I know we all have different tastes and opinions, but just wondered what was the most recent historical romance book you read that you decided had to stay on your "keeper" shelf and why?  Any book you can't bear to pass on must be good!

I just read The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna MacMeans and have decided to hold on to the book instead of reposting.  The hero was an artist and I enjoyed the sensuality and sexual tension between him and the determined heroine.  He wasn't what society thought he was and he helped the heroine realise she wasn't what she was made to believe.

Cheers,

Tina

The Outsider by Penelope Williamson.  I was really taken with the complexity of the story.  Lots of strong characters.  Lots of grit:  Hangings, rape, shootings, drunk doctors.  Some of my favorite themes about different ethnic groups and mysterious strangers.

One Week as Lovers by Victoria Dahl. It was very sensual in a way that was relevant to the story. I liked both hero and heroine, and the hero had a legitimate reason for being a tortured character. His past was very dark, but there was none of that "oh now I must go out and be a huge rake because that's how all hot men deal with having screwed-up childhoods" kind of characterization. I also liked that so much of the story was from the hero's POV.

The Admiral's Penniless Bride by Carla Kelly.  To me, her books are like turkey & mashed potatoes...nothing "wow" about them at all, and yet I'm suckered in every time.  I fell in love with Charles, and aside from the very predictable big misunderstanding, there was nothing about the story I didn't like.

Yep-I'm with Michele.  It's on my keeper shelf, with all the rest of my Kelly's.  The Admiral esp. is very engaging. 

Yep, The Admiral's Penniless Bride went straight to the keeper shelf.

"oh now I must go out and be a huge rake because that's how all hot men deal with having screwed-up childhoods"

lol

Notorious Pleasures for straight historical. Probably Zoe Archer's Stranger for historical/magical. Or is it historical/paranormal? I always think of paranormal as just witches and werewolves and kinda dark but maybe paranormal encompasses lighter books with magical aspects as well? Something to ponder.