Review Group discussion

The review group is the most successful group for peer reviews on goodreads. It hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors with a variety of themes and genres, as well as ‘general’ rounds where any book is permitted, from non-fiction, to horror. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available, you can sign up. If it doesn’t, it’s full – look for another round.
The new amazon rules state that authors/publishers are no longer allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on amazon. To comply with this new rule, we no longer insist members review on amazon. However, we are all in the same situation, we want reviews.
When sorting out groups, I prioritise those members who have fully participated in previous groups and don’t have multiple review connections with the other participants.

This is an 'in this world' round.
Only adult fiction involving concrete contemporary or past situations can be included. Mysteries, thrillers, action and adventures, contemporary/historical romances, literary fiction etc. No aliens, elves, vampires, stories set in the future, non-fiction or children's books.


If you are only willing to review your own preferred genre, make sure you join a genre round. Allocation is entirely random and there will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.
Let’s be honest here – we don’t all like the same things but we all want reviews. The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your goodreads author and goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:
1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the time allowed.

2. Your book is currently available for sale on amazon (not pre-order) and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.

3. Your book is fit to be reviewed. If it is not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your problem, not that of the reviewers or the groups. For a small fee, the group admin will look at the first few pages of your book to advise. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta read and edited, by non-family members.

4. You can submit reviews to goodreads, amazon.com and amazon.uk. Amazon has recently changed their criteria for reviewers to allow only those people who have spent $50 on amazon. If you are unsure about your amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files. Many authors can also provide mobi and epub files. You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review. Some authors borrow books via KU and others provide smashwords coupons. This is their choice. International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. It is up to individuals what disclaimers they place in a review concerning receiving a book in exchange for a review. Note: reviews that state you received a copy ‘IN RETURN’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.

7. You have completed your reading if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list whilst you are in a round.

8. You have an author profile set up before you join.

9. Your goodreads profile allows people to message you, i.e. your profile is not set to private.

10. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round. Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household on the same book or if you are an editor, relative or close friend of another member.

11. You agree that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’. i.e. giving away the finale of a book.

12. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it. If you think you have a legitimate concern, talk to the mod of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks, or pressurising other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

13. The new amazon.com review guidelines do not allow for free books to be supplied in return for reviews. Therefore, you are not obliged to review on amazon, just on goodreads. We all want reviews, its why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not do the same for other people in the group. People that DNF and/or don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.

14. Your goodreads details and the rounds you participate in will be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.

The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know as you sign up if you have been reviewed by, or have reviewed another author in the group. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
I will do my best to fit everyone into the group they request, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into a particular round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.
It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified please ask, either by goodreads personal message to me or on the thread below, before signing up. It’s a pain to have to keep rearranging the list because people haven’t read the above.

Your group moderator will be
K.A. Krisko

Member Links

1.Annabelle Costa
2.Noorilhuda
3.Hock G. Tjoa
4.https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
5.Elizabeth Rose
6.J. Saman
7.A.E. Nasr
8.T. Blake Braddy
9..Laura Libricz
10.Brenda Davies

Book Links

1.Forget You!: A Romantic Comedy
2.The Governess
3.The Battle of Chibi (Red Cliffs): Selected and Translated from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms
4.Mayhem at the Open
5.Desolation
6.Start Again
7.Miro
8.Boogie House
9.The Master and the Maid: #1 in the Heaven's Pond Trilogy
10.Secrets Of Greenoak Woods

1.Once you have read the above, please post that you have read and agreed with the above rules.
2.Check if you have reviewed or been reviewed by anyone else who had signed up. State these 'clashes in your post. It helps me sort out non-reciprocal reads/reviews/
3.Post your GOODREADS author and book links.

If I haven't added you to the list in a couple of days, give me a nudge.

I have read the above rules and agree.

I'd like to submit my book Forget You!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome aboard Annabelle.

I appreciate you letting me participate!

I'd like to join and agree to the rules. Book is Mayhem at the Open.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Thanks, Bob

Welcome Bob. can you check the author link on your book? At the moment it doesn't go to the profile you've used to post here. I'm fairly sure its not you, unless you have an alter ego who is into classical political theory.

The link worked when I tried it, but I just tested this one--should work.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Bob

That's the link I put up on the list, but the link on your book page goes to this author.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I have read the rules and agree to abide by them and would like to join this group.

Author - Hock G. Tjoa

Book - The Battle of Chibi (Red Cliffs): Selected and Translated from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Holy cats, this has gotten a lot more complicated since my last round.
I have read the above rules and agree to abide by them. Hock has reviewed me before (different book).

My page (Elizabeth Rose): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

My book (Desolation): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome Hock and Elizabeth.

Sorry the sign up message had gotten so long, but the new amazon rules have changed a few things, plus some bright spark members made me think that I was perhaps being a little innocent in thinking people would assume everything in there. e.g. that the word 'review' also included the assumption that you had to actually READ the books allocated, that '10% DNF -not my thing X4' wasn't acceptable, and nor was having your author spouse joining the same review round without mentioning the relationship. I also had people saying 'they didn't read/see' the sign up message so I decided to add the 'I agree' caveat.

I I know its a pain to read (was a pain to write too), but it stops people trying to wiggle out of their obligations, or those who don't make sure they are actually able to join a group.
It has definitely reduced the number of questions I deal with.

Thrilled to be onboard!
Thank you for taking being a moderator seriously, Emma. I hope I didn't make you feel like I was complaining or putting you on the spot. I'm just surprised by how much things have changed in the last year. After reflecting upon Amazon's ever-changing funky review policy and the ... colorful nature of some colleagues I met in previous groups, I understand how it has come to this.

No problem Elizabeth, I just thought I'd explain. It seems we are all doomed to live with more red tape these days, whatever we do.

Hi there. I would like to submit my historical novel, The Master and the Maid, for review. I have read one of Hock's books, but not the one listed here. Here's my link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome Laura. I take it that you've read and agreed to the rules?

Hi Emma, yes I have! Thank you for your time. I appreciate the time everyone takes in this group. :-)

thanks Laura.

I have read the above rules and agree. I would like to submit my book, Boogie House: A Rolson McKane Southern Mystery.'

Boogie House

Welcome T.

Emma wrote: "Welcome T."

Thanks! Glad to be here!

Emma, hi, is it possible to be in this one? Have read Hock G. Tjoa's books but not the one he has submitted for this round.

Not reviewed by anyone else on the line-up so far.

Noorilhuda
The Governess

Yep, I think I can wiggle things around to fit you in.

Thanks Emma.

I've reviewed Laura's book.
Bob

Thanks for letting me know Bob, I've managed to move things around so you won't review or be reviewed by Laura.
Laura, this is exactly the type of thing I need to know about when you sign up so we can maintain non-reciprocal reviews.

Hi Emma, I'm about to post my final 4th round review for the last group I was in. Can I join in with Diana J. Febry and Who Killed Vivien Morse? I've reviewed Noorilhuda. Hock has reviewed 4 of my books (poor man!) but I have another 3. 99% sure T Blake has reviewed one of my books. I'm checking whether Laura has or whether I recognise her name from being in a group with her before without her reviewing me.

Oh bum - I've also reviewed one of Robert's books but not the one listed. Will I be too complicated to fit into this round?

Erm.... yes.

But if you want to have a go at finding a position in the group, baring in mind all the others who has reviewed other people, be my guest...
I predict several hours of shuffling bits of paper around, and muttering so and so can't review thingy, wotsit can't do oojamaflip or thingy but so and so is fine,
And concluding it can't be done.

No worries Emma.

Is romance allowed in this group?

Sure, as long as it is in a 'real life' setting, past or present.

And Diana, drat, I thought you were going to have a go at it for a while! It's rather like doing Sudoku but without knowing there's a solution.

Robert wrote: "I've reviewed Laura's book.
Bob"

Sorry, Emma, I didn't see Robert's name in the list

Emma wrote: "Thanks for letting me know Bob, I've managed to move things around so you won't review or be reviewed by Laura.
Laura, this is exactly the type of thing I need to know about when you sign up so we..."

And, yes, I've reviewed one of Diana's but not this one.

Don't worry Laura, I'm afraid Diana with have to wait for another group, she's popular and has too many connections in this round to fit her in.

I would love to be a part of this group. I have just (and I do mean just) finished my requirements for the Romance group. If I am eligible, I would like to use Start Again. I have not read/reviewed anyone else's work in this group. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I lied Emma! I'm sorry to be annoying, but Annabelle Costa's Forget You I've read for something else. Hope that won't be an issue. Cheers

I'd like to join this round, and agree to the rules. My novel is MIRO, and I've just completed my obligations in Group 115. I have been reviewed by Noorilhuda.

Author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Book page
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome Anita. I've wiggled the list around so we have all non-reciprocal reviews.
The final member will have to able to review: Annabelle, Noori, Hock and Rob (Has not been reviewed by these four).

They will have to be reviewed by:J, Anita, T, and Laura. (Has not reviewed these four).

They can have review or been reviewed by Rob.

if you want to fill that final spot, please make sure you fit!

Oh boy!

I'd like to join this round if my historical romance will fit. It does contain some fairly explicit sex scenes and some violence, otherwise I'll wait for an 18+ opening. I have read and agree to all the rules.
Secrets Of Greenoak Woods

Brenda Davies

It's entirely up to you Brenda, but I will be starting up another 18+ in the next 2 weeks.
But you can get started immediately if you join this one.

I think I know what the majority of the members here will plead you to do, they've been waiting for quite a while to get started.

Brenda wrote: "I'd like to join this round if my historical romance will fit. It does contain some fairly explicit sex scenes and some violence, otherwise I'll wait for an 18+ opening. I have read and agree to al..."

You're speaking my language with explicit sex and some violence ; )

Yes, yes, yes!

Drat, read quickly Brenda, I'd like to see you in a 18+ group ASAP.

So.....
We have our ten folks, I'll sort out the set up message ASAP.

Doesn't bother me :-)

Emma wrote: "Drat, read quickly Brenda, I'd like to see you in a 18+ group ASAP.

So.....
We have our ten folks, I'll sort out the set up message ASAP."

I promise to devote all my time to reading, so I can join the 18+ group later, thanks.

Thanks Emma!

Here we go!

START DATE: 03/12/2016
END DATE: 25/02/2017

Round 1 – post your review by 24/12/2016
Round 2 – post your review by 14/01/2017
Round 3 – post your review by 04/02/2017
Round 4 – post your review by 25/02/2017




As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

120-01__ Annabelle Costa
Brenda Davies for round 1
Laura Libricz for round 2
t. Blake Braddy for round 3
A. E. Nasr for round 4

120-02__ Noorilhuda
Annabelle Costa for round 1
Brenda Davies for round 2
Laura Libricz for round 3
t. Blake Braddy for round 4

120-03__ Hock Tjoa
Noorilhuda for round 1
Annabelle Costa for round 2
Brenda Davies for round 3
Laura Libricz for round 4

120-04__ Robert A Brown
Hock Tjoa for round 1
Noorilhuda for round 2
Annabelle Costa for round 3
Brenda Davies for round 4

120-05__ Elizabeth Rose
Robert A Brown for round 1
Hock Tjoa for round 2
Noorilhuda for round 3
Annabelle Costa for round 4

120-06__ J. Saman
Elizabeth Rose for round 1
Robert A Brown for round 2
Hock Tjoa for round 3
Noorilhuda for round 4

120-07__ A. E. Nasr
J. Saman for round 1
Elizabeth Rose for round 2
Robert A Brown for round 3
Hock Tjoa for round 4

120-08__ t. Blake Braddy
A. E. Nasr for round 1
J. Saman for round 2
Elizabeth Rose for round 3
Robert A Brown for round 4

120-09__ Laura Libricz
t. Blake Braddy for round 1
A. E. Nasr for round 2
J. Saman for round 3
Elizabeth Rose for round 4

120-10__ Brenda Davies
Laura Libricz for round 1
t. Blake Braddy for round 2
A. E. Nasr for round 3
J. Saman for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

120-01__ Annabelle Costa
Noorilhuda for round 1
Hock Tjoa for round 2
Robert A Brown for round 3
Elizabeth Rose for round 4

120-02__ Noorilhuda
Hock Tjoa for round 1
Robert A Brown for round 2
Elizabeth Rose for round 3
J. Saman for round 4

120-03__ Hock Tjoa
Robert A Brown for round 1
Elizabeth Rose for round 2
J. Saman for round 3
A. E. Nasr for round 4

120-04__ Robert A Brown
Elizabeth Rose for round 1
J. Saman for round 2
A. E. Nasr for round 3
t. Blake Braddy for round 4

120-05__ Elizabeth Rose
J. Saman for round 1
A. E. Nasr for round 2
t. Blake Braddy for round 3
Laura Libricz for round 4

120-06__ J. Saman
A. E. Nasr for round 1
t. Blake Braddy for round 2
Laura Libricz for round 3
Brenda Davies for round 4

120-07__ A. E. Nasr
t. Blake Braddy for round 1
Laura Libricz for round 2
Brenda Davies for round 3
Annabelle Costa for round 4

120-08__ t. Blake Braddy
Laura Libricz for round 1
Brenda Davies for round 2
Annabelle Costa for round 3
Noorilhuda for round 4

120-09__ Laura Libricz
Brenda Davies for round 1
Annabelle Costa for round 2
Noorilhuda for round 3
Hock Tjoa for round 4

120-10__ Brenda Davies
Annabelle Costa for round 1
Noorilhuda for round 2
Hock Tjoa for round 3
Robert A Brown for round 4


Please remember the commitment you are making to your fellow group members. If you pull out after the start date for any reason it is the other members who will be faced with the problem of finding a replacement, or missing out on reads/reviews, through no fault of their own. Please don’t ask the moderators to chase after replacements as we just don’t have the time.

It is the responsibility of the author to get their book to their readers in a format the reviewer can manage. Everyone must be able to provide and accept PDF. You may buy or borrow the books you are due to read if you wish, and I’m sure the author will appreciate the verified review, but IT IS NOT COMPULSORY. There are no set dates for the start of each round. You can each work at your own pace, within the limits of the round deadlines.

All reviews must be posted to GR. We also encourage members to post on amazon .com and .uk. When you have posted your reviews, please post the three links to your reviews, not the book page in this thread.
The mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on amazon. I set up all the groups, and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find me less than willing to add them to subsequent groups.

Postings to other sites are by agreement by both author and reviewer.

If I’ve missed something that results in you being asked to review someone who has already reviewed you, please let me know asap.

To exchange book files, my advice is to use PM to give email addresses to each other (save the chance of spammers getting your addies from this open forum). Happy reviewing, everyone :)