We are starting a new series called “If You Like” which will be hosted by various readers, authors and bloggers of Dear Author. The purpose of the post and the comments is to explore what we like about a particular iconic author and what other authors have books like the iconic author. We’ll leave this up for one week at the top of the blog so that ruminators have time to contemplate the author and the recommendations. Loonigrrl did such an awesome job with this and I am thrilled to have her kick off what I hope to be a great new series here at Dear Author.
If you would like to host an “If You Like” post, please email me at Jane at dearauthor.com
***
Judith McNaught
Fifteen years ago, I fell in love with an author. Her books had plucky heroines and sophisticated men. They were so skillfully written that the characters nearly jumped off the page. If you were like me, you were so captivated by the story that you almost wished you could transport yourself back nearly two-hundred years and be Whitney Stone or Elizabeth Cameron, even if for a short while.
Their journey to happily ever after was never easy, but you truly believed in their perfect endings.
For many years, Judith McNaught’s stories were that by which I measured all other books.
Setting (era): Regency and Medieval
McNaught has written six historical novels. A Kingdom of Dreams is her only Medieval Romance and is set in the late 1400s.
Her five other historicals- Whitney, My Love, Once and Always, Something Wonderful, Until You, and Almost Heaven- are set in the Regency period of the early 1800s.
Setting (geographic): England
The majority of all six historical books are set in England with both London and countryside scenes. Whitney, My Love takes place partially in Paris. Kingdom of Dreams is set in England and Scotland.
Heroine Type: Courageous Innocent
A number of adjectives come to mind when discussing McNaught’s historical heroines: beautiful, innocent, courageous, loyal, warm-hearted, naïve, kind, sensitive, witty, intelligent, and a bit rash. Most have known what it is like to be the outsider. If featured at a younger age, like Alexandra Townsend in Something Wonderful or Whitney Stone in Whitney, My Love then they are also slightly awkward both in looks and in mannerisms. Often, the heroines have known what it’s like to be an outsider or to be unloved.
Hero type: Redeemed Cynic
They’re handsome, powerful, sensual, tortured, strong, bold, intimidating, confident, intelligent (some are geniuses) commanding, and of the nobility. Often, they are nearly jaded beyond hope and have little respect for most women. Characters such as Jason Fielding in Once and Always, Jordan Townsend in Something Wonderful and Ian Thornton in Almost Heaven are, at times, both contemptuous and downright mean to their heroines. Their redemption through the love of a kind-hearted and courageous woman is a theme often used in McNaught’s books.
Plot: (action-oriented / character-driven): Character-driven
Judith McNaught’s characters and their often arduous journey to happy ever after ARE her books. There is some action of course, but it’s almost negligible compared to the love and the sweetness of the romance blossoming between her hero and heroine.
Plot (slow/medium/fast): Medium
This is pretty subjective. Some may think these are slow paced books. If you’re a fan like me, these character driven stories just zip along. How about we compromise and call it medium?
Writing style (simple v. ornate): Simple
McNaught’s writing may occasionally venture into the ornate, particularly with the love scenes, but on the whole her writing style is simple. That’s not to say it’s boring by any means. She writes love stories that tug at the heartstrings, but she does so without excessive adjectives, analogies and metaphors. The following is a random sampling:
Alexandra accepted the invitation with sleepy gratitude and shifted onto the seat beside him, but instead of merely offering his shoulder, Jordan lifted his arm and put it around her so that her head was cradled snugly in the curve of his arm and chest. My lady, Alex thought sleepily. How lovely that sounded when he said it. She was asleep almost instantly.
Something Wonderful
Dialogue (lots/little/balanced): Balanced
While McNaught’s books have a lot of dialogue, they are not dialogue heavy. Neither will you find too many passages with page after page descriptions of the countryside, ballrooms, or someone’s feelings. McNaught usually keeps the dialogue and descriptive passages balanced.
Humor (Yes/No-serious/some): Some
McNaught’s books do have some humor. It’s not necessarily laugh out loud funny, but there’s a sweetness to it, often arising from the heroine’s slight awkwardness or naïveté, that is delightful to read.
Unaware of the man who had just stalked into the barn, she stroked the animal’s flank and drew a long, hesitant breath.
‘I may as well be perfectly honest with you, she confessed to the cow. The truth is- I haven’t actually done this before . . . This,’ she told the cow in a revolted voice as she stretched her hands forward, ‘is going to be as embarrassing for me as it is for you’ . . . She squeezed twice, quickly, then she leaned back and gazed hopefully at the bucket. No milk dropped into it.
. . . Twice more she repeated the same process, and still nothing happened. Frustration made her yank too hard the next time, which brought the cow’s head swinging around as it glared reproachfully at her. ‘I’m doing my part,’ Victoria said, glaring right back, ‘the least you could do is yours!’
Once and Always
Emotional Angst (high/medium/low): High
Oh yeah. Judith McNaught is Queen of the Angst. I mean that in a good way. Her books are all about the characters’ emotional highs and lows, their distrust, their yearning, their Big Misunderstandings, their Big Separations and their big emotions. In fact, McNaught takes us on such a roller coaster of emotions with so many misunderstandings that some readers may question whether certain characters’ distrust issues are truly over when the book ends. That’s right, Clayton Westmoreland: I’m talking to you.
He forced himself to pick up the quill and write the words, ‘Please accept my sincere wishes for your happiness and convey them to Paul’ . . . He thought of the words he really wanted to write to her: ‘Please come back to me. Just let me hold you and I swear I will make you forget.
I’ll fill your days with laughter and your nights with love. I’ll give you a son. And if you still can’t love me, then all I ask is that you give me a daughter. A daughter with your eyes, your smile, your-‘
Whitney, My Love
Conflict (externally driven/internally driven/both): Both
Most of the historicals have both internal and external conflict. For example, the external conflict in A Kingdom of Dreams centers around Jennifer Merrick’s kidnapping by her people’s enemy, and later her marriage to said enemy. The internal conflict results from Jennifer’s conflicted loyalties, and her reluctant feelings for Royce.
Often, the conflict in McNaught’s books derives from The Big Misunderstanding. For example, in Almost Heaven, Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton meet, begin to fall in love, and are torn apart by a malicious third party. Rather than discussing their misunderstanding, both parties, particularly Ian, part on bitterly angry terms for years.
Heat level: (kisses/warm/hot/scorching): Warm
The loves scenes are sensual, but generally lack graphic language, explicit terminology and lengthy detail. The prose tends to be ornate in these scenes with the focus being as much on emotion as on the physical act. Similes (and metaphors) are not uncommon to describe said emotion such as the one used in the scene below.
’Jenny,’ he groaned, his hands rushing over her back and thighs and buttocks. . .
‘Jenny,’ he whispered hoarsely, his tongue plunging into her mouth, tangling with hers as he rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. ‘Jenny,’ he murmured hotly as he hungrily devoured her breasts and stomach and thighs with his mouth.
He could not stop saying her name. It played like a melody in his heart when her arms went around him and she lifted her hips, willingly molding herself to his engorged manhood. It sang in his veins as she welcomed the first fierce thrust of his body into her. . . and it exploded in a crescendo as she cried out, ‘I love you. . .’
A Kingdom of Dreams
If You Like Judith McNaught, You’ll Like . . .
Here’s where I need help. In all the years that I’ve been reading Judith McNaught, I have yet to find an author who consistently writes comparable characters, angst and romance. However, I have found a few books which, I believe, have McNaughtian elements.
Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson has a courageous and feisty heroine, as well as high levels of emotion and angst. For more high levels of angst, try Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas.
His Wicked Kiss by Gaelen Foley has a courageous and intelligent and occasionally rash heroine. The romance’s sweetness reminds me of McNaught’s books.
The Masquerade by Brenda Joyce: although not exact, there are qualities about the characters particularly the heroine’s innocence and kind-heartedness, and about the tenderness of the romance that are not dissimilar to McNaught. I would also recommend Joyce’s Beyond Scandal.
Julie Garwood is often recommended when discussing McNaught. I’m actually not a fan of her work in general, but I did find qualities about the heroes and heroines in Rebellious Desires and The Lyon’s Lady that I enjoyed.
Olivia Parker’s At the Bride Hunt Ball is a humorous tale with a witty yet slightly awkward heroine and a confident and sensual hero. I would recommend it to anyone who likes McNaught.
Who would you recommend?
Loading ...
Open Threads at Dear Author. Want to know what new releases are out this month and what readers are excited about reading? Check out the threads below.
Dorothy Dunnett - Lymond Chronicles.
Heroine Type: Courageous Innocent - Check
Hero type: Redeemed Cynic - Check
Emotional Angst (high/medium/low): High - OMG check!!!
Conflict (externally driven/internally driven/both): Both - Check
Heat level: (kisses/warm/hot/scorching): Warm - Check
Set in medieval/Tudor Scotland, France, Russia and Malta.
To me, this author is the apogee of what good historical writing is about - detailed research, fabulous prose, engaging characters who are superior at what they do, and plots which pull you in, break your heart, and leave you going ‘aaaahhhh’ at the end.
The Niccolo series wasn’t anything as good, sadly. But they are still better than hundreds of other pale imitations.
The one thing I like about Judith’s books,contemporary and historical,is that the couples marry and then there is MORE. This is unique in the romance genre. Most books end with the proposal or the marriage. I devoured all of her books when I discovered her.
I don’t know if she has Judith McNaught type elements, but I love Renee Bernard’s new historicals. I can’t put them down. She is the only new historical author I’ve found in a while. It’s hard for me to take a chance on new authors. Two of the recent NY Times Bestsellers books felt like cookie cutter to me, so I’ve been staying away from historical.
I’m with you Loonigrrl I loved Ms McNaught’s historicals and a lot of her contemporaries as well. My favorite is Whitney, My Love.
Now who would I recommend? I have to say Julie Garwood and Patricia Grasso come to mind and a new author Tracy Goodwin. I truly enjoyed Dance With Deception by Tracy Goodwin.
If you like Judith, you might try early Kathleen Woodiwiss if there is indeed any person on the board that hasn’t read a Woodiwiss. :-) The Wolf and Dove and The Flame and the Flower are absolute romantic historical classics. You also might like Laurie McBain’s Devil’s Desire or Tears of Gold. Her books had a harder edge to them, but were still true to that romantic format for the timeframe. She wrote from 1975 ti 1985 and retired from writing after her father passed away. These are old romances so you might have to scout a local used bookstore to find Laurie’s. Although to me they will remain timeless and I still reread them today. I was only 10 years old when I read Devil’s Desire…dang I started young. :-)
Somebody from today’s historical romance list for me would be Pamela Claire she is a new author for me and she is about the only historical romance author that I am actively pursuing to read. Her historicals are fresh and to me very vibrant. Happy reading. Keri
I can’t recall if I’ve ever read a McNaught, but I loved Sherry Thomas’ Private Arrangements and I’m a huge fan of Brenda Joyce. So this “if you like” thing can go both ways. If I like Joyce I might like McNaught. Pretty cool. Thanks for the recs.
I have nothing to contribute, I just need to say that I am intimidated by loonigrrl. Seriously, that’s one orderly mind right there. Wow.
I read Judith McNaught when I first started reading romance, but she wasn’t one of my favorites. (I found her heroes too alpha - I prefer nice guy heroes.) However, I really liked the emotionalism of her books, so I went looking for other emotional books (with nicer heroes).
I ended up with Mary Jo Putney, Laura Kinsale and Lisa Kleypas. Putney’s books are emotional, and also have some adventure to them. I think a McNaught lover would enjoy her Fallen Angel series. Kinsale is the queen of emotionalism, although her books are more serious than McNaught’s, and also more dense in terms of language. Lisa Kleypas has been hit or miss for me, but I think anyone who liked McNaught would love Dreaming of You, and probably some of her other books as well.
Judith McNaught was THE author for me in my teens (especially “Almost Heaven”!). The closest I’ve ever found to her in style and feel is Gaelen Foley’s “The Duke,” whose heroine has something of that same quality of luminous innocence. Next up would have to be Eva Ibbotsen’s “A Company of Swans” and “The Morning Gift”, which also feature cynical (and wealthy) heroes and courageous innocents for heroines.
I’ve never read a Judith McNaught book, but I her characters and the flow of the books sound remarkably like Lisa Kleypas books. Mine Till Midnight was an excellent book.
Keri: I just picked up Pamela Clare’s Surrender after having read and loved Unlawful Contact. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Lauren: The Duke! I loved that book! I would definitely agree with you :)
Also, I’d heard that Sophia Nash’s books are similar to McNaught. I went out and bought A Dangerous Beauty and just started reading it last night. It’s a very emotional book. I’ve spent most of the first 150 pages crying.
Sigh. I glommed onto McNaught when I was in my teens. I wish she’d go back to writing historicals as her contemporaries didn’t really do it for me. The only contemporary I really liked was Paradise.
As for recommendations, my favorite Kleypas, an out of print that has many of the same emotional qualities you’re looking for is “Love, Come to Me.” Set in America, post Civil War.
And for contemporaries that have humor and emotion, I like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, particularly “Nobody’s Baby but Mine,” “Kiss an Angel,” “Heaven, Texas,” “This Heart of Mine,” “Match Me if You Can,” and “Breathing Room.” Also, unlike McNaught, Phillips’ heroines are not all gorgeous with perfect bodies.
There’s a reason why Judith McNaught was the first ever million dollar contract romance author.
Nobody compares to her.
I devoured everything by JM up until Perfect. After that, they were all misses for me. But if you’re comparing JM to Kleypas, I think time has shown that Kleypas is the better writer.
Brenda Joyce’s heroes are much more alpha than JM’s, so don’t get too excited. But Joyce’s heroines usually drove (past tense because I stopped reading Joyce when she went to contemporaries) me up the wall because of lack of backbone. I generally liked JM’s heroines; they were sweet, a little naive, but they didn’t make me want to shake sense into them.
Garwood is a good comparison. During my teens, Garwood and JM were interchangeable for me, except Garwood had a more comic feel than JM.
Loonigrrl: I just read all 3 of her contemporaries back to back, I had two of them for awhile, but was determined to wait until I had the third, because it was the first I was missing. I got that and man I inhaled those books over this last weekend, they were fantastic and I can’t wait for the next installment.
Ann: I agree that Garwood is a good comparison, I read them both together when they first come out.
WC: I agree with SEP, she is that queen of that kind of romance…I wish she would hurry up and get that new one out…I am getting the shakes
here, from withdrawals…my Natural Born Charmer fix was awhile ago. :-)
I adore Judith McNaught and have re-read all her books numerous times!
I would have to say that Laura London (aka Sharon and Tom Curtis writing team) feature very similar heroines and heroes as McNaught and most are set in Regency England.
I also agree with others that Lisa Kleypas is also in the same category of writing style. Lisa Kleypas has passionate love stories that stick with you in my opinion.
I would recommend Elizabeth Lowell to anyone for any reason, but if you like McNaught - you should like Lowell’s historicals as well. Her Glendruid series - Untamed, Forbidden & Enchanted - are especially good. While they are not historicals, her Donovan series - Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove & Midnight in Ruby Bayou - are every bit as good as her historicals. Most of her writing invokes the same sort of emotional response as does Ms. McNaught’s.
I recommend a relatively new author, Blythe Gifford. Her Harlequin Historical medieval titles have a lyrical writing quality, great heroes and heroines who aren’t afraid to kick a little (though they feign modesty just in case). Anyone who likes stories set in the mid-14th century cannot go wrong with these, IMO.
titles: THE KNAVE & THE MAIDEN
THE HARLOT’S DAUGHTER
INNOCENCE UNVEILED
Loonigrrl, thanks for reminding me why I love reading JM’s historicals. Her contemporaries have the same qualities to the heroines and heroes, but sometimes hard to believe that the women are so innocent in modern times.
Agree with some of the above commenters that no other author offers stories quite like hers, but that Kleypas (historicals and the new 2 contemps) is the closest. For angst, conflict and wonderfully rich heroine and hero, I turn to Jo Beverley, Jo Goodman and MJ Putney historicals.
Nice feature, Jane. Thank you.
What a great feature! And a fabulous author to begin it!
I adore McNaught’s historicals (her contemps aint too bad either:-)). Somehow, the storylines which might get formulaic in another author (innocent heroine, big misunderstanding, disillusioned hero, etc) just never get old in her capable and magical hands.
LIke ElaineC, the first author I thought of was Laura London, not so much the regencies (which I adore), but The Windflower. Like McNaught’s regencies, the people leap out at you. The heroine is an 80’s innocent, rather than the more sophisticated heroines we’ve become accustomed to, the hero a tough guy who finds himself the bewildered protector of Merry instead of the dastardly kidnapper that he saw himself as. Wonderful. It’s too bad that they stopped writing so soon. The Bad Baron’s Daughter remains one of my favorite sweet regencies, partially, I admit, because of the terrible title (which is why I read it in the first place), but also because of the awesome writing voice Sharon and Tom had.
McNaught’s contemporaries are terrific, too — and in subject matter and voice I find them closest to Linda Howard’s.
I discovered Judith McNaught in high school as well, and she blew me away. I loved her books up through my college days and spent lots of time trying to find someone just like her. I also searched for authors who were just like Ken Follett or Mary Jo Putney and never found anyone comparable.
The thing is that no author can be just like her. Whatever it is that makes Judith McNaught fabulous is not something someone else can do. I don’t know if that is voice - or what it is that makes certain storytellers so fabulous and unique. If I want a Judith McNaught experience, I have to read Judith McNaught. And you can substitute your favorite author for J.M. Sometimes when I read something so fabulous by a wonderful author, I make sure I read something entirely different afterwards (or honestly reread the fabulous book) because anything else similar right after would just be a pale imitation.
The last Judith McNaught book that just took my breath away was Perfect - like someone else mentioned above. I’m not sure if my reading tastes have changed, if she has changed or what - but none have been as satisfying. I do know in high school/college I was much more into the “fairy tale” romances than I am now. For example, I didn’t appreciate Nora’s storytelling until I was a little bit older and working in my 20’s. I don’t think of her as a “fairy tale” romance author while I do think J.M. is.
I did go see Judith McNaught speak at the TX book festival in Austin years ago, and there was a whole possee of co-eds from U-TX-Austin there to see her - for whom she was a rock star (as she would have been for me if I was still a teeneager then). I’d never seen the like for another romance author. Perhaps she appeals more to those who discover her while they’re younger? Or those who prefer the fairy tale romance?
My personal favorite McNaught novel is Paradise :) but all the books of hers that I’ve read are wonderful. Judith McNaught will always have a special place in my heart because she’s the first historical romance novelist I read. From there I went on to, as some people have mentioned, Laura Kinsale and Lisa Kleypas. I did, after not thinking much of Miss Wonderful, eventually fall in love with Loretta Chase.
I know the time period is different, but Elizabeth Lowell’s Only quartet (I can’t remember the names, they all sound the same) have much of the same qualities - the plucky heroine, the jaded hero, Big Misunderstanding, internal conflict, angst - they’re just Westerns. I really liked them, so you might want to give them a try.
Seconding the Penelope Williamson rec. I LOVE her books - also read The Outsider and Heart of the West!
Anya Seton’s Katherine, which I just finished reading, isn’t shelved in romance, but this historical fiction novel is as romantic as it comes. It’s pretty epic, spanning decades, and holy crap the angst is high. It’s also well researched and I personally loved the writing style - lyrical but simple. I’d highly recommend it.
[...] called “If you Like.” Each post will focus on one particular author, starting with this week’s If You Like author, Judith McNaught. DA has the low-down on what you might expect from a McNaught romance, then lists a few authors you [...]
I started reading McNaught’s historicals when I was fifteen and like many others I remember being blown away. My favorite of her books is probably Something Wonderful, which doesn’t get many mentions on romance boards. Maybe I should reread and review sometime.
I agree that Elizabeth Lowell’s medievals are somewhat similar to McNaught’s historicals, especially in their emotional impact and in the heroes initial distrust of the heroines.
I also agree that Laura Kinsale’s books have a similar emotional impact to McNaught’s books, although otherwise I see them as pretty different authors.
I also see the similarity to The Windflower, which was mentioned above.
I would like to add one recommendation that hasn’t been mentioned — Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady. Although I had problems with the book, it appealed to a many other readers and I think it has some definite similarities to McNaught’s historicals. The heroine is a courageous innocent and the hero is more of a cynic. There is some humor as well as emotional angst, and a similar sense of wonder during the love scenes. Conflict is both internal and external, and the setting is England and France during the Regency. Ergo, even though it didn’t work so well for me, I think it could work very well for many fans of McNaught’s historicals.
I have SW covered in self-adhesive plastic. Don’t want to wear it out since I still enjoy re-reading passages from it.
What a fantastic and thoughtful post Loonigrrl.
I thought the quotations really worked well to illustrate your points.
I’ve never read any JM and from your wonderful deconstruction I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy them. Even so, I think I’ve got to try one mainly because you’ve done such a great job enthusing about them. Thank you.
Gini: Oh no! It wasn’t my intention to dissuade anyone from reading JM. Which authors do you enjoy reading? Do you prefer contemporaries? If so, you may want to check out Paradise or Perfect- they’re very good. If you do want to give one of the historicals a try, I would recommend Something Wonderful (like Janine and Ann, I love that one) or my personal favorite, Almost Heaven.
I would suggest:
Julie Garwood Favorites:
Saving Grace
Honor’s Splendour
The Prize
The Secret
Shana Abe (who I just found)
The Secret Swan
The Truelove Bride
Intimate Enemies (on my TBR pile)
Teresa Medeiros
Yours Until Dawn
Charming the Prince
Josie Litton Viking Trilogy
Dream of Me
Believe in me
Come Back to me
check out my shelfari shelf to see my reviews!
Oh, I completely forgot about Teresa Medeiros! I love her early work. And let me add Karyn Monk. I enjoyed everything by her starting with Once a Warrior. Similar emotional intensity as McNaught, but her heroes are more varied than just uber-rich, uber-powerful, uber-handsome men.
I stumble upon this thread by chance and was hopeful of the new series “If you like”.
Yes, I love Judith McNaught, too. Your post is very thorough and summerize the author’s work and appeal well. What I find so unique about her stories is her heros. They just make me melt. (thanks to your excerpt from Whitney, My Love, I’m jelly right now)
I was hopeful of finding a “back-up” but as I read the recommendations, my heart rejects. There’s no one like JM and if they are, it is just in similarity. Then I am sure to be disappointed. No, I’m better off, finding a new author with a different voice and judge her own her own.
*sigh* the idea is good in theory for this reader. Nevertheless I will try The Duke - I’ve heard good things here and there.
thank you again for the great post.
MPH
Loonigrrl: For many years I’ve avoided Regency novels like the plague, mainly because I’ve got big issues with the Ton,the values of that society, the clothes and - well, it just generally gives me the pip. But I know there are some excellent authors writing in that period so I’ve been trying out as many as possible, given that finding a decent selection of romance books in the U.K.(on a budget)is like looking for snow in a rainforest. So I tried Loretta Chase and love her. I started with the Carsington Quartet and apart from Mr Impossible - loved them. Especially Lord Perfect, which I thought WAS perfect and is now in my top 10. However if I’d read Lord of Scoundrels first I wouldn’t have picked up another… not without persuasion. (Your Scandalous Ways, was the story equivalent of a breath of fresh air, hoorah)
I always thought I was a reader in for the story and that the writing style was of little importance, but this is patently not true anymore. The writing styles of the authors I recognise recommended above vary wildly. I’ve read excerpts of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Josie Litton and didn’t like the writing style at all. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Private Arrangements - Sherry Thomas, Joanna Bourne’s - The Spymaster’s Lady and Shana Abe’s books. The last two authors would have to be classed as ornate writing styles wouldn’t they? So…I’m not seeing a pattern. I also enjoy a fairy tale romance as much as I enjoy something like the Mercy Thompson paranormal series.
I will definitely start with a JM contemporary and try out your recommendations!
Gini:
I know you didn’t address your last post to me, but I’ve read and loved many a regency-set romance. Lord Perfect is also my favorite Loretta Chase novel - though I pretty much love all her novels, so it’s a hard choice.
Have you read any of Mary Jo Putney’s straight historicals? Jo Beverley? Mary Balogh? (Slightly Dangerous is probably my favorite of hers) Laura Kinsale’s the shadow and the star or flowers in the storm? Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas? Carla Kelly?
Michelle: I’ve read some Mary Balogh and despite not being very enamoured with her “hero’s” generally, I’ve Simply enjoyed them (haha), well, minus a few bizarre exceptions such as Lady Morgan Bedwyn in Slightly Tempted being an 18 yr old innocent, just out of the cloistered nobblet schoolroom regularly spouting modern pop psychology, I think Louise L Hay (or Dr Phil?) was on her syllabus - what was that all about?
I haven’t read Slightly Dangerous yet, which is Wulfric Bedwyn isn’t it. Hmm, from his appearances in the other Slightly books I hope the heroine shoves his quizzing glass where the sun doesn’t shine and gives him a little humility… one can live in hope.
I read and enjoyed the Anthology “Dragon Lovers” which had Mary Jo Putney and Jo Beverley in it. So I’ll definitely hunt out some more of theirs. (I got it for the Barbara Samuel and Karen Harbaugh novellas, two great short stories.)
Booksonboard have got both those Laura Kinsale books - so I’ll try them as well. (If only all ebooks were in NonDRM .HTML, I’d be sooo happy. But no, must make the technically challenged old fart sweat for it eh!)
Thank you Michelle.
Just wanted to chime in to say that I loved Slightly Dangerous- it’s also my favorite Mary Balogh book.
This has been such a great discussion and I hope we continue to revisit this thread for a while. If anyone wants to host a If You Like series, let me know. We’re using the template that Loonigrrl used which will help you get started.
Gini: I do hope you like those books. Thinking a bit more about what you said you like, it sounds like you might like humor in your stories - and in your historicals, historically relevant humor as opposed to modern humor. I’m a bit of a sucker for dark and angsty, but I can appreciate humor. You also may want to consider regency romances by Eloisa James or Barbara Metzger.
Eloisa does have a very unique style in that she almost writes light, ensemble romances - and sometimes the main romance can suffer a bit for it - but there is something smart about her voice imo. My favorites of her were the Essex sister quartet. I would highly recommend reading her series books in a row because there is a lot of character and relationship development across the whole series. The Essex sister series all have shakespeare-inspired names, but I heard the author say that the novels of Louisa May Alcott were more of an influence in the stories. I’ve not read her Georgian books yet. I was going to wait for all 4 to be published, but now there will be 6, and I’m not sure I can wait.
Barbara Metzger - like Loretta Chase, MJP, Jo Bev and lots of other authors - started out writing traditional regencies, and I’ve often thought that the straight historical regency romances written by authors who started out in the traditional regency lines have more of a sense of history on the whole.
In terms of authors who are like Judith McNaught, I do agree with what a previous person wrote: Julie Garwood novels are similar, but they have more humor/less angst.
And, loonigrrl, your piece was amazing!! It brought back good memories.
Great discussion here. I used to love McNaught too. Lisa Kleypas’ books have a similar emotional intensity.
Once and Always is one of my favorite all time romance novels. I have read all of her books even the contemporary ones that come out now and IMO suck. Have always loved Judith Mc Naught.
Although I have one thing to say: I hate Whitney My Love. That is the one book of hers I wanted to throw out the window.
Oh, and I just remembered, Jude Deveraux’s Sweet Liar. Very different style, but the emotional intensity of the characters is very similar. In her acknowledgments, she even thanks or credits Judith McNaught for helping to “McNaughtize” her book.
Michelle: Yes, I definitely like lots of humour in my stories, so I’ll add your other recommendations to my list, I forgot to say I read the Duke and I - Julia Quinn from recs. on this blog, and loved it so have been working my way through her other titles. I’m just trying to read a bit outside my comfort zone. I’d never have tried Sherry Thomas or Joanna Bourne if it hadn’t been for the reviews and comments on this blog, and I’m so glad I did! I understand and mostly agree with the plot problems and character behaviour problems that Janine and others have mentioned regarding The Spymaster’s Lady, but for me it didn’t seem to matter because I thought the writing style was just so good it could carry any old plot tripe. Which was a bit of a revelation to me in that I didn’t think that it was possible for the plot to matter less than the writing style and still really enjoy a book, and because of thinking this I’ve tried Regencies/Georgians again and with everyone’s recs I’ll be reading the good ones!
WC: That is actually my fave Deveraux book, and she did thank JM for helping her ‘McNaughtize’ it. I wish I had someone around to help me do the same! For some reason, Johanna Lindsay’s Angel struck a similar chord. It’s my fave Lindsay book, and funny as all get out.
I know I’ve got to stop posting to this, but funny regencies are not the first kind of story that I remember, so titles keep popping into my head after I’ve already posted.
Gini - You may like Anne Gracie’s regencies. They also have a lot of humor. If you like Julia Quinn, you may like some of the other Avon regency historical authors such as Elizabeth Boyle or Suzanne Enoch or Victoria Alexander.
I also really enjoyed Connie Brockway’s funny historicals - Bridal Season and Bridal Favours come to mind.
While I’ve not read many of her books, lots of folks rave about Georgette Heyer’s humor. Some reviewers said that Diane Farr captured Heyer’s humor.
And, you may like Mary Balogh’s “farces” - but they’re all old signet regencies, so they may be hard to find.
And, wandergurl, there were times when I wanted to throw Whitney, My Love across the room as well. I never understood the appeal of all those rape historical romances that were mostly written before I started reading romance novels.
Michelle & wandergurl, JM re-released a new updated version of her Whitney, My Love. If you have a chance and want to you might enjoy her new version better, it has softened the violence of their encounters. I personally loved the original, and the remake equally. I just love her books period.
Patricia Briggs: Laura London’s Windflower is one of the most superbly written historical romance books of all time, it’s up there with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. Oh and as a side note that is totally off topic - your Urban Fantasy stories about Mercy Thompson are off the hook, can’t for Bone Crossed to come out! ;)
Thanks, Elaine. I was always curious about what she had changed in the new version.
Re: other funny regencies
Amanda Quick stories are on the light, humorous side with quirky characters. If you’ve never read her before, they can be refreshingly different. (Unfortunately, after awhile, they get to be sadly the same.)
I’ve also really enjoyed some Louise Allen stories published by harlequin historical, so they may be easier to find in England. They’re regencies, but not the same old, same old. The heroine in No Place for a Lady meets the hero when she is driving a stagecoach - filling in for a missing driver because it’s her family’s business.
And, it sounds like I finally need to read Windflower. I’ve hauled a copy through several moves, but my desire to read it lessened after reading a couple of other Sharon/Tom Curtis stories that I didn’t think lived up to hype.
Thank you Michelle!
I have to agree. I so love Judith McNaught’s books. I also love Julie Garwood! They’re the only two romance novel authors I read!
[...] McNaught’s historicals. When Loonigrrl hosted an “If You Like Judith McNaught” column, some of our readers suggested Laura Kinsale as an author fans of McNaught might like. I’m [...]
[...] 27th, 2008 • Category: D Reviews, Reviews • • We have asked loonigrrl, who did the fabulous hosting of our inaugural “If You Like” series, to come and guest review for the blog. We hope [...]
Hai, i really liked ur job on judith’s books. U were very good and i copmletely agree with u. but it is very difficult to like other authors once you have read judlth. so i have always been left unsatisfied with whatever i’ve read other than her name in my front page. i will surely try ur recommendations.
Hey i love this post!!!
I’m a real fan of JM and I’m so glad with all these suggestions, i have alot of reading to do now. Something Wonderful is my all time favorite, and i really liked Until You, which i find is pretty underated.
I would like to recommend a couple of Jo Goodman’s novels, especially Forever in my Heart.
Jude Deveraux’s Sweet Liar is also one i liked.
And I loved Shirlee Busbee’s Whisper to me of love, i read that one when i was really young and is the only one i haven’t reread, but i know at that time it had such an impact on me that i’ve never forgotten it.
Love this post. I love, emotional, angst-ridden, character-driven romances. McNaught historicals and contemporaries do the job for me! So do SEP’s books. My other fave authors are: Susan Napier, Mary Balogh, the early Jude Deveraux, Linda Howard… After glomming on Balogh the last month or so, I’m really tired of historical. Would love angsty contemporaries. Any recommendations?
Oh, will someone please do a “if you like Susan Elizabeth Phillips” please?????