Romance Novels

[proper stranger]

lallybroch said:

Was it one of those YA "Starfire" romances? They were always set during some pivotal point in US history and the heroine was always a teenager who was "torn" between two men.

I loved, loved, LOVED the Sunfire books! Each book was named after the heroine (Susannah, Laura, etc.) and I was always bummed that there would never be one with my name, because I have an unusual name. I don't think the book sugarhigh is describing was one of them, though.

sugarhigh said:

Judith McNaught's "Once and Always" is my favorite romanc novel of all time. I've read it to literal tatters.

I went through a big Judith McNaught phase about 10 years ago and still have a few of her books (I think Paradise is my favorite of hers). For anyone else who has read Once and Always, was I the only one who (spoiler)-------> felt bad for Andrew, Victoria's childhood sweetheart, who didn't really do anything wrong, but ends up being the big, heartbroken loser of the tale? Jason was angsty, but, dude, he was such an ass sometimes. I wish McNaught had written Andrew's story, in which he triumphs over his lying mother (or whichever relative it was). I can't believe I remember the names of these characters after so many years.

[lallybroch]

Sunfire, that's it! I loved this one called Josie, about a girl torn between the responsible Pony Express office manager and the new daring rider who comes to town. Then she gets kidnapped by a gang of outlaws led by a woman, and the female bandit gives her love advice. I'm not really giving anything away, because I went and found the book and this is all on the back cover. Of course, they knew the target audience could still read all that and still be clueless about the way that the story would turn out.

[proper stranger]

I remember that one! My favorites were the aforementioned Susannah (Virginia girl falls in love with a Yankee during the Civil War) and Laura (young suffragist during WWI, torn between her sweet-and-reliable lifelong friend and a dashing soldier). They really did follow a formula, but I loved 'em. I also first heard certain historical events (e.g., the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire) through those books.

My sister and I owned the entire series between the two of us. Her favorite was the one about the girl who disguised herself as a boy to follow her brothers on the California Gold Rush.

[tinyshoes]

sugarhigh said:

I'm always trying to find this one novel I read when I was about 12 o3 13. It was set in the colonial U.S. Young girl gets kidnapped by the Native Americans. She gets taken as a wife by the Chief's son and wackiness ensues as she tries to be a proper wife but her American rebelliousness always gets her in trouble. I think she gets whipped at one point too. Sound familiar to anyone?

I think it might be Cassie. I remember reading part of it when I was 10 or 11.

[sugarhigh]

I don't think it was a Sunfire book though now I kind of want to pick one up! I'm a big fan of romances set in colonial times.

[aims]

I want to read a book about a pretty southern lady during the civil war (or around that time) that falls in love with her, or her father's HOT sexy slave. Forbidden love is always a good plot in my opinion.

Or maybe I should write one. I do have all these half plots running around in my head after all !

[nitenurse]

One word -- Mandingo.

Was it actually a book or just a bad movie. Never actuallly saw it but it was pretty well discussed back in the day....

[aims]

Whoa ! I looked up Mandingo on IMDB. Mandingo sounds like it would be more horror than romance ! I was thinking maybe a little more non rasist romantic story with like love and steamy sex scenes.

[proper stranger]

aims, I searched around (nothing better to do this afternoon) and this[/color] sounds interesting, weird cover notwithstanding. Maybe not quite what you're looking for (hero is a Buffalo soldier during Reconstruction, instead of a slave during the Civil War), but might be worth checking out. I love reading romances with different types of characters/situations than the usual.

[aims]

Hey thanks proper stranger ! Once I'm finished with school I plan on doing alot more reading.