I'm looking for some new authors (well, new to me) to read, so I thought I'd ask y'all: who are your favorite romance authors?  Who are your Must-Buys?

I personally like

Virginia Henley, Amanda Quick,Sabrina Jeffries,Nora Roberts,Claudia Dain, and nicole jordan.

But I also read alot of other rmance authors too.

Before she retired, I bought any LaVyrle Spencer's books without ever looking at the title or the storyline.  She was just that good.  I just wish she would come out of retirement and write a book every 5 years or so.

I also like Jude Deveraux(but not the occult stuff), Lori Foster, Linda Lael Miller, Pamela Morsi, Rachel Lee(Conard County series), Cathie Linz, Trisha Alexander (AWA Patricia Kay) and early Julie Garwood.

Hope that helps. 

Betsy in MI

Unfortunately, I no longer have a must buy author to turn to.  LaVyrle Spencer and Penelope Williamson were my favorite and they no longer write.  I used to auto buy Rachel Gibson & Madeline Hunter but they haven't had a good book in years.

My current favs are Shannon K Butcher (romantic suspense/scfi romance), Holly Lisle (paranormal romance), Eloisa James (historical romance), Susan Donovan (romantic comedy), Amy Fetzer (military romance), Karen Rose (romantic suspense), Christie Craig (romantic comedy), Sarah McCarty (erotic romance), Brenda Novak (romantic suspense), Julia Spencer-Fleming (suspense w/some romance) and Loretta Chase (historical romance) to name a few. I could go on though. :-)  

Old favorites are Marsha Canham, Loretta Chase, Connie Brockway, Laura Kinsale, Judith Ivory, Candice Proctor, Lisa Kleypas, and Karen Ranney.  Older/established authors I discovered within the last 3 years or so are Maggie Osborne, Penelope Williamson, Laura Lee Guhrke, Jo Goodman (her newer stuff), and Lisa Ann Verge.  Newer authors I'm really getting into now are Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas, Judith James, Carrie Lofty, Joanna Bourne, Julie Anne Long, and Elizabeth Hoyt.  All of these are auto-buys for me.

Others who have written one or more exceptional books, but who I wait for reviews & opinions on the book to buy, are Liz Carlyle, Suzanne Enoch, Susan Johnson, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Gaffney, Jennifer Ashley, Jill Barnett, Julia Quinn, and Adele Ashworth.  I can't say that anyone on either list has hit a winner every single time, but some have a better track record than others.  Some of the newer ones only have 3 or so books out - Like Thomas & Duran - and they were all hits.  Maggie Osborne has probably scored most consistently in terms of hits to misses, but she also wrote a lot of books:P

I really like Gaelen Foley, Lisa Kleypas, Jane Feather,  Roberta Gellis,  The British Elizabeth Chadwick who's books are finally being published in the U.S. and of course Diane Gabaldon, her books are hard to put in a catagory. 

I'm fairly new to the romance genre, but I've developed a few favorites in the past year:

Romantic suspense - Shannon McKenna (auto-buy, always a keeper), Shannon K. Butcher, Cindy Gerard

Historicals - Judith Ivory, Kresley Cole

Erotica - Lora Leigh, Emma Holly (non-paranormal), Kimberly Zant

Paranormal/urban fantasy - Patricia Briggs (auto-buy, keeper), Katie MacAlister, Gena Showalter, Stephenie Meyer

Contemporary - Lori Foster

Chick lit - Jennifer Weiner

I've only read a one or two by these authors, but what I've read I really liked - Catherine Anderson (historical), Megan Hart (erotica)

I have very few auto buy authors but they are:  Diana Gabaldon, Cindy Gerard, Stacey Kayne, Mary Connealy, Tamera Alexander.

Mine: Robyn Carr, (only the stuff in the Virgin River series), Janet Chapman. though I have not thought her last couple of books were that good, Cindy Miles, Melissa Mayhue.  I don't do a lot of  historicals, but so far have obtained all of Elizabeth Hoyt's books- I read all of the Prince books, but haven't started on the 4 Soldiers books yet, they're still on my tbr.

Leslie, have you ever read a standalone by Carr called Tempted? She wrote it back in 1987, but for the time, I thought it was one of sexiest books I had read at that time. He was a preacher and she liked to smoke, drink and let the occasional cuss word fly. It was wonderful and still stands as my most favorite Carr. Carr told me that since I like that book, then I should love the new preacher about to come to Virgin River soon. oh yea!

I haven't read that one Keri- I've only read one other Carr that was unrelated to the GV/VR books (can't even remember the title now), and it was just mediocre for me.  Thanks for the recommendation though- I will look into the one you mentioned!

I'll borrow Gina's format:

Romantic suspense - Lora Leigh (erotic), Cherry Adair, Alison Kent, Amy Fetzer, Cindy Gerard

Regency - Lisa Kleypas, Madeline Hunter, Mary Balogh, Stephanie Laurens, Liz Carlyle, Julia Quinn, Sophie Jordan, Cheryl Holt (semi-erotic)

Other Historicals - Linda Lael Miller (western), Sarah McCarty (erotic western), Robin Schone (erotic Victorian), Diane Whiteside (erotic western)

Erotica - Lora Leigh (m/f/m), Megan Hart (less action, more angst), Shayla Black (action and angst - does not include titles w/a Shelley Bradley), Maya Banks, Sasha White (romps - plot lite), Alyssa Brooks (romps - plot lite)

Paranormal - Lora Leigh (erotic), Diane Whiteside (erotic), Shiloh Walker (erotic), Sara Reinke

Contemporary - Diana Palmer, Elizabeth Bevarly, Jennifer Crusie

I really, really need more bookcases!

Colleen

I know I'll forget someone but..

Robyn Carr's Virgin River series

Janet Chapman - I have to say nothing of hers has been 'spectacular' but I've found her dependable and a good read

Marianne Stillings - funny

Beth Ciotta - not autobuy and haven' tliked all but liked the first 2 historical and the charmed trilogy. she's not auto-buy though

Lucy Monroe - just mention a mercenary or undercover and it's must buy

erotic romance - lisa marie rice, shelley laurenston/aiken are pretty much quick -buy...I also have some other faves I can sometimes hold out on like jory strong, sarah mccarty

paranormal - kathy love isn't auto buy but I did read her series, lynsay sands(hers aren't as funny but I'll still read them) kerrelyn sparks IS autobuy though!

love inspired - I've come to love brenda minton and ordered her backlist without really reading about the book

mystery - victoria laurie's 2 series

My auto buys are:  Madeline Hunter, Elizabeth Hoyt, Sabrina Jefferies, Loretta Chase, Shannon McKenna, Jennifer Cusie, Karen Ranney, Erin McCarthy and Eloisa James.   I enjoyed all of Marsha Canham, Fiona Carr, Lori Foster, Julia Quinn, Karyn Langhorne and Mary Jo Putney that I have read. 

The best books I have read of other authors (seems like there are hundreds of authors out there) have come from recommendations in discussions here.  Books like: three nights of sin, Beau Crusoe, Duncan's Bride, Mistress of Peasure, The Rake (and the Reformer), What an Earl Wants,  etc.

I second Kimberly Zant for erotica is an autobuy.   Her books are still full price, if you can even buy the older ones. 

For sure will forget someone, but off the top of my gray-haired head: Loretta Chase, Linda Howard, Sherryl Woods, Susan E. Phillips, Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis (thanks to the ladies here on the forums, had never read her before joining up here), Maureen Child, Carla Cassidy, Marie Ferrarella, Robyn Carr (thanks to the ladies on one of the Yahoo groups), Diana Palmer, Elizabeth Bevarly, Madeline Hunter, Liz Carlyle.

Some authors I've just discovered (like Elizabeth Boyle) but I'll get their books used at my bookseller or via the library which I use a lot, in spite of a TBR mountain that rises to the clouds.

Gail

PS:GADS I knew I'd forget someone - Deborah Smith!!!!! As soon as I hit the send button she popped into my head.

Also, no longer writing but I'm still glomming one or two of their books are Hailey North and Metsy Hingle; North; North wrote lighter contemporaries and Hingle wrote category romances and romantic suspense (which are excellent). Since you're looking for new-to-you authors I'd recommend these two which are probably available here.

eta to add the PS

Thank you all for lists!  I can't wait to head to the library to check some of them out!

After just finishing The Wedding Journey I am definitely adding Carla Kelly to my list!

My favorite Romance author is Debbie Macomber, and Ive also enjoyed some Harlequin Super Romance books by Roz Denny Fox.

My favorite cozy authors include:  Monica Ferris, Miranda Bliss, JoAnne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson...I have alot of cozy authors names..saved on a spreadsheet for my TBR list!

• Linda Howard 
• Sandra Brown
• Nora Roberts
• Susan Elizabeth Phillips
• Jennifer Crusie

Now I have some new ones to check out, but for what it's worth, my must have are:

 Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark),  Shelley Laurenston/G.A. Aiken, Nalini Singh

Other favorites but I read blurbs and reviews: Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Kathy Love, Julia Quinn, Sherry Thomas, Connie Brockaway

  I just discovered Mreredith Duran but I'm impressed so far

Years ago I liked Stephanie Laurens, then the stories all started to blend together and I lost interest.  Lisa Kleypas is good, but not back to back ,I need to take time out with others inbetween.     I like that Nora Roberts usually has a theme behind the story so I feel like I'm learning something... (ie archeology, wicca, antiquities, etc) as the romance develops.    I prefer happy endings so I've stopped reading some authors... Anita Shreve comes to mind.. the heartache, pain, and sad endings are downers I'd rather avoid.  Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jane Feather.. sexy buy predictable with realistic and witty dialogue.  They're a good read/ a quick romance.

  I actually like to read the "first" novel of new authors, more often than not this turns out to be one of their best works.   When I read someone and enjoy the work, I'll search out their first novel and usually find it's a great story...

Sometimes, it's just the "idea" behind the story that's the draw.... we all have our favorites and although the theme may be universal it's the "twist" that different authors put on it.  Different authors offer the same:   "poverty to riches", "ugly duckling to beauty", "marriage of convenience, "holiday romance", "one night stand",  "love at first sight",  "wrong side of the tracks" etc.   So, sometimes, it's not the author's name that draws me, but what it says on the back cover. 

Mostly, I just want to be able to smile at the end of a book, I don't think that's too much to ask.

Trish

These are the ones I will buy new:

• Lora Leigh (paranormal, romantic suspense)
• Lynn Viehl (paranormal)
• Maya Banks (romantic suspense)

Other favorites

• Elizabeth Rolls (harlequin, but she is really good!)
• Christine Feehan
• Catherine Anderson (fantastic contemporary)

I'm a little behind on my thread-reading, but I couldn't pass this one by without posting my favorites. Most of these aren't actually romance authors, btw. 

My all-time favorites, and ones I've read just about anything they've put out: Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, John Irving, Jasper Fforde, Gregory Maguire, Phillipa Gregory, Jennifer Weiner, Charles Dickens

Fave romance authors: Shannon McKenna, Catherine Anderson, Shannon K. Butcher, Lora Leigh, Lori Foster

Fave paranormal/urban fantasy: Stephenie Meyer, Patricia Briggs, Katie MacAlister, Gena Showalter, and right now, L.A. Banks