My last great new historical author discovery was Judith James, but she hasn't written much yet.   Anybody have any good recommendations for me?

I don't read comtemporaries (with VERY few exceptions), and I'm extemely picky about my historical romance  Here are some of the authors I've read and like:

Diana Gabaldon, Penelope Williamson, Marsha Canham, Judith James, Judith Ivory, Robin Schone, Liz Carlyle, Lisa Kleypas, Adele Ashworth, Mary Jo Putney, Laura Kinsale, Connie Brockway, Sylvia Day, Theresa Weir (only contemp author I like)

I just got Broken Wing from the library by her and I'm loving it.

OMG.  Broken Wing was one of the best romances I've EVER read.  it was heart-wrenching and I used up a box of kleenex on it, but it was sooooo good.  Libertine's Kiss is good too, but the beginnning is a little slow. 

Anybody?

BW, I think you already named all the greatest ones!   I would add that a few here and there by Emily Carmichael, Madeline Hunter and Elizabeth Hoyt are keepers for me.    But after kinsale, williamson and canham there just isn't much to recommend the rest. 

I have read lots of Linda lael Miller but I guess you might consider her second tier. 

Broken Wing is in my top five books of all time and when I found out how little JJ had written I actually cried.

I keep thinking that you would like Alice Walker's early books.  There is romance there and, like broken wing, lots of action. 

One comtemporary that you might like is Veiled Journey by Nell Brien.  Like a comtemporary book by Penelope Williamson IMHO.

I read all your favorites.  Other favorite authors for me:  Loretta Chase, Mary Balogh, Jo Goodman (tho I haven't read her older titles), Judith Ivory, Madeline Hunter (her medievals are the best, then skip to Rules of Seduction and on (the series prior to RoS was okay overall).  I also like Kate Noble a lot now (her first Compromised was somewhat promising, then loved her next two.  ALways liked Julie Anne Long, and loved last year;s I Kissed an Earl, and she's getting great reviews for the newest in that series I have't yet read - What I Did for a Duke.  Judith McNaught wrote very good historicals before she switched over to contemps.  I don'g get into too many contemps, but love Julie James, great independent and sassy heroines. Oh,, also try Meredith Duran, Joanna Bourne and Sherry Thomas

Hmmm.... you already named a bunch of my favorites.

Carla Kelly, Pamela Clare, Gaelen Foley, Lorraine Heath, Lynn Kurland (a lot of hers have time travel so that may not be your thing), Teresa Medeiros

Eloisa James.  Candace Camp.  Anne Gracie. Virginia Henley.

In addition to the ones you mentioned, I've enjoyed

Lorretta Chase- pretty much everything; Lord of Scoundrels and Mr Impossible are my favorites

Elizabeth Hoyt- Princes Trilogy and Legend of the Four Soldiers Quartet

Eloisa James- I really like the Desperate Duchesses series

 Jo Beverely- Malloren books and Medievals; I'm not sold on her Regencies

Sabrina Jeffries- School for Heiresses

Jennifer Ashley- The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie

Christina Dodd- That Scandalous Evening is on my keeper shelf

Karen Robards- Nobody's Angel is also a keeper for me

Candice Hern- her Ladies Fashionable Cabinet (Once a Dreamer, Once a Gentleman, Once a Scoundrel) books are keepers for me

Kresley Cole- writes mostly paranormal now, but I did enjoy her historicals

Many of my favorites have already been mentioned-Carla kelly, Mary Jo Putney, Mary Balogh, Joanna Bourne, Elizabeth Hoyt.  Some that have not:  Tiffany Clare, Sara Lindsey, Eileen Dryer, Courtney Milan, Deliah Marvelle, Evangaline Collins.  Not all of these have hit" must keep everything" status as most of the former list have but they all have been really enjoyable. 

I also have been reading alot of the Harlequin stable:  Louise Allen, Deborah Hale, Julia Justiss, Christine Merrill and others.  Most are lighter(though that's not true for all cases(Carla Kelly, Diane Gaston)-and most are consistent to the period and well researched(two pet peeves of mine).  Really enjoyed the Silk and Scandal series that several authors completed over the last year. 

Thanks for the suggestions ladies.  I've already read a lot of the authors mentioned, but a few of them I haven't.  I will keep them in mind as I go searching for new authors. 

Courtney Milan

Amanda Quick

Ditto on all the above authors

Just to add some of my recent new likes:  Rose Learner - In for a Penny, Kris Kennedy - The Conquer,  Tessa Dare - um everything, Sarah Maclean, Joanna Bourne lot of spy stuff, Grace Burrows

and she's not new but I loooove Carolyn Jewel. Lord Ruin is one of my favorites.

When you say historical romance, how historical do you want to go?  If you are interested in the early Middle Ages, I recommend Elizabeth Chadwick.  In fact her latest book just won an award for best historical romance in England.  Her history is very vivid and detailed.  Some of her titles include The Wild Hunt, The Conquest, The Winter Mantle, The Marsh King's Daughter, The Greatest Knight, Lords of the White Castle.

Keep in mind however that there are two authors named Elizabeth Chadwick.  The other one is an American romance author.  I haven't read any of her books but I know one of them is titled Bride Fire.  (The English EC has mentioned this on her website that Bride Fire is not her book.)

That's so weird that there are two romance writers named Elizabeth Chadwick. I wonder if they are each other's arch nemesis.

I've just read my first Julie Anne Long and LOVED it. I second Meredith Duran and Sherry Thomas although you have probably tried those. How about Megan Chance? The Portrait is INCREDIBLE and one of my favorites.

Claudia - I know you have said you aren't a fan of Balogh but have you read The Secret Pearl or a A precious Jewel? We seem to have similar tastes and these are among my favorites.

I love anything by Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, Jillian Hunter, and Sarah MacLean. Those last two authors I just recently discovered. I also like many of the others previously mentioned. I'd never read a historical romance until I read something by Lisa Kleypas, and I thought, 'wow, if this is what historical romances are like, sign me up!' I also love Nicole Jordan.

Julie Garwood, Pamela Morsi, Hannah Howell...as well as most of the above