I'd know them blindfolded!

Grace Burrowes - I think it is in the way the characters talk to each other. There is a .... gentleness ..... about the dialogue. It's a distinct way of phrasing the characters' speech. It's something that I love about her characters, especially her heroes. It feels like a warm blanket, comforting me and keeping me warm while I read.

Nora Roberts/J D Robb When I first read Naked in Death, they weren't putting Nora's name on the books; foolish publisher thought it wouldn't fly because folks wanted Nora's standard materials. But I was reading it thinking this feels like NR! I managed to track down a listing in a cataloging tool that listed JDR as NR. Folks keep stating on newer titles that they think it didn't read like NR or JDR; she must be using a ghost writer. & I wonder if they read the same book I did; she has a pattern/rhythm that is very individual in style, at least to me. I may catch character errors, details from earlier books that has me thinking "Nora, you should develop a character spreadsheet for a series!" but overall, they feel like Nora.

I know what you mean about Laurens; she's always used a lot of $3 words (Gibbs would make her pay him $3 for each of them!) Her more recent series seem to just repeat the earlier series so I'm having trouble reading them; usually prefer the earlier version.

Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series

Sometimes authors use a word again and again.

Mary Balogh -- peeping

Jo Goodman -- soughing

Regards,
Kareni

There's also an author who uses the phrase "her gate" frequently. I think it's Lauren Dane.

Regards,
Kareni

JAK has the h whispering when she's talking so much of the time, doesn't matter if it's a Krentz, a Castle, or a Quick! I always wonder how close the H is standing that he can hear her whisper! I think I'd recognize any of her titles because of this little quirk. Good thing I love her so much!

Perhaps Dr Seuss, J K Rowling, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume  and Shakespeare.