Disclaimer – I’m British, so I don’t think the FTC rules apply to me, but just in case – the vast majority of the books I review I’ve bought for myself. Because something attracted me to it, and because I wanted to enjoy the experience. So I have a vested interest in any book I read giving me some enjoyment.
Also, I only review books. Not the author, or her choice of lifestyle, her taste in clothes, or her publisher or anything else. I do not have vendettas against anyone, nor do I have chips on my shoulder about anyone. Nothing here is intended as being personal.
I don’t review books by people I count as friends, or books from publishers that I’m published with. I would love to rave about Linnea Sinclair’s books, or Nicola Cornick’s, or Annie Burrows’, or Judi Fennell’s which I genuinely love, or some of the fantastic authors I’m privileged to share publishers with, but it’s too close to home, so I leave it to other people.
I don’t believe that all writers should stick together. This is prevalent in some circles, together with “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” No, just no. Neither do I consider my publishers some kind of in loco parentis, so we’re a family of any description. Writers should stick together for certain rights, like keeping up royalty and advance payments, but we don’t, we should encourage each other in our writing, but to accept that everything we do and all the books published are brilliant works of art, I’m sorry, I just can’t. I was a reader first, after all. Just.
Writers are people, not some kind of endangered species (I take that back – we are) and we aren’t all members of a club. I was a reader first, and I still am a voracious reader of romantic fiction.
As a writer myself, I know how much one’s own books mean, how close you can get to your characters and the story, but as a reader, I’m buying something that I hope will give me a few hours’ enjoyment. If it doesn’t, I’ll say so, and I’ll also say 
why. It’s my personal taste, nobody else’s, and should be taken for what that is worth, which in some circles is not much.
Having said all that, I’d rather give the author the benefit of the doubt. After all, I didn’t buy the book to be disappointed, I want to be entertained, I want to fall in love with the hero and to like the heroine, and I want their romance to sweep me away. So when I start a book it’s always with a sense of pleasurable anticipation. Sometimes I’m disappointed and sometimes I love it.
And every reviewer, every reader for that matter longs for the Holy Grail – the perfect book, the one that satisfies completely. I can’t promise that it will satisfy you, because what does it for me might not do it for you, but you never know. One day another Lord of Scoundrels, Flowers From the Storm, or The Lady’s Tutor will arrive, with no more fanfare than all the others in the book bag. And I’ll be there.
That’s why I review.
Yep, ultimately at the end of the day it’s up to the reader to make up their own minds. What rocks my world, isn’t necessarily going to rock your world. That’s where well-written reviews come into play. If the reviewer is “doing their job” – I’m going to glean enough information from the review to make my own informed decision.
A couple of authors you mentioned: I just discovered Nicola Cornick, and so far have enjoyed everything I’ve read by her. There’s something about her writing style that seems to click for me. Still trying to put my finger on it….
Annie Burrows: I read a Harlequin Historical she had out earlier this year? I think it was this year? Anywho, the characters drove me batty – but man, I thought her writing style was great! Will be trying more by her. Again, sometimes it’s the style that clicks with me more than the plot/characters.
Laura Kinsale: I’ve tried, but I just can’t. Again, it’s her writing style. That said, I’m curious about her new book, because from excerpts I’ve seen, it seems like it’s “different.” Will probably give it a go.
And I love that reprint cover for The Lady’s Tutor!
So true, Lynne and Wendy, different strokes for different folks. And I love talking about books. When I’m waiting for my car to be fixed and the lady across the room is reading, I ask for the title of her book and I’ve made a new friend for an hour or so and more than likely found a new author to read. That’s how I discovered Linda Howard a number of years ago. So reviewing for me is kind of like that conversations in the waiting room, I can let people know about the books I’ve read and recommend those books to them and even have a conversation of sorts with them through comments.
And for those different strokes, I love Flowers from the Storm, Wendy. One of my all-time favorite books. A lot of books I don’t remember a day later, but that Kinsale book has stayed with me for a few years now. Wonderful, wonderful read.
LOL Sandy! I tried to read Flowers On The Storm one Christmas. It was my “airplane book” while I was traveling. I got about 150 pages into it and couldn’t take anymore. I know. I’m a philistine. An ignorant slut. It was the writing style. I read an excerpt though of her new book, and the style seems a bit different. So that one I think I may try….
I just wanted to say I enjoyed this pondering. And for me, my holy grail will always be Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of you, so more of that please. Interesting article, thankyou.
THE best reviews, regardless of grade, focus on the merits (or lack thereof) of the story without berating the subject matter. I personally hope if a reviewer found something objectionable (like m/m or bdsm) that they simply would not review the story if they felt they couldn’t fairly write the review.
I think one hallmark of a good review is even if the book is a total stinker, the reviewer still finds at least one positive nugget about the book/story to share. And that the reviewer isn’t snarky when delivering less than pleasant news about the book, or using extensive quotes to slam the book. Or outright misrepresenting what’s in the book. I mean, honestly, no one is going to like every book. There are books out there people rave about that I’ve read and thought WTF, are these people on drugs? But if a reviewer is polite and fair, then that’s all any writer (and speaking with my writer hat on now) can ask for. An unfavorable review does NOT have to equal a “bad” review.