While at the Washington Romance Writers Retreat this past week I was on a panel with Sarah MacLean, Monique Patterson and Patience Bloom about why those old, crazy, awesome titles were unforgettable and how it's hard to get them now.
I don't think we quite resolved why it isn't as common now (though some argued it was, just not as always discoverable or done as well!). Still, the words that came out were Primal, Intense, Cohesive, Alpha, and we want more.
Anyway, my list isn't really comprehensive--it's just some of my favorites that I read in the 1970s and 1980s. If you know of any others, do feel free to add them! And I'm not swearing they'd all hold up. But still, I think I'm going to have to re-read The Tiger's Woman again at least... :)
Old school Romance Authors
Celeste DeBlasis – Tiger’s Woman, Proud Breed, Wild Swans
Mary Stewart – This Rough Magic, Airs Above the Ground, My Brother Michael,
Madeline Brent – Tregaron’s Daughter, Moonraker’s Bride, Merlin’s Keep (and Modesty Blaise!)
Georgette Heyer – Fredericka, The Grand Sophy, The Masqueraders, The Devil’s Cub
Sergeanne Golon – Angelique
Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels – Amelia Peabody, Jacqueline Kirby, Vicky Bliss & more!
Taylor Caldwell – The Romance of Atlantis, Melissa,
Grandmother & the Priests, The Listener, Dear & Glorious Physician
M.M. Kaye – Far Pavilions & the Death in series
Victoria Holt - Shivering Sands, The Night of the Seventh Moon, The Pride of the Peacock
Laura Kinsale – Flowers from the Storm, Prince of Midnight,
Eva Ibbotson – A Countess Below Stairs, Magic Flutes, A Company of Swans
Jayne Aiken Hodge – Marry in Haste, Savannah Purchase, Red Sky at Night,
Anya Seton – My Theodosia, Dragonwyck, Green Fires
LaVyrle Spencer – Hummingbird, Twice Loved
Elizabeth Pope - Perilous Gard, Sherwood Ring (a touchYA)
Eleanor Farjeon – Silver Slippers, The Curlew, Martin Pippin
Just re-reading this means I might have to be searching my shelves again for these and others....
Happy reading to you all!