Books We Love is a regular fortnightly feature here at Book Chick City. It’s where we discuss our favourite books; the books we absolutely adore, would recommend over and over again, and will keep forever on our bookshelves. I hope you enjoy and find some new-to-you authors and books to read. You can view the full schedule HERE.
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My guest today is Jackie, the mastermind behind the amazing blog, Literary Escapism. I absolutely love Jackie’s blog – it’s always full to the brim of reviews, interviews, guests posts and a fantastic monthly newsletter. If you haven’t been to LE yet, then I urge you do – if you’re a fan of speculative fiction, especially urban fantasy, then this is the blog for you!
I haven’t heard of any of these authors other than Amanda Quick, so will definitely be checking them out – they sound fab!
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When Book Chick City asked if I would be interested in participating in her Books We Love feature, I immediately agreed thinking it would be the easiest article to write. Then I started thinking about all the books I love and there’s a lot. I have a huge list that I am constantly recommending to other readers, but I’m not the only one. Who hasn’t been told to read Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels, Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson or even Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series? I highly doubt I would be the first one, so I started looking at my shelves. Which books have been up there the longest? Which books have continually survived the latest purges to make room for even more books? My eyes quickly came to five novels that have survived because I would never even consider getting rid of them. Their stories captured my imagination from the moment I picked them and have stayed with me even after years of having read them. Even now, I know that I could randomly open to a page and be instantly enraptured yet again. These novels have been with me far longer than even Literary Escapism has, so hopefully I’m introducing everyone to something a little new.
Amber Flame by Hannah Howell (now known as His Bonnie Bride)
There is not a day goes by, that Amber Flame doesn’t pop into my head. No matter how long it’s been since I’ve read it, I can always bring up any scene with such clarity. There’s just something about Storm and Tavis that left an impression. I, for one, love a good Scottish Highlander novel, but it’s rare for me to come across one regarding any of the Lowlanders – the border raiders. The battle skirmishes, the interaction between the Eldon family and MacLagan clan, the chemistry of all the characters – even now, my head is returning to the story without much effort. Amber Flame is one that has always been a favorite of mine and I’m not really sure what to say.
When Storm Eldon is kidnapped by her family’s ancestral enemies, she knows there are rules to be honored by both sides. If her stepmother agrees to the ransom demanded, Storm will not be harmed by Tavis MacLagan, the handsome Highland warrior who holds her captive. But as days of waiting turn into weeks, it begins to be clear that in this contest of wills, no one is fighting fair. Tavis’s hands-off policy has changed into an all-out siege of the senses, and Storm realizes she is less interested in guarding her virtue than becoming…HIS BONNIE BRIDE. (Originally published under the title Amber Flame.)
The Bachelor List by Jane Feather
Most of the females in your stereotypical historical romances tend to be a bit on the demur side or not as strong and independent as what can be seen in today’s urban fantasy genre. However, when I came across Jane Feather’s The Bachelor List, that stereotype was quickly thrown out. Here was a woman, who had her own set of beliefs and didn’t let society dictate to her at all. The women Feather writes could easily be historicals version of the modern day kick ass woman. They know what they want and they go after it. Their methods may be a bit radical for their time, but that’s part of the draw. I have yet to come across a Feather novel that I haven’t loved. Even her Kiss series (The Widows Kiss, To Kiss a Spy and Kissed by Shadows) has these fiercely protective and independent woman that are such a refreshing change.
Constance Duncan may be the eldest of three sisters, but she has more important things on her mind than finding a husband, for herself, at any rate. Through the Personals services of her popular newspaper, The Mayfair Lady, Constance connects lonely hearts. But her own heart lies in her work, and nothing will distract her from it, until she finds herself irresistibly drawn to a man of disastrously different views. Max Ensor is a politician whose outmoded attitudes outrage her, even as his powerful presence intrigues her. Clearly there is only one thing to do with such an exasperating man: convert him! Little does Constance know that Max has the same plan in mind for her…. What follows is a fiercely passionate duel in which two headstrong people discover that, differences or not, sometimes one gender cannot – will not – do without the other.
Read Order for the Duncan Sisters Trilogy:
Daughter of Fire by Quinn Taylor Evans
These books are simply fabulous. Growing up, my mother was just as much of a bookworm as I was and there were always historical romances laying around the house. One such novel, Daughter of Fire, caught my eye and after I finished it, I had to go out and get the others. Who doesn’t love a good story about Merlin? Not only were these one of the first paranormal romances I was introduced to, but they took a much loved legend and gave it more. Did Merlin ever have kids? What would they have been liked and did they contribute to the monarchy as much as Merlin himself did? Whether the legend of Merlin is true or not, Evans gives him children and puts them contact with William the Conqueror and gives us six fabulous stories involving magic, war and love.
Set in England in the time of William the Conqueror, the first novel in this marvelous series that explores what might have been if Merlin had had three beautiful daughters, each possessing just a touch of magic, resolved to use her special skills to battle evil, and determined to find love.
Read Order:
Forever and the Night by Linda Lael Miller
My first paranormal romance. How could I ever get rid of Forever and the Night? It’s not the greatest of vampire love stories, I’ll freely admit it, but it’s definitely one that stands out among the crowd. At least for me it does. How can one really forget their first after all. Of course, I will freely admit, the one character that I simply adore never shows up in the stories all that much; but there’s just something about Dathan that I love. I actually wish there was a fifth book involving him (if there is one, please let me know!). Anyway, back to Aidan and Neely…there’s all these novels about vampires, but how many are there regarding a man who didn’t want the lifestyle and even after years of being a vampire, still doesn’t want to be one. Why hasn’t someone written about a vampire who tries to find a way back to his mortality? Maybe Forever and the Night isn’t the only story out there like this, but it’s the only one that comes to mind and with all vampire novels that are popping up, it’s still a unique and fresh idea.
Forever and the Night introduces readers to Aidan Tremayne, a vampire damned to a bloodthirsty immortality against his will…and Neely Wallace, a mortal woman who arouses a forbidden temptation that could destroy them both.
Read Order:
Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick
The whole idea of mesmerism is still pretty new to me, in fact I’m not sure I know of another novel that uses it as its basis, but add in the characters of Lake and March and I couldn’t be helped but be completely captivated by the story. These two individuals work so well together that its hilarious watching them interact with each other. They totally remind me of another couple, but for the life of me, that couple won’t reveal themselves. It’s right there on the tip of my tongue…regardless, this whole series is another great historical UF and I was sad to see it end with Late for the Wedding. I so need to reread this series.
Quick tells the story of Lavinia Lake, an Englishwoman who returns to England after her antiques shop in Rome is destroyed by a stranger who claims to be on the trail of criminals. Upon her arrival, Lavinia becomes the target of a blackmailer, who turns up dead when she attempts to meet him. Waiting for her at the scene is the man who destroyed her shop, a P.I. named Tobias March. In her desperate quest to find the source of the intrigue surrounding her, Lake is forced to team up with the mysterious March, only to fall passionately in love with him.
Read Order:
So those are five novels that have remained with me through high school, college, various interstate moves and finally making it to my first house. They have survived various purges and now that I’ve been discussing them (although probably badly) I so want to go back and reread all of them. Actually, I did end up rereading Amber Flame while I was writing this. So which books have stuck with you through the years?
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Thanks Jackie!
Visit Jackie’s BLOG, chat to her on TWITTER & FACEBOOK or check out her bookshelves on GOODREADS and GOODREADS GROUP
3 Comments
Forever and the Night is one of my favorite series and one that probably started my love of PNR. I thought it was a unique twist on old lore
(for the time frame of when it was published: early 90's)
Anything Hannah Howell writes is amazing, I adore her! She was one of the main reasons I went to RomCon. I love her storytelling ability
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These look great – I love the idea of a Merlin romance – I fear there maybe some book purchasing coming on
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Thanks for having me!
@Felicia – I'm wishing there was a fifth novel in that series, one that featured Dathan. There's just something about that warlock.
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