Great Review on Amazon - yay

Here's the whole review. 5 out of 5 Sweet

I loved this story. Once I opened the file and began reading, I found myself unable to stop until I had reached that magical part of the story: that part where you finally find out what will happen. Ms. Dale made both Darcy, with her insecurities; and Marcus, with his confidence; seem like people that you or I would meet out on the street, while we were walking around town. Being a bit overweight myself, I could truly understand where Darcy was coming from in regards to Marcus. Knowing what it is like to be tossed aside or passed over because I don't look like what society (in general) thinks a person should, I was able to empathize with her self doubt and other insecurities.

Not only would I be willing to read this story again, I intend to do so, several times. This is one of those books that will forever stay in the "To Be Read" file. As a matter of fact, I actually read it several times before I wrote this review. I intend to recommend this book to many of my friends, and when I do so, I will be quite vocal about just how much I liked it. - Alyna Couture

Thoughts on poor reviews

Not that I have ever received a weak review myself (Yeah Right) but I wanted to remind fellow authors that reviews are subjective. One person may love your characters while another is unable to relate to them. Rather than taking this to heart and weeping into your wine about it (this too I have done) look for the good bit and use it for promotion if you need it. Most reviewers are kind enough to list a work's redeeming qualities as well as its faults.

In addition, pay attention to the identified problems and use the information to improve your writing for the next book. Negative feedback is not necessarily a bad thing - although it can kill sales - it can also make you face your weaknesses as a writer and move beyond them.

Sometimes poor reviews are just that - poor reviews. A friend of mine was once criticized because her hero had a condom in his pocket as if he were out trolling. Seriously? Many publishers expect an attempt at safe sex to be mentioned. Unless your hero is a vampire/alien/were and therefore - I assume - immune to communicable diseases, he should have a raincoat on. The exception, I have been informed, is some BDSM situations. However, my point is that comments like this are not a reflection on the author so much as the reader's personal taste/issues.

Occasionally, a review will pop up which makes an author wonder if the reviewer read the story at all. Or a book will receive a low rating with no reason or explanation attached. These types of feedback are perhaps the most difficult to handle. An author is left with a black mark on his or her work which may be undeserved and no way to address the problem. While these are disheartening, try to see past them and focus on more positive reviews. There is not really much that you can do about them except remember that even the biggest name authors have had their work trashed on occasion.

So here’s to poor reviews, the authors who receive, and the reviewers who write them. Use them, grow from them. If nothing else, they are an excuse to have a glass of wine and a bitch session with a buddy.

Visiting with Sky Purington

I am a guest on Sky Purington's blog this week. If you haven't checked her site out before, please do so. You won't be sorry. It's a great place to visit. Offer a comment and have an opportunity to win a free Ecopy of Sweet Temptation and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wilder Rose Press. Sky and I would love it if you stopped by.

Don’t miss the romance on the wilder side of the garden. Go past the hot house teas and the sweethearts, turn left and take a look at the untamed roses. You may be surprised as they take your breath away.

http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com/