I've been a reader and lover of romance for a number of years. I began with the gothics of Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt around the age of 11 or so. My passion was further cultivated by series romance as I went through high school with Harlequin (the Temptation line was my favorite), Silhouette, and my much beloved Loveswept line fueling my love of romance. From there I moved into the exciting historicals of Heather Graham and Kathleen Woodiwiss and later, Judith McNaught. I credit A Kingdom of Dreams for jump-starting my love of single title romance and European historicals. To this day it remains a favorite and close to my heart.

Now I read romance almost exclusively, though across many sub-genres. To me the best stories are the ones which are intelligently written, plotted carefully and have engaging, sympathetic characters.

I live in rural Kentucky with a number of rescued dogs and cats. When I'm not reading romance or working my day job at a postsecondary educational institution, you can find me volunteering at the local animal shelter.

Absolute Favorites

Paradise by Judith McNaught

Favorite Classic

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

What I'm a sucker for in a book:

Reunited lovers, friends to lovers, exotic locales, bad boys/girls with hearts of gold, cabin/road romances, alpha males, animals, small towns, smart-mouthed (without being shrewish) heroines

Big Misunderstandings, long separations, revenge plots, extended villain POVs

Jerk heroes who remain jerks for the majority of the book, stilted/unrealistic dialogue, doormat heroines, misused words

Frontier or American Historical:

Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare

European Historical:

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Contemporary

The Trouble With Valentine's Day by Rachel Gibson
Public Secrets by Nora Roberts
This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Category Romance

The Best of Everything by Maris Soule

Medieval:

Wicked by Jill Barnett

Alternate Reality:

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

Favorite Hero

Matt Ferrell, Paradise by Judith McNaught

Favorite Heroine

Mercy Thompson, the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

Strongest Heroine

Kaderin the Coldhearted, No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

Most Tortured Hero

Jason Fielding, Once and Always by Judith McNaught

Favorite Couple

Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Bassett, The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Honor Donovan and Jake Mallory, Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell

Cabin or Road:

Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

Romantic Suspense:

Moving Target by Elizabeth Lowell

Funny:

Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

Sexy:

Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice

Least-Favorites

Most Disappointing Books

Lover Unbound by J. R. Ward

Worst Book

The Angel and the Highlander by Donna Fletcher
Any Diana Palmer

Authors I Have Given Up On

Barbara Delinsky

Authors Others Love That I Don't

Judith Ivory
Linda Howard

Most Annoying Lead Character

Ripley Todd, Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

Non-Romance Favorites

Favorite Classic Novel

The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow

Favorite Author

Kathy Reichs

Favorite Women's Fiction

True Blue by Luanne Rice

Book Most Often Re-Read

Confession - I am not a rereader. There are too many marvelous new books and authors to discover and adventures to be had!