Rowena Says:
For those of you guys out there who haven’t picked up your first Julie Garwood novel, I envy you. Because if you haven’t read anything by Julie Garwood, I sincerely think you’re missing out. Julie Garwood writes the kind of novels that will have you wanting more. I remember when I first started reading Julie Garwood, I glommed the hell out of her. I wanted to read everything she had in print and went on to do it. I read everything and loved most of everything she wrote.
For a while, she couldn’t write anything bad and though I haven’t read anything new by her in a while, I still love the hell out of her. I love her because she introduced me to the likes of Ramsey Sinclair, Connor McAllister and Lucas Ross.
It’s been so long since I read my first Julie Garwood but I can remember the first JG book that I read. It was The Bride. My sister had a bunch of books laying around the house and I had graduated from high school. I spent the first summer that I was no longer in high school babysitting my niece Meghan for my sister for $30 a week (goodness I was cheap labor). I got bored and had already burned my way through Judith McNaught and wanted something else to read. My sister had a copy of The Bride, Honor’s Splendour, The Prize and The Wedding. I picked up The Bride first and read it within two days. I loved it! I loved it so much that I had to read everything by Julie Garwood and with my $30 a week, I made short work of buying the books that I didn’t have and reading everything I could get my hands on. Not too long after that, I was posting on the JGBB with other like minded JG fans and the rest as you can see, is history…
Holly Says:
As I mentioned earlier this week, Killjoy was my first Garwood. I absolutely loved it the first time I listened to it, but once I started glomming her backlist I realized it really wasn’t very good at all. I haven’t re-read it in years, but I imagine if I read it now I’d be severely disappointed. Still, I can’t be sorry it was my first since it lead to me where I am today.
Casee:
The first book I read of Julie Garwood’s was Honor’s Splendour. To this day it remains one of my favorite ever historials. I have about five copies of it scattered throughout various rooms of my house. If I ever want a good re-read, I just pick up the closest copy.
So tell us about your JG beginnings…what was your first JG book and did you love it or hate it?
I think my first Julie Garwood was Heartbreaker. I picked it up randonly from the library and was blown away. It was fantastic. Then I read The Secret and Ransom as rec’d by a friend and must say I love love her medievals.
Mine was The Secret and after I finished that one, I took myself off to the bookstore and bought all the other books they had by her. I remember they only had 3 or 4 so I had to special order the rest when they looked her up on the computer and she had a long list of books. 🙂
Honor’s Splendour. SIGH. I love that book. The heroine, Madelyne warms the hero, Duncan’s feet against her stomach at no small risk to herself.
And he is captivated.
SWOON.
I’m going home to pull it off my keeper shelf.
The first Julie Garwood book I read was The Secret. I loved it and read everything she had written. I own all of her historicals and re-read them all. I really dislike her current books, though. She stopped being an automatic buy for me. I read her books through the library and am always thankful that I haven’t spent any money on them. Even Shadow Music, a return to the historicals, was a disappointment.
The Bride. I read it because of all the raving reviews and LOVED it. It’s not my favorite but I’ve read it a few times more ever since and every time it’s the same pleasure.
The Gift, and only after having it in my TBR for nearly two years and nearly donating to the local library. I just so happen to need something to read and the only books close was in my trunk ready to go to the library. Needless to say I glommed everything Garwood after that, and I double-check any unread books before donating them to the library! The Gift remains one of my all time favs, but most of her historicals are also keepers.
Gentle Warrior was the first one I read, and since then I have read all of her historicals. Her medievals are my favorite.
The Secret was my first. I love the historicals, but have never gotten into the moderns. I just can’t pick a favorite…whenever I pick up one to reread, I hit the whole group because I am reminded how much I love them!
Another one who started with Honor’s Splendor in the late 80’s and then the Bride. At the time I was reading historical romances exclusively. They’ve recently released The Bride in audio book form and the Prize is the next vintage Garwood to be converted to audio and released late this month. I’m excited to revisit the book in audio form (tho, don’t get me wrong, I have all of her historical books still on my shelves from about 20 years ago!) … other vintage authors who were comparable for their historicals at the time were Judith McNaught and Katherine Woodiwiss. I think I’m showing my age now so I’ll go back to browsing my book blogs! 😀
I’ve never read a Julie Garwood novel. What would be the best one to start with? Any suggestions?
My first Julie Garwood was an accident – I was at the B&N trying to pick a romance (totally new to the genre and didn’t know what/who to pick) and my 2-year-old was getting whiny. I told her to “pick mommy a book” and she pulled out The Bride. I read the blurb and bought it – I’m so glad I did!!
My first JG was The Bride and I picked it up on impulse at a drugstore. To this day, I love the book.
The first JG book I read was The Bride and I simply loved it!! To this day, it’s still my very favorite of her books. I love the humor in her heroines (most of the time) and I especially love her strong alpha Scottish heroes in her medievals. I still haven’t read any of her contemporaries, but I’ll get to them eventually.
Oh man, I can’t remember!
No, seriously–it was like a lifetime ago!
I *think* it was Saving Grace but I may believe that because it’s my top favorite of her books.
I think mine was Lyon’s Bride – loved the heroine! And I was a JG fangirl forever – then she went to contemporary and lost me. Sad. But I’m glad you guys are reminding of all the great books she wrote!
CindyS
My first was Honors Splendour. I borrowed it from a friend of mine who swore it was amazing. I didn’t touch it for 2 weeks, but one night I decided to crack it open.
JG had me from the first line – they meant to kill him – and then I spent all night and into the early morning devouring every word!
I love Julie Garwood and in fact a few days ago did a spotlight on her books on my blog. My first book read of hers was Castles.
oh Julie Garwood is a absolute favorite of mine as well. I’ve read every book she’s written. First one i read was called Murder List. Totally hooked and started at the task of reading them right then. Her last book Sizzle that came out end of Dec. was awesome. I always recommend her to anyone looking for something to read. I love her historical especially the Scottish Lairds. sigh… So good! lol
Lisa