Regan Walker's Blog: Regan's Author Blog, page 22

My Top 20 Historical Romances & Giveaway!

I am frequently asked what are my favorite historical romances. That’s a long list, as you know from my “best lists.” There are currently over 100 5-Star romances on my "Favorite Keepers" shelf on Goodreads. But since you asked, I'm giving you my current top 20. Some are from new authors; some from authors who lived decades ago. The list changes each year.

These stories are the ones that have stayed with me, the ones I want to re-read, the ones I can’t forget. They are all keepers and rated 5 stars. Their heroes and heroines grace my Favorite Heroes and Heroines list I’ll post later this month. It’s no coincidence that they are written by some of my favorite authors. See the list HERE and comment, telling me your favorite historical romance, to win one of my books!

Plum Pudding Recipe!

Christmas dinner in Regency England often ended with wonderful desserts, including marchpane (what we call marzipan), gingerbread, mince pie and Christmas pudding, which was more like a cake than what Americans call pudding. In both my Christmas novella The Twelfth Night Wager, and my short story The Holly & The Thistle, Christmas Plum Pudding is served on Christmas Day.

For the traditional recipe and one I like that's much easier, see HERE.

Best Historical Romance Trilogies!

It takes talent to write a great historical romance novel, but it takes even more to write three in a row and make them all worthy reads.

See the new list on Historical Romance Review, all those I've rated 4 or 5 stars, HERE.

Goodreads Giveaway for The Red Wolf's Prize!

#1 Bestseller on Amazon in Ancient World Romances and #7 in Amazon's Top 100 Medieval Romances!!

And now you can win a copy on Goodreads! From Nov. 18 to Dec. 2nd, enter to win a copy of The Red Wolf's Prize.




Just click on the cover!

Anyone for a little chivalry?

Medieval romance has been around for centuries. The love story of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, as memorialized in Lancelot, le Chevalier de la Charrette, an Old French poem, written in the 12th century, and Wagner's composition of Tristan und Isolde are classics we never tire of. And, many of us read Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, set in 12th century England, when we were in school. It might surprise you to know that romance writing developed in Britain after the Norman Conquest and flourished right through the Middle Ages.

Why do we love to read about that time when knights battled for their king and ladies swooned at their victories? Perhaps it is the notion of chivalry, a valuing of womanhood and virtues such as truth, honor and valor. A knight who rises to duty, and the maiden who would take her place at his side. See More.



Historical romance legend, Laura Parker!

Today I welcome Laura Parker, USA Today best-selling author of forty plus novels, including 21 historical romances. She was recently named a Legend of Romance and awarded a Pioneer of Romance by Romantic Times. I think you'll find my interview of her fascinating--and if you comment you might win her Rose trilogy of Irish romances!

See MORE.

Best Medieval Romances--the list!

Who among us ladies hasn’t dreamed of a knight in shinning armour? Or, of living in a time when valor prevailed and honorable men did great deeds and women of character loved them? (I did say we were dreaming, right?) Well, the historical romances on my updated best list will take you back to those medieval times. See the list HERE.

Regan answers 10 Really Interesting Questions!

I answer 10 interesting questions for the Examiner...see how you would answer these:
1. If you could go back in time and be any figure from history, who would it be?
2. What year in history would you have liked to live in?
3. You're having a dinner party and you can invite 5 people from history, who would they be?
4. What castle from the past or present would you like to live in?
5. Two fellow historical fiction authors you'd like to go on a history themed tour of the world with?
6. Who was more dashing and interesting, King Henry VIII of England or King Louis XIV of France?
7. Which of the six wives of King Henry VIII is your favorite?
8. English monarchy or French monarchy?
9. What three novels could you read over and over?
And see my answers HERE.

The Allure of Medieval Romance

Medieval romance has been around for centuries. The love story of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, as memorialized in "Lancelot, le Chevalier de la Charrette," an Old French poem written in the 12th century, and Wagner's composition of Tristan und Isolde are classics we never tire of. And, many of us read Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, set in 12th-century England, when we were in school. It might surprise you to know that romance writing developed in Britain after the Norman Conquest and flourished right through the Middle Ages. But it just might be that medieval romance is experiencing a resurgence today. See more of my article in USA TODAY -- HERE.

Before there were stone castles...

Before there were stone castles, there were castles made of timber. Yes, wooden castles! In the course of doing research for my new medieval romance,  The Red Wolf’s Prize , I learned much about 11th century castles. For the most part, the castles erected in England by William the Conqueror were not the stone edifices we think of today, the monuments that remain. The castles the Normans first constructed, the ones built in mere days, weeks or months, were timbered structures erected upon a “motte,” or a mound of earth with a flat top, and surrounded by a deep ditch sometimes filled with water (a moat). The castle included a central tower, the donjon or “keep,” used as a lookout post and built on top of a summit. See more HERE.