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 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 General round
All books welcome - fiction/non-fiction.


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:
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.Susan A. Buchanan
2.William Collins
3. G.J. Griffiths
4.Laura Koerber
5. S.D. Brown
6.Nathan Milner
7.Gene Kendall
8.Cathleen Townsend
9.Sam Fury
10.Gina Karasek

Book Links
1. Jillian's Song
2. A Darker Shade of Sorcery
3. Mules; Masters & Mud
4. The Eclipse Dancer
5. Bloodstone Bludgeon
6. Dinosorcerers
7. Black Hat Blues
8. Bellerophon: Son of Poseidon
9. Basic Yoga for Improving Flexibility
10. The Girl in my Mirror

Hi,
I'd love to participate in this round.
Jillian's Song by Susan A. Buchanan
Can I add another one of my titles and review 8 other titles in exchange?...

Hey,

I'd love to join this round with my book, A Darker Shade of Sorcery.
It'll be cool to read a variety of genres.

Thank you.

I'd like to submit my novel, Bloodstone Bludgeon, for this round.

Eclipse Dancer I got screwed by a no-show last round, so hopefully can make up for that!

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

William and S.D. - please include the book link to the book as listed on Goodreads that you wish to put into the round.

Laura - if you missed a review, be sure to claim a spot on the one-for-one round.

I have a book on that list already.

Oh, here you are:

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

Cheers.

I would like to join this round with my middle-grade book, Dinosorcerers. Thanks.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Is this correct? I've only participated in one other review round and I'm not sure if this is the correct link. It is a different book.

Just remebered and went to my author profile page.
Here is the correct link.

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

I'd like to add my new book, BLACK HAT BLUES.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Hello, I would like to join with Stolen Legacy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4....

SD has already reviewed me. I see no other clashes at this time. :)

ETA: The book I actually want to enter is Bellerophon, my new release, but it's working its way through the goodreads protocols at the moment.

ETA2: Bellerophon is live on Goodreads. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I would like this book to be the one used for the review group. It at least has the virtue of not having been read by anyone here before. :)

Hi,

I would like to add my (very) short non-fiction title Basic Yoga for Improving Flexibility.

This is written under the pen name Aventuras De Viaje. If it's a problem let me know and I can use a different book.

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

Thanks

I would like to add my book "The Girl in My Mirror"

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

Thanks,
Gina

I have reviewed this book.

Cathleen wrote: "Hello, I would like to join with Stolen Legacy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4....

SD has already reviewed me. I see no other clashes at this time. :)"

Hi, E.M.
I would like to add my book to this group but have conflicts with William and Laura, although I do have other books that they could review if necessary.
Thank you, G.J.

G.J. Griffiths

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

Concerning SD-- It won't be a problem that you've already read Stolen Legacy. I only used SL as a placeholder. The book I'd really like to enter is hot off the digital press: Bellerophon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGN9J8K/.

Unfortunately, it's not on goodreads yet. I do have my librarian request in, though, so Bellerophon should be posted on goodreads quite soon.

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

However, the clash still stands--SD can read me, not the reverse. I see no other clashes at this time.

Hello, I would love to join this group with my travel/literary/inspirational novel Happy Ever(ywhere) After. I can review on Amazon. I see no clashes so far.

Here's me: Elena Leman
And here's my novel: Happy Ever(ywhere) After

Cheers!

I've just tried to estimate how many of us are here already and it seems I might've been too late. E.M. let me know if there's still a spot in this group. :)

Hi there,

If there is still space I'd be up for joining the group.
I have no clashes with anyone.
If not I'll cross my fingers and I'll wait for another group to open up ;)
I have requested to be added to the out of this world group, but it may be already full, I'll have to see ... any problems let me know.

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

As the book is written under a pseudonym, Cloud McStrange, it is not coming up on my author page at the moment. But I am trying to rectify that.
Here is Splutter (books title) on amazon though:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077XV2HP3
And the goodreads page as it is right now:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...


Thanks and all the best to everyone,

Cearúil

Welcome aboard everyone!

Now I need you all to check that you have no negative clashes - that you have not reviewed the four people 'above' you 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 :)

Laura - you can have a x2 put by your book on the one-for-one if you are owed another review.

Susan - sorry we only allow four books at atime, but you can always snag more from the one-for-one round if you want.

Elena - sorry, we look to be full here, but you are signed up for the 18+ I believe.

Cearúil - I still have a spot open for you in the Out of this World round you also signed up to - but only when that book page is working.

Hi EM,

I have sent the link again, it seemed to leave out the rest of the book link for some reason, getting Harry Potter instead, oh my :)

Anyway hope that's sorted.

All the best to everyone in the round here and enjoy the readings.

Hi E.M.,
I have no clashes (have not reviewed anyone here, nor have they reviewed me).

Thanks,
Gina

Awesome, thanks for letting me know. Phew, I made it on time in the other group!

Also, I haven't realized you can do only one group at a time. Good to know for the future.



E.M. wrote: "Welcome aboard everyone!

Now I need you all to check that you have no negative clashes - that you have not reviewed the four people 'above' you on the list (it wraps around so 10 is 'above' 1) or ..."

I have no clashes with the authors above me. Thanks.

Brilliant thank you. I don't think I have clashes with the 4 above.

No clashes for me..

Everything looks good at my end. :)

I have reviewed one of the authors above me--SD. but not the book she has submitted this time. I don't recognize any of the other names.

I have reviewed Cathleen Townsend, too.

I have reviewed Laura before. Sorry E.M.

I'm sorry I didn't speak ujp sooner. I just got back from vacation where I was out of internet access--haven't been able to check anything since Monday!

Hi E.M.,

No clashes for me.

Thanks :)

No clashes on my end.

No clashes for me.

As you were folks! Due to a couple of clashes coming out in the wash we have to rinse-repeat the clash check. Apologies, but we do need to get this right :)

As before when enough people have checked in with no problem we can proceed. Unfortunately sometimes moving to solve one clash creates another no one noticed until that point :(

Still no clashes for me.

Still good at my end.

No clashes.

no clashes

no clashes for me

None for me.

I have some kind of previous contact with G J Griffiths--I think he reviewed a book of mine? But not this book. So is that OKay or is it a conflict?

Laura wrote: "I have some kind of previous contact with G J Griffiths--I think he reviewed a book of mine? But not this book. So is that OKay or is it a conflict?"

Laura, I reviewed your book 'I Once Was Lost' last year but it will be OK to read this one.
Thanks.
Re: William, I have other books he could select from.
G.J.

Yep, I'm all ready to go. I'm happy to read another book of G.J's.

OK...here we go then!

START DATE: 11-Mar-19

END DATE: 03-June-19

Round 1 – post your review by 01-Apr-19
Round 2 – post your review by 22-Apr-19
Round 3 – post your review by 13-May-19
Round 4 – post your review by 03-June-19

As AUTHORS you SEND your book file to:

209-01__Susan A. Buchanan
Gina Karasek for round 1
Sam Fury for round 2
Cathleen Townsend for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4

209-02__William Collins
Susan A. Buchanan for round 1
Gina Karasek for round 2
Sam Fury for round 3
Cathleen Townsend for round 4

209-03__G.J. Griffiths
William Collins for round 1
Susan A. Buchanan for round 2
Gina Karasek for round 3
Sam Fury for round 4

209-04__ Laura Koerber
G.J. Griffiths for round 1
William Collins for round 2
Susan A. Buchanan for round 3
Gina Karasek for round 4

209-05__ S.D. Brown
Laura Koerber for round 1
G.J. Griffiths for round 2
William Collins for round 3
Susan A. Buchanan for round 4

209-06__ Nathan Milner
S.D. Brown for round 1
Laura Koerber for round 2
G.J. Griffiths for round 3
William Collins for round 4

209-07__ Gene Kendall
Nathan Milner for round 1
S.D. Brown for round 2
Laura Koerber for round 3
G.J. Griffiths for round 4

209-08__ Cathleen Townsend
Gene Kendall for round 1
Nathan Milner for round 2
S.D. Brown for round 3
Laura Koerber for round 4

209-09__ Sam Fury
Cathleen Townsend for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Nathan Milner for round 3
S.D. Brown for round 4

209-10__ Gina Karasek
Sam Fury for round 1
Cathleen Townsend for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Nathan Milner for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

209-01__Susan A. Buchanan
William Collins for round 1
G.J. Griffiths for round 2
Laura Koerber for round 3
S.D. Brown for round 4

209-02__William Collins
G.J. Griffiths for round 1
Laura Koerber for round 2
S.D. Brown for round 3
Nathan Milner for round 4

209-03__G.J. Griffiths
Laura Koerber for round 1
S.D. Brown for round 2
Nathan Milner for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4

209-04__ Laura Koerber
S.D. Brown for round 1
Nathan Milner for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Cathleen Townsend for round 4

209-05__ S.D. Brown
Nathan Milner for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Cathleen Townsend for round 3
Sam Fury for round 4

209-06__ Nathan Milner
Gene Kendall for round 1
Cathleen Townsend for round 2
Sam Fury for round 3
Gina Karasek for round 4

209-07__ Gene Kendall
Cathleen Townsend for round 1
Sam Fury for round 2
Gina Karasek for round 3
Susan A. Buchanan for round 4

209-08__ Cathleen Townsend
Sam Fury for round 1
Gina Karasek for round 2
Susan A. Buchanan for round 3
William Collins for round 4

209-09__ Sam Fury
Gina Karasek for round 1
Susan A. Buchanan for round 2
William Collins for round 3
G.J. Griffiths for round 4

209-10__ Gina Karasek
Susan A. Buchanan for round 1
William Collins for round 2
G.J. Griffiths for round 3
Laura Koerber 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. When you have posted your reviews, please post the links to each of your reviews, not the book page in this thread.
The mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on Amazon and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to Amazon, will find mods 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 :)

Please consider downloading one of my books and/or one of the round mod’s books as a thank you for all the hard work we put in for the group.

Please read this especially if you are new to these review rounds.

Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be scratching their heads. You should PM the four people who will be reviewing you (the four above you on the original list of names) 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 them.

Ask what kind of file they would like or say you can only offer PDF, though unless a publisher uploaded it for you, you can always download a .mobi of your own book from Amazon.

Don't forget to 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 any or all of the books instead, or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there. If you can buy it adds weight to your review as it gives the 'Verified Purchase' stamp on Amazon.

Please make sure you have exchanged ALL FOUR books - or have been assured by your reviewers they will buy your book or read it through KU - as soon as possible. Some people read fast and it can be very frustrating to have to wait a long time to get hold of a book you are committed to review.
Don't forget to post the links to your reviews here so you can be signed off for them.

Finally, recent changes on Amazon mean that we are now asking you to post your review to your own Amazon store and any others you might have access to as well.

Your mod is L.N. Denison. She will be along in a bit to take over :)

Hello everyone! Sorry it took so long to get here....work got in the way a bit. Welcome to the general round. I have no rules to add, only that you enjoy the round and PM me if you run into any problems. Go buy those books, people.