FindingAlpha and I were discussing favorite books, and I thought a great way to think about my favorite RN's was in terms of rereading; how often, and do I still enjoy them after years and years. So here's my list of tried and true, in no particular order. Many of the novels are earlier works of established romance writers. This list will, of course, grow as time goes on. Hmmm, maybe our next blog topic should be, "Romance Novelists on the Rise"?
Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh (2004) -- The last book in the Slightly series, and still my favorite. This is basically Pride & Prejudice, Mary Balogh style, and I've probably read it five times! Wulfric, The Duke is at least superficially and Alpha male, but at heart, he's a sensitive family-man.
Thief of Dreams, Mary Balogh (1998) -- I think Balogh may have been transitioning out of the short-form Regency when she wrote ToD, but I have reread it many times and always enjoyed the inner conflict of the hero, his redemption, and the heroine's strength of will in dealing with her somewhat insane husband (who is actually the hero). I don't think Balogh's strength is the love scene, but she does create great inner conflict between the leads, which I always really enjoy.
Three Little Secrets, Liz Carlyle (2006) -- I love novels where the hero and heroine had been in love as teens and meet again and fall back in love, and this book really delivers on the whole star-crossed lovers thing. External conflict as youths, internal conflict as adults, and throw in a secret love child! I've enjoyed many of Carlyle's novels for the intensity of the heroes and the passionate fights, but this one is definitely at the top of my list for her.
Angel, Johanna Lindsey (1992) -- Johanna Lindsey was one of the first novelists I can remember reading, and she keeps writing, and writing. In general, though I'm not a big fan of westerns, I've always really enjoyed Lindsey's western novels, and "Angel" is my favorite. It's really funny and sweet, and includes what Lindsey does best, a "dump" scene i.e. the hero leaves the heroine in the dust. I think other romance readers agree, because the book is still in print and gets 35 out of 41 5-star ratings on Amazon.
Dreaming of You, Lisa Kleypas (1994) -- I loooove Lisa Kleypas, not only because she's a fellow Wellesley grad, but because she writes some of the sexiest, most passionate novels today. She has few duds, writing page-turner stories, and "Dreaming of You" is still one of my favorites. As often found in Kleypas novels, the hero is a self-made man, and the heroine is sort of a goody-two-shoes (but a spunky one). There's tons of angst and pent-up passion. Everything a good romance novel should be.
Something Wonderful, Judith McNaught (1991) -- Curse you, Judith McNaught! Why, oh why, did you give up on historicals?!? Hands down, McNaught's historical romances are some of the best I have read. Some of her contemporaries are pretty good, but there's just no comparison. I picked "Something Wonderful" sort of arbitrarily, since "Once and Always," "Almost Heaven," and "Until You" are all great. Even "Whitney My Love," if you can get past the rapiness and stalkerishness of the main character, is still a pretty great read. Sigh...I will forever mourn the loss of Judith's historical romance writing career.
Highland Velvet, Jude Deveraux (1991) -- Similarly to Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux has gotten away from writing historicals, which in my opinion, were her strongest novels. Highland Velvet is the third in the ridiculously titled Velvet series, and my favorite, due to the strength of the heroine, Bronwyn. There was a little political intrigue in the novel, but the internal conflict was as strong as the external conflict, which I always prefer. As frequently happens in Devereaux novels, the ending often involves some convoluted kidnapping, shoot-out, duel, but the character development and romance leading up to the ending is worth the last few pages of belief suspension.
River Lady, Jude Deveraux (1991) -- The set-up for this novel is really what makes this such a fun read, a classic Cinderella arc, but set in the frontier of Kentucky. See above for the warning about the convoluted endings that almost ruins Deveraux's novels. There are actually several more Deveraux historicals I have enjoyed rereading, "Wishes," "The Princess," "Kingdom of Dreams," being among her strongest.
The Viscount Who Love Me, Julia Quinn (2006) -- Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series is a truly excellent series. Quinn's writing, especially of dialogue is witty and hilarious. TVWLM is still my favorite in the series, followed closed by "
The Duke and I," for its hilarious compromise scene, spunky heroine, and brooding, but lovable hero.
Much Ado About You, Eloisa James (2004) -- In reality, I've read and reread all of Eloisa's (yes, I call her by first name) novels too many times to count. Almost all of her novels are excellent for one reason or another -- she's just a remarkably gifted writer. I'm frightened that she will stop writing romances in favor of "more serious" work, but if I had to pick one book that I would take with me on a desert island for sheer enjoyment, these days it would be "Much Ado About You. " It's the first novel in the Sisters series. Lucius Felton is just a lovely hero (really more of a beta than an alpha in my opinion). It's a very romantic novel, that will make you sigh and sniffle a bit. A close second for the number of times I've reread it is, "
Fool for Love."
This Heart of Mine, Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2002) -- I'm really not a big fan of contemporary romances. Alpha males just don't really fit into our modern expectations of male behavior, but for some reason, Phillips makes it work. Many of her leads are football players and they can seem to pull-off the macho stuff believably. My favorite SEP novel is "This Heart of Mine," but the whole Chicago Stars series is really good reading. I think this author is sort of taking off now because I've noticed a lot of her stuff is being reprinted.
An Affair to Remember, Karen Hawkins (2002) -- Karen Hawkins really wowed me with some of her earlier books, most notably "An Affair to Remember," and its prequel, "
The Seduction of Sara," (terrible title!). I have to admit, I've been disappointed with some of her more recent books. What makes AAtR rereadable to me is the strength and unconventionality of the heroine (she's a proponent of women's lib and birth control), and of her refusal to be the hero's mistress. The hero, of course, can't marry her because he's trying to improve the family name, so he's looking for a respectable wife, not a "bluestocking."
Dangerous to Love, Rexanne Becnel (1997) -- Becnel has sadly disappeared from bookshelves, but she wrote several really terrific historicals, most notably, "Dangerous to Love," and "The Bridemaker." I'm a sucker for the half-gypsy Lord heroes, and Becnel's hero in DtL is a true Alpha. Becnel seems to be a
Harlequin Next writer, whatever that is, but I really hope she comes back to writing historicals.
A Kiss to Remember, Teresa Medeiros (2002) -- I'm not a huge fan of Medeiros, finding her books too hit and miss, but I really enjoyed AKtR. Despite having an amnesia story-line (which I loathe), the book is driven by heaps of internal conflict, and has a solid secondary romance I really enjoyed.
To Pleasure a Prince, Sabrina Jeffries (2005) -- In general, the Prince series is excellent, but out of the three, TPaP was my favorite. The hero is totally an alpha, but the conflict comes not from his idiocy, but from a personal problem of the heroine's, which had nothing to do with past transgressions or terrible secrets. I won't give away the source of the conflict, but it was certainly original.
The Saint, Madeline Hunter (2003) -- Except for the dreadfully depressing, "The Romantic," almost all of the books in the "Dueling Society" series were excellent. Because I'm picking favorites, "The Saint" is on this list. Hunter's books are not easy reads; they tend to be a bit on the heavy side, a bit complex and depressing. I feel like "The Saint" is one of her more uplifting reads, and despite the sound of it, I'm actually a big fan.
