About the Creator of the Romance Novel Database
Chris Powell graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Information
and Library Studies in April 1995. This database was a project for one of
her final classes. Chris received one of the University's library residencies
and will be working with the Humanities Text Initiative and its Collaboratory for the Humanities for the next two years, learning SGML and working with faculty members on projects involving electronic texts. If you can't get enough of her WWW nonsense, why not visit her homepage or her place of employment.
My Favorite Books in the Database
All my favorite romances are not in the database, some of them having been read before I started this project, and I'm not much of a keeper. However, of the ones that are here, these are my favorites:
- Alinor by Roberta Gellis: I had never read a medieval romance until Jo Beverley recommended this and For My Lady's Heart -- I was unwilling to read romances set in a period too familiar to me. If Jo wants to give up writing, she'd be a great reader's advisor.
- Emily and the Dark Angel by Jo Beverley: This may be my favorite Regency ever, and Regencies are my favorite.
- For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale: A book people either love or hate, and I love it -- the Middle English feeling is extremely well done.
- Her Man of Affairs by Elizabeth Mansfield: A sentimental choice -- one of the very first Regencies I read in the early 80s, and I've always been a sucker for the "caring for the ill" plot device.
- It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: The only contemporary I've ever kept. There might be other Regencies or historicals I prefer more, but this noteworthy book has to be mentioned here.
- Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase: This is a really well-done Regency historical, with a hero and heroine unlike any others I've encountered. I can't wait to read her next book.
- The Rake and the Reformer by Mary Jo Putney: Putney's best Regency, hands down. I'm a bit hesitant to read her revision of it, which should be coming out soon.
- Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly: The best of the authors still writing Regencies. One of the few authors who write "sad" really well.
- Road to Ruin by Margaret Evans Porter: Other people who love Regencies have told me they think this book is terrible, but for whatever reason, I just love it. To each her own, I say.
- Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney: The best of the Fallen Angels, in my opinion. Dark hero, practical heroine, just like Emily and the Dark Angel and Lord of Scoundrels -- do I detect a pattern here?
As of December 31, 1996. Subject to change without notice.
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