Group 134 In this World - Mod: Neil

[Neil]

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 an 'In this world round. Only adult fiction involving concrete contemporary or past situations can be included. Mysteries, thrillers, action and adventures, contemporary/historical romances, literary fiction etc. No aliens, elves, vampires, stories set in the future, non-fiction or children's books.
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
Neil Carstairs

Member Links
1. Diana J. Febry
2. James W. George
3. Meriel Brooke
4. Dave Saari
5. David S. Fisher
6. Marco Peel
7. Samuel Astbury
8. W.T. Fallon
9. Gene Kendall
10. Erin Lee Daniels

Book Links
1. Who Killed Vivien Morse
2. My Father's Kingdom: A Novel of King Philip's War
3. Sugar Pants
4. Lateral Hazard
5. INTENT TO DECEIVE
6. City on Clouds
7. Cloud Storage
8. Fail to the Chief
9. yeah, shut up.
10. Blaque Beauty and the Billionaire

[Diana]

Please could you add Who Killed Vivien Morse to the group. I have 7 novels in total so if anyone has reviewed this one - there are others. I will check on previous reviewers as people sign up.

[James]

Please add "My Father's Kingdom." It is historical fiction set in the 1670s.

https://www.amazon.com/My-Fathers-Kin...

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

Thanks!

[Marco]

Hi Neil, if possible, I'd like to join with City on Clouds:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Neil]

Welcome on board everyone, if you could all confirm that you've read the rules and keep a keen eye out for clashes

[Marco]

Hi Neil, I've read the rules. I believe Diana has already reviewed City on Clouds, but she can do A Parallel Path if she is up for it.

[Neil]

I've moved you for now, Marco, to keep things simple

[Meriel]

Please could I add my book Sugar Pants:

• Sugar Pants on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Neil]

Welcome on board, Meriel. Can you confirm you've read the sing-up message and let me know of any clashes with other authors as they appear in the group.

[James]

Neil, I have read the rules and will avoid clashes.
JG

[Dave]

Neil: I have read the reviews and would like to get in this round with Lateral Hazard.

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

This is my first time participating, so I have no clashes.

Thanks!

[Dave]

Ooops ... "have read the RULES ..." (Blasted fat fingers.)

[David]

Neil wrote: "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’ r..."

Hi Neil, I'd like to join with https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Pls confirm.

[Siyabulela]

Please add me. Name is Siya Mbalekwa Title is Corners of my soul, book is on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Corners-my-Sou....

[Neil]

Welcome on board Dave, David and Siya. Dave has already confirmed he's read the rules, if David and Siya could do the same. Let me know of any review clashes you might see as the last few names are added to the list.

[W.T.]

Is this group full? If not I would like to join. I was in a previous round.

[Neil]

There are three spaces, let me know the title of the book you would like adding. I assume you are all done in the previous round. Also, check the names already listed in message #1 to spot if anyone has reviewed you or you have reviewed any of them and let me know,

[W.T.]

Yes, I completed the last round several weeks ago. I do not recognize any of the names and books on the list. This is my book, Fail to the Chief: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Neil]

Thanks, W.T., you are in

[Gene, Admin]

I'd like to add my book, "yeah, shut up."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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

I was in the previous round, but I don't believe anyone on the list yet reviewed my book, nor did I review their book.

[Siyabulela]

No review clashes and have read the rules. Just unsure about the author profile. How do I go about changing my profile. Excuse me but I am new to this

[Neil]

Welcome on board, Gene

[Neil]

Siya wrote: "No review clashes and have read the rules. Just unsure about the author profile. How do I go about changing my profile. Excuse me but I am new to this"

Siya, it looks like you will need to register as an author, take a look here https://www.goodreads.com/author/program
The instructions are straightforward.

[David]

Neil wrote: "Welcome on board, Gene"

Hi Neil,
Did you get my appliction to include https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... in round 134?

[David]

Neil, I see you did. Thanx.

[Diana]

Rules all good with me. The only clash is the one with Marco, you've already accomodated.

[T.S.]

Count me in for Tampa Star, if there is space. I reviewed Yeah, Shut Up.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Diana]

T.S. has reviewed me b4 but not the book in this group.

[Erin]

If this round is still open I'd love to join!

[Neil]

T.S. wrote: "Count me in for Tampa Star, if there is space. I reviewed Yeah, Shut Up.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

Hi, T.S., with Marco having reviewed you in the past and you having reviewed Diana and Gene I can't fit you into the lineup without a clash. Sorry about that, but there'll be another group starting up soon.

[Neil]

Erin wrote: "If this round is still open I'd love to join!"

Erin, if you can confirm that this is the book you would like to enter into this round https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... and also that you've read the rules in message #1. I assume you have not reviewed or been reviewed by anyone else in the group

[David]

I've read the rules and agree with them, Neil.
David

[Erin]

Neil wrote: "Erin wrote: "If this round is still open I'd love to join!"

Erin, if you can confirm that this is the book you would like to enter into this round https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3......"

Correct all around!

[Neil]

We have our ten members. I will post the reading list later today (UK time), but I am also waiting on Siya to confirm the situation with his author profile.

[T.S.]

Neil wrote: "T.S. wrote: "Count me in for Tampa Star, if there is space. I reviewed Yeah, Shut Up.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show......"

Arrggggggh. I'm working on my disgruntled sound. Just kidding--that's fine. I'll wait for the next group.

[Neil]

Apologies to all but as Siya's author profile has still not been confirmed I have temporarily removed him from the list. All my fault for putting him in before the profile was confirmed

[Samuel]

I'd like to add my book "Cloud Storage" please.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I've checked my previous reviews and can't see any clashes.

Many thanks,

Sam

[Neil]

Welcome on board, Sam. Reading list to be posted asap.

[Neil]

Here we go.

Start Date 24-Feb-17
End Date 19-May-17


Round 1 post your reviews by 17-Mar-17
Round 2 post your reviews by 07-Apr-17
Round 3 post your reviews by 28-Apr-17
Round 4 post your reviews by 19-May-17


As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

128-01__ Diana J. Febry
Erin Lee Daniels for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
W.T. Fallon for round 3
Samuel Astbury for round 4

128-02__ James W. George
Diana J. Febry for round 1
Erin Lee Daniels for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
W.T. Fallon for round 4

128-03__ Meriel Brooke
James W. George for round 1
Diana J. Febry for round 2
Erin Lee Daniels for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4

128-04__ Dave Saari
Meriel Brooke for round 1
James W. George for round 2
Diana J. Febry for round 3
Erin Lee Daniels for round 4

128-05__ David S. Fisher
Dave Saari for round 1
Meriel Brooke for round 2
James W. George for round 3
Diana J. Febry for round 4

128-06__ Marco Peel
David S. Fisher for round 1
Dave Saari for round 2
Meriel Brooke for round 3
James W. George for round 4

128-07__ Samuel Astbury
Marco Peel for round 1
David S. Fisher for round 2
Dave Saari for round 3
Meriel Brooke for round 4

128-08__ W.T. Fallon
Samuel Astbury for round 1
Marco Peel for round 2
David S. Fisher for round 3
Dave Saari for round 4

128-09__ Gene Kendall
W.T. Fallon for round 1
Samuel Astbury for round 2
Marco Peel for round 3
David S. Fisher for round 4

128-10__ Erin Lee Daniels
Gene Kendall for round 1
W.T. Fallon for round 2
Samuel Astbury for round 3
Marco Peel for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

128-01__ Diana J. Febry
James W. George for round 1
Meriel Brooke for round 2
Dave Saari for round 3
David S. Fisher for round 4

128-02__ James W. George
Meriel Brooke for round 1
Dave Saari for round 2
David S. Fisher for round 3
Marco Peel for round 4

128-03__ Meriel Brooke
Dave Saari for round 1
David S. Fisher for round 2
Marco Peel for round 3
Samuel Astbury for round 4

128-04__ Dave Saari
David S. Fisher for round 1
Marco Peel for round 2
Samuel Astbury for round 3
W.T. Fallon for round 4

128-05__ David S. Fisher
Marco Peel for round 1
Samuel Astbury for round 2
W.T. Fallon for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4

128-06__ Marco Peel
Samuel Astbury for round 1
W.T. Fallon for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Erin Lee Daniels for round 4

128-07__ Samuel Astbury
W.T. Fallon for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Erin Lee Daniels for round 3
Diana J. Febry for round 4

128-08__ W.T. Fallon
Gene Kendall for round 1
Erin Lee Daniels for round 2
Diana J. Febry for round 3
James W. George for round 4

128-09__ Gene Kendall
Erin Lee Daniels for round 1
Diana J. Febry for round 2
James W. George for round 3
Meriel Brooke for round 4

128-10__ Erin Lee Daniels
Diana J. Febry for round 1
James W. George for round 2
Meriel Brooke for round 3
Dave Saari 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. Emma, as Group Admin, records all the groups, and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find her 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 :)

[Erin]

Huge favor: Could Diana, James, Meriel and Dave please email me with pdf's. I am having serious issues with the private message function in good reads. Because these people are not on my friends list it asks me to verify that I am not a robot. However, the function seems to be stuck and the glitch does not let me proceed.

I can't wait to get started!

I can be reached at (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

[Dave]

Diana: I am unable to find a "send message" link on your profile. Can you adjust your settings to allow Private Messaging?

[Erin]

Diana - ditto Dave's message. Please email me at (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

[Neil]

Link fixed in message #1.

It originally went to Diana J Febry and not Diana J. Febry

[Marco]

I just realised Meriel has already reviewed another book of mine, but understand that should be no problem.

[Neil]

No problem this time but pot luck that it I listed the names in the order I did. This goes to show that EVERYONE needs to watch out for review clashes, moderators can't do it for you.

It will be difficult for members who have been active for a while but newcomers should start keeping a list of reviewed and reviewed by so we can avoid this sort of thing.

[James]

I had plenty of time to read this weekend and I've completed "Sugar Pants." Quite a read!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revi...

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

[W.T.]

If anyone else is supposed to get a copy of my book, please message me. Thanks!

[Dave]

I have not yet heard back from David S. Fisher, whose book I'm supposed to review in Round 1. I sent a PM with my email. I've connected with everyone else. David, please read your PM and send me your book.

[Neil]

Thanks for the review, James. Your UK review went to the book page rather than direct to your review, I'll paste it in while I'm here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

Dave and W.T., let me know if you don't hear anything in a few more days.

[Dave]

I have David's book now, Neil. Everything is copacetic.