Group 368. Novella - Mod. Gene > Likes and Comments

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 round has been REVISED from a 'Novella' round

This is now 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 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.

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 *Ten Tiny Tales: Stories of Broken Elevators and Other Mundane Things
2. Nivedita M.K. * Unexpected Journey of Life
3. E.K. Frances * The Missing
4. Pablo Roy Leguísamo * Echoes of Blood
5. Lynn Helton * Min: the Cat Who Guards the Castle
6. Loralee Evans * Ephraim's Garden
7. Laura Koerber * The Holey Land
8. S.D. Brown * WHO PEA'D THE BED? (The Fairy Tale Bureau of Investigation
9. David Fribbins * The Crown, the Tiger, and the Curious Case of the Forty Elephants
10. Katherine A. Hannon * Cleft


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...

We're starting a new Novella round. I'll open with my short story collection, Ten Tiny Tales: Stories of Broken Elevators and Other Mundane Things.

Please note we've added a twelfth rule for sign-ups:
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.

Also, when submitting your book in the thread, please list any review conflicts you see in the first post. (Meaning, tell me if you've reviewed anyone listed in the first post, or if they have already reviewed you.)

Please can I sign up with The Missing - details below. You've reviewed all three of my novellas (but I do have other full length books that you could review.)

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

I'd like to join with my children’s picture book Min: the Cat Who Guards the Castle.

My GR book link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/208081707...
My Goodreads author link: www.goodreads.com/lynnhelton
(I also write as S. Lynn Helton)

Gene, you've already reviewed this book, but I do have another novella-length book available that you haven't reviewed yet (under my other pen name): Trial and Tribulation

Edited to add (as I was typing while E.K. was posting apparently): E.K. has reviewed all the novella-length books I have out currently. However, I have a children's picture book coming out Aug. 22, so if it takes that long for this round to fill, that book would be available for E.K. to review. Also, I do have a choice of full-length books that E.K. could review.

I don't mind reading a full length or waiting for Lynn's new book, so no need to put me in Lynn's blind spot.

I'd like to join with my children's book , The Royal Historian of OZ.

SPIKE BROWN /S.D. BROWN
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

It's a middle grade prequel to the Wizard of Oz.

I've previously reviewed S.D. (under my other pen name: S. Lynn Helton), but haven't reviewed this book of theirs.

S.D. has reviewed one of my books, but not The Missing.

I would like to be in this round with one of my novellas. I have plenty of them to choose from. EK and Lynn can review me but I can't review them. I can review Gene but he can't review me.

My preferred book to get reviewed is The Holey Land.

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

I have reviewed Gene & E.K.
Lyn & Laura have reviewed me.

Hello, I'd like to join with my novella Madre Diem
Good reads Profile
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
and the book on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8QT52WQ

Thank you!

Conflicts with Gene and E.K. - though only the best of feelings!

EK has reviewed this book already, but in a pinch I have other pieces they can review.

I've added EK, SD, Lynn, and Laura. I'll work on finding a way for Rik to fit. If anyone spots any conflicts in the line-up, please tell me.

Also, everyone, for simplicity's sake, please identify conflicts as "XXX has reviewed me" or "I've reviewed XXX."

I can review Laura, she can't review me

Rik has reviewed me before.

Thanks for letting me know, Lynn.

Rik - since we need to be in each other's blind spots, I don't see a way to work you in. I am going to start another new round, though. Please check your DMs because I'd like to ask you something. Thanks!

Done. Thanks

I have reviewed Rick

Hello , please I'd like to join the train with my cookbook "The parkinson Kitchen" ..... thanks alot 😊

Leane, I need a list of conflicts and a link to your book. Please follow these instructions: Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors who've joined 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 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.

Please identify conflicts as "XXX has reviewed me" or "I've reviewed XXX."

I have no conflicts with Leane

Also, Leane -- you can't enter a new round until all Amazon and Goodreads reviews are posted from the previous round you've entered.

Amazon reviews are not mandatory in the previous rounds ive entered.... it was regarded as a "plus", I am not eligible to post a review on my amazon account yet

Leane-- You might be thinking of something outside of the Review Group rounds. Our Rule 4 states - If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.

Leane, Gene is right. That wording in rule #4 is very clear, which I've already pointed out to you. While goodreads reviews are appreciated, you will be considered "complete" once you have posted links to your Amazon reviews in group 365 as well.

Hello, please may I join this group? My book is called Zodiac Shmodiac
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Hi, A. B. I'll need to know any review conflicts before anyone joins. Please follow these instructions: Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors who've joined 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 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.

Please identify conflicts as "XXX has reviewed me" or "I've reviewed XXX."

okay , i apologize

Gene, might I join with my book, Ephraim's Garden? Here is a link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
You, Lynn, and E.K. have reviewed me. I have reviewed Laura and S.D. I might be able to fit into spot 6, which would put me in your blind spot.

Lynn and E.K. have both reviewed this book, but I have a few more they have not read yet.

I have not read this book of Laura's. and S.D. still has one or two books left that I can review.

Thanks, Loralee. Looks like you do fit in spot six.

I don’t know if I can fit in here. I’ve read everyone in 5-8 so could fit nicely in spot 4, but I’ve read you too Gene so I don’t know if you can move to my blind or if this current ranking is set. Let me know! I want to join with Half Gate.

Thanks,
Katherine

Sorry, K.T. Looks like there are too many conflicts for you to fit this time.

Thanks for checking Gene!

Gene wrote: "Hi, A. B. I'll need to know any review conflicts before anyone joins. Please follow these instructions: Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors who've joined the thread. That ..."

Hi, I have no coflicts to report.

Thanks, AB. I've added you to the list.

Gene wrote: "Thanks, AB. I've added you to the list."
Thanks Gene!

I could join if you don't think it will be too much of a pain :)

I've reviewed
EK Frances-this book
Lynn Helton-not this one
Loralee Evans-not this one
SD Brown-not this one

and Laura Koerber has reviewed me and the book I was going to use but I have 2 others.

No hurt feelings if I can't!

I know this request is a long shot, but I would like to join with my new book, a novella called Round the World: A Life of Jeanne Baret, or my short story, a prequel to my Jane Digby's Diary series called Passion's Child. I have reviewed Gene, Loralee, and Laura. E.K. and Liane have reviewed me.
Thanks, CR

Sorry, C.R. and Liane, but there too many conflicts for either of you guys to fit.

Thanks for checking, Gene!
Best, CR

IF a new group is going to form shortly that is general or over 18, I could shift my book to that group and that might make this group accessible to CR and Liane.

Gene, If I'm the one holding up filling this round, you can take me out and I'll try another.

Another option might be to compress the list so each of us reads and reviews just two books. (Last year, Group 332 Novella did something similar.) I think that might work and would get the round underway.

Lynn wrote: "Another option might be to compress the list so each of us reads and reviews just two books. (Last year, Group 332 Novella did something similar.) I think that might work and would get the round un..."

Would we need eight authors for that to work? Right now, we have seven.

Gene wrote: "Would we need eight authors for that to work? Right now, we have seven...."

I think it works with 7 authors if we each only review two books. If we get 8 authors, then we could each review three books.

Lynn wrote:
I think it works with 7 authors if we each only review two books. If we get 8 authors, then we could each r..."

I'm open to this, but my preference would be to wait for one more author, so that everyone gets at least three reviews.

Gene wrote: "I'm open to this, but my preference would be to wait for one more author, so that everyone gets at least three reviews..."

I'd prefer that, too. :)

Just throwing out some ideas to hopefully help move things along.

Another option would be to turn it into a General round, widen the criteria so more people are able to enter.