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 a YA Fiction round
Fiction books classified as being suitable for Young Adults.

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:
E.M. Swift-Hook


Member Links
1. Chris Keaton
2. G.J. Griffiths
3. Brin Murray
4. Joyce Hertzoff
5. Caitlyn Santi
6. Crystal Packard
7. Emily Williams
8. Will Collins
9. Stephanie Flores
10. Sherry Mayes

Book Links
1. The Mosaic
2. Mules; Masters & Mud
3. Children of the Furnace
4. A Bite of the Apple
5. Deadly Obsession
6. Water Lily
7. Rafferty Lincoln Loves...
8. A Darker Shade of Sorcery
9. To Enter The Path
10. Stop The World

I'd like to join, but reviews anywhere but Amazon aren't really good investments. Could someone simply buy the book or not say they got a free book for a review in their Amazon review?

Chris, everyone who takes part in these rounds is expected to post on Goodreads, Zon Uk and Zon US. That is what people sign up for. Of course, that can't be enforced, but those who do not fulfil that expectation are likely to find they will be passed over for future rounds - because as you say, that is what everyone taking part in these rounds wants.

As for stating the book was received in exchange for a review, that is completely against Zon policy - and so is against the policy of this group also.

I suggest you look at several other rounds in this folder - and the linked reviews of those taking part in them - to see how it works.

Ah, I noticed that line and thought this was going to be different somehow. Thanks for that clarification. I'll be happy to jump in.

The Mosaic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WWPKXG/

It can be purchased or I can send a MOBI, ePUB, and the dreaded PDF if you need. I prefer MOBI or to buy the books I review.

Please sign me up with Mules; Masters & Mud. Thanks.

G.J. Griffiths

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

I would like to join in with Children Of The Furnace if possible. I also have a second book in the series, Crosstrees, for anyone who's read COTF already.
Children of the Furnace
CROSSTREES
Brin Murray
Thanks

Signing up with A Bite of the Apple:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/153704222X

It can be purchased or I can provide a file.

Thanks so much, E. M.

Welcome aboard Chris, G.J. and Brin :)

Please keep checking back and let me know if you spot any clashes.

Ooops, missed you there Joyce, you are in as well :)

I do not see any conflicts for me yet.

I would like to join with my Christian YA suspense novella Deadly Obsession by Caitlyn Santi I have read and agree to all the rules and so far have no conflicts. I have finished all of my reviews in round 174-Novella.

Added you in Caitlyn :)

Awesome! Thank you!

I would like to join with my YA novel, Water Lily :)

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

I don't have any conflicts so far! I have read and agree to all the rules.

Hi - I would like to join this group with my book Age of Azmoq. It is a YA fantasy. Not sure if this is an issue, but I am also part of group 183 (Out of this world). I can definitely manage reading and reviewing books from both groups, but want to make sure I am adhering to the rules.

Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium

Welcome Crystal!

As soon as you have submitted all 4 reviews for group 183, Rajamayyoor, I can sign you up here, but we do require everyone to complete their commitment to a previous group before joining a new one. :)

Thanks E.M. !

I'd like to join with my YA fantasy if there's still room. Thank you.

You need to post the Goodreads link to that book please Will :)

Hi E.M
I’ve just seen that this is a YA round and would love Rafferty Lincoln Loves... to be on this round (instead of other I posted on earlier). And there are no clashes here :-)
Emily x
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome aboard, Emily :)

Yay, thank you :-)

Oops sorry, here it is.

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

I don't think I have any clashes apart from Brin.

Thank you.

Amazingly enough I still see no conflicts.

Which way do you clash with Brin, please Will? Have you reviewed her or has she reviewed you?

She's reviewed me before.

Cheers.

Thanks for telling me. Will. I've slotted you into each others 'blind spot' in the round so unless we are joined by someone with awkward clashes, there should be no issue.

I'd like to participate if there's still a slot with 'To Enter the Path' YA fantasy.

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

My only conflict is I have read and reviewed Brin Murray's novel.

Welcome aboard, Stephanie. Fortunately, Brin has the sequel out now for you to review :)

Thank you, well then I have no conflicts. lol

Just one more to go. I need a new book to read. :)

Hi EM I'd like to join with my YA Book 'Stop the World' to fill your last spot if poss. Thanks

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

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

Welcome aboard, Sherry!

That's a full group! :)

I shall leave this a full day for everyone to check for any clashes. Please check carefully if you have reviewed any of the 4 people above you on the list - and the list wraps so 10 is 'above' 1.

I have no clashes.

No clashes for me.

I see no clashes.

No clashes for me.

Right then, here we go! Please let me know if you spot any errors in this. Thanks!

START DATE: 21-Apr-18

END DATE: 07-July-18

Round 1 – post your review by 12-May-18
Round 2 – post your review by 02-June-18
Round 3 – post your review by 23-June-18
Round 4 – post your review by 07-July-18

As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

184-01__Chris Keaton
Sherry Mayes for round 1
Stephanie Flores for round 2
Will Collins for round 3
Emily Williams for round 4

184-02__G.J. Griffiths
Chris Keaton for round 1
Sherry Mayes for round 2
Stephanie Flores for round 3
Will Collins for round 4

184-03__Brin Murray
G.J. Griffiths for round 1
Chris Keaton for round 2
Sherry Mayes for round 3
Stephanie Flores for round 4

184-04__Joyce Hertzoff
Brin Murray for round 1
G.J. Griffiths for round 2
Chris Keaton for round 3
Sherry Mayes for round 4

184-05__Caitlyn Santi
Joyce Hertzoff for round 1
Brin Murray for round 2
G.J. Griffiths for round 3
Chris Keaton for round 4

184-06__ Crystal Packard
Caitlyn Santi for round 1
Joyce Hertzoff for round 2
Brin Murray for round 3
G.J. Griffiths for round 4

184-07__ Emily Williams
Crystal Packard for round 1
Caitlyn Santi for round 2
Joyce Hertzoff for round 3
Brin Murray for round 4

184-08__ Will Collins
Emily Williams for round 1
Crystal Packard for round 2
Caitlyn Santi for round 3
Joyce Hertzoff for round 4

184-09__ Stephanie Flores
Will Collins for round 1
Emily Williams for round 2
Crystal Packard for round 3
Caitlyn Santi for round 4

184-10__ Sherry Mayes
Stephanie Flores for round 1
Will Collins for round 2
Emily Williams for round 3
Crystal Packard for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

184-01__Chris Keaton
G.J. Griffiths for round 1
Brin Murray for round 2
Joyce Hertzoff for round 3
Caitlyn Santi for round 4

184-02__G.J. Griffiths
Brin Murray for round 1
Joyce Hertzoff for round 2
Caitlyn Santi for round 3
Crystal Packard for round 4

184-03__Brin Murray
Joyce Hertzoff for round 1
Caitlyn Santi for round 2
Crystal Packard for round 3
Emily Williams for round 4

184-04__Joyce Hertzoff
Caitlyn Santi for round 1
Crystal Packard for round 2
Emily Williams for round 3
Will Collins for round 4

184-05__Caitlyn Santi
Crystal Packard for round 1
Emily Williams for round 2
Will Collins for round 3
Stephanie Flores for round 4

184-06__ Crystal Packard
Emily Williams for round 1
Will Collins for round 2
Stephanie Flores for round 3
Sherry Mayes for round 4

184-07__ Emily Williams
Will Collins for round 1
Stephanie Flores for round 2
Sherry Mayes for round 3
Chris Keaton for round 4

184-08__ Will Collins
Stephanie Flores for round 1
Sherry Mayes for round 2
Chris Keaton for round 3
G.J. Griffiths for round 4

184-09__ Stephanie Flores
Sherry Mayes for round 1
Chris Keaton for round 2
G.J. Griffiths for round 3
Brin Murray for round 4

184-10__ Sherry Mayes
Chris Keaton for round 1
G.J. Griffiths for round 2
Brin Murray for round 3
Joyce Hertzoff 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, and I’m sure the author will appreciate the verified review, 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 also encourage members to post on Amazon. When you have posted your reviews, please post the links to each of your reviews, not the book page in this thread.
The mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on Amazon and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to Amazon, will find mods less than willing to add them to subsequent groups.

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

If I’ve missed something that results in you being asked to review someone who has already reviewed you, please let me know asap.

To exchange book files, my advice is to use PM to give email addresses to each other (save the chance of spammers getting your addies from this open forum). Happy reviewing, everyone :)

Please consider downloading one of my books and/or one of the round mod’s books as a thank you for all the hard work we put in for the group.

Please read this especially if you are new to these review rounds.

Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be scratching their heads. You should PM the four people who will be reviewing you through their Goodreads author pages. Click on the down arrow beside the 'Follow Author' button under their picture and it opens a menu which will allow you to message them.

Ask what kind of file they would like or say you can only offer PDF, though unless a publisher uploaded it for you, you can always download a .mobi of your own book from Amazon.

Don't forget to ask where to send it so they can give you their email.

The four people who you are reviewing should be in touch with you in a similar way.

You can, of course, choose to buy any or all of the books instead, or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there.

Please make sure you have exchanged ALL FOUR books - or have been assured by your reviewers they will buy your book or read it through KU - as soon as possible. Some people read fast and it can be very frustrating to have to wait a long time to get hold of a book you are committed to review.

Finally, recent changes on Amazon mean that whereas before anyone who was a customer in good standing in any Amazon store could post reviews to any other Amazon store, now you have to meet their minimum purchase requirement in any store - every year -to be able to post there. As a result, we are now asking you to post your review to your own Amazon store and any others you might have access to as well. Please still attempt to post on .com and .uk, but if you can only post on your local Zon you will not be penalised.

I shall be modding this round so PM me with any issues, please.

I am first up to read your book Chris Keaton. Just to let you know that I've bought it on kindle.

Messaged all my authors apart from Joyce, who I couldn't send a message through her profile for some reason?

I forgot to mention for those who have my book, it's currently free on Amazon right now.

https://www.amazon.com/Darker-Shade-S...

Thank you.

William wrote: "Messaged all my authors apart from Joyce, who I couldn't send a message through her profile for some reason?

I also couldn't send a message to Joyce. Maybe she has her profile set to private?

Sherry wrote: "I am first up to read your book Chris Keaton. Just to let you know that I've bought it on kindle."

Thanks.

As my publisher controls the pricing the best I could do was reduce the price to $2.99. Which is still a bargain. ;)

Right, Joyce just send me a message and I'll reply with my email.

Joyce, if you’re able to send me a message too that would be great :-)
Emily

I've had this problem before and thought I'd fixed it. I'll pm Chris and Emily, and also make sure my Goodreads page is fixed.

Also Will.

Joyce, I too am unable to message you, so if you could message me that would be awesome! 🙂

Joyce wrote: "Also Will."

And me, too! :)

I'll just pm all my reviewers and reviewees