Review Group discussion

Sharon SalaThe 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 or check back another time.

The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.

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 and do check back as the group fills to report any clashes. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This is a Novella round
Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books under 45,000 Words


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 12 weeks of 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 and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU and others might provide smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. 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.

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

Please note:
The 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.

It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. 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.

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

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.

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/...

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:
L.N. Denison


Member Links
1. S.D. Brown
2. Cathleen Townsend
3. C.A. Martin
4. Rhian Waller
5. Jeanette O'Hagan
6. Scott Peters
7. Loralee Evans
8. Marc Roche
9. Kady Monroe
10. Laura Koerber

Book Links
1. Code Orange Cancun
2. Stolen Legacy
3. Lexie Leaps: A Help From My Friends Story
4. Spy Rats: A Tale of Secrets on the High Seas
5. Heart of Mountain: a short novella (Under the Mountain)
6. I Escaped The Terrors Of North Korea
7. Raccoons and Rabbit Holes
8. Phrasal Verbs Masterclass: Learn English Grammar & English Speaking: Includes Phrasal Verbs Exercises
9. Cloven
10. Limbo

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

Novella - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

thank you :)

Just finished with the last round.

Pirats: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

No clash with Kady.

Hi, I'd like to join with my novelette, Stolen Legacy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KWCG9K3/.

I can review Rhian, but she can't review me. :)

Love to join with Heart of the Mountain (or any of the others in the series, if the reviewer has read Heart of the Mountain :) )

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Mountain...

Others in the series
Novella 2 Blood Crystal https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Novella 3 Stone of the Sea
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Cathleen can review me; I can't review her.

Hi, I'd like to join with my middle-grade survival adventure. It's 15,000 words.

I Escaped The Terrors Of North Korea
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

I have no review conflicts so far and am new to the group :) thanks!

Welcome Kady, Rhian, Cathleen, Jeanette and Scott. Please let me know if you spot any clashes as the group fills. Thanks :)

Thank you E.M.
No clashes for me so far.

Hiya. I'd like to enter with Hyde's Lament. Jeanette and Rhian have both read me, and I have read Cathleen, but I would love to read more of her stuff if I get her again.

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

I'm on my last book of a current round that I'm in and will be ready for this round when it starts.

Hi - I'd like to join with my children's fantasy novella, Tiger Kingdom & The Book of Destiny. (If anyone here has already read/reviewed it, I have other novellas/poetry collections I'd be happy to provide for review).

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/154...

I have not reviewed any of the current 5 novels listed.

-Stacie

I have read Stacie, but can read something else of hers, but my choices are very limited now.

Hi E.M and everyone
I’d like to join with my novella ‘The Passage of Desire’, a series prequel but can be read as a stand-alone. The book has been reviewed by Cathleen and Jeannette, and if L.N. joins, she has reviewed another book of mine, but not this one. Can’t see any more clashes…
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Have a great weekend!

I think I shall pull out of this round as there could be too many clashes for me.

We'll miss you, LN, but I'm sure I'll see you in another round. :)

Concerning clashes, Stacie can read me, but I can't read her.

I'll be modding. You can't get rid of me that easily.

I can read Stacie, she can't read me.

Ok-now that I see that I have clashes with Rhiann, Cathleen and Jeanette - I think it’s best I sit this Novella Round out. Think I’ll try to get in on the open General Round instead....

Thanks,
Stacie

Is it possible for me to join? Rhian has reviewed me before, but not this book. It's a children's book, about 21,000 words.

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FY9TN6B

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

I'd love to join with

"Phrasal Verbs Masterclass"

https://www.amazon.com/Phrasal-Verbs-...

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...

It´s a non-fiction text book

Welcome Loralee.

Laurette - I can't add you unless you can confirm you have another novella length book you can offer to those who have reviewed this one. Whilst I might be able to place one reader to avoid you, with the very best will in the world I can't place two to do so. :(

Marc - Before I can include you in a group you need to apply for a Goodreads author page and provide a Goodreads link for your book, please. You can apply for an author page by going to the bottom of this page and clicking where it says 'author program'.

Oooh, yay. Hope I get to read Lauralee's sequel.

Unless I have to shift everyone around for a clash, that seems very likely Rhian ;)

I would like to join this group with my middle grade book Code Orange Cancun.
I have a conflict with Scott Peters, who has already reviewed it.
Thanks

Hello if there is still space I'd like to join with a non fiction textbook

https://www.amazon.com/Phrasal-Verbs-...

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

and my GR book link is https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Many thanks

Welcome Marc.

Sharon - please sign up for this group using your author page. Thanks :)

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Loralee.

Laurette - I can't add you unless you can confirm you have another novella length book you can offer to those who have reviewed this one. Whilst I might be able to place one reade..."
Hi E.M
No problems, I'll wait for another round, thanks!

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Marc.

Sharon - please sign up for this group using your author page. Thanks :)"

Hi again...
I've added my books to my author page...including Code Orange Cancun. I can't see where to request... I write under the name S.D. Brown.

Welcome aboard S.D.

Thanks... looking forward to reading and reviewing!

I can read Francis, but he can't read me. And I've already read Time Scope.

Francis has reviewed me.

Welcome aboard Francis!

EM, this order will work only if Francis has another novella I can review. Otherwise, we'll have to be five numbers apart (like #2 and #7) for us to be in the same round.

Unfortunately, I can't make it work then as I have to have Cathleen reading Rhian or there is a clash there.

Really sorry Francis, I can't fit you in. But the 18+ group still has space in it if you would like to sign up there, or you can wait for another set of rounds.

Helloooo - can I update my entry to Spy Rats, please? Now on Goodreads/Zon/Lulu.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Swapped in for you Rhian :)

Great, thanks. :)

I'd like to join with LImbo https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I have one book left to review for a different group--but I am way ahead of schedule and have never failed a review obligation.

I cannot review Stacie.

Laura wrote: "I'd like to join with LImbo https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I have one book left to review for a different group--but I am way ahead of schedule and have never failed a review o..."

And I've reviewed Limbo already on a previous round.

May I join? Brand new to this group so no clashes. My work is just under 10k words.

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

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I've read Time Scope. Limbo is 140 pages which might be a bitg long for a novella. I have completed my obligations for the other group.

Can't wait to get started

Have we got enough now?

It wold be nice to get started...

I hope everyone had a good festive season if you were celebrating!

Welcome Laura and C.A. - you have filled us up here nicely thank you :)

Now I need everyone to double check they have no negative clashes - that they have not reviewed the four people 'above' them on the list (it wraps around so 10 is 'above' 1) or been reviewed by the four below.

When enough people have posted that they don't have any such clashes, I can start the round :)

E.M. wrote: "I hope everyone had a good festive season if you were celebrating!

Welcome Laura and C.A. - you have filled us up here nicely thank you :)

Now I need everyone to double check they have no negativ..."

Hi E. M.

There is one clash - (as mentioned above) I've reviewed Laura Koerber's Limbo (2 above me), in a previous round. Otherwise, I see no clashes.

(Cathleen has reviewed me before, and I was thrilled to see she will again, as my sequels need a bit of love. However, know that might change if you need to reshuffle.)

Hi E.M.
No clashes for me, good to go :)

I have reviewd Scott Peter's book.

I have not read any of the titles above. I don't know if any have read me.

Sorry for missing those.

Take Two!
Please recheck and report :)