Read Alike: Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author of historical romances, often set during the Regency period; she is also a member of the Romance Writers Association Hall of Fame. She is probably best known for her Bridgerton series, which saw to the matrimonial bliss of eight siblings and starts with The Duke and I. Her books feature well-developed characters who are often very witty, a reflection of the humor found in most of Ms. Quinn’s novels. To balance the light-hearted humor and wit, many of her characters face significant emotional turmoil in their quest for love. The details of the Regency setting, with characters and events that carry over from novel to novel, provide a rich and rewarding experience for her readers. Ms. Quinn does not shy away from the physical aspects of her character’s relationships.

Julia Quinn provides reading recommendations on her website: Julia Quinn Recommends

Other authors you might like if you enjoy Julia Quinn:

• Suzanne Enoch’s novels have wit, humor, and strong female characters. Sin and Sensibility is the first in her Griffith family series; it features Eleanor Griffin and her search for a little adventure before settling down in a traditional marriage.

• Sabrina Jeffries writes humorous, character-driven novels that can only be described as steamy. A Dangerous Love is the story of Griff Knighton and Lady Rosalind who desire to avoid an arranged marriage, but find their desire for each other stronger than expected.

• Eloisa James writes romances that feature strong, witty heroines, with plenty of sexual tension, but also an emphasis on the non-romantic relationships in her character’s lives. Much Ado About You is the first in a series about the Essex sisters; eldest sister Tess must choose between a socially beneficial marriage, and her heart’s desire.

• Amanda Quick, a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz, was one of Julia Quinn’s role models when starting out as a romance author, and it shows in their shared humor, suspense and strong characters. The heroine of With this Ring is a widow and the authoress of Gothic novels, who goes looking for a set of mythical rings, and finds herself in a situation similar to one of her Gothic plots.

• Stephanie Laurens’ novels have a focus on family ties and a humorous tone, and tend to be seen from the hero’s perspective. The Lady Chosen is the story of Tristan Wemyss, who must marry to receive his inheritance, but the woman he’s chosen has no desire to wed.

• Lisa Kleypas sets many of her romances in the later Victorian period, though her unconventional characters’ battles of wit are timeless. In Mine Till Midnight, Amelia Hathaway has given up on love until she meets Cam, a half gypsy businessman.

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Staff Review: The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

I do not understand why The River of No Return doesn't have a dozen people on the hold list. Sure, this is Bee Ridgway's first novel, and you probably don't spend a portion of your work and free time tracking new books, seeing what's getting good advance reviews, judging the cover art for books that won't be available for sale for months, etc. etc.

Maybe this is the first you're hearing about The River of No Return. That's fair, but now you need to place a hold on the library's copy or go out and buy your own because this is a book worth reading.

Let me walk that back a little. I usually wait a few weeks before posting a book review on the library's blog, and I only just finished this book on Saturday, so I'm maybe still bubbling over with those good book emotions. So! Walking it back, you need to check out The River of No Return, at your earliest convenience, if you are the sort of reader who enjoys:

• Time Travel
• Globe Spanning Conspiracies and Secret Societies
• Love Stories
• Characters Who Aren't Dimwits
• Complicated Morality

In 1812, Lord Nicholas Falcott is presumed dead at the Battle of Salamanca, but instead he finds himself transported into the distant future and the welcoming arms of The Guild. Left in the past is Julia Percy, granddaughter of the Earl whose estate borders Nick's own, and with her grandfather's death in 1815, Julia is truly an orphan. How their paths come to cross again, and all of the manipulation and complications that requires is where the story lies.

If, like me, you enjoy historical romances, you won't be disappointed there. I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. Ridgway hasn't read her share of Julia Quinn's, Mary Balogh's, and all the other authors whose books have "duke" in the title. Never fear, a prior love of steamy romance novels is by no means a must to pick up this book, but if you find you enjoy the love story, you might want to browse around our Romance collection!

My only complaint is that the book ends with a couple of dangling plot threads. On the one hand, I'm happy for the idea that I might get to explore this world of time travelers again in some future sequel. On the other hand, I'm going to be wondering... Well, that would be a spoiler, so go! Read the book, and come back and we can discuss what we think is going to happen next!

Other books to read, in case I succeed in creating a wait list for The River of No Return:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (read alikes for Outlander)
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley (staff review for The Rook)
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (staff review for Discovery of Witches) (read alikes for Deborah Harkness)
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

The Malloren World Series by Jo Beverly

New York Times bestselling author Jo Beverley wrote her first Malloren book in 1993.  Her most recent title in the series, Seduction in Silk, published in August 2013, introduced me to the Malloren world, and I was compelled to go back to the beginning.

In very short order I read the original five books that tell the stories of Beowulf Malloren, Marquess of Rothgar, and his half-siblings, Arcenbryght, Brand and the twins Cynric and Elfled.
 
Although Beowulf, Bey to his family, is oldest, his story comes last.  His father and step-mother die when Bey is 19, and he refuses to let his family be separated.  When Bey was a toddler, he was unable to prevent his mother from killing his infant sister Edith.  He does not want his heir to have this taint of madness.  Throughout the first four books, readers learn more and more about the Malloren family and, as his brothers and sisters find adventure and love, speculate if Bey will break his vow never to marry.  Bey is the most complicated character I’ve met so far in the series, and I like Devilish best.  He is haughty and dictatorial, politically astute and still a devoted brother.

Beverley, a five-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award, and a member of the RWA Hall of Fame, has a degree in history from Keele University.  She imbues her Georgian historical romances with well-researched and accurate details.  She has a lively website and is one of eight authors blogging since 2006 as The Word Wenches.  While I like the interlinking characters in the Malloren world, it is Beverley’s ability to create distinct character and plot elements for each title that kept me reading.  She joins Mary Balogh, Eloisa James, and Julia Quinn as authors that are part of my Author Alerts service, so I am notified when a new book is released.

~ Michelle, Adult Services

Spotlight: Historical Romance

There's nothing wrong with wanting to read a book just for fun, whether it has wizards on boats, clever amateur detectives, rugged adventurers, or horrific monsters. The Adult Services team here at Carnegie-Stout loves books of every genre, but we all have our favorites. Personally, when I'm feeling stressed and need an escape, I turn to Historical Romance (or military science fiction). Sometimes I like to read a book that's fun, sexy, and ends with Happily Ever After.

What is Historical Romance? It depends on who you ask, but typically the phrase is used to describe steamy stories set in the late 18th or early 19th centuries, most often in England, and feature at lead one protagonist from the upper reaches of society. Although there is a growing popularity for titles set during the Victorian period. Romances with an American setting during this time period tend to be more in the style of a pioneer or old west story, or set during the Civil or Revolutionary War.

It's been a while since we posted our first Read Alike list (for Julia Quinn), or last year's experiment in reading all of the nominees for the RITA's Historical Romance category. Both of those lists are full of excellent books and authors for fans of Historical Romance, but there wasn't room for all of my old favorites or the newer authors just entering the world of Romance so I've gathered a few more suggestions below. If you happen to prefer Contemporary Romance, check out this post from earlier this summer.

The Heir by Grace Burrowes

I recently picked up Ms. Burrowes' first novel, The Heir, at the suggestion of a patron, and I tore through the 400+ pages in a single weekend. It's set during an unusually hot summer (sound familiar?) and the sparks between the characters are equally combustible. The Earl of Wyndham is a determined bachelor whose father has an overbearing need for grandchildren, his housekeeper, Anna, is capable, intelligent, attractive, and obviously born to something better than a servant's life. The story has a slower pace, which allows their relationship to develop more naturally, and Anna's mysterious past keeps the tension high.


A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant 
I just love it when a romance turns my expectations on their head. Ms. Grant's first novel, A Lady Awakened, seems to have a predictable set up, a newly widowed and childless Martha and the irresponsible rake next door come up with a bargain to save her husband's estate from her dastardly brother-in-law. The surprise is that the sex isn't instantly mind-blowing, though not for lack of trying on Theo's part. The focus on the characters' growing emotional and intellectual connection, along with their colorful country neighbors, makes this book more than a little heartwarming.





Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare
Ms. Dare is another relatively recent addition to the romance shelves, and her charming characters and witty writing has earned her a 2012 RITA Award. Her first novel, Goddess of the Hunt, is the story of Lucy, who's a bit of a tomboy. Lucy attempts to win the heart of her childhood crush by seducing another man, and finds rather more than she expected.






Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd
Ms. Dodd has been writing for two decades now, and while in recent years she's expanded into romantic suspense and paranormal titles, she's still a master of the steamy historical. Try Some Enchanted Evening, which adds a bit of fairy tale to the mix. Clarice is a princess in hiding in Scotland, where she sells cosmetics to support herself and her younger sister. Until Robert Mackenzie, Earl of Hepburn catches sight of her and realizes she's more than she appears.




Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey

Ms. Lindsey has been writing steamy historical romances for almost thirty years now. Over the years she's written a wide variety of romances (including some with elements of Science Fiction), but all of her novels feature strong men, spirited women, and the clash of wits that comes with passion. Love Only Once is the first novel in her popular Malory Family series set in Regency era England. Regina Ashton is kidnapped by a handsome stranger and finds herself drawn to him in spite of her pride and his troubling past.

And if you can't get enough Historical Romance, here's another five authors worth checking out:

• Loretta Chase
• Vicky Dreiling
• Laura Lee Guhrke
• Madeline Hunter
• Courtney Milan

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!