A common question you will see on message boards, lists, blogs and the like ask for rec’s while they wait for their favorite author to finish their next book. Or because their favorite author has changed genre, settings, retired or name your reason there be no new books here.
Right after I finished reading Madeline Hunter’s post yesterday: What Version of that Book Did You Read?, I was chatting with someone who said she had never read Madeline Hunter but planned to because she was rec’ed her.
I went on to sing her praises cuz really, Madeline Hunter! And she said great because loved stories set in Scotland and had really enjoyed Julie Garwood’s medievals.
And that sort of stopped me… right there… I was like Scotland? Garwood?
I have read a few Garwood novels. The Bride, The Gift, The Wedding and I want to say one more. I have a ton to be read because they are often rec’ed. And I really did enjoy them. But Madeline Hunter and Julie Garwood are not two authors I would connect in a if you like one you would like the other way.
Garwood has a lighter tone, the history isn’t as much apart of the book and if I recall correctly the words Garwood and Scotland would make Maili’s head explode. So then I stopped to think about it… who would I recommend if someone said I really love Madeline Hunter. Who writes like her?
And the only novel I recall took place in Scotland was Lord of a Thousand Nights. Really I am not even completely sure about that…
How about you? Who do you think writes like Madeline Hunter? What would you rec for a novel in Scotland?
I think Madeline Hunter writes more like Liz Carlyle.
I have to admit I haven’t read Madeline Hunter either, so I have no idea whether the styles are the same, but Gerri Russell writes Scottish medievals as well.
hmmmm that is an idea
Style vs setting… I can see the LC MH thing there. Someone else said Claudia Dain’s older books.
LEAH! you must read By Arrangement. Sadly I don’t think I have any Gerri Russell books…
I never cease to be amazed by who likes what and for why and think who is like whomever. And I guess it does depend on what aspect of the story you focus on. Hunter’s books are really hot, which does bring Carlyle to mind, but Carlyle is a much earthier writer. Emotionally and thematically, I would put Hunter alongside Mary Balogh, even though Balogh is relatively “tame” in comparison. Jo Goodman also comes to mind, for her subtlty and sophisticated writing.
I wouldn’t have a clue as to who to recommend to someone who likes Julie Garwood. 😉
I think Liz Carlyle is a good match, and for some reason I’m thinking Gaelen Foley as well, but Foley’s plots aren’t as complex.
I’m just going to recommend whoever my favorites are, b/c there is no predicting what people will like.
I adore Judith Ivory, for example. Sybil, IIRC, has said somewhere that she didn’t care if Ivory never wrote another book. (Gasp. Faint.) I’ve never read that Sybil liked Laura Kinsale. So on the surface of it, if someone said, there is an author who is trying to be the red-headed love child of Ivory and Kinsale, I’d have bet good money that Sybil would say “ugh.”
Except she loveses it.
So, go figure. I’m going to recommend Ivory and Kinsale and Chase while I’m at it.
I think the elegant, slightly more formal, style of Mary Balogh is a good match. Madeline Hunter’s book, I would say, are sophisticated. And Judith Ivory is also a good rec based on the sensuality.
And did I call it or what? I happen to adore almost all of Kinsale’s work.
In fact Shadowheart was my first romance novel to read. I LOVED it. Hate the flowers book… So that must be why I adore their red-headed love child. That and redhair rocks.
Caroline it is funny because I really think Mary Balogh is a great call but I just completely thought ‘setting’ for some reason and stuck on medievals. Go figure. I love Balogh. So of course I think it is a good one 🙂
BTW, I didn’t mean to imply that Liz Carlyle would be a bad recommendation for someone who likes Hunter. I enjoy them both.
Shadowheart was your first romance? You’ve got to tell how that came about. Cuz baby that is one polarizing book. I totally loveses it–and I’m also in the camp that can’t deal with Flowers from the Storm.
Of course, Shadowheart and For My Lady’s Heart are medievals. I don’t seek out medievals to read but them’s some damn fine medievals. And no herbs gathered or brewed in the writing of those books.
I’d agree with Balogh, and Goodman because of the subtleness Wendy mentioned. I like Foley, but wouldn’t compare her to Madeline, love many of Garwood’s books but no way in the same vein as Hunter, don’t get that connection, either.
I was a X-Files nut, got way too into the whole fandom thing, ended up a beta for someone who read romance, I made fun of her, about a year after the show ended (shut up people are still reading and writing fic now forever later… really I made one cry recently cuz I rock) I picked up The Queens Fool and ended up on a historical fiction kick, said friend was on my lj told me I HAD to read Shadowheart, I kept saying no, she wouldn’t shut up so finally I caved…
LOVED Shadowheart, which lead to For My Lady’s Heart and than mishy the dearheart sent me Seize the Fire…. it all went downhill or uphill depending on who you ask from there *g*
Aren’t you glad you asked 😉
I’m glad I asked, Syb. Your friend has good taste. Anyone who loves Shadowheart has a place in my heart.
Frankly I’m thinking of having Shadowheart as my number 1 pick in AAR’s top 100 vote. I figure #1 should be a title less universally loved than passionately loved–and passionately hated.