Romance Writers & Readers discussion

Hey Y'all I've just started a brand new blog and my very first one at that. It's not full of content yet but I'm working on it every single day. I'm reading and reviewing. It will vary from romance to YA as well as NA.

I would love any advice anyone can give me. You ladies seem to be the most friendly bunch I've come across!! This blog is a labor of love but dang it's kicking my hind end

On a positive note, Lauren Dane retweeted my review of "Opening Up" and totally made my day.

Please visit it at www.southernbredandread.com

Thanks Elle

Hiii, Miss Michelle Elle (sorry!!!)!

*waves happily*

Super nice to meet ya! I'll check out your blog right away! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Hugs,
Ann

EDIT: Oh, man! Lauren Dane!! *fist bump* Niiiice!!

(Just FYI, I deleted the duplicate thread. Happens to me all the time haha!)

Okay, I took a quick peek!

I like your blog! Very clean. Easy to navigate (I have the attention span of a gnat haha). Thorough reviews but in a conversational tone...

*high fives*

The only thing I can think that might help is being more specific about what you require for review requests. I mean, just to make your life easier and save some time, ya know? I'll email you my template. It's not the "right" way haha! Just what I use ^_~

What else are you looking for advice on? We have a few bloggers here who run some pretty significant sites.

Welcome again!

Hugs,
Ann

Hi, Elle!!

I'm no help at all cos I don't have a blog, so I can't offer any advice, but I can give you some love . . . (ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥

Hi Elle!

Great looking blog:) I do agree with Mistress Ann that a section of what you're looking for and what you're not looking for would be helpful. I imagine you'll get bombarded with things you don't want if you don't.

I see you had an interest in criminal justice *wink* Me too! I have a degree in that:) Do you enjoy reading romantic suspense as well, or simply more of a contemporary fan?

Michelle wrote: "Hey Y'all I've just started a brand new blog and my very first one at that. It's not full of content yet but I'm working on it every single day. I'm reading and reviewing. It will vary from romance..."

Hi there,

I will look at your blog and share it on Facebook and Twitter

Michelle wrote: "Hey Y'all I've just started a brand new blog and my very first one at that. It's not full of content yet but I'm working on it every single day. I'm reading and reviewing. It will vary from romance..."

Tweeted and posted on Facebook

Annie wrote: "Okay, I took a quick peek!

I like your blog! Very clean. Easy to navigate (I have the attention span of a gnat haha). Thorough reviews but in a conversational tone...

*high fives*

The only thing..."


Thaaaaaaank You so much. I didn't have my notifications on so I had no clue that you responded to me so quickly. I just needed to make sure I wasn't completely botching this whole blog thing. Its a labor of love for me, I have 0 friends who read so I needed to connect with those who do, that or get new friends. I will take the tips you gave me and get my specific on.
I also got your email and I'm going to get on that right away ; )

Jane wrote: "Hi, Elle!!

I'm no help at all cos I don't have a blog, so I can't offer any advice, but I can give you some love . . . (ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥"

Thank you Jane, I'll take anything I can get !!!

Amanda,

I do love romantic suspense. Julie Garwood is one of my favorite authors and she has a few out that I love. I have my bachelors in CJ, I just got so tired of all the unnecessary bs with my specific job. I would love some book suggestions if you have any !! Thank you also for the feed back, it means so much to me !!

Rowena,
Thank you , thank you, thank you.
I appreciate the shout outs, it means a ton.

Also ladies I have no idea if I'm doing this whole responding thing right, I'm working on it on my ipad and it just looks ridiculous. Please stay patient in a quick learner !!!

Elle wrote: "Rowena,
Thank you , thank you, thank you.
I appreciate the shout outs, it means a ton.

Also ladies I have no idea if I'm doing this whole responding thing right, I'm working on it on my ipad an..."

No worries here. I have been here for a while and I am exactly at the same point as you are

Elle wrote: "Amanda,

I do love romantic suspense. Julie Garwood is one of my favorite authors and she has a few out that I love. I have my bachelors in CJ, I just got so tired of all the unnecessary bs with my..."

I hear ya about the CJ business. I don't work in it anymore either and I find I'm much happier now. It gets sort of depressing after awhile. Now I can create the stories and make sure the outcome is one I like:)

For recommendations...I really love Heather Graham and Mary Higgins Clark. I've read tons of their books and love almost everyone of theirs! I've never read Julie Garwood. I'll have to check her out. *adds more books to my to-be read pile*

(Our lovely group as some amazing romantic suspense as well *Smiles*)

Elle wrote: "Also ladies I have no idea if I'm doing this whole responding thing right, I'm working on it on my ipad an..."

It all looks great to me:) I'm on the computer. You're doing awesome. *thumbs up*

Elle wrote: "I would love some book suggestions if you have any !!"

I will recommend Queen Amanda's book Escaping Memories!! Loved it!!

Jane wrote: "Elle wrote: "I would love some book suggestions if you have any !!"

I will recommend Queen Amanda's book Escaping Memories!! Loved it!!"

*blushes* Thank you, Princess Jane:)

Psst....Princess Jane's has some amazing one's as well. Couldn't stop reading One and Two!!

I'm literally in the presence of book royalty. I'm totally going to find your books and read them !!! I just finished Mistress Ann's book!! I can already tell you I'm so glad I picked this group to be a part of !!!

Elle wrote: "I'm literally in the presence of book royalty. I'm totally going to find your books and read them !!! I just finished Mistress Ann's book!! I can already tell you I'm so glad I picked this group to..."

Awww . . . so nice!! We're super glad to have you here!! ❤(ˆ‿ˆԅ)

@Miss Elle: Holy insanely fast, Batman!

I can't believe you read it already! Thank you sooo much!! Totally stoked to get your honest thoughts!!!

I'll add your review to my "I ♡ BLOGGERS" page too. Oh, yeah, I put bloggers on the front of my author site cuz...well...I love you guys. Obvi!

Big-squeezy-hugs,
Ann

And we're glad you joined us, Elle! We love to have fun:)

Aww y'all are amazing *hugs* right back. I've added both ladies books to my tbr pile and I've actually had a few Goodreads friends add them as well!!! I put a review up of Mistress Ann's book on the blog and can't wait to put talks up as well!!! Blessed to be surrounded by such kindness and talent!! Happy Friday Y'all!!

That looks like an amazing blog Elle!!! You write lovely reviews. They're incredibly in-depth and has made my to-read list way longer!

Ah, thanks, Elle! Mistress Ann did write an amazing book. So good:)

Oh, man! Thanks, everyone...

*blushes*
*redirects spotlight back on Miss Elle*
*and her fantastic-looking blog*

Hugs all,
Ann

Y'all I've got bloggers block... You know the same thing as writers block but only in the bloggish way... I need your help and I really only feel like my authors can help me. I just finished reading my last of 3 books I need to review and one of the books just didn't read well to me.... (NOT ONE OF YALLS) I really don't know what to write and I don't want to be mean because what I want to say is , your book lacked detail, it jumped around and left me feeling like I had vertigo.

HELP!!!! How do I criticize without being mean.... I've never been in this position. Also I didn't know where to post this so I figured this was a safe place lol......

Elle wrote: "(NOT ONE OF YALLS)"

First things first, you're totes allowed to be 100% honest even if it was one of ours. To expect anything else would be pretty pansy of us, imho. If ever you hate a book of mine, you are most welcome to say so. With that outta the way...

You have some choices:

1) Don't write the review. You're never obligated to do so even if you accept a book for review.
2) Send your honest review privately to the author and ask if they'd like it published. No, they do NOT have the right to ask for it to be altered in any way, shape, or form!
3) Post your honest review. This would be my personal suggestion because you're a book blogger and your loyalty should lie with your readers/followers.

Not to mention, you don't even sound mean in the above comment. As long as you're constructive in your criticism, it's not gonna come off as anything but that: constructive criticism.

Just remember that your review is for readers, not for the author. Getting a review is simply a happy side effect for authors *giggles*

Here's a negative-ish review I had to write myself:

https://loveindieromance.com/review-e...

I just can't lie, ya know? But I don't think it was "mean" per se...? Hope that helps! Sorry it was so rambly hahahaha!!

Hugs,
Ann

Thanks Ann it helps a lot. I've written one less that stellar review and I sent it to the author before hand and she shamed me. I felt awful. I was asked questions to the likes of,

Have you ever written a book?
Have you ever had someone take something you love apart?
and blah, blah, blah.

So what you see from me is 100% honest because lets face it I don't know any other way to be. I just didn't want a repeat of what happened before. It helps to get an authors opinion. It makes me feel so much better

*Big Thank You Hugs*
Elle

That ladies and gents is why I put the name of the book in my Headline!!!!

I was a little put off by the certain author and their return email but lesson learned. I just feel by putting this out here it informs to me to the likes and dislikes and proper way to review.

Tim, I have to ask. Did you ask the review to change the headline ? I would have !!

Elle wrote: "I've written one less that stellar review and I sent it to the author before hand and she shamed me."

Ridiculous. Utterly freakin' ridiculous.

Stuff like this is precisely what gives the rest of us indies a bad name. This is the reason writers are afraid to respond to readers and readers are wary of "crazy" writers. Complaining about readers and reviews? I feel embarrassed when I see that happening. WTHeck are authors thinking?? Since when do we get to climb onto some fictitious high horse and tell readers what to think?

And the sad thing is I had another reviewer send me a review to "approve" before posting because another author had reacted the same way to her. Here's my copy/pasted reply to her:


Aww, Miss [insert name]!

You're seriously too darn sweet!! But you don't need my approval on YOUR review. ​That seems wrong somehow haha! Authors should never ever have a say. Reviews are written by readers for other readers. We're just happy to get them. Please feel free to be completely honest and​ ​write it exactly how you want to. Don't worry about me! Also, rate it however you see fit. Doesn't have to be positive or anything!

Hugs,
Ann


Sorry I totally ranted there hahaha! At the end of the day, the "proper" way to review is however YOU feel like doing it annnd I got ur back, Miss Elle ^_~

@Mr Tim: While I agree that reviewers should ideally refrain from spoilers, I still believe that ANY input from the author cheapens the review process. We don't wanna be censored, so why should they, eh?

EDIT: Ehhh, I had a smiley face from my email and it totally cut off the rest of my comment. Tee hee.

I totally agree with all the options Annie posted. As a book blogger myself, I have made it clear up front that I will not post a review I rate below 3 stars. I will, however, send the author an email explaining very specifically what I liked and what I didn't like.

I did have one guy send me back a pretty defensive response, and he's perfectly within his right to have his own opinion just like I am to have mine.

I'm guessing the "etiquette" would be not to post the review, but as Annie stated, the review is for the readers, not the author. The readers would appreciate seeing the review. If I actually finish a book I didn't like (which is highly unlikely), then I might rate it on Amazon and GR, but it won't go on my blog with the details I put into my other reviews.

You've already gotten great advice so I'm just basically going to repeat it!

Definitely don't feel like you need to review the book if you'd rather not. And if you do then you should feel free to write whatever you want (and by the way I thought the way you described it in your post about lacking detail and jumping around was very nicely said and not mean at all) and if the author doesn't like it then that is their problem.

I've heard stories like that before of author jumping all over reviewers for reviews they don't like and its so sad!! Although of course as a writer, for me at least, its always super exciting to know someone loved your book, and a teeny bit said when someone doesn't like it, but you totally know that not everyone is going to like what you write, and in the end I'm just super pleased that someone took time out of their busy lives to comment on my book! Reviews are for readers and a reader should never feel that they can't say something they want to about a book!

I forgot to mention to also consider how biased the reasons are for not liking it. I once had a reviewer email me saying she wasn't going to post a review because she couldn't give me a 4 or above, and her reasoning was that it was written in first person, which she admitted not liking most of the time. Those types of personal preferences don't offend me in the least, because there will always be someone who doesn't like something about anything. To each their own!

Tim wrote: "One reviewer spoiled the suspense that they would get it together in the headline of the review!!! Come on! Give us a break already... :D"

Oh no! Tim, that is super annoying!! Still I am someone who likes (read LOVES!) spoilers and actually bought Mistress Ann's book because of a review with a spoiler, so maybe someone out there will actually buy your book because of that spoiler!!

Tim wrote: "I'm honestly considering asking "amateur" reviewers NOT to review my next novel"

Hmm...

Outta respect for Miss Elle's thread (which I've already ranted all over), I'm gonna show some restraint and stop this discussion here. If this comes up again in a legit thread, I'll happily give you a sliver of my brain. But for now, let's just agree to disagree, shall we?

Friendly hugs,
Ann

Everyone, go check out Miss Elle's blog! I LOVE her conversational review style!!

Thank you Ann !!! Nicole your comments were super helpful as well. I se t the review to the author and have decided against posting it until later.