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

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:
Loralee Evans

Member Links
1. E.M. Swift-Hook
2. Scott Peters
3. Cathleen Townsend
4. J.E. Rowney
5. Loralee Evans
6. Nicki Snyder
7. Phillip Murrell
8. Sadhana Wadhwa
9. Denis Roubien
10. Ben Haskett

Book Links
1. Dying for a Poppy
2. I Escaped The Tower of London
3. To the Victor: Tales of Magic and Adventure
4. Starting Out
5. Puppies and Portals
6. No Hope Beyond This Point
7. Feeders
8. Unspoken: A Bouquet of Short Stories
9. Athens disclosed
10. Advance Screening

I'm signing up with Dying for a Poppy

I would like to join with Feeders

Phillip Murrell


I've read you before, E.M.

Welcome Phillip - as ever, please keep checking back as we fill to spot any clashes and nip them in the bud! Thanks :)

I would like to join with Tales Told by the Red-Gold Dragon

Mary Innis Ansell

Welcome Mary - please keep checking back for any clashes as the group fills. Thanks.

I have no conflict with Mary.

Could I join this round? E.M. has reviewed me, and I have reviewed both Phillip and Mary. I could mod it too, if you need. E.M.

I should be able to fit in spot 3, with Mary moving to spot 4, and Phillip moving to spot 7 or 8.

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

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

Welcome Loralee - and thanks for the offer to mod :)

Hi E.M.,
Unfortunately I won't be available to take part in this round - hopefully another time!
Best wishes,
Mary Innis Ansell

I'd like to join with I Escaped The Tower of London

I have reviewed Loralee, and EM you've reviewed me, but I think those are my only conflicts.

EM, could we fit Scott in? Unless I'm mistaken, he could fit into slot 2 and I move down to slot 3. I would end up reviewing Phillip in spot 7, and Phillip would end up reviewing you. That wouldn't conflict, since I've reviewed Phillip before, and he's reviewed you.

Would that work alright?

Mary - sorry to lose you, hope you can rejoin a future group.

Scott - welcome, please keep checking back and checking in with any further clashes you spot.

Loralee - thanks for the suggestion - looks like it works well :)

E.M. wrote: "Mary - sorry to lose you, hope you can rejoin a future group.

Scott - welcome, please keep checking back and checking in with any further clashes you spot.

Loralee - thanks for the suggestion - l..."

Thanks, E.M.! Will do

May I join this round? I just posted my links for group 291.

I'd like to join with To the Victor: Tales of Magic and Adventure https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

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

Clashes:

EM has read this book, but she could read The Golden Key, which is not only shorter, but I think it's the best thing I've ever written.

Scott has read me, but not this book.

Here's the rub--I can review Loralee, but she can't review me. I haven't read Puppies and Portals.

Phillip and I have no clashes. : )

Welcome Cathleen - as ever keep checking in for any new clashes!

Hi, can I join up with Starting Out please? I have completed what I can in the general group and I think you’re aware, EM, of the issues delaying my final review.

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

I’ve been read by EM and I’ve read Loralee and Phillip but not these books.

Sorry, Cathleen has read a couple of my books too, but again, not this one.

As JE says, I've already reviewed her, but not this book.

Welcome JE - please keep on checking back for any further clashes as we fill.

I am new to this group. May I join? I have a short collection of horror stories that is well under the 45,000 word threshold. Here is my Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I have no clashes with Nicki. : )

Welcome Nicki - glad to have you with us, and don't worry about what to do all will be explained every step of the way. For now just keep checking back to see if anyone joins the group who you have reviewed before or has reviewed you and for any updates on what you need to do.

Welcome, Nicki! I also have no clashes.

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Nicki - glad to have you with us, and don't worry about what to do all will be explained every step of the way. For now just keep checking back to see if anyone joins the group who you have..."

Good to know. Thank you :)

Is there room for me in this group? I have read Loralee Evans (book 2 of the same series) and E.M. Swift-Hook (books 5, 6, and 7 of the same series), and Phillip Murrell has read another of my short stories.

If that's workable, then I'd love to join with a short story called Advance Screening.

Advance Screening: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
My profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Hi Ben! You may be able to slip into spot 10. With just those clashes, I think you can fit, but let’s see what EM says.

Ben and I have no clashes. : )

Hi,

I'd like to sign up for this group. My book is a collection of short stories -

Unspoken: A Bouquet of Short Stories

Thanks!

Sadhana Wadhwa

Welcome Ben and Sadhana - please keep an eye on the thread as hopefully we will be advancing to the next phase soon :)

To update my conflicts:

I've read E.M. and Ben,

J.E. and Loralee have left reviews for me.

Hi! I would like to join with my travel book "Athens disclosed". If I am not forgetting anybody, I have reviewed a different book by Scott Peters and Loralee Evans has reviewed a different book of mine. I have reviewed Starting Out by J.E. Rowney, but if I take the remaining place, I will not have to review it nor will she have to review mine.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Welcome Denis - looks like you fit in that final slot indeed.

Everyone - Now we need to do a final check. So please post to tell me if you have reviewed any of the four people above you 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 and post to tell me if they have not.

You can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait), and searching their name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile and searching for your name. Please check all those who are the 4 above and below you.
If you have no review clashes - or if you are scheduled to review someone who you have reviewed before but can see they have another book available just post 'Good to go :)' or words to that effect.
When everyone has posted 'Good to go' we will be :)
If you are new to these rounds do not worry, full instructions will be provided at every stage.

Good to go!

All good to go!

Pretty sure that’s all fine for me

I'm good with the slotting.

I am good to go!

Good to go!

Good to go. 😊

So, Goodreads seems to have done a thing. Will you all check to make sure that your messaging ability is not set to private? Goodreads did that to me without me changing it myself, and may have done it to others. So if you do this, you can check for yourself:

Account Settings > Edit my user Profile > Settings > Privacy

When you get to settings, scroll down under "Privacy" and look at where it says "Who Can Send Me Private Messages".

Make sure you click "anyone" so that we can message each other in order to know where to send our stories without having to put our emails on here, which anyone can see.

Cathleen, Phillip, and Ben,

will you check your settings? When I clicked on the v next to your names, the option to send a message to you did not come up.

Goodreads may have randomly done to you what it did to me.

If you will click on your profile picture, then select "Account settings" from the drop down menu, that should take you to a page that says "Editing Author:..." followed by your name.

Click on the link just above your picture that says "edit my user profile". That will take you to a page that says "Account Settings".

From the menu across the top, click on "Settings".

A short way down you will see an option that says "Who Can Send Me Private Messages", with two options.

Make sure the spot beside "anyone" is the one that is highlighted.

Then scroll to the bottom and save your account settings.

Thank you for the heads-up, Loralee, I had no idea! I can receive messages from anyone now.

I am good to go!

I will make my book, I Escaped the Tower of London, free on Amazon from midnight tonight for 2 days.

Cathleen, will you let us know if you're good to go?

Will you also make sure that you are able to message others?

I'm also good to go... I should have mentioned that before. just need to hear from Cathleen.

Thanks Scott, I have snagged your book in preparation.

I have also just set Dying for a Poppy to be free from Monday to Friday next week to help my reviewers out :)

Got it!

Scott wrote: "I am good to go!

I will make my book, I Escaped the Tower of London, free on Amazon from midnight tonight for 2 days."

Hi, I’m unable to make the book free on Amazon. I believe that’s because I had run a promotion once in September already.

Let me know in case I can share the PDF format ?

Thanks,
Sadhana

Sadhana sending the people who will be reviewing your book a PDF is fine. Once the round starts, we will contact each other via pm to give emails so that you can send your pdf to the people who will be reviewing you.

Thanks Loralee! 😊