Meet Reviewer Dabney Grinnan 
Dabney’s Top 10 Romance List
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
I loved romances when, back in the late 70’s, in high school, I read every Barbara Cartland novel ever written. Then, thanks to a savvy babysitter, I got my hands on the hot stuff. To this day I can remember how astonishingly steamy I found Rosemary Rogers’ Sweet Savage Love. I abandoned romance when I went to college and didn’t pick one up again until six years ago when I got my first Kindle. Since then, I’ve read over a thousand romances; loved many, liked more, hated some. Much of what I’ve read has been historical and contemporary romance, but these days I’m reading more erotica and romantic suspense. I like my books to have sizzle, wit, and plots that make sense. I’d take sexy over sweet any day. Currently, I’m loving Sherry Thomas, Meredith Duran, Courtney Milan, Sarah Mayberry, and Ruthie Knox. When not reading or writing about reading, or wishing I could rule the world, I’m meddling in the lives of my four kids, keeping our practice in the black, doing bossy volunteer work, and hanging out with Dr. Feelgood.
Absolute Favorites
Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman
Reckless by Anne Stuart
Heat by R. Lee Smith
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
Unveiled by Courtney Milan
The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne
What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
His at Night by Sherry Thomas
Favorite Classic
It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Personal Reading Tastes Favorites by Sub-Genre
What I’m a sucker for in a book:
Bad boys, believable passion, strong heroines with stronger heroes, humor, great secondary romances.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book:
TSTL characters, poorly written plots, big secrets, series set around unbelievable clubs.
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book:
Characters who are perfect in every way, heroines obsessed with lingerie, cheesy dialog, soap boxing.
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rachel Gibson
Lisa Kleypas
Courtney Milan
Anne Stuart
Joanna Bourne
Julie Anne Long
Meredith Duran
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Joanna Bourne
My Biggest Glom
Melody Thomas
Contemporary:
Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl
Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry
Romantic Suspense:
Extreme Danger by Shannon McKenna
Death Angel by Linda Howard
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
European Historical:
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
Medieval:
By Design by Madeline Hunter
Traditional Regency:
What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long
American Historical:
Sing My Name by Ellen O’Connell
Paranormal/Alternate Reality:
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Doctor Jonas Grantham from Courtney Milan’s A Kiss for Midwinter
Favorite Heroine
Margeurite de Fleurignac from Joanna Bourne’s The Forbidden Rose
Most Tortured Hero
Sebastian Verlaine from Patricia Gaffney’s To Have and To Hold
Strongest Heroine
Lulu Davies from Carrie Lofty’s His Very Own Girl
Favorite Couple
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden and Meggs Tanner from The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex
Adrian Alistair Rohan and Charlotte Spencer from Reckless by Anne Stuart
Alex Moncrieffe and Genevieve Eversea from What I Did for a Duke Julie Anne Long
Best Villain
Lazarus, My Lord and Spymaster, Joanna Bourne
Cabin or Road:
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase
Funny:
Natural Born Charmer Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Sexy:
Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
The Chinooks series by Rachel Gibson
Guilty Pleasure:
Completely inappropriate bodice rippers (my favorite is The Wolf and the Dove.)
Least-Favorites
Most Disappointing Books
A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare
Worst
Seductive as Flame by Susan Johnson
Purple Prose-iest Read
Anything written by Stephanie Laurens in the past five years
Authors I Have Given Up On
Elizabeth Hoyt
Anna Campbell
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Kristen Ashley
Megan Mulry
Most Annoying Lead Character
Tuesday Jones from Erin McCarthy’s Slow Ride
Travis Maddox from Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Classic Novel
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Favorite Author
Phillip Pullman
Michael Malone
Favorite Book
What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long
Favorite Mystery
Faithful Place by Tana French
Favorite Classic Mystery
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
Favorite Women’s Fiction
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Favorite YA Book
The Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman
Favorite SF/Horror/Fantasy
The Stand by Stephen King
Book Most Often Reread
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
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