Just Some Random Things.....

....that have been irritating me lately.

I love reading. I love romance novels. So do the other girls here at SF. That's why we started this blog, because we wanted to share with you our favorite books.

That's all this is. A place to share our love of Romance novels, our opinions of them. And that's all they are. Opinions. Everyone has one. An opinion, I mean. Some people will agree with ours, and others won't. Personally, I don't care one way or the other if you agree with mine or not.

I know what I like. And I won't apologize for it. Nor will I apologize for NOT liking something. There are BILLIONS of people in the world who read. If you don't like my review, go find another. Don't read my bad review - or my good one, for that matter - then whine about it. Either read it and accept it, or read it and move on.

Something else for you to think about. Someday, I'd like to write a book. I'd like to become one of the millions who are contracted by a publishing house and see their own words in print. Sadly, however, I don't have the talent/drive/whatever for it. I realize this. I will never be an author. Why? Because I.Can't.Write. If I can recognize this about myself, why can't other people? Just because you put words on paper doesn't mean they came together to form a good story. Just because you, or an editor, think the story is good, doesn't mean I will. Just so you know.

I'm a critical reader. I figure that's my right, considering it was my money I spent to buy your book. I expect to be entertained, or engaged, or at the very least, amused. If I'm not, I won't buy another of your books. It's that simple.

But here's a tip for you authors out there. I DID buy the book. And just because I didn't like it doesn't mean someone else won't either. There's a saying in showbiz, "Even Bad Press is Good Press". Why? Because it gets your name out there. So next time you want to whine and cry because I said I didn't like your book, remember: I paid for it. And because I did, you'll have money in your pocket. And though I didn't like it, I put your name here, on my blog, where anyone could see it. And other people saw it. And those other people might decide to buy it, just to see if they agree with me, or it's as bad as I say. And who knows, that person might like it. So then they'll review it on their own blog, positively. And then someone else will buy it. Do you see the trend here? I'm helping you, even though I didn't like your book. Why don't you try to be grateful? Even better, why don't you read my review, and see why I didn't like it. Then maybe think for a minute about if I have a valid point. Constructive criticism can be good, you know.

But even more importantly? I'm not going to go away. And neither are the hundreds of other review blogs out there. And if one of us does close down, well, five more will crop up in their place. Just something for you to think about.