com. I wonder if the accounts are linked somehow… Anyway time to do some Christmas shopping LOL
Yep, weird! And I am adding some goodies to my Amazon cart right now! LOL
that was the first time i heard about the amazon deal and i guess i’m just waiting for them to hit me too, seeing i buy most of my stuff from them with gift cards too. i think they want to own the world. LOL
sherry @ fundinmental
I remember receiving an update of their guidelines a few years ago. Guess they finally got around to me. I didn’t fully understand them then and still don’t. LOL
I usually used gift cards to make my Amazon purchases, but I do have a valid credit card on file. I don’t really buy much either via my account, since my daughter has prime, and I have never had a problem posting a review. Weird.
I have a credit card on file too. I think they randomly hit people about not meeting their guidelines and my number was up.
Wow. Amazon is weird about some things. I almost never have gift cards. I do purchase mostly digital books and ebooks. Where I am saved, I guess, is that I do Subscribe & save to get a slew of stuff every month that we use. That’s more than $50 a month. But it’s weird. I put up 2 reviews on Friday. One came up right away, the other didn’t post until this morning.
I hope you won’t have all rain and have a lovely week!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
They also said discounted items don’t count! I’ll have to be carfeul when I’m ordering until I hit the $50 limit.
Yeah, Laura, Amazon can be really weird at times. Picky. I’ve dealt with them and pray I never have to be on their bad side again. It’s hard enough getting done what we have to do without a snag in the works. Hope you get this worked out.
I’m going to have to buy with my credit card instead of using my gift card balance. I have some stuff picked out already. Then I’ll have a whole year where I don’t have to use my card.
Amazon can pretty much do what they want and get away with it. And I think they have ridiculous rules. I mean posting reviews is beneficial for their reputation and for their clients, so why would they want to restrict that?
Enjoy all your new books!
I think they go to far sometimes. I’ve been buying from them for so long and now I have to prove they can trust my reviews are honest???
Interesting about Amazon. I didn’t know that. It’s a weird rule. Anyway, I hope you have a great week. Looks like some good reading on your list.
It seems like I have to jump through so many hoops to write reviews even though I’ve written so many over the last 8 years!
I had no idea Amazon had those requirements… that’s ridiculous! I guess I do a lot of shopping on there to have never gotten that message 😅 lol
Have a great week!
I do get updates on their guidelines when they make them. I thought I was doing things right. Guess I was wrong.
Sorry to hear about your Amazon troubles. They need to include all sales since they do have the Kindle. Without you I wouldn’t have a review on some of my stuff. Have a great week.
I agree. It shouldn’t make a difference what or how I buy. They are still getting my money! I got your book and will check it out shortly, Anthony!
Wow, that’s a strict policy for writing reviews! I wouldn’t have a problem as I spend way too much money on Amazon, but for gift cards to not count is a bit ridiculous. Happy shopping I guess lol 😉 Meanwhile, you picked up quite a few good looking books! Have a great week!
It puzzles me that gift cards don’t count as you or someone else has to buy them from Amazon in the first place.
Sorry to hear about the Amazon snag. Yes, this is how they crack down on phony reviews with the minimum purchase. It’s annoying for some people, I’ve heard.
I spend a lot of money on Amazon. I just use gift cards. Now I need to use my credit card so I can post reviews. That shouldn’t be a problem as I have a lot of items in my cart. LOL