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The Ultimate Romance Reader’s Must Read Author List

So here it is, the list of your favorite romance authors. You brought me the names and said you loved these authors. So here is the list for all to see. And if you find a whole bunch of new favorite reads, that’ s the best news of the day.

Historical Authors

Let’s say you love seeing Colin Firth in breeches. Can’t wait for PBS to run back to back showings of Pride & Prejudice. Love when Richard Armitage finally kisses the heroine in North and South. Then you should indulge your inner countess and try these authors:

Victoria Alexander
Catherine Anderson
Shari Anton
Adele Ashworth
Jane Austen
Mary Balogh
Alexandra Benedict
Jo Beverley
Joanna Bourne
Elizabeth Boyle
Celeste Bradley
Rebecca Brandewyne
Connie Brockway
Gayle Callen
Candace Camp
Anna Campbell
Liz Carlyle
Robyn Carr
Kathryn Caskie
Janet Chapman
Loretta Chase
Nicola Cornick
Catherine Coulter
Jacquie D’Alessandro
Christina Dodd
Kathleen Drymon
Suzanne Enoch
Jane Feather
Gaelen Foley
Julie Garwood
Kathleen Givens
Anne Gracie
Amanda Grange
Jill Gregory
Laura Lee Guhrke
Charlaine Harris
Karen Hawkins
Lorraine Heath
Virginia Henley
Candace Hern
Georgette Heyer
Cheryl Holt
Elizabeth Hoyt
Jillian Hunter
Madeline Hunter
Eloisa James
Samantha James
Sabrina Jeffries
Alissa Johnson
Susan Johnson
Nicole Jordan
Sophia Jordan
Brenda Joyce
Lisa Kleypas
Betina Krahn
Stephanie Laurens
Johanna Lindsey
Julia London
Julie Anne Long
Julianne Maclean
Anne Mallory
Cathy Maxwell
Monica McCarty
Judith McNaught
Teresa Medeiros
Linda Lael Miller
Sophia Nash
Maggie Osborne
Rebecca Paisley
Jenna Petersen
Mary Jo Putney
Amanda Quick
Julia Quinn
Karen Ranney
Mary Reed McCall
Maya Rodale
Kathryn Smith
Anne Stuart
Jodi Thomas
Sherry Thomas
Bonnie Vanak
Tracy Anne Warren
Lauren Willig

Contemporary Authors

Well if 21st century life is more your cup of tea, or rather make that a skinny latte, then these authors will give you stories of modern life that will tug at your heart and tell the stories that are our lives . . . or what we would love them to be.

Susan Andersen
Catherine Anderson
Kathleen Bacus
Leanne Banks
Erica Bauermeister
Elizabeth Bevarly
Toni Blake
Stephanie Bond
Marie Bostwick
Robyn Carr
Cara Colter
Eileen Cook
Jennifer Crusie
Marisa de los Santos
HelenKay Dimon
Christina Dodd
Kathleen Eagle
Lori Foster
Elaine Fox
Rachel Gibson
Jane Green
Kristin Hannah
Julia Harper
Jane Heller
Kristan Higgins
Alesia Holliday
Stef Ann Holm
Julie James
Donna Kauffman
Karen Kendall
Beth Kendrick
Sophie Kinsella
Cindy Kirk
Lisa Kleypas
Jayne Ann Krentz
Debbie Macomber
Susan Mallery
Nicola Marsh
Deirdre Martin
Susan McBride
Erin McCarthy
Linda Lael Miller
Elda Minger
Diana Palmer
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Jodi Picoult
Jane Porter
Christie Ridgway
Nora Roberts
Ann Roth
Barbara Samuel
Jill Shalvis
Kathleen Gilles Seidel
Suzanne Simmons
Deborah Smith
Marianne Stillings
Anne Stuart
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Jennifer Weiner
Lauren Weisberger
Susan Wiggs
Lori Wilde

Romantic Suspense

Do you have every episode of Law & Order, CSI and the Closer on Tivo? Do love what happens when the stranger knocks on the door? Running for your life or the nuts and bolts of solving a crime? Try these authors, if you’ve got the nerve:

Beverly Barton
Allison Brennan
Suzanne Brockman
Catherine Coulter
Susan Crandall
Christina Dodd
Julie Garwood
Cindy Gerard
Heather Graham
Linda Howard
Lisa Jackson
Jayne Ann Krentz
Cait London
Jess Michaels
Nora Roberts
Karen Rose
Meryl Sawyer
Maggie Shayne
Christina Skye
Roxanne St Claire
Katherine Stone
Debra Webb

Paranormal Authors

Love Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Watched every episode of Battlestar Galactica? Would you actually go looking for the creature who bumps in the night? Loved Twilight but wanted a little bite to your story? Then these authors will take you to another realm of romance. String of garlic around your neck is purely optional.

Shana Abe
C.T. Adams
Lara Adrian
Ilona Andrews
Jennifer Armintrout
Kelley Armstrong
Amanda Ashley
Michele Bardsley
Anya Bast
Shayla Black
Annette Blair
Patricia Briggs
Rachel Caine
Dakota Cassidy
Jayne Castle
Karen Chance
Cathy Clamp
Kresley Cole
Mary Janice Davidson
Christina Dodd
Cynthia Eden
Christine Feehan
Angie Fox
Jacki Frank
Jeaniene Frost
Diana Gabaldon
Colleen Gleason
Heather Graham
Lori Handeland
Charlaine Harris
Emma Holly
Kay Hooper
Larissa Ione
Brenda Joyce
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sharie Kohler
Lynn Kurland
Lora Leigh
Katie MacAlister
Melissa Mayhue
Richelle Mead
Cindy Miles
Karen Marie Moning
Jennifer Rardin
JD Robb
Lynsay Sands
Maggie Shayne
Gena Showalter
Nalini Singh
Christina Skye
Kathryn Smith
Jeri Smith-Ready
Kerrelyn Sparks
Susan Squire
Jeanne Stein
Elizabeth Vaughan
Carrie Vaughn
J.R. Ward
Christine Warren
CL Wilson
Linda Wisdom
Veronica Wolff
Rebecca York

So that is the list to date. Now you tell me, since you all came up with this awesome list, who got missed? Whose name is misspelled? Is anyone in the wrong category?

Also, this list is too good to keep all to ourselves, so would you please share it on your favorite social sites?  It is as easy as clicking one of the icons in the comments section. Remember, sharing is what got this list together and sharing will keep it growing!

13 comments to “The Ultimate Romance Reader’s Must Read Author List”

  1. Jane Irish Nelson
    March 30th, 2009 at 7:50 am · Link

    Jo Beverley’s name is misspelled.

    But this is a wonderful list — so many authors, so little time! You should see my TBR pile!



  2. Elizabeth
    March 30th, 2009 at 8:32 am · Link

    Thanks Jane! It’s fixed now.



  3. Allison
    March 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am · Link

    Wow… Such a great list.. Not sure how I will ever get to all of them. not enought time. Hey.. I did get some spinning done this weekend though..



  4. Sarah
    March 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm · Link

    Do we get to hear more about the Marlowes now? (I know, I am so off topic, but a girl has got to know).



  5. Pam P
    March 30th, 2009 at 7:17 pm · Link

    I’d add Mary Jo Putney – The Rake is an alltime favorite of mine, and then there are the Fallen Angel series.



  6. Elizabeth
    March 30th, 2009 at 8:06 pm · Link

    I forgot Mary Jo? Egads, what a criminal oversight. She is one of my favs.



  7. Bridget Locke
    March 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pm · Link

    You’re missing Cindy Gerard from Romantic Suspense. Her Bodyguard series is really, really good!

    Karen Chance for Paranormal Romance

    And if you want to get really specific, JD Robb from paranormal. 🙂



  8. Janga
    March 30th, 2009 at 10:06 pm · Link

    What a terrific list!

    I’d add Elizabeth Bevarly, Robyn Carr, Kathleen Eagle, Kathleen Gilles Seidel, and Deborah Smith to the contemporary list and Susan Crandall to romantic suspense.

    And the “g” is left out of Ridgway.



  9. Elizabeth
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:46 am · Link

    Thanks again for the corrections and the additions. Keep them coming!

    And Sarah, I would love to do another Marlowe book. I just need to convince my editor that it is a good idea.



  10. Chrissie M
    April 1st, 2009 at 10:24 am · Link

    Amazing list. I’d add Hannah Howell. Love those Murrays.



  11. Lynn
    April 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am · Link

    In your contemporary authors list, Jayne Ann Krentz is misspelled. You might also want to add Deborah Cooke, Sharon Ashwood to the paranormal authors list. I just found their books and I like them. 🙂



  12. Jane
    April 2nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm · Link

    I’ll add Elaine Fox to the contemporary authors.



  13. Fritzi
    April 4th, 2009 at 5:05 am · Link

    Terrific list – I’d add these authors: G.A. Aiken (p), Janmarie Anello (h), Rexanne Becnel (h), Sara Bennett (h), Renee Bernard (h), Victoria Dahl (h), Claudia Dain (h), Shannon Drake (h), Sarah Gabriel (h), Jo Goodman (h), Heather Grothaus (h), Sandra Hill (h/p), Kalen Hughes (h), Judith Ivory (h), Susan King (h), Arnette Lamb (h), Edith Layton (h), Tamara Lejeune (h), Caroline Linden (h), Deborah MacGillivray (h), Kinley MacGregor (h), Allie Mackay (p), Sara MacKenzie (p), Dawn MacTavish (h), Victoria Malvey (h), Delilah Marvelle (h), Kasey Michaels (h), Linda Needham (h), Kaitlin O’Riley (h), Joan Overfield (h), Olivia Parker (h), Deborah Raleigh (h), Paula Reed (h), Lisa Valdez (h), Sue-Ellen Welfonder (h), Susan Wiggs (h)…

    The mistakes I found: Teresa Medeiros, Michele Bardsley, Johanna Lindsey, Katie MacAlister, Sophia Nash and Tracy Anne Warren.







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