Group 386. General - Mod. Gene

[Gene, Admin]

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 to finish assigned books before leaving a review, 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. If you DNF (DO NOT FINISH) an assigned book, you run the risk of not being allowed into review rounds in the future.

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 pressuring other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

12. You declare all Goodreads accounts when signing up for rounds, including all pen names and additional user accounts, so that these can be checked by moderators and other group members to ensure that there are not previous review conflicts.

13. Books which include AI-generated writing are not permitted. Reviews may not be written by AI.

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:
Gene

Member Links | Book Links
1. Gene Kendall | Dogteeth and Other Tales of the Paranormal
2. Joseph Minart | The Tale of the Young Witch
3. Balroop Singh | Beyond the Fetters
4. Eliza Thorncroft | The Mice of Moonlit Meadows: Beneath the Clover Hill
5. E.K. Frances | The Hybrid
6. Tim Molnar | Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Navigating Modern Romance
7. Sotto Voce | A Scarred Drifter
8. C.R. Hurst | Round the World: A Life of Jeanne Baret: Odyssey
9. Mehmet Çalışkan | THE BIG CRUNCH: Layered Resonance Theory: Move – Unite – Fragment — A Metaphysical Fiction
10. Sass Green | Rockstar Billionaire


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...

[Gene, Admin]

Hey, everyone. I'm starting a new General round and opening with myself and Joseph, who couldn't fit the last round due to conflicts. Please remember, your private messages must be OPEN and I can't add you to the list until you list your conflicts with the other authors.

How to do this? Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors in the thread. That will tell you if you've read them in the past. Then go to the profile of other authors in the thread, scroll down a bit and click on their "My Books" page, this time searching for your name. That will tell you if they have read you in the past.

Also: If you write under a pen name or have additional Goodreads profiles, then you'll have to follow these instructions for every pen name or additional Goodreads profile.

[Sotto]

Hi Gene,

Can I join with my book A Scarred Drifter?

However, the only slot I can fit is no.7 and if you can give me an alternate book.

I have reviewed your this book and I have reviewed both Joseph's books so we have to be in each other's blind spot which is only no.7.

[Balroop]

I want to join this group with my new book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
You have reviewed my books. Thanks

[Gene, Admin]

Balroop wrote: "I want to join this group with my new book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
You have reviewed my books. Thanks"

Hi, Balroop. We've allowed preorder books in the review groups before, but only if the on-sale date is before the first round deadline. (Also, if you list a paperback version on-sale at Amazon, the site allows reviews to be posted early if revewers click the paperback option.)

Anyway, just FYI. If the round fills up several weeks before your book goes on sale, you might need to list an alternate.

[Gene, Admin]

I've added Balroop and Sotto (I have alternates for Sotto.) Please everyone keep checking in and looking for conflicts.

[Laura]

ME please with any book. I am always getting aced out, even when I am one of the earliest to sign up.

[Laura]

I have reviewed Gene and Joseph. I have reviewed Sotto Voce. I have been reviewed by Balroop. I have 11 books to choose from.

[Eliza]

Hi Gene
Id like to join the General review group. Having checked ...so far I only have prior review by yourself. All the others are new authors to me, either read or reviewed.
Would like to have my book from The Mice of Moonlit Meadows series, Beneath the Clover Hill reviewed.
Book link: The Mice of Moonlit Meadows: Beneath the Clover Hill
Author Link: Eliza Thorncroft

[E.K., Admin]

Please can I join with The Hybrid - I have alternatives to those who have read it.

Author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Been read by:
Gene
Balroop
Joseph

Read:
Laura (she has books I haven't read)
Sotto (haven't read this book)

[E.K., Admin]

No conflicts with Eliza. Thanks

[Gene, Admin]

Going in order:

Laura had too many conflicts with me and Joseph to fit, unfortunately, and the needed blind spot had already been filled by Sotto.

I found ways for Eliza and E.K.to fit.

Going through the conflicts (searching author profiles) I think I found at least one conflict not provided earlier, so everyone please be mindful of this.

The conflicts as I have them now (please note any corrections or omissions) :

Gene can't send to E.K.
Gene can't send to Balroop
Gene can't send to Eliza
Gene can't send to Joseph
Sotto can't send to Gene
Sotto can't send to Joseph
Joseph can't send to Sotto
Balroop can't send to Sotto
Balroop can't send to E.K.
Joseph can't send to E.K.
E. K. can't send to Sotto

[C.R.]

Gene,
I would like to join with the second installment of my Round the World: A Life of Jeanne Baret series:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have reviewed you and Balroop. E.K. has reviewed me.
Thanks, CR

[Gene, Admin]

Welcome, C.R. Only three slots left!

[C.R.]

Thanks, Gene!

[Tim]

Hi Gene,

Can I please join with my book, Date Smarter?

I have no conflicts with any of the folks in this group!

Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Navigating Modern Romance

[Sass]

Gene hi. I'd love to sign up with my book on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ38BC5B

I have read:
Gene Kendall
Joseph Minart
Balroop Singh
EK Frances

I have not read or been read by Sotto Voce or C.R. Hurst

[Eliza]

Gene
Havent read or been read by Sass.
Eliza

[Gene, Admin]

I've added Tim and Sass.

Sass -- just to be sure, can you list any conflicts for your pen name? Thanks.

[Cat]

Thanks Gene! I checked under Cat Green Author, no conflicts

[Mehmet]

Hi Gene,

Can I join with my book: The Big Crunch - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I don’t have any conflicts with the other authors - I’ve also completed my readings in Group 383.

[Gene, Admin]

Welcome, Mehmet.

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.

If you write under a pen name or have additional Goodreads profiles, then you'll have to follow these instructions for every pen name or additional Goodreads profile.

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 you 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.

[C.R.]

Good to go!

[E.K., Admin]

Good to go :)

[Mehmet]

Good to go : )

[Tim]

Good to go!

[Eliza]

Only one for me is you Gene
Eliza

[Sass]

Good to go for Sass Green and Cat Green

[Sotto]

Good to go.

Connections:
I have reviewed Mehmet but not this book.
I have reviewed Gene but he has alternate book.
E.K and Balroop have reviewed me but not this book.

[Joseph]

I’m good to go.

Sass and Gene read “The Tale of the Young Witch,” but I got another book. I read “The Hybrid” from E.K. Frances, but I can read the next book in the series.

[Gene, Admin]

Eliza wrote: "Only one for me is you Gene
Eliza"

Eliza, since I've read this book, you'll have to send me another one of your titles as an alternate.

[Balroop]

I am good to go.

[Gene, Admin]

Thanks everyone for checking in. Please read the instructions carefully...

1. Gene Kendall | Dogteeth and Other Tales of the Paranormal
2. Joseph Minart | The Tale of the Young Witch
3. Balroop Singh | Beyond the Fetters
4. Eliza Thorncroft | The Mice of Moonlit Meadows: Beneath the Clover Hill
5. E.K. Frances | The Hybrid
6. Tim Molnar | Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Navigating Modern Romance
7. Sotto Voce | A Scarred Drifter
8. C.R. Hurst | Round the World: A Life of Jeanne Baret: Odyssey
9. Mehmet Çalışkan | THE BIG CRUNCH: Layered Resonance Theory: Move – Unite – Fragment — A Metaphysical Fiction
10. Sass Green | Rockstar Billionaire

START DATE: October 22, 2025
END DATE: December 24, 2025

Round 1 – post your review by October 22, 2025
Round 2 – post your review by November 12, 2025
Round 3 – post your review by December 3, 2025
Round 4 – post your review by December 24, 2025


As AUTHORS you SEND your book file to:

-01__Gene Kendall
Sass Green for round 1
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 2
C.R. Hurst for round 3
Sotto Voce for round 4

-02__Joseph Minart
Gene Kendall for round 1
Sass Green for round 2
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 3
C.R. Hurst for round 4

-03__Balroop Singh
Joseph Minart for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Sass Green for round 3
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 4

-04__ Eliza Thorncroft
Balroop Singh for round 1
Joseph Minart for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Sass Green for round 4

-05__ E.K. Frances
Eliza Thorncroft for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Joseph Minart for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4

-06__ Tim Molnar
E.K. Frances for round 1
Eliza Thorncroft for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Joseph Minart for round 4

-07__ Sotto Voce
Tim Molnar for round 1
E.K. Frances for round 2
Eliza Thorncroft for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4

-08__C.R. Hurst
Sotto Voce for round 1
Tim Molnar for round 2
E.K. Frances for round 3
Eliza Thorncroft for round 4

-09__ Mehmet Çalışkan
C.R. Hurst for round 1
Sotto Voce for round 2
Tim Molnar for round 3
E.K. Frances for round 4

-10__ Sass Green
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 1
C.R. Hurst for round 2
Sotto Voce for round 3
Tim Molnar for round 4


As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

-01__Gene Kendall
Joseph Minart for round 1
Balroop Singh for round 2
Eliza Thorncroft for round 3
E.K. Frances for round 4


-02__Joseph Minart
Balroop Singh for round 1
Eliza Thorncroft for round 2
E.K. Frances for round 3
Tim Molnar for round 4


-03__Balroop Singh
Eliza Thorncroft for round 1
E.K. Frances for round 2
Tim Molnar for round 3
Sotto Voce for round 4


-04__ Eliza Thorncroft
E.K. Frances for round 1
Tim Molnar for round 2
Sotto Voce for round 3
C.R. Hurst for round 4


-05__E.K. Frances
Tim Molnar for round 1
Sotto Voce for round 2
C.R. Hurst for round 3
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 4


-06__ Tim Molnar
Sotto Voce for round 1
C.R. Hurst for round 2
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 3
Sass Green for round 4


-07__ Sotto Voce
C.R. Hurst for round 1
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 2
Sass Green for round 3
Gene Kendall for round 4


-08__ C.R. Hurst
Mehmet Çalışkan for round 1
Sass Green for round 2
Gene Kendall for round 3
Joseph Minart for round 4


-09__ Mehmet Çalışkan
Sass Green for round 1
Gene Kendall for round 2
Joseph Minart for round 3
Balroop Singh for round 4


-10__ Sass Green
Gene Kendall for round 1
Joseph Minart for round 2
Balroop Singh for round 3
Eliza Thorncroft 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. When you have posted your reviews, please post the links to each of 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).

Setting up and modding these rounds is a labor of love, with a lot of emphasis on the ‘labor’. If you want to show appreciation for all the hard work we admins put in for the group, you could download one of our books as a ‘thank you’.

Happy reviewing, everyone :)

[Gene, Admin]

GUIDE FOR THOSE NEW TO THESE ROUNDS.

Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be scratching their heads. You are reviewing the four books 'below' you on the list.

You can, of course, choose to buy any or all of the books or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there. If you can buy it adds weight to your review as it gives the 'Verified Purchase' stamp on Amazon.

However, as not everyone can buy, you should PM the four people who will be reviewing you (the four above you on the original list of names) 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.

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.

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.
Don't forget to post the links to your reviews here so you can be signed off for them.

Please post your review to Goodreads, your own Amazon store and any other Amazon stores you might have access to as well.

[Gene, Admin]

AND SOME FINAL THINGS:
Some final notes: Please shorten your Amazon link, removing everything after and including the letters "ref" -- that will give you a clean link that doesn't include any of your personal information.

It's important to respond to messages and send your book files as soon possible, as some reviewers read faster than others and they shouldn't be held up waiting for their review copy.

And just a tip from me -- since Amazon can take days and days to post the review, you might want to wait until the Amazon review appears, then post your Goodreads review, and post both links together in one message on this thread.

If you don't have the Goodreads and Amazon links on the same date, please do not edit your post to add the second link. I likely won't see that, so create a new post with the link.

[Sass]

Hello all, happy Thursday.

I sent out my book Rockstar Romance to C.R., Tim, Sotto Voce, and Mehmet.

I received PDFs from Eliza and Joseph.

If you are still to send me your book, please include links - grateful

[Balroop]

Here is my first review: The Mice of Moonlit Meadows: Beneath the Clover Hill by Eliza Thorncroft

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R35WRT3...

[Gene, Admin]

Thanks, Balroop.

[Eliza]

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Balroop. Still smiling :)

[Sass]

Can confirm I received books from my group of four and those who will review me confirmed they have received the book. Exciting to get started!

[Mehmet]

Hi,
I’ve finished my first read.
Mehmet

1- Rockstar Billionaire by Sass Green

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

[Gene, Admin]

Thanks, Mehmet.