When I list my favorite historical romance novels, it’s
really difficult for me to not just give you the catalogs of Courtney Milan,
Tessa Dare, and Elizabeth Hoyt. The extent to which I adore these three authors
is frankly embarrassing, so I’m not going to gush over them, but I will say
that out of 25 novels and 9 novellas/short stories I recommend all of them
without reservation except for one (Hoyt’s To
Desire a Devil—I’m not comfortable with some of the consent issues). Choose
one, start reading, and you won’t regret it.
This was a much more difficult list to choose than my
previous lists of movies and contemporary romance. I’ve ended up settling for
my favorite two books by each of five authors I love. So this time they’re
organized by last name of author (then alphabetical by title).
Loretta Chase
Lord of Scoundrels
Book Three in the Débauchés
series
Published 1995
Like Bet Me, this
is a book that is almost universally agreed to be one of the best in the genre.
Sebastian is a tortured alpha male for the ages, and Jessica is an intelligent,
feisty, ambitious, shrewd heroine that I wish I could have a few good
conversations with. This book is sharp, funny, and heartbreaking.
Mr. Impossible
Book Two in the Carsington
Brothers series
Published March 2005
Egyptian scholar Daphne Pembroke hires Rupert Carsington to
be the brawn to her brains on her quest to find her kidnapped brother. Lots of
adventure and action and hijinks ensue. Daphne is so bright and Rupert is so
wonderful. This book is even funnier than Lord
of Scoundrels because Rupert discovers early on that infuriating Daphne is
an effective way to prevent her from crying. Blistering banter ensues.
Tessa Dare
One Dance with a Duke
Book One in the Stud
Club Trilogy
Published May 25,
2010
I love Spencer and Amelia’s story. Outwardly, they’re extremely
different, but together they just click. There are other elements to this story—a
murder mystery that motivates the entire series, and interesting secondary
characters, some of whom get their own books—but at the center of it there’s a
sweet, touching romance between two imperfect people.
A Week to Be Wicked
Book Two in the
Spindle Cove series
Published March 27,
2012
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG. This is my favorite book ever. I love
it so much that writing about it articulately is difficult, which is ironic
because the heroine, Minerva, is brilliant and scholarly. And hero Colin is a
hilarious, though genuinely troubled, rake. And they’re so wonderful together,
especially when Colin helps show Minerva that she’s valuable for more than just
her scientific discoveries. And it’s so, so, so funny; the banter is to die
for. And just…if you have ever felt like you’re not worth more than your
academic achievements, or if you’ve ever felt like you’re not worth much at
all, or if you want to read something touching and intelligent and
devastatingly witty, read this book.
Cecilia Grant
A Lady Awakened
Book One in the
Blackshear series
Published December
2011
One of the more unlikely romances I’ve read. Newly-widowed Martha
Russell desperately needs to conceive an heir—there are good reasons—and hires
her rakish neighbor to, erm, assist her. At first I was like “Why am I reading
this, no one is enjoying themselves and this is really awkward” but I persevered
and I’m so glad I did. It develops slowly but in a very rewarding way and the
plot unfolds in a unique, fascinating way.
A Woman Entangled
Book Three in the Blackshear
series
Published June 2013
I really want Cecilia Grant to write more books. Three is
not enough. The plot is more traditional than its two predecessors, but the
writing is as lovely as ever. I loved how Kate and Nick were both determined
and ambitious, and how the book dealt so deeply with the repercussions of
events from the previous book.
Elizabeth Hoyt
The Leopard Prince
Book Two in the
Princes series
Published April 2007
I love George (Georgina, mind) and Harry together. This book
has an interesting approach—I saw a review compare it to Lady Chatterley’s Lover. George is a noblewoman and Harry is her
land steward and together they investigate a mystery and have some fun times.
Harry is very deadpan and George is a little silly, and this book is very funny
despite its many darker elements.
Thief of Shadows
Book Four in the
Maiden Lane series
Published July 2012
This is one of those books to whose release I obsessively
counted down and then consumed immediately and then wrote a gushing fangirl
letter to the author as soon as I finished (yes, I did exactly the same thing a
year later with Milan’s The Heiress
Effect). It’s just. So. Good. It takes rake and bluestocking tropes AND
THEN REVERSES GENDER. So Isabel is the one who’s adept in society and just
wants to flirt and have dalliances, and Winter is the very serious one who
wants physical intimacy to be an expression of emotional intimacy and squeeeee.
I appreciated it. A lot.
Courtney Milan
The Duchess War
Book One in The
Brothers Sinister series
Published December 6,
2012
I think I’ve already said quite enough about this book. It’s
amazing. Go read it. Now.
The Heiress Effect
Book Two in The
Brothers Sinister series
Published July 15,
2013
And again, I’ve said a lot. If you need more convincing, it
got not one, but two glowing reviews over at Smart Bitches Trashy Books. GO.
READ. IT.
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