Nora Roberts Groupies discussion

If you had to pick your top 5 series and top 5 single titles, could you do it without really struggling to limit them to 5 each?

Well, let's try it! Tell us your top five in each category. If you struggled, tell us your runners up (6 through whatever that number is).

Top 5 Series


1. Gallaghers of Ardmore
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Three Sisters Island
4. Born in Trilogy
5. Inn Boonsboro Trilogy


Top 5 Single Titles
1. Montana Sky
2. Public Secrets
3. The Search
4. Three Fates
5. The Witness

Series (not in order of favorites)
1- Three Sisters
2- Chesapeake Bay
3- Born In
4- Morrigans Cross
5- In The Garden
6- Key Series

Stand Alones
1- True Betrayals
2- Genuine Lies
3- Northern Lights
4- Birthright
5- The Witness
6- Blue Smoke
7- Midnight Bayou

I couldn't limit either one to just 5.

Series
1. Thee Sisters
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Key Series
4. In the Garden
5. Morrigans Cross
6. Dream triology

Stand Alones
1. Honest Illusions
2. Blue Smoke
3. Montana Sky
4. Angels Fall
5. Boundry Line (Engaging The Eneny)
6. The Reef
7. Carolina Moon

Hmmm, let's see:

Series:
1. Chesapeake Bay Saga
2. Gallaghers of Ardmore
3. Bride Quartet
4. Circle Trilogy
5. Inn Boonsboro

Singles:
1. Public Secrets
2. Honest Illusions
3. True Betrayals
4. Montana Sky
5. The Witness

Series:
1. Three Sisters Island Trilogy(my first ever Nora!!)
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Dream Trilogy
4. In the Garden Trilogy
5. Born In Trilogy
(currently reading Inn Boonsboro)

Singles:
1. Montana Sky
2. Sanctuary
3. Angels Fall
4. Blue Smoke
I know that's not five, but nothing else is coming to me at the moment! :)

Maulika wrote: "Series:
Born trilogy
Blood Brothers trilogy
Calhoun sisters
The MacKade brothers
The Stanislaskis

Singles:
Angels Fall
The Search
Tribute
The Reef
Black Hills"

I really need to start the Blood Brothers trilogy...it's been on my list forever.

Hmmm. How to choose???
In no particular order:
Stand alones:
Sanctuary
True Betrayals
Birthright
Carolina Moon
The Search

Series
Born in
Cheasapeake Bay
In the Garden
Three Sisters Island
Ardmore trilogy

Yes I had a hard time limiting both lists to 5 but if I list the runners up, I'd just be listing the rest of Nora's books!! LOL!!!

JuliaC wrote: "Series (not in order of favorites)
1- Three Sisters
2- Chesapeake B.."

So few people ever list the In the Garden series and I'm glad to see it on your list. The first book was a little slow but I loved the next two.

I'm also seeing True Betrayals show up on a number of lists and I've yet to read it.

Nikki wrote: "Series
1. Thee Sisters
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Key Series. ..."

I almost added the Dream Trilogy but I never could bond with Margo. Loved everything else, though, about that series. I have never heard of Boundry Line....off to check it out.

Talya wrote: "Hmmm, let's see:

Series:
1. Chesapeake Bay Saga
2. Gallaghers of Ardmore
3. Bride Quartet
4. Circle Trilogy
5. Inn Boonsoboro
M..."

I see our lists are pretty similar! I've still got to finish the Bride Quartet, though. Loved, loved, loved Public Secrets.

LRM wrote: "Series:
1. Three Sisters Island Trilogy(my first ever Nora!!)
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Dream Trilogy

Singles:
1. Mont..."

How lucky were you to start with Three Sisters Island! Don't worry about only having four singles. I'm sure at some point you'll find your #5:)

Samantha wrote: "Hmmm. How to choose???
In no particular order:
Stand alones:
Sanctuary
True Betrayals
..."

I'm glad to see The Search on your list. I loved it but people seem to have extremes about this one...loved it or hated it.

Jonetta wrote: "JuliaC wrote: "Series (not in order of favorites)
1- Three Sisters
2- Chesapeake B.."

So few people ever list the In the Garden series and I'm glad to see it on your list. The first book was a lit..."

I love the In the Garden series. Especially the gardening info as I love my flowers!! I agree that the first one started a little bit slowly, but I think it needed to in order to allow Stella to grieve for her husband and then fall in love again. Did anyone else see the similarities between Stella In the Garden and Stella in the Cheasapeake Bay series?? Both strong, independent no nonsense mothers with that red hair temper and go to the wall love for her boys??? I think Nora loved her origina Stella so much she had to create a story for her!! Just my opinion!! LOL!

As for The Search, I really enjoyed it. I'm not really a dog person--I love my cats!- but it was amazing the way those dogs trained to find people and Jaws was just adorable!!!

Jonetta wrote: "JuliaC wrote: "Series (not in order of favorites)
1- Three Sisters
2- Chesapeake B.."

So few people ever list the In the Garden series and I'm glad to see it on your list. The first book was a lit..."
True Betrayals is another one of my go to rereads. Wonderful storyline and great characters.

I never made that connection between the two Stellas but now that you make the point, I see it. Great point!

I love dogs and Jaws just gave me so many laugh out loud moments. As I was put through dog training because I had a Jaws at one point, the story really resounded with me:)

Jaws was just a great dog with a wonderful personality. If I could get a Jaws that someone else has trained, I might be a dog person!! LOL!

What I learned in the training? I was the problem. It was borne out the moment the owner of the company walked in my door. Little Casey didn't exhibit one awful behavior....NONE! Hung my head in shame.

Jonetta wrote: "What I learned in the training? I was the problem. It was borne out the moment the owner of the company walked in my door. Little Casey didn't exhibit one awful behavior....NONE! Hung my head in sh..."

That would be me!! But I've decided that since my kids are grown and gone, I don't want anyone else to take care of--until grandkids come along--way, way down the road!!!

Oh Jonetta, you have got to read True Betrayals, it's sooo good!

And I agree about Jaws, so adorable!

I would pick:
Sign of Seven Trilogy
Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy
The Innsboro Trilogy

I haven't read many of the series yet.

Singles:
The River
Reflections
Unfinished Business
Gabriel's Angel
First Impression
The Best Mistake

It was hard to pick which ones are my favorites.

Gina wrote: "I would pick:
Sign of Seven Trilogy
Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy'..."

You have quite a few that are new to me (Reflections, First Impressions, The Best Mistake). You must be a long-time fan!

Hi Jonetta, I agree with you. I couldn't bond with Margo either but Kate was my fav in.the Dream series..

Did you find the Boundry line book? its combined with AWill and AWay in Engaging the enemy... Just loved the female lead Jillian in this book. hope u like it :-)

Nikki wrote: "Hi Jonetta, I agree with you. I couldn't bond with Margo either but Kate was my fav in.the Dream series..

Did you find the Boundry line book? its combined with AWill and AWay in Engaging the enem..."

I haven't had a chance to look for it other than to check out the premise.

Jonetta wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Series
1. Thee Sisters
2. Chesapeake Bay Saga
3. Key Series. ..."

I almost added the Dream Trilogy but I never could bond with Margo. Loved everything else, though, about that series. I have never heard of Boundry Line....off to check it out.."

Boundry Line is an EARLY book when she was with Silhouette

Jonetta wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Hmmm. How to choose???
In no particular order:
Stand alones:
Sanctuary
True Betrayals
..."

I'm glad to see The Search on your list. I loved it but people seem to have extremes ab..."

I loved The Search, but I have to say my fave character in that book was Jaws. I want a goofy life loving dog like that!

Oh, the other two books in the series are WONDERFUL! Don't let Margo stop you. I agree, she tops my list of least favorite NR heroines.

I feel bad that so many people don't like Margo. I love her.

Maulika, that sounds like a great discussion topic on its own. I'll go ahead and set that up.

I've read more standalone books than series...

I did read the In the Garden trilogy and loved it! I also read the Chesapeake Bay saga and like it also.

Singles:
Northern Lights
Whiskey Beach
Black Hills
Angels Fall
The Witness

Northern Lights seems to be another favorite! Gotta get that back on my list.

I love NORHTERN LIGHTS!!!

Julia, I do not need a lot of encouragement.....

Top 5 series/trilogy:
1. Chesapeake Bay
2. Circle
3. Sign of Seven
4. Key
5. Three Sisters Island
Worth mentioning: Bride Quartet

Top 5 standalone:
1. The Witness
2. Tribute
3. Montana Sky
4. Blue Smoke
5. River's End

This was hard, but here's my list.

Series

1. Three sisters
2. Born in
3. Donovan legacy
4. The Calhoun women
5. The Stanislaskis
6. Night Tales

Singles

1. Chasing Fire
2. The Search
3. Northern Lights
4. Black Hills
5. Rivers End

oops, I forgot to add The Witness

I've only read the first two books but I've enjoyed the Donovan Legacy.

I liked it. I've found that chasing fire is like the search, lots of mixed reviews, people love it or dislike it.

I started Chasing Fire, it's the only book by her I didn't finish. I didn't read much of it, just couldn't get into it.

Chasing Fire was okay. The fire jumping scenes just got old after awhile.

I liked Chasing Fire but I figured out who the killer was too early. That kind of ruined it for me. But the romance was good.

yeah, I figured it out early too, but I liked that the book was different than other ones

I really enjoyed Chasing Fire, but I admit like The Search had a lot of dog training details, Chasing had a lot of smoke jumping and fire fighting details.
I also found out the 'bad guy' in the first few pages. But I liked the different dynamic and chemistry of Rowan as an alpha female and Gull as a beta male.

Here is my list:

Trilogys
1. Chesapeake Bay Saga
2.The Bride Quartet
3. Detective Trilogy (Sacred Sins and Brazen Virtue)
4. The In The Garden trilogy (still gotta finish it)
5. The Donovan Legacy (even tho I haven't finished it)

Stand Alone Novals
1.River's End
2.Black Hills
3.The Witness
4.Home For Christmas
5.All I Want For Christmas

that's about all of my favorites so far...I can't seem to think of any others at the moment...lol!

SERIES
1. Chesapeake Bay 
2. Stanislaski Family
3.  MacKade Brothers
4 Bride Quartet

STAND ALONE

1. Northern Lights
2. Witness
3. Whiskey Beach

The number 1’s above are head and shoulders above all others, including many other authors, for me.
There seems to be, for me, so much difference between some NR books in writing style.  

. Have u read any of her other stand alone novals? I don't think that I've read very many of them either....I'm still waaaay bhind on catchin' up with Nora Roberts. She is a great writer and yes,I agree with u about her writin' style, it has changed over the years. Good luck on readin' many others from her!

I have read many of her other titles, but they were not anywhere near as good in consistent quality as the ones I listed. It's not the style change over the years that bothers me; it's what seems to be the difference in the writing from one title to the next. The Inn series left me shaking my head in disappointment. They were nowhere near the quality and substance, for me, of the series and/or stand alones above.

Stanislaskis are much more than a trilogy. There are books about Mikhail, Natasha, Alex, Rachel, Kate, Nick...so, at least, 6 I can think of off the top of my head.

I am further mystified about why that series is often not listed as part of her body of work. I've been told a number of reasons when I've asked in various discussion groups,but the answers I'm given don't seem logical to me.

The Stanaslaskis and the MacGregors books are more like legacy series to me than trilogies. They extend to so many characters. Both are great families to read about.

Jane wrote: ". Have u read any of her other stand alone novals? I don't think that I've read very many of them either....I'm still waaaay bhind on catchin' up with Nora Roberts. She is a great writer and yes,I ..."

Those series are still owned by Silhouette. As Nora is with another publisher and hasn't negotiated the rights to those works (to the best of my knowledge to date), they are only listed in her printable books document as Silhouette has to be noted.

There are many authors who began as category romance writers with this same dilemma (Cindy Gerard, Iris Johanssen, Brenda Novak, etc.).

Yes, there are, Jonetta, but do they also not acknowledge having written certain works because they're owned by another publisher? Is that common in the publishing world:

It's a tricky situation when you're now under contract with a competitor. Too much commenting can be seen as promotion. Make sense?