I have noticed I read different books expecting different things. No really that statment isn’t as trite as it seems, hmmm or maybe it is.
What I mean is genre, line, sub-genre, publisher, cover and sometimes even the author themselves can lead me to expect a certain ‘type’ of story. Many different factors play into this, some good, some bad, some planned (at least I think) by the publisher and some planned by the author.
I compare it to going to the movies in a way. If I sit down for an action flick and get a sappy chick flick, there is a good possibility I am going to walk out of that theater ticked off. It could be a perfectly grand chick flick but I was lead to believe I was gonna get hot sweaty action, running from the bad guys, explosions, gun fights and inappropriate sex in small spaces where the hero and heroine should be running to escape not stopping to mate.
And I was wondering if that was fair of me. I think I have decided yes because there isn’t a guidebook to how we read or what is right or wrong. It just is. And this doesn’t happen to all authors, publisher, lines or the like. Part of it leads back to branding and some of it is just my own interpretation. I make allowances for certain things in one book I wouldn’t in another.
If I crack open:
Harlequin Presents: I expect a bold, over the top story. There will be wild locations, virgins for little or no reason, alphy alpha’s, out of time moments and enough unplanned pregnancies to fill a soap opera for a week. And more often than not, I like it. I couldn’t read HP all the time and wouldn’t suggest reading any back to back. But my hat’s off to you that can.
Mary Balogh: I expect my heart to break at some point. And if the hero does one of those book throwing things (for me) like cheat, I give her a chance to redeem him.
JR Ward: I give her so much wiggle room. In fact I don’t even think about it until I close the book, which is why I go for it. She can put an H wherever the hell she wants too. Throw out whatever rap tune she likes or pop culture remark and make me like it. You feel me?
SSE: babies… secret babies… lost babies… missing babies… omg I can’t believe you fucked my sister babies…
Ellora’s Cave: Threesome’s… wolf threesomes… historical threesomes… sci fi threesomes… contemporary threesomes… vampire threesomes… and BDSM
Elizabeth Lowell (the really good old stuff): over the top, stupid nicknaming alphie alpha’s and the Fancy Ladies who love them. And honest to god I wish she would write more.
Julie Garwood: I expect fantastical historical fantasy. So I have never been able to read one of her RS. Maybe they rock the house but I haven’t been able to get past a chapter.
Catherine Coulter: cream (if you don’t understand you prolly don’t want to but if you do I bet you are giggling.) I like her. I don’t think I could ever read her Vikings again. But I found after I had been reading romance for a year or so there were some of her books I really liked. As long as I open the book expecting over the top stories.
So what about you? Do you have expections of authors, lines, publishing houses or even editors? Are their any you have been able to break or over come? Or do you use them and know to avoid the lines or authors – point blank end of story?
Laurell K. Hamilton – Sex every other paragraph, occasional fantasy elements thrown in.
Keri Arthur – Very happy, uninhibited sex with strangers every other page.
Lisa Kleypas – Darn good story and snappy dialog.
Nora Roberts = fast dialogue, very well developed family relationships, good story
Charlaine Harris = damaged (in some way) heroines making do with what they have, practical outlook, KISS solutions to conflicts
Carla Kelly = meticulous character development, beta heroes, plots occuring as small pieces/parts of actual historical events
Maybe I don’t pay enough attention to publishing houses or editors. I couldn’t distinguish between them, for the most part.
Ok I’ve tried twice to comment and they keep disappearing. What’s up with that?
Now why did that work? Let me try one more time.
Sherrilyn Kenyon–Hero was unloved, and emotionally and/or physicalliy abused by parent(s). Wears leathers pants and prefers hand to hand combat or swords or something when fighting enemies. Misunderstood by all until heroine sees true goodness in him. Heroine tries to be witty, but her one liners usually stink.
Erotic romance–Obligatory anal scene and much mental lusting on their part of h/h. We don’t get to read the actual fantasies, but instead hear about their hardening (and huge) cocks and gushing cooters as they recall steamy nights at home with their hand/the vibrator.
I always have expectations, but they tend to be lower, rather than higher, and based upon cliches. I like it when they’re surpassed.
LOL cuz you were spamed. Bad blog! No soup for you! LOL want me to delete something now *G*
Oy vey. You can delete either, I recreated pretty closely.
Devon – HAHAHA! Sorry, but that was funny. “gushing cooters” LOLOLOL
Julia Quinn – Comedy, great one liners, and a heartfelt story.
All the others I’d want to talk about have already been listed. 😉
Lora Leigh – anal, arse smacking, and pussy tapping.
Can’t think of anymore.