Sorry, I don't get it - I know different strokes for different folks but honestly, I couldn't even get through Castles which got superb reviews. I disliked the writing style - no flow in the dialogue and worst of all - a Regency time period where the hero calls the heroine "baby" in the heat of passion??? I don't know - just seems like the dialogue was out of time - like contemporary vocabulary in a regency era. I have one of her contemporary romantic suspense novels - Mercy - on my TBR and I'm not sure if I should try it. Am I off base here ladies - should I give her another try?

Margaret,   I can't get into Julie Garwood.  Just doesn't do it for me and I read everything.   Well, almost.  I have read three books of hers, two contemp and one historical, and frankly, if you have anything else to read........... My TBR is full of Laura Kinsale, Eloisa James, Lavyrl Spencer and others.  Why waste time on mediocre.

I think you should give her another try.  My favorite Garwood is Ransom, and it is actually the book that first got me into historical romance.  Castles was not my favorite Garwood either,  but some of her others are really great reads. 

I haven't been able to get into her non-historicals at all, but even some of the hist/roms have been difficult to get into so I've stopped trying. I tried Mercy and couldn't get into it, either. For some reason I think it's part of a series but I could be wrong. Sometimes I'm lost if a book isn't the first in a series and it doesn't seem worth the effort to get the first titles if I haven't been hooked to start with, if that makes any sense.

Her best, for me, historicals were The Bride and Honor's Splendour and are on my keeper shelf - other than those I've gotten rid of all her others.

Gail

That book was not her best.  Try Ransom or The Secret.

Saving Grace is one of my favorite books.

LOL. I'm rereading RANSOM today. SAVING GRACE is also one of my favorites. CASTLES was not a favorite but I did like it. If you didn't like her writing style she just might not be for you.

Another who just can't stand her style... it seems so affected and cutesy to me. 

Hmm... well lol - I guess I'll probably try Mercy - I'm a big fan of romantic suspense and always looking for new authors in this genre. It could be that I'm just not going to like her due to a style preference. I'm kind of thinking that the anachronistic language and attitude of her historical characters might be better suited to a contemporary novel  - maybe ;) Thanks ladies!

Hmmmm....I wonder if those Scottish books are the ones I have fond memories of. I may have to read them again some time.   I know I read about some Scottish men that I just loved...never could remember who wrote them.

I do remember that I just loved One Pink Rose, One Red Rose, One White Rose. For the Roses and Come the Spring are also part of that series. Great books!

I detest Garwood.  What Willa said about it being cutesy & affected.  Just turns my stomach.  And you're right about the anachronisms.  Hero calling the heroine "baby", using the word "sexy".  Things so obvious they make you cringe.

I loved Castles lol!  And I love the books prior to that with related characters like The Lion's Lady and Guardian Angel.  Honor's Splendor is another one I love.

Her Regency books were just ok for me, but I absolutely love the scottish historicals.  Saving Grace was my favorite also.  I don't read suspense so haven't tried any of those.

Garwood's The Secret is actually the book that got me interested in romance novels.  My favorites are Ransom, The Bride and The Wedding.

definately give her another try, Garwood is the author who hooked me many years ago. My favorites: Honor's Splendour (the 1st romance novel I ever read), Ransom, Saving Grace, The Secret, The Wedding. I couldn't get into her newer suspense novels though...

Ut oh........I'm in the minority here.  I enjoy Garwood's earlier suspense books and following the Buchanan boys.  Murder List is one of my favorites.  I do think that they are "tamer" suspense books compared to other romantic suspense series. Note that I mentioned earlier books... the last couple of books haven't been that great.

Margy

I'd say give her another try.  The first historical romance book I ever read was her Shadow Music and it got me hooked.  The Secret and Honour's Splendour are also great.  I honestly couldn't put any of them down.  I also read Slow Burn, which is not historical but I really enjoyed it.