Another great IYL post from the lovely Jeannie Ruesch – read on for her suggestions!
I love a good romance, be it historical or contemporary or wherever that fuzzy line is in between the two. And one of my favorite authors in both is Judith McNaught. She is a master of creating spunky, rootable heroines and devastating heroes that I’d love to …uhmm, have a cup of coffee with.
And what I truly appreciated is that in her books, the path to happy ever after wasn’t always smooth or easily solved. She is definitely one of the Queens of Big Emotions in romance novels— and I don’t mean overblown or overdone. Her characters are achingly real in some cases, and I recall many nights reading her books and feeling my heart clench at their heartbreaks, at their arguments, at their inability to just communicate with each other. Even to this day, McNaught’s characters have stayed with me like old friends, people I recall with fondness and enjoy checking in every so often. As a writer, I want to create characters with that kind of lasting power. As a reader, I ache to find more of them.
So by that nature, I’ve assembled a couple of authors and books in specific who have characters that are old friends.
Historical
To this day, I remember reading about Belinda. She was very much like the heroines I love in McNaught’s books — spunky, witty and able to think on her feet. The love story held so much emotion… another connection I make to McNaught. And in fact, this is reminding me how long it’s been since I read The Duke…
The characters in this book stayed with me long after I read it. I loved the fact that it was about a husband and wife, and through the story, I struggled with Nathan and Evelyn, ached for them and cheered for the happy ever after. I’ve often thought of this story over the years, and the things that they went through and how well it was portrayed in this historical context. Let’s face it, we all know the happy ending is coming but this book had a deeper level that resonated for me.
Contemporary
Who doesn’t love Susan Elizabeth Phillips? (Really…who?) Her books read like a great romantic comedy movie plays. There isn’t a book of hers I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed, but out of the mix, a few characters–heroines especially, have stuck with me. Their names I recall with ease. Jane from Nobody’s Baby But Mine—she was a scientist, brainy, unique. Another unforgettable is Molly from This Heart of Mine. I loved, loved, loved the romance between Molly and Kevin. And the humor in SEP’s books can’t be beat by anyone.
Another absolute favorite is mine is Falling for Gracie. Gracie was so completely endearing to me, I felt her pain as she returned to her home town to face her own past. Gracie’s relationships with her family were just as interesting to me.
Each of these books built characters, worlds and stories that I completely escaped into, with the same enjoyment and connection I felt with so many of Judith McNaught's books. And for those who are already fans, the good news is that Judith McNaught is writing again! She's commented on her Facebook page and I, for one, can't wait!
Jeannie Ruesch
Jeannie Ruesch wrote her first story at the age of the six, prompting her to give up an illustrious, hours-long ambition of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and declare that writing was her destiny. That journey to destiny took a few detours along the way, including a career in marketing and design.
Her first novel, a fairy-tale like historical romance, was published in 2009, but the darker side of life had always captivated her. So after a dinner conversation with friends about the best way to hide a dead body, she knew she had to find a way to incorporate suspense into her writing. (The legal outlet for her fascination.) Today, she continues writing what she loves to read – stories of history, romance and suspense. She lives in Northern California with her husband, their son and an 80 pound lapdog lab named Cooper.
She is also the creator of the WIP Notebook, a writer’s tool to help stay organized while you write, which you can find at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.
Today is Canadian Maple Syrup Day. A friend and I were just talking about chicken and waffles last night. I think it sounds delish--chicken and maple syrup together. If you've ever eaten it, what did you think?
