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. J.E. Rowney
2. Matthew T. Summers
3. Lori Allison
4. Cam Lang
5. Thomas A. Burns Jr.
6. Victor Hess
7. Cathleen Townsend
8. Alice McVeigh
9. Colin Rink
10. T. Blake Braddy

Book Links
1. The Woman in the Woods
2. The Draconic Pipeline
3. Sheltering Spirits: A Mallory McGrath Mystery, Book 1
4. The Concrete Vineyard
5. Stripper!
6. The Clock Tower Treasure
7. Snow White and the Civil War #1
8. Last Star Standing
9. Chase of the Rising Sun
10. Suicide Blondes

Can't seem to sign up? Alice McVeigh https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Alice wrote: "Can't seem to sign up? Alice McVeigh https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

All you need to do is make sure you have read the rules and can meet the requirements, then post a comment to this thread with the Goodreads link to the book you wish to have reviewed plus your Goodreads author page, and I will add you to the list :)

Hi! Please sign me up with The Woman in the Woods.

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


I’ve completed all obligations in previous rounds and I’m excited to dive into this one.

Welcome J.E - as always please keep checking back and update me with any clashes :)

I would like to join with my new novel A Ghost and His Gold. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I have two Goodreads profiles:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
So people need to check both for clashes and I will do the same.

Welcome Robbie - thanks for being so thorough in telling us about your author alts! Please do keep checking back for future clashes that might appear :)

I would like to sign up with my cozy mystery Sheltering Spirits.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
So far no conflicts.

Robbie wrote: "I would like to join with my new novel A Ghost and His Gold. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I have two Goodre..."

Will do, thank you.

I'd like to join this round, please. Since I haven't reviewed anything yet, I'll abstain from listing any of my books for review.

Edit: Thanks for the info, J.E. :) So I'd like to go with my novel, The Draconic Pipeline
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
My author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

As this is my first round, there shouldn't be any clashes/conflicts. Thank you!

Matthew wrote: "I'd like to join this round, please. Since I haven't reviewed anything yet, I'll abstain from listing any of my books for review."

You’ll need to add a book to participate in the round. Don’t worry about being new to the group. We all review four books and have our book reviewed by four people, so it will work out fairly. If you have any questions about how it works here check the FAQs or ask one of the mods. Everyone is super helpful.

E.M. wrote: "Alice wrote: "Can't seem to sign up? Alice McVeigh https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

All you need to do is make sur..."

Thank you for clarifying!

The Goodreads link to the book I tried to sign up with (many hours ago now!) is https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

The author's name is Spaulding Taylor (my pen name).
Best,
Alice McVeigh

I'd like to sign up with The Clock Tower Treasure.
JE has reviewed both my books.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Welcome Lori, Matthew, Alice and Victor - please all of you keep checking back to make sure there are no review clashes as the group fills :)

I'd like to join with my book Stripper! J.E. has already reviewed Stripper!. I don't see any other clashes.

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

I’ve read three of Thomas’s books and two of Victor’s, if I remember correctly.

Welcome Thomas - please keep checking back for clashes as the last spots fill :)

Hello, I am interesting in joining this group with my mystery novel, The Concrete Vineyard, if there is still room left.

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

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Robbie - thanks for being so thorough in telling us about your author alts! Please do keep checking back for future clashes that might appear :)"

Hi E.M. My apologies but I've just been assigned a big work transactions which means I won't have time to do this challenge. Sorry for any inconvenience caused but I have to withdraw from this one.

Just to clarify, I have no clashes as I've never read anyone's books listed so far in this group and I'm quite certain nobody has read mine.

Welcome Cam - please keep an eye out for any future clashes as the round fills.

Robbie - thanks for letting me know, hope to see you in another round when work allows.

Thank you E.M. Look like some intriguing novels in this group.

Hi,

As there are a few newbies signed up, I thought I'd chime in so you know what to do when.

Right now we are waiting for 3 more to sign up. Those 3 might have clashes, meaning E.M. will have to juggle the list, so don't go reading anything yet as the list may change.

Once we are full, E.M. will ask everyone to double-check that they have no clashes with the final list set up. Please be patient while we wait for everyone to confirm. This part is important, as undisclosed clashes may result in people missing out on reviews.

Please wait again before you begin, for E.M. to post full instructions.

I hope that helps.

Have a great rest of your day.

Trish

I'd like to join with Imagine Violet Bloomin Imagine Violet Blooming

I've reviewed Mary but not this book.

Thomas Jr. and J. E. Rowney have also reviewed me, but not this book.

Hello! This sounds like fun! I would like to join your group and submit my book if there is room available - Colin Rink - 'Chase of the Rising Sun'

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

I'd like to join with Snow White and the Civil War, Part 1

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

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

I just posted all my reviews for the Out of This World Round, #278.

I'll update with clashes, but I wanted to get my request in. : )

ETA:
I have reviewed JE Rowney's Woman in the Woods, but it looks like she has other books.

No clashes with Cam Lang.

Lori Allison has reviewed me, but not this book.

No clashes with Matthew Sumners.

No clashes with Thomas Burns.

Victor has read SW part 1, but he could read part 2.

No clashes with Alice McVeigh.

I have read Mary, but not this book.

I have no clashes with Colin.

I have reviewed Cathleen and Mary, but not the books either of them are putting forth for this round.

I have reviewed Mary, but not this book.

JE has reviewed me.

Welcome Colin and Cathleen - please keep checking for clashes.

Mary - I am very sorry I can't fit you in as you need to be reviewed by both J.E. and Victor and they have to be in each other's blind spots so there is no way that can happen. There are two other rounds open you can try :)

I have reviewed Colins' book, "Chase of the Rising Sun", but have no other clashes.

Cam - Thanks for the info.

Colin - please always check carefully before signing up for a round. Thanks :)

Gosh I thought I was okay this time, being my third attempt lately to join a review round. Everyone can review my book and I haven't reviewed anyone on the list. Perhaps I'll be accepted in one of the other groups. I hope so.

Mary wrote: "Gosh I thought I was okay this time, being my third attempt lately to join a review round. Everyone can review my book and I haven't reviewed anyone on the list. Perhaps I'll be accepted in one of ..."

Mary,

It's not about you and your books, but about the positions in the list of the other people who have already reviewed you. J.E. and Victor must have 4 places between them because of their review situation. Therefore they would be too close together to be in your blindspot or any of the four positions to review you again.

As we list people on a first come first serve basis, this means we can't fit you in. If you had requested to be on this group prior to J.E. or Victor, then one of them would be out of luck instead.

It's as fair as we can make it.

I hope that clarifies it for you and that you get on one of the other lists.

Trish

Happy to review ANY of these authors!!! - but should just clarify that Last Star Standing ("my" book) is "by" my pen name, Spaulding Taylor, and not by Alice McVeigh. A bit annoying, esp. when it got a Kirkus star and I couldn't brag about it (!!) but once we're all allowed to start finding each other's books, mine's by S. Taylor

Still no clashes below me on the list, and I have another book for JE to review.

I'd like to join this round with my suspense / thriller 'Suicide Blondes.' I believe I've reviewed 'Stripper!' but no other book in this group.

Suicide Blondes

I have no clashes with T. Blake Braddy.

This is my first time joining a reading group but WOW! it takes awhile to form one. I could have read everybody else's books by now. Just kidding. Happy to get started when it's time.

Weclcome T.

Everyone in the group - HUGE thanks for everyone being so careful to keep me updated with clashes, I really do appreciate it and it has made it possible to spot issues early and putting this round together a lot easier.

Now we need to do a final check.

So please post to tell me 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 and post to tell me if they have not.

You can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait), and searching your name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile.

If you have no review clashes - or if you are scheduled to review someone who you have reviewed before but can see they have another book available just post 'Good to go :)' or words to that effect.

When everyone has posted 'Good to go' we will be :)

If you are new to these rounds do not worry, full instructions will be provided at every stage.

Looks fine for me. Thanks!

Good to go.

all good here!

No clashes. I’m good to go!

Good to go!

All good here.

Only clash is Concrete Vineyard by Cam Lang - reviewed that book few weeks ago. Otherwise Good to go!!