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. 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:
Trish Butler

Member Links
1. Gene Kendall
2. Florian Armas
3. J.E. Rowney
4. R.D. Hayes
5. Sheela Word
6. Mary E. Hughes
7. K.R. Cunningham
8. Eunice Nascimento
9. Amelia Danver
10. Ben Haskett

Book Links
1. Blind Cerulean
2. The Game and the Board
3. The Woman in the Woods
4. The Great Bandit
5. All You Need
6. Letters from Lake Joe
7. Beyond the Core
8. See Beneath Your Perfect: A Sweet Single Dad Friends To Lovers Romance
9. A Savior in Time
10. Advance Screening

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ANYONE SIGNING UP TO JOIN THIS ROUND

Please note that Goodreads has recently made a privacy reset to their private messaging system. This means that they have shifted the default setting to restrict those who can message you.

In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.

Please follow this link to check - and if necessary change - your privacy setting.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

Please sign me up with The Woman in the Woods

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho...

I'd like to join with my book BLIND CERULEAN. I've reviewed JE before, but not this book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Welcome J.E. and Gene - as ever please keep checking back and reporting in on clashes. Thanks.

Hi E.M
I’d like to join this round with my novel See Beneath Your Perfect. I’ve read Blind Cerulean by Gene and J. E has read me but not this book.

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

Please sign me up for The Great Bandit. I'm new to the group and haven't read any books by anyone here as far as I can tell.

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

Hello!

I would like to put in my book 'Chase of the Rising Sun' for consideration!

Thanks

Colin

Hi,
I'd like to join with my book Oracle's Hunt. I have a clash with Gene Kendall...

A. Claire wrote: "Hi,
I'd like to join with my book Oracle's Hunt. I have a clash with Gene Kendall..."

Hi Claire! It's important to state what sort of clash you have... i.e. that you've read Gene, or he's read you previously. Thanks!

Colin has read my book before, but I have others available.

Welcome Eunice - I am assuming you have not read all of Gene's other books, if you have please let me know right away.

Welcome R.D. - please keep checking back for clashes as the group fills and let me know if you spot one. Thanks.

Colin - Please only sign up for one group at a time. I have included you in the 18+ so if you wish to be in this round please let me know and please give a complete list of any clashes you might have with other people already in the group.

A. Claire - as Kat points out I need to know the nature of your review clash before I can see if you will fit the group.

I'd like to join with the sequel to Wild Hare: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Three names are familiar. I have read "The Woman in the Woods" but could read another by the same author.

I have read Gene's books but not the one he has here.

I believe I am okay with the other two

E.M you’re right. I haven’t read 2 of Gene’s books.

Gene, the books I haven’t read are Yeah, Shut Up and An Unofficial Guide to NYPD Blue.

I have no clashes with R.D or Laura, if she joins the round. If Claire joins, she’s read me but not the book I’m offering.

Hi. I'd like to sign up with "All You Need."

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

Welcome Sheela - Please keep checking back and reporting on any review clashes you might have with others in the group as it fills. Thanks.

Eunice - thanks so much for the information.

E.M so sorry, as soon as I saw Laura's surname in the reading order I remembered she read me a couple of years ago. She hasn't read this book though.

Eunice thanks for that information.

Laura - I am really sorry but I can't fit you in to read all three of the people you need to who signed up before you as they have clashes which means I can't shift their positions. Please could you look to join one of the other rounds. Your book should definitely fit the 18+ or the Out of this World rounds by the looks, and depending on any graphic content might work for the Clean round too.

A. Claire has read me before, but not this book.

Kat wrote: "A. Claire wrote: "Hi,
I'd like to join with my book Oracle's Hunt. I have a clash with Gene Kendall..."

Hi Claire! It's important to state what sort of clash you have... i.e. that ..."

Sorry :) I read Gene Kendall's book.

A. Claire - I have added you to the list, but I need you to do a complete check on who in the group at the moment you might have a clash with, please. And - of course - please keep checking back here frequently to spot any clashes you might have with others who sign up.

J.E. - Thanks for the info.

A. Claire has read me but not the book I’m offering.

I would like to join this review group with my book Essence.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

A. Claire - I regret I can't fit you in the round for the same reason as Laura. Had you told me your clashes with those already in the group when you signed up I would not have added you in the first place. Please be sure to do so when signing up in future. I suggest you look to see which of the other rounds your book will fit.

Charles - I would be happy to sign you up for the round but only once you tell me your full list of review clashes with others in the group. Thanks.

Hi E.M. I would like to join this round with my book Moments We Love
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Gene, J.E and Eunice has read my books.

Balroop wrote: "Hi E.M. I would like to join this round with my book Moments We Love
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Gene, J..."

I am sorry but as I can't move any of those three because of their mutual clashes, I can't fit you in this group. Please take a look at the other groups that are forming and see if you can fit in one of those.

I'm not sure which of my books A. Claire has reviewed, but I do have a few alternates to offer aside from the one I listed for this round.

Gene wrote: "I'm not sure which of my books A. Claire has reviewed, but I do have a few alternates to offer aside from the one I listed for this round."

Thanks for saying so Gene. Unfortunately, You, J.E. and Eunice are all locked into place so unless someone can fit around that, they can't be in the round...

E.M. wrote: "Balroop wrote: "Hi E.M. I would like to join this round with my book Moments We Love
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show......"

No problem! 😊

I would like to put in my book
Essence. Balroop has reviewed this book but I have not reviewed her.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Charles wrote: "I would like to put in my book
Essence. Balroop has reviewed this book but I have not reviewed her.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

Happy to add you, Charles, Balroop has joined another group, but can you please check and then confirm that you have no review clashes in either direction with anyone else already on the list? Thanks.

Hi Eleanor,
On spot 7 I would avoid a clash/repetition with J.E. Rowney with this book:
Existential Rationalism: Handling Hume's Fork. Not sure if it can be juggled around.
My reviews in group 295 are posted - just waiting for them coming online on Zon.
Cheers,
Marcel

E.M. wrote: "Charles wrote: "I would like to put in my book
Essence. Balroop has reviewed this book but I have not reviewed her.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"


There are two possible conflictsL
I reviewed Gene Kendal's Love is Deadly
And
Eunice Nascimento's See Beneath Your Beautiful.
Let me know if this will work. Thanks for al your work.

Charles wrote: "E.M. wrote: "Charles wrote: "I would like to put in my book
Essence. Balroop has reviewed this book but I have not reviewed her.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

I am really sorry, Charles but I can't move either of those two due to their own existing clashes and there is no way to place you so that you can review them both. Take a look at the other rounds now forming and see if your book would fit any of them.

I’d like to join this group with my book Beyond the Core. I am new to the group and haven’t read or reviewed anyone’s in here.

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

K.R. wrote: "I’d like to join this group with my book Beyond the Core. I am new to the group and haven’t read or reviewed anyone’s in here.

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

I would be very happy to add you to this round, but please read Message 2 and follow the instructions there to reset your privacy settings so those in the group can PM you. Thanks.

E.M. Swift-Hook: Done! Settings are changed now.

Welcome K.R. _ do please keep checking back frequently to check for any clashes that might appear and to find out what you might need to do when we have filled the group. Thanks.

E.M. wrote: "Charles wrote: "E.M. wrote: "Charles wrote: "I would like to put in my book
Essence. Balroop has reviewed this book but I have not reviewed her.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"
Thanks E.M. I understand completely.

I think Charles read one of my books, but not this one.

E.M. wrote: "A. Claire - I regret I can't fit you in the round for the same reason as Laura. Had you told me your clashes with those already in the group when you signed up I would not have added you in the fir..."

Hi E.M when I joined, I told you exactly who I had clashes with - only Gene and I joined at the beginning early on because I wanted to make sure I could join. Only Gene was an issue but if he has a different book and so does Eunice so that's not an issue. And since J.E has another book that's also not a problem. So why can't I join the group?

A. Claire wrote: "E.M. wrote: "A. Claire - I regret I can't fit you in the round for the same reason as Laura. Had you told me your clashes with those already in the group when you signed up I would not have added y..."

As both Kat and I explained, saying you have a clash is no help unless you say who has reviewed whom. I was given information about your clashes not by you, but by other participants in the group.
You can not fit in the group as you need to be put in a place to read J.E., Gene and Eunice. However, their existing clashes mean that I can't move any of them from their current places and that means you can't be put in any place in the group where you can possibly read them all and there is equally no 'blind spot' option available that would help.
Please look at the other groups that are still open and see if your book will fit in one of those.

I have a question. Are we assigned 4 books by the mod or are we able to pick the 4 books to read and review?

K.R. wrote: "I have a question. Are we assigned 4 books by the mod or are we able to pick the 4 books to read and review?"

You will be assigned the four books that you will read. This part of the process will be completely explained after all ten people have joined and we've verified that the reading order works.

Thanks, Kat!

I'd like to join with Hanging Stars on Big Willow Creek.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N1DMTFC/...

Sarah wrote: "I'd like to join with Hanging Stars on Big Willow Creek.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N1DMTFC/..."

Happy to add you in, Sarah, please confirm you have no review clashes with any in the round already and provide a Goodreads link to your book.

Sarah Hill has read one of my books before, but not this one.

Hi! I'd like to join with A Savior in Time! I have no review clashes.

Here are my links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HFVH285
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Thank you in advance!

Love, Amelia Danver