I love being surprised by writers and genres I've pigeon-holed into personal oblivion. A decade ago, a friend practically twisted my arm to read the first novel in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. "No, no, no," I said. "I don't read novels with dragons in them unless they also feature a hobbit and happen to have been written by the boon companion of C.S. Lewis; and this, my friend, clearly ain't that."

But he made me, and I loved it so much I've read the entire series published so far and even avoided the HBO spectacle that took the world by storm, because I wanted to love all the books first.

A librarian friend of my told me a few years ago that Nora Roberts is a highly skilled craftsperson well worth reading. I haven't dived in yet, but based on what you're saying, that assessment must be true.