The Fad of First Person

Is it just me or is the "new" thing in writing, or at least in the romance genre, writing in first person? Granted, the first author I was really able to accept it was Laurell K. Hamilton in her Anita Blake series. Does that even count as Romance? No, but then maybe the fact that it wasn't romance made the first person easier to accept. Then along came "Revenge Gifts" by Cindy Cruciger. Good book too. Then Mary Janice Davidson's "Undead and Unwed" series. Linda Howard has jumped on the bandwagon with her "To Die For" and its sequel "Drop Dead Gorgeous". And now I just finished reading "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning. Couldn't put the book down. Is it because its in first person? No, not really. In fact I find it a bit of an annoyance. Something I have to get used to. With this latest author trying it out, it comes across more as a gimmick than anything else. And why does first person seem to go hand in hand, more often than not, with paranormal?

If one romance author jumps off a cliff, to use a cliche, will they all follow? Probably, especially if the first author manages to survive and even worse, prosper. This trend reminds me of another annoying trend... previously historical romance writers turning to contemporary thrillers. And serial thrillers at that, et al, after Nora Roberts successfully started the "Death" series in romance. Which I do love, but, Ugh it started something that still ropes other authors in. Iris Johansen is writing contemporary serial thrillers and so ia Kay Hooper. Neither one writes a true romance anymore, much less a historical romance. I don't read them anymore. Now, dammit, Lisa Kleypas, my one serious bastion of fabulous historical romances, has gone the way of contemporary romance. I will have to start culling the historical romaces again to find another. There is still Mary Balough, Julia Quinn and Stephanie Laurens, but there is only one Lisa Kleypas. I am devastated.

Which begs the question? Why do I feel personally betrayed when my favorite authors change on me? Am I that stuck in a rut of my world that I can't accept change? Yes, especially when it comes to my favorite writers.

But I am forgetting to write about the wonderful (and one horrible) books I have read. I did finish "Sleeping with the Fishes" by Mary Janice Davidson. Not as good as the "Undead" series, but good, but, proves my point about trends. This is the first in a series. How do I know? Because the main character never hooks up with anyone. Grrrrr. I also just finished reading "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning which I couldn't put down and which also has a main character that doesn't hook up with anyone. Double Grrrr!!! Just write the long-ass book like Diane Gabaldon and let me have an ending for f***'s sake! Now I have to wait for at least one, if not two or more, to get some satisfying resolution. And I am a bit perverted. I want my somewhat happy ending, so I will probably wait until a few more are out before I read Karen again so as to guarantee a better ending.

That's why I love TIVO. If I know its a "Too Be Continued" I just skip watching that week and wait until its finished and then watch both episodes of the show back to back. I like my resolution with instant gratification, thank you very much.

I do have to mention "H.R.H." by Danielle Steel. For me, it was boring. So full of everyday, unoriginal writing. I couldn't finish it. I returned it without finishing it. And I will feel a tad regretful for the rest of my life for not finishing, but, I think, I would feel more regretful if I wasted more of my life reading the rest of it. Its a good reminder of why I DON'T read Danielle Steel. And Johanna Lindsey for that matter.

Next up is the next Ainsley Grey, Guardian novel, by Katie Macalister, "Fire Me Up". I am so wary of this book. It has been out for over a month now and I am just picking it up. Why the hesitation? Because the "Hero" of the book is a total ass and betrays the main character of the book at the end of both books. I do believe I threw the last book across the room after reading the ending. I don't think I have done that since Elda Minger killed off her heroine at the end in one of her "romances" The quotations in this case indicate sarcasm. So, I begin the novel with much trepidation and fragile hope that this one will be better. After the last Harry Potter book, I can't take anymore betrayal from an author. Wish me luck. ;-)