An awesome librarian (is there another kind?) forwarded me a link to this article from the Reference & User Services Quarterly (THAT IS THE SEXIEST NAME OVER OMG *PANT*) article from “The Alert Collector,” which offers five librarians’ suggestions on building a romance genre collection: Core Collections in Genre Studies: Romance Fiction 101. (Also, the sexiest title ever, and thank you Mr.
MS. Wyatt (my apologies) for not writing something that referenced heaving bodices or man-titty).
From the article:
The RUSA Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) voted to create a new juried list highlighting the best in genre literature. The Reading List, as the new list will be called, honors the single best title in eight genre categories: romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and the adrenaline genre group consisting of thriller, suspense, and adventure.
I will start composing sonnets to the awesomeness of this decision in a moment, but first, I want to say, HELL YES and FUCK YEAH. I personally loved the genre fiction section – which totaled three shelves – at the library at my college, and only allowed myself to take one book per week, even if I finished it in one night. Otherwise, I’d get no other reading accomplished.
So to the RUSA, with your sexy, sassy name: MMMMMMWAH. Great idea. And to accomplish this task, they gathered five librarians to profile a subgenre of romance: contemporary, historical, suspense, paranormal, and Regency.
And to Ms. Wyatt (I think you wrote this part) I’d like to nominate you for the I-Just-Invented-It Award for Asskickingly Non-Condescending Description of Romance and buy you the beverage of your choice:
Romance novels are built around the relationship between hero and heroine and the conflicts within that relationship. They are ultimately positive and optimistic novels that involve the reader on an emotional level. Fans of this genre love the snappy dialogue, well-crafted scenes, connection between the characters, and details of the character’s lifestyles.
WORD UP TO YOU MA’AM. One note though to Dudesse of Excellence. Ms. Wyatt: You list some great web sites as references, but what about us and Dear Author?! DUDE! Epic fail!
Now, minor hissyfit notwithstanding, let us moving on. Here are the selections recommended for building a balanced romance novel bookshelf representing each of the aforementioned subgenres – with my commentary and assorted linkage.
Kristin Ramsdell, of the California State University East Bay library and winner of the 1996 RWA Librarian of the Year award, recommended the following Regencies:
A Garden Folly
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand 
The Rake’s Rainbow
A Debt to Delia
Lady Alex’s Gamble
As Ramsdell notes in her introduction, all of these Regencies are out of print – so, what Regency romances that are still in print would you recommend for the essential genre- representative library bookshelf?
Georgine Olson, who works at the North Star Borough Public Library in Fairbanks, Alaska, recommended the following historical romances:
Forbidden Magic
The Wild Child
The Lightkeeper
The Duke And I
Scandalous Lovers
What would you add to an historical romance Must Have shelf?
Neal Wyatt, editor of the Alert Collector, recommends the following contemporary romances:
Bet Me
See Jane Score
Blame It On Cupid
Natural Born Charmer
Born in Fire
Obvious question alert – what others would you recommend?
Retired librarian Joyce Saricks won the 2000 RWA Librarian of the Year award, and recommended the following romantic suspense novels:
The Unsung Hero
Chill Factor
Heartbreaker
Always Time to Die
My Brother Michael
Hey! What about …?
Lynne Welch works at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington, Ohio, and was the 2004 RWA Librarian of the Year. She writes, “[p]aranormal is the umbrella under which speculative fiction merges with romance, both as integral to the plot as is the HEA” (124) (Word. Up.) She recommends the following novels for a paranormal romance collection:
Dark Prince (The Carpathians Series, Book 1)
White Lies
Heart Mate
Gabriel’s Ghost
Cinderman
What would you add? This will turn into the biggest, most diverse GS vs. STA column ever, but I’m very curious what you’d put on the “Romance 101” shelf at a library, given the budget and discerning taste to assemble it.
this list is awesome. yay! and crap!, must now go on a buying binge.
What a lovely description of romance! I need to have that printed on a laminated card so I can hand it to people who say, “You read that stuff?”
That looks like a great list. I could think of some I might add or change, as can we all, I’m sure. But generally, I am pleased. Well done, RUSA!
In the contemporary category, I’d recommend the Chesapeake Bay books over the Born In books, but either are good choices. I don’t know that I could choose only one of the Chesapeake Bay books over any of the others, because each addresses such a different set of issues. oh, heck, get ‘em all.
I have several thoughts about other things I’d rather see listed, but I’m in a “world enough and time” kind of situation at the moment so can’t get to listing them just now. Plus, I always feel somewhat sketchy recommending alternate books when I haven’t read everything in the initial recommendation.
BUT…
No Laura Kinsale, Lisa Kleypas, or Mary Balogh? What gives with that?
In the historical category, I’d add Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and Laura Lee Guhrke’s And Then He Kissed Me.
Great list. I would have put Windflower and Flowers from the Storm and Lord of Scoundrels on the historical list, but I know they have limited options.
On the Regencies, I’d put Balogh’s The Temporary Wife. I noticed Heyer wasn’t there—they must consider her “old school” and not part of the genre.
Way to go, librarians!
The only book I’ve read of those is “Born in Fire”, which was fabulous. So, yeah, gotta run out and buy me some more books.
I would add something by Lisa Kleypas to the historical list, maybe “Dreaming of You”. I also really like Susan Enoch’s “By Love Undone” for Regencies. For paranormal I’d choose Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander”. (It’s the book I push on all my non-romance reading friends to try to get them hooked.)
I always love your book recommendations!
*sigh*
Would I be pouting overmuch if I asked “So where are the YA romances?”
And insomuch as the authors themselves don’t consider them romances, I hesitate to suggest this, but I very firmly believe in them as epic love stories so for historical I’d like to add
The Thorn Birds– Colleen McCullough
Outlander– Diana Gabaldon
As a librarian who buys fiction, I heartily agree with the awesomeness of us! 🙂
I agree that Schone is considered, generally, erotica. But, I’m glad she’s on the list, wherever they decide to put her. LOVE her.
I can’t imagine paranormal romances without Kelley Armstrong. Of course, I’m an unapologetic Armstrong pusher, and I’ll give her books to (almost) anyone who asks my opinion! And, maybe she’s considered more mystery or SF or whatever, but *I* happen to think she’s romance.
God only knows how one narrows down the Nora Roberts collection to pick just one. For some reason, though, I always think first about Chesapeake Blue when people ask me about her books. That isn’t even the one I like the most! Who can say how the mind works, huh?
I love seeing things like this if only to remind me that not all librarians call romances “bodice rippers.”
This isn’t an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, but given that I am an adult fiction buyer for my library system, I thought I’d rattle off some authors I consider to be “core collection.”
Contemporary: Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, SEP, Linda Howard, Suzanne Brockmann, Elizabeth Lowell, JAK
Historical: Amanda Quick, Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Laura Kinsale, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Judith Ivory, Stephanie Laurens
I’d throw J.D. Robb in there, but I consider them a bit more suspense than romance.
And these are just the names off the top of my head. I’m sure I’ve missed somebody….
Whoo-damn, I love this idea!
I’d have to agree with whomever said Nora’s Chesapeake Bay series is her best. I’d go with Sea Swept as the book I’d list, because man, if that book doesn’t draw you in and make you want to read the rest, what the hell will?
For Romantic Suspense, I’d go with something by Linda Howard. I happen to love Dying to Please, which I know a lot of people didn’t like. Or Dream Man. Either works.
For Historical Romance, well, if I can go with anything, it would have to be The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis. But if I can’t have that, I’d go with Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh.
For Paranormal, I’d go with Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. Or I suppose Dark Lover by JR Ward, although I’ve kind of soured on her lately. But Singh consistently delivers. I also really love Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Chronicles.
Regencies in print:
Anne Gracie, THE PERFECT RAKE
Loretta Chase, MISS WONDERFUL or MR. IMPOSSIBLE
Carla Kelly, BEAU CRUSOE
Mary Balogh, THE SECRET PEARL
Janet Mullany, THE RULES OF GENTILITY [trade paper]
My list depends on how you identify “Regencies” versus “historicals set in the Regency period”—I think BEAU CRUSOE was the only one of these published as a Regency in the strictest sense, though THE SECRET PEARL was originally published as a “super Regency.”
one quick correction: neal wyatt is female. and she is a pretty awesome readers’ advisory librarian.
For historical romances, I have to give a shout out to Johanna Lindsay’s Mallory series – the first four books.
I also think we need to see a little viking love in this list. The Heather Graham viking series is very enjoyable.
Re: paranormal romance – I know many readers (me included!) are feeling inundated, but when it comes to “core collection” for the library it’s still all shaking out for me. That said, J.R. Ward is now officially “core” given her massive popularity. Ditto Sherrilyn Kenyon. Nalini Singh has circ’ed well but she’s not generating “waiting lists” yet like Kenyon and Ward do. I also purchase my fare share of urban fantasy, but tend to view this as a separate genre more so than labeling it as romance. Kelley Armstrong has gained serious momentum in circulation recently as has Kim Harrison….
Given the awesome definition of romance provided here (Romance novels are built around the relationship between hero and heroine and the conflicts within that relationship. They are ultimately positive and optimistic novels that involve the reader on an emotional level. Fans of this genre love the snappy dialogue, well-crafted scenes, connection between the characters, and details of the character’s lifestyles.) I’ll chime in with the following:
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (contemporary)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (historical)
Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts (contemporary)
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (historical; Regency)
The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh (historical)
Heart of Fire by Linda Howard (contemporary; adventure)
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (contemporary; suspense)
Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard (contemporary)
Vice by Jane Feather (historical)
But…but…where’s the Georgette Heyer?
(I think some of hers have even been reprinted this year.)
My core paranormal recs:
Mary Stewart, TOUCH NOT THE CAT [classic! now reprinted in mass market!]
Marjorie Liu, SHADOW TOUCH
Nalini Singh, VISIONS OF HEAT
Eileen Wilks, TEMPTING DANGER
Emma Holly, HUNTING MIDNIGHT
J.R. Ward, LOVER ETERNAL
Oh, of course Georgette Heyer! Also Mary Stewart and Victorian Holt/Jean Plaidy. That would be like having a mystery collection without Agatha Christie!
For Nora, I would have nominated Birthright, which had me completely, book-gulpingly enthralled.
I don’t think of myself as a romance newbie anymore, but there’s obviously still a few points of confusion in my addled head. Can anyone explain to me why The Duke and I isn’t considered a Regency, rather than a historical? Since it is set during the Regency and all? (Obviously, most of the later Bridgerton novels aren’t set during the Regency, but that one and, I believe, The Viscount Who Loved Me are.
Must show my love for Loretta Chase and vote for Lord of Scoundrels for historical, and The Devil’s Delilah for Regency.
Snarkhunter, there’s an explanation of the difference between trad Regencies and Regency-set historicals in the Romance Fiction 101 article (page 121).
For those suggesting Heyer, she’s mentioned on the same page, so she’s not been left out.
Has anyone mentioned Connie Brockway? I just discovered her classics—I drove to a different state to find As You Desire—I think a few of her historicals are being reissued.
Also, I ♥ Lauren Willig—she’s a lovely cross between Regency-set historical and contemporary/chick-lit, without the unfortunate ickiness of time travel.
I’m reading The Duke & I right now, thanks to recs here at teh Bitchery!
As a librarian and a reader, I’m thrilled to see this come out. While I now work in an academic library, I used to purchase all the fiction for a large public library. And frankly, there are just some authors that are “core” authors, regardless of genre. Nora is one of those. As is Jenny Crusie. And pretty much Jayne Anne Krentz/Amanda Quick. And Heyer is pretty much considered classic these days!
Now, I must go and read the article because it was much more important to comment first. 🙂
Hah! Since I’m not “logged in” on this computer, I got a spamblocker: reacher44, which is just *oh* so perfect!
Quick drive-by as I don’t have time to give due consideration to what I’d add to this list, besides seconding Mary Balogh and Georgette Heyer as additions.
For Carla Kelly, I’d choose MISS CHARTLEY’S GUIDED TOUR. However, the thing that really inspired me to comment was the choice of NATURAL BORN CHARMER for Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I’m a huge fan of SEP but I found this book a real disappointment. There are several better choices: HOT SHOT, FIRST LADY, MATCH ME IF YOU CAN, or DREAM A LITTLE DREAM—or really nearly any other book (except possibly HONEY MOON or JUST IMAGINE).
i require more Loretta Chase and Laura Kinsale on MY library shelves, thats for damn sure.
Alexandra- thank you SO much for bringing up Lauren Willig. I’ve been trying to figure out where to post about her here, and until you mentioned her, have been at a loss.
Seriously, SB and Candy, srsly, check out Lauren Willig. Also, Ja(y)nes (Dear Author), you too. My mom just sent me the first three books (The Pink Carnation, The Deception of the Emerald Ring, and The Masque of the Black Tulip. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (book 4) comes out at the end of the month.
The prose is beautiful, the dialogue witty, smart, and historically accurate; the HEA is so satisfying, I ate all three books is a day and a half. I was surprised (and disappointed) that neither the Smart Bitches or Dear Author had reviewed this series. Hop to it ladies! You will NOT be disappointed. (OK, maybe you will, but I would super duper surprised if you were). And anyone else out there that hasn’t heard or read Lauren Willig, she’s a fantastic writer!
Snarkhunter, I too would’ve gone for Birthright (or Three Fates) as a really representative Nora title, but that’s partially because Born In Fire is my very least favorite Nora that I’ve read.
But this is a great list. Too bad I have to write a thesis over the next three months and can’t just hunker down with everything.
Oh my god, Cinderman. I read that back in school! I still remember it, which is kind of crazy. Actually, what I remember most about it is the heroine suddenly waking up with perfect vision. I was terribly jealous.
Heyer and Mary Stewart (romantic suspense) are absolutely essential. How can anyone even understand the conventions of Regency without reading Heyer?
Nora Roberts’ Birthright? With all possible respect to Ms. Roberts, this was NOT one of her best, nor anywhere near.
😀
JaniceG, I totally agree with you about the SEP choice. She’s one of my top 3 favorite authors, but I, too, was slightly disappointed by Natural Born Charmer. This Heart of Mine, Nobody’s Baby But Mine, It Had to be You, Ain’t She Sweet, Breathing Room…all of those are excellent SEP’s, IMO.
As for other contemporaries, Nora’s Birthright and Carolina Moon are right up there on the list for me, as is the entire Chesapeake series.
Whenever anyone asks what romance I read/what’s good I tend to automatically say “Julia Quinn! Bridgerton books! I heart Colin Bridgerton!”
Everyone else (sites that is) all agree on Lord of Scoundrels, and having just finished it a few days ago… it very much lives up to the hype.
Jessica Trent is one of the BEST heroines I’ve read in a long time. (My fave is Penelope Featherington, because I really identify with her and think she’s just absolutely great)
Now, in the category of say, historical/mystery or what not, I do highly recommend Carole Nelson Douglas’ Irene Adler series, eps. Irene At Large/A Soul of Steel (is the revised edition title) when Foreign Office spy Quentin Stanhope appears and becomes a potential love interest throughout the series for Irene’s biographer/partner in crimesolving/her own Dr. Watson Penelope “Nell” Huxleigh.
Nell is so fabulously straight-laced and full of propiety in the beginning of the series and you see her slowly evolve and grow, which is nice since the series is mostly her narrative.
And I do love the subtle moments between her and Quentin.
I first read Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart – all of them – as a teenager. I’m now 42, and they live in two boxes in the attic, and whenever I need a session of prolonged comfort reading, I get one of the boxes down. 25 years and more or enjoyment makes them pretty good authors, in my reckoning.
There are just so many authors out there now, they can’t all be likely to still be read in 25 years time; I wonder which of the newer authors will be? Nora Roberts is the only one that I’m personally trying to collect from second hand bookshops, as I did with Heyer and Stewart (sorry about the royalties, Nora, but I do buy some of them new ; ))
No Kinsale? No Linda Howard? No Ivory?
Heyer is mentioned in the article if you read through it, so they score on that!
And I must agree that the S. E. Phillips they chose is not a good example of her work.
I totally agree that there should be a few Georgette Heyer books on the list! For the historicals, I suggest Across a Moonlit Sea by Marsha Canham, The Devil to Pay by Liz Carlyle, The Suitor by Sandy Hingston and Beyond Sunrise by Candice Proctor. My favourite Suzanne Brockmann book would be Out of Control (love the hero). I also like Katherine Sutcliffe’s romantic suspenses very much, especially Bad Moon Rising. I abhor anything Christine Feehan (I tried to read Dark Guardian once, but the hero was a pompous ass, the heroine an insipid virgin and the book an instant wallbanger), so instead I would like to see something by Lynn Viehl (Darkyn series) on the list.
I’m joining the “didn’t love Natural Born Charmer” crowd. Of course, it’s IMHO, but Dean’s character changed so much from MMIFC to NBC that it ruined the book for me.
SEP’s “Fancy Pants” was the first romance novel I ever read. I was hooked. I believe that “Nobody’s Baby But Mine” and “Match Me If You Can” are her two best books. Period.
Other contemporaries—it isn’t a collection if “Bet Me” isn’t there. I also love “Anyone But You”.
I read “Lord of Scoundrels” two weeks ago. It more than lived up to its advance billing, and should be on the list as well.
I’m thrilled to share the “The Duke and I” love with Sarah and others who’ve mentioned it. What a great book. I also loved “The Viscount Who Loved Me”. Julia Quinn’s books are now “comfort reads” for me.
-S
Oh wow, this is hard. Guess I’ll comment on historicals as that’s what’s coming to mind. . .
—Johanna Lindsey’s Gentle Rogue
—Eloisa James’ Essex Sisters series
—Paula Quinn
—Suzanne Enoch’s “The Rake”, “England’s Perfect Scoundrel”, and “England’s Perfect Hero”
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series doesn’t hold up after vol. 3. The Duke & I is her best book, IMHO.
About Nalini Singh’s “Slave to Sensation”. It might not be circ’ing as well as some others, but give her time, the books will. I think she’s got a fresh voice and original thing going.
Lauren Willig is great. (I zoomed through the first half of Tulip while my kiddo played at the bookstore.) But her books are shelved in adult trade (they are pub’d in trade paperback), so does it count as part of the romance collection?
Librarians, question for you: Does binding matter? ‘Cause the “romance” section at my library is comprised of mass markets on spinner racks. The hardcovers and tps are shelved in Adult Fiction.
delurking to bring up Patricia Gaffney for historicals, especially Crooked Hearts and To Have and to Hold. Those were actually the books that got me into romance, and I think they’re great examples of taking the basic genre conventions and tweaking them a wee bit.
Librarians, question for you: Does binding matter? ‘Cause the “romance†section at my library is comprised of mass markets on spinner racks. The hardcovers and tps are shelved in Adult Fiction.
It depends on the library. In a perfect world I like the hardcovers and trade paperbacks on the “regular shelves” and mass market paperbacks in their own area. That said, I hate spinner racks with a seething passion. It’s hard to keep the books in any kind of order and covers/pages get bent all the crud from people shoving books into the racks willy-nilly.
Before I hit administration, the library where I worked had slightly smaller traditional shelving with back support for the mmpbs. These worked fantastic. No worries about the books sliding off behind the shelving and since they were actual shelves, it was easy to keep the books in strict alphabetical order by author.
Some libraries interfile their mmpbs with hard covers, and I personally don’t like this because it’s hard to keep the shelves looking nice. Plus paperbacks are lighter in weight and easily fall behind the shelving to be buried forever with the dust bunnies.
So uh yeah – it depends.
Oh dear, now I have a whole list of books to look up next time I hit up the Borders nearby (our library, unfortunately, is sub-par).
One thing I must object to – Gabriel’s Ghost. I liked Linnea Sinclair’s Finder’s Keepers a lot – Accidental Goddess was a little less good. Despite the interesting setting it was very formulaic and I found myself skimming most of it. Gabriel’s Ghost I found almost impossible to get into and fairly confusing. Finder’s Keepers was much better, but if you’re going for sci-fi romance I would really recommend Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold.
*frequent lurker 🙂