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I've been reading romances for ages now (10? 15 years?), and have been with AAR for 4 years and counting. I've bumped around the world on several continents, but currently I'm living in southern Ontario.
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Absolute Favorites
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
Favorite Classic
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Favorite Short Stories
Precious Rogue (Dashing and Dangerous) by Mary Balogh
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What I'm a sucker for in a book: Governesses, rakes, May-December, new settings (esp. France, Canada, & New Zealand), adventure/cabin/captive/hostage romances, epistolary romances, character-driven plots, marriages of convenience, physical imperfections, mutual healing from tortured pasts, non-aristocratic historical heroes, torch-bearers, thieves, theater & music denizens.
What I don't particularly care for in a book: Americans in European historicals, historical or linguistic inaccuracy, guardian-ward, royalty, magic (which is different from paranormals - it is!)
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What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Extended family HEAs, extended spy ring HEAs, extended paramilitary group HEAs, extended [community of choice] HEAs, time travel, 24-hour "love" stories, endless miscommunication, Big Misunderstandings, suspense plot ex machina, faux-Bridget Jones dingbat heroines.
| Favorite Romance Authors |
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All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Mary Balogh
Jo Goodman
J.D. Robb
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Jo Goodman
My Biggest Glom
J.D. Robb
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Contemporary:
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
European Historical:
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
Beyond a Wicked Kiss by Jo Goodman
Traditional Regency:
The Reluctant Heiress by Evelyn Richardson
The Lady's Companion by Carla Kelly
The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh
Medieval:
The Secret Swan by Shana Abe
Alternate Reality:
Nalini Singh's Changeling series
(although I hear her archangel series kicks ass)
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Favorite Hero
Roarke. Sebastian St. Vincent. Roarke. St. Vincent. Who cares, they're both yummy.
Favorite Heroine
Annique Villiers (The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne) & Eve Dallas (In Death series by J.D. Robb). They'd probably take each other out then chug a beer afterwards.
Most Tortured Hero
Zsadist, Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. Brings new meaning to the adjective.
Strongest Heroine
Eve Dallas, In Death series by J.D. Robb
Favorite Couple
Eve Dallas and Roarke, In Death series by J.D. Robb
Ria Ashby and West Marchman, Beyond a Wicked Kiss by Jo Goodman. They crack me up to no end.
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Cabin or Road:
Half of Mary Jo Putney's backlist. This woman is a terrific adventure writer.
Suspense:
In Death series by J.D. Robb
Funny:
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
In Death series by J.D. Robb
(I'm serious, they're hilarious)
Sexy:
The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
| Favorites by Mood |
Comfort Reads:
The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
Guilty Pleasure:
These quiet, innocuous British romances from the 50s, 60s and 70s by Iris Bromige. So calming & peaceful. A guilty pleasure because they're hugely predictable and formulaic. Oh, and Jilly Cooper's Rivals. Also British, but neither quiet nor innocuous.
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Favorite Classic Novel
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Favorite Mystery
Sherlock Holmes canon by Arthur Conan Doyle
Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King
Favorite Fantasy
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Masquerade by Terry Pratchett
Favorite Nonfiction
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T.E. Carhart
Anything by Bill Bryson |
Favorite Women's Fiction
Second Thyme Around by Katie Fforde
Favorite YA Book
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Favorite Set of Connected Books
Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett
(who wrote THE most delicious hero in the fictional canon, ever)
Book Most Often Reread
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
(can y'all tell I love it?) |
