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 18+ round. Books that contain explicit material. Including but by no means limited to horror and erotica. Books in other genres may be submitted. All authors MUST be comfortable with reading explicit material.
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
Emma Jaye

Member Links
1.Emma Jaye
2.T.S. O'Neil
3.Robin Peacock
4.Lillian Lee
5.P.F. Munroe
6.Garfield Whyte
7.Roger Keays
8.Barry Blokes
9.B. Stadelmann
10.Natalie Bennett

Book Links
1.Lust in Winter
2.Mexican Hat Trick
3.Deliver Her From Evil: A Charlie Edwards Novel
4.Reel Him In
5.Arioch vs Uriel
6.TJ's Last Summer in Cape Cod
7.100% Love Guaranteed
8.Indifference
9.The City of God
10.Darling Dark

Hello Emma,

I would like to participate in this group please.

Indifference

Barry Blokes

Thank you.

Nice to see you Mathew and Barry.
I know you're both new, so its even more important that you carefully read and agree to the rules in the sign up message. I'll wait till you do that before adding you to the list.

Sorry about that, I have read and agree to the rules and requirements of this group.

Big kissy face for you Barry, I'll add you now.
Mathew has decided to sit this one out.

That is great! I appreciate your help and am looking forward to reading some good stuff. Thanks again Emma. You rock.

Lust in Winter looks like an interesting read, I saw 4 authors does that mean its comprised of 4 stories?

Yep, its an anthology.

And only 99c on amazon right now. So give your friendly neighbourhood mod some love and download today! (Picture jazz hands and a cheesy grin).

I've been told by the american author in the anthology (the organiser) that I have to 'promote' it, but I'm British and blowing my own trumpet isn't my thing.

How did I do?

Ha ha, no good. Maybe you should try ALL CAPS?

I've read through the rules and requirements for this group and would like to participate with this book of mine:


100% Love Guaranteed

Roger Keays

P.S. I think it's only fair to warn you that I'm Aussie.
P.P.S. Our $5 note is way better than the £5 one.

Emma wrote: "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’ r..."

Emma, I know I enlisted in the round for In This world, but would it be possible to move here instead? This group would be a better fit for my book. And of course, I read everything and agreed to everything.

Reel Him In

Lillian Lee

If it is not possible, I understand.

I can do that.

Wow, awesome. Thanks a lot. I am so grateful for this!

Hi Emma, hello everyone!

Could I please participate in this group? I am new here and really really excited!!

My book is below:

Arioch vs Uriel

P.F. Munroe

...I have read all the rules and requirements and I agree to everything.

Thank you

I'd like to throw my hat in the ring for my novel, Mexican Hat Trick
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.amazon.com/Mexican-Trick-...

Welcome aboard P.F.

T.S. consider yourself spanked.
I need you to agree to the new rules, and to add the goodreads link for your book.
Plus I've reviewed you, twice, but not this book.

Thanks a mill!

T.S. already reviewed my book. I don't have another one for the moment. I will have the second book in the series out only after about 2 months.

Emma wrote: "Yep, its an anthology.

And only 99c on amazon right now. So give your friendly neighbourhood mod some love and download today! (Picture jazz hands and a cheesy grin).

I've been told by the ameri..."

Ok great

Hi Emma,

I have read all the rules and conditions and agree to follow them.
I would like to join this review round.

Earlier I have decided to sit out as per your suggestion, but I couldn't get a beta reader, so decided to participate anyway.

My book aims to promote climate change awareness and I'm planning to project it voluntarily through Global Warming related organisations. Just want to know reviewers' opinion about how effective is the plot, so single star reviews are not a problem.

Also the 18+ genre as you mentioned is not an issue as I'm not strictly religious or something like that. The mention of Noah's 2nd Ark in my book was to instill a sense of responsibility among people to change their lifestyle in order to stop global warming.

Sorry for the lengthy briefing, and thank you for your time.

The Coming of Noah's 2nd Ark: Apocalypse & Hyperspace Jumping

Matthew Ilayathu

Hi Mathew, we also have a 'general' group available now. (124). You could join either. If I haven't seen a post from you on 124 in the next 24 hrs, I'll add you to this one.

Hello Emma,
I have read all the rules and I completely ok with them, however my book is a romance novel and I am aware that this is a 18+ review round. The next time there is a romance novel would it be possible to join? I don't mind reading other genres but I do know that some people aren't into romance and I wouldn't want to make someone feel they needed to read my novel because I was part of this round when they didn't like to read that type of genre. Thank you so much!

I don't think anyone here would object to a well written romance book, whatever its heat level.
The criteria of this group is more about what YOU are happy to read. We all sign up with the expectation of getting valid reviews, and perhaps more than other rounds, the folks that sign up for 18+ are conscious of bias, because we often suffer from it for our chosen genres. People appreciate a good story, with interesting characters no matter the genre.
I'm not sure when they'll be another romance round, but we also have a general round where absolutely anything goes, a real pot luck situation.

R Rated, 18+ not for the squeamish, be warned. If you don't like sex and violence, tell Emma! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deliver-Her-...

Hi again Robin, I take it you're signing up?
Any clashes apart from me so far?

Hey Leigh, my submission is also romance. There are a few sex scenes which locks me out of the clean groups. 18+ seems reasonably appropriate, even if it isn't the closest match.

I agree.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/list_...

I need Leigh, Robin and T.S. to confirm if they are joining up and any review clashes with the other people in the group.

Emma wrote: "Hi again Robin, I take it you're signing up?
Any clashes apart from me so far?"
Yes please. I have an alternative book but this one has several reviews so I am trying to get it up to 30. I believe that is the magic number for Amazon exposure.

Robin, you've review T.S. right?
Please guys, let me know your OWN review clashes, I can't be expected to go through everyone's past review history to check.
I'll see if I can fit you both in, as you both have review clashes with me, it might be a little tricky, however we also have a few new members.

And I think the 20 or 30 reviews for amazon is, unfortunately, an urban myth.

Hi Emma,
I just joined Group 124. If it helps resolve your clashes, you can switch me to this group. I'm happy either way.
Brett

Hi Brett, that's very nice of you, but I think I've got in sorted now.
Really its about what you are comfortable reading. Over here in the 18+ group, things can get pretty steamy/bloody and you'll need to judge the book on its genre, not so much on your personal 'ick' level.
Horror isn't my genre of choice, but I can tell if the book is engaging and doing what it should do (usually when I'm still thinking about it at 3 a.m. and feel compelled to turn all the lights on and check behind doors).
But, at the moment, this group has the advantage of being nearly full, so you'll be likely to be starting to read quicker if you join this one instead.

Let me know.

Cool, I'll switch to this one then, thanks Emma!

All done.

Can this book work for this group?

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

It is not an erotica, has a little sex but not raw vulgar sex. My mom read it so I guess it's not that bad.

I read the rules for the first time, agree to them and never reviewed any of those authors nor have they reviewed me before.

Yep, I can add you in Garfield. One to go folks, exciting isn't it!

Emma wrote: "Yep, I can add you in Garfield. One to go folks, exciting isn't it!"

So close!

ok, I've read over everything. If it's still open, I'd like to enter.

Hi Natalie, please post you goodreads author and book link, and say if you have any review connections with anyone else in the group apart from me.
As it is, you lucky, lucky lady, you get to read another one of my books.

Emma

Climb aboard, Natalie! We've been waiting for you :)

Sorry for the late response, I never got the notification anyone replied. Here is my author link https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

And here is my book link https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Emma wrote: "Robin, you've review T.S. right?
Please guys, let me know your OWN review clashes, I can't be expected to go through everyone's past review history to check.
I'll see if I can fit you both in, as y..."
I don't recall reviewing TS' book so I'm good with that one. Looks good to me!

We have our 10! I'll set up the order and post the 'go' message asap.

Here we go!


START DATE:29/11/2016

END DATE:21/02/2017

Round 1 – post your review by 20/12/2016
Round 2 – post your review by 10/01/2017
Round 3 – post your review by 31/01/2017
Round 4 – post your review by 21/02/2017



As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

123-01__ Emma Jaye
Natalie Bennett for round 1
B. Stadelmann for round 2
Barry Blokes for round 3
Roger Keays for round 4

123-02__ T.S. O'Neil
Emma Jaye for round 1
Natalie Bennett for round 2
B. Stadelmann for round 3
Barry Blokes for round 4

123-03__ Robin Peacock
T.S. O'Neil for round 1
Emma Jaye for round 2
Natalie Bennett for round 3
B. Stadelmann for round 4

123-04__ Lillian Lee
Robin Peacock for round 1
T.S. O'Neil for round 2
Emma Jaye for round 3
Natalie Bennett for round 4

123-05__ P.F. Munroe
Lillian Lee for round 1
Robin Peacock for round 2
T.S. O'Neil for round 3
Emma Jaye for round 4

123-06__ Garfield Whyte
P.F. Munroe for round 1
Lillian Lee for round 2
Robin Peacock for round 3
T.S. O'Neil for round 4

123-07__ Roger Keays
Garfield Whyte for round 1
P.F. Munroe for round 2
Lillian Lee for round 3
Robin Peacock for round 4

123-08__ Barry Blokes
Roger Keays for round 1
Garfield Whyte for round 2
P.F. Munroe for round 3
Lillian Lee for round 4

123-09__ B. Stadelmann
Barry Blokes for round 1
Roger Keays for round 2
Garfield Whyte for round 3
P.F. Munroe for round 4

123-10__ Natalie Bennett
B. Stadelmann for round 1
Barry Blokes for round 2
Roger Keays for round 3
Garfield Whyte for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

123-01__ Emma Jaye
T.S. O'Neil for round 1
Robin Peacock for round 2
Lillian Lee for round 3
P.F. Munroe for round 4

123-02__ T.S. O'Neil
Robin Peacock for round 1
Lillian Lee for round 2
P.F. Munroe for round 3
Garfield Whyte for round 4

123-03__ Robin Peacock
Lillian Lee for round 1
P.F. Munroe for round 2
Garfield Whyte for round 3
Roger Keays for round 4

123-04__ Lillian Lee
P.F. Munroe for round 1
Garfield Whyte for round 2
Roger Keays for round 3
Barry Blokes for round 4

123-05__ P.F. Munroe
Garfield Whyte for round 1
Roger Keays for round 2
Barry Blokes for round 3
B. Stadelmann for round 4

123-06__ Garfield Whyte
Roger Keays for round 1
Barry Blokes for round 2
B. Stadelmann for round 3
Natalie Bennett for round 4

123-07__ Roger Keays
Barry Blokes for round 1
B. Stadelmann for round 2
Natalie Bennett for round 3
Emma Jaye for round 4

123-08__ Barry Blokes
B. Stadelmann for round 1
Natalie Bennett for round 2
Emma Jaye for round 3
T.S. O'Neil for round 4

123-09__ B. Stadelmann
Natalie Bennett for round 1
Emma Jaye for round 2
T.S. O'Neil for round 3
Robin Peacock for round 4

123-10__ Natalie Bennett
Emma Jaye for round 1
T.S. O'Neil for round 2
Robin Peacock for round 3
Lillian Lee 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 :)

For my reviewers (Natalie Bennett, B. Stadelmann, Barry Blokes
Roger Keays) My anthology is current 99c and will be till the end of November.

I will be buying any book on my list that is 99c, if they are higher priced I'll download via my KU account if possible.
If any of you are intending to run a free day, or 99c promotion in order to make it easier for your reviewers to give you verified reviews, please say on this thread ASAP.

Remember that review 'likes' on goodreads and amazon reviews help them float to the top of the pile. So if you like a book, think about taking a few seconds to 'like' other positive reviews.

Emma wrote: "For my reviewers (Natalie Bennett, B. Stadelmann, Barry Blokes
Roger Keays) My anthology is current 99c and will be till the end of November.

I will be buying any book on my list that is 99c, if t..."

Good idea Emma to have verified purchaser review...my book is $1.99 on Amazon, the persons who are to review me, if it is not possible to purchase at that price, please email me at garfield@garfieldlawoffice.com and I will email you a copy.

Have a good day!

I am willing to purchase the books I am to review regardless of the kindle price on amazon.

Emma wrote: "For my reviewers (Natalie Bennett, B. Stadelmann, Barry Blokes
Roger Keays) My anthology is current 99c and will be till the end of November.

I will be buying any book on my list that is 99c, if t..."

I have no problem purchasing your anthology. My own book is currently 99c but I am not enrolled in the KU program.

I just finished a free book promotion for my own, but my book is available in KU if my reviewers have that option. I agree to purchase those that are 99c, or use KU if higher as suggested. If neither of those are available I can send the file.

Thanks Natalie.
I'm also open to 'friending' . Networking on goodreads can be a powerful tool.

Emma wrote: "Here we go!


START DATE:29/11/2016

END DATE:21/02/2017

Round 1 – post your review by 20/12/2016
Round 2 – post your review by 10/01/2017
Round 3 – post your review by 31/01/2017
Round 4 – pos..."

Hi Emma

I am sorry I am such a pain ......

Anyway, I mentioned earlier that TS has already reviewed my book. I don't mind if I will have only three reviews, though. But we can't expect TS to write a second review.

For my reviewers: Robin, Emma and Natalie, my book is in KU. It will be free on Dec 25 and 26. Right now is 0.99 but only for a couple of hours more so...

Of course, I can also send a PDF to the reviewers who request it.



For PF Munroe, Roger Keays and Barry Blokes - I've already taken your books on KU.

Garfield, I will have to buy your book as it is not in KU.