Group 180. General - Mod. E.M.

[E.M.]

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 'General' round
All books welcome - fiction/non-fiction.

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. M.K. Williams
2. E.M. Swift-Hook
3. Emily Williams
4. Samantha Burnell
5. Erin Bomboy
6. J.P. Willson
7. Sapphire Jones
8. David S. Fisher
9. Laura Koerber
10. Karl Woodhouse

Book Links
1. The Games You Cannot Win
2. Trust a Few
3. Rafferty Lincoln Loves
4. A Queen's Spy
5. The Pas de Deux: A Classical Ballet Romance
6. Through the Mind's Eye: A Journey of Self-Discovery
7. Castle of the Heart: A 2% Erotic Romance: The Full Trilogy
8. The Last Curtain
9. I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue
10. The Ballad of Egg Man Jeff

[M.K.]

Hello, if it is possible to finish one group and go right into the next I would like to join this one for my book, The Games You Cannot Win. It is a collection of contemporary short stories.

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

Thank you!

[E.M.]

You certainly can M.K. - Welcome aboard! :)

[J.P.]

Well hi there E.M.
Been a while...I would love to join this round if I may, only problem is I did just review M.K.- other than that I have read and agree to all the wonderfully penned predetermined prerequisites purposely pertaining presently. Sorry, I'm in a mood.
Anyhoo -How about this one this time.
Through the Mind's Eye: A Journey of Self-DiscoveryJ.P. Willson

[E.M.]

Fear not, J.P. - M.K. has other books if necessary - but for now, I will place you in each other's blind spot. Depending on how the round shapes up that may need to change. Either way, welcome aboard!

[J.P.]

E.M. wrote: "Fear not, J.P. - M.K. has other books if necessary - but for now, I will place you in each other's blind spot. Depending on how the round shapes up that may need to change. Either way, welcome aboard!"

I thank you...

[Akhil]

Hi there E.M.
I would love to be a part of this group. Is it possible for me enter here as well since I am already a part of another Review group.
Mine is "I am A Failure", non-fiction, biography, self help genre.

https://www.amazon.com/I-am-failure-A...

[Emily]

Hi - please could I join this round, I missed out on another as there were some clashes but can't see any here! I have a YA novel, Rafferty Lincoln Loves... that has just been published for charity.

http://amzn.eu/9KgFkNW
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Thanks so much!
Emily

[Samantha]

Would love to join in - A Queen's Spy - YA historical fiction nove.


https://www.amazon.com/Queens-Spy-Med...

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

Sam x

[Wayne]

Can I join this group? http://www.waynemckinstry.com/
I need to connect with other authors.

[Karl]

Hi,

I'd love to join this group please with my kids book, The Ballad of Egg Man Jeff.

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

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075JP...

I can't see any conflicts so far.

Have a great day

Karl

[Sapphire]

If there's room at the inn:

Sapphire Jones

Castle of the Heart: A 2% Erotic Romance: The Full Trilogy



Free for KU subscribers; can send PDF to others (Kindle version from Amazon, if that's permitted in your country)

[Trish]

How many groups can you be in at once?

I'm in #169 and #178, but I think I have room for one more and can't resist a general group where there hasn't been any gore/horror added yet!

I have no conflicts with anyone so far and that makes 8, so if I'm #9 and no one with horror/gore picks the 10th spot, I'd like to be in.

I've put in book 1, but any book can be read.

Trish Butler

Redway Acres: Book 1 - Helena

[Wayne]

May I have a review copy of Redway Acres?

[Trish]

Wayne wrote: "May I have a review copy of Redway Acres?"

Wayne,

You have to wait for the group to be set up by the Moderator. In this case E.M. who will allocated who will read which books. They will set the dates and then off we go.

Hope that helps.

Trish

[E.M.]

I'm going to put my own book in the mix Trust a Few and take a peek at how we are doing.

[E.M.]

Firstly, sorry Trish - you are only supposed to be in one round at a time. I am not sure how it is you managed to be in two, but please finish your commitment in full (posting all four reviews) before applying to join another group.

Akhil, same thing. Once you are signed off for your four reviews you can sign up for a new round.

Wayne, if you would like to join this group, please post that you have read and understood the rules and link the book you would like to put into the round.

Finally, welcome aboard to Emily, Samantha, Karl and Sapphire! :)

[Trish]

E.M. wrote: "Firstly, sorry Trish - you are only supposed to be in one round at a time. I am not sure how it is you managed to be in two, but please finish your commitment in full (posting all four reviews) bef..."

Well, I don't know either, but I was up front about it and not the only one.

No problem. Good luck with this round and maybe catch you another time.

Thanks.

Trish

[David]

Hi,
Count me in.
The Last Curtain

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

[E.M.]

Welcome aboard, David!

BTW, if anyone has reviewed or been reviewed by anyone else in the group, please do post to let me know - if you have not already done so ;)

[Laura]

I would like to join with https://www.amazon.com/Once-Was-Lost-...
non fiction dog rescue

[E.M.]

Welcome aboard, Laura!

[Samantha]

just to let you know I've already reviewed Laura's books on Amazon so please do not pair us together xx Sam xx

[E.M.]

Thanks for telling me Samantha and by the purest of coincidences, it just so happens where I have placed you both, you are in each other's 'blind spot' so will have no contact during the round at all :) Serendipity indeed!

[Samantha]

Thanks E.M. for the reassurance. Really looking forward to this group. I'm a ferocious reader so bring it all on x

[E.M.]

We just need one more, then we'll be out of the starting gate ;)

[Erin]

I would be interested in joining with my novel The Pas de Deux: A Classical Ballet Romance. I've completed all my reading and review obligations with prior groups. The only conflict that jumps out is J. P. Willson, whose How to be a successful (recovering) alcoholic I've reviewed.

Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Novel Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[J.P.]

Hi E.M.- I have reviewed Laura's book, yet she does have others, so that can work...I think with some rearranging that Erin could work also as I too have another book she could review? I could be wrong though as I haven't looked at all of the possible conflicts that closely, but I don't see any others....

[E.M.]

Welcome, Erin and that's us full!

I am going to leave this here for an entire day before setting us off as I've had a few instances recently of people telling me they had clashes after the event.

Please check that you have not reviewed the four people above you on the list (it wraps around so 7, 8, 9 & 10 are all 'above' 1) and please post to confirm you are free from such clashes.

Thanks :)

[J.P.]

I'm all good...

[Emily]

I'm all good :-)

[Karl]

I'm good too thanks

[Laura]

I reviewed one of JP WIllson's books, but I could review the other one. I reviewed the book of meditations to read with the morning coffee.

[E.M.]

Thanks for letting me know Laura.

Changed things up - you will now need to review a different book by M.K. please J.P. :)

[Erin]

All clear for me.

[David]

Hi EM,
All clear.
David

[J.P.]

E.M. wrote: "Thanks for letting me know Laura.

Changed things up - you will now need to review a different book by M.K. please J.P. :)"

Okey dokey E.M....

[J.P.]

Laura wrote: "I reviewed one of JP WIllson's books, but I could review the other one. I reviewed the book of meditations to read with the morning coffee."
Um...that wasn't my book Laura. The book you are referring too which I also reviewed was written by Rachel L. Thompson. -Mindful Meditations: Daily Reflections and Meditations to Start Your Day Off Right-
but no matter...

[Laura]

Oops OI should have checked, Thank you for correcting me.

[Samantha]

Hi I've reviewed Laura already, however she has another book and I'm happy to add that to my read list if she is okay with that.

[E.M.]

Swapped back Laura and M.K. so you are in her 'blind spot' Samantha. Hopefully, that is all the issues dealt with. I am going to set this round up later today.

[E.M.]

OK, here we go. Hopefully this is clash free now :)

START DATE: 20-Feb-18

END DATE: 07-May-18

Round 1 – post your review by 13-Mar-18
Round 2 – post your review by 03-Apr-18
Round 3 – post your review by 24-Apr-18
Round 4 – post your review by 15-May-18

As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

180-01__M.K. Williams
Karl Woodhouse for round 1
Laura Koerber for round 2
David S. Fisher for round 3
Sapphire Jones for round 4

180-02__E.M. Swift-Hook
M.K. Williams for round 1
Karl Woodhouse for round 2
Laura Koerber for round 3
David S. Fisher for round 4

180-03__Emily Williams
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
M.K. Williams for round 2
Karl Woodhouse for round 3
Laura Koerber for round 4

180-04__Samantha Burnell
Emily Williams for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
M.K. Williams for round 3
Karl Woodhouse for round 4

180-05__Erin Bomboy
Samantha Burnell for round 1
Emily Williams for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
M.K. Williams for round 4

180-06__ J.P. Willson
Erin Bomboy for round 1
Samantha Burnell for round 2
Emily Williams for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

180-07__ Sapphire Jones
J.P. Willson for round 1
Erin Bomboy for round 2
Samantha Burnell for round 3
Emily Williams for round 4

180-08__ David S. Fisher
Sapphire Jones for round 1
J.P. Willson for round 2
Erin Bomboy for round 3
Samantha Burnell for round 4

180-09__ Laura Koerber
David S. Fisher for round 1
Sapphire Jones for round 2
J.P. Willson for round 3
Erin Bomboy for round 4

180-10__ Karl Woodhouse
Laura Koerber for round 1
David S. Fisher for round 2
Sapphire Jones for round 3
J.P. Willson for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

180-01__M.K. Williams
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
Emily Williams for round 2
Samantha Burnell for round 3
Erin Bomboy for round 4

180-02__E.M. Swift-Hook
Emily Williams for round 1
Samantha Burnell for round 2
Erin Bomboy for round 3
J.P. Willson for round 4

180-03__Emily Williams
Samantha Burnell for round 1
Erin Bomboy for round 2
J.P. Willson for round 3
Sapphire Jones for round 4

180-04__Samantha Burnell
Erin Bomboy for round 1
J.P. Willson for round 2
Sapphire Jones for round 3
David S. Fisher for round 4

180-05__Erin Bomboy
J.P. Willson for round 1
Sapphire Jones for round 2
David S. Fisher for round 3
Laura Koerber for round 4

180-06__ J.P. Willson
Sapphire Jones for round 1
David S. Fisher for round 2
Laura Koerber for round 3
Karl Woodhouse for round 4

180-07__ Sapphire Jones
David S. Fisher for round 1
Laura Koerber for round 2
Karl Woodhouse for round 3
M.K. Williams for round 4

180-08__ David S. Fisher
Laura Koerber for round 1
Karl Woodhouse for round 2
M.K. Williams for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

180-09__ Laura Koerber
Karl Woodhouse for round 1
M.K. Williams for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
Emily Williams for round 4

180-10__ Karl Woodhouse
M.K. Williams for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
Emily Williams for round 3
Samantha Burnell 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 and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find mods 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 :)

Please consider downloading one of my books and/or one of the round mod’s books as a thank you for all the hard work we put in for the group.

[E.M.]

Please read this especially if you are new to these review rounds.

Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be 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 them.

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.

Please make sure you have exchanged ALL FOUR books - or have been assured by your reviewers they will buy your book or read it through KU - as soon as possible. Some people read fast and it can be very frustrating to have to wait a long time to get hold of a book you are committed to review.

Finally, if you have never posted to an Amazon site that is not your own, please read this post on how to do so.

[E.M.]

Emily, Samantha and Erin, no need to contact me about your books as I shall get hold of them through Amazon either on KU or by purchasing them.

J.P. - I regret your pricing is a bit too steep for me. You may not realise but it is very pricey in UK money for such a small ebook (for comparison, my own are all a fair bit cheaper and run to twice as many pages). So I will need to ask you to send me a copy of your book, please.

[Erin]

Thanks, E.M. I’ll pay it forward by purchasing another author’s book.

[E.M.]

Thanks, for that Erin :)

[Wayne]

How do I know when a new group is forming? I missed the bus for this one.

[E.M.]

Sorry, Wayne. Keep checking back. New groups open when the mods are free to do one.

[J.P.]

Just a note- Sapphire, David and Karl I have your books.... and Laura I will be in touch...

[Emily]

Many thanks, E.M. :-)