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 novella round In joining this group you have agreed TO READ and REVIEW ANY four ALLOCATED novellas (under 45,000 words) within the set 8 week limit. You will receive four reviews.
Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books are acceptable.


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.E.M. Swift-Hook
2.Darrell B. Nelson
3.Watson Davis
4.Adam Mann
5.Diana Drakulich
6.P.H. Wilson
7.Cecily Wolfe
8.Jim Dyar
9.Laurette Long
10.Erin Lee Daniels

Book Links
1.Dying to be Roman
2.Showgirls and Aliens
3.Vile Money-Grubber
4.Body Heat
5.OVERLORD
6.The Koalemos Initiative
7.A Harvest of Stars
8.Heroic Measures
9.The Passage of Desire
10.Blaque Beauty and the Rancher

I would like to sign up with an alternative history/whodunnit-with- some-romance Dying to be Roman

I have read, kept and enforced the rules on previous rounds and look forward to reading a wide variety of novellas! :)

Welcome aboard again Eleanor!

Watching and bookmarking this for when the clean round is active/my reviews are finished.

Sign me up with Showgirls & Aliens.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
'Cause who doesn't love a tale about a drug using stripper having to battle giant Reptiles to free humanity.
No reptiles were harmed in the writing of this Novella.
E.M. has read some of my other works, but not this one.

Stacie, you'll confuse me if you post when you can't join yet. I'm going to delete your post so I don't get befuddled.
These sign up lists can become very convoluted at the best of times!

I'd like to join with my military science fiction, Once A Hero:

On Amazon US
On Goodreads

I've been through a couple of relaunches on this one. Goodreads has my original title (Vile Money Grubber) and my original cover, but it's the same book.

I don't see anyone... yet... who has reviewed me or whom I've reviewed.

Yet.

Please add me as author Adam Mann
My book is BODY HEAT published by Phaze Books

Welcome Watson and Adam.

Adam, in the future can you provide your goodreads links so I don't have to go hunting about for them?

I agree to all terms and as of this post My only conflict is with Watson as I have reviewed The Archbishop's Amulet but not his current title here. I would like to submit my novella: Blaque Beauty and the Rancher

I agree to all the terms. So far I don't see any authors in the pool that I have already reviewed.

Pls accept my SciFi Romance novella: OVERLORD by Diana Drakulich

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

Available KUL, PDF, docx

I would like to sign up with my antinovel The Koalemos Initiative.
Looking forward to reading your works.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Koalemos-Initi...


Available PDF

Welcome Diana and PH.

As youhave both published to amazon, you should be able to provide Mobi files too. There are also several free programs that will convert you file for you.

I would like to sign up with my novella A Harvest of Stars (contemporary family drama, romance). It is available on KU. I can also send PDF, mobi, or epub.

I'd like to sign up with my book Heroic Measures . its listed as Fantasy and Humor. I have PDF and MOBI files, but would prefer to send a free kindle copy. :) https://www.amazon.com/Heroic-Measure...

Hi,
Do you still have room? I have Long Pig, a novella available for review.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I don't think I've read any of the other novellas listed.

Yep, there is one place left Gloria.

You might not have read any of these novellas, but do you have any review relationships with them? i.e. have you reviewed them before or have they reviewed you?
You have been in quite a few groups.

As far as I know, I reviewed Swift-Hook and Darrell Nelson.

I reviewed Gloria's novella "Long Pig".

In that case, I'm afraid Gloria doesn't fit.

We're still waiting for one.

Hi Emma and E.M.
I see you still have a free spot for this round. I have finished my reviews for the last novella group (147) and would be happy to join in here if that’s OK, with ‘The Passage of Desire’
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I haven’t reviewed/been reviewed by any other author on the list.
Thanks, Laurette

Glad to have you Laurette.

I'll set up the Ready Steady Go message tomorrow, giving everyone a chance to check again for possible reciprocal reviews.

Emma wrote: "Glad to have you Laurette.

I'll set up the Ready Steady Go message tomorrow, giving everyone a chance to check again for possible reciprocal reviews."

OK thanks and good luck ;-)

Ready Steady Go!

START DATE: 25-Jul-17

END DATE: 17-Oct-17

Round 1 – post your review by 15-Aug-17
Round 2 – post your review by 05-Sep-17
Round 3 – post your review by 26-Sep-17
Round 4 – post your review by 17-Oct-17






As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

153-01__ E.M. Swift-Hook
Erin Lee Daniels for round 1
Laurette Long for round 2
Jim Dyer for round 3
Cecily Wolfe for round 4

153-02__ Darrell B Nelson
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
Erin Lee Daniels for round 2
Laurette Long for round 3
Jim Dyer for round 4

153-03__ Watson Davis
Darrell B Nelson for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
Erin Lee Daniels for round 3
Laurette Long for round 4

153-04__ Adam Mann
Watson Davis for round 1
Darrell B Nelson for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
Erin Lee Daniels for round 4

153-05__ Diana Drakulich
Adam Mann for round 1
Watson Davis for round 2
Darrell B Nelson for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

153-06__ P.H. Wilson
Diana Drakulich for round 1
Adam Mann for round 2
Watson Davis for round 3
Darrell B Nelson for round 4

153-07__ Cecily Wolfe
P.H. Wilson for round 1
Diana Drakulich for round 2
Adam Mann for round 3
Watson Davis for round 4

153-08__ Jim Dyer
Cecily Wolfe for round 1
P.H. Wilson for round 2
Diana Drakulich for round 3
Adam Mann for round 4

153-09__ Laurette Long
Jim Dyer for round 1
Cecily Wolfe for round 2
P.H. Wilson for round 3
Diana Drakulich for round 4

153-10__ Erin Lee Daniels
Laurette Long for round 1
Jim Dyer for round 2
Cecily Wolfe for round 3
P.H. Wilson for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

153-01__ E.M. Swift-Hook
Darrell B Nelson for round 1
Watson Davis for round 2
Adam Mann for round 3
Diana Drakulich for round 4

153-02__ Darrell B Nelson
Watson Davis for round 1
Adam Mann for round 2
Diana Drakulich for round 3
P.H. Wilson for round 4

153-03__ Watson Davis
Adam Mann for round 1
Diana Drakulich for round 2
P.H. Wilson for round 3
Cecily Wolfe for round 4

153-04__ Adam Mann
Diana Drakulich for round 1
P.H. Wilson for round 2
Cecily Wolfe for round 3
Jim Dyer for round 4

153-05__ Diana Drakulich
P.H. Wilson for round 1
Cecily Wolfe for round 2
Jim Dyer for round 3
Laurette Long for round 4

153-06__ P.H. Wilson
Cecily Wolfe for round 1
Jim Dyer for round 2
Laurette Long for round 3
Erin Lee Daniels for round 4

153-07__ Cecily Wolfe
Jim Dyer for round 1
Laurette Long for round 2
Erin Lee Daniels for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

153-08__ Jim Dyer
Laurette Long for round 1
Erin Lee Daniels for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
Darrell B Nelson for round 4

153-09__ Laurette Long
Erin Lee Daniels for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
Darrell B Nelson for round 3
Watson Davis for round 4

153-10__ Erin Lee Daniels
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
Darrell B Nelson for round 2
Watson Davis for round 3
Adam Mann 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 .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 mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on amazon. I set up all the groups, and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find me 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 :)

Hi guys,
Unless I contact you directly I'll be grabbing your book from KU so yayyy for page reads!

Thanks for setting us up and running Emma and a warm welcome to all who have signed up for this round :)

Quick 'start-up' summary for any who are new here and 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 ;)

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.

Any problems you can post here or PM me :)

Those I am reviewing, please note I have purchased all but Adam's as the others were all bottom price on the Zon. ;)

Apologies if I double sent PMs to people who will be reviewing me, the interwebs was wobbling a lot and kept saying it had not sent...

P.H. wrote: "I would like to sign up with my antinovel The Koalemos Initiative.
Looking forward to reading your works.

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

https://www.amazon.c..."

P.H. wrote: "I would like to sign up with my antinovel The Koalemos Initiative.
Looking forward to reading your works.

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

https://www.amazon.c..."

Hi P.H.,

You have my novella for the first round - I can't find a way to message you to get your email and the format you need. You can email me at sisterswolfe@gmail.com and let me know when you get a chance (or just respond to this!).

Thank you!

Cecily

Hi EM - I need your help. Do I send my book to the reviewer's email? If so where is their email address? Or send it to their website?

I haven't done many reviews. Usually I review authors with books on KUL and they also get mine that way.

Thanks!

No worries Diane, it can be kind of confusing starting out on these rounds. If you read my post (Message 27) above it should give you all the information you need. If you still have an issue after that please do ask for more guidance :)

Hi Darrell, Watson and Adam,
As your books are not in KU please send a copy (any format is fine) to my email: (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

Hi everyone and good morning from France
Thanks Emma and E.M for setting up the round, also for very clear instructions E.M. I've just looked at the four books I am to review. Erin and E.M, your books are on KU, I'm a member, so as you said Erin 'yaay for page reads'.
Darrell and Watson, your books are on sale at 99 cents, I'm happy to buy so that the review is 'verified purchase'.
The people who are reviewing me, Jim, Cecily, P.H. and Diana, please send me a PM and let me know if you want pdf or if you are a member of KU, where the book is free to borrow.
Happy reading everyone!

Hi Laurette - got your book off KUL.

Diana

E.M. wrote: "No worries Diane, it can be kind of confusing starting out on these rounds. If you read my post (Message 27) above it should give you all the information you need. If you still have an issue after ..."

Thanks for responding EM. I think I have the system down now.

Diana

Laurette wrote: "Hi everyone and good morning from France
Thanks Emma and E.M for setting up the round, also for very clear instructions E.M. I've just looked at the four books I am to review. Erin and E.M, your bo..."

Just a heads up Cecily, this is a public forum and if you want to avoid massive spam hitting your email it is better not to put it here and to use the PM system to pass it on to other people in the group who need it. I would advise you to edit it out of your posts here for that reason.

E.M. wrote: "Just a heads up Cecily, this is a public forum and if you want to avoid massive spam hitting your email it is better not to put it here and to use the PM system to pass it on to other people in the..."

thank you!

Diana wrote: "Hi Laurette - got your book off KUL.

Diana"
That's great, thanks Diana.

Cecily wrote: "E.M. wrote: "Just a heads up Cecily, this is a public forum and if you want to avoid massive spam hitting your email it is better not to put it here and to use the PM system to pass it on to other ..."
Cecily, I got your PM just fine, a small problem with the address, have written back to you. We'll get there!

Laurette wrote: "Hi everyone and good morning from France
Thanks Emma and E.M for setting up the round, also for very clear instructions E.M. I've just looked at the four books I am to review. Erin and E.M, your bo..."

Oh! Just saw this! I sent you a PM but you can ignore it!

Erin wrote: "Hi Darrell, Watson and Adam,
As your books are not in KU please send a copy (any format is fine) to my email: [spoilers removed]"

OK. So. I guess I should have read the thread first. :)

Watson wrote: "Laurette wrote: "Hi everyone and good morning from France
Thanks Emma and E.M for setting up the round, also for very clear instructions E.M. I've just looked at the four books I am to review. Erin..."
OK Watson, loud and clear ;-)

To anyone reviewing my work. Please I want honest reviews, I do not want pat on the back, wink wink nudge nudge, we are all in this together reviews. I want authentic opinions I want anyone who finds my page to feel like they are seeing the flaws and the good parts of my work and just to prove that point I gave myself a two star rating, so that I do not end up with an artificially high rating. None of us are Shakespeare, but yet almost every indie author has a higher star rating than him. Thank you and I look forward to reading and being read.

Watson wrote: "Erin wrote: "Hi Darrell, Watson and Adam,
As your books are not in KU please send a copy (any format is fine) to my email: [spoilers removed]"

OK. So. I guess I should have read the thread first. :)"

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Heat-Adam...
This novel was not self published but is an eBook published by Phaze Books, part of Mundania Press. I have asked them to make four copies available for the four nominated readers.

So here are my reviews for the three novellas I have got hold of so far:


Showgirls and Aliens - really funny.
Goodreads
Zon UK
Zon US


Vile Money-Grubber/Once A Hero - great action!
Goodreads
Zon UK
Zon US

Overlord - an interesting mix of sex and philosophy.
Goodreads
Zon UK
Zon US

Thanks E.M.
I'm blushing.

Adam wrote: "Watson wrote: "Erin wrote: "Hi Darrell, Watson and Adam,
As your books are not in KU please send a copy (any format is fine) to my email: [spoilers removed]"

OK. So. I guess I should have read the..."

Adam wrote: "Watson wrote: "Erin wrote: "Hi Darrell, Watson and Adam,
As your books are not in KU please send a copy (any format is fine) to my email: [spoilers removed]"

OK. So. I guess I should have read the..."

How do I get a copy?

Need copies from Darrell, Watson and Adam. Thanks guys :)

Erin wrote: "Need copies from Darrell, Watson and Adam. Thanks guys :)"

Hey, Erin. I've sent you an e-mail with a lot of groveling and a few mea culpas.

Let me know if you don't receive it!