JUDITH MCNAUGHT
HISTORICAL / 1985
“As their elegant travelling chaise rocked and swayed along the rutted country road, Lady Anne Gilbert leaned her cheek against her husband’s shoulder and heaved a long, impatient sigh. ‘Another whole house until we arrive, and already the suspense is positively gnawing at me. I keep wondering what Whitney will be like now that she’s grown up.’”
As a debut novel for McNaught, Whitney, My Love was an emotionally elevated bodice-ripper that eschewed the usual pirates and outlaws in favor of a duke.
Whitney, My Love received the Romantic Times award for Best New Historical in 1985, which propelled sales and made it an instant classic.
McNaught rereleased the book in 2000 with a longer ending and a few changed scenes—the hero stops short of beating and raping the heroine in the do-over.
Whitney Stone puts the wild in wild child, living out her impulsive tomboy ways and embarrassing herself repeatedly in attempts to get the object of her fifteen-year-old crush, Paul Sevarin, to notice her. Eventually, her widowed father packs his rebellious daughter off to relatives in France, hoping someone can apply a coat of social polish on his daughter.
Whitney does blossom under her aunt’s instructions to become the toast of French society and a perfect matrimony match for Clayton Westmoreland, the family’s new neighbor back home, who, behind the scenes, makes all the arrangements for a trip down the aisle. But Whitney, unaware she is betrothed, still harbors fantasies of charming the elegant Paul, despite the Duke of Claymore’s flattering and steady courtship, Regency style. When she finally gets her chance to elope with the man of her dreams, she realizes Paul’s intentions aren’t exactly pure, and puts an end to their relationship. Ah, her heart is free to give to the man who appreciates her.
But misunderstandings and overheard rumors pull Whitney and Clayton apart three heartbreaking times before they finally leave the reader with satisfied sighs as Whitney (and their son) survive a premature delivery and the two star-crossed lovers finally get this trust thing right.
96
Wildfire at Midnight
MARY STEWART
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 1956
“In the first place, I suppose, it was my parents’ fault for giving me a silly name like Gianetta. It is a pretty enough name in itself, but it conjures up pictures of delectable and slightly overblown ladies in Titian’s less respectable canvases, and, though I admit I have the sort of coloring that might have interested that Venetian master, I happen to be the rather inhibited product of an English country rectory.”
Although an early novel, this one showcases Stewart’s incomparable style, and features a divorced couple as the main protagonists, a very unusual approach.
Stewart herself called this a “closed-room” mystery—only a small group of people (who know each other) could have done the murder—and the process of solving the mystery serves to illuminate the characters as their romantic relationship develops. That sets this novel apart from any ordinary mystery.
Gianetta Brook needs a vacation—from her work, from England, from her family, and from her ex-husband. Gianetta, a model, is not and never was the sophisticate her husband Nicholas Drury believed her to be, and Gianetta was, at a decade younger than her husband, too young to understand Nicholas’s wartime scars. Thus, their brief marriage has ended.
A trip to the remote Isle of Skye is just the place to help Gianetta escape her troubles. But Skye is not remote enough: Gianetta’s ex-husband just happens to be there, too (a coincidence explained at the end with the author’s usual charm).
Having to share the same hotel with Nicholas would be bad enough, but someone has killed a girl, and the evidence points to Nicholas.
Gianetta must decide if she believes Nicholas is capable of such a thing, and they must both set aside their masks in order to love again.
97
The Windflower
LAURA LONDON
HISTORICAL / 1984
“Merry Patricia Wilding was sitting on a cobblestone wall, sketching three rutabagas and daydreaming about the unicorn.”
Though London had only a brief career, The Windflower is a much-loved fan favorite.
Laura London is the pen name of the author team of Sharon and Tom Curtis.
When Merry Wilding is accidentally abducted by pirates, the roller-coaster ride starts. How is one accidentally abducted? The pirate Devon Crandall thinks she knows something about the people who killed his sister, and he’s out for revenge. But Merry doesn’t know anything about it.
For many thousands of words, Merry tries to escape the pirate ship while trying not to fall madly in love with the devilishly handsome Devon.
The vivid characters (including secondary characters) and the beautiful prose style make this one stand head and shoulders above other romances of its time.
98
Winterwood
DOROTHY EDEN
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 1967
“From the moment of leaving the hotel the enchantment of the night had grown.”
Writing around the same time as Mary Stewart, Eden also was a master of taut psychological suspense—but sadly, her novels are not nearly as well-known now. A forgotten master.
Dorothy Eden also wrote novels under the name Mary Paradise.
Lavinia Hurst goes to Venice to escape the publicity following a trial she’s been involved in. She becomes involved with the Meryon family, who are there to bring an elderly relation back to their home, Winterwood.
They hire Lavinia as a paid companion to their crippled daughter, Flora. Daniel, the father, is deeply attractive to Lavinia, but his wife (Charlotte) is cruel and conniving. When Flora inherits a fortune, the intrigue heats up.
Is that enough plot twists to keep you guessing how this will wrap up?
99
The Wives of Bowie Stone
MAGGIE OSBORNE
HISTORICAL / 1994
“Sheriff Gaine squinted up at the gallows and thumbed back his hat. ‘Well boys, this is your lucky day.’”
Only Osborne could redeem two such unredeemable characters—in the same book!
Osborne also wrote romances under the name Margaret St. George.
Rosie Mulvehey suffered horrifically at the hands of her stepfather. She’s become an alcoholic and is not at all interested in marriage. She doesn’t need love; what she needs is a ranch hand.
Bowie Stone is a former Army captain (dishonorably discharged) and a convicted murderer.
According to local custom, a man can escape the death penalty by marrying a local woman. Rosie agrees to save Bowie from hanging, thereby getting a husband and a ranch hand. She’s more interested in the ranch hand. Bowie works to clear his name and to get his wife to trust him.
But Bowie doesn’t happen to mention that he already has a wife….
You won’t be able to put this down without first finding out how all three of them get their happily ever after.
100
The Wrong Hostage
ELIZABETH LOWELL
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / 2006
“The phone rang four times before Judge Grace Silva pulled her head out of the legal documents she was reviewing. ‘Maybe it’s Ted. Finally.’”
Action, danger, romance—Lowell later in her career is just as riveting as she was in the beginning.
Lowell has also published several successful science fiction and nonromantic suspense novels. She often collaborates with her husband of more than forty years, Evan Maxwell, and together they have published several suspense novels under the name Ann Maxwell (Lowell’s real name).
Judge Grace Silva pulled herself up out of poverty through hard work and determination, never once losing sight of the brass ring. If that didn’t leave much room for love or laughter, so be it. She’s an upholder of the law, period. She upholds the law with the same determination that pulled her out of her nightmarish beginnings.
Joe Faroe has paid the price for believing in th
e law. Now he knows it’s just a thing made by humans, too often corrupt, and that sometimes it needs to be bent. After a friend tries to kill him, he retires from everything.
Until Grace comes to him for help. Her son has been kidnapped and Joe is the only one who can get him back. If only Joe didn’t hate her….
Top Five Romantic Movies
With a happily ever after, of course!
An Officer and a Gentleman
Bull Durham
His Girl Friday
When Harry Met Sally …
While You Were Sleeping
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