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 Clean round
Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books are acceptable.
No explicit violence, explicit sexual situations, or explicit language.
Infrequent uses of words like "damn" and "hell" and milder words are acceptable, but nothing stronger than that.
Sex can be implied in a romantic scene that draws the curtains, but otherwise nothing more racy than a kiss.
Violence can happen but no detailed descriptions of its impact e.g. someone can be shot or punched on the jaw but no gore.
If you have to wonder if an aspect of your book could be considered offensive, this is probably not the group for you!


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 pressuring other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

12. You declare all Goodreads accounts when signing up for rounds, including all pen names and additional user accounts, so that these can be checked by moderators and other group members to ensure that there are not previous review conflicts.

13. Books which include AI-generated writing are not permitted. Reviews may not be written by AI.

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:
Gene

Member Links * Book Links
1. Jane C.R. Reid * Allure of the Stone: Tales from the Stones, Crystals and Precious Gems
2. James W. George * The Book of Bezadiah: A Short Novella
3. Lynn Helton* The Mystery of the Spot
4. Christine Hees * Mission: Accepted!: U.S. College Admissions for International Students
5. Jennifer Reinoehl * The Baroness of Surli
6. G.J. Griffiths * Seeking Truth at Ardwick House
7. S. D. Brown * WHO PEA'D THE BED? (The Fairy Tale Bureau of Investigation
8. Liudmila Brus * No Life but Immortality: Book 1 of Geryon's Code Cycle
9. Balroop Singh * Just One Goodbye: Poems from the Heart
10.E.K. Frances * The Missing


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...


Also, when submitting your book in the thread, please list any review conflicts you see in the first post. (Meaning, tell me if you've reviewed anyone listed in the first post, or if they have already reviewed you.)

Thinking with Rhythm

Gene,
I am new to Goodreads and I would like to join this group. Above is a link for my book. What else do you need from me to be part of your group?

Thank you
Cecilia

Thanks, Cecilia. I've added you as the first author. Please keep checking in as the round builds.

I'd like to join with Who Pea'd the Bed
a kids book,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Welcome, S.D.!

Gene wrote: "Welcome, S.D.!"
Thanks

Hi,

I would like to join with Mission: Accepted! US College Admissions for International Students: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Thanks,
Christine

Christine wrote: "Hi,

I would like to join with Mission: Accepted! US College Admissions for International Students: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"

Hi, Christine. Can you check the first post in this thread and let me know if you have any review conflicts with the other authors?

I'd like to join with my children’s picture book The Mystery of the Spot.

My GR book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
My Goodreads author link: www.goodreads.com/lynnhelton
(I also write as S. Lynn Helton)

I've reviewed S.D. before, and this book, but it looks like there are other books I can read and review.

I have no review clashes with Cecilia and Christine.

Thanks, Lynn.

No conflicts so far.
Christine

LYNN has reviewed me but as she mentioned, I have other books.
I have reviewed you if you join the group.
Otherwise no other conflicts at this time

I would like to sign up for this round.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I've reviewed Christine's and Lynn's book. S.D. has reviewed mine.

Balroop wrote: "...I've reviewed Christine's and Lynn's book..."

Balroop hasn't reviewed this book of mine.

I've rearranged the list and added Balroop. If anyone sees a conflict, please let me know!

Gene wrote: "I've rearranged the list and added Balroop. If anyone sees a conflict, please let me know!"

I think Christine's only got the one book and so she and Balroop would need to be in each other's blind spots. I think just moving both Christine and S.D. down one spot takes care of that.

Hi Can I join this round with my MG scifi series Black Hole Radio - Furilani

I've read Gene.
Balroop, lynn and SD have read me. Lynn & Balroop have read all of my books (I think)

BTW
S.D. I can't see your reviews or msg you. I think you have to fix your settings.

Ann, since you would need to fit into both Lynn & Balroop's blind spots, and they would have to fit into yours, I don't see how I can fit you in.

I have reviewed Ann and Balroop.

I haven't touched my settings, but I'll check to see that they are activated..

Ann,
Just checked my controls...
You should be able to view my reviews and message me.

Gene, I am temporarily leaving this group to join the 370. Once I finish reading those books, I will rejoin this one. Loralee sent me a note suggesting that because the clean group takes longer to complete.
As soon as I finish reading those books I come back to your group

Okay, Cecilia has been removed for the moment.

James wrote: "Hi I would like to join please:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Bezadiah-...

Balroop has reviewed me (a different book) and I have reviewed SD Brown (a different book).

Thank you!

I have reviewed Christine's book and I don't think she has another one to review.

Okay, I've added James and moved Christine and S.D. to avoid a conflict with Balroop. Thanks for your help. :)

I'm going to join Group 370, to help it get going (seems I fit over there now), so please remove me from this group's list.

If this group is still looking for participants when I've finished in that other group, I'll try to join here again.

Good evening, I was chemo the status of this list and I noticed there are two number 5 so 11 spots instead of ten

Thanks for the feedback. I've removed Lynn and deleted the extra slot. I'll work on the list, since Balroop needs to be in both Christine and S.D.'s blind spots.

Hi Everyone. May I join this book with The Adventures of Moly: The Time Traveling Dog. I have read Christines book but not the others.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Please advise and take care.

Sorry, David, but there doesn't seem to be a way to find you and Christine into each other's blind spots.

Please can I join with The Missing.

GRs author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
GRs book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

S.D. and Balroop have reviewed me, but not this book. No other conflicts.

I can review Ballroop... she has not reviewed me but I have reviewed her

Hi, can I join with my new book "Allure of the Stone?"
(Tales from the Stones, Crystals and Precious Gems)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I have reviewed Ann's book, Black Hole Radio - Furilani, no other conflicts.

Seeking Truth at Ardwick House

G.J. Griffiths

Hi, I would like to join this group with my Historical Fiction - Seeking Truth at Ardwick House.
I have read all of Balroop's and Ann has read most of my books,
Thanks, G J

G.J. has read me too. I don't have any clean books for him to read, but I have other books if that's OK with him.

I've been able to fit Jane and E.K. to the list.

G.J. Griffiths, if you've reviewed all of Balroop's books, then I don't see a way to work you in, since you and Balroop would have to be in each other's blind spots. If there is actually a book by Balroop that you haven't reviewed, let me know, because you should be able to fit, then.

Gene wrote: "I've been able to fit Jane and E.K. to the list.

G.J. Griffiths, if you've reviewed all of Balroop's books, then I don't see a way to work you in, since you and Balroop would have to be in each o..."

Gene, thanks for your reply. When I checked (properly!) I found that I have not reviewed either Slivers or Sublime Shadows of Life, so if possible, count me in :-)
Graham

Thanks, G.J. I've added you to the list.

GJ has reviewed me.

S.D. wrote: "GJ has reviewed me."

Thanks, S.D. I've rearranged the list so that hopefully G.J. can still fit. I believe you have alternates to offer.

Everyone, please double-check the current list in the first post and let me know of any conflicts. The conflicts as I currently have them are...
Balroop can't send to Christine
Balroop can't send to James
SD can't send to Balroop
James can't send to SD
Christine can't send to Balroop - no alternate
SD can't send to EK
Balroop can't send to EK
GJ can't send to Balroop
GJ can't send to EK
GJ can't send to SD

No other conflicts than with Balroop. Thanks, Christine

Gene, I have looked and I think that I can read/review alternative books for all three authors: Balroop, E.K. and S.D. if they are OK about it.
Thanks, Graham

looks okay

Hi Gene
I would like to join this group if I could fit into it please.

Balroop has reviewed my other book, but not this one.
I have reviewed E.K. Frances' books, but not this one.
I have reviewed G.J. Griffith's listed book, but I can review another one.

My book:
Those were not love letters but still I fell in love
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Sorry, Arriah, but there are too many conflicts for you to fit.

I'm back and would like to join again with my children’s picture book The Mystery of the Spot. I think I might fit into spot #3.

My GR book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
My Goodreads author link: www.goodreads.com/lynnhelton
(I also write as S. Lynn Helton)

I've reviewed S.D. before, and this book, but that author has other books I can read and review.

I have no review clashes with G.J., Christine, James, and Jane.

Balroop has reviewed me before, but not this book.

E.K. has reviewed me before, and this book, but I do have others available (as long as E.K. is okay with reading one that might not quite fit "Clean").

Lynn wrote: "I'm back and would like to join again with my children’s picture book The Mystery of the Spot. I think I might fit into spot #3.

My GR book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...-..."

I'm happy to read another one of Lynn's books.

Thanks, Lynn. Looks like you fit.

Hello, I haven't been on in about 10 years, so I am pretty sure I haven't reviewed or been reviewed by anyone on this list.

The Baroness of Surli is a 30K word sweet-mashup-romance: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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