Just some information for authors who may not be aware of the "rules" or "policies" of Amazon (both in the US and International sites).
1. In order to post a review for any product, the buyer needs to at least spend $50 with their account before being able to post a review. (So, if you're in the US, you cannot post reviews on the International sites, and vice versa. However, both US and International reviews are now shown on all the Amazon site).
2. A "verified purchase" of a book to be reviewed allows the reader to have the "verified" purchase status on the review, AND reviewers can post as many verified purchases reviews as they want per week.
3. Currently, in order to post a review on Amazon, the book does NOT have to be a verfied purchase.
4. Books that are "gifted" to another person, are not allowed to have reviews posted as a "verified purchase" because the reviewer didn't purchase the book, the "gifter" did. However, a review can be posted, but it just won't be "verified." (As for Amy's Bookshelf Reviews, I NO LONGER accept gifted books, but do accept gift cards to purchase the book, so it can be verified.)
5. Kindle Unlimited books can have a review posted on it, however, it is NOT a verified purchase. (Amy's Bookshelf Reviews does not subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, since the reviews would not be verified).
6. Books that are not 'verified' purchases, can still have reviews posted, however, there is a limit to 5 reviews that are not verified purchases in a week, and that week runs Sunday to Saturday.
7. FREE books. Books on Amazon that are on special for a "FREE" price of purchase, ARE considered verified purchases.
8. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews stays up-to-date on the different sites where reviews can be posted to make sure of review compliance.
9. If you are an author who donates to move to a specific bookshelf, your book will also be purchased with part of that donation in order to make it a verified purchase.
Amy's Bookshelf Reviews does accept donations to a specific donation account, and if the donation is to "pay it forward" or "purchase the author's own book" the donation will be used for that specific purpose, and the book review will be a verified purchase. Whenever there is a request for a review, if the book is not purchased at the time of the request, Amy's Bookshelf Reviews adds the book to a "wish list" and keeps checking the list, to see of discounted or FREE books (however, it's not daily, so if your book is on the list, and it becomes "free" or is discounted, let Amy's Bookshelf Reviews know), so they can be purchased. If donations are made, Amy's Bookshelf Reviews also goes to the list, sorts the books in order of price, low to high, and purchases as many books as possible with the donation. Sometimes, Amy's Bookshelf Reviews will buy a book out of a personal account, if there is a low balance in the donation account.
Thank you.
Amy's Bookshelf Reviews