raisintorte | Romance Novels

cbackson and I have been chatting about books and romance novels popped up. She listed some of her favorites, so I am listing mine (I'm not so good at putting into words why I like books, so sorry!):

(1) Georgette Heyer - I love all things Heyer, but if i had to pick a favorite it would have to be a three way tie between Frederica, The Grand Sophy, and These Old Shades. I also love Devil's Cub like a mad mad thing but the amazingly wonderful and complex story in These Old Shades edges it out. With Frederica and The Grand Sophy, Heyer just created two amazing women. I love Charles and Sophy. I think I got most of my Heyer rec's from

tesserae_ and

cbackson.

(2) Loretta Chase - I have never heard of her until

rigel_7 recommend Miss Wonderful and I read that and was hooked. Today

cbackson recommended Lord of Scoundrels and it may edge out Lord Perfect as my favorite. The thing I love about Loretta Chase is her heroines are smart and sexy and not afraid of being sexual. :-) Also, the hero in the Lord of Scoundrels is the perfect combination of idiot, grumpy, brooding, and awesome.

(3) Julia Quinn - Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever - hands down. Everything else she writes is fun, but I love that book.

(4) Susan Elizabeth Phillips - Breathing Room is my comfort book. It's the book I recommend to everyone. Once again it has a smart heroine (who has a few hang ups, but she's awesome) and a dark and brooding hero (I think I have a thing for those?) and they just work. I also love all of her newer books. The Chicago Stars and related series are just fun.

(5) Liz Carlyle - a few years ago

reccea suggested

smittywing get me The Devil You Know for my birthday and it was really good, but I didn't read anything else until I was stuck in an airport in Indianapolis and ended up desperate for a book and grabbing Tempted All Night. I *love* Phaedra and Trent. She's a little dark and twisty with her past and he's kinda a tool, but it just works. And that opened the floodgates and I have now read them all. :-)

(6) Stephanie Laurens - this one, I don't think I can pick a favorite book. I enjoy every book she has written (except The Ideal Bride which was utter crap) but I don't have one that stands out as the one I re read the most. I love Tony and Alicia from the Bastion Club (A Gentleman's Honor) or Honoria and Devil in Devil's Bride. I'm pretty sure I picked up my first Laurens book when I was a B&N in Florida with

triciabyrne1978,

catku, and

vflick.

(7) Eloisa James - She can be hit or miss but I love Your Wicked Ways because Helene is awesome and Rees is kinda a tool but not in a totally unforgivable way. :-)

(8) Mary Balogh - Slightly Sinful or Slightly Scandalous Freya and Alleyne totally got the best stories of the whole Bedwyn series. Without spoiling, the end of Alleyne's book always makes me cry a little. :-)

(9) Jo Beverly - Elf and Fort's story (Something Wicked) is a go to re read. They are just so angsty and FUN. I've finished the Malloren's and I'm saving a bunch of the Company of Rogue books for my beach vacation in August. This was another excellent rec of

rigel_7

(10) Others -

(a) Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle, but those all tend to go together and I don't really a favorite. I read them all as they come out and I really like the Arcane stuff, but there is nothing that stands out.

(b) I swore off Nora Roberts forever ago, but her recent bride quartet was pretty great and reminded me why I used to devour her books.

(c) I also used to read everything by Catherine Coulter until I realized I had standards and most of her historical heroes were awful and her contemporary ones were all the same guy.

(d) I will always have a place in my heart for Julie Garwood (who has some sketchy books from her early days but I like her more recent ones). The first romance novel I ever read was The Wedding and the writing just hooked me. Brenna was plucky and awesome. And Gillian from Ransom would totally make a top 10 heroine list (which I really need to write at some point)

(e) Johanna Lindsay - the Mallorys! I loved them! Georgina's and James! Amy and Warren! I read those two books OVER AND OVER again.

(f) Elizabeth Lowell - who I actually still really like. The Donovan books are always fun and I really like where she is going with St. Kilda.

(g) Judith McNaught - Diana and Cole in Remember When - that was a constant re read in college.

(h) Jude Deveraux (but iirc she had a lot of weirdness and consent issues and I just stopped liking her writing.

And wow, this post turned into something MUCH longer than I intended. Is there anyone out there that I am missing that I should read? I'm sure I'm missing people from the list - I'm such an author completest. If I like one thing they write, I will read them all, the good, the bad, and the horrible. :-)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Great timing! My sister dragged me to Half Priced Books today, then asked for Romance recs, and I was like, "Um, the only author I really read is Loretta Chase, and I get her stuff at the library." I almost ruled her out altogether, because I read Mr. Impossible first, and that one has some pretty annoying flaws, but I saw her recced enough on Smart Bitches* that I gave her a second try.

*Speaking of Smart Bitches, if you don't watch that blog, you should. It's a good place to get recs. I don't read every post, just the ones that catch my eye. http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/

I've heard of the blog but never read. I added it to my reader, so we shall see!!

Loretta Chase is great. She is really one of my favorites.

Romance Novels - A long post!

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