Darlings, Miranda here. Now, we've all got special books from waaaaay back that have graced our keeper shelves for years. These are the special books that kick-started our romance reading, and which we'll love and adore and remember fondly for the rest of time. Let me share a few of mine with you - and I'd love to hear which book(s) were The Ones that hooked you in. A Man Called Masters by Lucy Walker, an Australian outback romance with a 'manly man' hero, was one of my starter reads. Despite the manly man it was a sweet read, and the exotic setting of the outback was irresistible for city me. I borrowed it from the school library about sixteen million times (no exaggeration), until my sister gave it to me for my birthday. Best! Birthday! Present! Ever! I still have that book, dog-eared and falling apart, but so treasured. Hmm. Maybe it's time for a reread.
Then I studied Jane Austen's Mansfield Park in school. I could not believe we had to read something so wonderful, although there were a few fervent naysayers who did not appreciate Austen anywhere near as much as I did. In hindsight, Mansfield Park was a slightly unusual book to study, but I wasn't complaining. Bliss, bliss, bliss... My sister was given Pride and Prejudice which she hated, and I loved (naturally). Is it time for English class? Fabulous! Race you there! 
Then I discovered Leopard in the Snow by Anne Mather. Oh my. Does anyone remember the film that followed? That visual of her floundering around in the snow with the leopard, and the brooding hero who seemed to appear out of nowhere... Ooh. This book sent me off on a huge Mills & Boon readathon - which continues to this very day.Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer was next, absolute heaven to read; a marvellous gem to discover. Heyer's books sparkle with wit and verve and I delight in reading them still. Then there was Sarah Dane by Catherine Gaskin, a colonial Australian romance which handily tied in with my Australian History class. (I'm reading it for research, Mum, honest!) My reading life just kept getting better and better - and I've simply never stopped. I mean to say, why would I? Not when there's so many wonderful books around; we're so beautifully spoilt for choice. So marvellous.
Hi Miranda. My love of the romance genre began at the tender age of 4 when I discovered 'Cinderella'. At 9 I was devouring Georgette Heyer stories. At 10 it was the A5-sized flimsy Women's Weekly paperbacks. Remember them? I discovered authors like Lucy Walker and at 11 learned of Mills & Boon and well, I've been hooked ever since. My keeper shelf has both old and new books, with Georgette Heyer and Anne Mather (I'm such a fan I was first in line at the cinema when 'Leopard in the Snow' came out) and Helen Bianchin amongst newer authors like Nora Roberts and Linda Howard.
ReplyDeleteAstonishing, Enisa! I can understand Cinderella at 4, but reading Georgette Heyer at 9! You are a True Romance Reader. I do remember those Women's Weekly paperbacks (is our age showing, my pet?!). I used to pilfer them from my mother and devour them in secret. Happy sigh. Oh, what marvellous authors you name. Oh, what a happy reading life. Brilliant!
DeleteHi Miranda, my love of romance started with Lavyrle Spencer. I'd read and loved books like Colleen McCulloch's 'The Thorn Birds' and Erich Segal's 'Love Story', and shed copious devastated tears throughput the reading, but I wanted a HAPPY ending for characters I'd come to love. A friend recommended Lavyrle, so I read 'The Fulfilment' and went on to read every one of her books. Give me a happy ending every time! :)
ReplyDeleteOh! Doesn't LaVyrle know how to write a happy ever after!!
DeleteOoh, LaVyrle Spencer.... And yes, like Dee remarks, she really does write the most beautiful HEA's. One of my favourites of her is Sweet Memories. What a wonderful author to introduce you to romance. The Thorn Birds & Love Story are terrific, everyone should read them, but they are love stories with sad endings. Give me that HEA every time, as you and Dee both say.
DeleteOh, Miranda! I still remember standing in the grocery line on a grey winter day and seeing Julie Garwood's The Prize in the checkout aisle book rack. The cover was gorgeous and the blurb sounded good so I bought it. I took it home and read it cover to cover without even unpacking my groceries!! I still have The Prize (& everything else that Julie Garwood wrote) on my keeper shelf!
ReplyDeleteYou. Cannot. Fail. With. Julie. Garwood. Her historicals are the stuff of legend! She is totally worth melted icecream and warm butter. And often the first book you read by a marvellous author is still your fave. Is The Prize still yours?
DeleteYes, The Prize is still my favourite. Royce and Nicholaa were made for one another...right from the very first page.
DeleteMay I suggest Honor's Splendour as well? It has one of the most unexpectedly tender opening scener ever.
DeleteMy Romance reading started when I was about 15 years old. I had to read Pride and Prejudice for school and I loved it and read it three times. Needless to say I did very well on the work related to this book. I then went home and looked for more books hoping my mother's book shelves would give me something similar. She was on a Johanna Lindsay jaunt at the time and I "borrowed" without her permission I might say. A Pirate's Love was the name of the book I picked up. Looking back probably not the most appropriate. I went on to read her Malory series and fell more in love with the Georgian/Regency period. My first Heyer was These Old Shades which just made me go looking for more and reading more in this period. One of my all time favourite series though is the de Montforte Borthers by Danelle Harmon.
ReplyDeleteAha, the bliss of studying Jane Austen at school. You lucky thing! Is Pride & Prejudice still your favourite? (And who, in the film versions, is your favourite Darcy? Colin Firth is mine, naturally.) Johanna Lindsay had some absolutely rollicking romances early on. You must have found them thrilling. No wonder you found more to read. And then the gem of Georgette Heyer. Well, of *course*. And I agree, the de Montforte Brothers by Danelle Harmon is a fabbo series, very emotional and simply lovely. I just discovered a new novella in the series. The Fox and the Angel: http://tinyurl.com/nlcb9v6 . Have you read it? I confess I haven't....but I love the fact you can get the entire series now on Kindle, even if the print versions are hard to find. I'm off to download the novella right now... Let me know what you think?
DeleteThe Scarlet Pimpernel! So romantic. I read Georgette Heyer in primary school on my Mum's advice and then read Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights multiple times. I really should be writing Regency ...
ReplyDeleteOh, The Scarlet Pimpernell! Sigh! I cry every time I read it and after about fifty reads, you think I would toughen up. That one's on my classic shelf.
DeleteYou've caught me. I haven't read The Scarlet Pimpernel, Venetia, and Dee! Clearly I need to amend that at some stage; it seems like it really is a fave read indeed. And Venetia, your books sound so exciting - Vikings, and then Medieval London (and the Black Death) - wow! Fantastic!
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