Victoria Janssen: My Favorite Books



Last update 23 October 2008.

Here is my Research Wish List, which is always growing and changing.

I've been a romance and erotica reader for about ten years now, especially historical romance, and thought I'd share some of the best of what I've read.

I love reading academic studies of the romance genre. One of the most accessible is Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance.

A Natural History of the Romance Novel offers useful ways to look at the structure of romance novels.

These are on my current wishlist: Good-Bye Heathcliff: Changing Heroes, Heroines, Roles, and Values in Women's Category Romances (Contributions in Women's Studies)

The Woman's Historical Novel: British Women Writers, 1900-2000

Empowerment versus Oppression: Twenty First Century Views of Popular Romance Novels

Historical Romance Fiction

One of my main influences in the genre is romance writer Laura Kinsale, who has some of the most cracktastic--and emotionally compelling--books I've ever read.

Flowers from the Storm

The Shadow and the Star

Midsummer Moon

Seize the Fire

Shadowheart

The Prince of Midnight

Another of my influences is Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas. My favorites of her novels are Dance and Untie My Heart.

Carla Kelly fostered my love of the so-called "beta hero," sometimes known as the "nice guy."

She has a new book in 2009! Marrying The Captain (Harlequin Historical Series)

Beau Crusoe (Harlequin Historical Series) has some powerfully erotic moments, though the novel is not explicit.

This one is waiting for me on the To Be Read pile: Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army

Pam Rosenthal writes complex and sexy historicals:

Almost A Gentleman (Brava Historical Romance)

The Bookseller's Daughter

The Edge of Impropriety

Connie Brockway is just plain fun. I love her sense of humor.

As You Desire

The Bridal Season

Bridal Favors

Loretta Chase is an expert at witty banter.

Mr. Impossible

Miss Wonderful (Carsington Family Series)

Lord Perfect (Carsington Family Series)

This classic Chase novel mingles humor and deft twists on tropes of historical romance: Lord of Scoundrels

Meredith Duran is a recent discovery: The Duke of Shadows

So is Sherry Thomas:

Private Arrangements

Delicious

And Elizabeth Hoyt:

The Raven Prince

The Leopard Prince

The Serpent Prince

To Taste Temptation (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)

To Seduce A Sinner (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)

Harlequin Spice

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