March 30, 2006
My Favorite Romance
Written by Kimberly Logan in Jaunty PostI know we have discussed the very first romance we ever read here before, and it was interesting to discover how many of us started our “love affair” with the genre with the very same books and authors. So I thought it might be fun to take this chance to talk about some of our favorite romances. You know the ones I mean. The ones that truly touched us and that we remember even years later. The ones that made us laugh and cry, that have been re-read so many times that you can recite the story by heart. I have hundreds of books and several shelves of “keepers,” but I have only one shelf of books that I absolutely, positively could not live without.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and the Dove and Ashes in the Wind are on that shelf, along with Rebecca Brandewyne’s Rose of Rapture and Outlaw Hearts and Jude Deveraux’s The Raider. You will find Johanna Lindsey’s Defy Not the Heart and Gentle Rogue here, as well as Connie Mason’s My Lady Vixen and Julie Garwood’s Guardian Angel and Honor’s Splendor. I fell head over heels for the heroes in Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You, Kimberly Cates’s Briar Rose, and Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Fire, and cheered on the feisty heroines of Teresa Medeiros’s Breath of Magic and Nicole Jordan’s The Lover. Catherine Anderson’s Phantom Waltz and Annie’s Song and Sharon Sala’s Butterfly always squeeze my heart, while Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s It Had to Be You makes me smile.
And that’s not all! The suspense of Melanie George’s To Die For and Beverly Barton’s The Fifth Victim had me biting my nails. The same for Linda Howard’s White Lies and Dream Man and Nora Roberts’s Carolina Moon. USB discoveries Shelly Thacker, Penelope Williamson, and Miriam Minger also occupy this shelf with their books, A Stranger’s Kiss, Keeper of the Dream, and A Hint of Mischief. And I certainly can’t forget to mention the paranormal fun of Susan Carroll’s The Bride Finder, Christine Feehan’s Dark Fire, and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Fantasy Lover.
I’m sure I could go on, but now it’s your turn. 
What are some of your favorites? Which books have made the biggest impression on you throughout the years and are truly what you would consider “keepers?” And what about them do you love?
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Shana Says:
My favorite romance is The Secret by Julie Garwood. I know I’m always saying how much I like Julie Garwood, and maybe I should just write her a fan letter and get it over with, but she really was/is an inspiration to me. Her romances made me want to write romances. One day I hope to meet her and thank her (hopefully without gushing too much).
Another favorite author is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She writes for Avon, of course, so I have met her. Sort of. Every year at the Avon dinner, I see her but I am too chicken to go talk to her. What would I have to say to SEP? I’m so not worthy!
Obviously I could write a whole blog on this topic (thanks for the idea, Kim). Anyway, in answer to your question, The Secret by Julie Garwood and Nobody’s Baby but Mine are my all time faves.
Jennifer Yates Says:
There are just so many I could name…hmm…any of Julia Quinn’s books and Julie Garwood’s historicals are on my list. Especially Garwood’s Prince Charming and Ransom.
The book that I can remember that touched me the most and is one of my all-time favorites is Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson. I love this book. It has a great story and characters that make you feel for them. My emotions were a bit in sync with the characters of the book. I felt what they did. That makes it a keeper to me.
I think when you get emotionally involved in a book, the author has done a great job. This may mean being sad when the characters are feeling down, happy when the characters are, or even feeling the suspense and wanting to know what happens next. And if you have ever gotten so emotionally involved that you have wanted to slap the hero or heroine for being so dumb for not noticing the love of their life right in front of them and possibly letting them get away, then the author has done a great job of making you care enough about the characters to be bothered by their actions (in my opinion anyway). When I am emotionally involved in a book, it usually goes on the keeper shelf.
Sorry for rambling and for possibly not making any sense what-so-ever.
Haven Rich Says:
Well I hardly ever find a book I didn’t like..which means all the books are keepers hehe.
I think the one book that spoke to me was Teresa Medeiros’ ONE NIGHT OF SCANDAL. The book opens with the hero’s first wife, who suffers from manic depression (also known as biopolar disorder),kills herself. I saw how her killing herself affected her husband and children. This touched me as I’ve had to battle with deep depression issues and I know how hard it is to struggle with all the evils depression can bring.
I know this is a sad way to connect with a book but it was the first Teresa book I had ever read and it sure hasn’t been the last. Love her books.
The books that inspired me to write is Julia Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love and Amanda Ashley’s Midnight Embrace. I (hope) want to write a cross between the two. A vampire novel with witty humor. I can admit that my first novel is a bit darker, more gothic like but I want the next few to be something that will make readers laugh.
So these three books are very close to my heart.
Judy Says:
My fav books that I absolutely can not for any reason, even Apocolypse End of the World circumstances has to be:
Perfect by Judith McNaught it was my first official Romance Novel and the reason why I’m so insatiable when it comes to Romance Novels
A Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
A Knight In Shining Armor By Jude Deveraux
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
A Perfect Groom by Samantha James this one the hero is very close to my heart, I did get emotional and therefore remains one of my favorites.
And finally Above and Beyond by Sandra Brown, I don’t know what it is about that book and I will not part with it no matter what.
Michele Gardner Says:
The ones that stick with me are Stephanie Laurens A Promise In A Kiss. Sebastian and Helene made me see something in them that just stuck with me. I Love how their story went with the kiss all the way to them finding each other to them being together.
Lacey Kaye Says:
Man, I don’t have time right now to name them all…but A Breath of Magic stands out along with A Knight in Shining Armor. These were two of the early ones I can remember rereading and rereading until I practically had them memorized…and then I discovered the library and it’s, as they say, history.
Manuelita Says:
Here’s my list of 10 all-time favorite romances. Why are they my faves? I guess because when I reached the end of the story I just wanted to sigh with happiness, then start at the beginning again to relive the magic. Corny, but true.
1. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton - Julia Quinn
2. Bewitching - Jill Barnett
3. A Matter of Scandal - Suzanne Enoch
4. Guilty Pleasures - Laura Lee Guhrke
5. Man of My Dreams - Johanna Lindsey
6. It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas
7. As You Desire - Connie Brockway
8. Breath of Magic - Teresa Madeiros
9. The Secret - Julie Garwood
10. A Secret Love - Stephanie Laurens
Kimberly Logan Says:
I love this, ladies! Keep ‘em coming!
And you know, Judy, I loved A Perfect Groom too. Samantha James is wonderful. The one I have on my keeper shelf, however, is Every Wish Fulfilled. I just loved the heroine in that one.
Isabel Says:
One of my favorite topics: favorite books
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught will forever hold a special place in my heart and my bookcases because it was the first historical romance I’ve ever read. Thanks to JM I ended it up here. Talking about books with my favorite romance authors.
With that said here’s my list in no particular order. And these are only a few of the books I consider “keepers” there are many, many more but at the risk of writing a comment of epic proportions I’ll mention these at this time:
The Duke and I ~ Julia Quinn
Thief of Hearts ~ Teresa Medeiros
The Secret & The Bride ~ Julie Garwood
One Kiss from You ~ Christina Dodd
A Knight in Shinning Armor ~ Jude Deveraux
Love According to Lily ~ Julianne MacLean
Scandalous ~ Jenna Petersen
You’ve Got Male ~ Elizabeth Bevarly
Again just to name a few. My all time favorite romance?
Pride & Prejudice ~ Jane Austen
Jenna Petersen Says:
Whoa, Isabel! I’m in your list of favorites! WOW! That’s so cool.
JennaP
Oh, PS, some of my favorites:
The Duke and I — JQ
When He Was Wicked — JQ
Silver Lining — Maggie Osborne
Not Quite A Gentleman — Jacquie D
Something About Emmaline — Elizabeth Boyle
AndreaW Says:
Well, for me The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn is and I’m pretty sure always will be my all time fave. I just fell in love with Anthony and really connected with Kate. This book had everything: romance, sexual tension and lots of humor. Just thinking about it makes me want to read it…AGAIN!
Some of my other faves (in no particular order)are:
~London’s Perfect Scoundrel by Suzie E (St. Aubyn…*sigh*)
~For the First Time by Kathryn Smith (I really connected with Blythe… And Devlin…*sigh*)
~Suddenly You by LK (Jack…*sigh*)
~The Pursuit of Marriage by Victoria Alexander
~In My Wildest Dreams by LaDodd
~The Duke by Gaelen Foley
~An Affair to Remember by Karen Hawkins
~Yours Until Dawn by TM
~Something About Emmaline by Elizbo
I could go on and on… I guess I just fall in love with too many heroes.
Although, Anthony Bridgerton will always be tops for me! Just don’t tell my hubby…
Andrea
Lois Says:
I have two areas for my books. The box in the closet are for the ones that I liked/loved (they all have to end up in a box eventually — we’re moving one of these days, you know, when we have a location to move to), and a shelf where the ones I really, really, really, really, really, really loved are. I mean, I have to be able to see them there on a daily basis.
Anyway, since there are quite a few there, I won’t name them all, but a few have already been mentioned here. But the one up to this point in time which just really spoke to me and was great in so many ways was The Rose in Winter, by Woodiwiss, which I’m sure everyone here knew. 
I did peek at the end, so I knew the big secret, but that didn’t keep me from being excited about it — I kept turning the pages saying how do they find out???????? LOL 
Very cool. 
Lois
Kimberly Logan Says:
Lois,
I LOVED A Rose in Winter! As I’m sure I’ve mentioned here before, it was the first romance I ever read. Woodiwiss wrote so many wonderful books that it’s hard to choose a favorite, but The Wolf and the Dove and Ashes in the Wind just manage to edge out the others at the top of my list.
I also loved Come Love a Stranger and The Flame and the Flower.
Margaret Says:
Oh gosh, I’d have to say it’s a tie between A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Devereaux, Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught and The Duchess by Jude Devereaux. My current favorite paranormal is The Wages of Sin by Jenna Maclaine.