What’s Your Romance Novel Tipping Point?

I've become stingy in my old age. It's all about the recommendation from somebody I trust. I have go-to reviewers that can 'make' me buy a book by a new-to-me author. The thing is, some have such different tastes from me that if they hate it, I buy it. Others do share reading sensibilities with me and if they recommend it I'll give in and buy it.

@bungluna: For me, it's repetition--if I see a book mentioned that sounds good, then I see someone else mention it, then I see someone whose taste I trust recommending it, I get it.

If I don't know the author at all, but the book sounds good, I will check the usual sites: goodreads, amazon, B&N and see how many people recommend it. I also like reading a longer synopsis of the book (one without spoilers) so I have a better idea if it would be my type of book. Sometimes if 50 people give it 5 stars, and 2 give it only 1, I jump to those few negatives to see what is so objectionable.

I find negative reviews more helpfull than the raving gushing ones. I get a better sense of the book and if it's going to push any of my buttons.

@bunglunga: I go on recommendations, mostly from H&H. After all, this is where I discovered paranormal romances (J. R. Ward, Patricia Briggs, et al), and Grace Burrowes, and Courtney Milan, and Kallypso Masters, and any number of authors I would probably have never spent money on so willingly.

Also, my Kindles encourage me to take chances on new authors ... I don't feel so guilty when I'm only spending $3 for a whole book.

@Rose - I do have simatico people who enjoy the same things I do who's recommendations I take blindly. However, I've found that negative recommendations in sites like Amazon and Goodreads are much better for finding out if a book is going to be enjoyable or push one of my buttons.

If I get the sense that the author has done something in a unique way, I'm intrigued. I'm always looking for a fresh spin on one of my favorite themes. If it sounds edgy with angst, that's even better. Megan, I have been reading your posts for months, but had a self-imposed restriction about replying until I got my book out. But I wanted you to know I loved your posts on Gateway Books, Epilogues--Yea or Nay, Rules in the Romance Covenant, and Most Romantic Film Ever.

@Jacqueline DeGroot: Thanks for commenting, Jacqueline! Congrats on getting your book out, too.

I don't much care about book covers and I don't read the blurb on the book jacket in the book store. Most of the new authors I try are those reccommended by authors I already read and like, Kay & Kim (my favorite referance desk Librarians) and other friends who know my tastes, and from communities like H&H. Then I'll do some research on those suggested. That's how I found Christine Feehan, Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle, Darynda Jones, and, most recently, Caris Roane.

@Rose in RoseBear I'm with you about recommendations from H & H. I found Stacia Kane and Lauren Dane here and I get boatloads for my TBR from the comments. My thing is I'm a library girl. I only buy keepers that I already know I love, especially as we hit the $10-12 range per paperback. But when I love them, I buy them consistently.

I find individual tastes to be so different that I avoid reviews like the plague. I don't write them and I don't read them; in the past some of them have been so unkind to writers that they have completely turned me off.

@Ibbits - I pay attention to recommendations from authors I like, too. I also check out new author's websites.