Bitchin' Blog Posts
Classic Romance - Which One First? Julie Garwood Edition
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | November 10, 2011 | Thursday at 11:18 am | 64 Comments
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 to a curious reader? Feel free to recommend both historical and romantic suspense, as those are two very different genres!
Filed: General Bitching, Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid, Classic Romances: Which One First?
Tagged: romantic suspense, julie garwood, historical, contemporary, classic romances
Copa said on 11.10.11 at 11:41 AM • [link]
I listen to a lot of audiobooks from my library, and they have The Bride available right now. Has anyone heard the audiobook version? is it any good?
The reader can really make or break a book in that format.
Overquoted said on 11.10.11 at 12:10 PM • [link]
I’m exempting her contemporary suspense novels from my recommendations, mainly because they’re so different from her earlier works. Much of her books feature heroines were very similar traits. And if I recall correctly, The Bride, The Wedding and The Secret featured cross-overs. I may be wrong about The Secret, but definitely not the other two.
But I’d say start with The Wedding. “Now? You want to marry me now?” The heroine spends most of the book astonished at the speed of things, and probably at her own inability to delay them. And everyone around her is constantly interfering, making sure she doesn’t wander off, making sure she doesn’t annoy her new husband (who finds her amusing rather than annoying), etc. It’s cute, funny and a very strong representation of much of Garwood’s backlist. The last time I read it, my roommate had to ask me why I was snorting so much.
ShellBell said on 11.10.11 at 01:11 PM • [link]
My favourites are For The Roses (still can’t believe that For The Roses was turned into the dreadful Rose HIll starring Jennifer Garner); The Prize (my second favourite medieval romance following Jude Deveraux’s The Black Lyon) Ransom; Gentle Warrior and The Secret
Michelle R. said on 11.10.11 at 01:22 PM • [link]
The Gift, definitely The Gift. They had an arranged marriage when she was 4 and he was 14, and haven’t seen each other in years. He keeps calling her “bride,” and she tells him to stop. He tells her he can’t call her “wife” since the marriage has yet to be consummated. She allows that he can call her bride. She punishes him in a rather unique way for being unsympathetic to her cramps. There’s lots more, but I don’t want to spoil.
Kim in Hawaii said on 11.10.11 at 02:13 PM • [link]
My first JG book was RANSOM and loved it. A quick check on her website indicates it is the second book in her medieval series after THE SECRET ... so I recommend a new reader start there.
Off topic - Hau`oli LÄ HÄnau - Happy Birthday to the US Marine Corps. The “always faithful” are 236 years young!
Lisa J said on 11.10.11 at 02:36 PM • [link]
The Secret, Ransom, The Bride, The Wedding, Honor’s Spendour, and Saving Grace are all awesome. My favorite is Prince Charming set in the American West.
Lynne Connolly said on 11.10.11 at 03:27 PM • [link]
I think these books qualify for the crack award.
A friend in America sent me a bunch of Garwoods in return for a bunch of British style sagas, and I set to.
I hated them. Every single one of the wisecracking American heroines (they were all American, despite what the books said) and the beefy, stupid, heroes. Read this one, she said, you’ll love it. I hated it.
Then I lent them to my friend who is as British as I am. Before this, you see, I thought the tone was too American to appeal to a Brit reader.
She loved them. Devoured them. Gobbled them up and asked for more. She still thinks that Garwood is one of the best authors I’ve ever introduced her to.
“But he jumps his horse across Hadrian’s Wall!” I said.
“I don’t care,” she said. “I want more.”
I made a monster.
So I had to buy them for her when I visited the US. At least now she can get her own copies from Amazon. She likes the historicals best, too.
JNiffer said on 11.10.11 at 03:42 PM • [link]
I would have to say my all time favorite that I can read over and over again is The Lion’s Lady! I love that one! Especially when she keeps “Divorcing” him, because he ticks her off by being an ass, and lines his shoes up on the front steps of the house. Plus the butler is a hoot!
LG said on 11.10.11 at 03:48 PM • [link]
I think the only Julie Garwood I’ve read is The Secret, which I read after a long period of not having read romances - it reminded me how enjoyable romance novels can be. :) After I finished that one, I took a trip to my favorite “omg, these books are cheap!” used bookstore and bought every single one of her historicals I could find.
Melissa said on 11.10.11 at 03:50 PM • [link]
The Secret and Honor’s Splendour would be my top two recs, they are my favorites that I have read over and over.
After those, my other favs are Ransom and Saving Grace.
I am not a huge fan of The Bride and The Prize but they are okay. I liked Castles well enough. I don’t like The Wedding because of the hero’s actions. Let’s not talk about Shadow Music, I have tried to erase that travesty from my mind.
Out of her romantic suspense, the only one I like is Mercy. I am not a fan of the rest of them, her characters are very cardboard, the suspense sucks and the romance is very lukewarm.
If you are trying out Garwood, my best recs are her medievals, specifically The Secret, Ransom, Honor’s Splendour and Saving Grace.
Bookluvr4life said on 11.10.11 at 04:09 PM • [link]
I love all of her historicals, but I have a special love for Prince Charming. It was the first of her books I ever read and it is my go-to re-read when I am feeling blue.
Megan Buckley said on 11.10.11 at 04:12 PM • [link]
I second The Gift! Whole freaking heartedly! It was the first romance I read that featured a heroine with brown hair and brown eyes. No raven locks or fiery tresses or jade eyes. Just brown and brown. She wasn’t a great beauty. Just sweet and loving. AND IT’S A SHIPBOARD ROMANCE. It is the undisputed source of my love for all things set aboard ships.
I recently re-read it and my 14 year old self didn’t let me down. It was still as wonderful to me as always. I’ll also co-sign For the Roses. My online identity has in some way always been rosehill or Rose Hill, so I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for it.
Jennifer said on 11.10.11 at 04:20 PM • [link]
I adore all of Julie Garwood’s historicals. I would recommend reading her connected Regencies: The Lion’s Lady (JNiffer’s comments about this one are so true), Guardian Angel (one of my favorites - Black Harry the pirate & Sterns the butler are awesome characters), The Gift and Castles (good old Dolphin). I read this series repeatedly.
Honor’s Splendour is another gem (she seals her fate when she warms Duncan’s feet). I love The Bride, The Secret, The Wedding, For the Roses and Prince Charming too.
Oh, and I don’t want to forget Saving Grace or The Prize or Ransom.
I enjoy Garwood’s romantic suspense as well. They aren’t as good as her historicals, but some are worth a read.
My only problem with Julie Garwood? Everytime someone talks about her books, I have to go and read some (which I am off to do now).
Cynara said on 11.10.11 at 04:22 PM • [link]
First, let’s stop that rogue italic….
Second, I read The Lion’s Lady and it really didn’t work for me. I was disappointed by the domestication of the heroine, and I didn’t much like the hero’s attitude. Am I done with Garwood?
barbara longley said on 11.10.11 at 04:49 PM • [link]
Garwood has LONG been a favorite of mine as well, and my all time favorite is THE RANSOM. Loved that heroine. I haven’t read a single one of her historicals that I didn’t love. THE GIFT is another fav. I’m not as crazy about her romantic suspense, and I’ll admit that I was a tiny bit devastated when she switched genres. When I got my e-readers, I pretty much cleared out all the old paperbacks, with the exception of the Garwoods, and Karen Moning’s highlander books. Love that stuff like white chocolate.
Diana N. said on 11.10.11 at 05:06 PM • [link]
I love Julie Garwood’s early historicals, especially The Prize, but lately I find myself going back and reading Shadow Music. There’s something about the character of Gabrielle, with her habit of saying “As you wish” when commanded to do something that reminds me of the Southern saying “Bless their heart”; she ends up doing what she wants anyway! I love it when the female leads are strong and courageous. And the heroes just aren’t sure what to make of it.
cleo said on 11.10.11 at 05:51 PM • [link]
must close italics. argh. I know I read JG in the 90s but I don’t remember any details. So that’s not helpful.
Julie L. said on 11.10.11 at 06:00 PM • [link]
The Bride, The Bride, The Bride! My favorite of all her books. It’s great on audio as well. After that The Secret!
For her Regency’s The Lion’s Lady is great as well!
KamC said on 11.10.11 at 06:01 PM • [link]
I absolutely loved “For the Roses” and when Hallmark made it into a movie the commercials for it had me excited, but what a steamy pile that turned out to be! I felt so bad for Julie Garwood that they completely butchered her beautiful story about family, paring it down into something whose only resemblance to the novel were the characters names.
I’d also recommend “Honor’s Splendour” and “Lion’s Lady” as well as the books she gave the Clayborne brothers (from “For the Roses”) “The Rose Trilogy” and “Come the Spring”.
Trysh said on 11.10.11 at 06:09 PM • [link]
The Secret and then Ransom - Oh man, I love all three of the heroes in those ones. Whenever anyone asks me for a recommendation for a historical, I go straight to Garwood.
Mary Beth said on 11.10.11 at 06:21 PM • [link]
All of Garwood’s historicals are good. I would only suggest that you read the inter-related ones in order, for example, The Secret, Ransom, and Shadow Music (the weakest). Another series starts with The Lion’s Lady.
I own and re-read all of her historicals, but I so loathed her first three contemporary books that I’ve stopped even checking them out at the library. Her female leads are very Mary Sue-ish. For some reason, I can handle that in a historical but not in a contemporary romantic suspense.
Nicole L said on 11.10.11 at 06:32 PM • [link]
Loved them all (her historical ones, anyway). I read them over and over again…they are hilarious, the women are funny and quirky, and the men…ah…the men.
I would probably start with The Bride…LOVED IT!
Jess Haines said on 11.10.11 at 06:33 PM • [link]
I adore THE SECRET, and that’s usually the first book I thrust into the hands of a Garwood virgin. *g*
<3,
-J
Kristine said on 11.10.11 at 06:35 PM • [link]
I love The Secret and re-read it at least once a year. Not only do I love the story and but it reminds me of my best friend who got me addicted to Julie Garwood (among a million other authors!) Another I love is The Castle and, of course, Ransom, and the Roses books.
JenniferP said on 11.10.11 at 06:47 PM • [link]
All of my fave Garwood’s are historicals - I tried my best to like her contemporaries but thought they could all be improved by the death of the heroine which, of course, never happened.
The Bride and The Wedding (I would do Fear Factor type things if it would get her to write Quinlan and Faith’s story that was so perfectly set-up at the end of The Wedding)
The Secret - I’m not sure what I liked more about this book; the romance or the no-holds-barred friendship between Judith and Frances Catherine. I wasn’t *as* impressed by the follow-up, Ransom, but it was still good.
Saving Grace - I just adored Gabriel
In her newsletter a couple of years ago Julie said there was a new “series” she’d be doing (I think each was to have a month of the year as a title) that weren’t necessarily connected themselves but each would be about characters from earlier books. When nothing else ever turned up about them I emailed to ask her; she said her publisher told her to drop the idea and stick to the romantic suspense books. I think she needs to do what so many other authors have done and self-publish those books since they’re obviously what she wanted to write.
Tee said on 11.10.11 at 06:52 PM • [link]
Ha! - “My only problem with Julie Garwood? Everytime someone talks about her books, I have to go and read some (which I am off to do now).” I had immediately requested a bunch of these at the library before I even got to the comments section of this posting! Miss them! Haven’t reread in a few years as her books are in storage… Glad to see most are still available in my local library system, a testament to her durability 15 years later and given her lackluster recent crossover suspense books.
Kim said on 11.10.11 at 06:55 PM • [link]
The Wedding, Ransom, and The Bride are my favorites. But I am a fan of all her burly laird/spirited lady historical novels.
dick said on 11.10.11 at 07:02 PM • [link]
Garwood’s historicals epitomize, in tone and plot, what romance fiction is all about.
Wynn said on 11.10.11 at 07:08 PM • [link]
JG’s The Bride was my intro to historical romances 15 years ago and I’ve probably reread it a million times since then! I loved Guardian Angel, Castles (this one more for the characters than the plot) and Saving Grace too. It’s sad that JG’s comtemporary ones don’t quite hit the spot but all of her historicals are definitely worth a read.
joykenn said on 11.10.11 at 08:14 PM • [link]
I think Lynne Connolly is right. Some of Garwood’s historicals are like crack. For some awful reason I’m addicted to Lion’s Lady. It is totally improbable, couldn’t possibly have happened, not at all historically accurate and I LUV it. Something about her keeping the aged butler, keeping the horrible mother-in-law and throwing him out. Even the stupid bit about her sleeping on the floor and cutting her hair every time he “dis-respects” her. I chuckle every time I read the book but usually stop before the ridiculous ending. Why does this book give me a pick-me-up, sigh. Its my guilty pleasure.
Lily said on 11.10.11 at 08:18 PM • [link]
The Wedding was my first romance novel. Though my mom was a voracious reader, I can’t begin to imagine her picking up a romance. They weren’t part of my book world and I believed the “negative stereotypes about them. I’m not sure how I ended up with a copy of The Wedding, but I am so grateful that I did and never looked back. After reading hundreds upon hundreds of romances since, this one holds a special place in my heart for showing me that there is nothing wrong with loving book with a happy ending.
Erica H said on 11.10.11 at 08:24 PM • [link]
I LOVE Julie Garwood…She is my comfort read. My historical favorites are The Bride, The Secret, and Honor’s Splendour, and Ransom. In addition, I love Guardian Angel and Lion’s Lady.
In her romantic suspense books, my absolute favorite is Fire and Ice followed by Killjoy, Slow Burn, Sizzle, and Shadow Dance.
Just reading these cooments makes me want to read her books right now!
CMD said on 11.10.11 at 08:39 PM • [link]
I’ve enjoyed most of JG’s historicals (her last two RS novels, not so much… by which I mean at all. Actually, her last attempt at a historical—Shadow Music was pretty bad as well). In fact, she was my gateway into romance way back when I was in 8th grade or so, via a friend of mine who was reading Ransom. It remains my all-time favourite JG novel, and one of my favourite romance novels overall. I have the MM paperback version, the eBook version, the audiobook, and I’ve read it countless times. I could probably recite a great part of it verbatim.
Other historical/historical-ish favourites: The Wedding (Brenna cracks me up), For the Roses (yes, I stayed up all night reading it, and cried), Saving Grace (Gabriel is a sweetheart), and Honour’s Splendour (oh, Madelyne… and Duncan). Uh, yeah, that’s about half her historical backlist right there, haha.
In terms of her contemporaries/RS novels, there are definitely better RS authors & stories out there, but the beginning of her Buchanan series isn’t bad. I rather enjoyed Heartbreaker (book 1), Mercy (book 2), and Murder List (book 4, for the characters)... and Fire & Ice (book 7), because Sophie is hilarious. The books are all very similar, so the further along in the series you go, the more glaring that becomes. Sizzle (book 8) was a waste of time, IMHO… and don’t even get me started on The Ideal Man (her latest, not part of the Buchanan series). Seriously—who wrote that??
I know her editor & publisher are probably dictating what she writes, but JG should definitely go back to those historicals we all know & love.
Kate Pearce said on 11.10.11 at 09:02 PM • [link]
Lynne Connolly, you’re not alone. When I moved to the U.S. everyone told me I had to read Julie Garwood so I did, and the historical inaccuracy about medieval England…just… well, put it this way, I never read another one, so maybe I missed out.
Ashley G. said on 11.10.11 at 09:07 PM • [link]
I don’t like her modern novels but I love the historical… I got a few friends to read romances because I gave them The Secret and Ransom. Usually, despite the out-of-order-ness I would give them Ransom first. I still have my original copies and man are they well loved.
Marika Weber said on 11.10.11 at 09:29 PM • [link]
I will be honest. I love Julie Garwood but only her contemporaries. I read Shadow Music and I was completely lost in it. I have the Bride, Ransom and For the Roses in paperback to read and I have never read them.
***hangs head in shame***
NerdyLutheranChick said on 11.10.11 at 09:34 PM • [link]
For The Roses (and its sequels: The Clayborne Brides and Come the Spring) and The Secret are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES!!!!!!!!
Jessica Banks said on 11.10.11 at 09:53 PM • [link]
Garwood was my first non-Harlequin romance read, so she’s one I frequently recommend to new folks to the genre. Saving Grace remains my favorite, because it’s different enough in plot from many of the other medieval ones, while still exemplifying the type. For The Roses is great, but then you get into those little novellas, which I pretty much despised.
Cynara said on 11.10.11 at 10:02 PM • [link]
Urgh, I misspoke - I mixed the book with another one. I haven’t read Lion’s Lady - it’s on my “SBTB recommends but the dratted library doesn’t have it, not even in large print” list.
Noelle said on 11.10.11 at 10:56 PM • [link]
My very favorite Garwood book is The Prize, no question. Such a romantic story and one that still makes me smile and sigh every time I read it. One of my top two favorite medieval romances, second only to McNaught’s A Kingdom of Dreams.
Another favorite is Ransom. I think most people love The Secret more, but I’m just the opposite. The Secret is good and definitely worth reading before Ransom, but I like Ransom better and read it quite often. I still think it’s a fairly unique plot and even the secondary romance is pretty cute. Great characters all around.
Aside from The Prize and Ransom, I also love Prince Charming (silly moments and all!).
Jenn said on 11.10.11 at 11:56 PM • [link]
I read her historicals over and over again, but I have problems with the contemporary ones because there is a level of niavete in the heroines that keeps pulling me out of the story to say to myself ” no one can reach adulthood and be that innocent”.
Katherine C. said on 11.11.11 at 12:22 AM • [link]
Oh Julie. Ransom was my re-introduction into the world of romance, and is the reason Garwood will forever be my one of my favorite authors — I love that she always makes me laugh. Out loud. Because it was the first, I think Ransom will always be my favorite, and that who inter-connected “series” my favorite set of hers (JenniferP, I too"would do Fear Factor type things if it would get her to write Quinlan and Faith’s story that was so perfectly set-up at the end of The Wedding,” and have been patiently waiting for a decade for her to do so.). Like so many others, I prefer the historicals, and really wish she’d go back to them, but I do like some of her first romantic suspenses as well. Also, now I shall curse you all because instead of tackling my IMMENSE TBR collection, I’m not going to run home and dig out my Garwoods for yet another re-read. Thanks ;)
Olivia said on 11.11.11 at 12:27 AM • [link]
The Bride was the first historical romance I ever read and to this day I can quote passages verbatim. Sure, the heroine’s super-perfect and the hero’s really condescending and the book takes delight in hopping from one POV to another in the course of single sentence—BUT IT WORKS. It is the peanut butter and banana sandwich of historical romance.
Joan said on 11.11.11 at 12:50 AM • [link]
I would have to say Ransom is my favorite. It was the first historical romance I read and have to say I was hooked from then on. I love the idea of a big stong highlander claiming a woman is his and it is so. I always have extra copies of Julie Garwood books on hand to give to girlfriends who haven’t taken the plunge yet. It never fails!!
sheri williams said on 11.11.11 at 02:13 AM • [link]
I tend to disagree with most of you. Maybe it’s that I just don’t really like historicals (glaring exception, Johanna Lindsey) but I love her Buchanan series. I am still waiting for the story about Cordelia. I do not understand how Sophie got a story and she didn’t. I do though agree with the lady who mentioned how AWFUL the movie translation of For The Roses. It was flat out shameful that was allowed to happen. Please don’t hate me for not liking historicals, I fear it may be my moms fault. She raised me on Lindsey and no matter how cheesy the stories get I love them and have a ahrd time finding others that compare to the stories I loved as a teenager.
daffiney said on 11.11.11 at 03:43 AM • [link]
Whenever I get into a rut of mediocre romance novels, I reread either The Bride or Saving Grace and they always make me smile. I wish she’d write more historicals. I pick up her contemporary titles because it’s an automatic reflex whenever I see her name on the cover. But I just can’t seem to get into them. Maybe if more of the men wore kilts ...
EmilyAnn said on 11.11.11 at 04:09 AM • [link]
Honors Splendor or Saving Grace. I have a soft spot for The Brice, The Wedding, and Ranson, but Honors Splendor is my absolute fave. It’s a great romance, and Madeline’s realization of her “value” was one of the best moments of self-actualization that I’ve ever read in a Romance book. The ending has one of the best endings for a Romance book ever. EVER.
MichelleKCanada said on 11.11.11 at 04:11 AM • [link]
Julie Garwood is my most favourite historical romance author. It was a Goodreads challenge where I discovered her “The Bride” and promptly bought every historical she wrote. I think “Ransom” is still my ultimate fav and I have read it so many times and each time I am wow’d.
The Wedding, The Bride, The Secret, The Gift, Ransom, Honor’s Splendour (OMG the feet warming scene SQUEE), The Prize oh man I love them all. If I continue, I’ll just end up re-writing her book list.
Jemi Fraser said on 11.11.11 at 04:20 AM • [link]
I don’t think I’ve ever read a Julie Garwood book I didn’t enjoy. My favourite historical is Saving Grace - I enjoyed all the contemporaries I’ve read too. :)
Rhonda said on 11.11.11 at 04:46 AM • [link]
The Secret, Saving Grace and Honor’s Splendor are my all time favorite Garwood books!!! I like all all of her historical romance books, but those 3 are my favorites!
Kiersten said on 11.11.11 at 05:25 AM • [link]
The Bride, Prince Charming, Honour’s Splendour (OY how I loved that book!), Guardian Angel, Gentle Warrior, The Secret - that whole late 80s into early 90s ear was prime Garwood time. I remember finishing my exams in my sophomore year of college, sitting down in my rickety fourth-hand, high back chair and not moving for 6 hours as I read - consumed would be more accurate - The Secret front to back. Incidentally, all those listed titles are in my keeper box deep in the closet - original editions too… ;-)
SWegener said on 11.11.11 at 05:30 AM • [link]
I also LOVE the historical books, and I do like the RS. Recently I had a patron at the library where I work asking for read-allikes for Garwood’s historicals, it is hard to find alternatives with as much charm!
captcha word tried 23, cause I tried 23 times to think of good titles.
Susan/DC said on 11.11.11 at 05:32 AM • [link]
Julie Garwood was one of the first authors I discovered when I started reading romance, and “Honor’s Splendour” was the first of her books that I read. I liked it a lot and swiftly moved on to her medievals, Regencies, and her first romantic suspense when it was published. Then, I stopped. The RS didn’t grab me, although I still get chills when I think of the scene where the hero realizes the identity of the villain from the way he keeps his kitchen so spotless (or at least that’s how I remember it, which may not be totally accurate). Never did care for the Regencies, because I didn’t like heroines who were OTT perfect and so, in an odd way, boring. Liked the medievals because, as a-historical as they were, they were fun.
But other than HS, they haven’t held up for me. I can reread Amanda Quick’s books and consider them comfort reads, but I got tired of Garwood’s heroines and they no longer fit in that category. They were too determinedly spunky or quirky or something. But I still like HS. I like that we meet the hero early on, but it’s 50 pages or so until he actually speaks. Also like that Honor actually takes a hand in defending herself. Did not like the “he’s gay so he’s the villain” trope, which Garwood used more than once. OTOH, I can understand why others like her books, even if I’m not so fond of them myself any more.
Jill said on 11.11.11 at 10:19 AM • [link]
Why back up at the top: @Copa—As a sister in endless audiobook listening, I totally agree with you on the voice talent thang. My audio copy of “The Bride” was downloaded from iTunes, and I found it an enjoyable listen. I can’t remember who the reader is, alas, but I was happy with it overall.
Of course, having said that, you may hate it, LOL.
Jill said on 11.11.11 at 10:25 AM • [link]
Er ... sigh. That would be “way” back up at the top.
As far as other recs, I echo pretty much everyone else about the historicals. Love one, you’ll probably love them all.
Her contemporaries, at least for me, are hit and miss, especially since I’ve listened to most of them rather than read them. The voice talent on a couple of them has been awful, which really reduces the enjoyment of the book.
(And I **still** don’t know why I have a cat—or whatever that is—as my avatar. It just appeared one day. Which, now that I think about it, is pretty much how I acquired every cat I’ve ever had.)
Aliyah said on 11.11.11 at 01:36 PM • [link]
My first romance books were For the Roses and the Clayborne Brides. I love these books like I love my friends. Come the Spring was also good but not as good as the first parts of the story.
Bryn Thenell said on 11.11.11 at 09:34 PM • [link]
Well, there goes another perfectly good day; lost to onlline, library and used book stor searches for Julie Garwood books. I’m such an easy Bitch…
Mina Lobo said on 11.12.11 at 04:26 AM • [link]
Gosh, it’s been so long since I’ve read any JG…thanks for bringing back so many great memories, everyone!
Theresa I said on 11.12.11 at 06:07 AM • [link]
My favorites are The Prize and The Bride. This is a very timely post - I just reread The Prize this morning!
I like most Garwood books. I think you’re good starting with any of them. The only disappointing one to me was Prince Charming…
Cakes said on 11.12.11 at 07:40 AM • [link]
THE SECRET. Love. this. book.
FOR THE ROSES. I, however, did not like the sequels as much. But, this book was so perfect.
QteCuttlfish said on 11.13.11 at 12:54 AM • [link]
I have to thank you very much for posting this! Honor’s Splendor was the very first historical I ever read. I loved that book, and started gobbling up everything of Julie Garwood’s that I could. I would recommend that book, as well as Ransom, The Secret, Prince Charming, Saving Grace, Castles, and The Gift. I actually didn’t like The Bride or The Wedding very much. I own them, and I’ve re-read them, but they’re not my favorites. I think I would also put For the Roses on a Julie Garwood recommendations list.
Reading this post and everyone’s responses to it made me run for my Julie Garwood collection, lol. I’ve already re-read The Gift and am currently re-reading Castles.
Oh, and on a funny note…I’m not a big fan of contemporary suspense romances, so I read Heartbreaker, and stopped. But my mom, who doesn’t read romances but does like contemporary suspense and mysteries, is now reading all of Julie Garwood’s new novels. ^_^ We switched!
Anna J McIntyre said on 11.14.11 at 05:27 PM • [link]
Garwood has always been a favorite of mine. For the Roses was my favorite - and while I didn’t catch the TV movie, I heard it was bad. I looked forward to the trilogy that followed, yet was so disappointed. I can’t believe she wrote those. I suspect the publisher had another writer throw them together.
Jessica said on 11.16.11 at 11:28 PM • [link]
Great post, and great timing ... I’ve been re-reading (or re-reading favorit parts of) my Garwood books in the last few weeks. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite. I tried, but then I’d think of a different book and say to myself, “Oh, now wait, that one’s good too.” As others have mentioned, though, I only count the historicals on my list of favorites. The present-day books are fine, but not “re-read until the book falls apart.” :-)
Olivia said on 11.17.11 at 12:14 AM • [link]
Be still my heart! I was once in a bookstore and two women, roughly my age, came up to me and said, “can you help us? We’ve never read a romance novel before and don’t know where to start, but you look like you know what you’re doing”
After laughing, ‘cause, um yeah, I’ve read more romance in my life that is probably good for any one person (read: unrealistic expectations!) but I immediately warmed to the idea. I thought about it for about 2.2 seconds and then went to the opposite shelf, scanned the titles, and triumphantly pulled out a copy of For the Roses It’s funny, because that book is a long way from a traditional romance novel, but there is just something about it. I’ve read my copy over and over. I was disappointed at the sequels of the brothers, they were so richly drawn in the original novel, they almost seemed larger than life. Then in the novellas, they seemed like caricatures of themselves. Don’t get me started on Come the Spring.
After that book, I’d jump to The Bride and The Wedding which I enjoy so much, I once bought a second copy of each because I wanted to read them and my copies were at home. Home was approximately 30 minutes away. I needed to read them (both?) RIGHT THEN.
After that, Ransom is probably my favorite, followed closely by The Gift. That is, without question, the order I’d recommend them. Even though The Secret is related, it is not my favorite. I’ve read all the contemporaries as well. Some are better than others. If you compare them to other contemporaries, they’re not half bad, it is only when you compare them to her historicals that they really seem awful.
Fun, fun, fun post!
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