Seems Like Old Times
A confession. I don’t read much category romance. Right now, not many at all. I follow authors who I’ve bought for years and few new ones, usually folks who are writing both category and single title, but that’s about it. This is not a knock against category or a comment on the quality of writing. This is a statement of my preference only. Me, me, me.
In the past I got burnt out on the virgin heroines/cowboys at work/secret babies/amnesiac brides story lines. I’ve been assured this trend has changed. I hope so. Category romance should thrive. Should be vibrant and innovative enough to keep our attention as they shuffle on and off the bookshelves every 5 weeks. We should want to drive over to wherever we purchase books and scoop them up before they disappear. The price is right. But, for me, the desire to try again hasn’t sparked. This may have something to do with the fact I once had a manuscript at H/S for 14 months before it was rejected. The book stank. It was my first and I’ve blocked every other detail of the book from my working memory to keep from having a breakdown of some sort. But, 14 months? That’s longer than I’ve kept most plants alive in my house. Almost as long as I keep some magazines before I throw them away. That kind of wait makes a woman mean and nasty. So, if everything has changed. If category romance is thriving and alive, feel free to inform me of my ignorance….. as I’m sure you will.
Having said all that, I have two words - Diana Palmer. She writes about all those hot button issues that don’t hold my interest. About Long, Tall Texans - love that series title, by the way. She writes those hooks I specifically don’t look for, and actually run from, when buying a book: virgin heroines, "older" alpha males (like 38-40) lusting after then bedding young’un heroines (like 19), cowboys, cowboys and more cowboys, and sometimes the ever-precious secret baby.
If I hadn’t read Palmer previously and then picked her up today and read the blurb, would I buy her stuff? Probably not. Her work isn’t what I look for now but it was at one time. The bottom line is that I still read her. Why, I don’t know. I’m kinda ticked off she switched to hardcover. For heaven’s sake, cowboys and their virgin women should cost less than $6 but I blame HQN, not Diana Palmer, for that financial disaster. But, I do wonder if everyone has a Diana Palmer, an author they technically "outgrew" but continue to buy, whether the books are good or bad, the same or different, because that’s the way it’s always been.
April 20th, 2005 at 1:55 pm
Hmm, I can’t think of an author I’ve ‘outgrown’ but whose new work I continue to buy. I recently revisited Jude Deveraux, but that was a trip down memory lane really; some selected pre-KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR work.
Category and I are on a break right now. I, too, was fed up with the prevailing constructs and decided to revisit series romance when a new set takes over.
As far as Diana Palmer and I go, we are finished. The last book of hers I read featured the standard issue 19 year old virgin heroine who–you’ll love this–lost her virginity to the grizzled and world weary 40 year old hero, while she was medicated. As would happen, the heroine didn’t remember the act or the declarations of love and picked up her, ‘I hate you, don’t touch me’ routine the next morning. The book ended with the hero proposing marriage and explaining to the heroine that the reason she was feeling so poorly was because she was pregnant! Need I say more?
April 20th, 2005 at 2:46 pm
OMG! Diana Palmer is so my guilty pleasure. I know I should hate these books but some of them I just love. Lawless is one of my faves. It shames me deeply.
But doesn’t stop me from reading her ;).
April 20th, 2005 at 4:52 pm
I only read a few category authors. I am looking forward to picking up Candace Schuler’s latest Blaze, which came out this month. I loved the first book, “Goodtime Girl” that introduced the character for this new book. I have my fingers and toes crossed it’s even half as good as that Blaze. Other than that, I don’t tend to read them.
I think I might have outgrown Virginia Henley. It truly pains me to say that. I love her old books SO much, which is why I buy all of her new ones…even though I haven’t read them yet. Gasp! I’m ashamed to say I’ve NEVER read a Diana Palmer book. Ducking and running.
April 20th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
I’ve outgrown most Harlequin Presents, but I do pick them up now and then when I see an author I used to really like. Sometimes I’ll get a decent read, other times I’ll be reminded why I stopped reading all the time.
I know I’ve outgrown Johanna Lindsey, but I do still check her books out from the library to give her new ones a try. I rarely win there, but I keep doing it — out of a sense of loyalty? I dunno. It doesn’t cost me any money, thankfully
April 21st, 2005 at 2:35 pm
Now that I know there is a Palmer book about a pregnant and drugged de-frocked virgin, I’m re-thinking my position. That may be too much even for me and I can tolerate a lot of stupid crap in books, except purple prose as pointed out yesterday on RTB. That is never okay with me. I like my prose non-purple and, call me a modern tree-saving woman, as readable as possible.
Sylvia - As far as I’m concerned books should never be associated with guilt, so keep reading. Just never write this story.
April 21st, 2005 at 10:13 pm
I’ve never read DP but I have a friend who did–she wanted her money back–the hero who btw had a big schlong, wavered between banging the poor heroine with said big schlong and calling her a money grubbing sl*t. I’ll pass. I gave up on category years ago. I do occasionally pick up a blaze (and picked up the new Candice Schuler one YUMMY) but usually I get drowned in all the narrative and can’t finish it.
I don’t really have any I won’t buy. I’m keeping a cautious eye on Jude Deveraux after her Alwasy and Forever series though and I”ve given up on Beatrice Small =(