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.
The new amazon rules state that authors/publishers are no longer allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on amazon. To comply with this new rule, we no longer insist members review on amazon. However, we are all in the same situation, we want reviews.
When sorting out groups, I prioritise those members who have fully participated in previous groups and don’t have multiple review connections with the other participants.

This is an 18+ round. Books that 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 explicit material.

If you are only willing to review your own preferred genre, make sure you join a genre round. 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.
Let’s be honest here – we don’t all like the same things but we all want reviews. 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/...

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 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, amazon.com and amazon.uk. Amazon has recently changed their criteria for reviewers to allow only those people who have spent $50 on amazon. If you are unsure about your amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files. Many authors can also provide mobi and epub files. You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review. Some authors borrow books via KU and others provide smashwords coupons. This is their choice. International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. It is up to individuals what disclaimers they place in a review concerning receiving a book in exchange for a review. Note: 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.

7. 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.

8. You have an author profile set up before you join.

9. Your goodreads profile allows people to message you, i.e. your profile is not set to private.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The new amazon.com review guidelines do not allow for free books to be supplied in return for reviews. Therefore, you are not obliged to review on amazon, just on goodreads. We all want reviews, its 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.

14. Your goodreads details and the rounds you participate in will be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.

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. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
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
TBC

Member Links

1.J.B. Trepagnier
2. Kilby Blades
3.Kathleen Rowland
4.Marco Peel
5.Theodore Ashford
6.Avery J. Moon
7.Nicole R. Locker
8.B. Stadelmann
9.Dave Saari
10.Wolf DeVoon

Book Links

1.Salome: A Modern Retelling
2.Snapdragon
3.Unholy Alliance
4.City on Clouds
5.TransVerse
6.Elemental Love
7.Tragedy and Desire: An Adult Romance
8.The City of God
9.Lateral Hazard
10.A Portrait of Valor

Please count me in. I'm Kilby Blades and my novel is Snapdragon:

Snapdragon on Amazon

I've read to and agree to the rules. My preference is to deliver directly to Kindle or to gift a Kindle copy to those who are open to it.

I'd like to join with Salome: A Modern Retelling

I've read the rules and agree. My book is on KU or I have all formats

I agree to follow all the rules. My book is
Unholy Alliance by Kathleen Rowland
https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Un...

Thank you.

Hi Emma, I've read the rules and would like to join with City on Clouds:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

No clashes so far Marco?

None so far Emma.

I miss the thumbs up sign on facebook....

Thanks again for setting this up and for including my book. This is my first review round and the only thing I don't understand is which four books I'm supposed to read and review and what the time allowed is...could you please clarify? TIA!

12 weeks are allowed and when we have our ten members, I'll allocate who is reading who to make sure we don't have any reciprocal reviews.
So, don't start getting or sending books till the order is confirmed as it could make things tricky if I have to rearrange things to accommodate author number 10.

I'd like to join as well! So far I don't see any clashes with anyone else here already. The book I'd like reviewed this round is TransVerse: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I'd love to join to get more reviews Elemental Love. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

No conflicts thus far, either. Most of the people I conflict with are on the General Read Review section. So I'm here with my fellow 18 plus authors. Hopefully group will fill up soon and we can start reading!

Welcome everybody. This round is filling up fairly quickly, we should get going within the next few days.

Hello, I was just referred to your group by a fellow author, and would love to get involved. I have read the rules and agree to follow them.

I would like to include my book Tragedy and Desire: An Adult Romance.

Welcome Nicole, its nice to have you on board.

Hi Emma, I'd like to join this round.
The City of God (Aethos, Book I)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
No conflicts. Rules read and agreed to.
Cheers,
Brett Stadelmann
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Welcome Brett.

Emma: I'd like to join with Lateral Hazard.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I've read the rules and I have reviewed Marco's City on Clouds.

Hi, just a minute, I'll grab a link

Portrait of Valor (definitely 18+ sex scenes)
https://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Valor...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

We have our ten. I'll set up the order ASAP.

Ready Steady Go!


start 12-Apr-17
end 05-Jul-17

R1 end 03-May-17
R2 end 24-May-17
R3 end 14-Jun-17
R4 end 05-Jul-17




As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

139-01__ J.B. Trepagnier
Wolf DeVoon for round 1
Dave Saari for round 2
B. Stadelmann for round 3
Nicole R. Locker for round 4

139-02__ Kilby Blades
J.B. Trepagnier for round 1
Wolf DeVoon for round 2
Dave Saari for round 3
B. Stadelmann for round 4

139-03__ Kathleen Rowland
Kilby Blades for round 1
J.B. Trepagnier for round 2
Wolf DeVoon for round 3
Dave Saari for round 4

139-04__ Marco Peel
Kathleen Rowland for round 1
Kilby Blades for round 2
J.B. Trepagnier for round 3
Wolf DeVoon for round 4

139-05__ Theodore Ashford
Marco Peel for round 1
Kathleen Rowland for round 2
Kilby Blades for round 3
J.B. Trepagnier for round 4

139-06__ Avery J. Moon
Theodore Ashford for round 1
Marco Peel for round 2
Kathleen Rowland for round 3
Kilby Blades for round 4

139-07__ Nicole R. Locker
Avery J. Moon for round 1
Theodore Ashford for round 2
Marco Peel for round 3
Kathleen Rowland for round 4

139-08__ B. Stadelmann
Nicole R. Locker for round 1
Avery J. Moon for round 2
Theodore Ashford for round 3
Marco Peel for round 4

139-09__ Dave Saari
B. Stadelmann for round 1
Nicole R. Locker for round 2
Avery J. Moon for round 3
Theodore Ashford for round 4

139-10__ Wolf DeVoon
Dave Saari for round 1
B. Stadelmann for round 2
Nicole R. Locker for round 3
Avery J. Moon for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

139-01__ J.B. Trepagnier
Kilby Blades for round 1
Kathleen Rowland for round 2
Marco Peel for round 3
Theodore Ashford for round 4

139-02__ Kilby Blades
Kathleen Rowland for round 1
Marco Peel for round 2
Theodore Ashford for round 3
Avery J. Moon for round 4

139-03__ Kathleen Rowland
Marco Peel for round 1
Theodore Ashford for round 2
Avery J. Moon for round 3
Nicole R. Locker for round 4

139-04__ Marco Peel
Theodore Ashford for round 1
Avery J. Moon for round 2
Nicole R. Locker for round 3
B. Stadelmann for round 4

139-05__ Theodore Ashford
Avery J. Moon for round 1
Nicole R. Locker for round 2
B. Stadelmann for round 3
Dave Saari for round 4

139-06__ Avery J. Moon
Nicole R. Locker for round 1
B. Stadelmann for round 2
Dave Saari for round 3
Wolf DeVoon for round 4

139-07__ Nicole R. Locker
B. Stadelmann for round 1
Dave Saari for round 2
Wolf DeVoon for round 3
J.B. Trepagnier for round 4

139-08__ B. Stadelmann
Dave Saari for round 1
Wolf DeVoon for round 2
J.B. Trepagnier for round 3
Kilby Blades for round 4

139-09__ Dave Saari
Wolf DeVoon for round 1
J.B. Trepagnier for round 2
Kilby Blades for round 3
Kathleen Rowland for round 4

139-10__ Wolf DeVoon
J.B. Trepagnier for round 1
Kilby Blades for round 2
Kathleen Rowland for round 3
Marco Peel for round 4


Please remember the commitment you are making to your fellow group members. If you pull out after the start date for any reason it is the other members who will be faced with the problem of finding a replacement, or missing out on reads/reviews, through no fault of their own. Please don’t ask the moderators to chase after replacements as we just don’t have the time.

It is the responsibility of the author to get their book to their readers in a format the reviewer can manage. Everyone must be able to provide and accept PDF. You may buy or borrow the books you are due to read if you wish but IT IS NOT COMPULSORY. There are no set dates for the start of each round. You can each work at your own pace, within the limits of the round deadlines.

All reviews must be posted to GR. We would also encourage members to post on amazon .com and .uk. When you have posted your reviews, please post the three links to your reviews, not the book page in this thread.

The new amazon policy means we can no longer insist members review on amazon as a condition of receiving a free book. Reviews with the disclaimer ‘I received a free copy of the book in return for a review’ will, at some point, be removed by amazon. It is up to the individual whether they review on amazon or not.

However moderators will still record whether members have posted reviewed on amazon and will let the Group Admin know. Members who persistently fail to post reviews to amazon, will find their chances of joining subsequent groups reduced.

Postings to other sites are by agreement by both author and reviewer.

To exchange book files please use PM to give email addresses to each other as this forum is public and both human and spambot eyes will spot it.

Hello gang....let the games begin =D. Happy reading ;-)

Now that Layla is here, I'll leave you to it.
Must admit, this was the easiest group to set up that I've had in more than a year. I hope the round goes just as smoothly for everyone.

Thanks Emma, should be a good round.

I have one rule...be nice to.each other =D! Happy reviewing everybody!

Thank you, Emma, for organizing everyone. I purchased Marco Peel's book, City on Clouds. You do not have to send it to me, Marco.

Thank you Kathleen. Hope you enjoy it.

Hello, is it too late to join this round? I am happy to do as many reviews as possible in exchange for reviews on my book. I apologize if I am late to this round. Taken Outback

Happy reading to all!

Nice to have you on board again Layla!

Hi Emma, How do I use PM to contact people so that I can ask if I can send them my book? I can find them and ask the question, but this usually pertains to asking about their books.
Thank you in advance.

I might have to withdraw, sent Emma a note why.

Reviews for Snapdragon. Kilby, I can't decide if you're a little evil or not

Goodreads

Amazon

Amazon UK

That was quick J.B =)! Thanks for the links, by the way.

Carly, Wolf has me for round 1 if you don't mind reviewing me again

Welcome Carly.

Carly wrote: "I have contacted all of my reviewers and reviewees. If possible, could you also change it on the lists just so there's no confusion? (I want to make sure I get my reviews!) Thanks. :)"

I don't think I can, but Emma should be able to. I'll let her know =). In the meantime, enjoy the round.

Thanks for your links Carly...on to round two =D.

Wolf is now Carly, if you hadn't already gathered =D.

Thank you for your links Carly. Good review =).

I'm reading out of order (but I'm still on track/on time!). Here are my reviews for TransVerse by Theodore Ashford!

Amazon U.S. Review of TransVerse


Amazon U.K. Review of TransVerse


Goodreads Review of TransVerse

Thank you for your links Kilby. Good review, by the way. On to round 2 =D.

Here are my reviews of Kathleen Rowland's Unholy Alliance! I'm on to Round 2!

Amazon U.S. Review of Unholy Alliance
Amazon U.K. Review of Unholy Alliance
Goodreads Review of Unholy Alliance

Thank you both for your links Carly and Kilby. One more to go Carly. On to round 3 Kilby =)...enjoy!

Here's my links for round 2, Unholy Alliance

Goodreads

Amazon

Amazon UK

Thanks for the links J.B. Onward and upward =)

Here are my reviews for Carly, aka Julia Black

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1JQN...

Thank you for your links Dave, great review =)

My round one review for Tragedy and Desire:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

I really enjoyed this one! From here out, my reviews may not go in order, but I will promise to get them done before the book's round ends.

Avery, it doesn't matter which order you read your books in, so no worries there =D. Thanks for your review links, by the way!

Round 1 for Aethos: The City of God by B. Stadelmann.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/RWMQI5Q...

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...