I have loved books for as long as I can remember. In fact, the first book I remember reading was a Little Golden Book called The Runaway Pancake. I remember the absolute glee each time I'd get a shipment from the Weekly Reader Book Club when I was in elementary school. And the book fair at school was better than a candy store filled with chocolate (and that's saying a lot considering the size of my sweet tooth). I'm guessing everyone here has this passion for books. But are you a ginormous fan of series like me? Not series as in the numbered category lines put out by Harlequin and Silhouette, but a series as in a number of books with the same continuing characters. Once I find a book I like and realize it's part of a series, I glom them -- as in I read all of the released books in the series then wait none too patiently for the next in the series. I have to know what happens to my favorite characters, people the author has made seem so real I wouldn't be surprised to meet them on the street.
Series I love:The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
The Blood Books by Tanya Huff
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Kate Shugak mystery series by Dana Stabenow
The Anna Pigeon mystery series by Nevada Barr
The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine
The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
The Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld
The Stephenie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast
The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman
The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
With the exception of the two mystery series and the Evanovich books, these books are all paranormal. I wonder if that is because a great many of the series on the shelves now are paranormal or that's just how my current reading tastes are running. And of these 13 series, five are series for young adults. It's my impression that teens will really latch on to a series they like and be dedicated to those books and the author until the series' end. Witness the massive midnight turnout for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment in Rowling's series, and the large crowds Stephenie Meyer is drawing at her signings. And at least for now, the paranormal is still very popular among teen readers.
So, are you a series fan? If so, of what series are you a dedicated follower? What fabulous series have I not mentioned? There are at least two on my to-be-read list -- Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Leave a comment and you could win the first in a new series by Harlequin Superromance author Anna DeStefano. Because of a Boy is the first in her new Atlanta Heroes series.
And if you're so inclined (and I REALLY hope you are), head on over to the Romantic Times Web site tomorrow to vote in the American Title IV contest. My finaling entry, Out of Sight, is the first of what I hope will be an exciting paranormal series about a gal who can make herself invisible and who gives a whole new meaning to "undercover" work. Your vote for Out of Sight helps it come one step closer to being published, which is the grand prize for the winner of the contest. Thanks in advance!
27 comments:
Hi Trish - good luck with Out Of Sight.
I've been a series girl from way back - hello, the Anne books are still a favburite 30 years later!!!
One of my favourite series ever was Fiona Brands's SAS men. Man - were they hot! And noble. And honourable. And conflicted.
NZ Silhouette author who has gone on to bigger things - Cullen's Bride, Marrying McCabe, Heart of Midnight, Blade's Lady (also High Sakes Bride and Gabriel West: Still The One - which I'm desperately trying to lay my hands on).
I've also loved Nora Roberts MacKade Brothers series.
Amy Andrews
I knew one of you Aussie girls would be on here quickly! :) Amy, your response made me go back and add one of my childhood favorites -- the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. And I love the trilogy by Nora, I think it was Three Sisters Island or something like that, about the three witches on an island.
Trish, firstly, huge congratulations on making the finals of ATIV. I'll be over there like a shot voting for you tomorrow. And I bet I have to fight my way through the Banditas to make my mark too! Good luck! This is a massive achievement.
Great post. I'm actually not really addicted to series. If it's a good book, it's a good book. And sometimes I like the perfection of a stand alone that ties up all the ends. So I'm back to saying reading is a buffet and please don't say I can't have chocolate mousse to go with my smoked salmon (but not on the same plate, thank you!).
Having said that, my favorite books of all time are the Lymond series by Dorothy Dunnett. Six really fat books about a tortured 16th century hero who basically goes everywhere and does everything and suffers. They seem to encompass a whole world and the characters are absolutely compelling. And I love the J.R. Wards. They've been a real discovery for me in the last 12 months. And I've enjoyed Madeline Hunter's historical series, both medieval and Regency. And Anne Gracie's Perfect series. And Nalini Singh's psy series. Oh, and the Peter Wimseys! How could I forget them?
Um, clearly I'm more of a series tart than I realised!
I wonder if paranormals tend towards series because of the world building involved. It takes a lot of imagination and effort to create those tangible fantasy worlds and the writer wants to exploit them to the fullest extent.
I love books in a series when I was a young girl I loved the Secret Seven and Famous Five books by Enid Blyton.
My Favourites now are
Harry Potter Series JK Rowling
The Cynsters Stephanie Laurens
The Bridgertons Julia Quinn
The Bedwyns Mary Balogh
Bastion Club Stephanie laurens
Greentree Sisters Sara Bennett
Velvet Series Jude Deveraux
Lady Spies Jenna Petersen
Misadventures in Matrimony Shana Galen
The Effingtons Victoria Alexander The list goes on and on I am on the hunt for the Boscastle series by Jillian Hunter as well and Sabrina Jefferies has some good ones as well. I do love books that tie characters from one book to another. Thanks Trish great post and I will pop over to the other web page tomorrow good luck.
Have Fun
Helen
Oh, gosh, Trish! What a list!
You read a lot of the ones I did. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and the (now out of print, alas) Bobbsey Twins. I haunted the library and the school book fair for what I now realize were YA romances by Janet Lambert (the Jordans and the Parrishes, Army-related) and Lenora Mattingly Weber (Beany Malone). There was a series, which is doubtless unavailable now because we've learned so much about planetary science, about a Martian kid called Zip-Zip who crashed on Earth.
Robert Jordan's massive Wheel of Time saga takes up a huge chunk of one wall. David Weber's Honor Harrington books and Elizabeth Moon's Kylara Vatta series and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books have places of honor along with Asimov's Foundation books and Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover. We fell in love with K. A. Applegate's Animorphs when our son was young.
In romance, I've enjoyed Patricia Rice's "magic" series and Carolina books, Susan Carroll's Bridefinder series, Suzanne Brockmann's Navy Seals, Leigh Greenwood's Seven Brides and The Cowboys, and Mary Jo Putney's Fallen Angels. And the list goes on and on, unfortunately for our shelf space!
Genre crossover series I try to keep up with include Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse, C. E. Murphy's Joanne Walkingstick, and Laura Anne Gilman's Retrievers.
In mysteries, I read mostly series, from Lord Peter Wimsey to the Navajo Tribal Police.
Cool topic!
I love series as I want to know more about the hero/heroine in the book I am reading and usually want more information on other characters from the story. I enjoy the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J R Ward, Guardians of the Night by Jenna Black, the Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson, the Dark series and Drake Sisters by Christine Feehan, the Psy-Changeling stories by Nalini Singh and all of Sherrilyn Kenyons novels to name a few.
It's good to see that other people are series junkies, too!
Some of my favorite series:
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, I still read these.
Featherton Sisters by Kathyrn Caskie
McKettrick series by Linda Lael Miller
Essex Sisters by Eloisa James
With This Ring and Lessons in Love by Suzanne Enoch
The first four Dragonlance books by Wiess and Hickman
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Bridgerton family by Julia Quinn
Okay, I'll stop with those, the others I would have to start running back and forth between the bookshelves and I am just too plain lazy ;0)
Like Anna, I enjoy lots of series, but I'm not a fanatic. I think the best series are ones that can have unique goals and arcs for one book, but still maintain a driving overall theme for the rest of the series. My favs would be:
The Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey
The Belgariad, David Eddings
Harry Potter (of course!)
The Bridgertons, Julia Quinn
The Bedwyns, Mary Balogh
I think the key for me in a romance series is that the characters have to keep changing and growing, and there's got to be someone who's story I can't wait to hear. (Like Wulf!) So you've got to have side characters that are fascinating, without taking away attention from the main ones.
Thanks for the fun post, Trish! Can't wait to start voting!
I am definitely a series glommer. Great word. However, like my friend, Anna, I also love a book that can stand alone. Okay, I just love books! As a matter of fact I just ordered a set of the Lymond books thanks to Anna's jolting my memory about them. I read them long ago and I have no idea what happened to my copies. The Boscastle series is wonderful, Helen. You will enjoy them. My other favorites? The Bridgertons, The Effingtons, The Bedwyns, The Cynsters and the Bastion Club. The Desperate Duchesses, The Wallflowers, both of Karen Hawkins' series, Harry Potter, Glenda Gleason, Charlaine Harris, Mary Janice Davidson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan. Okay, you get the picture. I think the appeal is that you get to revisit old friends over and over. There is great comfort in that.
Trish.
My name is Joan and I'm a series addict.
I love watching a set of characters develop and grow and go on with their lives (as reflected in later books)within connected series. My favs are any and all of Nora's trilogies (The Chespeake Bay one had four....LOVED IT)
Suzanne Brockmann's SEALS and Troubleshooters.
Robin D. Owens Celtia series (Heartmate, Heart Thief etc.) Wonderful worldbuilding.
Sherrilyn's Darkhunters
Karen Marie Monings' Highlanders. They are some braw, sexy men I tell 'ya and they are going to seep over into her new Fever series.....(swoon) to see Adam Black again???
And good luck on the ATT! You know we are behind you 110%
Let me add my congrats on being a finalist in the AT contest, Trish!
I'm not sure if I glom on to a series of books or the author herself/himself. In early childhood I read the Little House books, followed quickly by Anne of Green Gables, then Barbara Cartland and Grace Livingston Hill.
I read Love Comes Softly by Jeanette Oakes, and had to read every book in that series. (She and Grace Livingston Hill are my only Inspirational authors to date.)
I stumbled on Robert Ludlum and read his whole backlist, (realizing I could only read two books back to back before becoming very paranoid that I was being watched!).
Johanna Lindsey is another author I stumbled onto, and while I've read all her books, I adore her Mallory series.
Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Kay Hooper, Iris Johansnsen,Amanda Quick, Suzanne Brockmann, SEP, Sherrilyn Kenyon and JR Ward are all automatic buys for me, whether it's a series or not.
Oh, fun, so many new series to try in all of my abundant spare time. Snort!
I'm seriously going on a big reading binge to catch up on Sherrilyn's Dark Hunters. Sherry's a friend, so I could kick myself for being so behind. But then, I have lots of books by friends that I just haven't had time to get to yet. Sigh.
Anna, I've heard several mentions of this Lymond series. I'm going to have to check that one out.
Nancy, how could I forget Nancy Drew!? Loved those as a kid. And I have a friend who has been singing the praises of Lois McMaster Bujold. Your mention of the Navajo mysteries reminded me of how much I've enjoyed the Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn mysteries by Tony Hillerman. I've also enjoyed J.A. Jance's mysteries, but I'm woefully behind on those. Oh, and the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box. I have the first Sookie Stackhouse, but haven't read it yet.
Terry, I've just recently read the first two books in the Anne series. For some odd reason, I missed those as a child. I've been watching the TV series Road to Avonlea and the Anne mini-series on DVD, and that got me interested.
Shari, I've heard good things about MaryJanice Davidson too. And Feehan is on my list to try as well.
Kirsten, I've heard mention of the first two series on your list several times so am adding them to my list to try.
Suz, I don't read much inspirational either, but I have enjoyed the recent historical inspirational novels by Tamera Alexander, one of which won a RITA this year. The series is called the Fountain Creek Chronicles.
I think I need to clone myself so one of me can just read. :)
Thanks for all the good wishes on the AT contest. I'm trying not to get nervous and not doing a very good job at that.
Congrats!!
It is a bit weird but I ahve just realized I am not the series type... I prefer to read a stand-alone book and voilà... it is over!!
I don't read many series now... but I remember I loved:
- Nancy Drew
- Anne of Green Gables
- The Babysitters Club
that was when I was a bit younger!
Though I have started the Victoria Alexander and Julia Quinn series... I think I will be addicted soon!
Trish, I adore series. I have mentioned before that my all-time fave is the Dragonriders of Pern (including the fire lizard books) by Anne McCaffrey. Love them all!
Other favorites:
Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben
Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters
Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich
In Death series by J.D. Robb
LOTR (and The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkein
Belgariad series by David Eddings
Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
One, Two, Three series by Liz Carlyle
Mammoth Hunter books by Jean Auel
There are many more, but I'm too lazy to get up and consult my books shelves. Let's just say, I am more inclined to read a series or a book I know is "connected" than I am to read a stand alone. If I love a set of characters or a fictional world, I want to go back again and again. Take me there, please!
Thanks, Nathalie.
Lily, I didn't read Babysitters Club. I'm wondering if my younger sister did.
Caren, my MIL really liked the Mammoth Hunter books. I haven't read them yet, but I have her copies. I've thought about listening to them on CD the next time I have a long trip.
Hi Trish! Well, who doesn't love series books? I don't think I would've survived childhood without Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames.
Now I'm hooked on JD Robb's Eve Dallas series, Stephanie Plum, JR Ward, and too many others to mention.
A few of my new mystery series favorites are the Blackbird Sisters mysteries by Nancy Martin and the Annie Kincaid Mysteries by Hailey Lind.
And finally...I will definitely be voting bright and early tomorrow morning, Trish! Can't wait to read your entry!!
Major congrats Trish on ATIV - will be voting with all my email idents tomorrow.
Love series! Lots of my faves have already been mentioned. (Amy A - I just got the Gabriel West book online from mystical unicorn bookshop)
But to add to them:
Susan Mallery's Buchanan's
Maggie Shayne's Brands and her 'thicker than/colder than' series
Christine Rimmer's Jones and Bravos
Deirdre Martin's hockey series
SEP's Chicago Stars
Julie Ortolon's 'Perfect' series
Kristine Grayson's fairy tales series
Geralyn Dawson's Bad Luck series
Debra Webb's Colby Agency
Suz Brockmann's SEAL's and troubleshooters
Virginia Kantra's "All a man" series
Julie Miller's The Precinct
Linda Howard's Mackenzies
Lindsey McKenna's Trayhern's
Nora's three sisters and her Macallisters ... and of course Eve Dallas and the yummy Roarke
Debbie Macomber's Shirley, Goodness and Mercy
Shirley Jump's recipe series
Elaine Viets' Dead End jobs
Carole Nelson Douglas' Midnight Louie series
Tess Gerritsen's series starting with The Surgeon
Merline Lovelace's Omega series
Justine Davis's Trinity Street West (Clay Yeager's Redemption is one of my all-time faves)
Mariah Stewarts Dead series.
There are loads of category series that I'm missing. I guess i'm a series addict!
Hey Trish! I'm a series kind of gal all the way!! I absolutely love series. I am always wondering what happens to the secondary characters -- did they find their HEA. The latest series I have read is Monica McCarty's Highlander series. Talk about some yummy heros!!!
And I need to go check out Ann's website. I didn't know she was writing about Atlanta men -- that's where I am!
Thanks, Kate!
Wow, Anna, you do appear to be a series addict. :)
Buffie, this new book of Anna's is just out this month and is the first in the series. And Monica is one of my fellow Golden Heart finalists from a couple of years ago. She's sweet.
Okay Anna S, not fair, hmm the mystical unicorn you say - going to google it straight after this post.
Caren C - I forgot the Earth Children Series by Jean Auel. Loved all of them. Trish they do have a lot of infodump in them so a tape might be the best way to be introduced to them. I personally found it all really fascinating, the research she had to do is mindblowing!!!
Amy Andrews
Best of luck in the American Title contest, Trish! I can't wait to vote for Out Of Sight *g*
A few of my favorite series are: The Mediator books by Meg Cabot, the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich, the SEALs and Troubleshooter books by Suz Brockmann :-) Oh, and when I was a preteen/early teen I read the Sweet Valley High books *ggg*
Trish, Amy A is right. The Jean Auel books are wonderful, but just loaded with detail about plants, animals, minutiae of life in caveman times. So, it's great for when you're stuck somewhere and need several days of dense reading material or, as you said, as a book on CD. I'm not sure I would have the patience for it these days, but I enjoyed them tremendously when I was a very bored teenager. *g*
Can't believe I missed the Bedwyns. I love Mary Balogh! I adore all her series, but those Bedwyns were all wonderful. It was great to see Wulf meet his match, but I have a special fondness for Freyja's story. I think because she was such a strong woman with such strong ideas. Hm. Wonder why I liked that book so much?
congrats Trish, I will be putting in my vote tomorrow!
I am a series glommer, no point in fibbing about it...LOL If anyone ever saw my bookcases they could see it in a heartbeat. Just about all of the series already mentioned I have as well. Nancy Drew and Donna Parker mysteries when I was a child. The Louisa May Alcott books. Karen Marie Moning had me from the first Fae and I have been hooked ever since.
It sounds like Auel shares the info dump characteristic with Diana Gabaldon, whose books I also enjoy.
Hi Trish, welcome to glommers' anonymous! I love series. Getting to revisit a world you fell in love with and hanging around with the characters you already know is great--as long as the author doesn't spend a lot of time recapping what you already know. If the series is about one character, like a detective, I like the character to go through his or her own arc through the books. I don't like static characters, where the same formula is rewritten time after time. I've read that book already! Thanks for the great post and I'll be voting, bright and early. Good luck in the first round!
Thanks, Christine!
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