I made a joking comment over on Sybil’s blog about Laurens maybe continuing the Cynster series on into the next generation and while that would be a nightmare – maybe, oh, okay, considering how prolific that clan is, yeah, it would definitely be a nightmare – it did start me wondering about something else. Anyone know if any romance author has ever tried to do a connected series based upon following one family line through history with only one book per generation – father to son, mother to daughter, as it were? Or anything even close to that idea?
I can see both advantages and disadvantages to this idea. A major disadvantage would be the old bugaboo of someone from a previous book dying but it’s still an intriguing concept. Think of the variety and history that could be covered. Yeah, I know all the authors out there are screaming in terror and agony but you have to admit it’s a fascinating thought.
The closest I can think of to it is the Hawk trilogy by Justine Dare. Those were widely spaced descendents, however, and didn’t she actually work backwards in time to the progenitors of the line? I shall have to look those up to be sure but I’m fairly sure that’s the case. I just find it strange that that’s the only one I can even think of. Any more lurking out there?
ROTFL, Holly. Yeah, what you describe sure sounds like a description for that web of a family tree in the book but then again, reading the above also makes me think soap opera. 😀
And, Kristie, I really need to pull those Dare/Davis books back out becuase I don’t even remember the magician and the bird.
I ran across something strange when I was looking up one her backlist on Amazon the other day, though. Somebody had reviewed The Prince’s Wedding and claimed she (Dare/Davis) was also Dara Joy. My eyes just about bugged out of my head at that whopper because it can’t possibly be true. Can it? I mean my brain almost explodes just considering it.
Too funny. I don’t really care for her Western or British novels, but I do love her Highlanders. I think it’s because they have so much humor in them.
Let’s see, now does it go:
The first three books in the series are the matriarch’s books. I never read those, because it creeps me out to go back and read about still living parents having sex (what, like you want to think about YOUR parents having sex? I didn’t think so *g*) but where I started was the daughter. Then her cousin. Then the cousin’s sister. Then the cousin’s sister’s husband’s brother. Then her husband’s other brother. Then his sister-in-law. LOL Like that. So I suppose it’s not MULTI quite yet, only a SINGLE generation, but I think she plans on continuing, so I’m sure it won’t be long until we’re reading about kids’ kids’ kids.
That didn’t even make sense to me. Just ignore it. LOL
I’m 99% sure too about the Hawk series by Justine Dare/Davis. The first was the present day story, the second one the Western and the third one the Medieval. I read somewhere that she wanted to write a story on the magician and the bird (probably not unlike the movie Ladyhawke) but was discouraged by the publishers.
Heh, you won’t believe this but I’m currently reading Highland Warrior by Howell. Just started it this afternoon after finishing yet another Quick, not being in the mood to start another and not being able to sleep. So, I browsed around for a medieval I hadn’t read yet and ran across HW. Howell has always been hit or miss for me but I suspect I may kind of like the Highland series because I tend to like her Scotish stories a lot more than her more British ones.
That family tree in the back looks like a tangle web, though. Are you real sure we’re talking about a lot of multiple generations, Holly? ;D
Yep, JD has written a family series about the Taggerts and Montgomery’s that started way back in the (forgive me if this is incorrect, but it’s close) 1700’s, I think. And she continued on with them right up to present day. There are BILLIONS of them. LOL I can’t remember the actual number, but rest assured, tis a lot.
Hannah Howell did something similar, though she didn’t carry it into the present, with her Highlander Series. She started with the parents and then moved onto the children and is now on to cousins and in-laws. Oddly enough, her series doesn’t bug me like SL’s Cynster series does. Strange, isn’t it?
Otherwise I can’t think of anything, though. *sigh*
Don’t believe I’ve ever read any Deveraux but what I’ve heard about her books certainly sound like this is something she might try. I’ll have to do some research. 😉
I *think* Jude Deveraux had a family line that went through centuries. I remember picking up one of her books and feeling like I was being mauled by the ‘family’. Montgomerys maybe. Someone will know for sure.
CindyS