I'm out of Lisa Kleypas Books! What should I read Next??? Showing 301-350 of 1,011

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I have some Du Maurier lined up to read soon.

[Vashti]

Suzanne wrote: "Oh I love Du Maurier and I am going to have to go with convention on this and say that Rebecca is one of my all time favourite books. I have read a few others of hers, but Rebecca is a..."

ah, the Road to Manderley, how can anyone ever forget that book! classic book, classic movie!

[new_user]

I think Dodd and Hoyt have a sort of similar heat level in their books.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

Have you read the Sally Beauman book about Rebecca? It takes place whilst they DeWinter and Rebecca are married it'sRebecca's Tale, it is really good and paints her in a different light.

I got a Liz Carlye book out the library today, One Little Sin has anyone read this?

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I read a Dodd book about a year ago, NU. It was an older one. I didn't find her steamy at all.

[new_user]

Hmm, I haven't read Castles in the Air, but I think her older books probably don't have the same heat.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

That's the one I read. It was ok, but not... steamy. And that's ok, too, unless that's what you're looking for.

[new_user]

Well, it's hard to find authors that hit it on the nail quite as well as Kleypas, but I think Dodd does a good job too. I like her Switching Places series. :)

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I'm not familiar with Switching Places. I've planned to give her a try again, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Lisarenee]

I just recently got into Dodd and didn't love her Castles in the Air book. It was okay, but dragged a bit in the middle. I started reading the Governess series and love that one. It did have some steamy parts, perhaps not as steamy as Kleypas, but pretty good. The second in the series was better than the first and I've put holds on the rest of the books in the series at my library.

I third Olivia Parker's Bride Hunt Ball as well as the sequel. Very cute and really fun reads. Thought it was funny that in Married by Morning there was a mention of a Bride Hunt Ball. Made me wonder if Kleypas had read Parker's book as well. Probably not, but the thought came to mind. I do wonder what books she likes to read.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I have those 2 Parker books and plan to read them soon. That's my life story, though. LOL

[Christine (Cagnes)]

I've read the 1st four books of Christina Dodd's Governess bride series & liked them, but not nearly as much as anything from Lisa Kleypas.
I've just started on #1 of her Lost Princesses series & I'm hoping that it's a good one.

The only series I've found so far that I love as much as Lisa Kleypas is Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I love JQ's Bridgertons, too. Excellent series.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

I love JQ, she writes some really good books, especially like her Bridgerton series. She has alot more humour in her books then LK, and he heroes don't tend to be as tortured.

[Julianna]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Liz Carlyle is very good."

I'll second that.:-) I haven't read one of her books in so long. I hope I can find time for one soon.

[Lisarenee]

I love Julia Quinn's Bridgertons as well and the closest I've come to her books are some (not all) of Lynsay Sand's historicals. Unfortunately, she doesn't write series so the characters don't crossover in her stories, but I've almost read all of them and can count on her books to brighten my day when I read them.

[new_user]

Lisarenee wrote: "I just recently got into Dodd and didn't love her Castles in the Air book. It was okay, but dragged a bit in the middle. I started reading the Governess series and love that one. It did have some s..."

I like her Governess series too. I haven't read all of them yet, but I think the one I like best so far is Rules of Attraction. One of the things I like about her heroes is that they're aggressive. ;)

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*]

Has anyone read Jillian Hunter's Boscastle Family series? I've read the first six and really enjoyerd them.

[Lisarenee]

I've got a few of her books, but haven't read them yet and don't know if they're from that series. Hopefully, I'll get to them soon.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

I also like the Lynsay Sands historicals, The Perfect Wife is my favourite at the moment it lways makes me laugh!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I have The Perfect Wife but mine is by Victoria Alexander.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

What is it like? Is it good?

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

I haven't read it yet. I grabbed a bunch of books from a Library books sale a couple of months ago, just because of the author's names. At 33-50 cents each, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

Good plan, my library has a sale on on tuesday I plan to go after work and pick up as many books a possible. Last time they were 10p each and I managed to get some bargains, hopefully tuesday will be the same.

Have you ever read anything by Amanda Quick?

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

No, but I have a book by her... Second Sight.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

I got I Thee Wed today at the library, gonna use it for one of the reading challenges. Looks quiite interesting.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

She's one of the authors that I've gotten mixed signals about so I've put off reading her books. Have you read anything by her?

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

No, I was looking for some historical romance, but couldn't see anything that caught my eye until I saw her book. Hopefully I will like it as she looks like she has a lot of books out!

[Christine]

I've read Mistress by Amanda Quick. I quite liked it. I think you'll be okay reading her.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

new_user wrote: "Lisarenee wrote: "I just recently got into Dodd and didn't love her Castles in the Air book. It was okay, but dragged a bit in the middle. I started reading the Governess series and love that one. ..."

NU, I am with you. I love Dodd's aggressive heroes. I think her Victorians are very steamy. I like her better than Julia Quinn, but that's just me. Quinn is a little too light for me, except for To Sir Phillip With Love. Nobody beat me up, since I know Quinn is very popular.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Carol wrote: "Has anyone read Jillian Hunter's Boscastle Family series? I've read the first six and really enjoyerd them."

I am a Jillian Hunter fan. I've read most of her backlist, and I'm working on her newer books.

[new_user]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "new_user wrote: "Lisarenee wrote: "I just recently got into Dodd and didn't love her Castles in the Air book. It was okay, but dragged a bit in the middle. I started reading the Governess series an..."

I feel the same way, Danielle. I can see what people like about Quinn, but she's too light for me and not particularly heated.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I've noticed we have very similar tastes in historicals, NU. :)

[Vashti]

Carol wrote: "Has anyone read Jillian Hunter's Boscastle Family series? I've read the first six and really enjoyerd them."

hi Carol, read all Bocastle books,enjoyed them.

[Vashti]

Suzanne wrote: "I also like the Lynsay Sands historicals, The Perfect Wife is my favourite at the moment it lways makes me laugh!"

Lynsay Sands historicals are funny, they crack me up at times, any one read THE BRAT?

[MashJ]

new_user wrote: "Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I feel the same way, Danielle. I can see what people like about Quinn, but she's too light for me and not particularly heated."i>

I like some JQ but a lot is way too light for me- when they are good they can be very funny though.
I think some good uns were:
How to Marry a Marquis
The Lost Duke of Wyndham
An Offer from a Gentleman.

Overall I didn't enjoy the Bridgertons as much as many others clearly have and didn't bother reading the last couple in the series after a couple of hers really disapointed me- eg To Sir Philip with Love and What Happens in London.

I'm have recently tried some Mary Balogh after previously reading a couple of hers and not enjoying them at all. There's some good dense writing when she's on form- I enjoyed "The Web of Love". Slow moving but it worked very well.

Thanks for the other recommendations- I do take like taking ideas from this thread for future reading. As I can usually get through a book in an evening if I can find 2-3 hours I have a high turnover!

[MashJ]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "No, but I have a book by her... Second Sight."

I've borrowed a few of hers from the library. I'd try before you buy on her books. They can be very formulaic/cheesy. I gather some of her earlier stuff maybe better. Actually Second Sight was tolerable as was Wait Until Midnight (these are both recent books hence at the library). WUM had the hero's backstory with very good potential but it was just flung away on a weak plot in the main story. Those ones are more Victorian than regency and less high society so they some potential but she just doesn't seem to come through with the goods. I honestly think there is way better out there- try Liz Carlyle for instance.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*]

I would like to recommend 'Clandara' by Evelyn Anthony. It is a very old book (written in 1963). I got it from the library when I was a teenager in the 1960s and loved it. As it is out of print now, I didn't think I would be able to locate a copy but managed to get a good second hand copy from Amazon Marketplace. I re-read it recently and still think it's great even after all these years. It does not have the explicit love scenes you get in modern novels but it is such a wonderfully written romantic story, that it does not matter.

The synopsis reads:

Despite the centuries-old feud between their two clans, Katherine Fraser and James Macdonald fall deeply and passionately in love. Defying the past, the magnificent, wilful Lady Katherine confronts her father's wrath and declares her wish to marry their bitter enemy.

It's 1745 and Bonnie Prince Charlie arrives on the shores of Scotland calling for the support of the highlanders to help him stake his claim to the British throne. But painful memories of the 1715 uprising prevent the Frasers from joining the rebellion: re-igniting the Macdonald's hatred of them and causing events which will bring about a deeper rift than ever before between the clans. And as powerfully as Katherine and James were drawn together, they are driven apart

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

Vashti- Is The Brat the one where the heroine gets told that she has to eat some rotton meat and then she will dream of the man she will marry? If it is I have read that one and I really liked it. I loved the hero he was adorable!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

Mrshj wrote: "I honestly think there is way better out there- try Liz Carlyle for instance. ."

Thanks for that great information!!! Liz Carlye is another author I haven't tried yet. These are the books I have by her -

The Devil You Know - Tempted All Night - Beauty Like the Night

Have you read any of these? If so, which is best?

[MashJ]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Mrshj wrote: "I honestly think there is way better out there- try Liz Carlyle for instance. ."

Thanks for that great information!!! Liz Carlye is another author I haven't tried yet. These are the ..."

I've only tried Tempted All Night of Those (others I tried were Wicked All Day and Never Romance a Rake). NRAR didn't really do it for me but the other two were great fun- Tristram and Phaedra had a good story. If you look at one of her books on goodreads at the top should be a link to a reading order.

It's then you find out that you're about twenty books out of sync! I'd be interested to know how you find her books.

[new_user]

I tend to agree, Danielle. :) Mrshj, the one I read was The Lost Duke of Wyndham, and while it was nice, I have no plans to read her others at the moment.

[MashJ]

Carol wrote: "I would like to recommend 'Clandara' by Evelyn Anthony. It is a very old book (written in 1963). I got it from the library when I was a teenager in the 1960s and loved it. As it is out of print now..."

Evelyn Anthony is a talented writer- I've read a few of hers. Some good ones about the second world war and the aftermath if I remember correctly.

Of course if we're going back to writers of that time I'm going to have to name Georgette Heyer as a top favourite. I guess everyone here has already read her work! She really is a superb author though in the unlikely event you haven't tried her- beautifully written with plots that were so well put together.

[MashJ]

new_user wrote: "I tend to agree, Danielle. :) Mrshj, the one I read was The Lost Duke of Wyndham, and while it was nice, I have no plans to read her others at the moment."

Fair enough. I'd vote for HTMAM if you're stuck for choice in a bookshop at the airport. I think the problem with Quinn is she is another writer who doesn't really like making her characters suffer and as a result her dialogue may sparkle but her books lack depth. I expect that someone will now point out that some of her characters did suffer and I've missed the point!

She also seems to have some limitations about what she will let her characters do- the heroine always has to be emotionally committed before getting too involved with the hero and she seems to write a set number of physical scenes per book (she went a little bit darker with "when he was wicked").

You have to wonder what would happen if Nick Gentry was let loose in one of her books but she certainly has humour in spades.

[new_user]

LOL. Nick Gentry would own that book. I've heard When He was Wicked is a little darker. I think I have it on TBR. Her characters do suffer some, so there is depth, I feel, but her characters never really seem to be in dire straits, LOL. Everything's fine.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Your Humble Servant]

NU, When He Was Wicked is one of my favorites. For me, that book proved that she more more than a fluffy romance writer.

[new_user]

I'll definitely check it out, UM. :)

[MashJ]

The other thing that Julia Quinn needs is a decent editor. I mean "her eyes bugged out" as speech dialogue for a regency heroine really grated. I don't set really high standards for historical accuracy but that went beyond the pale for me. However I adore George Elliot's Middlemarch and Jane Austen's work so I know where I can go if I want accurate historical scenes.

I have "10 things I love about you" on pre-order so fingers crossed it will be a good one. I'll forgive a lot as I do genuinely love the characters in some of the favourites I mentioned above.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "NU, When He Was Wicked is one of my favorites. For me, that book proved that she more more than a fluffy romance writer."

I totally agree with you.

[Julianna]

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Liz Carlye is another author I haven't tried yet. These are the books I have by her -

The Devil You Know - Tempted All Night - Beauty Like the Night

Have you read any of these? If so, which is best? "

Dhestiny, Liz Carlyle in a great author, IMHO. The Devil You Know and Beauty Like the Night are two of my all-time favorite romances. Love those Rutledge brothers.;-) As a little warning though, Liz Carlyle's books aren't necessarily considered a series, but she has a highly interconnected character web throughout all of her books. Sometimes, reading a later book can lead to spoilers for an earlier one (a lesson I learned the hard way :-)), so I've been reading them in publication order.