I've Got a Bone to Pick: Handling a Bad (Sort of Bad) Review

Bad Reviews. We've all hadthem. Well, maybe you haven't, but work with me here.I received a bad review overthe weekend, but I'm not sure what to make of it. The reviewer starts with thisstatement:
Okay, so I'm sufferingthrough a major bronchial infection, doped up on five different meds includinga narcotic cough suppressant. My world is a pretty hazy place right now.
STOP. Sowhat are you thinking right now? Yeah. I agree. Maybe sheshould have taken a week off work. Reviewers and critics can ruin people'scareers and businesses, but what do I know. The review continued:
Could this be thereason that I found Caskets and Corruption inoffensive, and maybeeven somewhat appealing?
What? So what's yourassessment of that last line? Inoffensive means not objectionable. Somewhatappealing means she might not have loved it but may have liked it.Then this line:
What a strange book.
Well, not looking too good. Everybodyis entitled to their opinion and this is not my first negative critique. Iwrite sweet romance with comedy, suspense…and dogs! That's what makes my booksdifferent, unusual…strange?  Everycontest I've entered under the category of romantic suspense has rejected mybooks as inappropriate. Romantic suspense is supposed to be serious—special ops,CSI, police, murder, crime. Yeah, you need to have some of that in order tohave intrigue, but that's not what I like to focus on.  I like to focus on character and relationshipdevelopment. The reviewer continued with a plot summation and then this:
There are a lot ofamusing moments like these throughout the book, and I appreciated the author'szany sense of humor.There wereunfortunately a number of things I didn't like about the book. Number one onthe list of things that made me crazy was - why didn't Phillip just call theMPs and tell them to come get the body and the drugs? They could have even goneto the civilian police. Instead Phillip planned to take Lizzie with him to aconvention of funeral directors in another city, to get help there. Why? Why?Why? Maybe I was too high to get it.
Well, I did explain that inthe book. The bad guy had a gun, he wouldn't let Phillip out of his site,Lizzie wanted to preserve the evidence before the bad guy took it away, and sothey ran. Phillip didn't plan on taking Lizzie with him to the convention. Theyneeded away to get the evidence to Dover Air Force Base and that was near wherethe convention was held. Phillip didn't want Lizzie in danger and left her inDenver. They had a major drug cartel after them and they couldn't use creditcards, cell phones or anything else traceable. They also had the civilianpolice after them because they'd stolen a vehicle and attacked an officer. I'dhoped that I'd explained all of that well, but sometimes it just doesn't getthrough.
I guess her other objectionto the book bothered me the most. Here it is: 
Another item on thenegative list is Phillip's choice of attire. He wears turtlenecks all the time,due to scarring. Understandable - unless it's hot and he wears a  shortsleeve knit turtleneck . Visions of dickies running through my head didn'tmake Phillip a very attractive hero.
I thought this was the mosttouching thing in the book. Phillip was injured in a fire trying to save hisfather and his dog. This is the scene where Lizzie finds out why Phillip hasclosed himself off from love. She is pretending to be a massage therapist toavoid capture by the drug cartel:
Lizzieworked her way up to his neck. Her hand touched his scar and gently brushedover it. Without thinking, he rolled to his side and fearfully grasped her wristto stop her. Her gaze roved over his scarred, burned torso and shoulder. Helooked away. He couldn't stand to see the disgust or pity which would surface atany moment.Hereached for the blanket, but she pushed him to his back and tenderly began tomassage his chest and shoulders."This?"she asked."Thiswhat?"Asoft chuckle escaped her. "This is what turned you as cold as a corpse againstlife and being happy? Made you alienate yourself from those who care aboutyou?"Alaugh? Sheer shock stunned him. He'd never suspected a chuckle from the firstwoman, or any woman, who saw his hideous flesh. He'd guarded himself socarefully so as not to be hurt. He'd always thought the burns would repulse anywoman he met. How could this be? He'd pictured this moment in his mind amillion times. He'd been guarding himself against the pain and rejection fortwo years.Heturned and found tenderness softening her expression."Phillip,did this happen the day your father died?"Hecouldn't respond. Her words and touch rendered him speechless."Youtried to save him, didn't you? Don't you see? This is a badge of honor, like amedal pinned on your chest. You should be proud. You shouldn't hide yourselfaway and stop people from getting close to you. It's so admirable, what youdid." She leaned down and kissed the burn across his chest.
What are you thinking?  Was this scene touching to you?  At the end of the book, Phillip isn't wearingthe turtlenecks anymore. I thought it was rather revealing of his character.Anyway, the reviewer endswith this statement:
I find I can'trecommend the book…
Well, chew on that for a while and then tell me what you thought ofthis review. Was it good? Was it bad? Should it destroy my career? Should Isend her another one of my books to review? Should I take up golf? Let me hear from you. I'm still here in the meantime. 
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Comedy,Suspense...and dogs!Fly into a good book todayat:  www.dragonflyromance.com


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Sweet (clean) Romance Author