Hot Butter Part Trois

Well, here we are again, you know what that means.

Yeah, Lisard answered me. You have got to check this out. Seriously! Yes, this time I have provided the whole email for your reading pleasure.

Lisa R. Barrow <lisarbarrow3@gmail.com>
to:		Lisa Beth Gorman <lisabethdarling@gmail.com>
date:		Aug 3, 2025, 11:20 AM
subject:		Re: Your book made readers cry… but your review count might just make me cry
mailed-by:		gmail.com
signed-by:		gmail.com
security:		Standard encryption (TLS) Learn more
:		Important because previous messages in the conversation were important.

(let’s not forget her picture)

(remember that fuzzy face, it could show up under any email address but it probably won’t, you’ll see why in a bit. Here we go! READ CAREFULLY. This has all been about “Genesis” and ‘Mason’ and ‘Hannah’…..got it?)

Hi Lisa,

You’re absolutely right to bring this up, and thank you for being so direct about it. Yes, we all remember the “purge” and the chaos it caused for so many good authors. That’s why I’m especially careful now about how I handle things.

Let me clarify how I approach reviews in 2025, based on what Amazon actually allows and what’s been working safely for the authors I currently support:

1. Yes, reading the PDF alone does not create a verified review.

You’re 100% correct. That’s why the PDF is only used for pre-screening, it allows me to personally understand your story so I can match the right readers to it. I never send your book out freely or scatter it to anyone. It stays between me and the selected readers I trust.

2. When it’s time for reviews, we switch to Kindle.

Here’s where the process becomes Amazon-compliant:

Once I know how many readers you’d like and have reviewed the PDF myself, I’ll ask you to temporarily enroll the book in Kindle Unlimited (if not already) or offer it at a low promotional price. That way, each reader can borrow or buy it directly from Amazon before they leave their honest, thoughtful review.

This ensures the reviews are real, aligned with Amazon’s rules, and, if done correctly, marked as verified.

3. No one reviews your book without reading it first.

I don’t believe in blind reviews or quick blurbs. That’s why I pre-select based on interest and connection, not just availability. Authors like you deserve readers who care about the message and the characters.

I completely understand your caution, it shows how much you value your work and your reputation. I value that too. I’d never do anything that would put your book at risk. My goal is to help more readers discover Jesse, not jeopardize his journey.

If you’d like, I can send over screenshots or proof of how this process has worked for others recently. You’ll see the real reviews, the verified checkmarks, and the lasting visibility that followed.

Let me know how you’d like to proceed. I’d love the chance to do this right for Jesse’s next mission.

Warmly,

Lisar

Did you catch it? Maybe not ALL of it. But did you catch this big one?

If not, you’ll see it in just a second.

Here’s my response:

Hello,

Thank you so much for getting back to me.

Throughout all of these emails you never mentioned Kindle Unlimited. Why is that?  How are you going to prove to me that some reviews left at some time on some book were actually garnered by you? The answer is; you can’t. Don’t strain what’s left of your brain too hard, sweetie. No need for that.

BTW, I’m not in Kindle Unlimited, I’m in wide distribution. Available on every major site across the globe and quite a few smaller ones too. I had to do that so people would stop uploading my books under their own accounts and making my money but not sharing it with me. Crazy world, huh? Do you know how they did that? It was totally my fault, I was young and green and so eager for words of praise that I sent them .pdf files for ‘review’. I spent years reclaiming my books. Can you imagine?

What I really want to know is who is this person……..Carmelar Preid?  She sent me an email from your email address. You know, the email just before this one. Who is she? BTW, who is ‘Jesse’ and what is their ‘next mission’?  

Now for the really bad news, I’ve never had any intention of giving you any money or seeing anything through with you. I have been trolling you this whole time, just sitting here chumming the waters for you–you know, like the “Amazon purge” and how it really went down, how Amazon ‘verified reviews’ actually work, and just stuff like that. This whole time, I’ve been  blogging about my experience with you to warn others.  Up until now, I have been kind enough not to reveal your email address but that’s about to change with my next post.  I know, I know, and here you were thinking you were baiting me. Poor thing. Yes, unfortunately for you, I am not as stupid as you need me to be for this scam to work.

To be totally transparent with you, I’ve been blogging like that for a couple of weeks now ever since these overly flowery purple prose ego stroking emails started showing up in my inbox. I like to call this the Praise & Prey Scam. If it makes you feel any better, you are the first one I’ve let run this far.  

Thanks for playing my game, I hope you and ‘Jessie’ have a lot of fun on their next mission.

Run along now, child, run along.

 All the Best,

Lisa

Hopefully she goes away now. But if not, that email address is lisarbarrow3@gmail.com You know, just for your own edification, to be on the look out, that’s all. Really.

We’re not going to let this lizard ruin our launch day!

Go get it if you haven’t already. I swear you won’t be sorry.

 Kindle/Amazon, iBooks, Rakuten/Kobo, B&N/Nook

***Update 8/6/20205*** This saga continues with Hot Butter Part Quatre