On Being an Oddity

Every time there is an online buzz around a new romance release, I just know I'd not enjoy it. After many expensive mistakes, I learnt a painful lesson not to pay any attention to a buzz. Even so, I have given some a try and almost all left me indifferent, which includes:

• Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
• the Dark series - Christine Feehan
• the Dark-Hunter series - Sherrilyn Kenyon
• If Angels Burn - Lynn Viehl [it's a great title, though]
• What to Do About Mia - Millie Criswell
• Into the Fire - Anne Stuart [the heroine is so spineless that I wanted to strap a broomstick to her back]
• Passion - Liza Valdez
• Miss Wonderful - Loretta Chase
• The Switch - Lynsay Sands [I find it interesting that she's no longer a flavour of the month with the online romance community; each of her new medieval-era romantic comedy used to generate a fever]
• Phantom Waltz - Catherine Andersen [I'd rather re-read Outlander than to read this again]
• Beyond Innocence - Emma Holly
• Not So Innocent - Laura Lee Guhrke [my first LLG wallbanger]
• Cry No More - Linda Howard [to be fair, I'm heavily biased where the subject of this story is concerned, so I should count this one out]
• My False Heart - Liz Carlysle [I think that's the title, anyway]
• Shadowheart - Laura Kinsale
• the Undead & Unwhatever series - MaryJanice Davidson
• the Sookie in Dallas series - Charlaine Harris
• The Real Deal - Lucy Monroe
• Tell Me Lies - Claudia Dain [I avoided her books since, until To Die For, which is pretty good]
• Lord of the Wolves - Heather Graham
• the Anita Blake series - L. K. Hamilton [Mary Sue at her finest]
• the Stephanie Plum series - Janet Evanovich [can you say repetitive?]
• that 'Rothgar is coming' book that had a huge buzz for a year or so - Jo Beverly
• All Through the Night - Connie Brockway
• The Windflower - Sharon & Tom Curtis [since this is supposed to be about the h/h, it's not memorable because all I could remember about this book is Cat who, IMO, richly deserves his own story.]
• debut - Cheryl Holt [I can't remember the title but it was her debut]
• The Bronze Horseman - Paullina Simmons [I didn't realise until later that 'romantic sagas' aren't common in the US, which is probably why TBH is so popular]
• Judith Ivory - full stop.
• Julie Garwood - full stop.
• Mary Jo Putney - full stop.
• Carla Kelly - full stop.

Am I an oddity? Who cares? :> If there is a huge buzz about a new release, there is a good chance that I wouldn't enjoy it. I had wondered for a while if it was to do with having high expectations, but then I realised that I'm like this with films as well. I see what I see, regardless of people's opinions around me. Also, it makes me realise that I have a definitive set of likes and dislikes, so no matter how many times people tell me how wonderful [or bad] something is, it always falls back on whether I like it or not. I do envy those who are able to enjoy sharing a love for a film or book. It's indeed a nice feeling, but it's a tad too expensive to support. I'm still trying to work out what it is that I look for in a novel and what attracts me. Book cover is the easiest way to catch my eye, no problem, but what actually makes me buy it? I haven't really thought about it before, so I'm curious. Be good, be bad & be safe.