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 fiction/ non-fiction accepted. This means you may be required to read anything from a book about tax returns to horror/erotica and everything in between.

Please note it is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.

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, it’s 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:
Kat Kinney


Member Links
1. Rose Gonsoulin
2. Andrew D. Gracey
3. Balroop Singh
4. Kaia Misk
5. Amanda Stuntz
6. Nico J. Genes
7. Cameron Ayers
8. Kelly Brady Channick
9. Kat Kinney
10. Kristian Hall


Book Links
1. The Perfectly Good Lie
2. The Dust and the Dark Places: Part One
3. Timeless Echoes
4. One Step Closer
5. My Cowboy Hero
6. ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
7. The Truth Circle
8. Asbury High and the Thief's Gamble
9. Dyrwolf
10. 14 Steps to Happiness

Hi! I’d love to join this round.

My book link is: www.amazon.com/dp/B0845LBTQC

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

I would like to join this round with my book The Perfectly Good Lie

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

Hi I would like to join this round with my poetry book Timeless Echoes:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Hello, I would like to join with my novel, The Truth Circle.
I have one conflict thus far: I read Rose's excellent The Perfectly Good Lie in my last review group.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I would like to join this round with my book, One Step Closer, which is an erotic romance/action novel. My author page and book links are below.

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Close...

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

I think I'll move over here with Dyrwolf.

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

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

I have read Rose's book before (and it was great!) It looks like she has others I could read.

I'd like to join with my book My Cowboy Hero

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

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

I'd like to join with my book Inspirational Buddhist Quotations: Meditations and Reflections - Book Three

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

https://www.amazon.com/Inspirational-...

Hi. I'd like to join with my true story of discovery, friendship and unconditional acceptance.
ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Nico J. Genes

The only clash: I've read Kat's Dyrwolf

Hi I would like to join with The Dust and The Dark Places Part One. I've just finished up in group 246 and have just posted my last review.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

My clashes thus far are that I have read Rose and Andrew before (but they have other books I could read.) Nico has read me (but I have another book I could offer her.)

update: Andrew has read me but another book and I have no problem picking up the other book of Kate. I think we are 10 now :)

Both Rose and Kat have read one of mine but I am happy to provide them with the second part. I have read and reviewed Cameron's The Truth Circle previously :)

Gosh! This group filled fast! Welcome all!

I think I got the sudoku right, but we need to be sure. So I need everyone to check they have not reviewed the four people above them on the list ( the list wraps around so 10 is 'above 1). Please also check that if you have already reviewed any of the four people 'below' you on the list they have more books available that you have not yet reviewed.

You can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews, clicking the 'Author' heading to get them in alphabetical author order, and then checking through to see. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile.

Any issues with these, please post to say so. If both these things check out please post to say you are good to go.

When enough have said they are good, we can start the reading phase.

All good with me. I've reviewed Kat's Dyrwolf, but I can happily read her other book

All good here!

All good for me too!

Nico wrote: "All good with me. I've reviewed Kat's Dyrwolf, but I can happily read her other book"

Awesome, Nico! I'll be happy to send you DARK :)

I'm good, Kat and Cameron will read one of my other books.

I'm good to go. :)

I'm good.

Good to go!! Thanks :)

Oliver - you have signed up on the Novella round as well. You can't be in two rounds at once so you need to be removed from there if you wish to be in this round. If you prefer to be in the Novella round, please say so and I'll remove you from this one.

E.M. wrote: "Oliver - you have signed up on the Novella round as well. You can't be in two rounds at once so you need to be removed from there if you wish to be in this round. If you prefer to be in the Novella..."

Opps. Sorry. Please remove me from this one and leave me in the Novella one. Thanks :)

As you were folks...

If one person is still needed, I'd like to join, with my book 14 Steps to Happiness. It's a self-help book.

Welcome Kristian!

Everyone - please re-check as I asked in message 15!

Nothing changed for me:)

Hi. I haven't reviewed any of the four authors above me. Looking forward to start reading :) Kristian

Still all good for me :)

With Rose's accommodation for another book, I'm good to go.

Still good to go!

All good! Looking forward to it :)

I’m good to go!

All good to go.

I'm good to go.

And here we go!

START DATE: 17-April-20

END DATE: 10-July-20

Round 1 – post your review by 08-May-20
Round 2 – post your review by 29 -May-20
Round 3– post your review by 19-June-20
Round 4 – post your review by 10-July-20

As AUTHORS you SEND your book file to:

252-01__Rose Gonsoulin
Kristian Hall for round 1
Kat Kinney for round 2
Kelly Brady Channick for round 3
Cameron Ayers for round 4

252-02__Andrew D. Gracey
Rose Gonsoulin for round 1
Kristian Hall for round 2
Kat Kinney for round 3
Kelly Brady Channick for round 4

252-03__Balroop Singh
Andrew D. Gracey for round 1
Rose Gonsoulin for round 2
Kristian Hall for round 3
Kat Kinney for round 4

252-04__ Kaia Misk
Balroop Singh for round 1
Andrew D. Gracey for round 2
Rose Gonsoulin for round 3
Kristian Hall for round 4

252-05__ Amanda Stuntz
Kaia Misk for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Andrew D. Gracey for round 3
Rose Gonsoulin for round 4

252-06__ Nico J. Genes
Amanda Stuntz for round 1
Kaia Misk for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Andrew D. Gracey for round 4

252-07__ Cameron Ayers
Nico J. Genes for round 1
Amanda Stuntz for round 2
Kaia Misk for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4

252-08__ Kelly Brady Channick
Cameron Ayers for round 1
Nico J. Genes for round 2
Amanda Stuntz for round 3
Kaia Misk for round 4

252-09__ Kat Kinney
Kelly Brady Channick for round 1
Cameron Ayers for round 2
Nico J. Genes for round 3
Amanda Stuntz for round 4

252-10__ Kristian Hall
Kat Kinney for round 1
Kelly Brady Channick for round 2
Cameron Ayers for round 3
Nico J. Genes for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

252-01__Rose Gonsoulin
Andrew D. Gracey for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Kaia Misk for round 3
Amanda Stuntz for round 4

252-02__Andrew D. Gracey
Balroop Singh for round 1
Kaia Misk for round 2
Amanda Stuntz for round 3
Nico J. Genes for round 4

252-03__Balroop Singh
Kaia Misk for round 1
Amanda Stuntz for round 2
Nico J. Genes for round 3
Cameron Ayers for round 4

252-04__ Kaia Misk
Amanda Stuntz for round 1
Nico J. Genes for round 2
Cameron Ayers for round 3
Kelly Brady Channick for round 4

252-05__ Amanda Stuntz
Nico J. Genes for round 1
Cameron Ayers for round 2
Kelly Brady Channick for round 3
Kat Kinney for round 4

252-06__ Nico J. Genes
Cameron Ayers for round 1
Kelly Brady Channick for round 2
Kat Kinney for round 3
Kristian Hall for round 4

252-07__ Cameron Ayers
Kelly Brady Channick for round 1
Kat Kinney for round 2
Kristian Hall for round 3
Rose Gonsoulin for round 4

252-08__ Kelly Brady Channick
Kat Kinney for round 1
Kristian Hall for round 2
Rose Gonsoulin for round 3
Andrew D. Gracey for round 4

252-09__ Kat Kinney
Kristian Hall for round 1
Rose Gonsoulin for round 2
Andrew D. Gracey for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4

252-10__ Kristian Hall
Rose Gonsoulin for round 1
Andrew D. Gracey for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Kaia Misk 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).

Setting up and modding these rounds is a labour of love, with a lot of emphasis on the ‘labour’. If you want to show appreciation for all the hard work we admins put in for the group, you could download one of our books as a ‘thank you’.

Happy reviewing, everyone :)

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 are reviewing the four books 'below' you on the list.

You can, of course, choose to buy any or all of the books 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.

However, as not everyone can buy, 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.

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.

Please post your review to Goodreads, your own Amazon store and any other Amazon stores you might have access to as well.

Kat Kinney is modding this round so PM her with any issues please.

To Andrew, Balroop, Kaia and Amanda - I've bought your book on Amazon. Looking forward to the reading.

Rose

Thanks, EM, for getting us all sorted!

I'm happy to be your mod for this round. Let me know if I can help with any issues as they arise.

Kristian, Rose, Andrew, and Balroop, I already have your books, so no need to send me anything :)

At least being home all day has given me plenty of reading time. I also got a headstart on the first two rounds when E.M. put the listings up a few days ago (risky, I know).

Please find my reviews below. I am still waiting on two Amazon links to come through but all are currently live on Goodreads.

Timeless Echoes
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One Step Closer
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

My Cowboy Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

ADHD Life is Beautiful
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

Thanks, Andrew! See you in a future round :)

I'm really enjoying the wonderful books I'm getting to read this round. Thanks for the great reads, everyone :)

Round Four:
GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon: working on it
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/27692...

Round Three:
GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/RQGDVP9...

Here is my review for round 1

ADHD: life is beautiful

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

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

My Round 1 review of My Cowboy Hero by Amanda Stuntz

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-...

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

Reviews for The Dust and the Dark Places (II)
Amazon

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

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

Hi. Here is the Round 1 review of The Perfectly Good Lie:

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

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

My Round One Review. Great advice, Kristian! :)

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

Kristian wrote: "Hi. Here is the Round 1 review of The Perfectly Good Lie:

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

Not reviewing on Amazon, as per the new guidelines."

Thanks for the review. Sad that it's not going on Amazon.

Rose

Hi, My Round 1 review of One Step Closer by Kaia Misk:

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

Here is my Round 2 review of My Cowboy Hero by Amanda Stuntz
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not reviewing at Amazon.