Meet Reviewer Carolyn Esau
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
I first began reading romance novels about 30 years ago. I started as a teenager, truly My aunt left some books behind at our summer cottage (5 Barbara Cartlands and a Maysie Grieg.) Later that summer, I discovered Georgette Heyer and was completely hooked. I read all her books over the next few months. At first, I stuck with Regencies and historicals first, then pulled a Janet Daily out of the book recycling barrel at our library and after that nothing was off limits.
Other than romances, my favorite books are cookbooks, which I collect.
Absolute Favorites
Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts
Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey
Favorite Classic
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Favorite Short Stories
Little Miracles (A Regency Christmas) by Barbara Metzger
Haunted in Death by J.D. Robb
Personal Reading Tastes Favorites by Sub-Genre
What I’m a sucker for in a book: Regency rakes and Corinthians, marriage of convenience, the gambled daughter. For more modern, I usually go for movie stars, royalty and the lighter side of vampires. Modernized fairy tales. Any thing to do with food, and sort of the opposite, any that deal with weight loss.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book: Westerns, Sci-Fi, first person narration or multigenerational stories that go on for years and years.
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Rape or attempted rape not being treated seriously. Time travel that dont end with the h/h together. Books that are mostly sex with little story to go with it.
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Leigh Michaels
Nora Roberts
Georgette Heyer
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Penelope Stratton
Sylvia Thorpe
My Biggest Glom
Georgette Heyer
Frontier or American Historical:
The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory
European Historical:
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
Devil’s Desire by Laurie McBain
Traditional Regency:
Arabella by Georgette Heyer
The Duchess of Vidal by Dawn Lindsay
The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons
Medieval:
Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis
Mystique by Amanda Quick
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
Alternate Reality:
Out of the Blue by Kasey Michaels
Category:
MacKenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mr. Beaumaris, Arabella by Georgette Heyer
Favorite Heroine
Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Most Tortured Hero
Jonas Quarrel, Gift of Gold by Jayne Ann Krentz
Strongest Heroine
Eve Dallas, J.D. Robb’s In Death series
Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Couple
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Roarke and Eve Dallas, J.D. Robb’s In Death series
Best Villain
Chauvelin, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Cabin or Road:
Gabriel’s Angel by Nora Roberts
Funny:
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
Perfect Partners by Jayne Ann Krentz
Guilty Pleasure:
Guardian Devil by Monette Cummings
Least Favorites
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Carla Kelly
Diana Gabaldon
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Donna Andrews
Ellen Byerrum
Susan McBride
Favorite Book
Pride and Prejudice by jane Austen
Favorite Classic Novel
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Mystery
Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
Killer Hair by Ellen Byerrum
Favorite Fantasy
Star Wars by George Lucas
Favorite YA Book
Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison
Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck
Trixie Belden series
Favorite Set of Connected Books
In Death series by J.D. Robb
Born In trilogy by Nora Roberts
Chesapeake Bay series by Nora Roberts
Book Most Often Reread
In Death series by J.D. Robb
Perfect Partners by Jayne Ann Krentz
Hidden Talents by Jayne Ann Krentz
Favorite Nonfiction
Candy Freak by Steve Almond
The Know It All by A.J. Jacobs
Any cookbook in the known universe