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Lily Maxton’s (Author of THE LOVE MATCH) Top Five Must-Read Historical Romance Novels

Author Lily Maxton is here today, offering her expert advice on what we must add to our TBRs ASAP.

In case you missed it, I reviewed her latest novella, THE LOVE MATCH, here!  love-words red

Top Five Must-Read Historical Romance Novels (according to Lily Maxton)

  1. As You Desire by Connie Brockway

Oh my God. This. Book. I’m probably going to turn you off with how much I love it, but love it I do. Late Victorian era, set in Egypt. It’s exotic. It’s lush. It’s romantic. It has one of my favorite romance heroes of all time, Harry Braxton, a rogue who loves his Desdemona (or Dizzy) with all his wounded little heart. And it contains the famous Egypt speech. You might not think being compared to a country would be insanely romantic, but it is. Trust me. Or trust this little snippet instead:

“You are my country, Desdemona…My Egypt. My hot, harrowing desert and my cool, verdant Nile, infinitely lovely and unfathomable and sustaining.”

  1. Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

McNaught is one of the queens of historical romance, hands down. But sometimes her heroes are complete assholes. This one has all the trappings of a McNaught—great writing, turbulent, angsty emotions, a lot of misunderstandings—without the abusive hero.  Ian Thornton is awesome, Scottish (mmm), and so romantic. He’s definitely my favorite Judith McNaught hero.

almost heave

  1. What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

The thing that pulls me in the most with Julie Anne Long is her lyricism. She writes beautifully, and here her writing is paired with a couple that I absolutely love—quiet Genevieve and the intimidating Duke of Falconbridge (Alex) who also happens to be almost twenty years older than her. I have to say that Long has made this couple so quirky and lovable that the age difference doesn’t even register after awhile, and that’s quite a feat.

  1. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

I think I read a review somewhere that called Julia Quinn the modern day Jane Austen, and I’d have to say I agree with that. When you pick up a book by Julia Quinn you know it’s going to be witty and insightful. I love reading about the Bridgerton family, but this is probably my favorite book in the series. The Pall Mall game with the Mallet of Death is just too funny.

the viscount...

  1. Lisa Kleypas

But Lisa Kleypas isn’t a book, you say. No, she’s a goddess, but I digress…  I’m assuming a lot of people would put Dreaming of You here, which is an awesome book, but I don’t love it as much as some of her other ones. Anything from the Hathaway and Wallflower series is great, too, but if I had to pick just one Lisa Kleypas book to take with me on a desert island, it would be Where Dreams Begin. Zachary Bronson is one of Kleypas’s self-made men, uncouth and rakish, and Lady Holly is a proper, gentle widow. He wants her, so he hires her as an etiquette instructor for his family and she moves into his home. Once they’re in close proximity, physical attraction gradually changes to love, mutual respect, and a surprisingly sweet romance (plus even hotter physical attraction!) This is opposites attract in the best kind of way.

 

Thanks so much for being here today, Lily! I have to say I agree with you 100% on As You Desire and The Viscount Who Loved Me–definitely two of my all-time favorites! (The Mallet of Death–OMG, one of my favorite scenes ever!) Adding the rest to my TBR as soon as I’m done here… 😉

 

About the Author:

Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.

When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.

 

About The Love Match:

Hampshire, 1818

To her family, Olivia Middleton is a problem of the most vexing sort. With her older two sisters married off, Olivia is now the target of her mother’s matrimonial scheming. Shy and somewhat plain, Olivia prefers the thrill of a gothic novel to the hunt for a husband. And as far as her family is concerned, something must be done. But Olivia has no interest in the men paraded before her-except, perhaps, the sought-after bachelor William Cross. But she’s not about to inflate his already oversized ego by telling him so.

William has sworn never to wed, but that doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy women. What he excels at most is flirtation… unless the woman is question is Olivia Middleton. She barely bats an eyelash at his most creative compliments. She laughs at his attempts to flatter her when other ladies would swoon. William is reluctantly intrigued by Olivia, particularly when he discovers the passion simmering beneath her wallflower facade. A passion that should be to his benefit…

Because he’s determined to impress her, by fair means or foul…

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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for having me, Becky. High five for As You Desire and The Viscount Who Loved Me! Hope you like the other ones–I know they make me really happy, at least. 🙂

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