Monday, February 27, 2012

Recommend Monday with a Guest Reader Blog!

Good Monday All!


Hope you had a spectacular weekend. I'm busy writing away and am loving Savannah and most especially Zach so much. Can't wait until I can tell you more about them!


Since I'm so immersed with this story, I'm thrilled that Crystal Scott, lovely lady and a Recommend Monday regular, is blogging in my place today. And I love the topic she chose! I'll check in a little later and share my 'auto-buy authors'. Can't wait to see all your comments and of course, your recommended reads from last week.


Have a wonderful and productive week!


Now, here's Crystal!


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It is Recommend Monday once again!! I thought today in addition to our recommends we would talk about our “Go to authors” or “The auto buy authors” that we all know and love. Why do you love them so much? What is it about that one author that puts them on the “auto buy” list?


Ronlyn has mentioned several times that Karen Marie Moning could write the phone book and she would still buy it and devour it with enthusiasm. Do you have someone like that? Someone who’s voice speaks to you in such a way that it you know you will love it, even before you know anything about the story?


I have a few authors that I would buy without even reading the back of the book. I have SEVERAL books that I run to when I am having crappy reading luck. There are only a few authors that I would buy without knowing anything about the book. Christy is definitely on that list along with Pamela Clare, Linda Howard and Judith McNaught. All four of these ladies are on my list for various reasons. Christy and Pamela are on it because they haven’t put out a book yet that hasn’t captivated me from the first few pages. When I am hooked from the very first page, that is a talented author in my book.


Linda and Judith.... I know with Linda it is her humor. It never fails that I am laughing one minute and crying the next. Judith McNaught’s historicals are the absolute best out there. At one time in my life I wasn’t a historical reader. I’ve more than made up for lost time in the last few years. Judith McNaught’s historicals are fabulous! Thanks to Christy for insisting on me trying them! Once and Always, Until You, A Kingdom of Dreams... Oh there are so many. Julie Garwood is another go to author.


So please go into detail and get long winded; we’d love to hear about all of your favorites. We all have such a wide range of interests that we should all walk away with a list to add to our TBR pile. I know mine is out of control, but what girl doesn’t like an out of control TBR pile?


Have a great week everyone! Hope everyone is looking forward to March. Spring is just around the corner.

32 comments:

Crystal said...

Hey everyone I am so sorry I'm not going to be around much today. I had to make an unexpected trip to Missouri for a funeral and we are traveling back to Colorado today. 16 hours in a truck is always fun. :) Hope everyone has great recommends and I'll pop in every time we get to stop and can connect to the internet.

Ronlyn said...

Morning Christy & Crystal!
Well, you already outed my #1 auto buy. LOL. Another would be Karen Rose...I simply LOVE that I don't figure out "who done it" in the first few chapters of her books.
Pamela Clare is, of course, another one as well as our own Christy.
I've discovered that I have several (mostly historicals) that I used to have on the auto buy list that aren't there anymore, mostly because my own tastes have changed.

Alison said...

Hi Christy! Hi Crystal!

You've already mentioned a few of my autobuys...so I'll add Stephanie Tyler and Cindy Gerard as auto-buys for RS, for contemp I love Rachel Gibson and Jill Shalvis. Historicals.. Monica McCarty right now is an auto-buy I'm loving her Highland Guard series.

My recommendation this week is...Jaycee Clark's Kinncaid series. It rocks! Thanks to everyone who recommened this series. I devoured all 4 books this weekend.

This morning I started my first Elizabeth Hoyt book...Wicked Intentions. I've heard lots of good things about her Maiden Lane series, so I just had to try it :)

Have a good week everyone!

Hope said...

Happy Monday all....and I say that will all of the sarcasm I can muster. I am super duper tired this morning and have 4 little tatertots running around driving me crazy.

For autobuys, I would have to say:
For RS...Cindy Gerard, Maya Banks, Steph Tyler, Christy Reece and Karen Rose
Contemp: Rachel Gibson, Lisa Kleypas, Carly Philips and Susan Mallery.

I have a few recommends this week...I finished off Kristen Ashley's MAN series with Law Man then started another series by her with For You. I enjoy her a lot.

I also read a few that weren't so hot for me, so I won't post, but at least I have more room on my Nook now :)

Drive safe Crystal. Have a great day everyone.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Crystal! Thanks so much for putting me on your 'auto-buy' list. And wow, you listed me with 3 of my auto-buy authors--McNaught, Howard and Clare. I'm honored!

Other than those three, two other go to authors for me are: Karen Rose and Allison Brennan.

I have many others that I usually buy all their books, but the ones I mentioned above are authors that I don't even bother to read the back cover copy. I know I'm going to love the book no matter what.

Still no new recommends from me. I'm finishing my last Rita book today and am looking forward to reading and recommending some books I can talk about!

Safe travels, Crystal!

Elke said...

Hi Christy and Crystal hi Everyone,
it seems most of my auto buy authors are already mentioned.
Also on my list are Laura Griffin, Maya Banks with all of her KGI novels, Marie Force, Jami Alden and Suzanne Brockman.

Allison, I agree with you- Jaycee Clarks Kincaid series really rocks. Which one was your fav ? I hope we will get to read Quinns story .

Last week I needed a break from romantic suspence so I was looking for something light and funny .
I read Shannon Staceys "Yours to keep" and I loved it. Only after finishing it I discovered it was actually the third book about the Kowalskys and so naturally I had to order the other two books "Exclusively Yours" and "Undeniably Yours" . They are good reads as well but "Yours to keep" I liked best.

Crystal , have a safe drive back home.
Christy good luck with Savannah and Zach this week.
Happy reading ,Everyone

oklanannie said...

Hi Everyone. Great blog today from Crystal!!

Auto-buys for me have changed some over the years. Some of the old standards have been replaced with newer authors. Those who have remained are Sandra Brown, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Judith McNaught. My fervent wish is that we will one day soon see another new book from Ms. McNaught!

My present day never-miss-a-book-and-must-have-on-day-of-release favorites are:
Christy Reece who had me at "Rescue Me." From there she skyrocketed to the top of my list where she solidly remains.

Julia Spencer-Fleming, whose Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Miller's Kill series never disappoints except that they are so far and few between.

Marie Force who hasn't written a book yet that I haven't read and enjoyed to the fullest.

Pamela Clare, both contemps and historicals, are so well-written and must haves.

Laura Moore is another writer that I always enjoy and I love her writing style.

Elizabeth Hoyt is now on my auto-buys list for her simply delicious historicals.

There are so many other authors whose books I enjoy and always read everything they write but the ones above are the elite for me.

Crystal, safe journey home and my sympathy to you and your family on the loss of a loved one.

Kara C said...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that we all share so many auto buy authors. I'd definitely agree with Christy, Pamela Clare, Marie Force, Karen Rose, and Cindy Gerard. I would add Christie Craig for laugh out loud fun, and Marliss Melton for RS/ military romances.
As for weekly recommends, I'm reading a few right now that are really good so far - No Turning Back by Tiffany Snow, Daddy's Home by A.K. Alexander, and the newest Kristin Hannah book, Home Front.
Crystal, I hope your trip home is uneventful, but road trip + kids doesn't usually add up to boring! Be safe.

KayB said...

Good Morning Christy & Crystal, Aside from Christy I have any book by Iris Johnansen with the Eve Duncan stories.
Hope everyone is well and reading lots time for me to take care of my Fibro so see ya all later

KC said...

My list is pretty similar to all yours. For contemp. Victoria Dahl, Jill Shalvis, Rachael Gibson, Susan Mallery. For RS Christy Reece, Jami Alden, Maya Banks, Jill Sorenson, Karen Rose.

Recommends for me this week: Midnight Fear and Edge of Midnight by Leslie Tentler. Against the Wind and Against the Fire by Kat Martin, and Coming Undone by Lauren Dane.
Thats all for me. Have a wonderful Monday!!

Book Talk Romanc said...

Just finished reading by Marie Force. Love reading each book about the same couple but the mystery in each were different. I also read Kathryn Shay's Bayview Trilogy. I found my self laughing and crying. Great stories, wonderful characters.
As for my "fall back on" authors.
Well of course Christy Reese, love her characters and plots. ALWAYS a good read. I also love to read Christie Craig, love the humor she puts into her books. I have laugh until my husband was ready to commit me! I hang on to any book about Cowboys, Special Forces etc. Face they are always a good read. Have an awesome week everyone!!!

Book Talk Romanc said...

I think faster than I can type. The book series by Marie Force is......Fatal Flaw, Fatal Destiny, Fatal Consequences, Fatal Justice, Fatal Affair. You can find the correct order of them on her web site.

Elizabeth said...

Hi Everyone,

My auto-buys are def Christy, Nora Roberts, Roxanne St. Claire, Pamela Clare, Shannon McKenna, Emily March, Julie James, Maya Banks, Marie Foce, and Jill Shalvis.

I do have some books to recommend. The Black Cats trilogy, Fade to Black, Pitch Black and Black at Heart, was really good. I highly recommend them. Also, I finished Space in His Heart by Roxanne St. Clare. Loved it. I am now reading Blood and Fire by Shannon McKenna. I am totally enjoying it so far.

Great week to all.

Crystal said...

Ronlyn I love your auto buys! Your the responsible party for my outrageous list of books I have bought in the past couple years!! Thank goodness I finally listened and bought KMM!!

Anonymous said...

I am running late as usual on Mondays.
Auto buys:

Christy Reece
Pamela Clare
Jill Shalvis
Stephanie Tyler
J. R. Ward
Rachael Gibson
Suzanne Brockmann
Shannon Stacey
Maya Banks
Jennifer Ashley's historicals
Lisa Kleypas historicals
and many more
Wait!
Laura Wright
Jessica Scott
Ruthie Knox
Kaylea Cross!!!!!!!!!

Recommends, Laura Wright's latest paranormal and Ruthie Knox's "Ride With Me" and Jill Shalvis'"Time Out"(It is a Blaze and the story is so Funny Jill Shalvis!)

Jackie P

Mary G said...

I'm sooo late. Christy I can't wait to meet Savannah & Zach!

Awesome post Crystal! I was actually afraid to read the comments because my wallet can't take much more but my Kindle surecan lol. I see a lot of my faves here. My list besides Christy of course:

Beth Kery
Shiloh Walker
Julie James
Jill Shalvis
Pamela Clare
Roxanne St. Claire
Louisa Edwards
Cindy Gerard
Maya Banks
Marie Force
Shannon McKenna
Lauren Dane
Lisa Marie Rice -Elizabeth Jennings
Stephanie Tyler
Rachel Gibson
Deirdre Martin
Robyn Carr
Jami Alden
Bella Andre
Robin Kaye
Jaci Burton
Leah Braemel
Anara Bella
Laura Moore
I thought Joyce Lamb was a genius before she became my boss. I just want to put that disclaimer in.

I'm sure as soon as I sign off, I'll think of others.

Crystal said...

I'm finally home! It is 1:10 am and I do believe I hate the state of Kansas. (Not the people just the never ending state) I am going to respond to a few people's post tonight before I fall asleep, but I'll get to everyone when I wake up.

Crystal said...

Alison I absolutely LOVED Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series!! I really like Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series as well. The third one is my favorite so far! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)Cindy and Stephanie are on my auto buy list as well. They are very talented authors.

Crystal said...

Wait Hope you forgot to list your auto buys for historical authors. I know it was just over looked so I thought I would bring it to your attention. :) Hope your Monday was uneventful as it can possibly be with four little tikes.

Crystal said...

Christy I am so sorry I wasn't here to be the proper host. Maybe I'll sign up again and give it another shot. I really should invest in some technology so I could have internet while traveling through Kansas. My life would be so much better if I would. I'm thinking I really need to get on the Karen Rose bandwagon. I know I've read a few years ago, but couldn't tell you which ones.
I hope you've had a great weekend!! With lots of writing in your gal cave. :)

Crystal said...

Elke I love a lot of Suzanne Brockmann's books. The Troubleshooter's are the books that made me fall in love with Romantic Suspense. Aren't those men amazing? I could kidnap Sam and keep him tied up forever. lol

Crystal said...

Hey Anne I agree whole heartedly Christy had me from Rescue Me as well!! She was instant auto buy for me! I would so love a new book from Judith McNaught!! She is fabulous! I enjoy so many of Sandra Brown's books as well. She was one of the first authors that hooked me as well.
Now Pamela Clare blew me away with her I-Team series, but her historicals brought awe to a new level for me. I've never read a historical that draws me back in time the way hers do. I could almost swear to it that I've taken all those journeys with her characters in the MacKinnon Ranger books. I am a camp follower for sure with those men.
Thank you for the kind thoughts for our family. His grandma was in a lot of pain and was suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease so the family is happy to know she is no longer in pain.

Crystal said...

Kara I looked at booking last minute flights for us to go home this weekend. It was going to cost nearly $2000 for the four of us to fly. By the time I pulled into my drive way I was thinking that was a bargain. The hubbs doesn't agree, but for a co-pilot he sure did sleep a lot so the trip didn't seem all that never ending to him. Tomorrow after I've caught a few Z's I'll agree with him 100%, but right now I'll pay the outrageous airline prices. lol
Love your auto buy list. We all do have a lot of the same authors on our list. Do we have great taste or what? lol

Crystal said...

Kay I most of Iris Johanson's books as well. She has so many great books out there that don't seem to get the attention they deserve. Hope your feeling better!

Crystal said...

KC it sounds like you have great taste as well! I need to get the Kat Martin books I keep forgetting to add them to my list.

Crystal said...

Jeannie you are definitely in the right place to hang out with Marie Force fans. It sounds like I need to add Christie Craig to my list to try out as well. I am with you on reading books about cowboys and special forces... are there any others out there? LOL

Crystal said...

Elizabeth it looks like you had a great reading week! I'm jealous I've not been able to concentrate long enough to enjoy any books lately. I think I read one last week, but right now I can't think what it might have been. So tomorrow I'll look and see what I should recommend.

Crystal said...

Jackie you have a great list of auto buys. Hope you had a great Monday without a lot of running around. :)

Crystal said...

Wow Mary you have quite the list as well!! I know I've had to put some breaks on my Nook's nasty habit of buying books every time it gets wind of a good book out there. It doesn't like me to much, but a girl can only explain so much to her husband before he starts to question why he bought the Nook in the first place. lol

Mary G said...

I knew I'd forget one. Pamela Clare interviewed Lori Foster at the USA Today Happy Ever After blog.

Alison said...

Elke - I think my favorite of the series is either Deadly Ties or Deadly Obsession. I can't wait for Quinn's book :)

Christy Reece said...

Hey Crystal! So glad you guys made it home safely. No worries on the blog, you did a fabulous job! And wow, you must be exhausted. Hope you get some rest today.

Regarding Karen Rose: my top two favorites are I'm Watching You and Count to Ten. Have you read them? Abe Regan from I'm Watching You, is probably in my top ten favorite heroes of all time. I think Rose does a fabulous job of blending suspense and romance. I am in awe of her.

Thanks again for such a great blog. And now, I've got to add about 20 more names to my 'must read' author list! (: