Is there any chance that Historical Romances will become popular again? Also, Georgette Heyer?
I've been combing through my library's romances and they all seem to take place in the present, with very few historical romances, and as such, any suggestions with said genre would be wonderful! Also, I've just started reading Georgette Heyer, (Arabella and Frederica), and I would love some recommendations by that author as well. I have heard some of her later books were more on the serious side, however for now, I would love some that run along the same lines as the two that I have already read. Is there any other authors that wrote/write as she did? Thank you very much, and any help is greatly appreciated!
I envy you just starting out on Georgette Heyer - I loved all her books, apart from her modern detective ones, and found her style elegant, witty, amusing (sometimes hilarious) and usually a wholly pleasurable history lesson. She researched meticulously, and by reading her Regency romances, you enter her world exclusively.
She began by writing the 18th century "The Black Moth" for her ailing brother, when she was only a teenager. Other books followed thick and fast, and the Regency ones are those for which she is most famous, being a mistress of the genre. I append a site devoted to her. Her later novels, like "Venetia" and "A Civil Contract" are more autumnal, and warmer in tone than the dizzy, delightful earlier confections. She also wrote "Simon the Coldheart", set in medieval times, and "Beauvallet" in Elizabethan times. There were a few 18th century romances, too, some set in the earlier part of the 1700s, some later. Her great love was what she called "armour", the medieval period, and she began writing "Lord John" about the Duke of Bedford. Sadly, it was never finished. And, where she was totally at home with Regency speech, it eluded her in medieval times.
Have a look here:
http://www.georgette-heyer.com/
Try Heyer's "The Grand Sophy", "Friday's Child", "Cotillion" for similarities to the ones you mention.
I'm not much of an historical romance reader, but recommend Kathleen Winsor's "Forever Amber" and Anya Seton's "Katherine".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_novel#Historical_romance
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Well, you might like Phillippa Gregory. She wrote "The Other Boleyn Girl." Or Susan Carroll.
They are both historical fiction/romance.
References :
I envy you just starting out on Georgette Heyer – I loved all her books, apart from her modern detective ones, and found her style elegant, witty, amusing (sometimes hilarious) and usually a wholly pleasurable history lesson. She researched meticulously, and by reading her Regency romances, you enter her world exclusively.
She began by writing the 18th century "The Black Moth" for her ailing brother, when she was only a teenager. Other books followed thick and fast, and the Regency ones are those for which she is most famous, being a mistress of the genre. I append a site devoted to her. Her later novels, like "Venetia" and "A Civil Contract" are more autumnal, and warmer in tone than the dizzy, delightful earlier confections. She also wrote "Simon the Coldheart", set in medieval times, and "Beauvallet" in Elizabethan times. There were a few 18th century romances, too, some set in the earlier part of the 1700s, some later. Her great love was what she called "armour", the medieval period, and she began writing "Lord John" about the Duke of Bedford. Sadly, it was never finished. And, where she was totally at home with Regency speech, it eluded her in medieval times.
Have a look here:
http://www.georgette-heyer.com/
Try Heyer's "The Grand Sophy", "Friday's Child", "Cotillion" for similarities to the ones you mention.
I'm not much of an historical romance reader, but recommend Kathleen Winsor's "Forever Amber" and Anya Seton's "Katherine".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_novel#Historical_romance
References :
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,771837,00.html
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/anya-seton/katherine.htm
Edit – to answer your question (!), I think there has always been a hardcore coterie of historical romance readers. Currently, Philippa Gregory has caught the public's imagination, and there may well be other periods to explore and become popular. Jean Plaidy was widely read in her time, but I think readers today expect more in the way of revelations. The Tudors are a subject that seem to fascinate practically everyone, so perhaps a few more books on the lesser characters may appear.
I love Georgette Heyer as well. 'the Talisman Ring' 'The Corinthian' 'The Reluctant Widow' 'Faro's Daughter' 'the Grand Sophy' 'Cotillion' 'Sprig Muslin' and 'The Unknown Ajax' are among my favourites of her books. All of them have delightful heroines and a lot of humour.
Some books I would recommend to you which are very much in the same style, but with added magic, are a trilogy by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer 'Sorcery and Cecelia' 'The Grand Tour' and 'The Mislaid Magician'. They are set in a sort of alternative Regency england in which magic is a fact of everyday life, and many people have the talent to work magic. Although they are fantasy, they are written very much in the style of Georgette Heyer, and the first one, 'Sorcery and Cecelia' in particular is very Heyer-like in its romantic aspect.
References :
A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux – Time Travel
2. The Secret by Julie Garwood – Historical
3. Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel
5. Dream Man by Linda Howard – Romantic Suspense
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase – Historical
The Gift by Julie Garwood – Historical
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught – Historical
10. It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary
The Bride by Julie Garwood – Historical
12. Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught – Historical
Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Classic
15. Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale – Historical
Paradise by Judith McNaught – Contemporary
Perfect by Judith McNaught – Contemporary
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood – Historical
The Prize by Julie Garwood – Historical
20. Bewitching by Jill Barnett – Paranormal Historical
Born In Fire by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
22. After the Night by Linda Howard – Contemporary
Born In Shame by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Ravished by Amanda Quick – Historical
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney – Historical
Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney – History
Velvet Angel by Jude Deveraux – Historical
28. Castles by Julie Garwood – Historical
Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard – SIM#261
Naked In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Scandal by Amanda Quick – Historical
Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical
Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux – Contemporary
The Wolf & the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical
35. Born In Ice by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Forbidden by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Only His by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Minx by Julia Quinn – Historical
Rising Tides by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard – Contemporary
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught – Historical
The Flame & the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical
Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux – Historical
46. Glory In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux – Historical
Kill & Tell by Linda Howard – Romantic Suspense
My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley – Historical
Once and Always by Judith McNaught – Historical
Only Mine by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Perfect Partners by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary
Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi – Historical
Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath – Historical
Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary
56. A Rose For Maggie by Kathleen Korbel – SIM #602
A Rose In Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical
Always To Remember by Lorraine Heath – Historical
Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson – Historical
Ashes In the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss – Historical
Daring To Dream by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Double Standards by Judith McNaught – Contemporary
Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel
Enchanted by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Gentle Warrior by Johanna Lindsey – Historical
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – Classic
Grand Passion by Jayne Ann Krentz – Contemporary
Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood – Historical
Immortal In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Contemporary
Mirror Image by Sandra Brown – Contemporary
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer – Contemporary
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney – Historical
Only Love by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Sarah's Child by Linda Howard – SSE#230
Surrender by Amanda Quick – Historical
The Shadow & the Star by Laura Kinsale – Historical
The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter – Historical
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon – Time Travel
Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz
83. Ceremony In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Dancing At Midnight by Julia Quinn – Historical
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas – Historical
Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey – Historical
Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy – Futuristic
Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood – Historical
Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh – Regency
Only You by Elizabeth Lowell – Historical
Public Secrets by Nora Roberts – Contemporary
Rapture In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Scoundrel by Elizabeth Elliott – Historical
Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney – Historical
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory – Historical
Son of the Morning by Linda Howard – Time Travel
Splendid by Julia Quinn – Historical
Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala – Contemporary
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson – Historical
The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne – Historical
The Windflower by Laura London – Historical
Velvet Promise by Jude Deveraux – Historical
Vengeance In Death by J. D. Robb – Futuristic Romantic Suspense
Walking At Midnight by Karen Robards – Romantic Suspense
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory
Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Seduction (Berkley Sensation) by Julia Ross
A Woman of Virtue by Liz Carlyle
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
The Charmer (Get Connected Romances) by Madeline Hunter
Tiger's Eye by Karen Robards
A Summer to Remember (Get Connected Romances) by Mary Balogh
As You Desire by Connie Brockway
To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney
Forbidden (Zebra Historical Romance) by Jo Beverley
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
The Pride of Lions by Marsha Canham
Virtue by Jane Feather
Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James
Lord Stanhope's Proposal by Jessica Benson
Splendid by Julia Quinn
Also try Half Priced Books stores just go to the romance section and look at the ones that say historical on the binding you may just find one that catches your fancy from an author you would never guess or choose or that is not well known.
References :
http://www.likesbooks.com/top100.html
http://www.amazon.com/BEST-Historical-Romance-Authors/lm/30TSHXWWJEUT3
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