tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post2672701525226035487..comments2023-12-27T03:44:03.834+01:00Comments on Presenting Lenore: Make me read a romance novel!Lenore Appelhanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-86057254351488388112010-06-21T18:21:27.365+02:002010-06-21T18:21:27.365+02:00I hope Im not too late to get in on this. I have t...I hope Im not too late to get in on this. I have to recommend four books. First, just a great funny historical is The Lions Lady by Julie Garwood. I LOVE all her older historicals. New stuff, not so much. Also for a great time travel historical I recommend Son of the Morning by Linda Howard. If anyone has not read this, GET IT NOW. It is so so good. I was surprised. Runner up time travel historical is Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. The last one I want to mention is a contemporary. Paradise by Judith McNaught. All her historicals are great and some of my favorite but this is the one contemporary I still think about. Have fun reading!student nursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14556766246029578079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-77439073287070883982010-05-11T12:38:35.659+02:002010-05-11T12:38:35.659+02:00Great review, Some interesting comments.Great review, Some interesting comments.Time4u Book Reviewhttp://time4ubookreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/10-of-best-romantic-novels.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-54041740083809100382010-05-01T16:08:41.948+02:002010-05-01T16:08:41.948+02:00Lenore, I used to read historical romance novels a...Lenore, I used to read historical romance novels all the time. I haven't read any for probably 20 years. But my favorite one, and I still have a copy of it, is The Proud Breed by Celeste DeBlasis. It's about three generations of a family and was written in 1978. Now I want to read it again!<br /><br />As for contemporary romance, I would go with the Nora Roberts Bride Quartet Series like Book Blogger suggested. Enjoyable chick-lit fare.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713081443454171988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-77751438683120594882010-05-01T01:23:16.406+02:002010-05-01T01:23:16.406+02:00Some of my favorites are:
Contemporary - Practice...Some of my favorites are:<br /><br />Contemporary - Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James (it's a witty contemporary romantic comedy with a pair of ambitious lawyers battling and bantering)<br /><br />Historical - The Perfect Rake by Anne Gracie (I thought this one was both touching and really funny. I adore the hero.)<br /><br />The Rogue and the Rival by Maya Rodale (a reformed rake story)<br /><br />And I also agree with The Spymaster's Lady recommendation. I loved that story! <br /><br />If you like the cross-dressing element, you might enjoy Suzanne Enoch's Lady Rogue.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727580109068393725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-1533830178361758352010-04-30T04:00:26.779+02:002010-04-30T04:00:26.779+02:00I second the recommendation for The Outlander by D...I second the recommendation for The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. A friend recommended it to me a few years ago and it is excellent!!!Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-76525597939744635942010-04-30T03:49:00.671+02:002010-04-30T03:49:00.671+02:00Going to also say BET ME by Jennifer Crusie. That&...Going to also say BET ME by Jennifer Crusie. That's my go-to book in these "I don't like romance" situations.Janicuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17680150271398341576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-3001641274003988182010-04-30T01:33:14.438+02:002010-04-30T01:33:14.438+02:00Having skimmed the comments, I'm going to add ...Having skimmed the comments, I'm going to add another recommendation for <i>Bet Me</i> by Jennifer Crusie. I found it to be fun and funny. It's been years since I've read any romance and this one still sticks with me!Allisynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02487364565547314329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-45992661604735279242010-04-30T01:27:16.148+02:002010-04-30T01:27:16.148+02:00Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah...Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean is brand new, hot, will make you laugh and cry and hook you forever on historical romances! If you're up for a paranormal romance, you can't go wrong with any of Kresley Cole's novels. I just finished reading her latest: Pleasures of a Dark Prince!mrsshukrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081541541853441228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-56521083966143886452010-04-30T00:26:09.704+02:002010-04-30T00:26:09.704+02:00So many of my favorite historical romances are out...So many of my favorite historical romances are out of print. Sad! I know <i>My Beloved</i> by Karen Ranney (slow start, but once it gets going... My favorite romance novel ever, soooo good) and <i>A London Season</i> by Joan Wolf (okay, cliched denouement, but the book and I are roughly the same age, so I forgive it) are available as ebooks in the US, but I don't know about Germany. <br /> <br />Speaking of Germany, Barbara Samuel's <i>A Bed of Spices</i> is awesome. And out of print. Still in print are T.J. Bennett's <i>The Legacy</i> and Sandra Schwab's <i>Castle of the Wolf</i>. <i>The Legacy</i> is a great book, better than <i>Castle of the Wolf</i>, with a setting and conflicts that you rarely see in romances (a forced marriage between a Protestant Baroness and Catholic tradesman. Although now that I think about it, maybe it's a historical-set-in-what-is-now-Germany thing, since <i>A Bed of Spices</i> is also about characters from different classes and religions.).<br /> <br />But I have to go with Connie Brockway's <i>As You Desire</i>. And, hey, it's still in print! Luscious writing, imperfect and likable protagonists--especially the dashing Harry Braxton, though Desdemona is no slouch herself, dreaming of romance after having been paraded around the world by her parents because of her ability with languages--and set in Victorian Egypt. <br /> <br />Sigh. <br /> <br />Harry.<br /> <br />Though for contemporaries, I don't think you could go wrong with Julie James.Trishahttp://theyayayas.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-20598102339203244152010-04-29T22:39:21.228+02:002010-04-29T22:39:21.228+02:00I second the nomination of Lisa Kleypas's Wall...I second the nomination of Lisa Kleypas's <i>Wallflowers</i> series -- they're my favorites! <i>Secrets Of A Summer Night</i> is the first of a four-part book series with one "bonus" novel at the end, <i>A Wallflower Christmas.</i> <br /><br />Steamy, fun historical fiction with strong-willed female characters -- and pretty swoon-worthy, rakish male love interests. Kleypas was my first foray into the romance genre and she's definitely a keeper!Meg @ write meg!https://www.blogger.com/profile/15837479897570974834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-19799917441180967212010-04-29T20:29:40.167+02:002010-04-29T20:29:40.167+02:00I second the recommendations for Julia Quinn. My f...I second the recommendations for Julia Quinn. My favourite of hers is The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever :)Alessandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06652990135572677170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-76240654985902865932010-04-29T13:18:13.039+02:002010-04-29T13:18:13.039+02:00BET ME - Jennifer Crusie
Thirty-three-year-old Mi...BET ME - Jennifer Crusie<br /><br />Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sisters' wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sisters' wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers." Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician." But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one," although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blindsided by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.crustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-65122980088342233022010-04-29T13:17:24.390+02:002010-04-29T13:17:24.390+02:00BET ME - Jennifer Crusie
Thirty-three-year-old Mi...BET ME - Jennifer Crusie<br /><br />Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sisters' wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sisters' wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers." Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician." But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one," although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blindsided by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-2150535789999751852010-04-29T13:14:26.445+02:002010-04-29T13:14:26.445+02:00The Red Rose by Mary Balogh.
A, for a change BELI...The Red Rose by Mary Balogh.<br /><br />A, for a change BELIEVABLE romance, and NO no sex involved (*phew*)<br /><br />The Earl of Raymore is as determined to marry off his newly acquired ward, Rosalind Dacey, as she is never to marry at all. They hate each other with a passion until they discover a bond in their shared love of music. <br /><br />- Sounds sort of superficial when reading the summary like that, but it was actually good. I hope you try it.The Reading Nomadhttp://thereadingnomad.zzl.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-6763737354811207032010-04-29T11:00:58.969+02:002010-04-29T11:00:58.969+02:00Lenore!!! I am so happy you are going to give roma...Lenore!!! I am so happy you are going to give romance a try!<br /><br />Ok, I second the recommendations for:<br /><br />Lord of Scoundrels<br />In For A Penny<br />any Julia Quinn (What Happens in London is a fave)<br />any Julie James (Practice Makes Perfect)<br /><br />You can do NO wrong with any of these.Anahttp://thebooksmugglers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-7977412345253878342010-04-29T10:00:16.888+02:002010-04-29T10:00:16.888+02:00Seize the Fire, Uncertain Magic, Flowers from the ...Seize the Fire, Uncertain Magic, Flowers from the Storm, Midsummer Moon, For My Lady's Heart, Shadowheart--Laura Kinsale (proof that romance novels can be just as beautifully written and artistic as any genre, even when you have Fabio on the cover)<br /><br />Duchess in Love, Much Ado About You, Desperate Duchesses-Eloisa James (clever, witty, and fun. I chose the first books in three different series because with her you really need to read the series in order. Otherwise I recommend all her books *except* for her first three books (Potent Pleasures, Midnight Pleasures, Enchanting Pleasures ... her writing style was a lot different when she first started out, the humor and angst were more over the top and cringeworthy to me)<br /><br />The Proposition--Judith Ivory (a reversed My Fairy Lady)<br /><br />Delicious-Sherry Thomas (again with the beautiful writing. Plus there's a secondary romance that's every bit as good as the main romance)<br /><br />The Devil's Waltz--Anne Stuart (I love her historicals because the men are usually amoral, dress really good, and give good drawling banter. Heroine in here is the plain spinster type that talks back to him. A Rose At Midnight seems to be most people's fave Anne Stuart historical but I haven't read that one yet)<br /><br />Some other people have recommended Meredith Duran & Rose Lerner and I second, third, or fourth those recommendations.<br /><br />Georgette Heyer is old school, real old school (roughly wrote stuff between 1920's and early 1970s) so no sex or naked man chests but there's a reason everyone seems to get into her eventually. Just don't expect her to be like Jane Austen which is what I thought going in. Her humor is more P.G. Wodehouse. I recommend: These Old Shades, Venetia, Black Sheep, Frederica, Sylvester, Arabella, The Talisman Ring. People seem to love Devil's Cub the most but I think that's because online romance fans really have a thing for heroines who shoot the hero (see Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase) ... I like Devil's Cub too but not really an ultimate fave.TheHoydennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-83869672061824373792010-04-29T08:30:50.226+02:002010-04-29T08:30:50.226+02:00My romance reviews: http://goodbadandunread.com/ta...My romance reviews: http://goodbadandunread.com/tag/liviania/<br /><br />I rec HIS CAVALRY LADY by Joanna Maitland: http://goodbadandunread.com/2009/07/05/review-his-cavalry-lady-by-joanna-maitland/<br /><br />Crossdressing Russians in the Regency! Spies! Friendship before love! The cover has his face in her boobs!<br /><br />I think I've said enough.Livianiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479932701589363306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-90793320230499996602010-04-29T07:05:45.720+02:002010-04-29T07:05:45.720+02:00Oh you are a brave soul. Sadly, I have no ideas to...Oh you are a brave soul. Sadly, I have no ideas to offer you. But it looks like you have a lot on your plate already. I'm looking forward to the review! :)Heather Zundelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16621649337908358313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-8076503802867332532010-04-29T06:43:11.148+02:002010-04-29T06:43:11.148+02:00Historical: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase is...Historical: <i>Lord of Scoundrels</i> by Loretta Chase is, like, <i>the</i> official novel for first-time romance readers. It's got a Beauty and the Beast element, an intense battle of the sexes, and the coolest snarky heroine ever. And I love the heroine's brother, an honest-to-goodness idiot who never fails to make me laugh. Chase also wrote <i>Mr. Impossible</i>, which is absolutely wonderful. The heroine is convinced that the hero is an idiot, and he does everything he can to encourage that, especially since making her irritated with him is the best way to keep her from crying. Ah, good times. Also, I recently read Janet Mullany's <i>The Rules of Gentility</i> and it made me laugh my head off. Though the Chase books are both funny, they also have their serious parts, whereas the Mullany is just a lot of fun.<br /><br />For a more literary historical, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> is a classic. There's also Laura Kinsale's <i>Flowers from the Storm</i>, in which the hero has a stroke and gets confined in a madhouse which is described in a horrifying but historically accurate manner. And let's not forget <i>Black Silk</i> by Judith Ivory, which was recently re-issued in a trade paperback featuring one of The Prettiest Dresses Ever on the cover, is also awesome. The way the words are arranged are just so pretty~! It does have a slow start, though. <br /><br />I also have to second Chachic's rec of <i>The Spymaster's Lady</i>. What impressed me the most about it was that the heroine is French, and even though her POV is written in English, it feels French. I don't know how else to describe it, but I practically felt like I was reading in French at times. The balance of power is a bit off, though - the heroine is in the hero's custody for most of the book, which (if you're like me) may irritate you a bit. And speaking of seconding recs, I agree with everyone who mentioned the Julia Quinn books. The Bridgerton siblings are all kinds of awesome, and didn't even have to be dysfunctional to get that way! Happy families are so much more fun, y'know?<br /><br />Contemporaries: Jennifer Crusie's <i>Bet Me</i>, in which gorgeous shoes are described on a regular basis. *sigh* Also, Cal and Min SOOOOOO start off on the wrong foot, but even when they're snarking at each other, the book still feels happy and hopeful and romantic. I also love the same author's <i>Anyone But You</i>, which is short but sweet, featuring an older woman who's neurotic about her age and the best fictional dog ever. <i>See Jane Score</i> by Rachel Gibson is my favourite sports romance because it's about hockey~~~ and the hero is Canadian~~~ and it features a heroine who's good at her job, even when she's stuck doing something she doesn't like. <br /><br />Ooh, and for YA romances, whoever said that Simone Elkeles' <i>Perfect Chemistry</i> is a contemporary teen romance is totally right, and I know it's incredibly popular. And Eva Ibbotson's <i>The Secret Countess / The Countess Below the Stairs</i> is a historical masterpiece, though I'm sure it's annoying to shelve because it treads a fine line between being too old for YA and too young for regular romance. Either way, it's a great story.<br /><br />Elise: noooo, don't judge the whole genre because of one bad book! This comment thread is full of some of the best titles around. Try one, or better yet, some, of them before saying you don't like romance! (Also, Mills and Boon books are divided into pretty strict categories, so if you didn't like the one you tried, it may be because it's in a category that totally doesn't work for you. The bright side is that that means there are books out there which are pretty much the opposites of the one you read!)Niveauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268472393090057132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-56606161745578830372010-04-29T05:36:11.942+02:002010-04-29T05:36:11.942+02:00I've never been a huge romance fan myself. The...I've never been a huge romance fan myself. They all seem to be around the same plot: girl in danger, guy steps in and saves the day (and gets the girl)!<br /><br />I'm way more of a fantasy reader than romance.<br /><br />Two I really liked (but they don't have the bodice-ripping covers) are Michele Hauf's books: Seraphim and its sequel Gossamyr. I accidentally read Gossamyr first, and it's my favorite of the two. It involves fantasy (but not too heavy) and romance.Kelseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09122212021193187873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-8041212145736876412010-04-29T03:27:43.802+02:002010-04-29T03:27:43.802+02:00I'm not a huge fan of the romance genre either...I'm not a huge fan of the romance genre either but I'm always interested in reading books that are well-recommended. For historical romance, I'd recommend <i>The Spymaster's Lady</i> by Joanna Bourne. I love historical spy stories and I enjoyed reading this one. For contemporary romance, <i>Bet Me</i> or <i>Welcome to Temptation</i> by Jennifer Crusie and any book by Julie James. They are hilarious.<br /><br />Good luck with this and I look forward to reading your review of whatever book you end up choosing. :)Chachichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216391673830772231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-17798543591208030662010-04-29T02:56:00.089+02:002010-04-29T02:56:00.089+02:00I'd recommend Julia Quinn. I love, love, love ...I'd recommend Julia Quinn. I love, love, love her Bridgerton series. You could read any of the series, you don't have to read the books in order or anything. My personal favorite is Romancing Mister Bridgerton. My second favorite would probably be An Offer From A Gentleman. The first novel in the series is The Duke and I.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793618692608823102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-11440925623670831232010-04-29T02:14:57.724+02:002010-04-29T02:14:57.724+02:00Before I started blogging, I read romance a lot. K...Before I started blogging, I read romance a lot. Kat Martin ("Hot Rain"), Anne Stuart ("Black Ice"), Jude Devereaux ("A Knight in Shining Armour") are just a few of my favourite authors. I hope you will give them a try! ;)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967837585961009598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-75726951760988417152010-04-29T02:10:25.883+02:002010-04-29T02:10:25.883+02:00I tried my very first Mills and Boon book earlier ...I tried my very first Mills and Boon book earlier this year and loathed it. It was just appalling! So I completely understand your reluctance with the romance genre, I am also not a fan. Not a very useful comment I'm afraid, just wanted to say that I get it!!Elisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106569383402671571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-66199874396793369842010-04-29T01:04:03.282+02:002010-04-29T01:04:03.282+02:00Okay I am going to break the rules but I have a ve...Okay I am going to break the rules but I have a very good reason for doing so, which is that I am going to reccommend a science fictiony danielle steel romance novel and a historical fiction danielle steel romance novel. (Danielle Steel books are my guilty pleasure.) But they will not have pictures of big burly men on the cover, sorry. The Klone and I is a tiny bit science fictiony so you still feel like you are a little bit in your comfort zone and Granny Dan is a good historical romance one by Danielle Steel.Rosaliahttp://mentaldebrisbooks.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com