You picked these six as your favorite historical romance novelists… now tell us which is your favorite book by each!
On Sunday, just for fun, we polled our readers and asked who is your favorite historical romance author and your favorite non-Regency historical romance author. 296 people voted–woo hoo!
For your favorite historical romance author of all time, you guys picked Loretta Chase by a landslide. She garnered 77 votes. So, tell us: What’s your favorite Loretta Chase novel? (And, if you ask me, it might or might not be Lord of Scoundrels. I am conflicted.)
Coming in at a not too distant second, was Sherry Thomas with 57 votes. What’s her best book? (I feel sure we will NOT agree on this.)
And in third place, the redoubtable Lisa Kleypas snagged 56 votes. Devil in Winter was the #1 book in the 2018 Top 100 Romances poll but, really, is it her zenith? (I prefer It Happened One Autumn. Go figure.)
Courtney Milan, with 54 votes was your top pick for best historical romance writer of non-Regency romance. What’s your favorite read of hers?
Next was Alyssa Cole with 41 votes–what’s your favorite historical of hers? (You can’t pick one her contemps. Sorry, those are the rules. )
Third is Carla Kelly, with 24 votes. She’s probably the least well-known author on this list. (I’ve only read two of her books.) What’s her best, you Carla Kelly fans?
Try to choose just one book for each author and, yes, it has to be a historical romance!
Share your insights in the comments and, as usual, thanks for all your input.
Stay safe and sane.
Loretta Chase – Lord of Scoundrels, Lord Perfect and Mr. Impossible
Sherry Thomas – Not Quite a Husband and His at Night
Lisa Kleypas – Devil in Winter and her latest Ravenels series …Devil’s Daughter
Courtney Milan – The Governess Affair
Alyssa Cole – she is unfamiliar to me… But I will check her out
Carla Kelly – Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand and The Admirals Penny less Bride
Other authors that I enjoy…Liz Carlyle -Beauty Like the Night, Tessa Dare – Any Duchess Will Do and The Duchess Deal (so funny!) Suzanne Enoch – A Matter of Scandal, Eloisa James – A Duke of Her Own, Julie Ann Long – It Happened One Midnight and for some really humorous books try Barbara Metzger – Wedded Bliss is my favorite of hers but there are more equally fuuny.
I’m glad found this site. I know I’m late to the party but I have been looking for a site that I could share my reading discoveries with like minded readers. Feel free to email me any romantic author suggestions if you have a mind to. Sometimes I get in a reading slump and it’s hard to find truly enjoyable historical romance books that are well written and keep me engaged.
Happy Reading!
Hi Debra, welcome to AAR. I’ve been coming since it was Laurie Likes Books, maybe the 1990s–my mind grows dim. Solid, fair, consistent reviews by knowledgeable reviewers and interesting generally respectful comments by smart readers. Safe space. You will enjoy it here.
How does this work? Should I just make a note to check this site for updates and conversations? By the way, thanks for the welcome to AAR.
Yes, just bookmark the landing page for the site (allaboutromance.com). A lot of folks stop by every day. I think Monday-Friday there is usually at least one new review of a book. There are also deals of the day listed (freebies or discounted books).
Not only can you click on, read, and comment on a particular book review, the site owners also provide general topics for discussion, such as “What was the best romance you read last year?” or “How accurate does an historical romance have to be?”
Also click on The Agora (Forums), where you can participate in other discussions or even start a discussion of your own.
Debra, if you have any problems signing up–you have to register to comment–email me.
Think of us like a newspaper. We post at least one new review a day and three blog posts a week. There is a newsletter but right now it’s only for our daily Steals and Deals. We see ourselves as more than just a place for book reviews–this is a community!
I also recommend checking out our phenomenal power search. We’ve just updated it and it’s AMAZING.
Welcome!
Dabney Grinnan
Publisher at All About Romance
Loretta Chase – can’t decide between my top 3 – Lord of Scoundrels, The Last Hellion and Mr. Impossible
Sherry Thomas Delicious, was a fun one
Lisa Kleypas – Dreaming of You, followed closely by It Happened One Autumn
Courtney Milan – The Heiress Effect
Carla Kelly – Beau Crusoe
Loretta Chase Definitely Lord Perfect and Captives of The Night
Sherry Thomas Luckiest Lady in London and Private Arrangements
Lisa Kleypas Again th Magic and Mine Til Midnight
Never read A Cole
Laura Kinsale and Jo Goodman are my personal favs
best to me
At Your Pleasure Meredith Duran
I don’t remember receiving the Sunday survey or I definitely would have participated.
My favorite Loretta Chase is “The Last Hellion”; I love everything from Sherry Thomas, but my fave is “My Beautiful Enemy”; Lisa Kleypas is definitely “Devil in Winter”–love, love, love Sebastian; Courtney Milan is a fairly new author for me but I loved “The Governess Affair: and have never read Alyssa Cole or Carla Kelly.
Frankly, I am a little surprised by this list. A lot of really outstanding authors are missing: Laura Kinsale, Mary Balogh, Joanna Bourne, Sarah MacLean etc.
I look forward to the next survey. Thank you.
Sherry Thomas – Not Quite a Husband! Absolutely my favorite book and probably #1 on my DIK
Loretta Chase: I adore Lord of Scoudrels. It’s easily one of my favorite historical romances ever. The Last Hellion is fantastic too.
Sherry Thomas: I have yet to read anything of hers. Should clearly rectify this asap.
Courtney Milan: Unraveled, though The Governess Affair is a very close runner up.
Lisa Kleypas: This one’s really hard. Love In the Afternoon probably. Devil In Winter is not far behind though.
Alyssa Cole: My favorite historical of hers is a novella, Let It Shine.
Carla Kelly: A Lady’s Companion.
I have a long history with Lisa Kleypas from old to new: Lady Sophia’s Lover, Love in the Afternoon, Marrying Winterbourne. I couldn ‘ say which I love the most.
Carla Kelly: so many wonderful books. One good Turn I think is my favorite. It shows that you never should judge someone at first sight.
Loretta Chase: not LoS, but surely Mr. Impossible, just for the fun
Mary Balogh: Slightly Dangerous, naturally, but there is a very old one I’m happy is now released as an ebook so that I finally can reread it (I need ebooks because of my eyes): Truly. It realy made an impact with me.
Loretta Chase – I’ll go with Lord of Scoundrels, but I also like Captives of the Night.
Sherry Thomas – Delicious is unquestionably my favorite.
Lisa Kleypas – Love in the Afternoon as I like the epistolary component.
Courtney Milan – The Governess Affair.
Alyssa Cole – I haven’t read enough of hers to name a favorite.
Carla Kelly – I’ve read and enjoyed many of her books and stories. I’ll pick The Unlikely Master Genius.
Other authors I enjoy are Jo Goodman, Joanna Bourne, and Jennifer Ashley.
My favourites are the books with the most memorable characters (especially heroes) and/or a slow path towards respect and love. And I should say that I haven’t read any of these authors for years…
Chase – Mr Impossible (Rupert is like an exuberant overgrown puppy who is smarter than you think at first)
Thomas – Not Quite a Husband (Leo – domesticity, mathematical genius and devotion to Bryony)
Kleypas – No real favourite but I found Devil in Winter the biggest disappointment of my romance reading life (Sebastian the tasty villain of the previous book completely vanishes into sainthood in this one, before Evangeline even has a chance of doing anything to deserve this transformation)
Milan – generally a disappointment; haven’t read much of her. I remember liking Unlocked back before I even owned a kindle or tablet, but just because the hero was full of remorse.
Cole – never read; reviews have not inspired me.
Kelly -Reforming Lord Ragsdale (nothing like the historical plausibility of her other work but the disdain-to-love process is so well done)
So happy to see Loretta Chase in the top spot! Iconic author! Love too Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan, and Alyssa Cole.
Loretta Chase: Lord of Scoundrels is still my favorite for an uber wit that is hard to match and such a careful negotiation of acknowledgements of love. Jessica Trent remains one of my all-time favorite heroines. (A close runner up is Dukes Prefer Blondes, surprising me with its originality and pure entertainment after so many books over so many years.)
Sherry Thomas: One of my favorite authors with so many great books. His at Night is my favorite for its heartbreaking revelations and clever spy thriller plotting. Thomas does complicated characters better than anyone and Elissande and Vere are two of her most ambiguous and captivating characters.
Courtney Milan – Another favorite author with so many great books. The Governess Affair is an annual reread for me and just about the most perfectly plotted romance I’ve ever read. (Unclaimed is a close runner up.)
Alyssa Cole – Very happy to see this author here and so many readers voting who do not normally post on this site! I will go with A Princess in Theory – utterly lovely and beautiful book. I have quite a few Cole books to read though still.
Lisa Kleypas – Though an author I’ve fallen out of favor with, I do still love Secrets of a Summer Night. Kudos to Kleypas for creating a heroine who verges on being unlikable for a good part of the novel and yet keeping her character authentic. Annabelle is shamelessly ambitious and materialistic and the hero is too. She and Simon are perfect together.
Carly Kelly – I’ve only read Reforming Lord Ragsdale. It was okay but didn’t motivate me to seek out more from this author, though I know many readers love her books.
Loretta Chase: Lord of Scoundrels, Lord Perfect, Mr. Impossible, and The Last Hellion regularly rotate as “my favorite” Chase, with various other titles bobbing to the top of the list as I read (or reread) them.
Sherry Thomas: I’ve (still!) not read all of her work; Not Quite A Husband is probably my favorite “traditional” HR title of hers. The Lady Sherlock series would be where I’d recommend others start with Thomas’ work, though. It is so well done.
Lisa Kleypas: I think the Wallflower series, and Suddenly You, are her best HR.
Courtney Milan: another author whose work I’ve only partially read. The Governess Affair would be my pick.
Alyssa Cole: I’ve only read her contemporaries :-(
Carla Kelly: I own several of her titles but have yet to read them! Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand is the one I’ll start with.
Thank you for the poll; and all the recommendations. So many books still to read!
Chase—Lord of Scoundrels
Thomas—My Beautiful Enemy
Kleypas—It Happened One Autumn
Milan—The Suffragette Scandal
Cole and Kelly—n/a
Loretta Chase – The Last Hellion, Dukes Prefer Blondes
Sherry Thomas – The Luckiest Lady in London, His at Night
Lisa Kleypas – Lady Sophia’s Lover, Love in the Afternoon
Courtney Milan – The Suffragette Scandal, The Governess Affair
Have not read Kelly or Cole but I am sure to correct this omission, SOON.
Thank you for doing the pole!
I own all of Carla Kelly’s books, most of Lisa Kleypas, all of Chase , a few of Thomas, all of Balogh and Wolf. All of Putney.
I haven’t read all of these authors and can’t really comment on anyone except Loretta Chase and Carla Kelly, who would have had my vote on historical favorite, but honestly right now hers are the only historicals I’m reading!
Loretta Chase: Mr. Impossible is my absolute favorite, but I haven’t read her more recent books and can’t comment about them. The last title I know I read was Your Scandalous Ways (2008). I did love it, but I simply prefer other genres (urban fantasy, historical mysteries, some PRN and several favorite authors such as Nora Roberts/JD Robb and Lois McMaster Bujold).
My favorite Carla Kelly is hands down Mrs. Drew Plays her Hand.
That said, I also love The Lady’s Companion, With this Ring, Softly Falling, the New Mexico-set quartet of books about Paloma and Marco Mondragon, nearly all of her Christmas short stories, and probably others I can’t think of at the moment.
I rarely read HR anymore, so take this with a grain of salt, but the only Lisa Kleypas book I ever liked was the first one of hers I read (it may have actually been her first published book), all the way back in 1989, GIVE ME TONIGHT. It’s a dual-timeline (1880s/1930s) time-travel romance—I loved it! Throughout the subsequent three decades, I tried to read other Kleypas books and never found one that did it for me. Eventually (and for a variety of reasons) my tastes morphed away from HR, so I can’t say anything about her later work, but GIVE ME TONIGHT was the only Kleypas I ever loved. I think I read somewhere that Kleypas essentially disowned some of her earlier work; for whatever reason GIVE ME TONIGHT has never been made available as an ebook (or it would be on my kindle right now).
If I’d seen the original poll, I would have voted for Lisa Kleypas. More of her books are on my DIK list than any other historical author. Of those listed:
LC – Lord of Scoundrels and close second, Mr Perfect
ST- DNF audio of one of her historicals. I have read the Lady Sherlock series but none make my DIK list for a second read.
CM- DNF Duchess War. Have not attempted any other books she has written
AC – never read
CK – never read but will look for the Ragsdale book
LK – It is difficult to chose a top favorite among so many DIKs. The Devil in Winter a hair in front of Dreaming of You followed closely by Chasing Cassandra and Marrying Winterborne in this book “horse race.” Of these, my fav in audio is Chasing Cassandra.
My fav historical, book and audio, irregardless of your top author list is Devil’s Bride.
Loretta Chase- Lord of Scoundrels I guess. But it’s not a favorite book of mine, I don’t really remember many others of hers.
Sherry Thomas- Tempting The Bride. Yes amnesia and all.
Lisa Kleypas- Just one?! Tie: Married By Midnight/Dreaming if You. But I’m a big fan of hers and think she’s underrated as a writer so you could pick a bunch of hers that may be a favorite on any given day.
Courtney Milan- Unpopular opinion:I don’t really enjoy her work and couldn’t finish a couple of her books I started. So -Unraveled. I finished and enjoyed that one, but it’s not a huge favorite.
Alyssa Cole- Haven’t read her books. Will have to try one,
Carla Kelly- same problem as Kleypas too many great ones! Tie: The Lady’s Companion/With This Ring. But I also love her westerns as well as her Regencies.
Hi! so i just started reading historical romances about 7 months ago and have been lurking here after i stumbled on your wonderful site about 5 weeks ago. I have been making crazy lists from your DIK reviews and 100 best lists…THANK You!!! (if i had a big bag of $, i would give it to you! xo) I voted yesterday and thought i might share my thoughts even though i have not read as many as I would like…my TBR list is ridiculous…but here is what the newbie thinks (today)…
My favorite Loretta Chase i have read so far: Mr. Impossible (but LOS was pretty terrific!)
(Lord Perfect is near the top of my TBR…looking forward to it!)
my favorite Sherry Thomas (who i voted for): Not Quite A Husband (but His At Night is a close 2nd)
And my favorite Lisa Kleypas has been Dreaming of You (but I haven’t gotten to the Wallflowers yet…also looking forward to those…but i have enjoyed Suddenly You and Again the Magic.
Courtney Milan’s Turner series is on my TBR list
I have not read any Alyssa Cole or Carla Kelly yet
I voted for Julie Garwood…The Bride!!!
other authors/titles that i have just really loved: Jennifer Ashley”s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie,
Pam Rosenthal’s Almost a Gentleman and Anne Stuart’s Reckless….I am glomming all 3 of their backlists!
Thanks for a great site and cultivating such a lovely community online…much appreciated! :)
Welcome to AAR, beth!
Anne Stuart’s Reckless is one of my all-time favorite romances too and my favorite of Stuart’s books. Charlotte and Adrian are equally wonderful and wonderful together when they finally get their act together.
Loretta Chase — Mr. Impossible. Lord Perfect follows closely, but Mr. Impossible was the first romance novel I ever read and it set the bar pretty high. In fact, I’m not sure anything has matched it.
Sherry Thomas — A Study in Scarlet Women. She is an incredibly talented author, but I liked this one more than any of the straight romances.
Lisa Kleypas — Secrets of a Summer Night. I liked Annabel and the way she learned to overcome what she had been told all her life.
Courtney Milan — Unveiled. I like her earlier books better than the later ones, which strike me as too preachy. I don’t need a lecture on women’s rights.
Alyssa Cole — An Extraordinary Union. A tricky period successfully handled.
Carla Kelly — Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand. I don’t think I’ve ever read one of her books that I didn’t like, but this one embodies an attitude that characterizes all of her heroes and heroines: You play the hand you’re dealt.
Mrs. Drew is a great book, my only quibble is big turnaround with the villain. I’ve got nothing against forgiveness, I just found it hard to accept that all of a sudden after having to endanger their lives to get around him it’s all great suddenly in the end. I still didn’t trust him.
I agree. My one quibble with Carla Kelly is the forgiveness. Her heroines frequently forgive villains far too easily. I’d rather see them suffer a bit.
I second Tempting the Bride, that and NQAH are the two best Sherry Thomas books I have read.
For Loretta Chase, definitely Lord of Scoundrels, though I’ve enjoyed all of her work.
For Sherry Thomas, I haven’t read any of her historical romances. Have enjoyed her Charlotte Holmes and Elemental series.
For Lisa Kleypas, I’m going to go way back to Dreaming of You. Kleypas is one of the few authors where I didn’t enjoy her earliest work and walked away. Dreaming of You brought me back and she’s been an autobuy ever since.
For Courtney Milan, The Governess Affair. Right now, her work is more something I admire than enjoy. But I know she’s been going through a lot over the past few years, so I keep buying her books when she does publish.
For Alyssa Cole, I haven’t read enough to comment. I will.
For Carla Kelly, well, I don’t know where to start. She creates real characters, usually without titles, who try to do the right thing in facing real world problems.. She writes the opposite of wallpaper historicals..Early on, she surprised me by which character turned out to be the hero of the Regency romance. I can’t name that book without ruining the twist for others, so I’ll pick My Loving Vigil Keeping. But I have never read a Kelly I haven’t enjoyed.
Loretta Chase – Mr. Impossible. It’s witty and the brawny but oddly brilliant hero is a great match for the brainy heroine. It has the vibe of Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy in novel form, and I love that.
Sherry Thomas – This was my vote. My favorites are His at Night (my favorite Scarlet Pimpernel adaptation, great for sexual tension) and Ravishing the Heiress (for the patient dignity of the heroine, and the maturation of the hero, and the details of their business).
Lisa Kleypas – I’ve read lot of Kleypas, but they don’t stick with me. I remember some twenty years ago enjoying a book about someone named Zach, so I looked it up and I guess it was Where Dreams Begin?
Courtney Milan – This was my vote. Toss up between Unclaimed and The Countess Conspiracy. Both do an amazing job of using their historical settings to comment on both modern and historical gender issues without feeling anachronistic.
Alyssa Cole – I really like Alyssa Cole’s contemps, but since I’m not allowed to pick one (A PRINCE ON PAPER!), it’s An Unconditional Freedom, which I DIKed here. Explores the diversity of blackness in the Civil War era. It packs a punch.
Carla Kelly – I know she was nominated for her non-regencies here, but her best work is in her regencies. I recommend the Libby’s London Merchant/ One Good Turn duology and the amazing The Lady’s Companion, all of which get into issues of class, survivorship, and trauma, in Kelly’s trademark gentle way. If I have to pick a non-Regency, I’ll take Her Hesitant Heart, which has a heroine dealing with the social stigma of divorce and a truthful exploration of infertility in a secondary couple.
I am in the minority because I don’t like Lord of Scoundrels at all, and other books or Loretta Chase are also not my cup of tea, I don’t know why… But I love Sherry Thomas, and my favourite is Ravishing the Heiress. Lisa Kleypas is also one of my favourite authors and I will pick It Happened One Autumn… Dreaming of You is closely behind. Courtney Milan is also great, my favourite by far is The Governess Affair. I’ve only read one Alyssa Cole so far but didn’t like it very much, and Carla Kelly has many lovely books but I can’t pick a favourite.
I’m pleased that Loretta Chase won, even though I didn’t vote for her!
My favourite of hers is probably Lord of Scoundrels, especially in audio, but the Dressmakers and Carsington series have such great books too. I admit to having a soft spot for Don’t Tempt Me too, which I think is one of her less popular books. No, I’ll stick with the magnificent LoS!
I haven’t read all of Sherry Thomas’ books. I don’t really find her a comfortable read. I have enjoyed The Luckiest Lady in London and the two books in the Heart of Blade series, but I think you probably have to read both of them, so I’ll pick LLiL.
My favourite Lisa Kleypas is Marrying Winterbourne, but important parts of their story are in the previous book…..
From Courtney Milan I’d pick The Countess Conspiracy.
I don’t think that I’ve read read anything by Alyssa Cole or Carla Kelly.
I love Carla Kelly – and have a number of her books. This are sweet, somewhat angsty characters, great writing, that I find well paced and the story is revealed not told. The writer builds a practical approach to the not quite fade to black love scenes. Not steamy, but usually sweetly loving. I tried to pick a favourite and couldn’t quite choose, so I recommend Mrs Drew plays her Hand, the Admirals Penniless Bride, The Unlikely Master Genius and The Lady’s Companion.
I also love Carla Kelly’s books and Mrs Drew Plays her Hand and Reforming Lord Ragsdale are probably at the top of my list for her. I have been a fan of her work for years and have rarely, if ever, been disappointed. I also loved Here’s to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army, a really brilliant anthology. Her Peninsular Army and Royal Navy books set in the Napoleonic wars are very, very good. Hard to pick any one of her works.
I don’t read Courtney Milan any more after one or two disappointments (The Governess Affair for one although it got many rave reviews) but I have read Lisa Klypas and she is a talented writer but for some reason does not hit my buttons. Loretta Chase has written some wonderful books but Lord Perfect is my favourite.
Lord Perfect is my favorite Chase as well.
Miss Milton speaks her Mind
Love the ones mentioned above, but this one, mrs McVinnie’s London season, and Miss Chartley’s Guided Tour are my hands down favorites of hers.
LC – Lord of Scoundrels, of course.
ST – 4/4 DNF
LK – Devil’s Daughter, and I bet no-one else mentions it.
CM – The Duchess War, I am a man and it has the line, “Your tits are magnificent.”
AC – 2/2 DNF
CK – Reforming Lord Ragsdale.
I liked Devil’s Daughter a lot… but I’m not sure it can be my favourite, The end seemed a bit rushed.
After the shaving scene it turned into erotica and the climactic event was utterly absurd. I love it for the 5+ star first half, and the 5 star writing up to the shaving scene. (I am a journey, rather than a destination, man.)
Loretta Chase was my top pick, and my favorite book of here is Mr. Impossible. It is truly hilarious, extremely sexy, smart as hell, and unique. How can you not love Rupert? And I adore how Daphne owns her bad-assery by the end of the book and Rupert just loves her all the more for it.
My favorite Sherry Thomas is Delicious, which I think is somewhat underrated. Kleypas has lots of wonderful books, but Mine Til Midnight of the Hathaways series is probably my favorite. I have not read the other authors mentioned so I can’t comment. Looking forward to other opinions however!
I love the Hathaways! All except Kev/Merripen. But I still reread that book just for the rest of the family and background plots.