The Look of Love discussion

If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA

I liked the Bella Andre Sullivan family series. I also liked Marie Force's Fatal series. They aren't strictly romances there is a murder mystery in each one, so it depends on if you are looking for something like that. If I remember correctly the murders in the fist Fatal book, Fatal Affair, was a little grizzly, but I've definitely read worse

Gjbates wrote: "I liked the Bella Andre Sullivan family series. I also liked Marie Force's Fatal series. They aren't strictly romances there is a murder mystery in each one, so it depends on if you are looking for..."

Thank u! I love Marie Force's Gansett Series so I'll check out the fatal series.

Lori wrote: "If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA"

You can also try Melody Anne's Billionaire Series and her Tycoon Series. For Marie Force her Treading Waters series is very good!!

Virginia wrote: "Lori wrote: "If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA"

You can also try Melody Anne's Billionaire Series and her Tycoon Series. For Marie Force her Treading Waters series is v..."

Thank you!

Maybe try Kate Perry. Her "You" series is what I read after finishing the Andre brothers series.

Thank u, guys!

Bella Andre's 3 book Football Series is good.

I love Bella Andre's books also. So glad she is now writing the Sullivan cousins stories. Another you might want to try is Lynda Chance Louisiana Liaisons series, I think you will like that also. Three books each story about one of three friends who meet their man.

Robyn Carr's series are great too - Virgin River or the new Thunder Point. She has great character development with a bit of romance and suspense thrown in.

I agree Moira, Robyn Carr's series,Virgin River is outstanding and have read the entire series. I haven't read her new series, Thunder Point, yet.

Love virgin river!

The new series is good but not quite as good as virgin river. I still recommend it though!

another series to try is Kristen Ashley's Colorado Mountain series. Unbelievable. I also love Catherine Anderson's Kendrick/Coulter series another great series.

Thanx! I'll try those!

Definitely try the new book by Pamela Aares, Love Bats Last.

I like Shannon Stacey's series - the Kowalski series - first book is exclusively yours - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... - it actually came out prior to BA, but they are similar family wise

thank you Dee, I love Bella Andre and have all her books but Shannon Stacy is a new author for me. I just bought the first book in her Kowalski series to check it out.

With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby is awesome it has the same family theme and we get HEA in each book and just like with Bella the last chapters give you hints of what's to come https://www.goodreads.com/series/8912...

Bella Andre has so many books beyond the Sullivan series, including Candy Store, Ecstacy, Love Me, One Perfect Night, etc.,so I hope that you've had a chance to read them, too. I would recommend A.J. Harmon's Lathem brothers series: First Class novels. The first book, First Class in New York, is free today. The box set of all nine novels and bonus novella is currently $9.99. I enjoyed this series a lot.

thank you Lisa for recommending A.J.Harmon. I purchased the Lathem Brothers series pkg. Very excited to find a new author for me to read.

Thank you, Elena and Lisa.

I'm always on the lookout for new authors to feed my book mania. I do like to start a new author with free or reduced price ebooks.

I've read all of the Sullivan Family by Andre and also her books under Bella Riley. I'm also a fan of both the Kowalski series and their respective authors ..as well as the single Kowalski hero by Rachel Gibson in the Chinooks hockey series! Great name, it seems for HEAs. :)

I'm reading #12 in the Sullivan series and having mixed feelings about it.





Has anyone else read it?

I read all 13 so far and can't wait for #14. I personally love them. I was sad you had mixed feeling about Mia and Ford's story. I loved the fact even though she loved him she walked away when she saw him with that girl back stage. I also love the fact that Ford, who appeared to be uncertain about commitment and everything that goes with being in a relationship realizes how huge loosing Mia was in his life. Why did you have mixed feelings?

I'm confused, since only #1-12 have been published to date here in the US as far as I can find. I thought it a bit weird one was numbered 8.5, but I liked the Colbie story, too, so I'm not sure why they didn't give it a full number.

[Goodreads says #13 about Dylan will be out this summer. Maybe you have the ARC?]

I don't do those, so #12 for me is the latest, and it's about Ian and Tatiana.
That's the one I have mixed feelings about. I'm about finished with it, and I will need to think about it when I'm finished.


Mia and Ford's was #11 in my library.

[The only one I haven't read and don't care to read is the one about Mary and Jack. #9 Kissing Under the Mistletoe ]

Jameiowa, read your post about not wanting to read #9 Kissing Under the Mistletoe, Mary and Jack's story. I felt the same way until I read it. Because I read all the Sullivan family novels up until this I knew Jack dies early leaving Mary to raise the children. This is the story of how they met and their love story, have to tell you it was, for me, bitter sweet and I did cry. They stop the their story after their first born on Christmas Eve. The story starts with Mary looking at the first ornament that Jack and she hung while she is waiting for all of the Sullivan's to come for a visit. I loved it.

whereas I HATED Kissing Under the Mistletoe - maybe because I did the audiobook but wow talk about ugh...

Anything Jill shalvis specifically her lucky harbor series, Shannon Stacey, Christie Ridgway beach house #9 series

Also Shannon Richard's A Country Road Series book#1 is undone

I tried the first book from Andre and I was not impressed at all.
I am familiar with some of the romance authors recommended here. Now your recommendations have me wondering if I should give the series another chance.

I would give it another chance! With this series you come away with emotions of different issues the characters go through.This book,Chloe deals with domestic violence, that Andre's as a writer puts in her book, to show it's wrong. I won't spoil the other books they are soo good!! This series is one I like a lot.

i have to admit that i wasn't that impressed with book 1 and the christmas one (bk 10) made me want to guoge my eyes out...buts 2 and 3 were marginly better

Janeiowa wrote: "I'm confused, since only #1-12 have been published to date here in the US as far as I can find. I thought it a bit weird one was numbered 8.5, but I liked the Colbie story, too, so I'm not sure w..."

I read Mary and Jack's story "Kissing Under the Mistletoe", and it is my favourite ... it gives the meaning to the roots of family ! I was very romantic. I wasn't sure about reading it too... But Bella Andre wrote a wonderful book about The Sullivan parents, Jack and Mary ! Done with great respect ! Interested in why you didn't want to read it.

The Jaci Burton Play by Play Series is good, also Marie Force Gansett Island Series, along with the Kristen Proby Seattle Series and the Shannon Stacey Kowalski series. The list could go on. The Melissa Foster Series is also good. Like I said the list could go on and on. Hopefully this helps

Dee wrote: "whereas I HATED Kissing Under the Mistletoe - maybe because I did the audiobook but wow talk about ugh..."

I read the book and loved it. It unfolded perfectly in my mind. I imagined their voices, faces and responses to each other. I think as the potential parents of "their Sullivan brood" Bella Andre presented them in a respectful way to reflect a couple finding unexpected love and dealing with issues in their lives. Some of the resolve moments were emotional and some rather clever too. Given that this book came after "action packed" books about their adult kids, it felt a perfect way to reflect on the meeting and interaction of the Jack and Mary from other era influences. Bella gave the opportunity for one's mind to fill in what wasn't written in the words in the book. I so appreciated it was presented differently than how their kids stories were told. Respectful and with discretion. loved it. ... Though, initially I did feel sad at the beinning of the book knowing Jack was deceased... but once it moved on to the actual "Jack and Mary" story... that sadness left me... they had "forever love," As mentioned numerous times in kids stories that Mary never ever dated and it seemed she would on pages in this book...because of their declared strong forever love ! It was very a very romantic story . I actually read the book twice in August. It took me time to get the courage to read it because I was apprehensive about it... but it was a perfect romantic love story and future foundation which was solid for their eight Sullivan stories to unfold told in a different way ! (thank you Bella)

Lori wrote: "If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA"
Try Lauren Dane, her contemporary not the paranormal, though I like those too. Also, Jaci Burton, Jill Shalvis has a series called Lucky Harbor that is so wonderful.

Dixie-lee wrote: "Janeiowa wrote: "I'm confused, since only #1-12 have been published to date here in the US as far as I can find. I thought it a bit weird one was numbered 8.5, but I liked the Colbie story, too, ..."

The one marked 8.5 is a novella, not a full book and is meant to serve as a bridge between book 8 and book 9.

Dixie-lee wrote: "Dee wrote: "whereas I HATED Kissing Under the Mistletoe - maybe because I did the audiobook but wow talk about ugh..."

I read the book and loved it. It unfolded perfectly in my mind. I imagine..."

it just didn't work for me - this was even more insta-love than the other books, which irks me in general; plus it felt like Mary/Jack were too modern comparatively - it felt like I was reading a book set in the 1990's, rather than the late 70's/early 80's that it should have been set - the whole pocket planner thing seemed too dated for the time period; the writing style was full of redundancy (she retold the same bits of the story multiple times - which is really obvious when listening to an audio, vice reading) and yeah - just made me want to gouge my eyes out

plus I hate the whole woman hear me roar, who turns into a child-pooping out person...what about her career and future...it was like she was supposed to be this strong woman that met Jack and collapsed on herself...it was like she lost her identity

Linda wrote: "Lori wrote: "If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA"
Try Lauren Dane, her contemporary not the paranormal, though I like those too. Also, Jaci Burton, Jill Shalvis has a seri..."

Lori Wilde

Dixie-lee wrote: "Dee wrote: "whereas I HATED Kissing Under the Mistletoe - maybe because I did the audiobook but wow talk about ugh..."

I read the book and loved it. It unfolded perfectly in my mind. I imagine..."

I ALSO enjoyed meeting Jack's brothers & friends.

Janeiowa wrote: "I'm confused, since only #1-12 have been published to date here in the US as far as I can find. I thought it a bit weird one was numbered 8.5, but I liked the Colbie story, too, so I'm not sure w..."

According to Bella Andre's Website as of January 27, 2015 there are 13 available in e-book and 11 available in paperback. She doesn't separate the Sullivan Cousins into a series of their own just continues with the one called Sullivans. As for the 8.5 part my understanding is that it refers to which was designed as sort of a bridge between the two designed to introduce at least two of the cousins and it is a novella available in the Anthology All For You or as an e-book

Lori wrote: "If I like Bella Andre, what other authors should I read? TIA" Lori Wilde (Twilight,Texas Series - excellent & Cupid, Texas & She is coming out in February new series Stardust,Texas) Susan Mallery (Iam reading Fool's Gold series right now - excellent)Kristan Higgan excellent ) Stephanie Bond I enjoyed very much Southeran Roads series.) someone has already mentioned Jill Shalvis.. Lucky Harbor series. you cannot go wrong with these authors. I find it hard to keep up with all their books... slowly but sure enjoying working on it. !

you can try Layla Hagen series

Layla Hagen's Bennett series.