A Sunday poll: Who is your favorite historical romance author?
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This poll is now closed.
[/fusion_text][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]And today, we’re asking…
Who is your favorite historical romance author?
[/fusion_text][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]It’s just for fun–we’re hoping you’ll remind us of great historical romance authors we’ve missed!
Click on the post link to access the poll.
Thanks!
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I don’t read much HR any more, but when HR made up most of my romance reading, Mary Balogh and Edith Layton (RIP) were my go-to favorites. In fact, in the late 1980s, Balogh’s THE RELUCTANT BRIDE and Layton’s THE ABANDONED BRIDE (both from Signet, iirc) brought me back to historical romance after I’d gotten totally burnt out on bodice-rippers. Balogh, of course, is still writing and is tremendously popular. Since Layton died about a decade ago, I’m not sure her backlist is still being read.
Actually, Layton’s daughter is republishing her mom’s work and they’ve been selling!
Yes, Dabney’s right – Edith Layton’s daughter has been steadily republishing her backlist. I’ve read a few – some are more successful than others!
I’m glad her books are being republished—although I’m not sure how well they’ll be received today. Layton really liked to put her heroines through the wringer, emotionally and socially—sometimes in really difficult-to-read ways. But that’s probably more historically accurate than HRs today where heroines lose their virginity before marriage and have babies out of wedlock and everyone around them is so welcoming and loving and it’s nbd. I don’t think so.
My favorite Layton was THE FIRE FLOWER, set right after the great fire of London. It’s not a traditional HEA romance, but it is a love story.
I liked her Love trilogy best, and I am very happy that they come out as ebooks, I am a buyer :-)
I have not ever read Layton but based on so many excoriating Goodreads reviews of her books, I haven’t been able to bring myself to pick one up. I think you’re right based on what I’ve read from recent reviews that she’s not holding up well. It’s true that historically women were often in abusive relationships and/or walked a tightrope with their male partners, though those stories are not the ones that would be romantic for me. Since I read literature from the 19th century as frequently as I do historical fiction, I read lots of painful fiction. Some books many readers today would consider romances, like Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice, imagine more humane lives for women, and I tend to think that historical writers today tap into that dynamic when creating happy endings for their couples.
This was tough. I went with Joanna Bourne because I think the quality of her handful of novels are superb and I’ve read them countless times, but I went back and forth over Lisa Kleypas. If I went with the author based on not only enjoyment, but how many novels I’ve enjoyed over the years it would be Kleypas for the win. I can’t think of another author who has held my attention and maintained their quality like she has.
I can’t really pick between Bourne, Duran, and Thomas at this point in my reading.
Bourne ended up with my vote because of her consistent quality- although to be fair she has the smallest sample of work. I enjoy Duran and Thomas but their books vary in quality for me. Some I just enjoyed and some are amongst my favorites. But I agree they are in that group of “most talented authors” in my opinion not just authors who write entertaining books. This was a hard poll!
Agree that Bourne is nearly in a class of her own as a writer. She would be a powerhouse in the subgenre of historical romances if she produced more, but her handful of books is head and shoulders above most authors, I think.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen anything from Bourne apart from some small posts she does at the Word Wenches Blog. She doesn’t update her own personal blog anymore which had some wonderful information, back stories and writer’s tips. I think a few years ago she said she was working on something with a Medieval setting? I’m incredibly curious to know anything about it. Everything she has written so far has been set in Regency England and French Revolution or Napoleon era France.
I follow Bourne on Twitter and she’s fairly active on political stuff but I never see any mention of her fictional writing anymore and haven’t in years, alas.
Contemporary romances have been so strong in recent years and their strengths and popularity have overshadowed historical romances a bit. But just in the past couple of years, I have really enjoyed debut historical romance novels from Mia Vincy, Evie Dunmore, and Diana Biller. I don’t think they were included above but I would bet these authors will become increasingly relevant. I would add Elizabeth Kingston too (she is on the list) as a relatively new and exciting historical romance author.
Again, anyone could add someone in. The list wasn’t meant to be a limit but rather an inspiration!
No, my comment was not really about a list but about the strengths of some emerging historical romance authors like Evie Dunmore, Diana Biller, and Mia Vincy and where I think they will be in coming years. Just a guess but I tend to think they will become important voices and very soon. I also as I stated above tend to think that the strength and high quality of contemporary romances right now is overshadowing historical romances, but things tend to shift over time and this could flip back soon. In any case, think Dunmore, Biller, and Vincy are exciting new voices in this subgenre and I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for new authors to read, especially for readers who might be disenchanted with the current fare. All three will have new releases in 2020 too!
I really need to read The Widow of Rose House.
Great fun but I would have liked to see more sub-categories like, say medieval, Victorian, western, Elizabethan, etc. My voting was, therefore a super-quick reaction to what I have loved over a lifetime of reading and therefore very generalised. I voted in the second category for Diana Gabaldon despite her insisting she doesn’t write HR. That’s a discussion I would love to have with her!!
Dabney, Lorraine Heath is missing from the list.
You can write her in! Lots of people are missing from this list!
I’m kind of disappointed. I was hoping this list would uncover someone I hadn’t read before, but these are all familiar and admired names. Sigh. ;-)
I think I’ll do another poll about historical romances you love but you think we might not heard of. The possiblities are endless!
Buried Treasure historicals!
I posted below some new historical authors who have just recently really grabbed my attention, notably Evie Dunmore, Diana Biller, and Mia Vincy. I too would love to hear from readers especially new historical authors they are finding today.
Only one choice in each category!? You are too cruel :-)
(FYI – I was asked to submit vote anonomously because the WP log in option “failed” – although I’m now logged in with WP name for commenting purposes.)
I know. I know. But sometimes, you just have to choose!
I am genuinely startled that none of youall have voted for Eloisa James. She has a book in the AAR Top 100 poll and we’ve reviewed her 31 times. Shocked, I tell you, shocked!
Much as I love Eloisa James, I think of her books as fairy tales rather than historicals. They take place in some other universe.
Interesting point. I think that’s not as true for her earlier books but is perhaps true now. Although Julia Quinn’s books now read that way to me as well.
Is Carla Kelly supposed to be in the second one? She’s primarily known for her Regencies.
She has ten American historicals reviewed her, several of which are classics!
I would have put her under the first one where all of her writings can be included.
Oh, she’s there! I looked at this on my mobile yesterday and it was wonky. Also, ‘ is doing better than I would have predicted. I’ve never read anything by ‘
My iPad was wonky with this too. I’m not entirely sure my vote in the second category ended up under the right author. I should have done it on my computer.
Well, maybe, but I’ve written several well-received Westerns, and a series set in Spanish Colonial New Mexico (The Spanish Brand Series). The St. Brendan series is set slightly before the Regency era (1803-1805), so maybe they’re historicals.
Over 100 entries thus far! You guys really like Lisa Kleypas!
This is fun! Thank you.
Trying to learn a new plugin–be patient with me! Thanks!