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:
Announced Shortly


Member Links * Book Links
1. Dave Saari * Albatross
2. Samuel Astbury * Hot Pinks
3. S.D. Brown * Alabaster Alibi
4. J.C. Gatlin * Darkness Hides
5. Syl Sabastian * Making Sense of Toxic Abusive People
6. Sandra Rector * Shared House
7. Khira Allen * Engineer of Stainless Souls
8. Seth Hobbs *Four Puppet Kings and a Fool: An Epic Fantasy Novel
9. G J Griffiths * Seeking Angels
10. K.T. Munson * Half Gate




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...

Okay, I think the number of potential clashes in Group 322 might be an issue, so I'm opening a new round. When tossing your name in, please respond in this fashion regarding the other members of this specific round:
I have REVIEWED (author name)
I HAVE BEEN reviewed by (author name)

Also, since reciprocal reviews are forbidden it's vital that new authors enter these rounds if they're going to stay alive. So, if you know of an author who hasn't participated yet, or hasn't participated in many months, please help spread the word.

Thanks!

I would like to enter this group with my historical fiction:
Seeking Angels
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...


Thanks, G J Griffiths

G J Griffiths

I'd like to be added please and for my book:
Making Sense of Toxic Abusive People"
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Sense-T...
If anyone is not on KU, just let me know and I'll set the price to $0.00 for a day so it can be purchased on Amazon and the review is the from a Verified Purchaser.
:) :D

I HAVE BEEN reviewed by G J.

I'd like to join this round. :)
I don't see any conflicts yet.

Darkness Hides

Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hides...

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

I'd like to join this round with the following book - Shattered Souls:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...

I have REVIEWED none of the authors on the list.
I HAVE BEEN reviewed by S D Brown for the first book in the series.

Thanks,

I've added JC and moved GJ so that he isn't 4 below SD. Please keep checking in for conflicts, everyone.

I'd like to join with Albatross. No clashes yet ...

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

I’d like to join with Half Gate. I’ll update everything once I can get to a computer but wanted to jump into this group!

I HAVE BEEN reviewed by KT

Here is my book with the link again: Half Gate

I have reviewed S.D. but would be happy to review the next book in the series (if that's okay). G.J. has reviewed me but not this book. No other conflicts yet.

Hope that works. :)

Thanks,
K.T.

I have reviewed sixth gate and unfathomable chance from KT under a different pen name.

I would like to enter this review round with my new novel, Shared House. Here is its link on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...

I have submitted a request to have it added to my Goodreads Profile.

I do not find any conflicts with the other authors listed so far.

And the librarians are wonderful on Goodreads, they set up the link to Shared House already. Here it is.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Hi. I'd like to join this review round with my novel "Hot Pinks."

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

I don't believe there are any conflicts.

Many thanks.

I've added you Samuel -- but please make sure your account settings allow you to receive messages from anyone. I checked and didn't see an option to message you.

Hello. I am Seth Hobbs. I would like to join this round with my book, "Four Puppet Kings and a Fool".

I didn't see any conflicts with reviewers thus far.

https://www.amazon.com/Four-Puppet-Ki...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Hi, Mehreen:
It looks as if you haven't set your profile to allow anyone to message you. Also, you'll need to list who you've reviewed and who's reviewed you in this group. You would be our tenth and final author, after this is taken care of.

I have reviewed Samuel Astbury's "Cloud Storage."

Can I fit in here?
I have reviewed J.C.Gatlin's book. Dave Saari and Griffiths have reviewed my books. A little reshuffling would be required.
Here is the link of my book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Hi, Balroop:
Mehreen is tentatively the tenth slot, but we're waiting back to hear about her review clashes.

I HAVE REVIEWED Balroop

No clashes for me. :)

Mehreen deleted her request, so we're moving forward with Balroop.
Please everyone, check to see 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.

Looks okay both ways for me.

Looks okay both ways for me as well. I have read another book by Balroop, but not this one. I am looking forward to doing so!

All good for me. :)

I have reviewed several of Balroop’s books, and she is the 4th person above me. I’ve also reviewed Samuel, but not the book he is offering in this round. I’ll drop out if you can’t shuffle the order appropriately.

Perhaps you can switch Balroop and JC?

Hi Gene,
You'll have to move S.D. He has reviewed my book. Dave Saari has also reviewed my books. As I said earlier, a little reshuffling is required.

Okay, everyone please check again. This is a tight one, and if anyone has alternates, they'll have to offer them.

Remember to see if you've reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the list wraps around so (10) is 'above' (1) ), and have alternates if any of the four below you have already reviewed the listed book.

It all looks good to me.

I have reviewed another book by Balroop. In this grouping, she is 2 above me. So I believe that is a conflict, as she would be reviewing me. Not sure I have who reads who right, though...

I have conflicts now ...
I have BEEN REVIEWED by G J.
I Have BEEN REVIEWED by KT

I HAVE REVIEWED Balroop
I HAVE REVIEWED Kris

This works for me as long as S.D. doesn’t mind offering an alternative book - maybe the next book in the series. ☺️

Thanks,
K.T.

Okay, it just isn't feasible to go forward with existing conflicts, so we're going back to waiting for the one author who can fit into the tenth slot. Thanks for your patience, everyone.

I've finished my reviews in the other group and I think I can fit in here. I'd love more reviews for Starting Out if I can join.

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

I've read GJ and SD before.

Checking back it looks like JC has read me. Don't know if that's a deal breaker?

K.T. wrote: "This works for me as long as S.D. doesn’t mind offering an alternative book - maybe the next book in the series. ☺️

Thanks,
K.T."


I have several books to choose from

JE, I played with the order for a while and don't think you'll fit.
The conflicts (assuming JE can join) are...
SD can't review GJ
SD can't review KT
KT can't review GJ
GJ can't review JE
SD can't review JE
JE can't review JC
(meaning these conflicts can't be four above on the list to receive that author's book.)

Makes me think a program to sort this would be cool. Can't be too difficult I think. Anyone know any programmers? :)

Is there any chance I might fit in with my novella Engineer of Stainless Souls? (I've just finished my reviews for the previous round, just waiting for a couple more Amazon links to come through.)
Unfortunately, I can't fit into #10 spot because S.D. has reviewed me before. Syl has reviewed a different book by me, so I could go into spots 7,8 or 9 as the list currently stands (I have no other clashes). If that doesn't work, all good, I'll wait for another round.
Thank you for your great job moderating both rounds, Gene.

I couldn't get JE to fit, so we're going to slot Khira into the final position.

Okay, patient souls, we'll try again. Check to see if you've reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the list wraps around so (10) is 'above' (1) ), and have alternates if any of the four below you have already reviewed the listed book.

It looks like both of my clashes are not a problem. I can’t review GJ and SD cannot review me. Will need a reshuffle.

Thanks,
K.T.

Thanks for catching that, KT. List has been updated, so everyone please keep checking.

I'm all good both ways. :) And thanks Gene, most cool what you're doing. :D <3

All good for me :)

Again, I have reviewed Samuel, whom you have now moved immediately above me (when asked the last time he was in the four below). He's the only one I've reviewed.

This certainly is difficult to set up ...

I look good to go now. Even if Samuel and Dave have to be flip flopped. ☺️ we’re getting closer!