Meet Reviewer Jacqueline Owens
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
I read my first romance, Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts, in the 8th grade. None of the women in my family read romances so I had no idea what it was getting into, but as soon as I got my first taste, I was an absolute steam roller. I would make my parents take me to the library 3 times a week and then would hide the huge stack of romances under my bed. Romance remained a hidden passion until I went to college and discovered the romance community online, which was totally awesome. Finally, there were people out there as obsessed as I was. The internet has helped me find some great titles I’d never find alone. I love talking, reading, and writing about romance.
I am currently a law student and my husband is a med student. Our schedules make it difficult to get as much reading in as I’d like, but if I really love a book I’ll go without sleep until it’s finished. I love to cook, do yoga, and take care of my overweight and spoiled Rhodesian Ridgeback who rules our house with an iron fist.
Absolute Favorites
The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale
Favorite Classic
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Personal Reading Tastes
What I’m a sucker for in a book:
Tortured heros who turn into tender lovers, heroines who pursue the hero
What I don’t particularly care for in a book:
Heroines who begin the book pregnant, virgin hero
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book:
The Big Misunderstanding!!!
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Laura Kinsale
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Anne Stuart
Lisa Kleypas
Shannon McKenna
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Anne Stuart (took me a long time to find her books and then I read them all at once)
My Biggest Glom
Anne Stuart
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Jamie Frasier, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Heroine
Evangeline Jenner, The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas
Most Tortured Hero
Simon, Lord of Danger by Anne Stuart
Strongest Heroine
Alys, Lord of Danger by Anne Stuart
Favorite Couple
Claire and Jamie, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Romantic Suspense:
Everything by Shannon McKenna
Ice Series, Anne Stuart
Funny:
This Heart of Mine, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Sexy:
Personal Assets by Emma Holly
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Guilty Pleasure:
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Least-Favorites
Most Disappointing Books
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
Worst
Anything written by Bertrice Small
Purple Prose-iest Read
See above
Authors I Have Given Up On
Linda Howard
Nora Roberts
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Lavyrle Spencer
Most Annoying Lead Character
Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind by Magaret Mitchell
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Flannery O’Connor
John Updike
Tom Wolfe
David Sedaris
Jonathan Safran Foer
Favorite Book
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Favorite Mystery
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Favorite Classic Novel
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Favorite Women’s Fiction
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Favorite YA Book
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Favorite SF/Horror/Fantasy
Son of the Shadows byJuliet Marillier
Book Most Often Reread
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand