The Ultimate Romance Reading List

by Michelle Douglas

I have a degree in English Literature. I also have a Master of Philosophy (English). I’ve studied Renaissance Drama, Romance and Realism in the 18th and 19th Centuries, the Romantic Poets, Modernism and Colonial Fiction. I’ve read Homer, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dickens, Proust, Joyce and Hemingway. Occasionally even the odd female has made the reading lists and I’d study them too – Austen, the Brontes, Emily Dickinson, George Eliot, and Virginia Woolfe.

But it recently occurred to me that although I have been an avid reader of romance novels since I was a teenager, there are some serious holes in my romance reading education. For example, I have never read anything by Laura Kinsale or Loretta Chase (or Jayne Ann Krentz or Linda Howard or Stephanie Laurens or…oh, there are so many!). And it’s started me thinking…

If I were ever going to teach an academic course on “Reading The Romance” what novels would I chose as my set texts? What romance novels do I think best capture the spirit of romance? Which novels do I think display all the best that the romance genre has to offer? This is what I’ve come up with so far:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (though any of her novels would suit)

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I’d choose these because they became the pattern for so many romances that followed. Plus I love them.

3. Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale

4. Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase

5. Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon

I’ve not read any of these, but I desperately want to. They do seem to be seen as ideal examples of The Romance by a lot of readers (and academics) too.

6. Something (anything!) by Jennifer Crusie – Bet Me, perhaps, or Welcome to Temptation?

I’ve read the first—loved it!—but I’ve yet to read the second. A Jenny Crusie novel is such fun.

7. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (or, frankly, anything by Heyer)

Oh how I love her regency romances – they’re real comfort food for the soul. Her characterisations are impeccable.

8. Something (again anything!) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Ain’t She Sweet or Match Me If You Can.

In my opinion, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the mistress of romantic comedy. The two novels I’ve named are the only ones of hers I’ve read so far, but I seriously want to glom her backlist.

I’d like to have 10 books for my reading list, but I’m not sure what else I should add. I expect The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss should make the list, but I’ve tried to read it and just can’t get into it. E.M. Hull’s The Sheik isn’t there, and I’d definitely be interested in reading that. Oops, and there’s no Nora there yet.

So…what do you think I should slot in for my final two places? Are there books you’d remove from my list? Hmm…and should I make this a list of 12?

The Pleasure of Anticipation

 

by Barbara DeLeo

There's a whole lot of jump-down-turnaround batcrazy excitement in the DeLeo house at the moment and it has nothing to do with the anticipation of my first book coming out in September (Okay, that's a dirty great lie. It's partly because of that, but the thrill of waiting for my first book release is the topic for another blog).

The reason we're smiling sideways at each other and breaking into random dance is that in five short weeks we're off to Europe for three months. Argh, the planning, the packing, the repacking, the lists, the sweet talking of the dog/house/fish sitter ...!!

Anyway.... we'll have four days in Singapore, then four weeks on the Greek island of Lesvos, four days in Athens and then six weeks in Cyprus. But before you imagine that this is a sensible and romantic trip with my darling husband, picture me with my four children—two girls aged 11 and two boys aged 8—my lovely mother-in-law, my sweet father-in-law and, of course, my darling husband.

We've been planning this odyssey for years. The idea was to find a time when our kids were old enough to experience a trip to the place their grandparents came from. We also wanted their grandparents to come with us so we could all be immersed in the language and culture together. The hubs and I  lived in Greece and Cyprus a loooong time ago but we haven't forgotten the amazing culture, the beautiful beaches or the glorious food.

Three months is a long time to be away from school and music lessons and play dates with friends. It's going to be quite a test of character to see how we all feel about being with each other 24/7. But the anticipation and excitement overrides all that and we feel exceptionally blessed to have such an amazing opportunity as a family.

So, when was a time you had that hair-standing-high-on-the-back-of-your-neck feeling, the zing through your tummy as you thought about what lay ahead? I'd love to hear about it!

p.s If you'd like to follow our crazy adventures, you can "like" my facebook page here

Sunday Smooch!

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from Strictly Temporary by Robyn Grady, but first ...

the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is --
Eli Yanti!


Congratulations, Eli! Can you please contact Louise at mail (at) louisecusack (dot) com and she'll send you a ecopy of Daughter of the Dark.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from  Strictly Temporary by Robyn Grady ...

Discovering an abandoned baby in the backseat of a taxi was not on hotelier Zack Harrison's agenda. Luckily, a stunning stranger comes to his aid—and piques his interest. But before Child Services can arrive, a snowstorm strands the trio in Zack's luxurious Colorado cabin.

Trinity Matthews wants to resist Zack's advances, but his care and concern for her and the baby soon have her melting. As the snow falls and the heat sizzles, it's not long before Trinity's sleeping in his bed. And she finds herself wondering if their temporary arrangement could have permanent effects.

(Excerpt from Strictly Temporary...)

“Thing is,” she said. “I don’t have family to fall back on, and sometimes both a mother and father drop out of the picture, for one reason or another. I have friends,” she went on. “Good friends. But no one I’d want to trust enough with a child of her own if something, you know, ever happened. And I have nothing against adoption. Heck, I would’ve loved to have been adopted by a loving family. And, when it’s needed, I can’t slight good foster care.” She took a breath. “Life is about choices. I’ve chosen not to go down that having-my-own-children path.”

Trinity looked from the bed of flickering flames back to Zack.

A crease formed between his brows, he shifted and lay down on his side too. Propped up on an upper arm, he set his jaw cupped in that palm. After a curious moment of his intense gaze skewering hers, she shifted too, and frowned.

“You mean not get married, have children? I thought you sacked the boyfriend because he didn’t approve of kids?”

"That's right. He didn't approve of them at all. I mean, you might not want to be a father, but you like your neices and nephews, don't you? You like this baby?"

"She can be noisy and smelly and has caused me a ton of worry. But sure I like her." He slanted his head and then nodded, "Who wouldn't?"

"I mihgt not plan to have any of y own, but I couldn't spend my life with someone who thinks kids are a waste of space."

His lips twitched. "Bet he didn't like puppies, either."

"Or kittens."

Zack was kind enough to smile softly. "You were right to ditch him." Then he shifted and changed the subject. “What about your professional life?” he asked. “What are you working toward?”

“One day I hope to be the Editor in Chief of the biggest glossiest magazine around. Basically world domination in my field.” She added, “While staying clear of men who tell bad chicken jokes.”

“No getting away from me tonight.”

She put on a sigh. “Guess I’ll suffer for a good cause.”

The tease in his eyes gradually took on a vaguely different light at the same time the quirk lifting one side of his mouth faded away and the dawn of a different awareness began to ripple between them. The crackle from the fire sounded louder, the rise and fall of his chest became deeper and the air surrounding them started to spark. Pumping in and out of the light, the pulse at the side of his throat throbbed faster and, entranced, her body responded to it all.

Her breasts came alive, swelling, heating. Low inside a delicious ache flowered and grew. She watched his lips part slightly, saw his eyes darken more, then he reached out and a hot fingertip trailed her jaw. That delicious ache spread south – a sweet, raw burn. 

When he brushed back hair fallen over her face and his hot palm stayed to cup her cheek, all the oxygen in the room disappeared. Suddenly heavy, her eyelids drifted shut as her body – her very essence - gravitated unerringly toward his. With the lights out, with this extraordinary man she barely knew, everything felt so unreal. So...imminent. She didn’t want to think about who he really was. That before today she would have given him less than the time of day. At this moment, he truly was irresistible.

“Your hair,” he said in a deep drugging voice. “A wave came loose from its tie.”

“Oh.” She breathed in. Out. Then the words just slipped past her lips and she said it. “I thought you might’ve wanted to kiss me.”

That pulse in his throat beat twice as hard and, while she held her breath, he blinked slowly once. “Actually, I’ve wanted to do that all night.” He leaned across and his mouth grazed hers, first slowly one way then the other. “Trouble is,” he murmured, “if I kiss you now, I won’t want to stop.”

She quivered to her pom-pom topped toes and clapped a hand over her scruples’ eyes.

Who said anything about stopping?

But then her thoughts slid back to what had brought them here in the first place. “What about the baby?”

“You’re right,” he agreed even as his lidded eyes drifted shut as he leaned that inch closer and his mouth feathered over hers again. “We should think of our responsibilities.”

But his mouth lingered and as his drugging scent burrowed deeper, Trinity couldn’t recall a single reason why she shouldn’t fan her palm up over his shoulder and bring herself delectably, irreversibly close. When he tasted the corner of her mouth – a deliberate, potent caress - that beautiful ache flooded her core and the last remnants of commonsense shut down. She’d be lucky to remember her own name.

The tip of his tongue slid a deliberate line across the seam of her lips. “Maybe if we just snuggled up?” he said and she felt his grin. “You know. To keep warm.”

When his sandpaper chin grazed up the side of her face and he dropped a kiss on the shell of her ear, the knowledge - the intense glow of longing - was too much. Near dizzy with need, she told him in a husky voice, “I think snuggling would be okay.”

A big palm traced down her side. She heard a sigh – her own - and then he was kissing her in earnest and with an innate skill that left her reeling.

Strictly Temporary is on US shelves in July, Australia and New Zealand in August.

To be in the draw to win a signed copy, leave a comment below:

Have you ever been stuck somewhere with no means of escape? 


Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced -- and a smooch from Waking Up with his Runaway Bride by Louisa George will be posted!

Comfort food

By Leah Ashton 

Chicken and Leek Pie (and yes, I was a dork with excess pastry)

I really like to cook, but I'm terribly inefficient about it. I don't really pre-plan what I'm going to cook, and I'm forever hitting my local supermarket as I've never been organised enough to weekly shop.

To add to this, I tend to be drawn to cooking things that take forever, and require me to be standing at the oven stirring things, or chopping vegetables for infinite periods of time, or using about five different pots.

For this reason, Sunday tends to be a really good day in my household - that's when I make yummy things like this Chicken and Leek pie or Slow-cooked beef stew with dumplings. Yummo!

But during the week, my after work efforts extend to cheese on toast (if husband is working) or terribly lazy things like store bought ravioli and a jar of pasta sauce. As I've been brought up on home cooked meals, this has started to bother me!

Slow cooked beef and dumplings

Last weekend I unearthed my underused slow cooker/crock pot. This, I decided, could be my saviour! Amongst working full time and writing, an appliance that means I don't have to try to do both at once (I generally write after work) is super, super appealing.

So I was wondering - does anyone have any tried and tested slow cooker recipes they can recommend? I tried one from this site last weekend, but it was a little bland. I tend to prefer recipes with a bit of a kick to then, or at least some strong flavours.

Or, just how about other quick and easy dinner ideas? My husband and I eat just about anything, but hearty, comfort food (particularly this time of year!) would be perfect!

My plan is to write up a shopping list, order our groceries on line, and then next week will be my "cook everyday" challenge. I reckon I can do it!

Thanks so much for your help!

Leah (the inefficient cook)

CATWALK Caption Contest!

  
Zeus!  Wonder Dog!

(Helene Young's Super Pooch Visits with Sharon Archer!)

CAPTION ME TO WIN!

I feel very privileged to be hosting award-winning author, Helene Young's wonder dog, Zeus, on the LoveCats' CATWALK, today.  He's very generously offering a copy of Helene's latest release with Penguin Australia,  Burning Lies, to one of our clever captioners!

More details at the bottom of our post but for now, the spotlight's on you, Zeus!

Name: Zeus the Wonder Staffie 

Abode:
Beanbag. Oh sorry, did you mean Tropical North Queensland where it's beautiful one day, perfect the next?

Human Slave:
Slave? That's a cat thing. I prefer to call them 'special friends' - it's more inclusive. Graham is good fun, but Helene is quite wonderful.

Likes:
The beach (but who doesn't!)

Dislikes:
Little white fluffy dogs - especially when they yap.

Ambition: 
Justice for all animals (except little white fluffy dogs...)

Sociable or Aloof:
I'm very sociable, but it's important to choose friends and colleagues carefully so a quick lick of their knees normally sorts them out.

Night Owl or Early Bird:
Early bird but really only because my 'friends' work best at that time.

Favourite Pastime:
Swimming, giving my 'friends' exercise by letting them throw sticks for me, playing on the beach.

Favourite Toy:
Tennis balls (I have around 50 in my collection from the local tennis park!)

Best Friend: 
Charity - she's a sweet eight year old human who lives up the hill and comes swimming in my pool with me.


What do you like to sharpen your claws on:
Oh dear, that's so cattie... I like to keep my claws neat and trim and I find walking on the edge of gutters and footpaths does that quite nicely.

Most embarrassing moment:
I don't do embarrassing, only heroic, and modesty prevents me from sharing :-D



Bravo, Zeus!  It's been great to have you with us!

I can't wait to read the captions for your picture - you look so adorable on that heart-covered cushion!

Here's more about Helene's next exciting romantic suspense...

Burning Lies!

Kaitlyn Scott is searching for the truth about her husband’s death, even if that means revisiting the most painful day of her life. But what she uncovers is a criminal willing to stop at nothing to keep his secret.

 

Ryan O’Donnell, an enigmatic undercover cop, is investigating arson attacks when he is drawn into Kaitlyn’s world. He tries to fight his attraction for her, hoping the case might put his own demons to rest, but it only threatens to push him over the edge.

With Kaitlyn and Ryan on a collision course, the arsonist seizes the chance to settle some old scores. As the Atherton Tableland burns, the three of them are caught in a fiery dance of danger and desire, and not everyone will come out alive.

Dash over to Helene's website to read this EXCERPT!

Winner of Emmie's "Blush" giveaway

The winner of the copy of the Blush edition of "Cassie's Grand Plan" is bn100! Congratulations bn, you'll be receiving an email shortly to get your details. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories about their favourite firsts!

Sue MacKay cooks in Phuket

I'm a bit of a foodie. Okay, more than a bit. I love eating just about anything you put before me - except swedes and tripe. But more than that I really love cooking. To me the best way to entertain family and friends is to prepare them a sumptuous meal, add a glass or two of good wine and enjoy sitting on the deck.

This photo was taken from our deck in Phuket showing the sunset.

But my favourite foods are Thai and Indian (and all things chocolate) which I haven't cooked very much and not with great success. I find the cookbooks I buy locally tend to dumb down the flavours to suit a general collection of readers and cooks.

So when we went to Phuket last month I enrolled for a Thai cooking class. If nothing else I was going to get a good lunch. There were five of us in this class, including a couple from the Chatham Islands, NZ. Small world.

The delightful Kelly of Kata Thai Cooking  and her assistant patiently took us through our paces, chopping, pressing, mixing as we prepared ingredients for Green Curry with chicken, Tom Yum with prawns and Chicken Pad Thai. Deciding how many of those tiny and very hot chillies to add was difficult. I like hot but not too hot and didn't want to spoil my curry, but found that the flavour of what I did add cooked away a bit anyway so I could've been braver. Having the right utensils made the cooking process fast and easy so I hit the shops afterwards to add to my kitchen drawers.

When we sat down to eat - oh, yum. What a great way to finish our morning. Definitely a wonderful experience, and one I'm already putting to good use, creating dishes full of those wonderful spicy flavours.

And no, I didn't eat at the Pizza place in the photo. And no, I didn't need ALL those taxis to cart my shopping home.

Do you prefer to cook different, exotic dishes or the tried and true meals of home?