First and Third Person: Together or Separate?

A writer friend posted on Facebook about a romance she was reading and that she hated how it had switched from first person in the female’s point of view (POV) to third person in the male’s POV. She wanted to know if this was a new thing.

I pointed out that it’s not that much of a new thing in suspense/thrillers (I’ve seen the villain’s POV in first person a lot). Romance? Maybe. But then I haven’t read a lot of first person romances because I’m not fond of them.

I think certain genres kind of lean toward one POV over another. I’m okay with mysteries and urban fantasies in first person (although one POV in third would work for me, too). But I don’t expect to see another POV in those books. And while seeing first person POV for a villain in a thriller is a little jarring, I get it. Sometimes. But for romance? I like it in third for ALL the characters.

A romance in first person doesn’t to it for me. This romance reader WANTS to know what both characters are thinking/doing. That’s the fun part of it for me—the knowing and wondering when the other character will get a clue. But to put one character in first person and the other in third? That just distances me from the other characters. Why do it? Is this a writer thing or a reader thing? Frankly, I think it’s a writer thing (the writer likes writing in first person, but wants the other POV shown and can’t imagine writing a different first person voice for the man).

And don’t even get me started on both characters written in first person with alternating chapters. I enjoyed one book like that. The others were just too darn confusing. I couldn’t remember which “I” I was reading about without going back to the beginning of the chapter! I avoid those books now.

So… Does having both first and third person POV characters in a book bother you? What about alternating first person points of view? Or would the genre make a difference? If so, which ones?

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Avoidance

Here’s what I read the past week:

Book #42

Dates read: June 28-July 6
Title: “Wolf Tales 11”
Year of publication: 2011
Author: Kate Douglas
Genre: Paranormal erotic romance
Series: Wolf Tales #11
# of Pages: 298
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: They are Chanku, a race of shapeshifters whose bodies hunger for sexual passion and pleasure. Protective of their own, the Chanku have always relied upon their primal instincts to keep their packs safe…until now. Tala and Lisa have been kidnapped and no one knows where they are. Mik, AJ, and Tinker fear not only for the safety of their mates but for that of their unborn children as well…
    Unwilling to concede to the kidnappers’ demands, the men summon Anton for help. Devising a daring rescue plan of his own, Anton calls upon all the Chanku to lose themselves in an erotic encounter like never before. As they link together and succumb to complete carnal desire, their sexual energy fills him with a superhuman ability to outmatch even their strongest enemy…
My thoughts: Hmmm… Besides the kidnapping part, the pace was too slow for me. It just seemed to drag on forever. Of course, all those forevers were filled with sex. I’m beginning to think that too much is just…too much. I only have one left in this series before I can call it quits. And since I bought them all, I will read them.

Book #43

Dates read: July 6-8
Title: “Avenge Me”
Year of publication: 2014
Author: Maisey Yates
Genre: Contemporary romance (steamy)
Series: #1 in the Fifth Avenue trilogy
# of Pages: 264
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Free (from some convention)
Blurb from book: Austin Treffen was born into a world of privilege, but behind its gilded doors lies a corruption so sordid New York’s elite would never believe it—especially as his infamous philanthropic father is at its core! With everything he believed in shattered, how can Austin take down his father—risking his family name and those he loves—without any proof.
    Until one earth-shattering night with Katy Michaels unlocks not only their deepest, most passionate desires but also the key to bringing Jason Treffen’s reign to an end. But with an intense sexual attraction that combines a heady mix of exquisite pleasure and subline pain, will they satiate their thirst for revenge and each other…or lose themselves forever in the darkness?
My thoughts: The blurb intrigued me, which is why I had kept this book around to read for so long. It’s a good book, and a lot steamier (close to BDSM) than I expected (not that I’m complaining about that). And while the couple’s story has a satisfying ending, the overall story is left hanging. Yeah, that tends to happen with series. Thing is, different authors write the other books and those stories don’t intrigue me like this one did. Probably why I’ve never been a Harlequin fan (which yes, this book is).

Yesterday was a good day to start working on my next novel. So what do I do instead? Clean the kitchen. And I HATE cleaning. Why am I putting it off? It’s baffling me.

So… What would be a surprising thing you’d stoop to doing as an excuse to do something you THOUGHT you loved doing? And are there to many “do”s in that sentence? I’m thinking there is. J

Happy Reading!

Stacy

 

I Finally Did It!

Sunday morning I finished reviewing (which I really must call it since I wasn’t doing much revision or editing) Ghostly Interlude and sent it to my editor.

Whew!

I realized the story was the story and if it needs fixing, someone else is going to have to tell me. I’ve been working on this story for three years.

THREE. YEARS.

It was time to let it go.

Now I really feel free to write the next Ghostly book. Hopefully it won’t take me that long. Although to be fair, I suffered my heart issues and Hubby’s cancer issues during the writing and editing of Ghostly Interlude. It’s amazing I finished it at all.

So… What’s the longest it’s taken you to finish a project? Any project. Well... preferably one that shouldn't take as long as it did.

Happy Monday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Decisions, Decisions

I’m currently in the process of deciding the cover to Ghostly Interlude. Apparently I can’t decide. Ugh. But hey, I’m getting farther along in my editing. Let’s see if I can get that book to my editor by next week, shall we?

Here’s what I read the past week:

Book #41

Dates read: June 24-28
Title: “Deadly Silence”
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Blood Brothers #1
# of Pages: 362
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Under siege. That’s how Ryker Jones feels. The Lost Bastards Investigative Agency he opened up with his blood brothers has lost a client in a brutal way. The past he can’t outrun is resurfacing, threatening to drag him down in the undertow. And the beautiful woman he’s been trying to keep at arm’s length is in danger…and he’ll destroy anything and anyone to keep her safe.
    Paralegal Zara Remington is in over her head. She’s making risky moves at work by day and indulging in an affair with a darkly dangerous PI by night. There’s a lot Ryker isn’t telling her and the more she uncovers, the less she wants to know. But when all hell breaks loose, Ryker may be the only one to save her. If his past doesn’t catch up to them first…
My thoughts: I didn’t realize until I bought this book that this series is a spin off of her Sin Brothers series, which I loved very, very much. Seems I love this series, too. Lots of suspense! Lots of romance! Lots of sexy scenes!! Unfortunately, I have to wait to read them all, since they’re not all released yet. Now I don’t mind that she writes fast, so maybe I won’t have to wait that long. This series has a little bit of a paranormal bent—genetically engineered people—but not too much (or weird) if paranormal’s not your thing. If romantic suspense is, then you gotta give this book a try. And then if you haven’t read the Sin Brothers series yet, I bet you’ll want to after (or do it now, that 4-book series is out).

So… The CW is remaking Dynasty? Ugh. I couldn’t stand it the first time around. How about you? Does it seem like there are more TV remakes than ever? Or have there always been remakes and I just didn’t notice?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

 

The States I’ve Been To

When JeffO asked what I regarded as a successful visit to a state, I thought it would be fun to list them all and state how I came to visit that state. So here you go.

1. Alabama: Basic training at Ft. McClelland, stationed at Ft. Rucker
2. Alaska: Stationed at Ft. Greeley & Ft. Wainwright (son born there)
3. Arizona: Stationed at Ft. Huachuca (met Hubby & got married there)
4. Arkansas: Vacationed at Hot Springs
5. California: Born and raised
6. Colorado: Attended RomCon in Denver
7. Connecticut: Drove through several times
8. Delaware: NOT YET!
9. Florida: Visited in laws when they lived there; Disney World; cruises
10. Georgia: Dragon Con (Atlanta) every Labor Day since 2010
11. Hawaii: Vacationed for 25th wedding anniversary
12. Idaho: Drove through in 1969
13. Illinois: Vacationed in Chicago numerous times
14. Indiana: Drove through numerous times; been to Indianapolis Zoo
15. Iowa: NEXT YEAR!
16. Kansas: Drove through on way to RomCon
17. Kentucky: Stayed numerous times (work related) and drive through a lot
18. Louisiana: Attended RT & FF&P conventions in New Orleans plus cruises
19. Maine: Stayed in Augusta and drove down the coast
20. Maryland: Stayed for cruise out of Baltimore
21. Massachusetts: Visited Boston & Salem (via work)
22. Michigan: Stayed in Detroit a few times; Rust City Book Con
23. Minnesota: Drove through in 1969
24. Mississippi: Drove through numerous times
25. Missouri: Vacationed in Branson & St. Louis (separate trips)
26. Montana: NEXT YEAR!
27. Nebraska: NEXT YEAR!
28. Nevada: Vacationed in Las Vegas (2009) and stayed in Reno (1969)
29. New Hampshire: Drove through a few years ago
30. New Jersey: Stationed at Ft. Monmouth (daughter born there)
31. New Mexico: Stayed in Albuquerque in 1969
32. New York: Visited numerous times (Baseball HOF, Albany, NYC, Niagara Falls)
33. North Carolina: Visited Raleigh, drove through many times
34. North Dakota: NEXT YEAR!
35. Ohio: Live here!
36. Oklahoma: Stayed in Oklahoma City in 1969
37. Oregon: Vacationed at Crater Lake, stayed in Portland and Salem
38. Pennsylvania: Visited Pittsburgh many times. Too familiar with the Turnpike.
39. Rhode Island: Visited Hubby’s family a few times
40. South Carolina: Stationed at Ft. Jackson for training; stayed in Charleston for cruises
41. South Dakota: Saw Mt. Rushmore and Badlands in 1969
42. Tennessee: Drove through numerous times, visited Nashville
43. Texas: Dallas for RT; Austin & San Antonio for Footy; driven I-10 end-to-end
44. Utah: Floated in the Great Salt Lake in 1969
45. Vermont: Visited a couple of times
46. Virginia: Friend has time share in Massanutten we’ve stayed at a few times
47. Washington: Stationed at Ft. Lewis
48. West Virginia: Lived there for a month with in laws; visited many times
49. Wisconsin: Wisconsin Dells—twice (first time in 1969); Racine for Footy
50. Wyoming: Yellowstone in 1969

As you can see, not many states are just drive-throughs. Yeah, it surprised me, too!

Those states visited in 1969? My parents bought a camper and we drove from Santa Barbara to Newark, NJ to see my dad’s side of the family (first time for my sister and me, probably my mother, too). Dad was determined for us to see a lot of America. Mom said it was probably the worst vacation she ever had. You see, she still had to cook. J

So… Think you would like to travel across the states in a camper? It was a memorable trip, but not something I would want to do again. I’m spoiled: give me hotels and restaurants.

Happy Monday! And have a great 4th!

Stacy