Yesterday was great fun talking about covers. So interesting to see what diverse likes and dislikes readers have. Sometimes it's hard for me to say what I do or don't like about a cover, but most everyone yesterday was very specific about their preferences. Great input!
On Friday, we talked about what romance book you'd recommend to a friend to bring her/him over into the bright side of love. Today, let's talk about the ones that brought you over. For me, I honestly can't remember that very first one, but I remember several first ones, such as The Flame and the Flower, The Wolf and the Dove, Sweet Savage Love (LOL, sounds like a good title for Dylan's book), Whitney My Love. I remember authors like Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Emilie Loring, Grace Livingston Hill, Laurie McBain, Judith McNaught and so many others that introduced me to the genre and kept me coming back for more. I know I devoured every Harlequin Presents I could get my hands on. Oh, the joy of reading all of those beautiful, wonderful, amazing books!
So, today's question:
What was the book or books that brought you over to the romance genre?
Can't wait to compare. Will be interesting to see how many of us read the same books.
Hope everyone has a fabulous Sunday!
Hi Christy, this is a question I have to think about - I am not quite sure with the genre - you mean romance only or romantic suspence? Anyway what hooked me to this kind of books was Nora Roberts Ireland trilogy. Iam not sure about the original titles because I read them in German. And from there I continued with all of her books I could get my hands on. Later I discovered Julia Spencer-Fleming and her Millers Kill series and from there I switched to reading books in English because I just couldn´t wait for the next story of Russ and Clare to be translated. Thanks to Amazon I found more and more great authors such as Suzanne Brockmann, Cindy Gerard,Allison Brennan, Karen Rose and Christy Reece. Your books were a recommendation from amzons "if you liked this book other customers who also bought this book bought one of these..." .
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone a great and relaxing Sunday
I can't remember. Third grade I read "The Golden Wedding" and "Old Yellor" and progressed from there to my Dad buying the books from the school reader paper. I remember reading VC Andrews and Sweet Valley High. Oooo I remember the books "Love Song" and "Windsong" by I don't remember who and others. Or the time in the 90's where I got this book called something with Emerald in it and it was at a pivitol moment and pages of chapters was missing and I went to all the stores trying to find a copy with the missing pages and they all had the same mess up in it. It took me awhile to get over that one.
ReplyDeleteI read a couple romances as a teenager and enjoyed them. I got away from reading for a long time, but a year or two ago I picked up the Twilight Series and remembered how much I enjoyed reading. I remembered reading a couple book’s from Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory series so I went out to see if she had any other books. It branched out from there, Amazon’s “if you liked this book other customers who also bought this book bought one of these..." has helped me find many of the books I’ve read. I also discovered that you could excerpts on the Amazon’s and Barnes and Noble’s websites…I would browse the romance section there reading excerpts and if the excerpt hooked me I bought the book or made note of it to look for in a used book store. I started out reading historical romances, but I quickly branched out to contemporary romances and from there I found romantic suspense.
ReplyDeleteJohanna Lindsey's historicals brought me into the romance genre, followed by Garwood's historicals. Love them all.
ReplyDeleteElke, oh, I remember NR's Ireland trilogy. They were wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAnd to clarify, I mean books that hooked you into wanting to read the ones with the happy ever after. Any romance or sub-genre of romance like romantic suspense, paranormal, historical, western, etc. NR's Ireland trilogy definitely fits!
Jackie, I can't imagine the frustration of trying to find the rest of your 'Emerald' book and not being able to find it anywhere. Things like that would drive me up the wall. Did you ever get to read all of it?
ReplyDeleteAlisonP, I think I started out with historical too. Wonder if that's a common beginning for most romance readers. And then I discovered all the different Harlequin romances and the addiction grew. (:
ReplyDeleteOh, and I devoured Johanna Lindsey's books!
Hey Ronlyn, yet another one to start out with historical and then move onto other sub-genres. Isn't it wonderful that there are so many different ones to choose from now?
ReplyDeleteI never found one. I think it was one of the books with like a halogram sticker on it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the first book I read with some romance was the Sign of Seven trilogy that my BFF told me that I just had to read. I know that before that I read some Anne Rice but I really don't see that as Romance. Then from there I read the Twilight series and more of the paranormal romance then jumped over to the different types of romance.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin's friend lent me a copy of Julie Garwood's "The Bride" and I was hooked.
ReplyDeleteWow Jackie P... I remember reading Sweet Valley High in middle/high school! I had totally forgotten that. I guess you could say those were my first romance books, but I have not been much for reading since school.
ReplyDeleteNow that my daughter is a bit older and I have a little more down time, I am able to read again. The first book I read that really pulled me into romance as an adult would be "Return To Me" I read the first three books out of order, but fell in love any way! (thanks Christy lol) Now a coworker is on the Last Chance and we are able to talk about all the characters all the time. Its like our own book club and im hooked.
Jackie, was it a Zebra romance? (LOL, not a romance about zebras, but a Zebra imprint.) I was thinking they used to put holograms on their books.
ReplyDeleteTanya, Sign of Seven trilogy sounds interesting! Do you remember the author?
ReplyDeleteOh Jane, The Bride! Perfect book to bring someone over to romance. Love that book!
ReplyDeleteHeather! I have tears! RETURN TO ME brought you over to romance? Oh my! Thank you! You made my day!
ReplyDeleteSending cyber thank you ((((hugs)))))!
And please tell your co-worker thanks for reading my books!
My brain can't remember that far back but I think my addiction began with Judith McNaught, progressed to Sandra Brown and Linda Howard and then there were so many, many more! I guess I can give Sandra Brown credit for starting me on the path to my love for romantic suspense. I also loved Julie Garwood's contemporaries -- those Buchanan brothers! In the past I've read a bunch of Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts -- hardly ever anymore.
ReplyDeleteElke - I'm a great fan of Russ and Clare, too. I love those visits to Miller's Kill -- they just don't come fast enough. I'm anxiously awaiting "One Was a Soldier" in April!!
Oh my, Anne, what great authors to begin an addiction!
ReplyDeleteI used to devour Sandra Brown's historicals. Looking back, I think that Linda Howard may have gotten me started on romantic suspense. I've been in the mood lately to reread Dream Man, one of my favorite LH romantic suspense books.
@Heather, Christy's books are great aren't they.
ReplyDelete@Christy, I think it sounds familar.
My first introduction in to the romance genre was a historical series. (YEP, I know hard to believe since I don't particularly like to read them now.) I was given the Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas. I had needed a change from what I had been reading and it was suggested that I try that series. I really loved it, but I REALLY needed something more...meaty (no that was not a gutterville reference ladies lol). I went to the RS section and Christy's books jumped out at me SEVERAL times before I took the plunge. Rescue Me was my first RS book, and I haven't looked back sense.
ReplyDeleteI would read my older sister's Harlequin Romance books; 3-5 books a day...Carole Mortimer, Lindsey Armstrong, Diana Palmer and numerous others.
ReplyDeleteLater, I got hooked on Linda Howard's books. Although, I still like to read Harlequin Romance novels.
Hey Hope! Lisa Kleypas's books are fabulous. What a wonderful introduction to romance. And I am so glad you to took the plunge with RESCUE ME!
ReplyDeleteLInda, 3-5 books a day! Oh my, you're a fast reader!
ReplyDeleteLoved those Harlequin books. I grew up in a household filled with women and we would devour them (though not that fast). There's a Carole Mortimer book I still remember that I loved. I need to find it and read it again. Now, if I could only remember the title.
Mine was definitely SEP's Match Me If You Can. I used to read crime and thrillers but somethign about that book caught my eye. I kept picking it up and putting it back in its place at the supermarket. Until one day I just had to read it. Found it at a bookshop, read it and loved it. Then went on to read the rest of hers books, minus a few. Its strange how the summaries always make me think that the plot must be stupid - I remember Kiss an Angel particularly - but then when I read the books I fell in love with her writing stlye.
ReplyDeleteMy first historicals were sent to me from a sweet Seppie from on SEP's BB. They were Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series and Again the Magic. Haven't looked back since then.
I fell in love with medievals reading Julie Garwood.
I missed this yesterday what is up with that???
ReplyDeleteI can't remember what book exactly I read, but I do know that I read a lot of The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High ect. I do remember my grandma use to read romance books an I would sneak a book from her and read it. I will admit that I was probably WAY to young to be reading what I was reading, but I was hooked. When my dad caught me reading those Harlequin books...well to say he was upset is an understatement! lol
Can't believe I missed this post!! My first book is easy, Gone with the Wind. I know that is a jumping off point for many, but it simply does the trick!!!
ReplyDeleteI know this is way late, but I have been reading romance novels since jr. high. The "tame" ones until I was older, then I graduated to Johanna Lindsay, Janelle Taylor etc. I got out of the habit of reading when I took up quilting, but my boss got me hooked on the Twilight series, and that got me reading the paranormal genre, and then I started looking at the "author recommendations" on amazon.com and found all these awesome suspense romance stories, and now I have too many books to read!!
ReplyDeleteLet me guess. Last one to the party, right? LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe I have only been 'back to reading' for about 4 or 5 years now. I found Janet Evanovich's series at the library (by then I think she was already on 11 or 12) and sped through them so fast, I HAD to find something else. That led me to SEP and Linda Howard. I've been thinking of doing an SEP reread. Sounds great, doesn't it? :)
i started reading romance in highschool but i can't remember a thing i read. I took about a 20 yr hiatus from reading do to busy life. First job then the army and then mariage and kids. i started reading again about 2 years ago i guess and i started because of the Twilight series. lol People kept talking about Twilight and my curiosity got the best of me so i went out and bought it and within 8 days i had bought all 4 books and read them all. Then i was stuck for a while not sure who or what to read. I went to a used book sale at the library and picked up a few books but a friend of mine who reads recommended Mr Perfect by Linda Howard and bam i was in business. Awesome book and then i started from there. Now i have several favorite authors and keep finding new books and authors to read.
ReplyDeleteLisa B
The Flame & The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. It was a revelation for the time. I lent it out so much that I kept wearing out the copies. I replaced it about 4 times. Used to read it once a year but it's too tame now.
ReplyDelete