The Marquis of Chase is not a reputable man.
He is notorious for his wretched morals and never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms… though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers. Rejected from his father’s house at the age of sixteen, he now lives a life of wanton pleasure. So what could the Marquis of Chase possibly want with Juliana Merton, a lovely, perfectly upstanding shopkeeper with a mysterious past?
A moment’s indiscretion?
A night’s passion?
Or a lifetime of love?
Even the wildest rakes have their weaknesses…
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
First I’d like to thank Fatin for inviting me to her blog. I can see she has a lot of chatty readers, the best kind. In case you don’t know me, I write historical romance for Avon. My books are set in the ever popular Regency period. Never Resist Temptation came out a year ago, a mystery romance featuring a heroine who was a pastry chef. The Wild Marquis was released this month. The heroine is a rare bookseller, down on her luck, whose business perks up when a rakish marquis with a terrible reputation walks into her shop. It emerges that both of them have mysteries in their pasts that are entwined thought a pair of rival book collectors. Along the way this very unlikely couple fall in love.
My second book is also a first for me, the first book in a series. At the end of The Wild Marquis the hero and his friends form The Burgundy Club, an exclusive group of bibliophiles. Naturally I had to tell those friends’ stories. Writing characters who will reappear is an interesting challenge because you have to pay special attention to those future heroes. Otherwise you find yourself stuck with some trait in the middle of the next book which you’d rather have changed.
As a reader I’ve always loved series. It’s so much fun to revisit characters you’ve come to love (or hate). I’ve used my opinion as a reader to inform the way I’ve approached my writing. For example, I’m careful to make my past couples play a part in the plot when they reappear, not merely pop in and tell us how many babies they had. My next book The Dangerous Viscount (coming in October) features Sebastian Iverley, a scholarly (dare I say geeky) type who dislikes women. The story can be summarized as Regency Revenge of the Nerd as he falls in love and gets a makeover. At the end of The Wild Marquis, Sebastian refuses to allow women to join the Burgundy Club. So Juliana, heroine of the first book, helps Diana, heroine of the second, get her revenge when Sebastian treats her badly.
How do you feel about series? Do you like to read them? What are some of your favorites? Is it important to you to read them in order? And do you prefer not to buy a book in a series until all of them are out? Comment and enter a drawing to win a signed copy of The Wild Marquis.
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
Thank you for visiting with us, Ms Neville!
To learn more about the books and the characters, visit Ms Neville’s website–and don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing!
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
Hello, Miranda! Thank you for creating a wildly passionate love affair involving people who love books! “Bookaholics Rock”! The cover is quite beautiful and does indeed suggest a wild, passionate affair!
I do love great book series. Once I’m hooked, I’m hooked : ) It’s hard to let those characters go, especially if the writing remains topnotch. Elizabeth Hoyt’s “Legend of the Four Soldiers” is a favorite. I actually read the third book, “To Beguile a Beast”, first. I became involved with the story line and collected the other three books in the series. I should have known I would have to read all four books. I do prefer to read them in order.
Hi Virginia: we’ve met before. Elizabeth Hoyt is brilliant. I scarfed her first series (which I began with book 2 ) but I’m so behind I only got to the first of the Four Soldiers.
(I replied at the bottom first before I realized you could answer directly to a comment. I like this feature – wish all blogs had it)
I like a good series, more to love 😀 Especially when it comes to fantasy.
I buy and read even if all are not out…sure regret it sometimes when you have to wait years for the next
I’m fascinated by your name. An I right in thinking it is Welsh?
I’m with you–I love reading a series and revisiting characters. Nice post. Thanks.
I love books in series. My favorites are (but not limited to) The Cynsters by Stephanie Laurens followed by her Bastion Club and now her new Black Cobra series.
I am rather anal when it comes to series in that I MUST have them all in hand before I start reading any of them and will start with the first. I know that most books can be read out of order, but I dislike doing that. Didn’t wait to read the Cynsters…only series I read as I got them.
I’m currently reading the third book of Jo Beverley’s Company of Rogues series. This series contains eleven books and a 3 story anthology.
I’m loving the sounds of TWM and the upcoming books too! Looking forward to getting them all on my TBR shelves.
My favorite series so far is Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes trilogy. It’s very loosely connected, which I prefer. Series that run on too long or become too intertwined might lose me along the way.
Ooh…The Dangerous Viscount is already on my watch list. Nerdy-beta male hero. My favorite!
The Princes trilogy could definitely be read as three separate books. I loved Harry – like you I enjoy unusual heroes.
I love series – especially the chance to catch up with characters from previous books. If possible, I try to read a series in order, but sometimes I’ll jump ahead to read one of my favorite characters – especially is he’s a bad boy – can’t help myself. One of my favorites is Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes and Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers series.
Another vote for those Princes. And if you are talking bad boys and Wallflowers I assume you mean Sebastian?
I love to read series, it just takes a while to get them all! I have been reading a series by Elaine Levine and am so hooked on it! The first book is Rachel and the Hired Gun and the second is Audrea and the Maveric, loved them both! The next on doesn’t come out until 2011, can’t wait!
I’ve been hearing great things about Elaine Levine. I’ll have to look for them. It can be SO hard to wait for a book you are really pumped about.
I love to read series. I try to always read them in order. Sometimes I wait to get them all other times I don’t. Let’s seem some of my favorites are:
SK’s Dark-Hunters
Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series
Donna Grant’s Highlanders
Toni Blake’s Destiny Series
dang there are tons of series I love.
I seem to be drawn to series books.
hugs,
WendyK
I’m relatively new to paranormal but I’ve been enjoying some. Thanks for the ideas.
Hi Miranda, I just love the premise of your series. Remake book geeks to sexy, sensual creatures…I love it!!!
I admit I enjoy series books that stand alone and some of my favorites are Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles, and Kate Pearce’s Simply series. Most of the time I collect books in the series before I start because I hate waiting and being tortured. If the wait between books is long I usually have to reread the first one to refresh my memory of the series, so that’s why I gather first. I know, type-A personality. *sigh*
Armenia: I want to make it clear that The Wild Marquis starts out a sexy, sensual creature who learns to get in touch with his inner geekiness. The next book, The Dangerous Viscount, is the opposite.
I love Elizabeth Boyle – the others you mention I’ll add to my (ridiculously long) list
I love series, but the only thing that bugs me is when I do miss one of the books… As for reading them in order, I will reread them in proper order once I have them all… love revisiting characters! 😀
I agree, Colleen. I never mind rereading a good book.
Yes, I do love to read series. Though I prefer to read them in order, I will read the books out of order just enjoying the ones I find in my area.
That said, I think that being able to read the books in order gives a richer experience since you are introduced to the greater pool of characters in the manner that the author intended. Many times the successive books build upon or to some extent depend upon the knowledge introduced from a previous installment.
I enjoy various genres, it just depends upon my mood. A current favorite for me is Shana Abe’s Drakon series.
Well expressed! An excellent argument for reading series in order. I just read the Smoke Thief. What a great book!
I like series. Some of my favorites are Lisa Kleypas’ Wildflower series and the Hathaways, Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunters, JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson series, and Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series.
I love all those except the Riley Jenson, which I don’t know. The first Nalini Singh I read totally blew me away. What incredible world-building. And who couldn’t love the Bridgertons?
I feel exactly the same way, and I love to grow with old characters throughout a book series 🙂
A writer no one has mentioned is Karen Hawkins. Her St. John series was really excellent for showing us the different family members both before and after each one’s book.
I love series. Like you, the ones I enjoy the most are the ones where the previous couples actually have a role in the new books instead of just making an appearance. It makes the stories feel a bit more connected and I love seeing my old favorites come back.
One of my currect favorite series is Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. The books in the series are great and all of the characters are wonderful and important.
Another of my favorite series is the Sigma Series by James Rollins. It’s not a romance series, though there are moments of romance in some of the books, it’s just an awesome series. The main characters are pretty much the same throughout, but there are secondary characters who have popped in and out of some of the books and it’s always great to see them come back.
Of course, my all time favorite series is Anne of Green Gables. It may have to do with the fact that I started reading the series with my mom when I was in elementary school, but I really love the books.
OMG. I must have read Anne of Green Gables a hundred times as a kid. And the Little House books. There are some wonderful children’s series – enough for a whole new discussion.
I shall have to look for the Signma series – sounds intriguing.
I absolutely love series! Sometimes those one-time books are such a teaser when they’re extremely good. You get introduced to a new world, with new and intriguing characters…only to discover there’s no followups. It breaks my little bookworm heart 😦
And yeah, of course I love reading them! The only thing I wish there was more of was something that you had mentioned: older characters coming back to play a more substantial role in newer books. It drives me insane reading about a new couple, only to have my favorite couple come in for a page or two. I think I’d rather they just not show up at all.
Some of my favorite series: The Black Jewel Trilogy by Anne Bishop; Mercy Thompson & Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs; Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole; The Atlantis series by Gena Showalter.
I’d say it’s pretty important for me to read the series in order. I hate starting in the middle of anything.
I’d be crazy if I waited for a complete series to come out. I can deal with the wait for the next book to be published if I have to. I mean, that’s part of the fun. Said wait also grants you the opportunity to to reread the books if you really enjoyed them 🙂
“Said wait also grants you the opportunity to to reread the books if you really enjoyed them ”
I couldn’t agree more. I sat down and reread all six Harry Potters in preparation for the last.
I love reading a series only if it’s really good like Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series and JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I prefer reading books in a series in order so I know what’s happening. I kind of prefer waiting for a book to come out so I can reread the other books or read something else.
“I kind of prefer waiting for a book to come out so I can reread the other books or read something else.”
I know what you mean. Sometimes I’ll go on a glom and read a bunch of books by the same author, one after the other. But you can get tired of it. Sometimes the waiting and the anticipation enhances the experience
I love series. I always try to read them in order but sometimes I end up starting the the middle by mistake.
Some favorites are any of Nora Roberts and JD Robb’s “In Death”. Eloisa James’ Desperate Duchesses and Essex Sisters quartet. Julisa Quinns Bridgerton Family. Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers. Mary Balough’s Slightly and Simply series.
And when I was younger I loved the Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High and The Box-car Kids series.
Ooh! I love the Desperate Duchesses. The In Death series would be hard to manage in order unless you came in right at the beginning. There are so many of them now.
I love reading series! It’s like being a part of the family seeing characters evolve over a number of books. Some faves were Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons and Joanna Lindsey’s Mallorys.
So many great series feature family members. But there are other ways of linking characters, like the Rogues. Or my guys in the Burgundy Club.
I love series books because the provide an opportunity to revisit with characters I already love. I prefer to read them order. Sometimes I will wait until the next book comes out but most times I am not patient enough to wait that long. One of those types of series is the psy/changeling series by Nalini Singh. I have to have the book right away and then I have to read it right away.
I have a lot of fellow Nalini Singh fans here. You, and Estella, the next commenter. I’m not surprised. She is brilliant
I love series! I read them in order as soon as they are released.
A couple of my favorites are Nalini Singh’s psy/ changeling series and JD Robb’s In Death series.
I love reading a series. I like to see other characters get their own stories. I do try to read them in order.
I love series! Its a great way to read more about the characters you love! Some of my favorites are: Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love aat Stake series, Cindy Miles’ series, Gena Showalter’s Lord’s of the Underworld and Atlantis series, Cynthia Eden’s Night Watch series, Sabrina Jeffries The Hellions of Halstead Hall series, and Jennifer Ashley’s Highland Pleasures series. They are all super fantastic! I think its always better to read them in order. You get so much more out of it! Although there has been a few times when I didn’t know a book was IN a series and read it; but if I enjoyed it I always go back and find the others. Oh, no. No, no, no, no. I do don’t have the patience to wait for a whole series to be out LOL. I go out and buy the book the day it releases!
Your book sounds very good! I’ve been on a Historical ROmance kick lately so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it!
Have you ever had that moment when you are reading a book and really enjoying it and suddenly it occurs to you, OMG this is a series. There are more like this! It’s especially satisfying when you just *love* the characters and can’t wait to meet them again.
I love series, but as my bookshop doesn’t always stock every book of a series I especially like series where you can step in at any time.
My one petpeeve about series is when couples who got tgether in an earlier book get into a fight in a later book and break up. I hate it when that happens.
Some of my favourite series:
Mercy Thompson & Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead
Undead series by M.J. Davidson
The Black Jewel books by Anne Bishop
I wouldn’t like to see a previous couple break up altogether, but I don’t mind a little tiff. But you don’t see it very often so I guess it’s not popular
I like your premise about bibliophiles, Miranda. I also like a scholarly, somewhat geek of a hero, as much as I like the bad boys or alphas.
Yes I like series, prefer to read in order for those nuances about secondary characters who either recur or get their own book, or for any series plots. Sometimes in historical regencies it might not really matter, but in paranormals/UF with ongoing plots and featuring the same main character, then I really want to be sure to read in order.
“Yes I like series, prefer to read in order for those nuances about secondary characters who either recur or get their own book”
I agree. But i also think each book needs to stand alone so it won’t matter if you haven’t read the others. I do understand that with paranormals the world building is an ongoing thing so series order is more important. And if the main characters carry over, then I definitely prefer to read in order.
I love to read series. I usually end up reading them as I find them, maybe in order, maybe not.
Some favourite series are the Twilight and Outlander series’.
I confess I haven’t read the Twilight books. One of this these days I’ll start.
I like series, but I hate it when it months or even longer between the books! A couple of my favorite series are The McKettricks by Linda Lael Miller and the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.
The waiting can be really tough!
I am absolutely a series girl… I love to revisit characters and families. Right now I am following all of Maya’s books, Lora Leigh’s, Lorilei James, Shayla Black, too many to name..lol Thanks for the intro to the book, I look forward to picking it up. Thanks for the great giveaway…
There are so many, aren’t there. It’s hard to keep up with the great books out there. You look at the choice offered in the bookstore and don’t know where to start. Perhaps that’s one of the appeals of series. Once you know you like one, you can feel safe picking up the next.
I’m much more likely to buy a book that’s in a series. However, I usually will wait till there are 3 or 4 out before reading them.
I like to go on a binge and read them back to back.
I also insist on reading them in order. My favorite series are JD Robb’s “In Death”, Lynsay Sands’ “Argeneau Vampires” , C.Harris’s “Sookie”, PC Cast’s “House of Night” & Jean M. Auel’s ” Earth’s Children”. to name a few.
I’m glad to hear you buy the books, Lisa, even if you wait to read them. An author’s nightmare is that people won’t buy the books in a series till they are all out. And do you know what happens then? The publisher says they aren’t selling and shuts down the series.
So please readers! If you like a series, buy the book at once or there may not be another!
I love series and always try to read them in order. Of course, there’s no way I could wait until they all come out, gotta have them as soon as possible. Some of my favorite series are by Karen Marie Moning, Sarah McCarty, Lorelei James, Bianca D’Arc, Mari Carr’s Irish series, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kerrilyn Sparks, Christina Dodd, Shayla Black, Maya Banks, and on, and on, and on…….
Your new series sounds very interesting and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’m madly taking notes. There are several you name I haven’t read. Too many books. One of the dangers of guest blogging is finding new authors to read. When will I have time to write?
I’m a fan of series, but I don’t always read them in order. I try to wait for the whole series to be released before starting book one. Some of my favorite series include Julie Quinn’s Bridgerton books and Stephanie Laurens’ Bastion Club series.
Julia Quinn and Stephanie Laurens are definitely popular with this group! I’m not at all surprised. Doesn’t everyone love them?
I love reading series. My favorite is the Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward. And I actualy got into the series when I read the 5th book. Then I went and bought the ones before that one because it got me hooked. Thanks for the giveaway. This sounds like it will be a great series too.
Good to hear of someone who came into a series quite late and still got hooked.
I like series! But I have a tendency to avoid series that run on too long if I’m not already into them, because the investment in time and money is daunting.
But of course there are some author and series that are like an addiction and you just can’t help yourself.
A short series – 2-4 books – is satisfying but I’ve gotten addicted to much longer ones.
I prefer series books I love knowing what past charactors are doing
That really sums up the appeal, Wanda
I love to read series where the same characters are seen and heard in all the books, though a different hero/heroine/couple is the focus of each book.
One of my many favorite series is the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.
Great choices, Tracey
I love series some of my favorites are Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons & Stephenie Laurens’s Cynsters. The Twilight saga. I also love Mary Balogh’s Simply series and Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor’s.
It’s great to find so many historical readers. Seems like the series fans are pretty much either historical or paranormal.
I love series books.
Julianne MacLean -Heiress of New York series
Susan Wiggs- Lakeshore Chronicles
Debbie Macomber- Cedar Cove, Alaskan series
Robyn Carr -Virgin River,
Nora Roberts- Chesapekeseries, Irish Rose series, Born series …
Victoria Alexander -heiresses
Sabrina Jeffries -School of Heiresses
Julia London- Rogues of Regent Street
Julia Quinn- The Bridgertons
Kate Hoffmann -The Mighty Quinns’
Tyler, Wisconsin series Harlequin
Fortune’s of Texas series Harlequin
Lone Star Country Club- Harlequin
Nicola Cornick’s – Bride trilogy
Linda Lael Miller has has several series of books
Diana Palmer -Long, Tall Texans -featuring Jacobsville, Texas and the King Ranch Plus several of the ones listed above.
Susan Mallory – several series wine sisters, Buchanons,
Carly Phillips-Hot Zone
Janelle Denison’s Wilde family
Joanna Lindsay – Mallory family
I don’t have to read them in order as most are stand alone books. I feel like I’m part of the family, coming back for a visit.
Go Laurie! What a great list (and when do you find time to sleep?). More historicals but also some contemporaries.
Many great names here but I have to single out Julianne MacLean. Love her!
I do read series, either connected ( The Black Cobra Quartet by Stephanie Laurens) or stand alone (The Princes Trilogy by Elizabeth Hoyt).
Yummy. And a good distinction between books which have a continuing plot thread and those merely linked by characters who know/are related to each other
I love reading series and I prefer to read them in order, but often I find and interesting book and later discover it’s part of a series. Some of my favorites are Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling, her Guild Hunters and J.R.Wards Black Dagger Brotherhood. And I have to read the new books as soon as they are released, can’t wait!
Some pleasures are too good to postpone 🙂
Wow! 36 responses already. Thank you all for visiting! And thanks for naming so many series – some of my favorites and some new ones for me to discover.
Will I read those new ones in order? I actually don’t mind starting in the middle – I often have. Spoilers can be annoying but usually authors are careful not to allow them (aside from the fact that the previous H and H got together which is hardly a surprise LOL). When I read a romance I’m so focused on the current couple I probably won’t remember details about minor characters I haven’t previously met – although they may intrigue me enough to make me want to read their book.
Hi Virginia: we’ve met before. Elizabeth Hoyt is brilliant. I scarfed her first series (which I began with book 2 ) but I’m so behind I only got to the first of the Four Soldiers.
Hi Blodeuedd (is that a Welsh name?) and GSM.
Karen in NC: there’s a copy of TWM winging its way to you as my Season blog winner. Waiting for all to be out to read a long series could be hard. In fact I see the Cynsters as being a kind of open-ended series, with new relatives being added.
I love the Rogues, and i did read those in order because my daughter discovered them and she already had the first 6 books and told me where to start. I’m also very partial to Beverley’s Malloren series.
Hi Miranda,
I can’t wait to get that copy of TWM. It sounds so good.
I only wait for all the series books to publish when it is 6 books or less. In the case of Jo’s 11 book series that I recently started…things got away from me and they were just stored on my TBR shelves. I have her Malloren series on my shelves too. Hope to get through those later this year.
You sound busy. Hope not too busy to read The Wild Marquis!
I love a great series. An older one I love is the Skye O’Malley series.
My only problem with them…is when the author doesn’t finish their series. I’ve been waiting a long time for the final book in the Banning Sister Trilogy….although I understand it might come out this year.
If I haven’t started a series…and it isn’t a long one…and I know the final book is going to be out in a year or so….(such as the Fever Series)…then I’ll wait to read them all at one time.
A series I absolutely love is the Outlander Series. With it’s many cliff-hanger endings…It is very frustrating…and although I hate the long wait between books…I know I’ll be there for the next one….Or at least I hope I live long enough to read the final book.
“My only problem with them…is when the author doesn’t finish their series.”
Blame the publisher, not the author. The sales must not have been enough for the publisher. That’s why it’s dangerous not to buy a series book when it comes out!
Gabaldon is so good. Yes there’s a long wait for a book, but they are so long and meaty.
Hi Mitzi,
I’ve been waiting for that 3rd Banning Sisters book (Shameless by Karen Robards) to hit the shelves too. And yes, it will finally be released in HC on April 13. I have it pre-ordered from BN.com. I don’t think it was ever explained why it has taken so long to publish but I’m glad it is on the way!
And to Miranda…sweetie, I’ll never be too busy with other books to delay reading yours when it hits my hot little hands! LOL!
I enjoy reading series, as I’m always looking to find out whats going to happen next to the charactors!
I love series, but always have to read in order. If I pick up the number three or four book first by accient, I’ll even stop reading it, buy or order the previous books and start over. Sometimes I’ll even wait until the series are out to start reading, but if I really love the author I won’t wait. Since I loved Never Resist Temptation, and the wonderful short story you posted at Christmas, I plan on getting right to the Wild Marquis.
Thank you, Jennifer! I’m so glad you liked Never Resist. And my series is one of those loose ones – each book is/will be completely stand alone but with recurring characters.
I’m also happy to hear you liked my short story. If anyone is interested, it can be read for free on my website. It’s completely stand alone with no spoilers, although the heroine of The Wild Marquis makes an appearance.
http://www.mirandaneville.com/contentpage.php?contentid=0015
Hi Miranda, great interview 🙂 As for the question of series… well I have mixed feelings now. I used to love them. But the past [few] year[s], I’ve become more fed up with them. I guess I like series in the sense that books are lightly connected, but each is stand alone and has a finite ending, and closure.
I don’t like the open ended series, where it seems they’ll never end, and that one book is just setting up the next one. Can’t stand those, and it seems they’re becoming more popular. Also, it’s sad when the author just keeps going and essentially writes a series into the ground.
Otherwise – loosely connected books in the series sense? Love them 🙂
Hi Limecello. My series is loosely connected.
“I don’t like the open ended series, where it seems they’ll never end, and that one book is just setting up the next one. Can’t stand those, and it seems they’re becoming more popular. Also, it’s sad when the author just keeps going and essentially writes a series into the ground.”
I rather agree with you here. On the other hand, certain series are so popular with fans the publisher and/or author doesn’t want to let them go.
I admit – I’m hooked on series. Though I tend towards reading them in order, I’ve gotten a wee bit better at bending that particular rule and I’ve never had qualms about waiting until the entire batch is released. My only problem tends to be catching up after an author’s been building a substantial backlist after several years!
Hi, Miranda! Your writing’s new to me, but I’m always excited to discover a new-to-me author, especially one with a series or two 🙂 I love a series, and do prefer to read in order. I sometimes try not to read until I’ve got the whole set in hand, but sometimes my willpower isn’t enough to keep me from diving in! I just hate waiting for the next installment! And as Limecello mentioned, I really don’t enjoy the ongoing series as much–I like seeing a story arc to completion, and prefer a series where each book focuses on a different story that comes to a satisfying close. I’ll be looking up your books!