I love connected books! Dipping back into the world where the characters I've fallen in love with are still living their lives, settling in with a town or place where I know I'll be visiting for a while, feeling like I'm part of an entire community. I love them so much I've written another series about a family - the Hawke brothers. The first The Nanny Proposition is already out (and now on sale!), the second Bidding on Her Boss will be out in September, and the third, His 24-Hour Wife will be out in October.
So to help celebrate my love of series, I want to share some of my favourite series with you, and ask for some of your recommendations back!
Nora Roberts, Three Sisters Island Trilogy
Dance Upon the Air, Heaven and Earth, Face the Fire
I loved the light paranormal element (all three heroines are witches), the island community, the gorgeous heroes, and pretty much everything about these books. I read them years ago - in fact, they were my first Noras - and have reread them since. In fact, I might be due for a re-read now!
Eloisa James, The Essex Sisters
Much Ado About You, Kiss Me Annabel, The Taming of the Duke, Pleasure For Pleasure
I adored these books about the five Essex sisters who are sent to live with their guardian - a drunk duke who needs to pull himself together. My favourite hero of the books was that duke, Rafe - his story of redemption was gorgeous.
Jill Shalvis, Lucky Harbor
Too many titles to list, but the first three are great - Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, Head Over Heels.
These first three of the Lucky Harbor books are about three sisters who've grown up apart and are brought together by the death of their mother and their inheritance of an old inn. The heroes are amazing, and bringing the inn back to life is fun, but I especially loved the sisters element.
JK Rowling, Harry Potter
I recently watched the early movies again and they reminded me of my love for the series. Next time I have a chance, I'm reading all seven books again. Book 5 The Order of the Phoenix was always my favourite (and I've read the entire series about five times), but it's been a while since I read them through and I'm wondering if I'll have a different fave this time?
Actually, thinking about my favourite series (and believe me, there were heaps more, including Susan Elizabeth Philips's footballers, and Sylvia Day's Crossfire books) has me wondering why I ever write anything but connected stories! Now my Hawke Brothers will be out in the world, I think I need to start plotting another family series. :)
To celebrate the next two Hawke Brothers books, Liam's story The Nanny Proposition is on special for 99c for a short time, so if you've wanted to grab a copy, now is a good time!
And now I'm standing by to hear about your favourite series, and I'll send a copy of Bidding on Her Boss to one commenter. Hit me!
This is so sad. I don't have a favorite series! I have read over 250 books per year since 1973, so I'm lucky to remember the author and plot, let alone a book name or series! Sorry!
ReplyDeleteLaney, I know how you feel! When I was writing up this post, I *knew* there were heaps of other series I'd loved but I couldn't remember them!
DeleteI love a series too, Rach...though it can take me a while to get through one at the moment (pesky PhD). One of my favourites is the Sookie Stackhouse series -- sooooo LOVED that. And I've recently discovered Grace Burrowes' The Sweetest Kisses Series. I've only read the first one, but I'm itching to read the others. And I also want to read the rest of SEPPIE's footballer series.
ReplyDeleteAs for non-romance, I loved the Harry Potters too. Would love to sit down again to read them all one after the other. I also greatly admire Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mystery series. Hanging for the next one to come out (hoping another one will come out). :-)
And I can't wait to read Hawke brothers series! Yay on your new and upcoming releases!
Michelle, I recently read a Grace Burrows and liked it, so I'll check out her The Sweetest Kisses series. Sounds fun! We should read another one of SEP's footballers at the same time and chat about it!
DeleteI love series, too, Rachel. Have just read the Three Sisters Island series and really enjoyed it. There is something fun about being able to keep up with previous characters in new stories.
ReplyDeleteSue, wasn't the Three Sisters Island great? Loved, loved the first and second hero, but didn't quite warm to the third, which was fine because I loved the heroines enough to make up for it. :)
DeleteI have some favourite series, too, Rachel. It can be huge fun catching up with characters I've already met. Like your gorgeous Hawke brothers!
ReplyDeleteNora Roberts has done some fabulous series too - two of my faves are the McKade brothers and the MacGregor Brides.
And who can go past the Harry Potter series! I didn't read my first HP until the series was half written. Which meant that I could make a real feast of the first four books but then I had to wait for number 5! Argh!.
Sharon, you've mentioned the McKade and MacGregor series before and I meant to check them out back then. Must remember to do that!
DeleteI picked up the Harry Potter series part way through too and had the same experience - could glom the first few and then had an agonizing wait each time! Before a new book was released I'd always read all the books before it again - it made it such a fun time. :)
I love series! I'm glomming Susan Mallery's Fools Gold series and Sarah Morgan's Puffin Island one. I also loved Harry Potter and JK writing as Robert Galbraith's new mystery series.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading the Hawke brothers!!
Louisa, I haven't read either the Susan Mallery or Sarah Morgan series, but I did adore that Rita book of Sarah Morgan, so I should at least check out the Puffin Island books. In fact, I'll pop over and look them up now!
DeleteO Rachel
ReplyDeleteI do love the and there are so may series that I have loved over the years and Harry Potter is one of them like Sharon I didn't come into this series until I think the 3rd book was out and then bang just loved them read the new releases in a day with my daughters LOL. I too loved the Eloisa James one and of course thee is Anne Gracie's Perfect series and the Brides one that is coming out now and Anna Campbell's series wow so many could go on and on LOL
I am so looking forward to your new one woohoo :)
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, I was there on release day for the new Harry Potters too! And would rush home and start straight away. Good memories! Oh, yes, I didn't mention Anne Gracie's Perfect series (Gideon was a fabulous hero!), or Anna Campbell's delicious books. I could probably spend a month posting about all my favourites!
DeleteHey Rach - great topic :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I've read the Irish witchy sisters of Nora's. Wasn't there a 4th book? A male cousin?? Hmm, maybe I'm thinking of something else..... Also loved her McKade series.
Another series I adored and one of the few romance series I've re-read is the 90's special forces series by NZ author Fiona Brand - hot hot hot!
Non-romance - Tomorrow When The War Began series by John Marsden.
Am still loving Stefanie Plum although I realise many people are tired of it (am only up to 9 though so am behind!)
Am also currently loving Ainslie Paton's Bliss King series. Ainslie writes so uniquely that she can take me dark places with dark characters and I'll go happily. Can't recommend it enough!
So yeh....my name is Amy Andrews and I'm a series addict!
Amy, I very nearly included your Naughty or Nice duet, but I mentioned them last post and I wanted to share the love. But they definitely would be on my list. :)
DeleteOh, I know the Nora witchy books you mean. Yep, a different series, but I liked that series too. Hey, I remember the Fiona Brand books - they were sinfully gorgeous!
I haven't tried the Ainslie Paton books but I've heard good things. Must check them out!
Hi Rachel, I love series too. I especially like reading the books one after the other! Nora Roberts is very good with interconnected books. Like you, I really enjoyed the Three Sisters Islands Trilogy. However my very favourite Nora Roberts series is The Chesapeake Bay series. The heroes of these books, all with tragic backgrounds, are adopted into the same family and each has his own book. However the ongoing character of Seth also ends up with his own story - by popular demand of readers. I think you're on to a good thing with the Hawke Brothers - they sound wonderful!
ReplyDeleteKandy, I like reading them one after another too. In fact, I sometimes buy the books and save them until the last one comes out so I don't have a gap. :)
DeleteI haven't read the Chesapeake Bay books, but I have a feeling that one of them is in my TBR pile (who knows what else is in that monster pile...?), so I'll do a double check tonight and see!
I started reading the Harry Potter series once it was complete. So much fun to race through the lot.
ReplyDeleteA SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George RR Martin is another series I just love and have read often. It's killing me having to wait for the next book. (The worst part about incomplete series.)
Mary, I haven't read the Song of Ice and Fire series, but Mr Bailey *loves* them and is dying right along with you waiting for the next one!
DeleteI had to wait with the second half of the Harry Potter books for them to be released, but I've reread the series a couple of times and raced through. So good!
Another vote for Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold. I totally agree on Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor - although I have to be in a good headspace to reread the first title in that series. (Happy to share why in a PM if you want to know why)
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I still have never read a Nora title so I'm going to add that series to the list of books to read.
Other series I love in no particular order are: Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series - aside from the Nascar titles from Hqn NA there aren't enough motor racing theme romances out there; Jaci Burton's Play-By-Play series - enough different sports in it that I don't get bored; Kate Angell's Richmond Rogues
Other series that I enjoy but would make the above list even longer are: Erin McCarthy's Vegas Vampires, Carly Phillips' Chandler Brothers, the Diamonds Downunder (Desire) miniseries, Tessa Radley's Saxon Brides miniseries (Desire) and probably a lot more.
Lyn, you always have a lovely bunch of suggestions! I think the Three Sisters Island trilogy is a good place to start with Nora. I find her a bit hit and miss, but that's probably not surprising given the amount of books she's written - in that size backlist there are bound to be personal taste issues.
DeleteI haven't read the Erin McCarthy Fast Track series, but I did love her series of NA books based on the Bronte novels.
Oh, yes, the Diamonds Downunder! Weren't they fab? And it had two Cats in the series - Bronwyn and Yvonne. Very cool. :)
Love Vicki Lewis Thompsons newest thunder mountain brothers books and Lori Wilde's Stardust ,Texas books but all time favorites was , too many of th to count !!! Can do yearly but not just one all time ! I love interconnected books period because you can revisit old friends even after their story is done !
ReplyDeleteDiana, I haven't read Vicki Lewis Thompson's Thunder Mountain Brothers, but I love the title of the series! I adored her nerd series a few years ago, so I might give these a go. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteI love series too! Roni Loren's 'Loving on the Edge' series is one of my favourites. For romance I'm enjoying The Great Wedding Giveaway series from Tule. I also love The Hunger Games and Across the Universe for YA reads, and A Song of Ice and Fire for fantasy although I've only read the first book I'm counting it because it's as long as a series for me!
ReplyDeleteStefanie, I don't know Roni Loren's Loving on the Edge series - must go take a look at it! Another fan of A Song of Ice and Fire - Mr Bailey has all the books and DVDs but they were a bit gory for me. He loves them, though!
DeleteI've caught a couple of Tule's The Great Wedding Giveaway - I should check which titles I have and track the others down. Thanks for the reminder!