I read my first historical romance when I was in my late teens and absolutely bored out of my mind looking for something to do. The only reading material in the apartment I shared with my sister happened to be a book on my sister’s nightstand entitled SHANNA. I took said book back to my room, cracked it open, and didn’t put it down until I was finished.
From that moment on I was hooked on historical romance.
I rushed out to the bookstore the very next day and picked up Kathleen Woodiwiss’s entire backlist. I couldn’t get enough. I spent every spare minute reading—to the point my friends and co-workers would make fun of me, but I didn’t care—I loved reading historical romance, experiencing new settings and new characters, and falling in love with the hero and his heroine, and cheering them on as they fought for their happily-ever-after.
I read and write all sub-genres of romance, but historicals have always been my favorite...and I hope that never changes. I love that I can visit the past simply by opening a book, and fall in love with a delicious historical hero, be it a medieval knight, a regency rakehell, or a ruggedly handsome cowboy.So to you bloggers—what sub-genre of romance do you love and why? For all those who take the time to answer, your name will go into a drawing to win signed copies of my latest eroti
c historical romance, THE CONQUEST, as well as the first book in the series, THE BARGAIN. The books feature Saxon twins Adelstan and Aleysia Cawdor during the time of the Norman conquest of England.To learn more about THE CONQUEST or any of my previous titles, please visit my website at http://www.juliatempleton.com/.
Thanks so much for taking the time to blog with me! Happy reading!
Julia :)
30 comments:
Hi Julia,
As soon as you said 'Shanna' you had me. It was one of my 1st books also. I even named one of my dogs Shanna. I recently picked up another copy at a used book store as I couldn't find my original one. When I read it in my teens it took me forever to finish it.
Historicals any time, day, week, or month. Love, love the past. I recently discovered paranoramls & those have become a favorite too. But Historicals always.
Thank you,
Susan B.
sbussey AT windstream.net
Hi julia,
I'm also hooked on historical.
Ilove all the dukes,earls and balls
you find in them.the details of
there gowns.Its like going back in time.to me historical books is
romance with in its self.
I love Regency romances, always have, but there are some contemporaries and paranormals that are pretty interesting, too.
Hello Julia...
I enjoy paranormal romance books the most. I think the reason is the mixing of genres.. Romance with some Fantasy thrown in and most also have a touch of Thriller in them as well. You just get a little bit of everything.
I also love Historical romances, particularly those that are set in the times of castles and knights. :Swoon:
The first historical romance author I remember reading was Kathleen Woodiwiss! Like you, I was looking for something to read, and picked one of her books off my mom's bookshelf. Over the years I moved onto other genres, but in the last couple of years I've gone back to historical. There's just something about those medieval men!
Good Morning everyone and Welcome Julia!
I don't know about all of you but the title of The Conquest is enough to make me want the book. Add the delicious cover and snap, my will power just went flying out the window.
I do love my paranormal romance books but nothing can compete with my love of the Historical Romance. Must be the history lover in me and the fact that I am a geneologist for my family.
Julia, I hope you enjoy today and I love the article. It's nice to see what really starts an author on the upward spiral towards writing.
Shanna - I remember that one! I still love historicals - esp. medieval and scottish. Oh and pirates... LOL But now I am totally into paranormals. But to me a combo of both is perfect!
I read contemporary fiction, but historical romances are my favorite. I love all time periods and locales, especially Regency, the Old American West, and Medieval.
Your books sound wonderful. I love the sexy covers!
Hi Susan,
I love that you called one of your dogs Shanna *smile*.
I enjoy a paranormal every once in a while, too. Especially historical paranormals! ;)
Thanks for dropping by today!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Peggy,
Well said!
I'm also a sucker for a sexy duke or earl. Like you, I enjoy reading about details in the clothing (especially gowns). Can you imagine the process those ladies went through every day? Geesh...
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hugs,
Julia
Margay,
Regency romance has quite a following, and I understand why. What's not to love?
I tend to stick with Regency, medieval and western romances...although from time to time I'll pick up a different setting.
Thanks for blogging with me today!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Majgie,
Paranormals are on fire, and there's no end in sight. I wrote a vampire historical last year and had a blast.
Yep, gotta love those knights and castles.
Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
Julia
Aramena,
You're a girl after my own heart ;). I think Kathleen Woodiwiss is personally responsible for many women falling in love with the historical romance genre. She was absolutely brilliant at telling a story.
Thanks for commenting!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Terra,
Thanks for having me, and for the nice comments about THE CONQUEST.
I'm working on my family geneology right now. It's incredible to read about one's own history, isn't it?
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Terri,
Ah, I forgot about pirates. It's been ages since I've read a pirate romance, but I do love that particular brand of badboy.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Julia,
my favorites are historicals too, especially Regency and medievals, love highlanders...Sometimes I read a bunch of paranormals, but I'll always come back to my historicals...
Hi Cheri,
Thanks for the lovely comments. The cover gods were very good to me.
Thanks for blogging with me today.
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Julia, if I had to pick a favorite it would be paranormal romance, though there have been some great urban fantasy stories out lately that have worked for me too. Something about magic, shifters, vamps, and a kiss ass heroine that offers so many intriguing storylines, with the imagination the limit.
Hi Eva,
I love those highlanders, too! One of my favorites is DARK HIGHLANDER by Karen Marie Moning. Now that's one sexy hero ;).
Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Cathy,
One of my best buds, Jordan Summers, has a new paranormal romance/urban fantasy coming out in November. It's called DEAD WORLD/Red and talk about one kick ass heroine.
Thanks for commenting!
Hugs,
Julia
A friend of mine got me into reading again a couple of years ago when she started me on Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series. I've read them all and my favorite genre to read is Paranormal. I'm always looking for new authors and series to read. I'm an avid reader of all genres now and I've once again become addicted to reading!
I enjoy all of the romance genres, especially paranormal.
Hi Tetewa,
I met Sherrilyn at an RT conference, and what a class act. Truly an inspiration.
I haven't read any Sherrilyn Kenyon paranormals (though I will one day), but I have read her Kinley MacGregor historicals. She has such a gift for characterization. BORN IN SIN is exceptional.
Thanks for blogging with me today!
Hugs,
Julia
Hi Estella,
You're definitely not alone. I think that's one of the great things about the romance genre today--there's so many titles to choose from in terms of subgenre and sensuality level.
Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
Julia
I love historicals, and most of the time Regencies. I'm not quite sure what the attraction is, but I always return to the Regency. I think perhaps it's the most romantic era--not too modern, and not too far in the past, either.
I read other historical eras, too, and even a contemporary now and then, but the past is the place to be for romance.
Hi Linda,
Excellent point on why you think Regency romance is so popular. I have to agree!
Speaking of Regency romance, I'm currently reading a fabulous Regency by Cheryl Holt called DOUBLE FANTASY.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Julia
Linda,
BTW, your upcoming Regency/time-travel sounds fantastic!
Congratulations!
Julia :)
I also fell in love with Historical Romance in my teens, but I think I was around 14-15 years old. I love Historical & Paranormal Romance the best. However I have a real weakness for any Romance containing Vikings, Pirates or Highlanders ;0P I like my men rugged *giggle*
The first Romance I ever read was "Stolen Dreams" by Susan Anderson, and I believe it was the only Romance she ever wrote. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I would love to read another one from her :0)
My second Romance ever was "Fires of Winter" by Johanna Lindsey which got me addicted to a lot of her books.
slayermel,
I know a lot of people who discovered romance in their teens.
I haven't read Susan Anderson, so I'm not sure if she only wrote the one book.
Ah, I LOVE Johanna Lindsey, especially ANGEL. What a great hero and heroine!
Thanks for commenting!
Hugs,
Julia
Congratulations to Cheri2628! You're my drawing winner.
THE BARGAIN and THE CONQUEST will be hitting your mailbox soon!
Thanks again to everyone who participated! I had a great time blogging with you.
Best wishes,
Julia :)
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