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Date Posted: Sunday, January 29, 11:17:10am
Author: Robin
Subject: DIVA OF ROMANCE! Let the campaign begin

Ive been thinking about the DIVA OF ROMANCE! category and there are so many that are worthy. If I was a campaign manager, Im not sure who Id promote the most! Here are some of my nominees this year, with a highlight or two.

See inside, there are many and I didn't want to take up too much room on the board.

Who are YOU considering?

Robin

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Replies:

[> -----> in here -- Robin, Sunday, January 29, 11:19:56am

Lynn Kurland: Writes so many different genres/themes: Medieval, Contemporary, Time Travel, Fantasy. Her beloved characters in the DiPagiet and McCloud series have fascinated readers for years! One of the things that makes her a DIVA to me is that she writes with a soft level of intimacy (bedroom door is closed for the most part) and the characters really focus on connection and romance. These books are suitable for any age! Trust me when I say, you wont miss descriptive sex scenes, these books are riveting. For her to stay popular and successful in the romance genre that has changed so much to lean towards more explicit books is a testament to her wonderful stories.

How about Lorraine Heath? She writes wonderful western series, series in England/Scotland and contemporary. She can do it all. Lorraine Heath writes about rebels, scoundrels and rogues and we love them all. Her lush descriptions and emotional characterizations keep you reading long into the night. I really like her western series and the family connections they bring. It takes a little more than giving a man a western hat and a gun and putting them on a horse, and Lorraine Heath is an expert at fleshing out a character so that you feel a kinship with them and their life, even if youve never been on a ranch in your life.

Rachel Gibson: One of my favorite contemporary authors! She writes funny books that have a ZING! Her sports hockey books are among my very favorites. How she takes an arrogant, sarcastic hockey player and makes him lovable is a true talent. More than that, you also LIKE her characters. They just ring true for me. You WANT these characters to get their happy ever after and guess what? They do!

Susan Johnson: Her lush historicals pulled me into the world of sensual romance, but she writes contemporaries too. The Braddock-Black series is phenomenal and if you have not read it, you should!! The men in a Susan Johnson book make you salivate and wish that you were a stowaway on their yacht, or the newcomer in town who attracts their eye. These men are sophisticated and confident. But dont mess with their woman or their families because they can be brutal. The women are strong, independent and feisty! Susan Johnsons books have exotic locales ranging from Montana, Scotland, England and Russia. These books are historically accurate and most include footnotes! I was amazed by that. Ive learned so much from her books while being swept away at the same time by stories so engrossing that you feel like you are right there.

Catherine Anderson. She writes historical and contemporary books but her books deal with emotionally charged subject matter like alcoholism, domestic abuse and personal disabilities. She takes people who are dealing with real life issues and shows their struggle, their need for a happy, normal like just like everyone else has. She shows the reader how those disabilities can be overcome. Triumphant. Heartwarming. There are many words that can be used to describe these stories. Many of us love our fur-babies and animals are also a recurrent theme in her stories, with many books set on or near ranches. One of my favorite quotes ever is from Phantom Waltz when the hero was trying to get his house straight for a visit from the heroine and he was looking at the dog hair to clean up on the floor, but thought that it wasnt a big problem to deal with a little hair cuz Life just aint hardly worth living without a dog.

Julie Garwood. She writes contemporary suspense but I believe she is most beloved for her historicals! The Secret, The Bride, The Prize and Saving Grace are probably my top favorites. Her books range from the plains, the glittering ballrooms of London, islands, a pirate ship, and most of all: The Highlands. She is the author who made me want to go visit Scotland. Her lush descriptions of clans and the rugged life in the highlands are surpassed only by the humor and emotionally connected characters she writes about. You cannot read a Julie Garwood historical without laughing out loud, shedding a tear and when reaching the satisfying conclusion, having a feeling of disappointment because the story is over.

Judith McNaught. Historicals like Whitney My Love, Kingdom of Dreams, Once and Always, Almost Heaven. Need I go on? Okay, how about contemporaries like Paradise, Perfect, Someone to Watch Over Me. Witty and sophisticated, the banter in her books is top notch. Loyal, intelligent and compassionate heroines matching up with strong, sexy and riveting heros. She wrote Perfect to help promote literacy when she found out that 1 in 5 women were functionally illiterate. She has not released a book in a while, but I saw that Someone Like You (formerly entitled: Can't Take My Eyes Off of You) has a release date of 5/27/2014, so our LONG wait for a new McNaught book will be over soon!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She writes historical books but is probably most known for her contemporary novels. Who can resist a charming football player? I know I cant! Her Chicago Stars Football books are probably my favorites, but Id read anything by this author. Her books are hilariously funny! More than that the books are deeply layered and have a punch you in the gut impact. Her heros are funny, tender, arrogant, hard-headed and the heroines are smart, sassy and just strong enough to bring the hero to his knees, in a way that wont leave a bruise. You feel a Susan Elizabeth Phillips character, you dont just read about them.

Connie Brockway. Like all the ladies that Im deem DIVA WORTHY, this author writes both contemporary and historical. All Through The Night was the first darker type of hero that I read. A tortured hero who feels he is beyond redemption. It took a strong, fearless heroine to match up to this hero, and what a match it was! Ms. Brockways McClairren Isle series is historical/medieval and has the best villain EVER in the history of all romance novels. You LOVE to hate this guy and when you find out who he is, you revel even more in his villainy! Humor, action and adventure are the by-words for a Connie Brockway book. Her vocabulary is top notch and the prose is just phenomenal.

What about Elizabeth Lowell? Love her westerns and her medieval series, but she is probably just as well loved for her contemporary series. What about Tell Me No Lies? Only His? Fire and Rain? Pearl Cove? Tough men, smart women and enough adventure to keep you going to the end of the book!

What about Linda Howard? McKenzies Mountain? Open Season? Mr. Perfect? She is the only author Ive ever had who presented a criminal as a leading man and made me root for him to get his happy ever after!

Suzanne Brockman? The Tall Dark and Dangerous series? What about her Navy SEALS series? Who can forget Sam and Alyssa? Another great author with a plethora of work to choose from.

All these choices, all these choices. I'll have to narrow this down to my top faves, but its SO hard to choose!

Vote everyone, Vote for your favorites!

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[> I agree, Robin, so many are worthy. I decided I needed to look up who the past DIVA's were. 2007 was Nora Roberts. 2008 was Karen Marie Moning. 2009 was Liz Carlyle. 2010 was Lisa Kleypas. -- Beaty, Sunday, January 29, 12:12:19pm


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[> I can't believe how many DIVAS OF ROMANCE! are out there! Can't wait to see who wins this one. -- Robin, Monday, January 30, 10:17:58am


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