Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

GS. vs. STA: Infertility

This email comes from Rebekka: 

I don't know if you can help me, but I would really appreciate some recommendations of romances to read that address infertility. As you know, most books that even mention it barely do, and it's usually more a case of, "Oh! My dead husband was sterile!" or it's some other problem easily fixed by the Mighty Wang.

The only romance I have read that actually deals with the emotional aspects of infertility - and which isn't magically fixed - is the Julia Quinn "Bridgerton" book When He Was Wicked (Francesca's story). My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for a year now and are about to start our first round of IVF. Even though I am only 27, our doctors say that we have less than a 5% chance of having a baby without it. Reading about other couples supporting and loving each other through such an emotional and difficult issue would really help me feel more hopeful that things can turn out all right, and that you can get through all this hard stuff together.

I remember being where Rebekka is, and it can… read more »

GS. vs. STA: Lesbian Romance

In the comments to the entry about the discrimination of the Romance Writers Ink published writers contest, DreadPirateRachel and Keri asked for a Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid for f/f romance, or, in other words, lesbian romances.

Keri commented, "It's easy to find m/m, but I'm having a really hard time with f/f, especially fluffier kinds. I love Sarah Waters and Emma Donoghue, who are always suggested, but their writing tends to be more literary and heavy and less "romance novel", and when I try to find others, I often just come across erotica meant for the male gaze. :(

(also a lot of f/f romance that I find are older YA novels that are less about the romance as they are about GLBT Issues, which is frustrating. I've seen plenty of m/m stories that aren't Issue novels and are more in the vein of what I think of as traditional romance, but not f/f. help help help! i love romance novels, but I want some that better reflect my own identity sometimes!)"

DreadPirateRachel added, "Yes, please! I'd love… read more »

GS vs. STA: Military Heroes

This "Good Shit vs Shit to Avoid" request comes from Joanne, who is hunting for books to read this winter:

I am looking for suggestions for lovely romance or wonderfully
trashy romance involving a soldier/soldier of fortune, tough guy
in uniform, or one beside a crumpled uniform on the floor. A happily ever
after would be nice. In fact, I require it from my fictional men.

After an incredibly stressful month and searching in vane, I implore you,
please help. The wine is breathing, the phone is turned off (finally) and I
am heroless. It's sad really.

Since Joanne isn't specific about time period, historical, contemporary or even paranormal/UF recommendations are more than welcome. Which books do you recommend that feature soldier/military heroes? This will be one hell of a list, given the scope, to please try to limit your recommendations to your top 2 or 3 favorite books. 

And if there's a military or soldier hero romance you don't recommend, feel free to talk about it, but please try to explain why it… read more »

Classic Romance - Which One First? Judith McNaught Reading List

Judith McNaught is one of the romance authors whose books have been read by so many, for so many years, she's a mainstay in terms of reader best-of lists. Some readers couldn't say enough amazing things about McNaught's novels, while others struggle with the old-skool heroes, particularly those who rely on the "all women are evil" trope to justify some really shitful behavior.

So compiling a list of reader favorites and recommendations for someone who hasn't tried McNaught proved a bit tricky. Based on reader comments, there are some that are loved without reservation - while those same titles are equally hated by other readers. Here's the list of recommended books, and one caution.

Almost Heaven Goodreads | Amazon | BN

Recommended by Daisy, Lauren Willig, and many others. Noelle says, "I cannot live without Almost Heaven, A Kingdom of Dreams and Remember When. I adore most of her historicals and many of her contemporaries, but these three are tops… read more »

GS vs. STA: Sports Romances

Last week I had hellaflu, and while working on this week's lineup, I asked on Twitter if there were any requests for content. OddSoxAlex requested a GS vs. STA for sports romances - specifically those that take place in the UK, or in Europe, and not in the US. 

Most of the sports romances I know of, such as Jaci Burton's Play by Play series, which features football and baseball, or Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series, which is about car racing, take place in the US. 

Do you know of any sports romances that take places outside the US, or, if not, sports romances that you loved in general? Recommendations, please!

Penny Jordan

Penny Jordan passed away from cancer at age 65 on 31 December 2011. She was the author of over 200 novels, and a name that many, many readers saw frequently on the covers of Harlequin Presents. Jordan's most recent book, Passion and the Prince, was just released at the end of December.

Jordan is more remembered, aside from authoring a metric ton of novels, for being a generous person who eagerly helped new authors navigate the path to publication.

The Romantic Novelists Association collected remembrances from its members, many of whom are grieving for the loss of a close friend. penny jordan

Lynne Connelly also wrote a very moving post about Jordan, and how much she'll be missed.

So, which Jordan novel would you recommend for someone curious about her books? It's an impromptu "Which one First?" though Jordan was on my list for this feature, as her backlist is very impressive. Which Jordan book do you recommend above all others? Please share your favorite and why. 

GS vs STA: Overcoming Prejudice

I received this email from Jan Oda, who is looking for a particular type of romance. Her request gave me a lot to think about. 

"I was going through my old HP's, and I bumped into Sun Lord's Woman by Violet Winspear. It's an HP from the 80s, but I quite like it because of its subject. It starts out as a typical Sheik romance, but the conflict is very original. Linda's mother was Jewish*, and when Karim finds out he's distraught that they married, because of his position as an Arab leader and the everlasting conflict. In the end, love conquers all however, and they live happily ever after, no matter their ancestry.

I was really surprised that an HP could touch on a subject so sensitive, and not screw it up completely (it's not very nuanced nor deeply explored, but it's there). So I got thinking, I want to read more books like this. Where characters are prejudiced and discriminating, but where love overcomes those feelings. I think I'd prefer it if it were the hero and heroine themselves who were prejudiced, but… read more »

Classic Romance - Which One First? Judith McNaught Edition

When I was in high school, I signed a somewhat-friend's yearbook, and I noticed that her best friend had signed the inside cover with a huge paragraph wherein she'd somehow included the title of every Judith McNaught novel (this was in 1993 so there were plenty of them) because they loved those books and read them over and over. That was my introduction to McNaught, and I started with Once and Always.It was all downhill from there.

I love Once and Always for the tortured hero, even if he's a big ol' jerkface in some scenes. Also, I think that's one of the very few times I've encountered a historical hero named "Jason."

Hanukkah Chanukkah Chanukah Hanukah Romances

There are, I believe, at least 30 ways to spell "hanukkah," which is an English transliteration of a Hebrew word, so there's lots of room for creativity. Like JR Ward, we are very free with the extra Hs, too. Thus it can be hard to find Hanukkah-themed romances because you might not be sure how the person listing the book spelled Chanukkah.

I've received a few email messages asking about Hanukkah themed romances - and have a small list of some Harlequin categories from way back when.

GS vs. STA: Latino Heroes and Heroines

A reader named Tessa emailed looking for recommendations, and I knew you would know some good books to suggest for her. 

I am looking for a book, actually for a type of book- I would really like more than one. I want to read something with a[n] Hispanic protagonist (I think
I would prefer hero to heroine, but I would like either).

I did a quick (micro-second fast) search of the site, but didn't see a whole lot, other than this is not a type of book you see often, which I had kinda already figured out.

I would be ok with historical, but would prefer contemporaries.

Classic Romance - Which One First? Julie Garwood Edition

Julie Garwood's books are so beloved by many readers, and your recommendation list was a big one! Some readers called her books "comfort reads" and others said that Garwood was their first introduction to the historical romance genre. And MANY readers said the discussion in that thread made people want to read Garwood right now - many a library request was made that day, I hear!

Here's the list of recommended titles from your recommendations.

GS vs. STA: Characters With Chronic Conditions

I have an anonymous request for a “Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid” list:

Like many of us, I cope with things by reading about them, and I love finding a book about someone who has problems similar to mine and is able to thrive. I was recently diagnosed with a chronic condition that will almost certainly affect the rest of my life. It’s not fatal, and it’s not degenerative, but it is likely to lead to some level of physical disability in the future.

I am thus wondering about books with heroines who are physically disabled. I know there are books with deaf/Deaf heroines (I thoroughly enjoyed Tessa Dare’s Three Nights with a Scoundrel), but I’m primarily interested in reading about women with physical limitations—damaged legs, missing arms, confined to a wheelchair, suffering from multiple sclerosis, etc. One-eyed race car drivers need not apply.

There are heroes with war wounds, but I’ve encountered very few heroines with similar disabilities. My taste is kind of narrow—I love Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, Loretta Chase, and most Lisa Kleypas for historicals (I have read Seduce Me at Sunrise, btw, and I’m just thinking I’ll go back and… read more »

Classic Romance - Which One First? Julie Garwood Edition

Julie Garwood is a romance author whose books often are mentioned along with my very favorite noise, “Good Book Noise.” There are MANY of them, too! She used to write historicals, and now her focus in on romantic suspense. So if you’re looking at Garwood’s books and trying to pick one to read, it can be daunting.

My favorite Garwood’s are all historicals. I love The Bride like nobody’s business, and could re-read that book any time, even when I have 2 minutes before the world ends. My copy is in two large pieces. I think it might be time for another copy. Or some duct-tape, as I love the gold cover. It was my standard for what bridal gowns should look like, ever since I read that book as a young teenager.

So, let’s build a recommended list, shall we? We’ve done lists for Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey. Let’s do a Garwood list, shall we?

Which Julie Garwood novel would you recommend first? Which would you pass… read more »

GS vs STA: Pirate Romance Redux

Rudi wrote me and said,

“I’m almost ashamed to say this, I’ve never actually read a pirate romance before so I don’t really know where to start.

I was hoping the Bitchery might be able to help me find some awesome pirate romance novels. Dangerously puffy shirts on the cover are a plus.”

Now, we discussed this back in 2006 but it seemed to me that enough has changed in 5 years that we might be able to add to that list. Got any piratical romances you recommend, from then and now?

Classic Romance - Which One First? Jude Deveraux Recommendations

The interesting thing about Jude Deveraux novels is that for every book someone adored, there’s a nearly equal number of readers who didn’t like it. So it’s difficult to create a recommendation list for early Deveraux books, and I’ve tried to include the balance of comments so that readers who are curious about her backlist can get a sense of what might appeal to them.

So, let’s get started!

A Knight in Shining Armor [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook | Kobo | WORD Brooklyn]

You can’t be surprised this made the list! This time-travel romance is a little unorthodox in the ending, but it is among the most beloved romances. Some don’t love the ending - as Karen said, “I have to say that I didn’t really like KISA—the ending just didn’t quite work for me as a true HEA (but I feel that way about a lot of time travel books).” But yet, it is one of those romances readers still talk about.