North Carolina is packed with authors. There are tons. Tons, I tell you. By request of @glowbird (thanks!) I’m going to give you my list of authors that I know, and a bit about some of their books. (Most of these are going to be romance authors, because those are the people I know, but check below my list for places to find more NC authors, romance and otherwise.)
This post got really long really fast, so this is just part 1. Stay tuned for more North Carolina authors in the near future!
Elizabeth Amber- She writes really steamy stuff! I have some of her books in my TBR pile, but haven’t read them yet, but I have it on good authority that if you like erotic romance, she’s the author to try!
Jenna Black- Scary, sexy paranormal stuff is her bag. She’s got 2 different series going right now, and another on the way. Here’s my review of The Devil Inside to get you started on her urban fantasy Morgan Kinsley series:
Let me preface all of this by saying I LOVED this. I sat down and read it all in one day.
But I don’t think everyone will love it. It deals with tough issues of religion and sex, and there are some difficult scenes. All of them are very well done and treated expertly, but they’re still hard to read sometimes.
At the core, I think this is a story about power more than anything—power in human relationships and power between our realm and the Demon Realm. What I appreciated most about the book was how Morgan’s struggle with the “higher powers” (demons, in this case) mirrors a religious struggle: Morgan can’t decide if it’s heroic or stupid to let a higher power take over. Sure it makes you stronger, but are you still you?
If you’re willing to explore some tough issues you may not have given much thought to, and have a wild Urban Fantasy ride at the same time, you’ll really enjoy The Devil Inside.
Liz Carlyle- One of my favorites! She writes Regencies, but they’re often atypical and involve role reversals and ideas that aren’t common in Regencies. She’s laugh out loud funny at times, and her characters are always smart and lovable. Here’s my review of One Little Sin, the first in her Sins, Lies, and Secrets series:
- Cover of One Little Sin
Liz Carlyle has the great talent of showing all of a character’s flaws and still making you love them and want the best for them. This book was no exception to that. I enjoyed the romance, but also the interaction between the friends, the hints of an earlier story (in a previous series), and the darling antics of one-year-old Sorcha. Very enjoyable, and I’m on to the next in the series!
Beth Caudill- Beth is breaking into the romance world with short stories (like me). I really enjoy her fantasy world building, and I think she gets better with every story she publishes!
Marcia Colette- Hitting it big-time with her new stories out this year! Marcia’s into paranormal creatures and snarky heroines, always a great combination. I’ve only read her older stuff, but her new ones are in my stack of stuff I must read very soon!
Cynthia Cooke- I read some of her older stuff, and love it! She used to write romantic suspense, but she’s now doing paranormal in the Silhouette Nocturne line. I’m sure those are great, too. (Can you get a sense of how giant my To Be Read pile is?) Here’s my review of her Harlequin Intrigue, Shiver:
An intriguing, fast-paced plot keeps this story moving along at a good clip. Cynthia expertly sets up the plot twists for a completely satisfying resolution of our heroine’s life-long problem. A strong cast of secondary characters helps to set the mood and the scenery. A real page-turner!
Amy Corwin- I love how thoughtful Amy is about her process. (If you want to read more about that, visit her blog.) She really has a writer’s heart, I think, and her passion shows through in her books. Here’s my review of Smuggled Rose:
What an enjoyable read! I loved the damaged characters and their redemption stories. Also, this book has one of the best endings I’ve read in a long time. The bad guys get their comeuppance and the good guys all get what they deserve! Loved it!
Where to find more North Carolina authors:
- The author page of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers website
- North Carolina Authors page on RomanceWiki
Ready for more? Try part 2 and part 3!
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