What is the last Historical romance you read?
Did you like it? Would you recommend it?
What is the last historical romance you read that BLEW YOU AWAY.
I was just asked for a list of some books. And threw a few together and after the first thought hell there wasn’t one historical there. So I added in some but while putting that together, understanding we are talking deep thought of all of two mins *g*.
But I was thinking with all the erotica romance lines now, Avon Red, Berkley/NAL HEAT, Aphro, so forth and so on… not a one came to mind that is historical. So what does that mean? Am I missing some great books?
Kresley Cole’s latest historical IF YOU DECEIVE was great.
The last historical that blew me away was Maureen McKade’s REASON TO LIVE. A very moving and evocative read. It’s post civil war and deals with a woman who was a nurse and her post traumatic stress, which they didn’t call it then. She just thinks she’s going crazy.
I just finished Last Chance, My Love by Lynne Martin (aka Lynne Connolly). I thought it was excellent. I might be biased (since I’m the editor, lol).
I also love erotica with historical settings, and they always seem hard to come by. I thought the erotica/erotic romance imprint boom would mean more variety of settings – but apparently not. I guess nobody thinks people back in the day did the nasty 😉
I’m with Rosie on this – the last historical I read that truly knocked my socks off was McKade’s A Reason To Live. But then I’m a little miss picky pants and not a whole lot “knocks my socks off.”
Last one I read was Wild Oats, by Pamela Morsi. It was a B+ and I definitely would recommend it, but I don’t know if I’d say it blew my socks off (it was a reread, so maybe I knew what to expect and held on to my socks?). The last one that really made me go wow, wow, wow! was The Leopard Prince, but that was back about 4 months ago. And shortly before that one, The King’s Mistress, by Terri Brisbin.
Only historical that comes to mind is Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown. I’m not much into historicals.
This is so weird, I’ve recently been pimping some of my favorite erotic historicals!
A Gentleman’s Wager by Madelynne Ellis for Black Lace; This came up the other day because Black Lace is now releasing some of their titles (including that one) through Audible.com as downloadable audio books. I’ve yet to hear of anyone who has read it that didn’t place it on their all time favorite historicals list.
I recently read The Brothers in Arms series by Samantha Kane for Ellora’s Cave. They immediately went onto my all time favorites list, and that doesn’t happen too often. She writes amazing erotic scenes!
Kate Poole’s Anchor and Storm (Ellora’s Cave) is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read.
And I have continuous booklust for anything by Bertrice Small or Stephanie Laurens.
I have enormous respect for any author that tackles the often difficult Historical genre.
BTW, I’m still craving a lusty, bawdy, erotic (or at least spicy) Highlander story- any suggestions?
Mine were The Raven Prince and The Leopard Prince by Hoyt, Beau Crusoe by Carla Kelly (a truly tortured hero due to a past incident), followed by Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter and Taming the Highlander by Terri Brisbin.
Angie, I have to get that book by Lynne, loved her previous Richard and Rose series, just being re-released now. Follows the couple through the first meeting and stages of marriage, and working as partners in his secret spy agency.
I read Lord Sin by Kalen Hughes. It really did blow me away. It was so good. I also read Knaves Wager, an old Loretta Chase novel. I enjoyed the new Anna Campbell novel, Claiming the Courtesan.
Bev – check out Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander paranormals for steamy historical/contemporary (some time travel going on in it). The best one of that genre was Beyond the Highland Mist – loved that book and it’s still one of the best I’ve read.
I also really liked Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell. Terrific novel (my review of it is on this site somewhere). Nicely steamy and great story.
There’s some older historicals that I loved that I haven’t looked up in a while. One had a heroine named Skye (Irish), who was a member of Elizabeth Tudor’s court – very independent woman and a terrific read. Another was set in the middle ages during the Crusades – very gritty and interesting but damned if I can remember the names. I’ll have to look these up.
HA! Google is a wonderful thing.
Skye O’Malley is a Bertrice Small heroine. The first of four books about her and her fascinating life is:
I’m still looking for the one with the Crusader.
Wow! I just checked and I’ve only read two historicals so far this year. That is waaaayyyyy down. The two are The Leopard Prince and Lydia Joyce’s Voices of the Night.
The biggest blow-away books aren’t historicals though. Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee and Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair are the ones that blew me the furthest.
I can’t even remember the last time I read a historical and just absolutely loved it and raved about it and petted it –probably KMM’s Highlander books though and that’s when they were first released.
I really liked How To Abduct a Highland Lord by Karen Hawkins and Beware a Scots Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries. Those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Last historical that I read; Loretta Chase, Almost A Lady. Made me cry. Terrific book. But then, it’s Loretta Chase. I will buy anything she writes. Hot historical you might have missed: Julia Templeton’s The Bargain (Berkley Heat). Loved it! I also have Sylvia Day’s Passion For the Game on my bedside table (Brava).
Pamela Clare’s SURRENDER was amazing if you can get your hands on a copy. And if you like super-sexy historicals with a bit of paranormal thrown in, it’s hard to beat Jennifer Ashley’s PENELOPE & PRINCE CHARMING and THE MAD, BAD DUKE. I think Elizabeth Hoyt is defintely on her way to bestseller-dom. THE LEOPARD PRINCE was fantastic. And Eloisa James can be a lot of fun too, though I totally agree with Jane’s comment on the last review that sometimes her secondary characters take over a bit.
Gwen,
I ADORED KMM’s Highlander books! They are going to be released in audio format starting this month and I can’t wait for them! Do ye ken we shall HEAR them?! *swoon*
But I should have clarified that I meant I was looking for some NEW lusty Highlander books. I saw a few books listed in this thread that I’ll check out, but I’m always ready for more.
And the Skye O’Malley series is what made Bertrice Small a goddess, in my opinion! Check out her website for the full listing of books in the series.
I agree with whomever recommended Pamela Clare’s SURRENDER–great book! I also recently read Tracy Anne Warren’s first book–THE HUSBAND TRAP, I think it was–and LOVED it! And I just finished the newest Julia Quinn, SECRET DIARIES OF MISS MIRANDA CHEEVER. I really liked it–read it one sitting (stayed up WAY too late). It read like “classic” Julia Quinn to me. Yes, it had its problems, but I thought the hero/heroine were really well balanced, I liked them both, and all the great stuff outweighed the annoyances.
I don’t think it’s a romance but it’s definitely historical–PASSION by Jude Morgan (who’s a guy), about the Shelleys, Byron, and Coleridge. A beautiful book.
Also THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION by Pam Rosenthal.
Great list here ;). I loved the middle Cole – Desire? need to reread Dare and thought Deceived was C- to Dish.
Reason to Live was grand. And so far (not far at all into it) I am thinking Reason to Believe will follow the trend.
Angie you are sooo bias but oddly enough I do agree with you. I have never read her before and very much enjoyed the story.
Agreed Wendy… that is why I am hoping someone points out what I have been missing 🙂
Ro I agree Morsi is just amazing! Tres nifty in person as well. LOL the first book that came to mind was The Serpent Prince which I need to steal back from lawson so I can get it signed. But couldn’t really rec that to pick up from the store.
I reread that a few months ago Shi and was shocked at how much I wanted to beat the hero. At one point I almost stopped reading and picked up the sequel I had been avoiding because of what I know happens. LOL at that time it seemed fitting.
err… black lace in audio? wow, don’t know if I would like that or not…
I haven’t read any EC as of late but agree with Anchor and Storm. DO pick up Cole. I would have rec’ed KMM so that good you likey. And someone mentioned The Bargain I didn’t like it but you might but I did love an old EC of hers. Kerin the Black? that seems wrong sorry I am in a hurry.
All great choices there Pam ;). I haven’t found a Brisbin to blow me away yet.
Oh cool, you are the first good review I have seen of Lord Sin. I know I have it somewhere but haven’t had a chance to read it.
I have never been much of a fan of Small’s. Loved some old Johnson stuff. Damn I think Bev’s envelope is closed already because I think I have a howell I could have sent her too.
Wow kristie. Tres Shock!
I agree stacy. Two great recs.
Amie needs to read a historical… take some notes here 😉
I have Chase back… now to find time to read it 😉
I not only have a copy of Surrender it is signed to my happyself *g*.
Kristin Nelson posted about ARCS ofa historical they’re giving away at RWA that sounds really good…overall though I’d have to say I’m just not drawn to them for some reason. *shrug*
Do not read Another Dawn. Just. Don’t. 😀
AAWWWW, Sybil, that’s so sweet. (Yes, I just called you sweet… deal with it).
Since I won’t be doing much blog hopping next week (because there aren’t going to be many blog updates to hop TO *whine*), I’ll have the time to go through these responses and research the recs. I do luvs me some good lusty historicals!
Oh, and I forgot to say that the first book of Stephanie Laurens’ Cynster series Devil’s Bride is, for me, about as close to an absolutely perfect Regency period romance as I’ve ever read.