More Best Books

In my last home, I had a room that I had transformed into a library. Well, then I relocated to a different state and regretted that I had a library. Books are about the most difficult thing to box and move. Bulky. Heavy. A total pain.

So, I decided recently to go through the books and make some hard decisions about what I had to get rid off - keep the hardbacks, get rid of the paperbacks. I just don't have the room anymore (and I don't ever want to move that many books again). Some went to a garage sale, some were given away and I think what I have left is the best of the best. I ended up touching each of the books-around 3,000-as I sorted through my paper friends.

What I have is the majority of those works by: Stephanie Laurens, Victoria Alexander, Virginia Henley, Eloisa James, Edith Layton, Lorraine Heath, Loretta Chase, Liz Carlyle, Lisa Kleypas, Jess Michaels, Julia Quinn, Amanda Quick, Sherry Thomas, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Madeline Hunter, Karen Ranney, Karen Hawkins, Julia Justiss, Rosemary Rogers, Diana Gabaldon, Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Hoyt... Should I take a breath and go on? Well, you get the idea.

There were several excellent books that I set aside to reread and I wanted to share those titles with you, in case you haven't read them or are looking for something new. Many of them are heavy on the sex, so be prepared.

I found that I have several "twin" stories that I really loved:

Tracey Anne Warren: The Husband Trap
Which sister really married the Duke of Raeburn

Virginia Henley: Ravished
The Hatton brothers-one good, one bad

Virginia Henley: Seduced
Antonia finds a way into Adam's life, disguised as a boy

And stories about the difficulties of marriage:

Sherry Thomas: Not Quite a Husband (Victorian)
A Victorian era woman doctor reconciles with her husband...the hard way, climbing mountains in India

Mary Balogh: The Secret Pearl
Denying love because of honor, Adam pines for Fluer while his wife scorns him

Eloisa James: This Duchess of Mine
Jemma wants a baby...only she must reconcile with her husband first, who is jealous of her chess partner Villiers.

And of course, rogues and hellions:

Loretta Chase: Lord of Scoundrels
Troubled Dain does all he can to prove he's bad only she doesn't believe him

Johanna Bourne: The Spy Master's Lady
The best British spymaster finds France's most alluring woman, the spy Fox Cub

Nan Ryan: Because You're Mine (Western)
He stole her family's ranch; she's determined to get it back and more

Susan Johnson: To Love Somebody
The wicked Darley seduces a married innocent

Kathleen Woodiwiss: The Wolf and The Dove (Medieval)
William the Conqueror rewards his favorite soldier of fortune with a castle, complete with fiery red head. 

By no means is this a complete list. I'm just looking forward to rereading each of these books again. As I said, they are like my friends. I hope you get to read some of them. Oh, and if you have read them, which ones and what did you like about them?

Nine Best Historical Romance Writers

I've been thinking about this list for some time. There really are some great historical romance writers out there and they are some of the best romance writers in general. Tell me your favorite historical writers and the best book they've written...

And here they are:

Kathleen Woodiwiss

            Kathleen’s dialogue is spot on and her prose epic. We are on a first name basis with her characters. We want to be owned by Wulfgar, on the high seas with Captain Birmingham and seduced by Cole Latimer.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Wolf and the Dove

Eloisa James

            Eloisa blends clever wit and unusual plots. She gives us a reason to hate the protagonists and then forces us to love them, even that scoundrel Villiers. Her heroines get matted hair, her heroes lose chess matches to their wives and she welcomes with open arms bastards and governesses.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: This Duchess of Mine

Loretta Chase

            Loretta is another dialogue queen who writes the naughtiest little stories – clever naughty, you know - innuendo and intimacy coupled with unlikely heroines and dashing rakes. I don’t think there is a more lovable hero who so hates himself as Lord Dane. It just goes to show the right woman, handled with the skill of Loretta’s keyboard, can make everything right, even for Dane.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: Lord of Scoundrels

Mary Balogh

            Mary. Mary. Mary. How I love thy words. She has written two of my ALL-TIME all-time favorite novels: The Secret Pearl and Simply Love. There is no one who can write such flawed, wounded characters, especially the men, the way Mary does, deftly using their wounds and their honor in such a beautifully moving way.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Secret Pearl

Sherry Thomas

            Sherry has some KW qualities with beautiful, clever prose and excellent history added in for flavor. I’ve read all of Sherry’s books and enjoy every word the second and third time. Three of my favorite words ever written are “Leo. Leo. Leo.” Read those words in the context of Not Quite A Husband and your heart will break too!

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: Not Quite A Husband

Madeline Hunter

            I don’t see Madeline’s name on enough Top Ten lists. Again, we have another history buff who provides an excellent backdrop to her stories along with very unconventional plots. Madeline has an excellent command of language, using words in such a clever way.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Charmer

Liz Carlyle

            I find Liz and MH to be very similar in their writing style, though Liz will just come out and say things like they are - with no sugar coating. I remember one phrase that cracked me up, something about sucking the brass off a candlestick. Well, you get the idea. Liz is a darker storyteller with dryer humor.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Devil To Pay

Julia Quinn

            Well, no one can dispute that Julia is the queen of comedy in a historical romance and maybe comedy isn’t the right word. Her stories are just full of fun and smiles. All of her heroes feel like they could be my brother and the women my sisters. Delightful is the word that describes Julia’s writing.

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Duke and I

Joanna Bourne

            Joanna is another fantastic in depth historical writer and she tackles history from a unique perspective, not (just) the ballrooms but in prisons and the byways of life. Her stories are gritty but the prose and dialogue perfection!

            FIVE STAR RECOMMENDATION: The Spymaster’s Lady

 I know I'm crushing all the Lisa Kleypas and Elizabeth Hoyt fans, so you'll have to make your case.

Stop by the I Love Historical Romance Facebook page and join the discussion this Thursday, which I will be co-hosting!

Bucket Lists and Writing Goals

I was just staring at my keyboard when a question popped into my head. What would I like to be doing right now if there were no obstacles to the doing? You know, like money, time, family intrusions, job…

I’ll answer that later.

But it did remind me of another time when I asked the same question. It was several years ago when I asked myself, “Why aren’t you writing?” I was home alone (my husband was traveling,) and the stir of feelings about writing the great American romance swept over me again.

It had always been my wish to be a romance writer. I blame Kathleen Woodiwiss. She wrote the most stirring romantic epics. I know some readers think she is overblown and prosy but something about her writing spoke to me. Every time I cracked open Ashes in the Wind, I could see Cole Latimer with his Hardee hat and long sideburns. And of course, the street urchin coming off the steamboat that we would learn was our heroine.

I read Ashes in the Wind and the Wolf and the Dove at least once a year. I would love to write like her. Or Mary Balogh. Or Eloisa James. Or Loretta Chase. Wow, am I off subject.

So it really came down to having a dream and then having the will to go forward.

The first year, I started my own story with a dashing sea captain and the former whore he had purchased at a slave market. Sadly, that book will never see a publisher’s emblem. But my goal wasn’t to actually get the story published. My only goal, and I repeated it to myself nearly every day for a year, FINISH THE BOOK.

No matter what it took, I knew I had to get through it. I had to write THE END.

So it took me a full year and 112,000 words, but I got it done. At the time, there wasn’t a better feeling. It was the feeling of accomplishment. Since then, there have been better feelings – contracts, book covers and release days.

Oh and by the way, today is release day for One Last Night – go check it out at Ellora’s Cave.

So my point is, if you want to write you have to write. Just like if you want to win Powerball, you have to play. Writing one chapter won’t cut it. Writing one book probably won’t cut it either. I have started sixty-six stories and of those, I’ve only finished nineteen and they aren't all published yet.

Some people say they have to write or they would die. If I didn’t write, I would find something else to do. But I must admit, there is nothing more satisfying then penning a tale, exciting readers and knowing that I finished what I started. Oh, and the sweet feeling of knowing that IT IS GOOD.

So why am I asking the same question today? I just marked a big thing off my bucket list last weekend. I now have to add something to it. So what should it be?

One Last Night purchase link: http://www.ellorascave.com/one-last-night.html