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I love connecting readers with books and authors they will love. Sometimes people tell me that they've never read an author I mention frequently, and often they're unsure where to start from their list of titles. This week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Questions I Would Ask My Favorite Authors, and in mulling that over, I decided I would ask a question to some of my favorites! I reached out to different authors who all have quite a few published works to ask them one thing:
"Which of your books would you recommend to someone who is brand new to reading your stories?"
If you haven't read any of these ladies below, here are their suggestions—in their own words! Click on any image or title to explore more over on Amazon.
Special thanks to each of these lovely ladies for graciously answering my query and participating in this post. 😊
____________________
"A Dangerous Legacy would be a good introduction for new readers
because it's got a great love story wrapped up in a decades-long family feud.
My vision was to write a novel that felt like "Danielle Steele meets Charles Dickens."
A spirited, downtrodden American heroine living in turn of the century Manhattan
meets a visiting British aristocrat, and the two join forces to right a great wrong, all while falling in love.
I always intended A Dangerous Legacy to be a stand-alone novel,
but loved the secondary characters so much it became the first in a trilogy."
____________________
because it's got a great love story wrapped up in a decades-long family feud.
My vision was to write a novel that felt like "Danielle Steele meets Charles Dickens."
A spirited, downtrodden American heroine living in turn of the century Manhattan
meets a visiting British aristocrat, and the two join forces to right a great wrong, all while falling in love.
I always intended A Dangerous Legacy to be a stand-alone novel,
but loved the secondary characters so much it became the first in a trilogy."
____________________
The Lost Heiress
"I would recommend readers get started with The Lost Heiress. It's my bestselling title,
a fun combination of romance and suspense, and it begins my Edwardian world
that I carry into two series after this one.
Plus, it's a rewrite of the first novel I completed at age 13, so you know. Special place in my heart!"
"I would recommend readers get started with The Lost Heiress. It's my bestselling title,
a fun combination of romance and suspense, and it begins my Edwardian world
that I carry into two series after this one.
Plus, it's a rewrite of the first novel I completed at age 13, so you know. Special place in my heart!"
____________________
Jill Eileen Smith
"A lot depends on whether the reader likes to read chronologically. If so, then they could read
most in order of Biblical reference, but it doesn't really matter as each book can stand alone.
Michal has remained a favorite since it was released in 2009.
The Crimson Cord and the Wives of King David series are all bestsellers.
The Heart of a King is also a current popular choice. I don't have a personal favorite,
though the Wives of King David series were the original stories of my heart. Since then,
every woman has taught me something new and they are all unique and challenging to get to know.
I'm truly grateful for every reader."
____________________
Pepper Basham
"Since I write both contemporary and historical, I'm going to recommend on of each.
My books are usually a mix of light-hearted with deeper storylines and all of them are "kissing books."
I love writing romance—clean romance—but romance all the same.
If someone wants a good taste of one of my historicals, I'd probably recommend
My Heart Belongs In The Blue Ridge. It gives a good sense of my Appalachian culture
as well as my writing style (mixture of drama, comedy, and adventure).
As far as my contemporaries go, I think a good place to start is A Twist Of Faith,
the first book in my Mitchell's Crossroads series. It takes place in Appalachia too,
but there's a fun modern twist and it is a very loose retelling of the classic play My Fair Lady.
____________________
Melissa Tagg 
From The Start
"I think I'd recommend the first book in my Walker Family series—From The Start.
This book gives readers an introduction to both Maple Valley, my made-up town in Iowa,
and a whole cast of characters who show up in the rest of the Walker Family series
(and several of my other books too). The Walker family, made up of four siblings and their widower dad,
is especially close to my heart and silly as it sounds, I find myself missing them
and looking for excuses to sprinkle cameos in my current writing projects.
Plus, I will never forget the moment about midway through writing this book when I suddenly realized
why God had me writing it at that particular season in my life... it happens with every book,
but that one was especially poignant for me. The heroine, Kate Walker, is grappling
with the purpose of her life and career and when she comes to a place when she's able
to finally truly admit her heart's desire... well, let's just say
I was experiencing the exact same thing at the exact same time."
____________________
Karen Witemeyer 
Short-Straw Bride
"I would recommend a new reader start with Short-Straw Bride.
More often than not, this is the book my readers claim as their favorite.
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes
overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt
compels her to take the risk.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride."
____________________
Regina Jennings 
A Most Inconvenient Marriage
"I would send people to A Most Inconvenient Marriage. I think it's representative of my stories
in how it shows people dealing with the hardships of life with joy, humor, and hope.
Plus the premise is really fun."
___________________
Julie Klassen
"If a reader is a Jane Austen fan, I would recommend The Girl In The Gatehouse.
If romance is her favorite, then I'd suggest The Painter's Daughter.
The Secret of Pembrooke Park or The Bridge to Belle Island would especially appeal to mystery lovers."
____________________
Becky Wade 
My Stubborn Heart
"I'd probably recommend My Stubborn Heart. It's my only stand-alone and it gives a clear glimpse
into what I'm about as an author... faith story lines, romance, and a dash of humor.
Also, it's set in the fall and fall sounds so appealing to me right about now!"
____________________
Sarah Sundin 
The Sea Before Us
"I'd recommend The Sea Before Us as the first book in my most recent series. A quiet hero
estranged from his family in Texas, a plucky British heroine, a London setting,
and the seas off Normandy on D-day! I loved writing this story about forgiveness and grief and family,
and I hope you enjoy this introduction to the Paxton brothers and their adventures on D-day
from the sea, the air, and the ground."
Find more Top Ten Tuesday posts at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Jill Eileen Smith
"A lot depends on whether the reader likes to read chronologically. If so, then they could read
most in order of Biblical reference, but it doesn't really matter as each book can stand alone.
Michal has remained a favorite since it was released in 2009.
The Crimson Cord and the Wives of King David series are all bestsellers.
The Heart of a King is also a current popular choice. I don't have a personal favorite,
though the Wives of King David series were the original stories of my heart. Since then,
every woman has taught me something new and they are all unique and challenging to get to know.
I'm truly grateful for every reader."
____________________
Pepper Basham
"Since I write both contemporary and historical, I'm going to recommend on of each.
My books are usually a mix of light-hearted with deeper storylines and all of them are "kissing books."
I love writing romance—clean romance—but romance all the same.
If someone wants a good taste of one of my historicals, I'd probably recommend
My Heart Belongs In The Blue Ridge. It gives a good sense of my Appalachian culture
as well as my writing style (mixture of drama, comedy, and adventure).
As far as my contemporaries go, I think a good place to start is A Twist Of Faith,
the first book in my Mitchell's Crossroads series. It takes place in Appalachia too,
but there's a fun modern twist and it is a very loose retelling of the classic play My Fair Lady.
____________________
Melissa Tagg From The Start
"I think I'd recommend the first book in my Walker Family series—From The Start.
This book gives readers an introduction to both Maple Valley, my made-up town in Iowa,
and a whole cast of characters who show up in the rest of the Walker Family series
(and several of my other books too). The Walker family, made up of four siblings and their widower dad,
is especially close to my heart and silly as it sounds, I find myself missing them
and looking for excuses to sprinkle cameos in my current writing projects.
Plus, I will never forget the moment about midway through writing this book when I suddenly realized
why God had me writing it at that particular season in my life... it happens with every book,
but that one was especially poignant for me. The heroine, Kate Walker, is grappling
with the purpose of her life and career and when she comes to a place when she's able
to finally truly admit her heart's desire... well, let's just say
I was experiencing the exact same thing at the exact same time."
____________________
Karen Witemeyer Short-Straw Bride
"I would recommend a new reader start with Short-Straw Bride.
More often than not, this is the book my readers claim as their favorite.
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes
overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt
compels her to take the risk.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride."
____________________
Regina Jennings A Most Inconvenient Marriage
"I would send people to A Most Inconvenient Marriage. I think it's representative of my stories
in how it shows people dealing with the hardships of life with joy, humor, and hope.
Plus the premise is really fun."
___________________
Julie Klassen
"If a reader is a Jane Austen fan, I would recommend The Girl In The Gatehouse.
If romance is her favorite, then I'd suggest The Painter's Daughter.
The Secret of Pembrooke Park or The Bridge to Belle Island would especially appeal to mystery lovers."
____________________
Becky Wade My Stubborn Heart
"I'd probably recommend My Stubborn Heart. It's my only stand-alone and it gives a clear glimpse
into what I'm about as an author... faith story lines, romance, and a dash of humor.
Also, it's set in the fall and fall sounds so appealing to me right about now!"
____________________
Sarah Sundin The Sea Before Us
"I'd recommend The Sea Before Us as the first book in my most recent series. A quiet hero
estranged from his family in Texas, a plucky British heroine, a London setting,
and the seas off Normandy on D-day! I loved writing this story about forgiveness and grief and family,
and I hope you enjoy this introduction to the Paxton brothers and their adventures on D-day
from the sea, the air, and the ground."
Find more Top Ten Tuesday posts at That Artsy Reader Girl.
