Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

For an older audience, you might try LaVerle Spencer, specifically one of my favorite romances ever, “Years,” which takes place in the early 1900s in North Dakota. My mother loved that book and she’s not a romance reader. It’s about a younger girl falling in love with an older man, but also very much about the time and place in which it’s set. I can still cry reading that book though I’ve read it many, many times before.

I agree that The Time Travel’s Wife contains a powerful story between two people (it’s a must-read book really) but it doesn’t fit into the romance genre. 

*will not say more in an attempt to not reveal anything*

My all time favorite Georgette Heyer and the first romance novel I ever read was The Masqueraders.

http://www.amazon.com/Masqueraders-Harlequin-Single-Title/dp/0373836066/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201623260&sr=8-1

We in that age group really don’t need to be protected/pandered to. We’re adults. Really. We’re no different from females younger than we are. Wait. Yes we are. We’ve got lots of experience, and most probably don’t go for the helpless female plots.

Ditto. Don’t pander to your students just because they’re an older age-set! We aren’t all ancient geezers, some of us listen to Gwen Stefani and Kanye West (and Foo Fighters and Matchbox 20...and on and on).

I do agree that older female readers are less likely to be tolerant of “poor little me” heroines. Or maybe that’s just me. I realized that unlike in the old days when I empathized with those whining little girls who needed their man to help them get through life, these days I just want to smack her silly and tell her to grow the hell up.

But for Lord’s sake don’t think that your older age set will somehow be horrified or shocked at the sex scenes. They’ve probably got more experience than you do!

(though I do confess to a bit of bewilderment about the whole BDSM scene, I just don’t find it terribly hawt that a guy has to carry butt plugs and ball gags around to service his wimmen with in order to feel like a real man...)

submit word: woman44. Close, actually woman47!

WOw, tough order especialy for still in print. One thing though, I am a 45 year old church lady and I would PREFER moderate steam. I would suggest a Jayne Ann Krentz I haven’t read the new one yet (just came out today) but she could cover several mini genres with her Arcane novels.

My picks would be…

Morning Glory ~ LaVyrle Spencer
Bet Me ~ Jenny Crusie
The Villa ~ Nora Roberts
Heaven, Texas ~ SEP

It’s not really a romance, in that it’s shelved as mystery, but Gaudy Night has more than enough romantic elements to make for a kick-ass contribution.

Bonus for Most Romantic Proposal Of All Time.

It’d be a shame to take a class and miss Nora and Jenny Crusie.  Lots of good ones to choose from and many have been mentioned.

Nora writes great guys, but her sisters books are awesome too.

And, for Crusie, Welcome to Temptation is my favorite, Bet Me is hilarious, and I personally liked Faking It.

Randi - I second Outlander but the Neville books read very dated and heavy, love them tho i do.

If you do a bit of genre mixed with romance, Sunshine is wonderful but I would also recommend Barbara Michaels. Black Rainbow is an almost parody of Jane Eyre - it’s awesome.

For straight romance, I’ve always liked Nora Roberts and Jennifer Crusie and Amanda Quick. Karen Moning can also be a fun read, esp the ones near the end of the Highlander series.

Anything by Dorothy Garlock. Real heartland stuff.

Also, what about Jane Eyre? It’s such a classic of a woman’s slowly maturing self-confidence as well as her fascination with a man who has a secret.

Or Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed, which is technically chick lit, but it’s romance.

Personally, I’d love to hear their take on something on the hip and modern side of romance.  Something geared totally outside their age group and maybe something urban.  Gena Showalter, perhaps?  Catch a Mate? Julie Kenner?  Like the Manolo Matrix?  Ought to stir things up and make for some really interesting conversations in class.

I have a mid 60ish friend I’ve been slowly introducing romances too (not something she’s read before). Her favorites so far are Nora Robert’s “Montana Sky” and “The Villa”.

Thre’s lots of talk about Crusie and Nora, but I didn’t see one mention of my two favorites from them:

Fast Women - quintessential Crusie and fanstastic for any age.

Carnal Innocence - has my all time favorite hero - Tucker Longstreet, yummo! - and doesn’t pull any punches on the love story or the serial murderer running amuck.

Most important for me is that both books treat the reader as adults who can handle complex situations.

Oooh, thanks for the link Sarah, I will check them out.

Oh, and a resounding YES to Jenny Crusie from me as well--although my favorite is Fast Women, which no one has yet mentioned. First one I read of hers and it totally hooked me!

Lisa Wingate
http://www.lisawingate.com/

Particularly her Texas Hill Country series. Makes me nostalgic and romantic at one time.

No erotica?  My first RN I picked up from next to my grandma’s chair.  I liked to pretend she didnt understand the naughty bits, but the woman did have five kids…

Heyer has been covered, but is essential because (a) she provides the link with Austen and (b) Heyer’s Regencies unconsciously set the parameters for a whole genre. She is the main reason why we associate Regency historicals with elegant social comedy rather than tales of political intrigue, for example. Heyer is also well worth studying for her rigorous approach to historical research (well represented in this generation by Loretta Chase and JAK in her Amanda Quick persona).  I would use Venetia, The Grand Sophy, Cotillion, The Nonesuch or Black Sheep.

For romantic suspense, another classic: Mary Stewart.  For example, This Rough Magic.  Lots of things to discuss there, including the fashion for setting adventures in ‘exotic’ locations.  Also great stories for illustrating heroines who grow in strength and competence throughout the book.  And some VERY interesting socio-sexual material, particularly the rapid courtships, typical of the 1950s when attitudes to pre-marital sex in the middle classes was dramatically different from today’s norms.

Definitely Linda Howard, but not, please not, any of her recent sorry crap with the ghastly, unbearable Blair creature.  Dream Man and Now you see her are both terrific romances and adventures, and paranormal with it, in a way that can be accepted by people who jib at SF/fantasy stuff.

A Nora Roberts, certainly, and also almost anything later than 1983 by Jayne Ann Krentz, under any of her names - sympathetic characters, a light touch, good dialogue, clever wit, and convincing sex.

:)

I’d like to recommend one of my favourite Heyers, Sprig Muslin.  Wonderful, mature heroine and hero, and it’s been reissued in the last few years.

Sorry for typo in previous post.

Crusie:  I would endorse the suggestion of Fast Women, but actually I think one of the most interesting ones for doing a formal study of her work is Crazy for You.  As an object-lesson how to write an enjoyable, funny and ultimately pleasurable novel about an extremely dark subject - stalking - it is amazing.

Incidentally, I am in my late 60s myself.  But my perceptions will not be altogether like those of the intended students, because of the different nationality and culture.

Nora Roberts and Jenny Crusie are a must for sure. I’d vote for Agnes and the Hitman because of the action and the way it’s written as a collaboration.

If you’re going for Southern romances, I see no one has mentioned Gone With the Wind. I realize this is a lengthy read but you could still cover major scenes through excerpts if you wanted and encourgage the ladies to continue on their own. It’s still one of my favorite reads.

If it wasn’t out of print, I’d recommend The Book Of Eve by Constance Beresford-Howe: The day her first OAP cheque arrives, the heroine impulsively runs away from her stifling life and finds herself as a sort of geriatric hippie. (It was first published in 1973). I’d also recommend Grin And Bear It by Leslie LaFoy. (The cover shows a smiling bear with a napkin around his neck - because he is about to eat the heroine’s unfaithful husband ;-D.) However, neither of those is a romance, strictly speaking. For me, the Big Three Romance Novelists are( in alphabetical order) Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney.  Almost anything by one of them is worth reading.  My personal favorites are Beverleys’s An Unwilling Bride, Putney’s Silk and Shadows and Balogh’s A Summer To Remember.

I agree that Georgette is wonderful, but the ladies of that certain age probably read her back in the day.  Here’s another older historical, my mom’s personal favorite:  Elswyth Thane’s Dawn’s Early Light.
A Williamsburg romance, recently reissued. 
Just don’t tell my mom that I consider her to be “of a certain age.”

But for Lord’s sake don’t think that your older age set will somehow be horrified or shocked at the sex scenes. They’ve probably got more experience than you do!

Not all of them would be horrified, as a rule, of course.  My grandma?  If I was recommending something to her, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second based on a sexuality level.  My best friend’s mom?  My friend once accidentally sent her a Joey W. Hill book.  Hooo-boy.  I thinkk she’s still praying for our souls.  As a result, I can’t help but think she’s right to consider dialing it back a bit.  Go for a middle range.  Maybe doesn’t have to be all inspirational-level sensuality but I’d avoid the flat out erotica too.

Anyway, my two cents for a recommendation - Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels.  I started it last Saturday, based mainly on how many times it pops up around here, and have since read it 2.5 times.  I’d definitely nominate Sebastian as the asshole alpha done right.

“Shards of Honour” or “A Civil Campaign” for a look at books that have a strong romance plot but are marketed as sf. I think ACC could be particularly good for tying into the history of the romance genre (because of that explicit acknowledgement of influences in the dedication), but SoH is more accessible to people not already familiar with Bujold’s work.

And yes, I was also thinking of “Gaudy Night” and “Crocodile on the Sandbank” on the mystery side. :-)

Granted, at 55 (in just over a month), I’m at the lower end of that certain age, but you young’uns will figure it out in time. Sexuality doesn’t end with menopause.

Nora Roberts is an absolute must. I would suggest Remember When - a Nora/J.D. Robb “collaboration”. The first half is set in the present (written by Nora) with the second half set in the future with Eve Dallas (obviously written by Robb).

LaVyrle Spencer is popular with many of the older ladies though I’ve never been that thrilled with her books. For a vampire entry, I would suggest the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. They had me snorfling coffee. Georgette Heyer should be a given as she pretty much let the way.

Oh - and silly heroines are good fodder for discussion as most of us “oldies” would like to smack them up side the head with a clueX4.

This sounds like a fun class. Wish I could take it.

I think that you definitely have to have something by LaVyrle Spencer.  I vote for Morning Glory.  I don’t care what age you are, it is such a beautiful love story that anyone would love it.  Plus, there is absolutely nothing in the the book that would embarass you to talk about.

“..there is absolutely nothing in the the book that would embarass you to talk about.”

I don’t think that Dr.Frantz is all that easily embarrassed.  Just a feeling I have…

I’d recommend The Outsider by Penelope Williamson which is a story about an Amish widow who rescues a gunslinger.  It’s a wonderful story.  And there’s a great movie version available.

I’d also include a series romance.  Maybe let each class member choose their own.  There is lots of room for discussion about how different lines have different sensuality levels, how the topics range from fluff to serious, etc.

old79:  Ummmm, not yet.

StacieH4!  OMG!  I too LOVE “Heaven, Texas”!  Bobbie Tom Denton is actually one of my five…

But for other ideas--what about Robyn Carr’s “House on Olive Street”?  I particularly like that it’s not just romance, but also the relationships of the women.  That might appeal to your students.

Now, if you really want a twist, I also enjoy Dee Henderson, which is a 180 from what I usually read. And they’ve reprinted her first, “Danger in the Shadows”, which hooked me on her with a great story.

Something vampire maybe.  The whole thing about the mystique of the vampire and what it symbolizes, i.e. permission for women to be “taken” without all the vamp/virgin baggage.

That sounds like a great idea.  I have no ideas what books would qualify for a class on romance, though.

How about Emily Lorring?  My mom has stacks of her books that I used to read when I was kid--some of the earliest ones were published in the late ‘20s.  My favorite one was Here Comes the Sun! (and yes, I’m sure the exclamation was absolutely necessary), about a dirty politician and a nasty politician.  She dealt with a lot of contemporary political and women’s rights issues in her books which I didn’t really get as a kid--like in one, a WWII Audrey Murphy-type vet who everyone thought was dead gets plastic surgery and returns to his home town, but no one recognizes him.  That was another fun one.

Oh yeah, here’s another vote for The Outsider, which would give you a Western.  I would also recommend the only Inspirational I’ve ever enjoyed, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  It too is a Western, the Biblical story of Hosea and his wife retold.

Let me join the crowd of echoes and suggest Jenny Crusie, either “Welcome to Temptation” or “Manhunting”, my two favorites by her. 

I’d also suggest Julie Garwood for historical romance.  “The Secret” and “Lyon’s Lady” are 2 of her best, IMHO.

If you’d like a Heyer-type, try Clare Darcy.  Her book “Lydia” is my favorite, about an American family storming London in an effort to save themselves from poverty.  Lydia herself is a great character, and the hero Northover reminds me of Dameral from Heyer’s “Venetia”.

I’d also recommend Mary Jo Putney’s “The Rake and the Reformer” (get the original and not the reprint The Rake), Stephanie Laurens’ “Devil’s Bride” (the first Cynster book) and Loretta Chase’s “Mr. Wonderful”.  As if there weren’t enough suggestions here for you, Dr. Frantz.  :>

I’d say anything by Josie Litton. Her first trilogy was lovely (Dream of Me, Believe in Me and Come Back To Me) and centered around three woman with extrodinary powers.

She’s historical (Viking age) and paranormal rolled into one and is wonderful.

Also, anything by Caridad Pineiro. She writes an incredibe vampire series (The Calling) which has several books out.

Her new novel The South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man is out and is a wonderful contemporary romance about single older woman finding the men of their dreams.

It’s tough to know what to suggest, as there are so many that should be read in pairs.  For example, Sunshine is one of my all-time favorite vampire books, BUT...should be read in a class with a JR Ward or Hamilton, to really get familiar with what makes it so different.

Also, reading a Laura Kinsale novel (such as Shadowheart with the hints of BDSM) and comparing it to a more mainstream BDSM-themed book, such as Wicked Ties by Shayla Black.  Or one of her other historicals, such as Flowers from the Storm, and comparing it to another wounded-hero story, such as ALmost heaven, by Judith McNaught.

But for my own list I would love to see in a class:
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Shadowheart, Laura Kinsale
Scandalous Lovers, Robin Schone
Tell Me No Lies, Elizabeth Lowell
Jane’s Warlord, Angela Knight
and as a series:
Kushiel’s Dart/Chosen/Avatar, Jaqueline Carey, which is both fantasy and romance, I guess.

BTW...how do I find out about classes like this in my town?

How about Nora’s Midnight Bayou? that’s a Nora novel, mild paranormal aspect (mild ghost story aspect) and takes place in New Orleans, so might appeal to Southern Ladies of a Certain Age?

I’m stunned there’s no Johanna Lindsey recommended. (Or if it was I’m sorry. I must have missed it) I had the play Streetcar Named Desire pop into my head, although not really a romance, and yet...I must be having a yearning for 50’s Brando.  Or High Fidelity, Nick Hornby? Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase? Perfect, Judith McNaught?

Stewie,

You’re absolutely correct about pairing Sunshine with a LKH book.  All your pairings are intersting.  Somebody do a class of this stuff online and let me know when to sign up.

Oh, and here’s another recommendation:  Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen.  It’s a lovely homage to Miss Austen, set in a retirement community in South Florida.  You’ll recognize characters from P&P, and it’s witty and fun.

I always loved Kate Chopin’s The Awakening.  A short story but does it pack a punch!!

My 89-year-old grandmother (game though she was) watched most of “The Full Monty” while muttering “Oh my goodness” and “For Heaven’s sake” while keeping one palm fixed to her cheek in semi-horror. I can only imagine how she’d respond to a super-hot romance or erotica book. But she’d never sign up for the class in the first place. I say don’t hold back due to steaminess.

For sheer fun pick something by Katie Macalister. Maybe not the Aisling Grey books, but one of her stand-alone novels.

Garwood’s “The Secret” is my fave of her books. And I second (or third?) Nora’s Garden triology.

If you pick a Johanna Lindsey, my fave is Regina and Nicholas’s story. But any of the early Mallory books are good.

P.C. Cast’s Goddesses series is good--paranormal/fantasy; fresh takes on Greek myths with modern-day characters.

I’m snickering over the suggestion of Jane’s Warlord. I thought it was a fun read, but man-o-man, Ms. Knight writes some steamy stuff.

What a fun class. Good luck!

I don’t know if she was mentioned - but what about Victoria Holt - I have a friend who is late 60’s and she always talks about Victoria Holt and how she loved those books.

I suggest:

The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale (Fabulous book and I believe Leda was inspired by Kinsale’s Southern aunts)

Black Silk by Judith Ivory (another fabulous, fabulous book)

Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney (Also fabulous!  I’d recommend my favorite, Gaffney’s To Have and to Hold, but I think it might fall into the “embarassing to talk about” category for some).

I hate to say it, too, but “Ladies of a Certain Age” taking a romance class have lived through enough truly awful “Romance” bodice-rippers that I’m sure a little (or a lot of) steam isn’t going to make them run, screaming, into the night.

When I think of some of the absolute garbage psudo-rape, buttsecks loving, ALPHA SHEIK crap! (exclamation definitely needed) my grandmother had, the thought alone that there’s anything out there she would run away from, screaming, is laughable.

Jo Beverley is my favorite author, so I’d recommend anything she’s written.

PS I’m of that certain age.

Oh, and Shaunee,

Coo, coo!

But srsly, we need a book club or something for this!  I’m gonna talk to my cousin...she’s teaching English Lit right now...maybe we can get something set up.  Anyone else interested?

spamword: blue57...hut, hut!!

“Too embarassing to talk about”?
Lord, you children should have heard my grandmother and her sisters and sisters-in-law, all born in the 1880s, when they got together!
That said, and being personally very fond of historical romances, I’d suggest anything by Loretta Chase, Eloisa James, Lis Carlyle, Lisa Kleypas, Jo Goodman.
Bet Me is definitely my facorite Crusie.

I suggest SEP’s Match Me If You Can - That was such a funny, romantic book!

I want to second (third, fourth, maybe fifth!) Nora Roberts’ _The Villa_.  It has terrific characters in several age groups, all of them dealing with romance and family issues as well as the suspense angle.  It’s still my favorite Nora single.

Lots of other great suggestions here, of course—James, Crusie, Chase—I would have a hard time choosing if I were lucky enough to be teaching the class.

What a great idea for a class.

I suppose any study of Romance must include Austen, (possibly Bronte), Heyer and then Roberts and Crusie. Also, voted no1 for the nth time in the AAR poll: Lord of Scoundrels is surely a must.

A book I would love to discuss in minute detail - Black Silk by Ivory. My favourite Heyer - I second Cotillion for the laughs and the subversion of popular romantic themes.

What about Frances Hodgson Burnett for a mid-point between Austen and Heyer? The Making of a Marchioness is a very tongue-in-cheek romance. Burnett wanted to write about a Cinderella ‘with big feet,’ a romance with wildly unromantic characters. The heroine, Emily Fox-Seton is in her thirties and extremely nice, and the Marquess in question is ‘‘past middle life and plain.’ This might appeal to readers who find nubile young things a little tiresome and immature.

It’s a very good story at the ending is quite perfect. And (she said, shamelessly) I blogged about it recently

Some seconds on REMEMBER WHEN for the obligatory Nora book, as it will give them a feel for the contemporary and the JD Robb books in case they want to explore further; and thumbs way up for JANE AUSTEN IN BOCA (unfair of Darlene to beat me to that as I recommended it to her :-> ) For SEP, I’d go with AIN’T SHE SWEET, the most Southern of her books and with a slightly older heroine, although HEAVEN, TEXAS is a good choice too.

Someone else remembered Jeanne Ray but I think the book from her that would be great is JULIE AND ROMEO, a funny take on ROMEO AND JULIET with feuding florist families, much older protagonists and their obstinate kids. Wish that the Regency AUTUMN ROSE by Marjorie Farrell wasn’t out of print as that features an older heroine.

I third, or fourth A Civil Campaign by Bujold. Wonderful character development in both heroine and hero, subplots galore, and the undying image of Armsman Roic, dressed only in boots, briefs and holster.
.....
sigh
....

...um, sorry, go a little distracted there.

I don’t *get* Shards of Honor/Barrayar on the same level. I guess my heart belongs to the hypermanic little git.

Must admit to being surprised at the recommendations for Bujold’s A CIVIL CAMPAIGN. I don’t think it’s really accessible if you haven’t read the previous books and frankly, I found myself getting slightly annoyed at some of the more farcical scenes.

Regarding SHARDS OF HONOR, I thought it was an examination the price you sometimes have to pay for relationships and how people make hard choices in life in general. It’s still my favorite of the whole series (with KOMARR a close second).