- Kathleen Woodiwiss: The list would have to start with the queen of historical romances, Shanna and The Wolf and The Dove make me smile just thinking about them.
- Jill Barnett: I don't know if she is still writing, but I adored her books especially Bewitching, Dreaming, Wonderful and Just a Kiss Away. Sweet funny stories, from paranormals to medivals to jungle adventure, she had a wonderful writing career.
- Arnette Lamb: As far as I'm concerened she was the queen of Scottish historicals. She has passed away and I found it so sad when SB made fun of her old covers, her books were wonderful.
- Pamela Morsi: Her historical romance back list is fantastic, must reads--Courting Miss Hattie and Heaven Sent.
- Lavryle Spencer: I loved her books, my first was Seperate Beds, my favorite Years--I still reread this on at least once a year, just love Linnea and Teddy.
- Marsha Canham: Retired--LOVED her entire back list, my favorites... Through a Dark Mist, In the Shadow of Midnight and The Last Arrow.
- Elizabeth Lowell: Her romance background is amazing. From historicals to Silhouettes to romantic suspense, her romance novels were great.
- Iris Johanson: Track down her historicals, well worth reading.
- Joan Wolf: She has been getting some attention for her Regencies, which were great, but I also loved her Dark Ages series, her King Alfred the Great book was fantastic.
- Candice Proctor: Every single one of her books were really good. Night in Heaven and Whispers in Heaven are two of my favorite books of all time
- Jane Feather: Her "V" series are classics and I still reread The Accidental Bride once a year.
- Amanda Quick: Long before her Arcane series there were her single word titles, most started with R, D, M or S, Ravished, Seduced, Mischief ... her list was endless and fun, with quirky interesting characters. Her Jayne Ann Krentz category romances were great too.
- Maggie Osborne: When Westerns are being discussed her name pops up. Definitely worth reading her backlist.
- Julie Garwood: Her historicals were wonderful. Loved that there wasn't internal conflict between the h/h, the stood together against outside forces. My favorite--Honor's Splendor--warming of feet, enough said.
- Marilyn Pappano: Silhouettes to die for, going way back. My favorite--Within Reach--It's still on my keeper shelf.
- Judith McNaught: Most people think of Whtney, My Love, but she had other great books, Paradise, Perfect and other historical romances that are worth reading.
- Catherine Coulter: I'm not sure her books hold up that well to the test of time, but when her older historicals were new they were the best. And her historic backlist is huge.
- Virginia Henley: Yes, I am admitting I used to read Henley. Simon deMontfort and Princess Eleanor in The Dragon & The Jewel still sits on my keeper shelf.
- Bertrice Small and Thea Devine: I put these ladies together because where would erotic romance be without them? If you ever get a chance to meet Thea Devine she is wonderful to talk to, she tells great stories about how she got started.
- Rebecca Paisley: I'm putting Paisley on the list because every other member of my Romance Reading Bookclub absolutely LOVED her. I could never figure out why, she never worked for me, but I read her anyway, because everyone else did.
- Megan Chance, Jo Beverley, Laura Kinsale: All were influential and worth finding backlists.
- Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Elizabeth Hoyt, Lynn Viehl, Susan Squires, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Mary Balogh, Liz Carlyle, and a few others I can't think of right now are have been autobuys for quite some time now and I expect that wont change anytime soon.
Sunday, October 25
The List
Because of the fundraiser last weekend I missed most of the top 16 lists romance bloggers were posting, and didn't get a chance to post a list either. This had me thinking about books and authors that have influenced my reading and buying habits over the 30+ years (I swear I'm not that old--I started reading romance in the 7th grade).
I've been thinking about authors who have passed away, retired from writing or who have changed genres or writing styles. Here is a list of authors in no particular order that have shaped my reading habits over the years.
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8 comments:
I need to go to bed soon but just wanted to let you know I was here ;)
Of course, you post has to have some deep thinking involved!
Loved Woodiwiss, Iris Johanson - Loved, loved loved Julie Garwood and Quick and I think I read a few Henley's as well.
cindyS
I've been itching to reread Desired by Thea Devine. I think she's at her best when she's writing historicals, and utilizing the ol' dysfunctional family "big secret" plot device. Beach reading at it's trashy best.
Lucky me, I still have quite a bit of Pamela Morsi buried in Ye Olde TBR. So I'm not done with her Americana historicals yet :)
Sigh, and Maggie Osborne. Her last book came out in 2004 and I still whine about her retirement (at least!) a couple times a year.
Your list mirrors mine almost exactly, thanks for sharing.
All the very best
Cindy--sorry for the deep thinking post, promise fluff for the next one :)
Wendy--Nobody does/did trashy smut better than Thea Devine. Have you read Morsi at all?? If not, you need to move her up the TBR pile.
Simone--I think my reading/author list probably mirrors most people who have been reading romance for a long time.
Oh, I have read Morsi - I just haven't made it through her entire backlist yet. Favorites so far have been Courting Miss Hattie and Simple Jess.
I LOVE SIMPLE JESS. What a great book :)
I gotta say, I love Amanda Quick's single word titles, too--had one of them on my list (forget which, but its hero was the secret scholar who looked like a pirate, nom nom!), and Joan Wolf's earlier stuff I love, too.
Megan--I have several AQ books on my keeper shelf. Haven't read them in years, but remember how wonderful they were when I read them. The recent review of the Joan Wolf book over on Dear Author was a good reminder of why she's been around for so long.
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