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. Bethany Rae Salway
3. Dorothy Mbori
4. Mary Markstrom
5. J.E. Rowney
6. Loralee Evans
7. Trish Butler
8. S.D. Brown
9. Nico J. Genes
10. Victor Hess

Book Links
1. Love Is Dead ly
2. Queensmen
3. The Quest Search for a Lost Brother
4. Out of the Madhouse and into The Doghouse
5. I Can't Sleep
6. Kits and Cubbyholes
7. A Redway Acres Companion I
8. Alabaster Alibi
9. ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
10. The Clock Tower Treasure

I’d like to join this round with I Can’t Sleep . https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I'd like to join with Love is Dead(ly). I've finished my obligation to the previous round. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Welcome J.E. and Gene, please make sure you check back frequently as the group fills to keep me informed of any clashes that develop.

I believe Gene has read and reviewed one of my books before

J.E. wrote: "I believe Gene has read and reviewed one of my books before"

Yes, I've reviewed "Ghosted" before.

Gene wrote: "J.E. wrote: "I believe Gene has read and reviewed one of my books before"

Yes, I've reviewed "Ghosted" before."

Sorted :)

Hello,

I'd like to join this round with my Young Adult Fantasy Adventure book, The Quest Search for a Lost Brother.

Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KGY3N8Y

Thank you,
Dorothy

Welcome Dorothy.

Thank you E.M.

I'd like to join with my mystery, Alabaster Alibi.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I have reviewed Gene before.

Welcome S.D. - I am assuming you have not read all of Gene's available books, please let me know if I am mistaken on that.

Hi EM,
I haven't read this one of Gene's... looks good.

S.D. wrote: "Hi EM,
I haven't read this one of Gene's... looks good."

Thanks for the info S.D. :)

Hi,

I would like to join with my true story/kind of memoir ADHD: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
So far, the only clash is with S.D (she read this one, but I have other books as well).
Gene's name seems familiar, but I think from other reasons :)

Welcome Nico. Please keep checking back for clashes as the group fills.

Hi,
I have one book left to review in another group that I should be able to complete by the end of the week.
If that is okay, I would like to join with The Morning Star

Gita wrote: "Hi,
I have one book left to review in another group that I should be able to complete by the end of the week.
If that is okay, I would like to join with The Morning Star"

Gita, I still need your last review over in round 267. As soon as that's posted, we'd love to have you join a new round!

I would like to join this group with my memoir.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4.... I haven't read any of the books listed above

Kat wrote: "Gita wrote: "Hi,
I have one book left to review in another group that I should be able to complete by the end of the week.
If that is okay, I would like to join with [book:The Morning Star|5515875..."

Hi Kat, I've posted my last review for round 267.

Gita wrote: "Kat wrote: "Gita wrote: "Hi,
I have one book left to review in another group that I should be able to complete by the end of the week.
If that is okay, I would like to join with [book:The Morning ..."

Awesome, got it, thank you so much, Gita!

Welcome Gita and Mary.

Everyone - do please let me know if any clashes appear, it is much easier to sort them as they turn up than right at the end. Thanks.

I would like to join with The Clock Tower Treasure. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
I think I could fit into slot 7?

Welcome Victor - Please post any clashes you have spotted with others in the group and any you see happen on going. Thank you.

I was reviewed by Rowney and S.D. Brown. I reviewed G Kendall.

I have not read Alibaster Alibi.

I’d like to join if possible.
Gita Reddy and Gene Kendall have both read books of mine, but not this one.
Nico J. Genes, Victor Hess, and S.D. Brown all have books I’ve read, though they all have others I’d be happy to read.

If that’s too many conflicts and I can’t fit in, I understand.

And so the sudoku begins ;)

Loralee - I think I can fit you in - IF I have all the correct information from everyone in the group about their clashes and I have not made a mistake. That said, sadly you neglected to mention which book you wished to submit, so, for now, you are 'pencilled in'. Which means if two more people sign up before I have that info from you I would have no choice but to put them in instead. I'm sure you will remedy this before that is an issue though :)

Victor - thank you for telling me your clashes, please always post them as you sign up for a group, failure to do so can mean exclusion if issues arise later and someone has to be removed to make the group work.

Gita - please read what I just said to Victor. I spotted your clash with Gene from round 267, but I need to know any clashes you have when you sign up - and if you have any others please let me know now.

Everyone else - if you are seeing any clashes, now is the time to tell me. Thank you :)

Gene has reviewed The Morning Star, and while I have several other books out, I'm presently looking for reviews only for The Morning Star :)

I have reviewed Love is Dead(ly) but can read another of Gene if available.

I can fill the last slot with Queensmen. I have not reviewed or been reviewed by anyone here.

S.D. Brown can review Jesse Sings. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Welcome Bethany.

Gita has left us for another group.

Victor - Thanks for the info.

Oopsie. Here is my book that I want to include: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

It's a children's time travel adventure.

Loralee wrote: "Oopsie. Here is my book that I want to include: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

It's a children's time travel adventure."

Thanks Loralee - and welcome :)

Can I come in to fill the last entry? I'll withdraw from the group which doesn't seem to move ahead. I've reviewed Nico, same book that is mentioned here.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

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

Kendall, Loralee and J.E have reviewed my books but not this one.

Hi, Balroop! Your name looks familiar, but the book link goes to Prisoner of Azkaban, and your author link goes to an error page.

Oh! I apologize for that! I copied and pasted from earlier group!
here are the links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Thank you for heads up Loralee.

No clashes for me.

If Balroop joins, she can read Lessons in Life or Reverie girl.

Loralee and S.D. Brown can choose between Lessons in Life and Magnetic Reverie.

Otherwise I'm good :)

Loralee has reviewed The Clock Tower Treasure. She can also read Jesse Sings. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Victor, is that the book that comes before ClockTower Treasure? That would be great!

Loralee. Yes it is book 1 of the series.

Balroop - I apologise but I can't see any way to fit you in the group with the existing clashes and required placements. I might have missed a combination that works but all I have tried have failed.

Hey E.M.

As Balroop doesn't fit, I'd like to join this one with my new release coming out on the 30th so before the deadline of the first round. It's set up for preorder and will be on KU when it's out. It's on GR now.

A Redway Acres Companion I
Trish Butler

Some familiar names from modding but I don't believe I've reviewed anyone except Nico and not this book, so we should be good. I can mod too if you would like E.M.

Cheers!

Trish

Welcome Trish - and thanks for taking on the modding for the round :)

Everyone - I need you to post and tell me you have no clashes. This means I need to know you have never reviewed the four people 'above' you (the list wraps so 10 is above 1) and if you have reviewed the 4 people 'below' you, that they have another book you can review currently available. If you meet these requirements please post that you are good to go, if not and you do have a clash, please tell me what it is.

You can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews, clicking the 'Author' heading to get them in alphabetical author order, and then checking through to see. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through looking at their profile.

Once the vast majority of the group has reported in clash free, we can move onto the review stage.

Loralee and S.D. you can choose between Lessons in Life and Magnetic Reverie.
All is good:)

Hi again,

Thanks, E.M.

I'm good to go.

Trish

I can read Black Hat Blues by Gene Kendall. Whoever has reviewed The Clock Tower Treasure can review Jesse Sings. So I'm good. I haven't reviewed anyone above me.