February 23, 2006
Carried Away by Loveswept
Written by Kimberly Logan in Jaunty PostBecause I have succumbed to a temporary bout of insanity, I have started my spring cleaning a bit early this year. (Yes, alert the media! Those who know me might deny it, but I actually DO clean every once in a blue moon, I swear. *G*) And while clearing out my closet last night, I ran across a box of books that I had meant to put in a yard sale long ago , but never quite got around to doing so. After going through the box, I’m so glad I didn’t!
Most of the books were Loveswepts, and it reminded me of how very much I miss this series. (For those of you who are shaking your heads in bafflement, Loveswept was a category line a bit like Harlequin that wound up closing down sometime in the mid to late 90’s.) Many well-known authors got their start writing for them. Sandra Brown, Tami Hoag, Kay Hooper, Iris Johansen, Deborah Smith, and Suzanne Brockmann, just to name a few. The recent Sandra Brown re-issues Long Time Coming and Demon Rumm were originally Loveswepts.
It’s funny, how you can forget over time how much you loved reading certain books. I began reading these in high school and never missed a Loveswept after that. I was first in line at the bookstore each month to get all of the new releases. Flipping through the pages of some of these, I felt like smacking myself that I had ever contemplated getting rid of them. Surprisingly, Loveswept was ahead of its time in so many ways. It was one of the pioneers of the concept of books with connecting characters before it ever became popular elsewhere. They allowed their authors to try new things, and many of their stories were fresh and innovative. For example, just look at Demon Rumm. Back then, what publisher would have ever dreamed of letting an author write a book entirely from the male perspective?
Before I knew it, I was doing much more reading than I was cleaning. And by the time I thought to look up at the clock, it was after midnight and I had almost finished Deborah Smith’s Jed’s Sweet Revenge. It’s been a long time since that has happened to me! And I have slated Kay Hooper’s Unmasking Kelsey for tonight.
Does anyone else remember this series line fondly? Any favorite Loveswept books or authors? If not, are there any other authors out there who are no longer writing that you miss?
While you all are reminiscing, I’ll be making a place on my keeper shelf for my Loveswepts. 
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Shana Says:
Kim, I never read a Loveswept. I didn’t get into romance novels until I was in college. But your cleaning experience sounds like mine. I start out strong and then get distracted by some item I forgot I had. On the other hand, I don’t know what’s better: a clean house or finding buried treasure!
Emily McKay Says:
Oh, Kim! I love Loveswepts too!!!
I’m always complaining to Robyn, my cp, that I wish I could have written for that line. I just loved Demon Rum, though Adam’s Fall was my favorite of the old Sandra Browns. Unmasking Kelsey is a Kay Hooper, right? I’m jealous that you that. I think I stupidly got rid of it years ago.
One of my secret goals in life is to rebuy all the old Loveswepts I loved but sold off. What a fool I was!
RobynDeHart Says:
She’s not kidding. She does complain about that. I think secretly she still wants to write for them.
I’ve only ever read one Loveswept and it was a Suz Brockmann. I actually never read any category until I started working with Emily. Up until then I was a single-title only girl.
Kimberly Logan Says:
That’s funny, Emily. The very first short category romance I ever wrote was aimed at Loveswept, but the line folded before I managed to finish it. It’s still languishing in a drawer somewhere, gathering dust.
And yes, Unmasking Kelsey was by Kay Hooper, and I believe it was the very first book in her “Hagan Strikes Again” mini-series, about a secret group of covert agents working for a spy master named Hagan. Another favorite was Deborah Smith’s Hot Touch. The heroine was telepathic and could talk to animals. See? Talk about ahead of its time! A paranormal in category romance was almost unheard of back then.
Sigh… Boy, do I miss Loveswept.
Isabel Says:
I don’t remember reading Loveswept but my first romance novel ever was a contemp from Silouhette Desire called “Pennies in the Fountain”. I will forever thank the author who wrote that book (slaps forehead because cannot remember her name, darn it!) because she introduced me to romance reading. A few days after devouring that first book, I stumbled upon Judith McNaught’s “Whitney, My Love” my first historical romance ever. And like they say “rest is history” historical romance history *G*.
Here I am years later and I miss Ms. McNaught’s historicals and Julie Garwood’s as well. There are rumors that both ladies “might” return to historical romance. Gosh, I hope so! Just the other day I found a special place for my first copy of “Whitney”.
I don’t give up any of my books, it might take me years to re-read some but thank heavens I’m a pack rat!
Rose B Says:
Oh do I remember Loveswepts! Of the 1011 (I think that’s close to the number of them) I have over 900 of them still. Like you, Kimberly, I just can’t get rid of them. My favorites are Kay Hooper’s Pepper’s Way and the ‘Hagan Strikes Again’ series. There was also two books about identical twins who met in adulthood, one with certain esp abilities. They were great!
Although I haven’t read a contemporary in years, Loveswepts have always been favorites of mine. Thanks for the memories!
Jaunty Quills Says:
I remember Loveswepts! Especially, the ones by Suzanne Brockmann. The interesting thing is that while she’s achieved great acclaim for her Navy Seal books, I can take or leave the Seals, but don’t ask me to give up her Loveswepts.
Cindy Kirk
Kimberly Logan Says:
LOL, Cindy! I only have copies of three of the books Suz wrote for Loveswept, though I think I read one or two others that I must have checked out from the library at one time. I absolutely loved her book Time Enough for Love. It had a great concept, with the time traveling hero going back to the past to save the heroine from bad guys and to get her together with his younger self. You got two heroes for the price of one! I know her Loveswept, Ladies Man, which was originally published only for mail order subscribers to the Loveswept line, was worth quite a bit of moola because copies of it were so rare. According to RT magazine, it’s going to be re-issued in November. Yay!
Isabel, Silhouette Desire was one of my favorite category series, along with Loveswept and Harlequin Presents. And Rose, Pepper’s Way is one of the few Kay Hooper books that I don’t have. I have every single book in her “Hagan Strikes Again” and “Once Upon A Time” series. It definitely fueled my obsession with connecting characters! I also loved Fayrene Preston’s “Damaron Mark” series.
Tania Thomas Says:
I am trying to collect the whole Loveswept collection. I have no idea how many were published. I know it’s over 900. I contacted the publishing company and they no longer have any info on LS. I hope to have them all by the time I retire so I can read them and pass on to my granddaughter. I love the early ones that carried the same characters into several books. I esp. like Joan Piccard.