Meet Reviewer Stephanie Ford
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
From the moment I learned to read I could be found with my nose in a book at every waking moment. Books were such good friends to me that when I was naughty my punishment was that my books were taken away and I was forced to go out to play with other children. I soon worked my way through the Babysitters’ Club and Sweet Valley books, and by the time I was a freshman in high school I’d already worked my way through most of the classics in the curriculum for the 9-12th grades. It was in reading those classics that I developed a mad love for Shakespeare and theatre in general.
I went to college (Universite de Paris X, Nanterre) in France where I earned the equivalent of a BA in Theatre. I then did a year of graduate Theatre studies at Trinity Collge in Dublin, Ireland. Now I’m living in New England where I work for a radio station. I’m currently 25 and single. And the only heros I’ve found so far are within the pages of my books!
Absolute Favorites
Paradise by Judith McNaught
Favorite Classic
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Short Stories
The Wise Virgin (The Brides of Christmas) by Jo Beverley
Personal Reading Tastes Favorites by Sub-Genre
What I’m a sucker for in a book: If a book is well-written I can look past storylines that would otherwise drive me up the wall, but I’m a sucker for “secret baby” stories, heroes who are rich and noble (both by birth and by action!), Cinderella stories, and books that are either very funny or dark and Gothic.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book: Paranormals, vampires, Old West stories (though if the writing is compelling enough I’ll give it a whirl!). I don’t really like books that are jam-packed with a huge cast of characters so that I can hardly keep the characters straight.
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Cowboys, ranchers, small-town sheriffs, cops, Navy Seals, firemen, CIA, etc.-type heroes. Not my cup-o-tea! Heroines that are TSTL, characters that act in the way no real person would, cute and meddlesome children/servants, and authors who spend more time setting up the next book in their series than writing the one I’m currently reading.
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Judith McNaught
Jo Beverley
Gaelen Foley
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Liz Carlyle
My Biggest Glom
Jo Beverley
Teresa Medeiros
Liz Carlyle
Contemporary:
Paradise by Judith McNaught
Frontier or American Historical:
The Raider by Jude Deveraux
European Historical:
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
The Duke by Gaelen Foley
Traditional Regency:
Dedication by Janet Mullany
Medieval:
Lord of My Heart by Jo Beverley
Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
Alternate Reality:
Touch of Enchantment by Teresa Medeiros
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
Anything by Judith McNaught
Anything by Gaelen Foley
Most-Hanky Reads:
The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley
Guilty Pleasure:
Anything by Bertrice Small
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Robert, Duke of Hawkscliffe, The Duke by Gaelen Foley
Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Heroine
Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Most Tortured Hero
Mr. Rochester, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Marquess of Rothgar, Devilish by Jo Beverley
Strongest Heroine
Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Daphne Bridgerton, The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Favorite Couple
Belinda Hamilton and Robert, Duke of Hawkscliffe, The Duke by Gaelen Foley
Kate Sheffield and Anthony Bridgerton, The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Lizzie Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Cabin or Road:
Perfect by Judith McNaught
His Wicked Kiss by Gaelen Foley
Suspense:
Someone to Watch over Me by Judith McNaught
Funny:
Anything by Julia Quinn
How to Treat a Lady by Karen Hawkins
Sexy:
All the Sweet Tomorrows by Bertrice Small
Hellion by Bertrice Small
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
Least-Favorites
Most Disappointing Books
Lady in Red by Karen Hawkins
Worst Books
The Enchanted Land by Jude Deveraux
Purple Prose-iest Book
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
A Year and a Day by Virginia Henley
Authors I Have Given Up On
Karen Hawkins
Christina Dodd
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Nora Roberts
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Mary Balogh
Most Annoying Lead Character
Imogen Maitland, The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Elizabeth Peters
Kurt Vonnegut
Robin McKinley
Favorite Book
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Favorite Classic Novel
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Favorite Mystery
The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Favorite Fantasy
Elfquest graphic novels by Wendy and Richard Pini
Imzadi by Peter David
Favorite Women’s Fiction
Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella
Favorite YA Book
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
Favorite Set of Connected Books
Malloren series by Jo Beverley
A Company of Rogues series by Jo Beverley
Book Most Often Reread
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
Paradise by Judith McNaught
Favorite Nonfiction
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner