I write reviews for NetGalley, Amazon, booklikes, Library Thing, goodreads & https://www.facebook.com/InJoyfulBookReviews. I have had four authors contact me. One to let me know a suggestion I made was edited out in a book & I elevated the star rating. Another was to offer praise & appreciation. The last two were the unhappy comments about receiving a three star rating. I usually state what I like, what I don't like & what would make a difference in the star rating. One of these authors was furious & made that position quite clear. That one left me uncomfortable but I didn't feel unsafe.

A three-star rating is actually a pretty good rating! On Goodreads, it means "liked it"; on Amazon, it means "it's OK". I don't understand authors who would get furious about a rating. They can't possibly expect everyone to like their book. I remember a music director I once knew who said that he would rather get a bad review than no review at all - at least people were talking about his work and not ignoring it. Whether an author gives you a book in exchange for a review or whether you purchase the book, the review should be your honest opinion. The review really isn't done for publicity on behalf of the author - it's done to give other customers a better idea of whether they would like the book or not. I've been lucky so far - only emails thanking me for the reviews so far. Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.