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meganbmoore So, I've been half pondering doing a rec. post of my favorite historical romance novels(result of the oft-stalled culling/sorting project). Granted, usually when I read romance novels, it's as a distraction or mildentertainment...if it ends up more(as is more and more the case as I get more picky) that's just a bonus. There are, however, a few that I love and adore beyond all words.
But...I'm going to be lazy. Because for about half the ones I'd list, Mrs. Giggles has very good reviews of. For those who don't know, Mrs. Giggles is a reviewer who, if I recall my days of paying close attention to the romance community, is reviled by most writers and hardcore fans because when a book doesn't work for her, she's absolutely scathing. But when it works, she writes some of the best reviews I've read, and when it's one of my favorites, we love it for the same reason. I read her website religiously before urban fantasy took over my life-not only did almost every book I picked up on her rec work out for me on some level, but lets face it, a lot of romance novels deserve scathing reviews(and even when she hated a book I liked, she usually had a point I could agree with.) Plus, she's funny.
Back to the point: Were I to do a rec list, well, Mrs. Giggles has excellent views for a chunk of them, so I'm going to be lazy and just link to 5 of my favorites:
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway: Lovely catburglar, lethal secret agent sent to catch her. Both so screwed up you're amazed they can still function. It's one of those books where two irredeemably screwed up people somehow manage to "fix" each other.
As You Desire by Connie Brockway: 1890s Cairo, roguish adventurer, brainy girl who wants adventure, longtime friends and rivals, plenty of antics and adventures and some of the best banter ever. Harry Braxton was the first Harry Is ever fell for(the second was Harry Dresden, the third was Remington "Harry" Steele)
Pale Moon Rider by Marsha Canham: Escapee of the French Revolution in a hopeless position turns to a highwayman who's a darker(and far cooler) version of Robin Hood and The Scarlett Pimpernel for help. One of the ultimate(modern) swashbuckling romantic adventures.
Swept Away by Marsha Canham: Heroine seeking adventure finds an amnesiac, tortured spy washed up near her aunt's house. By the queen of swashbuckling romantic adventures. Need I say more?
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase: Regarded by many as the ultimate regency historical. I don't know if that's true(not having read every single one) but it's certainly one of the best. Chase deliberately throws in every single genre stereotype and loving turns them on their heads and somehow makes it all work, amazingly, often hilariously, well.
But...I'm going to be lazy. Because for about half the ones I'd list, Mrs. Giggles has very good reviews of. For those who don't know, Mrs. Giggles is a reviewer who, if I recall my days of paying close attention to the romance community, is reviled by most writers and hardcore fans because when a book doesn't work for her, she's absolutely scathing. But when it works, she writes some of the best reviews I've read, and when it's one of my favorites, we love it for the same reason. I read her website religiously before urban fantasy took over my life-not only did almost every book I picked up on her rec work out for me on some level, but lets face it, a lot of romance novels deserve scathing reviews(and even when she hated a book I liked, she usually had a point I could agree with.) Plus, she's funny.
Back to the point: Were I to do a rec list, well, Mrs. Giggles has excellent views for a chunk of them, so I'm going to be lazy and just link to 5 of my favorites:
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway: Lovely catburglar, lethal secret agent sent to catch her. Both so screwed up you're amazed they can still function. It's one of those books where two irredeemably screwed up people somehow manage to "fix" each other.
As You Desire by Connie Brockway: 1890s Cairo, roguish adventurer, brainy girl who wants adventure, longtime friends and rivals, plenty of antics and adventures and some of the best banter ever. Harry Braxton was the first Harry Is ever fell for(the second was Harry Dresden, the third was Remington "Harry" Steele)
Pale Moon Rider by Marsha Canham: Escapee of the French Revolution in a hopeless position turns to a highwayman who's a darker(and far cooler) version of Robin Hood and The Scarlett Pimpernel for help. One of the ultimate(modern) swashbuckling romantic adventures.
Swept Away by Marsha Canham: Heroine seeking adventure finds an amnesiac, tortured spy washed up near her aunt's house. By the queen of swashbuckling romantic adventures. Need I say more?
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase: Regarded by many as the ultimate regency historical. I don't know if that's true(not having read every single one) but it's certainly one of the best. Chase deliberately throws in every single genre stereotype and loving turns them on their heads and somehow makes it all work, amazingly, often hilariously, well.
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Date: 2007-09-29 09:21 pm (UTC)Pale Moon Rider also sounds interesting.
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Date: 2007-09-29 09:24 pm (UTC)PMR is what every highwayman/outlaw romance novel wants to be, they just don't know it.
What's Dear Author?
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Date: 2007-09-29 09:27 pm (UTC)It's a romance (mostly) reader blog. Jane, the main blogger, is sharp and takes no prisoners.
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Date: 2007-10-01 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 06:35 pm (UTC)It is, plot point by plot point, character by character, a collection of regency historical cliches, however it's extremely aware of that and turns every single one of them on their heads and makes them work.
I actyally likely have lots of regency historicals directly ahead of me, readingwise-the non-romance novel portion of the backlog is dwindling.
The best romance authors, though, are the ones that turn the cliches on their head or emphasize the absurdity of them, and the ones who look to other things for emphasis.
BTW, I'm reading The Return of Nightfall right now and it's quite fun-at the beginning, he was literally driven to scaling castle walls out of boredom.
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Date: 2007-10-01 06:55 pm (UTC)he was literally driven to scaling castle walls out of boredom.
*dead*
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Date: 2007-10-01 11:29 pm (UTC)One part that I loved, and I mean LOVED, was that it's a romance novel requirement that once the leads meet, no matter how improbable it is, the hero can't have sex with anyone else anymore. I love how he kept trying, and she kept interrupting.
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Date: 2007-10-02 12:39 am (UTC)Also, the requirement where if the leads are caught in a compromising position, the hero must do the honorable thing and marry her but of course, he's like "NO! SHOOT ME!" So she does!
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Date: 2007-10-02 12:59 am (UTC)I can't wait to read your writeup on this one.
All of Chase's books are good, but that one's the best.