Rowena: There were a lot of fantastic series introduced to me this year and some of my favorite authors continued or ended some of my favorite series. Here are my favorites of the year.
- Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. I adored this series and was sad to say good bye to the town and characters that I’ve loved year in and year out for the past few years. I’m going to miss these guys so much! Shalvis really cranked the Lucky Harbor books out this year and each book entertained the socks right off me like only Shalvis can do. If you haven’t read this series, you should fix that because how can you not know who Tanner, Sam and Cole are? They’re awesome!
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The Ivy Years series by Sarina Bowen. I read this series in less than a week and toward the end of the year but holy crap did I love the heck out of these books. Every single one. There were a couple of things that broke my heart (basketball related things) but other than that, I adored this series. I’m SO looking forward to more from this series and from this author. She’s freaking rad.
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Rusk University series by Cora Carmack. Cora Carmack has introduced another winner of a series for me. She did a remarkable job of redeeming Silas’ character in All Broke Down because I thought he was a douche in All Lined Up and then his book came out and I wasn’t excited at all but then I thought it’s a Cora Carmack, she’ll fix things…and she did. I cannot wait for more from this series.
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On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young. This year we got Cole’s book and it was another winner for me. I loved Cole and thought his book was fanfreakingtastic. Young delivers the goods with this series and every time I finish a book, I want another one. I’m so excited for Logan’s book.
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Between Breaths series by Christina Lee. Holy cow this is a good series. It’s one of my favorite series of the year. I loved each book and cannot wait for more. I’m pretty anxious for anything Christina Lee and am so thankful to Holly for pimping this series out to me. I can’t get enough of these characters and their stories.
Honorable Mentions: FBI/U.S. Attorney’s series by Julie James, Wait for You series by J. Lynn and the Castles Ever After series by Tessa Dare.
Holly: There were so many good series that started and ended in 2014, it’s hard to narrow them down.
- The Kowalski Family by Shannon Stacey. This family has become near and dear to me over the years. I’m sad to see the end of them, but so glad I got to journey with them along the way.
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The Ivy Years by Sarina Bowen. This was a new-to-me author and series this year. I really loved the premise and Bowen’s writing. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
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Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis. Man, there have been some truly fabulous books that came out of this series. Though I expect to see great things from the new directions she goes in, I’m so sorry to see the end of this series. Lucky Harbor has become like a second home to me over the years. The inhabitants will always have a special place in my heart.
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On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. The books is this series have been hit and miss for me, but I can’t deny they’re compelling reads I end up falling into.
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Rock Kiss by Nalini Singh. I used to read Singh’s contemporary category romances years ago and I was very pleased to see her go back to her roots. The series is early yet, but I’m already hooked.
Honorable mentions: Petal, Georgia by Lauren Dane. Between Breaths by Christina Lee. Stage Dive by Kylie Scott.
What were the best series you read in 2014?
I’m nodding along for the Ivy Years, the Kowalskis and the Rock Kiss books–I confess that I’m not as invested in the Lucky Harbor books.
Which surprised me, because I have liked several of Ms Shalvis’ books before.
Oh man, I love the Lucky Harbor series. I was so sad when I read the final book in the series. I’m excited to see what she introduces us to next.
I’ve only read two of the Kowalsky books, the first two and all I remember from them is that the heroines got on my hot damn nerves.
“got on my hot damn nerves”
*snerk*
I gotta say that one of the many things I love about the romance blogs I read and follow is how differently two people can read this one book, and yet read this other book from exactly the same perspective.
Actually, the heroines in the early Kowalksi books got on my hot damn nerves, too. Book one was a straight wallbanger because of the heroine. I loved the family enough to continue. The last 6 or so were so great. I adored them.
I remember being so angry with the heroine in the second book that I was too scared to continue. I thought that if I continued, I’d probably end up hurting someone and that wouldn’t be good. It’s been a long time since I read them so I can’t tell you exactly what happened in the books or what the heroines did…I just remember being mad.
It was the heroine who had a one night stand with the bartender and got pregnant that almost killed the series for me. I wanted to karate chop her in the throat.
I am glad I continued the series, though. I really came to adore the family and the other heroines were all pretty great.
Larissa Ione’s Demonica series – it ended with Revenant last month *sob* Also loving her new Moonbound Clan Vampire series 😀
Enjoyed the last in Kylie Brant’s Circle of Evil trilogy!
And still enjoying Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling books 😀
I’m going to read the Psy-Changeling series this year. I’m actually reading the second book right now and enjoying it. I can see why it’s such a popular series and I could kick myself for not having jumped on this bandwagon long before now. 🙂
Oh lucky you–you have a dozen books already out. We have to wait a year in between!
That’s one of the good things for having waited on this series. I still should have started this series long before now.
Book 3, Caressed By Ice is my all time fave 😀
😀 Funny, just finished my umpteenth re-read.
Judd always makes me sigh.
That’s the book that made me want to read the series. Julie James walked around RWA a couple of years ago with a button that said, “Judd is my boyfriend” and Ames LOVES him so I’m anxious to get to his book.
Judd = lusty sigh! 😀
Oh yes, still going strong for me too, and I’m anxiously awaiting Shards of Hope
I stopped after book 5. I think I got caught up in the hype and my expectations became a little too much for the series. The books are great and the world-building is amazing, but Singh often uses the same tropes as other authors do. I expected something different when I went it, and it soured the experience for me.
I am going back to read the series now, however. I’m in the middle of the first book and hope to read the entire series before the next book comes out (I’m not going to glom them so I don’t burn out).
Same here. I have a lot of series that I want to read this year but I’m not going to glom any of them. I’m not going to burn myself out anything this year.
I’m liking the MoonBound Clan series, too. I meant to add it as an honorable mention.
Is that by Patricia Briggs?
OMFG HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE PATRICIA BRIGGS?!?!?!?
I’m so ashamed of myself right now. Alpha and Omega is absolutely one of my favorite series of the year. I fail at life.
No, the MoonBound Clan series is by Larissa Ione.
I just came across the Patricia Briggs books that I have on my iPad and thought to myself, “I’m going to read you this year too, don’t worry.” LOL.
Two of my long-standing must-read series ended this year: Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan Hollows series and Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. Both authors did a great job concluding the books. A couple of other shorter series that I really enjoyed also ended this year–Courtney Milan’s The Brothers Sinister and Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels historical romances.
Among new series, Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews was released in the fall. It’s book one in the Hidden Legacy series and was wonderful. I look forward to more.
Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels was a great series. I can’t wait to see what she brings out next.
I’m going to miss the Lucky Harbor series.
I’m also still a big fan of Singh’s Pys series as well as Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye series, and CS Harris Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries – all being my top favorites. Of course several others I follow and love just as much, to name a few – Briggs, Ilona Andrews (and just read the new series book Burn for Me, very good.
Hi ppellini, welcome to Book Binge! I’m hoping to get the Briggs series read this year. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
I enjoyed It Happened One Wedding in Julie James’ FBI/U.S. Attorney series and the latest in Julie Anne Long’s Pennyroyal Green series.