You see a blurb or a review and then you go on point like an old hunting dog. A word or phrase has just leaped out at you and now you have to have that book. The cover was neat, but not extraordinary, the genre’s alright and you like it, and the blurb may or not have done it for you until… they said the magic word/s.
So, let’s talk Buzz Words. What words just make me have to have the book? And, I’ll lay it out here for you- it can be in the title, the blurb, a cover quote, a review… does not matter.
Here is a Top Ten List of words or phrases that will have me one-clicking or bumping it up on
my wish list priority faster than lightning:
Gothic/Atmospheric- Military Hero/heroine (make that any community service job)
- Banter/humor
- Bookshop/Library
- Broody
- Single-dad or boyfriend and her kids
- Animal character stole the show
- Unputdownable or Page turner or I lost sleep for this one
- Twist I never saw coming
- Cowboy/Ranch/Small Town
Lordy, lordy, there are more, but we’ll leave it at that.
So, what are your buzz words? Do tell!
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Shari
Owner at Delighted Reader
Shari is the Delighted Reader. Married to her Prince Charming and mother to two Princesses and one Prince. When she is not slaving away as Cinderella she loves to get lost in the pages of a good book. Never without a reading device and a few good paperback books, because she never knows when she might get 5 minutes to read!
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Vampire. That’s usually the word that makes me sit up and take notice.
Yep! Paranormal elements will do it. 🙂
Banter / hard to put down / unexpected twist are all things that really make me take a second look.
Oh yep, yep, always.
Banter or snark, laugh out loud, a different kind of paranormal romance. Paranormal set in New Orleans. Stayed up all night reading. Probably lots more as well.
Haha! We definitely gravitate toward similar descriptions, Lorna. 🙂
I’m more of a buzzwords deter me kind of gal lol but anything with humor/snark/sweet will grab my attention.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
That makes sense, Karen. I see certain descriptions or words and I’m put off, too. I see ‘angsty’ or lots of angst, ‘tearjerker’, secret baby, or love triangle and I back away. LOL
There are definitely themes or words that can catch my attention and other ones that make me run the other way. Lately I am really into sci-fi and alien aliens or other planets and any words that point in that direction. I also really like friends-to-lovers book so that word in a blurb always catches my attention too. Or things that are or sounds very unique. Single dad ones can be great indeed. Oh and twist you don’t see coming is a good one too, that always makes me curious. I also like food themes or bookish themes in books.… Read more »
Yep, some cause me to come running fast to get it and others have me running fast in the opposite direction. Oh yes, alien aliens will do it for me, too.
Great topic, Shari! Military is a word that definitely catches my eye. My husband served for 20 years so I definitely have an affinity for military-themed romances. And I admire that broody does it for me, too. LOL Friends to lovers is another trope/buzz word that always gets me. Great banter is another. 🙂
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
Oh yep, then military would grab you though I suspect you really notice when the author doesn’t get it right. 🙂
Yummy brooding or cranky heroes!
Friends to lovers can definitely be fun. Good one, Tanya!
You’re right! I do often notice inconsistencies when reading military romances. There are times when I’m taken out of the story because there’s dialogue or a situation that would *never* happen. But it’s awesome when they really get it right! 🙂
I’ll bet. I know some of my fav military romance authors are wives or military themselves and others have military folk beta read for them which I think is great.
Appreciate you and your guy’s service, by the way. 🙂