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 'Children and YA' round
Fiction and non-fiction books listed as being for children or young adults.

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.

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, 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.

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:
Warren Dean


Member Links
1. Nathan Milner
2. Scott Peters
3. Sarah Mensinga
4. Loralee Evans
5. Bianca Sierra-Luebke
6. Karen Ann Carpenter
7. Lori Allison
8. Warren Dean
9. Bob Blanton
10. Stacie Eirich

Book Links
1. Dinosorcerers
2. I Escaped The California Camp Fire
3. The Box
4. Raccoons and Rabbit Holes
5. The Replacement: Book 1 of The Replacement Series
6. If We Could Change: Transformational Real Life Moments Through a Fictional Character's Eyes
7. Creeping Charlie
8. Massachusetts
9. Matthew And The Stone
10. Dragon Kingdom & The Wishing Stone

I would like to participate with my book Dinosorcerers. Thanks.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Thanks for the message.... if there's still space after I finish my current review group, I'd love to join.

Hi, I'd love to join with:

I Escaped The California Camp Fire: California's Deadliest Wildfire (I Escaped #2)

Thanks, E.M.

I'd love to join with my picture book, The Box. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I'd like to join with my YA SF book, The Replacement, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

So excited to see a Children’s/YA group here! Happy to join with my middle-grade fantasy, Dragon Kingdom & The Wishing Stone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Thanks,

Stacie

Note: I’m currently finishing up my final review for Group 215, then will be good to go to begin this round. :-)

Welcome to the round Nathan, Scott, Sara and Bianca.

S.D. and Stacie - as soon as you are free and clear of your last round by having posted all four of your due reviews, please let me know so I can sign you up here :)

I just finished a General review round and I would like to join with my book Creeping Charlie.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2....

Thanks!

Welcome to the round Lori!

Going to throw my hat in the ring with Massachusetts. It is live on Amazon, I will update with the Goodreads link as soon as I find it!

**deftly catches Warren's hurled sombrero**

Happy to add you in soon as you can find that link. Maybe pester the Librarians if all else fails...

Might I join with my book, Raccoons and Rabbit Holes?

Book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Edit: Scott has reviewed me, but can review another book, and I have reviewed Lori. If she has another book, I will be willing to review that.

Hi again E.M. - My final review is now posted to Group 215, so my commitment there is complete. I'd be happy to participate in this round with Dragon Kingdom & The Wishing Stone. Thank you.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

-Stacie

Welcome Stacie - don't forget to keep an eye on any clashes.

Stacie has already reviewed The Replacement.

Thanks Bianca!

Stacie has already reviewed several of my books, but I still have one more sparrow book that I don’t think she’s read.

Thanks for that Loralee. Hopefully, Stacie will confirm that otherwise I'll need to rethink again.

Still working on that GR book link. Otherwise, I haven't reviewed or been reviewed by anyone in this round thus far.

I have reviewed Stacie before but not the book she has listed for this round.

Yes, confirming I’ve read/reviewed Bianca & Loralee. And Lori has reviewed me, but not this book.

Thank you E.M.!

-Stacie

Stacie wrote: "Yes, confirming I’ve read/reviewed Bianca & Loralee. And Lori has reviewed me, but not this book.

Thank you E.M.!

-Stacie"

Hopefully all sorted so far!

I have also read and reviewed Loralee's Raccoons and Rabbit Holes.

Still waiting for the librarians to add Massachusetts. I think I posted in the wrong folder. Have asked again.

Warren wrote: "Still waiting for the librarians to add Massachusetts. I think I posted in the wrong folder. Have asked again."

Offer them marshmallows and pink sombreros all round, Warren, that might get them interested!

Scott - thanks for letting me know. Loralee has a couple of other books you can read one of instead.

E.M. wrote: "Warren wrote: "Still waiting for the librarians to add Massachusetts. I think I posted in the wrong folder. Have asked again."

Offer them marshmallows and pink sombreros all round, Warren, that mi..."

Just seen the new "Vine voice" appellation. Impressive! (It is recognition for posting a lot of reviews rather than for drinking a lot of the stuff that comes from vines, though, right?)

Warren wrote: "Just seen the new "Vine voice" appellation. Impressive! (It is recognition for posting a lot of reviews rather than for drinking a lot of the stuff that comes from vines, though, right?)"

Well if it was hops I might not be so sure but far as I know this is my sole relationship to the Vine ;) I plan to keeping with book reviews as that is what I am good at, but if a crate of beer was on offer... I might... just...maybe..... be persuaded.

E.M. wrote: "Warren wrote: "Just seen the new "Vine voice" appellation. Impressive! (It is recognition for posting a lot of reviews rather than for drinking a lot of the stuff that comes from vines, though, right?"

Lol! Good to know for future reference...

The link at last
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Warren wrote: "The link at last
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... "

YaY!! Welcome Warren!

]I'd like to join with

Matthew And The Stone

Welcome to the round Bob! Do let me know of any clashes you might notice.

don't see anyone I recognize from previous rounds

You have one to throw in, don't you Swifty? Don't be shy!

Warren wrote: "You have one to throw in, don't you Swifty? Don't be shy!"

I do have one children's book, but sadly I am signed up in another round...

Hi, I am co author on Scott Peters I Escaped the California Camp Fire, but I have a middle grade Saving Bigfoot Valley,written as Spike Bown. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I have been reviewed by Loralee

I have reviewd Nathan

If there is still space, would like to sign up with my YA book
If We Could Change
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I have reviewed Nathan.

Welcome to Karen.

Really sorry S.D. but as I'd have to put you in Scott's 'blind spot' and Nathan has only the one book, with the best will in the world I can't fit you in here around the other clashes I have to handle. :(

Now we start the sifting phase, to make sure there are no clashes before we begin.

I need everyone in the round to check that you have no negative clashes - that means you need to check you have not reviewed the four people 'above' you on the list (it wraps around so 10 is 'above' 1) or been reviewed by the four below.

When enough people have posted that they don't have any such clashes, I can set things running :)

I have no clashes. Thanks.

I have no clashes, either. Thanks!

S.D. wrote: "Hi, I am co author on Scott Peters I Escaped the California Camp Fire, but I have a middle grade Saving Bigfoot Valley,written as Spike Bown. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"

S.D. wrote: "S.D. wrote: "Hi, I am co author on Scott Peters I Escaped the California Camp Fire, but I have a middle grade Saving Bigfoot Valley,written as Spike Bown. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"

No worries.. see you in a later round.

Loralee has reviewed my book in a previous round.

Thanks for that Lori, but as you have other books, Loralee can review one of those instead.

E.M. wrote: "Warren wrote: "You have one to throw in, don't you Swifty? Don't be shy!"

I do have one children's book, but sadly I am signed up in another round..."

That should disqualify you for about 7 minutes...

No clashes for me.

The only one here I ever reviewed is Nathan, and he is FIVE above me. Don't recognize any of the names below me, so all looks good for me.
Thanks for adding me to the group!

Karen wrote: "The only one here I ever reviewed is Nathan, and he is FIVE above me. Don't recognize any of the names below me, so all looks good for me.
Thanks for adding me to the group!"

Love your singing voice, Karen!

This is my first time participating in a group, so I'm clear to review the four above me & have no clashes. :)

Warren wrote: "Karen wrote: "The only one here I ever reviewed is Nathan, and he is FIVE above me. Don't recognize any of the names below me, so all looks good for me.
Thanks for adding me to the group!"

Love yo..."

:-)