Shana, are you trying to burst my bubble? There are bad reviews out there? You mean not everyone is going to like my books as much as my mom does? A moment while I recover from this rude awakening…

I’ve been pretty fortunate in that my writing style and stories have so far struck a positive chord with most readers and reviewers. Nora’s spot on the best seller lists isn’t in any danger yet, but I’ve done fairly well considering I don’t write erotica or vampires. No one has taken the time to send me less-than-nice e-mail, and reviews for both books have been positive or at least neutral.

With one exception, and one that really annoys me. This reader admitted up front that she doesn’t like chick-in-pants stories, but she still chose to buy What An Earl Wants and read it. It’s not like we tried to hide this aspect of the tale – it’s clear from the back cover copy as well as the teaser page inside the front cover, not to mention all the reviews, that this is a chick-in-pants story. Yet she bought it, read it, and posted a review on a bookseller’s site to expound on why she didn’t like it (because it’s a chick-in-pants story). It would be different if she were a reviewer and read it because it was assigned to her, but that’s not the case.

There are some types of stories, and some authors’ voices, that for various reasons just don’t click with me, so you know what? I don’t read them. How radical is that? With all the demands on my time, I tend not to read stuff I know I won’t like.

With only eight weeks to go before my next manuscript is due on my editor’s desk, I’m going back into my writing cave. Back into my perfect little bubble, where all the reviews for Kiss From A Rogue (out on Tuesday, 1/31!) use words like wonderful, charming, endearing, fine storytelling, and keeper shelf.