Romance Novels
 

so....it seems from an offhand comment in the Chivalry thread we have some romance novel fans here. Im always interested in finding new authors worth reading (I dont go for the "harlequin romance" stuff)

So those of use that love this kind of book, whether its gothic romance, historical romance, throbbing manhood romance..list who you like to read here to open some horizens for other fans.

For gothic romance (not really any sex in them) my favorite among favorite is Victoria Holt, who also wrote under the name Jean Plaidy, I was 13 the first time I read any of her books, and will read ANYTHING thats got her name on it.

The romance series that Catherine Coulter writes are fantastic too (throbbing manhood and all) Especially and book about the Sherbrooke men

Diana Gabaldon introduced to to time travel romance with her Outlander series....I was telling Sugah Britches that if I could be in love with a novel character....Jamie Fraser and his non-equal rights chivalrous 1700 mentality would be the man.....

I've been looking for new authors and Daves cousin recommended Lynn Kurland who writes a time travel genealogical series, so Im on the hunt for her.

so come on you romance freaks recommend your favorite!!!

I used to adore running off to a romance novel for the descriptions of castles and the era clothing. I did, however, hate the perfect man meets perfect woman types. Lynn Kurland wrote "imperfect" romance novels. In one the "hero" or main male charachter was blind. Yeah, blind. Thats a real life romance for you!

I havent been able to read them since Pan and I started dating though... I feel like I am cheating on him :lol:

I went to the library today and they had two of Lynn's books....so I will be reading those very soon!!!

I think you will adore them! Nora Roberts wrote a series on witches I bet youd like as well!

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's unabashadly romantic and sweet, without being hokey. I picked it up for the time travel angle, but was immediatly drawn to the characters' true journey.

She has a website: http://www.audreyniffenegger.com/

As I see it, Romance Novels, like any genre (or anything in pop culture for that matter) are no different than anything else.

There are some good and some bad.

Personally, the vast majority of Romance novels could disappear from the face of the earth and I wouldn't miss a thing. That said, I know there is a market for them and can appreciate that some people like them (why I don't know :lol: )

That said, I also understand that many will point to Romance novels as a form of perpetuating a stereotype. A delivery system for a form of ideology where women must be saved by a strong man. Quite frankly, that is what culture is. It perpetuates an ideology by its very nature.

You will never escape it. (As Madge would say,) You are soaking it.

I read the Outlander series in the span of about a month (Yes, I put off a lot of things I really should have been doing. ;)), and now I'm going to have to go back and reread them because I am missing those characters badly! (I feel so weird saying that, but then I am weird, so...)

I like Sandra Brown. The ones with a lot of mystery, like Witness/Fat Tuesday/etc. Also, Kathleen Woodwiss, Johanna Lindsey, and Elizabeth Lowell.

I read a lot....if you couldn't tell....lol

Books are the nectar of some Gods/Goddesses. :)

I iove Nora Robert's books. She has a lot of good romances. They delve into time travel, magic, sci-fi, and fantasy.

Also good are Amanda Quick for the Victorian Era romances, then under her real name, Jayne Ann Krentz, she writes modern romances.

Lavyrle Spencer wrote some very good romances, along with Linda Lael Miller.

/unashamedly a romance book reader.

this is what I find interesting....I dont know about anyone else, but in the romance books I read the woman is a VERY strong character thus causing conflict with the main character male because she isnt the stereo typical feminine of the "time" the book was written about.

Ewser I just ordered the CD of Outlander (32 hours on 28 cd's) I cant WAIT to get it. Im missing Jamie something awful lol

<3<3<3<3<3<3

I LOVE THE OUTLANDER SERIES. I may not read much of the other romance stuff, but I love those books something fierce. I wish I were Scottish. They have sparked some truly nutty thoughts, I have to admit... But anyway.... I love how detailed, and how real it seems - no one is perfectly beautiful and clean (important since it's the 1700's!) unlike most of the other romances you'll read. I have to say I think they're miles above any other romance, and should just be in Fiction at this point.

I'm reading "The Time-Traveler's Wife" right now! It is really nicely written, and very engaging. Also recommended to me by a guy, so that was a nice change. :p Generally, I like historicals best if I'm going to be reading romance. The modern ones are too boring, plot-wise. And yeah, with the historical ones - the woman is always Very Very Very Feisty and Independant. The better the banter is, the more I like it. That said, I can't think of any author y'all haven't mentioned already. Sorry!!

I think we can all agree on the Outlander series around here. It's amazing, well-researched, and well-written.

My other favorite authors are Jude Deveraux and Nora Roberts. I like Deveraux's Montgomery family books and Roberts' books with the MacGregors.

When I'm in the mood for an extremely sinful pleasure (as in not well-written, but the plots are amazing) I read Johanna Lindsey's Malory Family novels.

And Shani, I love Victoria Holt too. I blame my mother for that. A few years ago my copy of The Shadow of the Lynx fell apart. I was very sad. Fortunately, this last summer I found a copy in good condition. My favorite Victoria Holt novel would have to be The Devil On Horseback. I have it in a hardback edition, which is good because I read it about once a year!

Furthermore, I have some old Silhouette Special Editions hanging around that I love--one by the name of Island Rogue and the other called Intimate Strangers. They're a little 80s, but I still love them!

Another Nora Roberts fan here.

Ken Follett writes great books that aren't romances (most are adventure with history, romance, and mystery tossed in), but all the ones I've read by him have a strong romantic element involved; Pillars of the Earth is one of his best as far as romance goes, IMO.

And I admit to reading Harlequin Historicals every once in awhile when I want a bit of fluff with absolutely no substance :)

I adored Nora Roberts.

Anyone read her Northern Lights book about Alaska? What a murder mystery!!! I actually saved it to read again later!

I tend to stay away from her murder mysteries. I'm not a big fan of those kinds of books.

However, I read one book she wrote as J.D. Robb and must say I really liked it. I've been thinking I ought to read more of those.

ShaniFaye, I have been seriously debating getting the CD, but it's hard for me to shell out the cash when I'm not sure how I would like audiobooks...Might be a gift I ask for for Christmas though...

Im not buying it, Im checking it out from the library....I dont pay money for audio books lol

Shows how un-worldly I am (and how infrequently I visit the library, which is to say I haven't been in one since college, 6 years ago), I didn't know you could get audiobooks from the library. lol

The murder was done years before present day in the book. They just discover clues and solve it. (From what I remember) It does however give you insight into how life really is lived in Alaska!