I have three books on my TBR pile that a friend loaned me last year and I have never read them.  They are:

Chesapeake Blues  - Nora Roberts

Northern Lights - Nora Roberts

Every Breath You Take - Judith McNaught

I've never read anything by either author.  Based on the cover info, the first one and the last one look like part of series, or at least, a followup to an earlier book. I hate to read something when I don't know the previous story, but I don't want to return these to my friend until I've at least tried to read one or two.  Any suggestions as to which one is best?

Out of those 3 books, I'd choose the McNaught. It is not part of a series eventhough characters from some of her other books have small parts in it.  I enjoyed it.

I would choose Northern Lights by Nora Roberts.  She is always an excellent read and the book isn't part of a series.  But, Chesapeake Blue is the Book that is the Sequal or extra to her Quinn Brothers Trilogy.   Sea Swept, Rising Tides, and Inner Harbor, in case your interested. 

Oh, yeah, you gotta read Sea Swept, Rising Tides and Inner Harbor before reading Chesapeake Blue - but that is one of my all-time favorite series, so it's well worth it to get all 4!! I don't think I've read the other 2, but the McNaught doesn't appear to be in a series. You can find out any author's series (and order) by searching the Fantastic Fiction database.

I've heard Northern Lights is good but haven't read it yet. I started her Chesapeake series but wasn't into them at the time though I may give them a whirl again later!

I read that McNaught book many years ago and loved it, as I recall. I would read that one if I was you.

Thanks for the help. I started with Northern Lights, and if I finish that before I get the next ones I want to read in the mail, then I'll read the McNaught book.  But I'm not reading Chesapeake because I really don't want to start another series.

Thanks again for the help.  You guys know everything!