Meet Reviewer Andi Davis
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
When I was young, my father would take me to the book store as a fun outing. He would pick out award-winners for me and I would pick out horrors and anything that involved horses. By the time I was out of elementary school, I had hundreds of books in my personal library. I was one of those children whose mother had to tell her to drop the book and go outside and play. She was also slightly creeped out that I was reading so many horrors. It probably would have comforted her to know that although I loved the excitement and thrills, the thing that always captured me most in any book I read was the love story. A love story is woven into almost every fiction, and in most of the actions and horrors I was reading, the guy would save the girl, or vice versa. I just loved it.
Through high school and college, I didnt read much for pleasure, because I was so busy doing assigned reading. Then I became ill for several weeks and had a lot of free time on my hands. I picked up Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, which a friend had given me for my birthday. When I was finished, my more adult library began. I had finally discovered books where I could get my full romantic fix and throw in some additional fun stuff like suspense or monsters. And in romances I was guaranteed something that I really need: a happy ending. So, my childhood passion was ignited again and Ive read hundreds of books since.
I live in California with my husband and our big Great Dane. I edit and work part-time. When Im not working, I try to fix up our new house, which is new for us but not-so-new in the grander scheme of things. Other than that, I play with my dog and read.
Absolute Favorites
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Classic
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Favorites by Sub-Genre
Contemporary:
Paradise by Judith McNaught
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
Frontier or American Historical:
Nobody’s Darling by Teresa Medeiros
Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath
European Historical:
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
The Blood of Roses by Marsha Canham
Medieval:
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
For My Lady’s Heart by Laura Kinsale
Alternate Reality:
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton
Personal Reading Tastes Favorite Romance Authors
What I’m a sucker for in a book: Vampires, bad boys, well-developed relationships, friends who become more, action/adventure, romantic suspense, witty dialogue, guys who are rough around the edges and have lots of practical knowledge, weapons, and pretty much anything that is intelligently and convincingly written.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book: Dirty talk during the act, big age differences between heroine and hero, cheesy dialogue, heroes or heroines who withhold important information for stupid reasons or hit the sheets without actually knowing each other.
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: “I hate you/let’s jump into bed” plots, cheating, children used as leverage, and super young heroines who are supposed to be mature.
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Diana Gabaldon
Suzanne Brockmann
Judith McNaught
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Marsha Canham
My Biggest Glom
Suzanne Brockmann
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Jamie Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Heroine
Claire Randall Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Most Tortured Hero
Christian Langland, Duke of Jervaulx, Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
Strongest Heroine
Fiona Finnegan, The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
Tatiana Metanova, The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Favorite Couple
Jamie and Claire Fraser, Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke, Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann
Best Villain
Jack Randall, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Cabin or Road:
Perfect by Judith McNaught
Suspense:
I’m Watching You by Karen Rose
The Crush by Sandra Brown
Funny:
Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann
Sexy:
Through a Dark Mist by Marsha Canham
Favorites by Mood
Most-Hanky Reads:
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
Guilty Pleasure:
Early Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Least-Favorites
Most Disappointing Books
Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux
Fire along the Sky by Sara Donati
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
Worst Books
One Wore Blue by Heather Graham
The Pursuit by Johanna Lindsey
Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood
Purple Prose-iest Book
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
Authors I Have Given Up On
Sara Donati
Julia Quinn
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Gaelen Foley
Julie Garwood
recent Nora Roberts
Most Annoying Lead Character
Kiernan Mackay, One Wore Blue by Heather Graham
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Nicholas Evans
Dean Koontz
Favorite Book
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans
Favorite Classic Novel
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Favorite Horror
Phantoms by Dean Koontz
Favorite YA Book
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Favorite Set of Connected Books
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann
Book Most Often Reread
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon