My sister taught me to read when I was about three (Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, as I recall), and I've been an insatiable reader ever since.

Although my longtime loves are science fiction and fantasy, I was a closet reader of romances for years, secretly glomming Jude Deveraux and Sandra Brown novels from the library.

I have a master's degree in early modern English history (a sadly neglected period in romance fiction). I live with my husband in coastal Oregon, where I'm a professional glass blower.

Favorites by Mood

Comfort Reads The Liaden Universe Series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Watership Down by Richard Adams Most-Hanky Read Sunrise Song by Kathleen Eagle Guilty Pleasure Any old category romance by Sandra Brown

Favorites by Plot Type

Suspense Dream Man by Linda Howard Cabin or Road Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney Funny Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie Outlaw in Paradise by Patricia Gaffney Sexy After the Night by Linda Howard

What I'm a sucker for in a book: original, complex, unusual characters, action/adventure stories, paranormal and futuristic romances, arranged marriages and marriages of convenience, inexperienced heroes, and any plot, situation, or character that turns a cliché upside down or otherwise takes a chance with the romance genre - even when it is unsuccessful.

What I don't particularly care for in a book: little niggling historical errors like title mistakes, secret babies, babies and small children in general, and any romance that faithfully follows a formula without taking any chances at all.

What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: plots that do not make sense, huge, sweeping historical errors, patronizing heroes, fey heroines who are portrayed as obeying some alternate, feminine form of logic, family members who manipulate each other in their efforts to play matchmaker (this includes will stipulations), traumatized children who do not talk, reincarnation romances, head-hopping, and intrusive, phonetically spelled-out accents.

Favorite Characters

Favorite Hero Jesse Best, Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi Lucien Fairchild, Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney Jamie Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Favorite Heroine Claire Randall Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Meriel de Vere, Uncommon Vows by Mary Jo Putney Most Tortured Hero Jed Beaumont, Heartthrob by Suzanne Brockmann Jamie Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Strongest Heroine Claire Randall Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Amarinth, The Secret Swan by Shana Abé Eve Dallas, In Death series by J.D. Robb Favorite Couple Kit Travers and Lucien, Lord Strathmore, Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Best Villain Jack Randall, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Shivaji, The Golden Leopard by Lynn Kerstan

Favorites by Sub-Genre

Medieval The Secret Swan by Shana Abé European Historical Beast by Judith Ivory Traditional Regency The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer American Historical Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi Contemporary Heartthrob by Suzanne Brockmann This Time Forever by Kathleen Eagle Category Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann Alternate Reality The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

Non-Romance Favorites