Recommendations For Younger Readers

LordRose · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 86

Well, I recently got my younger sister into romance novels, and now she wants more to read. I've given her some recommendations, but I always have a hard time trying to think of books off the top of my head, and she has some specific things she's looking for.

#1. They have to be historical, preferably somewhere between 1700 and 1850 and set in England. There are rather few YA romances set in this time period, and she's pretty fed up with Twilight and The Hunger Games and most popular YA books. (Especially anything with vampires.)

#2. She's only 14, so she prefers books to be light on sex (although she claims she skips over the sex scenes in more explicit books. I do have my doubts, remembering myself at that age, but whatever.)

#2. They have to be humorous. Nothing too dark or serious.

#3. She says her favorite type of hero is the charming, somewhat rakish type, but is pretty open in this category. She doesn't like stodgy, uptight heroes, though.

#4. (And most difficult.) The covers should not look like romance novels. Basically, she wants no couples or large swathes of bared skin. (However, if a book is really good, she will ignore this. She'll just avoid ever taking it to school with her.)

She likes many books by Georgette Heyer, expecially These Old Shades. The Duke of Avon is essentially her role model for romance heroes.

So far, besides Georgette Heyer, she's read Lisa Kleypas' Devil in Winter, which she adored, and a few of Sabrina Jeffries' books. She is currently in the process of reading Julia Quinn's books, so I don't know what her opinion of them is yet. I'm not entirely sure what else she's read, since I tend to leave my books lying around.

Hopefully someone can give me some good recommendations for her![/i]

Yulie · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1053 Location: Elsewhere

I would recommend Eva Ibbotson's books, especially A Countess Below Stairs. Ibbotson's books fill most of the criteria, other than setting - they take place in the early 20th century.

Since she liked The Devil in Winter, I think you're safe to explore quite a lot of regency/early Victorian historicals. I'd try giving her something by Loretta Chase.

LordRose · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 86

I'm pretty sure she's read some of Eva Ibbotson's books. I know for a fact she read A Countess Below Stairs, and I think she's read a number of her children's books, as well.

She objected to the covers on Loretta Chase's books, saying there was too much exposed skin. (Miss Wonderful was the only cover she approved of.)

And she has firmly decided she likes Georgian and Regency era books best, not Victorian.

Rosie · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 279

Some historical romances written for the YA crowd:

The Season by Sarah MacLean

Victoria and the Rogue by Meg Cabot

Nicola and the Viscount by Meg Cabot

LordRose · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 86

I know she's already looked at (and objected to) The Season. As for the Meg Cabot ones, our library doesn't have them, and I am certainly not going to buy her books she may not care for. She tends to object to most YA romances (with the sole exception of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.)

She is also a rather picky reader and difficult to please, which is why I am looking for help.

Yulie · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1053 Location: Elsewhere

Does she have an e-reader? Because that would solve the cover issue and really give her a lot more options. It's a shame if she has to write off authors whose books might work for her just because they weren't blessed with attractive covers.

PWNN · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 827

I'd suggest the older Trad Regencies since like Heyer they're usually heavier on the wit with little or no sex. Between self pub of backlists and Belgrave House there are now also hundred in e-bok form.

Barbara Metzger: Father Christmas, Christmas Wishes, Lord Heartless, Snowdrops And Scandalbroth etc

Diane Farr: The Fortune Hunter (can't find a more charming and rakish hero than Lord Rival)

Patricia Veryan - Golden Chronicles & Jewelled Men series etc - not in e-book form but your library may have the hardcovers.

Jo Beverly: Emily & the Dark Angel, Dierdre & Don Juan

Mary Jo Putney: The Rake, Angel Rogue

Loretta Chases: older trads - some are in e-book others not - Knave's Wager, Viscount Vagabond, The English Witch

Connie Brockway: Bridal Favors, As You Desire (later Victorian though)

Mary Balogh: The Famous Heroine, More Than A Mistress

_________________
"My safe word is monkey"

Lillian Sulivan · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 234

Am I the only one who has made little paper jacket book covers?

Best,
Lilly
_________________
"Or perchance when the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be together with our arms around each other,
And shall you be my new romance?"

JudyZ6666 · Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Connecticut, USA

I'd recommend Candace Hern's traditional regencies:

http://www.candicehern.com/bookshelf/index.htm

Also, Lady Elizabeth's Comet by Sheila Simonson (and others by the same author).

These are all "kisses only."

Judy

JudyZ6666 · Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Connecticut, USA

LordRose · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 86

delia · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject:

Perhaps she would like some of Julie Garwood's older historical novels. Castle, The Lion's Lady, The Gift, and Rebellious Desire all have a "suspense" plot but they are also humorous. My favorite romance novel from my teenage years would be Johanna Lindsey's Gentle Rogue (one of the Mallory series). I haven't read any of these books in several years so I can't remember how sexy they are. Carla Kelly's regencies are excellent; but they tend to be a little more on the serious side.

Mark · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1246

I record a humor score (5 stars maximum) for romances I read. I have all these in my reading log as traditional Regencies:
5 stars:
A Rake's Reform by Holbrook, Cindy
Lord Sayer's Ghost by Holbrook, Cindy
The Actress & the Marquis by Holbrook, Cindy
The Missing Brides by Holbrook, Cindy
The Missing Matchmaker by Holbrook, Cindy
The Reluctant Bride by Holbrook, Cindy
What Chloe Wants by Jensen, Emma
Lord Nightingale's Triumph by Lansdowne, Judith A.
Mutiny at Almack's by Lansdowne, Judith A.
The Duke's Downfall by Lynson, Jane
The Mad Miss Mathley by Martin, Michelle
The Tenacious Miss Tamerlane by Michaels, Kasey
The Merry Chase by Nelson, Judith
Patience is a Virtue by Nelson, Judith
The Primrose Path by Reece, Jean
4.5 stars:
The Ideal Bride by St. George, Nonnie
4 stars:
Lady Elizabeth by Anston, Linell
Daphne by Carlisle, Sarah
The Wayward Heiress by Chenier, Blanche
A Heavenly Houseguest by Dalton, Emily
Elyza by Darcy, Clare
Gallant Waif by Gracie, Anne
Miss Lacey's Last Fling by Hern, Candice
Arabella by Heyer, Georgette
Black Sheep by Heyer, Georgette
Devil's Cub by Heyer, Georgette
Frederica by Heyer, Georgette
Friday's Child by Heyer, Georgette
Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle by Heyer, Georgette
The Grand Sophy by Heyer, Georgette
The Toll-Gate by Heyer, Georgette
The Unknown Ajax by Heyer, Georgette
These Old Shades by Heyer, Georgette
My Lady's Servant by Holbrook, Cindy
On the First Day of Christmas by Holbrook, Cindy
The Country Gentleman by Holbrook, Cindy
A Season of Virtues by Lansdowne, Judith A.
Annabella's Diamond by Lansdowne, Judith A.
My Fair Quiggley by Lansdowne, Judith A.
Shall We Dance? by Lansdowne, Judith A.
The Mystery Kiss by Lansdowne, Judith A.
A Debt to Delia by Metzger, Barbara
A Suspicious Affair by Metzger, Barbara
Christmas Wishes by Metzger, Barbara
Lady in Green by Metzger, Barbara
Minor Indiscretions by Metzger, Barbara
Snowdrops and Scandalbroth by Metzger, Barbara
The Diamond Key by Metzger, Barbara
The Painted Lady by Metzger, Barbara
Kissing Cousins by Miller, Nadine
Beau Guest by Nelson, Judith
Julianna by Nelson, Judith
Kidnap Confusion by Nelson, Judith
Two Hearts Trump by Nelson, Judith
The Blue Devil by Skinner, Melynda Beth
My Lady Luck by Solomon, Hayley Ann
The Double Dealers by Tucker, Helen
I left the Heyer titles in the list so you can see if your tastes in humor overlap with mine. All these should meet most of the requested criteria (except possibly a few stodgy heroes), though I'm not sure how easy some will be to find in a UBS.

Jocelyn · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject:

I was also thinking that many of Julie Garwood's would fit, as well as Amanda Quick. As a teen, I enjoyed Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart (a nice mystery with a dash of sweet romance).

melann · Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 85

If you can find them, Joan Smith has a lot of older Trad regencies that tend to have elements of humor (some more than others). Some of the later ones had a stronger mystery element but were still pretty good. Those should also be safe as far as sex and cover art are concerned.