Figured it out...

While I was posting responses to the comments on my That Darned Grading Curve the other day I finally figured IT out. I read for voice, writing style and characters, not necessarily story. Not much of a brainstorm but it worked for me.

It's explains...

• why my keeper shelves are filled with less then perfect books.
• why I have autobuy authors that always work for me, but may not love or even like all their books.
• why I have old favorites that no longer work for me, it's not the stories they're now telling, it's a change in their writing voice and style I don't like. Joan Wolf went from lush to sparse. Catherine Coulter historicals went from dark to humorous to just too witty.
• why some authors are hit or miss. I may like the story they're telling enough to compensate for not loving their writing voice or style, but may not like other stories enough to do the same.

Don't get me wrong, a good story is always important, but for me it's the writing voice and style that make an autobuy.

Autobuys... Mary Balogh, Meljean Brook, Liz Carlyle, Susan Carroll, Laura Lee Guhrke, Linda Howard, Madeline Hunter, Eloisa James, Lydia Joyce, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Julia Quinn, Karen Ranney, Nora Roberts, Karen Rose, Susan Squires, Anne Stuart, Lynn Viehl... To name a few :D