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 an '18+' round
Books that may 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 extreme and explicit material.

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. Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author are against both Review Group and Goodreads policy.

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. Willow Thomson
2. Mary Marino
3. Balroop Singh
4. Phillip Murrell
5. Donnally Miller
6. Ed Morawski
7. R.J.G. McManus
8. Carolyn St-Denis
9. Azriel Hope
10. Angela Panayotopulos

Book Links
1. The Color of Sunshine
2. Desensitized: My Years Working for Child Protective Services
3. Magical Whispers
4. Augury Answered
5. The Devil's Workshop
6. Bridge
7. Stones: Stones Book 1
8. Unhinged: A true story of child abuse, resiliency and hope.
9. The Solitary King
10. The Art of War: a Novel

The Solitary King|55675432]Hi :)

Can I sign up with my new book The Solitary King (MMF Bisexual Menage Romance) ? The Solitary King

Welcome Azriel.

I'd like to join with

Hi E.M. I would like to join with my new book :

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

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

Thanks.

Azriel has reviewed one of my books, not this one.
Thank you.

Welcome Ed and Balroop - please keep checking back for any clashes that might occur as the group is forming and let me know right away :)

Thank you :)

I would like to join with Augury Answered.

Phillip Murrell

I have already read Azriel and Ed. Balroop has already reviewed me. In all cases, the books previously reviewed are different than what is here.

Phillip wrote: "I would like to join with Augury Answered.

Phillip Murrell

I have already read Azriel and Ed. Balroop has already reviewed me. In all cases, the books previously..."

I would be very happy to add you to this group, but you need to have completed your commitment to your current group first as we only allow participation in on group at a time. Seeing the speed you have been progressing there, I doubt that will delay you for long.

All my reviews are in (posts 47, 49, 55, and 56). I'm just waiting for two on Amazon to post. I thought I was allowed to sign up at this point? I apologize if I'm incorrect.

Phillip wrote: "All my reviews are in (posts 47, 49, 55, and 56). I'm just waiting for two on Amazon to post. I thought I was allowed to sign up at this point? I apologize if I'm incorrect."

My bad I missed them - I blame lack of coffee ;) I have signed you up and welcome :)

Hi, I would like to join with my memoir Desensitized.

Welcome Mary.

E.M. wrote: "My bad I missed them - I blame lack of coffee ;) I have signed you up and welcome :)."

No worries. One of the remaining two Amazon links just came through.

thanks!

hi, I'd like to join

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

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

Balroop Singh has already reviewed this book. I have not reviewed anyone on here so far.

Welcome Carolyn. Please do remember to keep checking back as the group fills so as to report any clashes. Thanks :)

Hi, I would like to join with

The Color of Sunshine. Although this is the second book in a series, it does stand alone so can be read without reading book one in the Aride universe.

I have reviewed Augury Answered.

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

Welcome Willow - please post to let me know of any clashes you have with those in the group now or as it fills.

I have reviewed Augury Answered.

I have reviewed Balroop but this is a different book and Phillip has reviewed another book of mine, but not this one.

Hey guys! I'd like to join with The Art of War: a Novel if there's room.

book profile: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
my profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I've reviewed Phillip (twice), Balroop (once), and Willow (once). I've been reviewed by Azriel (once) but for another book.

Angela has reviewed my first book, but not the one listed here.

Welcome Angela.

Everyone - please let me know if you spot any issues.

Anyone looking to join - the group is getting to the point where positions can't be moved. If you want to join, please make sure you fit one of the spots left. Thanks :)

I'd like to join with my novel, The Devil's Workshop. I don't see any clashes.

Welcome Donnally.

One spot to fill - if you are trying for it please check that you have not reviewed the four people above that spot and have not been reviewed by the four below (1 is below 10). Thanks.

I'm sorry, I just realized I have been reviewed by Angela Panayotopulos. But she can review my novella, Cage of Light

I’m not sure Phillip Murrell can review me if I have in the past reviewed him??? Or am I confused about that?

Willow, in the current order I think you're reading Phillip again. So you should be all good :)

OK, thank you. My dyscalculia learning disability makes it so hard for me to see this.

Willow wrote: "OK, thank you. My dyscalculia learning disability makes it so hard for me to see this."

No worries Willow. I don't suffer that, but it completely bamboozles me a lot of the time too!

Hi there! RJG McManus, and I'd like to join with my book, STONES. It's the first in a fantasy trilogy I'm working on: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Welcome R.J.G.

Everyone - I need you to post and tell me you have no clashes. This means I need to know you have never reviewed the four people 'above' you (the list wraps so 10 is above 1) and if you have reviewed the 4 people 'below' you, that they have another book you can review currently available. If you meet these requirements please post that you are good to go, if not and you do have a clash, please tell me what it is.

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 looking at their profile.

Once the vast majority of the group has reported in clash free, we can move onto the review stage.

I have reviewed Angela but this is a different book. So I think it's fine. I have not been reviewed by the four people above me :) So I think I'm clear.

This is my first ever, so....I have no conflicts. :-)

I am a little confused, sorry. Are we reviewing the 4 people above us? Or the 4 people below us?

RJG, you'll be reviewing the four books below you, so (8, 9, 10, 1) and persons (4, 5, 6, 7) will review your book. But first we need to get through the checking stage where we make sure no one has accidentally been reviewed by someone they are assigned to read.

Got it! Thank you!

I'm good to go! :)

I'm good to go

I’m good to go - though I need to review another one of Phillip Murrell’s books as I have reviewed Augury Answered. Please let me know, Phillip. Thanks!

I look good.

I don't see any clashes.

I have a conflict. I have already reviewed Ed, but he is set to review me in this order. Willow has already read Augury Answered but could read Zombie Walkabout instead.

My total conflicts are:
I have reviewed Ed and Azriel
I have received reviews from Willow, Balroop, and Angela.

What if we flip Ed and Mary in positions 2 and 6? Would that work?

I do not have any conflicts. I'm good to go!

For those who will be reviewing my novel The Devil's Workshop, be aware I am running a promotion. On Thursday, December 3 for one day the ebook will be available free.

Ooh, on Donnally's note, while I'm not running a promotion, my book is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, so it's free to read if you already have a subscription. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone who is reviewing me has KU.

The Solitary King is on KU too if you want to read it for free :) there. Otherwise, I will have .pdf .mobi and epub formats to email out.

I have not reviewed anyone. Phillip has reviewed me.
As per Kat's suggestion that would work.

By the way - looks like an interesting selection of books!