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Some author love and other book blather

Some author love for you guys and yeah, I’m going to get a little wordy ;)

I’m often asked for recommendations. A lot of times I’m asked because a reader will have read the Sweet Series (I’m going to use this as an example but it applies to all my books) But we’ll go with the Sweet Series for purposes of this conversation heh.

Anyway, I’ll have a reader who read my Sweet Series and really enjoyed it and then they’ll ask me for who I think they should read next. Or specifically they’ll ask for “similar” books as the Sweet Series (or KGI or my Scottish Historicals) etc.

This is a really HARD question to answer! It’s not that I have ANY shortage of awesome authors to recommend. I mean I can give you that all day long. But it’s tailoring a particular author to a specific genre or theme request that’s hard and there’s a lot of pressure involved because I don’t want to disappoint a reader nor do I want to MISLEAD them by telling them to read author X and then have that reader think that it was NOTHING like the Sweet Series or KGI or whatever.

So what I’ve often done is simply recommend other authors that I personally enjoy and can vouch for (based on my personal likes) that write in the same GENRE and usually that means the broader spectrum. I’ll give a recommendation for other erotic romance authors who may or may not write anything like my Sweet Series. I don’t actually personally know of an author who I’d say wrote something very similar to the Sweet Series because as authors we all put our own spin on things. This is actually a question that is usually better answered by other readers.

When I’m asked about erotic romance authors, the names that always come up for me are Jaci Burton, Lorelei James, Sylvia Day, Vivian Arend, Lauren Dane and I’ve also really enjoyed books by Cherise Sinclair (forgive any mispellings on these names. I’m working off memory because I’m too lazy to actually look them up lol) Lainey Reese (though I’ve only read one of hers. I want to crack a whip to make her write faster!) Cara McKenna (I’ve really enjoyed a lot of her books. They’re edgy and dark and scrumptious)

But there are also a lot of really terrific contemporary authors I enjoy as well like Shannon Stacey, Bella Andre, Maisey Yates, Janet Chapman, Sarah Morgan, Shelly Laurenston (OMG LOVE HER!!!)

And really one of my favorite contemporary romances EVER was Janet Chapman’s The Seduction of His Wife. I never get tired of rereading that book. I love every single word.

And for paranormal, now granted I don’t read a LOT of paranormal. Far less than I do contemporary (but more than I read historical lol) I love Christine Feehan, Larissa Ione and Kresley Cole. Kresley Cole is a relatively new “find” for me. I didn’t come to her IAD series until she was WELL into it but omg I love those books. They are my crack.

My Kindle is FILLED with hundreds and hundreds of books I haven’t even read yet. Book buying is a compulsion :) It makes me HAPPY to buy books even knowing I can’t get to them right away and I’m always hopeful that with each new book purchase that I’ll find an author I fall in love with and can glom an entire backlist.

And of course I have my “comfort” reads on my Kindle and those I turn to far more often than a book I haven’t read, which may sound silly, but there are times when I NEED a book that I KNOW I’m going to love and so rather than risk a brand new author or brand new book, I fall back on something I’ve read and loved many times. There’s NOTHING more satisfying than losing yourself in the pages of a “happy sigh” book :))

So there’s my book dish for the day as well as some shout outs of some authors I love. I may not be able to give a recommendation for books that are very similar to mine, but I NEVER have a problem giving a recommendation for an author I’ve loved and adored their books.

What about you? Have any that I didn’t mention? I’m always all ears for new books/authors and I love going to Amazon with a list of books to buy *g*

xoxo

Maya

27 thoughts on “Some author love and other book blather”

  1. Angie M says:

    Lainey Reese released her 2nd book in the NY series called Damaged Goods. Melinda Barron has a ‘Sweet’ series also which you might like. I’d also recommend Tymber Dalton & Leah Brooke for erotic romance. One More Summer by Liz Flatery is my favorite contemporary romance & I hope the Twitterverse convinced you to buy Blackberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne! Happy reading!

  2. Kaley says:

    Great list! One author I’d add for paranormal romance fans is Nalini Singh! She’s AMAZING. And I remember Maya tweeting about how she ended up staying up all night to read Archangel’s Storm, so I think she’s a fan, too ;)

  3. Allie says:

    A contemporary author I really like is Jill Shalvis. Her books are very reliable for me – guys being real guys, and lots of humor. And if she writes about a dog, it’s a real dog.

    I want to second the Nalini Singh recommendation. She is indeed a wonderful writer. My favorite are the Psy/Changeling series books but I love the Guild Hunters, too.

    For historicals, I like westerns, and Elaine Levine is fantastic, as is Linda Lael Miller. Miller also does contemporaries but I feel her historicals are her best works.

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who fills the Kindle with unread books as well as old favorites. I just never know what I’ll be in the mood for and I want to be totally prepared…

  4. Stephanie says:

    I know you don’t read alot of paranormal romance books. But you have to check out Laurann Dohner’s New Species series, it’s an awesome paranormal erotic romance book.I think you will fall in love with it.

    Another paranormal series of hers is the Zorn Warriors series, really good as well.

    As for contemporary romance she has the Riding the Raines series that is awesome as well. I hope you check her out.

  5. imp says:

    I agree with you on many of your recommendations but Annabel Joseph hasn’t been mentioned. Her novels do have an edge like your Sweet Temptation and Sweet Addiction. They are simply fascinating.

  6. Glittergirl says:

    Your favorite authors are much the same as mine which tells me why I love your books ;-)

    For historical and light paranormal I highly recommend HANNAH HOWELL, love her highlanders!

    For both historical, contemporary and time travel SANDRA HILL is a hoot. She’s so funny and gets her characters into the most outrageous situations :D

    For erotic romance I stumbled into EMMA HOLLY and ANGELA KNIGHT. Love Emma’s Strange Attractions and her Demon Series.

    For steampunk the author to go to is MELJEAN BROOK…her Iron Seas series IS NOT TO BE MISSED. Steampunk mixes all the genres together (fantasy, romance, historical, urban fantasy) and it’s better than each alone!

  7. mary g says:

    I agree with imp…..love Annabel Joseph books. Also love Shayla Black. Addicted to her Wicked series and she writes historical too.

    As for historical…..Monica Mccarty is pretty amazing. Her highland guard series is really good and it’s hard to wait for her next books.

    I just came across Kitty Thomas. Love her but her books are not for everyone. They are very dark and leave you wondering if there is a happy ending. Very intense stories and like I said not for everyone.

    I’ve never been into the paranormal books although I love Karen Marie Moning’s Dark Fever series. Someday I’ll have to try and read one. All the authors sound really good.

  8. Brooke says:

    Lora Leigh’s Bound Heart Series is similar in style to the Sweet Series.
    Nalini Singh for shifters and paranormal.
    Shelly Laurenston/GA Aiken for shifters (Laurenston modern times; Aiken for medieval)I’ve been reading her for ages and her characters are so irreverent they’re irresistable!
    Thea Harrison paranormal/shifters is a new find for me and I’ve really enjoyed her books.
    Gena Showalter and her Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series are awesome!! I’d class them as paranormal.
    Laurann Dohner sci fi/parnormal I’ve read everything she’s published and love her. You can just see her work getting more and more refined with each new book.
    Sarah McCarty western/contemporary/shifter/parnormal she’s just awesome.
    The thread that ties all these authors together for me is the sense of humor that every book has and the strong bond between the hero and heroine. Drives me nuts to read a book where the hero and heroine hate each other and treat each other horribly and then they suddenly love each other, blech! Always makes me sad when they do something deliberately to hurt each other so I just stay away from those types of books.

  9. Kristy says:

    Lorelie James…OMG, her books are so HOT!!! . I’d also recommend anything by Laurann Dohner, Donna Grant, Monica McCarty (for great Scottish romance) and Pamela Clare, either her historicals or her I-Team series. I recently found two authors for paranormal that are really good, Stephanie Rowe and Rebecca Zanetti. Great action and really hot alpha men. Of course J. R. Ward and her Blackdagger Brotherhood but most people know about her.

  10. Ellie says:

    “And really one of my favorite contemporary romances EVER was Janet Chapman’s The Seduction of His Wife. I never get tired of rereading that book. I love every single word.”

    OMG! Me too! And it looked like it was going to be a series (which I LOVE reading), but sadly I think she only released one other book about one of the Hero’s brothers, but there were three (3) brothers.

    I was a bit peeved about that. But still enjoy re-reading it both in hardcover and on my iPad.

  11. So glad to get some good authors to add from an Author I read voraciously:) LOVE LOVE LOVE Jacie Burton and Nalini Singh!!!

  12. K Stapleton says:

    I just found Shannon Stacy, She looks like an awesome read. But my favorite paranormal author has to be JR Ward and the BDB. Lora Leigh, Laurann Dohner are others in that genre. But the only historicals I read are MS. Maya Banks. I am not fond of that genre, but you make it very addictive..Thank you once again for many hours of enjoyment…

  13. Maria says:

    I can understand why you get that question alot, since it really is a veritable jungle when it comes to finding new authors and books.

    So let’s see if I can find any author not already mentioned… ‘Cause I love almost all the authors already listed! =)

    I like Pamela Palmer’s Feral Warriors series, it’s a paranormal series. And Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunters are on my must read list. Also paranormal.

    Lexi Blake has some nice BDSM-themed books with the series Masters and Mercenaries. Kallypso Masters has her Rescue Me series, also with a BDSM theme.

    Jianne Carlo’s the Hades Squad series is really good – and for once not a paranormal series (yeah I’m damaged).

    And for the laughs (when Shelly Laurenston hasn’t released anything new) I go to Eve Langlais. Mostly paranormal stories, and often very funny.

  14. Ginger Robertson says:

    Maya
    Thank you for your Facebook blurb of authors. I checked a lot of them out and plan to pick up some of their publications in the near future. I also noted some of the authors above and will check them out.
    Many thanks.

  15. Chickpea says:

    I love Lorelei James also, but in that same genre I love Cat Johnson. She writes not only cowboys, but also military erotic romance.

  16. Brandy R says:

    For historical try Diana Gabaldon the Outlander series and for mysteries try Lori Armstrong witch is Lorelie James.

  17. Betty Eddy says:

    How about Sophie Oak’s Texas Siren series or the one about Bliss, Colorado? And then there is Heather Rainier’s Devine, Texas series. I like Eden Bradley. Also, for something a little more edgy, how about Kelen Moon?

  18. Chrissy says:

    For great Romantic comedy I love love love Julie James. Her books make me laugh out loud. Round characters involved in funny sticky romantic situations. Many of them involved in the FBI and Criminal Justice world.
    One of my favorite authors! (Alongside Maya Banks of course!)

  19. Colleen says:

    I love Pamela Clare and the I-Team series ALMOST as much as I love KGI! The close knit reporting team reminds me of the love, strong will, and devotion of the Kelly family that make the KGI series so special.

  20. tammie eustice says:

    Love you Maya, just wanted to say I found you through Monica McCarty’s site, you are a recommended read from her, whom I love. Thank you and please don’t ever stop.

  21. Ashley says:

    I LOVE Joey W. Hill. Literary quality erotic romances with very strong BDSM themes. Her Knights of the Boardroom series is outstanding. I’ve re-read Hostile Takeover and Afterlife numerous times. Her Nature of Desire series is also amazing. These books are not for the faint of heart though!

  22. Thanks for the article post. Much obliged.

  23. Completely agree about Joey W Hill. Found her not too long ago and my mouth hit the floor and stayed there for the entire Knights of the Boardroom series. Amazingly good!

  24. Hey there! I’ve been following your weblog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic job!

  25. Michelle T-W says:

    Love Lorelei James as well.
    Kristen Ashley – both the Dream Man and Rock Chick series(although not very erotic, certainly hot with all the Alpha badassness going on)
    Comedic smut – Alice Clayton
    neverending sex scenes with seriously hot rockstars – Olivia Cunning. – Sinners on Tour series and One Night with Sole Regret short series.

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