I was talking to Leontine, of Leontine’s Book Realm on Twitter a while ago, and we were discussing our excitement over Nalini Singh’s new book, Branded by Fire. She said, Nalini Singh is one of the few authors that have never let her down with a single book. I immediately agreed, and then started scanning my shelves to see what other authors fit that category. Out of all of the authors I read, I came up with five that have never let me down:
Nalini Singh – As just mentioned, her Psy/Changeling series and her new Guild Hunter series are some of my absolute favorites. I have always finished her books extremely satisfied. Her Psy/Changeling series are shapeshifter romance books, where humans are the minority. Shapeshifters and cold, unfeeling Psy rule the world and dislike each other, well, until some of them start to fall in love. You can read more about her world HERE.
Psy/Changeling series includes:
Slave to Sensation
Vision of Heat
Caressed by Ice
Mine to Possess (<---Favorite)
Hostage to Pleasure
Branded by Fire – July ’09
Blaze of Memory – November ’09
Guild Hunter Series:
Angels’ Kiss
Archangel’s Kiss – Early 2010
Patricia Briggs – Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series include books that have exceeded my expectations each time. Never a drop of disappointment from her. Both series are set in the same world, shapeshifters are the main focus, but there are vampires, fey, and all sorts of crazy creatures. Adam Hauptmann, head werewolf is one of my favorite alpha males. But Patricia Briggs brings in so many wonderful supporting characters that add depth to each book. She started the A &O series, which has more romance and follows the adventures of Charles and Anna. (she doesn’t forget about Bran either:). Patricia Brigg’s Website.Mercy Thompson Series:
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Bourne – Next year (I think)
Alpha and Omega Series:
On the Prowl Anthology
Cry Wolf
Hunting Ground – August ’09
Karen Marie Moning – I adore her highlander books (although I have only read the last four that she wrote) and her Fever series is so good that we a group of us on JR Ward’s message boards speculate about the next two books in that series on a daily basis. It will be a five book series, the fourth due out this August and she has just given us enough information, hints and clues that will drive you totally insane! My biggest question is what/who is Barrens, the leading man of the series? The cliff hanger ending in Faefever was enough to give me a slight heart attack. Love this series, hope the final two books lives up to my expectations. Karen Marie Moning’s Website.Highlander Series:
Beyond the Highland Mist
To Tame a Highland Warrior
The Highlander’s Touch
Kiss of the Highlander
The Dark Highlander (Daegus is my favorite)
The Immortal Highlander
Spell of the Highlander
Fever Series:
Darkfever
Bloodfever
Faefever
Dreamfever – August ’09
Shadowfever – TBA
Josh Lanyon – I have not read every single book he has published, but every time I read him, he surprises me by how much I love his work. He writes with wit and romance. He could write mysteries with no romance, just m/m romance, or really anything and I would enjoy the story. He writes all the time too, if you look at his list of works, he keeps up a pretty crazy schedule, yet his quality does not suffer. That really says a lot.
Adrien English Series:
Fatal Shadows
A Dangerous Thing
The Hell You Say
Death of a Pirate King
Untitled # Five – Late this year.
You can find a list of all his books HERE.
Jeaniene Frost – I have read her three Night Huntress books and I can not express how good Bones and Cat are together. I just discovered this series a few months ago and it has become one of my favorites. I love the beginning, middle and end. This series has an urban fantasy feel with really hot romance. The supporting characters are great too (yes, I’m a Tate fan!). Great mystery, great romance, each one gets better and better. Jeanine Frost Website.Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave (chapter 32, s’all I’m sayin)
At Grave’s End
Destined for an Early Grave – July ’09
First Drop of Crimson (new series featuring Spade, Bones’ best friend) January ’09.
Do you have any authors that have never let you down? Do you have favorite authors that have let you down? (*cough* JR Ward, Laurell K Hamilton – still favs though :)
My fav authors that have never let me down are Karen Maire Moning (you really need to read the rest of the highlanders) and Diana Gabaldon,
An author that did let me down but seems to have redeemed themselves is J R Ward, I was less than thrilled about Lover Enshrined, and I have just started Lover Avenged and so far I am thinking this is a muc better one…… but i'll reserve judgement till I finish it completly!
I have Jeanie Frosts first in my TBR pile, now I am thinking it might be my next read been wanting to start that series for a while!
Amanda – I LOVE the first couple Diana Gabaldon books..Jamie is a fav of mine, but I have yet to read the entire series. I think I have to stop trying to read it all the way through..the books are too big ;)
Totally agree with JR Ward…let me know what you think of LA when you finish!
Definitely start Frost..her new book comes out next month!!
I agree with you about DG, I have to take breaks inbetweeen her books, I still haven't finished the series either.
Will do about LA I am really hoping that I like this books as much at the end because if not think it might be the last of hers I read…… and Halfway to the grave was just moved to the top of the list!
Wow, I'd have to say Lisa Kleypas is the one author that has never let me down.
You've listed several authors on my list (Briggs, Frost, Moning). I've only read the Hunter book by Ms. Singh but plan to read her psy books. I'd also like to give Mr. Landon a read as well. I love Rachel Vincent's shifter books (starts with Stray) and Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Books (she's a werewolf named Kitty). Also, have fallen in love with the Succubus series by Richelle Mead.
JR Ward's last two books were not as good as her first few, but I KNOW JM's story is going to rock!
Hey Mandi!
Well, a fave author of mine that has not never let me down… Lynda Hilburn (2 books, but they are rock solid), Susan Sizemore (Prime Series), Amanda Ashley (Night's Series) and Gena Showalter (OMG – do I have to tell which one lol, The Lords). Since I am just getting into reading heavily and more series… I will have to get back to you on this one!
But those are just a few!
Hope you hare having a great day!!!
Great post! I completely agree with you on Moning and Briggs. I know a lot of people are disappointed with the Fever series, but I am loving it. I just hate waiting, though. I cannot seem to get into Singh's writing. I have no idea why, but her books are just okay for me. I have only read one Lanyon and I did enjoy it, but it wasn't an Adrian mystery. I'll have to look into this series because it is getting very positive reviews. I have the first Frost book sitting in my TBR. I was going to start it yesterday, but I opted to read Dayhunter by Drake first. I wanted to catch up with that series before I started a new one.
So hard to say, there are authors out there, and then along comes a book by them that I don't like that much.
But I do tend to love all books by Robert Jordan…glad I didn't read his Conan books though.
Hm Sophie Kinsella hasn't disappointed me so far though
Josh Lanyon, LB Gregg :), Nalini Singh, Anne Bishop, Suzanne Brockmann, Julia Quinn, Meljean Brook, Julie James, Kresley Cole, Patrice Michelle, Toni Blake, Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas…omg I could go on and on! lol
Great post.
Hey Mandi!
I actually have quite a few authors that have yet to truly let me down.
-Meljean Brook
-Nalini Singh
-Joey W. Hill
-Megan Hart
-Shana Abe
-Patricia Briggs
All these ladies deliver for me time and again. Much love to them!!
Barbara – Oh yes, I haven't read a lot of her, but I do love her wallflower series and the new one she is doing.
Patti – I haven't read Vincent or Mead.
You know JM is going to rock!!!
Cecile – I haven't read any of those authors yet! Sigh. Too many books lol!!
Jill – I really want to read Jocelyn Drake!! I think I have them on my wishlist at PBS.
Blodeuedd – I've enjoyed reading your Sophie Kinsella reviews:)
Tracy – Oh..LB Gregg definitely!!! And Meredith Duran sounds like her next one won't disappoint either!
VFG – I just ordered Dirty by Megan Hart..I haven't read her yet.
Great post!
I love Nalini Singh also. Although, I don't plan on reading her new series. I don't read UF, so I'm not going to try it!
Karen Moning's Highlander series is also one of my faves. I still need to get to her Fever series!
Lora Leigh's Breeds never let me down!! LOVE them!
Hi Mandi,
Love the post and thanks for the link ;-)
I look at my shelves and see a few authors who have never let me down:
Nalini Singh
Karen Moning
Kresley Cole
Angela Knight
I have a few other authors who haven't let me down but they have only released a few books so far: C.L. Wilson – Anna Campbell – Anna Windsor & Rona Sharon.
I do not know about the rest of you but for me it is a rare treat to have found an author who hasn't let me down. Especially when I have read 5-6-7-8 novels of their hand. Even Kenyon and Ward had let downs for me in their Dark-Hunter & BDB series. I consider them icons within the paranormal genre without losing sight of their flaws.
Authors like Singh, Moning will forever be treasured on my shelves and re-read whenever I have time…
I am with the vamp fan, Joey W Hill is yet to let me down.. even some of her mainstreams which I really hesitated to read, sucked me right in.
Though have to agree on the Nalini Singh, while not my fav author, I have enjoyed every single one of her books. Including new series.
Amy – I would like to read the breed series:) You def should try Fever series!!
Leontine – Yes, I love to reread these great books. I felt a bit let down with Kresley Cole's last book..but I do like that series:)
Michelle – I am going to have to try Joey Hill!
I don't think there's any writer who hasn't written a book I didn't like :P Even LJ Smith, who probably my favorite writer, wrote a whole series that I absolutely hated.
But that's okay. They're still my favorites. :)
Hmm…
Lisa Kleypas
Patricia Briggs
Nalini Singh
KMM
Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series is fantastic!
Richelle Mead & her Vampire Academy series is PHENOMENAL!
PC Cast (also the House of Night series she writes w/ her daughter is amazing!).
Jane Austen
Jeaniene Frost (though I'll be honest and admit I didn't care for book 2 all that much)
I'm a big believer in good writing. If it's good, I'll read it. Even if an author fumbles (no more than 2 books though) I will still glom them. If they fail after 3 books, I'm done. I'm nicer than a lot of people out there. :)
Another awesome post. Totally with you on Nalini Singh but I am only up to book 4.
I have loved all of Sara Donati's Into the Wilderness series
Kelley Armstrong has never failed for me!!
Hi, Mandi, what an interesting post! I've got to agree with you on Nalini Singh, and I'm not even one to read much m/f romance. But I read her first couple of books and was amazed by her talent.
The same with Patricia Briggs who seems to somehow keep the paranormal / urban fantasy genre fresh (plus they've been giving her some of the best cover art I've seen in a long time!).
I'm just starting to read Josh Lanyon with The Art of Dying novella, and I'm very interested in reading more.
As for recommendations from me of authors who never disappoint, wow, I'd have to think about that. I tend to read in sort of a shotgun pattern where I take in one book from as many different authors as I can.
I just read two mysteries by Lisa Scottoline that were both terrific. I have a feeling that she would always maintain a high quality of storytelling. In the m/m world, Jordan Castillo Price and J. M. Snyder are consistently good.
Hey Mandi, thanks for that vote of confidence. *g* I do strive never to disappoint readers. I know every book isn't going to be a hit with every reader, but it will never be for my lack of trying.
Heidenkind – Interesting! I read a lot of authors and I could only come up with five.
Bridget – I am going to read Kelley Armstrong at the beach this summer..can't wait. Yeah, you are nice giving them three books. I might give them three chapters :)
Teddyree – never heard of Donati. Will have to check it out.
Obsidian Bookshelf – I really want to get my hands on the Art of Dying I have never read Jordan Castillo Price. Nor J.M Snyder.
Josh – glad I gave you some confidence ;)
Thank you for this post. It's very helpful. =)
I have an award for you. =)
http://bambireads.blogspot.com/2009/06/yay-award.html