Playing Writer Catch-up: starting a series from the beginning

A friend posted a blog today about a book series by author Kate Wilhelm that she recently found. Which got me to thinking about authors that have made it onto my reading list simply because they write a series. Janet Evanovich is the first that comes to mind. There is also Nelson DeMille  and his John Corey series: Debbie Macomber writes about the residents of Cedar Cove, WA.; Catherine Coulter writes both a contemporary FBI series as well as a historical set, and Suzanne Brockmann pays tribute to the Navy with her Seal Team Sixteen and Troubleshooters, Inc series.

I could go on and on and on. I just started a new series this Memorial Day weekend after finding a bag of books I had picked up at my town library's annual book sale a few years ago. Since I switched to a Kindle two years ago, I've hardly ever hold an actual book in my hand, but I was cleaning out my closet and found this bag. Not only did I fortuitously buy the first six books of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, which I look forward to reading since she is ending the series with #8, but I found two books by Lara Adrian, Kiss of Midnight and Kiss of Crimson.

Adrian invites her readers into the world of the Midnight Breed, a race of vampires that are descended from ancient aliens. The main characters of the series are warrior vampires known as The Order who are tasked with eliminating the Rogue vampires who have become addicted to blood and threaten the entire race's secret existence. Each book deals with a member of the Order and how they found their Breedmates, specially marked human females that hold the key to unlock their warrior hearts. 

I enjoy reading a book series because it gives me a chance to really get to know the characters; to see them learn and grow as they overcome obstacles and deal with everyday lift. There are the inside jokes that make me laugh out loud. Sure, one book can have the same things, but a series allows the writer to flesh out the characters and make them realistic.

These are just some of the series that I enjoy. What about you?