Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

TITLE: Only With Your Love
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLICATION: Avon, February 1992
GENRE: Historical Romance – Pirates!
RATING: <3 <3 <3

I considered entitling this post “In which I discover an Old Skool Romance that I actually liked.” A few pages in, I thought to myself, “Oh NOOOoooos! This can’t be Lisa Kleypas!” but I continued reading…and continued reading…and read right to the end in one sitting. I quite enjoyed it. This book has every romance trope you can think of: Purple prose! Virgin widows! Forced Seduction! Honorable pirates! Mistaken identity! Irritating nicknames! Anachronistic sensibilities! But somehow, despite it all, I fell for the characters and was swept away by the adventure.

***Ahoy Spoilers!***

PLOT:
Celia Vallerand, 24-year-old french former-spinster, is on her honeymoon, on a ship bound for her husband’s family in New Orleans. Shy girl that she is, she has begged her husband to delay consummating the union until they know each other better. His seduction plans are interrupted when the ship is attacked by pirates. Everyone is killed except Celia, who is kidnapped as a prize for the eeevil pirate captain’s brother. Brought to the secret pirate island, she pleads for help from a rival pirate captain (ahoy hero!) who fights a duel for her and wins. They flee for their lives from eevil pirate captain #1.

The hero wears a scraggly full beard and long hair to hide his appearance (yuck). He has his own secret agenda for rescuing Celia, but he is attracted to her, despite her skinniness, boyish hips, and childlike face. He is still and evil pirate, despite being the hero, and plunders her treasure, inspiring hitherto unknown feelings of desire from her. He is shocked and angry to discover that her bounty had never been stolen before (hehheh). Celia is, understandably, upset.

Arriving in New Orleans at the Vallerand family plantation, Celia is dismayed to find that the evil pirate captain who stole her innocence is none other than Justin Vallerand, her dead husband’s twin brother. Fortunately for her, he leaves immediately as there is a price on his head and he has a revenge to carryout. The Vallerand family accepts her with open arms and fattens her up. (I was so sure when she started complaining how all her dresses were too tight that she was preggers and we’d get our secret baby. But I was wrong. Biggest disappointment of the book.)

Four months later, Justin shows up at the plantation half dead. Despite her hatred, Celia nurses him back to life and, in the process, forges a bond with the difficult patient. When the authorities come sniffing around, the family passes Justin off as the dead brother, Philippe. Justin regains his strength and ravishes Celia some more, this time with her consent and cooperation.

The super eeevil pirate captain #1 shows up with the news that Philippe is alive!

Justin agrees to be traded in return for Philippe’s safety. Celia, in her one TSTL moment, follows to the trade point and is kidnapped. Justin and Celia and bad pirates return to secret pirate island. Justin’s crew springs escape. Battle! Fighting! Explosions! Mayhem! Good guys win and live Happily Ever After.

Discussion:
One can’t take this book seriously. I completely recommend it to die-hard romance fans, because you will be able to appreciate the silliness. Please do not give this book to your non-romance-reading friends. It is a Bodice Ripper.

Let’s start off with the cover. My cover has two swans on the front. There are no swans in the book. Swans, as far as I know, don’t even live in the carrebean or New Orleans or any other setting covered in the book. They are not mentioned anywhere in the book, nor is any character described as being swan-like. Why the cover? I. Have. No. Idea.

Secondly, the forced seduction. Y’all know how I feel about forced seductions. Why then did I not throw this book against a wall? This is the first book I’ve read where the rapist-hero actually goes through a believable character transformation over the course of the book. He is truly a different person who regrets his actions by the end of the book.  He recognizes his vile acts and seeks to make amends. He is redeemed and gives his life in exchange for others. In addition, both the hero and the heroine realize that the forced seduction for what it is: BAD. The heroine hates the hero afterwards, and goes through her own transformation coming to terms with her rape, healing, and forgiving the hero.

This book would have been better with a baby epilogue. I was so sure the heroine was going to get knocked up. I was very disappointed when she didn’t. Not even in the epilogue! Come on Lisa – this book had everything but the baby! It’s my favorite cliche.

Irritating nicknames: the hero calls the heroine “infant,” which is so incredibly not sexy I can’t even begin to describe…grrrrrrr.

I recommend this book especially to all the Desert Island Ladies, because it’s set on a desert island, has lots of pirates and rum and fun.

Books. How I dream about them. How I lust after them. How I rant and squee passionately over them.  At first, I thought I must be crazy, but then I found the internet and the beautiful women who are just as mad as I am about the heart-wrenching, adrenaline-spiking, mind-bending advenures to be found between the pages of a novel. Hundreds of book lovers are only a click away.

Hello, my name is Ciara, and I’m a bookaholic.

Hello, Ciara!

No longer am I reduced to a solitary existance in a world unfriendly to romance novels. Thanks to book bloggers I am connected to an entire community of obsessed bookaholics. *swoon*

Book Blogger Appreciation Week
My Friend Amy, recognizing the tireless work of book bloggers to connect readers and authors, has put together an entire week to celebrate the book pimp. Check out her site for book givaways and free marketing!

Here at ciaralira, we will be celebrating this week with a book givaway every day. My goal is to introduce readers to new authors that I lurve. If you would like to enter, please leave a comment telling me your favorite book (of all time, any genre) and WHY it is your favorite. Plot? Characters? Style? Theme? I want to know.

Monday: NIGHTKEEPERS by Jessica Andersen
(paranormal romance. Mayan doomsday prophesy. if you like the Black Daggar Brotherhood, this is a great one to try next)
Tuesday: DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran
(regency romance, this debut novel is simply smashing, da’ling)
Wednesday: DARK NEEDS AT NIGHTS EDGE by Kresley Cole
(another must-read series for paranormal romance fans. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, oh my!)
Thursday: SUGAR DADDY by Lisa Kleypas
(contemporary novel with romantic elements, 2008 RITA finalist. emotionally-charged heroine’s journey. Transformative process? Heck yeah!)
Friday: DEMON NIGHT by Meljean Brook
(oh how I heart meljean, let me count the ways. Paranormal romance with fabulous world building. Truly a masterful craft of character. Just remember, Ethan is MINE.)

You are Appreciated

And now for a few shout-outs:

Thank you to Sarai of Thoughts of an Aspiring Writer, the first book blogger to introduce me a whole new world of book pimps. Until she started commenting on my blog, I was just a lonely little book lover blogging for myself. Thank you to Sarai and Tracy for organizing the Desert Island Keeper blog, which has been a fabulously fun experience. We have author interviews galore and book givaways, so check back often. (see sidebar for links to the DIK blog and the DIK ladies personal blogs. Wheee!)

Thank you to KatieBabs (who debuted a wonderful new blog this week!) for taking me under her wing at the RWA National Conference. I was truely shaking in my boots, overwhelmed by all the authors at my very first conference. Kate was a pro. She guided me through the madness and introduced me to all the authors and bloggers she knows.

Me: *pulls on Katiebabs’ sleeve* OMG. Look over there. I think that’s Meredith Duran!!!
Katiebabs: Cool. Let’s go over and talk to her.
Me: *jaw drop* I can’t do that! It’s, like, Meredith Duran.
Katiebabs: *rolls eyes* Follow me.

Me: OMG. OMG. It’s, like, Smart Bitch Sarah.
Katiebabs: Oh, hey Sarah!
Me: OMG. OMG. OMG. She’s coming over here! What do I do? What do I say? AAAAAA!!!!
Katiebabs: Chill biyatch.

So anyways… I’ve met a ton of wonderful women bloggers over the last year and have had the very great pleasure of meeting a few of them face-to-face. I may be a lurker (cuz commenting would be evidence that I’m surfing the internet, not technically writing, doncha know), but I really do love reading the book reviews and author interviews of my fellow book pimps. Which ones do I check? See the links in the sidebar.

COMMENT TODAY TO WIN A COPY OF NIGHTKEEPERS BY JESSICA ANDERSEN

The 2008 Romance Writers of America Conference is finally over. My very first time at the conference, it has been a fabulous, overwhelming week of much squeeeing and many deer-in-the-headlights moments. I am exhausted and need a month to recover, but must get back to work WRITING! My critique partner spent the conference holed up in her hotel room rewriting her opening chapters. I bow in her general direction. Good lord, that’s dedication. Me, I was busy hiding behind plants and generally making a fool of myself. (I’m terribly shy. Brad Paisley has it right: I’m so much cooler online.)

Highlight 1: Star Struck – Meeting My Favorite Authors *squeeeee!*

(above left) Nora Roberts remembered my Ferrets Against Plagiarism teeshirt and said her grandkids wear theirs all the time. (above right) Harlequin authors Delores Fossen and Jessica Andersen.

(above left) Larissa Ione signs PLEASURE UNBOUND. (above right) Lisa Kleypas *fans self* signs SUGAR DADDY. Yup, I own both these books. But I lurve them and so I need signed copies.

(above left) Kresley Cole signed the most recent IMMORTALS AFTER DUSK book. (above right) Nalini Singh ran out of books *sob* but she signed the ARC of HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE for me. Too bad I have to give it back to Katie(babs).

(above left) Mother-Daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast. (above right) Lori Handeland signed ARCs of her new Urban Fantasy series.

(above left) Melissa Marr signed copies of her 2008 RITA winner in the YA category WICKED LOVELY. (above right) Julia London also ran out of books, but she talked to me for a bit.

Highlight 2: Romance Bloggers Rule the World

Finally met quite a few of the lovely ladies I’ve been blogging with over the past year: the Smart Bitches, Jane from Dear Author, Katie(babs) and Kristi(J), Wendy Super Librarian, Little Alys, Lisabea, Sula, Tracy, Rosie, Amy, and I apologize in advance for forgetting anyone else…my brain is fried. I also met Twitter friends. Teh Internetz is amazing.

Highlight 3: Christmas in July from Jolly Old Saint Martin and his publishing friends

This picture only shows the stash from Friday. Saturday I attended three more publisher signings, and scored a bunch of Advanced Reader Copies from TOR. I put the ARCs in my suitcase and shipped the two full boxes back.

Highlight 4: Writing Workshops (wait, there were workshops?)

Been there, done that, bought the CD. Actually I did attend a few, and I’ll write up my notes (no promises) when I get back home.

No review quicker
than haiku! More time to read.
How I love to read.

Title: Kushiel’s Dart
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Series: Kushiel’s Legacy, book 1
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, March 2002
Genre: Fantasy

Politicking whore
Saves kingdom through S&M
Loves chaste soldier priest.

Title: Magic Burns
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, Book 2
Publisher: Penguin, April 2008
Genre: Urban Fantasy

When magic fights tech
Monsters try to conquer world.
Kate saves day again.

Title: Sugar Daddy
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Prequel to Blue Eyed Devil
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, March 2008
Genre: Literary Fiction or Contemporary Romance (debatable)

Trailer park baby
Pulls herself up by bootstraps
Finds rich grown-up love.

Title: Miss Wonderful
Author: Loretta Chase
Series: Carsington brothers series, book 1
Publisher: Penguin, March 2004
Genre: Regency Romance

Lame Regency fop
Seeks headstrong old maid for love.
Canal or country?

Title: Bitten
Author: Kelly Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld, Book 1
Publisher: Penguin, September 2004
Genre: Urban Fantasy

A werewolf bit me.
Now I hate him but
Can’t resist his luuuurve.

Title: Stray
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Werecats, book 1
Publisher: Mira, June 2007
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Werecat seeks freedom.
Resents old pushy boyfriend
Can’t resist his luuuurve.

Title: Slave to Sensation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changelings, Book 1
Publisher: Penguin Group, September 2006
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sexy were leopard
Seduces emotional
Psy in sexy dreams.

Title: Caressed by Ice
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changelings, Book 2
Publisher: Penguin Group, September 2007
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Hot blooded werewolf
Heals self, seduces virgin.
Heartless Psy finds love.

Title: Duke of Shadows
Author: Meredith Duran
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, March 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
(Lusty Wenches book club says – fabulous!)

English Miss finds love
During Indian war. But
He abandons her.

Have you read these books?
Leave me a haiku and you
Might win a free book.
(As in a used book from my bookshelves, of which there are many.)

The ladies who have been playing the Desert Island Keeper game and fighting over our favorite romance heroes have joined together for the Next Big Thing in Romancelandia by setting up our own blog:

Desert Island Keeper: The island where women can go to escape their everyday lives. Where their favorite books are waiting. And the heroes are nekid….(or at least they are in our huts~)

The lovely island ladies: Ana and Thea, Aymless, Bridget Locke, Christine, CJ, Jen B, Kristie J and Katie(babs), Lesley W, Lisabea, little Alys, Mary Kate, Nadia, Samantha Kane, Sarah, Sarai, Shannon, Sula, Tracy

We each have selected 6 books and 7 heroes that we would take if stranded on a deserted island, without overlaps. We share our books but not our men. The resulting list is a fabulous resource to expand my To Be Read pile (not that I needed help, but I always appreciate great recommendations!). We will have author interviews and book reviews and contests and lots of fun, so stop by in the coming weeks with your bottle of rum and your favorite book.

Thirteen Books I plan to read from the DIK list, in no particular order:

1. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (started it!)
2. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
3. The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis
4. Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
5. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
6. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
7. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann
8. Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
9. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
10. By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter
11. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
12. Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor
13. My Fair Captain by J.L. Langley

The Desert Island Keeper Hero round-robin game is over. It was fun. No one got any work done. But we got a fabulous list of our favorite heroes. My To Be Read (TBR) list is HUGE. Based on the final composition of the island, I have compiled a list of the 13 authors who had the most heroes make the DIK hero list. J.R. Ward tops the list with 8. (9 if you count Carolyn Jean’s pick of the Omega.) (edited- sorry Christine!!!) Authors 8 through 12 each had three heroes make it to the island, so they are listed in alphabetical order. Josh Lanyon had 3 heroes, but they were fought over so I listed him at the top of the 3-hero authors. Patricia Briggs has 2 heroes, but made the list over the runners-up because Adam was fought over. Viciously. You know it’s gotta be love.

Authors who Rock and their Heroes:

1. J.R. Ward: Zsadist, John Matthew aka Tehrror, Rhage, Qhuinn, Vishous, Wrath, Rehvenge, Butch O’Neill, the Omega *coughCarolynJeancough* (edited – sorry Christine!).
2. Meljean Brook: Hugh Castleford, Colin Ames-Beaumont, Savitri Murray, Michael, Ethan McCabe *coughMineHahahacough*, Belial.
3. Nalini Singh: Lucas Hunter, Hawke, Vaughn D’Angelo, Judd Laurens, Clay Bennett, Dorian
4. Suzanne Brockmann: Tom Paoletti, Sam Starrett, Max Baghat, Stan Wolchonok, Mr. Jules Cassidy
5. Laurell K. Hamilton: Doyle/The Queen’s Darkness, Rhys, Nathaniel, Barinthus
6. Lisa Kleypas: Cam Rohan, Sebastian St. Vincent, Derek Craven, Gage Travis
7. Josh Lanyon: Adrian English, Taylor MacAllister, Jake Riordan
8. Linda Howard: Gray Rouillard, James Diaz, Sam Donovan
9. Kresley Cole: Cadeon Woede, Bowen MacRieve, Conrad Wroth
10. Sherrilyn Kenyon: Zarek of Moesia, Acheron, Vane Kattalakis
11. Stephanie Meyers: Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, Ian
12. C.L. Wilson: Gaelen vel Serranis, Rain Tairen Soul, Kieran Vel Solande (I forgot mine!)
13. Patricia Briggs: Adam Hauptman, Dr. Samuel Cornick.

Runners up:

• Kelly Armstrong: Jeremy Danvers, Clay
• Anne Bishop: Lucivar Yaslana, Daemon Sadi  (edited to add)
• Jennifer Crusie: Calvin Morissey, Phineas Tucker
• Janet Evanovich: Joe Morelli, Ranger
• Patricia Gaffney: Michael McNeil, Sebastian Verlaine
• Judith Ivory: Mick Tremore, Graham Wessi
• Samantha Kane: Derek Knightly, Ian Witherspoon
• J.L. Langley: Nate, Jake Romer
• Linnea Sinclair: Branden Kel-Paten, Gabriel “Sully” Sullivan

Title: It Happened One Autumn
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Wallflowers, Book 2 of 4
Publication Info: HarperCollins Publishers, September 2005
Genre: Victorian Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

Lillian Bowman is one of my very favorite characters. Ever. I’m going to name my first child Lillian in the hopes that she will be imbued with her tenacious spirit and good humor. The second in The Wallflower Series, this book continues the tempestuous relationship between the spirited American Soap Heiress and the staid, arrogant Marcus, Earl of Westcliff, that started in Secrets of a Summer Night. The romance between Lillian and Marcus is very fine, though the story lacks some of the more interesting social commentary on the Victorian Era contained in Secrets and has a silly plot gizmo in the form of a supposedly “magic” perfume that makes the wearer irresistible. Such a level-headed, intelligent woman like Lillian would not be given to the fanciful idea of a magic perfume. Despite these setbacks, this was one of my favorite of the series.

Lillian is the daughter of a self-made man who earned a fortune in America as a soap manufacturer. The Bowmans unfortunately have failed to find husbands for their two daughters among the old puritan families in America, so they travel to England hoping that the girls’ impressive dowries will be an enticement to some impoverished landed aristocrat with a title. In London Lillian and Daisy find that even the promise “Marry Lillian, you’ll get a million” isn’t enough to overcome their American brass and unrefinement. Resined to the side of the ballroom through the season, the girls make friends with two other wallflowers and make a pack to help each other find husbands. Through her father’s business connections to the progressive Earl of Westcliff, Lillian finds herself a visitor to Stonycross Manor for a number of long house parties where her antics earn the ire of the strait-laced earl. Lillian and Marcus’ interactions are hilarious. Their mutual dislike and stubbornness finally flares in passion (betcha didn’t see that coming).

One thing made me slightly uncomfortable in this story – consent? I know I am nitpicking when there are so many romance novels out there with real rape scenes in them, but taking advantage of a drunk girl is not honorable. Westcliff goes from bickering with Lillian to finding her drunk and deciding, without asking her, that he can’t help himself and should just do it and marry her in the morning. Note the “not asking her” part – he doesn’t ask if she wants to marry him, but she has no choice after their little indiscretion. Of course she doesn’t say “no” and they fall in love in the end, but still, a man with the honor and impeccable self control of Marcus Westcliff should have some serious qualms about taking advantage of a drunk girl. The villain in this story threatens to rape Lillian when he abducts her, and that is a-o-kay because rape is a villainous thing to do. A hero should never even consider it.

Despite that, I really enjoyed this book, so much that I plan on rereading it this week. Lillian is awesome. I hope Kleypas writes her into further novels as a secondary character.

Title: Secrets of a Summer Night
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Wallflowers, Book 1 of 4
Publication Info: HarperCollins Publishers, October 2004
Genre: Victorian Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

The Victorian Era is more fascinating than the Regency Era. Much more. I know, I know – it sounds blasphemous. But it’s true. The world was in upheaval during the Victorian Era: The Industrial Revolution barreled ahead at full steam, turning out technological innovations, upsetting commonly held beliefs, and overthrowing the traditional balance of power between social classes. Thank goodness. Our Regency Lords and Ladies, those pompous, arrogant asses who were responsible for subjugating half the world and its people (including starving my ancestors), who thought themselves morally and racially superior to the rest of us with the bad luck to be born to non-aristocratic parents, and who held a genuine contempt of work, really needed to be booted out on their silver-plated derrières. The Victorian Era saw the rise of a new entrepreneurial class, where intelligence, tenacity, and hard work replaced birth as the primary catalyst for wealth and power.

Lisa Kleypas captures this tumultuous time brilliantly, vibrantly illustrating the conflict between the old landed aristocracy and the rising new capitalists. This conflict is exposed in the tumultuous relationship between the hero and heroine. Our hero, Simon Hunt, is one of these new self-made men who rose from the lowly son of a butcher to be one of the richest men in England and best friend to one of the oldest and most powerful Earldoms in the country. His money buys him grudging entrance to the hallowed social halls of the aristocracy, but can’t overcome their deep seated contempt of his lowly birth. Our heroine, Annabelle Peyton, as a member of the lower aristocracy, shares their contempt, even though her family doesn’t have two cents to rub together. Annabelle has the unfortunate burden of trying to find a rich husband to support her and her impoverished family, but her pride prevents her from accepting the overtures of a member of the lower class. Her desperate state hinders her husband-hunting efforts, as the men wait for her to give up and become available as a mistress. Annabelle enlists the aid of three other awkward young women with whom she has shared the unenviable position of wallflower at balls and parties throughout the season, rich but low-born Evangeline Jenner and the American Soap Heiress’ Lillian and Daisy Bowman, each of whom has her own novel in the remaining three books of the Wallflowers Series. Lillian cracks me up. I love the scene where they play Rounders in their knickers.

In addition to the compelling class conflict, Kleypas imparts to us the awe inspired by the technological innovations of the time – truly a feat in this day and age when innovations are so commonplace as to be dully pedestrian (I can call, surf, photograph, and blog on my iPhone). I particularly enjoyed the prologue descriptions of the interactive theater show with volcanoes and a revolving audience.

Annabelle can’t deny the sparks between her and Simon, and eventually grows to understand and respect his work-ethic, even preferring it to the lazy ennui of men of her class. I can’t help but feel proud of the triumph of this decidedly American ideal – meritocracy over monarchy. The romance was sweet and sexy and completely yummy. I fell in love with Simon myself. I strongly recommend this novel to all romance readers!

I am in love. With books. With Romance Novels. With Regency Romance Novels. With Stephanie Laurens and Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas and Elizabeth Boyle and OMG I need MORE. How on earth can I take the time to write book reviews when there are so many novels just waiting for me to sink my teeth into? I am completely, hopelessly, utterly addicted to a well-written Regency Romance. I want to go to a ball. I want to ride a horse in Hyde Park. I want to cross verbal swords with witty gentleman rakes and see plays on Drury Lane and stroll through Vauxhall Gardens and tiptoe through the hallowed halls of Whites and dance through Almack’s and READ MORE. Laugh all you want (and I did because these “10 Things No One Would Say in a Regency Romance” are hilarious and undeniably true), but I am head over heels for them.

Please note I wrote a well-written one, though I suppose the purpose of a book review is to help steer you towards the gold. Indeed, when I first started reading romance novels I ran across a few atrocious ones that put me off the Regency sub-genre completely. If you have found yourself in a similar unfortunate predicament, please do not despair. Here are some authors that, if given the chance, you will truly adore. Allow yourself to taste the sweetness of a well-turned tale and discover new authors that tempt and seduce by trying one of the following anthologies:

Hero, Come Back

Don’t let the boring book cover fool you – these tales are charming. The three authors write short stories of beloved secondary characters from their full-length novels. I enjoyed all three of these emensely.

- Lost and Found by Stephanie Laurens

Reggie Carmarthen, the best-guy-friend of the Cynster twins Amanda and Amelia, opens his eyes to another “good-friend”, spinster and do-gooder Anne Ashford.

- The Third Suitor by Christina Dodd

Harry Chamberlain, Earl of Granville from Lost in Your Arms, discovers the very spunky Lady Jessica climbing through his bushes to escape a suitor. This one made me laugh.

- The Matchmaker’s Bargain by Elizabeth Boyle

A bit of magic helps the wounded ex-rake James Reyburn find that love can heal his soul.

Where’s My Hero?

Another boring cover, but I credit this book with my discovery of the fabulous Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas. Unfortunately Kinley MacGregor (aka Sherrylin Kenyon) pales in comparison to the deft prose of the other two.

- A Tale of Two Sisters by Julia Quinn

It’s not just that Julia is brilliant enough to live in the BE-A-U-TIFUL Pacific Northwest, or that she’s a fellow Ivy Leager (though Harvard is no Penn). It’s that she makes me laugh out loud and I don’t do that often enough. Her truly excellent writing style and dialog are a wonder to behold and I plan to read everything ever published with her name on it. In this short story Ned is engaged to one sister because she’s perfectly acceptable as a wife and he will never be in danger of falling in love with her. During the week’s festivities leading up to the wedding, though, he meets her younger sister, Charlotte, and it becomes apparent that he has much more in common with the sensible girl than with her sister. I really liked Charlotte. She was straightforward and liked the out-of-doors and I had the feeling we could be great friends.

- Against the Odds by Lisa Kleypas

I also plan to read everything ever published by this fabulous author. This story was my favorite of the three, because Dr. Jake Linley is deeper than the typical dashingly handsome rakish hero. Jake is passionate about his work, not just the usual drinking, gambling and seducing. Lydia is engaged to marry an earl who she has chosen because he is acceptable and, surprise, surprise, she will never be in danger of falling in love with him. Her romantic mother sneakily locks her in the cellar with Jake, with whom she has always had a tempestuous relationship. Turns out they fight because they like each other.

- Midsummer’s Night by Kinley MacGregor

In the Brotherhood of the Sword series, Simon, the Wraith, is Stryder’s right hand man. He started writing letters to a Scottish Lassie in Stryder’s name, but when she shows up at a tournament set on wedding Stryder, the cat is out of the bag. Predictable and slightly boring tale.

The Further Adventures of Lady Whistledown

This anthology is fun because the four tales interweave around a theater performance, a winter ice skating party and a Valentine’s Day Ball. The characters see each other during their respective stories. The tales are further tied together through Julia Quinn’s delightful Lady Whistledown gossip column.

- One True Love by Suzanne Enoch

- Two Hearts by Karen Hawkins

- A Dozen Kisses by Mia Ryan

- Thirty-Six Valentines by Julia Quinn

Ah, Regency Romance. As I told my seat neighbor on the airplane back from Sweden when he laughingly asked how I liked my book: True Love. Happily Ever After. What more could you ask for in a novel?