Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

Which contemporary authors are your favorites and why? Do you have any authors whom you love, but perhaps are not so well known now? Please share!

Jayne Ann Krentz and Jennifer Crusie are my favorite contemporary/suspense authors. I love Crusie because of the great humor she puts into her books. I love JAK (in all her incarnations) for the great stories and characters. These are my comfort books and I will re-read anytime I need a pick-me-up.

Diane (deebotte) wrote: "Jayne Ann Krentz and Jennifer Crusie are my favorite contemporary/suspense authors. I love Crusie because of the great humor she puts into her books. I love JAK (in all her incarnations) for the ..."

I haven't read anything by her yet. I'll be sure to pick up some of her books the next time I go the used bookstore.

i don't reqad muc straight comtemporary though I do love romantic suspense.

I understand that Jaid Black writes mostly erotica, but I just finished Reading One Dark Night, and thought it was really good. To me, it was a romantic thriller/ suspense with some erotica thrown it. Once the story picked up, I couldn't put it down! I'll have to look into her other romantic suspense novels.

I'm not must into comtemporary and about the only one I do read is Jayne Ann Krentz; she is my favorite author what every name she is writing under.

I am still exploring this genre, but so far I like Linda Howard and Nora Roberts for contemporary/romantic susupense.

Megan wrote: "Which contemporary authors are your favorites and why? Do you have any authors whom you love, but perhaps are not so well known now? Please share! "

Jennifer Lane is not so well known, but I think she will be soon! Her debut novel, With Good Behavior, is a compelling read (romantic suspense).

I love Jayne Ann Krentz, too. I think one of her best contemporary romantic suspense books was All Night Long. Trust Me and Grand Passion are older books of hers that are favorites of mine. I like her characters and the humor to be found in her stories. I also like that she doesn't write graphically violent scenes (and that may be my age).

Thanks Janine and Sandra J! I think I have a few Jayne Ann Krentz novels that I'll have to dig out; and I'm definitely adding With Good Behavior to my "to buy" shelf.

Sandra J, you have just introduced me to Ann Krentz! I think I'll start with All Night Long.

Great, Michelle, I hope you enjoy it!

I love Sophie Kinsella for her voice and humour. I'm pretty much always guaranteed a good, escape-everything read from her.

Along the same lines, humour and voice but with a touch more depth of character, is Marian Keyes.

Humour and a jolly good riot & romp = Jill Mansell.

True grit, violence and realism are the makings of each book of Martina Cole. Known mostly for her gritty east End Irish characters, she paints a world that completely sucks you in even if most of her stuff is about the crime underworld of East End London.

I also quite like some of Elizabeth Lowell's newer contemporaries for Romantic Suspense.

CaroB wrote: "I also quite like some of Elizabeth Lowell's newer contemporaries for Romantic Suspense."

Does Elizabeth Lowell also write paranormal romance novels?

Michelle wrote: Does Elizabeth Lowell also write paranormal romance novels?"

No, just historical Romance and Contemp Romantic Suspense as far as I know.

CaroB wrote: "Michelle wrote: Does Elizabeth Lowell also write paranormal romance novels?"

No, just historical Romance and Contemp Romantic Suspense as far as I know."

I've come across a few of her books at various booksales. I'll be sure to grab a few the next time I go.

All time faves:
Nora Roberts and Janet Evanovich.

Others I've seen posted and I've tried and liked:
Jennifer Crusie
Jill Mansell
Linda Howard

oh, and not all-time fave but really like:
Suzanne Brockman

As one of my favorite 'romance suspense' authors, Shannon McKenna's series McClouds & Friends fits the bill. Warning: Her heroes are hardcore dominant alpha males using raw language. (No anal sex, no ménage.) Her villains are categorically Evil and she lets you inside their twisted psyches. Truthfully, her heroines will occasionally do something that makes them TSTL as a plot device. But she will take you on a wild ride!

I like the McCloud & Friends Series ; however, I wouldn’t read one right after the other or you’ll notice too many similarities. She also has this "six weeks" thing at the end of most every book.

I started with #5, Extreme Danger; therefore, it is my favorite (don't tell Debbie I started a series OOO). It is not imperative that you start them in order, but probably best.

Of course, some readers felt that the hero in the first book should be locked up for stalking, so they never went on with the series. Conner, in #2 Standing In The Shadows seems to be most readers' favorite.

In series order, they are:


Expected Septemer, 2011:
Blood and Fire about friend Bruno Ranieri.

I have to add Charlaine Harris. And Lisa Kleypas as good ones too. Dixie Cash, Stephanie Bond. Rachel Gibson.

Okay, I'll stop adding now.