All authors know reviews are important because they help readers to decide whether to buy your books or not, and we are always thankful to people who take the time to write a review, or even a one line comment.
Unfortunately, some readers take great delight in dissing books, and earn themselves the title of ‘troll’. If you don’t like a book, it’s okay to say so and to explain why, but there is no need to be hateful and nasty like the review for Virgo’s Vice from a woman named Libby. If you go to her profile and check out her stats, you can see she is a committed troll. She’s rated 1019 books and her average rating is 2.92 stars. It appears she was expecting a sweet little innocent romance. She probably doesn’t understand that romantic suspense or suspense thrillers with romantic elements can be dark and intense.
Thankfully, most readers who leave reviews are good people who want to express their honest opinions in a decent and respectful manner. I personally don’t publish reviews if I believe a book is worth less than three stars. I usually contact the author and explain why I feel the way I do and leave it at that.
Here are three great reviews Virgo’s Vice received this past week:
From Ron (4 Stars)
Virgo’s Vice asks, “What if Survivor were about actually surviving?” When a disparate group of contestants, with two camera operators, are parachuted into Africa with few supplies, they are confronted with just that question. Each has a reason to win the contest with a cool million as a prize and each has a reason to make sure no one else does. But how far will they go to win? Literally landing on her butt in the brush, Lexie King is right in the middle of it. When she took on the assignment to film the event, she had no idea what she was getting into. She is haunted by demons from her past and soon finds the present ones can be just as bad. She is confronted with the the possibility that one of the contestants feels that a million dollars worth killing for. Or are other evil forces at work?
Trish Jackson shows her familiarity with the African wilds in this book and uses it as a backdrop for her book. The characters are a varied lot, some good people and some not so good, but all are interesting. You find yourself rooting for some and not caring what happens to a few. It’s a lot like life. In the end, I’m reminded of a phrase from the old TV series, Maude, “God will get you for that.” I must admit that Jake was my favorite character, willing to give his life for Lexie, but I’m a dog person. Still, loyalty and self sacrifice are great qualities in any species. While part of the book is first person, in Lexie’s point of view, Trish also uses third person to let you know what other characters are thinking and seeing. It’s a fun read and keeps up a good pace throughout the book.
Trish Jackson shows her familiarity with the African wilds in this book and uses it as a backdrop for her book. The characters are a varied lot, some good people and some not so good, but all are interesting. You find yourself rooting for some and not caring what happens to a few. It’s a lot like life. In the end, I’m reminded of a phrase from the old TV series, Maude, “God will get you for that.” I must admit that Jake was my favorite character, willing to give his life for Lexie, but I’m a dog person. Still, loyalty and self sacrifice are great qualities in any species. While part of the book is first person, in Lexie’s point of view, Trish also uses third person to let you know what other characters are thinking and seeing. It’s a fun read and keeps up a good pace throughout the book.
From Ken (4 Stars)
Trish Jackson’s fast-paced crime and romance novel “Virgo’s Vice” takes us into the wilderness of Africa. The contestants and two camera people have just been parachuted into the wilds where they are going to take part in a television reality show. Stranded by the failure of the show’s producer to get funding, the characters have to survive a menu of murder, love, and disaster. Using a combination of first and third person narration, Jackson creates the sense that we are watching a television show that has gone out of control. This is a page-turner with strong action and excellent romance.
From Todd (5 stars)
Reality TV…nope, not for me. But a book about a reality TV show in Africa that had a lot of things go wrong… I loved it! There was romance, there was suspense, and most importantly there was a great story behind it all, unlike reality TV. Lexie King the main character in the book is well thought out and described. Her past is the main story in this book to me and Trish does everything right in making this affect her life as a contestant for the $1,000,000.00 prize.
Thank you SO much. I really appreciate you.
Here’s a link to more info and the Amazon page where you can buy this book.
Trish Jackson, Author 