Unforgettable Reads
As an author I sometimes analyze what makes a read so compelling. In fact, if I admit it, I wouldn’t mind authoring one of those books. I hope I already have for someone. You know the ones. Absorbing, tantalizing, thoroughly can’t-put-em-down books. The pleasure such reads can give will keep you up half the night, if not all night.
Three books that will remain in my heart as favorites that kept me reading were Connie Brockway’s As You Desire, Barbara Samuels Lucien’s Fall, and Suzanne Forster’s Come Midnight. As far as I know, you can’t get these books unless you find a used copy. But if you can find copies, I highly recommend you pick them up. Few books are layered with characters so vivid you can see every detail about them.
As You Desire was the first Connie Brockway novel I read, and one of the things that struck me was the Egypt setting. I’m a sucker for Egypt in books. Second, the hero had an unusual problem, something that would have been more difficult to deal with in the nineteenth century—dyslexia. The heroine is adventurous and the hero feels a strong sense of responsibility to keep her safe. How he deals with his dyslexia, and with the heroine’s impetuous nature makes for a fun, wonderful, passionate and exciting read.
In Barbara Samuel’s Lucien’s Fall, I was totally enthralled with the lush scenery and the sympathetic characters she created. The worlds Barbara creates are stamped with her unique voice, and you will never forget them.
Suzanne Forster knows how to create a bad boy/dangerous hero like nobody’s business. When I read Come Midnight, I felt overtaken by her incredible alpha hero. And the sexual tension winds so tight throughout the book you can taste in on your tongue like a fine wine.
After reading a book like this, I’m inspired to write my own terrific hero. Often authors will tell you they love all their heroes, but I have to admit some of the ones I’ve written have stood out for me even more than the others. Something about them felt special, their personalities bursting out on the page more. Ronan Kieran, the Irish vampire in my novel HAUNTED SOULS (Ellora’s Cave) captured my heart when he showed up in DARK FIRE, the first book in my vampire trilogy, DARK FIRE. The heroine is drawn to him so fiercely, yet the danger in Ronan is evident enough that she fears him on a primitive level. In PRIMORDIAL (Romantic Times Top Pick from Ellora’s Cave), I used the jungle as a character. The hero, Zane Spinella is also dark and dangerous, like a dark heart beating within a beast. Despite this, the heroine knows he would die for her. In OVER THE LINE, the hero is extremely honorable, yet his love for the heroine conflicts with his duties and the angst within him made for some interesting twists in his character. Plus, he’s got a lovely Scottish accent. Who can resist that?
Do you have some keepers that reign supreme on your shelf that you’ll never forget? Tell us all about them and why these books remain special for you. You could win a copy of my out of print novel FOREVERMORE.
I’ll choose a random winner from the answers.
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March 16th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I’m one of the few people who keep every book that I read. But, on the top of my keeper list would be The Buckhorn Brothers series by Lori Foster. Why? Besides the fact that they are great reads, they are the first romance books that I read. Now, I wonder what took me so long to find that I really enjoy reading romances!
March 16th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I have a mongo keeper shelf, but some of my favorites are:
Ann Maxwell (early Elizabeth Lowell)
early Linda Howard
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
early LKH Anita Blake
Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster stories
Janet Chapman’s Highlander series
JAK/Jayne Castle early stories
Lora Leigh’s Elizabeth’s Wolf
all Sarah McCarty’s Promises series
and tons of Nora Roberts and all of JD Robb
and I agree about Lori Foster’s buckhorn bros
March 16th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Hi Jodi,
I’m so sorry it took a while respond. Got caught up in doing too many things at once!!! Isn’t it a great feeling to discover the wonder between the pages of a great romance novel? I remember reading my first gothic novels by Phyllis Whitney, Dorothy Eden, Victoria Holt and dozens of others. The romance was tame, but it was definitely romance and intrigue. Loved all of it! I remember Jill Tattersall and wish I could get my hands on some of her old book. Probably could if I searched for them through used book stores. Now there’s an inspiration.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 16th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Cathy,
A great line up! I’ve read Elizabeth’s Wolf by Lora Leigh and loved it. One of my favorites that she’s written. And dang, but that Sarah McCarty can write. LOL!!!! I love Linda Howard’s books. In fact, her time travel Son Of The Morning is another one of my big favorites.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Sarah McCarty’s Promises series
Lora Leigh’s Men of August series
Open Season by Linda Howard
Any book by Jennifer Crusie
Shiloh Walker’s Hunters series
Your Deep is the Night series and Special Investigations Agency series
Delilah Devlin’s My Immortal Knight series
Wolf Tales series by Kate Douglas
March 19th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I have all these too, with the exception of those two authors of your, Denise. Will need to check out some Connie Brockway and Barbara Samuels titles.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Amy,
Thanks for the kudos on Deep Is The Night. That series took a while to write, but it was worth the adventure!
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 20th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Lee,
I think Connie Brockway and Barbara Samuels write some the most unique, delicious characters. Another author I recommend is Lisa Kleypas. She also writes some awesome historicals. And I just discovered her writing last year.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Books on my keeper shelf are Julie Garwood’s historicals, Christine Feehan’s Ghostwalker series, Gena Showalter’s books, Maureen Child’s Nocturne romances,Robin Owens Summoning series. Poison Study by Maria Snyder,rachel Lee’s Ilduin trilogy, and Catherine Asaro’s Luna Fantasy romances. I love these books because the writing is great and the characters are so memorable. They are the kinds of books I can see myself reading over again because they moved me so much.
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:08 am
I have many keepers which include Julie Garwood’ historicals, Iris Johansen’s historicials, Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect, Open Season, Dream Man and Cry No More. Also many of Lisa Kleypas’ books and all of Loretta Chase’s historicals.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Sarah McCarty’s Promises series (which I just finshed reading the 3rd book)
Lora Leigh’s Men of August series (just finished reading Cops and Cowboys and Sam and Heather made an apperance)
March 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Holy cow guys! I’m sorry I didn’t do much commenting after the 22nd. I got back three books to do edits on, plus this weekend I was helping with a book fair and being in the book fair. Managed to get a massive cold. So you could say I was hit with the whammy.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 28th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Cherie,
I haven’t tried Gena Showalter’s books or Maureen Child’s Nocturne romances yet but will have to look them up!
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 28th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Maureen,
Love Linda Howard’s books. She is so funny! One of my favorites that had me laughing out loud was Mr. Perfect. One of the funniest books I’d read in a long time.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 28th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Christy,
Well, Sarah knows how to write some darn hot books, no? Always makes you wanna come back for more! Most definitely.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
March 28th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
The books that stand out the most for me were the Caitlin series by Francine Pascal because there were the first romance books that I started reading. I remember inheriting them from my older sister when I hitting my teens. Now, I don’t read as much romance as I wish I was able to though I try to keep up with my favourite series. I am very much looking forward to the next saga in Kushiel’s Legacy series, which isn’t really romance though.
March 29th, 2007 at 5:33 am
Keeper books:
“Always a Lady” by Sharon Sala a disfigured exmodel reunites with an older neighbor.
“Tempest in Eden” by Sandra Brown a relationship develops between a beautiful model and a minister who are thrown together when their parent’s marry.
‘Breath of Scandal” also by Sandra Brown revenge!! for a high school rape!!
Elizabeth Lowell’s - “A Woman Without Lies” brought tears to my eyes . “Eden’s Burning” another tear jerker set in the Hawaian islands.
Karen Robard’s “Walking After Midnight” fast paced escape through the mountains of TN, lots of intrigue and surprises.
Finally, Linda Howard’s “White Lies” unique, told in diary format also suspenseful…
The last two books you’re never sure who are the good vs bad guys!!
March 29th, 2007 at 5:39 am
OOPS, I forgot to include why I like or kept them. All of these books made me “Feel” something! I was caught up in the character’s emotions: frightened, angry, appalled, sad!
March 29th, 2007 at 9:20 am
There are several books and authors I consider keepers, but I guess my very first unforgettable reads were Gone With the Wind and Sweet Savage Love.
GWTW because it is such a classic and I have read it many, many times over.
And SSL because it was the first romance novel, with the exception of the odd Harlequin Presents, I had ever read and it sparked my obsession, er, I mean my love of the romance genre!
March 30th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Some of my keeper series are as follows: Christine Feehan’s the Ghostwalker series and her Dark Series. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-hunter series. I also have Sue Grafton’s the Alphabet series. And last but not least Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas series.