I want to talk series today! I love a great series that draws me into the characters lives, when minor characters become major characters in the next books. Some stand out series for me are:
Ronie Kendig’s Discarded Heroes
Lisa T. Bergren’s River of Time
Tamara Leigh’s Age of Faith
Susan May Warren’s Montana Fire
Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion
Bodie Thoene’s Zion Covenant and Chronicles
Dee Henderson’s O’Malleys
Becky Wade’s Porter series
Mindy Starns Clark’s Million Dollar Mysteries
…to name a few!
But I do notice that when it comes to reviews, subsequent books in series usually get less reviews, fewer entries for giveaways, and less buzz. Once I start a series I love, I can’t wait to read the additional books but maybe that’s not the case for most.
Once you start a series, do you make it a priority to finish it?
(and feel free to share some of your favourite series!)
January 24, 2017 at 1:46 am
I do enjoy a good series. When you finish a book and you say, oh man I wish there was more, that’s when a series is great. My most favorite series of all is Jan Karon’s Mitford books. I have been through it multiple times and am so glad she has come back to write more books. Bodie Thoene’s Zion books also are at the top of my list. I also read all of Dee Henderson’s O’Malley books. But if a series doesn’t seem to keep me interested I drop it and move on because there is so much out there to read.
January 24, 2017 at 3:21 am
If I love the first book of a series, it will take a pretty horrific turnaround for me to quit the series, especially when the popular series lengths are only 3-4 books (that’s not a big commitment, not like certain 16+book fantasy series that my husband loves). It’s pretty rare that an author starts a series with a brilliant Book One and each sequential book is a complete dud. With long series, I’ve found they’re more likely to get better, since you know the characters and the author is improving craft as they write.
Some of my favorites are Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series (especially since it’s practically a record for CBA with FIVE books), Roseanna M White’s Ladies of the Manor, and Kristi Ann Hunter’s in-progress Hawthorne House books.
January 24, 2017 at 4:47 am
Yes, I will absolutely finish a series (unless the first book is a dud). It’s the OCD in me that must complete a task once started. Years ago, I enjoyed Dee Henderson’s O’Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. More recently I’ve liked:
* Age of Faith / The Feud – Tamara Leigh
* Christiansen Family – Susan May Warren
* Discarded Heroes / The Quiet Professionals – Ronie Kendig
* Daughters of Boston – Julie Lessman
* Victorian Bookshop Mysteries – Kate Parker
* Gaslight Mysteries – Victoria Thompson
* Beacons of Hope – Jody Hedlund
* Coffey & Hill – Mike Nappa
* Psalm 23 Mysteries / The Kiss Trilogy – Debbie Viguie
There are many more, but will stop hogging up the comments space.
January 25, 2017 at 1:34 am
Hiya Amy!
So pleased to see Age of Faith on your list–as is Sir Durand 🙂 Wishing you a blessed, beautiful day!
January 24, 2017 at 6:34 am
Oh, yes, I usually always finish a series. Most of the time if I love the first book I will make it a point to read each new one that comes out. Sometimes I enter a giveaway for the first book in a series by a new author. If I really love the book and know that this will be a must read/buy author, then I won’t enter anymore giveaways because I have pre-ordered each new book. Also, I usually only enter giveaways of books that I know I will want to re-read. If I have entered to win a 2017 book by an author, then I will usually wait until the author has published two more books before entering again. I want others to have a chance at winning and I don’t want the author to think I’m just getting free stuff off of them all the time.
January 26, 2017 at 11:47 pm
Sylvia M. » You have a kind and generous heart, Sylvia 🙂
January 24, 2017 at 7:47 am
You’ve mentioned lots of my favourites! I have a whole shelf just for series, because my other bookshelves were getting too full. To Emma’s dismay, they are all shelved in alphabetical order, by author. She can’t figure out how I find anything. Poor child.
Also favourites on my shelf:
Rivers of Time: Lisa T Bergren
Books of Mortals: Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee
Remnants: Lisa T Bergren
Sisters Ink: Rebecca Sietz
Sword of Lyric: Sharon Hinck
Defiance Texas Trilogy: Mary E DeMuth
Storm Siren Trilogy: Mary Weber
OK, stopping now…because I could go on and on!!
January 26, 2017 at 11:47 pm
Tracy » Oh, Sharon Hinck’s series, yes! I had to exercise some serious restraint 🙂
January 24, 2017 at 10:24 am
Hey Rel,
I love series! Subsequent books in a series are like good friends of good friends. You have heard great things about them and you can’t wait to get to know them more closely yourself. The things you mentioned are why some publishers steer away from series. While some books in series do get previous books’ readers, rarely do all readers follow all titles in the series. Many publishers feel it is easier to market individual titles as those who do follow all titles may not start a series if they miss book one, and with limited shelf space, stores don’t always like to carry the full backlist. I would think sites like Amazon would help with this, but I have not heard or read anything on this. The House of Winslow, Cheney Duvall, MD, The Emerald Ballad, The Russians, Ribbons of Steel, and Red River of the North are some of my all-time favorites.
January 26, 2017 at 11:45 pm
Aaron McCarver » You’ve mentioned some excellent series, Aaron. Great info on publishers, too!
January 24, 2017 at 10:39 am
If I read the first book in a series, and really like it, I try to find the rest of the series also. I’ve sometimes found a book that I didn’t realize was the second of a series and then read the other books, or sometimes just left it at that one. This only works if it’s a “stand alone” type series. Besides the ones you mentioned, some series I really liked are Susan May Warren’s Christiansen family series, Julie Lessman’s Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change, Jocelyn Green’s Heroines Behind the Lines series, Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade and Belmont Mansion series, and all of Mary Connealy’s.
January 24, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Like others above me, if the first book intrigues me, then I will definitely buy the next & almost always the series.
My favorites have been:
O’Malley series by Dee Henderson
Uncommon Heroes series by Dee Henderson
Raleigh Harmon series by Sibella Giorello–this series somewhat breaks the mold as Raleigh is the main character in each book but I love it and am always anxiously awaiting the next (which Sibella is trying to finish) 🙂
January 25, 2017 at 6:20 am
I love the Raleigh Harmon series and cannot wait for this new one. I think it’s coming in May. Series with one main character and her friends/relatives are always my favorites.
January 25, 2017 at 1:37 am
Love series! There’s nothing like a great one that allows readers to return time and again to characters who have beautifully messed with their hearts. Thank you for the Age of Faith mention, Rel!
January 26, 2017 at 11:43 pm
Tamara Leigh » How could I not?! I could have easily added all your series, Tam, but I exercised some control 🙂
January 25, 2017 at 1:55 am
Hi Rel,
I’ve read and loved all the series you mentioned. There are so many out there and so many great authors. Series and I have a love hate relationship. I love the stories and all their many parts, but I hate the fact that I usually have to wait for the next book to come out and then I hate when the series ends. I feel I know the characters personally and they’ve become part of my family. It pains me to leave them!
YET, I can rest assured that all these fantastic authors will continue on and who knows what new group of characters I’ll become friends with next!
January 26, 2017 at 11:42 pm
Marylin Furumasu » My sister will reread all the previous books in a series when a new one comes out! That’s one way to do it!!
January 25, 2017 at 3:10 am
O definitely. Unless I really didn’t like book 1, but that’s rare. I don’t quite remember when was the last time that happened. Lately, I’ve been jumping onto a series mid way or the last book, and having to go back because I loved it so much!
January 26, 2017 at 11:40 pm
Annie JC » I’ve read a few second or third books first recently, too. Not my favourite way to do it, but if they are ‘standalone’ style it’s okay 🙂
January 25, 2017 at 5:43 am
I love a series, especially when some of the same characters are in all of the books. When I read a stand alone novel, I often feel a sense of loss because that is the end of the characters… it is awesome when you can keep reading about them for a few more books.
Favorites:
The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury
Ronie Kendig’s series
The Sanctuary Series by Lisa Phillips
January 26, 2017 at 11:39 pm
Mark A Buzard » I enjoyed KK’s Redemption series, too, Mark. After that they got a bit repetitive for me, but obviously there are plenty of readers who think otherwise!
January 30, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Rel, I actually got burnt out after all of the off-shoots of the original series, and never read all of the series based on the original…..but I loved the original Redemption Series
January 25, 2017 at 7:30 am
As long as I enjoy each book, then I will continue to read the next book in a series. Some series leave cliffhangers in each book until the last, so that makes it imperative for me to finish (ie. Jessica Dotta’s Price of Privilege).
I don’t know how you can pick a favorite series of Susan May Warren’s, Tamara Leigh or Ronie Kendig’s, they are all so good. Other series I love include:
Miss Pickworth Collection -Catherine Palmer
Cheney Duvall MD -Gilbert & Lynn Morris
Medieval Trilogy -Leigh Bale
The Gifted series -Lisa T Bergren
Culper Series -Roseanna M White
and many others including the ones you already mentioned.
Legacy of the Pirates -Marylu Tyndall
Raleigh Harmon set -Sibella Giorello
The Reluctant Demon Diaries -Linda Rios Brook
The Charmed Life -Jenny B Jones
The Girl Next Door -Amy Leigh Simpson
The Midwives -Laurie A Eakes
January 26, 2017 at 11:37 pm
Brittaney B » Love your series list, Brittaney! I’ve also read most of them and must concur 🙂
January 25, 2017 at 10:18 am
I enjoy series and standalone books equally. If I start a series and do not enjoy book one, I don’t feel compelled to continue. It is interesting to me how some books are strongest at the beginning (Healer of Carthage was my favorite of the Carthage Chronicles by Lynne Gentry) and others end on the highest note (A Refuge at Highland Hall was my favorite of the Edwardian Brides Series by Carrie Turansky).
Favorite Series that quickly come to mind:
Zion Covenant by Brock and Bodie Thoene
Restoration by Terri Blackstock
Unnamed that begins with Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs
Secrets of the Cross by Elizabeth Musser
Heroines Behind the Lines by Jocelyn Green
January 26, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Staci » Loved your comment, Staci. I haven’t read Jocelyn’s series but just finished reading her The Mark of the King – just excellent!
January 25, 2017 at 1:17 pm
A good series is like potato chips – you can’t stop with just one!! There are 3 that come to mind right away – “Mark of the Lion” Francine Rivers – – “Daughters of Boston” Julie Lessman – – and “Age of Faith” Tamara Leigh. And I am the crazy tent person living outside the book store for the long awaited Book 6 of the “Age of Faith” series – the story of Sir Durand!! I’m living on Starbuck’s coffee and Subway sandwiches.
I’m thankful for the series others have recommended – I will be downloading some while I wait!
January 26, 2017 at 11:33 pm
Pam – Florida » Fantastic series, Pam. As for Durand…I think we are a couple among many waiting to read his story!