Thursday, February 2, 2012

Friday Hops #8

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read.

Today’s Question: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the how love interest the Alpha Male?

I'm definitely a fan of kick ass heroines! Both physically kickass (Katsa! Suze! Katniss!) and also really clever and witty heroines (Lori! Lucy! Ginny!) are big favorites of mine. As for love interests... I have a huge weakness for best friend stories (as I will mention again below in my TGIF answer). And my favorite books tend to have slowly developing romance as opposed to love at first sight (also expanded on below!).


TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

Book Appeal: When you’re browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger’s reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

A good love story! I’m a sucker for romance, so that’s probably the number one thing that I look for. And none of that insta-love stuff. I like the slow burnnnnn. I want sparks. Sexual tension. Even if I’m not that interested in the plot, if I hear that a book has an amazing slow burn romance or the characters have fantastic chemistry together I’ll almost definitely check it out.

I’m also a huge fan of best friend stories (The Boys Next Door, Catching Jordan, Fracture, etc.), so that will make me pick up a book too. Or not even best friends, but just characters that have known each other for a while and have some kind of history together (awkward history is awesome too). Of course, those usually also have the slow burn/chemistry thing going for them, so…

Oh, also! Clever humor and spunky heroines are big turn-ons for me. As is gorgeous and unique writing (like Tahereh Mafi and Cath Crowley). Or if a book is really intensely emotional and makes you hurt in a good way… that works for me too. :P

And if it’s a reviewer who I’m familiar with and I know we have similar taste in books, I’ll usually trust them if they say they liked a book even if I wasn’t planning on reading it. I also look at the favorite books of certain authors that I really like. I’ve discovered some awesome books that way.


Happy Friday, everyone!

35 comments:

  1. I agree 100%. A slow developing romance is much more romantic and dramatic in the long run. Ginny, Suze, Katsa and Katniss!!! Yes. They are awesome.

    New Follower!

    ~V

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  2. I am such a sucker for the romance too! I can dig a fast moving relationship but I MUCH rather read about two people who don't fall right away. It's fun to read and my heart aches like half the book wanting them to kiss! And THAT is what is so great about them. Great FF this week. [:
    You can check out my Follow Friday here.
    [:
    ShawnaLeAnn
    Dreaming In The Pages Enter My Giveaway

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  3. Great list! I agree! Thanks for stopping by!! :D
    ~Jaiden

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  4. I love the best friend love interest! I'm so glad to see it popping up more! Reading to Penguins

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  5. I can't do the insta-love thing either. Well, I can do it in my adult romances, but not my YA. I've found that in YA insta-love means no development of relationship. They just get together. However, in most adult romances, the heroines and heroes don't necessarily get together even though they are meant to. They know that physical attraction or love-at-first-sight can be dangerous.

    My FF

    Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire

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  6. A funny main character! Yes, please, but if it's snarky in a complain-y way I get annoyed VERY quickly.

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  7. Hello! New follower. Yes, I hate romance that seems to come out of nowhere, it's just not beleivable.

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  8. I don't think I've read too many books with best friend stories, so loving your suggestions and adding a few to read.

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  9. Ooh yes good answers! The love story does have to build in my opinion for me. I don't like insta love, which does happen on occasion but the rest of the story tends to make up for it!

    Here's my Friday Hops

    Have a GREAT weekend!

    Old Follower :)

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  10. Ooh, I didn't think about the appeal of best friends or relationships with history, but now that you mention it, I love stories like that too!

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  11. I don't think I know your heroines but I totally agree with you!

    old follower

    here is mine

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  12. OMG, Katniss is a great choice. And I'm sooo with you on the slow burn. Sparks sizzling, tension through the roof... :P Spunky heroines -- have you read Merrie Haskell's The Princess Curse? The main character is pretty much the definition of "spunky". :D

    I hope you'll drop by and enter my giveaway to win one of three ARCs! :)

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  13. I love kick ass characters too - Yay for choosing Katniss - I totally agree with choosing her ;) I love a bit of intelligence and wit to characters too! Fantastic answer :)

    Here's my FF post!

    Stephanie @ SOOTP

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  14. I think your TGIF answer might be one of my favorites today! *grin* And I think I need to check out The Boys Next Door. Heheh.

    Happy Friday!

    Patricia

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  15. Great answer! Emotional books, whether sad or happy always stay in my memory.

    Happy Friday :)

    The Muggle
    -If you have a moment please nominate your favorite cover here.

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  16. Old follower returning the visit! Insta-love does nothing for me, either. If they know they're soulmates from the first eye-contact, I'm bored already. But the slow romantic development? That's edge-of-your-seat reading. :-)

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  17. Hopping through. I like friend stories too. There aren't enough of them.
    My Hop

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  18. Loooove all yours answers! My favourite have to be the clever witty girls, because it makes for an interesting story and interesting possibilities! Deeeefinitely agree with the "slow burn" love story too, something about the anticipation just makes it all the sweeter :)

    Old follower!
    Ashley
    My FF

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  19. I like your answers! And I can tell you that I am also a real sucker for romance. And I love a little kickass heroine in my characters as well :D

    Mariska (new follower)

    My FFF

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  20. Great answer! I'm a hopeless romantic, as you might call me, and I love having a strong heroine. I usually go for the bad boys in the book, but sometimes I'll favor the best friend over the bad boy! New follower!

    http://eileenlisblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/follow-friday-13.html

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  21. I love your answers! "Clever and witty heroines" (I LOVE Ginny, too!), and I definitely don't like the insta-love!

    Oh, and I see in the description of yourself you're a Nerdfighter! Me too! DFTBA!

    I'm looking forward to reading more from you!

    Andrea (New Follower) (My FF + Giveaway!)

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  22. Kickass heros/heroines for me too! I love strong protags, they make me all squishy, but especially when they don't start out that way. Thanks for stopping by!
    Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog

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  23. If you love kickass/smartass heroines.. you have to LOVE Natalya from Feehan's Dark Demon!! She has it all..

    I also agree a slow sensual build up is oooooo so swoonworthy!!

    Following you back
    Shauni
    Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy FF and Tea and Book FF

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  24. I love romance (: Following Back!

    Katie

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  25. I agree romance that develops throughout the book is by far the most romantic in my mind... and more interesting ;)
    Following back!!

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  26. thanks for stopping by my blog. following you back!

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  27. I too love slow love stories. Ones that have time to build and isn't insta-love. Thanks for stopping by. Following back.

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  28. I’m following you now from Follow Friday, and to follow me back, check out My Follow Friday post

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  29. I love books with good and lasting friendships, it just adds to the story! Thanks for stopping by and I'm following you back! Hope you have a great week!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  30. Thanks for visiting me. I'm following you back.

    Totally agree on the slow burn thing. Instant mating bonds and fated mates have their place every now and again when you are in the mood for that kind of thing, but hey are not the couples you will remember for long. Not enough substance.

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  31. Hiya!

    Thanx for following BLYTHES and BOOKS, gonna return the favor! ;)

    Hmm I like your witty heroines and I do like best friend stories but maybe they're a bit too tame for my taste, most of the time... Although an action-packed story with friends is awesome too... I guess it depends on the book ;)

    Happy reading! :)

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  32. You're totally right! Go Katniss. :) I'm a new follower, thanks for stopping by!

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  33. A slow developing love story is definitely the best.

    Thanks for stopping by and following my blog! I followed ya back!

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  34. Hi, and thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm following you back.

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I love comments! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to tell me what you think! I treasure every single comment and I'll do my best to visit your blog in return. :)

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