This is a difficult question to answer, for me series' can be bittersweet. I do enjoy the quick-series releases (two or three books in as many months) Simply because it gives enough to read without waiting for years for the next book. Since I prefer to read series' in order, I do try to get the books before starting a series, but it's not a requirement. However, I can't always find them in order, and as a voracious reader, not having a book to read is a bigger problem for me than reading a series out of order. Of course, that is why I have a huge bookshelf of TBR books, several series' are there, simply because I've been catching up on other books. That is where book 3 of your highlander's is sitting, not because I'm not dying to read it but I've had to catch up on some textbooks for the upcoming semester. If it's a new author, I will keep an eye on their books for more, simply because I've started series' by new authors who've disappeared after the first book. Although I have a great imagination, and could easily imagine what might have happened next, I find it works better with the worlds I create. :)
That being said, as someone who writes in her spare time, I can also see the other side, because I know how much blood sweat and tears go into the writing of a novel. It's hard to get the stories out there when the writer isn't in control of the publishing of novels. Even as Self- Publishing is gaining in popularity, it is also making things a little harder (or at least it seems that way to me) for the new author, and the existing author, because now the publishers are dealing with a market that is being flooded with books that may or may not have previously made it past the chopping block at a publisher.
Another thing that is a consideration when I look at a series, as a reader, is length. Has this series followed a family through ten- twenty- or more books, if so are they all still in print? Ho
Every time I hear the beginning sounds of Bridge over troubled water, I feel like I'm five again, listening to it while lying under the kitchen table waiting for the call that daddy's coming home. :)
I can't say that I can choose. Both had pros and cons, and neither truly speaks to my heart. Maybe it's because I've never read Austen, or a lot of books from that era. Maybe it's because I prefer my romance a little on the wild and dangerous side. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that I want the guy whose going to knock me off my feet, make my head spin, and keep it that way for the rest of my life, or at least the few hours it takes to read the book.
Although, I have ready many books and seen the movies created from them, I often find myself disappointed. I've never read Tolkien, yet, loved the movies. I read Harry Potter-I've seen the movies- The first two were very good adaptations, the last five/six were disappointing in how much they cut/changed, I fear they got caught up.. after all there was more money to be made, and even a bad movie would make lots of money.
I've often found that I have to choose, read or watch. One way or the other I'll be disappointed if I do both. Yet, I can't seem to stop myself from watching if it's a book I loved reading.