Thursday, April 25, 2013

How We Got to Where We Are Today: Modern Historical Romance Over the Last Several Decades, or A Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated

 
Sometimes when I talk to fellow readers of historical romance, or even authors, and I mention a name from the past, an author who helped shape the genre, like Kathleen Woodiwiss or Rosemary Rogers, I get a blank stare in return. It occurred to me that as lovers of a genre it might be helpful to read some of the classics to see where we’ve come from and to enjoy the greats who have contributed so much to the craft.

I’m not going as far back as Ivanhoe, Pride and Prejudice, or Jane Eyre. I’m not even reaching back to the seminal novels of Georgette Heyer in the early 20th century. Except for two novels of note in earlier decades, I’m starting in the 1970s when the bedroom door was flung open never to close again. And while I may not have included your favorite author, by reading the romances on this list, you’ll have a good idea of our beginnings and what so many wonderful authors have done for the genre. Think of it as an education in modern historical romance.

Where an author has written many novels (some early authors are still writing best sellers today), I tried to use their earliest work that influenced the genre.

So, here’s the list of the historical romances I recommend you read. Each has something to show you. Some may require you to shop online for a used book though many are available as eBooks. I’m not saying they will all be your favorites, or that they are all mine. And I realize some readers will think I left off one I should have included (do comment about those as I update this annually).

This is a sampling meant to give you a picture of how the genre has developed over time. Most are novels I’ve rated 5 stars, so I promise you won’t be bored. 


Included because of their significance…

·       Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas (1954)
·       Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis (1965)

The 1970s: The Pioneering Years

·       The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (1972)
·       The Wicked Marquis by Barbara Cartland (1973)
·       Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers (1974)
·       Devil's Desire by Laurie McBain (1975)
·       Love’s Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde (aka Tom Huff) (1976)
·       Caroline by Cynthia Wright (1977)
·       Love’s Wild Desire by Jennifer Blake (1977)
·       Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey (1977)
·       The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory (1979)

The 1980s: The Explosive Years

·       Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee (1980)
·       Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small (1981)
·       Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter (1982)
·       Rose of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne (1984)
·       Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (1985)
·       The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham (1986)
·       Mountain Mistress by Nadine Crenshaw (1987)
·       The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley (1988)
·       Capture the Sun by Shirl Henke (1988)
·       Nightwylde by Kimberleigh Caitlin (aka Kimberly Cates) (1988)
·       Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham (1989)
·       Heartstorm by Elizabeth Stuart (1989)

The 1990s: The Developing Years

·       Dark Fires by Brenda Joyce (1991)
·       Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (1992)
·       Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1992)
·       Enchanted by Elizabeth Lowell (1994)
·       The Passions of Emma by Penelope Williamson (1997)
·       Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (1997)
·       Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens (1999)

The 2000s: The “Standing On The Shoulders of Giants” Years

·       By Possession by Madeline Hunter (2000)
·       Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry by Amanda Hughes (2002)
·       The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole (2003)
·       Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (2007)
·       Broken Wing by Judith James (2008)
·       My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne (2008)
·       The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (2008)
·       Raeliksen by Renee Vincent (2008)
·       Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell (2010)
·       Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner (2011)

36 comments:

  1. An amazing list. It was like a history of my reading until I reached the 2000s (where I somehow got derailed). I will keep this list as a guide. Thanks!

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    1. Kellianne--I'm delighted you found it interesting. It's the hardest list I've ever done as I had to read a lot of books!! Those the basic list stays pretty much the same, as I learn more I update it each year. This year did have a few changes.

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  2. Thank you for sharing; I'm still to historical romance (since Nov. 2011) so this list is helpful.

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    1. I'm glad you found the list helpful, Maria. That's why I did it!

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  5. I think one of my favorite books of all time is The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory. My copy is tattered from being read over and over. Thank you for the wonderful list and fond memories of great books.

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    1. Ah, you are welcome, Kylie. The Rainbow Season came to me from some of my friends who are very successful classic romance authors who said the book was one that influenced them.

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  6. Regan,
    I had to smile when I saw, The Flame and the Flower.
    It was one of the first romances I ever read, and I named my daughter, Brianna, after the heroine.

    Fabulous list!

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    1. Good for you, Collette! I, too, am a "rank sentimentalist" and loved that book. I still re-read Woodiwiss. Whatever you may say about her prose, purple or otherwise, she can still sweep me away. I especially love her early work and Shana is one of my favorites.

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  7. The Wolf and the Dove by Woodiwiss is what started my love for reading and my love for medieval history. I was hooked from the moment I started that book. I don't like regrets but I have to say I wish that I had found a way to contact her and let her know how much her writing changed my life. I never found a way to contact her and never even thought to contact the publisher to let her know until it was too late. What a great author!

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    1. I do agree Leah, and sadly I had an experience like that. I had just fallen in love with the Scottish historical romances by Kathleen Givens when I discovered she had suddenly passed away. But she left a legacy of 6 wonderful novels that will all be on my Best Scottish/Highlander Historical Romances list I'll post in May.

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  8. What a great list. I remember reading many of these stories. In fact I have some of them in my bookshelf.

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    1. Shelley, I have found that many of the so called "classics" which are now "new" to eBooks are as good or much better than the new ones written today. I love them!

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  13. The Flame and the Flower was one of the first, if not the firtst that I ever read. While I took issue with the "happy" slaves, as a young woman, I loved loved loved Heather and Brandon. They feel as real to me now as they did then.
    I hated the way the novel began but it ws just so great!

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    1. Yes, The Flame and the Flower was a great story. Lots of angst!

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  14. I haven't read any of your authors from the last group. I am surprised, however, not to see Julie Garwood here. She brought me back to romance with "The Bride" in the late ninties and I thought she was well thought of in the romance community?

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    1. There is a reason Garwood isn't on any of my lists. I've read a half dozen of her novels and given a few 4 stars but I cannot abide her flights of fantasy and her improbable elements. After finishing the last one, I decided "never again." I can't recommend her though I know she has her fans.

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  15. Your list is incredible, Regan! And I'm so honored to be among so many great historical romance writers. Thank you for considering my work when you compiled this. I cannot thank you enough for recognizing RÆLIKSEN for its timelessness and its heartfelt love story. Your recommendations are truly noteworthy!

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    1. Thanks, Renee. It was a labor of love and reading Raeliksen pure enjoyment!

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  16. This is a great list. It's startling to me how few of the 2000s ones I've read.

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  17. A thousand thanks for including me on your recommended reading list, Regan -- and among your favorites, as well. It's a true pleasure to be among these old friends. Your list is not only a lovely tribute, but a great service for those who haven't read these early best sellers.

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    1. Your books are wonderful Jennifer and I'm still discovering new ones to love!

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  18. I am very honored that you've included CAROLINE, the first in my Beauvisage series, on your "Pioneering Years" list, Regan. All the books on your list are "keepers" and it's wonderful that new readers can discover them thanks to you!

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    1. I still can't believe you wrote that in your early 20's, Cindy. A major achievement followed by many others!

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  19. Great list, Regan, thank you. Dame Cartland was my intro to romance. Books by Canham, Stuart, Gabaldon, Kinsale, Bourne on my shelves have been reread so many times over the years they are falling apart. I might have included abfab The Windflower.

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    1. Rachel,
      I loved the Windflower and will think about adding it in the 80s. It is on my Best Pirate, Privateer and High Seas Romances list. Unfortunately, I can find no other historical of its equal written by the Curtis writing team ("Laura London"). Their other historical romances do not appear of the same quality. For this list, I like to include authors whose books were/are consistently good and contributed to the genre. Still, I may list it next time.

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  20. Thank you Regan! I am going to get my hands on every book on this list (the ones I haven't read). "Whitney My Love" and "Sweet Savage Love" are two of my favorites. I haven't read any from the 2000's but I will now.

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    1. I'm so glad it helps you! Perhaps you'll discover some great authors!

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  21. Fantastic list, Regan! I love seeing some of my favourites on there (Penelope Williamson, Johanna Lindsay, Marsha Canham, Joanna Bourne, Kaki Warner) and now I'm looking forward to reading the rest!

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    1. Thanks, Genevieve. It was a labor of love to prepare it and took months, of course. I still update it.

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