tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post2283603016339043088..comments2024-03-28T09:00:35.317-04:00Comments on Reading Between the Wines Book Club: Journey of a Debut Author Blog Tour w/Joan Swan (Guest Post & Giveaway)Crystal @ RBtWBChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452361936625217579noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-1539524242913202762011-12-14T04:04:01.607-05:002011-12-14T04:04:01.607-05:00My favorite element of a series is the continuatio...My favorite element of a series is the continuation of the characters stories but it's also a make or break element for me. I have to like the characters enough to want to revisit their stories, learn more about them, see them through the rest of their journey. Thanks so much for this giveaway, it's awesome! :)Amanda Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11664674688926185846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-65749726458046217552011-12-11T01:30:48.294-05:002011-12-11T01:30:48.294-05:00A make or break issue for me is the main protagoni...A make or break issue for me is the main protagonist. I have to like them and want them to be a friend I would stand by and revisit with at the beginning of each new journey. I do not like whining or too bitchy females or males that have no sense of humor and take everything too seriously; unless they are secondary characters LOL Thank you share with us today and for this incredibly generous giveaway opportunity. <br />dz59001[at]gmail[dot]comDenise Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17743337429214149474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-13954509028406953712011-12-10T12:02:49.869-05:002011-12-10T12:02:49.869-05:00The first book in a series has to really grab me. ...The first book in a series has to really grab me. I love having other planned characters introduced and give me an idea of what's to come. If there are secondary characters, then I'm itching to get ahold of their books. Stand alone books in a series are ok, but I love it when they are all tied in and having a past character show up in one of the later books is something I also love. Let's me see how things are after their book ended and it feels like they never leftJolene and Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430221887990969543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-22236483360568538752011-12-01T20:35:45.497-05:002011-12-01T20:35:45.497-05:00Hi Jasmyn,
Those love-to-hate characters are lusc...Hi Jasmyn,<br /><br />Those love-to-hate characters are luscious, aren't they? I LOVE writing them as much as I love reading them!Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-12755649802610785962011-12-01T20:34:56.595-05:002011-12-01T20:34:56.595-05:00Latisha and Kara -- yes, those HEAs are a must for...Latisha and Kara -- yes, those HEAs are a must for us romance readers!! So very true!Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-75146154127195399022011-12-01T20:33:26.044-05:002011-12-01T20:33:26.044-05:00Jen, I feel so much better knowing I'm not the...Jen, I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one who HAS to read a series in order!! :)<br /><br />And you make a good point about the Steph Plum series. Thing happen, change takes place, but no significant growth in Stephanie. I hadn't read anything since about...12...13 and recently picked up 17. Still funny, still entertaining. No growth. Maybe that series offers something different, I don't know.<br /><br />But I too appreciate growth.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-62380747744132154662011-12-01T19:44:29.930-05:002011-12-01T19:44:29.930-05:00I love a happy ending.I love a happy ending.Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13374899214454445131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-22003530674397095582011-12-01T17:57:39.485-05:002011-12-01T17:57:39.485-05:00The quality of the characters makes or breaks a se...The quality of the characters makes or breaks a series for me. If I can't love them or love to hate them, then I quickly lose interest.Hot Off the Shelveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761595986527339674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-74311750361057882412011-12-01T17:41:40.817-05:002011-12-01T17:41:40.817-05:00One of my favorites is the characters and the roma...One of my favorites is the characters and the romance in relationships in a book! I love happy ending ! I love to read series because I get hooked on characters and want more of them! Thank you for the great giveaway!latishajeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14684434404351430325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-55835018027791229122011-12-01T13:07:23.128-05:002011-12-01T13:07:23.128-05:00I love series. If the series is following the sam...I love series. If the series is following the same main character, then I want to see growth. I think that's what is frustrating me with the Stephanie Plum books... there's no growth (and rehashing of the same plot, book after book, *sigh*). But if the series is following a family or some other theme, I like when there is an overarcing plot that continues and advances in each of the books and it ultimately solved when the series concludes. Since I also HAVE to read series in order, I do enjoy having old characters make appearances in later books.<br /><br />JenRomancing the Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07352193203090054976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-38188430857638037552011-12-01T11:46:55.681-05:002011-12-01T11:46:55.681-05:00Lisa, that world building is crutial, agreed. Eve...Lisa, that world building is crutial, agreed. Even series set in the modern world, like mine, still have a world, a culture, a lifestyle, a certain cast of characters, a set of rules that have to be followed "or else", etc. That is a "world" that needs to follow with the plot and the plot changes.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-3560797351261015892011-12-01T11:44:49.345-05:002011-12-01T11:44:49.345-05:00Hi Donna,
Can't remember the person who said ...Hi Donna,<br /><br />Can't remember the person who said this, but "Character is conflict, conflict is story." It's one of my mantras. :) Sounds like it would be one of yours too.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-88254982849204873962011-12-01T11:43:26.203-05:002011-12-01T11:43:26.203-05:00Hi Karen,
I agree, I think for a lot of readers i...Hi Karen,<br /><br />I agree, I think for a lot of readers it's intuitive, but I think you've hit the main vein there -- characters.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-17769984345758696732011-12-01T11:41:56.065-05:002011-12-01T11:41:56.065-05:00Hi Dani, yes, killing a character would just about...Hi Dani, yes, killing a character would just about be the death of a series for me (no pun intended) even if it wasn't the main character, but a good character...there are many ways to get a character off screen other than killing them.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-79332720659954181902011-12-01T10:40:21.949-05:002011-12-01T10:40:21.949-05:00I think the first thing is the characters must be ...I think the first thing is the characters must be likeable and have chemistry (sexual or non). If I think the main characters are too stupid to live I won't go any further. Then a storyline that makes sense (within the confines of the genre) and gets us from point A to point B in a coherent manner.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09747079254596095418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-77164209697770116432011-11-30T23:45:43.645-05:002011-11-30T23:45:43.645-05:00I've read Sharon's books for almost two de...I've read Sharon's books for almost two decades, awesome, awesome writer.<br />The continuity in the world building is what ties the books together for me. I like that you often get a visit from characters from earlier books. It's rather like having a family reunion.Lisa Richards/alterlisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00347858402988565314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-74005099480543115882011-11-30T23:44:23.605-05:002011-11-30T23:44:23.605-05:00Its really all about the characters and the story....Its really all about the characters and the story. If you dont feel for the characters or dont "get" the story, the series isnt worth it for me. I also really like finding out what happens after the book and main story finishes and finding out more about the secondary characters.<br /><br />bacchus76 at myself dot comdonnashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15468804026216474775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-74053563795572665472011-11-30T23:24:16.814-05:002011-11-30T23:24:16.814-05:00I love Sharon Sala's books and would love to w...I love Sharon Sala's books and would love to win one of her trilogies. <br /><br />It's difficult to answer those questions because it isn't something I stop and think about. I guess it would have to be strong characters above all else and can work for each of those questions.<br /><br />kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)comKaren Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879661976460705463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-85741426615143238312011-11-30T23:21:54.374-05:002011-11-30T23:21:54.374-05:00I love a series that sees a character grow. The e...I love a series that sees a character grow. The experiences in previous books change them, even if it is only a tiny bit. Knowing that the person at the end of the series is not the same one you met in book 1. The best example I have of this is Eve Dallas in JD Robb's In Death Series. Now that is a woman that has grown, and I love seeing all those changes!<br /><br />A series can be killed for me if a character is killed just to kill them. If there isn't a just reason, or one that makes sense to the overall plot I can get very disappointed in the author. But I'm a HEA kinda gal, so I don't like many "good" character to die.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273328129259118833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-65821157339179430132011-11-30T22:13:36.058-05:002011-11-30T22:13:36.058-05:00Hi Sebrina, I get what you're saying...if ther...Hi Sebrina, I get what you're saying...if there is little or no tie to the previous plot or characters, it's not really a series.Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-49483334152994526752011-11-30T22:04:20.839-05:002011-11-30T22:04:20.839-05:00Sophia,
I love the way you described the details ...Sophia,<br /><br />I love the way you described the details being "teased out" over the course of a series. That will definitely keep a reader hooked! And I too love that family feeling -- maybe even moreso as a writer!Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-80938561673408981012011-11-30T22:02:13.572-05:002011-11-30T22:02:13.572-05:00BlackWolf, You are definitely in with the majority...BlackWolf, You are definitely in with the majority here. Love hearing how many are enthralled with characters even after their book is over!Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-9225499423862032032011-11-30T22:01:11.818-05:002011-11-30T22:01:11.818-05:00Emily, well said. I love watching primary charact...Emily, well said. I love watching primary characters in other books move on in their lives as secondary charactes in future books!Joan Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011766246198209544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-25825198429072978942011-11-30T21:40:43.417-05:002011-11-30T21:40:43.417-05:00I like a series to be connected thru the character...I like a series to be connected thru the characters, as a family (biological or friends). Each book would highlight a couple, but most members would appear in each book. I like to see what the main characters in the early books are up to.<br />sallans d at yahoo dot comDihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17621358091229477687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926345421909415577.post-28865330397426770312011-11-30T21:31:19.870-05:002011-11-30T21:31:19.870-05:00Wow! Awesome giveaway. Thanks for the chance at su...Wow! Awesome giveaway. Thanks for the chance at such great prizes. I haven't read your books yet but they look like something I'd definitely love. Great way to get started too :-)<br />I'd have to say the most important element in a series, to me, is how the characters interact, whether it all "flows" together or not. It has to keep my interest and that's the way to do it! <br />-Dawn aka dawnmomoffour<br />thedoyle6@rogers.comdawnmomoffourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10255909482634909327noreply@blogger.com