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 a general round. Anything goes

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
E.M. Swift-Hook

Member Links
1. Siyabulela Mbalekwa
2. Loralee Evans
3. Robert Jones
4. Faye Carlisle
5. Sergio Tinoco
6. Carly Berg
7. Garfield Whyte
8. Stacie Eirich
9. Elle Harte
10. Leon Huet

Book Links
1. Corners of My Soul
2. Felicity~ A Sparrow's Tale
3. Mythology Unveiled: A Complete Guide From Greece To Egypt, From Creation to The World Beyond
4. The Fortress
5. Proud American
6. 300 Calorie Dinners: For Slim Ladies in the Real World
7. Nostalgia from: A City Set Upon a Hill
8. Tiger Kingdom & The Book of Destiny
9. Motel Room Dreams
10. A Life Worth the Fleeting Suns

Can I remind everyone to pay attention to the author list and mention anyone you have had previous review contact with either as reader or author.

Please also confirm you have read the rules as you sign up

I have read the above rules and am fully complicit. I have no other reviews pending.
Tile of my novel is Corners of my soul
my author profile is:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Rules read, no conflict, stay-athome with *lots* of time to read lol.

Blaque Beauty and the Billionaire

Welcome on board Siya

Erin, Item 7 says you have to have completed any other rounds you are in. You can still take part in one-for-one reviews

Neil wrote: "Welcome on board Siya

Erin, Item 7 says you have to have completed any other rounds you are in. You can still take part in one-for-one reviews"

Oopsy - thanks :)

I'd like to join this round if I may. I haven't reviewed Siyabulela, and Siyabulela hasn't reviewed me.

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

Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Oh, and yes, I've read and agree to the above rules.

Thanks, Loralee, welcome on board

Hi there,

I am part of group 131 but I finished all my reviews some time ago. Is it okay if I jump aboard?

Mythology Unveiled: A Complete Guide From Greece To Egypt, From Creation to The World Beyond

Thanks,

Robbie

Hi Robbie, I've added you in, if you could confirm reading the rules and keep an eye out for any review clashes.

Personally, I don't have any review conflicts with Robbie.

I agree to the rules.

Title: The Fortress

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

I've read the rules and agree. I have never been part of a group before so have no reviews pending.

My book is Proud American.

Proud American

Author profile:
Sergio Tinoco

Welcome on board Faye and Sergio

Hi Neil, Can this book work here...Loralee reviewed it some time ago...if she is to review me again, I have other books.

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

Hi Neil,

Ive read the rules and agree to them all :)

Also I dont have any clashes with any of the other authors

I've reviewed Garfield before, but if he has other books, I could review those.

I'd like to join with my children's novel, Tiger Kingdom & The Book of Destiny.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/33398907

https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Kingdom-...

Thanks!
Stacie

I have read & reviewed Loralee's Felicity, but would gladly read/review another of her books. I don't believe she has read/reviewed Tiger Kingdom.

I don't see any others that I've read/reviewed.

-Stacie

I've kept Garfield and Loralee apart, Stacie will need to read another of Loralee's books but I'm sure Loralee won't mind.

Stacie and Garfield, could you just confirm you have read the rules, thanks.

Stacie has reviewed my first two sparrow books. So she can review my third.

Thanks, Loralee

Yes Neil, I have read the rules and agree.... also apart from Loralee reading that book already, no other issues.

Motel Room Dreams

I'm going to apply in this group. My book goes live tomorrow.

I should be able to squeeze you in, Carly, just confirm which book you want adding

Elle, I will book you in, please confirm you've read the rules

Read the rules, Neil!

Yes, I've read the rules. :-) All good.

-Stacie

I have read the above rules and am fully complicit. I have no other reviews pending.
The title of my novel is A Life Worth the Fleeting Suns:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

My author profile is: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Hi there,

Is the 10th space still available? I'd like to join this group if possible. My book is the Sci-Fi/Post-apocalyptic The War Between. This is my second review round, I'm aware of the rules, and I haven't read or reviewed anything by the authors listed.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Sorry, Jennifer but Leon got in just ahead of you. There is an 18+ now forming if you are interested

I will post the reading list asap

Hello everyone!

Just reporting in as Mod for this round, please do post or PM me if you have any issues once we get going.

Here we go, have fun!

Start Date 03-Mar-17
End Date 26-May-17

Round 1 post your reviews by 24-Mar-17
Round 2 post your reviews by 14-Apr-17
Round 3 post your reviews by 05-May-17
Round 4 post your reviews by 26-May-17

As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

135-01__Siyabulela Mbalekwa
Leon Huet for round 1
Elle Harte for round 2
Stacie Eirich for round 3
Garfield Whyte for round 4

135-02__Loralee Evans
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 1
Leon Huet for round 2
Elle Harte for round 3
Stacie Eirich for round 4

135-03__Robert Jones
Loralee Evans for round 1
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 2
Leon Huet for round 3
Elle Harte for round 4

135-04__Faye Carlisle
Robert Jones for round 1
Loralee Evans for round 2
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 3
Leon Huet for round 4

135-05__Sergio Tinoco
Faye Carlisle for round 1
Robert Jones for round 2
Loralee Evans for round 3
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 4

135-06__Carly Berg
Sergio Tinoco for round 1
Faye Carlisle for round 2
Robert Jones for round 3
Loralee Evans for round 4

135-07__Garfield Whyte
Carly Berg for round 1
Sergio Tinoco for round 2
Faye Carlisle for round 3
Robert Jones for round 4

135-08__Stacie Eirich
Garfield Whyte for round 1
Carly Berg for round 2
Sergio Tinoco for round 3
Faye Carlisle for round 4

135-09__Elle Harte
Stacie Eirich for round 1
Garfield Whyte for round 2
Carly Berg for round 3
Sergio Tinoco for round 4

135-10__Leon Huet
Elle Harte for round 1
Stacie Eirich for round 2
Garfield Whyte for round 3
Carly Berg for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

135-01__Siyabulela Mbalekwa
Loralee Evans for round 1
Robert Jones for round 2
Faye Carlisle for round 3
Sergio Tinoco for round 4

135-02__Loralee Evans
Robert Jones for round 1
Faye Carlisle for round 2
Sergio Tinoco for round 3
Carly Berg for round 4

135-03__Robert Jones
Faye Carlisle for round 1
Sergio Tinoco for round 2
Carly Berg for round 3
Garfield Whyte for round 4

135-04__Faye Carlisle
Sergio Tinoco for round 1
Carly Berg for round 2
Garfield Whyte for round 3
Stacie Eirich for round 4

135-05__Sergio Tinoco
Carly Berg for round 1
Garfield Whyte for round 2
Stacie Eirich for round 3
Elle Harte for round 4

135-06__Carly Berg
Garfield Whyte for round 1
Stacie Eirich for round 2
Elle Harte for round 3
Leon Huet for round 4

135-07__Garfield Whyte
Stacie Eirich for round 1
Elle Harte for round 2
Leon Huet for round 3
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 4

135-08__Stacie Eirich
Elle Harte for round 1
Leon Huet for round 2
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 3
Loralee Evans for round 4

135-09__Elle Harte
Leon Huet for round 1
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 2
Loralee Evans for round 3
Robert Jones for round 4

135-10__Leon Huet
Siyabulela Mbalekwa for round 1
Loralee Evans for round 2
Robert Jones for round 3
Faye Carlisle 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. Emma, as Group Admin, records all the groups, and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find her 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 addresses from this open forum). Happy reviewing, everyone :)

Hello all, for all the books I'm selected to read a mobi or PDF to mail@leonhuet.net would be great.

For those who I owe a book to, please contact me at my email address above if you require a mobi or PDF and I will oblige.

Thanks!

I got your message, Carly and replied. I look forward to reading your book!

Hello, Leon! I will send off an email soon with a PDF attached.


As Emma has said in the past, it may be best not to post email addresses here and instead include them in private messages, lessening the risk of spam/bullies, etc. as this is public.

Thanks for setting us up and running Neil. :)

Quick 'start-up' summary for any who are new here and scratching their heads - you should PM the four people who will be reviewing you through their Goodreads author pages. Click on the down arrow beside the 'Follow Author' button under their picture and it opens a menu which will allow you to message ;)

Ask what kind of file they would like (or say you can only offer PDF) and ask where to send it so they can give you their email.

The four people who you are reviewing should be in touch with you in a similar way.

You can, of course choose to buy - or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there.

Any problems you can post here or PM me :)

I'm supposed to send copies to
Stacie Eirich for round 1 but I can't reach her there's no PM option on her profile.

Just emailed Garfield Whyte for round 2

Carly Berg for round 3 says she downloaded on KU

Cant reach Sergio Tinoco for round 4

Thx Elle received...will start it tonight

Garfield wrote: "Thx Elle received...will start it tonight"

Sounds good! :D

Elle wrote: "I'm supposed to send copies to
Stacie Eirich for round 1 but I can't reach her there's no PM option on her profile.."

As I explained in my post (39), to PM someone with an author profile on Goodreads, click on the down arrow beside the 'Follow Author' button under their picture and it opens a menu which will allow you to message

Hope this helps. I would suggest you check all the advice in my post if this is your first round :)

Julia Black's book was a quick, albeit very informative and helpful read! I can't wait to try some of her recipes! Here are my reviews for her book:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2UJBKV...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RN71W...

Loralee wrote: "Julia Black's book was a quick, albeit very informative and helpful read! I can't wait to try some of her recipes! Here are my reviews for her book:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/sho..."

Loralee you are always on a roll....LOL

Sergio wrote: "Hello, for all those whose books I'm to review, please send your PDFs to"

Not a good idea to put an email address on this thread, Sergio. It is public and you risk attracting a lot of spam.

Loralee wrote: "Julia Black's book was a quick, albeit very informative and helpful read! "

Very fast start there Loralee!

“300 Calorie Dinners” by Julia Black could not have come to me at a better time. I say this because I had just made up my mind to begin eating healthy, low calorie meals again. It’s amazing what working in law enforcement can demand of a 40+ year old person still chasing people around.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

E.M. wrote: "Elle wrote: "I'm supposed to send copies to
Stacie Eirich for round 1 but I can't reach her there's no PM option on her profile.."

As I explained in my post (39), to PM someone with an author prof..."

Thanks EM

Carly wrote: "Thank you, Loralee and Sergio.

Here are my reviews of Motel Room Dreams:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(be right back with the rest)

..."

Thanks for the review Carly!

I have completed Mythology Unveiled. Here are my reviews:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2QNQ2G...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3VM3...

I have finished Proud American. Here are my reviews for it:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2P33LT...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2SJK...

I have now finished The Fortress. Here are my reviews:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2ZJ1...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3AVCJZ...

I've finished my assigned reviews. Thanks so much!

Loralee wrote: "I've finished my assigned reviews. Thanks so much!"

I blinked and missed it all!

Loralee I surrender my pink sombrero to you. You are the queen of the speed review.

Thank you so much for taking part :)

This is a good point to remind all those new to these rounds that it is inappropriate to contact a reviewer to protest about their review.

I would draw particular attention to two of the rules given in the first post on this thread which explain both what we are commiting to do and how we are agreeing to behave:

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.