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