12 Responses to “Romance Novel Award Winners — The RITAs!”  

1. 1 Kate Walker Jul 17th, 2007 at 10:27 am

   Special Congratulations to ‘our’ (ie HMB’s ) Barbara H. It’s always wonderful to see a friend win something so special. And I love her books.

   And many many congratulations to everyone else who won, too.

   But i’ll pass on the ‘What other romance novels do you enjoy reading . . .’ There are so so many.

2. 2 CT Jul 17th, 2007 at 6:34 pm

   I’m glad to see that Julia Quinn won for best long historical novel, I really enjoy her books. I also like Eloisa James, another historical romance author. Both authors specialize in Regency romances, which I’ve liked since I started reading romances many years ago.

   Thank you for publishing the list. I will have to look up some of these books, I haven’t read any of them except “On the Way to the Wedding”.

   Cheryl

3. 3 Julia-James Jul 17th, 2007 at 6:41 pm

   “What romance novels other than Harlequin Presents do you enjoy reading?”

   I do tend to stick mostly to HPs as they’re my favourite (which is why I write for them of course!), but I’d say my favourite non-HP romance author is Susan Fox. I really can’t articulate why I love her so much – I’m not even a big fan of Texas, which doesn’t appeal to me as the most beautiful part of the USA, but I just do love her. She’s an autobuy for me and I’ll read anything she’s written!

   I’ll also read anything that Anne Weale has written because she is just THE most erudite romance author I’ve ever read! She was the romance author who, par excellence, proved to me that romances were NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT ‘written by shop girls for shop girls’ (as the ultimate sneering put down calls them!). She is my bellweather author for reassuring me that yes, I can put a quote in from a poet, I can mention some quite abstruse philosopher and thinker and intellectual, that yes I can make reference to famous artists and composers, because she does! She blazed the trail and set the standard and I’m forever grateful to her for that! And as for her writing style – fluent, assured, easy, unfussed, no-nonsense and just incredibly readable. Whenever I find an AW I haven’t read yet, I fall on it with a cry of glee, knowing I’m in for a wonderful treat. I hoard them preciously, and save them for special occasions!

   My other total auto-buy non-HP romance author just has to be Mary Burchell, and my ambition one day is to own every book with the gorgeous gorgeous arrogant genius Oscar Warrender in it! I’m way short, but boy, do I keep looking. Oh, lucky, lucky Anthea!

   Well, that my top three favourite non-HP authors. Who are everyone else’s??

   Julia

4. 4 Amy Jul 18th, 2007 at 9:11 am

   I looooove historicals! Some of my fave historical authors are Nicola Cornick, Margaret Moore, Deborah Hale, and Shannon Drake.

5. 5 lidia Jul 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm

   Congratulations to the winners!

   I also love historicals — but have to be in the mood to read them. I’ll usually read a bunch, and then wait a few months before I read another historial.

   My favorite historical authors are: Stephanie Laurens, Julia Garwood, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Edith Layton, Patricia Grasso.

   My all time favorite historical books was written by Loretta Chase — “Lord of Scoundrels.” I finally figured out why that book became a huge favorite. The hero, is an “alpha” hero in historical times. Jessica, the heroine is feisty and not typical of her times. Both would have made a perfect HP heroine and hero.

6. 6 Trish Morey Jul 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pm

   Congratulations to all the winners and especially to “our” Barb Hannay in the winners list. So well deserved and a lovely lady to boot.

   Lidia, I’ve heard so much about Loretta Chase and Lord of Scoundrels – I can see I’m going to have to hunt it down

7. 7 lidia Jul 18th, 2007 at 7:33 pm

   Trish, That book has been reprinted — which I find highly unusual for that type of book. Let me know if you can’t find it. I’ll keep a look out for it. If we can’t find it, I’ll lend you my much read copy — if you promise to send it back!

8. 8 juliemt Jul 19th, 2007 at 1:17 am

   Congratulations to Barbara Hannay! She’s a terrific writer and a very lovely lady and I’m absolutely thrilled for her!

   I was a Mills and Boon reader long before the lines were split so in addition to Presents I also love Romance, Medical and the Historical series.

   I also branch out into single titles and love contemporaries and historicals (Lidia and I share a lot of the same favourites although I must check out Patricia Grasso, thanks for the tip!)

   Trish, Lords of Scoundrels is a fab read and I recommend Loretta’s books as she’s a wonderful storyteller.

9. 9 suefromdevon Jul 19th, 2007 at 2:39 am

   Congratulations to all the winners

   Trish – I managed to track down Lord of Scoundrels recently and it’s fab. Sebastian’s outrageous and Loretta’s books are very sensual. I also think you’ll love Mr Impossible.

   Sue

10. 10 Trish Morey Jul 19th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    I suspect I’m going to love him too:-) Thanks, Lidia, for your very kind offer but I can see I might want this book as a keeper, so I might not be able to send him back Dropping the kids off to see HP today, so I’ll go prowl the bookstore across the road while I wait.

    Thanks for the recommendations.

11. 11 olivia Jul 21st, 2007 at 4:52 am

    My one other favorite romance novelist is Johanna Lindsey. Every Johanna Lindsey novel never fails to excite me. I also like the earlier works of Jude Devereaux and Julie Garwood. Nowadays, I seldom try other different historical romances because, from past readings, the story dwells too much on something else, like the civil war going on, hunt for treasure, etc. which really bores me. I keep skipping to pages wherein there is interaction between the hero and heroine.
    The main reason I always stick to Harlequin Presents and to Johanna Lindsey novels is because I am pretty sure that the story is mainly focused on the hero and heroine with not much “other distractions or sub-conflicts”. I feel very satisfied and “in-love” after each reading:)

    Olivia

1. 1 Seroquel xr. Trackback on Jul 18th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Tell us what you think!