I've recently gotten very interested in reading historicals. I read some of the Sherbrooke Brides series by Catherine Coulter, The Abduction of Julia by Karen Hawkins and I've started The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.

Would anyone like to recommend some good historicals? Single titles would be great, but series work as well.

Thanks,
Rae

Have you read Lawless by Nora? LOVE that story!

Hugz,
Dani

edit: and there is that series...crap...I can't remember, I'll do a little research and get back to you

edit again: OMG! I FINALLY found them. I couldn't remember nothing about them, except for there was a Y in the last name. :rolleyes: Took a lot of creative searching on the internet.

They are The Bedwyns series, or also known as the Slightly series, by Mary Balogh. I've only read two or three, but here's the link..> Bedwyn series

I'll keep thinking, I usually don't read historicals.

Hugz again,
Dani

I have read Lawless. I forgot to mention that. :doh:

The Bedwyn series does sound interesting but I've never heard of Mary Balogh. I'll have to check her out at the library before I buy it.

Thanks Dani!

Rae

Rae,

I enjoy historicals—but I am particular about them. I prefer them to be set in England, Scotland or Ireland (only enjoy a few in the Western US or Colonial America). Here are my favorite historical authors:

Julie Garwood
Lisa Kleypas (one of my favorite authors)
Stephanie Laurens (though her books are all series)
Julia Quinn
Samantha James
Nicole Jordan
Donna Fletcher (particularly The Irish Devil and Isle of Lies)

With the exception of Julie Garwood who no longer writes historicals, they are all "auto-buys" for me.

I also have a large collection of historicals from Catherine Coulter, Johanna Lindsey and Heather Graham from my teen years—the late 1980s. Many are still in print or have been reprinted often. I think many of those books withstand the test of time.

Catherine Anderson also writes poignant stories. She has several historicals to choose from. She also writes contemporaries—actually more contemps. in recent years.

And all of Judith McNaught's historicals are wonderful stories. My favorite is Kingdom of Dreams but also particularly love Something Wonderful and Once and Always.

Julie Garwoods historicals are really great reads (The Gift, The Prize, The Bride and Gentle Warrior are on my all time FAVORITE list) and my favorite McNaught is Kingdom of Dreams as well. Lisa Kleypas is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. Just love her historicals as well.

Alaina

I can't believe no one's mentioned Georgette Heyer - the queen of Regency romance. Start with The Grand Sophy, or These Old Shades, or Frederica, or ...

Mistfox - who's really picky when it comes to historicals

Yep, can't go wrong with Heyer...

But there is also:
Mary Balogh - Regency Peiod
Jo Beverley - Regency Period
Loretta Chase - Regency Period
Dorothy Dunnett - Elizabethan Period - Lymond Chronicles or Venetian Niccolo Series
Roberta Gellis - Medieval - Roselynde Series
Amanda Quick - sort of all over the board
Mary Jo Putney - Regency Period
and Joan Wolf - Regency Period

Wow! All these sound interesting.

Robyn- The historicals that I've read (with the exception of Nora's) all took place in England and the like so I think your suggestions are great.

Mistfox, kendrak, - I will check out Heyer. I think a friend of mine might have a few of her books.

Alaina- The funny thing is that I actually saw Kingdom of Dreams at a bookstore and was going to buy it but then I saw Nora's The Reef and since that was the only single I was missing I decided to buy that instead!

I will check out Lisa Kleypas forum on this board to see what else I can find out about her books.

Thanks. I now have a great list of books to buy. Though I think I'm going to have to add another bookshelf in my library.

Rae

Rae, you have some very good suggestions so far. I would also recommend Kathleen Woodiwiss. My favorite of hers is Shanna. Also, though I wouldn't necessarily "label" them as historical, the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is very heavy on history w/ many other elements to it. It's has it's own thread the the favorite aurthors forum. It comes highly recommended by many.

I read a good historical recently. It was by LaVyrle Spencer called The Gamble. It was my first one by her so she might have other historicals out there.

Don't forget Jude Deveroux's historicals on the Montgomery and Chandler families. Many are still in print or you can find them in the UBS.

I love Gaelen Foley's historicals, especially the Knight family series.

You mean the historicals that Katherine Woodiwiss writes? Love her books, but she doesn't write enough of them to suit me.

I especially love Petals on the River, Ashes in the Wind and Shanna.

I would say Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz) esp her older stuff.
Also Johanna Lindsey Malory family books.
Elizabeth Lowell's and Therea Medeiros from years ago. I loved the EL books they always made me cry. Both authors have kind of a paranormal or witchy/magic bend to their historicals.

I have been reading Connie Mason historicals that I stumbled onto they are pretty decent.

Christina Dodd is another one I like.

I recently discovered Eloisa James and like her too.

There are probably a few more but mind is blanking.

I only read historicals up until a few years ago. I don't know why. I just always liked them better and then there weren't as many historicals coming out ands alot of authors switched to contemps like Julie Garwood so that finally I gave in started buying contemps.

I am new to Historicals too.

Mistfox and Robyn when you girls say you are picky about Historicals what do you mean?

I recently read one by Julia Quinn, I can't think of the title, but I liked it and Diane Gaston's A Reputable Rake which I really liked.

I'm glad Rae brought this up!

Okay... when I say I'm picky about historicals is that I'm picky about the location or time period.

I'm not into Westerns. I read them as a teenager—though I've enjoyed a couple of Constance O'Banyons, Catherine Andersons and a few Johanna Lindseys—and I much prefer historicals set in England or Scotland (my two favorite locations) to ones set anywhere else. I also do not really care for Civil War books in the US.

I like books set in Regency England but don't care for "Regencies"--which have little sex. There's something about romances set in the post-Napoleonic era that I like. Though I also like Scottish series set in the 1500s. Go figure. :shrug:

There are exceptions, of course. My favorite historicals from Catherine Coulter are set in the early 1850s in San Francisco. And I've enjoyed a few books set in Medieval England, such as Judith McNaught's A Kingdom of Dreams.

Thats's my pickiness. I have definite preferences for setting and time period.

thanks Robyn! I appreciate the lesson which I need!

:laughing: Always happy to help.

I have to go the bookstore to get some of the books that were suggested but I'll have to wait until the 29th when Morrigan's Cross comes out which is also incidentally a day after my birthday ( :woot: ), so I'll have lots of money.

Rae

So Rae which books are you going to buy?

Hmmm...I'm thinking a Lisa Kleypas (dunno which one yet), Judith McNaught's Kingdom of Dreams, a Julie Garwood, an Amanda Quick, Katherine Woodiwiss's Shanna, and Diane Gaston's A Reputable Rake.

I've looked up the summaries for all these books online and they sound interesting. As for just the authors I named I couldn't chose which one so I would just grab whichever I see.

Rae

Rae,

For Lisa Kleypas, you could start with the first Wallflower book, Secrets of a Summer Night. And if you like it, there are 3 others in that series. :cutewink:

Though a universal favorite amongst Lisa Kleypas readers is Dreaming of You. Here's what Lisa had to say about it on her website: CLICK HERE

I love that book, too.

~Robyn

Dreaming of You and Where Dreams Begin are my two favorite Lisa Kleypas titles of all time. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

I also like Victoria Alexander's effington family series. Also Kinley Macgredor (Sherrilynn Kenyon) is good.

Lynn Kurland is good but they also involve time travel and/or ghost themes and no nookie

There is one more author I have been trying to remember all day and can't for the life of me.

Has any one mentioned Julia Quinn yet? Hers are awesome.

I just discovered Lisa Kleypas thru Robyn this past year. She is a total must read for me now so def a good author to start your foray into historicals.

Doesn't Ruthiebabe also write historicals? I think I have read one of hers.

Kel - still thinking

ETA: Jane Feather and Virginia Henley. I have read all of JF and a couple VH.

According to Amazon Karen Marie Moning is considered a historical writer but she also has the whole time travel thing going on. So i dunno....

Don't forget about Sabrina Jeffries!!!

Her "Royal Brotherhood" series was really, really good!!

While I'm solidly in the "most of my favorite historicals are set in Britain" camp, I must say, Maggie Osborne writes the best Western romances. Unfortunately, she's retired now, but her books are still easy to find. The Promise of Jenny Jones was my first, and probably remains my favorite. Excellent book.

Now then, as to the Britain stuff:

Georgette Heyer is, and always will be, the absolute undisputed queen of the regencies. She started them, and her's are the best. It can't be a coincidence that so many authors list her as an early inspiration.

Mary Balogh is excellent. Read the entire Slightly series, ending with my total favorite, and the only mid-series switch to hardback that I don't resent--Slightly Dangerous. Also, if you can find her earlier regencies--they're wonderful, too. The Notorious Rake is an incredible book. She explores so much more than just the society with her characters.

Stephanie Laurens: The Cynsters. Yummy. The Duke and I is the first, and my favorite.

Diana Gabaldon: her books are epics--and brilliantly crafted.

Lisa Kleypas: I enjoyed the last wallflower. Personally, I like her older books better than the more recent. My favorite is out of print--Forever My Love--ahh, Alec Faulkner--now there's a hero worth signing over.

Julia London: I really enjoyed her most recent, The Hazards of Hunting a Duke.

There's tons of really great historicals out there.

The only thing I'm picky about is when the characters are not true to their time period. Unless it's a time travel, I find it more than annoying to have the heroine have 21st century sensibilities in the 19th century. If you're going to write a historical--take the time to do the research and get into the characters as they really would have been. They can have feminist thoughts--but they really shouldn't run around saying stuff and acting in ways that are totally beyond what would be reasonable for the time.

That said, if the author wants to be deliberately campy with the deal, I can work with that, too. I'm a book floozie. You really have to work to irritate me.

Hear, Hear Betty!!!!

Completely agree with you...nothing more annoying than to have a character bring the author's modern sesibilities into a period novel...

Unless it's speech patterns...you have to remember in centuries past people didn't much use contractions...it's a modern lazy speech pattern...

One book, and I don't remember who wrote it, the daughter of the house escorted the visiting knight upstairs to his chamber, and proceeded to give him the bath he was entitled to, that was in keeping with the period, but when she began speculating on 'how hot he was'...the book sailed across the room...

I've thrown many a book across the room when exasperated by things like this...because unlike you, my dear, I ain't a floozie....LOL!

She says that like being a floozie is a bad thing.

Ah, Betty can I butt in and say that The Duke and I isn't a Cynster novel?

I think it's by Julia Quinn.

The first Cynster novel was Devil's Bride

I just love that book!

Pamela

well, we floozies are mind dead, too. Actually, I did know that, and when I was typing it I was thinking it didn't sound quite right. The really sad thing is...I just finished a reread of it this morning. I don't actually think of books by their titles--it's more Honoria and Devils story. SO, I'm suitably chagrined and will toodle off to lurkdom again for a while...

This sounds real interesting. I think I'm going to add that to my pile.

Betty D., thanks for all those suggestions. I think the librarian is going to hate me for checking out all these books.

Rae

Rae,

I usued to really enjoy Susan Johnson and Heather Graham. Although Susan Johnson's characters are deffinitely not true to their time period and the way they talk is a little annoying from time to time...oh, and the excesive use of the F word...and lots of sex...

Connie Mason has also some good stories...

Brenda Joyce is also good, but I havn't read the "Deadly" series, I've heard they aren't very good :dunno:

I stopped reading historicals a couple of years ago, I don't know why, I just read predominantly paranormals right now...

Teo

Everyone I read or have read has been mentioned so, I'll just second that emotion on:

Eloisa James(she has a wonderful sense of humor and she's really nice, too!)
Julie Garwood
Johanna Lindsey
Catherine Coulter
Kathleen Woodiwiss(I prefer her older stuff)

I haven't read a historical in a long time so, I'm not really sure what's new out there. There are other authors that I've read but nothing has grabbed me like these.

orinally by Rae:
Nah....she'll love you just for reading...I know I was a part-time librarian, we were really excited by book lovers...

Some of my old favorites:

Jane Feather -- Particularly her V books. "Vice" and "Valentine" are two of my favorites.

Patricia Potter -- She's written a lot of historical westerns, and these were not my favorite. But I really loved some of her titles that were written for the Harlequin Historical line. "Dragonfire" is one of my all-time favorites. Also "Swampfire." They're not at all related, despite the titles. Dragonfire is set in China at the time of the Boxer Rebellion -- surely a unique setting!! -- and Swampfire is set during the American Revolution.

Jo Goodman -- She was an author I used to read tons of, but I don't anymore. Doesn't mean she's not good. I've noticed that her name often comes up over at the AAR boards as being a greatly underappreciated historical romance author.

Lisa Kleypas -- Used to be an autobuy for me. The first book of hers I ever read -- and one of the first romances that ever really stood out in my mind -- was "Only in Your Arms", which she later rewrote and re-released under the title "When Strangers Marry." I liked Lisa's older historicals MUCH more than her current stuff. I remember reading one of her books from the mid- to late-90s and thinking that it didn't read at all like her earlier stuff. I even thought that different authors had penned the books! I think the older stuff had more depth or something; nowadays, I think LK is the queen of the Wallpaper Romance, although that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like a good wallpaper romance every now and then. I just liked this author's older work better.

Mary Balogh -- I actually really like her old Regencies. They don't have a lot of sex in them, but the relationships and characters are surprisingly complex, especially compared to those in other Regencies. If you're reading for the relationship, and not so much an adventurous plot, then you may like these. The sentiments of the characters are very adult, despite the lack of sex scenes. I'm not sure what my favorite MB book is, but one of my favorite SCENES is the one in The Secret Pearl where they're riding in the carriage and he touches just the skin of her wrist. Wow.

Mary Jo Putney -- My favorite series of hers is always gonna be the Fallen Angels series. Thunder and Roses is my favorite of her books. Also try "The Rake" and "The Wild Child". Fabulous!

Amanda Quick -- I loved the first five or six that she wrote. Good stuff. This is the pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz who does contemporaries. I think Garwood and Quick were the first to come out with the quirky heroine, although I like Quick's better than Garwood's.

Diana Gabaldon -- Simply no one writes better historical fiction, period, but these are no light-and-fluffy reads. What Diana writes is the absolute antithesis of the Wallpaper Romance.

Linda Howard -- If you like Linda Howard, don't overlook her historicals. "Angel Creek" and "Lady of the West." They're both westerns, but hey...they're Linda Howard. Also, her book "Son of the Morning" is a time-travel with the heroine spending most of her time in the present-day, but she goes back in the past to 14th century Scotland. It's one of the best time-travel books I've ever read.

And my favorite (non-Diana Gabaldon) historical of all time is Stormfire by Christine Monson. It's got elements that would probably qualify it for instant wallbanger status by many of today's readers, but Sean and Kit will always be two of my favorite characters.

I've noticed that I really, really prefered the historicals of the mid- to late-80s and early 90s over what's being published nowadays.

One who is less known but when I loved set in England is Liz Carlyle. The Devil to Pay is really good.

Other American historicals I have enjoyed include:

LaVyrle Spencer:
Years
Hummingbird
Sweet Memories
Morning Glory
Fulfillment

Dorothy Garlock:
Love & Cherish
Lonesome River
Dream River
River of Tomorrow
Yesteryear

And so many more of both authors.

I've read some of Bertric Small, too and have liked some of hers and some I've been a little shocked by, like in The Kadin. I've never read a book before or since that has had quite that kind of plot. Did that make any sense? I'm having wording problems today!

I've read most of Betrice Small's books. If you really wanna be shocked pick up "The Love Slave" by her. OMG!!!

ETA: One of her books had this thing with grapes. Hmmmm I'll have to find the title.

Um, what is shocking in/about those books?

Those that miss the old Lavryle Spencer historicals might enjoy Ruth Langan's most recent historicals.

I can NEVER find Ruth Langan's books. I came across one at Walmart last year, haven't seen any since. My library doesn't have them either.

I need suggestions for how to talk to my library about how they choose books. My branch has very few Nora's.

My branch hardly has any Nora's either. Especially the new ones being released. Unless you get incredibly lucky right before it hits the shelves, you are on that waiting list for months. By the time they call you, the paperback version is out.

I told them point blank they need to have more of her books on hand because she is so popular. They know but I don't think that they are doing that though.

They have tons of James Patterson's on hand but not Nora's. Go figure.

Brenda Kay - is your library catalogue on the internet? At ours, you can put a hold on a book while it's on order, before it actually reaches the library. Of course, you still end up in a line, as others are doing the same, but you don't wait quite as long and they call you when it's your turn. If you're incredibly lucky and get your request in quickly enough, you sometimes land in 5 or 6 spot.

Chris

As far as historicals, I read:
Jude Devereaux
Johanna Lindsey
Stephanie Laurens (whose books are NOT all series, FYI. Single titles are in reprints now.)
Julia Quinn
Jane Feather
Eloisa James (Looooved her Pleasures series)
Kinley MacGregor
Karen Marie Moning (actually these are time travel, but have historical elements and are VERY good)
Susan Johnson (Can you have TOO MUCH SEX?!?!?)
Claire Delacroix
Teresa Medeiros (read Charming the Prince...it's one of my guilty pleasures!)

I have just gotten into Mary Balogh. I think she is most similar to Laurens in style. I really liked her Simply books and had to go back and read all the Slightly books which are mildly connected.

Balogh is great. Her books often pack quite the emotional punch. They may not always have a lot of passion/sex, but the emotional connection between the H/H can be staggering. I liked a lot of her old Signet regencies, but you can't find them anywhere these days (not even in UBS).

well, you can't find them easily. I just picked up The Temporary Wife at Ed McKay's for $.25 last week. Gotta love USB's that don't value roomance! Also, I have a friend at work, who collects Regencies--she's got them all! All the Kleypas oldies; all the Baloghs. So far, she's never not had one I asked to borrow.

I started out reading historicals in the 80's but I don't read them too much anymore. Of course my fellow Gabaldon fans know what a HUGE fan I am of the OUTLANDER series but those books are in their own category. These are the historical authors I have always enjoyed.

Diana Gabaldon
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - not her recent stuff
Jude Deveraux - her Montgomery books
Amanda Quick
Julie Garwood
Bertrice Small - I read her in the 80's and early 90's. I loved SKYE O'MALLEY.

I used to read others- Johanna Lindsey, Rebecca Brandewyne, Shirlee Busbee, Laurie McBain- but I'm not sure how they would hold up today. Laurie McBain is out of print but last year I found all her books on eBay so I bought them up.

I know there are other authors I enjoyed but these are the ones off the top of my head.

So I finally got to read Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas, and I loved it!!! It was awesome, so I went out and bought It Happened One Autumn since Secrets of A Summer Night wasn't there. I think I'm going to add her to one my favorites!!


Rae

Someone just told me that Signet has cancelled their Regency line (or maybe all their romances).

Has anyone heard anything about this?

Hi Raine,

I'm pretty sure Signet canceled their Regency line in February of this year :fairy: Wym

Thanks. I have been so busy that I haven't really done more than notice that none of the Signet regency authors had new books out, and wonder why. I was looking online by author, and so did not realize the whole line had vanished from the stores.

I hope that some of the authors find a new line/place to publish, since there were several I really liked.

Any Gone With the Wind fans out there? I hadn't realized there was another authorized sequel in the works. I didn't like Scarlett and I think that one was approved by the heirs of Ms. Mitchell.



Full article HERE

Here's a link to the other page

Rhett

Thanks Betty S Love "Gone with the Wind" so does my MIL.

I think this will make a great Christmas gift!

Oh, Betty. I adore GWTW. I even have a first edition hardback. I have mixed feelings about this new Rhett book because I loathed Scarlett. I will give it a shot though. Thanks for the heads up!!!!!!!

Catherine Coulter
Judith McNaught
Mary Jo Putney
Brenda Joyce
Patricia Gaffney

Laura Kinsale
Penelope Williamson
Candice Proctor
Meagan McKinney
Katherine Sutcliffe

There are others but these are my favorites...

I like dark and sensual,deep and emotional historicals which will burn in your mind and heart for a long while such as TO HAVE AND TO HOLD or THE BEQUEST or UNCOMMON VOWS. Not for the reader seeking light entertainment.

Had no idea a further sequel of GWTW was planned. Read the original but never read "Scarlett".

My all-time fave novel is "Pride and Prejudice". I understand some sequels to this have been written but I've never read any of them. Have any of you guys read 'em? Care to make some recommendations?

I loved "Scarlett" but I hated the tv movie. It was nothing like the book!

Just started a new series by Elizabeth Hoyt; really enjoying them.

It starts with The Raven Prince, I'm partly through the second book, The Leopard Prince, and ends with The Serpent Prince.

All the books are connected by the friendship of the three heros.

Very well-written and sexy!

Sue

That is a really good trilogy. I liked the interplay between the 3 friends, it was well done.

I read these, too and really liked them.

I am a really big historical buff myself. My favorite historical author was Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. She wrote The Flame and the Flower, The wolf and the Dove, Shanna, ect. She past away this past June so unfortunately the novels out there are all we have but she is truely the Queen of Hist. Romance. If you are looking for a more complicated storyline however, try Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It takes some dedication because there is a lot of dialect but the love story between Jamie and Claire is moving and poingant

Rae:

I'll highly recommend:
Liz Carlyle, I have read 14/19 of her books and she hasn't disappointed me..
Christina Dodd also has great books..
Elizabeth Hoyt's books are also my favorites...
Susan Johnson's When You Love Someone, When Someone Loves you...
And make sure you don't miss Sophie Jordan's books!!

Try them, and tell me if you agree with me..

Here is my historical lists of ones I have enjoyed:
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Diana Gabaldon
Shannon Drake
Hanna Howell
Lynsay Sands
Monica McCarthy
Karen Marie Moning(not sure if she counts)
Those are a few that I have read. Hope this helps. There are a bunch of other singles I have but haven't gotten around to reading them yet.