Titles from a handful of trusted brands appeared near the top of the page: Rick Steves, Fodor’s, Lonely Planet. Also among the top search results was the highly rated “France Travel Guide,” by Mike Steves, who, according to an Amazon author page, is a renowned travel writer. “I was immediately drawn by all the amazing reviews,” said Ms. Kolsky, 53, referring to what she saw at that time: universal raves and more than 100 five-star ratings. Its price tag — $16.99, compared with $25.49 for Rick Steves’s book on France — also caught Ms. Kolsky’s attention. When it arrived, Ms. Kolsky was disappointed by its vague descriptions, repetitive text and lack of itineraries.

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Persons: Amy Kolsky, Rick Steves, Mike Steves, “, ”, Kolsky, Rick Steves’s, France —, Amazon’s Locations: France, Bucks County, Pa