Point-of-view preference?

( Rambly, possibly boring exposition about how I'm trying to find a good romance novel, failing, and learning something about myself in the process. So if you're curious, you can click on this cut, otherwise onto the question! )

So, maybe all that wasn't as cohesive or concise as it could have been, but I've wasted enough time on this already today.  ^^'  My question is, do you have a preference for third- or first-person point-of-view?  If so (or not), why is that?  Just what exactly about them do you prefer?  And does this preference vary depending on whether you're reading or writing?  I'm sure there are other reasons beyond my personal ones (and no doubt my personal reasons at this moment are tainted by amateur-ish romance novels), so I'm curious.