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 'Novella' round
Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books under 45,000 Words

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:
E.M. Swift-Hook

Member Links
1. E.M. Swift-Hook
2. Jeff Chapman
3. C.R. Hurst
4. Darrell B. Nelson
5. Ildar Daminov
6. Terry Birdgenaw
7. Ben Haskett
8. William Hart
9. Lolli Powell
10. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets

Book Links
1. Maybe
2. Chasing the Great Corvid: An Incognito Lane Tale
3. Jane Digby's Diary: To Begin, Begin
4. Nomi in the 24th Century
5. Breakfast Buddies
6. Antuna's Story
7. Advance Screening
8. My Friend Richard: A True Ghost Story
9. The Gift: a novella
10. 2025: SF Novella

In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.
Please follow this link to check - and if necessary change - your privacy setting.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

I'm signing up here with Maybe

E.M. I would like to join with Antuna's Story, which just fits the length.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Welcome Terry - please keep checking back for any review clashes as the round fills :)

Hi, I want to join with Chasing the Great Corvid.

My GR profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Chasing the Great Corvid: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Welcome Jeff - please keep checking back and report any review clashes you spot as the group fills.

I would like to join the group with my novella "2025". I have read your and Jeff's books before, but I have not read these books.

Welcome Stjepan - you know the drill ;)

Years of training 😉

Stjepan wrote: "Years of training 😉"
Ha!

Hello E.M. I would like to join the group with the first installment of Jane Digby's Diary. The second installment is also available for those who have read the first. Thanks!

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

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

Welcome C.R. - please keep checking back for clashes as the round fills :)

Will do!

I'd like to join with Nomi in the 24th Century.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

You and Stjepan have reviewed my other books be not this one.

Welcome Darrell - as ever please keep checking back for clashes.

Hi there, I'd like to join with my short story Advance Screening.

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

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

I have read E.M. and Stjepan. Darrell has read one of my stories before. I do not believe there are any other clashes, though three is plenty, haha.

Welcome Ben - keep checking back please in case other review clashes appear.

Oops,
I didn't put my author Profile in:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I have reviewed Darrell before but not the book listed here. E.M. has reviewed my first book.

Thanks for the update about Darrell C.R - I double checked cos I had a moment of panic, but it's ok, you have not reviewed me ;)

Sorry for any confusion!

C.R. wrote: "Sorry for any confusion!"

No worries - I am very easily confused :)

Hi E.M., I'm back with a novella length book:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.goodreads.com/author show/21391323.William_Hart

Hope you can fit us in.

Thanks, William

Hi William! Another new book -- how exciting!!!

I've read and reviewed William outside this group, so he can't read me.

Ben wrote: "Hi William! Another new book -- how exciting!!!

I've read and reviewed William outside this group, so he can't read me."

Hi Ben,
Thanks for notifying EM about the possible conflict. I should have done that when I signed up. Good work. Wish I could review your book this way, but I realize I can't. William

Welcome William - please keep checking back for other clashes as the group fills :)

Ben - thanks for that info!

My book "2025" is on Amazon for $0.99 until September 15th. I hope the review group will be formed by then, but you can contact me through my author's website, and I will send it to you in Mobi, PDF, or Epub format.

You reminded me to say Antuna's Story will be free on Amazon Sept 14-18.

Hi all! My book, Jane Digby's Diary: To Begin, Begin will be free Thursday, the eighth through Sunday, the eleventh.

I feel the same way William!

Ben wrote: "I feel the same way William!"

Ben, I quickly grabbed a spot yesterday, forgetting the last ones typically fill slowly. Then I came back to clean up my mess. But you'd beat me to it. I'll be more careful next time.

I just meant about reading and reviewing each other's work! :) (as in, I also wish we could read and review each other's books without triggering Amazon's review bots or creating the appearance of a conflict of interest.) I only pointed out the clash yesterday because I'd read one of your books outside this group -- didn't mean to step on your toes! I look forward to reading your new novella.

Ben, I see an interesting similarity in our personalities. Seems to me we both bend over backwards trying not to hurt someone, or even their feelings. It may be a weakness, but I like that trait in people. It's rare and valuable. I look forward to you reviewing my book!

Bill

My book (Antuna's Story) is free on Amazon for a few days if you want to get it now. If this round ever takes off you'll have a copy and I think it will be a verified review.

EM
Could I fill up a spot in this round (instead of OFTW) with Ka'Azula
here are my clashes

I have read EM, Jeff, & CR
I would have to be in Terry's blind spot (related)
Stjepan has read 1 of my books.

Welcome Ann - we have a fit I think :) Please keep checking back frequently.

The Gift: a novella

I'd like to enter with this if there's still room. I don't think I've read anything by any of the participating authors.

Welcome Lolli - and that means we move to the next stage:

Everyone - 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.

Remember that 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 their name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile and searching for your name.

Please check all those who are the 4 above and 4 below you.

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.

If you spot a clash or someone in the four below who has no book you can review, please say.

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.

Good to go!

Good to go!

Good to go! I will read and review all my assigned books with KU. All my books are available with KU, or I can send PDF files upon request.

Good to go. If the books are available in KU, I'll get my assigned ones through that. My book is available through KU.

I'm also not averse to buying books that aren't available through KU—as long as they're reasonably priced, of course.

Good to go! My book is available in ePub and PDF and on Amazon for .99.

Like Lolli, I'll buy reasonably priced books.

Good to go.

Good to go

Good to go.
I have dropped the price of my book on Amazon to $0.99 until the end of the week. But you can contact me through a message on the author's page. I have PDF, Mobi, and Epub formats.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...

I have reviewed Ann Birdgenaw book https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
That's my only conflict.

Right..I think the clash is solved.

I need everyone to re-report on their ready status. Please check the list as per Message 39 and report if you are good to go.

Thanks :)

Thanks EM - Good to Go :-)