Group 267. General - Mod. Kat

[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 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 General round
All fiction/ non-fiction accepted. This means you may be required to read anything from a book about tax returns to horror/erotica and everything in between.

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:
Kat Kinney

Member Links
1. Laura Koerber
2. E.M. Swift-Hook
3. Gene Kendall
4. Mary E. Hughes
5. Kristian Joseph
6. Frank Parker
7. Gita V. Reddy
8. Willow Thomson
9. Charles C. McCormack
10. Phillip Murrell

Book Links
1. Wild Hare
2. Trust a Few
3. Love Is Dead ly
4. Imagining Violet Married
5. Sunlight
6. Called to Account
7. The Morning Star
8. Seeds of Change
9. As Happy As I Can Stand
10. Augury Answered

[Laura]

I'm in with WIld Hare https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[E.M.]

I will join withTrust a Few - which Laura has reviewed along with a few others of my books - but I have plenty more for her ;)

[Frank]

I'd like to join with my book Called to Account:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Gita]

I'd like to join with The Morning Star.
Link to my author profile : Gita V. Reddy

[E.M.]

Welcome Laura, Frank and Gita - don't forget to check any clashes now and as the group fills, please.

[Phillip]

I would like to join with Augury Answered.

I've read one of Laura's other books, but I don't have any other conflicts.

[E.M.]

Welcome Phillip.

[Laura]

Gladly EM! I think i've read three of your books plus one of the Romans in England mysteries

[Gita]

No clashes so far.

[Kristian]

Hello, I would like to join with my book Sunlight, I clash with Phillip, hope thats okay!

[E.M.]

Kristian wrote: "Hello, I would like to join with my book Sunlight, I clash with Phillip, hope thats okay!"

Happy to add you, but in what way do you clash with Philip, have you reviewed him or has he reviewed you?

[Phillip]

I reviewed Kristian's book.

[Willow]

I would like to join with my book, The Color of Sunshine. This is Book Two in The Aride Universe series. Soft science fiction/space opera with metaphysical themes.

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

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

I have reviewed Wild Hare.

[Kat]

Willow, is what you're saying that you're entering with book two in your series, but if readers would prefer to read book one instead, they may?

[E.M.]

Willow wrote: "I would like to join with my book, The Color of Sunshine. This is Book Two in The Aride Universe series. (Book 1 is free if you want to read that). Soft science fiction/space opera with metaphysica..."

As Kat points out, this is a bit confusing.

Is the second book fully accessible to a reader new to the series? If not, you may do better to enter the first book in these rounds as inaccessibility is not going to promote stunning reviews...

On a side note, I am sure you will have realised it would be unreasonable to expect someone to read the first book as well as the second for one of these rounds.

[Willow]

You have very good points. I am interested in reviews for book two and I don't expect people to read book one (I removed that wording, thank you for pointing that out). Book two is not a standalone but is a complete story. Does anyone put later books in their series on here to review or is that generally a bad idea?

[Kat]

Willow, my thought would be that since you have two books, if you plan on participating in rounds going forward, consider entering with book one. As you participate in more rounds, you'll find you'll see familiar faces pop up time and again and those readers who have already read your first book in a previous round will move on to book two in your series in subsequent rounds.

[Willow]

Thank you, Kat. I agree.

Here is the link to Seeds of Change, Book one in the Aride Universe.

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

Thank you for your help, Willow

[Charles]

Kat, I would like to add my book, "As Happy As I Can Stand" to this review group. The book link is: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5....
I am not aware of any conflicts. Thanks. Charles McCormack

[E.M.]

Welcome Willow, and in answer to your question, I do exactly that. My offering here - if you check the link - is Book 4 in my series. But it is also Book 1 of the middle trilogy (there are 3 trilogies in Fortune's Fools) and was designed as a 'break in' book for the series where a reader could pick up with new characters. But I would be very reluctant to ask someone to read the first book of the third trilogy as that is far more dependent upon knowing the characters and story from before.

[Willow]

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Willow, and in answer to your question, I do exactly that. My offering here - if you check the link - is Book 4 in my series. But it is also Book 1 of the middle trilogy (there are 3 trilog..."

Thank you, E.M. I’ve decided to just go with the first book for now. Only up to two so far but I could see the type of structure you have working for my series as there will be a shift in focus after book three.

[Kristian]

Kat, I just wanfed to see if I have been accepted?
many thanks
Kris

[Kat]

Kristian wrote: "Kat, I just wanfed to see if I have been accepted?
many thanks
Kris"

Kristian, I think EM is waiting to hear back so that you can confirm your clashes? I believe Phillip is saying he reviewed your book. Is that your only clash with all the people who have added their names?

[Gene, Admin]

Would it be possible to add my book Love is Dead(ly)? I'm finished with my reviews from the current Out of this World round, though Amazon hasn't published them all yet. I've been reviewed by Phillip, but have an alternate he can read. Laura Koerber and E.M. Swift-Hook have reviewed my previous book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Mary]

Hello - do you have room for Imagining Violet Married, Part 2 of my Violet Trilogy - Imagining Violet Married. So far I don't see any conflicts. But Laura Koerber has, I think, reviewed this one? Or perhaps it was Part 1.

[Kat]

Mary wrote: "Hello - do you have room for Imagining Violet Married, Part 2 of my Violet Trilogy - Imagining Violet Married. So far I don't see any conflicts. But Laura Koerber has, I think, revi..."

Mary, does book 2 work as a standalone?

[Mary]

A reader doesn't have to have read Part 1, and there is a "previously" at the top which covers it as well. As for the ending, there is a natural ending, in that she comes to the end of a phase of their lives. I did write in a couple of small elements of suspense, at the end, to set up Part 3.
Should note that I have read and reviewed Stronbow's Wife by Frank Parker. I see he has a different book in this round.

[Kat]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying!

As we've had a few new people throw their names into the ring, can everyone please do a quick double-check to make sure we've caught all clashes? If you aren't sure (names can start to sound familiar after a while), check your bookshelf and enter the names of people in this thread. Then look up their bookshelves and search for your name.

[Laura]

I have reviewed both of Mary's books. I think she has another book though that I have not reviewed.

[Laura]

Philip and WIllow have reviewed a book of mine. I don't know about Frank. His name seems really familiar and I think we were in a reading round together I am not sure if he read my book. I did not read his.

[Kristian]

Hi, confirming my only clash is Phillip has reviewed Sunlight. I have read no works of any listed at this moment.
Thanks
Kris

[Mary]

I do indeed have Part 3, Imagine Violet Blooming, as a pdf at this point. It's at the printers right now and will be up on Amazon by mid-October. Perhaps, though, that is not ok?

[Kat]

Mary wrote: "I do indeed have Part 3, Imagine Violet Blooming, as a pdf at this point. It's at the printers right now and will be up on Amazon by mid-October. Perhaps, though, that is not ok?"

Mary, it looks like you have some other books available, too? You're entering the round with Book 2, which is fine. If you're saying Book 3 would be the alternative book you would ask readers to review, you should make sure it's first available to be reviewed on both Amz/GR.

[Phillip]

I have read Laura and Kristian. I have no other conflicts so far.

[Mary]

I've posted the new book to GoodReads and I'm working on the Amazon listing. But I think it's only an issue if Laura is one of my reviewers.

[E.M.]

Welcome Kristian, Charles, Gene and Mary.

I have attempted the sudoku with the information everyone has provided so far. Now it is over to you.

I need everyone to post and tell me they have no clashes - this means I need to know you have never reviewed the four people 'above' you (the list wraps so 10 is above 1) and if you have reviewed the 4 people 'below' you, that they have another book you can review currently available. If you meet these requirements please post that you are good to go, if not and you do have a clash, please tell me what it is.

You can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews, clicking the 'Author' heading to get them in alphabetical author order, and then checking through to see. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through looking at their profile.

Once the vast majority of the group has reported in clash free, we can move onto the review stage.

[Frank]

I have no clashes.

[Willow]

I have reviewed Gene Kendall’s Black Hat Blues but not the one listed here, Love is a Deadly. I have reviewed Laura Koerber’s Wild Hare but none of her other books.

[Gene, Admin]

I have reviewed Mary E. Hughes in the past. No other conflicts.

[Kat]

Hang tight, everyone. We're going to need to redo the order. Could everyone please recheck the list (we've added new people) and post anyone you've read or who has read you in the past. Please check bookshelves if you're unsure. Thanks!

[Gita]

No clashes.

[E.M.]

Order Re-Sudoku'd!

Please re-check and re-post.

Thank you.

[Gita]

No clashes.

[Willow]

Laura Koerber - I reviewed Wild Hare but I can do another book so I guess that is OK?

[Kat]

Willow wrote: "Laura Koerber - I reviewed Wild Hare but I can do another book so I guess that is OK?"

Yup, you are reading Laura again and the two of you can work out between yourselves which book of Laura's to read.

[Willow]

Thank you.

[Laura]

I have never reviewed the four "above" me. (They are below but the list wraps around.

Willow I would be happy to give you any of my books. Would you mind picking one? Maybe The Dog Thief or Eclipse Dancer.

I have reviewed EM Gene and Mary. FOr EM and Mary they have books I can review. I'm not sure about Gene. I will check.

[Laura]

I'm OKay with Gene too because I can review Love is Deadly

So no clashes.

[Phillip]

I haven't reviewed any above me. I'm good with all books I'm assigned except Gene's, but he has three others I haven't read. I'm sure I can find an alternate. Yo Joe!