Sunday, January 25, 2009

My Thoughts on Reviews


Lady of the Stars has received a great review from Long and Short Reviews (LASR). The reviewer, Hibiscus, gave it 4 1/2 books. Here it is. Note: it contains a spoiler.

I want a good review as much as the next author. I'm certain reviews drive sales to some extent. But reviews, like rankings, should probably be taken with a grain of salt. I know I've read many reviews where one reviewer loved the book for xxx and awarded five stars. The next reviewer hated it for the same xxx and gave it one star. All reviews do contain come personal taste. If you don't care for a particular setting or story or whatever, you will rate the book lower, no matter how well written and interesting the story.

I never read a review first. I read the blurb, to see if it's the type of book I like. I'll read an excerpt. If it's a paper book, I'll get the copy from the library. I usually only read the reviews after I've read the book, to compare my impressions with the reviewers. And I may not read the review at all.

Be that as it may, I thank Hibiscus for the great review. I love Lady of the Stars, and I'm happy she does, too.

Now for the Shameless Promotion. Because LASR reviewed Lady of the Stars this week, I'm in their poll.

Please, please, please vote for me!

Here's the link http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm

Voting started yesterday. Today, January 25, is the last day.

And I guest blog Friday at the Romance Roundtable.
Thank you all,
Linda

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I voted for you, Linda! Congratulations on all the good reviews.

Linda Banche said...

Thanks, Joanna, I appreciate it.

Kaye Manro said...

Hi Linda-- promotion seems endless, doesn't it? And like you, I never read the reviews first. Blurbs and excerpts are what get my attention. So maybe we should think about that? Anyway, I hope you get lots of wonderful reviews too.

Linda Banche said...

Hi Kaye. Yup, I think the way to go is grab the readers with blurbs and excerpts. They're the only ones who count.