Okay, so I don't have one single favorite author or style, so no one is limited to a single author/style. In no particular order here are some of my favorites and why:
I love a good regency. I've always enjoyed historical fiction with or without the romance piece. I enjoy a well written regency for the historical aspects, part of what makes it well written for me is having a strong heroine. She can be quiet, reserve, but not submissive; or she can be headstrong, flirty, bookish, etc, but she must be able to stand up for her beliefs. The male needs to be "educable". Some of my favorite authors include: Mary Balogh, Catherine Coulter, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn
Contempory novels particularly if they are humorous. Lori Foster, Susan Elizabeth Philips, Katie MacAlister, Catherine Anderson and Susan Mallery are all good examples of authors I love to read. Again the smart, sassy strong heroine is a real draw for me
Medical Romance: Fiona Lowe, Amy Andrew and Margaret McDonagh are good representatives of this genre
Harlequin Romance: Rebecca Winters, Patricia Thayer, Donna Alward, Cara Colter are at the top of my list of favorites in this line, but I don't want other authors in this line to feel slighted because they all have written at least one book that "resonated" for me
Fantasy/Paranormal: Christine Feehan. She has created these Carpathians who are the ultimate alpha male/strong female. I just love her books.
Other favorites include: Nora Roberts, Diana Gabaldon, LaVyrle Spencer, Jane Austen, Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Patricia Potter, Elaine Coffman, Janet Dailey, Debbie Macomber (well I'm taking a break from her for now--only because it got to the point where I felt like I was rereading instead of reading something new) and as a child my very favorite author was Louisa May Alcott (she is still high on my list of past and present authors because she wrote about strong females)
So who are your favorites (and why), I am always looking to branch out and try new authors.
Nancy
My faves...
Taking the easy way out, I'd say urban fantasy and paranormal romance are my favorite genres. I've enjoyed books by authors such as Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Maggie Shayne, Rachel Vincent, and many, many, many others. I will admit it's a pet peeve of mine about folks who get angry when an urban fantasy book isn't a paranormal romance and criticize it for not being part of a genre it really isn't even in. I have loved urban fantasy for years, and that love led to reading paranormal romances which brought me back to romances as I hadn't read those since I was a teen.
If I were to go deeper with my tastes, I love a good thriller. James Patterson has some, along with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Amanda Stevens, Gayle Wilson, oh I'm sure I'm forgetting others here!
Along with that, I love a good mystery or intrigue. Debra Webb will always be among my keepers!!
Horror novels were my mainstay for awhile. Nothing beats a good Dean Koontz or Stephen King book! I also enjoy fantasy novels although I confess I hadn't read as many in recent years. Tad Williams, any of the Luna authors, Barbara Hambly....
I've also discovered I like a few historicals, but not necessarily romances. And most of the historicals are in the time period around Anne Boleyn. Robin Maxwell is a fave.
I'm really only exploring some of the strictly romance type books this year so I hesitate to pick faves but will say I've enjoyed what I've read in the Medical Romance and HR lines, which has been a pleasant surprise.
I could keep going but I think that is a good summary of the basics! Great question.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
I have so many
I have so many favorites but most of the ones my team mate Debbie has already named. I love sci-fi, fantasy, mysteries and thrillers, action romance, medicals. I love Tess Gerrittsen, Suzanne Brockmann, Janet Evanovich, Cherry Adair and J.D. Robb's books. Cindy Dees, Catherine Mann, Trish Wylie, Olivia Gates, Stephanie Tyler, Lyn Stone, Rogenna Brewer, Abby Gaines, Amy Andrews, Susan Grant, Maureen Child, Patricia Thayer, Susan Mallery, Jo Leigh are all auto buy authors for me. Having so many favorites is part of my problem and the reason my TBR is out of control.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
urban fantasy
See, I knew I would find out something new
Tell me a little more about what an urban fantasy is, please. That is a genre I have not heard of. Thanks!
Nancy
urban fantasy...
I think the easiest way to describe urban fantasy is that it is a fantasy tale set in a modern setting. Think tv shows like Supernatural and that sums it up. Most of the ones I've read are vampires or some sort of magical talents but they take place in a modern setting.
Oh sheesh, Deb named authors I had forgotten. I'm sure it's a sin I didn't mention JD Robb!! Now my brain is thinking more and how could I not mention Jim Butcher (I soooo love Harry Dresden, too!), Rachel Caine, and more!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Mainly Contempory these days
I used to read a lot of historicals. These days, I mainly read contempories. My favorites authors are Erin McCarthy, Kathy Love, Karen Robards, Suzanne Brockmann, Elizabeth Lowell, Rachel Gibson, Susan Mallery and Lori Foster.
As a child I also loved Louisa May Alcott and Agatha Christie too. I read all her books before I was 20. I have always been a prolific reader.
Tammy
Elizabeth Lowell
How could I have forgotten her? It has been a long time since I've read any of her books. Thanks for the reminder!
Nancy
As for genres: I tend
As for genres: I tend toward fantasy and romance (particularly paranormal). Anything with magic, dragons, witches, wizards, vampires, werewolves and/or other shapeshifters, etc., and I'm happy. I've recently discovered cozy mysteries, and I'm quickly becoming addicted to them. I also read the occasional thriller, christian fiction, and western.
As for authors: I love (and collect) Jayne Anne Krentz (under all her names though I prefer her work from the 90s on), Mercedes Lackey, Steven Brust, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Janet Evanovich, Tamora Pierce, Robin D. Owens, and J.K. Rowlings. I also collect Rebecca York, Maggie Shayne, Julie Kenner (the paranormal books only), Vickie Taylor's gargoyle books, Kasey Michaels, Nora Roberts, Diana Palmer, Linda Howard, Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Catherine Coulter, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Elizabeth Lowell, Kate Elliott, Lori Wick, etc... I recently (within the last year) discovered Alexandra Ivy, Laura Anne Gilman, Patricia Briggs, Simon R. Green, Alexa Morgan, Susan Mallery, Shanna Swendson, and others I'm sure I'm forgetting.
The great gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap [Hah! It most certainly is not!], it consoles, it distracts, it excites. It gives knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is moral illumination. ~ Elizabeth Hardwick
Simon R. Green
How on earth did I forget him?????
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
Good questions!
I like many genres - romantic suspense, contemporary, historical, paranormal and regency, but lately I've been reading mostly romantic suspense and paranormal (there's nothing better than a suspense with a touch of paranormal!) and, of course, harlequins (usually HP's & SD's).
Favourite authors.... hmmm... I could probably go on for days. But the best of the best:
Romantic Suspense: Linda Howard, Kay Hooper, TJ MacGregor, Suzanne Brockmann, Lisa Gardner, Karen Rose. (I will note that Kay Hooper and TJ MacGregor are the best at adding a paranormal/psychic twist to their books)
Paranormal: JR Ward, Lynn Viehl
Historical: Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens
Regency: Nicole Cornick, Julia Justiss, Carla Kelly and I just love Mary Balogh's older regencies.
And then my very two all time favourites, Mary Stewart (romantic suspense) and Georgette Heyer (regency)
In Harlequins, my auto-buys are Emma Darcy, Anne Mather, Miranda Lee, Tessa Radley, Barbara McCauley, Lynn Graham, Sandra Marton and Lucy Monroe (I like her other novels too.)
There are lots of others that I enjoy too, but I wait impatienly for these authors books - they just don't write fast enough for me!
~ ElleJay - Team member of Novel Obsession
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the pleasure is having lots to do and not doing it!
For those of you that like the paranormals...
Have any of you read the Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz? Years ago my sci-fi/fantasy loving dh tried to get me to read his books and thought this would be a good batch of books to get me hooked
Well, he was right--I did enjoy her books about the Deryni and I've read a few other fantasy series, but I still overwhelmingly prefer romance to sci-fi/fantasy...unless it includes a good romance.
I do remember reading a lot of Mary Stewart books when I was 30 years younger (just a wee babe
).
I really appreciate all the responses--some of you have reminded me of authors I used to read, but have gotten away from. I need to put them back on my "look for" list. Also, some of you have introduced me to some names I'm not familiar with--keep the suggestions coming. THANKS!
Nancy
I've got a Mary Stewart in the TBR pile now
I've read all of her books and this weekend while visiting the All About Romance Website there was an excellent review on Nine Coaches Waiting - my very favourite MS. I haven't read it for a few years so I pulled it out and it's near the top of the TBR. I'm looking forward to the re-read
~ ElleJay - Team member of Novel Obsession
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the pleasure is having lots to do and not doing it!
i love contemporary
i love contemporary novels. i need to be able to relate to the hero and heroine and imagine myself hanging out with them. i enjoy exploring their lives, their feelings and what makes them love one another.
i really like how contemporary authors are starting to test the limits and be even more true to contemporary life, with heroines and heroes who have friends or family that are dealing with a variety of issues.
my favorite writers are: brenda novak, christine rimmer, paula detmer riggs, anna destefano, and janice macdonald.
i also love barbara delinsky, luanne rice and kristin hannah.
My Blog
Forgotten friends
Oh yes, Barbara Delinsky and Luanne Rice--they used to be at the top of my TBR pile, but I haven't even purchased any of their books in 3 or 4 years. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...think this means another trip to the bookstore!
Nancy
favorite authors
Hi. I've been lurking here for awhile, but ths is the first time I've posted. Anyway, here goes:
For urban fantasy, I still love Charles De Lint. (check him out - he's so good at writing about a woman's perspective, if I hadn't actually met him, I'd think he was a girl witth a pen name)
I also love Mary Stewart, inc. her Merlin trilogy, also M.M. Kaye for Historical fiction.
For contemporary romance, I like Erin McCarthy alot.
And I'm pretty much obsessed with the Black Dagger Brotherhood (J.R. Ward) right now. It's sad, really.
Also Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurel k. Hamilton, Lois McMaster Bujold (space opera), Neil Gaiman (he can be a downer, though), Diana Gabaldon.
It is really nice seeing
It is really nice seeing some authors listed that I haven't read recently. It is like coming across an old friend whom I haven't seen in a long while. Also, I'm discovering some authors I have not tried before. I once devoured every paranormal and time travel I could get my hands on, now I'm big into the medical romances. Thanks for stopping by and mentioning your favorites.
Nancy