Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

It’s not bodice-rippery, but the Outlander series is the most epic of sagas. Six deliciously long books starring the best hero the romance genre has ever seen, Jamie Fraser. I consider them required reading!

I highly second Lucy’s Outlander suggestion.  There series is already well over 6,000 pages, which should last you a while.

I suggest The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. So, so awesome. And deeply epic.

I third the two above! A fantastic epic! I am part way through book 5, with book 6 anxiously waiting, and book 7 is supposed to be out next year *anxiously bites lip*

I may also delve into her other series based around Lord John Grey. Not sure if they are romance-centric, but look quite good!

I’ve got to recommend “For My Lady’s Heart” by Laura Kinsale. It’s absolutely epic, and very beautifully written.

In addition to the Outlander series, I’d also recommend the Guardian series by Meljean Brook.  It starts with Demon Angel, continues with Demon Moon and Demon Night comes out (at least in the U.S.) this month.  That combines epic and paranormal all in one delicious package.

I’d like to suggest my first ever bodice-ripper series: Rosemary Rogers’ Ginny and Steve series. I believe there are 4 on Ginny and Steve and a fifth that is about their daughter. It’s historical and covers just about every country, including France!

Try Elizabeth Chadwick: epic, historical (medievil, not regency), romantic, but not really bodice-ripping.

Might I recommend Kathleen E. Woodiwiss?I don’t know how epic it is, but she is certainly historical and…somewhat terrible in that 70s/80s romance kind of way.  Her most memorable for me is “The Flame and the Flower,” which is set during the Regency, but isn’t a Regency (if that makes sense).  I also remember not hating “So Worthy My Love,”  “Petals on the River,” and “The Wolf and the Dove.”  I recently heard that Woodiwiss had died, and it looks like all her books are being republished anew, so they shouldn’t be too hard to aquire.

Kathleen Woodiwiss is good for a saga. “Shanna” will take you from the carribbean islands to colonial America, and “A Rose in Winter” will take you to northern Europe and England.

‘Nother vote for the Outlander series.

For an engrossing pseudo-historical saga try Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series, starting with Kushiel’s Dart. It’s epic and hot, full of intrigue, mystery, betrayal, lust, love and a whole lot more.  (It’s set in an alternate medieval to renaissance Europe, one that imagines what it would have been like with magic and a pantheon of gods.)

Oh, Kathleen Woodiwiss is so good! My two favorites from her are “A Rose in Winter” and “Ashes on the Wind.”

Caroline, I’m a diehard Gabaldon fan so I tried reading the Lord John books. They’re more mystery fiction than anything else. While I love John’s character in the Outlander books, I wasn’t thrilled with the John books. I guess I need Jamie and Claire to stay interested. :)

Definitely agree on Gabaldon, Chadwick (especially The Greatest Lion and The Scarlet Lion), Paullina Simons!

Another suggestion I would make are The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. The second one, in particular, is excellent!

I would say Monica McCarty writes very sweeping, old-school romance (minus the “rape ‘em till they love it” asshat heroes). And since she came out back-to-back-to-back you can get your hands on three THICK books all at once.

You might also like “Lady of the Forest” by Jennifer Roberson.  It is a retelling of the Robin Hood myth from Marian’s point of view.  Robin Hood comes back from the Crusades all emotionally wounded and stuff: you just want to hug him and make it better.  While not terribly epic, it is really thick.  At nearly 800 pages, it should last, what, two days?

Yeah, definitely give Outlander a try if you haven’t yet.  The first time I was all “JFC, WTF with the TIME TRAVEL and the WHAT and WHAT and the HOW and the….oh, fine, hot guy in a kilt. I accept.”

Seconding anything by Laura Kinsale. She’s fantastic.  I also liked The Tea Rose, and in a similar vein is Passage Home, by Alison McLeay.

To go all old skool, if you haven’t read The Thorn Birds (although I can hardly imagine anyone on this site hasn’t) you just have to.  Ditto Pillars of the Earth.

What about Belva Plain.  Isn’t Evergreen a sweeping epic?

Can enough be said about “Outlander”? Totally a must-read. I’ve got three copies of the first book; one for keepsies, two for loan-outs. The girls at my stitch-n-bitch are deeply entrenched in the Gabadonian mystique.

This is a bit random and not romance, but I feel compelled to toss Stephen King’s magnum opus into the ring: “The Dark Tower” series, beginning with “The Gunslinger.” Roland of Gilead is deeply romantic. There are seven books, and each one is bigger than the last. Very epic.

Don’t know if they qualify as epic but Mary Jo Putney has a couple of series that are wonderful: the Bride trilogy, the Fallen Angel series (which has seven books).  Also love Stephanie Laurens’ Cynster novels and her Bastion Club.

Sara Donati’s “Wilderness” series, which starts with “Into the Wilderness,” is one of my forever favorites, a book I can read over and over again.  And it features a cameo from the characters in “Outlander”!

Well, since you are in France you might like to try Anne Golon’s Angélique series (I’ve only ever seen the films, but I know several people who also enjoyed the books). Or Victoria Holt’s The Devil on Horseback (not a saga, but one of the old Gothic romances).

And if you’ve never read Penelope Williamson’s Keeper of the Dream, you should do that straight away. :) It’s a truly lovely medieval romance.

Ohh, ohh, ohh, Susan Johnson’s early ones, especially the ones with the footnotes.  My favorites are:

Pure Sin - unconnected to any of the others as far as I can tell
The Braddock-Black series - 1. Blaze, 2. Silver Flame, 3. Forbidden (my fave), 4. Brazen
The St. John series - 1. Sinful, 2. Taboo, 3. Wicked, 4. Touch of Sin
The Kuzans - 1. Seized by Love, 2. Love Storm, 3. Sweet Love, Survive

Oh, I forgot her!  Penelope Williamson is excellent!  My favorite is “The Outsider.”  Also check out LaVyrle Spencer’s “Morning Glory.”

No specific book recs, but if you’re looking for romance paperbacks in Paris, the WH Smith on Rivoli usually has some.  And they’re open Sundays (and they don’t mind people hanging around their newsstand, reading magazines - in fact, it seems to be a Sunday ritual).  Tea and Tattered Pages in the 6th has used paperbacks, including some romance.  Bonne Annee!

Most of these have been said already, but definitely Diana Gabaldon, the Thornbirds, and Sara Donati if you like historicals and Jacqueline Carey and C.L. Wilson for fantasy.

Can I second Demon Angel and Demon Moon by Meljean Brooks? DA was number one on my annual top 10 list. And it’s sort of historical - Hugh and Lilith live for centuries!

The Angelique books are a good read and they were thick.  France to Quebec, sex, lust, and costumes.  Sergeanne Golon was a husband and wife team who wrote them.

They can be hard to find in English, so how good is your French?

No specific book recs, but if you’re looking for romance paperbacks in Paris, the WH Smith on Rivoli usually has some.

There’s a WH Smith in Paris??? NOT FAIR! There’s no such lovely thing in Frankfurt (at least not to my knowledge), and the Marks & Sparks we had closed two or three years ago (not that they sold books—for me, the main attraction was the food hall and those lovely, lovely, lovelely English sandwiches).

Since you’re in France, what about the Dark Queen series, by Susan Carroll?  The first on is “The Dark Queen,” followed by “The Courtesan” and “The Silver Rose.”  There’s another one, “The Huntress,” which I haven’t read yet, but I think that it’s part of the series, too.  They’re good, even if you like the real Catherine de Medici (the evil “dark queen” of the titles).

I enjoyed those Susan Johnson books, but all I can remember from them is a bunch of fairly rapa-licious sex, and one scene that involved a huge blue glass dildo. Humina!

Actually, if you want something epic, really amazingly epic, you want Dorothy Dunnet, starting with Game of Kings and rambling through six immense volumes to the happy ending. In between, you visit Scotland, England, France, various ports on the Levant including Istanbul and of course Imperial Russia. Supporting characters include: monarchs, eunuchs, knights, smugglers, nuns and a truly creepy mummified corpse.

The hero, blonde-n-nasty Crawford of Lymond, is the BESTEST HERO EVAR!!!

I recommend most of Robert Gellis’s books, especially the “Roselynde Chronicles.” Gellis is a medieval historian, so they really have that medieval atmosphere. The books are “Roselynde,” “Alinor,” “Gillian,” “Joanna,” “Rhiannon,” and “Sybelle.”

Her first book is also a medieval titled “Bond of Blood.” Really, really good. She’s also got a series of three books, called the “Heiresses” series, which I really enjoyed.

I see that Gellis has recently paired with Mercedes Lackey in writing a series of fantasy books. Haven’t read them, though.

That’s Roberta Gellis ... I don’t know why my fingers don’t connect with my mind these days ...

Epic story (but very dark)is the Anne Bishop - Black Jewels Trilogy, starting with Daughter of the Blood.  Very confronting though in some respects, but wonderful payoff HEA at the end of the third book. Again, repeat ad nauseum ... confronting fantasy fiction.

Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles. They have everything. Historical mid-1500s. 6 huge books: Game of Kings, Queen’s Play, The Disorderly Knights, Pawn in Frankincense (my favorite), The Ringed Castle and Checkmate. The history/action/travel is heavier than the romance, but they are really worthwhile.

Oooh ooh I was an Aussie exchange student in France for a year! I live in London these days but I do remember the pining that went on for some good romance reads. Especially as (possibly unlike our friend with the request)I found the French men particularly unimpressive…

It’s a bit boring but there’s nothing like the classics and they’re a bit easier to come by in foreign countries - they can be read and reread - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Rebecca et al. Or perhaps that’s just me.

OK sorry but had to add - Almost French - HATED IT. She took the most unattractrive parts of French culture and tried to romanticise them. Urgh. Don’t get me wrong - I think the French are great, but let’s not try to talk up arrogance and misogyny hey? It’s not really something to celebrate.

This isn’t exactly a bodice ripping series but in case you need a few days to cool down from all the hot scenes, Fiona Buckley’s Ursula Blanchard mystery series is excellent. It takes place in Queen Elizabeth I’s court and follows Ursula who is a lady in waiting and a spy. There are eight books and they are mid-range in length. “Queen’s Ranson”, “The Siren Queen”, “The Doublet Affair” etc.

Yet another vote for the Outlander series, 6 books and counting!  #7 should be out this year, and that still won’t finish the series.  You can’t get more epic than that.

I don’t know if anyone else recommended this or not, but what about Colleen Gleason?  Her Gardella series is historical.  Of course, her heroine is a vampire slayer, but she’s also a member of the ton.  If you haven’t read them, I really do recommend them.  :)

Alas, they aren’t really what I’d consider bodice rippers, but they are very, very hot, especially Rises the Night.  Yum!  :)

Oh…wait, I remembered some more.  Janice Young Brooks wrote some wonderful epic romances (my first intro to homsexuality in a romance even) and I don’t know how hard her stuff is to find.  Seventrees, Cinnamon Wharf and Crown Sable.  Seventrees is my favorite.  It’s about 3 generations of women and it is beautifully written. 

If you’ve never read Rides the Wind, I recommend that too.  It’s based on the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker who was kidnapped by Comanche warriors and raised as one of them.  Phenomenal & makes me cry every time I read it.  It’s by…Lucia St Clair Robson

Crap…I’ve got to stop reading the comments.  Makes me remember stuff.  LaVyrle Spencer’s Years is one of my all-time favorite books with Endearment and Vows a close tie for second.  :D

I second the recommendations for Diana Gabaldon, Penelope Williamson, and LaVyrle Spencer.

I know there a lot of people who enjoyed “The Flame And The Flower” but sweet lord, I hated that book. It hit the trifecta by being sexist, racist, and stupid.

I know you’re all going to think I’m an incredibly negative person but . . . I hated “Into The Wilderness.” I read it because apparently Sarah Donati was a friend of Diana Gabaldon’s. When I picked up the book I was shocked to see that two-thirds of the cover was taken up by a favorable review from Gabaldon. I had never seen that before, ever. I always felt like Donati was trying to piggyback on Gabaldon’s success; I would have been more forgiving of that if the book had been better.

I never said “The Flame and the Flower” was fabulous: just memorable.  It holds a special place in my heart, being the first romance novel I snitched from my mom and read in secret.  I think I was ten, which might explain a few things…

By the way, thanks to everyone who’s contributed, since now I have a few books to investigate for myself!

I totally, 100% second Jean’s suggestion for Roberta Gellis’s Roselynde Chronicles.

Loved them all through the ‘80s and ‘90s. Still do.

I reread Alinor (the second one) at least once a year, with the others not quite as often. Ian di Vipont is one of my favorite heroes evah!

And they’re good and meaty with lots of history and great sex and wonderful romances. Definitely high on my list.

PS Thank you, Kaitlin, for the mention! :-)

Oh, and I forgot…LaVyrle Spencer. I second her too. Vows is another of my all-time favorite re-reads.

I second the mention of Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles.

This is absolutely one of the best series of books I’ve had the privilege to read.

Erotic and suspenseful with incredible characters and lots of surprises ... all of it written with a brilliant, sophisticated flair.

Her Sebastian reminds me in some ways of a certain honorable rogue penned by Margaret Mitchell.

This is one of those occasions where I really just have to have my antenna waving - ok, I’m a dyke, but I do like lots of het romances… but I just don’t get the Outlander love. But then again, big moody Scottish blokes don’t really do it for me (I do like kilts, though). I dunno, I find Gabaldon’s writing somewhat over-egged, perhaps.

I definitely second the Carey recommendations though. Also, if Mads is in Paris (or near Lille), it’s only a couple of hours via Eurostar to all those loverly bookshops on Charing Cross Rd. Or London from Lyon, Marseilles or other TGV cities is only a few hours more (Lyon to London can be done in time for lunch).

I’m the opposite of some quoted here. I really like the Lord John books by Diana Gabaldon, but the Outlander bookes…meh. I just don’t get the Jamie love. And further to that I have a spanking new copy of Outlander that I’l love to see go to a good home so if the OP emails me I’ll mail it to her in France. It’s a brick but I’m only in the UK so hopefully it wouldn’t cost too much ;)

I’ve not read previous comments so apologies if already reccd, but I’d reccomend Sergeanne Golon’s Angelique books.  I read these as a teenager and they’re v epic but also funny and interesting - and very French!  In a nutshell, Angelique is married off as a teenager to a much older, very sophisticated man.  She is resentful but eventually grows to love him deeply (he is one of my favourite ever romance heroes).  However, he has enemies and is tried as a witch and she believes he has died.  Angelique then goes off on a series of adventures - and has lots of partners - all over the place, but is eventually reunited with her True Love.  Srsly - it’s good.  Trouble is, they might be out of print.  But you can probably pick ‘em up on Amazon second hand.

Thank you so much everyone! I’m completely overwhelmed by all your awesome suggestions! Will get on it- STAT.
Honestly, The Bitchery rules.
Thank you all for your help!

Mads, can you handle a couple more recs?

Here’s a classic from the 70’s—The Proud Breed by Celeste de Blasis (I hope I spelled that right). A multigenerational romance saga set in the American West. All time favorite of mine.

Or how about Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series? Yum. Highland romance with varying bits of time travel and/or sidhe mythology.

Bev(QB)

In a nutshell, Angelique is married off as a teenager to a much older, very sophisticated man.

JOFFREY!!!!! *squee*

With a scar and a limp. And dark hair.

A few of these are out of print because they are older romances but can be found easily used online.

Moonstruck Madness / Chance the Winds of Fortune / Dark Before the Rising Sun trilogy by Laurie McBain

Rose of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne

Tiger Lily by Shirlee Busbee

Angel in Scarlet by Jennifer Wilde

A Rebel’s Love by Joyce Verrette

Something Wonderful / Almost Heaven / Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Mad,

A few more that weren’t mentioned (although I have to agree on the Outlander series for some seriously thick reading that should get you through at least a few weeks.)  You might also want to try early Susan Wiggs books when she was writing historicals.  Charm School was excellent.  Also anything by Arnette Lamb (very yummy Scottish heroes).

Happy reading!

Seconding the Carey recs here. Sadly, most of the epic series I love are fantasy and not romnce, but Tad Williams’s Otherland and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series are excellent sci-fi and fantasy with romantic subplots and nicely happy endings.

If language is not an issue (ie. if you can read in French), Golon’s Angelique series should not be so hard to find in French (it was in print 2-3 years ago, although not available new from amazon.fr).

And for English language books in Paris I would also recommend Brentano’s, the American library on l’avenue de l’Opera. And they have a much better selection of US published titles than WHSmith (I used to get my Heyers from WHSmith and my SF&F from Brentano’s).

I have to admit that I loved the Angelique series, very 70s/80s bodice ripper with an empowered bitch of a heroine.  They were written by Sergeanne Golon, a husband and wife team.  I would recommend reading them in order.