I've also really enjoyed the LIAR'S CLUB and ROYAL FOUR series-es by Celeste Bradley. In particular, THE PRETENDER, THE IMPOSTER, and THE CHARMER were excellent and hit all my buttons.
For a MUCH more sexy read, pick up Jess Michaels. I REALLY REALLY enjoy her trilogies; my favorite book of hers by far is SOMETHING RECKLESS, which is the second book in an earlier trilogy of hers. She's firmly in the erotic side of romance, with lots of sexy scenes paired with great character development. EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN (the book before Something Reckless) is probably the strongest book in that trilogy, but Something Reckless is my favorite because it's my faaaaaaavorite trope. Her new series, THE PLEASURE WARS, is set to drop Book Two in about a week.
More in historical: I've really liked Karen Hawkins's books. I enjoyed HOW TO CAPTURE A COUNTESS purely for the romp it presented -- and delivered! Her earlier books, particularly THE SEDUCTION OF SARA and AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, were excellent, with the latter in my "keep" pile for sure. (I happen to really like the, "I hate you, I can't stand you, your hair smells so nice" kinds of romances and so a lot of my recs will swing that way.) Lisa Kleypas's Wallflowers quartet is a classic, with IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN one of my all-time favorite books.
Erin Knightley is newer and I'm enjoying her Sealed with a Kiss series thus far; you can actually try one of her novellas here, if you have a Kindle or use a Kindle app: http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Rake-Alls-Fair-Novella-ebook/dp/B00C4CSUDG -- I will say, however, that MORE THAN A STRANGER was a far stronger read than the novella implied.
Caroline Linden wrote the excellent THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DUKE trilogy, all three books are absolute standouts. Her other one-shots (most of which are vaguely interconnected) are fine, but this particular trilogy was what had me reading her entire backlog. This trilogy reminded me in all the best ways of Courtney Milan's Turner series.
Sherry Thomas I go back and forth on; I've enjoyed her Fitzhugh series (BEGUILING THE BEAUTY, RAVISHING THE HEIRESS, TEMPTING THE BRIDE) pretty well, though the first book was the strongest. Tempting the Bride was enjoyable except I felt the ending lacked a key emotional scene for me, one that I felt weakened the book overall. However, all three are fast, good reads. Her favorite book of mine is HIS AT NIGHT, which implies much more abuse/cruelty than it shows, but is really about two people who wear masks and keep secrets so closely that they are soothed by finding each other. There's a beta-couple in His at Night who are basically the joy-filled counterweight to the main couple, as well.
If you haven't read the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, you're missing out. Standouts from that series for me are THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME and ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON. The other books are fine, but those two in particular just got me.
Sarah MacLean kind of goes either way for me. NINE RULES TO BREAK was masterful; her other books have been hit-and-miss as far as I'm concerned.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zvi and
no subject
Date: 2013-10-25 07:21 pm (UTC)For a MUCH more sexy read, pick up Jess Michaels. I REALLY REALLY enjoy her trilogies; my favorite book of hers by far is SOMETHING RECKLESS, which is the second book in an earlier trilogy of hers. She's firmly in the erotic side of romance, with lots of sexy scenes paired with great character development. EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN (the book before Something Reckless) is probably the strongest book in that trilogy, but Something Reckless is my favorite because it's my faaaaaaavorite trope. Her new series, THE PLEASURE WARS, is set to drop Book Two in about a week.
More in historical: I've really liked Karen Hawkins's books. I enjoyed HOW TO CAPTURE A COUNTESS purely for the romp it presented -- and delivered! Her earlier books, particularly THE SEDUCTION OF SARA and AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, were excellent, with the latter in my "keep" pile for sure. (I happen to really like the, "I hate you, I can't stand you, your hair smells so nice" kinds of romances and so a lot of my recs will swing that way.) Lisa Kleypas's Wallflowers quartet is a classic, with IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN one of my all-time favorite books.
Erin Knightley is newer and I'm enjoying her Sealed with a Kiss series thus far; you can actually try one of her novellas here, if you have a Kindle or use a Kindle app: http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Rake-Alls-Fair-Novella-ebook/dp/B00C4CSUDG -- I will say, however, that MORE THAN A STRANGER was a far stronger read than the novella implied.
Caroline Linden wrote the excellent THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DUKE trilogy, all three books are absolute standouts. Her other one-shots (most of which are vaguely interconnected) are fine, but this particular trilogy was what had me reading her entire backlog. This trilogy reminded me in all the best ways of Courtney Milan's Turner series.
Sherry Thomas I go back and forth on; I've enjoyed her Fitzhugh series (BEGUILING THE BEAUTY, RAVISHING THE HEIRESS, TEMPTING THE BRIDE) pretty well, though the first book was the strongest. Tempting the Bride was enjoyable except I felt the ending lacked a key emotional scene for me, one that I felt weakened the book overall. However, all three are fast, good reads. Her favorite book of mine is HIS AT NIGHT, which implies much more abuse/cruelty than it shows, but is really about two people who wear masks and keep secrets so closely that they are soothed by finding each other. There's a beta-couple in His at Night who are basically the joy-filled counterweight to the main couple, as well.
If you haven't read the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, you're missing out. Standouts from that series for me are THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME and ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON. The other books are fine, but those two in particular just got me.
Sarah MacLean kind of goes either way for me. NINE RULES TO BREAK was masterful; her other books have been hit-and-miss as far as I'm concerned.