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| Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots |
Today’s genre discussion is genre fiction which is a wide category. Within that category, I tend to stick to women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, chick lit, romance, romantic suspense, mysteries/psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries and historical fiction. I just recently started reading some magical realism, but as a whole, tend to stay away from straight fantasy/paranormal fantasy, dystopian fiction and horror.
Before blogging, I primarily read women’s fiction, romance books and the occasional psychological thriller. I didn’t really branch out from these areas. I would read anything by Debbie Macomber, Danielle Steel, Luanne Rice, Carly Phillips, James Patterson, and Iris Johansen. Those were definitely my go-to authors and, while I still read them, I’ve branched out quite a bit.
I’ve really gotten hooked into historical fiction and definitely have a love affair with all things Tudor. But, I’ve even branched out from that recently, enjoying books on Russian history as well as books set during WWI and WWII. Some of my favorite historical fiction authors are Phillipa Gregory, CW Gortner, Kate Emerson and Christine Trent.
Within the women’s fiction/contemporary fiction/chick lit/romance area, my go-to authors are Kristin Hannah, Jane Green, Jane Porter, Bella Andre, Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Wendy Wax, Susan Mallery, Sherryl Woods and Robyn Carr. Some of these authors just write stand-alones and some write series. I love them all and always look forward to their newest books!
Then there are the cozy mysteries. I love a good mystery with a fun amateur sleuth and some of my favorite series within this genre are the Tea Shop mystery series and the Scrapbooking mystery series by Laura Childs, the Domestic Diva series by Krista Davis, the Vintage Magic mystery series by Annette Blair, the Crochet mystery series by Betty Hechtman, and the Culinary mystery series by Josi S. Kilpack.
Even within the mystery/psychological thriller area, I’ve branched out. Now I read Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series, Tami Hoag’s Kovac and Liska series and Kathy Reich’s Temperance Brennan series.
That’s just a little about my reading within the genre fiction. What about you? What within genre fiction do you enjoy reading? Do you read any of the authors I’ve mentioned above?
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Previous ArmchairBEA 2013 posts:
- Day 1: Introductions
- Day 1: Genre Discussion: The Classics
- Day 2: Blogger Development
Historical fiction is a real foundation read for me. I enjoy traipsing through the other genres from time to time but I always come back to my roots.
Do you have a particular time period you read or do you read any historical fiction?
CW Gortner is a great author! Have you read Daphne Kalotay's Russian Winter? That's a nice combo of fiction with a Russian and post-WWII setting.
Yes, I did read that one and loved it!!! I saw that she has a new book out, but I don't think it has anything to do with Russian history. Have you read it yet – I think it's called Sight Reader?
Kristin
I love so many of these genres and authors too. I think where we differ is while I will and have read historical fiction, if there are others around in my TBR I will read them later rather than sooner.
Cosy mysteries were a genre that I had never heard of until I started to explore the book blogging world. One day may try one, although with a rather large TBR may have to wait a little while!
I do have a Tess Gerritsen book in my TBR pile too, but it is near the bottom! Might read that for a TBR challenge I am doing.
The only author on your list Jane Green is the author I read a book of and didn't really like.
We have quite a few of the same go-to authors.
Historical fiction is one area that I have had a hard time getting into. I enjoy taking a chance on most every other category, but historical kind of makes me sleepy. I hope to break that thought pattern at some point and be just as excited to pick up a historical fiction book as I am any other.
I really enjoy historical fiction but lately I haven't read as much as I use to. I personally adored the Renaissance and ancient Egypt time periods. I've tried three of James Patterson's novels and I just can't get into them, the writing was really simple and I didn't really connect with it.