I’ve been seeing this book tag around blogs and BookTube. It looked like fun so I wanted to give it a try. The tag originated from Not Just Romance Novels and Naya Reads and Smiles.
Here are the questions…
- What age did you start to read romance novels? I started reading romance novels when I was 18 years old and pregnant with my daughter Brenna. I named my kid after one of my favorite heroines from my books at the time, Lady Brenna from The Wedding by Julie Garwood.
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If you could pick one hero to meet from your favorite romance novels who would it be and why? Man, this is a hard one because there are so many heroes that I love. I think I’d want to meet Jordan Townsende, the Duke of Hawthorne from Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught because he was the very first romance hero that I fell in love with so I’ve loved him the longest.
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Who are your favorite romance authors and why? My favorite romance authors now include Lauren Layne, Julie James, Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy and my favorite old school romance authors include Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard and Nora Roberts. The difference between the two are the favorites now are the authors that I will always read now but the old school ones are the ones that I rarely read their new stuff but I will always read their older releases over and over again.
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What is a favorite romance novel to re-read? Probably The Wedding by Julie Garwood, Something Wonderful and Double Standards by Judith McNaught, Seaswept by Nora Roberts and Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.
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What book would you recommend to a non-romance reader? Ooh, got you guys covered on this since we did a Romance Starter Kits post a while ago but I would still recommend these books now.
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Which is your favorite, contemporary, suspense, or historical and why? I read contemporary romance the most. I enjoy all kinds of romance but contemporary is home for me and that is what you’ll find me reading most of the time.
Now what about you guys? Please share your answers in the comments!
Let’s see:
1) I think I was 12 or 13 when I read my first romance (it was a looooong time ago LOL).
2) I’d love to meet Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series (hello Chapter 32!)
3) two of my favorite authors write UF, but both have great romances – Patricia Briggs, and Ilona Andrews. In CR, I love Sarina Bowen, Kylie Scott, Lucy Parker, Ainslie Paton, Emma Chase. In historicals, Tessa Dare and Emily Larkin.
4) I rarely reread, but when I do, it’s either Dragon Bound by Pia Harrison, or Patricia Briggs’ Alpha/Omega series.
5) For non-romance readers, i usually recommend an author who writes good banter like Jennifer Crusie, or Julie James.
6) I mainly read contemporary, but my favorite is UF with a strong romance element.
So, what book was your first romance? Do you remember?
I haven’t ever read anything by Jeaniene Frost but I have heard of Bones. I hear nothing but good things.
Your favorites are my favorites too! I love it!
I just finished reading Dead Heat and LOVED it. Man, Charles and Anna are definitely couples goals!
Great answers, JenM!
The first romance I remember reading was that classic bodice ripper, Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. It’s a miracle I wasn’t permanently scarred LOL. Back then (1970’s), the romance pickings were pretty slim. I also read Georgette Heyer and all of her Regency imitators, writers like Daphne Du Maurier, and Mary Stewart, and sprawling historical sagas like Poldark, Shogun, the Winds of War series, and my personal favorites, the Angelique series by Sergeanne Golon and the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett.
Oops, just noticed that I misnamed an author in my original comment, that’s Thea Harrison, not Pia (which is the heroine’s name).
I read a Rosemary Rogers book way back in the day. I honestly can’t remember a thing about the book or if I even liked it or not.
Ha, I knew what you meant so I read right over that. 🙂
Fun!
1) My mom used to take me to a bookstore that was all used romance because she was a romance reader. I started picking up some older Harlequin Regencies and other “clean” historicals probably around 7th-8th grade? And then I remember in early high school getting Harlequin Intrigues from the library and burning through those.
2) I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about this one before. Maybe Tristan from Laura Florand’s A Crown of Bitter Oranges, because he’s a big sweetheart plus a perfume designer, and that’s so neat.
3) A few years ago my list would probably have been different, but my current faves are probably Cynthia Eden, Laura Griffin, Shelly Laurenston/GA Aiken, and Nalini Singh.
4) I don’t reread much, but the exceptions are Maya Banks’s Never Seduce a Scot and I’ll Be Watching You by Tracy Montoya.
5) I have recommended Riveted by Meljean Brook to a few readers who are fans of fantasy and adventure stories, and they’ve liked it. I think it’s just a solid epic, whether or not you showed up for the boning. 😉
6) Suspense all the way, baby! I like plot heavy books, and suspense (along with paranormal) is really the best category for plot. After a long historical drought, I’ve finally started reading them again when the mood strikes me, and I’ve been enjoying them. But contemporaries, which were for years my category of choice, have just lost all interest to me lately. I haven’t read one in a long, long time.
Ooh, my early memories of romances are seeing my sisters reading Harlequins behind my parent’s backs when I was little. I’ve seen many Harlequin Regencies and Intrigues around our house.
Nalini Singh is the bomb! I just started reading Maya Banks (where have I been?) and I can’t wait to read Never Seduce a Scot.
No contemporary love anymore? I’m shocked!! Haha.
What age did you start to read romance novels?
Like Jenm, I started reading romances in the seventies when I was about twelve or so. I read everything at that age from The Godfather, to the Angelique books, to Valley of the Dolls, to Georgette Heyer, and Barbara Cartland.
If you could pick one hero to meet from your favorite romance novels who would it be and why?
I don’t have an answer to this question. I don’t think my brain works that way!
Who are your favorite romance authors and why?
I’ll count Patricia Briggs, Thea Harrison, Anne Bishop, Lyn Gala, Julie James, Sarina Bowen, Lisa Kleypas, Carla Kelly, Nora Roberts, and a half dozen others whose names will come to me as soon as I hit Reply. Why? Because they tell good stories that make me care and laugh and sometimes cry.
What is a favorite romance novel to re-read?
There are so many as I constantly re-read.
What book would you recommend to a non-romance reader?
That’s tough as it depends upon the person. I’ve recommended works by JD Robb, Thea Harrison, and Anne Bishop most recently.
Which is your favorite, contemporary, suspense, or historical and why?
I honestly don’t think I have A favorite as I read according to mood. I read contemporary, science fiction, historical, romantic suspense, paranormal, and more. I read m/f romances as well as m/m romances. I read the occasional inspirational romance, but I eschew zombie romances!
I’m obsessed with all things Patricia Briggs right now so I’m really loving your list of authors here, Kareni. Such great ones listed.
oh Rowena I love these tags here, they are so fun!!
1) I was 16 when I got into them. My dad had me start reading LDS romance fiction and then I started browsing the library and found the Avon True Romance series and fell in love with authors like Beverly Jenkins, Karen Hawkins and Lorraine Heath and have been hooked ever since.
2) This is such a hard one but the one hero that makes the biggest impression is Derek Malory from Say I Love You by Johanna Lindsey. He is a beta hero, thoughtful and kind. And when he falls in love he fights for his lady.
3) Love your authors you listed. I adore Judith Mcnaught and the older Julie Garwood. I really don’t like her suspense or contemporary at all. My favorites are Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, older Sabrina Jeffries, C.L. Wilson and Catherine Spangler.
Ooh, I adore Lorraine Heath! Love her stuff so much and holy cow, I love me some Derek Malory too. Beta and all, I love that man! You have great tastes in authors, Renee!