Today is brought to you by the letter ‘R’ and the word ‘romance’.
And today I thought I’d try something different. I want to quickly cover off the top five romance authors who inspire me to write.
Click on the names to explore their homepages.
Nora Roberts
Thanks Mum, for introducing me to Nora Roberts. I started reading her Chesapeake Bay series on a trip to the States in around 2004 and I think I’ve worked my way through almost all of them now! The Bride Quartet is one of my all time favourites (I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read these… I want to be Laurel!) and the last one I read, the Inn at Boonsboro trilogy, is just lovely. I love the town, I love the ladies and I love the trio of construction working, professional alpha men!
Tara Sue Me
I love Fifty Shades of Grey. But The Submissive Series is better. I’ve read this series a lot… a whole lot (to the point I occasionally think I could quote it to you… One of the best lines from an amazing scene: ”’Do you know that three out of four people fantasize about having sex in public?’ … ‘I’m going to fuck you during the Super Bowl, Abigail.’ He bit down on my earlobe and I sucked in a breath. ‘As long as you’re quiet, no one will know.’”). Tara is continuing the series. I’ve just finished The Enticement and it contains some of the hottest exhibitionism I’ve read. And I love that it all happens within a long term relationship that isn’t perfect. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and check Tara out.
Christina Lauren
The Beautiful series. Hot. Hot with a side of fun and chicks who can definitely stick up for themselves. And I want to be Chloe Ryan (nee Mills). She kicks ass. But Bennett Ryan has some stiff competition in the Beautiful series. I’ve just finished Beautiful Secret and, let’s just say, I’m going hunting for Niall Stella when I’m next in London. Seriously. They’ve also got some great characters in the Wild Seasons series too. And some hot sex. All round sensational reads, they’re as fun as their authors seem to be.
Kristen Proby
If you knew me, you’d know I’m really into family, and the importance of family. And With Me in Seattle is the most fabulous family series I’ve found. I also read fast… and Kristen manages to sustain this family story over eight and a bit books, so you get introduced to all the characters and get to share with them over more than one story. In this case, I can’t decide which is my favourite man; the sweet-talking Italian vineyard owner Dominic, businessman Nate with his rough edges or Will, the athlete with a generous heart? But then there’s… well, a girl really shouldn’t be greedy!
Samantha Young
Oh my god, can someone please point me in the direction of a Braden Carmichael?! I love the On Dublin Street series so much, I’m planning a pilgrimage to Edinburgh later this year. I love sharing the ups and downs with this group, I love it when people (okay, characters) find their place. And in these books, Edinburgh is a character of its own. If you haven’t started this series, do yourself a favour and start it right now.
There are also a couple of honorable mentions… In no particular order (click the names for links to their homepages), I love reading:
Alice Clayton
Annabel Joseph
Helena Hunting
Sylvain Reynard
Georgina Guthrie
Olivia Cunning
Christina Lee
Daisy Prescott
And there are more, too many to mention here.
But I do want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the writers who write wonderful, strong, beautiful* women, and amazing, generous, gorgeous* men and then share them with the world. I hope that, one day, I can meet you all and say thanks in person (and to compare notes as a fellow writer!).
Now, I’m off to bed… with a good book (Christina Lee’s new one, in fact!)
BTW, just had to qualify the words beautiful and gorgeous as applying both inside and out!
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