Buying Habits & Mini-Review

I just finished reading Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan, courtesy of the very wonderful Suzanne Johnson. I'd been wanting to read this book forever, but I don't live near a bookstore and I never order books online--other than ebooks. (My Nook is getting very fat with books.)

But this brings me to the subject of buying habits and my big secret.

I am not a jumper-of-bandwagons. 

I'll wait for the collective gasp. LOL.

You can bet your bottom dollar that if some big book, movie, gadget, trend, or the Second Coming rolls around, I will very nearly be the LAST person to come on board. I don't know what that says about me other than I simply lack the gene to scratch the 'instant gratification' itch.

I have to wait and see. Listen to other people's opinions. Weigh my options. Do my nails. Wash my hair. You get the idea.

Generally, by the time I read a blockbuster book, it's been history for at least a couple of years. Now if you happen to have a book that is NOT on the NYT bestseller list, your chances are very good that I'll read your book before the blockbuster. Call me a rogue because I prefer to support writers who don't get all the fanfare and accolades. The megastars will always be there, but a lesser known writer might get lost in the constantly moving parade of new stories.

Do you think that's weird? Greg doesn't hesitate to buy what's new and hot. Me...I'm patient. 

'Warprize' really tested my patience though. I wanted this book badly. Every time I was in a town that had a bookstore, I'd check for it. The clerks always offered to order it for me, but when's the next time I'd be in that town? I couldn't say, so I'd pass. It's not as if I was suffering for lack of reading material. I have lots to keep me busy.

And then Suzanne Johnson happened to mention it on a giveaway on her blog and I dropped in a comment, and won the book!

Once 'Warprize' arrived, I dove in and even skipped a few chores to finish this book. I'd already read the third book in the series 'Warlord' (because that was in the bookstore).

I have to admit, even though I enjoyed the book, it was a little disappointing. After years of hearing people rave about it, there were aspects that really bugged me.

Lara, the Warprize is a bit of a simpleton, and she seemed to defy common sense at the most inappropriate times. I also never understood why the hero was attracted to her. But Vaughan outdid herself in painting the Firelanders and their customs. Keir, Marcus, and Simus were remarkable characters. I wanted to know more about them.

I still like this book, but not for the reasons I thought I would. The third book lacked a lot of the characterization of the first book--obviously since I'm sure the author was counting on people reading them in order, though I still liked it overall.

I might skip the second book in the series (Warsworn). I read Angela James's thoughts on 'Warsworn' and she mentioned Lara was not nearly as likable.  Since I didn't care much for her in the first book, I didn't want to be further disappointed. (Although the heroine did vindicate herself in book 3.)

In book 1, Lara just didn't seem worthy of a man like Keir. There was no fire in her like there was in Keir. That's important to me. Both people have to bring something to the table for me to love them.

I feel fulfilled though. I finally read a long awaited for book. And Elizabeth Vaughan has intrigued me enough that I'm willing to try her 'Star' series. I really do like her story telling.

What are your buying habits like? Will you drop everything to buy a much anticipated book, or can you wait for the hoopla to die down?