Quote:
Originally Posted by Atunah
By the time I buy a book, I am often plenty informed. I research and vet the books I buy. The most important thing to me as a reader is if I am going to like the book, is it an interesting concept. As nice as it is to know the author gets more money, it is not my first deciding factor. I want to read books I like is the first.
No ignorance on my part. I never blindly buy any books. Vetting is most important. My time and money are valuable, so I like to spend it to get the most for it.
I sure hope Kensington is not next. They have Zebra. This reader needs the publishers. Self publishers do not satisfy my voracious reading habits. There are some back list titles I get that are put out by SP's, but as far as new releases, there aren't as many I want to read.
Some of that is what Blossom said, the road to drama lama land is where self publishers are going these days in romance. Where there was unique stuff coming out, there is now mostly cookie cutter sameness with the same tropes again and again. Which is a bit baffling to me to be honest. I expected more unique stuff coming from the SP front.
And like Blossom said, in historical especially, Harlequin has been willing to paint outside the lines. They are covering era's and themes most nobody else is. I sure hope that doesn't change now with the buy out.
I don't really want to see any publishers go away. I'd rather them adjust and find a way to survive in this new world.
|
This is so odd to me because I stopped reading Zebra and Harlequin years ago for the most part because they both seemed so cookie cutter! I don't read a ton of romance, but when I do, it's usually paranormal and/or indie work. Not to say it's all new and different, but generally not what I consider cookie cutter. Maybe it's all in what we read in younger years?
Have either of you tried:
Cry Baby Hollow by Aimee Love
Louisiana Longshot by DeLeon (this is really more mystery, but the romance is coming along as the books progress)
Susanna and the Spy Anna Elliot (pretty traditional romance/historical/just for fun, not plausible)
A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde (fairly straight-forward romance, but with a side of mystery)
Of these, I'd say Cry Baby Hollow is the most unique and the romance doesn't follow what I'd call typical lines--takes pretty long to develop and has some, oh, I guess I'd call it realistic barriers thrown in.
DeLeon is mostly for the laughs. I'm not trying to tell you that the series is plausible, but I do enjoy the heck out of it and I like when a romance takes several books to develop.
The other two are more focused on the romance, but I thought them unique and cute enough to stand well enough without feeling they were following a formula.