Alright, I'm going to give this a shot AND try not to mention my own books. (Please read them anyway.)

1. With less than five reviews on Amazon

Loyaulte: Stories of King Richard III: Tales of the White Boar 2 by JP Reedman has two reviews. One of them is mine.

2. Whose book you won in a BookLikes Giveaway

I have not won a BookLikes giveaway, but I don't generally enter them.

3. Whose book you could only manage to read three chapters of. (If the book is really bad three chapters is enough – sometimes too much. (Ever wonder why publishers and agents ask for your first three chapters? Because everything for sure will be revealed – including the author’s lack of craft – in those few chapters. Simply stated – it won’t get better.)

The King's Favourite Son by Jan Foxall - I can't often go wrong with a story about Plantagenets, but I did here.

4. Whose book you hated but nonetheless reviewed

The French Orphan by Michael Stolle (This list is starting to make me feel mean.)

5. Whose book you hated and wrote and an honest review of

Isn't this the same question? I always write an honest review.

6. Whose book you tried to read but was so badly formatted you had to quit because of the onset of a category five headache

I am generous with independent authors when it comes to formatting because I understand the challenge. Oh, do I understand. I have never read a book where formatting was an overwhelming problem, but I've heard of others encountering cut off text and complete lack of readability. (My response for #8 came close.)

7. Whose book you threw across the room in frustration because of all the typos, grammar and other sloppy mistakes that showed a lack of respect for the reader

The author that most makes me want to throw her books across the room is not an indie author and would likely console herself by rolling around in piles of cash made from her millions of sales.

8. Whose book was so self-indulgent it made you feel nauseous

Scared Courage by Muriel Gill

9 . Whose book was okay and you wrote a constructive review of

I would rate this much better than "okay" (4 stars actually) but I did write a constructive review that was well received. Loyalty by Matthew Lewis

10 .Whose book you loved and can’t believe it isn’t a best seller and wrote a glowing review of

Alex Brondarbit's Loyalty Bound

Matthew Harffy's The Serpent Sword

11. Whose book is so good, so special and has so little recognition you feel there’s still hope for your own books (this is Rod's favourite)

David Pilling's White Hawk trilogy. Loved every page of it - Revenge, Loyalty, and Survival 

(clearly I like books titled 'Loyalty'.)

   Here it goes.  Answers would most likely change if you asked me later

1. With less than five reviews on Amazon

  At the time, Donna Burgess' Breaths in Winter.  Love those stories.  

2. Whose book you won in a BookLikes Giveaway

  Actually, I haven't won an Indie author here.  But in general - Throne by Phil Tucker and Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya

3. Whose book you could only manage to read three chapters of. (If the book is really bad three chapters is enough – sometimes too much. (Ever wonder why publishers and agents ask for your first three chapters? Because everything for sure will be revealed – including the author’s lack of craft – in those few chapters. Simply stated – it won’t get better.)  

Nailah the Egyptian Vampire Sorcerer

4. Whose book you hated but nonetheless reviewed

Actually since I started reading Indies after I made a New Years resolution to say something about everything, this list is rather longish.  So how about I pick one I hated and finished, in which case - Improve Your Writing Skills by Cathy Wilson

5. Whose book you hated and wrote and an honest review of

See above, but the latest was Ravished by Two Werebears (Don't judge me!)

6. Whose book you tried to read but was so badly formatted you had to quit because of the onset of a category five headache  Vol 4 Ghosts by Tom Kung tied with Steampowered Globe

7. Whose book you threw across the room in frustration because of all the typos, grammar and other sloppy mistakes that showed a lack of respect for the reader

False Rape Claims - though I didn't throw it across the room because I do love my kindle.

8. Whose book was so self-indulgent it made you feel nauseous

The Goodreads Killer

9 . Whose book was okay and you wrote a constructive review of

The Dark Side of American Politics by Half-Lady Lisa.  She actually thanked me too.

10 .Whose book you loved and can’t believe it isn’t a best seller and wrote a glowing review of
Quite a few actually.  Zombie Red Riding Hood, Queen Helena and the Cats, Horse-Famous among others

11. Whose book is so good, so special and has so little recognition you feel there’s still hope for your own books (this is Rod's favourite)

All time favorite indies are the She-King Series by Libbie Hawker and the Adventures of the Frog Prince by J.R. Barker

The whole recommend away tag is doing great and we are pleased to see new lists coming around. However, as one of BookLikes authors pointed out, it would be refreshing to see more niche authors showing through the listings. So we had egged Rod Raglin on to do this one and we love what he has come up with. We are coming back with #recommendaway part 2 - indie authors.

Rod has put together a list of 11 categories to go by, including both, best and worst of your indie reading experiences. And to be clear on something:

Dear independent authors,

we adore you, we want you to grow! Any negative feedback you will receive from BookLikers might be the best that could have happened to you, it's called constructive criticism,  take it and evolve!

BookLikers, let's roll up your sleeves. Remember to tag your posts with indie authors recommendaway tag. 

Here is Rod Raglin's list of categories for independent authors recommendations:

1. With less than five reviews on Amazon

2. Whose book you won in a BookLikes Giveaway

3. Whose book you could only manage to read three chapters of. (If the book is really bad three chapters is enough – sometimes too much. (Ever wonder why publishers and agents ask for your first three chapters? Because everything for sure will be revealed – including the author’s lack of craft – in those few chapters. Simply stated – it won’t get better.)

4. Whose book you hated but nonetheless reviewed

5. Whose book you hated and wrote and an honest review of

6. Whose book you tried to read but was so badly formatted you had to quit because of the onset of a category five headache

7. Whose book you threw across the room in frustration because of all the typos, grammar and other sloppy mistakes that showed a lack of respect for the reader

8. Whose book was so self-indulgent it made you feel nauseous

9 . Whose book was okay and you wrote a constructive review of

10 .Whose book you loved and can’t believe it isn’t a best seller and wrote a glowing review of

11. Whose book is so good, so special and has so little recognition you feel there’s still hope for your own books (this is Rod's favourite)

Oh, and well done to Rod, we are glad we had teased him! Thinking of doing that more often...

Recommend an indie author:

- with less than five reviews on Amazon

- whose book you won in a BookLikes Giveaway

- whose book you could only manage to read three chapters of. (If the book is really bad three chapters is enough – sometimes too much. Ever wonder why publishers and agents ask for your first three chapters? Because everything for sure will be revealed – including the author’s lack of craft – in those few chapters. Simply stated – it won’t get better.

- whose book you hated but nonetheless reviewed

- whose book you hated and wrote and an honest review of

- whose book you tried to read but was so badly formatted you had to quit because of the onset of a category five headache

- whose book you threw across the room in frustration because of all the typos, grammar and other sloppy mistakes that showed a lack of respect for the reader

- whose book was so self-indulgent it made you feel nauseous

- whose book was okay and you wrote a constructive review of

- whose book you loved and can’t believe it isn’t a best seller and wrote a glowing review of

- whose book is so good, so special and has so little recognition you feel there’s still hope for your own books (my favorite category)

REMEMBER: "If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."

- Haruki Murakami