What was the steamiest historical romance you've read?  I mean a historical romance with an actual plot & character development, not erotica where the focus is on sex.  If I had to pick one, it would probably be  one by Emma Holly (Beyond Seduction) or Sylvia Day (Passion for the Game or Stranger I Married). 

Edited to add:

Oops.  I forgot to include Passion, definitely one of the steamiest. 

I also must add Robin Shone's The Lover.  Forgot all about it. 

I'm interested in other's perspectives. 

for me, Madeline Hunter writes the steamiest HRs w/ great plot and character development. THE STRANGER I MARRIED is on my keeper shelf but it wasnt strong on the 2 factors u asked for. The Holly HRs did nothing for me.

After Hunter, it would be a tie between Pamela Clare or the early Braddock-Black bks by Susan Johnson.

Day's "Stranger I Married" was hot but plot did nothing for me.  Could just be me.

Carolyn Jewel's "Lord Ruin"-pretty steamy and I personally enjoyed the plot and the characters.  Wish she would have finished out with the sisters-thought there was potential there. 

Hands down-Evangeline Collins "Her Ladyship's Companion" steamiest romance I've read that actually had a well developed plot, characters, storyline that wasn't "all about the sex".  It was her debut and I really, really, really hope that her next lives up to all that potential. 

Jan

I'd say Passion, which actually interested me as a romance. I couldn't finish The Stranger I Married, it seemed like nothing but sex to me.

Steamiest? Three by Noelle Mack (which I'm shipping to Pam H. today). Orgy in the last chapter. Related to One Wicked Night (a 1st person POV from the man's perspective). A good book but not as good as Robin Schone's historical steamies.

Steamiest covers: The Lords of Satyr series by Elizabeth Amber. Not quite sure what Nicholas is holding under that blue velvet...

SETON: Madeline Hunter's books are enjoyable, but they're definitely not as steamy as Cheryl Holt's stories. If you like MH, you might like CH.

Colleen

Colleen, I've read plenty of Holt, thanks. She's not my cuppa but glad she works for u.

I agree with Beyond Seduction by Emma Holly.  It's the steamiest I've read that didn't get boring or icky at any point.

Robin Schone, The Lover and Gabriel's Woman.

Second nod on Schone.  Also well-written historicals, too.

The first hist/rom I read that had oral sex in it was, I believe, the first Steve & Ginny (Rogers), SWEET SAVAGE LOVE. That was an eye-opener especially since I read it eons ago when it first came out and historicals were really just getting a head of steam. Nothing fazes me these days, but back then.......

Showing My Age/Gail

Lisa Kleypas' Worth Any Price is VERY steamy! Lady Sophia's Lover is also steamy however it was a DNF for me. Judith Ivory's Untie My Heart is a fabulous book and its really steamy. Pamela Clare's Ride the Fire was incredibly steamy.