I really enjoy reading books that are in a series and I'm hoping for a few new ideas on what to read.

I've read and LOVED Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Bear series and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.

I've really enjoyed the Evanovich Full series and others like that.

I wasn't HUGE on the Shopaholic series...I thought they were good, I read them all, but I just really didn't like the main character.  I wanted her to fail.  I wanted her husband to leave her and force her to declare bankruptcy.  I wanted her child to be born hideously deformed so that it couldn't wear the couture baby clothes I just knew that obnoxious twit would buy for it...I loved the other characters and that's why I kept reading...but I really hated that chick.  ;)

Anyway...sorry for that little rant.

Can anyone recommend other series that I might enjoy?

Thanks!  :)

I would suggest MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series...also the Meg Cabot's  Heather Wells series (first book is called size 12 is not fat) .   Both of those series are really entertaining, interesting reads. I read all of those other series that you mentioned so we must have at least similar tastes.  :-)

My favorite is "The Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon.  Each book is long and there are 6 books and she is writing another.

Another series (I haven't read it yet) is by Sharon Kay Penman.  It is a trilogy of 13th-Century England and Wales.

Philippa Gregory has several series.  "Wideacre"  being one and she has others.

If you are looking for something more lighthearted, Susan Wiggs has a series called "The Lakeshore Chronicles".

I liked Meg Cabot's heather wells books that were mentioned. I also liked victoria laurie's psychic eye and ghosthunters series(only 2 in ghosthunters so far)

I love the Aunt Dimity Series by Nancy Atherton.    They are a cozy mystery series and are complete comfort reading for me.

Dorinne, I love your rant!  (Remind me to stay on your good side!!) LOL..

If you liked Goldy, how about Hannah in Joanne Fluke's series?  (Chocolate chip cookie murder, Blueberry muffin murder, etc.)  More recipes!  My daughter loved this series because of the cat...

I also enjoyed Carolyn Hart's series about Annie and Max Darling; Annie owns a book store and she only stocks mysteries and thrillers.  My ideal job!

How about the Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani?   Wonderful characters that you'll really care about, great humor, occasional sadness, just the right mix of everything.  Very enjoyable!!

I am going to ditto the "Aunt Dimity" books by Nancy Atherton... although, you might roll your eyes about her having a fulltime nanny once in awhile! Hmpfh!

There is an english author who writes books very similar to the "Stephanie Plum" series by Janet Evanovich... Liz Evans is her name, but I haven't read any of her books so I can't personally recommend.

L.

Ditto on Outlander and Sharon Kay Penman.  Penman's trilogy starts with Here Be Dragons.

If you are looking for light and funny cozies, I really like Susan Conant's dog lover mysteries.  I think they start with A New Leash On Death.

I really liked the Maura Isles/Jane Rizzoli Series by Tess Gerritsen 

These are the books in order:

The Surgeon, The Apprentice, The Sinner, Body Double, Vanish, Mephisto Club. 

Bobbie Faye's Really (really, really really) Bad Day by Toni Mcgee Causey.   It is very funny.    It's the first of a series.    You can check it out at PBS.   The reviews are good.

I also love the Annie and Max Darling series from Carolyn Hart. I am eagerly waiting for the next release.

The Lucy Stone series from Leslie Meier is a fun mystery series, also. They are my go to books for cozy comfort reads.

Aunty Dimity is good and I would add the Agatha Raisin mysteries to it too.

I agree with Heather that the Maura Isles/Jane Rizzoli Series by Tess Gerritsen is worth checking out.

I'd also recommend the "Jack Daniels" series by J.A. Konrath. The books in order are: Whiskey Sour * Bloody Mary * Rusty Nail * Dirty Martini * Fuzzy Navel (out in July).

The "Monkeewrench" series by P.J. Tracy is also a good read. Books are: Monkeewrench * Live Bait * Dead Run * Snow Blind.

I love the Monkeewrench series!!  Highly recommend it.  And yes the Maura Isles/Jane Rizzoli series is very good but a little graphic violence (not to me but maybe to someone used to Stephanie Plum).  Karin Slaughter also has a good series with Sara Linton.

I agree with MaryJance Davidson Queen Betsy series, especially for a laugh. You may want to try the coffehouse series by Cleo Coyle (On What Grounds, Through the Grinder, Latte Trouble, Murder Most Frothy, Decaffinated Corpse). Doublecheck, but I think I have the order right.

I loved your rant on the shopaholic kind of makes me feel the same way about her

I like the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber

After reading this thread I ordered first in Stephanie Plum series by Evanovich and loved the characters.  I will definitely be reading the rest of her books in her series.

Thanks for sharing the recommendations.

Hi There,

I have been through a few of these forum topics and so far no one  has mentioned Carolyn Haines' 'Bones' series.  They are fantastic reads that make you laugh out loud.  The main character is pretty nutty, but she has great adventures.  The series are mystery/chick lit.  I started reading the series from book one and finished it in a 9 hour reading session and immediately went to the book store to buy the rest...

Check them out! You may enjoy them.  :) I have a few posted on my book shelf.  I rarely ever read a book over again so it's better for me to make room for more books to enjoy! :)

I'm an Aunt Dimity fan also and have enjoyed others mentioned here. There's another mystery/recipe  series by Tamar Myers. There are called the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries, one of the titles is The Crepes of Wrath, There are some outrageously funny moments in these.

I love Jonathon Kellerman, though they are not really light reading. They are exciting stories. His characters are people I'd like to meet. Pretty real & down to earth. I also have read a bunch of his wifes, Faye Kellerman,  books too.

Robert B Parker's "Spenser" detective series....he's been writing for years and it's great to watch his characters grow with him.

Also, Nevada Barr's "Anna Pigeon" set...She's a national Park Ranger who always manages to find someone dead in one of her parks.

And Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware series), Faye Kellerman (Rina Lazarus, Peter Decker series), Sara Paretsky (Chicago female PI VI Warshawsky), Linda Fairstein (Alexandra Cooper), Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)...

and I'm sure there are several more that  will wake me from a sound sleep as they push their way to the front of my brain!!! LOL!!

Oh, yeah...Lawrence Block's "Matt Scudder" series....he's been around a long time, like Parker, so there's lots to keep you busy..........

Happy reading...

Tracey, Long Island

I liked the Karen Slaughter series with Sara Linton.

James Patterson series are really good too.

I just came from our wonderful mystery book store and got several cozy recommendations from the owner.  Once I tell him what I'm looking for he has never steered me wrong! 

BTW, although I LOVE the Karen Slaughter series, it is definitely not light! 

For light fun cozies: JoAnna Carl, Sarah Stewart Taylor, Patricia Sprinkle, Laura Levine, Anne George. Lisa Kleinholz has a short series--2 books-- that is really delightful. 

For a bit more serious: 

Carolyn Hart has two series--I'm especially fond of the "Henrie O" series, but people also love the "Death on Demand" series.

J. A. Jance has 4 equally good and well-written series,

Judith VanGieson (very good and very underexposed),

Linda Barnes (Kind of like Sue Grafton),

Dana Stabenow (Alaska--wonderful!  many, many in series) 

SJ Rozan has series and stand-alone, but the series uses a unique (as far as I know) point of view in that the two main character take turns for the point of view with each alternating book,   

William Kent Krueger is great, as is CJ Box. 

Laura Lippman and Jan Burke...

and lots of the ones mentioned above.  Whew... that should keep you reading for a loooong time!

To original poster, sorry, I don't recognize any of the books you mentioned, so this may be totally NOT your genre, but have you considered The Dark Tower series by Stephen King?  They are different from "traditional" King.  I am a huge King fan and I LOVE this series, partially because it is a little different.  I really fell in love w/the lead characters.