Review Group discussion

MESSAGE 1
The review group hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available, you can sign up.

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.

When sorting out groups, the moderators give priority to those members who have fully participated in previous groups.

This is a Novella round. In joining this group you agree TO READ and REVIEW ANY four ALLOCATED novellas (under 45,000 words) within the set 8-week limit. Fiction, non-fiction, and poetry are acceptable as well as books for children. No “adult” language please; look to join an 18+ reading round.

Each participant will review four books and receive four reviews.
Everyone needs to trust each other to behave honorably. 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/...

In signing up below with your Goodreads author link and Goodreads book link in the thread below, you make these commitments:
1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the two weeks allowed .
2. Your book MUST be available for sale on Amazon and also listed on Goodreads. This Goodreads listing is the book link you provide when you sign up for a review group.
3. You MUST submit reviews to Goodreads and one other site – e.g., Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, Kobo, Applebooks, etc. Amazon has recently changed its 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 in this Group.
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 reviewers borrow books via KU and some authors provide Smashwords coupons. This is optional. International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.
6. 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.
7. Please do NOT use any disclaimers such as “I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review” or “I received a free copy of this book (in exchange) for my honest review.”
8. Be sure you are NOT currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list while you are in a round.
9. You must have a Goodreads author profile set up before you join this Group. If you have several, please sign-up with the one that allows others to send you messages. Please use this throughout your participation in this group, so that you can be reached by anyone who may not wish to reply publicly. This is sometimes known as PM (private message).
10. Please 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. It is particularly important to state if you have reviewed or been reviewed by someone in this group.
11. Your reviews should be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you MUST avoid ‘spoilers,’ i.e. giving away plot twists or the ending of a book.
12. You may 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, send a PM to the moderator of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks or harassment of other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.
13. You are committing to four reviews. If you have to drop out, you MUST find someone else to finish your reviews for you. People who Do Not Finish and/or don’t post reviews may be banned from participating in other Review Groups.
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.

Places in this group are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
You may review an author more than once provided you review a different book each time. You MAY NOT be reviewed by anyone that you have reviewed.
If you need anything clarified please ask as early as possible, either by Goodreads PM (personal message) to the moderator or on the thread below. It’s a pain to have to keep rearranging the list because people haven’t read the instructions above.

The moderator for this group will be
Hock

Member Links
1. Balroop Singh
2.https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
3. Scott Peters
4. Oliver Kent
5. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
6. Veronica Brush
7. Eunice Nascimento
8. Thomas O.
9. Hock G. Tjoa
10. Cearúil Swords

Book Links
1. Allow Yourself To Be A Better Person
2.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
3. Clever Kids Word Search: United States Presidents
4. Understanding Musicality: “Al Compás del Corazón”: Filling in the Blanks of Argentine Tango - Book Five
5. Black Seeds: SF Novelette
6. First Grave on Mars
7. Smile Again: A Collection Of Short Stories
8. Three Truths and Other Unsettling Tales
9. The Ingenious Judge Dee
10. Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups Book 2

Hi, I will like to enter with my book titled Jana: That Plague called Love. JANA: That Plague called Love.
I just finished round 245 and submitted my reviews.

Welcome, Elizabeth!
This may take a week or two. Easter, the virus, etc., but we'll get there!

Hi! I'm new to this group entirely and am looking for reviews for my series. I'd like to participate in this round.

The novella I'd like to enter with is Dying Ember, Olden Ash.

Excited to have found this group and to meet new authors!
Lora
writing as River K. Scott

Welcome, Lora.
Glad to have new writers and reviewers join us!
Hock

Hi, if possible, I'd like to join with my non-fiction word search fact book. It combines facts and word searches.

Clever Kids Word Search: United States Presidents

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

Thanks!

Welcome, Scott.
The only requirement is that your book is under 45,000 words and is not "adult" in genre.
You're our third reviewer - but I didn't see an ebook version of your book.
Please confirm that you do have one and make sure it is listed on Goodreads and on Amazon.

Hock wrote: "Welcome, Scott.
The only requirement is that your book is under 45,000 words and is not "adult" in genre.
You're our third reviewer - but I didn't see an ebook version of your book.
Please confir..."

Thanks, Hock! I don't actually have an ebook version simply because it is a word find book and there's no way to circle the words on the Kindle. However, I can send reviewers a PDF of the whole book. Does that work?

I'd like to join with my book Understanding Musicality: “Al Compás del Corazón”: Filling in the Blanks of Argentine Tango - Book Five

approx 15,000 words

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

Scott, I think that will be O.K. but need to check.

Oliver, welcome as our 4th reviewer!

Guys, we might have to rearrange the order when the rest of the roster gets filled in order to avoid any "reciprocity" in reviews - see the RULES in message 1.

Hi, I ‘d like to join with my short story collection Smile Again. I can post on zon uk and have no clashes so far.

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

Welcome, Eunice. I have put you in at #7 - hope you and Elizabeth (# 1) do not have a conflict.

Scott, you're O.K. with a PDF though if you know how to convert that to mobi that would be brilliant.

Oliver, I'm glad that you chose to stay in this group!

Thanks.

Like Eunice, I can post reviews on Amazon.co.uk - not sure if that's important?

No clashes though.

Ok, I just checked and apparently I buy enough stuff from both Amazon.com and .co.uk to allow me to post reviews to both.

Thanks, Oliver.
The "rule" for this group is a minimum of two reviews per book per participant, usually on Goodreads and on Amazon.
Occasionally, a writer lists his/her book in Amazon.uk or --.ca or something thing else.
Reviewers should try to review on Amazon (US) as it has the widest "circulation" but if not please do so on some other site you and the author agree on.
Please check on some other group thread to see how this works - e.g. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Best wishes,
Hock

Hi Hock. I don’t have any conflicts with Elizabeth.

Hi,

I would like to join with the sci-fi novella "Black Seeds: SF Novelette".
PS Scott was reading one of my books, but not this one.



Regards,
Stjepan

Welcome, Stjepan.

Thanks for checking, Eunice.

I added myself and my play so now there are seven of us. Three more!

Conflicts become critical - here's how to check - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Basically, you cannot review someone who has reviewed you and you will review the names listed after you. E.G., #8 will review, #9, 10, 1, and 2.

Hi Hock. You’ve read my book and Currently, I don’t have an alternative.

Hi, Eunice.
Sorry, I saw you listed with two titles...
No worries, we'll sort this out.
Worst case, I'll drop out.

I would like to join!

First Grave on Mars: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I have reviewed Elizabeth Johnson, but no conflict with anyone else.

Thanks!
Veronica Brush

Welcome, Veronica!

You will review Elizabeth again - make sure it is a different book.

Best wishes.

Hello Hock,

I have finished my reviews for round 245 but am waiting for Amazon to post my last review.

May I join this round with Sophrosyne?

I have already reviewed First Grave on Mars and Jana.

Hock wrote: "Welcome, Eunice. I have put you in at #7 - hope you and Elizabeth (# 1) do not have a conflict.

Scott, you're O.K. with a PDF though if you know how to convert that to mobi that would be brilliant..."

Thanks, Hock, I've now converted it so I'm ready to go with both versions.

Thanks, Scott. That's great.

Thanks for your interest, Felix. I hope you don't mind being on hold for a few days as the books you mention make it impossible to fit you in for now.

The rule is no one can review an author who has reviewed the reviewer. In this case, there is no open slot in which you would not be reviewed by the author of First Grave on Mars.

I will sort the author/reviewer lists differently - but best after we see what other conflicts might arise from the next two participants. Feel free to check other groups now open - you could get a better deal!

Otherwise, hang in there y'all!

Hock wrote: "Thanks for your interest, Felix. I hope you don't mind being on hold for a few days as the books you mention make it impossible to fit you in for now."

No problem Hock and thank you for the great work you do.

Goodreads reviewing rounds could not exist without moderators.

Hi Hock,

There is swearing in my novella and I'm not sure if it fits into this group. If that's the problem I would post my poetry collection "Twitter of Night Nightingale"

Hi, Stjepan. You're in at #5 (for now) with your novella Black Seeds. It is always good to have an alternative, in case a reviewer has already reviewed one of your books.

See message #1 in this group round. In this novella round, the only requirements are that the books for review be under 45,000 words and not be erotic. Poetry, children's books, etc. are acceptable.

Hi Hock, can I join with my non-fiction book Allow Yourself to be a Better Person. It is under 45,000 words:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I've posted all my 4 reviews of Group 252.

Here's the "PENDING" list

1. Balroop Singh, Allow Yourself to be ...
2. Lora Rivera, Dying Ember ...
3. Scott Peters, Clever Kids ...
4. Oliver Kent, Understanding Musicality ...
5. Stjepan Varessevac Cobets, Black Seeds
6. Veronica Brush, First Grave on Mars
7. Eunice Nascimento, Smile Again
8. Thomas O., Three Truths ...
9. Hock G. Tjoa, The Ingenious Judge ...
10. Cearuil Swords, Bedtime Stories for Adults, 2

Remember, everyone will read the four listed after - e.g., #10 will read #1,2,3,4 and #1 will read #2,3,4,5. Thus everyone will receive a review from the four preceding numbers. Send me a PM if you like or respond publicly in this thread.

Felix has withdrawn so we are still in need of one more participant.
Sorry for the false alarm.

If someone wants in and has a conflict, I will re-sort the reviews, etc.
Best wishes.

Hello folks,

I am up for joining if there is still room.

I have read Hock, Scott and Stjepan before but not the books for this review round.
Elizabeth has read one of mine before but not the one for this round.
I don't see any other conflicts but perhaps folks will check their side just to make sure.

The book is a short story collection of about 15,000 words.

As for the book, it is linked here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

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

Cheers :)

I reviewed a different book by Cearuil. It's no conflict for me to review this book.

Thanks, Cearuil and Veronica.

Thanks also for paying attention to the rules regarding "conflict" - if A has reviewed B before, A cannot review the same book by B but can review another book.

However, B cannot thereafter review A.

We are almost done - some "workarounds" in process.

Thanks for doing all this work to moderate, Hock!

Welcome Cearuil. You're in #8 for now.

Alas, Elizabeth has dropped out, so we are still looking for one more.

Does anyone know someone who wants reviews?

I'd like to join with my short story collection, Three Truths and Other Unsettling Tales.

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

I've reviewed Balroop before, but not the book she's offering for this round. Otherwise I have no conflicts.

Hi Hock, Ceauril read my two book and I can not read his book ☺️

Thanks, Thomas and Stepjan. This reading round is now PENDING!

Everybody, please check message #1 or #30 above for conflicts as defined in #34.

For this to work, Hock will have to forego the 4th review from Eunice. Cearuil will have similarly to forego a review from Hock.

Everyone, please let me know by May 6, midnight GMT, if we can proceed!

This works for me! I've reviewed a book by Stepjan, but it was a different one so I'm clear there. Thanks for moderating, Hock.

This is a new group for me. I haven't reviewed any of the authors in this group. Good to go for me.

Hi folks,

I'm fine with the arrangement as it stands and foregoing a review from Hock.

Ready to get started :)

Works for me!

This is Ok for me :)

All fine for me :)

All good :)

I'm good to go!

Hi, everyone will be listed in this message twice, once as authors getting reviews and a second time as readers giving reviews. Please note that in both cases, it is the responsibility of the author being reviewed to make sure to communicate with those doing the reviews and to make sure to send a copy of the work to be reviewed.

The best way is to send a PM to the four names listed and ask for an email address to which to send your work. You must be able to send at least a PDF. We do not encourage publishing your email address publicly, e.g., on this thread.

As AUTHOR GETTING REVIEWS -

1. Balroop Singh
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Eunice Nascimento
Thomas O.
Hock G. Tjoa
Cearúil Swords

2. Lora Rivera, https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Balroop Singh
Thomas O.
Hock G. Tjoa
Cearúil Swords

3. Scott Peters
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Balroop Singh
Hock G. Tjoa
Cearúil Swords

4. Oliver Kent
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Scott Peters
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Balroop Singh
Cearúil Swords

5. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Oliver Kent
Scott Peters
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Balroop Singh

6. Veronica Brush
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Oliver Kent
Scott Peters
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...

7. Eunice Nascimento
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Veronica Brush
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Oliver Kent
Scott Peters

8. Thomas O.
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Eunice Nascimento
Veronica Brush
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Oliver Kent

9. Hock G. Tjoa
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
Thomas O.
skip Eunice
Veronica Brush
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets

10. Cearúil Swords
Please make sure to communicate with and send your work to
skip Hock
Thomas O.
Eunice Nascimento
Veronica Brush

AS REVIEWERS,
1. Balroop Singh will review the following -
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Scott Peters
Oliver Kent
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets

2.https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6... will review the following -
Scott Peters
Oliver Kent
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Veronica Brush

3. Scott Peters will review the following -
Oliver Kent
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Veronica Brush
Eunice Nascimento

4. Oliver Kent will review the following -
Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
Veronica Brush
Eunice Nascimento
Thomas O.

5. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets will review the following -
Veronica Brush
Eunice Nascimento
Thomas O.
Hock G. Tjoa

6. Veronica Brush will review the following -
Eunice Nascimento
Thomas O.
Hock G. Tjoa
Cearúil Swords

7. Eunice Nascimento will review the following -
Thomas O.
skip Hock
Cearúil Swords
Balroop Singh

8. Thomas O. will review the following -
Hock G. Tjoa
Cearúil Swords
Balroop Singh
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...

9. Hock G. Tjoa will review the following -
skip Cearuil
Balroop Singh
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Scott Peters

10. Cearúil Swords will review the following -
Balroop Singh
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
Scott Peters
Oliver Kent

Everyone please check again!
Assuming no errors on my part, this reading round will begin May 7.
Reviews may be done in any order. I personally favor the principle of "first received, first reviewed."

First reviews due May 21.
Second reviews due June 4.
Third reviews due June 18.
Fourth reviews due July 2.

No conflicts

Hi Hock,
The following two links don't seem to match, as the author name on the book is different. Please clarify.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...