“The artist doesn't have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don't have the time to read reviews.”
–William Faulkner

Apparently I have too much time on my hands, because the other day I got the first review of my book, TROUBLE, and, well, … I read it.

And it was … pretty good.

Shawn Monique Grimes, a reviewer for Romance Divas, and a woman who is obviously brilliant, witty, and, no doubt, beautiful and kind to children and small animals, wrote, in part:

“There’s nothing troubling about this novel by Ann Christopher. It has everything, it’s fast paced, emotional and hot as fire! I couldn’t stop reading! I needed to know what happened, not only to the hero and heroine, but also to the supporting characters as well!”

And get this: she gave it FIVE (out of five) kisses!

Yay!

Don’t worry. This has not given me a big head, and I’m keeping it real. For one thing, this review, as wonderful as it was, did not get me out of cooking dinner, chauffeuring my kids around, cleaning my house, or scooping out the cats’ litter box. For another, I am smart enough to know that everyone will not like this book, and there will be other reviewers, other reviews, and fewer kisses, stars, or thumbs up. I get it. I have taken the following quotation to heart:

“Having the critics praise you is like having the hangman say you've got a pretty neck.”
–Eli Wallach

Still, I think I will take a moment—just a tiny moment!—to enjoy this good review from someone who isn’t related to me.