Time to post all the recommendations for Rachel Gibson. If you've ever looked at her backlist and wondered, “Which one should I read first?” the Bitchery, who knows pretty much know everything (twice), can help you out. First, a few people were hunting for a complete in-order listing for the series Gibson has written. I'll start with that so you know which book is which in the order. You can find all the series listings … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Rachel Gibson Recommendations →

I asked recently on the SBTB Facebook page which author I should do a Classic Romance: Which One First? list building entry for, and the response was rapidfire listing of really awesome names in romance. Rachel Gibson's name jumped out at me because so far, we've been talking about historical romance authors, but Gibson's been publishing romance since 1998 and has more than 15 books to her credit – which can be overwhelming if you're looking at … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Rachel Gibson Edition →

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 … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Judith McNaught Reading List →

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 … Continue reading Penny Jordan →

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 … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Judith McNaught 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. … Continue reading 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 … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Julie Garwood Edition →

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 … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Jude Deveraux Recommendations →

Jude Deveraux is one of the classic names in historical romance, and is one of the first authors I glommed when I discovered romance. I still re-read her books, but for someone who is curious about Deverax’s books, which one would you recommend first? Knight in Shining Armor is among her most-beloved titles, and one of the best time-travel romances I’ve ever read. I never understood why the heroine’s shopping spree only included formal clothing … Continue reading Classic Romance - Which One First? Jude Deveraux Edition →

So many of you posted recommendations as to which Johanna Lindsey romance a curious reader should read first. When you’re confronting a hella-backlist, it can be intimidating, so here’s a breakdown of what was recommended, why, and by whom. The challenge with Lindsey titles is that she was one of the biggest names in old skull romances, and many of her titles are of the “fight then fuck” variety, with a sprinkling of forced seduction … Continue reading Johanna Lindsey: Which One First? →