Fresh Fiction Blog | Roni Loren | Starting a New Series: Jump In or Go Back to the Beginning?

If you're a regular romance reader, you know that most books tend to be part of
a series. Some of those series are truly books that are sequels to each other,
meaning you have to to start with the first and move forward or you're kind of
lost. The first one that comes to mind is the Sookie Stackhouse series. Yes,
each story has a new plot arc, but you really miss out if you haven't read them
in order.

And then others are what I'd call connected standalones, meaning the books have connected characters or a shared "world" but can each be read on their own with no issues for the reader. This is what I write. All of the characters in my Loving on the Edge series exist in the same place and know each other. And most of them are members of the fantasy BDSM resort, The Ranch, that plays a role in my books. But each book is a new story for that particular couple and can be read as a standalone. Of course, if you do read them in order, there is the added layer of getting to know secondary characters early on who eventually get their own book, and that can enrich the reading experience.

So that's always my quandary as a reader with other connected standalone series.
If I hear friends buzzing about a book on Twitter, I will usually go and look it
up. But if it's the third or fourth in a series, I have to decide--do I want to
start at the beginning or do I want to read this one now since I want to be able
to talk with my friends about it? I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I like things
in order, so typically my tendency is to start at the beginning. But sometimes
that book further along in the line just has a storyline that appeals to me
more, so I'll jump in there. And, of course, if I love it, I'll go back and get
the earlier books afterward to catch up.

There's no wrong way, obviously, but I know many people have strong preferences one way or the other. What is your tendency? Do you like to go back to the beginning to try a new series or do you just jump in with the one that caught your attention first? Contest: And if if you are one of those who needs to start at the beginning, I'm giving away a signed print copy (U.S./Canada only) of the first in my series, CRASH INTO YOU. :-) Just comment below on how you like to read series

BIO:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven't improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she'll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she's not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat. Website: www.roniloren.com

Crash Into You
Loving on the Edge
#1.0
January 2012

Melt Into You
Loving on the Edge
#2.0
July 2012

Fall Into You
Loving on the Edge
#3.0
January 2013

NEWEST RELEASE:

FALL INTO YOU by Roni Loren

He'll do anything for you. But you'd better say please.

When tomboy sports reporter Charli Beaumonde loses a dream TV job because she's
not girly enough for primetime, she's determined to land a big scoop and prove
her boss made a mistake. But when she gets too close to a football scandal and
finds her life threatened, Charli accepts an offer from family friend Grant
Waters to hide out at his place—even if Grant predicts nothing but trouble
from his buddy's hard-headed, uncompromising, irrepressible, younger sister.
There's one more problem...

Grant's "place" is The Ranch, a BDSM resort in Texas, and he's used to being in
charge —even if that means trying to keep Charli in line. But much to
Grant's surprise, she's intrigued—even envious—of his trainees.
They're the epitome of what she's never been: sexy, beguiling, and totally
irresistible to a man. Still, Grant doesn't believe for a minute that the
sharp-tongued Charli has it in her to be anyone's submissive. But Charli's
already on her knees vying for the chance to prove that even the Master can be
wrong sometimes.

Comments

I am not a big fan of series books. If I am reading a book and there are references to other characters that the author implies that you already know, it get confusing for me. I would rather have a stand alone book. Because, sadly, I don't have much time to read and I can't always go back to the first book. Your books would work well for me since they can be enjoyed as a stand alone or as a series.
(Kathleen Yohanna 3:18am January 20, 2013)

I love stand alone romances. I find when there is a series I do get confused and can't remember the whole other story. It can be a hard read for me.
(Bonnie Capuano 8:39am January 20, 2013)

I like to read the series books in order. Sometimes, if I see a new book, I go to the author's website to see if it is in a series, so I make sure to read them in order. I do sometimes read a holiday book out of sequence, just to get it read in the season!
(Sharlene Wegner 11:20am January 20, 2013)

I used to think I had to read the series in
order, starting with book one. However,
probably within the last year I have
started to jump into a series, and if I
enjoy it, I'll read the rest. Thankfully, I
haven't had any problems with understanding
the stories.
(Heather Machel 11:28am January 20, 2013)

I love series!- it gives me a chance to become deeply
embedded in a set of characters and their world, which I
love. There is sometimes a point where being in the series
seems forced and I loose interest, but when written well I
will stay in a series over a long range of books. I am also
a big fan or reading in order. If it is a new author I might
go ahead and read the one I picked up to make sure I like
the series, but once I know it is part of a whole, I always
go back to the beginning.
(Sara Edmonds 11:39am January 20, 2013)

I really enjoy series books because you get to know the characters better---and I ONLY start from the beginning.
(Sue Farrell 11:56am January 20, 2013)

I like to read series from the beginning. Jumping in in the
middle is like walking into a room in the middle of a
conversation where you spend the whole time trying to figure
out who people are talking about.
(Margay Roberge 11:57am January 20, 2013)

I always prefer to read a series from the beginning but sometimes I get a book within a series and will read it then go back and find the others.
(Ellen McDaniel 11:59am January 20, 2013)

I always start at the beginning of a series. Reading out of order gets me confused and distracted.
(Pam Howell 12:06pm January 20, 2013)

I need to start at the beginning or I'll feel that I miss out on all the little signs and details... But I do jump to the ending sometimes when I can't wait to find out what happens!
(May Pau 12:14pm January 20, 2013)

I love series books and I do prefer to start at the beginning. I get so hooked into characters that when it is a series, I get to keep them with me a little longer!
(Sue Galuska 12:23pm January 20, 2013)

I used to have to start at the beginning of a series but in
the last few years have found myself preferring to start with
the book that has caught my interest.
(G. Bisbjerg 12:48pm January 20, 2013)

I enjoy series and standalones... the only thing I dislike is when I miss some of the books in a series.
(Colleen Conklin 12:56pm January 20, 2013)

I try to start at the beginning of a series, but sometimes esp
with the larger ones I have skipped around (JD Robb's in death
comes to mind), but if I really like the first I read. I will
try to go back and read in order
modularmates(at)comcast(dot)net
(Lm Williams 1:03pm January 20, 2013)

I read both ways. Something like the Sookie Stackhouse books I'll read in order because they don't make as much sense otherwise. But something like a mystery series I read as I can find the books since even though the characters carry through each book has a seperate plot.
(Sandy Giden 1:43pm January 20, 2013)

I read both but I like stand alone books best I never seem to get complete series.
(Jane Thompson 2:18pm January 20, 2013)

I prefer to start with the first book in a series. But when I for any reason read one in the middle, then I am happy to try to acquire the first ones and read those, and go on from there. I enjoy both series and "standalones".
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 2:58pm January 20, 2013)

Hi, Roni! I like series and standalones. If I know it is a series, I always try to read the first one first, but I don't always do that.
(Cathy Phillips 3:04pm January 20, 2013)

I have a habit of jumping in the middle of the series. Of course, I do back track just to find out what other adventure the main character(s) are involved in.
(Kai Wong 3:08pm January 20, 2013)

I LIKE SERIES BOOKS, BEST IN ORDER THOUGH. thanks
(Debbi Shaw 3:27pm January 20, 2013)

Whenever possible I try to read a series from the beginning. If I cannot find the first book in a series, I go to the author's website or to a review to find a summary of the book. It's not as good as reading the original book, but it does give me some background information. I enjoy both series and standalones.
(Bonnie H 3:29pm January 20, 2013)

I love the loving on the edge series. I for one always start from the beginning of the series; no sense in missing key plots. I have also read stand alones and find myself wanting to read more to see if they actually had the happy ending. The one thing that does stink about reading a series is having to wait such a long time for the next book to be released but I still love reading series. I can't wait for book 4. :)
(Jennifer Rivera 4:09pm January 20, 2013)

I love both standalone and series, but when I do read a series, I have to read it
from the beginning. That way, I know what is going on and it feels like you are
growing with the characters.
(Hyunjin Jeon 4:11pm January 20, 2013)

I find that sometimes the first book in a series is tedious and not as
much fun as the stories further along. I know that the author must set
up the players at the beginning, but my attention might not hold to get
to the rest of the series. Most of the time I start with the current book,
and if I like it, then I will get the rest of the series. It really sucks when
it is a True series, and the story doesnt fill in enough of the blanks. I
mightnot read the whole book, which also ,eans the author has lost
,me as a future reader.
(Kerry Parker 4:58pm January 20, 2013)

I love reading series books===especially romance ones
(Shirley Younger 5:01pm January 20, 2013)

Love Roni Loren! I MUST read in order. In fact, because
Olivia Cunning's Sinners series is being published out of
order, I am waiting until next fall when the final book is
released to read the last 3 books. And I seriously love her
books so this is a big sacrifice for me!
(Misty Evans 5:42pm January 20, 2013)

I will read anyplace------beginning, middle and last !
(Gerry Sheets 5:57pm January 20, 2013)

I'M A BIG FAN OF SERIES BOOKS THEY ARE FANTASTIC TO
READ!!!!!!!
(Shelly Caggiano 6:03pm January 20, 2013)

Depends on the series - but I usually like good romances! Love to take time out and just read.
(Beth Elder 7:02pm January 20, 2013)

When I read a series, I prefer to start reading with the first book.
(Carol Woodruff 7:38pm January 20, 2013)

I've done both, start with the first one, and start anywhere. I do prefer to start with the first one.
(Wilma Frana 7:38pm January 20, 2013)

I like to start at the beginning of the series. I haven't read your books yet, but it's on my list to read. Would love to win a copy. Thank you so much for the giveaway and congrats on your success. dsr002(at)gmail(dot)com
(Damaris Sanchez 7:58pm January 20, 2013)

I'll be honest that unless it is a series that NEEDS to be read in succession, I typically tend to just jump in with the story that catches my eye. :)
(Kristin Bingham 9:38pm January 20, 2013)

well to be honest with you I have caught myself a few times reading the book that caught my eye then in the middle of it I realize I am confused as to what is going on so then I would put the book down and buy the first book of the series read that and say to my self okay I get it now and by that time I am really hooked and I read the whole series from the first book on. I wish more authors that write series would tell us if we need to read them in order or now sometimes It is hard to guess.
(Danielle McDonald 11:13pm January 20, 2013)

I'm a series junkie. If the books have sequentially tied
plots then I will usually go back and start from the very
beginning. I hate missing anything and feeling out of the
loop. If the books have only loosely tied commonalities
then I don't have a problem jumping in with the current book
and working my way around to the others.
(Kamla Layne 11:46pm January 20, 2013)

i always like to read the books in order, kind of hold back till 2 of a series are out,,,,
(Kimberly Hoefs 11:47pm January 20, 2013)

I like series books because they let characters develop and they can show us a lot of a world that the author is creating rather than try to rush it into one story. However I recently read the third of a series without having read the earlier ones, and I had no idea what was going on, and the author wasn't telling me. Given this was a fantasy I was wondering why the armour-wearing heroine referred to sandwich bags. About halfway through somebody made a remark which explained that she wasn't originally from that world. There should be a certain amount of backstory if a book is to be read out of sequence, or a reader could just be put off by not knowing what's the situation.
(Clare O'Beara 5:40am January 21, 2013)

If I find a book interesting after finishing it I will buy all the ones before it and play catch up. So long as the original book is a stand alone, it works out OK but if there is too much missing and I get lost the author has lost a number of sales. I've put a number of authors on my to read list because of a single book that hooked me in.
(Annetta Sweetko 4:41pm January 21, 2013)

I read from the first book in a series to the last, one
after the other without interuptions (if possible). I love
catching the details the author puts into a series and I am
a bit OCD about wanting things in order, lol. I rarely jump
into a series mid way. If I do by accident, I'm searching
out the beginning of the series to read it right away.
(Lenna Hendershott 5:27pm January 21, 2013)

I love reading books in a series in order because when the same characters are used, I'm familiar with who they are and not confused. I liked reading connected standalone series too. Especially, when it's a really good one and I'm hooked, then I'm sure to read all the others. You are a new author to me, and I'm anxious to read your books.
(Linda Luinstra 6:09pm January 21, 2013)

I like to start in the beginning of a series. It drives me nuts if I don't.
(Rita Wray 7:13pm January 21, 2013)

I like to read about a series of "characters," either family, friends, co-workers, etc. That tie adds something to the story, and also insures that one does not need to read each book to understand the others (if they are well-written.)
(Mickey McCall 7:36pm January 21, 2013)

A lot of times I'll grab a book and read it, only to find out that there were books that preceded it. If I really enjoyed it, I'll get the books that preceded it in the series, and make sure that I read them too, to make sure that I'm all caught up, so that when and if another one comes out, I'm up to speed with my reading!! There are a few authors who have books that come in a series, and I always keep my eyes peeled to see if there's a new book out by them or not. I would love to get a copy of your book and read it, so that I could add your name to the list of authors that I'd have to keep my eyes peeled for!! It sounds like a great story to read up here in the North to keep me warm this Winter!! Have a great New Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:29pm January 21, 2013)

I usually read the one that caught my interest then go back and see if I like the rest. I have been reading series from the beginning of my favorite authors and have gotten into a series just because of one book in the middle.
(Lena Lee 10:17am January 23, 2013)

always love a good romance book. It takes my mind off of what
is going on in my life.
(Sharon Salituro 9:02am February 16, 2013)

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