Yesterday we talked about the science fiction covers of Ann Maxwell's Dancer series. Today, I want to ask your opinion about Elizabeth Lowell! If a reader had never read a Lowell novel, which one would you recommend first and foremost?
I remember tearing through several Elizabeth Lowell novels in college. The paperback book rack – which was not large – was right across from the main entrance, and there'd be plenty of paperback romances lined up on the shelf. I'd take at least two per week. And, given that my memory is already pretty shoddy and that I was already plenty stressed, I would take out the same book every other week and re-read it. But it was so good I didn't care, and kept re-reading it.
That's how I came to read Untamed about sixteen times. I don't even like medievals all that much, but I read and re-read that book over and over. For me, Lowell has ample crack in the pages.
But do I remember the title? No, of course not. I remember the STEPBACK:
The HAIR. His possibly medieval MULLET. The sheets that appear to be a weave that didn't exist at that time (is that satin?)! I mean, there is three quarters of a man butt on that stepback. I remember it vividly.
And I liked the book, too, obviously.
I also have pretty strong memories of the stepback for Enchanted, which was the next book in the medieval series, and of course the very small library at my women's college had that one, too. (Thank you, whomever ordered the popular fiction back then, because you saved my sanity.)
First, I am pretty sure that's the same model pair. Her hair is a different color, but I think it's the same. And instead of man butt we have man groin – who, while I'm pondering this stepback, clearly pulled out the luxury sheets for this seduction, but didn't iron them or anything because they look like they've been folded for years. Look at all those creases! Surely “Iron the sheets before you get naked” is on the mulleted-hero seduction checklist, right?
Anyway, if you ask me which Elizabeth Lowell novels I adored most, I'd tell you the one with the pink satin sheets and the one with the purple satin sheets with all the creases. Because that is a perfect amount of information to go book shopping with, right?
(This is why you shouldn't ask me – at least not when I am unable to Google my description to come up with, you know, a title.)
What about you? Are you an Elizabeth Lowell fan? Which of her romances do you like best and would recommend to a new reader? Not only did Lowell write historicals, but she, like many historical authors at that time, switched to romantic suspense as well, so there's a LOT of backlist to recommend. Which one should a reader try first?
