I was weeding through my books deciding on what I absolutely had to keep, what to donate to a book sale, and what to send to my sister and I wondered what everyone here had on their keeper shelf.

My keepers are:

- anything by Lynsay Sands (that shouldn't even have to be on the list! Of course hers are all keepers!)
- almost all of Nora Roberts. I've never read her In Death series written as J.D. Robb. Some of her stand-alone novels I could pass on but her trilogies and family collections (McGregors, Stanislaski, Gallaghers, Quinn) I must own!
-Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series and all other books (I have the Bridgertons, still need to acquire her others but I've read them all through the library so when I get them, I'll keep them )
-Stephanie Laurens Cynster series and the Bastion Club series (working on completing my sets of each)
-anything by Victoria Alexander (especially her Effington family ones)
-anything by Sabrina Jeffries (School for Heiresses, especially)

Those are absolutes but I also keep books by Candace Camp, Laura Lee Guhrke, Julia London, Liz Carlyle, Lisa Kleypas, Suzanne Enoch, and Kay Hooper. I'm probably missing a few names here but most of my books are in the basement and I'm too lazy to go look.

Have you noticed a trend here? I'm a sucker for books that continue or expand upon a story involving the whole family or group of friends. I don't have all of my favorite authors' books but I'm working on it! Wouldn't it be nice to have an unlimited book budget? Ah, perchance to dream.

I've actually been pretty lucky with finding a lot of good books at my library's ongoing used book sale. So I'm hopeful that one day I will have all of the ones I need to complete sets.

Speaking of which, does anyone have a book that they are looking for that they just can't find? Something to complete a set? Perhaps we could list it here and maybe one of us might have a double, or it's not a keeper for us, or we could keep an eye out for it.

I have some Catherine Coulter books that are currently in the box meant for the library. Does anyone need The Wyndham Legacy, Moonspun Magic, The Offer, Rosehaven, or The Heiress Bride? They are all well-used copies. (Not by me, I bought them in that condidtion.) I also have a practically new copy of Shadow Game by Christine Feehan (Bk 1 of Ghostwalkers). I bought it for my sister (50 cents at the book sale) because I know she reads that author but it's one she already has. So if anyone wants these books, let me know within a week or the library book sale gets them.

Kimberly

Kim,

We read almost the same books! I buy and keep all from these three:

Lynsay Sands
Victoria Alexander
Julia Quinn

Then I also like and try to get these authors:

Stephanie Laurens
Sabrina Jeffries
Jillian Hunter
Lisa Kleypas
Suzanne Enoch
Hannah Howell

Others will come to me, I know. Also, I'm re-evaluating a couple of series, but don't know if I will collect them. The only Nora Roberts I've read are the MacGregors...which were very good, but I don't collect her books.

wren

Didn't we just do this not long ago? I read everything you both read. I also like Catherin Coulters Contemporaries...and Christine Dodds Contemps too. Julie Garwood's Historicals and Contemps. I just discovered Karen Rose Contemps. Lucy Monroe, Susan Mallery, Gale Callen,I love Elizabeth Elliot but she hasn't written a book in years...her last book mentioned what the next book was going to be...but it never came out. I wrote to the publisher and got a tin reply...Elizabeth Elliot is busy writing her next book...that reply was two years ago. I liked Norah Roberts earlier works but nothing of hers since.
If you like good Scottish Historicals might I suggest Sue-Ellen Welfonder ...she makes yearly trips to Scotland.
My Sisters DIL's Mother used to Proof Read a publisher...she proof read allot of Historical Romance..as you can guess we became fast friends:)
I have many more authors in my walk-in closet/library
but am to tired to think of them all:)

Well I seem to have the same taste as you ladies.

Lynsay Sands
Julia Quinn
Nora Roberts
Johanna Lindsey
Candace Camp
Sandra Brown
Jude Deveraux
Susan Mallery
Linda Lael Miller
Judith McNaught


Sandra Brown, Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught were the first romance authors I started reading when I was in Jr. High and I have keep them and almost finished out my collection. I don't care for Sandra Browns newer books not my style but I love her old ones, same goes for Jude Deveraux.
I have also started reading Sabrina Jefferies, Victoria Alexander and Lisa Kleypas recently and really like them. Stephanie Laurens I have quite a few but I haven't read them all yet
I know that there is alot more but I would have to go and look

Jodi

Most certainly Keri Arthur and Kelley Armstrong for sure awesome authors

see I knew there was more, Keri Arthur and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Acal, the new Keri Arthur is out this month isn't it?

Jodi

I keep:

1. Sabrina Jefferies
2. JR Ward
3. Lynsay (of course)
4. Catherine Coulter
5. Kelsey Cole
6. Nina Bangs
7. Galen Foley
8. Lora Leigh
9. Victoria Holt

Yes the end of April, and the start of her newest series Myth and Legend I think its called is out in September she has the cover on her website and the except from her new book there too

Jacquie,

We did just have a similar list (what are your favorite authors) but even though I have tons of favorite authors, I can only afford to purchase and keep some of them. I was curious to know what authors were the ones that people had to go out and purchase anything written by them (within a series or just anything with their name on the cover) and as soon as it was published.

Kind of like how almost everyone here is with Lynsay's books.

I wondered if any other authors inspired people to similar devotion.

Kimberly

1. Lynsay Sands (DUH!)

2. Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb - I like most of her trilogies and a few of her stand alone books but by far, my favorites are her In Death series written as J.D. Robb.

3. Janet Evanovich - How can I not love Stephanie Plum? The characters in her books are great!

4. Johanna Lindsey - The Malory and Anderson series are great reads.

7. Judith McNaught - Her period pieces are fun to read.

8. Kay Hooper - I love reading her Special Crimes Unit thrillers.

9. Julia Quinn - I have enjoyed most of the Bridgerton family series.

Bebe I really like JD Robbs In Death Series. I like the chemistry between Eve and Roarke and sci fi feeling to them too.

i have 5 of the in death series up for auction, but didn't know what they were...are they more romance or thriller!

I would say they are both. There is always good thriller story in the background but the romance between Eve and Roarke is amazing. If you are interested in reading it start with book one. It will give a good idea whether you like the series or not. It how she meets Roarke in the first place.

I was at the flea market yesterday and they had 3 of the Nora Roberts In Death Series but I passed them up, I have done that a few times, while I really like Nora Roberts romances I have shied away from the J.D. Robb books don't know why maybe I should go back and get them and give them a try but with my luck they are probably already gone.

On a good note I did pick up a lot of other books by authors like Julia Quinn, Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kelypas, Kat Martin to name a few. I couldn't believe how many books by authors I like were actually there, normally I am lucky to find one and then I try new authors.

Kim,
I order off of Barnes and Noble and am always checking out their "Coming Soon" and if I see something from one of my favorite authors I put it on my wish list and check it weekly to see if any are out yet....I spend probably about $100.00-$150.00 on books a month...As I have told Lynsay..they just don't write fast enough for me... If I haven's seen much from and artist I will go to their page to see when their next one is out. I don't go anywhere without a book..especially when hubby is driving...reading helps me from becoming more of a Back Seat driver than I am..LOL. One of my kids is the same way..he has been reading since he was three...he is now a Chemical Engineer..still carries a book with him every where.
I do read new authors from time to time and if I don't care for them I put them in a rubber maid box and hubby takes a few of the books daily to the Community College where he works and drops them off at tables in the cafeteria or student lounge..he says they are always gone when he goes back

Recently I have been seeing a lot of Lisa Kelypas. Is she any good?

Jill, I have only read Mine till Midnight by Lisa Kelypas but I really enjoyed it so I when I found more at the flea market I grabbed them up. she writes historical romance and contemporary romance.

HEY JILL...WHICH BOOK IN THE J.D. ROBB GROUP IS BOOK 1...

The first is Naked in Death. She has almost 30 books in the series. I don't have the whole collection but I do have about 10 or so.

thanks!

Jill,

I really like Lisa Kleypas. My favorites are the books in the Wallflower Quartet.

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Summer-Night-Wallflowers-Book/dp/0061259349/ref=pd_sim_b_img_9

Four wallflowers get together and decide to help each other out in finding husbands. Two are rich Americans so are snubbed by a lot of society for not being nobility. One is nobility but almost out of funds and trying to hide it as best she can. And the other is just painfully shy and stutters.

Bk. 1 Secrets of a Summer Night
Bk. 2 It Happened One Autumn
Bk. 3 The Devil in Winter
Bk. 4 Scandal in Spring

I also like Then Came You, but especially like the sequel, Dreaming of You. A secondary character in the first, Derek Craven, gets his own story and he really deserves one. There was an attraction between the female lead and him in the first book but he put her happiness first plus he felt he didn't deserve her. He still feels that way in Dreaming of You but Sara Fielding manages to worm her way through his defenses.

http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-You-Lisa-Kleypas/dp/038077352X/ref=pd_sim_b_img_4

She also has a series called Bow Street.

Bk. 1 Someone to Watch Over Me
Bk. 2 Lady Sophia's Lover
Bk. 3 Worth Any Price

The first two are good but the third is my favorite. Another tortured hero.

Mine til Midnight, which others have mentioned was great and its sequel, Seduce Me at Sunrise, will be released on September 30th. Unfortunately that's the same date as Lynsay's The Rogue Hunter so will be in competition with her. I'll buy both. I read the preview on Lisa Kleypas' website for the sequel and it's gooood. *fans herself*

http://www.lisakleypas.com/inprint08/seduceme.asp

So far I have enjoyed all of her books. Some are better than others but they all deserve a spot on my keeper shelf so far.

Kimberly

I like the sound of that Wallflower Quartet. I gonna look into them. Thanks Kim.

Here to help!

Kimberly


Isn't he cute?

I just got The Devil in Winter but I need the rest of the series still.

I've got many authors that I enjoy reading and several that I keep. Other than Lynsay they are as follows.

Paranormals: Kerrelyn Sparks, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, Susan Sizemore, Lori Handeland, Susan Krinard, Jenna Black, Nalini Singh, C. T. Adams & Cathy Clamp, Kelley Armstrong, Karen Marie Moning, Angela Knight, Katie MacAlister and Ronda Thompson.

Others: Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Lynn Kurland, Robin D. Owens (futuristic), Victoria Alexander, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Sandra Hill, Eloisa James, Stephanie Laurens, Edith Layton, Julia London, some Johanna Lindsey, Kinley MacGregor, Judith McNaught, Teresa Medeiros and Margaret Moore.

My list is WAY too long and my closet shelves are overflowing. I'm going to be cleaning out some of my books this year and selling a bunch. Add to these MANY authors that I've got almost their whole backlist sitting in my TBR pile. I'm going to cull these as well, especially the ones I can read from the library. I've just got too many books for my house. If I had a house with a dedicated library you wouldn't catch me getting rid of any of them! I LOVE MY BOOKS!

I have a collection of books by Harlequin. They are Mystic Books. Almost 200 and a special 6 in purple gift box. Got those back in the 70's. There are several in that collection. Too many to name.

I was wondering if any of you are interested in Bertrice Small or Virginia Henley?

♥
Kel

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
The Hollow Series by Kim Harrison
The Rily Jenson Guardian series by Keri Arthur
anything by Dean R. Koontz (especially the Odd Thomas books)
Mary Higgins Clark books
The Once and Future King, Avalon
Wuthering Heights
and of course, Lynsey's books!

i recently picked up Kathy love- fangs series, love it,
Michele Bardsley, (2)books so far, wonderful,
Mary janice Davidson(undead series) o.k., each books gets better than the next. good read,main character is soooo whiny and she knows it.
I picked up 2 Gerry Bartley- will take on a trip to AL for a conference, give me something to do.
Everytime I go into borders I find something new, or I search on ebay and amazon. My library stinks around here, so I end up spending at least $25.00 every week on books,,,, I know I am crazy. I swear I think if I make it to retirement, I will get a job in a bookstore.
Oh yeah!! can't forget Stephanie Meyers (twilight series), so love those books. Can't wait til Aug for the last book to come out and then in Dec for the movie.
My 10 ten year old is starting to read it, yes it is o.k. for her, no sex like our books.

Lynsay (ofcourse), Holly Jacobs
Janet Evanovich, Sandra Hill
Lucy Monroe, Barbara Delinsky
Lori Foster, Christie Ridgway
Harlequin Duets, Susan Mallery
Jenny Crusie, Tim O'brien
Donna Kauffman, Daniel Steel
Gail Giles, JoAnn Ross
Elaine Fox, Karen Robards
Nora Roberts, Marcia Evanick
Mary Janice Davidson, Sue Monk Kidd
Erin Mccarthy, Jill Shalvis

Heather Graham

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Kim Harrison

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Bertrice Small

Virginia Henley

Nora Roberts

Kresley Cole

Janet Evanovich

Linda HOward

Julie Garwood

Philippa Gregory

Cathy Maxwell

Dan Brown (Not Romance, but awesome)
Khaled Hosseini (Not Romance either but heart wrenching)
Dean Koontz (haha guess what... Not Romance!)
Sidney Sheldon (Oh boy this is getting old)

Sabrina Jefferies

Cheryl Holt

Shana Abe

JK Rowling (err Teen Romance??)

Karen Hawkins

Kat Martin

Johanna Lindsey

Julia Quinn

Julia Latham

Shannon Drake

Frank McCourt (Memoirs)

Shirlee Busbee

Susan Johnson (more Errrrrrrrrrrrrotica than Romance )

Liz Carlyle

Amanda Ashley
........... I should stop lol I hae more but I am tired of running back and forth between my book shelves

at the moment my personal stash is very small I always have at least 150-200 books in my home....

but I keep
Lynsay's Argenaeus (of course)
JR WARD (the brothers..one word..HOT)
Patricia Briggs (Mercy series..she brings Vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, FEA)
startingto collect the Lara Leigh BREED series as well!