Creative Reviews discussion

Hi! I have a new book review blog that just launched today!

Love is Love Book Reviews

Love is Love reviews mostly M/M romance with some other flavors of LGBT romance in the mix occasionally. I hope you all enjoy that "new blog" smell. Obviously, I'm a newbie and I have a couple questions.

1. Do you email authors letting them know when you post a review their book? What about when the review was not requested by the author or publisher?

I'm reviewing books from my personal library right now and I don't know what the protocol is.

2. What's the best way to handle negative reviews?

My initial inclination was to only publish 3-star and above reviews on the blog. I want the blog to be a positive place where readers can find their next great read, not hurt authors whose only crime was writing a book I didn't like. Then I started thinking about the pesky 2-star reviews that would speak to larger issues in the genre... problematic representations of race, class, or sexual identity and consent issues come to mind. I guess I'm just looking for other voices on the topic.

Thanks in advance for your time and patience with my questions.
LiL