Need I say more? Historical romance. I like to switch back and forth between authors and genres. I've read all my Mary Balogh and Julia Quinn ones a few times each. I like the two mentioned above, Loretta Chase, Meredith Duran, and lots of others who I can't think of. I've read Outlander.

I'm looking for a good, tight, amazing writer. I will think about throwing a TSTL heroine across the room, but if she's redeemed at the end I'll think abou it.

Picky? me? nah. :) thanks in advance for the ideas.

Have you tried Pamela Clare, they are more colonial, not sure if the time period matters. 

Eloisa James, Barbara Dawson Smith, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens (not the most recent 2 though), Christina Dodd, Victoria Alexander, Laura Kinsale, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Iris Johansen

Those are all authors whose historical romances I have enjoyed greatly. (Some of them have contemporaries so you have to check first)

Anne

 I hightly recommend Laura Lee Guhrke, esp. And then he Kissed her & the Marriage Bed!

Looking at who you already like, I'd say that you would probably enjoy Julie Anne Long and Elizabeth Hoyt. All the writers you mentioned have good prose in common, and IMO, so do these.

A lot of great authors were already mentioned, but I didn't see Amanda Quick! I love her books! My favorite is Deception.

Well you gotta - just gotta - try Marsha Canham!  She's the bees knees:P  And a second on Pamela Clare, some Jo Goodman (her newer stuff - If His Kiss Is Wicked, The Price of Desire, A Season to be Sinful ), Candice Proctor, Laura Kinsale, Judith Ivory, Laura Lee Guhrke, Suzanne Enoch, Maggie Osborne, Sherry Thomas, Karen Ranney, Jill Barnett, Lisa Kleypas, Patricia Gaffney - especially this book: Wild at Heart, Jo Beverley, Connie Brockway, Sandy Hingston, Elizabeth Hoyt, Leslie LaFoy, and Julie Anne Long.

I recommend Gaelen Foley, in particular, The Duke and The Pirate Prince.

I second the recs for Marsha Canham, Laura Kinsale, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Suzanne Enoch.

Sabrina Jeffries and Gayle Callen are pretty solid as well. Gayle Callen writes medievals under a different name, I believe.

Lorraine Heath is usually stellar, although I am not a huge fan of her most recent series. If you get your hands on the Texas series, that is a great series!

Have you read anything by Jo Beverley or Mary Jo Putney? Jillian Hunter and Samantha James are enjoyable as well. Jillian Hunter's Boscastle series, I would say, are similar in tone to the Bridgertons...

And I like old Susan Johnson, pre-trade paperback years. Most of her books are connected though, if you care.

Happy reading...

Wow - I knew you ladies would come through, but man, I don't even know where to start! thanks!

Ashley, I ordered a Pamela Clare yesterday. Hope it's awesome!

Kim I've seen you recommend Marsha Canham before, I think she's on my RL. She just may have to move up.

Grace, thanks for the rec similar to the Bridgerton series, I'm a sucker for the close-knit, complicated, involved, family series.  :) good catch!

Anne, your list will last for all of 2009, I think. Coooool.

Caroline, thanks for a specific rec. I'll have to look for it!

Samantha, I think I'm in the middle of an Elizabeth Hoyt. Did she write The Serpant Prince?

Claudia - ooh those look good.

Whew, is that everyone? :) Thanks again!

I highly recommend Judith Ivory (aka Judy Cuevas). My favorites are "Untie My Heart", "Bliss", "The Proposition", and "Sleeping Beauty". Another one of her best is "Dance", which I finally got my hands on and will start reading it tomorrow. Her novels are in a league of their own. I have read many, many novels by authors mentioned here, but her novels are just the best.

Kristie

I love:

Laura Kinsale (bring on the angst!), Elizabeth Hoyt (looks like you're already reading her!)

2 newer authors: Anna Campbell (talk about angst!), Christine Wells

Also, Gaelen Foley, Judith McNaught.

You know, I really want to try Judith Ivory. She's been recc'd to me more than once. And someone said her books have a lot of intelligence and depth, which I love.

My books don't come out 'til this summer...but it's hard for me to say whether they're good, tight, amazing...erk! I sure hope so.

I'm definitely not into TSTL heroines, though!

I love LaVyrle Spencer, Maggie Osborne, old Lorraine Heath (pre-English stuff), and early Madeline Hunter (her "by" books).

Definitely Gaelen Foley & Victoria Alexander.

Carla Kelly--especially Beau Crusoe which may have one of my all-time favorite heroes

My books don't come out 'til this summer...but it's hard for me to say whether they're good, tight, amazing...erk! I sure hope so.

OMG, Jennifer...  I've been looking at your sig all week and wondering if you had a book getting ready to be released, but I couldn't make out the last name on the image and didn't even think to look at your profile until now:P  I just put it on my WL.  That is so cool.  And it's even a historical - yay!  I can't wait to read it.  I'm a brutal armchair critic, btw...  Not that you should worry or anything:P  Anyway, congrats:)

How awesome Jennifer!!

I highly recommend Lynn Kurland as well as agree with whoever said LaVyrle Spencer.

I have not seen Celeste Bradley, Madeline Hunter, Teresa Medeiros and Liz Carlyle.

Kat Martin also has some very good historical.

Definitely Victoria Alexander with her Effington series.

I read Victoria Alexander when I am bored. (JUst read her latest this week). She is certainly not a writer that I think of when I think of  "good, tight, amazing" writing

And it's even a historical - yay!  I can't wait to read it.  I'm a brutal armchair critic, btw...  Not that you should worry or anything:P  Anyway, congrats:)

Thanks! But...lol...I'm quaking in my boots. There are definitely some tough critics here! I find the critiques and opinions completely fascinating, though--I'm in so many writerly communities, it's refreshing to hear from true readers for a change. Of course, when it comes to my own book it might be a little harder to take. I hear it's part of the job, though, so I'm just bracing myself.

It's okay, seriously. All I can do with criticisms is work to keep improving. :)

Jen

I'm sure you'll do fine:)  And everyone here is so different, I don't know how seriously anyone should take a few unfavorable amateur reviews anyway.  I think if opinions strike a chord with you & you think the person who said this or that thing about it had a good point, it's something to keep in mind the next time, but even the very best of them don't please everyone all the time, so everything, positive or negative should just be filed away for future reference and kept in perspective.  I've seen some really amazing first efforts from new romance writers, like Sherry Thomas & Meredith Duran for example, just since joining this group, but we all have varying opinions on just exactly how good they are:P  From a reader's perspective, probably the most important thing a writer can do, IMO,  is be true to themselves and their own voice.  I value originality above everything else myself.  I'd rather read a unique story with imperfections than something that has been done hundreds of times already, however perfectly executed it may be.  I tend to not notice contextual errors, minor plot holes, etc. so much when I'm reading something fresh & original.  If I'm hooked by an interesting and unusual story, I just don't sweat the small stuff:P  I'm 100% supportive of new writers too.  The more the better, IMO; it's always great to hear a new voice.  Anyway, very best of luck on your first effort.  I can't wait to read it, and regardless of what I think of it, I'm tickled to death for you:)

Gaelen Foley:The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, There are 5 in that series, and then a related series of 5 books after that starting with Her Only Desire, all are good., Claire Delacroix, Nicole Jordan, and all of the old Catherine Coulter books before she started doing mysteries.

Marsha Canham?   If you were to recommend two of her books, which would they be?  some of my favorite authors are Elizabeth Hoyt, Madeline Hunter, Eloisa James, Samantha james.......

I absolutely LOVE Julie Garwood and Catherine Coulter for their historicals.  Their books make me laugh a lot.

these are a few historicals that i've liked....

The Devil's Love by Julia London

Wicked Angel by Julia London

Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros

In the Prince's Bed (Royal Brotherhood, No 1) by Sabrina Jeffries

To Pleasure a Prince (Royal Brotherhood, Bk 2) by Sabrina Jeffries

One Night With a Prince (Royal Brotherhood, Bk 3) by Sabrina Jeffries