The author Barbara Taylor Bradford died this day in aged 92. She wrote gritty tales about strong female characters. I read a lot of her books back in the seventies and eighties. Many went on to become successful television series.
It caused me to think about the big authors from that time.
I read lots of the books back, most of which I can’t recall the details. What I do remember is the enjoyment I had from them. The mere mention of the author’s name, if it’s uttered, will still bring me warmth from the worlds they once created.
These are some of the blockbusters that were popular (I’m sure you can think of more):
- Sidney Sheldon – If Tomorrow Comes, Rage of Angels
- Karin Slaughter – Dé-Jà Dead – The Temperance Brennan novels
- Ken Follett – Pillars of the Earth
- Jeffery Archer – Kane and Abel
- Jacqueline Susanne – Valley of the Dolls
- Patricia Cornwell – Post Mortem, book one –The Scarpetta series
- Irwin Shaw – Rich Man Poor Man
These days, we have much more of a choice with Indie authors. In my opinion, they have amazing stories. For me, a good book is one that lingers for a long time afterwards.
There are many to choose from, but I’ve chosen these because of the worlds, characters, and books they created have stayed with me long after I finished reading them:
- Julia Blake
- Chantelle Atkins
- JP McClean
- Denna Holm
Below you will find the first book of some truly astounding series. I absolutely loved them.
Becoming Lili is a contemporary romance series consisting of three books. The last one broke me, it was so moving,
The Day the Earth Turned consists of four books, one for each season. This post apocalyptic thriller deals with a world where all the adults have died.
The Secret Sky is the first of five books about a secret world where people can fly. The thrilling storyline is full of intrigue and adventure.
Claimed by Nicolai is a three book science fiction series. A warrior from another planet comes to earth to claim a mate. The world building in this collection almost had me convinced there was something out there.
World of Stories 
A great list. I didn’t read as much then as I was busy raising children and working full-time but I did manage to sneak some of them in. A couple of other authors I enjoyed were Edward Rutherfurd (Sarum) and John Irving (The World According to Garp). My favourite was The Thorne Birds by Colleen McCullough. That really stuck with me.
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