Meet Reviewer Lisa Gardineer
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
By day: I work at a health care publishing company producing magazines for the masses. By night: I change into my blue and red leotard and turn into SUPERMOM.
I have two young boys, two pugs, one goldfish, and one husband. They all keep me quite busy but I manage to squeeze 350 pages of pure unadulterated escapism into my day. I picked up my first romance about two years ago and have been hopelessly addicted since. Really. My husband has looked in the phone book for some sort of husband-to-a-romance-lover support group. Hasnt found any yet.
Absolute Favorites
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Once an Angel by Teresa Medeiros
Wicked by Jill Barnett
Favorite Classic
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Personal Reading Tastes Favorites by Sub-Genre
What I’m a sucker for in a book: Anything fated: Star-crossed lovers, couple who know they love each other but are kept apart by something greater. And humorous stories that can also make me cry.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book: Too much internal dialogue and couples who hate each other until the last ten pages (I like to see some happiness).
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Prim and proper ladies and Uber Macho men who speak like Tarzan: Me man, you woman
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Teresa Medeiros
Contemporary:
Take a Chance on Me by Susan Donovan
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
European Historical:
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
Medieval:
Wicked by Jill Barnett
The Last Arrow by Marsha Canham
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Jamie Fraser, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Alexander Belov, The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Billy Darling, Noboby’s Darling by Teresa Medeiros
Favorite Heroine
Annabelle Granger, Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Hyacinth Bridgerton, It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
Most Tortured Hero
Alexander Belov, The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Strongest Heroine
Tatiana Metanova, The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Favorite Couple
Emily Scarborough and Justin Connor, Once an Angel by Teresa Medeiros
Hyacinth Bridgerton and Gareth St. Clair, It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
Derek Craven and Sara Fielding, Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Best Villain
Jack Randall, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Cabin or Road:
Once an Angel by Teresa Medeiros
Funny:
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Take a Chance on Me by Susan Donovan
Sexy:
Passion by Lisa Valdez
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Most-Hanky Reads:
The Bronze Horsemanby Paullina Simons
A Crack in Forever by Jeannie Brewer
Guilty Pleasure:
Emma Holly
Least-Favorites
Authors I Have Given Up On
Laura Kinsale
Jude Deveraux
Worst Books
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
The Lover by Robin Schone
Most Disappointing Books
In the Garden series by Nora Roberts
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Nora Roberts
Stephanie Laurens
Most Annoying Lead Character
Leda Etoile, The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Stephen King
John Steinbeck
Audrey Niffenegger)
Favorite Book
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Talisman by Stephen King
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Favorite Classic Novel
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Favorite Women’s Fiction
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
Favorite Set of Connected Books
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
The Bronze Horseman series by Paullina Simons
Book Most Often Reread
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Favorite Fantasy
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Favorite Nonfiction
Geisha: A Life by Mineko Iwasaki