SquawkRadio Comments

The one that I read over and over and over again is The Legend MacKinnon by Donna Kauffman.  It makes me laugh and cry and cry some more.

The other one that I love is Wildest Hearts by JAK.  There’s something about Oliver Rain that just sends shivers up my spine...the good kind.

Lisa,

Lover Awakened is a classic, it may only be a year old, but WOW.  All of J.R. Wards books have been fantastic...she’s a new great find of mine. 

This is a tough question you guys--I can’t seem to pick two authors I can’t live without, let alone two books.

So I’m cheating and just naming an author--sue me.

Sherrilyn Kenyon, brilliant.  She creates beautiful, surreal, magical, powerful worlds. That I just love to fall into.  The characters are bright, real and compelling.

Sorry I cheated, I was never good at these games!

Oh, someone should name something by Nora Roberts--she is also classic.

I actually have more than just two.  My list includes:

Lisa’s “Where Passion Leads” and “Forever My Love,” for the ultimate in romanctic tension, IMHO.  My poor copies have been read so many times they are being held together with luck and love!!

Teresa’s “Yours Until Dawn” has the plot twist to end all plot twists!!  Great story and wonderful characters, and yet another copy of mine that is much loved, and showing it.

Jenny Crusie’s “Anyone But You,” AKA “Fred’s Book,” has me in stitches every time I read it.  I can’t imagine NOT having this one in my library!!

There are MANY others on my keeper shelf, many of them written by the ladies on this board.

At the top of my alltime favorite romances are Lord of Scoundrels and All Through the Night.

To name some others, my #3 and #4 - Connie’s As You Desire and Lisa’s Dreaming of You, with #5 being Adele Ashworth’s Winter Garden.

A Kingdom of Dreams is in my top ten, and speaking of Jayne Krentz, Absolutely, Positively is my favorite of hers.

Nicole Jordan-"The Seduction” This novel is fun and HOT
One of my old faves “Palomino’ by Danielle Steel.  The heroine shared my first name and when i read it when I was a teenager it made me giddy!

Katie Macalister “You Slay Me” Laugh out loud funny and very hot. All of her books are great but this is a personal favorite.

The first romance book I ever read was Eloisa’s Midnight Pleasures.  I was hooked.  I’ve reread the Pleasures series quite a few times since then.

I have a lot of other favorites, too many to mention, but a lot of them are written by the authors on this board.

Like Secrets of a Summer Night, by Lisa.  Simon Hunt is absolutely delicious.

Some Enchanted Evening, by Christina
and many more.

As for two books I keep towards the front of my bookcase, they are the classics, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.  I never grow tired of them.

Fabulous list, Squawkers. I’ve read half, and that means, I still have so many more great ones to read for the first one.

My oldie-goodies would be any of Georgette Heyers and Barbara Cartlands I could lay my hands on. I love Ann Mathers, too.

To mention two call-outs: “These Old Shades” by Georgette Heyer and “Ransom” by Julie Garwood.

Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs and the sequel. I know - not exactly something you’d find in the shelves marked ROMANCE, but it has the most heartwrenching romance at the core, and a very tortured hero who is the ultimate in alpha males. I first read it when I was 10 or so and I’ve re-read it every few years for the past 25 and still find it just as compelling.

A Well-Pleasured Lady is one of my personal favourites...it makes me smile until my cheeks hurt, and then I heave a huge sappy sigh of HEA at the end.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - the detail and characterization that woman puts into a book is phenomenal.

People, where is Judith McNaught in the list? I’ve read all her books so many times but I never grow tired of them. And each time I pick one up, even if I’ve read it twenty times, I always feel this sort of apprehension at reading it because I know I’m in for an exhilarating, emotional, beautiful story that can get painful and heartbreaking before it culminates in the start of a happy life for the couple. Every one of her books makes me cry and wish for a love story just as beautiful as her characters’. It’s for that emotional involvement that Judith’s books are in my hall of fame. Along with the Squawkers’ of course. 

I completely agree with Lord of Scoundrels. This book left me literally in awe. Dain was absolutely amazing, and I loved really reading a book that was told so much more from the hero’s perspective. I love her Lord Perfect, too. Both of these books show Chase’s banter between her H/H to perfection, too, which just makes the books that much more enjoyable to read. Fantastic characters, great dialogue, amazing heroes. What more could you want?

Worth Any Price is on my pimp list, too. Everyone always raves about Derek (and don’t get me wrong… I do love Derek!), but Nick captured my heart from page 1. He’s definitely the one who’s worth any price. Thanks, Lisa, for giving me my all time favorite hero!

And one other book that I always reread whenever I’m looking for a great emotional, deep read is Suzanne Enoch’s England’s Perfect Hero. Bit is the epitome of the tortured hero, and he is written so beautifully. SE did a terrific job with the PTSD storyline in this book - it’s never forgotten or shoved aside; he’s never “miraculously” cured with the love of a good woman. But he learns to live with it because he wants to be with Lucinda. *sigh*

I love Lynn Kurland’s Stardust of Yesterday, one of the best ghost stories I’ve ever read.  My other favorite is The Last Viking by Sandra Hill.  It was the first of her time travel viking series that I read, and is still a favorite.  Of course there are so many more, but those are two that stand out.

Teresa, I completely agree with you on A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR--makes me laugh and cry every time!

And absolutely, Lisa, LOVER AWAKENED is a classic, albeit a new one.  The whole Brotherhood series has won me over, but Z’s story was extra special.  The ultimate tortured hero finding his HEA--*sigh*, it just doesn’t get any better.

Judith McNaught’s, WHITNEY, MY LOVE, is one of my all time comfort reads.  I can never get enough of it.  And for a laugh, any SEP will do, but LADY BE GOOD is one of my favorites.  Lady Emma and Kenny’s trip to the drugstore and what follows had me laughing until I cried.

Great blog, Squawkers.  There are a few books here I haven’t read, so I can add a few more to my already enormous TBR pile! 

Besides A Well Pleasured Lady, also the sequel, A Well Favored Gentlemen - two of my favorites of Christina’s books.

I loved Nick Gentry in Worth Any Price, but Derek still edges him out for me.

Constance O’Day-Flannery’s Timeless Passion was the first time travel I ever read, and none has compared since.

Totally agree about A Knight in Shining Armour. It makes me laugh and cry and cry some more.

I swear that I never see one of my all-time-favorite romances on any of the lists, so I feel compelled to give a big shout-out to Julie Garwood’s The Gift.  Yes, some of her other books usually make the lists, but none of them beat this one.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and even though some of the embarrassing “accidents” brought on by the klutzy heroine make me cringe, it’s only because I identify with a woman who would forget her parasol on the deck of her pirate/husband’s ship and nearly sink the whole thing (among several other incidents).  And who wouldn’t fall in love with a man who, despite his frustration with your disastrous woolgathering, rubs your back and whispers sweetnothings when you’re PMSing.  Maybe this is a weird description of this book - I don’t care! It rocks.

Also, my mom and I share a huge romance novel collection (well...I borrow from her library on a regular basis) and one of the books we both love and have read multiple times is Teresa’s Charming the Prince - such a great heroine who gives as good as she gets!

Thanks for the great book ideas!

My absolutely favorite book of all time is “By Possession,” by Madeline Hunter. I love how the story unfolds, and the connection between the h&h is really intense…

I also really love Connie’s “My Surrender” - Dand is one of my favorite heroes - and the Rose Hunters trilogy is the set of books that got me back in romances - I used to read them, but then stopped...needless to say, after reading “My Seduction” I was re-hooked!

Anyway, great selection, gals - I’ll definitely have to do some browsing...can’t wait to get started on some of these!

Samantha, I loved THE GIFT, too.  There are so many books I could put on my list.  And even more I haven’t read, I’m sure.

I’ve read ten of the Squawker faves, and six of them are on my top 100 list. I could rave about any of the six, but instead I will list two that may indeed have flown under the radar of many readers.

Eva Ibbotson’s Magic Flutes is a fairy tale romance about an orohan who rises from his beginnings--abandoned on a Newcastle dock--to become wealthy and powerful and an Austrian princess, a descendant of Charlemagne, with socialist sympathies and a thankless job with a ragtag opera company. Set in Austria in 1922, the story is funny, sweet, poignant, and different. And Ibbotson’s books are being reissued. Hurrah!

My second title is Deborah Smith’s A Place to Call Home, a story about family, place, memory, and a love that begins between two children and ends in a passionate reunion that overcomes a host of obstacles. Smith is a wonderful writer who creates stories as genuinely Southern as grits and barbecue.

Janga, excellent choice with Deborah Smith.  I have A Place to Call Home and Miracle on my keeper shelf.  As a Southern girl, I have a special appreciation for her stories.

I love lists like these. Yes on Eva Ibbotson and Georgette Heyer, but there just wasn’t room for all the favorites. I’m taking notes, tho, because everyone’s naming books I haven’t read yet.

And thanks for the CD mentions! I always say A WELL FAVORED GENTLEMAN was the only book that made me act like Joan Wilder in “Romancing the Stone”—I made myself cry when I wrote the end.

Wow, this is tougher than I thought it would be.  Eloisa hit my all time favorite in LOS, so that would be redundant.  Many of you have hit some of my other keepers, so I’ll just add these two.

‘Slightly Dangerous’ by Mary Balogh is one of the best books ever written and it’s all because of Wulf.  I adore stories about the patriarchs of families who finally get their HEA and none deserved it more than Wulf.  And you don’t get that from this book alone.  Ms. Balogh grew Wulf throughout the ‘Slightly’ series and gave you glimpses into the man behind the Dukedom.

‘Flowers in the Storm’ by Laura Kinsdale was disturbingly beautiful.  Talk about your tortured heroes and a seemingly and, at times, infuriatingly total opposite to the hero heroine.  Yet it works...wonderfully.

I do have to add a half a book or novella here.  Lisa Kleypas’ “I Will” from the “Wish List” anthology.  Ever a sucker for a bluestocking/rake story, this one blasted me from the first page.  From the start the players are chiseled from stone and you see them emerging from the rock. The end product is beautiful.

If I had to pick ONLY two, it would be The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale and Cry No More by Linda Howard.  Both of those completely wrecked me & still I just wanted to start them over again from page one the first time I read them!

I’ve mentioned several times before my favorite squawker books, like Where Dreams Begin, Yours until Dawn, Candle in the Wind, etc..., so this time I’m not going to mention those but just focus on other writers.

I agree with Connie, “The Shadow and The Star” by Laura Kinsale was a book that I just loved; also “Seize The Fire.”

Samantha James, “One Moonlite Night.”

An older one; Helen Van Slyke, “Always is not forever.”

Laura Lee Guhrke, “His Every Kiss.”

Julia London, “The Dangerous Gentleman.”

Not really a romance, but Kristin Hannah’s “The Magic Hour” was a book that I would count as a keeper.  Very emotional story that really touched me.

Teresa’s Breath of Magic was actually the first romance I ever read, which was actually an accident--My mom had bought it thinkng it was some kind of fantasy/sci-fi book and then just stuck it in one of the many bookshelves in the family room to collect dust as she doesn’t read romances (her loss).  Then some time later, I accidentally rocked a chair into the bookshelf causing Breath of Magic to fall off.  I thought it looked interesting and decided to give it a try (I’d previously been stuck on reading only horror books).  I devoured it, then methodically went through every other book of Teresa’s that was for sale at the time.  So yes, I’m inordinately fond of Breath of Magic, though Nobody’s Darling is a close second--best epilogue I’ve ever read.

Then of course there’s Dreaming of You, which was the first romance which ever made me break down and sob, and Connie’s As You Desire, which brilliantly put off telling the story from Harry’s point of view.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Winter Garden (Adele Ashworth), Princess, The Duke, Lady of Desire (Gaelen Foley), Bewitching (Jill Barnett), or The Devil You Know and Beauty Like the Night (Liz Carlyle)

almost heaven, judith mcnaught

I have read everyone’s list of favorites and have made a list of books I will need to purchase (thanks everyone) and here are two of my favorites:
Gone Too Far - Suzanne Brockmann
Open Season - Linda Howard
When I discover a new author that I enjoy I go online and purchase all their previous books and have found many gems as A Well Pleasured Lady and A Well Favored Gentleman.  Keep writing ladies - I love the adventure!

Nice to see another Eva Ibbotson fan. I’ve been buying the German translations, but I hope to read the originals when they are reissued later in the year. I agree that ‘Magic Flutes’ is wonderful, but do love the descriptions of Viennese patisserie in ‘A Song for Summer’ and ‘Madensky Square’.

What about Katie Fforde? Any fans?

Well, Lover Awakened is the romance I just can’t live without and that’s already on the list.

My other tops are Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, and Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward; Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by JQ; Seize the Night, Night Play, and Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon; The Legend McKinnon by Donna Kauffman; The Bride and Ransom by Julie Garwood; Sea Swept by Nora Roberts; Her Scandalous Affair by Candice Hern; and A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole.

One of my favorites has got to be Lisa’s Lady Sophia’s Lover because I read it when I just started in the genre and Sir Ross was the first hero I absolutely fell in love with.  And you know,there’s nothing like your first love.

The other is The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.  I rarely ever cry, either from reality or art.  But I cried no less than FOUR times while reading this book.  Once, when Anna collapses in the garden, overhwelmed and upset.  The second when Edward cries when he doesn’t understand why Anna has done what she has.  The third, when Anna cries and show she accepts Edward’s scars.  And lastly, out of frustration when she leaves him over the blackmail.  For some reason, despite the fact that I KNOW that the h/h will always get together in the end, it never seems to sink in.  Ever.  I actually often have to read the back of the book before I begin, just to reassure myself that everything is going to be alright in the end.

Mary Balogh’s More Than A Mistress.

And yes, Santa, Wulf’s story was so long in coming and so perfect.

Christina- I adore “One Kiss From You”.

Oooh, I’m going to be away from the computer all day and hate missing this fabulous discussion but I’ll catch up on all of the Comments when I get back (and add some more wonderful selections to my To Be Bought and Read pile! )

My list of essential books would be:

The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis and the MacKenzie’s by Linda Howard (the entire series...and one more the McKettrick series by Linda Lael Miller.

Oh man, I remember this one! Ok, I have the book list read to add to this time!!

-Lisa Kleypas “Dreaming of You” ..divine in every way!

-Karen Moning “The Kiss of the Highlander”..I was on a (am on) a Scottish thing that has no end..

I agree with so many listed here, JR Ward, Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, not to mention our lovely squawkers!

Only 2 eh? Ok Ok, I’ll play nice.

Georgette Heyer’s The Toll Gate - every single book Heyer wrote really, but I adore this one!

Mary Jo Putney’s One Perfect Rose - wonderfully moving and dramatic! It severed my heartstrings when I read this one.

Liz Fielding’s The Best Man and The Bridesmaid, a wonderful Harlequin Romance about two friends becoming lovers which I loved!

Christina Dodd’s Scandalous Again - action, passion, romance, suspense and humour - What more do you want?

Eloisa’s A Wild Pursuit - brilliant! Intelligent, witty and so sexy!

Here is my List:

Judith McNaught. Kingdom of Dreams
Laura Kinsale, Shadow & Star
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Fantasy Lover
Sabrina Jefferies, The Pirate Lord

A “Knight in Shining Armor” was my first time-travel romance and is my all-time favorite romance.  This book wrung every single emotion from me and left me sobbing (yes, sobbing) at the end.  I even start crying when Samantha encounters Douglass and Colin at a family picnic in “Sweet Liar”.

Many of my favorites have been listed but here are a few more:

“Captives of the Night” (Loretta Chase)

“Saving Grace” (Garwood)

“Trust Me” (Jayne Ann Krentz)

I also have to second Aleka’s choice of “The Raven Prince”.  This is an awesome book and I can’t wait to visit it again!

For contemporary romances, I agree with Eloisa....I have read IT HAD TO BE YOU by SEP many many times.  I love Phoebe and her complex personality.

For historicals, anything by Judith McNaught but especially WHITNEY, MY LOVE and A KINGDOM OF DREAMS.  Her books really put you through a lot emotionally while you are reading them and I find myself re-reading most of them every year or so.

There are so many great authors. I love The Gift by Julie Garwood to also The Secret and Christina’s Scandlous Evening.

Two of the recommended books were my first line faves yesterday! 

Most of Julie Garwood’s historicals are on my keeper shelves.  I’m also a huge fan of Linda Howard.  Christina is so completely right about Mackenzie’s Mountain.  I need to go home and read it again! 

Happy Friday to you all!  We’re finally getting some decent weather here in Kentucky.  This weekend is forecasted to be a great one.  I hope it’s the same in your part of the world.

For once, I’m not putting my SR favs down (because, since I live here, you know how I feel about you!)

Gaelen Foley:  Princess, Lord of Fire

Judith Ivory:  The Proposition, The Indiscretion

Kathleen Woodiwiss:  A Rose in Winter

Shana Abe:  The Last Mermaid

Balogh (like Kellogg, San): Slightly Dangerous

Frances Barclay:  The Rosary

And I did love the Garwood historicals, and Marsha Canham, and that one by Liz Carlyle that both CB and CD recommended on the cover. 

This is the best blog...I’ve got a gorgeous list now (wish everyone would let me READ though)

Hmm...two books…

I’d have to say, The Collected Works of Lisa Kleypas (it’s a very large book--costs extra postage when you order from Amazon) and The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.

Oh!  Two books?  Well, I did always kind of have trouble with rules.

Just two?  Hmmm...Amanda Quick’s RAVISHED and Dinah Dean’s THE ICE KING.

I have many, many more but I will refrain

Ladies,

So many divine books out there...And I can only pick two! Well, two books that follow me to deserted island are:

DREAMING OF YOU BY LISA K.
AND
ONLY-SERIES BY ELIZABETH LOWELL (I cheated a little bit on this)

Serenissima

thanks for the recognition, you guys!

I’m off to St. Louie this afternoon to speak at MORWA in Crestwood. If you happen to be aroudn there at 3: 30 tomorrow, please stop by as I’ll be signing books at the Barnes and Noble there.

Oh, yes and some of the other squawkers and I share tastes so i think if we had done this blind there would have been a lot of overlap.

Two of my top ten are:

LaVyrle Spencer’s “The Gamble”

Pamela Britton’s “Seduced”. 

I’ve read them both more than once or twice.

hmm...I agree with kjstone on the author, Madeline Hunter, and I did love By Possession, but I loved By Design more!!  Rhys was such a humble hero, I loved him!

also, Virginia Henley..A Woman of Passion..the Elizabeth Hardwick story...Loved it!

Lisa K...loved Dreaming of You..always brings tears to my eyes, but it’s a tie with Again the Magic..also a tearjerker fave! LOVE Aline!

JQ..I know Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is a fave of many, but I actually prefer the Duke and I or The Viscount who Loved Me..

Christina Dodd...a must read is Candle in the Window or --I can’t choose--The Rules of Attraction!

Kat Martin..Gypsy Lord

Mary Jo Putney..Silk and Shadows.....

And now my shelves will need to be expanded, as I now have a new list to buy thanks to your comments!!!

~k

I am a sucker for Historical romance.  I was introduced to them by Judith McNaught.  I have all of hers and have read them all many times.

I have to agree with Eloisa:  I finished “It Had To Be You” last night.  What a fun read.  I am new to reading SEP, and I have to say that I am so completely ejoying her books.  I have 4 more to go and then I can say, “I have read them all”. 

The shameful truth of the matter is this....I love to read.  I have to many favorites.  yes, thats right and sad as it is I am nothing but a book “whore”.  Pease don’t hold it against me.

1) Dreaming, by Jill Barnett (though I think most Barnett fans pick “Bewitching” as their top pick, this one remains my be-all favorite)

2) Whisper of Roses by Teresa (though I’m really torn between this one and Once an Angel...but this one does feature the hunkiest Scotsman ever written)

3) Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

4) Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor

Love love love this blog . . . I’m so excited to go look for these books.  Trust a romance author to know some good ones!  I think you all have written keepers for me too.

Oooo, I can’t even take it, this post is so good! I’ll restrain from commenting, because almost every post I read leads me to change my top two books, dang it. But I am THRILLED to say I have Lover Awakened in my TBR pile. My first JR Ward. Now I’m verra, verra excited. Mmmmm!

I’d have to say “ditto” to so many of the books I’ve seen listed so far.

Keeping it to just two books is kinda cruel, but I’ll try to mention two I haven’t seen yet (I don’t think). Ouch, you really mean two, huh?

Kathryn Lynn Davis - Too Deep for Tears is so wonderful it hurts.

Penelope Williamson, either A Wild Yearning or Keeper of the Dream.  I love that crying-and-sighing feeling.

My keeper list contains multiple Garwood and McNaught titles as well as Outlander, A Knight in Shining Armour and others I’ve seen mentioned several times.  What I noticed most, however, is that my keeper shelf consists almost entirely of historicals that I read early on in my “love affair” with romance novels.

Could WHEN I read/experienced the books have had a strong influence on my enjoyment and the subsequent keeper status?  Was it that period of “falling in love” with love?  Losing my romance virginity so-to-speak; discovering the genre and making those wonderful books stand out in my mind so much more?

It can’t be a coincidence that I read almost all of them within a small period of time, can it?

Victoria, I started off with Lover Awakened and ended up buying the whole series it was that good!

I’m a big Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan, so her books are a must. I also enjoy “Devil in Winter” by Lisa Kleypas, and “Bet Me” by Jennifer Crusie.

I have only read one off that list, so thank you for all of the great suggestions.

Victoria, you are in for such a treat when you read LOVER AWAKENED!  Make sure you add the rest of the Brotherhood series to your TBR pile---you won’t regret it.

So many great books, ladies.  I’m like J. Perry--it’s nearly impossible to pick just two.  I could add so many more.  And now thanks to all of the suggestions, I have oodles to add to my TBR pile.

My first time commenting as I finally got registered!  YAY!  And I am so excited by this blog as I am always looking for new books and authors.  SUch great recommendations!  Thank goodness for the used paperback bookstore so I won’t go in the poorhouse. 

And a special thank you to Christina Dodd because I had read Gift of Gold years ago and had wanted to re-read it but I couldn’t remember the title only that the person moved in time when touching renaissance weapons and I thought it was Jayne Ann Krentz, but I could never find it!  So, YAY!

gannon said:  “I’m like J. Perry--it’s nearly impossible to pick just two.”

Yes you are, Gannon, because we’re twins

Hmmmm, two books…

I love all of Lisa’s books, plus they were my first historicals, so I’ll skip those

I have to say I love Sabrina Jeffries books.  Especially the Royal Brotherhood series, and the continuation Only A Duke Will Do

Everybody has some great books. Just wanted to say I think I’m gonna see Teresa tommorw at her book signing.. In Bowling Green, Ky.

My list keeps getting longer. I love getting recommendations for the best!

leclark, you’re welcome. Finding a single title out of the JAK list can be daunting.

Wait until you see the list we have cooked up for you on Monday! heh heh heh heh

Thanks for the recommendations ladies. I can’t wait to go out and get some of these books. 
I have to say that Christina Dodd is really the woman that got me into reading. It’s a definite truth about what the opening paragraph of the blog says. I picked up my first novel (happened to be a Christina Dodd novel) and it awakened me to a whole new world. I haven’t been able to put down a book since.
But my FAVORITE books of all time are, “The Runaway Princess”, & “A Well Favored Gentleman” by Christina Dodd. Two books that I will read over and over for the rest of my life. I live my life vicariously through the two heroines of these books. YOU MUST READ THEM.

Some books I have read over and over again would be:

1)A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
2)The Prize by Julie Garwood
3)Guardian of Honor by Robon Owens
4)Shadow of Myth by Rachel Lee
5)Shadow of Prophecy by Rachel Lee
6)Silver’s Edge by Anne Kelleher
7)Silver’s Bane by Anne Kelleher

Picking only 2 is so hard..................

Fairest of Them All ~ Teresa Medeiros
~~and~~
The Viscount Who Loved Me ~ Julia Quinn

My all time fav is The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss as it was my very first romance novel ever.  My new favs are the Stephanie Plum series with Four to Score as the one I like the most.  I dont think its listed as romance but I still love that series. I absolutely love, love, love Joe Morelli, oh, how I wish he were a real person.  My fav historical is Amanda Quicks A Paid Companion.  Once my kids were grown a bit and I had time to read this was the first book I picked up and it immediately drew me back into the romance genre.  I have all Amanda Quicks on my bookshelf and have read each at least 3 times, they are my comfort food.  For futuristic romance it has to be JD Robb’s In Death series.  Cant pick a favorite there because they are all excellent.  Roarke comes in at a very close second to Morelli.  If I could just combine the two....

Oh sheesh!! That’s just plain mean!

Okay one of my very frequent re-reads:

Linda Howard ~ SON OF THE MORNING:  an amazing, thrilling story regardless of the number of times I’ve read it. It’s always new.

Pamela Morsi ~ Anything!! but if I have to choose, it would be GARTERS

Kathleen Givens ~ The Kilgannon series.. sorry, they’re linked!

Audrey Niffenegger ~ THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE

Wendy Markham ~ HELLO, IT’S ME

Katherine Neville ~ of the three books, I *guess* I’d have to pick THE MAGIC CIRCLE, but THE EIGHT and A CALCULATED RISK are awesome as well

J.R. Ward ~ started with LOVER AWAKENED last year, then went out and got DARK LOVER and LOVER ETERNAL; read the first two, re-read LA.  Just got LOVER REVEALED last month and read it, re-read entire series.  HIGHLY Addictive!

Quite a few of these are also strong mystery / thriller books, but all with great romances.  And I just CAN’T pick two!!

Although if I could ONLY pick two, I’d have to go with one… Linda Howard’s SON OF THE MORNING! Hands down and Hands off ~ Niall is MINE! 

Debbie Macomber ‘s Cedar Cove series-awesome reads and great friends to meet.

Sandra Brown’s Texas Trilogy.  Hot cowboys/cowgirls.

O.k. I have to mention the trilogy that truly opened my eyes to romance novels and reading in general and I have never been able to put a book down since.  Nora Roberts Three Sisters Trilogy, Dance Upon the Air, Heaven and Earth, and Face the Fire.  I didn’t know a book could pull out such emotion till I read this series. 

I have only read half the books listed. I really must find some of those.

As for one of my favorites: Fast Women by Jenny Crusie

also The Ice Cream Man by Kathleen Creighton (my copy of that has been read so many times it is fally apart)

My favorite Nora is THE THREE FATES. I was finishing a book while I read it, and I used it as a carrot. I would write a chapter, read a chapter, write a chapter, read a chapter. Finally got to the point where I broke and read the whole last third in one gulp. Wonderful!

Of course, I haven’t read everything she’s written. Who can live that long?

One of my favorites (and one of my first ever romance reads) was “To Catch a Countess” by Patricia Grasso.  I nearly cried through the whole book and probably used most of a box of Kleenex.  But I loved it!

Another favorite is from last year-- “Simply Love” by Mary Balogh.  The tortured hero gets me every time.

Okay, only picking 2 is extremely hard.  I love Teresa’s “Yours Until Dawn,” Lisa’s “Devil in Winter,” and Eloisa’s “Pleasure for Pleasure.” Okay so that’s 3.  I could think of non-squawker books if I was actually staring at my books on the shelf.  I only keep the good ones.

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor books.  I will read anything that woman writes.  Yesterday I started the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward.  I’m still reading about Wrath but I love this book!  I’m so glad I followed everyone’s recommendations.  Can’t wait to get to Z’s story.  He’s already an interesting character.

Sorry, I’ve got one more to add because I just finished it earlier this week and absolutely loved it.  It’s a new one but immediently climbed high on my favorites list.  “The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell” by Samantha James.  It was such a beautiful story with a very tortured hero.  Not physically tortured but emotionally.  I really never cry when I read but this book had me misty eyed.

Lover Awakened… *swoon*

BWAHAHAHA, FilmPhan! We’re having Samanatha James visit us on May 22!

Mshell, I adore you.

Oh Christina!

I own, over 50 Nora Roberts Novels.  I have been collecting since I was 14, so a decade...trust me, they all can be read.
(I should probably start a library).

As a side note, I read 100 pgs/hour...so that helps with my reading addiction!

Nobody has mentioned Christine Feehan, I’m surprised.  She’s fantastic.

Well, the ones I always put as my all time favorites, must haves, or must reads are:

A Rose in Winter - Kathleen Woodiwiss

Ravished - Amanda Quick

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Yours Until Dawn - yep, the radio’s own Teresa

Lady Sophia’s Lover - the radio’s own Lisa, of course, my first ever historical, and the one that pushed me into historicals forever!

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation - Lauren Willig

Tapesty - Karen Ranney

and we need a Julia Quinn book on the list. . . I know most people go with a Bridgerton book, but I looooooove the How to Catch and Heiress/How to Marry A Marquis two book series.

Yep, that’s mine.

Lois

PS - my anti spam word is length69.  Um, there are way too many jokes popping in my head with that. LOL

My faves are Whitney, my love, anything by Lisa Kleypas and contemps that I enjoy are all Sandra Brown and SEP.

Christina Dodd I ADORE you too!
lol… you made my day. 

Oo, yes, Christine Feehan. Wonderful books! Wonderful woman!

I love and have The Montgomery and Taggert chronicles—Jude Deveraux

The Shattered Rose—Jo Beverley

The Black Earl—Candace Camp

A Well Pleasured Lady—Christina Dodd

Highland Destiny—Hannah Howell
I loved her whole Highland series.

Marriage Most Scandalous—Johanna Lindsey

Lord of Scandals—Loretta Chase

Bride Season—Connie Brockway

I’m a big historical romance fan.

Simply Irresistible and Truly Madly Yours - Rachel Gibson

Smart and Sexy, Room Service and Her Sexiest Mistake - Jill Shalvis

Open Season - Linda Howard

Envy, Slow Heat in Heaven and French Silk - Sandra Brown

Welcome to Temptation, Tell Me Lies and Bet Me - Jennifer Crusie

I would have to say no one’s personal library should be without a Kathleen Woodwiss book! She was one my very first romance authors I read at the age of 17. The Flame and The Flower.  I must have read book 100 times. 

Tamara

Two of my many favorites and residents on my keeper shelves are:

“Heaven Texas” by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  I guess Bobby Tom Denton is just about the coolest bad boy around.  And it was fun seeing Grace Snow bring him to heel and domesticity.  I cried when he lashed out at her at the big dance near the end of the book.  And the football quiz has got to be one of the funniest things in all novel-dom.

Teresa’s “Nobody’s Darling”.  What a hoot.  I fell in love straight off with Billy Darling.  I laugh every time when Esmerleda points a gun at Billy in the saloon and swears to kill him for killing (she thinks) her brother.  And the ending was not something I would have forseen but it was fun.  Love those cowboys.

So many others.  And you all have added to my Buy list I keep on Amazon.com.

I like just about any SEP book but “Nobody’s Baby But Mine” was the first I read and it’s still an enjoyable read.  I just couldn’t figure out how this could possibly turn out OK.  I have learned that I am in safe hand with Ms. Phillips.

Oh for the love God, stop! My pen has run out of ink! Dang! What a resouce it is here!

I forgot about Christine Feehan, love her stuff!

-I’m jealous of the ones just starting the JR Ward books, what a treat you are in for. I would read them in order, though, the series seems to build on itself. (IMO)

LOL, Ms. Mary, I was just thinking the same thing! Enough already...not really, but there are sooo many books and I’m having a hard time keeping up.

I’m so glad that Eloisa listed Lord of Scoundrels.  I stumbled across it a few months ago, and I truly did not want it to end.  It was poignant, funny, beautifully written and one of the best books I’ve ever read - period!  Dain has to be one of the greatest heroes ever created.

My other all time favorite is the Grand Sophy, by Georgette Heyer.  I laugh my head off every time I read it.

Vanessa

What makes me really sad about this is that I’ve read a good percentage of the books listed! Oh well, most of the authors listed are still writing, so there are favorites still to come.

I adore so many of the books listed...The Windflower (anyone who hasn’t read it needs to get on the used bookstore sites immediately!)...Lord of Scoundrels...Flowers from the Storm...every J.R. Ward...Linda Howard,..JAK....SEP...the Squawkers....wow.

I’m going to try listing two that I don’t think have been mentioned:

Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn (I reread it frequently What a hero Kier is!)

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Her latest—I just read it and laughed and cried through the whole book. The opening scene with her in the beaver costume has to be one of the funniest scenes I’ve read. The dialog in the book is what the work “sparkling” was invented for.)

I also haven’t seen Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series mentioned. I just read Into the Storm, and it was fabulous. The banter between the male characters is hilarious and worth the price of the book by itself. (Can’t wait for Izzy to get his own story but I sure hope he doesn’t end up with Tracy!)

I think I pulled a Connie in my earlier post.  The hero of Magic Flutes is an orphan, not an “orohan .”

I have read only a few J. D. Robbs, so I can’t claim to have read all 160+ books by NR, but I do have 116 NR keepers. Many of them I have read again and again and again. Of couse the same thing holds true for the 106 Squawker titles among my keepers.

Please let me add three more of my favorite titles:

Kathleen Gilles Seidel’s Till the Stars Fall
Barbara Samuel’s No Place Like Home
Kathleen Korbel’s A Rose for Maggie

I agree with so many of the above but am adding The Bridges of Madison County - sigh.

As I’ve gone through the day, I keep thinking of more.

Anne Gracie - The Perfect Waltz
Julie Garwood - The Bride, The Prize
Jude Deveraux - Wishes, Twin of Ice
Gerogette Heyer - Frederica
Barbara Metzger - A Worthy Wife, An Angel for the Earl
Carla Kelly - Miss Chartley’s Guided Tour, Marian’s Christmas Wish, The Wedding Journey
Jacquie D’Alessandro - Whirlwind Wedding
Nora Roberts - Lawless
Patricia Veryan - Sanguinet Saga

Plus a whole lot of the ones that have already been posted :Þ

I tried to think of ones that hadn’t been mentioned but when you’ve been reading for 30+ years, it’s hard to remember all the ones that have touched your heart.  Especially as I don’t have room for many keepers :-(

Okay, I’ll shut up now!  LOL

Goodness, I have only one of those books and it’s in my tbr pile. Thanks for a lot of good suggestions (everyone). I have to say any Julie Garwood is a wonderful read. I also really enjoyed the Good Earth series by Jean Auel and am still waiting for the last book (7th I think).

the book that got me into reading and is one I have reread about 20 times in Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss, I also love all of the Troube books be Debbie Macomber. 

Any of the time travel books by Constance O’Day Flannery are good for the Christmas season. 

Most of my keepers have bben mentioned by others but there are several I will have to find and read.

You’ve already named several of my favorites (including Connie’s “All Through the Night”, whose power to make my heart stop continues through to the very last line). I have to add to the list Diane Farr’s “Lord Rival”, whose hero is among the most breathtakingly romantic ever created.  Mary Balogh’s “Irresistible” and “The Notorious Rake” create characters who live and breathe and are completely believable as creatures of their time.  She also uses her sex scenes to advance the plot and tell us much about exactly who the hero and heroine are—these scenes are never placed simply to spice up the action (not that there’s anything wrong with that).  I’ve already mentioned two books more than the limit and haven’t even got warmed up, but will force myself to stop now.

By Possession is my favorite Madeline Hunter keeper - loved Rhys.

We all so many favorites in common, so many at the top of my alltime favorites, The Raven Prince was fabulous, and The Warlord, end to Elizabaeth Vaughan’s trilogy.

Another one I loved - Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory.

I’m making rice bags and piecing on a quilt today, but keeping up with this list.  I’ve already ordered 3 of the books from the library.  So cool to be able to reserve library books on-line.  Not to mention renewing them and exploring other libraries.

I’d forgotten about another favorite that I think you all might enjoy.  “Merely Married” by Patricia Coughlin.  Adrian Devereau, sixth Duke of Raven’s plans to avoid matchmaking mamas by marrying a dying woman go wonderfully wrong.  Deliciously wrong. Well, he did avoid the mamas but not the way he thought he would. 

The book only got a 3 star review on Romance Reader but I liked it.  Their archive is a great place to delve when you’re looking for books you haven’t read yet.

Okay, I can’t help myself (it’s kind of like trying to eat only two potato chips).  I’ve just got to add that almost anything by Carla Kelly absolutely has to be on the list.  I’ve also loved a number of Nancy Butler’s books (The Ramshackle Suitor, The Discarded Duke).  And I’m very surprised no one has mentioned Laura Kinsale’s “For My Lady’s Heart”.  It’s original and powerful and Ruck could be the template for the strong, silent, honorable hero while Melanthe is one of the best tortured heroines ever written.

Now you see what you’ve started!  The list just goes on and on, and I don’t want to mention any Squawker books for fear of playing favorites (motherhood has taught me this).  It’s probably no coincidence that my word is length23.

I would add
Shana Kathleen Woodiwiss
Gypsy Lady Shirlee Busby
and the first romace I read
Sweet Savage love Rosmary Rogers
Have Fun
Helen

DEVIL’S BRIDE by Stephanie Laurens. I’ve read it hundreds of times. And CASTLES by Julie Garwood are my favorite books to grab when I’m in between new releases.
Sure hope Ms Garwood gets back to historicals.

This is quite a challenge ladies, but I will attempt to list only the books that I read a few times a year.

Historical:  Lord of Scoundrels/L. Chase
Hummingbird/LaVyrle Spencer

Contemporary: Nobody’s Baby But Mine/SEP
Simply Irrestible/R. Gibson

Series:  Reckless/Ruth Wind
The Admiral’s Bride/S. Brockmann

Ok..my husband hates you all right now...you have all just added to my TBR list.  Which usually means it’s going on my to-be-bought list too. LOL Off to Amazon!

Oh and some more of my favorites are

Slow Heat in Heave--Sandra Brown

Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEAL & Troubleshooter series...you gotta love Navy SEALs...I used to drool over them...uh...see them run on Coronado Island...*sigh*

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s entire Dream Hunter series (though my absolute fave is Unleash the Night)

There’s so many more but I’ll just end this here

Holy cow.  Look at all these suggestions!  I’m not going to be able to stop reading for YEARS.  Oh, boy!

Cookeemama, I’m so glad you mentioned the Patricia Coughlin. I’d forgotten it, and I adored that book.  And she did another one, too, that was so funny.  LORD SAVAGE.  It was equally great.

I agree with everyone else--it is hard to limit it to just 2--hmmm

How About Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer and I loved Your Wicked Ways by Eloisa.

I am excited to see a lot of books I’ve not yet read on this list, too. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

After having some very stressful nights and weeks, there’s one book that I always seem to pick up first, and at the risk of sounding cliche, it’s “Devil In Winter” by our very own Lisa. I don’t know what you put into this book Lisa, but boy does it help me unwind and make my nights just a tad happier.

The next one...hmm now this ones hard, it would probably be, “Perfect” by Judith McNaught. It was my first Contemp and one of my first forray into romance. I fell in love with Zack and he still continues to be one of my ultimate heroes…

Oh Judy!  I looooved “Devil in Winter”.  My favorite of the series.  Thanks for thinking of it.  It’s on my TBRA shelf, naturally.

Margaret

I’m among the few that have read all but one of Nora Roberts books. My favorites are the McGregor series.

Nobody"s Baby But Mine...SEP
Desire...Amanda Quick
Sylvester, the Wicked Uncle...Georgette Heyer

From all the books that have been listed that I haven’t read....Need a trip to the Bookstore

Hi everyone, I’m new to the site and I must say that I love it!!  It is so cool to talk to the people who write my favorite books.

Picking just two books would be impossible for me but here goes.

“Dreaming of You” by Lisa Kleypas- I mean Derek Craven is the ulitmate man, tortured, handsome, and utterly loveable.  He is my favorite hero of all time.  I must have read that book over 16 times and that is only when i can get it away from my older sister who cherishes it as well.  The other great thing about this book is it gives you insight to some of the characters in “Devil in Winter” another great one.  I mean St. Vincent- What a Hottie!!!

My next all time fav book would have to be “Almost Heaven” by Judith McNaught.  It is so heartwrenching and its filled with turmoil.  Granted its fairly long but its worth the 517 pages.  It makes me want to cry everytime i read it. Its awesome! I have read some of the books on the other’s people lists and i can totally agree that they are wonderful. 

But i will defiantly have to hit barnes and noble to pick up the books i havn’t read yet. I can hardly wait.

Okay here are some books that I have read over and over and over....
First up is “Bet Me” by Jennifer Cruisie - this is a laugh out loud funny book.  I read it whenever I’m down and it never fails to make me feel better.  I love the steamy sexual tension that builds for a while.  That is some awesome writing. 
Second is “Perfect” by Judith McNaught - this one always makes me cry...it’s a good cry.
Third would be “Almost Heaven” by Judith McNaught.  The minor characters will give you a good laugh.
So those are just a few on my keeper shelf.  I have many many more and reading through some of the posts it looks like my list may grow.
Take care all!!

What a great list.  Thank you!

Alice

Some of my comfort books are:
Julia Garwood:  “The Bride”, “The Wedding”
Lynn Kurland: “Another Chance to Dream” and all the rest of her books about the dePiaget family
Judith McNaught - “Whitney My Love”
Diana Gabaldon - “Outlander”, etc.
and so many more.  I didn’t realize how hard it would be to narrow it down.  But, I’m so excited to have some new authors!

Well since I have 70 (not all full) - 12 qt totes of my favorite books, I won’t mention them all here. All of the SR authors have full totes.

I constantly reread the JD Robb series and Paul Levine’s Solomon & Lord series.

I do LOVE all the squawker’s books, so my favorites by other authors are Untie My Heart and the rest of Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas library and Slightly Dangerous and anything else by Mary Balogh. I have noticed that I always seem to love the first book I read of an author’s booklist. Maybe because I’m just discovering their voice and it’s so exciting to find a new favorite!

Hey guys, I was out of town all day yesterday and will be gone to the Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green all day today but I wanted to thank everybody who mentioned one of my books!  What an honor!  And you guys mentioned several of my favorites too.  Judith McNaught’s earlier historicals like SOMETHING WONDERFUL, ALMOST HEAVEN, ONCE AND ALWAYS are definitely at the top of my BEST OF list.

I’m late but the suggestions are duely noted!!  I too have 100’s on my keeper shelve (much to my husbands dismay).  Truely all of the suawkers...that’s why I come here.  It is a wonderful site and who wouldn’t be interested in reading what our favorite author’s read?!  Has anyone read:
1) Forever Amber- Kathleen Winsor
2) The Bronze Horseman- Paullina Simons(Tatiana & Alexander; The Summer Garden are the sequels. You’ll want them by your side… ready to read.)
Both are a promised excellent read.  Filled with increadible to forget characters and life’s challanges.
Thanks to all of your suggestions...I too have made a list.

As for the books mentioned by the Squawkers, I have or have read all but the ones mentioned by Lisa and after reading the accolades for J.Ward’s book, I think I must really read that.

Many of my other favorites have been mentioned here already so I won’t mention any of those authors.

I’ll go back to two of the earliest books that I read before all these books were published.

One is “Dawn’s Early Light” the first of Elswyth Thane’s 7-book Williamsburg Series. No sex scenes, mind you, but great story-telling and wonderful characters.

“Celia Garth” by Gwen Bristow. As it happens both of these books incorporate the American Revolution. At the time I read these, there were historical novels but no historical romances.

I’m going to cheat too:
“Sons of the Sheik” by E.M. Hull

“The Day Must Dawn” by Agnes Sligh Turnbull.

“To Have and to Hold” by Mary Johnston.

“The Big Fisherman” by Lloyd C. Douglas.

I do think it sometimes matters when you read a book. I’d read quite a number of Jude Deveraux’s books and loved them, but for some reason, I was disappointed with “A Knight in Shining Armor”, I really have to reread it. I even liked “Casa Grande” which fell off most people’s radar so why didn’t I appreciate “Knight”?

I’d loved everything I read by the Curtises. Yet when I read “Sunshine and Shadow” I was really disappointed because I didn’t think the heroine would act the way she did. Why? Just before that book, I read another about the Amish which so much better portrayed their faith, as I understand it, than the book by the Sharon and Tom, good as it was in its portrayal. Somehow they didn’t give me enough reasons for the heroine to more or less abandon her faith.

To AnninIL - I too enjoyed DEVIL’S BRIDE - don’t you just love Stephanie’s Hero names!  And the Bacherlors club series is yummy!

To April Adams - I LOVE Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series, too.  All the characters are wonderful but I am still partial to Sam. 

And Statch - NATURAL BORN CHARMER was the first Susan Elizabeth Phillips book I had read and I thought I would wet my pants laughing while reading the beaver costume scene!  It was the same when I read TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS by Christina Dodd. 

Hey cathzoe - I too am “PLUM CRAZY”.  Janet Evanovich has created two of the sexiest guys for one series and I just can’t decide between Ranger and Morelli - but why decide - let’s have both!  I think my favorite so far is TO THE NINES.

Like serenissima I enjoy Elizabeth Lowell’s writing.  Her jewel series were the first books that got me hooked : AMBER BEACH, JADE ISLAND, PEARL COVE, MIDNIGHT IN RUBY BAYOU.

I also read all books by :
the Squakers
Maggie Shayne
Kay Hooper
Christine Feehan
Nora Roberts/J.D.Robb
and just recently started reading Linda Lael Miller -hot sex scenes

For all you guys who said a book made you laugh you can bet I will be purchasing it